Lenny Kravitz is clearly a true rock n roll icon. Lenny Kravitz's 2000 released triple-platinum GREATEST HITS album proved his songs have resonated onward into a timeless catalog. Now Lenny Kravitz releases his seventh studio album, BAPTISM, and with a career that spans fifteen years since the release of his 1989 debut album, LET LOVE RULE, he has come full circle. Lenny is a man who clearly practices what he preaches. One night at a Lenny Concert in Irvine Meadows Ca. a young enthusiastic Lenny fan ran up onto the stage charging past security and wrapping her arms around this sexy talented man. Immediately she was tackled by rage filled security guards, they literally flipped her backwards off of the stage. Lenny stopped dead in his tracks as he witnessed the treatment of one of his fans. He literally stopped singing and stopped the music and said, “oh hell no, we don’t treat my fans that way” and he reached down into the crowd and pulled the shaken young lady back up on to the stage.

The crowd went crazy Lenny began to speak to the crowd and explain that this went completely against the whole thought of what he was trying to share with all of us, and that we truly all needed to, “ let love rule!! “ He then held her close to him and began to sing let love rule with a passion and emotion that drove the crowd wild, thousands of fans chimed along “let love rule” It was a goose bump generating rock n roll moment. We all left there knowing Lenny wasn’t just some pop hit machine. He was real, he was deep he was the one and only Lenny Kravitz. That attitude has rewarded Kravitz with an unparalleled musical appeal. All of his albums have been certified either platinum or multi-platinum. From 1999 to 2002, he won an astounding four consecutive Grammy Awards, setting a record for the most wins in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category for his single “Dig In” (previously winning for “Again,” “American Woman” and “Fly Away”), and representing one of the most successful stretches of recognition for any musician in the awards ceremony's history.

Like all great records, the seeds of BAPTISM came from personal epiphany. In 2003 Kravitz had visited his old hometown of New York City. The trip was a throwback to an earlier time in his life when he was a burgeoning musician, working on what would be his groundbreaking and critically acclaimed debut album, LET LOVE RULE. "Ultimately things change in life, but I really missed that feeling," Kravitz says. "There I was, riding my bike around the city and I felt the way I did fifteen years ago.” With BAPTISM, Kravitz is reborn. All the instruments on BAPTISM are played by Kravitz every thumping bass line, to every lofty drum kick and rocketing guitar riff. Kravitz's multi-instrumentalism is one of the most overlooked aspects of his musicianship."Where Are We Runnin'?," the first single from BAPTISM, is a groove-laden anthem true to Kravitz's style. On "Lady," Kravitz celebrates the consuming fire of love and passion. " Kravitz says. "It's a very fun song about LA and all the experiences I had as a kid." “California” echoes Kravitz's journey from New York to Los Angeles at the age of 11, facilitated by his mother's (actress Roxie Roker) move from Broadway to her acceptance of the role of Helen on television's hit sitcom, The Jeffersons. Lenny has established his own record label, Roxie Records, named after his late mother. Kravitz recalls the struggle that birthed his early records. "I think I spent a lot of time before LET LOVE RULE trying to be what I thought I should be. I was using this name, Romeo Blue, and I had this image of what I thought was right. But that's part of the road to finding yourself. You put on these images and you try to be something you're not.

It showed me what I wasn't, which was a good exercise. LET LOVE RULE was the time everything changed for me. All of the sudden, I had a purpose, a sound, a vibe – and it came naturally through me. It was electrifying. Lenny Kravitz’s new album BAPTISM hits record stores on May 18th, 2004.

Written by Laura Brady with the help of my awesome pal Jeremy at Virgin records, Dude you rock! Much love! Guys like you make my job fun!