Duff McKagan’s band films movie in Georgetown

gunsguy · December 30, 2010

DATE: 30/12/2010

TITLE: Duff McKagan’s band films movie in Georgetown

TEXT:

Seattle filmmaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin was in Georgetown Wednesday filming a new movie centered around former Guns N’ Roses bass player Duff McKagan’s band Loaded – aptly titled “The Loaded Project.”

McKagan and his band mates will be releasing a new album in the spring and, with it, a movie featuring the band members and a number of other notable Seattle musicians.

Chamberlin, who worked on the first few seasons of “Sex and the City” and more recently ZZ Top’s “Double Down Live,” says the film will not be a documentary, but rather “Hard Days Night” meets “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” While the film will feature music videos and live performance, there is an underlying story: Drummer Isaac Carpenter has landed himself in jail days before the band is scheduled to play an important show. It’s up to the three remaining members to scrape together enough cash to get Carpenter out and make it to the show on time.

On Wednesday, at Georgetown’s La Hacienda Motel, the scene centers around guitarist Mike Squires, who has the brilliant idea of working as an escort to get some extra cash. The project has brought out a number of cameos including Chris Ballew from the Presidents of the United States of America – who plays the motel manager.

“Our scene together was almost all ad-libbed,” said Squires. “At the very first take I thought ‘This is going so well we’re like Ed Norton and Brad Pit!’ And then Chris made a joke and I just broke down and started laughing until I cried, literally.”

Chamberlin has already filmed at West Seattle’s Feedback Lounge and plans to feature several other Seattle locations.

“It was important to Duff (to film in Seattle),” said Chamberlin. “We are going to our friends’ bars or restaurants and using those as the backgrounds of the scenes.”

For Chamberlin, working with McKagan in his hometown was a welcome project.

“I live my life to a soundtrack and I’ve always been heavily involved in music,” said Chamberlin. “When I heard the new music that they are going to be putting out it left a huge impression on me and I knew I was working with the right musicians at the right time.”