Music Documentaries

[poinoup]

I remember the old thread having a lot of great suggestions of music documentaries and thought I should recreate the thread. I really should have made a list from the last one.

I just watched "Dig!" a few days ago and really enjoyed it. It's almost unsettling however watching a band breakdown like that, as well as Anton's godlike view of himself.

What else should I, and others look into for great docs?

[allegro]

Some of my favorites (in no particular order) as of this very moment:

Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
Madonna: Truth or Dare
The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter
Joy Division: The True Story of the Meteoric Rise and Fall of One of the Most Influential Bands of Our Time
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Hype!
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

[iamanexit]

Oh man!
Madonna: Truth or Dare! Hell yes.

I feel like I came into this thread with ideas, and then Madonna trumped them all and I have forgotten.
I am not ashamed!

[xmd 5a]

Some good'uns I've seen of late:

Synth Britannia
Until the Light Takes Us
We're Living On Dog Food

[onthewall2983]

This year has seen some pretty good ones, Martin Scorsese's George Harrison: Living In The Material World being the triumph of them all. The depth of emotion in people when they talk about him is quite extraordinary, even people who describe themselves as maybe not as close to George as others were. The U2 documentary From The Sky Down was pretty good as well, probably my favorite type of Rock doc that covers just one period of an artist's career. I even liked the Foo Fighters one (the name of which escapes me).

[Totally]

It Might Get Loud was cool to watch. Jimmy Page, the Edge & Jack White

[new now]

There was an awesome hour long on Prince as part of the BBC's (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00m1vrn) black musical history thing.
Also Synth Britannia was pretty damn good.

[scorpiusdiamond]

Dig! is awesome even if you know next to nothing about The Dandy Warhols and Brian Jonestown Massacre

[3:15]

30th Century Man was a pretty good documentary on Scott Walker. Interesting to see progression from Walker Brother to strangely vampiric-looking man, wearing a baseball cap and punching a slab of meat for percussion. Made me appreciate The Drift and Tilt a lot more too.

[Deepvoid]

Started watching Iconoclast. Very interesting.

[allegro]

This year has seen some pretty good ones, Martin Scorsese's George Harrison: Living In The Material World being the triumph of them all. The depth of emotion in people when they talk about him is quite extraordinary, even people who describe themselves as maybe not as close to George as others were.
Agreed, this is a REALLY good documentary. Loooooooong, but good. After watching this, I had "Beware of Darkness" stuck in my head for a month, ordered the deluxe version of "All Things Must Pass" and then had "Apple Scruffs" stuck in my head for months. So, um, beware, haha.

[Kid Charlemagne]

Dig! is honestly the best documentary of music I've seen. Anton is nuts, he's ruthless, yet he still comes across as more sincere and less of a terrible person than anyone in Dandy Warhols. The best scene in the movie is when they're playing the band showcase and Anton starts yelling at Joel, then Anton gets in a fight with another band member and all hell breaks lose, and the only thing Anton is upset about in the end is the broken sitar.

Other doc's I like are I Am Trying to Break Your Heart and PJ20.

[cicatriz]

I like the documentary about Lil' Wayne. It's really fucking sad in certain parts.

[Stereo75]

I've been enjoying the Metal Evolution series, so far.

[virushopper]

The last good one I saw was the Ministry documentary, Fix.

[ImTheWiseJanitor]

The best ones I can think of right now are Foo Fighters - Back and Forth, Gorillaz - Bananaz (coveres everything from self-titled through Demon Days), and It Might Get Loud. I'm sure I could think of more if I had my hard drive in front of me...

[cashpiles (closed)]

"Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" was really fun. It brings you back to the early 90s "bohemian" side of the hip-hop scene. Q-Tip is revealed as a production genius and the love/hate relationships between him and Fyfe (diabetic), the other group members and the larger New York hip-hop community is recounted. The documentary serves as a reminder that hip-hop can be deep while also celebrating positivity, fun, community and empowerment.

[fortheloveofgod]

PJ20 all the way!!!

[blackholesun]

Heima anyone?

[onthewall2983]

Heima ​defies description.

[redshoewearer]

Ramones - End of the Century was enjoyable.

[poinoup]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, folks!

Just found one from BBC Four called Heavy Metal Britannia which was pretty damn good too.

