Today's episode is about "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", a 2024 HBO/MAX doc about Little Steven aka Miami Steve aka Silvio Dante aka the Lillehammer guy, directed by Bill Teck.

This doc has almost everything you ever wanted to know about the legendary sideman, front man, and Renaissance man. The man who likes scarves, who loves rock & roll, and who ain't gonna play Sun City.

If you're a fan of almost any subgenre of rock music between approximately 1955-1990, or if you just thought he was fun in The Sopranos, you'll dig this one.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Check out Treble's piece on the Springsteen classic "Born to Run": https://www.treblezine.com/bruce-springsteen-born-to-run-treble-100-no-33/

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.", a 2020 doc about the legendary indie rock power trio, directed by Philipp Reichenheim.

Early in the movie, Dinosaur Jr.'s singer and guitarist says, “I don’t know where people got this idea that it’s supposed to be fun to play music.” Their music is fun to listen to and their shows are a blast, but for a long time these guys took the whole thing very very seriously, and the strain that attitude put on their relationships is a focus of the film.

There's a lot of lot of great music, excellent live footage, and some good talking heads (including a very weird and funny bit from the Pixies' Frank Black). What more do you want? To have fun??

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?", from 2010, directed by John Scheinfeld.

Our guest today is Galen Howard, star of stage and screen. Check out his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galenhoward/?hl=en

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)? takes us through the life of the unlikely, self-destructive pop genius. Harry rose from a troubled childhood to become the Beatles' favorite musician. Many of the famous talking heads in the film survived partying through the 70s. Harry's lifestyle eventually caught up with him. The film celebrates his legacy and is full of hair-raising stories and fantastic music.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "All I Can Say", from 2019, directed by Danny Clinch, Taryn Gould, Colleen Hennessy, and, posthumously, Shannon Hoon.

Our guest today is Ryan Bradford. Check out his Substack at https://awkwardsd.substack.com/ as well as our previous episode with Ryan about GWAR.

"All I Can Say" is compiled from VHS footage taken by Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon from his early days as an aspiring musician right up until a few hours before his death at 28 from an accidental drug overdose. Shannon compulsively filmed his life during his unlikely rise to fame, from intimate family moments to hanging out with Guns N' Roses. The "found footage" approach takes us into the recording studio, on the road with Blind Melon, and even into the delivery room when Shannon's daughter is being born. The movie is an unexpected and fitting tribute to Shannon's talents as a musician and visual artist.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "The Greatest Night in Pop", a 2024 Netflix doc about the making of "We Are the World", directed by Bao Nguyen.

The move has two acts - Act 1 is a heist film-style tick-tock about how the concept came together at the behest of Harry Belafonte, the song got written despite Stevie Wonder ghosting Lionel Richie, and the Avengers of 80s Pop was assembled just in time for the recording.

Act 2 has us in the room during one very long night as Quincy Jones triest to wrangle several dozen superstars and capture performances from everyone from an eager Huey Lewis to a truly miserable Bob Dylan.

Plus: how Sheila E was unsuccessfully used by the producers as a honeypot to get Prince to the recording, why Waylon Jennings muttered, "ain't no good old boy ever sung in Swahili", Diana Ross' unexpected moment of sweetness, and much much more.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

 

Today's episode is about "Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm", from 2010, directed by Jacob Hatley.

Our guest today is a returning champion, Eamon O'Flynn, host of Record Roulette Podcast, which can be found on Twitter @rrmusicpod - check out our previous episode with Eamon about "Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band".

"Ain't in It for My Health" is very different from Robbie's movie - it offers an intimate and revealing picture of The Band's legendary singer and drummer, Levon Helm, as he struggles with cancer while recording what ended up being the final studio album he released during his life, the Grammy-winning "Electric Dirt". We see Levon crack wise and offer hard-earned wisdom surrounded by family and friends (famous and obscure), undertake a short tour under challenging conditions, and work closely with guitarist/producer Larry Campbell.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today on Rock Docs we discuss "The Song Remains the Same", a 1976 film about Led Zeppelin directed by Peter Clifton and Joe Massot.

For those who haven't seen the film, or whose memory of seeing it is lost in a drug-addled haze (as it was meant to be seen), the movie starts with LZ manager Peter Grant dressed as a 1930s gangster shooting a Nazi werewolf and it just gets weirder from there.

This is nominally a concert film (is it even a rock doc at all?) shot during the band's 1973 shows at Madison Square Garden, but it also includes footage shot on a soundstage in England made up to look like MSG, as well as fantasy sequences featuring each of the band's members.

Our guest, and the man who selected this cinematic masterpiece for us to review, is comedian and actor Cam Herdt. Check out Cam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mistercam/?hl=en and on his own Best Show Ever on the Osiris Network: https://linktr.ee/bestshowever

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

 

Today on Rock Docs we discuss "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone", a 2010 film about the alternative rock band Fishbone, co-produced and co-directed by Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler, and narrated by actor Laurence Fishburne.

Our guest for this episode is Dallas McLaughlin, Fishbone superfan and the world's foremost satirist. Check out his stuff at dallasmclaughlin.com

Everyday Sunshine goes into the backstory of Fishbone, how busing, desegregation, and the clash of various LA music scenes led to a band whose music is a unique blend of funk, rock, metal, pop, and genres yet to be defined. The movie gets pretty heavy as the band goes through a variety of struggles and lineup changes, personal troubles, and a toxic level of theremin abuse. This is not a clean, pretty story where everything wraps up in a neat bow. Recommended if you like your rock docs served raw.

As of this writing, you can watch the movie on 

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Welcome to Nick's Pick's Vol. 3, in which we invite our friend and returning champion Nick McCann on to discuss any documentary he chooses.

Today's episode is about "Sound City", a 2013 doc about the LA recording studio Sound City. The movie was directed by Dave Grohl.

The movie features a bunch of Dave Grohl's buds such as Stevie Nicks, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Trent Reznor, Stephen Pearcy from RATT (underrated!), Rick Rubin, and of course Rick Springfield.

Also: if you directed a music documentary, would it be good?

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Don't Look Back", a 1967 doc about Bob Dylan directed by D. A. Pennebaker.

Our guest for this episode is Ray Padgett, author of "Pledging My Time: Conversations With Bob Dylan Band Members", the Dylan Substack "Flagging Down the Double E's", and the "Every Tom Waits Song" Substack.

Don't Look Back is one of the most well-known and well-regarded music documentaries of all time. What is there to say? It's Don't Look Back for chrissakes. Enjoy our conversation about the movie with Ray, a true Dylan head and a lovely gent.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

 

Today's episode is about "X: The Unheard Music", a 1986 doc about the LA-based punk legends X. The movie was directed by W.T. Morgan.

Our guest for this episode is another legend: Juliana Hatfield!

Juliana is known for her many solo albums along with her work with the bands Blake Babies and the Lemonheads. Her new album, Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO, is out now. We can't get it out of our heads.

X: The Unheard Music features the band performing many of their classic songs (along with their cover of the Doors' "Soul Kitchen" featuring a very dadcore Ray Manzarek). In between, we get to spend some time with each of the band members as they discuss their lives and the evolution of the band.

D.J. Bonebrake plays a Benny Goodman tune on the vibraphone! John Doe and Exene Cervenka cover Hank Williams! We get a revealing conversation from a clown-ass record executive explaining why he chose to sign long-forgotten 80s rockers Point Blank over X! What more could you possibly want?

Also: did you know that Hollywood has a dark underbelly?

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

 

It's our 2nd annual Thanksgiving look at The Last Waltz. This time we're joined by Julia Swanson, noted superfan of the late Robbie Robertson. 

Plus: imagine all of the guests at the Last Waltz got sick and had to cancel at the last minute. Who among the constellation of rock stars circa 1976 would you draft for your very own Last Waltz team?

