The top 10 rocking-est moments in movies ever, probably.

Here at the Chepstow Music Department, we are men of a great many interests; a great many interests indeed. For example, music and films. And, occasionally, beards.

Facial furniture aside, the purpose of this humble blog entry is to observe those glorious moments when rock and movies intertwine so beautifully, that the word 'rocking-est' had to be invented to cover the scope and breadth of just how awesome they are.

Thus, we present to you....the Top Ten Rocking-est Moments In Movies.

10. Rocky IV

Easily the best of the Rocky movies, mainly for its soundtrack of pure 80's cheese rock, lack of sentimentality or real plot, the fact Adrian's brother has a pet robot, and amusingly heavy-handed Cold War 'allegory' (American VS Russian boxers...subtle).
While there are some utter gems of musical moments here, in the form of Survivor's Heart's On Fire being played while Balboa runs up a mountain shouting his rival's name and old favourite Eye Of The Tiger, my personal rocking-est moment is Rocky's way of getting over his best mate Apollo's death - driving around town (licence plate SOTHPAW!) to Robert Tepper's There's No Easy Way Out enjoying a montage of his personal highs and lows. Awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IuueKw1m98

9. Terminator 2 - Arnie VS Guns N'Roses

Back before Arnie became the Governator, he was in fact an excellent bad actor, and the Terminator films are some of his best movies. Guns N'Roses' You Could Be Mine is used in the film, but the real genius lay in the Guns' music video for the song; skip to the end to see Arnie in full Terminator costume going to a G N'R live show, 'targeting' the band after it, and deeming lead singer Axl Rose a 'waste of ammo'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9dJ5VMEos

8. The Blues Brothers - The Palace Ballroom

Rock is derived from blues so I can include the Brothers here - this was a tough call, as the whole film is basically a load of nonsense linked together by fantastic music, but what's more rock n'roll than evading an entire room full of armed police by belting out Everybody Needs Somebody then legging it while the crowd goes wild? I bet Keith Richards was impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1m0p0cSTg0

7. Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey - Saving the world through rockin'

Bill S Preston and Ted 'Theodore' Logan had to be on this list, they rip some air guitar whenever they're happy. After being killed by their own clones, beating the Reaper at chess, Twister and battleships, making robot versions of themselves, meeting 'medieval babes' and saving the universe, Bill and Ted kick off the shreddiest version of Kiss' God Gave Rock And Roll To You ever. Amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cEdqWZi13I

6. Tenacious D In The Pick of Destiny - We challenge you to a rock-off

The D spend this entire ludicrous film looking for a magical guitar plectrum that will make them
the greatest band in the world, and end up having a rock-off with none other than the Devil. You have no idea how hard it was finding a clean version of this clip. This film also deserves special mention for having Meat Loaf playing Jack Black's dad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkwubOcjlI8

5. High Fidelity - Life lessons from Bruce

The Nick Hornby adaptation is a love letter to music geeks everywhere - if you've ever alphabetised your music collection or bickered over soundtracks, you need this film. The ultimate 'cool' moment in this very cool film is when John Cusack seeks advice on meeting his exes...from none other than Mr Bruce Springsteen,aka The Boss, aka God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZE7OchG3DY

4 . Crossroads - Guitar battle

Long before any Guitar Hero shenanigans, this was the best guitar battle going, between Ralph Macchio and the Devil's own guitar player. It features some facemelting axemanship, and more importantly shows self-indulgent poodle-permed bore Steve Vai getting out-shredded by the Karate Kid. Mega.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTDhubVihIQ

3. Wayne's World - I am just a poor boy, from a poor family

Yes, it's the famous Bohemian Rhapsody bit. While cruising round Illinois in the 'Mirthmobile', Wayne, Garth and a few fellow metalheads crank up the classic Queen and mime/falsetto/scream along, complete with synchronised headbanging at the Brian May riffing 'rock' part. So ingrained in popular culture, it is actually physically impossible to listen to Bo Rhap in a car without re-enacting this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9umpJj3D4d8

2. Back To The Future - the Johnny B Goode bit.

After going back in time to the 1950s, befriending harmless madman Doc Brown, dodging fights with local bullies and trying to avoid kissing his own mother, Marty McFly takes to the school disco's dancefloor armed with a snazzy red Gibson and only goes and ruddy invents rock and roll. After managing to get his parents together and stopping himself disappearing, he struts on to the stage and plays a ripping version of Johnny B Goode, complete with massive 80s metal guitar solo. As you would, of course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFgI1FaLpGM

1. Spinal Tap - These go to 11

Nigel Tufnel, guitar god extraordinaire for the Tap, shows off his extensive axe collection, and comes up with eminently quotable nonsense about his Les Pauls like 'Don't touch that one, don't point at it, don't even look at it' and 'the sustain...you can go and have a bite, you'll still be hearing that one'. However, Tufnel's crowning glory is his Marshall amp that goes up to 11, instead of the usual 10. Why? It's 'one louder, innit'. The most rock and roll bit in the most rocking-est film ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7rWiY5obI

So, those are the rocking-est moments in movies as far as we're concerned. If we've learned anything from this, it's that a) if you've read this far you're either a top-drawer rock fan or just have too much time on your hands and b) rocking-est is not a word that will be entering the Oxford English Dictionary anytime soon.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment on your own most rocking-est scenes!