Fans who have been waiting for a resurgence of Ricky Gervais' 'The Office' can breathe a sigh of relief. Sort of.
David Brent is back more than a decade after the end of the UK TV series with an album, a movie, and a whole new team of subordinates to mistreat.
David Brent explained to us his managerial style at the beginning of season one: "I suppose I've created an atmosphere where I'm a friend first and a boss second. Probably an entertainer third."
How true that third statement has proven to be. The new film, 'David Brent: Life On The Road', follows a similar documentary style to the TV series with the filmmakers catching up with Brent 12 years down the track, who's now working as a travelling sales rep who chases his rock dream as frontman of the band Foregone Conclusion.
"Even though the songs are funny in context, they’re not comedy songs as such,” Ricky says. “David Brent doesn’t think they’re funny. He thinks they’re important. And actually they’re not terrible songs. And they’re insanely catchy.
“But the tragedy comes from the fact that a 55-year old tampon rep is singing rock songs about travelling across America picking up Señoritas or trying to end racism in reggae songs while singing with a Jamaican accent. He’s also paid for the best musicians and studio time out of his own hard-earned cash and pension.”
Thanks for all your amazing feedback about #LadyGypsy. You'll get to hear another track from the album this week. pic.twitter.com/HD1v30Ou5I — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) 3 July 2016
Released alongside the film, the album 'Life On The Road' features 15 tracks including known favourites 'Free Love Freeway', 'Paris Nights', 'Spaceman' and 'Equality Street'.
As if that wasn't already tantalising enough, if you happen to find yourself in London (or needing to fly there now), the band are playing two shows at the Hammersmith Apollo 8-9 September. Watch out for the T-shirt gun.
'Life On The Road' is released 19 August, a week ahead of the film's national release.
