Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
OK I've seen this movie maybe....um....100 times...well could be more, don't know? Honestly it so much different than your run of the mill fighting movies...the fights are so raw and progressive that I haven't seen any other fighting movie like it. Its got your basic elements, training scene, the bad guy, the chick, etc..but its a lot better than any other fighting movie I have seen. It is actually my most favorite movie ever. I'v watched it so many times and still can't get enough of it. I have the DVD(got it when it first came out..thought the day would never come),I have a recorded TV version that has the edits.."you lose American...."(you'll get that if you are a hardcore Bloodsport fan), I also have the video version..I think its been watched to many times. Good movie anyway.
- IMDb.com
I was at the Kumite in '76, which was held in the back alley's of hong kong and i have seen the so called film Blood Sport... I must say bloodsport was better than the real thing, especially the musical performances of on Steve Bush and Michael Bishop. My God, there is not a day that goes by that I don't run around in my PJ's and pretend 2 FBI agents are chasing me while I sing "steal the night"
- Amazon.com
WOOWWW!! This is probably the greatest collection of songs I've ever heard since Off the Wall. OH MY GOD!!! Stan Bush and Michael Bishop are demigods. If this is not the greatest soundtrack to have ever been released I don't know what is. I LOVE THIS ALBUM WITH ALL MY HEART. Jean Claude Van Damme is the greatest actor of the late eighties, early nineties. FIGHT TO SURVIVE BABY!!! WOOHOOOO.
- Amazon.com
This Soundtrack is Awesome and I totally recomend it. The only thing that upsets me is it does not have "Steal the Night" by Michael Bishop but other then that I highly recomend this soundtrack. Its a Damme good soundtrack and probably the best.
- Amazon.com
Dear Mr Bishop,
First I would like to take the opportunity of thanking you for your recent reply concerning your song "Steal the Night". I am so pleased that I have managed to contact you, the individual who wrote, performed, and produced that excellent song. I know a number of people who absolutely love that song and have continued to do so since they first saw the film (Bloodsport) in the early 90's. I should perhaps at this point tell you a little of myself; My name is John and at present I am reading for my PhD in Psychology at the University of Southampton. England.
I and an ex girlfriend of mine were actually introduced to Jean Claude Van Damme and his then wife in 1994 in Planet Hollywood, London, while he was publicising the film Timecop. In fact I asked him which of the songs from Bloodsport he liked the most and he said 'Steal the Night' (followed by JCVD singing the chorus to us).
I'm not sure if you are aware but 'Steal the Night' is quite an underground cult hit with people who have seen Bloodsport in Europe and the UK. I think 95% of people who have watched the film remember the song. Since 2000 I have been to Germany, France, Spain and Portugal, and I have heard people singing 'Steal the Night'. For some unknown reason 'Steal the Night' seems to be massive in Germany. Some German friends told me that the song, for them, had strong associations with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and symbolises freedom.
'Steal the Night' is popular with martial artists and also with University students. At Southampton, I have met students from all over the world including America who have come to study here, and they know the song. In addition, to Southampton University, I have friends up the road at Oxford University and they love 'Steal the Night' also. Yet the amazing thing about 'Steal the Night's' popularity is that people have only had access to the song through a 2 minute chase sequence in the film Bloodsport. Further demonstration of the song's popularity is that some people are singing 'Steal the Night' to themselves who have never even seen the film, but have heard other people singing the tune.
For your information, the soundtrack to Bloodsport is now a collectors item because it was only released in Germany. Today, it regularly sells on EBAY for £50 (about $75), yet everybody who buys it remarks in disappointment "where's Steal the Night?" In fact people have told me that they have gone long distances to buy Bloodsport OST just for 'Steal the Night' only to find it is absent.
Over the years since 1988 when the film was released 'Steal the Night' seems to have become quite popular amongst an esoteric group of people. In a recent Internet forum debating the best songs from 80's movies 'Steal the Night' was mentioned many times. There are also a number of Internet message boards where people have asked how they can get 'Steal the Night', and others asking how they can get the lyrics. Everybody seems to be amazed that the song has never been released and are frustrated that they cannot get hold of the song.
In the UK, although the song seems to have disappeared from public view since the film was released, the song has slowly grown in popularity and gets a resurgence of life whenever the film is shown on television. For some reason 'Steal the Night' has become that rare thing, a success without ever being released. I could elaborate further on the qualities that make the song unique but this e-mail is quite long enough.
I do hope that I have emphasised to you the popularity of 'Steal the Night' in the UK and Europe. You should realise that through 'Steal the Night' you have a potentially big fan base in Europe for your music if you ever wanted commercial success there.
Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail and I hope I have not monopolised your time.
Sincerely, John
- John Spreadbury / Oxford University
Discography
Michael Bishop (Composer - filmography)
Bloodsport
Shy People
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown
American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
Street Smart
52 Pick-Up
Prehysteria!
