BUCKCHERRY Prepare To Release 'Fifteen' In North America

2006 marks the return of BUCKCHERRY with their first studio album in four years, "Fifteen", out in North America April 11 on Eleven Seven Music in association with ADA, a Warner Music Group Company.

After virally blowing up via the Internet and satellite radio, the raucous "Crazy Bitch" is also catching on at commercial radio. The single is the #1 most-added song at both the Active and Mainstream Rock radio formats. "I am such a believer this song is a smash that 99.5 KISS immediately put it into medium rotation," noted L.A. Lyod, Program Director for 99.5 in San Antonio. "Ever since I saw the video a few weeks ago, I felt this one was going to be HUGE." "Crazy Bitch" — currently one of the fastest growing and most-requested songs on rock radio — is garnering strong early support from key Alternative stations such as KDLD (Los Angeles),WBCN (Boston) and KXTE (Las Vegas).

After a month-long North American tour, BUCKCHERRY founders lead singer Josh Todd and co-writer/guitarist Keith Nelson as well as three new members — Xavier Muriel (drums),Stevie D. (guitars) and bassist Jimmy Ashhurst — will return to Los Angeles with a March residency at The Whisky on March 14, 21 and 28. In addition, the band has been invited to perform at the NCAA Final Four event on April 1 in Indianapolis at the WFBQ/WRBX Budweiser Tourney Tent directly following the first game. Expect the group to debut new material on the road, in addition to performing fan favorites.

With a mix of bracing riffs, deep grooves, soulful vocals and swirling harmonies, "Fifteen" — which was originally issued in Japan last October — showcases the guitar-driven, bluesy-rock with the hard edge the band is known for. Co-produced by Nelson with Mike Plotnikoff and Paul DeCarli, the album is filled with highlights like "Out Of Line" as well as "Sorry", a ballad co-written by Marti Frederiksen (AEROSMITH).

When BUCKCHERRY parted ways in 2002 after the demise of DreamWorks Records, the band took the time to reassess their future direction. "We were pulled apart by so many outside forces that took us away from what we set out to do," Nelson explains. Todd and Nelson reunited to play a benefit for the late drummer Randy Castillo, after which they were recruited by Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum to play in the now infamous GN'R project that eventually evolved into VELVET REVOLVER. "By the end, I was spent dealing with all the egos, I needed some time off," explains Nelson, who received a co-writing credit on VELVET REVOLVER's "Dirty Little Thing".

The duo continued to write songs, explains Todd. "It made us realize how fun it was to be in a band again; we focused on what mattered, the music." Revitalized and inspired after recruiting D., Muriel and Ashhurst, the band recorded "Fifteen" in 15 days. "BUCKCHERRY is a rock 'n' roll band. We wanted to get the vibe back which made us so explosive," says Todd. "We went into the studio and vowed not come out until we had a successful, ass-kicking, career-defining album."