Anvil! The Story of Anvil is a documentary I’ve posted about before and finally got a chance to see this weekend in New York. The documentary follows Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner, founders of the heavy-metal band Anvil, as they try to achieve rockstardom with a European tour and release of their 13th album. Needless to say, things don’t go quite to plan.

The web hype surrounding this movie would have you believe that it’s some sort of real-life Spinal Tap about a couple of sad-sack rockers who don’t know when to call it quits. There are Spinal Tap similarities for sure (watch for the scene in the fast-food restaurant with Steve and Robb talking about the first song they ever wrote together, Thumb Hang, as the best example), but I think that’s a testament to how good a movie Spinal Tap really is, how closely it hit the mark, as opposed to any statement about Anvil.

I suspect that director Sacha Gervasi followed the Spinal Tap story arc on purpose, using it as a template for telling Anvil’s story, because Spinal Tap was so masterful and enduring (although completely fictional). But that so many,  myself included, draw parallels between Anvil and Spinal Tap is unfortunate and does Steve and Robb and their dream a disservice.

The thing of it is that heavy metal is silly, theatric, out of control, sophomoric. And rock-and-roll tours are grueling and error prone, even for the best bands. That’s the life in the trenches of rock. And that’s what makes the story so compelling. Steve and Robb are real rockers with a real dream and not actors.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil was in parts touching and inspirational. And for many of us, I suspect, it cut a little close to the bone and exposed the raw nerve left behind when we gave up trying to be rock stars. And let’s face it: 99.999% of us did just that. At times, I found myself wondering why Steve and Robb couldn’t move on, couldn’t morph their love of metal into something else. But, the moment I started thinking, “Holy Jesus, seriously?” Sacha Gervasi switched gears and made me realize that these guys were born to do it. They simply can’t do anything else. They’re all in and willing to die for the cause. And they are damn good. There is truth and substance behind what they do. They remind me of the devoutly religious because Robb and Steve’s entire existence hinges on faith and faith alone. And is it really that much different or any less powerful?

And guess what? You’re here reading about them. I’m sitting at my desk on a Monday morning writing about them. Their faith has paid off, although, like most things in life, not in the way they had probably hoped. Sure, they’re not ever going to be The Who or Led Zeppelin, but that doesn’t matter. They’re Anvil, and this is their story.

Resources:

Visit Anvil’s Website for more information about the band or to order their latest CD. I can’t wait to get an Anvil t-shirt.

The movie trailer: