I'll Be Me
(2014 American documentary about Glen Campbell,
directed by James Keach)Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, April 3, 2015
by Live Music Head
"I've tried and I have failed, Lord
I've won and I have lost
I've lived and I have loved, Lord
Sometimes at such a cost
One thing I know
The world's been good to me
A better place awaits, you'll see
Some days I'm so confused, Lord
My past gets in my way
I need the ones I love, Lord
More and more each day
One thing I know
The world's been good to me
A better place awaits, you'll see"
~ A Better Place (Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, 2011)
In 1936, on the 22nd day of April,
a country boy was born in Billstown,
a tiny community in Arkansas, USA.
And he grew up to be a very successful musician.
Glen Campbell: “I was so bright, my daddy called me Son.”
An amazing guitar player,
Glen Campbell can be heard on
the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds album.
He also toured with them in 1964
He also toured with them in 1964
when Brian Wilson retired from the road.
He can be heard on Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night,
the Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,
and the Monkees’ I’m a Believer.
He helped Phil Spector shape his Wall of Sound.
Glen Campbell was a member
He can be heard on Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night,
the Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,
and the Monkees’ I’m a Believer.
He helped Phil Spector shape his Wall of Sound.
Glen Campbell was a member
of a group of incredible session musicians
known as The Wrecking Crew,
who also served as the T.A.M.I. Show house band.
Look up their body of work.
It'll blow your mind.
During his 50 years in show business,
Campbell released more than 5 dozen albums,
and some 45 million people all over the world
known as The Wrecking Crew,
who also served as the T.A.M.I. Show house band.
Look up their body of work.
It'll blow your mind.
During his 50 years in show business,
Campbell released more than 5 dozen albums,
and some 45 million people all over the world
bought 'em.
That's because they included these unforgettable songs:
Gentle On My Mind,
Gentle On My Mind,
By The Time I Get To Phoenix,
Wichita Lineman,
Galveston,
Galveston,
Rhinestone Cowboy,
and Southern Nights.
Songs that earned him 3 American Music Awards
Songs that earned him 3 American Music Awards
and 8 Grammy Awards,
including one for Lifetime Achievement.
Glen Campbell was my earliest crush.
I was about 6 or 7 when he first became known to me,
a year or so before I decided
including one for Lifetime Achievement.
Glen Campbell was my earliest crush.
I was about 6 or 7 when he first became known to me,
a year or so before I decided
I wanted to marry Elton John instead.
Campbell also exercised his acting ability in a handful of films,
including 1969’s True Grit with John Wayne.
And in those made-for-television movies from the 1970s
Campbell also exercised his acting ability in a handful of films,
including 1969’s True Grit with John Wayne.
And in those made-for-television movies from the 1970s
like Strange Homecoming with Leif Garrett,
one of my favourite teen idols at the time.
Campbell made a cameo appearance in
the 1980 Clint Eastwood movie
one of my favourite teen idols at the time.
Campbell made a cameo appearance in
the 1980 Clint Eastwood movie
Any Which Way You Can,
for which he recorded the title song.
I believe Rhinestone Cowboy was his largest selling single.
It was the one that solidified my fandom heading into my teens.
In 2011, shortly after he released the album
for which he recorded the title song.
I believe Rhinestone Cowboy was his largest selling single.
It was the one that solidified my fandom heading into my teens.
In 2011, shortly after he released the album
Ghost on the Canvas,
Glen announced he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
And then he embarked on a tour dubbed
The Glen Campbell Goodbye Tour.
About the 151 shows that happened over 425 days,
Glen announced he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
And then he embarked on a tour dubbed
The Glen Campbell Goodbye Tour.
About the 151 shows that happened over 425 days,
from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl,
Bruce Springsteen had this to say:
“It’s a rough, rough disease.
To be out there rolling the dice with it was pretty brave.”
It's the courage The Boss speaks of
Bruce Springsteen had this to say:
“It’s a rough, rough disease.
To be out there rolling the dice with it was pretty brave.”
It's the courage The Boss speaks of
that is at the heart of this documentary.
