"The Story Of Rock 'N Roll Comics" DVD (director: Ilko Davidov)

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you may remember "Rock 'N Roll Comics". This upstart underground publishing company produced a shit-ton of unauthorized rock biographies in comic book form. The company, founded by Todd Loren, kindled the ire of many of the featured bands (or more specifically, their merchandising and management companies).

This documentary covers the little-known life and times of Loren, from the beginning of his dealings in the music business with rock memorabilia company Musicade (who I'm pretty sure I used to order from) to his short-lived Rock 'N Roll Comics venture. Loren was an incendiary character, with little business acumen and, according to some of the friends interviewed here, even fewer social skills. Loren was found murdered in 1992, in a case still unsolved.

"The Story Of Rock 'N Roll Comics" features interviews with many of Loren's colleagues, friends, and family members, as well as names like Alice Cooper and Mojo Nixon, both of whom were supporters of Loren's free speech cause as he battled rock giants like Guns 'N Roses, Bon Jovi, or even New Kids On The Block, in court. It's an engrossing look at one of America's underground comics' "dirty little secrets". 

Wild Eye/MVD Visual

"From Straight To Bizarre: Zappa, Beefheart, Alice Cooper, and LA's Lunatic Fringe" DVD

This nearly 3-hour unauthorized documentary does an admirable job compiling a history lesson on the short-lived, but influential labels set up by Frank Zappa and manager Herb Cohen in the late 1960s. Straight Records and Bizarre Records both were showcases for some of the wildest and most unusual sounds to come from the era.

Featured here are looks at the artists who benefit from Zappa's tutelage, from the medically-diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic Wild Man Fischer to Captain Beefheart to Alice Cooper, Lenny Bruce, Tim Buckley, and others. As with most of the releases from Sexy Intellectual, there are plenty of interviews with friends and acquaintances, though particularly absent are words from the most pivotal players. Nonetheless, this is an interesting document and a fine history lesson, especially to fans of Zappa. (Sexy Intellectual via MVD Visual)

Zappa website