Scott Walker article, review

On AfterElton, my interview with queer filmmaker Stephen Kijak and actor Gale Harold, about Kijak's new film, the music documentary Scott Walker: 30 Century Man:

You may never have heard of Scott Walker, but you've probably been under his spell — at least second-hand. After turning his back on U.K. pop stardom in the '60s when he split from his band, the Walker Brothers, at the height of their popularity, he started a solo career that moved ever deeper into experimentation and obscurity. Along the way, he brought the work of Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel into vogue and influenced artists including David Bowie (who executive produced the film), Brian Eno, Alison Goldfrapp, Sting, Dot Allison and a long list of other musical luminaries, most of whom couldn't agree fast enough to be interviewed for the documentary.

In a music-centric interview that lasted more than an hour, Kijak told AfterElton.com, "I read an article once that said Scott Walker is Judy Garland for the gays who grew up writing poetry and wearing black turtlenecks." He laughed, then went on more seriously: "Scott is the benchmark for living an alternative lifestyle. He is uncompromising against anyone telling him 'this is how it's supposed to be.' He has one vision of himself, and he's expressing it through music."

Walker's code isn't only for musicians, Kijak insists. "It holds for anybody, in any pursuit in life that you can in some way think of as creative — even the construction of your own identity."

Documentaries are my favorite kinds of films, just as non-fiction is my favorite kind of book, and I really loved this movie, which I reviewed for club.kingsnake after seeing it in Austin. Harold was the film's associate producer, which I believe is a technical film industry term for "obsessed Scott Walker fan who would do anything to see this project made." He's apparently in very good company - the list of musical luminaries who appear in this documentary is dazzling, and I'm just glad that I got to review the film for a music blog - although I'm still trying to figure out if the note I had from director Stephen Kijak calling me a "music nerd" was meant as a compliment or not:

(D)on’t see this film expecting an uber-cool alt/indie version of a VH-1 special. Scott Walker: 30 Century Man isn’t an industry “music bio.” It’s a film documenting what director (Stephen) Kijak called “the evolution of a songwriter over time.”

That evolution has covered a lot of territory, from his early years as a 60s UK boy band pop star, to his presence today as a composer of work so experimental and abstract it defies categorization. Scott Walker has crooned ballads to an orchestral accompaniment, and created percussion by thwacking a side of pork. He brought Belgian singer Jacque Brel into vogue with Scott Walker Sings Jacques Brel and his still-iconic performances of Mathilde and Jackie. He entered the consciousness of a new generation of listeners with the stunning compilation Boy Child: The Best of Scott Walker 1967-1970. He’s influenced everyone from Lulu to David Bowie (who executive produced and appears in the film) to Sting to the Smiths to Brian Eno to Marc Almond to Radiohead to Pulp (he produced We Love Life, and Jarvis Cocker is all over the film) to Dot Allison, and dozens, even hundreds, of other musicians. And once you’ve seen it, there’s something else anyone who has listened to alternative/indie music in the last forty years will quickly realize: Even if you didn’t know Walker’s name, you’ve been listening to musicians influenced by him all your life.

Full review here.

Comments

[Travis]

I'm sure "music nerd" is a compliment of the highest order. :)

Travis

[Christie]

That's what I tell myself, anyway. ;)

[Sherri]

I really enjoyed reading your article on Scott Walker. Could you tell us more about what it was like actually meeting and interviewing Gale Harold? When I say more I really mean could you tell us every single detail you can recall? For example, what was he wearing, what did he smell like, what was he drinking, did he break his no photos policy and let you take any pics? You know, all the important stuff. There is no detail that is too insignificant to post.
Thank you for the great article!

[Christie]

I'm glad you enjoyed the article - everything I have to say about Gale Harold is in it. And I hope you check out the film!

[Lyn]

To the above poster (Sherri):
Serious journalists don't dish the behind the scenes gossip about people they interview. I mean get real. That'd be like seeing Oprah gush all over someone like John Travolta on national television or seeing Barbara Walters talk about celebrities on some silly daytime talk show. It's just never gonna happen.
You may have better luck with someone like Christiane Amanpour. She seems like a fun gal who would be willing to give you some inside info. I suggest you contact her and request that she interview the object of your affections. Then she can blog all about it. I'm sure she has time. Good luck.