Punk & New Wave

American Hardcore

The history of hardcore punk--the tougher, faster, and more politically minded stepchild of the '70s punk movement that arose in the '80s--is examined in exuberant detail in Paul Rachman's documentary American Hardcore. Rachman's cameras careen across the landscape of the U.S. to trace the movement's beginnings in cities like Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York, and cherrypicks interviews with the musicians that helped shape its sound and impact, including Henry Rollins and Greg Ginn of Black Flag, H.R. (frontman for the highly influential, all-African American outfit Bad Brains), Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat (and now Fugazi), and many others. Hardcore's violent reaction against the Reagan administration and the complacent mindset of middle-class America is also detailed in countless performance footage clips and poster-art reproductions, which do much to dismiss the popular opinion of hardcore as nothing more than mindless hooliganism. Some fans may find the omission of certain bands a considerable oversight (San Francisco's lethally satirical Dead Kennedys are not mentioned only in passing), but for most punk devotees, American Hardcore will be vital and essential viewing. The DVD includes several deleted scenes and bonus performances, commentary by Rachman and writer Steven Blush (whose book of the same name provided the inspiration for the film), and a gallery of photos from photographer Edward Colver, who covered the hardcore scene in detail during its heyday. -- Paul Gaita

Stills from American Hardcore (click for larger image)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 07/22/2008 Run time: 100 minutes Rating: R

Live Dominance

Includes CD. Over the course of five pulverizing studio records and countless tours with Slayer, Slipknot, Mudvayne, The Deftones as well as mainstage/side-stage stints on Ozzfest, Connecticut's Hatebreed has built a dedicated fanatical fan base the old fashioned way-- on the road. Touring behind their critically acclaimed last studio record Supremacy, Live Dominance captures the band at the peak of its powers and is the culmination of all the blood, sweat and tears the band has put in over the years. Shot in front of a crazed, sold-out crowd at Harpo's in Detroit, the arrival of the Live Dominance DVD is something the band's fans have been waiting for forever. Containing the full show and tons of extras, the DVD runs over two and half hours in length.

Punk's Not Dead

Punk's Not Dead is more than just a tribute documentary. It takes you on an era-by-era journey that puts punk rock's non-conformist reputation under the knife. Officially sanctioned by the bands in the film who donated personal photos, fliers and home v

The Filth and the Fury - A Sex Pistols Film

"Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" sneers Johnny Rotten at the Sex Pistols' farewell performance. After seeing this picture you'll understand his disgust, but Julian Temple's sharp portrait of the ragged, raw band of working-class Brits won't leave you disappointed. The Sex Pistols left their legacy in a whirlwind 26-month reign, spitting out a caustic, confrontational brand of rock & roll that became the rallying cry for angry, disaffected youths in late 1970s England and defined the punk movement. Their story was first told two decades ago in the cynical The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, also directed by Temple but produced by the Sex Pistols' smarmy manager, Malcolm McLaren, who stage-managed the film into a self-promoting vanity project. For The Filth and the Fury, Temple turns to the four surviving band members to tell their own stories. His vibrant, vigorous direction captures the period of social unrest and alienated youth without turning into a history lesson, and shows the Pistols in all their insolent glory: spewing obscenities and gesturing lewdly to audiences and press alike, screaming out lyrics, overcoming musical limitations with pure passion and attitude. Rare, raw concert footage (including their final performance, which is appropriately enough the song "No Fun") and previously unseen interviews with the deceased Sid Vicious further energize the portrait. There's even footage of the smiling band cutting cake for kids at a fundraiser with nary a nasty gesture or sneering comment. Now there's a side of the Pistols you don't see everyday. --Sean Axmaker

"Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" sneers Johnny Rotten at the Sex Pistols' farewell performance. After seeing this picture you'll understand his disgust, but Julian Temple's sharp portrait of the ragged, raw band of working-class Brits won't leave you disappointed. The Sex Pistols left their legacy in a whirlwind 26-month reign, spitting out a caustic, confrontational brand of rock & roll that became the rallying cry for angry, disaffected youths in late 1970s England and defined the punk movement. Their story was first told two decades ago in the cynical The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, also directed by Temple but produced by the Sex Pistols' smarmy manager, Malcolm McLaren, who stage-managed the film into a self-promoting vanity project. For The Filth and the Fury, Temple turns to the four surviving band members to tell their own stories. His vibrant, vigorous direction captures the period of social unrest and alienated youth without turning into a history lesson, and shows the Pistols in all their insolent glory: spewing obscenities and gesturing lewdly to audiences and press alike, screaming out lyrics, overcoming musical limitations with pure passion and attitude. Rare, raw concert footage (including their final performance, which is appropriately enough the song "No Fun") and previously unseen interviews with the deceased Sid Vicious further energize the portrait. There's even footage of the smiling band cutting cake for kids at a fundraiser with nary a nasty gesture or sneering comment. Now there's a side of the Pistols you don't see everyday.

We Jam Econo - The Story of the Minutemen

Chances are if Alt-Rock changed your life in the 1990s you have the 1980s band The Minutemen to thank. And for those of you who missed out when The Minutemen were at the top of their game, you're in luck. We Jam Econo - The Story of the Minutemen is the long-awaited documentary of this wildly eclectic, seminal indie punk band. San Pedro High School graduates and long time friends D. Boon (guitar), Mike Watt (bass), and George Hurley (drums) formed The Minutemen in 1980 in the wake of the late seventies punk explosion. The Minutemen's trademark sound was a unique blend of punk, funk, classic rock riffs, mexicali rhythms and jazz beats sprinkled with a healthy dose of left wing politics and angst. These genres were often blended together into the same song and played in rapid fire bursts clocking in at one to two minutes tops. Their relentless touring and recording helped The Minutemen build a solid underground following while winning praises of music critics everywhere. After releasing their magnum opus Double Nickels On the Dime (1984) and opening for REM in 1985, the Minutemen were quickly rising to the top of the American Underground/College Rock heap. It looked as though super stardom may have been on the horizon for the boys from San Pedro. Sadly, the ride would be cut short when front man D. Boon died in a car crash on December 22, 1985. Culled from hours of home video footage, live concert footage and new interviews with Mike Watt and George Hurley, We Jam Econo chronicles the band from their early teen years, the band's roots in the 1980s Southern California hardcore scene, right up to the tragic death of front man D. Boon. We Jam Econo also includes loads of interviews from fellow musicians that read like a "who's who" list of the 1980s punk/ hardcore scene including the guys from Black Flag, X's John Doe, Minor Threat/ Fugazi's Ian MacKaye, Hüsker Dü's Greg Norton and Grant Hart, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra, Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, among many other admirers. The extras on this DVD include deleted scenes and extended interviews, their music videos and a complete band interview from 1985. By far the best extra on this set are the three complete live Minutemen performances from 1980, 1984, and 1985. --Rob Bracco

WE JAM ECONO - THE STORY OF THE MINUTEMEN is the acclaimed feature-length documentary on the too-brief life of one of the most revered, intriguing, and inspired American bands ever. At the heart of their story is the immeasurable personal and musical bond between bassist Mike Watt and singer and guiatrist D. Boon. Childhood friends, their unbridled creativity and political views were the foundation of this groundbreaking band which refused to be categorized as Punk.

The film weaves together personal tales from Watt and drummer George Hurley with archival interview footage of the band and rare live performances. New interviews with over 50 musicians, artists, journalists, and friends help tell the Minutemen story, from their humble beginnings in the harbor town of San Pedro, California, to the tragic 1985 death of D. Boon in a highway accident in the Arizona desert.

Another State of Mind

Rage Against the Machine

Ramones: It's Alive 1974-1996

Punk forefathers Joey Johnny Dee Dee Tommy Marky Richie and C-Jay Ramone outlasted almost every one of their legions of followers. For over twenty years they delivered their signature garage-flavored ear-shattering chainsaw level and pop-skewed sound through a string of now-classic loud-and-fast punk rock LPs and 2263 concerts together. This new two DVD set captures the essence of the legendary racket they made with over four hours of rare and previously unreleased live footage that s theclosest you can get to experiencing this blitzkrieg of a band. From their earliest performances at lower Manhattan s CBGBs tointernational festivals in front of hundreds of thousands of fans IT S ALIVE 1974 1996 is your VIP ticket to the Ramones. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 the band may be gone but their sound and influence are indestructible.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC: 603497048328

The Gits

The Gits helped spearhead Seattle's emerging musical underground in the early 1990s. Their sound was proto-grunge and all out punk aggression, and the earnest, blues wail of front woman Mia Zapata was its center. At the height of the band's popularity, Mia was found raped and murdered. Over a decade later, the case file would be reopened and a suspect brought to justice, as cameras rolled. This DVD features live footage of The Gits, Evil Stig with Joan Jett and 7 Year Bitch. Includes interviews with Joan Jett, Kathleen Hanna, Valerie Agnew, Selene Vigil, members of the DC Beggars, and The Gits. Bonus features include audio commentary, featurette, stills gallery, trailers, deleted scenes, and more.

Suicide Girls - The First Tour

The Suicide Girls aren't your grandmother's burlesque troop, unless your grandmother dyed her hair fuscia and counted The Germs among her favorite bands. This collective of young punk and goth women has become a phenomenon thanks to an immensely popular website where models' journal entries appear alongside their photo sets, a bestselling book, and other merchandise.

Read our interview with Missy Suicide.

With Suicide Girls - The First Tour, the movement makes its debut on DVD, following a group of performers as they take their show on the road. The Suicide Girls founder, the charming Missy Suicide, appears with her camera in segments filmed during photo shoots, and is clearly having the time of her life helming this growing brand. In between performances in sold-out venues, interviews with the girls reveal the post-feminist ethos of this striptease empire, in which self-confidence, creativity, and personal ambition are hailed as the motivating factors behind why they enjoy taking their clothes off in front of a camera. Some viewers may be attracted to the message, while others may just be content to watch nubile young women with a variety of piercings vamp it up. Either way, Suicide Girls - The First Tour presents a spirited glimpse of a subculture bent on redefining what is beautiful.--Ryan Boudinot

Now comes SuicideGirls: First Tour, a DVD featuring the unique mix of punk and burlesque that made the SuicideGirls first national tour such a hit with audiences. Beyond the stage performances, this DVD follows the women along for an intimate behind-the-scenes look at life in the van, along with exclusive video fantasies conceived and performed by the touring company. The millions who have already discovered SuicideGirls will have to own their first appearance on DVD, while new fans will be curious to see what all the buzz is about.