Bryan Adams launches his own record label: Everything to know as singer releases double A-sided single featuring two tracks

Singer and lyricist Bryan Adams has announced the launch of his own independent record label, Bad Records, on August 2, 2024. In celebration of the release, Adams also released a double A-sided single, featuring two tracks, War Machine and Rock and Roll Hell.

Adams originally wrote both songs as a part of the band KISS's 1982 album, Creatures of the Night, alongside Jim Vallance and Gene Simmons. Rock and Roll Hell has been digitally shared along with a new music video that was shot on the rooftop Royal Albert Hall in London when the singer recently stayed there.

In his official announcement on his website declaring the launch of Bad Records, Bryan Adams shared more about the first two tracks to be released under his independent label. He said:

“To commemorate the first single on Bad Records, here are two songs I co-wrote when I was a 22-year-old struggling songwriter. I got a call out of the blue from producer Michael James Jackson to see if I would like to write for KISS, which I was thrilled to do, and these are a couple of the songs that were the result, written with both Gene Simmons and Jim Vallance.”

As per the Bad Records official website, Bryan Adams started it in 2013 as a website, including 45 tracks in record style to promote his album, Tracks of My Years. 11 years later, Bad Records is ready to launch its first 45 vinyl single as a new record label.

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Bryan Adams shares story behind the recording of War Machine and Rock and Roll Hell

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In his official announcement for Bad Records via his website, Bryan Adams shared details about how he recorded the first two tracks to be released under his record label, War Machine and Rock and Roll Hell.

Speaking of War Machine, Adams recalled when he first heard the "bass riff" of the track from Gene Simmons years ago. He also explained that they chose the theme of war to go with the theme of the other track about hell.

"While sitting with the band, Gene played me this fantastic bass riff, which ended up being the backbone of ‘War Machine’. I was trying to think of a theme that could possibly match the riff and came up with the title. Seeing as the other song we’d written was about hell, War was the obvious theme to coincide with it."

Bryan Adams also discussed the making of Rock and Roll Hell. The song was originally by Jim Valance but the duo rewrote it for KISS's Creatures of the Night album on Adams's suggestion. The singer recalled:

"Rock and Roll Hell’ was actually Jim’s song that had been released a few years earlier with Bachman Turner Overdrive, and I suggested, that we re-write it for Kiss. It’s incredible to think these themes are unfortunately still playing out for real in the world today, but I’m very grateful to the Kiss guys for giving me the chance back then.”

The Rock and Roll Hell single is available for streaming on various platforms as of writing. The 7 inches vinyl single is also open for pre-ordering through Bryan Adams's official website and will be shipped on August 30.

After Adams worked as a lyricist for KISS, his solo career as a single found new dimension. He released a solo album, Cuts Like A Knife (1983) and Reckless (1984), both of which became immensely successful and led to international fame for Bryan Adams.

Over the years, Bryan Adams has won numerous accolades, including one Grammy, 18 Juno Awards, and the Officer of the Order of Canada. The singer was honored with a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and also cemented a place in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The singer is set to begin his new tour on August 2 with the first show in his hometown, Quebec. He will be hosting shows in mainland Europe next month and ending in India and the UAE in December.