The revelatory film introduces fans and music listeners to Link Wray, who was the father of the power chord, the creator of distortion and the “Grandfather of Rock and Roll.” The documentary features testimonies about Link Wray from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, veteran rock star Robbie Robertson, Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese, Blues Hall of Famer Taj Mahal, musician and radio host Steven Van Zandt and Wayne Kramer, the guitarist and co-founder of MC5, and Iggy Pop of The Stooges, the latter of which shared that the song “Rumble” inspired him to become a musician.
“There was a song that came on the radio, a guitar instrumental, and it changed everything,” said Robbie Robertson.
Speaking of Link Wray, he was nominated this year, posthumously, for the coveted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for the second time.
Director Catherine Bainbridge and co-director Alfonso Maiorana have done a brilliant job directing and co-writing this inspirational documentary. Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World deserves to be nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Documentary Feature” at next year’s Oscar ceremony. It is the ideal documentary film to watch this Thanksgiving holiday.
The Verdict
Overall, Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World is a compelling documentary from start to finish. It is recommended for any fans of rock music, Link Wray, or anybody interested in seeing an insightful documentary of some of the most important Native Americans of our time, and how they have molded and reshaped the contemporary music landscape. It sustains the viewer’s attention for its entire duration of 103 minutes. For anybody who may have be unfamiliar with Link Wray and his music, this documentary is the perfect introduction, and for anyone who has doubts as to whether or not Link Wray deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, all they need to see is a few minutes from the film. Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World garners five out of five stars.
The documentary is available on Amazon and on iTunes.
To learn more about the music of Link Wray, check out his comprehensive website.
