One to file under ‘a bit random’ is the news that Kasabian lead singer Tom Meighan has been cast as one of the starring roles in the pilot of a new comedy drama called ‘Walk Like A Panther’.
Following in the, mainly pretty dodgy footsteps of musicians turned actors such as David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Sting, Meighan has never made a secret of his desire to get involved in acting and now he has his chance. Negotiations for screening rights are still ongoing so whether the show ever sees our TV screens is uncertain.
The show also boasts ‘proper’ actors Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire), Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers) and Ian Mercer (Coronation Street) although Meighan very nearly wasn’t the only rock star to be involved. Noel Gallagher was allegedly cast as a DJ but was on holiday when filming took place, although he is expected to make an appearance if the pilot earns the project a commission for a full series.
The story was written and directed by Dan Cadan (who also worked on Snatch) and is set in modern day Leeds about a group of retired wrestlers. Meeting each other again 30 years on at a funeral they decide to give it one last go at a tour around the country provoking images of a series along similar lines to ‘The Wrestler’ which saved Mickey Rourke’s ailing Hollywood career.
Meighan will play a wannabe bodyguard who suffers from panic attacks and described the process as ‘more nerve wracking than playing at Glastonbury’ when speaking to Q about the project but has clearly enjoyed being involved. Kasabian will also supply the theme tune, covering Terry Bush’s ‘Maybe Tomorrow’.
Fans of Kasabian will be pleased to hear this isn’t a permanent career change however and is something he sees more as a bit of fun and a way to fulfil an ambition while taking a break from working on the bands fourth studio album, expected to be released in September 2011. ‘Kasabian and the music comes first. It’s my life, my blood’.
Kasabian are playing a series of festivals this summer including Rockness, Isle of Wight and BBK Bilbao. Details of the new album and any promotional tour will be posted on Stereoboard.com as soon as they emerge.
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