What We Do Is Secret
Mann Festival Theater
Westwood, CA
June 23, 2007
Words & Live Pixs by Lucky
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
SugarBuzz Magazine
The long anticipated world premier of Rodger Grossman’s Germs biopic entitled What We Do Is Secret finally took place in the historic movie venue called the Mann Festival as part of the annual Los Angeles Film Festival.
Germs fan have been waiting to feast their senses upon this piece of celluloid for quite a few years now. If fact, this film was first conceived over 12 years ago and has started, stopped, started and stopped production again and again. There were dark times when the possibility of completion seemed unlikely. Perhaps the ghost of Darby Crash himself pulled a few heavenly strings.
I scored tickets well in advanced as the screening quickly sold out. Seems people from all over were coming to L.A just for this event. The allure was strong with this one. And to make the night more exciting, The Germs themselves were scheduled to perform live in the Plaza down the block from the theater. Now for those whom don’t have a fucking clue, several years back The Germs reunited and recruited actor Shane West (whom portrays Darby Crash in What We Do Is Secret) to take over for the late great Darby Crash. I attended the now historic Key Club reunion show in 2005 and reviewed it here.
So off to Westwood we headed, where I had the unfortunate pleasure of getting fucked in the ass upon arrival by a young lady named Andi. Seems she didn’t see my brake lights and drove her brand new Saturn Vue into the back of my Nitro. Fuck.
The worst outcome of this accident was that we missed most of The Germs set. We did manage to catch the last 4 songs and you know what, it kicked ass. What was really odd was that there were only about 40 to 50 people in front of the stage. Seems some of the 540 ticket holders to tonight’s screening missed the fucking memo. Their loss.
“Caught In My Eye”, “Lions Share” , “My Tunnel” and “Forming” (from their first ever vinyl 7” release) were delivered bam, bam, bam. Then the band was off and greeted fans for autographs and pictures. I passed, as my stomach became a high priority. California Pizza Kitchen was the recipient of my monies allocation for tonight’s feast.
So around 9pm we headed over to the Mann Festival and hit the line. In the nick of time too as the line ended up winding well around the block and beyond. We waited an entire hour before they let us in. Man did I have to piss like a fucking race horse.
After a meet and great with a representative from the film festival and a very cool introduction to the man Rodger Grossman, the lights were lowered and the show began.
From the get go I knew this was going to be hot. West as Crash (the acne and bad teeth) in a Slash interview set the stage for the next 90 minutes. Buckle your seat belt and put your trays in the upright position, turbulence ahead.
Like all intriguing stories, the movie flashes to what was the beginning, on the lawn at Uni High School were the initial 5 year plan was pitched. Cut to the Whisky a Go-Go where late and legendary Claude Kickboy Bessy (co-founder and chief writer of Slash Magazine) is interviewing Captain Sensible and Dave Vanian of The Damned (played superbly by Ozzy Benn and Christopher Boyd respectively) while Darby lurks behind and keeps injecting that The Germs are the best band in LA. His bluff gets called. History takes place at The Orpheum. (Theatrical license evoked.)
We get treated to witness the recording of “Forming” in Pat’s garage with yes, the echo stuck in the on position. Performances by Rick Gonzalez (Pat) and Bijou Phillips (Lorna) already hit the excellent meter.
Extra care is giving in capturing the feel and attitude of the era. We go to The Whisky, Club 88, The Masque, The Fleetwood and my most favorite club ever, The Starwood. We see the progress and regress as the punk scene changes to more hardcore and dangerous.
Alas, we see Darby and the band in whole tire of audience expectations for riots and damage. At the end of the day, it seems The Germs wanted to be enjoyed for their music, and not for chaos.
Exceptional portrayals abound throughout, Noah Segan as the notorious Don Bolles, Ashton Holmes as Rob Henley (creepy), Missy Doty as the used and abused Amber and Ray Park (Darth Maul from Star Wars I) as Brendan Mullen. Chris Pontius from Jackass fame had a cameo as Black Randy and J.P. Manoux did what seemed a bit more like a caricature of our friend Rodney Bingenheimer.
And then there was Shane West as Darby Crash. Bravo comes to mind. Convincing and mesmerizing, Shane drew you in and made it real. He showed the human and the dangerous side of Darby's personality. Any doubt you may have had about West as Crash is completely forgotten in the first minutes of the film.
What We Do Is Secret is a movie that will achieve great success, despite the fact that the “so-called” average household has no idea who the fuck The Germs are or were and in due time it will finally settle into the status of “cult” film, having special appeal to those, like myself, that ran the streets and hung in the alleys of the late 70’s and early 80’s Hollywood. Just remember, visiting the past is fine, just don’t stay too long.
After the screening we were treated to introductions of the cast members that were in attendance and again director Rodger Grossman. Also invited up were the Germs themselves. It seemed a bit odd that Pat Smear had already left the building. Odd, until I gave some thought to how it must have felt to relive the impact of that period of his life. It may have been just too emotional.
The audience was allowed to ask questions and I was surprised to hear props from old time Darby confidante, Paul Roessler. But I really got a kick when Michelle Ghaffari, another close friend of Darby's (from high school up until his death) got called up and got thanks from Rodger for support in the realism department. Michelle co-wrote and co-produced this film with Rodger. Thanks for setting me straight Michelle!!!!
Catch What We Do Is Secret when it finally makes it to your local venue.