Although he died aged just 22, Buddy Holly’s influence on popular music has been massive. Katherine MacAlister talks to the man playing the singer in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

Buddy Holly’s are massive shoes to fill, but Glen Joseph jumps into them every night with glee, preparing for the ensuing two-and-a-half-hour musical extravaganza to celebrate one of his all-time idols.

The 30 year-old has been playing Buddy off-and-on now for six years, but having grown up listening to the rock ’n’ roll star’s music, he was already a total convert before being offered the part straight out of drama school.

“My father was a massive fan, so on the way to school, and at home, Buddy Holly was always being played,” said Glen.

“Dad went to boarding school in Durham and the only thing that got him through was listening to Buddy Holly on a record player every day. So Buddy Holly was part of my upbringing, part of my childhood, and the more I find out about him, the more fascinating he becomes.”

That was six years ago and Glen’s still going strong, saying Buddy keeps him on his toes.

“It’s an enormously physical show because you really throw yourself about on stage and have to be fit and keep yourself in really good shape to keep up. Not just for the show but for the incessant touring.”

A hit since Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story was first brought out 25 years ago, Buddy’s longevity speaks for itself. The story of the tragic global rock ’n’ roll star dying young but leaving behind an enormous musical legacy proves to be a winning formula.

“What Buddy achieved during his short lifetime was amazing,” Glen says in awe, “and he continues to have an influence over our lives. Although his music is simple, its enormously infectious, and influenced so many people and musicians because he was way ahead of his time.”

More than that, the Buddy Holly musical set the precedent for all the ‘jukebox’ musicals that followed, such as Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You and Rod Stewart’s Tonight’s The Night. No-one understands why more than Glen because he diversified into other musicals for a while, taking a part in Dreamboats and Petticoats before being re-recruited into the Buddy team.

“It was like sitting in the reserves for a third division football team and then being asked by Manchester United to come and play for their first team again,” he says in delight. “So when I returned it made me realise what a wonderfully dynamic show Buddy is. You’d be surprised how many Buddy Holly songs you know.”

Why though is Buddy Holly bigger here than in his US homeland?

“Because although Buddy was American, the English really embraced him. His fan club was based over here and so he really is part of our culture,” Glen says, before preparing to become Buddy Holly all over again.

SEE IT
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story comes to the New Theatre Oxford from July 28–August 2. www.atgtickets.com/oxford or call the box office on 0844 871 3020