Stretch Goal Announced for The Grape Prophet Vinyl Reissue

A little late on this one, but an exciting stretch goal being offered for The Grape Prophet vinyl re-issue:

“Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this campaign! We are so excited that Grape Prophet on vinyl (and deluxe CD, and streaming) is going to be a reality!

We are announcing a STRETCH GOAL of $15,000. If we are able to hit this number, Michael & Rick will be doing acoustic recordings of FOUR tracks from Grape Prophet:

  • Ellis in the Orchard
  • The Fold
  • English Interpreter of English
  • She Said

For all four of these tracks, we are also contracting with a Nashville-based composer to have string quartet arrangements written and recorded, adding an amazing dimension to the new recordings.

If we hit our stretch goal, anyone who has selected a vinyl record will receive this as a bonus 12″ (in place of the bonus 7″ originally planned), and all four tracks will be included in the CD and digital versions as well!”

Help Lost in Ohio Re-Issue L.S.Underground’s “The Grape Prophet” on Vinyl

“In 1992, Michael Knott’s band L.S. Underground released their rock opera The Grape Prophet. It tells the story of Ellis, an orange picker who is sent by his boss Col. Peckesen to rescue his fellow pickers from the clutches of the Grape Prophet, who has lured them away. Both sonically and lyrically, the album was a revelation, and has remained a favorite of fans and critics ever since.

Originally released on CD and cassette by Knott’s own Blonde Vinyl Records, the album has been out of print for over 25 years. We plan to remedy that! We are working with Adam Boose to remaster the album for vinyl and digital (He’s worked with some of our favorite artists, including Guided By Voices, Joy Electric, CUSH and Brandston). Michael Knott and Rick McDonough are also going into the studio to record brand-new acoustic renditions of two of the tracks: “Ellis in the Orchard” and “She Said”!”

See the Kickstarter page for reward levels and details!

Strung Gurus’s “Chelsea’s Chasin’ Dragons” Ep has Been Released!

Squeaking in just at the end of 2019, and spearheaded by Joshua Lory, Knott has released an ep of some of the Strung Gurus tracks. This ep contains the 4 tracks that were previously released on various compilations back around 2000, plus two bonus live tracks recorded by the version of the Aunt Bettys that contained some of the members of Strung Gurus. One of the live songs is “Numb,” a re-working of “When She’s Gone” that has never been released in any form.

Check out the EP on BandCamp now. It even got featured on the front page of BandCamp.com!

(no word yet on the All Indie EP II that was said to release before the end of the year)

New Knott Music Coming Your Way Soon

For those that haven’t heard on Facebook yet, there is some good news about Michael Knott music:

  • First of all, the Wakin’ Up the Dead Kickstarter rewards have started shipping. The vinyl turned out very nice.
  • Second of all, Knott announced that the nine song All Indie EP II will be out by the end of the year.
  • Then Knott posted a video of himself and Rick McDonough recording a new song (possibly called “She’s a Winner”?) that they say will be on a new album they are working on called… Strip Cycle II. Wha?!?!?
  • The nearly mythical Bomb Bay Babies Volume 2 miraculously re-surfaced, and the word is that Volumes 1 and 2 have been sent to a label to be remastered and released as a double CD set.
  • Joshua Lory is hinting that he is trying to get the Strung Gurus songs that have been released all on to BandCamp, maybe as a complete EP (most songs are there except for one). We can pray that maybe this will encourage Knott to release the rest of the songs?

All this and more pops up as discussions in the Knottheads Facebook Group – of course, nothing is official until actual links to stuff for sale shows up, but if you want the inside scoop… you should join that group. You can even read the details of how the admin of this web site create the art layout for the Wakin’ Up the Dead vinyl. Its an instant cure for insomnia, for sure.

Pre-Order L.S. Underground’s “Wakin’ Up the Dead” Remaster CD From Retroactive Records

For those that missed the Kickstarter, you can pre-order a copy of the CD re-master of Wakin’ Up the Dead now from Retroactive Records:

“Some albums are great for their time. Then there are other albums so important they have the ability to transcend generations and decades. When Wakin’ Up the Dead was originally released on cassette in 1989 by the fledgling Blonde Vinyl Records, authentic, faith-filled driving alternative rock with lively bass and buzzsaw guitars was a rare find. Post-punk rockers and fringe kids were yearning for more than a distraction to their pain. They wanted and needed something real.  Many songs from this album became sustaining anthems of hope for a broken world: The Bomb, Ocean Blue, House of Love, and Wakin’ Up the Dead remain important songs for a hurting world. The album emits an almost hypnotic beat resulting in a mesmerizing rock masterpiece with strong spiritual overtones. The music and the message of Wakin’ Up the Dead are essential companions on this journey we call life.  The 2019 Retroactive Records (Legends Remastered version) has been remastered by none other than J Powell at Steinhaus so the album has literally never sounded better than it does now, and it’s packaged in a jewel case with a 12 page booklet with lyrics, band pics and all the stuff serious fans and collectors want! Breathe deeply, smile and prepare to experience this classic for the very first time, again!”

Also, for those interested in getting the vinyl version, those will be sold once the Kickstarter orders are filled. Stay tuned for details on that.

New Webite for the Michael Knott Documentary “Fear Knott”

If you watched the recent Rocket and a Bomb Live DVD to the end, you might have noticed a mysterious website advertised at the end: http://www.fearknott.com. When I first went to it, there was nothing there yet. But I remembered to take another look at it yesterday and found that it is up, and it is a new website for the upcoming Michael Knott documentary Fear Knott: The Musical Message of a Rock ‘n’ Roll Chameleon. No trailer yet, but there are some interesting tidbits to be found on the website. The most exciting part for Knott fans (well, after the documentary itself, of course) is that there will be a special soundtrack for this trailer. Maybe with some new / rare / unreleased songs? No details yet, but we can hope. Also, there is a gallery on the website with some interesting historical images, some that I haven’t seen before. Anyways, make sure to keep your eye on that website for more details as they are made available.

Live at the Viper Room Volume 2 Now Available on BandCamp

A little late on this, but Live at the Viper Room Volume 2 was recently released. Featuring the song “You’re Where I Wanna Be” that is only available on this live recording. This show was a few months before Live at the Viper Room Volume 1, and features the same amazing band line up: Michael Knott (lead vocals, electric guitar), Andy Prickett (lead guitar, background vocals), Eric Campuzano (bass), Robert Meyer (Fender Rhodes, keyboard, organ, background vocals), and Ed “Giles” Benrock (drums, background vocals). Pick it up on the Blonde Vinyl BandCamp page today.