There are many routes to success and sometimes the path that appears for some artists is completely unexpected. One example is the brilliant Chris Sievey, the subject of this documentary, whose most famous creation is the musician/performer/enigma Frank Sidebottom. Growing up seeing his act, Frank Sidebottom was always this mysterious and quirky figure to me, delivering fantastically surreal performances that were quite unique. His true identity was also quite well hidden, with Sievey avoiding any photos without the Frank costume on, and it was only when he died in 2010 that I first saw one.
For anyone who has not had the joy of seeing Frank Sidebottom, the general gist is that he is an entertainer in a shiny suit, with an oversized paper-mache head (as pictured!), most commonly seen with his sidekick, Little Frank. His act is a series of stories and songs in an anarchic style, that seems chaotic at first glance.
This documentary delves into the history of where Frank came from and reveals a whole pre-history to Chris Sievey that I wasn’t fully aware of. I suspect that many people will be in a similar situation, including many fans of Frank, who first saw him on TV in the 1990s.
Initially funded by a grass roots Kickstarter campaign, this film shows that there is the passion for Sievey’s work, without which this probably wouldn’t have been possible. That so many people cared about the work of what is ostensibly an outsider artist, shows the enduring quality of his material. For the director, Steve Sullivan, this must also have been a labour of love which took a long time, but it has definitely been worth it.
Interviewing various family members, colleagues and fans, and utilising a vast collection of archive material that was apparently about to be thrown away, Sullivan has built up an intriguing picture of Sievey’s life and work. The majority of interviewees that you’d expect to appear are here, including Jon Ronson, once a member of Frank’s band, who wrote the 2014 film Frank (starring Michael Fassbender), although in that instance, he just used the inspiration of Frank Sidebottom for the character. Alongside these interviews, the collection of recordings, pictures and memorabilia is remarkable, and show a highly creative man at work, regardless of the medium. Whether it’s on video, cassette tape, or a childs bedroom wall, there is a true talent on display.
Sievey clearly had aspirations to be a conventional pop/rock star, but found himself in a situation where he had become well known for something, or someone, else than he intended. This is one of the most intriguing aspects of the documentary, where his potential resentment of Frank is examined, as well as the deep dive into his previous attempt at fame, ‘The Freshies’. Like me, there are probably many people who hadn’t made the connection between Frank and The Freshies, despite Frank originally being created to be a ’Freshies Super Fan’; when he broke out into the mainstream, Frank had already taken over, and The Freshies had been sidelined.
There is very much a dual story going on here. On one hand we have the story of a irrepressible creative mind, who is happy working with many different mediums, and on the other hand there is a dark streak, full of bitterness and alcoholism. To his credit, Sullivan treats both sides of the story very fairly and gives them the time they deserve. In each case there is a respect for the subject there, but it doesn’t shy away from getting into the details.
Coming away from this documentary I was both inspired yet again by Sievey’s creativity, but also saddened by how he felt about his place in history, and what we have lost with his death. He was a complicated man in some ways, who never achieved the heights that his talent and aspiration demanded. This documentary is a great testament to Sievey, and also a reminder that we should treasure these artists while we have the chance.
