Top Ten Rock Docs!
Gareth takes on ten of the most epic rockumentaries ever made!
Ive been somewhat less than prolific with the Top Tens of late, but after finding Shane Meadows brilliant mock-rockumentary Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee stuffed in my Christmas stocking I felt compelled to document the Top Ten Rock-Docs of all time. One linear thing youll find with most lists chronicling the most epic rockumentaries ever made, aside from the prerequisite lazy going up to eleven and including Spinal Tap gag is that these lists can differ massively depending on the musical tastes of the author. The combination of music and film can, much like Kahlua and Gin, either blow your mind or, in the case of that particular concoction: make you violently sick. Narrowing this list down to ten has been an agonising process (and something that I still havent even properly managed to do) but, without further ado, here are my top ten rock-docs of all time:
#10 The Devil and Daniel Johnston dir. Jeff Feuerzeig (2006)
Daniel Johnston is somewhat of a folk hero in his native Texas and a cult icon to some of the more well-read music fans around the world. This 2006 documentary provides insight into the psyche of this manic depressive artist often branded a genius. Suffering from bi-polar disorder and having spent time in a mental institution, Johnstons work is eclectic to say the least. This Sundance award-winning film compiles years worth of Johnston footage and helped bring the story of this tortured soul to a whole new audience. Strangely uplifting and compelling viewing, Johnstons tale is the sort of subject matter that was always going to make a great documentary, but regardless of whether you agree with the notion that this man is some sort of genius musical savant or not, the film itself is a warm-hearted, respectfully observed story about that very thin line between genius and insanity.
#9 Meeting People is Easy dir. Grant Gee (1998)
Love them or hate them, you cant deny Radioheads influence on modern rock music. Not only have Thom Yorke and co. revolutionised music they also reshaped the rock-doc genre with this 1998 effort. Meeting People is Easy achieved that rare feat of actually making the idea of being in a band look horrible. The film captures the mundane minutia that being in a modern rock band involves, but as you can imagine this being Radiohead and all, Grant Gees film is not without its fair share of weirdness. If youre a Radiohead die-hard youll probably think this is one of the greatest pieces of cinema youve ever seen, for the armchair fan though the moody, atmospheric and at times depressing tone of the film might be hard to see through to its climax. That said, if you are prepared for a behind the scenes look at a band that isnt all drink, drugs and sex you will be moved by a truly original, haunting take on the traditional rockumentary.
#8 Kurt Cobain About a Son dir. AJ Schnack (2006)
About a Son is an atmospheric documentary on the troubled Nirvana front man that has featured at many International film festivals since it debuted in 2006. Director AJ Schnack spliced together audio from interviews conducted with Cobain before his death for the book Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana with typically dark and moody footage of the place Cobain called home: Washington state mainly Seattle, Olympia and Aberdeen (his birth place). About a Son has been critically acclaimed and praised for its poetic feel it also boasts a soundtrack featuring many of the artists that influenced Cobain. Much like Nirvana did to the fledgling hair metal scene when they ushered in grunge in the early 90s, Schnacks About a Son has given the rockumentary an innovative shot in the arm (excuse the pun).
#7 End of the Century: The Story of The Ramones dir. Jim Fields & Michael Gramaglia (2003)
Criminally now more widely recognised as a T-shirt logo The Ramones were among the pioneers of punk music on the New York underground scene in the 70s and are considered by many to be the Godfathers of punk. This 2003 documentary traces the incredible story of the band and their 20+ years of almost non-stop touring. There is commentary from every living (at the time) member of the band and guest appearances from the likes of Rob Zombie and Joe Strummer. Although the band werent related, the film captures the air of family dysfunction that the band carried and gives some amazing insight into one of the most important, but largely under-appreciated bands in history. A must for fans of the band and of music in general, I also personally think that any idiot that swans around wearing a Ramones T-shirt who has never even heard one of the bands songs should be forced to sit and watch this film.
#6 Some Kind of Monster dir. Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky (2004)
If any band sums up the word dysfunction, its Metallica the band has undergone many tragedies over the years and as a result, many different line-ups. Just as they seemed to have found a degree of stability though, bassist Jason Newsted quit and James Hetfield wound up in rehab. Many praised Some Kind of Monster upon its release for its warts and all nature the band are shown at times in a most unflattering light, but ultimately, it humanises them. Although they are millionaire rock stars adored by some of the most passionate fans in the world, they still have real personal issues and problems. The film is compelling stuff, the conflict between best friends and founding members Hetfield and Lars Ulrich (and his ego) is there in all its uncensored glory, we also see interviews with former band members, including the departed Newsted. Some Kind of Monster also takes us behind the scenes of the auditions the band held to replace Newsted, in which former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Robert Trujillo was hired. The film-makers must have thought they had hit gold when what started out as a simple making of film, evolved into something much more explosive.
#5 The Decline of Western Civilization / The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years dir. Penelope Spheeris (1981) / (1988)
Penelope SpheerisWestern Civilization films gained cult status thanks to their unflinching (some say in parts, staged) look at punk, and subsequently metal, music. In 1998 Spheeris released a third Decline film that didnt receive quite as much exposure as its predecessors; this is possibly due to the fact that the excesses of the 80s were far worse than those of today, regardless of what people think. Either that or todays musicians have wised up not to let a documentary crew film them at their intoxicated finest. Decline II is credited by many for having a direct hand in the fall of hair metal; Nirvana and grunge may have delivered the killer blow but the visual of W.A.S.P.s Chris Holmes pouring Vodka over his head in a swimming pool (faked or not) made quite a few people realise that maybe things had started to spiral out of control. Turned off by the excesses their heroes were shown to be enjoying over the music that had made them who they were, fans started to look for a new wave of anti-heroes, eventually Cobain et al would fill that void. The first film focuses on the LA punk scene that was largely being ignored by the mainstream at that time, and features a great deal more concert footage than its sequel. Both films are odes to the legendary LA music scene and it is fascinating to see the landscape of music and LA change across the films. Controversial and renowned as cult classics, Penelope Spheeris Decline of Western Civilization Films are essential rockumentary viewing.
#4 Gimme Shelter dir. Albert and David Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin (1970)
Im a huge Stones fan, but even if I wasnt, this film would have to be included on any list of this ilk as it captures the disturbing, murkier side of music. Filmmakers the Maysles brothers had initially been filming the Stones at a MSG gig, footage of which makes up part of the film. Afterwards the Maysles asked the band if they could accompany them on tour, to which the band agreed, and the film-making brothers ended up with some incredible footage from one of the most infamous gigs in music history. Gimme Shelter not only depicts the concert itself but the shady dealings that took place to make the free gig at Altamont Speedway in North Carolina in 1969 actually happen. As you would probably expect, accounts of what actually happened that day differ from all sides involved like some sort of LSD tinged Rashamon but the long and short of it is that The Hells Angels were hired in some capacity to provide a form of security at the concert. The gig was especially unruly and fighting eventually broke out between the crowd, the Angels and even the bands Jefferson Airplanes Marty Balin was knocked out by one of the bikers and Mick Jagger was reportedly punched in the face by a fan. During the Stones performance, Meredith Hunter, one of the concert goers, pulls a revolver and in the ensuing melee is stabbed, on camera, by one of the Angels; unaware of the incident the Stones continued their set. Other accidental deaths also occurred at the event and this gig is viewed by many as the death of the free love mantra and hippie era. Its shocking to see incidents such as this captured on film, as today something like this would just never happen. Gimme Shelter is a must-see for anyone with an interest in music history or the dirty underbelly that existed, and if were honest will probably always exist, in music.
#3 No Direction Home / Dont Look Back dir. Martin Scorcese / D. A. Pennebaker (2005) / (1967)
I know this a complete cop out but when you have two exceptional Dylan documentaries what can you do? It would have felt somewhat wrong to include docs on the same artist in a Top Ten list and I dont have the balls to split the two films. Whereas Pennebakers 1967 effort chronicles a lone event in Dylans career: his 1965 UK tour, Scorceses 2005 documentary examines a period of his career and his impact on music and society. Both films are very different, in spite of their subject matter being the same, and both have been widely critically acclaimed. Dont Look Backs innovative opening scene will be familiar to many, even if they havent seen the film, as it was also used as a music video of sorts for Dylans Subterranean Homesick Blues Dylan holds up a series of cue cards to the camera containing selected lyrics and words often misspelled (intentionally). Dont Look Back has a far reaching influence on music and culture and features Dylan at his anarchist best. No Direction Home may have had more money behind it but Pennebakers trail-blazing film paints no less of a vivid picture of one of the most iconic men in music history.
#2 Anvil! The Story of Anvil dir. Sacha Gervasi (2008)
Anvil! The Story of Anvil is, quite simply, a triumph. Adored by critics and fans alike, Sacha Gervasis 2008 documentary is considered by many to be not just one of the greatest rock documentaries of all time but one of the greatest documentaries of all time. Anvil could have been as big as Whitesnake or Bon Jovi but they werent, and thats why people love them even without commercial success and selling millions of records, the band has consistently maintained a rabid fan base. The film sees contributions from a collective whos who of metal royalty who are all too happy to wax lyrical about the greatness of this Canadian band; Slash, Lemmy and Lars Ulrich are all present and correct. The film itself focuses on the bands struggles twenty something years on from the height of their fame working real jobs to barely make ends meet, playing gigs to empty rooms and in the case of drummer Glenn Five being homeless. Steve Lips Kudlow and Robb Reiner are inspirations to every aging rocker, hell not just to aging rockers, to people the World over who dare to dream and will never say die. Hilarious, moving and it rocks, hard, Anvil! The Story of Anvil is one of the greatest rock-docs about the greatest rock band that never were.
#1 DiG! dir. Ondi Timoner (2004)
It would take a pretty awesome film to trump Anvil for the top spot on this list and Ondi TimonersDiG! just happens to be that film. I initially sought out DiG! as I was somewhat of a Dandy Warhols fan and was interested in the film on that basis, once I heard the critical acclaim the film was basking in though I quickly moved to secure myself a Region 1 copy of the DVD And I wasnt disappointed. Very simply, the film casts a light on the stark contrast between the careers of The Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Focus falls primarily on the bands respective front men Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandys and the volatile and eccentric Anton Newcombe from the Brian Jonestown Massacre. At one time close friends and allies in the music business, relations between the two bands slowly began to fracture as the Dandy Warhols started to become successful (this was well before the Vodafone ad brought them to mainstream attention on these shores) and the Massacre started to implode. Anton Newcombe is undoubtedly the star of the film his unwavering musical idealism brings him into conflict with just about everyone he meets, typified by one scene where he leaps into the crowd of a small gig to attack a heckler. Newcombe dismissed the documentary upon release and slated it for painting him in an unfavourable light but that didnt stop the film from scooping the Grand Jury Prize for documentary at Sundance in 2004. To classify the film as simply cashing in on the madness of one man is unfair, as DiG! is a lot bigger than Newcombe alone. We also see the Dandy Warhols struggle to retain their identity as they encounter corporate stooges, the jealousy and resentment that grows between these two bands and of course some brilliant musical accompaniment which is why DiG! is my number one rock documentary of all time.