Concert films that screened on the Midnight Movie circuit,,
Just what the title says.
A neglected and forgotten piece of Cult film history is the wave of Concert pics that hit the midnight movie circuit.
Most concert pics were NOT midnight movies, for example WOODSTOCK is about 3 hrs long, and besides the ones that made the circuit were ones in which the artist already had a "culty" image.
Also, note that I left out some that had a lot of concert footage but were largely narrative-driven.
Remember, that midnight movies were WAY more an aspect of Rock culture than movie culture.
A neglected and forgotten piece of Cult film history is the wave of Concert pics that hit the midnight movie circuit.
Most concert pics were NOT midnight movies, for example WOODSTOCK is about 3 hrs long, and besides the ones that made the circuit were ones in which the artist already had a "culty" image.
Also, note that I left out some that had a lot of concert footage but were largely narrative-driven.
Remember, that midnight movies were WAY more an aspect of Rock culture than movie culture.
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- DirectorMichael Lindsay-HoggStarsJohn LennonPaul McCartneyGeorge HarrisonThe filmed account of The Beatles' attempt to recapture their old group spirit by making a back to basics album, which instead drove them further apart.
- DirectorPeter PilafianStarsJimi HendrixJimmy CameronVella CameronA record of singer Jimi Hendrix' concert in Berkeley, California, in 1970.
- DirectorAdrian MabenStarsDavid GilmourRoger WatersRichard WrightLive versions of the songs, filmed in an old Pompeii amphitheater. Songs included are Echoes (split into 2 parts), Careful with that axe, Eugene, A saucerful of secrets, One of those days, Set the controls for the heart of the sun, Mademoiselle nobbs (Seamus, but with Rick's dog on vocals). "Careful" and "Set the controls" are shot at night with minimal lighting, setting a beautiful mood. And the live Saucerful just has to be seen, with Waters jumping around in the sunlight banging the huge gong. The 80-minute version features studio footage from the recordings of Dark side of the Moon, with alternate versions of Us and them, On the run and Brain Damage, as well as interviews with the band.
- DirectorRingo StarrStarsMarc BolanRingo StarrMickey FinnDocumentary about T. Rex includes concert footage and staged sequences. Sir Ringo Starr's directorial work is mindful of touches used on Magical Mystery Tour (1967).
- DirectorJoe GannonStarsAlice CooperDennis DunawayMichael BruceConcert plus fictional footage.
- DirectorPeter NealStarsSteve HoweJon AndersonAlan WhiteThe ultimate for fans of Progressive Rock legends - Yes - the feature film of their 1972 concert at London's Rainbow Theatre.
- DirectorPeter CliftonJoe MassotStarsRobert PlantJimmy PageJohn Paul JonesThe line forms here for the world's greatest and possibly most influential band--Led Zeppelin. This mesmerizing movie built around Zep's famed 1973 concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden is convincing proof why.
- DirectorDavid WintersStarsAlice CooperVincent PriceDick WagnerAn Alice Cooper concert hosted by Vincent Price, with Alice Cooper's trademark "horror" stage act, and performances of some of his hit songs, including "Only Women Bleed," "School's Out" and "Steven."
- DirectorTony MaylamStarsTony BanksBill BrufordPhil CollinsThe rock group Genesis filmed live in concert.
- DirectorJerry GarciaStarsJerry GarciaDonna GodchauxKeith GodchauxThe Grateful Dead performs live at Winterland in San Francisco in October 1974.
- DirectorDon LettsStarsSoo CatwomanSteve StrangeRobin BanksDocumentary on the London punk-rock scene, circa '78.
- DirectorJeff MargolisStarsRichard PryorPatti LaBelleHuey P. NewtonRichard Pryor's classic 1979 concert film has him discussing a wide range of topics, including race, the police and his favorite target -- himself.
- DirectorJeff SteinStarsRoger DaltreyPete TownshendKeith MoonInterviews, TV clips and concert footage make up this comprehensive profile of The Who, Britain's premiere rock band.
- DirectorStefan PaulStarsJimmy CliffInner CircleBob Marley
- DirectorNeil YoungStarsNeil YoungRalph MolinaFrank 'Pancho' SampedroDocumentary covering Neil Young's October 22, 1978 concert performance at the Cow Palace.
- DirectorD.A. PennebakerStarsDavid BowieMick RonsonTrevor BolderThe July 3rd, 1973 historic concert of the 'leper Messiah'. This was to be David Bowie's last concert with the Ziggy persona and the Spiders from Mars. A great medley of 'Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud'/'All The Young Dudes'/'Oh! You Pretty Things', a Lou Reed cover, and a Rolling Stones cover are but some of the highlights.
- DirectorDanny GoldbergAnthony PotenzaJulian SchlossbergStarsAvis Davis BandJackson BrowneRosemary ButlerA live concert film documenting the September 1979 "No Nukes" concert at Madison Square Garden. Includes performances by Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers and Bruce Springsteen.
- DirectorEric DionysiusEric MistlerStarsAC/DCPhil RuddBon ScottFilmed coverage of Australian band AC/DC's '79 appearance in Paris intercut with quasi-fictional interludes.
- DirectorLech KowalskiStarsStiv BatorsTerry ChimesThe ClashDocumentary chronicaling the rise and fall of the punk movement with rare interview footage of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. Also concert and news footage.
- DirectorJoe MassotStarsThe BeatThe BodysnatchersThe SelecterDocumentary on Britain's 2 Tone Ska Era from the late seventies to the early eighties.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsEugene TatuAlice Bag BandBlack FlagA look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.
- DirectorJay DubinStarsVinny AppiceBlack SabbathEric BloomConcert film of 1980 East Coast U.S. performance by heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult.
- DirectorDerek BurbidgeStarsWall of VoodooStan RidgwayMarc MorelandLive performances from dozens of leading early-1980s musical acts - rock, punk, ska, reggae - it's all here.
- DirectorHal AshbyStarsMick JaggerKeith RichardsCharlie WattsThe Rolling Stones' shows in Tempe, Arizona and East Rutherford, New Jersey during their 1981 US tour.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsDavid ByrneBernie WorrellAlex WeirConsidered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, the live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads' most memorable songs.
- DirectorW.T. MorganStarsJohn DoeExene CervenkaBilly ZoomThis film is a documentary about the personalities in, and the music of, the early 1980's Los Angeles punk band X. There are studio and live performances by the band and interviews with band members; all nicely interspersed with footage of area DJs, record stores, old TV shows and commercials.
- DirectorLaurie AndersonStarsLaurie AndersonJoy AskewAdrian BelewConcert film of Laurie Anderson performing songs from her first three albums, selections from her four-night epic "United States Live," and several new songs, which incorporate a unique blend of film, animation, dance, and electronics.
- DirectorAndrew HornStarsKlaus NomiAnn MagnusonDavid BowieHaving failed to break into professional opera in his native Germany (where, as an usher in West Berlin's Deutsche Oper, he would serenade the staff after the real performances were over) the diminutive Klaus Nomi headed for NYC in 1972. The vibrant New Wave/avant-garde gestalt of the mid/late '70's East Village proved to be fertile ground for the development of his unique talents. Working by day as a high-end pastry chef, Nomi began to stage his outlandish performances, first launching himself upon an unsuspecting public at the New Wave Vaudeville in 1978. The hip and cynical young audience was stunned by this weird combination of falsetto arias, booming classical orchestration, Kraftwerk-style electronica, futuristic costumes and outer space imagery. An odd assortment of artists, choreographers, designers, songwriters and musicians jumped on to the Nomi bandwagon and the phenomenon began to take off - first attracting thousands to South Manhattan events (including performances at the legendary Max's Kansas City) and culminating in a recording contract with the French division of RCA. With the release 'Klaus Nomi' in 1981 and 'Simple Man' in 1982, it looked as if Nomi was on the verge of superstardom. Having established himself in Europe, he made a triumphant return to New York City. But Nomi's moment of glory proved to be his swansong. Within only a few months Nomi had succumbed to the ravages of AIDS. One of the first celebrities to be killed by this mysterious new disease, Nomi died a lonely death, largely abandoned by those who had seen him as a passport to their own success. Today, the otherworldliness of 'The Cold Song' and 'Dido's Lament' is like an ethereal voice calling from beyond the grave.
- DirectorJohn HeynJeff KrulikStarsJohn Cloud Jr.Judas PriestA look at the wild scene outside a Judas Priest concert.
- DirectorIvan KrálAmos PoeStarsBlondieDavid ByrneJohn CaleThe cream of New York new wave/punk filmed live at CBGB's when the scene was just beginning. Includes performances by Patti Smith, Blondie, Television, the Ramones, Talking Heads, the Heartbreakers, the Shirts, Wayne County, the Marbles, the Dolls, Miamis, Harry Toledo, and the Tuff Darts (w/Robert Gordon).
- DirectorAdam SmallPeter StuartStarsM. Otis BeardDennis DanellBrent LilesA documentary following the 1982 tour of punk bands Youth Brigade and Social Distortion.
- DirectorPierre AdidgeStarsJoe CockerLeon RussellChris StaintonJoe Cocker and Leon Russell perform live at the Fillmore East and Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobbie RobertsonMuddy WatersNeil YoungA film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band.
- DirectorJack PriestleyStarsPaul McCartneyLinda McCartneyDenny LaineIn 1975 and 1976 Paul McCartney and Wings undertook the epic Wings over the World tour, the largest scale tour they would ever undertake as a band. From this tour came both the legendary "Wings over America" triple live album and the concert film "Rockshow". Although filmed on this tour at the enormous Kingdome in Seattle, "Rockshow", originally a cut down version of the concert, was not premiered until November 1980 in New York and April 1981 in London. It was released on Betamax and later on laserdisc. Now for the first time the complete full length concert is being made available fully restored from the original 35mm film and with restored & remastered sound, including a 5.1 mix for the first time. This is Paul McCartney and Wings live on stage in a concert that is destined to live forever!
- DirectorPeter CliftonStarsThe AnimalsThe Bee GeesEric BurdonOver two dozen top-name acts make this 'audio/visual rock thing' come to life in a rock and roll journey that moves all over, from Katmandu to London's Royal Albert Hall; an in-depth, backstage interview with The Rolling Stones' leader Mick Jagger, Plus Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Joe Cocker and many others, along with other features including a Twiggy fashion show.
- DirectorFrederic GoodeStarsMatt MonroJimmy SavileSusan MaughanNo plot here, just a collection of lip-synched videos from some of the bands that were part of the "British Invasion" in 1964: The Animals, Herman's Hermits, Peter and Gordon, and the Spencer Davis Group (with Steve Winwood). The film also features bookend live performances by The Beatles.