So You Want To Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star- Not Fade Away –A Film Review

From The Pen Of Frank Jackman

DVD Review

Not Fade Away, starring John Magaro, Will Brill, James Gandolfini, directed by David Chase, Paramount Vintage, 2012

As a member in good standing of the generation of ‘68 I have spent much cyber-ink talking about this and that “seeking a newer world” experiment we tried, with the emphasis on “tried”, back in the day, back in the 1960s day under the sign of the 18^th century English poet William Wordworth’s response to the early stirrings of the French Revolution- “to be young was very heaven.”And while, in the end, we were defeated by the monster of the prevailing mores of American society we tried to rock the boat. And politics aside nowhere was this culturally more exploited that in our music, our second-wave rock music (Elvis, Chuck, Bo, Buddy and Jerry Lee being the first wave back in the 1950s).

Some argued, argued strenuously that “music was the revolution.” Well, no, no it wasn’t but who could blame anybody at the time for thinking that lofty thought.Nowhere was this sentiment more pronounced that in the garages and family rooms of America, of suburban America when guys, and it was mainly guys then, tried to form their own rock and roll bands, especially in the wake of the “British invasion (the Beatles and The Stone, mainly). Formed rock and roll bands to become famous, and if not famous as was the fate most bands that were formed including the band in the film under review, Not Fade Away, at least to act as a magnet for, what else, girls.

David Chase directed this little slice-of-life, 1960s style film, reflecting the hard fact that our generation is now deep in our memory mist stage, centered on the trials and tribulation of a group of guys, Jersey guys, high school Jersey guys at the start trying to break-out into the be-bop rock and roll night. But it could have just as easily been guys from Ames, Iowa or Winnemucca, Nevada trying for the brass ring amid the upheavals all around including the down-pressing downwar in Vietnam, the black liberation struggle south then north, the budding women’sand gay struggles, and the very publicly declared war against parental authority. Reflecting too here the unspoken assumption that that time was when men (and women) played rock and roll for keeps in case our memory mist stage was a little foggy.

Here, as always with garage and family room bands, there were struggles around who was, and who was not, going to be “on the bus”, going to be in the band. And what level of commitment those members were willing to pursue to make it to the“bigs.” Other issues that came up as well were how much hard time in lonely low-down joints were the members willing to do to “pay their dues” and the big question in the break-out sixties about whether to be a cover band or concentrate, like the Beatles and the Stones, on writing their own music and not depend of Tin Pan Alley.

Of course no 1960s coming-of-age film saga can avoid the generational conflicts and the film has plenty of that focused on star John Magaro and his relationship with his father, the late James Gandolfini, as back-drop to muddy the cultural waters (you know-“ what are you going to do with your life after this momentary obsession, son or daughter”-what do you mean you are dropping out of school”-what are you going to do about that damn draft notice”-what do you mean you’regoing to live with him (or her)-well you get the drift). And as well the changing boy-girl thing in the post-pill world, the beginning of women striking out on their own guys be damned, drugs, more drugs, and of course more rock and roll. So if you want to see what it was like for a minute back then through the eyes of those who were pioneers, or just confused and “winging it” then take a couple of hours to imbibe this one. And listen to a great soundtrack as well. Yah, then you might know what I meant when I said “to be young was very heaven.”

So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star?
-The Byrds

So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star?
Then listen now to what I say
Just get an electric guitar
Then take some time
and learn how to play
And with your hair swung right
And your pants too tight
It's gonna be all right

Then it's time to go downtown
Where the agent man won't let you down
Sell your soul to the company
Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware
And in a week or two
If you make the charts
The girls'll tear you apart

The price you paid for your riches and fame
Was it all a strange game?
You're a little insane
The money, the fame, the public acclaim
Don't forget what you are
You're a rock 'n' roll star!