The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star
Encyclopedia
The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star was a successful British
comedy
series, which aired on Channel 4
in 1998.
It was a six-part satirical take on the music industry, written by BAFTA award-winner Bryan Elsley
. The plot centered around a young Glaswegian
band
- Jocks Wa Hey - as they struggle to find success.
The series won the 'Best Drama Serial' award at the 1999 RTS Television Awards and, that same year, writer Bryan Esley was nominated in the RTS 'Best Writer' category for the series.
It was remade as My Guide To Becoming A Rock Star, a short-lived American/Canadian series that starred Oliver Hudson
and was made for the now defunct The WB Television Network
.
The five piece band consisted of: the charismatic Jez MacAllister (Ciarán McMenamin
) on vocals - our guide through the painful process of becoming a rock'n'roll star; his best pal, bass player 'Psycho' (Duncan Marwick), a disorganised student who is the complete opposite of his nickname; drummer Wullie MacBoyne (Stephen McCole
), a mean looking psychopath, known as 'Bigot' to his mates; the insatiable and hard-hitting Joe Nardone (Nicola Stapleton
) on lead guitar, with more 'balls' and arrogance than the rest of the band put together; and finally Jez's cool-headed welfare officer and electric keyboards wizard, Fiona Johnstone (aka MC Fiona; Simone Lahbib
).
The band recruit new members, revolutionise their sound, acquire management, arrange a showcase gig, get signed, record a hopelessly over-budget album
and cut a chaotic swathe through the cut-throat world of marketing and promotions, finally resting at the dizzy heights of a top ten single and a massive £3 million debt.
Along the way they encounter Slick Sloan (Keith Allen), the disingenuous A&R man; Derek Trout (Fish
), record producer; and their cheesey manager Art Stilton (Forbes Masson
) who also manages supergroup 'Bonk, Bonk, Bonk'.
The series also includes cameo appearances from Noel Gallagher
, Chrissie Hynde
, Jay Kay, 'Big' John Duncan
, Denise van Outen
, Sara Cox
, Kirsty Wark
, Samantha Fox
, Ed Tudor-Pole, Keith Chegwin
and Timmy Mallett
.
The series inspired a Canadian version in 2002, My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star.
2. "Creating the Buzz" (17 November 1998)
3. "The A & R Men Cometh" (24 November 1998)
4. "Sign on the Line" (1 December 1998)
5. "Making Tracks" (8 December 1998)
6. "Shifting the Units" (15 December 1998)
Nick Bergin (Artist), Guy Pratt
(Artist), Owen Vyse (Artist), Andy Caine (Artist), Julie Katnoria (Artist), et al
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
series, which aired on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in 1998.
It was a six-part satirical take on the music industry, written by BAFTA award-winner Bryan Elsley
Bryan Elsley
Bryan Elsley is a Scottish television writer, known most notably for the co-creation of E4 teen drama Skins with his son, Jamie Brittain...
. The plot centered around a young Glaswegian
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
- Jocks Wa Hey - as they struggle to find success.
The series won the 'Best Drama Serial' award at the 1999 RTS Television Awards and, that same year, writer Bryan Esley was nominated in the RTS 'Best Writer' category for the series.
It was remade as My Guide To Becoming A Rock Star, a short-lived American/Canadian series that starred Oliver Hudson
Oliver Hudson
Oliver Rutledge Hudson is an American actor. He is the son of Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, and brother of Kate Hudson...
and was made for the now defunct The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
.
Synopsis
The series followed the ups and downs of a young Glaswegian band called 'Jocks-Wa-Hey' and their attempts to 'make it' in the tough and uncompromising world of the music industry.The five piece band consisted of: the charismatic Jez MacAllister (Ciarán McMenamin
Ciarán McMenamin
Ciarán McMenamin is an Irish actor who is now living in South London. He is best known for playing Matt Anderson, replacing Jason Flemyng as lead on Primeval.- Early life :...
) on vocals - our guide through the painful process of becoming a rock'n'roll star; his best pal, bass player 'Psycho' (Duncan Marwick), a disorganised student who is the complete opposite of his nickname; drummer Wullie MacBoyne (Stephen McCole
Stephen McCole
Stephen McCole is a Scottish actor. McCole plays the leading role in the television black comedy High Times. McCole portrays Rab, an unemployed stoner who lives with his family in a bleak high-rise flat in Glasgow. The series, which received the 2004 BAFTA Scotland Best Drama Award, also features...
), a mean looking psychopath, known as 'Bigot' to his mates; the insatiable and hard-hitting Joe Nardone (Nicola Stapleton
Nicola Stapleton
Nicola Kathleen Stapleton is an English actress. Stapleton began her career at an early age. She is most famous for her work on British television, in particular her roles as Mandy Salter in BBC's EastEnders and Janine Nebeski in ITV's Bad Girls.-Early life:Stapleton grew up off East Street, which...
) on lead guitar, with more 'balls' and arrogance than the rest of the band put together; and finally Jez's cool-headed welfare officer and electric keyboards wizard, Fiona Johnstone (aka MC Fiona; Simone Lahbib
Simone Lahbib
Simone Lahbib , born 6 February 1965 in Stirling, Scotland is a Scottish actor who has received widespread recognition for her portrayal of strong, emotionally charged characters....
).
The band recruit new members, revolutionise their sound, acquire management, arrange a showcase gig, get signed, record a hopelessly over-budget album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
and cut a chaotic swathe through the cut-throat world of marketing and promotions, finally resting at the dizzy heights of a top ten single and a massive £3 million debt.
Along the way they encounter Slick Sloan (Keith Allen), the disingenuous A&R man; Derek Trout (Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
), record producer; and their cheesey manager Art Stilton (Forbes Masson
Forbes Masson
Forbes Masson is a Scottish actor and writer. He is best known for his classical theatre roles and comedy partnership with Alan Cumming...
) who also manages supergroup 'Bonk, Bonk, Bonk'.
The series also includes cameo appearances from Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
, Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
, Jay Kay, 'Big' John Duncan
The Exploited
The Exploited are a Scottish punk band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1979. Originally a street punk band, they transformed into a faster hardcore punk band with a heavy political influence. From about 1987 on they changed into a crossover thrash band...
, Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen is an English actress, singer and television presenter. Her most notable roles to date are as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on both the West End and on Broadway.- Early life :Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, she is the...
, Sara Cox
Sara Cox
Sara Cox , known as "Coxy", is an English TV presenter and radio DJ, most well known for presenting the breakfast show on BBC Radio 1 between 2000 and 2003...
, Kirsty Wark
Kirsty Wark
Kirsteen Anne Wark is a British journalist and television presenter best known for fronting the BBC Two's news and current affairs programme Newsnight since 1993, and its weekly arts annexe Newsnight Review which is now relaunched as "The Review Show".-Biography:Wark was born in Dumfries to Jimmy...
, Samantha Fox
Samantha Fox
Samantha Karen "Sam" Fox is an English dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modeling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl...
, Ed Tudor-Pole, Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
and Timmy Mallett
Timmy Mallett
Timmy Mallett is a TV presenter and broadcaster in the UK. He achieved cult status on BBC Radio Oxford and Manchester's Piccadilly Radio and later on TV-am...
.
The series inspired a Canadian version in 2002, My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star.
Episodes
1. "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" (10 November 1998)- Jez MacAllister begins the painful process of becoming a rock star as he puts together a band.
2. "Creating the Buzz" (17 November 1998)
- Fiona is recruited as the band's new member under two conditions; and one of them is to stop sleeping with Jez.
3. "The A & R Men Cometh" (24 November 1998)
- With no sign of a record deal after three months of gigging, Art is forced to arrange a showcase.
4. "Sign on the Line" (1 December 1998)
- The band arrive in London where they do a deal with Slick Sloan, then launch themselves on the capital's media scene.
