In Canton, the worlds of true crime and rock ‘n’ roll documentaries merge in a captivating film centered on Myles Connor Jr., a figure from Milton known for his transformation from a rock musician to a notorious bank robber and art thief.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw: The Ballad of Myles Connor” is set to premiere in the Boston area on Sunday, March 17. This date marks the anniversary of the still-unsolved 1990 heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, where artworks valued up to $600 million, including Rembrandt’s “Storm on the Sea of Galilee” and Vermeer’s “The Concert,” were stolen.
The documentary includes over 30 interviews with musicians, producers, Connor’s friends, FBI agents, and other law enforcement officials. It is enriched with rare video and audio clips, archival photos, and dramatic reenactments.
Before the premiere, Connor, now 81, along with his longtime manager Al Dotoli and producer Bruce Macomber, shared insights with The Patriot Ledger about his eventful life of music, crime, and dramatic escapes.
In the 1960s, Connor led “Myles and the Wild Ones,” a band performing 1950s rock ‘n’ roll. He idolized stars like Elvis and Chuck Berry. His performances were known for their flamboyance, including memorable entrances on a motorcycle or emerging from a coffin on stage.
Connor’s career took a turn when he became involved with organized crime through his gigs at clubs. His interest in East Asian art, inherited from his family, led him to his first heist in 1963, stealing artifacts from the Forbes House Museum in Milton.
Connor’s criminal activities soon caught the attention of law enforcement. In 1965, he famously escaped from jail in Maine using a fake pistol. A year later, during a confrontation in Boston’s Back Bay, Connor was involved in a shootout with police, leading to a dramatic rooftop standoff.
Despite being severely wounded, Connor survived and was later sentenced to four years in prison for shooting a police officer. In prison, he was put in charge of entertainment, organizing concerts that even featured surprise performances by strippers and visits from senior citizens, unknowingly dancing with infamous criminals like Albert DeSalvo, suspected of being the Boston Strangler.
After being paroled, Connor’s life of crime continued, leading to a dramatic series of events including art thefts, a controversial rape conviction that was later overturned, and being charged with murder, only to be acquitted after a retrial.
Despite his criminal past, Connor claims most of his art thefts were intended for returning the pieces for rewards or sentence reductions. He acknowledges the risks his actions posed to himself and others but claims to try to avoid causing harm.
Connor was in federal prison during the 1990 Gardner Museum heist but has suggested his acquaintances were responsible. He believes the stolen artworks were likely shipped overseas, hinting at the allure such pieces hold for collectors.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw: The Ballad of Myles Connor” promises to be a compelling exploration of Connor’s life, blending crime and music in a narrative that spans decades. The film will be shown at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, followed by a panel discussion featuring Connor and others involved in the documentary.