First Images Emerge Of Foo Fighters Drummer As Iggy Pop In CBGB Movie

“50,000 bands, one disgusting bathroom” reads the tagline for upcoming film CBGB about the legendary New York venue.

As previously reported, the iconic New York nightclub, that helped launch the careers of the some of the 70s’ and 80s’ most important rock, punk and new wave acts, is being honoured with its very own motion picture, which will see some of this era’s modern actors playing their historic musical favourites on screen.

One of the most exciting casted musos is the legendary drummer from the Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins, who oiled up to play the iconic Iggy Pop, and now the first pictures are emerging of the leathery drummer in his Iggy persona, as Rolling Stone reports, alongside a new promotional poster for CBGB which features the other actors dressed in the attire of their respective iconic muso roles.

With his leathery bod and golden locks, Taylor Hawkins is a good fit for a younger Iggy Pop, and as the first pictures of Hawkins in character now emerge, its clear that the film’s casting team have hit the nail on the head, as Hawkins’ replica of Iggy is a pretty uncanny match to the legendary rocker.

The rest of the cast features Harry Potter’s very own Ron Weasley, British actor Rupert Grint, ditching the wands for a guitar to play The Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome – meeting the real life muso on set (pictures below); while Joel David Moore (Avatar) dons the jeans and shades to play the role of Joey Ramone, Mickey Sumner (Last Chance Harvey) has been transformed into a young Patti Smith, (which you can view in the poster below), and lastly Malin Akerman (Watchmen) plays iconic punk femme fatale, Debbie Harry (palling it up with Hawkins/Pop above).

With his leathery bod and golden locks, Taylor Hawkins is a good fit for a younger Iggy Pop

CBGB is directed by Randall Miller, who co-wrote the script for the movie and whose film pedigree includes the cult indie flick Bottle Shock and *ahem* Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School.

The story will follow the efforts of club owner Hilly Kristal, played by the sardonic Alan Rickman, from the club’s inception as a country and bluegrass music venue to one of the most groundbreaking hot spots in NYC, before it was forcibly closed in 2007.

Promotional material for the movie lists the legendary rock and punk acts that the film’s story will cover, such as Blondie, The Police, Velvet Underground, and Talking Heads, which presumably will also feature on the soundtrack.

So what ever happened to the real CBGB? After its closure in 2006, and the unfortunate death of club owner Hilly Kristal a year later, the rights to the club’s assets had been tied up in legal disputes for years. However, as NME reports, details emerged last year that a group of investors, self described by one Tim Hayes as “half a dozen guys who love music,” approached Kristal’s sister Lisa – who currently holds the rights to the club – with interest to revive the venue.

Arnold, who has a wealth of TV experience will now lend his curly locks to play the Aussie rock icon in an upcoming two-part series entitled Never Tear Us Apart: The INXS Story. The forthcoming TV series chronicles the rock n roll story of one of Australia’s biggest and most successful music exports of all time, complete with the tragic trajectory of their former frontman, and has the full blessing of the band and their management who are helping out with the production, which is expected to start filming in June.

You can view the first images from CBGB below:
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