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Adam 12

11am - 4 pm

Kill Some Time With 16 Essential Rock Documentaries

adam12 April 10th
1986. Beer. Priest. Videocamera. Need we say more?

Sooner or later, you’re going to run out of TV series to binge. That’s where this list comes in. So dig in and enjoy some all-timers as well as some lesser-know rock docs. Be warned: it’s heavy on the punk.

  • All Ages: The Boston Hardcore Film (2012)

    Hop in the wayback machine for a trip to early-'80s Boston and a firsthand account of the burgeoning hardcore scene.

  • American Hardcore (2006)

    Hang out in the '80s for awhile longer to get a broader look at the roots of American punk rock.

  • Boys From Nowhere (2016)

    Back to Boston we go, just a little earlier this time: It's the '70s, and garage punk is emerging.

  • The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

    The definitive L.A. punk rock doc.

  • The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

    The definitive L.A. metal scene doc.

  • Don’t Break Down (2017)

    The awkwardness is palpable in this attempted reunion of seminal post-hardcore band Jawbreaker. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day gets a lot of screentime, too.

  • Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986)

    1986. Beer. Priest. Videocamera. Need we say more?

  • Hype! (1996)

    Grunge was born in the Pacific Northwest. This is the doc that tells you how.

  • Joan Jett: Bad Reputation (2018)

    A rock-solid rock doc on a rock n' roll legend. It hit Netflix 2 years ago and you can still watch it there.

  • Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007)

    Speaking of rock legends, here's another must-watch doc on the late, great Mr. Strummer.

  • Punk The Capital (2019)

    This doc from last year focuses on the D.C. punk and hardcore scene in the late '70s and early '80s.

  • The Rise And Fall Of The Clash (2012)

    What, Strummer alone isn't enough for you? Dig deeper into the man and the only band that mattered with this doc.

  • Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage (2010)

    Released a decade ago, it's still must-watch for Rush fans from all walks of life.

  • Salad Days (2014)

    A deeper dive into the D.C. hardcore punk scene.

  • Watch Me Jumpstart (1996)

    The mid-90s documentary on legendary indie rock band Guided By Voices just recently became available online.

  • We Jam Econo (2005)

    The origin story of the short-lived yet influential punk band the Minutemen.

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