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Ethan Embry Reveals the Profound Reason Why April 8th is ‘Rex Manning Day’

Every year, fans of the 1995 cult classic film Empire Records celebrate Rex Manning Day as a tribute to the film.

In the film, on April 8, 1995, pop star “Sexy Rexy” Rex Manning (played by Maxwell Caulfield) has a scheduled publicity appearance at a struggling independent record store. The store is in imminent danger of closing due to lack of business. In order to prevent the store from closing to turn into the chain store Music City, the Empire Records staff (which includes characters played by Anthony LaPaglia, Ethan Embry, Renee Zellweger, and Liv Tyler), desperately hatch a plan to save the store by pulling off a massive, blow out party/fundraiser. “Empire Records, Open until Midnight!”

Ethan Embry Reveals the Profound Reason Why April 8th is 'Rex Manning Day'

As it turns out, the date April 8th which was used in the film was chosen for a very specific reason.  April 8th is a significant day in 90s pop culture history and, well, in overall music history as well. On Saturday, Empire Records star Ethan Embry tweeted about the fan-celebrated day and revealed the real reason why April 8th was chosen as Rex Manning Day in the film.  He tweeted, “The reason we picked April 8th as the day to have the powdered/coifed Rex Manning visit Empire is because Kurt was found on the 8th of April, the day the music of the 90s lost its mascot.”

Embry is, of course, referring to the death of iconic 90s musician Kurt Cobain who tragically took his own life on April 5, 1994. His body was found three days later on April 8th. Cobain inspired a generation and paved the way for a musical revolution. His legacy continues to live on now 24 years after his death and he definitely won’t be soon forgotten.

It’s awesome that a film like Empire Records, which has become a beacon of 90s pop culture, paid tribute to him in such a big way. Knowing this bit of information gives the film Empire Records a whole new meaning and we love it!

Damn the man!  Save the Empire and Happy Rex Manning Day!

Ethan Embry Reveals the Profound Reason Why April 8th is 'Rex Manning Day'