The Daily Tonic: Spices, Bags and English Fags

With all of last week’s talk of celebrity stoners, we completely forgot to remind you of one of the sweeter stories from the PB vault…

JB writes:
“I was a runner for a film that Brad Pitt was starring in. I was told to collect him and co-star Harrison Ford and take them on set. I open the door to Pitt’s trailer and stick my head in, calling out ‘Mr Pitt?’. I get about two steps in and see Brad smoking a HUGE joint.

“He asks me if I want to finish the joint with him and passes it to me, warning me to go easy as it’s strong. 21 year-old me tries to be cool so sucks down some giant lungfuls. Four minutes later I can’t even move. Brad eventually asks if I’m OK. I have to say I’m not. Brad tells me not to worry, to chill out in the trailer for a while, and that he’ll take my little buggy and collect Harrison Ford. He’ll just say on set that he sent me off to do an errand for him.

“It took me about half an hour before I could even pretend to be normal. I stagger back to the set. Nobody bats an eyelid.”

Thanks very much for all your examples of unlicensed celebrity imagery. Today, inspired by a curious rumour we heard this weekend, we want to hear stories about music videos. Whether it’s on-set stories, little bits of trivia, or ambitious/underappreciated videos that deserve a reappraisal in 2020, we’re open to anything.

Today’s Question: What’s the most interesting thing you can tell us about a music video?

Send your suggestions in to hello@popbitch.com and we’ll dish out some goody bags to our favourites.

FK writes:
“You’ve probably already been made aware of Shane Warne’s magnificent mural featuring a scene of his dream barbecue with such guests as Bruce Springsteen, JFK, Muhammad Ali and Marilyn Monroe. Not sure if there’s any breach of anyone’s legal rights but I’m sure Angelina Jolie didn’t give a full-throated approval for her tits (or at least one of them) to be on display.”

[It’s a thing of beauty]

You may have heard of Dublin’s finest-named indoor flooring specialists – Lino Richie – but they’re not the only business to try to sneakily imply an endorsement from the former Commodore. One reader sent us a picture from a market in Sharm El-Sheikh, which encourages Western custom with the name “Egyptian Linol Ritchie Gift Shop.”

Sadly, it doesn’t sell badly-sculpted busts of Lionel. Instead it deals in more general interest items, like handbags, spices and “English fags”.

[Take a look]

If you’ve made your way through the Backstreet Boys in Dead 7 and Mikey from Boyzone in Fatal Deviation, then our next celebrity film recommendation is A Shot At Glory: a film in which actors Robert Duvall, Michael Keaton and Brian Cox all stand shoulder to shoulder in a cast with former Rangers striker and Question Of Sport team captain, Ally McCoist.

Although it might not have set the box office alight, the movie did at least result in one positive thing. This excellent headline: “Rangers Legend Ally McCoist Performed Sex Scene In Front Of Wife And Was ‘A Natural’ Says Hollywood’s Robert Duvall”

[Watch the trailer]

All ten of the songs in today’s audio quiz have been at the centre of a copyright dispute, with the song you’re hearing having supposedly ripped off another.

You get a point for naming each song and each artist, giving you twenty in total – and you can have a bonus point if you identify which one of them ripped off a Louise Redknapp single.

[Play it here]

The Bobby Sands Burger Bar in Tehran
[See on Vice]

Arnie and Stallone deepfaked into Step Brothers
[Watch on YouTube]

Coronavirus is having an impact on otters
[Read on Cornwall Live]