Daily Dose for August 31, 2007
By Bruce Warren, Program Director for WXPN
In the world of make pretend bands there’s a few different categories. First you have your cartoon bands like The Archies, Josie & The Pussycats and Jem (the 80’s Josie & The Pussycats). Then you have your cartoons of real bands that made it to television like The Beatles, The Jacksons and, yes, even MC Hammer. Then you have the non-animated fake bands that made it on television like Lancelot Link and The Evolution Revolution, The Banana Splits, The Bugaloos, The Monkees (at least in the beginning), The Partridge Family, Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem (from “The Muppets”), and The Brady Six.
And who could forget that “Happy Days”/”Laverne and Shirley” had several memorable fake bands including Lenny and The Squidtones, Leather And The Suedes (featuring Leather and Pinky Tuscadero), and Freddie And The Hot Rods.
Are there any fake bands that are memorable to you? Are there any fake bands that had such historical importance that you feel they should make this year’s 885? Let us know.
Related links:
Fakebands.com
The Rocklopedia Fakebandica
Videos:
“The Archies” intro
The Archies - “Sunshine”
“Josie And The Pussycats” intro
“Jem” intro
The Partridge Family - “I Can Feel Your Heartbeat”
For video of more fake bands, check out today’s “Remember This?” and Guest Blogger: Made for TV-Tunes
Stephen and the Colberts had their “hit” with “Charlene (I’m Right Behind You)”
An ode to stalking that stands up there with “Every Breath You Take.” It’s at the Comedy Central website at:
http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=59061
Does a memorable fake pop star count?
On “How I Met Your Mother,” Robin’s deep dark secret was that she was a pop star in Canada in the 1990’s, going under the name Robin Sparkles. Her “hit” was “Let’s Go to the Mall.” The reason it looks like it comes straight from the 80’s is that “the 80’s didn’t hit Canada until 1992″
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9mJAsgIIfNM
August 31st, 2007 at 12:53 pmStepping outside the TV realm:
How about Limozeen, the 80’s hair-band parody on the Homestar Runner flash site? They even had their own Saturday cartoon series!
As for movies, I can’t think of a “fake band” more memorable than Spinal Tap!
August 31st, 2007 at 5:22 pmHow about Driveshaft, from the TV show LOST? They even have a fake website with videos and lyrics. Singer & bass player: Charlie (Dominic Monaghan, also of Lord of the Rings). “You all everybody!”
August 31st, 2007 at 11:24 pmAnd, how can one forget the Banana Splits. This was a live action (as opposed to a dead action) cartoon of people in weird costumes pretending to be a dog, a gorilla, an elephant and a lion. This aired in the late 1960s, early 1970 so most people may have thought they were real people!
Listen to them at http://www.toontracker.com/bsplits/bsplitsra.htm
October 25th, 2007 at 3:36 pm