After more than two decades of dominating the Swedish power metal scene, Bloodbound is taking things to the next level by signing a worldwide contract with Napalm Records. With this powerful collaboration, the band is ready to expand their legendary sound and bring their epic metal anthems to even greater heights.

Formed in the summer of 2004, Bloodbound has consistently impressed with their signature blend of melodic and heavy power metal, earning their place among the genre’s finest. With ten studio albums under their belt, the band has captured the hearts of metalheads worldwide, and each explosive release reflects their dedication to epic fantasy realms while crafting unforgettable tunes and staying true to their roots.

With their signing to Napalm Records, Bloodbound is already hard at work on fresh material, promising even more of the electrifying, high-octane power metal that has defined their career. Stay tuned for more updates as Bloodbound continues to rise to new heights, taking the metal world by storm.

Bloodbound state about signing with Napalm Records: “We are absolutely thrilled that Bloodbound has officially signed with the mighty Napalm Records! This partnership marks a massive step forward for us, and we truly believe that Napalm has the power, passion, and reach to take Bloodbound to new heights! We can’t wait to embark on this epic journey together and unleash what’s coming next! Stay tuned—this is just the beginning!”

Senior A&R Sebastian Münch says about Bloodbound: “Bloodbound have been the epitome of super exciting and creative power metal for over 20 years. The energy of the Swedes is simply impressive! We are very happy that Napalm can support Bloodbound in reaching the next level!”

The countdown is on for the theatrical and official soundtrack release of "Queen Of The Ring", arriving in theatres and streaming platforms this Friday, March 7, 2025. In anticipation for the big day, Sumerian Records has released an emotionally gripping cover of METALLICA's "The Unforgiven" by KITTIE, THE PRETTY WILD and Diamante from the soundtrack for the hotly anticipated biopic. "Queen Of The Ring" chronicles the trailblazing journey of wrestling icon Mildred Burke, written and directed by Ash Avildsen and starring Emily Bett Rickards.

"Queen Of The Ring", written and directed by Ash Avildsen, brings to life the untold story of wrestling legend Mildred Burke, who shattered barriers in the 1930s-1950s to become the first million-dollar female athlete and headline arenas over male competitors in a time when women's wrestling was outright banned across much of the U.S.

The film stars Emily Bett Rickards ("Arrow") in a career-defining role as Burke, alongside a stellar cast featuring Josh Lucas, Walton Goggins, Gavin Casalegno, Tyler Posey and Deborah Ann Woll, with pro wrestling stars Kamille, Toni Storm, Trinity Fatu and Jim Cornette making appearances.

With its March 7 release strategically set during for the weekend of International Women's Day, the film is an ode to inspirational, trailblazing women who defied the odds and forever changed their industries.

Ash Avildsen grew up in a single-parent household, never having met his father but knowing who he was and having his last name. He chose to pursue music first as an artist, touring in a band and teaching himself the business through a DIY lifestyle. Using all the knowledge he learned from the road, he started his own record label. Sumerian Records has now become one of the top independents in the world for rock and alternative music, with several Grammy nominations and record-setting Billboard chart metrics for the hard-rock genre. Sumerian Records recently celebrated a historic achievement with the first Grammy nomination in the history of the Recording Academy for a solo female artist in the "Best Metal Performance" category, featuring avant-garde singer Poppy.

Avildsen's first feature film, "American Satan", won several awards on the festival circuit before being distributed by Miramax. The film had a theatrical release and was subsequently picked up by Showtime, where it developed a growing cult following. Avildsen expanded on this success by writing and directing the limited series spin-off "Paradise City".

"Queen Of The Ring" soundtrack track listing:

01. Corey Taylor - "Dust In The Wind" (feat. Bad Omens, Aaron Gilhuis)
02. Zoe Wees, Aaron Gilhuis - "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning"
03. Larkin Poe, Aaron Gilhuis - "God's Gonna Cut You Down"
04. Lanie Gardner - "A Woman Scorned"
05. Lanie Gardner - "Dead Beat Lover"
06. Des Rocs, Aaron Gilhuis - "Never Ending Moment"
07. Zhavia - "Burned You"
08. Kittie, The Pretty Wild, Diamante - "The Unforgiven" (feat. Aaron Gilhuis)
09. Kat Von D, Aaron Gilhuis - "House Of The Rising Sun"
10. Danny Worsnop, Aaron Gilhuis - "The Seeker"

Photo credit: Dante Dellamore

Progressive death metallers FALLUJAH will release their sixth album, "Xenotaph", on June 13 via Nuclear Blast Records. Picking up where they left off with 2022's critically heralded "Empyrean", the band expands the depth and breadth of their dexterous, aggressive sound while exploring extraterrestrial realms on an epic sci-fi journey through space and time.

FALLUJAH vocalist Kyle Schaefer states: "We are excited to finally reveal FALLUJAH's new album 'Xenotaph', marking the sixth chapter in our discography. This is our most ambitious record yet, and is certainly the band's most technical, dynamic and progressive material to date. The music carried out by these eight tracks is matched with an equally ambitious concept, a lyrical story that traverses unfolding layers of time and reality in an otherworldly, post-death realm of existence."

He adds: "'Xenotaph' is also our most collaborative album, with broad input from the current lineup leading us to expand the scope of our songwriting while simultaneously highlighting the true potential of everyone involved. We hope you'll join us in welcoming this bold new stage of the band's evolution."

Today, FALLUJAH reveals the album's stunning cover by Peter Mohrbacher, track listing and release date as well as the first single, "Kaleidoscopic Waves", that's accompanied by the music video below.

Speaking about the new song, Schaefer says: "We knew 'Kaleidoscopic Waves' would be the perfect track to usher in this new era of FALLUJAH. It unmistakably showcases the soaring atmospheres and remarkable technicality the band is already known for, but with a new level of melodic depth and an invigorating desire to push beyond the boundaries of our previous work. It's hard to fully encapsulate the vast scope of our new album with a single song, but 'Kaleidoscopic Waves' is a great place to start."

"Xenotaph" track listing:

01. In Stars We Drown
02. Kaleidoscopic Waves
03. Labyrinth Of Stone
04. The Crystalline Veil
05. Step Through The Portal And Breathe
06. A Parasitic Dream
07. The Obsidian Architect
08. Xenotaph

FALLUJAH's confidence in the lineup that made their previous album, "Empyrean" (2022),such a resounding success — earning high marks from Metal Injection, New Noise and Guitar World — has been reconfigured slightly, with guitarist Sam Mooradian (INHALE EXISTENCE, SAM MOORADIAN) and drummer Kevin Alexander (DISEMBODIED TYRANT, BROUGHT BY PAIN) bringing their jaw-dropping musical proficiency to the fold, as vocalist Kyle Schaefer, guitarist Scott Carstairs, and bassist Evan Brewer enter a new chapter with FALLUJAH.

"Xenotaph" was produced by FALLUJAH, engineered by Dave Otero (CATTLE DECAPITATION, ARCHSPIRE) and Mike Low (VITRIOL, ABORTED) at Flatline Audio in Denver, Colorado and Top Track Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Otero also mixed and mastered "Xenotaph". The main goal was elevation, building upon yet soaring upward from "Empyrean", one of the group's strongest productions to date. The team focused the separation of FALLUJAH's breakneck pace, meticulous songcraft, euphonious leads, and unrivaled intensity, creating an experience pulls the listener into "Xenotaph"'s high-caliber music and concept.

FALLUJAH is:

Kyle Schaefer - Vocals, Programming
Scott Carstairs - Guitars
Sam Mooradian - Guitar
Evan Brewer - Bass
Kevin Alexander - Drums

Photo credit: Brian Krahe

Former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini's drum-cam playthrough video for "Oligarchs", the first single from his new band MONOLITH, can be seen below.

In addition to Mangini, MONOLITH features Hernán "Motley" Rodríguez on bass and vocals, and Andy Barrow on guitar.

The trio describes itself on social media as "a genre-defying band that embodies the fusion of rock and metal."

The official music video for "Oligarchs" was released on February 28.

Mangini released his debut solo album, "Invisible Signs", in November 2023. Accompanying Mangini on the LP were Tony Dickinson on bass, Ivan Keller on guitar, Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE) on lead guitar and former EVANESCENCE guitarist Jen Majura on vocals.

Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Mike Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER 40 years ago. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".

Mangini made his name in the hard rock world in the mid-1990s when he played with EXTREME, before landing the gig with guitar legend Steve Vai in 1996. Nearly a decade later, Mangini took up a full-time teaching position at the world-renowned Berklee College Of Music.

In a recent interview with Loaded Radio, DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie was asked how Mangini took the news in October 2023 when LaBrie and the rest of DREAM THEATER broke it to the drummer that Portnoy was coming back. James said: "Well, he was very professional about it. [It was] very admirable of him to have been… He took it in style and class. I mean, obviously, I think it would have been upsetting — it must have been upsetting — but he took it for what it's worth and even saying things like, 'It kind of makes sense, guys. I see why this should be happening and why this would maybe inevitably be happening. It just makes sense for the band and the amount of history that you all have together. It seems natural.' So, yeah, no, he was a class guy. Classy. Yeah."

In a January 2024 interview with Chris Akin Presents…, Mangini was asked if he had any "advance notice" that Portnoy would return to DREAM THEATER in the fall of 2023 or if it was "really immediate". He responded: "Immediate. But it's like… So the fish comes up out of the water, it's immediate, but the fish was swimming for a while. Where was the fish? Whatever."

He continued: "The reason it was easy for me to deal with — very easy, actually — I was, like, 'Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Original guy back in band.' I got I got it. And I didn't have to go do through a drop-down menu; I didn't have to do it. It was just I looked at it and went, 'Okay.' And plus I don't know whether it was intuitive, instinctual [or] intellectual… but I have left so many things on the table for so many years — the publishing of more books, the classes that I wanna teach, the interaction that my own self-development comes largely from me having to teach and talk about it to people. At some point, I mean, I see the whole picture, the grid, and I know what I can't do, and that inspires me.

"But anyway, the answer to your question is, I got a call and understood the call, and said, 'Okay, let's do a joint statement,'" he explained. "And then the next day, I'm, like, 'Okay.' I'm having coffee and quite literally, at my think tank, looking at my list and going, 'How am I gonna complete this job now? I've gotta fix this or do that. I've got a lot to do.' My studio facility had construction, there was stuff that had to be fixed. I was, like, 'Let me just let all of this stuff happen and breathe and just finish these things.' So that's what my mindset was. I can't tell you anything different because that's what it was."

Asked how he managed to avoid being angry over the fact that he was being pushed out of DREAM THEATER when Portnoy wanted to come back, even though Mangini was the drummer that helped the band win its first Grammy Award, Mangini said: "Well, a) because I don't know that that's what is the full picture. I don't know that that is what happened indeed. And I don't let myself even think about it. People decide things and I respect that. It's just it is what it is."

In early November 2023, Mangini told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about his exit from DREAM THEATER and the return of Portnoy: "All I know is the decision was made and when I heard it, all I pictured was, 'Oh, this is an original guy going back to his band. Uh, okay. All right. Let's go to the next thing.' It was nothing more. I was told. It was just nothing more than — it seemed so simple to me. And maybe intuitively it's, like, 'Oh yeah, I get it.' And that was that. That's really it… So that's really the crux of it all is it was an easy thing for me to understand. And then once the news hit and it became real, which is when it set in, because once I knew about it, I just got busy. I was, like, 'Okay, I've got all these videos to finish.'"

The 61-year-old Mangini, who joined DREAM THEATER in 2010, continued: "I'm actually doing like a lot of stuff for my [recently released solo] album. I'll do some drum playthroughs. Not to yap and yap and yap about it, but I have a lot on my cork board and my lists and things to do and things to accomplish and things to complete. There's so much there I haven't been able to do. But once it hit and it became real, it was real quick for me. I'm, like, 'Okay, I get it.'"

When host Eddie Trunk noted that everything about his exit from DREAM THEATER, from the way it was handled to the fans' response to Mike's attitude about it, was "about as good as it could be," Mangini concurred. "It is as good as it could be," Mike said. "I think people are where they need to be. It's, like, there's stuff to do, there's places to be, there's people to see, there are things to accomplish and roles to fulfill and tasks to do. And that's what it is. That's really what it is.

"How lucky am I, how fortunate am I to be just a part of that history, to have all this amazing stuff happen?" he continued. "It's positive, positive, positive.

"I know I've accomplished some things with my career, and I've had a lot of struggles and a lot of things that didn't work or whatever, but for my parents to be in their 90s, to see this happen, and I'm not talking about career stuff; I'm talking about how I've treated people and how they treat me. I mean, I think that's what I want for my kids — I wanna feel well about how they are with people and how people treat them at the end of the day. I think that's just awesome."

