Top 10 Rock Star Cameos in Movies

by Eric Melin on June 2, 2009

in Top 10s

They say all actors want to be rock stars and vice versa. There are a select few who are able to do both, but for the most part, we don’t want musicians (especially not will.i.am in “Wolverine,” in theaters now) in our movies and we don’t want our movie stars (especially not Kevin Costner and Modern West, on tour now) on our stages. That’s why the rock star cameo is a fun and harmless little way for our favorite rockers to appear for a short time (sometimes as themselves) and disappear before they can do any real harm to the movie. Many times, the rock star cameo sounds way cooler on paper (Keith Richards as Jack Sparrow’s daddy “Pirate,” for example) or just plain fizzles out (Neil Diamond in “Saving Silverman”). This list is proof that there is a way, however, to have rock star cameos that actually … well … rock. I know I missed some, so please leave comments below! If you have an idea for a Top 10, email me at eric@scene-stealers.com.

Runners-up: The Beach Boys and Rick Neilsen (from Cheap Trick) in the Fat Boys’ “Disorderlies,” Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) and Evan Dando (Lemonheads) in “Reality Bites,” Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) in “Airheads,” Dave Grohl, Meat Loaf, and Ronnie James Dio in “Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny.”

200 cigarettes10. Elvis Costello, “200 Cigarettes” (1999)

The ensemble movie, set in 1981 and co-starring Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Dave Chappelle, Courtney Love, Jay Mohr, Christina Ricci, Janeane Garofalo, Kate Hudson, and Paul Rudd (sporting the worst sideburns ever), is pretty terrible and emblematic of the Gen X formula movie (with a dash of nostaligia), which makes Elvis Costello’s cameo pretty unexpected. (Then again, he also cameoed in “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” so I guess he’ll do just about anything.) Costello is the huge crush of Martha Plimpton’s character. She’s throwing a big new Year’s Bash and is worried no one will come. But come they do and all manner of drama and relationships is discussed. At the party, she eventually passes out in the kitchen and misses the arrival of her idol. At the end of the movie, the weirdest couples end of pairing off—one of them being Elvis, but not with his admirer. It should also be noted that David Johansen of the New York Dolls (and Buster Poindexter fame…ugh.) is in this movie too, although it’s not really a cameo.

aimee mann flea lebowski9. Flea, Aimee Mann, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, “The Big Lebowski” (1998)

“Okay. So we take ze money you haf on you, und ve calls it eefen. Ve don’t care. Ve still vant ze money, Lebowski, or ve f*** you up.” We also know the nihilists from the Coen brothers’ cult classic “The Big Lebowski.” But did you know that two of the nihilists were played by big rock stars? Nihilist #2, or Kieffer, as he’s known in the script is played by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea, while the girlfriend of Nihilist #3 (otherwise known as Nihilist Woman in the script) is none other than Aimee Mann. Mann’s bleach-white hair and lanky body are perfect for the role, which is way bigger than you might think. After all, she’s the one who sacrificed her toe. (That’s her on the left, and him second from right.) Country-rock singer/songwriter Jimmie Dale Gilmore is also in the film as one of Walter’s Vietnam vet bowling buddies. He’s the one Walter accuses of cheating by brandishing a gun.

lance bass tropic thunder8. Lance Bass, “Tropic Thunder” (2008)

OK, he’s not really a rocker, but this this cameo gets a lot of credit for just being plain creative. In 2006, the ‘N Sync’er and former teen heartthrob to millions of girls came out of the closet. Two years later, he made his second cameo in a Ben Stiller film (more on that later) when he appeared in the vicious war-movie-set Hollywood satire “Tropic Thunder.” In the movie, rapper/actor Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) seems to be hiding something under his tough veneer. He also keeps referring to someone named “Lance,” and later confesses it’s his boyfriend. I remember thinking, “Lance—like Lance Bass.” Sure enough, during the last scene of the film at the Oscar ceremony that year, Chino’s got you-know-who on his arm.

twisted sister pee-wee's big adventure7. Twisted Sister, “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985)

Pee-Wee (Paul Reubens) is being chased by studio security through the Warner Bros. backlot when he all of a sudden the pounding orchestral music comes to a screeching halt and we see a bushy-haired blonde dude straddling a car and trying to look tough. He’s singing something about the Devil. It’s lead singer Dee Snider with his band Twisted Sister behind him and a bunch of chicks that looked like they stepped off “The Road Warrior” set but with more make-up. They’re filming the music video for their never-a-hit single “Burn in Hell.” (Not quite as harmless as “I Wanna Rock”!) As Santa and a dazed Godzilla come around the corner chasing Pee-Wee in a big sleigh being dragged by a boat, the band disperses quickly. Pee-Wee—a loner, a rebel—remains unflappable. “How ya doin’?” he yelps joyously as he rides off. Tim Burton’s directorial debut is still the funniest movie he’s ever done. What’s that? Do I hear calls for a Pee-Wee/Burton reunion?

