"Butchering the Beatles"

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I came across this press release while reading up on Def Leppard. I thought I'd pass it on. At the very least, it's good for a laugh.

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Restless Records to Release "Butchering The Beatles"
Features Over 50 of Rock's Most Notorious Stars
NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 22, 2006 -- On October 24, 2006 Restless Records will release "Butchering The Beatles" -- featuring the BIGGEST, the BADDEST, the HEAVIEST all-star line-up ever assembled to honor what is arguably the greatest band ever -- THE BEATLES. All-in-all, over 50 internationally known recording artists bring their unique bone-crushing slant to these remarkable songs. Produced by Grammy award-winning producer/guitarist Bob Kulick and ace engineer Brett Chassen, "Butchering The Beatles" features 12 new, ass-kicking versions of The Beatles' chart-topping hits including "Hey Jude," "I Feel Fine," and "Day Tripper," plus the more esoteric "Hey Bulldog," barked out by the legendary Alice Cooper and "Tomorrow Never Knows," uniquely interpreted by the iconic Billy Idol, alongside classic concept songs like "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "Magical Mystery Tour."

When asked by Guitar Player magazine what possessed him to go all metal on The Beatles, Bob Kulick stated that, "Beatles songs are the Holy Grail. They're the best rock songs ever written. These new recordings are totally faithful, yet completely different. Billy Gibbons singing 'Revolution' or (Motorhead bassist) Lemmy singing 'Back In The USSR' are not exactly Paul McCartney or John Lennon. And of course, the guitar solo sections were lengthened to accommodate all the artists' solo styles."

"Butchering The Beatles" track listing:

1. "Hey Bulldog" - Alice Cooper, vox; Steve Vai, guitars; Duff McKagen (Velvet Revolver / Guns N Roses), bass; Mikkey Dee (Motorhead), drums

2. "Back In The USSR" - Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), vox/bass; John5 (Marilyn Manson / Rob Zombie), guitars; Eric Singer (Kiss / Alice Cooper), drums

3. "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" - Geoff Tate (Queensryche), vox; Michael Wilton (Queensryche), guitar; Craig Goldy (Dio), guitar; Rudy Sarzo (Dio), bass; Simon Wright (Dio), drums; Scott Warren (Dio), keys

4. "Tomorrow Never Knows" - Billy Idol, vox; Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), guitars; Blasko (Ozzy Osbourne), bass; Brian Tichy (Billy Idol), drums

5. "Magical Mystery Tour" - Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen / Soul Sirkus), vox; Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force / Alcatrazz), lead guitar; Bob Kulick, (Meat Loaf / Paul Stanley Band), rhythm guitar; Jeff Pilson (Dokken / Foreigner), bass; Frankie Banali (Wasp / Quiet Riot), drums

6. "Revolution" - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), vox / guitar; Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard), guitar; Mike Porcaro (Toto), bass; Gregg Bisonnette (David Lee Roth / Ringo Starr Band), drums; Joseph Fazzio (Superjoint Ritual), drums

7. "Day Tripper" - Jack Blades (Night Ranger / Damn Yankees), vox; Tommy Shaw (Styx / Damn Yankees), vox; Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake / Dio), guitars; Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake / Thin Lizzy), bass; Virgil Donati (Steve Vai / Soul Sirkus / Planet X), drums

8. "I Feel Fine" - John Bush (Anthrax), vox; Stephen Carpenter (Deftones), guitar; Mike Inez (Ozzy Osbourne / Alice In Chains), bass; John Tempesta (The Cult / Testament), drums

9. "Taxman" - Doug Pinnick (Kings X), vox; Steve Lukather (Toto), guitar; Tony Levin (John Lennon / Peter Gabriel), bass; Steve Ferrone (Eric Clapton / Tom Petty), drums

10. "I Saw Her Standing There" - John Corabi (Motley Crue), vox; Phil Campbell (Motorhead), guitar; C.C. Deville (Poison), guitar; Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction), bass; Kenny Aronoff (Smashing Pumpkins / Jon Bon Jovi), drums

11. "Hey Jude" - Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest / Iced Earth), vox; George Lynch (Dokken / Lynch Mob), guitar; Bob Kulick (Meat Loaf / Paul Stanley Band), rhythm guitar; Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge / Beck / Bogert & Appice), bass; Chris Slade (AC/DC), drums

12. "Drive My Car" - Kip Winger (Winger), vox; Bruce Kulick (Kiss / Grand Funk), guitar; Tony Franklin (The Firm / Whitesnake), bass; Aynsley Dunbar (Whitesnake / Journey), drums

[shmeep]

Sounds like a very interesting album. It'll probably be really good. All those heavy metal stars! When I was in high school, I hated heavy metal as much as I did country music or rap or [shudder] teeny-bopper pop (or whatever they call that kind of music these days--in high school it was personified by Tiffany and Debbie Gibson). I was into New Wave and loved The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen and The Smiths and U2. Still do. But now New Wave has merged with Heavy Metal (the former enemy!) to become Alternative and I rather like it so I guess I can get over my former hatred of those glam 80's metal bands. They don't do the waist-length hair teased out three feet in either direction anymore, do they? I think I objected to the look more than I did the sound.