Seeing Glen Campbell sing the Hank Williams tune Love Sick Blues
Seeing Glen Campbell sing the Hank Williams tune Love Sick Blues
on the tour bus
with his daughter Ashley,
was highly emotional for me to watch.
As was most of the film.
All of it,
with his daughter Ashley,
was highly emotional for me to watch.
As was most of the film.
All of it,
quite frankly,
tore my heart out.
Some people may wonder why the hell any musician
would put themselves at risk
Some people may wonder why the hell any musician
would put themselves at risk
by going on tour with Alzheimer's.
Or why the hell anyone would let him.
But watching this doc,
you come to understand that
it's what he wanted.
He wanted to expose himself to the public,
to help them see what this disease could do.
To bring more awareness.
And to see what it could not do.
For it would seem Alzheimer's was hard-pressed
Or why the hell anyone would let him.
But watching this doc,
you come to understand that
it's what he wanted.
He wanted to expose himself to the public,
to help them see what this disease could do.
To bring more awareness.
And to see what it could not do.
For it would seem Alzheimer's was hard-pressed
penetrating Campbell's love of making music,
which runs so deep and so strong
that he was able to still access the memory to do it,
despite it's considerable decline.
The musical part of his brain, so well-developed.
Continuing to do what you love to do
can make the difference.
So going on the road was good for his health.
And it's why he is so well-loved and so well-respected.
His courage admired,
despite it's considerable decline.
The musical part of his brain, so well-developed.
Continuing to do what you love to do
can make the difference.
So going on the road was good for his health.
And it's why he is so well-loved and so well-respected.
His courage admired,
audiences were very supportive.
And standing ovations were everywhere.
Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
appears in the film,
and commented on the large mark
and commented on the large mark
Campbell has made on the music business.
As did The Edge.
That wild and crazy banjo player Steve Martin
commented on all the fun that he had
when he was a writer for
As did The Edge.
That wild and crazy banjo player Steve Martin
commented on all the fun that he had
when he was a writer for
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.
I grew up watching that on television with my father.
Bruce Springsteen talked about
I grew up watching that on television with my father.
Bruce Springsteen talked about
the man's talent for writing a simple song
that could stir so much emotion.
And Paul McCartney,
shown talking to Campbell backstage
at the 2012 Grammy Awards,
actually sounds sincere when expressing his gratitude.
But what really shines through in this film
is the love and support Campbell gets from his wife Kim,
the former Radio City Music Hall "Rockette".
She’s his safety blanket.
While on tour,
at the 2012 Grammy Awards,
actually sounds sincere when expressing his gratitude.
But what really shines through in this film
is the love and support Campbell gets from his wife Kim,
the former Radio City Music Hall "Rockette".
She’s his safety blanket.
While on tour,
she had to chase Campbell all over the hotel
when he would not stay in their room.
He'd run around pressing doorbells
when he would not stay in their room.
He'd run around pressing doorbells
thinking they were elevator buttons.
Mrs Campbell hides her pain beautifully,
Mrs Campbell hides her pain beautifully,
fighting the sadness of it all,
and the depression it brings,
on a daily basis.
and the depression it brings,
on a daily basis.
Caregivers for people with Alzheimer's
also deserve a standing ovation.
Kim can still laugh.
Because just like it is with his music,
Alzheimer's is hard-pressed
in erasing her husband's sense of humour.
Glen wrote I’m Not Gonna Miss You for his wife,
with his song writing partner
Julian Raymond.
It was prob'ly written for all of his loved ones.
And it was recorded with the help
of fellow members of the Wrecking Crew.
Released in the Fall of 2014,
I’m Not Gonna Miss You was nominated for Best Original Song
of fellow members of the Wrecking Crew.
Released in the Fall of 2014,
I’m Not Gonna Miss You was nominated for Best Original Song
at this year's Academy Awards.
Last month,
a re-issue of Glen Campbell's album
Last month,
a re-issue of Glen Campbell's album
Rhinestone Cowboy was released.
To honour it's 40th Anniversary.
His music is legendary.
His story is human.
The trailer for I'll Be Me...
His music is legendary.
His story is human.
The trailer for I'll Be Me...
