Ricky Byrd Releases New ‘Alien’ Single on Stevie Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records

PHOTO: Ricky Byrd by Francesca Byrd

As Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd told us himself in April’s “Up Close,” his string of singles for Stevie Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records will continue. Now, on the heels of his delicious “Glamdemic Blues”/”Reach Out (I’ll Be There”) comes “Alien.”  It’s a return to the original power-pop glory that he pioneered with his band Susan in 1979. “Alien” has the former member of the bands of Joan Jett, Southside Johnny, Roger Daltrey and Ian Hunter sashaying down the promenade in such cool style that its like the return of an old friend. It’s the type of song that will have you singing along on the very first listen.  “I had a dream,” explains The Byrdman, “that I was at a sit-down with a group of aliens—yeah Van Zandt was there too as mediator—and I was trying to buy the human race some more time. Woke up and wrote the tune.”

STREAM: Alien by Ricky Byrd