With artist biopics all the rage, speculation was bound to be rife as to whose life might be given the latest Hollywood treatment. Perhaps surprisingly, it looks like that privilege may have fallen to outside folk legend Daniel Johnston with Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman having already been identified as the star to play him. Apparently, the script is currently being written by father and son team David and Jordan Miller (set to release their first film My Suicide, in September in the US) and is “… going to be an epic superhero story and… a narrative biopic so it doesn’t really cover any of the same stuff that the famous Devil And Daniel Johnston documentary that won Sundance in 2005 covers”. Johnston is a favorite of many stars, and it is also rumored that John C. Reilly and Johnny Depp might also appear. However, Miller added, “… we haven’t really arrived at that yet – we’re just in the scripting process at the moment but once we get the script finished we’ll be able to get a better handle on what the budget will be”.
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Bits & Pieces
Watch Shane MacGowan & Friends Record Haiti Charity Track
02.26.10Last month, in amongst the slew of stories surrounding the earthquake in Haiti, we reported that The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan had recruited a posse of fellow punks to record a cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ I Put a Spell on You, with all proceeds going to the for Dublin charity Concern Worldwide’s Haiti relief efforts. Now, we bring you footage of the crew together in the recording studio, featuring Johnny Depp, Nick Cave, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, The Clash’s Mick Jones, the Sex Pistols‘ Glen Matlock, and of course MacGowan himself. Check it.
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Bits & Pieces
Johnny Depp Confirms he’s Directing Keith Richards Documentary
02.05.10Johnny Depp is set to direct a documentary about Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards. The two have collaborated before, with Richards appearing as father to Depp’s Capt. Jack Sparrow – a character he has often said he based on the veteran rocker – in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. According to a representative for Depp, the actor’s editors are going through the reams of archive footage, with Richards also agreeing to appear in front of the cameras too. The result of the collaboration should certainly be interesting, especially given Depp’s previous experience at kicking it with bad asses – he spent time living legendary outlaw journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s ranch in preparation for his role in Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas adaptation.
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Bits & Pieces
Shane MacGowan Recruits his Mates to Cover Screamin’ Jay Hawkins for Haiti
02.03.10As regular readers will note, we’ve covered the details of quite a few Haiti benefit projects in recent days, and whatever you think of the artists involved, it’s certainly an amazing thing that stars with such high earning power have lent their services to the cause. But here comes one even all you punks can sing along to without wincing: Shane MacGowan, the legendarily gin soaked and incomprehensible Pogues singer (who also possibly has the best laugh ever) has put together his own band of merry men to sing for Haiti. Those who’ve been press ganged into the service of Ireland’s drunken poet laureate to cover Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ 1965 tune I Put a Spell on You, for Dublin’s Concern Worldwide charity (with all proceeds going to Haiti) include Nick Cave, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones of The Clash, the Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock, and singer Paloma Faith. Also due to make an appearance is the pirate captain himself, Johnny Depp, who plays guitar on the track. So Shane, we hope you raise loads of cash, and then reward yourself with a pint down the pub. We know you will!
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Bits & Pieces
Johnny Depp To Join Babybird On Stage?
10.27.09Rumors have been circulating that Johnny Depp is slated to join Babybird on stage at an upcoming London event. Reports indicate that the guitar playing Depp will join the band at Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen on November 12th to get in on the audio action. The rumors continue with talks of Depp having recorded some music for the outfit’s upcoming February album as well as having a director’s hand in the band’s forthcoming video release. This isn’t the first time Johnny boy has tried his hand at big boy music, having already joined Oasis on guitar for their songs Fade Away and Fade In-Out in 1995 & 1997. Weren’t gettin’ enough girls with the whole movie star thing Johnny? Need the rock stardom too? Geez.
