MIKE SCOTT And THE WATERBOYS Score With Astonishing, Cinematic Album ‘LIFE, DEATH AND DENNIS HOPPER’
7 April 2025
Album artwork
Scottish pop-rock-folk band THE WATERBOYS orchestrated by Mike Scott just released their astonishing album, their 16th one, titled LIFE, DEATH AND DENNIS HOPPER.
A concept one, glorifying the late, notorious, and fascinating actor (1936-2010).
Press info: Inspired entirely by the life and mythos of actor Dennis Hopper, Mike Scott and The Waterboys created this expansive album as tribute to one of American popular culture’s most compelling public figures. Deeply conceptual, this album of all original songs brings together high-profile featured artists like Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, and Steve Earle to musically weave through Hopper’s life, including a song for each of Hopper’s wives.
Mojo Magazine: “The hit rate is high, and Mike Scott is clearly having fun cutting himself free from The Waterboys’ past, and playing fast and loose – much like the mercurial subject of this album.”
TUTV: This an amazing piece of work. A soundtrack for a yet to be made Dennis Hopper documentary. Hats off to Mike Scott for his boldness, imaginativeness, and ingenuity to score this musical movie, constructed marvellously with its sonically cinematic versatility.
Pop, rock, blues, country, bar-room jazz, and musing balladry take turns and puzzle
a most coherent and highly entertaining whole together, spiced with magnificent vocal contributions by Fiona Apple, Steve Earle and others. Never a dull moment with its varied stream of top-tier songs and Scott‘s awe-inspiring vocality throughout.
Movie shots from Hopper‘s parts in doom and gloom films such as Blue Velvet, Apocalypse Now, True Romance, Speed and, of course, counterculture classic Easy Rider pop up on the screen in your head. He was at his best when he played psychotic characters. And Scott is here at its best too. Can’t stopping listening to it and discover new things with every spin I know it’s only April but this pièce de résistance is, unquestionably, a contender for album of the year.
Singles/clips: I Don’t Know How I Made It / Hoppers’ On Top / Andy (A Guy Like You)
– I DON’T KNOW HOW I MADE IT –
– HOPPER’S ON TOP –
– ANDY (A GUY LIKE YOU) –
ALBUM
