Des Rocs, the stage name of New York musician Danny Rocco, has spoken about overcoming a serious back injury while recording his new album, To Hell And Back. During production he blew out two discs in his spine and temporarily lost the use of his right leg, but continued working on the record regardless, driven by a work ethic he likens to Bruce Springsteen's and a stage presence he compares to Freddie Mercury's.

Rocco says he knew from the age of seven that he wanted to be a rock musician and wrote around fifty songs while working on the new album, refining them over a long period despite the physical setback. The resulting record blends hard-edged guitar riffs, strong melodies and vocals described as a mix of Queen and Jack White, drawing on pop, industrial, alternative and blues influences, and was recorded live for a raw, immediate sound.