One of the world's most captivating guitarists, Yngwie Malmsteen has announced his new studio album, "Hell Or High Water", which will be released on November 13 via Music Theories Recordings/Artone Label Group. To whet your appetite, the Swedish-born musician has also revealed the first single from the album, "Now Or Never", which you can hear below.

When we think of the greatest guitar players of all-time, specifically the crème de la crème musicians who invented a whole new style and sound on the instrument, Malmsteen is a name that sits comfortably alongside game-changers like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Edward Van Halen.

The nine tracks that make up his latest triumph were crafted meticulously and purposefully, away from the distractions that stall the creative process in the modern age. This is something he first tried with 2021's "Parabellum" — mainly because of the state of the world at that time — and the results were so strong, he decided to stick with this as his modus operandi moving forward.

"When I started making records, I would just take the songs I had lying around," Yngwie admits. "Later on, I fell into a schedule — make a record, tour the record and then write the next record. Over the pandemic, I realised it was better to focus completely uninterrupted, so I stayed at home to write this album over the course of eight months. I had around 80 or 90 tracks finished, and then I had to decide which ones were the strongest."

For a man born with a gift to conjure up overtures "out of nowhere", the science behind writing a song is something that's hard to explain. But, in any case, he's grateful for the abundance of gold-standard ideas that do arrive — the kind that would take other musicians months or even years to realize into actuality. For Yngwie J. Malmsteen, this is simply what he was born to do.

"Even without a guitar in my hands, the music just comes to me," Yngwie reasons. "It's like that movie 'Amadeus'. Mozart was getting music given to him in complete form. I understand the building blocks and can therefore build you anything you like. If you asked me to write you a death metal song, call me back in five minutes, and I'd have it ready for you. You want country and western or reggae? No problem. I can give you whatever you want. The language of music is simple. There are certain notes that belong together in whatever stylistic direction and sound pleasant to the ear. The ideas don't come all the time, but when they do, it's like an avalanche. The pieces I choose for my records are like gifts that I capture because they amaze me. I'm very lucky in that sense."

Lead single "Now Or Never" is a perfect storm of palm-muted riffing, baroque counterpart melodies, soaring vocals and mind-blowing dexterity. If you're looking for Yngwie in a nutshell, this is very much it, and similar things could be said of the second track and instrumental pièce de résistance "Am Caprice/Hell Or High Water".

"(On The) Battlefield" and "Eye For An Eye" feature some of the singer/guitarist's strongest vocal performances to date, alongside the stunning instrumentals "Antikythera" and "Beyond Zeta Reticuli" — which were both named after important scientific breakthroughs and discoveries.

"Hell Or High Water" is an album that's bursting with emotion from all corners, but the closing track "Father" is undoubtedly the most spirited of them all, written in tribute to the guitar legend's dad, who passed away last year.

"He was an amazing man," remembers Yngwie. "I was proud to have him as a father, and I loved him. I wanted to dedicate all of this to him, and that one particular track is for him. I wanted others to feel what I felt when they hear it. Niccolò Paganini once said, 'One must feel strongly in order to make others feel strongly'. It's one thing to be a typewriter and another thing to be someone who writes stories that can touch people. That was always the point."

"Hell Or High Water" track listing:

01. Now Or Never
02. Am Caprice/Hell Or High Water
03. (He Is) Living A Lie
04. Antikythera
05. (On The) Battlefield
06. Beyond Zeta Reticuli
07. Prestissimo In Bm/Adagio
08. Eye For An Eye
09. Father

This past June, Yngwie told Jimmy Kay of Canada's The Metal Voice about the musical direction of his new album: "I would say it's very Malmsteen-esque. It sounds like Yngwie Malmsteen… You will definitely hear the similarities. I would say some of the instrumental stuff is really, really nuts. But there's some cool metal — I'd say, like, not metal, but whatever you wanna call it now."

Elaborating on what fans can expect from his new LP, Yngwie said: "The album's called 'Hell Or High Water'. And I made it specifically to fit on the vinyl record. Nine [songs], [with] one bonus track, but it's 46 minutes [long]… I deliberately [made it] like that. I had a lot more ideas, a lot more songs, but I made it so it's exactly that."

Malmsteen went on to say that he made "Hell Or High Water" specifically so that it will be heard in its entirety as opposed to as a collection of standalone tracks.

"This album I just made now — most of my albums, I would say — you couldn't just take one song and it'd be representative of the record," Yngwie explained. "They all complement each other. They all have their own thing. 'Oh, that's what the album sounds like.' No, because the next song doesn't sound like that. You have to hear it as an album. It's made as an album, like a movie. 'Oh, yeah, look at that scene. Yeah, three minutes.' No, that's not enough. You have to see the whole movie. You read the whole book. And I made it that the sequence of the songs and everything, they're following —I think about tempos and key signatures and stuff like this. And I'm really happy with it."

Asked if "Hell Or High Water" is a concept album, Yngwie said: "No, I wouldn't call it that. I mean, if you wanted to, you could analyze it any way you like. You can go, 'Yeah, it's a concept album,' but it's not meant to be. But it could be, I guess."

Malmsteen previously talked about "Hell Or High Water" this past April in an interview with Eddie Trunk at the 2026 edition of the Monsters Of Rock festival in São Paulo, Brazil. He said: "I just finished recording a new album. I've been in the studio almost five months straight."

Regarding the musical direction of his new LP, Yngwie said: "Well, it's very Malmsteen-esque. It will be everything you expect and then some."

Asked if there are any vocals on the album or if it's all instrumental, Malmsteen said: "Oh, yeah. I sing about four songs. And then [the rest of it is] instrumental. It's a mix. But it's made especially for the vinyl. So it's exactly 46 minutes [long]. I made it especially so it's gonna be a vinyl record. It's gonna come out on everything, but it's made to fit perfectly on a vinyl LP."

Malmsteen also talked about his mindset going into making the new album. He said: "I have the luxury of owning my own [recording studio], so I go in when I'm inspired. And I decided a long time ago, I'm not gonna try to do something special, either what other people think I should do or decide [ahead of time which direction to go] — except sometimes [I say], 'Okay, I'm gonna make a blues album,' or, 'I'm gonna make an acoustic album,' which has happened. But when I make the records that are, let's say, an Yngwie Malmsteen album, I just let it flow. And I come up with maybe a hundred ideas and I use nine or 10. So I take the best of what I think is the best, the most dramatic stuff, most interesting stuff — not necessarily a decided direction or whatever. It's just natural, whatever comes out. And this particular album is gonna be very neoclassical."

Asked what the key is to making instrumental music work and be able to cross it over into a bigger audience, Yngwie said: "I don't know, but I decided a long time ago to make honest music. Not to try to do something that's fashionable or follow a trend or do what other people say. But what I've always done is [made] passionate music. Like [Italian violinist and composer] Niccolò Paganini said, one must feel strongly to make others feel strongly. So I feel very strongly about the music, and apparently that translates out. So it seems to work."

Only four of the songs on "Parabellum" featured vocals. The album title is Latin, translating as "Prepare For War".

After working with some of the top hard singers of the past four decades, Yngwie now handles much of the lead vocals himself in his own band, backed by a lineup that includes keyboardist Nick Marino, bassist Emilio Martinez and drummer Kevin Klingenschmid.

Yngwie released a new live album, "Tokyo Live", in April 2025 via Music Theories Recordings. The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on May 11, 2024 as part of Yngwie's 40th-anniversary world tour.

Legendary DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Glenn Hughes has announced his retirement from touring and live performances.

