Denis Leary on ‘Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’ Guest Dave Grohl: ‘It’s Not Fair’ He Can Act

After several years away from the small screen, Denis Leary is ready to unleash Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.

The FX show, which he created and stars in, centers on a middle-aged rock ‘n’ roller (Leary) who missed out on fame and fortune, but still desperately wants it. Leary took inspiration for the show, which features original music, from bands he was aware of back in the day.

“There were a lot of great bands in Boston, in New York who should have been big who failed,” Leary said at the Television Critics Association press tour Sunday. “They blamed the world, not themselves, for failing. I thought that was very interesting.”

Leary has enlisted John Corbett, Elizabeth Gillies, Elaine Hendrix and Bobby Kelly for the project. Corbett, who is a musician in his own right, revealed during the panel that he turned down a role on ABC’s Nashville. But he strongly wanted to join this project because of Leary’s vision.

“I would the guy on the show who played the bongos and didn’t say anything,” Corbett said of his enthusiasm for the show. Thankfully, he has much more to do as Flash, the former best friend and bandmate of Leary’s character Johnny Rock.

The show will not only feature original music, but also guest stars from the music world, including Dave Grohl and The Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli. Leary said they are not only talented musicians, but also gifted actors — and that makes him jealous.

“That kind of blows. Because I can’t be a rock star in real life” Leary said. “It’s not fair.”

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll premieres this summer.

This article originally appeared in THR.com.