RATINGS: A = must own B = buy it C= average D = yawn F = puke

Michael Des Barres – Hot ‘n Sticky
Official Site
http://mdbimmedia.com/mdb/

Rating: B+

Sporting more piss n’ vinegar than musicians half his age, rock icon Michael Des Barres returns with yet another glorious slab of primal, no holds barred rock ‘n roll. Hot on the heels and eager to continue the momentum put forth with last year’s absolutely brilliant Carnaby Street disc, Des Barres has now unleashed this live offering upon the masses, entitled appropriately enough, Hot ‘n Sticky .

Recorded at Hollywood’s famed Viper Room Hot ‘n Sticky contains a shade over 40 minutes of some of the most grimy, straight ahead rock ‘ roll you’re ever likely to come across. With a world class band at his disposal Des Barres tears through six choice cuts off of Carnaby Street with glorious aplomb. If the title track, with it’s sleazy, double entendre chorus of “It’s hot and sticky down south, I want the taste of your love in my mouth” doesn’t reel you in, hook line and sinker and tell you all you need to know about this long forgotten art form, then I honestly don’t know what to tell ya. There’s a veritable shit load of fabulous guitar riffage to be found throughout this disc and the Marquis voice has never sounded better than he does here. Diehard fans will revel in a souped-up version of “Detective Man” off the self-titled Detective album from 1977, not to mention a superb version of The Supremes classic “Stop In The Name of Love”. As if that wasn’t enough to seal the deal, the closing medley of “My Baby Saved My Ass /- I Don’t Need No Doctor / Bang A Gong (Get It On)” alone makes this worthy of your hard earned greenbacks.

I love nothing more than seeing one of rock’s more colorful personalities, up there rocking his ass off night after night and still delivering the goods, while some of his peers (who shall remain nameless) seem content to play it safe and rock nothing harder than their chair at the retirement home. Michael Des Barres thankfully shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. If and when he decides to hang it up, I’m sure he’ll go out in a blaze of glory. Until that time, pick up Hot ‘n Sticky and be thankful that Michael Des Barres is one of the few, true rock stars that we have left in our midst. 

By Ryan Sparks