DUFF MCKAGAN To Release 'Tenderness' Album In May; Listen To 'Chip Away' Song

GUNS N' ROSES bassist and New York Times best-selling author Duff McKagan has released "Chip Away", a new track from his much-anticipated solo album, "Tenderness".

"'Chip Away' is somewhat of a rail against cable news and divisive agendas… all for the almighty dollar," says McKagan. "The song also highlights the fact that history repeats itself over and over, and that we will all get past this, together."

"Chip Away" follows the recent release of lead track "Tenderness" and both songs are available as instant downloads when pre-ordering "Tenderness" ahead of its May 31 release.

The full track listing for "Tenderness" is as follows:

01. Tenderness
02. It's Not Too Late
03. Wasted Heart
04. Falling Down
05. Last September
06. Chip Away
07. Cold Outside
08. Feel
09. Breaking Rocks
10. Parkland
11. Don't Look Behind You

Also available for pre-order is a special limited-edition "Tenderness" deluxe book, which includes the album on 180-gram yellow-and-red starburst vinyl, the CD, and features an exclusive lithograph signed and numbered by McKagan. The hard cover book contains 40-pages of photos from the recording sessions and also presents liner notes written by Duff detailing his experiences with each song and the project as a whole. The vinyl features 10 tracks and a unique sequence carefully selected by McKagan and the album's Grammy-winning producer Shooter Jennings, while the CD includes 11 tracks.

"Tenderness" sees McKagan reflecting on his experiences traveling the globe over two and a half years on GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" tour. Encountering heartbreak, anger, fear, confusion and divide on his travels during this tumultuous time in our world history, McKagan channeled a collective hurt into songs of monolithic power.

"We're becoming divided at a time when we need each other most," says McKagan. "When huge industries get replaced because of modernization, it's time to retrain and bolster up those who get swept aside. Homelessness and drug addiction are avoidable in this country if we come together and get private and public cogs turning together in a positive direction. We can at least try to tackle mental illness while we're at it. But alas, we stump and lie, point fingers and divide. We're way better than this. As a father, I must say and do something now because I love my girls and my wife, and I love my country, and I feel I must be strong and use my voice now, do it while I'm able or perhaps never get a chance ever again."

McKagan and Jennings began recording "Tenderness" a year ago this month, working out of Station House studios, located in Echo Park, California, where they wrote and recorded in-between McKagan's tour with seminal rock band GUNS N' ROSES and the release of Jennings's eponymous album, "Shooter". "Tenderness" features Jennings and his band along with appearances by The Waters and The Suicide Horn Section (which features Duff's brother Matt McKagan on trombone),amongst others.

Twelve months later, they're gearing up to take these songs on the road for a North American tour that kicks off May 30 at TLA in Philadelphia. Prior to the tour's launch, Los Angeles-based fans can catch McKagan and Jennings discussing the album and giving a special performance at the Grammy Museum in downtown L.A.

Tour dates:

May 30 - Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
May 31 - Washington DC @ City Winery
Jun. 01 - Boston, MA @ City Winery
Jun. 03 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Jun. 06 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Jun. 08 - Nashville, TN @ The Cannery
Jun. 10 - Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
Jun. 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater
Jun. 14 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Jun. 15 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin
Jun. 16 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox