“Being a rock star is not about being rich or famous. It’s about living your life the way you damn well please,” said Motorhead bassist Lemmy Kilmister once. It appears his fellow stars hold this belief, too. The life of a rock star is nothing but normal. Tabloids have taught us this, and so have memoirs. But nothing captures the madness better than a documentary. After all, the people behind such projects aim to achieve the double objective of informing and entertaining.
Whether you are looking to learn more about the hedonistic side (the sex and the drugs) or the mental weight that often hangs on the heads of superstars, these documentaries will fulfill your wishes. You will be pleased, too, if you simply want to know what the artistic process is like or how the industry functions. What amount of work goes into creating a hit song? Do the stars often feel the pressure to deliver? There are answers to these and many more in these rockumentaries.
Here are the 10 best no-holds-barred documentaries about the world’s greatest rock stars.
‘Super Duper Alice Cooper’ (2014)
Vincent Damon Furnier morphed into both a better and worse version of himself when he transformed into Alice Cooper. Drawing from vaudeville, garage rock, and shock rock, “The Godfather of Shock Rock” quickly earned a place among the legends. But life wasn’t all lavender and roses. Super Duper Alice Cooper also digs into the dark side, including his struggle with alcoholism.
Alice in Real-Life Wonderland
Award-winning directors Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, and Reginald Harkema delve deep into the shock rock star’s not-so-covert creative process and personal life, with alarming discoveries. Using a combination of narrative techniques, including animation and archival footage, the documentary presents frightening truths about the mind of a controversial figure and a genre’s provenance. Winner of Best Feature Length Documentary at the Canadian Screen Awards, this remains must-see viewing for all music lovers.
‘Oasis: Supersonic’ (2016)
The monster of all rockumentaries about British bands, Oasis: Supersonic is an intimate production detailing the history of the rock band Oasis, starting from their formative years in Manchester, England, to the height of their fame in the ‘90s during the Britpop movement. Director Mat Whitecross — better known for directing music videos for Coldplay and The Rolling Stones — really roams, getting as much info as possible from everyone he can, while the stars kick out the jams.
An Oasis of Information
Oasis: Supersonic is a two-hour kaleidoscope of euphoria and unremitting fascination — an impressive running time considering that Whitecross is used to directing three-minute videos. Expert and man-who-knew-them interviews are brilliantly interwoven with studio sessions and concert performances, all presented most neatly. The divergent takes of everyone who gets to speak shed an informative light on what used to be information gaps never covered by the media. Above all, what everyone here really seems to share is true love for these stars.
‘The Kids Are Alright’ (1979)
In The Kids Are Alright, we reminisce about the English rock band, The Who, peeking into their interviews, concert performances, TV appearances, and personal lives. Iconic moments — such as the 1967 Smothers Brothers guitar-smashing controversy at Woodstock — are covered. Additionally, the absorbing documentary notably features the last performance of drummer Keith Moon, who died shortly after.
The Documentary Isn’t Alright… It’s Excellent
No one destroyed drums and guitars on stage better than The Who. But underneath a charming presence always lurks a brooding depressive. This evocative, unsettling rockumentary sheds as much light on the art as it does on the passionate, deeply troubled people who created it, men fondly recalled by fans for doing the unexpected. Many talking heads simply enthuse about how incredible and eye-opening it was to interact with The Who, and the inclusion of endless hits into the soundtrack makes everything more enjoyable.
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years examines the 1980s Los Angeles heavy metal scene, profiling just about everyone, including groupies, aspiring performers, and famous figures like Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister, and Alice Cooper. It follows up on the first and second films, which covered the hardcore punk rock scene and the gutter punk lifestyle, respectively.
The Weird ‘80s
You won’t peel your eyes (and ears) from the stars, one-of-a-kind talents whose performances have kept the booking lists full. The director tracks the highs and lows of the lifestyle and spends a lot of time getting to the stars’ views on career and longevity. Hearing the ready-for-anything up-and-comers is even more fun. Over the years, it has been claimed that The Metal Years (due to its scenes of excess) contributed to the decline of glam metal and the rise of thrash and grunge in the ‘90s.
‘Don’t Look Back’ (1967)
Adopting a cinéma vérité approach, Don’t Look Back follows 10-time folk-rock Grammy-winner Bob Dylan during his 1965 tour of the United Kingdom. Filmed in monochrome, it presents a fast-rising, arrogant, and witty star as he takes on the press and engages in all the backstage antics that would be expected of someone like him. Iconic moments are all captured, notably his cue-card performance of “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”
Give It Up for Bob
A restless star wrestling with fame and creativity? The story is not new. Rock stars always have lifelong afflictions. But when the subject is the preternaturally gifted Bob Dylan — whose genius is still studied to this day — a new way to interpret the art of music presents itself. We see moments of fatigue, but also recovery and rejuvenation, though, unlike his peers, Dylan is disciplined enough not to sink to hell, assuming he’ll pull himself out again. Overall, this is a moving tribute to the healing power of music and a celebration of one of the greatest tours of all time.
‘Gimme Shelter’ (1970)
The last weeks of the Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour culminated in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert, which ended with the killing of Meredith Hunter. Over the next year, enterprising filmmakers Albert and David Maysles painstakingly gathered information and drew from the treasure trove to create Gimme Shelter, an account unlike anything the public had seen in the news at the time.
Gimme Tea
Named after “Gimme Shelter” — the lead single from the group’s 1969 album Let It Bleed — Gimme Shelter gives both scandal lovers and Rolling Stones fans a reason to rejoice. Just when you thought you knew everything about the incident, this gem appears. You’ll glean a wealth of new information and insight, while also appreciating the camerawork, which creates an immediacy unlike any other — unless for those who were present. Undoubtedly one of the best music documentaries of all time.
’20 Feet from Stardom’ (2013)
20 Feet from Stardom takes a behind-the-page look at the world of backup singers whose voices helped mold some of the world’s greatest hits. Unapologetically walking into the nerve-rattling studios and backstages, the docu clamors for recognition, while giving stars like Sting, Bruce Springsteen, and Mick Jagger a chance to tell their versions of the story.
Credit Is Due
Winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, this infectious and fun production is an eye-opening portrait of the competitive world of music, populated by both affable, self-effacing characters and fame-hungry ones. Breezy and pushed by dialogue, 20 Feet from Stardom also squeezes in some archival footage featuring the likes of David Bowie and Elton John. If you’re in the mood for activism, this piece of filmmaking, preserved by the Library of Congress, more than satisfies.
‘The Last Waltz’ (1978)
For 11 years, The Band enthralled listeners across the globe. Then they suddenly decided to end it all. Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last Waltz covers the pre-, post-, and in-concert proceedings of the group’s farewell concert, held on Thanksgiving Day 1976 at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom. Fusing electrifying stage moments with detailed interviews, the documentary covers all ground as the group’s final bow happens.
Marty’s on the Wheel
Scorsese’s fascinating documentary helps us better appreciate The Band’s unique appeal and rare vision, while highlighting the underappreciated social impact of rock music at a time when there were plenty of competing genres. With unlimited access to hours of backstage and concert footage, including landmark appearances by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, and Van Morrison, the filmmaker delivers great entertainment. We also get to understand the art of broaching sensitive subjects through simple music.
Between 2001 and 2003, Metallica made their eighth album, St. Anger, but the process wasn’t easy. Recording had to be paused when frontman James Hetfield entered rehab for alcoholism. Things got even worse when bassist Jason Newsted left, forcing the other members to replace him with Robert Trujillo. All this might only have been the stuff of newspapers had the band members now allowed filmmakers to capture their journey. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster was thus born.
Got To Keep Pushing
22 years since it premiered, this remains a fascinating visual testament to artistic endurance and persistence, and a ground-breaking piece of filmmaking that accentuates a heroic, often overlooked part of an artist’s creative process. At times, it’s hard to believe the unbothered nature of the band’s members and the ingenious ways they overcame career-threatening obstacles, but you gotta file it under the “fact” compartment because it’s true. The production won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature.
‘The Filth and the Fury’ (2000)
It keeps happening. A famous rock band with a shrieking frontman rules the airwaves and fills stadiums. But it isn’t long before psychological demons, fueled by ego, drug use, and poor choices, send them reeling. Using interviews, reports, and old footage, The Filth and the Fury traces the heady rise and fall of the Sex Pistols, and catches up with the now-content, but haggard surviving members. What really went wrong?
Correcting a Mistake
Meticulous camerawork and interviews with numerous on-the-ground industry players deliver a kinetic, layered, and visceral experience as we witness the destruction close up. Banter further adds to the docu’s awesomeness. Most importantly, this is an unbiased film. It is actually the second movie Julien Temple made about the band, after the first (The Great Rock and Roll Swindle) was criticized for leaning towards the story given by the Pistols’ manager, Malcolm McLaren, and not hearing the group out.