New music from rock legend Paul Rodgers was recorded in the Okanagan and Vancouver with the help of several local musicians, including Surrey鈥檚 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 鈥淟iving It Up,鈥� a funk-fortified anthem with a Led Zep-ish groove and lyrics about enjoying all that America (and Canada) has to offer.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a song where I had the music written a while back and I demo鈥檇 it over at Ray鈥檚 place (near Summerland),鈥� Ronning recalled in a phone call.
鈥淚 demo鈥檇 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 鈥� you know, that鈥檚 OK, pick whatever you want. He had lyrical ideas and I鈥檓 super happy that he found something that I had done that he wanted to incorporate, you know?鈥�
With bed tracks done at Roper鈥檚 studio, additional recording for the album was completed at The Warehouse studio Vancouver.
鈥淩oper lives in the Okanagan, not far from Paul,鈥� Ronning explained. 鈥淎t 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 Rick鈥檚, too, was done up in the Okanagan.鈥�
鈥� 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.
鈥淭hat was in the latter part of the year, when he was first getting together with his now-wife, Cynthia, in White Rock,鈥� Ronning recalled.
鈥淪ome 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 there鈥檚 a lineup around the corner, people trying to push into the doors. So I had to push my way in.鈥�
From there, a New Year鈥檚 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.
鈥淚n 2008 the bass player he was working with had some sort of medical issue,鈥� Ronning explained. 鈥淭hey were going to cancel a gig in Nakusp, so they called me to ask if I鈥檇 be ready to play the next day. Well, yeah! I learned some of the music on the plane trip up there,鈥� he added with a laugh. 鈥淚 did a good job and then it took a couple years after that until I was asked to be part of his band.鈥�
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Midnight Rose: My first solo album in nearly 25 years - available everywhere September 22nd!
鈥� Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
Until then, listen to "Living It Up" and pre-save the album with the link in bio.
鈥� Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers)
Rodgers鈥� new Midnight Rose LP was produced by Rock and Cynthia Rodgers (Paul鈥檚 wife), with album artwork created by Paul and Cynthia.
The album鈥檚 second single, 鈥淭ake Love,鈥� will be released July 28. Other song titles are 鈥淐oming Home,鈥� 鈥淧hoto Shooter,鈥� 鈥淢idnight Rose,鈥� 鈥淒ance in the Sun,鈥� 鈥淗ighway Robber鈥� and 鈥淢elting.鈥�
The collection of songs 鈥済rew from sparks of ideas I had,鈥� . 鈥淭he sparks developed into a raging fire when the band and everyone involved brought their absolute 鈥楢鈥� game. I think it is my best album to date, I like it. I hope you do too.鈥�
Dominic Pandiscia, chief strategy officer of Primary Wave/Sun Label Group, calls Rodgers a rock legend.
鈥漌e鈥檙e proud to have him on the Sun Records label,鈥� stated Pandiscia, who calls Midnight Rose 鈥渁 modern-day classic that his established and new fans will love.
鈥淲e have heard one consistent comment throughout the record making process and it鈥檚 that Paul has never sounded better. I couldn鈥檛 agree more.鈥�
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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