Red Light Management
By MATT FRIEDLANDER, ABC News
Styx singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw will release a cover of the 1971 Led Zeppelin classic “Going to California” this Friday as a digital single and via streaming services.
Shaw explains that he recorded the track a number of years ago at his home studio in the Los Angeles area with frequent collaborator Will Evankovich, at a time when he was considering making a second covers album with Shaw Blades, his side project with his ex-Damn Yankees band mate Jack Blades of Night Ranger.
The covers album never came together, but Tommy says he recently listened to his version of “Going to California” again with Styx manager Charlie Brusco, who suggested he release the track now “to help fill the musical void that the lockdown had created.”
Shaw says of his version of the song, which was mixed in Nashville, “Robert Plant‘s original vocal is stellar, but I tried to make it my own while honoring its essence. I hope you enjoy it!”
A few days ago, Tommy eluded to the new song’s impending arrival in a video message posted on Styx’s social media sites.
“Hey, everybody. Nice to see you,” Shaw says in the clip. “Hope you’re enjoying your time at home. Staying sane, staying safe. We’ve been kind of busy here in Styx world. Lots of things going on…On Friday the 22nd, we have something that’s gonna come out on streaming just for you. Something special for these times that you might not be expecting. A little piece of music for me…[W]e’re all very excited about it.”
Tommy also reveals during the message that Styx is “working on a new album.”
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Coming next Friday. Any guesses? pic.twitter.com/AKJ1AFO95R
— Styx (@STYXtheBand) May 15, 2020