Adam Forsgren
Biopics about music superstars are a staple of Hollywood movie-making. You take a legendary musical figure, build a narrative encompassing his/her rise to fame, the burdens of stardom and their eventual downhill slide, topped with a triumphant return and you have a compelling story full of drama, conflict and, of course, great music.
Everyone from Mozart to Ray Charles to N.W.A. to Queen has been the subject of a popular biopic. Such films tend to do well with audiences, get love from critics and even bring their stars awards buzz.
All this is awesome, but I have one giant complaint: Where are the biopics about heavy metal luminaries? The closest thing we’ve gotten is Lords of Chaos and, if I’m honest, that movie was underwhelming.
Now, I know mainstream tastemakers don’t respect metal and think it’s dumb, angry music for dumb, angry people. But take a look around. Pop-tarts like Miley Cyrus are wearing Iron Maiden shirts. Lady Gaga played the Grammys with Metallica. Metal has a proud history, full of iconic figures, like Ozzy Osborne and Lemmy Kilmister, who are beloved by millions.
Now is the time for a major, big-budget heavy metal biopic, and while there are more famous artists in metal, I think I know who this movie should cover.
We need a badass, full-on metal biopic about legendary Megadeth frontman, Dave Mustaine.
There are a plethora of reasons why MegaDave is perfect biopic fodder. In fact, I can give you five reasons a Mustaine movie is an amazing idea and I don’t even have to mention his contributions to rock music. Check it out:
If there are any movie execs out there reading this, I have to tell you, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity. Not only is Dave’s story worth telling on film, but if you do it right, you’d earn the undying love (and money) of an audience that is underserved in today’s media. It’s been long enough that bands that were contemporaries with Megadeth, like Motley Crue and Guns n’ Roses, are being played on classic rock stations now. The time is right. Grow some gonads and give metal the same props you give country and hip-hop.