When news broke at the beginning of the month that David Duchovny – aka Fox Mulder from The X Files – was to release an album, we honestly thought that it was an April Fools' joke.

It seems, however, that the joke is on us - because the actor is to release his debut album 'Hell or Highwater' next month.

We'll reserve judgement until we hear it, of course. That said, the track record for actors turning to music hasn't been great, has it?

Below, we take a look at the best and the worst cases of thespians indulging their musical talents (or lack thereof).

RUSSELL CROWE

The funniest thing about Russell Crowe's musical output is that he actually believes – as seen on his obnoxious recent Late Late Show appearance – that he's brilliant. This man's ego has no bounds, particularly when it comes to his music. Well, Russell, sorry to have to tell you, but you're not as good as you think you are, 'mate'. Not only did your band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts (TOFOG) have a sh*t name, but the music was sh*t, too. In more recent years, he's been operating under the 'The Ordinary Fear of God' name, and guess what? They're also sh*t: dreary, mundane sub-Crowded House pub-rock that's an insult to the word 'average'. If a famous actor was not in this band, you would never have heard of them. And rightfully so. 

KEANU REEVES

Anyone who's seen Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure will be aware that Reeves is handy with a guitar (Wyld Stallyns 4 Lyfe, btw) – but life imitated art when he joined Dogstar as bassist in the early 1990s. They even supported Bon Jovi on tour, and played Glastonbury in 1999. The grunge/alt-rock band split for good in 2002; let's just say that it was probably for the best.

JACK BLACK

The insufferable Jack Black (waheyyyy, isn't he wacky?! He's so WACKY, guyz! LOL!) became doubly so when he formed Tenacious D with Kyle Gass way back in 1994. Thankfully, we never heard of them until 2001 when their first (and OK, admittedly amusing) single 'Tribute' was released. It should have started and finished there, but instead they went on to release three albums and even won a Grammy earlier this year for Best Metal Performance. Someone please stop this man before he does anymore damage.


JARED LETO

This is another case of "If a famous Hollywood actor wasn't in this band…" if ever you heard one. Does anyone outside of emo teenagers actually take 30 Seconds to Mars seriously? They're like a shite metal starter kit for kids who are afraid of Metallica. Worryingly, they've gathered momentum in recent years and are now at arena-headlining level. Jared Leto is a decent actor, as proven by roles in early films like Fight Club and Requiem for a Dream. He formed the band in 1998, but it was when Leto started to grow his hair that the musical delusions really began. Maybe now that he's cut it short again, the weird hold that 30 Seconds to Mars have over thousands of hoodwinked teens will diminish. One can only hope.


BILLY BOB THORNTON

It's not that Billy Bob Thorton is a bad musician, per se; in fact, his country/bluegrass band The Boxmasters are grand, if you like that sort of thing (see also: Steve Martin). But as the infamous interview on Canadian radio below will attest to, the actor gives rude arseh*les a bad name. Sheesh. If you don't wanna be there, Billy Bob, there are plenty other more talented/deserving thesps-turned-musos who'd be glad of the publicity (see also: Steve Martin).

 

AND 5 WE'LL GIVE A PASS TO…


WILLIAM SHATNER

We'll give this one a pass – but only because it made us laugh. At least Shatner doesn't take himself too seriously when it comes to his music. Wait – he is in on the joke, right? His take on Pulp's 'Common People' was a gem, in any case.

RYAN GOSLING

Did you know that before Ryan Gosling became a walking meme, he was part of a duo called Dead Man's Bones? He and songwriter Zach Shields formed the band in 2007 and released their debut album – a concept album of-sorts comprised of "love songs about ghosts and monsters" – in 2009. And as vanity projects go, it wasn't half bad, either. Weird, but not bad.


JASON SCHWARTZMAN

We're definitely giving this lad a pass. Not only were his band Phantom Planet actually pretty good (he drummed with them until 2003), his ongoing solo project Coconut Records is extremely listenable, too - if you're into easygoing indiepop, check 'em out. He composed the theme tune to HBO series Bored to Death, too.


MICHAEL CERA

Who doesn't like Michael Cera? Best known as the adorable geek George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development, he's also fairly nifty on the bass guitar. He's a big Weezer fan and played on a track from their album 'Hurley'; he also plays in LA band Mister Heavenly and last year, released his solo debut 'True That' via Bandcamp. It's lo-fi and a little maudlin at times, but it ain't half bad, overall.


CHRISTOPHER LEE

This one definitely gets a pass. Why? Because Christopher Lee was badass enough to release not his first, but his second metal album at the grand old age of 91 in 2013. He even released a Christmas-themed metal album last year. Now THAT is the true meaning of rock 'n' roll.