Singer and songwriter Brad Skistimas, who appears under the stage name Five Times August, released his latest single calling out legacy rock stars who were outspoken supporters of government mandates throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Ain’t No Rock And Roll” is the debut release from Nashville-based Baste Records, which brands itself as the “counter culture to cancel culture.”
The track features a super-group ensemble of fellow artists including former drummer for The Offspring Pete Parada. Ira Dean, who has previously worked with Staind lead singer and country artist Aaron Lewis, plays bass guitar on the new track accompanied by former Tom Petty and Joe Walsh guitarist Tom Bukovac and former member of Bob Seger’s band Jim “Moose” Brown playing keys.
The music video features images of legacy rock stars including Gene Simmons of KISS, Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters among others. The images of legacy acts are accompanied by previous headlines and quotes from the performers as they threw support behind government mandates, performed shows exclusively for the vaccinated, and shunned fans who questioned government mandates.
“Well there ain’t no rock and roll / Ever since they sold out Rolling Stone,” Skistimas sings. “All the words that were sung in the past / Will never feel the same when we’re looking back.”
The rebellious anthem also throws criticism towards the Woodstock generation as Skistimas declares, “There ain’t no peace and love / Ever since the sixties kids grew up.”
“Ain’t No Rock And Roll” laments over different sub-genres of music losing their key characteristics as artists of the genre parroted legacy media and government mandates.
“The blues has lost its soul / All the punks gave the man control / And every pop star’s bought and sold,” Skistimas sings.
Five Times August also criticizes Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, whose songs famously discussed civil rights, corporatism, and featured anti-war sentiments, saying “no one stuck around for their protest job.”
"Ain't No Rock and Roll" by Five Times August is OUT NOW from @basterecords wherever digital music is sold/stream! Get it today: https://t.co/3CPdPlIJW4 🎶 pic.twitter.com/qJcSdEMgDa
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) October 6, 2023
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Five Times August on his upcoming single ‘Ain’t No Rock And Roll,’” songwriter and Baste Records head of A&R Chris Wallin told Timcast News. “It has become uncommon for Artists these days to actually be authentic to what they believe through their music.”
“I feel truly fortunate to be a part of a creative movement and people who are no longer afraid to put out music that reflects their beliefs as people and their artistry,” Wallin continued. “When I first started in this business these were just called simply, ‘Artists,’ and that’s exactly what Five Times August is, a true and authentic artist standing up for what he and a lot of us believe. And that is a beautiful thing.”
Baste Records is a “platform for conservative musicians and artists to reach a wider audience and share their beliefs and values through their music,” according to their website.
The record company further describes itself as an alternative to the “mainstream music industry [which] is often dominated by liberal or progressive values.”
Skistimas rose to notoriety after releasing a series of folk songs throughout the COVID-19. The songs, while not explicitly addressing politics or the pandemic, featured social commentary on the United States and culture.
