RIP D. A. PENNEBAKER

Just yesterday I was skimming quickly through the latest edition of Classic Pop magazine devoted to Depeche Mode that came out this week. There is an interview with D. A. Pennebaker about “101” and a candid revelation that a 4K restoration of the film could be in the works. I was very excited by this. He even mentioned extra material could see the light of day.

Then, just a few hours later, almost like a cruel prank from destiny, news of his passing away surfaced. Sadly it wasn’t an internet prank and he had died two days before the news were made public. Regardless of how an eventual restoration of “101” could be affected, it’s a sad loss. Music documentaries won’t ever be the same. But he died at the age of 94 leaving an immense legacy of political and music documentaries. Aside from Depeche Mode, he directed Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Look Back”, David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” and “Monterrey Pop”.
RIP, Donn.