by Rebecca Clark | Photos courtesy of Joseph Rubinstein & Frank Rios
“I don’t know what you feel, other than that appreciation and wake up, see the sunrise, watch the sunset with my friends, and just go, How in the fuck did we get here?”
That quote from frontman Ed Roland encapsulates the heart of Give Me a Word: The Collective Soul Story. This isn’t your typical music documentary. It’s a vulnerable, honest, and moving look into the life of a band that has weathered the highs and lows of the music industry with grit, grace, and undeniable talent.
This documentary takes you through their journey of recording From Here to Eternity, then backtracks through time and takes you through their impeccable journey.
After over 30 years together, multi-platinum Atlanta rockers Collective Soul, who have sold over 15 million albums worldwide, including six that have gone Gold or Platinum, and landed seven #1 singles like “Shine,” “December,” and “The World I Know,” are finally giving fans a behind-the-scenes look into their musical journey. Their first-ever documentary, Give Me A Word: The Collective Soul Story, is set to be released July 8 via Trinity Content Partners.
The documentary opens at Elvis Presley’s estate in Palm Springs where Collective Soul became the first band ever allowed to record and begins by taking viewers through the creation of their latest album, Here to Eternity, before backtracking to explore the band’s remarkable journey over the past three decades. As the band members arrive one by one, settling into the historic space and beginning to jam, you can feel the reverence they carry for the moment.
Lead guitarist Jesse Triplett shares how deeply personal the experience is for him his granddad once sold a song at a gathering Elvis attended, and Elvis invited him to write more. “Being here,” Jesse says, “it just feels like I’m connected to my granddad in a whole new way.” For Ed Roland, Elvis was the first record he ever bought, so the location carries weight for him too, both musically and emotionally.
Before diving into the band’s history, each member reflects on what this moment means. It then rewinds to the early days, using album release dates as chapter markers to tell the story of how Collective Soul became what it is today. Ed and his younger brother Dean revisit their childhood, sharing memories of learning to play guitar and how Ed took Dean under his wing. “He used me as a sounding board,” Dean says. Ed chimes in with a smile, “Still do.”
That moment of mutual respect is emblematic of the band’s dynamic. There’s no competition, just a deep knowing that when they come together, something powerful happens. Dean recalls learning guitar just by watching Ed. And it was at Georgia State University’s WRAS (“Album 88”) where Ed asked Dean to submit their demo, believing “Goodnight, Good Guy” would be the breakout. Instead, the station picked “Shine.” The phones lit up. “They played it 20 times a day,” they recall, “and suddenly people were asking, who is this?”
The documentary is full of personality and more than their music, but about friendship, loyalty, and perseverance. We hear from original band members and early crew, including stories of opening for Aerosmith and Van Halen, and a standout performance at Woodstock.
Ed’s emotional depth is at the core of the film. Talking about the early betrayal from their record label Ed reflects on the band’s early releases, noting that “two out of the first three albums we put out were basically just demos, but we sustained it.”
He shares that Disciplined Breakdown was written during a difficult period following the fallout with their former manager, a man he describes as both a mentor and a pivotal figure in his journey. Though their relationship ended painfully, Ed acknowledges the impact he had, saying he “believed in me and in my vision.” Ed admits he wishes he had reconnected with him before his passing, calling him a complex but special person who taught him more than just the music business. Reflecting on that loss, Ed adds, “Fuck I hate reminiscing, this shit sucks.”
This level of honesty is woven throughout. From his parents to his childhood mentors, we hear how Ed’s life experiences shaped his songwriting. After surviving a car crash at age 15 that claimed his friend’s life, Ed says it changed him forever. Music became how he processed emotion. His mother reflects, “Ed was a child that did not open up a lot and talk about his feelings. He was like that even as a small child. He comes out in his music.”
One of the most powerful and emotional moments in the documentary comes when Ed Roland speaks about his childhood friend, Chris Clowler, who passed away from an overdose. “Chris was my mentor in life in general,” Ed shares. “He was the one that gave me that click. He started the engine for me.”
Ed frequently turned to Chris as a sounding board for his songwriting, deeply valuing his opinion and creative input. Chris had a unique ability to push Ed beyond his comfort zone, encouraging him to grow as both an artist and a person. “The most important thing he taught me was to be yourself,” Ed says. “His energy gave me the freedom to be free.”
Even now, Ed says, he wonders what Chris would think of the songs he writes.
There’s an incredible amount of heart in this documentary and Ed Roland’s authenticity is its backbone. “I like myself and I love my life,” he says at one point, and it’s not in a cocky way. It’s the confidence of a man who’s survived, who’s created, and who’s still showing up with love for what he does.
We see the band evolve through hardship like divorces, member changes, going independent, and come out stronger. On their album Dosage, they had a bigger budget and began experimenting with new sounds. Anthony J. Resta, who had co-produced Nuno Bettencourt’s Schizophonic (one of Ed’s favorite albums at the time), joined the project, kicking off a collaborative relationship that would continue through the years.
Of course, not everything was smooth. “Heavy” was written during a time when cracks began to show. Their original guitarist Ross Childress began pursuing a side project, which Ed encouraged. But behind Ed’s back he was roping in all of the members of Collective Soul but him. “It was disrespectful,” Ed admits. Their original drummer Shane Evans struggled with touring life and substance use. Despite an intervention, he didn’t return. All of this was a turning point, the band shifted, went independent, and found themselves again.
The release of Youth marked a rebirth. “Better Now” became Ed’s divorce song, and the album found success. Despite hardships, they never gave up.
Dolly Parton also makes a surprise appearance in the documentary, sharing that it was her husband, an avid rock fan, who introduced her to Collective Soul. She was so moved by their music that she chose to cover “Shine” on her bluegrass album, a rendition that went on to win a Grammy. Ed Roland was both stunned and deeply honored: “Dolly getting a Grammy for covering our song?” Ed said. “That’s like a Grammy for me. I cherish that more than a statue.” Though Collective Soul themselves have never received a Grammy nomination, Ed’s humility and gratitude shine through as he reflects on the honor of having an icon like Dolly Parton bring new life to their music.
Their longtime producer Shawn Grove is described as the unofficial 6th member of the band. “We know what each other’s looking for,” Shawn said. “There’s no egos in the band. Everybody knows we’re just trying to make a good record.”
As the film comes full circle, back to Elvis’ estate, Ed reflects on what it means to be there, to have endured so much and still be standing. He looks out the window and just takes it all in. The band closes the film the way they close their shows: playing “Long Way to Run” live from Palm Springs.
The last word goes to Ed:
“I can never imagine not being in this band. And if I could hand-pick bandmates, hopefully they would pick me too,” Ed said. “This is the band. And it was that hard work for 10 years after the Atlantic days and divorces and all the craziness that went on, when Johnny and Jesse came in, it just became natural, became real. And it became fine. That’s how we got here, family.”
Give Me a Word is a must-watch for any music lover, not just Collective Soul fans. It’s a story of resilience, creative spirit, and the power of brotherhood. It’s about what it means to keep going, to stay true to your craft, and to never lose the spark. Ed Roland’s heart is the heartbeat of this band, and it “shines” through every frame of this documentary.
Give Me A Word: The Collective Soul Story will be available July 8 on DVD and Blu-ray through the band’s official website. Fans can also watch it on demand via Amazon (North America), iTunes (Worldwide), Google (U.K. and North America), Vudu, Hoopla, and Olyn (all North America). The documentary is expected to be available for streaming later this year.