5. "Making Tracks" (8 December 1998)
- The band arrives at Big Noise studios to record at the farmhouse of rock legend Derek Trout.
6. "Shifting the Units" (15 December 1998)
- The band's promotional schedule gathers pace and includes a chaotic appearance on a cult Friday-night TV show. Meanwhile, tensions within the band are exacerbated.
Cast
- Frank GallagherFrank GallagherFrank Gallagher may refer to:* Frank Gallagher * Frank Gallagher , Irish author* Frank Gallagher , rugby league footballer of the 1920s for Great Britain, England, Yorkshire, Dewsbury, Batley, and Leeds...
- Ossie MacAllister - Simone LahbibSimone LahbibSimone Lahbib , born 6 February 1965 in Stirling, Scotland is a Scottish actor who has received widespread recognition for her portrayal of strong, emotionally charged characters....
- Fiona Johnstone - Duncan Marwick - Psycho MacPhail
- Forbes MassonForbes MassonForbes Masson is a Scottish actor and writer. He is best known for his classical theatre roles and comedy partnership with Alan Cumming...
- Art Stilton - Stephen McColeStephen McColeStephen McCole is a Scottish actor. McCole plays the leading role in the television black comedy High Times. McCole portrays Rab, an unemployed stoner who lives with his family in a bleak high-rise flat in Glasgow. The series, which received the 2004 BAFTA Scotland Best Drama Award, also features...
- Wullie MacBoyne - Ciarán McMenaminCiarán McMenaminCiarán McMenamin is an Irish actor who is now living in South London. He is best known for playing Matt Anderson, replacing Jason Flemyng as lead on Primeval.- Early life :...
- Jeremy 'Jez' MacAllister - Barbara RaffertyBarbara RaffertyBarbara Rafferty is a Scottish actress. She is best known for playing Ella Cotter in Rab C Nesbitt between 1990 and 1999, then again from 2008 when the show made a comeback. Other notable television roles include playing Agnes Meldrum the pub landlady in Hamish Macbeth and Alice MacAllister in The...
- Alice MacAllister - Nicola StapletonNicola StapletonNicola Kathleen Stapleton is an English actress. Stapleton began her career at an early age. She is most famous for her work on British television, in particular her roles as Mandy Salter in BBC's EastEnders and Janine Nebeski in ITV's Bad Girls.-Early life:Stapleton grew up off East Street, which...
- Joe Nardone - Eric Barlow - Kenny Dick
- Gerard ButlerGerard ButlerGerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
- Marty Claymore - Ricky CallanRicky CallanRicky Callan is one of Scotland's best known character actors. A familiar face on television, he has a long list of credits to his name including The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star, Taggart, Monarch Of The Glen, Rebus and Velvet Soup...
- Simon - Jason SweeneyJason SweeneyJason Keel Sweeney was a 16-year-old teenager from Fishtown, a neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was brutally murdered by four teenagers for his paycheck on May 30, 2003...
- Walter Dick - Keith Allen - Slick Sloan
- Kirsten Scott - Student
- FishFish (singer)Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
- Derek Trout - Jody Saron - Spice girl
Crew
- Sheree Folkson - directorTelevision directorA television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
- Kieron J. Walsh - director
- Bryan ElsleyBryan ElsleyBryan Elsley is a Scottish television writer, known most notably for the co-creation of E4 teen drama Skins with his son, Jamie Brittain...
- writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images.... - Suzan Harrison - executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
- Peter Norris - producerTelevision producerThe primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
Music
The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star [Soundtrack]Nick Bergin (Artist), Guy Pratt
Guy Pratt
Guy Pratt is a session bassist and also a songwriter, actor and comedian. He is the son of actor Mike Pratt. In Kensington and Chelsea, London, in 1996, Pratt married Gala Wright, the daughter of Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright...
(Artist), Owen Vyse (Artist), Andy Caine (Artist), Julie Katnoria (Artist), et al