Velvet Goldmine

Histories,

like ancient ruins,

are the fictions of empires.

While everything forgotten

hangs in dark dreams of the past,

ever threatening to return.

Lord'n heaven!

Madame Wilde! Richard! Come quickly!

I want to be a tailor.

I want to be a farmer.

I want to be a barrister.

I want to be a truck-driver.

I want to be... a pop-idol.

Get him, get him!

Leave him!

Childhood,

adults always say,

is the happiest time in life.

But as long as he could remember,

Jack Fairy knew better.

Until one mysterious day,

when Jack would discover

that somewhere there were others

quite like him.

Singled out for a great gift.

And one day

the whole stinking world

would be theirs.

Those who know.

They don't let it show.

They just give you one long life.

And you go, oh oh, oh oh.

Goes to show.

How winds blow.

The weather's fine.

And I feel so so so.

Birds of prey.

With too much to say.

Oh what could be my destiny.

Another rainy day.

Why ask why.

For by the by and by.

All mysteries are just more.

Needles in the camel's eye.

Look! It's Jack Fairy.

Who's Jack Fairy?

Those who know.

They don't let it show.

They just give you one long life.

And you go, oh oh, oh oh.

Why ask why.

For by the by and by.

All mysteries are just more.

Needles in the camel's eye.

The streets of London are ablaze

in sparkle make-up and glittering frocks

as the boys and girls

of the current glam-rock craze

pay tribute to their patron saint.

Pop-star Brian Slade

and his space-age rock persona

Maxwell Demon.

Yeah, Brian Slade,

he's just so different.

I mean, I've never seen anyone quite like him.

And 'Lipstick Traces', his last album was just...

it was just something special.

It's an album that's like,

appealing to so many people like that.

A palpable whirl of anticipation

can be felt outside London's Lyceum Theatre

as fans await

the final show on Slade's smash world tour.

Security around the performer is tightened

following a recent BBC interview

in which he admitted to

premonitions of being assassinated on stage.

Turn it off!

Hasn't detain any of

his enthusiastic and colorful followers,

some of whom have been queuing here since late last night.

Brian, the time!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

The Lyceum Theatre.

In cooperation with "Bijou Music"

is proud to present

straight back from their fantastically successful European tour

Maxwell Demon and The Venus in Furs!

Put out the torches!

Hide the moon!

Hide the stars!

For once, there was an unknown land

full of strange flowers

and subtle perfumes.

A land of which it is joy of all the joys to dream.

A land where all things are perfect.

And poisonous.

Well, you're the grand one.

Have you noticed.

When you walk in all the fairy boys are very nervous.

Well, my starship doesn't want me.

And neither does his world

I'm glad I caught you on my view screen, sailor.

It appears today's youngsters.

You're the grand one

have fashioned a whole new bent

on the so-called sexual liberation of the flower-power set.

'Cause this wooing is what I'm wanting.

The long hair and the love-beads

have given way to glitter make-up, platform shoes

and a whole new taste for glamour, nostalgia.

When my spacesuit comes to warm me

and just plain outrageousness.

Is London not shocked?

And hold me like a god

London is improving.

Well, I think it's a disgrace.

I am the captain of the gravity, Maxwell.

Parading around all ponced-up

like a pack of bleeding woofters.

Bloody hell! What will they think of next?

Everywhere I see your faces.

Hot one.

And heading up this flash stampede

is none other that pop-giant Brian Slade.

From a starship over Venus to the Sun

whose stylish escapades have paved the way

for a whole new breed of performing artists,

But it's a crime.

You're mistaken

from Curt Wild and The Flaming Creatures.

Momentary seizure of love, oh love

to Jack Fairy and Polly Small.

Thanks to Slade,

today's youngsters are singing a whole new tune.

So, you're saying you're bisexual?

Yeah. I like boys, I like girls.

They are all great. No difference, is there?

Mr. BBC.

Rock music has always been a reaction to accepted standards.

And homosexuality has been going on for centuries, yeah.

But darling, I'm a mess.

At the moment, having a gay image is an 'in' thing.

I've got human minds we can form.

You know, just like a few years ago.

But the boys are not impressed

it was trendy to wear

a long grey coat.

When my spacesuit comes to warm me

with a Led Zeppelin record under your arm.

Everyone is into this scene,

because it is supposedly the thing to do right now.

I'll be the captain of the gravity, Maxwell.

But you just can't fake being gay, you know.

If you're gonna claim that you're gay,

you're gonna have to make love in gay-style

I see your faces in the strangest places

most of these kids just aren't gonna make it.

Hot one.

That line - 'Everyone's bisexual'

it's a very popular thing to say right now.

But personally I think it's meaningless.

But it's a crime.

You're mistaken.

Momentary seizure of love.

Oh love

I knew I should create a sensation,

gasped the Rocket.

And he went out.

Ok, Lionel. That's it. Thanks.

I don't get it.

What don't you get?

It was a stunt.

The guy faked his own murder.

Yeah, but why?

Publicity.

Arthur, any recollection?

Of what?

Of this Slade fellow.

Well, he's an early 70s

glam-rock singer.

Told you we could count on

Mr. Old Time Rock'n'Roll.

Yeah.

Count on me for what?

I thought I was on the Reynolds' trip.

Well you are.

But the president isn't due until the 8th.

And I need a piece for the weekend now.

Great.

Look.

Next week is the 10th year anniversary

of the whole shooting stunt incident.

I'd like you to find out what happened,

where he is today.

What ever happened to Brian Slade?

Ok?

Yeah, and naturally you want me for this,

because I'm the resident Brit. Right?

Nah. No, no, no.