10 Actors Who Sang Their Own Songs in Rock Movies

There have been numerous biopics about rock and metal artists, and in certain instances, the actors sang the music themselves.

Portraying an iconic musician and lip-syncing to their tracks is one thing, but actually performing their songs is an entirely different challenge.

In the 2018 biopic about Queen’s Freddie Mercury, the filmmakers used Mercury’s original vocals, blending them with those of Canadian singer Marc Martel, whose voice remarkably resembles Mercury’s.

Rami Malek, who plays Mercury in the film, contributed some vocals, but mostly it is Mercury and Martel that viewers hear.

In many other biopics, authentic studio recordings by the artists were featured on the soundtrack. However, the actors also sang in parts to add realism to their performances. Many of them worked with professional vocal coaches to prepare for their roles.

While these films often face criticism from audiences who point out that the actor does not sound exactly like the musician they are portraying, having the actors sing adds a layer of authenticity that would not be there if they were merely lip-syncing.

Below are notable actors and actresses who sang in rock music movies.