[orestes]

I have to agree with Scorsese's George Harrison documentary. It was such an engrossing film; I found myself watching parts one and two one afternoon in one sitting.

[thevoid99]

I loved that George Harrison documentary. Its second part was the most interesting and it definitely have a great scene where Eric Clapton was asked about the idea of him possibly joining the Beatles. Man, that would've been a disaster considering all the egos involved. I also liked the Pearl Jam and that U2 doc on Achtung Baby. It's a good year for music docs this year.

[onthewall2983]

Watching Year Of The Horse for the first time in years. Great, great Neil Young doc about his relationship with the guys in Crazy Horse.

[new now]

Thought of 'the heart is a drum machine' and 'blood into wine' as well the other day

[richardp]

Both Sigur Ros' documentaries "Heima" and "Inni" (although Inni is more of a live film than Documentary, but whatevs), are incredible. Heima probably being the best music documentary that I've ever seen.

Also, The Flaming Lips' "The Fearless Freaks" is a really great and highly informative watch.

And if you like U2, their new From The Sky Down doc about the making of Achtung Baby was great. It's pretty much made to only appeal to U2 fans though, so there's no use in watching it unless you love the band and you love Achtung Baby.

[frankie teardrop]

glad to hear that my two favorites, synth britannia & scott walker: 30th century man have been mentioned. essential viewing!

[Kid Charlemagne]

Also, The Flaming Lips' "The Fearless Freaks" is a really great and highly informative watch.

Some of this was just downright hard to watch. Like the scenes with Wayne's junkie brother, and Wayne talking about how he almost died at Long John Silvers, and the scene with Steven Drozd doing heroin.

[blackholesun]

For fans of post-rock/metal and like-minded music (specifically Hydrahead Records, Neurot Records and Constellation Records), I highly suggest Blood, Sweat and Vinyl.


http://vimeo.com/27041738

[poinoup]

I watched 30th Century Man yesterday. I knew of Scott Walker, but not much of his work. I was blown away by this documentary, how he went from "MOR slop" to his "avant-garde art-rock".

Using a garbage can with a terra cotta pot on top, and a slab of meat for percussion...indescribable. This is going to need a repeat viewing down the line, there's a lot to take in in this piece in only 90 minutes.

[frankie teardrop]

i've seen that documentary six or seven times now, twice in the theatre in NYC, and the rest trying to turn friends of mine on to scott and it still blows my mind. i've been a long-time scott walker fan (all eras, including early walker brothers) but i knew very little about him until the movie premiered. i don't think anyone really did...

[NIN64]

Just the other day I watched Last Play at Shea (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWa01ElaOI8). It is loosely based around the Billy Joel's last concert at Shea Stadium in New York, but it jumps topics from the history of the stadium to Billy Joel's career. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not sure how anyone feels about Billy Joel, but he has always been a guilty pleasure of mine from my childhood. My father and I used to listen to his greatest hits on car trips, and we used to watch a lot of Mets games. . . I guess that might be why I liked it so much. Anyway it was a good music documentary of sorts. That is all. . .

[richardp]

Some of this was just downright hard to watch. Like the scenes with Wayne's junkie brother, and Wayne talking about how he almost died at Long John Silvers, and the scene with Steven Drozd doing heroin.

Definitely. The Heroin scene is so surreal and in your face that it can't help but really bum you out after watching it.

[50 Volt Phantom]

Some good'uns I've seen of late:

Synth Britannia
Until the Light Takes Us
We're Living On Dog Food

I second Until The Light Takes Us, I've been meaning to get the blu ray so I can watch all the extra footage and interviews.

[redshoewearer]

Funky Monks - the making of RHCP's Blood Sugar Sex Magik
And more Pearl Jam - Single Video Theory about them making Yield.

[onthewall2983]

You really have to be a Genesis fan to dig it, but the documentary on their When In Rome 2007 DVD, Come Rain Or Shine ​is quite good at showing how to put on a big stadium show.

[thevoid99]

You really have to be a Genesis fan to dig it, but the documentary on their When In Rome 2007 DVD, Come Rain Or Shine ​is quite good at showing how to put on a big stadium show.

I saw that. It was pretty good. The guy who had the job to push buttons for the visual effects. Man, that must be tough.

