FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA ACQUIRES AWARDS SEASON CONTENDER DOCUMENTARY “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS?”

Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has acquired the real-life political thriller documentary WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS?, which will be available to rent/own on all digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms in North America, as well as on DVD, starting on February 27, 2024, through Freestyle Digital Media.

A 2023 Critics Choice Awards nominee for Best Music Documentary, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS? reveals the incredible, never-before-told story of a ground-breaking rock band caught in the crosshairs between the Right and the Left in a politically polarized America, becoming an early victim of cancel culture. This compelling story involves the State Department, the White House, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, three oppressive communist regimes, thousands of declassified government documents, and documentary footage suppressed for over 50 years.

The critically-acclaimed film launched in U.S. cinemas in late March 2023, playing to packed houses across the country–including a three-week run at New York City’s Quad Cinema—which garnered both outstanding audience response and reviews. Bob Lefsetz of Lefsetz Letter was an early enthusiast, hailing it as “one of the best rock documentaries ever made.” An extensive New York Times feature story discussed how “Cold War politics destroyed one of the most popular bands in America…(in) the strange, intrigue-filled saga of Blood, Sweat & Tears.” John Blistein from Rolling Stone offered “A fascinating look at a little-known chapter of rock history, offering fresh insights and facts while also conjuring perennial questions about propaganda, power and polarization.”

Blood, Sweat & Tears is known for the major hits “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and “And When I Die.” The group headlined at the Woodstock Festival and won multiple Grammy Awards, most notably 1970’s Album of the Year for the group’s self-titled second album, incredibly besting The Beatles “Abbey Road” and “Johnny Cash at San Quentin.”

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS? was written, produced, and directed by John Scheinfeld (THE U.S. VS. JOHN LENNON, CHASING TRANE, and WHO IS HARRY NILSSON…?). Executive Producer of the film is James Sears Bryant.

“Digging for the details of this powerful story, we spoke with both band members and Eastern European-based witnesses to the events, discovered pristine never-before-heard audio tapes of the band’s live performances in Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland, and uncovered thousands of declassified government documents buried in a university archive,” said director John Scheinfeld. “These finds were remarkable in that they revealed details even the band members didn’t know.”

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS? website:
www.bstdoc.com

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Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!