Magnolia Pictures and Vice Documentary Films screened their latest rock doc ‘Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock’ at Los Angeles’ prestigious Pacific Theaters at The Grove. It was the best music doc I’ve ever seen.
In a city where wearing a DSLR around your neck is almost as common as an iPhone, it’s refreshing to be reminded of photography’s simple rules: Click and shoot. Be in the right place at the right time. Get to know your subjects’ and their message. See through the lens to the person of front of it, and don’t just capture their face; Capture their essence.
Mick Rock doesn’t just achieve this. He lives and breathes it. And now, you can too, thanks to a recently released documentary about this legend.
Shot! The Psycho Spiritual Mantra of Rock held its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday April 22nd. The documentary captures Mick Rock and all of his essence, from his beginnings in Cambridge, to his travels with David Bowie, to his work on album covers. Director Barnaby Clay calls Mick’s work the “blueprint of music photography” and Mick is truly just as famous as the icons he snapped, definitely just as rugged, and equally as cool.
Combining interviews taken on a constructed set, black and white film (which beautifully mimicked the feel of Mick’s photos), and reenactments of Mick’s darkest times, Barnaby’s film takes a journey through the wild side, and the creative side, of Mick. There’s no shortage of psychedelic elements and virtual acid trips in the film, nor crunch of the guitar that rips through the soundtrack. It was a soundtrack that would continue long into the evening courtesy of a film after party at the Dream Downtown.
Long into the night, patrons were treated to a catered rock show of covers that reflected the life and talent of Mic Rock. It was a Rock n’ roll-a-dex, if you will, of Mick’s most famous photographs including The Ramones, David Bowie, and Lou Reed. The “house band” in this case, included a Yeah Yeah Yeahs reunion, as they and other special guests like immersed themselves in hits such as “Rebel, Rebel” and “Walk on the Wild Side.” The audience squealed with delight as Marky Ramone himself joined the drums for “I Wanna Be Sedated” and provided a drum solo before Karen O and crew launched into “Sheena is a Punk.”
Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio), Sky Ferreira, Debbie Harry, Eugene Hutz, Money Mark, Rose McGowan, Waris Alhuwalia, Nick Zinner, Bob Gruen, Nur Khan, David Katz, Scott Lipps, Barney Clay, Todd Dicurcio, Megan Dicurcio and more were spotted partying at the Gallery in the Dream Downtown. The evening was presented by Nur Khan and Gibson Guitars. The bands continued the party down at Electric Room.
Could it get any cooler?
It may be every musician’s dream to play this music.
Nay.
It is every musician’s dream to see themselves as Mick sees them. As soon as you step in front of his lens, he thinks you’re the most interesting person in the world. And through this documentary, everyone gets one step closer to being there.
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Photo Credit: David X Prutting/BFA.com