A Time Capsule of Nu-Metal Mayhem
Flashback to 1999: flannel, face paint, headbanging at dawn, and the chaotic masterpiece we called nu-metal dominating every turntable. Ozzfest stood at the epicenter.
Ozzy Osbourne’s festival that combined the demonic theatrics of Black Sabbath with the raw ferocity of emergent heavy acts: Slipknot, System of a Down, Rob Zombie, Godsmack, Fear Factory, Deftones, Static‑X, Slayer, Primus… plus the mysterious Buckethead shredding in a cemetery. That festival was mythic.
Now imagine a film that slips you right into the tour bus, backstage madness, and impromptu shoots at Alcatraz and the Lincoln Memorial.
That film exists. It’s called We Sold Our Souls for Rock ‘n’ Roll, directed by Penelope Spheeris, the same visionary who gave us the Decline of Western Civilization trilogy and Wayne’s World. It’s 90 minutes of unapologetic, electric history—a raw archive of the very moment rock mutated into something darker, noisier, and unforgettable.
- The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years focuses on heavy metal and hair metal, and features Megadeth, Oz…
The Saga: Why It Disappeared
Recorded across 30 U.S. cities in ’99, this tour documentary was a labor of love. Spheeris crisscrossed the country with a small crew, plucking bands from chaos and posing them in places like Alcatraz with Slayer—and filming Slipknot against the Lincoln Memorial backdrop. The rock‑and‑roll equivalent of guerrilla filmmaking at its finest.
Yet, despite early buzz and film festival screenings—including Sundance, SXSW, and Melbourne International Film Festival where it won “Most Popular Documentary” in 2001—it never saw a proper release. The culprit? A brutal combination of music licensing and talent clearances gone unsolved, plus the staggering cost of securing those rights. Sharon Osbourne reportedly invested over a million dollars trying to get it out, but without a backer willing to pony up for music clearance, it stalled.
Spheeris has admitted she would wake up crying—heartbroken the project didn’t take flight.
The Flicker of Hope
Fast forward to August 2023: We Sold Our Souls for Rock ‘n’ Roll finally resurfaces—screened at L.A.’s Academy Museum, with Spheeris in attendance. The community—filmmakers, rock historians, fans—were electrified. In a candid interview with The Metal Voice, Spheeris revealed that Sharon Osbourne is now looking to release the film properly—even discussing streaming or theatrical options.
Various rock outlets chimed in: WMMR reported renewed hopes for an official release; KQRS speculated on a possible theatrical rollout; Metal Insider highlighted that L.A.’s David Geffen Theater finally gave it a public airing.
What Comes Next?
- Still TBD—We don’t have a finalized release platform or date yet. But the signs are strong that it’s finally on its way—streaming, DVD, or theatrical—and Sharon Osbourne is now actively pursuing it.
- Fan Watch: Keep on the lookout. Each announcement is bound to break your feed like a mosh pit at midnight.
Information about “We Sold Our Souls for Rock N Roll” and Sharon Osbourne’s comments are based on articles from sources including the ‘Los Angeles Times’ & ‘The Metal Voice’.
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