the kills

The Kills Unveil New Single; “List Of Demands” Out Today Cover Version of Saul Williams’ “List Of Demands” b/w Peter Tosh’s “Steppin’ Razor” New US Shows Announced, with Saul Williams Joining LA Show Art by Shepard Fairey

STREAM Both Tracks on DSPs HERE

For their latest attack, the Domino artists The Kills re-wired the circuits of Saul Williams‘ “List of Demands (Reparations)” to create a wounded, volcanic, and urgent anthem. An opaque but powerful litany that could incite the most apathetic to action, a wake-up call capable of being interpreted as personal or political. The song comes backed with a dazzling cover of Peter Tosh‘s “Steppin’ Razor”. Artwork for the single was created especially for the release by Shepard Fairey. The greatest duos teeter on the cliff’s edge between chaos and equilibrium, salvation and obliteration, 10,000-watt voltage and gothic darkness. For a decade and a half, The Killshave mastered that savage balance, unleashing artful detonation and subtle vocal and guitar violence. That’s five albums and four EPs where Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince reimagined the possibilities of modern duality-alchemizing garage rock, punk, and blues into smoke clouds, psychic carnage, and a smoldering nocturnal slink. A northwest passage between Outkast and Suicide. WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “LIST OF DEMANDS” HERE (directed by Ben Strebel) PRE-ORDER THE 7″ HERE “It’s a song of strength and empowerment, rooted in the idea of rising above,” Mosshart says.   “It was one of those songs you’re almost scared to cover, because it carries so much respect. It wasn’t a straight up love song or a drug song. It was defined, serious, and perfect already. With certain songs, you feel like an intruder trying to sing them, but this one felt like my own.” You can only cover a classic by successfully re-inventing it from the foundation up. In this instance, Mosshart and Hince slowed down Williams’ blistering post-punk and quasi-rap testament to political courage, to something resembling slightly sped-up dub-full of booming drums, gorgeous negative space, and Mosshart’s concealed dagger yawp. The Williams original carried a special resonance after becoming one of the backstage jams regularly played before Kills’ shows. The banger you play to hype yourself prior to getting on-stage and trying to conquer the world. Williams’ lyrics brilliantly double as self-motivational propulsion and a poetic indictment of various iniquities. It’s somehow vague enough to allow for any application, but it’s as personal as blood dripping on a ransom note. Decamping to the legendary Sunset Sound in Hollywood with producer Chris Coady, The Kills recorded both songs in three days. Until they entered the studio, they’d never sat down and played either. It took myriad approaches at varying tempos-searching for the right groove they found it. Only when they slowed it down to double time did the new haunting melody emerge. “List of Demands” was so impactful to us-it was the kind of song that would come on backstage and everyone would stop what they were doing and stand up,” Hince says. “The more I found myself listening to the lyrics, the more I heard in them, and found myself singing along with goose bumps. The brilliant thing about it is that it speaks to so many different ideas-a true underground thing like the best Iggy Pop songs.” Saul Williams returned the compliment, waxing rhapsodically about The Kills’ tribute. “I always felt envious of the way the 60’s generation shared songs and ideologies. Jimi singing Dylan. Rotary Connection singing Otis Redding. The Stones singing the blues,” Williams said. “This is all part of the beauty and power of music and it reverberates deeply in me. All this to say, I’m honored. I liked The Kills before they chose to cover ‘LOD.’ If they can feel themselves in that song, it’s because they are as much a part of it as I am.” It’s an affirmation of the profound meaning that a song can inhabit, particularly in times of turmoil and duress. The Kills channeled those past nexuses, creating a new form from biblical material, another attack on complacency, a tribute to the joys of flux, a transmission that carries on the unwavering belief that some things must change. Artist Shepard Fairey, whose striking image was created for the single’s sleeve art, says, “I’ve been a fan of The Kills for years, and I initially loved them because I can’t say no to great garage rock with attitude, grit, and a vocalist in Alison Mosshart with a ridiculous amount of heart and soul. In recent years though, they’ve turned into even more than that. They’re now great songwriters who have stayed true to their roots but also expanded their musical palette. When Alison and Jamie approached me about doing the art for the song “List of Demands” and shared their version of the song, I was excited both because I love their version of the song, and I think it’s a song that makes sense for the state of things in the world right now. We need music that speaks to the struggles of the average person in the face of oppressive powers. The art I created was meant to reflect the sentiment of the song and the idea that people have power in numbers and are looking back at those in power with their hands up, making their demands. The do-it-yourself spirit of punk rock and activist propaganda influenced the art and design.” The Kills have announced upcoming US shows, with all going on sale tomorrow. Saul Williams will join The Kills for the LA show in August, and as their very special guest will play a full set prior to The Kills taking the stage. See below for worldwide dates, with US shows in bold. Get your tickets from: http://thekills.tv Monday May 14 || Lincoln Theater || Washington DC * Tuesday May 15 || Union Transfer || Philadelphia, PA * Monday June 4 || Kosmonavt || St Petersberg, Russia Wednesday June 6 || Glavclub || Moscow, Russia Saturday June 9 || Best Kept Secret || Hilvaranbeek, Netherlands Sunday June 10 || Trabrennbahn Bahrenfeld || Hamberg, Germany ** Wednesday June 13 || Stadt de Suisse || Berne, Switzerland ** Thursday June 14 || Firenze Rocks || Florence, Italy ** Sunday June 17 || Maifeld Derby Festival || Mannheim, Germany Saturday June 23 || Olympic Stadium || London, UK ** Monday June 25 || In Music Festival || Zagreb, Croatia Friday June 29 || Volt Festival || Budapest, Hungary Saturday June 30 || Aerodrome Festival || Prague, Czech Republic Monday August 13 || Regent Theatre || Los Angeles, CA *** Tuesday August 14 || Glasshouse || Pomona CA Wednesday August 16 || Belly Up Club || Aspen, CO * with Dream Wife ** with Foo Fighters *** with Saul Williams The Kills’ last release was their much-lauded June 2016 album Ash & Ice, which spawned the singles “Doing It To Death” and “Heart Of A Dog“. The band toured the album for 18 months performing at multiple festivals, including Coachella and David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption, and performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with James Corden and Conan. They appeared in the recent Nashville episode of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown on CNN, in which Alison toured Nashville with Bourdain before the band played a song live for a scene in the show. Praise for The Kills: “The most reliably great and sexually charged duo in blues-rock.” – New York Times “Mosshart remains one of rock’s most dynamic vocalists, and she’s never sounded better..” – Entertainment Weekly “Alison Mosshart of The Kills is one of the best rock frontpeople around these days.” – Billboard “…a band confident in their own skin, their identity clearer than ever, their

