Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire Doc Bound For Tribeca

The Tribeca Festival is going big for its 25th anniversary, with opening night programming centered around Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s new documentary on Earth, Wind & Fire, Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World).

The HBO Original will screen June 3 at New York’s Beacon Theatre and will be followed by live performances from both acts. Thompson spent two years in what he calls “deep research and creative magic” while preparing the doc, which leans heavily on rare, often unseen footage and places the late Maurice White at its spiritual center. No air date has yet been announced on HBO Max.

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Festival brass describe the premiere as a “once-in-a-lifetime New York event,” although Earth, Wind & Fire previously participated in festivities for the Clive Davis doc The Soundtrack of Our Lives at Tribeca in 2017. “They remain one of the most culturally significant bands in history, and this project finally illustrates exactly why their legacy is so vital,” Thompson added.

Founded by White in Chicago in 1969, Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most commercially successful American groups of all time, with sales of more than 90 million albums worldwide. Still active today with core members Philip Bailey, Maurice’s brother Verdine and Ralph Johnson, EWF is best known for hits such as “September,” “Shining Star” and “Boogie Wonderland.”

As for Thompson, the movie joins a growing roster of film projects for the musician, including Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, Summer of Soul and SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius). He’s also producing a long-in-the-works documentary about late producer J Dilla, which will be directed by his producing partner Joseph Patel.

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