For the British singer/songwriter/musician, actor and host on SiriusXM’s nationally syndicated “Little Steven’s Underground Garage,” The Key to the Universe is a return to down and dirty rock music with heavy guitars and unflinching lyrics about life lived to the fullest. The album’s first release will be the two-song single with the Linda Perry-penned “Can’t Get You Off My Mind” and “I Want Love To Punch Me In The Face,” co-written by DES BARRES. Both songs will arrive at radio on Tuesday, March 10.

When asked about why he identified with Perry’s song “Can’t Get You Off My Mind,” Michael Des Barres said: “Most of my life has been lived obsessively, excessively and at a pace that kept me moving towards a moving target. When that arrow came to rest I no longer was obsessed. My aim has changed somewhat. Passion and honesty mean everything to me. Linda Perry is authentic—she is the real thing. That much sought after virtue that is so lacking in today’s culture. Simply put, she writes great songs. ‘Can’t Get You Off My Mind’ is a great song about obsessive love. So to come full circle emotionally, has been very rewarding and I know it will hit a nerve in anyone that has a heart.”

Crunchy guitars and engagingly blunt lyrics also highlight “I Want Love To Punch Me In The Face.” “I believe that the majority of people find relationships almost impossible and the result of that is going into a love coma,” says Des Barres. “We fall asleep because we find it so difficult to connect. Connectivity is everything today. In order to do that, you need an identity. You need to know who you are and the phrase ‘I want love to punch me in the face’ is a metaphor for true love to wake you up out of your slumber and find that perfect soul mate. So let’s get in the ring and start punching!”