Product Details

• Actors: The Screamers, Screamers
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Mvd Visual
• DVD Release Date: October 12, 2004
• Run Time: 40 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002OOUGE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,945 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

LIVE 1978 IN SAN FRANCISCO - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars in a better world, we would have bands like this, September 3, 2008

By 

Laughing Sal (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Screamers - Live in San Francisco September 2nd, 1978 (DVD)

watching this DVD made me realize a few things. it first made me realize what I miss most about the bands of those now far-off times is: INTELLIGENCE. humor, conceptual and performance art all writhed together in bed with primal beats to produced pure, blood-pumping magic. the Screamers represent the absolute apex of this.

what an amazing creature Tomata du Plenty was! he was the focal point for the terrible, white-hot energy transmuted by the Screamers. in his performances he is 100% committed; he almost explodes with power. [hence the famous Gary Panter screaming Tomata-head Screamers logo, now iconic everywhere- I wouldn't be surprised if its on t-shirts at Hot Topic, worn by people who have no idea what they're REALLY wearing.]

Tomata obviously influenced Biafra [and countless others, probably] in his stage-craft. he seems to be parts vaudevillian, crazed Catholic priest, rock idol, Joker, shaman- and so much more; sometimes, he is all at once. KK is an INCREDIBLE drummer. I forgot how amazing he was. Tommy Gear driving it all along with his organ giving voice to the shrieks from the asylum. Paul Roessler, weaving counterpoint keyboard mayhem. the Screamers make me want to run amok, to smash things with joy... the joy of being alive. it's like when you are laughing, with tears streaming down your face. this force defied description, and still does.
it would be like seeing a Sabertooth or a Triceratops walk into your local Starbucks. it would just blow your little mind. and you'd love it.
this incredible life-form that was the Screamers touched to earth, burned like a nova, and puffed out all too soon. powerful art is like this. it drops, detonates, explodes... the smoke clears, and it's gone. you just had to be there.

I wasn't at this Mabuhay show, but I had heard it on bootlegs. I was lucky enough to see the Screamers at California Hall with Tuxedomoon opening [another underrated, amazing band.] the Screamers were so amazing that I literally could not talk for at least two hours after that show. I was transported by this band into another state of being. I was a kid, but still- that kind of performance radiation- it was the real thing, pure, distilled from the source. and words failed me, describing it. they still do.
I forgot how the Mab looked. I saw so many familiar faces. I forgot the sweaty, wonderful torture of that club when it was packed. and wow, what a show! though plagued with technical problems- dead mikes, Tommy Gear's organ cutting out- the Screamers fire on all pistons. Tomata is a man possessed. the world will not see his like again. you can't put a tiger into a can. it prowls the jungle, eyes burning, and will not be tamed. wherever you are Tomata- thank you.

I defy you not to groove. 'Beat Goes On' made me laugh again at how bands like this took the mundane and elevated it to the sublime with intensity and humor. so many great songs- 'Punish Or Be Damned'- a masterpiece of s/m intellect. 'Vertigo'- a blasting circus anthem of mayhem, of maddening joy. 'Magazine Love'- it's all about image. 'Last Four Digits'- you are a number. 'Better World' ['everyone would feel important']- in this digital age of MySpace and web pages, eveyone is made to feel 'important.' is that a good thing? ...the oracle was speaking.

the Target Promo reel at the end almost made me weep; how spoiled we were back then with all that wonderful music, all those amazing shows. if we only knew! I thought music would always continue to be as great as this, as the virus had been unleashed. now, what do we have---? if there's any music this amazing out there, please, let me know! I've yet to encounter its like. at least Joe Rees and his crew were there so we can remember, and the Screamers can scream again. and for a little moment in the greyness of the early 21st Century this sparkling, multi-hued, HAPPY animal that was real punk with all of its glimmering facets and brutal, funny smarts can rise again and shake its happy, spiky head.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely and totally essential, December 6, 2004

By 

Bearman (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Screamers - Live in San Francisco September 2nd, 1978 (DVD)

This DVD is without a doubt not just a great performance, but a snapshot in time of one of the most different and essential punk bands ever. They were never properly recorded and their live shows were incendiary. As a result, this DVD is a document that captures the brilliance, fire, and innovation of a band WAY ahead of their time. The next best thing to a time machine...the Screamers rule.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for punk fans, June 19, 2008

By 

Dominique Gonzales "Jemainieac" (texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Screamers - Live in San Francisco September 2nd, 1978 (DVD)

The Screamers are one the best bands of all time, and every punk fan should check them out. Unlike numerous punk bands who lived fast and burned out quick, and were utterly forgettable. The Screamers were so ahead of their time, I still listen to them and see sooo many bands biting their style, not jut musically either. I love their concept, a singer, a drummer, and two keyboardists, and with that minimumism they created such great music. This dvd has such great footage, and is basically all you can find of them.