Daisy Jones & The Six

Four stars

 Rock’s rich tapestry is mythologised one more time in Prime’s new mini series adapted from Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best-selling novel. Following the rise and fall of the fictitious 1970s stadium-sized band that gives the show its title, the ten episodes are driven by the fractious relationship between bandleader Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin) and his vocal foil and reluctant songwriting partner, Daisy Jones (Riley Keough). 

 

The substance fuelled soap opera that follows charts all the incestuous inter-band chemistry, intimate excesses and self-destructive largesse that have become as familiar in music biz fiction as in the real life crash and burn Greek tragedies it imitates. This is framed as a twentieth anniversary documentary that allows the straight-to-camera narration to emulate the book’s oral history style. 

 

With a largely female writing team on board, Reese Witherspoon an executive producer, and real life girl in a band Kim Gordon a creative consultant, the music industry’s inherent misogyny is laid bare. This is seen both in the sexually charged dynamic between Daisy and Billy, and in the travails of Nabiyah Be’s would-be disco diva, Simone. 

 

Watched over by Tom Wright’s sage-like record producer, Teddy Price, an easy on the ear soundtrack of soft rock originals by Blake Mills seals the deal on the show’s baby boomer appeal. Rock and roll… Phew… 

Available on Prime Video from 3^rd March.

 

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