“I’ve always been public with my childhood. I believe you should be a child at heart and don’t be ashamed of it. You know…if there’s something you dreamed you wanted to do when you was a kid, then do it – you dreamed it for a reason. And I dreamed to have this and I have it. Some people like it and some people don’t…but I don’t care. It’s mine.” – Chris Thrash

I was but a pup during the Gilded Age of animatronic-band pizza joints, and I never saw the Rock-afire Explosion live at Showbiz Pizza. I never even heard of the place before this doc. But that didn’t stop me from getting teary-eyed over the Rock-afire Explosion from Houston-area filmmakers Brett Whitcomb and Bradford Thomason. The film works on a few different levels and explores at least eight-slices worth of themes, but what grabbed me the most was the deeply touching examination of fandom and obsession and how these forces can help the loneliest of people find purpose and connect with people. This is examined most poignantly through the tale of Chris Thrash: an ex-roller rink DJ turned Lord of the Rock-afire Revolution.

Chris spent his youth obsessing over the Rock-afire and Showbiz Pizza. But then the Chuck E. Cheese huns took over, and children across the nation were disgusted by the inferior, godless versions of their beloved Rock-afire band. These kids eventually grew up, saved their money, and bought their own fucking Rock-afires; programming them in their garages and basements. But no one did it better than Thrash.

The greatest part is that there is 100 percent NO irony behind Thrash and his obsession. This dates back to the Upper Paleolithic period before the internet. Before YouTube. Before ’80s retro was “in” and they sold “I Love Nerds” shirts at Target. Fuck that. Thrash is a true soldier who chose not to let the world dictate what he does from day one. I was honestly inspired and moved every time he was on screen. He even met, proposed, and wed his sweetheart at the roller rink where he worked. How brazenly romantic is that!!!

The film isn’t all about my man Thrash though. It also examines the man behind Rock-afire (and Whac-a-Mole!), Aaron Flechter. Aaron founded the animatronic group Creative Engineering – that produced Rock-afire – which found incredible economic success throughout the 80s-early 90s until Chuck E. Hitler came into power. Michael Jackson even visited their factory!!! The film portrays Aaron in a very sympathetic light; filming him in the barren Creative Engineering warehouse as he is driven to tears looking at the artistic tools of his long-gone employees. He’s a genius who has sadly been left behind by the times.

The doc features fitting music by the Super Furry Animals and is available for purchase through the official website. Also, ex-Rock-afire bass guitarist Billy Bob Brockali now resides at 350 Broadway, so stop in and say “hey.”

- Oh Mars