SIXX: A.M., the band featuring MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx alongside guitarist DJ Ashba and vocalist James Michael, has unleashed the first single, “Rise”, from the first volume of their upcoming double album, “Prayers For The Damned”, which drops April 29 via Eleven Seven Music. Fans can stream the rock anthem via iHeartRadio below. In celebration of the single’s release, iHeartMedia will be blasting the song across all Active and Mainstream Rock radio stations nationwide every three hours today, until midnight. Adding to the excitement, SIXX: A.M. also announced a slew of festival and headlining tour dates across the U.S., kicking off the global “Prayers For The Damned” tour cycle in Jacksonville, Florida on April 30 at Welcome To Rockville and seven major rock festivals in Europe, including Gods Of Metal (Italy), Rock Am Ring (Germany), Download and Isle Of Wight (UK).
Tickets are available for purchase via VIP presale starting on March 2 at 10 a.m. (local time) and an exclusive pre-sale, using the password “PRAYERS” beginning on March 3 at 10 a.m. (local time). The general public on-sale starts March 4 at 10 a.m. EST.
“Prayers For The Damned” will also be available to pre-order via iTunes and all digital retailers March 4, to coincide with the premiere of the “Rise” lyric video this coming Friday, March 4.
Setting the stage for the new album, “Rise” is a call-to-action for everyone to stand up for their beliefs. Describing the song’s message, Michael explains: “Throughout history, some of the most dramatic changes have occurred when people reject the status quo and demand change. ‘Rise’ is about how we find ourselves at a global tipping point and how it is our duty as citizens of this world to come together, communicate with one another and rise up to demand more of ourselves and our leaders.”
Sixx adds: “A song like ‘Rise’ speaks to the fact that you don’t have to look very far around the world to see people standing together and rising up against some oppressive force.
“We’re not a political band, but we certainly do believe in a unity between people. The only time when things make a change for the positive is when people put their differences aside, rise up and stand together.
“A big part of our message is, and will always be, finding hope in dark subject matters, taking universal messages and rendering them in a way which people can ascribe their own meanings to and relate to their own life experiences. That is something that resonates with our crowd and gives us the strength of connection we do.”
With two U.S. Billboard Top 20 albums and a string of hit singles already under their belt, “Prayers For The Damned” represents the band’s most ambitious, complete and adrenaline-soaked effort to date. James Michael once again plays triple duty on “Prayers For The Damned” as vocalist, the album’s producer and mixer, thereby solidifying the unique musicianship of this beloved hard-rock outfit. The introspective cover art for “Prayers For The Damned” is an original design created by guitarist DJ Ashba, further proving that all aspects of this album are a collaboration of true passion for the band.
“SIXX: A.M. is in the most creative place of our careers,” says Sixx. “For James, DJ and myself, we think it’s the perfect time to release so much quality music to our fans who’ve been supporting us over the last three albums.” Michael agrees: “The double albums will leave no stone unturned in our quest to create important music and push the boundaries of rock.” Ashba concludes: “We are on a mission to give our fans even more than they could have hoped for, both musically and visually.”
“Prayers For The Damned Vol. 1” track listing:
01. Rise
02. You Have Come To The Right Place
03. I’m Sick
04. Prayers For The Damned
05. Better Man
06. Can’t Stop
07. When We Were Gods
08. Belly Of The Beast
09. Everything Went To Hell
10. The Last Time (My Heart Will Hit The Ground)
11. Rise Of The Melancholy Empire
SIXX: A.M. tour dates:
Apr. 30 – Jacksonville, FL @ Welcome To Rockville
May 01 – Fort Myers, FL @ Fort Rock Festival
May 03 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
May 04 – Birmingham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheater (w/ DISTURBED and ROB ZOMBIE)
MAY 06 – CHARLOTTE, NC @ CAROLINA REBELLION
May 07 – Richmond, VA @ The National
May 08 – Bethlehem, PA @ Sand’s Event Center
May 10 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
May 11 – Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
May 13 – Ft Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
May 14 – Kansas City, MO @ KQRC’s Rockfest
May 15 – Somerset, WI @ Northern Invasion
May 17 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
May 18 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
May 20-22 – Columbus, OH @ Rock On The Range
May 21 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
May 22 – Albany, NY @ Rock ‘n Derby
May 24 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
May 27-29 – Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma
May 29 – San Antonio, TX @ River City Rockfest
Jun. 02 – Monza, IT @ Gods Of Metal
Jun. 03 – Nuremberg, DE @ Rock im Park
Jun. 05 – Mendig, DE @ Rock am Ring
Jun. 07 – Lodz, PO @ The Power Festival
Jun. 09 – Solvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 11 – Castle Donington, UK @ Download Festival
Jun. 12 – Newport, UK @ Isle of Wright Festival
Jun. 16 – Pratteln, SW @ Konzertfabrik Z7
Jun. 17 – Dessel, Belgium @ Graspop Festival
Jun. 18 – Clisson, FR @ Hellfest
Jun. 19 – Dessel, BE @ Grasspop Festival
Jun. 22 – Stockholm, SE @ Grona Lund
Jun. 23 – Copenhagen, DK @ Copenhell
Jun. 24 – Halden, NO @ Tons of Rock
Jul. 30 – Alberta, CA @ Sturgis Alberta Motorcycle Rally and Festival
Photo credit: Dustin Jack
Source: Blabbermouth
