For Immediate Release                     Press Contact: Marjory Wentworth

                                                      843/971/6930, marjwpub@bellsouth.net

HAPPY TRAILERS AND HEATDRUM PRODUCTIONS PRESENT:

ROCK n ROLL MADE IN MEXICO,

FROM EVOLUTION TO REVOLUTION

….the film is compelling, especially for its vintage footage that includes police surveillance tape of demonstrations……it’s good to remember the long and winding road that brought us here.

                                                Agustin Gurza, The Los Angeles Times            

Directed by intrepid filmmaker Lance Miccio and produced by Rock Icon Fito de la Parra of (Los Sparks, Los Hooligans, Los Sinners, Javier Batiz Band, Canned Heat), the film tells the untold story of Rock and Roll in Mexico through the eyes of those who lived it, including Mexican rock icons and legends Javier Batiz (who influenced Carlos Santana's unique style), Alex Lora and Lalo Toral from "El Tri," Johnny Ortega of Los Hooligans and many others.  "I travel the world continuously, and I've never seen in any country a story as compelling as the story of Mexican rock," said de la Parra, who got his start as a teenager playing in various Mexican rock bands.    The story covers the early innocent days of Cafés and yard parties, through the severe oppression that plagued the Mexican Rockers and the country, eventually resulting in the illegalization of Rock and Roll after the notorious Avandaro Concert (known as the Mexican Woodstock). It wasn't until 1985 that Rock was made legal once again.  Filmmakers Miccio and de la Parra bring this epic struggle of art against authority full circle from the beginning to today, where contemporary Mexican Rockers now thrive on the world stage.

Screenings:Rock 'n' Roll Made in Mexico, From Evolution to Revolution was screened at the 12th Annual LA Latino International Film Festival, The Mann Chinese Theatre #2, Sept 16th 2008, 9.30pm.Following the screening Javier Batiz and Fito de la Parra, plus Banner of the Sun and Canned Heat Band Members held a jam session, on an outdoor stage in front of the Egyptian Theatre.Forthcoming screenings include:

TJ Mexico................................Sept. 25

Rio Hondo College.....................Oct. 2

San Antonio , TX ........................Oct. 23

Paso Digital Film festival*............Nov. 21-25

*hosted by Clint Eastwood

About the Filmmakers:Director Lance Miccio was born and raised in Brooklyn NY . He is the son of a NY Fireman, and was in the US Submarine service when he was young. In 1993, Miccio received an Art Scholarship to the College of Charleston and studied Expressionist Painting there before transferring the University of Wales UK and completing his BFA.  In 1995, he attended the prestigious Slade School of Art in London . Miccio broke into the Hollywood scene in 2003, when Academy Award winning Executive Producer John Daly (Platoon, Terminator, Hoosiers, Salvador , Last Emperor) bought Miccio's script after seeing a promo trailer he had made from it. From there, Miccio went on to co-write and direct a feature documentary titled The Jukebox ;From Edison to iPod which was narrated by Peter Coyote and featured at the 6oth Cannes Film festival in the short corner film section.

In 2005 Miccio began his collaboration with Canned Heat Drummer Fito de la Parra after a History Channel project brought them together.  Soon, Miccio and de la Parra set off to produce Living The Blues, which is based on the memoir novel and created a short film of the same title before embarking on their documentary feature Rock n Roll Made in Mexico ;From Evolution to Revolution. Lance Miccio has helmed the LA based Production company Happy Trailers HD since its inception. Lance continues to make cutting edge documentaries, intrepidly interweaving politics and Rock 'n' Roll in a thought provoking, disturbingly humorous, way.

Producer Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra has played drums professionally since he was 14 years old. He was born in Mexico City on February 8, 1946, and as he grew older, had become a member of a series of Mexican rock bands, starting with Los Sparks in 1958 and including Los Juniors, Los Sinners, Los Hooligans and Javier Batiz / the "Godfather of Rhythm & Blues" in Mexico and Carlos Santana's first guitar mentor… all of which mainly played covers of American hits. Los Sinners evolved into Los Tequilas and, after a number of gold records, entered the U.S. in 1965 to play in clubs in the Los Angeles area. After some success, de la Parra returned to Mexico where he married an American woman and soon returned to the U.S. again. This time, as the drummer for the house band at the Tom Cat Club in Torrance , California , he played behind some of the greatest R&B artists of the time, including the Coasters, T-Bone Walker, Ben E. King, Mary Wells, Etta James, and the Platters. After a short stint with the Sotweed Factor, they broke up and he joined Bluesberry Jam.

On December 1, 1967, Fito played his first gig with a group of record collectors called CANNED HEAT. Canned Heat gained international attention and secured their niche in the pages of rock 'n roll history with tier performances at eh 1967 Monterey Pop Festival (along with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Who) and the headlining slot at the original Woodstock Festival in 1969.  Canned Heat's unique blend of modern electric blues, rock and boogie has earned them a loyal following and influenced many aspiring guitarists and bands during the past four decades. Their Top-40 country-blues-rock songs, "On The Road Again," "Let's Work Together," and "Going Up The Country," became rock anthems throughout the world with the latter being adopted as the unofficial theme for the film Woodstock .  

Canned Heat has survived under the leadership of Fito de la Parra since the late 70's. Since 1967, the band has toured extensively all over the world, performing at numerous festivals including Monterey Pop, Newport Pop, the Sturgis Motorcycle Run U.S.A. , and the original Woodstock . They have performed at world-renowned venues such as Paris' Olympia, both Fillmore Auditoriums, The Kaleidoscope, Carnegie Hall (with John Lee Hooker), Madison Square Garden and even Royal Albert Hall and have played more biker festivals than any other band in the world. Fito's book, LIVING THE BLUES, is the complete and outrageous Canned Heat story of "Music, Drugs, Death, Sex and Survival" along with over 100 captivating pictures from their past. Besides playing music, Fito has produced many Canned Heat CD's, and music from other artists including Javier Batiz. Fito is also now also involved in film producing, and is working currently on Living The Blues a feature film based on his book. Fito has also produced the DVD documentary Boogie With Canned Heat: the Canned Heat Story, on Eagle Rock Entertainment. His books and DVDs are available on his website www.cannedheatmusic.comFor further information please contact Marjory Wentworth, 843-971-6930, marwpub@bellsouth.net.  The filmmakers are available for interviews.  To view a trailer of Rock n Roll Made in Mexico , From Evolution to Revolution see www.Happytrailershd.com  completed projects page or www.myspace.com/rockmadeinmexico.  

Heat Drum Productions

Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra, Producer

919 McKevett Road

Santa Paula, CA 93060

heatdrum@verizon.net

805.525.8482

Happy Trailers HD llc

202 Main Street Suite 15

Venice, CA 90291

310.581.4130