Mayor of the Sunset Strip

Rating:
Summary: a stranger-than-fiction true life story
Review: ***1/2 If "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" were not a documentary, no one would ever believe the story it tells. The film chronicles the life of Rodney Bingenheimer, the L.A. DJ who helped to launch the careers of many of the most influential bands in rock music history. However, if you're expecting Rodney to be a dashing, high-powered music exec with loads of cash and garages full of fancy sport cars, think again. He is, in fact, a painfully shy and unassuming man who seems totally out of place in the celebrity swirl of which he became so integral a part beginning in the 1960`s. This is what makes his story and the film so fascinating, for who could have imagined that this gnomish young lad from Mountain View, California - essentially abandoned by both his mother and father and rejected by his peers - would somehow manage to make himself the center of attention for some of the greatest rock celebrities of the 1960's and `70's. Everybody who was anybody knew and adored Rodney, and, after he landed a gig as DJ at L.A.'s KROQ in the 1970`s, he gave many struggling alternative artists their first real toehold on the radio, playing their records at a time when no other disc jockeys would touch them. The bands who practically owe their careers to Rodney Bingenheimer include Blondie, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, the Runaways, the Go-Go's, No Doubt, Coldplay, and many many others.

As a documentary, the film, written and directed by George Hickenlooper, takes a fairly conventional approach, combining images from Rodney's life with interviews by celebrities, relatives and friends commenting on him both as a person and as a phenomenon. The film provides a virtual who's who of some of the biggest names in the music business stepping up to the camera to have their say, most of it highly complimentary to the subject. Indeed, almost to a person, the interviewees talk about what a sweet, lovable guy Rodney is and how hobnobbing with so many celebrities has not diminished his innate humility and decency as a person. There is one moment in the film when Rodney allows his anger to get the better of him, but, most of the time, he comes across as a goodhearted, almost passive person who is surprisingly inarticulate and - one senses - not all that comfortable being the subject of a documentary. The film achieves a poignancy and sadness in its latter scenes when we discover that, despite all this notoriety among the glitterati in Hollywood, Rodney lives a rather isolated existence, never having found that one true love with whom he could settle down and make a life. In fact, the movie makes us question whether fame - or even proximity to the famous - can ever really lead to a happy, successful life. It`s a lament we`ve heard many times before and will hear many times again.

"Mayor of the Sunset Strip" provides us with a kaleidoscopic view of the L.A. music scene from the mid 1960's to the present. Rodney's life becomes the forum for reliving all those exciting moments in which this parade of beautiful and talented people came to define the culture and eras of which they were a part. The film has an almost "Zelig" quality to it, as Rodney is photographed standing next to virtually every important rock artist to come down the pike in the last four decades.

I must admit that, even after watching "Mayor of the Sunset Strip," I still don't claim to understand how Rodney achieved everything that he did, and maybe no film could ever really capture that magic alignment of elements that made it possible for a shy, insecure young boy from a broken family - yet a boy with dreams and an abiding love of rock 'n roll - to play such a crucial part in music history. I guess you had to actually be there to really understand it.

My own experience with Rodney Bingenheimer is an extremely modest one. I once stood behind him while waiting to board a flight from San Jose to Burbank. Few people in the crowd seemed to know who he was, but an attractive young girl, obviously interested in pursuing a career in music, approached him and politely engaged him in conversation. Rodney, despite the fact that he could have simply ignored her advances and begged for privacy, instead turned his full attention to what it was she was saying, smiled demurely at her compliments, and offered her an opportunity to perform for him when they got back to L.A. It's that Rodney Bingenheimer who comes through in the film.


Rating:
Summary: One for Rodney's friends, fans and family.
Review: A good documentary should involve you even if you've never heard of the person whom it's centred on. And in this case the person I've never heard of is Rodney Bingenheimer, a long-time DJ on LA's rock station, KROQ. Once you get over the fact that someone named Rodney was able to get their own radio programme, this proves to be a somewhat interesting meander through the celebrity-studded life of Mr. Bingenheimer.

From his humble beginnings when he was pretty much left by his parents to fend for himself in LA's hipster Mecca, the Sunset Strip, through his hob-nobbing with stars and groupies, to his pretty mundane present in a bed-sit with occasional excursions to IHOP (the International House of Pancakes) and his radio show (now scheduled at midnight), he is a singularly odd figure. His success appears to stem more from his looks (think Syd Barret crossed with Davy Jones) and little-boy-lost persona, than his innate talent for picking winning bands although to be fair to him, he's managed to fend off obsolescence for nigh on forty years. Basically, once a group got successful in Britain, he got sent advance copies and was thus able to break them in the all-important American market. How much of a talent you need to predict the chances of stateside success for the likes of The Kinks, Bowie, The Smiths and Coldplay is debatable.

It's easy to feel sorry for the bloke, sitting next to the woman who he's just explained is his soulmate, listening to her say they're just friends and she actually has a boyfriend, then seeing him distributing his mum's ashes in the next scene. But he's had quite a life on pretty scant talents. And although he lives in a crappy little bed-sit, he could probably move into something better if he Ebayed a couple of items of memorabilia he's been given over the years... Elvis' Driving license, Bowies earliest demos... Ka-ching.

