Van Duren - Waiting: The Van Duren Story
(Van Duren, Jody Stephens, Andrew Loog Oldham, Hilly Michaels, Mickey Curry, et al / NR / 2018 (2022) / MVD Visual)
Overview: From the ashes of Big Star in Memphis, Van Duren played in bands with Jody Stephens and Chris Bell, before being led to New Haven by manager Andrew Loog Oldham of the Rolling Stones.
Forty years later, two Australians discover his music and on a drunken promise, embark on an amazing journey to make a film about the artist touted as the next Paul McCartney.
There’s only one catch - Wade and Greg have never made a movie before, so it’s learn as they go!
Verdict: This Award winning documentary on the lost Memphis powerpop artist, Van Duren is one of the most
engrossing so-called bio-pics I have had the pleasure to watch for a very, very long time. Not someone I knew
one smidge about before diving into this documentary, I am now lovingly all brought up to date on one of the
most fascinating, and wholly under-appreciated powerpop musicians of an age.
On their quest to get this bio-pic completed, Jody Stephens and Chris Bell stumble upon con men, rock stars and
Scientologists, as they uncover the dark secrets that kept Duren’s second album from ever being released. Despite
one setback after another, they soldier on, until they realize he doesn’t own the rights to his music.
Without the music, how will they complete the film?
After meeting Van Duren at Ardent Studios in Memphis, they realize that they are now part of the story, and must
help Duren get his music rights back, which makes this a real-life Searching for Sugarman with a feel-good
approach as two Aussies venture across the globe to discover the driving passion of music, and the commitment to
fulfill a promise.
Chock full of heartwarming passion and together with a strong vein of devotion and honest love for what their
subject was to them, and his fans, Van Duren - Waiting: The Van Duren Story is a highly touching bio-pic about a
musician that always laid it all on the table when it came to his music and recordings.
A quite wondrous viewing opportunity for all fans of powerpop and a rather delicious way to keep the spirit of
the great man still alive, his flame of inspiration burning brightly, everything about this documentary is
masterfully crafted from start to finish.
Featuring Jody Stephens, Andrew Loog Oldham, Hilly Michaels, Greg Morrow and Mickey Curry there is also a limited
edition digipak Collectors Edition that comes with extended interviews with Andrew Loog Oldham (Rolling Stones),
Jody Stephens (Big Star) and Terry Manning (Ardent Studios). This is a Widescreen (1:85.1) Presentation adapted
for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
Interview with Terry Manning (Ardent Studios)
Interview with Andrew Loog Oldham (Rolling Stonees)
Behind The Scenes Footage
Interview with Jody Stephens (Big Star)
Official Trailer
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