Serving as Bon Jovi‘s guitarist since 2016, Phil X is also the leader of Phil X & the Drills, who recently issued a brand new single, “Don’t Wake Up Dead,” with a full-length to follow on March 28th, entitled POW! Right In The Kisser. Mr. X recently discussed both with BraveWords correspondent Greg Prato, and how “Don’t Wake Up Dead” was a long time in the making.
“Years ago, and I want to say it was 2015 that we tracked the drums with Ray Luzier at Studio 606 in Northridge, which is the Foo Fighters studio, and it took us that long to put it all together,” X said. “But as you hear that song start is exactly how it was in my head when I was driving around, which is where driving around is where I come up with my best material. So I was just driving around, I think it was in Simi Valley years ago, and I was just [sings melody of song]. And that just popped into my head.”
“And then the more I kept writing, the more I realized that I didn’t have the title yet, but I just feel like it’s one of those things, man, you can wake up and feel amazing and conquer the day. Or you can get up and feel terrible and just kind of go through the motions of life. And to me, that’s kind of waking up dead, you know? Lyrically, that’s what I had in mind.”
“It’s a driving track. I think Ray was the perfect drummer for it. He killed it. I got Dan Spriewald, who’s my left wing for life, on bass and background vocals. And I thought it came out great.”
And when it comes to the forthcoming 11-track LP, fans can expect a star-studded affair, as a variety of special guest drummers lent a hand: Tommy Lee, Kenny Aronoff, Tico Torres, Liberty DeVitto, and the aforementioned Luzier, among others.
“This is the first single of three with an album coming out on Frontiers Records in March – POW! Right in the Kisser,” added X. “I think my generation gets [the title]. I don’t think the younger generation gets that, but it’s one of those things from a black and white movie or TV show, ‘One of these days, ‘Pow right in the kisser.’ To me, it just makes sense. I like my rock and roll to punch you in the face. I like my guitar playing to punch you in the face. It’s better than, you know, handing you a flower. I want it to have attitude.”
Source: bravewords.com
