Roger Wilson: Sex, Balbrick and Rock ’n’ Roll
The Music Career of ‘Mickey’ from Porky’s with Reviews of his Films Second Time Lucky and Thunder Alley
Opening title card from Roger Wilson’s 1985 film, Thunder Alley.
Ask any male teenager haunting the racks of video stores in the ’80s who their two favorite actresses were — this writer included — and the answer inevitably comes back: Diane Franklin and Jill Schoelen. No matter how good or bad the movie: you saw either of their names on the box, you rented the flick.
Chiller, Cutting Class, Popcorn, Rich Girl, The Stepfather — for Jill Schoelen— check.
Amityville II: The Possession, Better off Dead, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, The Last American Virgin, Terrorvision— for Diane Franklin — check.
And the subject of this article, Roger Wilson, hit casting gold by being cast with both of them in Thunder Alley and Second Time Lucky. It’s been many, many years Roger and we, the now low testosterone, hair-thinned curmudgeons of the VHS and vinyl epoch continue to worship you in a Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar-tribute.
Yes Roger, we still bow to you before the altar of the stage of The Palace, the faux-Tucson, Arizona, rock club where you showed the world your rock ’n’ roll “balbricks.” You are worthy of this expose on your career, for you rawketh our analog, teenaged memories.
Phil Brock — “Mike” from River’s Edge, Tex, and Baby, It’s You— the coolest faux-film bassist in rock ’n’ roll cinema, as “Butch.”
Roger Wilson in Thunder Alley fronting Magic as “Richie,” the hottest guitar player in Tucson-Phoenix, Arizona.
“You stupid #&@!, you can forget about the Rainbow Festival!” — The Fatman
It’s a Long Way to the Top . . .
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 8, 1956, actor Wilson came to notice at the age of 25 in his first starring role as “Mickey” in the hugely successful Animal House-inspired comedies Porky’s (1981) and Porky’s II: The Next Day (1983).
As with Lane Caudell, Kim Milford, and Rick Springfield before him, Wilson was an aspiring and accomplished rock ’n’ roller who fronted a band called Num for several years. It was through his acting endeavors that Wilson was able to get two of his written/performed songs, “This Time” and “Radioactive Tears,” on the soundtrack for the obscure and rare New Zealand-shot Second Time Lucky (1984), an “Adam and Eve” comedy in which he co-starred with our teenaged dream queen — Diane Franklin. Then writer-director J.S Cardone gave Roger’s musical skills a spotlight in Thunder Alley, which co-starred the soon-to-be girlfriend of Brad Pitt (they started dating after meeting on the set of a pre-stardom Pitt flick, Cutting Class).
The French theatrical one-sheet for Thunder Alley under it’s overseas title, Rock Star.
The twist about this poster: Jill Schoelen, standing in the background, dated Brad Pitt, who was originally cast in 2001’s Judas Priest-inspired Rock Star (when it was known as Metal Gods) as Chris “Izzy” Cole — alongside his then girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston.
A reformed rock ’n’ roller who spent several years touring with rock bands in the early ’70s, Cardone made a huge splash on the burgeoning home video market with his debut film, the 1982 slasher “video nasty,” The Slayer — a film so “nasty” that it was banned from distribution in the land that loves-to-ban anything entertaining: the United Kingdom (now how can you not rent a movie with that pedigree!). Cardone then hit his career peak in the early ’90s through his association with Charles Band’s Full Moon Pictures. For us reformed teen denizens stumbling through our twenties in the pre-dawn years of the grunge era, we rented everything with a Full Moon logo on it — and with J.S Cardone’s name front and center on Shadowzone and Crash & Burn (both 1990), it was a no brainer. There was entertainment to be had.
After Cardone made a bloody splash in the post-Halloween slasher market and proved he could turn out economical, quality product, he was able to secure financing for his second film — a personal pet-project that drew from his early ’70s band experiences.
