Steve Conte has been one busy musician over the past few years. His most recent album, International Cover-Up is a collection of songs written by some of his favorite writers; Tom Waits, John Lennon, Willy DeVille, Jagger/Richards and more. ICU has been described as “high energy and tough” by Elmore Magazine and has spawned for Conte, a second “Coolest Song Of The Year” on Little Steven’s Underground Garage Radio. Richard Marcus of BlogCritics writes: “It takes a special calibre of rock and roll musician to pull off an album of cover tunes – somebody whose love of the material and love of the music allows that person to throw his or her body and soul into the songs. Steve Conte is one of those rare musicians who can do this.”
Besides a rich solo-career, Conte has recently been instrumental in helping some legendary artists get their groove back. After 6 years, 4 albums and a never-ending World Tour with the infamous New York Dolls, he joined up with former Hanoi Rocks front man Michael Monroe as guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist to release 4 albums, most recently, the critically acclaimed Blackout States.
In 2014, after years of making records with others, NYC guitarist/singer/songwriter Steve Conte stepped out on his own to release The Steve Conte NYC Album. His first official solo record delivers all the guitar, vocal and songwriting skills you know from his previous bands; Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth, Crown Jewels, The Contes and Company Of Wolves. The ten song album features some of Steve’s finest writing to date. Songs that hold up in a solo acoustic performance – but recorded with a totally rockin’ band.
“Up until now I’ve always had some sort of core band to collaborate with but this time out I wanted to do something as a solo artist…with a bunch of friends!” And that “bunch of friends” includes some serious talent. Joining Steve are members of Foo Fighters, The Wildhearts, New York Dolls, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Hanoi Rocks, Georgia Satellites, Alice Cooper, Mink DeVille, Hellacopters, The Urban Voodoo Machine, Mott The Hoople, Backyard Babies, The Wallflowers, Company Of Wolves, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, and players from the bands of Ian Hunter, John Mellencamp, Roseanne Cash and Bruce Springsteen.
In the fall of 2013 Conte announced a PledgeMusic campaign to fund the release of his forthcoming solo project. It was a great success, bringing in 352% of his original funding goal and making fans all over the globe happy with extras like custom recorded songs, handwritten lyric sheets, phone calls and with his weekly postings of video updates from the recording sessions.