What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?

Not just another story about writing songs or going up against 'The Man'. This is a true story of how a rising star-popular rock band was used as a tool by the Nixon Administration; and the accounts by the artists of how seeing life behind the iron curtain changed these musicians viewpoints. They brought back their eye opening message and told of the stark differences between life under communism and life within a democracy. Blood Sweat and Tears suffered cancel culture decades before it became in vogue, simply for being honest. As a Veteran who experienced first hand the fall of the Iron Curtain, I can tell you ... they got this one right!

As "What The Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?" (2023 release; 112 min.) opens, we are in "Bucharest, Romania 1970", and BS&T is performing, reportedly the first rock band to perform behind the Iron Curtain. BS&T is touring Romania, Yugoslavia, and Poland as part of the US State Department's cultural exchange program, notwithstanding that most of the 9 member group are anti-Vietnam and anti-Nixon... At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director John Scheinfeld ("The U. S. v. Lennon"). Here he examines what happened to a band that was at the peak of their critical and commercial success, and ends up being 'canceled" (as we know that term today) after touring behind the Iron Curtain. The film makers have interviewed all the primary characters involved. Amazingly, the State Department had hired a large film crew (including 5 camera men) to document the whole thing, with the intent of releasing a film to the public at large. This documentary does an excellent job in showcasing both the political aspects of this entire episode, and the musical aspects (the concert footage shows BS&T in peak form, and the music is MILES better than what I recall of them).

"What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears" was released in early 2023, but I only recently became aware of it when browsing Amazon Prime for something good to watch and Prime recommended it to me. :What the Hell Happened" is currently rated 81% Certified Fresh, which sounds about right to me. If you are in the mood for a slice of rock music history that you probably never even know existed, or simply are a fan of Blood, Sweat & Tears, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

An amazing film, not just the usual famous band documentary. It is sad to realize that we lost many years of more great music due to a scandal initiated by our own government, and then by the narcissistic leaders of the 1970s counterculture. There was no good way out for this band, but they made the best they could, and meanwhile, left us a great legacy of music that we still love and joy to this day. In an age of idealism that celebrated communism and socialism, they documented the awful realities inside the countries they visited and performed for. Not unlike today, because it didn't fit the popular narrative, the band was ostracized, both by the counterculture they still represented, as well as the state department and president because their political views were very different. The result? We all lost a very great band prematurely, and the idiots on both sides that made this happen deserve our full derision. It was fun to watch and very entertaining and taught you a lot about these great musicians, and also satisfying to see the truth rain down upon those who deceived us about the truth.

This film about Blood, Sweat & Tears not only reignited my love for their music but also unlocked intense childhood memories. When I was around five years old, my parents played their album constantly, and I would dance around the house, completely immersed in the rhythms and melodies. Watching this documentary, I discovered so many songs I hadn't heard before, and I was blown away by the depth and diversity of their catalog.

As an adult, I've gained a new appreciation for the band, especially their brilliant fusion of jazz and rock, which was so original for its time. Their unique sound places them at the top of my list of favorite bands from that generation. The film also captured an interesting and poignant chapter in their history-touring Eastern Bloc Soviet countries. Watching how their music uplifted people living under such oppressive regimes was incredibly moving. It underscored the power of musical expression, especially in places where freedom of speech and creativity were severely restricted.

Reflecting on that, I couldn't help but feel a sense of concern about the direction America is heading, particularly under Democratic leadership. The lack of freedom of speech and expression (and propaganda) is becoming more evident, echoing what history has already shown us. This film, beyond being a tribute to the band, serves as a reminder of how essential music and freedom are to the human spirit. Blood, Sweat & Tears not only entertained but also embodied that powerful expression, making this movie both an emotional and thought-provoking experience.

I've always loved David Clayton Thomas's voice and the music of Blood Sweat and Tears. They're favorites along with Chicago, Steely Dan, and Earth Wind and Fire for big brass lines and complex instrumentation.

However, I had no idea what had happened to them being a little too young to remember much about the counterculture. I assumed that they went the way of most popular bands who had personality difficulties and fell apart.

It's really interesting to find out this was far from the case. The other reviewers here give you the story of their fateful trip behind the Iron Curtain. Just because the members said that the communist countries were oppressive and essentially - worse than the government in the US - people decided that they had turned their back on there political beliefs and had become shells for the government. Their career never really recovered.

I think they could have edited and arranged things so that there would be room to at least mention the other members in the nine person band. Also Id have liked a little more background on how they came together and how their career ended. Their experiences had to be incredibly impactful for everyone.

At this particular time in American history, this isn't just nostalgia, it's an important reflection of what has gone and what can go on in the United States.