Upon his doctor's advice, Glenn, who will turn 75 later this month, will have to undergo heart surgery and has made the difficult decision to step back from live performances for the foreseeable future.

Glenn comments: "This past year, I've had some health issues. The results from numerous MRIs, CT scans and an echocardiogram have alerted my medical team that I need another open-heart surgery. I really have no option and no choice as health is my number one priority. Grateful to have been chosen with a life full with the gift of music... Thank you for walking beside me."

Glenn's most recent live performance took place on May 30, 2026 at the legendary Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois when he reunited with THE DEAD DAISIES. Glenn joined guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Tommy Clufetos and guitarist David Lowy for this rare performance — under THE PURPLE DAISIES banner — delivering a 50/50 split set, kicking off with 10 of THE DEAD DAISIES' favorite tracks followed by almost as many iconic DEEP PURPLE classics. Following the incredible response to the sold-out St. Charles concert, THE PURPLE DAISIES announced a second show on October 2, 2026, at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California. However, as a result of Glenn's retirement, the Agoura Hills concert has now been canceled.

This past January, Glenn canceled his spring 2026 USA tour due to what was described at the time as a "minor health issue" that required his attention over the ensuing months.

When it was announced last October, "The Chosen Years" show promised to be a dynamic, turn-back-the-clocks, two-hour live extravaganza paying homage to Glenn's illustrious career spanning five decades in music — featuring songs from TRAPEZE, DEEP PURPLE, HUGHES/THRALL, IOMMI/HUGHES and BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. Joining Glenn on lead vocals and bass guitar were supposed to be Søren Andersen on guitar and Ash Sheehan on drums.

Glenn's latest solo album, "Chosen", came out on September 5, 2025 via Frontiers Music Srl.

In early June 2025, Hughes released the official music video for the "Chosen" title track. It was followed by the "Voice In My Head" video a month later. In August, Glenn shared "Into The Fade".

2025 saw Hughes busy touring across Europe and South America, with "The Chosen Years" tour starting in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, on September 2 and ending on November 29 in Bogota, Colombia.

Glenn, a native of Cannock, England, absorbed all kinds of influences, including early British hard rock, THE BEATLES and, most importantly, American soul and R&B. The sleek Motown sound from Detroit and the gritty Stax/Volt sound from Memphis left their mark on him.

Hughes first found success in the early '70s with the band TRAPEZE before joining DEEP PURPLE in 1973 during a pivotal lineup change that introduced him and David Coverdale to the group. Despite initial skepticism, the revamped band silenced critics with the release of "Burn" (1974),a powerful album that revitalized PURPLE's sound and remains a classic. During this era, the band headlined the iconic California Jam in front of over 300,000 fans, toured the world aboard their private jet The Starship, and released two more studio albums, "Stormbringer" and "Come Taste The Band", before disbanding in 1976.

Glenn's first solo album "Play Me Out" was released in 1977. He joined former Pat Travers guitarist Pat Thrall to form HUGHES/THRALL, which released an acclaimed self-titled album in 1982. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Glenn Hughes made countless guest appearances (both credited and un-credited) as a vocalist, bass guitarist or songwriter on other artists' albums. The endless list includes — among others — Gary Moore, John Norum and Tony Iommi of BLACK SABBATH.

Since 1992, Glenn has started a prolific solo career with a dozen studio albums where he explored all the different sides of his songwriting and influences: from hard rock to funk and more contemporary sounds. He collaborated — among others — with such musicians as Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),Dave Navarro, John Frusciante and many others. He also founded or took part in some amazing musical alliances such as CALIFORNIA BREED (with Jason Bonham and Andrew Watt),BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION (with Joe Bonamassa and Jason Bonham) and THE DEAD DAISIES.

Glenn collaborated with Robbie Williams on his single "Rocket", which was released on May 22, 2025. The track also features a collaboration from Iommi and was the first time Glenn had been featured on a record with Tony since 2005, when they released "Fused" together.

Glenn also recently joined forces with SATCHVAI, a new collaboration by legendary guitar icons Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, by writing and singing on their single "I Wanna Play My Guitar".

As part of the Wacken Open Air 2026 press conference, a new band named Fearless V, featuring Tom Naumann (guitar), Alex Beyrodt (guitar), Michael Ehré (drums), Alex Jansen (bass) and singer Gianbattista “Jan” Manenti was introduced.

Several of the guys have played together before, their time in the cream of the Teutonic metal scene often overlapping. Now they forge ahead, as Fearless V, “a tremendous symbiosis of powerful power metal and modern, forward-looking elements: essential guitar riffs of the perfectly tuned duo Beyrodt/Naumann, a tightly-toothed groove foundation and the riveting, deep melodic voice of Jan Manenti hit right into the heart of every metalhead.”

Fearless V is the first entry in the 2027 running order for the RV Bang Festival (July 15-17). More information about the band and the event will be available in the coming months.

“So here it is – a first little piece of what we’ve been working on in the studio. We’re pretty damn proud of this one,” reads a recent social media post from Fearless V.

POSSESSED frontman Jeff Becerra has taken to social media to offer an update on the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2019's "Revelations Of Oblivion" album. In a video message shared on Friday (July 31),he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Hey, this is Jeff. I'm just saying what's up. I haven't been around. I haven't really checked in since we got back from Europe. I'm just kind of keeping you up on things, give you a little update, what's going on with POSSESSED. I'm fine-tuning the songs in preparation to go into the studio. Hopefully we'll record the new album, if everything goes right, in September. So basically, I'm just making some alterations, something to make the vocals hit a little harder and be heavy. I hope you like the album. I hope everything goes well, and we'll be able to record in September and then get the mechanisms and the machine rolling so that we can get you that new stuff out ASAP. Hold tight. Thank you for your patience. Stay blessed, stay possessed."

This past March, Becerra stated about his songwriting process for the upcoming LP: "It's my process this time to kind of listen back, see what it sounds like, and then make changes from there. And it's pretty fun. It's been a really, really good experience. Meanwhile, remotely, Bobby/Robert's [Cardenas] doing his bass tracks over the same recordings with the hidden click track. Of course, [guitarists] Daniel [Gonzalez] and Claudeous [Creamer] are doing their tracks, and Chris [Aguirre] is putting the real drums over the electronic drums so that we'll have a viable scratch track when we go into the big studio."

He continued: "After all their parts are done, Daniel will come over here. We'll go down into my basement down here, and record the vocal tracks. Then we'll head to the big studios. Traditionally, drums have a, a larger studio for a bigger drum sound. And then me and the guys will go into the other studio for the guitar, bass and vocals, and we'll go from there. I'm really looking forward to it."

Jeff added: "Thank you for your patience. I know it's been seven years, almost seven years, but I'd rather put out something really viable and really good. I don't wanna put out any shit for you guys. I wanna put out the best, and hopefully it's worth the weight. Like I said, it's really different, but really POSSESSED and really fucking heavy. And I'm just having a ball with it."

In an October 2025 interview with Australia's Devil's Horns Zine, Becerra stated about POSSESSED's next LP:  "I'm working on the last three sets of lyrics, and then the album is finished. And it's a trip. It's a whole different animal. I don't know if people will love it or hate it. I hope they love it. It's different. It's definitely different."

A year earlier, Becerra told Alex Stojanovic of MetalMasterKingdom.com that POSSESSED's new material was turning out "very cool, very heavy. But a lot more tempo switching. And it's cool.

"POSSESSED will never sell out," he continued. "I'd rather die. But it's still very, very heavy. It's probably gonna be one of our darkest albums. And also something that you don't have to grit your teeth to get through the whole thing."

Jeff also talked about the POSSESSED songwriting process, saying: "We all write. I think I wrote 63 or 64 percent of the last album, so 50 percent and that extra music. 50 percent would be lyrics, if we're doing it at 100. Even though it's not really broken down that way, it's easier to explain that way. So I'll write riffs, definitely, I'll send them to Dan [Daniel Gonzalez]. Me and Dan are kind of the main guys, but more and more, on this one you're seeing Claudeous and Robert coming out and showing off the riffs.

"This [version of] POSSESSED has been around more than three times as long as the first one, so, yeah, we work well together," he explained. "And they're not afraid to say, 'Hey, no, this is not good' to me and vice versa. But we're looking for what's good or what is mendable or what is perfect as is. And so I think we're all super picky about what we do."

In June 2024, Becerra was asked by El Planeta Del Rock how he looked back on "Revelations Of Oblivion" five years after the LP's release. Jeff said: "I really liked it. It's weird. When you make new music, you're like, 'Oh, this song's gonna go over like gangbusters,' but then it's always the songs that you didn't expect [that] statistically do better. So I've lost track of trying to pay attention or trying to guide the machine. I'm just playing what I want, and I think with 'Revelations', I had to kind of stay in my own lane, which was great. It was straight-forward."

POSSESSED originally split in 1987, leaving behind a short but highly influential legacy, most notably 1985's "Seven Churches" album. Internal tensions after the release of 1987's "The Eyes Of Horror" EP led to the band's dissolution, with guitarist Larry Lalonde joining Bay Area tech-thrashers BLIND ILLUSION, then PRIMUS, while Becerra, guitarist Mike Torrao and drummer Mike Sus each going separate directions.

Two years after POSSESSED's split, Becerra was the victim of a failed armed robbery attempt, leaving him partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound and sending him into a spiral of drug and alcohol abuse. POSSESSED was reactivated by Torrao in 1990 with a completely different lineup, but only released two demos before dissolving in 1993. Becerra then reformed POSSESSED in 2007 with his own lineup, which released its first studio album in 33 years, "Revelations Of Oblivion", in 2019.

Buzz Osborne didn't need another band. JD Pinkus didn't need another band. Coady Willis didn't need another band. Together with Clinton Jacob, they started one anyway. Meet GATTA MORTA.

The quartet makes its debut today with "Burn Witch Burn", a four-song EP, available now via Amphetamine Reptile Records. A visualizer for "Black Hall" accompanies the release, with the digital single available via Ipecac Recordings.

"It's always a good time for the world to embrace a new heavy/weird band," Osborne says. "I had the idea for GATTA MORTA while touring last fall. I realized I needed to start a band with these three. Seemed like a no-brainer. Solidly weird rock music that needs to happen."

BUTTHOLE SURFERS bassist Pinkus agrees.

"It's been way too long since I got to write a heavy album from scratch with such high-caliber players with such complimentary styles… and we're just cat scratching the surface of what we got goin' on," he says.

Rounding out GATTA MORTA is Clinton Jacob, the creative force behind Chicago's weirdo pop-noise rock duo MR. PHYLZZZ.

"I just had this feeling that one day we would work together," he says. "I became friends with Buzz over the past few years doing shows together and having him play guitar on a MR. PHYLZZZ song. When I was asked to be a part of GATTA MORTA, I was speechless, but I was 100% ready for it."

"Burn Witch Burn" lurches between thick, riff-driven heaviness and warped, psychedelic passages, with Osborne, Pinkus, Willis and Jacob creating music that's simultaneously reminiscent of their previous work and entirely new.

"Burn Witch Burn" track listing:

01. Taco Bellboy
02. Victims of the Universe
03. Black Hall
04. Clear Smoke

GATTA MORTA is Buzz Osborne (guitar/vocals),JD Pinkus (bass/vocals),Coady Willis (drums/vocals) and Clinton Jacob (guitar/vocals).

"Burn Witch Burn" is available now via Amphetamine Reptile Records.

Photo credit: Keturah Bishop

In a new interview with Loz Guest, the head of music and a radio presenter on the U.K. digital radio station Planet Rock, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi spoke about his upcoming solo album, "From The Dark", which will arrive on October 23 via BMG. "From The Dark" sees Iommi joined throughout by Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande, who shares writing credits on all songs, as well as bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil. The LP was co-produced by Tony and Mike Exeter, his longtime creative partner, co-writer, producer and audio engineer.

Noting that it has been 21 years since he last released a solo album, Iommi explained why now is the right time to put out "From The Dark" (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Obviously, we didn't know what was gonna happen to Ozz [late BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne], but it was a thing I've been working on over a period, just putting ideas down for a while. And the thing about this is I didn't have to have the album ready by six weeks or anything like that. I could do it in my own time because we didn't have a deal or anything. So I just managed to be able to sort of say, well, every Monday and Tuesday I'd go in [my home] studio with Mike Exeter, the engineer, and put some ideas down and it sort of went like that. And sometimes we couldn't make it, other times we could, and we'd just done it at leisure, really, which was brilliant because there was no pressure."

Regarding the "From The Dark" album title, Tony said: "It's one of Jorn Lande's lyrics, who's the singer. So he's got quite a lot of lyrics, which don't ask me about at the moment. But, yeah. So it was taken from that, really."

On the topic of why he chose Lande to handle all the lead vocals on "From The Dark", Iommi said: "He's done a lot of stuff. He was in MASTERPLAN and various other things, and he's had his own solo albums and tours. So he's been around a while. But I really liked his voice. And funny enough, when we did the [Ronnie James] Dio tribute [at the 2010 High Voltage festival at Victoria Park] in London, Jorn was the one we picked to sing the songs."

Tony also talked about his songwriting collaboration with Jorn, saying: "It's gone backwards and forwards. I'd come up with a riff and the basic idea of the track. And then Jorn would probably sing something to that, and then I might change a riff afterwards, think, 'Oh, I might put a different riff in there.' So it's been backwards and forwards like that. Jorn would come over to my house, and then he'd sing something. I'd say, 'Well, yeah, we like that.' And that's how we did it, really… And he's never satisfied with it. That's the thing. We had to say, "That's fine. Leave it." Because he'd just go, 'I can do it better.' 'No, no, that is it.' 'Cause you've gotta catch that emotion. It's not the thing of getting it perfect. It's a matter of how it comes over emotionally."

Asked what inspires him to keep writing metal riffs more than five decades into his career, Tony said: "It's just in my blood. I just can't help but… If I sit down with a guitar, I'll come up with a riff. I like to do it, and I think it's good for your brain as well. That's the only thing I can do. I mean, you ask me to do anything else, I'm useless. But that's something I enjoy doing, is creating.

"Ever since the early days of SABBATH, when we used to go in a rehearsal room, I'd come up with a riff and the other guys would go, 'Oh, yeah, we like that,'" he explained. "And then we'd work on that. And it's the same thing now. I'll play something and I think, 'Oh, I like that. I'll keep that and put something to it.' It's the same way we've always done it, really."

As for the possibility of doing live shows with his solo band, Tony said: "Well, it could be live. I mean, there's no plans at the moment, but, again, my life hasn't been planned out that much. We just do it as it happens, if something happens. And I've done a few things that I never thought I'd be doing."

Last week, Tony told Rolling Stone about how he connected with Lande for "From The Dark": "We've worked with him before. When we'd done the Dio tribute after Ronnie passed away, we had Jorn come and sing a couple of songs with us at the tribute, and I really liked his voice. So, I thought, 'Well, I'd like to use him.' I liked his voice. I mean, you could go and pick some named people, but I've done that."

