Top 10 Epic Movie Rock Stars

Much of this film, from the title to Slade’s bisexual look to his space age alter ego, Maxwell Demon, was inspired by real life rock star David Bowie – particularly his Ziggy Stardust period. Glam rocker Slade faces the pressures the rock star lifestyle creates, and suffers from the self-destructive tendencies it cultivates, which eventually leads him to conform by creating a new stage identity named Tommy Stone. Ultimately, while Brian Slade may not be a completely accurate look at the life of David Bowie, the spirit of the late star is captured, as is what his music meant to his fans.

Lead singer of “Angry Inch,” a band named after her own bungled gender reassignment surgery, Hedwig Robinson is a rock star like no other. For most of the film, Hedwig struggles along in obscurity, only able to secure gigs in seafood restaurants, in part thanks to her former protégé Tommy Gnosis, who stole her songs. But any good rocker will have his or her highs and lows, and Hedwig seems to find her own success towards the film’s end - though given the ending’s somewhat surreal nature, the degree of her achievement is somewhat open to interpretation.

Despite the fact that there are several characters in this rock-themed musical who achieve musical success, the only one we can truly call a rock star is Stacee Jaxx, lead singer of the fictional band “Arsenal,” and basically the textbook personification of hedonism. Stacee ticks many of the typical rock star boxes, from the outlandish wardrobe and living space, to the token exotic animal companion. He also affects a nonsensical and detached attitude, in part because of how his success has separated him from other people. What’s more, Stacee embodies the spoiled rock star even more by threatening to go solo for the majority of the film.

The lead singer in a tribute band to fictional band Steel Dragon, Chris manages to become the singer of the real thing after the previous vocalist is fired for being gay. Unlike most of the entries on our list, Chris, who takes the stage name “Izzy,” gets to experience the rock star lifestyle and its accompanying ups and downs through the eyes of a fan, which we, as the viewers, experience vicariously through him. As if that weren’t meta enough, his character was inspired by actual singer Tim “Ripper” Owens, who performed in a Judas Priest tribute band before getting a chance to sing for the real thing.

Though the title character plays in a band, which, admittedly, does rock, Scott Pilgrim and “Sex Bob-omb” are no rock stars. That label is better applied to Scott’s ex-girlfriend Envy Adams, whose band, “The Clash at Demonhead,” is infinitely more successful, something which she is only too willing to throw in her ex’s face - when Pilgrim isn’t fighting her current, vegan-powered beau, at least. Fun fact: Envy’s look was inspired by real life rock star Emily Haines, lead singer of “Metric,” a band that provided some music for “The Clash at Demonhead” in the film.

While primarily a parody of Johnny Cash, with a dash of Ray Charles thrown in, Dewey Cox has a dopey charm all his own. Unnaturally gifted in music from a young age, Dewey’s style evolves over the course of the film, ranging from blues, to rock and roll, to ‘60s counterculture. The airheaded musician also faces many of the rock star pitfalls, or pratfalls in his case, including addiction to drugs of several varieties, as well as the accompanying rehab, separation from his ever-expanding family and marital difficulties. In the end, Dewey does eventually learn to value his loved ones as much as his music – advice any rocker should take to heart.

Aldous Snow first appears as the new boyfriend of the eponymous Sarah Marshall. And his over-the-top self-importance as the stereotypical rock star entertained audiences so much he got his own spin-off film, which depicts Aldous’ downward spiral and his handler’s attempts at, appropriately, getting him to the Greek Theatre. His appearance across two movies allows Aldous’ character to develop more than some of our other selections: he goes from an entertaining side-character, and arguably an antagonist, to a more fleshed-out person in his second film, wherein his struggles with family and addiction ultimately lead him to be a better man.

Lead guitarist for the up-and-coming fictional band “Stillwater,” Russell Hammond is a rock star who experiences conflicting emotions about his rise in popularity. On the one hand, he enjoys the attention he receives from fans. However, it’s that same attention that drives him to conflict with Stillwater’s lead singer Jeff, when Russell begins to upstage Jeff’s role in the band. Russell also expresses anxiety about how the rock star lifestyle has caused him to lose touch with everything outside the so-called bubble, and the source of his inspiration. Despite losing himself in the atmosphere for a while, Russell ultimately learns to appreciate what makes a star a star: his fans.

While not performers of rock n’ roll per se like the majority of our entries, we can’t help but feel that these two roguish brothers deserve the title of rock star just the same. Like many others on this list, Jake and Elwood are often, okay usually, on the wrong side of the law. However, the brothers mean well and use their musical talents to help the orphanage that raised them. What sets them apart from most of our picks though, at least thus far, is the characters’ success in real world music: their first album Briefcase Full of Blues - released in character and based on the “Saturday Night Live” sketch - achieved the number one spot on the US charts and their subsequent releases also charted well. You’d think they were on a mission from god or something.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Otis ‘Bad’ Blake
“Crazy Heart” (2009)

- Eddie Wilson
“Eddie and the Cruisers” (1983)

- Eric Draven
“The Crow” (1994)

Though these two are not brothers like those rockers in our previous entry, it’s still impossible to choose between them; the plot of “This Is Spinal Tap!” and its central conflicts revolve around both. The two most prominent members of Spinal Tap, though no disrespect to Derek Smalls, Nigel and David’s dimwittedness, pretentious attitudes, and conflicts over band decisions are reminiscent of several real-life rock stars, like Ozzy Osbourne and the Beatles. Like “The Blues Brothers,” “Spinal Tap” first appeared in TV sketch comedy, has released music and has also performed real world concerts. But matter what, they always turn it to 11!

Do you agree with our list? Which fictional rock star do you think rocks the hardest? For more rocking Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.