Be Bop A Lula (play)
Encyclopedia
Be Bop A Lula is a dramatic play with music written by Rex Weiner http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0918266/ about young American rockabilly stars Eddie Cochran
and Gene Vincent
touring England in 1960. The tour ended with Cochran's death at the age of 21, and while the play explores the myth and legend of doomed young rock stars, it also makes the case for the influential roles Cochran and Vincent played in the history of rock and roll
music.
Gene Vincent had one hit in 1956, "Be-Bop-A-Lula
," and was known for his wild stage act. But while his and Cochran's style of rockabilly music had been overshadowed in the US by a more mainstream pop sound, Vincent found a more enthusiastic reception in the UK. Both he and Cochran were idolized by audiences in cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol, which included future rock stars such as Paul McCartney
, John Lennon
of the Beatles, Roger Daltrey
of The Who
, Robert Plant
of Led Zeppelin
and Rod Stewart
.
The play was the result of an aborted film project in which Rex Weiner was contracted by Columbia Pictures
in 1986 to write a screenplay based on the life of Eddie Cochran. Actor Rob Lowe
was to star as Cochran in the project, tentatively titled, "Summertime Blues," for producers Cassian Elwes and Brad Wyman. In the course of researching the screenplay, Weiner met many members of the Cochran family including Cochran's mother Alice and visited the family home in Bell Gardens. He also interviewed Eddie's girlfriend Sharon Sheeley
, who was with Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent in the fatal car when it crashed.
When the studio declined to make the film, Weiner wrote a play using his research, and based the drama primarily on an English newspaper clipping he discovered about Cochran having foretold his own death just before he died, a story corroborated by Cochran's girlfriend Sheeley.
The theme of Weiner's drama, which includes some musical performances, is that the rock n' roll music typified by Cochran and
Vincent was rejected in the 1950s by the American mainstream because of its African-American roots, and only found acceptance after English musicians such as the Beatles, The Who
, and the Rolling Stones, brought the music back to the US during the British Invasion
of the early 1960s.
The play's diologue and factual content is based on Rex Weiner's interviews with Cochran's family members, musical associates of Cochran and Vincent, and with Cochran's girlfriend Sharon Sheeley
.
The play subsequently moved to the Coconut Teazer rock club on Sunset Boulevard at the club owner's invitation, for a two-month run in the summer of 1991, with performances every Friday and Saturday in the club's 8121 Room. Here the play was seen British rocker Adam Ant
, a fan of Gene Vincent's music, who subsequently became one of the play's producers.
A re-cast version of the play opened April 16, 1992 at the 99-seat Theatre/Theater on Cahuega Boulevard in Hollywood, directed by Jeff Murray and produced by Adam Ant
, John Densmore
of The Doors
, Lori Depp and Nicolette Chaffey. The set design was by artist Michael Pearce. Donal Logue
played the role of Eddie Cochran. The play ran for twelve performances through May, but attendance was hurt by the riots, sparked by the beating of Rodney King
, which shut down Los Angeles for several days at the end of April.
Be Bop A Lula was revived with an all new cast in September 2008. Three public dress rehearsals brought the play back to Mark Mahoney's Shamrock Tattoo, now located on the Sunset Strip, in West Hollywood. followed by a limited run of four performances four blocks away at the Cat Club, which is partly owned by Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats
.
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
and Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
touring England in 1960. The tour ended with Cochran's death at the age of 21, and while the play explores the myth and legend of doomed young rock stars, it also makes the case for the influential roles Cochran and Vincent played in the history of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
music.
Synopsis
On tour in the UK in 1960, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent make an overnight stop between concerts in a hotel in a small Midlands village where they meet two English girls on the night when Eddie is said to have been troubled by a premonition of his early death. A surreal encounter with a devilish figure, disguised as the recently deceased rocker Buddy Holly, results in a guitar duel for Eddie's soul in which the devil loses and Eddie is at last reconciled to his fate, knowing that rock n' roll music will live on.Concept and Genesis
The play is based on the fact that Cochran was killed in a car crash April 16, 1960 on the way to Heathrow Airport as he was returning home from a UK concert tour. At the time, Cochran had enjoyed modest success the US with hits like "Summertime Blues," "C'mon Everybody," and "Somethin' Else," and was an up-and-coming star with a promising future in music and in Hollywood movies.Gene Vincent had one hit in 1956, "Be-Bop-A-Lula
Be-Bop-A-Lula
"Be-Bop-A-Lula" is a rockabilly song first recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps.-Origins of the song:The writing of the song is credited to Gene Vincent and his manager, Bill "Sheriff Tex" Davis. There is evidence that the song was started in 1955, when Vincent was recuperating from...
," and was known for his wild stage act. But while his and Cochran's style of rockabilly music had been overshadowed in the US by a more mainstream pop sound, Vincent found a more enthusiastic reception in the UK. Both he and Cochran were idolized by audiences in cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol, which included future rock stars such as Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
of the Beatles, Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
.
The play was the result of an aborted film project in which Rex Weiner was contracted by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
in 1986 to write a screenplay based on the life of Eddie Cochran. Actor Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
was to star as Cochran in the project, tentatively titled, "Summertime Blues," for producers Cassian Elwes and Brad Wyman. In the course of researching the screenplay, Weiner met many members of the Cochran family including Cochran's mother Alice and visited the family home in Bell Gardens. He also interviewed Eddie's girlfriend Sharon Sheeley
Sharon Sheeley
Sharon Sheeley was an American songwriter, born in California, who wrote songs for Glen Campbell, Ricky Nelson, Brenda Lee, and Sheeley's former fiancé, Eddie Cochran.-Life:...
, who was with Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent in the fatal car when it crashed.
When the studio declined to make the film, Weiner wrote a play using his research, and based the drama primarily on an English newspaper clipping he discovered about Cochran having foretold his own death just before he died, a story corroborated by Cochran's girlfriend Sheeley.
The theme of Weiner's drama, which includes some musical performances, is that the rock n' roll music typified by Cochran and
Vincent was rejected in the 1950s by the American mainstream because of its African-American roots, and only found acceptance after English musicians such as the Beatles, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, and the Rolling Stones, brought the music back to the US during the British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
of the early 1960s.
Sources and Inspiration
The play is inspired partly by the legend of bluesman Robert Johnson who was said to have sold his soul to the devil in return for his guitar-playing talent.The play's diologue and factual content is based on Rex Weiner's interviews with Cochran's family members, musical associates of Cochran and Vincent, and with Cochran's girlfriend Sharon Sheeley
Sharon Sheeley
Sharon Sheeley was an American songwriter, born in California, who wrote songs for Glen Campbell, Ricky Nelson, Brenda Lee, and Sheeley's former fiancé, Eddie Cochran.-Life:...
.
Production history
Be Bop A Lula had its first staged performance May 10, 1991 at the Shamrock Tattoo Studio http://www.shamrocktattoo.com/, owned by Mark Mahoney, on Third Street in Los Angeles. Directed by Rex Weiner, it ran for eight performances through June 1.The play subsequently moved to the Coconut Teazer rock club on Sunset Boulevard at the club owner's invitation, for a two-month run in the summer of 1991, with performances every Friday and Saturday in the club's 8121 Room. Here the play was seen British rocker Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
, a fan of Gene Vincent's music, who subsequently became one of the play's producers.
A re-cast version of the play opened April 16, 1992 at the 99-seat Theatre/Theater on Cahuega Boulevard in Hollywood, directed by Jeff Murray and produced by Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
, John Densmore
John Densmore
John Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, Lori Depp and Nicolette Chaffey. The set design was by artist Michael Pearce. Donal Logue
Donal Logue
Donal Francis Logue is an Canadian actor perhaps most famous for his role as Sean Finnerty in Grounded for Life.-Personal life:...
played the role of Eddie Cochran. The play ran for twelve performances through May, but attendance was hurt by the riots, sparked by the beating of Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
, which shut down Los Angeles for several days at the end of April.
Be Bop A Lula was revived with an all new cast in September 2008. Three public dress rehearsals brought the play back to Mark Mahoney's Shamrock Tattoo, now located on the Sunset Strip, in West Hollywood. followed by a limited run of four performances four blocks away at the Cat Club, which is partly owned by Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats
Stray Cats
Stray Cats are an American Rockabilly band formed in 1980 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer , upright bassist Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in the UK, Australia and the U.S...
.
Shamrock Tattoo/Coconut Teazer
Los Angeles, CA, May - July 1991- Phil Noyes (Gene Vincent) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1398778
- Bob Carlton (Eddie Cochran)
- Kerry David (Alice) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0202968
- Danielle von Zerneck (Martha) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0903272
- David Freund (Buddy)
- Director: Rex Weiner
- Producer: Jonathan Seay
- Music: James FearnleyJames FearnleyJames Fearnley is an English musician. He plays accordion in the folk/punk band The Pogues.As a child he was a choir treble, but his voice changed at the age of sixteen. He took piano lessons but did not enjoy it, so he chose to learn the guitar instead...
Theatre/Theater
Hollywood, CA, April – June 1992 http://www.theatretheater.net/1992.html- Paul Hipp (Gene Vincent) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004272
- Donal LogueDonal LogueDonal Francis Logue is an Canadian actor perhaps most famous for his role as Sean Finnerty in Grounded for Life.-Personal life:...
(Eddie Cochran) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006610 - Kerry David (Alice) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0202968/
- Paulene Smith (Martha)
- John Mueller (Buddy) http://www.yourbuddyjohn.com/bio/john_m.htm
- Director: Jeff Murray http://www.theatretheater.net/1992.html
- Producers:
- Adam AntAdam AntAdam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
- John DensmoreJohn DensmoreJohn Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
- Lori Depp http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0220129/
- Nicolette Chaffey http://www.theatretheater.net/1992.html
- Adam Ant
- Music Supervisor: James IntveldJames IntveldJames Intveld is a Los Angeles rockabilly musician, actor, composer, director. Intveld provided the vocals for the eponymous title character in John Waters' Cry-Baby, and sung "Let's Go Sexin'" in Waters' 2004 movie, A Dirty Shame.-Early work:...
The Cat Club
West Hollywood, CA, September, 2008- Aaron DuPree (Gene Vincent) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1398778/
- Chance Dean (Eddie Cochran)
- Zoe Simpson (Alice) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0202968/
- Nicole Willig (Martha) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0903272/
- Ron Geren (Buddy)
- Director: Rex Weiner
- Producers:
- Lincoln Phipps
- Chris KobinChris KobinChris Kobin is a screenwriter and film producer living in Los Angeles, California.-Personal:Kobin, a graduate of Ridgewood High School , Macalester College and Loyola Law School, turned down an offer from a Century City law firm and became a car salesman while trying to break into Hollywood...
- Music Supervisor: Dan Radlauer http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0705669/
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/bebopalulaplay
- http://www.nypost.com/seven/09162008/gossip/pagesix/tales_behind_the_doors_129243.htm
- http://classicrock.today.com/2008/09/11/be-bop-a-lula-returns-to-hollywood/