Never a group to hold their tongues, Drive-By Truckers released a fiery video for their cover of the Ramones classic “The KKK Took My Baby Away” on Wednesday. The cover was featured on the band’s second album of 2020, The New OK.

In addition to the music video, the Athens, GA-bred, politically-conscious cowpunk outfit is celebrating the impending physical release of The New OK. The band’s critically-acclaimed 13th album arrives on CD and red vinyl at record stores across the country and online retailers on Friday.

Related: Drive-By Truckers Share Powerful “The New OK” Video With Footage Of Portland Protests [Watch]

Drive-By Truckers throw fans a curveball with this always-relevant cover by handing the microphone over to bassist Matt Patton. While frontman Patterson Hood is never the wrong man for the job, Patton is able to reach down into his skin-tight loins and summon the Joey Ramone punk vitality needed to take on the classic track.

“One take, live vocal, gang shouts for choruses at the end of an 85-hour marathon session in Memphis,” Hood said in a press release. “Bobby Matt delivered the goods. David Barbe told us we’d be glad if we did it – we are so happy we did and could include it on THE NEW OK.”

The vivacious music video also furthers the punk aesthetic with Patton causing mayhem all over town with general rowdiness and public urination on a statue. Patton said of the video,

Making the video was the kind of fun we used to have with it when I was young. It felt good to get out and raise a little mischief and not overthink it. Plus my kid really loves it, loves the Ramones, and loves to hear DBT play it.

Watch the new music video for Drive-By Trucker’s cover of “The KKK Took My Baby Away” by the Ramones. The cover is featured on The New OK, out on CD and vinyl on Friday.

Drive-By Truckers – “The KKK Took My Baby Away” (Ramones) [Official Video]

[Video: Drive-By Truckers]


On Saturday, December 26th, Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood will perform alongside 40+ other artists as part of Georgia Comes Alive, a one-day virtual music festival aimed at promoting voter participation in the upcoming Georgia runoff elections by supporting local grassroots organizations, Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda and CivicGeorgia. Donate any amount to the cause at GeorgiaComesAlive.com to receive a stream link on the day of the show (12/26). See below for a full list of performers.

patterson hood georgia comes alive