December 21, 2000 – With Time Bomb (due March 27, 2001, on DreamWorks Records), Buckcherry are ready to build on the success of their gold-certified, self-titled debut album, which spawned the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #1 radio hit "Lit Up." The band will preview songs from the new CD when they hit the road with Kid Rock. The six-week U.S. tour kicks off Jan. 17 in Greenville, S.C., and wraps up Feb. 23 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Guitarist Keith Nelson compares Time Bomb to the band's previous work by saying it's "more musical, with more flavor and taste." A mix of rock 'n' roll, direct lyrics and melodic songcraft, the disc was produced by John Travis (Sugar Ray, Monster Magnet), who helped Buckcherry narrow down the 35 tracks they'd written to an even dozen. Some of the cuts off the new album are "Whiskey in the Morning," "Ridin'," "Helpless" and "Underneath."

The songs on Time Bomb were refined during a series of live shows. The band spent most of 1999 and much of 2000 in front of a crowd, headlining their own gigs as well as playing with KISS, Lenny Kravitz and Fuel. These outings were capped by a massive New Year's Eve show with Aerosmith in Osaka, Japan.

After the months of rigorous touring, Buckcherry – which also includes singer Josh Todd, guitarist Yogi, bassist J.B. and drummer Devon Glenn – were ready to take a break from the road to record. Their goal? "No DJs!" laughs Keith, with a nod to Buckcherry's solidly rock-based sound. "Seriously, we wanted to take the next logical step to cultivate what we do. That's what was great about working with John in the studio – we could reference Aerosmith and Bowie, but he completely understood we were making a new-sounding record, incorporating the past and future sonically."

Josh says this type of innovation also applies to the album's lyrics, explaining: "The song 'Porno Star' was the first time I tried writing something in the third person. It's based on the life of a male porn star – I put my mind in his body. I mean, what an amazing existence, but very lonely, too. I also twisted in [adult film actress] Savannah's suicide. The song has a very nasty, sexual guitar riff."

Josh confides that some of the songs on Time Bomb came from difficult experiences: "There have been a few letdowns this year, and some of us have been brokenhearted about things. At times I was, like, 'I don't fucking wanna get up in the morning.' 'Whiskey In The Morning' is about alcoholism, which I've battled for a long time. I used to have that morning drink every day. The worst, most destructive drug of all is legal." He concludes of his songwriting, "The lyrics are simply about finding stuff that moves me."

"We love our first album, and it's a great moment in time," Josh says by way of his own comparison. "But this is the record we've always wanted to make."

Catch Buckcherry live in the following cities (as usual, all dates are subject to change):

BUCKCHERRY ON TOUR WITH KID ROCK

DATE	CITY	VENUE
Jan. 17	Greenville, SC	Bi-Lo Center
Jan. 18	Charlotte, NC	Independence Arena
Jan. 20	Roanoke, VA	Roanoke Civic Center
Jan. 21	Norfolk, VA	Scope Arena
Jan. 23	Washington, DC	9:30 Club (Buckcherry show)
Jan. 25	Columbus, OH	Nationwide Arena
Jan. 26	Louisville, KY	Freedom Hall
Jan. 27	Huntington, WV	Civic Arena
Jan. 31	Minneapolis, MN	The Quest
Feb. 1	Madison, WI	Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
Feb. 2	Chicago, IL	TBA
Feb. 3	Saginaw, MI	Wendler Arena
Feb. 8	Houston, TX	Beaumont
Feb. 9	Norman, OK	TBA
Feb. 10	Dallas, TX	TBA
Feb. 11	Austin, TX	TBA
Feb. 13	San Antonio, TX	TBA
Feb. 15	Little Rock, AK	TBA
Feb. 16	New Orleans, LA	TBA
Feb. 17	Memphis, TN	TBA
Feb. 18	Indianapolis, IN	TBA
Feb. 21	Fort Wayne, IN	Fort Wayne Coliseum
Feb. 22	Toledo, OH	Sports Arena
Feb. 23	Cincinnati, OH	TBA
Feb. 24	Detroit, MI	TBA (Buckcherry show)
Feb. 27	Denver, CO	TBA (Buckcherry show)
Feb. 28	Salt Lake City, UT	TBA (Buckcherry show)