A gritty reinvention of a pop anthem, rebuilt with muscle, memory and unmistakable attitude
In 2023, The Don Powell Band returned with a striking release, a full bodied reinterpretation of My Sharona, the hit first made famous in 1979 by The Knack. This new version carries extra weight and significance for fans of British rock, featuring Jim Lea of Slade delivering guitar work, along with vocalist Steve Whalley, another name tied deeply to Slade’s musical history. Together, they step into a song that was once a youthful power pop explosion and reshape it into something grittier, tougher and undeniably seasoned.
Where the original pulsed with nervy new wave urgency, this rendition leans into thick rock textures and lived experience. Don Powell’s drumming provides the backbone, steady but forceful, giving the track a grounded physicality. Jim Lea’s guitar tone is immediately identifiable, layered with character and edge. Instead of copying the bright punch of the original riff, he gives it weight. There is a rawness that suggests a lifetime of stages, amps, late nights and louder nights. Steve Whalley’s vocals follow the same philosophy. The playful swagger of the original becomes a more grounded assertion of desire and intent. The confidence is still there, but now it comes from experience instead of impatience.
The heart of the song remains recognizably intact. The rhythm still drives forward, the hook still curls around the ear, and the familiar pulse remains at the core. Yet the emotional coloring has shifted. What once felt like the reckless lightning of youth now feels more like controlled fire. There is no rush to the finish. The band allows the groove to settle in and breathe, making room for tone, phrasing and texture. This space changes the meaning. Instead of impulsive infatuation, it feels like a memory revisited, seen through time, survival and perspective.
This release exists in an interesting cultural space. Many classic songs are covered to either mimic or modernize. This version does something subtler. It respects the original energy but filters it through identity and history. It acknowledges that rock does not need polishing to stay alive. Sometimes it needs scars, volume and attitude. Sometimes it needs musicians who understand not just how to play loud, but why.
For longtime Slade listeners, hearing Don Powell and Jim Lea aligned again carries a sense of continuity, not as a reunion but as a shared musical instinct refusing to fade. The song becomes a reminder that rock and roll evolves not by reinvention alone, but through reinterpretation with soul, memory and grit. Here, My Sharona becomes not just a cover but a statement. The flame still burns.