The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

Kramsey hit the nail on the head. Take it from someone who was there as well. I had the leather pants, dangling earrings, loose tank tops and of course one kick a@@ spiked mullet. I didn't play in a band but I looked like I did, and probably got laid as much as those guys did. Oh yeah, the movie was a blast to watch. The people in Odin probably work in an office somewhere shuffling faxes and emails or worse yet, still trying to make it a pub somewhere in Cleveland, Ohio. I remember people like that. It's interesting to find out Ozzy's juice scene was staged. That kind of sucks a little bit. I would have hoped for more authentic footage from a documentary. That in itself makes you question whether vodka was in his bottle or not. Looked convincing at the time. I knew guys that took 3 hits of acid in a night, so I'm sure it is quite possible he was that messed up in his self loathing statements in front of his mother... Ah...the good old days. Peace.

Decline of Western Civilization Part 2, The (1988)

**** (out of 4)

I had seen the Aerosmith and Alice Cooper clips of this documentary via a bootleg but never got around to watching the film until IFC showed it the other night and I'm certainly disappointed that I waited so long because Penelope Spheeris' film is one of the best out there of its type and ranks highly among the best documentaries to be made about rock 'n roll. Members of Aerosmith, Kiss, Poison, Alice Cooper himself, Ozzy and various no-name bands are interviewed. The legends interviewed here give the same old stories, which are still interesting but the great thing comes from all the interviews with those broke souls trying to make a name for themselves. Spheeris asks all the right questions from what happens if they don't make it and even asks some groupies if they're worried about AIDS. The film goes into great detail about various subjects and there's such a wide range of musicians that the film never gets boring. I'd love to see an update on the people involved here and see what their feelings are since none of them (to my knowledge) became famous. Also, in case anyone is interesting, during the Alice Cooper interview he's asked about people ripping him off and he mentions he'd like to hang one group but they bleed out the group. That group mentioned is W.A.S.P.

Great documentary of the heavy metal scene of the late 1980s. Unlike the first "Decline..." this movie concentrates more on interviews than concert footage. There are just fascinating talks with old time performers (Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne) and newcomers (Odin, WASP, Poison). The contrasts and their views on music, drugs and sex are very interesting and illuminating. The movie makes no judgments on the performers or their music...they leave that up to the audience. The whole feeling of the film is actually uplifting and very funny. The bands come across as very upbeat and accessible. The interviews with fans of the music are just as fun. Interesting to see Ozzy Osbourne years before that reality show he did for MTV.

The only depressing footage is an interview with Chris Holmes of WASP. He's drunk out of his mind and makes it quite clear that he hates life, is an alcoholic, had a heavily dysfunctional childhood and will be dead soon. Very scary to watch and sad.

That aside, this is a great, accurate documentary of heavy metal. A must-see.

Every bit as funny as "This is Spinal Tap" but it's the real deal documentary and these poor guys aren't trying to be funny. Ozzy Osbourne is a gas. Every nobody interviewed was sure they'd be the next Steve Tyler. These dudes look like ladies.

I LOVE THIS MOVIE SOOO MUCH IT HURTS

It's brilliant

the best bits are chris holmes from W.A.S.P. drinking himself to an early grave in a swimming pool while his mother watches and frowns every time he says the "F" word, Odin being laughably awful and claiming they'll be bigger than the Stones and Zeppelin ("What if you don't make it?" "Oh but we will!" "Yeah but what if you don't?" "Oh, but we will though, see!?!")

ha ha

It has interviews with Aerosmith, Poison, Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne (before he went all new-metal and put together the Ozzfest (grrr), Faster Pussycat, Riki Rachtman, Janet Gardner (before Vixen got big) & Megadeth and Live stuff from FASTER PUSSYCAT !!!

this film is totally amazing

It's just a shame it's really hard to find in the UK!

100000000000000000000r out of 10