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Play it Loud: The Story of the Marshall Amp

Documentary about the history of the iconic black box that has come to define the sound of rock and has been, quite literally, behind some of the greatest names in modern music.

One iconic black box has probably more than anything else come to define the sound of rock - the Marshall amplifier. It has been, quite literally, behind some of the greatest names in modern music.

It all started in 1962 when drum shop owner Jim Marshall discovered the distinctive growl that gave the electric guitar an exciting new voice. Music got a whole lot louder as young musicians like Clapton, Townshend and Hendrix adopted the revolutionary 'Marshall Sound'. The electric guitar now spoke for a new generation and the genre of rock was born.

Soon Marshall stacks and walls were an essential backdrop of rock 'n' roll. The excesses of rock machismo were gloriously lampooned in the 1984 movie This is Spinal Tap. In an extraordinary piece of reverse irony, it was this comic exposure that rescued the company from financial meltdown.

With contributions from rock legends like Pete Townshend, Lemmy and Slash, plus an interview with the 'Father of Loud' Jim Marshall, this documentary cruises down the rock ages with all the dials set to 'eleven'.

1 hour

Last on

Sat 26 May 2018 02:30

Music Played

  • Free, The Free

    All Right Now (Single Version)

  • Elvis Presley

    Jailhouse Rock

  • Elvis Presley

    Jailhouse Rock

  • Fat Boys & Chubby Checker

    The Twist

  • The Who

    I Can't Explain

  • Small Faces

    Song Of A Baker

  • Jimi Hendrix

    Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

  • Sex Pistols

    Anarchy In The UK

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Brian Marshall
Director Brian Marshall
Producer David Rust
Director David Rust
Production Company Play It Loud Ltd

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