Phil Ochs

Acting

Phil Ochs

Born December 19, 1940 · El Paso, Texas, USA

Died April 9, 1976 · aged 35

Philip David Ochs (December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American songwriter and protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer). Ochs was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, political activism, often alliterative lyrics, and distinctive voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and 1970s and released eight albums.

Known For

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin ScorseseRolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese · 2019
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
7.02019
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Part documentary, part concert film, part fever dream, this film captures the troubled spirit of America in 1975 and the joyous music that Dylan performed during the fall of that year.
Greenwich Village: Music That Defined a GenerationGreenwich Village: Music That Defined a Generation · 2013
Greenwich Village: Music That Defined a Generation
7.02013
MovieDocumentary
Explores the music scene in Greenwich Village, New York in the '60s and early '70s. The film highlights some of the finest singer/songwriters of the day.
Berkeley in the SixtiesBerkeley in the Sixties · 1990
Berkeley in the Sixties
6.01990
MovieDocumentary
A documentary about militant student political activity at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960s.
Renaldo and ClaraRenaldo and Clara · 1978
Renaldo and Clara
7.91978
MovieDramaMusic
Filmed in the autumn of 1975 prior to and during Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour – featuring appearances and performances by Ronee Blakley, T-Bone Burnett, Jack Elliott, Allen Ginsberg, Arlo Guthrie, Ronnie Hawkins, Roger McGuinn, Joni Mitchell, Mick Ronson, Arlen Roth, Phil Ochs, Sam Shepard, and Harry Dean Stanton – the film incorporates three distinct film genres: concert footage, documentary interviews, and dramatic fictional vignettes reflective of Dylan's song lyrics and life.
Phil Ochs: There But for FortunePhil Ochs: There But for Fortune · 2011
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune
6.62011
MovieDocumentaryMusic
From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. In this biographical documentary, veteran director Kenneth Bowser shows how Phil's music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation. Even as his contemporaries moved into folk-rock and pop music, Phil followed his own vision, challenging himself and his listeners. Not one to pull punches, Ochs never achieved the commercial success he desperately desired. But his music remains relevant, reaching new audiences in a generation that finds his themes all too familiar.
Ten for Two: The John Sinclair Freedom RallyTen for Two: The John Sinclair Freedom Rally · 1971
Ten for Two: The John Sinclair Freedom Rally
7.51971
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Concert film documentary. The John Sinclair Freedom Rally was a protest and concert in response to the imprisonment of John Sinclair for possession of marijuana held on December 10, 1971. Features performances from John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder and Bob Seger
The Day the Music DiedThe Day the Music Died · 1977
The Day the Music Died
8.01977
MovieMusicDocumentary
This documentary film is mostly about the New York Pop Festival, which began on July 17, 1970 at Randall's Island, NY, and lasted for three days
The Creative Person: The FolksingerThe Creative Person: The Folksinger · 1965
The Creative Person: The Folksinger
1965
MovieMusicDocumentary
Three of the top folksinger-composers - Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, and Buffy Sainte-Marie - are featured here. These are the new "city" folksingers whose songs are strictly topical, commenting on the political and social issues of the day. Pete Seeger, an earlier singer in a similar tradition, talks about what the younger singer-composers are attempting to do and about their forerunners, such as Woody Guthrie and Aunt Molly Jackson.

Filmography

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Phil Ochs: There But for FortunePhil Ochs: There But for Fortune · 2011
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune
6.62011
MovieDocumentaryMusic
From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. In this biographical documentary, veteran director Kenneth Bowser shows how Phil's music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation. Even as his contemporaries moved into folk-rock and pop music, Phil followed his own vision, challenging himself and his listeners. Not one to pull punches, Ochs never achieved the commercial success he desperately desired. But his music remains relevant, reaching new audiences in a generation that finds his themes all too familiar.

Self (archive footage)