Urgh a Music War [DVD] [1981] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

This fascinating piece of music history has finally been released on DVD. But, please don't pay $40 or more for it. It's not "hard to find" anymore. Just head to the official Warner site. You'll find it there for $19.95 plus shipping & tax. Not sure why Amazon isn't dealing this one directly. It's an official (as of 8/4/09) Warner Archive release.

FINALLY - we get "Urgh! A Music War" on DVD (albeit, press-to-order DVD-R from Warner Brothers Archive). If you are not familiar with this movie, and are an aficionado of late 70's/early 80's New Wave and Post-Punk music, you need to get this DVD immediately. Like many fans of the film, we all had beat-up VHS copies dating from the 80's (my personal copy was recorded off USA Network's "Night Flight" back in the mid-80's) , and I have to say the transfer and sound here are very good, especially considering that WB Archives really doesn't usually put a ton of work into the Archives series (in order to keep costs down). Barring a full blown remix/remaster release, this DVD-R should satisfy most fans (I watched it in a 100" screen and the picture looked very good/no grain/few artifacts; sound was crisp stereo).

Put simply, this film is a nearly 2 hour compilation of live performances by both well-known and obscure bands of the early 80's New Wave/Post Punk genres. It was produced by Miles and Ian Copeland (brothers of Police drummer Stewart Copeland), who were pivotal music industry figures, with Miles' label IRS and Ian's artist management/booking career. Lots of skinny ties, synthesizers, off-beat acts here in this film, and everyone was very young when this was made. The best-known groups here getting screen time are: The Police (to start and close the film - they get 3 songs), Wall of Voodoo, Oingo Boingo, Echo & the Bunnymen, XTC (pre-stage-fright, which ended their touring career prematurely), the GoGo's, Gary Numan, Joan Jett, the Cramps, Devo, Gang of Four, UB40 and X. For some of these bands, like Chelsea (who I'd never heard of, but were very impressive), Toyah Wilcox, Gang Of Four, Fleshtones, etc., I'd have to think there's really not a lot of footage out there. The playing here is energetic virtually across-the-board, and goes a long way toward dispelling the notion that the DIY aesthetic of people just picking up instruments and not really knowing how to play them - there are some really good, tight and cohesive performances here, and for the most part, these bands can lay it down convincingly. Having not seen this film since the early 90's, it was excellent to get a fresh look at it on DVD. While not the definitive 'final word' on New Wave/Post-Punk (i'm sure everyone will come up with missing bands - i could immediately start with omitted LA/SoCal bands, notwithstanding the presence of a fair amount of LA bands actually in the film, etc.), it accomplishes something in giving a varied survey of key bands and interesting curios.

Here's a list of the performers, in order (owing to WB Archives series discs being indexed in 10 minute increments, there are no artist/track chapter stops, so this will help in determining who is where on the disc):

Police/Wall of Voodoo/ Toyah Wilcox/John Cooper Clarke/Orchestral Manouvers In the Dark/Chelsea/Oingo Boingo/Echo & the Bunnymen/Jools Holland/XTC/ Klaus Nomi/Athletico Spizz 80/GoGo's/Dead Kennedys/Steel Pulse/Gary Numan/Joan Jett/Magazine/Surf Punks/Members/Au Pairs/the Cramps/Invisible Sex/Pere Ubu/Devo/Alley Cats/John Otway/Gang of Four/999/Fleshtones/ X / Skafish/ UB40/The Police (then, a police song performed w/ various other bands at same concert).

Note that Sploogeness Abounds, who appear in the credits, appear to have been cut from the film (possibly either due to footage problems or legal clearances? - they were originally between Skafish and UB40). The original film was 120 min; this disc is 116 minutes, so it's pretty much intact.

"Urgh!" on DVD... The main advantage offered by the studio here is that you don't have to rewind a videocassette. WB has revealed that they simply don't care if it's not a sure bet. Absolutely disgusting treatment of a classic. Yes, I will concede, the picture and audio are the best ever offered for this film, and while that is of course the main concern, this film is an archive of such an important time for many fans... This is a missed opportunity. The artwork is horrible, considering the original soundtrack package. It's a shame when film companies drop the ball like this, "lose the plot" as my English friends say...

This should have been a special edition with a documentary about the film, a commentary, and original artwork. Even a modest budget could have created a classic here. Look to the Downtown 81, TV Party, and Wild Style DVDs. Likely could have become a staple for young curious types from Silverlake to Williamsburg to Berlin... Maybe it still will (and it should!), but any message of historical relevance and respect for the material is nearly lost with that lame cover art and lack of reverence for the original film's scenes/breaks.