The Grand Illusion

A political thriller with a classic rock band at the heart of the action, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS? involves the U.S. State Department, the Nixon White House, the governments of Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland, and documentary footage that has been suppressed for over 50 years by one or all of the above.

In June 1970, hot off their spectacular Grammy win for Album of the Year, Blood, Sweat & Tears became the first American rock band to perform behind the Iron Curtain on a tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

Upon their return home, they became a victim of the significant societal upheaval and culture wars in a polarized America, finding themselves in a crossfire between the Right AND the Left. The group suffered greatly as a result, suddenly losing support from fans, the media, concert bookers, and the recording industry.

Through documentary footage shot during the Iron Curtain tour (and thought to be lost), along with present-day interviews with band members and historians, as well as the unsealing of government records, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS? unravels the details of this extraordinary year in the life of the band.

“Searchingly directed by John Scheinfeld (The U.S. vs. John Lennon), What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? is a tasty and urgent piece of rock history.” Owen Gleiberman, Variety

“Equal parts international intrigue, concert film and VH1-style ‘Behind the Music’ cautionary tale, the documentary raises some interesting if ultimately unanswerable questions as it compellingly inhabits its very specific place in time.” Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times