Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have released an official performance video for the song "You Want A Battle? (Here's A War)". Check it out below.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE guitarist/vocalist Matt Tuck revealed to Billboard that "You Want A Battle? (Here's A War)" is about being bullied — something that he experienced a lot while at school because he "was not a really cool kid. I was into heavy metal music and had long hair."

Tuck wrote the track to reassure fans that bullying "happens to everybody, and it's not a nice place to be when that happens. It took me a long time to actually pluck up the courage mentally and physically to stand up for myself, so it was kind of momentous moment for me. I had lost all these battles in my young life, and all of a sudden I was growing into a young man. I was able to stand up for myself and defend myself, and the band actually became something big and special and just like the biggest 'fuck you' to everyone. That's what that song's about, really. It's about going through hard times and coming through the other side."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently signed a worldwide deal with Search And Destroy/Spinefarm Records. The band's latest album, "Venom", was released in August 2015 via RCA. The CD marked BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE 's first release since the departure of longtime bassist Jason James and addition of Jamie Mathias (formerly of REVOKER).

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas took a temporary leave of absence from the band earlier this year to spend time with his wife, as they awaited the birth of his first child. Filling in for him was Jason Bowld (PITCHSHIFTER, AXEWOUND).

Tigman of the Q103 radio station conducted an interview with vocalist Phil Labonte of Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS at the inaugural Rock'N Derby festival, which is being held May 20-22 at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds in Schaghticoke, New York. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about ALL THAT REMAINS's planned follow-up to 2015's "The Order Of Things" album, Phil said: "We're working on out eighth record right now. We haven't started recording yet. We're working on the writing process. We start recording in June, and then June and July we'll be in the studio."

He continued: "['The Order Of Things'] came out just about over a year ago; it was in February of last year. So we try and get 'em out every two years or so, so we're looking at probably February or so for the next one."

Labonte also talked about what it's like to be considered one of the forerunners of the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal movement, alongside such acts as LAMB OF GOD and SHADOWS FALL. He said: "It's cool. I mean, the thing is the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal started so long ago… You're talking about something that now it's… arguably it started fifteen years ago or so, or at least that's when a lot of the bands like KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHADOWS FALL, ALL THAT REMAINS, LAMB OF GOD, GOD FORBID, BLEEDING THROUGH, AS I LAY DYING… all these bands were kind of starting at the same time. So there's been a lot of changes for some of the bands. Some of the bands aren't around anymore. Some of the bands have kind of moved on to do different stuff."

He continued: "Anytime you come up with a trend, which is what it was, you either have to branch out and break the mold of the trend, or else you stand a good chance of going down when the trend kind of goes down, which is why a lot of those bands, they're not around anymore. There's only a few of us left; there's LAMB OF GOD, KILLSWITCH, us, and most of the other bands… UNEARTH still plays, but most of the other bands that kind of came up at the same time are either broken up or they'll do a couple of shows a year, one or two weeks a year or whatever, but it's not their full-time gig. So being able to break the mold and branch out from starting in a scene and starting with a trend, and being able to make a career out of it is probably the coolest thing about coming up with the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal."

ALL THAT REMAINS last year parted ways with bassist Jeanne Sagan and replaced her with Aaron Patrick (BURY YOUR DEAD, DEVILDRIVER).

Tigman of the Q103 radio station conducted an interview with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook and drummer Jeremy Spencer at the inaugural Rock'N Derby festival, which is being held May 20-22 at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds in Schaghticoke, New York. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked if he thinks YouTube has played a role in the decline in music sales over the past decade, Hook said: "I think that YouTube represents a place where people can go, 'Oh, remember that song' — whatever it is — and then they just type it into… Where do they go… What is the fastest delivery source? So, yes, in that respect, YouTube has created an immediate delivery for people to hear stuff."

He continued: "Instead of getting all bummed out about it, I think we're just taking it for what it is. And if that's the state of the industry right now, so be it. We're still gonna plow forward and do what we do."

It was revealed last month that FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's label, Prospect Park, filed a lawsuit against the band, accusing it of allegedly trying to violate its recording contract by rushing to make a new album despite the addiction problems of singer Ivan Moody.

The group fired back, calling the suit "the latest in a long line of exploitative and abusive bullying tactics used by our former manager and current label CEO Jeff Kwatinetz to extract money from and wield power against the band."

Amidst all this, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH announced a new co-headlining arena tour with SHINEDOWN that will kick off on October 18 in Little Rock, Arkansas and run into December. SIXX A.M. and AS LIONS will be along as support.

In a German language interview with Metal.de, Noise Records founder Karl-Ulrich Walterbach retraces his steps in the business (teasing for an eventual history of Noise book). In addition to the missteps surround Celtic Frost's Cold Lake, the other major fiasco of his otherwise storied tenure, was the financial wranglings with the Iron Maiden camp, surrounding upstarts Helloween, once the Keeper Of The Seven Keys albums became a success. Ultimate, the result was Kai Hansen's departure (to start Gamma Ray).

"All went mad and (they) were pop star crazy. Kai Hansen alone maintained contact with the ground." In the aftermath, Walterbach lost much of his enthusiasm for the industry. "I lost all illusions about the music industry and barely had time to take care of creative interests and my bands. Actually, I spent most of the day looking after lawyers, court dates and financiers. Those two years of litigation cost me a lot of energy." Hansen's new outfit also ended up on Noise. "I found his exit understandable and correct. He simply could not cope with (Weenie founder/guitarist Michael) Weikath, who wanted to make pop-metal and be a superstar. He had simply become a megalomaniac. The endless quarrels about whose song should go on a Helloween record pretty much destroyed their relationship."

 

Former MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland has commented on the passing of his OHM: bandmate Nick Menza. He said: "There are no words... just to describe what a great guy he was, let alone his creative ability and amazing talent. Not enough words to describe. Just devastated right now."

He continued: "My wife showed me a photo he just Photoshopped from when he was up north, where he looks like atlas holding up that ring. I mean, that's the kinda stuff he did just off the top of his head. I honestly think God ran out of ideas and had to have Nick, like, help him out. Because... why else?

"When I was recently in the hospital, he was on the phone with my wife the whole time, just begging her to make her dinner, asking, 'Can I go get you guys anything? Do you want me to go shopping?' Who does that? You know, there's not enough words to describe."

Added OHM: bassist Robby "Pag" Pagliari: "Stunned. Just stunned. Such a kind generous human being and great dad. Probably the happiest he's been in a long time. He got a chance to see his kids for a couple weeks.

"In a year, we've lost so many talented people — we just lost another one... Great guy, great player, most importantly great guy.

"We're devastated with what happened."

Menza officially joined OHM: last year following the passing of the band's previous drummer, David Eagle, who suffered a heart attack and had open-heart surgery in May 2015.

Below is a professionally shot video of the most recent OHM: lineup performing the song "System of A Clown" from OHM:'s "Circus Of Sound" CD, released in 2008 by Mike Varney's Tone Center Records.

Menza passed away Saturday night (May 21) while performing with OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California. He was 51 years old.

Nick collapsed during the third song of OHM:'s set. Early reports indicate he suffered a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital. No other details are being released at this time.

Menza joined MEGADETH for the 1989 recording "Rust In Peace" and for the next nine years became associated with the band's "classic" and most profitable era.

Former SEPULTURA and current SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera has weighed in on the strange situation regarding AC/DC and singer Brian Johnson. The legendary Australian rock band postponed the last ten dates of its recent North American tour after doctors told Johnson he faced "total hearing loss." AC/DC has since announced that it will use GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose as a "guest vocalist" for all remaining shows this year, with Johnson apparently not returning to the band at all.

Asked by Metal Wani's William Richards for his opinion about the Axl-AC/DC pairing, Max said: "I don't know… It sucks, I think. I like AC/DC, man. They always were outlaws back in Australia. We used to watch 'Let There Be Rock', the movie, as kids in Brazil, and I remember [seeing an] AC/DC album [where they] had jail tattoos and shit. Bon Scott was badass, Brian Johnson was badass. But I don't think Axl really fits AC/DC. AC/DC is more, like, yeah, outlaws, and I don't think Axl is too much of an outlaw to fit in. But I don't know… It's not my band. I don't call the shots."

According to a Billboard.com source, Rose initially met with AC/DC members in Miami and Atlanta back in March. It was then that the decision was made to have Rose join AC/DC on tour. There was also talk of having other singers alternate with Rose, including ex-SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach and Nic Cester of the Australian band JET.

Rose made his live debut with AC/DC on May 7 in Lisbon, Portugal, and by all accounts delivered a triumphant vocal performance as fill-in for Johnson even if he was still confined to a chair onstage due to the broken foot he suffered during a GUNS show last month.

Mica Rock recently conducted an interview with HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.

Asked what HALESTORM's "secret" is to keeping its lineup intact for more than a decade, Lzzy said: "Don't grow up. Honestly, we're still making the same fart jokes that we were when we were teenagers. But I don't really know. I think we don't take ourselves that seriously. And so the only thing I can probably say is that every single day, it's, like, no matter where we are, we always have that moment where we're, like, 'Hey, guys, this is really crazy. I can't believe we're still here.' So we talk about that a lot. And we go on band dates, [as] we call them; like, we go bowling together. But we have a really great crew too. We're kind of a rolling family circus pretty much."

HALESTORM's first two albums, 2009's "Halestorm" and 2012's "The Strange Case Of…" were both officially certified gold in March by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales of more than 500,000 copies. The certifications came after RIAA started including on-demand audio and video streams and a track sale equivalent in gold and platinum album award.

The band's third effort, "Into The Wild Life", debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 56,000 copies in its first week of release — more than double the first-week haul of their second CD — but has not reached gold yet.

On May 20, Swedish occult rockers GHOST took part in an acoustic performance at the studios of the WGRD radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can now watch video footage of their appearance below.

GHOST will release new EP later this year and will follow it up with a new round a touring featuring a brand new stage show.

GHOST won the Grammy for "Best Metal Performance" during the pre-telecast ceremony at the 58th annual Grammy Awards. GHOST was nominated for the song "Cirice" from its 2015 album "Meliora".

"Cirice" recently reached the Top 10 at rock radio, the first song from the band to get significant airplay in the U.S.

Guitar legend Paul Gilbert will release his newest record, I Can Destroy, on May 27th via earMUSIC on CD Jewel and digital. A snippet of the new song “Gonna Make You Love Me” is streaming below:

From platinum album sales and number one chart success as a founding member of Mr. Big, to frightening the guitar community with new levels of ferocious picking technique with shred-pioneers Racer X, to exploring punk, pop, classical, blues, jazz, and progressive instrumental styles in his solo career, Paul Gilbert has recorded a massive amount of stunning guitar music, all while circling the globe to play sold-out arenas from Japan to Jakarta.

Gilbert’s style stands out for its rare combination of accuracy, creativity, and power – all which are balanced with Paul’s sense of humour and pure love of music.

Although Paul is best known for his work with Mr. Big and Racer X, he has also toured with Joe Satriani’s G3, played in a host of tribute concerts with legendary drummer Mike Portnoy, and been integral in the design of his signature Ibanez PGM and Fireman guitars.

Paul’s legacy as a guitar instructor began when he was eighteen, when he was hired to teach at Hollywood’s Guitar Institute of Technology. His groundbreaking “Intense Rock” videos and DVDs have inspired legions of guitarists to improve their accuracy, speed, and phrasing. Years as a columnist for Guitar Player magazine, and most recently, Premier Guitar magazine, along with giving countless clinics, private lessons, and serving for five years as the dean of MI Japan, have given Paul Gilbert deep experience in the art of communicating music to all levels of guitarists.

Over 25 years in the music business have only increased Paul’s passion to explore the possibilities of music and the art of playing the guitar. Whether he’s playing to 10,000 fans or jamming one-on-one with a student, Paul Gilbert is living his childhood dream of taking the sounds in his head and bringing them into reality – on the electric guitar.

I Can Destroy is Paul’s next solo-masterpiece and will be his 18th solo album. The album features 13 very diverse rock-tunes. With Kevin Shirley producing, and an amazing band of Freddie Nelson and Tony Spinner on guitars and vocals, Kevin Chown on bass, and Thomas Lang on drums, Paul rocks with more power and emotion than ever before.

Tracklisting:

“Everybody Use Your Goddamn Turn Signal”
“I Can Destroy”
“Knocking On A Locked Door”
“One Woman Too Many”
“Woman Stop"
“Gonna Make You Love Me”
“I Am Not The One (Who Wants To Be With You)”
“Blues Just Saving My Life”
“Make It (If We Try)”
“Love We Had”
“I Will Be Remembered”
“Adventure And Trouble”
“Great White Buffalo” (Bonus Track)

“Make It (If We Try)” snippet:

"Everybody Use Your Goddamn Turn Signal" video:

“I Can Destroy”:

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has released the following statement regarding the passing of the band's former drummer Nick Menza: "I woke up this morning to a text message from my son, with the news of Nick Menza's passing. Shocked, devastated and saddened don't begin to describe my feelings.

"Originally a tech for the band, Nick soon displayed such talent and personality, it didn't take long for us to realize he belonged on stage with us, behind the kit. We asked Nick to join MEGADETH as our drummer in 1989. At the time, the band already had its first platinum album, which only served to stoke the fire. We all wanted world domination — with so much of our lives and dreams ahead of us. As we navigated through the pitfalls of life and the music business, our first album with Nick, 'Rust In Peace', and subsequent albums 'Countdown To Extinction' and 'Youthanasia', kept up the momentum. We parted ways after 'Cryptic Writings'. We, like all brothers, would disagree at times, but our bond was strong throughout.

"As a player, Nick had a very powerful jazzy flair, unpredictable and always entertaining, And as great a drummer as he was, the time spent with him as a person, a bandmate, and a friend was even more fun.

