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Post by curiousgirl on Apr 6, 2022 15:25:18 GMT
This title caught my eye, can't think why.
Martin Kemp and Lady Leshurr are searching for musicians to form 2 rock'n'roll bands - the musicians have to over 64. And the bands will play the Isle of Wight festival. Its in 4 parts. Has anyone watched? I've not but I might.
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 4,599 
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
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Post by mortified on Apr 7, 2022 6:24:06 GMT
Hmm, doesn't sound like I'd like it. As soon as you used the word "reality", I was off  And I've just Googled Lady Leshurr. I might be off the mark here but I'm not sure her idea of a "rock 'n' roll" band would be the same as mine  I quite like Martin Kemp but he doesn't half get involved in some nonsense. Let me know how it goes  (P.S. Reminds me of that ridiculous prog that used to be on MTV where INXS were looking for a vocalist to replace the late but brilliant Michael Hutchins  ) |
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DieHard
Rocker Rollin'
Come over to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs
Posts: 238
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Post by DieHard on Apr 7, 2022 7:17:01 GMT
I watched it and enjoyed it. A joy to watch folks over a certain age getting one final chance of playing on a big stage. Some not so joyous parts where due to age/covid those chosen couldnt make it to the big day. One of the better reality shows
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Post by curiousgirl on Apr 7, 2022 9:03:00 GMT
I watched ep 1 last night. And as Die Hard says, it is really good and very moving.
Lady Leshurr is lovely, though I don't like grime music. And so is her producer. And her choice of musicians is more to our rock taste than Martin Kemp's. That surprised me.
Many of the musicians have almost made it and they have real talent. I think the next episode is going to show up their lack of stamina for working at pro level. And that is what Quo know how to manage so well.
I'd say to anyone, give it a go. I'm looking forward to ep 2.
One of the applicants - not sure if they're in one of the 2 bands is a Scottish woman who plays the piano and loves Quo and Led Zep. In her 70s.
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Post by 4th Chord on Apr 7, 2022 11:09:20 GMT
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 4,599
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
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Post by mortified on Apr 7, 2022 11:34:59 GMT
Maybe I'm being too hasty then.
I've probably watched too many episodes of Midsomer Murders (Hired Gun), New Tricks (Bad Faith), Lewis (Midnight Addiction) or Death In Paradise (Flowers of Progress) - the bands' names are in the brackets - where they rehash the same script over and over and base the programme round some old rock band that were once famous and where at least one of the detectives used to be a fan.
I might give it a whirl.
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Post by curiousgirl on Apr 8, 2022 9:56:07 GMT
I watched part 2 last night. The musicians they choose have great stories and past musical lives. And we learned more about them in this episode. My favourite is the funky woman bass-player, Carol.
I was uncomfortable with the programme makers who have put some of these elders in situations not always suited to their playing/singing styles. eg: the drummer who doesn't play reggae; he's disabled and there is a good reason why he can't. And its not a lack of talent. And the lead singer who doesn't sing reggae either. And the gospel singer who can't sing rock. The gospel was let go and bore that humiliation with great dignity. Swap them around and it would have been fine. Why force them into styles that don't suit them? And make them so uncomfortable in public? Yes, I know they volunteered etc... but I still felt they were manipulated by the situation.
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Post by 4th Chord on Apr 8, 2022 10:23:41 GMT
I watched part 2 last night. The musicians they choose have great stories and past musical lives. And we learned more about them in this episode. My favourite is the funky woman bass-player, Carol. I was uncomfortable with the programme makers who have put some of these elders in situations not always suited to their playing/singing styles. eg: the drummer who doesn't play reggae; he's disabled and there is a good reason why he can't. And its not a lack of talent. And the lead singer who doesn't sing reggae either. And the gospel singer who can't sing rock. The gospel was let go and bore that humiliation with great dignity. Swap them around and it would have been fine. Why force them into styles that don't suit them? And make them so uncomfortable in public? Yes, I know they volunteered etc... but I still felt they were manipulated by the situation. It's a shame that progs like this feel there has to be 'drama', usually manufactured like the situation you describe. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 21:25:02 GMT
Musicians over 64 in a band? Nothing news worthy there...
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 4,599
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
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Post by mortified on Apr 9, 2022 6:23:54 GMT
I watched part 2 last night. The musicians they choose have great stories and past musical lives. And we learned more about them in this episode. My favourite is the funky woman bass-player, Carol. I was uncomfortable with the programme makers who have put some of these elders in situations not always suited to their playing/singing styles. eg: the drummer who doesn't play reggae; he's disabled and there is a good reason why he can't. And its not a lack of talent. And the lead singer who doesn't sing reggae either. And the gospel singer who can't sing rock. The gospel was let go and bore that humiliation with great dignity. Swap them around and it would have been fine. Why force them into styles that don't suit them? And make them so uncomfortable in public? Yes, I know they volunteered etc... but I still felt they were manipulated by the situation. That's one of the reasons I don't watch these types of programmes. They're contrived to give the light entertainment viewer something to gossip over the garden fence about. Or WhatsApp as its called now  Deliberately provocative so they can bomb people out. As they say behind the production scenes; "it makes good television" Peter Kay nailed it brilliantly with " Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice". |
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Post by curiousgirl on Apr 9, 2022 10:35:21 GMT
Ep 3 (of 4) was better because the musicians took control! Well, 77 year old Bette did. She changed the song to suit her and once the band heard her sing, they were instantly on board with her choice. Their mentor wasn't pleased but they had to admit she was right. They play their first gig, to a very young audience but each band played well and won them over. Why I keep watching is for the stories of their careers and music history. The replacement drummer was in bands in the 60s. You get glimpses of worlds we either grew up with or heard about as we grew up. And we see photos of their past lives. Yes, 4th Chord and mortified - these shows are contrived for 'drama'. And that makes me so angry for 2 reasons. I suspect the contestants were found via researchers and approached. I don't believe there was a call out for applicants. Their backstories are too interesting. So to use a 95 year old Big Band swing drummer to perform in a rock band, just to say that at 95 you can still play was in the end cruel. It was too physically tiring for him and he wanted to go back to the peace and quiet of his home. The poor chap's biggest concern was letting the band down. I respected his honesty and so did the band. The other element is the unrealistic time period to put all this together. Yes, I doubt they could have taken up more of people's time than 8 weeks. But they have 2 weeks to rehearse 2 songs, never having played together and then they have to put on a gig for real. And to have the managers talk to camera and say what a shambles they are...  or they complain about them using pieces of paper to remember the songs. And songs they were never familiar with in the first place. WTAF???! All these steps are important. But we know from Quo that rehearsals take longer when you're a pro. So more fake drama. I have no respect for the programme makers, and little for the mentors and their teams. Anyway, these musicians are all stars in my eyes for going along with this shenanigans. A doc I'd love to see would be one that shared their personal stories. I'm reminded of that good rock doc about a Swedish band who were once successful but keep going while holding down other jobs. I know many here have seen that too. |
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Post by 4th Chord on Apr 9, 2022 11:51:47 GMT
Ep 3 (of 4) was better because the musicians took control! Well, 77 year old Bette did. She changed the song to suit her and once the band heard her sing, they were instantly on board with her choice. Their mentor wasn't pleased but they had to admit she was right. They play their first gig, to a very young audience but each band played well and won them over. Why I keep watching is for the stories of their careers and music history. The replacement drummer was in bands in the 60s. You get glimpses of worlds we either grew up with or heard about as we grew up. And we see photos of their past lives. Yes, 4th Chord and mortified - these shows are contrived for 'drama'. And that makes me so angry for 2 reasons. I suspect the contestants were found via researchers and approached. I don't believe there was a call out for applicants. Their backstories are too interesting. So to use a 95 year old Big Band swing drummer to perform in a rock band, just to say that at 95 you can still play was in the end cruel. It was too physically tiring for him and he wanted to go back to the peace and quiet of his home. The poor chap's biggest concern was letting the band down. I respected his honesty and so did the band. The other element is the unrealistic time period to put all this together. Yes, I doubt they could have taken up more of people's time than 8 weeks. But they have 2 weeks to rehearse 2 songs, never having played together and then they have to put on a gig for real. And to have the managers talk to camera and say what a shambles they are... or they complain about them using pieces of paper to remember the songs. And songs they were never familiar with in the first place. WTAF???! All these steps are important. But we know from Quo that rehearsals take longer when you're a pro. So more fake drama. I have no respect for the programme makers, and little for the mentors and their teams. Anyway, these musicians are all stars in my eyes for going along with this shenanigans. A doc I'd love to see would be one that shared their personal stories. I'm reminded of that good rock doc about a Swedish band who were once successful but keep going while holding down other jobs. I know many here have seen that too. Were you thinking of Anvil from Canada? |
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Post by curiousgirl on Apr 9, 2022 12:33:19 GMT
I was! Thank you. 4th Chord I was correct about them being from a cold snowy country.  |
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Post by curiousgirl on Apr 9, 2022 20:30:04 GMT
Ep 4 - the gigs - the best episode!!!!
I loved both sets. And felt so proud of both bands.
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 4,599
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
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Post by mortified on Apr 10, 2022 6:37:59 GMT
Saw Anvil play Castle Donington in 1982. First on the bill that Quo headlined. Making them bottom of the t-shirt Can't recall much about them. Fast and loud I think. Anyway.... I suppose the point is, "reality" shows in no way reflect reality. What started it all off? "Pop Idol"? Big Brother"? Maybe we can go as far back as "Opportunity Knocks" or "New Faeces". Whatever did it, it's proven to be a popular medium so you can see why they keep coming up with variations on the theme. I mean there's even an entire channel called Reality TV. I shudder to think what's on there  |
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or they complain about them using pieces of paper to remember the songs. And songs they were never familiar with in the first place. WTAF???! 