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Scott Walker: 30 Century Man", from 2006, directed by Stephen Kijak.

Our guest today is Zara Hedderman, who listens to albums & writes (mostly) & talks (sometimes) about them in The Quietus, Aquarium Drunkard, Northern Transmissions, RTÉ Arena, and The IMRO Podcast.

The movie is about Scott Walker, who evolved from a 50s & 60s teen idol to an enigmatic avant-garde icon whose music pushed the boundaries of space, time, and sanity. For years, nobody knew much about him. Then this documentary came out and revealed that he was actually kind of a chill dude.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", a 2008 doc about the then-obscure Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. The film was directed by Sacha Gervasi.

Our guest for this episode is Fran Broderick, who records as Left-Handed 2nd Baseman. Check out his new album "The Dogs Race to the Door" and more at lh2b.com.

The movie follows the band's two core members, childhood friends Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner, as they confront the challenges of being middle-aged rockers who never found the success they felt they deserved. Lips and Robb work delivery and construction jobs, scrape together gigs, and try to support their families while continuing to chase their rock star dreams. We see them go through a calamitous European tour, a heated album recording process, and various ups and downs (more downs than ups, to be honest).

The movie is an enduring classic because Lips and Robb are such loveable, sympathetic characters. Lips' heartfelt, inspirational speeches are unforgettable. Regardless of whether you are a metalhead or a metal-agnostic, you can't help but root for these guys.

\m/

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

This episode is a recording of the first-ever live Rock Docs podcast, recorded at the home of Michael and Kristy Rennie along with friends and fans of the podcast. Along with King Crimson superfan Roger Morrison, we watched the 2022 documentary "In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50", directed by Toby Amies.

What you'll hear in this episode is the conversation following the screening.

The movie is an exploration of the legendary prog rock band King Crimson, overseen by Robert Fripp, the band's leader and only consistent member. We see the band as they prepare for and go on a 50th anniversary tour, along with interviews with current and past members.

The movie is as eccentric as the band itself, and is also surprisingly warm and funny. Featuring memorable moments from fans (including a nun) and the band's grizzled roadies.

Thanks again to Michael and Kristy for co-hosting the event, to Michael for stepping into Andy's shoes as the episode's co-host, and to Roger for his KC insights.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing", a 2006 doc about the (formerly Dixie) Chicks and the fallout from Natalie Maines' famous 2003 comment, "We do not want this war, this violence. We're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas". The film was directed by Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck.

Our guest for this episode is the music writer and podcast producer Dylan Tupper Rupert.

We follow the band as they deal with the immediate repercussions of the statement and get a view of the social and political climate in the U.S. during the early days of the Iraq War. The movie takes us back and forth between 2003 and the band's 2005-6 recording of their next album, Taking the Long Way, and subsequent tour.

The movie presents the Chicks as a trio with an unbreakable bond facing the first real challenge to their spectacular career. While the focus is on "the comment" and what follows, the movie also gives us an opportunity to appreciate the Chicks' incredible catalog of hits and undeniable musicianship.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "The Devil and Daniel Johnston", a 2005 doc about the musician, outsider artist, and revered cult figure Daniel Johnston, directed by Jeff Feuerzeig.

The movie was selected by our guest Noah Bond, who plays drums with many excellent bands including Cut Worms, Bonnie Doon, Sylvie, and Anna St. Louis.

Daniel Johnston was an illustrator, filmmaker, and a musician who wrote and recorded countless beautiful songs, most of which were captured on a home cassette deck accompanied only by his rudimentary piano and guitar. Daniel was a troubled soul. He suffered from bipolar disorder and was hospitalized multiple times.

The film focuses on his upbringing, featuring deeply revealing interviews with his family, as well as the outpouring of art that followed his brief college friendship with fellow artist Laurie Allen, who unknowingly became Daniel's muse. Eventually Daniel found a measure of fame for his music and art thanks to the attention he received from supporters such as Kurt Cobain. 

