BILLY MORRISON has shared the compelling video for “Drowning,” the first single from his new solo album THE MORRISON PROJECT out April 19th via TLG/VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP.
The British guitarist, singer, and songwriter—primarily known as Billy Idol’s rhythm guitar player for the past 15 years alongside lead guitarist Steve Stevens—says, ““The world, at the time I wrote this song, was full of unease, fear and discontent. Riots, a global pandemic, and a failing economy. I think the world felt the same sense of anxiety and discontent that I did. I guess this song was a way to put those feelings down in a creative way.” – Billy
Directed by Devin Szell, produced by Blue Chair Productions, and shot in Los Angeles. The “Drowning” video is “gritty, fast-paced and hectic—an attempt to illustrate what my head felt like at the time,” explains MORRISON. “I had reached a point two or three years ago where the information flow was so constant, so extreme and so polarizing to me that I couldn’t take it all in. Too much news, too many pundits and opinionated idiots. I felt like I was drowning in negativity. My previous solution was to numb out, get loaded, feel nothing, so this time I wrote the song as a cathartic way of dealing with what I was feeling at the time.”
For THE MORRISON PROJECT—his third solo album and first since 2015—he has assembled an electrifying 12 songs including guest performances by OzzyOsbourne, Billy Idol, DMC, AlJourgensen, SteveVai, SteveStevens, Linda Perry, TommyClufetos, John5, and more. See the track listing below.
THE MORRISON PROJECT was produced by Billy Morrison, mixed by Barry Pointer, and mastered by Dave Donnelly. All the songs on the album—recorded in Los Angeles at various studios—were written by Billy Morrison in collaboration with his guests.
How did THE MORRISON PROJECT come together? “I truly believe that making music without any preconceptions or goals yields the most creative and enjoyable results. And that is exactly how this record came to life. Making music with Erik (Eldenius) and Jeordie (White) during Covid, and mixing different musical styles started my journey towards this collection of songs that ended up featuring a lot of my friends.”
THE MORRISON PROJECT features 12 original tracks:
DROWNING
(Written by Billy Morrison/Erik Eldenius/Jeordie White)
CRACK COCAINE
(Featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens with Tommy Clufetos on Drums)
(Written by Billy Morrison/ Ozzy Osbourne/Steve Stevens)
ITS COME TO THIS
(Written by Billy Morrison/Erik Eldenius)
THE AYES HAVE IT
(Featuring Al Jourgensen and John5 with Roy Mayorga on Drums)
(Written by Billy Morrison)
DYSTOPIA
(Written by Billy Morrison/Erik Eldenius/Jeordie White)
INCITE THE WATCH
(Featuring Corey Taylor and Steve Vai) (Written by Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Corey Taylor)
PUPPETS ON A STRING
(Written by Billy Morrison/Erik Eldenius/Jeordie White)
JUST LIKE A MOVIE
(Featuring D.M.C. and Persia Numan with Erik Eldenius on Drums)
(Written by Billy Morrison/Erik Eldenius/Jeordie White/ Darryl McDaniels/Persia Numan)
THE SOUND OF FREEDOM
(Written by Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White)
MR. DREAM
(Featuring Billy Idol and Steve Stevens)
(Written by Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Steve Stevens, Billy Idol)
WE ARE THE DEAD
(Written by Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White)
CHASING SHADOWS
(Featuring Linda Perry)
(Written by Billy Morrison)