Stardom beckons for bad boy

The producers of Vampires Rock foresee a roaring success when they bring their new show to Newark on April 10.

Bad Boy Johnny And The Prophets Of Doom is the latest venture for Steve Steinman, of Newark.

The outrageous rock extravaganza was originally an award-winning stage musical in Australia, written by Daniel Abineri, who played Frank ‘n’ Furter in the West End for 13 years.

The show premiered in Melbourne in 1989 with Russell Crowe in the title role.

Following in Crowe’s footsteps in the show’s revival is Vampires Rock guitarist Henry Bird.

He is Johnny, who was born on the wrong side of the tracks to single mother Mary, played by West End favourite Dawn Spence.

Johnny steals his first guitar to form a band called The Prophets Of Doom.

Evil priest Father Maclean (Vampires Rock’s Steve Steinman) discovers Johnny’s talent and promises to elevate him to superstardom.

Booked on to an X Factor type show called Have Your Say, Johnny is voted by the public as the person the world would like to see as the new Pope — not quite the type of superstardom Johnny was expecting.

All seems well for Johnny in his new, but strange role, until plans emerge that he is to be assassinated on live television by his manager.

Rockman Music has given the show a new lease of life and is touring around the UK until May.

Steve said: “I am very excited about revamping this show for the British audience.

“We have a fantastic cast in place. Henry makes the perfect Johnny and I predict he could well be the new Russell Crowe.

“We are thrilled that Dawn Spence is involved. It is easy to see why she has had such a great West End career.

“We also have Mike Taylor as Pope Liberty, who Vampires Rock fans will know as the show-stealing Stringfellow. And then there’s me. I seem to have typecast myself in an evil role once again.

“This is a fun show, packed with comedy and great music. It already has a great buzz around it and looks set to become a hit on these shores too.

“It’s amazing that Bad Boy Johnny is striking such a chord with the public.

“The fact that the Pope is due to visit the UK this year makes it even better — maybe we can persuade him to make a guest appearance.”