The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) Review

Dude looks like a lady

The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years (1988): 6 out of 10: The Metal Years is the second of three documentaries about youth music movements. The first was a groundbreaking look at the punk rock scene in 1981. This follow-up concentrates on the glam metal scene in Los Angeles in the mid-eighties.

While certain scenes from the documentary have become legendary over the years, the overall effect is all over the place.

The Good

The Good: Unlike most music documentaries from the era, The Metal Years is well filmed with good sound that holds up today. About halfway through the film, there is one of the funniest things I have seen all year. Singer Randy O fronting Odin, is performing in assless chaps. He borrowed them for the concert. It is something that wouldn’t be out of place in This Is Spinal Tap.

In fact, the entire Odin segment is comedy gold, combining the “This is Spinal Tap” vibe with grandiose quotes that sound like they came from Borat talking to the yokels. Other highlights include Ozzy Osbourne (RIP Prince of Darkness) cooking breakfast (he does so well until it’s time to pour the orange juice… so close.) And Lemmy being cool when everyone else (I am looking your way, Paul Stanley) is simply trying too hard.

The Bad

The Bad: The bands; while the original The Decline of Western Civilization certainly didn’t have all winners, they at least had some bands that would later become famous (Black Flag) and some that were actually good (X). The Decline of Western Civilization Part Two comprises one horrible band after another.

Another challenge is that interviews with dim and inebriated adolescents rarely provide what one would call insight. The filmmaker certainly lets them dig their own holes, but it often leaves obvious questions on the table. (“Do you wear makeup and dress like a girl because you are in the band, or did you join the band to wear makeup and dress like a girl?” seems to be an obvious softball just hanging there for some of these guys.)

There are also silly asides that drag the movie out, such as an interview with the LA prosecutor investigating the heavy metal scene and an endless sexy rock and roll dance contest that is neither sexy nor rock and roll.

In Conclusion

In Conclusion: It is easy to forget with today’s youth filming every moment of their lives how rare it was in the eighties for someone to point a camera at you. So as a document of this specific place and time, The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years certainly does a decent job.

Glam metal was dead as disco within a few years, and almost everyone involved had to get real jobs. I am sure that many look back with a smile on their faces and a shake of the head at their youthful folly. A fun time for those who remember those days.