[sheepdean]

For a written documentary (I think they're called books, idk I live on youtube), Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon is really well written and poignant. It's compiled from many of his friends and family, giving a really interesting warts-and-all description of his life.

[onthewall2983]

The guy who had the job to push buttons for the visual effects. Man, that must be tough.

I felt worse for Phil's drum tech, losing his mind looking for bar stools.

[peter]

Anvil The story of Anvil
Spinal Tap
Woodstock
Classic albums series

[xmd 5a]

I can't believe I forgot about 1991: The Year Punk Broke. Recently bought the DVD and loved every moment. Funny, crazy and even a little bit enlightening with some blistering live performances. Got a second copy for my dad for Xmas.

[Stereo75]

PBS(!) is showing me 'Blacking Up: Hip-Hop's Remix of Race and Identity'. In a nutshell it's about 'Wiggers'. Definitely an interesting watch. It actually distracted me from ma pornz:p.

[Leviathant]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Metallica's Some Kind of Monster. I am indifferent about Metallica, and I couldn't have cared less about this documentary, but I caught it by accident and I was riveted! It was like a real live This Is Spinal Tap.

[Highly Psychological]

Two words - SYNTH BRITANNIA - Interviews with Gary Numan, New Order, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Human League, The The, OMD, Petshop Boys, Art of Noise, Yazoo, Eurythmics, Duran Duran , The Normal.
Im guessing this is probably Trent Reznor's favorite documentary of all time.!!! It explains a lot. Follows the transition from how obscure arty UK bands went from underground Post-Punk to New Wave Synth Pop and how they inadvertently created the 1980's pop sound. Just too much awesomeness. I love every single artist featured in this documentary.They were all innovative forward thinking people interested in breaking new ground. They are all truly inspirational.
This is a documentary to watch for any aspiring musician who requires the motivation to experiment with new sounds.I like the fact they also say anyone can do it. There are no rules. You dont have to be a classically trained or conventional musician to write great music and change things.

[Pillfred]

I forget the name but i think i heard of it hear so maybe someone will remember but i watched one about early punk bands, which seemed to have a focus on Social Distortion that i thought was pretty good. If only i could remember the name of it.
I also thought Fearless Geeks was pretty solid as well, very open and honest.

[Oberstgruppenführer CFI]

Lots of great recommendations, couple more I saw and loved:

GG Allin - Hated. You must see this.
John Peel's Record Box. Very nice one.
Talkin' Headz - The Metalheadz Documentary. Great docu about the Metalheadz label, if you like your 90's d'n'b you should not miss this.
Cannibal Corpse - Centuries Of Torment. Easily my fav music documentary, almost three hours of fun and information about the band and death metal history.

[emptydesk]

I watched 30th Century Man yesterday. I knew of Scott Walker, but not much of his work. I was blown away by this documentary, how he went from "MOR slop" to his "avant-garde art-rock".

Using a garbage can with a terra cotta pot on top, and a slab of meat for percussion...indescribable. This is going to need a repeat viewing down the line, there's a lot to take in in this piece in only 90 minutes.

His "MOR slop" is lightyears better than the borderline unlistenable art rock from the mid-80s onward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7zeQXpYaig

[frankie teardrop]

oh posh, it's all pretty fucking brilliant.

ps- in case there's confusion, the MOR slop thing was a julian cope quote from the documentary.

[xmd 5a]

Recently caught Automluminescent: Rowland S. Howard. Brilliant, utterly essential documentary.

[thelastdisciple]

If you liked Synth Britannia then i definitely recommend Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMP-k_j8QWU

[onthewall2983]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DbKAj-e8_I

[scorpiusdiamond]

For those that can handle pop music.
I just finished watching the (Michael Jackson) Bad 25th Anniversary Doc by Spike Lee. It's pretty damn good, with a classic albums vibe to it in some parts and has some rad insight... although be prepared to cry if you're a fan.
Followed of course by saying This Is It is awesome for those interested in concerts.

A wildcard also is, wait for it... Never Say Never. If you cut out all the Bieberyness (I hate him for sure after watching it, he's an absolute handful) the insight into the industry is absolutely fascinating.
edit: Besides the music there isn't actually that much Bieber, he rarely talks to the camera at all, so it's really tolerable.

