Maryann Cotton has unveiled Chester Rose, The Legend Begins, an ambitious dark hard rock opera featuring musicians from some of rock’s most legendary lineups. The concept album tells the story of a rising rock star whose pursuit of fame becomes entangled with love, hatred, obsession, and the bloodlust of a serial killer. Combining cinematic storytelling with raw, authentic hard rock, Chester Rose, The Legend Begins takes listeners on a haunting journey into the darker side of rock ’n’ roll.
The album carries extraordinary historical weight, featuring songwriting contributions from legendary Alice Cooper and the late guitar virtuoso Dick Wagner, whose work helped define some of rock’s most theatrical and enduring records. The team worked together from Schools Out, Billion Dollar Babies, Muscle Of Love, and when Wagner permanently joined the band in 1975 and did Welcome To My Nightmare, Goes To hell, Lace And Whiskey, From The Inside and DaDa. Now this is their first full concept album together since then, written for young rock singer Maryann Cotton.
Most notably, the album stands as the final recorded work featuring the iconic guitar partnership of Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner—two musicians whose dual-guitar sound became a defining force in classic rock history. Their performances form the backbone of the album’s sound and aesthetic.
The album also features another Hollywood Vampires member, acclaimed guitarist, songwriter, and producer Tommy Henriksen, whose signature style brings another layer of energy and modern edge to the record. Also appearing on the album is longtime Maryann Cotton co-writer and former King Diamond bassist Hal Patino. Drums are recorded by Rob Pierce.
Chester Rose, The Legend Begins is directed by Maryann Cotton and Dick Wagner and produced by Maryann Cotton.
Maryann Cotton states :“Dick Wagner took me under his wing more than a decade ago, and I had the privilege of working closely with him for nearly three years until the day he passed away. He taught me a lot, not only through our work together, but through the music that had already shaped my life long before we met.
“I grew up listening to Dick’s work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Aerosmith, Peter Gabriel, KISS, and so many others. Whether it was the songs he wrote for Welcome to My Nightmare, Goes to Hell, and From the Inside, or the songs he wrote or played on schools out or billion dollar babies, there was always something unmistakable about his playing and songwriting. You could hear Dick Wagner in a song immediately. For me, he remains one of the greatest songwriters in rock n roll history.
“What began as a songwriting partnership eventually became a genuine friendship. We became very close, and that friendship remained strong right up until his final days. Dick introduced me to Alice, who has been supportive of me ever since.
“In fact, I spoke with Alice just a month ago and told him that the album is finally coming. Alice has been giving me some valuable advice and was actually the one who suggested bringing Steve Hunter into the whole thing. He pointed out how very special it would be to have both Hunter and Wagner playing on the same record. In Alice’s words as far as rock and roll guitar partnerships go, they are among the greatest duos of all time.
“Working with Steve Hunter has been remarkably easy. The cool thing about when I first introduced this album and songs to him is that he’s one of the very few people in the business who doesn’t need an explanation. He understands this music instinctively because he helped create this style back in the day. Steve was there when much of that classic sound was being invented, and that history is part of who he is as a musician.
“From the very beginning, Steve and I developed a smooth and natural way of working together. He would check in, share his ideas, and every single time he delivered exactly what the songs needed. He has an incredible ability to think outside the box while still serving the music. His creativity as a guitarist is unique, and what impressed me most is that he hasn’t lost a thing. The touch, the feel and the musical instinct that made him iconic are all still there.
“Having both Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter’s guitar work on this album, is such an unreal thing to me. It’s an album that carries a piece of the legacy of the musicians who helped define the sound of classic hard rock.”
“Overall, this entire album has been an absolutely surreal experience to make. It’s definitely been and still is a pinch myself moment. If it wasn’t for Alice Cooper in the first place, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today. He was one of the artists who inspired me to pursue this path, so to now have him involved in the songwriting and contributing key elements to the concept itself is something I still have to pinch myself over.
“There are moments when I step back and realize how incredible this journey has been. To be working with people whose records shaped my childhood, whose music inspired me to become an artist, and whose contributions helped define the sound of hard rock – it never stops feeling special.
“This album isn’t about recreating the past. It’s about carrying that legacy forward with the people who helped build it in the first place. Having Alice Cooper involved, alongside Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter, gives this record a sense of authenticity that simply can’t be manufactured – it has their fingerprints all over it.’’
The album is scheduled for release on October 30, 2026, through Deko Entertainment in partnership with Warner Music Group.
More information about the upcoming release is expected to be announced in the near future.
