Turning into Led Zeppelin, which you’ll watch with a Netflix subscription, is a implausible documentary. Whereas I do admit I want it have been a bit extra revealing in regards to the fact behind the legendary band’s blues influences, it’s nonetheless among the finest rock documentaries I’ve seen in a protracted, very long time. And I’ve watched a lot of rock docs.
Netflix has a strong collection of nice documentaries about bands and artists from each style, together with these 9 about a few of the greatest rock stars of all time. It ought to be famous that I’m not together with any live performance movies or any of the equally nice documentaries on artists in different genres; that is all about rock n’ roll. In no explicit order, listed below are a couple of documentaries you’ll in all probability love when you loved Turning into Led Zeppelin.
Keith Richards: Below The Affect
On the planet of rock and roll, there isn’t any larger star than Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones’ co-songwriter and guitar participant has had some of the unbelievable careers ever, and the tales he’s informed over time captivate rock followers like few others. I’m talking from expertise right here. I might take heed to “Keef” inform tales all day. Keith Richards: Below the Affect is simply that, it’s Richards telling his story, as solely he can.
Return Of The King: The Fall And Rise Of Elvis Presley
There are numerous documentaries, to not point out biopics about Elvis Presley. What makes Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley so nice is that it’s centered on one occasion in The King’s profession, his 1968 comeback particular. Not solely does it function interviews from most of the individuals instantly concerned within the present, like his spouse, the late Priscilla Presley, nevertheless it has some wonderful uncooked footage of the televised live performance. Viewers actually get to peek backstage on some of the well-known occasions in rock historical past, and see Presley as he was on the time, nervous, scared, excited, and, in fact, legendary.
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story By Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese has a protracted historical past combining movie and music, most famously together with his course of among the finest live performance movies of all time, The Final Waltz. Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story is a really totally different method, not just for live performance movies, however for documentaries. The strains between reality and fiction are intentionally blurred, which is correct consistent with how Bob Dylan likes to current himself to the general public. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, however if you wish to have some enjoyable being tricked like a prankster would, it’s an interesting movie.
ReMastered: Satan At The Crossroads
It’s protected to say that with out the Delta Blues and with out Robert Johnson, there won’t be rock n’ roll. Or, not less than, it will sound very totally different. ReMastered: Satan At The Crossroads, from the ReMastered sequence of documentaries, tells the impossible-to-verify story of Johnson’s mysterious life. As legend has it, the guitar participant, who died throughout the Despair, offered his soul to the satan on the crossroads, giving him his expertise. The movie performs up the parable, but additionally tells the real-life story of Johnson, not less than what historians find out about it, which isn’t a lot.
The Different One: The Lengthy Unusual Journey Of Bob Weir
The Grateful Lifeless have left a legacy as massive as any band in American historical past, and whereas the late Jerry Garcia will all the time be the primary identify related to them, Bob Weir has been the face of the band and its numerous incarnations for the three many years since Garcia’s dying in 1995. The Different One: The Lengthy Unusual Journey of Bob Weir is a deep dive into Weir’s unbelievable 60 years on the highway enjoying the music of The Lifeless. It contains intensive interviews with Weir and his household and buddies, all serving to to inform his story, and that of The Lifeless.
Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99
The Trainwreck sequence on Netflix has lately included a robust documentary about Travis Scott and the AstroWorld Tragedy, however a couple of years in the past, it kicked off with a chilling have a look at the catastrophe that was Woodstock ‘99. A lot has been written and mentioned about that ill-fated mess of a pageant, however this is likely to be the very best telling of the story. The 1999 version of Woodstock sadly tarnished the legacy of the earlier two variations of the pageant, and this intense documentary on Netflix reveals precisely why.
Norman’s Uncommon Guitars Documentary
Norman’s Uncommon Guitars began as a nondescript guitar store in Reseda, CA, opened by a musician named Norman Harris, who noticed the worth in uncommon, outdated guitars. It has since moved to Tarzana and over time has develop into the go-to spot for most of the most well-known guitar gamers on the earth each time they’re in LA. The Norman’s Uncommon Guitars Documentary on Netflix just isn’t a couple of band or an artist, however in some ways, Harris and his guitar store are as vital to rock historical past as any artist.
ReMastered: The Lion’s Share
ReMastered: The Lion’s Share tells the story of the track “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and the royalties from that track. It’s an interesting look behind the scenes of the music trade and simply how ugly issues can get in relation to the funds. It follows the historical past of that one track, and highlights the sophisticated system that usually rewards individuals apart from those who’re really answerable for music’s greatest hits. It’s not a glance into the creative aspect of rock, however that aspect is simply half of the story. It helps clarify the opposite 50%, the enterprise aspect, and simply how bizarre it’s.
This is not, in fact, an exhaustive checklist of nice music documentaries on Netflix, and the streamer appears to be fairly devoted to including new ones in each style usually. On the very least, these are a few of my favorites to start out with.