Buddy Tickets

'Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story' is a beloved juke-box musical that was so successful when it was first released in 1989 that it has since been revived on the West End in a whole new production! Regarded as one of London theatre's longest running productions, the 'Buddy' musical follows iconic rock 'n roller Buddy Holly through the last few years of his tragically short life. Based on the book written by Alan Janes and the musical's director Rob Bettinson, 'Buddy' was supported by Paul McCartney who wanted to correct some of the misconceptions bred by the movie version of the story released in 1978. Opening at the Victoria Palace Theatre on the West End on the 12th of October 1989 before switching to the Strand Theatre six years later, the musical was so popular with audiences that it went on to open at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway in 1990 and other venues all over the world (Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, South Frica, Ireland, Japan, Holland, Finland and Singapore some of the many). The West End Revival, opening on August 3rd, 2007, has seen the Duchess Theatre booked out ever since.

Based on the last four years of Buddy Holly's life, the musical opens with Buddy and his band The Crickets (band members Joe B. Maudlin and Jerry Allisson were Buddy's good friends) struggling to make themselves known on the Texas music scene. Nineteen-year-old Buddy is desperate to try the new, controversial music style 'rock n' roll', but is confined to performing the country music he has grown up with. Deciding to take a chance, Buddy and The Crickets travel to Tennessee where rock is starting take hold but are further stifled by record company executives who refuse to let Buddy try the new style. After a particularly vicious fight in which Buddy punches one of the producers, Buddy and the Crickets lose their recording contract. Luckily, an innovative music producer named Norman Petty (later famed for his involvement in the careers of Roy Orbison and Buddy Knox as well as Buddy Holly) offers them the chance to record and the best selling song 'That'll Be The Day' (1957) is what results. Suddenly Buddy Holly and the Crickets are famous, recording another hit 'Peggy Sue' and being asked to be the first white band to perform at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.

The boys decide to move to New York City and Buddy, having met and fallen in love with record label receptionist Maria Elena Santiago, gets married. The stress of sudden fame causes Jerry Allisson and Joe B. Maudlin to question their involvement in the band and they decide to quit, leaving Buddy to perform solo. At the same time, a long running disagreement with producer Norman Petty over song loyalties forces Buddy to agree to perform on the 'Winter Dance Party' tour to make ends meet. The tour is long and disorganized, with fellow performers suffering from frostbite due to poorly heated tour buses and long hours spent on the road. Buddy, missing his now pregnant wife Maria, is desperate for the tour to be over and is fed up with the lack of organization. After an unscheduled performance at Clear Lake in Iowa, Buddy convinces his fellow performers the Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson) and Ritchie Valens (of 'La Bamba' fame) to charter a light plane with him to fly to the next venue rather than taking the bus. They agree, and despite Buddy's promise to his wife that he will never fly in a plane, they board the flight in the early hours of the morning of February 3, 1959 (later known as 'The Day the Music Died'). The plane crashes, killing all on board instantly, and from there the musical ends.

Although the 'Buddy Holly Story' is a tragedy, it also highlights the intense passion Buddy Holly had for rock n' roll music. The musical features well known hits from the period 'That'll Be the Day', 'You Send Me', 'Peggy Sue', 'Not Fade Away', 'Johnny B. Goode', 'La Bamba', and 'Chantilly Lace' amongst many others. Classed as a jukebox musical for this reason, the musical has become popular amongst people taking sing-along themed theatre breaks as it is possible to take in several 'jukebox' style musicals in the space of a few nights (other popular shows include 'Mamma Mia!' and 'Never Forget'). Some of the cheapest theatre tickets available for the show are in the stalls, though booking ahead will likely guarantee you better prices for groups and concessions.