# Real bands cameoing as fictional bands in movies/TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2021, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714 "2021-10-18T23:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/62 "2021-10-20T14:16:21Z")
As they were already mentioned upthread, I’d say it’s not OT. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/63 "2021-10-20T14:27:41Z")
In the movie **Tapeheads** Sam Moore and Junior Walker play soul duo The Swanky Modes and Fishbone performs as Ranchbone. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/64 "2021-10-20T14:36:46Z")
The Seeds performing as The Warts on _The Mother’s-in-Law_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HQWVHvjdfZw/hqdefault.jpg "The Seeds - Pushin' Too Hard !") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQWVHvjdfZw) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/65 "2021-10-20T15:20:44Z")
**Colin Hay** , lead singer of **Men At Work** _(I come from a land down under…_), appeared in several episodes of **Scrubs**. My recollection is he portrayed an unknown busker although five seconds of research threw up a **Scrubs** fan site which claimed he was portraying himself. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/66 "2021-10-20T15:29:07Z")
**Slade** lead singer **Noddy Holder** portrayed a teacher in the superb comedy **The Grimleys**. In one episode he performs a version of a **Slade** song (in context of the show inferring he failed at ever realising his dream of being a musician.) Fellow UK musician **Alvin Stardust** also appeared in the show as a barman. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/67 "2021-10-20T15:39:16Z")
Buffalo Springfield was the house band at The Lost Dimension in this episode of Mannix… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZF9bhAfl0rI/maxresdefault.jpg "Mannix - Scene from Warning Live Blueberries") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF9bhAfl0rI) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/68 "2021-10-20T15:58:10Z")
How about the Cuban bandleader married to a redhead named Lucy (and his band), Desi Arnaz appearing as a Cuban bandleader married to a redhead named Lucy (and his band), Ricky Ricardo. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/69 "2021-10-20T15:59:55Z")
I’m not entirely confident this fits but I will mention it anyway. In the original puppet version **Thunderbirds** film (made in 1966, set in 2065) called **Thunderbirds Are Go** , there is an extended scene involving puppet versions of **Cliff Richard _Junior_ and The Shadows**. The actual **Cliff Richard and The Shadows** providing the voices and music. The film was pretty much a failure. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/70 "2021-10-20T16:16:19Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > **Colin Hay** , lead singer of **Men At Work** _(I come from a land down under…_ ), appeared in several episodes of **Scrubs**. Ah, I got a Scrubs soundtrack with an acoustic version this on it. It wasn’t this version, which I like even better. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kCZKAxDoUwE/maxresdefault.jpg "Choir! Choir! Choir! / Colin Hay - Men At Work "Overkill"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCZKAxDoUwE) I have to remind myself that Men at Work was an Australian group, but Colin is from Scotland, didn’t go to Australia till he was 14. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/71 "2021-10-20T16:42:52Z")
Drifting off topic here but… Most of **AC/DC** were born in Scotland or England but they are an Australian band. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/72 "2021-10-20T18:11:22Z")
Ooh, sorry, I knew I should’ve read through the entire thread! ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/73 "2021-10-20T18:32:04Z")
Blink-182 shows up as a naked band in Two Guys and a Girl. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zbcd6FFngIU/maxresdefault.jpg "Blink-182 - What's My Age Again? (Live From The Pizza Place)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbcd6FFngIU) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/74 "2021-10-20T18:41:15Z")
And the band Citizen Dick in the movie Singles featured members of Pearl Jam. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kwu-kGXpm3s/hqdefault.jpg "Citizen Dick - Interview and "Touch me, I'm Dick"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwu-kGXpm3s) ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/75 "2021-10-20T18:56:43Z")
Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols shows up for karaoke night on Veronica Mars and sings Love Hurts. Of course we got to hear him sing the theme song to the show every episode. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/76 "2021-10-20T19:07:52Z")
In the classic film “Blowup”, there’s a scene where the protagonist visits a London club where the Yardbirds are performimg. I don’t think they were ever named in that film, so they play a generic Swinging London band. What’s interesting is that this was the short-lived line-up with both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page in the band. > **[Blowup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowup)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Blow-up (sometimes styled as Blowup or Blow Up) is a 1966 mystery drama thriller film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and produced by Carlo Ponti. It was Antonioni's first entirely English-language film, and stars David Hemmings alongside Vanessa Redgrave and Sarah Miles. Also featured is 1960s model Veruschka. The film's plot was inspired by Julio Cortázar's short story "Las babas del diablo" (1959). > The story is set within the mod subcult... ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/77 "2021-10-20T19:24:24Z")
The B52s turn up in **The Flintstones** movie as the **BC52s**. Various members of **Motörhead** appear in 1987 film **Eat The Rich** gradually being added to the Ballroom band. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/78 "2021-10-20T20:05:18Z")
In the movie Diary Of A Mad Housewife there is a party scene and if I’m remembering correctly, the band is early Alice Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/79 "2021-10-20T22:15:02Z")
I haven’t actually seen the movie, but I think Cannibal Corpse appeared on Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/80 "2021-10-20T22:25:06Z")
When the band appears under their real name, but is portrayed with superhuman powers, would that count as a “fictional band”? W.A.S.P. in _The Dungeonmaster_ Kiss in _Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park_ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714/81 "2021-10-20T22:39:54Z")
In _The Middleman,_ Varsity Fanclub, a boy band, used their real name, but portrayed the Pentarchs of Clothar, a group of alien dictators who used the screams of their fans as a power source to get back home. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-bands-cameoing-as-fictional-bands-in-movies-tv/952714.md?page=5)