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18 мар 2025


Watch: ROB HALFORD, ALICE COOPER, COREY GLOVER, ROBIN ZANDER Perform At 2025 'Coopstock'Alice Cooper, JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford, LIVING COLOUR's Corey Glover and CHEAP TRICK's Robin Zander are among the musicians who performed at Coopstock 2025, a benefit for Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center, on Saturday, March 15 at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa. Backing the legendary rockers at the event was the Nashville cover band SIXWIRE. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of RichG LIVE).
Glover sang renditions of LED ZEPPELIN's "Rock And Roll", Prince's "Purple Rain" and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS' "Takin' It To the Streets", as well as LIVING COLOUR's "Cult Of Personality". Halford led SIXWIRE through several PRIEST hits: "Heading Out To The Highway", "Breaking The Law", "Living After Midnight" and "You've Got Another Thing Comin'". Robin Zander, with his son Robin Taylor Zander on guitar and backing vocals, sang the CHEAP TRICK classics "Surrender", "The Flame" and "I Want You To Want Me", along with Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" and Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame".
All proceeds from Coopstock benefit Alice's Solid Rock Teen Centers, a nonprofit that Cooper built to provide free after-school music lessons to local teens.
Before the 2023 edition of Coopstock, Cooper told The Mesa Tribune: "We are fulfilling a vision we've had for several years…to provide teens with a central place to learn, have fun, and explore their creativity in a supportive and safe environment. The Rock is the first of many teen centers in Arizona and, ultimately, around the country."
For more than a quarter-century, Coopstock has drawn thousands and every year organizers expect more than 2,500 people to attend the event.
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Posted by Alice Cooper's Solid Rock on Wednesday, February 19, 2025
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18 мар 2025


Watch: MIKKEY DEE's Son MARCUS Plays Drums With SCORPIONS In Mexico CitySCORPIONS performed live for the first time in more than seven months this past Saturday (March 15) at the 25th edition of the Vive Latino festival at the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol) in Mexico City, Mexico. The show, which was streamed for free on Amazon Music, marked the band's debut live appearance since drummer Mikkey Dee's near-death experience following a sepsis diagnosis. Filling in for Mikkey for a couple of songs at the Mexico City show was his son Marcus.
The day after the concert, Mikkey took to his social media to share a clip of his son performing the song "Blackout" with the SCORPIONS, and he included the following message: "Thank you Mexico City! Last night was great! It was amazing to sit behind the drum kit again after the shit I've been through earlier this year.
"Last night my son Marcus stepped in and played a couple of songs so I could rest my almost healed foot. He did an amazing job and it was so much fun for both of us to be sharing a moment like this together.
"Next up is South America, then Europe all summer and Vegas in August. I can't wait to rock out for the rest of the year. Again, thank you Mexico. See you back here soon again!"
Two months ago, SCORPIONS postponed their 2025 Las Vegas residency due to Dee's ongoing recovery from his recent hospitalization. Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas 60th Anniversary Las Vegas Residency" will now take place in August. BUCKCHERRY will still provide support for the new SCORPIONS Las Vegas residency dates.
In celebration of SCORPIONS' 60th anniversary, the new show follows the band's two previous sold-out residencies at the venue — "Scorpions - Love at First Sting Las Vegas" in 2024 and "Sin City Nights" in 2022.
In January, Mikkey, who was previously a member of MOTÖRHEAD for 23 years, revealed that he was recovering after spending most of the holiday season battling a "very serious blood infection (Sepsis)."
In a post on social media, Dee said he spent three weeks in a hospital in his hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden, during which he underwent "several operations." He thanked his doctors and nurses for their "excellent care" and said he was back "home fighting this bastard bacteria" and that his "numbers are all going in the right direction." Dee added he had a lot of "recovery and rehab" ahead and was aiming to be "back on the drum stool" for SCORPIONS' upcoming residency.
Dee offered more details about his health setback in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, saying the medical emergency began with a sprained foot that quickly swelled and became infected.
"It was surgery right away, the first of three," Dee said. "They cut away what was dead and infected and badly infested. It was not a good journey I was on… Another day and I'd be playing drums with [late MOTÖRHEAD frontman] Lemmy in heaven. I can say that."
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18 мар 2025


PAUL DI'ANNO: 'In Memory Of' Compilation Album To Include Previously Unreleased SongsMetalville Records will release "In Memory Of" from Paul Di'Anno on May 16.
On May 17 this year, the frontman of the groundbreaking first two IRON MAIDEN albums would have celebrated his 67th birthday. Unfortunately, we received the bitter news last October that the charismatic singer had passed away unexpectedly at his home in Salisbury.
"In Memory Of" is a selection of the best songs that Paul recorded during his time at Metalville Records. In addition, "In Memory Of" contains two bonus tracks that have never been released in physical form before. "Je Suis Charlie" is a track from Paul's ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ phase, which was only released digitally at the time. "Killers" is a live version from the Wacken Open Air 2015.
The previously unpublished photos contained in the booklet and the liner notes written exclusively for the album by internationally recognized MAIDEN biographer Matthias Mader are a special added value for fans.
Di'Anno was always a person who, despite his own health problems, was concerned about the well-being of others and took a corresponding interest in their fate. To honor this in the spirit of the unforgotten artist, part of the proceeds from the sale of every CD and LP of "In Memory Of" will go to the charitable organization Metality e.V.
