The technical chameleon and guitar virtuoso Paul Gilbert has announced his new album, "WROC", which will be released on February 27, 2026 via Music Theories Recordings. To celebrate, he has revealed the music video for "Go Not Thither", which you can watch below.

"WROC", which stands for "Washington's Rules of Civility," could very well be the guitar superstar's most outlandish offering to date. Using George Washington's Rules of Civility as a conceptual homing beacon, Gilbert has dared himself to think outside the box and use an etiquette guide dating back to the late 1500s as his main source of inspiration.

He may have wielded a cordless power drill for supersonic tremolo picking and used a slide to summon the voice of Ronnie James Dio in the past. Still, this latest recording is the sound of a musician defiantly broadening himself into new uncharted horizons for his first vocal album since 2016's "I Can Destroy".

"Go Not Thither" pairs throbbing vibe pedals with regal harmonies, classic metal riffage and ZZ TOP boogie blues. Talking about the song, Gilbert muses: "Hundreds of years ago, everyone must have been walking around kicking the earth. They kicked the earth so much that a rule had to be invented to put a stop to it! Another rule in the song, 'Play not the peacock,' is more difficult to follow. I know this, as I can't resist playing guitar solos while wearing a tricorn hat."

The idea for the album came to him on the flight home from the last show of MR. BIG's final tour, where the group bid farewell to a packed house at Tokyo's Budokan Arena.

"I don't know why it came into my head," he shrugs. "But I love using lyrics to build melodies. I think I was looking for my own Bernie Taupin — who writes all the lyrics for Elton John. Neil Peart is another example, as he wrote the lyrics for RUSH, while Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee composed the music. I wanted to find my own Bernie or Neil, because while lyric writing is something I've certainly done, it's not really my favorite part of the process. So, I got George Washington to be my Bernie Taupin!"

On further investigation, it became clear that the first president of the United States of America had simply copied an English translation of the "Rules Of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company And Conversation" as a school writing exercise, inadvertently becoming its most widely credited author. Its lineage, however, can be traced even further back to a 1595 French etiquette manual written by the Jesuits.

As someone who has vividly shaped the role of the electric guitar in rock music, Paul Gilbert knows a thing or two about which rules to follow — and when to break them. In MR. BIG, he was responsible for pioneering pop rock anthems that saw the group top charts and headline arenas around the world. In RACER X, he pushed the electric guitar to its furthest limits, in a more metallic direction, leaving listeners and audiences mesmerized by how his compositions could be so technically thrilling and tastefully musical at the same time. As a solo artist, he's traversed both instrumental and vocal-led sonic landscapes that have crossed over from blues, classical and jazz to straight-up rock.

So, for Gilbert, there was palpable excitement in resurrecting these 16th-century guidelines for the hyper-advanced social order of today's world. "I've never had such a good time writing songs in my life!" he admits.

The album was recorded live over four days at The Hallowed Halls in Portland, Oregon, with Nick D'Virgilio on drums, Doug Rappoport on guitar, and Timmer Blakely on bass. Paul recorded additional vocals at home to sweeten the tracks, but the core energy comes from the live band jamming face to face.

It all kicks off with "Keep Your Feet Firm And Even", which is based on a Washington rule that Paul finds personally challenging. The hook-laden "Speak Not Evil Of The Absent" saw Gilbert molding unique phrasing to deliver a rule that's now 430 years old. "Some of these rules are easy to follow, and others... I don't know if I could ever do them! But it's certainly aspirational to think about them," says Paul.

"I'm really excited to play this music live and see how people enjoy it," adds Gilbert. "I would say 'WROC' is one of the most musical and listenable albums I've ever done. It's much more than just guitar licks that came from my fingers. The music came from my sense of melody. I've been enjoying that pure connection more and more. I feel like this is the most successful journey I've made to my Inner Melodic Generator... thanks to the inspiration from George Washington and those who went before him. They were my Bernie Taupins. Overall, the process was so enjoyable, and you can hear that joy in the tracks."

MANOWAR has announced the "Kings Of Metal Fighting The World Tour 2027".

After the band's triumphant celebrations of "Hail To England" and "Sign Of The Hammer" on the "Blood Of Our Enemies Tour", the fans demanded more: more sonic and visual excellence with unforgettable metal hymns, glory, majesty, unity, and more immortal memories.

MANOWAR heard the call and will unleash a brand new, awe-inspiring spectacle of might, celebrating two sacred albums of the genre — "Kings Of Metal" and "Fighting The World", albums that shaped generations of metalheads around the world and forged the brotherhood that stands unbroken today.

First dates are confirmed for Germany, with more battlegrounds following.

These shows will feature alternating setlists, with either the entire "Kings Of Metal" album or the entire "Fighting The World" album performed, plus other epic anthems, in a brand-new production.

An exclusive ticket presale will start on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. CET for Army Of Immortals members. The pre-sale ends on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 11:00 CET.

This is your reward for standing true. If you've sworn the oath already, watch out for your Army Of Immortals newsletter for details. If you're not signed up yet, wait no longer: the time to strike is now!

A limited number of "Ultimate Fan Experience" upgrades will be available on this tour at the official MANOWAR store and, for all German shows, also on Eventim.de. This is the most exclusive and personal MANOWAR live experience possible.

General ticket sales, including "Ultimate Fan Experience" upgrades, start on Eventim.de on December 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. CET.

Last month, MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio offered an update on the studio sessions for the upcoming re-recorded version of the band's fourth studio album, "Sign Of The Hammer", which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. Writing on his official web site, Joey said: "Manowarriors, We just celebrated the anniversary of 'Sign Of The Hammer' — an album that’s meant the world to us and to you for over 40 years. Now let me give you an update on the re-recording.

"We announced this project a while back, and many of you have been asking: Where is it? Fair question. You deserve an honest answer, so here it is: Re-recording a beloved album is a massive responsibility for us. These songs are part of your lives. They're hymns that have carried you through your toughest moments.
We don't take that lightly.

"So here's what happened: We recorded everything. We listened. And we weren't satisfied. The sound wasn't there yet. It wasn't the crushing, earth-shaking power we demand from ourselves — and that you deserve.

"So what did we do? We took apart our studios, tried new equipment configurations. We recorded again. But still not quite 'it'. And then it was time to prep for tour and hit the road.

"Could we have rushed it out? Sure. But that's not who we are.
We've never compromised, and we’re not starting now.

"Rest assured: 'Sign Of The Hammer' re-recorded will be released. And new music, too. And when it drops, it's going to sound meaner, heavier, and more powerful than anything we've done before.

"Thank you for your patience and loyalty. Stay tuned!

"Hail and Kill! Joey".

Last December, DeMaio spoke to Elena Rozberg of Radiocast BG about the upcoming re-recording of "Sign Of The Hammer". He said: "I think that it gives us the chance to look at the songs and keep all of the elements of the song itself that people liked — you know, the choruses and so forth, the message, the lyrics — but also improve the quality of the sound of the recording. As I listen to it today, I think everything is much more clear, a lot of excitement, a lot of energy. And, yeah, the fans who have already bought the [original] record will have that forever. And then the new version of it is a different version. It's like having two shirts or two jackets — one might be a little different, different buttons, but similar style. And that's the way it's coming across to me. I think people are going to enjoy it. And if you like the first version, I think you'll like this version. It's just a little bit different, a little something — a little something. Maybe a little magic. I don't know. We'll see. See what people think. You'll tell me once you hear it."

During the same chat, DeMaio weighed in on a debate about people using artificial intelligence (A.I.) to create music. He said:  "Well, right now I haven't delved much into artificial intelligence. I mean, of course, everybody can't help using it with e-mails and things like this. I think it's been good in the e-mails when you get spam to be able to block it; it does it automatically or it recognizes it. I think like everything else, it's a tool and I think it will find its place in everybody's life. I think some people will use it to create music, to create art and things. They've already started doing that. And I just look at it as though for somebody who doesn't play an instrument, if that's a way for them to express a musical idea, then that's their tool. I happen to be able to play a guitar, so I can do it. But for somebody that can't, they can then just say, 'Write me a song like such and such,' and that's how they will create. And who's to say — great music might come of it. I don't know. Or great art. I think it's too new to judge and see what's going to happen. But I think there will always be a place for people who really write something beautiful, whether it's poetry, whether they paint something by hand that's a beautiful painting or whether they write a song. I think there's always going to be a place for creative people that have talent. If you do something great, I think it will live forever, and I don't think it's anything to be afraid of."

In 2005, "Sign Of The Hammer" was ranked number 418 on Rock Hard magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums Of All Time".

MANOWAR played an exclusive U.S. concert on November 30, 2024 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. The sold-out event marked the band's first live appearance in MANOWAR's home country in a decade.

In November 2023, DeMaio said in a video message that MANOWAR's concert in New York would coincide with the 40th anniversary of "Sign Of The Hammer". "It's gonna be the only show in America, unfortunately, because our recording and touring schedule won't allow for more, but it will be the full show," he said.

Prior to the Kings Theatre concert, MANOWAR's last U.S. shows were believed to have taken place in February 2014 when the band celebrated the 25th anniversary of its "Kings Of Metal" album on the "Kings Of Metal MMXIV" tour.

Back in September 2014, MANOWAR canceled its previously announced U.S. tour dates which were scheduled to take place in November of that year. At the time, the band claimed it was scrapping the shows "due to scheduling conflicts" as well as to concentrate on work on a new studio album.

The 71-year-old DeMaio and 73-year-old singer Eric Adams are the sole remaining original members of MANOWAR, which formed in 1980 in upstate New York.

In February 2023, MANOWAR released a new song called "Laut Und Hart Stark Und Schnell" dedicated to the band's loyal German fans.

"Laut Und Hart Stark Und Schnell", which translates into "Loud And Hard Strong And Fast", is an anthemic mid-tempo hymn in the vein of MANOWAR's classic "Warriors Of The World United" that invites fans to sing along and raise their hands in celebration of their favorite genre and band.

"Laut Und Hart Stark Und Schnell" was first released digitally on February 10, 2023 on all major platforms and was made available during MANOWAR's German tour.

Three years ago, MANOWAR announced that it had recruited Michael Angelo Batio, a veteran both in the studio and on stage, to play guitar for the band on its 2023 "Crushing The Enemies Of Metal" tour. The news came in the wake of guitarist Evandro "EV" Martel's announcement that he was taking a break from touring for a while for "personal reasons".

Although MANOWAR has released a couple of EPs in recent years — including "The Revenge Of Odysseus (Highlights)", which came out in June — the group hasn't issued a full-length effort since 2012's "The Lord Of Steel".

MANOWAR's two "secret" warm-up shows in June 2022 at Jovel Music Hall in Münster, Germany marked the band's debut live appearances with new drummer Dave Chedrick, who has previously played with RAVEN and KILL RITUAL, among others.

Chedrick joined MANOWAR as the replacement for Anders Johannson who announced that same month that he would be unable to join MANOWAR on the band's "Crushing The Enemies Of Metal Anniversary Tour '22/'23" due to "family commitments."

MANOWAR CELEBRATE KINGS OF METAL FIGHTING THE WORLD TOUR 2027 🔥

MANOWAR, the founders and defenders of true metal,...

Posted by MANOWAR on Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN have parted ways with VOIVOD guitarist Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain and have replaced him with Jeremy Von Epp.

On Tuesday (November 18),FORBIDDEN shared the following message via social media: "Hey everybody, please help us welcome Jeremy Von Epp aboard as the new blood!

"When we first approached Dan about playing guitar with us, Steve [Smyth] amicably left the band while we still had a full table of obligations ahead of us. Mongrain was our very first choice and he agreed almost without hesitation.

"We all have deep respect for Dan and consider him one of the greatest guitarists in our Universe. To have him on stage with us was a dream come true. Chewy was a perfect fit. This being said, it was also on borrowed time due to his upcoming commitments with VOIVOD. Still, we managed it and intended on Dan being a part of FORBIDDEN's new album as he's already recorded and contributed to 3 songs.

"The touring part was always going to be touch and go depending on our overlapping schedules. This issue first appeared at Aftershock in Sacramento and Grita [Fest] in Colombia. We recruited Jeremy Von Epp and he stepped in like a champ! Jeremy was a seamless transition that caught us by a very pleasant surprise, so much so that it made us rethink our short term and long term plans. It took Von Epp almost no time at all to learn our language and solos of three unbelievably great guitarists in Glen Alvelais, Tim Calvert, Smyth and Dan Mongrain. No small shoes to fill.

"We got back from Colombia and reevaluated our situation. Jeremy needed to be in FORBIDDEN full time and we all agreed. It made too much sense with the chemistry we have together.

"Dan has been amazing, a great friend, player and now is like family to us. His contributions raised the bar of quality sky high. We are forever grateful for his genius and brilliant humor he shared over the last 1 1/2 years.

"Thank you, Dan! Also a sincere thanks to the rest of VOIVOD for letting us borrow him from you, albeit temporary. FORBIDDEN loves you all.

"As we move into this era of FORBIDDEN with Von Epp, we're presently writing, recording and pre producing new material that will take us to another level.

"There is much more exciting news that is just around the corner to share very soon!"

Mongrain added in a separate statement: "When Craig Locicero called me to play in FORBIDDEN, I accepted right away as I was already a fan and that we we're friends since 2008 when we first met in Tokyo where we played on the same bill (VOIVOD, FORBIDDEN). I never thought I would later play in the band live, touring and contributing on new songs. Life has great surprises.

"From the start we all knew it would be quite a challenge for the schedule to fit with VOIVOD activities and my other bands. But we went for it, it worked for a while and it's been great. I got to know Chris Kontos, Norman Skinner and Matt Camacho better, and along with Craig, we became brothers and troopers on the road.

"I am honored and forever grateful to have been part of FORBIDDEN, and tour the world together. Unfortunately, teleportation and cloning is not a thing yet, schedules, distances and other factors are making it impossible to make it work on the long term. So I have to step down and pass the torch to the great Jeremy Van Epp who's been killing it since the last couple shows as it was impossible for me to be there.

"Love to all the FORBIDDEN family and crew, friends, fans, all the people I met during this amazing journey, it was a great ride to say the least. I embrace the memories and wish all the best to the mighty FORBIDDEN in the years to come with a kick ass line-up!! They will blow your mind!!

"Peace and health to everyone!! See you on tour!"

Von Epp said: "When Craig called me a few months back with the prospect of helping them out as a stand in for Chewy, I was immediately interested. We have all been friends for years, and I'd been keeping up with them since their reformation, but after hearing the new song, 'Divided By Zero', I was all in!

"Learning the material was a challenge, but one that I quickly grew to enjoy. It'd been a long time since I played in a twin lead guitar thrash metal band, but I was excited about doing that again with FORBIDDEN. The two shows I played with them in October, Aftershock festival and Grita festival in Colombia, both went really well and everything just clicked.

"I look forward to being a part of the next chapter of FORBIDDEN and I am beyond honored to carry the torch(s) for all the great guitarists who have carried it here before me. Most importantly, I'm looking forward to playing some badass Bay Area thrash metal again, now with these guys. LFG!"

In October, FORBIDDEN released the official Mike Sloat-directed music video for the band's second new song in over 15 years, "Mutually Assured Dysfunction". "Mutually Assured Dysfunction" and "Divided By Zero", which was made available in late June, marked FORBIDDEN's first recordings with Mongrain, who was joined in FORBIDDEN's most recent lineup by founding guitarist Craig Locicero, longtime bassist Matt Camacho and the group's recent additions, singer Norman Skinner and drummer Chris Kontos.

FORBIDDEN's new songs were recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with engineer/co-producer Zack Ohren.

FORBIDDEN's summer 2025 "40 Years Of Twisted Evil" European tour celebrated the 40th anniversary of the band's formation and the 35th anniversary of the release of FORBIDDEN's second album, "Twisted Into Form", which originally came out in March 1990 via Combat Records.

Smyth exited FORBIDDEN in July 2024, saying in a statement that he "decided it's time to part ways with FORBIDDEN, and return to my band ONE MACHINE as priority, along with other projects on the horizon, and of course session work, and teaching music as always."

The resurrected FORBIDDEN lineup made its live debut at a "secret" show in July 2023 at Baltic Kiss in Richmond, California under the TWISTED INTO EVIL banner.

Hey everybody, please help us welcome Jeremy Von Epp aboard as the new blood!

When we first approached Dan about...

Posted by Forbidden on Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Former DEATH guitarist James Murphy joined DEATH TO ALL, the touring tribute to the late Chuck Schuldiner and his pioneering band DEATH, on stage last night (Tuesday, November 18) at The Orpheum in Tampa, Florida to perform the DEATH song "Altering The Future". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.

DEATH TO ALL is currently touring North America as part of a month-long celebration of two of DEATH's landmark albums: "Spiritual Healing" (1990) and "Symbolic" (1995).

DEATH TO ALL features DEATH veterans Gene Hoglan (drummer on the DEATH albums "Individual Thought Patterns" [1993] and "Symbolic"),Steve DiGiorgio (bassist on 1991's "Human" as well as "Individual Thought Patterns") and Bobby Koelble (guitarist on "Symbolic"),as well as Max Phelps (EXIST, ex-CYNIC) on guitar and vocals. DEATH TO ALL celebrated "Scream Bloody Gore" (1987) and "The Sound Of Perseverance" (1998) across North America in 2024.

Along with the dual album celebration, each night on the fall 2025 tour is showcasing classics from DEATH's catalog. The tour features special guests GORGUTS and PHOBOPHILIC.

Founded in 1984 by Chuck Schuldiner under the original name of MANTAS in Altamonte Springs, Florida, DEATH was among the more widely known early pioneers of the death metal sound, along with California's POSSESSED. Inspired by NASTY SAVAGE, DEATH was among the first bands in the Florida death metal scene. In the late '80s, the band was both a part of and integral in defining the death metal scene which gained international recognition with the release of albums by a number of area acts.

DEATH TO ALL operates as a tribute band to the original DEATH, which dissolved in 2001 following Schuldiner's passing.

During a January 2024 appearance on the "Die By The Click" podcast, Murphy was asked if he had ever been approached to take part in the DEATH TO ALL touring project. He responded: "No, I never was. And without going into any details, I'm gonna chalk that up to a couple of things. Number one, I think they've got their lineup. I think they've slowed down on the floating different people in and out of it. I think they've kind of settled into a thing, and that's Bobby and Max's gig now. And I'm cool with that — that's their gig."

He continued: "Back when they were floating people in and out of it a lot, having different people on different tours — because I'm not really up on the history of exactly what all has happened, lineup-wise and everything with that project… In addition to the feeling that they've sort of settled on their lineup, somebody involved with it who's not involved with it anymore, but back when they were cycling through different people, there was someone who did not want me — at all. And so I suspect that that's initially why I never got a call. This is also part of the reason why a particular project that I was working on years ago got put on a shelf, because of the same individual. There's no point in naming names. It's no longer an issue on either front, but at some point there's damage done."

Four years ago, Murphy joined former DEATH bassist Terry Butler to play two shows commemorating the 20th anniversary of Schuldiner's passing at Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida. Murphy and Butler performed DEATH's classic third album, "Spiritual Healing", in its entirety under the LIVING MONSTROSITY banner.

"Born Human: The Life And Music Of Death's Chuck Schuldiner", the fully authorized biography of the legendary DEATH frontman, has just been released via Decibel Books.

"Born Human", authored by accomplished journalist David E. Gehlke ("The Scott Burns Sessions: A Life In Death Metal 1987-1997", "Turned Inside Out: The Official Story Of Obituary"),features exclusive interviews, contributions, stunning new Ed Repka cover art and previously unreleased, hand-selected photographs from those who knew Chuck best. "Born Human" brings life to the dramatic story of the man who blazed an iconic path in metal music, laying the foundation for generations to come.

Fans can order their copy now at store.decibelmagazine.com.

On November 16, the four members of KISS — Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer — took part in a question-and-answer session moderated by professional wrestler and FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho during the "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas" event held at the Virgin Hotels resort and casino complex in Las Vegas. Some excerpts appear below (as transcribed by Clay Marshall for BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On their return to the stage in Las Vegas, where they performed two sets (one acoustic, one electric),two years after completing their five-year "farewell" tour, "End Of The Road":

Stanley: "It was special for us because we know —– and there's no false modesty — we're really good as a band, and really solid. You can put smoke bombs on stage and you can put on makeup and boots and all that stuff, and at the end of the day, a crappy band is a crappy band. For us to get up and play just like this [referring to 'normal' attire], it feels really good for us… We wanted to be as good as we are. [It was] interesting for us after two years to get into a rehearsal room. It's like riding a bike. We are who we are, and as soon as we plug in, that's what we sound like… We've been together [with this lineup] for 20 years. We have a ball. Bands talk about being family and that they love each other — we actually have a ball together, and that's why we've been together as long as we have. It's fun."

On the "Rock And Roll Over" song "Take Me", which was a surprise inclusion in their electric set:

Stanley: "It's really funny because some of those songs are not really age-appropriate anymore. I couldn't imagine writing a song today [saying], 'Put your hand into my pocket / grab on to my rocket.' A nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there."

On the band's legacy:

Simmons: "Everybody talks about your dreams, aspirations, ambitions and other big words — here we are, over half a century [after KISS was founded]. We're still here. There have been lots of heartbreak[s], devastation — Ace's [Frehley] passing… and we continue, because the legacy of KISS has to continue. Despite the fact that some of you think that this is the sunset, I promise you, this is the beginning. This is the caterpillar that's going to become the beautiful butterfly. We've seen plans for the future, and it will blow your mind."

On Gene Simmons, the bass player:

Singer: "Gene is a great bass player. I've played with a lot of great musicians, and Gene is as solid as a rock. He doesn't speed up; he doesn't slow down… Gene's very creative and melodic. Listen to 'Goin' Blind' as a good example. Gene is so easy to play with, it's, like, effortless. It's an interaction [between drummers and bassists] — sometimes you fight each other, [but] I don't fight when I play with Gene. It's very, very easy."

Stanley: "I have to say, I don't think that Gene ever gets his due because Gene loves doing shtick. All that Gene does as far as his personality and the things he says, somehow gets in the way of certain people listening and going, 'He's a fantastic bass player.'"

On whether the band will record any new music to accompany their upcoming "biopic" "Shout It Out Loud" or their in-development avatar show:

Stanley: "There may be some music in the works. We like to tell you what we're doing, the things that are planned. The problem is that so much of what we may bring up never comes to fruition, [but] music, yeah, that looks pretty damn… more than possible. Probable. I'm not going to give you any hints, but I only write when there's a project — and I've been writing."

On whether Simmons would do anything differently if given the opportunity:

Simmons: "If I have any regrets, it's that I sometimes — and I think we all go through this — wish we were smarter and better at trying to help Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] have better lives. All of us are guilty of it, and so am I — 'I don't want to start an argument. Let's just continue doing the tour,' because you want to get through it for selfish reasons because it's working and the chicks and the money and [so on], and you don't want to ruin anything. [In the] meantime, somebody who might be your brother is ruining their life by bad decisions. I think this goes to your friends, your lovers, your family members — I wish I would have practiced more tough love and been more in the face of people that we cared about… Tough love is a good idea in my opinion with your children, with the people you love, with the people you care about, with the people you work with. It's not going to be a popular thing — you're going to argue about it — but in the long run, you're going to be helping that person hopefully change their life."

On persisting during comparatively lean years following the band's commercial peak in the late 1970s:

Stanley: "I think the key — at least [for] my view of success with the band – was pragmatism. You have to prioritize what's important to you. If some people aren't doing their job or holding their weight, or people are AWOL [or] not around, that's true, but what matters to you? What mattered to me was KISS, and if somebody wasn't bailing water and the ship was sinking – and it took on a lot of water at different times — I just worked that much harder, because I love the band, and the most important thing to me was to see the band survive… It's a matter of having a clear vision of what you want and what it takes to get there, and what's important to you. That's really what I guess I've brought to the band consistently — the idea that I don't want the band to die."

On whether the band ever considered calling it quits:

Stanley: "Never. We did a tour where literally, we wouldn't have this many people [referring to the size of the crowd in the 4,000-capacity Theater at Virgin Hotels] in an arena, and it was miserable. It was miserable to go out on stage, and at that time, really it came down to, 'Do we go out there and take our frustration out on the people who were there who paid?', or 'Do we work that much harder so that those people would go home and tell other people what they missed?' I remember doing an interview, and a journalist said to me — they can be pretty unkind, and they can forget that you are actually people — 'How's it feel to be on the Titanic?' I remember thinking, 'Nobody [else] is going to decide when this is over,' and that's enough of a reason for it to continue — to show those pricks that we decide how long this is going to go on. There are people who after last night's show are going, 'Oh, they said they weren't coming back,' and, 'Why are they doing this?' Those are the people who never wanted us around in the first place. We're not here for them."

On whether the band will play more shows in the future:

Stanley: "We haven't talked about it. We're really proud of what we did last night. We were no different than we expected. We know what we're capable of, and it was great. What we'll do at this point? I have no idea."

Two years after the completion of their five-year, 250-date "End Of The Road" farewell tour with two shows at New York City's Madison Square Garden, KISS returned to the stage at their "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas" event, which was held at the Virgin Hotels resort and casino complex in Las Vegas. After an hourlong acoustic performance on November 14, the band played an 85-minute set — their first "unmasked" electric concert on land in 30 years — the following night, where they were joined by former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick on two songs ("Lick It Up" and "Rock And Roll All Nite").

Fans of Vinnie Paul Abbott can order three unique dishes straight out of the PANTERA, HELLYEAH and DAMAGEPLAN drummer's cookbook throughout this holiday season at the historic Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood, California.

Published posthumously in March 2025, the book is an exact version of Vinnie's recipes that he had cooked for friends and family for many years before his passing. Now, his epic BBQ Sauced Cheese Burger, Texas Style Cheese Steak Sammich and Lemon Pepper Wings are yours to feast on, thanks to the Rainbow — one of Vinnie's all-time favorite spots — and cookbook publisher Z2.

Vinnie Paul continues to be one of the most beloved personalities in the history of metal and now his legacy can fill both our hearts and bellies with the perfect companion for your summer barbecue, "Drumming Up An Appetite With Vinnie Paul", available from Z2. The book commemorates the memory of Vinnie's legendary Sunday Funday dinners with this epicurean collection of his favorite family recipes. Opening with a foreword by comedian and friend Carrot Top, the book is broken into three chapters — main courses (Reinventing The Meal),side dishes (Far Beyond Kitchen) and of course, desserts (A Vulgar Display Of Flour)!

The book, as well as the cover art by Erik Rodriguez, was a lifelong dream of Vinnie Paul's, who said in 2016: "My cookbook will be called 'Drumming Up An Appetite With Vinnie Paul'. How clever is that? It's got a picture of me sitting behind the drum set. I'm holding two big, old turkey legs; those are otherwise known as drumsticks. And it's got a lot of really cool recipes that I came up with on my own; a lot of them my mom taught me when I was growing up; and just a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor, and it's just a lot of fun. It's not real serious."

Vinnie added: "A lot of people think cooking is throwing something in the microwave. It's really not. There's a passion to it. It's like playing music. If you love doing it, you really put everything you've got into it and want it to be special, and that's what we do."

The recipes are captured through the photography of Justin Borucki, with illustrations by Danny Hellman, Steve Chanks and Rob Schwager. The book is rounded out by an afterword from Vinnie's best friend and personal assistant Brian "Bridog" Jones who added: "Vinnie's BBQ action was most definitely not your average lineup. Whether it be at his Texas or Vegas casas, or on the road prepping and cooking for all the bands and crew and even the local venue personnel, his spread was legendary! Lots of very hard work from myself and many others made this book possible. Vinnie's recipes are now being offered to the world!"

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the drummer's seat! Vinnie Paul, beloved drummer best known for his tasty rhythms in PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN and HELLYEAH, had another passion that fueled his days — incredible eats and delicious treats! He began writing this book over 15 years ago, this book contains his favorite recipes, written by Vinnie before his passing, and Z2 is honored to present them so that the cooking hostile tradition is carried on.

Through the loving support of his family and estate, the joy of Vinnie Paul's spirit towards cooking lives on through these dishes. Now, getcha' apron on!

Josh Bernstein, president of Z2 and longtime friend/collaborator of Vinnie Paul, said: "Vinnie Paul's passion for life, music and tasty food was immeasurable. Being able to publish this cookbook for Vinnie, Bridog and his family fulfills a promise I made to him during his lifetime and we hope his recipes, stories and passion fills no hearts and stomachs for years to come."

"Drumming Up An Appetite With Vinnie Paul" is available in hardcover via Z2 for a list price of $29.99 (ISBN: 9798886561234).

There is a deluxe edition available at the Z2online store, featuring one (1) hardcover mass market edition, one (1) butcher-paper protective dust jacket, one (1) Vinnie Paul "Cooking Hostile" apron, one (1) Vinnie Paul "Hellyeah!!!" 25-piece napkin set, one (1) Hellyeah University Vinnie Paul Cooking Diploma available for $79.99. There were also limited amounts of the Vinnie Paul "Cooking Hostile" aprons available for $34.99.

Vinnie Paul died in June 2018 at his home in Las Vegas of dilated cardiomyopathy — an enlarged heart — as well as severe coronary artery disease, a heart condition. Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg said Vinnie died of natural causes.

Vinnie Paul's brother "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was shot and killed in December 2004 onstage in Columbus, Ohio by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts. At the time, Dimebag was performing with DAMAGEPLAN, the band he and Vinnie Paul formed after PANTERA broke up in 2003.

According to TMZ, Vinnie Paul left the bulk of his estate to his longtime girlfriend Chelsey Yeager and his best friend; Jones got 38% while Chelsey walked away with 37%. The rest was split between Vinnie's tour manager (10%),drum tech (5%),producer (5%) and friend (5%). In addition, Vinnie gave his interest in Dimebag's estate to the guitarist's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney.

A public memorial for Vinnie Paul was held on July 1, 2018 at Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas.

Before his death, Vinnie recorded the drum tracks for HELLYEAH's latest album, "Welcome Home", which arrived in September 2019.

“We are giving up music and branching out to food delivery,” jokes David Ingram, vocalist for British death metal band, Benediction.

Coming soon, in celebration of the birthplace for heavy metal, SatanicHotSauce.com and Benediction presents, Sweet Ravage Reserve. Pre-orders now available, release date TBD.

A hot sauce which is a true love letter to Birmingham, England… the birthplace of heavy metal.



Sweet Ravage Reserve hot sauce has the sweet fruitiness reminiscent of the city’s market stalls, the spices of its various restaurants, and the hot peppers smoked as a hat tip to Birmingham’s industrial legacy.

It is a smoky, savory, and sweet hot sauce with a nice punch to the face!

Canadian rockers Toque – featuring Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz – both of whom play in Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators – along with Cory Churko (Shania Twain) and Shane Gaalaas (Michael Schneker Group) – are proud to announce their very own & uniquely made Beer!

Introducing Never Enough Beer.

“Thanks to our friends Rebellion Brewing Co in Regina, SK. This Lager / Cerveza is fresh, crisp, and flavorful. Perfect for a night of Rock n Roll and just tipping a few with friends.”

Never Enough Beer is hitting shelves now in Saskatchewan. For delivery this week (locations):

Regina – Rebellion Brewing Tap Room
Melfort – Liquor Loft
Saskatoon – 8th St Co-op Liquor
Saskatoon – Sobeys Liquor Stonebridge
Tisdale – Sobeys Liquor
Warman – Maverick Liquor

Next Week:

Estevan – Ice Factory Days Inn

Week of November 24:

Moose Jaw – Urban Cellars
Moose Jaw – Sobeys Liquor
Yorkton – Legacy Coop
Yorkton – CO-OP Broadway St

More stores to come. For distribution inquiries contact: orders@rebellionbrewing.ca
*Enjoy Responsibly*

In a new interview with ProMark Drumsticks, DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy spoke about what it has been like for him to play with the progressive metal giants again after a 13-year absence. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " I reunited with DREAM THEATER at the end of 2023. We immediately went into the studio and began work on a new album. So we spent most of 2024 in the studio making the album 'Parasomnia', which is now out. October '24, we kicked off our 40th anniversary world tour. At the time of this filming, we've already been around the world celebrating the band's 40th anniversary.

"Being back with the band after all this time has been very emotional," Portnoy added. "Each and every show on tour, you just feel the love and the support, the emotions in the audience. Everybody's just been so happy to see this lineup together. It's been a great, great experience getting to play once again with this band for so many great fans all around the world."

Regarding the challenges of performing material that he hadn't played in so long, Portnoy said: "Those early DREAM THEATER songs, some of those albums go back more than 30 years at this point, but it's so embedded in my being. So there's a lot to be said for muscle memory. Everything was still there. I still have that same inspiration and spirit playing these songs as I did 30-plus years ago when we wrote them and recorded them for the first time. Having not played those songs for a decade and a half at this point has just reinvigorated my inspiration. It's inspiring to be playing these songs again after all this time."

On the topic of how differently he is approaching playing the older DREAM THEATER songs, Portnoy said: "I haven't changed much. I mean, the parts are the same. They're just in there for life. Even the very first rehearsals for the tour, I came in and just immediately it felt comfortable, like no time had passed.

"It's been fun playing the songs that I didn't record with DREAM THEATER," Portnoy explained. "They obviously made a lot of albums with [now-former DREAM THEATER drummer] Mike Mangini while I was gone. Luckily, the guys in the band gave me full freedom to kind of approach 'em how I'd like. I'm pretty faithful to his parts, for the most part, but there are moments here and there that it's, like, 'Oh, I don't know if I would've played that.' So playing those songs has been a lot of fun, to be honest, 'cause it's something very fresh for me."

This past February, Portnoy was asked by The Metal Voice how he felt about performing the song "Barstool Warrior" during the band's 40th-anniversary tour even though the track was originally written and recorded with ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini. Portnoy said: "Well, it was important to me for that to be included, believe it or not. I'm the one that writes the setlist, and these guys gave me full-on freedom when it came to the Mangini-era material. I knew it had to be represented. You can't just brush away five albums from these guys' career because I'm back; it would have been pretty selfish and disrespectful. So, yeah, to me, it wasn't even considered to not be playing that material. And like I said, they gave me the freedom to pick and choose songs that I could relate to and be comfortable with. And, yeah, I think if you didn't know any differently when you come see the live show, it sits right in the middle of the set very comfortably with everything else that is part of my catalog. But I'm used to playing other drummers' material… I don't think [IRON MAIDEN singer] Bruce [Dickinson] ever does Blaze [Bayley-era MAIDEN] tunes, or very rarely. And I know [JUDAS PRIEST's] Rob Halford doesn't do Ripper [-era PRIEST] tunes. And I know David Lee Roth won't do Sammy Hagar[-era VAN HALEN] tunes. So, yeah, not all bands are as open to it."

Asked what he thinks are the main differences between his drumming style and that of Mangini, Portnoy said: "He is very methodical. He's very conscious of what all four limbs are doing and the way he utilizes his independence. I'm not that kind of a drummer. I've never been a guy that sits there and studies technique and the correct way to hold a stick, and all that kind of stuff. I go on feel, and to me, I try to make difficult music sound easy. I think he has the tendency to make something that could be easy sound difficult. And I'm not trying to insult him; I'm just merely observing the difference in styles. And he's the type that I think would play the same part exactly the same as it is on the album and do it consistently every night. I'm just not that kind of a drummer. I like to fly off the seat of my pants and be in the moment and do different things, just depending on how things are feeling."

DREAM THEATER's sixteenth studio album, "Parasomnia", came out on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. The LP marked DREAM THEATER's first release with Portnoy since 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings".

"Parasomnia" was produced by DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci, engineered by James "Jimmy T" Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returns once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.

Portnoy co-founded DREAM THEATER in 1985 with Petrucci and bassist John Myung. Mike played on 10 DREAM THEATER albums over a 20-year period, from 1989's "When Dream And Day Unite" through 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", before exiting the group in 2010.

Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Portnoy. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".

Portnoy attended DREAM THEATER's concert in March 2022 at Beacon Theatre in New York City. It was the first time he witnessed his then-former bandmates perform live since his exit from the iconic progressive metal outfit 12 years earlier.

Two months after the aforementioned Beacon Theatre concert, Portnoy told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about what it was like to see another drummer play his parts live with DREAM THEATER: "I've always been the type of drummer that just flies [by] the seat of my pants in the moment. Even with my own drum parts, I don't necessarily stick to them faithfully from show to show, whereas Mangini obviously really studied the drum parts and they had everything programmed out. They're all about the precision, and that's surely their thing. And yeah, he killed it. There's no doubt he's an amazing drummer and he plays my parts incredibly faithfully."

Portnoy continued: "I feel bad for him. He and I joked about it. He's in a horrible situation where he's damned if he does and he's damned if he doesn't. He expressed that frustration to me, and I feel for him; it's definitely a weird position to be put into. I kind of had it a little bit when I played with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and TWISTED SISTER, coming into the throne of two drummers that have passed away, and I tried to learn those parts as faithfully as I could. When I had a hired-gun gig like that, I spent a lot of attention trying to honor the drummer that came before me — it's important. I don't wanna go into a gig like either of those and try to force my style on to it."

Ian Gillan says DEEP PURPLE's retirement is "not far off", partly as a result of his growing vision problems.

The 80-year-old singer, who is still actively touring with DEEP PURPLE, with more than a dozen shows in Europe and Japan already scheduled for 2026, told Uncut magazine that is unsure how much longer he and his bandmates will be able to keep performing live.

"It's one of those things," he said. "I've only got 30 percent vision. That won't get better. It makes life mysterious. The hardest thing is working on my laptop. I can't see anything on the screen unless I use my peripheral vision; I pick up a line by looking at it sideways. But you find a way. You adapt. But it's achingly tiresome. It takes a long time to do the work."

Ian went on to say that he is grateful he still has his sense of humor.

"It's hilarious this growing old thing. It's a laugh a minute," Gillan said. "Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. I walk down the road and hear something drop off — clang, there's something else gone. Nothing's changed really apart from I can't pole vault any more. Other than that, things move a little more slowly. But nothing's changed."

Contemplating the possibility of retirement, Gillan said: "I think if I lose my energy I'm going to stop. I don't want to be an embarrassment to anyone. We're not far off that. It creeps up on you — you don't really notice."

In August 2024, Gillan was asked by SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" if retirement was out of the vocabulary for him and his DEEP PURPLE bandmates, more than eight years after they launched "The Long Goodbye" tour. He responded: "I think it is. That was a joke, actually, because it was the promoters. And someone said, 'We've gotta sell some more tickets.' And it's the good old standby, the farewell tour. So I said, Okay, we'll call it 'goodbye' tour, but let's call it 'the long goodbye', and let's make the emphasis on the word 'long',' so it's kind of an enigmatic phrase."

He continued: "There's no intention to stop. At the moment… I spoke to my manager the other day. I've got some solo project. He said, 'You're gonna have to put 'em back,' and I'm putting them back years. We're already booked to the end of '26, in the planning stage, in the diary, with all the projects we've got for DEEP PURPLE. So, yeah, years to come, hopefully."

Earlier in August 2024, Gillan was asked by Ultimate Classic Rock how close the end of the road — and, perhaps, DEEP PUPRLE — feels to him, the singer responded: "As soon as you start feeling unable to deliver at that level — of course, you adjust, of course, you adapt and make do the best you can. But when the energy level goes, that's time to stop because then it gets embarrassing and nobody wants that. But so far, so good."

In December 2023, DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice, who turned 77 in June, was asked by Zoom when he and his bandmates will eventually retire from performing live. He responded: "We have never planned a date to stop working. We are realists. The guys are getting older, and there's gonna come a point where maybe one or two of us don't want to do it anymore or [it's] not physically possible for them to do it. But we don't think about that. We're still having a great deal of fun. A lot of people still enjoy what we do, and so long as those two things stay in harmony, we'll continue.

"I don't think we'll ever know what the last gig, what the last tour is," he continued. "I think it'll come and just smack us in the face. Unless there's a definite plan, which there isn't, to do something as a final bye-bye, I just think we'll just go, 'Sorry, guys. We're finished. We can't do it anymore. It's been wonderful.' But even then, I think if we stopped touring, there's no reason why we couldn't make more records. That's the easiest thing in the world. All you've got to do is have the ideas. That's the hardest thing in the world. But physically making a record is easy."

Paice added: "Touring only works if you enjoy it. You can't just enjoy the two hours a night when you're playing. You've got to be able to deal with the whole thing. You've got to be able to deal with a ten-hour flight, a hotel which is less than perfect, transportation which goes wrong. You've gotta deal with all that. And if you can, and still enjoy it, then why would you stop something that you got into as a kid 'cause it made you happy? And if it still makes you happy, why would you stop it?"

Paice's PURPLE bandmate Roger Glover expressed a similar sentiment about the band's final tour in a June 2023 interview with Rock Hard Greece. The bassist, who will turn 80 later this month, said: "I don't like the idea of announcing the last show: 'And here they are. This is their last show.' I mean, the stress involved in that would be ridiculous. Where would it be? When would it be? For me, the ideal ending for PURPLE is that we just carry on until it stops. No announcement. We're not gonna announce, 'This is the last one.' People would buy tickets: 'Oh, this is the last one.' It's an exercise in making money. It's not very good. I've never liked it. I'd rather go and play and play and play and play, and one day when something happens and one of us drops dead or gets really ill or whatever, [we say], 'Well, that's that.' And leave it at that."

In 2022, DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Don Airey, who turned 77 in June, told Rolling Stone magazine that there was no concrete plan for him and his DEEP PURPLE bandmates to stop playing live shows.

"We started the farewell tour in 2017. It was due to end in 2019," he noted. "But the thing is, when you're a musician in a band, you think you're in control of it, but you're not. The business is running you.

"Of course, there was so much demand for the band to continue from the promoters and agents that we said, 'Okay, we'll do one more year.'"

Regarding when he thinks DEEP PURPLE will finally call it quits, Don said: "The words of T.S. Eliot [the greatest English-language poet of his generation] come to mind: 'This is the way the band ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.' I think we won't know it's the last gig. We won't have a clue that this one is going to be the last one. That's how it's going to end. It's going to be no big scenario.

"I like what Buddy Guy said. He said, 'Musicians don't retire. They drop.' You do have thoughts about being in the garden and bouncing the grandchildren on your knee, but it's part of your blood system, playing and touring. It's an addiction. I hope I keep playing for a while yet."

In July 2022, guitarist Steve Morse officially left PURPLE to care for his wife, Janine, who was battling cancer. He has since been replaced by Simon McBride.

DEEP PURPLE's latest album, "=1", came out in July 2024 via earMUSIC.

Following the October premiere of their furious comeback single, "Echoes", which introduced AS I LAY DYING's powerhouse new lineup, the band has now dropped a second strike: the triumphant, ferocious "If I Fall". The melodic epic tears forward with breakneck speed, fiery guitar leads and earnest, introspective lyricism by frontman Tim Lambesis — the essence of what AS I LAY DYING fans have championed for more than two decades.

The bludgeoning new track arrives alongside a dark, performance-driven official music video, premiering on YouTube at 12:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CET today.

Lambesis comments: "I wrote the first version of 'If I Fall' before the new lineup even came together, and I knew the song had real potential. As each musician joined the process, that potential only grew — everyone brought something that elevated what I'd already started. Musically it hints at what's possible with this refreshed energy, and lyrically it reflects the kind of people I want around me for this next and best chapter."

"Echoes" and "If I Fall" mark the debut of a dynamic new AS I LAY DYING lineup, bringing together seasoned talent and fresh energy:

Tim Lambesis - Vocals
Chris Clancy - Bass, Clean Vocals
Bill Hudson - Guitar
Don Vedda - Guitar
Tim Yeung – Drums

Lambesis previously commented: "As the only primary songwriter on every AS I LAY DYING album, I'm always going to a find a path forward for this catalog of music that I'm so passionate about. But sometimes things come together even better than expected. I'm incredibly grateful for my new bandmates. In addition to being incredibly talented, they genuinely care about my well being and the band we are now all a part of."

Hudson added: "Tim L and I first met almost 20 years ago and I've been in multiple bands with Tim Y. It's an honor to be a part of the new chapter of AS I LAY DYING. What a great way to get together and play with so many friends of 15+ years at the same time!"

Clancy said: "Excited to finally share this new chapter. Check out the music video for 'Echoes'. Proud of what we've created together. Hope you enjoy it."

This new formation infuses the band with renewed vitality and artistic momentum. Each member brings a unique voice and refined musicianship, helping to craft a sound that's both familiar and forward-thinking, rooted in legacy, but boldly reaching into new territory.

AS I LAY DYING recently kicked off a European tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's landmark album "Shadows Are Security".

Over the past seven years, AS I LAY DYING has gone through a series of lineup changes that have left Lambesis as the only remaining founding member.

Late last year, four members of AS I LAY DYING separately announced that they were leaving the band: longtime guitarist Phil Sgrosso, drummer Nick Pierce, guitarist Ken Susi and bassist/vocalist Ryan Neff.

Sgrosso announced his departure from AS I LAY DYING on October 30, 2024. His exit came just six days after Pierce and Susi left the group, and 12 days after Neff said he was also leaving the band.

AS I LAY DYING's 2024 European tour, "Through Storms Ahead", which was scheduled to kick off on November 15, 2024 in Würzburg, Germany, was eventually canceled. TuskaLive and Grey Beard, the promoters of the Helsinki, Finland concert on the trek, which was supposed to take place on November 21, 2024 at Kulttuuritalo, wrote in a social media post that the tour would "not be rescheduled."

This past January, home security camera footage was leaked in which Lambesis was seen appearing to hit and kick his own dog out of frustration.

In November 2024, a series of videos were leaked that showed Lambesis having violent outbursts while around his third wife in their home. Lambesis later released a statement saying he had filed a restraining order against his wife and accusing her of subjecting him to physical and mental abuse for three years.

Lambesis was famously convicted in 2014 for his role in a murder-for-hire plot against his estranged first wife.

In May 2014, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in jail after pleading guilty to paying a San Diego police officer posing as a hitman $1,000 to kill his wife. Approximately two and a half years later — on December 17, 2016 — he was discharged from a California detention facility and was transferred to the Division of Adult Parole Operations.

This past April, Susi claimed during an appearance on the "BREWtally Speaking" podcast that Lambesis used his incarceration to formulate "this almost-reality TV persona for his fanbase of him portraying himself as his man of redemption or rehabilitation."

In June 2018, AS I LAY DYING played its first show with Lambesis in five years and released a new single. Lambesis also owned up to his crimes in a long apology on the band's Facebook page after his release.

The return of AS I LAY DYING raised some questions, particularly since guitarist Nick Hipa categorically denounced the band's disgraced frontman as a "sociopathic narcissist in definite need of rehabilitation" in a social-media post back in 2014.

Photo credit: Tom Flynn