Music Documentaries Movies

Charlie is my Darling - Ireland 1965

Charlie is my Darling - Ireland 1965

Music Documentaries

ABKCO Films presents a meticulously restored and fully-realized version of this first-ever, legendary, but never released film. Shot during a quick tour of Ireland just weeks after “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” hit # 1 on the charts, The Rolling Stones Charlie is my Darling - Ireland 1965 is an intimate, behind-the-scenes diary of life on the road with the young Stones. It features the first professionally filmed concert performances of the band and documents the early frenzy of their fans and the riots the band’s appearances inspired. The band is shown traveling through the Irish countryside by train; dashing from cabs to cramped, basement dressing rooms through screaming hordes of fans. Motel rooms host impromptu songwriting sessions and familiar classics are heard in their infancy as riff and lyric are united. Charlie is my Darling is the invaluable frame that captures the spark about to combust into The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World.

Murder In the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story

Murder In the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story

Music Documentaries

In the early 1980's, a small group of dedicated Bay Area headbangers shunned the hard rock of MTV and Hollywood hairspray bands in favor of a more dangerous brand of metal that became known as thrash! Director Adam Dubin captures the rocking early days featuring interviews with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Testament, Death Angel, Possessed and many more! Narrated by Brian Posehn.

The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town

The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town

Music Documentaries

"The Promise: The Making of Darkness On The Edge of Town" was directed by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny. The film received a rapturous critical response around the world, including as an official selection, Toronto International Film Festival, The BFI London Film Festival, and The International Rome Film Festival. The Los Angeles Times gave 'The Promise' five stars, while Variety called it "thrilling...a vivid portrait." The film is accompanied by the bonus features "Songs From the Promise," a five-song concert event filmed in Asbury Park, NJ, and "A Conversation With His Fans," an intimate question-and-answer session.

Born in Chicago

Born in Chicago

Music Documentaries

In the late 1950s the dynamic Chicago blues scene was at a crossroads. The music's patriarchs - Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf - were still vital and playing regularly at the many blues clubs on the city's south side. But the scene had peaked, as young African Americans were discovering the sounds of Motown, Stax and the soul of James Brown. Born In Chicago, a new feature documentary, tells this fascinating story through the voices of those who were there and extensive use of rarely seen archival footage.

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone

Music Documentaries

Narrated by Laurence Fishburne, EVERYDAY SUNSHINE charts the turbulent history of the pioneering all-Black rock band Fishbone. From the streets of South-Central to Hollywood punk clubs and stages around the world, Fishbone rose to become one of the most original bands of the past 25 years—their influence discernible in many of today’s biggest pop acts. An effortlessly entertaining tale of artists following their own creative paths with punk rock endurance in the face of personality conflicts, family and financial woes, and an unforgiving music industry.

Louie Bluie

Louie Bluie

Music Documentaries

Crumb director Terry Zwigoff’s first film is a true treat: a documentary about the obscure country-blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America. As beguiling a raconteur as he is a performer, Louie makes for a wildly entertaining movie subject, and Zwigoff honors him with an unsentimental but endlessly affectionate tribute. Full of infectious music and comedy, Louie Bluie is a humane evocation of the kind of pop-cultural marginalia that Zwigoff would continue to excavate in the coming years.

Hip Hop Life

Hip Hop Life

Music Documentaries

It's Detroit versus Houston as comedian T.K. Kirkland from G-Unit blazes the mic, while Jadakiss, MC Lyte, and Freeway judge this one-time only Hip Hop battle. This quest for Rhyme City Supremacy is uncensored, unpredictable and unmerciful verbal warfare of the most intense degree. Featuring real battles, real street footage and live performances by award winning platinum artists like Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Fat Joe and Trina, "Hip Hop Life" showcases the rhyme skills and tight tracks of the hottest performers in the underground world of hip hop.

John Monteleone: The Chisels Are Calling

John Monteleone: The Chisels Are Calling

Music Documentaries

A profile of legendary guitar and mandolin builder John Monteleone, whose instruments are on permanent exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Features musical tributes and interviews with Mark Knopfler, David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Ben Harper, Julian Lage, Woody Mann, Anthony Wilson, Jimmy Bruno, Frank Vignola and others. The film covers the multi-faceted artist whose guitars are known not only for their incredible sound, but also for their visually striking and innovative designs.

Deep Blues

Deep Blues

Music Documentaries

In 1990, commissioned by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, veteran music film director Robert Mugge and renowned music scholar Robert Palmer ventured deep into the heart of the North Mississippi Hill Country and Mississippi Delta to seek out the best rural blues acts currently working. Starting on Beale Street in Memphis, they headed south to the juke joints, lounges, front porches, and parlors of Holly Springs, Greenville, Clarksdale, Bentonia, and Lexington. Along the way, they visited celebrated landmarks and documented talented artists cut off from the mainstream of the recording industry. The resulting film expresses reverence for the rich musical history of the region, spotlighting local performers, soon to be world-renowned, thanks in large part to the film, and demonstrating how the blues continues to thrive in new generations of gifted musicians.

I am the Blues

I am the Blues

Music Documentaries

I AM THE BLUES takes the audience on a musical journey through the swamps of the Louisiana Bayou, the juke joints of the Mississippi Delta and Moonshine soaked BBQs in the North Mississippi Hill Country. The film visits blues musicians rooted in the genre's heyday, many in their 80s, still living in the American deep south and touring the Chitlin' Circuit. Let Bobby Rush, Barbara Lynn, Henry Gray, Carol Fran, Little Freddie King, Lazy Lester, Bilbo Walker, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, RL Boyce, LC Ulmer, Lil' Buck Sinegal and their friends awaken the blues in all of us.

Long Live Rock: Celebrate the Chaos

Long Live Rock: Celebrate the Chaos

Music Documentaries

A deep dive into the hard rock music culture. Many of today's top rockstars discuss their often misunderstood genre, the symbiotic relationship they have with their devoted fans and how they use this music as therapy. Featuring members of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Ice-T, Korn, Machine Gun Kelly, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Rage Against the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Halestorm & more.

Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives

Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives

Music Documentaries

Women's rights, gay rights, anti-war protests Holly Near's music speaks directly to the world's young political activists of today. The singer-songwriter's soaring anthems call for peace, feminism, LGBTQ equality, and all human rights. This new award-winning music doc features outstanding concert and rally scenes, and insights from Holly today. From 4 time Emmy winner Jim Brown. New interviews with Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden, and more.

Davi's Way

Davi's Way

Music Documentaries

Davi’s Way follows New York-born and renowned character actor Robert Davi, a Frank Sinatra song stylist, as he attempts to plan a tribute performance to his singing idol, a re-creation of The Chairman’s famous “Main Event” held in 1974 at Madison Square Garden. With the help of his friend, producer Danny A. Abeckaser, and a hired assistant, actor Stevie Guttman, the documentary depicts Davi on a year-long mission. It does not go as smoothly as envisioned. Through comedic interactions too engaging not to have been documented, viewers see an engaging, driven, sensitive and intriguing side to Robert Davi, which is what prompted Abeckaser to create the film. He was won over by Davi’s charm, and wants the world to be as well.

Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown

Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown

Music Documentaries

With “Mr. Dynamite: The Rise Of James Brown,” fans have a documentary befitting the “Godfather of Soul.” Directed by Oscar® and Emmy® winner Alex Gibney, and co-produced by the singular Mick Jagger, “Mr. Dynamite: The Rise Of James Brown” digs into the career of one of music and culture’s towering figures, using fresh interviews with band members and contemporaries, extraordinary historical footage, and rare archival performances of such JB classics as “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag,” “I Got You (I Feel Good),” “Out Of Sight,” “Please Please Please,” “Soul Power,” “Sex Machine,” “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” “Cold Sweat,” and more. The feature-length documentary was made with the cooperation of the Brown Estate, which opened its archives for the first time.Devling into politics, race relations during the explosive civil rights movement, and the raw power behind several of Brown’s most famous tunes, “Mr. Dynamite” was honored with a 2014 Peabody Award, for what the Peabody panel called “its admiring but clear-eyed appraisal of a truly revolutionary musical figure and his legacies, his relationship to America and American culture, to funk, to hip hop, to racial politics, to American history and music history… It’s a documentary you could almost dance to, so sure and steady is its pulse.”

Abba Forever: The Winner Takes It All

Abba Forever: The Winner Takes It All

Music Documentaries

It's been 50 years since Abba's founders met, 40 since their last concert, and 20 since Mama Mia! became a worldwide phenomena. This multi-Gold Award-winning doc tells their story from Waterloo to today. With commentary from all four band members, new interviews, and rare archives. Band members talk about their lives, their songs, and how it all came to be. With a feast of music and performance.

Lady Gaga: Glory

Lady Gaga: Glory

Music Documentaries

While an outrageous fashion sense, elaborate videos, and spectacular stage sets are her norm, it's the music of 'Mother Monster' Lady Gaga that has led to her explosive career full of fame and accolades.

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train a Comin'

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train a Comin'

Music Documentaries

The definitive documentary about the extraordinary life of the greatest guitarist of all time, now in high definition. This critically acclaimed film unveils new performance footage, home movies and an archive of newly unearthed primary documents.