Up The Horns: Things To Watch If You're A Rock Music Fan
Shows
Ah, rock music! Arguably the most followed genre of music historically, and the most storied. There have been movies, TV shows, documentaries, YouTube channels and podcasts devoted to the genre. Insider picks out a few that are available for streaming.
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The best albums (YouTube playlist)
If you want to increase your rock quotient, there's no better place to start: WatchMojo has compiled best albums by year and a few select genres. Of course, there will always be debates as to what's kept in and excluded, but this is a great place to start for music discovery.
Some Kind Of Monster (Documentary)
Can any discussion on rock ever be complete without mentioning Metallica? Some adore them, some hate them. Some idolize them, some think they're sellouts. What cannot be argued is their longevity (30+ years), their following and their influence. What sets this documentary aside is, however, the fact that it doesn't celebrate the band - indeed, there are several moments where fissures are shown during the troubled recordings of the much-reviled St. Anger album. It's a brutally honest film, which asks the question "Can the band survive?". Thankfully, the answer to that - 13 years and two more albums later - is a comprehensive yes.
Money For Nothing: A History of the Music Video (Documentary)
As music became more than just audio thanks to MTV, a band's visuals became as important. Some bands took advantage of this more than others, and it triggered a whole new revolution. Chances are, when you think of some of the iconic rock songs from the 80s onwards - you're also picturing the video. Be it Slash's solo on November Rain outside the church, or all 4 members of Queen singing Bohemian Rhapsody together. This documentary is an interesting look at the non-musical aspect of how a band presents itself.
Beyond The Lighted Stage (Documentary)
This fantastic documentary appreciates one of rock's most important bands, Rush. Often called the "musician's musicians", the Canadian Trio has left an impact on several of the biggest rock and metal acts today. Theirs is a journey of improbability - a shrieking voice unheard of in rock, a guitarist who had trouble convincing his family, and arguably the world's greatest drummer working in a garage. Magically, they come together to form an alliance that would last close to 3 decades, and this documentary is a fantastic deep-dive into their career. Even if you've never heard Rush before, this is a fabulous watch.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (YouTube Channel)
While the institution has seen its share of controversies ("Why isn't [legendary band name] inducted yet?!"), there's no doubting that the R&R Hall of Fame has seen the who's who of music over the years - with speeches, performances and more. Their official YouTube channel is a veritable treasure trove for fans of rock's various sub-genres. Start by watching who's getting inducted this year, and end with induction ceremonies all the way back to 1986!
The Ongoing History of New Music (podcast / YouTube channel)
Just because rock is a storied genre doesn't mean new stories aren't being created every day! This lovely show / channel talks about more modern bands. Alan Cross takes you through things about Pearl Jam you didn't know, and documents the fight between Oasis' Gallagher brothers.
Listen to it on any podcast app (or here), or stream it on YouTube.
Heavy Metal Historian (podcast)
For those who are more inclined towards podcasts, this is a fantastic exploration into 30 years of sub-genres. IThere are some great band recommendations to check out and having song snippets automatically gives you an idea of the sound (something a book will always find challenging to do!).
What's more - it's very informational. There's an entire episode on how the World Wars inspired music (which, to this day, inspires bands, including this ditty by Iron Maiden). So not just will you become smarter about this br00tal genre, but about life and history in general! Hosted by Greg Davies.
Subscribe to it on any podcast app (search for 'Heavy Metal Historian') or hear it here, or here.
And finally, there are a few epic musical 'history of rock' videos that will blow you away.
This incredible effort crunches down rock - from The Yardbirds and Elvis to Radiohead and RHCP - in the form of a Facebook timeline!
Isn't rock all about the guitars? So might as well do a history lesson through 6 strings, right? The 100 iconic rock riffs, one after the other.
Or how about a 'cover song' like you've never seen before? Watch 65 of the most famous rock songs - from the 60s to the 10s - sung, flowing seamlessly into each other.
