Iconic rock and roller Ian Hunter brings his perspective on our wild world with both outrage and hope on Defiance Part 2: Fiction on Sun Records on 4/19. Ten new original tracks written by Hunter feature fellow rock royalty like Brian May, Lucinda Williams, Cheap Trick, Benmont Tench plus members of Def Leppard, Stone Temple Pilots and more. Also included are some of the final recordings of Taylor Hawkins and Jeff Beck. Also, pressed on red vinyl, the album art is a portrait of Ian by Johnny Depp.
The release is Friday, April 19.
A limited-edition 2LP vinyl edition of "Defiance Part 2: Fiction" featuring three bonus tracks will be available exclusively on Record Store Day, set for Saturday, April 20.
There is a star-studded cast:
Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson (CHEAP TRICK),Brian May (QUEEN), Lucinda Williams, Dean DeLeo, Robert De Leo and Eric Kretz (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS), Joe Elliott and Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD), Johnny Depp, Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew (THE BOXMASTERS), Benmont Tench (TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS, BOB DYLAN),Waddy Wachtel (STEVIE NICKS, JACKSON BROWNE), David Mansfield (BOB DYLAN, T BONE BURNETT), Tony Shanahan (PATTI SMITH), Steve Holley (WINGS), Morgan Fisher (MOTT THE HOOPLE), and — in what proved among their final studio recordings — the late, great Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins (FOO FIGHTERS). Additionally, for the Record Store Day vinyl, the special guests on two tracks include Mike McCready and Matt Cameron (PEARL JAM),Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson (THE BLACK CROWES).
Defiance Part 2: Fiction is the follow-up to rock legend Ian Hunter’s successful 2023 album, Defiance. Featuring another stacked lineup of guest appearances, including Johnny Depp, Lucinda Williams, Brian May, to list a few, as well as Jeff Beck’s final recordings, this Deluxe Edition 2 LP set contains three exclusive bonus tracks and is pressed on translucent yellow vinyl for Record Store Day.
Having long used his voice to explore and examine contemporary issues, Hunter is once more pointing his passionate pen at a society seemingly more out of control with each passing day.
"I was trying to avoid all that on 'Part 1'," Hunter says, "but on 'Part 2', it caught up with me. Most of those were written two or three years back, so I wanted to get it all out before whatever takes hold in November. It would be dated after the fact."
Songs like the legalization anthem "Weed" — featuring STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' Dean DeLeo (guitar), Robert DeLeo (bass) and Eric Kretz (drums) — and the epic "Fiction", with keyboards from MOTT THE HOOPLE's Morgan Fisher and a stirring string arrangement from David Mansfield (BOB DYLAN, T BONE BURNETT), are full of righteous fury and vibrant spirit, Hunter's perspective and gift for protest music as clear-eyed and independent as ever.
"I'm neither left nor particularly right," Hunter adds. "I'm just straight down the middle. And so I tried to write from that point of view. An eagle has two wings and if one falls off it perishes. That's what I'm trying to get at. A bit of common sense, you know, Thomas Paine stuff."
Countless highlights abound through "Defiance Part 2: Fiction", from a pair of irresistibly crunchy rockers ("People" and "Kettle Of Fish") featuring three founding members of CHEAP TRICK to the raw, emotional "What Would I Do Without You", the latter of which sees Hunter sharing lead vocals with Lucinda Williams — the first duet in his extensive canon.
That point is not true. Ian has sung with Genya Ravan, his son Jesse, and on Mike Campbell's "Dirty Job."
Hunter is currently hard at work writing songs for a third installment in the "Defiance" project. Though born from expediency and quarantine, the communal nature of "Defiance" has proven a remarkably fruitful creative path for Ian Hunter, still another collaborative milestone in his indefatigable journey through rock 'n' roll.
1. People
Dane Clark: Drums
Tom Petersson: Bass
Robin Zander: Keyboard, Background Vocals
Robin-Sailor, RTZ: Background Vocals
Rick Nielsen: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Mark Bosch: Electric Guitar
Joe Elliott: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Piano
2. Fiction
Dane Clark: Drums, China Cymbal
Steve Holley: Tambourine, Toms, Cymbal Swell
David Mansfield: Strings and String Arrangement
Morgan Fisher: Piano Solo and Organ
Andy York: Bass, 12-String, Baritone and Electric Guitar
Ian Hunter: Piano
3. The 3rd Rail
Dane Clark: Drums
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Jeff Beck - Lead Guitar
Johnny Depp: Acoustic and Electric Rhythm Guitar
Ian Hunter: Piano
(Dedicated to Jeff)
4. This Ain't Rock And Roll
Dane Clark: Drums
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Phil Collen: Background Vocals
Andy York: Slide and Electric Guitar
Ian Hunter: Piano
5. Precious
Taylor Hawkins: Drums
Brian May: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Bass
Joe Elliott: Background Vocals
James Mastro: Sax Abuse
Ian Hunter: Piano
https://youtu.be/dnQ0DNCmLn0?si=nnbhIzXn1VCw6JNW
6. Weed
Eric Kretz: Drums
Robert De Leo: Bass
Dean DeLeo: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Slide Guitar
Andy Burton: Organ
Dennis DiBrizzi: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Piano
7. Kettle Of Fish
Taylor Hawkins: Drums
Dane Clark: Drums and Snare Section
Tom Petersson: Bass
Robin Zander: Background Vocal
Rick Nielsen: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Steve Holley: Tambourine
Tommy Mandel: Organ
Andy York: Baritone Guitar, Background Vocal
Ian Hunter: Electric Guitar
8. What Would I Do Without You
Dane Clark: Drums
Lucinda Williams: Lead and Background Vocals
Benmont Tench: Organ
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Andy Burton: Electric Piano
Andy York: Baritone Guitar
Ian Hunter: Piano
9. Everybody's Crazy But Me
Taylor Hawkins: Drums
Waddy Wachtel: Electric Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Benmont Tench: Organ
Steve Holley: Maracas, Tambourine
Paul Page: Bass
James Mastro: Electric Guitar
Dennis DiBrizzi, Andy York: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Piano
10. Hope
Taylor Hawkins: Drums, Bass
Lucinda Williams: Harmony Vocal
Billy Bob Thornton: Background Vocals
Benmont Tench: Synth
Steve Holley: Maracas, Tambourine
J.D. Andrew: Electric Guitar
Andy York: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Ian Hunter: Piano
11. Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon As Possible
Kevin Hupp: Drums, Percussion
Frank Gagliardi: Bass
Rick Tedesco: Electric Guitars, 12-String Acoustic, Background Vocals
John Liguori, Michael Tedesco: Background Vocals
Ian Hunter: Acoustic Guitars
12. Needle Park
Dane Clark: Drums
Rich Robinson: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Chris Robinson: Background Vocals, Harmonica
Tony Shanahan: Bass
Mark Bosch: Electric Guitar, Solo
Steve Holley: Shaker
Ian Hunter: Piano
13. How'd Ya Like To Meet Henry
Matt Cameron: Drums, Percussion
Mike McCready: Electric Guitar
Joe Elliott: Background Vocals
Mark Bosch: Electric Guitar
James Mastro: Resonator Guitar
Andy York: Bass
Ian Hunter: Piano
All songs written by Ian Hunter
Produced by Andy York and Ian Hunter
Mixed by James Frazee