Broadsheet music journalists everywhere are currently rubbing their thighs, Vic Reeves-style, over Damon Albarn’s latest high-minded venture, Monkey: Journey To The West. A Chinese language opera composed in collaboration with ex-pat Sino-American director Chen Shi-Zheng, it’s a fine piece of work, but – by anyone’s standards – a fairly outlandish concept.
Naturally, it got us thinking about a few other memorable rock-star flights of fancy…
The Adventures Of Lord Iffy Boat Race
Inspired variously by Sherlock Holmes, Biggles and Penthouse magazine, this was Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson’s attempt to relaunch himself as an author. “It’s mad, it’s hilarious and so is Bruce!” raved bandmate Steve Harris. He was utterly wrong on both counts, and the Human Air Raid Siren swiftly returned to pursuits he was better suited to, such as fencing and bellowing about war.
N*SYNC bloke books space flight
In 2002, boy band N*SYNC were one of the biggest acts on the planet. Even so, Lance Bass’ breezy assertion that he was planning a trip to the International Space Station (estimated cost: $20 million) raised a few eyebrows. Had he managed it, he would have been the youngest man ever to go into space. Alas, despite completing cosmonaut training, the tousle-haired berk never came up with the funds.
Perry Farrell frees slaves
As a member of the American Anti-Slavery Group, the former Jane’s Addiction frontman travelled to Sudan to pay for the release of over 2000 people forced to live in slavery. Afterwards, he organised "freedom parties" where they could celebrate their new-found emancipation. Across the ocean, Bono could be heard grinding his teeth to powder in a jealous rage.
Blur sponsor Mars probe
In 1998, bassist Alex James and Dave Rowntree agreed to assist Beagle 2, the doomed British project to land a probe on Mars. Their contribution was to write a signature tune, which was to be beamed back from Mars to announce the lander's arrival. Sadly, the probe never reached its destination and the whole thing was simply a ruinously expensive waste of everyone’s time. Shame.
3:03 PM | 06/07/2007
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