Iommi went on to say that he did not give Jorn "any lyrical ideas at all" for the songs on the album.

"With a singer, it's good if they can do their own stuff because when they've got to sing it, they can put it over better," Tony explained. "It's like with Ronnie — when he used to write the lyrics, there's certain words that he could really get powerful on. And I think it's the same with Jorn.

Asked if the riffs on "From The Dark" are all new or if they are ideas he had been holding on to, Tony said: "No, they've all been new. The thing is, I've got loads of riffs on CDs, cassettes, and all sorts of stuff. But by the time I've gone back to try and find something on them, I've come up with something new."

As for how Brazil and Baldwin got involved, Tony said: "It's strange, really. I've got a house by the beach, which we go down to now and again. I was walking along the perimeter of the beach, and this guy come up to me and said, 'Oh, Tony, hello.' And I thought he's just a fan. And he said, 'We've got a mutual friend. Mike Exeter is my engineer. I'm Robbie Williams's drummer.' Then Mike, my engineer, he said, 'Oh, yeah, he's a good drummer, Karl.' I used him on one of my instrumental tracks with the perfume thing I did. And then I thought it'd be nice to use him on the album because he's a good player. Also, he's from Birmingham, which is really good because I wanted to try and keep it local.

"Becky lives in Birmingham, and she's a really good player," Iommi explained. "And she's certainly a fan of Geezer [Butler, BLACK SABBATH's bassist], and she plays in Geezer's style. And that's what I wanted. She's really good."

Asked if he had considered working with Geezer on this album, Tony said: "I wanted him to play on this album, but he couldn't do it. He's doing his own album, I think. Or at the time, something happened there, so he couldn't come to England. I wanted to get it done and finally get it out, really. Because Becky's, as I say, a fan of Geezer, and she plays in that style, I though let's give it a try. And she was good."

In 2024, Iommi released an instrumental track, "Deified", to accompany the arrival of another new fragrance. The song saw Iommi reunite with Exeter, who played keyboards and handled production, with Laurence Cottle (who played on BLACK SABBATH's "Headless Cross" album) on bass. The recording lineup was rounded out by Brazil, with Ben Andrews scoring the orchestrations.

Three years earlier, Iommi unveiled "Scent Of Dark" — his first new music in eight years at the time — alongside an accompanying cologne.

At the time of "Scent Of Dark"'s release, Iommi revealed that he had "four or five hundred" unused riffs on his phone, with plans to arrange and record some of them for his various projects.

"Scent Of Dark" and "Deified" were the product of a friendship struck up during the pandemic between Iommi and Sergio Momo, acclaimed perfumer, and designer for Xerjoff, well known for its unique and individual creations and collaborations in the fragrance world. Sergio is also an accomplished guitarist, and his fine fretwork can be heard on both songs.

Iommi's new solo album will be his third, after 2000's "Iommi" and 2005's "Fused".

Joining Iommi on "Fused" was ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and drummer Kenny Aronoff, whose resume includes the "Iommi" album and a long run with John Mellencamp.

SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan and Dave Grohl of the FOO FIGHTERS are among the guests who were heard on "Iommi". The LP also featured guest appearances from Philip Anselmo of PANTERA, Henry Rollins and SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian as well as Skin of SKUNK ANANSIE, Peter Steele from TYPE O NEGATIVE, and THE CULT's Ian Astbury.

Iommi is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in modern music. As the founding member and primary composer of BLACK SABBATH, Iommi is credited with helping create the sound and vocabulary of heavy metal.

Iommi's contributions have been recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and honorary academic distinctions in the U.K. He was awarded a doctorate from Coventry University, a Lord Mayor's Award and the Freedom Of The City of Birmingham. Most recently, in June 2026 he has been awarded an MBE, one of the highest honors in British public life.

In his youth, Iommi overcame a serious industrial accident that cost him the tips of two fingers — an event that led him to develop a distinctive playing style and the darker, heavier guitar tone that defined BLACK SABBATH's music. Formed with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, the band released pioneering albums throughout the 1970s and became one of the most culturally significant British exports of the era.

Across his six-decade career, Iommi has continued to record, perform and collaborate internationally. He worked extensively with the late Ronnie James Dio, released acclaimed solo material, and reunited with the original BLACK SABBATH lineup for the chart-topping 2013 album "13" and the global farewell tour "The End" (2016–2017) which played to 1.6 million fans.

In recent years, his work has expanded notably into broader cultural spheres. In 2023 he collaborated with the Birmingham Royal Ballet on "Black Sabbath - The Ballet", a groundbreaking production based on his early compositions. BLACK SABBATH headlined 2025's monumental metal show "Back To The Beginning" in Birmingham, an all-encompassing show revisiting BLACK SABBATH's origins and a poignant farewell to fans, that took place just a few weeks before the death of his bandmate Ozzy Osbourne.

In a new interview with Esther Wang of Estherini, Oli Sykes spoke about BRING ME THE HORIZON's musical evolution since the band's inception more than two decades ago. Asked if BRING ME THE HORIZON's shift from brutal deathcore roots to stadium-filling alternative rock, pop and electronic-infused cyber-metal was "intentional" or if it was "driven by circumstances", the vocalist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it was just a natural progression. I think when we wrote our first album, [2006's] 'Count Your Blessings', it was more derivative of the bands we loved, we were very inspired by. We just wanted to sound like X, Y and Z. It wasn't like we were happy ripping off bands and just, like, 'We just wanna sound like that.' Whereas after that album, we were, like, 'Okay, that actually went really well. What's our sound? What do we wanna sound like? What makes us special and unique and sets us apart from everyone else?' By the end of that album, there was a lot of bands that sounded like us, and we sounded like a lot of bands, and we were just, like, 'Okay, we wanna step out of that world now, and we wanna make a sound that makes us feel different from everyone else.' And we wrote this album called 'Suicide Season' [2008]. And I remember when we first released it, when it first came out, the first week, people hated it. People were, like, 'What the hell is this? They sound like nu metal. It sounds like SLIPKNOT,' which at the time was not the cool thing for this scene. And they were, like, 'What's wrong with his voice? Why is he not screaming as much anymore?' And all this stuff. And I remember [thinking], like, 'Oh, my God, we've like ruined our career.' But then over the next few months, people started to get it. And it became this huge... Like, it just pushed us into the top of our game, really. And I think we took a big risk by doing that, and it paid off so well. It was another kind of internal kind of message to ourselves. We were, like, 'Let's always do that.'"

Sykes continued: "Every time we write an album, we push ourselves again. We try and do something different. We never write the same album twice. That's the only rule with our music, is we never write the same album twice. Because it worked, and it just kept working time and time again, and we were just, like, 'What's next?' And I think just a creative desire to just go, 'What's next? What instruments? What mediums?' As soon as we could get electronics and all that stuff, we just wanted to explore every avenue. We always felt like we needed a new thing. And that's just always worked for us. And I think we'll always be that band. We'll never write the same album twice."

