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The Best Rock Documentaries Of All Time! Part 2
11:26 AM GMT 05/02/2010
Wim Wenders unearths the septuagenarian carriers of Cuba's musical torch. Affecting stories from the likes of Ibrahim Ferrer, captured shortly before they began to shuffle off. Gorgeous in its own right and a reminder of the wealth of music that exists beneath the iceberg's Plimsoll Line. Would there have been a "world music" explosion without it? No. DE ________________________________________________________________________
The genius Maysles Brothers' dry run for Gimme Shelter is the "real" A Hard Days' Night, catching the Fabs in transit as they crack the States in 1964. Amazingly, they are funnier and more charismatic than Dick Lester ever made them appear. DE ________________________________________________________________________
Most unintentionally funny music doc ever. Metallica toil over album; singer James Hetfield does rehab; Lars Ulrich visits sacked guitarist Dave "Megadeth" Mustaine to crave forgiveness. Best bit: the meeting where possible album titles are discussed. On the chalk board: Satanic Cuckoo Clock. DE ________________________________________________________________________
Sam Jones follows the ill-started Chicago group over the making of their fourth LP, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and inadvertently captures them in meltdown both personally and politically. The Warner owned Reprise label say they don't hear a single etc. Wilco leave, taking their album with them, to Nonsuch, another Warners offshoot (so the label effectively pay for YFH twice). In the studio, tensions between Jeff Tweedy and guitarist/foil Jay Bennett over the mixing of the album run so high that Tweedy sacks Bennett. Much eye rolling and migraine headaches ensue. No one comes out of this very well, except of course the record. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot emerges from the mudslinging as the group's artistic and commercial high water mark. Whether all this is a victory for The Man or The Artist in the end is arguable, but as a fan it's fascinating to watch. JB ________________________________________________________________________
Everything you want from a music doc: amazing music; brilliant characters; meticulously unearthed behind-the-scenes revelations. The old guys of Motown's Funk Brothers' backing band have their day in the sun, and get together in the here-and-now to replay the hits. DE ________________________________________________________________________
Dismissed as condescending and fatuous upon release, the second in Penelope Spheeris' Decline trilogy, documenting the evolving LA music scene, was championed by the music fans who could find it (metal and non-metal alike) as a perfectly portrait of the passion, idiocy, humour and pathetic tragedy, embodied by those who live the rock life at 100%, 24 hours a day. There are many highlights, from the hairspray posturing of coke-idiots Poison to Ozzy Osbourne's shaky hangover breakfast and W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes' drunken poolside interview but the true highlights remain the fans, in all their eager, penniless, idiotic enthusiasm for the scene. ________________________________________________________________________
Julien Temple's penance for the expressionistic/ mendacious Great Rock'N'Roll Swindle tells a more objective version of the Sex Pistols story. Surprise: it's no less garish, shocking or remarkable, even if there's no starring role for Malcolm McLaren's willy. DE ________________________________________________________________________
The simple ideas are often the best. Jeff Krulik and John Heyn's documentary short captures Judas Priest fans gearing up for a show in a Maryland enormodome. Still hilarious to this day, it depicts a rock era where denim ruled, cans of Bud were shotgunned and people said things like, "hey man, they should legalise drugs...that is a fact". RB ________________________________________________________________________
Poor Radiohead. They're really popular and have to go on tour! And play in front of fans! Bastards! Rock doc as renunciation as the disorientated Oxonians try to get around the fame thing, post-OK Computer. Pity Q magazine's Ted Kessler, who has to try to interview a near catatonic Colin Greenwood, as Grant Gee's camera looks on. DE ________________________________________________________________________
The Who's status as one of the world's greatest live bands is confirmed during this tantalising mix of performances and interviews. The explosion at the end of their Smothers Brothers gig is still astonishing. It's a wonder anyone survived. ________________________________________________________________________
Now it's your turn. What rock docs would like to see make it to the big screen? Let us know by commenting below!
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 11:26 AM GMT 05/02/2010
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Seven ages of rock. Punk: attitude. Joy division.
Posted by Anonymous at 1:33 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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You should have included Tom Dowd: The Language of Music on this list- it's a fascinating look at a man who produced an awful lot of excellent, history-making records.
As far as what I'd like to see on the big screen, I REALLY wish someone would step up and get distribution for the Harry Nilsson ("Who is Harry Nilsson and Why Is Everybody Talking About Him?") documentary that's been sitting on the shelf for years now...
Posted by Johnny Bacardi at 1:41 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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The Passing Show - Ronnie Lane
Be Here To Love Me - Townes Van Zandt
Heartbreaking, but compulsive viewing.
Posted by Peter at 2:10 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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How & Why is 'MC5 - A True testimonial' not on this list? A Great band, a wealth of footage & photos (including the CIA's secretly filmed footage of the band) brilliantly edited. KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERFU...!
Posted by M. London at 2:44 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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WATTSTAX
STAX ON VOLT
CONTROL-JOY DIVISION
WOODSTOCK
SOUL TO SOUL
YEAR OF PEACE-JOHN & YOKO
AMERICAN FOLK BLUES FESTIVAL 1962-66
Posted by haris.kavadias,athens,greece at 3:23 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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a totally overlooked film, by the director of daniel johnston, is half japanese: the band that would be king. it's one of the great filmed commentaries on art versus commerce and also a brilliant piece of cinema.
and please - the wilco film. i barfed more than tweedy did during it. oh yes - he's a poet and a (overly) sensitive artist.
i'd say the first decline of wstrn civ is the superior film.
i'm partial to the ramones doc (i distributed it) but i still think that should be higher on the list. if it wasn't about the ramones it would still be a great film.
Posted by eamonn bowles at 5:04 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Great Shopping list! The less than legit 'Eat the Document' and 'Cocksucher Blues' are also worth digging up.
The excellent Roky Erickson doc 'You're Gonna Miss Me' mines a similar furrow to the Daniel Johnson film, but is still fascinating.
More recently, 'Metal - A Headbangers Journey' was very good, a doc by a metal loving anthropologist who treats the music as a culture with anthropological subdivisons. And, of course, 'The story of Anvil'.
Posted by Anonymous at 5:10 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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A fine list indeed!!! However, "You're Gonna Miss Me"- a film about Roky Erickson (dir. Keven McAlester) should be included for sheer cinematic scope and it's tender/tragic portrait of a family in crisis. A full meal deal, folks! (not to mention Roky and his transcendent,shrieking rock n roll!!!!!...................AND ELECTRIC JUG..)
.......also, " I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" about Brian Wilson
is compelling viewing...
Posted by M.Goodwin at 5:15 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Totally with Eamonn on the Wilco doc. Unwatchable toadying.
Re the MC5 doc, the reason we didn't put it down is that it still isn't legitimately available. Good calls on the others. I'm still waiting for my review copy of that Nilsson doc. it's just disappeared.
Posted by AM at 5:45 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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I am missing a Frank Zappa documentary... and what abou the Talking Heads "Stop Making Sence"... just a thought...
Posted by Anonymous at 6:10 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Having just seen Oil City Confidential, the story of Dr Feelgood, it has to be in the top 20 and maybe one of the top 5.
Julien Temple has surpassed his previous brilliant work with the story of the "world's best local band".
Make sure you catch it when it comes to a cinema near you and judge for yourself.
Posted by Brian Barks at 7:51 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Having just seen Oil City Confidential, the story of Dr Feelgood, it has to be in the top 20 and maybe one of the top 5.
Julien Temple has surpassed his previous brilliant work with the story of the "world's best local band".
Make sure you catch it when it comes to a cinema near you and judge for yourself.
Posted by Brian Barks at 7:54 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Having just seen Oil City Confidential, the story of Dr Feelgood, it has to be in the top 20 and maybe one of the top 5.
Julien Temple has surpassed his previous brilliant work with the story of the "world's best local band".
Make sure you catch it when it comes to a cinema near you and judge for yourself.
Posted by Brian Barks at 7:55 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Having just seen Oil City Confidential, the story of Dr Feelgood, it has to be in the top 20 and maybe one of the top 5.
Julien Temple has surpassed his previous brilliant work with the story of the "world's best local band".
Make sure you catch it when it comes to a cinema near you and judge for yourself.
Posted by Brian Barks at 8:00 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Having just seen Oil City Confidential, the story of Dr Feelgood, it has to be in the top 20 and maybe one of the top 5.
Julien Temple has surpassed his previous brilliant work with the story of the "world's best local band".
Make sure you catch it when it comes to a cinema near you and judge for yourself.
Posted by Brian Barks at 8:02 PM GMT 05/02/2010 Report Abuse
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hey dudes, where is Woodstock?!
Posted by EJ at 8:52 AM GMT 06/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Is there any rhyme or reason to the order of this list? Just wondering because 'The Kids Are Alright' is not in the number one position it deserves to hold.
And this list desperately needs a major edit: ditch 'The Devil and Daniel Johnson', an exasperating film that glamorizes the mental problems of a poor guy without much talent surrounded by delusional fools-- some of whom have the absurd audacity to suggest he is a greater artist than Brian Wilson!-- and replace it with 'Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of SMiLE', a truly inspiring look at a guy who overcame his copious troubles to pull off the single greatest musical feat of the 21st Century so far.
Posted by Psychobabble Mike at 12:27 PM GMT 06/02/2010 Report Abuse
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All the docs look great, specially 'cause I've just seen a pair of them, but where is Anvil?
Posted by Diego at 1:21 PM GMT 06/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Your selection is great, for sure. I would add "Passing Show", the life & music of Ronnie Lane, a sweet movie about one of the most likeable talents in rock music.There is also a great documentary on the Beach Boys, with all the great classics, a fantastic psychedelic clip of Good Vibrations. The decline of the band is also documented (including interviews of Brian in his bed). The sadest part : the last time Denis was on onstage, so wrecked and exhausted. So long.
Posted by Frenchy at 11:21 PM GMT 07/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Seems to me most of the comments miss the mark and are telling you of other docs you missed.
I think we truly need to see a documentary of Neil Young,maybe directed by Shakey himself.
And someone should start putting together a Ryan Adams bio up until he 'retired' from music. Then Part 2 can be whatever he does next.
That's mine...catch ya!
Posted by Paul Busch at 11:32 PM GMT 07/02/2010 Report Abuse
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"We Jam Econo: The Story Of The Minutemen" is better than half the stuff about R&R dinosaurs on this list
Posted by Anonymous at 3:08 AM GMT 08/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Some very good docs already mentioned, a couple of old ones not mentioned, the BBCs doc Arena doc on Marvin Gaye is great, hasn't been shown for some time though, also "Cracked Actor" on Bowie.
More recently I thought "Love Story" (on the late great Arthur Lee & Love) was excellent.
Posted by JB, Romford at 9:37 AM GMT 08/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Some very good docs already mentioned, a couple of old ones not mentioned, the BBCs doc Arena doc on Marvin Gaye is great, hasn't been shown for some time though, also "Cracked Actor" on Bowie.
More recently I thought "Love Story" (on the late great Arthur Lee & Love) was excellent.
Posted by JB, Romford at 9:38 AM GMT 08/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Agreed with some of the above posters - I'd put Be Here To Love Me, the Roky Erikson doc, the first Decline of West. Civ, and We Jam Econo on this list before Radiohead even thinks about making the cut. I might also add X: The Unheard Music - a good companion piece to the first Decline movie. But I can't believe nobody mentioned LoudQuietLoud: A Film About The Pixies. I just saw it recently, and it's a great look in on the 2004 Pixies reunion - the tension between the band members, the process or re-learning the songs, the backstage jitters, all of it.
