The Warped Tour is an incredible machine—a massive, ear-piercingly loud, teen angst-powered machine that will not die: more than 125 tour busses, semis, vans, and motorhomes … 17,500 miles, 48 cities, 700,000 kids, and 100 bands playing daily … flat tires, mechanical trouble, stolen vans, pouring rain, and lightning … nothing can stop this tour. The tour has been running for more than a decade, but surprisingly, up until now, no one has climbed inside the belly of the beast to attempt a real behind-the-scenes look at the Warped Tour. Sure, people have come out for a day or two and filmed some bands and asked a few questions before retreating back to their comfortable lives. But we were determined to stay the course and find out how grueling life on the road is for all the musicians, set-up crew, sponsors, and Warped staff.
Although the documentary is very much about the music, it is just as much about the kids and their “question authority” attitude, which also drives many of the young musicians on the tour. While you will surely find a number of boneheaded pit jocks on the tour, you will also find a large number of young people who have a social conscience and want to make the world, corrupted by greed and ignorance, a better place to live.
Enter peta2, the Youth Division of the controversial People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and Senior Youth Outreach Coordinator Jason Bayless. In 2001, Jason staffed peta2’s first booth at the Warped Tour, and over the past four years, he has built relationships with a surprising number of young band members who are vegetarian, vegan, or anti-fur or just support the ideals of peta2 in some way.
As a vegetarian/vegan for more than 15 years and all-around animal-friendly, punk-rock, activist kind of guy, I could not pass up this project. I was also inspired by Jason’s personal story: a small-town Texas kid growing up raising cattle, pigs, and goats for slaughter, only to rebel against the cowboy status quo and devote his life to activism against police brutality, animal abuse, and other social injustices.
In making this film, my goal was to capture the challenges that the youth of today are willing to face—and the sacrifices that they are willing to make—to bring positive social change to our world, all while using their passions as an outlet. I believe that everyone has a contribution to make in this world, and our contribution just happens to come from the young, tattooed, pierced, dirty, travel-weary, rock-and-roll subculture of the Warped Tour.
Short Synopsis
Follow Texas-farm-boy-turned-punk-rock-road-warrior Jason Bayless as he charges his way across the country on the Vans Warped Tour. From sexy groupies to crazy nights of excess, watch as he’s given exclusive access to wild backstage and onstage happenings. Bayless, along with extreme documentary filmmakers David Bergthold of Blockhead Skateboards and pro skateboarder Laban Pheidias, was granted exclusive access to all aspects of the tour. Every night is a Saturday night and every morning is a Monday morning when you tour with the longest-running music festival on the planet!
Long Synopsis
Wake Up Screaming is a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes look at the Vans Warped Tour through the eyes of Texas-farm-boy-turned-punk-rock-road-warrior Jason Bayless. Bayless, along with extreme documentary filmmakers David Bergthold of Blockhead Skateboards and pro skateboarder Laban Pheidias, was granted exclusive access to all aspects of the tour.
Follow peta2’s Jason and crew as they spend nine weeks traveling through 48 cities, rubbing elbows with the hottest bands of today and hundreds of punk rock all-stars.
Watch awesome live performances from emerging new bands, including Emery, Strike Anywhere, Valient Thorr, Bleed the Dream, and more! With more than 700,000 fans in attendance, there is never a shortage of sexy groupies and crazy nights of excess. Witness all the wild backstage and onstage happenings as Jason gets a firsthand account of this exciting lifestyle.
Every night is a Saturday night and every morning is a Monday morning when you tour with the longest-running music festival on the planet!
