- Title: VARIOUS: Underworld chosen to create musical magic at Olympic opening ceremony
- Date: 7th December 2011
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (DECEMBER 7, 2011) (REUTERS) REPORTER ASKING OFF CAMERA IF THEY CAN SAY WHETHER THEY HAVE ACTUALLY APPROACHED ANY ARTISTS? (SOUNDBITE) (English) KARL HYDE, UNDERWORLD AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY, SAYING: "No, we really can't say anything. It's deadly boring this is isn't it? So 'How are you getting on?' 'Yeah, fine, bit cold but you know we are here!' (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICK SMITH, UNDERWORLD AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY, SAYING: "I think Danny's reputation you know, goes before him. He is a story teller, he is an extraordinary film maker and theatre director and I don't think people will be disappointed with his vision and you know I think he is looking to us to make sure that we can support that. Thankfully we have had 15 years of experience working with him, so it's just really exciting to be part of his team and he is relying on us to deliver." OLYMPIC STADIUM PAN OF STADIUM STADIUM AND ANISH KAPOOR'S ORBIT OLYMPIC TOWER (SOUNDBITE) (English) RICK SMITH, UNDERWORLD AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY, SAYING: "I think we are very fortunate aren't we. Our country has got such a rich musical heritage to draw on and be proud of, so hopefully we can do our part."
- Embargoed: 22nd December 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVACOSNNCDX6X7J8EAJTOOXT9J5M
- Story Text: On a cold but bright Wednesday (December 7) British dance act, Underworld, gaze at the Olympics stadium in east London knowing that in just seven months time the world will be watching what they have masterminded.
The duo, Rick Smith and Karl Hyde have been announced as musical directors for the London 2012 opening ceremony. They will work alongside Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle and Olympics Artistic Director further cementing the trio's long-standing creative relationship.
Smith said it's a real honour to be chosen.
"Daunted, excited, thrilled, all of the above really," he said.
"We've played in some places like this, but somehow the level of responsibility just goes off the scale for the opening ceremony of the Olympics in our home country, that's just beyond anything we've ever experienced," said Hyde.
Underworld, electronic music pioneers are best known for their 1996 hit Born Slippy which featured in the film Trainspotting, directed by Boyle.
They will be responsible for the music in the three-hour long opening ceremony, which Boyle has promised will be very much musically focused. But the pair are bound by secrecy when it comes to being able to discuss any of their ideas.
"There's been so much that we've had to keep under wraps for such a long time and that seems like that's just par for the course for quite a while and it is excruciating. Normally we can talk about the things that we are doing with a few tasters even on the internet but with all of this we have to say 'Oh, things are going well'," said Hyde.
And the pair couldn't even confirm whether they have approached any artists about performing at the ceremony. On the internet there is much gossip that ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will star, but London 2012 organisers are remaining tight-lipped.
Smith said Britain's musical heritage gives them much to draw from for inspiration.
"I think we are very fortunate aren't we? Our country has got such a rich musical heritage to draw on and be proud of, so hopefully we can do our part," he said.
After their first collaboration with Boyle on Trainspotting, Underworld went on to work with the director and created the music for A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach and the sci-fi film Sunshine. Last year they came together again to work on the critically acclaimed National Theatre production of Frankenstein.
During their career they have performed at large venues, such as Wembley, but say creating music for the Olympic stadium event is a whole different ball game.
They've spent a lot of time inside the stadium to get a feel for it and say it's inspiring.
"This place is extraordinarily intimate and yet contains a huge number of people. We've been round the track, we have timed the track, we went up and down the stairs, and looked at it from up there and looked at it from down there and judged what the point of view will be for people all over the stadium and I don't think there is a bad seat in the house which is quite unusual," said Hyde. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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