THE EMPTY HEARTS TO RELEASE 2ND ALBUM ON WICKED COOL RECORDS

THE EMPTY HEARTS

ELLIOT EASTON (THE CARS), CLEM BURKE (BLONDIE), WALLY PALMAR (THE ROMANTICS) & ANDY BABIUK (THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS)

The Empty Hearts—four rock and roll lifers—are proud to announce The Second Album, out August 28 on Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records. Hear their new song “The Best That I Can” and watch the video for “The World’s Gone Insane,” recorded before the world had gone even more insane. The Second Album will be available on vinyl, CD, and all streaming services, and available for preorder here.

“We wanted to make an album like the ones that really captured our imaginations when we were coming up,” says Elliot Easton, guitarist and founding member of The Cars. “The sort of record that, when it came out, you'd get together with a few friends, maybe get a buzz on, turn the lights down and listen from beginning to end—like those classic late '60s records that took you on a little trip.”

Easton is joined by Blondie drummer and fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Clem Burke, along with hitmaker Wally Palmar of The Romantics on lead vocals and bassist Andy Babiuk of The Chesterfield Kings. One of their heroes, Ringo Starr, plays drums on “Remember Days Like These.” “In a way, it’s given us The Beatles’ seal of approval!” adds Clem, who backed Ringo on tambourine.

THE SECOND ALBUM OUT AUGUST 28 (WICKED COOL RECORDS)

“THE BEST THAT I CAN” LISTEN
“THE WORLD’S GONE INSANE” WATCH

Produced by Ed Stasium (Ramones, The Talking Heads) and The Empty Hearts, The Second Album was made in the spirit of 50s and 60's rock and roll, the music that first inspired all four members. The album was recorded with the intent to tour worldwide, including dates with Blondie.

“The Empty Hearts have done it again!” says label head Little Steven, who named the band from his secret list of unused names. “Could this album be timelier? I’m thinking NOT!

THE ROMANTICS' MIKE SKILL TO RELEASE SOLO SINGLE

The Romantics Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter Michael Skill To Release New Solo Single “67 Riot”

New song evokes time when Detroit burned during“Summer of Love”

Detroit - From the man who crafted such hit singles as “What I Like About You,” “Talking in Your Sleep,” and “One In A Million,” comes a new gritty blues-rock single about the riots that forever changed his hometown of Detroit in 1967. Michael Skill, who has played both bass and guitar for the power-pop rock 'n' roll band The Romantics, was a budding teenager in 1967 when five days of racially charged riots tore apart Detroit in July. When it was over, 43 people lay dead, 1,189 had been injured, more than 7,200 had been arrested and more than 2,000 buildings had been destroyed.

Skill lived on Detroit's East Side and says that although the violence took place several miles from his home, he nonetheless saw its effects up close. “I remember the National Guard right down the street from my house,” he says. “People watching the riots on TV were afraid that rioters would come into our neighborhood. People were freaked out.” The riots changed his beloved Motor City forever. “A lot of my friends' families took off for the suburbs after that,” he says, noting his family chose to stay in the city.

The riot's effects – and the fact that many of the issues they raised, from police brutality to economic decay – stayed with Skill, culminating in his desire to write “67 Riot.” Loud, powerful and evocative of tough tunes by such rockers as Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix and Skill's fellow Detroit rockers, The MC 5, “67 Riot” is both a haunting look at the past as well as a timely allusion to the present, in a world where racial and social tension still threaten to rend our nation in two.

“I wrote the song from a sense of frustration that people never came together after the riots to really address what happened, to look each other in the eye and say, 'How can we repair this? How can we move forward?'” The song's lyrics are written from this point of view. “4 AM/Down the street/Cops roll in/With all the heat/Blind pig roaring/Kickin' their heels/Soldiers home/Just gettin' real,” the song opens. “Rooftop sniper/Set the sight/Burning cocktails/Flash in flight/Broken city/Broken dreams/Things aren't always what they seem/67 Riot!”

Recorded in Skill's own studio, the song features him on guitar, bass and vocals, and also features drummer Russell Ayers, who engineered the tune. The co-producers sought to create an aural equivalent of what it was like to live through this violent time, Skill says, but he adds that he wanted the song to end on a note of hope because Detroit has rebounded in recent years.

“Try to warm your heart/Dream your dreams/Break the chain/Let's start clean,” he adds in his song, noting it’s time to break the chain of racism that has shackled generations before, during and after “67 Riot.”

The Romantics are still touring, still recording and currently feature 3 original band members on the front line up, Rich Cole, Wally Palmar and co-founder Michael Skill. Drummer Brad Elvis joined The Romantics in 2004 and has been the longest seated drummer with the band. Rich Cole rejoined the band in 2010, reviving the band's 3-part harmony allowing The Romantics to perform songs from their first two albums live for the first time since his departure.

Buy Michael Skill's “'67 Riot” single:

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