John Dower set out to do 'something revolutionary' about pop music culture. The result was an affectionate look back at Britpop, Cool Britannia, and Lad Culture...

Why Britpop and "Live Forever"?
We thought there hadn't been that many contemporary music films with ambition. I, for one, was fed up with the way music and British popular culture was packaged into clip shows like I Love the 70s or 80s with celebrity chefs talking about albums. We thought we'd do something revolutionary and actually speak to the musicians.

VIDEOWATCH our report on 'Live Forever', which includes interviews with director John Dower, Goldie and Sleeper's Louise Wener:click here(2,435 Kb/ 02'14")Real Player required

How important was it to get the co-operation of Britpop's leading figures?
We made a pact that we had to get the big three - Oasis, Blur, and Pulp. We got Noel [Gallagher] first, and we were still waiting for the other two. I was very much willing to press on and do the film. But my producer John Battsek said, "No. We've got to get all of the big three." So we held out. We got them by stalking them really.

Were you worried that your focus on Britpop was too narrow?
We are going to get a kicking from some quarters on this film. People are going to say, "Where are Radiohead?" or, "Where are The Prodigy?" But we put our hands up. We wanted to be selective. We wanted a steady focus in the film.

Liam Gallagher as seen in 'Live Forever'

What was the thinking behind the settings of the interviews?
We didn't want the usual, "He's a musician, let's plonk him in front of a mixing desk." We were trying to make them a little bit evocative. Noel did suggest Knebworth. A lot of people think that's Noel in his home. But he doesn't actually own 17th-century oil paintings, I believe. Jarvis [Cocker] in a sleazy hotel in King's Cross is how he felt on "This is Hardcore". He felt a little bit dirty. And Damon [Albarn] sitting in front of that dartboard in the pub is particularly "Parklife".

"Live Forever" makes the point that the Britpop explosion coincided with a period of political optimism. Are there any similar links today?
I think Pop Idol is the ideal soundtrack for New Labour. It's music by focus group. I'm sure they love it.

(Interview by Jason Brest)

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