Ann Wilson Reveals ‘Project Dead Guys’ Album

Heart’s Ann Wilson has revealed she’s working on a tribute album to her fallen music heroes, with the working title of “Project Dead Guys,” on which she’ll honor her influences, including David Bowie, Tom Petty and Chris Cornell.

The announcement appears to suggest there’s no end in sight for the family disagreement that forced Heart onto hiatus last year.

In a short statement, Wilson explained that she was working with longtime Heart producer Mike Flicker on an LP that had only recently got underway. “It's a project very dear to me – a collection of songs by artists who have departed in the last several years: Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Tom Petty and Chris Cornell to name a few,” she said. “To honor these great artists is my deepest pleasure, and Mike Flicker is working with me on this new record. It is thrilling work and I can't wait for you to hear what we are doing.”

In the meantime, the latest Ann Wilson of Heart tour dates start on Jan. 12. “We're excited to be back, performing intimate shows for y'all,” she said. “We hope you can join us for this unique experience again this year.”

Ann and sister Nancy Wilson spent the closing weeks of Heart’s last tour in separate dressing rooms for the first time in their career after an incident that involved Ann’s husband in 2016. Dean Wetter was arrested for physically attacking Nancy’s children when an argument got out of hand. Since the dispute, Ann began touring solo as Ann Wilson of Heart while Nancy and several other members of the band formed Roadcase Royale.

Ann confirmed last year that the duo had found themselves in disagreement over the future of the band even before the fight. “[Nancy] has a vision of playing the same old meat-and-potatoes set in Europe," she noted. "It can just go on for ever.” Meanwhile, Ann wanted to avoid becoming “a static thing that’s going to ride into obscurity without at least trying to evolve.” “I don’t mean to say she’s wrong," she explained. "We just differ, that’s all.”

Wilson added that she could see the feud coming to an end at some point after they’d allowed time to heal and received counseling.

That's a bizarre, if not disrespectful album title.

Yes, I agree. That was my first thought when I saw the post. Since it is a working title I hope they think better when they decide on it finally.

Well, Alice Cooper did have a song called "My Dead Drunk Friends", so...

True, but Alice has always had that tongue-in-cheek kind of thing associated with him, so that doesn't bother me.

But for someone like Ann Wilson to even float this publicly as a working title....just doesn't seem right to me.

In fairness, this was a second title. Her management - correctly, in my mind - rejected her first title, "Another Project Without That B!tch".

Ann Wilson to Release Covers Album, ‘Songs for the Living, Vol. 1′

Ann Wilson of Heart is planning to release a solo album this summer. Although the released date and track listing have yet to be finalized, she's revealed the title, Songs for the Living, Vol. 1, and confirmed that it will be an album of covers revolving around a specific theme.

"It's a project very dear to me -- a collection of songs by artists who have departed in the last several years, including Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Tom Petty, Chris Cornell and Amy Winehouse to name a few," Wilson noted in a press release. "I feel these souls have made a real, lasting contribution to the art of the popular song and to honor them is my deepest pleasure."

Wilson is still tracking the record, but she shared three songs that are already slated for inclusion: Winehouse's "Back to Black," Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" and Eagles' "Life in the Fast Lane"

"Once again I am pushing my limits as a singer and it is thrilling work," she said. "It's my way of showing gratitude for these amazing expressions in words and music. This record was made in the old school way ... on an actual tape recorder, so the sound is vibrant, present and powerful. This sound will not just massage the listener's ego, it will stoke their heart and soul."

As Wilson continues to work on the project, she'll take a break to play a few headlining dates this month and into April. She's also booked to open for Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers on their co-headlining Stars Align tour from July 18 to Aug. 26. You can see her complete itinerary below.

Ann Wilson 2018 Tour Dates
March 16 - Portland, ME - Aura
March 17 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
April 5 - Niagara Falls, ON - Fallsview Casino
April 7 - Northfield, OH - Hard Rock Rocksino
April 8 - St. Charles, IL - Arcada Theatre
July 18 - West Valley City, UT - Usana Amphitheatre*
July 20 - Los Angeles, CA - Five Point Amphitheatre*
July 22 - Chula Vista, CA - Mattress Firm Amphitheatre*
July 24 - Houston, TX - Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land*
July 25 - Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory*
July 28 - St. Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
July 29 - Chicago, IL - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island*
July 31 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre*
Aug. 1 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage*
Aug. 3 - Boston, MA - Blue Hills Bank Pavilion*
Aug. 4 - Camden, NJ - BB&T Pavilion*
Aug. 8 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center*
Aug. 10 - Indianapolis, IN - Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center*
Aug. 12 - Holmdel, NJ - P.N.C. Bank Arts Center*
Aug. 14 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater*
Aug. 17 - Nashville, TN - Nashville Municipal Auditorium*
Aug. 19 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion*
Aug. 25 - West Palm Beach, FL - Coral Sky Amphitheatre*
Aug. 26 - Tampa, FL - MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre*

*With Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers

Heart's Ann Wilson Covers Dead Rockers on New Album 'Immortal'

Heart's Ann Wilson will release a new solo album, Immortal, filled with covers that honor late musicians such as David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Tom Petty. The record arrives September 14th via BMG.

The Immortal track list features songs like Petty's "Luna," Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans" and Cohen's "A Thousand Kisses Deep." Wilson also put her spin on more contemporary classics like Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" and Audioslave's "I Am the Highway," in honor of Chris Cornell. The record also features tributes to the Eagles' Glenn Frey, Cream's Jack Bruce, George Michael and Gerry Rafferty.

In a statement, Wilson explained how the project developed and led her to the title, Immortal. "The original working titles evolved as the concept for the album evolved; a little bit at a time. As my understanding of what I had undertaken grew and clarified, I realized a larger truth: That the souls may have departed but the songs will forever be their resonances. These are the poets of our time and their expressions must be handed down. Poetry is lasting and elemental like carvings in rock."

Wilson also singled out one track, a cover of Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me," which she said was included in part because of the ongoing conversation about sexual harassment and sexism. "'You Don't Own Me' was originally an early feminist anthem in the 1960s and Seventies," she said. "Since then the idea of self possession has grown to be more universal ... This song is about refusing to be objectified and owned. By anyone."

Wilson recorded Immortal with original Heart producer Mike Flicker. The record will also feature guest appearances from Warren Haynes and Ben Mink.

Wilson will headline a handful of concerts in early July before joining Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers on the Stars Align Tour, July 18th in West Valley City, Utah.

Ann Wilson Immortal Track List

1. "A Different Corner" (George Michael)
2. "A Thousand Kisses Deep" (Leonard Cohen)
3. "Back to Black" (Amy Winehouse)
4. "Baker Street" (Gerry Rafferty)
5. "I Am the Highway" (Audioslave)
6. "I'm Afraid of Americans" (David Bowie)
7. "Life in the Fast Lane" (The Eagles)
8. "Luna" (Tom Petty)
9. "Politician" (Cream)
10. "You Don't Own Me" (Lesley Gore)

YACA! Where's the YACA?

I'd listen to this if only for the presence of Jeff Beck.

Loud Hailer was disappointing, I thought. Maybe this will be better.