Director Sacha Gervasi discusses the origins of his new film Anvil! The Story of Anvil, a documentary about the 80’s heavy metal band.
Anvil! follows band members Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner on a last-ditch quest for the fame and stardom they never had, while also reflecting on the years gone by.
Gervasi has been a fan of the band since his youth and was blown away by their live performance, which he attended as a kid.
“I remember my first meeting with Anvil way back in the 80’s…it was about 11.15 in the evening and Anvil had just blown away the marquee,” said Gervasi. “They were so heavy and so hilarious at the same time.”
The director was fortunate enough to meet Anvil backstage and immediately hit it off talking about the intricacies of their music.
“I think they really appreciated one of their young English fans who really knew their music well.” Gervasi continued, “They were really pure, they were really about the music and really about loving their fans.”
As the years past, the director recognised the influence Anvil had had on the great rock band’s, despite never reaching the heights of success themselves. And so, Gervasi set out to find his childhood heroes and make the documentary.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil will feature in this year’s Glasgow Film Festival, screening at Cineworld on February 13 and 14.
