MELISSA ETHERIDGE AND Z2 COMICS PARTNER FOR HER FIRST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
Inspired by Her Massive Collection of Guitars, ‘Melissa Etheridge’s Heartstrings’ Will Give Personal Insight into the Instruments Behind One of Rock’s Greatest Female Icons
NEW YORK, NY—Z2 Comics proudly announces that 2022 will see the publication of the first-ever graphic novel by Melissa Etheridge, the singer-songwriter and activist whose music has inspired legions of fans around the world. Each chapter of the graphic novel will be tied to one of the many guitars in her notorious collection of instruments.
Melissa Etheridge says “As many of my fans know, my relationship is to my guitars is beyond special and these instruments hold a very significant place in my life. I am so excited to share all these stories and images from my entire collection and have them all be a part of this incredible graphic novel.”
The musician’s love of her many guitars is well known by her fans, but for the first time ever, the untold stories of some of her favorites will be interpreted by Frank Marrafino (DC’s Haunted Tank, The Final Symphony: A Beethoven Anthology) and veteran music journalist Steve Hochman (Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone), with art by Manuela Pertega (Giraffes on Horseback Salad). This book provides exclusive and storied insight into the creative mind of one of the greatest songwriters of the past 30 years.
Steve Hochman says “From the very first time I saw Melissa perform, when she was still an unknown but clearly explosive talent, I’ve wanted to help her share her story with the world and have been privileged to do so throughout the years. But in sharing the story of these guitars, there’s no better way than in this creative format, in which we get to show as well as tell the tales of her incredible collection of stringed instruments, vividly portrayed through Frank’s brilliance with dialogue and scene-setting, and in Manuela’s captivating artwork.”
Melissa Etheridge has earned her place among some of the greatest women in the history of music and is a true icon. She has released 17 albums over the course of her 30-year career, is a two-time Grammy Award winner and winner of an Academy Award, appeared on Broadway, and boasts one of the most engaged fanbases in modern music, hosting over 200 concerts for subscribers on her #EtheridgeTV network. She has also established a foundation to combat opioid addiction, and is vocal member of the LGBTQ community, and a cancer survivor. A truly inspirational figure, whose stories will be brought to life for the first time in sequential storytelling in the 2022 release of her debut graphic novel, Melissa Etheridge’s Heartstrings.
Melissa Etheridge’s Heartstrings will be released in both softcover and hardcover formats in finer bookstores, comic shops and record stores everywhere in June 2022, in time for Pride Month in honor of the singer’s place as a vocal and inspirational member of the LGBTQ community. Exclusively available through Z2’s website in limited quantities are the deluxe and super deluxe versions, packaged with exclusive vinyl, art prints, handsigned guitars and much more. A “platinum edition” is also available in an extremely limited quantity and includes a Melissa-signed Epiphone guitar. Reserve yours today!
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About Melissa Etheridge:
Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. For several years, her popularity grew around such memorable originals as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” and “Ain’t It Heavy,” for which she won a Grammy® in 1992. Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am (1993). The collection featured the massive hits, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy® Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret, which was distinguished by the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success that year led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.
Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. In February 2007, Melissa Etheridge celebrated a career milestone with a victory in the “Best Song” category at the Academy® Awards for “I Need to Wake Up,” written for the Al Gore documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth. As a performer and songwriter, Etheridge has shown herself to be an artist who has never allowed “inconvenient truths” to keep her down. Earlier in her recording career, Etheridge acknowledged her sexual orientation when it was considered less than prudent to do so. In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, a health battle that, with her typical tenacity, she won. Despite losing her hair from chemotherapy, Etheridge appeared on the 2005 Grammy® telecast to sing “Piece of My Heart” in tribute to Janis Joplin. By doing so she gave hope to many women afflicted with the disease.
On October 7, 2016 Melissa Etheridge released Memphis Rock & Soul, her first album since 2014’s critically lauded This Is M.E. Recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, the album received stellar reviews from the likes of Entertainment Weekly, Parade, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter and more. She followed that up with the release of The Medicine Show in April, 2019. For The Medicine Show, Melissa reunited with celebrated producer John Shanks and sounds as rousing as ever, bringing a new level of artistry to her 15th studio recording. The Medicine Show deals with universal themes of renewal, reconciliation, reckoning, compassion and, most profoundly, healing.
In June of 2020, Etheridge launched her own live streaming subscription and single ticket concert platform, Etheridge TV and has done over 200 live streams in 2020.
On September 17, 2021, Melissa released a new album called One Way Out. The 9-track album is a collection of songs Etheridge wrote in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that never made the cut….until now! The time is finally right, and fans will finally get a deeper glimpse to who Melissa was then.
About Z2:
Recently dubbed the “hottest brand in music” by Forbes, Z2 has quickly become the premier destination for authentic graphic novels and collectibles, created in partnership with top-tier artists, musicians and pop-culture icons. Distributed globally via Simon & Schuster, Z2 has produced 50+ unique graphic novel properties, collaborating with Gorillaz, Blondie, Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Balmain, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Jason Derulo, The Grateful Dead, Machine Gun Kelly, Sublime, Beethoven, RZA, Mötley Crüe, Vince Staples, Cheech & Chong, The Doors, Anthrax, Public Enemy, Ronnie James Dio, King Diamond, All Time Low, Judas Priest, Ivan Moody, Yungblud, Cypress Hill, Babymetal, Major Lazer, RZA, Alter Bridge, Sturgill Simpson, Poppy,John Lee Hooker and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Learn more at Z2comics.com, and follow us on Instagram (@z2comics) and Twitter (@z2comics)
