Tag: Keri Kelli
12 Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)
Some things get better with age. With Vincent Furnier aka Alice Cooper (who turned 63 in February) this is truly the case. With Alice Cooper’s latest effort, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, Alice has turned in one of his most creative pieces of work yet.
Producer Bob Ezrin came up with the idea for Alice to do the sequel to Welcome to My Nightmare. I don’t know if anyone could have guessed what Alice would come up with after that. Alice Cooper brought in several of his old bandmates including Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, Steve Hunter, and Dick Wagner, as well as a cast of many others to help create a brand new nightmare, which to my ears is one Alice Cooper’s finest works to date.
Welcome 2 My Nightmare somehow manages to recapture that classic 70’s sound of the original, without sounding dated. Welcome 2 My Nightmare incorporates the sounds of classic and hard rock, and little bit of disco. It is hard to compare it to the monsterous album Welcome to My Nightmare, which spawned such great songs like “Cold Ethyl”, “Only Women Bleed” and “Welcome to My Nightmare”. You won’t find Vincent Price (God rest his soul) narratives on Welcome 2 My Nightmare either, but you are going to find a whole bunch of new tunes that you will be sure to love.
There are several songs on Welcome 2 My Nightmare which could easily be worked in to Alice’s live set for years to come. This album is so strong that he could probably do a tour playing the entire album live. The album isn’t perfect, but it is pretty close to it. I could have lived without the auto tune effect on Alice’s vocals on the opening cut “I Am Made of You”. Luckily, this is the only song plagued by that ill-used effect. (Note: To all artists and producers of rock music, Auto Tune is NEVER ok to use in rock music; No one wants to hear that crap.) “I Am Made To You” is a pretty strong opener, and a really good song. Bob Ezrin should have known better than to use those effects in my opinion.
While Alice Cooper’s previous effort Along Came a Spider was an outstanding effort, it pales in comparison to the creative and enthusiastic offering Welcome 2 My Nightmare from the Alice Cooper and company. There are many classic moments, and too many cool tunes to mention on this CD. Some of my favorites are the catchy “Caffeine”, to the Vaudeville fun of “Last Man on Earth”, and the cool rocker “I’ll Bit Your Face Off”. I will be playing this one a ton for years to come.
Voting is now closed, throw away your unused ballots, Welcome 2 My Nightmare will be the easy choice for album of the year in 2011. Highly Recommended!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
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
11. When Hell Comes Home
12. What Baby Wants
13. I Gotta Get Outta Here
14. The Underture
Alice Cooper – Vocals, Harmonica
Michael Bruce – Guitars, keyboards, backing vocals on “A Runaway Train”, “I’ll Bite Your Face Off” and “When Hell Comes Home”
Dennis Dunaway – Bass, backing vocals on “A Runaway Train”, “I’ll Bite Your Face Off” and “When Hell Comes Home”
Neal Smith – Drums, percussion, backing vocals on “A Runaway Train”, “I’ll Bite Your Face Off” and “When Hell Comes Home”
Damon Johnson – guitar on “We Gotta Get Out of This Place”
Keri Kelli – guitar on “We Gotta Get Out of This Place”
Jimmy DeGrasso – drums on “We Gotta Get Out of This Place”
Steve Hunter – guitars on “Something To Remember Me By”, “When Hell Comes Home” and “What Baby Wants”
Keith Nelson – Guitars, backing vocals on “Caffeine”
Desmond Child – Co-songwriter
Dick Wagner – Co-songwriter / Lead guitar on “The Underture”
Rob Zombie – Backing vocals on “The Congregation”
John 5 – guitar on “Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever”
Tommy Denander – Guitars on “I Am Made of You”
Vince Gill – Lead guitar on “A Runaway Train” and “Gotta Get Outta Here”
Chuck Garric – Bass
Jeremy Rubolino – Co-songwriter
Ke$ha – Guest vocals on “What Baby Wants”
Piggy D – Co-songwriter, and bass on “Last Man On Earth”
David Spreng – Co-songwriter and drums on “Last Man On Earth”
Kip Winger – backing vocals on “Ghouls Gone Wild” & “The Congregation”
Patterson Hood – guitar on “Gotta Get Outta Here”
1 New Liberty N’ Justice Song Featuring Jani Lane Available on Tuesday 8/15
We are deeply sorry for the untimely passing of Jani Lane. Like many stars, his light burned very brightly but faded too quickly. We have one of, if not the last, recording that Mr. Lane finished in the studio. We have witnessed an out pouring of emotion from the world’s music community regarding Jani’s death. We feel obligated to his family, friends, and fans to share one of his last artistic endeavors. This single “Sin”, was originally scheduled for release in early 2012 as part of a double CD from L ‘N J entitled ” The Cigar Chronicles.” The song along with Lane features JK Northrup of King Kobra (who recorded and mixed the track), Keri Kelli of Alice Cooper, and Bill Leverty of Firehouse.
The single, “Sin” from Liberty n’ Justice featuring Jani Lane will be available for digital download through itunes starting Tuesday 8-15-11 and other digital stores to follow in the next few weeks. The song was written by JK Northrup, Justin Murr, Jani Lane, Keri Kelli, & Scott Bolan. The song is published by Up-R-North Music (Ascap), Justin Murr Music (BMI), & Snare Enterprises (ASCAP).The I-tunes artwork was done by David Dluzak and other medias by Mark Lanoue.
Here is what people associated with the Liberty n’ Justice project had to say……..
“Jani Lane was the Vincent Van Gogh of “Hair Band Melodic Hard Rock.” A brilliant artist wrestling with his inner self. I came to know him through years of touring together and through many conversations. It was difficult to see him fight with his demons. He was my friend, my contemporary, and he will be truly missed.
This may be one of, if not his last recording.
The performance has a poignant message in relation to his life story. I know that for him, Rock and Roll Heaven is indeed, not too far away !!!
Nothing but Love to you my Brother, Jani.”
CJ Snare of Firehouse/ Rubicon Cross
“In March of 2011, I was asked by Justin Murr to play on a song called “Sin”. I gladly excepted the offer because Liberty n’ Justice always puts out great music. The demo had a scratch vocal by the co-writer, JK Northrup that sounded really good, but I did not know who was going to be chosen to sing the real vocal. I’ve just learned that I was matched up with Jani Lane. I will tell you that Jani did an amazing job with his vocals. I am truly honored to be playing on this recording, which is quite possibly the last recording Jani ever made. I have extremely fond memories of touring with him since 1991 when we all became good friends on Warrant’s “Blood, Sweat, & Beers Tours”. Firehouse has played well over a 100 shows since then with Warrant and with Jani’s solo gig. Our friendship has never faded. This song’s lyrical content is very timely, and shows Jani in an
extremely vulnerable and honest light, where he bares his soul in an uncanny way. RIP my brother, your music will always be with me…”
Bill Leverty of Firehouse
“Like everyone, I was shocked to hear about the passing of Jani. I was privileged to have opened a show with Warrant in Los Angeles at a large venue called “The Country Club”. It was a sold out show, and just before they got signed! It was easy to see why Jani and Warrant would make such an impact on the music world with his stage presence and song writing abilities. Now some 24 years later, I found myself working with Jani on a song called “Sin” for the upcoming album with Justin Murr’s “Liberty N’ Justice” called “The Cigar Chronicle’s”. Jani’s vocals and input on this song are very powerful! Although it was not intended for release until 2012, all involved felt the importance to get this song out to all of his fans to hear this amazing song. I know he will be smiling when this song is heard by all. My sincere condolences to all of his family and friends. He will be missed, but not forgotten! R.I.P Jani Lane!”
JK Northrup