[Jinsai]

Nobody's mentioned Pink Floyd Live in Pompeii yet? That's some seriously epic stuff right there. Also, the documentary chronicling the creation of Dark Side of the Moon is pretty fantastic. Forgot what the title was though.

also:

Fugazi - Instrument
Bjork - Medulla (the documentary about the making of the album is fascinating. It really enhances the music).
Wilco - I am Trying to Break Your Heart (no matter how you feel about the band's music, this is awesome).
Moog
Flaming Lips - The Fearless Freaks
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (if you haven't seen this but you like music documentaries, drop everything you're doing and watch this now).
Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser
The Pixies - Loud Quiet Loud
Bob Dylan - No Direction Home
Bob Dylan - The Other Side of the Mirror (more of a concert video for the most part, but it's brilliant, and it feels like it's documenting something important).
Until the Light Takes Us (fascinating and fucked up look into Scandinavian black metal)
Radiohead - Meeting People is Easy
Pavement - The Slow Century
Modulations

[Frozen Beach]

The Devil and Daniel Johnston. I watched it like 5 times within a week. So haunting, beautiful and sad.

[Camille]

The Devil and Daniel Johnston. I watched it like 5 times within a week. So haunting, beautiful and sad.

Great docu/film/whatever. The part where his father is describing Daniel's Bi-Polar is sad but riveting. Daniel Johnston is a great songwriter, such simple and beautiful songs, and this film is equally beautiful.

[Camille]

This docu on Can is essential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNhuwkmmzak

English subtitles throughout, but great viewing all the same.

[Presideo]

Shut Up and Play the Hits, the doc about LCD Soundsystem's final show, was nicely done. Great performances littered throughout the film, along with a very gripping last 15 minutes or so (if only the interview with James weren't so hit-or-miss)

[BRoswell]

Closure
Gimme Shelter
Heima
Meeting People Is Easy
Shut Up And Play The Hits
This Is Spinal Tap
Under Great White Northern Lights
Woodstock

[keysersoze]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXRAQyiqx-M


Sad thing to watch.
Bunch of fucking assholes, fans from a stupid band.
"woot-woot"

[Camille]

Just finished watching this South Bank Show http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_South_Bank_Show about Bjork. It's quite old but it's still interesting, and Bjork is a treasure to view at any point in her career.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC0XepZH8ag

[Sutekh]

The South Bank special on Nick Cave is absolutely superb

[thefragile_jake]

Not sure if this has been posted but HATED, the documentary abotu GG Allin, is incredibly fascinating.

[Jinsai]

Surprised that nobody's mentioned "Searching for Sugar Man" yet. Make of it what you will, but it seems that everyone I've been talking to is now at least pretending to be somewhat obsessed with Rodriguez because they watched this doc, and now he's playing Coachella on the waves of his newfound popularity. It's all pretty fascinating, though I'm not sure I can completely get on board with the assessment that his music is as good as the film insists it is.

[joplinpicasso]

But the film is such a finely crafted documentary, with a great narrative and twists uncommon to other linear docs. It's fantastic and really heartwarming. Besides, what's the big difference between experiencing the movie and becoming an avid fan versus having a friend play you several songs and recounting the whole, true story of Sixto Rodriguez and becoming the same? The music and story are reaching ears either way, as they rightly deserve. The film insists this, and apparently many other people agree. He seems to be the American Nick Drake that stuck around — I think we're the better for it.

IMO ;)

[Reznor2112]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXRAQyiqx-M


Sad thing to watch.
Bunch of fucking assholes, fans from a stupid band.
"woot-woot"

Whats the name of the charity that made this infomercial and how can I get into contact with them to make a generous donation to help these poor children?

[Camille]

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx218/MMikeyBee/The-Ballad-of-Genesis-and-Lady-Jaye_2011_by-MARIE-LOSIER_zps6fc15ced.jpg

This is pretty good, not a docu about music as such, more a portrait of Genesis and Jaye as they go about their lives.
http://www.balladofgenesisandladyjaye.com/ballad/

[Jinsai]

But the film is such a finely crafted documentary, with a great narrative and twists uncommon to other linear docs. It's fantastic and really heartwarming. Besides, what's the big difference between experiencing the movie and becoming an avid fan versus having a friend play you several songs and recounting the whole, true story of Sixto Rodriguez and becoming the same? The music and story are reaching ears either way, as they rightly deserve. The film insists this, and apparently many other people agree. He seems to be the American Nick Drake that stuck around — I think we're the better for it.


