SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor spoke to Germany's Radio Bob! about what it was like to join Tom Kenny, who voiced SpongeBob in "SpongeBob SquarePants", at last month's Huntington Comic And Toy Convention to sing the theme song of the iconic Nickelodeon show. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's not often that I get really nervous, and I was so nervous doing that — largely because we didn't rehearse it. We just went up there and we were, like, 'Okay, let's, let's have it,' you know?"

As for the experience of sharing the stage with Kenny, Taylor said: "He was so cool and just so much fun and one of the nicest people I've ever met. And I've been a fan of his for years. I can remember watching him on 'Mr. Show With Bob And David', and then years later, it was [my son] Griffin's favorite cartoon forever. So we would just watch all of the seasons together. So it was this weird kind of culmination of a lot of years of me following him as an actor. It was just really weird. It was a lot of fun, but it was just so bizarre. I was, like, 'How did we get here, dude? Like, what happened?' [Laughs]"

Huntington was not the first time Taylor had publicly sung "SpongeBob". Corey had performed the song at his solo concerts for more than a decade, including on last year's ShipRocked cruise and at the 2022 Spookala Horror Convention in Ocala, Florida.

Asked in a 2020 interview with Montreal Rocks if fans can ever expect to see him record a studio version of "SpongeBob SquarePants", Taylor said: "Oh, man. The funny thing is it's almost like a double-edged sword these days. It drives me nuts that it's one of the most requested songs at like my acoustic shows, and yet the whole reason I learned that song was so me and my son could connect on music. So I have a hard time saying no to stuff like that, man. I've thrown it in the set like a handful of times, even when it wasn't there. I did a version of it for this online critic called the Nostalgia Critic. I keep wondering whether or not I should do like a full band version and just trip people out, you know? So, I don't know. You can never say never. But it's very funny. Let's put it that way."

Corey will release his second solo album, "CMF2", on September 15. "CMF2" is Taylor's first album for BMG and the first on his own label imprint, Decibel Cooper Recordings.

Released in May, the first single from "CMF2", "Beyond", entered the Top 15 at Rock Radio in just six weeks and was the cover and No. 1 spot of the Rock Hard playlist on Spotify.

Taylor began tracking the follow-up to 2020's "CMFT" LP in early January at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with STEEL PANTHER and ANTHRAX, among others. Joining Corey in the studio was the rest of his solo band — bassist Eliot Lorango, drummer Dustin Robert, along with guitarists Christian Martucci and Zach Throne.

Twenty-six songs were recorded for "CMF2", including the first two singles, "Beyond" and "Post Traumatic Blues".

"CMFT" featured the No. 1 Billboard mainstream rock single "Black Eyes Blue" and streaming sensation "CMFT Must Be Stopped" (feat. Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie). The LP hit No. 6 on Billboard's U.S. Top Rock Albums chart.

In support of his new album, Taylor has embarked on his 2023 tour featuring special guests WARGASM, OXYMORRONS and LUNA AURA on select dates. Produced by Live Nation, the 28-city tour kicked off on August 25 at Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, making stops across the U.S in Detroit, Orlando, Dallas and more before the final headline show in Los Angeles at The Wiltern on October 5.

On September 9th,  Bret Michaels performed a Poison set at RockTember 2023 in Hinckley, MN. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Talk Dirty To Me"
"Ride The Wind"
"Your Mama Don't Dance" (Loggins & Messina)
"Look What The Cat Dragged In"
"Something To Believe In"
"Unskinny Bop"
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
"Nothin' But A Good Time"
"Sweet Home Alabama" (Lynyrd Skynyrd - with Trixter's Steve Brown and PJ Farley)







Bret Michaels is well-documented for his unbroken upbeat spirit, charitable donations in each city he performs and constantly delivering a positive high-energy show of big hits for the fans. His creation of this summer’s Parti-Gras Tour was no exception, a unique concept which Michaels produced and created that seamlessly intertwined his Poison and solo hits with those of other great artists and friends that joined the tour including Journey, Sugar Ray, Night Ranger and Jefferson Starship. Although considered at different ends of the musical spectrum, the fans seem to feel that both Bret Michaels and Taylor Swift have delivered the feel-good tours of summer 2023.


Rick Franks, President of North American Touring at Live Nation, states, “Bret Michaels debut Summer 2023 Parti-Gras Tour, which was created and produced by Bret, was a fantastic first-year success for his concept in select cities. In fact, in true Bret Michaels fashion, he over-delivered. As Bret promised me while he was on the 2022 Stadium Tour, he absolutely brought a celebration of the fans, the bands and the music to create a night of all-killer hits, no filler.”


“I could not have had a better time this summer,” said Michaels. “With three generations of fans coming together for an awesome night of big hits and big fun – it truly has been the feel-good tour of the summer I wanted it to be.”


Read more, and see photos, at BretMichaels.com.

During an appearance on yesterday's (Tuesday, September 12) episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", legendary rock singer Paul Rodgers was asked what he does to keep his voice in such great shape after five decades. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think the key is you use your voice, but you don't overuse it. And I like a gargle in a little salt water. A little warm salt water, I find that's very good for… You can use it yourself for any kind of sore throat and for clarity of voice. And I'm blessed, I must say. It's a God-given gift, and I'm thankful."

Asked if he has ever had issues with his voice in his career, Paul said: "Not really, I'll be honest. No, I've had sore throats. But, no, no. I must say I've been very lucky."

Rodgers also talked about his routine and whether it involves vocal warmups and cooldowns. He said: "Ooh, I think you've gotta be careful. I do think you have to warm up. If I'm going on a big tour, for instance, I will warm up weeks before, getting more and more intense towards the first rehearsal. And in the first rehearsal, I'll step it up a bit. And then for the first show, I will step it up even further. And then the following day, you really feel it. So that's the time to kind of hum — you know, like bluesy like that — rather than rev it up really hard. You would never rev your car up if you got in it… It's not good for the engine. You wanna get the oils moving. It's the same with the body, with the voice. And basically, as well, I think you wanna stay as fit as you can and eat good food, eat nourishing food."

Rodgers previously talked about keeping his voice in shape in a May 2020 episode of "Ask Bad Company". At the time, he said: "It's something you live with, really. I do a lot of warming up before I go on stage. