GUNS N' ROSES bassist and New York Times best-selling author Duff McKagan has released "Last September", a new track from his much-anticipated solo album, "Tenderness". As McKagan tells it, the spare and compelling "Last September" was inspired by the harrowing experiences shared by #MeToo abuse survivors. "I heard and read some awful stories," he says. "As the father of two girls, I felt the need to write this song. If I have any job in the world, it's to protect the women in my life." "Last September" lyrics: No she can't remember They said there's too much pain It happened last September From some familiar man Why, d'she/he have to think about a plan (And why, if she had been so kind and understanding) To get away, fight and scream, a frantic plea against the pain His mom ma didn't raise a man He went and lost his temper He went and lost his brain Her tears brought his anger It sent him in a rage He's blind, what she wore, he said she planned it He lied to himself, said she could have ran She said no, he said yes, he took her down and choked her neck His momma didn't raise a man Darkest secrets get released These manic pigs and their disease He cries when he gets what comes his way His momma didn't raise a man Darkest secrets get released These manic pigs and their disease Why, d'she/he have to think about a plan (And why, if she had been so kind and understanding) To get away, fight and scream, a frantic plea against the pain But life goes on, and so will she, Getting stronger, shedding skin Scrapes and scars will fade away Those memories will always stay [End of lyrics] "I wanted to make the man in the song as awful as possible," says McKagan. "I wanted to make him a warning. We hear stories of people showing signs beforehand...and we hear also, that something could have been done. I don't have an answer, and the song doesn't either. The hope is to simply raise awareness of distressing signals that some may display." "Last September" follows the recent release of "Don't Look Behind You", "Chip Away" and "Tenderness". The full track listing for "Tenderness" is as follows: 01. Tenderness 02. It's Not Too Late 03. Wasted Heart 04. Falling Down 05. Last September 06. Chip Away 07. Cold Outside 08. Feel 09. Breaking Rocks 10. Parkland 11. Don't Look Behind You Also available for pre-order is a special limited-edition "Tenderness" deluxe book, which includes the album on 180-gram yellow-and-red starburst vinyl, the CD, and features an exclusive lithograph signed and numbered by McKagan. The hard cover book contains 40-pages of photos from the recording sessions and also presents liner notes written by Duff detailing his experiences with each song and the project as a whole. The vinyl features 10 tracks and a unique sequence carefully selected by McKagan and the album's Grammy-winning producer Shooter Jennings, while the CD includes 11 tracks. "Tenderness" sees McKagan reflecting on his experiences traveling the globe over two and a half years on GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" tour. Encountering heartbreak, anger, fear, confusion and divide on his travels during this tumultuous time in our world history, McKagan channeled a collective hurt into songs of monolithic power. "We're becoming divided at a time when we need each other most," says McKagan. "When huge industries get replaced because of modernization, it's time to retrain and bolster up those who get swept aside. Homelessness and drug addiction are avoidable in this country if we come together and get private and public cogs turning together in a positive direction. We can at least try to tackle mental illness while we're at it. But alas, we stump and lie, point fingers and divide. We're way better than this. As a father, I must say and do something now because I love my girls and my wife, and I love my country, and I feel I must be strong and use my voice now, do it while I'm able or perhaps never get a chance ever again." McKagan and Jennings began recording "Tenderness" a year ago, working out of Station House studios, located in Echo Park, California, where they wrote and recorded in-between McKagan's tour with seminal rock band GUNS N' ROSES and the release of Jennings's eponymous album, "Shooter". "Tenderness" features Jennings and his band along with appearances by The Waters and The Suicide Horn Section (which features Duff's brother Matt McKagan on trombone), amongst others. More than a year later, they're gearing up to take these songs on the road for a North American tour that kicks off May 30 at TLA in Philadelphia.
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