Back in the Day (A Road Trip Anthem)

On January 6, 2023, Michaels announced that his new solo single, "Back in the Day," would be released later that month, along with an accompanying music video on the same day.^[7]

Michaels has said the idea came while driving along the beach, where he began writing and developing the hook and rhythm in his car, later sharing parts of the process on social media as he layered beats and guitar parts in real time.^[8]

In an interview with Guy "Favazz" Favazza of KSHE 95, Michaels described "Back in the Day" as "a throwback road-trip anthem" and "a good-vibe song" inspired by the music that once filled radio playlists. When asked how he wrote the song, Michaels commented:^[9][10]

"I was driving in the car, and I'm driving along the beach, and… so I do this crazy TikTok thing, I show people how I write music. I say, 'Don't fear it.' I'm laying a beat, I'm playing the guitar. And I'm like, [sings] 'Back in the day, radio played, our favorite songs, the DJs would say.' And crank it up. And it just, it all hit me. And the song just fell together. It's just a good-vibe song, and that's what it is."

Michaels later elaborated that he constantly records ideas on his phone while on the road. "I write with the solo band; we write all the time, every day,” he said. "We, the band, Pete [Evick], and myself, wrote a brand new song called 'Back in the Day.' It's just a great, good-feeling party song."^[11]

The track was co-written and co-produced by Michaels and his lead guitarist Pete Evick, featuring additional guitar by Norman Voss and backing vocals by Meri Schaefer. In an interview with Eddie Trunk, Evick said he aimed to encompass elements from the 1970s through the 1990s while keeping the track current and modern.^[12]

"Back in the Day (A Road Trip Anthem)" was released on January 18, 2023, by Michaels' independent label, Poor Boy Records, along with an official music video co-directed and edited by Michaels and his daughters. The video premiered on YouTube.^[13]

According to Michaels, the song, video, and his 2020 book Auto-Scrap-Ography share intertwined themes of reflection and gratitude, collectively serving as inspiration for an A&E Network biopic about his life and career and to coincide with the 2023-2024 Parti-Gras tour.^[14][15] The 2023 Parti-Gras Tour featured Mark McGrath, Night Ranger, Steve Augeri, and Jefferson Starship as supporting acts,^[16][17] while the 2024 leg featured Chris Janson, Dee Snider, Don Felder, and Lou Gramm.^[18][19]

"Back in the Day" is an uptempo rock track that blends elements of classic rock with contemporary production. It opens with rhythmic guitar riffs and a nostalgic tone leading into a sing-along chorus that evokes the feel of cruising with friends and listening to favorite songs on the radio.^[15] The song reflects on Michaels' youth and musical influences, celebrating the camaraderie, optimism, and sense of freedom associated with small-town life. Michaels called it a "modern-day throwback" and a "feel-good, road-trip anthem" celebrating "great songs and great radio."^[20] Co-writer Pete Evick has noted the arrangement draws on the sound and spirit of 1970s–1990s rock while merging analog warmth with modern polish.

Music and entertainment outlets described "Back in the Day" as a nostalgic, upbeat anthem celebrating rock's enduring appeal. Reviewers praised its sing-along chorus and retro energy, and noted the video's homage to early MTV aesthetics.^[21] Within days of release, the video reached over 1.5 million unique views online.^[15] Alissa Pollack, Executive Vice President of Global Music Marketing at iHeartMedia, called the track "the perfect feel-good summer song of 2023."^[22]

Co-directed and co-edited by Michaels, the video functions as a modern-day throwback to classic MTV-style road-trip videos.^[11] It incorporates green-screen sequences, pop-up captions, and archival material including never-before-seen photographs and original Hi-8 footage from Michaels' youth. The montage chronicles his early years performing in garages and basements and later moments with Poison and throughout his solo career.^[23] Michaels said the visual concept aimed to "reflect on great times and pay homage to the DJs, radio stations, and video jockeys that brought us great songs that have withstood the test of time."^[24][25]