Music

David Bowie is writing new music for the SpongeBob musical

by Jesse Locke

SpongeBob SquarePants has inspired songs from the likes of Motörhead, N.E.R.D. and this Bikini Bottom-repping metalcore band. Now, the world’s perkiest sentient sea sponge will receive his most star-studded soundtrack to date with an upcoming Broadway musical.

Entertainment Weekly reports that the SpongeBob stage show opens in Chicago next summer followed by a swim down the Great White Way. It will feature new music by David Bowie, who previously offered his voice talents to the 2007 made-for-TV movie SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePantis. Other talents on board for the Broadway show include Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Cyndi Lauper, Dirty Projectors, T.I., John Legend, They Might Be Giants, Jonathon Coulton, Lady Antebellum, Panic! At the Disco, and Plain White T’s. Phew!

The Flaming Lips, who previously contributed the soundtrack cut “Spongebob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall of Energy”, are also onboard. Sigh.

In further Bowie stage news, the Thin White Duke is also writing new music for Lazarus, a theatre production based on his character from the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth. It will star Michael C. Hall and is set to open in late 2015.