Band Movies

With Killing Bono hitting the big screen, this week, telling the tale of U2’s origin from the perspective of a rival school group, it’s surprising just how good some fictional movie bands actually are.

With Killing Bono hitting the big
screen, this week, telling the tale of U2’s origin from the perspective of a rival school
group, it’s surprising just how good some fictional movie bands actually are.
While Bono and co went on the world acclaim, what happened to these other movie
music maestros?

Killing Bono (2011)

Band: The story of The McCormick Brothers, a High School group who can only look on in awe as rival band Hype go on to become one of the most influential rock groups of their
generation – U2. Who said school days
were the best?

Best Song: With only
the trailer to go off, let’s hope I Didn’t Find What I’m
Looking For isn’t just a nifty idea for a title, but an
undiscovered anthem.

Where Are They Now? Well U2 are
still pretty huge, and as for The McCormicks, you’ll have to see the film to
find out.

The Commitments (1991)

Band: Not the
first band to spring up from a fictional film (see next entry) but The
Commitments, chosen for their musical ability rather than their
acting prowess, actually sounded pretty good.

Best Song: Well, they
didn’t write it, but after its prominence in the film, Mustang Sally has been a
pub band favourite ever since.

Where Are They Now? Apparently
the world’s hardest working band, The Stars from The Commitments are still
gigging to this day.

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Band: Probably the
most well-known of the fictional movie band crop, Spinal Tap not only
starred in one of the funniest films of all time but went on to become a
massive rock outfit too.

Best Song: With such a
good title and an appearance in The Simpsons to boot, how can Break Like The Wind not be a
winner?

Where Are They Now? Their last
album Back From The Dead was released only two years ago, so there’s still
life in the old dog. Commendable when you consider the three main stars can
also be found in…

A Mighty Wind (2003)

Band: Much like
the above entry, the stars of Spinal Tap have been indulging their folk roots
ever since a 1984 Saturday Night Live sketch where The Folksmen were born.

Best Song: How about
their “hit” Old Joe’s
Place.

Where Are They Now? After a 2003
tour and an appearance on stage with Spinal Tap on their last tour, little has been
heard from the trio. Although no-one’s ever answered the question – where the
hell did Mumford and Sons suddenly spring from?

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
(2000)

Band: Want to
hear George Clooney singing Bluegrass? Well you can’t, because his vocal as
part of the movie’s fictitious bluegrass group The Soggy Bottom Boys was actually
sung by Dan Tyminski.

Best Song: Altogether
now, I Am a Man Of
Constant Sorrow

Where Are They Now? While the real-life singers profited nicely with a tour and some
exposure after the movie, sadly the fictional band themselves had to make do with
a pardon for their crimes which saved them from hanging.

Film: That Thing You Do (1996)

Band: The Wonders set girls hearts aflame with their pastiche of
Monkees/Beatles pop as a grateful Tom Hanks, director of the film, looked on, cashing in the
dough.

Best Song: Has to be
the film’s title track That
Thing You Do. Which is what exactly…?

Where Are They Now? Looks like
The Wonders got stuck with a case of musical differences and they split. True “One
Hit Wonders” then?

Film: High Fidelity (2000)

Band: With a
severe identity crisis Sonic Death Monkey, aka Barry
Jive and the Uptown Five, aka Kathleen Turner Overdrive actually
turn out to be a rather soulful little troupe with Jack Black reigning in the rock
of Tenacious D and hitting the harmonies as crooner Barry.

Best Song: We only
get to hear one, a soulful cover of Marvin Gaye’s Lets Get It On but it proves that the boy
can sing.

Where Are They Now? Let’s hope
they stick with the soul, because any music released under Sonic Death Monkey
is unlikely to hit the right note.

Film: Walk Hard (2007)

Band: In a
startlingly similar path to Johnny Cash, Dewey Cox & his band wow the world
in a career spanning several decades with a few important life lessons thrown
in too.

Best Song: Has to be
the beautifully innuendo-filled Let’s
Duet. Tender and yet filthy rude at the same time.

Where Are They Now? Well sadly
Dewey died three minutes after the film’s end so a reunion is a tad unlikely.
Although the Rolling Stones are still going aren’t they?

Film: Almost Famous (2000)

Band: Though semi-autobiographic, Cameron Crowe’s fictitious rock band Stillwater live the
true rock lifestyle. Girls, groupies, drugs – everything that you’re parents warned
you about.

Best Song: Fever Dog shows just
what sort of reception this Pearl Jam type band could have enjoyed in the real
world.

Where Are They Now? Much like
any other 70s group, the band are possibly enjoying some kind of resurgence in
their world thanks to a mobile phone advert, although we’ve yet to hear any of the
results. I blame the signal.