Nice try, but you can't write your own history of music.
This film is a good example of how a group of people affiliated with some cultural phenomenon view their experience as the first, best or only experience of that phenomenon.
In this case, a small Long Island radio station is switched from a rock and roll format to a "new wave" format in 1982 and the station enjoys success and fame with a playlist of British post-punk artist comprising the "new wave" movement in pop music. This documentary amounts to a big "pat on the back" to the DJs and program director who claim credit for breaking many european music acts before any other station did the same.
The problem with this film is it's not true. This film is purely a self-congratulatory effort to lionize people who feel that their efforts in their subculture were worthy of recognition that's not really warranted.
Rodney Bigenheimer was the Person who broke most of the bands whom the filmmakers credit the Long Island station with introducing to America. Bingenheimer is an iconic LA rock persona who was a DJ for KROQ radio in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California from 1976-2017, where he introduced many, many bands from overseas into the popular culture. Most of the bands mentioned in this documentary as introduced by the Long Island radio station were previously played by Bigenheimer on his show, "Rodney on the Roq" on KROQ in Los Angeles. So, this film's premise is basically false. The reality is clear for anyone with internet access or who grew up in Southern California during the 70's and 80's.
Its fun hearing the east coast fans talking about their experiences with new wave and the parties and clubs and excitement. But this experience was shared and explored by others earlier and concurrently in other parts of the US. And that takes away from this documentary's credibility and relevance. It's shameless actually.
This film is a good example of how a group of people affiliated with some cultural phenomenon view their experience as the first, best or only experience of that phenomenon.
In this case, a small Long Island radio station is switched from a rock and roll format to a "new wave" format in 1982 and the station enjoys success and fame with a playlist of British post-punk artist comprising the "new wave" movement in pop music. This documentary amounts to a big "pat on the back" to the DJs and program director who claim credit for breaking many european music acts before any other station did the same.
The problem with this film is it's not true. This film is purely a self-congratulatory effort to lionize people who feel that their efforts in their subculture were worthy of recognition that's not really warranted.
Rodney Bigenheimer was the Person who broke most of the bands whom the filmmakers credit the Long Island station with introducing to America. Bingenheimer is an iconic LA rock persona who was a DJ for KROQ radio in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California from 1976-2017, where he introduced many, many bands from overseas into the popular culture. Most of the bands mentioned in this documentary as introduced by the Long Island radio station were previously played by Bigenheimer on his show, "Rodney on the Roq" on KROQ in Los Angeles. So, this film's premise is basically false. The reality is clear for anyone with internet access or who grew up in Southern California during the 70's and 80's.
Its fun hearing the east coast fans talking about their experiences with new wave and the parties and clubs and excitement. But this experience was shared and explored by others earlier and concurrently in other parts of the US. And that takes away from this documentary's credibility and relevance. It's shameless actually.