The thing is, even though these guys — especially the main players in Anvil, Robb Reiner (now there's a Spinal Tap connection if ever there was one), and Steve "Lips" Kudlow — may be down, they are never out.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil tells both the story of the enduring friendship of these two principal players, as well as their unwavering dedication to the idea that they still have a shot at the big prize of rock stardom. You see them with their families. You see them playing shitholes in Europe, being hopelessly mismanaged, getting dissed by their rock heroes, nearly coming to fisticuffs, and yet ultimately still refusing to give up their dreams.
And in the end, for all of their misguided dedication to a rock era which has clearly passed them by some twenty years or so — you find yourself rooting for them. I know I sure as hell did.
More than anything, Anvil: The Story of Anvil is a story which reveals how morally bankrupt the music industry actually is — and how they throw away yesterday's hitmakers as though they were trash. Watching that part of this film really sucks, actually.
I went into this DVD expecting to get a good laugh, and instead found myself choking back tears. And although this film has brought Anvil more attention then they have received in decades — they've been on Kimmel, VH1 and the like — I am equally sure that by this time next month they'll be back working their day jobs. That's just the way that this business works.
And it couldn't happen to a bunch of nicer, hard working guys. To any would-be rock stars with bright lights in their eyes, I cannot recommend watching this DVD highly enough. There is some hard reality here. Yes, you'll get some laughs, but you might also learn something.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil comes out this Tuesday, October 6.
Article comments
1 - Greg Barbrick
Good review Glen. You should hear This Is Thirteen, it rocks. Hey, with hair-metal revivalists like Scott on board, who knows? Maybe Anvil will make it yet.
2 - Glen Boyd
Thanks Greg. Yeah these guys are right up Scott's alley. Mine too after watching this...but lets keep that between us.
-Glen
3 - Mark Saleski
i happened to catch this last night on vh1. kinda felt sorry for the guys. very cool that AC/DC picked them to play some dates.
4 - Glen Boyd
Yeah that's exactly the same thing I felt Mark -- sorry for them. I doubt I'd actually ever buy a record by them or anything, but what they do is done pretty well and they're basically just good harmless fun. It sucks that they more or less got shit on by the record business.
-Glen