The best music documentaries

Written by Strella on December 7, 2021

Peter Jackson’s film of The Beatles, Get Back, has received much acclaim for its depiction of the band struggling through a particularly difficult time in their career. Which music documentaries should you check out next?

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck

Tracking Kurt’s early years and rise to the top – as well as his tragic suicide – there’s plenty of new info for Nirvana fans to take away too. That includes the band’s rubbish potential names: Cold And Wet anyone?
It Might Get Loud

Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White’s differing approaches to electric guitar-playing are explored in this doco that’s essential viewing for any axe-wielders among you.
Meeting People Is Easy

Released in 1998, this film tracks Radiohead on their exhaustive (and properly exhausting) tour to promote OK Computer. It includes some brilliant live performances from the time too, including an astounding version of Karma Police performed for David Letterman‘s US talk show.
Made Of Stone

A music documentary that captures just why a band means so much to its fans, Made Of Stone was filmed by Shane Meadows of This Is England fame, and charts the progress of the legendary Manchester band as they reunite in 2012 after 16 years apart.
Joy Division

One of the bleakest stories in music history, the story of Manchester’s greatest post-punk band is told honestly and directly, with the participation of the surviving members and other people who knew tragic lead singer Ian Curtis. Along the way there’s some timeless music and incredible footage.
The Beatles: Eight Days A Week

Ron Howard looks at the years that the Fab Four were the biggest live band in the world, from their humble club days in Liverpool and Hamburg, through to the stadium-filling mid 60s. It focusses on The Bearles breaking America, but there’s some amazing footage and recollections from people who were there.
Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets

As much a tribute to the band’s hometown of Sheffield as the great music they created, it’s great fun to watch.
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

Julien Temple‘s remarkable documentary that covered The Clash legend in a way that paid tribute to his genius but also called him out on his shortcomings. It might be a bit long for anyone who’s not a Clash fan though.
Some Kind Of Monster

You don’t need to be a Metallica fan to enjoy this 2004 documentary that covers the band’s near implosion while recording the St Anger album. Proof that the best kind of rock documentaries are no holds barred.
Last Shop Standing

Great record shops have a special place in all of our hearts – and Last Shop Standing celebrates the very best of them. Thankfully, vinyl seems to be back for good, but here’s a stern reminder of why you should support your local record emporium.
Upside Down: The Creation Records Story

Oasis form the cornerstone of this film charting the rise and rise and rise (and then enormous fall) of one of the most influential independent labels in British music history, founded by the charismatic Alan McGee.
Amy

Asif Kapadia had previously directed a compelling documentary on the late F1 driver Ayrton Senna and this examination into the short, sad, brightly-burning life of the British singer is equally thorough. At turns funny and tragic, her father Mitch didn’t like it, but everyone else did.
Lemmy

Some music films cover great bands or a classic album. Few manage to capture the singular spirit of one hellraiser in quite the same way as Lemmy does. The life and philosophy of the late, great Motörhead man is covered at length and not without some humour.
Supersonic

Directed by Mat Whitecross and produced by Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees, who did the business with the Amy Winehouse doc, this is an impeccably researched film on the rise and rise of Oasis. Starting off with their early years in Burnage to the Britpop high water mark of Knebworth in 1996, it leaves out the details of their messy split, but it’s an often hilarious and memorable piece of film-making with some amazing footage.
Dig!

One category of music documentary that we need more of: the battle of the bands. Dig! shows what happens when two groups, The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre stop being friends – and start hating each other.
The Decline Of Western Civilisation II: The Metal Years

The first edition of Decline covered punk in LA. This follow-up sees Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith and Megadeth covered in Penelope Spheeris‘ documentary. Her reward for this brilliant film? Getting to make Wayne’s World.
George Harrison: Living In The Material World

Possibly the best Beatles documentary? Martin Scorsese‘s spellbinding film looks at the member of the Fab Four that most consider to be the most interesting one – sorry Ringo. It’s about as in-depth as a music documentary can be, with plenty of insight from The Quiet One’s friends, family and admirers.
Shut Up And Play The Hits

This film captures what was thought to be the last-ever gig of LCD Soundsystem but also follows the band’s James Murphy in the 48 hours around the gig, from his nervy preparation to delirious post-show reaction.
Gimme Shelter

The hype around this remarkable documentary is entirely justified. If any film captures the end of the 1960s, the critics say it’s this one. Who are we to argue? The cameras capture the Rolling Stones as they head back out on the road in America at the end of 1969. Unfortunately, it ends up at the chaotic outdoor show at Altamont, during which a man was murdered.
The Filth And The Fury

Julien Temple featured earlier on this list with his Joe Strummer documentary, but this earlier film captured the misadventures of the other pillar of punk: The Sex Pistols. It was actually Temple’s second film about the Pistols, but this one paid more attention to the band rather than their svengali Malcolm McLaren.