Billy Morrison is an ex-pat Brit dwelling the American Dream. After leaving each his band, London industrial-punks Stimulator, and the United Kingdom on the finish of the Nineties and heading to Los Angeles, he’s develop into a self-made luck tale, enjoying with The Cult, Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol and all-star covers band Royal Machines (previously Camp Freddy).
His 3rd solo album, The Morrison Challenge, mashes up steel, punk, EDM and hip-hop, and lines visitor vocals from Corey Taylor, rapper DMC, Ministry’s Al Jourgensen, Linda Perry and, on Crack Cocaine, Ozzy Osbourne.
You’ve hit the touch e book onerous for this album. That’s an excellent line-up of visitors.
I didn’t even know I used to be making an album. I used to be simply making tune all the way through covid for no reason why. I stopped up with most probably about thirty songs. Maximum of them had been shit, however there some nice little concepts. The entire touch e book factor came about simply because I may just listen shit in my head that I couldn’t sing: “Corey Taylor would kill this tune.”
How does one cross about persuading Ozzy Osbourne to sing a monitor referred to as Crack Cocaine?
You don’t convince Ozzy to do the rest. I’ve had a thirty-year friendship with him, and he’s been there for me extra occasions than any person else in my complete existence. I by no means say: “Let’s write a tune.” He used to be the person who mentioned it. We wrote it in an afternoon. Standard Ozzy, he’s sitting there writing and he seems up and is going: [sings chorus] ‘Like crack cocaine…’ We went: “And that’s the fucking tune!”
How did you get to understand Ozzy within the first position?
A long time in the past, I used to be invited by way of a mutual buddy to a Christmas celebration at Ozzy and Sharon’s space. I am getting serious social nervousness, so I walked into this kitchen simply to respire. And Ozzy used to be doing precisely the similar factor. We ended up speaking about Cadbury’s chocolate and the Intercourse Pistols. Thirty years later right here we’re.
You had your personal struggles with onerous medicine whilst you had been younger. What would you are saying to that child now?
It’s tough, as a result of I wouldn’t be the individual I’m with out the fight I had. I didn’t do what maximum musicians do and get a few platinum albums, earn some cash and get a drug dependancy. I began when I used to be fourteen, and didn’t do a factor within the tune business till I used to be twenty-nine. However I’d advise people who there are more uncomplicated techniques of accomplishing inventive fulfilment than taking pictures smack for your neck all day lengthy.
You’ve were given an excessively a hit parallel profession as an artist. What do you get out of that?
Ozzy attracts each day. He used to be using me fucking loopy: “You must paint.” I mentioned: “Ozzy, I will be able to’t even draw a stick determine.” However I purchased a tiny canvas to close him up, and I painted a cranium. And the revel in used to be so cathartic. It used to be like studying Anarchy In The United Kingdom for the primary time. I’ve painted each day for the ultimate ten years. Now I promote my artwork. However I’ve labored at it.
What are your plans with this album?
As soon as it’s launched, I’m finished with it. I made it as a result of I love making tune, that’s all. Any person requested me about my ‘solo profession’. I’m like: “There is not any solo profession.” That’s no longer what that is about.
The Morrison Challenge is out now TLG/Virgin.
