Glam Minus Bowie?

Rating: 8/10 (13 February 2009)

VELVET GOLDMINE does a superb job in capturing the essence of The Glam Rock Period. The music of Roxy Music, Slade, T-Rex, The Stooges, and many more showcase the anarchism of that fantastic scene. However, the eight hundred pound gorilla in the room is completely ignored! I think it would be hilarious and exceedingly interesting if David Bowie contributed a commentary track. Although you could make the case that Glam Rock would have occurred without Bowie, and this film certainly makes the case, his direction and artistic vision had an imprint on nearly every aspect of the genre. It would almost be like presenting the victory of The American North in the Civil War without mentioning Abraham Lincoln. VELVET GOLDMINE is a wonderful, fabulous vision of a sexually confusing and nihilistic social movement which enjoyed surprising mainstream success. This film does almost everything to explain the mystery and power of this fleeting musical fad and stylistic fashion by employing a curious metaphorical technique.