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.
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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John Robins, Comedian
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Brighton Argus
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Stuart, Chortle
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Jackmumf, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum