Documentary About A&R Executive Who 'Discovered' METALLICA To Be Released This Month

July 12, 2017

"Who The F**k Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey Of Michael Alago" will receive its world premiere on July 22 in Hollywood, California through XLrator Media, Rugged Entertainment and Stone Films NYC.

Director Drew Stone ("The New York Hardcore Chronicles Film", "xxx All Ages xxx: The Boston Hardcore Film") tells a uniquely American story of Alago's journey from humble roots in Brooklyn into the netherworld of downtown New York's music and arts scene of the 1970s and 1980s.

Alago rose from running THE DEAD BOYS fan club to live booker at the legendary Ritz nightclub and then onto a storied A&R career at Elektra Records, Geffen Records and Palm Pictures, where he signed and executive produced acts as diverse as METALLICA, WHITE ZOMBIE, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, PUBLIC IMAGE LTD, Cyndi Lauper and Nina Simone.

The story covers the crazy glory days of the music business as well as how Michael survived the late '90s industry downturn and reinvented himself successfully as a visual artist, poet and published photographer. Viewers will also journey through the nightclubs, underground haunts and uptown parties of a long-changed New York art scene in its creative and decadent heyday.

Stone's film will also tackle how Alago succeeded professionally as a gay man in a metal music subculture known for its perceived homophobia and how sobriety re-focused Michael's creative vision and drove his successful reinvention as an artist himself.

Said Stone: "Michael's inspiring and cautionary tale features many of the elements that I love as a filmmaker. It's got gritty old New York, an alternative lifestyle and a hard rock soundtrack. He's a well-loved figure who has a unique and incredible life story that really comes through in the film."

The film is screening at the Arena Cinelounge in Hollywood July 21-27 before going to video on demand and then Netflix. Tickets can be purchased here. The film is also screening at the Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn, New York on July 31. Tickets can be purchased here.

Photo (left to right): director Drew Stone and Michael Alago

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