A wannabe rock star who fronts a Pennsylvania-based tribute band is devastated when his bandmates kick him out of the group he founded. Things begin to look up for Izzy when he is asked to join Steel Dragon, the heavy metal rockers he had been imitating for so long. This film is loosely based on the true story of the band Judas Priest.
Acting
Wahlberg commits so hard to the bit you forget he's Marky Mark.
Practical Effects
Actual 80s metal legends playing their own fictionalized counterparts.
Costume
Leather and lace budget alone could fund a small nation's GDP.
Director
Stephen Herek
Mark Wahlberg
Chris 'Izzy' Cole
Jennifer Aniston
Emily Poule
Dominic West
Kirk Cuddy
Jason Bonham
A.C.
Jeff Pilson
Jorgen
Zakk Wylde
Ghode
Timothy Spall
Mats, Steel Dragon Road Manager
Blas Elias
Donny Johnson
Nick Catanese
Xander Cummins
Brian Vander Ark
Ricki Bell
Timothy Olyphant
Rob Malcolm
Dagmara Dominczyk
Tania Asher, Steel Dragon PR
Matthew Glave
Joe Cole
Michael Shamus Wiles
Mr. Cole
Beth Grant
Mrs. Cole
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Tim 'Ripper' Owens, the real Judas Priest tribute singer who replaced Rob Halford, was offered the Izzy role but declined—making this a fictionalized version of a story he lived.
The film's release in 2001 made it a eulogy for an era: nu-metal had already killed hair metal, and this played like a sweet, sad time capsule nobody asked for.
US