So, in the glut of rock ’n’ roll films permeating the cable transmission waves and video store shelves, with the likes of such rock ’n’ roll classics as Eddie & the Cruisers (1980), Ladies and Gentleman: The Fabulous Stains (1981) and Streets of Fire (1984) (a “punk rock” Diane Lane x 2? Yes, please!), and Scenes from the Goldmine (1987) (Catherine Mary Stewart from Dudes? Double yes, please!), there was Cardone’s 1985 rock ’n’ roll love letter: Thunder Alley. And he cast Roger Wilson as; it seems, to be the onscreen pseudo-version of his younger Cardone-rock ’n’ roll self.
Sadly, there’s no DVD version of Thunder Alley with an audio commentary to learn the backstory of Cardone’s hungry rock ’n’ roll years. This writer ventures that Cardone made connections during those times and knew Surgical Steel’s Jim Keeler and Jeff Martin, Canadian hitmaker Gary O’Conner, and Shooting Star’s Gary West and Van McLain — and brought them onto the project to craft the music for the film’s faux band fronted by Roger Wilson: Magic.
Phoenix, Arizona’s Surgical Steel appear in the film as themselves, as the “biggest band in town” and Magic’s main competition. In real life, they were the hotest band in Phoenix-Tuscon; but as with their critically acclaimed, hometown brethren, Icon, a Quiet Riot rise-to-stardom wasn’t meant to be for the ‘Steel. The film spotlighted their songs “Surrender” and “Gimme Back My Heart.”
In addition to casting Roger Wilson, Cardone provided ex-bubblegum teen-idol Leif Garrett with his first gritty “adult” roll as the egotistical-insecure “Skip” (we wonder who Cardone’s “model” was). Garrett not only turns in a wonderful performance as an actor — but does a stellar job on lead vocals singing “Do You Feel Alright,” which previously appear on Shooting Star’s third album, III Wishes (July 1982). Other songs expertly done by Garrett (take the overly critical bubblegum out of your ears, Garrett really can sing) are “Just Another Pretty Boy,” written by Gary O’Connor (who provided “Back Where You Belong” to 38 Special), and “Danger, Danger” by Frankie Miller (revered British singer from Jude with Robin Trower).
Roger Wilson’s lone 7" 45-rpm release. Notice that Scott Shelly co-wrote the tune with drummer Jeff Porcaro, formerly with Sonny & Cher, Boz Scaggs, and Steely Dan — then with Toto. This would prove to be the only song officially released from the film. No soundtrack album was issued by Cannon Films.
However, the real star of this show was Roger Wilson. Although Roger is an accomplished guitarist in his own right, and proves those skills with his spot-on playing, he’s actually doubled by Scott Shelly — one of Shelly’s most prominent students was Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne’s Randy Rhoads. There’s no doubt Cardone believed in Roger; to promote Wilson’s career, Cardone release a promotional 7” 45-rpm that was given away in record stores and movie theatres. It seemed Wilson’s dream to make it as a musician was happening.
Then as quickly as his star rose, it came crashing down in a blaze of thunder.
Theatrical one-sheets for Second Time Lucky.
The film was shot in New Zealand for the South Pacific Rim markets — mainly Australia — and was unceremoniously dumped into the U.S home video market. According to the IMDB, the film was to original star Bo “10” Derek as “Eve” with her husband, John Derek, set to direct under the title, The Apple and the Pear.
Was Roger to star alongside Bo Derek? If not, what musician-actor did they originally cast. . . .
. . . If You Want to Rock ’n’ Roll
The story starts with Academy Award winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio when, fresh from his breakout roll in Titanic, partied with friends in the “Wolf Pack,” which is alleged to be a post-stardom euphemism for the group’s original, more nasty (and allegedly a press-generated) moniker of “The Pussy Posse.” The wolf-posse included an HBO-esque Entourage that included magician David Blaine and actors Kevin Connolly (ironically, later a star of Entourage), Jay Ferguson (“Stan Rizzo” of Mad Men), Lukas Haas, writer/director Harmony Korine, Tobey Maguire of Spiderman fame, screenwriter Josh Miller (“Tim” in River’s Edge), and Ethan Suplee (TV’s My Name is Earl). Regardless of how the actor-amalgamate referred to themselves: they were notorious for their allegedly misogynistic and rebel rousing behaviors on the “upscale” New York City club scene.
