The entertainment network REELZ is running REELZFest in August, which the network is calling “The Biggest Rock Doc Festival on the Planet.” For three weeks beginning Saturday, August 14, 2021, REELZ will air more than 50 music documentaries about classic rock legends like Jim Morrison, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Metallica, Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top. REELZFest continues each weekend through Sunday August 29.
Best Classic Bands has exclusive clips from three of the programs. Watch them below.
The on-air festival begins in primetime on Aug. 14 with Jim Morrison: Rider on the Storm. REELZ’s feature-length documentary includes conversations with bandmates, the late Ray Manzarek and John Densmore, as well as Morrison biographers and his father, the late Admiral George Morrison. The film recreates the summer day on Venice Beach in 1965 where fate brought Morrison and Manzarek together as they strolled on the sand. Manzarek asked the UCLA film student what he was up to. “I’m writing songs,” said Morrison. “Why don’t you sing me a song,” asked the keyboardist and Morrison began to sing “Moonlight Drive.” “Holy cow,” recalled Manzarek, “this is incredible.”
Watch our exclusive preview clip from Jim Morrison: Rider on the Storm
The two-hour presentation airs Saturday August 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The next night, Sunday, Aug. 15, REELZ airs Pink Floyd: Breaking the Band. This special edition of the music series follows the band’s origin to its break-up. Their album, The Dark Side of the Moon, stayed on the charts for 18 years and made the bandmates multi-millionaires. Bassist Roger Waters, the film says, became convinced Floyd’s success was due to his vision alone. In 1985 Waters went solo and tried to stop his bandmates from using the Pink Floyd trademark. Thirty years later Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason still tour separately with the music they made together.
Watch our preview of Pink Floyd: Breaking the Band, featuring interviews with Gilmour, the band’s early manager, and other insiders
If the narrator sounds familiar, that’s because it’s Dee Snider. It airs Sunday night, August 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Immediately following at 9 p.m. ET/PT is Genesis: Breaking the Band. The film chronicles the British group from its earliest days with stellar early live footage, to eventual superstardom. “I was endlessly having to buy new tambourines because [Peter Gabriel] had smashed them the night before,” says their road manager. Once the frontman left to start a solo career, drummer Phil Collins took lead with a focus on infectious pop-rock singles, sell-out global tours and chart-topping success. The special edition traces their career with timeout for solo superstardom while the band was at the peak of its success.
Watch guitarist Steve Hackett, Genesis producer Hugh Padgham, and others in our clip
Genesis, with Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks have a big 2021 reunion tour. Tickets are available here and here.
Watch REELZ on Directv 238, Dish Network 299, Verizon FiOS 692, AT&T U-verse 1799 and in HD on cable systems and streaming services nationwide. Find REELZ on your local cable or satellite provider at reelz.com.
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