Asked if he worries about losing fans every time he and his BRING ME THE HORIZON bandmates make a big musical shift, Oli said: "Not anymore. Maybe at a time. But I've just realized that as soon as you start to try and think about what your fans want and you try and write music to either you think, 'Oh, I'm gonna write this song. It's gonna be huge,' or you go, 'I'm gonna write this song. This is what the fans are gonna want,' it never plays out like that. It always fails, because that's not how great music's written. You don't write music for someone else. You write music for yourself. You write music that really excites you. And that's all we do. Every time we put out a record, every song on that record is, like, 'I love this. In this moment, this is perfect for me.' And, yeah, I know some people aren't gonna like it, but at the end of the day, if I try and write music for those people, I'll end up writing music that nobody likes. So all I can do is write music that I love, that excites me, and I think when you do that, if you love it, there's gonna be all these other people out there that feel the same way. And if it's genuine and it's not contrived and it's not forced, I think — that's the thing with our music. Every album we've got is someone's favorite album. There's not a single album we've ever written where it's, like, everyone agrees, 'We hate that album,' even if there's an album we've got where less people like it and more people like this other one. I've heard every single song, like, people come up to me, 'This is my favorite song.' And I think that's because even if you don't like what we do, it never feels disingenuous. It's always, like, this is what we wanna do. We're not trying to write music to be bigger. We're not trying to write music to be like someone else. It's just this is genuinely what we like. And there's been a couple of times where I've gone against that, and every time I've just [been], like, 'Oh, that did not work.' So it's all I know. It's the only way I know to write music and be successful, is to just make music that I love."

BRING ME THE HORIZON released a 20th-anniversary re-recording of its debut album, "Count Your Blessings", on July 10. "Count Your Blessings | Repented" was described by the band as a "reactivation" and "recontextualization" of the 2006 LP, which included such singles as "Pray For Plagues", "Slow Dance" and "A Lot Like Vegas".

Sykes and guitarist Lee Malia worked on "Count Your Blessings | Repented" with Odeholm, resulting in an effort that is "reborn, sharper, heavier, and more vital than ever," according to the band. The song "Liquor & Lost Love" also appears under its original working title "Dragon Slaying".

BRING ME THE HORIZON performed "Count Your Blessings" in its entirety on July 10 at Manchester, United Kingdom's B.E.C. Arena as part of Outbreak festival.

One of the world's most influential modern rock acts, BRING ME THE HORIZON has sold over 6.6 million albums worldwide and amassed more than 9.4 billion global streams.

BRING ME THE HORIZON's "L.I.V.E. In São Paulo (Live Immersive Virtual Experiment)" concert film was screened in theaters in late March. Filmed live at São Paulo, Brazil's Allianz Parque Stadium in late 2024, it captured BRING ME THE HORIZON as the band was traveling the world in support of that year's "Post Human: Nex Gen" LP. This was their biggest headline show to date. "L.I.V.E. In São Paulo" arrived on LP and CD on April 10.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame legends Paul Rodgers and Geezer Butler are honored on "Sound & Vision Live", a limited-edition all-star double vinyl album recorded during the inaugural Palm Springs Sound & Vision Awards at the historic Plaza Theatre on March 2, 2026.

Produced by Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, Grammy Award-winning drummer, songwriter and producer Matt Sorum, co-founder of Adopt The Arts Foundation, the album captures extraordinary performances honoring Rodgers and Butler while bringing together an all-star cast of musicians in support of music education.

Today, Adopt The Arts Foundation announced the release of "Sound & Vision Live", along with the official pre-sale and details for the "Sound & Vision Live" record-release celebration and concert film screenings, taking place Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs.

The recording features performances by Paul Rodgers (FREE, BAD COMPANY) and Geezer Butler (BLACK SABBATH),joined by an all-star lineup including Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE),Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME),Charlie Starr (BLACKBERRY SMOKE),Phil X (BON JOVI),Steve Stevens (Billy Idol),Matt Sorum (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER),Robert DeLeo (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS),Stevie Salas (Mick Jagger),Mike Mangan (THE CULT),and Paul Ill (Alicia Keys).

Every participating artist donated their time and talent in support of Adopt The Arts Foundation and its mission to restore and sustain music education in underserved public elementary schools.

"I never went into that night thinking we were making a record," said Matt Sorum. "I originally had the show recorded and filmed because I wanted to preserve the experience for myself. But when I listened back, I realized we had captured something truly magical — the energy in the room, the performances, and the spirit of all these incredible artists coming together for the kids. Through Experience Vinyl, we had an opportunity to turn that moment into something people could hold on to while raising meaningful support for music education."

The initial pressing will be limited to 2,000 double-vinyl albums, priced at $99.98.

Of the total pressing, 250 Plaza Theatre collector's editions will be available for the September 13 record-release celebration. Pressed on color vinyl, these collectible editions feature artwork unavailable on the standard online release. The remaining albums will be available exclusively through Experience Vinyl, with the official pre-sale beginning August 3, 2026.

Experience Vinyl is donating its services so that proceeds from album sales directly benefit Adopt The Arts Foundation. Philanthropic supporters also provided the funding necessary to mix, master and complete the album and companion concert film.

"Experience Vinyl is about preserving the moments in music that deserve to live beyond a single night," said Seth Frank, founder of Experience Vinyl. "From the performances to the purpose behind them, 'Sound & Vision Live' is exactly the kind of project we want to help bring into the world. We are proud to donate our work and platform so that proceeds directly support Adopt The Arts and help provide children with access to music education."

The album was recorded by Kemble Walters and Miguel Sosa, mixed by Walters at Goodnoise Studios in Palm Springs, and mastered for vinyl by Grammy-winning mastering engineer Howie Weinberg and Will Borza. Internationally acclaimed photographer and creative director Glen Wexler created the album artwork and liner notes. The deluxe package features archival photography, original artwork and extensive liner notes celebrating the performances and the enduring legacies of Paul Rodgers and Geezer Butler.

The project was made possible through the generous support of executive producers Jackie and Joby Pritzker and co-executive producers Dale Lawrence, James Malachowski and Sam Senigaglia.

The official "Sound & Vision Live" record-release celebration will take place Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs and will feature two screenings of the companion concert film.

The film combines performances from the March 2 Sound & Vision Awards with behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage and commentary from Matt Sorum.

A 3:00 p.m. community screening will welcome Palm Springs Unified School District students and families, followed by a 7:00 p.m. public screening and record-release celebration featuring a live conversation with Matt Sorum and a special guest to be announced, exclusive merchandise, and silent auction opportunities benefiting Adopt The Arts.

More than a celebration of rock history, "Sound & Vision Live" helps create the next generation of musicians.

Founded in 2012 by Matt Sorum and Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, Adopt The Arts Foundation restores and sustains music education in underserved public elementary schools.

Today, the Foundation serves more than 4,000 students annually throughout Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley by providing music instruction, instruments, curriculum, teacher support, artist mentorship, and meaningful performance opportunities.

"Every artist who stepped onto that stage understood why we were there," Sorum said. "We came together to celebrate two legends, but the real encore is every child who discovers music because of this record."

For album information and online ordering, visit Experience Vinyl.

