June 18, 2014 -- For KIX, not recording any new music for two decades has been far too long. Fans have made it known for years that they want new music. And now, the time has finally come. The Maryland band is primed and ready to ROCK YOUR FACE OFF with their seventh new album set for release August 5 on Loud & Proud Records. It’s everything fans know and love them for: a raucous, roaring and real display of rock 'n' roll. The first single, “Love Me With Your Top Down,” will be released to radio and online retail outlets later this month. Eddie Trunk will exclusively world premiere the song during his “Friday Night Rocks” radio show originating from Q104.3 (heard in New York City, Long Island, NJ and CT) this Friday, June 20 from 11pm-2am ET. It will then air via his numerous North American syndicated affiliates on Saturday, June 20 and he’ll play it on Monday, June 23 during his “Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk” show that airs on SiriusXM’s “Hair Nation” channel (39) at 3pm PT/6pm ET.
As guitarist Brian "Damage" Forsythe explains, “When we first played ‘Love Me With Your Top Down’ live just a few months ago, it went over like gangbusters with the fans. It’s a catchy little tune with classic KIX flavor, a perfect choice for the first taste of the record.”
What makes the new album even more exciting and anticipated is that it features most of the band’s original line-up: Steve Whiteman (vocals), Brian "Damage" Forsythe (guitar), Ronnie "10/10" Younkins (guitar), Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant (drums), with the exception of Mark Schenker (bass).
With ROCK YOUR FACE OFF, KIX stirs up their truest statement to date in 2014. "It's still hot women, fast cars, and great moments," concludes Whiteman. "I want everybody to end up on their feet, whether they’re working out or stuck in rush hour traffic. This is a release, something to lift your spirits when you need it. You can party to this one."
KIX gracefully eased back into the public consciousness in 2008. After sold out hometown gigs, the quintet hit the stage at Rocklahoma in front of over 20,000 people, venturing out of the Mid-Atlantic for the first time in 13 years. The band was hailed by many music websites and attendees as “Best Performance” at the festival, where they played alongside Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Tesla, Queesryche, Ratt, and more. After capturing their fiery reunion on 2012's LIVE IN BALTIMORE CD & DVD, the band agreed to enter the studio once again.
"In many ways, this is for the KIX diehards as much as it is for us," guitarist Brian Forsythe explains. "When we started doing this again, tons of fans came out of the woodwork. They'd show up with their kids, and it was just incredible to see. We had to deliver for them."
In order to deliver, the band enlisted the talents of producer Taylor Rhodes (Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne), with whom they had last collaborated on 1991's HOT WIRE. Also, for the first time in the group's history, each member contributed to the writing process, fostering an extremely creative and free environment in the studio. A new dawn commenced as they simultaneously harnessed their classic spirit.
"It was more free-flowing because everybody got to write and come up with ideas," says singer Steve Whiteman. "We encouraged this new freedom within the creative process."
Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 12:01AM
Reader Comments (14)
One of the most relevant 80's bands (really 70's) still around. Can't beat em live.
Can't wait
Part of the problem with "Show Business" (I have it and listened to it once when I bought it) is it was released in 1995 when our kind of music (Glam Metal, Hair Metal, Whatever-The-H*ll Metal or 80's-style Hard Rock) -- whatever you wanna call it -- was in it's last death throes.
This coupled with the fact that it was Purnell's last album with the band before he flung his bass behind his back in signature style one last time made "Show Business" a half-hearted affair.
Still, there's no denying the greatness of those songs you mentioned, KixRules, but I'm with you (and all the other Kixonians on here)... This new one is gonna be a barnstormer, no doubt!
Steve has said in a few recent interviews that any tour would be based on how well the CD did in sales and airplay...and they would go with the flow.
I must have seen 'em 12 times circa '89-'90. You were lucky to have caught them then so you could see Purnell and his whole "electrocuted" routine. What a bada*s he was!