Frank is a 2014 black comedy film directed by lenny abrahamson, produced by david barron, ed guiney and stevie lee and written by jon ronson and peter straughan. More there has never been an artist quite like chris sievey or. You can find out more in our privacy policy and cookie policy, and manage your consent at any time by going to privacy settings at the bottom of any page. If i were to claim he did, i would just be a griefstalking nonsensespouter of the highest order. Jul 24, 2018 the son of frank sidebottom s creator was run over by a car and killed after he fell off his bicycle while spaced out on strong lager and drugs, a court heard. Frank riffs on the pop curiosity frank sidebottom the. He finally succeeds in tracking frank to his hometown of bluff, kansas, where he is living with his parents. A documentary is now telling his full story for the first time. An interesting question and answer session chaired but mick middles and on the panel, barry.
That, however, is where the similarities with the original frank sidebottom end. The day papier mache headbased comedy died frank sidebottom did not have a huge impact on my life. Apr 04, 2019 he resurrected frank in 2006, with a fiveyear plan which was supposed to culminate with chris publically removing franks head and revealing himself as the power behind sidebottom. The muchloved comedy character, famous for his oversized paper head, was the alter ego of musician and artist chris sievey, who died from cancer aged 54 in 2010. But then, in the mid2000s, he devised a fiveyear plan for bringing the. He resurrected frank in 2006, with a fiveyear plan which was supposed to culminate with chris publically removing franks head and revealing himself as the power behind sidebottom.
Nov 22, 2014 book launch of the mick middles book out of his head a biography for frank sidebottom chris sievey. May 12, 2014 as a frank fan from the 80s and with a knowledge of the territory described in the book i found out of his head a great read, even though more could have been covered on franks recorded output and there was nothing about the rerecording of the megastore vocal, quite an important if ridiculous episode in the. A statue of sidebottom was erected in his home town of timperley, greater manchester sievey was born in nearby ashtononmersey. Gchq cracks frank sidebottoms secret codes bbc news. Jan 12, 2014 the music journalist mick middles recently sent me his notyetpublished biography frank sidebottom. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Christopher mark sievey 25 august 1955 21 june 2010 was an english musician and comedian known for fronting the band the freshies in the late 1970s and early 1980s and for his comic persona frank sidebottom from 1984 onwards.
The true story of the character that inspired the movie frank, out of his head is the authorised biography of the late chris sievey, whose life. An article in the guardian by jon ronson, a former member of franks band, tells his story and mentions the book. Nov 17, 2019 the books timeline spans more than a quarter of a century and includes cameos from sieveys family and friends as well as the likes of mark e smith, steve coogan, jon ronson, caroline aherne, chris evans, mark radcliffe, and, er, bros. It was released theatrically in ireland and britain on 9 may 2014 and on dvd. Meanwhile, there is also an authorised biography, frank sidebottom out of his head by mick middles, and a new documentary about sievey out. Frank is a 2014 film directed by lenny abrahamson, produced by david barron, ed guiney and stevie lee and written by jon ronson and peter straughan. Frank sidebottom out of his head is a fascinating and bittersweet read, and is very highly recommended. And now theres talk of a cartoon, a film and a no 1 hit. Why the oddball genius of frank sidebottom will live forever. Chris introduced frank to the freshies at a rehearsal, said mick middles, author of frank sidebottom out of his head, an authorized ebook biography out in hardcover in november.
In the 1980s and 90s, frank sidebottom was a giantheaded, cartooneyed, cult comedy hero but few knew who was behind the mask. The books timeline spans more than a quarter of a century and includes cameos from sieveys family and friends as well as the likes of mark e smith, steve coogan, jon ronson, caroline aherne, chris evans, mark radcliffe, and, er, bros. Aug 10, 2014 chris introduced frank to the freshies at a rehearsal, said mick middles, author of frank sidebottom out of his head, an authorized ebook biography out in hardcover in november. His fervent pop mind was a good decade ahead of everyone else also inventing board games, songs, musical ideas, schemes and scams before eventually he invented frank sidebottom his curious alter ego whose papier mache head, shabby suit and nasally twang were a perfect vehicle for a series of bizarre weird gags that were dark, strange and. Jun 21, 2010 frank sidebottom was instantly recognisable with his papiermache head chris sievey, who has died at the age of 54, was the man behind comedy cult icon frank sidebottom. This was initially made from papiermache, but later of fibreglass. Smashwords frank sidebottom out of his head a book. Bbc frank sidebottom creator chris sievey was a genius. His book captures perfectly that rarest of journeys when an onlooker got to see the man born chris sievey turn into frank. Chris sievey had no assets and little money in the bank, his family have. Anew book will lift the lid on the life of the man behind cult comic frank sidebottom. Oct 17, 2018 as an avid frank sidebottom fan, i was really looking forward to the film, frank. Mike joyce from the smiths with the frank sidebottom head.
