# Rockumentaries and rock opera films, etc.: Whole Lotta Love? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625 "2010-01-27T04:18:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/1 "2010-01-27T04:18:11Z")
I just watched **It Might Get Loud**. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I liked it. So, which of these films do you love? Public poll, multiple choices are allowed. Who knows, maybe you’ll find something new for your Netflix queue. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/2 "2010-01-27T04:35:26Z")
If there are any Robyn Hitchcock fans out there, there’s another documentary, called **Sex, Food, Death …& Insects**. There are some really cool scenes of Robyn getting together with friends to record an album at his house. > [@](#): > > Joined in music and conversation by friends and bandmates like, Peter Buck & Bill Rieflin of R.E.M., Scott McCaughey from Young Fresh Fellows, Chris Ballew from The Presidents Of The United States, John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin, and Nick Lowe, Robyn lets loose his creative genius in a free-flowing musical interview that gives us an unprecedented glimpse into his mind and craft. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/3 "2010-01-27T06:32:05Z")
Good to see Hype! on this poll. (One of my good friends was in it, the drummer for the best band nobody’s heard of - Flop.) However, since the poll seems to be a hodgepodge of music films in general (I think–I’m not quite sure whether they’re just documentaries and musicals, or more inclusive, but Blues Brothers and This is Spinal Tap is in there) I’d like to cast a vote for **24 Hour Party People** and **Control**. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/4 "2010-01-27T08:48:30Z")
I liked several here. Also, _Anvil! The Story of Anvil_ was very cool. I like the sounds of the Robyn Hitchcock one, thanks for that. I’m going to look for it tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/5 "2010-01-27T13:10:53Z")
My favourite is the **Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus** [The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll_circus) , especially for Jagger and Lennon talking kookily to each other, the amusingly feeble circus acts, and the blinding tunes. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/6 "2010-01-27T13:16:30Z")
Iron Maiden’s Flight 666 should be on the list. I’m not a Maiden fan myself, but I really enjoyed it. Spinal Tap gets the nod for mockumentary for me. The Beatles Anthology and Standing In The Shadows Of Motown are my favorite real documentaries. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/7 "2010-01-27T13:48:01Z")
One caveat: I love **Tommy** because it’s one of the stupidest movies ever made. Mystery Science Theater level. It’s not so much the Who and the story (which is silly), but Ken Russell’s over-the-top absurdity turned it into one of the greatest unintentional comedies ever. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/8 "2010-01-27T15:14:06Z")
I voted, but my votes could change easily. It’s all good. I really want to plug **Tom Dowd: The Language of Music** ; a review of the career of the house engineer for Atlantic records, and the guy who put the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Coltrane, Tito Puente and Aretha on vinyl. Fascinating and well made. Also, \*\*End of the Century \*\*about **The Ramones**. Again, a very well-done documentary about a truly wonderful band who were a real cast of characters and misfits. I also have the 10-Disc set **The History of Rock and Roll** , the one produced by Quincy Jones. As far as the various doc’s I have seen on rock music from the beginning, it is one of the best… ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/9 "2010-01-27T15:14:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > However, since the poll seems to be a hodgepodge of music films in general (I think–I’m not quite sure whether they’re just documentaries and musicals, or more inclusive, but Blues Brothers and This is Spinal Tap is in there) I’d like to cast a vote for **24 Hour Party People** and **Control**. Yeah, I did blur the boundaries a bit to include a few movies that were considered significant in their time and featured original music (_Saturday Night Fever_ and _Purple Rain_). I thought the Beatles’ first three movies should also be included because in a sense they led the way for future rock films. _Rocky Horror Picture Show_ and _Blues Brothers_ are in there for fun, and _Spinal Tap_ is there because I thought people would expect to see it on a list of rockumentaries even though it’s a parody. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/10 "2010-01-27T19:32:16Z")
No love for _Dave Chappelle’s Block Party_? Though I suppose the fact that it has rap in it would not put it down as a full “Rockumentary” but it was a very entertaining film about the concert. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/11 "2010-01-27T19:45:59Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > However, since the poll seems to be a hodgepodge of music films in general (I think–I’m not quite sure whether they’re just documentaries and musicals, or more inclusive, but Blues Brothers and This is Spinal Tap is in there) I’d like to cast a vote for **24 Hour Party People** and **Control**. As good as both those films are, I think they fall more squarely in the biopic genre along with \*The Buddy Holly Story, Sid & Nancy, The Doors, La Bamba, Selena, \*etc. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/12 "2010-01-27T20:47:30Z")
Who fans had high hopes for the 2007 release, [“Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who”](Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who) . But even with Murray Lerner at the helm, the movie ended up like an extended “Behind The Music” episode. For long time fans, the only redeeming parts were the tantalizing snippets from Leeds and the segment from 1964 of The High Numbers at the Railway Station. Fortunately, in 2008 we got the fantastic [The Who At Kilburn: 1977](http://www.amazon.com/Who-At-Kilburn-1977/dp/B001DWNUF6). The Kilburn gig was unpolished, sloppy and rough around the edges, but still showed what a great band they were. And the “bonus” disc of their 1969 _Tommy_ performance, despite the limitations of the source material, is breathtaking. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/13 "2010-01-27T23:05:22Z")
The Pixies doc, Loud Quiet Loud, was very good and worth watching. This is a genre that I wish was even more popular. I love rockumentaries and music books. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/14 "2010-01-28T02:33:56Z")
OK, I am shocked that **Spinal Tap** is the most popular answer so far. I was thinking **Last Waltz** and **Woodstock** would be more popular. Thanks for all of the good recommendations so far. I still haven’t seen the Joy Division documentary even though it was on my radar before it was even released. Now I find out about 24 Hour Party People and Control, too. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/15 "2010-01-28T02:45:20Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > My favourite is the **Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus** [The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll_circus) , especially for Jagger and Lennon talking kookily to each other, the amusingly feeble circus acts, and the blinding tunes. And Yoko’s singing style actually **sorta-working.** Even without pharmaceutical aid. Spinal Tap would be even higher if we could vote twice. A brilliant R&R movie (note the “R&R” qualifier 🙂 ). ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/16 "2010-01-28T04:16:45Z")
How about the Sex Pistols doc [The Filth and the Fury](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0236216/)? The story’s often been told, but the editing and interviews are first rate. Plus whether it’s seeing the Pistols play a holiday show for firefighters’ kids or Johnny Rotten crying over Sid Vicious’ death, it helps humanize a group that seemed more art project or cultural critique than band. And although it’s not rock, also check out [Billy Strayhorn:Lush Life](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1355549/). It’s a doc about Duke Ellington’s right hand man. Whether it’s detalining Strayhorn’s rough treatment by his bandmates (Strayhorn was a closeted gay man) or allegations Ellington ripped off Strayhorn’s work, it’s a fascinating look how contenious it can be to create great music. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/17 "2010-01-28T10:43:42Z")
[QUOTE=Sidney Evgeni Jordan] If there are any Robyn Hitchcock fans out there… [/QUOTE] That’ll be me. I’ve lost touch with his more recent stuff (he seemed to be getting a bit too folky and serious for mr a while back) This could be a way to catch up, if I can get my hands on it. A bit of an omission so far, The Rutles [All You Need is Cash](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077147/). ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/18 "2010-01-28T16:36:34Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > A bit of an omission so far, The Rutles [All You Need is Cash](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077147/). Yes, I forgot about this. I’ve heard of it but never seen it (amazing cast, BTW - I had no idea). Although I’ve listened to the Beatles’ music since I was a kid, I only recently became familiar with the Beatles stories/legends. I suppose I have enough background now to get the humor, so I think I’ll check it out . Also, I don’t know if this helps, but I was able to order the new Robyn Hitchcock documentary through Netflix. Did you see the earlier documentary, **Storefront Hitchcock** , which was directed by Jonathan Demme? ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/19 "2010-01-28T19:08:19Z")
What about _The Compleat Beatles_? It was the best documentary on them until Anthology came out, and would easily be the one to watch if a person didn’t want to invest the time it takes to watch the latter. As to the Sex Pistols, \*The Filth and the Fury \*is great, but then, so is _The Great Rock n’ Roll Swindle_. I remember seeing The Who’s \*The Kids are Alright \*at the theatre when it came out. It’s a pretty good documentary, but on the big screen it was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockumentaries-and-rock-opera-films-etc-whole-lotta-love/526625/20 "2010-01-28T19:17:41Z")
I’m glad you have Led Zepplin’s 2003 DVD instead of **The Song Remains the Same** , it’s a much better and broader movie. The fantasy parts in SRTS are kind of hokey now. I’m also glad you didn’t put the title **How the West Was Won** , it could cause some confusion.