On September 26, brutal death metal/slam crew, Peeling Flesh, will release their new EP, PF Radio 2, via Unique Leader Records. For a first preview of the record, the new single, “Midnight”, can be streamed here. A video (by SquareUp Studios) can be found below.

Damonteal Harris (vocals) comments: “This release signifies another step for us as a band. We’re always evolving our sound and this release shows another level of Peeling Flesh when it comes to everything. Riffs, drums, samples, and vocals are all turned to the max and we couldn’t be more stoked for the world to hear it.”

With their upcoming EP release this fall, Peeling Flesh pushes their signature sound even further. Get ready for another dose of no-frills brutality as the group continues to carve their path through the underground and beyond.

Pre-order PF Radio 2 in various here.



PF Radio 2 tracklisting:

“Introlude”
“Redacted”
“Channel Zero”
“Holdin” feat. Jason Frazier of Corpse Pile and CC from Algor Mortis
“Autistimus Prime” feat. Kiriakos Destounis of Embryectomy
“Flesh Cathedral”
“Middlelude”
“Midnight”
“D.V.P.B.”
“Outerlude”

Earlier today (Wednesday, July 23),Tony Iommi spoke to ITV News about the passing of his longtime BLACK SABBATH bandmate Ozzy Osbourne. SABBATH's founding guitarist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it was a shock for us [to find out that Ozzy had died]. I mean, when I heard yesterday, it couldn't sink in. I thought, 'It can't be.' I only had a text from him the day before. It just seemed unreal, surreal. And it really didn't sink in. And in the night I started thinking about it: 'God, am I dreaming all this?' But as I said before, he's not looked well through the rehearsals [for BLACK SABBATH's farewell performance at 'Back To The Beginning']. And I think he really just held out to do that show. I really feel, and me and Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] were talking about it last night, that we think he held out to do it, and just after that, he's done it and said goodbye to the fans. And that was the end of it, really."

When the interviewer noted that playing that one final concert in SABBATH's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom "meant everything" to Ozzy, Tony concurred. "Oh, he's built up for it for a while now," he said. "He's been sort of training and trying to do what he can, so he could do this gig, so he could do it. And that's really what he wanted to do. I think he must have had something in his head that said, 'Well, this is gonna be it, the last thing I'm ever gonna do.' Whether he thought he was gonna die or what, I don't know. But he really wanted to do it and he was determined to do it. And fair dues, he'd done it."

On the topic of what it meant to all of the members of SABBATH to be together in Birmingham with Ozzy out there in front, around the corner from where they all grew up, Tony said: "It was really moving, I think. We all felt like, 'Wow.' And again, it was almost like a dream. Before you know it, we're off stage. And [we were thinking], 'What happened?'"

Asked what Ozzy was like when he came off stage, Tony said: "Well, he went to his dressing room and I went to mine and Geez went to his and so on. And then he came over. He came around before he was leaving on a wheelchair that brought him in to say goodbye and have a little chat for a bit. And he seemed all right. He enjoyed it. And he said, 'Oh, it went all right, didn't it?' I said, 'Yeah, it did.' But as I say, when I had the text off him the day before yesterday saying he's tired and he's really got no energy. And I thought, 'Oh, dear.' 'Cause it's a lot for him to do that under the problems he's got. And we could see it in rehearsal. We didn't want him there every day at rehearsal, because it's too much. He just wouldn't be able to stand it. So they'd bring him in and he'd sit down and sing a few songs, and then we'd talk about some rubbish old times or whatever, have a laugh, and then he'd go. And that's sort of what we did, really. But the gig was for him [to say goodbye], really, and for us to say goodbye, 'cause also SABBATH saying goodbye; it was the end of the band, and we'll never do that again. And to have Bill [Ward, SABBATH drummer] with us as well after all these years, after 20 years of not playing with Bill. I can't believe it's 20 years, to be honest."

Reflecting on SABBATH's early days when the band was formed, Tony said: "Oh, yeah. I think all those thoughts went through our heads. In fact, we talked about that when we were in the studio, when we were rehearsing. We sat down on the couch and we were all talking about old times, really. 'Cause you always remember that. You can't remember what happened yesterday, but you could remember what happened all that time ago. And so that's really what we were doing. We were talking about all the things that happened. 'Remember that, when we did this?' 'Remember?' And it was great. It was just bringing us all together again, as it was in the early days. And to have Bill there as well. And Bill [laughs] — I mean, Bill's Bill. [Laughs] He never changed. We said, 'Don't take your shirt off, Bill, please.' [Laughs]"

Asked if he thinks Ozzy enjoyed being on stage for that concert, Tony said: "I think he was moved and frustrated as well, 'cause he wanted to stand up. You could see he was trying to get up. But yeah, it meant everything to him. This is what we built up for, for that big ending where he could see all the people and we could all see all the people, and close it in that way. But we didn't expect to close it so quick with Ozz; we didn't expect him to go that quick, really. Well, we didn't expect him to go. So it's been a shock."

Iommi went on to say that he is happy that SABBATH got a chance to perform together one final time. "I'm really glad we did it, 'cause it was a final thing for everybody," he explained. "And I think if we hadn't done it, people couldn't have seen the band and Ozzy. It would've been a shame. But they've got a chance to see us all and see Ozz for the last time in that situation."

Asked how he will remember Ozzy, Tony said: "God, we go back so many years. I knew Ozzy before everybody, 'cause we went to the same school. He was always funny. Ozzy was Ozzy. There's never gonna be another Ozzy. He's the only one — [there was] one Ozzy and that's it. [And he's] just a special person, just the way he is. He says what he thinks. Many times we said to him, 'Now, don't get saying anything.' And, of course, he does. But it was funny. It really was funny. He did do some funny antics. And we did have a laugh on stage. As much as we were serious about the music, we'd always have this thing, and Ozz would always come over to me and pull faces. Of course, the audience couldn't see that, and he'd be pulling all these funny faces, and I'd just crack up. Then he'd go over to Geezer and do the same. He was just that sort of person. He was a showman."

As for Ozzy's contribution to the world of music, Tony said: "He had a special way, and that was it. There's not another Ozzy. And his antics and everything — we never knew what he was gonna do in all the years we've known him. So it was all a bit of a thing, 'I wonder what he's gonna do now.'"

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

At the "Back To The Beginning" concert, Ozzy and the rest of BLACK SABBATH performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne during their July 23 concert at Scarborough Open Air Theatre in Scarborough, United Kingdom.

Introducing the song "Giants In The Sky", PRIEST singer Rob Halford acknowledged the BLACK SABBATH frontman's death a day earlier, saying: "Okay. Look, it's been tough, the last 24 hours, right? It's been tough. But he would want us to be doing this. He would want us to be together, he would want us to be having a good time, which is what we're doing right now. We love you, Ozzy."

After a brief pause amid chants of "Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!", Halford continued: "This next song is all about him and all of the other greats that we've lost. Their music lives forever. They used to be down here on the earth plane. Now they're in the sky plane, as we call it. This is 'Giants In The Sky'."

During the song — a tribute to musicians now gone — the screen displayed images of the likes of Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy, Freddie Mercury, Taylor Hawkins and Christine McVie, finishing on two gigantic images of Ozzy.

A few hours after Ozzy's passing was announced on Tuesday, JUDAS PRIEST released the following statement via social media: "Our hearts are broken like millions around the world. Words can't express the love and loss we are all feeling.

"Sharon, may God surround you and your beautiful family with love, peace and light.

"Ozzy, you will never leave us — your music is eternal. God blesses you now more than ever after you blessed us all through your magnificent life.

"Rob, Glenn, Ian, Richie & Scott".

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Earlier in the month, PRIEST released a cover of BLACK SABBATH's "War Pigs" ahead of the "Back To The Beginning" concert, which marked the original SABBATH lineup's last-ever performance.

PRIEST was unable to appear at "Back To The Beginning" on July 5 in Birmingham, United Kingdom because the band was scheduled to perform at SCORPIONS' huge hometown 60th-anniversary concert at the Heinz Von Heiden Arena in Hannover, Germany on the very same day.

This past May, Halford said that he was "absolutely gutted" to have to miss the last BLACK SABBATH concert. Rob told Metal Hammer: "I had no idea [the SABBATH show] was happening. It all got announced and was a big deal — [the Hannover concert featuring] SCORPIONS and PRIEST — and suddenly I get this phone call [from Ozzy Osbourne's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne]: 'Robbie, I know you've got this gig with SCORPIONS, but could you consider coming over to do a thing with Ozzy and the guys. He'd love to see you.'"

Halford explained that trying to make both performances happen would be "dangerous", adding: "Even with a private plane, there's a word called 'technical', where something could go wrong, or the weather that time of year could cause problems… I was absolutely gutted."

Acknowledging that K.K. Downing was going to perform at the Villa Park concert, Halford said that the founding PRIEST guitarist would represent "the spirit of the band".

In August 2023, Halford picked BLACK SABBATH's classic 1970 self-titled debut album as one of the albums he'd be willing to listen to in perpetuity if he found himself stranded and alone on an island. He said: "I would have to go with BLACK SABBATH, the original 'Black Sabbath' album that I think is the motivator for all great things in heavy metal."

Back in 2020, Halford broke down his top 10 favorite albums in an interview with Rolling Stone and explained how they helped make him who he is. Among the records included on the list was BLACK SABBATH's debut. At the time, Halford said about his choice: "They were local guys from the same neighborhood, the same neck of the woods as PRIEST. We literally grew up together, inventing this great music that we love and cherish so much called heavy-metal music.

"I chose the 'Black Sabbath' album just because, like so many bands, your first one or two records really establish who you are as a band," he explained. "It's a bit like PRIEST with 'Rocka Rolla' and 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'; 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' becomes the one we love so much because it becomes defining. With 'Black Sabbath', here was the first example of what heavy-metal music should sound like, just the texture, the tone, the structure of all of the material, Ozzy's very unique voice. It's just become a very important record in the discography of BLACK SABBATH."

Halford joined SABBATH for two gigs to support Ozzy Osbourne on his last shows for the "No More Tours" tour in November 1992 in Costa Mesa, California after SABBATH's singer at the time, Ronnie James Dio, refused to take the stage. Rob also performed with SABBATH members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward on August 26, 2004 at the Camden, New Jersey stop of Ozzfest after Ozzy came down with an "attack of bronchitis" and was unable to take part in the concert.

Asked which SABBATH tune he'd most enjoying performing with the band, Halford told The Georgia Straight: "Ooo, that's a good question. Um, I'd probably say the actual song 'Black Sabbath', which is, to me, the most evil song that's ever been written. [Laughs]. It's very fucking scary. There's something very malevolent about that song. It's just the whole — it's the way it starts, and then it's almost deathly quiet, and then that opening line: 'What is this I see before me?' You know, I just get goosebumps thinking about it now. And when I sang that song live, it makes you feel really… Wow… I can't describe it. It's just very overwhelming, the emotion is very overwhelming. And when you see Ozzy singing it you can see him change, you know, his whole demeanor, he just changes as a person to sing that song. It's really spooky."

MIRADOR, the new band co-founded by Grammy Award-winning GRETA VAN FLEET co-founder Jake Kiszka and IDA MAE's Chris Turpin, will release its self-titled debut album on September 19 via Republic Records.

"MIRADOR comes from a deep passion for rock 'n' roll, early folk, and country blues as well as folklore," says Turpin. "Our world lives in those traditions," Kiszka adds. "There's an unspoken mysticism. You can trace it back to the stories of meeting the devil at the crossroads, selling your soul, and losing your mind to the wind. MIRADOR definitely inhabits a lot of that. We're hyper aware of our lineage, so we can build our own future as a band. It's two guitar players from notable groups coming together to create a new mythology. As soon as we were in uncharted territory, we knew we were doing something right."

MIRADOR has also shared a single, "Feels Like Gold", the first song the band has ever released. The band comments on the track: "'Feels Like Gold' is set against the backdrop of conquest and imperialism, in an era marked by global friction and war. The song weaves together themes of cultural collision, the relentless pursuit of riches, and the complexities of history. Yet, amidst the darkness of war and dogged determination for expansion, it offers a message of hope for a unified world and an understanding beyond violence."

MIRADOR will embark on a European tour in November, with shows in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Dublin and more. They have also added a San Francisco date on October 4. Tickets for these newly announced concerts will go on sale here on Friday, August 1 at 10 a.m. local.

MIRADOR recently expanded its headlining tour to 31 dates due to popular demand. Tickets for all initial dates sold out immediately upon going on sale, and a second run of fall dates in larger venues were added in Nashville, New York City and Los Angeles, and new dates have been announced in New Orleans, Boston, Austin, Portland and more.

MIRADOR has the uncanny ability to conjure sky-shaking and boundary-bursting rock 'n' roll by invoking spirits of ancient myth, traditional folklore, and Delta-born blues in one concentrated musical incantation. Kiszka not only shares vocal and guitar duties with critically acclaimed co-vocalist and guitarist Turpin, but he also shines as a producer and songwriter, stepping out on his own. The group, filled out by Mikey Sorbello on drums and Nick Pini on bass and keys, stretches the limits of rock 'n' roll and showcases the band's myriad influences and uncompromising vision.

Kiszka and Turpin met in 2018 when IDA MAE opened for GRETA VAN FLEET during a sold-out three-night stand at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. On the road, Kiszka and Turpin cemented their friendship by way of late-night jam sessions fueled by wine and a shared passion for everyone from Charley Patton, Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins to Martin Carthy, Bert Jansch and FAIRPORT CONVENTION.

"We were like long-lost brothers," says Kiszka. "After we wrote those songs, I realized we had a chemistry I'd never had with anybody but my own brothers. It was obvious we needed to do this."

The world got to know MIRADOR when they spent a month opening up GRETA VAN FLEET's "Starcatcher" world tour in arenas coast to coast throughout 2024. Galvanized by this nightly trial by fire, the band rolled right into a Savannah, Georgia studio with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton) and they cut "Mirador" live in barely two weeks.

"After four weeks on our first tour, we went to the studio," says Turpin. "By the time we got there, Dave harnessed a lot of the intensity and frenetic energy from the road." Kiszka adds, "if we didn't cut our teeth in the most intense circumstances, I don't think the record would have the same spirit."

"Feels Like Gold" introduces the album with rumbling guitars breaking like a wave against a it's towering chorus, "and it feels like gold." On "Fortune's Fate" a turbulent guitar groove tosses and turns before spilling over into an emotional crescendo, "there goes my shadow to the one I love." Elsewhere, "Heels Of The Hunt" launches forward on a rapid-fire drum roll, while wild riffs chase goosebump-inducing vocals through a bluesy haze. The finale "Skyway Drifter" opens with finger-picked accents before breaking open into a cathartic breakdown.

"For me, it would be beautiful if this is all-consuming for listeners — like when you see a movie at the cinema," Kiszka concludes. "We're trying to immerse people in the world of MIRADOR and where we're coming from. There's so much duality in the album: the humanity, the soul, the adventure, the tyranny, and the journey. It's a very important record for us, but also in terms of what has gone down in the world of rock 'n' roll today. We hope you feel like you belong to this place as much as we do."

Canadians Comeback Kid shared sad news that their former bass player, Matt Keil, has passed away following a 19-month battle with ALS.

Statement from the group: "It’s with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our longtime friend and previous bass player Matt Keil.

"Matt played in CBK from 2008 - 2014 a time when we were really starting to tour internationally on a more global scale. He was such an amazing friend and musician. Just the greatest guy to tour with,be around, and explore the new countries in the world with.

"We are sending our love to his wife Maddie and his 2 daughters and want to honour his memory for our all years to come. We love you Matt K."

In a new interview with KPTV Fox 12, DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen and singer Joe Elliott were asked if BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne were an influence on DEF LEPPARD when their band first started out. Phil replied (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I remember seeing BLACK SABBATH on the SABBATH '[Vol] 4' tour. Actually, BLACK OAK ARKANSAS was the opening act at the Rainbow Theater in London [in March 1973]. Tommy Aldridge was actually the drummer in BLACK OAK ARKANSAS, and he was opening up for SABBATH and obviously years later he's in Ozzy's band. So [Ozzy] obviously saw something in [Tommy] back then. But it was great. We grew up [on LED] ZEPPELIN, [DEEP] PURPLE, SABBATH and all of that stuff. And it was just mind-blowing. Like I said, I was so glad to see that SABBATH that early, and then, obviously, years later tour with Ozzy."

Phil continued: "I was in a band called GIRL [before I joined DEF LEPPARD], and we were on the same record label as Ozzy, and that's where he met [his wife and manager] Sharon. So it went back right there — [with Ozzy's band consisting of] Randy Rhoads, Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Aldridge. It was just wonderful. And then obviously DEF LEPPARD toured with that same band on the 'Blizzard Of Ozz' tour in the U.S., and we actually would be in connection with each other all the time, we'd be in contact."

Added Joe: "[Ozzy] was a lovely guy. Sharon was a great manager for him. And I don't think that SABBATH were a huge influence on DEF LEPPARD, but we were big fans — still are. It was more a case of we just happened to be blessed with the opportunity, both Phil's band at the time and LEPPARD, to tour with Ozzy and to just experience their enthusiasm and how nurturing they were towards us.

"A lot of headline bands, they'll kind of stamp on an opening act by not letting them have soundchecks or giving them no lights. Ozzy gave us the full stage — lights, soundchecks, everything," he explained. "They wanted us to succeed. And so there's always been a lot of love between their camp and ours. And it's just very sad. But I'm really happy he got to do that final show in Birmingham, just 17, 18 days ago. I think he was ready after that. I think he'd said all he had to say."

Elaborating on his impressions of the "Back To The Beginning" event, which marked Ozzy and SABBATH's final performance, Joe said: "It was amazing. The love towards Ozzy you could see, I mean, we were doing our own show, which is why we couldn't be there. Sharon did ask if we could do it, but we sent a message instead that they put on the screens. But we were keeping an eye on it on YouTube, and you could even tell through a laptop how much love there was heading towards that stage when Ozzy sat in that throne. It was kingly — it really was. It was like watching the king of rock getting worshipped by his loving audience. And I felt really happy for him. I'm glad he got to do it."

As previously reported, DEF LEPPARD paid tribute to Ozzy by performing a cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Changes" during Tuesday night's concert in Saratoga Springs, New York.

"We all know just a few hours ago we lost our beloved Ozzy Osbourne," Elliott said during the band's show at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. "So tonight we're celebrating Ozzy."

"Changes" originally appeared on SABBATH's 1972 album "Vol. 4", and was re-recorded by Ozzy in 2003 as a duet with his daughter Kelly, featuring revised lyrics.

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne had performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

On the latest episode of The David Ellefson Show, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson reflected on the making of the band's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!"

Ellefson laid down his bass tracks on MEGADETH's sixteenth LP in May 2020 at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee. In July 2021, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine announced during an episode of his Gimme Radio program "The Dave Mustaine Show" that Ellefson's bass tracks would not be used on the new MEGADETH LP.

"The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" was released in September 2022 via UMe. Just months after TESTAMENT bassist Steve DiGiorgio recorded his parts for the effort, former MEGADETH bassist James LoMenzo rejoined the band in time for the summer 2021 leg of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" and was later named a permanent replacement for Ellefson.

Ellefson said in part about the recording sessions for "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That was a brutal record. I'm glad to be away from it, to be honest with you. It was a terrible process. It was five years in the making. Every song I wrote for it got taken off — every riff I added, every lyric I added. It was spiteful, it was vengeful and it was hateful. And it was not my record. I went into it. I said to Dave [Mustaine], I said, 'Why don't we go in here? We're at a phase now, we should go in here like it's 'Peace Sells'. We [should go in there like we] have no money. We have no time. Write a song, record it, move on. Write a song, record it, move on.' I said, 'I feel like fans are tired of these over-digitized, fucking locked-to-the-grid, these perfect heavy metal records.' Fans want fucking records — I think — that are more organic. It sounds like a band playing in the room together.

