New Model Army are the subject of a feature film documentary about their history from director and Royal Television Society Award winner Matt Reid, previously known for his 2 BBC 1 documentaries on The Royal Family, ITV’s The Savoy and Channel 4 ‘The Island” with Bear Grylls. The film covers the band from their inception to the making of “Between Dog and Wolf” and has been chosen to premiere in the UK at Raindance Film festival in London this October. Details of premiere and trailer at
"New Model Army is a remarkable band - as hungry and focused as ever, with a continually regenerating audience and insatiable creative ambition..."
New Model Army have been one of the biggest underground
music artists for over quarter of a century. To their global community of fans they mean everything. Yet mainstream success
has so far eluded them. This film is the story of the band and
in particular their charismatic and unconventional lead singer
songwriter and founder Justin Sullivan. His refusal to compromise his principles has meant that his audience has stayed
loyal, and their support has helped the band endure some
difficult moments. This is a very human story of a man who
began life in a liberal Quaker family, yet turned his back on
this and headed to Bradford where he met his muse. He found
like-minded musicians and formed the band which connected
with the mood of anger in Thatcher’s Britain, and quickly rose
to prominence. Then as international success is within their
grasp, the relationship with Justin’s songwriting partner Robb
Heaton founders, and he subsequently dies in tragic circumstances. But It is when the band lose their studio and all their
equipment, that Justin finally comes to terms with the ghosts
of his past and pursues the new radical approach to making
music which results in what many consider the band’s finest
album.
if I could make a documentary about them, to be honest I
never thought I would hear back. For over 30 years Justin Sul
livan had avoided mainstream media exposure, and even wrote
songs about the evils of television. They also named them
selves after Oliver Cromwell’s crack anti-monarchist troops
and I’d just spent the last 3 years making documentaries on
the British Royal Family for national television. If they were
to make a documentary, I seemed the man least likely to be
allowed to make it.
Yet he did say yes to a meeting, and as we built a rapport it
emerged that Justin is a man more complicated and interest
ing than his public profile might suggest and the irony of my
interest in them was not lost on him.
The film evolved to be the life story of one of Britain’s un
sung geniuses. It is painfully honest and some sense of tragedy
as he looks back on a career where there have been casualties
along the way. Yet through determination and self belief they
emerge stronger as they experience a creative rebirth. I hope
for the viewer it is ultimately uplifting film with an inspiring
denouement