I don’t know about you, but this is the best news I’ve heard all week. Not only does Cheech Marin look exactly like my dad, but he’s cool as hell. He’s cleaned up his look as he’s gotten older–gone is the long 70s hairdo and cholo/hippie ’fits from his heyday–but he’s always kept it real by creating and collecting Chicano art.
Cheech and Chong (Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong) recently announced their reunion after 25 years with a Light Up America tour. The hilariously irreverent counter-culture comedy iconsstyle broke comedy album records and box office records with 9 comedy albums and 8 hit films spanning more than a decade, leaving and indelible mark in pop culture history.
With nine albums released from 1972 through 1985, the duo was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album with their third album, Los Cochinos (1973).
Their second album, The Big Bamboo, was released in 1972 and was the biggest selling comedy record for years. Their stunningly successful comedy streak transitioned to film in 1978 with their first movie, Up In Smoke, the highest grossing comedy of 1978, topping $100 million at the box office.
Cheech and Chong co-wrote and starred in a total of eight feature films together, all directed by Chong. The comedy duo was initially discovered at the Troubadour in Los Angeles by music executive Lou Adler who signed them after seeing their show.
For more info on the tour, click here (tickets go on sale for some cities August 8th!)