This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of the saddest rock ballads of all time. Bad Company’s “Shooting Star” tells the tragic story of a boy who quickly rose to fame, fainted even more quickly, and died of an overdose shortly thereafter.

The song appeared on the 1975 album. Straight pull, which also featured the Top Ten hit “Feel Like Makin ‘Love.” Although the story certainly has a lot of truth, the character of Johnny is purely fictional.

Other songs have featured fictional singers or bands, some of whom, like Johnny, met with tragedy and / or success. Here are ten popular songs containing fictional musicians, most of which were created by well-known artists.

Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (with Billy Shears), created by The Beatles

The concept of this fantasy band led to what can be said to have become the best album in rock history, as well as a major movie and valuable cover. The title track introduces the group, beginning with singer Billy Shears, who leads to “With a Little Help from My Friends.”

Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars, created by David Bowie

The British icon underwent several transformations throughout his half century as an animator, but his most enduring character is Ziggy. The album is one of his best since the peak of his career in the 70s, and the title track is still featured weekly on FM rock stations.

The Sultans of Swing, created by Dire Straits

Mark Knopfler and his band had a huge hit with this song from their self-titled debut, which tells the story of a band that only plays on Friday nights. We only have two of their names, Guitar George and Harry, but the scene is so well described that we can almost hear them “blow Dixie four times double.”

Bennie and the Jets, created by Elton John

This fictional girl band, decked out in electric boots and mohair suits, is so good that the veteran pianist finds himself stuttering at the sight of them.

Curtis lowe, created by Lynyrd Skynyrd

This melody of A second serving It is a beautiful song about an old black man who plays a dobro in exchange for a sip of wine. Although he dies virtually unknown, like Johnny in “Shooting Star”, his disappearance is followed by the narrator’s praise of his musical legacy.

The Jokers, created by Rick Derringer “

Although a real band would eventually call themselves The Jokers, rocker Rick Derringer was referring to a fictional group when he described them as “ditching them” on their biggest hit, “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo.”

DJ Mini Mart, created by Minus Five

Jeff Tweedy co-wrote “Retrieval of You”, a song from the appropriately titled Down with Wilco album. The tune is told from the point of view of “a lost record star” who got her nickname from working at a convenience store.

Willy and the poor, created by Creedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogarty in “Down on the Corner” sings about this group featuring Rooster on the washboard, Blinkie on bass, Poorboy on kazoo and Willy dancing as a singer.

Johnny B Goode, created by Chuck Berry

This early rock character is undoubtedly the song’s most famous guitarist, who is encouraged by the great Berry himself to “Go, go Johnny go, Go”.

Jason B. Sad, created by T. Rex

Marc Bolan made this character autobiographical, in the sense that the boy becomes a glam rock star. The fictional hero has a successful ending but, tragically, he himself was killed in a car accident shortly after the release of this song.