Films About Fictional Musicians

The new remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ hits theaters this Friday, October 5. A retelling of the classic film, Bradley Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a seasoned musician who discovers up-and-comer Ally (played by Lady Gaga), making music and falling in love. The film is Cooper’s directorial (and musical) debut. Early reviews are positive, with critics raving about both the film and its music.

Of course, ‘A Star Is Born’ is not the only film in history to base its storyline around the musicians. There have been plenty of movies portraying the ins and outs of music and the music industry.  Some of these films take a comedic approach to the topic while others head in a more dramatic direction.

With ‘A Star Is Born’ ready to hit movie screens, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the other films based around music. Here are nine that feature fictional musicians as the main protagonists.

1.       ‘Singles’: ‘Friends’ before ‘Friends’ even existed, ‘Singles’ was the quintessential early 1990s young adult story, centering on a group of friends (some of them musicians) trying to make it in Seattle. Director Cameron Crowe based the film off the real life artists in the scene and how they worked to finance their music. Not only was ‘Singles’ about creating music, but it featured artists from the Seattle scene as well, including members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

2.       ‘8 Mile’: ‘8 Mile’ is the story of a white rapper trying to make it in the predominantly black Detroit underground hip-hop scene as he tries to clean up his life. Based loosely on the career of Eminem, who also makes his acting debut in the starring role, the film was a massive success. The lead single from the film’s soundtrack, “Loose Yourself,” went on to win both Grammys and Academy Awards.

3.       ‘This Is Spinal Tap’: A comedy about a fictional metal band reuniting for an American tour, ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ became a cult hit following its release. The film has been lauded for its realism, with many people (including rock stars) believing that the band was real. Of course, the band did become real, releasing a handful of records and performing live together.

4.       ‘Almost Famous’: Less so about the bands performing and more about what happens behind the scenes, ‘Almost Famous’ comes at you from the perspective of a young reporter tasked with going on tour with a national headlining band. Based off director Cameron Crowe’s own experiences writing for ‘Rolling Stone,’ the film gives a real, if exaggerated, view of the 1970s rock scene.

5.       ‘Hustle & Flow’: ‘Hustle & Flow’ tells the story of a man trying to find a new life for himself as a rapper. The film shows the power of music to save people and change lives, as well as the struggle to be heard.

6.       ‘Blues Brothers’: Started as a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit, ‘Blues Brothers’ finds brothers Jake and Elwood Blues (the classic comedic duo of Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi) reuniting their old blues band to help raise money to save the orphanage where they grew up. Based on Aykroyd’s love of blues, the film is mired in it, featuring appearances from legends like Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and more. Like with ‘Spinal Tap,’ the Blues Brothers become an actual band, releasing a handful of albums and playing live.

7.       ‘School of Rock’: ‘School of Rock’ is a comedy about a former rocker who impersonates a substitute teacher and drafts his class into becoming his new band. In the end, the class learns about working together towards a common goal. The story has become a modern classic, spawning a short-lived television show and a very well-received Broadway stage adaptation.

8.       ‘Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny’: ‘School of Rock’ isn’t Jack Black’s only musical foray. He and real life music partner Kyle Gass also starred in their own musical film, ‘Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny,’ a fantasy about a musical duo (Tenacious D) that goes on a “quest” to obtain a mystical guitar pick that will increase their skills. Tenacious D has released a couple of albums in the intervening years since the film and currently have a new animated YouTube series and album on the way (the first episode is out now).

9.       ‘Once’: The little indie film that could, ‘Once’ featured two artists who met while the male musician was busking and end up making music together. ‘Once’ stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who performed together as The Swell Season before disbanding a couple years later. The film’s signature song, “Falling Slowly,” also became a minor hit.

Over the years there have been a lot of films where music and musicians take center stage as the main characters. Musicians have been portrayed in both comedic and dramatic lights, in love stories and in epic adventures, all dealing with the music as a unifying theme. The latest remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ joins the pantheon of these films, hopefully doing the subgenre proud.

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