Jan Berry's Corvette

[Bill W.]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

I hate to change the subject but Jimi Hendrix also bought quite a few Corvettes in the late 60s. Where are they????Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

Bill-----

Who knows? I know one thing, for sure, though: he never owned a 1971 or later model.

[JOHN LAWSON]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

I recall a made for TV movie entitled "Deadman's Curve" from the early 1980's. Actually a decent movie with lots of Corvettes and other period cars. In that version Jan had a draft deferment as a Medical student. The deferment was revoked as he was no longer a med student and the crash occured after one of his battles with the local draft board. There were no other people in the car. He was also (according to the movie) suffering from an inflated ego and was minimizing the contributions of his partner Dean Torrance. The film goes on to show his low points during recovery and his eventual rehabilitation. A decent film, it may be out there somewhere on DVD. Rates right up there with Vanishing Point and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry!!

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

The song DeadMan's Curve was NOT about Jan and Dean, it was about Mel Blanc the voice of Bugs *****. When Jan wrote the song remember the voice section about "DOC" it was direct reference to Mel Blanc who did wreck his Corvette on Deadman's Curve, but walked away from the accident....

[JOHN LAWSON]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

The film is available at Amazon.com. Th-th-thatss all folks!

[Jim W.]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

I read fifferent accounts (see below) about Mel Blanc's 1961 accident at a location that had been called "Deadman's Curve" in LA but they said he was driving an Aston Martin and was hit head on by another car. I've never heard of a link to the Jan & Dean song.

http://members.aol.com/scottwheelerband/BLANC.htm

[G B.]

Were Mel's three girl passengers killed? *NM*

[Mark Milner]

Re: Jan Berry's Corvette

There are a few places on Jan and Dean sites that suggests that while writing the song, Jan kept thinking or ran across, the information on Mel Blanc's crash and that is why the "Doc" reference is made.

I always thought the "Doc" reference was because he was either talking to the doctor who was trying to fix the guy in the Jag who crashed or to a shrink.

I believe the accounts I read on Snopes was that Mel Blanc didn't walk away, but had several months of recuperation.

http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/deadman.htm

http://www.sofein.com/tourBook/ppBookD.html

Snopes' version

[JOHN LAWSON]

Re: Were Mel's three girl passengers killed?

Shorly before he died, Mel did admit to having three girls in his car at the time. They were listed as a Miss Olive Oyl of San Bernardino, Petunia Pig (no pun intended) a friend of Bugs and an Orphan from LA namned Annie.