Why Vinyl Will Be Your Next Addiction

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Summer is coming to an end and you're already bidding your glowing tan farewell, savouring your last barbecued steak and waving adieu to the waves. It's a time of mourning, the last few weeks of summer. But while the weather might be getting colder, thanks to NEON* you're about to foray into one of the hottest and steamiest series out. February 15 saw the premiere of HBO’s Vinyl, the brainchild of Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese.

Coming express from the U.S. to New Zealand on NEON, your new love affair begins. And here is why, once you start, you won't be able to stop watching this hard hitting, much anticipated tale of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

The Story

The logistics of Vinyl have been in the works for over a decade. It was back in the mid-'90s, post-grunge, pre-boy band, when Jagger first presented his screenplay idea to Scorsese. Wanting to focus on not the musicians themselves, whose scandalous escapades have been documented so regularly that the theme borders on cliché, but on the industry behind the talent. Focussing on record executives, their labels, their talent, and their outrageous lifestyles, Vinyl takes the road less travelled and explores a side of the '70s music scene we’ve barely laid eyes upon before.

The Protagonist

Richie Finestra, played by Bobby Cannavale (Gyp Rosetti from Boardwalk Empire, Chili from Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, and Paxton from Marvel’s Ant-man), is a record exec fighting a losing battle in attempt to resurrect his record label, American Century. Finestra is one of those leading lads we hate to love and love to hate in equal measure. He’s Mad Men’s Donald Draper and Breaking Bad’s Walter White. A self-centred businessman and maniacal boss, a neglectful father and despicable husband, the protagonist’s only redeeming feature is his passion for music and talented ear – and somehow audiences will love him for it.

The Setting

The series delves deep into the New York music scene circa 1973 with the kind of authenticity that could only have been pulled straight from Jagger’s own repertoire of experience in the industry. Rock, disco, punk and funk meet in the messy and beautiful collision of our dreams. Vinyl brings further sincerity to the setting by intertwining the most prominent names of the movement. Alice Cooper, Robert Plants and Robert Goulet are brought up in the first season with mentions that we can only assume to be genuine thanks to Rich Cohen, one of the show's writers as well as long time Rolling Stone magazine writer and contributing editor, whose familiarity with the era can be sure to keep the screenplay legitimate.

The Producers

Who better to reproduce the rock 'n' roll age for the screen than king of the movement, Mick Jagger himself? The lead vocalist and co-founder of The Rolling Stones works alongside award-winning producer and director Martin Scorsese, known for creating the most shocking yet enthralling scenes of corruption and mogul lives gone amiss in the likes of The Wolf of Wall Street and his latest series offering, Boardwalk Empire. Such a winning combination of real life experience and award-winning direction can only mean that Vinyl has some titillating exploitation and depravity that’ll have us hooked for many seasons to come.

The Shenanigans

Cigarette smoke, the constant stench of stale alcohol, unsolicited sexual encounters, and everyone a cocaine addict, the world of rock 'n' roll is one that is intriguing to the most of us yet certainly safer to watch on screen than to experience first hand. Get amongst the antics of the 70's most scandalous situations and get addicted to the drama without, you know, actually getting addicted.

The Cast

Cannavale aside, Vinyl has a stellar line-up set to bring the '70s to our screens. Olivia Wilde plays Devon Finestra, Richie’s neglected wife and former Warhol muse who is undergoing a constant struggle of suburban ennui. P.J. Byrne, (Horrible Bosses and The Wolf of Wall Street), plays Scott Leavitt, the corrupt head of legal at Richie's American Century label. And Ray Romano, (Everybody Loves Raymond – but let’s not hold that against him), is near unrecognisable as Zac Yankovich, head of promotions and Richie’s main confidant. It’s a killer cast, but mostly interestingly, James Jagger plays Kip, the lead singer of raw new band Dirty Bitz, in his screen debut.

The Music

While the team at the helm of the whole debacle are keeping mum about the musical talent involved in the show’s soundtrack, we’re going off some heavy hinting scattered throughout numerous interviews when we say that there are going to be some big names responsible for the score. After the two-hour premiere goes to air HBO is dropping a digital EP of the songs featured. With hits from the late Otis Redding, and a theme from upcoming country artist Sturgill Simpson and Mott the Hoople, we’re itching to see the rest of tuneful tricks the series has in store.

*What is NEON?

Neon is a subscription video on demand service (SVOD) powered by SKY TV.

When you sign up to NEON you get immediate access to a wide range of great movies and TV series, new and old, including exclusive SVOD content like Game of Thrones, Girls, Fargo, Younger, Manhattan, Fear The Walking Dead, Ray Donovan, The Wire, The Sopranos and of course the highly anticipated Vinyl. NEON also have loads of exclusive movies, for example 50 Shades of Grey, Cinderella, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Wars: Episodes I-VI..

Everyone can enjoy a 30 day free trial when you sign up at neontv.co.nz. Conditions apply.