Fantastic rock documentaries for music fans on cold days

by | Feb 22, 2015 | MUSIC

Its cold outside with no end in sight. So what happens the next day after all the late night shenanigans? For us we are going for hungover chicken n waffles and watching rock-doc vids on YouTube.


Its cold outside with no end in sight. So what happens the next day after all the late night shenanigans? For us we are going for hungover chicken n waffles and watching rock-doc vids on YouTube.

Here are few of our recommendations.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Funky Monks” UNCUT (1992)

Once upon a time the Red Hot Chili Peppers were an up and coming band and encapsulated what it was like to be a funky group of punk surfers bridging late 80s alt rock into 90s grunge. Funk Monks was shot at one of their first peaks, during the making of Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic, one of the best albums of the nineties.

Johnny Cash, The Making Of “American Recordings” (2000)

The country legend crossed over many times in his career but American Recordings and the partnership of Rick Rubin culminated in a an album that resonated on so many levels that it has been canonized as an American treasure. This documentary captures some incredible behind the scenes moments during its creation.

White Stripes, Candy Coloured Blues (2003)

An unauthorized documentary looking for what made the White Stripes THE band. A bunch of interviews and opinions from friends, former friends and music business types from the Detroit club scene give an outsider’s view of why they blew up. The lack of any White Stripes music brings this doc down a bit but its still worth it to hear the stories of Jack being this awkward guy who wore only red and white and how Meg had no idea how to play drums but they did it anyway.

The Strokes, In Transit (2002)

The Strokes kicked off the 00’s with the decade defining Is This It and In Transit came out of the European tour in support of it. If you like watching a bunch of hipstered-out goof balls, then this is going to be your bread’n’butter right here.

Justice: A Cross The Universe Documentary (2009)

A friend of mine told me he built his whole EDM career after watching this on repeat. Having seen it now, I can understand why he loves skinny jeans, smoking cigs, womanizing, and being a general a-hole. The dudes in Justice go all out in their assholery so much that you can’t help but think that the camera being on (and constant booze) is driving them to to live up to their status as French EMD rock gods. At least in all its glory, its super entertaining.

Black Star Session 1: J Roddy Walston and The Business Mini Documentary (2010)

More of a beer-ad than a real documentary, but coming in at less than 4 minutes, you get a lot of info about a band with roots in RVA.

BBC: Marc Bolan – The Final Word (2007)

Marc Bolan is a genius and a pretty boy but he comes across as bit of a tool in this doc with his careful crafting of his image and music. Did it come naturally or was it a carefully laid plan for commercial success?

The lines get a bit blurred but essentially he did a bunch of drugs and came out of it with something completely original. His underlying attitude might be why most people remember Bowie as glam and not the man who broke the mold.

R. Anthony Harris

R. Anthony Harris

In 2005, I created RVA Magazine, and I'm still at the helm as its publisher. From day one, it’s been about pushing the “RVA” identity, celebrating the raw creativity and grit of this city. Along the way, we’ve hosted events, published stacks of issues, and, most importantly, connected with a hell of a lot of remarkable people who make this place what it is. Catch me at @majormajor____




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