Danny Fields never played a note, but it’s hard to imagine modern music without him. This nuts-and-bolts documentary tracks the extraordinary life story of the gay Jewish kid from Brooklyn who almost got The Beatles killed by putting John Lennon’s ‘Bigger than Jesus’ quote on the cover of a teenage pop magazine; who fed Jim Morrison acid until he almost jumped off a roof; who signed The MC5 and The Stooges to Elektra Records when no one else would touch them; who managed The Ramones to greatness… the list goes on.
Fields isn’t the only talking head here (no pun intended). We also hear contributions from Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Jonathan Richman and other assorted rock luminaries. But it’s his story, and he’s a magnificent, drawling raconteur, whether recounting chilling tales of hipster cruelty at Warhol’s Factory or remembering how his ageing mum lent him the money to sign The Ramones. ‘Danny Says’ doesn’t break the rock-doc mould, but it’s a must for fans of noise and nostalgia.
