Sometimes, to assist with promotion, musicians will call on familiar faces, as seen by the celebrity appearances in these music videos for hit rock songs. Many genres have taken this route, including major celebrity sightings in pop-punk. Additionally, some classic rock legends have enlisted some of the biggest stars to boost their projects. However, as much as these appearances assist the artists, they can also benefit those appearing.
Numerous celebrities appeared in music videos before their rise to megastardom. This demonstrates just how powerful a tool these can be. Ever since MTV popularized them in the ’80s, they have become an essential part of musical releases. Given that rock can attract a niche audience at times, crossovers like these can help draw attention to those who may have otherwise missed these hit songs. These contribute to their success, marking a win for all involved.
10
Finn Wolfhard
PUP – Sleep In The Heat
After releasing their first studio album in 2013, PUP was back in 2016 with their sophomore record, The Dream Is Over. To help make this a success, the Canadian punk rock band continued the story they started telling with the 2014 music video for their song “Guilt Trip.” They brought back fellow Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard to further the narrative with the song “Sleep in the Heat.”
Wolfhard has played many intense roles in productions such as It, Ghostbusters, and Stranger Things, among many others.
Throughout his career, Wolfhard has played many intense roles in productions such as It, Ghostbusters, and Stranger Things, among many others. Although these roles placed him in a bigger spotlight, his appearances for PUP showcased what the actor was capable of. Both videos are littered with tragedy, but “Sleep in the Heat” specifically demonstrated how he could be brought back into a role and recapture the past magic.
9
Kate Moss
The White Stripes – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself
Famously, the White Stripes’ fourth studio album, Elephant, is known for housing one of the biggest songs of all time, “Seven Nation Army.” However, it’s not the only song that has caught a lot of attention, as their cover of the 1964 tune “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” also did. One of the main reasons was the music video for it, which starred model Kate Moss.
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Although Moss may be well-known for her modeling, her career has extended far beyond that. Along with philanthropy and some film appearances, she actually has a few roles in music videos to her credit. These appearances have been for artists such as Oasis, Johnny Cash, and Paul McCartney. However, her featured role for the White Stripes remains one of her top credits due to the nature of the video.
8
Natasha Lyonne & Andrew Howard
Against Me! – 333
Currently, with the band on indefinite hiatus, their last studio album is the 2016 release, Shape Shift with Me. One of the most memorable tracks was the first single released, “333.” Beyond the intriguing lyrics and great melodies, it was the music video directed by the award-winning Ben Lee that caught people’s attention due to the celebrity connection.
This video has not one but two stars in it. Playing the couple are Natasha Lyonne and Andrew Howard. Lyonne has been acting since childhood, eventually going on to appear in movies such as American Pie. Additionally, she has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world. As for Howard, his credits include movies such as The Hangover Part III. Therefore, both brought a large audience that spanned many genres.
7
Elisha Cuthbert
Weezer – Perfect Situation
When Weezer is mentioned, a few signature songs are usually cited first, such as “Buddy Holly” and “Beverly Hills.” The latter was part of their fifth studio album, Make Believe, but it was only one of many memorable songs from the record. One of the hits was the third single the band released, titled “Perfect Situation.”
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To help promote the song, there was an accompanying music video featuring actress Elisha Cuthbert. She became known for roles such as in 2005’s House of Wax and 2004’s The Girl Next Door. This meant the music video was released right when her career was taking off, making her a very recognizable face as the lead of the fictional Weeze.
6
David Cross
The Strokes – Juicebox
Initially, the release of “Juicebox” was a nightmare for The Strokes because it leaked before its actual date. Although this forced them to change course, it still worked out, as the song ranked on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped bring good publicity to their young careers. Additionally, the song received a music video to further aid its promotion.
Although some fans don’t realize it’s him at first, it’s unmistakable once they see it.
In the video, comedian David Cross plays a radio personality. Cross is known for various roles, including Mr. Show with Bob and David, a sketch comedy program he did alongside Bob Odenkirk. He also gained a following in Alvin and The Chipmunks, as well as Arrested Development. Although some fans don’t realize it’s him at first, it’s unmistakable once they see it.
5
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
R.E.M. – Überlin
After thirty years, R.E.M. was ready to end their career in 2011 with their final album, Collapse into Now. Since this would mark the end of their legendary career, they had to ensure everything they did counted. The third single from the album to be released was the song “Überlin,” but to ensure it received the maximum amount of attention, a familiar face was enlisted for the music video.
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Playing the main role is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who had a huge following at that time due to his role in the movie Kick-Ass. In this video, he is the main focus the entire time, as the camera follows him dancing down the street. Adding to the video’s history is the fact that it was directed by Aaron’s wife, Sam, making this a family project alongside the music of a phenomenal band.
4
Eric Roberts
The Killers – Mr. Brightside
In 2004, The Killers released one of the best debut albums of all time, Hot Fuss. One of the biggest reasons was its debut single, “Mr. Brightside.” The lyrics were catchy and, more importantly, they told an intriguing story. The accompanying music video helped bring these words to life, as it starred one of the most accomplished actors in Hollywood, Eric Roberts.
The more than 700 acting credits that Roberts has to his name are simply incredible. After beginning his career in 1978, he went on to star in notable films such as The Pope of Greenwich Village. His performance in this video was yet another masterful role for Roberts. It became award-winning, adding another accolade to his career and skyrocketing the brand-new band.
3
Jack Black
Foo Fighters – Low
On their fourth studio album, the Foo Fighters had many hit songs, including “All My Life,” “Times Like These,” and “Low.” The latter had a music video to accompany it, but its content generated enough controversy to keep it off MTV. Fortunately, the video still became well-known, one reason being that it starred Jack Black.
This wasn’t the first video of theirs to feature him, as he made a cameo alongside his fellow Tenacious D member, Kyle Gass, in “Learn to Fly.”
For this one, Black was initially going to be solo throughout, but it was eventually decided that the band’s lead singer, Dave Grohl, would join him. For over five minutes, the two of them wreak havoc in a hotel room, creating memorable scenes. It would ultimately help promote the song that the band was originally unsure how it would perform as a single because of its structure.
2
Tom Kenny & Jill Talley
The Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight, Tonight
The Smashing Pumpkins are known for creating magnificent stories, not only for their songs but also for the music videos that accompany them. For their hit “Tonight, Tonight,” which was part of their 1995 record Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, this was no different. The video was like watching a short film, but as you watch, you notice two familiar faces.
In this were Tom Kenny and Jill Talley, who at the time were on the sketch comedy show Mr. Show with Bob and David. However, many people will recognize them as voice actors in SpongeBob SquarePants, along with many other animations. This was a great instance of truly never knowing who will show up in one of these videos and also how big their careers could become.
1
Gaten Matarazzo
Green Day – Meet Me On The Roof
Throughout their career, Green Day has proven to be one of the best bands regarding promotion. They demonstrated their genius yet again with the music video for “Meet Me on the Roof,” a song from their 2020 record. This video features Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things in the main role, marking a significant generational crossover.
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While Green Day has built a large fanbase over their many years together, Matarazzo has gained his own from being on one of Netflix’s biggest shows. This was a perfect example of how two forces can unite to create something from which both benefit. It was Green Day meets Stranger Things, resulting in something as unique as both entities.
