“Friends Of Jesse Malin: I Would Do It For You Vol. 1” Compilation Released

Friends Of Jesse Malin: I Would Do It For You Vol. 1, a 26-song celebration of the music of Jesse Malin, is out today through streaming platforms and on CD and vinyl via Wicked Cool Records. The album brings together an extraordinary cross-section of Malin’s friends, collaborators and musical community, produced by Lyle Hysen, the collection reaches across generations and scenes, with contributions from Gogol Bordello, The Dead Milkmen, Sami Yaffa (New York Dolls / Michael Monroe), Valley Lodge, Prima Donna and many more, each taking on a song from Malin’s extensive catalog. The album also marks the return of influential New York alternative rock band Das Damen, whose version of Don’t Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day!) is the band’s first newly released recording in 35 years. One of the album’s focus tracks is Prima Donna‘s Everybody Wants To Rock And Roll, a fast, loud take on a song that feels right at home in the Los Angeles band’s world. For Prima Donna frontman Kevin Preston, the connection to Malin goes back years. Preston has cited seeing Green Day with Malin’s D Generation opening as a formative rock show, and the relationship eventually came full circle: Preston, who has toured as a guitarist with Green Day, recently joined Malin onstage in Los Angeles to perform Everybody Wants To Rock And Roll. That history gives Prima Donna‘s recording a little more weight than the average cover. Both artists come from a similar place; punk, glam, power pop and straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll, with big songs at the center of it all. Clocking in at just 2:27, Prima Donna‘s version gets in, turns it up and gets out.

Friends Of Jesse Malin: I Would Do It For You Vol. 1 began as a tribute to Malin but quickly grew well beyond the scope of a single album. Nearly 80 songs have now been recorded by artists from throughout Jesse’s musical life, resulting in a planned two-volume series. Malin continues his recovery from the rare spinal stroke he suffered in 2023, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Since then, he has made a remarkable return to public life and the stage, including two sold-out shows at New York City’s Beacon Theatre and his Off-Broadway show Silver Manhattan. More than a traditional tribute record, I Would Do It For You shows just how far Malin’s songs and friendships have traveled. Punk lifers, singer-songwriters, underground heroes and longtime collaborators all show up here, but the record never feels like a museum piece. These are Jesse’s songs being played by people who know him, love the music and have their own history with it. A second volume is also planned, with Thurston Moore, Willie Nile and many more among the artists set to appear.