50 years after first plugging into the Southern rock circuit, 38 Special is back with a vengeance. Their new single, “Slightly Controversial”—a snarling, guitar-driven anthem featuring none other than Train’s Pat Monahan—is proof that this band isn’t content to fade into nostalgia.
Instead, they’re steering hard into a comeback that feels both celebratory and defiant. And the best part? It’s all leading up to their first studio album in 20 years, Milestone, dropping September 19.
Pat Monahan Joins the Party
So how did Train’s Pat Monahan end up in the mix? Pure rock-and-roll serendipity. Don Barnes heard Monahan covering “Hold On Loosely” and thought… why not? The call was made, and the result is a collaboration that bridges generations.
Barnes grins when he talks about it:
“Pat absolutely crushed it. We all had a great time putting that track together.”
– Don Barnes
Monahan’s polished melodic sensibilities meet 38 Special’s rough edges, and the collision works. This isn’t just nostalgia bait—it’s a torch-passing moment where old school and new school collide without compromise.
Milestone marks 38 Special’s first studio record in more than 20 years, and it showcases the group’s platinum-selling blend of muscle and melody!
Inside Milestone: 20 Years in the Making
Milestone will arrive September 19, 2025 in multiple formats: digital, CD, and colored vinyl for those who still live and die by the needle drop.
Track Listing:
. So Much So Right (D. Barnes / J. Peterik)
2. Slightly Controversial feat. Pat Monahan (D. Barnes/B. Capps/R. Wilson)
3. All I Haven’t Said (C. Barnes/D. Barnes/J. Peterik)
4. The Main Thing (D.Barnes/J. Peterik)
5. Long Long Train (D.Barnes, R. Bachman)
6. Looking For My Life (D. Barnes, J. Peterik)
7. Making Up For Lost Time (D. Barnes, J. Peterik)
8. Windows of Memories (D. Barnes, J. Peterik)
9. The Look (J. Peterik)
The album features heavyweight collaborators like Jim Peterik (Survivor, “Hold On Loosely” co-writer) and Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive, The Guess Who). With tracks like “Long Long Train” and “So Much So Right”, the record promises a mix of grit, soul, and hard-earned wisdom.
The Road Never Ends
Of course, no 38 Special release is complete without a tour. The band is hitting the road through November 2025, with U.S. dates that pair them alongside classic rock legends like Kansas. For Barnes and crew, the stage is still home.
“This music keeps our wheels on the road,” Barnes says. And for their fans—spanning from diehards who bought Wild-Eyed Southern Boys on vinyl to younger listeners discovering them for the first time—that road is wide open.
The Mystery Woman at the Heart of the Song
On the surface, the single hits like a southern-fried banger—crunching riffs, layered harmonies, and a hook sharp enough to cut through FM static. But at its core, it’s about a woman who refuses to be understood.
As Don Barnes explained, she’s been through hell and back, she plays it close to the chest, and she thrives in mystery. Her enigmatic nature isn’t weakness—it’s her armor. “It’s her choice to keep people guessing, and that’s her protection,” Barnes says.
That kind of character could’ve stepped right out of a Tom Petty lyric or a Springsteen novel.