One of those “incidents” that led to the wolf-posse’s ill repute involved actress Elizabeth Berkley, known for her attempt to break away from her squeaky clean teen-idol image cultivated by Saturday morning TV’s Saved by the Bell with a starring role in a “grown up part” in the critically lambasted Showgirls.
According to multiple media reports, Berkley attended the premiere of DiCarpio’s latest film, The Man in the Iron Mask — and visited the film’s VIP area, which was in full party mode courtesy of the Wolf Pack. It’s alleged that through DiCaprio’s L.A publicist, Karen Tenser, Berkley was invited by the actor and Jay Ferguson to party at the club Elaine’s after the premiere. Berkley politely declined, as she was dating Roger Wilson at the time (other media reports say Roger was there at the club by Berkley’s side when the invite was made).
Not taking a “no” for an answer, Berkley alleged that is when the “harassment” started, with an incessant barrage of invites from Tenser and Ferguson for dinners and parties. Wilson, as any chivalrous boyfriend would, intervened on one of those phone calls from actor Jay Ferguson — this time inviting Berkley to party with the pack at New York’s ritzy Asia de Cuba. Ferguson’s incensed response to Wilson’s intrusion was to invite Wilson to the club for a showdown.
Wilson accepted.
Upon arrival at the club, Wilson took Ferguson’s offer to “step outside.” It’s then alleged DiCaprio (who ironically starred in Gangs of New York) interjected, “let’s go kick ass,” and led his wolf-posse into a West Side Story-style rumble. At that point, the recollections are hazy; a member of the posse — allegedly Ferguson — punched Wilson in the throat and damaged his larynx. Of all the body parts to suffer a blow: not his head or face, stomach or back . . . but his throat.
Wilson’s singing career was over.
The unchecked testosterone melee resulted in a Manhattan judge tossing out Wilson’s $45 million lawsuit in 2004 against DiCaprio and “two other men” for the assault. It was determined that DiCaprio not only didn’t throw a punch, he didn’t encourage the fight — and Wilson was cast as the “aggressor.”
After the May 4, 1998, assault, Wilson’s career floundered with a series of little-seen TV movies and haphazardly distributed direct-to-video releases. Another TV series in the wake of his role on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers wasn’t forthcoming. Meanwhile, DiCaprio moved up to the A-List and worked with Martin Scorsese.
Wilson, however, remained in the business behind the scenes. He moved into screenwriting, doing numerous uncredited rewrites (like the highly respected Carrie Fisher of Star Wars) for projects supervised by producer Steve Tisch (who produced Risky Business and Forrest Gump), Penny Marshall, and actress Sharon Stone. After teaching screenwriting at the college level, Roger Wilson forged a career in real estate development, which he still pursues today.
After the Thunder . . .
As a revered songwriter and performer, Frankie Miller may have been absent from FM radios and missed the MTV video revolution, but his music appeared in numerous films, such as All the Right Moves, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Johnny Depp’s The Rum Diary (2011), and Jennifer Aniston’s Life of Crime (2013). Miller released several albums solo albums in the early-to-late ’70s on Chrysalis Records, also home to Pat Benatar and Billy Idol.
Frankie Miller with the original version of “Danger, Danger” from his 1982 Capitol Records release, Standing on the Edge. Leif Garrett covered the song for the Thunder Alley soundtrack.
