The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

“Retired.  Living some place nice, my stocks working for me, investments, bonds, securities. You know, shit like that. I’m responsible. I got long hair but, fuck, I’m a business man, you know?”

This one is the best in the series.  The focus has shifted to metal and covers a wide spectrum from up-and-comers to superstars.

We’re shown the excess of the 80’s in all its glory.  We’ve got bands wearing wacky outfits, putting on makeup and trying to be the most appealing thing the public has ever seen.  Artistic integrity is checked at the door.

In part I the bands cherished their meager lifestyle and wore their disdain for western society as a badge of honor.  In part II everyone wants to be a rock star.  There’s a lot of talk about money and business in general and how all these glam metal bands want to be rich and famous.  Having a look and making that image as sleazy and outrageous as possible is paramount.  Hair needs to be bigger, clothes need to be mashed up and layered more, the makeup needs to be more effeminate and etc.  The music is an afterthought (the only exception here is Megadeth, maybe Dave Mustaine was right when he wrote in his autobiography that his band comes off the best in this).

Some of the imagery used for the interviews is fantastic.  For instance Paul Stanley (from Kiss) is seen in an overhead shot lying in bed with three women scantily clad in lingerie.  Alice Cooper stands by a hangman’s gallows and mentions he would like to put some people in the noose that’s in front on him.  And we have a chat with Ozzy Osbourne while he’s making breakfast (this breakfast thing is a running gag that Spheeris uses in all three movies).

There’s also this one part with Chris Holmes, of W.A.S.P. fame, that talks about how being rich and famous made him an alcoholic while guzzling several bottles of vodka.  Again, the imagery is pretty amazing because he’s sitting in a floating chair in his pool with his mother off to the side.  You can tell she’s not totally proud and that Chris is completely drowning metaphorically and one step away from drowning for real.

It’s really weird that the same title applies to this picture as well.  There are two ways to look at it.  Firstly, with all of the extravagances laid before us you know that it can’t last.  Everyone seems to be enjoying the era they’re living in immensely but there has to be an imminent decline.  The second is that this is part of the decline itself.  If you’re not into the whole glam thing, metal or the 80’s overall then this will seem like a showcase of everything that was wrong with that decade.

The differences between part I and part II couldn’t be more striking.  Not even ten years later the LA music scene is unrecognizable.  In part I there was little concern with fame and stardom but in part II every person that appears on camera is so sure they’re gonna make it.  They have no doubts whatsoever that they’ll become a rock star and won’t hear anything to the contrary.

I would recommend seeing both parts to get the full effect but if you’re only gonna go for one then check out part II.  Also Steven Tyler observes, “you can really fuck to a good Aerosmith song”.