10 Great Rock Docs

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (2002) — As far as behind-the-scenes rock documentaries go, it's hard to top this now legendary film. Director Sam Jones captured Wilco's fragile dynamic just after their album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was unceremoniously rejected by their label. Tensions were flaring between frontman Jeff Tweedy and multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett, and for a while it looked like the celebrated alt-country act might implode. Luckily, things worked out for the best (uh, unless you're Bennett), and the film proved to be a turning point in Wilco's career that exposed their music to a completely different audience.

You're Gonna Miss Me(2005)— For the uninitiated, Roky Erickson's pop act the 13th Floor Elevators are essentially responsible for birthing psychedelic rock. However, Erickson caught a tough break in 1969 when he was busted with a joint and sentenced with a stint in a mental hospital. You're Gonna Miss Me chronicles Erickson's 30-year tailspin into mental illness and its harrowing impact on he and his family. Featuring hours of footage with Roky, the film shows how far a musical legend can fall without losing it all—and when Erickson picks up an acoustic guitar at the end of the film, the results are sublime.

Fearless Freaks(2005) — It's hard to deny the fact that the Flaming Lips are one of the most colorful music acts out there—and Fearless Freaks is an excellent document of where they came from and how they became the band they are today. Beginning in Oklahoma over 20 years ago, the film documents the band's humble beginnings as a noise-punk act and shows how they evolved into a commercially successful alternative act without selling out. However, it's not all positive. The scene where drummer/multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd gets ready to shoot up on camera is one of the most disturbing scenes in any film ever.

Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt (2004) — Townes Van Zandt may not be a household name, but in a perfect world he would be. Over the years, Van Zandt's music has been heralded by everyone from Norah Jones to Emmylou Harris and his protégé—and biggest fan—Steve Earle. Be Here to Love Me shows the way Van Zandt's tumultuous career unfolded and proved that whether it was due to poor distribution of his music or his battle with the bottle, he never got a proper chance to bask in the spotlight before his untimely death. The film also includes some amazing live performances that will move even the most hardened outlaw to tears.

Spend an Evening with Saddle Creek(2005) — These days every indie rocker is familiar with Saddle Creek Records, but unless you're a native it's hard to imagine how the country's most successful rock scene was unwittingly born in Omaha, Nebraska—until this documentary came out, that is. Spend an Evening with Saddle Creek highlights the history of the label from its earliest days to the juggernaut it is today via interviews with the label's owners and live and archival performance from its biggest acts: Cursive, the Faint, and Bright Eyes. If you've ever thought of starting a label of your own, this documentary is proof that if you have a good product, people will embrace it. Even if you live in the middle of a cornfield.

Fugazi: Instrument(1998) — Let's face it, Fugazi aren't a traditional band so it only makes sense that they wouldn't put out a conventional documentary. Instead, Instrument is a visual collage that juxtaposes live performances, studio sessions, and band interviews to paint a unique portrait of the world's foremost post-hardcore band. Perhaps the coolest part of the documentary is the soundtrack, which sounds as good on its own as it does as a sonic companion to this artistic masterpiece.

We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen (2005) — Chances are, you never saw the Minutemen live—but the impact they've had on the punk subculture remains incalculable. Through live footage and archival interviews with the band, We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen shows what made the band such a creative force in the '80s punk scene, drawing fans like the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea and Black Flag's Henry Rollins. Speaking of the Minutemen, their bassist Mike Watt is also a prominent source in another documentary about that same era, albeit with a different scope...

American Hardcore (2006) — American Hardcore chronicles the punk scene in the early '80s, a time when glam metal reigned supreme and punks were legitimate outcasts instead of suburban kids who merely dressed the part. The documentary also proves how dedicated the fans of acts like the Circle Jerks, Flipper, and Jerry's Kids were—and how these obscure acts would eventually be responsible for influencing some of the biggest bands in the world, guys like Green Day and the Beastie Boys. Like We Jam Econo, this documentary also features plenty of footage of Mike Watt driving around and being interviewed in his van.

Drive Well, Sleep Carefully: On the Road with Death Cab for Cutie(2005) — We'll be the first to admit that there's not a whole lot of drama or debauchery included in Death Cab for Cutie's story (at one point the band devotes an entire segment to the importance of punctuality). However, the aptly titled Drive Well, Sleep Carefully does show what a powerful live band Death Cab for Cutie are, and like I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, it captures them at a critical point in their career as they debate signing to a major label after years on indie label Barsuk.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston(2006) — As we've seen from the documentaries about Roky Erickson and Townes Van Zandt, often the most tortured artists make for the best viewing—and it's hard to top the severity of Daniel Johnston's state. The reclusive songwriter has battled manic depression for his entire career, and using new and old footage, this film shows how Johnston and his music have been affected by his mental state.