Jimmy Blue: A Del Amitri Musical
Del Amitri. Just a band right? Couple of hits in the late 80s and 90s. That one about post office clerks and secretaries. Then vanished. Well not for everyone. For some of us their 6 albums (which became seven two years ago) were life changing. It's all here if you're interested Del Amitri.
In 2008 in the depths of a failed marriage, a high pressure job and trying to keep my head above water I listened to little else but Del Amitri. Using Justin Currie's extraordinary lyrics as inspiration a story developed in my head and I began to write it down. It was based on their song Move Away Jimmy Blue. I called it Jimmy Blue. This blog is named after a line from the song…
To be clear it was my first real writing attempt at 43 years old. I finished it. Not only that I loved it. I even let Justin Currie know that it existed. He was fine with me using his songs while being very clear he was no fan of the genre. He even helped me with a failed Kickstarter project when a production company in Manchester showed an interest. Other than that there's very little to show for it's 16 year existence.
Briefly it's about Jimmy, his friends and his band. It touches on relationships, alcohol issues, unplanned pregnancy and life choices. My words are merely a framework that allows these incredible songs to tell the story. I always say it's more Blood Brothers than Mama Mia.
What do I want from it? To be on stage in every major city in the world. A film and a sequel…. Honestly just some feedback and to hear a workshop style read through. I think it's really good. It's unique in that it's not feel good, it's feel something. Then of course there's those songs. Those wonderful, life enhancing songs. Little 3 or 4 minutes plays set to music. That's where the gold lies. I just need to find a way to finally get it off the page and onto a stage.
The times I've dreamt of the cast singing this as the curtain closes with an audience on their feet knowing they've seen and heard something really special. One day…
Can anyone here help?
Very cool project!