Roadie

Roadie

Year: 1980

Runtime: 106 mins

Language: English

Director: Alan Rudolph

MusicComedy

Bands make it rock… roadies make it roll. A good‑ol’ Texas youngster with a natural talent for electronic gear lands a gig as a roadie for a raucous, traveling rock‑and‑roll show. He spends the tour hauling amps, wiring stages, and keeping the high‑octane performances humming while navigating the wild, on‑the‑road lifestyle.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Roadie (1980) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Roadie (1980), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Travis W. Redfish is a beer-drinking, bar-brawling, fun-loving Texan who works as a distributor of Shiner beer. He also helps his father, Corpus C. Redfish with the family salvage company, whose motto is

Everything will work if you let it!

B.B. Muldoon is his loyal best friend and business partner, and curiously enough, the romantic interest of Travis’ younger sister Alice Poo Redfish. The trio moves through a blend of hustling deliveries, quick fixes, and tight-knit camaraderie as they tackle the unpredictable world around them.

When they pull over to help a broken-down RV, they meet Lola Bouilliabase, a gregarious, starstruck fan who adores Alice Cooper. Lola’s enthusiasm pulls Travis into a new, risky path: road duty for a group headed toward a major show in Austin, led by a showman named Mohammed Johnson and featuring performances by the legendary Hank Williams Jr. The road crew’s manager, the brusque Ace, pushes Travis to keep control of the wheels and the gear, hoping the Texas cowboy can prove himself on the road.

A quick repair earns Travis a promotion of sorts: Johnson sees in him a talent for setting up equipment with lightning speed, and the promise of more gigs yields a shift in Travis’s life. The money and attention come with pressure, especially as Lola leverages his fatigue after a rough night to urge him to keep the journey moving toward Hollywood. The result is a whirlwind ride that tests loyalty, resolve, and the ability to improvise under pressure.

In Hollywood, Travis has to prove himself once again. He physically compels the band to perform when power and timing threaten to derail a show, and he even crafts a DIY electrical generator that runs on cow dung to keep the Blondie performance alive. The feat earns him national attention and a reputation as the “greatest roadie that ever lived,” a testament to his practical skill and stubborn resourcefulness in the face of logistical chaos. Throughout this stretch, a tentative romance brews between Travis and Lola, though Lola’s guarded feelings complicate things: she reveals she’s sixteen and is tentatively pursuing her own dreams, while she continues to flirt with various musicians whenever opportunity knocks. The relationship strains and reshapes as Lola’s attention darts between loyalty, growing feelings, and ambition.

The voyage leads to New York City, where Lola’s jealousy flares when she notices Travis spending time with Debbie Harry. In the end, fate pushes them toward Alice Cooper’s orbit, and Cooper himself persuades Travis to stay long enough to fix additional problems and to accept a bus that lets him drive home to Texas. Lola is treated with VIP access and a promise of romance, but the reality of the path ahead remains open-ended as the wedding between B.B. Muldoon and Alice Poo Redfish approaches in Texas.

Just as life seems to settle, Lola calls Travis back to action in a moment that tests everything they’ve learned about trust and possibility: she travels to Texas, claiming a new destiny as a psychic, and a UFO suddenly lands in front of them. Lola’s psychic sense detects that the aliens’ broken spacecraft needs repair, and she turns to Travis for the skills that only a seasoned roadie could bring. With the world curiously poised between the ordinary and the extraordinary, Travis faces a final choice: to return home or to pursue the next extraordinary challenge with Lola at his side.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:58

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Quirky protagonists stumble into a new world and prove their worth through unique talents.Fans of Roadie's story about a good-natured Texan finding his place will love these movies. Explore films similar to Roadie featuring unlikely heroes who use their unique skills to win over a group and find a sense of belonging on a journey of self-discovery.

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This thread connects movies through a shared character journey and emotional core. They feature light-hearted tones, medium intensity, and happy endings focused on the triumph of individuality and the joy of finding where you belong.

Unlock the Full Story of Roadie

Don't stop at just watching — explore Roadie in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Roadie is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Roadie Timeline

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Roadie Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Roadie

Roadie Spoiler-Free Summary

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Roadie Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Roadie

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Roadie: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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