Directed by Michael Collins, with concert footage by Russell Mulcahy, "Sing Blue Silver" follows the band on its first major U.S. tour.
Now, at a time when reality TV is commonplace, "Sing Blue Silver" is as relevant as it was in 1984.
The press conference early in the film is something one could imagine featuring boy bands today, and it was the same treatment given the Fab Four when The Beatles visited the United States.
At the time of its release, the documentary gave the band's young fans an inside look at the biggest thing since sliced Beatles (to steal a line from the excellent glam-rock film "Velvet Goldmine").
Indeed, "Sing Blue Silver" offered a polished view of the band, some of whose members sometimes enjoyed cocaine and groupies, bassist John Taylor wrote in his memoir, "In the Pleasure Groove." He even said the book is "for people who have never played the Oakland Coliseum ... on drugs."
That's where the closing concert of "Sing Blue Silver" was filmed.
From the opening montage of big rigs in motion, set to the strains of "Tiger Tiger," to those closing scenes, the documentary also shows the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a touring production.
"Sing Blue Silver" is a fan favorite, and it launched its share of tributes. Spy Matthews, tour production manager, inspired a band name, and singer Simon Le Bon's plea of "Gimme a wristband," a website.
Released on DVD in the past decade, copies of "Sing Blue Silver" can be found used or on Amazon.com. It's definitely worth watching again, and again.
Adapted from original post from Nov. 2, 2012
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