Gavin Rossdale: Kid-Free Christmas & Bush ‘Razorblade Suitcase’ Reissue
Gavin Rossdale will be having Christmas without the kids. The Bush frontman’s three children with singer Gwen Stefani are reportedly celebrating the holiday with their mom this year, as 2016 is apparently the No Doubt songstress’ stint at yuletide parenting duties. Rossdale will be busy working for the winter season; his veteran alt-rock band is reissuing their milestone 1996 album, Razorblade Suitcase, just in time for Christmas.
As reported by Us Weekly, Gavin Rossdale’s kid-less Christmas will also have the “Glycerine” singer returning to television in his native country. The ’90s rock icon will cap 2016 by coaching contestants on Britain’s The Voice UK in addition to overseeing the forthcoming Bush re-release. As quoted by Us, Gavin often travels trans-Atlantic, depending on his performance schedule and his co-parenting obligations with his ex-wife, Gwen Stefani.
“It’s not my year [to have the kids], so I’ll be in London doing [The Voice U.K.], because I’m a coach. I commute. When I don’t have my kids, I go to London.”
In a recent update from Entertainment Tonight, the news magazine reported that Gavin aims to instill the gift of charity within his three sons — Kingston Rossdale, 10, Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale, 8, and Apollo Bowie Flynn Rossdale, 2 — and teach them “the spirit of giving back.” Rossdale reportedly works with a children’s organization, A Place Called Home, a charity designed to benefit at-risk youth and their families.
“It’s a fantastic charity. I’m looking forward to getting my children involved in some of the things they’re doing over Christmas. Because, you know, for all of us who are lucky enough to have made these lives for ourselves, our children don’t get the perspective that… we grew up with.”
The aforementioned Razorblade Suitcase reissue from Rossdale’s band, Bush, is due out on Friday, December 16. Razorblade Suitcase was the group’s second album, released in late ’96, and was produced by famed utilitarian recording engineer Steve Albini. The follow-up to Bush’s breakthrough debut, Sixteen Stone, it spawned the radio hits “Swallowed” and “Greedy Fly.” Razorblade was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Per Consequence of Sound, the upcoming remastered package will contain four non-album bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased Razorblade Suitcase-era b-side, “Sleeper.” The reissue will also include new liner notes written by Steve Albini, which CoS has posted in full. In the liners, the producer fondly recalls his time working with Bush and ascribed them stamps of approval for creativity and workmanship.
“Through working with Bush they became friends, and I am as proud of their friendship as I am of any work I did for them. They made the music they did because they loved it.”
Consequence of Sound has the new Bush track “Sleeper” streaming on their website, so be sure to go check it out. Bush more recently released their sixth studio album, 2014’s Man on the Run, the follow-up to their 2011 comeback album, The Sea of Memories, which was their first album release in 10 years.
Memories succeeded Bush’s 2002 hiatus, loss of founding members Nigel Pulsford and Dave Parsons, and subsequent reunion tour in 2010. Bush is now remembered for their mid-’90s modern rock staples such as U.S. alternative No. 1 hits “Comedown” and “The Chemicals Between Us.”
What do you think about Gavin Rossdale spending his Christmas without the kids? Do you like the idea of Stefani and Rossdale alternating their holiday parenting? Will you pick up Bush’s Razorblade Suitcase reissue?
Do you have a favorite Bush song? Are you a fan of Gwen Stefani and No Doubt? Let us know your thoughts on Gwen, Gavin Rossdale and his band Bush in the comments section below.
[Featured Image by Araya Diaz/Getty Images]
