Former Hudson resident releases new CD with Perry Farrell
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

(l to r) Nuno Bettencourt in the studio with producer Anthony J. Resta

Hudson - Nuno Bettencourt is best known as the lead guitarist for the Boston funk metal band Extreme, whose single "More Than Words" hit number one on the charts in the early 1990s. Bettencourt, who grew up in Hudson, has recently teamed up with Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell to create Satellite Party.

Satellite Party took off after Farrell received permission from the Morrison family to produce two poems recorded by the late Doors lead singer Jim Morrison. The vocal recordings of the poems have never before been released. Farrell and Bettencourt began to lay tracks down to complement the recording of Morrison's voice.

For several years, Bettencourt had refused several offers to join other bands, opting to write and record with his band the Drama Dogs. He explained in "Guitar Edge" magazine that this offer was too good to turn down and that he has always admired Farrell as a musician and considers him the Andy Warhol of rock music.

(l to r) Nuno Bettencourt in the studio with producer Anthony J. Resta

Bettencourt then brought recording expert Anthony J. Resta to the team. Resta used his production engineering, multi-instrumental and programming skills to craft a unique sound in his 4,000-square-foot studio, Bopnique Musique in North Chelmsford.

Resta, who has also produced music for Guster and Collective Soul, among many others, explained that he loves to mix futuristic sounds with the sound of classic rock. He explained that Perry and Bettencourt would send him a mix with vocals and music and then he would load up the tracks, sending sometimes as much as 48 tracks of non-generic homemade "soundscapes."

In the studio, Resta used various techniques, including an analog keyboard and drum machines from the early 1980s that were modified by an English friend with patch bays and all sorts of switches to make it malfunction, creating unusual beats.

Resta said that the most enjoyable song to work on was Satellite Party's "Awesome." In the song, which Resta described as ethereal, Farrell repeats "awesome" as if he were looking at stars and different galaxies.

Satellite Party took nearly three years to record and produce the 11 tracks on the "Ultra Payload" CD that released May 29. In addition to Bettencourt on lead guitar and Farrell as lead singer, band members are Kevin Figueiredo on drums, Carl Restivo on bass and back-up singer Etty Lea Farrell. The album features Morrison's poems in the song "Women in the Window," along with musical contributions from artists such as Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fergie from Black-Eyed Peas.

Satellite Party first made its debut at the Key Club in Los Angeles in July 2005, and has performed at many events, including Lollapalooza. In 2006, the band signed with Columbia Records, part of Sony.

Satellite Party is currently on tour and can be seen Sunday Aug. 12 at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston.