History Main / FakeBand

* In 2021, well after ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' concluded, character Andy Dwyer's band Mouse Rat released ''The Awesome Album'', featuring originals as heard in the show as well as some {{Cover Version}}s [[note]]One episode had a subplot where Mouse Rat were booked as entertainment for a party at the Pawnee Senior Center, so instead of their own rock songs, they were heard performing pop standards like "The Way You Look Tonight"[[/note]]. The album also features other fictional musicians from the show - Duke Silver is credited with saxophone on two songs, and the last two songs are performed by the band Land Ho! and their vocalist Scott Tanner (actually Music/{{Wilco}} and Jeff Tweedy respectively)

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' had "Binky", a foreign band which had become very popular out of nowhere thanks to their guerrilla marketing (and got [[NamesTheSame Binky]] falsely accused of vandalizing the school). It was later revealed that the band was ''literally'' fake; the producers were using vocal synthesizers and hologram generators.

** The characters of the cartoon themselves have formed their own bands: Marzipan, The Cheat, and Strong Mad perform in a folk-rock trio known as "Cool Tapes", Coach Z and Bubs apparently jam together as the Two-O Duo on occasion, and in the Strong Bad Email "senior prom", the Poopsmith and the rest of the King of Town's servants performed at the "Entrapment All Up On The Moon" Dance as "All The King's Men". In ''[[VideoGame/StrongBadsCoolGameForAttractivePeople Baddest of the Bands]]'', Pom Pom and Homestar form Pomstar, while Strong Bad[[spoiler:, the King of Town, and Homsar]] start DOI.

* Interesting case in the movie ''Film/Singles''. Real-life bands Music/AliceInChains and Music/{{Soundgarden}} play themselves, but three members of Music/PearlJam play Matt Dillon's backing band members of the fictitious Citizen Dick, although for some reason they use their real names.
* The half of the bands in ''VideoGame/ShowByRock'' that aren't entirely made up[[note]]Dropout Sensei (based on Asstellus), Gaugastrikes (KFK), Shinimonogurui (Marie Ueda), Demons Venom (Silhouette from the Skylit), Labomunch (clammbon), Rapezziauto (yksb ft. [=MiLO=] & 31style), Chammy Chaplets (kiki*), 04Tobizbits (04 Limited Sazabys), Tekebakitsusou (Usotsuki), Shirorakurosuka? (A Crow Is White), Fukashi Gimmick (Band Gokko), and Spectrenotes (Music/{{BIGMAMA}})[[/note]] are this type of fake band, with characters [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on the band's actual members]]. The bands' actual music is used as in-game songs, and though most of the characters are left unvoiced, the real-life band members' counterparts provide voices for the ones that have voiced cards.
* The B-side of Music/FleetwoodMac's 1969 single "Man of the World" was "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonite" by Earl Vince & The Valiants, a GenreThrowback rock'n'roll number that got very excited about [[LyricalDissonance the prospect of a forthcoming riot]]. Of course it was really just Fleetwood Mac themselves having an OutOfGenreExperience.

* Music/Outkast: Two different fake bands for the price of one on their DistinctDoubleAlbum ''Speakerboxxx/The Love Below'', which can also be viewed as two solo albums for each of the duo's members. Side A features Speakerboxxx, characterized as a more traditional hardcore hip-hop crew, and plays to the strengths of Big Boi. Side B features The Love Below, characterized as an experimental R&B group, and showcases the versatility of André 3000.

* Crisis Of Conformity were an AffectionateParody of 80's HardcorePunk that appeared in a single ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' skit, where they were played by Fred Armisen, [[Music/FooFighters Dave Grohl]], and Ashton Kutcher. Not too long after that, the indie label Drag City quietly released "Fist Fight", a seven inch single supposedly by the band, but actually [[IAmTheBand written and performed entirely by Armisen himself]]. Both Dave Grohl and Fred Armisen have been in ''real'' hardcore bands - the collage on the cover of the single includes a picture of a young Fred Armisen singing for his old band, as well as one of a young Dave Grohl in a crowd shot (presumably in the audience for a different hardcore band's show). To top it off, their record was produced by Brendan Canty of {{MUsic/Fugazi}}.

* Crisis Of Conformity were an AffectionateParody of 80's HardcorePunk that appeared in a single ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' skit, where they were played by Fred Armisen, [[Music/FooFighters Dave Grohl]], and Ashton Kutcher. Not too long after that, the indie label Drag City quietly released "Fist Fight", a seven inch single supposedly by the band, but actually [[IAmTheBand written and performed entirely by Armisen himself]]. Both Dave Grohl and Fred Armisen have been in ''real'' hardcore bands - the collage on the cover of the single includes a picture of a young Fred Armisen singing for his old band, as well as one of a young Dave Grohl in a crowd shot (presumably in the audience for a different hardcore band's show). To top it off, their record was produced by Brendan Canty of Fugazi.

