The Fearless Freaks (2005)

Equal parts punk and psychedelia, the Flaming Lips emerged from Oklahoma City as one of the most bracing bands of the late 1980s. The Fearless Freaks documents their rise from Butthole Surfers-imitating noisemakers to grand poobahs of orchestral pop masterpieces. Filmmaker Bradley Beesely had the good fortune of living in the same neighborhood as lead Lip Wayne Coyne, who quickly enlisted his buddy to document his band's many concerts and assorted exploits. The early footage is a riot, with tragic hair styles on proud display as the boys attempt to cover up their lack of natural talent with sheer volume. During one show, they even have a friend bring a motorcycle on stage, which is then miked for sound and revved throughout the performance, clearing the club with toxic levels of carbon mo…

Cast: Kelly Peterson, Wayne Coyne, Tyson Meade, Steven Drozd, Steve Burns, Niels Rasmussen G, Michael Ivins, Meg White, Liz Phair, Adam Goldberg, Juliette Lewis, Jonathan Donahue

Genres: Documentary, Music

Open on Film Dilemma