INTERVIEW
with
MATT WYCLIFFE
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET THE MUSICAL
EMBARKS ON AN EXTENSIVE UK & IRELAND TOUR
OPENING MARCH 2020 AND COMING TO SOUTHEND'S CLIFFS PAVILION FROM
16 - 21 MARCH 2020
THE STORY OF HOW FOUR STARS MADE ROCK’N’ROLL HISTORY
with
MATT WYCLIFFE
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET THE MUSICAL
EMBARKS ON AN EXTENSIVE UK & IRELAND TOUR
OPENING MARCH 2020 AND COMING TO SOUTHEND'S CLIFFS PAVILION FROM
16 - 21 MARCH 2020
THE STORY OF HOW FOUR STARS MADE ROCK’N’ROLL HISTORY
Be prepared for a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On… Back by popular demand following huge success on Broadway and the West End, the Tony Award winning musical Million Dollar Quartet returns to Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion from the 16th to the 21st March.
This worldwide smash hit musical, inspired by the famous recording session that brought together rock‘n’roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.
Re-joining the production as the ‘Father of Rock’n’Roll’ Sam Phillips, is national treasure Peter Duncan. Following rave reviews for his performance in the musical’s 2017 UK tour, the Olivier Award nominee and former Blue Peter presenter returns to the stage in 2020. Also returning to the role of Carl Perkins is Matt Wycliffe who wowed us with his amazing guitar playing last time the show was in town.
We catch up with Matt just before he is about to go into rehearsal for the show. He tells us what it's like being in the show, how he played piano for an Ed Sheeran advert and how he became an honorary citizen of Lubbock, Texas the hometown of Buddy Holly!
This worldwide smash hit musical, inspired by the famous recording session that brought together rock‘n’roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.
Re-joining the production as the ‘Father of Rock’n’Roll’ Sam Phillips, is national treasure Peter Duncan. Following rave reviews for his performance in the musical’s 2017 UK tour, the Olivier Award nominee and former Blue Peter presenter returns to the stage in 2020. Also returning to the role of Carl Perkins is Matt Wycliffe who wowed us with his amazing guitar playing last time the show was in town.
We catch up with Matt just before he is about to go into rehearsal for the show. He tells us what it's like being in the show, how he played piano for an Ed Sheeran advert and how he became an honorary citizen of Lubbock, Texas the hometown of Buddy Holly!
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You must really enjoy doing the show as you are coming back to do it again?
I love it. It’s fantastic. I’ve always loved 50s rock n roll. I grew up playing and listening to it and this time round I get to play Carl Perkins, with some amazing guitar solos with some lovely guitars to play; and some weeks I am also playing Jerry Lee Lewis. I’m actually a piano player, so it’s pretty awesome to get to play both of them. The cast looks like it’s almost the same as when it toured before? It’s almost all the same actually. The only person who is different is the drummer, Luke Roberts and Peter Duncan, who is playing Sam Phillips. (Duncan shared the role with Jason Donovan on the last tour) I loved working with Peter last time and I was thrilled that he was joining this cast. He’s a very nice man, who’s brilliant to work with and a very good actor. His energy on stage is fantastic. He really gives you the space to perform as well, which is really wonderful. Did you ever watch him when he was on Blue Peter? I didn’t no. Audiences remember him for it though and when they come and see him at the stage door, he’s always very gracious and happy to talk about Blue Peter; but he is a trained actor and a very good one at that. |
You have played the role of Buddy in the Buddy Holly Story in the West End and also went to Lubbock and met his family didn’t you?
It was incredible actually. I think I met all of his family, some of them have passed on now, sadly. I met his 2 brothers, Larry and Travis; Cindy Lou and Peggy Sue. I found out that the original song Peggy Sue was originally written about Cindy Lou. I met Maria Elena, his widow, a few times.
It must have been nerve-wracking performing in front of them all?
It really was, I mean Buddy Holly is one of the most famous names in rock n roll! One of his brothers, who watched the show, invited us round to their house the next day for some food and lemonade - that was a real ‘pinch yourself’ kind of moment. They were all very gracious. I also met his nieces, Edie and Ingrid. I’m still very good friends with them actually. We chat occasionally on Facebook. They were all very complimentary which was very nice to hear. I also got made an honorary citizen of Lubbock, Texas. I met the Mayor and everything and got the keys to the City.
It was incredible actually. I think I met all of his family, some of them have passed on now, sadly. I met his 2 brothers, Larry and Travis; Cindy Lou and Peggy Sue. I found out that the original song Peggy Sue was originally written about Cindy Lou. I met Maria Elena, his widow, a few times.
It must have been nerve-wracking performing in front of them all?
It really was, I mean Buddy Holly is one of the most famous names in rock n roll! One of his brothers, who watched the show, invited us round to their house the next day for some food and lemonade - that was a real ‘pinch yourself’ kind of moment. They were all very gracious. I also met his nieces, Edie and Ingrid. I’m still very good friends with them actually. We chat occasionally on Facebook. They were all very complimentary which was very nice to hear. I also got made an honorary citizen of Lubbock, Texas. I met the Mayor and everything and got the keys to the City.
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You also starred in an advert with Ed Sheeran (right) - what was that like?
It was shot in a restaurant in a hotel in London and it was lovely actually. He was one of the nicest people. He walked into the room and said hello to everybody on the set, no matter what they were doing. He was really lovely for someone that famous. It was a fantastic experience. |
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So, back to Million Dollar Quartet, you’re playing Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, do you have anything in common with either of them at all?
I think you draw on yourself a lot to play these parts. These guys are so iconic it would be very easy to just go out there and do an impersonation of them; and that’s not really what we’re doing. So you have to give an interpretation of the character. Although there are things that I definitely don’t have in common with Jerry Lee Lewis, there is a lot of energy and love for the fast, fiery rock and roll and that spirited piano playing that I definitely have in common.
I used to be in trouble a lot as a kid. I was a cheeky character and always getting told off. And the same with Carl, but that love of music, I can really resonate with that.
The two of them are just consummate musicians; very driven and creative people and I like to think that’s what I’m like as well. It’s just a treat to get to play them.
I think you draw on yourself a lot to play these parts. These guys are so iconic it would be very easy to just go out there and do an impersonation of them; and that’s not really what we’re doing. So you have to give an interpretation of the character. Although there are things that I definitely don’t have in common with Jerry Lee Lewis, there is a lot of energy and love for the fast, fiery rock and roll and that spirited piano playing that I definitely have in common.
I used to be in trouble a lot as a kid. I was a cheeky character and always getting told off. And the same with Carl, but that love of music, I can really resonate with that.
The two of them are just consummate musicians; very driven and creative people and I like to think that’s what I’m like as well. It’s just a treat to get to play them.
Who would be your choice of musicians to have for a jamming session?
There’s loads of people. Oscar Peterson on piano - he’s one of my favourite piano players of all time; he’s an absolute legend- he’s incredible. Buddy Rich on drums. Brian Setzer on guitar and [has a very long think] Prince.
Why do you think audiences keep coming back to see Million Dollar Quartet?
Because the songs are timeless and iconic. There is something about rock and roll that just makes you want to get up and dance and move. It has its own heartbeat and people really tap into that. People spent their youth listening to this music and growing up with it in the 50s. Couples have had their first kiss and fallen in love to these songs, got married, snuck out of their bedroom windows and gone dancing to these songs.
The one thing you always hear people say after the show is, ‘Wow, that takes me right back to my youth.” You see people with zimmer frames sitting at the front and they can’t stand up at the beginning and by the end the zimmer frames are chucked to one side and they’re up and dancing! [laughs]
The Power of music eh?
Exactly, it should be on the NHS!
Interview: Kim Tobin
Tickets to see Matt in Million Dollar Quartet are available online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call box office on 01702 351135
There’s loads of people. Oscar Peterson on piano - he’s one of my favourite piano players of all time; he’s an absolute legend- he’s incredible. Buddy Rich on drums. Brian Setzer on guitar and [has a very long think] Prince.
Why do you think audiences keep coming back to see Million Dollar Quartet?
Because the songs are timeless and iconic. There is something about rock and roll that just makes you want to get up and dance and move. It has its own heartbeat and people really tap into that. People spent their youth listening to this music and growing up with it in the 50s. Couples have had their first kiss and fallen in love to these songs, got married, snuck out of their bedroom windows and gone dancing to these songs.
The one thing you always hear people say after the show is, ‘Wow, that takes me right back to my youth.” You see people with zimmer frames sitting at the front and they can’t stand up at the beginning and by the end the zimmer frames are chucked to one side and they’re up and dancing! [laughs]
The Power of music eh?
Exactly, it should be on the NHS!
Interview: Kim Tobin
Tickets to see Matt in Million Dollar Quartet are available online at www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call box office on 01702 351135