Joe Bonamassa Announces New Album, 'Royal Tea'

(Image credit: Robert Sutton)

Joe Bonamassa has announced a new studio album, Royal Tea.

The long-teased new album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, and was inspired by Bonamassa's British blues-rock guitar heroes - Jeff Beck, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton and Cream.

You can check out the album's first single, “Why Does It Take So Long To Say Goodbye," below.

Royal Tea was recorded with Bonamassa's touring band - Anton Fig on drums, Michael Rhodes on bass and Reese Wynans on keys. Bonamassa also drafted in British rock legends Bernie Marsden - former guitarist for Whitesnake - ex-Cream lyricist Pete Brown and pianist extraordinaire Jools Holland to give the album a decidedly authentic sonic touch.

“Writing this record in London has done its job,” Bonamassa said in a press release. “It really does sound inherently British. Bernie and I, we finish each other’s sentences. We’re cut from the same cloth.”

Royal Tea - which was produced by longtime Bonamassa producer Kevin Shirley - is set for an October 23 release via Provogue/J&R Adventures.

To preorder Royal Tea, step right this way.

For more on Bonamassa and his music, head on over to jbonamassa.com.

Joe Bonamassa 'Royal Tea'

(Image credit: J&R Adventures)
Jackson Maxwell
Associate Editor, GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com

Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.