Former BLACK FLAG frontman Henry Rollins spoke to CNN's John Berman about his friend Ozzy Osbourne, who died Tuesday (July 22) at the age of 76. Asked what he will remember most about the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer, Henry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'll remember his honesty and the fact that… I'm a kind of a pal of his and also a friend of his, and the man you saw on stage was the guy that you got; he was the same person. He was genuine. And that, to me, besides the immense talent, is his enduring quality."

Recalling his first interaction with Ozzy, Henry said: "We were in one of those severe athletic backstage environments when you play the big stadiums — narrow benches, lockers, and we're all just sitting there. 'Cause that's really not our scene; we're a much smaller band. And Ozzy comes barreling into the dressing room area. He says, 'Which one of you guys is Henry?' And he's, like, 'My name is Ozzy Osbourne, man. Welcome to the tour. Play the PA as loud as you want. Blow it up if you want to. Have a great time.' And he just kind of leaves in a trail of cigar smoke. I was, like, 'Wow, that was cool. I'll remember that for the rest of my life.' And we did two nights with Ozzy. And we just had a great time. He was great to us, great to me. I ended up talking with him quite a bit over the two shows. And I flew on the family jet, which was not my life, and he was just a great guy. And as I said, what you saw is what you got with that guy."

Asked about Ozzy's reputation as a wildman and how it fit with the man he knew, Henry said: "I think the fact that Ozzy might have found himself without his clothes wandering into the pool in a hotel in Tokyo at three in the morning — I'll never do that, and so he did that for me. I love that kind of behavior. It's not what I do, but when he did it, I just think it was incredibly cool. And so I think he's just a wild guy who meant no harm."

Rollins also touched upon the fact that Ozzy played his final concert less than three weeks before his death at Villa Park in BLACK SABBATH's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. He said: "I think it's immense. First off, the show was done in Birmingham where BLACK SABBATH comes from, so all the lucky people at the venue had that moment. And then the rest of us, we get to see it online, but you still get it. And the fact that he passed away so soon afterwards — this was not one of those things, 'Well, we'll do two nights in May.' There's not gonna be that opportunity, like next summer where you can't do it this fall. They did it, and then the man slipped away. And so the timing ends up being crazy.

"The four members of BLACK SABBATH — Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne — have been friends since before you and I have been alive, pretty much," Henry added. "And they got to be together, the four guys, one more time in front of fans who truly love them, and it's a love letter from the audience to the band and the band to the audience. And I don't think that could have gone better. It feels like two weeks later the man is gone. And to do it in your hometown, I just think it's — it's just perfect."

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

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

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

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

VIMIC has recruited Ash Pearson (3 INCHES OF BLOOD, REVOCATION, ZIMMERS HOLE) to sit behind the kit for the upcoming event reuniting the surviving members of the band and honoring Joey Jordison. Taking place in Los Angeles on October 3 at Teragram Ballroom, the Joey Jordison Charitable Fund-presented concert will not only honor Jordison's memory but also celebrate the release of the long-awaited VIMIC album. VIMIC will be supported by Wednesday 13 (who worked with Jordison in MURDERDOLLS) along with some very special guests.

VIMIC said: "We're bringing the heat for our album release show — and it doesn’t get heavier than this. Joining us behind the kit as the main drummer is none other than Ash Pearson — the beast behind the drums for 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, REVOCATION, and ZIMMERS HOLE. Ash brings the kind of intensity that levels stages — and we're stoked to have him bring it to VIMIC for this special night. Don't miss it. This one's going to be brutal."

Ash, who started playing drums at the age of 12, stated about Joey's influence on his playing: "Joey Jordison first came to my attention in 1999. I had been drumming for about a year and was at that impressionable age where I was collecting my heavy metal drumming heroes and crafting my musical identity. Joey quickly became one of my earliest drumming influences. I would listen to SLIPKNOT in class while doing my school work, constantly, and give my headphones to some of my classmates and show them, 'Listen to this crazy band I just discovered!' I learned so much from listening to his drumming. In that way, he was my earliest and most significant teacher."

Regarding his involvement in the VIMIC concert, Ash said: "Joey got us on a bunch of SLIPKNOT shows as openers after that and we also toured together on Mayhem fest while he was drumming for ROB ZOMBIE. I was fortunate to have lots of time to be around him and yet it still didn't seem like enough. I feel grateful to be part of this concert in celebrating one of the most influential metal drummers to ever live. Thank you VIMIC, thank you Joey and the Jordison family."

VIMIC previously announced that Luana Dametto (CRYPTA) will also sit behind the kit for the Teragram Ballroom event.

Funds raised from VIMIC's very successful Kickstarter campaign are being utilized to release "Open Your Omen" on CD/double LP, market the album, print merch that Joey Jordison was involved with designing years ago, and produce the reunion event in October. Proceeds from the event will be focused on the Joey Jordison Charitable Fund's partnership with Broken Strings. Broken Strings is a non-profit in Iowa (where Joey and his family are from) that gives out guitars to kids in each school district. The family would like to be able to do the same thing, but with drums.

Asked what it means for him and the rest of VIMIC to finally get the band's album released about an overwhelmingly positive response to the Kickstarter campaign, VIMIC singer Kalen Chase told Loaded Radio: "We were thrilled. But it was a shock for all of us. I can speak for myself… But for myself, I had let it go. When Joey passed, it was more about healing from that. And when this came up and the opportunity came, it was so shocking and surprising and wonderful, and then it was, like, 'Oh, wow. You haven't really done all your healing yet.' So there's been this mix of catharsis and bittersweet stuff, but at the end of the day, we are thrilled and excited mostly to give the fans what they want."

Regarding what fans can expect at the Teragram concert, Chase said: "After all the incredible help we got on the Kickstarter and booking the show, now we're in logistics mode. So there's not a lot I can say and not a lot I wanna say other than we are gonna do our very best, thanks to our amazing fanbase, to put on the best show that we can and make it a memorable night."

Asked if VIMIC will continue as a band after this event, Kalen said: "We are making no plans. The only focus that the family and the five of us have right now is to get the record out and to play this show and to honor Joey with that. There are no plans for future stuff. We're not even broaching it. We're not talking about it. It was kind of an unspoken agreement, like, 'Guys, this show, this record.' And if that's the period at the end of the sentence and we get to satisfy [fans who want us to pay tribute to Joey and perform these songs live], it'll be a beautiful way of getting that last piece out and giving it back. So next time I'm posting something about a food recipe or a silly joke I did, or something completely unrelated, I won't have 10 wonderful questions from wonderful people asking about the VIMIC record that I couldn't answer for so long. So I'm very excited about that. But that's all we're kind of focusing on right now."

As for whether there are plans to film or record the Teragram concert for fans who can't be there, Kalen said: "That would be an amazing thing. Because of finding out what we had, we recently got the confirmation for Teragram. Now it's finding out what our situation is: Can we do this? Can we film? How big is the stage? I can tell you that I would very much like to. So I'm gonna be pushing for it. But right now we're so early stages of what's possible. But I don't see why not. Worst-case scenario, I'll get my old camcorder with a VHS [tape] in there and I'll pop it by the soundboard and it'll be awful, but it'll be metal as fuck."

After Jordison was fired from SLIPKNOT in late 2013, he shifted his focus to various other ventures. One of these projects, SCAR THE MARTYR, released a self-titled album before disbanding, with some of its members going on to create a new band called VIMIC. The initial lineup of VIMIC included Jordison on drums, Chase on vocals, Jed Simon and Kris Norris on guitars, Kyle Konkiel on bass, and Matthew Tarach on keyboards. They debuted their first single, "Simple Skeletons", on May 6, 2016 via SiriusXM's Liquid Metal and received high praise from Loudwire, New Noise, BLABBERMOUTH.NET and NME, among others. Norris left shortly after its release and later that year, VIMIC introduced Steve Marshall as their new second guitarist.

VIMIC released four singles from the project between May 2016 and October 2017: "Simple Skeletons", "She Sees Everything", "My Fate" and "Fail Me (My Temple)", the last of which featured MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine.

"This album wails!" Mustaine said about "Open Your Omen" back in 2017. "Joey Jordison and VIMIC are incredible. High-octane drumming and heavy, melodic songs make this band something you definitely need to check out! I dig them so much I laid a solo down on one of their songs, 'Fail Me (My Temple)'. From there, we decided to take them on tour with us down to South America where MEGADETH is massive."

"Open Your Omen" was first expected to be released in 2018 via Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) and T-Boy Records, UMe's label partnership with rock manager Andy Gould. Produced by Jordison and Kato Khandwala (THE PRETTY RECKLESS, POP EVIL),progress came to a standstill in 2018. Khandwala tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident on April 25, 2018, and Jordison, Konkiel and Simon shifted their focus to SINSAENUM, BAD WOLVES and IMONOLITH, respectively. Jordison sadly passed away on July 26, 2021, further delaying the plans on the album.

In a December 2016 interview with Shockwave magazine, Jordison said about the LP: "The way we wrote 'Open Your Omen', is exactly like how a garage band would do their demo tape. We went all the way back to the basics, and it was cool doing it like that because you didn't have the influence of your label, and the huge studio and cars, hotels, and fancy dinners, all this bullshit that goes on along with being in the record industry. It was done literally in my home, organic, and we went out just to the studio not too far from my house and we just laid it down there. So, it was pretty much born in my home and then we just cruised up to the studio and just laid it down really quick."

The following year, Joey told Revolver: "The riffs, lyrics and drums of 'Open Your Omen' will tell you a lot. We started this record when I was coming out of the acute transverse myelitis condition. It's literally what saved me and helped me get back to where I'm healthier than ever. These guys and this album pushed me to not only relearn how to walk, but how to play the drums again. 'Open Your Omen' is the rebirth of the rest of my life."

Jordison formed VIMIC in May 2016 after the breakup of his previous band SCAR THE MARTYR. The former SLIPKNOT drummer later said that he wanted to change the name of the project to "wipe the slate clean" and start afresh.

Five years ago, Chase told Gabriel Gignac about the status of VIMIC's long-awaited album: "I would love to answer that. We're all still friends. There is a lot of issues with our business. We started on Roadrunner, and we left on good terms with them. A lot of us had other projects, and it just never worked out with the time. And there's a lot of things that just kind of went down to make the scheduling really difficult.

"I hope that the record comes out one day, and that's always a possibility," he continued. "I just don't know. It's out of my hands, because I'm not in charge of the music and there's a whole label situation, and stuff like that. If it ever happens, great. I would love for you guys to hear the other songs, 'cause they're awesome. But as of now, that's all I can on it, unfortunately. I'm just really glad that at least we have those songs to share with people so you guys at least got a taste of what we were doing."

Despite the fact that VIMIC seemingly came to a premature halt in late 2017, Kalen said that he still had fond memories of his time with the band.

"Getting to be the frontman of VIMIC with one of my closest friends, Joey, that was such a pleasure," he said. "I love all those guys, and to be able to actually be up front on stage and not behind somebody else… We got to play in South America in front of thousands of people, and all over the U.S. And those shows were so much fun… And I'm so glad I got to do that."

In 2006, Kalen joined KORN on tour, primarily on backing vocals, and can be heard and seen in the "MTV Unplugged (Live)" release in 2007 where he was featured playing an exotic array of instruments. He remained with KORN — often seen as The White Rabbit — until 2008.

🔥 Guest Drummer Announcement 🔥

We’re bringing the heat for our album release show — and it doesn’t get heavier than...

Posted by Joey Jordison on Sunday, July 20, 2025

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

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

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

Pre-order PF Radio 2 in various here.



PF Radio 2 tracklisting:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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