Russell Brand

On the eve of his return to Sydney to perform stand-up and promote his new movie, our old mate called up Dan Rookwood for a chat.

You're reprising the role of libidinous rocker Aldous Snow from Forgetting Sarah Marshall in your new film Get Him to the Greek. Is that character just a heightened version of you or have you modelled it on anyone in particular? A bit of both probably. Judd Apatow, the film’s producer, thinks it’s just me, albeit a toned down version. But it’s partly me, partly proper rock’n’roll gods like Led Zep and the Rolling Stones.

Aldous Snow is the lead singer of a band called Infant Sorrow. Is it true you’re bringing out an album? Well we’ve done an album, yes, but only as a soundtrack to the film. It’s a pisstake. It has two songs on it from your lovely Rose Byrne, who stars in the film. But I’m a comedian not a pop star. 

So we shouldn’t expect a duet with your fiancée Katy Perry anytime soon then? God, no.

As a recovering addict in real life, is it difficult to play someone who takes drugs and drinks heavily? No, because I’ve got all those references backed up. Occasionally I had to dredge up some horrible memories of my drug-addled past but otherwise it came fairly naturally.

You’re coming to Sydney soon for the movie premiere and you’re doing a stand up gig while you’re here. What kind of a show will it be? A completely new one from the show I brought last year. So much has happened to me in the last 12 months: more controversy, more movies, and I’ve fallen in love and I’m getting married. There will be a lot of improvisation and spontaneity. It will be an experience. I want everyone who comes to the show to feel like they have been consensually entered. Wednesday 9 June at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Thursday 10 June at Sydney Entertainment Centre. Come along.

Did you enjoy your last visit to Sydney? It looked like you enjoyed it. The last time we saw you, you were living out the Aldous Snow lifestyle. I had a brilliant time. I really loved it. Australian people seem to appreciate my comedy. I am from Essex which I think is similar to Australia. It’s full of down-to-earth blue-collar people too. There aren’t so many people with airs and graces in Australia.

You’ve just re-recorded Three Lions as the England World Cup song with Robbie Williams. Will you be in Sydney for England’s World Cup game against the USA, which of course is where your betrothed is from? Yes, and I want to watch it with a load of expats in a bar with lots of noise and chanting. Can you make that happen?

Get Him to the Greek is released on Thu 17 Jun.