'Life and Times' the best Marriott video thus far
When I was 16 years old, I was fortunate enough to see Humble Pie at the Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The audience was told the Pie was going to record a live album that night. While the live album didn't happen (the group opted to release the criminally ignored "Eat It" instead), I was witness to an electric performance which, after 35 years and over 700 concerts, still stands as one of the best two shows I've ever seen (the other being the Clash).
'The Life and Times of Steve Marriott' is a one hour biopic tribute which for Marriott fans has become something of a must-have item. It has been out of print for nearly eight years, during which time the price of obtaining this gem has climbed from $20.00 to $60-80.00. I was patient, and finally found a copy for $30.00.
If you're hoping for a great concert video, this disc is sure to disspoint. It takes the viewer on a trip from Steve's early beginnings as a stage performing lad in 'Oliver!' through his mod days with Small Faces. The break-up of that band was the genesis for Humble Pie, and his love/hate relationship with Peter Frampton. There are snippets of concerts from both bands, most noteably a television performance of Itchykoo Park and an incredible studio performance of Alabama 69 with the original Pie line-up. Throughout the disc the viewer is treated by interviews with former Pie members (including Frampton), managers, and other musicians explaining their relationships with Steve and how much influence he had on their career. The greatest disappointment of this production is that while you are treated with a decent birth-to-death overview of Steve's life, the video leaves you with a hunger to see more concert footage and wishing that the producers had gone the extra mile to fatten this disc out to a full 2-2.5 hour treatment. It's obvious that film exists, so why not give the viewer more of a glimpse into what made Steve's contemporaries revere him as a true rock icon? True, the performances which are included in this disc are a real treat for Marriott fans, but in the end, you're simply not satisfied with what's presented.
Among the more interesting extras on this disc is a roundtable-style interview selection where participants are asked ten questions about Steve, his life and the era in which he thived. Among the more interesting tidbits are facts concerning the connection between Steve/Humble Pie and the Rolling Stones, such as the revelation that the Pie decided to offer Brian Jones the opportunity to join the band just days before Jones drowned (or was murdered, if one chooses to believe more recent accounts).
There are many things to like about this disc. For those like me who had the honor of seeing this amazing artist live, it is a loving reminder of the days when a small, wiry guy could stand center stage and make his voice go from an ear-piercing wail to soulful, heart-wrenching croon in zero to sixty. Not perfect by any means, but because Marriott never achieved the super-fame or basked in the exultations many of his contemporaries like Robert Plant enjoyed, this is a loving, heart-felt tribute made by people who cared deeply about its subject. Now, will someone please do a respectable concert DVD collection for all of us that want to see Steve Marriott and Humble Pie 'Rock the Filmore'?Read full review