* Infant Sorrow, the band fronted by Aldous Snow in ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'' and its sort-of spinoff ''Film/GetHimToTheGreek'': The ''Sarah Marshall'' soundtrack included two of their songs, while in lieu of a traditional various artists soundtrack, ''Greek'' had a tie-in album consisting almost entirely of Infant Sorrow songs, including songs that weren't in the movie. The remaining tracks are also fake musicians - two songs are by Jacki Q, Aldous' pop-singer ex, and one is by Chocolate Daddy, apparently an in-universe OneHitWonder. Creator/RussellBrand does in fact sing all of the Infant Sorrow songs, although the music was performed and (mostly) written by others: A majority of the songwriting on the ''Get Him To The Greek'' soundtrack was done by Creator/JasonSegel and guitarist/session musician Lyle Workman, with contributions from some well-known rock musicians like [[Music/TheLibertines Carl Barât]] and Music/JarvisCocker.

* In 2021, well after ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' concluded, character Andy Dwyer's band Mouse Rat released ''The Awesome Album'', featuring originals as heard in the show as well as some {{Cover Versions}}[[note]]One episode had a subplot where Mouse Rat were booked as entertainment for a party at the Pawnee Senior Center, performing pop standards like "The Way You Look Tonight"[[/note]]. The album also features other fictional musicians from the show - Duke Silver is credited with saxophone on two songs, and the last two songs are performed by the band Land Ho! and their vocalist Scott Tanner (actually Music/{{Wilco}} and Jeff Tweedy respectively)

* In 2021, well after ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' concluded, character Andy Dwyer's band Mouse Rat released ''The Awesome Album''. It also features other fictional musicians from the show - Duke Silver is credited with saxophone on two songs, and the last two songs are performed by the band Land Ho! and their vocalist Scott Tanner (actually Music/{{Wilco}} and Jeff Tweedy respectively)

* Infant Sorrow, the band fronted by Aldous Snow in ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'' and its sort-of spinoff ''Film/GetHimToTheGreek'': The ''Sarah Marshall'' soundtrack included two of their songs, while in lieu of a traditional various artists soundtrack, ''Greek'' had a tie-in album consisting almost entirely of Infant Sorrow songs, including songs that weren't in the movie. The remaining tracks are also fake musicians
- two songs are by Jacki Q, Aldous' pop-singer ex, and one is by Chocolate Daddy, apparently an in-universe OneHitWonder. Creator/RussellBrand does in fact sing all of the Infant Sorrow songs, although the music was performed and (mostly) written by others: A majority of the songwriting on the ''Get Him To The Greek'' soundtrack was done by Creator/JasonSegel and guitarist/session musician Lyle Workman, with contributions from some well-known rock musicians like [[Music/TheLibertines Carl Barât]] and Music/JarvisCocker.

* * The B-side of Music/FleetwoodMac's 1969 single "Man of the World" was "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonite" by Earl Vince & The Valiants, a GenreThrowback rock'n'roll number that got very excited about [[LyricalDissonance the prospect of a forthcoming riot]]. Of course it was really just Fleetwood Mac themselves having an OutOfGenreExperience.

* Music/FrankZappa released an album named ''Music/CruisingWithRubenAndTheJets'' in 1968, where he and the Mothers of Invention performed as a FakeBand called ''Ruben & The Jets'', even creating a false biography in the sleeve notes. In 1973 a real doowop band named Ruben & the Jets would tour the country. Their debut album was even produced by Zappa!

* In 2021, well after ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' concluded, character Andy Dwyer's band Mouse Rat released ''The Awesome Album''. It also features other fictional musicians from the show - Duke Silver is credited with saxophone on two songs, and the last two songs are performed by the band Land Ho! and their vocalist Scott Tanner (actually {{Music/Wilco}} and Jeff Tweedy respectively)

* "Jesse Cochran and the Rippers" (later "Jesse and the Rippers" when the character's last name was {{retcon}}ned) in ''Series/FullHouse''. [[note]]In the last season, the Rippers kick Jesse out of the band and sign under manager Barry Williams (Greg Brady of ''Series/TheBradyBunch) who guest stars AsHimself, and become the more successful "Barry and the Rippers". Jesse then starts a new band "Hot Daddy and the Monkey Puppets".[[/note]]

* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' has Jeffster, with show's resident {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Jeff & SmallNameBigEgo Lester performing a variety of covers. Whilst Scott Krinsky (Jeff) is miming on instruments, Vik Sahay (Lester) records the vocals & then lip syncs whilst filming.

* "Jesse Cochran and the Rippers" (later "Jesse and the Rippers" when the character's last name was {{retcon}}ned) in ''Series/FullHouse''. In the last season, the Rippers kick Jesse out of the band and sign under manager Barry Williams (Greg Brady of ''Series/TheBradyBunch) who guest stars AsHimself, and become the more successful "Barry and the Rippers". Jesse then starts a new band "Hot Daddy and the Monkey Puppets".

* The Electrocutes, a fictional rock band from ''Film/DriveMeCrazy'', were portrayed by real group The Donnas. This was something of a DevelopmentGag for the band, who did play some shows under that name before settling on The Donnas.

* The Electrocutes, a fictional rock band from ''Film/DriveMeCrazy'', were portrayed by real group The Donnas.

Compare BandToon, in which case an animated series is based around a band which may or may not [[InkSuitActor exist in real life.]]

* Sam B. from ''VideoGame/DeadIsland'' may be a fake rapper (Josef "J7" Lord providing his rapping voice), but that didn't stopped him from doing a collab with Music/{{Chamillionaire}}.

* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'', being set in the future, has real musicians perform as fake bands: chiefly, Music/{{Refused}} stands in for {{Deuteragonist}} Johnny Silverhand's band, Samurai, with singer Dennis Lyxzen being credited as Johnny's singing voice, and Music/{{Grimes}} not only sings, but also has a voice acting role as the eccentric cyborg celebrity Lizzy Wizzy. Additionally, Music/RunTheJewels are credited as "Yankee and the Brave" and Canadian hip-hop producer Konrad Oldmoney is credited as ''twenty eight'' different fictional artists, depending on whom he collaborated with on a given track.

* ''DoubleDragonNeon'''s soundtrack, produced by Jake Kaufman, features several fake bands such as Mango Tango and Billy & The Breakers.

* The J-Rock band "Hummingbird" appeared as ''Anime/{{Macross 7}}'''s band "Fire Bomber," whose music and adventures (including live performances aboard TransformingMecha controlled by guitars) were at the center of the series. The band released a number of real albums as "Fire Bomber", including an entire fake tribute album to another fictional singer in the ''Anime/{{Macross}}'' MythArc. There have been 13 "Fire Bomber" albums so far, many of which have songs that never were in the anime.

* In the climax of the 1986 film ''Film/{{Crossroads 1986}}'', the protagonist (Ralph Macchio) enters a guitar duel to save his soul. He faces off against the Devil's guitarist, Jack Butler, played by legendary guitar wizard Steve Vai (Vai played both parts of the duel; Macchio's parts in the rest of the film were played by legendary slide guitarist Ry Cooder).

* The plot of ''{{Anime/Interstella5555}}'' revolves around the Crescendolls, a fake band who supposedly recorded Music/DaftPunk's "One More Time." The band is fake on more than one level, because they don't exist in real life and they [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe aren't really who they appear to be]] in the film either.

* The half of the bands in ''VideoGame/ShowByRock'' that aren't entirely made up[[note]]Dropout Sensei (based on Asstellus), Gaugastrikes (KFK), Shinimonogurui (Marie Ueda), Demons Venom (Silhouette from the Skylit), Labomunch (clammbon), Rapezziauto (yksb ft. [=MiLO=] & 31style), Chammy Chaplets (kiki*), 04Tobizbits (04 Limited Sazabys), Tekebakitsusou (Usotsuki), Shirorakurosuka? (A Crow Is White), Fukashi Gimmick (Band Gokko), and Spectrenotes ({{Music/BIGMAMA}})[[/note]] are this type of fake band, with characters [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on the band's actual members]]. The bands' actual music is used as in-game songs, and though most of the characters are left unvoiced, the real-life band members' counterparts provide voices for the ones that have voiced cards.

* "The Weird Sisters" in ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'' included Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey of Pulp, Phil Selway and Jonny Greenwood of Music/{{Radiohead}}, Steve Claydon of Add N to (X), and electronica artist Jason Buckle, who has worked with Jarvis Cocker in their side-project Relaxed Muscle.

* Music/MilliVanilli, a five-member group whose music was all credited to two guys with no vocal talent. They later tried to reform their image, but [[DeaderThanDisco nobody cared at that point]].