Supermensch: The Legend Of Shep Gordon DVD Review

Director: Mike Myers

Starring: Shep Gordon, Alice Cooper, Mike Myers, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Douglas, Willie Nelson, Derek Shook, Emeril Lagasse,

Running Time: 85 minutes

Extras: BFI Q+A, Trailer

Shep Gordon has been a man of mystery throughout his career, always in the shadows of some of the greatest music acts, actors and chefs to ever grace the entertainment world. With Mike Myers directorial debut, he decides to put Gordon in the spotlight to document the life and the career of the man that decided his career path after Jimi Hendrix said to him “You Jewish? You should become a manager!”

With interviews from showbiz legends that include Sylvester Stallone, Michael Douglas and Alice Cooper, it’s quite clear from the get-go, just how much influence Gordon has had over the years. He has managed everybody, from Alice Cooper to Luther Vandross, and even bought the celebrity chef to the mainstream. His story can be quite unbelievable at times but they did actually happen; specially picked interviewee’s aside. From bringing Piccadilly Circus to a standstill to almost dying on a private jet with Alice Cooper and a 15-year-old Cameron Crowe (yes, the inspiration of that infamous plane scene from ALMOST FAMOUS). It is truly something to come out of legend, and despite his huge legacy, he’s affected the lives of many along the way.

But despite the big rockstar moments, the ones that get you are when he talks his own personal life. Many women have come and gone over the years for Shep, but he has never had the chance to do the one thing he had always wanted – start a family. But in the moments of personal regret highlights Gordon’s selflessness, the story of how he helped the orphaned children of his ex-partner’s daughter is something that really shows his way of life.

But because everybody involved with the documentary has some connection to Gordon, the story itself is incredibly biased. After all, are we meant to believe that the man that was known for his “No head, no backstage pass” t-shirt didn’t create some enemies along the way? As we go on in the documentary we discover he did including, quite famously, Luther Vandross who felt so betrayed by Gordon announcing his retirement that he took any mention of Gordon out of his autobiography.

There is one thing quite clear about Shep Gordon, he will do anything for the people in his life, and while he did not get the chance to make his own family, he has his own weird and wonderful extended family that he has brought together over the years. Shep is one of the last living legends we have in this generation, and Myers has done a great job making sure everybody knows it.

[usr=4] SUPERMENSCH: THE LEGEND OF SHEP GORDON is out now via Dogwoof. To purchase your copy, head here.