WINO: The Documentary (Film Review)

Release Date: May 13th 2023. Film Company Details: New Terms Productions. Formats: DD/DVD

Credits

Director/Producer/Editor - Sharlee Patches

Review

If anyone deserves to have a full length documentary to be made about them is Scott “WINO” Weinrich and this film delivers on that premise. WINO is a legend within the Heavy Metal and Hard Rock scenes with his active participation of the respective scenes coming close to fifty years now. 

WINO: The Documentary is made by Sharlee Patches who provides an uncompromising and unflinching style of film-making with a Punk Rock spirit. The movie is not overly produced and matches the DIY aesthetics that WINO has been known for all of the bands and project’s he’s participated with. The film is unapologetic and highly controversial in places which the film doesn’t shy away from. As the film boldly shows a clip from 2012 where WINO predicts a man-made epidemic is forthcoming and the worldwide government plans to inoculate the population. Fast forward to 2020 and WINO still holds these views and he doesn’t mince his words. 

However, I knew what to expect of WINO’s personal and political views with the many great bands and classic albums he’s released over the last fifty years or so. WINO has always been a revolutionary and a free thinker within this Heavy Metal scene. Whilst his music can be vastly dark, his music can also be very uplifting and even life affirming.

This film has contributions from famous folks that WINO has worked with over the years and famous people who are fans. You have contributions from people such as Dave Grohl, Henry Rollins, FUGAZI and Phil Anselmo stating how they’re fans of WINO and commenting what an awesome guitar player there is and pointing out WINO probably doesn’t even realise this.

However, the film truly comes alive when Sharlee interviews and features contributions from his close circle of friends, family and most importantly - THE FANS. The view of the fans makes this documentary truly work as they all state - WINO is a truly humble soul and honest wonderful human being who would give you the shirt off his back. The film showcases this aspect many times with uplifting examples from fans of WINO’s never-ending list of projects such as Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Planet Caravan and many others.

There isn’t a narrative as such for the film. As the film chronicles all the projects that WINO has been involved over the years with many of the key players who WINO played with at that time. The film is highly complimentary of the great man himself with contributions from Jason Taylor, Brian Constantino, Jimmy Bower, Dave Sherman and Bobby Liebling. 

The film includes all the classic hits that WINO is known for and the soundtrack is amazing with vintage clips of WINO performing many of these great tracks LIVE. The quality of these clips varies but all undeniably showcase that a wonderful performer that WINO really is. 

There are some moments that could make for uncomfortable viewing for some such as WINO’s interaction with a female fan on stage and WINO’s intake of illegal substances that took me by surprise. However, Sharlee showcases some tender magical moments with WINO enjoying time with his mother, his three children and interactions with his fans.

The documentary ends on a sombre and uplifting moment as Sharlee asks WINO why he has quit Alcohol and Drugs which he advises to live a healthier and longer health style. Which is great to hear and showcases the great man may have mellowed and is now living for the right reasons but he’s still a beacon of truth for the Doom/Stoner Metal community. 

With the promise of a new The Obsessed album on the horizon, I’m grateful WINO is still here and that he’s around for a long time to release more great music in the future.

Sharlee does a stellar job in creating a beautifully raw, unflinching and highly unapologetic film that pulls no punches from start to finish. This is one of the best musical documentaries I’ve seen since Such Hawks Such Hounds. WINO: The Documentary should be essential viewing for all followers of the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scene. 

WINO: The Documentary is a true original, a bit like the great man himself. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the copy of the film.

WINO: The Documentary is available to buy now on Digital Download here and DVD via Wino-Art

THE DOOM DOC (Film Review)

The Doom Doc is a new documentary focusing primarily on Holy Spider Promotions and the local Doom Metal Scene in Sheffield. The documentary has interviews with bands and artists from across the globe. As the film makers interview Kirk Windstein, Bill Ward, Vinny Appice to name just a few. The film gives a brief history of the Doom Metal scene in general with the Sludge and Stoner scenes getting a worthwhile mention. The documentary struck a chord with myself personally as I've met some of the individuals featured on this documentary. I respect and admire the people featured on the film.

The film begins with a creepy and funny story of how Holy Spider promotions received its name. The film then moves onto Wet Nuns and the work of their drummer – Alexis Gotts aka Leki. Leki was instrumental in starting off the DIY Doom Scene in Sheffield and actually booked some great bands to perform in Sheffield. Sadly, Leki passed away in 2014. 

I met Leki twice when he was performing with Baba Naga, the band he was performing with at the time. I had a very cool discussion with the band back then when they supported HARK/Ken Mode in Sheffield and Brant Bjork the following night in Leeds. I went to both gigs and he was an immense talent behind the drums.

The Doom Doc explains the local Sheffield scene suffered as there were no people putting gigs on that time. Though that inspired Joe from Kurokuma and Craig from BA'AL to form Holy Spider Promotions and to kick-start the Doom Metal scene in Sheffield. The documentary focuses on Holy Spider Promotions daily struggles putting on the second annual Doomlines festival. A Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal festival that the guys put in response to the more mainstream Tramlines festival.

