On The 'Decline' Trilogy And A Follow-Up

The Decline Of Western Civilization I covered the LA rock scene of 1980. Decline II: The Metal Years was made between 1986 and ’88 and delves into the hair metal scene, whilst 1998’s Decline III investigates the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless LA teenagers and remains Spheeris’s proudest achievement.

That she went on to direct Wayne’s World and other Hollywood blockbusters is something she remains dismissive of to this day.

“Yeah, I would much rather that people get the historical importance of the documentaries,” she insists. “I am, of course, very pleased that people enjoyed my studio movies, but in the long run, what really matters? That’s why I used the money I got from the studio movies to finance Decline III. No-one else would do it. That movie is actually my favourite film that I have ever done.”

The Metal Years, especially, was a hit, helped along by the presence of big names like Ozzy Osbourne, KISS and Aerosmith, and the film chronicles not only the glory of the hair metal years, but also its inherent ridiculousness.

“If I was sent out without any ‘controlling forces’ such as producers and guys writing cheques,” Spheeris says wryly, “it would have been a much more hardcore, less ridiculous piece. However, it is what it is, and people seemed to love it, so there ya go! By the way – that’s why I fought like hell to have Megadeth close the film because they are heavier and their lyrics, instrumentation, attitude etc, more fits my own musical preferences.”

Modern audiences might be shocked by the gratuitous sexism inherent in that scene, but Spheeris says not much has changed on that front.

“As my daughter Anna says, ‘everybody was buying into it’. It wasn’t just the guys being sexist with the girls; the girls went along with it. It was ‘cool’ to be a groupie back then, and forgive me for saying so, but that has not gone away! Neither has the sexism, in my opinion. It was just more overt back then.”

Spheeris sees her contribution on a more societal level than a musical one.

“I think of myself as more of an anthropologist than a music documenter. I am mostly interested in where each youth movement comes from. Human behaviour, that’s what I like to study. I documented a time that otherwise might be lost by now. I don’t need any credit for doing it. I am glad if it helps today’s kids understand better where much of their style, music and fashion really came from.”

The filmmaker also has a fourth instalment of the Decline movies underway, but she won’t be drawn into spilling the beans about it at all.

“No, because all your readers could take their iPhones and make that movie before I get mine done. Sorry!”

The Decline Of Western Civilization screens at The Backlot on Friday February 19, at 8pm. The Decline Of Western Civilization II: The  Metal Years screens at The Backlot on Saturday February 20, at 5:30pm, and The Decline Of Western Civiliation III screens at The Backlot on Sunday, February 21, at 5pm.

Originally published in X-Press Magazine