BLACK EYED SONS (feat Joe Elliott, Mike Tramp, Dan Reed) – Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits (2025) *HQ*

BLACK EYED SONS is a new Rock ‘n’ Roll collective formed by members of The Quireboys and Joe Elliott’s Down n’ Outz, and on their debut album “Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits” they are joined by an amazing collection of fellow musicians for a joyous collaboration of mutual admiration and musical celebration.
Since the band announced they were working on their highly anticipated new album ‘The Band Rolls On’, what was already becoming a chance for a musical rebirth metamorphosized into something far bigger and more ambitious. The final cuts feature distinguished collaborations from a multitude of Rock Royalty.
The band, their management and close friends within the industry all agreed that this should be treated as a stand-alone new project, a Rock ‘n’ Roll Collective going under the name BLACK EYED SONS, a nod to a previous album from their extensive back catalogue.
The revised album title, “Cowboys in Pinstriped Suits” is named after one of the eleven tracks and features none other than Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott alongside Alice Cooper guitarist Ryan Roxie and bass grooves from Chip Z’Nuff.
Other guest stars include Mike Tramp (White Lion), Scotti Hill (Skid Row), Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network), Steve Conte (Mike Monroe), Kyf Brewer (Company Of Wolves), Josh Todd & Stevie D (Buckcherry) and more.

Opener “Lie to Me” has the classic British sound. That is to say, if you love the Quireboys, you’re going to love this. It’s even got the harmonica and a lot of swagger. This is the full band, no guests. And from here is when things get complicated – If we went through every special guest here, it would take the 600 words of this review on its own.
Take “Medicine,” for example. Laid-back and Stones-y it might be, but that voice in the second verse? That’s Josh Todd of Buckcherry, and he’s brought Stevie D with him.

And that’s kind of the vibe of all this. “Foolin’ Yourself” is brilliant. It could have come off the Quireboys’ second record (the one with a slightly more expansive sound), but it’s also got Steve Conte on it. And he’s cooler than me, you, and anyone else.
But here’s the thing: you can have a cast of thousands, and it’s pointless unless you have the songs, and I’m here to tell you that “Autumn Reigns” isn’t brilliant because Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke is on it — it’s just a magnificent song.

Arguably the biggest star of the lot is on the title track. Joe Elliott guests, proclaiming “I saw the death of rock and roll today” while singing on something that Mott the Hoople themselves would be proud of.
Chip Z’Nuff finds himself on a couple, but “Don’t Throw Me in the Corner” sees him in the spotlight, and it’s absolutely glorious.
There are some surprises, too. There’s a soulful flavour to the blues of “Your True Colors,” and Mike Tramp clearly enjoys himself. “Savior Faire” (among the guests here is Quireboys’ man Chris Johnstone) finds a more Seventies sound, and Alan Clayton’s playing is perfect.

More than anything, though, this just nails it. “I just wanna play some rock and roll,” sings Griffin on “Dig Me Out of This Hole,” and that appears to be the point. Plus, Scotti Hill of Skid Row has never played guitar quite like this before.
Whilst some of the guests have stretched themselves more than others, they all fit superbly. Take “So Glorious,” perhaps the sweetest love song here; Dan Reed sounds like he belongs on it.
As does Ryan Roxie on “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory.” Played with strings here, it adds a freshness to the Johnny Thunders tune (even if the first time I heard it was Guns N’ Roses). You might not have expected Black Eyed Sons to cover it, and in honesty, you weren’t really sure what this was going to be like as a whole.

Making an album with so many guests is a difficult balance, which can bring variety yet dilute a band’s essential character. But this release works perfectly and proves they were never just supporting musicians for one of British rock’s best loved characters, but skilled players who feel that retro Seventies sound and have nailed it to a tee. A very impressive debut that sets the bar high for others in 2025
Black Eyed Sons, with a little help from their friends, have released a bit of a stunner.
Highly Recommended

01 – Lie To Me

02 – Medicine
feat. Josh Todd & Stevie D (Buckcherry)

03 – Foolin’ Yourself
feat. Steve Conte (Mike Monroe) Kyf Brewer (Company Of Wolves)

04 – Autumn Reigns
feat. Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke)

05 – Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits
feat. Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff)

06 – Don’t Throw Me In The Corner
feat. Chip Z’Nuff ( Enuff Z’Nuff)

07 – Your True Colours
feat. Mike Tramp (White Lion)

08 – Savoir Faire
feat. Alan Clayton (Dirty Strangers) S. Conte (Mike Monroe) Chris Johnstone (Quireboys)

09 – Dig Me Out Of This Hole
feat. Scotti Hill (Skid Row)

10 – So Glorious
feat. Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network)

11 – Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory
feat. Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper)

Guy Griffin (lead vocals/guitar)
Paul Guerin (guitar)
Keith Weir (keyboards)
Nick Mailing (bass)
Pip Mailing (drums)

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