Bill Simmons - new Pearl Jam documentary?

on2legs

Hope we get a Pearl Jam doc out of this series

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-bill-simmons-team-music-documentary-series-1272094

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons are teaming for a series of documentaries about the music world, taking a similar approach to what Simmons did with sports docs in ESPN's 30 for 30 series.

The six-part series will task six filmmakers with exploring pivotal moments or stretches in an artist's career, iconic albums or larger looks at the music industry. Simmons' Ringer Films will produce, with Simmons serving as executive producer along with Polygram Entertainment and Universal Music Publishing Group executives Jody Gerson and Marc Cimino.

"It’s been a dream of mine to put this project together,” Simmons said Wednesday in a statement. "It wasn’t until I started working with Jody and Marc that the potential of it started to seem real. We see an opportunity to elevate the storytelling form with music docs much like 30 for 30 changed the landscape for sports documentaries at the end of last decade. We don’t want to make music docs that just cover the beginning, middle and end of someone’s career. We think there’s a different way to do these. And we want to work with the best directors possible, talented filmmakers who have the same passion for this project that we do. I couldn’t be more excited for the challenge. Being able to explore this with HBO is like the cherry on top."

HBO was an initial investor in The Ringer, and Simmons signed a new deal with the premium cable outlet in 2018. Ringer Films produced the documentary Andre the Giantfor HBO and is at work on a second project, Showbiz Kids, directed and produced by Alex Winter (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure).

"We’ve had a longtime collaboration with Bill, and we are thrilled that he came to HBO with this idea,” said HBO Programming president Casey Bloys. "We look forward to working with him and the team at The Ringer to illuminate many of the fascinating artists and moments that have shaped the music industry."

Added Gerson, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group: "This series is about storytelling for musicians in a way that has never really been done before. There are countless great artists and songwriters who have culturally defining stories and, for the first time, we can share those intimately with fans around the world. Marc and I have been big fans of Bill’s talent for storytelling for a long time, and we are thrilled to partner with him, The Ringer, HBO and Polygram Entertainment on this special project that will share the culturally defining stories of artists and songwriters."

The as-yet untitled HBO project is expected to air in 2021. No directors or subjects have been named.

Ledbetterman10

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

withnailandi

I read somewhere that the Pearl Jam episode is going to be focused on the birth of the Pearl Jam bootleg community and how the band took Bootlegging from the underground and made it an official part of a band's output.

(Kidding)

on2legs

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

Ledbetterman10

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

Very fair point. There’s a lot of things that could’ve been done better in PJ20. But still, seems pointless to update. Nothing really has happened in the past 10 years to warrant it. Actually, a deep-dive Eddie doc would be more interesting to me. His pre-PJ life wasn’t explored in PJ20, in lieu of, as you alluded to, WAY too much Andy Wood. 

BF25394

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

If Simmons is involved, the first 30 minutes will be spent determining which character from "The Wire" each member of Pearl Jam maps to.

on2legs

BF25394 said:

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

If Simmons is involved, the first 30 minutes will be spent determining which character from "The Wire" each member of Pearl Jam maps to.

Or Top 7 Pearl Jam members all-time.  

But seriously... I get people knock him for being a sports guy but I guarantee whatever bands they end up doing will be pretty amazing pieces when all is said and done. He came up with 30 for 30 and I’m confident he’ll bring this project home too. 

Ledbetterman10

BF25394 said:

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

If Simmons is involved, the first 30 minutes will be spent determining which character from "The Wire" each member of Pearl Jam maps to.

Exactly. Eddie’s spot in the pantheon of rock singers, Dave A’s Ewing Theory potential, Mike and Stone vs. Bird and McHale, could Boom have been cast as a drug dealer on Beverly Hills 90210?

And so on....

B4idiejets

...dont need him doing anything with PJ. I dont care if he loves them, hes friggin annoying as hell. I agree with the one dude, PJ20 is cool enough for me.

on2legs

Ledbetterman10 said:

BF25394 said:

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

If Simmons is involved, the first 30 minutes will be spent determining which character from "The Wire" each member of Pearl Jam maps to.

Exactly. Eddie’s spot in the pantheon of rock singers, Dave A’s Ewing Theory potential, Mike and Stone vs. Bird and McHale, could Boom have been cast as a drug dealer on Beverly Hills 90210?

And so on....

Lol.  It’s not a podcast.  He doesn’t actually write or direct these docs.  He just produces them. 

Check out the doc he produced on HBO for Andre the Giant.  Cool stuff. 

Ledbetterman10

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

BF25394 said:

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

If Simmons is involved, the first 30 minutes will be spent determining which character from "The Wire" each member of Pearl Jam maps to.

Exactly. Eddie’s spot in the pantheon of rock singers, Dave A’s Ewing Theory potential, Mike and Stone vs. Bird and McHale, could Boom have been cast as a drug dealer on Beverly Hills 90210?

And so on....

Lol.  It’s not a podcast.  He doesn’t actually write or direct these docs.  He just produces them. 

Check out the doc he produced on HBO for Andre the Giant.  Cool stuff. 

I’m half-kidding with the podcast references. And the Andre doc was good. I dunno. As a long time reader/listener of Simmons, I’ve always felt he doesn’t exactly  “get” rock music as much as he thinks he does. I guess I just wouldn’t want him doing a doc on PJ or any other musical artist I like. Athletes...have at it. That’s where he’s good. 

on2legs

Ledbetterman10 said:

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

BF25394 said:

on2legs said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

No thanks. PJ20 by Crowe is definitive for me. Sure I’d change some things, but I wouldn’t want it redone by Simmons. Nothing against him. I’m a fan. But he can stick to sports and 10-second PJ snippets. 

I’m just hoping if they do a Pearl Jam one it won’t spend the first 30 minutes on Andy Wood.  

If Simmons is involved, the first 30 minutes will be spent determining which character from "The Wire" each member of Pearl Jam maps to.

Exactly. Eddie’s spot in the pantheon of rock singers, Dave A’s Ewing Theory potential, Mike and Stone vs. Bird and McHale, could Boom have been cast as a drug dealer on Beverly Hills 90210?

And so on....

Lol.  It’s not a podcast.  He doesn’t actually write or direct these docs.  He just produces them. 

Check out the doc he produced on HBO for Andre the Giant.  Cool stuff. 

I’m half-kidding with the podcast references. And the Andre doc was good. I dunno. As a long time reader/listener of Simmons, I’ve always felt he doesn’t exactly  “get” rock music as much as he thinks he does. I guess I just wouldn’t want him doing a doc on PJ or any other musical artist I like. Athletes...have at it. That’s where he’s good. 

I do agree that his sports takes are way better than other topics.  But... he’s just producing these docs.  He’ll get actual people from music and film to put them together.  People that actually know what they’re doing.  

kotton_crown

I thought I remember Bill Simmons saying that he didn’t like anything after Vs.

jjm33

I’m 30 for 30 fashion, these docs won’t be about a bands full history, but more focused on a key event for the band or a key period in music history. Something like the birth of Lolapalooza. 

F Me In The Brain

I used to love Boston Sports Guy.  Even when he became Sports Guy on espn page2.  At some point I tired of his schtick but the 30 for 30 stuff was great and I will for sure check it out.

smile6680

I like the 30 for 30 for the most part. I just don't think pearl jam as a group likes to be looked at objectively(on an official release at least). It feels like they okay some "projects"  but decide what stays in and what is cut out despite facts. For the record If I was them and had the power I would do the same thing.  

on2legs

 A doc on the ten club, fans, merch and poster madness would be interesting. 

Ledbetterman10

jjm33 said:

I’m 30 for 30 fashion, these docs won’t be about a bands full history, but more focused on a key event for the band or a key period in music history. Something like the birth of Lolapalooza. 

I like that and Lollapalooza is a perfect idea for one. Has there ever been a good Lolla doc? I’ve never seen one. 

F Me In The Brain

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