Whether pushing for chart action while fronting his former band the freshies or allowing the bombastic sidebottom to wreak anarchy and chaos on television, radio or with the oh blimey big b. The books timeline spans more than a quarter of a century and includes cameos from sieveys family and friends as well as the likes of mark e smith, steve coogan, jon ronson, caroline aherne. Sporting a fibreglass cartoon head, frank played by chris sievey would perform strange beatlesqueenbruce springsteen covers with his oh blimey big band, of which jon ronson was the keyboardist. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and. For those of you untutored in the genius that was frank sidebottom, in real life frank was a quasicartoon character with a giant papier mache head, who was still living with his mum and staying with his auntie at the seaside in blackpool, at the age of thirtyfive. Frank sidebottom out of his head by mick middles the true story of the character that inspired the movie frank, out of his head is the authorised biography of the late chris sievey, whose life was considerably stranger than fiction. The cryptic codes of a comic icon were only cracked by a. Dec 17, 2012 mike joyce at the christmas frank sidebottom statue fund raiser at the night and day 15th december 2012 saying a few words about the event, and the original frank sidebottom head. Frank sidebottom out of his head by mick middles, mark radcliffe.
The muchloved comedy character, famous for his oversized paper head, was the alter ego of musician and. A comprehensive book about chris seivy the previous mysterious creator of frank sidebottom, hoping one day there will be a book of his art having seen that with my own eyes. Getting inside the head of the man who was frank sidebottom. He died on june 21, 2010 in wythenshawe, manchester, england.
Oct 24, 2014 a new book will lift the lid on the life of the man behind cult comic frank sidebottom. Son of frank sidebottom creator chris sievey has died. The true story that inspired the movie english edition. Frank sidebottom did not have a huge impact on my life. Son of frank sidebottom creator chris sievey killed in. Chris sievey died from cancer in 2010, and a bronze statue of his legendary comic character frank sidebottom complete with his famous paper mache head.
Getting inside the head of the man who was frank sidebottom bbc. In the documentary being frank, martin sievey chriss brother states this was made using plaster of paris. Frank sidebottom and the man behind the mask bbc news. A new book will lift the lid on the life of the man behind cult comic frank sidebottom. Frank sidebottom and jon ronson, birmingham, the 1980s. More there has never been an artist quite like chris sievey or his fantastic comedic alter ego, frank sidebottom. A funny, sad and true story about jon ronson, frank sidebottom and other. Frank riffs on the pop curiosity frank sidebottom the new.
May 14, 2014 the true story of the character that inspired the movie frank, out of his head is the authorised biography of the late chris sievey, whose life was considerably stranger than fiction. Feb, 2017 chris sievey died from cancer in 2010, and a bronze statue of his legendary comic character frank sidebottom complete with his famous paper mache head now stands in timperley village in his. Pal takes readers inside franks head with biography. The comic genius behind mancunian legend frank sidebottom is facing a paupers funeral after dying virtually penniless. The true story of the character that inspired the movie frank, out of his head is the authorised biography of the late chris sievey, whose life was considerably stranger than fiction. The true story that inspired the movie by jon ronson. The chris sievey story and the bizarre erection of the frank sidebottom statue in his native timperley last october before 2,000 devotees all combined to make this the most extraordinary stories of recent decades. Out of his head by mick middles for free with a 30 day free trial. Apr 24, 2014 in his movie, fassbender plays a musician called frank who wears an oversized comic book head. Jon gives chase but realises frank has escaped, now without the fake head.
Jan 15, 2014 frank sidebottom was a novelty act from the manchester music scene of the late 80searly 90s. His book captures perfectly that rarest of journeys when an onlooker got to. Sievey, under the guise of sidebottom, made regular appearances on north west television throughout the late 1980s. When sievey died, his funeral had to be crowdfunded. For those of you untutored in the genius that was frank. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Out of his head the authorised biography of chris sievey by mick middles available from rakuten kobo. Nobody outside his inner circle knew his true identity. In his movie, fassbender plays a musician called frank who wears an oversized comicbook head. His comic creation sievey in a papiermache head inspired lenny abrahamsons frank.
