Photo: Press
“That’s probably Luke’s downfall - that he’s the most intelligent man in pop” - Kieron Gillen
“What I do is not aimed at the man in the street. Fuck the man in the street. If you didn’t get it, I didn’t give a shit”. This is the declaration of Luke Haines, prolific songwriter, author, musician and provocateur - best known as the frontman of The Auteurs, and author of 2009 book, 'Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in its Downfall'.
“Someone wanted to make a film about me,” says the calmly apprehensive voice of Haines, describing himself as “your unreliable narrator”. That ‘someone’ was Irish filmmaker, Niall McCann, who presents a film that faithfully does what it says on tin (though not in the title). Art Will Save The World, is story of creative passion.
Described by Jarvis Cocker as a “self-saboteur” after throwing the ‘C’ word into the middle of what could’ve been a hit song, McCann takes care in his storytelling to give us a rounded insight with an unfussy extrapolation of a man who’s music he personally valued. Segmented with title slides Purgatory, Hell, and Heaven, he neatly contextualises the angsty antics of boyhood (with notable lyrics ‘unsolved child murder’) to fatherhood.
Emerging from Walton-on-Thames with The Auteurs in 1991, Haines’ track for whirlwind fame and fortune seemed set with the NME reviewing their third gig, before days later capturing the attention of Hut Records. New Wave, their debut album was released in 1993 - arguably marking the very start of the Britpop movement. But with a mind like his, nothing is ever set for long. After an almost deadly fall in Spain, 1996 album After Murder Park marked a somber state. In 1999, the band were dropped.
With references to art installations, concept albums, pop culture, 1970s terrorism, murder and hopelessness, Haines is not exactly a neat little package. “Maybe there’s a fantasy land inside his head where he’s making hit records. I think we’re all doing that”, ponders Jarvis Cocker when thinking about Haines’ concept album, The Oliver Twist Project. “No fucker bought that album”, laughs Haines.
McCann shows the life of a man plagued with creativity and all the circumstances surrounding him. Moreover, this story shows that fame doesn’t equal success, success isn’t always gaged by money, and being creativity isn’t to be romantically idealised. If this film and its star aren’t a shining beacon of hope and inspiration for all those who failed miserably to settle on a ‘career path’, then maybe the point has been missed. Hit rewind and watch on repeat.
- We saw Art Will Save The World at London's Doc N' Roll Fest, which continues until 16 June. For tickets and more information, visit here.
Details of the next screening:
Thursday 21 April HACKNEY PICTUREHOUSE 8:30PM
SCREENING + Q&A featuring director Niall McCann and Luke Haines hosted by music writer, Zöe Howe
