King Khan And The Shrines – “Children Of The World”
Merge Records
On June 3, King Khan returns with a limited-edition 7-inch featuring two new songs: “Children of the World” b/w “Gone Are the Times.” The songs were inspired by the story of The Invaders, a militant civil rights group from Memphis, Tennessee. An eponymous documentary about the group will be released this spring.
John B. Smith, founder and leader of The Invaders, invited King Khan to provide the soundtrack to their story. “King Khan is a fiery arrow shot into the night sky which no one knows how high or far it will travel. However, we do know that as that arrow streaks across the heavens, its flames will light up dark places along the way,” wrote Smith. “King Khan’s music can become the voice of many around the world, some of whom have never been heard from before.”
A statement from King Khan:
The fact that it has taken so long for The Invaders’ tale to be told just goes to show how the powers that be are as evil and crooked as they were 50 years ago. We must not forget that laws were born from the people’s resistance, to protect them from arbitrary power. The time has come to reclaim our laws and re-emancipate the people.
I wrote “Children of the World” as a reaction to the epidemic of police brutality that has infected America for far too long. Sadly, the greatest victims out of all this are the children. I cannot believe my eyes and ears when I watch this apathy growing out of control and literally choking the breath out of its citizens. People in America are denied the most simple, basic human rights. This return to the Middle Ages needs to stop.
“Gone Are the Times” was written to show how the struggle of the oppressed has not changed in the past century. When will the poor and impoverished stop being abused over and over again? I hope I will see that change happen within my lifetime.
The struggle is the same, so I chose message music as my weapon. May it soothe your ears as much as light a fire under the collective ass that is pulling the strings.
All power to the people!
Tour Dates
Jun 3 London, UK — The Blues Kitchen
Jun 7 Atlanta, GA — The Earl
Jun 8 Raleigh, NC — Kings
Jun 9 Washington, DC — Black Cat
Jun 10 Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts
Jun 11 Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Bowl
Jun 13 Cambridge, MA — The Sinclair
Jun 14 Montreal, QC — La Sala Rossa
Jun 16 Toronto, ON — Horseshoe Tavern
Jun 17 Cleveland, OH — Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Jun 18 Chicago, IL — Wicker Park’s Green Music Fest
Jun 19 Chicago, IL — Subterranean
Jun 20 St. Paul, MN — Turf Club
Jun 23 Seattle, WA — Neumos
Jun 24 Portland, OR — Dante’s
Jun 26 Oakland, CA — Mosswood Park
Jun 27 Los Angeles, CA — Echoplex
Jun 28 Phoenix, AZ — Crescent Ballroom
Jun 30 Austin, TX — The Mohawk
Jul 01 San Antonio, TX — Paper Tiger
Jul 02 Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)
King Khan And The Shrines
“Children Of The World”
(Merge Records)
Release Date: June 3, 2016
Pre-order the 7-inch now in the Merge store.
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