P!nk as Phoenix

Rockstar P!nk officially announced she will be part of the long awaited on-stage recreation of Brian DePalma's Phantom Of The Paradise!
Although it was never intended to cast a famous name to play Phoenix, the "Glitter In The Air" track of the 2008 P!nk album Funhouse changed the new Phantom masterminds' hearts : "The Christine McVie spirit P!nk managed to give to this song with such power and grace left us breathless", said writer/producer Joss Whedon, "her dark and fragile humanity suddenly gave life to our character."

Phantom Of Avantasia

On the eve of the long awaited release of Angel Of Babylon/The Wicked Symphony, Avantasia's mastermind and last metal hero Tobias Sammet just announced he will be part of the Joss Whedon/Jon Oliva Phantom Of The Paradise project.
It is a fact that Tobias Sammet recently worked with Jon "Mountain King" Oliva, who sang lead vocals on one track of the yet-to-be-released new Avantasia album. Did they discuss the future of the Phantom together ? I guess that is something we can only assume for the time being.

Marvel Legacy Upon The Phantom

Some never-meant-to-be-heard words from Joss Whedon led us now to think (and dream) that his Phantom Of The Paradise could be a super hero adaptation of the story, when he talked about The Phantom as "a masked avenger" !
It is a fact that Whedon's involvment with Marvel® universe rang a bell when his name was put on the table, but his course of actions is seldom what was expected : does anybody else spend four months writing, scoring, pre-producing and directing a one-hour-musical episode of a horrific and tragic monster TV show and not only being unridiculous but turning the already memorable television event into a crucial moment of every character's path?

Joss Whedon steals the show

After Paul O'Neill unfortunately gave up on the on-stage re-creation of Brian De Palma's Phantom Of The Paradise, it is now up to writer/director/producer Joss Whedon to go on with the show.
Joss Whedon is well-known for the creation of the TV series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", of which he is now writing the eigth season for the Dark Horse® comic books and is currently the writer of Marvel® "Astonishing X Men".
Then of course, even though the new matermind confirms that O'Neill's alter ego Jon Oliva cannot and will not be left aside, Whedon's vision of the Phantom shall not be anywhere close to O'Neill's.
But then again, are De Palma's lunatic cold-hearted envious bastards so far away from Whedon's apocalyptic evil tortured minded monsters?

Paul O'Neill away from the Paradise

The endless negociations between De Palma and O'Neill finally came to an end in the most surprising way when O'Neill suddenly announced that he was off the project ! But no argument or disagreement seems to be the official reason of this unexpected turn of events, for O'Neill claims that "the Phantom Of The Paradise requiers and deserves a full attention and commitment" and that he was "too much bound to the new Trans Siberian Orchestra Nightcastle album to be the man for the job anymore".
Yet his dozens pages of notes, scores, lyrics are not to be torn to shreds for the monumental Jon Oliva still remains connected to the project !

Jon Oliva finally joins the project

It is now confirmed : after long hesitation, Jon Oliva finally agreed to be a part of the Paul O'Neill Phantom Of The Paradise. He would be playing the piano on the new tracks and O'Neill is still trying to convince him to be Swan on stage. "Let's get real", says Oliva, "Swan is supposed to be a forever young and handsome musician. I am forty seven years old and my nose is still the same it used to be." Anyway, Oliva's involvment only makes the project even more exciting than it already was.

Paul O'Neill Interview with Russ Breimeier

I first have to say that Trans-Siberian Orchestra is one of the coolest rock shows and most powerful Christmas productions I've ever seen. It's such a dramatic fusion of styles.

Paul O'Neill: Thanks. A newspaper once described us as Phantom of the Opera meets The Who with Pink Floyd's light show.

With a little bit of classical thrown in. How did that fusion come about? Were you always into Broadway and rock opera?

O'Neill: I was mostly influenced by classical, rock, and R&B. Also, having grandparents from Ireland, the storytelling elements of Celtic music had a great impact on me. Even songs as simple as "Danny Boy" tell a story. Growing up in rock & roll, with its reputation for being undisciplined, I have always been fascinated by the discipline of Broadway performers who were untapped by the rock world. So we tapped them and rocked them up.

Now let's talk about that Phantom Of The Paradise re-creation you are currently discussing with Brian De Palma. Have you yet come to an agreement ?

O'Neill : Brian is an amazing character. His ideas back then were breathtakingly ahead of his own time, and I'm talking about both music AND film directing. Now his thoughts about an on-stage Phantom are brilliant. That's why we are still trying to figure out the best direction to give to this project. And he does not seem to be ready to give his Phantom away that easily (laughs).

But he never actually staged before ?

O'Neill : Not for a fact, but remember how close to the stage was the 1974 Phantom, with the opening of the Paradise or the final on-stage wedding scene. I honestly think Brian was actually staging those parts. And you may know that Brian also direct the Dancing In The Dark Bruce Springsteen video.

Would it really be a Paul O'Neill vision or would Brian De Palma's hand hang over the project ?

O'Neill : I think Brian was most fascinated by the relationship between Swan and Winslow. He also led a reflexion about the strange and powerful and dangerous process of creation. I am more interested in the music itself and its overwhelming power over people, creators or listeners. That's a territory I've tried to explore with Savatage or TSO : remember the rise and fall of D.T. Jesus, When The Crowds Are Gone, the cello player in Dead Winter Dead, the whole Beethoven's Last Night synopsis.

What is it that attracts you about Phantom Of The Paradise ?

O'Neill : Do you remember that scene where Swan is auditioning singers to perform the Faust cantata in a way that has never yet been done before ? All of the music styles of the mid 70's are there : folk, pop, motown, country, rock. And there appears Beef, with this glam rock look and his screaming electric guitar. I can hardly say how astonished I am at Brian's visionary perception of the future of rock music. Today, I don't know yet what that scene would be, but that's a challenge I want to take up.

Phantom Of The Paradise is a rather cruel and tragic story. How is it linked to your previous Trans Siberian Orchestra projects ?

O'Neill : Yes, I understand that it may appear crueler than the TSO Christmas project. But yet again, remember the story I wrote for Beethoven's Last Night : Beethoven just ended his tenth symphony, which is so perfect that the Devil himself fears it and wants to stop people to ever hear it. Does it remind you of anything ?