Penelope Spheeris' Decline of Western Civilization was perceived as shocking and outrageous at the time of its original release in 1981. Parts II and III were no less extraordinary and unprecedented. Today, museums and educational institutions around the world present them as historically significant works of art. Featuring some of the most influential and innovative musicians and groups of all time--Germs, Black Flag, X, Fear, Circle Jerks, Alice Cooper, Lemmy, Poison and members of Aerosmith and KISS--these riveting, unflinching, hard-core films adeptly captured the spirit of a major cultural phenomenon. Part I documents punk rock musicians' deliberate reaction to the mass commercialism of music. Part II takes a fast-paced look at the Heavy Metal scene of the late 80's. Part III profiles hard-core gutterpunks living homeless in Los Angeles and their music.