Black Utopia is the third solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. In addition to the returning members Zakk Wylde, Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather, three new musicians joined Sherinian: bass guitarist Billy Sheehan and guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen – with whom Sherinian had toured in 2001 – and Al Di Meola. “One of the highlights of my career was flying to Miami to produce Yngwie, and the next day Al Di Meola – all for my record!” The song “Axis Of Evil”, (co-written with KISS drummer Eric Singer), has Zakk Wylde and Yngwie Malmsteen in a guitar duel. Black Utopia was the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with drummer Brian Tichy, and album cover artist Mattias Noren. Black Utopia is Sherinian’s best selling solo record to date.
In Japan, the cover of Black Utopia was altered to remove the cross in the title; Derek Sherinian commented that the cross “meant nothing” and was added for aesthetic purposes.
The track “Nightmare Cinema” is named after an alternate ego used during encore performances by Dream Theater, of which Sherinian is a former member.
Tracks
1 The Fury (Derek Sherinian) 00:52
2 The Sons Of Anu (Brian Tichy; Derek Sherinian) 07:10
3 Nightmare Cinema (Brian Tichy; Derek Sherinian) 05:25
4 Stony Days (Derek Sherinian; Simon Phillips; Tony Franklin) 06:17
5 Star Cycle (Jan Hammer) 05:04
6 Axis Of Evil (Derek Sherinian; Eric Singer) 06:09
7 Gypsy Moth (Derek Sherinian) 01:59
8 Sweet Lament (Derek Sherinian) 03:14
9 Black Utopia (Brian Tichy; Derek Sherinian) 08:50
Other Musicians
1 The Fury
2 The Sons Of Anu
Bass | Billy Sheehan |
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Guitar | Yngwie Malmsteen |
Guitar | Brian Tichy |
Acoustic Guitar | Al Di Meola |
Violin | Jerry Goodman |
3 Nightmare Cinema
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Guitar | Zakk Wylde |
Violin | Jerry Goodman |
4 Stony Days
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
5 Star Cycle
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
6 Axis Of Evil
Bass | Billy Sheehan |
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Guitar | Yngwie Malmsteen |
Guitar | Zakk Wylde |
Guitar | Brian Tichy |
Violin | Jerry Goodman |
7 Gypsy Moth
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Acoustic Guitar | Al Di Meola |
Violin | Jerry Goodman |
8 Sweet Lament
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
Violin | Jerry Goodman |
9 Black Utopia
Bass | Billy Sheehan |
Bass | Tony Franklin |
Drums | Simon Phillips |
Guitar | Zakk Wylde |
Guitar | Brian Tichy |
Violin | Jerry Goodman |
Liner Notes
Producer – Derek Sherinian
Co-producer – Simon Phillips
Engineer – Albert Law, Simon Phillips
Engineer (Additional) – Derek Sherinian, Phil Soussan, Tom Fletcher
Mastered By – Brad Vance
Mixed By – Steve Macmillan, Tony Franklin
Artwork – Annamaria Disanto
Cover – Mattias Norén
Design – Thomas Ewerhard
Photography – William Hames, Dean Freeze
Recorded At Studio 308, Miami, Fl
Recorded At The Leopard Room
Recorded At Bogart Recording
Recorded At Coy Sound Studios
Mastered At DNA Mastering
Phonographic Copyright Inside Out Music
Copyright Inside Out Music