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.
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Stuart, Chortle
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Brighton Argus
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter