Category Archives: Films

Velvet Goldmine – A Glam Rock Fairy Tale

Posted on Sunday, 15th January 2012 | 12 Comments

Velvet Goldmine is one of those films I’d heard of many times, but had never seen until a few days ago. A while back, a friend suggested it to me, particularly since I am writing about a musician who adopts a rock persona. When another friend brought it up recently, I decided it was time to finally watch it and I’m so glad I did…

I knew this was going to be a meaningful film for me from the start. It begins with a fantasy sequence with a nod to  Oscar Wilde. Later on, Dorian Gray, Wilde’s greatest creation is also mentioned, as well as a direct quote from the novel that only those who have read the novel will recognise.

Add a charismatic powerful performance by a young Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who plays the role of Brian Slade with Bowiesque intensity and the earthy rock charisma of Ewan McGregor as Curt Wild and you’ve got an amazing rock film. Anyone who knows their rock music history will also realise the characters are based on David Bowie and Iggy Pop. I read somewhere that it is also a nod to the relationship the UK and US have musically, and how each country has taken musical inspiration from the other and turned it into something new.

The film has a surreal fairy tale feel to it,  it made me feel as if I was watching how myths are made. When it ended, I was convinced I’d seen a true story and couldn’t help but wonder where Brian and Curt are today and it left me with a peculiar sense of nostalgia.

There are some great glam rock tracks heard throughout, as well as brilliant original tracks, many sang by Jonathan and Ewan themselves. Needless to say, I’ve ordered the soundtrack of the film as well.

This has become one of my favourite films in a very short period.  I keep watching it over and over for there is something in the way the story is told that appeals. I suppose it’s great inspiration for my own novel, and Julian himself could have been a glam rock star if I had chosen my novel to be set in the 1970′s.

Two of my favourite original tracks below…

and the trailer:

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A Musical Journey – 1983

Posted on Monday, 28th November 2011 | 6 Comments

I’m taking a slight detour for 1983′s musical journey….

My 1983 choice, is not really a song, though a song is involved.  It’s a film, more specifically, the beginning of a film. Tony Scott’s The Hunger.

The moment Pete Murphy makes his film debut performing the iconic Bela Lugosi’s Dead is my 1983 musical journey. Whomever edited the scene chose to focus on him only, probably because of his powerful performance.

There is no doubt Pete was the voice and face of Bauhaus, and whilst this sounds unfair to David J, Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins, who were all great musicians and part of the band, there’s always been an unwritten musical pecking order, at least in rock music that places all attention on the frontman, then the guitar player,  followed by the bassist and lastly, the drummer.  Of course, there are always exceptions to that.

Pete’s striking looks and voice made him one of the most iconic rock performers at the time. Why didn’t Bauhaus become bigger? Maybe they were too dark for the general public, who has never had much taste. (If they did, rubbish like the X-factor would not be  success, but I digress.)

The screenshots below capture that dark essence he exuded whenever he performed with the band. It is no wonder his face inspired James O’Barr when creating The Crow. (O’Barr saw Bauhaus perform in Berlin) and there’s been other comics using his likeness as well .

This is who I watch and listen to, whenever I need to get inspiration to write…

The actual clip is below, I’m sure many of you are familiar with it, but if you’re not, it’s worth checking, you don’t get to watch the entire performance, only bits of it as the film begins.

(I see whomever has added this clip on YouTube mispelled the song. It’s BELA, not Bella…ugh)

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The Crow – A Haunting Dark Beauty

Posted on Sunday, 17th April 2011 | 18 Comments

As you all know, I like to discuss what influences me as a writer.  I’ve talked about favourite novel HERE, but I have another book to discuss. This one is a graphic novel and features yet another dark troubled boy.

Eric Draven.

Before I continue, I must add the graphic novel only tells us his first name. It was the iconic film version of the novel, which I mentioned in my post here,  that gave us, the surname of Draven. Whether James O’Barr had a say in this, I do not know.

One day you are going to lose everything you have. Nothing will prepare you for that day.

So begins the introduction by John Bergin for The Crow, the haunting graphic novel by James O’Barr

It is a dark but powerful story about love, loss and revenge.

Eric and Shelly are madly in love, and plan to marry, but when their car breaks down, they are in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with devastating tragic consequences. Eric is shot dead, and Shelly is brutally raped, beaten and killed.

Eric is brought back from the dead to avenge his and Shelly’s death. James O’Barr’s drawings are a masterpiece. He shows us Eric’s pain, how his memories haunt him, and his deadly violent revenge against every single one of the thugs that are to blame for his sorrow. Eric is indiscriminate, nobody is spared, but you feel for him, and his agony at being unable to save the woman he loved and still loves so much.

In the end, in spite of the darkness and the tragic story, The Crow is a story about love, and how its power can transcend even death itself.

As John Bergin writes in the introduction to the novel:

James wrote a love letter called The Crow, the most beautiful love letter I have ever read.

I agree. It is a beautiful if tragic, love letter.

Another reason I adore the novel, is due to its strong rock influences.  O’Barr was deeply influenced by rock music when creating it. Specifically the music of Joy Division and The Cure, but rock musicians also played a part in the shaping of Eric’s looks. James saw Bauhaus perform, when he was stationed in Berlin, in 1981. I imagine he must have been struck by Peter Murphy’s features since Eric does bear a passing resemblance to him. However,  Eric’s movements are based on Iggy Pop. I find that rather fitting, as Peter Murphy himself, was influenced by Iggy as well.

Do you as a reader, or a writer, have a favourite novel that’s affected you deeply? If not, a film? or music?

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