The fascinating untold story of music at Sydney Leagues and RSL clubs is set to be told in a new biopic that will start filming later this month.
With a working title of Under The Covers, the film will focus on the Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters and U2 cover bands, as well as solo piano performers who performed Elton John and Billy Joel hits and DJs who based their sets around Mambo No 5 and Shaddap You Face. These visionary artists often went under-appreciated in the Australian music scene, but they shaped the future of the country's music scene forever.
“It's was a really underground movement,” says the director, John Jackson. “People didn't really understand its importance at the time, but it was really pushing the boundaries.”
With a budget of $5 million, at least ten of the city's top leagues and RSL clubs will be recreated in film sets. With most of the funding going construction of those set, Jackson said they haven't been able to acquire the full rights to the songs, but will instead use “versions that are so close to the original that no one will notice.”
St Mary's-based outfit Jon Bovi will likely play themselves and open with a rounding rendition of Living With A Bear, while Jackson said he was close to locking in The Dave Mole Experience.
“The plan is to get them playing Monkey Bench and Best Of Two in the scene where the bar manager tells the band that the beer prices have gone up by 20 cents. It's a point that really represents the struggles that the scene faced. I guess it's always the way with great art, you don't know what you've got 'til its gone.”
Rob Mills has reportedly being considered for every role in the film, while ex-Sale Of The Century host Glen Ridge was also spied leaving auditions.
