FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 9, 2002
CONTACT: Marianne Lampke, Beacon Cinema Group, 508-255-4859, marianne@beaconcinema.com

ACCLAIMED ALTERNATIVE ROCK BAND "WILCO" FEATURED IN NEWLY RELEASED FILM: NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE AT REGENT THEATRE SEPTEMBER 13


The revered rock band Wilco is the subject of a new film, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, scheduled for an exclusive Boston-area theatrical engagement at the historic Regent Theatre in Arlington. The film opens on September 13 and plays for one week only. Directed by first-time filmmaker and award-winning photographer Sam Jones, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart is entirely shot in black and white and includes interviews, jam sessions and behind-the-scenes footage of the alt-country turned experimental rock band recording their fourth album, "YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT." The album was released on April 23, 2002.

Initially intended to follow the collaborative process of a handful of very creative artists making a highly anticipated album, director Sam Jones soon had unexpected human drama and corporate intrigue to contend with when Wilco started breaking apart and their new album was rejected by their label, Reprise Records. What ensued was a bidding war that eventually led Wilco to sign with Nonesuch Records, another label under the AOL Time-Warner umbrella. At its release, the record received overwhelming critical acclaim, entering the Billboard Top100 to #13. The entire saga is recorded in Jones' engaging documentary, offering rare insight into the modern music recording industry and the perpetual struggle between commercial success and artistic freedom.

Wilco has been among America's most acclaimed rock outfits since their 1995 debut "A.M." Subsequent albums, including collaborations with Billy Bragg and the lyrics of Woody Guthrie, have seen the band earning themselves a loyal fanbase while always expanding their creative boundaries. "YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT" reveals the band's ability to once again expand their always-idiosyncratic sound, imbuing it with avant garde textures. Produced by Wilco and mixed by Jim O'Rourke (Sonic Youth, Gastr del Sol), the album sets lead singer/songwriter Jeff Tweedy's highly personal lyrics against a variety of stark and powerful musical backdrops. Songs like "Ashes of American flags" and the opening "I am trying to break your heart" display a striking emotional and musical melancholy, while other cuts - such as the wry single, "Heavy metal drummer" - show off the band's more pop-inspired side. The result, Tweedy has said, is "a really hopeful album."

Director Sam Jones is no stranger to the camera or directing subjects with his extensive work as an award-winning photographer and commercial director. Striving to create environments where his subjects feel comfortable enough to reveal themselves, Jones takes pleasure in working with public figures, actors, and artists when he is behind the camera. His photos appear regularly in major national magazines such as Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Esquire, GQ and Premiere. His recent work includes national advertising campaigns for HBO, Lincoln, Saturn, Palm and Hugo Boss. Based in Los Angeles, Jones works frequently throughout the country and in Europe. He is currently working on his first dramatic feature film.

Nearly a century old, The Regent Theatre, in the heart of Arlington, was purchased last year by real estate developer and musician Gary Adelson who has begun an extensive renovation and restoration, including the recent installation of a brand-new sound system and new seating. Many other changes are planned including the complete unveiling and preservation of the gold-leafed proscenium. The 500-seat centrally-located theatre offers plenty of free parking across the street and is accessible on the MBTA (buses #77, #79, #350, #80, #87). In the Fall of 2002, the theatre will feature a diverse program of music concerts, art and classic films, community-based events, and a variety of children and family performance. The area premiere of I Am Trying To Break Your Heart launches a music film series, "Rockin' The Regent" (details to be announced shortly). Most recently the theatre completed a sold-out premiere engagement of the film "Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle Of Wight." The Regent Theatre is wheelchair accessible and is located at 7 Medford Street in the center of Arlington, just a few short miles from Cambridge and Boston. For tickets and information, call (781) 646-4TIX (4849), or visit the website at http://www.regenttheatre.com/.