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Anvil documentary deserves four stars
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Anvil singer/guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow (left) and drummer Robb Reiner.
In the take-no-prisoners, rebellious, devil horns world of heavy metal, there's one behavioral act generally deemed unacceptable.
No crying allowed. Don't even let your eyes well up, let alone shed that tear.
In regards to the Oct. 6 DVD release of Anvil: The Story of Anvil, consider this your cinematic disclaimer: Watch at your own risk. Because if you have any soul at all, you stand a good chance of succumbing to such emotions.
Even for metalheads or general fans of documentaries who have never heard of Anvil, the Canadian unit formed in the early '80s, this DVD will hit home for anyone trying to follow their dreams or who simply appreciates perseverance. Originally premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Anvil: The Story of Anvil follows the mostly turbulent 30-year career of singer/guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner. The longtime friends made a pact in their early teens that they were going to grow old together, rocking every step of the way.
Now, they're in their early 50s. The pact lives on.
Kudlow and Reiner agreed to have a movie made about their trials and tribulations by longtime fan Sacha Gervasi, who followed Anvil religiously during its beginnings. While Anvil played festivals overseas in the early '80s with the likes of Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and Scorpions -- influencing several of today's and yesterday's major metal acts along the way -- Anvil never quite tasted the success of multi-platinum selling records and sold-out headlining gigs around the world.
Having lost contact with Gervasi for 25 years or so, Kudlow reconnected with him through the Internet -- and discovered that while he and Reiner were toiling in hard-labor day jobs, Gervasi was a Hollywood screenwriter for Steven Spielberg. Gervasi broached the idea of making a movie about one of his all-time favorite bands. The rest, Anvil is hoping, is history.
Without giving much away, the DVD shows Anvil playing at gigs in Europe where the audience barely outnumber the band members. It includes testimony from Slash, Motorhead singer Lemmy Kilmeister, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Anthrax rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and Slayer singer/bassist Tom Araya. There's also a look at Reiner's passionate, sometimes off-the-wall paintings, Kudlow at his children's catering job, and even fights among the longtime friends who are virtually inseparable and are on a quest to continue their rock dream in 2009 and beyond.
The sad and tears-of-joy moments? Well, lets just say, as Kudlow notes in the movie, "Family's important s---, man."
As a result of the movie's success at Sundance, Anvil opened for AC/DC this summer before thousands at Giants Stadium and Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. Their 2007, and 13th album, This is Thirteen, was re-released on Sept. 15. It was produced by the well-respected Chris Tsangarides, who also produced Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and some of Anvil's earliest efforts.
And despite what their own spouses may say in the DVD about their quest (get the tissues ready), Anvil may well be on its way to the success and notoriety it has sought. In the past year, the band has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien" and "Nightline" and was featured in USA Today and Rolling Stone.
As for whether I cried? Not quite. But I'm man enough to admit when my sensitive side shows.
This was one of those times.
Anvil in Texas: Anvil is heading to the UK on Saturday, but you can expect to read an exclusive interview in this space after the band comes to the States in mid-December. Kudlow, Reiner, and Glenn Five, Anvil's bassist since 1996, are working on their 14th record, "Juggernaut of Justice" and will kick off an American tour in January. The closest San Antonio date thus far is Monday, Jan. 25, at Emo's in Austin, with a screening of the documentary preceding the concert.
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