Right now I am reading Nikki Sixx "The Heroin Diaries" and somehow this movie makes more impact. Even though Sixx was a junkie he has remained successful and 20 years later Sixx still enjoys the rock star life. This is another story, but same subject.
"Waking Up Dead" documents the life of drummer Phil Varone. Phil Varone tasted some success when his band Saigon Kick released their debut album in 1991. In 1992 Saigon Kick released the follow up "The Lizard", which spawned the hit single
Love is on the Way.
Love is on the Way was in heavy rotation at MTV and sold around 500.000 copies. From there it went downhill for Saigon Kick and they disbanded a few years later. Phil Varone later joined Skid Row and the documentary starts around the time Varone joins Skid Row for a stadium tour opening for Kiss.
"Waking up Dead" chronicles the life of a rock star. Filmed over a 4 year period it displays all the perks and more important the ugly pitfalls that accompany the rise and fall of Phil Varone. The movie displays a young man's passion for music - a kid pursuing his rock star dream. Music was the primary and Saigon Kick left the business side to their managers. Like so many others Saigon Kick got screwed and didn't make any money. There is footage where Phil Varone shows he has less than 2 dollars on his bank account.
Phil Varone goes from being very likeable to a selfish son of a bitch. It's so obvious that the drugs and his addiction slowly ruin his life and relationship to other people. Basically Varone is a talented musicians and intelligent guy, who really wants to play music. Former Saigon Kick singer Matt Kramer says that Phil Varone was always the straight one. At some point Varone starts drinking and starts doing drugs like most of his rock star colleagues. The drugs slowly take over Phil Varone. He transforms like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and I was almost devastated when Varone sold his custom made drum kit to his drugdealer.
Filmmaker Fabio Jaret has made a film, which is food for thought. The Rock N´Roll lifestyle is full of girls, adventures and lots of opportunities........... everything seems to come easily, but you have to be cautious. Phil Varone´s price for doing drugs is a divorce, not being there for his children and basically just a life that falls apart.
This movie is for all fans of Phil Varone´s music and certainly for all musicians, who struggle to be a famous Rock stars.
Rating: 6.5/10Written by
Michael Tuesday, November 20, 2007
