Five must-see rock docs that go inside the lives of the iconic music-makers

Christopher Kelly | MCT News Service

As "This Is It" shows, the greatest musicians also tend to be the greatest mysteries. Here are five other rock documentaries that pulled back the curtain on the lives of iconic performers - and surprised us with their insight and backstage access.

"Madonna: Truth or Dare" (1991)

What might easily have turned into a shallow, slick concert movie proves to be a surprisingly intimate study of a performer whose identity is as fluid as her dance moves.

"Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" (2006)

It doesn't matter whether you love or hate them for their anti-George W. Bush rant in 2003. This doc offers a compelling look at media spin and image control in an age where YouTube can instantly expose everything you say to the world.

"Let's Get Lost" (1988)

Directed by photographer Bruce Weber, this visually ravishing portrait of jazzman Chet Baker is one of the best movies you've never seen.

"Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream" (2007)

Director Peter Bogdanovich tells you everything you ever wanted to know and more (the film runs four hours) about the all-American rockers.

"Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" (2004)

Accompanying the legendary band as it tries to sort through its problems in therapy, this unwieldy, often very funny movie makes you see the metal heads as never before.