Documentary Film 'Immediate Family' Releases Special Footage Featuring the Late David Crosby on Beatles Concert Secrets & Hosts Premiere Talk Event Celebrating West Coast Sound

Behind every great song was another kind of family—united by music. Session musicians who played behind countless hits. A music documentary tracing their shared musical journey. From left: KEIKO WALKER, Eiichiro Shirai, Mutsumi Mae The documentary film 'Immediate Family,' portraying the musicians who quietly shaped the American West Coast sound, will finally premiere in theaters starting Friday, June 19. This music documentary offers a multidimensional portrait of four legendary session musicians—Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Waddy Wachtel (guitar), Leland Sklar (bass), and Russ Kunkel (drums)—who supported the recordings and tours of artists associated with the West Coast sound, such as James Taylor, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne. Their stories are told through testimonies from fellow musicians and industry insiders. On June 19, a special screening with guest speakers was held at Yebisu Garden Cinema, welcoming early audiences. Three respected figures—KEIKO WALKER (Country Singer), Eiichiro Shirai (Musician/Music Writer), and Mutsumi Mae (Interpreter/Translator/Music Writer)—took the stage as guest speakers, sharing their deep admiration and personal experiences. The event was hosted by Manami Sasamine, who guided a passionate discussion on the legends’ enduring appeal, enriched with anecdotes from the film. ◆ June 19 (Fri), 19:15 start / 19:45 screening begins Venue: Yebisu Garden Cinema, Tokyo Speakers: KEIKO WALKER (Country Singer), Eiichiro Shirai (Musician, Music Writer), Mutsumi Mae (Interpreter, Translator, Music Writer) The talk opened with all three speakers unanimously naming Russ Kunkel as their 'favorite drummer in the world.' KEIKO praised Kunkel’s snare sound, timing, and the speed of his stick drops, calling them exceptional. Shirai recalled Linda Ronstadt’s 1979 Japan concert: 'Kunkel’s drumming was so powerful, it hit me right in the gut. Combined with Waddy’s wild guitar, it felt like being transported to Los Angeles while still in Japan,' he said, showing the original concert program. Mae shared her first profound impression: 'I was deeply moved by the sound of Russ Kunkel’s drums echoing through the Budokan during Jackson Browne’s 1980 Japan tour.' The conversation expanded to other band members. Shirai revealed that in a recent '100 Best Bassists/Drummers of the 20th Century' feature, he named both Russ Kunkel and Leland Sklar as his top picks. He also shared a surprising anecdote: a photo of the musicians visiting his instrument store was later included in Sklar’s photo book. Regarding guitarist Waddy Wachtel, KEIKO said, 'He’s visually striking, but also an incredible guitarist. The film reveals how the iconic guitar intro to Stevie Nicks’ 'Edge of Seventeen' was created—it was truly moving.' Mae, who has interpreted for numerous international artists, attended wearing a T-shirt of her favorite guitarist, Danny Kortchmar. 'Watching Danny casually play hits beside Carole King or accompany Jackson Browne’s songs is pure joy. These four weren’t just studio musicians—they were a true family, bonded beyond work.' Shirai added, 'At the time, most session players prioritized studio work over touring, but they joined Jackson Browne’s tour and recorded the historic album 'Running on Empty' on tour buses and in hotel rooms. The film beautifully captures their unity in shaping songs alongside the singers, making their musical legacy clear.' The film features 98 classic tracks performed or co-written by the four, including songs by Carole King, James Taylor, and Linda Ronstadt. Mae concluded, 'This isn’t just a record of past legends. These musicians are still active, joyfully sharing their stories. It’s a truly uplifting film.' To commemorate the release, special unseen footage featuring the late David Crosby sharing behind-the-scenes stories from a Beatles concert has been unveiled—highlighting the legendary status of the Beatles. 'Immediate Family' is now playing in Japanese theaters, including TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi, kino cinéma Shinjuku, and YEBISU GARDEN CINEMA, starting June 19. [Special Video] David Crosby on the Beatles Concert Complete List of 98 Songs Featured in the Film Additional talk events with guest speakers are scheduled—don’t miss them! ☆ June 26 (Fri), 20:30 start (after the 18:30 screening) Venue: TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi, Tokyo Speakers: George Cucco (Radio DJ, Producer), Junko Asahi (Translator, Music Writer) ※ Entry to the talk event requires a valid screening ticket. ☆ For a full list of musicians, contributors, and songs featured in the film, visit the official website: https://malibu-corp.com/immediatefamily 'Immediate Family' Trailer Japanese Title: Immediate Family Original Title: Immediate Family Director: Denny Tedesco Runtime: 100 minutes / Year: 2023 (USA) Subtitle Supervision: Junko Asahi Provided by: Malibu Corporation, Osakana LLC, WADO WINGX Co., Ltd. Distributed by: Santa Barbara Pictures Release: June 19, 2026 – Nationwide, starting at TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi, kino cinéma Shinjuku, YEBISU GARDEN CINEMA, and more © 2023 THUNK ENTERPRISES, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Official Website: https://malibu-corp.com/immediatefamily Official X: https://x.com/ImmediateF26 Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immediatefamilyjp/ #ImmediateFamily Screening Theaters Kanto Region [Tokyo] TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi – from June 19 [Tokyo] kino cinema Shinjuku – from June 19 [Tokyo] YEBISU GARDEN CINEMA – from June 19 [Tokyo] kino cinema Tachikawa Takashimaya SC – from June 19 [Tokyo] Uplink Kichijoji – from June 26 [Tokyo] 109 Cinemas Futako-Tamagawa – June 22 only