Heart offshoot Roadcase Royale will release their debut album, “First Things First”, on September 22.
Guitarist Nancy Wilson has teamed up with former Prince bandmember and R&B singer Liv Warfield to form the new outfit with Prince protégé lead guitarist Ryan Waters and Heart members Chris Joyner on keys, Dan Rothchild on bass and drummer Ben Smith.
Produced by Rothchild – the son of legendary Doors producer Paul Rothchild – the project follows the early 2017 release of the group’s debut single, “Get Loud.”
“Roadcase Royale is a band I've always wanted to be in,” says Wilson. “We all write and create songs as a unit. It's an inspired democracy. Liv and Ryan both bring a whole new level of magic to our new sound. I'm amazed after devoting my life to rock music how it now feels so brand new. That's why our first album is called ‘First Things First.’
“When I came up with the name Roadcase Royale, it was an interesting symbol to me since the big heavy-duty road cases that our amps drums and guitars travel in are much like the musicians they accompany on the road. Strong and regal looking yet all scuffed up and dented, covered in funny stickers that tell the story of a crazy traveling circus.”
Roadcase Royale made their live debut March 25, 2017 at the 5th Annual Rock Against MS Benefit Concert in Los Angeles.
The band will play several headline dates beginning September 10 at The Gramercy Theatre in New York, before heading out on a fall US tour, with dates to be announced soon.
Nancy launched the project while Heart is on hiatus as she and sister/vocalist Ann deal with the fallout from an August 2016 incident at White River Amphitheater in their Seattle hometown that saw Ann’s husband, Dean Wetter, allegedly assault Nancy’s children backstage during their concert.
In March, Wetter plead guilty to two counts of fourth-degree assault and was handed a suspended sentence of 364 days in jail, meaning he will not serve any time. His plea agreement includes restitution, two years of probation, counseling and no contact with his nephews.
See also:
Heart’s future unknown as singer’s husband sentenced in family assault case
Heart singer Ann Wilson extends solo tour
Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson launches Roadcase Royale
Heart singer Ann Wilson announces solo tour
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