10 Ways The Music Industry Owes John Hughes Big Time

6. Frank Zappa's Son Dated Molly Ringwald, Plays 'Simon' In Pretty In Pink

Another case of Molly Ringwald playing muse to Hughes is the big screen debut of Dweezil Zappa (i.e. the son of the Mother of Invention). Specifically in how he landed a part in Pretty in Pink alongside Ringwald, Zappa's flame in real life. Zappa is known by little else than for being one of the unfortunately-named offspring of Frank Zappa, and for a career in music playing his late father's material - which, at the very least, is more admirable than learning how to twerk. Zappa sort of has serendipity written all over him. And not just between his eyebrows. He was a MTV VJ briefly in the 80s, until he trash-talked the network on the Howard Stern Show. He also contributed a guitar solo to the Spinal Tap song "Break Like the Wind," which was later used as the theme for the Ben Stiller Show. He's acted and offered lead guitar sessions here and there, but his best possible association with music has to be playing Andie's friend Simon in Pretty In Pink, seen hanging around the record store she works at. Of course, it's not too surprising that Zappa should get a part in a movie where Ringwald makes nothing but terrible dating decisions.