Ipswich Star
Kerry Ellis announces new album with Brian May and Apex gig with Matt Cardle
9 March 2017
In between these major commitments the Stowmarket-born songstress has found time to record her second studio album with long-time collaborator and Queen guitarist Brian May. The pair have been good friends since Brian cast her in the original production of We Will Rock You in 2002 and the new album Golden Days continues their fusion of powerful rock anthems with reworkings of favourite show tunes and timeless classics…
Speaking of heroes how excited is she about the release of her new album with Brian May? “It’s finally out – or will be in April,” she whoops. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve spent the best part of a year recording it in bits and pieces but we are both very happy with it and it is an accurate reflection of where we are. It’s got some new stuff, some old favourites and some songs we have been doing live but haven’t recorded until now, so it’s a real mixture of everything that we love and what excites us.”
It turns out that the recording itself is only part of the reason for Kerry’s excitement. The new album has five newly written songs and three of them co-authored by Kerry. “It’s the first time I have really sat down and written anything and I do that with Brian May who has written so many hits with Queen – it’s crazy.
“Basically it’s taken me 15 years to pluck up the courage to write something. I am so proud with what we have produced and it did happen very organically. Brian was very encouraging and allowed me to develop the songs. The way we work is very collaborative. He comes up with a riff or part of a melody and has an idea for a lyric and from there we develop it together, ironing out the melody and writing the finished lyrics. Brian actually told me there’s bits of me in the songs I didn’t contribute to. He would pick up phrases I use and insert them into the songs. The whole experience has been so much fun and as a result the album has a good feel to it.”
The album features a rocked-up version of their formally acoustic classic Born Free, a driving new rock song from Brian, It’s Gonna Be Alright, a cover of Shirley Bassey’s I Who Have Nothing, a slice of psychedelia in Love In A Rainbow as well as a contribution from Abba’s Benny and Björn who supplied The Story of a Heart.
Kerry says that although nothing is planned yet she would love to perform the new songs live. “I am in Wonderland until August and Brian will be involved in an American tour with Queen over the summer, but maybe we can set something up for the autumn or towards Christmas. Brian and I keep talking about playing Cargenie Hall so maybe we can arrange a tour that takes in London and New York. I would love to play these songs live as they take on a life of their own in front of an audience and we can all share that experience together.” Golden Days, the new album by Brian May and Kerry Ellis, is out on April 7 and is available to pre-order online.
—
RTT News
Queen’s Brian May To Team With Kerry Ellis For New Release
6 March 2017
Contactmusic
Brian May And Kerry Ellis Join Forces Once Again for ‘Golden Days’
6 March 2017
Love London Love Culture
NEWS: Kerry Ellis and Brian May Announce Brand New Album
6 March 2017
Classic Rock (@ClassicRockMag, 212k followers)
Brian May and Kerry Ellis will release their new album Golden Days next month: goo.gl/BQDphO
Ultimate Classic Rock (@UltClassicRock, 172k followers)
Brian May has announced the new ‘Golden Days’ LP with Kerry Ellis. Details here: trib.al/tek2UJ0
LondonTheatre1 (@LondonTheatre1, 29k followers)
KERRY ELLIS + BRIAN MAY ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM “GOLDEN DAYS”….
Broadway World
Kerry Ellis and Matt Cardle in Concert at The Apex this Summer
9 March 2017
Kerry continued her long-term working relationship with Brian May last year with a tour of Europe and the release of their new album Golden Days.
Best Classic Bands
Brian May Teases Queen Monopoly Game
March 2017
EXTRACT:
May has been especially busy as of late. In addition to touring with Queen + Adam Lambert, the guitarist has a new collaborative album, “Golden Days”, with Kerry Ellis, due in the U.K. and Ireland on Sony on April 7. A U.S. release date has not yet been announced. The album, according to a press release, includes five new original compositions plus new rock arrangements of some of May and Ellis’ favorite songs of all time: a tribute to guitar virtuoso Gary Moore, two songs dedicated to their work on behalf of wild animals, and a couple of reinterpretations of songs which have already become essentials in their live act.
East Anglian Daily Times
9 March 2017
Front cover
West End Wilma
BRIAN MAY + KERRY ELLIS announce new album GOLDEN DAYS
10 March 2017
Brian May and Kerry Ellis have announced the forthcoming release of a new much anticipated second studio album, titled “GOLDEN DAYS”.
Team Rock Ultimate Classic Rock
April 2017 New Music Releases
16 March 2017
The list of April 2017 New Music Releases features loads of fresh material by signature classic-rock legends, as well as another wallet-emptying edition of Record Store Day Queen guitarist Brian May offers his second studio collaboration with singer Kerry Ellis. Golden Days follows 2010’s Anthems and a series of joint live dates.
The Irish News
Burrow into Wonderland for a musical journey of self-discover
16 March 2017
… Kerry Ellis, who has just recorded a new album with Queen guitarist Brian May, alternating in the role of Alice.
Theatre.London
Hear it first: Kerry Ellis on Wonderland The Musical
16 March 2017
Ellis has young children, has been recording a new album with Queen guitarist Brian May and presents a regular radio programme.
Queen Monopoly to launch in May
21 March 2017
EXTRACT: Earlier this month, May announced details of his new album with Kerry Ellis titled “Golden Days”. It’ll be released on April 7 via Sony Music and is now available for pre-order.