Blondie

As the most successful cross-over band ever, Blondie sold more than 15 million albums with a string of mega-hits. It is hard to understand why at the height of their worldwide success, Blondie abruptly called it quits. Before their break up, they performed one last spectacular concert and this is it!

This 47-minute concert captures an iconic band and front woman on the rise playing in their natural habitat: New York's legendary CBGB

Blondie emerged from the late 70's New York punk scene and quickly became music, style and pop culture icons selling more than 40 million albums. They scored hits with reggae, rock/disco, hip hop and pop songs bursting with great hooks and brilliant, ironic lyrics. Here they are performing at The Enmore Theatre, in Sydney, Australia, on December 8, 2010.

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, Blondie is still putting out new music and rocking out for fans everywhere! Debbie Harry and her band bring their mix of pop, rock and punk sounds to Soundstage, performing hits such as “The Tide is High”, “One Way or Another”, and “Heart of Glass” in an electrifying concert.

In January 2011, ARTE viewers voted for the ‘Queens of Pop’. 8 pop queens were chosen from 50 proposals and these are presented in a 26-minute documentary: From the 1960s: Diana Ross. From the 1970s: Donna Summer and Debbie Harry. From the 1980s: Madonna. From the 1990s: Britney Spears and Mariah Carey. From 2000-2009: Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. The title of the programme, ‘Queens of Pop’, in itself shows where the emphasis lies – none of those simplistic chart rankings, but instead a documentary series that looks at our cultural history, dealing with the women who shaped popular music over the past fifty years.

In January 2011, ARTE viewers voted for the ‘Queens of Pop’. 8 pop queens were chosen from 50 proposals and these are presented in a 26-minute documentary: From the 1960s: Diana Ross. From the 1970s: Donna Summer and Debbie Harry. From the 1980s: Madonna. From the 1990s: Britney Spears and Mariah Carey. From 2000-2009: Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. The title of the programme, ‘Queens of Pop’, in itself shows where the emphasis lies – none of those simplistic chart rankings, but instead a documentary series that looks at our cultural history, dealing with the women who shaped popular music over the past fifty years.

Elvis Costello brings his solo show Detour to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Combining classic songs performed with guitar or at the piano with reminiscences of his family, life and career, it is by turns touching, humorous, thoughtful and uplifting. The set features recent songs such as “Church Underground” and “Jimmie Standing In The Rain” alongside much loved tracks from across his career including “Watching The Detectives, ” “A Good Year For The Roses, ” “Accidents Will Happen, ” “Shipbuilding” and “I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down” all given a new twist in their solo renditions. The show also features guest appearances by sister act Larkin Poe.

Soundstage captures a radiant Stevie Nicks in her first filmed solo performance since 1987. "Live In Chicago" includes all the timeless Nicks songs from her solo projects as well as songs written as a member of the legendary rockers Fleetwood Mac. Along with Stevie classics such as "Stand Back," "Rhiannon," "Dreams," "Gold Dust Woman," "Landslide" and "Edge Of Seventeen," the video also features stunning cover songs, including Dave Matthews' "Crash Into Me" and a tear-down-the-house finale of Led Zeppelin's "Rock And Roll."

Fleetwood Mac are one of the most famous British-American rock bands of all time and with hits such as Go Your Own Way and Dreams they are firmly placed in the halls of rock history. This is their story. Formed in London in 1967 when Peter Green left John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers the band released several studio albums between 1967 and 1974 but it wasn t until 1975 when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined that they hit success with the eponymous Fleetwood Mac . The album reached Number 1 in the USA and sold over 5 million records. Following the success of Fleetwood Mac came the band's 1977 album, Rumours , which was written about the emotional turmoil they were experiencing at the time. It fast became the best-selling album of the year receiving critical acclaim and going on to sell 40 million copies worldwide making it ones of the biggest selling albums of all time. This in depth programme uses archive footage and interviews with Mick Fleetwood and Christie McVie to follow the band through the highs and lows throughout their amazing career. It also features music footage of some of the bands greatest tracks including Albatross, Don t Stop, Rhiannon, The Chain, Tusk, Gypsy, Big Love, Dreams, You Make Loving Fun, Need Your Love So Bad and Everywhere. Fleetwood Mac are without doubt one of the all time greatest bands and this is their incredible story.

From his earliest recordings with Roxy Music at the beginning of the 1970s, Bryan Ferry has taken his place as one of the most iconic and innovative musicians and songwriters to emerge in popular music. Ferry's "Olympia" tour traveled the world in 2011, including this spectacular performance filmed on July 25 at the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Lyon, France as part of the Nuits de Fourviere Festival. The show features tracks from across Ferry's 40 year career including classic Roxy Music songs, solo hits and his renowned interpretations of other writer's material all delivered with the style and panache that is uniquely Bryan Ferry.

The digitally remastered glam-rock classic features David Bowie as his gender-bending alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, in his final performance given at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1973.

Stop Making Sense is director Jonathan Demme's remarkable concert film that captures the enormous energy and joyous highs of the Talking Heads live performance. Band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison are joined by Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir, Steve Scales, Lynn Mabry and Edna Holt in this groundbreaking concert film that is packed with the Talking Heads most memorable songs. Wall-to-wall music, beautiful cinematography and the legendary "Big Suit" make this "one of the greatest rock movies ever made" (Rolling Stone).

