It's no exaggeration to say that David Bowie is one of the most brilliant figures in music history. "In 1971, at the age of 24, he embarked on a road trip to the United States with Ron Oberman, a prist from Mercury Records, where he inspired and dramatically created the identity of Ziggy Stardust." These are the backdrops to David Bowie's latest biographical film, Stardust. Director Gabriel Range, known for his documentaries, is not presenting a complete biography, but rather capturing a specific moment that focuses on Bowie's "origin story."
Stills from Stardust | Via 《Stardust》
However, the film caused some controversy before the production began, such as the casting of the protagonist of the film is not too similar to David Bowie himself, which makes a kind of crowding suddenly difficult to accept. In addition, the failure to obtain the music rights smoothly also made the film unavailable to use any of David Bowie's music. The answer to the "quality" of Stardust is only known if we can actually see the film, and since David Bowie is mentioned, we must not extend to Glam Rock .
Glam Rock is an exhilarating genre that has added rare and colourful colours to rock 'n' roll with avant-garde costumes and provocative tension, and has even sparked a very special cultural evolution. There is no shortage of people who confuse Glam Rock with Glam Metal/Hair Metal, which flourished in the United States in the 80s, but Glam Rock is a completely British product. It began to become extremely popular in the first half of the 70s, with melodies that blended with the Bubblegum pop of the '60s and the rhythms of early rock 'n' roll.
Elton John, Marc Bolan ( T-REX ), Ringo Starr | Via Michael Putland
Usually, Glam Rock can be divided into two sub-categories, one of which is derived from the rock band T. Rex, the band's leader Marc Bolan pioneered the Glam Rock style of fashion, and added a sexy, fun tone to the music. Since then, Gary Glitter, Sweet, and Slade have all followed the aesthetic ideas of T. Rex, which has led to the birth of "Glitter" in Glam Rock, a sub-category that is simpler in melody and even has some silly and funny lyrics.
The other is a category that relies heavily on visual effects and has a more artistic side, with both David Bowie and Roxy Music representing this type of music. Free to shape their characters and make their personal style part of the overall artistic expression, one of Glam Rock's greatest charms lies in the challenges of gender customs and traditions in the way these artists wear quirky, hermaphroditic costumes and exaggerated makeup.
If you want to learn more about Glam Rock, in addition to Stardust, we've also summarized 7 films related to this music genre. Some are retro documentaries that were released in the 70s, and some are niche films released after the Millennium Seal. You may as well make a list of movies according to your preferences.
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Born to Boogie
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Genre: Documentary, Music Director: Ringo Starr Starring Marc Bolan/T. Rex/Ringo Starr/Elton John Release date: December 1972
The music video chronicles a concert by Marc Bolan at the Wembley Empire Pool in 1972. The director is the drummer Ringo Starr in the famous The Beatles, and in addition to being able to see Marc Bolan's music scene in the film, the film also contains precious recordings of Ringo Starr and Elton John. The film was re-released as a DVD in 2005, giving the public a glimpse into the glam rock of the '70s.
Marc Bolan was the lead singer and guitarist of T.Rex and the initiator of the Glam Rock movement in the 1970s. "Born to Boogie" mainly records the scene of T.Rex's concert. If you happen to be a fan of Marc Bolan, you're sure to enjoy watching this movie. However, more people will find this the same as other concert documentaries, and even more boring because of age. But overall, Born to Boogie is a true look at the original appearance of '70s rock and roll, and it also records precious live music images, which alone is worth a look.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Genre: Documentary, Music, Biography Director: D. A. Pennebaker Starring: David Bowie/Mick Ronson/Trevor Bolder Release Date: August 1979
It is a 1979 David Bowie concert documentary, and in early 1972 Bowie officially "played" the dramatic, hermaphroditic stage character Ziggy Stardust, during which time he produced two hit albums. It was in this 1979 show that Bowie suddenly announced on stage that "this will be our last show" and "killed" the Ziggy Stardust he had created.
Director D.A. Pennebaker has previously directed several touring documentaries, including Bob Dylan's Dont Look Back, and according to Pennebaker, when he was first assigned to shoot David Bowie by the company, he knew almost nothing about David Bowie except for the song "Space Oddity", and he originally planned to record only about 20 minutes of music. After following the rehearsal on the spot and actually watching Bowie's performance, Pennebaker was touched by Bowie's stage charm and fully realized the importance of "Ziggy Stardust's last performance". Eventually, change the movie duration to 90 minutes.
