Descent Into the Maelstrom (2017)

Descent Into the Maelstrom: Directed by Jonathan Sequeira. With Alley Brereton, Warwick Gilbert, Pip Hoyle, Ron Keeley. A group of outsiders get together in 1974 Sydney, and RADIO BIRDMAN is born with a mission – to keep compromise from their art. Birdman are turned off and kicked out of venue after venue. Their determination to do things their own way, against the industry, is unwavering, and drives them together – they become a family as much as a band. A ‘New Race’ of disaffected youth gain a rallying point when Birdman start their own venue, ‘The Funhouse’, and release their own records. But the intensity that drives Radio Birdman causes their break up. 20 years later they reform. Have they found peace with their struggle against the industry and each other?

“Descent into the Maelstrom is the definitive biopic of Australiau0026#39;s premiere 70s new wave rocku0026#39;nu0026#39;roll band, Radio Birdman. From their formation in Sydney in 1974 up until their present re-formation, film maker Jonathan Sequeira masterfully tells their story by lovingly and intricately assembling a complex jigsaw of superb archival film, a wealth of stunning anthemic music, sublime Warwick Gilbert graphics and reflective interviews.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film is often very funny but thereu0026#39;s plenty of tragedy, too. Everyone involved in the band speaks fondly but frankly about the experience of being in this high-energy whirlpool of creativity and performance. What comes through is that as young musicians, Radio Birdman were unfashionably skilled but nevertheless typically thwarted by the whole Australian music industry. Itu0026#39;s a classic tale of a great independent band, brilliantly told.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film certainly explores in detail the internal conflict, with earnest and articulate contributions from Deniz Tek, Warwick Gilbert, Rob Younger, Chris Masuak, Pip Hoyle, Ron Keeley, Jules Normington, Anthony Ou0026#39;Grady and others.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere have been some great Australian music films recently (Sticky Carpet, The Sunnyboy, Blokes You Can Trust, Autoluminescent), but none better than Descent into the Maelstrom. Music fans will love this thrilling, tortuous rocku0026#39;nu0026#39;roll ride. 4 stars”