Life of Agony Pays Homage to The Crow’s Brandon Lee with New Song and Video
Life of Agony has a long history of paying homage to the films that helped shape their teenage years. Back in 1995, the band covered Simple Minds’ Don’t You (Forget About Me) on the group’s Ugly album; the song was made famous by the movie The Breakfast Club. In 1997, on their album Soul Searching Sun, a music video for the song Desire incorporated visuals reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. That tradition continues with a brand-new original track titled The Crow (In Memory of B.L.), which pays tribute to the fallen star Brandon Lee, who tragically lost his life during the filming of the cult-classic, released 30 years ago.
Life of Agony’s The Crow (In Memory of B.L.) was recorded in New York City at the legendary Sear Sound studio, best known for hit albums by David Bowie and John Lennon, as well as at The Nest Studio, in Long Island, NY. The song was recorded, produced, and mixed by LOA’s guitarist Joey Zampella (who also co-produced the group’s last album The Sound of Scars). The song was mastered by Grammy-award winner Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers).
With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of Brandon Lee’s Crow film, and all of the controversy surrounding the new Bill Skarsgård remake, Life of Agony felt inspired to go back and give respect to the ‘94 film that made such a huge impact on them during their early years.
“There’s something very special about the original Crow that made it timeless, and there’s a reason that it resonated with us as kids,” explained LOA bassist Alan Robert. “It was an absolute tragedy… Brandon Lee was killed the year we did our first album River Runs Red, and by the time The Crow came out in ‘94, he was already a legend. Brandon completely embodied the role, made it iconic, and lost his life in the process. It was just so incredibly sad and affected us deeply. He was such a charismatic character and in the very beginning stages of his career. Director Alex Proyas captured lightning in a bottle.”
A music video for Life of Agony’s The Crow (In Memory of B.L.) was filmed and edited in New York by Derek Soto of Sinestra Studios with motion graphics created by The Dor Brothers. The clip was produced by Chris White (Doors, Portals, V/H/S Viral) and Life of Agony.
"We thought that creating a song and a sound that would seamlessly fit on the original film's soundtrack would be a perfect way to honor Brandon and his legacy," said LOA guitarist Joey Zampella.
Photo credit: Marissa Ann / Scryer Photo
Alan Robert's Best Seller "The Beauty of Horror" Coloring Book Gets A Sequel
Life of Agony’s Alan Robert Announces Sequel to His Best-Selling Horror Coloring Book
The Beauty of Horror 2: Ghouliana’s Creepatorium – Another GOREgeous Coloring Book Coming This September From IDW Publishing
Pre-order is up for "The Beauty of Horror 2: Ghouliana's Creepatorium - Another GOREgeous Coloring Book"! http://amzn.to/2l3iDT6
The color-crazed carnage continues with Alan Robert's The Beauty of Horror 2: Ghouliana's Creepatorium, Another GOREgeous Coloring Book!
Nerdist hailed Robert's debut as being "The World's Creepiest Adult Coloring Book" and it received critical acclaim in The Wall Street Journal, GQ, and BuzzFeed. The Life of Agony bassist/songwriter follows up his Amazon #1 Best Seller The Beauty of Horror with everyone's favorite undead girl Ghouliana, as she mischievously attempts to trick budding colorists into unleashing a deadly spell. Try and find the ingredients she's sprinkled throughout Robert's intricate pen and ink illustrations before it's too late!
This ghastly follow up to the Beauty of Horror features over 80 pages of original artwork depicting a variety of increasingly terrifying scenes and patterns. Featuring a beautifully chilling red foiled cover and high-quality paper that will ensure the pools of blood you color don't leak through the pages, Robert and IDW have come together to present a deluxe coloring experience.
“I was completely blown away by the overwhelming response to the first book,” Robert says, “the amazing color work fans have been posting online inspired me to get crackin’ on volume two right away! And this time, Ghouliana’s got even more tricks up her sleeve.”
"Alan gave colorists around the world the creeps with his coloring book debut," says IDW VP of New Product Development, Jerry Bennington. “If you’re not still shaking from the first go round, there’s more gruesome images from his brain splattered onto the page for fans to color until their hair stands on end!"
