HighWay Proves Classic Rock Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Been Waiting With “HI-WAY” & “¡BANG BANG!”

There’s a difference between bands that imitate classic rock and bands that are classic rock because they’ve put in the time. HighWay falls into the second category. Formed in the late ’90s by brothers Ben and Romain Chambert in the South of France, they’ve spent over two decades grinding through more than 400 shows, lineup changes, and real-life evolution. You can hear that mileage all over “HI-WAY” and “¡BANG BANG!”

“HI-WAY” is the kind of track that opens with zero hesitation. Big, unapologetic riffs. A driving groove that feels built for open highways and questionable decisions. It’s rooted in the DNA of AC/DC and Aerosmith, but it doesn’t feel stuck in tribute mode. The chorus lands like a mission statement. After 25 years, naming a song after the band isn’t ego. It’s ownership. This is who we are. Take it or leave it.

What elevates the track is the orchestral bridge. It creeps in darker than expected, adding tension that mirrors the reality of life on the road. Touring isn’t just neon lights and encores. It’s sacrifice, exhaustion, and doubt. That shadow makes the anthem hit harder. The video leans fully into live performance energy, introducing new members Florian Arnaud and Cerise Pouillart with confidence instead of ceremony. No gimmicks. Just amps and attitude.

Then “¡BANG BANG!” swerves into satire without losing its bite. The riff is sleazy in the best way, heavy and swaggering. Lyrically, it plays with the tension between indulgence and restraint. Fantasy versus consequence. Excess versus morality. It’s tongue-in-cheek, but not hollow. The 60s-inspired visual style pushes the irony further, exaggerating characters and inner voices to underline the absurdity of chasing superficial highs.

Producer Brett Caldas-Lima keeps the vocals tight and controlled, which matters. Humor in rock can tip into cringe fast. HighWay avoids that by staying self-aware. What stands out most is the confidence. Not cockiness. Not nostalgia bait. Confidence is earned over time. These songs don’t sound like veterans trying to relive glory days. They sound like musicians who grew up, sharpened their edges, and decided rock still belongs in the present tense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPYb7fBvNAU

After more than 25 years as a band, what feels different creatively now compared to when you were writing your first EP as teenagers?

Ben Chambert (guitars): Hi BuzzMusic! Yeah, HighWay started back in the late '90s with my older brother Romain when we were just kids. At the time, we wrote songs that fit our age, like “Have a Beer!” I never could’ve imagined we’d still be playing tracks like that 25 years later at age 40. It’s magical! Our music, our songwriting, and our sound have matured right alongside us. They’ve stuck with us through the tough times and evolved as we honed our craft.

If you listen to that first EP, it’s raw, fun, and full of mistakes, but that was us: young teens who just loved beer and parties! I still love spinning it because it reminds me of those good times and shows how far we’ve come. Each album has been a step up in terms of songwriting, production, and live performance. The new one, Last Call For Rock’n’Roll, is our 6th album and easily my favorite. The lyrics are more personal and intimate, reflecting life and the challenges we’ve faced. I really wanted to pour that into these new songs.

One of the biggest differences is that we spent a lot of time on pre-production with our producer, Brett Caldas-Lima, doing things the "old-fashioned" way. We could finally afford the time to do it right, stripping these songs down to their essential core. We took all the time we needed, which is something we lacked before due to budget constraints. After 25 years in the business, I feel more mature, focused, and effective as a songwriter.

“HI-WAY” is essentially a self-titled anthem this deep into your career. Why did it take this long to write a song named after the band, and what does it represent at this stage?

I realized one day that we hadn’t written a song called "HighWay" yet! I thought, "Dammit: Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Bad Company... they all have an eponymous track." Lyrically, it’s an invitation to hit the road and never look back. It’s a call to live a sincere, free, and authentic life, the true essence of HighWay and who we are.

At the same time, this album feels like a fresh start. We’ve brought two new musicians on board: the incredible bassist Cerise Pouillart, with her radiant energy, and the excellent guitarist Florian Arnaud. This title is our way of saying, "Here is the new HighWay," and after 25 years, the best is yet to come!

The orchestral bridge in “HI-WAY” adds a darker tension. Was that meant to reflect the less glamorous realities of life on the road?

Musically, that bridge is a nod to Queen, one of our all-time favorite bands. Their catalog is an endless source of inspiration. The vocal arrangement in that passage is a bit like our own "Bohemian Rhapsody," haha! The idea of a darker central section tied into the song's philosophy. The "Hi-Way" is a metaphor for life, with all its ups and downs. That bridge represents those difficult, even terrifying moments we have to either accept or fight through. The accelerating riff is like a beating heart, life passing by at full speed.

“¡BANG BANG!” leans into satire and inner conflict. Do you see humor as a weapon in rock music, especially when tackling themes like excess and consequence?

Absolutely. We’re still a bunch of jokers with a strong sense of camaraderie. To me, rock 'n' roll has to keep that fun spirit. It’s very easy to fall into "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll" clichés, especially when you grew up on KISS and Mötley Crüe! On our early records, my writing was more naive and leaned into those tropes, but it was honest because that’s what I dreamed of as a teen.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve felt the need to write about more personal things, sharing reflections, doubts, traumas, and mistakes. "¡BANG BANG!" takes a different approach; instead of another "sexual rockstar" cliché, it’s an ironic look at fantasized life choices and inner conflicts. It’s a song about doubt and how hard it is to make certain decisions. It's enough to make you bang your head against the wall! I’m also very proud of the music video, which was a blast to shoot.

You’ve shared stages with major names in European rock. What have those experiences taught you about longevity in a genre that constantly cycles through trends?

Longevity in a band is like a relationship... It requires effort, listening, compromise, and communication. But the payoff is worth it. Looking back at where we started 20 years ago and seeing how far we’ve come makes me so happy to be driving the HighWay train. Touring with legends like Jeff Scott Soto and Michael Schenker taught us so much about professional live sound and, crucially, vocal stamina during a long run of shows. 

We also learned from these icons that nothing should be forced. It’s vital to always have fun making music, to do it for yourself without chasing trends or expecting anything in return. If you stay focused on your art and keep it authentic, it will find its audience. That’s the best advice for staying happy, and in the end, that’s all that matters.