Music DVDs

This week's music DVDs reviewed

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Thunder Road Sandbeach***

It's Springsteen week in The Ticket, what with his new album and this, a flash- bang-wallop DVD package that makes your normal music offering pale by comparison. This Collectors Edition gathers together a fan favourite concert (the famed WMMR radio live gig, broadcast from Philadelphia in early February 1975), the usual clutch of talking heads as they analyse The Boss's career and legacy, and a smart 72-page biog booklet. The primary focus of attention is the gig, which catches Springsteen in his Greetings from Asbury Park/ Born to Runphase, a period that some fans would say contains his best ever work. Extras include archival interviews and performances, rare photographs and enhanced video tracks from the movies Philadelphiaand Dead Man Walking. TONY CLAYTON-LEA

VARIOUS
Tribute to Johnny Ramone Starz Home Entertainment***

In September 2004 a huge array of musicians gathered to perform at The Ramones 30th anniversary concert – two days before Johnny Ramone's death. The performances of Ramones songs are raucously fitting, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and The Sex Pistol's Steve Jones, among others, all giving it socks. The DVD includes good interviews with artists who cite The Ramones as the single biggest influence on their career, with enlightening contributions here from Thurston Moore, Debbie Harry, Lisa Marie Presley and various Chili Peppers. It's heartening to hear just how massive an impact this great band had on so many of their admirers, but you can't help feeling that only The Ramones can play Ramones songs, so the musical contributions – while interesting – are no real substitute for the real thing. BRIAN BOYD