May we introduce you to the first stop of this story we’re about to tell you. 📠

‘Oligarchs’ out this Friday 28th.

#Oligarchs #TheyAreWatching #Monolith

Posted by Monolith Band on Tuesday, February 25, 2025

The family of Kimberly Burch, the fiancée of FASTER PUSSYCAT frontman Taime Downe, is demanding answers from the musician in connection with her death after going overboard from the Royal Caribbean ship Explorer Of The Seas during the first day of The 80s Cruise, a nostalgia music cruise featuring such acts as FASTER PUSSYCAT, WARRANT, DOKKEN, FIREHOUSE, SQUEEZE, Adam Ant, Tiffany and MEN AT WORK.

A search operation involving several ships was conducted after Kimberly Burch went overboard around 11 p.m. on Monday, March 3. She fell to her death after a heated argument with Downe aboard the ship, according to Kimberly's mother. It is still unclear whether Kimberly jumped or accidentally fell from the ship, but Carnell Burch told TMZ Kimberly wouldn't purposefully hurt herself.

Kimberly's sister-in-law, Kellie Burch, told DailyMail.com that the family hasn't heard from Downe after he called Kimberly's mom to notify her of her daughter's death on Monday.

"We haven't spoken to him," Kellie told DailyMail.com. "He called my mother-in-law to notify her, but she hasn't had any contact with him since then. None of us have."

Like Carnell, Kellie said that she didn't believe Kimberly would intentionally harm herself. "She wouldn't do that," Kellie said. "It's just not her.

"We just want to know what happened," Kellie added. "We just want answers… All we want is answers. We've had absolutely zero contact with the cruise company. We've emailed, we've called, and nobody has gotten back to us."

Kimberly's family announced her death in a statement on Facebook Tuesday morning.

"It is with broken hearts that we share the sad news that Kimberly Burch has passed away," they wrote. "She was a beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunt. She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her. We ask for prayers during this time for our family as we try to wrap our minds around this heartbreaking tragedy. We love and miss you Kimberly Burch!!"

A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said in a statement: "Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort, is working with local authorities, and we are providing support and assistance to the guest's family during this difficult time. To respect the privacy of our guest's family, we have no additional details to share."

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson told TMZ the incident happened roughly 20 miles away from Freeport, Bahamas.

The ship's captain informed passengers of the situation via the public address system, and crew members promptly deployed a speedboat to search for the missing individual. Two nearby vessels also joined the search efforts.

On Monday, Kimberly posted a selfie with Taime on social media with the caption, "We made it aboard @the80scruise."

An anonymous ship passenger told The Hollywood Reporter the incident occurred at the end of the evening when SQUEEZE was on stage.

"There was an announcement over the PA saying someone went overboard so the ship was going to stop and turn around to try and locate the person," the ship passenger said.

The passenger added that the ship stopped for a few hours deploying safety boats and floodlights to search. Eventually, the Explorer Of The Seas continued, arriving at its next destination at Nassau, Bahamas just a few hours behind schedule.

The cruise began on Sunday, March 2 and returns on Sunday, March 9.

Taime and Kimberly were together for about 6 to 7 years, according to TMZ.

For this year's Valentine's Day, Kimberly shared a series of photos of her with Taime and she wrote in an accompanying caption: "Happy Every Day! From your first hello to me I fell head over heels in love. You are my Valentine every day of my life. We are a tornado at times and pure raw love. I wouldn’t have it any other way. We do us like no other. I love you with my entire heart and soul".

Originally formed during the mid-1980s glam rock era, FASTER PUSSYCAT has gone on to have a triumph of success, with over two million albums sold worldwide, and has accompanied some of rocks most distinguished names on tour, such as ALICE COOPER, OZZY OSBOURNE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES and KISS.

In a new interview with Loaded Radio, Canadian visionary musician, composer, and producer Devin Townsend spoke about his relationship with guitar god Steve Vai with whom he collaborated on the VAI band's "Sex & Religion" album back in 1993. Devin said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Steve] was just at my house for a week and a half. We have a good relationship and he's involved with [Townsend's rock opera] 'The Moth'.

"[Steve is] a very important person in my life for a lot of reasons," Devin continued. "But after so many years, we can be honest with each other too. And I think that where a lot of times collaborative efforts fall apart is everybody has to pussyfoot around each other. Specifically, if you're both even reasonably accomplished in terms of putting out material, a lot of times collaborations with other musicians end up — everybody's very, very careful with each other's ideas. As opposed to saying, 'Hey, no. I listened to the idea and I appreciate it, but it's not for me. I don't like it.' Sometimes that falls apart with people that don't have these more long-term relationships. And Steve and I now are in a position where when we do get together and we do jam and we do talk about concepts, we can vet each other's ideas from a place of more objective creative analysis. And I value that greatly, specifically with somebody who, again, is so accomplished. It's a great experience… I think what's important about that as well is the reason why we're able to still communicate is because we've gone through difficult periods."

Townsend added: "Another quote that I love [is] that 'progress is only an awkward conversation away.' And I think that if you're in a position with somebody, if you're fortunate enough to be in a position with somebody where you can have those difficult conversations, then that's where real music is going to come from.

"You get asked these questions when you're younger, like, 'Oh, could you describe what a dream band would be like?' [You go], like, 'Oh, okay, Jimi Hendrix on guitar, John Bonham on drums.' But you think to yourself maybe the reason that those players were so fantastic is because the environments that they found themselves in. Maybe the reason why Jimi Hendrix is brilliant came out is because he didn't have to answer to anybody. He just had the two players in his band and perhaps if you did put him into a ban, maybe his social anxiety would make it that the other guitar player, maybe Jimmy Page or whatever, would just steamroll him. And then by the time you're done, you get this supergroup album that's not as good as any of them individually. And I think a lot of the reason why that happens is the dynamic has to be established. And if you're fortunate enough to be with musicians for many years, then you've worked through the arguments, you've worked through the 'fuck this guy' or the romance period even. And then at that point, when someone has an idea, you're best suited to listen to it because why would they say it other than this person who's brilliant has a good idea. Or an idea at least. And that's where [Steve and I] find ourselves."

Asked when fans can expect to hear some of this material that he has been working on with Steve, Devin said: "Well, I think it's a work in progress in that what we're working on together with 'The Moth' is rooted in something that I've already written. So when he comes here, a lot of it is just, like, he has ideas. He's, like, 'What if we tried this? What if the chorus was doubled?', things like that. So in an immediate sense, 'The Moth', the performances that we start with, because we're doing performances of it with the orchestra prior to the record coming out, happens in March of 2025. But then where it evolves with Steve and I — I guess the thing that is frustrating to some of the audience is I personally am in no rush with any of these things. So, the honest answer is when it's ready, it'll be out. And what plays into when that is, is just everybody's so busy. There's no direct plans, but it's already in the process. That's a copout of an answer, but it's an answer nonetheless."

Devin will perform "The Moth" together with the Noord Nederlands Orkest symphony orchestra in late March at De Oosterpoort in Groningen, The Netherlands.

"The Moth", a "rock opera" Devin has been working on for years, represents his lifelong ambition. "The Moth" tells the story of the human experience from birth to death, comparable to the transformation of a caterpillar into a moth. It symbolizes the human quest for meaning and offers perspectives on the fear of death through analogy and narrative. Ever since Townsend witnessed large musicals such as "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Phantom Of The Opera" in the 1970s, he has seen this project as his calling.

"The Moth" has been in the making for over a decade, and Townsend has been building towards it for 30 years. Now, he is ready to bring it to life. He will share the stage at De Oosterpoort in Groningen with no less than seventy musicians from the Noord Nederlands Orkest, a sixty-member choir, and his own band, which includes Mike Keneally, Joseph Stephenson, Darby Todd and James Leach.

"Sex & Religion" saw Vai joining forces with a band of "monster musicians" — including drummer Terry Bozzio and bassist T.M. Stevens — to create an effort that was radically different from 1990's "Passion And Warfare". The VAI band split up after the album was finished, and Vai subsequently toured only with Townsend and several session drummers and bassists.

More than a decade after their initial musical partnership, these two creative giants again crossed paths. In 2005, Vai played a guest guitar solo on Townsend's "Synchestra" album, and in 2013, was cast as narrator on Townsend's "The Retinal Circus" live album. When Vai decided to record 2016's "Modern Primitive", which featured music he wrote in the period between his debut solo album, "Flex-Able", and the aforementioned "Passion And Warfare", he enlisted Townsend to sing on a song called "The Lost Chord".

MÖTLEY CRÜE's Las Vegas Residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM, originally scheduled for March 28n- April 19, 2025, is moving to September 2025 due to a required medical procedure recently advised by vocalist Vince Neil's doctors.

Neil says: "To all the Crüeheads who were looking forward to see us this spring, I'm truly sorry. My health is my top priority so I can bring you the awesome shows you deserve, and I can't wait to return to the stage. Thank you for all the well wishes that keep reaching me. Your support means more than you know."

Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and John 5 of MÖTLEY CRÜE shared in a joint statement: "Please join us in wishing Vince a speedy recovery. We are looking forward for him to get well again and to take over Vegas together in September. We can't wait to see you all out there, and thank you for your understanding and support in the meantime."

Tickets from the original spring residency dates will remain valid and be honored for the new September show dates.

New dates:

Friday, September 12
Saturday, September 13
Wednesday, September 17
Friday, September 19
Saturday, September 20
Wednesday, September 24
Friday, September 26
Saturday, September 27
Wednesday, October 1
Friday, October 3

Last October, Sixx spoke to USA Today about MÖTLEY CRÜE's third Las Vegas residency. Asked if he feels like CRÜE paved the way for AEROSMITH, SCORPIONS, DEF LEPPARD and other rockers who have since established Vegas residencies, Nikki replied: "We had a lot of people raising eyebrows when we [first] did it [in 2012], like, isn't that where bands go to die? But it's such a great opportunity. Last year we played a 400-capacity club in London [The Underworld] the night before selling out Wembley Stadium and did the same at the Bowery [Ballroom in New York]. It inspired this idea of intimacy and ginormity, if that's a word. Being in the smallest room and then the biggest room and there is a lot of talk about how to do that in Vegas as well as reimagine some tracks. Although, of course, we're going to play the hits."

The CRÜE's third Vegas residency is being billed as a "tell-all show [that] will immerse the audience in the band's history, leading all the say through their record-breaking 'Stadium Tour'." They previously set up shop in Vegas in 2012 for "Mötley Crüe Takes On Sin City" and in 2013 for "Evening In Hell".

About the prospect of staying in one place during the Vegas run, Sixx told USA Today: "Creatively, it's exciting for the band. But for me, I love that I can do a show in one place and keep my family together. That's my balancing act, to make sure I'm there for my family and for the fans. I would not be opposed to doing a long run in Vegas. I love the idea of popping in my car, driving to the Strip to do a rock show and then coming back home."

In a separate interview with Miami's WSVN-TV, Sixx promised that MÖTLEY CRÜE would play the hits during the Vegas run, along with some possible surprises. "We have to look at, make sure that, you know, we're giving the fans exactly what they want — those songs are great — but also listening to the fans," he said. "They're looking for some deeper tracks, some B tracks, maybe reimagined tracks would be fun for us."

MÖTLEY CRÜE previously announced that a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales of "The Las Vegas Residency" will be donated to Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, a Las Vegas-based organization that provides the thousands of young people experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada with wraparound support to help youth move into stable housing, grow, and flourish.

The Las Vegas residency news follows on the heels of the band's return to where it all began, the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, with MÖTLEY CRÜE having completed a three-night string of exclusive, intimate club shows last October at the Troubadour, The Roxy and the Whisky A Go Go.

In October, MÖTLEY CRÜE released a new EP, "Cancelled". Produced by Bob Rock, the EP marked the band's first release with Big Machine and included three new tracks: Top 5 Rock Radio hit "Dogs Of War" a cover of the BEASTIE BOYS' "Fight For Your Right" and the title track and new single, "Cancelled".

Photo credit: Ross Halfin (courtesy of Live Nation)

Mötley Crüe’s Las Vegas Residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM, originally scheduled for March 28th- April 19th, 2025, is...

Posted by Mötley Crüe on Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Swedish occult rockers GHOST will release their new album, "Skeletá", on April 25 via Loma Vista Recordings. The official music video for the LP's first single, "Satanized", can be seen below.

"Satanized" is described in a press release as "an avalanche of infectious hooks and harmonies is buoyed by a hypnotic shuffle, as the narrator succumbs to dark forces within and without, helplessly acknowledging their own blasphemy and heresy as it inexorably consumes them." By the time the song's opening lines "There is something inside me and they don't know if there is a cure" have moved from the inner monologue of the possessed to the ears of the hapless listener, it will already be too late: You will have been "Satanized".

The "Satanized" music video introduces the new character who will be fronting GHOST for its 2025 touring cycle: Papa V Perpetua.

GHOST's sixth psalm, "Skeletá", is its most unflinchingly introspective work to date. Where previous GHOST albums dealt largely with chronicling and/or observing outward facing subject matter — such as "Impera"'s meditations on the rise and fall of empires and its predecessor "Prequelle"'s evocations of the ravages of era-defining plagues — "Skeletá"'s lyrics render the distinct individual emotional vistas of each of its 10 songs in one-on-one fashion, at times as if in a dialogue with oneself in a mirror. The end result is a singular collection of timeless, universal sentiments, all filtered through a prism of a uniquely personal point of view.

GHOST has also launched an interactive element dubbed The Satanizer, a first-of-its-kind music video experience for fans who wish to be "Satanized." Developed in partnership with Jason Zada (Elf Yourself),The Satanizer will morph its users into characters featured in the song's melodramatic video. With a quick upload of your photo, The Satanizer will send out a personalized music video clip featuring the participant, who can in turn share via social media that they too have been "Satanized."

"Skeletá" track listing:

01. Peacefield
02. Lachryma
03. Satanized
04. Guiding Lights
05. De Profundis Borealis
06. Cenotaph
07. Missilia Amori
08. Marks Of The Evil One
09. Umbra
10. Excelsis

Papa V Perpetua's name was initially listed as one of the performers for BLACK SABBATH's final concert, set to take place on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

GHOST also confirmed the singer's participation at the Villa Park event in a social media update, writing: "We wish to inform you V is coming… To Birmingham on July 5th."

GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle". In March 2020, at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City, Mexico, the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the character who fronted the act for its "Impera" (2022) album phase.

Asked in a 2019 interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show how those different identities empower him as a performer, Forge said: "Speaking just for myself, I know that coming out onstage as another character, looking different, acting different, definitely allows for you to act and behave in a way that you wouldn't normally do. This can be both traumatic and also therapeutical in away.

"Even though it's been a long time since I practiced any sort of martial arts, I almost feel similar to myself back then, like after karate class. I did all kinds of things. I did judo, jiu-jitsu, tae kwon do and karate. After you are sort of cleansed from any sort of violent urges that you had. And in a way, I feel that way. Especially now when we play on our regular nights. When we play that long, any inkling that you have of wanting to dance and rock out is sort of over when you come off stage, which is very nice.

"One of the luxuries of being able to dress up for it and become a different character is that as soon as I am not that character anymore, no one expects me to behave the way that the character does onstage," he added. "No one expects me to be that way offstage. There's been a great handful of rock artists that have had a big problem differentiating themselves from their character onstage. And that leads to a lot of potential problems."

As previously reported, GHOST will embark on a world tour in 2025. The European leg of the trek will kick off on April 15 in Manchester, United Kingdom and conclude on May 24 in Oslo, Norway. The North American leg of GHOST's 2025 tour will launch on July 9 in Baltimore, Maryland and wrap up on August 16 in Houston, Texas.

The physical home video of GHOST's worldwide Top 10 box office smash feature film debut "Rite Here Rite Now" was made available on December 6, 2024.

In a new interview with Portugal's Look magazine, ex-QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate spoke about how he goes about writing songs. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "For me, the creative process begins with a schedule and being able to start your day with music. For instance, if I'm working on a piece of music, I typically will leave it unfinished so that I have a place to start the next day. And so I begin with that piece of music and working on it and develop it and develop it to a point based upon where I left it the previous day. So for me, I need a schedule. I need to be able to start at, like, 10 a.m. with my coffee sitting at the keyboard and the computer with my recording gear, and I work that way. And it's been that way for 30 years. [Laughs] And [it's] definitely a lot easier now because in the past, we would have to remember our ideas and write them down on paper and then wait and book studio time and go in and record the idea, and maybe a month would pass before you had the ability to write your idea out. And nowadays I can just open up my suitcase, unpack my equipment, set it up. It takes 10 minutes, and, boom, I'm working on the idea that's still in my head. So it's a much more immediate process, and I love that."

Asked if the creative process is "more organic" nowadays, Tate said: "Yes, absolutely. More organic, because it's fast. In fact, if I wanted to, I could compose a song in one day, put it all together, play all the instruments myself and put it out on the Internet in one day. Never before could you do that. So, yeah, if you have an immediate idea that's very topical and maybe you have to capitalize on the situation that's going on in the world, you could do it very quickly nowadays."

Regarding how he keeps his voice in shape after more than four decades as a professional musician, Geoff said: "I have to work at it. [Laughs] Yeah, it's a muscle, so you have to keep working, working, working to keep it working correctly. I try not to take too many days off. I try to sing every day, and it keeps working, I think, because I use it so much. There's an American saying: use it or lose it."

Tate recently revealed that he is working on the third and final chapter in QUEENSRŸCHE's classic "Operation: Mindcrime" album series. He told Metal-Rules.com about the musical direction of the material that will appear on "Operation: Mindcrime III": "It definitely has a strong early QUEENSRŸCHE vibe, with some tracks being super heavy and technical. The album is also deeply emotional, marking the final chapter in the 'Mindcrime' saga. It continues the story of Dr. X, Nikki and Sister Mary, focusing on a specific point in their journey. I'm thrilled with how it's turning out and can't wait for people to hear it."

Geoff went on to say that he wrote the songs for "Operation: Mindcrime III" mostly with his guitarists Kieran Robertson from Scotland and Alex Hart from Boston. "I think that's it — the three of us primarily wrote the whole thing," he said.

Originally released in May 1988, QUEENSRŸCHE's third studio album, "Operation: Mindcrime" took the quintet to an entirely new level. The concept, revealed through the songs, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late and beloved British actor Anthony Valentine),Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. Regarded as one of the greatest concept metal albums of all time, "Operation: Mindcrime" was certified platinum in 1991 in the U.S. and was ranked in the "Top 100 Metal Albums Of All Time" by both Kerrang! and Billboard magazines. Rolling Stone included it on a similar list, noting that "nearly 30 years after its initial release, 'Mindcrime' feels eerily relevant."

The original "Operation: Mindcrime" album weaved themes of religion, drug abuse and underground, radical politics. By contrast, 2006's "Operation: Mindcrime II" was regarded as an unnecessary sequel that many felt cheapened the original album, despite being a decent record in its own right.

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012. Guitarist Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson responded with a countersuit. The settlement included an agreement that Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson would continue as QUEENSRŸCHE, while Tate would have the sole right to perform "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Video of QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre laying down the drum tracks on the song "Plastic" from "Welcome To Your Funeral", the latest album from Detroit's demented duo TWIZTID, can be seen below. The LP was released on February 14.

La Torre, who has played drums since the age of 13, previously recorded the drums on QUEENSRŸCHE's 2019 album "The Verdict" after original QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield took time off from the group's recording and touring activities to spend time with his young son.

Produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, HATEBREED, DEMON HUNTER, QUEENSRŸCHE),the latest effort from TWIZTID's Jamie Madrox and Monoxide blends driving rock akin to KORN and LINKIN PARK with the high energy of their underground rap classics, all with the duo's trademarked authenticity, integrity, and anguish. It's a vision that's made friends and supporters out of artists ranging from Jelly Roll to ICE NINE KILLS.

TWIZTID is an independent institution with over a dozen Billboard chart entries. Seen on the road with STATIC-X, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE and ATTILA, TWIZTID offers an intensely powerful catharsis, taking listeners on an unflinching ride through emotional darkness and anxiety-ridden paranoia.

"Welcome To Your Funeral" was produced, mixed, engineered, and mastered by Zeuss. Fritz "The Cat" Von Kosky provided additional engineering. Vocals were recorded at The Dojo in Livonia, Michigan; drums at Dexter's Lab Recording in Milford, Connecticut; and all other tracking at Planet Z in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Madrox and Monoxide performed all vocals.

A renewed focus on clawing one's way back to sanity fuels the songs on welcome to your funeral. TWIZTID takes listeners on an unflinching ride through emotional darkness and confessional anxiety-ridden paranoia. Madrox and Monoxide spare no effort, offering an intensely powerful catharsis. This is the next chapter in the Demented Duo's "evilution," setting the stage for a furious future together.

TESLA has announced the release of a limited-edition double LP, "Real To Reel Vol. II", that is set to hit the shelves on Record Store Day, April 12, 2025.

Originally released only at shows, "Real To Reel Vol. II" is a cover song studio album that pays homage to classic rock tunes from the late 1960s and early 1970s. TESLA brings their unique touch to these iconic tracks, recorded using analog tape and vintage equipment, with a dedication to preserving the raw, authentic sound of the era. The album showcases the band's exceptional talent, captured in a live in studio setting, without the use of pro tools or an automated mixing console. The record was mixed by hand, sometimes with six hands on the mixing console at one time. Remarkably, TESLA accomplished the recording of 25 songs in just 30 days, working tirelessly from 10 am to midnight, pausing only for dinner.

"Real To Reel Vol. II" is limited to just 2000 copies. The double LP will be available in a striking clear red vinyl, adding a visually stunning element to the auditory experience.

"Real To Reel Vol. II" promises to be a collector's item, offering fans a rare opportunity to own a piece of the band's history in a format celebrated by music enthusiasts worldwide.

Track listing:

01. All The Young Dudes
02. Make It Last
03. Shooting Star
04. Not Fragile
05. Street Fighting Man
06. Is It My Body
07. I Want To Take You Higher
08. Do You Feel Like We Do
09. Beer Drinkers And Hell Raiser
10. Seasons Of Wither
11. Saturday Night Special
12. War Pigs

Released last November, TESLA's latest six-song EP, "All About Love", includes four versions of the title track (acoustic, electric, hybrid, live); a live version of "Walk Away", a concert favorite from "Reel To Real, Vol. 1"; and another new song, "From The Heart", an instrumental track by guitarist Frank Hannon.

Some fans criticized TESLA for adopting a 1980s-style polished production for its latest album, 2019's "Shock". The follow-up to June 2014's "Simplicity" was helmed by DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen, whose own group is no stranger to slicked-up, glossy-sounding recordings.

In September 2023, TESLA released the official music video for its cover of AEROSMITH's "S.O.S. (Too Bad)". The song is a bonus track on TESLA's live album, "Full Throttle Live!", which arrived in May 2023. The LP includes the band's "Time To Rock!" single, plus other songs, all recorded in August 2022 at Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, South Dakota.

In September 2021, original TESLA drummer Troy Luccketta announced that he would "take a little time from the road" to spend with family and friends. He has since been replaced at TESLA's gigs and in the recording studio by Steve Brown, the younger brother of former DOKKEN drummer Mick Brown.

TESLA's debut album, 1986's "Mechanical Resonance", went platinum on the strength of the hits "Modern Day Cowboy" and "Little Suzi". The 1989 follow-up album, "The Great Radio Controversy", produced five hits, including "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)" and "Love Song", which hit the pop Top Ten.

ALESTORM will release a new album, "The Thunderfist Chronicles", on June 20, 2025 via Napalm Records. The Scottish party pirates return with their eight album, containing eight new anthems packed with blistering riffs, wild shanty-driven riffs, and utterly ridiculous lyrics — taking the high seas of metal to new depths.

"The Thunderfist Chronicles" arrives as the successor to ALESTORM's epic seventh studio album, "Seventh Rum Of A Seventh Rum", which peaked at No. 5 on both the U.S. Current Hard Music and Top New Artist Albums charts, No. 7 on the German Album chart and many more. After the release of last year's "Voyage of the Dead Marauder" EP and extensive touring, the band returns for more! With "The Thunderfist Chronicles", ALESTORM proves once again why they are the undisputed rulers of the Seven Metal Seas. So, grab your nearest jug of rum — this is going to be loud, chaotic, and absolutely legendary!

ALESTORM vocalist Christopher Bowes comments: "This album is weird and full of difficult riffs that I already regret. There's a bunch of fun things to discover on the record though — we've got a cover of a song by our friends in NEKROGOBLIKON, a whole lot of other heavy stuff, plus the longest song I've ever written (over 17 minutes long) which features guest vocals from Patty Gurdy (everyone's favorite hurdy gurdy player) and Sir Russel Allen (SYMPHONY X singer and my favorite vocalist of all time).”

"The Thunderfist Chronicles" track listing:

01. Hyperion Omniriff
02. Killed To Death By Piracy
03. Banana
04. Frozen Piss 2
05. The Storm
06. Mountains Of The Deep
07. Goblins Ahoy!
08. Mega-Supreme Treasure Of The Eternal Thunderfist

ALESTORM are:

Christopher Bowes - Vocals, Keytar
Gareth Murdock - Bass
Máté Bodor - Guitar
Peter Alcorn - Drums
Elliot Vernon - Keyboard

Photo credit: Niek van de Vondervoort

According to TMZ, the fiancée of FASTER PUSSYCAT singer Taime Downe died after going overboard from the Royal Caribbean ship Explorer Of The Seas during the first day of The 80s Cruise, a nostalgia music cruise featuring such acts as FASTER PUSSYCAT, WARRANT, DOKKEN, FIREHOUSE, SQUEEZE, Adam Ant, Tiffany and MEN AT WORK.

A search operation involving several ships was conducted after Kimberly Burch went overboard around 11 p.m. on March 3. She fell to her death after a heated argument with Downe aboard the ship, according to Kimberly's mother. It is still unclear whether Kimberly jumped or accidentally fell from the ship, but Carnell Burch told TMZ Kimberly wouldn't purposefully hurt herself.

A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said in a statement: "Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort, is working with local authorities, and we are providing support and assistance to the guest's family during this difficult time. To respect the privacy of our guest's family, we have no additional details to share."

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson told TMZ the incident happened roughly 20 miles away from Freeport, Bahamas.

The ship's captain informed passengers of the situation via the public address system, and crew members promptly deployed a speedboat to search for the missing individual. Two nearby vessels also joined the search efforts.

An anonymous ship passenger told The Hollywood Reporter the incident occurred at the end of the evening when SQUEEZE was on stage.

"There was an announcement over the PA saying someone went overboard so the ship was going to stop and turn around to try and locate the person," the ship passenger said.

The passenger added that the ship stopped for a few hours deploying safety boats and floodlights to search. Eventually, the Explorer Of The Seas continued, arriving at its next destination at Nassau, Bahamas just a few hours behind schedule.

Taime and Kimberly were together for about 6 to 7 years, according to TMZ.

For this year's Valentine's Day, Kimberly shared a series of photos of her with Taime and she wrote in an accompanying caption: "Happy Every Day! From your first hello to me I fell head over heels in love. You are my Valentine every day of my life. We are a tornado at times and pure raw love. I wouldn’t have it any other way. We do us like no other. I love you with my entire heart and soul".

Originally formed during the mid-1980s glam rock era, FASTER PUSSYCAT has gone on to have a triumph of success, with over two million albums sold worldwide, and has accompanied some of rocks most distinguished names on tour, such as ALICE COOPER, OZZY OSBOURNE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES and KISS.

"There were 212 recorded instances of passengers going overboard between 2009 and 2019, or roughly 21 times per year," according to data from the Cruise Lines International Association. "Of those, 48 people were successfully rescued. The report said that after investigations, each case was found to be caused by 'an intentional or reckless act."

It is with broken hearts that we share the sad news that Kimberly Burch has passed away. She was a beloved...

Posted by Kellie Burch on Tuesday, March 4, 2025

The book "To Hell And Back With The Beast (And Mini Beast)" about the final years of former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno is available for pre-order at www.maidencroatia.com.

In the sequel to "666 Days With The Beast", which was made available last December and sold out very quickly, Stjepan Juras, a Croatia-based MAIDEN fan and author of many MAIDEN-related books, who had been managing Di'Anno and taking care of Paul while he was getting physiotherapy treatments in Croatia, dives into the most turbulent period of Paul's career, including the joint tour with KK'S PRIEST, recounting events that almost led to Paul's concerts in Birmingham and Glasgow being canceled. Thankfully, the tour went ahead in full and ended triumphantly at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire. It was followed by a return to Croatia for rehabilitation and a concert at the legendary Boogaloo club in Zagreb, where Paul "settled" old debts from 2009 with fans who had been left disappointed. A major comeback tour in the U.K. followed, with Juras describing both triumph and disaster, including stories that will, for the first time, reveal completely transparent details about what happened behind the scenes and the immense effort it took to keep the tour going. Readers will also experience firsthand the major conflicts before the Winterstorm festival and after the concert in Blackpool, as well as the controversies that arose at the Weston-super-Mare concert.

Following that, there was a major European tour filled with so many twists and controversies that "it's a miracle everything ended as planned," according to Juras. "During this tour, a pivotal moment occurred in Amsterdam when Paul faced a terrifying 'prophecy' that haunted and terrified him until the end of his life, and which ultimately came true," Stjepan says. "A scandal at the Athens concert almost led to the cancellation of his Australian tour, while in Germany, we witnessed a public verbal attack on his former band, ARCHITECTS OF CHAOZ. Another scandal occurred in Turin, Italy, this time involving drug-related issues, which nearly caused me to leave the tour and part ways with Paul, as I never tolerated or allowed any drug use near me. The final sold-out concert in Paris ended in controversy from statements made on stage, leaving many in shock. Then came Australia, which was so controversial that it made the news in Australian mainstream media and reached global headlines. You'll read about the story of going to Australia with shock and disbelief, as you'll never have the chance to read anything like this anywhere else. After that, there's the story of the highly successful tour in Chile and everything that happened on that journey, followed by tales from Uruguay and Paraguay, and a story from Argentina that took place exactly one year ago and is considered by many chroniclers as one of the most shocking stories in rock and roll history. And indeed, it's so shocking and scandalous that I still can't believe it happened. After that come the very sad days when my father waited for me to return from the tour so he could see me one last time before he passed away. A very sad and deeply personal event that breaks me every time I think about it."

Tentatively due in late May or early June, "To Hell And Back With The Beast (And Mini Beast)" will be printed in the same number of copies as the first edition (666). The name of each buyer will be listed individually on the inside cover of the book. Each book will come with the author's signature and hand numbering.

You can pre-order "To Hell And Back With The Beast (And Mini Beast)" via PayPal or with credit and debit cards at www.maidencroatia.com.

The third in Juras's "Beast" trilogy of books, "The Last Days Of The Beast", will go on public pre-sale from August 12, 2025, while the secret pre-sale will be open to all previous buyers on August 10, 2025.

Di'Anno was laid to rest on November 21, 2024 at the City Of London Cemetery And Crematorium in Manor Park, East London, United Kingdom.

Di'Anno, whose real name was Paul Andrews, passed away on October 21, 2024 at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.

An official statement shared to Di'Anno's Facebook page on November 11, 2024 with permission from the late musician's family revealed that his cause of death was caused by a "tear in the sac around the heart."

"Dear fans and friends," the statement began. "We have received permission from Paul's family to bring you the news of Paul's cause of death, after the results of the autopsy have been received."

It continued, "His sisters Cheryl and Michelle confirmed the following: 'Basically he had a tear in the sac around the heart and blood has filled inside it from the main aorta artery and that has caused the heart to stop.' Paul's death was instantaneous and hopefully painless. May he rest in peace."

Born in Chingford, East London on May 17, 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of English heavy metal band IRON MAIDEN between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album "Iron Maiden" and the influential follow-up release, "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN, Paul Di'Anno had a long and eventful recording career with BATTLEZONE and KILLERS as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.

Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.

His first career retrospective album, "The Book Of The Beast", was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving IRON MAIDEN.

In December 2022, Di'Anno spent time in Split, Croatia recording an album with his new project called WARHORSE. The band was formed earlier that year by Di'Anno and two guitarists/authors, Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante "Pupi" Pupačić. The resulting LP was made available in July 2024 under the PAUL DI'ANNO'S WARHORSE banner.

WARHORSE previously recorded three songs, two of which — "Stop The War" and "The Doubt Within" — were released in May 2022 as a special DVD single along with Paul's video message to all fans who bought the single and thus helped raise funds for his knee operation.

The WARHORSE single marked Di'Anno's first music release after a seven-year hiatus due to severe health issues.

Di'Anno, who finally underwent his knee surgery in September 2022, played the first show since the operation on October 1, 2022 at the Keep It True Rising II festival in Würzburg, Germany.

In May 2022, Di'Anno came face to face with MAIDEN bassist and founder Steve Harris for the first time in three decades before the band's concert in Croatia. Also in May 2022, Paul played his first full solo concert in seven years at the Bikers Beer Factory in Zagreb. The show was filmed and parts of it will be included in the upcoming Di'Anno documentary, which is being helmed by Wes Orshoski, co-director and producer of the acclaimed 2010 film "Lemmy" about the MOTÖRHEAD icon, and 2015's "The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead", about punk rock legends THE DAMNED.

Photo credit: Marco Benjamin Alvarado (courtesy of Central Press for Conquest Music)

In a new interview with Japanese music critic and radio personality Masa Ito of TVK's "Rock City", DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy was asked what he has added to the band since he rejoined the progressive metal giants in October 2023 after a 13-year absence. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It is not really for me to say. I can't sit here and pat myself on the back and kind of tell all the things I bring to the band. I think it's more for the fans or the listener to kind of come up with that opinion. But I think it's pretty well known what I bring to the band. It's been this way since the beginning of the band 40 years ago."

Mike continued: "I was always contributing in every area — not just the drums, but collaborating on the music and the lyrics and the melodies and the production and the merchandise and the fan club and everything that goes into being in a band. I'm a very hands-on type of person, so for the first 25 years of the band, I oversaw all of that stuff. And then when I left the band, the guys had to kind of figure out how things were gonna get distributed amongst themselves. And however they decided that, that's the way they continued without me. And now coming back in the band, I've had to be very, very respectful of what they've been doing all the years without me. It's a very different organization than when I left in 2010.

"When I left in 2010, I was a control freak. and overseeing everything and very protective of everything," Portnoy added. "But now coming back, I need to respect that they've been touring for all these years without me and making records without me, so they have perhaps different ways of doing things. So, I had to come in very respectful and kind of tippy-toe my way around each area to see how much they wanted from me. There are some areas where they put complete control back into my lap. There's other areas that maybe they wanted to retain some control and maybe ask me to take a step back. So, it's been a learning process over the past year or so how the new chemistry was going to function. And it's been very easy, I think. We're all older and wiser at this stage of our lives. When I left the band in 2010, I was in my early 40s. Now I'm in my late 50s. And I think as you get older and you have more life experiences, you learn more, you learn how to behave in a more mutually beneficial way and try to be respectful of other people's opinions and ideas. And that's a lot of the stuff I learned all the years outside of DREAM THEATER. I did so many other bands and projects and albums, each one of which had a very different chemistry that I would have to adapt to. So I think adapting to all those different situations throughout the years really helped me to be more of a team player than maybe I was the first time around."

Last month, Portnoy was asked by Sakis Fragos of Rock Hard Greece why he wasn't involved with the production of DREAM THEATER's latest album, "Parasomnia", after being credited as co-producer for the band's six prior LPs he appeared on, starting with 1999's "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory". He responded: "Well, to be honest, it was one of the very first things that [DREAM THEATER guitarist] John Petrucci brought up to me when the two of us began discussing the possibility of me coming back [to DREAM THEATER in 2023]. There were a lot of things that happened while I was away that they wanted to remain intact, and that was one of the things that was very important to John, was to maintain the sole producer credit. And what can I say to that? Would I have liked to have reunited the production team the way it always was? Yeah, I would have. But the reality is when he brought that up to me, I needed to respect that."

Portnoy continued: "When I left the band [in 2010], [John and I] were producing the albums together, and after that he began producing on his own. So, obviously, over the last five albums, that was the way that the band functioned. If that's very important to him, then I need to respect that. I can't just come back into the band and demand things to be the way they used to be. It's impossible. We're not the same people and things have transpired over a decade and a half at this point. So I needed to be respectful of his request for that. And that's pretty much it in a nutshell.

"But to be honest, it didn't dilute any of my ideas," Portnoy explained. "All of my ideas were always welcome. And some of the things that I did suggest, like the conceptual, thematic stuff, a lot of that stuff falls under the category of producer, but if John wants the sole credit, that's totally fine. All that meant for me is that I don't have to be in the studio 24-7 babysitting the keyboard tracks or the bass tracks, and that's fine with me. I live three hours away. So, I was more than happy to delegate that all to John and be able to get home and spend a little time with my family here and there."

DREAM THEATER kicked off the North American leg of its 40th-anniversary tour on February 7 at The Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The trek is "An Evening With Dream Theater" and is the first tour of North America since Portnoy's return to the lineup, joining Petrucci, singer James LaBrie, bassist John Myung and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. The tour will conclude on March 22 in New York City.

DREAM THEATER's sixteenth studio album, "Parasomnia", came out on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. The LP marks DREAM THEATER's first release with Portnoy since 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings".

"Parasomnia" was produced by Petrucci, engineered by James "Jimmy T" Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returns once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.

Portnoy co-founded DREAM THEATER in 1985 with Petrucci and Myung. Mike played on 10 DREAM THEATER albums over a 20-year period, from 1989's "When Dream And Day Unite" through 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", before exiting the group in 2010.

Mike Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Portnoy. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".