The movie I watched was called "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil". I really enjoyed this movie for a number of reasons. It's a documentary, actually, about a heavy metal group from Canada named (duh!) Anvil. The band was started by two childhood friends, Robb Reiner (not to be confused with Rob "Meathead" Reiner) and Steve "Lips" Ludlow in the mid 1970s. They released their first album in 1981, touring heavily to promote it. Their music heavily influenced many well-known metal bands, including the "Big 4", Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, but Anvil themselves failed to ever "hit the big time".
Despite this constant disappointments throughout the years, and through many personnel changes, the boys forged on, releasing 13 albums, playing shows whenever they could, usually around the province of Ontario. They would often play just to a handful of people, but they didn't care. They played because they loved to play music, not for monetary gain.
This, of course, was a source of consternation to their wives, brothers and sisters, etc., although the families always stayed supportive and allowed them to follow their dreams. The guys hold down regular day jobs, sometimes barely scraping by, but when a chance comes to play somewhere, they're off.
The story told in this documentary followed Anvil as they embarked on a tour of Europe, set up by a huge fan Lips met online. The first part of the tour was great, playing in front of huge crowds, but then, the venues got smaller, trains were missed, club owners balked on payments, fights were had within the band, etc. It was a complete meltdown, but they persisted, eventually coming back home, back to their jobs, a bit broken, but still believing in themselves.
They ended up recording some demos, and sent them off to the first producer they had worked with back in 1981, and he agreed to help them record again. They shopped the album around to countless labels in Los Angeles and Canada, being turned down by one after another before just pressing and putting the CDs out themselves. One of these albums was heard in Japan, and they were invited to play a huge festival where they had played a similar festival 25 years prior.
When they got there, they were once again disappointed that they would be opening up the show at 11 am. They braced themselves for the fact that they could possibly have flown clear across the globe to play for just a few dozen people. As they walked onstage they looked out into a crowd of thousands of people.
I told you about this movie because sometimes I feel as though I'm in a similar situation. I've been trying to make something of myself as a musician for almost 20 years, and it just always seems to be just...out...of...reach. I've been in bands that have gotten great critical acclaim both locally and a few times nationally. I've played with some really amazing people. I just seem to be missing the boat when it comes to finding that combination of great players who really have the drive to make things happen and great opportunities - you've got to be at the right place at the right time, and you really have to know someone.
It really does get depressing sometimes knowing that eventually you may have to "settle into mediocrity" when you know you won't be happy doing anything else. I will continue, however, to do what I have to to make ends meet, including taking jobs I don't like - hell, I'll take any job I can find at this point! But one thing I took away from that movie is that it's alright to keep following your dreams. Sometimes that's all you have. And I'm so very lucky to have a wife that allows me to do just that.
I didn't want to do a black stroke today, because I thought that would be just too predictable, between the name of the band (Anvil), the things they've been through, and the kind of mood I've been in, but I figured I'd kind of lighten it up a little bit. Thus, we have a little grey stroke. This also works for the color of the sky lately - it's just been plain nasty outside! It will get better, though, just like it's getting better for Anvil! You've just gotta keep the faith! Things are bound to get better eventually if you work for it!
No comments:
Post a Comment