what necessary music documentary hasn't been made?

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In the last few years, a bunch of my favorite music stories have been tackled in documentary films: Gary Wilson, Mission of Burma, Jandek, Leonard Cohen, the Minutemen, Daniel Johnston, Scott Walker. So... what's left?
What music documentary would you love to see that hasn't been made?

― davelus (davelus), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:23 (twenty years ago)

The Life and Times of Project Pat.

― Disco Nihilist (mjt), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:28 (twenty years ago)

the uk club scene post-disco and pre acid house.

― pisces (piscesx), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:36 (twenty years ago)

Os Mutantes... unless it's been done?

― davelus (davelus), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:40 (twenty years ago)

Hank Williams

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:47 (twenty years ago)

the fall, amon duul, henry flynt

― electro-acoustic lycanthrope (orion), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:53 (twenty years ago)

The history of the Stooges complete with rare concert clips and other assorted debauchery.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

Sparks.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

NYC hip-hop.

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:00 (twenty years ago)

Specifically, 90s NYC hip-hop. I would also like a book of this.

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:01 (twenty years ago)

Black Fucking Flag

Ian, there's a pretty good BBC doc on The Fall that came out a couple of years ago - The Wonderful and Frightening World of Mark E Smith...

― Edward III (edward iii), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:11 (twenty years ago)

I was just gonna say: "no one has made a movie about The Fall??? I'm on it."
any idea where/if that's available in the states?

― davelus (davelus), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:17 (twenty years ago)

Sly and the Family Stone

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:21 (twenty years ago)

and to be fair Black Flag is at least already covered in Decline of Western Civ Pt 1.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:21 (twenty years ago)

I saw the unreleased documentary on Black Flag's '86 tour. It was shot by one of the guys in the miserable Painted Willie. It's a terrible film.

― Roy Kasten (Roy Kasten), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:22 (twenty years ago)

I'd like to see something on the Detroit music scene over the last forty years. How do you get from Motown to the White Stripes via Transmat?

― Treblekicker (treblekicker), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:23 (twenty years ago)

os mutantes - http://youtube.com/watch?v=KO4cUtWGmrQ&search=os%20mutantes

that MC5 doc needs to get a release somehow.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:23 (twenty years ago)

I've always wanted to see Until The Light Takes Us, which is this unreleased documentary about Norwegian blackmetal that Harmony Korine is somehow involved in.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

"I'd like to see something on the Detroit music scene over the last forty years. How do you get from Motown to the White Stripes via Transmat?"

seconded...George Clinton is the missing link here, but it would be interesting to see how Alice Cooper, MC5/Stooges, Was (Not Was), Madonna and ICP also fit into the equation...

― hank (hank s), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:55 (twenty years ago)

yes, that and the Cleveland/Akron music scene in the 70's. (Pere Ubu, etc...)

There was a made-for PBS documentary about the Akron scene about 5 years ago - it only aired in Akron though & I didn't get to see it.

― dave's good arm (facsimile) (dave225.3), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:01 (twenty years ago)

and to be fair Black Flag is at least already covered in Decline of Western Civ Pt 1.
-- Shakey Mo Collier (audiobo...), May 30th, 2006.

I'm imagining a more narrative 1977 thru 1986 treatment similar to The Minutemen one. That said, it will be nice when Spheeris finally finishes rummaging through her junk closet and puts those Decline DVDs out.

I was just gonna say: "no one has made a movie about The Fall??? I'm on it."
any idea where/if that's available in the states?
-- davelus (davelu...), May 30th, 2006.

The BBC doc on The Fall made the usual internet/torrent rounds, haven't heard anything about an official release.

― Edward III (edward iii), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:05 (twenty years ago)

The Velvet Underground
John Fahey
The Boredoms

& "Behind The Music"s on Black Dice, Daft Punk and Will Oldham

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:13 (twenty years ago)

There's a great Captain Beefheart doc that was shown a handful of times on the BBC in the 80s, also unreleased. Name escapes me.

Can't imagine the story of the Butthole Surfers being less than entertaining.

An 80s NYC noise rock (Swans/SY/Live Skull/Branca) doc would spark my interest, don't know how compelling the story would be for non-fans though...

― Edward III (edward iii), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:16 (twenty years ago)

E3: a doc devoted to Swans sounds like it could be a good one, especially if it follows Gira into Angels of Light territory, and Young God's increasing influence in folk-influenced releases...

