EPK – Moonlight Desires – Totally Tubular 80’s Party Machine (2026) (Infamous Butcher Records)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“This EP is a step in a new direction, promoting the band’s older Ziebarth brother Jay from bass to full-time frontman! We also decided to keep the arrangements of these classics closer to the original 80’s versions to maximize the nostalgic trip. The process of this EP was slightly different this time as Jay selected more mainstream hits that will bring the ladies to the dance floor, while adding his high-energy vocal stylings to more tracks. This collection of songs is an undeniably fun nostalgia bomb but presented with a modern twist!” – Trevor Ziebarth – Vocals, Guitar, Bass – Moonlight Desires
For fans of Sons of Butcher, Danko Jones, Foo Fighters, Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s, The Dirty Nil
Band: Moonlight Desires
EP Title: Totally Tubular 80’s Party Machine
Release Date: Nov. 27, 2026
Label: Infamous Butcher Records
Distribution: Indiepool
Genre: Rock
Location of Band: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Moonlightdesires.ca | Facebook.com/moonlightdesires | X.com/MoonlightDesiresBand1 | Youtube.com/massivexplosion | Instagram.com/moonlightdesiresband
Moonlightdesires.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music
“Moonlight Desires takes delight in taking synth-laden pop hits from the ’80s and turning them into heavy metal monsters.” – The Hamilton Spectator – At The Movies (2020)
“Just the tonic we need in these times, putting a little smile on your face and plenty of riffs for your bucks.” – Get Ready To Rock – At The Movies (2020)
“Moonlight Desires is fun… like, a lot of fun… and everyone should have some fun tonight. So rip it up, everybody Wang Chung tonight!” – V13 – At The Movies (2020)
“I just wish there were more than the four songs on here, because what’s on offer is great. I’ve played the EP on a loop since I popped it on to review it and it’s definitely going to keep on playing. None of the tracks are hugely different from their original recordings, but it doesn’t matter. They’re all just designed for being sung out loud, and you can warble along in the kitchen to these new versions as easily as you could have back when shoulder pads were in fashion… A great little compilation that will raise a smile as much as your singing voice.” – Moshville Times – At The Movies (2020)
“The Canadian band Moonlight Desires, who specialize in turning ’80s pop songs into guitar-driven songs, turn to classic ’80s movie songs for the four track EP At The Movies… It’s a fun blast from the past that will appeal to those of us who saw those movies in the theater when they were originally released along with the younger generation who discovered them via streaming services or cable TV.” – Heavy Music Headquarters – At The Movies (2020)

Band: Moonlight Desires
EP Title: Totally Tubular 80’s Party Machine
Release Date: Nov. 27, 2026
Label: Infamous Butcher Records
Distribution: Indiepool
Genre: Rock
Location of Band: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Track Listing:
1. Take on Me (3:19) (A-ha Cover)
2. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (2:43) (Cyndi Lauper Cover)
3. Come on Eileen (3:37) (Dexys Midnight Runners Cover)
4. Small Town Boy (2:49) (Bronski Beat Cover)
5. Major Tom (Coming Home) (3:28) (Peter Schilling Cover)
6. Material Girl (3:51) (Madonna Cover)
7. True (4:20) (Spandau Ballet Cover)
EP Length: 24:05
EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Moonlight Desires
• All songs written by: Various Artists
• Produced and Mixed by: Mitch Bowden
• Mastered by: Bill Hendersen at Azimuth Mastering
• Album Artwork by: Randy Gilbert (Photographer) & Brad Machry (Graphics & Layout)
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
EP Band Lineup:
Jay Ziebarth – Vocals
Trevor Ziebarth – Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Marco Bressette – Lead Guitar
Mitch Bowden – Lead Guitar
Kellii Scott – Drums
Live Band Lineup:
Jay Ziebarth – Vocals
Trevor Ziebarth – Vocals, Guitar
Mitch Bowden – Lead Guitar
Joey DeLeo – Guitar
Crissy Stixx – Drums
================================================
About the EP Artwork:
Photographer Randy Gilbert came to our music video shoot for A-Ha’s classic “Take On Me”, and he captured a great photo of us posing with a rented DeLorean from “Back to the Future”. We decided it had a great modern 80’s vibe and made it the cover of the EP!
