Movies about making it in the music industry

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Apologies if this has been done; the search function is timing out on me every time I try it.

I'm looking for movies with a plot, not concert-based gems like The Last Waltz, which is one of my all time favourites of the latter genre.

Here's my short list (no pun intended on my name):

Almost Famous
Singles (I know that music isn't the main plot, but it has Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains appearances, and Matt Dillon's character definitely fits the description)
School of Rock
The Thing Called Love
Rock Star

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:15 (twenty years ago)

the harder they come

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:17 (twenty years ago)

The Apple
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

― Lindsey Thomas (lindseykai), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:23 (twenty years ago)

PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE!!!!!

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Hustle and Flow

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:29 (twenty years ago)

of course 24-Hour Party People
the Doors (do biopics count?)

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:30 (twenty years ago)

That Thing You Do (fucking sucks but you asked)

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:30 (twenty years ago)

my all-time favorite, Velvet Goldmine

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:31 (twenty years ago)

Nashville

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:32 (twenty years ago)

Mahogany

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:34 (twenty years ago)

Spinal Tap

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:34 (twenty years ago)

Lisztomania

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:35 (twenty years ago)

fear of a black hat
cb4
hustle & flow

― and what (ooo), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:53 (twenty years ago)

Would Hi-Fidelity count? He ownes a record store, which is a part of the industry. And starts a label at the end. Which is also a part of the industry. Cause if you we are just talking about artists then it's off.

― Heath Raymond (Heath Raymond), Friday, 26 May 2006 20:56 (twenty years ago)

American Pop
8 Mile
The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Just sayin'.

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:00 (twenty years ago)

Josie and the Pussycats
Spiceworld

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:03 (twenty years ago)

The Jazz Singer

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:08 (twenty years ago)

Garage Days

― elgolfo (elgolfo), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:10 (twenty years ago)

Airheads

― elgolfo (elgolfo), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

Flame
That'll Be The Day
Can we stretch to The Comic Strip Presents...Bad News?

― Matt #2 (Matt #2), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

Purple Rain

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

The Rose
Broadway Melody Of 1934 or whenever it was

― Matt #2 (Matt #2), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:12 (twenty years ago)

The Blues Brothers? It's more about making it to the show on time, so I dunno.
Also, if we're including television serieses, "A Year at the Top," a 1977 American sitcom featuring Paul Schaffer. Band sell their souls to the Devil in exchange for pop success.
Crossroads. Both the Ralph Macchio and Britney Spears movies.
Broadway Danny Rose

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:16 (twenty years ago)

Oh god...Hearts Of Fire

― Matt #2 (Matt #2), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:17 (twenty years ago)

Fantastic so far everyone, thanks! Yep biopics count so I guess we should add Walk the Line and Ray.

And yeah, I think Hi Fidelity counts too.

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:17 (twenty years ago)

One-Trick Pony, right?

― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:19 (twenty years ago)

Shit can't believe i forgot Crossroads (Macchio's)! That's the movie that got me into Ry Cooder. Thanks slug.

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:20 (twenty years ago)

The Commitments

― xgurggleglgllg (xgurggleglgllg), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:22 (twenty years ago)

Tapeheads
Rhapsody in Blue
Buddy Holly Story

― Bucky Fullminster (vincent spano), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:23 (twenty years ago)

Blank Generation

― Bucky Fullminster (vincent spano), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:28 (twenty years ago)

The Idolmaker
Laurel Canyon

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:38 (twenty years ago)

oooh Laurel Canyon is good

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:39 (twenty years ago)

Bob Roberts (about making it in politics as well)

― blunt (blunt), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:47 (twenty years ago)

Eddie and the Cruisers

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:21 (twenty years ago)

Peggy Sue Got Married (sorta - it is my favorite subplot)

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:22 (twenty years ago)

Wayne's World 1 and 2

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:22 (twenty years ago)

La Bamba

Satisfaction (w. Justine Bateman)

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:25 (twenty years ago)

Selena

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:26 (twenty years ago)

haha Reality Bites

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:27 (twenty years ago)

Permanent Record...?

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:28 (twenty years ago)

Krush Groove

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:28 (twenty years ago)

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure/Bogus Journey (kind of)

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:30 (twenty years ago)

Wild Style!

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:31 (twenty years ago)

"American Hot Wax."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:49 (twenty years ago)

Beat Street.

― blunt (blunt), Friday, 26 May 2006 22:53 (twenty years ago)

New York, New York

― Bucky Fullminster (vincent spano), Friday, 26 May 2006 23:18 (twenty years ago)

Bummer!
Plot Outline: The manager of a rock band fires the drunken, psycho bass player, who goes on a rape and murder spree.

― Bucky Fullminster (vincent spano), Friday, 26 May 2006 23:21 (twenty years ago)

Leningrad Cowboys

― royjeff lee (hansode), Saturday, 27 May 2006 01:13 (twenty years ago)

Hardcore Logo

― Jonathan Migneault, Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:06 (twenty years ago)

Sparkle

― Jay Vee's Return (Manon_69), Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:51 (twenty years ago)

Down And Out With The Dolls!!!

hey shorty, try the google search option on the ilx search page if you are timing out using the internal one...

― sleeve (sleeve), Saturday, 27 May 2006 03:30 (twenty years ago)

Songwriter - Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson.

― Eazy (Eazy), Saturday, 27 May 2006 03:32 (twenty years ago)

Empire Records

Return to the Valley of the Dolls

The Apple ("Who ever heard of Moosejaw?")

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Saturday, 27 May 2006 04:00 (twenty years ago)

A STAR IS BORN

― Mark (MarkR), Saturday, 27 May 2006 05:20 (twenty years ago)

Garage Days

dear GOD was that a fucking terrible film

― electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Saturday, 27 May 2006 05:37 (twenty years ago)

Oh man I love both Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson so I have to check out Songwriter.

― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 27 May 2006 05:50 (twenty years ago)

Breaking Glass

― stevo (stevo), Saturday, 27 May 2006 10:03 (twenty years ago)

That's The Way Of The World

the classic EWF album from 1975 accompanied this little seen flick, maurice white & the group appeared as a struggling band. i saw it once on latenite TV in the early 80s, don't know if it's on DVD.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Saturday, 27 May 2006 10:36 (twenty years ago)

The Sound of Music!

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Saturday, 27 May 2006 10:37 (twenty years ago)

The Suburbans!
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157075/)

― alicee, Saturday, 27 May 2006 11:38 (twenty years ago)

one of the earliest, The Golden Disc (1958) - a cheesetastic UK skiffle/rock cash-in, features a great cameo by Nancy Whiskey http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051671/

― zappi (joni), Saturday, 27 May 2006 11:50 (twenty years ago)

Wild Guitar!

― deusner, Saturday, 27 May 2006 12:08 (twenty years ago)

Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

― Siegbran (eofor), Saturday, 27 May 2006 13:19 (twenty years ago)

Glitter.

― chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:40 (twenty years ago)

Amadeus

― Keywords: revenge, knife, granddaughter, demonic-possession, rock-star, eel (Aus, Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:45 (twenty years ago)

A Night at the Opera

CB4

― Keywords: revenge, knife, granddaughter, demonic-possession, rock-star, eel (Aus, Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:47 (twenty years ago)

Star Wars. It's a metaphor.

― chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:48 (twenty years ago)

Beaches [bette midler's character, specifically...]

― mts (theoreticalgirl), Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:58 (twenty years ago)

The Cool Ones
Prey for Rock 'n' Roll
Desperate Teenage Lovedolls/Lovedolls Superstar

― They Call the Wind Howchamagowcha (Arthur), Saturday, 27 May 2006 16:29 (twenty years ago)

I watched part of The Industry yesterday, and it was the most inane piece of bullshit documentary I had ever seen. Not a redeeming quality about it, except being reminded of Chingy and how people thought he was going to 'blow up.' Where is Chingy?

― trees (treesessplode), Saturday, 27 May 2006 17:37 (twenty years ago)

Honorable mention to The Muppet Movie. While ostensibly about one frog's quest for Hollywood stardom, the inclusion of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem into the whole saga nudges it into the eligability column.

Plus, if you don't like "The Rainbow Connection" unreservedly and without ironic intent you are probably lacking a human soul.

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Saturday, 27 May 2006 22:11 (twenty years ago)

Light of Day

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Saturday, 27 May 2006 22:13 (twenty years ago)

http://www.joanjett.com/Videography/light.jpg

xpost!!

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 28 May 2006 00:31 (twenty years ago)

Whoa I totally had forgotten Gena Rowlands is in that.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 28 May 2006 00:32 (twenty years ago)

Mr Music

― John Cocktolstoy (John Cocktolstoy), Sunday, 28 May 2006 16:12 (twenty years ago)

coal miner's daughter

― bob moore (costance p. rutherford), Sunday, 28 May 2006 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Confessions of a Pop Performer
Stardust

― eyesteel (eyesteel), Sunday, 28 May 2006 22:59 (twenty years ago)

cisco pike (more about after effects of making it in music)

times square

and not about music per se, but darling w/ young julie christie as rising model in swinging 60s london treads similar ground

― sode jerk, Monday, 29 May 2006 03:11 (twenty years ago)

Interstella 5555

― Siegbran (eofor), Monday, 29 May 2006 17:57 (twenty years ago)

What's Love Got To Do With It?

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Monday, 29 May 2006 18:47 (twenty years ago)

Bollywood to thread!

http://www.bulsho.dk/gfx/film/hindi/sawiro/85.jpg

― scnnr drkly (scnnr drkly), Monday, 29 May 2006 18:58 (twenty years ago)

I'm watching Garage Days right now, and so far I think it's hilarious! Particularly the "Fun with drugs" parts.

― shorty (shorty), Sunday, 11 June 2006 01:21 (twenty years ago)

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