Daniel's life wasn't easy on him or the people around him. The film is a remarkable tribute to him and an enormous accomplishment.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche", a 2021 doc about the British punk legend and X-Ray Spex leader, directed by Celeste Bell and Paul Sng.

The movie was selected by our guests, Sweeping Promises. Check out their outstanding new album Good Living Is Coming for You.

Poly Styrene, born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said, was the child of a Scottish-Irish mother and a Somali father. Celeste Bell, her daughter, narrates and appears in the film in addition to being its co-director. It's a very personal examination of Poly's life and career as Celeste deals with the aftermath of Poly's 2011 death from cancer.

We learn about Poly's challenging youth as a mixed-race child in postwar Britain, her explosion as a teenage icon in the early British punk scene, and the mental health issues that arose as she encountered New York for the first time. If you're looking for a movie where John Lydon and Sid Vicious come off as good guys, this is not the film for you.

Poly went through several hospitalizations, became a Hare Krishna, lost custody of and later reunited with Celeste, and continued to pursue her artistic ambitions through it all.

It's a beautiful movie and it will hopefully continue to bring more attention to Poly Styrene's life and work.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami", a doc about legendary Jamaican singer and style icon Grace Jones, directed by Sophie Fiennes.

The movie was selected by our guest, Kyp Malone, who you probably know from the seminal 2000's Brooklyn indie-rock band TV on the Radio.

Bloodlight and Bami and is a verite portrait of Grace Jones' life, over the course of a few years in the 2010s. If you're looking for a Wikipedia-style run through Grace Jones' career and the backstory of how she got there, this ain't it. You are just right there with her, living her life. Fortunately, she is a compelling enough figure to carry a movie without a lot of hand-holding by the filmmakers. The movie features many stunning performances (what a voice! she's still got it!), a trip back to Jamaica to reunite with family, scenes of Grace dealing with record companies and TV producers and chewing out Sly & Robbie, and some genuinely touching moments.

Kyp absolutely brought the goods and we were honored and thrilled to have him on. Check out his solo stuff & go see him when he comes to your town.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "The Elephant 6 Recording Co." (C.B. Stockfleth, 2023), about the titular record label's roster of wild outsider indie artists such as Neutral Milk Hotel, the Olivia Tremor Control, the Apples In Stereo, Elf Power, the Music Tapes, the Minders, the Gerbils, of Montreal, Beulah, Dressy Bessy, Great Lakes & more.

Our Very Special Guest is the legendary Lance Bangs, whose credits are too long to list here, but he's worked with most of your favorite musical artists and all of your favorite Jackasses.

The movie is a true audiovisual treat, and Lance was there at the time with these musicians (he was roommates with Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel) and provided much of the film and still photography seen in the movie. So he's the perfect person to shed light on the 90's underground music and art scene in Athens, GA and the making of the movie itself. Plus we discuss the origin of Jackass, his films about Pavement and Slint, and the long and tantalizing list of musicians who Lance has filmed over the years for documentaries we hope to see one day. 

The Elephant 6 Recording Co. is in US theaters August 25th, 2023 and on VOD September 1 (Amazon & Apple TV) from Greenwich Entertainment. In Canadian Theaters August 25th and VOD September 26th from levelFILM.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "WHAM!" (Chris Smith, 2023), a hot new Netflix doc about the massively successful George Michael/Andrew Ridgeley collab.

Our Very Special Guest is Candice Renee from Treble Media! Our podcast is brought to you by Treble Media. And Candice was our guest way back in 2021 for our episode about the documentary "Hype!"! She only talks about rock docs with exclamation points!

WHAM! is actually a very sweet movie about two best friends who supported each other through an unbelievable journey. The movie features the voices of both Andrew Ridgeley and the late George Michael sharing their stories of how they met as kids, how George was influenced by Andrew, and Andrew's perspective on watching his childhood friend eclipse him in artistic ambition and commercial appeal. And of course the movie has loads of great music and extremely entertaining fashion and hair choices.

Plus: was George Michael the Steely Dan of 80's pop? 

