When Hollywood's movie stars become big-screen rock gods
By Sean Axmaker
Special to MSN Movies
In "Rock of Ages," the big-screen incarnation of
Broadway's heavy metal /'80s power pop juke box musical, Tom Cruise shouts, jumps, pumps and
preens as Stacee Jaxx, rock 'n' roll legend and hair band frontman on the
downside of his career. He's a completely fictional creation, of course, but
he'll be channeling the legacies of Axl Rose, Jon Bon Jovi and others, while
trying to hold the stage against the real-life music stars of the cast,
including Mary J. Blige and Julianne Hough.
Hollywood has long had a love affair with music stars making the transition
to the screen, either for a song or to anchor a film, and a few of them have
made the transition brilliantly. But what about actors trying to method their
way into playing rock 'n' roll legends? It's not just about the pipes; it's
about the style, the swagger, the stage presence, convincing a screen audience
that this is someone who can hold an audience in thrall to their delivery, on
and off the stage.
Cruise is hardly the first actor to take on the mantle of rock 'n' roll
legend, fictional or not, and he's following some impressive acts. Here's our
look at the best of the screen legends of rock 'n' roll.
Bing: More on "Rock of Ages"
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