As I type this, I am watching (for approximately the 15th time) A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica (first half only). I don't think I've learned a single fucking thing about recording from it, but the endless hours of assaulting bands in my basement with "just needs a little more character, a little more Hetfield" have paid for the DVD ten times over. And the part where Lonn Friend comes over with gay porn! And the part where Cancer Boy comes and plays guitar, oh, God I could go on all night!! The companion piece (the "Black Album" Classic Albums episode) is more educational, but far less enjoyable.

I am a fan of the Classic Albums series, but they're fairly tame - does anyone have any recommendations for other recording themed movies/videos. The more ridiculous the excess, the more absymal the band, the better. For example, I'd be much more inclined to watch a film of The Eagles recording than Wilco recording. Didn't Limp Bizkit ever bring a camera in the studio? Dammit!

Yeah,

Dan

In 1999, Fugazi released a documentary called Instrument (Dischord No.80). Although this video is primarily concert footage, nearly a quarter of it is dedicated to documenting the making of 1995's Red Medicine at Inner Ear Studios in Washington DC. This film is not entertaining or amusing according to your criteria, but as an indepth look into the workings of Fugazi, this film hits the mark. I highly recommend this release to any fan of Fugazi.

danmohr wrote:As I type this, I am watching (for approximately the 15th time) A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica (first half only). I don't think I've learned a single fucking thing about recording from it, but the endless hours of assaulting bands in my basement with "just needs a little more character, a little more Hetfield" have paid for the DVD ten times over. And the part where Lonn Friend comes over with gay porn! And the part where Cancer Boy comes and plays guitar, oh, God I could go on all night!!

My top 13 favorite things about the Metallica movie:

13: The container truck full of outtake reels being loaded.

12: Bob Rock sneering, "All right, impress me. Let's hear the Guitar Player of the Year solo."

11: Bob Rock saying "Make the next couple of takes a little more peppery off the top... and keep the dynamics kinda cool on the high hat."

10: The Lars quote about what they wanted to accomplish: "Just get some swinging kinda back beat ... kinda shit going on. Just get psycho-motherfucker."

9: The symphonic percussionist (It looks like David Van Tieghem) standing nervously around while Lars whacks randomly at things on the percussion table with a mallet.

8: James Hetfield pumping a shotgun and cocking the lever on a Winchester model 98 in rhythm to a song.

7: Comparing actual Lars footage with the Metallica Drummer guy and not being able to decide who's more retarded.

6: Lars in the bathrobe eating salad.

5: Petty battle over whether or not there will be a guide vocal, ending with Lars stabbing a stick through his drumhead. His finest moment as a drummer.

4: Bob Rock saying "He's got to put some time into these solos. These songs deserve it."

3: Bob Rock is named Bob Rock, for shit's sake.

2: Bob Rock using a person's name as a synonym for greatness, in an attempt to get the musician to do what he wants: "Give it some of that Hetfield."

1: Bob Rock's white fringed calfskin jacket and feathered hair look.

I have seen copies of this video in studios in four different countries, where it has become a kind of tasting menu of bad studio indulgences and producer-speak bullshit. I have myself worn out two copies and am working on a third. I am shocked that anyone could watch it and not come to the conclusion that this record could have been made in a weekend, if not for all the bullshitting and producing being done. I actually know of a band who -- having watched this entire video -- then asked Bob Rock to work on their record.

The end result is a record that sounds fine. Passable by any standard. Unremarkable and ultimately trivial in the company of genuine, inspired and less deliberate records in the pantheon, but a perfectly acceptable record. In hindsight, does anybody think spending a million bucks and a year in the company of a manipulative bullshitter was worth that sort of a result -- an "okay if you like that stuff" kind of record?

Well, I suppose people have spent more on less. Michael Jackson's last decade, for example.

The contrast between this band and its stupid indulgences and Fugazi and their perfectly balanced efficiency is probably the thing that draws the line between "us" and "them."

The only rock film that comes close to the all-encompassing dumbness and self-absorption of this masterpiece is Danzig's "Long Form" video, which I have also worn out more than once.

best,
-steve

Jesus, that movie sounds fucking hilarious... Gotta have it...

Steve, your simple list of favorite scenes will be deconstructed forever for its sub-textual rock insight...

Or, maybe it's just the thing to put on the back of the video box...

dan

you know my feelings about the metallica movie

and i second the danzig longform recommendation, tho it has little to do w/recording, as i recall

the classic albums entry for fleetwood mac's rumours is good--i'm sympathetic towards the group in either p.green or l.buckingham mode, but even if you're not, it's worth watching

most people find the recording studio to be a deathly dull place, so unfortunately there's little documentation of its inner workings for the rest of us

tm

Tim:

Yes, I owe you a pile of thanks for recommending the Metallica movie - much like the steam engine or cotton gin, I feel that having now lived with it, I cannot imagine a life without it.

I think the entire "Black Album" recording process can be summed up in the Lars cokehead game plan:

"I think we all had a fine idea of, just what was best for this fuckin' thing that we were doing - you know, gettin' some big fat fuckin' drums in there and put just layers of massive fuckin' rhythm guitars and have this bass just kind of pounding."

That kind of statement really asks more questions than it answers. I come away from each viewing wondering:

- Why are there apparently napkins over the NS-10 tweeters?
- Why do I think "Jaymz" Hetfield actually seems like a nice guy?
- What is the deal with the gigantic shock mount in all the staged interview footage?
- Is that mic even plugged in?
- Does Bob Rock own any shirts that button all the way up?
- Which is taller - Lars or a parking meter?
- What the fuck does "code of the road" mean?
- How is being in a studio lock-out for nine months anything like being on the road?
- Who did Randy Staub ass-rape in a previous life to wind up spending weeks editing together these brain-dead drum fills?

An enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in an acid-washed denim jacket.

So what the hell is the Danzig video called? It looks like they had videos (VHS) for each of the first few albums - is the self-titled video the one to get? The last thing I need is live versions of shit off Lucifuge; I could at least face my friends if I mistakenly bought some tape full of live versions of "Twist of Cain" and "She Rides."

Thanks,

Dan

dan

i reply asap so you can avoid buying anything too stupid

the danzig thing might've been promo only

it just sez DANZIG on the front

black box, white lettering, has the cattle skull on the cover like the 1st alb

it does have videos for she rides etc.

it's probablyjust called 'danzig'

it is not a live concert video

does that help? hope so

tm

There is a very entertaining BBC TV programme from the 80s documenting the recording of 'Towers Of London' by the (excellent) English band XTC at The Manor in Oxfordshire. It's entertaining because Andy Partridge is a very amusing man. There's a fair bit of mucking about because they'd actually already recording the single and were just re-doing a few overdubs for the cameras. Worth tracking down if you're a fan of the band.

By the way - isn't the 'napkins over the tweeters' thing a standard piece of voodoo amongst NS10 users? Supposedly takes the 'edge' off the things... (what's left?)

cheers,
James.

>>By the way - isn't the 'napkins over the tweeters' thing a standard piece of voodoo amongst NS10 users? Supposedly takes the 'edge' off the things... (what's left?)

si

it is somewhat useful when tracking to avoid frying your ears

god, those speakers sound like HELL

this film(parts 1&2) is available on amazon on dvd for under thirty dollars.