Still Crazy

History teaches us that men behave wisely...

...once they've exhausted all other alternatives.

For most rock bands, the pursuit of wisdom's a low priority...

...compared to fame, fortune and fornication.

Such a band was "Strange Fruit. "

- You said this is an important gig! - It is!

It's a waterlogged field miles from anywhere.

I was the road dog 20 years ago when they played the Wisbech Rock Festival.

There's 20,000 fans out there waiting for you.

They can't go anywhere. They're up to their bollocks in mud.

We should sing "Painted Lady" as a tribute to Keith.

Why? What's the point?

It's two years since he passed on.

He didn't "pass on. " He OD'd in a Little Chef.

Nice thought, but it'll bring everybody down.

You told us we'd close the night.

No, I didn't. I said you'd go on after Blodwyn Pig and Uriah Heep.

What about Mott the Hoople?

I can't move that. It's a done deal.

We're the Fruits, Neil. We're the Fruits!

- You should be on stage. - Without Brian?

Where is he? And where's Karen?

It's a question of stature.

You have to consider where we stand in the overall spectrum.

Where do we, Ray?

Above Mott the fucking Hoople.

We're on at 3 a.m. No one will be awake.

Lindisfarne went on in daylight.

So they should, they're fucking folk singers!

What's he on? Horse tranquilizers?

- You were to look after him, Karen. - I never let him out of my sight.

Forget about the album and all that negative press stuff.

Go out there.

Remind them what the Fruits were, are, will be!

You've been very patient, but it's worth waiting for.

I know you want to see the guys.

So let's hear it for Strange Fruit!

Watch where you turn

It might be today

For fuck's sake!

You lose your head

Then just throw it away

It was their last gig.

Divine intervention...

...pulled the plug on the Fruits.

I think God just got sick of...

...all that 70s excess.

That's why He invented The Sex Pistols.

That ought to tell us something.

So they went their separate ways, dragging their dwindling royalties...

...and bruised egos behind them.

Tony sold his Yamaha...

...but he still puts "rock star" as his job description.

Mind you, for the last few years...

...no one's been quite sure what it is he actually does.

Tony Costello?

Maybe.

Who wants to know?

Strange Fruit, right?

Steve Greenblatt.

Big fan of yours, Tony.

God, this is amazing.

My dad put on the Wisbech Rock Festival.

Yeah? No kidding?

Can I buy you a drink?

Maybe later. I have some business.

You live here? Retired to the sun, eh?

Lucky you.

- How's business? - Slow.

English are not here.

Bloody hell, things are slow.

Karen still had ink on her fingers from school...

...when she went to work for the Fruits.

Started by sorting their laundry.

By Wisbech, she was sorting their lives.

They treated her like crap, but she loved the music...

...and idolized Brian.

That bastard was a near-genius...

...but hell-bent on going the way of his brother Keith...

...already dead from a drug overdose.

Baby?

Get some fucking help!

So she did a complete 180:. Marriage, mortgage, daughter, a divorce.

Welcome to the Viking Hotel.

Everything's set up for you in the Collingwood Suite.

You'll find tea and coffee, leaded and unleaded.

Lunch will be served at 12:30. Thank you.

Brilliant, Karen. I'll buy you a drink later.

Admiral's Locker at six?

He brings 12 conferences a year here.

Give him the benefit of the doubt.

He tries it every time.

What this job needs is a people pleaser.

Sometimes I think you don't even like people.

Pleasing people is letting them touch my arse?

- Can I have the Mitsubishi list? - Hi, babe. What's happening?

Tony!

He's the son of the original promoter...

...of the Wisbech Rock Festival.

He wants to set it up again.

20th anniversary. A lot of the original acts.

- And he wants the Fruits. - Sure.

Come on. Come on!

I'm at work, Tony. What do you want?

I've no idea how to track the guys down.

I could use a little help.

Mitsubishi delegates are wandering around reception like lost sheep.

I'll be with you in one minute.

You can't see this happening? You hated each other in the end.

Hate's a bit heavy.

I need a few phone numbers. That's all.

I owe it to the guys to let them know about it.

Some of them may not be doing so well.

Desperate times best forgotten.

I had enough rock 'n' roll to last a lifetime.

So you gave it all up for this.

Les Wickes was the most pissed off when the band broke up.

He'd been pissed off since Keith died...

...and Ray Simms replaced him.

He swears he doesn't miss it.

Well, his wife believes him.

You could break your neck in those heels.

There's only two reasons to get you to haul your ass up here.

Either I owe you money...

Or?

Or you want to put the band back together.

We had a shot.

A real shot for greatness.

Don't tell me it hasn't haunted you.

Nope.

I'm just glad I got out when I did. Built up a decent business.

That's Camille talking.

Is it stickier going down?

You wanted it as much as any of us.

Money, hit records, being famous.

Don't tell me this is a step up, Les.

You frightened the life out of me.

What are you doing?

Look at all this stuff.

Should've straightened it out years ago.

Why didn't you?

You might like to wear these.

Oh, God.

Costello Music. Good morning.

Tony, it's me.

Listen, I've just handed in my notice.

You're in?

Fantastic, man.

Can't believe he managed to hang on to this pile.

Ray was always careful with his money.

And I'm dossing down at my sister's flat.

The only thing I have of value is this.

What is it?

Jimi Hendrix's tooth.

There was a fight in a club on Oxford Street.

Somebody planked him and I picked it up.

I knew he was a genius even then.

You think it'd fetch a fortune, right?

Absolutely. No two ways about it.

What's going on here?

Ladies and gentlemen...

...a toast by our host, the father of the bride.

One, two.

Hello, Wembley.

As you know, I'm a man of music...

...and Tamsin...

...is a child of song.

She remains one of the best songs I ever wrote.

I think our timing's a bit off.

Well, I should say, co-wrote...

...with her mother...

...June, who we're...

...lucky enough to have with us today.

What was the name of his band?

Trying to remember. It's driving me crazy.

Strange Fruit.

- Strange...? - Fruit.

I'd like to read this, which is...

...from my first solo album, Taking Wing.

Thank you.

"Love is the heat...

...that melts the wax of wings.

Fly close to that heat...

...dear girl, fly close.

For when the smoke clears...

...what remains?

The sweet kissing breath of lips and thighs...

...and sky-blue eyes that love. "

- You're ex-directory, obviously. - No, it's cool.

Why don't we talk in the crypt?

Tony's trying to get the Fruits together for a reunion.

Really?

Have you spoken to Les?

We wanted to talk to you first, naturally.

It was always complex karma between him and me...

...from the moment I joined the band.

It was long ago, Ray. We've all moved on.

He said you were a wanker, but he always thought you had great pipes.

What are you doing here? Please.

Hello, baby.