"Then this 40th anniversary of [MEGADETH's] 'Youthanasia' [album] came up and I go back to that," Ellefson continued. "Shawn Drover [former MEGADETH drummer] got me into that record again. And I hadn't listened to it in a lot of years, and I listened to it and I go, 'Fuck, we were good, man.' That's us playing together in the room, all four of us, laying down tracks together. And I miss that."

Circling back to the process of making "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", David said: "There was clashes all the way down, and for me, it started in 2018 when Dave came in to — we started a tour in Oslo, and he came in and he said he wanted to re-record [METALLICA's] 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo [which Mustaine played on when he was briefly a member of METALLICA]. I'm, like, 'Are you kidding me? This is where we're at? After all this time? We're supposed to be writing a new album and new songs. And I was just, like, 'I am not down with that.' As fun as it would be to play those songs, 'cause that's one of my favorite METALLICA recordings, I was just, like, 'Yeah, I ain't down with that.' I'm sorry. I couldn't kiss the ring for that one. I was, like, 'I'm out.' And so I think our problem started then. So as we went into the record, he knew I wasn't willing to just fucking say, 'Yes, Dave,' and go along with shit. So eventually I'm out of the band. So it goes. Bands are what bands are, and it is what it is."

Ellefson added: "Sadly, I have not listened to ['The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!' since it came out]. I heard the one video… The record brings up bad feelings for me. And not being thrown out of the band, but just everything about that record."

Seven years ago, Mustaine said that he didn't want to "perpetuate false information" by giving METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich songwriting credit on the previously announced expanded version of "No Life 'Til Leather".

"No Life 'Til Leather" was released as a limited-edition cassette for Record Store Day in April 2015, available exclusively in independent record stores. It featured artwork copies from drummer Ulrich's own personal copy of the original demo, as well as his handwriting. At the time, the band also promised that expanded editions of the demo, which had never before been commercially available, would arrive on CD, vinyl and in a collector's set.

The seven-song tape was recorded with the first lineup of the band that appeared live as METALLICA, including Ulrich, guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, lead guitarist Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney. The original recordings were paid for by High Velocity record label owner Kenny Kane, with a view of making them available as an EP in 1982.

Mustaine discussed the proposed expanded edition of "No Life 'Til Leather" during a June 2018 interview with U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine. Saying that the last time he spoke to Hetfield was when the METALLICA guitarist/vocalist called him to talk about the "No Life 'Til Leather" re-release, Mustaine recalled: "He was trying to get me to give publishing over to Lars, despite James and I being the sole songwriters. Lars wanted a percentage and I just said no. I love James, he's a terrific guitar player, but yeah, I can't do that. The songs are already out there. I'm not going to release something just to have a product to sell — especially if they are perpetuating false information. Lars did not write the songs. It was just me and James. Period."

Ellefson, who has lived in Scottsdale, Arizona since 1994, was fired from MEGADETH in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

LoMenzo originally joined MEGADETH in 2006 and appeared on two of the group's studio albums, 2007's "United Abominations" and 2009's "Endgame". He was fired from the band in 2010 and replaced with Ellefson.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play.

Mustaine reformed MEGADETH 18 years ago. Originally setting out to record a solo album, Mustaine enlisted studio musicians to play on what ultimately became MEGADETH's 2004 "The System Has Failed" comeback album, subsequently recruiting former ICED EARTH bassist James MacDonough to take Ellefeson's place for the album's touring cycle.

In 2004, Ellefson sued Mustaine for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

GHOST, the acclaimed Swedish rock band, performed the song "Lachryma" on the July 23 episode of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". The Tobias Forge-fronted outfit was in Studio 6B in Rockefeller Center in New York City join Fallon for the appearance, which has now been made available on the official "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" YouTube channel. Check it out below.

Earlier this month, GHOST kicked off the U.S. leg of the "Skeletour" world tour in support of the group's sixth studio album, "Skeletá", which came out in April. Marking a bold evolution in GHOST's live performances, the tour is the band's most theatrical and cinematic production yet. Designed by Tobias Rylander and GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge, the tour embraces a grander and more ambitious scale than ever before.

The set design is a striking blend of gothic symbolism and brutalist architecture, melding the ornate drama of cathedrals with the stark lines of modernist concrete forms. Inspired by brutalist cathedrals across Europe, the stage transforms into a sanctum of dark majesty: part sacred temple and part rock coliseum.

At the core of the design is the "Grucifix" — GHOST's reimagined crucifix inspired by their iconic logo. Suspended above the band, this colossal structure functions as both a visual centerpiece and a dynamic lighting rig, casting an ethereal glow over the stage.

Rylander's design includes sculptural scenic facades on the lighting pods, echoing the textures and verticality of cathedral interiors, further reinforcing the ecclesiastical themes central to GHOST's identity.

The lighting leans into a retro-rock aesthetic, with visual nods to classical QUEEN and VAN HALEN. The tour also represents a milestone for the band as it's the first time a full-scale video production led by Rylander and video director Amir Chamdin. With video content by Green Wall Designs, the creative direction transcends the physical stage, evolving into a fully immersive multimedia experience.

In keeping with the show's theatricality, the stage itself has been engineered to perform as much as the artist. Multiple elevated performance platforms, mechanical lifts, and concealed entrances are strategically placed to accommodate dramatic reveals and character transitions. A living, breathing cathedral of performance, "Skeletour" redefines the GHOST live experience, where sacred architecture collides with the raw energy of rock and roll.

Renowned for his work across live music world tours, fashion, theatre and art installations, Rylander has collaborated with artists such as Beyoncé, THE 1975, Childish Gambino, Chappell Roan, The XX and FKA Twigs. "Skeletour" marks his first creative partnership with the Grammy Award-winning band, bringing a new dimension to GHOST's already-iconic stage presence.

The European leg of GHOST's 2025 world tour kicked off on April 15 in Manchester, United Kingdom and concluded on May 24 in Oslo, Norway. The North American leg of GHOST's 2025 tour launched on July 9 in Baltimore, Maryland and will wrap up on August 16 in Houston, Texas.

This past May, "Skeletá" landed at position No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 86,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the LP's first week of release. According to Billboard, 89% of that figure (77,000) consisted of traditional album sales, with vinyl purchases accounting for over 44,000 copies. Notably, "Skeletá" was the first hard rock album to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 since AC/DC's "Power Up" in 2020.

The music video for the LP's first single, "Satanized", introduced the new character who is fronting GHOST for its 2025 touring cycle: Papa V Perpetua.

Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle". In March 2020, at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City, Mexico, the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the character who fronted the act for its "Impera" (2022) album phase.

LED ZEPPELIN will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its iconic sixth album, "Physical Graffiti", with the release of "Live EP" on 180-gram 12" vinyl, CD and digital formats on September 12.

Also released on the same date will be an updated 50th-anniversary edition of 2015's "Physical Graffiti" Deluxe Edition 3LP vinyl set featuring the Companion Audio disc, now including a new bonus replica "Physical Graffiti" promotional poster (sized 443mm x 610mm).

The new "Live EP" features live recordings of "In My Time Of Dying" and "Trampled Under Foot" from Earl's Court, 1975, alongside "Sick Again" and "Kashmir" from Knebworth, 1979. These live performances were originally released on the 2003 "Led Zeppelin" DVD and appear on CD, vinyl and digital formats for the very first time.

Released on February 24, 1975 in the U.S. (and four days later in the U.K.),"Physical Graffiti" immediately achieved platinum sales status and has recently been certified 17 times platinum. Its commercial success was equaled by its critical reception.

Generally regarded as one of the greatest double albums of all time, the original 15 tracks represent a creative tour de force that explores the band's dynamic musical range, from the driving rock of "Custard Pie" to the exotic construction of "Kashmir" and the funky groove of "Trampled Under Foot".

LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant states: "It goes from one extreme to the other but at the same time, it's very evident that it's ZEPPELIN… I love the album and it does work as a double album. There are some real humdinger, roaring tracks."

"Physical Graffiti" was comprised of new compositions including "Kashmir", "Sick Again", "Ten Years Gone", "The Wanton Song", "Custard Pie", "Trampled Under Foot" and "In My Time Of Dying", as well as unreleased songs from earlier album sessions: "Houses Of The Holy", "The Rover", "Black Country Woman" (from "Houses Of The Holy" sessions),"Down By The Seaside", "Boogie With Stu", "Night Flight" (from Untitled, a.k.a. "Led Zeppelin IV", sessions),and "Bron-Yr-Aur" (from "Led Zeppelin III" sessions).

LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page began the initial work at his home studio in Plumpton, Sussex, England, in the summer and autumn of 1973, with the first recording sessions taking place that October at Headley Grange, using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio. Further sessions at Headley continued in January 1974. Additional overdubs were recorded at Olympic Studios, where Page completed mixing of the album in July 1974.

Page says: "We had enough material for one and a half LPs, so I figured, 'Let's put out a double and use some of the material we'd done previously but never released'. I always thought the sequencing of an album was really important and that was part of my role as the producer."

"Physical Graffiti" was not only the band's first double LP, it was also the first release on their new label, Swan Song, which launched in May 1974. The album's release was announced on November 13, 1974.

LED ZEPPELIN bassist John Paul Jones states: "I'm a big fan of 'Physical Graffiti'. [It] was very wide ranging. It probably was a pinnacle."

Following the 10-week North American tour that ran from January through March 1975, LED ZEPPELIN played five sold-out nights at London's Earl's Court in May, 1975. Initially, three shows were announced, with another two added after the tremendous demand for tickets.

LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham previously said: "On the last night at Earl's Court we played 'Heartbreaker', 'Black Dog', and a bit from 'Out On The Tiles'. With the songs from 'Physical Graffiti' we've got such a wide range of material."

The band headlined both nights of the Knebworth festival, which took place at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, England on August 4 and 11, 1979. These were LED ZEPPELIN's first live dates since their 1977 North American tour, and their first U.K. dates since the Earl's Court 1975 shows.

"Live EP" track listing:

CD / digital

01. In My Time Of Dying (Earl's Court - 1975)
02. Trampled Under Foot (Earl's Court - 1975)
03. Sick Again (Knebworth - 1979)
04. Kashmir (Knebworth - 1979)

12" Vinyl

Side One: Earl's Court - 1975

01. In My Time Of Dying
02. Trampled Under Foot

Side Two: Knebworth - 1979

01. Sick Again
02. Kashmir

The "Live EP" is available for pre-order now, to be released on September 12.

"Trampled Under Foot (Live From Earl's Court, 1975)" is available on all digital download and streaming services now.

In 1968, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham formed LED ZEPPELIN, one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, having sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. The band rose from the ashes of THE YARDBIRDS when Page brought in Plant, Bonham and Jones to tour as THE NEW YARDBIRDS. In 1969, LED ZEPPELIN released its self-titled debut. It marked the beginning of a 12-year reign, during which the group was widely considered to be the biggest and most innovative rock band in the world.

LED ZEPPELIN continues to be honored for its pivotal role in music history. The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1995, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and a year later was awarded with the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm. Founding members Jones, Page and Plant — along with Jason Bonham, the son of John Bonham — took the stage at London's O2 Arena in 2007 to headline a tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun, a dear friend and Atlantic Records' founder. The band was honored for its lifetime contribution to American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. In January of 2014, the band won their first ever Grammy Award as "Celebration Day", which captured their live performance at the Ertegun tribute concert, was named "Best Rock Album".

Former SEPULTURA and current SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera shared his memories of Ozzy Osbourne during an appearance on 12News, the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona. Asked what kind of guy Ozzy was, Max said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Well, I first met him around '96 with my old band [SEPULTURA]. And at that time he didn't come out that much. And we were also — 'cause we're such fans, we were all scared of him. But then after I broke up with my old band, I started my new band [SOULFLY]. That was at the same time that our son was killed here in Arizona… [Ozzy and Sharon] invited us to their house and we started hanging out more with them. When we did Ozzfest, our kids played together. They went to their house. But, yeah, like I say, I think the image of the wild guy and all that, the times I spent with him, I just thought he was really funny, man."

Asked if he would describe Ozzy as "kind of a normal guy", Max said: "I think so. 'Cause we [would] mostly hang out in backstage and things like that. And there was one time where we were in Sweden, and he asked me, 'Where are we?' He had no idea where he was. And I just loved that about him. It was, like, this is so cool. This guy, he's so rock and roll. He just goes. He doesn't even know what country he's [in]."

In a 2014 interview with Phoenix New Times, Max reflected on Ozzy and Sharon's kindness after Cavalera's stepson Dana passed away. "We were playing Donington [Monsters Of Rock festival] with [Ozzy] and [Ozzy and Sharon] flew us home in their private jet when Dana died," he said. "It was a horrible thing. We were flying home because Gloria's son [Max's wife and manager] died, in Ozzy's plane. It was horrible. The whole time. It was so dark. I wanted to say something to Gloria and words couldn't even come out of my mouth. Sharon talks about feeling like we needed a friend at that time and she was able to help us. They didn't have to do anything. They were just playing a show with us, and yet they showed their true colors. Somebody else could have said, 'I'm sorry for your loss,' but they didn't do that. They put us on their plane, gave us money and gave Gloria a crucifix. It was amazing. Then when I got kicked out of SEPULTURA, it was around January, we were invited to their [Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne] house for a dinner because Ozzy wanted to encourage me to go on. That's how felt, like he should do something. I went to their house and sat down. Ozzy sat me down and said, 'Fuck them. Fuck those guys. You need to get up off your ass and do something.' It was awesome to hear that from him and I needed to hear that. He played me some BLACK SABBATH demos and it blew my mind. It was fucking awesome to hear that from him. I was tripping the whole time. I never even imagined I would do that. You know, like when I was a kid in Brazil, if you would have told me I would sit down with Ozzy, fucking BLACK SABBATH, I wouldn't have believed it."

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne had performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

To celebrate the release of "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper", the new album from the reunited original ALICE COOPER band, Alice Cooper, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Michael Bruce got together earlier tonight (Thursday, July 24) on stage at Union Chapel in London, United Kingdom for an unforgettable evening.

The event was hosted by none other than Sir Tim Rice and featured a very special appearance by producer and honorary sixth band member, Bob Ezrin, whose legendary partnership with the band helped define the sound of an era. The night included a world-exclusive pre-listening session of the full album and in-depth conversation with the band about the making of "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper".

The event, which sold out within 24 hours, was streamed live globally via the Alice Cooper and earMUSIC YouTube channels, as well as on TalksShopLive ensuring no fan missed out on this historic reunion and giving audiences everywhere a front-row seat. You can now watch video of the event below.

Cooper, Dunaway, Smith and Bruce reunited with Ezrin to create "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper", a fierce and nostalgic homage to their early '70s glory. Due on July 25, the album includes a special posthumous feature from original guitarist Glen Buxton and guest appearance by Robby Krieger of THE DOORS on the debut single "Black Mamba".

With timeless tracks, classic horror rock energy, and a dose of theatrical chaos, "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" promises to be more than a comeback — it's a resurrection.

"The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" is a high-voltage journey into vintage horror and classic 1970s shock rock, capturing the sound, energy, and mischief that made the original ALICE COOPER band legendary. In a truly special moment, the album features a posthumous appearance by Glen Buxton, the band's original guitarist who passed away in 1997, through an unreleased recording that seamlessly blends the past with the present on "What Happened To You", featuring his original guitar part.

If that wasn't cool enough, one of the bonus tracks (box set and limited smart format) also includes a long-lost gem from 1970 — a raw, alternate take of "Return Of The Spiders" (not the version heard on "Easy Action") — recently unearthed from original multi-tracks missing for 50 years and now enhanced and mixed by Bob Ezrin.

"The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" saw Alice, Neal, Michael, Dennis and Bob working in an old-school recording studio in Connecticut, rekindling the magic from the 1970s. This album is a celebration of friendship, nostalgia, and the timeless sound that solidified Alice Cooper as a rock icon. Fans can expect a powerful and nostalgic experience that bridges the gap between the band's storied past and their vibrant present.

From the venomous bite of "Black Mamba" to the rebellious charge of "Wild Ones" and the soft, haunting melodies of "See You On The Other Side", every track feels like a rock 'n' roll classic.

"The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" is going to be released on July 25 in a wide variety of formats and limited vinyl colors. It will also be available as a limited box set and as a limited art print (smart format),featuring exclusive access to two bonus tracks from the start, plus the full album automatically delivered as a high-definition download on release day.

The original ALICE COOPER group — Alice Cooper (vocals),Michael Bruce (guitar),Dennis Dunaway (bass),Neal Smith (drums) and Glen Buxton (guitar) — redefined rock in the early 1970s, blending raw, hard-hitting music with shocking theatricality. With Bob Ezrin at the helm, they pioneered shock rock, delivering rebellious anthems, dark storytelling and over-the-top stage shows featuring guillotines, snakes, and macabre theatrics.

Albums like "Love It To Death" (1971),"Killer" (1971),"School's Out" (1972) and "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973) turned them into superstars, producing legendary hits like "I'm Eighteen", "Elected", "School's Out" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy". Their mix of hard rock, glam, and horror made them one of the most influential and controversial bands of their era, leaving a permanent mark on rock history.

Alice Cooper has sold countless millions of records worldwide and shaped rock history forever. Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011, their music remains as powerful and relevant as ever.

Now, with "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper", the original band reunites for one more epic chapter, reclaiming the sound and legacy that made them legends.

Cooper told Billboard that making a new album with his original bandmates "was very much like this was our next album after [1973's] 'Muscle Of Love', just like, 'Okay, this is the next album.' Isn't that funny after 50 years? All of a sudden it just falls into place."

Ezrin said about the making of "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper": "None of them has changed much as a person. Obviously, everyone's older and more mature and more settled, but when we all get together and I watch the interplay between them, it's like they just walked out of high school and were hanging out in the local cafe. They just revert to type. They revert to who they were as kids when the first got together… and make music together like they did 50-some years ago."

As for the possibility of the original COOPER band hitting the road again, Alice said: "We haven't even gotten to that point yet. I don't really see it being a full-out tour; it would be very, very hard, I think, if you haven't done it for a long time. But I could see it being a feature, like going into certain cities — Detroit, New York, L.A., London maybe, and doing a half-hour or 40 minutes in a club or something. We always leave those things open, and if it looks feasible, then we do it."

"The Revenge of Alice Cooper" track listing:

01. Black Mamba
02. Wild Ones
03. Up All Night
04. Kill The Flies
05. One Night Stand
06. Blood On The Sun
07. Crap That Gets In The Way Of Your Dreams
08. Famous Face
09. Money Screams
10. What A Syd
11. Inter Galactic Vagabond Blues
12. What Happened To You
13. I Ain't Done Wrong
14. See You On The Other Side
15. Return of the Spiders 2025 (bonus track)
16. Titanic Overunderture (bonus track)

Formed in 1968, the original ALICE COOPER band forged a theatrical brand of hard rock that was destined to shock and had never been seen before. Within five years, they would release no fewer than seven studio albums, amongst them their international breakthrough "School's Out" (including the Top 10 hit of the same name) and the U.S. No. 1 "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973). By 1974, the band had risen to the upper echelon of rock stardom... and then it dissolved.

In October 2015, over 40 years later, record store owner and superfan Chris Penn convinced the original lineup to reunite for a very special performance at Good Records, his record store in Dallas, Texas. Alice, Michael, Dennis and Neal were joined on stage by Alice's current guitarist Ryan Roxie (standing in for Buxton).

Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he's best known for. With a schedule that includes six months each year on the road, Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new, enjoying it as much as the audience does. Known as the architect of shock rock, Cooper (in both the original ALICE COOPER band and as a solo artist) has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where mainstream media can present real-life shocking images.