Urgh! A Music War (1981)

Punk, New Wave, Reggae and Techno bands from Europe and the US recorded live in several locations in 1980. The biggest names on the bill are the Police and UB 40 but every performance is a ... See full summary »

Director:

Derek Burbidge

Stars:

Sting, Wall of Voodoo, Stan Ridgway

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sting	...	Himself - The Police vocalist / bassist (as The Police)
Wall of Voodoo	...	Themselves
Stan Ridgway	...	Himself - Wall of Voodoo
Andy Summers	...	Himself -The Police guitarist (as The Police)
Stewart Copeland	...	Himself - The Police drummer (as The Police)
Marc Moreland	...	Himself - Wall of Voodoo
Chas T. Gray	...	Himself - Wall of Voodoo
Bruce Moreland	...	Himself - Wall of Voodoo
Joe Nanini	...	Himself - Wall of Voodoo
Toyah Willcox	...	Herself (as Toyah Wilcox)
Joel Bogen	...	Himself - with Toyah Wilcox
Pete Bush	...	Himself - with Toyah Wilcox
David Hinds	...	Himself (as Steel Pulse)
Charlie Francis	...	Himself - with Toyah Wilcox
Steve Bray	...	Himself - with Toyah Wilcox

Storyline

Punk, New Wave, Reggae and Techno bands from Europe and the US recorded live in several locations in 1980. The biggest names on the bill are the Police and UB 40 but every performance is a jewel, a time capsule of the influenced and the influential in rock music right up to today.

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Plot Keywords:

rock music | reggae | band | punk | ska | 

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Taglines:

Live it... 'Cause You Can't Stop It!

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rock... mousikos polemos

Filming Locations:

CBGB's - 315 Bowery, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 124 min (video release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

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Soundtracks

"Bleed For Me"
Performed by Dead Kennedys

User Reviews

Must see for hardcore new wave fans

As everyone has already mentioned, you get over 30 performances, and at least half of them are classics. There are a few gems in the ones you've never heard of, and at least 5 or 10 you'll be wishing you had it on DVD so you could hit skip.

The highlights- Oingo Boingo does "Ain't This The Life" from their first EP. The song itself is kinda rare (unavailable on CD except for their live Farewell album), and I've never seen Elfman so manic. (Coked-up?) Wall Of Voodoo does "Back In Flesh" and gets a tiny skit as well. Gary Numan does "Down In The Park" while driving a neon tank. Devo does the always great "Uncontrollable Urge". XTC performs- well I can't remember, but it's rare enough just seeing them perform. Dead Kennedy's whip through "Bleed For Me", complete with typical Jello Biafra opening rant. Joan Jett SMOKES "Bad Reputation". Surf Punks do an amusing "My Beach". Lux Interior of the Cramps wears a nearly-criminal pair of leather pants and deep throats a microphone during- I forget what song, but it's good. Klaus Nomi is, well Klaus Nomi- you may hate it, but it sure isn't boring. And of the bands you've never heard of, you'll never forget Skafish's "Sign Of The Cross".

There are also good performances by Echo & The Bunnymen, OMD, The Police, Gang Of Four, X, Go-Go's, Magazine and a few others, but they never really stood out to me. I thought Pere Ubu's performance was substandard- I'm not a big fan, but I saw them once in the early 90's and they were great. Most of the unknown bands are just kind of dull, a few prove why they're unknown, like Athletico Spizz (or something like that- the one with the Silly String.) This is hard to find, but there are a lot of rental copies still floating around out there. I think it was on CBS/Fox video, so I don't know why it hasn't been put out on DVD.