The soundtrack for the upcoming Mark Wahlberg/Jennifer Aniston vehicle Rock Star will hit stores August 28th and feature some all-star talent. Along with tracks from arena rockers like Kiss and Bon Jovi, there are five original songs by the movie's fictitious band, Steel Dragon.

Wahlberg stars as the lead singer of Steel Dragon in this story that is loosely based on the real life twist of fate that brought "Ripper" Owens -- a former office supply salesman and Judas Priest cover band lead singer -- into the spotlight as Judas Priest singer, replacing Rob Halford in 1996. Joining Wahlberg on stage are guitarist Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Ozzbourne/ Black Label Society), drummer Jason Bonham, bassist Jeff Pilson (Dokken) and guitarist Nick Cantonese (Black Label Society). Jeff Scott Soto ( Yngwie Malmstein) and Mike Matijevic (Steel Heart) will help out on vocals as well.

Sammy Hagar and Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez penned the Dragon tunes "Stand Up" and "Blood Pollution," respectively, and longtime Motley Crue producer Tom Werman produced all of the Steel Dragon tracks.

On screen you can expect cameos by Verve Pipe 's Brian Vander Ark and Slaughter drummer Blas Elias, who play members of the Steel Dragon tribute band Blood Pollution and who are later joined by Third Eye Blind frontman Stephen Jenkins, who is called in to replace Wahlberg.

The first single and video from the soundtrack will be Everclear's appropriately titled, "Rock Star." The film opens nationwide September 7th.

The track listing for the Rock Star soundtrack:

Everclear, "Rock Star"
Steel Dragon, "Livin' the Life"
Motley Crue, "Wild Side"
Steel Dragon, "We All Die Young"
Steel Dragon, "Blood Pollution"
Bon Jovi, "Livin' On A Prayer"
Steel Dragon, "Stand Up"
Ted Nugent, "Stranglehold"
Steel Dragon, "Wasted Generation"
Kiss, "Lick It Up"
Steel Dragon, "Long Live Rock & Roll"
INXS, "Devil Inside"
Verve Pipe, "Colorful"
Trevor Rabin, "Gotta Have It"

JEAN GISMERVIK
(August 8, 2001)