'80s Rock Band Releases New Music 20 Years After the Album That Inspired It
Like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Tesla got their start covering the bands who came before them. So, it should come as no surprise that 40 years later, the band are returning to their roots with a full-length studio album dedicated almost entirely to covering some of music's greatest artists. We use the word almost, because the 14-track tribute kicks off with a Tesla original.
Unveiled today, along with a polished new music video, "Never Alone" is a heartfelt, acoustic-driven rock anthem akin to Tesla's 1989 smash, "Love Song." Inspired by the band's first tribute album, Real to Reel, released nearly 20 years ago, the song was written by bassist Brian Wheat and bridges the band's storied four-decade career with a universal message of human connection.
In a chat with Blabbermouth, Wheat reveals that he wrote the song "in the 11th hour" of recording Homage, while at celebrity cook Rachael Ray and musician John Cusimano's home.
"It started out as a simple guitar riff," he says. "I picked up John's acoustic guitar and started strumming these chords to kill some time. When I listened back to it, it sounded like a Tesla song."
From there, he and frontman Jeff Keith added the finishing touches and ended up with a track that "turned out pretty good," he says. He adds that they recorded the song, because they want their fans to know they're "never alone."
The lead single prefaces a slew of covers paying homage to truly the greatest artists of our time. From Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," to Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" and Queen's "Spread Your Wings," the album transcends time and genres. You can get a sneak peek at Tesla's Queen cover here and the full tracklist below.
"‘Spread Your Wings' for me was the song I always wanted to record by Queen," Wheat said in May, per Blabbermouth. "I always felt it was the one song they had in their catalog that should've been a massive hit, but wasn't because it was overshadowed by 'We Are the Champions' and 'We Will Rock You' on the News of the World album."
Homage is set for a July 17 release date via Frontiers Music Srl. Touted as a "thank-you expressed through music," the LP gives Keith the stage to show off his vocals and the band an opportunity to celebrate the legendary artists who helped shape Tesla into the multi-platinum rock band they are today.
"Homage is … an offering to the great singers and songs that shaped the music we grew up listening to, and the songs we would eventually write," Wheat says. "We hope you all enjoy this as much as we did making it. Thank you for all the years - keep it real and keep on rockin'!"
Homage Tracklist
- 01. Never Alone (original song)
- 02. Bring It On Home (Sam Cooke cover)
- 03. Spread Your Wings (QUEEN cover)
- 04. I Wish It Would Rain (THE TEMPTATIONS cover)
- 05. Night Moves (Bob Seger cover)
- 06. If I Can Dream (Elvis Presley cover)
- 07. Come And Get It (BADFINGER cover)
- 08. I Got You (James Brown cover)
- 09. Give A Little Bit (SUPERTRAMP cover)
- 10. I Love You (2026 Version) (CLIMAX BLUES BAND cover)
- 11. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew (LYNYRD SKYNYRD cover)
- 12. Have You Ever Seen The Rain (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL cover)
- 13. I'd Rather Go Blind (Etta James cover)
- 14. Mind Your Own Business (Hank Williams Sr. cover)
Related: '90s Metal Band Announces First Album in 3 Years
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 4:47 PM.