"There were several times we discussed him coming back to the band, but for various reasons, it never came together. We've been in touch all along, he had come out to our shows recently, and he had remained a great friend, a true professional and a larger-than-life personality.

"The MEGADETH family take care of each other, and expect to hear soon about an initiative to help Nick's children.

"All of us in this community are connected, take care of yourself and your loved ones.

"My deepest condolences go out to Nick's family."

Menza passed away Saturday night (May 21) while performing with the band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California. He was 51 years old.

Nick collapsed during the third song of OHM:'s set. Early reports indicate he suffered a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital. No other details are being released at this time.

One person who was present at The Baked Potato last night told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "It appeared to be a seizure but [Nick] stopped breathing. Two patrons took over and began CPR until EMS arrived. EMS worked on him for 25-plus minutes, including adrenaline shots, three shocks and non-stop compressions."

AC/DC performed the song "Touch Too Much" live for the first time in more than 35 years earlier tonight (Sunday, May 22) in Prague, Czech Republic. The last time the song was aired live in concert was on December 14, 1979 in Nice, France.

The Prague show marked GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose's sixth appearance as the temporary frontman for AC/DC. For the Prague concert, as was the case in Vienna on Thursday, Rose was only partly confined to the chair he's been seated on ever since breaking his foot during a surprise GUNS club show in April 1 in Los Angeles.

Rose told photographers back in late April that he would be wearing the cast for "a couple of weeks" longer. Although that was a month ago, he is clearly becoming more mobile at each show.

Rose sustained the injury at the first GUNS N' ROSES show featuring the partially reunited original lineup, who will also head out on a summer stadium trek beginning June 23 in Detroit.

He took over the mic in AC/DC after singer Brian Johnson was warned by doctors that he would face a total loss of his hearing if he stayed on the road. Rose is slated for now to play AC/DC's current run of European shows as well as ten postponed North American gigs.

Rose told NME in a new interview that he didn't speak with Johnson before temporarily replacing the latter, saying it was only because he didn't have enough time. Rose explained: "I have not spoken with Brian. We haven't spoken much about Brian. There hasn't been any negative talk with the guys or anything — it's just the time schedule of having to get things together for the shows, while I also had GUNS N' ROSES commitments, and then breaking the foot."

Rose reached out to AC/DC himself after hearing about Johnson's misfortune. Guitarist Angus Young said: "A lot of people were putting people forward. You get a lot of people. The modern world being what it is, everyone's, 'Well, I can sing a song.'" AC/DC did audition at least two tribute band singers during their search.

Rose recently indicated that he's willing to continue with AC/DC past the 22 shows he's contracted for.

Kaytie of the 97.7 WQLZ radio station in Springfield, Illinois conducted an interview with former GUNS N' ROSES and current SIXX:A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which is being held May 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On all the negativity on social media:

Ashba: "A lot of people are grumpy out there, huh? A lot of pissed off people hiding behind screen names. But it takes a much bigger person to say something nice… or don't say something at all. Like, who cares? I don't know… I don't have that kind of time in life. I don't understand that. To go on somebody's page and shit-talk 'em when you don't know them, that's… Your time is valuable. Why are you wasting your valuable time…? If you don't like 'em, then… It's weird to me. So I don't know."

On Internet drama between musicians, such as the recent war of words between Nikki Sixx (MÖTLEY CRÜE and SIXX:A.M. bassist) and Paul Stanley (KISS):

Ashba: "It's all stupid. I don't get involved in drama shit. I literally just kind of stay away from all that stuff. I've always hated drama. Life's full of that crap. So my thing is I wanna spread positive. I know it's probably not the rock-star thing to do, but I wanna spread hope, I wanna spread cheer. There's enough hate out there."

The first volume of "Prayers For The Damned", the new double album from SIXX:A.M., was released on April 29 via Eleven Seven Music.

In the ‘90s Megadeth achieved incredible success and most would say their peak, with landmark albums like Rust In Peace (1990), Countdown To Extinction (1992) and Youthanasia (1994). Last night (May 21st) we lost a vital piece of that puzzle with the death of drummer Nick Menza at the age of 51.

Menza was performing with the band OHM at the Baked Potato in Studio City, CA when he reportedly collapsed from a heart attack.

Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine, bassist David Ellefson and former guitarists Marty Friedman and Glen Drover have shared their thoughts on this tragedy below:

Mustaine wrote on Twitter: “TELL ME THIS ISN'T TRUE! I woke at 4 AM to hear Nick Menza passed away on 5/21 playing his drums w/Ohm at the Baked Potato. I’m gutted.”

Ellefson writes on Facebook: “Condolences to the Nick Menza family and friends. We have lost a gentle giant... A true artist and friend to us all.”

Friedman added on Facebook: “We all know the great and unique drummer that Nick Menza was, but he was also a trustworthy friend, a hilarious bandmate, as well as a very loving dad. I`m beyond sad, did not see this coming at all. RIP Brother.”

Drover tells BraveWords: "I’m super shocked after reading the news about Nick last night. As some of you know, it was me, Nick, Dave, and Jimmy Macdonough in 2004, who became the first lineup of Megadeth after the original breakup in 2001. Although it was short lived (with my brother Shawn taking over for Nick) It was nice playing and getting to know him a little for that very brief period. He seemed like a good guy. Very quiet, and what I remember most is that when he played drums, he used ride cymbals for his crashes. For those who don’t know, its very very loud!!!!! But its ok, I still have some of my hearing in tact. Ha.”

J Marshall Craig, Director of Creative Development at DWP Live and Co-Owner at TreeHouse Studios, writes on Menza’s Facebook:

For friends and fans: Nick Menza was in musician heaven last month when I took him to Rose Lane Studio a few weeks back to meet Sjoerd Auke Koppert and Damion 'Damizza' Young and the team there. There were many plans in the works, for the release of Nick's book that we wrote, a comic book version of his time with Megadeth and many, many other wonderful things, including a trip to stay with me and my family here in Cape Cod tomorrow. He died last night on stage in L.A. doing what he loved.

I have been asked by his family to be their public representative though this tragic and difficult time, so will be fielding all press inquiries. His mother Rose and father Don ask for privacy and prayers for them, and Nick's two young boys. News of a service, remembrance and celebration of Nick's life and music will be announced in the days to come.

I can be reached at [email protected]

This wonderful photo of Nick at the mixing console was taken April 9, 2016.”

Former MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza reportedly passed away Saturday night (May 21) while performing with the band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California. He was 51 years old.

One person who was present at The Baked Potato last night told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "It appeared to be a seizure but [Nick] stopped breathing. Two patrons took over and began CPR until EMS arrived. EMS worked on him for 25-plus minutes, including adrenaline shots, three shocks and non-stop compressions."

Menza's death was confirmed in a message written by his friend Allen Hall, which was shared on Menza's official Facebook page.

Allen wrote: "We lost an amazing talent and fantastic person yesterday. Nick Menza was the nicest and most sincere guy you should ever hope to meet.

"He would take the shirt off his back to help you if you needed it. He had a passion for artwork, not just metal music.

"Nick, you were taken too soon, it must have been a mistake, the world was a better place with you in it. I will miss you dearly my friend."

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine tweeted: "Tell me this isn't true. I woke at 4am to hear Nick Menza passed away on May 21 playing his drums with Ohm at the Baked Potato. #nickmenzarip."

Mustaine's son, Justis, also paid tribute to Nick on Twitter, saying: "Rest in peace Nick Menza."

A Facebook post from The Baked Potato stated simply: "RIP Nick Menza."

Menza joined MEGADETH for the 1989 recording "Rust In Peace" and for the next nine years became associated with the band's "classic" and most profitable era.

Menza claimed in a 2015 interview that the attempted reunion of the "Rust In Peace" lineup failed to materialize because Dave Mustaine "didn't wanna show me any love at all."

The drummer said that he was approached by Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson to replace Shawn Drover at the end of 2014, and that he had started working out new tracks with the band. But the plan collapsed after he was offered a contract he described as "very unfair."

In addition to Menza, OHM: featured another ex-MEGADETH member, guitarist Chris Poland.

Menza joined OHM: last year after the passing of the band's previous drummer, David Eagle, who suffered a heart attack and had open-heart surgery in May 2015.

Last week, it was announced that Nick would unveil an art collection crafted from the new medium of "rhythm-on-canvas" on June 16.

Menza had been working with art team and publisher SceneFour on the collection titled "Rhythm Hits The Wall".

Sidelined AC/DC singer Brian Johnson sat down for an in-depth conversation with SiriusXM about his career-halting hearing loss, his career, and more. You can now listen to the chat below.

Speaking about the hearing problems that forced him to stop touring, Johnson told Doron Levin, host of "In The Driver's Seat": "[About eight years ago], I was at Watkins Glen [automobile race track located in Watkins Glen, New York], and I was getting ready to race. I think I was number three on the grid. And I just bought a brand new helmet, and I stuck it on, and the boys were going, 'Brian, quick, you're gonna miss the thing.' So I ran over. And I stuck this helmet on, and for the first time ever, I forgot to put my eargplugs in. And what happened was, off I went, and after about thirty-five minutes, my left ear just [let out] a little pop. And I went, 'What the heck was that?'"

He continued: "But it was fine. All that happened was I suffered tinnitus for about six or seven months, but it cleared up and then I was fine again, because we did another tour after that and I was fine. But, unfortunately, on stage, you don't have any defense. So when we started the tour, I was just fine; we were just rolling along and rolling along. And I think just age and that industrial noise every night on stage… I mean, you're in a rock and roll band. What the hell do you expect?"

According to Johnson, his hearing issues started interfering with his ability to perform once AC/DC returned to the road in support of the band's latest album, "Rock Or Bust". He said: "In Sydney, before Christmas, I was in the hospital on nine different occasions working with this wonderful doctor called Doctor Chang, and he had perceived that one night, we were playing Winnipeg at this huge stadium outside and it was raining cats and dogs, and it was absolutely freezing cold. And I caught a fever, and so did… well, Angus [Young, AC/DC guitarist] already had a fever. We were dripping wet, soaking wet, [and it was] absolutely freezing, and then straight after the show, we had to get on an aircraft and fly straight to Vancouver, which was a two-and-a-half-hour flight, and unfortunately, the fluids went up into my sinuses and then around my ear. But we had to carry on. We did a gig there, then we did San Francisco, then we did Los Angeles, and then we came home for a two- or three-week break, and then off we went to Australia. And my ears still hadn't popped. And I was getting worred because my right ear, my good ear is just about totally deaf. And when I got [to Australia], that's when Doctor Chang found out that the fluids had crystallized and had been eating away at my ear. So my good ear, I lost… I don't know what percentage, but it was enough to make things very difficult. So they worked on me. They had tubes in my arm, I was getting liquids and steroids into the system to try to break it down and clear it up. But he did look me in the eye with that horrible look that doctors have when you know something bad's coming [laughs], and he just said, 'Yup. I'm afraid you're not gonna get that back. But we can work with you, and we'll try it.' So we did. And we did all the gigs in Australia — that was great — and then we came back and I did ten shows in America, but I'm afraid after that, when I went for my second check, that's when they said, 'You're killing your ears.'"

Johnson said that was told by doctors that he could not perform on stage at arena- and stadium-size venues where the sound levels were beyond his current tolerance without the risk of substantial hearing loss and possibly total deafness.

"The [other members of AC/DC] saw the chart, 'cause I'd been getting checked regularly, and they saw there was a massive dip, and if I had kept on going, there was every possibility that I would never hear again," Brian said. "And Angus and Cliff [Williams, AC/DC bassist], they just said, 'Jonno, you've gotta think of your health.' And everybody else said, 'Brian, your health comes first. You've done a whole year on the road, you've done everything. We wanna finish.' And that's what they did."

Despite the fact that he may not ever be able to perform live anymore, Johnson considers himself fortunate to have had such a long and successful career with AC/DC.

"What people don't understand is, it is what it is," he said. "It's like a young sports player getting an injury. I feel sorry for them [when they're] 24 or 25 and they have an injury and it ends their career and it's an awful thing. But I'm lucky. I'm 68 — I'm 69 later this year — and I've had a pretty good run. I've been in one of the best bands in the world. [The doctor] didn't tell me I had cancer or something terminal. And I had so many good times with the boys and I've had such a lucky and great life, and I'm just thankful, really, that I came out of it in one piece."

GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose took over the mic in AC/DC after Johnson was forced off the road. Rose, who broke his foot on April 1 during a club show with the reunited GUNS, is slated for now to play AC/DC's current run of European shows as well as ten postponed North American gigs.

Angus Young recently said that the decision to have Brian replaced for the current AC/DC tour "was out of our hands," insisting that "it was [Brian's] call what he felt" the best way to proceed was.

"We wouldn't win in a lot of situations because if we just stopped, there would have been a lot of people unhappy," he said.

MÖTLEY CRÜE and SIXX:A.M. bassist Nikki Sixx's memoir, "The Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star", is inching closer to being turned into a Broadway play. Sixx tells Nuber of the Columbus, Ohio radio station 99.7 The Blitz (see video below): "[The play is] almost complete. And most of the music is from SIXX:A.M. There's a couple of MÖTLEY CRÜE songs in there, because it is my life. But the Broadway play is really written… Yes, it's based on 'The Heroin Diaries' book, and the music plays to that, because it was the soundtrack to the book, but it's a little wider scope than that. It will probably tell some version of your story, or my story. There's a lot of issues within it, that if you broke down psychologically what 'The Heroin Diaries' is about, there's a lot of issues with abandonment, family issues and survival. So it's a really interesting play, and it's actually quite hopeful."

Asked if fans can expect to see "The Heroin Diaries" "shortly," Sixx responded: "Anything to do with Broadway or the movies, you can never say 'shortly,' but we are getting closer to the 'let's pull the trigger' line."

"The Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star", which was supposedly taken from actual journals Sixx kept in the late '80s while in the grip of a near-fatal heroin addiction, was originally released September 18, 2007 via MTV Pocketbooks/Simon & Schuster and debuted at #7 on the New York Times Book Review non-fiction best-seller list.

Twenty-five percent of the book's profits were reportedly donated to Running Wild In The Night — Sixx's fundraising initiative for Covenant House California, which helps keep runaway, abused and abandoned youth off the streets.

The 400-plus page book, written in part with journalist Ian Gittins, was previously described as "a brutally honest look at Sixx's hellish year, one which saw him overdose and be declared clinically dead at one point while MÖTLEY CRÜE toured behind its 'Girls, Girls, Girls' album."

In a March 2010 interview with Brazil's Dynamite magazine, Sixx's former MÖTLEY CRUE bandmate, singer John Corabi, questioned the authenticity of "The Heroin Diaries", saying, "I love Nikki to death, and this is just my opinion... Everybody that I know that's done heroin, they do heroin and they're out. And I find it very hard to believe that somebody can do heroin and then have the foresight to write everything down. Everybody that read the book said it was great, though; it was a great book. It's great reading, it's a great book... More power to him, you know."

In February 2008, former MÖTLEY CRÜE producer Tom Werman slammed "Heroin Diaries" as "totally deluded" and "stunningly inaccurate."

In a letter to the New York Times, Werman took issue with Sixx's assertion that the producer chatted on the phone during the recording of "Theatre of Pain", "Shout at the Devil" and "Girls Girls Girls" while Sixx did all the work.

"If this distortion of reality is the result of Sixx's past heroin habit, then his diary is truly nothing more than a pipe dream, and the events to which this book refers may simply be the needle-induced fantasies of an attention-starved junkie," Werman wrote.

On May 20th, Sebastian Bach performed in Sayreville, NJ at the Starland Ballroom. During the show Bach welcomed Metal Mike Chlasiak to the stage to perform "American Metalhead". It was the first time in eight years the duo had performed together. Fan-filmed video is available below.

Tour dates:

May
22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar
24 - Cincinnati. OH - Bogart's
25 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
26 - St. Charles, IL - The Arcada Theatre
27 - Toledo, OH - Ohio Bike Week*
28 - Dubuque, IA - Mystique Casino
29 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma*
31 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

June
1 - Lincoln, NE - Vega
2 - Engelwood, CO - Gothic Theatre
3 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot

* - Festival date

On July 23rd, and again on August 20th,  it's going to get wild at the Center Bar inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada as Sebastian Bach will be the guest DJ. Bach will start spinning at 11PM on both nights, and admission is FREE.

In anticipation of the June 28th publication of his autobiography 18 And Life On Skid Row, Sebastian Bach has embarked on a US Spring Tour that will incorporate an intimate acoustic set followed by a full electric live show.

"'An Evening with Sebastian Bach'. No, that doesn't mean we're going to end up in the back of a police car. It means that for selected shows on the upcoming tour, we want to do something brand-new. Let's bring the music back to its purest form. We have been touring a lot in the last few years so it's time to do something different. You're going to get two sets for the price of one. We're going to open up the show with some stripped-down tunes, re-set the stage, and then come back with the Big Guns," says Bach.

About 18 And Life On Skid Row, Bach says, "Pushing the book gives us the opportunity to really finish it properly. The publishers asked me for 30 pictures. I gave them 150. There are easy ways to do memoirs, simple ways to do biographies. What separates these books is the archival content. 18 And Life On Skid Row could also be called the Skid Row Archives. I am giving you my personal collection, photos, & documents none of you have ever seen. A lot of them. I look forward to the book release and the book tour following the book release. If I am going to go on a tour of book stores, I have to really be into the book. June 28th release date gives us an extra month to pay attention to detail. In a project of this scope there are many details."

In his memoir, Bach recounts lurid tales of excess and debauchery as he toured the world with Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, Soundgarden, Pantera, Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses. Filled with never before seen photos from his own personal collection, 18 And Life On Skid Rowis the story of hitting it big at a young age, and of creatively reeling from a band that broke up in its prime.

From a man who achieved his wildest dreams, only to lose his family, and then his home, this is a tale of perseverance, of wine, women and song, and of a man who has made his life on the road. 18 And Life On Skid Row is not your ordinary rock memoir, because Sebastian Bach is not your ordinary rock star.

American singer Tony Harnell has rejoined Norwegian rockers TNT, less than a year and a half after his most recent departure from the group.

Harnell and TNT guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø will start writing new material together for the first time in over ten years, with plans to enter the studio this summer to start recording new music. The rest of the band's new lineup will be announced soon.

Comments Harnell in a statement: "We're happy to be working together creatively again and hope our fans are are as excited as we are.

"We're already booking shows in the U.S. and across the world in 2017 and also hope to play in as many countries as possible over the next couple of years. Hopefully many countries that we haven't been to in a long time or perhaps ever!"

Harnell last quit TNT in January 2015 after a fifteen-month stint with the group, explaining that he "had really high hopes that it would last this time and that we would continue for years to come, but it is a very volatile little machine." He later told "The Classic Metal Show": "What happened, basically, was that I never actually got grooved back in with the band. I had about three months' worth of conversations with Diesel [TNT drummer Morten Dahl]. We finally came to an agreement where I said I'll do two shows. And those two shows were about three months apart, maybe four months apart. And he said, 'Fine.' I said, 'Let's see how the first show goes. If it goes okay, then we'll talk about business and we'll figure out a way to, basically, operate as a band. Because we had no plan in place. It was just… Was I gonna be a hired gun in my own band? Was I gonna come back into the company? I mean, there were a lot of questions to be answered. In this particular situation, the drummer is the booking agent. And that was always a problem for me, because I think it's a conflict of interest. So I was trying from the very beginning to change that. And when I said 'yes' the first two gigs, suddenly up on his web site for his booking agency, there was a photograph and, basically, saying that TNT was available for dates. So before I could even get grooved in and make any sort of agreement, there were ten dates booked, and then there were fifteen dates booked, and then twenty and so on and so on."

He continued: "You have to understand that in the business that we're in, he knew that he kind of had me by the balls, because once you book a show, and then you say 'no,' well, who's gonna get blamed? So to save face and to not… I was put in a very awkward situation, on purpose, and I was put on a spot. So being that I love the fans, and being that I love to perform live, I said, 'You know what?! Fine. We will work out the kinks as we go along. Let's do these shows, and as we go, we will have days off, and we will have meetings and we will work out the kinks. Well, try as I did, those meetings, which went on for hours, many of them, unfortunately, turned out to be completely a total waste of time. And there are many reasons why, and, again, I'm not gonna throw people under the bus and get into the details of why, but that's basically all I that I have to say about it. I did my very best to keep it together and to keep it professional. I wanted to stay in the band for the rest of my music career; that was my goal. I said, 'Okay, this is it. We can make this work.' People wanted the band. There were people all over the world that wanted to book the band and that were excited we were back together. The shows went phenomenally well. We were very well received at Sweden Rock, which is a wonderful festival, in front of 25,000 people on the night BLACK SABBATH played, and we did very, very well, and had a lot of shows like that. A lot of sold-out shows. So it was a very successful run. And the band went from being, basically, a struggling club band to getting back up to the stature where… close to the stature I had left it in 2006. But I couldn't get anywhere."

Harnell added: "I guess the realization of it was, because we couldn't work the business out, I was back as far as the fans were concerned, and even as far as I was concerned, and probably as far as the band was concerned, I was back. The band was back together, and we fully intended on going forward for as many years as possible. It is being portrayed now as though the plan was that I was only coming back for 2014 to do an 'Intuition' reunion tour, and that is absolutely, completely one hundred percent false. We were all in it for the long haul, and I tried to make it work for that. But when September [2014] came and the touring ended, nobody wanted to talk to me anymore, and my calls were not being returned, and my e-mails were not being returned by the most important people in the band that had the most influence. And the manager that came in to quote 'save the day' actually sunk the ship."

Back in November 2014, Le Tekrø spoke about TNT's plans for a new studio album, telling Metal Express Radio: "We're working constantly, making new plans, trying to find a period for songwriting before April, and hopefully going into the studio next fall." The guitarist added that TNT fans could expect to hear "strong songs… We already wrote three songs we're satisfied with. So I'm excited. [We're] trying to maintain the TNT sound."

Le Tekrø said the next TNT album would be recorded with the entire band playing together in the studio and not by sending each other files via the Internet. "I refuse to do that," he said. "I've never done that. The producer's gotta be there and the musicians, in the same room. Otherwise, I wouldn't call it an album. Then it's a project. There's no spirit in those albums. Maybe in electronic music you can do it. If you're working with rock and roll, the people have gotta be there, and rehearse and play."

British singer Tony Mills appeared on three studio albums from TNT: 2007's "The New Territory", 2008's"Atlantis" and 2010's "A Farewell To Arms".

After leaving TNT in January 2015, Harnell joined SKID ROW three months later, only to exit that band last December.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS frontman Anthony Kiedis says that he "feels good" a week after the band was forced to cancel two concerts because the singer was hospitalized with an intestinal flu.

"It was a painful and sad thing to have to cancel shows; we don't really do that," the 53-year-old singer told ET Canada. "I'd rather play deathly ill than not at all, but in this particular instance I was starting to go down to the ground. I got some help and now I've got to figure things out."

Anthony revealed that he had inflammation in his "guts" which, combined with a recent virus and existing scar tissue from hernia operations, led to complications. "That becomes an incredibly painful situation where you get a fever and pass out," he said.

Kiedis is now on the road to recovery. "I feel good — not great, but good", he said. "I think I had to get sick to take a look at myself and get to the causes and conditions of my overall health.

"Lo an behold, I'm on the mend."

The singer added that his latest health scare has changed his outlook on how he lives his life. "I push pretty hard sometimes and I do take my health for granted on a certain level because I feel strong and capable," he explained. "I surf most days and I like to charge, but every now and then, the body is, like, 'You're doing something wrong. Either fix it or we're gonna let you know about it,' and I think that my body let me know that I had to change my ways a little bit."

The CHILI PEPPERS are set to close the Rock On The Range festival Sunday night (May 22) in Columbus, Ohio.

You can watch Kiedis's interview with ET Canada at this location.

Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Flotsam And Jetsam’s guitarist Michael Gilbert as the band is set to release their new self titled album on May 20, 2016 on AFM records

On the difference in musical styles from their last albums to their new self titled album:

“What we did differently is we really focused on the songs because the last two years the feedback we got is we really want you guys to go back to old school thrash. We have been experimenting with a lot of stuff, we have been using some samples here and there, we slowed some songs down, and we’ve gone to some different genres. Just exploring a little bit, which feels good to me but what really feels like home is the thrash metal, the fast, speed metal we were doing on the first two records. So we got together and writing this album made more sense to me to play that type of music and it just feels more like home, ok this is what we belong to, this is what we do.”

On their reason for writing and releasing as a first single a song called "Iron Maiden":

“It was never a convinced idea, hey let’s do a song that kind of sounds like an Iron Maiden song. It was never designed for that at all. This one was one of Steve’s ideas and by the time it was done and Erica A.K. put that vocal melody on it, it was like 'Oh wow this is pretty cool.' We have gotten a lot of really great feedback. I haven’t seen one bad review on it yet.”

On if the band was ever upset with Jason Newsted for leaving them in 1986 to join Metallica:

“It’s was a great opportunity for him. I’m still great friends with Newsted I talk to him at least once or twice a month. Nobody was ever really mad at him. It was just a decision he wanted to make. We all knew Newsted was the guy for this, so we kind of expected it. Jason was definitely the right guy to fill Cliff’s shoes, really nobody can but Jason brought to Metallica his personality to that band. He has always been an over the top personality. Just an awesome character to hand out with, he is very funny, he is larger than life when you hang out with him.”

On whether Jason Newsted regretted quitting Flotsam and Jetsam after Metallica lowered his bass parts on ...And Justice For All:

“When he left this band he was deep into it, he was a full member and there would be no other band that he would leave to go join Metallica.  Garage Inc. came out before that and you can hear the bass on that and it sounded killer. And when Justice came out there was no bass, and I am not speaking because he told me this or that. Oh shit what the hell did I just do, I’m still in this band and but I am not heard. Which is awful because that guy is a tremendous bass player?"

Watch the whole interview below:

Flotsam And Jetsam have premiered a lyric video for the new track “Iron Maiden”, featured on the band’s new self-titled album, due for release on May 20th via AFM Records. The clip can be found below.

In addition to being available as a digipak CD, the album will also be available as a limited gatefold 2LP edition in black and gold, both limited to 500 copies.

A limited edition boxset (500 copies) will also be released and includes the digipak, a Flotsam And Jetsam flag (official tour backdrop design), patch, printed autograph card, and certificate of authenticity. Order details can be found at the AFM Records Shop.

The band states about signing with AFM Records: “Flotsam And Jetsam really appreciated the fact that AFM laid out a legitimate, business plan for us when they made their offer to sign us. We believe they are as committed to us as a band, as we are to providing them with quality metal to get behind and promote. Along with signing to a new label, all the forward movement for the band in the last two years has also allowed us to partner with new team members; like Chris Collier of CMC21 Productions, who just completed the mixing and mastering of the album and Andy Pilkington of Very Metal Art out of the UK, for the album cover and stage production art, who are both doing a phenomenal job for us. We’re looking forward to playing the music on this album live, which hasn’t been a luxury for the band on past releases, as well as debuting our new stage look.”

Flotsam And Jetsam album tracklisting:

“Seventh Seal”
“Life Is A Mess”
“Taser”
“Iron Maiden”
“Verge Of Tragedy”
“Creeper”
“L.O.T.D.”
“The Incantation”
“Monkey Wrench”
“Time To Go”
“Smoking Gun”
“Forbidden Territories”

“Iron Maiden” lyric video:

Flotsam and Jetsam is:

Eric “AK” Knutson - vocals
Steve Conley - guitars
Michael Gilbert - guitars
Michael Spencer - bass
Jason Bittner- drums

Members of TWISTED SISTER, TESTAMENT, QUIET RIOT, RATT and WINGER are among the musicians who performed a cover version of the OZZY OSBOURNE classic "Crazy Train" as the all-star finale of the first annual Vegas Rocks! Hair Metal Awards, which was held on Sunday, May 15 at the Casablanca Event Center At Eastside Cannery Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Video footage of their rendition can be seen below.

The following musicians took part in the jam:

* Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER)* Stephen Pearcy (RATT)* Doro Pesch* Kip Winger (WINGER)* Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT)* Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT)* Robert Sarzo (HURRICANE)* Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE)* Reb Beach (WINGER)* Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, OZZY OSBOURNE)

Vegas Rocks! Hair Metal Awards featured a special performance at the end of the show by TWISTED SISTER, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with the release of the acclaimed documentary "We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!", a three-CD live set, the release of a memorial concert to their fallen brother A.J. Pero, and a farewell tour titled "40 & F*ck It!"

SCORPIONS made an appearance at the event to receive the "Classic Rock Outstanding Lifetime Achievement" award. In addition, German metal queen Doro Pesch was presented with the "Metal Goddess" award. Other artists that appeared and were honored/featured included QUIET RIOT, WINGER and ANGEL (full original lineup).

Monika Bruhn of SVT.se spoke to Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA while they were recording their next album at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. Helming the sessions for the follow-up to 2013's "The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" is Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with OPETH, KREATOR, PARADISE LOST, SOILWORK and AMON AMARTH, among others.

"We did like a small research on different producers that we didn't work [with] before; we wanted to work with somebody new," explained SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser. "And the Swedish music and scene and the bands like MESHUGGAH, OPETH and many others inspired us to come here and to work with him. He also worked with KREATOR, a band from Germany, and ANGRA, another band from Brazil, friends of ours, and I was really impressed with the way he worked [with] both bands."

According to SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green, the band's next record will see him and his bandmates continuing to take their sound in new, previously unexplored directions, something that has become somewhat of a SEPULTURA trademark.

"The is album, it's exciting, because I think a lot of fans don't have any idea what to expect, but they know that a SEPULTURA album is always different from the last," Derrick said. "?I think that makes us better musicians, and I think that's what our fans expect."

SEPULTURA's next album is tentatively due this fall via Nuclear Blast.

"The Mediator Between The Head And Hands Must Be The Heart" was tracked over a 40-day period at producer Ross Robinson's (KORN, LIMP BIZKIT, SLIPKNOT) studio in Venice, California and was mixed and mastered by co-producer Steve Evetts, who previously worked with SEPULTURA on the "Nation" (2001), "Revolusongs" (2002) and "Roorback" (2003) albums, in addition to having collaborated with Ross on a number of other projects in the past.

Trailight bassist and mastermind Omer Cordell has checked in with the following:

"Recording schedule for the new album is taking shape. Kickstarter campaign in the works, guest appearances TBD, we're slowly transitioning to summer and this is indeed a transitory album both musically and lyrically. I am very excited about this one! It will be perfect for an early fall release. More details later on."

Trailight, featuring vocalist Dave Padden (ex-Annihilator), recently released a cover of the Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds classic "The Weeping Song". It features Padden and Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell on vocals and released on February 22nd. Check it out below.

Cordell: "I can only think of a handful of people alive today who I consider to be the most prolific and inspiring artists who have influenced and inspired countless of people all over the world yet, in some way are considered to be unpopular. Who instead of following trends, the trends seem to follow them. Who continue to create their art without having to compromise their artistic vision and by doing so, they are able to create their own fusion and magic in music, words and visuals.And so, I wish to pay tribute to one of those people; one who I consider to be the most important artists of our time; the great Nick Cave. This is our version of 'The Weeping Song'

My endless gratitude to Dave Padden, Burton C. Bell, Cory McBain and Adrian Windsor for their great talent and hard work!"

Cordell spoke with BraveWords scribe Carl Begai about Trailight last year. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

“When I was first starting to think about doing this project, considering the vibe and riffs I was coming up with – ‘A Thousand Years’ was the first song I wrote – I knew who I wanted to play drums on it. Ryan has known me as a photographer for years, so when I called him up it was like ‘This may come as a surprise, but I’m making music now…’ (laughs). I asked if he’d be interested in playing on it and he wanted to hear the demos, but he had a bunch of touring to finish with Devin and then record the DVP double album. After that he had time to do my stuff.”

“Ryan came back from Devin’s album recording, learned my songs in about a week or 10 days, we had one day of pre-production where I had a chance to hear what he would be doing in the studio. Three days later we were in the studio and 10 hours later he was done recording. When we were finished I knew why I’d gotten Ryan to do it. He not only fits stylistically, he was also such an immense help with the whole process. I was basically flying blind. I’d been to the studios lots of times back when Strapping was around to take photos, but I’d never actually recorded in one before, so Ryan was helpful in guiding me.”

Cordell also took on outside help to produce The Primitive Mountain, a long and drawn out process that slowly deteriorated as the songs were being mixed. He eventually opted to take on the task of mixing and mastering himself; a daunting task on one hand, but the only option left if the album was going to live up to his expectations. Rather than a play-by-play of events, Cordell channels Metallica to sum up the situation.

“As far as the mix of the album, the first batch of songs that I sent you sound like St. Anger, and the final mixes sound like the Black album.”

Go to this location for the complete story.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Ozzy Osbourne may have strayed but he is apparently on a quest to get his family back.

A source has revealed to Page Six that he has cut off contact with his alleged mistress and added, "His family really is very important to him and he's come to his senses. Sharon is Ozzy's whole life; he can't manage without her."

Ozzy was reportedly seeing a celebrity hairstylist for at least six months in addition to rumored encounters with at least two other women.

The insider also said of Sharon's attitude about taking him back: "She'll wait months. It's a huge decision with a lot of moving parts, so she's going to see how everything shakes out before deciding what she wants to do and what is best for their kids."

Ozzy and Sharon were videotaped on Friday (May 20) leaving a Beverly Hills, California medical building. They were also were previously seen in public together at a press conference announcing Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, a two-day combined metal and heavy rock festival that will be headlined by SABBATH and SLIPKNOT in September.

The two shared the stage and Ozzy even put his arms around his wife, although the gesture was not returned.

Sharon, who has said she will continue to manage Ozzy's career, addressed the trouble in her marriage during a May 10 appearance on "The Talk", saying: "I don't know where I am going, who I'm going with and I just need time to think and really think about myself and what I really want for the rest of my life."

She admitted that she kicked Ozzy out of their Beverly Hills home, although he has since returned and she has left.

"Startariot", a brand new song from HELLYEAH, can be streamed using the Spotify widget below. The track is taken from the band's fifth album, "Unden!able", which will be released on June 3 via Eleven Seven Music. The effort marks the first time HELLYEAH's current lineup — vocalist Chad Gray, guitarists Tom Maxwell and Christian Brady, drummer Vinnie Paul and bassist Kyle Sanders — has recorded together as a unit, promising a very special return to their true metal roots.

"Unden!able" was produced in Las Vegas at The Hideout Recording Studio by Kevin Churko (PAPA ROACH, ROB ZOMBIE), and showcases everything that the band's fans have come to know and love in a more focused, concise, and powerful sound, with Churko co-writing all songs.

The album art by William Felch and Chad Gray features a predatory, gleaming eye with an exclamation point pupil — the ultimate signifier of what’s inside: anger, pain and a hyper-focused, high octane, heavy metal collection for the ages.

Maxwell offered: "There's a lot of new stuff coming out that we've never tried before, and a lot of heavy shit… It's gonna be moody, it's gonna be dark, it's gonna be crushing, it's gonna be heartbreaking, it's gonna be everything. So it's going to be a proper take-off from our last record, but with a lot of new surprises, musically and lyrically. We are moving forward with the path that we've taken with 'Blood For Blood'. It's a really, really savage album, and we’re really excited for fans to hear it."

"Unden!able" will be available just in time for HELLYEAH's upcoming "Hell Pop Tour" with IN THIS MOMENT, which starts on June 18 in Des Moines, Iowa. This run will follow HELLYEAH's "We're All In This Together" headlining tour which also features ESCAPE THE FATE, NEW YEARS DAY and FROM ASHES TO NEW.

"Unden!able" track listing:

01. !02. X03. Scratch A Lie04. Be Unden!able05. Human06. Leap of Faith07. Blood Plague08. I Don't Care Anymore09. Live Or Die10. Love Falls11. 10-3412. Startariot13. Grave

Saigon Kick guitarist Jason Bieler has released another new song via his Owl Stretching side-project. He has posted the following update:

"My apologies for the constant flow of new tunes, but please do not feel obligated to purchase it, just check it out and enjoy. This is my version of a pop tune. Of course, if you feel compelled by your enjoyment to purchase music, that is also welcomed and appreciated!"

Brooklyn by Owl Stretching

Bieler released another new song via his Owl Stretching side-project back in January He posted the track along with the following update:

"So strange that I wrote and recorded this song on Friday (January 8th) and did this Bowie 'Fame' vocal nod that I was going to take out just because it was, well, a rip, but now I will leave it in as a small nod to the genius."

True Love by Owl Stretching

Saigon Kick recorded a cover of the David Bowie classic 'Space Oddity' for their Water album in 1993 featuring Bieler on lead vocals (check it out below). Bieler checked in with a tribute to Bowie, who passed away at 69 on January 10th following an 18 month battle with cancer.  

"Getting a message that David Bowie thought a cover you did 'was really good' was a massive career highlight, even if he was just being kind. Knowing that in some microscopic way we briefly crossed paths is like saying you shared a cup of coffee with Dali or rode the train with John Lennon, irrelevant in their worlds but life changing in yours. I had no idea he was that ill when I posted about him on Friday (January 8th). I spent the entire weekend listening to the Blackstar album over and over, talking with my daughter about how amazing it is to be that current, cutting edge and relevant for so long... as he is on her playlists as much as mine. Music and life done right…well done Mr. Bowie."

MEGADETH played its first show with drummer Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK) on Friday, May 20 at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

MEGADETH recruited Verbeuren to play drums for the band while Chris Adler is busy touring with LAMB OF GOD.

Adler played drums on MEGADETH's latest album, "Dystopia", and has taken part in most of the band's live shows in support of the CD so far. On those shows where Adler was unable to play with MEGADETH, he was temporarily replaced by Tony Laureano (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, NILE, ANGELCORPSE), the veteran extreme-metal skinsman who has worked as MEGADETH's drum tech since 2011. However, going forward, MEGADETH will utilize the services of Verbeuren, the 40-year-old Belgian-born-and-now-Los-Angeles-based drummer who has been playing with SOILWORK since 2005.

Verbeuren was recommended for the MEGADETH job by Adler, who called Dirk "probably [one of the] top three drummers in the world." Chris told Banger TV's "Lock Horns" how the connection came about. "MEGADETH is on tour now doing a couple of festivals — same festivals that LAMB OF GOD is," he said. "We tried as much as we could with all the promoters and all the festivals to have us coincide and play on the same day. I've done double duty with LAMB and MEGADETH across the U.K. and just done five shows with them along this tour that we're currently on right now, because we were able to collide and make those things happen. As we go in different reactions and play different things, MEGADETH has a drummer to be able to play those shows. Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman] would certainly prefer to have me there, and I love playing with those guys and I would love to be there, but obviously I cannot be in two places at once."

He continued: "Dave asked me… He said, 'As we're doing this, and if you're not able to be there… I understand you wanna fulfill your commitment with LAMB OF GOD. And we're planning on going over to Europe while LAMB OF GOD is still touring. Help me find… Who would you want to drum for us?' And I said, 'First of all, the drum tech you currently have, Tony, who was the drummer for DIMMU BORGIR and ANGELCORPSE, [he's an] amazing drummer, so you have someone on staff that can easily do this.' But then he asked, 'Well, if there was someone out there that you would personally recommend, personality-wise and playing-wise?' And [Dirk] just began the job today."

While Verbeuren is playing with MEGADETH, his seat in SOILWORK will be occupied by Bastian Thusgaard of THE ARCANE ORDER.

MEGADETH's current lineup is rounded out by longtime bassist David Ellefson and Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA.

MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell's ALL STARR BAND played at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands on April 29. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

ALL STARR BAND features Phil alongside his three sons: Todd, his eldest, and Dane from STRAIGHT LINES; and Tyler from THE PEOPLE THE POET.

"It's good to play gigs in new places," Phil told Birmingham Mail.

"We play great shows in large venues and we play great shows in smaller venues," he added. "I love the smaller shows, personally. It makes a nice change, for sure."

ALL STARR BAND's setlist is full of classic MOTÖRHEAD songs infused with covers of some of Phil's favorite bands, including BLACK SABBATH.

Asked what fans can expect when they see ALL STARR BAND, Campbell told Birmingham Mail: "It's a party atmosphere. You can expect good quality cover songs from a great band with a great singer. There [are] some MOTÖRHEAD songs, some other classics, and [it is] a great experience for everyone."

According to Phil, the ALL STARR BAND is looking to enter the studio in the coming months to record some of its own music. "We've been writing original material and, hopefully, there will be some concrete plans on that front for the future," he said.

Phil Campbell was the lead guitarist in MOTÖRHEAD for more than 30 years.