John Waite – The Hard Way captures the resilience of a rock icon who survived the music industry’s cutthroat environment and worked hard to achieve his independence as a solo artist. Mike J. Nichols’ documentary captures Waite during the hopeless days of 2020-2021. He expresses how the lockdowns affect his love and passion for touring. Despite filming during such a bleak period, this film bursts with optimism and looks to a bright future of connectivity! His greatest joy in life is to create art for the people. Beyond capturing him in the present day, we learn about John Waite’s upbringing and long career. Waite and his brother, Jo, grew up in a working-class British environment; he admired artists like Marty Robbins and Tommy Steele. His life changed when Beatlemania took the world by storm.
His parents persevered at their jobs, and this allowed Waite to attend art school. He was a good artist, yet music had a special connection. Prior to being the lead singer of The Babys, he was a bass player. The manager of The Babys, Adrian Miller, was looking for a lead singer, and Waite came out of his shell and took the opportunity. The Babys were a sensation during the mid-late 70s, making endless appearances on television and cranking out albums. Throughout the 1980s, Waite bounced between a solo career and playing in various bands. He even toured with Ringo Starr, one of his childhood idols. His career skyrocketed when he released “Missing You.” The music video was a hit on MTV! This song resonated with people, and Nichols highlights cover versions posted online throughout the film.
“His greatest joy in life is to create art for the people.”
Mike J. Nichols’ documentary is not your conventional rock ‘ n ‘ roll film. John Waite is soft-spoken and proud of his humble origins. He has a quiet dignity, making him personable to audiences. Scott Wright, the film’s producer and co-writer, does a fantastic job with the interview segments. These segments add new perspectives to the music industry of the 1970s-80s. They visualize how Waite would take generic, radio-friendly tunes and give them his original touch. The documentary provides a practical view of working within an industry that is constantly juggling art and profit.
One of the film’s best moments is when Waite rerecorded a new version of “Missing You” with country singer Alison Krauss. It shows how we must cherish our best work and carry it forward with fresh eyes. I highly recommend this film for those wanting to get into the film and music industry because John Waite is both business-savvy and creative. John Waite – The Hard Way is a testament to artists who are resilient, innovative, and have commercial intuition.
"…I highly recommend this film..."
