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BBC Radio 2 to be invaded on New Year's Day

added: 27 Dec 2009 // by: newsdesk 

BBC Radio 2 is being invaded! On New Year's Day the station will come under attack from a swarm of alien conquerors when it broadcasts a performance of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds ' Alive on Stage!

Steve Lamacq presents the show which broadcasts at 10pm on 1 January 2010, and features; The War of The Worlds ' Alive on Stage! which was performed live at London's 02 Arena in June, with Jeff conducting The Black Smoke Band, The ULLAdubULLA Strings; and starring The Moody Blues' Justin Hayward, Manfred Mann's Chris Thompson and Jennifer Ellison; as well as the voice of Richard Burton. Listeners can also enjoy the added bonus of interviews with Jeff Wayne.

The show is part of BBC Radio 2's Moon and Space Season. 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of the first Moon landing and the BBC broadcast a range of programmes exploring how this historic event inspired musicians and writers and changed the way we view our own planet.

Inspired by HG Wells' famous novel, the prog rock and classical album was released in June 1978 and hit Number One in the Charts in 11 countries around the world (Top Ten in 22 countries). This multi-media stage version has now played to over half a million people, grossed over US$26 million at the Box Offcie and the 2009 production celebrated the 30th anniversary of the album's release.

Back by phenomenal demand, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds - Alive on Stage! will return to major arenas around the UK and Europe next year.

Following the hugely successful and critically acclaimed sell-out arena tours in 2006, 2007 and 2009, singing and acting sensation Jason Donovan, Atomic Kitten's Liz McClarnon and Moody Blues' Justin Hayward will star in the highly anticipated new production which will be invading the UK and Europe from November 2010, through January 2011.

The album originally released in June 1978 features a ground-breaking blend of prog rock, electronic instrumentation and classical orchestration, as well as a spell-binding narration by Richard Burton and outstanding performances by some of the biggest artists of the 70s, including David Essex, Justin Hayward, Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott and Julie Covington.

The album has enjoyed huge success and critical acclaim across the globe with some 15 million double albums sold, spending over 330 weeks in the UK Album Chart (to date) plus achieving two International hit singles 'The Eve of The War' and 'Forever Autumn'.

It has also won two prestigious UK Ivor Novello Awards, and the US Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy - the judges having included Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Additionally, in 2007, Jeff won Classic Rock's 'Showman of The Year' Award.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds has grown into a true classic, garnering new generations of devoted followers, whilst inspiring the faithful listeners from the past decades.

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