Project band A.D.2020 set to release ‘LOCKDOWN DIARIES’ on August 10th!

August 3, 2021 Larry Ritter 0 Comments A.D.2020, Alice Cooper, Art of Anarchy, Asia, Dan Reed, Dan Reed Network, Greg Smith, Guns N Roses, Mark McNelley, Melvin Brannon II, Ron 'Bumbleboot' Thal, Ted Nugent, Todd Thanhauser, WAR

Collaboration is a good thing when it comes to making music. When talented individuals have time on their hands they tend to make good use of that type of situation to get the creative juices flowing.

Such was the case with longtime friends Mark McNelley and Todd Thanhauser, who used the pandemic shutdown to write new music. They also recruited several other musical geniuses that would eventually form into what is now known as the band, A.D. 2020.

The collective gifted musicians, who all did vocals on the project, went to work on an album appropriately entitled, “LOCKDOWN DIARIES”. The album has already seen three singles and videos released from it. The latest is an outstanding rendition of WAR’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends”. The album itself is slated to be available on August 10th.

Among those that the duo brought into the project was Dan Reed, of the Dan Reed Network. Reed not only provided backup vocals and guitar work on “LOCKDOWN DIARIES”, he also was the album’s producer.

Fellow DRN bandmate, Melvin Brannon II, came onboard with his experience on the bass as well as the harmonica and standup bass. Greg Smith, who has worked with the likes of Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper among a long list of greats, also provided his bass thumping mastery to the project. Rounding out the group is guitar savant, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal. The man who has played for Guns-n-Roses, Asia and Art of Anarchy, is simply a virtuoso when it comes to the thin-stringed craft.

Put all that talent together and how can you miss? The answer is simple, you don’t! The seven-tune compilation takes me back to my teenage years. Those times I’d cruised the circuit listening to my cassettes with my home stereo speakers hooked up and sitting on my backseat.

Music such as “LOCKDOWN DIARIES”, is one of the few positives to come out of the pandemic. It may not be for everyone, but before you make a judgement call, give it a listen. You can also check out our interview with McNelley and Thanhauser below.