Great interviews, lots of interesting stories and great music add up to a solid music documentary of an underappreciated band, active from 1969-1974. David Bowie (who penned their first hit, "All The Young Dudes"), Queen, Mick Jones of the Clash, Morrissey, R. E. M. And many other talented musicians were fans, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has snubbed them to date. Their Brain Capers album from 1972 anticipated punk music and their singer, Ian Hunter, has released scores of great songs and albums since the band's breakup. Hunter also wrote the celebrated book, Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star, about the bands 1972 US tour.
3 Reviews
At Last!
nigel_downing4 January 2012
At last!...in two senses, it being a over a year now since it was first shown as part of The London Film Festival, and us finally having a film produced with the sanction of the band, and featuring the band with the exception of Pete Watts.
I was one of the fortunate few who got to see this premiered at The London Film Festival in the company of members of the band, itself an amazing and surreal experience. As one ex band member subsequently put it somewhat tongue in cheek 'there was potential for it all to kick off in the theatre if the wrong thing was said on screen'(given not all the band members have got on over the years). Thankfully it didn't! Indeed the film appears to demonstrate that old rifts have healed with time, and band members look back, not with rose tinted glasses, but with pragmatism, philosophy and some tremendous humour. The film as it demonstrates the climb to fame against the odds coupled with the bands unerring ability to self destruct really is funny. Telling contributions from all band members involved, Hunter, sharp and incisive, as ever the cocky front man (and a brilliant and under rated songwriter), Dale Griffin honest and open as the one man who was with the band from start to finish, Mick Ralphs laid back and funny, Phally enthusiastic and informative. Also a valuable and informative contribution from producer Guy Steven's widow Diane, and more from (amongst others) the bands roadies, and Kris Needs from the fan club, and Mick Jones from The Clash.
It starts slowly but then the interviews and the previous unseen footage and stills of the band kick in and you realise that this is a well researched, well structured and intense labour of love from the guys at Start productions who made this. They have filled a gap in rock history. The emotional and unexpected 2009 reunion shows are shown as a kind of epilogue which is how it should be but they had to be there as part of the complete story.
A fantastic story about a marvellous band who some (not unreasonably) have dubbed 'the real life Spinal Tap' so if you are even just a mild fan, or a fan of 70's rock music, or you just want to hear a funny story of a band that made it against all the odds, put your feet up, get out the beer and wine and put this one in the DVD player.
Fantastic MO
I was one of the fortunate few who got to see this premiered at The London Film Festival in the company of members of the band, itself an amazing and surreal experience. As one ex band member subsequently put it somewhat tongue in cheek 'there was potential for it all to kick off in the theatre if the wrong thing was said on screen'(given not all the band members have got on over the years). Thankfully it didn't! Indeed the film appears to demonstrate that old rifts have healed with time, and band members look back, not with rose tinted glasses, but with pragmatism, philosophy and some tremendous humour. The film as it demonstrates the climb to fame against the odds coupled with the bands unerring ability to self destruct really is funny. Telling contributions from all band members involved, Hunter, sharp and incisive, as ever the cocky front man (and a brilliant and under rated songwriter), Dale Griffin honest and open as the one man who was with the band from start to finish, Mick Ralphs laid back and funny, Phally enthusiastic and informative. Also a valuable and informative contribution from producer Guy Steven's widow Diane, and more from (amongst others) the bands roadies, and Kris Needs from the fan club, and Mick Jones from The Clash.
It starts slowly but then the interviews and the previous unseen footage and stills of the band kick in and you realise that this is a well researched, well structured and intense labour of love from the guys at Start productions who made this. They have filled a gap in rock history. The emotional and unexpected 2009 reunion shows are shown as a kind of epilogue which is how it should be but they had to be there as part of the complete story.
A fantastic story about a marvellous band who some (not unreasonably) have dubbed 'the real life Spinal Tap' so if you are even just a mild fan, or a fan of 70's rock music, or you just want to hear a funny story of a band that made it against all the odds, put your feet up, get out the beer and wine and put this one in the DVD player.
Fantastic MO
Crap Band
beresfordjd9 March 2013
The film as a documentary look at a band is interesting but it shows the band up for what they were. Really poor songs, played with enthusiasm but with a poor vocalist in Ian Hunter. I was friends with a band called Bronco (Jess Roden was their singer) around Mott's time and some of Bronco knew the band quite well. I saw them when Bronco supported them at Wolverhampton Civic(?) I think and they were not much cop. This film just conforms it for me. I even hate All the Young Dudes and I am a huge Bowie fan. I have always failed to see what is seen in them. Adequate band but that is about all. Dudes was their best shot and they took it and then blew it. I hate Hunter's vocals on it and that is it.
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