STEEL DRAGON is actually a fictitious unit assembled for the 2001 'Rock Star' 80s based movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Anniston. With Wahlberg fronting a celluloid band made up from the cream of American Rock the temptation to cut some 'real' STEEL DRAGON music in the studio for a soundtrack album became too great.

Alongside Wahlberg, who had previously made his name in the music world as teen rapper MARKY MARK, the group also boasted the talents of OZZY OSBOURNE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist ZAKK WYLDE, DOKKEN, DIO and WAR AND PEACE bassist Jeff Pilson and BONHAM, VIRGINIA WOLF and AIRRACE drummer Jason Bonham. All the lead vocals for Wahlberg's part in the movie were contributed by ex-STEELHEART vocalist Michael Matijevic.

The Steven Herek directed movie had originally gone under the title 'Metal God' and had been based on a New York Times article in 1997 by journalist Andrew Revkin titled "Metal Head Becomes a Metal God' detailing the almost fairy tale rise of then unknown vocalist Tim 'Ripper' Owens to stardom fronting his favourite act JUDAS PRIEST.

In real life Owens had been acting out the role of departed JUDAS PRIEST vocalist ROB HALFORD in his very own tribute band BRITISH STEEL. In the movie Wahlberg heads a STEEL DRAGON tribute act BLOOD POLLUTION. The real life drummer for BLOOD POLLUTION is played by another bona fide genuine Rocker Blas Elias of SLAUGHTER.

The movie, whose star role was mooted to be Brad Pitt before Wahlberg assumed the role, was intended in its original form to have the members of JUDAS PRIEST contributing music and acting as advisors but disagreements led to the formation of an all new band and revised film title.

Promoting their 2001 album 'Demolition' JUDAS PRIEST would state for the record that 'Rock Star' was not the Owens story and if the film made any implications or statements to that effect they would be sued. A quite bizarre situation for fans of the band and Rock fans in general who all knew the behind the scenes story.

STEEL DRAGON released six original tracks as part of the soundtrack movie which also featured EVERCLEAR, MÖTLEY CRÜE, BON JOVI, TED NUGENT, VERVE PIPE, KISS, INXS and TREVOR RABIN. Subsequent to the movie Wylde resumed activity with OZZY OSBOURNE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY whilst Jason Bonham joined THE QUIREBOYS and UFO.