Ben Lee Shares New Album ‘This One’s For The Old Headz’ Out 20 September
Capping an already thrilling week in which he was sampled by Allday (feat. Cub Sport) on new single ‘Miss You Still’, today eccentric Australian pop artist Ben Lee announces the release of his brand new album, This One’s For The Old Headz. The forthcoming record is due for release on Friday 20th September via his own company Weirder Together, a collaboration with his wife actress Ione Skye. Today Lee also shares lead single, ‘Heavy Metal’, alongside a music video directed by Nash Edgerton, produced by Social Register, Blue Tongue Films, and Weirder Together and all shot on film.
Recorded in just three days straight to tape with legendary power-pop rhythm section ofJon Wurster and Jason Narducy (Superchunk, Mountain Goats, Bob Mould), and produced by Justin Stanley in LA, This One’s For The Old Headz is a throwback to classic pop powers albums by artists like Teenage Fanclub, The Replacements, Big Star and the Lemonheads.
Following recent single ‘Lovers’, a track which explores the ins and outs of relationships, both past and current, ‘Heavy Metal‘ takes a different direction. Speaking on the influence behind the new single, Lee shares “When I was 10 years old I was obsessed with the Motley Crue home video ‘Uncensored’, and particularly a scene where singer Vince Neil rode down Sunset Blvd in a jacuzzi built into the back of a limo with two hot girls. It was a seminal moment for me that imprinted deeply on my nascent ideas about success, sexuality and the music industry, as an impossibly iconic symbol of hedonism and rock n roll debauchery. In some ways I’ve been chasing that moment my whole life, whatever that means. That’s what this song is about. Whatever has gone awry in my life, ‘blame it all on heavy metal.’
‘The video was directed by my old collaborator Nash Edgerton, and produced by Directors Bureau, all shot on film. It’s basically a shot by shot remake of the Penelope Spheeris documentary ‘Decline of Western Civilisation Part II: The Metal Years’ with me playing Lemmy, Gene Simmons, Ozzy and other assorted metal heads. It’s the performance I’ve been waiting my whole life to give!”
Sharing more behind the creation of the new album, Lee shares “This One’s For the Old Headz is a spirited, energetic exploration of getting older while staying true to your punk spirit. Recorded over 3 days, straight to tape, with legendary power-pop rhythm section of Jon Wurster and Jason Narducy (Superchunk, Mountain Goats, Bob Mould), and produced by Justin Stanley in Pasadena, CA. Old Headz is a throwback to classic power pop albums by artists like Teenage Fanclub, the Replacements, Big Star and the Lemonheads. With an album cover shot by legendary indie party photographer Cobrasnake, This One’s for the Old Headz is a blistering, loud guitar and harmony-filled classic Ben Lee album that is sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of old heads and young heads alike.”
This One’s For The Old Headz will be out on 20 September 2024 via Weirder Together.
This One’s For the Old Headz Tracklist:
1. The Way We Were
2. Heavy Metal
3. Positive Energy
4. Less Control
5. So Damn Hard (To Be So Damn Good)
6. Bad Luck
7. Don’t Stop Loving Too Much
9. Friends With Freaks
10. Gimmie Honey
About Ben Lee:
Honing an oeuvre of alt-pop eclecticism since he exploded onto the scene as a precocious 14-year-old with band Noise Addict in 1992, the 45-year-old is certain he’s stepping into his prime years – much like his musical heroes. With 450k monthly Spotify listeners and 73M global streams, Lee’s brutal honesty and authenticity as a singer-songwriter, etches his place as a singular voice in the pop canon.
Across his 30-year music career, the 4x ARIA award winning artist’s boasts an enviable catalogue which is presently represented by Warner Music Australia, including ‘Grandpaw Would’ [1995], ‘Something To Remember Me By’ [1997], ‘Breathing Tornados’ [1998] , 2x ARIA Platinum album ‘Awake Is The New Sleep’ [2005], ‘Ripe’ [2007], ‘The Rebirth of Venus’ [2009], ‘Deeper Into Dream ’ [2011] which have collectively spawned a multitude of chart hits, including ‘Cigarettes Will Kill You’, ‘Gamble Everything For Love’, ‘We’re All in This Together’ and ‘Catch My Disease’.
Now, collaborating with his wife, actress Ione Skye, on their company Weirder Together, Lee is supporting other artists to create bizarre and beautiful content spanning everything from podcasts to music to fanzines to film projects. The company has spawned an A.I. single from DeepFaith, a hit podcast in “Subtle Urban Sex Appeal”, taste-maker house concerts from Amyl & the Sniffers and Joanna Sternberg, and most recently Australian comedian Cameron James’ debut comedy/music single “Medium Dick” which has garnered Triple J airplay and 4 mil Instagram views. Suffice to say, Ben and Ione have a keen eye for eclectic talent. The company is a natural extension of Ben’s playful experimental attitude towards a career that has spawned iconic moments such as his short-lived side project with Ben Folds and Ben Kweller “The Bens”, his production of the Grammy-nominated Cho Dependent by Margaret Cho, his job as a band leader for the Tom Hanks produced ‘3 Minute Talk Show’ web series, or his Mixtape from Ben Lee album, where he invited guest singers such as Zooey Deschanel, Neil Finn, Luke Steele and Nina Person to sing songs he wrote especially for their voices. He has also collaborated with artists like Sarah Silverman and Lena Dunham and co-created a ‘psychedelic children’s musical about alcohol’ called B is for Beer with legendary US author Tom Robbins.
Ben Lee 2024 Live Dates
Tickets on sale here
Fri 17 May – Tanks Art Centre, Cairns, QLD
Sat 18 May – Mansfield Hotel, Townsville, QLD
Thu 23 May – Weirder Together Variety Show, Melb, VIC
Fri 24 May – Royal Theatre, Castlemaine, VIC
Sun 25 May – Memo Music Hall, St Kilda, VIC
Fri 31 May – Brunswick Picture House, Brunswick Heads, NSW
Sat 1 Jun – The Triffid (‘Small Fry Rock’), Fortitude Valley, QLD
Fri 7 Jun – Street Theatre – Canberra, ACT
Sat 8 Jun – The Marlin, Ulladulla, NSW
Fri 14 Jun – Everglades, Woy Woy, NSW
Sat 15 Jun – Avalon RSL – Avalon Beach, NSW
Fri 21 Jun – Studio 188, Ipswich, QLD
Sat 22 Jun – Kingston Butter Factory, Black Box Theatre, Kingston, QLD
Sat 29 Jun – The Concourse Lounge, Chatswood, NSW
Thu 4 Jul – Redland Performing Arts Centre, Redland, QLD
Fri 5 Jul – Star Court Theatre, Lismore, QLD
Sat 6 Jul – Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Sat 7 Jul – Hello Sailor, Port Macquarie, NSW
