GUNS N’ ROSES’ DUFF McKAGAN RELEASES TENDERNESS

ALBUM PRODUCED BY AND FEATURING GRAMMY®WINNER SHOOTER JENNINGS

ON TOUR NOW – PLAYING DC TONIGHT

SEATTLE MARINERS HOSTING “DUFF McKAGAN NIGHT” ON JUNE 17 @ T-MOBILE PARK

McKAGAN TEAMS WITH NON-PROFITS FOR SOCIAL CAUSE CAMPAIGN

Today sees the release of TENDERNESS, the much-anticipated solo album from Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan – click HERE to stream/purchase.

Produced by (and featuring) recent Grammy winner Shooter Jennings, TENDERNESS (UMe) sees McKagan reflecting on his experiences traveling the globe over two and a half years on Guns N’ Roses’  Not In This Lifetime tour.  Encountering heartbreak, anger, fear, confusion and divide on his travels during this tumultuous time in our world history, McKagan channeled a collective hurt into songs of monolithic power. 

On June 17th, the Seattle Mariners will celebrate the release of TENDERNESS by hosting “Duff McKagan Night” at T-Mobile Park. Package options include a ticket to see the game, a ticket to Duff’s June 16th gig at Showbox, a limited edition Mariners/Duff t-shirt, a copy of TENDERNESS and more – click HERE for additional info. McKagan’s Seattle takeover includes an instore at local music shop Easy Street Records on June 18th.

The June 16th Showbox date is part of McKagan’s North American tour, which kicked off last night in Philadelphia and will be followed by a European run that begins August 22 in Poland. All tour dates see Duff backed by Shooter Jennings and his band (see itinerary below). The shows will see McKagan bringing TENDERNESS to life, along with a few surprises.

The album, meanwhile, is getting rave reviews. Here’s what the press is saying:

“McKagan and Jennings have crafted an acoustic-Thunderous masterwork. Urgently and unflinchingly addressing the pressing issues of this bleak political era,
Tenderness is one of the most crucial and topical albums of 2019 — yet its heart-on-leather-sleeve vulnerability also makes it an instant Americana classic.”
– Lyndsey Parker, Yahoo Entertainment

“…a superb set of roots-rock ruminations…with Jennings’ help, [McKagan] crafted a mix of rock and Americana evoking both the Glimmer Twins and the Gutter Twins…”
– Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly

“On Tenderness, Duff McKagan takes a hard look at some of the most important issues facing our country right now, and delivers his message with a musical vibe that’s equal parts Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, and Lies-era Guns N’ Roses.”
–  Spencer Kaufman, Consequence of Sound

“The record is miles away from the type of hard rock McKagan is known for playing with Guns N’ Roses or Velvet Revolver, or the more gritty and punky sounds he immersed himself in as a teenager in Seattle or with his own 2000s-era solo band, Loaded. Rather, these are intimate, stripped-down compositions, centered around McKagan’s strummed acoustic guitar and raw vocals, that run the gamut from the piano-based title track to the Rolling Stones–like “Chip Away,” a call to strength in the face of social and cultural injustice. Other standouts include the pedal steel–inflected “Last September,” which tells the story of an abusive relationship, and the haunting “Parkland,” which captures the dichotomous feelings of shock and numbness that characterize the American reaction to school shootings and other acts of mass violence. To be sure, these are big-picture songs that focus on topics affecting all people.”
–  Rich Bienstock, Guitar Player

“People are going to herald this as one of the best albums of the year. This is Americana-Duff McKagan. It’s not what you expect.”
– Larry Flick, SiriusXM radio host

“Best Crossover Album” (Best of LA Music Issue)
–  Brett Callwood, LA Weekly

“..A somber, deliberate work…evokes Mark Lanegan-style Americana…”
– Alison Stewart, Chicago Tribune

McKagan has created a campaign that puts the album’s themes into action and he’s inviting fans to join him in an effort to give support to organizations doing great work. Those include Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, 320 Changes Direction, and To Write Love on Her Arms, among others. For more information, please visitpropeller.la/duff.

