The Story of Anvil

Thu 10th Sep, 2009 in Features

How far will you go to follow your dream? That, in the shell of a nut is the question explored in Sacha Gervasi’s directorial debut. Anvil! The Story of Anvil is an examination of obsession, pigheaded determination and wide eyed, never-say-die hope. It is also blindingly hilarious, as well as being one of the most heartfelt portraits of friendship and loyalty you’ll see this, or any other year.

For the uninitiated – which, until the release of the film, comprised at least 99.9% of the population – Anvil are a Canadian metal band the creative core of which is singer/guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner. While their peers, the likes of Metallica, Anthrax and the Scorpions, rode the 80s hair-band wave to the peak of success, Anvil were left in their wake. Cut to thirty years later, and Kudlow and Reiner are still striving for stardom, in the face of audience indifference, managerial incompetence, and the mounting doubts of their long-suffering families.

On paper it sounds depressing, but the proceedings are lifted by Lips’ childlike optimism. Here is a man who has battered his mulleted skull against the wall of adversity for three decades, and still keeps coming up smiling. We see him trudge through a series of demeaning day jobs, all the time keeping up a steady stream of patter about the next gig, the next album, the next tour, the next chance. Even on the wrong side of fifty, it is clear that Lips has rarely let the possibility of failure give him pause.

Zen drummer Reiner, by contrast, is both more sardonic and reflective. Although just as committed to the band as his erstwhile singer, Reiner seems to have at least one foot on the ground. A telling sequence involves Reiner showing off his paintings, which reveal both a more thoughtful side to the stickman, and a certain frustration with the hardships he’s endured over the years.

The heart of the film, however, is the relationship between the two. The sheer strength of their loyalty is remarkable; it’s clear they are closer to each other than to their respective families. When Robb’s wife mentions the possibility of the band hanging up their guns, the audience doesn’t even credit the possibility. These two have seen off untold threats to life, limb, and liberty with the power of their friendship.

And yes, the hardships they endure are many. From playing to handfuls of the faithful at tiny hometown gigs, to a truly nightmarish European tour, to the recording of their thirteenth album, Anvil take on adversity that seems more suited to a Hollywood striving-against-the-odds blockbuster than a documentary about has-been Canadian headbangers. But the almost insurmountable odds they face are made all the more gripping by the knowledge that this is real; if it was a work of fiction, you’d scarcely believe it.

The story of Anvil isn’t over – they’re touring right now – but I’ll refrain from spoiling the ending for you. Suffice to say, this warts and all portrait is a must see for anyone with even a passing interest in music. You may never have heard of Anvil before now, but you’ll never forget them.

Anvil play the Soundwave Festival in 2010.