Punk Revolution NYC: The Velvet Underground, The New York Dolls And The CBGBs Set

This is a very well made in depth look at the NYC music scene of the 70's. It is very much in the vein of Clinton Heylin's book "From the Velvets to the Voidoids" in that it favors the more artistic bands like Television and Patti Smith whereasThe Heartbreakers are only spoken of in regard to Richard Hell and the Dead Boys are seen onscreen as the narrator references a "second wave" of bands but their name isn't spoken nor is their music heard. But if that doesn't turn you off then this is definitely worth seeing.

Anyone who, like me, began buying albums by CBGBs artists inthe late 1970s as a teenager, or might not have been around at thetime and would like the information provided on the era, as well asit's roots in the Velvet Underground and glitter rock scene, shouldappreciate this DVD. One caveat: none of the performance footage is provided un-interrupted by narration. But I didn't mind as I have vintage performances by many of these acts on other DVDs. A gem.

I lived through it, my cousin was in a punk band in the 70's and this brought back some great memories!

I thought I "knew", and there's much that I didn't. Utterly worth the coin for the education.

Very good

Great stuff, great artists, important time and place for music and art. Big question though... for the "Prime"-shipping DVD on Amazon, priced currently at $17.99, Amazon warns that it is a Region 2 DVD package and won't play on most U.S. players... yet in the product details, they say it is formatted NTSC (used in the U.S. and not PAL, which is what most Region 2 discs are). This doesn't make sense, or at least I don't think it does. I'm running into conflicting or wrong information here more and more lately. Is this REALLY a Region 2 NTSC disc? Thanks.

Velvets, Voidoids, Variety!byRob JonesPunk Revolution NYC: The Velvet Underground, The New York Dolls & The CBGB Set is a detailed, diligent and dynamic 2 DVD box.Disc One is a riveting document on the arrival of The Velvet Underground and their immense influence on contemporary culture. From their early associations with Andy Warhol and his empire this iconic New York institution made an indelible mark on many musicians that followed. From an unlikely bond between Lou Reed and Welsh wizard John Cale the ‘Velvets’ early development was enhanced with the addition of Stirling Morrison and Moe Tucker. From this point a truly original quartet was formed and modern music was kick started!There is an astute analysis from those in the inner circle plus associates and journalists. The resulting assessment dissects the scene, the sounds and the evolving freedom of 60’s expression that took Reed and his cohorts down a different route to the seemingly dominant peace and love population identified with west coast America. What becomes apparent is the colossus of creativity that sprung forth and even though the emphasis changed when Cale left and Doug Yule stepped in there was still a great deal to champion.Disc Two moves on from the Velvet Underground template and assesses what followed in terms of the acts that catapulted from a 70’s Big Apple. From this point we are introduced to the likes of the New York Dolls, Television, The Heartbreakers, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Suicide, Blondie, Patti Smith and a cast of other integers. The footage makes for essential viewing and this experience does offer a cast of characters that were to the fore during the rise of rebel rock in a cross section of outlets such as the renowned CBGB’s and Mercer Arts Center.This a thorough account of an exuberant era that changed the sonic landscape not just in America but globally. The venues, the vehemence, the vitality and the variety make for a tantalising tale. As a viewer please buy in to this bounty because it gives the flavour of a fertile sonic city in its productive prime.

This 3-plus hour documentary is the best you can get on this subject. Though it has some footage of the bands and performers, it is around 75 percent interviews with either members of the bands or music journalists; around 20 people in all. The NYC bands here, particularly Velvet Underground, New York Dolls and Ramones, were truly revolutionary, and changed the face of music; influencing bands up to this day. This dvd gives a great history and overview of these bands, as well as Television, Blondie, Suicide, Talking Heads, and Patti Smith. I would like to have seen more on the Heartbreakers , Jayne/Wayne County's 2 bands, Dead Boys, and the Cramps, ( the Cramps seem to have been written out of this scene which they were a part of). Still, one cannot complain about this totally fantastic, educational and intelligent movie. If you are interested in these bands and the NYC music scene, this is essential viewing!!

A really well-made documentary. I'd have liked more on Suicide, but I found it all fascinating, so five stars from me..

very good and fast

Great documentary about the New York new wave with plenty of rare film clips of early performances

I was and still am a huge fan of this period in music. I was in my late teens early twenties at the time. Seeing Patti Smith's first concert at the Roundhouse. The first Ramones gig at the Roundhouse with the Flamin Groovies and the Stranglers [ who had also supported Smith at the previously mentioned Roundhouse gig ] Televisions first appearance at the Rainbow with Blondie Supporting and the Ramones second show later on with Talking Heads and the great Aussie band the Saints supporting. Then seeing Talking Heads headlining at the Roundhouse too. So watching this DVD reminded me of how great and completely different all those bands were. Such an exciting time - I was in heaven.I thought all the interviews were really good too. Not too many boring critics fortunately. Robert Christgau was the best. Clearly a fan of the times and very knowledgable indeed. The only irksome thing for me was Simon Reynolds. Why on earth include him in all this? He is clearly not of that time [ probably not even born then ] and had very little to say of any worth. Even using that old chestnut about Television being like The Grateful Dead - what nonsense! It was indeed heartening to see the editing then switching to Christgau who poo-pooed the whole silly notion. Verlaine's soloing was, at the time, full of surprises and genuine tension. Verlaine never uses blues clichés. Studying trumpet and sax players when he was learning to play guitar. But of course Simon Reynolds wouldn't know that. Stick to the Kaiser Chiefs is my suggestion old fruit.I can't recommend this DVD highly enough though. Mercifully Reynolds "contributions" [ negligible as they are ] don't really detract from the wealth of true knowledge and valuable experience imparted by the "real" experts and enthusiasts of that time.BUY!

Es gibt ja diesen ewigen Streit darüber, ob Punk-Rock nun aus den USA oder dem Vereinigten Königreich kommt. Ich würde sagen: Die Punk-Bombe wurde bereits Ende der 1960er Jahre in Amerika gezündet und explodierte dann in der zweiten Hälfte der 1970er in England, wo sie sich hauptsächlich durch die hysterische Bereichterstattung der britischen Massenmedien in eine große Protestbewegung verwandelte. Denen, die sich für die Zeit interessieren, in der die Zündschnur in den USA vor sich hin brutzelte, möchte ich diese ausgezeichnete Dokumentation gerne ans Herz legen. Mit um die 3 Stunden herum ist sie erfreulich lange ausgefallen und gute Englisch-Kenntnisse werden benötigt. Die Dokumentation beginnt kurz vor der "first wave" des US-Punks und stellt Bands wie Velvet Underground, die New York Dolls usw. vor, während ein zweiter Teil sich mit der "second generation" (Blondie, Talking Heads usw.) beschäftigt.Größere Konzertausschnitte sucht man hier vergebens (wohl auch, weil es kaum welche gibt), dafür finden sich viele spannende Erinnerungen von Zeitzeugen und der Versuch, das Proto-Punk- und Punk-Phänomen historisch und musikalisch in einen größeren Kontext einzuordnen. Die Dokumentation umfasst 2 DVDs, denen man solide Bild- und Ton-Qualitäten bescheinigen kann. Was allerdings ein wenig kurz kommt, ist die Tatsache, dass die Protagonisten der New Yorker Szene zum großen Teil wirklich brutal kaputte Existenzen führten - hier würde ich das Buch  Please Kill Me: Die unzensierte Geschichte des Punk Erzählt von Lou Reed, John Cale, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, Willy DeVille u.a.  als Zusatzlektüre empfehlen. Please Kill Me: Die unzensierte Geschichte des Punk Erzählt von Lou Reed, John Cale, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, Willy DeVille u.a.