I'm not intentionally being derisive. It is a great documentary, and it's certainly compelling. I don't hold it against the movie in any way for presenting Rodriquez as the long lost American Nick Drake, it's important to the story. I don't blame people for discovering his music through the movie. Hell, I'll almost certainly be catching his set at Coachella.

The only issue I take is with the musical component requiring the narrative, but I'm not trying to be overly cynical. If anything, I think it's a fascinating phenomenon.

[Sutekh]

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx218/MMikeyBee/The-Ballad-of-Genesis-and-Lady-Jaye_2011_by-MARIE-LOSIER_zps6fc15ced.jpg

This is pretty good, not a docu about music as such, more a portrait of Genesis and Jaye as they go about their lives.
http://www.balladofgenesisandladyjaye.com/ballad/

Yes indeed... recently got my very own copy (comes in a nice slipcase).

Very moving film.

[joplinpicasso]

The only issue I take is with the musical component requiring the narrative, but I'm not trying to be overly cynical. If anything, I think it's a fascinating phenomenon.
It is fascinating, yes. I certainly found out about and got into his music because of the film's narrative! And yet...he had no "narrative" in South Africa for decades. They were unknowingly a part of it. So, I believe his music is very appealing even while excluding the influence of the film as we already have evidence to support that. [I'm also jealous you'll see him at Coachella! He's coming around NYC, but I'm saving money for ATP UK.]

[Stereo75]

I would be horribly disappointed if NY is NOT on the Sound City soundtrack in some way. This film was lacking a live jam with Mr. Young, unlike everyone else who is historically important to this space & stepped up to play again. Neil releases an album a year it seems. WTF?

But I'm a Winnipegger, so...

[gorast]

I would be horribly disappointed if NY is NOT on the Sound City soundtrack in some way.

But I'm a Winnipegger, so...
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sound-city-real-to-reel/id585812146

Sorry for the disappointment.

I really enjoyed the Sound City doc, watched it the night I got it. Watched Shut Up and Play the Hits recently too, that was really well-done also (I mostly bought it for the concert, though).

[Stereo75]

Sorry for the disappointment.

No disappointment, eh.

Just a thanks.

What an incredible film.

I'm trying it on my jam mates tomorrow night & we're gonna do a 2 mic session afterwards...

They will oblige.

[onthewall2983]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkYZrcJzY-M

[Camille]

Not sure if this has been posted but HATED, the documentary abotu GG Allin, is incredibly fascinating.

I just finished watching this and i'm a bit puzzled really. I can't understand what is so fascinating about this docu or indeed GG Allin. Someone got a girl to piss in his mouth for his birthday, then he pukes up bbq sauce over his face......okaaay! For someone with such notoriety attached to their name, that is all they could find to tell us? They managed to interview a few shitbrains for this but no one including Allin himself really gave us any sort of insight into his life or music.
All I really learned about him from this is that he was on the run from the cops a lot, shat on stage a lot and threw it at the audience.

Still, each to their own.

[thevoid99]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkYZrcJzY-M

That's coming on Showtime this weekend. I already got my DVR set to watch both parts. As overrated as they are, I am interested to see how they succeed and such and maybe asks questions into why they're so hated.

After all, I still think is the best reaction about the Eagles in general


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JlmvtAHhnc

[onthewall2983]

Ironically, The Big Lebowski ​has been on the Showtime networks quite a bit lately.

[Jinsai]

I Dream of Wires (http://www.xlr8r.com/gear/2013/02/carl-craig-legowelt-john-tejada-) looks pretty fascinating, especially if you're a synth geek.

[thefragile_jake]

I just finished watching this and i'm a bit puzzled really. I can't understand what is so fascinating about this docu or indeed GG Allin. Someone got a girl to piss in his mouth for his birthday, then he pukes up bbq sauce over his face......okaaay! For someone with such notoriety attached to their name, that is all they could find to tell us? They managed to interview a few shitbrains for this but no one including Allin himself really gave us any sort of insight into his life or music.
All I really learned about him from this is that he was on the run from the cops a lot, shat on stage a lot and threw it at the audience.

Still, each to their own.