If you know who this bloke is, maybe it'll be better for you. I found the film patchy and often wondered why they were documenting this guy's life and not, for instance, the borderline psychotic Texan who writes songs about Jennifer Love Hewitt ("She's so nice...") and wanders around town in a space-suit. Not a bad soundtrack though, it seems that quite a few people owe him favours. Watch Oliver Stone's The Doors for a more interesting glimpse into the 60s LA scene.

Rating:
Summary: A Piece of Music History...
Review: A touching film about a man who should have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rodney was playing "now famous" bands on K-ROQ in Los Angeles, long before anyone else. If you are a fan of Blondie, The Ramones, Van-Halen, The Runaways, Narvana, Oasis,and many more you will enjoy this film. Rodney is a man who cares more about people and music, than money. I wish him all the best!

Rating:
Summary: Roxy roller
Review: By turns outrageously funny and reflectively sad, this fascinating look at the life of L.A. music scene fixture Rodney Bingenheimer is a must-see for anyone claiming to be a serious rock fan. The diminutive, skittish and soft-spoken Bingenheimer comes off as Andy Warhol's West coast twin, or perhaps the Forrest Gump of rock and roll-somehow he has been in the hurricane's eye of every major music "scene" since the mid 60's, from Monkeemania (working as Davey Jones' double!) to becoming the first DJ to champion current superstars Coldplay. Although ostensibly "about" Rodney, the film is at its core a whirlwind timetrip through Rock's evolution, filtered through a coked-out L.A. haze. The ongoing photograph montages of Rodney posing with an A-Z roster of every major seminal rock figure in the genre's history began to remind me of Woody Allen's Alfred Zelig, a nondescript milquetoast who could morph his appearance to match whomever he was with at the time. Rodney himself remains a cypher; in one scene he fidgets nervously and begs the director to turn off the camera when the questions get too "close". There is also a sad irony; despite his ability to attract the company of the rich and famous (and they all appear to adore the man), the fruits of fame and success evade Rodney himself. He drives a "beater" to his DJ job at L.A.'s legendary KROQ; he lives alone in a cluttered little hovel, where treasured memorabilia like Elvis Presely's first driver's license(!) collects dust next to the empty pizza boxes. Priceless commentary from the likes of music producer Kim Fowley (whose own wacked-out rock 'n' roll career contains enough fodder for a whole other documentary), Pamela Des Barres (legendary groupie; aka "Miss Pamela" of Frank Zappa proteges The G.T.O.'s)and her husband, musician Michael Des Barres. One of the best "rockumentaries" to date.

Rating:
Summary: Rodney on the rock scene
Review: Filmmaker George Hickenlooper is still stinging over some of the criticism he took over "Mayor of the Sunset Strip," his documentary about Rodney Bingenheimer, the Zelig of L.A.'s rock scene. Most critics loved the film, but a few saw it as a sad and voyeuristic look at an aging hipster.

"How could I be heartbreaking?" Bingenheimer puzzles on a commentary track as he watches the film, which is packed with rock royalty paying tribute to the longtime Los Angeles disc jockey. "It's what Rodney wanted," Hickenlooper says on his commentary, pointing out that a lot of unflattering material was left out. Plus, the director notes, "Rodney is doing better with the ladies since the movie came out."

First Look has released "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" in a single-disc edition that packs in several hours of good outtakes. The terrific soundtrack thrives in an unusually active and creative mix. Video quality varies wildly, given the five-decade span of the footage.

Hickenlooper says he saw Bingenheimer's odd tale as a metaphor for contemporary culture and its fascination with celebrity. Most of the filmmaker's 90 or so interviews with rock personalities touched on fame and its effects, but a lot of the material didn't make the cut. Fortunately, some highlights are included as DVD extras.


Rating:
Summary: Very insightful film...Rodney is so interesting
Review: I rated this film a four only because the soundtrack doesn't have some of the music in it from the film. With that said, you will enjoy the musical taste of Rodney Bingenheimer as well as appreciate his story. This is simply a great documentary. This is a great film for music lovers.

