‘Birmingham seems to have a great history of rejecting its culture…’
I’ve never heard of Robert Lloyd and I’ve never heard of The Nightingales. I’ve never heard of comedy director Michael Cumming. So, what am I doing watching a documentary about Robert Lloyd and his band The Nightingales directed by Michael Cumming? Well, that’s where Stewart Lee comes in…
Lee is a comedian for whom the words ‘labour of love’ have become a way of life. A mantra. King Rocker is the natural next step for a man who has maintained his boyish enthusiasm for the things that he loves whilst also perpetuating an onstage persona as a middle aged curmudgeon. And it’s a genuinely warm and hilarious glimpse into the life of a true punk rock eccentric.
The Nightingales came out of the Birmingham punk scene in the 70s and have survived line up changes, mental health struggles and general indifference from the public at large. Charting their rise, fall and rise again, King Rocker dovetails the story of Lloyd with the bizarre tale of a huge King Kong statue that loomed large over both a young Stewart Lee and Birmingham city centre in the olden days. This juxtaposition is perfect for Lloyd, a man who often seems stranger than fiction (albeit partly because a lot of his hilarious anecdotes appear to be total fabrications).
With King Rocker, Lee has crafted something that is more than just a love letter to a criminally underrated band, it’s a love letter to the arts generally. To everyone that creates just for the sake of creating. A must see for any fellow Lee enthusiasts or just anyone who likes good music.