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Must-See Rock Movies You've Probably Never Seen
If the Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There” and the Beatles-fest “Across the Universe” left you craving more rock movies, join us for a look at must-see rock movies -- that you probably haven't seen. Film critic and professor David N. Meyer shares a list of great rock flicks that are available on Netflix. (And he’ll name one film you might never find.) Plus, we take your calls on the rock movies you love best.
Tell us: What's your favorite rock movie?
David N. Meyer's list of "Must-See Rock Movies That You Probably Haven't Seen"
1) The Girl Can't Help It (1956). Jayne Mansfield sex farce with amazing rock performances by The Platters, Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps, and Fats Domino.
2) Head (1968). The Monkees bid for hippie cred and musical authenticity, written by Jack Nicholson & Bob Rafaelson and featuring appearances by Frank Zappa, boxer Sonny Liston, and dancing by Toni Basil of "Oh Mickey" fame. See a clip of the Monkees performing "Circle Sky" from the film here.
3) Performance (1970). The marriage of rock and film, starring Mick Jagger at his most andrognyous, and co-starring Anita Pallenberg, who had recently left Brian Jones for Keith Richards. See a clip of Mick Jagger performing in the film here.
4) Payday (1973). Speed, grass, downers, country music - the most accurate portrait of life on the road, starring Rip Torn as a modern Hank Williams, and with songs composed by Shel Silverstein.
5) Rockers (1978). Hilarious reggae comedy/social commentary, starring every key reggae star of the day: Winston Rodney, Sly & Robbie Shakespeare, Gregory Issacs, Jacob Miller, and Leroy Smart.
6) Radio On (1980). The only true rock and roll film noir and Sting's film debut, with a great Stiff Records soundtrack: Wreckless Eric, Ian Drury, The Rumor plus Robert Fripp, David Bowie, and Karftwerk
7) Linda! Linda! Linda! (2007). New Japanese film just released in the US, it's the truest movie of high school ever made. Four girls have to learn a classic Japanese punk song to play at high school talent show, the title song by seminal Japanese punks The Blue Hearts. See a clip from the film here.
The Pick You Might Never Find:
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1981). Still unreleased in the US, a classic about a punk band with Sex Pistols Steve Cook and Paul Jones, The Clash's Paul Simonon and actor Ray Winstone. See them perform in the film here.
David N. Meyer's web site, Twenty Thousand Roads
Where's "A Hard Day's night?" Or "Woodstock?" How about "Monterrey Pop?"
Three of my favorite rock movies (I have them on DVD) are: Eddie and the Cruisers . . . really hits home with me on many fronts, The Idolmaker . . . I was a a radio disc jockey and erstwhile record producer around that same time, and Streets of Fire . . . a cinematic masterpiece.
Hey, what's up with Stones Hater! They still rock with the best of 'em.
What about the Dylan unreleased Eat The Document????
Or What about Masked and Anonymous.
Posted by: Tommy March 31, 2008 - 02:24PM
Don't forget Dogs in Space!
I caught the Chuck Berry doc Hail, Hail Rock n Roll (1986) on cable recently. It's really amazing, especially for the chance to see a drugged out Keith Richards getting chewed out by Berry for not keeping up with the band. I also found it very revelatory about Berry -- his intelligence and drive and his ability to rock like no one else.
Posted by: Jessica March 31, 2008 - 02:27PM
the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus is my favorite stones movie. A surreal snapshot of the youth culture of the time.
Times Square (1980)
Not sure if this was great for real BUT I loved this when I was 17.
Jandek on Corwood ?
My must see is "The Decline of Western Civilization, Part 1.
Exceptional, and amusing, for both the characters in the LA punk scene and the performers. X at the high end and FEAR takes audience baiting to some wonderful lows...
Not available on DVD...
Posted by: Noel March 31, 2008 - 02:30PM
"Renaldo and Clara" is *not* easy to find, and seems like a strange omission.
didn't the guy from smashing pumpkins write all the music for linda linda linda?
Times Square (1980)
I am not sure if this was actually good BUT I loved it when I was 17.
what about "The Decline of Western Civilization' ? also Miles davis at the Isle of White ? rock or jazz... great documentaty and performance
Posted by: Jamie March 31, 2008 - 02:30PM
I love "Times Square" from 1980 -- great punk/new wave music.
DIG (the brian jonestown massacre) & Radiohead (meeting people is easy) are both great examples of more modern rock docs, both capturing what life in a band is very much like, 1 successful, the other not so much.
How about the Clash, "Rude Boy" or "The Decline of Western Civilization" or "Urgh, A Music War"? I know the latter two are really moreso concert films but worth mentioning.
What about "Gathering At Big Sur"? Concert at Esalen Institute, 1969: Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, CSN&Y, ec.
Great interview with David Meyer. You might mention his book Twenty Thousand Roads about Graham Parsons - great music bio
Probably the most amazing films I've ever seen is Peter Watkins Privilege (1967). Watkins' pseudo-documentary style is incredible as are the musical performances. Leaving this film off the list is a serious oversight.
I still feel that "Memo from Turner" from performance is the nastiest song ever sung by Jagger. I'm just wondering who besides Ry Cooder(?) is performing it with him. The song is also a masterpiece of allegory.
'The American Astronaut'
and
'Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival"
Two completely different types of rock films. Both worth anyone's undivided attention.
Watch Me Jumpstart!, the Banks Tarver documentary on Guided By Voices. It's not exactly a phenomenal film when looked at as film qua film, but it is an inspiring doc for every failed basement musician who has doubted if all the effort was worth it.
Posted by: Jessica March 31, 2008 - 02:39PM
Sun Ra's "space is the place"....
How about "Zabriskie Point"? I wish I could comment at greater length but I saw it when it was released and cannot find a DVD of it. The CD soundtrack IS available, though, and of cours, much of it is Pink Floyd's music.
The 1975 movie version of The Who's "Tommy" is quite a trip. Tina Turner as the Acid Queen, Eric Clapton as The Preacher... Actually, any of the Ken Russell films - the one he did about Mahler is also pretty wild!
We watched The Festival Express the other night and really enjoyed it. The Dead, Janis and others on a train running across Canada with the idea of playing at mini "festivals" at train stops. The ran out of liquor before the first stop!
Not so much a rock n roll movie as a reggae documentary about the late great Peter Tosh, the 1992 film Stepping Razor - Red X was worthwile for any fan of reggae and, more particularly, Tosh's many faceted personality and ultimate murder.
And what about Zappa's 200 Motels?
True Stones fanatics must view "Charlie Is MY Darling" a 1965 chronicle of their Irish tour.
Great interviews and candid moments of the Brian Jones-Andrew Loog Oldham era.
How can such a list not include Gimme Shelter (the greatest rock n roll documentary of all time, bar none), The Filth & the Fury (2nd best rock n roll/punk docu of all time), Quadrophenia, Amazing Journey, Hard Days Night, Let it Be, End of the Century (Ramones), Kids Are Alright, The Last Waltz, the Concert for Bangladesh (soley for Dylan's incredible "comeback" performance and a good performance by Leon Russell, Harrison was his typical lousy live performer in this one) and The Harder They Come. This guy's taste has to be seriously questioned. Appears that (like many NPR contributors) he is struggling mightily to appear "cool". Sorry, it didn't work, your taste in rock movies is clearly lacking.
I like Paul's list more than Meyers. I'd add Stop Making Sense to any must-see list. Why the big suit?
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