Rating:
Summary: Special Features Worth Price of Admission
Review: I'm giving this DVD 5 stars because, taken together with the special features, the film contributes to a package that may be essential for any rock fan/armchair historian like myself. I agree with the criticism that the film spends too much time probing into Rodney's personal life; I assume the film-maker felt an obligation to present his subject's inner life as well as his social world, but ultimately I really don't care whether Rodney's best female buddy is his lover or not - I'm far more interested in the man's profound contribution to rock history. That said, the movie does its job well enough to hold the attention of rock fanatics and casual viewers alike.
But what really seals the deal - and I'm surprised none of the reviews here have mentioned this - is a scene, tucked away in the special features, in which the film maker introduces Brian Wilson to Elvis Costello. The ensuing exchange is as fascinationg as you might imagine: A calm, collected Elvis does his best not to scream out "Ohmygod I'm talking to Brian Wilson!" while the latter goes on being his weird, intriguing self. The genius hangs like some luminescent protoplasm in the room while these two discuss recording studios, songwriting and fame. This segment alone moved me to go out and buy the DVD (I had rented it).
Oh yeah, and there are interviews with people like Cher, David Bowie, and Pamela and Michael Des Barres, who proves himself a really entertaining and engaging character. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Rodney, on the ROQ
Review: If you cared at all about the exploding new wave scene in the 80's, then you should see this movie. Rodney Bingenheimer was the architect of the KROQ sound, the radio format that spawned alternative stations across the nation. What "The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip" does provide beyond that is a snapshot of Rodney as the ultimate fanboy. He was the kind of guy who drove David Bowie around California, trying to get him an audience with US record companies. Rodney, pretty much left in Hollywood to fend for himself as a child, even landed parts as Davey Jones' double on "The Monkees." His fans and friends include people like Bowie, Alice Cooper and Gwen Stefani. Even Cher drops in to show Rodney her appreciation.

What you also gather from this DVD is Rodney as an attention starved man-child who turned his fascination with celebrity into a career without a fortune. The distressing thing is that Rodney, who dwells in a squalid apartment and drives a beat up Chevy, basically lives a pretty meager existence when all the artists he helped break pay him little more than general lip service, and the radio station he helped put on the map has reduced him to one shift a week from Midnight to 3 AM on Sundays.

"The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip" is a good watch for rock fans, but is ultimately depressing. Rodney cuts a tragic figure through a lot of the documentary and leaves the viewer with a bittersweet feeling about the current state of broadcasting. You squirm as Rodney, a man who programmed radio by the sounds of the music he loved, is slowly being squeezed into irrelevance. Then you come to understand that people who grab hold of music and records for the sheer love of glamor, glitter and the sound of it all are dangerously close to extinct.

The music on the soundtrack is superb, including live tracks from X, Green Day, and Coldplay, plus songs from Bowie, T Rex and Van Halen! Both the DVD and it's CD soundtrack a really a music fan's (like Rodney) treasure, but may leave others confused as you watch this reedy, tweedy figure fumble his way through the duration of "The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip."

Rating:
Summary: best unseen movie of 2004
Review: Thank goodness this filmic gem is now out on DVD. I was fortunate enough to have seen it in the real theater when it was released. However, it disappeared before most of my friends got to see it. I'm looking forward to all the extras on this DVD.

Hopefully this documentary will become something of a cult favorite, as Rodney deserves all the proper respect other better known DJs and A & R men have gotten.
Without Rodney, much of the great pop music we've grown accustomed to today would never have reached our ears. He's broken too many bands to list here.

This film is both inspiring and a little bit heart-breaking, but it's definitely worth owning and watching with your music-loving friends.

Not many people actually saw this film when it came out...now's your chance to see it and I know you'll appreciate it like I do...

Rating:
Summary: Study of Fame
Review: The DVD menu hits you with a Warholian picture of Rodney -- an identifiable cartoon, with spiked hair. And Bowie's "Fame" plays over the menu. With "Mayor," the director is looking at near-pure fame, minus the variables we usually link with it; riches, looks, relative youth. Rodney is not rich (but doing okay, with his mother's Mountain View house), aging in a youth market (KROQ goes for 18-24 year olds), and... still looks good.

So without the material perks and quantifiable power, what is fame worth? In his late 50's(?) Rodney is left with good memories, mementos, and a few good friendships -- not bad. In contrast, many of the famous from LA's 60's glory days are dead (and hence more famous) or Fading Fast like the Go-Go's song says. Okay, I'm rambling... but I highly suggest this dvd, as it will get you thinking about fame. And you can relive the last 40 years of rock and celebrities: Connie Stevens to Cher to X to Gwen.

One thing in the film is annoying: The director is a bit gonzo, asking blunt questions that make Rodney and his family uncomfortable (and this viewer too). Rodney seems too nice to be contrarian, so at times he seems to roll with the director's leading tones, or else stays silent. Also, some of the music score with downbeat tinkling piano seems designed to make Rodney seem a somewhat sad figure today. But sad compared to who or what? Rodney has lived a full and inspiring life, and still is, while bringing joy to many. That he never cashed in (too nice? too preoccupied with the music/scene?) seems noble... more noble than other celebrities' flabby affluence or fast self-destruction. More neutral questions to Rodney, and a more upbeat score may have portrayed Rodney more fairly. So long live Rodney! He got the beat! I remember LP compilations titled "Rodney on the Roq," in *very small* "New Wave" sections of record stores, circa the early 1980's. That music and its exposure helped many live more colorful, energetic lives -- thanks Rodney!

And if you like the famous people as much as Rodney, the film and extras are chock full. Especially 30 minutes of straight on interviews with Bowie, Courtney Love, Brian Wilson *with* Elvis Costello, and the Des Barres' (*please* give them a reality show!:-)....

Is fame worth chasing, hyping, helping to create for others, and sharing with the non-beautiful people? Rodney's life says to this viewer, "Yes!" "Mayor" is worth a look.