Outsider Music Documentaries
List activity
1.5K views
• 1 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
24 titles
- DirectorMichael WolkStarsGary WilsonChristina BatesButch BottinoA documentary about musical genius Gary Wilson. Hailing from a small town in New York State, he revolutionized music forever.
- DirectorJeff FeuerzeigStarsDaniel JohnstonMabel JohnstonBill JohnstonDaniel Johnston, manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist is revealed in this portrait of madness, creativity and love.
- DirectorChad FreidrichsStarsByron ColeyCalvin JohnsonBarry Hansen"The longest-running, weirdest, loneliest enigma in popular music is a guy from Texas who calls himself Jandek." Jandek on Corwood is the 89-minute documentary that explores this man, his world and his music.
- DirectorAshkan Soltani StoneStarsJandekA documentary about Jandek one of the most mysterious American musicians with a large international cult following. The film provides rare access to the elusive performer and an intimate examination of Jandek's creative process.
- DirectorAshkan Soltani StoneTuning The Pulse offers a rare, behind the scenes look into the creative process of notoriously reclusive cult musician, Jandek and his free improvisatory music.
- DirectorJamie MeltzerStarsTom ArdolinoSonny CashDel CasherAn engaging look at the fascinating subculture of the song-poem industry, where a dream and a song come together as ordinary people mail in their poems to be set to music for a fee.
- DirectorJosh RubinStarsWild Man FischerHarold BronsonSolomon BurkeA documentary on the life and music of manic-depressive, paranoid-schizophrenic cult music icon Wild Man Fischer.
- DirectorPhilip AnagnosStarsBruce HaackEsther NelsonTed PandelA look into the underground world of Bruce Haack, a genius whose past work continues to garner recognition with time. The homespun musician couldn't have done it without the support of his family, friends, lovers, and the neighborhood kids he called "starchildren," all of whom paint the big picture of Bruce's life legacy and so-called dimension of imagination. In addition, various musicians of many genres have joined in today showing worldwide support, thus contributing to Bruce's objective, "Sure it's nice to be famous, but I'm more interested in obtaining a telepathic following." As for the music world, history's future king is coming from the past.
- DirectorKeven McAlesterStarsByron ColeyPaul Drummond13th Floor ElevatorsDocumentary about rock pioneer Roky Erickson, detailing his rise as a psychedelic hero, his lengthy institutionalization, his descent into poverty and filth, and his brother's struggle with their religious mother to improve Roky's care.
- DirectorHoward S. BergerSusan StahmanStarsDave AdamsJake ArnottMike BerryThis documentary chronicles the rise, fall and resurrection of Joe Meek. It shows, due in equal measures to his pioneering DIY recording techniques, hit-making philosophy and a life full of social, psychological and sexual obstacles.
- DirectorStephen PouliotStarsHarry Partch
- DirectorChris BagleyStarsJello BiafraTabitha SorenHoward SternA look at the life and work of controversial rock musician and cult hero, Wesley Willis.
- DirectorJulien NitzbergStarsHasil AdkinsArt FeinBilly MillerShort subject documentary by Julien Nitzberg about the legendary "psychobilly" musician and infamous wild man Hasil Adkins. Filming takes place in Adkins' own yard, his shack, and at various concerts. Adkins is notable for helping create an entirely new form of rock/rockabilly/country fusion, which he plays entirely by himself (with a guitar and drums simultaneously).
- DirectorKenny HarderScott MilamTodd PottingerStarsPeter BarnesJeff BridgesPat CashmanThis is a captivating journey into the world of a savant street musician and his lifelong struggle to become a successful recording artist, and to be loved. He is a street trumpeter and part-time guest on a local rock radio station. Richard Peterson fills his world with obsessions, like "Sea Hunt" (and the "Son of Sea Hunt," Jeff Bridges), the "The Golden Age of Television" production music (which inspires four albums/CDs produced with help from the Seattle music scene), stalking local TV celebrities, and a fanatical interest in Johnny Mathis. The unique relationship between Richard and Mathis is the catalyst for one of Richard's most remarkable compositions, "Love on the Golf Course". Between street gigs and a stint as a piano player in a grunge club, mega-band " The Stone Temple Pilots" discovers Richard's music. Richard's moment in the spotlight is short-lived when he is confronted by the human cost of obsessions, revealing the dark family secret he has lived with his entire life.
- DirectorStacey DeWolfeMalcolm FraserStarsIrwin ChusidChilly GonzalesCitizen KafkaEverything's Coming My Way is the portrait of Gordon Thomas, an 87-year-old New York singer still hoping for his big break. Gordon is a former big-band trombonist, a born storyteller, and an artisan who makes all his own clothes with a needle and thread. His songs - catchy and simple, peculiar and personal - are a kind of musical folk art. This in-depth character study tells Gordon's life story and reveals the spiritual philosophies that have kept him going. The film also explores the long journey which led to his discovery, and the appeal of Gordon's strange and wonderful music, including the testimonials of Canadian and international GT fans.
- DirectorJacob YoungStarsWattie GreenDorsey WhiteJerry WhiteThis documentary short, produced for West Virginia public TV's "Different Drummer" series, introduces us to Jesco White, a hard-living, tap-dancing Boone County resident whose repeated run-ins with the law have interfered with his dream of becoming as renowned a "mountain dancer" as his late father, D. Ray White. We meet Jesco's three distinct personalities; the gentle and loving Jesse, the violent and dangerous Jesco, and the extremely strange Elvis. We also encounter various members of Jesco's family, all nearly as eccentric as Jesco himself. You will ask, "Are these people for real?" Yes, they are.
- DirectorJacob YoungStarsJesco WhiteTom ArnoldRoseanne BarrJesco's trip to Los Angeles to appear in an episode of the Roseanne Barr show as an Elvis impersonating clog dancer is chronicled.
- DirectorJukka KärkkäinenJ-P PassiStarsPertti KurikkaKari AaltoSami HelleA Finnish punk-rock band formed by four mentally disabled guys.
- DirectorJohnny LegendStarsJohnny LegendJohn ZacherleTimothy CareyA biography of rock musician and pop-culture icon Johnny Legend. Included are clips from his concerts, film and television appearances, and interviews with co-workers and colleagues.
- DirectorJeff FeuerzeigStarsByron ColeyDavid FairJad FairFrom their underground days recording songs in their bedroom to their rise as one of rock music's most alternative bands, this documentary chronicles Jad and David Fair's formation of Half Japanese.
- DirectorSid LaverentsStarsSid LaverentsAdelaide LaverentsThrough the magic of quick cuts and split screens, Sid Laverents puts on a one-man-band performance of a novelty ragtime tune.
- DirectorDerek EmersonStarsBob Log IIILonesome OrganistHasil AdkinsSee what wows Bowie, tunes in Beck and inspires the Cramps. It's a heart-pumping plunge off a curvy West Virginian highway that leads to the infamous One-Man-Rockabilly-Wild-Man, Hasil Adkins. From Bob Log III, former bus driver turned punk infused Delta Blues band, to Washboard Hank performing on his kitchen-sink tuba, all of the One-Man-Bands documented are undoubtedly the best at what they do, for the simple reason that they are the only ones who can do what they do! Eric Royer's self-built 5-piece Blue Grass band is a long way from his early days playing punk music with Rob Zombie... or is it? Come hear the forbidden rhythms of the Lonesome Organist, Mayor Mc Ca, and the Mysterious Asthmatic Avenger. Witness the world's only One-Man-One-Woman band and be blown away by the King Louie hurricane of sound.
- DirectorNestor FrenkelDocumentary about the Reynols music group, which the most notorious is that one of its members has Down Syndrome. Another peculiarity is that of having a discography published in the most dissimilar corners of the planet.
- DirectorJesse AlbaMathew KlicksteinStarsSpero AnthonyTony BollasTy CarlisleDocumentary chronicles Kids' rise to underground cult fame over a ten year period, and incorporates the Kids' recent West Coast tour.