The trailer for Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones documentary Shine A Light - bound to be one of the must-see flicks of 2008 - has got us debating the greatest rock n’roll films ever. Based on a quick straw poll in the office, here’s our pick…
Don’t Look Back
In which Dylan spits venom at journalists, promoters, pompous critics - and anyone who dares attempt to cage his art. The live performances, too, are utterly mesmerising.
Some Kind Of Monster
Charting Metallica’s agonising sessions with a $40,000-a-month “performance coach”, Some Kind Of Monster is so cringingly candid, you’re left agog at the band’s decision to make this stuff public. Fast forward to 2.25 to hear Lars Ulrich’s immortal outburst: “Fuck…fuck… FUUUUCK!”
No Direction Home
Almost four hours long yet enthralling from start to finish, Scorsese’s 2005 masterpiece does a formidable job of unpacking the early career of the legend who mischievously describes himself as "just a song and dance man" - but whose work lends itself to in-depth analysis like no-one else’s.
Gimme Shelter
The fallacy that Altamont symbolised the “death of the ‘60s” has become one of the most timeworn clichés in the rock canon, but this mesmerising documentary breathes life into the legend.
One criticism: the film-makers are guilty of re-ordering key events to maximise impact. For example, the stabbing did not, as the movie suggests, take place during Sympathy For The Devil. The band were actually playing Under My Thumb at the time.
The Last Waltz
Another classic directed by Martin Scorsese, who was recruited by The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson after he’d been impressed by the use of music in Mean Streets. The Band’s onstage guests for this 1976 “farewell” concert reads like a who’s who of 1970s music: Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and more.
Backstage was reputedly a blizzard of cocaine. Famously, a stalactite of gak hanging from Neil Young’s nose was edited out in post-production.
DiG!
A tale of two bands. One of them, the Dandy Warhols, find fame and fortune. The other, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, descend into infighting and bitterness.
The success of the movie inspired an ill-fated Brian Jonestown Massacre “comeback” tour in 2006. Those who saw frontman Anton Newcombe shuffling around in various backstage enclosures that summer – a sallow and bloated shadow of his former self – were given a heartbreaking lesson in the perils of long-term drug abuse.
4:02 PM | 23/08/2007
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This is a farce. How can you leave The Kids Are Alright out of this list?
Posted by Taylor Shull at 6:21 PM | 23/08/2007 | Report Abuse
What makes you say the BJM went on an "ill-fated comeback tour" in 2006? They've never gone away and have toured consistently for years. The popular misconception and misinformation about "Dig!" is that Anton/the BJM ultimately fell into obscurity or failed while the Dandy Warhols continue to ride a rocket to fame. Actually, the reverse is true. No-one cares about the Dandys anymore and Anton just gathers more and more fans and critical acclaim as people discover his talent for music.
Posted by phil nunnally at 2:20 PM | 24/08/2007 | Report Abuse
All of those mentioned are excellent and worthy choices. Not saying the following are as good, but their certainly notable and worth a look:- Starshaped (Blur), in which the drugs appear to have seriously taken hold and you get to see Damon spew and break his toe in two seperate incidents; Meeting People Is Easy (Radiohead), in which Yorke and co are run into the ground on the Ok Computer merry-go-round and make this possibly the most depressing rock-doc ever; and The Beatles Anthology, which at least gets full points for its depth and contrasting the then-live Fabs differing views on things - George (bitter), Ringo (realist) and Paul (rose-coloured glasses).
Posted by Doc M'neal at 2:33 AM | 26/08/2007 | Report Abuse
My vote is goes to a dark horse -
Amandla! Revolution in Four-Part Harmony
Through a chronological history of the South African liberation struggle, this documentary cites examples of the way that music was used in the fight for freedom. Songs united those who were being oppressed and gave those fighting a way to express their plight. The music consoled those incarcerated, and created an effective underground form of communication inside the prisons.
In the darkest and brightest hours the human spirit find itself through the power of music. Amandla! is truly powerful film which should not be ignored!
Posted by Summer at 6:55 PM | 27/08/2007 | Report Abuse
I have only seen one of these. I would have to add these to the list: Don Letts': The Clash/Westway to the World. Absolutely thrilling and some of the most poignant and candid interviews with four Brits who are all pussycats in punkrock clothing. If this movie does not make you shed a tear or two, I'd have to question whether you have a heart in your chest. Another outstanding film although post-Clash era is Dick Rude's "Let's Rock Again" a in-depth docu. look at the Clash's front man Joe Strummer, who has been called also the conscience of the Clash. This film follows Joe for an 18-month period as he travels the world promoting his CD Global a Go-Go with his band the Mecaleros. This film too is so poignant in its honesty and became ever more-so when Joe died in Dec. 2002 before the film's release in Feb. 2003. Joe is at his most humble and candid as he talks about everyhting you would want him to talk about! This film runs the gamut, and the DVD extras are like an entire other film! Featuring Joe and his band on tour in Tokyo, New York and Atlantic City this film actually contains footage of many performances that would be his last. Again, this is a tear-jerker but in an amazing irony it is an uplifting story of a man who could not live without making music. He is at once serious and hilarious, powerful yet vulnerable and grounded in humility. One of my favorite scenes is Joe hawking tickets on the boardwalk in Atlantic City promoting his band's gig at a resort that evening. Joe scrawls the info on torn up pieces of paper while leaning on a mailbox, tells passersby that the guys in the band are "young, cute and British" as people pass him by with a total look of bewilderment on their faces. This from a man who led the Clash on their journey from garage band to the only band that matters! Following, this is a scene of Joe walking on the beach dressed as a man in black, boots and all, just wandering towards the ocean. Such a dramatic moment foreshadowing his sudden demise as Joe seems at peace with himself and the world. This is a must see piece of cinematic achievement. Last, but not least, is Stewart Copeland's Everyone Stares. This is a film like no other I've ever seen. Stewart is a master storyteller with a brilliant and sarcastic sense of wit and astute awareness of his world as it ascends (or descends in his mind) into life in a bubble called The Police and their management. It captures moments of silliness, ambition, exhaustion, frustration, elation and everything in between. The highlight of this film is Stewart's soundtrack which he calls Police "derangements." Tracks fed into a computer generated shuffling system which combines layers upon layers of Police music into a fresh and compelling sound. Stewart, the heart and soul of the Police, has found a new niche for himself through this film. Anyone who has ever heard a Police song or seen a Police music video must run to get this film. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality of Stewart's "home movies" and, if you are like me, shocked at the film's abrubt and razor sharp ending.
Posted by Joan V at 8:01 PM | 27/08/2007 | Report Abuse
What about This Is Spinal Tap? =]
Seriously though, I would have put The Flaming Lips doc "Fearless Freaks" in that list, if only for the scene in which Steven Drozd casually discusses addiction while preparing to shoot up.
Posted by Ollie at 5:21 PM | 30/08/2007 | Report Abuse
I HACE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE DOORS DOCUMENTRY "PEOPLE ARE STRANGE" NARRATED BY JOHNNY DEPP. IT CAME OUT IN 2009 AND I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ANY INFO WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS.
STARR
Posted by STARR at 6:07 PM | 24/01/2010 | Report Abuse
I HACE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE DOORS DOCUMENTRY "PEOPLE ARE STRANGE" NARRATED BY JOHNNY DEPP. IT CAME OUT IN 2009 AND I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ANY INFO WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS.
STARR
Posted by STARR at 6:08 PM | 24/01/2010 | Report Abuse
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