ROBERT TRUJILLO: 'Time Management In The World Of METALLICA Is Very Important'

METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo was recently asked by the “Sunrise Bar & Grill” morning show on the Rock 103 radio station in Memphis, Tennessee how he found the time to produce the acclaimed new documentary “Jaco”, which chronicles the brief but extraordinary life of the great American musician/composer Jaco Pastorius. He responded (hear audio below): “Time management in the world of METALLICA is very important. We all have families, and, obviously, that’s very important. And then, whatever your passions are… I know James [Hetfield, METALLICA guitarist/vocalist] — maybe people know this, or maybe they don’t know this — he’s an amazing custom car builder. I mean, designing and doing these projects with some of his people and his friends. And they enter car shows around the U.S. and they win. It’s really, really amazing what he does. So he’s a bit of an artist on that level. And Kirk [Hammett, METALLICA guitarist] has a thing called Fear [FestEvil]. He’s got a really amazing collection of monster memorabilia and posters — like, original works — and that’s a passion for him; it’s always been a passion for him. And finally, he’s taking it on the road. And he put out a book, as well, on the same subject. And Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer], as a lot of people know, has been an art collector, on and off, over the years. So everybody has their things that they do aside from [METALLICA]. And for me, I really wanted [Jaco‘s] story to be told. And I was actually… At times, I’d be looking for it, to see if anybody was making a film on Jaco. And I’ve known his son since 1996, so I’ve known him for a long time; we’ve been friends for many years, and sort of just kind of got on board.”

“Jaco”, directed by Paul Marchand and Stephen Kijak, will be available via VOD, streaming services, and digital download on Friday, November 27.

“Jaco” will also have its official DVD/Blu-ray release that day, in association with Record Store Day and Black Friday 2015. That same day will also see the long anticipated release of “Jaco: Original Soundtrack”, Sony/Legacy‘s official musical companion to the film.

“Jaco” was the subject of a successful PledgeMusic campaign which concluded at the end of September.

The official Record Store Day film of 2014, “Jaco” had its world premiere earlier this year at Austin, Texas’s SXSW Film Conference & Festival, accompanied by a panel discussion featuring filmmakers Trujillo and Marchand as well as longtime Pastorius collaborator Peter Erskine (WEATHER REPORT, WORD OF MOUTH) and “Jaco” executive producer John Pastorius.

“Jaco” has since earned applause at a number of major festivals, including the inaugural Asbury Park Music in Film Festival and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The film “[captures] the essence of what made Jaco such an influential artist,” declared the Montreal Gazette, praising “the glowing words of Marchand‘s interviewees and the many recorded and live musical excerpts that he lets speak for themselves” and hailing “Jaco” as “an enlightening introduction to a groundbreaking musician.”

“Jaco” tells the remarkable and tragic tale of Jaco Pastorius, a self-taught, larger-than-life musician who single-handedly changed the course of modern music by redefining the sound and the role of the electric bass guitar. Never-before-seen 8mm film, photographs, and audio recordings unveil the true story behind Pastorius‘ all-too-brief life, his music, and heartbreaking end.

“Jaco” follows Pastorius‘ beginnings and ascent, from his era-defining work with jazz-fusion pioneers WEATHER REPORT to crossover collaborations with Joni Mitchell and Ian Hunter to his own inspired solo career as bandleader and composer. Highlighted by exclusive material from the Pastorius family archive, the film features memories and encomiums from a spectrum of Jaco fans and followers, including Joni Mitchell, Sting, Flea, Herbie Hancock, Geddy Lee, Bootsy Collins, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, and many others.