LP 1

Side A

Bad Company — 5:59

Vocals: Corey Taylor, Lzzy Hale
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Phil X
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Robert DeLeo
Drums: Matt Sorum

Can't Get Enough — 5:17

Vocals: Glenn Hughes
Background Vocals: Matt Sorum, Phil X
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Phil X
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Robert DeLeo
Drums: Matt Sorum

Run With The Pack — 4:11

Vocals: Charlie Starr
Background Vocals: Matt Sorum, Phil X
Guitars: Phil X, Stevie Salas
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Robert DeLeo
Drums: Matt Sorum

Shooting Star — 6:06

Vocals: Lzzy Hale
Background Vocals: Matt Sorum, Phil X
Guitars: Phil X, Stevie Salas
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Robert DeLeo
Drums: Matt Sorum

Side B

Feel Like Makin' Love — 5:30

Vocals: Corey Taylor
Background Vocals: Matt Sorum, Phil X
Guitars: Phil X, Stevie Salas
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Robert DeLeo
Drums: Matt Sorum

Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy — 4:12

Vocals: Paul Rodgers
Background Vocals: Matt Sorum, Phil X
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Stevens
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Robert DeLeo
Drums: Matt Sorum

All Right Now — 5:43

Vocals: Paul Rodgers and All Cast
Background Vocals: Matt Sorum, Phil X
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Phil X, Steve Stevens, Stevie Salas
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Robert DeLeo
Additional Bass: Paul Ill
Drums: Matt Sorum

Paul Rodgers Acceptance Speech — 4:28

All Right Now / The Changels — 1:53

LP 2

Side C

Children Of The Grave — 5:02

Vocals: Charlie Starr
Guitars: Phil X, Stevie Salas
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Paul Ill
Drums: Matt Sorum

Symptom Of The Universe — 4:40

Vocals: Lzzy Hale
Guitars: Phil X, Stevie Salas
Bass: Paul Ill
Drums: Matt Sorum

N.I.B. — 5:43

Vocals: Glenn Hughes
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Stevens
Keyboards: Mike Mangan
Bass: Geezer Butler
Drums: Matt Sorum

Neon Knights — 5:00

Vocals: Lzzy Hale
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Stevens
Bass: Geezer Butler
Drums: Matt Sorum

Side D

Paranoid — 2:52

Vocals: Corey Taylor
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Stevens
Bass: Geezer Butler
Drums: Matt Sorum

War Pigs — 8:58

Vocals: Corey Taylor
Guitars: Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Stevens
Bass: Geezer Butler
Drums: Matt Sorum

Geezer Butler Acceptance Speech — 2:37

Changes / The Changels — 1:30

In a new interview with Raul Amador of Bass Musician Magazine, FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson spoke about the group's ongoing 50th-anniversary tour, which sees Jeff and his bandmates playing acoustic shows, orchestral gigs and staging the occasional reunion with original vocalist Lou Gramm. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's one of the things that we've done that I feel so fortunate about this band, is that we've been able to keep it really fresh, and we keep reinventing ourselves. And the orchestral shows are one version of that. We do acoustic shows that are part of that. We do full-on electric shows, of course, and we vary that up as much as we can. So, having those different formats has been really critical for us to keep engaged. And the energy becomes palpable."

Jeff continued: "In order to please the audience, I think you have to please yourself to a certain degree. And we are enjoying being up there doing it, and we're enjoying making music in all these different iterations, and it not only keeps it fresh, but it shows you how much the music itself is alive. And as we like to say about FOREIGNER, the rock star in FOREIGNER are the songs — not the personnel, nothing else. It's the songs. And the songs, they just give themselves so well to this reinvention. And to be able to show that to an audience, that's a tremendous honor."

Pilson also talked about FOREIGNER's multigenerational appeal, saying: "What we're really finding in our research that we've been doing on our social media stuff, is we're finding that more and more young people are starting to get involved now, which is really interesting. That was kind of an unexpected left turn. We actually have a primarily female, younger audience as far as our social media content now, which is insane. I mean, who would have thought that would happen at this point in our career? But it's happening. I think it's also a testament to the universality of the music. I mean, the music, it really holds up, and I think for younger kids, there's really nothing that sounds quite like that in their music. So it sounds fresh to them. And then when they see a high-energy band up there, we may not be spring chickens, but we are a high-energy rock band. No question about it. And Luis [Maldonado, FOREIGNER singer and guitarist] kind of is a spring chicken, so… Early summer, maybe. [Laughs] Late spring — he's a late-spring chicken. Anyways, but seriously, we're getting these young people who are really identifying with the music and with the band, and that's an incredible thing. So there is definitely a nostalgic aspect to this that we don't deny or wanna deny. It's kind of nostalgic for us as well. But to find this new territory and a new set of fans and new set of ears for all this, that's pretty incredible as well."

Regarding FOREIGNER's longevity and ability to attract large audiences despite the fact that none of the band's original members are actively touring with the group, Jeff said: "I think great music transcends eras and ages and all that, and I think the FOREIGNER songs that Mick [Jones, FOREIGNER's founding guitarist] and Lou wrote primarily really do stand the test of time, 'cause they're great compositions. So there's that. But I do think there was an approach to music, especially in the '70s and to a certain extent the '80s, even the '90s, really, in many ways — I mean, I love a lot of the '90s music — that is different than a lot of the pop approach that is there now. I mean, rock bands are rock bands. Although you don't see a dearth of them right now exactly — you see a lot of heavier bands, thrash bands, and that kind of thing — but as far as just straight-ahead rock bands, there's not as many of them. So a lot of kids are more familiar with the pop of their era. And the pop of this era is very specific. It's run by corporations that deal with the bottom line, and it's the accountants that are making the decisions. So there isn't the creative nurturing that took place in other eras with the music business. You don't have the Ahmet Erteguns and the Mo Austins, and you don't have those people. David Geffen's not involved in music anymore. You don't have those people nurturing the artists and the talent. It is more about a corporate thing. And so the field that you have to pick from in pop music is a much narrower field. So I think what we do, and we do something, we do the tried-and-true formula that's been around for many years of just being a straight-ahead rock band playing by feel, melody, rhythm, great performances, great recordings. That sounds different, probably, to a kid who's mostly listening to newer pop music. And I don't wanna take away from pop music — there's some great pop music out there; I mean, I think Taylor Swift is brilliant, and she has her own thing — but so much of pop music is a formulaic entity. And I think we're not a formulaic entity, and so I think that that stands out. And again, that stands the test of time."

FOREIGNER's current lineup consists of Luis Carlos Maldonado on lead vocals and guitar, noted DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein on keyboards, lead guitarist Bruce Watson, Chris Frazier on drums and John Roth on guitar.

In May 2025, FOREIGNER lead singer Kelly Hansen announced during the band's performance on the season finale of NBC singing competition "The Voice", that he would be leaving the group at the end of the legendary rockers' summer 2025 tour. In a moving segment that aired nationally, Hansen introduced then-FOREIGNER guitarist Luis Maldonado as his official successor — a moment that symbolized both an end and a bold new beginning for the powerhouse group.

Before Luis joined FOREIGNER, he was best known as the guitarist for TRAIN and for his work with Lisa Marie Presley.

FOREIGNER replaced original singer Lou Gramm with Hansen in 2005. Jones, the only remaining original member of FOREIGNER, suffered from some health issues beginning in 2011, eventually resulting in heart surgery in 2012. In February 2024, Jones revealed on social media that he was battling Parkinson's disease, which explained his absence from FOREIGNER's live shows since 2022.

Known for their explosive live shows and era-defining anthems, FOREIGNER have sold over 80 million albums worldwide, cementing their place as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Their catalogue includes timeless hits like "Hot Blooded", "Juke Box Hero", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Cold As Ice", "Urgent", "Feels Like The First Time" and the global No. 1 hit "I Want To Know What Love Is".

Fan-filmed video of all-star rock band KINGS OF CHAOS's August 1 performance at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California can be seen below.

KINGS OF CHAOS, the brainchild of former GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum, is an international all-star band with a revolving lineup of top rock-and-roll talent. The lineup for Agua Caliente Casino included guest vocalists Richie Sambora (BON JOVI),Jack Blades (NIGHT RANGER),Kevin Cronin (REO SPEEDWAGON) and Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE) alongside musicians Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and Phil X (BON JOVI) on guitar, Mike Mangan (THE CULT) on keyboards, and Eliot Lorango (DOROTHY) on bass.

