Your 5 Favorite Rock & Roll Movies/ Documentaries (not concert video), and 1 or 2 honorable mentions

I'm kind of stealing this idea from another site, only with the caveat that the lists here be for rock and roll movies (like "A Hard Day's Night) or documentaries (like "Rolling Thunder Review"), but not films that are mostly concert videos (like the oh so great Dinosaur Jr's "Bug, Live at the 9:30 Club").

That said, my favorite rock movies/documentaries are:

Control; The Tragic Tale of the Singer of Joy Division
End of the Century; The Story of the Ramones
New York Doll
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; Runnin' Down a Dream
When You're Strange; A Film About The Doors

Honorable mentions:
American Hardcore
We Jam Econo; The Story of the Minutemen


“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













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Comments

  • Hi!Hi! Posts: 3,095
    edited December 2021
    Pleasure and Pain-Ben Harper

    Single Video Theory- Pearl Jam

    Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace Love and Music

    Pearl Jam 20

    No Direction Home- Dylan

    *Edit
    I would like to add:  Sublime: Stories, Tales, Lies, and Exaggerations to my list. Thank you.
    Post edited by Hi! on

    Detroit 2000, Detroit 2003 1-2, Grand Rapids VFC 2004, Philly 2005, Grand Rapids 2006, Detroit 2006, Cleveland 2006, Lollapalooza 2007, Detroit Eddie Solo 2011, Detroit 2014, Chicago 2016 1-2, Chicago 2018 1-2, Ohana Encore 2021 1-2, Chicago Eddie/Earthlings 2022 1-2, Nashville 2022, St. Louis 2022

  • Decline of Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years

    Does The Last Waltz quality?


    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    Summer of Soul
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • LoujoeLoujoe Posts: 9,454
    Finding Joseph I
  • American Hardcore will always be #1.
    The Song Remains the Same.
    Rocky Horror Picture Show.
    Thru The Never because it actually has a story to it, lol.
    Dirt.

    Single Video Theory gets Special Mention.
  • mfc2006mfc2006 Posts: 37,446
    edited December 2021
    Runnin Down a Dream
    Pleasure & Pain
    Seven Worlds Collide
    Single Video Theory
    Adding these..completely forgot about them
    Meeting People Is Easy
    I am Trying to Break Your Heart

    Still haven't seen Get Back...but I've heard it's amazing
    Post edited by mfc2006 on
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,075
    Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
    Blur - Starshaped
    Radiohead - Meeting People Is Easy
    Buena Vista Social Club
    Dave Chappelle's Block Party



    Shout Out to the Summer of Soul. Questlove made it about a 196 Harlem Woodstock. Its badass. That new Velvet Underground doc is something to behold as well. 



  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,025
    Decline of Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years

    Does The Last Waltz quality?



    Sorry, no, it mostly a concert video.  But worthy of mention, that's for sure!!!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,025
    American Hardcore will always be #1.
    The Song Remains the Same.
    Rocky Horror Picture Show.
    Thru The Never because it actually has a story to it, lol.
    Dirt.

    Single Video Theory gets Special Mention.
    Throw toast!  :lol:

    And yeah American Hardcore is so damn good!

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
    Blur - Starshaped
    Radiohead - Meeting People Is Easy
    Buena Vista Social Club
    Dave Chappelle's Block Party



    Shout Out to the Summer of Soul. Questlove made it about a 196 Harlem Woodstock. Its badass. That new Velvet Underground doc is something to behold as well. 



    I've been wanting to watch Summer of Soul.  Apparently a guy sat on that film all those years looking for a big payout that never came.  Glad the footage was finally brought to light.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,025
    Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
    Blur - Starshaped
    Radiohead - Meeting People Is Easy
    Buena Vista Social Club
    Dave Chappelle's Block Party



    Shout Out to the Summer of Soul. Questlove made it about a 196 Harlem Woodstock. Its badass. That new Velvet Underground doc is something to behold as well. 




