Amy Winehouse’s family set to turn her life story into a musical on the West End — and it will feature her biggest chart hits
Mitch Winehouse has said that a musical celebrating his daughter's life will be in the 'near future'
SHE is one of the most memorable British artists in recent history, and AMY WINEHOUSE’s legacy is to continue on stage.
I can reveal that the iconic singer’s family are in talks to turn her life story into a musical featuring the songs that made her a global star.
Her dad Mitch says plans are in motion for the London production, which will celebrate the life of Amy, who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, aged just 27.
Speaking at the Amy Winehouse Foundation Gala in London last week, Mitch explained: “A musical celebrating her life and music is being talked about for the near future.
“It is something I’d really like to happen and I’ve said I’m happy for it to go ahead.
“It would be for the West End. We want to do something that remembers Amy for what she was, there’s so much more to her than just the drugs and the alcohol.
“We want to do something positive about how she developed her music. What we don’t hear is that she was clean of drugs for three years when she died.”
During her incredible career, Amy won six Grammys, a Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist and three Ivor Novellos.
On top of that, her second album Back To Black was for a time the UK’s best-selling album of the 21st century.
The show is also likely to show her struggle with drink and drugs, as well as her tumultuous two-year marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil.
But it will also give her family a chance to play a role in telling her story, after they disputed much of film maker ASIF KAPADIA’s Oscar-winning 2015 documentary film Amy.
In recent years “jukebox” musicals have proved particularly successful, with ABBA’s Mamma Mia!, CAROLE KING’s Beautiful and QUEEN’s We Will Rock You being massive West End hits.
Considering Amy’s music and life story, I have every confidence that this will be just as huge — and could even give London favourites Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera a run for their money.
READ MORE FROM DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE COLUMN
Matt bares up over naked snaps fears
MATT TERRY is baring his soul on his new single – and he could be about to bare a lot more too.
He is terrified that footage of him NUDE could leak on to the internet after spotting a drone filming him through his bedroom window.
In an exclusive chat, the 2016 X Factor winner said: “I live by myself so I walk around naked all the time.
“I was like, ‘God, whoever has this drone has just seen me walking around naked at home’.”
He found the device, which had a camera attached, on the floor outside his North London home.
He continued: “I called my manager and I was like, ‘What shall I do?’ He said not to worry and took it to the police station.
“I have no idea who did it. I couldn’t tell you who would do it.
“Thank goodness nothing has surfaced. I was very panicked and it has made me close my blinds.”
He has other things to keep him busy though, with his latest single Sucker For You coming out this Friday.
I’ve already heard the track, about the end of a relationship, and it’s an excellent chart tune which will feature on his album, due early next year.
He should enjoy lounging around the house in the nude while he still can.
bizbit
JUST what the music world absolutely doesn’t need.
After her stint on Celebrity Big Brother, SARAH HARDING is in the studio making an album.
She insists it will improve on her solo debut, saying: “It’s going to be better than Threads.”
Demi is a sorry state
SORRY Not Sorry isn’t just the title of DEMI LOVATO’s song – she lives by those words too.
The US singer stepped out in this outrageous orange corduroy suit – and didn’t show a hint of remorse about her fashion choice.
She was dressed up to perform at the iHeartRadio Album Release Party in New York on Saturday.
The event saw Demi lose her voice on stage but she battled on while being encouraged by hordes of her famously supportive fans.
Afterwards she tweeted: “Even when I lose my voice my fans know how to keep me from being down . . . thank you my Lovatics I love you.”
Perhaps she had been screaming when she heard that smash hit Sorry Not Sorry broke a million sales last week.
It’s the lead single on her sixth studio album Tell Me You Love Me, which has surged to No5 in the UK Official Albums Chart – making it her personal best in the UK.
Now she’s concentrating on a sequel to her tearjerking YouTube documentary I Am: Demi Lovato, which is called Simply Complicated.
I can’t wait to see it.
BIZBIT
JP COOPER surprised even himself with his great new album Raised Under Grey Skies.
He said: “There are songs that will make you smile, dance and will bring a tear to your eyes.
"It is far better than I ever could have imagined.”
Wrecking boar Miley cancels gigs for pigs
IF you were hoping to snap up tickets to see MILEY CYRUS perform tunes from her new album Younger Now, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.
She has cancelled all plans to tour the record – so she can stay at home with her pet pigs, Pig-Pig and Puddles.
The Wrecking Ball singer admitted she can’t bear to be away from her porky pals for any length of time.
She said: “Literally the only reason I’m not touring is because of those f***ing pigs. That’s how much I love those pigs.”
It’s three years since Miley’s last world tour, promoting 2013 album Bangerz.
The 2014 shows, which brought in £47million, saw the singer enter the stage on a slide made to look like her own tongue and ride a giant hot dog.
If she loves her pigs that much, maybe she will ride them on to the stage by the time her next tour happens.
BIZBIT
KIM KARDASHIAN and KANYE WEST are splashing the cash on their LA mansion.
They have spent more than £160,000 on renovations including a hair salon, two-storey playroom, basketball court and a full-size cinema.
Flawless Leona Lew-ice
DIAMONDS are a girl’s best friend and dogs are men’s – and LEONA LEWIS combined her love of both by going to a canine charity screening in this diamante top.
The 2006 X Factor winner was in Los Angeles for the premiere on Saturday of The Road To Yulin And Beyond, a film campaign against the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China.
Leona, who is based in California, is currently recording her sixth studio album, after reaching No12 in the charts with 2015’s I Am.
I recently revealed she has enlisted the help of Britain’s Got Talent finalist CALUM SCOTT.
She has already worked with renowned composer WALTER AFANASIEFF, who masterminded MARIAH CAREY’s hits Butterfly and Hero.
Those early Mimi comparisons might yet come true for Leona.
Steff's so don with Minaj comparison
RISING British rapper STEFFLON DON isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
She’s been described as the UK’s answer to NICKI MINAJ – but isn’t convinced about the similarities.
Speaking in the new issue of Notion magazine, Steff said: “People have tried to make comparisons but there isn’t really anyone that compares (to me).
“Everyone has musical influences but I’m still me. There’s nothing wrong with comparisons but as long as people know it’s not a copying thing.
“Sometimes people like to dim your personality or want you to be like everybody else, but in the same breath they want you to be you.”
Her debut single, Hurtin’ Me, features FRENCH MONTANA and has already raced up the charts to No11.
Creating Top 40 hits is sure to keep the Nicki comparison going.
BIZMETER: DAN'S DIARY
- TODAY: Time to pull on your dancing shoes as LITTLE MIX kick off their two-month Glory Days UK tour. They begin their 37-date run with an opening night at Aberdeen’s GE Oil and Gas Arena, and I will be reporting back on all the action in Bizarre.
- TOMORROW: NADINE COYLE, LOUIS WALSH, PRUE LEITH and DAVID DICKINSON will be on the red carpet in central London for Specsavers’ Spectacle Wearer of the Year. I think we can all guess what will be in the goody bags afterwards.
- FRIDAY: After a five- year delay, PINK returns with her seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma. I have heard it and can confirm it is one of her best albums to date, packed with a mix of pop tunes and emotional ballads. It’s so good to have her back.
- FRIDAY: I hope NICK GRIMSHAW takes a nap after his Radio 1 Breakfast Show, as he’s booked to hit the decks at 100 Wardour Street in London just after midnight for the Soho After Dark club night. At least he’ll be able to get a lie-in the next morning.
