Life, Death and Dennis Hopper
Life, Death and Dennis Hopper is the sixteenth studio album by Scottish folk rock group the Waterboys, released by Sun Records on 4 April 2025. The title refers to the actor and director Dennis Hopper. The album features guest appearances from Fiona Apple, Steve Earle, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Bruce Springsteen.
Release and promotion
The album was announced on 6 January 2025 along with its lead single "Hopper's on Top ", which was released on 10 January.The second single, "Letter from an Unknown Girlfriend", features Fiona Apple and was released on 21 March 2025.
Personnel
Waterboys
- Mike Scott – lead vocals, organ, "Sundries", guitar, effects, Mellotron, tenor guitar, choir, guitar solo
- Ralph Salmins – drums
- Aongus Ralston – bass, rhythm guitar
- Brother Paul Brown – Hammond B3 organ, wah-wah keys, Mellotron, slide guitar, "Funk Interventions", piano, Wurlitzer, synthesizers, programming, pedal steel guitar, programming, guitar
- Steve Wickham – Fuzz fiddle
- Famous James – "Sundries", slide guitar, bass, orchestra, guitar, drums, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, organ, Wurlitzer, lead guitar
- Eamon Ferris – drums, tambourine
- Jeremy Stacey – drums
Additional personnel
- Steve Earle – lead vocals and guitar
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica
- Barny Fletcher – backing vocals
- Mike Brignardello – bass
- Greg Morrow – drums
- Simon Dine – keyboard theme, "Archaeology", synthesizers, programming
- Sugarfoot, Bent Sæther, Hogne Galäen, Roar Øien, Thomas Henriksen, Øyvind Holm – backing vocals
- Jim Murray – nylon string guitar
- Patti Palladin – "Prototype Woman"
- Charles Lapham – voice
- Benjamin Talbott – orchestra
- Kathy Valentine – "Hippie Girl"
- April Brown – Native American Style Flute
- Bruce Springsteen – voice
- Fiona Apple – piano, vocals
- Taylor Goldsmith – voice
- Frank Booth – lead vocals
- Anana Kaye – piano, keyboards
- Irakli Gabriel – guitar
- Jess Kav – voice
- Benjamin Talbott – trumpet, low horns, guitar, percussion, bells