Articles by "Blacklist Union"
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Blacklist Union has officially released their latest single, “Dyin' 4 U,” available now on all streaming platforms.

The track delivers a raw and emotional punch, drawing from frontman Tony West’s personal struggles. “‘Dyin’ 4 U’ is about the hideous divorce and pain I went through and even though I still deeply love her, I refuse to die for her,” West shares.

“Dyin’ 4 U” is taken from the band’s highly anticipated upcoming album, Slay the Dragon, scheduled for release on September 12, 2025. The record will mark Blacklist Union’s sixth full-length release, further cementing their place as one of modern hard rock’s most uncompromising voices.

With their signature mix of gritty rock ’n’ roll attitude and unflinching honesty, Blacklist Union continues to deliver music that is as powerful as it is personal.


STREAM "Dyin' 4 U"

https://untd.io/r/Ay5V4DQT4Vnc

https://linktr.ee/blacklistunion

6:55 PM
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Blacklist Union has officially released their latest single, “Up In Smoke,” a powerful anthem about letting go of the past and embracing the present. Frontman Tony West explains, “It’s about leaving the past behind and staying in the moment. Which is not an easy feat. However, that’s why it’s called the present—because if you can stay in the moment, it’s a true gift.”

Blacklist Union’s new album Slay the Dragon is scheduled for release in September 2025 and will be their sixth full-length release.  

In celebration of the release, Blacklist Union unveiled the official music video for "Up In Smoke" which can be seen HERE.

7:42 PM
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Blacklist Union return with new single "Mississippi Moonhound"— a swampy, swaggering anthem delivering a powerful blast of wild and untamed rock ‘n’ roll. The new single captures the feeling of being haunted by your past while howling into the night for something more. Blacklist Union’s new album Slay the Dragon is scheduled for September 2025 and will be their sixth full-length release.

Blacklist Union have built a reputation on their explosive live shows and unapologetically bold sound. Their previous record, Letters from the Psych Ward, racked up over two million streams, setting the stage for the band’s new album.

Frontman Tony West, known for his larger-than-life presence, took time out to dive deep into several transformative ayahuasca journeys in the heart of the Amazon, preparing for this next era of music.


As Tony put it, “Ayahuasca isn’t a drug—it’s powerful spiritual medicine from another realm. It helped me heal in ways I never thought possible, releasing layers of trauma, heartache, and sorrow. I’m not perfect—not Gandhi or anything—but it changed everything. My entire view of myself, love, the world, people, and my children changed because of those experiences.”

"Mississippi Moonhound" was written by Tony West / Christopher Johnson, produced by Christopher Johnson, and mixed by Claudio Cueni. It was recorded at East West Studios in Hollywood, CA.
 

STREAM "Mississippi Moonhound"

https://unitedmasters.com/m/mississippi-moonhound

9:27 PM
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Blacklist Union unveiled their new single "Horns & Halos" from their forthcoming album Slay the Dragon slated for release at the end of 2024. The album will be available on all digital platforms, in addition to CDs and Vinyl.

"The single is about the battle of good & evil," says the band's frontman Tony West.

"Horns & Halos" was written by Tony West / Paul Crosby, produced by Christopher Johnson, recorded/mixed by Ghian Wright, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum.

 In addition, the band has announced new tours dates in support of the single. The tour kicks off on May 23rd in San Diego, CA at Brick by Brick.

Check out the new single HERE and tour dates listed in the poster below!


10:53 PM
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Blacklist Union released their new single "Dirty Halo" from their upcoming release Letters from the Psych Ward today, July 21, 2023. The album is slated for a September, 2023 release. The album will be available on all digital platforms, in addition to CDs and Vinyl.

The single is impacting mainstream radio on now!

"Dirty Halo" was written by Tony West / Christopher Johnson, produced by Christopher Johnson, recorded/mixed by Ghian Wright, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. 

Check out the video right HERE.

10:42 AM
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Blacklist Union released the title track from their upcoming release Letters from the Psych Ward. The album is slated for a September, 2023 release. The album will be available on all digital platforms, in addition to CDs and Vinyl.

"Letters From The Psych Ward" was written by Tony West / Christopher Johnson, produced by Christopher Johnson, mixed by Ghian Wright, engineered by Ghian Wright and Christopher Johnson. It was recorded at East West Studios in Los Angeles.

Check out the single turned video right HERE.

10:50 AM
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Los Angeles, CA - Hard Rock band BLACKLIST UNION has returned with the official music video for their new single, "The Queen Of Everything"! Filmed and directed by Thomas Crane Kill Devil Films, "The Queen Of Everything" is the first single off of the band's upcoming fifth album, Letters from the Psych Ward*, tentatively set to release in Summer 2023.

"'The Queen of Everything' is about never letting love destroy you, and never ever judging a book by its cover." - Tony West / BLACKLIST UNION

Check it HERE.

2:01 PM
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Blacklist Union has been quite active, since last speaking with them 3 years ago. Since then, the band has gone on to release another album "Back To Momo", release music videos and will be heading out on tour. Mainman Tony, vocalist for the band, discusses the new tunes and further plans.


1. Let’s start off with an icebreaker. If you could describe your band in 3 words, what would they be?

Tony: How about two words? "we deliver".

2. What has Blacklist Union been up to since we last spoke 3 years ago in 2013 when you released "Til Death Do Us Part"?

Tony: Well we released the new record called "Back To Momo", did two music videos, and we're booking a tour. We've been up to so much, we should have a blue light special.

3. What's the story behind the song and video for "Evil Eye"?

Tony: The song is about my mother and how she treated me when I was a kid. She was very abusive, mean, cold, and shut off. This is a song about letting all of that go once and for all and not allowing it to interfere with my life anymore. I do not know my mother. It is sad really.

4. What's your take on "Back To Momo" as a whole?

Tony: It's a kick ass rock and roll record that will touch,  move, and inspire everyone that listens to it.

5. What's your favorite song on the album right this second!?!?

Tony: "Superjaded".

6. Is it important for you to paint visual pictures with the songs?

Tony: I'm a very visual person and it's important to me that people can relate to the songs. That's what's most important to me. People process things the way they process things. In my case again I'm a visual person. Some people are different.

7. What would be the cinematic equivalent of "Back To Momo"?

Tony: Nacho Libre.

8. What would you say separates you from other bands in the scene?

Tony: We deliver the goods consistently. We have the hype AND the delivery.

9. What does the band have planned for the rest of 2016?

Tony: Tour, do another video for Superjaded & start demoing for the next record.

10. Have you heard of Blacklist Union?

Tony: No and I did hear the singer is an asshole.
10:45 AM
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Los Angeles hard rock act Blacklist Union have signed a management deal with Doug Goldstein and When Pigs Fly Entertainment.  Goldstein, who famously took on Guns N' Roses in 1991 and Blind Melon, amongst others, will guide Blacklist Union through the next phase of their career.

The band has also brought in Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen to fill the role of Creative Director and Blacklist Union mainstay, Tony West, had this to say about the new relationship, "It’s great to finally have someone that delivers and the controversy doesn't overshadow the music." And per Cohen's participation, "I'm super excited to be working with her."

Doug Goldstein: "Back to Momo is the best rock record I've heard since "Appetite For Destruction" and remarked that  "Tony West is the hardest working rock star that I have ever known."

Blacklist Union has also completed work on their new single, "Alive N Well Smack in the Middle of Hell.”  Produced by Chris Johnson, the song has a positive message and is about surviving amongst the madness and not letting the sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll kill you. No matter what, you will be okay and make it through. The single will be released on 11 January 2015.

A video for the track has been shot and was directed and produced by Matt Zane of Society 1. The band is really going to push the envelope with this high quality production video and showcase taboo and voodoo at its finest.

 "Alive N Well Smack in the Middle of Hell" will be featured on the upcoming album, Back To Momo, which is due to be released on 24 April 2015.
11:07 AM
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Blacklist Union is unfiltered and in your face its raw and as real as it gets. BLU has had its shares of ups and downs throughout its almost 8 years of existence to say the least, but in the end they have always pulled thru to face another day and to write another chapter of their checkered and colorful lives. Mainman Tony West took the time to discuss their latest album and plans for the rest of this year.


1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Blacklist Union, and how long the band has been together.

Tony: Hi I am Tony West the lead singer and founder of Blacklist Union. We have been together since 2004.

2. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Tony: We are located in Los Angeles. The music scene here unfortunately is very stale and dead and there are very few good bands out here. A few are great though. Goldsboro, Stitched Up Heart & Love & A 38 is a couple I would recommend. I think it is the promoters and the clubs fault why there is no music scene anymore. They expect bands to do all the work and the bands expect the promoters to do all the work. We should all be working together . When there is camaraderie again there will be a scene again. Most clubs and promoters could care less about talent or who is playing because it is mostly pay to play. So most clubs have lost their credibility.

3. It's been 4 years since we last spoke and then discussed "Breaking Bread With The Devil" can you tell me what the band has released and been up to since?

Tony: Well we released Til Death Do Us Part in June of 2013. We have done some touring and I am in the middle of writing and demoing the next cd which will be called "In This Moment"

4. What can you tell me about "Til Death Do Us Part".

Tony: Til Death Do Us Part is a virtual who's who of rock and roll and is our best release to date. I am very happy and proud of this CD.

5. Why did you want this release to be released physically?

Tony: Ummm....is there another way ? I like have a copy in my hands. I enjoy reading the lyrics and liner notes. I think that CD art is a lost art. It is a package deal.

6. What was it like to work with Chris Johnson what did he bring to the table for Blacklist Union?

Tony: Chris Johnson is the 6th member of Blacklist Union. He brings A LOT to the table. He allows us to be ourselves and captures what we do live on CD. I call him the rock n roll scientist. He is family.

7. You recorded this at the Skip Saylor Recordings and The Village why did you want to pick these locations to record this album and what was the experience like for everyone?

Tony: Skip's and The Village are legendary rock n roll places. They treated us amazing cos they are the real deal and so is Blacklist Union. We cant wait to go back.

8. Select two songs from Til Death Do Us Part and what inspired the lyrics.

Tony: Blown Away is in part written about 3 friends who I lost from drugs in one way or another. One is Josey Scott from Saliva who was my friend and hasn't been in a VERY long time, the 2nd is my friend Rocko who I have known since I was a teenager that completely lost his mind on Crystal meth and the other is Mike Starr my ex room mate and friend who died 3/8/11. Alabama Slammer is also about some chick from Rock of Love that I dated and completely slammed my heart on the ground. Granted I may have deserved it and was COMPLETELY insane at the time. She is also from Alabama.

9. Is there any story or concept behind the Til Death Do Us Part title?

Tony: Well I think Til Death Do Us Part is a phrase used with no meaning nowadays especially when people get married. It seems people just don't honor what they say. My ex vowed to me "Til Death Do Us Part' and then she was off doing her own thing shortly after. It really is about doing what u mean and meaning what u say.

10. Who did the cover art for Til Death Do Us Part and how much input did you have on it?

Tony: Dony the drummer from LA Guns did all the art work on the cd. I always loved the Damned's Phantasmagoria CD cover and that was the inspiration behind it. Besides I lost 2 of the most beautiful women in 2001 and 2006 and it is no secret that still pains me. It was also a tribute to them.

11. How has this release evolved, differed, and compared to your previous releases?

Tony: I have evolved as a singer and performer and writer 100 fold since the start of this band and I think the proof is in the music.

12. What are the upcoming plans that you guys have for the rest of this year?

Tony: Hopefully we are gonna get to Europe and we are gonna just continue to play and do out of town gigs whenever we can and as much as we can.

13. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

Tony: The songs.

14. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Tony: You can find us on the web. CDBaby.com, iTunes, blacklistunion.com, reverbnation, and Facebook. We are not hard to find.

15. Any final words of wisdom?

Tony: A friend of mine told me "If you don't have haters you are nobody". A lot of shit gets said about me as a person. I have had a gnarly history of life thus far. I am grateful to be where I am. If you need help coping, listen to Blacklist Union. I've been thru it to. You can make it thru the darkest times and hours with music. I love you all.
11:14 AM
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Do you love raw intense emotion? Does it entertain you making you drool and simply go out of control? If that sounds like you then you’ve found the perfect spot to maintain it. With the utter essence and entertaining sounds and styling’s of rock n roll! Presented to you by Los Angeles based act Blacklist Union who have broken the music barrier and made their mark upon the music scene upon the many venues located upon the Hollywood domain. Now is the time for you to listen in to what they have to say when it comes to “Breakin Bread with the Devil,” along with what vocalist Tony West told me during the interview we recently conducted.



1. The name of the band Blacklist Union is interesting to say the least and sounds as if there is a story behind it. Where did the name come from and what is the story?

Tony: The band name comes from well most bands nowadays that are successful I could be standing next to some dude from Incubus I would have no idea who he is. it goes back to the whole rock star environment when rock n roll was insane man. I grew up worshipping the outlaws of rock n roll I was 11 years old when “Appetite for Destruction” came out and I just wanted to be that rock n roll outlaw ya know. Like Scott Weiland, Axl, and rock that element ya know. It was based on, a couple of guys in a band having bad reputations and being misunderstood for the whole outlaws of rock.

2. Can you briefly summarize how the band formed and what you do in Blacklist Union?

Tony: I formed the band in 2004 and I’m the singer for the band and we went through our shares with up and downs and member changes and record deals. Having a band is like having a marriage it takes a few times to get it right.

3. Your lyrics are infused with heavy detail and raw emotion. What is it that normally gives you inspiration when writing lyrics and is there a concept behind the music you create?

Tony: All of our lyrics are real and every single song I have has been about an experience in my life. “After The Mourning,” that title comes from an inspiration of a girlfriend of mine that was killed in an auto accident and right after we released “After The Mourning,” 10 days later came out my Ex-wife died. Ya know we have a new song “Sixty Five Steps Away” which is about how many steps away it is from my x wifes grave to my x girlfriends. So as I was saying all of our songs are based on tragedy or addiction or love to the birth of my son it’s all about real life events. I try to keep it real because it’s not just about putting together some words that sounds cool it’s all about real life stuff and situations.

