Duff McKagan’s solo album Tenderness coming May 31. Album produced by and featuring Grammy winner Shooter Jennings. His North American tour kicks off May 30 in Philadelphia.

With two weeks to go before the May 31st arrival of new album Tenderness (UME), Duff McKagan is giving fans another look at the album with today’s release of the poignant “Last September” – click here to listen.

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.”

The song paints a disturbing picture:

LAST SEPTEMBER
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

“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 previously released tracks “Don’t Look Behind You,” “Chip Away” and title track “Tenderness” and all four are available as instant downloads by clicking here to pre-order Tenderness.

“People are going to herald this as one of the best albums of the year,” said SiriusXM radio host Larry Flick. “This is Americana-Duff McKagan. It’s not what you expect.”

Produced by (and featuring) recent Grammy winner Shooter Jennings, Tenderness was also just named “Best Crossover Album” by LA Weekly.

McKagan, backed by Shooter Jennings and his band, will be taking the album on the road for a North American tour that kicks off May 30 at TLA in Philadelphia, to be followed by a European run that begins August 22 in Poland.

Friday May 31st – City Winery, Washington, DC
Saturday June 1st – City Winery, Boston, MA
Monday June 3rd – Irving Plaza, New York, NY
Thursday June 6th – Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL
Saturday June 8th – Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN
Monday June 10th – Historic Scoot Inn, Austin, TX
Thursday June 13th – El Rey, Los Angeles, CA
Friday June 14th – Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
Saturday June 15th – Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR
Sunday June 16th – Showbox Presents, Seattle, WA
Thursday August 22nd – Stodola, Warsaw POLAND
Friday August 23rd – Astra, Berlin GERMANY
Saturday August 24th – Blue Moon Festival, Amsterdam HOLLAND
Monday August 26th – Gloria, Cologne GERMANY
Tuesday August 27th – Alte Feurwache, Mannheim GERMANY
Thursday August 29th – Islington Assembly Hall, London UK
Saturday August 31st – Electric Picnic Festival, Dublin EIRE
Sunday September 1st – Academy, Manchester UK
Tuesday September 3rd – Le Trabendo, Paris FRANCE
Wednesday September 4th – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels BELGIUM
Friday September 6th – Dynamo, Zurich SWITZERLAND
Sunday September 8th – Saniera Club, Milan ITALY

Duff McKagan online:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

About The Author

Calling Detroit, Michigan home, Sami has been photographing for many years and has been with National Rock Review since near the beginning. She is a photographer and writer for National Rock Review as well as being the US Marketing Manager, PR Correspondent, and Editor. She also owns her own photography business, Sami Lipp Photography. Capturing the excitement of live music and the passion of musicians is something she lives for. She is excited to grow her career in music photography every day.