TOP 10 FICTITIOUS BANDS OF ALL TIME
Editor’s Note:
Spinal Tap was considered for the list, but doesn’t fit the criteria of a 100% “fake” band. The band members did tour and release material after the movie under the Spinal Tap name.
10. Jesse & The Rippers (Full House)
Jesse & The Rippers is a fictitious band from the hit sitcom, Full House, fronted by Jesse Katsopolis a.k.a. “Uncle Jesse”. They hit it big with their hit “Forever” which is actually a cover of a song by The Beach Boys. Unfortunately, Jessie & The Rippers disbanded over Uncle Jesse’s ability to commit to the band.
9. The Pinheads (Back To The Future)
Although The Pinheads appear on screen for only 53 seconds in 1985’s Back To The Future, they easily make the list for one reason: in the movie, they wrote and performed “Power of Love” … which is a kick ass song actually recorded in “real life” by Huey Lewis & The News that went on to become a #1 hit. Interesting fact: Huey Lewis appears in the clip as the guy with the megaphone.
8. Mitch & Mickey (A Mighty Wind)
A Mighty Wind is a movie from mockumentary expert Christopher Guest (Waiting For Guffman, Best In Show, Spinal Tap) about fictional folk bands. Each band from this movie could have easily made this list, but I decided on Mitch & Mickey simply for their song “A Might Wind” which includes the lyrics:“Yes, a mighty wind’s a blowin/cross the land and cross the sea/yes, it’s blowin’ peace and freedom/it’s blowin’ you and me”.
7. Donny’s Band (Eurotrip)
“Scotty Doesn’t Know” is one of the best songs made for a movie - ever. It was actually recorded by a real band by the name of Lustra, but IMDB cites the band in the movie as “Donny’s Band” - referring to the lead singer (played by Matt Damon), Donny. The song is played throughout the entire movie including a remixed techno version and as one of the characters cellular ring tones.
“Scotty doesn’t know that Fiona and me do it in my van every Sunday/she tells him she’s in church but she doesn’t go still she’s on her knees and Scotty doesn’t know”.
6. Infant Sorrow (Forgetting Sarah Marshall)
If you haven’t seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I feel sorry for you. It comes out on DVD this month, so please rent/buy it. It’s hilarious. Infant Sorrow is a British rock band fronted by actor Russel Brand who begins dating the main characters ex-girlfriend and writes songs for her including “Inside of You” and “We’ve Got To Do Something”.
5. The Lone Rangers (Airheads)
The Lone Rangers are a fake band from the 1994 movie, Airheads, in which the band members hold up a radio station with water guns to force the playing of their music on the radio. Band members include Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi, and Brendan Frasier.
4. The Beets (Doug)
The Beets were a rock band featured on the Nickelodean show, Doug, in the early to mid 90s. They covered many British rock songs such as “Let it Be” a.k.a. “Let It Beet”. The favorite band of Doug Funnie, Skeeter, Patti, and Quailman. Hits include, “Bangin’ On A Trash Can”, “Killer Tofu”, and “I Need More Allowance”.
No video sorry 
3. Stillwater (Almost Famous)
Fronted by Jeff Bebe, a.k.a. Jason Lee, Stillwater is a fake band in the 2000 Cameron Crowe movie, Almost Famous. All of Stillwater’s songs kick ass - probably because they were written by Peter Frampton. The group hit it big by landing an opening spot for Black Sabbath and the cover of Rolling Stone magazine - which was later retracted because Stillwater denied the tell-all facts in the Rolling Stone article - which were actually true.
2. The Soggy Bottom Boys (O Brother Where Art Thou?)
The Soggy Bottom Boys are responsible for the hit “Man Of Constant Sorrow” in the 2000 Blockbuster, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which is arguably the best song created by a fake band of all time. In the movie, the song is sung by George Clooney’s character, Everett.
The voices behind the Soggy Bottom Boys are well-known bluegrass musicians: Union Station’s Dan Tyminski (lead on “Man of Constant Sorrow”), Nashville songwriter Harley Allen, and the Nashville Bluegrass Band’s Pat Enright[25] The three won a CMA Award for Single of the Year[25] and a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, both for the song “Man of Constant Sorrow.”[4] Tim Blake Nelson, playing Delmar O’Donnell in the movie (one of the Soggy Bottom Boys), sang the lead vocal himself for the song “In the Jailhouse Now.” [via wikipedia]
1. The Wonders (That Thing You Do!)
The best fake band of all time - hands down. The Wonders are actually a lot better than a lot of real bands. Their song, “That Thing You Do”, written by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne (Stacy’s Mom) fame, peaked at #41 in the U.S. and was nominated for both Golden Globe and Oscar’s “Best Original Song”. Not only does the greatness of “That Thing You Do” (the song) earn them the #1 spot, but the movie is amazing as well. The Wonders are likable and easily sit atop the Top 10 Fictitious Bands Of All Time list.
Editor’s Note:
Spinal Tap was considered for the list, but doesn’t fit the criteria of a 100% “fake” band. The band members did tour and release material after the movie under the Spinal Tap name.
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What about WYLD STALLYNS from Bill & Ted? How could they not have made the list?
Good job on the list. I would agree with your nominees. Also, thanks for leaving Marky Mark’s crappy band in Rock Star off the list.
Circus Monkey from the movie Bandwagon trumps all these bands.
WHAT??? No Zack Attack?!
Shouldn’t number 1 be the onders
Where is Zach Attack from saved by the bell?
[...] Top 10 Fictitious Band Names of [...]
How can Dethklok not be on this list??? They’re the worlds seventh largest economy!!!
What about Loveburger?
Great list. I would give some love to ‘Zack Attack’ from Saved by the Bell
Stillwater is NOT a fictional band….it’s real. And they were very popular back in the late 70s/early 80s in the Southeast. The founding members hold a reunion concert every year around Thanksgiving in Macon GA at a club called Whiskey River.
Google the songs ‘Mindbender’ and ‘I Reserve The Right’…..you’ll see.
Sexual Chocolate from Coming to America. “That boy’s good”.
Traci,
Stillwater is fake in the movie and not the same band. The songs were written for the movie by Peter Frampton…
No Spinal Tap?! Probably the most real of any of those bands but hands down the best.
Where’s Driveshaft from the tv show Lost?
What about “Citizen Dick” from “Singles”? They had probably the best fake song of all: “Touch me. I’m Dick”
Citizen Dick from the movie “Singles”. Pearl Jam with Matt Dillon singing
Not sure if your criteria to leave Spinal Tap off the list is founded as you’ve included the cast of A Mighty Wind. Maybe you didn’t know that the actors toured as their respective folk bands after the movie was released as well…?
What about “Hot Sundae” from “Saved by the Bell?” Or “Chemical Toilet” and “The Pecan Sandeas” from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?”
Good list regardless.
Wild Stallyns…
You are perfectly right with the Wonders topping this list! The lead actor, Thomas Everett Scott took weeks of drum lessons so that he could give a realistic performance and as someone who plays drums in a band I can tell you he really does some great work! When I saw your article I immediately thought of the Wonders and how they HAD to be on the list, and was happy to see they topped it. It is also a really good movie - a nice romantic comedy with plenty of lines that get more amusing the more often you watch the movie. The movie actually has some others that could make the list - the Chantrallines who are are a Diana Ross & the Supremes imitation, Freddy Frederickson, Diane Dane and all the stars of the Playtone galaxy! Plug the movie in one night and step back into an entertaining look at the pop scene of the early 1960’s!!
The B-Sharps from the Simpsons. Homer, Apu, Willie and Barney. no need for Wiggum.
1. all time best is sexual chocolate from coming to america.
2.citizen dick from singles and their song touch me im dick…”i think the song pretty much speaks for itself, i mean some people think the songs about, ya know, my name is dick and, ya know, u can touch me. but i think it can be seen either way.”
3.the blues brothers band
What about Otis Day and the Knights from Animal House???? That was a classic!
Ones you missed
1. Eddie & The Cruisers
2. The Commitments
3. Sexual Chocolate
4. Spinal Tap
5. Wyld Stalyns
6. Gorillaz (technically, they are fictitious)
What about Eddie and the Cruisers
Brock Landers? Boogie Nights? “The Touch” - greatest single ever.
