There are many documentary films about music, and each of them illuminating and inspiring in their own way. For aspiring musicians, watching a music documentary is like opening that special Christmas present you’ve been looking forward to. It’s full of surprise, excitement, and meaningful messages.
Here are 7 of our favorite music documentaries to help you fuel your creative process, and get you thinking about your art in new ways. Enjoy!
1. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
A Detroit folk singer in early 1970s, Sixto Rodriguez gave up on his short-lived recording career after his first two albums didn’t receive much recognition. Ironically, without him knowing, somehow Rodriguez’s music traveled to South Africa and made him a pop icon and inspiration for generations.
Two South Africans decided to investigate to what happened to Rodriguez – an artist that no one knew anything about. Searching for Sugar Man is a series of discovery, slowly revealing its beautiful secret. Plus, it has a stellar soundtrack!
2. Scratch (2001)
If your family or friends are still skeptical about ‘the whole DJing thing’, show them this Dough Pray’s brilliant documentary about the culture of spinning and sampling. Scratch shows an in-depth exploration of the DJ world, from the birth of hip-hop to the invention of scratching, and the explosion of today’s ‘turntablist’ movement.
The film is an incredible story of unknown underdogs and serious, avant-garde artists who are radically changing they way we interact with music. It features some of the world’s best DJ’s and their notable moments. A must-watch even if you know nothing about the DJ culture.
3. Dig! (2004)
Directed by Ondi Timoner, Dig! is a compelling chronicle of two American rock bands, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, led by Anton Newcombe, and The Dandy Warhols, led by Courtney Taylor, as they followed different paths to fame. An unflinching look at the rock world, this film dissects their star-crossed friendship and bitter rivalry through highs and lows over the course of seven tumultuous years.
Covered with crazy nights, temper tantrums, onstage fistfights, and bizarre incidents, Dig! is consistently funny, yet brutally honest. A sincere glance into the destructive and volatile nature of the creative process and the music industry.
4. It Might Get Loud (2008)
It Might Get Loud tells riveting personal stories from the point of view of three legendary guitarists from different backgrounds and generations: U2’s the Edge, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, and The White Stripes’ Jack White.
In his own words, each man reveals his playing habit, how each developed his unique sound and style, and his musical influences. If you are a guitar player, this is a must see. Think of it as a chance to hang out with your guitar heroes!
5. Don’t Look Back (1967)
Director D.A. Pennebaker provides one of the most intimate glimpses of the iconic and notoriously bad-tempered Bob Dylan. The film follows Dylan’s 1965 tour around the United Kingdom.
Through the concert footage, hotel room conversations, transportation times, his relationship with folk singer Joan Baez, Don’t Look Back unravels Dylan’s mysterious, inscrutable character. It shows him mocking his peers, challenging his audiences, arguing with reporters, and more importantly, it delivers the ironic message of what’s it like to be a modern celebrity.
6. Stop Making Sense (1984)
Stop Making Sense is arguably one of the most innovative concert films. Director Jonathan Demme captures the Talking Heads’ undoubtedly frantic and brilliant live performance during their 1983 tour.
The film is free from interviews and any attempts to contextualize the music of Talking Heads. Every player is treated like a character in a fiction movie, yet the film is still a documentary that frames a reality.
7. The Last Waltz (1978)
A Martin Scorsese’s film? The Last Waltz is a concert film about the final performance by the Canadian roots rock group – The Band – after 16 years on the road. It’s a lavish farewell at San Francisco’s Winterland on Thanksgiving 1976. You don’t have to be a die-hard fan of The Band to appreciate this film. It features some of the most popular acts of the 1960s and 1970s, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, and Van Morrison.
Scorsese’s camera beautifully captures the onstage interactions as well as the offstage interview with The Band’s five members. The Last Waltz is wildly entertaining, full of unforgettable performances and emotions, and perhaps a mandatory watch for anyone who considers themselves a rock lover.
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— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) December 9, 2015
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