The Beauty of Horror 2: Ghouliana's Creepatorium, Another GOREgeous Coloring Book by Alan Robert arrives in stores this September from IDW Publishing. http://www.thebeautyofhorror.com
TP • BW • $17.99 • 88 Pages • 9.8” x 9.8”• ISBN: 978-1-68405-070-3
About Alan Robert
Over the last two decades, Alan Robert's band Life of Agony has built a die-hard cult following, selling over one million albums worldwide. Life of Agony is set to release their 5th studio album A Place Where There's No More Pain through Napalm Records on April 28, 2017. Rolling Stone hailed it as “One of the Most Anticipated Albums of the Year.” Robert is also the critically acclaimed author/artist of several IDW creator-owned comic book series. Titles include Crawl to Me, Killogy and Wire Hangers. Crawl to Me is currently in development to become a live-action feature film.
Billboard Premieres Life of Agony's First Song in Over Twelve Years! New Album "A Place Where There's No More Pain" Drops April 28th!
It has been 12 years since New York metal act Life of Agony released its last album, 2005’s Broken Valley. Life of Agony’s fifth album, A Place Where There's No More Pain, will be arriving April 28 on Napalm Records.
Click here for Billboard feature >
It has been 12 years since New York metal act Life of Agony released its last album, 2005’s Broken Valley. That’s a lifetime in the music industry, although in the timeline of Life of Agony, that’s pretty much on schedule. After all, eight years passed between when it released 1997’s Soul Searching Sun and Broken Valley, but nonetheless, fans have wondered if the quartet of singer Mina Caputo, bassist Alan Robert, guitarist Joey Z and drummer Sal Abruscato would ever return to the studio.
They are getting their wish: Life of Agony’s fifth album, A Place Where There's No More Pain, will be arriving April 28 on Napalm Records.
“We have a long history of connecting to our fans on an emotional level through our words and music, and that's why I think there's something really relevant and timeless about the message behind the title track,” adds Robert. “It's about facing your problems head on in order to find peace within yourself -- a topic that really hits home for a lot of our fans struggling with their own demons. The opening line ‘Running away only makes it worse’ couldn't be more true, because sooner or later those problems will catch up with you, and when they do, you gotta be strong enough to deal with them.”
Life of Agony Presented Megadeth's Dave Mustaine with the Dimebag Darrell Best Guitarist Award at Revolver Music Awards
Alan Robert's The Beauty of Horror Coloring Book Featured in The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal interviewed The Beauty of Horror creator Alan Robert about his best-selling adult coloring book. http://on.wsj.com/2dH7YhV
Rolling Stone: The Most Anticipated Metal Albums of 2016 - Life of Agony's "A Place Where There's No More Pain"
Life of Agony have surprised fans by revealing plans to release their first new album in over a decade, A Place Where There's No More Pain (Napalm Records). "I think our fans know that our music comes from a very real place of suffering, from all of us in the band," says bassist and songwriter Alan Robert, addressing the record's title. "Many of our fans have told us over the years that sharing our personal struggles has been cathartic for them in healing the pain in their own lives. That uplifting energy we share at the shows, gives us hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel. And for us and hopefully our fans, that short time when we're all together is a place where there's no more pain."—Alan Robert, Life of Agony
Life of Agony have surprised fans by revealing plans to release their first new album in over a decade, A Place Where There's No More Pain (Napalm Records). "I think our fans know that our music comes from a very real place of suffering, from all of us in the band," says bassist and songwriter Alan Robert, addressing the record's title. "Many of our fans have told us over the years that sharing our personal struggles has been cathartic for them in healing the pain in their own lives. That uplifting energy we share at the shows, gives us hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel. And for us and hopefully our fans, that short time when we're all together is a place where there's no more pain."—Alan Robert, Life of Agony
Life of Agony's Alan Robert joins Marky Ramone, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie of The Runaways On Stage for a Surprise Performance at Chiller Theatre Expo 2014!
Attendees of the Chiller Theatre Expo 2014 were in for a surprise treat when some living legends took the stage to perform their classic hits. The Runaways' Cherie Currie and Lita Ford, Marky Ramone of the Ramones, along with Life of Agony's Alan Robert rocked out to The Runaways' smash "Cherry Bomb" followed up by the Ramones "Rock N Roll High School." More photos can be found here >
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