Filmage

''Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All'' is a 2013 independent documentary film chronicling the history of the American punk rock bands the Descendents and All. It was written by Matt Riggle, who produced and directed it with Deedle LaCour. The film uses an oral history format, telling the bands' stories through the use of interviews with over 40 subjects, as well as new and archival footage. It stars drummer Bill Stevenson, singer Milo Aukerman, bassist Karl Alvarez, and guitarist Stephen Egerton, and features nearly all past and present members of both bands. ''Filmage'' also features numerous musicians who were contemporaries of, worked with, or were influenced by the Descendents and All.

The documentary premiered June 15, 2013 and was shown in select screenings and at film festivals in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia throughout 2013 and 2014. It had a limited theatrical run in Los Angeles in September and October 2014 before being widely released on home video. ''Filmage'' has received mostly positive reviews from critics.

The film's title derives from the band's tradition of titling some songs and albums by adding the suffix "-age" to words that would not normally use it (cf. "Myage", "Tonyage", "Bikeage", "Cameage", ''Liveage!'', and "Daveage").

Synopsis

The film begins with the Descendents' origins in the neighboring communities of Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, California in the late 1970s. Middle school friends Frank Navetta and Dave Nolte start the band in 1977 by writing songs together on guitar. Classmate Bill Stevenson impresses them with his musical talents and becomes their drummer. In 1979 they meet bassist Tony Lombardo in Long Beach and recruit him to the band. Nolte bows out to join his brothers in The Last, and Navetta, Stevenson, and Lombardo record the Descendents' debut single. Stevenson's high school classmate Milo Aukerman joins the band as lead singer, and the new lineup builds a local following through their catchy and melodic songs, energetic live shows, and Aukerman's image as a nerd. They release the ''Fat EP'' (1981) and their debut album ''Milo Goes to College'' (1982), so named because Aukerman leaves the band to study biology. Stevenson drums in Black Flag for the next few years.

In 1985 the Descendents reconvene for a second album, ''I Don't Want to Grow Up''. Navetta has burned all of his equipment and moved to Oregon, and is replaced by Ray Cooper. Stevenson pushes for the band to tour, but Lombardo declines and quits. He is replaced by Doug Carrion, and this lineup records 1986's '' Enjoy!'', after which Cooper and Carrion both leave the band. Stevenson recruits bassist Karl Alvarez from Salt Lake City, who brings in his close friend Stephen Egerton to play guitar. The new lineup releases the 1987 album ''All'', themed around the philosophical concept of "All" invented by Stevenson and friend Pat McCuistion. Aukerman leaves the band again to attend graduate school.

Stevenson, Alvarez, and Egerton start a new band, All, with singer Dave Smalley. They put out the album ''Allroy Sez'' and EP ''Allroy for Prez'' in 1988, but their constant touring schedule proves too much for Smalley, who soon quits. They replace him with Scott Reynolds and release ''Allroy's Revenge'' (1989), but have difficulty finding an audience without the recognizable Descendents name and frontman. Seeking a more affordable cost of living and centralized location from which to tour, All relocates to Brookfield, Missouri in 1990. Reynolds quits the band following 1992's ''Percolater'' album. With new singer Chad Price All releases 1993's ''Breaking Things''. Signing to a major record label, they relocate to Fort Collins, Colorado and build their own recording studio, The Blasting Room. Their lone major label album is 1995's '' Pummel''.

Reuniting with Aukerman as the Descendents, the band releases '' Everything Sucks'' in 1996 and enjoys renewed audience enthusiasm. After Aukerman returns to his biochemistry career, All issues ''Mass Nerder'' (1998) and '' Problematic'' (2000) but remains in the shadow of the Descendents, failing to reach the same level of popularity and record sales. As Stevenson puts it, "All is the band guilty of not being the Descendents."

The final third of the film focuses on Stevenson's family and health issues. He takes care of his ailing father during the final year of the latter's life, and their difficult relationship inspires the Descendents song "One More Day". The bands then experience a hiatus for several years as Alvarez divorces, Egerton moves to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Stevenson focuses on his work as a record producer. Stevenson's health declines until he suffers a pulmonary embolism, and a large meningioma is discovered compressing his frontal lobes. With the help of Dr. Mark Neagle, he undergoes neurosurgery and recovers quickly. To help pay his medical bills, the Descendents reunite for festival appearances and other occasional shows. Now in their late forties, the band members enjoy their relaxed performance schedule, audience enthusiasm, old friendships, and ability to bring their children to their shows.

Cast

''Filmage'' features interviews with all past and present members of the Descendents and All with the exceptions of guitarists Frank Navetta, who died in 2008, and Ray Cooper, who declined to participate, though Cooper is presented through archival interview footage.

;Band members
*Karl Alvarez – Descendents/All bassist (1986–present)
*Milo Aukerman – Descendents singer (1980–87, 1995–present)
*Doug Carrion – Descendents bassist (1985–86)
*Stephen Egerton – Descendents/All guitarist (1986–present)
*Tony Lombardo – Descendents bassist (1979–85)
*Dave Nolte – Descendents guitarist (1977–79)
*Chad Price – All singer (1993–present)
* Scott Reynolds – All singer (1988–93)
*Dave Smalley – All singer (1987–88)
* Bill Stevenson – Descendents/All drummer (1979–present)

;Associates
*Richard Andrews – recording engineer, record producer
*Jeff "Rat" Atkins – illustrator of Milo caricature
*Roger Deuerlein – creator of Milo caricature
*Kevin Lyman – Warped Tour founder
*Mark Neagle – pulmonologist
*Chris Shary – visual artist
*Daniel "Bug" Snow – longtime All/Descendents road crew

;Other musicians
* Brian Baker – Minor Threat, Bad Religion
*Doni Blair – Hagfish, Only Crime
*Zach Blair – Hagfish, Only Crime, Rise Against
* "Fat Mike" Burkett – NOFX, Fat Wreck Chords
*Greg Cameron – SWA
*Joey Cape – Lagwagon
*Chris DeMakes – Less Than Jake
*Chuck Dukowski – Black Flag
*Greg Graffin – Bad Religion
*Dave Grohl – Nirvana, Foo Fighters
*Brett Gurewitz – Bad Religion, Epitaph Records
*Robert Hecker – Redd Kross
*Mike Herrera – MxPx
*Mark Hoppus – Blink-182
*Trever Keith