100 Thinly Veiled Parodies of Bands in Film,TV,etc.

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1) "Autobahn" in The Big Lebowski is a very obvious Kraftwerk gag. I believe they even show a picture of an album cover than looks very much like "The Man Machine".

Also, IMDB offers up this additional gem:

"Nagelbett", the title of the Autobahn record, is a German pun. The word would usually mean "nail bed" in the anatomical sense, but the cover picture shows that the special meaning "bed of nails" is implied.

2) The Ben Stiller show sketch about "The Grungies" which is supposed to be a Monkees-ish spoof of grunge rock featuring a blonde-mopped who looks exactly like Kurt Cobain in the "Smells like Teen Spirit" video.

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

3) Does "The Wedding Singer" count?

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

4) Scary Movie 3

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:30 (twenty-two years ago)

5) Johnny Fontane in The Godfather is a stunning obvious parody of Frank Sinatra, to the point where I think Sinatra once threatened to sue Puzo.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:30 (twenty-two years ago)

6) Johnny Fiamma in The Muppets Tonight (Dean Martin, probably)

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

7. Animal from the Muppets = Keith Moon

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 16 February 2004 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

8 Bob Roberts obv. Parody, tribute whatever.

― pete s, Monday, 16 February 2004 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

9. That band in Young Person's Guide to Being A Rock Star that were basically Placebo, their name escapes me.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

10 the Raisins (claymation show) weren't they the Four Tops?
and their enemies were vegetable sex pistols

― pete s, Monday, 16 February 2004 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

11. Eoin McLove in Father Ted (Daniel O'Donnell)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

12. Niamh Connolly in Father Ted (Sinead O'Connor)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

13. The entire cast of Fear Of A Black Hat

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:45 (twenty-two years ago)

14. Rowlf = Tom Waits

― jody (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 16 February 2004 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Some band on an ep of The Flintstones was supposed to be the Beau Brummels, does that count?

Also the Monkees were a thinly veiled parody of the Monkees in Head.

― Joseph McCombs, Monday, 16 February 2004 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

17) THE RUTLES

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Monday, 16 February 2004 01:44 (twenty-two years ago)

18) The Rolling Stones in Gimmie Shelter

― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

19. Blouse = Pulp in Brass Eye

re #9 - (ahem) "Jocks Wahay"!

― gas coin, Monday, 16 February 2004 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

MC Pee Pants (from Aqua Teen Hunger Force) is apparently a takeoff on the "Lil' Romeo/Bow Wow" kiddie-rap phenom of a couple years back. Except for the part about most kiddie-rap stars not actually being giant spiders wearing disposable diapers.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

21. Keeping with the Morris parodies, Fur-Q (Snoop Dogg)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:17 (twenty-two years ago)

22 Dozens of Smack the Pony efforts, some of which were otm.

― pete s, Monday, 16 February 2004 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

23 The B-Sharps

― pete s, Monday, 16 February 2004 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

cb4 = n.w.a.

― angel duster, Monday, 16 February 2004 02:48 (twenty-two years ago)

((1) "Autobahn" in The Big Lebowski is a very obvious Kraftwerk gag. I believe they even show a picture of an album cover than looks very much like "The Man Machine".))

I thought it was mentioned in the movie that they were a Kraftwerk tribute band.

Father Ted also had an episode where four priests performed in true Kraftwerk stylee. It's either the 2nd or 3rd episode of the second series.

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

24) In the Kids in the Hall movie 'Brain Candy' there is a very funny parody of a depressed metal star who looks exactly Glen Danzig. But I can't remember the name of the character.

― Jaromil (Jaromil), Monday, 16 February 2004 04:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Grevo.

"Some days it's dark/Some days I work/I work alone/Unknown..."

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 16 February 2004 05:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The band in the Flintstones episode were called the Beau Brummelstones, and were actually played by the real band.

― nickn (nickn), Monday, 16 February 2004 05:42 (twenty-two years ago)

The Oasis Parody On Mr. Show (Can't Remember the Name of the band)

― Dude (The Yellow Dart), Monday, 16 February 2004 06:20 (twenty-two years ago)

SMOOSH!

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Monday, 16 February 2004 06:24 (twenty-two years ago)

14. Rowlf = Tom Waits

One of the best bits in Great Pop Things ever was for the Waits bio strip where they talk about the Waits/Fritos lawsuit bit and then add that the Muppets were contacting their lawyers. The drawing shows Waits holding up an album with Rowlf singing at the piano, with Waits saying (with a classic cariacture of him looking downcast and surprised at once) "SUNOVABITCH!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 16 February 2004 06:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Gilda Radner on SNL as Candy Slice (Patti Smith).

― Sean (Sean), Monday, 16 February 2004 06:43 (twenty-two years ago)

In Daniel Richler's novel Kicking Tomorrow, there's a band called the Rolling Bones who have a singer named Nick Swagger or something.

― Huck, Monday, 16 February 2004 06:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Mayhem, the Fear-esque band in the Quincy Punk Episode

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 16 February 2004 10:23 (twenty-two years ago)

41) Citizen Dick "Toch me I'm Dick" in the film "Singles" , based on erm...

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 16 February 2004 10:27 (twenty-two years ago)

there was a parody velvet underground band in that film about valerie solanis called "yo la tengo"

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 16 February 2004 10:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Continuing the Muppets theme, Dr Teeth = Dr John?

― mzui, Monday, 16 February 2004 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes. And keith moon = animal.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 16 February 2004 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

He's an old one. Sonny Bono playing "Deacon Dark" (Alice Cooper, basically) on an episode of "The Love Boat". His songs include "Smash It" and "Step, Step, Step on Toads". Rock!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 February 2004 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd mention Scum of the Earth on "WKRP in Cincinatti" yet (featuring Michael Des Barres)? They patently refuse to accept the term "Punk Rock," but consider themselves "Hoodlum Rockers".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 February 2004 12:52 (twenty-two years ago)

45. The band from the Indie Club sketch in the Fast Show (Oasis)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 12:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex, that Sonny Bono Love Boat episode was a classic.. Until he sang the ballad "Now I see the rainbow, and I don't mind the rain - Sarah (did something that led to this schmaltz).."

Gilligan's Island - The Mosquitos - Bingo, Bango, Bongo & Irving.
The Strawberry Alarm Clock was on The Beverly Hillbillies, but I can't remember whether they used a fake name.

Also, Patridge Family & Banana Splits...

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 16 February 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of Smoosh from Mr. Show, there was in one episode a shock-rocker called Marilyn Monster, who had his own pizza parlor chain. There was also a hilarious bit in another episode that parodied Eric Clapton and Brian Wilson.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 16 February 2004 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

surface noise made me almost spit coffee all over my keyboard.

― flightsatdusk (flightsatdusk), Monday, 16 February 2004 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

While we're talking about Mr. Show, we can't forget Titannica.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Monday, 16 February 2004 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

The Producers - the Jim Morrison guy, with more than obvious hints at Lou Reed/Warhol/factory: Campbell's soup can round his neck, eating a banana.

― Jim Robinson (Original Miscreant), Monday, 16 February 2004 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

No mention of Velvet Goldmine yet?

― LondonLee (LondonLee), Monday, 16 February 2004 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and the movie Grace of My Heart not-so-loosely based on Carol King with Matt Dillon playing a really obvious Brian Wilson-type character.

― LondonLee (LondonLee), Monday, 16 February 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Roddy McDowall (Phil Spector) in The Cool Ones
Jennifer Jason Leigh (Courtney Love) in Georgia
Jade Gordon (Courtney Love) in Sugar Town

― Arthur (Arthur), Monday, 16 February 2004 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

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