King Rocker

An investigation into the mysterious existence and five decades-long career of The Nightingales' lead Robert Lloyd, Britain's ultimate post-punk survivor.

Stewart Lee is obviously enamoured with Robert Lloyd and his legacy, which makes the documentary self-indulgent (nothing new for Lee) but also infectiously fascinating. They just play a great double act, Lloyd insisting that everything just happens and that's how it's gone, and Lee constantly overthinking and finding profounc significance in banal historical moments.

It's fun, fascinating, well-assembled and the music is great. Loved it.

8.5/10.

I've heard Stewart Lee (and Michael Cummings on one) on a round of podcasts promoting this so am well versed on the challenges they had in funding to get this made - as well as it being impossible to distribute in a Covid world.

Furthermore challenges around available footage plus the amused frustration created by finding out elements of story that Lloyd either forgot or hadn't bothered to tell them - with the difficulty on having the opportunity to include these. His friendship with The Ramones is an example of this, albeit they managed to pull off getting this included via Danny Saltzman.

What they have managed to cobble together is a charming ride through the life and career of a real outlier. Lee's relationship with Lloyd is truly one of warmth and really helps the engagement throughout.

So listen to the band!

There isn't anything in here I dislike. I was hooked from the start as I remembered Manzoni Gardens and trying to scale King Kong after shoplifting in Nelson House weighed down by a leather belt and overly large Brothel Creepers. Stewart Lee drove this vehicle wonderfully and I was hanging on every moment. This is no talking heads/clips compilation but a glorious tribute to one of the best bands to ever come out of Brum. I will watch this film again - but this time with a curry and a couple of beers so I experience the full effect. Good on you Stewart Lee and Michael Cumming for bringing this to our humdrum screens.All hail Robert Lloyd and the Nightingales and bring King Kong back home!

This documentary was bloody wonderful. We were aware of The Nightingales but discovering the story of such a fantastic human staying true to his art made us talk about how we judge success in our own lives. If you do what you want to do, you are successful, and to navigate this world and still be a funny, creative and a warm human you have succeeded. The thread running through of the journey of the giant King Kong sculpture from Bull Ring to car lot to Art Gallery was perfect, Robert Lloyd is a real artist in a world of surface tripe. My youth, going to gigs and working in record shops, spent in part, in the midlands, was brought back to life through their journey and I feel pretty privileged to have lived through that time. Thanks for making a real treasure of a film and for reframing that period & Robert with the love and reverence it deserves.

King rocker is the realest documentary of the past few years. Genuinely funny and doesn't take itself too seriously, yet also manages to feel warm & human in ways few other productions have been able to match.