Growing up I was a musician, always wanted to be one always dreamed of being one. I loved music so much I was even a fan of bands that did not even really exist, well kind of sort of. I fully get that a lot of these are going to be musicians and such in them. I mean really what is a band? In my opinion it is a group of people making music in one form or another. Here are my top five fictional bands.

5) The Folksmen, from A Mighty Wind. I really love this film; I really love this music, at least the take on folk music from a humorous perspective. This seemed to pop up around the time there were all those late night commercials for the time life folk music collection, not sure if it was time life but it probably was they put out everything. This film is a sort of mockumentary style film that follows a folk music festival being put together in honor of a recently deceased folk promoter. This really is spinal tap unplugged. If you liked this is spinal tap you should totally give this one a look.

4) The Wonders, from That Thing You Do. This is the film version of the dream. Write the catchy tune then under a lucky star play it publically and off to the races. If you have ever been in a band you recognize so many things in this film. From the lineup changes to the inevitable split due to “creative differences” this one really seems to get portions of the dream right. Small town kids on whirlwind ride through stardom and back home again to their everyday life. Would love to buy a ticket on that ride just once in my life. Guess I better start writing the summer song.

3) Tenacious D, from….well Tenacious D. this is Jack Black at his best. This man does things I am so jealous of. I take the music far too serious to be able to tap into that cosmic vibe that allows him to walk the tight rope between honesty heart and parody. Tenacious D is a parody. Don’t believe me? Go to any open mic in any town in America. Sit there for at least a month and you will see the local version of the D. guys that seem to believe they are the greatest, all the while working normal day jobs. But the true comedy comes from knowing the level of work that is put in, not only by D, but by these open mic super stars. The level of commitment and play they go through to give all they got even if only for 15 minutes a week.

2) Spinal Tap, from This is Spinal Tap. As a musician watching this movie is as important a requirement as learning Stairway to heaven. You cannot even begin to dream of rock n roll stardom without firs watching this film. Rob Reiner’s first move into directing movies focuses on the downhill slide of an aging seventies metal band. Who of course started out as a fifties skiffle group, then hippie folk band, before landing in the demonic debaucherous 70’s hard rock/metal. Stay in a band long enough and you will find yourself in a spinal tap moment; sharing a marquee with puppet show, setting off metal detectors with your ….crotch stuffing, or yes even having an event that NO ONE shows up to(record signing or open mic does not matter it will happen). My only question is are we doing stone hinge or not?

1) Eddie and the Cruisers, from Eddie and the Cruisers. I loved this movie I love this band I love this music I love this style. I swear I was born about 30 years too late. There is something about that “jersey shore” sound. The mix of a sax with piano in Stratocaster lead rock music. The lyrics are heart felt. The sound is so real. Yes I know the band was John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown band, but I also love the classic fifties rock story. Along with the ever popular “our idol is not dead” trope. This of course left the door open for a sequel. Not my favorite but a couple of good songs to be heard there.

That is my top five fictional bands. did i miss yours? let me know in the comments. and as always be sure to vote for your favorite in the poll .