New music from rock legend Paul Rodgers was recorded in the Okanagan and Vancouver with the help of several local musicians, including SurreyB次元官网网址檚 Todd Ronning.
The eight-song , due out Sept. 22 on the iconic Sun Records, is the first album of original music in 25 years for vocalist Rodgers, of Bad Company fame.
which Rodgers co-wrote with Ronning and Maple Ridge-based drummer Rick Fedyk, with guitar work by Ray Roper and Keith Scott, organ by Chris Gestrin, production by Bob Rock and mix by Randy Staub.
Recording of the album was kept hush-hush for 18 months until the June 23 release of B次元官网网址淟iving It Up,B次元官网网址� a funk-fortified anthem with a Led Zep-ish groove and lyrics about enjoying all that America (and Canada) has to offer.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a song where I had the music written a while back and I demoB次元官网网址檇 it over at RayB次元官网网址檚 place (near Summerland),B次元官网网址� Ronning recalled in a phone call.
B次元官网网址淚 demoB次元官网网址檇 a bunch of stuff, you know, thinking maybe Bad Co. (Bad Company) or someone might like it. Who knows? But when I did that one, Paul liked it right away. I actually had another song planned for him, but he liked that one B次元官网网址� you know, thatB次元官网网址檚 OK, pick whatever you want. He had lyrical ideas and IB次元官网网址檓 super happy that he found something that I had done that he wanted to incorporate, you know?B次元官网网址�
With bed tracks done at RoperB次元官网网址檚 studio, additional recording for the album was completed at The Warehouse studio Vancouver.
B次元官网网址淩oper lives in the Okanagan, not far from Paul,B次元官网网址� Ronning explained. B次元官网网址淎t The Warehouse, Bob (Rock) brought in Keith Scott (guitarist for Bryan Adams) to throw in a couple of things. Paul tweaked his vocals a bit there as well, but basically my job, and RickB次元官网网址檚, too, was done up in the Okanagan.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� RELATED: .
Ronning, who plays in the Heart tribute band Barracuda with Fedyk and Roper, has toured with Rodgers/Bad Company since 2012. He first met the British-Canadian singer back in 1996 when Rodgers lived part-time in South Surrey.
B次元官网网址淭hat was in the latter part of the year, when he was first getting together with his now-wife, Cynthia, in White Rock,B次元官网网址� Ronning recalled.
B次元官网网址淪ome local guys came together because Paul wanted to do an out-of-the-blue show at some small club in the area, just for fun, and we ended up doing it at the Ocean Beach (bar in White Rock), just five or six songs. Supposedly nobody was supposed to know, right, so I show up with my gig bag and all that and, and thereB次元官网网址檚 a lineup around the corner, people trying to push into the doors. So I had to push my way in.B次元官网网址�
From there, a New YearB次元官网网址檚 Eve gig was arranged, along with another local club show the following year, and then Rodgers reunited with the original Bad Company guys. Ronning and Fedyk continued with the band King Karma.
Years later, Rodgers needed a bass player for a show, and Ronning got the call.
B次元官网网址淚n 2008 the bass player he was working with had some sort of medical issue,B次元官网网址� Ronning explained. B次元官网网址淭hey were going to cancel a gig in Nakusp, so they called me to ask if IB次元官网网址檇 be ready to play the next day. Well, yeah! I learned some of the music on the plane trip up there,B次元官网网址� he added with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚 did a good job and then it took a couple years after that until I was asked to be part of his band.B次元官网网址�
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Midnight Rose: My first solo album in nearly 25 years - available everywhere September 22nd!
B次元官网网址� Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
Until then, listen to "Living It Up" and pre-save the album with the link in bio.
B次元官网网址� Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
RodgersB次元官网网址� new Midnight Rose LP was produced by Rock and Cynthia Rodgers (PaulB次元官网网址檚 wife), with album artwork created by Paul and Cynthia.
The albumB次元官网网址檚 second single, B次元官网网址淭ake Love,B次元官网网址� will be released July 28. Other song titles are B次元官网网址淐oming Home,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淧hoto Shooter,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淢idnight Rose,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淒ance in the Sun,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淗ighway RobberB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淢elting.B次元官网网址�
The collection of songs B次元官网网址済rew from sparks of ideas I had,B次元官网网址� . B次元官网网址淭he sparks developed into a raging fire when the band and everyone involved brought their absolute B次元官网网址楢B次元官网网址� game. I think it is my best album to date, I like it. I hope you do too.B次元官网网址�
Dominic Pandiscia, chief strategy officer of Primary Wave/Sun Label Group, calls Rodgers a rock legend.
B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檙e proud to have him on the Sun Records label,B次元官网网址� stated Pandiscia, who calls Midnight Rose B次元官网网址渁 modern-day classic that his established and new fans will love.
B次元官网网址淲e have heard one consistent comment throughout the record making process and itB次元官网网址檚 that Paul has never sounded better. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 agree more.B次元官网网址�
As for concerts, there is no word yet about Rodgers and band performing locally, if at all. .
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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