If you love music and history, documentaries about musicians will entertain you for hours. Featuring footage of live shows, personal interviews, and behind-the-scenes shenanigans, music documentaries are as much fun to listen to as they are to watch.
Check out the best documentaries about famous rock stars that you can stream.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Julian Lennon (Actors)
John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky (2018)
Available on Netflix, this documentary tells the story of the making of John Lennon’s 1971 album Imagine. The film features footage released for the first time by Yoko Ono and offers a look into their relationship and creative process. Further, the movie touches on the social change that was taking place at the time.
Fun Fact: John Lennon and were married in 1969 until he died in 1980.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Bob Dylan (Actor)
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005)
You can watch Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half-hour documentary on Netflix to learn about the life and musical evolution of Bob Dylan. The movie traces his transition from folk singer to protest musician to rock star. Find out about his early years in Minnesota before he became famous in Greenwich Village.
Fun Fact: Scorsese made another documentary about Bob Dylan in 2019. It is called Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese, and it is about a famous tour the rock star took in the mid-1970s.
Quincy (2018)
Featuring scenes from his personal life, this Netflix documentary features highlights from Quincy Jones’ life. More than a singer, he is also a record and film producer. The documentary is co-directed by his daughter, Rashida Jones, who mastered the art of creating an impactful documentary. Throughout the film, you will learn about Quincy’s time growing up in Chicago, rediscover his work with Michael Jackson, and hear stories about his encounters with Lionel Richie.
Fun fact: In 1982, Jones produced Jackson's Thriller, the bestselling album in the history of the music industry.
Keith Richards: Under the Influence (2015)
You can learn what inspired Keith Richards from his childhood through today in this light-hearted documentary found on Netflix. It humanizes a larger-than-life rock star who we will forever know as one of the greatest. The film features original interviews from the present day that explore Richards' life, including stories about his times with the Rolling Stones.
Fun fact: Richards' songwriting partnership with Mick Jagger is one of the most successful in history.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Kurt Cobain (Actor)
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)
Found on HBOMax, this documentary highlights the life and career of Kurt Cobain, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Nirvana. You will see home movies, original artwork, photography, and recordings that depict Cobain’s light and dark sides. Learn all about his early years growing up in Aberdeen, Washington, by joining up with Nirvana.
Fun fact: Cobain was often heralded as a spokesman of Generation X and is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in the history of alternative rock.
If you love rock and roll, you’ll enjoy the best documentaries about famous rock stars. Uncover interesting stories, behind-the-scenes footage, and unique facts you never knew about your favorite artists.
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