The release of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic (on June 24th) is further proof that musicians often make the best subjects for movies. Though plenty of great music movies have been produced about famous artists, there are still some glaring omissions in the musician biopic genre.
From rock royalty like Led Zeppelin to pop superstars like Britney Spears, there are plenty of fascinating music stories still left to be told on screen. While almost every famous musician would be somewhat interesting, s on Reddit took to the site to mention the artists that they thought deserved to have a biopic.
Talking Heads
The late 1970s and early 1980s were a hotbed of interesting New Wave music that was combining elements of past genres together into a brand new style. A deleted mentioned one of the preeminent New Wave bands when they wrote "Talking Heads. My idea of doing one is to make it a sequel to True Stories with David Byrne still playing the stranger but talking about David's life".
Extremely popular both in their time and now, the Talking Heads' music is instantly recognizable. No stranger to cinema, the band's lead singer David Byrne even directed his own quirky film entitled True Stories. If a film was made that involved the band ' creative energy, it would be a surefire hit at the box office.
Tom Waits
Some musicians are difficult to pin down, and their catalog defies the typical labels of genre or style. MattN92 brought up such an artist when they said "I feel like there's a Tom Waits film there, not necessarily one about events in his actual life but one where the line between reality and fantasy is constantly blurred".
He has had a five-decade-long career in music, and has even had a prolific acting career that has landed Waits some great roles. What makes him so special though, is that his music is totally unlike anyone else's. His lyrics invoke a lot of imagery, and it wouldn't be difficult to import that lyrical style onto film.
Pink Floyd
Some bands are instantly recognizable, and their legacy has grown far beyond even the music that they are known for. When discussing biopics they would want to see, VictorBlimpmuscle wrote "I'd like to see one on Pink Floyd that focuses on Syd Barrett".
The British psychedelic hitmakers, Pink Floyd, are mostly ed for their extremely popular period that saw the release of albums like Dark Side of the Moon, and the legendary Rock Opera The Wall. However, their early days are a fascinating story, and the departure of founding member Syd Barrett was a major turning point in the young band's life that is ripe with cinematic drama.
Led Zeppelin
The 1970s saw the rise of Arena Rock, and a select handful of bands lived up to that lofty title. A deleted saw a glaring omission in the music biopic genre when they wrote "Very surprised that no one mentioned Led Zeppelin...I feel like it's an obvious choice, huge supergroup who were so tightly bonded that they broke up instantly when one of their own ed away".
There is no denying that Led Zeppelin is one of the biggest bands in Rock'n'Roll history, and they find new fans with each successive generation that listens to them. They would certainly put butts in seats at the movie theater, but finding a narrative might be tricky. However, if a biopic was to focus on the music and their legacy, there is no doubt it would be a hit.
Townes Van Zandt
Movies about country music are few and far between, but they have proven to be a rich source of cinema when done correctly. No-Standard-9727 thought a country musician deserved a biopic when they wrote "Townes Van Zandt would be an interesting one".
Though he never rose to the heights of fame in the country music scene, folk-country icon Townes Van Zandt inspired generations of singers. His life story was filled with tragedy and triumph, and there was a certain poetic nature to his biography that eerily echoed his own songs. Though it probably wouldn't be a blockbuster, a Townes Van Zandt film would have the opportunity to be a beautiful thing.
Daniel Johnston
If documentaries are any proof, some musicians' stories are enough to keep even non-fans watching. BrandTheBroken went for an obscure biopic choice when they commented "Daniel Johnston. If you don't know about his story you need to. Possibly the greatest songwriter of all-time".
Daniel Johnston was never going to be a music superstar, his unorthodox singing voice and quirky style perfectly matched his off-beat personality. Living his entire life as an underground music sensation, Johnston's personal issues severely limited his career. That being said, the 2005 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston showed that his story was a compelling one, and it brought in a wave of new fans to the indie sensation.
Oasis
Some bands are ed for their music, and others are ed for their legendarily volatile personality clashes. Edgar Wright comedy sounds perfect and spectacular to me".
Oasis were an unstoppable force in the 1990s, but their well-publicized clashes overshadowed their legacy as an amazing band. A biopic would be a great opportunity to shine more light on the characters in the band, and there is a wide array of options for a film in of tone. It is known that the band take themselves very seriously, but a biopic wouldn't necessarily have to.
Britney Spears
Musicians are often gigantic superstars, and this fame leads fans to believe that they truly know a person's life story. Batterybatterykaboom thought a certain artist deserved visibility when they wrote "Britney Spears. Don't even focus on the music, focus on how the industry, the public, and even your family will destroy you".
Pop icon Britney Spears' recent legal battles regarding her conservatorship have brought a new awareness to the life of a misunderstood musician. Spawning countless documentaries and think-pieces, Spears' story seems almost pre-packaged to become a gripping biopic. As long as the subject is handled with class, it would undoubtedly be a resounding success.
Robert Johnson
The Blues is usually looked upon as an old-fashioned style of music, but its influence on popular music is undeniable. rekniht01 got creative with their idea when they said "I want to see a sequel/spinoff of Robert Johnson from O Brother, Where Art Thou?".
Generally considered one of the best Coen brothers movies, O Brother, Where Art Though? was a fictionalized tour of American musical history. Robert Johnson was a key figure in the early days of the Blues, and his relatively short life was filled with interesting stories that may or may not be true. Because so little is known about him, a biopic about the Blues man's life would have to get creative when filling in gaps.
Stevie Nicks
Even when their best years were as part of a group, some musicians have a certain star power that helps them stand out. Even going so far as to cast the role, standingrooms was adamant about who should get a biopic when they said "Stevie Nicks. I think Chloe Grace Moretz would be amazing as her in the '80s".
As a member of the unforgettable band Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks made a name for herself with her lyrics and beautiful singing voice. Even years later when she struck out on her own, the White Witch kept listeners enthralled with even more hits. While her life was relatively stable, Nicks' career had her rubbing shoulders with other Rock royalty, and it would make for a fascinating primer on the Classic Rock era.