《David Bowie and the Story of Ziggy Stardust（火星往事）》
Genre: Documentary Director: James Hale Starring David Bowie/Marc Almond/Jarvis Cocker Release date: June 2012
Much like the name of the previous film, Once Upon a Time on Mars is another film about David Bowie and Ziggy Stardust. The difference is that the documentary reveals how Bowie painted a lot of color in the history of pop music through the narration of fans Jarvis Cocker and Bowie's music partners. It's only 60 minutes on set, and after watching it once, you can get a direct idea of David Bowie and the Ziggy Stardust he portrayed.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is arguably the most important album of his musical career, and from this album, Bowie wore high-heeled boots, colorful skirts and lavish makeup, dressed as an alien rock star, becoming the most famous pop singer on the planet. But, as the film reveals, it's not easy for David Bowie to achieve it all. Ziggy Stardust's musical journey also made Bowie question his true self for a time, and eventually forced the sudden demise of Ziggy Stardust. If you're interested in David Bowie, this is a film not to be missed.
Velvet Goldmine
Genre: Drama, Music, Same-Sex Director: Todd Haynes Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers/Ewan McGregor/Christian Bale Release Date: November 1998
Velvet Gold Mine is arguably the most recognizable film in the Glam Rock genre. Set in the early 1970s when rock and roll swept britain, the story is set in a fictional rock singer who breaks the boundaries of Brian Slade, thus unfolding a unique story about the youth subculture of the 70s. It is worth mentioning that both the costumes and the music in the film are very brilliant, and the costume designer Sandy Powell even received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for this film.
Brian Slade in the film, as a rock star, has a rather out-of-the-ordinary behavior and hermaphroditic appearance, which is largely based on David Bowie. Curt Wild, another protagonist played by Ewan McGregor, is based on Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. In fact, the film's depiction of the story between the protagonists is based on speculation about the ambiguous relationship between David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed in the real world. That seems to be the main reason Bowie initially threatened to file a lawsuit against the film and refused to use her own songs in Velvet Goldmine.
Slade In Flame
Genre: Drama, Music Director: Richard Loncraine Starring: Noddy Holder/Dave Hill/Don Powell Release Date: January 1975
Slade is a rock band formed in the UK in 1966. They rose to fame in the era of glam rock in the 1970s, and Slade In Flame was a film starring members of the real band Slade. The film revolves around the fame story of the fictional band Flame, and received a positive response after its release.
Slade in the 1970s was a great success in the UK and in many parts of Europe. As one of Glam Rock's iconic bands, the members wanted to expand on more possibilities, so band manager Chas Chandler came up with a plan for Slade to make a movie. Slade selected this story depicting the rise and fall of the fictional band Flame among numerous film scripts. There is also no shortage of adaptations of what really happened to the band Slade. Slade's lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea's soundtrack for the film are also worth listening to.
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch"
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Same-Sex, Music Director: John Cameron Mitchell Starring John Cameron Mitchell/Andrea Martin/Michael Pitt Release Date: July 2001
The film tells the story of Hedwig, the protagonist who dreams of becoming a rock singer, who meets the American Sergeant Luther Robinson, who resolutely undergoes gender reassignment surgery and follows Robinson to the United States. Two years later, Hedwig, abandoned by Robinson, developed a close relationship with the young Tommy and became a musical partner with him, but tommy later stole Hedwig's music and became a rock star. In addition to the ups and downs of the bizarre plot, the film also involves the exploration of gender identity and other issues.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch was a blockbuster film, a $6 million film that grossed $3.6 million at the box office. On the other hand, critics and audiences have mostly given it a positive review. In addition to the rock elements of the film, the story of the protagonist Hedwig is very moving, and there is no lack of full humor. John Cameron Mitchell, who can direct, act and sing, also received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor for this film.
Jobriath A.D.
Genre: Drama, Documentary, Same-Sex Director: Kieran Turner Starring: Jerry Brandt/Jayne County/Dennis Christopher Release Date: June 2012
When Jobriath was active on stage, he was once called "David Bowie of America", and in fact Jobriath was the first rock star in history to openly admit his homosexual status. Decades after his death in 1983, Jobriath A.D. focuses on his life and music, giving a new generation of young people the opportunity to recognize the impact of this groundbreaking rock star.
Jobriath A.D. is a small-budget film, but with a relatively sophisticated production and narrative structure. The film features retro footage and solid interviews that showcase Jobriath's fascinating talent. Even if you would never buy Jobriath's records or be interested in their music, you have to admit that Jobriath's life has a wonderful story.
The above is related to the Glam Rock theme, some movies worth your attention, popular in the 70s Glam Rock has long been a rather niche cultural category, many films are also too retro in terms of graphics and sound effects due to their age. But if you're interested in the history or music of Glam Rock, check it out.
If you also have your own favorite rock movies, may you also write in the comments to share with you?