The new material will follow Starr’s recent release of the EP ‘Zoom In’, the EP was released on 19th March 2021. Much like the musician’s March release the new EP was recorded and produced at Roccabella West studio, Starr’s home studio. The artist’s home studio has been home to many releases from the drummer and musician and has seen many celebrated artist’s work within its walls. Also similar to the ‘Zoom In’ EP, Starr has recruited his friends and other artists to work together on the new material.

The release’s lead single titled ‘Let’s Change The World’ has an obvious message of hope evident in the single’s title, the single features the three guests artists on backing vocals. The track’s guest vocalist includes American singer Amy Keys, Billy Valentine, actor and singer Darryl Phinnessee and Zelma Davis, known for her work with C+C Music Factory.

Included within the four-track EP is the song ‘Just That Way‘, written by Starr with producer and long time musical partner Bruce Sugar, the track is said to hold a reggae influence. The injection of reggae is also seen within the ‘Zoom In‘ track ‘Waiting For The Tides To Turn‘, and features the previous guitarist Tony Chen with further backing vocals supplied by Zelma and Zho Davis.

The new track ‘Coming Undone’ sees Starr’s first collaboration with Linda Perry, Perry is best known as the lead singer for 4 Non Blondes. The American alt-rock group are famed for their mega-hit ‘What’s Up?’ and the immense popularity in which followed during the ’90s. The new release also features a collaboration with celebrated guitarist Joe Walsh on the aptly named song ‘Rock Around The Clock’, the talented duo also worked together on track ‘Here’s to the Nights’, the track was the lead single from EP ‘Zoom In’.

The 81-year-old musician has spoken on his upcoming release and the benefits incurred during the recording process; he attributes the benefits to his home studio as well as the other artists he was able to work with. “I’ve been saying I only want to release EPs at this point and this is the next one. What a blessing it’s been during this year to have a studio here at home and be able to collaborate with so many great musicians, some I’ve worked with before and some new friends.”

The former Beatle is no stranger to a collaborative musical process, within the artist’s previous EP ‘Zoom In’, Starr was joined by a large list of artists in making the material. The album which was released via Universal Music Enterprises featured two co-producers along with Starr as the lead producer. All but one track was produced by Starr and co-produced by Bruce Sugar who also worked with Starr on a number of albums including his live album ‘Live at the Greek Theatre 2008’, 2010 album ‘Y Not’, 2015 release ‘Postcards From Paradise’ and the 2017 album ‘Give More Love’ as well as an impressive discography of work with other artists. The album’s third track ‘Teach Me To Tango’ was produced by Sam Hollander and co-produced by Grant Michaels, the track’s lead producer Hollander is a well-renounced producer responsible for many certified platinum tracks and albums.

In other news, Starr is set to hit the road next year for his 2022 US tour. The tour will begin in New Jersey on 31st May 2022 and will see Starr perform up and down the country, ending in Florida on 26th June 2022.

Click here to pre-order the EP.

The album will consist of 15-tracks and a series of live performances of the hit songs Rudie Can’t Fail and I Fought The Law. These performances were from Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros live show at London’s Brixton Academy in 2001.

Yalla Yalla and Johnny Appleseed are among the famed tracks that will feature on Assembly, alongside three previously unreleased mixes of songs by The Clash. Notably, Joe Strummer’s cover of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song will be included in the album, as well as a song that has never been released in any form Junco Partner Acoustic by The Clash.

In 2020 it was announced that Dark Horse Records would be releasing music by Joe Strummer on its platform that year, Dhani Harrison (George Harrison’s son and now owner of Dark Horse Records), stated “It is with great pleasure and excitement that I can finally announce a new chapter for Dark Horse Records in the music industry alongside our friends at BMG. The label started by my father in 1974 has been a family business my whole life (and is indeed even the reason that my parents met.)

That same year Dark Horse released the Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros’ albums Rock Art and The X-Ray Style, Global A Go-Go, and Streetcore. Dhani Harrison continued explaining the new era that included Strummer saying that “From the Indian classical Ragas of Ravi Shankar to the Rock and Roll of ‘Attitudes’ I look forward to reintroducing, to a new audience, all of those artists that my father loved so much. We will also be expanding the Dark Horse family with new artists and classic catalogues in the coming years to include a rich and varied roster of incredible musicians whom we love. Please watch this space! With love, Dhani Harrison.”

Assembly Track List:

01 ‘Coma Girl’, ‘Johnny Appleseed’, ‘I Fought The Law’ (Live at Brixton Academy, London, 24 November 2001)
02 ‘Tony Adams’
03 ‘Sleepwalk’
04 ‘Love Kills’
05 ‘Get Down Moses’
06 ‘X-Ray Style’
07 ‘Mondo Bongo’
08 ‘Rudie Can’t Fail’ (Live at Brixton Academy, London, 24 November 2001)
09 ‘At The Border, Guy’
10 ‘Long Shadow’
11 ‘Forbidden City’
12 ‘Yalla Yalla’
13 ‘Redemption Song’
14 ‘Junco Partner’ (Acoustic)