Buddy Holly story comes to Rotorua

ROCK 'N ROLL: Those who get to see Buddy Holly - The Buddy Holly Story tomorrow are in for a great time. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

ROTORUA rock'n'roll fans can look forward to a high energy, polished show as Buddy - the Buddy Holly Story comes to town.

Friday night's show, which has been touring the country since March to sold-out shows off the back of a 48-week international tour, depicts Holly's meteoric rise to fame before his untimely death at 22.

Musical veteran Glen Joseph said Holly had become like a second skin to him after playing so many shows, although there was pressure.

"I was raised on Buddy Holly, my dad was a huge fan. Whenever I was in the car going to school it was always Buddy and the Crickets and the Everly Brothers.

"That added a lot more pressure to me wanting to do this because he was my dad's hero but at the same time it's an honour to wear the glasses, so to speak, knowing it's such a big part of my life."

Crowds are encouraged to sing along to the show and meet cast members after the performance.

"Audiences have loved it as well because they can also be a cast member if you like. I'll be around at the end of the show to meet people."

Joseph travelled to Texas to meet Holly's wife Maria Elena to gain more insight into the man.

"There is a finite amount of information about him. I went to Texas where he was from and spent a few days with his widow so that was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the man from the woman who knew him best, apart from his parents, and working quite closely with her."

He said audiences could expect to hear all of Holly's greatest hits.

"There's probably some songs I enjoy more now, songs like Rave On and Oh Boy - when you get a really good band behind you it really sets the songs off, and I think that's kind of testament to the quality of the band.

"He was completely against the segregation at the time, when touring with what they called coloured people, he would say, 'no we are staying in the same hotel or else we are not doing the show'.

"He was from the buckle of the Bible belt, it's all gospel and country music, it was very insular with the two types of genres, so for him to be playing rock and roll it was basically akin to an anti-hero in a way but he just wanted to play music and it wasn't colour specific."

Rotorua Civic Theatre, Good Friday 8pm, Tickets $79.90-$99.90 from Ticketmaster.