It was an eventful eight years between the Pennsylvania hard rock trio CKY's two latest album.
Between 2990's "Carver City" and last year's "The Phoenix," the group parted ways with frontman Deron Miller, with guitarist and primary composer Chad I Ginsburg stepping into that role. Bassist Matt Deis also left and returned during that time, while a variety of touring members came and went.
* Ginsburg, 46, says by phone that the 13-plus months since "The Phoenix's" release has been "the best year of CKY's life, honestly. It's never been better. There's so much hope for the future, all positivity. I don't think there's been one bad or miserable show or day we've had yet, and we were so used to many bad days before this. Being in a rock band almost felt like a miserable experience for awhile, which is a damn shame. But the past year has been a blast."
* Though Ginsburg "was used to having a bit of a frontman perspective" with CKY before Miller left in 2015, having the role in actuality has been an adjustment. "Singing the whole set is more of a new feeling. There's a bit more responsibility, but it keeps me in check. It keeps me trying to stay healthy and clean and sober. It benefits my life in other ways 'cause I just want to do it right and do it the best I can. It keeps me working hard.
* CKY will follow-up "The Phoenix" with an EP due out on Record Store Black Friday in November. And Ginsburg promises there won't be another eight-year gap between four albums, either. "As soon as it gets cold and we can't be on the road, unless we're in Australia or something, then we're going to buckle down and do another record. We're trying to record as much as possible in-between, so any time we're off tour we cut a few songs at a time. We have our own studio now, so hopefully the songs amount to a much more diverse record, 'cause when you go in and record a bunch of songs at once it sometimes doesn't lend to the individuality of the songs."
CKY, Slaves, Awaken I Am and Royal Thunder perform Thursday, Aug. 2, at Saint Andrews Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15. Call 313-961-6358 or visit saintandrewsdetroit.com.