Rocking Revelations

They say that life imitates art, and in the case of some aging rockers, unintentionally prophetic movies have provided insight into their future musical activities. We're not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, but here are some uncanny examples of celluloid precognition. Fledgling rockers take heed: Your future may lie in a movie that's out right now!
By Bryan Reesman

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
In a scene in Office Space, corporate drone Michael Bolton has to endure being compared to the reformed rock singer of the same name, especially during a bruising evaluation where an efficiency expert (John C. McGinley) waxes eloquent about the real Bolton's pop vocal prowess, particularly on his "stunning" and "very emotional" opera album. Flash forward to January 30, 2007: Michael Bolton's opera DVD My Secret Passion arrives. No joke.

METAL TRIBUTE
In the 2001 movie Rock Star - based partially on the life of Tim "Ripper" Owens, who ascended from Judas Priest tribute singer to Rob Halford's replacement in 1996 - a young singer played by Mark Wahlberg becomes the front man for his favorite band after his vocal idol quits. But once he's entrenched in the group's world, he does not get to write his own parts and has to sing a rap-metal tune. Move forward several months: Judas Priest releases Demolition, which has no Owens songwriting credits and which closes with a rap-metal-style song. However, unlike Wahlberg's character, who returns to doing coffeehouse performances, Owens still tours the world today with Iced Earth and Beyond Fear.