Last month, Sorum told the Coachella Valley Independent about the setlist for the Rancho Mirage show: "The way we roll it out is we do about four or five songs from each singer, and it'll be a good hour and a half show, and then Kevin Cronin will come up and do a set of REO SPEEDWAGON songs — and then I got Richie Sambora to come, which is very rare, [because he has not] been out playing much. That's going to be pretty special. After leaving BON JOVI, he's done some solo stuff, but hasn't been in a band formation that much. I'm really excited to have Richie, and of course we're going to be doing songs he co-wrote with Jon Bon Jovi, and all the greats — 'Livin' On A Prayer' and 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' — so it's really a set filled with hits. We're going to play the best of DEEP PURPLE, the best of NIGHT RANGER, the best of REO SPEEDWAGON, the best of BON JOVI, and then probably finish up with a couple of cool encores."

Regarding the prospect of Phil X and Sambora sharing a stage 13 years after X took Sambora's place as lead guitarist of BON JOVI, Sorum said: "We did one show for the firefighters after the big fires in L.A., and that was the first time Richie and Phil had ever met, and it was nice. It's interesting, because we all come through different situations, and then you meet the guy that replaced you or something. It's like how I met the drummer a while back who replaced me in GUNS N' ROSES, and he's like, 'Hey, man, how's it going out there?' It's an interesting life we've led, being guys coming in and out of bands."

KINGS OF CHAOS had recorded just one song prior to the release of 2022's "Judgement Day" single: a cover of DEEP PURPLE's "Never Before" for the 2012 tribute album "Re-Machined: A Tribute To Deep Purple's 'Machine Head'".

During an appearance on the "2 Hours With Matt Pinfield" podcast, Sorum talked about the project's formation. He said: "The music business is more difficult to navigate than ever, especially for a guy that's been around a while," he said. "I've had an illustrious career, but it's always been, like, super-high, super-low, like riding the wildest roller coaster ever known to man. [Laughs] Emotionally, it's been challenging. When VELVET REVOLVER broke up, for me, it was like, 'Oh my god, I can't believe I pulled off another band.' So it kind of knocked the wind out of me, and I didn't really want to jump back into doing another band or project right away.

"When I started doing KINGS OF CHAOS, it became strictly about fun," he continued. "I decided, 'I'm going to pull a bucket list, [and] I'm going to call guys that I never had the balls to call, and have no fear. There's one or two answers that you can get — yes or no. And you've got to be able to accept no. Don't take it personal. I called Keith Richards. I called Jimmy Page. I called [Robert] Plant. I didn't care. I was just, like, finding them and calling them. And some of them said yes — not Robert Plant, dammit [laughs] — but Steven Tyler, Robin Zander, Billy Gibbons, Joe Elliott, Slash, the DeLeo brothers. I go and play with my friends, and it's a blast."

Sorum, who replaced Steven Adler in GUNS N' ROSES, recorded the highly successful albums "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" (both 1991) and "The Spaghetti Incident" (1994). He also supported the group on the "Use Your Illusion" tour and can be heard on GUNS N' ROSES' "Live Era: '87-'93" (1999) and "Greatest Hits" (2004).

Sorum was among the GUNS N' ROSES members who were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2012. He, Adler, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan attended the ceremony, while singer Axl Rose and founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin stayed home.

The 65-year-old musician, who has also played with THE CULT, VELVET REVOLVER and HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, is not involved with GN'R's hugely successful reunion tour, which features Rose, Slash and McKagan alongside drummer Isaac Carpenter, keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus and second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

Sorum's autobiography, "Double Talkin' Jive: True Rock 'N' Roll Stories From The Drummer Of Guns N' Roses, The Cult, And Velvet Revolver", arrived in May 2022 via Rare Bird Books.

In advance of Rush Week at Henderson Brewing Co., the company are pleased to announce three exclusive new Rush × Henderson Brewing Co. releases.

“The Fifty Something Tour Edition of our flagship Rush Canadian Golden Ale commemorates the band’s first live tour in 11 years. It’s the Rush beer you know and love in a stylish new collectible can. Available in limited supplies online and at the brewery (128a Sterling Road, Toronto) while supplies last.

​Rush Light Lager is back in limited supply. Clean and crisp with notes of grain, this lager brings hints of grass and lemon that add complexity without overwhelming.​

And just in time for Rush Day 2026 comes Rush Day Lager, the signature beer of our 4th annual celebration of the band, the beer, and the fans who love them both. This bright and crisp German Helles-style lager brings notes of citrus, cereal grain, bread, and sweet malt.

All three are available now in limited supply through our Online Shop for local pick-up and Canada-wide shipment.”

Shop Rush Week beers here.

Please note: There will be no pre-order pickups on Rush Day (Saturday, August 8). Orders must be collected before or after the event date, as we won’t have staff available to accommodate pickups on Rush Day.

Rush Day 2026 is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at Henderson Brewing Co. (128a Sterling Rd.) in Toronto, ON (Canada). Organizers recently issued the following update:

“We are thrilled to announce that from Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9, the official Rush Fifty Something Pop-Up Merch Shop will be on-site at Henderson Brewing Co., and open from 10am-6pm.

Even if you’re attending one (or more) of the concerts, you’ll want to check this one out, as the Fifty Something Pop-Up Shop is set to feature exclusive merchandise and autographed items not available anywhere else. Grab a limited edition release, a photo op, and participate in the official Rush × Stern Pinball Competition while you’re at it (with exclusive prizes for our daily winners)!

And don’t forget that Henderson Brewing is offering some limited editions of our own, with Fifty Something tour cans of Rush Canadian Golden Ale, the exclusive Rush Day Lager, and the return of Rush Canadian Light Lager all available to take home and to enjoy on tap while supplies last!”

Hard rock giants BREAKING BENJAMIN have scored another career milestone as their latest single, "Something Wicked", reaches No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, earning the band its ninth career No. 1. The haunting track, which the band debuted at Welcome To Rockville earlier this year, serves as the latest preview of the band's forthcoming full-length album. Marked by their signature blend of atmospheric tension, thunderous instrumentation, and raw emotional weight, "Something Wicked" finds BREAKING BENJAMIN pushing deeper into a new darker sonic territory, while remaining unmistakably BREAKING BENJAMIN.

Since its release, "Something Wicked" has already amassed nearly 11 million streams globally and topped the Apple Music and iTunes Rock charts in its first week of release, further underscoring BREAKING BENJAMIN's enduring impact and continued dominance in the hard rock landscape.

Upon this latest single's release, the band shared: "'Something Wicked' is a quick look into our influences both musically and thematically. We challenged ourselves especially hard on this record and on this song. We pushed every boundary we've previously had as far as it will go, then pushed a little more. 'Something Wicked' was the result."

BREAKING BENJAMIN's first single in five years, 2024's "Awaken" quickly shot to No. 1 on the Rock Digital Songs charts and landed in the Top 20 on multiple additional Billboard charts, including Hot Hard Rock Songs, Digital Song Sales, Hot Alternative Songs and Hard Rock Songs. The single has also since surpassed 133 million streams globally.

BREAKING BENJAMIN are no strangers to the upper echelons of the rock charts. Since bursting on to the scene with 2002's "Saturate", the band has amassed an impressive string of mainstream rock radio hits, with now nine songs hitting No. 1, numerous platinum and multi-platinum songs and albums, 8.5 billion combined streams worldwide and a social imprint of over 6.5 million, a true testament to the band's global influence and loyal fan base.

