When AS contributor Stef and I planned our A-Camp music trivia session, we chose questions that closely align with our interests and expertise. As such, campers will be pitched a tonne of questions about fictional bands. (As well as ex-Disney child stars, but sadly I don’t have time to write two Top 10 lists).
Sometimes I like fictional bands more than I like real bands. My favourite is Mark's totally psychedelic band Marc, however they didn't make the cut because I never heard their demo. You know who else isn't on here? Stillwater, because I don't think I can talk about Almost Famous ever again, and Dingoes Ate My Baby, because I don't like the band name. It's my list and I can omit really obvious and popular contenders if I want to.
Top 10 Fictional Bands From Film & TV
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10. Zack Attack - Saved By The Bell
In the early nineties, high school dreamboat Zack Morris fronted a pop-rock band called Zack Attack, which comprised other members of the Saved By The Bell gang. If you don't remember the nineties, you should probably watch this video of Zack Attack performing "Friends Forever" and thank me later.
Wikipedia just informed me that Zack was also the lead singer of a 1950s-style doo-wop group, The Five Aces, and played the trombone. The more you know.
9. Drive Shaft - Lost
The only information that my brain was capable of processing during my fleeting interest in Lost was that one of the passengers stranded on The Island was a rockstar named Charlie. I knew this because like so many of his fictional rockstar peers, Charlie was addicted to heroin, leather wrist-bands and black eye-liner.
Charlie’s band Drive Shaft were kind of a big deal thanks to their one and only hit, “All You Everybody”. Sadly due to Charlie’s *SPOILER ALERT* untimely demise, the band’s comeback hit, “Monster Ate The Pilot”, was never released. I think it would have been a winner.
8. The School of Rock - The School of Rock
If you’re one of those people who think films starring Jack Black are too lowbrow for consumption, that's your loss because he's been in some stellar fictional bands. Here's the deal: after being booted from his adult band No Vacancy, Dewey (aka Mr Schneebly) fakes his way into a teaching job and forms a new band from members from his 5th grade music class, aptly titled School of Rock. Both No Vacancy and School of Rock were both admirable ensembles, but only the latter featured cute kids wearing Angus Young-inspired stage costumes.
“I pledge allegiance to the band of Mr. Schneebly... and will not fight him for creative control... and will defer to him on all issues related to the musical direction of the band.” - Dewey
An honorable Jack Black-related mention goes to Barry from High Fidelity for his fictional band Sonic Death Monkey aka Kathleen Turner Overdrive aka Barry Jive and The Uptown Five.
7. Wyld Stallyns - Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Some of you may not be old enough to have ever experienced the Wyld Stallyns, Bill & Ted's totally excellent rock band. So here's the gist:
“The film opens in San Dimas, California in the year 2688 AD. Rufus prepares to use a time-traveling phone booth to travel back to 1988 to ensure the Two Great Ones– Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted "Theodore" Logan –remain together to form the band "Wyld Stallyns", whose music will become the core of the future's Utopian society.”
In summary, the Wyld Stallyns save the future of mankind. What has your fictional band done lately?
“The truth is, Wyld Stallyns will never be a super band until we have Eddie Van Halen on guitar.” - Bill
6. Sex Bob-Omb - Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Did you know that Beck wrote the music for Sex Bob-Omb? I just learned that on the band's wikipedia page, which you should read if you've never seen this movie because I don't know how to describe it to you. Now excuse me while I be That Guy who quotes Scott Pilgrim on the internet.
“We are Sex Bob-Omb and we are here to make you think about death and get sad and stuff.” - Scott
5. Crucifictorious - Friday Night Lights
Just when I thought that Friday Night Lights could not possibly become a better show, the writers gave Landry Clark a fictional metal band. Admittedly Crucifictorious were a little shit at first, as evidenced by that time they put on a show and only Tim Riggins and his abs showed up. To be fair, they were initially terrible. To be even fairer, they got a lot better when my future girlfriend Devin joined the band.
“I’m thinking of starting a Christian speed metal band. You in?” - Landry
4. Frozen Embryos - My So-Called Life
In the email thread about this article, Riese and Laneia enthusiastically requested the inclusion of Jordan Catalano’s band, the Frozen Embryos. I’ve never seen My So-Called Life, however after some extensive youtube research I am of the belief that the Frozen Embryos are better than any real band that Jared Leto has been a member of.
3. The Blues Brothers - The Blues Brothers
When I was a child, my father played me The Blues Brothers soundtrack and told me that they were a real band, and I stayed under that impression for more years than I'm willing to admit. What I learned from this humiliation - besides the fact that my father was a jerk at times - is that you didn't need to see The Blues Brothers film or Saturday Night Live skits to enjoy the Blues Brothers' music, and that's partly what makes the whole thing so goddamn wonderful.
In the film, brothers Jake and Elwood Blues are on a 'mission from God' to save the Catholic orphanage they grew up in. To do this they reform their R&B band and every moment is pure gold.
2. Josie & The Pussycats - Josie & The Pussycats
Obviously.
1. Spinal Tap - This is Spinal Tap
There will never be a better fictional band than Spinal Tap, and that's because Spinal Tap are the most real fake band around. Not only did they release a rockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap and an accompanying soundtrack, they also released actual records and toured several times. REAL RECORDS AND TOURS. One of their hits, "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" even appeared on Guitar Hero.
Rob Reiner and the actors have now kept Spinal Tap alive for over thirty years, an admirable level of commitment not shown by any other fictional band.
"It's part of a trilogy, a musical trilogy I'm working on in D minor which is the saddest of all keys, I find. People weep instantly when they hear it, and I don't know why... You know, just simple lines intertwining, you know, very much like - I'm really influenced by Mozart and Bach, and it's sort of in between those, really. It's like a Mach piece, really". - Nigel Tufnel
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What is your favorite fictional band? Do you play in a fictional band? Mine's a rockabilly outfit called The Dead Meat Schecters, we should jam sometime.
This post goes hand-in-hand with A-Camp's Music Trivia with Crystal and Stef.
I totally do those dance moves whenever appropriate (and sometimes when it’s not).
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