Still committed to soul... (From Kingston Guardian)

Still committed to soul...

9:20am Friday 23rd July 2010

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In 1991 The Commitments captured the imagination of the cinema-going public. Based on Roddy Doyle’s novel, the film told the story of a disparate bunch of young Dubliners brought together thanks to a shared love of soul music - they start a band, dream big dreams, fall in and out of love and have plenty of rows along the way.

In casting the film, director Alan Parker spent months auditioning unknown musicians from the Dublin live circuit - his decision to cast non-actors paid off handsomely as The Commitments picked up the Bafta for best film of 1991.

Rather than trying to forge a career in the movies following the success of the film, two members of the fictional band, drummer Dick Massey and guitarist Ken McCluskey, have stayed faithful to the music and have been touring under the moniker, The Stars from The Commitments, since 1992 with a changing line-up of fellow musicians.

The band are playing an outdoor show at Hampton Pool as part of the Summer Picnic Concerts Series on July 31 and Massey, 41, who played Billy "The Animal" Mooney, says audience members keen to hear all the great soul numbers from the film, including In The Midnight Hour, Try A Little Tenderness and Mustang Sally, won’t leave disappointed.

“The show features all the songs from the film and them some,” he says.

“There are certain songs we have to play, of course. We would get absolutely lynched if we didn’t play Mustang Sally but it is never a chore to play these songs - it’s great music to play, especially for a drummer because there is a great groove to soul music.”

The 20th anniversary of the film is fast approaching and The Stars from The Commitments have been going for almost as long. Massey says the enduring appeal of the film, and the music, is simple.

“It is an uplifting story that can anyone in any walk of life can relate to,” he explains.

“The ethos of The Commitments says that if you want to acheive something just get off your arse and go and do it. You might not reach the stars but you don’t have to - you can just enjoy yourself along the way. And, of course, there is the music too which is timeless. The Commitments enlivened those songs and brought them up to date.”

The Stars from The Commitments, Hampton Pool, High Street, Hampton, July 31, 7.15pm (gates open for pre-concert swim), £26/£14 (under-16s), hamptonpool.co.uk

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