‘That ain’t no Hank Williams song!’: Big stars threw those beer bottles at the Blues Brothers

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A key moment in the original Blues Brothers film finds the band dodging beer bottles at a backwoods dive where the barkeep informs them they have both kinds of music — “country and western.” Turns out, two very famous people were hurling those empty Budweisers.

Seems Willie Nelson and Sissy Spacek were nearby at work on another 1980 film classic in Coal Miner’s Daughter “They came over to see what the Blues Brothers were up to,” says guitarist Cropper, tells Right at Home.

As the Blues Brothers learn in the movie, it’s a very good thing Bob’s Country Bunker had protective chicken wire stretched across the front of that stage. As the they opened with a version of the R&B-soaked classic “Gimme Some Lovin,'” the hard-drinking crowd becomes decidedly unruly. Then the honky tonk’s manager rails: “That ain’t no Hank Williams song!,” and turns the stage lights out.

The Blues Brothers are forced to play the only country song they know — the theme from “Rawhide.” Soon, the empties are flying again, but this time in appreciation. Who knew that such famous people were the ones throwing them, though?

Blues Brothers director “Jon Landis handed them a bottle of beer bottles, and says: ‘Throw ’em at the guys,'” Cropper adds, with a laugh. “So, they did.”

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