Sidemen: Long Road To Glory

An intimate look at the lives and legacies of piano player Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith and guitarist Hubert Sumlin, all Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf sidemen. The film captures some of the last interviews and their final live performances together, before their deaths in 2011. The historic live shows are accompanied by performances and personal insights from many of the blues and rock stars these legendary sidemen inspired including; Bonnie Raitt, Gregg Allman, Derek Trucks, Shemekia Copeland, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Perry, Joe Bonamassa and Johnny Winter.

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  • ★★★★★ review by AnthonyP on Letterboxd

    Excellent. An affecting, necessary portrait of 3 icons who have influenced music to this very day

  • ★★★★ review by Jeremy Burgess on Letterboxd

    [Seen at the 2017 Indie Memphis Film Festival]

    “You had it all this time, pal. You just didn’t hear it.”

    The sort of doc that will really resonate with an audience. An intimate look at three underheralded blues musicians in their twilight years, peppered with interviews and live performances.

    I didn’t love the style of the animation sequences or Marc Maron as the narrator (both felt like odd choices), but this is good stuff.

  • ★★★★ review by pkazee on Letterboxd

    Fabulous doc with nice uplifting ending. Most memorable line: "This was our Pearl Jam"

  • ★★★½ review by Libby Banks on Letterboxd

    Really solid documentary about Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters' sidemen, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Great interviews, great concert footage, super-enjoyable.

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