‘Bang! The Bert Berns Story’ Docu Spins To Abramorama

EXCLUSIVE: Abramorama has acquired North American theatrical and digital rights to Bang! The Bert Berns Story, the documentary that bowed this year at SXSW and screens tomorrow at DOC NYC. Stevie Van Zandt narrates the biographical docu which features commentary from Berns discovery Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Ben E. King and Solomon Burke.

Berns’ son Brett produced and co-directed the docu with Bob Sarles. Abramorama is eyeing a theatrical bow in spring 2017 ahead of a digital debut.

It’s the latest effort to capture Berns, the 1960s songwriter, record producer, label co-owner and enigma who along with Van Morrison found Neil Diamond and Jimmy Page and wrote songs including “Twist And Shout,” “Hang On Sloopy” and Janis Joplin’s “Piece Of My Heart.” He died in 1967 at age 38, but a recent biography and a musical from his kids in the works for a 2017 Broadway bow, Piece Of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story, are keeping his story alive. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year for his bright-white-light career — he died in 1967 at age 38.

“We’re thrilled to bring this terrific film and essential piece of music history out to the world,” said Abramorama’s Richard Abramowitz and Evan Saxon.

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