As
a one-time member of the first-call studio ensemble, the Wrecking Crew, Glen
Campbell could definitely play. His livelihood depended on it. That musical
prowess will not abandon Campbell, even when he faces the early and intermediate
stages of Alzheimer’s. His “Goodbye Tour” will be a tense high-wire for his
family and sidemen, but there will be moments that justify the stress. James
Keach documents the good times and mounting frustrations on-stage and
behind-the-scenes in Glen Campbell I’ll
Be Me (trailer
here), which
opens this Friday in New York.
For
those who only know “Rhinestone Cowboy” in a rather condescending way, Keach
does a nice job encapsulating Campbell career in the film’s opening minutes. He
and his fourth wife Kim (a former Rockette) will soon get the unambiguous
confirmation of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Even at this early stage, it is
clear she understands the implications far better than he. In fact, Kim
Campbell is really the protagonist of I’ll
Be Me more than her husband, because she is the one who will take the
responsibility and do the work, with the help of their grown children Ashley,
Cal, and Shannon, who are also regular members of Campbell’s band.
Despite
the risks, the Campbells decide to embark on one last tour, as a way to give
longtime fans a sense of closure. In the early going, performing also seems to
have a therapeutic benefit for Campbell. The shows are generally quite good,
but there are always awkward moments that will become more frequent over time.
In
many ways, I’ll Be Me is the equal
inverse film of Alan Hicks’ Keep on Keepin’ On, documenting Clark Terry’s continuing dedication to his student while
his physical health precipitously declines. Terry’s body might be failing him,
but he remains a supportive and insightful music teacher and mentor. On the
other hand, Campbell is still strong as a bull, but his brain chemistry is
betraying him.
By
its very nature, I’ll Be Me asks just
what performers owe to their fans and vice versa. Like most real musicians,
Campbell during happier days would probably have said he owed them everything
and they owed him nothing. Yet, the way the fans pick him up and cover for his
rough patches during the later dates is rather touching. So too are bonds shared
by Campbell, his wife, and their children. In fact, I’ll Be Me could very well launch Ashley Campbell as a chart-topper
in her own right. Yes, she is photogenic, but she can also play like a chip off
the block.