Only Heavy Metal

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 finest 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.”

Mixed and mastered by ANDY HALLER, 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 BOB 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.”

Though ALCATRAZZ might well have been Born Innocent, their new album shows they obviously learnt some robust and rawkus stuff along the way.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Alcatrazz welcomes Doogie White for all 2021 touring:

"Alcatrazz are extremely excited to be able to announce that our good friend Doogie White will be singing with us for all of our 2021 tour dates.
We are all huge fans of Doogie's voice as well as his impressive catalogue of music.
The band promises an explosive live show featuring all of the Alcatrazz classics that you know, plus added selections from Doogie's work with Rainbow and Michael Schenker Fest/Temple Of Rock... there may even be a couple new songs as well! Everyone is looking forward to seeing all our fans and friends in what we hope is a much needed return to live music next year!
See you all soon.... No Parole From Rock N Roll!
Be safe and keep rockin'!
Jimmy Waldo, Joe Stump, Gary Shea & Mark Benquechea"

The news of ALCATRAZZ moving forward with a new singer comes less than a month after founding ALCATRAZZ vocalist Graham Bonnet announced changes to the band's management, indicating in a statement on social media that "Bonnet and ALCATRAZZ are no longer affiliated with my former manager Giles Lavery." Almost immediately, the other ALCATRAZZ members shot back with their own statement, saying: "Regarding Graham Bonnet's post on Facebook, we, the band members of ALCATRAZZ, are still represented by our manager Giles Lavery. Graham Bonnet cannot dictate to us who our collective or individual manager may or may not be. We will make our own statement when the time is right."

Hey everyone! Graham here. I've received some messages this morning in reference to the press release by my former band members and feel compelled to address them here rather than respond individually. Just to be clear, I will still be recording and performing with Alcatrazz. I am the founder and main songwriter and have been since the band’s inception in ’83. I’m currently in the studio finishing up the third Graham Bonnet Band album and once delivered, I will begin working on a new Alcatrazz record. I’ll be announcing the incredible new Alcatrazz line-up in the spring and can’t wait to take this show on the road! See you then!