We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll
We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll
Special guest: Conversation with director Penelope Spheeris.
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) auteur Penelope Spheeris returns to the world of loud guitars and louder personalities with this under-screened late ’90s gem, which was produced by Sharon Osbourne. Following 1999’s edition of Ozzfest, the nomadic metal festival founded and headlined by singer-heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, Spheeris captures blistering, sweat-drenched sets from future multi-platinum megastars System of a Down, Slipknot, and Godsmack at their nu-metal infancy alongside heavy metal royalty Osbourne, Black Sabbath, and Slayer.
Warning: This film features depictions of self-harm and bloodshed.
DIRECTED BY: Penelope Spheeris. WITH: Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Rob Zombie. 2001. 90 min. USA. Color. English. Rated R. 35mm. Print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.
Theater accessibility accommodations available upon request. Learn more about our accessibility initiatives.
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