ABOUT BLACKLIST UNION featuring Tony West
With hot new singles “Up In Smoke” and “Mississippi Moonhound,” Blacklist Union are among the USA’s top independent rock bands.
West, whose voice is eerily reminiscent of the late Andrew Wood (Mother Love Bone), with melodic hints of greats like Ozzy Osbourne and Steven Tyler, who moves like Axl Rose, and has the electrifying energy of Scott Weiland is the driving force of Blacklist Union. The band’s success has come in layers over a career that spans five full albums, a series of high-quality videos, and numerous tours.
“We bring the rock. So, if you love up-tempo kick-ass rock and roll, you will love Blacklist Union,” West said. “I am very proud of Blacklist Union. I have hung in there for a long time, and all I’ve got to say is, we’re not going away.”
Their previous full-length album, “Letters from the Psych Ward,” features numerous No. 1 singles on Billboard’s secondary market Rock chart, and several videos, like the title track, have gone viral – especially impressive for a band without major-label backing.
But Blacklist Union’s fortunes are changing.
They’ve always been among Los Angeles’ top club bands with their flavorful combination of huge riffs, meaningful alt-rock lyrics and West’s glam image – and now the world is about to catch up.
“We finally got a booking agent. We’ll be going to Europe and South America. We’re always down to play. We did some great shows last month with Texas Hippie Coalition, and we’re looking forward to going out with them again. Let’s rock this shit.”
Originally from New York, West grew up on bands like New York Dolls and Ramones before packing for Los Angeles with only his guitar and the clothes on his back.
West has had more wild ups and downs than just about anyone through the years – you can feel both his pain and his unwavering enthusiasm in Blacklist Union’s lyrics – and If anyone is ready to be the new face of rock, it is Tony West. And while he would probably call himself a punker, his chiseled features and androgynous look have served him well, as female fans love his British rock star-cool image while the guys love Blacklist Union’s high-volume twin guitars and pounding rhythm.
West first collaborated with guitarist Todd Youth (Murphy’s Law/Danzig), who proved a big influence and helped West find his feet in a tough business that applauds you one minute, then turns its back the next.
The tall, tattooed, black-haired West first made a name for himself in Malfunkshun, a popular Seattle-grunge flavored band kept active by Andy Wood’s brother, Kevin Wood.
Blacklist Union is currently managed by veteran industry pro Paul Crosby from the Grammy nominated, multi-platinum band Saliva. West also recorded with Saliva, and Jon E. Love (Love/Hate) a few years back, but Blacklist Union is his heart and soul.
“Letters from the Psych Ward” was released in September, 2023 and has been acclaimed by music journalists.
This is a train that’s moving. Either hop on for the ride or watch ‘em go.
Halo is about people that pretend they are holier than thou, and that’s not the case.
Caroline is about my wife.
F Bomb is a great song man.
People Are People is a Depeche Mode cover.
Strung Out On Jesus is about my father, who thinks all his sins have been abolished by Jesus all of a sudden.
Tony West
Lead Singer - Blacklist Union
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ABOUT BLACKLIST UNION MUSIC
Letters from the Psych Ward
Letters from the Psych Ward is the title track of our last record. It’s basically about trying to stay sane in a world that’s gone bat shit fuckin’ crazy.
Out on a Jones is about trying to chase emotions and trauma with drugs and alcohol, and then getting caught up in that and almost dying.
The Whore of Babylon
That’s an old title I’ve had forever. Of course, it’s a biblical reference. It’s also the first song I ever demoed. I’ve just been waiting to use it. I applied it when the right moment happened.
Keys to the Kingdom musically is an homage to Marilyn Manson, who I just love. He’s such an amazing artist and performer. “If I cleaned away the wreckage of my past, I shall be given the keys to the kingdom.” With the Indians in the Amazon Jungle doing ayahuasca and this line came to me… “Cleaning up the wreckage of your past gives you the keys to the kingdom.” I also have to say gratitude does too. You know, real gratitude. Not some bullshit gratitude. Being grateful that I can see, that I can hear, that I can sit down in my house in Laurel Canyon. That I can buy my son and daughter groceries, or I can have a party on their Birthdays. I can drive my nice air-conditioned car somewhere. It’s all inside you know, you gotta fix the inside to get the outside right.
Dirty Halo is probably my favorite song I’ve ever recorded. I’ve done about nine records now, and I’ve done some great songs and great work. This song’s so deep and spiritual for me. I reference numerous people, friends, and loved ones that are on the other side throughout this song. “Dirty Halo” is about how everybody is quirky; everybody’s a little fucked up. I mean, you gotta be a little crazy to fuckin’ even make it on planet earth nowadays. Like loving everyone warts and all. “I don’t mind your dirty halo.” In fact, the naughtier the person is, the more I wanna be their friend. (LAUGHS) As long as they are not hurting anyone.
The Queen of Everything
Oh God, man. I was just so hard in love with someone that I was just so wrong about. That’s all I can say about this one.
That title Devil with the Angel Face comes from Bianca Halstead (Betty Blowtorch.) She told me she was gonna write a song about me called that. She never got the chance to, so that’s another title that I held onto for a long time. It’s like one of sayings like ‘beauty is only skin deep’ or ‘beauty in disguise.’ Like my last relationship and many before… “The devil with the angel face.” Beauty is only skin deep.
Goodbye Mr. Faded Glory is a tip of the hat to Andy Wood. He has a line in the Mother Love Bone song “Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns” that mentions Mr. Faded Glory. To me that one song is about letting go of the past and sob story, the fucking pain, the trauma, and the sorrow. Letting go of all that shit so you can have a decent life. It’s about me. Basically, I had to let go of a lot of things. I had to walk out of the darkness into the sun.
Velvet Girl is about my favorite thing… Vagina. It’s about just wanting a girl with the perfect vagina.
Dancing with the Angels is another very deep and angelic influenced song, and ayahuasca influenced song. Throughout my journeys in Peru with the Shipibo Indians and doing the ayahuasca and jungle plant medicine and stuff, I’m in the presence of angels constantly. You know, a lot of those angels are people I’ve lost and was so devastated about losing. They’re still here at all times, but it’s still hard without them. But knowing they exist has changed my life. “Dancing with the Angels” is about a deep spiritual journey with ayahuasca and seeing angels. All my angels, plus more.
Mia of course is an Aerosmith cover that my daughter Mia was named after Mia Tyler and that song. It’s a beautiful song. I love this one story where I was scared to do this song. The producer and the engineer were like, Tony, that’s kind of a hard song. I was like, no it will be great. I didn’t want them to know I was scared. I was texting Josie from Saliva like, oh I’m scared. I’m singing this Aerosmith song and he’s like, oh you’ll do fine. And I ate a bunch of mushrooms. But anyways, I did the song and I’ll never forget… As soon as I got through the first part of it, the producer and the engineer saw them stand up and cheer from the control room because I was nailing it. Now every time I hear that song, I think of that. You know, that’s a very special song to my daughter. We did a video for it. My daughter’s definitely my wild child. That’s what that song’s about.
Gates of Steel
The Gates of Steel cover I recorded with D.H. Peligro from the Dead Kennedys. DH was a very very dear friend of mine. Me, DH and Zander just went into the studio with Paul Roessler just for fun, just to record some stuff. Devo man, they’re so freaky, they’re freakin’ awesome.
Golden Years is a Bowie cover that me, D.H. Peligro (Dead Kennedys), and Zander Schloss (Circle Jerks) all went into Paul Roessler’s (Kitten Robot) Studio and recorded “Gates of Steel” and “Golden Years.” It was just a fun thing we did. DH passed away, of course, and I asked Zander if we could put this on the new Blacklist record, and he was like absolutely. I wanted those to be on there because DH was such a good friend of mine, and my brother. As a kid, Bowie changed my life. Seeing David Bowie was just like, okay, maybe I am on the right planet afterall. It’s a pretty appropriate song for where I am right now in my life.