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Grateful Dawg" (Gillian Grisman, 2000), which chronicles the friendship and artistic collaboration between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.

Our Very Special Guest is Brian Weinsten of the podcast Attendance Bias. Brian was nice enough to have us on his show and we're returning the favor.

Grateful Dawg is very much a family affair - the director's father is David Grisman, other family members appear in the show, and it features cinematography by Justin Kreutzmann, son of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann.

Garcia and Grisman connected in the 60's around the time the Dead was starting to take off. They had a bluegrass band together, Old and In the Way. After that band fell apart, they lost touch for years. The film goes through that history but focuses primarily on the period of time between their reconnection in the late 80s and Garcia's death in 1995. During that time, playing music with Grisman and spending time with Grisman's family and fellow musicians was a respite from the strain of being "Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead". The film captures revealing moments of Jerry away from the spotlight and (as we explain) contains several musical performances presented in full, along with the absolutely hilarious 1991 music video for Garcia/Grisman's cover of the blues classic "The Thrill Is Gone". It's a great hang.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Harvest Time" (Neil Young, 2022), which consists of footage shot by Neil and his crew between January and September 1971 during the creation of his acclaimed and beloved album "Harvest".
 
Our Very Special Guest is Tyler Wilcox, who plays in the band Prairiewolf (check out their self-titled album out now!), curates the excellent Doom & Gloom From the Tomb site (a selection of rad bootlegs + other music), and writes for Aquarium Drunkard, among other accomplishments. Tyler is a real deal Neil head.

Harvest Time is, if we're not screwing this up, the first documentary we've reviewed that was directed by the artist in question. It's totally verite style - there's no latter-day commentary. Everything you see and hear was created in 1971. We follow Neil as he jams on the Harvest tunes at the Broken Arrow Ranch with his recently-assembled band the Stray Gators, in the studio as he records harmonies with Crosby, Stills, and Nash (in various combinations), as he tries to get the London Symphony Orchestra to get into his groove, and as he stumbles into a Nashville radio station to discuss the then-upcoming album (and the film itself).

Harvest Time is a portrait of a pivotal time in the career of one of the most legendary musicians in rock history. If you abandon the idea of a conventional narrative and just hang back and enjoy the music and the vibes, it's really something.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "The Decline of Western Civilization", from 1981, directed by Penelope Spheeris.

Our guest today is Ian Grant of the Jokermen podcast and media empire. This is Ian's second Rock Docs appearance, having previously joined us to discuss "Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 - Both Ends of the Rainbow" with his fellow Jokerman Evan Laffer.

The Decline of Western Civilization is a snapshot of the early days of the LA punk scene featuring legends such as X, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Germs, and Fear, as well as some less-known scene personalities.

X rules, check out our episode about "X: The Unheard Music" with Juliana Hatfield.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Gimme Danger" (Jim Jarmusch, 2016), which is about Iggy & the Stooges. It's a rags-to-more rags story.

We are all at least halfway to Jarmusch-heads. And of course we all love Iggy & the Stooges. If you care about punk rock, or any kind of rock, or music, or just watching Iggy, an extremly articulate and thoughtful person, discussing the fascinating events of his life while surrounded by his laundry, this is the movie for you.

Plus: Iggy roasts "Marrakesh Express"! Ron Asheton's phone call with Moe Howard! Mike Watt! And were the Stooges the second-ever jam band?
 
Our Very Special Guest is Dan Koch of the podcast Pretty Good Vibrations. Pretty Good Vibrations analyzes and celebrates pop and rock music and its crucial role throughout our lives. We super highly recommend PGV.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "20,000 Days on Earth" (Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, 2014), which is about Nick Cave.   Is this even a documentary at all? It's sort of a semi-fictionalized day in the life in which we follow Nick as he records some music, performs live, visits his therapist, hangs out with friends including Warren Ellis, Kylie Minogue, and Ray Winstone, among others, delivers some monologues, and generally looks and acts super cool, depending on your tolerance for Nick Cave doing those kinds of things.   Our Very Special Guest is Brighton's own Adam Scott Glasspool of the "What Is Music?" podcast about Radiohead (among other artists), and a fine musician in his own right.   Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts   Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt  

Today's special Father's Day episode is about "The Muppets Mayhem", a Disney TV series about Dr. Teeth and Electric Mayhem.
 