Tour Dates

Friday May 31st – City Winery, Washington, DC 
Saturday June 1st – City Winery, Boston, MA 
Monday June 3rd  – Irving Plaza, New York, NY
Thursday June 6th  – Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL 
Saturday June 8th – Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN 
Monday June 10th  – Historic Scoot Inn, Austin, TX 
Thursday June 13th  – El Rey, Los Angeles, CA 
Friday June 14th – Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA 
Saturday June 15th – Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR 
Sunday June 16th – Showbox Presents, Seattle, WA 
Thursday August 22nd  – Stodola, Warsaw POLAND
Friday August 23rd – Astra, Berlin GERMANY
Saturday August 24th – Blue Moon Festival, Amsterdam HOLLAND
Monday August 26th – Gloria, Cologne GERMANY
Tuesday August 27th – Alte Feurwache, Mannheim GERMANY
Thursday August 29th – Islington Assembly Hall, London UK
Saturday August 31st – Electric Picnic Festival, Dublin EIRE
Sunday September 1st – Academy, Manchester UK
Tuesday September 3rd – Le Trabendo, Paris FRANCE
Wednesday September 4th  – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels BELGIUM
Friday September 6th – Dynamo, Zurich SWITZERLAND
Sunday September 8th – Saniera Club, Milan ITALY

GUNS N’ ROSES’ DUFF McKAGAN RELEASES “CHIP AWAY” AND ANNOUNCES MAY 31ST RELEASE FOR SOLO ALBUM TENDERNESS

ALBUM PRODUCED BY AND FEATURING GRAMMY®WINNER SHOOTER JENNINGS

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR KICKS OFF MAY 30 IN PHILADELPHIA

TOUR WILL SEE McKAGAN BACKED BY SHOOTER JENNINGS + BAND

FANS IN LOS ANGELES CAN CATCH SPECIAL GRAMMY®MUSEUM PERFORMANCE ON APRIL 4

Guns N’ Roses bassist and New York Times bestselling author DUFF McKAGAN has released “Chip Away,” a new track from his much-anticipated solo album, TENDERNESS (UME) – click HERE to listen.

“’Chip Away’ is somewhat of a rail against cable news and divisive agendas…all for the almighty dollar,” says McKagan. “The song also highlights the fact that history repeats itself over and over, and that we will all get past this, together.”

“Chip Away” follows the recent release of lead track “Tenderness” and both songs are available as instant downloads by clicking HERE to pre-order TENDERNESS ahead of its May 31st release. 

The full track listing for TENDERNESS is as follows:
“Tenderness”
“It’s Not Too Late”
“Wasted Heart”
“Falling Down”
“Last September”
“Chip Away”
“Cold Outside”
“Feel”
“Breaking Rocks”
“Parkland”
“Don’t Look Behind You”

Also available for pre-order is a special limited edition TENDERNESS deluxe book, which includes the album on 180-gram yellow & red starburst vinyl, the CD, and features an exclusive lithograph signed and numbered by McKagan. The hard cover book contains 40-pages of photos from the recording sessions and also presents liner notes written by Duff detailing his experiences with each song and the project as a whole. The vinyl features 10 tracks and a unique sequence carefully selected by McKagan and the album’s GRAMMY®-winning producer Shooter Jennings, while the CD includes 11 tracks.

TENDERNESS sees McKagan reflecting on his experiences traveling the globe over two and a half years on Guns N’ Roses’  Not In This Lifetime tour.  Encountering heartbreak, anger, fear, confusion and divide on his travels during this tumultuous time in our world history, McKagan channeled a collective hurt into songs of monolithic power. 

“We’re becoming divided at a time when we need each other most,” says McKagan. “When huge industries get replaced because of modernization, it’s time to retrain and bolster up those who get swept aside. Homelessness and drug addiction are avoidable in this country if we come together and get private and public cogs turning together in a positive direction. We can at least try to tackle mental illness while we’re at it. But alas, we stump and lie, point fingers and divide. We’re way better than this. 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’m able or perhaps never get a chance ever again.”

