It’s name game for real Blues Brothers

Jul 10 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

IF YOU thought you knew who Jake and Elwood Blues were, think again. The pair, as immortalised in the 1980 classic The Blues Brothers are alive and well – and Liverpool born and bred.

It might sound surprising, for Jake and Elwood Blues are real, so they say – and insist they have changed their names by deed poll.

They have devised a show featuring the songs they are known for and are coming to the Liverpool Empire on August 1 for one night only.

Making the switch became a necessity, they say, after Dan Ackroyd, who starred in the original film, threatened to sue them for using the names.

With no case to answer if they legally were Jake Blues and Elwood Blues, they say they didn’t hesitate to leave their own identities behind, right down to the mugshots in sunglasses on their driving licences.

As all the songs in the film are cover versions, and by calling the show Jake & Elwood, the Best Blues Brothers Show, there is no stopping them.

The duo have been working together for the past 10 years, after meeting in Yate’s Wine Lodge, in Bootle.

Now their act, featuring the Fabulous Black Rhino Band including Jake’s son on drums, takes them across Europe and the UK, and they have even supported blues legend Gary Moore.

Elwood, who is originally from Wavertree, but now lives in Derbyshire, and describes himself as a "Blues Brothers anorak", said: "When we met, with Dutch courage I thought ‘I can do that’ – the next thing we had a gig and it’s just gone from strength to strength over the years.

"But to me this is a special gig, we’ve got a big Liverpool connection and I’m dedicating it to my mum who’s not well.

"I came to the Empire as a kid to watch the West End show of the Blues Brothers."

Jake, who was born on Scotland Road, is known by those closest to him as Bill, and is still cartwheeling on stage at 58, said: "I’m a really old bluesman and I love what we do. The only reason we changed our names is because they said we couldn’t do it.

"It’s a family show with great music and it’s brilliant.

"After this show, we’ll be back to do a Christmas show at the Arena.

"From bars to an Arena – we must be doing something right."

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk