RBR.MUSIC

A documentary that had every reason to soar and somehow stayed grounded. We dig into where the Questlove-produced look at Earth, Wind & Fire goes wrong the moments it skips, the questions it won’t ask, and the difference between celebrating a legacy and actually examining one. EWF reshaped what a Black American band could sound like and look like, fusing jazz, funk, R&B and cosmic showmanship into...

The Sparks Brothers is Edgar Wright’s 2021 documentary charting the singular career of Ron and Russell Mael two brothers from Los Angeles who have been confounding audiences and reinventing themselves since 1972. Witty, obsessive, and completely unlike anything else in rock, Sparks spent five decades defying genre, geography, and expectation. Wright’s film makes the case convincingly that they may...

On this episode of RBR.music, we dive into The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel a documentary that traces the raw, chaotic beginnings of Red Hot Chili Peppers through the life and loss of their original guitarist, Hillel Slovak. More than just a band origin story, this film captures the deep friendship, creative spark, and vulnerability that defined their early years in Los A...

We discuss Man on the Run in which we explore Paul McCartney rebuilding his life and music after the breakup of The Beatles a story of pressure, reinvention, and the search for a new path beyond the world’s biggest band.

In this episode, we step inside Nick Cave's Veiled World unpacking grief, faith, myth, and the quiet tension between revelation and restraint. RBR.music cuts thru the noise to discuss the sound and vision.

Music documentaries love the myth of the tortured artist. But what happens when reflection becomes narrative control? In this episode of RBR.music, we take a hard look at Have You Seen Me Lately? the Counting Crows documentary that frames vulnerability as revelation, but rarely risks interrogation. Is this a brave portrait of fame and mental health? Or a carefully managed exercise in self-mytholog...

A deep-dive chat into Louder Than You Think, the oddball, fuzz-covered documentary that drags you straight into the chaotic genius of Pavement drummer and underground legend Gary Young. In this episode, we pull apart the film’s messy magic the wild early days of the band, the blurred lines between brilliance and self-destruction, and why Gary’s scrappy, unfiltered approach still feels louder than...

In this episode we dive into Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape from Now, the intimate and moving documentary that chronicles Ozzy’s final years, filmed over three years, capturing his bold return to the UK, his battle with health, and his lasting legacy.

In this episode, we dive into Jeff Buckley: It’s Never Over the new documentary exploring the life, legacy, and enduring mystery of one of music’s most haunting voices. From Grace to the stories left unfinished, we unpack how the film captures Buckley’s artistry, his restless spirit, and the myth that’s grown since his passing. Expect reflections on the music, the man, and what “it’s never over” r...

In this episode, we dive into Have You Got It Yet?, the moving documentary that unpacks the life, art, and legacy of Syd Barrett. We explore how the film captures Barrett’s genius and decline, what it reveals about the early days of Pink Floyd, and why his story still resonates decades later.

In this episode, we’re talking Revival69: The Concert That Rocked the World — the film that unpacks how a scrappy one-day festival turned into a legendary lineup featuring The Doors, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and a last-minute appearance by John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band. We break down the doc, the chaos behind the scenes, and how this one-night-only gig changed rock history. Underdogs,...

In this episode, we dive into American Symphony — the powerful documentary that follows Jon Batiste through a year of creative triumph and personal heartbreak. We talk about the pressure of composing a genre-defying symphony, the vulnerability of fame, and how Batiste navigates love, loss, and legacy in real time. This isn’t just a music doc — it’s a portrait of an artist learning how to stay whol...

We explore One to One: John & Yoko, the intimate documentary capturing John Lennon and Yoko Ono in a pivotal moment of activism, artistry, and personal transformation. From the 1972 Madison Square Garden concerts to behind-the-scenes moments of political passion and creative vision, we trace how the couple reshaped public perception—and each other.

We’re diving into The Stones & Brian Jones — a documentary that pulls back the curtain on the early chaos, genius, and tragedy at the heart of The Rolling Stones. We talk about Brian’s outsized influence, the cracks that formed inside the band, and how the myth of the Stones was built on both brilliance and betrayal. Was Brian the true architect of the band’s sound? And what really led to his fall...

An affectionate celebration of Sly & the Family Stone that's all the more powerful for recognizing its subject's flaws, SLY LIVES! is a sterling sophomore documentary feature from Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.

The documentary presents the origins of Led Zeppelin, this doc isn’t the definitive document on the band but blows the roof off with its killer soundtrack.

An exploration of the life of Anita Pallenberg, European actress and rock ’n’ roll muse. Told in Anita’s own words, from her unpublished memoir, and in the words of her family, this bittersweet film is a never-seen-before look at life with The Rolling Stones.

We discuss Oasis - Supersonic. From award-winning director Mat Whitecross and featuring extensive unseen archive footage, Supersonic charts the meteoric rise of Oasis from the council estates of Manchester to some of the biggest concerts of all time in just three short years. This palpable, raw and moving film shines a light on one of the most genre and generation-defining British bands that has e...

The Velvet Underground takes a fittingly idiosyncratic approach to delivering a rock documentary that captures the band as well as its era.

MOONAGE DAYDREAM: a cinematic odyssey exploring Bowie's creative, spiritual and musical journey. From the visionary mind of Brett Morgen, Moonage Daydream features captivating, never-before-seen footage and performances spanning David Bowie's 54-year career. The film includes 40 exclusively remastered Bowie songs and is the first film ever sanctioned by the Bowie Estate, with local access to the a...

After the alternative music boom of the early 1990s, two bands choose very different paths to fame. Portland, Oregon's the Dandy Warhols, led by the self-conscious and career-minded Courtney Taylor-Taylor, sign with a major label and score a radio hit. San Francisco's Brian Jonestown Massacre, fronted by the abrasive and unpredictable Anton Newcombe, seemingly go out of their way to impede their o...

Entertaining for longtime fans as well as casually interested viewers, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool brings to life the legacy of a brilliant artist.

A history of Jim Morrison and The Doors When You’re Strange uncovers historic and previously unseen footage of the illustrious rock quartet and provides insight into the revolutionary impact of their music and legacy. Hear the RBR.Music team get to grips with the documentary.

ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke gets put under the microscope of the RBR.Music team. The incredible power of Cooke’s life is discussed front and center. While Sam Cooke rose to stardom as a soul singer, his outspoken views on civil rights drew attention that may have contributed to his death at age 33.

Louis Theroux meets controversial rockstar Pete Doherty, spending time with him at his home in Normandy and on the road with his notorious band, The Libertines. Infamous for his tumultuous relationship with drugs as well as a high-profile relationship with Kate Moss, Doherty has been a figure both celebrated and scorned in the British media. In a candid encounter, Louis joins Doherty at a transfor...