ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joseph Perry writes for the film websites Gruesome Magazine, The Scariest Things, Horror Fuel, The Good, the Bad and the Verdict and Diabolique Magazine; for the film magazines Phantom of the Movies’ VideoScope and Drive-In Asylum; and for the pop culture websites When It Was Cool and Uphill Both Ways. He is also one of the hosts of When It Was Cool’s exclusive Uphill Both Ways podcast and can occasionally be heard as a cohost on Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast.
Official synopsis: From Peter Asher’s early British Invasion chart-topping fame as half of the iconic duo Peter & Gordon and his close friendship with Paul McCartney, to his groundbreaking work as a producer and manager for artists such as James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, Everywhere Man features rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and never-before-heard stories. The film offers an illuminating portrait of a man who helped shape the soundtrack of multiple generations and continues to inspire musicians and fans around the globe.
If you have listened to popular music any time from the 1960s onward, chances are high that you have heard music that Peter Asher had a hand in, whether you knew it or not. The documentary Peter Asher: Everywhere Man covers from his British Invasion popularity as one half of Peter & Gordon (“A World Without Love,” written by Paul McCartney, who lived in Asher’s family home and was in a relationship with his sister Jane Asher for five years; “I Go to Pieces”) to helping truly kickstart the careers of James Taylor (which included helping Taylor through rehab stints) and Linda Ronstadt (who here shares tales of 1970s rock star partying) to Asher’s recent live performances.
Codirectors Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine interview Asher and many talents from music and other forms of entertainment. Some of the interviews are solo ones and others with Asher and other celebrities. It’s a fascinating chronicle of the man’s importance to popular music as a musician, producer, manager and friend.
There were tough times, to be sure, and some heavier moments are discussed, but overall Peter Asher: Everywhere Man is an upbeat, fitting tribute to a true legend in music. The documentary will be a welcome trip down memory lane for some viewers and an introduction to a legendary, well-loved and highly respected talent to newcomers. It should be considered a must-watch for music lovers.
Peter Asher: Everywhere Man is available on VOD from Greenwich Entertainment.
