How 'On The Dark Side' became a surprise hit

Without the music, the 1983 cult classic film “Eddie & The Cruisers” just wouldn’t be the same. And without the film, the real-life bar band band who wrote many of the songs for its multi-platinum soundtrack wouldn’t have recorded the Top Ten single from it, “On The Dark Side.” Get into the story of how John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown band got the gig of a lifetime in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast.

Music Producer: Christian Lane
Video Director: Eva Empleo

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About Janda:
Behind The Song podcast host and creator Janda Lane is a radio DJ at WDRV-FM in Chicago, the city she calls home with her husband and podcast partner, Christian Lane, and their two cats, Ollie and Liam.

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[dathorndike]

I actually really liked Eddie & The Cruisers 2. The music is just as good as the first, and the movie completes the whole Eddie story in a very satisfying way.

[SELMERPA]

Its 2024 and I'm just now seeing this clip. Janda Lane was "right on" in her analysis of life for Rock 'n Roll entertainers. I've been at it since the 60's and am still trying to find the right key....no pun intended. I saw John Cafferty and his band perform live in Pittsburgh many years ago. At that time I didn't know about Bruce and his band. Back then I was a hard core soul and R&B player that was beginning to dig Jazz. I still do. I remember meeting some of the Beaver Brown band members and how cool they were talking to their fans. Thanks Mrs. Lane for posting your clip. Very cool of you!

[cozmicpfunk]

Eddie and the Cruisers was an amazing fictional Biopic film. The music really made that show. Michael Parre had a kind of a come back with "Streets of Fire" with Diane Lane which also had an amazing soundtrack. Great episode, thank you so much <3

[jackhaugh]

I actually saw this band at my college in the early 90s, and they completely ROCKED!!!

[michellespencer]

Eddie and the cruisers both beloved movies ❤❤❤❤

[dougford]

I was a 13 year old kid in 1983. My older brother hooked me up with the music from the movie long before I saw the movie. I have been a fan ever since. Both movie's music rings in my head. Love it and John Cafferty. This from an Iowa kid turned fat old Iowegian farmer. Let that intro start and I am cranking the volume up.

[ednaatluxton]

Both Eddie and the Cruisers parts are still my favourite movies. I had them on vhs. I had the soundtracks on cassettes and cds. To this day I still bring them up in Facebook comments. I loved Michael Pare and he did get more acting parts just not as big. Sad because he was great. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band were awesome. Don't forget "Streets of Fire"

[ww]

Big nod to the skill of blending art and reality with this one. Thank you to those who put this movie together, otherwise, I might have never gotten the balls to play music in front of people.

This movie was in regular rotation on HBO in '84. I watched the movie, picked up the phone, and called a drummer. An hour later, he showed up. He carried my guitar, and I rolled my Fender Super Reverb to his house, which was about a mile away. Big moment in a fledgling musician's life. Great memories.

[Orcinus]

Nothin's gonna save you from a love that's blind. Truer words were never spoken.

[davidcreager]

I loved this movie ! & The sequel . Loved the back story ! Thank you !

[michaeldrysch]

Thank you for revealing the back story to this awesome tune and for the history on "Eddie and The Cruisers" which I found fascinating!

[michaelrobertfitts]

I loved both of the movies, because it’s about the Music as Eddie says…

[heinleinreader]

Pare was actually lip synching, but he did a fantastic job of it in both films. I remember Pare as one of the students in Greatest American Hero.

[chemmii]

Both films were great, all the music was great and Cafferty had eddies voice down pat.! I have both movies and I still watch them at least v once a year.!!

[keithhensley]

Eddie And The Cruisers 2 is a good follow up imo.Really liked it and the soundtrack is another killer

[missjoshemmett]

Been a fav of mine since it came out! I have it on DVD. And I adored On the Dark Side. I'm 77 and still watch and listen to Eddie and John.

[victorsvideos]

Both movies were awesome, so were the sound tracks! Ride on Eddie!!!

[lindawheeler]

I have watched eddie and the cruisers 2 at least 100 times, probably more.

[racky]

This is a trip. Came up on my youtube autoplay. In 1988 my dad, bro & i were camping in an old gold miners town in Australia. There was a 2nd hand clothing shop there that had old vinyl records, my bro was ecstatic because he'd found Eddie & the cruisers record in mint condition. I'd never heard of them & wanted to listen but had to wait til our camping trip was over. When we finally got home, my bro retrieved the Vinyl record from the car, it was buckled /melted. We could still play it but it was warped. The temps the car had gotten to in the Australian outback had destroyed the record. My bro was gutted. Years later i saw the movie & finally got to hear the soundtrack. Loved it. ❤

[larryb]

Great analysis by Janda Lane. She tells it all so accurately.