    Buena Vista Club is great!
    Chappelle did rock movie?  I need to check that out.  (I think he's funny as hell despite all the controversy).
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    edited December 2021
    The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

    Trick or Treat

    This Is Spinal Tap
    Post edited by dankind on
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,513
    Spinal Tap
    Decline of Western Civilization ( the punk one )
    The Kids are Alright
    Another State of Mind
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,025
    edited December 2021
    JOEJOEJOE said:
    Spinal Tap
    Decline of Western Civilization ( the punk one )
    The Kids are Alright
    Another State of Mind

    Decline of Western CIv almost made my list, edged out by American Hardcore.  Both, of course, excellent!
    The Kids Are Alright, yes, good one!

    And file under "you know you're getting old when..." (short-term memory loss), on own own bloody thread I somehow left out this one, which really belongs near the top of my top 5 favorites!!!:
    A Band Called Death - Wikipedia

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,513
    brianlux said:
    JOEJOEJOE said:
    Spinal Tap
    Decline of Western Civilization ( the punk one )
    The Kids are Alright
    Another State of Mind

    Decline of Western CIv almost made my list, edged out by American Hardcore.  Both, of course, excellent!
    The Kids Are Alright, yes, good one!

    And file under "you know you're getting old when..." (short-term memory loss), on own own bloody thread I somehow left out this one, which really belongs near the top of my top 5 favorites!!!:
    A Band Called Death - Wikipedia

    I saw a screening of the Death movie and a few of the band members were there to take questions afterwards.  Always nice to get insight from those involved!
  • LoujoeLoujoe Posts: 9,454
    A fake movie like spinal tap.
      Electric Apricot.
    I loved it (I'm easily amused and love les claypool)
    Jerry lives
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,025
    JOEJOEJOE said:
    brianlux said:
    JOEJOEJOE said:
    Spinal Tap
    Decline of Western Civilization ( the punk one )
    The Kids are Alright
    Another State of Mind

    Decline of Western CIv almost made my list, edged out by American Hardcore.  Both, of course, excellent!
    The Kids Are Alright, yes, good one!

    And file under "you know you're getting old when..." (short-term memory loss), on own own bloody thread I somehow left out this one, which really belongs near the top of my top 5 favorites!!!:
    A Band Called Death - Wikipedia

    I saw a screening of the Death movie and a few of the band members were there to take questions afterwards.  Always nice to get insight from those involved!

    Whoa!  How cool is that!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    I’m Not There
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,513
    brianlux said:
    JOEJOEJOE said:
    brianlux said:
    JOEJOEJOE said:
    Spinal Tap
    Decline of Western Civilization ( the punk one )
    The Kids are Alright
    Another State of Mind

    Decline of Western CIv almost made my list, edged out by American Hardcore.  Both, of course, excellent!
    The Kids Are Alright, yes, good one!

    And file under "you know you're getting old when..." (short-term memory loss), on own own bloody thread I somehow left out this one, which really belongs near the top of my top 5 favorites!!!:
    A Band Called Death - Wikipedia

    I saw a screening of the Death movie and a few of the band members were there to take questions afterwards.  Always nice to get insight from those involved!

    Whoa!  How cool is that!
    It was cool!

    When "Once" was being screened in L.A. back in the 2000's, Glen and Marketa played songs from the film at the screening.
  • Last waltz
    stop making sense
    bittersweet motel
    Festival express 
    Letters to a porcupine
    Atlanta, GA 8/7/00...Atlanta, GA 4/19/03...Columbia, SC 6/16/08...New Orleans, LA 5/1/10...East Troy, WI 9/3/11... East Troy, WI 9/4/11... Atlanta, GA 9/22/12...Greenville, SC 4/16/16...Nashville, TN 9/16/22
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,025
    Last waltz
    stop making sense
    bittersweet motel
    Festival express 
    Letters to a porcupine

    Festival Express is excellent.  Nice choice!


    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • JT167846JT167846 Posts: 935
    Shihad - Beautiful Machine was excellent.
    Runnin Down A Dream - still trying to get it on DVD.
    Foos - Back And Forth was great. Beat PJ20 IMO.
    History Of The Eagles was cool as.
    If Sound City counts that too. Loved it.

    Will think of more later I'm sure but yeah. Doubt many here would have seen the Shihad one so wanted to chuck that in. The name change part was fascinating. 

    Stars are suns to other people.

    Wellington 1998
    London 2007
    Brisbane 2009
    Stockholm 2012
    Amsterdam 1 & 2 2014
    EV Dublin 2017
    Milan 2018
    Padova 2018
    Boston 2 2018
    Auckland 1 & 2 2024
  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 16,921
    The Kids Are Alright
    Rattle and Hum
    This weekend we rock Portland
  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    Almost Famous
    Purple Rain
    Her Smell
    Pink Floyd: The Wall
    The Rose
    Tommy
    Love and Mercy
    The School of Rock
    Rock 'n' Roll High School
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Long Time Running - Tragically Hip
    Rush - Beyond the Lighted Stage
    1991: The Year that Punk Broke
    PJ 20
    I Called Him Morgan (Lee Morgan)

    Honourable Mentions:
    Hard Core Logo
    Gift (Perry Farrell 1993) 

  • JT167846 said:
    Shihad - Beautiful Machine was excellent.
    Runnin Down A Dream - still trying to get it on DVD.
    Foos - Back And Forth was great. Beat PJ20 IMO.
    History Of The Eagles was cool as.
    If Sound City counts that too. Loved it.

    Will think of more later I'm sure but yeah. Doubt many here would have seen the Shihad one so wanted to chuck that in. The name change part was fascinating. 

    I need to find and watch that Shihad show. Saw them at Rhythm of the Vines festival in Gisborne NZ (want to say 2009). They are a fantastic live band and virtually unknown in North America. The General Electric is a great album. 
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    dankind said:
    Summer of Soul
    Ooooh did I LOVE Summer of Soul!
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    edited December 2021
    Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
    Blur - Starshaped
    Radiohead - Meeting People Is Easy
    Buena Vista Social Club
    Dave Chappelle's Block Party



    Shout Out to the Summer of Soul. Questlove made it about a 196 Harlem Woodstock. Its badass. That new Velvet Underground doc is something to behold as well. 



    I went on a date once with a guy from a world music record label, and on the 1st date he invited me on a 2nd one to a show at Carnegie Hall, he didn't give me much detail but mentioned it was a band from Cuba and would probably be a very cool show, but I worked late that night of the show and dcouldn't muster up the energy.

    And that was THE show that led to that film! (Plus another show in Amsterdam, apparently.)  If only I'd have known..... Love that album! 

    And I'd put Summer of Soul in my top 5 right now. Still emotional about the Mavis/Mahalia exchange & Nina Simone's set!
    Post edited by JH6056 on
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    edited December 2021
    Westway to the World (The Clash)
    The Future is Unwritten (Joe Strummer)
    Summer of Soul - Unbelievable live music footage, ridiculously amazing lineup of artists, really interesting history behind it and why/how it wasn't seen until now, and great mix of personal stories, history, and NYC history and politics too.  And Make sure you watch that very very last few moments with Stevie! ;)
    Amy (Amy WInehouse doc) (heartbreaking!)

    And for 5th, for this moment, both "Fyre Festival" docs (Netflix & Hulu). To be clear, I didn't actually ENJOY them as entertainment, but I found the human & social media dynamics that allowed for that clusterf**k to happen FASCINATING.
    Post edited by JH6056 on
  • brianlux said:
    American Hardcore will always be #1.
    The Song Remains the Same.
    Rocky Horror Picture Show.
    Thru The Never because it actually has a story to it, lol.
    Dirt.

    Single Video Theory gets Special Mention.
    Throw toast!  :lol:

    And yeah American Hardcore is so damn good!

    I LOVEEEEEE RHPS!!!!
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