ANVIL BAND WIKI FULL

ANVIL BAND WIKI FULL

“Sometimes I close my eyes and imagine I am playing to a full house,” Lips admits during one of the many melancholy moments in the film. There is no stage, lights or even a roadcrew, but the band are still playing as if their lives depend on it. The documentary kicks off with the band at the height of their powers, performing at a sold-out Japanese festival, and then quickly cuts to the present day and the less salubrious surroundings of a Toronto bar populated by their faithful few older fans (or ‘dogs’, as they describe themselves) in various states of disrepair, some of whom appear to be drinking beer through their studded noses.

26 years later, Lips and Robb are still plying their trade – still believing that their big break is just around the corner. They had the keys to the proverbial kingdom and then they disappeared. In the early 80s, Anvil (Steven ‘Lips’ Kudlow, guitar/vocals, Robb Reiner, drums, Ian Dickson, bass, and Dave ‘Squirlly’ Allison on guitar/vocals) had everything going for them: a major record deal, top producer, heavyweight management, positive press, and a successful string of shows at the legendary Marquee club (witnessed by rock royalty like Motorhead and Def Leppard). It is a tragicomedy/homage/all-too-familiar tale of what happens to the 99 per cent of the musicians who don’t make it in this business – but maybe this time it comes with a happy ending.

Gervasi’s film, Anvil! The Story of Anvil documents the relative rise and spectacular fall of the Canadian cult heroes who at one time were acknowledged as the precursors to the thrash metal movement.

Anvil band wiki