Southern California’s hard-rock legends Fu Manchu will release their awaited, 12th studio album, Clone of the Universe, on Friday, February 9th via their own At The Dojo Records. In anticipation, the band has partnered with RollingStone.com on the eve of release to premiere the record’s magnum opus, an 18+ minute long track called IL Mostro Atomico, which features guitar legend, Alex Lifeson, from the platinum selling, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band RUSH.
Check out the track here, premiered by rollingstone.com.
Alex Lifeson (RUSH) recently commented to RollingStone.com about the new track: ‘In the summer of 2017, I was approached by the band to add some guitar to the tracks they’d already recorded for IL Mostro. I’d known of Fu Manchu for many years and thought that it would be a fun project to work on, as I typically come from another guitar direction and welcomed the challenge to do something a little different. The track was already quite dense with a riffy guitar presence and it forced me to think in terms of rhythm, ambience and edge. I really had a lot of fun and my only regret is I had a few other conflicting projects that didn’t allow me the time to spend on filling in more space.’
Fu Manchu guitarist/vocalist Scott Hill also tells RollingStone.com: ‘We recorded the full song in 1 take. After listening to the song with all the effects / noises, (Scott) Reeder asked me to try 4 lines of words in about the exact middle of the song. I went home that night and wrote the 4 lines of words and they fit perfectly. Then we got word that Alex Lifeson (RUSH) agreed to play some guitar on the song………HOLY SH*T……………We sent him the song and said to play whatever – wherever he wanted to. He sent back the song with awesome riffs / Sci-Fi effects / and even some pick slides!!!!!!!!!! He made the song 10000000 times cooler / better!!!!!! Can’t wait to play this 18 minute song live!’
Clone Of The Universe marks a new chapter for the ‘fuzz rock’ pioneers as they mix straight ahead blistering rock with unexpected time shifts, featuring tracks like the roaring cuts Don’t Panic and (I’ve Been) Hexed and the dynamically complex Clone Of The Universe and “Slower Than Light.” The centerpiece of the album is IL Mostro Atomico, an 18 minute 8 second, side long epic featuring a special guest performance by Alex Lifeson, guitarist and songwriter of the legendary band RUSH. Heavier than anything they’ve ever done and broken into 4 distinct sections, it’s new ground for a band that’s been pushing the boundaries of ‘fuzz and wah’ since its formation in 1990.
The album was recorded and produced by Fu Manchu and Jim Monroe at The Racket Room in Santa Ana CA, as well as additional recording with Andrew Giacumakis at SUSSTUDIO in Simi Valley CA, and will be released worldwide for streaming and on vinyl and CD on the band’s own AT THE DOJO label via Cargo Distribution. FU Manchu is Scott Hill (vocals, guitar), Bob Balch (Guitars), Brad Davis (Bass) and Scott Reeder (Drums and Percussion).
FU Manchu will kick off their world tour in support of Clone of the Universe with a performance at Amoeba Records in Hollywood (Feb 8th) and two sold out album release shows at Troubadour in Los Angeles (Feb 9th) and at The Casbah in San Diego (Feb 10th), which will be followed by a European and U.S. headline tour. Tickets are on sale now at http://fu-manchu.com/tour-dates/.
FU Manchu Tour Dates:
Feb 8 – Hollywood, CA – Amoeba Records
Feb 9 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour (SOLD OUT)
Feb 10 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah (SOLD OUT)
Mar 2 – Paris, France – Le Trabendo
Mar 3 – Hengelo, Netherlands – Metropool
Mar 5 – Berlin, Germany – Festsaal Kreuzberg
Mar 6 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset
Mar 7 – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
Mar 8 – Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser Strand
Mar 10 – Helsinki, Finland – Nosturi
Mar 11 – Riga, Latvia – Meina Piekdiena
Mar 13 – Warsaw, Poland – Poglos
Mar 14 – Prague, Czech Republic – Storm
Mar 15 – Wien, Austria – Arena
Mar 16 – Budapest, Hungary – A38
Mar 18 – Zurich, Switzerland – Mascotte
Mar 19 – Bern, Switzerland – Dachstock
Mar 20 – Munich, Germany – Hansa 39
Mar 21 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Schlachthof
Mar 23 – Hamburg, Germany – Markthalle
Mar 24 – Cologne, Germany – Burgerhaus Stollwerck
Mar 25 – Haarlem, Netherlands – Patronaat
Mar 26 – Leuven, Belgium – Depot
Mar 27 – London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
May 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
May 3 – Dallas, TX – Curtain Club
May 4 – Austin, TX – Barracuda
May 5 – Houston, TX – White Oak
May 7 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
May 8 – Raleigh, NC – Kings
May 9 – Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
May 11 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
May 12 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
May 13 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
May 15 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
May 16 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
May 17 – Detroit, MI – El Club
May 19 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
May 22 – Denver, CO – Streets of London Pub (SOLD OUT)
May 23 – Denver, CO – Streets of London Pub (SOLD OUT)
Aug 20 – Cookeville, TN – Muddy Roots Festival