Sam Dunn Movies

This black and white concert film captures Motorhead tearing through over a dozen tracks including "Iron Fist," "I Know How To Die," "Killed By Death," "Ace of Spades," and "Overkill." ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

When Iron Maiden first burst onto the British music scene in the late 1970s, they were part of the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal," a movement of young bands bringing a fresh energy and ferocity to hard rock. But in the 21st Century, Iron Maiden are still on the road; they've grown from young upstarts to one of the most popular, enduring and respected bands in metal, playing around the world to sold-out crowds comprised of new listeners as well as longtime fans. In 2008, Iron Maiden set out on an international tour that saw them playing 23 shows in 45 days, traveling 40,000 miles in their private Boeing 757, with lead singer Bruce Dickenson doing double duty as pilot as they played to crowds from California to India. Filmmakers Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, who directed the documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, were invited to join Iron Maiden for their global tour, and Iron Maiden: Flight 666 offers a behind-the-scenes look at life on the road with this iconic metal band along with plenty of highlights from their explosive live show. Iron Maiden: Flight 666 was an official selection at the 2009 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Toronto-based power trio Rush was formed in 1968 by guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist and singer Geddy Lee, and drummer John Rutsey; the band made their way through the Canadian bar scene until they signed a recording deal and released their self-titled debut album in 1974. However, it wasn't until Rutsey left the group and Neil Peart signed on as their new drummer that Rush's signature sound took shape, a muscular variation on progressive rock marked by the keen instrumental prowess of all three members and the lyrically and musically adventurous songwriting of Peart. With little help from the music press or mainstream radio, Rush grew into a commercial powerhouse, releasing a long string of multi-platinum albums and playing sold-out shows in North America and Europe. A notoriously reclusive band, Rush offer their fans a rare and intimate behind-the-scenes look into their music and their career in the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, which features exclusive interviews with the members of the group and footage of them on- and off-stage as well as contributions from a number of famous fans -- from Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Gene Simmons of KISS to Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and actor and musician Jack Black. Directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage received its world premiere at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Heavy metal might be regarded as the High School Shop Class of rock & roll -- there's a lot going on there, but most folks don't credit the participants with being either very smart or terribly ambitious. Not everyone feels that way, though, and filmmaker, anthropologist, and heavy metal enthusiast Sam Dunn offers an insider's look at the music and subculture of metal with this documentary, created in collaboration with filmmakers Scot McFadyen and Jessica Joy Wise. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey examines the history of hard rock's extreme wing, offers a look at the various subsections within the heavy metal pantheon (from innocuous hair metal bands such as Poison and Warrant to the homicidal lunatic fringe of Norwegian black metal); examines the sociology of metal in terms of class, race, gender and economics; celebrates the music with a nod toward its underestimated intelligence as well as its physical power; and allows members of such landmark bands as Black Sabbath, Slayer, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, White Zombie to speak for themselves about their work. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey received a fist-pumpingly enthusiastic reception for its premiere screenings at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi