Jeffrey "Jeff" Wayne (born July 1, 1943, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York) is an American composer with a penchant for tennis and Rock Operas. He wrote several advertising jingles in the 1970s which appeared on television in the United Kingdom, notably a Gordon's Gin commercial which was then covered by The Human League. Other well-known themes he wrote include Good Morning Britain (TV-am) and London's LBC radio. However, his most famous work by far is his 1978 musical version of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, which won two Ivor Novello awards and Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy (which might be an Overly Narrow Superlative but what the hey, it's still Awesome Music).
Wayne kept a fairly low profile in the decade after The War of the Worlds, but continued to be active in composing and producing. He produced the music for the movie McVicar, created several TV themes, and composed the overture for Kevin Peek and Rick Wakeman's Beyond the Planets in 1984.
In 1992, Wayne released his second Rock Opera, Spartacus, based on the life of the gladiator of the same name. It is less well known than War Of The Worlds; while it had an All-Star Cast, Gary Osborne writing the lyrics, and a great story, it is generally thought of as having failed to recapture the catchy tunes or novel orchestration of War of the Worlds.
Despite Spartacus being something of a disappointment, Wayne is still getting significant mileage out of his first work: in 1998 Rage Software produced Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds, a PC game based on Wayne's musical, and Wayne himself was involved in producing the remixed soundtrack for the game. In 2005 the original album was re-released, becoming one of the big hits of the year and occupying 10 consecutive weeks in the Top 10 of the UK Album charts. The new release pushed sales to 3 million albums in the UK, and nearly 14 million worldwide, putting it at the upper end of the "best selling" list since charts began, and among the elite of the longest running albums in chart history. 2006 saw the musical touring the UK as War Of The Worlds: Live On Stage, featuring (among other things) a Huge Holographic Head of Richard Burton and a 40-foot tall animatronic fighting machine.
In 2012 the musical got an Updated Re-release with new versions of the songs, some new dialogue, and a new All-Star Cast (including Liam Neeson as the Journalist, who appears on-stage via hologram).
War Of The Worlds provides examples of:
- Now has its own page, here
Spartacus provides examples of:
- The Bad Guy Wins: Since this is recorded history, Crassus ultimately defeats Spartacus. However, his final line that Spartacus and his followers have been silenced forever is immediately followed by a reprise of Voices, showing that the story and ideals of the rebellion do indeed live on.
- Book Ends: The story both begins and ends at the gladiator arena in Capua.
- The Cameo: Chris Thompson (who sang "Thunderchild" in WOTW) reappears as Oenamaus. Unfortunately his song was cut from the final version, and as a result his character gets about 3 lines before the narration mentions him dying to protect Spartacus at the battle of Vesuvius.
- Dark Reprise: The Eagle and the Hawk is Spartacus' triumphant mission statement. Its chorus gets a slow, sad reprise at the end of The Last Battle, where he is defeated and killed.
- Establishing Character Moment: Crassus' opening narration establishes his contempt for slaves and the Roman lower classes both. Spartacus, meanwhile, is introduced walking into the arena with unbroken pride and defiance.
- Evil Gloating: Both Crassus and Isoricus engage in gleeful taunting of the heroes, though in slightly different ways.
- I Lied: Isoricus gloats (behind the characters' backs) that he has tricked them into handing over their hard-fought treasure without ever intending to honour their deal.
Isoricus: My word is a by-word for something, that's for sure; but honesty's a quality that I'm not famous for.- Prepare to Die: Crassus directly addresses Spartacus when the latter's defeat is imminent, and makes clear that he plans to kill them all.
Crassus: Now, arrogant gladiator, you must bow your neck to your master! I turn my thumb down on you! My verdict is death, for you and every slave that follows you! - Faux Affably Evil: Isoricus, the charismatic pirate king, spends his very jazzy Villain Song being nothing but friendly and polite to Spartacus, all while gloating about how he's about to rob him blind.
- Finish Him!: During Animal and Man, the crowd at the amphitheatre signal their desire to see death with the chant "Jugular, jugular!"
- Gilligan Cut: Act III, "The Parting Of The Ways", ends with Palene joyfully telling the audience that Spartacus has negotiated transport with pirate king Isoricus, in exchange for everything the slave army has captured from the Romans. Act IV, "The Last Battle", begins with Crassus gleefully revealing that the pirates simply took the money and ran, leaving Spartacus and his people stranded at the end of the Italian peninsula with his own forces bearing down on them.
- Hope Spot: Prior to the final battle against an overwhelming Roman army, Spartacus and Palene sing Two Souls With A Single Dream, reflecting on their time together and their hope for the future.Both: This dream just might come true...this dream can still come true (segues into The Last Battle)
- Large Ham: Anthony Hopkins puts in a bombastic, venomous performance as Crassus. And it is awesome
- Most Definitely Not a Villain: "Trust Me" is full of double-edged lines.
- Rousing Speech: Spartacus addresses his troops at the start of The Last Battle, paraphrasing the speech ascribed to him by Plutarch.Spartacus: Here stands my own horse. With my sword I slay him! If I die today, I shall find him again. If I live, I shall ride the horse of Marcus Crassus!
- Worthy Opponent: Upon hearing of Spartacus killing and humiliating Roman prisoners, Crassus' only reaction is amusement that Spartacus has imagination, and that he makes a good enemy.
