Ricky Byrd and Bob Stander Look Back at Creating Soundscapes for Sobering Times When Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Ricky Byrd released Sobering Times in 2020, it celebrated his own 30+ years of being clean and sober, while also reaching out to others in recovery through rock and roll. This is a mission the former member of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts has happily undertaken since 2018, as a drug and alcohol counselor and recovery coach. Who knew a global pandemic would descend that same year, and expand the album’s outreach to others dealing with anxiety, depression, and hopelessness brought on by COVID. Perhaps partly because of his commitment to encouraging sober lifestyles, Sobering Times is one of those albums that will resonate truth for years to come. Making such an impactful theme album requires the songs, performances, and production to coalesce in a listening experience that brings […]