Fictional Bands in Cinema

I've been noticing that while it can be tough to find good music in today's scene, it is often the made-up bands in movies that steal the show. Movie-makers recruit top music talent to write and usually play in their stories. Today I'll take a look at a handful of what I think are the coolest fictional bands and singers on the silver screen. It's easy to note the bands that went on to "reality", actually recording and playing live shows, but at the time of filming, these were not actual musical artists - the movie was their very first appearance. I know I'm only skimming the surface, but I believe I've got most of the best of the bunch here. Enjoy!

Mark Wahlberg wails for Steel Dragon

in the much maligned movie Rockstar

Soronprfbs (the band), the movie Frank... a strange, funny flick about the lead singer of an experimental indie band who wears a huge paper mache head throughout almost the entire film. 

Modal Nodes (the Cantina Band), Star Wars: A New Hope... you all know them. Those alien weirdos who pump out mutated ragtime space jazz, playing gigs only at the scuzziest of intergalactic venues. 

Soggy Bottom Boys, O' Brother Where Art Thou... I loved the Americana roots music of this movie when I first heard it, and the Boys' bluegrass version of Man of Constant Sorrow still grabs me by the yarbles.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, both the band and the movie title... more of a rock opera than anything else, this Tommy-like tale of an East German transgender woman is crazy funny, sad, and loaded with excellent "glam-punk" music. Tear Me Down is a great tune to start with... but see the movie... it's an experience.

The Blues Brothers, the band and the movie... a classic musical comedy studded with soul and R&B superstars. Jake and Elwood recruit a dream-team band for a benefit show... you know the rest... one of my favourite film comedies. Great music!

A Mighty Wind, the movie... the fake bands are many, but Mitch and Mickey, and The Folksmen are among the best here. This mockumentary follows a fictitious American folk scene where a trio of bands reunite for a memorial concert. Funny and musically entertaining.

Marvin Berry and the Starlighters, Back to the Future... we all know this scene from the classic 80's comedy: Marty McFly must step in for injured Marvin at the school dance - and spins a Chuck Berry tune into a Van Halenesque guitar solo. 

School of Rock, the band name and the movie... Jack Black leads his music students to a Battle of the Bands competition. Fun renditions of rock classics and not a bad comedy, if you can stomach Black for an hour and a half.

Muppets rawk!

Spinal Tap, This is Spinal Tap... still a great movie that holds up musically and comedically. The mockumentary sort of led the wave of this genre and even produced song parodies that rocked just as well as, if not better than, most of the real arena bands of the 70's and 80's. They go to 11.

Stillwater (the band), Almost Famous... based on a true story, but with a fictional band doing an exceptional job at their blues rock-style. Fever Dog is a heavy tune to whet your whistle; more than a little like Zeppelin, eh?

Crucial Taunt, Wayne's World... actress Tia Carrere heads the rock act in a rousing version of Ballroom Blitz in this 90's comedy gem.  The band also covers Touch Me, and I must admit, this stuff could probably compete with some of the "real" music of that era. 

Steel Dragon, the band, Rockstar, the movie... among my very favourite music movies, Rockstar is based on a real-life story, and boasts a killer soundtrack. The band is fashioned after rock/metal acts of the 80's/early 90's. Blood Pollution is one of the scorching tunes by Steel Dragon. Those vocals! Those riffs!

The Commitments, both the band and the movie... I saw this twice in the theatre when it first came out, and I lived and breathed the CD soundtrack for years after. The story of an Irish soul band is fun and inspiring, yet it's the music that really stands out. All of it.

Sing Street, the band and the movie... one of the few modern films on my list, this is an entertaining and well-crafted story of Irish teenagers assembling a pop band and channeling the spirit of the likes of Duran Duran and other 80's hit-makers.

Sonic Death Monkey, in High Fidelity... among my fave movies, the music soundtrack is all over the board, but it's the performance by this fake band in the final act that clinches it. Surprisingly good. 

Jim and Jean, Inside Llewyn Davis... another folk scene film, this one boasts several faux artists knocking out beautiful music. This duo's take on 500 Miles made a big impression on me. Please check out this movie!

Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, The Muppet Movie (the original from 1979!)... need I say more? This band of outrageous puppet characters has become a household name. Especially drummer Animal (obviously based on the late great Keith Moon of The Who).

And last but not least...

Desmond Howl, the musician, in the movie Whale Music. I saw this many years ago, in the 90's I believe, and though my memories of it are now hazy, I still recall the film title and the fact that I really enjoyed it. Howl is a musician touched by personal tragedy, living in seclusion. His story is based on that of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. This Canadian production features music by real band Rheostatics. I think it's time I revisited this piece of my homeland's cinematic history. 

Rock on and... fade to black.