Los Diablos by Red O'Neill Jr

“To whom shall I hire myself out? What beast should I adore? What holy image is attacked? What hearts shall I break? What lies shall I uphold? In what blood tread?”

― Arthur Rimbaud, A Season in Hell

Los Diablos is the third and final installment of a triptych of albums based on the Hieronymus Bosch painting "The Garden of Earthly Delights". The triptych began with 2017's "Übermensch Blues" then 2018's "Death of a Gringo". Recorded a year ago live to tape in a non stop three day session at Sono records near Prague in the Czech Republic.
The album was mixed in a day two months later at the end of our European tour.
For three days we lived like hedonists in one of the best studios in Europe if not the world. Despite the party we got the job done.
In the cab to the studio Black Sabbath's first album came on the radio. I asked the cabbie to turn it up. I turned to the the band and exclaimed: "this album was made in four hours, we have booked four days so we have no excuse."
I spent my plane ticket home on the mix session. Liam and I ended up staying in Prague two weeks after the mix was done trying to raise the money to get home. Karolina at Sono put us up for free for two weeks and the end of our tour.

The band had never heard the songs until the day of the session.
I wrote half the songs on the plane from Australia. "Jesus In Hell" was an improvisation, I wrote the lyrics as the tape was rolling.
I taught the band the songs in the kitchen of the studio then we would have a drink and go in and roll the Studer tape machine.
We did all the takes live, vocals, guitars, piano, bass and drums.
The band consisted of a Frenchman from Rennes named David Cadoret whom we met only a few days prior. At the time his English poor so communication was difficult. He played bass on a left handed double bass. He is right handed. An impressive effort. Dave and I became close friends after this. His bass playing was indispensable.

Most of the rest of the album is myself and Liam Wilkerson, the keyboard player for the tour. Liam ended up playing drums, piano, Hammond, harmonium, percussion and lead guitar. Together we produced the album. This is Liam's production debut, the studio his natural habitat. Since this session Liam and I have forged a deep and unique musical and kinship. He is my brother I love him and i'm very proud of his contribution to this album.
We met a kiwi at Color Meeting Festival near Prague a few days earlier called Rhys Braddock a Maori fella whom we invited to join us on lead guitar for a few tracks. A fantastic player and voice in the studio.

Tragically Karli Jade left the band before we could do her vocals. Though her spirit is all through this album. She sings on the opening track Apple Tree Blues. I dedicate this album to her, she was a founding member of the band back in 2015. I miss her dearly.
Special mention goes to Crystal Wilkes who held everything together when the wheels fell off our tour, she documented the session and tour with her Camera. She joins us on backing vocals on Apple Tree Blues. She has been a great friend to the band.
Mark Sibson the band's dodgy accountant, xcel spreadsheet specialist and drummer turned up after a huge Seedy Jesus tour and played his heart out on the tracks Cold In The Backwater.,10,000 Miles and Two Crying Clowns. He makes his Grand Piano debut on Jesus in Hell. Mark's playing is outstanding and he was always there to pick me up on the tour when i'd fuct up got too pissed and loose.
The engineer was Milan Cimfe who has recorded Bowie, Lou Reed, Kris Kristofferson & many others. He also plays drums with Hugo Race in Dirtmusic. He called his wife and said he wont be home for three days. He stayed the course with us and steered the ship safely to harbor.
He is the finest engineer I have ever worked with.
Dušan Silba from Earthmusic and Color Meeting Festival was the man who made all this happen, he connected us with Karolina and Milan at Sono records. He chose the tracklisting. Karolina from Sono was so accommodating to us, she let Liam and I stay upstairs at the studio when we were broke at the end of the tour.
David and Neil at Cactus have got behind this album and put it out on their label Cactus. We launch the thing tonight at the mighty Cactus Bar. With out Sisters and Brothers Foggy Notion and Kelly Watson from The Braves.
Artwork by David Houston aka High Noon Moon
It was a hell of a session. Hence the name Los Diablos or "The Devils".
Los Diablos was scratched into the wall of the holding cell I spent three days in while in Barcelona mid way through the tour.
But that's another story.
For Karli,
Los Diablos,
Adios.

Rhyece O'Neill December 20, 2019

Rhyece O'Neill is a songriter, poet & novelist born on Kurnai country in South Gipplasnd, Victoria, Australia. He grew up on the banks of the Murray River on Yorta Yorta country in North-East Victoria. Currently he roams the Australian outback in a 79' Valiant with his best mate the 'Black Crow Kelpie' Sonny.

rhyeceoneill.com