‘SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH, A ROCK OPERA’: Malden native Greg Cherone releases songs from new album

‘Let every man be master of his time… until 7 at night’

By Steve Freker

Malden native Greg Cherone has been listening to music and creating his own for most of his life. Quite naturally, when he came across a well-known literary offering while a student in the Malden schools in the 1970s, the visceral, martial tone of the piece summoned up striking images. Then came the internal audio.

“I remember being a ninth-grader and we studied Macbeth in my English class,” Cherone recalled his first introduction to a William Shakespeare all-time classic. “This particular play was required reading.

“The Elizabethan language was archaic and very difficult for me to understand at the time. I wasn’t really sure what was going on,” Cherone said.

Soon the aura shifted to aural. Enter the bagpipes, drums and thunder. Think “Macbeth,” “plugged in.”

“I’m reading through a Shakespearian play for the first time and then it started,” Cherone said. “I was hearing music in my mind, particularly bagpipes, in addition to the marching drums and blaring trumpets and the sounds of loud thunder, rainstorms, and clanking steel sword fights.”

Intrigued, but still not fully getting the gist of one of the literary masterpieces of all time, Cherone went further. “It wasn’t until I borrowed a spoken word album from the Malden Library that I was able to follow the plot.”

That was where it started. The future Malden music maker was hooked on Shakespeare. He was determined to bring his own take – a musical one at that – to what is considered The Bard’s greatest literary tragedy. Cherone’s plan? Adapt “Macbeth” to a rock opera format. Within this past year, the Malden native’s goal was achieved in the completion of a unique album.

“‘Shakespeare’s Macbeth A Rock Opera’ is a concept album, listening experience that has been a lifelong vision of mine,” Cherone said. “My goal with our rock opera adaptation is to update and retell the story in a modern way for a new generation.”

“For what does it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

  Above, one of the most well-known quotes from “Macbeth” is relived in Cherone’s music. His concept album – which is due for full release in early 2025 – was inspired by one of the most compelling rock operas of all time, the passion play depicted in “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973), which dominated the 1970s and beyond.

“Here is a compelling story of a historical figure now expressed in the dynamic soulfulness that is rock opera. My mission is to present the story so people of all ages can easily understand. Composers John Bettencourt and Robert Clapp Jr. made this dream come true. What your ears are about to experience is truly remarkable because it was conceived by the greatest dramatist the English language has ever known. Macbeth isn’t just for freshman high school students or dusty old scholars – it’s a story that speaks to each and every one of us.”—Greg Cherone

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According to RadioSparx, Massachusetts Singer-Songwriter Greg Cherone grew up with a variety of musical influences inspired by the ’70s Rock of Queen and other icons.

He earned a Communications Degree from Emerson College and has performed for several years in bands and acoustic duos in the greater Boston area. Music critics have written that “Greg creates Rock and Pop songs with soul and warmth and that his melodies and lyrics showcase unique and dramatic personalities all their own.”

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You can hear a four song excerpt from “Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a Rock Opera” at all the online digital platforms.