Duff McKagan is streaming a lyric video for “Tenderness”, the lead single from his forthcoming solo album.
“The real point of ‘Tenderness’ is not for me to be some damn politician or some other voice to add to what is already way too much noise,” explains the Guns N’ Roses bassist. “This is a song of unity and peace…and I want this record to be a meditation and to bring maybe some healing, if that is not too high-handed or lofty of a goal.
“I can use what marginal voice I have as an artist, to hopefully help arrest what seems like a fall. As a father, I must say and do something now…because I love my girls and my wife, and I love my country, and I feel I must be strong and use my voice now, do it while I am able, or perhaps never get a chance ever again.”
Inspired by his travels on Guns N’ Roses’ multi-year Not In This Lifetime reunion tour, McKagan teamed up with artist and producer Shooter Jennings on the project during downtime from the trek.
“Fortune shone my way when Shooter and I began to work on the structures of the songs,” says McKagan. “Shooter has a brilliant mind, and a seemingly endless musical catalogue bouncing around in his head that he’s ready to tap into at any moment. He believed in this thing from day one, and that gave me the confidence and energy to forge on.
“Shooter, seemingly, can play any musical instrument, but instead of that being sort of daunting to me, he works in such an honest way that I never once felt like I was in the company of a guy trying to show me up. The contrary was in fact true. He made me a better acoustic guitar player, and more at ease as a singer. His ability to get real and authentic sounds in the studio are second to none, and making this record was one of the most inspiring musical experiences of my career.”
“From the start of the development of this record, ‘Tenderness’ stood out as a focal point,” adds Jennings. “I was almost scared to cut it too early - before we had really mined the sound of the album. I knew we had one shot to do it right with feeling. After it was done and we had a first mix, I wrote Duff and said ‘this song has to come out right now!’ It has a simple message of celebrating life and each other and for everyone to take it easy on one another. It offered an empathetic solution for a divisive time in the world: Tenderness.”
The upcoming album is McKagan’s musical follow-up to 2015’s bestselling book, “How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions).”
Backed by Shooter and his band, McKagan recently announced two special performances in support of the record: a May 30 date at the Theatre Of The Living Arts in Philadelphia, PA and a May 31 appearance at the City Winery in Washington, DC on May 31; tickets for both dates are on sale now.
Duff McKagan ft. Shooter Jennings
2019 North American tour
May 30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of The Living Arts
May 31 – Washington, DC @ City Winery
See also:
Duff McKagan announces first 2019 solo tour dates
VIDEO: Slash streams behind the scenes look at European tour
Slash announces North American tour
Guns N’ Roses top Billboard Facebook Live Video chart
Search Guns N Roses at hennemusic
