A new TV series about the music industry co-produced by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger will premiere on HBO in 2016, it has been announced. The “rock’n’roll drama”, Vinyl , will star Boardwalk Empire ’s Bobby Cannavale , House ’s Olivia Wilde and Jagger’s son James.
Set in New York in the 1970s, it will the story of a fictional record label called American Century records, exploring the drug-and sex-fuelled music business when the punk and disco scenes were emerging.
Viewers will follow the drama through the eyes of Richie Finestra, a record executive played by Cannavale, who is tying to resurrect his label and find the next new sound. Finestra has an ear for talent, but a life-changing decision puts a heavy strain on his relationship with his actress-model wife Devon, played by Wilde, and his business partner Zak Yankovich — Ray Romano. James Jagger plays Kip Stevens, the lead singer of an early punk rock band called the ‘Nasty Bits’.
Earlier this year, Scorsese transformed Brooklyn’s Rough Trade record shop into a 1970s Sam Goody storefront — after the music chain started in the 40s by New York entrepreneur Sam “Goody” Gutowitz — for filming. The block of north 9th street between Wythe and Kent was also decorated with vintage cars, old phone booths and a newstand.
The show has its origins in 2010, as a film based on Jagger’s idea of two friends living through four decades in the music business, from 60s R&B to contemporary hip hop. Details of the series were announced in December last year and it is understood to have been given a nine-episode pick-up, Variety reports.
The Sopranos writer Terence Winter, who has worked with Scorsese in the past on Boardwalk Empire and The Wolf of Wall Street , and Breaking Bad ’s George Mastras will work on the script.
Others involved in the project include Juno Temple, PJ Byrne, Joe Caniano, Andrew Dice Clay, JC Mackenzie, and Birgitte Sen, who will play Ingrid Superstar, a Danish actor favoured by Andy Warhol.
Scorsese and Jagger, the Rolling Stones frontman, previously worked together on Shine a Light, a Scorsese—directed documentary about the Stones’ 2006 Beacon Theatre performance on their A Bigger Bang tour. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2015
