The eighties was a great time for movies. With titles like Stand By Me, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, ET, Ghostbusters, The Goonies, and Raiders of the Lost Ark all released in this decade, it’s no wonder we look back on this period as a golden age for cinema.
It was also a time when cameos and special guest appearances were still pretty exciting. Nowadays, it’s not at all unusual to see stars from the music industry popping up in Hollywood blockbusters. In the eighties, however, celebrity cameos were either sidesplittingly funny or achingly cool.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most iconic band cameos in 80s movies. You might even remember seeing some of these films for the very first time.
Huey Lewis and the News in Back to the Future
It’s true that not all members of legendary eighties band The News get to appear in Back to the Future. However, we thought the story behind their involvement in the film was cool enough to earn them a spot on the list. Lead singer Huey Lewis cameos as a judge for a Battle of the Bands competition. The inside joke here is that Marty McFly and his band get rejected after playing The Power of Love. It is, of course, a song made famous by Huey and the News themselves.
Devo in Human Highway
Eighties rock band Devo popped up in Human Highway, a quirky comedy directed by fellow hall of fame alumni Neil Young. The film itself didn’t do too well at the box office. Then again, it was a comedy about nuclear power, so perhaps that’s no surprise. It does pick up when synth pop stars Devo turn up as rubbish collectors at a nuclear power station. Oddly, they give a sombre speech about the perils of nuclear waste and then launch into a rendition of their track Worried Man. It’s a weird one, but it’s worth checking out.
Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees in Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds is a little known cult classic from the eighties which stars Anthony Michael Hall. The actor became a huge hit after playing major roles in The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and Johnny Be Good. It follows the misfortunes of a teenager who accidentally ends up with a million bucks worth of heroin. Together with a mysterious stranger, he visits real life LA punk club Dirtbox. This is where goth legends Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees are on stage and rocking the place out.
Oingo Boingo in Back to School
Not a lot of people know about Oingo Boingo or the fact that this wacky new wave band were fronted by world renowned composer Danny Elfman. Yes, really. In 1986, they made a cameo in comedy film Back to School. The band was featured playing their track Dead Man’s Party at a big event hosted by the curiously named Thornton Melon. The scene has gone down as a cult favourite with eighties movie fans. The plot involves some pretty zany stuff, but you’ll also spot writer Kurt Vonnegut if you keep your eyes peeled.
Twisted Sister in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
If you’ve never seen Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, do yourself a favour and rent or stream it. It is a quintessentially eighties movie and it will have you feeling nostalgic for the good old days when cinema didn’t need ten explosions per hour to keep audiences interested. Plus, it’s hard to find a cooler cameo than Twisted Sister. Pee Wee Herman accidentally runs into the metal band while they’re shooting a music video at Warner Bros. Studios. Cue a wild chase scene involving a Christmas sleigh and a boat.
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