If you listened to John Peel in the 1980s or were aware of the West Midlands punk or indie music scene you have more than likely heard of Robert Lloyd and his two bands the Prefects and the Nightingales. If not Robert Lloyd may be a new discovery. For the past four decades this enigmatic frontman has been making music through thick and thin as well as running a record label in the 80’s (Vindaloo, whose roster included Fuzzbox, Ted Chippington and Toxic Shock) and producing videos for Saint Etienne and Skunk Anansie.
King Rocker, a film which will premiere on Sky Arts at 9pm this Saturday is a funny and moving documentary made by comedian Stewart Lee and director Michael Cumming (Brass Eye, Toast of London) about Robert and his life. The backbone of the film is a parallel tale of the massive statue of King Kong that was designed by Nicholas Munro and was temporarily erected in Birmingham city centre in the ‘70s only to be rejected by the city, moved, abandoned and eventually restored in Penrith.
In King Rocker Stewart Lee talks to Rob at various locations including Abdul’s Indian restaurant, Mitchells Fold stone circle in Shropshire and the Eagle pub in Balsall Heath which was Robert’s “office” when he ran Vindaloo Records in the ‘80s. The type of venues that we can feel nostalgic about in 2021.
The film captures the magic of two people just having conversations with each other in these environments. Rob is an engaging and funny character who often also undermines the premise of the film. During an appearance on the Marc Riley radio show, for example, Rob says “The thing is I’m a liar and Stewart’s a liar. You never know who’s leading the other along”. On another occasion, Rob remarks “Is that the kind of thing you’re trying to pull in?” Whilst talking in a restaurant, Rob relates a risqué Marie Lloyd joke and remarks to a neighbouring table of diners “Sorry, is this spoiling your meal?”
Punctuated by great live clips, animated depictions of Rob’s (hilarious and sometimes dubious) tales and interviews with past colleagues the film also has monologues from celebrities such as Frank Skinner, Robin Askwith, a rather bewildered Nigel Slater, Paul Morley and Duran Duran’s John Taylor (along with a brief appearance by John Robb’s hair!). The celebrities comment on the truth or otherwise of Robert’s stories.
I lived in Birmingham in the mid ‘80s so was a fan of the Nightingales and Ted Chippington but the film did tell me things I didn’t know and you get the feeling there is a lot more to discover. During the ‘90s for example Rob worked as a London postman (delivering to Julie Christie?) and also co-wrote a sitcom with Steven Wells and Nick Small that was accepted for TV. The whole thing then fell apart. The film shows a table reading of the sitcom by a cast including Kevin Eldon, Paul Putner and Bridget Christie. It leaves you wanting to know more about what happened in this period.
The film also has very moving sequences such as Rob talking to his son Louis about his time in London, “the postman years” and speaking to Stewart about the end of his solo career. The victorious final scene where Stewart and Robert visit the restored King Kong in Penrith is also incredibly moving.
The Nightingales are very much a going concern driven on by drummer Fliss Kitson and the other members. They regularly tour (before the current pandemic curtailed that) and put out top quality records their latest being the excellent Four against Fate. A third of the film includes great recent Nightingales performances including a brilliant end credit sequence of Samira Ahmed lip synching to the spoken word vocals of the track Gales Doc.
The film will stream on Saturday and I believe the intention is to eventually show it in some cinemas when there is an opportunity to do this. It’s a must-watch and will definitely brighten up your Saturday night.
❉ ‘King Rocker: A Film About Robert Lloyd & The Nightingales’ premieres on Sky Arts (freeview) on 6th Feb 2021 at 9.00pm and will be repeated throughout the year. Running Time: 90 Minutes. Visit www.kingrockerfilm.com for updates and information. ‘Four against Fate’ is out now on Tiny Global Productions
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Funday’schild, youtube.
Funday’schild, youtube.
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter