California Breed album details
Updated (March 5): Artwork and track listing for Glenn Hughes’ new project California Breed self-titled debut album have been released. The album is due out on May 19 (in the UK) via Frontiers Records. It was produced by Dave Cobb (Jamey Johnson, Rival Sons, Lindi Ortega, Shooter Jennings).
- The Way
- Sweet Tea
- Chemical Rain
- Midnight Oil
- All Falls Down
- The Grey
- Days They Come
- Spit You Out
- Strong
- Invisible
- Scars
- Breathe
- Solo *
Solo is a bonus track that will appear on deluxe edition of the album, which will also include a DVD with 2 video clips for The Way and Sweet Tea, plus a documentary.
No release date has been specified at this point.
In a related promo feature in Classic Rock, Glenn tells his prospective on the demise of Black Country Communion:
For whatever reason, Joe and his manager [Roy Weisman] wanted to own the name, even though Jason and I came up with it. They just weren’t interested in leasing it to us. So I’ve moved on with California Breed.
Joe and I are talking again – everything is fine. I should’ve listened better when he said that he is a solo artist; Black Country were [just] a project for him. I’ve absolutely no regrets about being in Black Country Communion because it made me a rock artist again, which is something I should’ve done as long ago as 1983.
Nobody really knows this but I resigned on September 21st, 2012 – the night before the Jim Marshall 50th anniversary concert. I did that because there was no hope of touring. Jason [Bonham] and I did want to continue as Black Country, and we spoke to some very famous friends such as Zakk [Wylde], Steve Vai and Joe Satriani who were all interested but couldn’t commit to touring – so it was back to the Joe Bonamassa scenario.
Thanks to GlennHughes.com and Classic Rock for the info.
Looks like my 10 year old painted the cover. Although he would probably have done a little better.
March 4th, 2014 at 18:51Who plays with Glenn?
March 4th, 2014 at 19:47I hope the music is better than the cover lol
March 4th, 2014 at 20:16Looking forward to hearing new songs featuring Glenn. I like the abstract album cover too, it suits the name and the song titles. Good job Glenn.
March 4th, 2014 at 21:16@2 Link to http://www.thehighwaystar.com/news/2014/02/06/california-breed/ is in the text:
March 4th, 2014 at 21:19Jason Bonham (dr) + Andrew Watt (git)
How long will this band last?
March 5th, 2014 at 02:30Not very classy Glenn regarding your statement about attending the Sunflower Jam. “Looking forward to sharing the love with Deep Purple MK X. What does he mean? Plus he then followed up with “Oh and of course paying tribute to my lost friend Jon Lord”. Kind of an after thought it seemed…. weird dude to say the least.
On the positive side, I liked his statement regarding the album being heavier than all 3 BCC albums. This thing might ROCK!!!
!Ch-BeerZ?
March 5th, 2014 at 04:43Very intersting infos:
Joe and his manger wanted to own the name B…C…C… (???)
Joe is a solo artist … (okay) …
BCC is/was just a project for him … (okay) …
Dear Joe:
You have the reputation to be a selfish guy over years…
Why you make it so selfish again and against the fans of BCC ?
Because you and your manager are running to be scarend, that the very very successfull BCC thing will be overtake your own (…nice…) blues thing and then the paycheck will be shared in another way like in your own baggage ???
To be honest: You are a very good guitar player and musician, and you have done a very great job at BCC, but grow up!
In a very very joyful anticipation of the upcomming album of Glenn and Jason and Andrew
I am sure, that this would not be the 4th BCC album.
LLRnR
kraatzy
March 5th, 2014 at 07:18The 16 second snippet on Youtube sounds promising. Hopefully, the album is as good as BCC 1 or BCC 2 which I really enjoyed.
March 5th, 2014 at 09:33Terrible cover and awful name but here’s hoping the music is strong. Funny to think that Glenn is old enough to be the guitarist’s grandfather.
March 5th, 2014 at 11:31Even though I am not a big fan of the band’s name, I am intrigued by the abstract effect of the artwork on this album and how it pertains to it. That’s the ‘California Girl’s’ face leaning to the right. A cover of the Beach Boy’s song, “California Girls” would be appropriate. Yeah, DLR did it back in the 80’s and it was quite well received, and a heavier version by this line-up could be the ticket. Would be a good bonus track?
!Ch-BeerZ?
March 5th, 2014 at 15:09I think the cover is cool! Fresh and new.
March 5th, 2014 at 17:26Far better than all those heavy/ hard rock covers done in photoshop – by someone who learned it a week ago.
I have high hopes for the new CD.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:47But I do feel Bonamassa threw away his best chance for worldwide Superstardom. He will remain a middling artist with all his solo forays between Beth Hart/Rock Funk Candy and his own band doing well to sell out 2000 seaters to 40 – 50 year olds, whilst I felt BCC could have latched onto bigger tours in bigger houses/Festivals and eventually become a global success.Japan/Asia /So. America/Western & Eastern Europe would have lapped them up. Hell, I even felt they could have injected some well needed enthusiasm into the Rock climate in the US. But sadly no.
I like the cover 🙂 Btw, were any of them actually bred in California? 😉
March 7th, 2014 at 08:51I agree Eirik! An interesting cover art work, a bit away from the old clichée…
Hopefully the music is as interesting…I tend to think that Glenn should do more of the funky and even mellow stuff that he loves so much. Him playing hard rock alwa<ys sounds a bit strained to me – as if you could tell he doesn`t do it because he feels like it but because he is expected to.
March 7th, 2014 at 10:43Drdp@ 13:
I’d have to disagree with your assertion regarding JB and his needing BCC for recognition. You have the ‘Wrong Man’ there. Glenn Hughes chose JB due to the fact that is already World Renowned and his name was a big boost in the attraction to the band. Especially in the States where he to this day is sadly relatively unknown. My point here doesn’t mean that I agree with JB’s actions with all this, but his ‘solo’ status was and still is already on a super high note. The main benefactor to BCC was GH. He should have been a little more diplomatic when dealing with the true ‘Star’ and major draw of the group. Especially since he has been chasing the ‘Super Star’ status for so long. If he plays his cards right, tones down his ‘drama queen’ attitude and allows this kid to show off his talent, he may still have a shot. He might also want to step back and let somebody else be the ‘spokesperson’.
!Ch-BeerZ?
March 7th, 2014 at 19:11@13 Totally agree. As for the cover,,,,not bad. Better than that certain Sabbath cover with special guest IG on the vocals way back when : )
March 7th, 2014 at 20:47Nice title nick there from Flying Colors. What’s anyone’s bet Glenn sings the word “wonderland,” somewhere on this album, as I know he jived on Purple’s “Weirdistan” and likely applied that, because since it’s been out, he’s been repeating the term. Keep on nicking. 😀 I’ll bet coin on that one any day. While he refers to them as overproduced smoke and mirrors compared to Black Sabbath in my observation. Purple delivers and he cannot give them an edge over the Sabbath sludge? Yawn, as usual.
March 7th, 2014 at 23:09Drdp@13- I doubt that Bonamassa is ‘seeking’ the so called ‘superstardom’ that you mention! Glenn (me, myself & I) Hughes is, as we all know, but not Bonamassa. And in no way would BCC have ever been mega anyway! Why? In an age of so called ‘super groups’ where a few ‘known’ musicians get together, it means very little. Wasn’t that band a producers idea? Sure it may have a ‘marketing’ appeal to it for 3 seconds, but how often does it work out? BCC were very ordinary indeed. Bonamassa, whilst I am not into his music, is a fine player with plenty of respect & connections in the biz!
March 8th, 2014 at 08:27He doesn’t need a Hughes wanna be a rock star, dragging him down! Hughes desperately craves the ‘rock star’ thing, he is getting older & I think he really should forget about that aspect to it & just record & play decent music! Leave the ‘rock star’ poses & imagery to the younger guys, he has had his time in the sun, all be it very briefly thanks to Deep Purple! Cheers.
Tracy:
March 8th, 2014 at 11:38Mk X means current lineup of the band. There are two ways of counting DP lineups (Mk2b = Mk5, Mk2c = Mk7).
As much as I respect Bonamassa for his guitar playing and his work with the band Bloodline and his first couple of solo albums, I think BCC was really a mediocre project. Sure, some of the songs from the first album rocked, but doesn’t really grab me for repeated listenings with the exception of a couple of songs.
Now had Steve Vai came on board, it would have been a phenomenal collaboration. I believe that it is likely the reason why Bonamassa stopped it.
I think Zack Wilde and Satriani are over rated. I attended a show from the recent Satriani and Steve Morse tour and between his backing band, the always amazing Mike Keneally, Bryan Bellar, Marco Minnemann and Steve Morse and his band, musically, Joe Satriani was the weak link and odd man out and way out of his league.
