The Best Free Indie, Alternative, and Punk Music Documentaries
I love a good music documentary. Where else would I discover important bits of music history like, “From the very beginning of The Smiths, Morrissey behaved like a Big-Time Charlie Potato… like a rock star.” I now call people with large egos, “Big-Time Charlie Potatoes.” You should, too.
YouTube is my preferred channel for entertainment, and over the years, I have fine-tuned the algorithm to show me the good stuff. I have viewed and saved a stellar collection of alternative, indie, new wave, shoegaze, ska, and punk documentaries that are compelling, filled with high-quality facts, and free to view. Pretty sweet deal, huh? I’ve also included a few of my all-time favorites that are available to rent or buy.
Let me know what I have missed and some of your favorites. Happy viewing!
All descriptions are sourced from Wikipedia, YouTube, or the film’s website, with a link for more information.
“Dance Craze” (1981)
Dance Craze – “… a 1981 documentary film about the British 2 Tone music genre was directed by Joe Massot, who originally wanted to do a film only about the band Madness, whom he met during their first US tour. Massot later changed his plans to include the whole 2 Tone movement. The film, shot in 1980, comprised performance footage of Madness, The Specials, The Selecter, The Bodysnatchers, the Beat, and Bad Manners on tour throughout the United Kingdom.”
“The Decline of Western Civilization” (1981)
The Decline of Western Civilization – “… a riveting, unflinching and hard-core film which adeptly captures the spirit of a major cultural phenomenon. Including performances by X, Circle Jerks, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Germs and Alice Bag Band. Breaking down barriers of expression and social mores, the Decline punks were against everything: They gave birth to an anti-establishment view of the world that permeates today’s music, politics, social attitudes, styles and trends.”
“Urgh! A Music War” (1982)
Urgh! A Music War – “… a 1982 British concert film featuring performances by punk rock, new wave, and post-punk bands and artists. Filmed in August to September 1980 it was directed by Derek Burbidge and produced by Michael White and Lyndall Hobbs. Among the acts featured in the film are Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Magazine, the Go-Go’s, Toyah Willcox, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, X, XTC, Devo, the Cramps, Oingo Boingo, Dead Kennedys, Gary Numan, Klaus Nomi, Wall of Voodoo, Pere Ubu, Skafish, Steel Pulse, Surf Punks, 999, UB40, Echo & the Bunnymen and The Police. These were many of the most popular groups on the New Wave scene; in keeping with the spirit of the scene, the film also features several less famous acts.”
“Another State of Mind” (1984)
Another State of Mind – “… a 1984 American documentary film written, produced, and directed by Adam Small and Peter Stuart, following the punk rock bands Youth Brigade and Social Distortion on their summer 1982 North American tour. They spend several weeks travelling across the United States and Canada, but the tour ends prematurely when the used school bus they are driving breaks down in Washington, D.C. There they spend time with the band Minor Threat, who are also featured.”
“1991: The Year Punk Broke” (1992)
1991: The Year Punk Broke – “This documentary, released theatrically in 1992 and directed by Dave Markey, features American alternative rock band Sonic Youth on tour in Europe in 1991. While Sonic Youth is the focus of the documentary, the film also gives attention to Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., Babes in Toyland, Gumball and the Ramones. Also featured in the film are Mark Arm, Dan Peters and Matt Lukin of Mudhoney, and roadie Joe Cole, who was murdered in a robbery three months after the tour ended. The film is dedicated to Cole.”
“Heavenly Pop Hits: The Flying Nun Story” (2002)
Heavenly Pop Hits: The Flying Nun Story – “This film tells the story of the acclaimed New Zealand Indie label Flying Nun Records, famous for releasing many important records in the genre of the “Dunedin Sound”. This documentary gives a history of how the label was founded and how it developed over time, with interviews from key figures like founder Roger Shepherd and musician Chris Knox. It also gives profiles into a few of the major artists on the label that helped define the label’s legacy as an important label in indie rock. Also featured in the documentary are members of the Chills, the Verlaines, Straitjacket Fits, Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus, and many more.”
“We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen” (2005)
We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen – “… a full-length documentary about the influential 1980s punk rock band Minutemen was created by director Tim Irwin and producer Keith Schieron in association with Rocket Fuel Films. The film premiered on February 25, 2005 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, California, after two years in production. Poignant recent interviews with the band’s two surviving members Mike Watt and George Hurley, as well as first-person anecdotes from notable musicians including Ian MacKaye, Flea, Henry Rollins and Thurston Moore, complement the archival concert and interview footage of the band.”
The Jam: Punk Icons (2006)
The Jam: Punk Icons – “This long-awaited critical review of The Jam draws upon rare footage of the band, previously unavailable, live at the Reading Festival, in performance in Germany and from British TV appearances from Top of the Pops and The Tube, to produce the first comprehensive, independent critical review of the work of this iconic band. The Jam were an English mod revival/punk rock band formed in 1972 at Sheerwater Secondary School in Woking, Surrey. They released 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four number one hits.”
“Punk Rock Eats It’s Own: A Film About Face To Face” (2006)
Punk Rock Eats its Own: A Film About Face to Face – “… a feature-length documentary about the rise of one of the most influential punk rock bands of the ’90s as told by the band members. This critically acclaimed documentary contains candid interviews from every member of FACE TO FACE past and present, rare video footage, never-before-seen photos, and exclusive live performances. Following their 13 year-plus career, the former members of the band describe the struggle, pain, glory, and bittersweet irony of what it means to have been a part of this iconic punk rock band.”
“Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten” (2007)
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten – “As the front man of the Clash from 1977, Joe Strummer changed people’s lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence reaches out around the world, more strongly now than ever before. Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten features appearances by Joe Strummer, Steve Jones, Mick Jones, Brigitte Bardot, Julian Bennett Holmes, Bono, Steve Buscemi, Terry Chimes, John Cooper Clarke, John Cusack, Peter Cushing, Johnny Depp, Matt Dillon, and Flea.”
“You Weren’t There: A History of Chicago Punk, 1977–1984” (2007)
You Weren’t There: A History of Chicago Punk, 1977–1984 – “This documentary film looks back on the impact that the Punk movement had on the Windy City. Though overlooked in the annals of Rock history (compared to media-centric Los Angeles, New York, and London), Chicago served as an important early supporter of this burgeoning and controversial scene. From what is now considered to be the first Punk dance club in America (La Mere Vipere), to proto-hardcore clubs (Oz, O’Bannon’s), and All Ages DIY scene (Centro-Am Hall), Chicagoans made sure that there were outlets for the genre that was often blacklisted by the mainstream local live music scene.”
“Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All” (2013)
Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All – “… a 2013 independent documentary film chronicling the history of the American punk rock bands the Descendents and All. It was written by Matt Riggle, who produced and directed it with Deedle LaCour. The film uses an oral history format, telling the bands’ stories through the use of interviews with over 40 subjects, as well as new and archival footage. It stars drummer Bill Stevenson, singer Milo Aukerman, bassist Karl Alvarez, and guitarist Stephen Egerton, and features nearly all past and present members of both bands. Filmage also features numerous musicians who were contemporaries of, worked with, or were influenced by the Descendents and All.”
“Beautiful Noise” (2014)
Beautiful Noise – “… a 2014 American music documentary film, written and directed by Eric Green. The film documents three rock bands—Cocteau Twins, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and My Bloody Valentine—and their influence on shoegazing and other alternative rock genres. Beautiful Noise features extracts from over 50 interviews with bands and artists, as well as archival footage and music videos.”
“Breadcrumb Trail” – Slint Documentary (2014)
Breadcrumb Trail – “… a 2014 documentary film directed by Lance Bangs about the Louisville, Kentucky band Slint. The film focuses on Slint’s seminal album, Spiderland, and the Louisville music scene from which the band originated. Appearances are made by former members of Slint, their friends and family, Steve Albini, Brian Paulson, and other musicians. The film includes songs, demos, and live performances from Slint and other bands; most of these bands had contained one or more members from Slint’s lineup.”
