They simply have no soul. But back in the day, bands had it, and they relied on backup singers to provide the hooks for all the classic hits. But what happens when a backup singer tries to make the leap to become a lead? Ask Darlene Love, who wound up cleaning houses for several years.
20 Feet From Stardom is a new documentary focusing on several backup singers who tried to make the transition and were almost always unsuccessful. The film opens with an interview with Bruce Springsteen (who rarely does them), and Bruce makes some incredibly astute points about trying to become a lead, and how it requires a real narcissism to pull it off.
But even for those who never made it, it’s not to say there weren’t memorable backup moments. Merry Clayton shares a story about being called at midnight in Los Angeles to come to a studio to sing background for a new Rolling Stones song. Merry, very pregnant, showed up wearing curlers, but figured she’d blow the band and the producer away, and whaled on the background vocals “Raaaape, murderrrrr… you’re just a shot away…” on “Gimme Shelter.” We hear the isolated track, and it’s blood curdling.
It’s fascinating. It’s in theaters. You know the routine.
