Sing Street has hit the big screen today and is set to be the most uplifting and feel-good film of the summer.

Sing Street

Sing Street

Set during the eighties, the movie follows Conor "Cosmo" Lalor - played by Ferdia Walsh-Peelo - who starts to put his own band together.

To celebrate the release of the film, which sees John Carney back in the director's chair, we take a look at some of the other great fictitious bands who have graced the big screen over the years. Do you have a favourite?

- Stillwater

When it comes to big screen bands, there are few better than Stillwater, who appeared in Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous back in 2001.

The movie follows a teenage journalist who writes about Stillwater for Rolling Stone magazine during the early seventies. Written by Crowe, the movie is based on his own experiences of touring with rock bands Poco, The Allman Brothers Bands, Led Zeppelin and the Eagles.

Jason Lee, Billy Crudup Mark Kozelek, and John Fedevich came together to take on the roles of Jeff Bebe (vocals and guitar), Russell Hammond (guitar), Larry Fellows (bass guitar), and Ed Vallencourt (drums).

The movie follows the ups and downs of the rock and roll lifestyle through the eyes of this innocent and naive fifteen-year-old boy.

Lee, Crudup, Kozelek, and Fedevich capture the rock and roll lifestyle perfectly. They have got the swagger of rock and roll gods and their live performances are some of the film's best moments.

Almost Famous went on to pick up four Oscar nominations; with Crowe going on to win for Best Original Screenplay.

- The Blues Brothers

It was back in the 1980s when The Blue Brothers hit the big screen for the first time, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in the central role of Jake and Elwood Blues.

Directed by John Landis, The Blues Brothers started life as a sketch for Saturday Night Live, before being turned into the cult film that it now is.

The Blues Brothers is a story of redemption and follows Jake, who is just out of prison, as he teams up with his brother Elwood to save the Catholic home where they grew up. They plan to reunite their bands to help raise the funds that they need.

Aside from featuring two of the most influential comedians and actors of that time, the music in the film is iconic and sure to be known by most people, regardless if they've seen the film or not. They'll have you shake your tail feather and dance alongside the beat in no time.

The Blue Brothers did well upon release but, over the years, it has turned into a massive cult hit that Belushi and Aykroyd will forever be remembered.

- School of Rock

Jack Black is no stranger to music and performing live as part of comedic rock group Tenacious D... and he brought his music talent to the big screen in 2003 with School of Rock.

School of Rock saw Richard Linklater in the director's chair while Black took on the central role of Dewey Finn, who has been kicked out of a rock band and finds himself as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. Determined to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands, Finn enlists the help of the talented kids in his class to form a band.

Black's character played guitar and was on vocals, while Joey Gaydos Jr, Rebecca Brown, Robert Tsai, and Kevin Clarke took on the roles of Zack (lead guitar), Katie (bass guitar), Lawrence (keyboards), and Fred (drums).

This is a great music movie that boasts some great songs as well as terrific live performances - it is clear that the kids and Black are having a great time.

The movie was a huge box upon release and went on to gross over $131 million at the global box office - it remained the highest grossing musical comedy of all time, until it was overtaken by Pitch Perfect 2.

- Spinal Tap

If you are talking about the best movie bands, you can't miss out Spinal Tap. This Is Spinal Tap remains one of the best rock movies ever made and it hit the big screen back in 1984 - yes, it really is over thirty years old.

Directed by Rob Reiner, the movie was a mockumentary that followed fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap. The movie followed their 'success' and mocked the wild personalities and antics that existed in rock and roll at that time.

Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, David Kaff, and R.J. Parnell came together to take on the roles of David St. Hubbins (lead vocals and guitar), Nigel Tufnel (lead vocals and guitar), Derek Smalls (bass guitar), Vic Savage (keyboards), and Mick Shrimpton (drums).

Despite the film being a parody, Spinal Tap is an extremely believable rock band. In fact, moviegoers thought the film was a straight documentary upon its release, and the band a real one.

Not only that, but since 1984 major bands such as Metallica, Nirvana, Aerosmith, and U2 have come out to say how realistic the depiction of the industry is in the film.

Over the years, This is Spinal Tap has gained cult status and was selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry in 2002.

- The Commitments

The Commitments is another Irish musical comedy that enjoyed success when it was released back in 1991. Directed by Alan Parker, the movie was an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Roddy Doyle.

Set in the north side of Dublin, the movie follows a group of working-class Dubliners who form a soul band.

Robert Arkins and Andrew Strong came together as Commitments Jimmy Rabbitte and Declan Cuffe. While Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle, and Bronagh Gallagher played The Commitmentettes Imelda Quirke, Natalie Murphy, and Bernie McGloughlin.

The cast was mostly chosen on their musical abilities, making the music a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Classic 60s songs featured in the film will most likely have you swaying in your seat and signing along and certainly wishing you could see these guys live, which is technically possible if you catch the West End musical.

The Commitments is widely regarded as one of the best Irish movie of all time and the film to which Sing Street has been compared.

- Hedwig and the Angry Inch

In 2001, Hedwig and the Angry Inch was brought to the big screen and was based on the stage play of the same name.

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, the movie follows Hansel (Mitchell), who takes his mother's name, Hedwig, after a botched sex change operation (which alludes to her 'angry inch', you know, between her legs) and marries an American military man in order to leave East Berlin.

Now living in the United States, their relationship falls apart when her husband leaves her for another man. Her story evolves when she forms a rock band and falls in love with young Tommy (Michael Pitt) who steals their music and becomes a famous star. The film is a feast for the eyes and the ears, as the music is pretty spectacular and these guys can most definitely rock.

The movie we met well by the critics upon release and went on to win Best Director and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. A whole host of other awards and nominations came along, including Best Actor Golden Globe nod for Mitchell.

While Hedwig and the Angry Inch is not the best-known film on this list, it has gone on to gain a huge cult following over the years.

- The Venus in Furs & Wylde Ratttz

Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Christian Bale came together in 1998 to star in British drama Velvet Goldmine, which was directed by Todd Haynes.

As well as being in the director's chair, Haynes also teamed up with James Lyons to pen the film's screenplay.

Velvet Goldmine follows Arthur Stuart (Bale), a music reporter searching for the truth behind the disappearance of the 70s famed glam rock star Brian Slade (Meyers) following a staged death at one of his concerts 10 years prior. Slade is a sort of Bowie character and American rocker Curt Wild (McGregor) modelled on Iggy Pop with the two having an extravagant time playing up the Bowie and Iggy antics on screen as the respective leads of both bands.

The heavy musical influence from Placebo, who also appear in the film, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, The Stooges and Lou Reed (to name a few), makes for a veritable treat and no question on whether these two bands could fit into the glam rock scene of the 1970s and 80s.

Other honourable mentions include Soronprfbs from Frank, The Soggy Bottom Boys from O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Bang Bang from Brothers Of The Head, and Marvin Berry & The Starlighters from Back To The Future.

Sing Street is out now.


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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