an amazing documentary
‘an amazing documentary’ 4* - The Herald Sun
‘a superior portrait’ 8/10 Uncut
At the age of 16, Rowland S. Howard wrote the masterpiece ‘Shivers’ that was later recorded by The Boys Next Door - the band in which Howard got to know a very young Nick Cave. They changed their name to The Birthday Party and moved away from Australia, first to London and later to Berlin... where they changed the face of (rock) music for good.Rowland S. Howard's guitar style was highly defining for the The Birthday Party sound and it influenced an entire generation of young musicians (Kevin Shields, Thurston Moore,..).
Laced with a lot of music and interviews (with Rowland S Howard himself, people he worked with, family and friends), the film forms an enthralling portrait of this artist characterised by drink and drugs.
In 2009, at the age of 50, Rowland S. Howard lost his fight against liver cancer. His musical legacy is not to be underestimated.