Jobriath A.D.
Kieran Turner, 2013
Catalog No.: FTF-044
Length: 102 minutes
Seventies glam rock musician Jobriath was known as “The American Bowie,” “The True Fairy of Rock & Roll,” and “Hype of the Year.” The first openly gay rock star, Jobriath’s reign was brief, lasting less than two years and two albums. Done in by a over‐hyped publicity machine, shunned by the gay community, and dismissed by critics as all flash and no substance, Jobriath was excommunicated from the music business. He retreated to the Chelsea Hotel where he died, forgotten, in 1983 at the age of 37, as one of the earliest casualties of AIDS.
In the years since his death, new generations of fans have discovered his music through acts as diverse as Morrissey, Def Leppard, The Pet Shop Boys, and Gary Numan, all of whom have cited Jobriath as an influence. Through interviews, archival material, and animation, audiences can experience the heartbreaking and unbelievable story of the one, the only, Jobriath.
Written and Directed by Kieran Turner
Produced by Kieran Turner
Edited by Danny Bresnik
Cinematography by Michael Canzoniero and PJ Gaynard
Sound by Rachel Chancey
Music by Ian Moore and Jason Staczek
Narrated by Henry Rollins
Appearances by Marc Almond, Joey Arias, Jayne County, Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, Stephin Merritt of Magnetic Fields, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, Will Sheff of Okkervil River and Justin Tranter of Semi Precious Weapons
PURCHASE
VINYL | DVD
WATCH THE FILM
PRESS
“Exceptional.”
- Stephen Holden, The New York Times
“Brilliant.”
- Travis Jeppersen, Artforum
“Something Special. Fantastically revelatory. Not to be missed.”
- Andrew Pulver, The Guardian
“Absorbing and deftly crafted documentary compels interest throughout.”
- Dennis Harvey, Variety
“Jobriath A.D. does a true service to music, and to more. Besides being smart, funny and insightful, it fills in a telling part of modern gay life’s suppressed history.”
- Jim Farber, New York Daily News
“Relentlessly compelling.”
- The Advocate
“Turner’s film ensures that time has now arrived for this forgotten prodigy.”
- Peter Wong, San Francisco Chronicle
“Absolutely mesmerizing.
- Gary Kramer, San Francisco Bay Times
“A remarkable story of fame, failure and reinvention”
- Kevin P. Taft, Frontiers LA Magazine
“Fascinating. Stunning. Sensational. An exhilarating and heartbreaking film.”
- Jason Anderson, The Grid Toronto