First it was Abba, then Queen, followed by Rod Stewart. Now Boney M are the latest Seventies musical icons to have a West End show based on their songs.
However, the team behind new £3 million musical Daddy Cool are hoping their show will revolutionise the London musical template as the songs have been reinterpreted to 21st century beats.
Daddy Cool, which receives its world premiere at the Shaftesbury Theatre in April, stars former So Solid Crew rapper Harvey, former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins and pop singer Javine. It is the brainchild of Boney M's creator, German music producer Frank Farian.
With over 800 million sales worldwide, Boney M were a pop phenomenon. Daddy Cool features their hits including the title track, Rasputin, Rivers Of Babylon, Brown Girl In The Ring and Mary's Boy Child. It also incorporates other songs from Frank Farian's back catalogue by No Mercy and Milli Vanilli.
Harvey, 26, who plays the male lead Shake, said: "Daddy Cool will be lifechanging because something like this has never been done before. When you go and see Billy Elliot or The Lion King, you know what you're going to see - it's predictable.
"But I'm hoping a completely different audience will go and see Daddy Cool. It has a multicultural cast and people who are blue, pink, green and orange will like it."
The rapper - real name Michael Junior Harvey - added: "The music of So Solid Crew and Boney M can't be compared. But I'll still be rapping and freestyling. Now I'm doing a musical, I hope people will see me in a different light."
Gurinder Chada, director of Bend It Like Beckham, who is creative associate on Daddy Cool, said: "Some people think Boney M were fantastic, some think they were naff. But Frank Farian was responsible for more hits than people might think.
"All of them are singalong but they have been given a great modern twist. There's a lot of sampling in the show and I think people will really like how the songs have been played with.
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"It's also a true London show with the action taking place in East London, West London and Camden. Daddy Cool is fresh and innovative and nothing like this has been seen on the West End stage before."
