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Friday, October 25, 2024

Out now: Michael Des Barres' cover album 'It's Only Rock 'n' Roll'

Los Angeles-based singer/performer/actor/radio show host Michael Des Barres recently dropped a new album, It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll via Rock Ridge Music. The covers collection includes a dozen songs originally released between 1971 and 1975 (with the exception of the Velvet Underground’s “I’m Waiting for My Man”).

Musicians on the album are guitarist Eric Schermerhorn (Iggy Pop, David Bowie, The The), bassist Paul Ill and drummer David Goodstein. “We cut it in 10 days, largely live in one room,” says Des Barres, who co-produced alongside engineer Chris Wonzer.

The originals came out around the same time that Des Barres was forming Silverhead in London before leaving for Los Angeles and his soon-to-be-wife, Miss Pamela of GTO’s and “I’m with the Band” renown, to form Detective. 

“These 12 songs represent chapters in my life,” he explains. “It is a look back from someone who was not only there but was the most stoned person in the room. I still remember these songs. If it was Christmas, they’d be my carols. What they all had in common was melodies, a big chorus, and plenty of eyeliner, with all that sensuality. That was what that era was all about. It was an epic time in my life that I wanted to pay homage to.”

Des Barres is planning a live multimedia presentation, featuring the songs and images of the album narrated by someone who experienced it all first-hand. “The ’70s were primary for me; between the sex, drugs, and music, it really changed things for a lot of people, especially me,” he says. “I want to turn on as many as I can to that era to show how memorable it was. I hope that it appeals to all generations. These are the songs that defined my life and musical career. This was a real labor of love.”

In the mid-1980s, Des Barres got his then-widest career exposure as the touring member for The Power Station, who also appeared at the global telecast of Live Aid.

These days, he’s known to listeners weekly on his show for Little Steven Van Zandt’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM. The 2021 documentary of his life, “Who Do You Want Me to Be?,” turned into a surprise hit when it came out on streaming services at the start of the pandemic.

Track Listing:

1. Dyna-Mite [original artist – Mud]
2. Love is the Drug [original artist – Roxy Music]
3. Moonage Daydream [original artist – David Bowie]
4. 20th Century Boy [original artist – T. Rex]
5. Search and Destroy [original artist – Iggy and the Stooges]
6. I’m Waiting for the Man [original artist – Velvet Underground]
7. Fox on the Run [original artist – Sweet]
8. All the Young Dudes [original artist – Mott the Hoople]
9. Cum on Feel the Noize [original artist – Slade]
10. Stay with Me [original artist – Faces]
11. I’m Eighteen [original artist – Alice Cooper]
12. It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll (But I Like It) [original artist – The Rolling Stones]


Photo: Piper Ferguson

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