A new documentary by musician-turned-filmmaker Dave Grohl explores why the 'Sound City' centre in Los Angeles earned a place in rock history.

The studio produced some of rock's biggest hits - from Fleetwood Mac to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, some of music's biggest stars recorded at the centre which shut down 18 months ago.

'That studio changed my life,' Grohl said.

'When Nirvana walked in there we didn't think anything was going to happen, we were just kids, and then that album blew up and I really feel like Sound City is a reason why that album sounds the way it sounds.'

Rock's royalty turned out for the film's Hollywood screening - many of whom produced some of their biggest hits at Sound City.

When the studio was sold in 2011, Grohl bought up the studio's famous sound board, which rock icon Stevie Nicks says is like a 'ferrari'.

'If you just went back and just bought every one of the records that was recorded on that board you would hear that console, you would hear why the records that were made on that console were so amazing,' she said.

Grohl is hoping the film inspires a new generation to pick up instruments.