Glitter, Glitter, Shine and Shimmer

“Quite soon we actually plan to take over the world!” said Brian Slade. In the 70’s the U.K. pretty much was the center of the world and glam rock was conquering all of it. In the liberal, raunchy film “Velvet Goldmine” you get a ‘VH1 Behind the Music’ look of the rise and fall of Brian Slade, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, a bisexual glam rock icon based off of David Bowie. Brian Slade inspires numerous teenage boys and girls to paint their nails, wear make-up, dress up in flamboyant clothing and explore their own sexuality. Brian Slade doesn’t do this alone, he’s greatly influenced by American glam rock superstar Curt Wild, Ewan McGregor, who later becomes his love interest, along with his with Mandy Slade, Toni Collette.

This star studded cast also consists of Eddie Izzard, not seen playing his usual role of a cross dresser and is known for his “transvestism”. Izzard plays the role of Jerry Devine, a Slade’s manager. Christian Bale plays the role of the reporter trying to write a piece on the once big Brian Slade and on his wild goose chase to find him, he looks back into his own past and how greatly Brian Slade and Curt Wild influenced him as a young boy confused about his own sexuality. These glam rockers never backed down from nudity, sex and drugs on or off stage. If you are one who considers themselves conservative, this dirty tale of rockers may be too much for you to handle. Liberal? You are sure to be entertained by the flamboyant costumes and make up, the glitz and glitter, strangeness and sexuality in the music videos and performances of Brian Slade and partner Curt Wild shown throughout the film.

“Rock and roll is a prostitute, it should be tarted up,” as said by Slade, glam rock was just that. Hair dyed in outrages colors, heavy eye, cheek, and lip wear, feminine clothing or no clothing at all. All of this shows the chaotic, free spirited way of rockers in the 70’s in this “mind mangling” film. Mandy Slade, Collette, said, “What is true about music is true about life: that beauty reveals everything because it expresses nothing.” Meyers and his costars do a great job of wearing the glitz, glam and the beauty of the glam rock era that, through pounds and pounds of make up and glitter, revealed true madness.