Galaxy’s quest

>> Local rocker Sam Roberts gets Stoned

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

If Mötley Crüe’s bestselling oral biography The Dirt is any indication, it seems the fast track to a heaping helpings of groupies, fame and drugs is to change your name to something really rock ’n’ roll, like, say, Johnny Slash or Jimmy Rocket. Look at the Crüe dudes. Mick Mars? Nikki Sixx? With a name like that on your driver’s license, you can bet free drugs and groupie action are going to be spread out like a cheap strip-bar buffet table. But with a mundane name like that of Montreal singer/songwriter Sam Roberts, it’s going to be more of a hurdle.
“I did call myself Sam Galaxy for about six months,” says Roberts, “but it never really caught on. I was the only person that ended up calling myself that.”

Still, Roberts may be going for a dunk in the hot tub of success a lot sooner than you would think. He’s preparing to play a role in the upcoming Oliver Stone movie as the lead singer for a punk/new wave band; the all-Montrealer band will be tackling the Clash’s kegger fave “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” The other “band” members acting in the movie are Melissa Auf der Maur, Blinker the Star’s Jordan Zadorozny and Kelly Scott. “We start filming our scene next week at the Ritz Carlton. I’m shitting my pants. The movie is starring Angelina Jolie, so I hope I get to hang out with her and Billy Bob Thorton.”
Already a seasoned professional, Roberts also proves to be a champion contract negotiator by cutting out pesky Hollywood middlemen like agents and lawyers, choosing to wheel and deal himself.

“I think they’re paying for my taxi fare so I’m pretty happy. If it can do something good for my music career then that’s cool. If not, apparently the catering on set is supposed to be real good.”

Reach for the stars, Sam Roberts, reach for the stars. :

Sam Roberts & the Secret Weapon, with Turbo, at Jupiter Room on Friday, Jan. 18, 9pm, $6