Rising Again: Danny Vaughn on Tyketto’s New Era and Closer to the Sun

Rising Again: Danny Vaughn on Tyketto’s New Era and Closer to the Sun

Few voices in melodic rock carry the warmth, grit, and unmistakable sincerity of Danny Vaughn. As the frontman of Tyketto, Vaughn has spent more than three decades carving out a legacy built on resilience, craftsmanship, and a deep connection with fans around the world. Now, with the release of Closer to the Sun — the band’s first album in years and a powerful statement of renewal — Vaughn finds himself at the center of an unexpected renaissance.

In this candid conversation, he reflects on the long road to the new record, the lineup changes and global challenges that shaped it, and the creative spark that continues to drive him. From the early days of Waysted to the cult‑classic status of Don’t Come Easy, to the band’s growing international demand in 2026, Vaughn opens up about the past, present, and future of Tyketto with honesty, humor, and unmistakable gratitude.

Discussing the new album Closer to the Sun, out now on Silver Lining Music

We’re here with Danny Vaughn of Tyketto. First of all, let’s talk about the new album, Closer to the Sun. Is there an overall story or concept behind the album title and the song itself?
Not really. It had just been so long since we’d released a record. We’d been through COVID, we’d had some lineup changes—there was a lot of trauma in there. Closer to the Sun felt like this idea of things warming up again, getting better, coming out of a dark period.

When people ask musicians why it took so long between albums, the answer is often “COVID.” Was that the case for you?
Oh, absolutely. COVID took us out for two years. And then I had two key band members decide they wanted to retire. There was no drama, no arguing, no dirty laundry. One of them was Michael Clayton Arbeeny, who’d been our drummer since the band started in 1989.

It took a lot for me to circle around and decide whether I wanted to continue, and with who. Once I decided I did, and once I had the right people, I didn’t want to jump straight into making a new album. I wanted everyone to get to know each other, do some touring, get familiar with each other’s style, and then start writing. So after COVID, we took another two years to get everything to the point where it felt ready.

Let’s talk about the singles that are already out. “We Rise” — what inspired that song?
That one actually started with our new guitar player, Harry Scott Elliott. He came to me with the riff and the chorus. Here’s a little backstory on Harry: he’d been in the band for about six months before he shyly admitted that his parents bought him Don’t Come Easy when he was six years old. That’s a long‑time fan right there.

He said, “I feel like this song really sounds like Tyketto.” And I thought, Yeah — with a few tweaks, you’re absolutely right.

“We Rise” really symbolizes what the whole album is about. The world is pretty messed up right now, and we didn’t want to buy into that darkness. We wanted to offer something musical that felt like an escape. To me, “We Rise” is about resilience — we fall, we rise, we fall again, but we always get back up.

And the other single, “Higher Than High” — what’s the story behind that one?
That one started with me. Nothing has ever made me feel better on this earth than music. In my early days, I experimented with a fair few substances, so I know what I’m talking about. But the release, the creation, the connection with other human beings through music — that’s a high you can’t get anywhere else.

You have upcoming UK tour dates. What are you looking forward to the most?
I’m really excited to see the fans’ reaction when they hear the whole record. I think it’s a solid piece all the way through. You don’t even get to a ballad until the ninth song. I call it a “driver’s album” — you put it on in the car and just go.

The UK tour is with Warrior Soul and Collateral. Warrior Soul, like us, has been around a long time, and Collateral is part of the new wave of melodic rock bands coming out of England. They’re exciting and talented. It’s a great package, and we’ve got ten UK shows lined up. It’s going to be a really exciting run.

You also have a show with Russ Ballard — the iconic songwriter from Argent. What are you looking forward to about that show? Have you met Russ before?
I never have, but my bass player Chris Childs has played with him and speaks very highly of him. I’m hoping for at least a handshake and a few minutes of conversation, because he really is one of the great songwriters.

I’m not even sure how that show came about. It’s a quick one‑off for us in Lisbon, Portugal. The opportunity was there, and it just made sense. It’s a great venue — I’ve actually played there before with Dan Reed — so it was a win‑win.

When was the last time Tyketto played in Los Angeles — or have you played here before?
Yeah, I think the last time was 1991. It’s an unfortunate situation, but for people who don’t know, we’re all Europe‑based now. I’ve lived in Spain for 16 years, and while Johnny Dee is American, he’s lived in Germany almost as long as I’ve lived in Spain.

So we’re all based in Europe, and it’s just become a financial impossibility for bands at our level to tour the United States. They recently raised the cost of work visas, and we have three guys in the band who are European‑born, so they need visas. They’re at least a grand each, if not more.

Flight costs never came back down after COVID like they promised. So before we even set foot on U.S. soil, we’re five, six, eight thousand dollars in the hole. We’re not the kind of band that can pull 15–20,000 people a night — and that’s the only way we could afford to do it.

With the exception of wonderful events like the Monsters of Rock Cruise, which we’ve been honored to play eight or ten times now, that’s really our only exposure to a U.S. audience at the moment.

Chris Childs of Thunder — how did he become involved with Tyketto? And do you ever run into scheduling conflicts with Thunder?
Yeah, it has happened. There are times when I have to get a dep for a show or two. But Chris will always be my first choice. On this album in particular, he really asserted himself as a full‑fledged member — he and I produced and engineered the record together.

He’s extremely talented and a very good friend. We met years ago playing in an Eagles tribute band in the UK. I think that was the first time we really crossed paths, and we recognized each other as kindred spirits — and as people who were good at our jobs.

We’ve been recommending each other for gigs ever since. He played on the Reach album, so he’s been part of Tyketto for a good dozen years now.

Same question regarding Johnny Dee from Doro — how did he become involved?
That’s an even wider circle. Johnny Dee and I were in a band called Waysted together with Pete Way and Paul Chapman from UFO. We met 40 years ago doing that album and those tours, and we clicked right away.

I actually wasn’t going to call Johnny for this gig because he’s been Doro’s drummer for decades, and she works a lot. I figured he’d say, “I’d love to, but I can’t.” But then I thought, If I don’t call him and he finds out I was looking for drummers, I’m going to get an earful.

So I called him first, expecting him to say no, and he said, “Absolutely — I’m in.” And that was that.

Let’s go over a few Tyketto anniversaries. First, the 10‑year anniversary of Reach. Looking back now, what do you think of that album?
It’s still one of my favorites. It’s a really powerful album, a very good‑sounding record, and it was a memorable experience to make. We recorded the entire thing at Rockfield Studios in Wales, which is absolutely legendary.

It was the first time we used Chris Green on guitar in the studio, and he produced a lot of magic. He’s exceptionally talented and incredibly knowledgeable about gear, instruments — everything — as well as being very musical.

So yeah, that’s one of my proudest records for sure.

And Don’t Come Easy from 1991 is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Looking back on that album now, what comes to mind?
It’s remarkable to me. We’re very fortunate — Tyketto gets mentioned in the same breath as bands like Winger, Mr. Big, Danger Danger… all platinum‑selling acts. We never hit anywhere near that status. We are the definition of a cult band.

The fact that Don’t Come Easy is still so well‑regarded — in some parts of Europe it’s considered one of the best debut albums ever — is incredible. It’s still played in clubs, and people still light up when we play those songs.

You never see that coming when you’re making a record. Now I can just sit back, be proud, be grateful, and think, How lucky are we that people still want to hear this?

Save Your Prayers by Waysted is celebrating an anniversary as well. It came out in 1986 — nearly 40 years ago. When you look back on that album and your time working with Pete Way, what comes to mind now?
Well, it was my first record. One day I was playing in cover bands, and the next I was suddenly catapulted into opening for Iron Maiden and Status Quo all over the world. I was in the big leagues overnight.

It brings up a host of memories, both good and bad. I was a huge UFO fan for years before joining Waysted, so working with Pete and Paul was a pleasure in that sense. But Pete, Paul, and their manager came from a very old‑school perspective that could be difficult to be around. And unfortunately, they often lived up to the band’s name.

We all had fun — no doubt about that — but things got crazy. Hotel rooms, late nights… all the clichés. There were wonderful experiences, but also some dark stuff. I consider myself fortunate that I was able to learn from all of it. I took the good with me and left the bad behind. It was an incredible learning curve on every front.

You recently did a guest appearance for Marcus Pfeiffer and his band Barnabas Sky. How did that collaboration come about, and do you enjoy doing guest spots like that?
I do — if I can connect with the piece of music someone sends me. I don’t say yes to everything, but I get a reasonable amount of work‑for‑hire requests each year. People reach out online, which is what Marcus did, and say, “I’d love to have your voice on this. What do you charge? When can you do it?” All the usual details.

Marcus and I have worked together three or four times now on different projects, and there’s another song coming up that we’ll be doing together. One of the great things about the internet is that people can reach out to you personally if you let them, and unexpected opportunities come your way.

Are you currently involved with any other bands or projects outside of Tyketto?
There are a couple of work‑for‑hire things I’m messing around with at the moment, but overall, this renaissance of Tyketto that’s happening right now is pretty all‑consuming for me.

With the new record about to come out, what do you hope the rest of 2026 brings for you and for Tyketto?
I’ve just seen the soon‑to‑be‑announced list of European tour dates, and I’m really excited. There are countries we’ve never played before that are now asking us to come. Some great festivals are seeking us out, and we’re headlining mid‑level festivals.

I don’t know how it’s possible, but at 35 years old, this band is growing. That’s what’s happening. We just announced a show in Athens, Greece — Tyketto has never played there. So there’s a lot of good stuff coming together all at once. I’m just going to do my best to ride the wave.

Do you have any messages for Tyketto fans in the States who are reading this?
Yeah. We covered why I can’t be there — that’s the question I get online more than anything. “Great video. Why aren’t you playing here?” I hope people understand that if an offer came up that was affordable and doable, we’d be there in a heartbeat. Absolutely. There are loads of places I’d love to take our little circus.

All we can do is be grateful that we have this wonderful internet connection where people can hear and see us whenever they want. And I’m really proud that we still have so many supporters in America.

In Conclusion

As Tyketto enters this unexpected new chapter, Danny Vaughn stands as proof that passion and perseverance can outlast any trend, any setback, and any passing wave of the music industry. Closer to the Sun isn’t just a new album — it’s a testament to a band that refuses to fade, a band still growing, still exploring, and still connecting with fans across generations and continents.

Whether he’s reflecting on the wild early days with Waysted, celebrating the cult legacy of Don’t Come Easy, or looking ahead to long‑awaited shows in countries Tyketto has never played, Vaughn speaks with the grounded gratitude of someone who knows exactly how rare this kind of longevity is. And while the logistics of touring the U.S. remain a challenge, his message to American fans is clear: the love is still there, and the door is always open.

With new music, new audiences, and a renewed sense of purpose, Danny Vaughn is riding a wave that shows no signs of slowing. For Tyketto, the sun is still rising — and the journey is far from over.

Band Line-Up:
Danny Vaughn – Lead & backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica, keyboards and percussion
Chris Childs – Bass Guitar, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals
Johnny Dee – Drums, percussion, backing vocals
Harry Scott Elliott – Lead and rhythm electric guitars, percussion, backing vocals
Ged Rylands – Keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

(Interview by Ken Morton)

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