Kelly WandDig!
November 11th 2006 01:03
The old saying used to go “show me a boy who does not want to be a rock star and I’ll show you a liar.” I can’t remember who it was who said it but it did have enough of a ring of truth about it to stick in my mind. As this is the first film I have seen that really shows both the possibilities and probabilities of participating in “the business”, I guess this is a film that every boy should see. And every girl, too, of course.
It is often true that great bands arrive in pairs or cliches or movements. People have similar interests and influences. The spirit of competition and mutual admiration propels them to the dizzy creative heights that loners seldom achieve. Genius does not occur in a vacuum because the real difference between genius and madness is the ability to communicate an idea. Additionally, the loner must constantly re-invent wheels that others take for granted. Humanity survives on communication and cross fertilisation. Alone, we are the frailest of beasts.
Such a pairing occurred with the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre emerged on America’s West Coast. Eventually, the Dandies would envy their friends’ artistic credibility even though it is clear to observers that, lyrically, they are wittier and musically at least equal. The Massacre clearly envy their friends’ success even though success is theirs for the taking if they only could stop destroying themselves and each other.
It doesn’t help that Anton Newcombe, singer song writer with the Massacre is clearly mentally unwell. He fears success so much that he will do anything to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But, as Dandy’s singer Courtney Taylor pointedly says, if you are in a van for weeks on end just drinking, doing drugs and not eating, tempers are going to get a little frayed.
Courtney Taylor is just as big an ego maniac as Newcombe but channels his artistic energy into creation rather than self destruction. Both are visionary musicians and song writers that leave any other opposition they may have for dead.
Fuelled by bad drugs, bad intentions and bad luck, The Brian Jonestown Massacre beat their own path to hell (not to mention beating the hell out of each other on stage). The Dandy Warhols make hit records and storm the globe. Instead of asking for a support spot, the Massacre send the Dandies bullets with their names on them. It’s like watching a car wreck.
This could have been a saga about how genius fails whilst its watered down clones go onto success. I’m sure fans of the Brian Jonestown Massacre could see the film this way and – to an extent – this is the way the film has been promoted. The truth is much less romantic.
This is one of the best documentaries I have seen in a while. There have been a lot of political documentaries around lately that have been worthy and important. You should see them all. This film, however, touches you because it is about real people. You get a taste for their lives. It communicates and, without preaching, it teaches. I wish I had seen it when I was seventeen but – maybe – a seventeen year old would see it different.
It is often true that great bands arrive in pairs or cliches or movements. People have similar interests and influences. The spirit of competition and mutual admiration propels them to the dizzy creative heights that loners seldom achieve. Genius does not occur in a vacuum because the real difference between genius and madness is the ability to communicate an idea. Additionally, the loner must constantly re-invent wheels that others take for granted. Humanity survives on communication and cross fertilisation. Alone, we are the frailest of beasts.
Such a pairing occurred with the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre emerged on America’s West Coast. Eventually, the Dandies would envy their friends’ artistic credibility even though it is clear to observers that, lyrically, they are wittier and musically at least equal. The Massacre clearly envy their friends’ success even though success is theirs for the taking if they only could stop destroying themselves and each other.
It doesn’t help that Anton Newcombe, singer song writer with the Massacre is clearly mentally unwell. He fears success so much that he will do anything to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But, as Dandy’s singer Courtney Taylor pointedly says, if you are in a van for weeks on end just drinking, doing drugs and not eating, tempers are going to get a little frayed.
Courtney Taylor is just as big an ego maniac as Newcombe but channels his artistic energy into creation rather than self destruction. Both are visionary musicians and song writers that leave any other opposition they may have for dead.
Fuelled by bad drugs, bad intentions and bad luck, The Brian Jonestown Massacre beat their own path to hell (not to mention beating the hell out of each other on stage). The Dandy Warhols make hit records and storm the globe. Instead of asking for a support spot, the Massacre send the Dandies bullets with their names on them. It’s like watching a car wreck.
This could have been a saga about how genius fails whilst its watered down clones go onto success. I’m sure fans of the Brian Jonestown Massacre could see the film this way and – to an extent – this is the way the film has been promoted. The truth is much less romantic.
This is one of the best documentaries I have seen in a while. There have been a lot of political documentaries around lately that have been worthy and important. You should see them all. This film, however, touches you because it is about real people. You get a taste for their lives. It communicates and, without preaching, it teaches. I wish I had seen it when I was seventeen but – maybe – a seventeen year old would see it different.
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