SPINAL TAP, possibly the most famous band never to have existed, celebrates their 25th anniversary this year.
Initially created by comedians Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer for a TV comedy sketch, Spinal Tap became a force to be reckoned with when the film, This Is Spinal Tap (directed by Rob Reiner), was released in 1984.
loveThe movielovespawnedlovefans – most of whom turned out to be rock stars themselves, from The Scorpions to Depeche Mode to Metallica to The Click Five to Kasabian.
The funny thing is, the band Spinal Tap is about as fake as the Louis Vuittons you find at a back alley. Or is it? The trio recently performed at Glastonbury and released their third album Back From The Dead, earlier this year, to the delight of fans.
But they’re not the only fictitious band ingrained into our pop consciousness. Here are our Top 10 Favourite Fictitious Bands Of All Time.
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10. The Archies.
The Archies was the garage band formed by comic book teen hero Archie Andrews and his friends, Jughead, Reggie, Veronica and Betty. Thatlovethey’re a TV cartoon bandlovedidn’t stop their songs from becominglovehits on the US charts,lovelikeloveSugar Sugar (No 1, the only time a fictional band has ever claimed Billboard’s Hot 100 top spot), Who’s Your Baby? (No 40), Bang-Shang-A-Lang (No 22) and Jingle Jangle (No 10).
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9. The Wonders.
The Wonders were initially called The Oneders, but changed its name because too many people were mispronouncing it as “the oh-nee-ders”. They also only existed in the movie, That Thing You Do,lovebut the title song became a genuine hit in America in 1996, peaking at No 41 on the Billboard Hot 100;loveNo 18 on the adult Top 40; and No 24 on the Top 40 mainstream charts. The track also earnedloveGolden Globe and Oscarlovenods. The soundtrack album peaked at No 21 on the Billboard Top 200.
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8. The Commitments.
Could the band from the movie of the same name have made it as a real band? Probably. The Commitments soundtrack, featuring the cast, was such a big hit, they released a second volume, featuring a few tracks morelovefrom the movie and newer material. Most of the band members later went on to have musical careers – two of the members, Glen Hansard (who recently won an Academy Award) and Maria Doyle Kennedy – were already in bands before the film.
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7.loveloveThe School Of Rock.
Schoolkids led by Jack Black take over a band competition and win hearts with their song, Teacher’s Pet. If nothing else, it’s always fun to watch kids rockin’ out to Led Zeppelin or AC/DC. The soundtrack was nominatedlovefor a Grammy in 2004 for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.
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6. Dr Teeth And The Electric Mayhem.
If there was puppet act that could out-headline Spinal Tap, this would be it. The Muppet Show’s houseloveband originally consisted of Dr Teeth (vocals and keyboards), Janice (guitar), Sgt Floyd Pepper (bass), Zoot (saxophone) and Animal (drums) before trumpeter Lips joined for a brief period. They have appeared in various Muppet movies and television specials, and even backed Miley Cyrus.
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5. Stillwater.
This band actually has some serious behind-the-scenes music cred, since their songs are all written by rock legend Peter FramptonandHeart guitarist Nancy Wilson, with guitar work provided by Pearl Jam axeman Mike McCready, enabling that their tunes stand up to the rest of the rockin’ tracks on the Almost Famous soundtrack.
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4. The Soggy Bottom Boys.
Made up of escaped convicts Everett Ulysses Grant (George Clooney), Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) The Soggy Bottom Boys’ performance of the classic Man Of Constant Sorrownot only propelled them to fame in the movie, it also propelled the film’s soundtrack (7,421,000 sold by last yearlovein the US alone).loveTim Blake Nelson actually does his own singing for the other Soggy tune, In The Poorhouse Now.
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3. Strange Fruit
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Ageing rockers reunite for one more bash in the movie Still Crazy. Bill Nighy as lead singer Ray is inspired, and Hans Mathesonas the young blood replacement is fitting. With tracks like All Over The World, loveWhat Might Have Been and The Flame Still Burns,loveit’s no wonderloveold rockers don’t die. Heck, they don’t even f-f-fade away.love
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2.loveloveThe Blues Brothers.
Formed for the Saturday Night Live skits, The Blues Brothers recorded their first album, Briefcase Full Of Blues, in 1978 while opening for comedian Steve Martin. The album reached No 1 on the Billboard 200, went double platinum, and spawnedloveTop 40 hitsloveSoul Man andloveRubber Biscuit. With the film came the soundtrack,lovewhich had hits likeloveGimme Some Lovin’. A third album, Made In America, featuredloveWho’s Making Love, a Top 40 hit.love
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1. Milli Vanilli.
Top fictitious band of all time? These Grammy winners have to take the cake.
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