In a new interview with BBC Midlands Today, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi spoke about the band's upcoming "Back To The Beginning" show, which will be held on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The farewell gig will see the original members of BLACK SABBATH — consisting of Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — reunite for the first time in 20 years, to play in their former hometown one last time. For Ozzy, who lives with Parkinson's disease, the event will also mark his final performance on stage. More than 40,000 fans are expected to attend the event, which will also see performances from METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, LAMB OF GOD and ANTHRAX, among others. Profits from the show will be shared equally between the charities Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice.

"This is totally different from anything else we've done," Iommi said. "You know, we've played to 300,000 people, but this is nerve-racking. We're playing in our hometown, we've got all these bands on with us, and we haven't played together for 20 years."

Addressing Ozzy's health ahead of SABBATH's final concert, Iommi said: "He might not be able to do the whole show, but he's gonna do four songs. He's singing fine. It's just a shame to see the way it is. But that's life, I suppose. You've just gotta get on with it. But we're all looking forward to it, and all nervous as well, which is very unusual."

After fans snapped up tickets to "Back To The Beginning" in just 16 minutes, it was announced that the event will be streamed worldwide. Fans will have access to the raw livestream from 3:00 p.m. on July 5, and will also have exclusive access to rewatch the concert in its entirety for another 48 hours.

For more information, visit www.backtothebeginning.com.

"Back To The Beginning" will be captured, produced and distributed by Mercury Studios ("One To One: John & Yoko", "American Symphony", "Metallica Saved My Life"),who are pioneering the way for premium, music-driven storytelling across film, television, podcasts and immersive formats. Mercury has partnered with Kiswe — the global D2C streaming partner behind the record-breaking BTS concert livestream — to deliver this moment of music history to fans across the globe.

The all-day event at Villa Park, produced by Live Nation, will be hosted and compered by American actor Jason Momoa, and feature a supergroup of musicians.

Last month, Iommi told Music Week about "Back To The Beginning": "This would be a big, monumental thing if it all comes good. The worrying thing for me is the unknown. We don't know what's going to happen.

"Normally, when we'd tour, we'd rehearse and run through the thing for a while, and it's just us," he explained. "But with this event there are so many other moving parts."

Acknowledging the fact that Ozzy has publicly stated that he is not able to walk due to his battle with Parkinson's disease, Tony added: "You're used to Ozzy running around, but he certainly won't be doing that for this show. I don't know if he's going to be standing or sitting on a throne or what."

Iommi went on to say that he is approaching this show with "excitement mixed with fear". He clarified: "Once we start playing, then we'll know we're doing it. It's always a worry, even when we did tours before, there's always that build-up, and then it gets to the point that we do it and it's okay."

In May, Iommi revealed to The Guardian that it took some serious convincing to get him on board for "Back To The Beginning".

"I'm the one that said, 'I don't know if we should do it', because we did a farewell tour and I didn't want to get into that thing like all the other bands are doing, saying it's the last tour and then reappearing again," he explained.

As for what changed his mind, Tony said: "I've been convinced, because we're doing it for a reason… No one's getting paid or anything."

For his part, Butler admitted to The Guardian that he was stressing about the gig. "I'm already having palpitations," he revealed. "In fact, I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust. It's important that we leave a great impression, since it's the final time that people will experience us live. So it has to be great on the night."

This past February, Sharon told The Sun that her husband is struggling to walk amid his battle with Parkinsons disease, but that his singing voice is "as good as ever". She said: "[Ozzy's] very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.

"Parkinson's is a progressive disease. It's not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been."

According to Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring "for now" in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery and rescheduled his "No More Tours 2" shows from going ahead several times because of illness, the pandemic and logistical issues, will not play any more shows after the Villa Park event.

"Ozzy didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there's no been no full stop," she explained. "This is his full stop."

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

"It's an endless amount of people," said Sharon. "They're going to be doing some SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and they'll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they're all icons."

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

"For Ozzy right now, it's definitely: 'I love you and good night'," Sharon told Reuters.

She added that Ozzy was doing well and excited about the gig. "It's stimulated him," she said. "He's very, very excited and very thankful that he can do it."

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.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Osbourne's previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February 2023.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has 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.

Photo credit: Gibson

In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, legendary ex-BLACK SABBATH and DIO drummer Vinny Appice was asked if he was invited to take part in the upcoming "Back To The Beginning" charity event on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The concert will mark the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH's last-ever performance and SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne's final appearance as a solo artist. Vinny responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No, no, no. They didn't contact me because times have changed and I'm associated with [the Ronnie James] Dio [version of] BLACK SABBATH. Even though I did play — at one point I did the European tour with Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH, which I thought was cool. I'm sitting there on the drum set facing the audience, and then I see Ozzy in front of me, and then Tony [Iommi, BLACK SABBATH guitarist] and Geezer [Butler, BLACK SABBATH bassist], I go, 'This is pretty damn cool. I'm with the original band now.' It was cool with Ronnie, of course, but now this was, like, 'Wow.' I'm the only other drummer that played with them at that point. So that was very cool for me. So I'm associated more with Dio, so I'm not involved in this whole thing there. So that's okay."

Vinny went to say that he played only a few dates with the Ozzy-fronted version of SABBATH more than a quarter century ago. "It went into America too, a little bit," he explained. "We might have played 10 shows, 12 shows, something like that."

Regarding what it was like touring with Ozzy, Vinny said: "He's pretty crazy. But you know what? He's fun — he's a lot of fun. And we sat and talked many times and all this stuff, and he was great. He was a cool guy. And what you see on TV, that's him. He'll tell you the story a couple of times. He forgot he told you. You just sit and listen. 'Ozzy, you told me that already.' I can't tell him that. Ozzy was great."

Vinny continued: "When we started playing, [Ozzy] thought it was really funny to come, during the set, with a bucket of water and throw it on me. So I'm, like, 'Oh, crap, man.' Now I'm all kind of wet and the drums are all wet and not working very well. So he did that twice. The road crew had to come up and wipe everything. But he's laughing. So then the next morning, Sharon Osbourne [Ozzy's wife and manager] says, 'Vinny, how's it going?' I said, 'It's great. This is fantastic. But he keeps throwing water on me.' And she said, 'He did?' And that was the end of the water. It shows you who wears the pants in the family.

Asked by Meltdown when this tour happened, Vinny said: "I think it was, like, '99. I went and played the European tour with them, and then after that there was a break for Christmas, and then they toured in America. But [original SABBATH drummer] Bill Ward came back. 'Cause he had a medical issue at that point. So, Bill came back and Sharon wanted me to be on the tour in case Bill keeled over, let's put it that way. So, I did a whole tour and didn't play. It was the weirdest thing. And in case Bill had a problem, I would jump up and play, continue the show. And I was the backup plan B. So that was quite funny."

During a March 2020 appearance on the "80's Glam Metalcast", Vinny was asked if it feels "surreal" to him to know that he was once a member of such a legendary band as BLACK SABBATH. He responded: "Yeah, it's a great thing. If I reflect back on it, it's, like, wow, that was great. I got to play with the legendary band — not one of the legendary bands, but the legendary band that started all this stuff.

"While it was happening back in the '80s, I always approached everything as I'm a musician in the band and I'm gonna do a job," he continued. "I didn't get caught up in the whole rock-star thing. I got caught up in it more as a musician and trying to make it great and trying to play great and be part of the band. Now, when I reflect back on it, wow, I got to play with these guys and know them — we were quite close — and it's pretty cool. To this day, it still supports my career… I get a band in Europe and we do old SABBATH stuff — not old SABBATH stuff, but the stuff I'm on. Play all that, some old SABBATH songs, with a sprinkle of DIO. And I've done [a few] tours already there; it goes over so well. Same in South America. 'Cause they just love SABBATH and they love DIO — they love Ronnie [James Dio]. And I'm able to be part of that music and still go out and play it. Because I'm the only one left, really — playing any of that stuff. SABBATH is not going out, Ozzy is not going out, and I play on a lot of those albums. I didn't play on the old stuff, but I played it enough to where it's in my blood. So it's a fantastic thing. I really appreciate having that opportunity to play with such a great band, legendary band and people and musicians."

Appice joined BLACK SABBATH in 1980 during the "Heaven And Hell" tour and appeared on the albums "Live Evil" (1982) and "Mob Rules" (1981) . In late 1982 he left BLACK SABBATH with vocalist Ronnie James Dio and formed the band DIO. They recorded "Holy Diver" (1983),"The Last in Line" (1984),"Sacred Heart" (1985),"Intermission" (1986),and "Dream Evil" (1987). In December 1989, Appice left DIO. In 1992, he returned to BLACK SABBATH for the "Dehumanizer" album and tour. He then rejoined DIO and they recorded "Strange Highways" (1994) and "Angry Machines" (1996).

Appice rejoined his BLACK SABBATH bandmates Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi in 2006 as HEAVEN & HELL, touring and releasing one studio album, "The Devil You Know", before Dio's death in 2010.

Currently, Appice is a member of LAST IN LINE, whose latest album, "Jericho", was released in March 2023 via earMUSIC.

Vinny has recorded and co-written songs on several dozen albums and CDs, including many multi-platinum records. Vinny's drumming can also be heard on numerous movie soundtracks, including "Wayne's World 2", "Heavy Metal", "Iron Eagle" and "Bedazzled". Vinny, the author of drum instruction book "Rock Steady" and DVD "Hard Rock Drumming Techniques", has performed incredible powerhouse drum clinics around the globe. Numerous books have been written about BLACK SABBATH and DIO with the authors always mentioned Vinny's drumming style.

Vinny's unique drumming approach has influenced many artists over the last few decades.

Reactivated thrash metal legends SLAYER played their first show of 2025 and their first United Kingdom concert in six years Thursday night (July 3) at the 35,000-capacity Blackweir Fields in Cardiff. Support at the gig came from AMON AMARTH, ANTHRAX, MASTODON, HATEBREED and NECKBREAKKER.

The Blackweir Fields concert and the July 6 date at London's 45,000-capacity Finsbury Park mark the biggest shows SLAYER has ever played in the U.K. and the only headline shows they will play in Europe in 2025.

According to WalesOnline, some SLAYER fans who bought tickets at much higher prices were upset after tickets for the show were made available on Ticketmaster for as little as £20 (approximately $27) for "general admission standing".

One fan told WalesOnline: "A lot of fans are angry. We all paid £103 upwards for tickets. True fans purchased these, a lot of us struggle to get by each month and want to go to events. A few weeks ago Download [festival] offered 50% off SLAYER tickets, then Ticketmaster sent an email for 50% off. Now they are 80% off. This is so disheartening to the fans. Fans that paid full price think we should get a 50% refund or a free T-shirt. Some incentive, not drink vouchers as many like myself don't drink or won't as they'll be driving. Selling cheaper tickets because it doesn't sell out due to a venue we all knew to be too big for SLAYER is not fair."

SLAYER's setlist for the Cardiff concert was as follows:

01. South Of Heaven
02. Repentless
03. Disciple
04. Die By The Sword
05. Jihad
06. War Ensemble
07. Chemical Warfare
08. Reborn
09. Mandatory Suicide
10. Born Of Fire
11. Dead Skin Mask
12. Spirit In Black (first time live since 2017)
13. Hate Worldwide
14. Seasons In The Abyss
15. Hell Awaits
16. 213
17. Postmortem
18. Raining Blood
19. Black Magic
20. Angel Of Death

Fan-filmed video can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Australia's Metal Roos, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King spoke about the band's future plans, following SLAYER's two festival appearances in September 2024 and October 2024 after a five-year hiatus. He said: "We're never gonna tour again. We're never gonna make a record again. Mark my word: we're never gonna make a record again, we're never gonna tour again. Because that was the last thing. We said [back in 2018], 'This is our final tour.' It took five years for us to come and say, 'Hey, here's a couple of shows, five-year anniversary.'"

Elaborating on the significance of SLAYER's comeback live performances more than four decades after the band's formation, Kerry said: "I think it's really cool. A lot of fans are into it. There's gonna be haters who say, 'Oh, they retired.' Yeah. Whatever. This is all about celebration. Say a kid was 10 years old when we retired. Now he's 15, 16. [It's his] first opportunity to see us. I think that's important."

King also touched upon the fact that SLAYER's reunion shows were announced just a couple of weeks after he went public with the details of his new solo band and debut solo album. He said: "The [SLAYER] announcement timing was not my favorite, but my band was doing its thing. The festivals SLAYER agreed to play, they wanted to release [the information about us playing there], they wanted to announce [it]. So, the timing wasn't in my favor, but everything went [as it did], and here we are in Australia [with my new band] kicking ass."

Kerry reflected on SLAYER's two reunion performances last fall — on September 22, 2024 at the Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois and on October 10, 2024 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California — during a recent interview with Brian Slagel, CEO of Metal Blade Records, for the recently launched "100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal" podcast. Regarding how he felt going into the Riot Fest gig, King said: "It's kind of like when we did the first 'Big Four' show, I said, 'This is gonna be really cool for the fans, and it'll be good to see the guys.' And that's about all I gave it. But then we actually played the show and a handful more shows, and I said, 'You know what? This is really cool for me.' And I didn't expect that. And I didn't expect that when we did the Chicago show [SLAYER at Riot Fest]. I went with the exact same idea. I'm, like, 'This is gonna be really cool for the fans, especially fans that were too young to see us.' And I hit the stage and I got goosebumps. I'm, like, 'This is way bigger than I ever gave it credit for.' … [And] we've got a lot of history in Chicago too, so for the reunion show to be there, it was pretty epic. And the response was over the top. It was way overwhelming."

At Riot Fest and Aftershock, SLAYER ran through a 20-song set that included opener "South Of Heaven", "Seasons In The Abyss", "Angel Of Death", "Hell Awaits", "Raining Blood" and the title track of SLAYER's final album, "Repentless".

SLAYER was also scheduled to play at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky on September 27, 2024, but that performance was canceled due to severe weather.

The lineup for SLAYER's comeback was the same as the one which last toured in 2019: King and drummer Paul Bostaph, along with Araya and guitarist Gary Holt.

King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", came out in May 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

In a separate interview with Luiz Cesar Pimentel of Brazil's Cucamonga, King was asked how the 2013 death of the band's founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman affected his relationship with Araya. Kerry responded: "I think Jeff's passing weighed harder on Tom than it did me. And I don't mean that from any kind of friendship perspective. It's just my taking wasn't as bad as Tom took it. Of course it was horrible, and no one ever wanted that to happen, but it really weighed on Tom. I think that's what led to him wanting to retire earlier than me, because I think he felt the band was different. But then, out of nowhere, Tom decided he wanted to play some [SLAYER] shows last year, and I went, 'Well, I never wanted to stop playing shows. So, yeah, let's try it out.'"

King continued: "Just like it was in [the earlier years of] SLAYER, [Tom and I] don't talk on the phone. We rarely text each other. And that's just because when you're together for 40 years — he became a very different person. He's not the guy I started the band with. Not personally — just him; he's a different person. I basically stayed very similar to who I've been in my twenties. And I like Tom. We're cool. We got together [last year to rehearse for the SLAYER reunion concerts]. It wasn't weird. We did those two shows [at Riot Fest in Chicago and Aftershock festival in Sacramento]. He was super happy. We got together after the second one, had a shot after the show. He'll drink tequila and I love tequila, so that's what we had. And I think the first idea to play [with SLAYER again] this year was for the [Louder Than Life festival] show we missed last year 'cause of the hurricane. So we rebooked that and [I] said, 'If we never play another show, I wanna make that right with the promoter,' because it wasn't our fault. But he wanted us to play. So we're playing there this year. And this year we get to play that BLACK SABBATH show [in early July in Birmingham, United Kingdom]. I can't fucking wait."

In January 2011 Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.

Hanneman eventually died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

Back in February 2024, Kerry was asked by Rolling Stone how he found out Araya wanted to retire. King said at the time: "We were on tour and some kid was interviewing him, and he said something about, 'I've got to get together with Kerry and talk before we talk about the next record.' He should have just said, 'I'm probably not going to do another record,' or had that conversation with me before he mentioned anything like that. I was just assuming, 'Oh fuck, what's this going to be?' And it was, 'I'm done.' Not what I expected. But if you made that decision, I'm not going to try to talk you out of it because your heart's not going to be in it anyway."

Regarding why Araya had decided to retire, King said: "I think just the wear and tear of the road. I think he wanted to be home. None of us are real spotlight seekers, but he's certainly not. And when Jeff was around, he was like a hermit. He did not want fame. I tolerate fame. Somebody's got to be that guy."

Kerry also confirmed that personality differences contributed to SLAYER's eventual split.

"Me and Tom have never been on the same page," he said. "Like if I want a chocolate shake, he wants a vanilla shake. 'Kerry, what color is the sky?' Blue. 'Tom, what color is the sky?' White. We're just different people. The further on in years we got, it just became more.

"Am I going to hang out with Tom? He likes tequila a little bit and I'm a big tequila-head, so I'll have my shot with him, and we'll part ways," he continued. "We're not going to hang out or anything because we are very different people. And together, we made great music and a great live show."

Rolling Stone asked King if his and Araya's differing political ideologies played a part in SLAYER's split. In 2017, Araya used SLAYER's official Instagram account to make a post about then newly elected U.S. president Donald Trump, stirring up a huge backlash from the band's fanbase.

"I was super pissed off at that — but not enough to fucking quit my band," King said of the incident. "I was like, 'Dude, that's what your personal social media is for. You're the only one in this band that gives a shit about this idiot, and when you put it up there, we're all backing him.' And I am not [backing Trump], Gary's [Holt, SLAYER guitarist] not, Paul [Bostaph, SLAYER drummer] is not. That's your opinion, not ours. I would never do that to you."

Prior to SLAYER's 2024 reunion, King told Rolling Stone that he and Tom had not had any contact since the last show of SLAYER's farewell tour in 2019. "Not even a text. Not even an e-mail," he said. "I've talked to everybody else from the band on the phone, text, or e-mail. If Tom hit me up, I'd probably respond. It probably depends on what he hit me up for, but I don't wish him dead at this moment."

SLAYER's only U.S. East Coast performance in 2025 will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Hershey, Pennsylvania's 30,000-seat Hersheypark Stadium.

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST performed at the Ferrara Summer Festival last night (Wednesday, July 2) at Piazza Ariostea in Ferrara, Italy. Fan-filmed video of the entire concert can be seen below (courtesy of ADK).

As part of JUDAS PRIEST's "Shield Of Pain", the band's setlist included seven tracks from PRIEST's 1990 album "Painkiller", which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

In addition to performing the "Painkiller" title track, PRIEST also played "All Guns Blazing", "Hell Patrol", "A Touch Of Evil", "Night Crawler", "One Shot At Glory" and "Between The Hammer And The Anvil" from the same LP.

When PRIEST first announced the "Shield Of Pain" tour last fall, the band promised a "rare" and "unique set" which would include "beloved classics" and would "be defending the metal faith in a truly memorable experience throughout Europe".

Featured songs in the video below:

00:00 All Guns Blazing
05:47 Hell Patrol
09:24 You've Got Another Thing Comin'
15:34 Freewheel Burning
20:36 Breaking The Law
22:56 A Touch Of Evil
28:49 Night Crawler
34:34 Solar Angels
39:01 Gates Of Hell
43:49 Battle Hymn / One Shot At Glory
51:20 The Serpent And The King
55:57 Between The Hammer And The Anvil
01:00:46 Giants In The Sky
01:07:45 Painkiller
01:15:46 The Hellion / Electric Eye
01:20:06 Hell Bent For Leather
01:24:10 Living After Midnight

PRIEST's 2025 European tour will next hit Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday, July 3 and will conclude at the O2 in London, United Kingdom on July 25.

Last December, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford told Heavy Consequence about the setlist for the "Shield Of Pain" tour: "It's still in the works, but we're gonna go and show ['Painkiller'] off. Not in its entirety. I haven't figured out yet whether we're just gonna do a clump of 'Painkiller' songs — this is the 'Painkiller' section — or we're gonna go, a 'Painkiller' song, a couple of others, a 'Painkiller' song, a couple of others. It's all in theory in my mind at the moment, but, however, I think it's gonna be a real thrill and a treat. And, again, a once-in-a-lifetime thing for the band. You'll only see the show once. You'll only see the 'Shield Of Pain' show once. So, we hope our fans will be on the rail and banging their heads to it."

Rob also reflected on PRIEST's mindset while going into the recording process for "Painkiller". He said: "The importance was we had to really go into a huddle and say, 'We really need to show off what this band's true heart and soul and spirit is about.' And I'm using that in reference to some of the previous albums and some of the previous songs. Our attitude was, 'We're gonna make the hardest, heaviest, strongest, most energized metal album we've ever done,' and we did that — we achieved it. It's full-on. It only pulls back a little bit for 'A Touch Of Evil'. The rest of it is just non-stop, non-stop, non-stop. We did it in Miraval Studios in the south of France. It was very isolated, so, unlike Ibiza [where 'Screaming For Vengeance' and 'Defenders Of The Faith', among others, were recorded], where we were going into the clubs every night, it was very, very isolated, so we really got into the work in a very, very strong way with no interference. And so the exercise of achieving all of the components to make that album as strong as we wanted it to be was a success. And, again, a band will tell you we've done everything we can. Let's see what happens. The world embraced that album."

He continued: "It's a beloved, revered metal album. A lot of our friends in different bands will say, 'If you wanna hear what a metal album is all about, put on 'Painkiller'.' And that's pretty cool. But our fans, as well, recognize that of all of the 19 albums that this band has ever made, 'Painkiller''s still very heavily under the spotlight. And here we are, 35 years [in 2025]."

PRIEST's 12th album, "Painkiller" was recorded at Miraval Studios in Brignoles, France, and was mixed at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands. It was the first LP to feature drummer Scott Travis following the departure of Dave Holland.

In a 2023 interview with "The Jeremy White Show", founding JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing spoke about how the addition of then-new drummer Travis affected PRIEST's sound and songwriting on "Painkiller". He said: "I think with the addition of Scott, because we knew his capabilities from his former band, RACER X, which were a great band… After so many years, having Scott in the band with those double kicks again, it just opened doors for myself and Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] to write rhythmically and musically. And we knew that Scott could play anything that we could — as fast as we could play on guitar, we knew he could match us on the kit, which helped a lot, really, because it meant we could expand writing after so many years, really, in respect of the faster side of metal, if you like."

In 2022, Travis spoke to "Drumtalk", the video podcast by German drummer and videographer Philipp Koch, about the fact that the intro to the title track of "Painkiller" has become one of the most iconic drum intros of all time. He said: "Me personally, I always loved the drum intro of certain songs. We all know 'Rock And Roll' by LED ZEPPELIN and 'Walk This Way' by AEROSMITH, and, of course, 'Hot For Teacher', which is VAN HALEN. So, anyways, I grew up like that, always understanding that, 'Man, if ever I could come up with a signature drum intro — no guitars; just drums — and make it really impactful.' And sometimes I get emotional, now that I've been playing for so long, that I was able to come up with something."

He continued: "[I recently saw a video featuring] 'Top 15 drum intros'. And, of course, it's subjective. I don't know who made the list; I think it was some rock magazine. So, naturally, I watch it, and it had 'Where Eagles Dare' [by IRON MAIDEN], it had 'Rock And Roll', and number two was 'Painkiller'. And I was, like, 'Oh my God. Thank you so much.' And number one, which I'm happy to take a backseat, was 'Hot For Teacher' — Sir Alex Van Halen. If I'm second place to old Alex, then, man, that's fantastic. Again, that's one opinion and one little something someone made up. But nonetheless, I didn't make it, so I'm happy that people appreciate 'Painkiller' and it has become a signature JUDAS PRIEST song, which I never in a million years would have imagined that."

Back in 2020, Travis told Invisible Oranges that he wrote the "Painkiller" intro at Miraval Studios in early 1990 as producer Chris Tsangarides and engineer Patrice Roullion were testing microphone placements.

"We were set up at the studio… Studio Miraval in Nice, France," Travis recalled. "The drums are all set up and they're in a big room and then, of course, the control room is at the other end of the studio. I used to just go and warm up first thing in the morning and just work on the next song we were gonna do the next day, and just start playing it with my own headphones on. It was just a cool place — very comfortable to just go and play whatever you wanted. I knew we were gonna be working on the 'Painkiller' song and it was meant to be a fast-paced upbeat song. And I was just messing around doing the intro type stuff."

He continued: "I don't know what those notes I play with my feet [are called]… between my feet and my hands. Technically, it's four with the feet, one with the hand. So it's not a quad but I don't know, septuplet, quintuplet... Shows you how educated I am on drumming, right? [I was] just out there messing around, doing a flurry of things like that, exercises and whatnot. I had the 'Painkiller' idea in my head and they really liked what I was doing and they said, 'Hey, just do some more of that, some stuff like that.' And I just kind of whipped it up…

"As a young drummer or just as a drummer, period, I always… I don't wanna say dreamt because that sounds corny, but I always was hoping that I could come up with a signature drum intro, and I think every drummer wants that. Rarely does a drummer get to do an intro and especially one that really sticks. Given the fact that it exists now, I'm kind of blown away. It's cool."

Throughout their phenomenal career, the SCORPIONS have played in countless stadiums around the world. To mark their 60th anniversary, the band will, for the first time, perform at the stadium in their hometown of Hanover, where it all began. The show is set for July 5, 2025, at the Hanover Stadium Arena/Heinz von Heiden Arena. It's no surprise that the arena sold out 45,000 tickets in mere moments.

"Coming Home" will be the motto of this concert, and "Coming Home Live" will be the title of the accompanying live album, which will give fans worldwide the opportunity to experience this moment in Hanover.

Spinefarm/Vertigo/Universal will release this extraordinary concert, featuring all of the band's biggest hits and many musical surprises, as a live album on vinyl and CD on November 14.

Pre-orders are now available here.

"Back then, we just wanted to be part of the global rock family — that was our dream," says SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker, the man who founded the band six decades ago. "Since then, we've shared the stage with AEROSMITH and KISS, with METALLICA, AC/DC, and I don't even remember who else we're fascinated by — to the Berlin Philharmonic."

The band has always felt at home when performing at the world's major arenas. But even more so, over the years, the SCORPIONS have also influenced generations of rock fans, undoubtedly shaping the style and music of younger artists and fellow legends.

"They are the best thing that could have happened to hard rock or heavy metal," says Jon Bon Jovi about the SCORPIONS, while METALLICA's Kirk Hammett confesses, "I still remember being so smitten by the cover of 'Tokyo Tapes'. From then on, I was the biggest SCORPIONS fan and searched everywhere for all possible information about this band."

Members of SMASHING PUMPKINS, MÖTLEY CRÜE and GREEN DAY to GUNS N' ROSES and KISS have all said that the SCORPIONS' songs had a huge influence on their music.

The resources of their career years have now become an overflowing treasure trove, bridging the gap from yesterday to tomorrow, from 1965 to the iconic concert in the Hanover Stadium Arena on July 5. The fuel that spurs the SCORPIONS is the adrenaline that comes with performing live.

"It's the most important element," says SCORPIONS lead singer Klaus Meine. "And the strongest: The SCORPIONS are a band that, from the very beginning, has seen its place on stage and on some of the biggest stages in the world, in the biggest stadiums and arenas. It was always a challenge to win over fans and play a great show live."

But SCORPIONS constantly rose to the occasion and surpassed that challenge every time.

SCORPIONS lead guitarist Matthias Jabs says, "I don't like to think about the past. I prefer to think about what we're doing now or will do. And that's why, for me, the stadium concert in Hanover is the most important thing right now."

On September 26, SCORPIONS will release "From The First Sting", a collection showcasing the unforgettable anthems and iconic moments from their illustrious career. "From The First Sting" will be available on a deluxe 2LP and 2CD bookpack and 2CD format for European and rest-of-the-world fans, as well as 2LP vinyl and 1CD format for fans in the Americas.

During their career, the SCORPIONS viewed their music as a bridge between cultures. They performed in the former Soviet Union, China, and Southeast Asia, thereby fostering international understanding. Commercially, the band are also one of the best-selling hard rock and heavy metal bands of all time — with over 120 million album sales to their name.

"From The First Sting" is a sonic journey through the band's timeless hits, from "Rock You Like A Hurricane" to "Wind Of Change", showcasing SCORPIONS' evolution while honouring the spirit of their classic sound.

"From The First Sting" features two previously unreleased tracks, "This Is My Song" and "Still Loving You", the latter of which features British violinist Vanessa Mae. The physical for European and rest-of-the-world fans comes housed in a carefully crafted 2LP colored vinyl and 2CD 40-page deluxe edition bookpack, comprehensively illustrating the enduring influence of the pioneering masters of their genre.

SCORPIONS' latest album, "Rock Believer", came out in 2022. The LP was recorded primarily at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany with engineer Michael Ilbert, who has earned multiple Grammy nominations for his mix work with producer Max Martin on albums by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

SCORPIONS originally intended to record the album in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, whose previous credits include SLIPKNOT and METALLICA. However, because of the pandemic, some of the initial work was done with Greg remotely, after which SCORPIONS opted to helm the recordings themselves with the help of their engineer Hans-Martin Buff.

SCORPIONS' latest album marked their first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of new and classic material.

SCORPIONS' previous full-length collection of new recordings was "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Mikkey Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.

In January, SCORPIONS postponed their 2025 Las Vegas residency due to Dee's recovery from his recent hospitalization. Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas 60th Anniversary Las Vegas Residency" was scheduled to kick off on February 27, 2025 at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. SCORPIONS.

The new dates are as follows: August 14, August 16, August 19, August 21 and August 23.

BUCKCHERRY will still provide support for the new SCORPIONS Las Vegas residency dates.

In celebration of SCORPIONS' 60th anniversary, the new show follows the band's two previous sold-out residencies at the venue — "Scorpions - Love at First Sting Las Vegas" in 2024 and "Sin City Nights" in 2022.

Earlier in January, Mikkey, who was previously a member of MOTÖRHEAD for 23 years, revealed that he was recovering after spending most of the holiday season battling a "very serious blood infection (Sepsis)."

Press photo credit: Frank C. Duennhaupt (courtesy of Atom Splitter PR)

This past Saturday, June 28, Machine Head performed live at Tons Of Rock in Oslo, Norway.

MH frontman Robb Flynn has since issued the following statement and accompanying video:

“ØSLØ: TØNS ØF RØCK? More like TØNS ØF CRØWDSURFERS! What a great way to start off this tour, in a country that has taken us to their hearts for our undying love of the Norwegian Ø!

Big shouts out to Zack Ohren for stepping up like a true champ standing in for our brother Reece Scruggs. You kicked ass, Zack! And also to everyone involved in the festival for looking after us all so well, particularly the pit security team who dealt with the endless swarm of crowd surfing Head Cases impeccably.”



The next Machine Head show is July 3 at Floyd in Athens, Greece. Their complete tour schedule can be found here.

ZZ Top delivers the fireworks on July 4 with From The Top (1979–1990), a limited-edition collection from Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi) that trails the Texas trio on the road to worldwide fame. Following the first volume’s sellout last year, the sequel features five albums from the height of the band’s mainstream success.

From The Top (1979–1990) includes Degüello (1979), El Loco (1981), Eliminator (1983), Afterburner (1985), and Recycler (1990). Lacquers for each album were AAA cut from the original stereo master tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl at Optimal. The albums are housed in a faux-leather slipcase, and the collection is limited to 3,000 individually numbered copies. The collection is available today for pre-order exclusively at Rhino.com and select WMG stores worldwide.

ZZ Top came together in Houston with vocalist and guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard behind the drums. Blending electric blues, boogie, and humor, the trio steadily built a following through relentless touring and a streak of increasingly confident records. From The Top (1979–1990) picks up as the band entered a new decade—one where their sound expanded, their videos took over MTV, and their beards grew right along with their fanbase.



After a brief hiatus, ZZ Top returned in 1979 with Degüello, a looser record built around funkier grooves like “Cheap Sunglasses,” with its staccato backbeat and crescendo of “oh yeahs.” Their version of Sam and Dave’s “I Thank You” became a fan favorite, Gibbons says in the album’s new liners notes by James Austin. “Our cover emerged unabashedly with a one-take stab onto the tape machine, and the tale was told and remains a recurrent requested number on stage and over radio stations everywhere.”

They scored a Top 20 hit in 1981 with El Loco, which introduced classics like “Tube Snake Boogie” and “Pearl Necklace.” The trio kept one foot in the blues while experimenting with new sounds, telegraphing their next move with synths on “Groovy Little Hippie Pad” and processed drums on “Party On The Patio.”

Released in 1983, Eliminator marked a seismic shift for ZZ Top, blending their blues-rock foundation with driving tempos, synthesizers, and airtight songwriting. The album became a phenomenon—Diamond-certified, spending over two years on the charts and delivering a trio of massive hits: “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs.” Backed by a striking run of MTV videos, the band reached a new generation of fans and became unexpected pop culture icons.

Afterburner followed in 1985, pushing the synth-driven sound even further. Tracks like “Sleeping Bag,” “Velcro Fly,” and “Rough Boy” kept the band on heavy radio rotation, while the album climbed to #4 on the charts and was certified five times platinum in the U.S. alone. “So many wacky gadgets suddenly seemed to appear in the studio,” Gibbons recalls. “The temptation of experimentation took us all in… and some satisfying mayhem unfolded. And that’s defiantly rock ’n’ roll.”

Recycler arrived in 1990, opening a new decade with a Top 10, platinum-certified exclamation point. Tracks like “My Head’s In Mississippi” and “2000 Blues” leaned into their blues roots, while “Doubleback”—featured in Back to the Future Part III—gave them another high-profile hit. It was the final album in a remarkable trilogy that defined ZZ Top’s sound—and look—for years to come.

Rhino High Fidelity continues to tap into Warner Music’s vast catalog with superlative editions of landmark albums spanning rock, pop, jazz, blues, and beyond. Each title in the series pairs uncompromising audio with archival-grade packaging, honoring the album’s original intent in both sound and design.

Canadian death metal veterans GORGUTS are working on their first new material in nearly a decade. Earlier today, the band shared a few photos from the studio and included the following message: "Hello dear Gorguthians, many of you have been asking about new material and updates from the band, so here's the latest: the guys are currently at [GORGUTS bassist] Colin Marston's new studio in Pennsylvania, USA. They've just spent three days recording pre-production demos for four new songs intended for the upcoming album.

"There's no official release date yet, but you can expect the album sometime around 2026. Stay tuned! #gorguts #newmaterial #deathmetal #studio".

At least month's Northwest Terror Fest in Seattle, Washington, GORGUTS debuted a brand new song. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

GORGUTS performed for the first time in nearly six years at the 2023 Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly. To celebrate the end of this extended break, the band played a special set exclusively of material from 1998's landmark "Obscura" and 1991's old-school classic "Considered Dead".

In the fall of 2023, GORGUTS completed a North American tour with CANNIBAL CORPSE, MAYHEM and BLOOD INCANTATION.

Few extreme bands can boast the pedigree of GORGUTS. During their early days as part of death metal's first wave, they created a legacy of legendary releases including their debut album "Considered Dead" (1991) and its more experimental and technical follow-up "Erosion Of Sanity" (1993). After a hiatus of five years, Lemay returned with a new lineup, which released the highly acclaimed and seminal third full-length "Obscura" (1998). By then GORGUTS had been busy at expanding and redefining the language of death metal. With a new lineup that left Lemay as the sole original member, the next milestone album was released under the title "From Wisdom To Hate" (2001).

Yet again the band went into hibernation, while their musical legacy continued to inspire and thrive as their native Quebec became a focus for technical death metal with acts such as CRYPTOPSY, NEURAXIS and BEYOND CREATION, to name but a few, following in their footsteps. After more than a decade of silence, Lemay unleashed "Colored Sands" (2013) with an all-star line-up including Colin Marston (BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS),Kevin Hufnagel (DYSRHYTHMIA) and John Longstreth (ORIGIN, SKINLESS),who was later replaced by Patrice Hamelin (QUO VADIS, BENEATH THE MASSACRE) and more recently by Michel Bélanger.

In 2016, GORGUTS released the "Pleiades Dust" EP. In an age of a postulated clash of cultures, Lemay delivered a piece of music that was conceptually and lyrically based on the "House Of Wisdom", a medieval library based in Baghdad and at the heart of the Golden Age of Islam with its many scientific breakthroughs in various fields of learning.

After a successful year of touring in 2017, GORGUTS once again receded into the shadows and went dark before becoming reactivated six years later.

GORGUTS 2025 is:

Luc Lemay - rhythm guitar, vocals
Kevin Hufnagel - lead guitar
Colin Marston - bass
Michel Bélanger - drums

Image courtesy of TeamMontrealMetal

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Ozzy Osbourne has teamed up with Birmingham, United Kingdom "alternative" make-up brand Jolie Beauty to produce a unique collection of cosmetic and makeup products.

The limited-edition, officially licensed collection, which will be revealed and available to purchase via the Jolie Beauty web site beginning July 9, fuses the company's "bold, artistic style with the theatrical, gothic flair that has defined Ozzy's legendary career."

"It's such an honor that Ozzy and his team chose to partner with us — especially as an independently run brand from his home city," said Jolie Cashmore, CEO of Jolie Beauty. "This collaboration is a testament to Ozzy's impact on the gothic and alternative communities, and a celebration of his legendary influence on music, fashion, and creativity."

"The bat is finally out the bag," Cashmore added in a video posted on social media. "I hardly believe it either, guys, and I've had a lot of time to process this. Tears have been shed when I got this news. I cried because this is an absolute honor for me. I am a lifelong BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne fan, and of course he's from Birmingham. To be given this opportunity by the Osbourne team is just a dream come true. It's so amazing that they've chosen an independent, small Birmingham brand for this."

Back in October 2022, Ozzy launched another beauty collection, appropriately dubbed "Ozzy Osbourne Collection". Through a unique collaboration with Ozzy, the licensing agent Global Merchandising and the design team at Rock And Roll Beauty, the 21-piece set featured a 14-shade "Ozzy Bat Palette" shaped like a winged creature of the night and another one in a coffin-shaped case, with shades inspired by some of Ozzy's best-known songs, including "Zombie Stomp", "Crazy Train" and "Iron Man". The collection also featured candles to conjure the spirit of the rock gods, Ozzy-styled body tattoos, dark "metal", lipsticks, cosmetic bags, and a gothic mirror.

As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH's final show in Birmingham this weekend is expected to help boost the West Midlands economy by up to £20 million (approximately $27 million).

The West Midlands Growth Company said as many as 300,000 music, sport and food fans would descend on Birmingham for what is being described as a "super weekend".

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

Premier, the creative communications agency providing marketing and PR services to the entertainment, arts and culture, has released a new interview with Ozzy Osbourne to promote the upcoming "Back To The Beginning" concert, which will take place this Saturday, July 5 at Birmingham, United Kingdom's Villa Park.

BLACK SABBATH's original lineup — Ozzy, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — will reunite for the first time in 20 years to headline the sold-out event. They'll be joined by metal's most iconic and influential acts — METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, HALESTORM, ALICE IN CHAINS, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MASTODON and RIVAL SONS — all performing as part of this monumental moment, now confirmed for a global livestream.

The question-and-answer session with Osbourne follows below.

Q: What does this show mean to you personally?

Ozzy: "It's my final encore; it's my chance to say thank you to my fans for always supporting me and being there for me."

Q: How does it feel to be playing your final show in Birmingham?

Ozzy: "I couldn't have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning."

Q: What do you hope fans take away from Back to the Beginning?

Ozzy: "I hope they feel appreciated for how much they mean to me. "

Q: Why was a live stream important for this performance?

Ozzy: "We never meant to have a livestream; it wasn't in our plan. I was just surprised how many people we were contacted by to do one, and so it seemed a great chance for people who didn't have the opportunity to get a ticket to be able to see the show."

Q: Can you share any memories about Villa Park or performing in your hometown?

Ozzy: "My memories of Villa Park when I was growing up were: Every Saturday when there was a match, I would go out with my friends and stand outside the Villa asking people for a shilling to watch their car. "

Q: What does this lineup of legends mean to you?

Ozzy: "It means everything, I am forever in their debt for showing up for me and the fans. I can't quite put it into words, but I feel very emotional and blessed. "

Q: Do you see this as a goodbye or the beginning of something else?

Ozzy: "It's a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out. "

The sold-out "Back To The Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow" event will be available as a global livestream at www.backtothebeginning.com.

Those who missed out on being there can still experience this unforgettable moment, with access to the raw livestream from 3:00 p.m. on July 5, and the chance to rewatch the concert in its entirety for another 48 hours.

"Back To The Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow" will be captured, produced and distributed by Mercury Studios ("One To One: John & Yoko", "American Symphony", "Metallica Saved My Life"),who are pioneering the way for premium, music-driven storytelling across film, television, podcasts and immersive formats. Mercury has partnered with Kiswe — the global D2C streaming partner behind the record-breaking BTS concert livestream — to deliver this unforgettable moment of music history to fans across the globe.

Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne said: "We had such an overwhelming demand from fans from around the globe, who couldn't get tickets to the show, and they took to social media, pleading with us to broadcast a livestream of the show. Being this is such a historic event, we just couldn't let them down."

Kelly Sweeney, managing director of Mercury Studios, said: "Mercury Studios are incredibly proud to be involved in capturing this monumental milestone at Villa Park. 'Back To The Beginning' will be an unforgettable experience, and our aim is to deliver this moment to fans worldwide, wherever they are, so they don't miss out on seeing music history being made."

The all-day event at Villa Park, produced by Live Nation, will be hosted and compered by American actor Jason Momoa, and feature a supergroup of musicians.

This past February, Sharon told The Sun that her husband is struggling to walk amid his battle with Parkinsons disease, but that his singing voice is "as good as ever". She said: "[Ozzy's] very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.

"Parkinson's is a progressive disease. It's not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been."

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

According to Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring "for now" in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery and rescheduled his "No More Tours 2" shows from going ahead several times because of illness, the pandemic and logistical issues, will not play any more shows after the Villa Park event.

"Ozzy didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there's no been no full stop," she explained. "This is his full stop."

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

"It's an endless amount of people," said Sharon. "They're going to be doing some SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and they'll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they're all icons."

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

"For Ozzy right now, it's definitely: 'I love you and good night'," Sharon told Reuters.

She added that Ozzy was doing well and excited about the gig. "It's stimulated him," she said. "He's very, very excited and very thankful that he can do it."

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.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Osbourne's previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February 2023.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has 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.

FOO FIGHTERS mark the 30th anniversary of the band's classic 1995 debut with the opening salvo of its next chapter: "Today's Song", the first taste of new FOO FIGHTERS music since 2023's universally acclaimed "But Here We Are", is now available across digital platforms.

An indelible anthem in the time-honored FOO FIGHTERS tradition, "Today's Song" bristles with unbridled optimism from its subtle melodic intro through the peaks of its soaring crescendos. With lyrical themes of personal evolution and perseverance in the face of life's uncertainty and the passage of time, "Today's Song" is nothing short of a three-minute-fifteen-second epic.

In a note to fans that posted today, FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl wrote: "Over the years, we've had moments of unbridled joy, and moments of devastating heartbreak. Moments of beautiful victory, and moments of painful defeat. We have mended broken bones and broken hearts. But we have followed this road together, with each other, for each other, no matter what. Because in life, you just can't go it alone.

"It should go without saying that without the boundless energy of William Goldsmith, the seasoned wisdom of Franz Stahl, and the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete, so we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the time, music, and memories that we shared with each of them over the years. Thank you, gentlemen.

"And... Taylor. Your name is spoken every day, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a smile, but you are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever. The enormity of your beautiful soul is only rivaled by the infinite longing we feel in your absence. We all miss you beyond words. FOO FIGHTERS will forever include Taylor Hawkins in every note that we play, until we do finally reach our destination."

To read or listen to Dave's full message, go to foofighters.com.

FOO FIGHTERS are Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee.

"Today's Song" artwork by Harper Grohl.

Earlier this week, FOO FIGHTERS released a cover of MINOR THREAT's 1981 hardcore classic "I Don't Wanna Hear It" as part of a three-decade celebration they're calling #FF30.

The band has been off the road since Grohl revealed last August that he'd fathered a child out of wedlock.

This past May, drummer Josh Freese, who was tapped in 2023 to replace late FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins, announced that he had been fired by the band. No replacement has been publicly named.

FOO FIGHTERS will return the road in October with a show in Jakarta at Carnaval Ancol, followed by an appearance at an F1 event in Singapore on October 4, as well as shows in Tokyo and Osaka that month and a slot at the Corona Capital festival in Mexico City on November 14.

FOO FIGHTERS upcoming shows:

Oct. 02 - Jakarta, ID - Carnaval Ancol
Oct. 04 - Singapore, SG - F1
Oct. 07 - Tokyo, JP - Saitama Super Arena
Oct. 10 - Osaka, JP - Glion Arena Kobe
Nov. 14 - Mexico City, MX - Corona Capital

Alice Cooper is among the 2025 inductees into the Radio Hall Of Fame.

The legendary rocker, who has hosted the "Nights With Alice Cooper" and "Alice's Attic" radio shows, is one of 11 individuals in the 2025 class of Radio Hall Of Fame inductees whose contributions have shaped the radio industry across genres and generations.

The Museum Of Broadcast Communications announced the honorees, who will be celebrated at an in-person ceremony on Thursday, October 30, at the Swissotel in Chicago. Tickets for the 2025 induction ceremony are on sale now, with a portion of each purchase benefiting the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Individual tickets are $595 per person.

Cooper commented: "Growing up in Detroit, the radio was always on — it shaped some of my most vivid memories from hearing THE BEATLES for the first time to the thrill of hearing my own songs on air. After years of listening to legendary deejays spin my music, I eventually joined them by launching my own syndicated show over 20 years ago. It's been a blast ever since — sharing stories, spinning rock 'n' roll and now being honored by the Radio Hall Of Fame is truly the icing on the cake."

Radio Hall Of Fame co-chair Kraig Kitchin said: "Our 2025 induction ceremony and celebration will be a special, standing room only, event honoring the talents, history, and contributions of 11 incredible people. I cannot wait to celebrate the careers and impact of these men and women who've made a forever positive impact on the radio industry!"

Fellow co-chair Dennis Green added: "It is an honor to induct another amazing class of talented individuals to the Radio Hall Of Fame that adds to the history of radio. These Radio Hall Of Famers have entertained us, informed us, and helped to bring special moments to our lives through a medium that does this better than any other. I look forward to welcoming this year's inductees as we honor their legacies and share their stories which will serve as an inspiration for future generations to come."

Museum Of Broadcast Communications chairman David Plier stated: "We're thrilled to welcome this year’s class into the Radio Hall Of Fame — an extraordinarily talented and diverse group of broadcasters whose voices have informed, inspired, and entertained listeners across America. This year's inductees reflect the depth, creativity, and cultural impact of radio across generations and formats. We're especially excited to celebrate the class of 2025 as we bring the induction ceremony back to Chicago."

Back in February 2024, it was announced that Cooper was relaunching his long-running radio show with a new name and a new syndication partner. For "Alice's Attic", Cooper is working with the same creative team from his long-running and much-loved "Nights With Alice Cooper" radio show and the new program features a curated mix of classic and some obscure rock, with an occasional "future classic" song, plus Cooper's stories and commentary about the music and artists he features.

In August 2023, it was announced that "Nights With Alice Cooper", was coming to an end. The final weekday show was delivered on September 8, 2023.

"Nights With Alice Cooper" debuted in January 2004 at 93.3 KDKB Phoenix before moving to sister Classic Rock 100.7 KSLX following KDKB's 2014 flip to Alternative.

Among the other stations carrying the show were KGGO Des Moines, WMMQ Lansing, KOZZ Reno, WEZX Scranton and KLPX Tucson, in addition to stations in Australia and the United Kingdom.

United Stations EVP/programming Andy Denemark confirmed the end of the show to Radio+Television Business Report.

The decision to end the popular program was reportedly linked to the sale of United Stations Radio Network to GeminiXIII, with new management planning to take the programming in a different direction.

A source told Radio+Television Business Report at the time that Cooper was not retiring or quitting radio and that the decision to end the show was forced by a change in direction by the management of United Stations Radio Network.

Back in 2012, Alice reflected on the birth of his radio show while mourning the death of Dick Clark. "I used to come home from elementary school to watch 'American Bandstand'," he wrote on social media. "It had all the new songs, all the new dances, and it had the happiest guy in the world presenting them to you. I had no idea that later in my career I would know Dick Clark on a professional level. I ran into him some years ago, and he said to me, 'Hey, Coop, if you had your own radio show, what would it be like?' I told him it would be more like the freeform FM stations of the '60s, where the DJs actually played what they liked and demographics didn't play a role. He said, 'Alice, why don't you do it then?' Just like that, my radio show, 'Nights With Alice Cooper', was born."

Ahead of the July 25 release of IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's reworked version of his classic 1994 album "Balls To Picasso", now titled "More Balls To Picasso", the lyric video for lead single "Gods Of War" has dropped.

With a timely message and a fresh, contemporary production, "Gods Of War" features Brazilian composer Antonio Teoli's unique contribution, adding indigenous instruments from the Amazon at the beginning of the track. It is a striking taste of the newly reimagined album and brings to life the roaringly full-throttle and ambitious for its time collection of supremely crafted and realised songs.

In 1994, having left IRON MAIDEN for a time (he rejoined in 1999),Dickinson released his second solo album, titled "Balls To Picasso". Named in honor of the cubist pioneer whose representations of spherical objects were as squares, and reflected on the cover in graffiti style on a tiled bathroom wall, the album belied its irreverent title by solidifying Dickinson's reputation as a serious solo artist.

His first record with collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez, and recorded with Z's band TRIBE OF GYPSIES, it went through various iterations before its release, produced by Shay Baby. The original album contained a number of classic tracks and live favorites from Dickinson, including the singles "Tears Of The Dragon" and "Shoot All The Clowns", alongside the much-loved epic "Laughing In The Hiding Bush", which was the original title for the album.

Yet despite its positive reception at the time, it never quite captured Dickinson's original vision which was even more expansive in scope and ambition. However, with the ability to revisit his solo catalog — and following on from Dickinson's hugely acclaimed album "The Mandrake Project" in 2024 — the brand new part re-recorded, remixed and newly mastered version of the album, now titled "More Balls To Picasso", reimagines it as a fresh and contemporary release; a roaringly full-throttle and ambitious collection of supremely crafted and realized songs.

Dickinson says of it: "While mixing all my catalogue into Dolby Atmos I had a nagging desire to revisit and reinvent the record. So putting more balls into 'Balls…' was a labor of love. Of course, we beefed up the guitars — courtesy of our 'Swedish shredder' Philip Näslund — and we added some really beautiful work by Adassi Addasi on 'Tears…' as well. Fellow Brazilian composer Antonio Teoli added some stunning orchestral arrangements, and in a unique contribution, added indigenous instruments from the Amazon (recorded by himself when he lived there!) at the beginning of 'Gods Of War'.

"'Shoot All The Clowns' gets the benefit of a horn section fronted by the Berklee College Of Music, and all of the record gets the benefit of the mix by Brendan Duffey, (who worked on 'The Mandrake Project'),with notes along the way from Shay Baby, the original father of the album."

Additionally, "More Balls To Picasso" includes two previously unreleased live-in-the-studio tracks, "Gods Of War" and "Shoot All The Clowns". It will be available as a splatter vinyl double album and tri-panel digisleeve CD album.

"More Balls To Picasso" track listing:

01. Cyclops
02. Hell No
03. Gods Of War
04. 1000 Points Of Light
05. Laughing In The Hiding Bush
06. Change Of Heart
07. Shoot All The Clowns
08. Fire
09. Sacred Cowboys
10. Tears Of The Dragon
11. Gods Of War (live in the studio)*
12. Shoot All The Clowns (live in the studio)*

* Previously unreleased

This summer, Dickinson will embark on his first extensive North American solo tour in almost 30 years in support of his current studio album "The Mandrake Project", with a setlist encompassing his entire solo career. "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour kicks off in Anaheim, California at the House of Blues on August 22 and takes the band across North America, including shows in New York, Los Angeles, Texas, Florida and Canada, with festival appearances at Rocklahoma (Oklahoma) and Louder Than Life (Kentucky),with more to be announced. The tour also includes a quick return to Brazil for the prestigious The Town festival at the City of Light in São Paulo.

Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on the "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour will once again be his 2024 backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Roy Z is not part of the touring lineup.

Roy played guitar on "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent four solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998),"Tyranny Of Souls" (2005) and "The Mandrake Project" (2024).

"The Mandrake Project" arrived on March 1, 2024 via BMG.

Bruce and Roy recorded "The Mandrake Project" largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by Mistheria and Moreno, both of whom also featured on "Tyranny Of Souls" in 2005.

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on "The Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.

Photo credit: John McMurtrie

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their "Mandylion" album, the lineup of Dutch rockers THE GATHERING that recorded the LP — including singer Anneke Van Giersbergen — has reunited for several shows in their home country this summer, including the kick-off "try-out" concert, which took place this past Sunday, June 29 at Dynamo in Eindhoven. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Mandylion (performed for the first time since 2001)
02. Eléanor (first time since 2019)
03. Fear The Sea (first time since 1997)
04. In Motion #1 (first time since 2018)
05. Analog Park (first time since 2019)
06. Broken Glass (first time since 2019)
07. Great Ocean Road
08. Waking Hour (first time since 2014)
09. Probably Built In The Fifties
10. In Motion #2 (first time since 2005)
11. Leaves
12. Sand And Mercury
13. Strange Machines

Encore:

14. Travel (first time since 2014)
15. On Most Surfaces (Inuït)
16. Saturnine

In a recent interview with Femmetal - Goddesses Of Metal, Anneke spoke about THE GATHERING's 2025 reunion concerts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Mandylion". She said: "Well, actually, I'm quite excited… This idea came kind of spontaneous. We were having conversations, we had just coffee and talking about life, other things, and then we talked about 'Mandylion' turning 30 and because time flies, we didn't really think about it. And then we said, 'Maybe we can do something nice with it,' because it's such an important album for us personally because we had a great time at the beginning of THE GATHERING career with me, of course. And we said, 'Well, if we do something, we have to do it now, because next year it's not such a good reason because now 'Mandylion' is 30 years old, and let's do something nice.' And so we made this plan, and we made these ideas for these shows. And then a lot of people wanted to come to the shows. I mean, I know THE GATHERING is still a popular band and I know it's alive — people really like THE GATHERING's music now and back then. But we didn't expect this many people to react on it and want [to buy] a ticket [to see us perform live again]. And so we are so happy. And we're gonna make a few beautiful shows and gonna have lots of fun playing together again, 'cause it's been a long time. It's been 10 years, I think."

When the interviewer inquired about the possibility of a show from THE GATHERING in Spain, Anneke said: "Everybody's asking. I mean, it's fantastic. It's a great problem to have, that a lot of people want us to come to their country. But we focus on these shows here, and a lot of people are traveling for it, so that's really, really wonderful. And then we'll see. But we just focus on these shows and take it from there."

Asked which THE GATHERING song she is most excited to play again, Anneke said: "It's kind of a wide variety of atmospheres on this album ['Mandylion'], but I like songs like 'On Most Surfaces' [from 1997's 'Nighttime Birds'], because they're heavy and we can let all the energy flow on this one. I like the more heavy songs as well, but 'In Motion #1' and '[In Motion] #2' are, for instance, very, very melodic — they're carrying you through a story — and I also like that so much. So, different vibes on the album, and I like all of it. But I like also the heavy songs, especially for playing live, 'cause I can sing really loud and headbang and have fun."

The "Mandylion" lineup of THE GATHERING will also reunite for five exclusive sold-out shows in August at Doornroosje in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Upcoming shows:

August 27 - Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
August 28 - Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
August 29 - Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
August 30 - Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
August 31 - Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje

THE GATHERING previously said in a statement: "After so many years, we are very excited to celebrate this anniversary together, an album that still means so much to us."

The lineup for the concerts consists of the following musicians:

* Anneke Van Giersbergen - vocals
* Hugo Prinsen Geerligs - bass
* Frank Boeijen - keyboards, backing vocals
* Hans Rutten - drums
* René Rutten - guitar
* Jelmer Wiersma - guitar

In November 2014, THE GATHERING celebrated its 25th anniversary with a one-time special show at Doornroosje in Nijmegen. All past and present members of THE GATHERING — from 1989 until 2014 — appeared on stage and performed in this unique show together.

Van Giersbergen announced her departure from THE GATHERING in 2007. She has since released several albums on her own and with her AGUA DE ANNIQUE solo project.

In 2005, Century Media celebrated the 10th anniversary of "Mandylion" by releasing a special deluxe edition of the album. The double-CD set featured new artwork, a 16-page booklet with song-by-song liner notes from the band and never-before-seen photos from the album's recording sessions. CD2 contained the first demo recordings THE GATHERING did with Van Giersbergen in June 1994 and early 1995. "Solar Glider" was a previously unreleased instrumental while "Third Chance" appeared two years later in a different version on the "Nighttime Birds" album.

In a 2007 interview with PopMatters, Van Giersbergen stated about her decision to leave THE GATHERING and launch AGUA DE ANNIQUE: "I had been in THE GATHERING for 13 years, and I had never done anything for 13 years in my life. It's been my whole adult life, so to leave that, on one hand, was a very clear decision and a very strong feeling, and I was ready. In 13 years, things had changed in my personal and musical life. It was difficult as well, because the guys, they were like brothers, so to leave that and to change that relationship has been a long process and was probably one of the hardest things I did.

"I told them at the beginning of March, and so we really took some time to assess the situation," she continued. "Also, the guys, they wanted to see what their plans would be next. Of course they were not happy with my decision, but they are respectful and they have good spirits to continue. Of course, I put a big stamp on the sound and the look of THE GATHERING, but on the other hand I'm not the only singer in the world, so it's going to change, but it's not going to stop."

Regarding her reasons for leaving, Anneke said, "There were a lot of physical reasons, but they all came out of one big feeling in my heart that it was time to change. I was supposed to do this record besides THE GATHERING, and I was given time and it was all okay, but I like to do other small projects and work with other people a lot. I had some plans, and the feeling became stronger to develop that more seriously and also especially to be with my family a little bit more. Now, I can direct everything I do from this one agenda, and it feels very good to be the director of your own life. In a way THE GATHERING was officially a bigger band, and we were day and night constantly working with it, and it was quite intense, all the processes. So a lot of small things became one big feeling, like, 'Okay, I'm ready.'"

Posted by Dynamo Heavy on Wednesday, March 12, 2025