Rock Camp (2021)
One of the cool things about being a musician is a natural desire to share the wealth, and concert promoter David Fishof’s Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps famously do just that, with workshops put on by prestigious rock musicians and a slamming concert to wind everything up. These camps are expensive and probably out of reach for a lot of people, but the documentary, Rock Camp is the next best thing. It’s a really fun snapshot of how these camps work and the kinds of people who show up to them.
The camps got their start in 1997, when, according to the Rock Camp website, Fishof decided to share his experiences as a promoter with rock fans. The campers aren’t professional musicians, at least not as a day job, but people from all professions and walks of life who just love music and want to play as much as possible. Obviously, it’s a dream come true to jam with favorite rockers.
We don’t get to hear a lot of the music the campers and their teachers play, just mostly generic licks and vocalizations, but we do see the coaching and hear a lot of stories. Tammy is an accountant who also plays drums and who wants to try her hand behind a microphone instead of a drum kit. Another drummer, Scott “Pistol” Crockett has learned from various professional musicians and plays in his church’s worship band.
For dad Scott Keller, who’s gigged around playing guitar with such bands as Judas Priest, music is a family affair. Older son Rupert makes a beeline for his drum kit every day after school and he always wants his dad to jam with him. Younger son Jackson, who has special needs, has thrown himself into learning bass. All three guys end up going to camp.
Also in attendance is Blake Meinhardt, a young man who was diagnosed with autism between three and five years old. Blake is not only an amazing guitarist but a walking encyclopedia of musical knowledge, and his proud dad happily watches his son flourish at the camp.
There’s a real sense of history all through the camp, even down to the shiny logo sign Fishof brings along with him, which, as he proudly notes, has Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton’s fingerprints all over it. How they keep everything from smudging is the obvious question; I presume shellac or some protective coating figures in somewhere.
The film moves awfully quickly between the camp and the backstory segments, which might be slightly confusing sometimes, but it’s got a great rhythm and the speed keeps things interesting.
It’s nice that while the film features a ton of interviews and stories, it doesn’t cram so many in that it’s hard to keep track of people. We learn just enough about everyone before getting back to the camp stuff.
I also appreciate the tight grasp on reality all of these people have. They acknowledge they’re not just their day jobs, or just their family, or just the music, but that all of them are important. And while the pros give real pointers and encourage everyone to have fun onstage regardless of any possible bum notes, they wisely and gently temper the encouragement with a reminder that even when they start getting the hang of the whole rocker thing, it’s probably best to keep the day job, at least for now.
Not everyone who rocks ends up a star, but it’s important to dream and have fun, which is what Fishof set out to inspire and what ultimately makes Rock Camp a tuneful feel-good film.
Rock Camp is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Not rated.
My grade: A+
Principal Cast: David Fishof, Marv Albert, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Gene Simmons, Lita Ford, Tammy Fisher, Vinny Appice, Scott “Pistol” Crockett, Rob Halford, Teddy Andreadis, Joe Perry, Slash, Brian Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Meat Loaf, Bruce Kulik, Scott Keller, Blake Meinhardt
Directed by Douglas Blush and Renee Barron.
Written by Renee Barron, Douglas Blush and Kimberley Furst.