About the EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
This album features a curated collection of 80’s hits, and we did not alter the original lyrics. We took aim at some of the biggest mainstream classics that we thought could handle a heavy rock makeover. We approached these covers in a slightly different way this time, keeping the original arrangements mostly intact instead of a full reimagining like some past albums. The result is these high-octane versions of songs we all know that maintain the original vibes while cranking the intensity up to 10.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1. “Take On Me” – This song is basically about the risks of romance and taking a chance on love before the opportunity slips away. It’s also one of the most instantly recognizable 80s hits of yesteryear. Selected by Jay, this jacked-up version gets the EP off to a roaring start. The nostalgia is thick with this one, and we tried to keep the arrangement close to the source material while still making it sound fresh. This song is the match that ignites a full raucous collection of hits.
2. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” – A track about female independence never sounded so heavy! Speeding up this bona fide 80’s banger, we tried to prove once again that there’s a wicked alchemy in the marriage of pop and hard rock. Turning synth lines into guitar leads and anthemic choruses into battle calls, this radio staple with a message about women wanting the freedom to enjoy their lives on their own terms becomes amplified by a male voice, while also being a fun and lightly ironic take.
3. “Come On Eileen” – This song about young desire, attraction, and wanting to break free from a dull life is another 80’s earworm that has stood the test of time. Long requested by fans, this track finally gets its metal dip, and features a return to the original Moonlight Desires sound, with vocalist Trevor Ziebarth singing this track. Musically transformed synth parts make for a multi-layered wall of ‘guitarmony’ that helps propel this classic sing-along track into the stratosphere!
4. “Small Town Boy” – This is a song about a gay man leaving his hometown after facing rejection and hostility for the promise of a better life. We decided to use a live version of Bronski Beat’s song to model ours after, because it was a perfectly condensed arrangement. One of the biggest choruses from the decade, this relatable song about feeling like an outsider in your hometown still rips!
5. “Major Tom (Coming Home)” – A fan-written sequel to David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity ’, this track is the one obscure selection on the EP. The bass line in this song has a standout groove that propels the song toward an explosive chorus and tapestry of lead guitar parts. Chunky guitar riffs and big drums help to keep the momentum while sounding huge and anthemic.
6. “Material Girl” – This undeniable monster hit by Madonna is the heaviest song on the EP. Tuned down to Drop B, the guitars and bass growl as Jay chews the vocals with a fresh tenacity. This metal-leaning revamp of a universally loved song reinforces the infectious party vibe that we were hoping to capture with this EP. This track has a huge energy that careens into an explosive climax by the end.
7. “True” – This song about struggling to find the words to express feelings of love was a perfect candidate to close out the EP. With a huge and unforgettable chorus, the song was ripe for a gritty adaptation, and we once again kept the arrangement close to ground zero. Why mess with perfection!? This track features some of the biggest guitar tones and hardest-hitting drums, and ends this 80s-soaked grab bag of bangers in an epic fashion!
================================================
STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND
1. Kellii Scott of the band Failure was hired to play drums on this EP. He is one of our favourite drummers of all time, and it was an honour to have him grace these tracks with his hard-hitting rhythmic sensibilities.
2. We rented a replica DeLorean car from the “Back to the Future” movie franchise for a music video shoot for the track “Take On Me”. It’s a bit of a comedic video that depicts Jay presenting the vehicle as an option for a new touring vehicle for the band. It was also directed by Rob Lindsay (Air Farce / No Responders Left Behind / Why Horror? / Go-Boy! Memories of a Life Behind Bars).
3. After playing gigs for many years and having bassist Jay Ziebarth take over main vocals for a portion of the set, it was decided that Jay would take on full frontman status for this latest outing. His unmatched live energy could not be contained any longer! With longtime Moonlight Desires live musician Tyler Siroky taking over full-time bass duties, Jay is now the dancer-in-chief leading the live chaos.
================================================
L-R: Joey DeLeo (Guitar) / Crissy Stixx (Drums) / Trevor Ziebarth (Vocals, Guitar) / Jay Ziebarth (Vocals) / Mitch Thompson (Lead Guitar) / Tyler Siroky (Bass)
Photo Credit – Randy Gilbert
Moonlight Desires might only play ’80s cover songs, but dismissing them as just another cover band would be a mistake. Formed by longtime Hamilton, ON musician Trevor Ziebarth (Actor, Writer, and Composer for Teletoon’s cult adult animated series Sons of Butcher), Moonlight Desires transforms beloved synth-driven pop hits into loud, guitar-heavy rock anthems packed with nostalgia, energy, and attitude.
“For those unfamiliar, I created a television show with my brother Jay Ziebarth back in 2005 called Sons of Butcher,” explains Trevor. “The show aired on Teletoon and was sold to over 200 countries worldwide. As a companion to the series, we released comedy rock albums and toured across Canada. During those tours, we’d often perform heavier versions of classic ’80s songs that quickly became fan favourites. The response was so strong that it eventually inspired the formation of Moonlight Desires.”
Paying tribute to their Canadian roots, the band adopted their name from the iconic Gowan hit “Moonlight Desires.”
“I wanted a direct reference to an ’80s song, but I also thought it fit perfectly with the band’s heavier direction,” says Ziebarth,
Since emerging in 2013, Moonlight Desires has steadily built its reputation by reimagining timeless pop classics through a distinctly hard rock lens. Their 2014 debut album, Frankie Goes To Hamilton, delivered a rollicking collection of transformed radio favourites, while 2017’s Just The Hits: 1981-1985 turned classics like Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night” and Level 42’s “Something About You” into crowd-pleasing party rock staples. In 2020, the band embraced cinematic nostalgia with At The Movies, a collection of songs inspired by some of the most beloved films of the decade, including The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Dirty Dancing, and The Karate Kid.
Now, six years after their last studio release, Moonlight Desires return bigger, louder, and more fun than ever with their new EP, “Totally Tubular 80’s Party Machine”, arriving November 27, 2026 via Infamous Butcher Records.
Featuring high-octane interpretations of beloved classics such as A-ha’s “Take On Me,” Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen,” Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy,” Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom (Coming Home),” Madonna’s “Material Girl,” and Spandau Ballet’s “True,” the EP captures everything fans love about the band: massive riffs, irresistible hooks, and unapologetic nostalgia.
For this release, Moonlight Desires leaned into a more direct approach, preserving much of the original spirit and arrangements of these legendary songs while amplifying the intensity with down-tuned guitars, thunderous drums, and arena-sized choruses. The result is a collection that feels instantly familiar while delivering all the power of a modern hard rock record.
The EP also marks a significant milestone in the band’s evolution, as bassist Jay Ziebarth officially steps into the role of primary frontman. Long recognized for his larger-than-life stage presence and ability to ignite the band’s trademark “dance mosh pits,” Jay now takes center stage, bringing a new level of energy and charisma to both the recordings and live performances. With longtime live member Tyler Siroky taking over bass duties, Moonlight Desires enters its next era with renewed momentum.
Adding to the excitement, acclaimed Failure drummer Kellii Scott plays drums throughout the EP, helping elevate the band’s biggest and most polished production to date. Recorded with longtime producer Mitch Bowden at Mechanical Noise Studios, “Totally Tubular 80’s Party Machine” showcases Moonlight Desires at their most confident and refined.
Known for turning every performance into a celebration, Moonlight Desires continues to blur the line between rock show, retro dance party, and nostalgic time machine. Whether you’re an ’80s music fanatic, a hard rock devotee, or simply looking for an excuse to sing at the top of your lungs, Moonlight Desires delivers a live experience unlike any other.
With bigger production, bigger hits, and a new frontman leading the charge, Moonlight Desires may have finally achieved their ultimate form.
FFO: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, The Ataris, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and anyone who ever made a mixtape from MTV.
EP Band Lineup:
Jay Ziebarth – Vocals
Trevor Ziebarth – Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Marco Bressette – Lead Guitar
Mitch Bowden – Lead Guitar
Kellii Scott – Drums
Live Band Lineup:
Jay Ziebarth – Vocals
Trevor Ziebarth – Vocals, Guitar
Mitch Bowden – Lead Guitar
Joey DeLeo – Guitar
Crissy Stixx – Drums
DISCOGRAPHY:
2014 – Frankie Goes to Hamilton – LP
2017 – Just the Hits: 1981-1985 – LP
2019 – Patio Lanterns – Single
2020 – At the Movies – EP
2026 – Totally Tubular 80’s Party Machine – EP
SHARED STAGE WITH:
Carole Pope
B. A. Johnston
The VaudevillianTOURS AND FESTIVALS:
October 6, 2024 – SIP Niagara Food & Drink Fest– Jordon, ON
August 27, 2022 – Voodoo Rock Fest, Odessa, ON
June 11, 2022 – Concession Streetfest, Hamilton, ON
August 27, 2021 – Music In The Square – Brantford, ON
Aug 2, 2019 – Strummerfest – Waterloo, ON
July 27, 2019 – WTFest – Brantford, ON