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

Rock and roll history is set to be immortalized as The Royal Mint unveils a U.K. coin to celebrate one of the greatest showmen of all time, Freddie Mercury — an extraordinary tribute to the rock icon whose voice and showmanship defined generations.

The collectible coin captures Mercury mid-performance at the height of his powers, showcasing the flamboyant frontman in full flow with his signature inscribed alongside his portrait. The design's intricate details tell the story of Mercury's extraordinary talent through carefully crafted design elements.

Freddie's legendary four-octave vocal range is represented by a musical stave that runs around the edge of the coin, spanning from bass to treble notes. The studded armband edge design draws inspiration from his iconic Live Aid performance outfit, a fitting tribute to what many consider the greatest rock performance of all time. A selection of the coins will also feature color, bringing Freddie's iconic yellow jacket to life on the coin design and capturing the vibrant energy that made him such a magnetic stage presence.

This celebration comes at a particularly poignant time, commemorating the 40th anniversary of QUEEN's show-stealing performance at Live Aid in July 1985 and also the 40th anniversary of Freddie's first solo studio album, "Mr Bad Guy", released the same year, reminding fans of his versatility as both a QUEEN member and solo artist who pushed creative boundaries throughout his career.

In a special moment that brought the coin's creation full circle, Freddie Mercury's sister, Kashmira Bulsara, visited The Royal Mint to strike the very first coin herself, making her an integral part of this historic tribute to her brother's legacy.

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said: "Having Kashmira visit us to strike the first Freddie Mercury coin was incredibly moving and made this project even more special. Freddie Mercury wasn't just a musician; he was a force of nature who transformed every stage he stepped onto. This coin captures that electric energy and celebrates a truly global icon whose influence continues to inspire generations. The level of detail in this design, from his signature to the musical stave representing his incredible vocal range, makes this one of our most special commemorative pieces."

Kashmira Bulsara, Freddie Mercury's sister, commented: "Striking the first coin at The Royal Mint was such an emotional and proud moment for me. Freddie would have been absolutely delighted to see himself honored in this way and to know that his family was part of bringing this tribute to life."

Kashmira added, "He always had such respect for British traditions and institutions, and to have The Royal Mint celebrate his legacy with such beautiful artistry would have meant the world to him. The coin perfectly captures his passion and the joy he brought to millions through his music."

The Freddie Mercury collectible coin continues The Royal Mint's tradition of celebrating British cultural icons who have left an indelible mark on the world stage. From his early days with QUEEN through to his final performances, Mercury's legacy as one of Britain's greatest entertainers is now preserved forever on an official U.K. coin.

In a fitting tribute to Mercury's philanthropic legacy, The Royal Mint will also gift a special gold proof version of the coin to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity founded in his memory. The charity will auction this unique piece in the coming months, continuing Mercury's mission to support those affected by HIV and AIDS.

Freddie Mercury is the latest music artist to form part of The Royal Mint's ongoing "Music Legends" coin series, celebrating the greatest singer and songwriters in British history. Mercury follows the likes of David Bowie, George Michael, Shirley Bassey and Paul McCartney in being honored on their very own U.K. coin. The Music Legends coin series has proved hugely popular with collectors and music fans, delivering nearly half a million coins to enthusiasts in 108 countries around the world.

The collection is available from 9 a.m. on November 18, with prices starting from £18.50.

For more information and to purchase from The Royal Mint, visit www.royalmint.com.

When it comes to music legends, Freddie Mercury is an undisputed name in the industry.

An iconic figure in music...

Posted by The Royal Mint on Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Hard-rocking quintet TYKETTO will release its sixth studio album, "Closer To The Sun", on March 20, 2026. The band, consisting of Danny Vaughn (vocals),Harry Scott Elliott (guitar),Ged Rylands (keyboards),Chris Childs (bass) and Johnny Dee (drums),will make the LP available via British rock specialist label Silver Lining Music, which is home to the likes of EUROPE, URIAH HEEP, SAXON, Michael Monroe, SOEN and DIAMOND HEAD, to name a few.

The first video and single taken from "Closer To The Sun", "Higher Than High" is a burst of swing and swagger that perfectly captures TYKETTO's deep appreciation for the emancipation that music can bring. That spirit rings out unmistakably as vocalist and founding member Danny Vaughn roars: "In the space you can learn to heal / There is music that helps you feel / Higher than high".

"'Higher Than High' is, in my estimation, classic TYKETTO, where difficulties in life are seen and named but hope and, more importantly, music, is the thing that gets us through," comments Vaughn. "It's the first single from our new album which we think is going to be a real favorite with the fans. The song and the album say 'play me loudly and take me for a drive.'"

The "Higher Than High" video was filmed by Paul Hollingsworth at KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom and was directed and edited by Scott Wardell.

Throughout "Closer To The Sun", TYKETTO speaks to the listener about true life loves, losses and pleasures. From the title track's triumphant, anthemic appreciation of love's power, to the punchy rawness built to make fists rise and hearts race of "Hit Me Where It Hurts", to the power balladry of "The Picture", TYKETTO continues to confidently stride the same musical terrain as the likes of WHITESNAKE and AEROSMITH, with the added bonus of being fresh to the ears of many.

"Closer To The Sun" was recorded across multiple studios in Europe, including Flip Flop Studios and the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales.

In support of the album's release, TYKETTO has already announced a string of dates for 2026, kicking off at Planet Rock's Winter's End festival in Porthcawl, Wales — and with a full U.K. tour set for the spring and European shows to be revealed soon, fans should keep their eyes peeled for what's coming next.

"Closer To The Sun" track listing:

01. Higher Than High
02. Starts With A Feeling
03. Bad For Good
04. We Rise
05. Donnowhuddidis
06. Closer To The Sun
07. Harleys & Indians (Riders In The Sky)*
08. Hit Me Where It Hurts
09. The Picture
10. Far And Away
11. The Brave

* Not included on vinyl formats

"I was pleasantly shocked when Danny and the band put pen to paper," said Silver Lining owner Thomas Jensen. "We're talking about a really wonderful band in terms of sheer songwriting quality and live delivery, and if I'm honest, one which probably didn't get the credit it deserves. We're all glad to be part of a team determined to shift that needle!"

Vaughn added: "Many years of hard work ground to a complete halt when COVID first hit us all, and it was really touch and go as to whether or not TYKETTO would continue. Since our return in 2023, the band has been on a steady upward trajectory, with more fans coming out to see and support us than ever before. This fantastic upward rise has now culminated in our signing a brand-new record deal with Silver Lining Music, who have already shown not only love and support for us, but also a real understanding for our personal relationship with our fans. The end result of all of this is an album that TYKETTO fans are going to absolutely fall in love with. For TYKETTO, these are the best of times!"

This past August, Vaughn told Euro Weekly News about "Closer To The Sun": "I'm buzzing about our new album — it's going to be a fan favorite. We just finished mastering it, and it drops in March. A tour is planned, along with some big festivals."

In late 2024, Vaughn told Myglobalmind about the TYKETTO songwriting process: "It's a team effort in that everybody is submitting music to me, and I'm just keeping it all in files. I get to decide what's TYKETTO and what isn't. I tend to want to be the guy that always does the lyrics and melody because I have to believe in what I'm singing. Harry has submitted some loose lyrical ideas, and I've thought, 'Oh, I can work with this.' It's not really a question of arrogance; it's just that I'm the vehicle that these songs have to get through, so I need to understand or believe in what I'm singing."

Press photo courtesy of TAG Publicity / Silver Lining Music

November 14 marked the 30th anniversary of the iconic, globally influential and genre-defining masterpiece that is AT THE GATES' "Slaughter Of The Soul". Sadly, the voice behind the timeless classic did not make it to see the anniversary, as AT THE GATES frontman Tomas "Tompa" Lindberg passed away from cancer on September 16. As a small token of appreciation for the legendary legacy of both Tompa and the album, fans are hereby invited to a night in his honor on December 6 at Monument 031 in Gothenburg, Sweden, where all ticket sales will go directly to Cancerfonden and the Gardens Of Grief fund set up there by Elis Markskog of Malmö Massacre.

A very special lineup of friends — DARK TRANQUILLITY, THE CROWN and THE HALO EFFECT — will take the stage to perform, honoring the influence of the iconic sound Tompa helped form, and celebrate the life of one of the best to ever have done it.

Please note: this is a celebration of Lindberg's legacy — not full-set concerts. The aim is to gather friends, fans and family alike and celebrate the music and honor their friend.

In a recent interview with Luisina Reynoso of Argentina's Cuero Y Metal, DARK TRANQUILLITY and THE HALO EFECT frontman Mikael Stanne spoke about Lindberg's death. Asked what Tomas meant to the metal scene in Gothenburg, Sweden, Stanne said: "We kind of grew up in the same part of town; he was a very close neighbor to me. And he was two years older, and he had a lot of experience. He started in the metal scene early. He had a fanzine. He had a band when he was 15. And he was just such a dedicated and passionate music fan, and it was really contagious. The way that he spoke about music and the way that he thought about music and kind of lived through music was infectious. Everybody around him kind of started to feel the same way, and he loved to kind of spread the music that he loved. So we spent a lot of time just at home in his room listening to demos and cassettes and live tapes and things that he got through his fanzine or that he would collect or buy from all over the world. And I was a collector as well, and we bonded over that."

Stanne continued: "He had GROTESQUE, his first band, and it was this insane black metal band. And I went to see them all the time. And I couldn't believe it because he was such a nice, gentle, very courteous and well-mannered, soft-spoken guy, but on stage he was an absolute beast. And it was pentagrams and inverted crosses and blood and skulls and shit, and it was the coolest thing in the world. And I was 15, 16, as I went to these shows, and it was the coolest thing in the world. And, of course, once AT THE GATES started, that inspired us a lot, but I think in general he was kind of the hub that we all gathered around. The metal community was small but very, very passionate at the time."

Stanne added: "There was this bus line that went from the suburb where we lived to the city, and me and Tompa got on the first stop, then the next stop was Anders Fridén and the other guys from DARK TRANQUILLITY. Two more stops and there was the guys from TIAMAT and Peter Iwers from IN FLAMES. And two more stops was Anders and Jonas [Björler] from AT THE GATES. And then we were in town. And then we would sit in a park with a tape recorder and listen to music and drink beer, basically. That's how we grew up and how we all became friends and how this scene kind of started and how the Gothenburg metal scene started to come alive. And he was the kind of hub that brought people together because his passion and his kind of serious… He took it very seriously. This music should be serious, even though it was all about very random stuff, like anything from grisly death metal, like AUTOPSY or political punk or whatever, he was into it and he took it seriously. And so did we, because of him. And he started working at the local record store and he would always recommend stuff. And then I started working there as well. And it was just one of those things that he inspired and encouraged. And, of course, we always went to their rehearsal room, and then we had rehearsal rooms next to each other for years, so we were hanging out in each other's rooms and talk about music, listen to whatever new songs, they were cooking and while we were writing. And it was the same for all the bands in Gothenburg. And then, of course, the way that he was on stage and the way he sang was also for me, as a wannabe singer at the time, that's everything I wanted. Even though at the time it was just black metal, but it was deadly serious, and it was incredible to see how into it he was, and that inspired me to become a vocalist as well. And then, of course, in the last 20 years or so, it's been something else. We've just been friends going to shows together and going out to drink together and hanging out, but he's always been an incredibly important part of the Swedish metal scene, because he everybody knows him and he knows everybody. It's that simple."

Referencing the fact that Tomas died after being diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC),a rare, slow-growing but aggressive cancer that typically develops in the salivary glands, particularly the minor salivary glands of the head and neck, Mikael said: "Of course I've known that he was sick for years, or a year and a half, and so it's been really difficult to kind of live with that and knowing that the worst might happen. But we always kind of remained very hopeful and positive up until the end. So, yeah, it's been really difficult, but, fortunately, all of his friends are also my friends, of course. And so it's been a good community to kind of talk to and hang out with them. We have a lot of kind of gatherings planned that we can just sit and talk about him and kind of remember the good stuff."

Stanne previously spoke about Lindberg this past September in an interview with Chile's PowerOfMetal.cl. Mikael said at the time: "I met [Tomas] when I was 14. I went with a friend to their rehearsal room in the basement of Kristian Wåhlin, [also known as] Necrolord, who's the cover painter for [DARK TRANQUILLITY's] 'The Gallery' [album], for instance. And they were rehearsing with GROTESQUE that later became [AT THE GATES], or before [they formed] AT THE GATES. And it blew me away. I saw a band that played music live in a basement. And I'd never seen that before. And it was crazy, insane black metal stuff. And I was so inspired by it and kind of awestruck by it. And so we started hanging out, and Tomas showed me tons of music that he had found through his fanzine and through his kind of tape-trading and record collecting. And yeah, we became instant friends, and [we'd been friends] since then."

Mikael continued: "More than anything, I think Tompa really inspired the scene, because he was kind of that central figure for everything that kind of went on in Gothenburg at the time. He was so passionate about it, and he was so into it, and he knew every band, and he knew about everything that was going on in the scene. So, if you needed anything, if you had any questions or you wanted to know something, or you wanted to kind of be inspired, you just go to him. And he was always there. So without him, there would be no Gothenburg death metal scene; that's just a fact. [With] his kind of integrity, he took this music very incredibly serious. And when I kind of discovered extreme metal through bands like KREATOR and CANNIBAL CORPSE, whatever it was, I was kind of, like, 'I don't know what this is. I love it, but I don't know if it's serious or not.' But he showed me that, 'No. Come on. This is serious.' There are some bands that take this very seriously, and there are lyrics that matter. It's not just horror movie stuff. And so when I started writing, I wanted it to matter and be serious and with serious issues or problems or what have you. And it's because of how he showed me what music could and should be. So, yeah, without him there would be no [Gothenburg] death metal scene. So we're eternally grateful. And I miss him like crazy."

Speaking about Tomas's death, Mikael said: "It's been a horrible two years knowing that he was struggling and kind of battling this disease. And everybody thought, of course, 'Yeah, it's gonna be fine. [He's] gonna power through [it].' But a couple months ago we realized that it's worse than we thought. And now this happened. And, yeah, it's devastating."

Lindberg received the diagnosis in December 2023, which led to a major surgery that removed a large portion of the roof of his mouth. He had also undergone radiation treatment and had been on a path to recovery, but then doctors found traces of the cancer in early 2025. In May 2025, an undisclosed "setback" placed Tomas in long-term care.

AT THE GATES released its definitive album, "Slaughter Of The Soul" — often regarded as one of the all-time greatest metal albums — on Earache in 1995, before touring the world and abruptly disbanding. Members of the band went on to play major roles in other notorious metal acts such as THE HAUNTED and CRADLE OF FILTH, before reforming in 2008, with Lindberg juggling his day job as a teacher with being a death metal frontman.

AT THE GATES' latest studio album, "The Nightmare Of Being", came out in 2021.

Lindberg revealed in a statement earlier this year that AT THE GATES recorded a new album before he underwent mouth surgery.

"The last version of the vocals, the ones that will end up on the album, were recorded in ONE day, mostly one takes, the DAY before the surgery, just to make sure we HAD the album, so to speak," the statement said. "So the vocals were actually recorded BEFORE the rest of the album.... a bit different, but it felt good to have it done."

In Memoriam Tompa Lindberg
December 6th
Gothenburg @ Monument 031

November 14th marked the 30 year anniversary of the...

Posted by TheCrownOfficial on Tuesday, November 18, 2025