McKagan and Jennings began recording Tenderness a year ago this month, working out of Station House studios, located in Echo Park, CA, where they wrote and recorded in-between McKagan’s tour with seminal rock band Guns N’ Roses and the release of Jennings’ eponymous album, ShooterTENDERNESS features Jennings and his band along with appearances by The Waters and The Suicide Horn Section (which features Duff’s brother Matt McKagan on trombone), amongst others.

Twelve months later, they’re gearing up to take these songs on the road for a North American tour that kicks off May 30 at TLA in Philadelphia. Prior to the tour’s launch, Los Angeles-based fans can catch McKagan and Jennings discussing the album and giving a special performance at the GRAMMY® Museum in downtown LA.

Don’t miss your chance to see Duff McKagan live. Tour dates are as follows:

DateCityVenue
Thu, May 30, Philadelphia, PATLA
Fri, May 31, Washington DCCity Winery
Sat, Jun 01, Boston, MACity Winery
Mon, Jun 03, New York, NYIrving Plaza
Thu, Jun 06, Chicago, ILThalia Hall
Sat, Jun 08, Nashville, TNThe Cannery
Mon, Jun 10, Austin, TXScoot Inn
Thu, Jun 13, Los Angeles, CAEl Rey Theater
Fri, Jun 14, San Francisco, CAGreat American Music Hall
Sat, Jun 15, Portland, ORAladdin
Sun, Jun 16, Seattle, WAThe Showbox

 

Related Content

Guns N’ Roses Duff McKagan Releases “Tenderness”

“TENDERNESS” IS FIRST TRACK FROM McKAGAN’S UPCOMING SOLO ALBUM PRODUCED BY AND FEATURING GRAMMY WINNER SHOOTER JENNINGS

McKAGAN ANNOUNCES SPECIAL SHOWS: MAY 30TH IN PHILLY + MAY 31st IN DC

PERFORMANCES WILL SEE McKAGAN BACKED BY SHOOTER JENNINGS + BAND

Guns N’ Roses bassist and New York Times bestselling author DUFF McKAGAN has released “Tenderness,” the stunning first track from his much-anticipated solo album – click HERE to listen and HERE to watch the lyric video.

“Tenderness” was produced by and features recent Grammy winner SHOOTER JENNINGS and is being released through UME.

McKagan, backed by Shooter and his band, recently announced two special performances: May 30th at TLA in Philadelphia and May 31st at City Winery in DC. Tickets for both shows go on sale today (Philly ticket info can be found HERE and DC HERE)

McKagan and Jennings began recording back in March 2018, working out of Station House studios in Echo Park, CA, where they wrote and recorded in-between McKagan’s tour with seminal rock band Guns N’ Roses and the release of Jennings’ eponymous album, Shooter.

“Before beginning this project, I was asked more than a few times if I was going to write a book on my experience of the two-and-a-half-year GN’R Not In This Lifetime …tour,” says McKagan. “While, of course, it had been an amazing experience, in the end, I decided the ideas swirling around in my head were better suited for a record. The heartbreak, anger, fear, confusion and divide I have experienced traveling this globe of ours coerced these words into songs that tell my truth, and one that I hope will spread and help us all.”

Looking at the world outside his tour bus window, McKagan saw a landscape filled with disillusion, injustice and fear. Surveying this vista of ruin, its street littered with broken and abandoned promises, he channeled a collective hurt into songs of monolithic power.

“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,” he says. “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.”

“From the start of the development of this record, ‘Tenderness’ stood out as a focal point,” says 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.”

About his collaboration with Jennings, McKagan says, “Fortune shone my way when Shooter and I began to work on the structures of the songs. 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.”

The upcoming album is McKagan’s musical follow-up to 2015’s bestselling book, How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions).