A Stewart Lee-fronted documentary about the cult British musician Robert Lloyd, you say? The frontman of the John Peel-endorsed punk band the Prefects and their (much longer lasting) successors, the Nightingales? With cameos from John Taylor of Duran Duran and the comedian Frank Skinner reflecting on the slippery nature of Lloyd’s truth-telling and their part in his life story?
If that sounds like an appealing idea you won’t be disappointed by this.
Lee tells Lloyd’s story with skill, passion and verve as well as the kind of fourth wall-breaking acrobatics that fans of his cerebral stand-up will be familiar with. In fact, Lee has almost as much fun ribbing the art of documentary-making as he does with music and memories that clearly mean a lot to him. He is also very generous with his subject, although less fervent devotees may notice, when listening to Lloyd singing how and unswerving dedication to creative freedom can cascade into genuine awfulness (but, hey, welcome to punk music).
Nevertheless, as Lee follows the musician around the country, Lloyd radiates a winning charm, and his refusal to kowtow to convention amid poor records sales feels impressive and poignant. Lloyd believes fervently in his art, but never takes himself too seriously. Which brings us to Lee’s central motif (and explains the title);: an enormous pop art statue of King Kong that bestrode Birmingham city centre when both men were young. It serves as a symbol of the strength of Lloyd’s personality, as a strong nostalgic totem and another reason for these two tubby middle-aged men to frequently collapse into helpeless giggles. I loved every minute.
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter