Tag: documentary

RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World opened July 26th at the Film Forum in New York before expanding to cities across the country. The trailer has been embedded below.

Screenings

WINNER OF THE AUDIENCE AWARD AT THE ILLUMINATE FILM FESTIVAL 2017 IN SEDONA, AZ.

WINNER of the BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD AT ALBUQUERQUE FILM AND MUSIC EXPERIENCE 2017.

RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World brings to light the profound and overlooked influence of Indigenous people on popular music in North America. Focusing on music icons like Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robbie Robertson, and Randy Castillo, Rumble shows how these pioneering Native American musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.

Featuring
MARTIN SCORSESE QUINCY JONES STEVEN TYLER STEVEN VAN ZANDT IGGY POP LINK WRAY BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE ROBBIE ROBERTSON JESSE ED DAVIS JIMI HENDRIX GEORGE CLINTON SLASH RANDY CASTILLO AND MORE.

American folk singer-songwriter Mariee Sioux:

Just saw this movie last night. This is a truly important and profound film that everyone should go see, it had me jaw dropped and in tears and astounded and appreciating the path of music so dearly, I never was fully aware that the roots of rock and roll and blues stemmed from the realms Indigenous music in such a way, but then of course it makes so much sense, they do a beautiful way of clearly documenting this… An immensely important film of our time, and an incredible way of telling the story honoring native peoples and what enormity they lent to the influence of all the genres and sounds we’ve lived our lives to over the past 100 years.”

SYNOPSIS

Many artists and musical forms played a role in the creation of rock, but arguably no single piece of music was more influential than the 1958 instrumental “Rumble” by American Indian rock guitarist and singer/songwriter Link Wray.

When recalling Link Wray’s shivering guitar classic, “Rumble,” Martin Scorsese marvels, “It is the sound of that guitar . . . that aggression.” “Rumble” was the first song to use distortion and feedback. It introduced the rock power chord – and was one of the very few instrumental singles to be banned from the radio for fear it would incite violence.

RUMBLE explores how the Native American influence is an integral part of music history, despite attempts to ban, censor, and erase Indian culture in the United States.

As RUMBLE reveals, the early pioneers of the blues had Native as well as African American roots, and one of the first and most influential jazz singers’ voices was trained on Native American songs. As the folk rock era took hold in the 60s and 70s, Native Americans helped to define its evolution.

Father of the Delta Blues Charley Patton, influential jazz singer Mildred Bailey, metaphysical guitar wizard Jimi Hendrix, and folk heroine Buffy Sainte-Marie are among the many music greats who have Native American heritage and have made their distinctive mark on music history. For the most part, their Indian heritage was unknown.

RUMBLE uses playful re-creations and little-known stories, alongside concert footage, archives and interviews. The stories of these iconic Native musicians are told by some of America’s greatest music legends who knew them, played music with them, and were inspired by them: everyone from Buddy Guy, Quincy Jones, and Tony Bennett to Iggy Pop, Steven Tyler, and Stevie Van Zandt.

RUMBLE shows how Indigenous music was part of the very fabric of American popular music from the beginning, but that the Native American contribution was left out of the story – until now.