Mar 032010
The following topic was just phoned in by Townsman andyr. He apologized in advance for the sickening direction this thread is likely to take.
Broadway’s latest rock ‘n roll-themed music is called Million Dollar Quartet, which is “inspired” by – what – an hour or so of dicking around at a piano in Sun Studios by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins. The results of this impromptu jam session, which sat in the can until 1981, were unwhelming, but unwhelming music didn’t stop the producers who decided to turn the career of Billy Joel into a musical stop the producers of Million Dollar Quartet!
What andyr wants to know is, What’s the next rock ‘n roll-themed Broadway musical?
Desmond Child’s Sunset Scene-A Hollywood Heavy Metal Musical
Has Styx done one of these things, or am I imagining one of alexmagic’s flights of fancy? Dennis DeYoung is probably prohibited from moving forward with his grandiose plans owing to resistance from “rocker” Tommy Shaw. A Broadway musical “inspired by” Styx may cause me to go John Wilkes Booth on members of the band attending the show’s premiere.
The Beach Boys seem like prime material for one of these glossy affairs, but there’s a lot of in-fighting in that band that still needs to be resolved. Maybe a few more band members will croak.
Meanwhile, if I had to pick the NEXT band to be memorialized as a Broadway musical, I’d say look forward to a big production of CHICAGO (THE BAND): THE MUSICAL.
How about:
Note: this may not be too accurate, as I’m too lazy to actually research my hazy concept for the purposes of amusing the three people who will actually read this.
Danger Zone: The Kenny Loggins Story.
The play opens in a coffee shop, a horrible singer songwriter creating a dreary scene. But next up, young, cool and happening Kenny Loggins takes the stage and electrifies the room. Gigs and attention follow, but he needs to take it to the next level.
This brilliant wunderkund soon meets Jim Messina, an experienced musician who takes this raw material and uses his recording studio prowess to shape Kenny into a slick and sensitive pop star – but with Messina riding his coattails and glomming himself onto the marquee. Inevitable trouble brews and after a few more musical numbers, Loggins ditches Messina, only to create hit after hit, riding the crest of the wave of solo success.
*intermission*
Believing that he can do no wrong, our hero Kenny writes a song for a hit movie. And then another hit movie. But soon, the movies aren’t as good and his records aren’t hits. He spins into a web of self-doubt and finds himself in… Pooh Corner.
Yes, having had his finger slip off the pulse, Kenny suddenly comes-to in “1000 Acre Wood,” surrounded by Pooh, Piglet, Roo and Tigger and bouncing and prancing around him. It is a swirling yet sober scene.
Kenny struggles to break free from Pooh Corner, settling into the career of an established hit-maker, playing casinos, theme parks and corporate gigs. Thus, the play reaches a “deus ex machina” moment, as Kenny and the entire stage are swiftly overcome by a gigantic loaf of white bread.
*curtain*
I’d like to see a James Brown life story musical, if only to witness how the likes of Andrew Lloyd Weber would document his PCP-fueled, interstate flight from the cops in the 1980s. How would you stage THAT?
Lest we forget:
https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/index.php?s=dragonforce&sentence=AND&submit=Search
What about Chinese Eyes! Pete’s Broadway musical adaptation of his hit 1982 album? Or White City: A Novel: The Musical?
cher, just three people reading your post? THREE? This post has generated a lot of hits already. It’s big, I tell you, BIG! Beside that, since when is research a requisite here? That’s why we have the Orockle on retainer. Furthermore, we’re pitching Broadway musicals. It’s inspiration that matters most, not historical accuracy. Good stuff! You too, misterioso. Townshend will surely be turning to his solo concept albums now that he’s about milked dry The Who’s works.
Hrrundi, I’ve added your previous musical post to the body text of this thread. Thanks for the reminder!
Take It Easy-The Eagles and The California Country Sounds of El Lay
That’s a highly likely musical, shawnkilroy. Ugh!
Then, of course, there is the long-awaited Snap! A Youth Explosion!, a collaboration between Paul Weller and the people who brought you Rent (or is it Rent!), based on the early Jam singles.
“And I swear That I Don’t Have a Gun”
The life and death of Kurt Cobain and the Seattle Grunge Scene.
And for Shawnkilroy’s “Sunset Scene-A Hollywood Heavy Metal Musical” – Broadway veteran Sebastian Bach returns to the great white way to play the part of a lifetime
Velvet Underground: the Musical!
A bunch of directionless, druggy bohemian youth are down on their luck when out of nowhere, the eccentric and enigmatic wizard, Andy Warhol appears, offering to take them into his strange and fantastical avant-pop art world. Things go south quickly, as the wizard forces them to collaborate with the questionable Nico, and legal problems mar the success of their album. Can our heroes escape the corrupting, dangerous influence of Andy Warhol’s glitzy art world and still have a future? Join an all star cast as they sing fresh new interpretations of classics such as “Here Comes My Man,” “Europeon Son,” “White Heat White Noise” and “I’ll Be Your Mirror” and many more!
I know that Ray Davies has already had a musical called Come Dancing that had been playing in the UK. I wonder if it will make it to Broadway. Other possible Kinks-based musicals could include Preservation & Arthur. Heck, we could throw in Schoolboys in Disgrace & Soap Opera.
I have long contemplated “Judas! The Musical,” based on the Bob Dylan and the Hawks’ 1966 tour of the UK. Perhaps someone will find the strength to bring my vision into being.
Styx’s “Kilroy was Here – The Musical” for sure!
Maybe A Musical about Syd Barrett going mad and being kicked out of Pink Floyd?
key scene:
In act II the ruggedly handsome David Gilmour replaces Syd at a big LSD gathering while syd sits on the floor of his home and stares into the mirror laugh/crying and manically cutting his hair with children’s scissors
jungleland, I believe the Syd story will be covered in two simmering projects, “Madcap! The Syd Barrett Story” and “Vegetable Man, Where Are You? The Lost Years of Syd Barrett.”