Do you even remember the guy who played Rocky in the film? Of course not, he was terrible, and you can't think of his name even though it was the title role, such a bad singer they actually left his one and only song, the Sword of Damocles, off the album. Wouldn't have happened if it had been played by Kim Milford, the original Rocky at the Roxy with Tim Curry and Meatloaf. I was there opening night, knowing nothing but this was the very first theatrical production in what was previously just a concert venue, a damn good one, and it was a new cast for something that was apparently a hit in England. So I'd never heard of Tim Curry, much less Dr. Frank N. Furter, when he made a spectacular debut through smoke and high intensity lights from a runway behind me. Still the best entrance I've ever seen. He was a mad doctor in mesh creating a man just for himself, and here's one of those moments where casting really does change everything. In the film, when Rocky appears, all you can think is the mad doctor went to all this trouble to create THAT?! Frank's obviously crazy. You can pick up a talentless nobody at any wharf. But when KIM MILFORD appeared as Rocky singing The Sword of Damocles, he was a fucking GOD, the most beautiful human being you had ever seen. Not only was the doctor NOT mad, he had really good taste. Kim was in the original cast of Hair and Jesus Christ, Superstar and could sing his ass off while shaking it. He was amazing and uplifted the whole show. I have no idea why they didn't use him in the film but it was a big mistake. I'm fairly certain it would have made Kim Milford a giant star. Kim died in 1988 but not before I became pals with him and his sister Penelope Milford. We wrote songs together, and hearing him sing my melodies was a major highlight in my life. He explained to me what happened with the show. The play knocked audiences dead in London and LA. It did the same at all the previews in New York, but then came an opening night of critics in tuxedos and evening gowns and dead silence. "They looked at us," Kim told me, "like What rock did this crawl out from?" They panned it and the show died, and here's the strange lesson to be learned. It would have continued to be a hit, knocking audiences out on Broadway, if it had just NEVER OPENED. After the film came out, Kim toured America as Rocky in 1980 and had one of the most unique stage experiences one could have as an actor. Audiences not only hadn't seen the play, they had seen the film while dressed as characters, singing and dancing during the numbers, and shouting back at the film in fully orchestrated scripts, a unique phenomenon you can see in the film Fame. Nobody told them you're not supposed to do that in a theater but they did. Actors in the play had to cope with constant audience interruptions that they couldn't prepare for because A) different cities had different scripts and B) the film and the play had different scripts. It was an improv challenge and he had the time of his life. Seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight on a big screen with an audience that's sure be wacko will be a bittersweet experience. As soon as Rocky enters, oh fuck man, it should have been Kim. Picture of Kim at the original posting of this article: facebook.com/dareland/posts/10206651018810469
Kim was the best, period. I loved him in every thing, well except maybe Laser Blast. His voice rendered the best versions of every play he did: Mama look Sharp in the 1776 touring company As Jesus in the touring company of Superstar the list goes on and on. RIP my brother.
This version is OK but also too fast and furious and missing the subtleties of the film music. If you listen to it, the film arrangement is vastly superior even though the voices here are good and the music energetic. It's just very over the top Broadway style. "oh no no no no" backing vocals missing, the great rhythmic baseline that moves is completely gone in favor of this basic quarter note thumping. Ultra high energy but all these songs are the same bland style. But this interpretation is still miles better than the 2016 abomination.
Best version and my favorite song from the show 😌🤘🏻
This version is exceptionally good, and severely underrated imo
This is the best version to me
Do you even remember the guy who played Rocky in the film? Of course not, he was terrible, and you can't think of his name even though it was the title role, such a bad singer they actually left his one and only song, the Sword of Damocles, off the album.
Wouldn't have happened if it had been played by Kim Milford, the original Rocky at the Roxy with Tim Curry and Meatloaf. I was there opening night, knowing nothing but this was the very first theatrical production in what was previously just a concert venue, a damn good one, and it was a new cast for something that was apparently a hit in England.
So I'd never heard of Tim Curry, much less Dr. Frank N. Furter, when he made a spectacular debut through smoke and high intensity lights from a runway behind me. Still the best entrance I've ever seen.
