LIFE OF AGONY Frontman KEITH CAPUTO: New Solo Album Details Revealed

Drummer Jochem Van Rooijen from LIFE OF AGONY vocalist Keith Caputo's solo band has issued the following update:

"Around this time last year, after we finished what was probably our best tour of Europe, we started writing songs for the new [Keith Caputo solo] album ['Fondness for Hometown Scars']. It became clear right away that between all of us we had an abundance of ideas. After two months we had about 20 songs, ranging from minimalistic soft songs to verocious hardrocking stuff.

"When we were certain that we had enough material for a great record we started checking our options as far as where and with whom we could record. We got a great offer from someone we admire and respect greatly, Martyn Lenoble (the great bass player who played in bands such as JANE'S ADDICTION, PORNO FOR PYROS, THE CULT and in Scott Weiland's band). He offered to produce our album and to record it in Los Angeles where he lives. Recording was to start in February and we would finish in March.

"So, late January this year we flew to L.A. and first did a week of pre-production with Martyn, who turned out to be great to work with and a lot of fun to be around. We played through all the material, made changes to songs, and finally decided which songs should be on the record. As always, this is a difficult process 'cause everybody has his favorites, but some songs just work together better than others…

"After this week of pre-production, it was time to start the recordings at the New King Sound studio, which is located in the Hollywood Hills, and is a great sounding place with great vintage gear. The studio owner Jimmy Sloan let us stay at the studio too, so we could keep ourselves totally immersed in creating the album.

"We started tracking the drums and bass and also had an incredible piano/keyboard player named Zac Rae (of the great band PEDESTRIAN) join us on some songs. After that, Marcel Singor started work on the guitar side of things. Marcel came along with us from Amsterdam to record all the guitar parts. Because the material on the album ranges from very intimate, almost jazzy stuff to modern hard rock, it must have been a challenge for him but he did a really amazing job and came up with great sounds and parts!

"After Michiel and Marcel were done, they returned to Amsterdam and Keith started recording his vocals. During this time we also had some other players we really admire record some additional parts. Among others, we had Craig Ross (guitarist with Lenny Kravitz) play on some songs as well as Gerry Leonard (who plays with David Bowie). As some of you may know, both of them also played guitar on Keith's 'Died Laughing' album! We are very happy and honoured to have them contribute again, and they totally delivered the goods!

"One really cool thing that also happened is that we had this song called 'Bleed For Something Beautiful'. It is a very dreamy, jazzy song, and on the demo that Keith made a while back there was a saxophone part. We agreed that we needed a brass instrument on the studio version and we thought we should ask Flea (who is a mutual friend of Martyn and I) to play some trumpet on it. Martyn called him up, and Flea agreed to do it! We drove up to another studio and Flea did his thing. He had hurt his back badly the day before, and was in pain while blowing on his trumpet but it sounded great.

"After Keith finished his vocals, it was time to mix the record. Martyn did this together with Vincent Jones, who he worked with on tour with Dave Gahan. Vincent also contributed some extra keyboard parts here and there. Finally, the album was mastered by the great George Marino this summer in New York City.

"All in all, we had a great time in Los Angeles working on this album. From funny celebrity run-ins with Justin Timberlake and porn queen Belladonna, doing a last-minute mini-show at the Whiskey on Sunset, to driving up to Zuma to relax and wind down on the beautiful beach. California was a very inspiring place for us to play our music!

"Right now, we are preparing to go out on the road again in Europe. We will have Ricky Warwick supporting us at all dates and we are also visiting some countries like France, Norway and Italy where we haven't played in a long time so we are very excited! We also have two great new guitar players in the band now, Maarten Moerland and Chris Kikic, who make the songs sound fantastic. We will be playing some new songs, some stuff from 'Died Laughing' that we haven't played in a while, and of course songs from 'Hearts Blood on Your Dawn', the record we released last year.

"A lot of people have been asking when the new album will be out. The truth is, we don't know yet. We are trying to find a good label home for the album and that takes some time. Rest assured though, we are working hard to make sure it will be available as soon as possible 'cause we can't wait to let everyone hear the new stuff.

"Fondness for Hometown Scars" track listing:

01. Crawling
02. In December
03. Troubles Down
04. In This Life
05. Nothing To Lose (Songbird)
06. Sad Eyed Lady
07. Silver Candy
08. Got Monsters
09. Son Of A Gun
10. Devil's Pride
11. Bleed For Something Beautiful
12. Son Of A Gun (Reprise)

Watch Keith Caputo's video for the song "Selfish" (taken from "Died Laughing"):