From the fantastic British magazine Uncut comes...
DON LETT’S TOP 10 ROCKUMENTARIES
In this month’s Uncut, Don Letts, film-maker and former B.A.D. man and the DJ who introduced punks to reggae, picks his ten favourite rock documentaries. “Record companies are behind most ‘rockumentaries,” says the man who directed The Clash’s Westway To The World, “and aren’t making them to enlighten the planet’s consciousness. They’re looking for long adverts. It’d down to the film-makers to widen the parameters.”
1 THE CLASH – WESTWAY TO THE WORLD 2 BOB DYLAN – DON’T LOOK BACK 3 THE BEATLES – LET IT BE 4 PRINCE – SIGN O’ THE TIMES 5 DAVID BOWIE – CRACKED ACTOR 6 BOB MARLEY – LIVE AT THE RAINBOW 7 LED ZEPPELIN – TWO-DISC DVD BOX SET 8 THE ROLLING STONES - COCKSUCKER BLUES 9 THE VELVET UNDERGROUND – SOUTH BANK SHOW 10 GIL SCOTT-HERON – THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED
Sometime over the summer the resident Beatlemaniac at my local classic rock station* said that there were, in fact, plans to do this. As I'm only a casual Beatles fan, I didn't bother to follow up, though.
kwakerjak
*All classic rock stations have at least one Beatlemaniac on staff; I think there's a law requiring it.
For about 2 years in high school (in the 80s), I came home EVERY DAY and watched Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains the Same". My mom must have thought I was brain damaged. Still my favorite concert film / rockumentary of all time.
Hey, RayRay, was it "Dazed and Confused", as you said at the "Favorite Concert Film" category, or was it "The Song Remains the Same", which I thought sucked when I saw it with "Pink Floyd-Echoes" at the Balboa Theatre?
Obviously, I still vote for "Stop Making Sense".
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
quote:Originally posted by mark f: Hey, RayRay, was it "Dazed and Confused", as you said at the "Favorite Concert Film" category, or was it "The Song Remains the Same", which I thought sucked when I saw it with "Pink Floyd-Echoes" at the Balboa Theatre?
Obviously, I still vote for "Stop Making Sense".
I don't think I would have put "Dazed & Confused" in a conert film category... probably in the best rock soundtrack category. I LOVED that film & it's soundtrack.
And about TSRTS -- it's not something you pay for and watch in a theater... you just have to be in the "mood" for it, if you know what I'm talkin' about. Just veg, and watch. Not award-winning material by any means, but those LONG ass songs featuring Jimmy Page and the violin bow, and Bonzo playing the drums with his hands -- good stuff....
It may not be a totally enjoyable watch, but I am Trying to Break Your Heart, the Wilco movie, is a pretty interesting movie. It's tough to watch at times (watching a band and a friendship splitting isn't really fun unless you're a sadist) but the music is good and the insight into Jeff's psyche is pretty wild. There's some good concert footage, as well.
I'll absolutely second I Am Trying To Break Your Heart. I agree that's it's hard to watch, especially as one who admires Jeff Tweedy's musical gifts. I think the man is brilliant, but oh, so manipulative.
It probably doesn't quite fit the category of rockumentary, but I always like to plug Urgh! A Music War. It continues to break my heart that it remains out of print.
Now Playing: "Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)" The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (Capitol)
It probably doesn't quite fit the category of rockumentary, but I always like to plug _Urgh! A Music War_. It continues to break my heart that it remains out of print.
Now I have to check with my friend, LT, but I'd swear he told me he rented "Urgh!" on DVD this year from a friend of his who runs his own small "sorta-Netflix-of-the-obscure." I'll check into it and see if there's any way to get it to you via rental or purchase. If not, there's always next July (do you have any kind of itinerary yet?) I could be all wet, but I think I'm 99% sure.
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
I just purchased Lucero's Dreaming in America tonight. Can't wait to watch it, as I've heard great things about it and love the band. Also it comes with a good looking live album. Anyone seen this? Good? Bad?
