Red Elvis on tour, aka Dean Reed the US Cold War music star (274)

Cold War Conversations

Warning: This episode does cover the subject of suicide. If you need help please use these links:

• UK https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
• Rest of the World https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp

Dean Reed was an American actor, singer and songwriter, director, and Socialist who became a huge star in Latin America and the Eastern Bloc.

Neil Jacobs is a guitarist who first met Dean Reed briefly while renting accommodation from Will Roberts, who directed the documentary of Dean Reed called “American Rebel”.

Neil served on the US Cultural Delegation to the Moscow World Youth Festival in 1985 and unlike most of the participants, he was assigned by the Soviets. I did not go through any of the screening processes that the American Delegation had undergone, and therefore has a unique perspective on the event. It was at this event he began his friendship with Dean Reed.

Additionally, he traveled with Dean Reed extensively both in the US and in the Eastern Bloc from 1985 -1986 and was one of the last people to see him before his death.

0:00 Introduction and Content Warning

4:46 Neil's first meeting with Dean Reed and their friendship

7:03 Filming and Screening of "American Rebel"

11:26 Dean Reed's Mentoring and Support for Neil

15:00 Dean Reed's experiences at the World Youth Festival

20:18 Dean Reed's Relationship with Host, Ian Sanders

24:44 Dean Reed's Struggle to Reestablish a Career in the US

28:19 Dean Reed's Controversial Stance on the Berlin Wall

32:46 Discussion on German Fascination with American Western Cowboy Culture

41:21 Dean Reed's Unexpected Death and Speculations

46:19 Mysterious Deaths of Celebrities in East Germany

51:54 Fears and Speculations about Dean Reed's Death

54:14 Impact of the Chernobyl Incident on Dean Reed's State of Mind

55:06 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments to Supporters

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Listen to our other Dean Reed episodes here

https://coldwarconversations.com/episode97/

https://coldwarconversations.com/episode98/

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