Rockstar

Mark Wahlberg stars as Chris Cole, the lead singer of a tribute band who becomes lead singer of the real band he idolizes. This movie explores the rabid popularity and backstage excesses of the Glam Rock bands that dominated 1980's music.


 * Armored Closet Gay: Steel Dragon's original singer.
 * Ascended Fanboy: The plot.
 * Based on a True Story: Tim "Ripper" Owens was in a Judas Priest tribute band before joining Judas Priest itself.
 * Big Brother Mentor: Mats.
 * Book Ends: Chris impresses the lead singer by singing along at a concert; a fan later does the same thing to him.
 * British Rock Star: The rest of Steel Dragon.
 * Doing It for the Art: How Chris feels about his tribute band.
 * The Eighties
 * Eighties Hair
 * End of an Age: The hair-metal/glam rock era of the 80's.
 * Fake Band
 * Groupie Brigade: And how!
 * Grunge:
 * I Am the Band: Kurt Cutty feels this way.
 * Important Haircut: Chris gets one at the end, going from metal length to Cobain length.
 * Metalhead: The members of Steel Dragon, their fans, and their groupies.
 * Metal Scream: Stand up and SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUT!
 * Minimalistic Cover Art: Chris is scoffed at when he recommends this.
 * Mr. Fanservice: As the manager explains, this is why the band is popular.
 * New Sound Album: Chris wants to do one of these, but is overruled.
 * No Celebrities Were Harmed: No bands were harmed; Steel Dragon could easily be a stand-in for Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Guns N' Roses, Twisted Sister, Poison, Winger, Slaughter, Warrant, etc.
 * Nobody Loves the Bassist: Played straight. The singer and lead guitar are the only members written in any detail.
 * Real Men Wear Pink: "Is that mascara?" "I'm in a band."
 * The Rock Star: Chris becomes one.
 * Running Gag: Don't call Blood Pollution a cover band.
 * Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll
 * Shown Their Work: In-universe, Chris knows everything about Steel Dragon. "The stitching should be green... and has anyone ever seen Bobby wear a jacket with blue lapels?"
 * Stage Names: Izzy.
 * Yoko Oh No: Averted, Jennifer Aniston's character is very cooperative.