Singer and songwriter Brad Skistimas, who appears under the stage name Five Times August, has announced the release date of his latest single.
"Ain't No Rock And Roll" will be released on Oct. 6, and is the debut release from Nashville-based Baste Records, which brands itself as the "counter culture to cancel culture."
The song, advertised as a rebellious anthem, takes aim at legacy rock stars who were outspoken supporters of government mandates throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The single artwork features images of Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Bono of U2, along with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS among others. The single artwork also features snippets of previous quotes from legacy rock stars expressing support for vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 measures.
The single will feature a super-group ensemble of fellow artists including former drummer for The Offspring Pete Parada.
Ira Dean, who has previously worked with Staind lead singer and country artist Aaron Lewis, plays bass guitar on the new track accompanied by former Tom Petty and Joe Walsh guitarist Tom Bukovac and former member of Bob Seger's band Jim "Moose" Brown playing keys.
"It has been an absolute pleasure working with Five Times August on his upcoming single 'Ain’t No Rock And Roll,'" songwriter and Baste Records head of A&R Chris Wallin told Timcast News. "It has become uncommon for Artists these days to actually be authentic to what they believe through their music."
"I feel truly fortunate to be a part of a creative movement and people who are no longer afraid to put out music that reflects their beliefs as people and their artistry," Wallin continued. "When I first started in this business these were just called simply, 'Artists,' and that’s exactly what Five Times August is, a true and authentic artist standing up for what he and a lot of us believe. And that is a beautiful thing.”
Baste Records and Skistimas announced the single in June. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Baste Records on this upcoming single release," Skistimas said at the time. "Their reputation for excellence and commitment to nurturing artists aligns perfectly with my artistic goals." He added: "I can’t wait to share this new music with the world and embark on this exciting journey with Baste Records." Baste Records is a “platform for conservative musicians and artists to reach a wider audience and share their beliefs and values through their music,” according to their website. The record company further describes itself as an alternative to the “mainstream music industry [which] is often dominated by liberal or progressive values.” Skistimas rose to notoriety after releasing a series of folk songs throughout the COVID-19. The songs, while not explicitly addressing politics or the pandemic, featured social commentary on the United States and culture.
