After optioning the filming rights to a New York Times profile of Owens by Andrew Revkin, Warner Bros. hired Stockwell to write the script.

Brad Pitt was initially signed to play the lead role, but left due to creative differences, and Wahlberg was eventually hired for the part.

Internal struggles among the actual Steel Dragon band members culminate with firing their lead singer, Bobby Beers, and the beginning of recruitment sessions to find a new vocalist.

On the next tour, in a scene directly paralleling one near the film's beginning with their roles reversed, Izzy hears a fan singing along with him toward the end of a live concert.

Thor (in disbelief) gleefully accepts and proceeds to assume the lead singer role and perform on stage with the rest of the band and without Chris.

After leaving Steel Dragon and ditching his rock star image and stage name, Chris travels to Seattle and starts a new band with his old friend and former bandmate, Rob, allowing him to write his music.

The band members are portrayed by ex-Dokken and current Foreigner bassist Jeff Pilson; Black Label Society founder and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde; actor Dominic West; and ex-Foreigner and Black Country Communion drummer Jason Bonham (the son of the late John Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin).

Myles Kennedy, who was at the time the lead vocalist of the Mayfield Four and now the front man of Alter Bridge and Slash's solo project, makes a cameo appearance.

The singing voice for Wahlberg's character was provided by Steelheart frontman Miljenko Matijevic for the Steel Dragon Songs, and the final number was sung by Brian Vander Ark of the Verve Pipe.

Jeff Scott Soto (of Talisman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Soul SirkUS, and Journey) provided the voice of Jason Flemyng's character Bobby Beers.

Ralph Saenz (aka Michael Starr of Steel Panther) also appears briefly, as the singer auditioning ahead of Chris at the studio.

Tribute band Blood Pollution is also made up of known musical artists, including guitarist Nick Catanese (Black Label Society), drummer Blas Elias (Slaughter), and bassist Brian Vander Ark (The Verve Pipe, who also contributed a song to the film's soundtrack).

Stockwell soon began researching the heavy metal music and tribute band scene and visited Owens' hometown of Akron, Ohio.

[6] Stephen Herek signed to direct in October,[7] and the following month Jennifer Aniston became attached for the main female role, while Callie Khouri was hired to revise the script.

[9][10] Wahlberg spent five months preparing for his role as Chris Cole, working with a vocal coach, growing his hair, attending the metal scene and wandering around Los Angeles in-character.

[9] When Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill was asked about his reaction to Rock Star in an interview in PopMatters magazine, he said "I mean, I quite enjoyed the movie.

Partial list of songs that were featured in the movie but did not appear on the soundtrack CD: The film was released on DVD and VHS on January 22, 2002 by Warner Home Video.