What are the best rock and roll movies?

I’d say all of the above and more. And in that spirit I’d like to add Nicolas Roeg’s Performance into the mix. It captures the essence of rock and roll, with its focus on performance, in the greater sense of the word, plus identity (sexual and otherwise), all set against the bohemian and gangster underworlds of late 1960s London. It feels as authentic as any documentary. Terrific soundtrack, too.

 

Scripted
Almost Famous (Untitled Director's Cut)
Sing Street
That Thing You Do!
Pirate Radio/The Boat That Rocked
Empire Records
School of Rock
This is Spinal Tap

Concert
The Last Waltz
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones
Concert for George
The Who at the Isle of Wight
Monterey Pop
Stop Making Sense

Documentary
Runnin' Down a Dream (Tom Petty)
Sonic Highways
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (Wilco)
When You're Strange (Doors)
Amy (Amy Winehouse)
Anvil: The Story of Anvil
The Kids Are Alright
Don't Look Back
Gimme Shelter

 

Forgot to include Charlie is my Darling and Don't Look Back on my list.

 

In my early 20s, I thought that Pink Floyd's The Wall was the greatest rock movie. But it no longer does anything for me and hasn't for years.

The Idolmaker is very good.

The Doors is actually a really good rock movie if you accept it as a work of fiction.

I haven't seen it since the 80s, but I loved American Hot Wax. I don't know if I would still like it as much now, but I suspect that I would still find it enjoyable.

 

A relatively recent movie: Good Vibrations (2012). Nothing to do with the Beach Boys, it documents the story of Terry Hooley, whose record shop on "Bomb Alley" in the middle of Belfast at the height of the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, became the focus of the Ulster version of punk in the late 70s (Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers and the lesser known, but wonderful Rudi). A FABULOUS film with loads of heart and humour that shows the power of music to transcend even the most venal politics. A film for our times!!

 

Rock 'N' Roll High School

 

Despite its obvious flaws, I love The Song Remains The Same. I was 14 when it came out and saw it in the midnight movie theaters many times.

 

I remember the midnight showings and the scent in the theater. You really felt like you were at the concert, aside from the fantasy sequences.

The issue I had with the movie, and with the soundtrack album, was that Zeppelin's performance seemed kind of tired and complacent. They were missing the fire of their early live performances.

 

No one else loves Prince's "Sign O the Times"???

 

Birth Of The Beatles....

 

Dig! (Dandy Warhols, Brian Jonestown Masacre)
Instrument (Fugazi)
The Wrecking Crew (The Wrecking Crew)

...Almost Famous?

 

Bill and Ted
Airheads
Fast Times (“jam with Mick and the Stones”)
Wayne’s World

( )

 

Haven't seen it yet but Muscle Shoals has been recommended to me many times.

Nothing Can Hurt Me (Big Star)
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (Wilco)

 

Hype! A great look at the Seattle scene in the 90's.

 

I know it didn't receive great reviews, but I rather liked Jersey Boys, Clint Eastwood's direction of the Frankie Valli story.

 

Some good choices. I would have to say Runnin' Down a Dream is the best long form documentary I have ever seen. I learned so much not only about Tom Petty and the band but also about Tom's motivations. It was as revealing a documentary as the Fog of War about Robert McNamara.

 

It Might Get Loud (Jack White, The Edge, Jimmy Page)
Shut Up and Play the Hits (LED Sound System)
The Story of Anvil (Anvil)
Some Kind of Monster (Metallica)
Searching for Sugar Man (Rodriguez)
Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads)

 

High Fidelity. Mostly because I completely identify with John Cusack's love/obsession with music...and of course, his strategy for creating the perfect mixtape.

 

Hard Core Logo

 

For got about Hard Core Logo!

Whale Music featuring the Rheostatics is great as well.

 

Great one that I had forgotten. The book is well worth reading, too.

 

Does anyone remember The Rose? Bette Midler as a sort of Janis Joplin.

 

Scripted:

 

Documentary: