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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Tom Flynn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An iconic figure in music...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Closer To The Sun" track listing:

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

* Not included on vinyl formats

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

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

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

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

Press photo courtesy of TAG Publicity / Silver Lining Music

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Memoriam Tompa Lindberg
December 6th
Gothenburg @ Monument 031

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

Posted by TheCrownOfficial on Tuesday, November 18, 2025

SIX FEET UNDER vocalist Chris Barnes has shared an update on the progress of the recording and mixing sessions for the band's upcoming album. The follow-up to last year's "Killing For Revenge" is tentatively due in early 2026 via Metal Blade Records. Chris wrote on Instagram: "The new SIX FEET UNDER album recording is coming along GREAT! Mark Lewis has begun mixing. Super happy with everything we wrote and recorded. Really killer songs on this one. Pure 100% REAL death metal. No fillers, no over processing no modern tricks or bullshit. Just death metal. You'll be getting more info on singles, release date, and tour info at the beginning of 2026!"

During an appearance on an October 2025 episode of the "100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal" podcast, hosted by Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel, Barnes stated about what fans can expect from the new SIX FEET UNDER LP: "It's a really interesting album… Well, me and Jack [Owen, SIX FEET UNDER guitarist] wrote the songs on this… This time he wrote half of the lyrics on the album; I wrote the other half. And that's been really interesting for me too, to collaborate as a lyricist with someone… So me and Jack collaborated on [CANNIBAL CORPSE's debut album] 'Eaten Back To Life', on [the song] 'Shredded Humans'. And his writing style and his storytelling is very immersive as well. And I love the way Jack writes. He's been a really amazing addition to SIX FEET UNDER as far as progressing the band and keeping things interesting."

He continued: "This album, it encompasses just a lot of everything we've done. I mean, even going back to 'Haunted', there are some songs that are very rhythmic and I think more on the simple, straightforward side. And then there's some songs that are very thrashy, which kind of came into play on the last album, on 'Killing For Revenge', where they're more thrashy-based type of death metal. And then there's some songs — one of the songs really reminds me of like something we would've done on 'The Bleeding' when I was in CANNIBAL CORPSE, when [Jack and I] were both in CANNIBAL CORPSE. So it's really, really cool."

Regarding the production of the upcoming SIX FEET UNDER LP, Barnes said: "We haven't mixed the album yet; that starts next month in November. Mark Lewis is gonna be mixing this album. So we're gonna be working with him again. We haven't worked with him since 'Undead' and 'Unborn'. And I really liked his mix that he did on — he did the new DYING FETUS record, but the last one, I was really, really a fan of that. And we actually reconnected on SIX FEET UNDER's tour earlier this past year — it was January, February 2025 here when we were in Nashville and we talked backstage and we had a really good conversation. So it was sticking with me for a few months after that, like, 'Man, I just really love that production he did on the FETUS album and it'd be great to work with him again.' So I kind of connected with him after that tour, a couple of months after, and he was, like, 'Oh, man, I'm down. Let's do this.' So he's really open to explore the production and the mix in an interesting way so that it complements these songs, 'cause they are very diverse from each other."

He added: "I don't like blanket productions. I think I mentioned to you years ago, I was, like, how come one song can't have one production, like with a different snare sound, for instance? And why can't that song have another sound to it on the same album? And I understand there has to be some cohesiveness throughout the album. I'm a big fan of making each song its own entity. We're not gonna go so far with it like that, but I've always respected bands and albums and producers that have been able to do that and not just do a blanket production to make it sound more organic, I guess."

Two months ago, SIX FEET UNDER canceled its previously announced "Midnight In Hell" tour with EXHORDER, WRETCHED and INCITE "due to unforeseen circumstances". The trek was scheduled to launch on September 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana and conclude on October 25 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

"Killing For Revenge" came out in May 2024 through Metal Blade Records. The LP marked the second effort that Barnes and Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) had created together since reuniting for 2020's "Nightmares Of The Decomposed". Owen also produced "Killing For Revenge".

SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, CANNIBAL CORPSE. It became the frontman's sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, "Haunted". Only Barnes remains from SIX FEET UNDER's original incarnation, but the quality has remained remarkably consistent. The current lineup of Barnes, guitarists Owen and Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit.

While Barnes is the sole remaining member, SIX FEET UNDER is about more than he and Owen. The singer is thrilled with the current lineup, and what each member brings to the table. "Jeff and Marco have been with me for about 10 years," Barnes said in last year's press release. "I'm really fortunate that I have probably the best musicians in metal. If you look at it, we have the same amount of original members as CANNIBAL CORPSE. Jeff is a killer bass player. Marco's probably the best drummer out there. Jack's the greatest songwriter I've ever been involved with over the 30-plus years I've been doing music professionally. And Ray is just a phenomenal guitarist who can play everything from jazz to death metal. The lineup now is untouchable."

"Killing For Revenge", which featured a guest appearance by guitarist Jason Suecof on "Neanderthal", was mixed and mastered by Chaz Najjar at Badlands Recording in Denver, Colorado. The record was released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl.

SIX FEET UNDER is:

Chris Barnes - vocals
Jack Owen - rhythm guitar
Ray Suhy - lead guitar
Jeff Hughell - bass
Marco Pitruzzella - drums

Photo by Stephanie Cabral

In a new interview with Independent Americans With Paul Rieckhoff, punk rock icon Henry Rollins weighed in on what some people believe is U.S. president Donald Trump's simplistic view of the world as it pertains to international relations and U.S. military power. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't think Donald Trump — I saw this early in his first administration — he didn't understand the incredible power of the office. The president of the United States is arguably the most powerful person in the world, the commander in chief in charge of the most lethal, well-equipped, technologically intense military force. We can blow up the entire universe, and the person who has control of that must be — my opinion, again — a three-dimensional chess player. It's not checkers, it's not tic-tac-toe. Ultimately, you are sending young men and women somewhere where they might not come back alive or they might not come back completely intact as they left. And before you do that, you'd better have a whole lot of meetings with a whole lot of experts and liaise with Congress and talk to a whole bunch of people before you send one person that risks a skinned elbow, much less a catastrophic injury. And this president, in my opinion, doesn't get that."

Rollins continued: "[Trump] digs his power, it seems to me, but he doesn't understand that when he says something, he can affect the stock market. He can change the course of rivers, and if it were me, I would be wielding that power with an unbelievable amount of caution with some people advising me. Like, 'I can't find Venezuela on a map. Bring in the Venezuela expert,' where you had some presidents who could tell you, 'Here's the last five presidents that country had. Here's what the Tet Offensive was.' I mean, we've had some really smart presidents in times of war and in times of peace, and we don't have one now. And I'm not trying to get beaten up by some Trump fan, but you have to admit this guy is incredibly inarticulate and he broad brushes topics that should be painted with a one-camel-hair brush. Some of this stuff is really tricky and really delicate."

Back in 2015, Rollins threw his support behind Bernie Sanders in the race for the presidency, while taking a pot-shot at Trump, whom he called "a bored rich guy".

"I'm not a Trump fan at all, but he will say what's on his mind. Like, 'No more Muslims!'" Rollins told the Daily Beast at the time. "You just said that. And, of course, in this country, a lot of people agree. Trump, one day he held up his cellphone and said, 'Here's Lindsey Graham's number!' I could not not laugh. That was funny. He would be a disastrous president, but at the same time I don't think he wants to be president. I think he's a bored rich guy just being crass."

In 2019, during Trump's first term, Rollins told the Daily Beast that he believed the Trump presidency would speed up the end of bigotry. He explained: "Some people in this country have been thirsting for a corny, pseudo-populist like Reagan since those days, and now they've got it. He's president now. And I think it's very likely he'll get a second term. And so what does it do, or what's the rendering, artistically? I think it's going to blow up in their faces. Because what's happening now is young people are saying, 'Oh, part of my job today, besides being a gorgeous 17-year-old young person, is to not hate gay people, is to not be racist, is to not call someone a 'f**' or anyone a 'bitch.' I'm not going to be a misogynist like my weird uncle who spouts off at Thanksgiving dinner. Like, that's one of my jobs, is to not repeat this.' And so I think a lot of that American bigotry — you know, 'What? Your grandfather's a funny guy!' — that's coming to an end. And I think what Trump and these guys don't realize, is that they are hastening their demise. And, literally, their demographic is dying.

"My neighborhood used to be a post-World War II, Russian, German, Jewish population," he continued. "But the young, Supreme crowd is coming in. You drive down the block now, and where it used to be four-foot two-inch-tall people who'd survived the war, and now it's a bunch of graceful, gazelle-like young people with $900 shoes. It's a different time, and what I think you're going to see is not necessarily rock against Reagan, or get-out-the-vote concerts, as much as you're going to see 'our prom queen this year is my friend Cedric and he got a unanimous vote and the teachers are so pissed.' That's what's going to happen. I think there's going to be a huge rejection of this really antiquated bigotry. And so I think what you're seeing right now is the old guard kicking and screaming as it's dying off."

Just days before Trump was elected U.S. president in 2016, Rollins told Columbus Monthly about the billionaire real estate mogul: "He's just enjoying the attention. Never once did I think he had a real interest in running the country. I think he takes advantage of the anger of his followers. It's the only way he could get away with speeches that bad. I have watched him multiple times and am amazed that such a ramble gets that much approval."

Nearly a decade ago, Rollins told BBC's television progam "HARDtalk" about Trump's continued success in the polls: "It speaks of an America, of a systematic dumbing down of a people, who do not question, who are not scientifically inclined, who do not travel; they don't have a passport. They won't go to India and see how a vastly different culture does its thing. And they want their information on bumper-sticker-sized bits of information. And I'm not putting these people down."

He continued: "Why do they need little bits of news? 'Cause they're working two jobs. They're getting up at 4:30, feeding the kids, going to the cubicle in the car that they hope doesn't break down. And when someone says, 'We're gonna build a wall. And no more of those damn Muslims.' Someone goes, 'Well, yeah.' And it's an easy way to move people to your side with tough talk when economic times are bad. Historically, that's how you can convince some people to do some unspeakable things, if you look at the last hundred and fifty years of world history."

Actor, poet, author, radio host and former BLACK FLAG frontman, Rollins has also made a name for himself as a spoken-word artist. More than two decades years ago, he decided to quit making music altogether, because the industry was making him miserable. Since then, he has dedicated his time to a variety of projects, including releasing books, reissuing obscure punk records, hosting a podcast and making funny Instagram videos.

In a new interview with George Dionne of the Rock Is George podcast, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo, who is promoting the debut album from his ONE MORE SATELLITE project, lamented the fact that artists on average are paid less than one-tenth of a cent per stream on Spotify. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "As far as streaming, I'll tell you, man, I think what Spotify offers artists is a crime. It's a crime. And I have a great gauge on that, being in STP. Our number is very low compared to Billie Eilish or Bad Bunny, who has 10 billion streams in a year. But STP has a few hundred million streams, and I'll tell you, man, it's amazing how much money those guys pull from artists and what they pay their artists. They pay us nothing. I'm gonna be really blunt about it: they pay us next to nothing. And you think, 'A few hundred million streams, wow, that's a lot.' That's why that [Spotify] CEO is worth $6 billion."

Asked by Dionne if he thinks the record labels share some of the blame for Spotify's meager artist payouts, DeLeo said: "Well, I don't know what the trade-off is between Spotify and what they're paying the labels. I don't know that number, so I can't quite answer that. But if labels are profiting off it, then I suppose it would be some of their blame too."

With over 70 million albums sold, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS roared on to the scene in 1992 with their raucous debut, "Core". A breakout success, the album peaked No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, and dominated radio waves with hits like "Sex Type Thing", "Wicked Garden" and the Grammy Award-winning smash single "Plush". STP quickly distinguished themselves as a band beholden to no trend. Boasting the inimitable riffs of guitarist Dean DeLeo, the propulsive rhythm section of bassist Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz, and the charismatic baritone of frontman Scott Weiland, STP ruled airways, video playlists and charts alike over their legendary career. In 2020, the band released their eighth studio album, "Perdida" — their second album with new lead singer, Jeff Gutt. Paste magazine described "Perdida" as the most sonically rich experience that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have offered fans to date.

ONE MORE SATELLITE is DeLeo's collaboration with U.K.-based vocalist and lyricist Pete Shoulder.

ONE MORE SATELLITE's self-titled debut album was made available digitally on July 18, 2025 via Symphonic. Two months later, they expanded their distribution with a worldwide release of the vinyl and CD through Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group).

ONE MORE SATELLITE is playing three shows in November. Joining DeLeo and Shoulder at the gigs are Julia Lage on bass and Brian Tichy on drums.

DeLeo and Shoulder had previously collaborated on songwriting, including for the album "Lessons Learned" by Dean's younger brother — and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS bassist — Robert DeLeo. They've also worked together in the studio on projects, including a collaboration with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and TRIP THE WITCH. Shoulder has also collaborated with Robert DeLeo on the aforementioned "Lessons Learned" LP and co-wrote songs for it, including "Love Is Not Made Of Gold".

In addition to his work with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, Dean DeLeo is known for his role in the short-lived bands TALK SHOW and ARMY OF ANYONE, the latter of which featured Robert DeLeo, FILTER frontman Richard Patrick and session drummer Ray Luzier.

In a new interview with Sh!t Talk Reviews, former TYPE O NEGATIVE drummer Johnny Kelly confirmed that a full-length concert recording from the long-defunct band is in the works for an official release. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We were able to get our hands on a show. I just got a mix of one of the songs, just two or three weeks ago, to approve it. It was mixed and mastered, and we were gonna put it out with one label, and now I believe we're doing it with Nuclear Blast. I'm not exactly sure when it's coming out. Right now we're going through the artwork and stuff like that, approving that kind of stuff."

TYPE O NEGATIVE effectively broke up after the passing of frontman Peter Steele in April 2010 from heart failure at the age of 48. Born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York, he stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall, and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable features in TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.

Before forming TYPE O NEGATIVE, Steele played for the metal group FALLOUT and the thrash band CARNIVORE.

Regarding the possibility of teaming up with the other surviving members of TYPE O NEGATIVE to stage a Steele tribute concert with various guest musicians, Johnny told Sh!t Talk Reviews: "Honestly, I really don't know, 'cause what's happening now is people are starting to approach us, saying, 'Hey, have you thought about doing something?' or, 'Now may be a good time to do this,' or, 'It's been 15 years. It's time. You guys should do something.' So we're starting to get approached by people about doing something, but it isn't something that we've been actively pursuing or having discussions about, where it's, like, 'All right, when are we gonna do this? How are we gonna do it? Who are we gonna do it with?' None of that has come up. We've never discussed who would sing. That conversation has not happened."

Asked if those approaches are "welcome", Kelly said: "Of course the curiosity's there to see. Who knows? But, yeah, I think it's time to do something in terms of celebrating Peter's life and his music. You go online and you see a bunch of people, a bunch of haters and stuff, [saying stuff] like, 'Oh, no. You can't do it. No Peter, no TYPE O NEGATIVE.' And then there's other people who'll, be like, 'I'll be there.' And I've watched it with [the current touring lineup of] PANTERA, for instance. Everybody complained all the way to the arena. They bitched all the way to the arena."

Johnny continued: "We toured with PANTERA — we toured with PANTERA when they were at the height of their popularity, when the [classic] band was active — and to see what they're doing [now]… I saw them play two months ago. They played in Dallas, and I went to the show, and all the touring that we did [with PANTERA], they never played rooms that big and sold them out like that. When we played with them, we played at Nassau Coliseum. And Nassau Coliseum was the smaller arena at the time, and it wasn't sold out. And this was 'Far Beyond Driven' [era]. At the time, PANTERA was huge. But now they're filling up sheds all over the place. And so I guess seeing the success that a lot of bands have had that don't have all of the original members in them and stuff like that, of course TYPE O NEGATIVE is gonna get thrown into the conversation. Seeing it that now, that it works with all these other bands, everybody out there, the sharks are out there now saying, 'Who else can we get? Who else can we resurrect?'"

Last month, former TYPE O NEGATIVE guitarist Kenny Hickey told Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio about that ex-TYPE O NEGATIVE keyboardist Josh Silver, who is married to Kenny's wife's sister, is still unwilling to commit to a Peter Steele tribute project, having spent "a long time" working for New York City as a paramedic.

TYPE O NEGATIVE, known for its brooding soundscapes and cult status in the 1990s and early 2000s, has recently seen a cultural resurgence as new generations discover the band's genre-defining music.

TYPE O NEGATIVE was a New York–based goth metal band formed in 1990 by vocalist, bassist and songwriter Steele, alongside Hickey, Silver and drummer Sal Abruscato — later replaced by longtime drummer Johnny Kelly. Their 1991 debut, "Slow, Deep And Hard", introduced their brooding style, followed by the provocative "The Origin Of The Feces" (1992). TYPE O NEGATIVE achieved breakthrough success with "Bloody Kisses" (1993),which earned a cult following and featured the single "Black No. 1". The band continued to evolve with albums such as "October Rust" (1996),"World Coming Down" (1999),"Life Is Killing Me" (2003) and "Dead Again" (2007).

Revered for their distinctive blend of goth and metal, as well as Steele's deep, iconic vocals, TYPE O NEGATIVE left a lasting legacy in heavy music. The band concluded in 2010 following Steele's death, but their influence endures across the alternative and metal landscape.

Professionally filmed video of METALLICA performing the song "Holier Than Thou" on November 1, 2025 at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia can be seen below.

METALLICA's recent shows in Australia mark the first time the legendary American metal band had been Down Under in more than a decade. Support on the trek came from EVANESCENCE and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

Perth concert organizers were hoping for close to 60,000 tickets to be snapped up prior to showtime, according to PerthNow.

Two METALLICA fans were arrested and charged with trespassing after allegedly scaling a central tower inside Optus Stadium during the band's concert. A 20-year-old man from Carey Park and a 23-year-old man from Australind were removed from the venue and were scheduled to appear in court for the dangerous stunt. Photos and video from the scene shared by 10 News showed cops telling the shirtless men to climb down before arresting them and escorting them out during the concert.

After Perth, METALLICA's Australian tour continued at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, November 5, Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Saturday, November 8, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, November 12, and concluded at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Saturday, November 15. METALLICA will also perform at Auckland, New Zealand's Eden Park on Wednesday, November 19.

METALLICA's last appearance in Australia was as the headliner of the Soundwave Festival in 2013.

The Australian dates were part of METALLICA's "M72" world tour, named after the band's 2023 album "72 Seasons". The "M72" Australian stadium tour, produced by Live Nation, found the heavy metal icons performing at the end of stadiums, with the band's infamous Snake Pit extended from the front of the stage.

While a majority of METALLICA's 2024 and 2025 world tour dates consisted of the "No-Repeat Weekend" setlists — where the James Hetfield-fronted act played in the same city for two nights and mixed up its setlists each night — the Australian and New Zealand shows were billed as "One Night Only".

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine has told Metal Hammer magazine that he wants the final concert of his band's farewell tour to take place in space. "I hope we'll be playing up in space," he said. "I think that will be a really fitting climax. And I'm not talking about on the side of a vomit comet. A gig on the moon, a full moon landing, that would be cool."

Referencing the fact that pop superstar Katy Perry, "Star Trek" actor William Shatner and British billionaire Richard Branson have all made trips into space in recent years, Dave added: "I saw they sent up a bunch of celebrities into space and I thought 'Well, if them, why not me?', you know? I'm just watching how that all progresses. I know Elon Musk and Richard Branson were working on interstellar travel. I think people are going to be travelling to space a lot sooner than you think."

Asked by Metal Hammer if he was joking about the idea of actually playing a gig in outer space, Dave said: "People already travel over 40,000 feet altitude, and when you get to that kind of atmosphere you're basically already in space. So I do think it's going to happen. The question is, are people going to be able to inhabit the moon?"

This past April, Perry and five other women safely returned to Earth after reaching space aboard Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket. The 11-minute flight took the singer, along with Bezos's now-wife Lauren Sánchez and CBS presenter Gayle King, more than 100km (62 miles) above Earth, crossing the internationally recognized boundary of space and giving them a few moments of weightlessness. Katy even sang "What A Wonderful World" on the trip after seeing Earth from above.

Perry isn't the first performer with space ambitions. In fact, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Lance Bass all hoped to be first at one time or another in the last decade.

Blue Origin, which does not publicly say how much such a trip costs, aims in future to bring space tourists into orbit, competing directly with Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Virgin Galactic, founded by Branson, also offers similar sub-orbital trips to those wanting to travel to space and being willing to spend extraordinary sums of money to do so.

In the summer of 2021, Blue Origin auctioned off a seat on its first crewed flight for $28 million, according to The New York Times.

In October 2021, Shatner flew on the New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle for free as a "guest" of Blue Origin, the company told The New York Times. Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic has offered rides between $200,000 and $450,000, according to the Associated Press.

This past August, MEGADETH announced its plans to retire with a farewell album and tour.

"There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional," Mustaine explained in a social media post. "Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I’m at in my life right now."

Mustaine has since clarified that MEGADETH's farewell run of shows could last "for another three to five years".

MEGADETH was founded in 1983 after Mustaine was kicked out of METALLICA, a band he was a part of for less than a year.

MEGADETH released its debut album, "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!" , in 1985.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, SLIPKNOT has completed a deal to sell its music catalog.

The deal — which is said to be worth approximately $120 million — between members of the long-running metal band and HarbourView Equity Partners includes the rights to SLIPKNOT's publishing and recording masters royalties. It reportedly covers the band's archival catalog but does not extend to future releases.

"After 25 years of taking on the music business, we find ourselves with a partner that is willing to sign onto continuing what SLIPKNOT started," SLIPKNOT co-founder and percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) said in a statement. "Only they want to go even bigger. Get ready. Hail The Knot."

"SLIPKNOT's music has redefined heavy metal and created a global cultural phenomenon," Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, said in a statement. "Their catalog is a testament to their influence, passion, and enduring artistry within the genre. We pride ourselves on having our finger on the pulse of culture and with thorough analysis of audience engagement, we clearly see the cultural impact of SLIPKNOT from the 1990s to present. The enduring and relevant proof points with SLIPKNOT remain core to our investing thesis, and HarbourView is honored to help preserve and amplify the group’s work for decades and generations to come."

Based on streaming data and other metrics, Billboard estimates that the band's music has generated $15.5 million in annual revenue over the last three years, while publishing brought in an additional $5.2 million per year.

It is not clear whether all members participated in the deal, which sees SLIPKNOT retain ownership of its publishing. The master recording catalog, however, is controlled by Warner Music Group, which acquired SLIPKNOT's longtime record label home Roadrunner Records in 2007.

Since releasing its debut album in 1999, SLIPKNOT has captured a Grammy Award alongside 11 nominations, scored a number of platinum and gold album certifications around the world, and logged billions of global streams and video views to date. Rolling Stone cited the seminal platinum-selling 2001 album "Iowa" among "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time," while The Ringer attested, "They're the most important heavy band of their era."

SLIPKNOT's latest full-length album, "The End, So Far", landed at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart and at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, marking their sixth Top 10-charting album on the Billboard 200. A new album from SLIPKNOT is a global event, and "The End, So Far" continued the band’s global chart rise, with No. 1 debuts in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Mexico, as well as Top 3 debuts in Canada, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Japan, and Belgium. SLIPKNOT's previous album, 2019's "We Are Not Your Kind", marked SLIPKNOT's third consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200, along with No. 1 debuts in the official album charts of twelve countries around the world, including the U.K., Australia, Canada and Mexico, with Top 5 debuts in an additional twelve countries. including Germany, France and Sweden.

HarbourView Equity Partners is an investment firm, founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares, focused on opportunities to support premium content across the entertainment, sports, and media markets. The firm seeks businesses or assets powered by IP and investment opportunities that aim to build enduring value and returns. HarbourView has been extremely active since launching in 2021, amassing more than $1.45 billion in regulatory assets under management including over 70 music catalogs to date and investments in two media production companies, MACRO and Mucho Mas Media, both with a mission to center premium storytelling. The firm's distinctly diverse music portfolio features thousands of titles spanning numerous genres, eras, and artists, amounting to a diversified catalog of more than 31,000 songs across both master recordings and publishing income streams. The company is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner

SHINEDOWN has released a new single, "Searchlight", via Atlantic Records. The song marks the start of the next era for the multi-platinum band, arriving on the heels of a career-defining year that included sold-out arenas, record-breaking chart success, and a historic debut at the Grand Ole Opry.

The song was first performed live during the band's Opry debut last month where the band's fans packed the infamous venue and the song became the most talked-about moment of the night. SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith introduced the song by telling the audience: "Sometimes when you listen close enough to the universe and you're willing to receive something from it — a song can come out of thin air. We didn't find this one, it found us."

On the song's release, Smith said: "'Searchlight' is a song about owning your true feelings. It's an awakening of the soul. Lyrically it is a coming-of-age story that celebrates the moment you decide to go out into the world, and find your purpose. Musically it is an homage to all the music our parents, and grandparents brought us up on. It is a love letter to Americana, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, outlaw country, and, of course, rock 'n' roll. The creative process for this song was quite a journey, and we hope all the 'fans/family' feel that authenticity in every note, and every word."

Written by Smith, SHINEDOWN bassist/producer Eric Bass and Dave Bassett and produced by Bass at his Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina, "Searchlight" channels the emotional depth and anthemic power that have become SHINEDOWN's signature but with new sonic elements fitting of the Opry's stage. In the song's music video, shot by Andrew Donoho, you can see each member performing their own instruments including a steel pedal guitar and banjo. Filmed in Nashville, Tennessee the day after their Opry debut, the video showcases the band's live performance as well as the emotional power behind the song.

The music video for "Searchlight" will make its online debut later today (Tuesday, November 18) at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. (noon) ET.

On the beautiful music video, Brent noted: "We needed the video to be artistic, but also to showcase a visual epiphany. This was our very first time working with director, Andrew Donoho, and to his credit, there was a different treatment in the beginning, to which I asked, 'Could we think a bit more outside the box?' (You will understand the reference when you see the video.) Andrew did not miss a beat and told me and the band, 'Absolutely. Let's find something that is true to the song and also represents the band in the most honest way possible.' In our opinion, he was able to capture the essence of the song, by using practical effects, and smart camera work. We hope everybody enjoys the video as much as we enjoyed making it."

2025 has already been a defining year for SHINEDOWN, with "Searchlight" following their powerful global hit "Three Six Five", which topped multiple radio formats including No. 1 at Alternative, Top 10 at Hot AC and AC, and Top 20 at Top 40. The band also released "Dance, Kid, Dance" and "Killing Fields" — both of which hit No. 1 — further cementing their dominance at radio. SHINEDOWN currently holds the record for the most No. 1 songs on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart (21 No. 1s to date),making them the top artist in the chart's history, as well as the most No. 1s on the Mediabase Active Rock chart (23 No. 1s to date),along with the records for the most Top 5s and Top 10s in the chart's history.

In addition, this year SHINEDOWN sold out and performed at Madison Square Garden for the first time during the band's "Dance, Kid, Dance" arena tour — a career milestone for the band. As part of the tour, they donated $1 from every ticket sold to Musicians On Call, resulting in a $300,000 contribution that helped launch a new bedside music program in partnership with HCA Florida Healthcare. Smith and SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers recently performed at the program's kickoff event. Earlier this year, the band also took home multiple iHeartRadio Awards, further solidifying their standing as one of the most impactful bands of today.

Recently the band announced their first-ever curated festival event — Shinedown's Lunatic Ball Beach Weekend, taking place October 23-25, 2026 in Miramar Beach, Florida. The three-day destination experience will feature performances from SHINEDOWN (two headlining sets),BUSH, HANSON, FLYLEAF (with Lacey Sturm),LIVING COLOUR, FROM ASHES TO NEW, GUARDIANS OF THE JUKEBOX, NEON MOONERS and more to be announced.

Not to mention, SHINEDOWN recently announced they will be headlining the unparalleled Sonic Temple festival. They'll take the main stage on Friday, May 15, 2026, marking their first time headlining the iconic Ohio event. Their momentous performance will anchor the festival's second night, with MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, BRING ME THE HORIZON and TOOL leading the other days of the lineup.

Up next, SHINEDOWN is confirmed for the 2025 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One where they will perform on December 2 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, December 8 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, December 9 in Detroit, Michigan at Little Caesars Arena and December 16 in Washington, D.C. at Capital One Arena.

Photo credit: Ryan Camp

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, the renaissance-inspired rock band formed by Ritchie Blackmore and his wife Candice Night, has postponed two shows on its six-date tour of the U.S. East Coast. The concerts at Newton Theater in Newton, New Jersey on Saturday, November 15 and The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware on Thursday, November 20 have been called off "due to medical reasons", with no further details currently available.

In a recent interview with the Iron City Rocks podcast, Candice, who has been married to Ritchie for 17 years but has been together with the legendary DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW guitarist for 36, discussed the health status of her husband and BLACKMORE'S NIGHT bandmate. The conversation took place while Night was promoting her new solo album, "Sea Glass". Asked about the possibility of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT returning to the road in the coming months, Candice said: "One of the things that's so great about Ritchie is he can recognize — he's very in tune with his own body, and he stays on top of everything. Thank goodness. And when he doesn't, I nag him to stay on top of it, which he hates, but at least somebody's doing it — you know, like eating well and things like that.

"There's the three main issues with him that are going on," she explained. "He has a heart issue. He had a heart attack a couple of years ago, so we stay on top of that. He's got gout, so that's difficult. It's affecting his feet really badly. And it's starting in his forefinger, so it's hurting the mobility in that, so he just had an injection for that. And his back, of course, which has always been an issue. He hasn't taken any back injections since he had the heart issue. So everything kind of is working together. So, it's hard — it is hard for him. But he's at the point now where — he's very smart when it comes to things like that."

Elaborating on what makes touring so challenging for someone like Ritchie at this point in his life, Candice said: "It's not so much the travel on a plane. Honestly, it's the aggravation before you even get into the plane and after you get into the plane and it's all the sitting of traveling. So that'll affect his back and all the rest of it. And the jet lag that stresses your heart. All of these things. Waiting on those lines when you have to get to JFK [New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport] and you have to go transatlantic, and then coming off and going back through the security lines and the customs lines and all the rest of that stuff, and all of that stuff, it really does take a toll on a human — on a healthy human, so forget about someone who's 80 years old and going through these issues. But he did just say to me yesterday, which I wait for his… With Ritchie, if you try to pressure him to do something, he instantly says no. He's like a teenager. And so now I've got three of them. But learning how to deal with that a little bit better. So I wait for him to come to the realization, or I drop little seeds here and there and try to wait for him to be ready to talk about it. And he did just say, 'What about doing some BLACKMORE'S NIGHT dates in the fall?' So, of course, I got greatly excited about that. So now I've gotta contact the agent. But he would rather do places that he can drive to. He takes the night off the next day. Gone are the days where you do five shows in a row, including travel. That's just way too much. For anybody, it's difficult to do that. And we don't have a tour bus and we don't have private planes. If we go someplace, I'm driving. So it's like a mini road trip, but not really because we have to just get to the place, rest that night. Hopefully it's close enough to the venue. You get to the venue, you go back, you get a good night's sleep that night. Hopefully they're not doing construction or maintenance in the hotel or the maids don't wake you up at seven o'clock in the morning. and then you move on to the next place and have a day of travel. So it's a very slowed down way of doing it. But honestly, I'd much rather take something than nothing at all."

Earlier this year, Candice confirmed to Eonmusic that Ritchie had a heart attack in 2023 which resulted in six stents being implanted. "He's still got his back problem that he's had, so travel is difficult for him because of all that sitting," she explained. "And standing on stage, even standing with the guitar is tricky, although I do see a lot of people even younger than him at this point in the industry, showing up in wheelchairs. I don't think he wants to be thought of like that or remembered like that. I think it's great that people still get to see those people; I would still go hear them, just to be under the same roof and hear what they sound like, but we'll see. Maybe if we can get some of these medical issues under control, maybe I can get him back on a plane, but as for right now, they actually warned him a couple days ago not to fly. So, who knows? You know, put positive energy, out there in the universe, and]hope that maybe we can get him back on there."

Coronary stents are primarily used to treat coronary artery disease, a condition where plaque buildup narrows or blocks the arteries supplying blood to the heart. By inserting stents for the heart, doctors can effectively restore blood flow and alleviate symptoms.

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT plays "Renaissance music," or "medieval music," with most of the tunes featuring lyrics conjured by Night and melodies crafted by Blackmore.

Ritchie, Candice and their two children reside on Long Island, New York, near Port Jefferson.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including "Smoke On The Water", but he has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice said in a 2017 interview that there was "no point" for the band to consider a reunion with Blackmore, explaining that he wouldn't be able to guarantee that every day with the notoriously moody guitarist would be fun.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including "Smoke On The Water", but he has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

During his time away from PURPLE, Blackmore established the neo-classical band called RAINBOW, which fused baroque music influences elements with hard rock before gradually progressing to catchy pop-style hard rock.

Blackmore stepped away from his Renaissance-inspired brand of music with BLACKMORE'S NIGHT in 2016 to perform a handful of shows with a brand-new lineup of RAINBOW.

In addition to Blackmore and Night (backing vocals),the most recent incarnation of RAINBOW included singer Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT) and backing singer Lady Lynn.

The two shows RAINBOW played in Germany in June 2016 were caught on camera to produce "Memories In Rock - Live In Germany", which was released in November 2016 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and digital formats.

After Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE for the final time in 1993, he reformed RAINBOW for one album (1995's "Stranger In Us All") and one tour, ending things in Denmark in 1997.

Blackmore didn't join his former DEEP PURPLE bandmates at the group's 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

Blackmore previously suggested that PURPLE's manager had blocked him from attending the Rock Hall induction ceremony, and he used that as an excuse for not attending the event.

Despite Blackmore being a no-show at Rock Hall, he was given several shoutouts during the induction speeches of the DEEP PURPLE members in attendance. In addition, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who inducted DEEP PURPLE into the institution, praised "Ritchie fucking Blackmore" for one of the most memorable guitar riffs of all time on "Smoke On The Water".

Posted by Ritchie Blackmore Official Site on Monday, November 17, 2025

Posted by Ritchie Blackmore Official Site on Saturday, November 15, 2025