Lemmy and Tom Araya to Star in Silent Film Co-Written by Henry Rollins
Lately, trying to do anything interesting with rock and roll cinema has proved disastrous. The specific example that comes to mind is Metallica’s Through the Never, which bombed spectacularly in part because everyone thought it was some kind of Nascar-type theatrical hybrid event.
But the recently-announced Gutterdämmerung (a parody of the name of the final piece of Wagner’s Ring Cycle)actually sounds kind of amazing. Directed by Swedish visual effects artist Björn Tagemose and co-written by Henry fucking Rollins, Gutterdämmerung is supposed to be a combination of rock show and cinematic experience–basically, a silent film that has a live rock band accompanying it as opposed to a live piano.
The film will star Lemmy, Tom Araya, Iggy Pop, Rollins, and Grace Jones of Conan and View to a Kill fame. Here’s a description of the film’s plot:
The film is set in a world where God has saved the world from sin by taking from mankind the Devil’s “Grail of Sin”… the Evil Guitar. The Earth has now turned into a puritan world where there is no room for sex, drugs or rock ‘n’ roll.
From up on high in heaven a “punk-angel,” Vicious (portrayed by Iggy Pop), looks upon the world with weary bored eyes. Behind God’s back, Vicious sends the Devil’s guitar back to earth and sin in all its forms returns to mankind.
An evil puritan priest (Henry Rollins) manipulates a naive girl to retrieve the guitar and destroy it. On her quest to find the Devil’s Grail Of Sin, the girl is forced to face the world’s most evil rock and roll bastards. Throughout her journey, she has a rival in the form of a rock chick determined to stop her from destroying the instrument.
Woah! That actually sounds pretty badass, if it’s pulled off well. And since there’s a visual effects artist directing it and no spoken dialogue, it just might be.
Meanwhile, Lemmy and Araya will be featured in the following roles:
Lemmy will play a crazed general leading the “Armour Cavalry” during a dark explosive moment for the two heroines of Gutterdämmerung.
As a mysterious messenger of darkness, Tom Araya will be “bringing the light” by setting the silver screen on fire with a truly primal performance.
Perfect for a WWII-obsessed classic rocker and Thrash Metal Santa.
I’m actually kind of interested to see how this turns out. Obviously, I’m wary that the whole thing might be an over-ambitious project that never truly fulfills its potential, but damn if this isn’t a solid pedigree behind it. Rollins is a man I trust when it comes to art, and this cast suggests that Tagemose knows what he’s doing in terms of rock star casting.
The movie/event/whatever is going to tour in late 2016/early 2016 with a live band that will play deafening rock music over the show. Hopefully, it’ll swing through your town to thoroughly confuse and excite you.
[via]