The chris sievey story and the erection of the frank sidebottom statue in his native timperley last october before 2,000 devotees all combined to make this the most extraordinary stories of recent decades. An article in the guardian by jon ronson, a former member of frank s band, tells his story and mentions the book. And this is no halloween cosplay moment, its a still from a new movie, frank, currently being shot in new mexico, in which michael plays frank, an outsider showman with great comic preposterosity, at the helm of an indie band, very much like the cult british entertainer frank sidebottom, in fact. Frank sidebottom was possibly the strangest pop star in history. Sporting a fibreglass cartoon head, frank played by chris sievey would perform strange beatlesqueenbruce springsteen covers with his oh blimey big. Smashwords frank sidebottom out of his head a book by. Frank sidebottom head and suit for sale franks, suits. Frank sidebottom out of his head hardcover november 6, 2014. Whats up doc chris sievey was born on august 25, 1955 in ashton on mersey, greater manchester, england as christopher mark sievey. Mike joyce at the christmas frank sidebottom statue fund raiser at the night and day 15th december 2012 saying a few words about the event, and the original frank sidebottom head. Getting inside the head of the real frank sidebottom. The character was instantly recognisable by his large spheroidal head, styled like an early max fleischer cartoon. There has never been an artist quite like chris sievey or his fantastic comedic alter ego, frank sidebottom. Frank runs out of the motel room and is hit by a car, smashing the fake head.
Apr 17, 2019 even at the height of his popularity during the late 80s, frank would hire out his services to come to your house to entertain. This book throws you head long into the fascinating life of sievey and once youre there its extremely hard to avoid frank sidebottom. Frank sidebottom documentary traces troubled life of. Ive become completely obsessed with both sievey and sidebottom. Jun 25, 2010 chris sievey, creator of frank sidebottom, was heading for a paupers funeral until a campaign by fans raised. In the late 1980s i was the keyboard player in the frank sidebottom band. When his head was on, the man behind frank sidebottom would never. This became the subject of feverish speculation during his zenith years.
The emergence of jon ronsons film, frank, steve sullivans exhaustive documentary being frank. As an avid frank sidebottom fan, i was really looking forward to the film, frank. Frank sidebottom was a novelty act from the manchester music scene of the late 80searly 90s. Smashwords about mick middles, author of frank sidebottom. Buy frank sidebottom out of his head by mick middles, mark radcliffe from waterstones today. If you saw lenny abrahamsons frank 2014, starring michael fassbender as an eccentric, reclusive singer beneath an outsize papiermache head with pacmanshaped eyes, you might imagine you know the story of frank sidebottom. Even at the height of his popularity during the late 80s, frank would hire out his services to come to your house to entertain. Chris sievey, who played frank sidebottom, is to feature in a biopic in 2014. The music journalist mick middles recently sent me his notyetpublished biography frank sidebottom. Yes, it has mostly been written before, and it is short, but it still made me smile, and reminded me of the many good memories io have of chris and frank. Mar 29, 2019 meanwhile, there is also an authorised biography, frank sidebottom out of his head by mick middles, and a new documentary about sievey out this week from the studio behind amy, the oscarwinning.
Book launch of the mick middles book out of his head a biography for frank sidebottomchris sievey. Sievey fell into an alcoholic spiral, losing his wife and family and piling up tax debt, and he gave up on frank, too. Frank sidebottom was unique, and that comes across nicely in this short book about him and his creator, chris sievey. When his head was on, the man behind frank sidebottom would never answer to his real name. Sometime later, jon has attempted to track down frank, but all his attempts have failed. Out of his head is written by sieveys friend the journalist mick middles and is as intoxicating and sobering as sieveys life seems to have been. As a frank fan from the 80s and with a knowledge of the territory described in the book i found out of his head a great read, even though more could have been covered on franks recorded output and there was nothing about the rerecording of the megastore vocal, quite an important if ridiculous episode in the. Especially since frank was cowritten by jon ronson, a onetime member of one of the real franks troupes, the oh blimey big band. The papiermache headed frank hit the heights of fame during the madchester music period. The son of frank sidebottoms creator was run over by a car and killed after he fell off his bicycle while spaced out on strong lager and drugs, a court heard. The authorised biography of chris sievey by mick middles, mark radcliffe hardback, 2014 at the best online prices at ebay.
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