4. Your new album “Breakin Bread with the Devil,” is coming out how has the reactions been thus far? What can fans expect when they listen to your music?

Tony: They can expect kick ass high energy rock n roll with hooks and real raw good melodies good guitar work with great vocals if you’re into rock like Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold you’ll love Blacklist Union. Actually the title “Breakin Bread with the Devil,” what that means is inviting the wrong people into your life and into your heart. It has nothing to do with the devil actually. We’ve been banned from a few Christian college stations because they won’t play it because they think were devil worshipers.

5. You have several music videos for the songs "After The Mourning," "Breakin Bread with the Devil," and "Sixty Five Steps Away,” can you give a brief summary on how it all came together.







Tony: “After The Mourning,” was our first video was shot by a guy named Mark Racco he’s worked with other bands Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Guns N Roses, and the second video is the title track “Breakin Bread with the Devil,” and was done by film student it’s an amazing video. We just did a video for “Sixty Five Steps Away,” which was very heavy for me, I remember filming that video and I got very choked up its about how many steps away my Ex-Girlfriend’s grave is from my Ex-Wife’s and to find love after walking thru the darkness.

6. Many of your songs are so hard and intense that I am sure they translate well into a live setting taking on a whole new life in front of a live audience. How does it make you feel when the emotion and power that you envisioned in the recording studio, come to life while playing in front of a crowd?

Tony: It makes me feel grateful and amazed we have the best fans the first time I saw people singing the lyrics we were playing in Washington D.C. and the whole crowd was singing the lyrics it was amazing. It was such a moment for me, we are a great live band, we deliver live if you can’t deliver live then you can’t deliver at all. Anybody can do anything in the studio. Live is where it’s at. If you come to a live show then you’re going to get a kick ass show for sure!

7. What are the upcoming plans for Blacklist Union?

Tony: We just got a new management company, called the Campbell/Howell Group out of Nashville ,and we have been talking to several people about setting up a tour and getting us a good record deal. That’s why we’ve been sticking around L.A. We just played Memphis and played Georgia last year. We’d like to head around the world, like Europe and Japan have become real big on us.



8. How has MYSPACE and the internet impacted your band and do you think downloading helps or hinders the artists?

Tony: MySpace is an amazing business tool it’s helped us connect with people fans of rock music and business contacts through there and I think it’s amazing. As far as downloads and stuff like that when you’re paying $1.00 a song that’s fine, but taking artist’s music for free the artist should have their share too. Like if we put out a record offer a few free downloads and then they can go and buy the record ya know?

9. What is the toughest lesson you ever learned in the studio and on the stage?

Tony: Probably be don’t sing too hard.

10. What bands would you like to tour with and who has been your favorite to tour with this far?

Tony: I’d like to tour with Buckcherry, Saliva, Avenged Sevenfold, Turbonegro, is a great band I love. We played this event “Rock on the Bayou” in Houston last year with a lot of bands I’ve never heard of, but childhood influences I heard every now and then. Recently we opened up for Duff McKagans Loaded who personally requested us to open for him, back at the Viper Room out in Hollywood a few months ago. We are definitely a new age rock band.

11. Every band has its musical influences. What are some of the other bands and artists that have greatly influenced you guys and your music?

Tony: For me personally my biggest influence growing up was a guy named Andrew Wood, the singer of MotherLove Bone he was one of the biggest influences for me as a singer. Some others include Scott Weiland, Alice in Chains, Jane’s Addiction, and the Cult. As far as musically goes a lot of us are into punk rock and high octane rock. If you had to put us into a category it would be along the lines of Buckcherry or Avenged Sevenfold those type of bands.



12. What's your reaction when/if a fan told you a very meaningful statement such as "Your music changed my life?" Has this ever happened to you?

Tony: That’s happened to me several times and its one of the most touching things. If I could touch one person’s life I’ve done my job. I was a kid that needed to be saved by music. With my childhood the way it was that means the world to me. When that happens I get choked up that is a beautiful moment when it happens.

13. All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you prepare for the physical demands of a tour?

Tony: I do a lot of hiking in Griffin Park, brutal up hill and downhill cardio and eat healthy and drink a lot of water.

14. Anything else you'd like to add?

Tony: Let me think of that one for a second…. I appreciate all the people that have been supporting us through all the ups and downs and we play our music for them and it means so much that we’ve sold over 10,000 records completely on our own .We do so well at shows. And last but certainly I want to say I love Aboo……
12:26 PM

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