ALCATRAZZ TO RELEASE FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN OVER 30 YEARS, “BORN INNOCENT” TO ARRIVE ON JULY 31ST
The hard-hitting, melodic heavy metal band Alcatrazz will once again throw down a studio gauntlet on July 31st with Born Innocent, their first studio venture since 1986’s Dangerous Games. Alongside the unique vocal prowess and range of star frontman and founding member Graham Bonnet, Born Innocent also features fellow founding members Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea. And from the classic album art, featuring the mighty rock itself, Born Innocent is a journey into the sort of heavy, melodic and supremely articulated hard rock that is a cornerstone of the likes of Rainbow and the Michael Schenker Group, territory Alcatrazz successfully strode in the ‘80s before going on hiatus.
Debuting on Born Innocent is the latest of the illustrious Alcatrazz guitarists to bring their extreme six-string talents to the band, with Boston-based Berklee College of Music Assistant Professor of Guitar, and one-man metal impresario Joe Stump perhaps proving the fines of a list which includes the likes of Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai.
“The name Alcatrazz is a brand name,” announces star frontman and founding member Graham Bonnet “People know what Alcatrazz delivers, and on this album you have the original ideas of Alcatrazz but played in a modern way with new inspiration.
Born Innocent also sees former stars from Bonnet’s long career making guest appearances, from Chris Impellitteri, who wrote the music and played all guitars on the arpeggio-powered Born Innocent with Bonnet’s vocals soaring to old-school heights, and Bon Kulick who wrote and laid down guitar for I Am The King. Virtuoso Japanese guitar maestro Nozomu Wakai -a new invitee to the party- similarly wrote and played guitars on the double-kick steel-plated Irish warrior ode Finn McCool, while Steve Vai wrote Dirty Like The City. Meanwhile, Something That I Am Missing and Warth Lane were written by -and feature the guitar work of- Italian six-string hero Dario Mollo, with Riot bassist Don Van Stavern playing bass on the title track, Polar Bear, Finn McCool, London 1666, Dirty Like The City and Paper Flags. Add D. Kendall Jones’ writing and guitar work on We Still Remember and even a quick solo by another new invitee to the Alcatrazz mega-sound, Annihilator’s Jeff Waters on Paper Flags (the second one to be precise), and it’s clear that studio Alcatrazz 2020 is one giant piece of rock for sure.
Besides the supreme musicianship, Born Innocent features genuine storyteller lyrics courtesy of Bonnet who revels in showing he loves the scent of an entertaining tale, proudly illustrated on the storming lead single Polar Bear which bristles with robust old-world adventure. “Take the song Polar Bear, explains Bonnet, “I heard those words ‘polar bear’ and thought it’s an intriguing title because it sounds all cuddly and nice, but it’s not. It’s a story of how when the Eskimo got too old, they would take their lives by sitting in snow, freezing to death and letting the polar bear take the body. The polar bear was very prominent in their lives as a God and also as a way of committing suicide, which is kind of awful. But when an Eskimo loses all his teeth and he could no longer eat, he would lose his strength obviously and then become a weak old man. He could no longer contribute to the tribe, he’d feel his life was useless and so he’d walk out into the snow and sacrifice himself to the bear.” Listen to the song below.
Alcatrazz’s Born Innocent will be released on CD and digital formats. For pre-orders, go to this location. Fans of Rainbow, Dio, Michael Schenker Group and Dokken pay heed.
Born Innocent Track Listing:
1. Born Innocent
2. Polar Bear
3. Finn McCool
4. We Still Remember
5. London 1666
6. Dirty Like The City
7. I Am The King
8. Something That I Am Missing
9. Paper Flags
10. The Wound Is Open
11. Body Beautiful
12. Warth Lane
13. For Tony
Alcatrazz will take ‘Born Innocent’ on the road kicking-off their European Tour with Girlschool in Switzerland on August 26th; more dates to be announced.
Tour Dates:
26 Aug Aarburg – Musigburg (Switzerland)*
27 Aug Biker Charity Rally, Milan (Italy)*
29 Aug Lido, Berlin (Germany)*
30 Aug Bambi Galore, Hamburg (Germany)*
31 Aug Matrix, Bochum (Germany)*
01 Sep Musicon, The Hague (The Netherlands)*
02 Sep Metropool, Hengelo (The Netherlands)*
03 Sep Le Forum, Paris/Vauréal (France)*
04 Sep Ninkasi Kao, Lyon (France)*
05 Sep Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona (Spain)*
06 Sep Auditorio Burlada, Pamplona (Spain)*
07 Sep Capital, Santiago (Spain)*
08 Sep RCA Club, Lisbon (Portugal)*
09 Sep Shoko, Madrid (Spain)*
10 Sep Rock School Barbey, Bordeaux (France)*
11 Sep Atelier de Moles, Montbéliard (France)*
16 Sept On The Rocks, Helsinki (Finland)
17 Sept Jack The Rooster, Tampere (Finland)
18 Sept Henry’s, Kuopio (Finland)
19 Sept WS Arena, Vaasa (Finland)
*Girlschool/Alcatrazz, with support: Asomvel
Alcatrazz is:
Graham Bonnet – Vocals
Joe Stump – Guitars
Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards
Gary Shea – Bass
Mark Benquechea – Drums
Follow Alcatrazz on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grahambonnetmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alcatrazz_official/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGrahamBonnet
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2xIuSAc
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2KoAaDs
It would be cool if he could talk Vai into reuniting for some new stuff. It`s hard to believe Graham is 72 , dude can still sing like he`s in the 80’s.