When I was a kid, my favorite movies were Ghostbusters, Top Gun, The Empire Strikes Back, and 1989’s Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. There was something magical about Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan’s soon-to-be-legendary band, the Wyld Stallyns.
If you know the story of Bill and Ted, played most triumphantly by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, Wyld Stallyns music becomes the “foundation of our whole society” in the far-off future. “It aligns the planets and brings them into universal harmony, allowing meaningful contact with all forms of life. And… it’s excellent for dancing!”
I always loved the idea that Bill and Ted’s band went on to be great, because in the movie they were pretty awful. But that’s part of the fun—you have to use your imagination. Which brings me to the founding of Roughrider Records, a one-of-a-kind label specializing in fictional bands!
There’s one (kind of) real Wyld Stallyns song in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure that became the template for this whole idea. That song is “In Time” by Robbie Robb, and it’s probably one of the best rock ballads ever written. Years and years later, when I first heard the song “Big Decisions” by My Morning Jacket, I couldn’t shake that it sounded like a Wyld Stallyns song. Then I heard “On the Run” by Greg Holden and it, too, had a Bill and Ted vibe to it.
So I started thinking, “What if Wyld Styallyns were a real band?” and eventually made a pretend album to answer this very question. Since then, I’ve released 10 — YES, TEN!!! — multi-platinum Wyld Stallyns records that have become the soundtrack of my life. I’ve got a Sunday morning album (Be Excellent to Each Other), a cruisin’ album (San Dimas High School Football), a breakup album (Strange Things Are Afoot), and an epic dance album (Party On, Dudes!) that won a 1990s Grammy for album of the year. I obviously made that last part up, but we’re having fun here so just go with it.
I’ve seen a dozen or so Wyld Stallyns bands in concert the past few years, from Patrick Droney and The Strike to Mat Kearney and The Maine. I even met Greg Holden at a show in Seattle and he autographed one of his records as “Wyld Stallyns!!” which is pretty freaking cool. This has been a phenomenal way to discover new music and support bands I’ve come to love. Producing these albums is a joy and I listen to them all the time—enough that if you ask my kids what my favorite band is, they’ll say Wyld Stallyns without a doubt.
Taking this even further, in 2024 we went to Las Vegas to see Keanu’s band, Dogstar, and rocked out at a semi-real and super fun Wyld Stallyns concert with the man himself. Then, in 2025 we saw the play Waiting for Godot on Broadway with Bill and Ted live and in person. We even got to enjoy a special 15-minute talk with the two actors after the show. Their camaraderie was on full display, and it was most excellent to be in the same room with my favorite time-traveling heroes. Sticking with the whole imagination thing, it’s really fun to think that Broadway is something Bill and Ted would do to challenge themselves after a hall of fame music career. Whoa!
All of these epic Wyld Stallyns records, plus all-time classics from Jesse and the Rippers of Full House fame; alternative legends Drive Shaft from the TV show Lost; Pink Slip, Lindsey Lohan’s girl punk band from Freaky Friday; Josie and the Pussycats‘ long-awaited sophomore spin; Fire Saga, Will Ferrell and Rachael McAdams’ Icelandic rockers from the Netflix movie of the same name; and of course, the O-neders (I mean The Wonders). They’re all part of the Roughrider Records family!
Click the links below to listen to each album on Spotify. Enjoy!
Wyld Stallyns – Wyld Stallyns Rule!
The 1988 debut album of Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan!
Wyld Stallyns – Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
The 1989 sophomore smash from Bill & Ted’s outstanding rock and roll band.
Wyld Stallyns – Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey
Critics called the 3rd Wyld Stallyns album, released in 1991, a “most triumphant” achievement!
Wyld Stallyns – San Dimas High School Football
The 4th studio album from Bill & Ted’s legendary band is pure listening bliss.
Wyld Stallyns – Be Excellent to Each Other
On their 5th album, the Wyld Stallyns are dedicated to a proposition that every one of us can get behind…
Wyld Stallyns – Party On, Dudes!
Bill & Ted’s most excellent band does it again with the Wyld Stallyns’ Grammy-winning 6th album.
Wyld Stallyns – Strange Things Are Afoot
The 7th Wyld Stallyns album is about love and loss & how we go round and round in a circle of knowledge and growth. See what I did there?
Rufus kick-started Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure with the timeless words, “Gentlemen, we’re history!” Enjoy the 8th studio album from the legendary Wyld Stayllyns!
Wyld Stallyns – Medieval Dickweeds
“You killed Ted you medieval dickweed!” On their 9th studio album, Bill & Ted show they are very much alive and at the top of their game!
Wyld Stallyns – Bill & Ted Face the Music
On their 10th studio album, Bill and Ted challenge themselves to recapture the sound and magic of their historic debut album released back in 1988!
Jesse and the Rippers – Forever
Have mercy! Jesse Katsopolis and his all-star band rocked the 1990s with this classic rock-inspired EP.
The 1999 debut album of Manchester’s punk rock maestros, led by volatile brothers Charlie and Liam Pace.
Teen angst at its very best! The debut album from Anna Coleman’s garage band is punk rock perfection.
Josie and the Pussycats – In Our Own Words
The long-awaited sophomore album from Riverdale’s bad-ass girl band following their 2001 cult classic movie soundtrack.
The Wonders – That Thing You Do!
In 1964, this Erie, Pennsylvania band (they were called “The Oneders” back then) went from college talent show to the top of the charts.
Fire Saga – EuroVision Song Content
Following their shocking success at 2020’s live event, Iceland’s own Fire Saga releases their debut album.
What’s Next?
Roughrider Records is currently in studio with other legendary fictional bands including Marvin Berry and the Starlighters from Back to the Future, Otis Day and the Knights from Animal House, The Weird Sisters from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and probably a few more.
What fictional bands do you want us to sign?
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