MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine says that he is reconsidering his decision to never play the band's 1986 song "The Conjuring" again, explaining that he wouldn't mind reintroducing the track at MEGADETH's live shows "as long as it doesn't hurt anybody."

Mustaine wrote in his autobiography, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir", that he practiced black magic as a teenager, and that the experience — which inspired "The Conjuring" — affected his life for years after.

Speaking to "The Morning Blaze With Gus & Izzy" show on the Fresno radio station 105.1 The Blaze, Mustaine was asked about his refusal to play "The Conjuring" at MEGADETH's concerts. He said (hear audio below): "I used to do black magic when I was a kid, and I put a hex on a dude and his leg kind of got messed up. The other one was I put a sex hex on this girl and the next night she was in my bed, so I think that it worked."

He continued: "But the funny thing [is] Chis Adler [current MEGADETH drummer] just said, 'Hey, dude, can we re-record 'The Conjuring' with different lyrics?' And I was, like, 'Nah. You know what? Maybe I should re-think this whole thing.' Because when I first did the whole, 'You know what? I'm not gonna be a heathen anymore. I'm gonna clean up my life' thing, I kind of put some brakes on things I would and wouldn't do. And as I grow, I evolve in my outlook and my personal journey here, being a positive person and being a positive influence on other people's lives. So as long as it doesn't hurt anybody, I wouldn't mind doing the song again, 'cause it is a good song."

Mustaine previously spoke about his reluctance to perform "The Conjuring" during a 2011 interview with U.K.'s Total Guitar magazine. He stated at the time: "Performance-wise, 'The Conjuring' is one of the heaviest songs on [MEGADETH's 'Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?' album], but, unfortunately, it's got black magic in it and I promised that I wouldn't play it anymore, because there's a lot of instructions for hexes in that song. Although it seems kinda corny, anybody who's a Wiccan or a warlock or anything like that will know that all of that stuff is instrumental."

He continued: "When I got into black magic I put a couple of spells on people when I was a teenager and it haunted me forever, and I've had so much torment. People say, 'Goddamn, Dave never gets a break, he's had such a hard life,' and I just think, 'No, Dave didn't — he got into black magic and it ruined his life.' It wasn't that I was a bad guy or that I had a big mouth, it was that I got into witchcraft and black magic and it ruined my life. Fortunately for me, with all the work and the love of my friends, and not giving up with my guitar playing, I got over it. So I look back now and I think, "Hmm, I don't wanna play 'The Conjuring'."

Mustaine went on to say: "When I first got saved, I was really scared and I was basically holding on to anything that I heard in church or whatever, but as I've grown I've learned a lot and lightened up a lot, and I see people around me doing certain things and instead of me saying, 'Man, you shouldn't do that!' I think quietly to myself, 'Dude, you don't know what you're doing…' It's a huge growth process."

MEGADETH's fifteenth studio album, "Dystopia", will be released on January 22. The follow-up to 2013's "Super Collider" was recorded last year year in Nashville, Tennessee and was mixed by Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, ALL THAT REMAINS and GOJIRA.

LAST IN LINE singer Andrew Freeman has paid tribute to legendary bassist Jimmy Bain saying that he "will be forever indebted to this man for the encouraging spirit he graced me with."

Bain, along with drummer Vinny Appice and guitarist Vivian Campbell, was part of the original DIO lineup, which reunited in 2012 alongside Freeman to form LAST IN LINE.

Bain died over the weekend at the age of 68. He passed away while the DIO offshoot band LAST IN LINE was taking part in DEF LEPPARD's "Hysteria On The High Seas" cruise. No cause of death has been revealed, although it has been reported that he was ill for some time.

Writing on his Facebook page, Freeman said: "As I am sure you all have heard, we lost our friend and bandmate Jimmy Bain over the weekend.

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Jimmy for about 10 years through a few music projects and our recent band, LAST IN LINE.

"I cannot stress the level of sadness and loss that I feel losing such a close friend and mentor. Jimmy, along with Vivian Campbell and Vinny Appice, welcomed me into their intimate artistic circle, entrusting me the responsibility of performing a legendary library of music and building a new one. I will be forever indebted to this man for the encouraging spirit he graced me with.

"Rest easy, my friend. I will do my best to carry on your legacy.

LAST IN LINE will release its debut album, "Heavy Crown", on February 19 via Frontiers Music Srl. The CD was recorded at a Southern California studio with producer Jeff Pilson, a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N, among others.

Guitarist Richard Fortus and keyboardist Dizzy Reed have left THE DEAD DAISIES, leading to speculation that they will be part of the reunited GUNS N' ROSES lineup.

Fortus and Reed exited THE DEAD DAISIES in order to take part in "a momentous project in 2016," THE DEAD DAISIES said in a statement.

THE DEAD DAISIES have commenced work on a new album with producer Marti Frederiksen in Nashville for a late 2016 release. Joining bassist Marco Mendoza, guitarist David Lowy, singer John Corabi and drummer Brian Tichy in the studio is former WHITESNAKE and DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich.

Lowy says: "It's been a privilege and a pleasure to write, record and perform with such talented world-class musicians and all-around great guys. I've personally learned so much from both of them.

"We're very excited to announce Doug Aldrich will be joining THE DEAD DAISIES in the lead guitar role. Doug was Richard's first pick to replace him. He's a highly accomplished musician, performer and songwriter and we're really looking forward to Doug joining us as THE DEAD DAISIES adventure rolls on."

Aldrich says: "I'm very, very happy to join my friends Marco, Brian, John and David in the next chapter of THE DEAD DAISIES. I love the band and I'm looking forward to getting busy on the new record.

"This band is bringing back a raw, back to the bones sound that a lot of groups go for but THE DEAD DAISIES are looking to nail. At this point in time, we are looking to have a kick-ass rock 'n roll album in the can by spring 2016."

Fortus adds: "When we started speaking about finding someone to replace me, the first suggestion I had was Doug Aldrich. It doesn't get any better than Doug in my book. I am so happy that he is able and willing to step in and take over. I think that it will elevate the band to the next level.

"Thanks to everyone that has supported the DAISIES over the last couple of years. Stay tuned to see what they come up with next. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."

GUNS N' ROSES has announced four headlining performances in April, with original members Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan the only members confirmed so far.

The rest of the lineup for the shows — and a potential tour later in the year — remains unclear, although keyboardist Chris Pitman, Reed, drummer Frank Ferrer and Fortus are all believed to be involved.

The status of original members Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler remains unknown, along with that of "Use Your Illusion"-era drummer Matt Sorum.

Jose Mangin, SiriusXM on-air host (Liquid Metal, Ozzy's Boneyard, Octane), conducted an interview with ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott at the Dean Guitars booth at this year's NAMM show in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked about ARCH ENEMY's plans for the coming months, Amott said: "We're kind of slowing down a bit. We just did put out a new album in 2014 called 'War Eternal', and it did very, very well for us all over the world, and we just completed a three-hundred -date world tour. So three hundred shows is a lot, and we're kind of feeling… We're slowing down a little bit now. We're kind of gonna take a bit of a break and, yeah, just write some new music… I always write music. There's bits and pieces floating around on various laptops and phones and just up here [points to his head]. So, yeah, we're gonna try to put that all together. But, you know, I'd rather make an album when we have something to say as a band. I just don't wanna be on a schedule and like, 'It's gotta be out by that time next year,' and work towards… I'd rather have good music and then start thinking about making a new album."

"War Eternal" sold around 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 44. The CD was released on June 10, 2014 in North America via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created by Costin Chioreanu.

ARCH ENEMY in November 2014 parted ways with guitarist Nick Cordle and replaced him with former NEVERMORE axeman Jeff Loomis. Loomis made his live debut with ARCH ENEMY on the band's fall 2014 European tour.

The tour edition of "War Eternal" contains "Stolen Life (2015 Version)", featuring additional leads by Loomis as a bonus track as well as a DVD including an intense live set filmed in Korea plus all official videos.

DEFTONES have released a short teaser video for their new album, "Gore", due on April 8 via Warner Bros. Records. Check it out below.

During a November 2015 interiew with BBC Radio 1's "Rock Show", DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno stated about "vibe" of the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2012's "Koi No Yokan": "I can't really compare it to our last couple of records. I mean, those two records were done in a very similar manner where we locked ourselves in a room for a short period of time and wrote and recorded it. And therefore, I feel like we sort of really captured this moment in time, and the records sort of sound cohesive because of that. This record was done sort of over a year, spread out over these little, tiny writing sections. So it sounds a bit more fragmented, but in a good way. I mean, I feel like you put on one song and it's completely different from the song after it, or previous to it. So it's not like we had this one main idea and we went in and we sort of went with that vibe. I mean, the vibe's sort of all over the place. So, like any DEFTONES record, I mean, it's got dynamics and there's loud aggressiveness and there's mellowness to it, but it's all sort of got an ebb and flow to it. I don't know… It'd be hard for me to just put it in words exactly what it sounds like. It's definitely a DEFTONES record. The way I look at it is it's a gradual step from where we last were."

According to Moreno, sixteen songs were written for DEFTONES' new CD, which was once again produced by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, MONSTER MAGNET, WINDS OF PLAGUE). The effort features a guest appearance by Jerry Cantrell (ALICE IN CHAINS).

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS — the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (ex-FIREWIND) — will release its ninth studio album, titled "Sunrise To Sundown", on March 18 in Europe and March 25 in North America via InsideOut Music. The CD's cover artwork was created by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight13Media (AT THE GATES, GRAVE, ARCTURUS).

"Sunrise To Sundown" track listing:

01. Sunrise To Sundown02. Diamond Under Pressure03. What Doesn't Kill You04. Hard Road05. Still Hunter06. No Man's Land07. I Turn To Stone08. Dark Light Child09. Lonely Freedom10. You've Been Fooled11. Southern Star The album's limited edition version will be released as two-CD mediabook with a bonus disc including seven tracks (two covers versions and five live songs) and an expanded booklet. The LP format will be on 180-gram vinyl and come in gatefold packaging with a double-sided poster as well as the full standard album on CD as bonus.

After a busy couple of last years with ARCH ENEMY, Michael Amott and his bandmates have once again found the availability and inspiration to lay down eleven dynamic and uplifting new songs, which not only easily demonstrate how much on top of their game SPIRITUAL BEGGARS still are after over twenty years of activities, but also add a fresh and spontaneous vibe to their impressive catalogue. Speaking about how the new album came together, Amott said: "We've been writing the album here and there over the last couple of years when our schedules have allowed us to meet up and spend a few days jamming. A few of the songs I wrote on my own; others were written by our keyboard player Per Wiberg. Our drummer Ludwig Witt submitted two tracks that are actually his first major contributions to the band as a writer — and they're great songs too! I also co-wrote a few tunes with Per Wiberg and that was really a lot of fun as well, it's been a very collaborative process." In contrast to the often-soulless current high-tech digital cut-paste recordings, "Sunrise To Sundown" was tracked live off the floor. Amott said: "I'm super excited about how the album sounds sonically. Our engineer, Staffan Karlsson, also produced and mixed the album, and the result is something we're very proud of.

"I think every album we have made (this being our ninth) has had its own vibe and atmosphere. I can honestly say this band has never made the same album twice.

"To me, 'Sunrise To Sundown' is the next chapter of the book we've been writing since we started the band over twenty years ago. Of course, the foundation of our style is heavy rock music, but we always keep evolving adding new influences and colours to the bands core sound." SPIRITUAL BEGGARS will embark on a European tour in support of "Sunrise To Sundown" in March.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS reissued two of its classic catalog titles on October 14, 2013: the band's 2005 "Demons" album was made available for the first time ever on vinyl via InsideOut Music; and their acclaimed and hard-to-find debut LP, the self-titled "Spiritual Beggars" from 1994, was re-released with over 70 minutes of unreleased bonus material via Century Media Records.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - DrumsPer Wiberg (OPETH) - KeyboardsSharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - BassApollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) – Vocals

DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott was forced to sit out part of the band's inaugural "Hysteria On The High Seas" cruise after coming down with "severe laryngitis." He was unable to join his bandmates for Saturday night's (January 23) concert aboard the MSC Divina, having already taken part in an unplugged storytellers concert and VIP reception at the ship's Pantheon Theatre.

Filling in for Elliott at DEF LEPPARD's show were LAST IN LINE's Andrew Freeman, MR. BIG's Eric Martin and WINGER's Kip Winger, with DEF LEPPARD guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell also pitching in.

Fan-filmed video footage of DEF LEPPARD's concert with guest singers can be seen below.

DEF LEPPARD's latest, self-titled studio album came out on October 30, 2015.

"Def Leppard" was made available through earMUSIC worldwide (excluding North America, Japan) in the following formats: CD, 2LP gatefold, digital download and on all streaming services.

The album entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 10 with first-week sales of just over 30,000 units — nearly all from pure album sales.

The surviving members of LAST IN LINE were joined by CINDERELLA bassist Eric Brittingham aboard DEF LEPPARD's inaugural "Hysteria On The High Seas" cruise to play a special set in memory of LAST IN LINE's bassist, Jimmy Bain, who died the previous night on the ship. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

Bain, along with drummer Vinny Appice and guitarist Vivian Campbell, was part of the original DIO lineup, which reunited in 2012 alongside singer Andrew Freeman to form LAST IN LINE.

Bain died over the weekend at the age of 68. No cause of death has been revealed, although it has been reported that he was ill for some time.

Campbell confirmed Bain's death, saying in a statement: "Jimmy's struggles with his demons were well documented through the years, but over the last 18 months, he had finally won that battle and he was bright and lucid and motivated throughout the writing and recording of the new record. He leaves behind him a rich legacy of work from RAINBOW, through WILD HORSES, DIO, and finally, LAST IN LINE.

"Jimmy was immensely proud of our new album and his input to it was immeasurable. He was a very kind and gentle and generous soul and our lives were greatly enriched for having known him. We will continue to celebrate his life through his music."

Born in Scotland on December 19, 1947, Bain joined RAINBOW in time to appear on the band's second album, 1976's "Rising". He was fired a year later and went on to guest with THIN LIZZY and work in THIN LIZZY frontman Phil Lynott's solo band, before forming WILD HORSES with ex-THIN LIZZY guitarist Brian Robertson. He appeared on Gary Moore's 1983 album "Dirty Fingers" before joining DIO and playing on seven DIO albums with vocalist Ronnie James Dio, from 1983 debut "Holy Diver" to 2002's "Killing The Dragon".

LAST IN LINE will release its debut album, "Heavy Crown", on February 19 via Frontiers Music Srl. The CD was recorded at a Southern California studio with producer Jeff Pilson, a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N, among others.

Swedish hard rockers EUROPE paid tribute to EAGLES guitarist Glenn Frey by performing a cover version of the EAGLES classic "Desperado" on January 25 at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, Arizona. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

Frey died on January 18 at the age of 67.

The surviving members of EAGLES posted a statement on their Facebook page citing "complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia" as the causes of Frey's death.

"Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide," said the statement.

EAGLES were forced to pull out of attending the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony last November because Frey required major surgery.

Frey's longtime EAGLES collaborator Don Henley said in a separate statement: "We were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the EAGLES were dissolved. Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn't quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven."

EAGLES' first best-of collection, "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975", is among the best-selling albums of all time, having sold more than 26 million copies. It was the first album to be certified platinum (one million sold) by the Recording Industry Association Of America, which introduced that classification in 1976.

Demon Records has announced the release of an extraordinary SAXON box set containing vinyl LPs of the band's nine studio albums recorded between 1991 and 2009. "Eagles And Dragons" will be released on March 18.

A trailer for "Eagles And Dragons" is available below.

"Eagles And Dragons" features nine seminal NWOBHM albums which before today, were only released on vinyl in some regions including Germany, Italy and the U.K., and in very limited amounts. These new luxury 180-gram vinyl versions, including inner sleeves with all the lyrics, are a must-have for fans and collectors. The hand-numbered outer slipcase box features a specially commissioned, beautiful brand new cover painting by SAXON's artist-in-residence, the legendary Paul Gregory. In addition, 500 copies with a framable print of the cover signed by SAXON frontman Biff Byford will be available exclusively from Demon's D2C store.

Byford commented: "From 1991's 'Solid Ball Of Rock' to 2009's 'Into The Labyrinth', this is the first time we have ever had a vinyl box set of nine albums in one package — never to be done again — with exclusive cover artwork from Paul Raymond Gregory. I can't wait to get my hands on one!"

Featured albums:

* "Solid Ball Of Rock" (1991)* "Forever Free" (1992)* "Dogs Of War" (1995)* "Unleash The Beast" (1997)* "Metalhead" (1999)* "Killing Ground" (2001)* "Lionheart" (2004)* "The Inner Sanctum" (2007)* "Into The Labyrinth" (2009)

NWOBHM legends SAXON released their self-titled debut in 1979, followed by "Wheels Of Steel" the following year, which reached #5 in the U.K. chart and gave fans two classics in the title track and "747". They established themselves as one of the icons of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal throughout the '80s. Later the band tried to attack the U.S. market taking a more melodic direction with release of "Destiny" in 1988, before going back to their original sound with 1991's "Solid Balls Of Rock", reaffirming their influence on the European metal scene. They continued touring and recording enjoying renewed success, with 2015's "Battering Ram" reaching the U.K. Top 50 and No. 12 in Germany. SAXON saw album sales topping 15 million worldwide, which included eight U.K. Top 40 albums across their career. They are considered a seminal act and are known to have inspired the likes of METALLICA, MEGADETH, PANTERA and plenty more.




(Thanks: NJthrasher)

Metal Wani's Anne Catherine Swallow recently conducted an interview with guitarist Johan Söderberg of Swedish death metallers AMON AMARTH. You can now listen to the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the decision to enlist guest drummer Tobias Gustafsson (VOMITORY) to play on the band's upcoming album, "Jomsviking":

Johan: "Actually, Tobias, he's an old friend of the band, and we instantly contacted him to make the album with us, because we knew he's a very positive guy and has great, creative ideas. We wanted to have somebody we knew very well when we wrote the album. Because it would have felt strange to start to write an album with somebody we never met before. He was only in the band for the making of the album. Now we're actually looking for a new drummer that's gonna be a permanent solution for the touring season. We have one guy we're trying at the moment that's gonna start the touring cycle, and then we will see if he has the potential to grow into the band on a personal level."

On how Doro Pesch came to guest on the song "A Dream That Cannot Be":

Johan: "Because this story has a very prominent character in the shape of a woman, so it felt… When he goes back in the story to try to win her back. We felt like that part of the story needed to have also female vocals. And then we started to think who could fit… which voice would into our style of music, and pretty much instantly we were thinking about Doro, since she has [a lot of character and a] heavy metal-sounding voice."

Drummer Fredrik Andersson left AMON AMARTH in March 2015 after 17 years.

"Jomsviking" will be released on March 25 via Metal Blade in North America and Sony Music internationally. The first concept record in AMON AMARTH's storied career tells a tragic tale of love and revenge, backed by the Swedes' trademark melodic, anthemic metal, which was produced and mixed once again by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, ACCEPT). The epic original story is set in the world of the Jomsvikings, the legendary order of mercenary Vikings.

AMON AMARTH frontman Johan Hegg explains: "The Jomsvikings were a shadowy and legendary sect of Viking mercenaries, as shrouded in myth now as they were when they fought across Europe and the Middle East. Ruthless and deadly warriors who fought for the highest bidder, their code was simple: Show no fear. Never retreat. Defend your brothers, and when called upon, avenge their deaths."

He continues: "I felt we were finally ready to use their story as the jumping off point for an AMON AMARTH album. The Jomsvikings and their world is the background for the story of a young man that is in love with a girl but unfortunately she's being married off. He accidentally kills a man when this happens and he has to flee — but he swears to have revenge and win her back. He can't let go of the past. He feels that he's been wronged and his life has been destroyed. The way the story evolves is not a happy story."

By far AMON AMARTH's most ambitious project to date, "Jomsviking" is available for pre-order in various formats now at AmonAmarth.com, where fans can also view the video for the album's first single, "First Kill". Produced by Grupa 13 and directed by Darek Szermanowicz (BEHEMOTH), "First Kill" was filmed in Gohrweide (Germany) and Warsaw (Poland) and features a cinematic depiction of the violent, brutal lyrics, along with powerful live footage of the band performing with their full dragon head and pyro stage set.

"Jomsviking" track listing:

01. First Kill02. Wanderer03. On A Sea Of Blood04. One Against All05. Raise Your Horns06. The Way Of Vikings07. At Dawn's First Light08. One Thousand Burning Arrows09. Vengeance Is My Name (bonus track - for digibook, digital, LP, and viking ship editions)10. A Dream That Cannot Be (feat. Doro Pesch)11. Back On Northern Shores

Adds Hegg: "'Deceiver Of The Gods' was very successful for us and we had a good run with that and did some really great tours. Even before we changed drummers for this record we had the idea to make a concept album. It was something we'd never done before and it gave us a challenge. I started writing the story, went into it wholeheartedly and once you start going down that path there's really no turning back."

Following "Jomsviking"'s release, AMON AMARTH will tour North America with fellow Swedes ENTOMBED A.D. and young USA metal upstarts EXMORTUS. For the first time, AMON AMARTH will be offering special VIP packages for the trek, which can be found here.

IN THIS MOMENT's 2007 debut album, "Beautiful Tragedy", is being made available for the first time on vinyl via brand new label Wargod.

Under exclusive license from Century Media, the "Beautiful Tragedy" vinyl package includes a heavy duty gatefold jacket and a 16 x 23 poster featuring an exclusive "Beautiful Tragedy"-era photo of vocalist Maria Brink, taken by veteran music photographer Jeremy Saffer.

Now available for pre-order from Wargod's store, the first press is limited to 1000 copies and includes clear vinyl (200), blue in white vinyl (400) and purple splatter (400).

100 bundles are being made available where you can pre-order all three color variations for a discounted price.

Pre-orders are shipping by the end of February, and any remaining copies will be made available for regular order on March 11.

IN THIS MOMENT's fifth album, "Black Widow", sold 36,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week of release to debut at No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart.

IN THIS MOMENT signed with Atlantic Records in 2013 after completing its contract with Century Media Records.

IN THIS MOMENT guitarist Chris Howorth recently told iRockRadio.com about the band's plans for a new studio album: "I personally am predicting we're gonna be hitting the studio sometime later in 2016 to hopefully have something out before the end of the year or the beginning of 2017. So touring half the year, writing and recording latter half the year. It's kind of my loose prediction."

Regarding IN THIS MOMENT's need to continue to put out studio albums, Chris said: "You've gotta do it, man. All the bands out there. These days, unless you're METALLICA, you can't wait five-six years between albums; you have to keep product out there, 'cause people will hear it and you'll do the tours, they'll see it live. And the only way to generate more buzz and get that hype going and get that fuel jetting and all the press and people like you wanting to talk to us, we need new topics and new stuff, man, and that's why we've gotta keep pumping it out."

Sweden’s Gehennah is back to stink up the scene once again, with their fourth full length album Too Loud To Live, Too Drunk To Die, set for release February 12th. This marks the bands album-debut on Metal Blade Records, and the first full length album by Gehennah since 1997's Decibel Rebel. Pre-order your copies of the album on vinyl and CD at this location.

Listen to the new song, “All Of The Decadence, None Of The Success”, streaming below:

The album contains 13 tracks of dirty and raw street-metal, destined to please the hardcore filth hounds of the scene, and annoy the ponytailed internet-snobs who prefer their metal clean and polished. The album was recorded in Studio Cobra in Stockholm and produced by Martin Eherencrona and Gehennah in the summer of 2015.

In early 2015 Gehennah released the extended EP Metal Police exclusively on vinyl through Metal Blade Records, a comeback that gained praise from old and new supporters. Metal Police is now available on CD as a bonus on the limited first edition of Too Loud To Live, Too Drunk To Die.

Too Loud To Live, Too Drunk To Die tracklisting:

“Still the Elite”
“Life Metal Must Die”
“Too Loud To Live, Too Drunk To Die”
“Scumbag”
“Gehennah Will Destroy Your Life”
“Let's Fall Off The Wagon”
“'Cause We're A Street Metal Band”
“Tonight We Fight”
“When All Else Fails - Destroy!”
“Low On Cash, High On Speed”
“We Stole Your Song”
“Unholy & Unpleasant”
“All Of The Decadence, None Of The Success”

“Life Metal Must Die”:

“Too Loud To Live, Too Drunk To Die” video:

(Photo - Gehenna Facebook)



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Northern Germany's infernal extreme metal duo, Mantar, have the artwork and tracklisting for their forthcoming album. Ode To The Flame will be out on April 15th via Nuclear Blast.

Comments the band: "Actually we discussed the possibility of having no cover at all. We kinda liked the idea of boycotting the need of any so called "art" which bands try to get people's attention with. The theme of the record is so one-dimensional and obvious that we decided to skip artwork and just put the title on the record to make it look more like an old book. A manifest, a challenge. We don't want people to speculate about any meaning. The meaning is clear: kill, destroy, fuck shit up."

