This is Spinal Tap (1984)

Although it is not a prerequisite, to be a great fictional rock band you need an elaborate past, which is what we learn from what is considered to be (and lets face it is) the greatest mockumentaries of all time. Documented by longtime Spinal Tap fan by longtime fan and fake director, Mary DiBergi (Rob Reiner), we follow the band after they released their latest album and corresponding American Tour. We get flashbacks of the band’s history when David St. Hubbins (formerly of the Creatures) and Nigel Tufnel (formerly of the Lovely Lads) joined to create the Originals, only to rename themselves the New Originals upon learning that there already was a band called the Originals. They would undergo a series of name changes including, all while going personnel changes:

The Thamesmen
The Dutchmen
The Ravebreakers
Hellcats
Flamin’ Demons
The Shiners
The Mondos
The Doppel Gang
The Peoples
Loose Lips
The Waffles
Hot Waffles
Silver Service
Bisquits
Love Bisquits
The Mud Below
The Tufnel-St. Hubbins Group

They would finally settle on Spinal Tap and add Derek Smalls (formerly of Teddy Noisem Skaface and Milage). They would perpetually go through drummers as they would seem to leave (or perish) for whatever reason or another but they would emerge as one of the top Hard Rock acts of the 70’s, though when we saw them in the mockumentary they were clearly in a down period.

A fairly good backstory, especially considering that we do witness the band’s musical evolution, which was one more detailed than 99 percent of the real bands out there.The three comedic actors, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean and Christopher Guest went all out with the personas (many people actually thought this was a real band) and they appeared in Greatest Hits commercials, magazines and on Saturday Night Live.  While they had success, they were not recognizable enough so when the band made appearances, most people who had seen them before in other roles did not automatically recognize them.  Shearer, McKean and Guest were more than adequate musicians, and when they performed, they did as well as many of the other acts that were on tour.

Spinal Tap would go on to put out more albums, go on more tours and no matter how many other roles they would have, this is likely to be the favorite for all of their fans.

We are very excited to welcome Spinal Tap to the inaugural class of the Fictitious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
This is Spinal Tap (1984)

Actors:
Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins, Lead Singer & Guitar)
Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel, Lead Guitar)
Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls, Bass)

Songs you might remember:
Listen to What the Flower People Say
Hell Hole
Big Bottom
Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You
Break Like the Wind
Stonehenge

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To be clear, this entry refers to the 2012 version, which starred former American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks. As the lead character, Sparkle Anderson, Sparks was able to showcase her singing voice multiple times with the implication that she was going to make it big at the end. The movie is pure formula, but it did what it needed to do, and in the opinion of many worked very well. Depending on how this film ages, and the potential success of the lead actress, we could have a future entry to the Fictitious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Sparkle (2012)

Actor:
Jordin Sparks

Songs you might remember:
One Wing
Love Will

Why you should vote for her:
A lot of success was implied for this character, and we did see her sing often.

Why you should not vote for her:
Depending on your point of view, Sparks was upstaged by her co-stars; also wasn’t she the manager of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970’s?

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From 30 Rock, we were treated to a brief performance of “Sound Mound” a band of limited ability, though in their lone episode they managed to secure an album, a music video and about 5,000 T-shirts. Does this make a Fictitious Hall of Fame act? Probably not, but our crush on Tina Fey says it might.



The Bullet Points:
TV Show Appeared:
30 Rock (2011)

Actors:
Scott Adsit (Pete Hornberger, Guitar)
Judah Friedlander (Frank Rossitano, Keyboards)

Songs you might remember:
Weekend Woman

Why you should vote for them:
We know that Tina Fey wasn’t in the band, but just her running the show is a plus for us!

Why you should not vote for them:
Realistically, this was a blip on the radar for the show.

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Played by the Galactic Cowboys, the Sons of Thunder had a brief role in the cult film, Airheads where they played a band that made it after they were helped out by a radio station. The role was not big, but was essential to the plot.



The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Airheads (1994)

Actors:
The Galactic Cowboys

Songs you might remember:
Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful

Why you should vote for them:
This has become a cult of a cult film. Does this mean something?

Why you should not vote for them:
The lone song is not even available to purchase. That means something too.