At this point, an official album of ’80s metal songs interpreted as heartfelt acoustic cuts by Ryan Adams doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Following up last year’s Iron Maiden cover — not to mention versions of a few alt-rock favorites from the era by Bob Mould and Galaxie 500 — Adams capped off his big 2011 return with an equally revelatory take on Ratt’s most lauded hit: 1984’s “Round and Round” (an iconic hair-metal jam that memorably featured comedian Milton Berle in its official video).
DRA’s latest cover was first tested out on the road before he brought it to CBC’s Q Radio in December and, most recently, NPR. Hear the former version above, while Jian Ghomeshi’s full interview, in which his side of the “Summer of ‘69” story is told in hilarious detail along with two more performances, is here.