ASH will cover songs by Nirvana and Mudhoney as B-sides for their new single ‘Numbskull’, released on April 26 through Infectious.
The band have recorded a version of Mudhoney‘s 1991 song ‘Who You Drivin’ Now’ and Nirvana‘s ‘Bllew’ (originally on their 1989 SubPop debut album ‘Bleach’).
‘Numbskull’ is taken from last year’s ‘Nu-Clear Sounds’ LP and follows the band’s last single, ‘Wild Surf’, released in November ’98.
Ash will warm up for their Campaign For A Living Wage benefit show at Newcastle Telewest Arena (April 10) with two ‘secret’ low-key shows.
The two dates take place at Nottingham Rock City (April 7) and Sheffield Leadmill (8).
Ash were banned from the Nottingham venue at the end of their first UK tour in 1996 for setting off fire extinguishers at the venue. Venue bosses have since ended the ban, stating: “Ash have grown up a lot since 1996 and are genuinely sorry for what happened.”
Other bands at the Newcastle benefit show comes from The Divine Comedy, Space and Fungus.
The concert has been organised by Unison, the public sector workers’ union, to highlight the need for a minimum wage and will follow a march through the city.
Ash drummer Rick McMurray said: “We feel that this is a very worthwhile cause, one that is imperative for the wellbeing and protection of old and young people alike.”
Meanwhile, Ash are set to make their big-screen acting debut with Ray Winstone in a new British film, Five Seconds To Spare. Described as “a tale of rock’n’roll and murder”, the film is still in the early stages of pre-production.
Tickets for the shows are available from nme.com‘s 24-hour ticketline on 0870 121 0125 or click here to go to our online gig guide and ticket service.