Today, the acclaimed American hard rock band TESLA is proud to share a new cover of Queen's 1977 classic, "Spread Your Wings," taken from their upcoming album, 'Homage,' set for release on July 17, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl. Marking a full-circle moment in their storied career, the album finds the band returning to their roots with a collection of covers honoring some of rock’s most timeless hits.
Bassist, keyboardist, pianist, and backing vocalist Brian Wheat shares:
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"'Spread Your Wings' for me was the song I always wanted to record by Queen. I always felt it was the one song they had in their catalog that should’ve been a massive hit, but wasn’t because it was overshadowed by 'We Are the Champions' and 'We Will Rock You' on the 'News of the World' album. It was also a song written by John Deacon, who was the band's secret weapon and whom not many people talk about, the quiet one, shall we say."
It is remarkable to reflect on the more than 40 years since TESLA began as a cover band performing in California nightclubs before going on to write and record original material and sell millions of albums.
Much like their musical heroes — The Beatles and The Rolling Stones—artists who honed their craft by performing songs from those who came before them, TESLA followed a similar path in their early years and continues to embrace the tradition of paying tribute through cover songs today.
‘Homage,’ the band’s upcoming album, not only honors legendary artists but also provides an opportunity to showcase lead singer Jeff Keith's vocal diversity. The album stands as a thank-you expressed through music, an offering to the iconic voices and songs that shaped the band’s influences and, ultimately, their own songwriting.
'Homage' is not about imitation, but acknowledgment, tracing the line from influence to identity, from listening to becoming. The project also arrives more than 20 years after the ‘Real to Reel’ series, a release that helped inspire the creation of a new original TESLA song, “Never Alone.”
The selected songs on 'Homage' were chosen for a variety of reasons, primarily representing some of the greatest vocalists of all time, including Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Sam Cooke, David Ruffin, Etta James, and James Brown. Additional selections reflect songs the band grew up hearing on the radio and on their turntables.
On the upcoming album, TESLA shares:
"Our new album 'Homage' is a thank-you note written in sound. An offering to the great singers and songs that shaped the music we grew up listening to, and the songs we would eventually write. We hope you all enjoy this as much as we did making it. Thank you for all the years - Keep it Real and Keep On Rockin'!"
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