Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Alice Cooper Returns with a New Album, New Nightmare
The Long-Awaited Sequel to his 1975 classic out on September 13, 2011
Alice Cooper’s widely anticipated new album, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, will be released September 13, 2011, by Universal Music Enterprises. Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who produced the original multi-platinum Welcome To My Nightmare album in 1975, the album picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind.
The original release is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and pioneering U.S. TV special, and certified Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence persists today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theatre, television, film and much more.
More than 35 years later, Alice and Ezrin have resurrected the horror and humor for a new generation.
“This is Alice’s nightmare 35 years later,” explains Alice, “Bob and I created this character and we know how to write for him. I play the part but we’re not writing for me, we’re writing for Alice. We kept the first Nightmare album very personal to us, on this one we found more humor and we were more open. This was our world and we want to present it to the fans. The original album was my first solo album after all those huge hit records with the original band and now that nightmare is exposed, this one can be a little bit more open. The music crosses all sorts of boundaries; we went where the lyrics took us.”
There is an array of collaborators on the new album, including original Alice Cooper members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith reunited on 3 tracks; global pop superstar Ke$ha, who affectionately calls Alice “dad”; and legendary Alice and Lou Reed guitarist Steve Hunter, who is part of Alice’s current touring band and featured prominently on the first Nightmare album.
Musically, the album ranges far and wide, from trashing disco to garage punk, pop balladry to a rocking number, very much in the spirit of the Rolling Stones. And then there’s the ballad “Something To Remember Me By,” described by Alice as “the prettiest song we have ever released.”
Glimpses of themes from the original album are intertwined throughout, each track representing a different aspect of Alice’s nightmare.
From the opener, “I Am Made Of You,” through the already established live favorite and first single “I’ll Bite Your Face Off,” to the surprising duet with Ke$ha, “What Baby Wants,” this album is a reminder that albums just aren’t made this way anymore.
And musicians do not play together like Dennis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith anymore.
“I wanted a ‘70s feel for ‘When Hell Comes Home,’ says Alice, “and I didn't even have to ask for it, it's just how they play and they did it live in the studio. When they got done playing the basic track, Bob and I just looked at each other, that sound is built into their DNA. We didn't need to go and fix anything. The way they finished was a little bit ragged, and that's the way we used to finish songs, that's what I like about it.”
Co-writers on various songs include the aforementioned Bob Ezrin, Ke$ha, Dunaway, Bruce and Smith, plus Buckcherry’s Keith Nelson, Desmond Child (who famously co-wrote and produced “Poison” with Alice), longtime collaborator Dick Wagner, current touring band member Chuck Garric, and film composer Jeremy Rubolino.
“That’s my rebellion,” says Alice of the more surprising guests, “I like people that don't belong and yet what they're doing works perfectly. I don't care where it comes from, as long as it's right. If you tell me something doesn't work, I’ll work my head off until it does then shove it down your throat.”
“I think a lot of my audience is going to go 'KE$HA!?', but she probably wrote the most wicked lyrics in the song – we had to rein her in. I like people to know that just because artists are put in a pigeon hole, that doesn't mean that's what they are. Give people a little room.”
With Steve Hunter, one of rock's great guitarists, added to the band's lineup of guitarists Damon Johnson and Tommy Henriksen, bassist Chuck Garric, and drummer Glen Sobel, Alice has been tearing up venues worldwide on his 2011 “No More Mr. Nice Guy” tour.
Now of course Alice had added something or should that be someone 'extra' special in guitar wonder girl, Orianthi (Michael Jackson, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana), who replaces Damon Johnson on lead guitar in the live set up, as Johnson is leaving to join Thin Lizzy, as they prep for their Fall US tour with Judas Priest later this year.
Alice gave fans an up close and highly personal experience in June with a surprise performance at London’s legendary 100 Club, when actor Johnny Depp joined the band on guitar. Alice showcased the powerful band that had blown away the Download Festival crowd the previous weekend.
This year, the original Alice Cooper group was inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and Alice was honored with both the Kerrang! Icon Award in the U.K. and the Revolver Golden God Award in the U.S.
Tracklist:
1. I Am Made Of You
2. Caffeine
3. The Nightmare Returns
4. A Runaway Train
5. Last Man On Earth
6. The Congregation
7. I’ll Bite Your Face Off
8. Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever
9. Ghouls Gone Wild
10. Something To Remember Me By
11. When Hell Comes Home
12. What Baby Wants
13. I Gotta Get Outta Here
14. The Underture
Alice Cooper official website:
Black Country Communion to Release Double Concert DVD “Live Over Europe” on October 24, 2011
2-discs include 17 original live songs shot in HD and surround sound; bonus features include 20-minute reality footage featurette
Los Angeles, CA, September 1, 2011: Black Country Communion, the English-American rock supergroup featuring the talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater), will release their first concert DVD Live Over Europe on October 24, 2011 (Blu Ray to follow November 15, 2011) on the J&R Adventures imprint. Watch the official trailer on YouTube here: http://bit.ly/bccexclusive.
The 2-DVD live set was filmed with 14 HD cameras and 5.1 surround sound during the band’s debut tour in the summer of 2011. Over three nights, playing to packed venues in the German cities of Hamburg, Munich and Berlin, the 18-song set list (17 originals and 1 cover) hits on both of BCC’s albums – 2010’s debut and 2011’s sophomore release '2,' which The Sunday Mercury praised, “This is classic rock goes large, an album that lives up to its heritage. It may not be bettered this year.”
Live Over Europe highlights include the songs “Black Country,” “One Last Soul,” “Save Me,” “Man In The Middle,” “Cold,” and “Song of Yesterday,” which fans can sign up to receive as a free audio track download, available Sept. 8, here - http://bit.ly/bcclive. Bonus features include an exclusive 28-page collector’s booklet and DVD with a 20-minute “behind the scenes” featurette and photo collection.
Producer Kevin Shirley explains, “We saw that this live act could be an awesome force of nature to behold; one that promised legendary performances like those of our heroes of Classic Rock. The plan was to get them out there for the entire world to hear. Records allow a certain musical finesse, but live performance promises so much in the very transient nature of a gig; chances are taken, boundaries are crossed and the most exciting performances explode. Two studio albums built a repertoire big enough for a full concert which allowed us to unleash the monster for all the world to see and feel.”
BCC recently completed their debut tour, visiting a select number of cities in North America and Europe.
On June 10, the band played to a near sold-out crowd in Anaheim, CA where The Orange County Register exclaimed, “The four members of BCC truly recast the heavy rock of the '60s and '70s and yank it into the 21st century as well as anyone in recent memory.”
At the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, The Birmingham Mail called their performance “rip-roaring” and “breath-taking.”
As part of J&R Adventures’ strategy to use social media as an integral part of the initial marketing launch of Live Over Europe, they created the Facebook BCC Event Page. Facebook members can join the page here http://on.fb.me/loebcc to receive an exclusive glimpse of the new DVD and a chance to download the live free track “Song of Yesterday.”
Live Over Europe Track List:
1. Revolution of the Machine
2. Black Country
3. One Last Soul
4. Crossfire
5. Save Me
6. The Battle For Hadrian’s Wall
7. Beggarman
8. Faithless
9. Song of Yesterday
10. I Can See Your Spirit
11. Cold
12. The Ballad of John Henry
13. The Outsider
14. The Great Divide
15. Sista Jane
16. Man In The Middle
17. Burn
18. Smokestack Woman
Bonus Features
-Forging BCC – The Making of Live Over Europe
-Photo Collection – Live On Tour
-Photo Collection – Behind The Scenes
About J&R Adventures
J&R Adventures was founded by Joe Bonamassa and longtime manager Roy Weisman. The company prides itself on its ability to diversify and stay nimble in the ever-changing music industry landscape using a vertically integrated business model to meet the needs of the artist and the fans. Since its inception, J&R has been able to combine customary label operations with artist management, album production and mastering, merchandising, publishing, licensing and concert promotion – all under one roof. Through these methods, together with the utilization of social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), J&R has also been able to give control to its artists, allowing the artists to work hand-in-hand with the label to achieve their shared vision.
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Hurricane Irene Destroys Doro Pesch's home in Long Island
When Doro "Metal Queen" Pesch flew into New York from Düsseldorf, Germany yesterday three days after Tropical Storm Irene made landfall, she encountered a heap of ruins that used to be her home.
"I saw the pictures of Irene on TV when I visited my mother in Germany on the weekend. When a red rubber raft appeared canoeing through a road on Long Island, I already assumed the worst," Doro states mournfully. "The damage is disastrous. The whole ground floor was flooded. It stinks, electricity failed, and everything's wrecked inside of the house. From the TV to the fridge to the furniture. Everything's grime-stained, defective, unusable. The worst thing is that pieces of my stage costumes and lots of my souvenirs and presents from fans from all around the world are lost forever now."
Despite the damage to her house, Doro's previously announced concerts in conjunction with the North American release of her 25 Years In Rock 2-DVD/CD set will go ahead as scheduled.
"The shows will take place, of course," Doro says. "For now, I've found accommodation in a hotel in New York and will have to see where things will go from here."
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JOHN 5 – RELEASES FIRST SINGLE FROM NEW ALBUM
“BEAT IT” Available to Download NOW!
BEAT IT, the long awaited track from John 5 is out now and available to download from all good online music retailers. BEAT IT is a cover of the Michael Jackson classic and has been timed to be released around Jacksons’ birthday~
This is also the first single to be released from the long-awaited new solo album from John 5, GOD TOLD ME TO, which will be the 6th solo studio instrumental album John 5 has recorded.
Grab your copy of BEAT IT now – all retailers listed on www.john-5.com! Leave some feedback as J5 would love to hear from you!
