Three decades after recording his take on “Without You”, Steelheart frontman Miljenko Matijevic has finally decided the time is right to release it.
The song, originally recorded in 1996, remained in the vault while other versions of the Badfinger classic found worldwide success. That same year, Mariah Carey‘s rendition topped the charts in more than a dozen countries, spent two weeks at No. 1 on the European Hot 100, and finished as the seventh best-selling single of the year in the U.K. At the time, Matijevic had already established himself with Steelheart through songs like “She’s Gone” and “I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)”, but chose to hold back his own recording.
Now available, Steelheart‘s version of “Without You” features a 40-piece orchestra and what Matijevic describes as “the most emotional vocal he’s ever captured on tape.”
The release follows the band’s Steelheart 30 campaign, marking 30 years since Steelheart‘s self-titled debut arrived on July 10, 1990. The album sold 33,000 copies on its first day in Japan, eventually earned platinum certification, and reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200.
Meanwhile, the band’s signature ballad “She’s Gone” spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on international charts and has now surpassed 278 million streams on Spotify. The track also recently received a 30th-anniversary orchestral video, available on YouTube.
“Without You” was written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger and first appeared on the band’s 1970 album No Dice. The song later became a major hit through versions by Harry Nilsson, Air Supply, and Mariah Carey. Matijevic’s recording now gives fans the interpretation he completed nearly 30 years ago.
The release also continues a busy period for Steelheart, which has included Steelheart 30, featuring re-recordings, remixes, and orchestral versions of the band’s music, as well as a limited pressing of 500 signed and numbered vinyl copies. More recently, Matijevic teamed up with Tesla vocalist Jeff Keith for a cover of Foghat‘s “I Just Wanna Make Love To You”.
Born in Zagreb, Croatia, Matijevic moved to the United States at the age of six and has remained a recognizable voice in hard rock for more than 30 years. Beyond leading Steelheart, he provided the singing voice for Mark Wahlberg‘s character in the film “Rock Star” and later performed with The Doors, sharing the stage with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger. His career continued after recovering from the serious injuries he suffered during a 1992 stage accident.
Looking ahead, Matijevic is also preparing a new original hard rock project with Niclas Englin of The Halo Effect and former In Flames guitarist. More details are expected to be announced during 2026.
