What Simon Said - Summary
From big hair and big hearts came the band Simon Says, who were at the peek of their popularity in the late eighties. Now, twenty years after that moment, aging former rocker Simon Adair seeks to reunite his band for an anniversary tour. He expects that this will bring him back to fame and fortune - but where it leads is a whole other world of possibilities.
Join Simon, his bassist Gus, new drummer Mitch, merch girl Sarah, and ex-wife Miriam for a musical, magical adventure in What Simon Said.
In 1987, Simon Said had the number one hit song "Do What Simon Says." It was a bright shining moment - a moment that lead singer Simon Adair never got over. Twenty years later, he's still living in that moment, refusing to let it go. When he gets a call from Battle of the Hasbeen Stars, Simon knows he has to do something to get back on top. To that end, he's ready to give it all he's got for a fantastic twentieth anniversary tour! With his faithful bassist Gus at his side, and a talented young drummer named Mitch hired to replace the drummer who callously up and died on him in the interim - Simon believes he's ready to take the world by storm. Only no one wants to hear hair metal anymore - the world has moved on. He needs to write some new songs - and he discovers that Mitch is also a very talented songwriter. The songs he writes are near masterpieces - that Simon is all too happy to take credit for.
The tour is booked, and they hire a merch girl named Sarah to come on board with them. Sarah has only vaguely heard of Simon Said - they're in her dad's old record collection. But she's enamored of their new sound, and the drummer Mitch. She also develops a close relationship with Gus, who reminds her of said departed dad. Simon and her tend to butt heads - because she refuses to back down, or acknowledge his tantrums, and he's very not used to that. In fact, only one girl ever did that... his ex-wife, Miriam.
Simon decides to call her and invite her to come see a show on the tour - and sparks fly. He's interested in getting back together with her, but she's all about telling him why it just won't work. Gus meanwhile, starts experiencing some problems at shows. He's having trouble with his instruments, and fumbling notes. Simon yells at him, but Sarah and Mitch are concerned - and he confides to them that he has ALS, a disease that will eventually kill him.
And in addition to all this, there is something strange going on. Sarah starts seeing things that none of the other band members seem to be able to see - shimmery portals that give a glimpse into an other world. They seem connected to the music. Though Gus and Mitch believe her, Simon says this is just rubbish - and refuses to accept this possibility for quite some time. But as the tour goes on, the connection between worlds grows stronger - and they all start to see. Even Simon can't deny what is going on.
Eventually it is revealed that the connection to the other world is Mitch - he actually comes from there, and has been creating the rifts through his music (the tritone, in particular, seems to open the portal). Furthermore, he is a demigod of music in the world he came from - and when he came through the portal, he brought the music with him. Chaos and disharmony have been affecting his world ever since. Mitch came to our world seeking inspiration - and has found that the greatest inspiration comes from being mortal. Simon could live out his dream of being a rock god by going through - they haven't discovered rock yet in Mitch's world, so he could become their Elvis-like-figure. But in the end, Simon decides to let Gus go through instead so that Gus can live on and be healthy. It is the first unselfish act of his life. Miriam decides that maybe Simon has grown up enough that she can give him another try.
Join Simon, his bassist Gus, new drummer Mitch, merch girl Sarah, and ex-wife Miriam for a musical, magical adventure in What Simon Said.
In 1987, Simon Said had the number one hit song "Do What Simon Says." It was a bright shining moment - a moment that lead singer Simon Adair never got over. Twenty years later, he's still living in that moment, refusing to let it go. When he gets a call from Battle of the Hasbeen Stars, Simon knows he has to do something to get back on top. To that end, he's ready to give it all he's got for a fantastic twentieth anniversary tour! With his faithful bassist Gus at his side, and a talented young drummer named Mitch hired to replace the drummer who callously up and died on him in the interim - Simon believes he's ready to take the world by storm. Only no one wants to hear hair metal anymore - the world has moved on. He needs to write some new songs - and he discovers that Mitch is also a very talented songwriter. The songs he writes are near masterpieces - that Simon is all too happy to take credit for.
The tour is booked, and they hire a merch girl named Sarah to come on board with them. Sarah has only vaguely heard of Simon Said - they're in her dad's old record collection. But she's enamored of their new sound, and the drummer Mitch. She also develops a close relationship with Gus, who reminds her of said departed dad. Simon and her tend to butt heads - because she refuses to back down, or acknowledge his tantrums, and he's very not used to that. In fact, only one girl ever did that... his ex-wife, Miriam.
Simon decides to call her and invite her to come see a show on the tour - and sparks fly. He's interested in getting back together with her, but she's all about telling him why it just won't work. Gus meanwhile, starts experiencing some problems at shows. He's having trouble with his instruments, and fumbling notes. Simon yells at him, but Sarah and Mitch are concerned - and he confides to them that he has ALS, a disease that will eventually kill him.
And in addition to all this, there is something strange going on. Sarah starts seeing things that none of the other band members seem to be able to see - shimmery portals that give a glimpse into an other world. They seem connected to the music. Though Gus and Mitch believe her, Simon says this is just rubbish - and refuses to accept this possibility for quite some time. But as the tour goes on, the connection between worlds grows stronger - and they all start to see. Even Simon can't deny what is going on.
Eventually it is revealed that the connection to the other world is Mitch - he actually comes from there, and has been creating the rifts through his music (the tritone, in particular, seems to open the portal). Furthermore, he is a demigod of music in the world he came from - and when he came through the portal, he brought the music with him. Chaos and disharmony have been affecting his world ever since. Mitch came to our world seeking inspiration - and has found that the greatest inspiration comes from being mortal. Simon could live out his dream of being a rock god by going through - they haven't discovered rock yet in Mitch's world, so he could become their Elvis-like-figure. But in the end, Simon decides to let Gus go through instead so that Gus can live on and be healthy. It is the first unselfish act of his life. Miriam decides that maybe Simon has grown up enough that she can give him another try.