Regarding the album title the band states: "The title Ode To The Flame is chosen in tradition of the debut record, Death By Burning to maintain the cleansing power of fire as the key theme. Fire is able to reset anything and will erase this planet one day from any plague that's been around. Furthermore it's obviously an ode to passion and iron will. Ode To The Flame isn't dramatic, it's drastic. By all means."

Tracklisting:

“Carnal Rising”
“Praise The Plague”
“Era Borealis”
“The Hint”
“Born Reversed”
“Oz”
“I, Omen”
“Cross The Cross”
“Schwanenstein”
“Sundowning”

In-studio video teaser:

Ever since their inception in 2013 and the release of their first album in 2014 the band has been recognized as one of the hardest working in the German extreme metal underground. Melding the most sinister elements of styles like black metal, doom and punk, representing unfiltered pure primal rage, Mantar have proven to be one of a kind. Their extremely intense live shows have been seen all over the world and have blown away unaware audiences with their unconditionally tight and brutal performances. Mantar is a pure evil elemental force captured by only two uber passionate artists that strife for ultimate raw sonic power.

Mantar is:

Hanno - vocals, guitars
Erinc - drums, vocals

 



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Greek metallers, Poem, have signed a worldwide record deal with Swedish label ViciSolum Productions. Poem's second album, Skein Syndrome, is set for release on March 18th. The first single and video, “Passive Observer”, will be available on February 15th.

Skein Syndrome tracklisting:

“Passive Observer”
“Fragments”
“The End Justifies The Means”
“Bound Insanity”
“Weakness”
“Desire”
“Remission Of Breath”

Poem is a four-piece progressive rock/metal group based in Athens, Greece, formed in 2006. With their wonderful amalgam of progressive metal, hard hitting riffs and intricate atmospheres, Poem will find a home with any fan of such eclectic bands as Tool, Anathema, Porcupine Tree, Pain Of Salvation, Katatonia and Karnivool.

Poem lineup:

Giorgos Prokopiou - Vocals/Guitars
Laurence Bergström - Lead Guitars
Stratos Chaidos - Bass
Stavros Rigos - Drums

 



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German thrash metal act, Fateful Finality, have released a new video for the song "Dirt In The Closet”. The track is featured on the band’s current album, Battery. Watch the clip below:

Alongside several club shows in Germany, the band are confirmed for a show at Wacklen Open Air 2016, taking place August 4th - 6th in Wacken, Germany. This is not the first time that the band is attending Wacken. They won the Wacken Metal Battle 2012 and were honoured with a live appearance at the festival the same year.

Find the band’s live itinerary here.

 



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Inglorious have launched an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the UK outfit's self-titled debut album, out on February 19th via Frontiers Music Srl. The album can be pre-ordered on iTunes and Amazon now, with those buying ahead of launch getting "Until I Die" and "Breakaway" instantly.

Tracklisting:

“Until I Die”
“Breakaway”
“High Flying Gypsy”
“Holy Water”
“Warning”
“Bleed For You”
“Girl Got A Gun”
“You’re Mine”
“Inglorious”
“Wake”
“Unaware”

EPK:

“High Flying Gypsy” lyric video:

"Until I Die" video:  

Queen guitarist Brian May has recently given frontman Nathan James, bassist Colin Parkinson, drummer Phil Beaver and guitarists Will Taylor and Andreas Zata Eriksson his seal of approval after hearing some of the band's material. He said: "You guys really do look like a potent young Deep Purple but with a new slant - very classic! And the musicianship is stunning. Good luck with it all - I'm sure you will do great. Amazing vocals, by the way."

Inglorious are being hailed as one of the UK's heaviest new hard rock bands to emerge from the British underground scene. Originally formed in February 2014, the band is fronted by Nathan James, who made a name for himself having sung for the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Scorpions guitar legend Uli Jon Roth. Inspired by musical giants such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Bad Company, Aerosmith, the band's song "Breakaway" has already found its way on to UK rock radio.   

The band has announced their European tour as special guests of The Winery Dogs; confirmed dates include:

January
29 - Essigfabrik - Köln, Germany                             
30 - Kulturfabrik - Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg
31 - Shepherds Bush Empire - London, United Kingdom

February
2 - Academy - Bristol, United Kingdom                 
4 - Ritz - Manchester, United Kingdom                
5 - Institute - Birmingham, United Kingdom      
6 - Trabendo - Paris, France         
8 - Kafe Antzokia - Bilbao, Spain              
9 - Joy Eslava - Madrid, Spain   
10 - Apolo - Barcelona, Spain      
12 - Crossroads - Roma, Italy
13 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
15 - Backstage Halle - Munich, Germany                 
16 - Majestic Music Club - Bratislava, Slovakia                       
17 - Barba Negra - Budapest, Hungary                     
19 - Olomouc Rocks/S Klub - Olomouc, Czech Republic

(Photo: Nedim Nazerali)

 

 

 



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Buckcherry will digitally release a deluxe edition of their Rock 'N' Roll album this Friday, January 29th, via F-Bomb/Caroline. The release includes a new version of the track “The Feeling Never Dies”, now a duet with Grammy Award-winning country artist Gretchen Wilson.

"There aren't too many duets anymore and we love country music," singer Josh Todd tells Rolling Stone Country. "Gretchen was the perfect fit and we are fired up to get this track out there."

Listen to the new version of “The Feeling Never Dies” below:

 



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After a hiatus of a few years, the Brazilian death/doom metal band Lacryma Sanguine has returned with activities and to celebrate this new phase, they have released a demo version of the song "Amongst These Walls", which will be part of the new album by the same name. 

This version is a unfinished and unmixed record, but recovered by the band after an accident that led to the loss of the recording files from other songs and eventually causing this delay on the album release. "Amongst These Walls" has no release date, but the band is already negotiating its release with some labels interested and promises to start recording later in the first half of the year.



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Norwegian death metallers Blood Red Throne will release their new album Union Of Flesh And Machine in April via Candlelight Records. The album has gone through a number of delays due to member changes as vocalist Yngve "Bolt" Christiansen rejoined the band later last year and has re-recorded the vocals for the upcoming album, replacing Martin Berger. A new lyric video for “Proselyte Virus” is streaming below.

Lineup:

Død - Guitar
Bolt - Vocals
Hellbent - Bass
Meathook - Guitar
Freddy - Drums



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The official video for "We Are One", from Swedish heavy metal band Mean Streak, including The Night Flight Orchestra drummer Jonas Källsbäck, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's third album, "Trial By Fire", which was released on June 14, 2013 via Black Lodge Records.

