Tommy Henriksen doesn’t fit the mould of your typical rock star.
"I’m just some dirtbag from Long Island," he describes himself with a smile. "A teenage dirtbag with a dream, you know?"
But it’s that same self-deprecating disposition and relentless drive that has propelled him from local punk scenes to playing arenas with Alice Cooper and the Hollywood Vampires. Now, Henriksen is charting his own course with Evil World Machine (out now via Better Noise Music), the ambitious debut album from his project, Crossbone Skully. he recently spoke with Guitar Interactive about the project. Check out the interview below.
Henriksen on Crossbone Skully's debut album:
"When we were putting the thing together, Mutt Lange (producer), when he sequenced the record I said to myself, 'I wonder why he bumped all of those (tracks) up,' but I never questioned him because he's like Yoda to me. He's another entity unto itself. He putthe whole thing together. He's amazing."
On November 22, Crossbone Skully unleashed their debut album Evil World Machine, which brought the legendary Mutt Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard) out of retirement to executive produce the project.
Released by Better Noise Music, the rock concept album echoes similar dystopian visions such as David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars and Diamond Dogs, and its story will be expanded in a forthcoming graphic novel and animated film, Thing #1, due in 2025.
Watch the newly released music video for the album’s power-seizing track, “Let’s Bust The Trust”, streaming below.
“‘Let’s Bust The Trust’ spits in the face of a broken currency, torching the lies of the elite, and screaming for a world where people over profit hold the power to turn it all around! Lives Over Loot!” says frontman Tommy Henriksen.
“I’ve based this album on my heroes - AC/DC, Queen, The Who, but also The Cars and Kraftwerk,” Henriksen continues “Mutt called and told me he thought there was something there. I started crying like a baby, it was like Jesus coming back and anointing you!,” he says. “Mutt has taken these songs to a whole other level. Now I don’t mind what else happens with this record.”
Led and conceptualized by Henriksen (guitarist and musical director for Alice Cooper’s band and member of Hollywood Vampires), Crossbone Skully enlisted a sterling group of supporting musicians for Evil World Machine including guitarist Tommy Denander, keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac (My Chemical Romance, John Mayer, Seal), bassist Chris Wyse (Hollywood Vampires, Ace Frehley, The Cult, Ozzy Osbourne), drummer Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires), the late UFO bassist Pete Way, mixer Olle Romo (Muse, Bryan Adams) and producer/mixer Mike Plotnikoff (AC/DC, Aerosmith). Also lighting up the album are guest features and spoken word appearances by A-list actor/musician and fellow Hollywood Vampires bandmate Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Phil Collen (Def Leppard), Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Kane Roberts, and more.
Crossbone Skully made their debut live performance last night, November 21, with a packed-out show at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, CA and will appear again tonight for a second performance. Henriksen’s live band is rounded out by Wyse on bass, guitarists Sam Bam Koltun (Dorothy, Faster Pussycat) and Anna Cara, and drummer Alex Boch.
Evil World Machine is available now on CD, vinyl and various merch bundle options, here.
Tracklisting:
"Evil World Machine"
"The Boom Went The Boom" (feat. Phil Collen of Def Leppard)
"Money Sex Or God"
"Flip The Bird"
"Everyone’s On Dope"
"The Sin Eater"
"Ima Bone Machine"
"Let’s Bust The Trust"
"High On You" (feat. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe)
"I Am The Wolf"
"I’m Unbreakable"
"The Last Night On Earth"
"Misfits Of The Universe"
“The Boom Went The Boom” feat. Phil Collen:
"Money, Sex, Or God":
“Everyone’s On Dope”:
“I Am The Wolf”
“I’m Unbreakable”:
Trailer:
(Photo – Kim Moran)
