Guitarist George Lynch recently spoke with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio and stated that he will no longer be creating music under the moniker of Lynch.
When asked if he will be making new music with the band, following on the heels of their 30th anniversary re-imagined version of their debut album, Wicked Sensation. Lynch replied (via blabbermouth.net), “No, we are not, actually. We had an opportunity to, but… With everything going on right now in the world, it was really sort of an epiphany moment. I just kind of woke up and said, ‘You know, I think with this record, this is our swan song. I think this would be a good place to exit the stage.’ We’ve created this bookend — answer to the first record.”
He continued, “The name itself, of course, has always been problematic, and now it’s inexcusable to keep the name. So, things have just sort of all conspired. A lot of different events triangulated to this point where it just makes sense on every single level to just let it go and wrap it up with and nice neat bow with this record and move on.”
Lynch also added that there will will not be any more live performances or recordings under the band name, either.
“I’m not gonna tour anymore with that name or put out any more records with that name,” he said. “I’ll probably still play with some of the same people; we’ll just call it something else. I’m just finishing up my fourth album for this year, so I’ve got plenty of projects that I can do. And I’m starting a fourth KXM record later this summer. And I’ve got an instrumental record coming out, and another project I did with Jeff Pilson called Heavy Hitters, which is really interesting. It’s two songs from [each of] the last five decades that we re-interpreted and reimagined, again, and had a lot of fun with. So we have everything on there from Little Richard to Madonna to Timbaland to Duran Duran — just all kinds of different music that we had fun with. And so there may be a series of those records. We just finished the first volume, and we may be doing a series of those. So, I’ve got a lot of other projects that keep me busy.”
| Wicked Sensation Reimagined is being released as a special limited print/deluxe anniversary edition of the album available through Rat Pak Records on August 28th (also available in Japan via Marquee/Avalon). The twelve-track album features re-worked and re-recorded versions of their 1990 classic. The album is available in multiple bundle configurations including: a limited print Yellow and Black splatter vinyl (Limited to 500), hand autographed CD bundles and cassettes and more. The various album bundles are now available for pre-order at: www.ratpakrecords.com/lynchmob. The album can also be ordered digitally via iTunes at https://smarturl.it/LynchMobws30. Fans that order the album digitally via iTunes will receive an instant download of Wicked Sensation (Reimagined). |
To view a track list, and to read more about this special release, please click here.
41 Responses
I would like to add some food for thought I have a female friend , she is black and she plays in a metal band and is very aware of dokken and lynch mob , her thoughts ……she told me when she heard the band name for the very first time her breath caught in her throat and she immediately went to those horrific images of black men hanging from trees , she was very disappointed and wondered why did he choose this name .
Being white I can obviously never understand what it’s like to be black in america , she has been the target of some pretty awful racist remarks and hate, just wanted to highlight a different perspective ~
Robert,
That’s fair enough, as I believe most people are perfectly aware of what a Lynch Mob is, how awful they were, and the images it conjures up. However, on the flip side, just as many people are conscious of the fact that Mr. Lynch is using it as a play on words, and it was never meant to offend, or hurt, anyone.
There are a few songs in metal that offend me, or topics that I find quite objectionable, due to my lineage, but I just don’t listen to them, or support the bands by buying their music or merchandise.
We are living in overly sensitive times, and caving in to the demands, from every special interest group, isn’t the most productive course of action, either. There has to be a happy medium somewhere, otherwise you are left with extremism, and that, unto itself, is very dangerous.
D 🙂
You know, I’ve known (and still do) many, many black people in my life, many black friends, not 1, NOT 1, ever mentioned anything about being a victim of racist remarks and hatred, I just think many people exaggerate the truth and reality, especially today. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying racism doesn’t still exist, but let’s be honest and just remember, racism is a two way street. Many white people are victims of hate crimes as well for absolutely no reason at all, except just for the color of THEIR skin as well. This is 2020, not 1920, there are just as many opportunities today for EVERYBODY to make a good life for themselves, if they so choose. Nobody can change the past, all we can do is learn from it, and move on, problem is today too many people are still living in the past, and holding it against people who had nothing to do with it, with that era. Too many people using the past as an excuse for their actions and behavior today, and that’s just wrong. Lynch Mob has been around for how many years now? And now all of a sudden their name is offensive? Where and when will this political BS end? The media is mostly to blame for turning people against each other, it’s time to show the media what the real human spirit is all about. Don’t let them control or manipulate your mind, be your own person, in America, everyone is free to control their own destiny, and make their own choices and decisions, like choosing their own band name!
Well said and thoughts to ponder Dana, Doug and Robert.
That being said, I am well aware of the injustices and pain cruelty committed against people of color and other ethnic and religious groups, however I doubt George Lynch was looking to summon this when he chose the name. Same goes for fans of his.
Seriously, the image of the gallows and hanging brings to mind many other things for me, the old American West, Boot Hill and a word game that a sixth grade teacher once played with his class.
I am not trying to minimize what it could mean to other people and I believe that events from that time period should still be taught and exposed to students and not erased or sanitized. It is what it is, history. One doesn’t have to be enthusiastic about the subject, but it could still teach.
Injustices and cruelty are committed against people of all walks of life, not just people of color. That’s exactly just what the news media want people to believe. Here’s a fact, 1 is too many, of course, 8 unarmed black men have been shot by police this year, how many unarmed white men have been shot by police this year? 11! Where’s the outrage? Where’s CNN demanding an investigation into those shootings? Where’s the protests and calls for boycotts when an unarmed young white man gets shot?? Where?? It’s called political double standard bullsh-t! It shouldn’t matter if you’re black, white, gay, straight, male, female, or what nationality or religion you are, nobody should ever be treated unfairly or unjustly. The media has to stop portraying all white people as “racists,” especially if you’re a Republican, or a conservative, or even an Independent, they are the ones pouring fuel on the fire and tearing our country apart.
Ridiculous accusations like, if you don’t like rap then you must be a racist, really? Stupid sh-t like that has to stop! If a black person doesn’t like heavy metal, does that mean that they’re racist? Of course not, same goes for a white person that doesn’t like rap. Talk about “waking up,” now that all sports have been taking over by politics (BIG MISTAKE) their ratings are lower than ever, as they should be! I watched baseball and hockey for 2 reasons, for the love of the game, and for an escape, an escape from things like, “current events,” and especially POLITICS! But now that my favorite sports have been politicized, I will never watch baseball, hockey, or even Nascar again! And I’m not the only one.
– 1 more thing as far as sports go, we shouldn’t have to be reminded 24/7 of all the problems and BS going on in the world today. If I turn on a game, I’m tuning in to watch a game, not a “statement.” I don’t need to be lectured, or distracted by kneeling, fists in the air, personal feelings written all over uniforms, scoreboards, or billboards inside OR outside of an arena or stadium. Just play the damn game!!! That’s all they had to do, but they ruined it, for me, and many, many other fans as well.
True, so true.
The media and most of these celebrities and the many behind and associated with them sure keep adding logs to the fire.
I hate having white folks who did quite well under the evil, capitalist system that they so despise lecture to the peons about their privilege and how they are sorry for it.
Best off not to be swayed by all the noise and just try to keep ones own views.
To think that decades ago that some were all in a kerfufel (is that how it’s spelled) about their work being censored and having warning labels attached to it.
Rob,
Those were much “simpler” and far better times.
D 🙂
Didn’t a great man once say “If you listen to fools, the mob rules.?”
Excellent, Randy.
The Internet has “empowered” and “given a voice to” all sorts of people – from people suffering genuine oppression and the just plain lonely, to flat earthers and pedophiles, and more recently, the easily offended and hyper-sensitive.
Snowflakes have always been around – check out Gary Larson’s essays on the history of The Far Side. He was getting threats of violence and boycotts for “problematic” cartoons of dogs and cats. But Twitter is the perfect and more effective vehicle for those people: they can build an army of like-minded supporters who cheer them on as they make their claims – if they whine in person, they have to explain their complaint to a supervisor struggling to stifle laughs or eye rolls.
Needless to say, the lyrics of rock songs are a minefield for those people, and it’s only a matter of time before some bands start getting targeted for being whatever. If it can happen to Rush, it can happen to anyone.
The only response I can think of is to do what UK comedian Andrew Doyle did with the “Titania McGrath” Twitter account – parody these people mercilessly.
Why not fight the coming campaign against rock lyrics by creating “#TipperGoreWasRight!” ?
Tyger,
It is so funny that you mentioned Gary Larson, as I used to have a Far Side daily calendar. I had no idea that he was targeted, but I did hear that he is planning a return. I wonder if it is because of the current climate? Interesting.
D 🙂
I heard that too, to which I can only think that he’s either going to get creamed in an unfamiliar environment, since he retired The Far Side before most started using the Internet, or he’s going to be far more experienced than most in dealing with stupidity.
Apparently one of the cartoons that elicited the most outrage back in the day was a dog twisting a cat’s tale like a lasso. I can see a “cat’s lives matter” campaign being started either out of ridicule or out of genuine conviction. These days, it’s almost impossible to distinguish parody from the woke maniacs.
Tyger,
I agree, it seems America has lost its sense of humor. My mother and I were discussing how so many sitcoms, series and movies could never be made today. Some examples would be All in The Family, Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons, etc.
D 🙂
I love all those shows! Because they just simply make you laugh.
Dana, we definitely live in an overly sensitive outrage and cancel culture right now, and I agree with you and many of the other comments George’s post generated we can’t go too far catering to what everyone wants , we are also a very divided country right now , I was offering my friends perspective as a black fan of and performer of metal , I personally think George did the right thing even though it seems ridiculous , but I’m almost 100 percent certain black fans of metal (which there are many ) would also agree he did the right thing –
Robert,
I understand, but this begs the question why didn’t George, who is one of my all time favorite guitarists. ever, consider that the name could be polarizing, to some back in 1990, when he formed the band? Its meaning was no less controversial and had he chosen another moniker, we might not even be having this current discourse. Just something to ponder, and also a possible commentary on how attitudes have gotten far more puritanical with time, not less, as is customary.
D 🙂
Pretty soon, the band Great White will be announcing a change to their band name…….
LOL! Bro, it wouldn’t surprise me! Actually, nothing would shock me anymore. Watch out White Lion, Whitesnake, you might be next on the “list!”