― davelus (davelus), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:22 (twenty years ago)

the beefheart doc is on youtube FYI.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:22 (twenty years ago)

pere ubu
daft punk

― RoxyMuzak© (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:25 (twenty years ago)

Pere Punk

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:26 (twenty years ago)

is there an Arthur Russell doc that's been done? the only AR-related film projects I can think of are Phill Niblock's "Terrace of Unintelligibility", and "Some Imaginary Far Away Type Things", both of which were released with World of Echo

actually, a movie about Phill Niblock is something I'd want to watch, too.

― davelus (davelus), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:29 (twenty years ago)

The Norweigan black metal band MAYHEM....look them up, by far the most ridiculously fucked up story of any rock band EVER.

― Earl Gray, Tuesday, 30 May 2006 17:38 (twenty years ago)

if that Young Marble Giants reunion hinted at a few years ago when they played that BBC Radio Wales radio special ever comes about, then they're an obvious contender, no?

― davelus (davelus), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:12 (twenty years ago)

B-52s

― ((((((DOPplur)))n)))u))))tttt (donut), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:17 (twenty years ago)

A documentary about Nuggets would be great. Also, I think the Pogues would be a great one (the Shane MacGowan one isn't so great. Too late in the game). Mayhem would have a fascinating one, for sure.

― punis (punis), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:41 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure there's an interesting story to be told about Chrome, and hearing their stuff in Dolby surround on a massive system with appropriate visuals would be a real headbuster.

― Soukesian, Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:43 (twenty years ago)

There hasn't ever been a good, bonafide VU doc, although the South Bank Show from about 20 years ago I thought was pretty decent, albeit short. How long of a youtube can I do? I'll put it up if I can do a 40 minute video.....

― dave's good arm (facsimile) (dave225.3), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:55 (twenty years ago)

Despite not being a fan of the C93/NWW scene covered by the "England's Hidden Reverse" book, it strikes me as the kind of thing that could be the basis of a really classic BBC Arena type doc, particularly while most of the principals are still around to be interviewed.

― Soukesian, Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:56 (twenty years ago)

I'd love to see a documentary about Melt-Banana's pre-Sudoh trio period.
Ideally it would be a ten-part series.

― shieldforyoureyes (shieldforyoureyes), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 19:04 (twenty years ago)

a 90s alternative documentary that isn't just "and then Nirvana broke through, we won / lost, story over"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 19:08 (twenty years ago)

How long of a youtube can I do? I'll put it up if I can do a 40 minute video.....

Youtube, I think, limits you to 10 minutes. Google video has no limit.

― punis (punis), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 19:44 (twenty years ago)

Son House

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 20:53 (twenty years ago)

how bout' Bud Powell...

― silence dogood (catcher), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 20:58 (twenty years ago)

"Classic Albums: Selling England By The Pound"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

I'd like to see something on the Detroit music scene over the last forty years. How do you get from Motown to the White Stripes via Transmat?
-- Treblekicker

That's a good one, I'd like to see that too.

― registered ratty (registered ratty), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 21:12 (twenty years ago)

You can go any way you like, but the well-advised traveller ought not get off when the trolley stops at Viv Akauldren-land.

― Shoes say, yeah, no hands clap your good bra. (goodbra), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 01:50 (twenty years ago)

I'm going to second Hank Williams.

Has anything been done on the Allman Brothers Band? How about Bo Diddley?

― shorty (shorty), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 02:20 (twenty years ago)

I could really go for a quality southern rock doc, too.

― jim wentworth (wench), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 02:34 (twenty years ago)

that MC5 doc needs to get a release somehow.

yeah this was such a shame, I saw a version of it at a film festival a couple of years back and it was fantastic. 'black to comm' tv clip was totally hilarious!

― lil' merzbow wow (haitch), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 02:36 (twenty years ago)

personally I'd like to see one focusing on the australian bands who went to london in the early '80s to try and crack the big time - birthday party, go-bes, laughing clowns, triffids etc etc. they intermingled a lot, it's been a recurring theme of books on the period.

― lil' merzbow wow (haitch), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 02:38 (twenty years ago)

My answer for "who deserves wider exposure?" in any form is always Henry Threadgill.

― Keywords: revenge, knife, granddaughter, demonic-possession, rock-star, eel (Aus, Wednesday, 31 May 2006 02:48 (twenty years ago)

How bout' music documentaries about non-musicians?

Alan Lomax?

― silence dogood (catcher), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 02:53 (twenty years ago)

I saw a great one on Hank Williams on CMT a couple years ago that was originally produced by the BBC. Have no idea if it's available for purchase, though.

I'd like to see one on the Replacements.

I would say Harry Nilsson too, but there's one coming out very soon which looks great.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 03:02 (twenty years ago)

I want to see a movie about the early Dischord/Washington DC scene. The bits in "Another State Of Mind" are so tantalizing.

Also: Harry Partch.

