Buddy Holly - The Real Buddy Holly Story [DVD]

The Real Buddy Holly Story is the full, uncut version of a documentary previously seen on BBC television, produced and hosted by Paul McCartney. This is a moving story of the emergence and subsequent exploitation of a great talent. The Gary Busey film of The Buddy Holly Story was an inaccurate and romanticised version of the events, and McCartney has succeeded in producing a documentary which tells the real story as near as possible.

With the able assistance of his producer and mentor Norman Petty, Buddy's early work was produced in a tiny studio in Clovis, New Mexico. The documentary shows Petty's widow Vi in the now dusty and disused premises. She reveals her input on songs like Think It Over, where her piano solo is neatly laid over the finished record.

Holly's life and career came to a premature and tragic end in February 1959 in the aircrash  during the Winter Dance Party tour. Phil Everly and guitarist Tommy Allsup relate the tale of how Holly was forced to go on the road because his funds were running low and he desperately needed some income whilst he was waiting for his writing and performing royalties to turn up.

The ugly side of the music business rears its head particularly during the stories about the wranglings behind the scenes during the ill-fated tour.