Perth’s 1980s rock scene was loud, unpredictable and, for some musicians, a path to stardom that never quite materialised.
Now, filmmaker Luke C. Griffiths has revisited that era through the story of Wayne Green, frontman of The Phantoms, in his documentary Green: The Fight for Rock and Roll.
Although Green developed a devoted following in Perth, his career never achieved the national recognition Griffiths believes his talent deserved.
“He had the talent to be one of the biggest musicians in the country.”
“A name on every Australian’s lips,” he said.
Journalist Allan Newton also covered Green’s early rock ‘n’ roll career–noting the dedication fans had for the musician.
“They were staples at the Scarborough Beach Hotel where 400 fans, including bikies from different gangs who would put their colours to one side, joined the crowd on a Sunday morning from 11am,” he wrote.
The highs and lows of rock ‘n’ roll
Halo Films approached Griffiths to cover a separate documentary but ultimately, it was Green’s story that had Griffiths hooked.
“I wasn’t sure at first, but within 10 minutes of meeting him I knew I needed to make this film.”
It was Green’s willingness to talk that changed it all.
In an interview on ABC Radio Perth, Green openly expressed his rock ‘n’ roll years as ‘excess was king’ making sure the pursuit of pleasure was ensured at all costs.
“I’m a bit of a larrikin anyway, I have a chip on my shoulder, I love life and rock ‘n’ roll gave me a chance to express it,” said Green.
In the documentary, Griffiths captures Green’s personal testimony about his excessive use of drugs and alcohol in his life–on and off the stage.
Why Green’s story appealed to Griffiths
Before meeting Green, Griffiths was unsure what to expect from Green’s story.
“I had no idea what the film would be, but I knew that this guy was electric! funny and entertaining.”
Griffiths said he felt he was going to capture something interesting when learning more about Green’s life.
“His vibe and personality was compelling to me, and I knew it would be compelling to an audience.”
For Griffiths, Green’s story is compelling because it captures rock ‘n’ roll in the 1980s in Perth but also a young band at the pinnacle of living free and seemingly destined for something bigger.
“It was wild! Very fun and carefree. But there was also a heavy dose of self-destruction,” he said.
Griffiths reflected on Green’s unrealised potential.
“There is certainly something attractive in that boundless hedonism, but as Wayne’s story shows, it also has a cost.”
Documenting a human experience
While Green’s story highlights the wild experiences within the Perth rock ‘n’ roll scene for that time, it remains a human story.
As filming progressed, Griffiths said the documentary became more personal than he initially anticipated.
“We get to witness what would have been an entertaining music documentary to what eventuated into a deeply moving, and human film.”
“I didn’t want to shy away from anything, and Wayne wouldn’t have let me if I tried to.” Griffiths said.
Griffiths said when you work on human stories, highlighting what interests you will help to connect the story with your audience.
“There are a million choices to make, but if you focus on what option seems more interesting to you, then chances are other people will find that interesting too.”
Ra Castel
I am a journalist student at ECU, YouTuber and Content producer with over 249K views on TikTok, 25K+ views on Instagram reels and posts and 4k views on YouTube. My intent for my works to progress into more video journalism that will cover all sorts of topics from entertainment and breaking news. Other journalist mediums I am interested in diving into are podcasting, radio and content creation. You can find me on all social media platforms and Linkedin for more content.