― sleeve (sleeve), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 03:30 (twenty years ago)

i know there was one done on the minutemen. its called We Jam Econo. it was showing at webster university not too long ago, which is right around the corner from me. didn't get to see it, but my school newspaper did a review.

― jonathan - stl (jonathan - stl), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 04:48 (twenty years ago)

I'd also REALLY like to see "Walk the Line" reshot starring Chris Elliott.

― shieldforyoureyes (shieldforyoureyes), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 04:53 (twenty years ago)

Wasted Days & Wasted Nights : The ILM Story

― timmy tannin (pompous), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 05:06 (twenty years ago)

How bout' music documentaries about non-musicians? (how do I do that italic thing, then?)

There's a film about Lomax called The Songhunter, I think it's doing the rounds of the film festivals

― evil bill (evil bill), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 10:25 (twenty years ago)

Vordul getting sonned by Will High.

― ramon fernandez (ramon fernandez), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 12:27 (twenty years ago)

Shoegaze. Trip hop (haven't been in ILM long, am I allowed to call it that here?).

― Ned Beauman (NedBeauman), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 17:24 (twenty years ago)

For those seeking a Hank doc, I thought American Masters: Hank Williams by PBS was really good, even if it's just an hour long. Some old footage, lots of interviews with people who were there (Hank's widow, band, etc.) You can buy it on DVD for twenty bucks, if yer so inclined.

― Jason Toon (Jason Toon), Thursday, 1 June 2006 15:24 (twenty years ago)

Oh, and about the thread question, I'd like to see definitive documentaries about:

- Phil Ochs
- Red Wedge
- early NYC hop-hop
- Rose Tattoo
- Oi!
- Dean Reed

― Jason Toon (Jason Toon), Thursday, 1 June 2006 15:26 (twenty years ago)

we need one about woodstock or the sex pistols

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 1 June 2006 15:33 (twenty years ago)

"It was easy it was cheap" – The Lives & Times of The Desperate Bicycles.

― eyesteel (eyesteel), Thursday, 1 June 2006 17:29 (twenty years ago)

Bobby O

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 1 June 2006 17:39 (twenty years ago)

If they don't already exist:

Patsy Cline
Talk Talk

and,

MICK RONSON...

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 1 June 2006 19:47 (twenty years ago)

TESHTICLES: The Passions of John Tesh

― sweetlullaby, Friday, 2 June 2006 05:52 (twenty years ago)

i know eppy said nyc hip-hop, but i'd like to see something on late '80s/early '90s hip-hop in general, kind of spanning from "my adidas" to "the chronic." that was the era hip-hop really started to take over the charts -- had the first rap single hit #1 (not sure about albums -- what was the first rap album to top the chart?). and there were all those different strands, the political stuff with p.e., the native tongues stuff, the emergence of n.w.a., "yo mtv raps," and it was all bound up black political demonstrations on campuses, the l.a. riots, crack, gangs, etc. it was a really fertile, volatile time, musically and culturally. and most those guys are still around to talk about it.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 2 June 2006 06:02 (twenty years ago)

(oh right, the beasties had the first #1 rap album, duh. well, they're in that period too.)

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 2 June 2006 06:04 (twenty years ago)

- early NYC hop-hop
Check it:

Style Wars (2 DVD set is pretty comprehensive)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177262/

Wild Style (not a documentary, but a snapshot of what was going on at the time, kind of like what Downtown 81 did for no wave)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084904/

BBC doc on hip hop from 1984, you can download the entire thing here:
http://www.hiphop-network.com/archives/outsidevideos/bbc-historyofhiphop-1984/bbchiphophistory.asp

And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop (5 hour series on VH1 - was this any good?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426645/

― Edward III (edward iii), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:00 (twenty years ago)

OMG Dom I love you

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Friday, 2 June 2006 20:29 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

is there a documentary about donovan?

― joan vich (joan vich), Monday, 18 September 2006 14:09 (nineteen years ago)

He was featured in the BBC's Folk Britannia series of documentaries, but to my knowledge has never had a documentary done specifically about himself.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 18 September 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

Lonnie Johnson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_Johnson

Helped in the creation of jazz and blues guitar, drifted through Armstrong's and Ellington's orchestras, worked as a janitor in the 1950's when Elvis's first recordings included a cover of "Tomorrow Night", got rediscoverd in the folkie early 1960s then toured the blues revival circuit until dying in 1970. Probably saw and participated in a greater breadth of American popular music than anyone else, over the 50 years that it expanded to become a worldwide phenomenon.

― bendy (bendy), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 03:19 (nineteen years ago)

Definitely Shihad. They totally rule.

― GLC (ZakAce), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 06:57 (nineteen years ago)

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