Tapeheads

Tapeheads is a 1988 comedy film directed by Bill Fishman and starring John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Sam Moore and Junior Walker. The film was produced by Michael Nesmith, who briefly appears as a bottled water delivery man. Plot After losing their jobs as security guards, best friends Ivan (John Cusack) and Josh (Tim Robbins) start a music video production company called "Video Aces". When they meet their childhood heroes, 1970s soul duo Swanky Modes (Sam Moore and Junior Walker), Ivan and Josh concoct a scheme to give them a new audience by hijacking a Menudo concert, getting them to perform in Menudo's place, and broadcasting it live across the country on a television satellite hook-up. The movie also features a fake ad spot for a real Los Angeles restaurant, Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles. Notable appearances in the film include: Mary Crosby, of the soap opera Dallas; character actors Clu Gulager and Doug McClure; football player Lyle Alzado; 1960s actress Connie Stevens; Soul Train host Don Cornelius; singer Courtney Love; Navasota singer King Cotton; original "Human Beat-Box" Doug E. Fresh; ska-punk band Fishbone (who also perform the incidental score) as "Ranchbone"; The Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church singer Stiv Bators; Ted Nugent; "Weird Al" Yankovic; and Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra, in a cameo as an FBI agent. Cast John Cusack as Ivan Alexeev Tim Robbins as Josh Tager Mary Crosby as Samantha Gregory Clu Gulager as Senator Norman Mart Doug McClure as Sid Tager Katy Boyer as Belinda Mart Jessica Walter as Kay Mart Sam Moore as Billy Diamond Junior Walker as Lester Diamond Susan Tyrrell as Nikki Morton Lee Arenberg as Norton Xander Berkeley as Ricky Fell "Weird Al" Yankovic as himself Don Cornelius as Mo Fuzz King Cotton as Roscoe Zander Schloss as Heavy Metal Fan Martha C. Quinn as RVTV-VJ Ted Nugent as Rock Star Jello Biafra as FBI Man #1 Bob McLean as FBI Man #2 Connie Stevens as June Tager Courtney Love (uncredited) as Norman's Spanker Stiv Bators as Dick Slammer Bob Goldthwait (credited as Jack Cheese) as Don Druzel David Anthony Higgins as Visual Aplomb Michael Nesmith as Water Man Jennifer Balgobin as Calypso Dancer Sy Richardson as The Bartender Brie Howard as Flygirl Billy Davis as Swanky Modes Band Member, Guitar Lyle Alzado as Conan the Tour Guide