After Surgical Steel died on the table, Jeff Martin became the founder and lead vocalist for the highly regarded metal band, Racer X, co-founded with Shrapnel Records’ star guitar player, Paul Gilbert (later of Mr. Big). Jeff then moved onto the drum stool for Badlands (founded by ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee and Black Sabbath vocalist Ray Gillen; the band also featured Jeff’s former Surgical Steel bassist, Greg Chaisson), the Michael Schenker Group and Dokken. Martin also provided background vocals on releases by Judas Priest; his connection to Judas Priest: his fellow Racer X bandmate, Scott Travis, serves as Judas Priest’s long-time drummer.
Jeff Martin, Surgical Steel and Racer X vocalist, center both photos.
Prior to his role in Thunder Alley, Leif received great reviews for his support role in The Outsiders (1983) alongside Matt Dillon and Tom Cruise. He also received good reviews for his work in the “sci-fi disco” flick, The Spirit of ’76, working alongside fellow reformed-teen idol David Cassidy and Jeff and Steve McDonald of alternative rockers, Redd Kross. Leif later formed the harder-edged modern-rock groups Godspeed and F8.
Scott Shelly’s continued work as a composer and producer led him to score and place songs on numerous films and TV series, such as Harrison Ford’s Witness (1985) and Steve Irwin’s highly-rated wildlife reality TV series, The Crocodile Hunter.
Solo albums by soundtrack contributors Amy Katner and David Batteau.
The songs “Can’t Look Back” and “Sometimes in the Night” were written, in part, by David Batteau. He made his recording debut alongside his brother Robin in the band Batteaux, which released a jazz-pop fusion album on Columbia Records in 1971. Happy In Hollywood — David’s 1976 jazz-inflected solo debut for A&M Records produced by the Beatles engineer Ken Scott (think Boz Scaggs, in sound) — features “Walk In Love,” which became an international chart hit for the Manhattan Transfer.
In the mid-‘80s, David formed the pop-new wave outfit Nomo, which scored a minor, international chart hit with “Red Lipstick” from the 1985 Atlantic Records’ album, The Great Unknown. Over 200 of his songs have been recorded by the likes of Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, David Sanborn, Pablo Cruise, and Seals & Croft accounting for 40 million in album sales.
“Heart to Heart” and “Can You Feel My Heartbeat,” co-written by Amy Katner, originally appeared on her solo album, The Other Girl, issued in 1982 on Atlantic Records. The many TV and film scores by her husband and bandmate, Bob Thiele, Jr., includes the popular FX series, Sons of Anarchy, as well as producing efforts by Pat Benatar, Bette Midler, Olivia Newton-John, and ex-J. Geils Band lead singer, Peter Wolf.
As for Roger Wilson: We loved your work then and will love your work now. So clear out the vaults and upload your old material (especially from the hard-to-find Second Time Lucky) — and newer tunes — to a Spotify account for all of us Roger Wilson and Thunder Alley fans to enjoy.
In our analog-beating hearts sustained on digital life support, you are still a rock star. We want to rock with you again.
And you are worthy to rock Thunder Alley.
Cannon’s ’80s VHS Box, theatrical lobby poster, and MGM/UA’s reissued VHS version for Thunder Alley.
You can enjoy a playlist of the music of Thunder Alley that features the studio and video versions of all the songs from Thunder Alley featuring Roger Wilson and Leif Garrett, along with music by Gary O (and 38 Special), Frankie Miller (and Nazareth), Surgical Steel and Shooting Star. Also included are the trailers and full films for Second Time Lucky and Thunder Alley (provided they are still active).
END
— R.D Francis is the writer of The Ghosts of Jim Morrison, the Phantom of Detroit, and the Fates of Rock ’n’ Roll and Tales from a Wizard: The Oral History of Walpurgis, both books explore the life and times of the musician responsible for the mysterious 1974 Jim Morrison “solo album,” Phantom’s Divine Comedy: Part 1 — and came to replace Jim Morrison in the Doors.
You can learn more by visiting the Facebook Author’s Page for R.D Francis. His works are available at all online retailers, including Amazon and Smashwords.
