The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

Penelope Spheeris would hit it big with Wayne's World a decade later, but she initially achieved notoriety with this, the first part of what would be a trilogy of documentaries on Los Angeles' musical subcultures*. The original Decline features several of the more prominent LA punk bands and scenesters, as they play live and get interviewed about themselves, musical passions and surroundings.

The musical performances, which include Black Flag, the Circle Jerks and, most thrilling of all, X, are top notch. The talking heads are more of a mixed bag, but the more notable moments include The Germs, who come across as a human disaster area (singer Darby Crash would be dead before the film's release) and one particular teen fan who - well, let's say he isn't going to be winning any NAACP awards any time soon. This was important enough to be preserved by the US Library of Congress, and also provided a much needed counterpoint to some of the media's more sensationalist depictions of the scene.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiCTq_AHcqw

Tickets are available here. We can meet for a pre-drink at Craft Union round the corner at 8pm and head in afterwards.

*Part 2, about the late 80's hair metal scene, is also brilliant.