The Kills Announce Echo Home – Non-Electric EP in Celebration of 15th Anniversary

Featuring Acoustic Versions of Tracks New and Old

Plus Cover of Rihanna’s “Desperado” – watch the video HERE

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The Kills – Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince – will release the Echo Home – Non-Electric EP digitally on June 2nd, with a limited edition 10” vinyl release available for pre-order today.

Both the physical and digital versions of the Echo Home – Non-Electric EP will feature audio from a stripped down session the band captured recently at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Alongside “Echo Home”, the EP features Ash & Ice track “That Love”, a cover of Rihanna’s “Desperado” (which the band originally played as part of a Sirius XMU session), and the song “Wait”, off the band’s first ever release, Black Rooster EP, which celebrates it’s 15 year anniversary on May 28th.

The Black Rooster EP was originally released on Dim Mak in 2002 and was the start of what’s been an incredible career for Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince of The Kills.
With five full-length albums (the most recent being 2016’s Ash & Ice), four EPs, a documentary, and countless live shows under their belt, the passion and fire they continue to bring to every recording and performance is extraordinary.

In their 15th year as a band, The Kills have been looking back and celebrating with a string of anniversary shows and retrospective features, and now this re-recording of “Wait”, one of the first Kills songs ever released. Steve Aoki, owner of Dim Mak and another artist who has proven a career with similar staying power, recently had some words to share on the release of Black Rooster:

“Many moons ago, back in 2002, I had to make a decision whether to pursue a Ph.D. Program or continue with my label Dim Mak & after hearing a demo from The Kills and becoming the first American label to release their EP Black Rooster, I knew what path I was going to choose. They took me under their wing and I hit the road with them as their tour manager, merch guy, driver (we all took turns) and label. I’ll never forget that and love Jamie and Alison forever. Thank you for believing in lil me when not many people gave two shits about Dim Mak and what we were doing. Ride or Die.” – STEVE AOKI

Watch The Kills perform “Desperado” (Non-Electric Version) HERE
Pre-order the 10” HERE, buy the download HERE and stream HERE

The Kills will be appearing on the July 12th episode of the Jimmy Kimmel Show.

Echo Home – Non-Electric EP cover art

ECHO HOME 10”:
A1. Echo Home
A2. Desperado
B1. Wait
B2. That Love

ECHO HOME DIGITAL EP:
1. Echo Home (album version)
2. Echo Home (acoustic)
3. Desperado (acoustic)
4. Wait (acoustic)
5. That Love (acoustic)

The Kills Tour Dates
Sat May 27 || Liverpool, UK || Liverpool Sound City
Sunday May 28 || Margate, UK || Margate Wonderland
Tues May 30 || London, UK || Shepherds Bush Empire
Fri June 2 || Saint-Brieuc, France || Art Rock Festival
Sat June 3 || Saint-Laurent-De-Cuves, France || Papillons De Nuit Festival
Tues June 6 || Prague, Czech Republic || Roxy
Wed June 7 || Liepzig, Germany || Taubchenthal
Fri June 9 || Copenhagen, Denmark || Vega
Sat June 10 || Aarhus, Denmark || Northside Festival
Tues June 13 || Munich, Germany || Olympic Stadium *
Fri June 16 || London, UK || London Stadium *
Sat June 17 || London, UK || London Stadium *
Sat June 24 || Athens, Greece || Ejekt Festival
Mon June 19 || Helsinki, Finland || Rock The Beach #
Wed June 21 || Riga, Latvia || Lucavsala Island #
Thurs June 29 || Gydnia, Poland || Open’er
Sun July 2 || Werchter, Belgium || Rock Werchter
Fri July 7 || Lisbon, Portugal || Nos Alive
Mon July 10 || Montreaux, Switzerland || Montreaux Jazz Festival
Wed July 12 || Dour, Belgium || Dour Festival
Sun July 16 || Berlin, Germany || Melt Festival
Sat August 12 || Bucharest, Romania || Summer Well Festival
Tues August 15 || Budapest, Hungary || Sziget Festival
Thurs August 17 || Gampel, Switzerland || Open Air Gampel
Sat August 19 || Zagreb, Croatia || Tvornica Kulture
Fri August 25 || Charleville Mezières, France || Cabaret Vert
Sat August 26 || Paris, France || Rock En Seine
Tues September 19 || Porto Alegre, Brazil || Anfiteatro Parque (Outdoor) %
Thurs September 21 || Rio, Brazil || Rock In Rio
Sat September 23 || Sao Paulo, Brazil || Allianz Parque %

* = with Guns ‘N’ Roses
# = with Foo Fighters
% = with Bon Jovi

Ash & Ice is available to buy now.
The Kills / Dom Mart / iTunes

http://www.thekills.tv
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