Just saw this documentary at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin Tuesday night. It was pretty great. I guess that it was produced by the BBC. has anyone ever seen it?


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GRAM PARSONS: FALLEN ANGEL
Sunday 9 April 2006 9pm-9.30pm; 2.25am-2.55am



Thirty years after his untimely death, BBC Four presents the first-ever documentary film about the musical legend Gram Parsons.

On 19 September 1973, the musician and heir to a million-dollar fortune died under the influence of drugs and alcohol near his favourite place - the Joshua Tree National Monument in the Californian desert.

As the founder of the Flying Burrito Brothers; a member of the hit-making, legendary Byrds; an important influence on the Rolling Stones and the man who catapulted Emmylou Harris to fame, Gram Parsons made music history in only a few years.

The film was made on location by director and musician Gandulf Hennig and American music journalist, musician and biographer Sid Griffin. Friends, contemporaries and devotees of Gram Parsons talk about the importance of his work and the bizarre circumstances of his early death. Rare footage of his performances shows why Parsons has become a legend.

Interviewees include Gram's wife Gretchen, his sister and daughter, Keith Richards, Emmylou Harris, Chris Hillman and "Road Mangler" Phil Kaufman.

yeah I saw it's us premiere at the don't knock the knock the rock festival I think it was two years ago. i started a thread about it at the time but just searched for it and it didn't show up.

There were two showings at the festival and I went to the late one. The early showing ran over due to a long discussion periodwith the director who was also there. I was standing in line waiting to get into for about 40 minutes. .. right ahead of me in line was Pamela des Barres and her husband and some of their friends. So I got to evesdrop in on some good stories.

The doc itself was indeed awesome. I laughed, I cried, I laughed more.

The DVD is finally out the end of this month. I've had it on advance order since last august. I can't wait.

I also recently noticed that you can stay in the room that Gram died in for about $100/night. They actually have the room listed separately in their electronic booking.

I can't decide whether that would be cool at all or just way too creepy. I'm leaning toward the later. The last time I went to Joshua Tree I wasn't really a big fan. Now that I am I keep meaning to go back.

I'll post picks when I do.

I'm going to try and get this for the husband as a late Father's Day gift.

There's also a GP box set out this month too. I plan on making my husband very happy with it.

I just unsuccessfully searched for the same thread. I remember posting my reactions in it.

I probably saw the doc the same year as Billy G, but at the Vancouver Film Fest, with the director in attendance too. Great doc. But holy shit that's a sad story. My wife was pretty much weeping throughout.

I shed a few tears myself but damn if that train tour didn't seem like a blast.

It was an emotional rollercoster of a flim.

I camped in Joshua Tree one time and I swear its the most shooting stars (or a meteor shower, whatever) Ive ever seen. Pretty surreal place.[/hijack]

Oh yeah, I'd like to see this when it comes out on DVD.

No, that's way too creepy. And Joshua Tree on its own can alter consciousness... and you get to stay alive.

The new Gram Parsons box is an unneeded re-release. The two albums on it are great though.

Yeah - I thought that I remembered that thread, Billys, but I searched for it and didn't find it. I love the desert, but if I die there, I hope that I am old and on my own terms.

< - - - need to get GP's solo albums.

bestbuy.com has the box set for only $11.99. It comes to around $15 with tax and shipping.