Iggy Pop, Grosse Ile native unite

BY BILL McGRAW
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

Dan Rose has been waiting 18 years for June 24.
That is the date of the local premiere of "Wayne County Ramblin', " his feature-length video that explores the musical, spiritual and historical roots between Detroit and Mississippi, and includes a performance by former Detroiter Iggy Pop, the internationally known godfather of punk, who plays a grandfather.
The 44-year-old Rose, who grew up on Grosse Ile and has worked as a videographer in New York and New Orleans, spent nearly two decades and close to $100,000 on the film.
"There is so much to be proud of in Detroit," he said this week. "Detroit is as fascinating as any city in the country. That's why I made the movie."
The plot centers on a young woman's quest to find her grandfather, who has retired to Mississippi after working at a Detroit auto plant. She, her boyfriend and another traveler encounter specters, spirits and voodoo on their journey.
Rose's focus on spiritualism stems from his long interest in the role African religions play in American life. He has a voodoo altar in his Detroit apartment and, until Katrina, was living in New Orleans with his wife, Peggy O'Neill, drummer of the now-defunct band, the Gories.
In addition to Iggy, a number of musicians have roles in the film, including Detroit soul singer Nathaniel Mayer; Mick Collins of the Dirtbombs, and a former Brownsville Station member, the late Cub Koda. The soundtrack includes Chan Marshall, Eddie Kirkland, Suicide, the Revelons and the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band of Mississippi.
Rose landed Iggy simply by dropping off a script at his New York apartment. Rose produced the film himself because he knew he'd have no luck trying to work with Hollywood.
"I'm so excited with the technology of digital video," he said. "We've hit an age where any 10-year-old kid who loves video can put out his own movie. It's really exciting for the future of storytelling."
The premiere is open to the public. For details, check out www.waynecountyramblin.com.