He was the most unpretentious man in pop music. Success seemed to come to him, only when he wanted it and his definition of success was unlike any other performers. He made a fortune writing songs, but lived for years in a trailer hiding from the public. All of his records have reached cult status. They called him the Howard Hughes of the music world. A legend wrapped in mystery. Eric Clapton had huge hits with Cale’s After Midnight and Cocaine. Johnny Cash, the Allman Brothers, Brian Ferry, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, Deep Purple and many more covered his songs. For Eric Clapton Cale is the person he admires most and the only other musician he would like to be. Cale created the Tulsa Sound, a laid back mix of Rock`n’ Roll, Country, Blues and Jazz and is one of the most influential artists of the last three decades. Dire Straits admit to have built up their sound upon his laid back Blues-Rock. Among his devoted fans are musicians of all generations as Willy Nelson, Tom Petty and Widespread Panic. He is the musician of the musicians. For the first time, Cale agreed to have a film made on him. The documentary follows him and his band through six American states on his To Tulsa and Back Tour.
John Lee Hooker – That’s my Story
In this loving, endearing portrait of the legendary, passed away blues artist John Lee Hooker, his life is described by himself, his closest friends and music colleagues, from his birthplace in Mississippi following the ups and downs of his career to the big successes. That’s My Story is also the title of a famous Hooker song. Its text implies many autobiographic elements. It was his way to compensate life through music. The film accompanies him musically through the last six decades by using material from the archives to the latest recordings. The story of Hooker’s life is at the same time the history of Blues and its influence on British and American music from the fifties to the seventies. With hits like Boogie Chillen, Crawling King Snake, I’m in the Mood and Boom Boom he became an idol for whole generations of music makers. Especially for bands from Great Britain in the early sixties, like the Animals, The Rolling Stones and for musicians like Van Morrison, John Mayall and Eric Clapton, in the US for Bob Dylan. For the groups Canned Heat, J.Geils Band and Santana he was even something like a father figure. His music style has always differed from the style of other Blues musicians. Maybe this is the reason he has fans in every generation over the last sixty years.
All you need is Klaus
A journey into the incredible life of Klaus Voormann. An inside view into the history of Rock’n’Roll. A story of friendship, art and music. Klaus Voormann was on the frontlines of the pop era’s meteoric rise. His friendship with the Beatles has lasted ever since their joint Hamburg Days. This is his story. The film follows him to the most important places of his career in England, the US and to friends like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, Van Dyke Parks, Joe Walsh, Randy Newman, Richard Perry, Jim Keltner, Trevor Lawrence, Twiggy, The Manfreds, Olivia Harrison. We meet stars like we’ve never seen them before and witness new and extraordinary music sessions.
SIMON! The Joy of Conducting
Sir Simon Rattle is one of the most famous conductors in the world. His enthusiasm, his inspiring charisma and his empathetic manner inspire audiences in the big cities and in the provinces. ,,I always have music in my head,“ says the 70-year-old Peter Pan of classical music – we are there when the spark jumps and understand why he can ignite a fire and inspire people to love music like no other. In January 2025, Sir Simon Rattle will be 70 years old – no age for a conductor, but reason enough to look back and see what made him what he is today: A constant innovator who always had to deal with resistance, but who never lost his passion for communicating music.