Canadian band "Billy Talent" took their name from the character "Billy Tallent."
To save money on extras for the band's performance scenes, director Bruce McDonald posted advertisements in area newspapers and sold tickets to the shoot as an actual rock show. Many of the people shown rocking out to the band really paid to be there.
Billy Tallent (Callum Keith Rennie) wears a ring depicting the logo of Canadian rock band Headstones. Hugh Dillon (who plays Joe Dick) is Headstones' lead singer.
When Joe Dick is talking to Mary the Fan after the Regina show, a poster can be seen over his shoulder for a Canadian band called the Hard Rock Miners. Michael Turner, the author of the book this film is based on, was a founding member of the Hard Rock Miners.
Director Bruce McDonald's earlier film, Highway 61 (1991), is referenced by the Band-Aid visible on Billy Talent's finger. Characters in "Highway 61" sold their souls to Satan for something they wanted, signing a contract in blood, after which Satan gave them a Band-Aid for their finger. This implies that Billy sold his soul for his chance at fame with Jenifur.