BREAKING BENJAMIN's studio album "Ember" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and marked the multi-platinum band's fourth Top 5 debut on the Billboard 200, following 2015's No. 1 debut for "Dark Before Dawn" (gold),2009's "Dear Agony" (platinum) at No. 4 and 2006's "Phobia" (platinum) at No. 2. "Ember" spun off two No. 1 hits at Active Rock Radio with "Red Cold River" and "Torn In Two". "Aurora" and "Ember" charted Top 10 across numerous countries worldwide and topped No. 1 charts across multiple genres, including Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums and Top Digital Albums.

BREAKING BENJAMIN launch their U.S. fall tour September 2 in Camden, New Jersey before wrapping up the shows in Bristow, Virginia in late October featuring support from CHEVELLE, STARSET and Kami Kehoe.

BREAKING BENJAMIN is Benjamin Burnley (vocals),Aaron Bruch (bass/backing vocals), Keith Wallen (guitar/backing vocals) and Jasen Rauch (guitar).

Photo credit: Dominique D'Costa

TMZ has revealed more information about the apparent firing of longtime SLIPKNOT member Sid Wilson.

On Friday, July 31, TMZ reported that DJ and keyboardist Wilson, 49, had been permanently removed from SLIPKNOT earlier that day, ending his 28-year run with the Iowa-based metallers. The outlet cited a source close to the band with direct knowledge of the situation.

Earlier today, TMZ shared a follow-up report indicating that Sid's exit from SLIPKNOT was "a long time coming" and that the decision to kick him out of the band "came after the group finally had enough of Sid's behavior ... namely, the way he treated his bandmates."

According to TMZ, SLIPKNOT was planning to announce Sid's departure this week, but the band "lost control of the rollout" when TMZ first reported Wilson's dismissal on Friday.

The same day that Wilson's exit from SLIPKNOT was first reported, the band's guitarist Jim Root shared a cryptic Instagram Stories post that appeared to address the reported drama, soundtracked by SLIPKNOT's 2008 song "'Til We Die".

"Don't believe everything you read," Root wrote. "Stop. Think. Take a breath. Sit with it for awhile. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there's more information."

Wilson had been a member of SLIPKNOT for nearly three decades, joining in 1998 shortly before the release of the band’s self-titled debut record.

In May 2022, Sid and his now-former fiancée Kelly Osbourne — daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne — announced on Instagram that they were expecting their first child together. Sidney was born in November 2022 and shares both of his parents' last names.

Sid started dating Kelly in 2022, after being good friends for a number of years, and in July 2025, it was announced that Wilson and Osbourne got engaged at BLACK SABBATH's farewell show, just weeks before Ozzy's death.

This past March, it was reported that Kelly and Sid had split. They were said to have quietly ended their engagement weeks earlier according to the Daily Mail. They were last pictured together at the Grammy Awards in February.

As a member of SLIPKNOT, who use numerical stage names, ranging from 0 to 8, Wilson was known as #0, producing sound effects and background noises for the group's music.

Since the 2000s, Wilson had also occasionally toured as under the name DJ Starscream, which derives from the "Transformers" character of the same name.

SLIPKNOT's most recent live performance was at Inkcarceration, a music and tattoo festival in Ohio, in July 2025.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has told Ultimate Classic Rock in a new interview that he is beginning to think about a follow-up to his 2024 solo LP "Child Within The Man".

"I'm starting to get the itch to do a new studio album," he said. "My last one, 'Child Within The Man', came out in 2024 and I've made the first step, which is creating a Dropbox folder for Bruiser [Brody DeRozie], my guitar player; Fede [Delfino], my bass player; and Paris [Bach], my drummer, who's my son."

As for possible songwriting collaborators for his next effort, Bach said: "I'm going to be working with Devin Bronson again. I'm going to reach out to Myles Kennedy [ALTER BRIDGE, Slash], who co-wrote two songs on my last album, [including] probably, without a doubt, my favorite solo song I ever recorded, 'What Do I Got to Lose', which is such a fucking kick-ass tune. I just I love it. That was co-written with Myles Kennedy. Thank you, Myles Kennedy."

"So, I've made the first step. We've got the Dropbox folder," Sebastian added. "It's working. It's called 'New Ideas 2026'. So here we go. That's how I do it. I make a folder, I go and put it on my phone. I listen to it constantly and after a period of time, that folder becomes my new album. And I just make it as everything I want it to be. I'm pretty controlling about the sound that I want."

This past March, Bach told the Iron City Rocks podcast about his insistence on making new music and performing his latest solo music live instead of relying completely on the catalog of his previous band: "Well, we do 'What Do I Got To Lose?' and 'Freedom' and 'Future Of Youth' [from 'Child Within The Man'], we do those every show, and we do '(Hold On) To The Dream' 99% of the shows. So those are four tunes that are in the set. And my audience makes no distinction between — it just fits right in."

Referencing other artists who focus almost exclusively on performing their hits, Bach said: "I understand that way of thinking, but that would be so boring to me, to not have any new songs. I would be bored out of my mind. I'm not into this to be bored.

"I'm always gonna be putting out new stuff, 'cause that's what I enjoy doing," he explained. "But I should preface that by saying, don't really hold your breath for the next one, because we had the total odd occurrence of the pandemic, which allowed me and the musicians to just concentrate on nothing except for that album. And rock and roll's always reinventing itself and nowadays people are just clamoring to come to shows. And I think it's because we all spend so much time on our phones and our computers and staring at screens that we all are, like, 'Enough. Oh my God. Let's go rock out and have fun with our friends and our family and sing songs that we love and be together with other people instead of just staring at a screen.' That's really the way I feel."

This past January, Bach told This Day In Metal that he wanted to make "a Christmas record" at some point in his life. "I love Christmas music, and I know exactly the kind of Christmas record I would make," he said. "It's not gonna be 'Jingle Bells' with electric guitars. It's gonna be a traditional piano, organ-based record of vocals of songs that I did in the church when I was in Peterborough, Ontario at Anglican Church — All Saints, I think it was called. So that's what I want. I need to do that at some point."

"Child Within The Man" was well received, with Associated Press saying "…it shows a fierce performer in prime fighting form…his vocals remain sharp and his songwriting talents as cunning as ever," while Ultimate Classic Rock noted: "Bach's voice has lost none of its rage or range, even in the highest registers…" In addition, the album's "(Hold On) To The Dream" track was included in Consequence's "30 Best Metal & Hard Rock Songs Of 2024" which described the song as "...a late-career masterpiece from the former SKID ROW singer. Baz hits some of the highest notes of his career on the sweeping ballad, an inspiring anthem about perseverance."

"Child Within The Man" yielded the following singles/videos, all of which have impacted the rock charts: "Freedom", "What Do I Got To Lose?", "Everybody Bleeds" and "(Hold On) To The Dream" (along with the "(Hold On) To The Dream" alternate video),"Future Of Youth" and "To Live Again".

"Child Within The Man" was recorded in Orlando, Florida; produced and mixed by Michael "Elvis" Baskette; engineered by Jef Moll, assistant engineered by Josh Saldate and mastered by Robert Ludwig of Gateway Mastering. Bach wrote or co-wrote all the album's 11 tracks and sang all lead and backing vocals.

"Child Within The Man" features guest appearances from John 5 (MÖTLEY CRÜE, ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON),Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL) and Orianthi (ALICE COOPER, MICHAEL JACKSON) — who all co-wrote their respective tracks with Bach — and two tracks co-written with ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy ("What Do I Got to Lose?" and "To Live Again"). Devin Bronson (guitars),Todd Kerns (bass) and Jeremy Colson (drums) round out the players on the album.

Prior to "Child Within The Man"'s arrival, Bach hadn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in March 2014.

Image credit: Melvin Zoopers