Guitar Superstar Joe Bonamassa Works with Aerosmith Guitarist on New Solo Album "Driving Towards The Daylight" - Releasing May 22

LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 22, 2012, internationally renowned guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa will release a brand new solo album Driving Towards The Daylight (J&R Adventures) – his "lucky" 13th album. Driving Towards The Daylight was produced by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin).  This is their seventh collaboration in six years.  Pre-order your copy now: www.jbonamassa.com/dttd. To support the release, Bonamassa's label J&R Adventures premieres the reality mini-series "Countdown to Daylight" which debuts today and can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qm-p862KZQ. The official music video and free download for title track "Driving Towards The Daylight" will be unveiled on May 1. Click for a free Bonamassa song now: https://bitly.com/JBTVyoutube.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120403/LA81169)

Recorded at Studio At The Palms in Las Vegas, NV, The Village Recorder in Los Angeles, CA and The Cave in Malibu, CA, Driving Towards The Daylight is a balanced back-to-basics album that highlights Bonamassa's signature style of roots blues with rock-and-roll guts, while honoring the traditions of the original blues musicians. "We've taken some really traditional old blues songs – the Howlin' Wolf song 'Who's Been Talkin'?' and the Robert Johnson song 'Stones In My Passway,' and we've tried to imagine how they would do them in a rock context," said Shirley. "It's a very exciting return to the blues in a very visceral way. It's vibrant and it's gutsy and it's really, really rugged."

To challenge Joe and move him out of his comfort zone, a unique group of musicians was gathered including Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford (guitar), Blondie Chaplan (guitar), Anton Fig (drums and percussion), Arlan Schierbaum (keyboard), Michael Rhodes (bass), Carmine Rojas (bass), Jeff Bova and The Bovaland Brass, Pat Thrall (guitar), and Brad's son Harrison Whitford (guitar).

Brad Whitford, speaking from the studio in Vegas, said, "This is definitely more influenced by the stuff that the guys and musicians in this room love, early '60s English and American rock and blues. I guess we'll never get that out of our system and its fun to come in here and find our own path down that highway."

The album features four Bonamassa-penned originals including the bruising opener "Dislocated Boy," the road warrior title track (and first single) "Driving Towards The Daylight," "Heavenly Soul," and "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go." Other tracks include Bonamassa's versions of Tom Waits' "New Coat Of Paint," "Lonely Town Lonely Street," by Bill Withers (Lean On Me, Ain't No Sunshine), "A Place In My Heart" by Bernie Marsden of White Snake (Here I Go Again), and "I Got All You Need," by Willie Dixon, widely considered the "father of modern Chicago blues." On the album closer, Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes sings lead vocals on his 1987 hit "Too Much Ain't Enough Love."

Premiering today and continuing each week for ten weeks is "Countdown to Daylight," the new reality series of 3-4 minute webisodes featuring interviews with Joe and his band as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the band recording Driving Towards The Daylight in the studio. Tune in every Friday for a new episode on Joe's official YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/JoeBonamassaTV.

Tickets are on sale now for the spring tour. Tickets for the fall dates will officially go on sale to the public on April 6.

Currently available for sale on DVD and Blu-ray and airing on PBS and Palladia HD is the brand new Joe Bonamassa: Beacon Theatre – Live From New York, which showcases the stunning sold-out two-night performance at New York City's legendary Beacon Theatre last November. Special guests include Paul Rodgers, John Hiatt and Beth Hart.

Fans have been vigorously active on social media such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, growing Bonamassa's reputation exponentially in the U.S. and abroad. Endorsements from Gibson, Ernie Ball, Seymour Duncan and Guitar Center have helped to fuel his popularity.

Bonamassa's other recent projects include the 2011 CD/DVD Live Over Europe as well as the sophomore album 2 from Black Country Communion, Bonamassa's hard rock band with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol). His last studio album, 2011's Dust Bowl, is his best-selling album to date.

For more information and updated tour schedule, visit www.jbonamassa.com. Download the free Joe Bonamassa iPhone app for news, tour dates, storefront and more on the go.

JOE BONAMASSA - DRIVING TOWARDS THE DAYLIGHT
Tracklist

1. Dislocated Boy
2. Stones In My Passway
3. Driving Towards The Daylight
4. Who's Been Talkin'?
5. I Got All You Need 
6. A Place In My Heart
7. Lonely Town Lonely Street
8. Heavenly Soul
9. New Coat Of Paint
10. Somewhere Trouble Don't Go
11. Too Much Ain't Enough Love (w/ Jimmy Barnes)

SOURCE J&R Adventures