Putting anvil back on the map! (Anvil! The Story of Anvil (DVD))

Member Name: clara29

Product:	Anvil! The Story of Anvil (DVD)
Date:	11/07/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Entertaining and heartwarming documentary whether you like metal or not

Disadvantages: none

Being a fan of this genre of music in general, I had never heard of Anvil which I found really confusing - how had this band that had influenced so many successful bands escaped my radar?!
This documentary lends some explanation as to why....

Anvil were a Canadian heavy metal band formed when singer "Lips" and drummer Robb were just 14. They vowed to stay rocking together forever and they meant it.
The documentary starts with footage from a show in the early 80s where Anvil played a huge rock show sharing the stage with heavyweights such as Bon Jovi and Whitesnake, to a rapturous reception.
It is intercepted with interviews with Tom Araya (Slayer), Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Slash (GnR, Velvet Revolver), Scott Ian (Anthrax, S.o.D) and Lemmy (Motorhead). All of these guys made it big with their respective bands and all of them cite Anvil as hugely influential - the blueprint for the musical style they would later become famous for.

So what happened to Anvil? They disappeared off the radar. They were the band that should have made it, but instead you see them at 50 years old, doing their day jobs just like regular guys, still playing with Anvil but not for an income, just because they love it and its "what they do".

The documentary charts their "one more shot" at the big time - these guys truly believe in themselves and in their music and refuse to give up the dream.

You get to know them a little and you can see they are genuinely nice guys who have true passion for what they do. They may bicker but that's because of the brotherly nature of their friendship. They endear themselves to you in no time - it was only about 5 mins into the film before I was totally rooting for them!!

You get to know their families too - supportive siblings and long suffering wives who have tried to be supportive but also wonder when its time to give up the dream and live in the real world.

Hope comes when European fan Tiziana, offers to manage them through "love and passion" and they embark on a European tour full of excitement only to play to a mere handful of people in some of the venues. They make no money from it and your heart just sinks for them. Returning to Canada dejected but determined to not give up, they contact an English producer Chris Tsangarides who throws them a lifeline when he agrees to produce their new CD - This is Thirteen.

They emerge ecstatic with the end result but hit yet another stumbling block when no major record label would touch them. However, in the true spirit of Anvil they decide to distribute it themselves. The result is a major rock show slot in Japan and the reception they get is enough to warm anyone's heart.

The film is directed by Sacha Gervasi who is a long time Anvil fan and one time roadie for the band.

Metal head or not, this is a brilliantly entertaining, heartwarming and well made documentary. Its a tale of determination and spirit that anyone can relate to and feel warmed by!

In the words of one European fan chanting at a gig: Anvil, Anvil, Very Good, Very Good!!

Director: Sacha Gervasi
Running time: 90 mins

Summary: Best documentary I have seen in ages