Our Very Special Guests are our kids, Callum Keatts (age 5) and Miles Lizerbram (age 6).

Please...enjoy?...this Father's Day treat. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled serious grownup stuff in a few days.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Classic Albums: Steely Dan: Aja" (Alan Lewens, 1999).
 
Part of the "Classic Albums" series, this film explores Steely Dan's best-known and best-selling album. Our Very Special Guests are Alex Pappademas and Joan LeMay, the author and illustrator of "Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers, and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan" - buy it! It's great!

Topics discussed include The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Steely Dan), Donald Fagen's horrible pencil moustache, Donald and Walt's evident glee at owning all of the publishing for the Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz hip-hop classic "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)", the greatness of Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, and so much more.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

This is a rerun of our 2021 episode about the Tina Turner documentary. RIP Tina, we love you.

Today's documentary is TINA, released on HBO Max in 2021, directed by Daniel Lindsay & T. J. Martin. An examination of Tina Turner's life story, including her troubled childhood, her more than troubled marriage to Ike Turner, and her 80's pop triumph.

Plus: covers that are better than the originals, soul singers covering the Beatles, and more.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts
 
Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt
 

Today's episode is about "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco" (Sam Jones, 2002). Widely considered one of the all-time greatest music documentaries, the film follows the band through the making of their breakthrough album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", the unstable relationship between lead singer/songwriter Jeff Tweedy and multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett, and the legendary tale of the album being rejected by their record label only to be issued by another label under the same corporate umbrella.

Check out our interview with the director of this film, Sam Jones, elsewhere in the podcast feed. Great guy, great conversation.

Our Very Special Guest is Hannah Seidlitz of The New Yorker.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed" (Sam Jones, 2023). The documentary covers the recording and release of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's album "Reunions", including Jason's marital discord with his wife and bandmate Amanda Pearl Shires and how Covid affected their family and the album's release.

Also, it's the return of Rock Docs fave Music Box.

Check out our interview with the director of this film, Sam Jones, eleswhere in the podcast feed. Great guy, great conversation.

Our Very Special Guest is Isbell superfan Steven Woods.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Rock Docs: A Podcast About Music Documentaries

A Treble Media Podcast

Today's documentary is Little Richard: I Am Everything, released in 2023, directed by Lisa Cortes.

The movie explores Little Richard's origins and the ups and downs of his career and his life, with a focus on his status as a groundbreaking queer icon and "the architect of rock and roll".

Hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Rock Docs is a Treble Media podcast. Treble is a fully independent media outlet devoted to music. You can find out more at Treblezine.com. If you’d like to support the community of writers and creators behind Treble, please head to patreon.com/treblezine

Rock Docs: A Podcast About Music Documentaries

A Treble Media Podcast

Today's episode is a bonus - an interview with our Very Special Guest, Sam Jones, the director of several films including "Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed", "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart", and "Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off".

Sam was incredibly generous with his time, sharing his insights and stories about the making of classic rock docs (and one of our favorite "rock docs that's not a rock doc").

How did he get Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and the members of Wilco to open up about their professional and personal lives? What's it like going into a documentary with no idea what he was going to get? How did he adapt to the unexpected, from Wilco getting dropped by their label to Isbell's record release running into a global pandemic?

Thanks to Sam for spending his time with us. Check out all of his work, he's a real one.

Hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Rock Docs is a Treble Media podcast. Treble is a fully independent media outlet devoted to music. You can find out more at Treblezine.com. If you’d like to support the community of writers and creators behind Treble, please head to patreon.com/treblezine

Today's episode is about "Crossfire Hurricane" (Brett Morgen, 2012). The documentary covers the career of the Rolling Stones from their beginnings until the late 70s.

