Mastodon: Stairway To Nick John (10")
 

Mastodon: Stairway To Nick John (10″)

$90.99

For Record Store Day, which took place this past Saturday, April 13th, Mastodon released a 10″ cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” in honor of their late manager, Nick John. John, who managed other notable bands like Gojira as well, passed away last September from pancreatic cancer. Appropriately, Mastodon will donate the proceeds from this release to research for that very disease.

Audio from the Record Store Day release has now made its way into the digital realm, and you can stream it below. Mastodon’s resident prog head, drummer Brann Dailor, handles the vocals on this one, which plays it straight for the track’s first six minutes before kicking into a distinctly Mastodonian rendition of the heavy / guitar solo part. Given the somber nature of the events that led to this cover’s recording, I think that was a very tactful way for Mastodon to approach it.

Nick John’s face appears prominently on the album cover. The band performed an acoustic rendition of “Stairway” at his funeral — it was one of John’s favorite songs of all time — which was captured by Gojira’s Joe Duplantier on his cell phone. That recording appears on the B-side of the 10″. Both are included below.

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Description

“Stairway to Nick John” is a limited-edition 10-inch vinyl single released by Mastodon on April 13, 2019, for Record Store Day. This release serves as a heartfelt tribute to the band’s longtime manager and close friend, Nick John, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018. Nick John was a pivotal figure in Mastodon’s journey, often referred to as the band’s “Dad,” and was instrumental in their career development. His favorite band, besides Mastodon and Gojira, was Led Zeppelin. In honor of his memory, Mastodon covered Led Zeppelin’s iconic “Stairway to Heaven,” which they performed at his funeral. The studio version was later recorded and released, with all proceeds benefiting the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. 

Release Details

  • Format: 10” vinyl, 45 RPM

  • Label: Reprise Records

  • Release Date: April 13, 2019

  • Edition: Record Store Day 2019, Limited Edition

  • Quantity: Limited to 1,500 copies worldwide

  • Tracklist:

  • Side A: “Stairway to Heaven” (Studio Version) – 8:00

  • Side B: “Stairway to Heaven” (Live Version) – 8:49 

 Recording Notes

  • Studio Version:

    Recorded and mixed by Tom Tapley at The Projector Room in Decatur, GABass recorded by Dan Byers at Rock Garden Recordings in St. Petersburg, FLAdditional engineering by John RosserKeyboards by Brandon Bush

  • Live Version:

    Recorded by Joe Duplantier (of Gojira) using his cell phone at The Old North Church at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, CAFeatures flute by Justin Klunk

  • Mastering:

    Mastered by Billy Joe Bowers at Casa de Amor, Tucson, AZ

Artwork and Packaging

  • Art Direction: Bill Kelliher and Brann Dailor

  • Cover Art: Donny Phillips

  • Design and Layout: Alex Tenta

  • Photography: Andrew Stuart

Additional information

Weight 1 kg
Dimensions 32 × 32 cm

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