Dig!
Anton Newcombe was nuts. Not as nuts as GG Allin but nuts in your typical artist kinda way. Why is it so much fun watching band arguments and fist fights? Somehow they managed to make great music despite being greatly dysfunctional. For some reason it is comforting to know that Newcombe was homeless and could not hold down any kind of job. His passion for music has always carried him. It's nice to know the guy has kicked drugs and alcohol and is still making music... in Berlin of all places. This is one of my favorite docs and I am sure I am not alone. It rates up there.
Watch it on youtube.
Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies
The documentary gives you a rare glimpse into the life of Satan's punk rock child and his band the Murder Junkies. If seeing a guy rolling around in shit and blood is too much for you than don't watch it; however if that sounds like a walk in the park to you, I have it on DVD and would love to have a private showing of it.
Watch the doc on youtube!
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
Anyway, the doc seems to be a tribute to the debauchery of LA, The Sunset Strip, and a time before anyone realized heroin was bad for you or that AIDS was about to put an end to the fun. It was the carefree days in a place where summertime was lasted all year. There is a very memorable and much talked about scene where Chris Holmes of the shock rock metal band WASP (We Are Sexual Perverts?) is wasted with a bottle of vodka in a swimming pool while his mother looks on in disapproval - he says some things that kind point to larger issues than leather pants and hair spray. Many believe this was the signal for imminent death of glam metal. Gene Simmons was equally idiotic while getting interviewed in a lingerie shop. Still, I miss the 80's now and again.
Watch a youtube clip of the doc.
New York Doll
Watch a clip from the doc.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Watch the trailer.
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones
Watching the doc, you get the feeling Johnny would be the most difficult asshole to ever be around; Joey could be difficult with his obsessive compulsive disorder; Dee Dee would be completely impossible to deal with and that Tommy Ramone made a good decision by leaving the band in order to become their producer. Still, God didn't make us perfect and I still love the stories told from the mouths of the bands' friends and family. With Joey, Johnny and Dee gone, it's nice to have this documentary to remember them with... not to mention the music. If you are in New York City, you can go and visit a street renamed Joey Ramone Place as well as Joey's grave at a graveyard in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Long Live The Ramones.
Watch the doc.
Lemmy
Watch the trailer.
Sound City
There's a smattering of rock royalty in this including Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Sir Paul McCartney... and Barry fuckin Manilow. If you like nostalgia and taking a trip into rock music history then this is it. The early 70's era is one of my favorites for music - nothing sounded the same afterwards and now we're doing everything with computers and software. It's probably due for another watch today.
Watch the trailer.
And now back to work!