New Year, New Album: Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers on the Release of ‘Hell to Breakfast’
- Amelia Thompson
- Jan 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 24
Rock band Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers, a local staple born out of the 90’s Tempe grunge scene, is ringing in the new year with the upcoming launch of their ninth album “Hell to Breakfast,” in March–their first new album in almost nine years.
To celebrate the upcoming release, the band played through the album live for the first time at Celebrity Theatre last month.
Since their last album “Native Heart,” released in 2017, the group has faced difficulty getting their new album off of the ground, most notably fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Roger Clyne said trying to rehearse over ZOOM proved to be far more challenging than meeting in person to work through material together.
The band went from having more than 100 shows a year to zero, and Clyne said it was a “depressing time,” that began to affect his desire to create.
“It was really discouraging as a writer wanting to write about the power of community and watching community unravel,” Clyne said.
Seeing what COVID was doing to the world, Clyne became frustrated when he thought what could have acted as a “catalyst for good,” really did the opposite
Eventually, however, Clyne was done with not working and decided he needed to break the slump.
Before COVID restrictions were lifted, Clyne called family friend Gordon Lewis, a member of the Apache medicine community, looking for spiritual guidance.
“Gordon, I'm ready to try again,” Clyne said, “If the world would have it, is there a ceremony for accumulating enough merit to do that?”
After an explanation of the ritual, Clyne said, Lewis went silent and after a moment said to him, “yeah, f**k it, Roger. You got lightnin’.”
Clyne says this was the breakthrough track. Titled after Lewis’ words, “You Got Lightnin’,” to Clyne means not to worry about the ritual because your intentions are already there.
Clyne and Bass Guitarist Nick Scropos both agree that this track did not set a determined sound of the album.
“There’s some punk rock, there's some country, there’s a ballad…” Scropos said, “...it really takes on a whole spectrum,”
The diversity of tracks that make up the album highlight the “Hell to Breakfast” title. Clyne chose to reference the phrase his father, and his grandfather, would always say—an old cowboy's saying.
“It would just mean like shit is everywhere, upside down,”
To Clyne, it is an amalgamation of many different tracks over time worked together into one piece.
Despite the described lack of cohesion, Clyne does not believe it is a drawback.
“We’ve been doing this for 30 years,” He acknowledges that, although this album might not be their most popular, he believes “as a band, as creators of music, this is our best work,” they write what feels right–what feels ”joyful.”
“It’s a nice ride, I think,” Scropos added, “we’re pretty happy with it.”
It is apparent to the band that every song is where it should be, and they couldn't be more satisfied with the end product.
Even if “Hell to Breakfast” doesn’t turn out to be a favorite among fans–who are also called Peacemakers–Clyne hopes they are happy with the songs.
“I want the Peacemakers’ fans to listen to this album and go, ‘I’m proud to be a fan of that band,’” Clyne said, “that would be most rewarding.”
“Hell to Breakfast” will be on streaming services and on vinyl March 6th, 2026, which will be followed by a “dogpile” of celebrations.
“Fizzy Fuzzy Big and Buzzy,” the first album released by their preceding band “The Refreshments,” was released 30 years ago this January, marking this year’s album as an anniversary for the group
Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers will be returning to The Refreshments’ old stomping grounds for a play through of “Hell to Breakfast” in the parking lot of Yucca Tap Room in Tempe on March 14th–the same way the band heralded their first album in 1996.
To people interested in diving into some Tempe legacy, Lead Guitarist Jim Dalton offered “Come see us live! There is a palpable energy between the band and our amazing fans.”
Singles “Agua Caliente” and “You Got Lightnin’" from “Hell to Breakfast” are available now for streaming.
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