We got to sit down with Tyler Measom and Craig A. Williams to talk about their documentary, If These Walls Could Rock.
If These Walls Could Rock is the untold story of the Sunset Marquis Hotel—the legendary West Hollywood hideaway where rock stars checked in, passed out, and made history. Featuring a Hall of Fame lineup, the film dives deep into the debauchery, the music, and the magic that made the Marquis the rock ‘n roll sanctuary for more than six decades.
But behind the famous awning and trashed rooms lies a deeper tale: the emotional journey of the visionary founder and his business-minded son, who saved the hotel from ruin. It’s the story not just of a family, but of family itself- a celebration of the creative spirit, and the importance of connection and community in an increasingly disconnected world.
And, yeah, it’s got some seriously wild party stories.
If These Walls Could Rock uses rare archival footage, stunning photography, intimate new interviews, and vivid animation to capture the spirit of rebellion, resilience, and reinvention that defines both the Marquis and the people who call it home. The film also features interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Slash, Cyndi Lauper, Morrissey, Sheryl Crow, Dave Grohl, and the unofficial mayor of the Marquis himself, Billy Bob Thornton.
The film is based on the book, If These Walls Could Rock by Craig A. Williams and Mark Rosenthal and includes the new single, “Sunset Marquis,” by Miranda Lambert, along with other classic tracks from Aerosmith, The Black Crows, Heart, Ozzy, and more.
Check out our interview with Tyler and Craig:
Award-winning filmmaker Tyler Measom specializes in high profile, character-based documentaries. He is the director of the hit Netflix series “Murder Among the Mormons,” the Paramount+ series “I Wanna Rock,” the documentaries “Takin’ Care of Business” (TIFF), “I Want My MTV” (Tribeca, A&E), “An Honest Liar” (Tribeca, ITVS) and “Sons of Perdition” (Tribeca, OWN). He has produced the films Space Cowboy (TIFF), TAKE (Tribeca, Showtime), Jesus Town, USA, (Showtime) and NYTimes documentary ELDER. He is also the producer and host of the Webby Award winning documentary podcast “Was I In a Cult?”
Craig A. Williams is a screenwriter and producer known for his work on major studio films and music-driven stories. He has written numerous feature films, including Kung Fu Panda, Hotel Transylvania, and Underdog, as well as the biopics Pandemonium (about WWE founder Vince McMahon), Chippendales, and The Book of Luke (about 2 Live Crew’s Luther Campbell). Williams co-authored the book If These Walls Could Rock and penned the memoir Mom, Have You Seen My Leather Pants?, chronicling his teen years as a Sunset Strip rocker. He served as Creative Producer on the Paramount+ series “I Wanna Rock: The ’80s Metal Dream.”
