The Pink Floyd cover will feature on Body Count’s upcoming album, featuring Ice-T on vocals and David Gilmour on guitar.
David Gilmour and Roger Waters have been at loggerheads over everything in recent years. But they finally found common ground when Ice-T contacted them to ask if his heavy metal band Body Count could record a version of ” comfortably Numb » with new lyrics for their upcoming album Merciless.
” When we originally contacted their publisher they said noIce-T explains to Rolling Stone from his home in New Jersey, on a day off from filming New York: Special Unit. It wasn’t mean, more like, “Pink Floyd don’t do samples. They don’t do advertising either.” We were screwed. I wasn’t going to take the lyrics and put them on another song. I was just going to burn it. »
The situation changed when Ice-T’s team bypassed the publishers and presented the track directly to Waters and Gilmour through their managers. Once we got to David, he was like, “Fuck, yeah. I love that song. I approve of it.”says Ice-T. Roger listened to it and his only comment was, “Who’s singing?” When he found out it was Ice-T, he approved.. When two people on opposite sides of the fence agree on a song, it must be good. »
Ice-T wasn’t very familiar with Pink Floyd’s catalog growing up, but he was always drawn to the power of ” comfortably Numb “, especially the haunting bass line, which reminded him of Giorgio Moroder’s score for Scarface. In recent years, Body Count has put its two cents into tracks as varied as ” Raining Blood » by Slayer or « Ace of Spades » by Motörhead. He then wondered how he could remake « comfortably Numb ” and use it to reflect the numbness many feel as they watch the world descend into chaos from the comfort of their living rooms.
” I can turn on my TV and watch the war in Ukraine, or I can watch the situation in Israel, then turn off my TV and start watching sports.he explains. I can also watch a child get murdered by a cop or someone go out and shoot their mother and then play my video game. We’re kind of numb to everything that’s going on, the world starvation, everything that’s going on. That must have struck a nerve with those two men. »
He was stunned when both sides of Pink Floyd approved the cover, and even more so when Gilmour asked if he could play guitar on it. Body Count guitarist Ernie C had already recorded his own part, as the idea of Gilmour doing it didn’t seem even a remote possibility. Ernie was like, “Okay, I can see he’s a god. Let’s just let him do it. It’s his song.” And then it was really funny. We asked if David needed a studio. They said, “David has five studios.” When the song came back, we were like, “Holy crap. This is great!” »
The song will be featured on Mercilesswhich is released on November 22, and the band has been performing it live over the past few months. But Body Count had to decline a last-minute offer to travel to England to play ” comfortably Numb ” with Gilmour on British television.” When we’re not working, my guys are working.said Ice-T. Bassist Vince [Price] is a roadie for Marilyn Manson, and Ill Will, my drummer, works for Adele [comme technicien de batterie]. They said to me, “Can you be in London next Thursday?” I said, “Sure, I’ll take our 747 off, pick up everybody and go there.” It’s not that easy for us, so we had to back out. »
Despite his busy schedule with the filming of New York: Special Unit, Ice-T finds time for his music career. I act for the money. I make music to stay sane. As an actor, I try to find what the director or the writer has imagined, but it’s not entirely me. With music, I go in and write the script, I write everything. I think everyone should do something in their life that is 100% them. It could be cooking, it could be gardening, it could be painting, it could be sports, but something that is you to stay sane. »
Merciless is just the latest chapter in a musical journey for Ice-T that began at the dawn of the hip-hop era, more than 40 years ago. Very few figures from that era are still active in the industry, but Ice-T believes his side hustle gives him a huge advantage.
” I’m on TV, I make a substantial salary here and I have money in the bank.he said, and so I can make an album like this, Merciless. People think that when you have money you lose your appetite. But it can also make you more reckless. You can say to yourself, “Come on, now I’m going to say what I want to say.” »
Andy Greene
Translated by the editorial staff