But back to the Beatles, this reminded me of something some former Monty Pythoners did in the seventies. They did a parody of the Beatles in the form of a Spinal Tap-esque documentary called "The Rutles." One of the funniest things I've ever seen. Anyone who likes the Beatles and knows a bit about their history should get a hold of this movie. They even did parodies of a lot of Beatles songs.



Here's a little quote from the movie:

Narrator: In 1966 the Rutles faced the biggest threat to their careers. Nasty, in a widely quoted interview, had apparently claimed that the Rutles were bigger than God, and was reported to have gone on to say that God had never had a hit record. The story spread like wildfire in America. Many fans burnt their albums, many more burnt their fingers attempting to burn their albums. Album sales skyrocketed. People were buying them just to burn them. But in fact it was all a ghastly mistake. Nasty, talking to a slightly deaf journalist, had claimed only that the Rutles were bigger than Rod. Rod Stewart would not be big for another eight years, and certainly at this stage hadn't had a hit. At a press conference, Nasty apologized to God, Rod and the Press, and the tour went ahead as planned. It would be the Rutles' last.

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admin said:

They don't do the waist-length hair teased out three feet in either direction anymore, do they? I think I objected to the look more than I did the sound.

No, for the most part, the big hair is gone. I have to confess that I did like the 80s stuff, though now I'll hear one of those songs and wonder what I was thinking. I'm a big U2 fan as well. I was lucky to catch them in concert last November and they were fantastic.

But back to the Beatles, this reminded me of something some former Monty Pythoners did in the seventies. They did a parody of the Beatles in the form of a Spinal Tap-esque documentary called "The Rutles." One of the funniest things I've ever seen.

"Bigger than Rod" turned into "bigger than God." LOL! That looks hysterical! I might have to check it out. I thought Spinal Tap was very funny, too.

[doobrah]

I loved the Rutles. Still have their stuff. I was in college radio when they came out and they sent us a promo copy (which I absconded with) of the album Shmeep posted above. The label shows a peeled banana(spoof of the Beatles' Apple label) and the record is yellow vinyl. And yes, they were the predecessor of "Spinal Tap."

George Harrison and Eric Idle were great friends. Eric loved the Beatles and George loved Monty Python. Recently I found a hilarious clip on YouTube of a TV show Eric did before the Rutles with George Harrison. (I'd post the link but YouTube is now blocked at work.) It was never shown in the U.S. Look closely at the band members -- they are they future Rutles!

[housemouse]

doobrah said:

I loved the Rutles. Still have their stuff. I was in college radio when they came out and they sent us a promo copy (which I absconded with) of the album Shmeep posted above. The label shows a peeled banana(spoof of the Beatles' Apple label) and the record is yellow vinyl. And yes, they were the predecessor of "Spinal Tap."

George Harrison and Eric Idle were great friends. Eric loved the Beatles and George loved Monty Python. Recently I found a hilarious clip on YouTube of a TV show Eric did before the Rutles with George Harrison. (I'd post the link but YouTube is now blocked at work.) It was never shown in the U.S. Look closely at the band members -- they are they future Rutles!

The Rutles is laugh out loud funny. It was recently aired on VH1 Classics. There is not a scene in that movie that is not funny. The music is fabulous too. "Love is the meaning of life, life is the meaning of love" oh man, great stuff.

[doobrah]

For those who have not see the Rutles show, it is a very loving tribute and spoof of Beatlemania and the whole timeline of the Beatles' breakup up until the mid-1970's. It's funny if you know about those times. If you're a Beatles fanatic like me, you'll be ROFL.

The show first aired on NBC and was executive produced by Lorne Michaels (SNL), and features cameos of George Harrison (almost unrecognizable as the grey-haired reporter interviewing Python's Michael Palin), Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner and Mick Jagger among others.

The Rutles name is based on a tiny county in England, Rutland, that was gerrymandered out of existence several years before this was filmed. The songs are wonderful, taking guitar licks from a lot of the Beatle hits and morphing them into really great songs that could've been hits in their own right. ("I Must Be in Love" actually was a minor hit.) They were written by Neil Innes, who was sort of an adjunct Python appearing in some skits and who plays the character based on John Lennon.

The Yoko character is played as a Nazi, and their manager "Leggy Mountbatten" is a proper English gentleman with a cane a la House. Eric Idle plays the Paul McCartney character as well as the mockumentary reporter.

VH1 Classics sometimes runs it with beaucoup commercials, but it is also available on DVD for about $10. Highly recommended!!