The Waterboys' new album is a concept album focusing on the life of Dennis Hopper. It's called Life, Death and Dennis Hopperreleased on April 4, will contain 25 songs not only about the American actor and director, but also about pop culture more generally.
«His story is the story of our times», explains Mike Scott, absolute leader of the Waterboys. «He was there at the big bang of youth culture represented by Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean and was there at the beginning of pop art with the young Andy Warhol. He was part of the counterculture, hippie, civil rights and psychedelic scene of the 1960s. In the 70s and 80s he was the protagonist of a crazy adventure that lasted ten years, he risked dying, he came back, got back in line and became an actor in five films a year without losing the twinkle in his eyes, nor the sense of danger and unpredictability that characterized him”.
The album begins by recounting Hopper's childhood and ends the morning after his death on May 29, 2010. «The album gave me the opportunity to say a lot of things not only about Dennis, but about that strange adventure that is being men on planet Earth.”
The first single from the album is Hopper's On Top (Genius) and recounts the moment Hopper gets behind the camera to direct Easy Rider. It will be released on Friday 10 January. Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, Steve Earle, Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Barny Fletcher, Anana Kaye, Sugarfoot, Patti Palladin, Kathy Valentine (Go-Go's) participated as guests on the album.
Cover and track list:
Kansas (featuring Steve Earle)
Hollywood '55
Live In The Moment, Baby
Brooke / 1712 North Crescent Heights
Andy (A Guy Like You)
The Tourist (featuring Barny Fletcher)
Freaks On Wheels
Blues For Terry Southern
Memories Of Monterey
Riding Down To Mardi Gras
Hopper's On Top (Genius)
Transcendental Peruvian Blues
Michelle (Always Stay)
Freakout At The Mud Palace
Daria
Ten Years Gone (featuring Bruce Springsteen)
Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend (featuring Fiona Apple)
Rock Bottom
I Don't Know How I Made It (featuring Taylor Goldsmith)
Frank (Let's Fu*k)
Katherine (featuring Anana Kaye)
Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper
Golf, They Say
Venice, California (Victoria)/The Passing Of Hopper
Aftermath
