SLEEP’S “DOPESMOKER” ARTWORK, TOUR DATES REVEALED

As previously mentioned in an interview with Matt Pike, Southern Lord are in the process of reissuing the epic “Dopesmoker” album from stoner-trio Sleep.  The reissue will be remastered entirely from the original reel-to-reel recordings by Brad Boatright (Noothgrush, From Ashes  Rise).  The album will also feature lyrics and new liner notes by the band, as well as new cover artwork by Arik Roper, well known for his artwork with Sleep and High on Fire, as well as numerous other stoner rock and doom bands.  In addition, the album will feature a previously unreleased live recording of “Holy Mountain,” recorded at San Francisco’s I-Beam in 1994.

“Dopesmoker” is a one-hour doom epic that was recorded by the band during a four year period, and funded by London Records, who had just recently signed the band.  So the story goes, London Records hated the final product and refused to release the album, eventually causing the break-up of Sleep.  “Dopesmoker” has been released in various forms, including the “Jerusalem” version, and has been hailed by fans and critics alike.

In support of the reissue, Sleep will headline the 2012 edition of the Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands before conducting a 24 city tour of Europe and the UK.  The tour dates are as follows: