Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Shoot! (ZTT)

Even more eagerly awaited than its audio counterpart, Shoot! contains eight videos, none of which have been commercially available before. More than five videos were made for 'Relax' and two are included here. The first is directed by Bernard Rose and was originally banned by both the BBC and MTV. More hilarious than shocking, the promo is set in some bizarre gay pleasuredome. A so-called live concert version is also included.

Godley & Creme's classic video for 'Two Tribes' of two world leaders enjoying a spot of fisticuffs looks more surreal than cutting edge ten years on, post-Perestroika. In true ZTT fashion this video (and its actors!) was even allocated a catalogue number, ZTIS 119. But collectors will be disappointed to find that ZTIS 200, the extended version with some innovative scratch video effects has been omitted. Godley & Creme also directed the 'Power Of Love' video and to tie in with its Christmas release recreated the Birth Of Christ. Thankfully the members of the band did not appear in the film which helped it look more blockbuster than school nativity!

The bands appearence in the other videos chart the rise and demise of the FGTH sensation. They play along with the grandiose storyboard for Bernard Rose's 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome' and after a year-long session of touring and recording actually perform on stage for 'Rage Hard' which has just as much energy as any of the non performence promos. By the time they appear on screen for 'Watching The Wildlife' (having left 'Warriors Of The Wasteland' to the animators) the band knew they would split up at the first available opportunity. And it shows, no-one except Holly (and perhaps Ped) deliver any passion on screen.

Strangely the one screen star to remain from these days is Paul Morley. He directed 'Watching The Wildlife' and the whole of 'Shoot!' is interspersed with interview excepts form his promo release 'The Frankie Video' which looks like a pilot for his 'The Thing Is...' TV show. Altogether a dazzling set of images, the Frankie videos still remain some of the most notorious examples of this genre of film making, packing an equal punch to the music they illustrate. As Holly Johnson once said: "It's not a very real world to live in, but it's a good laugh!".


This review also published in: Record Collector