THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Country singer-turned-rock rebel Wheeler Walker Jr. wails wryly in the opening line of his new song, Money ‘N’ Bitches, that “Some people work ‘cause they like their job, but I’m only here so I can feed my hog.”
Money ‘N’ Bitches was the first preview of the outlaw journeyman’s latest album Ram — also his boldest effort yet, a hard-charging hurricane of rock that’s every bit as pummeling, raunchy and riotous as his best work to date.
“It’s pretty intense,” Wheeler says of the 10-track, Dave Cobb-produced LP full of ass-kicking anthems with titles including Born to F, F This Job and Fingerblast. The album is the followup to last year’s Sex, Drugs & Country Music.
Speaking on the new song, which serves as a notably heavy departure from the country music that he usually deals in, Walker Jr. says “I make music for two reasons. So I just figured enough with the metaphors and just sing it.”
Walker Jr. began his career with a nod to the iconoclasts of the outlaw movement of country music that formed in the 1970s: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. Grammy-winning producer Cobb helmed his debut, Redneck Shit. His 2018 release WW III was his third Top 20 entry on the Top Country Albums list.
Now, having conquered country music, Ram sees Walker Jr., in true outlaw fashion, setting his sights on rock ’n’ roll, without forgetting his roots. ZZ Top, Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses serve as his north stars in this new era.
“I used to be the king of country. Now I’m gonna be the king of rock ‘n’ roll,” proclaims Walker Jr. He continues, “Dan + Shay used to be my competition. Now it’s Greta Van Fleet. Same shit, different day.”
