Debbie Harry And Adam Ant Movie Drop Dead Rock Getting DVD Release

11/25/09 5:26pm

by Mark Teo (CHARTattack)

Spinal Tap it ain't. It's not Trapped In The Closet, either. It's not even School Of Rock. Rather, 1996's Drop Dead Rock has been a forgotten rock 'n' roll movie — until now.

The move is the brainchild of Ric Menello and Adam Dubin — the fellows responsible for the Beastie Boys' "Fight For Your Right" video — and was initially a cult favourite on the art-house film scene.

The film stars two new-wave icons decades after the fact, and Blondie's Debbie Harry and Adam Ant have prominent roles. The rock 'n' roll comedy is getting the DVD treatment, released on Dec. 8 via MVD Visual.

And surprisingly, the film has nothing to do with perms or matching spacesuits.

Instead, Dubin says it's "a '60s movie about an '80s rock star in the '90s," according to antimusic.com.

Here's the premise: Spazz-O, an aging British rock star, is kidnapped by a fledging band looking for recognition. His corrupt agent (Ant) hopes to benefit from posthumous record sales and hires a hitman to off Spazz-O.

In the ensuing media frenzy, a media mogul (Harry) offers a giant advance cheque for his next album — making the washed up rock star more valuable than ever. Realizing his error, Ant scrambles to keep Spazz-O alive — and presumably, hilarity ensues.

And while the DVD should please the new wave archivists among us, don't hold your breath for a 10th anniversary Blu-Ray edition of DMX's Exit Wounds.

Here's a "Making Of" trailer for Drop Dead Rock: