7 Music Film Biopics We'd Love to See

After the dizzying success of 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, there seems to be a buzz in Hollywood about the biographical music film. Elton John’s biopic treatment Rocketman just opened in theatres in May, Mötley Crüe’s gritty romp The Dirt roared to the top of the Netflix charts in March, and word is already out about a David Bowie movie in the works called Stardust. Perhaps Bohemian Rhapsody was the catalyst for the new trend in Hollywood to replace the tired superhero film movement of the last decade. Regardless of whether that’s true or not, the music biopic isn’t necessarily anything new. Films like 1991’s The Doors, all the way to 2015’s Straight Outta Compton have proven to be box office busts and booms over the years. Despite that it’s not a cutting-edge genre, there’s still so much excitement to imagine all the great artists that could get the silver screen treatment in the future. While there are many legendary artists with huge legacies, like Elvis Presley and The Beatles, there are some artists whose stories possess such unique elements that make for a dangerously compelling narrative. So, without further boring lecture from me, here are 10 artists whose music biopics would be incredible to see on the big screen.

AC/DC

The original thunder from down under, there is so much to tell about AC/DC’s high voltage history. First off, their huge riffs and huge hits already set the stage for a take-no-prisoners narrative. Second off, the only thing bigger than the anthems were the excesses. With an AC/DC biopic, we would be treated to an underdog story of a rise to the top for five pint sized Aussies, only to come crashing down with the death of their original vocalist Bon Scott only 6 months after the release of their breakout album Highway to Hell. At a time when any rocker would say AC/DC is over, the band came back five months later with new vocalist Brian Johnson, and the blockbuster record Back In Black. Everyone loves a good underdog story of getting knocked down and back up again, along with some rowdy booze fueled chaos. The hardest part of this film would be picking a title. Would you call it Thunderstruck? Highway to Hell? Back In Black? The possibilities are basically endless.

Def Leppard

Def Leppard already technically did get the biopic treatment with a made-for-tv sleeper called Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story. Not a terrible title, but cutting it down to just Hysteria would be much more appropriate for the 2020s (damn, it’s gonna be the ‘20s again soon). Not only does a band with hits almost as big as their hair already make for a tempting concept, but the fact that the media at one time branded them “the unluckiest band in the world” makes the idea all the more captivating. Why were Def Leppard the unluckiest band in the world? After the monstrous success of their hits “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages,” drummer Rick Allen got into a gruesome car accident that cost him his arm. Bringing on the underdog arc again, Allen’s three year journey to learning to be a one armed drummer leads to a triumphant victory when the band releases its decade defining masterpiece Hysteria, featuring the classic strip club stomp “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” This could be a Bohemian Rhapsody flavored tear-jerking climax, as the band has detailed how those first post-accident shows were a deeply emotional experience for all involved. While the band did come back stronger than ever, their original guitarist Steve Clark sadly lost his battle to alcoholism in 1991. A Def Leppard movie would make for an emotional rollercoaster for sure, but one that could also be very inspiring and rewarding to see.

Ozzy Osbourne

The Netflix indulgent millenials’ second glimpse into the madman that is Ozzy Osbourne was the infamous and unflinching fire ant snorting scene in Mötley Crüe’s 2019 film The Dirt (I say second glimpse because who can forget Jackson Stewart’s iconic Ozzy impression in Hannah Montana?). I’ve observed how this scene had shocked my peers into the next millennium, but after reading Ozzy’s autobiography I Am Ozzy, I can sincerely tell you that THAT stunt is only the tip of the iceberg with this lovable lunatic. The Prince of Darkness has dabbled in every substance known to man, and in every substance/fluid/organism that would make man say, “what the actual f*@% is wrong with you?!”. Among all of that, he has taken them all in doses that could kill a herd of elephants. The controversies surrounding him had him both loved and despised, from accusations of demonic music to lawsuits from parents of teens who had taken their own lives due to the inferred influence of his music. And who could forget the infamous stunts of biting the head off a dove in a boardroom record label meeting, and the head off a bat during a live performance. The story of Ozzy also involves interesting history, such as the invention of heavy metal from his first band Black Sabbath, as well as emotional moments to leave no dry eyes in the house. These moments include the vehicular manslaughter of his 25-year-old sweetheart guitarist Randy Rhoads, and an extremely trying relationship with his longtime wife and manager Sharon Osbourne. Without a doubt, Tony Cavalero would have to reprise his role as Ozzy. His performance in The Dirt was so hilarious and chaotic that there would be no other choice but to let him give it his full attack. If not Cavalero, could we see Jason Earles stepping up to put his Hannah Montana Ozzy impression to the ultimate test? A movie about Ozzy Osbourne would be equal parts comedy, drama, horror, and tragedy. I’m quite certain it would not make it to theaters, but maybe Netflix will step up to the plate and let us board the Crazy Train in feature-length fashion.

Fleetwood Mac

I am honestly surprised I have not heard any developments about a Fleetwood Mac movie, because personally, I believe the timing is perfect for a movie about this colossal group. As with all previous entries on this list, the band has more hits than a piece of drywall around a drunk angry guy named Kyle. But songs like “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Rhiannon,” “The Chain,” “Don’t Stop,” and “Little Lies” are much more than elements to a killer soundtrack. These songs documented the perpetual drama and conflict that stung their members for years. You could even make a film just based on the writing and recording of the album Rumours, as it was basically a cocaine fueled warzone where every member was breaking up with one member and then jumping into bed with another. Is it wrong that I still ship Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham? Speaking of the Gold Dust Woman, the timing is also perfect because millennial men and women everywhere are buzzing over Stevie Nicks right now. She’s an icon for her music, her style, her philanthropy, and being the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. The film would be very dramatic, very romantic, and it would be able to arc between bleak emotional emptiness to scintillating magical highs. The drama behind Fleetwood Mac is dying to be on the silver screen, the hardest parts would be not only to cast actors into these iconic roles, but also to do the story justice with the four members each likely having different perspectives on it all.

Van Halen

This one may not have been one the average music film fan would expect, but hear me out here. In the early 1980s, there was no bigger rock band than Van Halen. And if you don’t believe me, watch movies and read magazines from the decade. They were the coolest thing since Led Zeppelin. Their 1978 explosion onto the global stage ushered in a new form of music that was too heavy to be pop, but not heavy enough to be metal. They gave us mile high bangers like “Panama,” “Jump,” “Hot for Teacher,” “Dance the Night Away,” and “Runnin’ With the Devil,” as well as a man who blew the minds of the world population with his scorching and innovative guitar playing: Eddie Van Halen. Not only do those elements already check the boxes for an interesting movie, but the members of the band would make for show stealing protagonists and antagonists, each member usually playing both at the same time. Original lead vocalist David Lee Roth is an outrageous, flamboyant force to be reckoned with, like a California blonde Freddie Mercury. While his and the band’s party animal behavior was grand like Gatsby, their intelligence made them even more compelling. For example, their backstage riders used to always include “a bowl of M&M’s, but absolutely NO brown ones.” The reason for this was to make sure their crew and venues followed instructions….and Godspeed to them if they did not. We’re talking fire extinguisher fights, televisions out the window, and so much arson that you’d think it’s the end of days. Cue the drama for the narrative, Van Halen and David Lee Roth had nasty go-for-the-throat drama, which lead to Roth and Van Halen having a messy public breakup. Much like AC/DC though, the band came back from the top and went even higher with new vocalist Sammy Hagar, achieving their first number one record. Much like Fleetwood Mac though, the band had basically continuous drama even after changing different singers three times total in their careers. Despite the revolving door, the band still pushed on as A list rock royalty, making for a true “knocked down-back up again” tale. With that being said, I believe a Van Halen movie could make for something with the unapologetic excess and fun of The Dirt, a look into music being innovated, and personal tensions stronger than David Lee Roth’s spandex. Food for thought Hollywood, I think it could be a real winner.

