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Like many good ideas, the film "Sound City" started over barley and some hops.
Dave Grohl, former Nirvana drummer and now frontman of the Foo Fighters, had just purchased the custom Neve 8028 Console from Studio A of Sound City Studios, planning to install it at his private recording studio.
About two years ago, Grohl's friend James Rota, of the band Fireball Ministry, helped Grohl move the massive board. The pair, both music geeks, rested and drank a few beers after the difficult transport. That's when they began recalling all of the famous albums that had been recorded at Sound City Studios, which closed in 2011.
Grohl became more and more animated as they talked, Rota said. In honor of the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's "Nevermind," perhaps it would be fun to make a short film about the place where "Nevermind" -- one of the most influential and important rock records ever -- was recorded.
"He said, 'Hey, you know how to make a movie,' " Rota recalled. It was true. To supplement his income, Rota was a production supervisor for films ranging from the "Chronicles of Narnia" franchise to the more recent movies "Parental Guidance" and "Chasing Mavericks."
Over time, that small film grew and grew.
First-time director Grohl, now 43, calls the 106-minute documentary the most important thing he has ever done. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that board," Grohl said. "It's a huge part of my life and history. It's like being reunited with a family member."
The film tells two stories tied with a common thread. The first story chronicles the story of Sound City Studios, the Van Nuys, Calif., recording studio that was the gestational partner for some of modern music's most popular and critically acclaimed albums, ranging from Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" to Rage Against the Machine's self-titled debut.
Opened in 1970, the old-fashioned analog studio closed in 2011 as high-tech, computer-assisted digital recording became the industry standard. "The studio has a Ripley's Believe It or Not [story]," Grohl said. "People who casually listen to music never think about...