Best rock documentary you've seen (Take 2)

The one on Anvil was genuinely moving, considering that I normally have no use for their style of music. Yet I desperately wanted those guys to win: get a big record, an opening tour slot with one of the established acts they influenced, or at least an attentive club audience. (Their European tour would be hilarious if they weren't real people being humiliated at every turn.)

You not only see how much the band puts into their music and how little they have to show for it, but also how much the family and friends have sacrificed in order for them to chase that dream. There's something admirable and even noble in their determination to keep pushing that rock up the hill, no matter how many times they get squashed.

 

I really liked Metal Evolution. I am not the biggest metal fan and still found it entertaining. Also the Nick Cave doc 20,000 Days on Earth, the Theory of Obscurity Residents doc and 'Sonic Outlaws', which is a must for fans of all things copyright infringement.

I also saw a mini-doc on Bowie called 'Five Years' that went in depth on the making of Young Americans through Heroes. It was exactly the kind of thing music fans want - interviews with the principle players about how the music was created. This could easily have been expanded into a feature-length. I'm sure a glut of Bowie docs will be coming soon, one way or another...

 

Six that stand out for me:

1. The Greatest Ears in Town - The Arif Mardin Story (available to stream on Amazon). I knew of him through his association with Atlantic records, but had no idea of what a talented man he was - and how loved he was by the folks who worked with him.
2. Running Down A Dream - I'm not a huge Tom Petty fan, and was curious how anyone could make a 4 hour documentary on him. What a delightful surprise! The time blew by.
3. Heartworn Highways - Anyone interested in Americana music should watch this. A rambling, fascinating look at a group of guys (Townes, Guy, Rodney..) who influenced just about everyone after them. I love this movie.
4. Don't Look Back and Monterey Pop - Two must-see Pennebaker docs that hold up well upon repeated viewings.
5. History of the Eagles - Absolutely fascinating, but probably not in the way Glenn and Don intended. As my daughter said to me while watching it: "Do they realize that they come across as pompous dicks?"

 

I watched I Am Thor last night. I can confidently say that it is not the best rock documentary I've seen.

 

I shared your daughters insights exactly

especially Glen

 

Although it torques the Rodriguez story so much that it's hard to call it a true documentary.

Anyway. Fans of Anvil! The Story of Anvil might also like the Quiet Riot doc Well Now You're Here, There's No Way Back. It's almost a companion piece in how it observes a small time band well past AARP age trying to keep it together. Sure, unlike Anvil, Quiet Riot actually did make it, but they didn't stay big for long and much of the movie concerns how the drummer of the classic lineup tries to keep the band going on the festival circuit. Entertaining but also somewhat depressing and (unintentionally, I think) funny in spots.

 

The Rutles

 

Oh wow...yes...you will be quite pleased. It's a handsome package with a full color booklet included.

 

MC5: A True Testimonial

 

Greatest rock band of all time [IMHO]...greatest doc...shown below by Start Productions for all to see.

 

Supergrass Is 10
Pearl Jam 20
Devil and Daniel Johnston
Montage of Heck
R.E.M by MTV
Joy Division

Ah soooo many but those came to mind.

 

Watching Running Down a Dream now. All docs should be this comprehensive!

 

Cobain: Montage of Heck, also liked the angle taken in the documentary, Soaked In Bleach
The Doors: When You're Strange
Grateful Dead Movie
Flaming Lips Fearless Freaks

 

Not the best rock-doc but it is a human drama. Damn that dude does not know the meaning of the word "quit".

 

Whats interesting is that they both believe they deserve to be pompous dicks and get away with it.

Despite this, the story is really interesting and the live music disc blows you away.

 

Two not mentioned yet

Classis Tracks, Whos Next

Bio on Tom Dowd, excellent.

 

A few I haven't seen mentioned.

The Future Is Unwritten - Joe Strummer
Meeting People Is Easy - Radiohead
The Punk Singer - Kathleen Hanna

I have Muscle Shoals on my to do list, but since that was mentioned so many times I would recommend Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story

 

I agree! It came out in 1995 and shown on various PBS stations, but was never officially released on either VHS or DVD. A must see for any music enthusiast. However, I would have to give it a tie to the "Beatles Anthology" series that came out around the same time period. Both were excellent!

Good runners up were "The History of Rock and Roll" Time Warner. Jefferson Airplane "Fly Jefferson Airplane", "Love Story" Arthur Lee and Love.

 

Actually it is worse

They both believe they have to constantly be validating their larger than life contributions to the Eagles and the other lowly disgruntled guys were just ungrateful hacks along for the ride

 

Well, i agree with the idea that the songwriters get more credit than the band members. No one appreciates the contributions of Meisner, Felder, and Leadon, more than me, but they were Band members, not writers

Now, Frey and Henley should have shared more of the riches, lke done in U2 and REM, but they didnt. Its why many fans dont hold them in great regard.

 

Well there's no doubt for me - not even close - it's Woodstock. It's so immersive.

For concert documents, there's nothing like Stop Making Sense, but I also really like Concert For Bangladesh and The Last Waltz.

 

Has Festival Express come up yet? Fantastic viewing.

 

The Flaming Lips "The Fearless Freaks" was a fun documentary. I have a DVD. They are such colorful guys, kind of an extension of the psychedelic era in the 60s. Wayne Coyne is somewhere between painfully honest and total bull. He thrives in extremes as an artist, moderation is for wimps.

 

The Harry Nilsson one was great. So were the Roky Erickson and Big Star docs

 

Every other line out of his mouth was about how he'd never done drugs. Um, yeah, OK.