Raging Angels
Beanstalk
Prehysteria! 2
Prehysteria! 3
Last Call
Alienator
Survival Game
Three Kinds of Heat
Duet for One
Morning Terror(aka Time Troopers)
Parkers Picture
A Night At Magic Castle
Heroin: The Addict
Cocaine: The Addict
Firewalker
Undercover
Head Of The Family
Survival Game
Salsa
Composed, Produced, and Performed the annual “Playboy Calander” theme for the playmate video centerfolds 1985 to 2005.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Michael Bishop’s professional career began as a singer on his mother’s television program at the age of 5. Michael was regularly performing, piano, guitar and singing, with his older brother Harold, also an artist, by the age of 10. Five years later as The Second Time, they won a battle of the bands titled The Pepsi Boss Battle for KHJ Radio/TV LA. Subsequently, in 1966, the Bishop brothers signed recording contracts with Mike Curb’s Sidewalk Productions and management contracts with Robert Fitzpatrick of Stigwood/Fitzpatrick (BeeGees, Cream, etc.).
Michael’s first movie was with his brother, arranging and performing Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil’s songs for the cult classic film “Wild in the Streets” in 1967. During seven years with Sidewalk Productions, the Bishops credits included numerous TV shows, tours, recordings and other projects, and built a relationship with Apple Records/London in 1969. Next Michael and his brother signed to 20th Century Fox in 1971 as artists and writers with Pat and Lolly Vegas (Redbone) producing. There they released two singles as The Street Boys on DiscAZ in Paris, Johnny Halliday’s label. In 1973 the Bishop brothers went to Motown/Jobete Music (a particular victory since they were white and Michael a mere 22 years old), where The Supremes recorded Michael’s song “Loveline.” Michael then began writing and recording with artists Hunt and Tony Sales of Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and David Bowie groups; along with Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar of the Beach Boys, The Ruttles, Bonnie Raitt and The Rolling Stones.
Michael began a small indy label called Radius Records in the mid-seventies. While actively contributing to the live music scene in the “pre-punk dark ages,” on his own Radius Records label, Bishop released various singles and EPs through Rhino Records, Tower Records, Music Plus, and Licorice Pizza. The notorious “Red Light” EP with the tracks “B of A” and “Slaughter in Suburbia” sold its entire pressing. Bishop also produced an hour-long radio show, “Radius Records Hour” for the LA radio stations KROQ and KNAC, just in time for the punk rock invasion in 1977. The live interview and recorded music format featured acts such as Talking Heads, The Damned, Ramones, and many more. Renowned journalist John Mendelsohn, who broke the London punk rock story for Jan Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine, renamed Bishop as John Q. Public. For years Bishop performed as west coast punk rock artist John Q. Public, and although he now performs as Michael Bishop, he continues to receive recognition as John Q. Around the time Michael became John Q. Public, he began an association with Warren Cann of the influential British group, UltraVox. Looking for new horizons, the two began scoring for the then emerging Home Video market. Bishop and Cann composed and produced music for the first Playmate Home Videos. Michael composed the “Playmate Calendar Theme” still used today.
In 1984 Michael received his first composing assignment with “Morning Terror,” a feature film for Skip Steloff and Heritage Films. Continuing as a feature film composer, Michael produced a wide variety of music for Cannon Films, MGM/UA, Full Moon Entertainment, Ashok Ametraj and others, including titles such as “Bloodsport,” “Deathwish IV,” “Shy People,” “Prehysteria I, II ,and III,” “Last Call,” and “Parker’s Picture,” directed by Peter Shore of The Comedy Store Shores.
Bishop went on to produce the release of “Made in USA,” a Hemdale picture (music by Sonic Youth) for Harold Bronson and Rhino Entertainment. Michael then started Classified Films with his brother Raymond Bishop and Emmy and Tony award winning actor, Scott Jacoby. As Classified, they have produced and directed their first feature documentary “RAGE: 20 Years of Punk Rock, West Coast Style,” released on DVD/VHS worldwide through MVD in 2002.
Inspired by the film, Michael produced a soundtrack CD collection of music by various artists in the film, including original music written and performed for the soundtrack. Along with recordings by Jack Grisham of TSOL, the Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, Gitane Demone (formerly of Christian Death), Michael wrote and performed the original track “Therapy.” The soundtrack “RAGE: 20 Years of Punk Rock, West Coast Style” was released through Restless/Ryko Records in 2003. In addition, Michael is in the process of cataloguing his vast collection of original music recordings, which include performances with Blondie Chapman (currently touring with the Rolling Stones), Brian Ray (currently touring with Paul McCartney), Tony and Hunt Sales, Ricky Fataar (Bonnie Raitt, the Ruttles), and other stellar musicians. Currently in pre-production and development of film “RAGE 2: Punk Rock World Style,” Bishop aims to delve deeper into the phenomenon of punk rock and bring awareness of this movement to a wider audience. See www.radiusarts.com for more information on RAGE and its sequel.
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