“R.E.M. by MTV” (2014)
R.E.M. by MTV – “On April 5, 1980 four college pals-Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe-took the stage together for the first time to play at a friend’s birthday party. The band they started that night stayed together for thirty years and changed the shape of rock music. R.E.M. By MTV tells R.E.M.’s story in their own words, through three decades of performances and interviews R.E.M gave to MTV channels in the USA and around the world. Featuring revealing, never-before-seen footage, R.E.M. By MTV tells the amazing story of a band that did it their own way, and changed how a generation of musicians after them did it, too.”
“Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk In Washington, DC (1980-90)” (2015)
Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk In Washington, DC (1980-90) – “… an acclaimed documentary chronicling the rise of punk rock in Washington, DC. Bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Government Issue, Scream, Void, Rites of Spring, Fugazi, and others released their own records and booked their own shows, without record label constraints or mainstream media scrutiny. Contextually, it was a cultural watershed that predated the alternative music explosion of the 90s.”
“Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk” (2017)
Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk – “… spans over 30 years of the California Bay Area’s punk music history with a central focus on the emergence of Berkeley’s inspiring 924 Gilman Street music collective. Directed by Corbett Redford, narrated by Iggy Pop and executive produced by Green Day, Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk is a sprawling telling of this vibrant story, drawing from a wide variety of voices and viewpoints and featuring the music of many of the most famous and infamous punk bands ever.”
“Pick It Up! Ska in the ’90s” (2019)
Pick It Up! Ska in the ’90s – “… an independent documentary film about the rise in popularity of ska music in the 1990s often referred to as the third wave of ska. The film showcases the underground/DIY nature of the scene all over the world and how the push into the spotlight in the mid-to-late ’90s changed everything. The film was made by ska fans, for ska fans. Narrated by Tim Armstrong (Rancid, Transplants, Operation Ivy).It features interviews with artists from bands like Sublime, No Doubt, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.”
“Other Music” (2019)
Other Music – “In 2016, New York City lost Other Music, a legendary indie record store that shaped the city’s music scene. More than a shop, it was a cultural hub where bands formed, labels launched, and music lovers gathered. As physical stores vanish in the streaming age, this documentary celebrates Other Music’s legacy and its lasting impact on music culture.”
“Brainiac – Transmissions After Zero” (2020)
Brainiac – Transmissions After Zero – “In the mid 1990’s the Dayton, OH music scene was generating worldwide buzz from the influential indie rock being produced there. Arguably the most innovative was the band Brainiac, led by musical genius and charismatic front man Tim Taylor. On the verge of signing a major label record deal Taylor was tragically killed in an auto accident leaving his family and bandmates to pick up the pieces.”
“The Story Of The Smiths: Greatness and Controversy” (2021)
The Story Of The Smiths: Greatness and Controversy – “… the full story and music of The Smiths. It features rare musical performances, videos, TV appearances, interviews with the band, and expert comment and review from an esteemed panel of experts including John Porter, Stephen Street, Tony Wilson and more.”
“Minnesota Hardcore” (2023)
Minnesota Hardcore – “This is the entire series of “Minnesota Hardcore” compiled into one long binge for your documentary-watching pleasure. Follow Minnesota punk rockers on the rise and fall of hardcore in the Twin Cities.”
“Madness – Princes Of Ska” (2025)
Madness – Princes Of Ska – “From the back rooms of Camden’s pubs to the roof of Buckingham Palace at Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee: the London band Madness enriched British pop music history with their cheeky style and spectacular performances. In this documentary, we look back on their illustrious career with interviews with band members, friends, and music industry figures. Featuring brand new recorded interviews with Suggs and Bedders from ‘Madness’. Alongside interviews with Lynval Golding, Rhoda Dakar, Clive Langer and many more.”
Recommended Rentals
- “Punk Singer” (Kathleen Hanna)
- “Don’t Break Down: a Film About Jawbreaker”
- “Riot on the Dance Floor: The Story of Randy Now and City Gardens”
- “A Band Called Death”
- “The Go-Go’s”
- “DEVO”
- ”Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound”
- “Couldn’t You Wait? The Story of Silkworm”
- “Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest”
- “Soul Boys of the Western World” (Spandau Ballet)
- “Dig!” (The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre)
- “Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records”
- “My Secret World: The Story of Sarah Records”
- “I Want My Name Back” (Sugar Hill Gang)
- “Upside Down: The Creation Records Story”
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