The Big Lebowski famously plays a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers” over the closing credits – and it turns out they got to use the song for free.
The Coen brothers almost had to drop the song because they couldn’t afford the $150,000 licensing fee.
So T-Bone Burnett invited Stones manager Allen Klein to a special screening of the movie.
What convinced him to change his mind? When The Dude (Jeff Bridges) delivered the line “I hate the f***in’ Eagles, man!” Klein stood up and said “That’s it, you can have the song! That was beautiful!”
Thankfully Klein loved the line and allowed “The Dead Flowers” to be in the movie, which was released on March 6, 1998 and loved by fans ever since.
What’s your favorite line from The Big Lebowski? Do you like the line Jeff Bridges delivered? Share your opinions on 107.7 The Bone’s Facebook or Twitter page.