Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to see the rockumentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil.  It’s the story of the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil that achieved some limited success during the 1980’s hair metal days and has managed to keep the band going through thick and thin (mostly thin) as the two founding members, Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner, have tried to make a living with the band.

The film is for anyone interested in seeing a real-life Spinal Tap story, albeit with even less success than the fictitious Tap seemed to have achieved.  Anvil! The Story of Anvil is ultimately about redemption but at times feels like you’re watching a train wreck of aging rockers that really need to move on with their lives.   Full story…

Anvil was first formed in 1973 by Steve “Lips” Kudlow (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Robb Reiner (drums).  In 1980s the band achieved some success with the release of Hard ‘N Heavy, Metal on Metal, and 1987’s Strength of Steel which reached #191 on the Billboard 200. What makes Anvil unique is that the band (namely “Lips” and Robb) never gave up on trying to make it big as a heavy metal band.  The original members are now in their 50s and still are playing small gigs to crowds that, at times, has trouble breaking into the double digits.

The film was produced by their #1 UK fan Sacha Gervasi (The Big Tease, The Terminal) who was at one time their roadie in the early 80s.

Overall the film is hilarious.  You can’t help but root for these two aging rockers, just hoping they somehow find a break.  Steve “Lips” Kudlow is sometimes a bit overly melodramatic and Robb comes off almost like Nigel Tuffnel with a kind of deadpan humor that reaches it’s peak when he walks the film crew through a collection of his own paintings.  Plus the fact that they’re huge in Japan, you can’t help but compare these guys to Tap.

Get out there and support them.  Buy This is Thirteen from their website and go see the movie!