Five new Biography specials honoring the lives and works of legendary figures in hard rock have been given the go-ahead by A&E Network. Specials honoring Alice Cooper, Bret Michaels, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Sammy Hagar, and Sebastian Bach of Skid Row are being produced by Banger Films under the prestigious “Biography” label. Each documentary will air in late 2023 and incorporate archival film and audio in addition to rare interviews with the artists and those closest to them. The documentaries will provide an inside look at the artists’ rise to prominence, legendary careers, and groundbreaking music that continues to shape the field to this day.
“Biography: Alice Cooper”
Alice Cooper is often credited as the ancestor of various subgenres of hard rock, including shock rock, and amazing rock. The documentary delves into the incredible career and legacy of a rock icon, from an asthmatic kid in Detroit with an obsession with art and performance to one of the most celebrated characters in music history to the challenges of addiction that turned the man into a character with the desire to offend.
“Biography: Bret Michaels”
Explains how a kid from rural Pennsylvania shot to fame and became one of the country’s most recognizable people in the process. The two-hour documentary delves into Bret Michaels’s struggles to keep Poison together, his near-death experiences, and his astonishing succession of economic enterprises that made him the band’s ultimate front man. The film chronicles his life from his days on “Rock of Love with Bret Michaels” through his victory on “Celebrity Apprentice,” illuminating the path that led to his enormous success as a band member and as a famous solo artist.
“Biography: Dee Snider”
“Biography: Dee Snider” reveals the previously unknown details of Snider’s meteoric rise from high school choir kid to one of the most recognizable figures in hard rock. The documentary follows him for an hour as he deals with the heartbreak of being turned down by a record label and ultimately writes the smash single “We’re Not Going Take It.” The story takes viewers on a wild ride as they discover how far Snider’s success would boost his ego before things began to go wrong.
“Biography: Sammy Hagar”
“Biography: Sammy Hagar” traces Hagar’s path to fame, beginning as a poverty-stricken child, to the lead singer of the band Montrose, to launching a successful solo career, and ultimately joining Van Halen. The documentary explores how Hagar helped Van Halen get their first ever number one hit, finally uncovers what led a band that was on the top of world to suddenly split apart, and how Hagar has continued to leave his mark on the hard rock genre.
“Biography Sebastian Bach”
“Biography: Sebastian Bach” outlines how a small-town kid from Canada became the ultimate bad boy of hard rock. From a job offer as a rock front man at age 14 to a last-minute wedding invitation that led to him meeting the Bon Jovi family and joining Skid Row, the one-hour documentary explores the highs and lows of Bach’s incredible career.
The hard rock legend Biography specials are produced for A&E Network by Banger Films in association with Category 6 Media. Co-directors are Sam Dunn and Marc Ricciardelli. Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen serve as executive producers for Banger Films. Rick Krim is also an executive producer. Stephen Mintz is an executive producer for Category 6 Media. Executive Producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson.
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