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 New York Dolls
All Dolled Up
(Wienerworld)
Politely referred to in the mainstream press of the time as a cross
between the Rolling Stones and Alice Cooper – an early report, which shows film of the
Doll’s haphazardly careering through ‘Personality Crisis’ describes them thus... ‘the
music is rough, unpolished and the lyrics are shouted, never sung, the songs belligerent,
hostile and definitely loud – this is a new generation and a new music’ (the shows anchor
man, clearly not at all keen, asks what could possibly be more ‘crazy’ than the Dolls and
is told of an act called Iggy Pop, who cut’s himself onstage). This entertaining documentary
- filmed by Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya over a period of three years - includes some
magnificently frazzled interviews, some even more magnificently frazzled performances
and beautifully documents the bands transformation from skinny, scruffy street punks to
the sluttilly attired, primped, back-combed outfit who provided such a major influence
for punk (and such a revolting development for middle America, just watch out for the
disgusted looks the band draw in the airport scene). It’s monochrome, grainy, hard to
follow on occasions, the epitome of ‘hand-held-movie-making’ but it perfectly captures
the Doll’s seedy glamour up until their self-destruction in 1975.
Buy
this DVD
******************************************************************
 Willie Nelson
Outlaws And Angels
(Eagle Vision)
The positive avalanche of Willie Nelson releases, re-releases and
live action of late has left the market so overloaded with produce it’s hard to pick
the wheat form the chaff. Given that you’re just as likely to find a 'best of' or ‘ultimate
collection’ for £2.99 in your local ‘cheapo’ book’n’cd outlet it’s hard to imagine who
the hell is now buying Nelsons back catalogue anymore, which is all the more galling when
something this worth checking out turns up. Needless to say the stellar line up of guests
here help things no end – Keith Richards, Al Green and Jerry Lee Lewis amongst many – but
famous friends are only any use if they actually add something to the proceedings, and
it’s pretty damn clear that more or less everyone here is having a fine old time (Bob Dylan’s
usual excruciatingly ramshackle approach to guest spots aside), and no other country star
could hope to call on such a genre-mashing variety of musical hero’s. Occasionally get a
bit baggy (as a conveyor belt of guest spots is always going to be), and there’s way too
many big daft hats, but overall if you only buy one Willie Nelson item this year this should
be it.
Buy
this DVD
******************************************************************
 New York Dolls
Morrissey Presents - The Return of the New York Dolls -
Live From Royal Festival Hall, 2004
(Sanctuary Visual Entertainment)
Morrissey’s obsession with the New York Dolls is
well documented - a former president of the U.K New York Dolls fan club he
recently admitted "I've magnified the importance of The New York Dolls
since I was a small, fat, dull child. The songs were great and still are,
and David Johansen looks and sounds better than ever" – but many
fans of the grand-daddy’s of punk rock must have experienced at least
a momentary twinge of reticence when it was announced they would be reforming
to play the Morrissey curated 2004 Meltdown Festival, especially given that
two of their number were already well past the stage of reforming (guitarist
Johnny Thunders and drummer Jerry Nolan having both already passed away).
However the end result proved not only to be a wonderful trot down memory
lane but also created a perfect, poignant memorial for bass player
Arthur ‘Killer’ Kane who joined Thunders and Nolan soon after
the performance. Sylvain Sylvain still exudes rock star cool (even if he
does look like Iggy Pop’s dad), and remains the centre of attention
for the whole show, despite David Johansen’s best efforts. Shambolic,
under-rehearsed and louche, anything less would have been unthinkable.
Buy
this DVD
******************************************************************
 Gary Numan
Hope Bleeds
(ILC)
Filmed at the Manchester Academy in 2003
the day after his daughter Raven was born Hope Bleeds finds
Numan in boisterous form, his metamorphosis from the static
glacial digital android pupae of old now fully revealed in all
it’s whirling gothic glory, spreading his wings amidst the
thunderously driven electronic industrial metal racket he now
calls home. Hell, Gary Numan finally looks like he’s having fun,
and given the steady stream of people that now regularly bashfully
hold up their hands and admit to his being an enormous influence,
it’s about time he finally got to enjoy his career. As an added
bonus, and unlike the usual ‘talking head’ additions tacked on to
the end of DVD’s nowadays, the accompanying interview is at times
genuinely revealing, showing Numan to be a painfully honest man
who is willing to talk with disarming honesty about his lean years
and his often crippling lack of confidence in his own work. Several
times over the last few years a Gary Numan revival has teetered on
the brink, maybe now, finally, the full blown reassessment can get
under way and he can take his place as a true innovator who continues
to evolve, explore and excite.
Buy
this DVD
******************************************************************
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