To mark the album’s upcoming 30th anniversary (the album was released February 15, 1982), JimmyPage.com will be re-releasing a special, limited, remastered vinyl edition of the soundtrack to Michael Winner's “Death Wish II,” featuring a previously unreleased instrumental version of the “Death Wish” main title and new liner notes written by Page.
“In 1981, Michael Winner asked me if I would compose the soundtrack to Death Wish II,” said Page, explaining the release of the album. “The songs with vocals were only going to appear in the film for a matter of seconds but I had recorded full versions of them anyway - which is how I ended up doing my first soundtrack and soundtrack album. I’ve re-released this because I wanted it to be available again.”
Only 1000 copies will be released next month from the forthcoming Jimmy Page shop, so stay tuned to JimmyPage.com over the coming weeks to find out more information about this exciting release.
Winner tells the story of how Page was brought into the project.
“I'd lived next door to Jimmy for many years,” began Winner. “It was a very bad time for him - the drummer (John Bonham of Led Zeppelin) had died, and he was in a very inactive period. (Led Zeppelin manager) Peter Grant and I made arrangements for Jimmy to do the Death Wish II score, for which he wasn't actually paid, because Grant wanted to restore Jimmy back to creativity.”
“Jimmy rang the doorbell, and I thought if the wind blew he'd fall over,” Michael continued. “He saw the film, we spotted where the music was to go, and then he said to me "I'm going to my studio. I don't want you anywhere near me, I'm going to do it all on my own." My editing staff said this is bloody dangerous! Anyway, we gave him the film, we gave him the timings, and he did it all on his own. Everything hit the button totally! I've never seen a more professional score in my life.”
Jimmy Page Jimmy Page – Death Wish II main theme (1982)
