Have you ever seen Stardust? No, not the Jane Goldman fantasy bollocks - the David Essex classic.
I'm a big fan of this film, and the prequel That'll Be The Day. In that one, wannabe rock star Jim Maclain works at a holiday camp with Ringo Starr, and life is just one long picnic of birds, bristols and booze. When Adam Faith makes his presence known at the end, Jim's leaving it all behind for the big time.
So in Stardust, Jim's, well, a star. But it all goes to his head is timeless rock and roll fashion.
Never seen either? Then why are you reading this when you could be watching them?
I think David Essex is great in them, just pitch perfect. Of course he's a terrible actor, but this kind of fare is brilliant for him, and remember these films were made when he was a top of the pops. He's not really done much else of note has he. I can only think of Silver Dream Racer (which I've never seen) and lockeeper shitcom The River (which I've also never seen). He was meant to join EastEnders a few years ago but had to pull out because it clashed with his tour. Shame.
Back to the films them. I love the crowd scenes which are meant to be set in the Fifties and Sixties in which all the extras are clearly wearing Seventies clothes - it's Rollermania in that audience and we must just overlook it. Stardust especially is a great cautionary tale about the rock business and to my mind one of the best music biz films ever. All would be pop stars should be made to watch it before they embark on their careers, because this eventually is what happens to all them, more or less. The soundtracks are good too
