DocumentaryThe greatest concert film of all time, "Stop Making Sense" brings to the screen Talking Heads at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December 1983: David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison, alongside an ecstatic ensemble of supporting musicians, capturing the iconic band at their exhilarating best. Directed by Academy Award Winner Jonathan Demme and newly restored to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
DocumentaryBorn into poverty in rural Jamaica, Bob Marley became a prophet for the world's oppressed, preaching peace, love, and understanding with a universal language - song. On what would have been Marley's seventy-fifth birthday, Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald combines unheard tracks, unseen footage, and intimate interviews to paint a definitive portrait of the legendary artist.
DocumentaryNow In Theaters. Following in the footsteps of legendary 1960’s session musicians The Wrecking Crew, musicians Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, and Waddy Wachtel helped create some of the most recognizable tunes in rock music. Director Denny Tedesco reveals the machinery behind the booming era of the singer-songwriter, when the talents of these four musicians were in furious demand. The 1970s come to life through intimate interviews with the musicians themselves and the artists they worked with. Including legendary needle drops and commentary from superstars like Carole King, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards, Don Henley, David Crosby, Jackson Browne and Phil Collins, “Immediate Family” is a backstage tour of rock history.
Documentary"Woodstock," the concert, gave voice to the spirit of a generation, offering the world a three-day microcosm of the turbulent '60s, set to the music of the era's greatest rock performers. "Woodstock," the film, captures it all, now with more than 40 minutes of added material and masterfully remixed sound. This Academy Award-winner for Best Documentary Feature shows in spectacular detail how and why the legendary "Summer of Love" festival was an historical event, and now features additional interviews, memorable footage and, of course, more of the music that brought this "happening" together. The Hollywood Reporter calls this "inspiring and dramatic... With the terrific new sound, gorgeous new prints and overall high quality of filmmaking, the entire film feels as fresh and vital as when it first burst on the scene in 1970." This ground-breaking documentary also offered an early career boost to a young Martin Scorsese ("GoodFellas," "The Aviator"), who served as an editor and assistant
Music DocumentariesMusician Lil Peep was on the verge of mainstream success when he died of a drug overdose at 21 years old. Dubbed the future of emo by Pitchfork, Peep managed to touch countless lives across the world in just a short two years with an innovative mix of punk, emo and trap music. Executive produced by Terrence Malick, Everybody’s Everything explores the meteoric rise of Lil Peep, from recording songs in his bedroom to a worldwide tour, and the unbelievable impact he left from trying to be all things to all people.
Music DocumentariesOn January 28, 1985, as famine devastated the African continent, a stellar roster of musical talent entered a recording studio in Los Angeles, CA, to make a record dedicated to alleviating hunger in the Third World. The song was called "We Are the World," the collected artists billed themselves as "USA for Africa," and the single became a phenomenon, raising over $60 million for African famine relief. We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song is a documentary which examines how the song was written, how producer Quincy Jones and songwriters Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie persuaded some of the most popular performers in America to donate their services to the project, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the marathon recording session that produced the single. Performers include Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, and many more.
Music DocumentariesFrom BAFTA Award-winning director Asif Kapadia (SENNA), AMY tells the incredible story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse – in her own words. Featuring extensive unseen archival footage and previously unheard tracks, this strikingly modern, moving and vital film shines a light on the world we live in, in a way that very few can. A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy Winehouse was a musician that captured the world’s attention. A pure jazz artist in the most authentic sense – she wrote and sung from the heart using her musical gifts to analyze her own problems. The combination of her raw honesty and virtuosity resulted in some of the most unique and adored songs of the modern era. But her massive success resulted in relentless and invasive media attention, which coupled with Amy’s troubled relationships and precarious lifestyle, saw her life tragically begin to unravel, resulting in her untimely death in July 2011 at the age of 27.
DocumentaryOne of the most important artists of our era, Ryuichi Sakamoto has had a prolific career spanning over four decades. From techno-pop stardom to Oscar-winning film composer, the evolution of his music has coincided with his life journeys. Following Fukushima, Sakamoto became an iconic figure in Japan’s social movement against nuclear power. As Sakamoto returns to music following a cancer diagnosis, his haunting awareness of life crises leads to a resounding new masterpiece. 'Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda' is an intimate portrait of both the artist and the man.
Music DocumentariesHe is one of the most influential, inspiration and ground-breaking musicians of our time. Now, Academy Award™ winning director Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, 1990) brings us the extraordinary story of Bob Dylan’s journey from his roots in Minnesota, to his early days in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village, to his tumultuous ascent to pop stardom in 1966. Joan Baez, Allen Ginsberg and others share their thoughts and feelings about the young singer who would change popular music forever. With never-before-seen footage, exclusive interviews, and rare concert performances, it’s the definitive portrait fans the world over have been anticipating for decades: the untold story of a living American legend. This anniversary edition contains previously unreleased interviews with the director, Liam Clancy and Dave Van Ronk as well the unedited Apothecary Scene from his historical 1966 tour of the U.K., never released until now.
DocumentaryOn Thanksgiving Day, 1976, The Band gave its farewell concert at Winterland in San Francisco. On hand to help say goodbye to this influential rock group were some of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 1960s and '70s. This film is not only a vibrant documentary of that historic evening, but also a commentary on the rock world at the time. Most of the picture is concert footage of The Band and their guest performers -- highlighted by interviews with members of the group, who eloquently articulate their personal involvement in the history of rock and roll.
DocumentaryThis unique rock concert film experience captures the essence of Led Zeppelin, one of the most exciting and durable rock bands of all time. Filmed during the group's now-famous 1973 New York City concerts, this documentary mixes live performances of "Dazed and Confused," "Stairway to Heaven," "Whole Lotta Love" and other signature songs with fantasy sequences and personal backstage footage of the group. Surviving band members recently supervised the digital remastering and Dolby 5.1 remixing of the film's picture and audio, so it now looks and sounds better than ever before!
DocumentaryJoan Baez I Am A Noise is an unusually intimate psychological portrait of legendary musician and activist Joan Baez. Neither a conventional biopic nor a traditional concert film, this immersive documentary follows Baez on her final tour and delves into her extraordinary archive, including newly discovered home movies, diaries, artwork, therapy tapes, and audio recordings. Throughout the film, Baez is remarkably revealing about her life on and off stage – from her lifelong emotional struggles to her civil rights work with MLK and a heartbreaking romance with a young Bob Dylan. A searingly honest look at a living legend, this film is a compelling and deeply personal exploration of an icon who has never told the full truth of her life, as she experienced it, until now.
Music DocumentariesJustin Bieber's odds were a million to one, until millions of fans found him online. Now his world is yours with Never Say Never, the "riveting and inspiring" story of his journey from average teen to the youngest performer to sell out the most famous stage in New York City.
Music DocumentariesA music industry legend for 50 years and a 10-time Grammy-winning global sensation, as well as a recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor and a Billboard Century award, Santana continues to be one of the music world's premiere artists, blending jazz, blues, and the Mariachi sound with a rock n' roll spirituality and a sense of connection to music's primal connection to our deepest emotions. The electric documentary CARLOS utilizes new interviews with Santana and his family alongside extraordinary, never-before-seen archival footage — including home video recordings Santana himself made; concert footage; and behind-the-scenes moments — as two-time Emmy-winning director Rudy Valdez (The Sentence; Through Our Eyes; We Are: The Brooklyn Saints) creates an intimate, rich documentary about a man whose sound casts a spell on fans who love — as one of Santana's famous titles says— “how his rhythm goes.”
Music DocumentariesKaty Perry is living proof that if you just be yourself, you can be anything! Get an inside look into the real Katy Perry and find out how this regular California Girl with big dreams became one of the biggest stars in the world. This “undeniably irresistible” film is your chance to experience Katy Perry’s teenage dream come true* Elizabeth Weitzman, NY DAILY NEWS
Music DocumentariesRarely can a film penetrate the glamorous surface of rock legends. It Might Get Loud tells the personal stories, in their own words, of three generations of electric guitar virtuosos – The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and Jack White (The White Stripes). It reveals how each developed his unique sound and style of playing favorite instruments, guitars both found and invented. Concentrating on the artist's musical rebellion, traveling with him to influential locations, provoking rare discussion as to how and why he writes and plays, this film lets you witness intimate moments and hear new music from each artist. The movie revolves around a day when Jimmy Page, Jack White, and The Edge first met and sat down together to share their stories, teach and play.
Music DocumentariesThe unmistakable voice of Whitney Houston is powerful and timeless. She became one of the most accomplished recording artists of all time, but her heart was always in Gospel music. From her first performance in front of an audience to the best-selling Gospel album of all time, The Preacher's Wife, experience how profoundly Gospel music influenced her personal life and helped shape her career.
Documentary'Ryuichi Sakamoto: async At The Park Avenue Armory' is a live performance film captured during an intimate concert by Ryuichi Sakamoto in New York City. Filmed during the production of 'Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda', a recent documentary about the same artist’s life journeys and creative process, the performance marked the first public unveiling of Sakamoto’s new opus 'async', hailed as one of the best albums of 2017 by esteemed publications such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
DocumentaryThe incredible story of a tiny Alabama recording studio that produced some of greatest hits of all time. Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Alicia Keys, Bono and more bear witness to its magic.
Music Documentaries3 bands, 6 cities, 1 train, and thousands of miles of track create an unforgettable musical experience in Big Easy Express. Directed by Emmett Malloy (The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights) and starring some of the finest acts in music today, this incredible film captures nothing less than history in the making. Indie folk heroes Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Tennessee's Old Crow Medicine Show, and Britain's acclaimed Mumford & Sons hopped on a beautiful antique train and set out across America on a tour of dreams. With poignancy and beauty, Malloy documents these incredible musicians as they ride the rails and wow the crowds from Oakland to New Orleans. So climb aboard the Big Easy Express for a vibrant and raucous adventure filled with joyous crowds, late night laughter, endless music and a train that was bound for glory.
