BODY COUNT, the iconic metal band led by hip-hop pioneer, actor, and director Ice-T, is set to electrify the stage on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” next Wednesday, December 4.
Currently on tour to promote their newest album, Merciless, released on November 22 via Century Media, BODY COUNT continues to make waves in the music scene. The album’s creation took a four-year journey, shaped by the challenges of the global pandemic. Ice-T shared the backstory with Kerrang! magazine, revealing:
“We dropped Carnivore in March 2020, right before the pandemic shut everything down. We had a massive European tour lined up with 40 dates, but it all got canceled. Being on Law & Order: SVU, I only have a narrow window to tour each year, so when the label asked for another album, I was like, ‘What?! You want me to just churn out another record?’ After winning the Grammy for ‘Bum-Rush,’ the pressure was high, but I needed time to reset and find new inspiration. Writing a fresh record without rehashing old ideas isn’t easy, but once we found our stride, we made it happen.”
Last month, BODY COUNT dropped a groundbreaking music video for their interpretation of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, featuring none other than David Gilmour himself. Their rendition offers a powerful and modern twist, fusing Gilmour’s signature guitar mastery with Ice-T’s introspective lyrics that explore themes of detachment and the chaotic state of the world.
Ice-T reflected:
“Comfortably Numb resonates deeply with me as a commentary on the world we live in today. It’s about the choice between staying engaged or retreating into apathy. The lyrics reflect a society desensitized to chaos, sitting back with popcorn as the world burns on our screens. We’ve all grown a little numb, myself included.”
David Gilmour praised the reinvention:
“Their take on Comfortably Numb is bold and refreshing. It’s amazing to see a song I wrote nearly 50 years ago given this modern relevance. Ice-T’s perspective adds new depth, and collaborating with BODY COUNT was an honor. If the chance to perform together arises, I’d be thrilled.”
Earlier this year, BODY COUNT unveiled Psychopath, their first single since their Grammy-winning Bum-Rush. The blistering track, featuring Joe Badolato of Fit For An Autopsy, was produced by Will Putney and showcases the band’s unrelenting energy. The accompanying music video, directed by Jay Scorsese, dives into the dark corners of horror, weaving in references to icons like Jason Voorhees and real-life terrors like Ted Bundy.
With over 35 years of pushing boundaries, BODY COUNT remains at the forefront of blending raw metal intensity with Ice-T’s unfiltered social commentary. Their latest chapter promises to be nothing short of legendary.
