Do amps really go up to 11?

There are so many interesting resources that we can take into the classroom.

Yesterday I saw two films- both fascinating documentaries. The first ” Tyson” is a very honest biography of the boxer Mike Tyson. What he was unable to deal with in relation to his past, his emotions, etc, is made up for in a very honest contribution. It is quite a remarkable self-analysis 0f his life, worth watching for its insights into of boxing, adolescence, masculinity and sexuality. It would be a great starting point for discussions with senior students.

Do amps really go up to 11 or is this a great joke created by amp manufacturers in salute to that great moment in Spinal Tap? 

NIGEL: Exactly. Now this is special, too, it’s a…look…see …still got the uh…the ol’ tagger on it…see…never even 

played it …see… 

MARTY: You just bought it and…. 

NIGEL: Don’t touch it! Don’t touch it! No one…no one…no! Don’t touch it. 

MARTY: Well uh I wasn’t…uh I wasn’t gonna touch it…I was just pointing at it…I…. 

NIGEL: Well don’t point, even. 

MARTY: Don’t even point? 

NIGEL: No. It can’t be played…never…I mean I…. 

MARTY: Can I look at it? 

NIGEL: No. 

MARTY: Don’t look at it. 

NIGEL: No, you’ve seen enough of that one. This is a top to a, you know, what we use on stage, but it’s very…very 

special because if you can see… 

MARTY: Yeah… 

NIGEL: …the numbers all go to eleven. Look…right across the board. 

MARTY: Ahh…oh, I see…. 

NIGEL: Eleven…eleven…eleven…. 

MARTY: ..and most of these amps go up to ten…. 

NIGEL: Exactly. 

MARTY: Does that mean it’s…louder? Is it any louder? 

NIGEL: Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most…most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You’re on ten here…all the way up…all the way up…. 

MARTY: Yeah…. 

NIGEL: …all the way up. You’re on ten on your guitar…where can you go from there? Where? 

MARTY: I don’t know…. 

NIGEL: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is if we need that extra.. push over the cliff…you know what we do? 

MARTY: Put it up to eleven. 

NIGEL: Eleven. Exactly. One louder. 

MARTY: Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top… number… and make that a little louder? 

(pause) 

NIGEL: These go to eleven. 

I also saw the film Anvil: the story of Anvil. ( An 11 amp pops up in this) It is a wonderful bio of the heavy metal band Anvil. The brotherly relationship between the two main band members is an extraordinary insight into a friendship and a great starting point for a discussion of relationships. (It is also fascinating how a documentary on so called ‘failing’ will no doubt launch this band into greater fame.)The film Metallica: Some kind of Monster is also rich pickings. One of my favorite  and certainly one of the most surprising documentaries is the one called Do You Remember the First Time? on the compilation DVD ‘Pulp Hits’. It is inspired by the Pulp song of the same name and shows a range of musicians, etc, talking about the first time that they had sex. It is intriguing and moving. Definitely rich pickings for discussions with students.

Just a few ideas. I am a big fan of music documentaries. One of my favorites- even though I am not a big fan of the band – is the Pennebaker Hegedus film Depeche Mode 101. Of course Don’t Look Back is a staple.