Music DocumentariesHis drawings and sketches are exhibited and sold worldwide. Beck, Wilco, Sonic Youth and Pearl Jam have recorded his songs. But beneath Daniel Johnston's success as an artist and musician is an incredible story of genius touched by madness: diagnosed as manic-depressive, Johnston has spent the last three decades of his life in-and-out of mental institutions. Told through a compelling combination of interviews, home movies and performance footage, "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" is 'a harrowing, hilarious and ultimately moving new documentary film' (Jim Farber, New York Daily News). '****' (Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News)!
DocumentaryMadonna: Like you've never seen her before. This movie reveals her as she really is, on stage and off--den mother to her family of dancers, sex goddess to her millions of fans, businesswoman, singer, dancer, the biggest star in the world of music. Join her and experience an intimate backstage look at her "Blonde Ambition" tour. From her hotel room to her dressing room, from her stage show to her boudoir, here is Madonna--outrageous, hilarious, uninhibited.
DocumentaryProduced by the Emmy award-winning Banger Films, ZZ TOP: THAT LITTLE OL’ BAND FROM TEXAS tells the story of how three oddball teenage bluesmen - Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard – became one of the biggest, most beloved bands on the planet, all while maintaining a surrealist mystique that continues to intrigue fans and entice onlookers 50 years after the band’s inception.
DocumentaryThrough electrifying archival footage, exclusive interviews and rare personal letters, this documentary examines the meteoric rise and untimely fall of one of the most iconic and influential rock 'n' roll singers of all time: Janis Joplin. Directed by Oscar nominee Amy Berg and produced by Oscar winner Alex Gibney. Featuring musicians Pink, Kris Kristofferson, Melissa Etheridge, Bob Weir and more.
Music DocumentariesWhat began as a movie about the notorious rock group King Crimson and Robert Fripp mutated into something very different to a standard music documentary - a dark and hilarious exploration of music, time, cults, mortality, and the transcendent power of art to change lives. But with jokes.
Shannon Hoon, Danny Clinch, Taryn Gould & Colleen Hennessy
DocumentaryShannon Hoon, lead singer of the rock band Blind Melon, filmed himself religiously from 1990-1995 with a video camera, recording up until a few hours before his sudden death at the age of twenty-eight. His camera was a diary and his closest confidant. In the hundreds of hours of footage, Hoon meticulously documented his life—his family, his creative process, his television, his band’s rise to fame, and his struggle with addiction. He filmed his daughter’s birth, and archived the politics and culture of the 90s, an era right before the internet changed the world. Created solely with his own footage, voice, and music, this rare autobiography is a prescient exploration of experience and memory in the age of video. It is also Hoon’s last work, completed twenty-three years after his death.
DocumentaryIt’s the hit musical that changed Broadway forever and brought the genius of Lin Manuel Miranda to the attention of legions of fans across the world. A story of how a group of mavericks made an unlikely marriage of hip-hop and history to create the biggest show in America…and are getting ready toconquer the world. Featuring interviews with Miranda, as well as the cast and crew of Hamilton.
Music DocumentariesTHRILLER 40 celebrates the Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking Thriller album, the biggest selling album worldwide. The documentary explores the artistic vision behind the revolutionary album and what makes it a global cultural multi-media phenomenon for both the 20th and 21st centuries.
Music DocumentariesIn July 2008, Billy Joel performed the last concert ever held at Shea Stadium. The Last Play at Shea chronicles the waning days of the ballpark through a tapestry of performance, historical documentary, and personal journey. The film weaves interviews with players and performers with exclusive concert footage. Guests include Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, John Mayer, Roger Daltrey, and more.
DocumentaryConductor Gustavo Dudamel sets the music world afire with his original interpretations of the greatest symphonic works. He is named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” and serves as music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Amidst social unrest in his native Venezuela, he devises an innovative concert that celebrates the power of art to renew and unite.
Music DocumentariesFrom the Oscar winning producers of Amy comes this essential and entertaining look at the meteoric rise of the seminal 90s rock band Oasis. The film immerses us in the raucous rock stars’ fast-paced world of electrifying music, wild debauchery, and epic fraternal feuding, weaving never-before-seen concert footage with candid interviews and an astonishing firsthand account of the backstage sibling rivalry that threatened to destroy the band.
DramaA revealing and deeply personal documentary exploring the life and creative renaissance of music icon David Crosby. A cultural force for over fifty years, Crosby faced an uncertain future after the 2015 dissolution of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Racked with health issues and personal obstacles, Crosby forged a new path at the age of 76. Seeking out younger musicians and recording a pair of critically-praised new albums, Crosby now sets out to make a mark in a world now so different from the generation he came to define in the 60's. With unflinching honesty, self-examination, regret, fear, exuberance and an unshakable belief in family and the transformative nature of music, Crosby shares his often-challenging journey with humor and bite. This inspirational story, filled with music, will speak to loyal fans, and legions of new ones.
DocumentaryA startling and powerful new film derived from 200 hours of footage, stills & heretofore unpublished music from John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's personal collection. A moving and revealing look at a man who was a musician, artist, writer, poet, and whose fame lives on.