It was a microscope into the period in his life that would eventually be close to his last, I believe he died either a year or a couple months later. I thought when they talking to a lot of his childhood friends and teachers, it was quite some insight into his life. When he used to dress in women's clothing, he looked like a young Ariel Pink! I enjoyed the fan's perspective on him as well as the ex band member who clearly had nothing nice to say about GG.

GG Allin is a weird favorite of mine, it's hard to explain. I think what appeals to me the most is how much he lived his life his way and while sure, the kind of debauchery isn't for everyone and not really should be...it's incredibly interesting to me in a freak show sort of way. GG Allin's main music (not the folk and acoustic stuff he did on the side) although while being very punk, to me fits perfectly in that outsider music kind of category like artists like Tiny Tim (who was a GG Allin fan), Jandek and Tonetta. They are in their own world and are really one of a kind. Sure, his shows were basically a reason for fans to get drunk, punch the lead singer in the face and hide from flinging poo poo...but there's something that always kind of has me intrigued with him as a performer.

[Camille]

@ thefragile_jake, perhaps I was a little blunt in my dislike of the GG Allin film. There is obviously more to the guy's life than what was given to us in the documentary. I guess I was just a little disappointed in it, i'm not even really sure what I expected.
Cheers for the level headed reply.

[thefragile_jake]

@ thefragile_jake, perhaps I was a little blunt in my dislike of the GG Allin film. There is obviously more to the guy's life than what was given to us in the documentary. I guess I was just a little disappointed in it, i'm not even really sure what I expected.
Cheers for the level headed reply.

Thank you! What's even crazier about the film is the director of it went on to make the comedy movie Old School.

[Jinsai]

I Dream of Wires (http://www.xlr8r.com/gear/2013/02/carl-craig-legowelt-john-tejada-) looks pretty fascinating, especially if you're a synth geek.

I'm surprised more people on here aren't interested in this movie.

reznor is in it by the way

[onthewall2983]

The first part of the Eagles doc was pretty good. I'm a fan, so I'm a little biased. Nothing I'd recommend with hand on heart to a Nine Inch Nails message board, but worth the two hours.

[thevoid99]

I saw some of it last night. Oh man, the story about Glenn Frey wanting to fight Don Felder after a charity show. Honestly, that is hilarious. You can't make up shit like this nowadays. I'll try and watch it later on.

[Sutekh]

It was a microscope into the period in his life that would eventually be close to his last, I believe he died either a year or a couple months later. I thought when they talking to a lot of his childhood friends and teachers, it was quite some insight into his life. When he used to dress in women's clothing, he looked like a young Ariel Pink! I enjoyed the fan's perspective on him as well as the ex band member who clearly had nothing nice to say about GG.

GG Allin is a weird favorite of mine, it's hard to explain. I think what appeals to me the most is how much he lived his life his way and while sure, the kind of debauchery isn't for everyone and not really should be...it's incredibly interesting to me in a freak show sort of way. GG Allin's main music (not the folk and acoustic stuff he did on the side) although while being very punk, to me fits perfectly in that outsider music kind of category like artists like Tiny Tim (who was a GG Allin fan), Jandek and Tonetta. They are in their own world and are really one of a kind. Sure, his shows were basically a reason for fans to get drunk, punch the lead singer in the face and hide from flinging poo poo...but there's something that always kind of has me intrigued with him as a performer.

The appeal for me is he took the lifestyle and persona to the limit... rock n roll is not just music (luckily for him!). His career is a finger up to pompous musicians who think it's all about innovation and drawing attention to how competent they are as musicians... totally forgetting that theatre, presence, ethos etc are all massively important parts of the experience for a lot of people

Not that GG was some magisterial frontman, but he took it SO FAR and lived it 24/7, we have millions of bands who overdo the wanky virtuoso thing, it's nice to have something from the other end of the scale, where - let's be honest, the music is the last thing you hear about

GG taking a shit onstage and kicking someone in the face is NINE MILLION times better than having to watch those cunts from dream theatre illustrate how many woodshed hours they've clocked up

[orestes]

Watched this last night, which is streaming on Hulu.

http://www.lostateminor.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/joy-division.jpg

[thevoid99]

Did anyone watch that Beyonce doc last night on HBO? I caught some of it on TV last night and... man, she is so full of herself.

She is seriously becoming over-saturated.

