One of the streaming events of the spring season occurs on Prime Video this Friday — the hotly anticipated premiere of the series “Daisy Jones & The Six,” adapted from the blockbuster bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The book, set in the world of the blossoming rock scene of Los Angeles in the ‘70s, is like “Almost Famous” meet Fleetwood Mac, and is written in the style of an oral history. The series, which stars Riley Keough as the titular singer/songwriter Daisy, and Sam Claflin as her co-frontman Billy Dunne, is structured as a faux “Behind the Music” episode, with interviews throughout.
“Daisy Jones & The Six” is produced by Reese Witherspoon (who selected the book for her book club) and Lauren Neustadter — her husband Scott and his writing partner Michael H. Weber (“The Disaster Artist”) created the series, and their longtime creative collaborator James Ponsoldt executive produces and directed the first five episodes in the 10 episode series. The first three episodes premiere Friday, with two episodes dropping weekly thereafter.
The actors were put through an intensive “band camp,” and Claflin and Keough do all of their own singing. Keough, who has her own kingly rock heritage as the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, is particularly fantastic and magnetic as the wild child Daisy, modeled after Stevie Nicks. Camila Morrone also shines in a supporting role as Camila, Billy’s beleaguered wife, while Suki Waterhouse plays the uber-cool British keyboardist, Karen, a Christine McVie type. The series scratches that ‘70s rock itch with excellent tunes and lots of interpersonal drama. There’s even an album of songs forthcoming from the fictional The Six, “Aurora,” produced and written by Blake Mills, along with contributions from Phoebe Bridgers, Marcus Mumford, Maren Morris and Jackson Browne, which also arrives on Friday (two singles are already available).
