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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Stuart, Chortle
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Bosco239, youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter