On the eve of the release of their Nowhere Sessions EP, Rise Against has revealed an aptly timed cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" to coincide with Veterans Day.
Always politically and socially minded, The Creedence Clearwater Revival track is quite the fitting cover for the band as well. “We actually used to cover ‘Fortunate Son’ in our early basement days. To me, the song represents one of the best examples of mixing music and politics together so seamlessly that nobody questions it,” says singer/guitarist Tim McIlrath.
One of the most iconic songs in U.S. history, "Fortunate Son" was released in November 1969 during the peak of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Creedance singer John Fogerty once commented that the song "speaks more to the unfairness of class than war itself," adding, "It's the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them." The song has since become one of the most easily recognized songs synonymous with the Vietnam War era.
This track follows the recent single "Talking to Ourselves (Nowhere Sessions)” from the group's six-song live EP. The EP will also include a cover of Misfits "Hybrid Moments" and a revamped version of their previous hit song "Savior" among the other tracks.
McIlrath and Zach Blair will play a trio of record store album release shows in the U.K. this coming week to celebrate the EPs release. That will be followed by a hometown performance at Chicago's Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom on Dec. 10 as part of "The Nights We Stole Christmas" radio festival.
You can grab your copy of the Nowhere Sessions EP HERE.