
The BBC Documentary A Year in the Life kicks off with a close look at the fortunes of a pop group - Mike Stuart Span. They can sing, they can play and they look the part, and when we joined them in June 1968 they were on the brink of fame and fortune, in the next 12 months anything could happen.
Paul Watson's film is not a pop show but an account of attitudes; of dashed hopes and optimism as the group are hustled through the multi-million-pound industry of pop. Can the band, in the course of a year, realise their potential? Can they become the 'Big Deal Group'?
In a word, no.
20 Years On from the initial documentary, Paul Watson sits down with the members of Mike Stuart Span (or Leviathon, as they were briefly rebranded) - Stuart Hobday (lead vocals), Brian Bennett (lead guitar), Roger McCabe (bass), and Gary 'Roscoe' Murphy (drums) - to rewatch the 1969 film.
What are they all doing with themselves two decades on? Do they regret appearing in the film? Why do they think Mike Stuart Span failed to break into the big time? Do they know what became of Mike Clayton - their enthusiastic but ultimately hapless manager? Finally, given the chance, would the band do it all over again?
A Year in the Life: Big Deal Band was originally broadcast on BBC Two, 28 September, 1969.
20 Years On was originally broadcast on BBC Two, 29 December, 1989.
00:00 - 37:21 A Year in the Life Original 1969 Documentary
37:21 - 50:34 20 Years On studio discussion
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