Kix vocalist Steve Whiteman will release his first solo album, You’re Welcome, tomorrow as the band prepare to headline Friday at the M3 Festival, Merriweather Post Pavilion.
With COVID-19 killing any touring plans, Whiteman used the downtime to write and record the album. “Not being able to play for over a year gave me the opportunity to get together with some friends and make an album of these songs,” Whiteman told MetalTalk. “It was great having something to do during COVID-19. We all had a great time making this record, and I’m very proud of it.”
You’re Welcome is sure to add to the singers legacy, which spans over 35 years with Kix. “I knew pretty early on this music wasn’t Kix music and that it was definitely going to be for my solo thing,” says Whiteman.
A familiar title
The title may sound familiar to Kix fans. “It comes from a bit I do during Kix shows where I ask our crowds for a response. I demand they reply, ‘You’re welcome’, and every time I say, ‘Thank you,'” Whiteman says.
The album artwork contains his signature and a stick man self-portrait. “That started when Kix’s first album came out, and the label had us do all these local in-stores,” Whiteman says. “It was madness because we would be sitting there for like two or three hours just signing albums.
“People were always saying things like, ‘Write something special to me’ or ‘do something special,’ and I just ran out of ideas. Finally, I just started doing this little stick man as a portrait — and it kinda stuck. When people ask for my autograph now, they want my stick man — and now everybody can get it on the cover of my album.”
You can order You’re Welcome from rightrocksportswear.com/kix/steve-youre-welcome
M3 Festival, Merriweather
The internationally-renowned ’80s Metal festival looks set to bust the COVID-19 blues with another fantastic three-day arena rock experience.
Over twelve years, the M3 festival has grown to attract fans from six continents, 20 countries and every US state. This years line-up is exciting, and the weekend promises to be an emotional release from eighteen months of COVID-19 tribulations.
The weekend kicks of with the annual party on 2 July, with The Iron Maidens opening proceedings, before Heaven’s Edge, Slaughter and Kix take to the stage.
Saturday, 3 July, has Queensrÿche headlining, tantalisingly supported by Accept, Winger and Steven Adler, with Steelheart, Bulletboys, Hurricane and Enuff Z’Nuff earlier in the day.
US Independence day has Night Ranger headlining the 4 July festivities, with Warrant, Great White, Lita Ford, Steve Riley’s LA Guns, Faster Pussycat, Pretty Boy Floyd and Little Caesar also appearing.
There are still a few tickets left, which can be purchased from ticketmaster.com. For more details, visit the M3 website at m3rockfest.com
For those who can’t make the venue, a festival live stream is available. For more details, visit m3rockfest.veeps.com
