Sex Pistols Audio

The poet and philosopher George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." To ensure that future generations don't forget the triumphs and tragedies of pop music's past, we host another Soundcheck Smackdown over the musical legacies of baby boomers and Generation X. Joining us in studio are Jeff Gordinier , editor at large at Details magazine and author of "X Saves the World," and music critic Anthony DeCurtis , contributing editor at Rolling Stone and author of "In Other Words: Artists Talk About Life and Work." Tell us : Who has the better musical legacy -- baby boomers or generation X? Why?

Author Michael Patrick McDonald ’s bestselling memoir All Souls was about growing up in the slums of south Boston and watching four of his siblings succumb to drugs, crime and eventually an early death. His new book, Easter Rising: An Irish American Coming Up from Under, talks about how he escaped a similar fate -- by falling in love with punk rock. He joins us to talk about the book, and the playlist that comes with it.

If the Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There” and the Beatles-fest “Across the Universe” left you craving more rock movies, join us for a look at must-see rock movies -- that you probably haven't seen. Film critic and professor David N. Meyer shares a list of great rock flicks that are available on Netflix. (And he’ll name one film you might never find.) Plus, we take your calls on the rock movies you love best. Tell us : What's your favorite rock movie? David N. Meyer's list of "Must-See Rock Movies That You Probably Haven't Seen" 1) The Girl Can't Help It (1956) . Jayne Mansfield sex farce with amazing rock performances by The Platters, Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps, and Fats Domino. 2) Head (1968) . The Monkees bid for hippie cred and musical authenticity, written by Jack Nicholson & Bob Rafaelson and featuring appearances by Frank Zappa, boxer Sonny Liston, and dancing by Toni Basil of "Oh Mickey" fame. See a clip of the Monkees performing "Circle Sky" from the film here. 3) Performance (1970) . The marriage of rock and film, starring Mick Jagger at his most andrognyous, and co-starring Anita Pallenberg, who had recently left Brian Jones for Keith Richards. See a clip of Mick Jagger performing in the film here . 4) Payday (1973) . Speed, grass, downers, country music - the most accurate portrait of life on the road, starring Rip Torn as a modern Hank Williams, and with songs composed by Shel Silverstein. 5) Rockers (1978) . Hilarious reggae comedy/social commentary, starring every key reggae star of the day: Winston Rodney, Sly & Robbie Shakespeare, Gregory Issacs, Jacob Miller, and Leroy Smart. 6) Radio On (1980) . The only true rock and roll film noir and Sting's film debut, with a great Stiff Records soundtrack: Wreckless Eric, Ian Drury, The Rumor plus Robert Fripp, David Bowie, and Karftwerk 7) Linda! Linda! Linda! (2007) . New Japanese film just released in the US, it's the truest movie of high school ever made. Four girls have to learn a classic Japanese punk song to play at high school talent show, the title song by seminal Japanese punks The Blue Hearts. See a clip from the film here . The Pick You Might Never Find: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1981). Still unreleased in the US, a classic about a punk band with Sex Pistols Steve Cook and Paul Jones, The Clash's Paul Simonon and actor Ray Winstone. See them perform in the film here .

Would Elton John be able to fill Madison Square Garden as Reginald Dwight? How did Chan Marshall become Cat Power? Bill Crandall , Editor of AOL’s Spinner.com, gives us the backstory on the greatest names in rock.

If it's really clever or really catchy, the first line of a song can get stuck in your head forever. Bill Crandall , editor in chief of AOL Music, joins us to talk about some of most memorable and ear-catching opening lyrics.

Photography proved to be the perfect medium to document the emotion and spirit of punk rock. For the collection "Punk 365," Holly George-Warren pulled together hundreds of photos (365, to be exact) that feature punk's godfathers, superstars, lesser-known heroes and kindred spirits. George-Warren explains how she used images to tell the story of punk. Slideshow: Punk 365

The British band Joy Division had a short life in the late 70s, but today it has become one of the biggest influences in alternative rock, with disciples like Interpol and the Killers. The troubled life of the band’s front-man, Ian Curtis, is now the subject of the rock biopic "Control." We talk to the film's director, Anton Corbijn.

Doug Brod , editor-in-chief of Spin Magazine, shares the magazine's list of the 30 greatest punk albums, and he looks back at the seminal artists from 1977, the year the musical style exploded on the scene.

Video game violence nearly snuffs out host Kurt Andersen. Body armor and advanced weapons are recommended for guests on a talk show taped inside the violent online game "Halo 2." We hear a forgotten chapter in the history of "West Side Story," which debuted on Broadway 50 years ago this week. Violinist Eugene Drucker, of the Emerson Quartet, makes his debut as a novelist with The Savior . And we squeeze an interview out of notoriously shy musician Meshell Ndegeocello.

New movies featuring Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, the Beatles and influential post-punk band Joy Division are due out this fall. Today, we look at the new crop of music films and examine why the music biopic remains as popular as ever as we're joined by Time Out NY film editor Melissa Anderson .