I’ve started a band. But it’s all characters from movies.
My only rules I made for myself are:
- One character per movie.
- Fictional characters only – no actual people (so, no Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles or Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, etc.)
- It has to be from a movie I’ve seen. (I have not seen Deliverance, nor will I ever, so that creepy 12-year-old banjo player does not qualify.)
- Just movies, not TV shows… at least this time out.
Turns out it’s a very large band.
Anyone missing? Would you choose a different character from the same movie? Suggestions welcome, a la the comment section.
On Guitar, It’s:
Eugene Martone!
(Ralph Macchio)
Crossroads (1986)
I have to add that the Devil (Steve Vai) had that guitar duel locked up, but choked at the end. The real Steve Vai? Never would have happened.
Runners Up:
Marty McFly
(Michael J. Fox) Back to the Future (1985)
- Dewey Finn (Jack Black) School of Rock (2003)
- Emmet Ray (Sean Penn) Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
- Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) Almost Famous (2000)
- Violet Mulligan (Hailee Steinfeld) Begin Again (2013)
On The Bass, It’s:
Derek Smalls!
(Harry Shearer)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Runners Up:
- Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010)
- Amelia Stone (Emma Stone) The Rocker (2008)
- Jerry/Daphne (Jack Lemmon) Some Like It Hot (1959)
On The Drums, It’s:
Guy “Shades” Patterson!
(Thomas Everett Scott)
That Thing You Do! (1996)
Runners Up:
- Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) Whiplash (2016)
- Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed) Sound of Metal (2019)
On The Keyboards, It’s
Kelsi Nielsen!
(Olesya Rulin)
High School Musical 1,2 and 3 (2006-2008)
Others may be flashier, but she’s got chops – and she composed all of those bangin’ tunes for the school shows. Gotta have her in the band.
Runners Up:
- Seb Wilder (Ryan Gosling) La La Land (2014)
- Bruno Martelli (Lee Curreri) Fame (1980)
- Hoover (Meat Loaf) Leap of Faith (1992)
- Girl (Markéta Irglová) Once (2007)
Our Lead Singer/Frontperson:
Michael Skye!
(Rex Smith)
Sooner or Later (1979)
The energy here is off the charts, and that amazing mall parking lot concert pre-dated the trend popularized by Tiffany and Debbie Gibson by nearly a decade.
Runners Up:
- Josie McCoy (Rachael Leigh Cook) Josie and the Pussycats (2001)
- Eddie Wilson (Michael Paré) Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)
- Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong) The Commitments (1991)
On The Cello, It’s:
Emily!
(Isis Hainsworth)
Metal Lords (2022)
Rockin’ the cello!
Runner Up:
- Peter Mitchell (Christopher Walken) A Late Quartet (2012)
On The Violin, It’s:
Johnnie Blackwell!
(Nicholas Galitzine)
High Strung (2016)
Runners Up:
- Finley Sinclair (Rose Reid) Finding You (2021)
- Stobrod Thewes (Brendan Gleeson) Cold Mountain (2003)
On The Trumpet It’s:
Louis!
(voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley) The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Runner Up:
- Nestor Castillo (Antonio Banderas) The Mambo Kings (1992)
On The Tenor Saxophone, It’s:
Billy Hicks!
(Rob Lowe)
St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)
Pretty much all of the main characters in this are awful people, and Billy may be the worst of the lot, but man, can he blow the heck out of that sax.
Runner Up:
- Lisa Litski (Lea Thompson) All the Right Moves (1983)
On The Trombone, It’s:
Connie!
(voiced by Cora Champommier)
Soul (2020)
On The Clarinet, It’s:
Gertrude Lang!
(Alicia Witt/Joanna Gleason) Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
On The Banjo, It’s:
Kermit the Frog!
(voiced by Jim Henson)
The Muppet Movie (1979)
One of the best opening scenes of a movie ever.
Runner Up:
- Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) Cool Hand Luke (1967)
On The Harmonica, It’s:
Elwood Blues!
(Dan Aykroyd)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
On The Tuba, It’s:
Harry Sultenfuss!
(Dan Aykroyd)
My Girl (1991)
On The Autoharp, It’s:
Mickey Crabbe!
(Catherine O’Hara)
A Mighty Wind (2003)
On The Jaw Harp, It’s:
Snoopy!
(voiced by Bill Melendez)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)
On The Oboe, Its:
Father Gabriel!
(Jeremy Irons)
The Mission (1986)
And… On The Flute, It’s:
Terry Barkley!
(Linda Blair)
Roller Boogie (1979)
The girl can play!
But will she forgo her dream of studying flute at Julliard to instead become a roller disco queen?
Watch and find out.
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Lead Singer: Kira, Olivia Newton-John, Xanadu (1980)
It’s been on my list to watch it for years and I’ve never pulled the trigger. I need to rectify that. After Easter.
I’d also like to submit Ted “Theodore” Logan and Bill S Preston Esq of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure on air guitar.
noted!
Great lineup that has me in the mood for watching some of these movies (either over again or for the first time). Nice job, rb!
Thank you, cst! The Mission might be a good Holy Week watch to pair with your article from yesterday.
Drummer has to be Stanley X from Wild In The Streets, played by Richard Pryor.
Will need to check that out. Not familiar, but it sounds intriguing.
I’d go see them. What are they called? (It might be time for another band name bracket.)
Stars Not On 45?
Yodelling provided by Pete Hogwallop from O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Yes! Absolutely, yes!
Judging from the photo, Nicholas Galitzine–er, Johnnie Blackwell–also gets my nomination for Best Shirtless Band Member as well.
Definitely a contender.
More so than Derek Smalls?
Pitch Perfect. Justin on belly roll.