During the European leg of PANTERA's 2025 world tour, Dagan Wilkin of PMTV UK spoke to PANTERA guitarist Zakk Wylde and Grady Champion, who was "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's guitar tech throughout his career with PANTERA and is now working with Zakk. Zakk discussed touring, Dimebag's legacy, and the Wylde Audio fiddles he's using to tear the house down on these shows, celebrating his dear friends Dimebag and Vinnie Paul Abbott. Grady also takes the time to talk PMTV through Zakk's monster of a rig, which is more stripped back them most people expect, adding gear and effects that Dimebag himself utilized into Zakk's rig to create a monstrous tone that Dime would be proud of.

Regarding what it has been like to be part of the revamped PANTERA, which also includes classic-lineup vocalist Philip H. Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, alongside drummer Charlie Benante, Zakk said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I love it, man. I'm blessed… It's awesome, man. I mean, I get to play my buddy's stuff every night. So, celebrating Dime, celebrating Vinnie and Philip and Rex, this awesome thing that they created together. I think it's a beautiful thing. To me, I approach it the same way, kind of like, when we do 'Experience Hendrix' [tours celebrating Jimi Hendrix] and everything like that. You're honoring Jimi every night. And when I'm playing with Ozz [Ozzy Osbourne], you're honoring St. Rhoads [late Ozzy guitarist Randy Rhoads] every night. So it's same thing — it's honoring the guys' greatness every night. So, it's a blast to see everybody having a great time."

Earlier this week, PANTERA announced a summer 2025 U.S. amphitheater tour. Produced by Live Nation, the journey will commence on July 15 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania and wind its way through over two dozen cities, coming to a close on September 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Support will be provided by Swedish heavy metal icons AMON AMARTH and an additional guest opener to be announced at a later date.

PANTERA's latest stretch of live dates continues the celebration of the lives of late founding members, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. The tour follows PANTERA's spring run of stadium shows with METALLICA and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES as well as a very special U.K. performance as part of BLACK SABBATH's and Ozzy Osbourne's historic final show alongside METALLICA, SLAYER, GOJIRA, HALESTORM, ALICE IN CHAINS, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MASTODON and more.

PANTERA kicked off its 2025 European headlining tour on January 21 at Helsingin Jäähalli (Ice Hall) in Helsinki, Finland.

Last April, Zakk told Ultimate Guitar about the decision to tour with a reformed version of PANTERA: "I feel [Dimebag] all the time. Even when we were getting ready to do the [PANTERA tour in 2022], [the early] rehearsals, and they were just figuring out how we were gonna do this, there'd be signs all over the place, whether [it was] a license plate that would be, like, '333' [three being Dimebag's favorite number], or I'd run into like a Dimebag license plate in the middle of nowhere. It was just, like, him just pushing this thing along, willing it to happen. So he's just always around. When we were in New York, just like signs, when we just did [a headlining show at] the [Madison Square] Garden [in February 2024], my wife Barbaranne was, like, Check this out.' Something came up and it just reminded us of Dime, and I was like, 'Wow, that's crazy.' Or we would look on our phone and it would be '333'. It's just these signs everywhere. And I could see Dime just doing it, going, 'I hope these idiots realize it's me sending these signs.' [Laughs]"

It was first reported in July 2022 that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

During a recent appearance on "Drinks With Johnny", the Internet TV show hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, Zakk was asked how he, Philip, Rex and Charlie all "came together to decide that this was the right time, the right group to pay homage to the mighty PANTERA". The guitarist said: "Well, BLACK LABEL [SOCIETY] and DOWN, we did some shows together in 2014, we did a tour, and it was great. 'Cause I've known Phil [who also sings for DOWN] and Pepper [Keenan, DOWN guitarist] and all the guys, and Jimmy Bower [DOWN drummer], Father Bower Power, over there for a while. It was just a bunch of friends going out doing shows together. And we did some PANTERA stuff then, and then Father Rex came out and we jammed 'I'm Broken' and stuff like that, and it was a lot of fun. And it's always been rumored for years. I just said that's always on the fellas. Me and Charlie are buds, and we'll be here to support our friends, whatever they wanna do. So when Phil called me up one day, he was, like, 'Zakk, you wanna get together and do this? We're thinking about me, Rex and Charlie and yourself, and we'll go out and pay tribute to Dime and Vinnie.' I was, like, 'Of course. I always said I would be there for you guys when you felt the time was right to do it.'"

He continued: "But, yeah, we just got together and did the rehearsals down in New Orleans and then we've been rolling ever since. We just did the [Madison Square] Garden and everything like that, with LAMB OF GOD and the guys and everything like that. So it was great. So just looking out every night and seeing people taking a trip down memory lane, the people that have seen the original PANTERA… When Phil says every night, he's just, like, 'How many people, this is their first time ever seeing PANTERA?' And all the younger people that never got a chance to see 'em [raise their hands]. It just really is a beautiful thing.

"I always say it every night, when we were playing the Garden, it's just like if Dime and Vinnie were right there on the side of the stage, I'd go, 'Look at what you guys created.' So it's really special. I think it's just a beautiful thing every night paying honor and tribute to Dime and Vinnie every night, Phil and Rex and Dime and Vinnie, this thing that they created that brings so many people joy. So, I just think it's a beautiful thing every night."

Zakk previously discussed his involvement with PANTERA in a February 2024 interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights. At the time, he said: "Everybody in the whole camp, it's all great people. And it's crazy, because we've known each other for years, but you end up knowing, even with the crew and everything like that, all these people you've known for years — I mean, people that I've been with when I started with Ozzy [Osbourne] and everything like that. So, it's just a great time out there, man, for sure. And then, obviously, celebrating Vinnie and Dime every night, it's just awesome.

"The beautiful thing about music is, all the bands that we love, whether it's ZEPPELIN or [BLACK] SABBATH, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS or Elton John or PANTERA or whatever, everybody has their connection to that music," he continued. "That's the most powerful thing about music. I mean, you hear stuff, it just transports you back to when you were 13 years old, 14 years old, where you were and what you were doing when that music was going on. So, for so many people — it's amazing 'cause Phil always does it at like almost every night, he's just, like, 'How many people saw PANTERA back in the day?' And everybody, obviously, you have all the PANTERA faithful. And then he goes, 'How many people, this is their first time seeing PANTERA?' It's mind-blowing. I mean, I'd say it's almost like 60-40, 70-30 sometimes, where it's, like, 'Wow. That is amazing.'

"I never got a chance to see ZEPPELIN back in the day, so to see… When I went and saw the [Jimmy] Page and [Robert] Plant thing with the orchestra and everything, that was just amazing, because I never got a chance to see them back in the day. So, just the power of the music, to see it live was just… I saw 'em at Brendan Byrne Arena [in East Rutherford, New Jersey in April 1995] when we were working on [Ozzy Osbourne's 1995 album] 'Ozzmosis'. I got tickets and we went down to the gig that night, and it was amazing — 'cause I never I never got a chance to see it back in the day. So, it's pretty much the same, 'cause I know I was getting chills when I was watching it. So, yeah, it's a beautiful thing, man."

Zakk was also asked if he would be open to working on new material with PANTERA. He said: "Nah, I don't think so. Whenever Phil says that and all the younger kids are screaming and yelling, when they put the house lights on and everyone's got their fists up in the air 'cause that's the first time [they're seeing PANTERA live], I just look at like Vinnie and Dime, if they were on the side of the stage, and go, 'See what you guys created.' So it's just, like, yeah, it's awesome. It truly is, man. But, no, I don't think [the plan is] to record [as PANTERA]. I mean, it'd be like if [Eric] Clapton was playing with [drummer] Mitch [Mitchell] and [bassist] Noel [Redding], honoring Jimi [Hendrix], they're not gonna go in and record [and call it] THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE with Eric Clapton. [Laughs] I don't think anything like that. Obviously, if we were ever to do anything, it would be under a different name. Like Jimmy Page, if he was playing with Paul Rodgers and everything, it's THE FIRM; they're not going out as LED ZEPPELIN."

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

In a new interview with Tabatha Velasquez Grammer of Tulsa, Oklahoma's 106.9 K-HITS, SHINEDOWN singer Brent Smith was asked how he and his bandmates manage to navigate putting the finishing touches on a new studio album while simultaneously preparing to embark on a massive U.S. tour. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'll be honest with you, I'm ready for it. I don't really have an 'off' switch in a lot of ways. I have to remind myself that it is a band, and I mean that wholeheartedly. There's a lot of moving parts to this machine that we call SHINEDOWN.

"We started last year thinking about what does the next three years look like, the next five years look like. One of the goals is that we had a bit of an issue kind of locking in international touring over the last few years and we have a lot of fans that have been waiting on us from that aspect. So, next year our goal is to play all seven continents in 2026. Obviously, these first run of shows that we're doing in North America are a big deal for us."

Referencing the fact that SHINEDOWN recently released two new singles, "Three Six Five" and "Dance, Kid, Dance", which offer a glimpse into the band's forthcoming eighth studio LP, Brent said: "The album should be coming out roughly late July, early August. But we wanted to get these two songs out because that's kind of the launch pad, in a way, to what we're getting ready to do next, but you just kind of juggle it.

"One of the things is that in SHINEDOWN, we're very lucky that one of our brothers and our bandmembers is a gentleman by the name of Eric Bass…. But Eric, for people that may not know this about him, who's the bass player in the band, he's way more than a bass player. The last two records and this record that we're working on right now, he's been the sole engineer, mixer and producer of those records. So having a bandmember that is really a savant in a lot of ways, we're very lucky in that way. So we can kind of articulate and carve out the schedule the way we need it to be done. But we're able to do a lot of things in-house. And we have to kind of circle the dates, and you've got deadlines when you've gotta meet things and all that, but we just navigate it to the best of our ability."

Earlier this week, "Dance, Kid, Dance" reached the No. 1 slot at Active Rock radio. The song, which was released only a month ago on January 24, is SHINEDOWN's 20th No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and their 22nd song to reach No. 1 on Mediabase's Active Rock chart. When the song entered the Top 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, SHINEDOWN tied with the FOO FIGHTERS for the artist with the most top ten songs in the chart's history at 32 total songs.

Globally the song also continues to pick up steam as it was the No. 1 most played track this week across both Planet Rock and Kerrang! Radio in the U.K. The radio trajectory of the song and "Three Six Five" is nothing but meteoric. "Three Six Five" has already risen to the Top 20 (No. 17) at Alternative & Hot AC (No. 16) radio, Top 40 at Active Rock (No. 36) and continues to climb.

SHINEDOWN will team up with SiriusXM Octane and Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) on Sunday, March 2 at The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida. The collaboration will sponsor No. 60 SiriusXM Honda driven by Felix Rozenqvist. The band's Zach Myers and Barry Kerch will be at the track on race day, immersing themselves in the INDYCAR action and supporting MSR from the pit lane.

Recently, SHINEDOWN announced it has added the historic Kia Forum in Los Angeles to the band's already massive headline tour. The "Dance, Kid, Dance" tour kicks off on April 25, and the 36-date run is one of the largest run of shows (and venues) the band has ever put on. It will be the first time the band has ever headlined some of the country's most legendary venues, including Madison Square Garden (July 20),Bridgestone Arena (May 10),Boston's TD Garden (July 19) and more. Joining them on the tour are BEARTOOTH and BUSH (on select dates) and Morgan Wade for all shows.

Adding to the celebrations, SHINEDOWN was recently nominated for numerous iHeartRadio Music Awards, including "Rock Song Of The Year" for "A Symptom of Being Human", "Rock Artist Of The Year" and Sanjay Parikh was nominated for "Favorite Tour Photographer" for SHINEDOWN. The new nods bring the band to a total of 13 iHeartRadio Music Awards since the band's inception.

The two new singles embody the many multifaceted talents of the SHINEDOWN: one part rock 'n' roll dynamism and one part incredible songwriting and passion. "Dance, Kid, Dance" hits hard right out of the gate with incredibly heavy guitars and a tempo that just doesn't quit. It's part social commentary and part "don't overthink it, let's just rock out and LET'S DANCE!" The song pushes boundaries and is a reminder of why SHINEDOWN holds the record for the most No. 1 songs at Active Rock radio of all time with "Dance, Kid, Dance".

"Three Six Five" is an example of the band's ability to tackle tough subjects through impeccable songwriting. Anyone who has ever experienced loss knows that every day we draw breath is an opportunity to live out loud — to live for those we have lost. At its core "Three Six Five" is a reminder to stop wasting time, focus on the moments we have right now, and treasure time with the ones you love the most. The song honors the people in our lives who aren't with us anymore. It reminds us to stop taking time for granted because it's not promised. Take chances, be bold, and don't sweat the small stuff, because as the song says: a lot can happen in a year.

Smith and SHINEDOWN bassist/producer Eric Bass co-wrote "Three Six Five", and "Dance, Kid, Dance" was co-written by Smith, Bass and Dave Bassett. The songs were produced by Bass at his own Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina.

SHINEDOWN continues to demonstrate that they are one of the most forward-thinking powerhouses in music, forever pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a modern-day rock band. The tour and new music not only kick off a new era for SHINEDOWN but continue to celebrate the momentous acclaim the band received from their juggernaut song "A Symptom Of Being Human" off their seventh studio album "Planet Zero" (Atlantic Records). The song, which has reached over 100 million streams and counting, crossed over not only to Alternative but Top 40 radio and resonated with fans across the globe for the unifying message of its lyrics: that it is our human connections that matter the most.

Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

In a new interview with Shelli Sonstein of New York's classic rock radio station Q104.3, BAD COMPANY drummer Simon Kirke spoke about the British supergroup's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination, which was announced earlier this month after decades of eligibility. Asked how it feels to finally be nominated, Simon said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It feels good. I mean, it does feel good, but I have to add a note of caution that I'm not familiar with the voting process, or I wasn't until last week. So we're nominated, but then we have to get voted in on April — I believe it's April the 23rd the votes are cast. So we'll see. But I have to say finally, 'cause I've always advocated that FREE and BAD COMPANY should have been in a while ago. But I won't dish out sour grapes. I'm just happy to be nominated. And I was saying to a friend of mine earlier on that I hope that we can get on the podium because Mick [Ralphs], our guitarist, as you know, is not well and we don't know how long he's gonna be around. But it would be wonderful if me and Paul [Rodgers, BAD COMPANY singer] could get on the stage and say, 'This is for Mick as well,' and so on. But, yeah, it feels good."

Asked if it was a surprise to finally get nominated, Simon said: "It was. It was a surprise sort of tempered with, 'Wow, at last.' And also what I didn't realize is there's a two-pronged attack. There's the popular vote, and then there's the voting committee of the Hall Of Fame, who are made up… Once you've been nominated and accepted, you become automatically a voting member. So, I didn't know that. Yeah. So, there are hundreds and hundreds of musicians and executives who are now on the board, as it were. So there's also the popular vote where fans can go on the Hall Of Fame web site and vote. So when the votes are cast on the end of April, that's when the committee steps up and they cast their vote. I mean, I'm a friend of Steven Van Zandt, who's been on the Hall Of Fame committee for years. And every year they sit around the table and they scratch their head and say, 'Why the hell isn't FREE and BAD COMPANY in?, because of our influence. I think a lot of bands were influenced [by us] — like we were. We were influenced by a lot of bands before us — THE [ROLLING] STONES and THE BEATLES and black music. We're just passing it on."

In a statement to Billboard about BAD COMPANY's nomination, Rodgers said: "BAD COMPANY fans and friends have been lobbying for this nomination persistently for years and they never gave up, so big thanks to them. According to them, BAD COMPANY fits all of the criteria and then some to be inducted."

Kirke, for his part, told the publication: "I think it's been a long time coming. It has rankled me a bit. We've been around a long time and we've influenced a lot of bands, and I think it's a place that we deserve. I'm just pleased that we're at least on the ballot. I'm happy and I'm honored, and fingers crossed that we make it."

Back in November 2023, Kirke was asked by "The Bob Lefsetz Podcast" how he felt about BAD COMPANY not having been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He responded: "I think it's such a travesty, quite honestly. And not just that, but FREE — FREE certainly should be [in the Hall], because FREE has been around since 1968, and the two bands have been responsible for influencing a lot of bands who are already in the Hall. So I feel pretty bad about it. But I'm not gonna go on too much about it. It's just I think we should be in. Certainly FREE. And I think Paul Rodgers should be in on his own merits, as one of the great rock vocalists of all time. If Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck can be inducted as solo artists, then certainly Paul Rodgers should be in there. That's my two cents."

Later in the chat, Kirke offered one possible explanation for why BAD COMPANY had been overlooked by the Rock Hall.

"I think because of BAD COMPANY's changing lineups over the 50 years that we'd been together, it kind of devalued our currency a little bit," he said. "You had the Brian Howe era, you had the Paul Rodgers era, one and two, when Paul rejoined the band, we had Robert Hart. So I honestly don't know why we have not been nominated — not even inducted; you have to be nominated first, as you know."

In September 2023, Rodgers told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he wasn't bothered by his absence from the Rock Hall. "Well, it doesn't affect my daily life. It doesn't affect what I do in any way at all," he said. "It's one of those things. But I remember years and years ago, Ahmet Ertegun, who was the head of Atlantic Records [and a co-founder of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame], said to me, 'Paul, we're making this museum of rock and roll. Do you guys wanna be part of it?' And I said, 'What, a museum of rock and roll? What's it called?' He said, 'Well, it's called the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.' I said, 'Well, I don't think rock and roll belongs in a museum.' So it's my bad, I guess. And he asked me a couple of times, and I kind of like refused, I guess, basically. So, you know, there you go. Onwards and upwards."

Born and raised in London, THE BEATLES perked a teenage Simon's interest in rock music, and he picked up the drums — leading to a gig with a local band called THE MANIACS, on which Simon supplied drums and lead vocals (something quite uncommon at the time).

Simon worked out a deal with his parents after graduating high school, that if he couldn't "make it" as a drummer in a band within a two-year period, that he would begin a college career. Just a few months before the deadline, Simon landed a gig with a group called the BLACK CAT BONES. The drummer befriended the group's talented guitarist, Paul Kossoff, who in turn convinced Simon to leave the group with him and begin a new outfit with singer Paul Rodgers. Soon ex-JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS bassist Andy Fraser signed on and FREE was officially formed in 1968. Mixing blues with hard rock, the group would prove to be quite influential, especially on the strength of their classic 1970 release, "Fire And Water", and its strutting, anthemic hit single "All Right Now".

When the band broke up, it didn't take Simon long to find another gig, joining Paul Rodgers in a new band, BAD COMPANY, which was quite similar stylistically to FREE. Joined by ex-KING CRIMSON bassist Boz Burrell and ex-MOTT THE HOOPLE guitarist Mick Ralphs, BAD COMPANY was the first group signed to LED ZEPPELIN's record label, Swan Song. Their debut album, 1974's "Bad Company", would go on to become one of hard rock's all-time classics, as it birthed such long-standing rock radio standards as "Can't Get Enough", "Ready For Love" and the title track, written by Paul and Simon himself. The group hails as one of the all-time top rock outfits. Kirke is the only member of BAD COMPANY who's been in every lineup of the band.

In a new interview with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, ZZ TOP's Billy Gibbons was asked about the band's decision to hire ZZ TOP's longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis, who had worked with the group for more than two decades, after the "totally unexpected" July 2021 death of their longtime bandmate, bassist Dusty Hill. Gibbons said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, Elwood and Dusty, they were two peas in a pod. Elwood starting off as a guitarist, he and Dusty were trading bass licks and guitar licks from day one. Elwood being quite the family member. He was with us for — gosh — three decades, knowing us inside and out. The big surprise… When he started out, Elwood was the skateboarder with an avocado sandwich and not a chin whisker to be found. After receiving the call from management saying ZZ TOP is gonna go back to work, and I said, 'Gee whiz, we'd better go rehearse.' And it was Dusty that said, 'Listen, if I'm late to the gig, give my guitar to Elwood. He knows it backwards and forward.' And I said, 'Oh, okay, fine. I showed up at the rehearsal and I said, 'Who's the new guy?' They said, 'Which one?' I said, 'That guy over there with the two-foot doormat hanging from his chin.' They said, 'Well, that's Elwood. And I said, 'No, no, the guy with the big beard.' And they said, 'That's Elwood.' He got lazy, just like we did."

The 72-year-old Hill died on July 28, 2021 in his sleep at his Houston, Texas home.

ZZ TOP played its first show following Hill's death on July 30, 2021 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Francis made his live debut with ZZ TOP on July 23, 2021 at the Village Commons in New Lenox, Illinois after Hill was forced to return to Texas to address a hip issue.

"When I first started doing it, Dusty was just sick and going home for a few weeks," Francis told Guitar World magazine. "It was entirely different; I was just helping out. I didn't have to worry about the weight of the crown because I was just helping. They pulled me aside and said, 'Can you honestly say you can't play his parts?' I said, 'I can do it, but I don't think people would enjoy me doing it.' They said, 'You can cover him for a few weeks.'"

Francis, whose place in ZZ TOP was made permanent shortly after Hill's death, went on to say that he still doesn't consider himself part of the band.

"We'd done some gigs when Dusty passed, and by that time, I wouldn't say I was comfortable because I'm still not fucking comfortable," he explained. "But I had a piece of paper on the riser for the first two shows if I got in trouble, and by the third show, I got rid of that, and just did the show.

"It's just weird," he continued. "Dusty is their bass player. I'm not the bass player. I'm not in the band. I'll never be in the band. I shouldn't be in the band. It's Dusty's thing. Sure, I'll still play with them, but it's a weird thing, man."

Hill joined ZZ TOP a year after its formation in 1969.

In a June 2023 interview with Classic Rock, Gibbons said about how Francis came to join ZZ TOP following Hill's passing: "Dusty was a great guy, a swell singer. He provided a solid platform for me to solo without having to look back. He was always on it. Dusty used to say: 'If I'm late to the stage, be sure to give my guitar to Elwood.' Elwood is a family member; he's been with us for three decades. And sure enough, Elwood picked up the parts and pieces [to replace Hill in ZZ TOP]. But whereas Dusty played with his fingers, Elwood uses a pick. It's a little sharper. He brings a little more finesse. And at the first rehearsal he showed up with a full beard longer than mine."

Gibbons admitted "there was a lot of curiosity" surrounding ZZ TOP's return to the live stage without Hill. "'What's this going to be like?' 'Can this guy hold up the bottom of the TOP?' In a trio it's a big challenge," he said. "Everything has to be working at a hundred and ten per cent. But Elwood was ready, having been a part of it for so long… [Dusty] said: 'The show must go on.' That was his wish, and we granted it."

In a new interview with Carlota of Kilpop, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bassist Chris Kael was asked for an update on his band's current activities. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We have a photo shoot tomorrow, actually, here in [Las Vegas]. Yeah, so we're all getting together… But, yeah, big five-hour photo shoot, getting ready for the next line of things. We're here in town working on new stuff as well. Going back to the old days, like the very first record. [On that album] I believe it was Zoltan [Bathory, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's founding guitarist] just in his apartment in Los Angeles, writing and recording right there in his apartment. He said that he didn't get a bed, he didn't get none of that, 'cause he didn't want anything to hold him down. He wanted to be able to go in there, record, be uncomfortable, and then get out and go do it. So, he's got a bed now and a much bigger house. But we're essentially doing it the way that it was done on that first record, just in the living room — set up and record and go."

Regarding the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the follow-up to FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's ninth album, "AfterLife", which came out in August 2022 via Better Noise, Kael said: "I think there's about six or seven songs at this point. Yeah, [we're] just kind of working on that and taking our time and really just kind of enjoying the break, with no rush. There's no deadlines, no impending tours. We've got six shows this year. I know we're doing Arizona Bike Week, playing up in Anchorage, Alaska, Sturgis, a couple shows in Wisconsin. We just announced Rocklahoma as well. And then other than that, we're just gonna be here writing and recording, going out to do those shows to get the live vibe again, get excited and then come back and bring that live energy back into the studio."

Last September, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH was forced to cancel its appearance in Mexico City as the support act for METALLICA due to an injury sustained by FFDP singer Ivan Moody.

Moody fractured his rib while performing with his FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bandmates at the 2024 Louder Than Life festival at Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Last summer, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH completed a headlining U.S. tour with support from MARILYN MANSON and SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL. The trek kicked off on August 2, 2024 in Hershey, Pennsylvania and ran through September 19, 2024 when it concluded in Houston, Texas.

Prior to the summer 2024 U.S. run, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH toured Europe as the support act for METALLICA on the latter act's "M72" world tour in addition to headlining shows with special guest ICE NINE KILLS and select appearances at major festivals.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

During an appearance on the February 27 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Ace Frehley confirmed that he is working on "Origins Vol. 3", the sequel to Ace's 2016 and 2020 collections of cover songs that inspired the former KISS guitarist. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I decided to reconnect with my old producer Alex Salzman. So, it won't be me and Steve Brown," referencing the TRIXTER guitarist/vocalist who helmed Ace's latest solo album, 2024's "10,000 Volts". "It'll be me and Alex Salzman collaborating on that record since Alex did 'Origins Vo. 1' and 'Vol. 2' and we have a formula that we came up with and it seemed to work."

Ace continued: "I was listening to the [first two 'Origins'] records last night on YouTube in my office on my desk. I have a set of Bose speakers, and the albums sound just as good as the new album, '10,000 Volts'. So, I'm gonna go back to my old formula with Alex. And maybe I'll bring back Steve to do the [next all-original] album since he's a very, very good songwriter and guitar player and engineer as well."

Asked if he has decided which songs he will cover on "Origins Vol. 3" yet, including whether he will once again do remakes of some KISS songs, Ace said: "I haven't decided. I have a list of about 50 songs, so… I really don't wanna give anything away. It's too soon."

Regarding the possibility of "Origins Vol. 3" being released in 2025, Ace said: "I could have it ready [this year]. I can do the album in a month because I don't have to write the songs. That's the beauty of the 'Origins' series. I don't write. So, the recording process is pretty seamless and rapid because all I have to do is Ace-ify it. [Laughs]"

Released in September 2020, "Origins Vol. 2" featured cover versions of THE BEATLES' "I'm Down", DEEP PURPLE's "Space Truckin'", LED ZEPPELIN's "Good Times Bad Times", THE ROLLING STONES' "Jumpin' Jack Flash", THE KINKS' "Lola" and THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE's "Manic Depression", among others. A cover of the 1975 KISS tune "She" also appeared as a bonus track. Guests on the set included CHEAP TRICK's Robin Zander, Lita Ford and former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

Released in April 2016, "Origins Vol. 1" debuted at No. 23 on The Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 16,000 equivalent album units. The CD featured KISS frontman Paul Stanley joining Ace on FREE's hit "Fire And Water", Slash trading leads on THIN LIZZY's classic "Emerald", Ford singing and playing lead on THE TROGGS staple "Wild Thing", then-ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5 playing guitar alongside Ace on the classic KISS composition "Parasite", and PEARL JAM's Mike McCready playing guitar with Ace on KISS's "Cold Gin".

In a 2016 interview with The Aquarian Weekly, Frehley admitted that doing the first covers album was "the record company's idea. To be honest with you, initially, I wasn't that excited about the project, because I had just come off the high of the success of 'Space Invader', which is all originals except for a cover of 'The Joker'," he said. "It was almost, like, 'Okay, I'm going to go through the motions and get this out of the way and then jump into the studio for my next real studio album.' But I've gotta tell ya, man, once I started the process and started remembering the groups that influenced me, narrowing down which songs I thought were going to be best for the record, and then started the recording process; I really started getting more excited about it."

"10,000 Volts" came out in February 2024 via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music).

The official music video for the "10,000 Volts" track — directed by Alex Kouvatsos from Black Wolf Imaging — was released in late November 2023. A clip for "Cherry Medicine", which was directed by Justin H. Reich of Three Thirty-Three Creative and produced by Reich and Steve Seabury, followed in February 2024.

Photo credit: Jayme Thornton

In a new interview with Primordial Radio, LACUNA COIL frontwoman Cristina Scabbia was asked how she handles negative reviews of her band, as well as online trolls who attack her personally on the Internet. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's also impossible to read all [the reviews] because now there are so many outlets — not only the few printed magazines, but also Internet. It's everywhere. And everyone has an opinion, even if they don't know anything about music, even if they don't hear a record.

"I read them whenever I have the chance — I read them all," she admitted. "I'm very present online. I try to figure out what people are thinking about the record and [their] opinions. I don't mind if people like it or not. Obviously, I'm very happy if people like our music. I don't mind if the criticisms are touching personal aspects of musicians. If you're listening to the record and you don't like it, it's fine. If you are saying something about me, my private life, or just, like — I don't know — 'I can't stand her because this, this and that,' I will reply you. I will show myself on social medias 'cause I can't fathom the idea that these people can take advantage of people that is way weaker than me and might not have the biggest shoulder to kind of react and could go downhill. Because too many people think that they can do whatever they want with what they write without thinking about consequences.

"So, yeah, you can attack LACUNA COIL. And you can attack Cristina Scabbia because Cristina Scabbia will stand up and reply and tell you that you're a fucking asshole," she added. "And will do it not just for you, but for everyone else to read that you're a fucking asshole. So maybe next time you either change your tone or don't say anything. Because if you do it to me, I react. If you do it to someone who is not in the right mental state, this person could do something very bad. And you would be walking out there feeling, 'Oh, I have a keyboard. I can write whatever the fuck I want.' No, that's not exactly how it works. You can express your preference. You can tell, 'I don't like this record. I prefer the record that they did years ago.' And it's the same for reviews. I mean, why would I care about the review of a guy that — I don't know — maybe just listens to black metal and maybe just listened to our record once very quickly, analyzing it and giving it a vote? I don't care. It's just like, okay, whatever. You have a different taste. You thought that the record sucked. Or maybe you wouldn't like it anyway. I mean, you can't please everybody."

LACUNA COIL's latest album, "Sleepless Empire", was released on February 14, 2025 via Century Media Records.

Last October, Italian guitarist/producer Daniele Salomone confirmed that he has joined LACUNA COIL as the replacement for the band's longtime guitarist Diego Cavallotti.

Salomone made his live debut with LACUNA COIL on August 4, 2024 at the Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Râșnov, Romania.

In June 2024, LACUNA COIL announced Cavallotti's departure. Diego, who joined LACUNA COIL in 2016, initially as a fill-in guitarist following the exit of Marco "Maus" Biazzi, later said in a social media post that "this decision is not the result of my dissatisfaction or desire to explore new opportunities."

Cavallotti and Salomone played together in the Italian metal band INVERNO, which released its debut album, "Stasis", in December 2023.