Band Movies (not banned movies)
I never seem to get tired of movies about bands - or mostly about bands. Here are a bunch I like - what do you think?
1. A Hard Day's Night (1965) - the first and king of all band movies (to me). Legend has it that George Martin asked John Lennon to write a title track because they needed another tune to fill out the sound track for the movie that was still in production. John (legend has it) went upstairs and came back down an hour later with "A Hard Day's Night" and said "there you go - now stop bothering me!" The world is still talking about whatever the heck the first chord is...
2. That Thing You Do! (1996) - a never was, could have been group from Erie, PA. Song by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne and that new "supergroup" Tinted Windows). Tom Hanks and his Rita Wilson at their finest. Even though they play the main tune 5-6 times during the movie, it never gets old.
3. Almost Famous (2000) - where were you when Robert Plant yelled "I am a golden god!" at the Continental Hyatt House? I have no idea either. If I had been the same age as Cameron Crowe - I like to think this is what I too would have done.
4. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) - it never gets old. "It goes to eleven" and "Hello Cleveland!" never fail to get a laugh from a certain demographic. Kind of like Caddyshack without the golf.
5. Eddie & the Cruisers (1983) - so predictable you cannot take your eyes off Michael Whatshsiname's Cro-Magnon forehead. How Hollywood pictures bands - as if Bruce Springsteen picked the E-Street according to their style of dress and relative fabulousness.
6. The Commitments (1991) - just hearing Colm Meaney shout "Elvis was not a cajun!" makes me laugh. Jimmy Rabbitte puts together a top notch band of ragamuffins and the best sounding Joe Cocker impersonator you ever heard that was actually sixteen. Top notch recording on the soundtrack to boot. “The Irish are the blacks of Europe. Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. North Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin.”
7. Rock Star (2001) - Jennifer Aniston is actually (almost) believable in this movie where Mark Wahlberg is in acovertribute band - to Steel Dragon. So over the top you want it to topple further. Don't miss Stephen Jenkins from 3rd Eye Blind as the guy who takes over in his band.
8. The Blues Brothers (1980) - I realize it was basd on a Saturday Night Live sketch and should probably be banned for that alone. The problem is (!) the band that supported Belushi and Akroyd was basically Booker T and the MGs so they were beyond solid. I never get tired of the scene in the diner when the boys come in and order food and then have Aretha lay Freedom on them.
9. Rock and Roll High School (1979) - there should be a law against this sort of thing. Just like there should be a law against pop stars appearing as themselves on the Brady Bunch. Popular but moronic, it didn't do a lot for the Ramones' image but the soundtrack was successful so at least the studio got paid...
10. Purple Rain (1984) - the band was somewhat real but still screwed up enough for some legitimate drama. Sometimes I wish i could ride off in my frock coat on my Yamaha motorcycle with my Telecaster on one arm and a freaky born again woman in lingerie on the other down to Old Man Johnson's barn.
1. A Hard Day's Night (1965) - the first and king of all band movies (to me). Legend has it that George Martin asked John Lennon to write a title track because they needed another tune to fill out the sound track for the movie that was still in production. John (legend has it) went upstairs and came back down an hour later with "A Hard Day's Night" and said "there you go - now stop bothering me!" The world is still talking about whatever the heck the first chord is...
2. That Thing You Do! (1996) - a never was, could have been group from Erie, PA. Song by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne and that new "supergroup" Tinted Windows). Tom Hanks and his Rita Wilson at their finest. Even though they play the main tune 5-6 times during the movie, it never gets old.
3. Almost Famous (2000) - where were you when Robert Plant yelled "I am a golden god!" at the Continental Hyatt House? I have no idea either. If I had been the same age as Cameron Crowe - I like to think this is what I too would have done.
4. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) - it never gets old. "It goes to eleven" and "Hello Cleveland!" never fail to get a laugh from a certain demographic. Kind of like Caddyshack without the golf.
5. Eddie & the Cruisers (1983) - so predictable you cannot take your eyes off Michael Whatshsiname's Cro-Magnon forehead. How Hollywood pictures bands - as if Bruce Springsteen picked the E-Street according to their style of dress and relative fabulousness.
6. The Commitments (1991) - just hearing Colm Meaney shout "Elvis was not a cajun!" makes me laugh. Jimmy Rabbitte puts together a top notch band of ragamuffins and the best sounding Joe Cocker impersonator you ever heard that was actually sixteen. Top notch recording on the soundtrack to boot. “The Irish are the blacks of Europe. Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. North Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin.”
7. Rock Star (2001) - Jennifer Aniston is actually (almost) believable in this movie where Mark Wahlberg is in a
8. The Blues Brothers (1980) - I realize it was basd on a Saturday Night Live sketch and should probably be banned for that alone. The problem is (!) the band that supported Belushi and Akroyd was basically Booker T and the MGs so they were beyond solid. I never get tired of the scene in the diner when the boys come in and order food and then have Aretha lay Freedom on them.
9. Rock and Roll High School (1979) - there should be a law against this sort of thing. Just like there should be a law against pop stars appearing as themselves on the Brady Bunch. Popular but moronic, it didn't do a lot for the Ramones' image but the soundtrack was successful so at least the studio got paid...
10. Purple Rain (1984) - the band was somewhat real but still screwed up enough for some legitimate drama. Sometimes I wish i could ride off in my frock coat on my Yamaha motorcycle with my Telecaster on one arm and a freaky born again woman in lingerie on the other down to Old Man Johnson's barn.
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