'Anvil, The Story of Anvil'

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I threw on a Motörhead T-shirt, a pair of black denim jeans, tied on a bandanna, slipped on my riding boots (all perceived metal paraphernalia) and plunked myself down on the couch with a case of wobbly pops and watched the movie 'Anvil, The Story of Anvil'.

(click to link to movie's website)

Like so many others who've reviewed this award-winning feature documentary by Sacha Gervasi, I really, really enjoyed it.



Strangely enough, the movie begins just like the trailer. The biggest heavy metal bands and names on the planet... Lemmy, Slash, and Lars (to name a few) all bestowing the virtues of Anvil. This is an awesome clip, you gotta' take a peek.

And it goes onto describe how those bands went on to become R&F, and Anvil fell off the face of the earth.

Gervasi documents what happened after the band fell into obscurity and their hey-days of big gigs and wild times in the 80's.

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He catches up with Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Rob Reiner twenty years later, trying to make ends meet doing menial jobs in their old home town in Ontario, Canada.

The movie is at times, depressingly sad and yet funny as hell. You truly grow to like the characters as they attempt to once again, try and find success as a metal band.

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These guys just won't give up on their dream and their endearing spirit grows on you throughout the film.

From small bar gigs (during a botched and al-be-it ill-fated and poorly organized European tour) to playing a friends wedding, it is utterly compelling to say the least.

IMO the best line in the movie is when Kudlow's sister lent her younger brother the money the band needed to record a new album. After she breaks down in tears there is a slight pause, the camera snaps back to a two-shot and Lips chimes in "Family is important shit, man!" And they embrace. Frick'n hilarious!!

I don't want to spoil it for you... but in the end they do cut a new album/CD.

Their newest release as featured in the movie is called 'This is Thirteen'. Again produced by the same guy who produced two of their most successful LP's.

That includes the album 'Metal on Metal' (a true classic). I bought it in grade nine. No it wasn't a re-issue or a 'Greatest Hits', it was back in 1980. Yes... it was an album. Stop laughing!

Here's a write up in Rolling Stone on the boys from Canada.

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Gary Graff of Billboard wrote a great article about the movie, it's worth a read.

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(click on pic for Anvil's website)

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Yup a great flick and worth renting.

Oh if you're interested, here's a link to the band's website. Yes, you'll need the link because a lot of people (including me) went to this Anvil site by mistake.


Ace ♠