mercury page 13 AUGUST 3=AUGUST 9, 2011 m or om the ould ds and d, on the d fr w perf har e he w eyboar oussar eral songs after her v s limited musical uss Br d’ an on k m se y ejected Ric or har the national anthem ulti- the national “Family Band” tells a story Band” “Family ietnam, w aul and Susan no go r Ric band, dooming him to enter tours in the military and two V addiction. a heroin develop their performancewhile And of learn goes OK, we mately narration the that Bob’s from the for end badly night would drug-addicted Barry. of and cursed blessed a family a film It’s the same time. at no other like a family about up and ultimately growing coming to terms with the things they cannot change. doesn’t But one thing that of is the role change music in bringing them together — and making both this film and the Bob, possible. healing process P together as Theregularly hus- with Susan’s Cowsills band, R tours John drums (brother Bob’s Boys), with The Beach son R ability. It’s a sensitive subject a sensitive It’s ability. because their father had long a Paul’s son Brendon on guitar son Brendon Paul’s will and vocals. perf the Rhode Island Internation- screening. al Film Festival wn as unning as 2004. or their gig ed the same all of erting to roles v e ho shar hings” (also kno , w k in the f p the cameras r lings r There’s also great footage There’s will see the adult Viewers hile practicing f ar ee ames vasiveness. Their mother’s vasiveness. Palanker’s co-director Ian co-director Palanker’s was smart enough to Broyles k manager, and producer Waddy and producer manager, The sib- also appear. Wachtel lings talk with their aunt sister, Bud’s Eleanor Worley, her by be disappointed to only e Flo and Jean sisters, Presley them do give however, Russell, Bar- insight into the young wild side. bara’s television numerous from with Johnny appearances Carson, Buddy Cash, Johnny “It Douglas. Ebsen and Mike to see the old shows, was hard them as an adult. to look at saw,” the public what saw You Bob said of his 15- watching selfyear-old perform. “I saw and the beauty.” the freshness sib they assumed decades earlier a conflict resolving when w “I Love the Flower Girl.”) the Flower Love “I Tommy Singer-songwriter J anthem singing the national game Fenway Sox at a Red at P argued after Paul the Cowsills grew frustrated with Other T , y k ed b CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Left to right, Susan, Paul, Barry, Richard and Bob are shown on the shown and Bob are Richard Barry, Paul, right, Susan, to Left est sib- all places d “Biggie” mances oodstoc ee times in e amaz or oung W , of har er as g y thr the y e teur Ric w and w omoter of dian of y seen Bill “They were dumbfounded,” “They were of spent much The Cowsills The Newport film includes ed Sox lost to the Yankees 19-8, and Barry would end up indulging in Richard’s meds and up indulging in Richard’s end and Barry would 19-8, the Yankees to lost ed Sox alanker said. “They were alanker estaura who co-wrote Theco-wrote Cowsills’ who & 1967 hit “The Rain, the Park lings on the road) as well as as well lings on the road) Artie Kornfeld, the creator and pr with the filmmakers who with the filmmakers to see the Billy interviewed intervie brother the once headstrong Bob had on screen. they saw onl met in Las V 30 years. the previous P was con- who seeing a Billy trite and understanding and warmand had and giving made peace in his heart with with the people who his life, to him.” mattered 1968 through from the years averaging 1972 on the road, 200 performance per dates Bud made a All the while year. series of bad decisions back start- Among his worst: home. per- ing a fight after the band’s formance on “The Ed Sullivan on their resulted that Show” 10 contracted perf being cut to just two. r Korn, was Thewho Cowsills’ managerroad (and legal guar The park and other things. The park field at on Oct. 16, 2004, during Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. League during Game 3 of the American 2004, on Oct. 16, Park field at Fenway The R out. ending the night passed y - er e film er d an er a v alank ecor pturing their y Bud), Bill ted o oup of r wa , ca gotia . ,” Bob said. “He he cameras w lings and P y s life . T er ne ry’ y to visit and r he sib e him and cut him a lot of Bar leans “Did he rescue us even in us even “Did he rescue T But another g A two-year break ensued break two-year A v alank a ear to buy 90 minutes of 90 minutes ear to buy ead says he feels sorryhis alco- for says he believed whom holic father, was bipolar as a big brother? his death Absolutel took him on and he was hurt the man and for- the most by g it in I did not have that slack me to do.” y spliced together footage of a Billy gaunt and grainy-voiced off-cameratalking between with the aid breathe to breaks ofwho tank. Billy, his oxygen suffered emphysema, from and osteo- Cushing syndrome a couple of died only porosis, at interview months after that No age his 58 at home. black longer the embittered both the sheep from fired after an band and the family infamous quarrel in Las ended with the (that Vegas cops hauling a stunned reactions, as they got stunned reactions, been getting They’d the news. r with the ailing Billy, interview to Palanker. according done so had already makers a separatefor project. P rolling as the siblings were siblings as the rolling the celebration setting up for of Louise Palanker approached Louise Palanker a southernat Bob California he performspub where a reg- reac- ular solo gig. “My first no because we tion was to say he doing anything,” weren’t coming “She kept recalled. then I decided I better back, siblings.” ask my learned old- their after the five in had died Billy est brother Canada on the same night holding a memorial they were in the Hotel Viking service at Barry, brother Newport for Hurri- perished when who New flooded cane Katrina Or - y t, amil y inflicted l ober phone inter es “F lear e c v lings: R t mak , in a tele CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED en ha tor ra w last week. “I think we’re w last week. wsill sib Except need the man they And tha Filming started seven years Filming started seven hildr wings and vicious temper and their search for answers for and their search they could to understand how earned millions perform- have pop with ing their bubblegum mother their reluctant and the U.S. throughout to end up a frac- only Europe deep family tured debt in years. within five alco- to ask — their abusive, who Bud Cowsill, holic father, mismanaged the band and ter- and petite his children rorized wife Barbara — died of at in Mexico in 1992 leukemia age 66. Barbara died of age in 1985 at 56. emphysema Band” part and part memoir the surviving for therapy Co Richard, Paul, John and John Paul, Richard, mood Susan. Bud Cowsill’s s to inability and their mother’s herselfstand up for and her c clo- harm.psychic “It gave 61, the film’s said Bob, sure,” nar vie strongernow.” ago after director-producer e . tion tional g Barbara Cowsill never wanted to be in the to wanted never Cowsill Barbara h mor na or t children didn’t want her in either. But her her in either. want didn’t t children al. te 1960s tiv w muc es

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.film-f ts in the la ANINE WEISMAN They did milk ads, for good- for They did milk ads, But the real story isn’t so story isn’t But the real he Cowsills Story” recaps he Cowsills Y J har and and her oldes Mom in the middle. B

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m. 10, Aug. Wednesday, of the 1 Avenue The Vets, Providence Arts, $15 Tickets 861-4445 (401) www other. How did it all come crashing down? crashing did it all come How other. RHODE ISLAND FILM INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL THE BAND: ‘FAMILY STORY’ COWSILLS The Cowsills had fame, fortune and each and fortune fame, had The Cowsills A family faces the music faces family A arts ness sak could The wholesome get? TheirCowsills matching outfits this musi- blasted cheer chord to the top ofcal family the pop c sunny in a new documentary in a new sunny on the r behind “The Partridge Fami- the 10 at Aug. premiering ly,” Rhode Island Inter Film Festival. “Family Band: “Family Film Festival. T the rise and fall of these tal- siblings ented Newport-bred husband did. Clockwise around her from upper left in this 1967 her from did. Clockwise around husband and John. Susan Barry, Bob, Billy, are photo b