Denis Leary on "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll" season two
Actor, comedian, writer and executive producer Denis Leary makes a television return for season two of his rock comedy, "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll," Thursday night.
The series follows the story of a dysfunctional band that reunites. Leary plays Johnny Rock, a "delicious mess" of a character who is a washed-up rock star in the 1990s.
"One of the things I love about playing this guy is that he's the loser. He's the guy that should've been famous in 1991 when he started his band, 'The Heathens,' in the late '80s," Leary told "CBS This Morning" Thursday.
Instead, the band decides to "hitch their wagon" to Rock's beautiful and talented 21-year-old daughter, who also aspires to be a rock singer.
Although "The Heathens" do not walk the same path to success as real-life legends like the Rolling Stones or U2, Leary said "friction" between band members is the "key to all great rock 'n' roll."
"Even a lot of the bands that we know and love, the lead singer and the lead guitar player hated each other," Leary explained. "Like Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry - you know, if those guys got along, the music would probably suck."
Perhaps Bono and Edge of U2 are an anomaly of Leary's theory, but Leary believes that their seemingly close relationship is masking what goes on behind the scenes.
"I think they do a lot of work privately to make sure that they get along in public," Leary said. "You have to have those arguments... That dynamic is what makes a band work, you know?"
Leary also discussed how he picked his signature rock look for the show, to avoid looking like he was "stuck in time."
"I think some rock 'n' roll stars like Bruce Springsteen apparently 20 years ago, picked out a look to age into and he looks really good and it works for him," Leary said. "But if you think about it, Keith Richards, Steven Tyler - if you saw those guys walking down the street and they weren't famous musicians, you would think they're two extras from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'"
Leary also shared the humorous time a fan mistook him for actress Jane Lynch when he was dressed as his character.
"In Jane Lynch's defense, my hair's longer on the show than this and it's more puffed up and I had women's glasses on... and I had a lot of jewelry and I had a women's leather jacket," Leary said. When Leary took a photo with the fan, she said, "Oh that's so great, you know, 'Glee" is my favorite show. You're my favorite character."
In another funny incident when he hosted a charity event in Radio City, pop star Beyonce thought Leary was Bryan Adams.
"Beyonce comes out of her dressing room... and I'm there with my daughter and I go, 'hey Beyonce,' and she goes, 'Bryan, you were great,' and I went, 'thank you!' and she kept walking,'" he recalled, laughing.