The follow-up to 2011's Declaration Of War, Trial By Fire was produced by Thomas "Plec" Johansson, who has previously worked with Degradead and Solution .45

Mean Streak will start the mixing of their upcoming fourth album in February. 12 new songs written and produced by the band will be mixed by Max Norman best known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth and Y&T among others.

Bass player and founder of Mean Streak, Peter Andersson says: “With Mean Streak we´ve been fortuned enough to make four albums, do some touring in Europe and Japan as well as play the biggest festivals in Scandinavia. To work with Mr. Max Norman is yet another milestone in the history of our band. I have listened to albums produced by Max all my life and are really looking forward to hear the result. the songs on the upcoming album is a return to the kind of fast powerful heavy metal we did on our two first albums. We are absolutely stoked and thrilled by the new songs!”

Mean Streak is:

Peter Andersson - bass
Andy La Guerin - vocals, guitar
Jonas Källsbäck (The Night Flight Orchestra) - drums
Thomas "Plec" Johansson - guitar

(Photo: Carina Granath)



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Black Tusk is streaming their new album Pillars Of Ash in full below:

Black Tusk have established themselves as one of the hardest working bands in rock since their formation over 10 years ago. After four full-lengths, numerous splits and EP's and thousands of shows under their belts, the punk/metal power trio was faced with an immense and unexpected tragedy in late 2014 when founding bassist/vocalist Jonathan Athon passed away after a motorcycle accident in his hometown.

Now, as a testament to his profound and lasting legacy on the heavy music scene, the band are releasing Pillars Of Ash, their final recordings with Athon, on January 29th via Relapse Records. Recorded with Toxic Holocaust's Joel Grind behind the boards and featuring gorgeous artwork by Jeremy Hush (Skeletonwitch, Rwake), Pillars Of Ash is the culmination of three brothers-in-arms' blood, sweat and tears, and is Black Tusk's finest accomplishment to date.
 
In 2014, Black Tusk hit the studio with their old friend and accomplished audio engineer, Joel Grind, to work on Pillars Of Ash. Before they could get their new record into stores and jump back up in their big white tour van, though, the band suffered a setback beyond what most could even imagine. In November, mere weeks before the band was due to kick off their biggest tour yet, Athon was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. Several days later, on November 9th, 2014, he passed away at the age of 31, leaving behind hundreds of friends, family members, and his beloved dog Cutter as well as his brothers in Black Tusk. Support poured in from fans, friends, and fellow musicians from around the world; stunned, Andrew and James laid down their instruments and tried to process the loss. For a few weeks, the band’s future was uncertain, but ultimately, the remaining duo made the difficult decision to soldier on and carry on in Athon’s memory. Athon himself could have chosen no better successor than Corey Barhorst, a longtime friend and veteran musician who heads up his own project, Niche, and previously held down the low end for Kylesa. Barhorst initially joined the band as a live member in time for their European tour with Black Label Society, but after that, was welcomed into the fold as a full­blooded member of Black Tusk.
 

Pillars Of Ash tracklisting:

“God's On Vacation”
“Desolation Of Endless Times”
“Bleed On Your Knees”
“Born Of Strife”
“Damned In The Ground”
“Beyond The Divide”
“Black Tide”
“Still Not Well”
“Walk Among The Sky”
“Punk Out”
“Leveling”

“Born Of Strife”:

“God’s On Vacation”:

Black Tusk tour dates are listed below.

Dates:

January
26 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
27 - Little Rock, AR - Vino’s
28 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey
29 - San Antonio, TX - Korova
30 - Austin, TX - Empire
31 - Houston, TX - Rudyard’s

February
1 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
2 - Panama City, FL - Mosey’s
3 - Orlando, FL - Will’s Pub
4 - Tampa, FL - New World
5 - Jacksonville, FL - Burro Bar
6 - Savannah, GA - Jinx

February
23 Charlotte, NC - Milestone
24 Virginia Beach, VA - Shakas
25 Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
26 Boston, MA - Once Ballroom
27 Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
29 Burlington, VT - Nectars

March
1 Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle
2 Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques
3 Toronto, ON - Hard Luck
4 Detroit, MI - Berserker Fest
5 Chicago, IL - Reggie's
6 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
7 Minneaplis, MN - Triple Rock
8 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
9 Winnipeg, MB - The Windsor Hotel
11 Saskatoon, SK - Amigos Cantina
12 Edmonton, AB - Brixx
13 Calgary, AB - The Palomino
14 Kamloops, BC - The Office
16 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore
17 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
18 Spokane, WA - The Pin
19 Portland, OR - Panic Room
20 Bend, OR - Volcanic Theatre Pub
22 Santa Cruz, CA - Catalyst
23 San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside
24 Los Angeles, CA - Viper Room
25 San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
26 Phoenix, AZ - Pub Rock
27 Las Vegas, NV - Divebar **No Holy Grail**
28 Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Bar
29 Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
30 Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
31 St. Louis, MO - Fubar

April
1 Indianapolis, IN - 5TH Quarter
2 Newport, KY - Southgate House

(Photo - Angela Boatwright)



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Ottawa based brutal technical death metal band Deformatory has released a new track "Dimensions Of Malevolence" from their album Malediction, which is set for release on February 5th via CDN Records.

Deformatory have set out to create a relentlessly extreme and unique sound with their sophomore effort, entitled Malediction. This latest slab of inhuman resonance fuses together classic death metal influences (Cryptopsy, Morbid Angel, Suffocation) and the band's love for modern tech death.

Malediction is the first installment in a series of concept albums revolving around Saväel, the creator of Darkness, and the original source of pure evil. In Malediction, the story follows the discovery of the sacred incantation text, his re-awakening, and the subsequent obliteration of the Light, the Heavens, and all remnants of humanity. This is an album that will appeal to the nostalgia of old school death metal, delivered with a modern, dark and technical ferocity.

Malediction tracklisting:

“Infernal Gateway”
“Dimensions Of Malevolence”
“Obsequium”
“Eviscerated Requiem”
“A Hideous Veneration”
“Apotheosis”
“Oracles Of Perdition”
“Aphotic Existence”

"Dimensions Of Malevolence":

Malediction by DEFORMATORY

"Apotheosis" play-through video:

Preorders can be placed now at this location, the  Amazon widget below, or a special preorder sale through their Bandcamp page.

 

 

 

 



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Is this really the end of Twisted Sister? That was the question posed to frontman Dee Snider by Keith Valcourt of The Washington Times.  

"It’s not that I don’t love the guys," answered Snider. "It’s not that I’m not proud of my past. I just want to leave with a certain degree of dignity. Leave people with a smile on their face. As opposed to them leaving, shaking their heads, saying, 'I remember when they were really good.'

I had been saying to the band, 'Guys, we’ve got to call it a day. At some point there has to be an end. Now we have been reunited more years than we were together the first time.' A reunion is not supposed to go on forever, contrary to what KISS does."

Read more at this location. Twisted Sister will be playing several European festivals this summer including: Sweden Rock, Nova Rock, Hellfest, Wacken, Bloodstock, and more; complete details can be found here.

The Twisted Sister movie, We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!, will be released in Europe/UK on a new date, February 12th, via Monoduo Films. The film will be available on VOD (iTunes & Vimeo on Demand) and as DVD (Amazon Europe and Monoduo Films Shop).

The setting is mid-1970s New York City: five rockers decked in platform boots and dramatic make-up embarked on a heavy metal journey. Little did they know the impact they would make, and that, forty years later, they would still be renowned for their songs, one-of-a-kind live shows, and take-no-prisoners attitude.

We Are Twisted F***ing Sister! - a new 134-minute documentary film by Andrew Horn capturing that expedition from bar band to international stardom - will be presented in theaters via Music Box Films in February. The first ever documentary of the band that defined an early MTV with their no-holds-barred music videos opens in New York and Los Angeles on February 19th with a one-night-only event at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre on February 22nd. On February 23rd in North America, the film will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, and digital formats, with an included 2 hours of bonus material and director commentary.

Charging out of the gate with a lethal combination of grit and glitter, Twisted Sister (Jay Jay French, Dee Snider, Eddie Ojeda, Mark “The Animal” Mendoza, and the late A.J. Pero) established themselves as one of the staple acts of Glam Rock and Heavy Metal with anthems “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock.” However, “the band that killed disco” was no overnight success.

Director Andrew Horn, who is known for his films East Side Story (named one of the 10 best films of the year by Time Magazine), The Nomi Song, Doomed Love, and The Big Blue, said of the film:

“I realized as I was working on the film, that it was really very much a story of how a band becomes a band. They are truly unique in that their overnight success actually took 10 years, so you really get to experience everything Twisted Sister went through to do it. I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced any group of musicians as ferocious...or as funny.”

We Are Twisted F***ing Sister! puts the fan in the trenches with the band from their early, hungry days in New York City onward through their legendary career. Recounted directly from the band themselves, their managers, and biggest fans, We Are Twisted F***ing Sister! is the mesmerizing, never-before-told story of the ten grueling years leading up to the band’s break out success.

Are you ready to really get to know Twisted F***ing Sister? For more information on theatrical screenings, please visit this location (check on “Theaters”).

 



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Current Bang Tango guitarist and director of Attack Of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, Drew Fortier reveals that, "A lof of people who watched Attack Of Life: The Bang Tango Movie had messaged me and asked about a particular song in the film. That song being 'So Abused' by Eating Crow, which was a side band that members of the late '90s Bang Tango lineup had put together.

Written by Joe Leste, Danny Aon, and Kyle Kyle, So Abused was featured in the Robert Kurtzman film Wishmaster (which I have always loved)!

Funny story, I had seen Wishmaster at the movies when I was a kid and this particular song always stuck out to me and I never could find out who it was let alone the song itself. Fast forward 15 years later while I'm making the Bang Tango Documentary and Danny Aon shows me some songs from the Eating Crow project and low and behold... in a crazy twist, I finally found the song!

Here it is, the complete song for the first time ever; I decided to upload it on YouTube. It's truly one of my favorite songs of all time and would love to share it with all of you. Enjoy!"

 

 



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Canadian metallers, Unbowed, have released a guitar playthrough video (see below) for their track “Besieged”, from their Dogma EP, which is set for release on February 12th.

Unbowed began as two-man studio project in spring of 2011. From 2011 through 2015, Unbowed independently released a self-titled EP, a full-length album, and assembled a live lineup which played shows throughout Ontario, Canada including opening for major international acts such as Battlecross, Einherjer, The Contortionist, and Erimha. Currently, Unbowed is gearing up for the release of their latest and most matured offering Dogma. Dogma is a 4 song EP consisting of the band's most visceral and expansive material to date.
    
Dogma, the follow-up to Unbowed's 2014 debut full-length, Collapse The World, certainly reflects the deeper meaning of the band's monicker. The songs contained within are eloquent, forceful, and wholly unyielding.

Tracklisting:

“The Bleeding Throne”
“Besieged”
“The Fall”
“Echoes Of Cernunnos”

“Besieged” guitar playthrough:



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DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott says that he would love to see a full reunion of GUNS N' ROSES' classic lineup, with both Steven Adler and Matt Sorum sitting behind the drum kit during the band's live shows.

GUNS N' ROSES' headlining slots on April 16 and April 23 at the Coachella Music And Arts Festival in Indio, California were confirmed earlier this month after widespread speculation that the band would appear at the festival.

The band's lineup will feature original members Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan — performing together for the first time since 1993 — although the rest of the group roster has yet to be confirmed.

During an appearance on a recent edition of Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM satellite radio show, "Eddie Trunk Live", Elliott was asked for his take on the GUNS N' ROSES reunion. He said: "I haven't really spent much time thinking about it. Because if it's a true reunion, I personally would like to see… I think the only way it would really work [is] they'd have to go with two drummers; they would have to take Steven and Matt. Obviously, Steven, having never played on the '[Use Your] Illusion' stuff, they would trade drummers out. I mean, it may be a little cabaret."

He continued: "It's hard to know what the right answer is for this question, and I wasn't expecting it, so I really… I don't have a perfect answer to this. But I'm glad to see Axl and Slash seem to have put their differences aside, which is good.

"I don't know Axl that well, but I know Duff quite well, having worked with him in ROCK 'N' ROLL ALLSTARS and KINGS OF CHAOS. And the same with Slash as well… he's worked with KINGS OF CHAOS and Slash opened for DEF LEPPARD last year on a couple of shows. We've known these guys for years and I get on really well with them. I bought a Harley off [former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] Gilby Clarke twenty years ago, who's probably not even gonna be involved."

Elliott went on to say: "I know that your classic, kind of, Internet-savvy GN'R fan is gonna say it won't be a GN'R reunion unless Izzy [Stradlin, original GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] and Steven are involved. And I would kind of tend to agree with them, as a fan. But as a businessman that's putting this together that's probably trying to scoop three hundred million dollars out of people or whatever, they would be, like, going, 'Look, as long as we get the three main guys together…' And it would appear the three main guys in most people's eyes are Axl, Slash and Duff. That might be right or wrong; I don't know. It's not really my thing to say."

Joe added: "I'd love to see all seven of them involved, if you know what I mean — which would be Axl, Slash, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin, Gilby Clarke, Matt Sorum and Steven Adler. I would like to see that lineup. None of this Bumble thing, Buckethead, none of that crowd. Even [Richard] Fortus, who's a very good friend of mine; I love him to death. But if the original seven, if you like — the five plus their, kind of… the early replacements, which would be Matt Sorum and Gilby. If they were the guys that played on those records and they weren't gonna be playing anything off 'Chinese Democracy', that would be the thing for me — to bring them in and out as needed. For me, I would buy that ticket; I would love to buy that ticket. But I'm gonna go anyway, 'cause I'll get a free one off Duff."

GUNS N' ROSES will play two shows before its appearance at Coachella, with the band now scheduled to perform at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 8 and April 9, just days after the venue opens for business on April 6.

GN'R is reportedly negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. The band is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show, with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.

Longtime GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson, who was in the band from 1998 until 2014, says that a partial reunion of the group's classic lineup "will be a healing thing" for the musicians involved.

Stinson, a founding member of the seminal Minneapolis-based rock band THE REPLACEMENTS, last played with GUNS N' ROSES at a 2014 show in Las Vegas.

Asked how he feels about the recently announced reunion of GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan, Stinson told The Current: "I think everyone kind of knows where I stand with it all. I left it in a good way. I mean, roughly, I actually had to just start turning down tours because I was unable to tour; I got into a position, personally, where my personal life was going to prevent me from doing, I don't know — it must have been about five tours that they called me to do, and I just said I can't do 'em. And at that point, they… I think Axl got to the position where he was, like, 'Okay, so what am I going to do now? 'Cause I don't have a band. Blah blah blah.' So I think it worked out. And I think they'll have fun. It will be a healing thing for 'em, if it works out good. It will be good for them."

Pressed on which other members of GUNS N' ROSES are involved in the reunion, Stinson said: "I don't really know. I know that it's Duff and it's Slash and it's Axl, and that's all I know right now."

GUNS N' ROSES — featuring Rose Slash and McKagan — will be one of the first acts to play the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, set to open April 6. They will play at the venue on April 8 and April 9.

Ahead of April's headlining slot at the Coachella Music And Arts Festival, GUNS N' ROSES is also rumored to be planning a secret show in the Los Angeles area next month as a warm-up.

GUNS N' ROSES is reportedly negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. For the tour, GN'R is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show, with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist DJ Ashba says that he "couldn't be happier" for the band's fans that a partial reunion of GN'R's classic lineup is finally coming together.

Ashba, who joined GUNS N' ROSES in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck and stayed in the band until last July, was asked by Jaxon of Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR radio station in a new interview if he has heard about singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan reuniting for an appearance at California's Coachella Music And Arts Festival. He said (hear audio below): "I did. And as far as that [goes], man, as a fan myself, I couldn't be more stoked for the fanbase. They've waited a long time for this to happen, and, God, it's so good that it's happening. I couldn't be happier for the fans, you know."

Ashba also talked about the difficulties of balancing his involvement in SIXX: A.M. with his touring activities as a member of GUNS N' ROSES. He said: "It was a lot of work, but I've gotta be honest, you know: I had the time of my life. I am beyond grateful to have shared the stage and had so many great memories and met so many great fans out there, and it was just a great time of my life. However, we did this last SIXX: A.M. run, and it just really kind of made me go, 'Wait a second! There is a huge difference here playing somebody else's songs and playing my own.' You know what I mean? I just felt every note I hit. And it's, like, 'Wow! This is where I need to be in.' It was that tour that made me realize, 'I need to go back to what I'm really about.' So I'm really, really stoked."

Ashba issued a statement in July 2015 saying that he was leaving GUNS N' ROSES. His statement read in part: "It is with a very heavy heart and yet great pride that I announce that I've decided to close this chapter of my life and encapsulate the wonderful times that I've shared with GUNS N' ROSES into fond memories. I have reached a point in my life where I feel its time to dedicate myself to my band SIXX: A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me."

Ashba added: "I want to take a moment to thank Axl from the bottom of my heart for not only the most incredible experience of my life, but for truly believing in me. You are a true friend and a champion of mine and I am forever grateful. And even as I move on to pursue other endeavors, I will always remain one of your biggest fans. I also would like to thank each and every one of you fans for your love and support throughout the years."

Ashba said earlier in his statement that working with GUNS N' ROSES was "the most incredible journey I could have possibly imagined."

SIXX: A.M., which also features MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx and vocalist James Michael, is putting the finishing touches on a new double album, to be released in two parts this year.

Interview (audio):

Drum legend Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Dream Theater) has checked in with the following message:

"With Jimmy Bain's passing, it dawned on me that now 3/5's of the Rainbow Rising lineup is gone (Dio, Cozy Powell and now Jimmy Bain). I have a self-imposed rule with all the covers I do that if I've already covered a song with a band, I usually won't do it again with another band. Rainbow's 'Stargazer' was one the exceptions...one of the greatest classic hard rock songs of ALL TIME! Very much hard rock/metal's answer to 'Kashmir'

Here are links to my two versions of this classic song..."

Last In Line has released two videos, a lyric video for “Blame It On Me” and a music video for “Starmaker”, in tribute to the memory of bassist Jimmy Bain, who passed away at the age of 68 this past weekend. Both videos were scheduled for release prior to Bain’s passing and his excitement for the world to experience these new songs has caused the band to decide to move ahead with their release today.

As guitarist Vivian Campbell stated yesterday in a statement on his social media: “It's with the heaviest of hearts that I must confirm the news of the passing of our dear friend and Last In Line bandmate, Jimmy Bain. It was Jimmy who gave me my first big break in the music industry and for that I am forever indebted. Jimmy was immensely proud of our new album and his input to it was immeasurable. We will continue to celebrate his life through his music. On behalf of Vinny and Andrew, our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this most difficult of times. Rest in peace, dear friend.”

The lyric video for “Blame It On Me” can be seen below:

The video for “Starmaker” can be seen below:



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