KISS

“You wanted the best, you got the best!” At least that’s what I would hope for with a movie about The Hottest Band In The World. KISS is an interesting story because not only do they have the element of starting at the bottom and gnawing their way up, but they had to do so with an image that literally frightened, shocked, confused, and offended people. They were not the first band to wear makeup, but the first band to take it to the extremes they did. The controversies surrounding KISS would also make for an attractive narrative, as they had religious groups and parents protesting them 24/7, along with a legion of devoted followers that could give the Jonestown cult a run for their money. To add a little extra tension to the script, there was a big divide between the party animals Ace Frehley (guitar) and Peter Criss (drums), and music business geniuses Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Frehley and Criss were cast out due to the leaders’ demand for show business, not show partying, making for some juicy on screen back and forth. Not only the drama, but it would be very cool to see how Gene Simmons crafted the perfect brand for a rock and roll band in the ‘70s to amass an army of fans in a time when disco ruled. It was truly cutting-edge work to be doing in the music industry back then, and despite how most of us feel about his recent persona and comments in the media, he’s definitely a very intelligent guy. It of course would also be gripping to see how KISS was on top of the world, how the fans turned their backs when the decades changed, but how they persevered through it all. It would have to be done extremely well for sure to pull off something successful, but I have faith these icons could make for a fascinating film. The other tough question would be what to call it….Rock And Roll All Nite would be far too cheesy a title, but calling it just KISS seems like it would attract an audience of Fifty Shades of Grey moms. Karen might want her money back after seeing Gene Simmons’ monster tongue when she was anticipating Jamie Dornan’s…

Gary Glitter

Most of the films on this list, and biopics in general, tend to honor someone by illustrating their triumphant story; This would NOT be the case with a film about glam rocker Gary Glitter. If the name does not ring a bell, his sports stadium chant “Rock and Roll Pt. 2” will certainly ring a familiar tone in your head. What Glitter’s legacy truly is are his multiple accounts of possessing child pornography, statutory rape and attempted rape of minors. Making his bones as one of the main players in the early 1970s glam rock movement of England, Glitter became known for violently catchy and overheated chart toppers like “Rock and Roll Pt. 2,” “I Didn’t Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll),” and “Doing Alright With The Boys.” Glitter’s music would go on to receive high praise from everyone from Freddie Mercury, to Cee Lo Green and Ke$ha. The story would not focus primarily on the traditional highs and lows of a music career though, but that element would serve as a backdrop to the multiple sexual crimes he was committing during his stardom.

1997 saw the beginning of his legal demise, when over 4,000 pornographic photos of children were found in his home and on his personal computer. As if the prison time for that wasn’t enough, his release saw him residing in Vietnam, where eyewitnesses shared accounts of him having young girls over frequently, including a 15-year-old living with him. By 2006, he was tried on charges of committing obscene acts with girls ages 10 and 11, and after being released of his three-year prison sentence, was barred from entering the Philippines. 2015 put Glitter away for what will hopefully be the rest of his life, when his clandestine and sickening record was finally exposed. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the rape of 12 and 13-year-old girls in a dressing room, eight counts of sexual offences committed against two girls ages 12 and 14 between 1977 and 1980, four counts of indecent assault, one count of having sex with a girl under 13, and the attempted rape of a girl less than 10 years old in 1975 by crawling into her bed.

A film about Glitter would harrowing and disturbing, much like the Zac Efron led Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile Ted Bundy film of this year. There are two reasons why I even bring up this prospect. The first is that audiences are becoming more and more intrigued by the films that dramatize the lives of nefarious individuals, as we saw with Efron’s role, and Marc Meyers’ My Friend Dahmer in 2017. It would be extremely compelling to see how a beloved British rock star spent so many years committing these disgusting crimes without any notice from the press or the victims’ families until decades later. The second reason this prospect should be entertained is that child sexual abuse has, and still is, all too common an issue in the music industry. Beloved musicians all throughout time have been known for engaging in sex with minors, including Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), R. Kelly, and Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones). Only few of these musicians saw any repercussions for what they did with these children, and the music (and entertainment industry in general) fosters an environment that both turns a blind eye to this abuse, and simultaneously silences those who are victims of these actions. These children are still out there as we speak, and living with the pain every day. It is unacceptably long overdue that this issue facing minors both within and by the hand of the industry has not had the proper light shed on it, and I believe a chilling motion picture on the heinous crimes of Gary Glitter would help to expose a sexual assault enabling industry, as well as help to give a voice to the survivors of it.