March 9th, 2014 at 00:55Peter, the current line-up is MK8…..
March 9th, 2014 at 04:46@21
I know Vai is a talented eccentric and more unpredictable than Satriani and the lots,but I don’t think with Vai would have been better,different but not better.From the 3 BCC albums I like the most the second one.And on the same vein,I don’t like the new album from Michael Schenker band with Doogie.Overproduced and trying to sound more “metal”,didn’t do it for me,Doogie is a good hard rock singer,but the songs are mediocre and cliche-d.I hope Michael Schenker does one more album with UFO,cause his best music and years are way beck..but that is only opinion and taste of course.
cheers
March 9th, 2014 at 17:41Ao@21- Your comments I agree with, except the Steve Vai one! BCC already had one huge ego, there is no way another would have fit into that bubble! Also, Vai is not a good songwriter, he is a brilliant guitarist who can compose instrumentals by the dozen at a time! But songwriting as in verse, chorus etc with lyrics & very importantly, the melody, I couldn’t see that! Then the trouble is as it was, Hughes writing practically everything, that doesn’t work either in my book! Hughes needs a decent songwriter to keep him in check. Plus someone to keep him in touch with the ‘real world’! But yes Zak Wilde is over rated by some & Satriani who also is a gifted guitarist, just doesn’t do anything for me, other than bore me to tears!
March 10th, 2014 at 06:26Steve Morse is a very melodic guitarist & technically gifted big time & has an idea about melody in songwriting. Hence his CV in rock music history!
Marco Minnemann, what a drummer that guy is. I remember watching the Dream Theater auditions for a new drummer & he was sensational! Plus the live clips of him with Eddie Jobson & John Wetton in the reunited UK band, nailing those classic Crimson tracks from the Red album! Brilliant! Cheers.
Gee, there was me thinking this topic was about California Breed’s 1st album. Apparently not.
March 10th, 2014 at 16:27@24
I recently caught a show with Marco Minnemann, Bryan Bellar and Guthrie Goven, or as they call themselves, The Aristocrats and was completely blown away. I wish I could have caught UK when they recently toured. I imagine Marco was a perfect fit. Now if they could get Holdsworth back into the fold.
Though I’m curious as to how the California Breed project sounds, I hope it’s more exciting than BCC. Perhaps they should bring Guthrie Goven in.
March 11th, 2014 at 04:00MenInBlackFan@25- it is, but as long as the comment has something that is ‘connected’ to Purple in some way, it usually gets through!
March 11th, 2014 at 06:50Although any article regarding California Breed with Hughes & Bonham’s involvement, is obviously going to relate to BCC in some way! Cheers.
MenInBlackFan @25;
Actually BCC is part of the actual Topic on this page. Didn’t you read the ‘Classic Rock’ interview portion below the album song list?
March 11th, 2014 at 15:01Ao@26- thanks for the info regarding Goven, I have never heard of him, a good interview with him on youtube, Total Guitar. He sounds like a young Ian Anderson when he speaks, very precise & down to earth. The Aristocrats material is interesting, reminds me of Holdsworth of which I have few early 80’s albums & I went to a gig of his back in 2002! I think Guthrie would be too technical for California Breed, too much fusion for Hughes me thinks & definitely too down to earth! That would have been a ‘problem’ no doubt also with Bonamassa in BCC. Those sort of guys just don’t put up with the ‘hype’ that some musicians go on about! They just want to play quality music! Cheers.
March 13th, 2014 at 09:55🙂 @27 & @28: Purple family, BCC, sure I can relate to that. But reading through the whole thread I just felt (and feel) the balance between CB and none-CB comments is off.
March 13th, 2014 at 12:08I think Vai’s work on the Alcatrazz album with Bonnet was very fine.
I dont rememeber who wrote the stuff way back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZrD4LSQ9E&list=PLA0AFD21FBAD7F697
March 14th, 2014 at 16:20For those interested, GLENN HUGHES is guesing on a new episode of That Metal Show on VH-1 C this week. I would imaging he will talk about California Breed and yes even BCC. It aires for the first time Saturday Night at 10:00 pm Eastern and runs all week long.
!Ch-BeerZ?
March 14th, 2014 at 21:02“guesting”
March 15th, 2014 at 02:22