DocumentaryWith unfettered access to the Zappa Vault and all its archival footage, Zappa explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Alex Winter’s assembly features appearances by Frank’s widow Gail Zappa and several of Frank’s musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others.
DocumentaryWhitney Houston broke more music industry records than any other female singer in history. With over 200 million album sales worldwide, she was the only artist to chart seven consecutive U.S. No. 1 singles. She also starred in several blockbuster movies before her brilliant career gave way to erratic behavior, scandals and death at age 48. The documentary feature Whitney is an intimate, unflinching portrait of Houston and her family that probes beyond familiar tabloid headlines and sheds new light on the spellbinding trajectory of Houston’s life. Using never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive demo recordings, rare performances, audio archives and original interviews with the people who knew her best, Oscar®-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald unravels the mystery behind “The Voice,” who thrilled millions even as she struggled to make peace with her own troubled past.
DocumentaryAn exploration into the career, music and influence of the iconic musician. With unprecedented access to the artist and featuring interviews with Sarah McLachlan, Alec Baldwin and more, this intimate documentary follows Lightfoot’s evolution from choirboy in rural Canada to troubled troubadour to international star with hits including “If You Could Read My Mind”, “Sundown”, “Carefree Highway”, and “Rainy Day People”.
Music Documentaries"The Promise: The Making of Darkness On The Edge of Town" was directed by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny. The film received a rapturous critical response around the world, including as an official selection, Toronto International Film Festival, The BFI London Film Festival, and The International Rome Film Festival. The Los Angeles Times gave 'The Promise' five stars, while Variety called it "thrilling...a vivid portrait." The film is accompanied by the bonus features "Songs From the Promise," a five-song concert event filmed in Asbury Park, NJ, and "A Conversation With His Fans," an intimate question-and-answer session.
DocumentaryA sound that defined a genre, shattered stereotypes and forever changed popular culture.As the first multi-platinum-selling, all-female band to play their own instruments, write their own songs and have a #1 album, The Go-Go’s are the definitive female rock band. Director Alison Ellwood digs deep into the annals of Go-Go’s history, revealing all their hard work and exciting times, along with the messy truths and painful consequences, while never losing sight of their accomplishments. To this day, The Go-Go’s live on as the band who paved the way for female musicians in the music industry.
DocumentaryFeaturing never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool tells the story of a truly singular talent and unpacks the music and the myth of the man behind the horn.
Music DocumentariesThe amazingly talented Taylor Swift is more than her catchy pop, country, and rock songs. A life story filled with love and loss, all Taylor-made. Music was her mission fulfilling her wildest dreams.
Music Feature Films"Life is But a Dream" is an intimate portrait of global entertainer & businesswoman, Beyoncé. Culled from her archives, video diaries and performances.
Music DocumentariesJackson went from child prodigy to King of Pop catapulted by the success of Off the Wall. This film explores the seminal album with interviews and footage from those who helped create it and those whose lives it impacted with its success and legacy.
DocumentaryWhen music is your whole life, and suddenly life gets interrupted... In lost and rare archival music videos, photos, and very personal and candid lock-down interviews, the film finds 80s rock icon John Waite reflecting back on his 5-decade career. From pioneer rock-video band The Babys in the 1970s, to his breakthrough as a solo artist in the early days of MTV, to touring with an actual Beatle, John recounts his struggles inside the commercialized world of the music business and his independent pursuits as a self-powered solo, live music artist. For the past 30 years John’s "Do It Yourself” touring and live performances around the world have been his way to survive in life both financially, and as he comes to terms with it in our film - emotionally. When performing live is suddenly not an option - he’s forced to finally confront himself.
Music DocumentariesWings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run chronicles the definitive story of Bruce Springsteen’s breakthrough album from songwriting to production and beyond. Includes archival film shot between 1973 and 1975 but never shown publicly.
Music DocumentariesGo behind the scenes with 311 on Enlarged to Show Detail, featuring an all-access look at the band on tour, rare behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, plus videos of "Down," "All Mixed Up," "Homebrew" and more.
Music DocumentariesA Tribe Called Quest has been one of the most commercially successful and artistically significant musical groups in recent history. The band’s sudden break-up in 1998 shocked the industry and saddened the scores of fans, whose appetite for the group's innovative musical stylings never seem to diminish. This insightful film, directed by Michael Rapaport, takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes journey - chronicling the group's rise to fame and revealing the stories behind the tensions which erupted in the years to come. The film features interviews with the members of the group as well as with the Beastie Boys, Kanye West, Pharrell, Mos Def, Monie Love, De la Soul, the Jungle Brothers, Common and more.
Music DocumentariesAcademy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese and the world's greatest rock n' roll band, The Rolling Stones, unite to bring audiences the year's most extraordinary film event, "Shine a Light." With special appearances by Christina Aguilera, Jack White and Buddy Guy, and four Rolling Stones performances not seen in theaters, Shine a Light is a must-own for rock n' roll fans across generations.
DocumentaryTalihina Sky is the story of Kings of Leon, whose strict Pentecostal upbringing in Oklahoma and Tennessee preceded their unlikely transformation into one of the biggest rock bands in the world. The film follows Nathan, Caleb, Jared and Matthew Followill back to Talihina, Oklahoma for their annual family reunion. This reunion serves as a catalyst to explore the band’s roots and the difficulties they faced growing up. Home movies, childhood photos and revealing interviews with family members -- including a colorful group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins -- expose how the influence of their family has informed the creativity that drives Kings of Leon today. Now a multi-platinum act, Kings of Leon continues to feel the influence of their past while confronting the evolving set of struggles that come with massive success. The band’s achievements have rippled back home to affect their family, who take great pride in, and some of the credit for, the cousins who made it
Music DocumentariesAcademy Award winning director Jonathan Demme (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) beautifully captures Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend Neil Young as he prepares and presents the performance of a lifetime with the help of his wife Pegi and friends country star Emmylou Harris, steel guitarist Ben Keith and more at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.
DocumentaryIn 1964, Ken Kesey, the famed author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” set off on a legendary cross-country road trip to the New York World’s Fair. He was joined by “The Merry Band of Pranksters,” including Neal Cassady, the American icon immortalized in Kerouac’s
“On the Road.” Kesey and the Pranksters intended to make a documentary about their trip, but the film was never finished and the footage has remained
virtually unseen. With MAGIC TRIP, Oscar®-winning director Alex Gibney and Alison Ellwood were given unprecedented access to this raw footage to create a
documentary of this extraordinary piece of American history.
DocumentaryFor over three decades, there's been one singular sensation: A Chorus Line, the groundbreaking hit musical inspired by the emotional lives of dancers during the audition process. Now the story comes full circle as a new documentary offers a revealing, unprecedented look at the auditions for the Broadway revival of the perennial classic, including interview footage with Bob Avian, Michael Bennett, Charlotte d'Amboise, Marvin Hamlisch and Donna McKechnie to name a few. The music, the moves and the real-life drama - they're all here in a documentary that brings you closer to the footlights than you ever thought possible.
DocumentaryAcclaimed producer David Wolper ("Roots," "The Thorn Birds," "North and South") brings us the first fully authorized look at the man behind the myth. This definitive biography of the legendary hero combines documentary footage with sequences of actors playing Presley at various stages of his life. Including 38 of Presley's greatest hits; it's the Elvis movie the fans have been waiting for. From the director of the acclaimed rock documentary, "Imagine: John Lennon."
Music DocumentariesBob Dylan is captured on-screen as he never would be again in this groundbreaking film from D. A. Pennebaker. The legendary documentarian finds Dylan in England during his 1965 tour, which would be his last as an acoustic artist. In this wildly entertaining vision of one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists, Dylan is surrounded by teen fans, gets into heated philosophical jousts with journalists, and kicks back with fellow musicians Joan Baez, Donovan, and Alan Price. Featuring some of Dylan’s most famous songs, including “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” and “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” Dont Look Back is a radically conceived portrait of an American icon that has influenced decades of vérité behind-the-scenes documentaries.
IndependentOn a beautiful June weekend in 1967, at the height of the Summer of Love, the first and only Monterey International Pop Festival roared forward, capturing a decade’s spirit and ushering in a new era of rock and roll. Monterey would launch the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, but they were just a few among a wildly diverse cast that included Simon and Garfunkel, the Mamas and the Papas, the Who, the Byrds, Hugh Masekela, and the extraordinary Ravi Shankar. With his characteristic vérité style, D. A. Pennebaker captured it all, immortalizing moments that have become legend: Pete Townshend destroying his guitar, Jimi Hendrix burning his. The Criterion Collection is proud to present this timeless document of a landmark event.
DocumentaryAn immersive archival journey through the explosive New York music scene of the early 2000s, Meet Me in the Bathroom tells the story of the last great romantic age of rock 'n' roll through the prism of a handful of era-defining bands. Featuring The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, TV on the Radio, The Moldy Peaches, and many more!
DocumentaryOne Day on Earth is the first film made in every country of the world on the same day. We see both the challenges and hopes of humanity from a diverse group of volunteer filmmakers assembled by a participatory media experiment. The world is greatly interconnected, enormous, perilous, and wonderful.
Music DocumentariesDocumentary of the July 3rd, 1973 concert at London's Hammersmith Odeon Theatre and notable for this is the last time David Bowie would perform under the Ziggy Stardust persona.
Music DocumentariesWhen Lynyrd Skynyrd emerged onto the world stage in 1973, it was the result of a collective determination; the group had struggled and fought to gain real recognition ever since their formation eight years before. And although they were initially identified, both in the music industry and in the media, as just another act in the then booming Southern-Rock movement, it became quickly apparent that not only were Skynyrd a distinctly individual collective, but also they had the potential to become one of the finest rock bands in history. Led by the headstrong and domineering Ronnie Van Zant, a tough, blue collar brawler with his powerful stage presence, distinctive vocals and gritty, honest lyrics, his energy and vision propelled the group until its tragic end in 1977. This film revisits the story of Lynyrd Skynyrd in a manner previously unattempted. Using a mixture of seldom seen film, new and archive interviews, contributions from an esteemed panel of members past and present and those
Music DocumentariesThe war in Iraq is the backdrop as the CSNY "Freedom of Speech Tour" crisscrosses North America. The film examines the band's connection to its audience in both political and musical terms, and examines the relationship between Vietnam-era anti-war sentiment and today's post-9/11 environment. A Vietnam veteran sums it all up: "It's deja vu all over again."
DocumentaryClassically trained pianist, dive-bar chanteuse, black power icon and legendary recording artist, Nina Simone lived a life of brutal honesty, musical genius and tortured melancholy. In this epic documentary, director Liz Garbus interweaves never-before-heard recordings and rare archival footage together with Nina’s most memorable songs, to create an unforgettable portrait of one of the least understood, yet most beloved, artists of our time. What happpened, Miss Simone? uses recently unearthed audiotapes, recorded over the course of three decades, of Nina telling her life story to various interviewers and would-be biographers. From over 100 hours of these recordings, the film weaves together Nina’s narrative, told largely in her own words. Rare concert footage and archival interviews, along with diaries, letters, interviews with Nina’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, friends and collaborators, along with other exclusive materials, make this the most authentic, personal and unflinchi
DocumentaryIn the spring of 1971 the Rolling Stones departed the UK to take up residence in France as tax exiles. Keith Richards settled at a villa called Nellcôte in Villefranche-sur-Mer and this became the venue for the recording of much of the band s masterpiece Exile On Main Street . Stones In Exile tells the story in the band s own words and through extensive archive footage of their time away from England and the creation of this extraordinary double album, which many regard as the Rolling Stones finest achievement.
DocumentaryLong before punk rock inflicted its puncture wound on the map of mainstream music, the Descendents were in a van brewing a potent mix of pop, angst, love and coffee and influencing a generation to come. Interviews with the band and contemporaries such as Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), Mark Hoppus (Blink-182), Mike Watt (Minutemen), Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion) and others reveal the untold tale of one of the most overachieving and influential bands in punk.
DocumentaryThe streets of Lawrence Massachusetts were and still are very rough. For a kid growing up in those streets it can be a challenge just to survive. Violence, drugs, guns, gangs, poverty, and anxiety can eat you alive. But through all of that; perseverance, love of family, bonds of friendship, and passion for music can be a lifeline. This is a story of how time and time again music saved Sully Erna and how that salvation manifested itself into the formation of the seminal, multi-platinum selling rock band Godsmack.
DocumentaryThe world’s most talented young pianists compete in the International Chopin Piano Competition, held every five years in Warsaw, Poland. A rare behind the scenes look at the triumphant highs and crushing lows of competition, Pianoforte is both a testament to the remarkable power of music and an intimate coming-of-age portrait.
DocumentaryIn this documentary by award-winning director and producer James Keach, we ride with Linda Ronstadt, musician Jackson Browne, and a busload of Cenzontles from Arizona to the little town of Banámichi in Sonora, Mexico, where Ronstadt's grandfather was born.
DocumentaryBefore Drake and The Weeknd, there was a different set of Toronto musicians who ruled the roost. Known simply as Triumph, this rock-trio dominated radio and MTV in the 80s, and were the envy of the touring business with even Michael Jackson taking a page out of their live show book. But despite being one of the world’s biggest rock bands, the trio split at the height of their fame and seemingly disappeared without explanation to their fans or media. Set to a mesmerizing visual backdrop of spandex, 80s hair, and explosive pyro, TRIUMPH: ROCK & ROLL MACHINE reveals a deeper story about fame and the human condition as the band reunites for what might be the very last time they play music together.
Music DocumentariesIn the summer of 1970, some of the era’s biggest rock stars took to the rails for Festival Express, a multi-artist, multi-city concert tour that captured the spirit and imagination of a generation. What made it unique was that it was portable; for five days, the bands and performers lived, slept, rehearsed and let loose aboard a customized train that traveled from Toronto, to Winnipeg, to Calgary, with each stop culminating in a mega-concert. The entire experience was filmed both off-stage and on, but the extensive footage and sound tapes of the events remained locked away for decades, only recently having been rediscovered andrestored. The film Festival Express is a momentous achievement in rock film archaeology which combines the long-lost material with contemporary interviews that add important context to the event nearly 35 years after originally being filmed.
Music DocumentariesBACK TO BLACK tells the real story of how Amy’s best known and most celebrated body of work came into being. Featuring previously unseen footage of Amy in the studio, new interviews with producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, and the musicians who worked with Amy on the album, it offers fresh insights into Amy’s remarkable gifts as a singer, songwriter, musician and performer. Also includes AN INTIMATE EVENING IN LONDON, footage from a private show Amy hosted in February 2008, which has never been seen – until now. Amy’s performance sees her in fine form, relaxed and playing for family and friends on the evening she won five Grammy® awards.
DocumentaryAt the age of 16, after releasing a video on Youtube that quickly reaches millions, Yung Lean and his Sad Boys are touring the world, wooed by everyone from Frank Ocean to Justin Bieber. Yung Lean: In My Head is a riveting coming of age story and a journey through fame, mental illness, drugs and how to conquer adversity.
