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a14 people & arts
Thursday 2 March 2023
How the 'Daisy Jones' cast went from beginners to bandmates

By ALICIA RANCILIO
Associated Press
Sam Claflin is the first to
admit that when he got
the part of Billy Dunne, the
co-lead singer of a world-
famous 1970s rock band in
" Daisy Jones & the Six, " he
was no musician.
Claflin was the last person
cast. His co-stars had al-
ready begun rehearsing at This combination of photos shows, from left, Riley Keough, Sam This combination of photos shows, from left, Suki Waterhouse,
Josh Whitehouse, Nabiyah Be and Sebastian Chacon, cast
a band camp where the Claflin and Camila Morrone, cast members in the Amazon members in the Amazon miniseries “Daisy Jones and the Six,”
miniseries “Daisy Jones and the Six,” posing for a portrait at the
actors learned to play their Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles on Feb. 21, 2023. posing for portraits at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles on
designated instruments Associated Press Feb. 21, 2023.
and perform original songs Associated Press
written for the show. To play a band as beloved would feel accurate to mu- Additional original music Waterhouse said. "I've now
"They said, 'OK, there's as Daisy Jones & The Six is in sicians. Kim Gordon from from the series will also be done like 70 shows and
about 15 songs you're go- the universe created by au- Sonic Youth spoke to the released digitally each two tours and have a label
ing to need to learn. Oh, thor Taylor Jenkins Reid, lip- writers room once a week week. and all these things that I
and can you play guitar?'" syncing to someone else's as a consultant. The unexpected year-and- didn't have before I played
Claflin recounted. "I didn't vocals was never on the "She spoke to what it's like a-half production delay — Karen, so I have a lot to be
play guitar and I barely table, co-executive pro- to be onstage and to have induced by the coronavi- really grateful to the show
had sung. I never recorded ducer Lauren Neustadter this electricity happen rus pandemic, subsequent for." While Waterhouse was
anything. It was quite an said. Neustadter produced around you," co-showrun- filming backlog and a long already a recording artist,
immediate shock of terror the adaptation alongside ner Will Graham said. waiting list to use stages — other actors relished in the
and fear and pressure." Reese Witherspoon, who And expectations were helped Claflin get to where opportunity to live out their
One might assume that, had to sing her own vocals high for the transcendent he needed to be musically. rock star fantasies. Sebas-
on the other hand, Riley for her Oscar-winning per- songs Keough, Claflin and "Any actor will say, I think, tian Chacon, who portrays
Keough — inhabiting the formance as June Carter the ensemble would have the more time you are Warren Rhodes, played
titular role in the Amazon Cash in "Walk the Line." to belt. Enter Blake Mills, a gifted for preparation, the drums in middle school and
Prime limited series premier- "Reese and I had so many Grammy winner who has better ... but I needed to early high school but the
ing Friday — had the music conversations," said Neus- worked with Alabama climb a huge mountain," kind of music he learned in
part in the bag. After all, as tadter. "She knew what a Shakes, John Legend, Bob he said. of the delay giving band class was very differ-
the granddaughter of Elvis challenge it would be, but Dylan and Jay-Z and was him more time to rehearse, ent than the drumming he
Presley and the daughter she also knew exactly what tapped as the show's ex- both in and outside of did on "Daisy Jones."
of Lisa Marie Presley, Ke- was possible." ecutive music producer. band camp. "Everybody wants to be a
ough practically has music "Daisy Jones & The Six" fol- Mills wrote or co-wrote 25 Suki Waterhouse, who plays rock star, but it takes a lot of
in her genes. lows a band that skyrock- tracks created for the se- keyboardist Karen Sirko, work and hustle," Chacon
But Keough said singing did ets to fame, helmed by ries, alongside the likes of said all the work that went said. "To be able to just skip
not come naturally, espe- lead singers with amazing Phoebe Bridgers, Jackson into their music scenes the line and pretend to be
cially singing for an audi- onstage chemistry and a Browne and Marcus Mum- helped make her a better a big famous rock star, I
ence. She could carry a tumultuous behind-the- ford. (None of the lyrics in- performer. was like, 'Wow, amazing,
tune and submitted a "sort scenes relationship. De- cluded in the book were "The two things that I'm fantastic.'"
of soft" song for her audition cades after the band sud- used.) most passionate about, I Josh Whitehouse, who plays
but was told she needed to denly and inexplicably Atlantic Records will release got to put together in this Eddie Roundtree, also had
belt out the lyrics to play (to the public) breaks up, an album featuring 11 origi- project. ... I've been putting music experience. He be-
frontwoman Daisy Jones. they speak for the first time nal songs also on Friday. out music for many years, gan playing with bands at
"I sounded awful the first about their rise and demise. The first two singles "Look At but playing Karen guided 16 years old and continued
few times I tried," Keough The writers wanted to cre- Us Now (Honeycomb)" and me to make the record that performing for 10 years "un-
admitted. ate a realistic story that "Regret Me" are out now. I really wanted to make," til acting took over."q

Kiss reveal last dates of their farewell

tour, ending in NYC

By The Associated Press Washington, Canada, Ten- statement.
NEW YORK (AP) — Rockers nessee, Indiana, Illinois, The band is currently made
Kiss have announced the Maryland and then culmi- up of original members
final shows of their last tour: nates in their hometown's Paul Stanley and Gene Sim-
The band plans to hang up famous venue on Dec. 1 mons as well as Eric Singer
their platform boots after and Dec. 2. and Tommy Thayer. Their
two back-to-back shows "Kiss was born in New York best-known songs include
at Madison Square Garden City. On 23rd Street. Half "Rock and Roll All Nite," "I
in New York at the end of a century ago. It will be a Was Made for Lovin' You"
2023. privilege and honor to finish and "Detroit Rock City."
Members of the band Kiss, from left, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley, The last leg of the band's touring at Madison Square Tickets will be available to
Gene Simmons and Eric Singer attend the premiere of A&E 17-date North American Garden, 10 blocks and 50 the public on March 10 at
Network's "Biography: KISStory" in New York on June 11, 2021. tour kicks off in October in years from where we first livenation.com.q
Associated Press Texas and hits California, started," said the band in a