James: From Baggy Scene to Cults and Chaos

The documentary "Sects, Trance and Rock'n'Roll" offers a good-natured, humorous, and rousing look at the British band James. Their journey began when singer Tim Booth met future bandmates who had snuck into a university bar. Described as making every possible mistake, they notably turned down an offer from Factory Records due to not wanting a product number.

Further complicating their career, the band rejected a support slot on The Smiths' US tour because several members were involved in an esoteric meditation cult. Despite these detours, they later gained a reputation for partying hard on the 1997 Lollapalooza tour. The film largely focuses on the band's internal dynamics, a mix of contrasting personalities united by music, which they deliberately used to maintain creative tension.