Our Very Special Guest is Dan Jasper of the fantastic Mad Men podcast They Coined It.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is a rare one where the subject is not a specific documentary (although there is some rock doc talk). We're joined by returning guest Steven Hyden to discuss his new book "There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's “Born in the U.S.A.” and the End of the Heartland" and all things Bruce.

Steven previously joined us to review "Pearl Jam Twenty".

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Depeche Mode 101" (D.A. Pennebaker, David Dawkins, Chris Hegedus, 1989). It's about the band Depeche Mode as they play the final concert of the Music for the Masses tour in the Rose Bowl - and about a group of teenage fans on a bus across the country headed for the concert.

Our Very Special Guest is David Rosen of the podcast Piecing It Together.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Rock Docs: A Podcast About Music Documentaries

A Treble Media Podcast

Today's documentary is Meet Me in the Bathroom, released in 2022, directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace.

Meet Me in the Bathroom is about the early 2000s New York rock revival, featuring The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, Moldy Peaches, TV on the Radio, and The Rapture. We love those bands! Did we love the movie?

Hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Rock Docs is a Treble Media podcast. Treble is a fully independent media outlet devoted to music. You can find out more at Treblezine.com. If you’d like to support the community of writers and creators behind Treble, please head to patreon.com/treblezine

Welcome to Nick's Pick's Vol. 2, in which we invite our Very Special Guest and returning champion Nick McCann on to discuss any documentary he chooses.

Today's documentary is Garth Brooks: The Road I’m On, released in 2019, directed by Al Szymanski.

This doc is a two-parter from the A&E Biography series. We all went into this episode not knowing that much about Garth Brooks and boy did we learn some life lessons. Garth is maybe the most interesting character we've encountered in the Rock Docs journey so far. Don't sleep on this one, folks!

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Without Getting Killed or Caught" (Tamara Saviano and Paul Whitfield, 2020). It's about the Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark and his relationships with his wife, Susanna Clark, and his best friend, Townes Van Zandt.

Our Very Special Guest is Tyler Jordan of the fantastic Texas rock band Good Looks. Check out their songs "Almost Automatic" and "Bummer Year", featured in this episode.

Oh and there was an audio issue so Andy's sound wasn't recorded, oops. Good episode anyway though!

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run" (Thom Zimny, 2005). It's about, of course, the making of Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Our Very Special Guest is RJ Bee, co-founder of Osiris Media, which brings you many fine podcasts. Check them out!

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

 

Today's episode is about "Gigantic! A Tale of Two Johns" (AJ Schnack, 2002). It's about They Might Be Giants.

Our Very Special Guest is Dennis Perkins, music writer and the man who wrote "The best music documentaries of all time".

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today we're joined by Michael Des Barres, who is the 26th Marquis Des Barres if you're keeping track. He's the subject of the documentary "Who Do You Want Me To Be?" (J. Elvis Weinstein, 2020).

There's no simple way to sum up Michael's wild and eventful life, but here's a start: the son of a junkie aristocrat and a schizophrenic showgirl becomes a master of reinvention on a 50+ year journey through rock and roll, TV, and movies.

As you'll hear, Michael is an open book and was nice enough to come on and share tons of rock and roll stories along with his thoughts about music and everything else under the sun.

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "We Are Twisted Sister" (Andrew Horn, 2014). It's about the rise - just the rise, none of the stuff after the rise - of the pioneering shock rock hair metal band Twisted Sister. Our guest is American painter, Mountain Brews and Richard Pictures band member, and Internet Radio Show host Jake Longstreth.

File this movie under "way, way better than you thought it was going to be".

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Rock Docs: A Podcast About Music Documentaries

Today's documentary is Moonage Daydream, released in 2022, directed by Brett Morgen.

Moonage Daydream is about David Bowie. It was released with the approval of the estate of Bowie, although Morgen was given final cut. The audio was mixed by Bowie's longtime producer and collaborator Tony Visconti. Befitting its subject, it stands out from most of the more conventional rock docs.

Hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

 

You may have heard of today's documentary, The Last Waltz, featuring The Band. The documentary was directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1978.

For this episode we are joined by Very Special Guest Tyrell Lisson of the podcast The Band: A History. Tyrell is the official (unofficial) world's expert on The Band and he has lots of insight to share with us.

So - does The Last Waltz deserve its place as possibly the most highly rated rock doc of all time? How do the various superstar guests (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, our girl Mavis Staples, etc.) rank? Does Eric Clapton suck? And what about the controversial appearance by The Jewish Elvis, Neil Diamond?

All this and much more on today's Thanksgiving episode of Rock Docs.

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode is about "Let It Be", from 1970 and 2024, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

Our guest today is Jeremy Kaplan of the band Dogs in a Pile.

A restored version of the original Let It Be movie has shown up on Disney+. We talk about it. It's the Beatles, you know the story. How does this movie fit into the great context of the Get Back experience? Which version of the rooftop concert is better? And what's up with that very weird dialogue between Peter Jackson and Michael Lindsay-Hogg before the movie starts?

Plus: Evan Laffer of Jokermen provides us with his very brief review of The Beach Boys documentary, also on Disney+.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod
 
Instagram: @RockDocsPod
 
Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

Today's episode isn't about a specific documentary - instead, we're joined by Very Special Guest Jon Wurster to discuss some of his favorite music documentaries.

Jon Wurster plays drums for Superchunk, The Mountain Goats, and Bob Mould (how did we forget to mention Bob Mould?), and has also played with artists as varied as (deep breath) Bob Dylan, R.E.M., Robert Pollard, Katie Perry, Charlie Daniels, Jay Farrar, The New Pornographers, Rocket From the Crypt, Ben Gibbard, and more!

And he's also known for The Best Show with his comedy pal Tom Scharpling. And lots of other stuff!

Jon is a great guy and we were thrilled to have him on our show. Check him out on Twitter @jonwurster or follow his hilarious Instagram account, also conveniently @jonwurster

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Welcome to the final episode in our unofficial, unplanned Halloween episodes. Today's episode features Very Special Guest Ryan Bradford. Check out his Substack at https://awkwardsd.substack.com/

Today's documentary is This Is GWAR, released in 2022, directed by Scott Barber.

GWAR is an art collective/metal/punk band of disgusting, blasphemous alien barbarians who have come to the worst planet in the universe: Earth. The movie tells the story of this longstanding project, with a few moments of victory mixed with an unbelievable amout of pain, struggle, and interpersonal conflict. And yet the movie becomes oddly emotional. Some people might think GWAR is a sick joke, but this movie is the real deal.

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

 

 

Rock Docs: A Podcast About Music Documentaries

Today's documentary is A Band Called Death, released in 2012, directed by Mark Christopher Covino and Jeff Howlett.

Death was a band created by three black teenage brothers in Detroit in the 1970s. Some say they invented punk. They were completely ignored, and then were rediscovered 30 years later...but only after a family tragedy would make the resulting embrace of the band bittersweet.

Hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Welcome to Nick's Pick's Vol. 1, in which we invite our Very Special Guest and returning champion Nick McCann on to discuss any documentary he chooses.

Today's documentary is Some Kind of Monster, about Metallica, released in 2004, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.

If you are at all interested in music documentaries, you've probably seen this one, or it's at least on your radar. We go on an emotional journey with Metallica as they deal with the departure of bassist Jason Newsted, spend a whole lot of time with "performance enhancement coach" Phil Towle, record their infamous St. Anger album, audition new bass players, almost fall apart, James goes to rehab, the art auction happens, the "stock" argument goes down, Bob Rock is in the mix, they eat a lot of takeout, so many things happen in this legendary documentary that we can't possibly cover it all in one podcast, but we try to do it justice.

Rock Docs is hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod

Instagram: @RockDocsPod

Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt