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Post by abitoftap on Mar 22, 2018 11:50:26 GMT
Oh I don’t know tm. I knew nothing about his early life, childhood and the “cuckoo in the nest” situ. It was an odd family which may explain why he’s a bit odd himself. Or the suicide attempt, the interest in architecture, the lone travelling as a 14 year old or the toy theatre Only the suicide hasn't been in any biography before. Even then, I rather objected to all the "stock footage" of old buses etc, without proof the film was even of travelling into Suffolk - could have been any view, anywhere. It just felt lazy. I can't comment on whether the Suffolk bus was a Suffolk bus, but Lavenham was Lavenham and the Whitby footage was Whitby (his NE trip), and as I lived there as a child and youth, seemed to be of the right vintage. I actually thought the archive film was generally pretty good. Not the usual stuff most of the time. |
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Post by tysilio2 on Mar 22, 2018 12:49:46 GMT
Maybe it would have been cheaper without the moving seats? Wouldn't have made any difference as the equipment was always there, it was just putting to use what they had - and a great gimmick always sells tickets. I assume it's still flexible given that both War Horse and Showboat were done with thrust staging. Yes, fairly. They put one wall back after "Cats," and as I said, I think some revolve machinery went. the New London is such an ugly building but I suspect there isn't much they can do to make it look prettier. Try asking Cherie Blair |
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Post by CG on the loose on Mar 22, 2018 13:33:23 GMT
In the tv program much was made of not having the budget to hire the New London. Maybe it would have been cheaper without the moving seats? Can't recall if they said in the TV programme so apologies if I'm repeating what you already know, but at the New London event the other week, he explained that they had to guarantee the income to the building's owners for a full two year (I think) period, regardless of whether the show ran or not. It was, until Cats, being used as a TV studio, and they were worried that their business, once lost for the production, would be slow to return if it closed. Hence ALW remortgaging his house! |
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 22, 2018 13:56:33 GMT
It's a shame that the New London is such an ugly building Beauty, as the saying goes, is in the eye of the beholder. Rather like Victor Kiam, ALW liked it so much, he bought it, or perhaps he just disliked paying rent to someone else! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2018 14:36:55 GMT
It's a shame that the New London is such an ugly building Beauty, as the saying goes, is in the eye of the beholder. I suspect he was hooked as he looked at the beauty underneath... (I’ve always liked it just because it’s different, and because it brings back great memories of seeing Cats there in the 80s.) |
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Post by viserys on Mar 26, 2018 7:53:33 GMT
I'm about half-way through now where he's starting to work on Cats and Tell me on a Sunday.
I can't help wishing that the 4-CD-Box Set had included one CD with some of the demos and obscure songs we've never heard before, which he keeps mentioning (like the one by Elvis he did include on CD) and less of those that are ubiquitous. That would have been a true gem and gift to all his fans.
And it's strange indeed that nothing from The Likes of Us has been included, since this does exist on CD, so should have been easy to add.
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1,088 posts
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Post by andrew on Mar 30, 2018 14:37:26 GMT
Been given this for my birthday, looking forward to joining in the fun...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2018 16:30:13 GMT
Just had an email with the following info:
LLOYD WEBBER SONGS AS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD THEM!
BBC RADIO 2 • THIS WEEKEND
This Easter, BBC Radio 2 will broadcast a series of programmes to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of Britain’s most successful composers, Andrew Lloyd Webber.
THE SUPERSTAR STORY • SUNDAY 1 APRIL • 7PM
Melanie C will present the story of this hit rock opera from the early seventies that shot Andrew Lloyd Webber to fame. We will see contributions from performers, producers, directors and critics including Tony Hadley, Murray Head, Paul Nicholas, Marcia Hines, Cameron Mackintosh, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber himself.
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER VARIATIONS • MONDAY 2 APRIL • 8PM
Various artist have been selected to put their own spin on a Lloyd Webber song of their choice - including Mica Paris, Ronan Keating, Ricky Wilson, The Vamps, Seth Lakeman, Imelda May and loads more!
OTHER PROGRAMMING
Jonathan Ross will contribute to the celebrations with Jonathan Ross On Andrew Lloyd Webber on Sunday at 1pm, and Michael Ball will introduce rarely-heard interviews with the composer from the 1970s in Andrew Lloyd Webber at The BBC on Friday at midday.