STEEL DRAGON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zack Attack, Wyld Stallyns, Jabberjaws band? What about JEM she was truly outrageous, Homer’s barbershop crew, Bart’s boy band, Sexual Chocolate
Someone mentioned already, but Sexual Chocolate is a must-see fake band. What about Homer’s “B-Flats” with their hit song “Baby on Board”?
Actually, Citizen Dick was Mudhoney with Matt Dillon as the singer. TMID is based on their own song, “Touch Me I’m Sick.”
What about the band from Happy Days (don’t know if they ever had a name).
Quiz: Can anyone name the show that the band “Dregs of Humanity” was from? This is a real tough one! (Hints: late 80’s; the show only lasted 1 season; NBC)
While The Beets were featured on Doug, Doug and his friends weren’t actually in the band. They were Doug and Skeeter’s favorite band. I have to agree that you’re missing Wyld Stallyns, Zack Attack, and Driveshaft
I vote for the Dregs of Humanity from It’s Your Move. No mention of either The Mosquitos or The Honeybees singing ‘You Need Us’ from Gilligan’s Island? Nobody made girls swoon like the 4 Heartbeats in their movie.
CB4?
Jabberjaw was drummer for The Neptunes.
Actually, Citizen Dick was Pearl Jam with Eddie Vedder playing the drums, Stone Gossard and Jeff Amet (imdb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105415/fullcredits#cast) and Matt Dillon’s character as lead, but best band of all time the Cantena Band from Star Wars.
How about “The Barbusters”? from the movei Light of Day featuring Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett, singing a song by Bruce Springsteen??
Scrantonicity, from The Office. They tore it up at Phyllis and Bob Vance’s wedding!
What about NWH from the movie Fear of a Black Hat, the hip hop version of Spinal Tap? Great songs and parody of the hip hop culture.
Spinal Tap real? Only because their fake band was the best of all time! What other fake band was so good it went on tour? Can’t argue with the Oneders though.
Here in Canuckland, we have probably the best show ever, “Degrassi.” Back in the 80’s, the 3rd generation of the show featured a band called The Zit Remedy (later shortened simply to The Zits): Joey, Wheels and Snake. They even made a video for their one and only song ‘Everybody Wants Something.’ Check it out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nU2zvWsmMk) and then you all shall agree that this list begins and ends with The Zit Remedy.
Zack Attack, I think not.
Look great lists one and all….but you are all still forgetting one more:
Revo Neeves & the Cinch in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Unbelievable cover of “Life in the Fast Lane” and then “Wooly Bully” w/ Spicoli as a cameo vocals. Its difficult to get better than that.
EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS?!?
Geronimo Jackson
Before Stamos was in Jesse and the Rippers, he was the lead in Blackie and the Riff Raff (later Riff Raff became Jack Wagner’s band). After that he was in Dreams (Jami Gertz was in that one with him).
dethklok definitely should have been on this list
What about the Fingerbang from South Park or The Party Posse from The Simpsons
Most Influential All-time: “The Fabulous Stains” in the movie by the same name! 15 Year Old Diane Lane leads all girl punk band in a see-through blouse, w/13 year-old Laura Dern in laytex jumpsuit as bassist. Go-Gos and countless Riot Grrl bands credit the Stains as inspiration.
The Hong Kong Cavaliers… from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. I mean, jeez, they defeated the interdimensional threat of the Red Lectroids saving the planet from being demolished by the Black Lectroids… they’re all quantum physicist’s and rocket scientists in their day jobs at the Bonzai Institute (who are independantly wealthy from their breakthrough work… they all have cowboy names… and best of all, they have their own comic book. AND the film has some of the best movie quotes of all time… including “no mater where you go, there you are” and “laugh while you can monkey boy”!
What about these–worth mentioning in this post?
Mystery from the movie Satisfaction starring Justine Bateman?
The Lone Rangers from the movie Airheads (1994)
Cotton Candy, movie of same name - one of my favorites!!!
The Committments and Eddie & the Cruisers should be in the top ten!!!