Details have just come in about a 'Mod Musical' based on the Small Faces that is hoped will tour for 24 weeks and then have a run on the West End in 2014. We are told that Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan are amongst the musical consultants involved.
Below is the synopsis from the 'All or Nothing' website (with a few dates and facts that are a bit iffy, but that's what you tend to get with non-Mods looking in to our scene) - your thoughts and comments on this proposed musical would be greatly appreciated (Paul Hooper-Keeley): -
"ALL OR NOTHING"
In association with
WILD THYME PRODUCTIONS
(“Developer of The Kings Speech”)
Cast
attached:
Danny Dyer, Keith Allen, John Altman & Carol Harrison
SYNOPSIS
ALL OR NOTHING- The 'Mod' Musical is a
trans-generational musical experience celebrating the unique sound of the
iconic Mod band, THE SMALL FACES. Including an arsenal of brilliant hits
like,’Whatcha Gonna Do About It,’ ‘All or nothing,’ Tin Soldier’,’
Lazy Sunday,’ ‘Here Comes the Nice,’ ‘Itchycoo Park’, and featuring
original songs especially written for the show by legendary band members Kenney
Jones and Ian McLagan. 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning
of the Mod scene.
1965. A new phenomenon erupted on to the dingy British
streets. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod.
Mods stuck two fingers up at the class-ridden society and its dull redundant
culture. They were working-class free spirits who rode sexy streamlined Italian
Vespas or Lambrettas. The sharpest Mod of all was known as a ‘FACE’. THE SMALL
FACES encapsulated all that is Mod, a unique blend of taste and testosterone,
neat, clothes obsessed, and street-wise. But these cult sophisticates
shared another passion, their dedication to ‘Rhythm n Blues.’
STORYLINE
This exciting, poignant, and bittersweet tale is
the stuff of Rock n Roll legend. The story of four charismatic young kids
whose humour ‘attitude’ passion and, above all talent, rockets them into
the ‘big time’; only to discover the path to fantastic success is heaving with
exploitation, corruption, betrayal and ultimately tragedy. Their rollercoaster
journey in the music business is as vivid and colourful as their music.
Their raw, soulful music inspired a whole new generation of stars including; Paul
Weller and The Jam, Oasis, Blur, The Verve, Ocean Colour Scene,
and The Arctic Monkeys.
Not to mention millions of fans.
ALL OR NOTHING is an exciting, poignant, and
bittersweet tale of Kenney Jones, Ian Mclagan, Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriot,
four charismatic young kids whose humour, ‘attitude,’ passion and above all
talent, rocketed them into the ‘big time’; only to discover the path to success
is heaving with exploitation, corruption, betrayal and ultimately … tragedy.
Soon after forming the band are flying high. ‘All or nothing’ is at number 1
and the boys are living the millionaire lifestyle, complete with flash cars and
the latest fashion in clothes, but of course the music was still at the heart
of their climb of the fame ladder. But endless touring, being mobbed by
screaming fans, gruelling schedules, pills and perpetual parties start to take
their toll. Also, unbeknown to them, they are being ripped off 'big time'
by their ruthless manager Don Arden, known in the business as the Al Capone of
the music world. Even at the height of their success he still has them under
contract for £20 per week.
Desperate to be allowed to play their own brand of raunchy raw R ’n’ B and to
be taken seriously as musicians, the band try and persuade their management to
let them deviate from the planned path, but Arden has other ideas and insists
they stick to the more commercial pop sound. Dissolution gives way to
anger, recriminations and finally fists fly.
Eventually the band split with Arden, and find solace in drugs. They also find
a new direction in their music - ‘Itchycoo Park’ and ‘Here comes the Nice.’
Their new record label allows them time in the studio to experiment, and they
release the weird and wonderful concept album ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake’ which
receives rave reviews.
The Small Faces are the hottest band on the planet making the best music of
their career. Who could have imagined they were about to self-destruct?
Alexander Palace New Years Eve 1968.
The band is on stage. They are sensational.
The fans are going wild. The crowd scream for more. Steve Marriot
slams his guitar to the floor and walks off stage. The Small Faces are
over.
THE SMALL FACES were together for only four years. But, like Mod culture
itself; their sound has transcended its 60’s roots, leaving an enduring legacy
of great R ‘n’ B classics.
Their raw, soulful music inspiring a whole new generation of musicians, not to
mention millions of fans … fans that will just love ALL OR
NOTHING.
ALL OR NOTHING has excitement, humour, pathos and passion, a powerful
narrative and a catalogue of brilliant hits. An utterly infectious hit parade -
an unstoppable tidal wave of warm musical memories.
WHY A MUSICAL NOW?
Theatre across the UK is experiencing year on year
record audience figures showing once again Theatre's resilience to economic
conditions. The West End enjoyed record box office sales in 2011 & 2012 for
an ninth consecutive year, according to figures released by the Society of
London Theatre (Solt). Takings topped £528.3m in 2011 – up 3.1% on a
like-for-like basis on the previous year. Regular theatre goers, who enjoy new
musicals, will account for the bulk of our audience which will then be further
boosted by the 'Baby boomers' who associate with the music of the era and
further boosted again by fans of the Small Faces and the thriving Mod movement.
WHY A MOD MUSICAL?
Mod is the most enduring of British pop
culture.
Upwards of one million Mod enthusiasts in this
country alone.
Global status. There are Mods all over Europe,
Scandinavia, Southern California, Canada and Japan.
There are a raft of Mod clubs, forums and blogs,
cataloguing weekly events, dances, bands rallies and festivals. They will
travel anywhere there is a mod related event.
1970's - Paul Weller and the Jam; their music
inspired by the 60's Mod sound.
1970's - A Mod revival in the late seventies
coinciding with the release of the film Quadrophenia. Quadrophenia - Has become a cult
classic. The film still sells out in cinemas today.
1980's - The Two Tone sound including bands like
the Specials, Selector and Madness derived their sound and look from sixties
Mod music and Ska.
1980's - A generation of fans entered via the
northern soul network.
1990's - The Mod phenomenon returned to the media
spotlight with the rise of Britpop, Blur, Oasis, Paul Weller and recently,
Bradley Wiggins.
2010 - Brighton Rock remake was set in the sixties
because the films makers recognised the fascination for the Mod era.
There has never been another Mod musical.
‘Quadrophenia’ was made into a ‘rock opera’. It toured the UK playing to ‘sell-out
houses’.
2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the Mod era.
A
serendipitous time to launch the world’s first ever theatrical release Mod
musical?
