Gary Thompson: 'Anvil': Metal band loses at big-time fame, but keeps playing on
KEN BURNS' national-parks documentary arrives on DVD this week, along with its 10 hours of plaintive fiddle music.
If you attempted to watch it on PBS, you are no doubt in the mood for some face-melting metal, and that is what you get in "Anvil: The Story of Anvil."
The independent documentary and Sundance hit is the true story of a Canadian metal band that in 1982 was on the brink of stardom, and also the cusp of obscurity.
Fate chose for Anvil the latter, and though they never made the big time, they never stopped making music. "The Story of Anvil" chronicles their tragicomic and ultimately affecting perseverance - odd jobs, humiliating tours, unconventional marriages (is there another kind?).
The most interesting love story is between bandleaders Robb Reiner (that's his name) and Steve Kudlow, whose creative marriage overcomes unbelievable stress.
The DVD is priced at $15, and includes an interview and analysis of Anvil by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, as well as band commentary and deleted scenes.
