Life
with Rodney!
The more I
thought about the "Mayor of the Sunset Strip"
the less I appreciated this documentary written
and directed by George Hickenlooper and based
upon the life of legendary but not quite famous
pop star impresario Rodney Bingenheimer.
Bingenheimer has certainly led the interesting
life...sort of starting off as a rock band
groupie, becoming part of the inner
circle...starting a club and finally becoming
one of the most influential DJ's around at KROQ
(long before it became one of the most
influential radio stations around).
Of course, the film points out that Bingenheimer...despite
obvious success is breaking out many of Rock's
top artists, has never really achieved true
"success." Bingenheimer lives in a 3-bedroom
home with tattered furniture...his walls are
lined with photo after photo of Rodney with a
virtual parade of rock and roll hall-of-famers.
The documentary works on certain levels...Of
course, the scenes with musicians are
informative and entertaining. The parade
includes the Ramones, Sex Pistols, Sonny and
Cher (who took a particularly "mom and dad" role
in his life), Alice Cooper, Oasis, Nirvana,
Courtney Love, Green Day, Tori Amos...well, the
list just goes on and on. All seem to revere
Rodney, yet I kept getting the feeling it was
almost a combination of "condescending"
reverence and the knowledge that this was a man
in an influential radio position who did, in
fact, have this inner geek need to be accepted
and fit in without actually wanting anything
from the stars. In other words, they were
mutually beneficial relationships. Rodney didn't
want their money or their "stuff"...just to hang
out and be accepted. The stars all wanted their
music heard and the chance to be rock stars. It
worked out.
The inherent rock-and-roll lifestyle is, of
course, much about sex, drugs AND rock n' roll.
Rodney had quite the attention from women during
the heyday of the 70's music scene. He hung out
with Kim Fowley...the film really questions
whether he was manipulated by Fowley and really
used significantly. The film really portrays
Fowley as a major "perv" who would start young
girlbands just for sexual purposes. The strong
implication is that Rodney was a part of this
scene because he was with Fowley. Of course, the
direct connection was never made...yet, it
almost felt glossed over. It was an odd
inclusion in the film because it made one
wonder...was Rodney "banging" underage girls?
That's what it looked like to me. From that
point on, my liking for this awkward, funny
looking and somewhat odd guy began to fade.
The film bounces back into a funny, yet sad
scene where Rodney reunited with his estranged
family...it's one of those awkward family
moments when the offstage narrator asks about
family photos of Rodney and they have a hard
time finding them.
Awkwardness is also the rule as Rodney, early in
the film, is seen driving his mom's beat up Nova
to her house (she's deceased).
I didn't so much come away from Rodney's story
sad that he didn't become a success. In fact, I
am oddly relieved. Rodney was a groupie...and he
has managed to live his life on the fringes of
celebrity and rock music. It's wonderful to live
a life you love, but it doesn't necessarily
entitle you to fame and wealth. Rodney was
clearly patronized by those who could use him,
protected by those who saw him as a naive,
"slow" kid just trying to fit in.
"Mayor of the Sunset Strip" is often awkward,
occasionally entertaining. It is irritatingly
plodding at times with below average
cinematography. (Even in a basic documentary...I
do NOT want to see the microphones). Music buffs
will find it interesting, but most others will
just find it sort of pathetic.
©
Written by Richard
Propes
TC Candler's Comment
N/A
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
