Galactica.com - Lucy's rock debut almost comes unstuck

By stuff.co.nz, on 14-01-2007

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Lucy

SING STAR: Lucy Lawless beat a mystery virus to make her singing debut at Hollywood's Roxy.

Xena star Lucy Lawless' dreams of becoming a kick-ass rock star were almost put on hold when she was struck down by a mystery virus just days before her big debut.

The Hollywood-based Kiwi actress was forced to seek medical help ahead of her sellout show at the ritzy Roxy Theatre in Tinseltown.

"I visited the doctor and took a look at my sinuses and vacuumed them out," Lucy said.

"Then he dug for gold in my ears - I stopped yelling at people to `speak up' after that.

"He also gave me some medicine."

The worry of being ill threw the 38-year-old right off balance.

"With the stress of being sick I forgot I had a radio interview - I only just made it," she admitted.

With vitamins, antihistamines and plenty of rest, Lucy was back on form for tonight's show.

The beauty - who is starring in a remake of the sci-fi TV show Battlestar Galactica - first began singing professionally in New Zealand and in 2003 toured with Kiwi legend, singer-songwriter Dave Dobbyn.

Her singing aspirations were boosted last year when she starred in US reality show Celebrity Duets, which had her performing with the likes of Dionne Warwick, Michael Bolton and Smokey Robinson.

Finishing second in the competition led the mum of three to begin work on her debut CD and start planning this month's concerts in Los Angeles.

When Lucy returned to New Zealand for Christmas she hooked up with OMC's Pauly Fuemana - who had the worldwide hit song How Bizarre - and Alan Jansson to sing backing vocals on the urban group's new album. She also appears in the promo for the first single from their LP, due for release next month.

Lucy has enlisted several of her showbiz buddies to perform with her tonight - Saturday evening LA time - including comedian Tig Notario and music director Michael Orland, who she met on Celebrity Duets.

Lucy said: "I also have friends coming from my Xena life, Battlestar Galactica buddies and friends from Broadway who are all shameless exhibitionists and who I will have to taser to get off the stage.

"Rob Leifer, who is musical director on this, is also a guitarist of some note and he's playing for me.

"My God, how did I get this lucky?"

The performer had just two days to rehearse as her musicians were unavailable until right before opening night.

Designer Alek Adorian, who kitted Lucy out for Celebrity Duets, also designed her outfits for the two shows at The Roxy.

"It's a kick-ass costume which is going to make all those leather freaks out there very happy," she told fans on a Lucy Lawless fanclub website.

She has juggled the gigs with organising the release of her single, come2me, due out this month, for which she has been co-ordinating artwork and production.

Even Lucy has been taken aback by the vocals she has developed.

"What has surprised me is I kind of have a rock and soul thing going on," she said.

"I always knew I was black on the inside!"

The star, who has been writing songs for the last couple of years, is excited about the future.

"It's the most fun I've ever had in my whole life," she said.

"It has almost put paid to my acting career it's so much fun.

"I'm completely addicted."