New music from rock legend Paul Rodgers was recorded in the Okanagan and Vancouver with the help of several local musicians, including Surrey91Ƶs 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 91ƵLiving It Up,91Ƶ a funk-fortified anthem with a Led Zep-ish groove and lyrics about enjoying all that America (and Canada) has to offer.
91ƵThat91Ƶs a song where I had the music written a while back and I demo91Ƶd it over at Ray91Ƶs place (near Summerland),91Ƶ Ronning recalled in a phone call.
91ƵI demo91Ƶd 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 91Ƶ you know, that91Ƶs OK, pick whatever you want. He had lyrical ideas and I91Ƶm super happy that he found something that I had done that he wanted to incorporate, you know?91Ƶ
With bed tracks done at Roper91Ƶs studio, additional recording for the album was completed at The Warehouse studio Vancouver.
91ƵRoper lives in the Okanagan, not far from Paul,91Ƶ Ronning explained. 91ƵAt 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 Rick91Ƶs, too, was done up in the Okanagan.91Ƶ
91Ƶ 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.
91ƵThat was in the latter part of the year, when he was first getting together with his now-wife, Cynthia, in White Rock,91Ƶ Ronning recalled.
91ƵSome 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 there91Ƶs a lineup around the corner, people trying to push into the doors. So I had to push my way in.91Ƶ
From there, a New Year91Ƶs 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.
91ƵIn 2008 the bass player he was working with had some sort of medical issue,91Ƶ Ronning explained. 91ƵThey were going to cancel a gig in Nakusp, so they called me to ask if I91Ƶd be ready to play the next day. Well, yeah! I learned some of the music on the plane trip up there,91Ƶ he added with a laugh. 91ƵI did a good job and then it took a couple years after that until I was asked to be part of his band.91Ƶ
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Midnight Rose: My first solo album in nearly 25 years - available everywhere September 22nd!
91Ƶ Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
Until then, listen to "Living It Up" and pre-save the album with the link in bio.
91Ƶ Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
Rodgers91Ƶ new Midnight Rose LP was produced by Rock and Cynthia Rodgers (Paul91Ƶs wife), with album artwork created by Paul and Cynthia.
The album91Ƶs second single, 91ƵTake Love,91Ƶ will be released July 28. Other song titles are 91ƵComing Home,91Ƶ 91ƵPhoto Shooter,91Ƶ 91ƵMidnight Rose,91Ƶ 91ƵDance in the Sun,91Ƶ 91ƵHighway Robber91Ƶ and 91ƵMelting.91Ƶ
The collection of songs 91Ƶgrew from sparks of ideas I had,91Ƶ . 91ƵThe sparks developed into a raging fire when the band and everyone involved brought their absolute 91ƵA91Ƶ game. I think it is my best album to date, I like it. I hope you do too.91Ƶ
Dominic Pandiscia, chief strategy officer of Primary Wave/Sun Label Group, calls Rodgers a rock legend.
91ƵWe91Ƶre proud to have him on the Sun Records label,91Ƶ stated Pandiscia, who calls Midnight Rose 91Ƶa modern-day classic that his established and new fans will love.
91ƵWe have heard one consistent comment throughout the record making process and it91Ƶs that Paul has never sounded better. I couldn91Ƶt agree more.91Ƶ
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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