THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy winner Joe Perry — the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-producer of Aerosmith and Hollywood Vampires — returns to his solo career with Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII. A sequel / revamp / update of the original Sweetzerland Manifesto released in 2018, the new LP includes six new tracks and alternate vocal appearances and mixes from the earlier version.
“We had so many songs and with everything going on with the Vampires, Aerosmith, COVID, not touring, and touring, this music kept riding along for me,” Joe notes. “It was like the engine of a train that wasn’t going to stop. I’d wanted to put these songs out, and the idea of adding them to a vinyl release or Deluxe Version turned into doing MKII. I tend to think in terms of albums. The first one had a vibe, and MKII is a little more rocked out. I almost prefer it. It’s one of those records I can play from front to back live.”
Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII serves as the perfect companion and spiritual successor to the original. Joe wrote and recorded the bulk of the material for both versions at the Los Angeles home of fellow Hollywood Vampires member Johnny Depp back in 2017. During a few months at Sweetzerland, he experienced a groundswell of creativity and welcomed various collaborators into the fold, including David Johansen (New York Dolls, Buster Poindexter), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) and Terry Reid. Johnny served as executive producer, while Aerosmith’s go-to producer Jack Douglas, Bruce Witkin, and Joe’s sons Tony and Roman also contributed to production.
The album was preceded by the single Fortunate One, featuring vocals from The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson. Co-written and recorded in London with Perry’s sons, the song contains a bluesy riff that glides over raucous piano as Robinson’s gritty delivery instantly takes hold. Reaching a climax, Joe’s deft guitar playing gives way to an earworm of a solo. “I’m really excited to get this song out — it hadn’t been written when the first version of Sweetzerland Manifesto was released,” Perry says. “Tony and I wrote it together, and then my old friend Chris Robinson from The Black Crows sang on it. He knocked it outta the park! We started it in L.A., recorded it in London, and Chris sang on it… and BANG!! Doesn’t get better than that!!! Really proud of this track.”
