Throughout an look on this previous Tuesday’s (August 8) episode of SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) spoke concerning the standing of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, his supergroup with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL). He mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I used to be within the studio final week finishing vocals. And Joe was there with me final Wednesday earlier than I needed to go away to go to someplace up north. I completed the final vocal observe final Friday afternoon at three o’clock. Now the album is within the palms of [producer] Kevin Shirley to — he’ll in all probability return to Australia after Joe does the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow, after which the blending course of will begin. I might think about that the album might be out within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months.”

Concerning the musical path of the brand new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION materials, Glenn mentioned: “It appears like BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. There’s not too many left turns, there’s nothing taking place that is weirdly totally different. We adopted a vibe of the primary 4 albums, so it it is an extension, but it surely’s actually a development, in case you can name it a development. All people’s taking part in out of their pores and skin. The vibe within the camp has by no means been so pleasant and enjoyable. It is a actually, actually nice vibe within the band. And we had a good time at Sundown Sound [studios] in Hollywood. And I am unable to wait so that you can hear it.”

As for BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION‘s touring plans, Glenn mentioned: “In case you return 10 years once I wished to… properly, all of us wished to play extra exhibits. And Joe has been very busy from the get-go of his profession. What I need you to know, and I need all people to know, that, after all, we need to play with BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNITY, however Joe‘s schedule is loopy busy, and all of us get it. Sadly, that is the way in which it’s. So my precedence is taking part in my very own music with my very own band and doing what I have to do to have enjoyable alone.”

He continued: “Would I wish to play some exhibits with Joe, Derek and Jason? In fact I might. I feel all people would really like that. However what I cannot do is say we’re gonna do that, this, and that… I’ve carried out it earlier than and it did not occur, so I will not… I am glad Joe has [said in a recent interview] he needs to do one thing like that, as a result of I feel we all wanna set a while out to do this, and we’re hoping that we will play in North America subsequent 12 months.”

On August 1, Bonamassa instructed SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” that the brand new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION album was “not carried out… And I’ve gotta sing just a little bit on it and redo one guitar half for [the record]…. So we’re, I might say, 90% carried out, however the music’s carried out.”

He continued: “The factor about BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, whether or not you want the way in which we sound or not, after we all get collectively, it has a really particular factor that it does. All people brings a really particular factor to the desk, and it is a particular band.”

In accordance with Joe, he introduced the BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION members again collectively to make the follow-up to “BCCIV”, which was launched in September 2017 and marked BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION‘s first studio effort since 2013’s “Afterglow”. “I used to be the one which type of initiated the textual content, be, like, ‘Hey, is there anyone considering doing a fifth one?'” he mentioned. “And Derek bought again to me. Jason bought again to me fairly rapidly. And Glenn referred to as me and mentioned, ‘I am unable to do something till this DEAD DAISIES scenario goes a technique or the following.’ And I mentioned, ‘Honest sufficient.’ So when Glenn left THE DEAD DAISIES final 12 months, that was type of the inexperienced mild for us to get again collectively.”

Concerning the songwriting course of for BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION‘s fifth album and the way it in comparison with that on the band’s earlier efforts, Joe mentioned: “This was the identical. I went over to Glenn‘s home about six instances and we hashed out some concepts — fairly tough, free concepts. Nothing in stone. And so I had a playlist on my telephone, voice memos, BCC 1 by means of 10. And that was it. So, so day one, we simply [said], ‘Okay, let’s begin with BCC 1.’ And we sat within the courtyard at Sundown Sound — they’ve this very nice courtyard with a bunch of chairs — and we sat on the market with an acoustic guitar and a few issues and we simply bashed out the association. We had been, like, ‘Okay, that is cool.’ We went in, performed it three or 4 instances and that was it. No one charted something; we simply type of memorized it and did it. And we might go into the management room, pay attention just a little bit, possibly tweak one thing, however as soon as it fired up and after the second day, we actually hit our stride, going, ‘Okay, the band’s again.’ ‘Trigger we hadn’t performed collectively in six years.”

As for the recording course of for the brand new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION disc, Joe mentioned: “There’s not lots of overdubs. I hardly ever double the guitars, ‘trigger Glenn‘s bass sound is so massive and distorted, you understand what I imply? It is, like, why do I have to double the guitar? Similar factor with Derek. It is virtually like taking part in within the band FREE. All of the sound comes from the 4 of us. And Jason takes up an enormous quantity of bandwidth; he is such an enormous drummer.”

Bonamassa went on to say that he’s wanting ahead to performing with BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION once more. “I would love to do some reside exhibits with ’em subsequent 12 months,” he mentioned. “I feel it might be actually enjoyable… Scheduling is the toughest factor, due to what all people’s bought [coming up]… [My solo band is] booked virtually two years out. However subsequent 12 months, I actually wanna a minimum of put aside every week, possibly two weeks, the place we will exit and do chosen exhibits, do a pair right here within the U.S., go to Europe, do a pair there. ‘Trigger it is enjoyable.”

The information of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION‘s recording exercise got here lower than three months after it was introduced that the band will carry out on subsequent 12 months’s Maintaining The Blues Alive At Sea IX cruise, crusing from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico on March 18-22, 2024.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION‘s most up-to-date efficiency came about in February 2018 on the fourth version of the Maintaining The Blues Alive At Sea, which advantages the Maintaining The Blues Alive Basis, Bonamassa‘s non-profit group devoted to offering college students, lecturers, and musicians with the assets and instruments wanted to additional their music training.

In a September 2022 interview with Andy Corridor of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, Bonamassa acknowledged about what it’s a few “band scenario” that appeals to him, contemplating he has spent most of his profession as a solo artist: “I like nothing greater than to be a member of a band and taking part in guitar. I haven’t got to entrance it; I haven’t got to sing on a regular basis. And it is so much much less strain than being the entrance individual. Being the individual in entrance is a particular skillset. You need to be an entertainer. You’ll be able to’t simply sit up there and stare at your guitar and go, ‘Wow. Look, I can play guitar fairly good.’ That is not gonna fill the theater. You need to placed on a present. And to placed on a present requires being an entertainer. So being in a band, the sum of the components is larger than the one entity. So this factor the place Glenn co-fronts BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, I can simply sit again and play rhythm guitar and watch him do his factor. He is a legend. After which conversely, Glenn does not should sing all night time; I will sing three or 4 [songs]. So we type of unfold out the entire workload just a little bit.”

Similar to its 4 predecessors, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION‘s new album is being overseen by producer Kevin Shirley, who initially had the thought of placing Hughes and Bonamassa in a band after seeing them jamming collectively onstage in Los Angeles again in November 2009.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION‘s inception came about when Hughes and Bonamassa fused their kinds on stage in Los Angeles for an explosive efficiency at Guitar Heart‘s King Of The Blues occasion. With the assistance and steering of Shirley, they additional added to their rock lineage by recruiting Bonham and Sherinian.

In a 2017 interview, Hughes talked concerning the chemistry between the BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION members, particularly since all of the musicians have had profitable careers previous to launching the group.

“This band was meant to be,” Glenn mentioned. “It was shaped out of a friendship with Joe and I. We bought the [other] guys to come back in, and it is all the time been a robust brotherhood. And we’re simply very fortunate and lucky to have met. I’ve recognized Jason since he was [a kid]. I simply assume that these 4 guys on this band are the proper guys to play within the band.”

Picture credit score: Neil Zlozower