MovieChat Forums > Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006) Discussion > If you know anything about Robert Johnso...

If you know anything about Robert Johnson...

posted 16 years ago by voltK
6 replies | jump to latest

...you would know that he DIDN'T use a pick to play guitar - he played fingerstyle (i.e. plucking the strings with the fingers of his right hand). So, the explanation about the origin of the pick of destiny makes no sense. It probably would make more sense to say it came from Chuck Berry, who DID use a pick, and was THE pioneer of rock & roll guitar.

I submitted this as a "goof" but it never got posted. Probably lost in the millions of submissions imdb workers sift through every day. Sorry if someone already posted this. Still a really funny movie though.

Am I right or am I right?

[–] Tez20 16 years ago

You are correct sir

[–] War_Pig 16 years ago

I think that he might have used a thumb pick though. In one of the photographs you can see a white band around his thumb. You are still quite correct though, he played with his fingers.

[–] necroticfuzzfunk 16 years ago

AH but then they don't specifically say he played with it, they just say he had it.

During the Master Exploder bit, JB just has the pick around his neck, but it still works...

But yeah, good point dude, definitely counts as a goof

[–] king_of_bob 12 years ago

True, however, they played Master Exploder in JBs dream. We don't actually know if it would work that way or not.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] bjc122478 16 years ago

this is a comedy, not an exacty history lesson on rock and roll. But the whole devil-plot in regards to the pick has a tie to Robert Johnson, check it out:

According to a legend known to modern Blues fans, Robert Johnson was a young black man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi. Branded with a burning desire to become a great blues musician, he was instructed to take his guitar to a crossroad near Dockery's plantation at midnight. There he was met by a large black man (the Devil) who took the guitar from Johnson and tuned it. After tuning the guitar, the devil played a few songs and then returned it to Johnson, giving him mastery of the guitar. This in effect sold Johnson's soul; and in exchange Robert Johnson became able to play, sing, and create the greatest blues anyone had ever heard.

[–] voltK 16 years ago

By the way.... If you're interested in the Robert Johnson myth, you should check out Crossroads (1986)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090888/

Although it's a fictional story, it is "based on/inspired by" fact, and it's a pretty cool movie - with a great soundtrack