"In Memory Of" track listing:
01. PAUL DI'ANNO - "Impaler" (live)
02. ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ - "Je Suis Charlie" (prev. unreleased)
03. ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ - "Switched Off... Released"
04. PAUL DI'ANNO - "The Beast Arises" (live)
05. PAUL DI'ANNO - "Marshall Lokjaw" (live)
06. ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ - "Rejected"
07. ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ - "You've Been Kissed By The Wings Of The Angel Of Death"
08. PAUL DI'ANNO - "Running Free" (live)
09. ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ - "Apache Falls"
10. PAUL DI'ANNO - "Blitzkrieg Bob" (live)
11. ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ - "Killers" (prev. unreleased live)
12. ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ - "Soldier Of Fortune"
Born in Chingford, East London on May 17, 1958, Di'Anno, whose real name was Paul Andrews, first came to prominence as lead singer of IRON MAIDEN between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album "Iron Maiden" and the influential follow-up release, "Killers".
Since leaving IRON MAIDEN, Paul Di'Anno had a long and eventful recording career with BATTLEZONE and KILLERS as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.
Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.
His first career retrospective album, "The Book Of The Beast", was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving IRON MAIDEN.
The book "To Hell And Back With The Beast (And Mini Beast)" about Di'Anno's final years is available for pre-order at www.maidencroatia.com. It is the sequel to "666 Days With The Beast", which was made available last December and sold out very quickly.
Di'Anno was laid to rest on November 21, 2024 at the City Of London Cemetery And Crematorium in Manor Park, East London, United Kingdom.
An official statement shared to Di'Anno's Facebook page on November 11, 2024 with permission from the late musician's family revealed that his cause of death was caused by a "tear in the sac around the heart."
"Dear fans and friends," the statement began. "We have received permission from Paul's family to bring you the news of Paul's cause of death, after the results of the autopsy have been received."
It continued, "His sisters Cheryl and Michelle confirmed the following: 'Basically he had a tear in the sac around the heart and blood has filled inside it from the main aorta artery and that has caused the heart to stop.' Paul's death was instantaneous and hopefully painless. May he rest in peace."
In December 2022, Di'Anno spent time in Split, Croatia recording an album with his new project called WARHORSE. The band was formed earlier that year by Di'Anno and two guitarists/authors, Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante "Pupi" Pupačić. The resulting LP was made available in July 2024 under the PAUL DI'ANNO'S WARHORSE banner.
WARHORSE previously recorded three songs, two of which — "Stop The War" and "The Doubt Within" — were released in May 2022 as a special DVD single along with Paul's video message to all fans who bought the single and thus helped raise funds for his knee operation.
The WARHORSE single marked Di'Anno's first music release after a seven-year hiatus due to severe health issues.
Di'Anno, who finally underwent his knee surgery in September 2022, played the first show since the operation on October 1, 2022 at the Keep It True Rising II festival in Würzburg, Germany.
In May 2022, Di'Anno came face to face with IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris for the first time in three decades before the band's concert in Croatia. Also in May 2022, Paul played his first full solo concert in seven years at the Bikers Beer Factory in Zagreb. The show was filmed and parts of it will be included in the upcoming Di'Anno documentary, which is being helmed by Wes Orshoski, co-director and producer of the acclaimed 2010 film "Lemmy" about the MOTÖRHEAD icon, and 2015's "The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead", about punk rock legends THE DAMNED.
Photo credit: Marco Benjamin Alvarado (courtesy of Central Press for Conquest Music)
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18 мар 2025


STEVE LUKATHER Shoots Down Rumor He Will Play Guitar On New VAN HALEN AlbumTOTO's Steve Lukather has shot down reports that he will play guitar on a new VAN HALEN album.
De Telegraaf, the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper, reported earlier this week that Alex Van Halen was working on a collection of previously unreleased, unfinished VAN HALEN recordings, with Lukather helping him to complete it. The VAN HALEN drummer has said of the new project in a paywalled article (via Guitar World): "Ed and Steve Lukather were very good friends and they often worked together. There is no one who can do this process with me as well as he can."
Lukather, seemingly surprised about Alex's comment, is quoted in the same article as responding: "Did Alex say that? Oh, in that case the news is true. Ed, Alex and I were very close for years. It is true that we worked on it together."
On Saturday (March 15),Lukather took to his Instagram to clarify his possible involvement in a new VAN HALEN album, saying: "For the record: Ever since Alex Van Halen dropped some we were gonna work together I think there is a huge misunderstanding.
"I will NOT EVER play a guitar note on a VH song ever!.
"Al asked me to help him go thru a ton of unfinished recordings of Al and Ed writing and recording that never saw the light of day. As of now thats all I got.
"The fact that ANYONE would think for even a second that I would play anything on this is ridiculous. I have too much love and respect for that and ... I play nothing like Ed.. more as a co-producer or something. I am honored Al would ask me though.
"Lets see ..."
Alex had previously said that there was enough VAN HALEN material in the vaults for another "three or four records". Speaking on an episode of Chris Jericho's "Talk Is Jericho" podcast, Eddie's brother said: "I've talked about it loosely, and I am rather superstitious, but I can say a couple of things that I've mentioned before. We're gonna go through the 'vault' and go through some of the musical ideas that were there."
He added: "There was some good stuff in there. And you have to remember, when in the thick of it, sometimes the really great stuff kind of passes you by. And it's not until you revisit it going, 'Whoa, I forgot about that. This kicks ass.' But that takes time. And you wanna do it right. I wanna do it right."
Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather had collaborated on several projects in the past, including Michael Jackson's "Beat It", on which Lukather played the main riff and Van Halen played the solo. Eddie also played bass on Lukather's debut solo album and made a guest appearance on Steve's 2003 Christmas LP "Santamental".
Back in November 2020, a little over a month after Eddie's death, Lukather reflected on his friend's passing, telling Metal Master Kingdom: "It's hard for me, man, 'cause the wound is still very deep. I'm very honored to have been Ed's friend — really a friend; not just a guitar buddy who had a beer with him once. [There is] 40-plus years with him, Al and I.
"I know all the guys [in VAN HALEN]. I love all the guys. I'm Switzerland [when it comes to their relationships with each other]. I was just on Sammy's [Hagar] show. He was beautiful to me. Mike's [Anthony] always nice to me. The brothers [Ed and Al] and I have always stayed very close. I've been in touch with Al more than anybody. And Janie [Eddie's widow] sent me some wonderful pictures of Ed and I when we were younger that she found somewhere. And I've been in touch — I talked to Wolf [Eddie's son] once. I'm gonna leave him alone. He's got his mom.
"This is a hole in my heart that won't go away. He was a real friend of mine, okay? We didn't get together and talk about guitars and stuff unless we wanted to play each other something new or brag about our kids. And really, we spent the last half of our relationship bragging about each other's sons, 'cause they both play. We always had that in common — the sons and the guitar. We have a lot in common off the gig that has nothing to do with [music].
"I loved the man. There's nothing to argue about how great he was as a musician. I don't have to. Who's gonna argue? He was one of the greats to ever pick up rock and roll guitar — he changed everything. And he was my friend. And I miss my friend more than anything. I miss the roar of one of his vehicles scaring the fuck out of my neighbors. And the way he laughed, and the way he fucking hugged me whenever he came by...
"The last thing I have in my phone is just a heart that he sent me.
"It's hard for me to talk about because it's an open wound. But I imagine how his family [feels]. My heart goes out to everybody in the Van Halen family."
Eddie died on October 6, 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65.
The iconic VAN HALEN axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.
VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.
Image credit: Rick Beato
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18 мар 2025


NEIL PEART's Brother DANNY PEART Dies Of Same Type Of Cancer That Killed RUSH DrummerNeil Peart's brother Danny Peart died of glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive type of brain cancer, on Thursday, March 13. His death came just over four years after the loss of the RUSH drummer, who also succumbed to glioblastoma in January 2020.
Neil and Danny's sister Nancy Peart Burkholder confirmed Danny's passing in a post in the Peart Family Events Facebook group. She wrote in part about her brother: "On this dreary Sunday it is with great sadness that we share that this past Thursday evening we lost our third Peart man and 2nd brother, Danny, after his year and a half battle with glioblastoma (brain cancer).
"Danny shared our amazing Peart traits that all of our men carried, a true gentleman with a kind heart and generous spirit.
"We will be planting a tree at Lakeside Park beside our Father's tree and Neil's pavilion and will have a new award starting at this year's golf tournament for 'Sportsmanship' as this was his true self. It is ironic that his golf team has repeatedly come in 2nd place!"
Danny Peart was born in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, Canada. He later moved to Vancouver, where he lived with his wife Janette Lindley and their two sons, Max and Nick. He has worked as a Globe And Mail paperboy, a bartender, a farm equipment parts manager and a personal trainer.
Danny Peart was an accomplished writer and a member of the League Of Canadian Poets. He studied writing with renowned authors such as Gloria Sawai, Zsuzsi Gartner and Ernest Hemingway, and published two notable collections: "Stark Naked In A Laundromat" (2016),with a foreword by Neil Peart, and "Another Mountain To Climb" (2017). He also wrote two other books, "Ruined By Love", which contains 37 poems about family and friendship, and "Not Quite So Handsome", also a collection of poems.
During an October 2023 appearance on the "Something For Nothing: A RUSH Fancast", Danny Peart stated about Neil: "The nice thing about it is that he will be remembered. He was the type of artist that was so singular and so talented and so hardworking. So he is gonna be remembered as one of the top 10 live drummers ever. They'll argue about his place, but you and I will be so happy we saw Neil Peart play live. We saw him solo, and we've never seen anything like that before. And so he'll be remembered, certainly, as a rock drummer. I hope he'll be remembered as a writer. Almost all of his books are still in print. And so I think he's got a legacy there, especially with 'Ghost Rider[: Travels On The Healing Road]'. I think that is a wonderful book to give somebody that needs healing after losing somebody. I think he'll be remembered, certainly, by his friends. And I think — I don't know; time will tell — but all of us, when we write, when you're a musician, all of us are trying to last. We'd like to be remembered that we did make a difference, that we showed up and gave it our best shot, and certainly Neil's… You can see — the legacy since people heard that Neil had died, his legacy has been so huge. We are all overwhelmed by how much people cared."
Neil Peart died on January 7, 2020 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma. He was 67 years old.
RUSH waited three days to announce Peart's passing, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.
Glioblastoma kills more than 10,000 Americans a year, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. It is the same disease that killed senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy, and Beau Biden, the son of former U.S. president Joe Biden.
Glioblastoma, also known as GBM, has no known cure, according to People magazine. Standard treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor (if possible),followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The disease is considered a highly invasive tumor in the central nervous system because its cells reproduce extremely quickly. Those who are diagnosed with the malignant tumor have a median survival rate of about 14 to 14.5 months.
Peart was considered one of the best rock drummers of all time, alongside John Bonham of LED ZEPPELIN; Ringo Starr of THE BEATLES; Keith Moon of THE WHO; Ginger Baker of CREAM and Stewart Copeland of THE POLICE. 3
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17 мар 2025


ZAKK WYLDE Says All The Participating Bands Will Play BLACK SABBATH Songs At OZZY OSBOURNE's Final ConcertZakk Wylde says that it will be "special" for him to be participating in Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Taking place on July 5 at Villa Park, the all-star event — billed as "Back To The Beginning" — sold out in less than 10 minutes last month.
The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.
Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.
In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).
Speaking to Riff X's "Metal XS", Zakk stated about his expectations for "Back To The Beginning": "Well, yeah, it's gonna be awesome. The gameplan is — let's hope this is what happens. I mean, you always gotta stay on the bright side of life. [Laughs] 'Cause Ozz was singing at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame thing. He was doing 'Mama, I'm Coming Home', 'cause Jelly Roll wasn't there when we did the soundcheck the day before [Ozzy's induction into the Rock Hall last October]. And Ozz was just sitting at the chair and he was singing 'Mama, I'm Coming Home', and it sounded great. So hopefully we'll just do this, and then Ozz will go, 'Let's just fire up the machine again and we'll do another tour.' You know what I mean? With Ozz and his throne that just flies over the stadium or whatever — shoots out buckets of water and does everything like that. So, yeah, if Ozz has a great time, whatever, and it's just, like, 'I wanna go out on the road again,' it's just, like, 'Good. Let's do it again.' I mean, what else is he gonna do? It's like Keith Richards said. He [was asked], 'When are you going to retire?' He goes, 'Retire from what?' If you like reading a book and having a cup of coffee, it's, like, why am I retiring from this? I enjoy it. I play music. I mean, what am I retiring from? It's something I enjoy, something I love doing. So hopefully that's what happens."
He added: "Considering all the bands that are on that thing and everybody's gonna be playing SABBATH songs, it's gonna be pretty mindblowing. It's gonna be pretty awesome. And then to see Ozz get up there and do a song with 'em and then watch SABBATH play. I think for all the bands that are gonna be there, 'cause if it wasn't for SABBATH, none of us would exist. You know what I mean? So I think it's gonna be special for everybody."
Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.
Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.
The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.
Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.
While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.
Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.
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17 мар 2025


YLISIA Share Official Lyric Video For New Single “Free”Wormholedeath is proud to announce the release of the lyric video for “Free”, a powerful and heartfelt track from Ylisia’s critically acclaimed album, Underneath. The video, featuring visually captivating footage from Jarno Cordia’s Showreel, perfectly complements the raw emotion of the song. “Free” was written by vocalist Liesbeth Cordia following the loss of her brother, adding a deeply personal layer to the symphonic metal masterpiece.
In Liesbeth’s words: “A heartfelt tribute to a loved one lost too soon. This song confronts the overwhelming pain of grief and the struggle to find peace. It’s tough as I wrote it for my brother, who was only 44 when he died in a base-jumping accident. It’s a cathartic expression of loss and the feeling of never-ending emptiness. At the same time, it depicts that he was always a free spirit who can now, in death, be one with ‘source’ and in a sense, ‘fly free, being one with the sky.'”
Since their formation in 2021, Ylisia has been capturing hearts and minds with their symphonic metal fusion, powerful vocals, and infectious melodies. Drawing inspiration from bands like The Gathering, Evanescence, Within Temptation, and Kate Bush, they’ve quickly become a live performance force to be reckoned with, gracing renowned stages at festivals such as FemME, Bevrijdingfestival Wageningen, and Nieuwveen Live.
Their debut album Underneath is not just another symphonic metal album—it’s an emotionally rich and personal journey, crafted over two decades by keyboardist George van Olffen. From heavy rock anthems to atmospheric ballads, tracks like “September”, “Pain”, and “Underneath” show off the band’s diverse sound. But it’s “Free”, written in the wake of deep personal loss, that truly stands out, delivering a powerful message of hope, grief, and resilience.
Produced with care by Daan Janzing and featuring stunning artwork by Gogo Malone, Underneath is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates raw emotion and musical depth.
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17 мар 2025


See SEVENDUST's Entire Atlantic City Concert During 2025 'In Dust We Trust' TourThe Jim Powers YouTube channel has uploaded video of SEVENDUST's entire March 15 headlining concert at the Tropicana Showroom at the Tropicana Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Check it out below.
According to Setlist.fm, SEVENDUST's setlist for the show was as follows:
01. Pieces
02. Denial
03. Disease
04. Crucified
05. Suffocate
06. Disgrace
07. Enemy
08. Shine
09. Angel's Son
10. Black
11. Separate
12. Praise
Encore:
13. Face To Face
SEVENDUST and THREE DAYS GRACE are the support acts for DISTURBED on the latter act's "The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour", which kicked off in Nampa, Idaho on February 25, 2025 and is produced by Live Nation. The tour celebrates 25 years of DISTURBED's seminal debut album which launched the band into public consciousness and is one of the most important and influential heavy metal albums of all time.
In a recent interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights, SEVENDUST singer Lajon Witherspoon was asked if he and his bandmates were working on material for the follow-up to their latest album, "Truth Killer", which was released in July 2023 via SEVENDUST's new label home, Napalm Records. He responded: "Yes, things are in the works… We are now looking inside the SEVENDUST music box with 20 or so songs that we're kind of weeding through right now to see what we like, [that] we're gonna work with this. And these are the cats in the band that are writing stuff and sending it in and put it into the box."
He continued: "Honestly, I feel like our best work is when we get together in a room in a setting when we are with the instruments, just those young men like we were when we first started. That's where the magic happens. So we're already in the making of coming to the farmhouse. [We're] just trying to figure out a date in between, 'cause we've got a lot of stuff to do. Even after the DISTURBED run, I think we only have a week off before we get on the CREED cruise. But, yes, we are writing an album. Even on the road, when we get on the bus, which I can't wait to get on the tour bus, we'll be out there, we'll be listening to tracks and stuff and probably going over things if we have time at soundcheck to play new music. So, yeah, it's rolling right now… So there's new music [in the works], yes."
The follow-up to 2020's "Blood & Stone", "Truth Killer" was once again tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.
"Truth Killer" showcased the original and current SEVENDUST lineup, comprised of Witherspoon, guitarists Clint Lowery and John Connolly, bassist Vince Hornsby and drummer Morgan Rose.
Last fall, SEVENDUST celebrated the 21st anniversary of its iconic album "Seasons" on a U.S. tour. "Seasons" is the fourth album from the band's catalog and exploded on to the metal world when it was released in October 2003. The album spawned a Top 10 Rock single with "Enemy" and the album closer "Face To Face" is a show staple and fan favorite of SEVENDUST to this day.
SEVENDUST's fourth studio album, "Seasons" was the band's final LP with TVT Records and was dedicated to the memory to both Dave Williams (DROWNING POOL's original singer),who died of cardiomyopathy in August 2002, and Reginald Witherspoon (Lajon Witherspoon's younger brother),who was murdered in November 2002.
"Seasons" was, for a time, the band's last album with Lowery as he left in 2004. Lowery returned to SEVENDUST in March 2008 and has remained with the group ever since.
GRAMMY nominated, Sevendust is bringing their “IN DUST WE TRUST” tour to the Tropicana Showroom on Saturday, March 15...
Posted by Tropicana Atlantic City on Wednesday, November 20, 2024
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17 мар 2025


DOWN Shares Mini-Documentary On Inn Of The Mountain Gods ConcertLong-running heavy metal supergroup DOWN — featuring vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower and bassist Pat Bruders — will return to the stage for six special shows supporting DANZIG. The journey begins March 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada and runs through March 30 in Phoenix, Arizona. Additional support will be provided by ABBATH and CRO-MAGS.
Comments Anselmo: "We've known Glenn Danzig for a long time and when he comes a-callin', we always try and jump at the chance to play with our Elder Master. Therefore I'm looking forward to the gigs! Plus, my man Abbath and CRO-MAGS?! This should be fun!"
Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
March 21 - The Virgin Theater @ Virgin Hotels - Las Vegas, NV
March 22 - Thunder Valley Casino Resort - Lincoln, CA
March 25 - Wamu Theater - Seattle, WA
March 26 - Moda Center - Theatre Of The Clouds - Portland, OR
March 29 - Kia Forum - Los Angeles, CA
March 30 - Arizona Financial Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
On June 20, 2024, DOWN was scheduled to perform a special one-off show at the Inn Of The Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico, their first in nearly two years. The concert was postponed due to rapidly growing wildfires which were converging on a village inside a tribal reservation in the state. Thousands of residents in southern New Mexico were ordered to evacuate their homes. As a result, DOWN played two pop-up shows in Louisiana. Portions of the proceeds from each of those shows were donated to the Mescalero Apache Nation - South Fork Fire relief fund.
The Mescalero show was rescheduled for September 27, 2024. Prior to the performance, Blue Shendo, tribal administrator of the Apache Mescalero Tribe, and councilwoman Euphrasia Platta, as well as Miss Mescalero, honored the band with two gifting ceremonies where they presented blankets as a sign of The Mescalero Apache Tribe's appreciation to DOWN for raising awareness and their contribution of funds after the fires.
Recalls Anselmo: "To play a show for the music/metal fans from Mescalero was an absolute honor. The beautiful presentation from the local Apache Tribe was humbling, surreal, and strong. I'd play there again in a heartbeat."
Adds Bower: "When we were invited to play the Inn Of The Mountain Gods, we knew from the start it would be special. Almost canceled due to wildfires, we played two shows in Louisiana to help raise funds for the locals in Mescalero. The show was rescheduled and we flew out the next month. Before the show, we were presented with embroidered native wool blankets in appreciation for our donation which was an absolute honor. The show was amazing. It was truly a special weekend."
A short film documenting the event, shot by Metal Dave Media, can be viewed below.
DOWN recently entered the studio to begin recording its new album, tentatively due later in the year.
In April 2024, Windstein, who is also the frontman of CROWBAR, told Concrete Spew about the musical direction of the new DOWN material: "It just sounds like DOWN. I mean, it sounds refreshing because we haven't done it in so long, gotten together with me and the guys and done it in — fuck — 12 years or something. So it sounds like DOWN, I think, to me, it sounds more old-school DOWN. And the reason I say that is I think we got to a point where… Like, the 'NOLA' record is so simple, and it just wrote itself; it was so simple. And that's how this is coming about, which is great."
He continued: "We're not overthinking it. We're not trying to make things too complex. Phillip's not trying to write so many lyrics and things. We just kind of got away — I hate to say 'got away', 'cause anything we do is DOWN, but, to me, we kind of got a little bit… We needed to go back and look at each other and just go, 'Let's just get in a room and do it like we did from the beginning.' And that's what it feels like to me. It's very magical. The ideas and the working together, just bounce off of one another, it's a natural thing."
As a result of DOWN's original Inn Of The Mountain Gods concert postponement, the band played two pop-up shows in Louisiana — on June 20, 2024 at Southport Hall in New Orleans and on June 21, 2024 at Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge.
Prior to Southport Hall, DOWN's last concert took place in September 2022 at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, Virginia.
DOWN made a handful of rare live appearances in the spring and summer of 2022. The band launched a three-date U.S. run of shows in May 2022 at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. After playing in Atlanta and Dallas immediately after Rockville, DOWN took a three-week break before regrouping for three European festival appearances in June. The aforementioned appearance at that year's Blue Ridge Rock Festival followed in September 2022.
In August 2021, DOWN took part in a very special in-person live and virtual experience. "NOLA Town Throwdown" was held at the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana and featured fans attending the show in person as well as watching it in real time from the comfort of their living room.
In August 2020, DOWN celebrated the 25th anniversary of "NOLA" with a special livestreamed event. Dubbed "The Quarter Century Throwdown", the high-production, multi-camera event took place using cutting-edge streaming technology to create a one-of-a-kind virtual concert experience.
A founding member of DOWN, Windstein left the band in 2013 in order to focus on CROWBAR and his family life. He was replaced by Bobby Landgraf, DOWN's former guitar tech who was previously in GAHDZILLA MOTOR COMPANY, a 1990s outfit also featuring Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER),and HONKY.
Windstein announced his return to DOWN in 2019, with the band confirming a number of festival appearances for 2020 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "NOLA", all of which were later canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic which swept the globe.
Prior to the August 2020 livestream, DOWN's last live appearance took place in August 2016 at the Psycho Las Vegas festival in Las Vegas.
The supergroup hasn't issued anything since the arrival of the "Down IV – Part Two" EP in May 2014.
"Down IV – Part Two" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2014 to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous EP, "Down IV Part I – The Purple EP", opened with around 12,000 units in September 2012 to land at No. 35.
"Down IV – Part Two" was recorded at Nodferatu's Lair — Anselmo's home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson. It was released via Down Records/ADA Music.
Photo by Metal Dave Media 2
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17 мар 2025


ALEX LIFESON Says He And GEDDY LEE Were Invited To Take Part In OZZY OSBOURNE's Final ConcertIn a new interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson was asked if he was aware of BLACK SABBATH's existence and musical output during the early days of the two bands' careers in the 1970s. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, for sure. I mean, those were very early days. We were playing high schools and eventually clubs and things like that. I don't know if I was a really a fan of BLACK SABBATH, but I did get a couple records back then and I enjoyed listening to them. I respected Tony's [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist] guitar playing."
As for Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH's final concert, which will take place this July in Birmingham, United Kingdom, Alex said: "That whole thing that they're doing this summer, [Geddy and I] were asked to be a part of it, and we had agreed to do it, but other things came up, and sadly we had to back out of it, 'cause it would have been a lot of fun. And we enjoy playing with other people, and it gets Geddy and me together to do stuff, and all of that."
Circling back to the musical connection between RUSH and SABBATH, Lifeson said: "There was an interesting parallel for their beginnings and our beginnings.
"Yeah, I [was] aware of [BLACK SABBATH], but nothing more than that, really," he added.
Taking place on July 5 at Villa Park, Ozzy and SABBATH's final show — billed as "Back To The Beginning" — sold out in less than 10 minutes last month.
The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.
Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.
In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).
Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
Alex is currently promoting the second album from his ENVY OF NONE project, also featuring Andy Curran (CONEY HATCH),Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne.
"Stygian Wavz" is being released today (Friday, March 14) via Kscope.
"Stygian Wavz" is being made available on a selection of formats, including colored vinyl, standard black vinyl, CD, Blu-ray, digitally and as a special deluxe edition boxset.
Photo credit: Richard Sibbald
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17 мар 2025


RUDY SARZO Says He Has Known About OZZY OSBOURNE's Final Concert Since Last OctoberLegendary hard rock bassist Rudy Sarzo says that it is an "honor" for him to be participating in Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Taking place on July 5 at Villa Park, the all-star event — billed as "Back To The Beginning" — sold out in less than 10 minutes last month.
The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.
Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.
In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).
Speaking to Terrie Carr of WDHA-FM 105.5 FM, the rock music station licensed to Dover and Morristown, New Jersey, Rudy, who played bass for Ozzy Osbourne from 1981 to 1982, stated about how he was first approached to take part in "Back To The Beginning": "I happened to be on the road with QUIET RIOT, playing some casino in the West — I think Idaho, I believe — and I just finished having lunch with [QUIET RIOT's] guitar player, Alex [Grossi]. And I got a text from Tom Morello. This was around October, November [of 2024]. It's been in the works quietly behind [the scenes] for a year and a half by the time that it got confirmed last month. But going back to me getting that text, I'm reading it and it's basically, 'Hi, Rudy. Tom [here]. Sharon and Ozzy asked me to see if you were available and wanted to participate in this event.' And at that moment, for so many reasons, it was like time stood still and brought me back, like, 40 years. So after I got out that trance, I immediately said, 'Yes. Of course.' And then he answers, 'Okay, great. I'll let Sharon and Ozzy know.' So that was back in November, October. And I didn't tell anybody except I told Alex, because not only is he our guitar player, he also works with the booking agency that books QUIET RIOT. And he understood that this had to be kept quiet. 'Don't tell anybody, but this is going on. And the reason why mainly I'm telling you' Alex' is because I need to block that date.' So I told him far in advance in 2024 about this 2025, July 5th event that I was asked to participate. And then I told my wife. And that's it. I didn't tell anybody else. I just kept going on with everything that I was doing. Then I ran into Tom Morello at the Ronnie James Dio bowling event [last November]. And I said, 'Is everything still on?' And he said, 'Yeah. It's still on. And then fast forward to when the announcement happened. About a week before the announcement, I got a call from the person who's organizing it through Live Nation in the U.K. to confirm me participating. And I, of course, said, 'Yes. I'm there.' So that's when it became confirmed, official that this was gonna happen. And he told me, 'Okay, don't say anything until this day at this time that Sharon and Tony are gonna make the announcement on social media.' And I said, 'Yep. You got it.' And that's how it happened."
On the topic of the magnitude of the upcoming event, Rudy said: "I've had time to really digest it, internalize it. The honor that it is to be a part of this and the true meaning of the event. For me, I'm doing it to be able to show my gratitude, but in reality it's also a celebration of the tribes. It's the union of all the heavy metal tribes gathering to pay homage to BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne, because a lot of those bands actually opened up for Ozzy when they were just an opening band, the ones that are going to participate, from METALLICA to ALICE IN CHAINS, maybe even SLAYER, because they were part of Ozzfest — all these bands that were part of Ozzfest and all of that, not just opening up for Ozzy as a solo artist, but also from Ozzfest. And in addition to that, they are the architects of the music that we play, of our genre of music, heavy metal. And I got to play not only Ozzy's music with Ozzy, I also got to play BLACK SABBATH music with Ozzy when I recorded 'Speak Of The Devil'. So I am very versed, very educated in all things Geezer Butler."
Sarzo previously talked about his involvement in "Back To The Beginning" last month in an interview with Jon Liebman of For Bass Players Only. He said at the time: "To be there, that's a blessing to me beyond words, to be able to do that. It's just one show, one charity show, with many other bands that were associated not only with the genre, but also they opened up for Ozzy. They got their career breaks opening up for Ozzy on tour and Ozzfest and things like that. So you have METALLICA, ANTHRAX, SLAYER, all the big ones, participating. It is very exciting.
"There's a tendency nowadays for artists to kind of fade out," Rudy continued. "You don't even know that they have quit, they retired, basically. They just fade out. And going out with a bang — you can't fade out if you're somebody like Ozzy who lived his life larger than life. Everything was bigger than life. It's Ozzy. You can't expect him to just quietly go into history. No, he's gotta go out with a huge fricking bang, probably the biggest bang ever. He deserves it. He's gotta do it."
Regarding the other musicians taking part in the concert, Rudy said: "I'm pretty sure they'll be adding on a couple of more, more bands and names. Jake E. Lee has been invited to do it. From what I see on the bill, it says 'Ozzy Osbourne' and then it says 'BLACK SABBATH'. And from what I understand, whether Ozzy is the one who performs Ozzy's solo career music, singing, or if it's other singers — there's gonna be a lot of different singers there, from Billy Corgan to Sammy Hagar through the singer from GHOST; he has like all these names, like Pope something. So there's gonna be plenty of vocalists who take over that, and guitar players."
Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.
Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.
The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.
Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.
While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.
Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.
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17 мар 2025


Watch: DISTURBED's DAVID DRAIMAN Joins SEVENDUST For 'Black' Performance At Chicago ConcertDISTURBED singer David Draiman joined SEVENDUST on stage last night (Saturday, March 8) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois to perform the latter band's song "Black". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.
SEVENDUST and THREE DAYS GRACE are the support acts for DISTURBED on the latter act's "The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour", which kicked off in Nampa, Idaho on February 25, 2025 and is produced by Live Nation. The tour celebrates 25 years of DISTURBED's seminal debut album which launched the band into public consciousness and is one of the most important and influential heavy metal albums of all time. Each night features two sets of music, opening with DISTURBED playing the five-times-platinum "The Sickness" in full, followed by a full set of greatest hits.
When "The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour" first launched, Draiman shared a backstage photo of him with SEVENDUST singer Lajon Witherspoon and he included the following message: "To say that I respect this man is an understatement.
"@ljspoon has been a dear friend, a colleague, and a teacher to me since before @disturbed was even signed.
"So happy to have the mighty @sevendustofficial out with us again!"
In a recent interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights, Witherspoon was asked if he and his SEVENDUST bandmates are working on material for the follow-up to their latest album, "Truth Killer", which was released in July 2023 via SEVENDUST's new label home, Napalm Records. He responded: "Yes, things are in the works… We are now looking inside the SEVENDUST music box with 20 or so songs that we're kind of weeding through right now to see what we like, [that] we're gonna work with this. And these are the cats in the band that are writing stuff and sending it in and put it into the box."
He continued: "Honestly, I feel like our best work is when we get together in a room in a setting when we are with the instruments, just those young men like we were when we first started. That's where the magic happens. So we're already in the making of coming to the farmhouse. [We're] just trying to figure out a date in between, 'cause we've got a lot of stuff to do. Even after the DISTURBED run, I think we only have a week off before we get on the CREED cruise. But, yes, we are writing an album. Even on the road, when we get on the bus, which I can't wait to get on the tour bus, we'll be out there, we'll be listening to tracks and stuff and probably going over things if we have time at soundcheck to play new music. So, yeah, it's rolling right now… So there's new music [in the works], yes."
The follow-up to 2020's "Blood & Stone", "Truth Killer" was once again tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.
"Truth Killer" showcased the original and current SEVENDUST lineup, comprised of Witherspoon, guitarists Clint Lowery and John Connolly, bassist Vince Hornsby and drummer Morgan Rose.
Last fall, SEVENDUST celebrated the 21st anniversary of its iconic album "Seasons" on a U.S. tour. "Seasons" is the fourth album from the band's catalog and exploded on to the metal world when it was released in October 2003. The album spawned a Top 10 Rock single with "Enemy" and the album closer "Face To Face" is a show staple and fan favorite of SEVENDUST to this day.
SEVENDUST's fourth studio album, "Seasons" was the band's final LP with TVT Records and was dedicated to the memory to both Dave Williams (DROWNING POOL's original singer),who died of cardiomyopathy in August 2002, and Reginald Witherspoon (Lajon Witherspoon's younger brother),who was murdered in November 2002.
"Seasons" was, for a time, the band's last album with Lowery as he left in 2004. Lowery returned to SEVENDUST in March 2008 and has remained with the group ever since.
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17 мар 2025


TRIUMPH's RIK EMMETT On Having Humility: 'When You're 71, There's Not Much Cocky Vanity Left'In a new interview with The Metal Voice, Rik Emmett of legendary Canadian rockers TRIUMPH was asked if he thinks there is "more of a demand" for the band now than ever. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, geez, that's a lovely thing for you to say. I don't think more than ever, but I do think that there's a very lovely awareness that exists on a level that 45, 50 years after the fact, who would have ever expected it?
"There's this thing called the Coalition for Music Education in Canada," he continued. "And these folks, music educators all across the country, they pick a song to be sort of their national song for the year. And they picked [TRIUMPH's] 'Hold On' from the 'Just A Game' album of 1979. And you kind of go, 'Wow, that's great.' So, I re-recorded a new version of it and they're doing overdubs on it as we speak. They get people to write string arrangements for school orchestras and bands and choir arrangements and stuff. The woman who's the executive director, Stacey Sinclair, she sent me this link. I got to see this choir in Chatham, Ontario of kids in grade two and three and four, and they're all singing my song. And it just blows my mind that such a beautiful thing can happen while I'm still around to enjoy it. It's a cool thing."
When interviewer Jimmy Kay noted that it's "a reboot for TRIUMPH" in a way, Rik said: "I think that there are things about what TRIUMPH was that makes it so that it can still have validity now for people like me. Some of it, not all of it, but some of it has aged very well, and especially given the crap that we're having to go through now in terms of politics and the COVID things we've gone through and isolation and mental health and stuff, music is something that has always had a therapeutic value, a spiritual value. And I don't care what kind of music. I would say metal might be a type of music that has more of that value than maybe other stuff. The more it gets towards pure pop, the less interesting I find it. And that was always true. In TRIUMPH I was always trying to say, 'How do we reach those people in the seats? And how can I talk straight at them?' I don't wanna be lecturing at them or hectoring them,' and I don't think, 'Oh my god, I must try to find a way to reach the commercial market.' It was, like, 'Well, no. I'm a musician and I'm gonna do what I do to satisfy myself.' I was in a band with a couple of guys that, they were pretty strong-headed, strong-willed — they knew what they wanted to do and how they were gonna try to do it. But I do think that we picked this name TRIUMPH that was supposed to be about the spirit of reaching those people and giving them something that mattered, a soundtrack for their lives. Not every song, but every album, there had to be songs that tried to do that."
Emmett added: "I don't like to come off like I'm bragging or that I'm full of myself 'cause I do think that as an artist, as a musician, you do have to have a humility. There has to be a modesty all the time, because what you're chasing is an infinite thing. So you can't get so full of yourself that you go, 'That's right. I [can get] cocky.'
"Somebody sent me a clip today and it was, like, a thing that we'd done in 1987. And I wrote him back and I said, 'Oh, the cocky vanity of youth.' And he said, 'Oh, yeah, but when else are you gonna have it?' When you're 71, there's not much cocky vanity left."
Emmett, who quit TRIUMPH — acrimoniously, in 1988 — over music and business disputes, went on to pursue a solo career, while TRIUMPH carried on with future BON JOVI guitarist Phil X for one more album, 1992's "Edge Of Excess", before calling it a day the following year.
Emmett was estranged, both personally and professionally, from the two other members of the legendary Canadian classic rock power trio for 18 years before they repaired their relationship.
Rik's memoir, "Lay It On The Line - A Backstage Pass To Rock Star Adventure, Conflict And Triumph", came out in October 2023 via ECW Press.
Gil Moore (drums),Mike Levine (bass) and Emmett formed TRIUMPH in 1975, and their blend of heavy riff-rockers with progressive odysseys, peppered with thoughtful, inspiring lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing quickly made them a household name in Canada. Anthems like "Lay It On The Line", "Magic Power" and "Fight The Good Fight" broke them in the USA, and they amassed a legion of fiercely passionate fans. But, as a band that suddenly split at the zenith of their popularity, TRIUMPH missed out on an opportunity to say thank you to those loyal and devoted fans, a base that is still active today, more than three decades later.
After 20 years apart, Emmett, Levine and Moore played at the 2008 editions of the Sweden Rock Festival and Rocklahoma. A DVD of the historic Sweden performance was made available four years later. 1
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