Butch Willis is a Washington, D.C. rock legend. Born and raised in 1960s suburban Maryland, Byron Henry "Butch" Willis came of age in the late '70s post-hippie subculture. After sharing an apartment with infamous local music icon Root Boy Slim, Butch was inspired to become a rock'n'roll star himself. The unique and unusual brand of "outsider music" that Butch Willis & The Rocks created captivated the local music scene beginning with their appearance at the seminal Primitive Night in 1984. Amatuer on Plastic chronicles Butch's life and career from the beginning all the way through to present day. It features a host of Butch-appointed band managers Joe Lee (Joe’s Record Paradise), Jeff Mentges (No Trend), Jeff Krulik (Heavy Metal Parking Lot), and director Mark Robinson (Unrest/Teen-Beat). Also co-starring is Al Breon, the Rocks' innovative "throat guitarist." The film combines archival footage, interviews with Butch, and performances of his hit songs "Drugs," “The Garden’s Outside,” "TV's From Outer Space," and “The Girl's on My Mind." Amateur on Plastic also parallels the 1990’s era of seminal indie record label Teen-Beat. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of the label’s concerts and private parties provide much of the background and feature members of the bands Unrest, Versus, Tuscadero and more.
directed by: Mark Robinson starring: Butch Willis, Jeff Krulik, Mark Robinson, Gibby Haynes, Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Karl Hendricks, Brendan Canty, Phil Krauth, Logan Perkins, Joe Lee, Nancy Marion 2020 / 73 min / 1.78:1 / EnglishDolby Digital 2.0
Additional info:
Region Free Blu-ray
Butch Willis Interview Outtakes
Butch Willis & The Rocks — Live at the 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., 1985
This is Proof Speed Works — short film on The Rocks’ guitarist, Ray Wallace (8 minutes)
Butch Willis Live and In-Person — compilation of performances:
Butch Willis & The Rocks “I Miss Her Too Much” live at Friendship Station, Washington, D.C., September, 1984
Butch Willis & The Rocks “The TV’s From Outer Space” with The Rocks live at Bosco’s, Silver Spring, Maryland
Butch Willis (solo) “We Can Do It” live at d.c. space, Washington, D.C., March 20, 1990
Butch Willis (solo) “Flashback” solo live at Galaxy Hut, Arlington, Virginia, December 29, 1996
Butch Willis & D Flat “Private Life” live at Galaxy Hut, Arlington, Virginia, August 22, 1999
Butch Willis (solo) “Newsletter” solo live at The Black Cat, Washington, D.C., March 30, 2001
Butch Willis & D Flat “Private Life” (snippet) live at Galaxy Hut, Arlington, Virginia, February 20, 2003
Butch Willis (solo) “Look” solo live at The Black Cat, Washington, D.C., February 25, 2005
32 Page Booklet with Butch Willis interviewed by Phil Milstein, with assistance by Jeff Krulik
