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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Timeline & Setting – Roadie (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Roadie (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1970s

The narrative is grounded in the late 1970s era of arena rock touring, when road crews and pop stars dominate the live show scene. It features real-world music acts and a cultural backdrop of flashy performances, road-dressed venues, and the hustle of making live music work on the fly. The period-style energy fuels the improvisational, DIY spirit that drives the plot.

Location

Texas, Austin, Hollywood, New York City

The film unfolds across a touring landscape that starts in Texas and spans major entertainment hubs. Travis and his crew travel from a Shiner beer operation in a small Texan town to the high-energy venues of Austin, Hollywood, and finally New York City. The settings mix gritty road downtime, backstage chaos, and big-city showcases that define a roadie’s life.

🌵 Texas 🎪 Road Show 🏙️ Hollywood 🗽 New York City

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:55

Main Characters – Roadie (1980)

Meet the key characters of Roadie (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Travis W. Redfish (Meat Loaf)

A beer-loving, brawl-prone Texan who thrives on being in the middle of the action. He is loyal to his family and quickly proves himself capable behind the soundboard and the road, turning improvisation into success. His charm masks a stubborn streak, but his heart pushes him to protect those he cares about even as he’s pulled into a chaotic lifestyle.

🚚 Roadie 🤠 Texan 🔥 Impulsive 🤝 Loyal

Lola Bouilliabase (Kaki Hunter)

A precocious, ambitious young groupie who uses Travis to advance her dreams while wrestling with her own heart. She’s flirtatious and calculating, yet capable of genuine emotion, especially as she reveals her feelings for Travis and later pivots toward a different path in life.

🎭 Complex 💃 Groupie 💘 Ambition 🧠 Spirit

Alice Cooper (Alice Cooper)

A legendary rock figure who acts as a mentor and catalyst for Travis. He can be generous and practical, buying Travis a bus and offering backstage opportunities, while also representing the intricate relationship between fame and personal choices.

🎤 Icon 🤝 Mentor 🎬 Showbiz

B.B. Muldoon (Gailard Sartain)

Travis’s best friend and business partner, a steady, protective presence who also carries romantic implications for Travis’s sister. He remains practical and loyal, helping steer the duo through the tour’s chaos and culminating in a family wedding.

🤝 Friendship 💼 Entrepreneur ❤️ Loyalty

Ace (Joe Spano)

The road manager who wields influence over the tour and often manipulates others to get credit. He embodies the controlling side of show business, steering Lola’s actions to secure the band’s success.

🕴️ Manager 🎭 Antagonist 🤔 Manipulative

Mohammed Johnson (Don Cornelius)

A powerful music mogul driving the tour’s scale and opportunity. He’s a figure who navigates the business side of rock, making deals that push the road crew toward bigger stages—and bigger risks.

💼 Mogul 🎤 Industry 🌐 Influence

Debbie Harry (Debbie Harry)

A real-world rock star cameo who interacts with Travis and Lola during the road-show circuit, highlighting the blend of fame and flirtation in the touring life. Her presence adds glamour and a new level of challenge to the road crew’s adventures.

🎤 Celebrity 🌟 Cameo 🎶 Music Icon

Alice Poo Redfish (Rhonda Bates)

Travis’s sister, the younger family member whose engagement to B.B. Muldoon anchors the personal stakes back home. Her relationship with Travis’s circle emphasizes family ties amid the tour’s chaos.

👧 Sibling ❤️ Family 🎉 Wedding

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:55

Major Themes – Roadie (1980)

Explore the central themes of Roadie (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎸 Dreams

A central thread follows Travis chasing a chance to prove himself as a capable roadie and to win Lola’s affection. The film treats ambition as a daring, hands-on pursuit that thrives on tough luck and quick problem-solving. It shows how skill and grit can elevate someone from a small-town life to the glow of stage lights.

🎤 Showbiz

The story explores the power dynamics of the touring world, where managers and moguls pull strings and fame can turn on a dime. It highlights the ingenuity needed to keep performances alive, from improvised generators to persuading stars to stay on the road. The film uses cameos and celebrity presence to underscore the allure and peril of show business.

💞 Love & Loyalty

Romantic entanglements and family loyalty drive much of the drama, with Travis torn between Lola and his sister and friend circle. The relationships test trust, as Lola’s shifting goals clash with Travis’s growing devotion. The ending also emphasizes reconciliation and the idea that love can endure even through wild adventures.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:55

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Raucous backstage road adventures like in Roadie

Wild journeys through the chaotic, eccentric world of touring musicians and crew.If you liked the behind-the-scenes chaos of Roadie, you'll enjoy these movies about the wild world of touring. Discover films like Roadie that explore the music industry's eccentric crew, chaotic travel, and the found family bonds formed on the road.

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These films are grouped by their shared setting and energetic tone. They all celebrate the chaotic, fun-loving spirit of the music industry's backstage world, featuring rambunctious characters, fast-paced adventures, and a strong sense of camaraderie.

Eccentric outsider finds their tribe like in Roadie

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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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a straightforward, feel-good arc where an unconventional protagonist enters an unfamiliar environment. Through a series of challenges, they use their specific, often underestimated, talents to solve problems, ultimately gaining acceptance and forging deep bonds with a new 'found family'.

Why These Movies?

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 Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Roadie, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Roadie Summary

Roadie Timeline

Track the full timeline of Roadie with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Roadie Timeline

Roadie Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Roadie that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

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.

More About Roadie

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