New Song: Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs Drop “I Remember” – New LP ‘Mission Of Mercy’ Coming

“I remember, I still remember, I still remember you…when the night turns still…” – Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, “I Remember”

I had no sooner posted my latest on Michael Stipe’s new single “I Played The Fool” that he’s done in collaboration with Andrew Watt, than I saw that erstwhile lead guitarist of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs had released a new single, the first from their upcoming new album Mission Of Mercy. The new song is called “I Remember” and the new LP is due in June.

As longtime readers know, I’ve been on the Dirty Knobs bandwagon since 2020 when they released their first album, Wreckless Abandon. Of course back then they were billed just as The Dirty Knobs. It wasn’t until their second LP, 2022’s External Combustion that they switched to Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs.

Regardless, I really dig Mike Campbell’s new group. These guys are a great rock n roll band. I hear echos of Campbell’s old boss Tom Petty in the music but this is clearly Campbell’s vision. They worked together in the Heartbreakers for decades and cowrote so many songs, how could the vibe not be similar?

The band is now Mike Campbell (vocals/guitar), Steve Ferrone (drums) who was also in the Heartbreakers after Stan Lynch left, Lance Morrison (bass), and finally, Chris Holt (guitars/keyboards). Morrison has been with the Knobs since the debut.

I have to admit to you, I never thought the Dirty Knobs would be able to top the first single of their last LP, Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits, the spectacular “Dare To Dream” that featured none other than Graham Nash on harmony vocals. It’s the perfect lead single for an album. But then I heard “I Remember” and I think they topped it.

Unlike last year’s stray, one-off single, the wistful “Heart In The Heartland,” the Knobs have returned and they are rocking. “I Remember” not only rocks, for me it’s a total ear worm. It just grabbed me from the start.

The track starts with a haunting piano, courtesy of Chris Holt… I have to admit I wondered if maybe Campbell had called up his old bandmate Benmont Tench to play the keyboards, but no it’s Holt.

I can’t get over how amazing the guitar is on this track. Campbell solo’s a couple of times. The first solo is a teaser, but the second solo toward the end is nothing short of blistering. It’s a Hendrix-y blast of amazing guitar.

Campbell isn’t Petty on the vocals but he sounds great on the choruses. On the verses he verges on speaking the lyrics… He has a certain unhinged quality to that part of the vocals that lends the song a certain desperation that I just love. And again, Holt on that little piano figure… damn!

The track has an urgency that I hadn’t expected. After the piano at the start, the drums kick in and Campbell sings the chorus quoted above, “I remember, I still remember, I still remember you” and he’s got me.

Who amongst us aren’t significantly moved by certain memories. No matter how happy we are, we all tip toe down the dark halls of our mind to take a peak at the skeletons in our closet… maybe take ’em out and dance with them to this track.

Here’s the track:

I can’t wait until Mission Of Mercy drops in June. This will be the Knobs fourth album and I love that they just keep rolling along. My buddy Doug and I saw these guys live on their last concert tour and they were sensational. The concert was at KC’s Kaufman Center For The Performing Arts and it was my first time in that great venue.

With a new Dirty Knobs LP, new Stones and new Paul McCartney coming… not to mention new LPs from Ringo, the Black Keys, and Social Distortion… this is going to be a rock n roll summer!

Enjoy this one at full volume. Cheers!