While COVID-19 outbreaks shutdown motorcycle manufacturers, trade shows, and races, musicians like Franky Perez worried about their performing careers in a socially-distanced world. Opposed to sitting idle during the lockdowns, Perez wrote and recorded a new album in his Las Vegas home.
Known for frequent appearances on Sons of Anarchy soundtracks, the rocker opted for barebones production on his latest album “Suddenly 44”. With the stripped-down sound, the musician only needed an acoustic guitar to safely share his music on a cross-country tour, so he packed his Martin Guitar onto his Ducati Multistrada 1260 and hit the road.
Inspired by the second track on the new LP, the “Crossing the Great Divide” tour not only aimed to bring Perez’s music back to the stage, but also bring attention to the people most affected by the health crisis. From struggling live venues to frontline workers, the pop-up shows provided a much-needed reprieve while observing health recommendations.
Starting in Las Vegas, Perez traveled as far west as San Francisco before heading east to New York’s famed Times Square. Along the 13-day, 4,000+ mile trip, the musician stopped at 17 locations including a Ducati dealership in Detroit. Perez also documented the experience on his one-man “tour bus” with an 8-part video series found on Ducati’s website.
“Music is meant to be shared and while digital distribution makes music so much more accessible now, there is no substitution for the live experience,” said Franky Perez. “The feedback and relationship between artist and the audience is vital when performing music that is so personal, but with the normal approach for a new album release no longer possible I called my friends from famed Italian motorcycle marque Ducati to help me develop a completely different approach to touring.”
That call to Ducati turned the “Crossing the Great Divide” tour:
- Las Vegas Sign | Las Vegas, NV
- The Viper Room, Rock Store | Los Angeles, CA
- Zeitgeist, Golden Gate Bridge | San Francisco, CA
- Carson City, Thunder Mountain Monument | Imlay, NV
- Harrison Eurosport, Storm Mountain Amphitheater | Salt Lake City, UT
- Lucky Joes | Fort Collins, CO
- Wheat field | Salina, Kansas
- Arthur Bryants, Cross Roads | Kansas City, KS
- Hoffee Cases | Joliet, IL, Chicago, IL
- Free riding day | Fort Wayne, IN
- Ducati Detroit, Hitsville USA, Tin Roof Detroit | Detroit, MI
- Pearl Street Warehouse | Washington D.C.
- Woodholme Gardens | Pikesville, MD
- Martin Guitars | Nazareth, PA
- South Street Pedestrian Bridge | Philadelphia, PA
- Symphony Square | Bala Cynwyd, PA
- Times Square, Ducati New York | New York, NY
Though America is still experiencing outbreaks and sporadic shutdowns, it’s good to see that venue owners, essential workers, and musicians are persevering. If Franky Perez playing free shows during a global pandemic and a Multistrada doubling as a tour bus is any evidence, we can still do the things we love in a responsible and safe way.
Ducs On The Road:
Musician Franky Perez tours new album
“Suddenly 44” on a unique Las Vegas to New
York tour on his Ducati
The COVID-19 lockdowns inspired Franky Perez to write and record during his home isolation
his newest album “Suddenly 44”
With traditional music venues closed, Franky partnered with Ducati Motorcycles to create
“Crossing the Great Divide Tour” to play for free at outdoor music venues, healthcare facilities
and public spaces within the restrictions in place during the time of COVID-19
Franky covered the 13-day, 4,000+ mile tour on a Ducati Multistrada 1260 S Grand Tour fitted
with a custom Hoffee Case to carry his Martin acoustic guitar
An eight-episode video series documenting the best moments of the “Crossing the Great
Divide” tour to be released on Ducati.com on August 25, 2020
Sunnyvale, Calif. August 25, 2020 - When much of the country began to implement COVID-19
lockdowns, like most musicians Franky Perez faced great uncertainty on when his performing
career could again resume. Not wishing to sit idle at his home in Las Vegas, Franky turned this
unprecedented moment in history as the creative inspiration to write and record an intimate album
is his guest bedroom titled “Suddenly 44,” which reflects on his past, the challenging times we
presently face and the relationships that keep us grounded and optimistic for an unknown future.
From the challenge posed by the pandemic, the “Crossing the Great Divide” tour was born. Inspired
by a song on his new album, the tour became a cross country mission for Franky to share his
music for free, in any way possible under the strict considerations of safety and social distancing.
To support Franky, a Ducati Multistrada 1260 S Grand Tour was custom fitted with a carbon-fiber
Hoffee guitar case to protect the Martin 000-17 Black Smoke Guitar that he selected as his acoustic
companion.
This unique and aspirational journey was documented on film online as an eight-episode series
highlighting his unique journey and experiences, all complemented by the soundtrack of his new
record, Suddenly 44. This video and photo series may be viewed on Ducati’s website here:
https://www.ducati.com/us/en/franky-perez-suddenly44-tour
“Music is meant to be shared and while digital distribution makes music so much more accessible
now, there is no substitution for the live experience,” said Franky Perez. “The feedback and
relationship between artist and the audience is vital when performing music that is so personal, but
with the normal approach for a new album release no longer possible I called my friends from
famed Italian motorcycle marque Ducati to help me develop a completely different approach to
touring.”
As the planning for the tour evolved the mission broadened to not only share the new music but
also bring attention to the people affected during this time of crisis in the US. Many live music
venues have closed while others have been able to adapt, albeit with limited capacity. With these
venues being an essential part of the traveling musician, Franky called upon many of his friends to
weave their stories into his adventure bringing awareness to their situation. When some of his
friends in the healthcare industry found out about this tour, Franky was asked to stop at some of
the facilities to reward frontline healthcare workers that have had little reprieve these past few
months. Lastly, he planned to visit some of the Ducati dealers along his journey to share his
passion of motorcycling with his music and pop-up shows.
Franky Perez’s new record ‘Suddenly 44’ is available via all streaming services:
https://frankyperez.hearnow.com/suddenly-44
Tour stops & performance locations:
Las Vegas Sign | Las Vegas, NV
The Viper Room, Rock Store | Los Angeles, CA
Zeitgeist, Golden Gate Bridge | San Francisco, CA
Carson City, Thunder Mountain Monument | Imlay, NV
Harrison Eurosport, Storm Mountain Amphitheater | Salt Lake City, UT
Lucky Joes | Fort Collins, CO
Wheat field | Salina, Kansas
Arthur Bryants, Cross Roads | Kansas City, KS
Hoffee Cases | Joliet, IL, Chicago, IL
Free riding day | Fort Wayne, IN
Ducati Detroit, Hitsville USA, Tin Roof Detroit | Detroit, MI
Pearl Street Warehouse | Washington D.C.
Woodholme Gardens | Pikesville, MD
Martin Guitars | Nazareth, PA
South Street Pedestrian Bridge | Philadelphia, PA
Symphony Square | Bala Cynwyd, PA
Times Square, Ducati New York | New York, NY
Tour Partner
Ducati North America – Multistrada 1260 S Grand Tour
Belstaff – Racemaster riding jacket
Martin Guitars - 000-17 Black Smoke acoustic guitar
Hoffee Cases – Carbon fiber guitar case
Cardo Systems – Packtalk Bold bluetooth helmet communication
Count’s Kustoms, Las Vegas – Custom fabrication for on bike guitar case mount