Happy Easter listening, fellow fans! 🐣
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 30, 2018 17:30:42 GMT
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Post by richey on Mar 30, 2018 17:38:28 GMT
There was another tribute show on Radio 2 earlier today presented by Michael Ball. It was ok but concentrated a lot on his earlier well known work and didn't have anything after Whistle Down the Wind.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2018 16:06:25 GMT
Listened to Jonathan Ross’s interview with ALW. Quite good. Funny moment when Wossy brought up the subject of his works on film. Andrew seemed to think the best was Evita, and that Phantom “wasn’t bad.” Wossy quickly puts him straight. “No... Phantom was awful.” Andrew contradicts him, “Well it wasn’t awful...” Wossy: “Andrew. It was awful.” LOL. There’s talk of someone having a second go at a film of Phantom apparently...
The Patti story came up. Mmm... (He’s quite bitchy about her in the book really.)
Looking forward to the Superstar special later, although Wishing It Wasn’t Somehow Mel C Again...
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Post by latefortheoverture on Apr 2, 2018 19:47:01 GMT
Just had an email with the following info: LLOYD WEBBER SONGS AS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD THEM! BBC RADIO 2 • THIS WEEKEND This Easter, BBC Radio 2 will broadcast a series of programmes to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of Britain’s most successful composers, Andrew Lloyd Webber. THE SUPERSTAR STORY • SUNDAY 1 APRIL • 7PM Melanie C will present the story of this hit rock opera from the early seventies that shot Andrew Lloyd Webber to fame. We will see contributions from performers, producers, directors and critics including Tony Hadley, Murray Head, Paul Nicholas, Marcia Hines, Cameron Mackintosh, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber himself. ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER VARIATIONS • MONDAY 2 APRIL • 8PM Various artist have been selected to put their own spin on a Lloyd Webber song of their choice - including Mica Paris, Ronan Keating, Ricky Wilson, The Vamps, Seth Lakeman, Imelda May and loads more! OTHER PROGRAMMING Jonathan Ross will contribute to the celebrations with Jonathan Ross On Andrew Lloyd Webber on Sunday at 1pm, and Michael Ball will introduce rarely-heard interviews with the composer from the 1970s in Andrew Lloyd Webber at The BBC on Friday at midday. Happy Easter listening, fellow fans! 🐣 Is all of this on BBC Radio 2? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 16:12:19 GMT
Yes, available on catch up.
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 3, 2018 20:16:01 GMT
It's a shame that Sunset Boulevard is being so overlooked in all these interviews. I understand that the book (unfortunately) only goes up to Phantom, but it seems School of Rock, Love Never Dies and Stephen Ward are getting more attention!!!
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Post by tmesis on Apr 5, 2018 17:19:09 GMT
I've just finished reading this and I recommend it highly. ALW is very self-aware; he's aware of his talents, but more importantly of his personal short comings and he deals with them with much humour. It's well written and an easy read. Inevitably he deals with many things that are familiar but there are many new nuggets of information and insights. I'm not an ALW fan at all, in fact I'd say I only like about 50% of his output, but I found this book fascinating about the creative process.
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Post by 49thand8th on Apr 5, 2018 17:43:57 GMT
I can't get over the lack of commas. But maybe that's a cultural thing.
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Post by Tibidabo on Jul 14, 2018 7:04:14 GMT
Just been reduced to £5.99 on Amazon - the hardback version. The paperback isn't out until March next year. From what I've seen of it, I can't imagine even the paperback will be small enough to fit into my handbag, so it's probably worth going for this.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2018 7:38:24 GMT
I can't get over the lack of commas. But maybe that's a cultural thing. I'm a big fan of overzealous use of commas, big fan. |
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Post by steve10086 on Jul 19, 2018 10:05:35 GMT
Am really enjoying the Cats / Starlight period of his life / the book. Found the earlier life a little bit harder going. He seems to have raided By Jeeves for a lot of the expressions he uses.
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4,803 posts
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Post by Mark on Nov 21, 2018 21:35:27 GMT
Any idea when we might see "Unmasked Part 2"? Really enjoyed the first volume.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2019 8:56:57 GMT
Oh lovely. 820 million reasons to love The Lord. Good Lord! |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 4, 2019 8:43:25 GMT
ALW has 5 productions running concurrently in London right now. Has there ever been a time when there would have been more than 5?
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Post by alece10 on Aug 4, 2019 10:42:28 GMT
ALW has 5 productions running concurrently in London right now. Has there ever been a time when there would have been more than 5? I think it is a record as there was talk about this achievement coming up a few months ago in the press. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2019 11:29:24 GMT
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 3, 2020 13:43:39 GMT
Please fell free to move, Mods, if I'm straying too far off track, but tonight's Friday Night is Music Night is an Andrew Lloyd Webber special. Starts at 8pm on Radio 2, then available afterwards on BBC Sounds. (I've no idea why Friday Night is Music Night is being broadcast on a Tuesday! The clue is in the name, surely?  ) |
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