(1998) With songs by Foreigner's Mick Jones, Squeeze's Chris Difford, and ELO's Jeff Lynne, director Brian Gibson's rock'n'roll comedy of memories and melodies has the '70s band Strange Fruit reunited twenty years after their acrimonious breakup following divine intervention at an outdoor concert when God pulled the plug with a lightning strike.

With "outfits surfing the nostalgia wave," one-time keyboardist with a job refilling condom machines, Tony Costello (Stephen Rea), wearing a tooth from Jimi Hendrix around his neck, begins recruiting his erstwhile band mates, beginning with the manager, Karen Knowles (Juliet Aubrey), who after "marriage, mortgage, and divorce," he finds working as a hotel hostess.

Guitarist Les Wickes (Jimmy Nail) is a roofer who loathes his job more than the grudge he's held against lead singer Ray Simms (Bill Nighy), whom they find at his Victorian mansion (where both Queen Victoria and Steve Winwood once slept): a "man of music" giving away his daughter, "child of song," as a bride. From a plant nursery, the group's drummer, David "Beano" Baggot (Timothy Spall), gladly joins up to escape Inland Revenue agents seeking back taxes.

Just as they prepare to get under way on a tour of Holland, Karen receives a fax that the soul of the band, its lead guitarist and principal songwriter, Brian Lovell (Bruce Robinson), has been dead for five years, his royalties having been directed to a cancer center in the US. His brother Keith, the original lead singer before Ray, had died 25 years back from a drug overdose. Uncertain as to whether they should commence with the reunion concerts, they receive the first of several signs - a shepherd leading his flock, carrying a boom box playing one of Brian's songs - "a message from the gods of rock'n'roll," sends them on their way.

Narrator ("irresistible urge to chronicle human folly") and roadie Hughie (Billy Connolly), looking much like David Crosby, recalls the days of "fame, fortune, and fornication" and drives the band's bus (formerly of the Psychedelic Furs, with their collection of pornography). Karen's daughter Clare goes along for the ride as well as a young guitarist, Luke (Hans Matheson), taking Brian's place.

Beano speaks of his vivid recall of performing at the Hollywood Bowl, though the others assure him it never happened. With early difficulties and indignities in getting back their groove, the group with small-venue gigs eventually finds its sound. But the rift between Les and Ray again widens, going back to Ray's refusal to allow Les to sing his own song, "The Flame Still Burns," while Ray struggles against his addictions.

Tony's affection for Karen, who still carries a flame for Brian, goes unrequited. And then the gods of rock'n'roll have their say again when Bruised Fruit appears with Posh, Sour, and Bread.

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Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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