alice cooper wayne's world6. Alice Cooper, “Wayne’s World” (1992)

This cameo is a perfect example of playing against type, and it probably has something to do with a bit of an Alice Cooper re-emergence around the early nineties. Not only does he encourage the lovable metalheads to stay and hang out with him and the band, he turns out to be some kind of Milwaukee history buff. As Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) are wandering around backstage flashing their passes proudly to everyone they see, they run into Alice and the band. Eschewing the party-hard atmosphere of most hard rock bands, Alice engages them in a discussion of French missionaries and explorers from the late 16th century and Algonquin word origins. Curious indeed.

billy idol wedding singer5. Billy Idol, “The Wedding Singer” (1998)

How many washed-up 80s rockers get to save the day in a hugely popular romantic comedy? Since Adam Sandler’s “The Wedding Singer” takes place in 1985 but was filmed in 1998, that means Billy Idol was 43 years old playing himself at 29 when he showed up on that fateful plane ride with Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Not only does Idol introduce Sandler’s win-her-back acoustic number over the airplane intercom, but he also blocks Barrymore’s Don Johnson-looking fiancée from getting anywhere near him with a sly “How you doin’ sir? Chicken or fish?” He also has the most devilish look on his face ever when one lady in first class asks, “What’s the mile-high club?” This appearance alone probably upped his nostalgic “cool” factor for a good 5 years or so.

zoolander david bowie4. David Bowie, “Zoolander”(2001)

It all gets too dangerous when male supermodels Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel (Owen Wilson) decide to settle their beef on the runway at the old Members Only warehouse with a “Rocky”-like “walk-off.” There’s only one person with the fortitude and experience to judge this spur-of-the-moment meeting of the feeble minds—former glam rock king David Bowie. Bowie is a serious actor in his own right (from playing an alien in Nicolas Roeg’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth” in 1976 to playing inventor Nikola Tesla in Christopher Nolan’s 2006 thriller “The Prestige”), and he shows impeccable comic timing when he volunteers his services at a late-night party and covers the ground rules with his competitors. It should also be noted that his cameo on Ricky Gervais’ “Extras” doesn’t count because it’s a TV show, but it’s actually way funnier. Bowie improvises a song on the piano about Gervais’ “little fat man with the pug-nosed face” that has me in stitches every time I hear it.

alanis morrissette dogma3. Alanis Morrisette, “Dogma” (1999)

I’m not a big Alanis Morrisette fan, so when her cameo in Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” was first leaked, I was pretty poo-poo about the whole thing. When I found out that he had cast her as God, I thought—“Wow, is he trying to say something about her music?” Yikes. But this is one of those instances when you just have to trust that the director saw something that you hadn’t. I mean, he is the freaking director after all—who are we to sit here and judge before we even see the film? Since then, I try to remain pretty open about all casting news I hear. The statement—that God is a woman (or in woman form at least)—was enough. All Smith was trying to do was push our buttons, after all. What Morrissette brought to her small but ultimately HUGE role is this little-girl impish kind of playfulness that completely suited the conclusion to a pretty far-out religious adventure film that flirted with some pretty heavy subjects. Smith was right—she was perfect for the part.

ozzy trick or treat 19862. Ozzy Osbourne, “Trick or Treat” (1986)

Way before the Prince of Darkness became a stuttering reality TV star, Ozzy was about as dangerous as you could get in heavy metal. Back in the 80s (before the Internet), his supposedly Satanic lyrics and rumors of him biting the heads off bats onstage were real enough to scare the beejezus out of younger metal fans. (After the bat actual incident, which happened just once on accident with a dead bat in Des Moines, phone calls to the Wisconsin Humane Society on the same 1982 tour warned that Osbourne would be slaughtering a goat onstage in Milwaukee.) That’s why his cameo in the backwards-masking horror flick “Trick or Treat” is so much fun. No, he’s not the possessed rock star—instead, Ozzy plays a man of the cloth. He’s shown on the TV—in the background of two separate scenes—railing against the evils of rock n’ roll pornography and the “sick people” who listen to it. In one clip, he’s passionately denouncing an album called “Do It Like A Dog.” Gene Simmons of KISS also cameos in the film as a DJ named Nuke, but it’s not nearly as funny or cool as Ozzy’s part.

springsteen high fidelity1. Bruce Springsteen, “High Fidelity” (2000)

Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is obsessed with music and he can’t seem to take the next step in his adult life. In Stephen Frears’ brilliant adaptation of the novel (a book that speaks to me louder than almost any other), Rob also consistently breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience. In the book by Nick Hornby, the main character wishes he could handle his past girlfriends as well as the musician does in the Bruce Springsteen song “Bobby Jean.” In the movie, Rob has a conversation in his head out loud with the Boss, who shows up strumming a guitar in the studio, to offer some sage advice. At that point in the movie, he may be the only person that Rob will actually listen to. He lies on his pillow, looking up to the ceiling and has the conversation all by himself. “Thanks, Boss,” he says, saluting after it’s over. (Watch it at the link above. Now.)

Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:

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{ 43 comments }

1 trustthedust June 2, 2009 at 10:21 am

I would definitely add Flea and Anthony Kiedis in their monster truck awesomeness from “The Chase” to this list.

2 Rafferty June 2, 2009 at 10:37 am

That bass player from Dogstar is in a bunch of movies.

3 Dana June 2, 2009 at 10:49 am

Anthony Kiedis is also in Point Break in one of the bad ass rival surfer gangs!

4 Alan Rapp June 2, 2009 at 10:54 am

No Frank Sinatra love for Cannonball Run II? Seriously though, nice list and great choice for #1!

However, I must quibble with you that Meatloaf in Tenacious D should have earned more than just an honorable mention. And that same sequence also includes Dio. Plus it’s the best part of the whole damn movie!

5 Eric Melin June 2, 2009 at 10:57 am

Rafferty – You are making me laugh very much!
Dana & Dust – What’s up with all the RCHP love? Good additions, though.
Alan – It is the best part of the movie, you’re right! Thanks for the link!

6 Liz June 2, 2009 at 11:15 am

Might be an easy, cheesy choice (and maybe slightly much for a cameo) but I would include the guys from Pearl Jam playing Matt Dillon’s band, Citizen Dick, in Singles. Not to mention most of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden doing cameos in that one too.

7 Beck June 2, 2009 at 11:16 am

Great list. The only performer that’s missing is Tom Waits. But I don’t think he belongs on the list because his work in movies is beyond the cameo. Maybe a special mention of the roles he rocked? Dr. Heller in Mystery Men, Renfield in Dracula, Wolf in At Play in the Fields of the Lord, and especially Zack in Down By Law. In Wristcutters: A Love Story, I was too distracted by how much he looks like Ned Beatty to notice if he was any good or not.

8 Beck June 2, 2009 at 11:17 am

Oh, and Bowie was also brilliant as Andy Warhol in Basquiat.

9 hellohawk June 2, 2009 at 11:24 am

Perfect number one, buddy!

10 Eric Melin June 2, 2009 at 11:29 am

Beck- Waits = Ned Beatty. Nice!
It’s hard to distinguiseh sometimes between cameo and supporting role. “Basquiat” is a great example.
hellohawk- thx!

11 pahoehoeflow June 2, 2009 at 12:01 pm

Not quite a cameo but I love Lyle Lovett in the Opposite of Sex. Not quite a rocker but Dwight Yoakam in Sling Blade is amazing.

What about Tom Petty in the Postman? Wouldn’t exactly call it great, but more of a WTF moment.

12 trustthedust June 2, 2009 at 12:04 pm

George Clinton in PCU.

13 Eric Melin June 2, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Petty and Clinton are definitely cameos; Lovette and Yoakam are in the cast and have major parts!

14 Eric Melin June 2, 2009 at 12:08 pm

I totally forgot the rock cameos in “Singles.” Nice catch, Liz!

15 Sean June 2, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Great list Eric. One that I would like to add is Davey Jones. I know he is not much of a rocker but I kinda liked his cameo in The Brady Bunch Movie singing “Girl”. It was a good tribute to the show as well.

16 Randall June 2, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Huey Lewis got his junk out in “Short Cuts” and doesn’t even rate an honorable mention?

17 Reed June 2, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Liz – My favorite part of that is when the new car stereo breaks the windows, playing “Spoonman” by Soundgarden (a song still over a year from release) and Chris Cornell walks happens upon the scene to check it out. Great call!

I can’t believe we didn’t get a David Lynch movie. From the IMDb:
“Almost always casts a musician for a supporting role: Sting in Dune (1984); Chris Isaak, David Bowie and Julee Cruise in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992); Marilyn Manson and Henry Rollins in Lost Highway (1997); Billy Ray Cyrus, Rebekah Del Rio and Angelo Badalamenti in Mulholland Dr. (2001)”

I’d like to add my personal favorite: Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis at the end of “Gas, Food, Lodging.” He did the soundtrack, but basically is in the movie to finish the story.

Anyway, great list!!

18 TS June 2, 2009 at 1:11 pm

Nice list, I agree with the Billy Ray comment above. I liked Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth in Last Days.

19 Eric Melin June 2, 2009 at 1:56 pm

You guys are awesome. Thanks for reminding me of so many I forgot! Billy Ray would have made the list for sure had I remembered…maybe Huey Lewis, although I would argue his bit in “Back to the Future” is more a cameo than his role in “Short Cuts”!

20 Mia June 2, 2009 at 2:34 pm

what about Dwight Yoakum in Wedding Crashers?

21 whirlygirly June 2, 2009 at 3:59 pm

Elvis cameoed in “Spice World” too. Along with Bob Geldof and Elton John, IIRC.

22 Joe June 2, 2009 at 5:10 pm

What? No love for Eddie Van Halen in Robocop?

23 Katie June 2, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Marilyn Manson was in Jawbreaker, too. Very disturbing.

24 troy June 3, 2009 at 11:34 pm

I would also say Kid Rock in Joe Dirt.

25 Gooch June 4, 2009 at 12:00 am

Gwar in empire records because it is just so damned odd. Plus it’s gwar.

26 Robert June 4, 2009 at 11:11 am

Janis Joplin and members of the Grateful Dead in “Petulia”, Lou Reed in “Blue in the Face” , “Faraway, So Close” and (in one of the best post-end credits sequence ever) “Get Crazy”.

27 Blake June 4, 2009 at 4:13 pm

As far as rock performances in movies:

Reel Big Fish in “BASEketball”
Save Ferris in “10 Things I Hate About You”
Vanilla Ice in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II”

28 Eric Melin June 4, 2009 at 4:30 pm

Cool Performance cameos:
Tenacious D in “Bio-Dome”
The Plimsouls in “Valley Girl”
Urge Overkill in “Kingpin”

29 JP Ward June 7, 2009 at 9:23 pm

ROB HALFORD in ‘Spun’! Playing a gay porn clerk who hits on Mickey Rourke.

30 Eric Melin June 8, 2009 at 3:28 pm

JP- Wow. Huge. Kudos.

31 Reed June 9, 2009 at 11:41 am

If I’m not mistaken, Flea appears briefly as a tattoo artist in “The Son in Law”. I believe his only line is, “You pick it, I stick it.” The man is a Rock Star Cameo whore!

32 chris June 9, 2009 at 2:01 pm

Sam Phillips in one of the Die Harder movies

Flea was also in a movie, i think called “Punks” really odd 80’s road movie. He’s in a cast, and gets killed early on

33 Rich Yarges June 9, 2009 at 2:02 pm

Soul Asylum playing rooftop hockey in Clerks?

34 Megan June 9, 2009 at 2:07 pm

I love this list- y’all did a great job!

Some other fun cameos I thought of…

Mighty Mighty Bosstones in Clueless
Tom Jones in Mars Attacks (At least I think he plays himself)
Wayne Newton in Vegas Vacation

35 eb June 10, 2009 at 9:06 am

Rush in “I Love You, Man”
Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway, Jarvis Cocker, Steve Mackie et. al. in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

36 Albert June 10, 2009 at 10:08 am

RHCP also appeared in a skateboarding movie “Trashin” as … well, RHCP. They were in the beginning of their career at that time (1985) and not very well known yet.

37 uma July 12, 2009 at 3:59 pm

stephen jenkins from third eye blind and zakk wylde appeared in Rock star..

has anybody seen a movie about a rock band(late 80’s heavy metal i think)…i only remember the last parts of the movie.. guy (looked like a bandmember) walks out of a diner or something and finds a guy playing the guitar alone on an empty street, he walks up to him and picks up another guitar and they have a friendly guitar battle..
the movie ends that way and before the end credits it tells of what happened to the characters which i vaguely remember..the two guitarists went on to record a few albums or something like that and there was a guy and a girl who saw each other and broke up after two years..

i saw just the last parts of this movie like ten years ago and i can’t seem to find it. i’d really appreciate if anyone could tell me the name of the movie.

thanks.

38 swarner August 3, 2013 at 12:50 am

Sounds a lot like the movie Rock Star except he walks out of the concert he is performing at, sees his old band member in the park and gets back together with his girlfriend at the very end. Very similar in what you are describing.

39 Rachel January 16, 2010 at 12:11 am

What about Keith Richards in Pirates of the Caribbean as Jack’s dad? Very cool!

40 ThrowDice April 2, 2012 at 1:04 pm

You gotta remember that Les Claypool’s band Primus was in Bill and Ted Bogus Journey

41 swarner August 3, 2013 at 12:52 am

I need to know if Tom Petty made an appearance in “Kingpin” sing the national anthem before they bowl!

42 dan July 14, 2014 at 1:03 am

David Crosby in Thunder Heart, Ween in that Pat movie and Elvis in True Romance!

43 D-bag September 20, 2014 at 1:22 pm

Blink 182 in American Pie!!

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