BEAUTY IN CHAOS: Stories of an all star recording told by Michael Ciravolo
Born of frustration and creativity, Beauty in Chaos is an audio assemblage curated by LA-based guitarist Michael Ciravolo and produced by Ministry's Grammy-nominated producer Michael Rozon at Ciravolo's own SAINTinLA Studio. If you like Goth, Shoegaze, Metal, indie, Rap, to quote but a few genres featuring, there is something for you in this record. In addition to Michael, the Stellar list of contributors features:
Simon Gallup (The Cure),
Wayne Hussey (The Mission),
Robin Zander (Cheap Trick),
Pete Parada (The Offspring),
dUg Pinnick (Kings X),
ICE-T (Body Count),
Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel),
Michael Anthony (Van Halen),
Dirk Doucette (Gene Loves Jezebel),
Ashton Nyte (The Awakening),
Pando (A Flock of Seagulls),
Evi Vine,
Betsy Martin (Caterwaul / Purr Machine),
Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs),
Kevin Kipnis(Purr Machine / Kommunity FK),
Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare),
Johnny Indovina (Human Drama), and
Tish Ciravolo (StunGun/ Daisy Rock Guitars).
Originally from New Orleans and now based in LA, Michael Ciravolo has played guitar in Human Drama for the past 30 years, most recently on ‘Broken Songs for Broken People’ (2017). Perhaps best known as President of Schecter Guitar Research, he has also played live and recorded with Michael Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel since 1998.
Michael had the kindness to record how each of the songs of the album came to life, fits into this album. But above all he tells us how much of a music fan he his and his fanboys moments when some of the artists featuring accepted to work with him. It is such a testament to his love of music that, having had a beautiful career himself, he still has the eyes of a child when it comes to other artists’ music. A nice lesson in humility if nothing else.
You will also discover that Michael records’ collection is large in tastes, and the reader of this blog will love his admiration of the Shoegaze and Dream Pop sound, as told in his song 7 story.
“The Beauty in Chaos project is a tribute to both community and family and what I think is lacking in the music industry these days. It’s an honor to be a part of this great line up! At 60, I never thought I’d be singing “I’m your Boy, I’m your fucking Toy”, but maybe all the AARP discounts are helping me stay young,” says Al Jourgensen.
“I initially met Al while we were recording his vocals for this song, and our shared interest in Jaguar cars and old country music (and wine) sparked a wonderful friendship. He offered me the opportunity to engineer and mix the last Ministry record 'Amerikkkant'. Quite an honor for me as I view Al as a true architect of sound. We are on track to record the new Ministry record in February 2019,” says Michael Rozon.
Earlier the band previewed the singles 'Man of Faith' feat. Wayne Hussey of The Mission and Simon Gallup of The Cure, as well as ‘Storm’ feat. Ashton Nyte (The Awakening, MGT) and 'Look Up' feat. Tish Ciravolo.
While Ministry is mid-way through their current North American tour, frontman Al Jourgensen, together with LA-based Beauty in Chaos, have unveiled their new video for ’20th Century Boy’. This is one of 14 brilliant tracks found on the debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’.
The video for ‘20th Century Boy’ was produced by Industrialism Films and directed by Vicente Cordero, who says, “Working again with Beauty In Chaos and Michael is always a pleasant adventure. Out of the 3 videos we have done, each has been a completely different visual approach specifically designed for each song. When we made the video we wanted to go with a raw feel so we decided to film in a seedy bar and have a high energy performance, and Al Jourgensen and BIC did deliver”.
“This was a song I always wanted to cover, and finding out Al was also a T. Rex fan turned on the light for me to do this," explains Michael Ciravolo. "Ironically, my now wife Tish and I’s first real date was seeing MINISTRY at Lollapalooza in ’92. They were simply brutal and what a sonic assault! We both became big fans. Fast-forward 25 years and Al is sitting in my studio singing and blowing harp on this song! Tish and I sharing the stage with him in this video was pretty special and it shows that you never know where life will take you”.
AUDIO GUIDE TO THE ALBUM
1. ROAD TO ROSARIO ft. Michael Aston
Michael explains how this song was chosen as the introductory piece and written around the bass line.
2. STORM ft. Ashton Nyte
About how this is the central piece of the album as fitting the “Beauty in Chaos” concept and started a friendship;
3. MAN OF FAITH ft. Wayne Hussey & Simon Gallup
About how surreal to work with these artists that “takes a huge space in my record collection” and started a friendship.
4. 20th CENTURY BOY ft. Al Jourgensen
About being a T-Rex fan, doing a cover song and Ministry being his first date with his wife.
5. DRIFTING AWAY ft. Robin Zander
About this song being a key moments and being a fanboy and having to Rock icons on the a song for the first time.
6. MEMORY OF LOVE ft. Johnny Indovina
About loving his Human Drama friends and trying to do an homage song in some ways.
7. LOOK UP ft. Tish Ciravolo
About his love of Shoegaze & Dream Pop and this song’s inspiration by these genres 90’s iconic bands
8. UN-NATURAL DISASTER ft. dUg Pinnick & Ice T
About how heavy in sound and meaning this song is, inspired by storm Katrina. Soon a video?
9. THE LONG GOODBYE ft. Wayne Hussey
About meaning about people we love
10. BEAUTY LIES WITHIN ft. Johnny Indovina
About how a great guitarist still thrives to improve
11. BLOODLESS AND FRAGILE ft. Ashton Nyte
About blood donations and Disintegration and cold temperature
12. I WILL FOLLOW YOU ft. Evi Vine
About a favourite song, a common sense of humour and a complicity that made a great song
13. HELIOTROPE ft. Betsy Martin
About a great vocal line and an old friendship
14. FINDING BEAUTY IN CHAOS ft. Ashton Nyte
About a perfect end and building a song around a phrase
MORE ON BEAUTY IN CHAOS
‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’ is available on CD and digitally, including on iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp. CDs and vinyl can be ordered from the Beauty in Chaos website.
ICE-T, Michael and Trish Ciravolo
Keep up with Beauty in Chaos
Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | iTunes | Spotify
Other credits
Recorded, mixed and produced by Michael Rozon
Album artwork by Sarah Sheriff
THANKS
A big thank you to Michael Ciravolo, who was so kind to record his great stories for us. Please have a look at his guitars (Schecter) and at the band Human Drama.
Also thanks to Shauna McLarnon (Shameless PR) for thinking of us and organising it all with Michael. You can keep up with Shameless Promotion PR there: Website | Facebook
