Producer Beau Hill on Chaos and Confusion Making Bob Dylan's 'Hearts of Fire'
"Let's see if Bob can remember his instructions from fifteen seconds ago"
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On this date in 1987, Hearts of Fire was released. If you know anything about the movie, you know it practically defines the term “flop.” Though today some defend it as a should-be cult classic, at the time it was greeted by what The Independent described as “almost uniformly vituperative reviews.” It did so poorly at the UK box office that it only received a very limited US release before being sent straight to video (SPIN called it “so bad it didn’t get a chance to bomb”).
The movie depicted a 1980s twist on A Star Is Born. A reclusive aging rockstar, played by Bob Dylan, stumbles upon a brilliant unknown singer, played by the mononym’d Fiona, singing with a bar band. He reluctantly mentors her to stardom even as a jaded popstar played by Rupert Everett latches on. A love triangle ensues, as does the fakest stage punch ever thrown.
I recently spoke with Beau Hill, who was Music Director on the movie and produced the soundtrack, which features Dylan on three songs: “Had a Dream About You Baby,” “Night After Night,” and the John Hiatt cover “The Usual.” Hill was then best known for his work with '80s hard-rock and glam bands like Ratt, Warrant, and Winger. He recalled his experiences working on the cursed production, which even Dylan himself soon disavowed. “I did it for the money,” Bob told an interviewer in 1992. “I mean, why else would I do it?”
Watch the trailer if you need a quick refresher on the movie, then read my conversation with Beau Hill.
I rewatched the movie last night.
I’m so sorry to hear that.
It’s a wild ride, that’s for sure. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get involved?
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