Eleven years in the making, Patti Smith: Dream of Life is a unique and intimate portrait of the renowned singer, songwriter, poet and activist. Patti Smith’s music, poetry, and politics are fearless, funny, raw, and original. A beautiful collage of images, memories and performances illuminate the complexities, and captures the essence, of this distinctive, legendary icon. The film follows Patti Smith’s punk-icon roots in the 70s through the trials of daily life and untimely deaths that have formed her life and art. Smith tells the story of her early days in New York City and the people that are dearest to her including her late husband Fred Sonic Smith, Allen Ginsburg, Robert Mapplethorpe, and others, her family, and the political causes for which she so deeply struggled.

Cyndi Lauper, the punky New York princess who just wanted to have fun in the 80's, has matured into a woman who can add an organic honesty to classic standards, as featured on this Soundstage and in her most recent album At Last. From Edith Piaf's "La Vie En Rose" and "Hymn to Love," to the playful "Makin' Whoopee," to somber serenades like "Unchained Melody," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "Walk on By," Lauper elevates her adoring audience with a revealing candor, an impressive range and a pensive sense for interpretation.
But her performance is also a celebration with Lauper's innate sparkle shining through the fun flashbacks "Time After Time," "True Colors," "Money Changes Everything," "Shine" and, of course, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." With the audience dancing on chairs, and the artist running up the aisles and delivering anecdotal asides, Grammy-winning Lauper reveals that she's a true performer - at ease with her identity as a modern pop powerhouse, but prepared to revel in her most recent reincarnation.

"Live In London" is a live performance masterpiece that captures The Pretenders at the top of their game. If you saw them live on their 2009 tour, you'll know what I'm talking about. You owe it to yourself to get this program as a reminder of just how amazing this band is on the road.

"Live In London" succeeds where The Pretenders' studio albums fail. They are one of those rare bands that truly does sound better when they're playing in front of an audience -- an intimate small theater crowd here.

With all due respect to original guitarist James Honeyman Scott and bassist Pete Farndon, The Pretenders latest lineup is the best Chrissie Hynde has ever staged. With the steady pounding of original drummer Martin Chambers, newcomers James Walbourne on guitar, Nick Wilkinson on bass and Eric Heywood on pedal steel rock from start to finish, revitalizing Pretenders' classics like "Message of Love" and "Kid," while adding new ones like "Boots of Chinese Plastic" to the playlist.

You'll be blown away by Walbourne's electrifying guitar work. It starts with the first licks of the opener "Chinese Plastic," scorches through "Rosalee," and climaxes with the show-stopper "Precious." Walbourne delivers pure, unadulterated, raw, rip-snorting rock 'n' roll. His on-stage chemistry with Hynde is self-evident.

As per usual, Hynde's vocals are impeccable, showing great range, dynamics and emotion, equally adept at punk rockers like "The Wait" and ballads like "I'll Stand By You." This woman has earned the right to work the stage with the swagger of a rock star. She is it.

The direction and camera work throughout "Live In London" give the viewer the perspective of being on stage with The Pretenders. Tight crops interspersed with effective wide angles make one feel like he can count the streaks of mascara multiplying on Hynde's face and see the beads of sweat building on Chambers' brow as the night rocks on.

The B-52s performed their first ever gig in February 1977. 34 years later, on Valentine’s Day 2011, they returned to their home town of Athens, Georgia to celebrate with this brilliant live show. Wig-wearing, boa-draped, glitter-covered fans came to join in and saw the band deliver a sizzling 90 minute set that turned Athens’ Classic Center into a cosmic dancehall. A B-52s live show is always the best party in town, yet here in front of their home crowd they even managed to turn it up a notch further. Packed with all their fan’s favorites, this is high spirited good time rock ‘n’ roll packed with great tunes, wild romance, blood pumping grooves and a lot of fun!

In Super Overdrive Live was filmed at the Congress Theater, Chicago for the US TV series Soundstage and originally broadcast in America in July 2009. The show sees Billy Idol, with trademark sneer and peroxide hair very much to the fore, reunited with guitarist Steve Stevens, who played on (and sometimes co-wrote) all his eighties hits. The tracklist runs from early Generation X favourites, through his classic solo singles and up to tracks from his most recent album The Devils Playground. Idol is a fantastic live performer who oozes onstage charisma and the audience rocks along to every minute of this mesmerising concert.

Roxy Musics unique blend of avant-garde rock music and high style set the tone for the whole glam rock era. They were much imitated, but never equalled. This documentary tells the story of Roxy Music through new interviews with band members Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, Paul Thompson, Brian Eno, and Eddie Jobson plus many of their contemporaries. The program covers their early years, the classic seventies albums, their re-emergence with a much smoother style in the early eighties, the bands break up and then their hugely successful reunion in the 21st century. The final 15 or so minutes is what fans will be looking forward to the most. From a London concert in 2006, Roxy Music are shown playing "Both Ends Burning," "Editions of You," and "Do The Strand." For anyone interested in the history of one of seventies most inscrutable bands, Roxy Music - More Than This is an excellent addition to your collection.

Probably the most enduring band of the UK punk/new wave era, the legendary Stranglers perform live at Londons spectacular Royal Albert Hall. Accompanied by The Electra Strings

Filmed at the MEN Arena in Manchester on December 16th 2011, this stunning Duran Duran live show is the perfect combination of great music, amazing visuals and iconic style which has been the band’s trademark throughout their career. Following the release of their acclaimed “All You Need Is Now” album, this concert combines new songs from that release with their classic hits. Whether in the studio or the live arena, Duran Duran are masters of their craft and this latest concert bursts with energy and oozes class in the way that only they can.