[Highly Psychological]

Have always found Beyonce painfully dull in every form. Her music is bland, her interviews are very fake and contrived she does not seem unique in any way. She is sooo safe, she sucks compared to Kelis, Aaliyah (rip) or most other female RNB soul singer from the past decade, Her dancing is annoying. She is and always will be this brand. She has some seriously powerful people behind her, not to mention her father. She seems nice, but i cannot fathom why she is so big?

GG Allin was an actual psychopath. A psychopath with a platform. Hated to me seems like a documentary of what happens when you combine the two, seriously that guy needed to be on a leash. He was a timebomb like Sid Vicious. The amount of total morons in that film is what ruined it the people who were attracted or who leeched on to him, they are so stupid its unreal, sort of reminded me a bit of Natural Born Killers celebrating something so dark and tragic. I wonder how many of them are alive?

[Camille]

Couple of golden oldie documentaries about Kate Bush here. Both contain rare live and rehearsal footage, backstage footage and interviews surrounding her one and only tour in 1979 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tour_of_Life
First up is a German made docu from 1980, followed by the BBC Nationwide film. Both are treasures, Kate is wonderfully innocent when interviewed and the live footage is different to that of the official Hammersmith footage. Great stuff.
Enjoy.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfn66mUK0WI


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OLJFzNPBNg

[mfte]

Great reccomendation everyone!

From this thread I watched 30th century man, the scorcese harrison doc, and Fix

Holy. I knew Al Jourgensen was messed up but he went far beyond that in FIX.

[Camille]

This docu about Sparklehorse has been 3 years already in the making. Here is the latest trailer.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9ZbzcvobaY

[Jinsai]

here's an amazingly educational and thought-provoking documentary for all fans of "Krautrock"
If you love Can, Neu, or Kraftwerk, you must watch this film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHUwkYkn_kA

Honestly though, if you really just like experimental music, especially early electronic music, you owe it to yourself to watch this.
Also, history buffs take note

[thevoid99]

I saw that Krautrock documentary last year. Oh, I love it.

[Findus]

I like Touch the Sound - A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie.


http://youtu.be/Bb5lpTigVpQ

[Jinsai]

I saw that Krautrock documentary last year. Oh, I love it.

Yes, it's pretty incredible. I might actually watch it again now. It might be the best "music doc" I've ever watched.

[thevoid99]

A lot of those BBC docs are great. I saw one on British progressive rock, 80s synth pop, and one on American Southern Rock that featured an interview with Mike Mills of R.E.M.

[allegro]

I like Touch the Sound - A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie.


http://youtu.be/Bb5lpTigVpQ
We own this and it is awesome.

[onthewall2983]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tx57wB8Kac

[Jinsai]

so if you were interested in getting that four hour long documentary about modular synthesizers "I Dream of Wires" pre-orders are about to end. The official final order date is April 30th. Not sure which time zone, but I just successfully ordered mine about 10 minutes ago.

http://idreamofwires.org/

[Reznor2112]

Had a marathon today:

PJ20
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Blur: No Distance Left to Run
Oasis: Lord Dont Slow Me Down
Placebo: Coming Up For Air

Its a good day

[onthewall2983]

Ain't In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm is a god damned heartbreaker.

[onthewall2983]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTwA5k6A8zQ

[Your Name Here]

here's an amazingly educational and thought-provoking documentary for all fans of "Krautrock"
If you love Can, Neu, or Kraftwerk, you must watch this film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHUwkYkn_kA

Honestly though, if you really just like experimental music, especially early electronic music, you owe it to yourself to watch this.
Also, history buffs take note


I loved this documentary, I'm a big fan of Neu and Kraftwerk. Also the I Dream Of Wires doc is fantastic.

[frankie teardrop]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb9NnA1rrLI


upside down- the creation records story was just added to netflix, and i just spent this snow day morning watching it. it's pretty darn good, lots of great soundbites, etc. my only complaint is that it's not as in depth as i was hoping, and barely touches on some of my personal favorite bands on the label (slowdive, medicine, felt, etc.). but it's still worth watching if you want an entertaining cliffs notes version of the label, with all the major events (oasis, jamc, mbv, primal scream) covered.

[elevenism]

I just saw Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, and, as a closet rush geek, i was SO fucking thrilled to see that someone FINALLY fucking did a documentary about them. It was great to find out that so many contemporary musicians like Les Claypool (though i could have figured that one out from John the Fisherman,) Billy Corgan, Vinne Paul, and yes, even the Treznor...are rush geeks too!

PJ20 was fucking great, and awhile back, someone here turned me on to "Hit So Hard" as "a better documentary about that time period." It was fucking great too, it's about the drummer from Hole.

I loved the GG Allen doc, but i love watching train wrecks and insanity in general.

One i haven't seen mentioned here that WAS on netflix...not sure if it still is...is Levon Harris: Ain't in it for my Health. It's about a member of The Band. I am not overly familiar with The Band, but it was really cool to see how the old man lived his life all the way to the end...smokin' dope and making music.

If you're a Rush fan, the new Clockwork Angels concert movie is pretty fucking good, but be prepared to indulge them: they play damn near ALL of clockwork angels and with a string section. CA is, i guess, some kind of concept album, a fact that was lost on me even though i own it.

I'm sure all of you have seen Closure, but if you haven't, make SURE you watch that shit.

What is "the little wayne doc" you guys are referring to?

[allegro]

Motor City's Burning - Detroit from Motown to the Stooges, BBC Documentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRo4lIkkAbU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxVKPbA4tDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3yv84durYQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVt0psTB3ec

[cahernandez]

Has someone watched the documentary Good Copy Bad Copy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Copy_Bad_Copy ?

Recently I got interested in Girl Talk's music (it's amazing) and reading about him, I found out about his involvement in that movie. I also read that he used to be a biochemical engineer, and I'm an engineer as well. Maybe I should quit my job and launch my DJ career?

[Jinsai]

The documentary about The National, "Mistaken for Strangers" is pretty brilliant. Even if you hate the band, the movie is fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OeSAUNvpvY

[onthewall2983]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfNewpF-j1E

[onthewall2983]

The Twisted Sister doc on Netflix is really good. It didn't make me a convert, but I liked how it just trails their roots up until the minute they hit the big time.

[onthewall2983]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzJFPlLdISo

[Krazy]

+4 for Ministry's Fix

Roger Waters' The Wall is amazing.

For a good laugh at mid 80's metal try and check out Heavy Metal Parking Lot. Here's a fairly recent follow up article for those that are interested:
https://www.google.com/amp/theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-deranged-true-story-of-heavy-metal-parking-lot-the-1758026762/amp

As for NIN, I never cared for Closure. The two concert DVD's/BRD were awesome though, with BYIT being one of the great concert-only docs. It got a lot of praise at the time for the audio/video technical mumbo jumbo.

[onthewall2983]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=125&v=nrAvDFmE9i4

[thenorthwood]

It Might Get Loud was cool to watch. Jimmy Page, the Edge & Jack White

Yes, great doc.


I can't believe no one's mentioned Metallica's Some Kind of Monster. I am indifferent about Metallica, and I couldn't have cared less about this documentary, but I caught it by accident and I was riveted! It was like a real live This Is Spinal Tap.

Yes! I stumbled upon it on Netflix this summer and I was also riveted. It was a surprising and refreshing take on the band in a specific moment in time. I’d never been a big fan but I decided to see them live after watching this doc and loved the concert.

The Punk Singer is fantastic and my current favorite. Kathleen Hanna and riot grrrl. Also like 20 Feet From Stardom.

[thevoid99]

I want to add George Michael: Freedom as I think it's a fitting piece of work on the man himself which was the last thing he was doing before his death.

[acrid avid jam shred]

The Depeche Mode documentary series that came out with the remastered records years ago are really interesting. Bits of studio footage, live stuff, and you get to hear everyone's thoughts on each album and the events surrounding them. A few of them are on youtube, like this one for Black Celebration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6gb_wWe_pU

[onthewall2983]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln9dtQ8tuKk

[imail724]

Anybody watching the Wu-Tang documentary on Showtime? Watched the first episode last night and can't wait to watch the rest.

[Reznor2112]

New Liam Gallagher doc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPPw18Psnj0

[MrLobster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVOZl671ssY

Pretty damn good...

[GulDukat]

The Beatles Anthology, outstanding.

[neorev]

The Prodigy's Electronic Punks VHS. I hope it gets a reissue.