Michael was just like adamant about how this band would be presented if there was three
people there fine if there's 300 people they're fine when they were on stage that was swan
stage and this is what it's gonna sound like that's the beauty of swans right there
when I listen to swans well especially when I see them live I feel like I'm seeing the
whole history of music being replayed in front of me
swans will be an enduring name in music and I think it's a name that will only kind of
grow in time
my name is Marco Portia I'm a longtime swans fan and filmmaker I remember flying down to
New York City in 1997 to see the final swans tour at Irving Plaza so this day it remains
one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life we all thought that was the end of swans
that that was it I thank you for your kind attention we leave you now forever goodbye
but 13 years later they reactivated and I was determined to document the rebirth I just
thought that before I died I wanted to experience the kind of a maelstrom swirling tornado of
sound again I wanted to be inside that sound I've been traveling all over the world the
last six years filming as many live shows as possible documenting as much as I can
on my own getting unique access to the band I've produced and filmed the live swans concert
film DVDs but now I want to tell the complete story of swans one that spans 35 years and
counting
it's an artist you're always going to push until you fall over the edge so maybe Michael
just hasn't found the edge yet
I've also been entrusted with hundreds of recently uncovered archive videotapes of live
shows from 1984 to 1997 including never before seen life on the road home movies that all
need to be preserved restored and edited and which will provide an in-depth look at the
early period of swans
it took these pictures of swans in Michael's apartment in the east village in 1984
what makes swans unique is that Michael is the real deal and when he's in the middle
of that musical maelstrom that's all that matters to create that moment of ecstasy in
that moment of euphoria
I remember seeing the swans show and I remember thinking after that that's it I'm going home
I've seen what I need to see the essence of music is regrouped in one single band
there's still a lot to do to finish the film extensive editing time animation sequences
film processing and transferring professional sound mix color correction and further interviews
with artists journalists and band members past and present including jarbo
special rewards are being created for your support of this project
I hope that you will find this project worthy to contribute to so that the story of swans
can come to life
I want the music to continue to exist in the work you do and in the way you live your life
and the things that you make contribute to the flow of human history and if you can make
something that's positive then I think that's a good thing
capture everything you can't just experience life