Concert FilmsThe Rolling Stones’ free concert in Hyde Park on the 5th July 1969 has become the stuff of legend. It was the band’s first full live performance for two years, their first to feature Mick Taylor on guitar and came just two days after the tragic early death of their former guitarist Brian Jones. It was a free concert so nobody counted the crowd but it was undeniably in the hundreds of thousands. This film was originally shot for Granada TV in the UK and captures the full experience of the day. There are interview clips with the band, behind the scenes footage, interviews with the crowd and with the Hell’s Angels providing the security and of course The Rolling Stones on stage, including the first live performance of “Honky Tonk Women”, classics like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “Midnight Rambler” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and an epic version of “Sympathy For The Devil” complete with African drummers and dancers. Newly restored, remixed and remastered,
Documentary“Wish You Were Here”, released in September 1975, was the follow up album to the globally successful “The Dark Side Of The Moon” and is cited by many fans, as well as band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour, as their favorite Pink Floyd album. On release it went straight to Number One in both the UK and the US and topped the charts in many other countries around the world. This program tells the story of the making of this landmark release through new interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason and archive interviews with the late Richard Wright. Also featured are sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson, guest vocalist Roy Harper, front cover “burning man” Ronnie Rondell and others involved in the creation of the album. In addition, original recording engineer Brian Humphries revisits the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios to illustrate aspects of the songs’ construction.
Music DocumentariesDEATH's burning speed and ferocity was only matched by Chuck's unbending determination to bash out the most boundary-crushing interpretation of Heavy Metal. Exclusive interviews tell, for the first time on film, the story of Chuck Schuldiner and his legacy through the music of DEATH and Control Denied.
DocumentaryThe fall of 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of Fiddler on the Roof, the film Pauline Kael (The New Yorker) called "the most powerful movie musical ever made." Narrated by Jeff Goldblum, FIDDLER'S JOURNEY TO THE BIG SCREEN captures the humor and drama of director Norman Jewison's quest to recreate the lost world of Jewish life in Tsarist Russia and re-envision the beloved stage hit as a wide-screen epic.Oscar-nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim puts us in the director's chair and in Jewison's heart and mind, drawing on behind-the-scenes footage and never-before-seen stills as well as original interviews with Jewison, Topol (Tevye), composer John Williams, production designer Robert F. Boyle, film critic Kenneth Turan, lyricist Sheldon Harnick, and actresses Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh, and Neva Small (Tevye’s daughters).The film explores how the experience of making Fiddler deepened Jewison as an artist and revived his soul.
DocumentaryCypress Hill: Insane In The Brain is a smoke filled journey across the lives and careers of groundbreaking, genre defying Hip Hop group, Cypress Hill. Their unique sound was built on a movement rooted in true authenticity: from cultivating the flower, to smoking it, to rapping about it, their sound is forever burned into the musical landscape of Hip Hop. It's been 30 years and they are still as relevant as ever. Trailblazers beyond the herb, they legitimized Latino rappers at a time before Hip Hop was in every home across the globe. Told through the eyes/lens of photographer, former tour manager, friend, LA Icon and director of the acclaimed LA ORIGINALS, Estevan Oriol, the film is an intimate exploration of the famed yet underappreciated rap & cannabis icons. Using a treasure trove of never before seen archival footage captured by the director himself, as well as his portraiture of the band's four main members, B Real, DJ Muggs, Sen Dog and Eric Bobo, Estevan tells the story of a brot
Music DocumentariesThe mother through the daughter’s eyes - a family portrait blending intimate conversations, agreements and disagreements, and shred ties of sounds and blood. This intimate portrait of two musical giants by Martha Argerichs daughter Stéphanie has been filmed over two decades and around the world: Warsaw, where Martha Argerich won the Chopin competition first prize; Japan, which hosts a unique Argerich festival; London, where Stephen Kovacevich, Stéphanies father, lives, works and enjoys intensively Indian food; Belgium, where Martha lives in a house filled with pianos and cats; Argentina, which she left at the age of twelve to study in Vienna, but still conceals valuable family treasures; Switzerland, where Stéphanie and her sister Lyda are currently living. Made up of documentary sequences focusing on the two characters of Martha and Stephen in their everyday lives, in rehearsal and in performance, the film willbe largely given over to intimate, delicious anecdotes, and a few scen
DocumentarySystem of a Down’s Serj Tankian takes an unexpected path. His passion for human rights and activism led him to become a social justice organizer. Interviews with the band, producers, and fellow rock icons, this is an energizing call to action.
Music DocumentariesClassic rock is one of the most popular styles of music in the world, touching the lives of generations of people. Yet ironically, no one knows exactly what classic rock is. Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple: There are certain artists who everyone agrees belong in the classic rock story, but where does that story begin and where does it end? For some, classic rock constitutes music released during a specific period of time. For others, it’s a genre or simply a radio format. Filmmaker & lifelong rocker Daniel Sarkissian has taken it upon himself to travel the world, from the Sunset Strip to Abbey Road Studios, interviewing artists from iconic bands such as KISS, The Guess Who, Jethro Tull, The Doobie Brothers, Guns N’ Roses, Twisted Sister, Alice Cooper, Styx, Triumph, Grand Funk Railroad, Megadeth, Korn, Billy Talent and many others, all in search of an answer to the question: How do you define classic rock?