He was a mad doctor in mesh creating a man just for himself, and here's one of those moments where casting really does change everything. In the film, when Rocky appears, all you can think is the mad doctor went to all this trouble to create THAT?! Frank's obviously crazy. You can pick up a talentless nobody at any wharf.
But when KIM MILFORD appeared as Rocky singing The Sword of Damocles, he was a fucking GOD, the most beautiful human being you had ever seen. Not only was the doctor NOT mad, he had really good taste. Kim was in the original cast of Hair and Jesus Christ, Superstar and could sing his ass off while shaking it. He was amazing and uplifted the whole show.
I have no idea why they didn't use him in the film but it was a big mistake. I'm fairly certain it would have made Kim Milford a giant star.
Kim died in 1988 but not before I became pals with him and his sister Penelope Milford. We wrote songs together, and hearing him sing my melodies was a major highlight in my life.
He explained to me what happened with the show.
The play knocked audiences dead in London and LA. It did the same at all the previews in New York, but then came an opening night of critics in tuxedos and evening gowns and dead silence. "They looked at us," Kim told me, "like What rock did this crawl out from?"
They panned it and the show died, and here's the strange lesson to be learned. It would have continued to be a hit, knocking audiences out on Broadway, if it had just NEVER OPENED.
After the film came out, Kim toured America as Rocky in 1980 and had one of the most unique stage experiences one could have as an actor. Audiences not only hadn't seen the play, they had seen the film while dressed as characters, singing and dancing during the numbers, and shouting back at the film in fully orchestrated scripts, a unique phenomenon you can see in the film Fame.
Nobody told them you're not supposed to do that in a theater but they did. Actors in the play had to cope with constant audience interruptions that they couldn't prepare for because A) different cities had different scripts and B) the film and the play had different scripts. It was an improv challenge and he had the time of his life.
Seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight on a big screen with an audience that's sure be wacko will be a bittersweet experience. As soon as Rocky enters, oh fuck man, it should have been Kim.
Picture of Kim at the original posting of this article: facebook.com/dareland/posts/10206651018810469
Rocky
Body: Peter Hinwood
Voice: Trevor White (trevor’s actually good)
Overall I prefer the film's version of the songs, but this one is so much better. So much more beat and groove.
I agree! I didn't like Rocky in the film version.
Terra Rochelle Rocky was really good for the film, just not a stage voice.
This is my favorite version of this song.
Kim was the best, period. I loved him in every thing, well except maybe Laser Blast. His voice rendered the best versions of every play he did:
Mama look Sharp in the 1776 touring company
As Jesus in the touring company of Superstar
the list goes on and on.
RIP my brother.
+dannydoc1969 Beautiful man, much missed friend of mine, too. Such incredible talent. Shines on in my life to this day...
@dannydoc1969 Oh hello Penelope Milford.
I love how the narrator sounds like the Monster Mash guy.
Bobby "Boris" Pickett? Yeah, I can hear it. That's actually Graham Jarvis.
For those wondering, it was actually spelled "Damoclese" on the Roxy soundtrack. Similar is the Roxy version of "Planet *Shmanet* Janet".
This is my favorite version.
"You're the product of another time"
Was there actual time travel in the play version?
+Iury Luiz (Nas Entrelinhas) Interesting, i take it the complete opposite way. I see it as a person unable to function in the rapidly changing present
It's like how the play is a throwback to old sci-fi movies. He's meant for a simpler time and also the product of older sci-fi.
@4444bigman and thats how it was spelled on the cd
@4444bigman I hope youre someone I know
This version is OK but also too fast and furious and missing the subtleties of the film music. If you listen to it, the film arrangement is vastly superior even though the voices here are good and the music energetic. It's just very over the top Broadway style. "oh no no no no" backing vocals missing, the great rhythmic baseline that moves is completely gone in favor of this basic quarter note thumping. Ultra high energy but all these songs are the same bland style. But this interpretation is still miles better than the 2016 abomination.
OK? We can do better than that!
why tf do they need to be subtle? the whole point isn't to be subtle.