DOCUMENTARY, ARTICLE
‘If These Walls Could Rock’ — Featuring Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Ringo Starr, Slash, and More
The untold story of the legendary Sunset Marquis Hotel is now playing — check out what critics and press are saying!
The Hollywood Reporter
“‘If These Walls Could Rock’ chronicles how the hotel off Sunset Boulevard became a party haven, then a refuge, for musicians.” The film features Billy Bob Thornton, the hotel’s self-proclaimed “unofficial mayor,” guiding viewers through decades of rock ‘n’ roll history. [READ ARTICLE HERE]
Louder “Dave Grohl, Slash, Ringo Starr, Gene Simmons & more spill the beans on LA’s notorious party pad, the Sunset Marquis.” The film lifts the lid on the famous LA resort, diving “deep into the debauchery, the music, and the magic that made the Marquis the heartbeat of rock ‘n’ roll for over six decades.” [READ ARTICLE HERE]
FLOOD Magazine
“If These Walls Could Rock: The Untold Story of Music’s Most Legendary Hotel.” Directors Tyler Measom and Craig A. Williams open up about capturing six decades of rock history — and the father-son relationship at the heart of it all. [READ ARTICLE HERE]
AXS TV
The trailer chronicles the Sunset Marquis’s rock ‘n’ roll history through interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Dave Grohl, and others. Director Tyler Measom notes, “Even the musicians who stay there, I don’t even think they know the vast history of this hotel.” [READ ARTICLE HERE]
V13 Media
“For more than 60 years, one place in LA has served as the home away from home for the biggest names in rock and roll.” Featuring rare archival footage, vivid animation, and candid interviews from artists including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Slash, Cyndi Lauper, Morrissey, Sheryl Crow, and Steve Van Zandt. [READ ARTICLE HERE]
Screen Zealots
“This one is an absolute treat for fans of fame and general debauchery… it’s also a surprisingly touching story about family, creativity, and the importance of having a place where outsiders can feel like they belong.” [READ ARTICLE HERE]
IF THESE WALLS COULD ROCK is a raucous, emotional ride through the Sunset Marquis – the secret sanctuary of rock legends for over 60 years. From Ringo to Slash, Cyndi Lauper to Morrissey, its halls echo with iconic stories of debauchery, creativity, and reinvention. At its heart is a deeper tale: how the visionary founder and his son rescued the Marquis from ruin and rebuilt it as a haven for artists. A love letter to music, mayhem, and the messy magic of family – both blood and chosen.
For over 60 years, West Hollywood’s Sunset Marquis has been the best-kept secret in rock ‘n’ roll — the place where legends came to write, party, and occasionally trash a room or two. This documentary finally cracks it open, with Billy Bob Thornton (the hotel’s self-proclaimed “unofficial mayor”) leading an all-star cast of interviews:Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Ringo Starr, Slash, Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow, Morrissey, Roger Daltrey, Nancy Wilson, Gene Simmons, Joe Elliott, and Steve Van Zandt, among many more.
Directors’ Statement
TYLER MEASOM
“The stories, the music, the madness — all of it was catnip for a filmmaker obsessed with rock ‘n’ roll. But what truly pulled me in was the unexpected emotional core: the relationship between the hotel’s founder, George Rosenthal, and his son, Markey.”
CRAIG A. WILLIAMS
“Since it opened its doors in 1963, [the Sunset Marquis] has been a gathering spot for luminaries of pop culture: Beatles, Stones, Ramones, Blondie, The Clash, Springsteen, U2, Guns N’ Roses, Courtney Love, Kings of Leon, Brandi Carlile… What I found was more than just an endless stream of rock ‘n’ roll debauchery — but a community of artists where, hidden from the outside world, they were allowed to be themselves.”
Festivals
DOC NYC (World Premiere) · Toronto Jewish Film Festival · Santa Barbara Film Festival · Milwaukee Film Festival · Jackson Hole Film Festival · Florida Film Festival · San Francisco Documentary Festival · and more