Craig and Joe from Holy Spider Promotions

Before we get to see their struggles putting on the festival, the documentary showcases some great live venues in Sheffield such as The Lughole and The Mulberry Tavern which Holy Spider Promotions promote bands regularly. Credit should go to the filmmaker Connor Matheson for trying to include as many important members of the UK Doom Metal scene into this documentary. CONAN receive their fair share of the attention here. As they're arguably the biggest Doom Metal band the UK has to offer at the moment.

The Doom Doc does show you the nitty gritty in running a promotions company and the consensus of heavy metal music in general. Our style of music is not the most widely known of the different subgenres within the world of Heavy Metal. Though you can tell from this documentary that it has some of the most passionate people trying to create new music and to keep the scene alive. The interviews with Kirk, Bill, Vinny and CONAN do offer bleak and truthful moments of what influences them and performing on stage. Bill Ward is brutally honest and it's refreshing to hear one of the greats tell people the struggles he went through many years ago.

The film does include some funny real life moments that I won't spoil for you. The Doom Doc's main subject is Holy Spider Promotions and how they sometimes struggle to bring Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal gigs to the local masses. A lot of awesome bands are featured such as Primitive Man, CONAN, Mower and Slabdragger, all playing heavy riffs and intense live performances.

You cannot deny the passion and involvement that Joe and Craig put into running Holy Spider Promotions. The guys had a major hiccup last year when the original venue meant to host Doomlines II cancelled on them at the last moment. The guys do manage to find another venue for Doomlines II, which was a massive success.

The film shows why our music will never be accepted by the commercial masses and how the Doom Metal scene will remain remotely unapologetic for this as well. The live footage scenes are superb with excellent live performances from the wide range of bands that appear on the documentary. The audiences’ reaction is there for everyone to see. As they live and breathe not only the bands themselves but the scene overall.

The Doom Doc maybe set in Sheffield but it's message and appeal is universal for almost every underground metal scene worldwide. The Doom Doc is a celebration of what is great within the Heavy Metal underground scene. Holy Spider Promotions are the stars of this film and I hope it gives them more exposure and even the bands featured.

The film is superbly well made from start to finish. Director Connor Matheson has put together an exciting, raw and very honest film. The film is indeed grimy in parts but that matches the tone and atmosphere of the Doom Metal world in general.

The Doom Doc can be ranked alongside classic Doom/Stoner documentaries such as Such Hawks, Such Hounds.

Words by Steve Howe

All photos kindly provided for promotional purposes by Connor Matheson.

Links:

Official | Facebook

Lo Sound Desert (Film Review)

Release date: June 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: DD/DVD

Lo Sound Desert – Two Chapters Of Rock Music

Chapter 1 – Backyard Rebellion

Chapter 2 – The Outskirts Of Town

Cast:

Various

Review:

Lo Sound Desert is finally upon and it seemed like an eternity for the film to be released. Trailers started surfacing back in 2011 and it promised an in-depth look at the legendary Desert Rock/Stoner Rock scene of the late 80s and early 90s. Director Joerg Steineck then decided to make another Stoner Rock Documentary sorry I mean Fuzzomentary with the excellent Truckfighters Fuzzomentary released back in 2012.

After that film was released Joerg went back to his earlier project and Lo Sound Desert is finally here. Lo Sound Desert provides an in-depth look at the origins of the Desert/Stoner Rock scene and how it influenced bands and musicians for generations to come. The film is split into two parts - Backyard Rebellion and The Outskirts Of Town.

Backyard Rebellion explains how the scene started with key interviews from Sean Wheeler, Mario Lalli, Brant Bjork, Scott Reeder, Nick Olivieri, Alfredo Hernanez, Tony Brown Diprima and Josh Homme. I never knew the Desert Rock scene had it's foundings with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack Culture moving to Palm Springs and bringing their type of life with them. As the documentary states they hated Rock And Roll culture. They banned Rock and Roll concerts to the mid 1980s but with kids being kids, they needed a place and an output to create music of their own. And this is the beginnings of an underground scene starting to develop.

Joerg expertly delves into the emergence of this scene with great interviews and cool animated sequences (I think that Joerg is a massive Terry Gilliam fan. As the sequences are funny and surreal as hell at times) moving the film along at a rapid pace. Lo Sound Desert also contains a ton of great footage recorded from the 80s/90s and you can see real talent emerging right in front of you.

The second part of the documentary explores how the scene moved to the desert with the scene becoming more and more wilder with each generator party. Mainly with the bands and their fans evading police at every given opportunity. The film then explores band who found some minor success within the 90s Stoner Rock scene mainly KYUSS and Yawning Man. Though not everyone was pleased with KYUSS's success and Joerg captures these moments with brutal hilarity. Not going to say which bands or members who diss them but it made me laugh.

The one thing you come away from the movie is who the real saviour or hero of the Desert/Stoner Rock scene actually is. And that honour goes to Mario Lalli. I came away with a much greater respect for Mario after watching this documentary as his generosity for helping other bands knows no bounds. Mario is perhaps the true embodiment and spirit of the Desert Rock/Stoner Rock scene. And I thank Joerg for pointing this out on this excellent documentary.

The production is superb throughout. It may have taken Joerg a long time to make this film but he's delivered the goods here. This is perhaps the most important film of the Desert/Stoner Rock scene. If people need educating on how the Desert/Stoner Rock scene evolved then they should watch this film. This ranks along side Such Hawks Such Hounds as one of the essential music documentaries to own.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | Purchase Film Here