Last year, Tim Armstrong noted that new material from Rancid and the Transplants would be on the way, but before those records drop, fans can look forward to Armstrong’s solo project, Tim Timebomb and Friends, releasing a debut album on Dec. 11.
Armstrong has been posting tracks on his official YouTube channel over the past few weeks, offering a mix of originals and covers with several guest musicians, including Pink and Travis Barker.
“Tim Timebomb and Friends is a place for me to share with you some of my favorite songs that I’ve recorded with friends of mine,” Armstrong wrote on the Tim Timebomb website. “I’ve always enjoyed sharing music, whether I’m just sitting around playing acoustic guitar with my friends or breaking out old 45’s.
“I guess you could call me a music nerd. I like everything from Bob Dylan to the Ramones, to Jimmy Cliff to Cock Sparrer. I plan to bring together a great group of players to record covers as well as some originals. I hope you dig it and encourage you to pass them on.”
Recently, Armstrong released a video for a cover of Faces’ “Ooh La La” with Barker on drums, J Bonner on bass and Kevin Bivonia on keys.
“Originally released in 1973, this song was written by Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood for the Faces’ third album, also called ‘Ooh La La.’ As soon as Travis Barker heard my demo for this song, he wanted to play on it, we recorded at his studio the next day and made the video the day after,” he wrote. “I have a long working relationship with both Travis and J Bonner. J is my favorite reggae bass player that I’ve played with and worked with me on Poet’s Life and the Jimmy Cliff album. Travis is in the Transplants with me. I’m so fortunate to get to play with these guys.”
Armstrong also noted that there was an emotional significance to the track.
“In the video, there’s a shot of me standing on a garbage can on the corner of Durant and Telegraph, in the distance you can see the church where my parents were married in 1958,” he continued. “This song is dedicated to my dad Don Armstrong 1931-2012.”
Check out the video below and click here for more exclusive pictures of Armstrong.