Wake the Dead

Album: Along Came A Spider (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cooper co-wrote this track with Heavy Metal icon Ozzy Osbourne and musician/producer Danny Saber, whose former bands include Black Grape and Agent Provocateur. Ozzy also played the harmonica, and Saber handled all the guitar parts, including the Beatlesque bass line. He also played keyboards on the track and co-produced the album with Greg Hampton.
  • Along Came a Spider is a concept album that tells the story of a sophisticated serial killer known as Spider, who cocoons his victims in a silk web. In a 2007 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, the shock-rock legend discussed how the album's concept came about: "I hadn't written a concept for about four albums and, all of a sudden, it started taking off, this personality," he said. "I started realizing that this guy Spider was a serial killer, but very slick and elegant."
  • The lyrics on this song touch on the album's theme of an urbane, spiderlike serial killer: "How many more will cross my path? How many more must die? I never wonder where they come from. I never wonder, why."
  • Along Came a Spider was Cooper's highest-charting album since Hey Stoopid in 1991. It climbed to #53 on the US Billboard 200 album charts and peaked at #31 on the UK album charts. The collection also performed well in other parts of the world, breaking the Top 40 in several countries. Slash makes a guest appearance on the album, contributing some blistering solos on the track "Vengeance is Mine."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.