Before Marilyn Manson, David Bowie and Alice Cooper there was Screamin' Jay Hawkings. If you haven't been introduced to the strange, strange world of Screamin' Jay, then this film is a good place to start. For the first time Screamin' Jay is shown as much more than just a gimmick, but as the original and flamboyant artist who invented "theatrical rock".
The film however is not just a straight rock-bio. Although it does have the familiar "rise and fall" factor (how an performer can go from playing concert halls one day to playing "All you can eat rib" joints the next), we also learn about how Jay's loyal following re-discovered him and tried to get him the recognition he deserved, (which he final finds in Greece and Europe).
Although it's a shame that there aren't many of Jay's 50's recordings played on the soundtrack, there still is same amazing live footage from the 50's to his final performances in 2000.
This film isn't just for the fans, it's a truly great look at a man who introduced theatre to rock much longer before it was acceptable or appreciated by the main-stream.
The film however is not just a straight rock-bio. Although it does have the familiar "rise and fall" factor (how an performer can go from playing concert halls one day to playing "All you can eat rib" joints the next), we also learn about how Jay's loyal following re-discovered him and tried to get him the recognition he deserved, (which he final finds in Greece and Europe).
Although it's a shame that there aren't many of Jay's 50's recordings played on the soundtrack, there still is same amazing live footage from the 50's to his final performances in 2000.
This film isn't just for the fans, it's a truly great look at a man who introduced theatre to rock much longer before it was acceptable or appreciated by the main-stream.