DocumentaryStory of trailblazing American rock singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro, who helped redefine the role of women in rock 'n' roll when she broke out in 1973.
Music DocumentariesAlmost four decades as the Princess of Pop, superstar Britney Spears, continues to be in the public eye on the brink of winning a legal battle with her father that would end a conservatorship and at long last give her control of her life.
Music DocumentariesTake on Me was one of the biggest pop songs ever and made these teens global superstars. 50 million albums later, a-ha still sells out arenas worldwide - but can they mend broken friendships to get on stage and create new music still?
DocumentaryA fascinating story of the cultural, social, spiritual and musical revolution that was ignited by The Beatles, with revealing interviews and rarely-seen archival footage of the band.
Music DocumentariesFrom "Lemmy" filmmaker Wes Orshoski comes the story of the long-ignored pioneers of punk: The Damned, the first U.K. punks on wax and the first to cross the Atlantic. "THE DAMNED: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead" includes appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones (The Clash), Lemmy and members of Pink Floyd, Black Flag, Depeche Mode, the Sex Pistols, Blondie, Buzzcocks, and more. Shot around the globe over three years, the film charts the band's complex history and infighting. It captures the band as it celebrated its 35th anniversary with a world tour and found its estranged former members striking out on their own anniversary tour, while other former members battled cancer.
Music DocumentariesYou know his songs, now discover John Denver's story. A Song's Best Friend: John Denver Remembered joins unseen live footage and interviews with his family and friends to illustrate the life and passions of the beloved singer-songwriter.
DocumentaryMusic lovers will be astonished at the influence The Wrecking Crew wielded over rock and pop music in the 1960s and early 1970s. These unsung instrumentalists were the de-facto backing band on hit records by The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny & Cher, Elvis, The Monkees and many more. These dedicated musicians brought the flair and musicianship that made the American “West Coast Sound” a dominant cultural force around the world.
DocumentaryWhat makes a film score unforgettable? Featuring Hans Zimmer, James Cameron, Danny Elfman, John Williams, Quincy Jones, Trent Reznor, Howard Shore, Rachel Portman, Thomas Newman, Randy Newman, Leonard Maltin, and the late James Horner and Garry Marshall, SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY brings Hollywood's elite composers together to give viewers a privileged look inside the musical challenges and creative secrecy of the world's most international music genre: the film score. A film composer is a musical scientist of sorts, and the influence they have to complement a film and garner powerful reactions from global audiences can be a daunting task to take on. The documentary contains interviews with dozens of film composers who discuss their craft and the magic of film music while exploring the making of the most iconic and beloved scores in history: “James Bond”, “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Titanic,” “The Social Network,” “Mad Max:
DocumentaryEstablished in 1960, Tower Records was once a retail powerhouse with 200 stores, in 30 countries, on five continents. From humble beginnings in a small-town drugstore, Tower Records eventually became the heart and soul of the music world, and a powerful force in the music industry. In 1999, Tower Records made an astounding $1 billion. In 2006, the company filed for bankruptcy. What went wrong? Everyone thinks they know what killed Tower Records: The Internet. But that's not the story. Directed by Colin Hanks, and featuring music icons like Dave Grohl, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, “All Things Must Pass” is a feature documentary film examining this iconic company's explosive trajectory, tragic demise, and legacy forged by its rebellious founder Russ Solomon.
DocumentaryBehind the headlines, beyond the spotlight… lies Justin’s real story. Get to know Justin Bieber as only the lucky few do – honest, funny and totally captivating – through incredible performances and exclusive interviews with the star himself. This is the compelling documentary that goes backstage to reveal Justin’s real story: his insights on evolving as an artist, the relationships that matter most to him, and what it’s like to come of age in the spotlight. It also includes thrilling never-before-seen concert footage, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access and special appearances from manager Scooter Braun, Pattie Mallette and many more.
DocumentaryDon't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey follows the real life rock 'n' roll fairy tale of Filipino Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from YouTube to become the front man for iconic American rock band Journey. In this Cinderella story for the ages, Arnel, having overcome a lifetime's worth of hardships, must now navigate the immense pressures of replacing a legendary singer and leading a world-renowned band on their most extensive world tour in years.
DocumentaryThis compelling documentary moves beyond the spotlight and past the attention-grabbing headlines to give pop superstar Chris Brown a chance to tell his own story. New interviews with the international phenomenon reveal long-awaited answers about his passion for making music, his tumultuous and much publicized relationships, and the pitfalls of coming of age in the public eye. Also included is new concert footage, behind-the-scenes access, and special interviews from Usher, Jennifer Lopez, DJ Khaled, Mary J. Blige, Mike Tyson, Rita Ora, Jamie Foxx, Terrence Jenkins, Tyga, and others.