As John Landis explains in a video for the AV Club (via Yahoo!), since John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were not great dancers, he figured he could make them look better by hiring non-professional dancers.

Does Dan Aykroyd really play the accordion?

Aykroyd: Or course, the Shmenge brothers. They were going to have me play the piano, but I thought the accordion was more interesting and, of course I wrote myself something so difficult to pull off. I don't play the accordion, but I worked with a wonderful guy called Doug Legacy.

Did John Belushi really sing in Blues Brothers?

Origins. The genesis of the Blues Brothers was a January 17, 1976, Saturday Night Live sketch. In it, "Howard Shore and his All-Bee Band" play the Slim Harpo song "I'm a King Bee", with Belushi singing and Aykroyd playing harmonica, dressed in the bee costumes they wore for "The Killer Bees" sketches.

Did John Belushi do his own stunts in The Blues Brothers?

John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd performed their own stunts in the movie, including car chases and high jumps.

Did Dan Aykroyd like John Belushi?

Friendship with John Belushi

In an appearance on the Today show, Aykroyd referred to John Belushi and himself as "kindred spirits". In the biography Belushi, Aykroyd claims that Belushi was the only man with whom he could ever dance.

Blues Brothers: Soul Man - SNL

What is Dan Aykroyd disability?

In recent radio and print interviews, Aykroyd has acknowledged that he has mild Tourette's syndrome and high-functioning Asperger's. He talked about how therapy helped ease his Tourette's symptoms by his mid-teens, and how he had learned to channel his Asperger's into creativity for his acting and singing career.

Why did Dan Aykroyd quit acting?

"I'd like to find the last vehicle and exit on a really high, graceful substantial note in film," Aykroyd told the Toronto Globe and Mail. "I don't feel compelled and driven, career-wise. At 49 years old, I'm really feeling sedentary, reclusive. I really just want to shut everything down for a little while."

Did they actually drive through a mall in Blues Brothers?

Real Mall, Real Mayhem!

While many films build giant sets to destroy for filming purposes, The Blues Brothers destroyed an actual mall. The iconic scene was filmed in Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois, which had recently been closed due to crime and gang activity in the area.

Did Dan Aykroyd sing Rawhide in Blues Brothers?

The song is actually the cover reused from The Blues Brothers, mentioned above, performed by an uncredited Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as various desert animals. However, the song is not heard on the soundtrack for copyright reasons.

How many cars were destroyed in filming The Blues Brothers?

How many cars were destroyed during the making of The Blues Brothers? 103 cars destroyed in the 1980 film, 104 cars destroyed in Blues Brothers 2000.

Did John Belushi really sing Joe Cocker?

It was so popular that in “SNL's” second season, Belushi actually got to perform alongside Cocker himself when the singer was the musical guest on the October 2, 1976, show. The pair appeared on stage, dressed identically, singing “Feelin' Alright.” Apparently, Cocker himself was OK with the spastic impression.

Why was Jim Belushi not in Blues Brothers 2000?

Casting. The film was originally intended to include Brother Zee Blues (Jim Belushi). But due to an already existing television deal (he had been cast in the ABC drama Total Security), he was unable to appear and the script was altered to include Cab Blues (Joe Morton).

Was Steven Spielberg in The Blues Brothers?

The film is also notable for the number of cameo appearances by established celebrities and entertainment-industry figures, including Steve Lawrence as a booking agent, Twiggy as a "chic lady" in a Jaguar convertible whom Elwood propositions at a gas station, Steven Spielberg as the Cook County Assessor's clerk, Landis ...

Did Dan Aykroyd invent anything?

Aykroyd launched his own vodka brand, Crystal Head, in 2007, but before that, in 2005 he set up a company to import Patrón tequila into Canada, according to the BBC. So essentially, Aykroyd is the reason Canadians started drinking Patrón.

Why is Dan Aykroyd wearing a hat?

Dan Aykroyd pays tribute to service workers by wearing hat

The 70-year-old is widely known for his iconic comedic roles in some of the most classic films, from Trading Places to Driving Miss Daisy.

Did Dan Aykroyd actually play the harmonica in Blues Brothers?

Who really played harmonica on the Blues Brothers' albums? I've heard Dan Aykroyd live and that isn't the same guy on the albums or in the movie soundtrack. That was Dan Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers.

How did John Belushi pass?

In 1982, he died from combined drug intoxication at the age of 33, after a drug dealer, Cathy Smith, injected him with a mixture of heroin and cocaine (known as a speedball) at the Chateau Marmont. He was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.

Who has a cameo in Blues Brothers?

What was the number one song on The Blues Brothers?

The most popular song by The Blues Brothers is “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” with a total of 60.8K page views.

Was anyone hurt filming The Blues Brothers?

Even with all the stunts, there were only a few minor injuries throughout filming. That “we got away that lightly, I would say is miraculous,” Aykroyd said. “God was on our side.”

Were the prisoners real in The Blues Brothers?

The Blues Brothers' opening scene where Jake is released from prison was filmed at the Joliet Correctional Center. The scene starts with Jake being escorted down a hallway full of inmates, who were real prisoners paid for being in the movie, before walking across the prison yard to collect his belongings.

Where is the diner scene in Blues Brothers filmed?

Infamously known as “The Restaurant Scene,” Jake and Elwood make a rude ruckus at the fancy Chez Paul in Chicago. Many see the resemblance in this scene and the restaurant scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This is because both were set at Chez Paul in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.

Who was Dan Aykroyd best friend?

Dan Aykroyd pays tribute to his dear friend and “Blues Brothers” co-star, John Belushi, reminiscing about their shared journey. Aykroyd shares that he believes John would have found his calling directing Broadway plays had he still been with us.

What did Dan Aykroyd say about John Belushi?

REMEMBERING JOHN BELUSHI

“He would have been king in those places. Whenever I walk in and see his picture there, they have the Blues Brothers up at the bar, I get wistful because, boy, he would have loved walking around these palaces.” John's brother, actor Jim, is now Aykroyd's partner in the Blues Brothers.