Whiteland native Kenny Wilkerson and his band Nova Rex are the subject of a new documentary, “Nova Rex: Ain’t Easy Staying Cheesy,” which will be screened during a free event Sept. 30 at the Historic Artcraft Theatre in Franklin.
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They made their name at the height of the “hair metal” era of ‘80s and ’90s rock.
Though music has changed considerably since those days of big hair and big guitars, for Whiteland native Kenny Wilkerson and the other members of Nova Rex, one thing has persevered — the cheesiness.
Now, the band is back with a new documentary — “Nova Rex: Ain’t Easy Staying Cheesy.” The film recalls their history, from riffing through the late 1980s hair-band era before crashing into a wall of early ’90s grunge. Viewers can also ride along through the constant mayhem of being in a hair band in the 21st century.
Local residents have the chance to see the film for free during the red-carpet premiere at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin. A meet-and-greet with the band will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Greek’s Pizzeria and Tapp Room, 18 E. Jefferson St., Franklin.
Wilkerson graduated from Whiteland Community High School in 1985. Music at that time was leaving behind the new wave and post-punk sounds that dominated the early part of the decade, ceding to something more fun and carefree — Wilkerson was hooked.
Nova Rex spent much of the mid-1980s and 1990s in the thick of the hair metal scene that birthed Mötley Crüe, L.A. Guns and Guns N’ Roses.
They had a following in Florida and Los Angeles — both epicenters of the movement — but became local celebrities after returning to Indianapolis.
Their second concert upon returning to Indiana was with Cheap Trick downtown, playing in front of 20,000 people. They played sold-out shows at their home base, the Vogue Theater in Broad Ripple, and drew tens of thousands of people to concerts throughout the city. They played at the old Indiana Fun Park and Busch Stadium downtown, but one of their favorite venues was Bentley’s Live.
With the resurgence of ‘80s and ‘90s pop culture, including the party-hardy sounds of hair metal, Nova Rex has experienced a revival. They were featured in a documentary, “It Ain’t Easy Being Cheesy,” that was featured on Netflix. The band was included in the “Top 50 Greatest Hair Bands of the 80s” program on VH-1.
Their memorabilia is included in collections at the Smithsonian, Hard Rock Cafes, and the Johnson County Museum of History.
In recent years, Nova Rex has increased its tour schedule, playing gigs all over the country, including back in Indiana. “Ain’t Easy Staying Cheesy” picks up where the original documentary left off, showing the ups-and-downs of keeping the hair metal tradition alive.
Complementary tickets are available at historicartcrafttheatre.org.
