TALISMAN - NEVER DIE
Talisman, the band founded and created by the late Marcel Jacob in 1989, have written, produced and recorded a new song entitled “Never Die” for their fallen brother who took his own life on July 21, 2009.

Surviving members Jeff Scott Soto, Jamie Borger and Pontus Norgren penned the song as a tribute to Jacob as well as the legacy of music they created from 1990 - 2007. Along with Johann Niemann (Evergrey) on bass and BJ (SOTO) on keys/backing vox, the quintet created the track to commemorate the 10 years of Jacob’s passing but conflicting schedules didn’t allow them to finish it before the end of the year.

“We felt we needed more than just a social media shout out to Marcel so we dug deep and created a song that not only sounds like the Talisman signature sound but something that I knew lyrically I could pay homage to him” says vocalist Jeff Scott Soto. “Pontus and Jamie wrote the track as well, Jamie provided me with some great melodies which made the lyrics flow with ease! On both pre-choruses, you will hear some Talisman titles incorporated into the lyric, it all came together so perfectly and organically!’

Acclaimed producer/engineer and man behind the ‘Gothenburg Sound’, Fredrik Nordström, loaned his services to mix the track after it was decided this track should and would not be released for profit to the band, instead any and all proceeds will to go to suicide awareness.

As this is a celebration for Jacob and Talisman, it is not clear if or when there might be more to come. Soto adds, “I know this will make many wonder if and when we are returning for a proper reunion album and tour but for now, as we are all SLAMMED with our other musical endeavours, this is something we wanted and had to do…anything that might follow is not quite yet decided on, but with Talisman, we learned to never say never!

NEVER DIE (A SONG FOR MARCEL)
(BORGER/NORGREN/SOTO)

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A WORD, A SONG, A DREAM
ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE MISSING
WE BUILT OUR SCENE

I’LL BE WAITING, MYSTERIOUS
COLOURED XTC, JUST BETWEEN US
TEARS FROM THE SKY FALL AGAIN!

CHORUS:
I WAS YOU, YOU WERE ME
WE WERE ONE CHASING OUR OWN FIRE
WE SURVIVED, WE PREVAILED
ALWAYS REACHING FOR SOMETHING HIGHER
NOW YOU’RE GONE, WE CARRY ON
MAY THIS DREAM NEVER DIE

TEN YEARS LATER, IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY
ALL YOU LEFT US IN SONG AND MEMORIES

STILL INSIDE AND FOREVERMORE
IN MAKE BELIEVE FABRICATED WAR
NOW I’M BREAKING THE CHAINS

CH

JSS – LEAD & BACKING VOX
PONTUS NORGREN – ALL GUITARS
JAMIE BORGER – DRUMS
JOHAN NIEMANN – BASS
BJ – BACKING VOX

MIXED BY – FREDRIK NORDSTRÖM