The Rolling Stones set to have their very own West End musical based on chart-topping hits as producers hold top-secret workshops
WHENEVER the ROLLING STONES go on tour, their gigs instantly become the hottest tickets in town.
But the iconic rockers could soon be giving fans another way to sample their music live — in their very own musical.
I can reveal top-secret workshops are being held in London’s West End in a bid to find talented theatre stars to appear in a new production.
And if the Stones like what they see, the show may become the next jukebox musical to launch in London and on Broadway.
A theatre source said: “The workshops are being kept very much under wraps and only incredible talent is being invited to attend.
“The idea came from top theatre execs who know the concept of a Stones musical has the potential to be a worldwide hit.
“But they know the show has to be outstanding for the band members to back it.
“Only then will it ever see the light of day — and at the same time make the rockers as absolute fortune.”
MICK JAGGER, KEITH RICHARDS, CHARLIE WATTS, RONNIE WOOD and the band’s former members own the royalties to most of their back catalogue which spans from 1962 — the year they were formed — to the present day.
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At this stage it is unclear whether the production will tell the band’s story or use their songs to inspire a separate narrative.
There has been some huge jukebox musical success stories in recent years, namely ABBA’s Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Beautiful: The CAROLE KING Musical, GREEN DAY’s American Idiot and We Will Rock You, based on the hits of QUEEN.
But at the same time many have failed to achieve critical acclaim, including JENNIFER SAUNDERS’ tribute to THE SPICE GIRLS, Viva Forever!, the BEACH BOYS’ Broadway musical Good Vibrations and LENNON, which also flopped in the US.
GARY BARLOW is the latest big name to turn his hand to a musical, The Band, which celebrates the music of TAKE THAT.
The singer used a prime time BBC1 TV show to find talent for his production.
The searching for a star to play Mick Jagger might well need to go worldwide.
READ ON FOR MORE OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE COLUMN
Bella's Pride and Joy
MODEL pals BELLA HADID and KENDALL JENNER turned Oxford Street into their own catwalk while celebrating London Pride.
The pair, who wore trademark rainbow hats, nearly outshone scantily clad SINITTA, during a baking hot day in the capital.
They later headed to the Wireless Festival to join Kendall’s sister KYLIE, who was watching her boyfriend TRAVIS SCOTT perform after a crafty Nando’s pit stop.
Kylie’s ex TYGA, was also performing at the festival. US rapper Travis, below right, was so keen to avoid any fallouts with his love rival that he made sure their sets took place on different days.
A source said: “Travis asked bosses specifically to ensure he wasn’t scheduled to feature on the same day as Tyga. He just didn’t want any aggro.”
Later that night, Kendall stayed away as Bella headed to nightclub C-London with fellow model WINNIE HARLOW.
Always tough to top a Nando’s.
Ed's Rolling in deep trouble over Adele
ED SHEERAN is one of music’s biggest superstars.
But even he has to be careful using the A-word, as he’s just found out to his cost.
Ed, who I revealed last week had quit Twitter after a stream of vile comments, admits he should never have mentioned ADELE when talking about album sales in January.
Since saying she was “the only person I need to sell more records than”, Ed has felt the wrath of her fanbase and been branded “arrogant”.
Speaking on US TV, Ed said: “I feel like me saying this, a lot of people were like, ‘That’s such an arrogant thing to say, and blah blah.’
I think you need to choose someone that’s at the top of their game.
I probably won’t sell 20million records and I probably won’t ever be as big as Adele.
But if you don’t aim for the top of the mountain, how are you ever going to get half way?”
He added: “The problem is, my point never comes across with that.
“That quote is now just ‘I want to be bigger than Adele.’
“The word Adele is just something that no one should f*** with, basically. If you put that in any sentence, prepare to be shut down.”
In my experience Ed has been nothing but humble and certainly not arrogant in any way.
I wish a few more of our music stars were like him.
Duch of Class
CELINE DION’s sublime style overhaul is getting increasingly outrageous.
The singer wore this DSquared2 outfit featuring a £2,613 duchesse jacket on Saturday to prove she is fashion royalty.
She added a pair of £315 jeans before leaving Paris’s Le Royal Monceau Hotel. Celine, whose glamorous looks I’ve been celebrating with my Di-On Trend stamp, has spent the week keeping fans guessing over her trendy picks, which have ranged from Givenchy dungarees to a Balmain snakeskin jacket.
She even called in on Paris Fashion Week during her European tour.
No doubt she taught them a thing or two.
Fair play, Chez
IT’S not just baby bottles on CHERYL’s mind recently.
She’s also been busy with hair dye, as her latest Instagram selfie proves.
It’s the first time she’s gone lighter since 2014.
She had previously tried the shade in 2011 for her 28th birthday party, when her estranged hubby of the time ASHLEY COLE made a surprise appearance.
Safe to say he wasn’t around for her latest bottle job.
BIZ METER: DAN'S DIARY
Tuesday
WAR For The Planet Of The Apes is out today – the latest in the hit franchise. WOODY HARRELSON and STEVE ZAHN star in the third instalment of the rebooted series, which began with Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes in 2011 and Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes three years later.
Wednesday
THE wait is finally over for fans of Game Of Thrones as season seven premieres. EMILIA CLARKE, MAISIE WILLIAMS, SOPHIE TURNER and GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE are some of the cast taking a break from fighting for the Iron Throne to attend the first viewing at LA’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Thursday
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’s WWII epic Dunkirk makes its debut. CILLIAN MURPHY, TOM HARDY and HARRY STYLES take to the red carpet at London’s Leicester Square. Harry takes on the role as soldier Tommy in the flick, which tells the story of the Allied evacuation from the beaches in France.
Friday
FRANK OCEAN headlines Lovebox festival – while JAMIE XX, SAMPHA and SOLANGE KNOWLES also take to the stage. KANO, CHASE & STATUS and ANNIE MAC perform on the second day of the gig on Saturday, at Victoria Park in East London.