Tori Amos, all dolled up in a creative and interesting-looking superhero-esque outfit (think Ferosha Couture goes to Comic Con), made an appearance at the San Diego Comic Con over the weekend to sign copies of the new book Comic Book Tattoo which is a collection of graphic comicbook stories based on her music an lyrics. Here are a few pics of Tori at this weekend’s event and a portion of a blogpost devoted to the Comic Book Tattoo convention panel with featued Tori and 6 of the book’s contributors:

The panel for Comic Book Tattoo was great. They had not just Tori Amos but 6 of the writers and artists who worked on the book, and most important of all, they kept it balanced. Too often when you have one high-profile guest, the panel ends up focusing entirely on that person. But everyone had a chance to talk about the process. One of the things that Tori emphasized was that she’d wanted the artists to have complete freedom, because she’d been on too many projects where someone stepped in and said something like, “Did you think about the demographic?” Rantz Hoseley expanded on that, pointing out that many of the artists kept asking him (or, more precisely, Tori, through him) whether they could do things like do a story without word balloons. They were accustomed to that kind of limitation working on other projects. Ted McKeever mentioned a Superman story he turned in that got rejected because he drew the wrong number of belt loops. And Rantz took great pleasure in telling them to go for it, whatever it was. At one point, Tori mentioned that when she read the stories, she didn’t hear the songs they were based on in her head — she heard new music, which she’s now working on. She and several of the artists talked about the cyclical nature of inspiration, with different kinds of arts all inspiring each other.

Because I’ve never attended a Comic Con in my life, I’m not all that familiar with the way the panel discussions work … it sounds pretty difficult to get into all the panel discussions that may interest you because the demand is so high. I’m thankful that this blogger was able to attend and give a report — it sounds like it was a great discussion. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Limited Edition version of Comic Book Tattoo so I can finally see what all the excitement is about. Tori Amos‘s music has touched me in such a way that I am curious to see how other folks have interpreted her music graphically and storywise. This is such a cool endeavor, I’m excited that so much work is going into the book’s promotion.

PS: For the record, I would prolly have many colorful things to say if any other person were caught wearing an outfit like this in public but for an artist like Tori Amos (or Björk) I am very willing to cut some slack (also consider, there are a lot of freaks at Comic Con … she was surely not the oddest looking person there). Tori is a Goddess and should be allowed to dress the part … even if sometimes it may look like she dressed the part in the dark and on drugs, I can’t really hate on her ;)

[Photo credit: Splash News, Source via Undented]

Tori Amos made an in-store appearance at the Amoeba Records in Hollywood, CA last night to sign copies of the new book Comic Book Tattoo for the 200 lucky fans who managed to secure wristbands for the event. Here are a couple pics (snapped by one of the lucky attendees) of Tori at yesterday’s in-store signing and some deets about the book itself:

This July the ever-growing relationship between comics and music reaches new heights as Tori Amos and Image Comics release COMIC BOOK TATTOO, a 480-page, full color anthology adapting the themes and ideas behind her songs into a lush volume of sequential art.

“I have been surprised, excited and pleasantly shocked by these comics that are extensions of the songs that I have loved and therefore welcome these amazing stories of pictures and words because they are uncompromisingly inspiring,” says Tori. “It shows you thought is a powerful formidable essence and can have a breathtaking domino effect.”

To assemble COMIC BOOK TATTOO’s diverse roster of talent, Tori worked alongside editor Rantz Hoseley, co-creator behind the upcoming DISPLACED PERSONS and VIX. Together they formed a line up featuring Y: THE LAST MAN’s Pia Guerra, Leah Moore, John Reppion David Mack, Hope Larson, Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Hickman, Colleen Doran, Eric Canete, Ted McKeever, Jock, Anthony Johnston, Dame Darcy, Carla Speed McNeil, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Mark Buckingham, Ivan Brandon, C. B. Cebulski and many more, including an introduction by SANDMAN creator Neil Gaiman.

I admit, I’ve not been following the promotion and release of this book very closely but I am very intrigued by it nonetheless. Tori will also be appearing at the San Diego Comic Con this coming weekend to promote the book as well. I was able to place my order for the limited edition, slip-case version of the book (which you can order HERE as well, while supplies last) but the regular (and less expensive) version of the book can be ordered HERE. I am very anxious to see how these comic book artists were able to interpret Tori Amos‘s music and them turn them into stories … it’s an intriguing notion. I think it’s brills to marry the music of Tori Amos with the art of comic books. I imagine this enterprise may not appeal to everyone but I know there is a huge cross-section of fans out there who will eat this up.

[Source, Source]

Taking a page from the Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails rule book, Tori Amos has decided not to renew her contract with Epic Records and will, from here on out, release her own music projects in her own way, on her own terms as she sees fit. I first heard that Tori left Epic on one of the Tori Amos mailing lists I subscribe to but Billboard magazine has finally sorted out the deets:

Tori Amos has ended her tenure with Epic Records and “has chosen the path of independence for her next work,” according to her manager. “As with many of her contemporaries, Tori is devising new and exciting ways of getting her music to the masses without the boundaries and limitations of the major music companies,” manager John Witherspoon tells Billboard’s Ask Billboard column. Amos’ next album, due in spring 2009, will be “a project of new music and visuals which is being started in the summer,” he says. Amos is also writing a musical for the British National Theater, “The Light Princess,” and in July will unveil a graphic novel, “Comic Book Tattoo,” based on her catalog. Amos recorded for Atlantic from 1992 to 2001 before signing with Epic. Her last album for that label was 2007′s “American Doll Posse.”

Woot! This is amazing news! I love that Tori will be releasing her own music in her own way from now on. The thought of Tori blessing us with a new track or two whenever her heart desires is very exciting. To be fair, I really liked the way that Epic Records treated Tori when she was with them (ever so briefly and as opposed to the way that Atlantic treated her near the end of her contract with them) but I think this new venture will work out best for both her and her fans. I can only imagine how new material will be distributed to us (and how soon) but I’ll be on pins and needles until we start to hear from Tori again :) [Source]

UPDATE: Tori Amos has posted an official statement regarding her parting ways with Epic Records on her official site ToriAmos.com:

a message from tori…

On parting ways with Epic/Sony and heading in the indie direction:

“This is an exciting time. There will be many ways in the present and in the future for artists to cross what has become the new unchartered Music Frontier. Ways that may seem impossible today but in a months time will seem probable. There are many ways to be involved in a structure. But what kind of structure will it be and what will be the make up of its foundation? These are important questions, so important that I’ve been observing many different working templates in the music business for years now. The key word here is the word “working.” In some cases these structures do not work positively for some artists. Only for those who have designed the system to specifically “work” for the corporate few. Artists need not fear structure, we just have to design and partner with expansive ideas. It is time for us as artists to stop being dependent, dependent on any system that has become undependable. Only then can we help to create a new system that propagates and secures independence for each creator.”

Again, I fully trust that Tori Amos will make the most of this new venture and I eagerly await the coming of the new music.