The Apples in Stereo front man Robert Schneider was stoked when comedian Mike Meyers asked him to perform in his latest goof The Love Guru, released today. He just didn't expect to get his glasses broken during a three-day bar fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g_nDYLOekE In this exclusive video for Listening Post, Schneider discusses the brawl, in which he appears while performing a cover of the 1949 bluegrass standard "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." As Schneider explains, The Love Guru's music supervisor contacted The Apples in Stereo's management about covering the classic, after finding out that Meyers was a fan of the band. Schneider was asked to upgrade the Flatt and Scruggs tune, which he describes as "'Louie Louie' for bluegrass," with the backing of traditional Kentucky bluegrassers The McKendrees. Meyers then asked him to perform it in the film, and score a bonus cameo.
That's when all hell broke loose.
"For three days, I played along with this recording with The McKendrees, "Schneider recalls. "There were like 50 or more people falling all over the place."
Proving that he is both an indie rock champ and a Method actor, Schneider had to learn how to play banjo for the song and scene. Those acting chops may come in handy when Apples in Stereo return to The Colbert Report on August 4, the first band ever to appear twice on the show.
In honor of Kentucky bluegrass, or just because he wants to, Schneider's band is kicking off a summer tour in Louisville on July 18, and jamming across the states before finishing up in New York on the set of The Colbert Report. The Apples in Stereo's latest release is the B-sides and rarities comp Electronic Projects for Musicians. Schneider's video and more can be found on Wired's YouTube channel.
Photo: Paramount Pictures
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