Now, in answer to your question, I'd like to see either Neil Young or Brian Eno get the No Direction Home treatment. And a film adaptation of Patti Smith's lovely recent memoir, Just Kids.
My $.02
Posted by sistermidnight at 12:52 AM GMT 09/02/2010 Report Abuse
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How is it possible you missed the masterpiece; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Runnin' Down A Dream. That doc was rock magic. Grade A+
Posted by Gary at 11:14 PM GMT 10/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Does humour belong in music- Zappa
Festival express - The Band, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead etc......
Posted by CJ Burke at 4:55 PM GMT 12/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Does humour belong in music- Zappa
Festival express - The Band, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead etc......
Posted by CJ Burke at 4:56 PM GMT 12/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Does humour belong in music- Zappa
Festival express - The Band, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead etc......
Posted by CJ Burke at 4:56 PM GMT 12/02/2010 Report Abuse
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Monterey Pop by D.A Pennebaker is arguably one of the most important rock documentaries of all time. Monterey pop was the first real rock festival, two years before Woodstock. A film about the event thus justifies a place in this list alone. But the film itself is also remarkable as it capture on celluloid so many pivotal moments during just one festival from legends such as Jimi Hendrix (his breakthrough), Janis Joplin (likewise), The Who (US breakthrough), Otis Redding (captured right before his untimely death) and Ravi Shankar
Posted by Bengt at 11:31 AM GMT 13/02/2010 Report Abuse
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I keep seeing these lists of best rock'n'roll movies and The Filth and the Fury is always there - probably because people think it is the only film about the Pistols (apart from The GReat Rock'n'Roll Swindle).
I just don't think Julien Temple is a good film maker - if The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle was McLaren propaganda, then The Filth and the Fury is undoubtedly Rotten / Lydon propaganda. Lydon is a bitter old bore trying to claim it was 'about the music' or some shit - I'm sorry, but without McLaren, there would have been no Pistols. Any account of that time that tries to write him out, or downplay his role, is a sham.
The best film about the Pistols is a 90-minute BBC Arena film directed by Paul Tickell from around the mid-1990s titled 'Punk and the Pistols' - takes in punk more widely, but features Lydon, McLaren, Westwood, Matlock and all the significant figures. Look it up - try and find it, and you will see a brilliant film that captures the real spirit of the times much more than Julien Temple's overrated effort.
Posted by Barbed Bob at 4:06 PM GMT 20/03/2010 Report Abuse
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I keep seeing these lists of best rock'n'roll movies and The Filth and the Fury is always there - probably because people think it is the only film about the Pistols (apart from The GReat Rock'n'Roll Swindle).
I just don't think Julien Temple is a good film maker - if The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle was McLaren propaganda, then The Filth and the Fury is undoubtedly Rotten / Lydon propaganda. Lydon is a bitter old bore trying to claim it was 'about the music' or some shit - I'm sorry, but without McLaren, there would have been no Pistols. Any account of that time that tries to write him out, or downplay his role, is a sham.
The best film about the Pistols is a 90-minute BBC Arena film directed by Paul Tickell from around the mid-1990s titled 'Punk and the Pistols' - takes in punk more widely, but features Lydon, McLaren, Westwood, Matlock and all the significant figures. Look it up - try and find it, and you will see a brilliant film that captures the real spirit of the times much more than Julien Temple's overrated effort.
Posted by Barbed Bob at 4:06 PM GMT 20/03/2010 Report Abuse
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It must be some mistake here... I can't find "This Is Spinal Tap" on this list.
Posted by PeterVanRock at 5:50 PM GMT 22/08/2010 Report Abuse
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This is the WORST so-called top 20 Rock documentary list I have seen so far. Any list that exempts 'This is Spinal Tap' and 'The Song remains the Same' is really a FARCE.
Posted by Monkey at 4:30 PM GMT 31/01/2012 Report Abuse
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