CBGB Film Fest Recap: ‘Graham Parker: Don’t Ask Me Questions’
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Photo: CBGB.com
When we noticed a documentary on the CBGB schedule about Graham Parker, a musician who is not exactly a household name today (but who we remember from back in the day) we were intrigued.
Graham Parker: Don’t Ask Me Questions tells the story of an uncompromising musician who, along with his band (Graham Parker and the Rumour), was considered too acerbic and intense for the 70s music scene; yet too conventional to be considered punk. This was a man who, when dissatisfied with his record label, Mercury Records, responded with a song called “Mercury Poisoning.” (That’s pretty punk rock, if you ask us.)
When the music industry changed, Parker stuck with his instincts. Determined to pursue his musical vision, Parker broke up the band in 1981 after six years.
The film includes interviews with each band member showing the various paths they took, after coming so close to stardom. It also includes interviews with fans of Graham Parker and the Rumour, including Bruce Springsteen and Joe Jackson.
Parker has released new music annually while continuously touring as a solo artist in small clubs around the country. The end of the film shows Parker reuniting with the Rumour over 30 years later to record a new album.
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