Come on, let’s fight the monster of History. Or if you prefer, some other one that’s even more terrible: prejudice. Because Tubular Bells is that annoying lesson we used to receive from our older brothers to the cry of “This is real music!” It’s the superb picture of young Mike Oldfield with the 27 instruments (give or take five) he could actually play. It’s the hit that gave meaning to the creation of the Virgin record label (which would later put out the Sex Pistols, let’s not forget). And it’s that melody that accompanies Father Karras’ visits to Megan McNeil’s. However, it’s also one of those enigma records you don’t know where it came from and demand out loud for an X-file rather than a documentary. In 1973, only Oldfield had such music in his head. Therefore, and despite his later career, Tubular Bells is the work that gave meaning to his life: When we see him start playing the bass with a teenage passion at the age of 61, we understand this musician placed more than drawings on a pentagram and virtuosity inside this record. JP
D: Matt O’Casey
F: Ric Clark
E: Richard Fretwell
M: Mike Oldfield
P: Natasha Dack
CP: Tigerlily Films
Richard Branson, Danny Boyle, Tom Newman, Sally Oldfield
Tigerlily Films. Natasha Dack
W tigerlilyfilms.com
He’s a British filmmaker, scriptwriter, and producer. He has worked almost exclusively within the music documentary genre. He directed over fifteen films and series about great rock bands, several of them for the BBC.
