If you close your eyes and think about 1985, you probably see Rob Lowe in a cut-off sweatshirt, sweat dripping down his face, absolutely shredding a saxophone solo. It is the quintessential image of the "Brat Pack" era. But here is the thing: Rob Lowe couldn't actually play the saxophone. He was faking it. He faked it so well that he even fooled Bill Clinton years later. Honestly, that kind of sums up the whole vibe of St. Elmo's Fire. It was a movie about people pretending they knew what they were doing while they were secretly terrified of growing up.
Lowe played Billy Hicks, the shaggy-haired, irresponsible heartthrob who refused to trade his party lifestyle for a 9-to-5. He was the "bad boy" of the group, the one who caused the car accidents and forgot he had a wife and a kid. Looking back, Billy is a pretty polarizing character. Some people see him as a charming rogue; others see him as a total disaster. But you can't deny that Lowe’s performance turned a potentially unlikable guy into someone audiences couldn’t stop watching.
The Role Rob Lowe Almost Didn't Play
It’s hard to imagine anyone else as Billy Hicks, but the studio originally had a different plan. They wanted Lowe to play Alec, the preppy, politically ambitious character that eventually went to Judd Nelson. Lowe wasn't interested. He saw something in Billy—a character that was "on the edge," as he’s described it in interviews. Billy wasn't a "yuppie." He was the outlier in a movie that was, by all accounts, the ultimate yuppie film.
Director Joel Schumacher, who passed away in 2020, had a hell of a time getting this movie made. Every major studio turned it down. One executive famously told Schumacher that he had managed to create "seven of the most loathsome humans" he had ever read on a page. That executive went off to make Howard the Duck instead. Life is funny like that.
Why the Saxophone Scene Still Lives Rent-Free in Our Heads
The "sweaty sax" scene is legendary. It happened at the titular St. Elmo’s Bar, and it remains the peak of 1980s cinematic excess. Lowe has joked that "it doesn't get any more 80s" than a sax solo followed by a bar brawl.
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- The Secret: Lowe spent weeks practicing the fingerings so it would look real.
- The Myth: He got so good at faking it that he once got up on stage at a fundraiser and "played" for a room full of people who actually thought he was a musician.
- The Prop: He still has the original saxophone from the set. He just doesn't know how to make a decent sound come out of it.
But the scene isn't just about the music. It represents Billy's refusal to conform. While the other characters are worried about their law careers or their architectural designs, Billy is just... playing. He's stuck in that post-college limbo where you think your talent will save you from having to pay rent.
The University of Maryland vs. Georgetown
If you watch the movie, you’ll notice it’s set in Georgetown. But Georgetown University absolutely hated the script. They thought it would ruin their reputation to be associated with a group of hard-partying, morally questionable graduates. They refused to let the crew film on campus.
The production had to move to the University of Maryland. If you're a Terrapin, you probably recognize the brick buildings and the campus vibe. The only real shot of Georgetown in the movie is a long-distance shot across the Potomac. It’s a bit ironic considering Georgetown now has to deal with much heavier historical legacies than a movie about Rob Lowe in a dangly earring.
The "Booga-Booga" Mystery
Remember that weird "Booga-booga-booga, ha ha ha" chant the guys do? It wasn't in the script. It was an inside joke between Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Judd Nelson. They used to go out "carousing" during filming and would see wealthy guys in the corner of bars whispering about them. They started imitating the way those guys sounded—this weird, hushed "booga-booga" noise—and Schumacher decided to put it in the movie. It’s one of those bits of authentic chemistry that you just can't manufacture with AI or a stiff script.
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The Reality of Billy Hicks: A Character Study
Billy Hicks is a mess. Let’s be real. He’s a guy who crashes his friend’s car while drunk in the very first scene. He treats Wendy (Mare Winningham) like a safety net and ignores his actual responsibilities as a father.
But Lowe brought a vulnerability to the role that made it work. There’s a scene where Billy talks to Jules (Demi Moore) in her "pink" apartment after she has a breakdown. They’re both the "fakers" of the group. Jules is faking wealth and stability; Billy is faking that he doesn't care. When Billy explains the meaning of "St. Elmo's Fire"—the electrical weather phenomenon that sailors used to see—he’s basically describing their own lives. It’s a flash of light that looks like a goal, but it isn't really there.
"It's not even real. It's made up. Just like we are." — Billy Hicks
That line hits harder when you're 40 than it did when you were 20. It captures that terrifying realization that the "grown-ups" don't actually have the answers.
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What’s Next: The Sequel and Beyond
For years, people have whispered about a sequel. In late 2024 and early 2025, those whispers turned into actual news. Rob Lowe confirmed that he and Demi Moore are actively working on St. Elmo’s Fire 2.
The idea is to see where these characters are now, in their 60s. Are they still hanging out at a bar? Probably not. They’re probably dealing with divorces, grandkids, and the same existential dread they had in their 20s, just with better health insurance. Lowe has said the script is "really getting good," and it feels "super valid" to revisit these people. It’s the first time a Brat Pack movie has ever gotten a direct sequel with the original cast.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Re-watch with a new lens: Look for the University of Maryland landmarks instead of Georgetown.
- Check out Lowe's memoir: If you want more behind-the-scenes dirt, Stories I Only Tell My Friends is a goldmine. He talks about the "insanity" of being famous in the 80s.
- Track the sequel news: Sony Pictures is currently in development, so keep an eye out for casting calls for "grown-up" versions of the original kids.
- Appreciate the fashion: Billy’s look—the blazer over the frat coat, the mismatched Converse (one black, one green)—is actually a subtle costume choice by Schumacher to show Billy's inability to let go of college.
There is something timeless about Rob Lowe in this movie. Even with the dated hair and the problematic character traits, he captured a specific kind of American restlessness. We all know a Billy Hicks. Or maybe, at 22, we were Billy Hicks. That’s why the movie stays in the cultural conversation. It isn't just a 1980s relic; it’s a snapshot of that messy, sweaty, loud transition into adulthood that never really ends.
Next Steps:
If you're feeling nostalgic, your best bet is to find a copy of the St. Elmo's Fire soundtrack. It holds up surprisingly well, especially that John Parr theme song. After that, look up Andrew McCarthy’s documentary Brats. It gives a much more somber, reflective look at what it was like for Lowe and the others to be labeled "The Brat Pack" by a New York Magazine writer who basically changed their lives forever with a single article.