Bryan Adams is releasing a special double A-side single featuring two songs – War Machine and Rock And Roll Hell through his new independent label, Bad Records. These songs were originally written by Adams, Jim Vallance, and Gene Simmons for KISS’ 1982 album Creatures of the Night.
Rock And Roll Hell has been released digitally now, accompanied by a video filmed on the rooftop of London’s Royal Albert Hall during Adams‘ recent residency there. Watch it below and
The 7″ vinyl single is available for pre-order now ahead of its release on August 30th via platoon.lnk.to/rock-and-roll-hell.
Bryan comments: “To commemorate the first single on Bad Records, here are two songs I co-wrote when I was a 22 year old struggling songwriter.
I got a call out of the blue from producer Michael James Jackson to see if I would like to write for KISS, which I was thrilled to do, and these are a couple of the songs that were the result, written with both Gene Simmons and Jim Vallance.
While sitting with the band, Gene played me this fantastic bass riff, which ended up being the backbone of War Machine’ I was trying to think of a theme that could possibly match the riff and came up with the title. Seeing as the other song we’d written was about hell, War was the obvious theme to coincide with it.
Rock and Roll Hell was actually Jim’s song that had been released a few years earlier with Bachman Turner Overdrive, and I suggested, that we re-write it for KISS. It’s incredible to think these themes are unfortunately still playing out for real in the world today, but I’m very grateful to the KISS guys for giving me the chance back then.”
Following this songwriting work for KISS, Bryan’s solo career went on to hit new heights of success with the release of his award winning Top 10 album Cuts Like A Knife in 1983, while Reckless the following year shot him to global super-stardom.
Throughout his career, Adams has achieved numerous accolades. He’s topped charts in over 40 countries and received prestigious honors including Officer of the Order of Canada, 18 Juno Awards, and a Grammy. His contributions to music and film have earned him nominations for Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Adams has also been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his status as a global music icon.
7 Responses
Yeahhhh I’m not buying what Bryan is selling here. I’m a Bryan Adam’s fan and he’s written many good songs including this one. But it doesn’t fit his image and it was meant to be heavy like Kiss’ version. Interesting that Ace Frehley covered this song too. Kiss’ version will always be the best. Reckless is a great Bryan Adam’s album and my personal favorite of his. It’s Only Love with the late great Tina Turner is awesome.
I totally agree, I am a huge Adams fan as well, but no matter how much Adams/Vallance had to do with the writing of those songs, those songs ARE KI⚡️⚡️!
I don’t think Adams is trying to take ownership of those songs, nor put his version up against KISS‘, I think he was just trying to do something fun, and unique, to launch his record label.
Perhaps he is proud of those songs, and wanted to pay homage, and do his own versions?
I fully admit, that I am biased and LOVE Adams, so I have no problem with her cover. But, as I always write, all opinions are welcome, and everyone is entitled to theirs.
Seems like I remember Eddie interviewing him and he said he had never heard Kiss’s version?
I would find that very hard to believe, since Simmons was involved.
Maybe Vinnie can follow his footsteps lol
What I find interesting upon hearing Adams’ version is that it becomes very obvious (well, maybe not the subject matter of the lyrics) that he wrote the song. The chords and song structure scream Bryan Adams.