"I'll tell you what, Ron. We've all had enough"
An Undie (singular) being all scary Finally found time to watch this in the early hours of this morning and, as John Pidgeon's novelization is nothing if not faithful to the film, you're spared the "mind-numbing horror" (c. Shaun Hutson's blurb writer) of a closely argued, 2 million word plot analysis in favour of some groovy screen-caps! What I will mention, though, is that I
loved it. The 'kitchen sink drama aspect' of
Flame was something I wasn't prepared for - Jimmy Lea's flat is even grimmer and grimier than this place and the seedy bingo hall is worse than anything in
Get Carter!
The Undertakers prepare for tonight's feast of horror pop! While his band mates all give remarkably unselfconscious performances, Noddy Holder steals it as Stoker, particularly in his pre-Flame days fronting the Undertakers whose stage act , as FM points out, owes much to Screaming Lord Sutch and his Savages. The sight of the great man belting out some mad novelty thing about what a terrifying vampire he is from inside a coffin is a definite plus. I was also mightily taken with the Undies' groovy purple and black hearse-mobile for travelling to and from gigs.
While the story doesn't
really expose the rotting, maggot-ridden underbelly of the music biz with any great new insight - usual everyday story of a likeable bunch of pretty green working class lads falling foul of ruthless record company Mr. Suit's and grasping local gangsters - there's more than a whiff of histrionic-free honesty about it and
Flame at least works toward a believable, downbeat ending with the band predictably fucked off with the industry and its sharks but, far worse, out of love with each other and the music. And no other rock film I've seen is so completely devoid of drug-taking - this lot are beer drinkers to the core.
Noddy Holder Has Risen From The Grave, Dracula AD 1975 Just noticed, Rog has enclosed a little message.
"It was Franklin's idea so blame him. Anyway, perhaps it might stop you grumbling about your arm."
Well, honestly! Anybody would think I never shut up about it!
Found this hidden away on the old place ...
demonikI've just turned up a copy of John Pidgeon's novelisation of
Slade In Flame (Panther, 1975). Prior to joining the band, Noddy Holder plays 'Stoker', the lead vocalist with the Undertakers, and he comes onstage in a coffin. The fictional Slade also appear early on as Jack Daniels & The D.T.'s, and I've just noticed a reference to
Disc.
Franklin MarshHave you seen the film of
Slade In Flame? It's a goody. Noddy in a coffin! (There's a great Spinal Tap bit there). Saw Lord Sutch borne onto stage in a coffin by hunchbacked monks etc. They stood it end up. Three colossal knocks and he's straight into 'You Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)' from inside the coffin. Flicked through a few books last night for inspiration - not much going on. "Confessions From A Holiday Camp" - "I picked up the papers and glanced at the headlines with as much interest as Germaine Greer in a brassiere factory".
RymerI was watching Slade in Flame on DVD only last night.
In the bonus interview with Noddy Holder, he says that the scene with Stoker getting stuck in the coffin came from Sutch's experiences. On one occasion, Sutch's coffin was brought on stage by inexperienced helpers and placed with the lid up against the back wall of the stage; consequently His Lordship couldn't get out.
Noddy also says that the coffin was upside down at the time, but that sounds like gilding the lily to me. I mean, everyone knows how to stand a coffin up, surely?
demonik Probably, but we have to remember that The Damned once had the priviledge of performing undertaker duties for Sutch ...
I'm enjoying the novel. Unfortunately, the DVD's becoming a must-see as a result.
Franklin Marsh If anyone knows about coffins it would be D Vanian. Wasn't he a gravedigger? Or have I fallen for music press hype again?
demonik I think he was the real deal, although the bit about him cheerfully singing
I love the dead as he planted his shovel in the soil might be open to speculation.
Rod Stewart is almost certainly a plastic gravedigger. Got involved with John Repsch, author of
The Legendary Joe Meek at one time and he told me that the pre-fame Rod did work in Highgate Cem for a time but "he was too small. They just stuck him on the gates". phony!
