Black Utopia

Black Utopia
Studio album by Derek Sherinian
Released	April 29, 2003
Genre	Instrumental rock
Length	45:02
Label	InsideOut Music
Producer	Derek Sherinian, Simon Phillips
Derek Sherinian chronology
Inertia (2001) Black Utopia (2003) Mythology (2004)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Black Utopia is the third solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. In addition to the returning members Zakk Wylde, Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather, three new musicians joined Sherinian: bass guitarist Billy Sheehan and guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen – with whom Sherinian had toured in 2001 – and Al Di Meola. "One of the highlights of my career was flying to Miami to produce Yngwie, and the next day Al Di Meola - all for my record!" The song "Axis Of Evil", (co-written with KISS drummer Eric Singer), has Zakk Wylde and Yngwie Malmsteen in a guitar duel. Black Utopia was the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with drummer Brian Tichy, and album cover artist Mattias Noren. Black Utopia is Sherinian's best selling solo record to date.

In Japan, the cover of Black Utopia was altered to remove the cross in the title; Derek Sherinian commented that the cross "meant nothing" and was added for aesthetic purposes.^[2]

The track "Nightmare Cinema" is named after an alternate ego used during encore performances by Dream Theater, of which Sherinian is a former member.

Track listing

Musicians

• Derek Sherinian - keyboards
• Brian Tichy - drums, additional guitars on tracks 2, 3, 6 and 9
• Billy Sheehan - bass guitar on tracks 2, 6 and 9
• Tony Franklin - fretless bass guitar on tracks 2-9
• Jerry Goodman - violins
• Simon Phillips - drums
• Al Di Meola - Guitar on tracks 2 and 7
• Yngwie Malmsteen - guitar on tracks 1, 2 and 6
• Steve Lukather - guitar on tracks 4, 5 and 8
• Zakk Wylde - guitar on tracks 3, 6 and 9

References

1. ↑ Allmusic review
2. ↑ "Interview - Derek Sherinian". RevelationZ Magazine. Retrieved 2007-08-26.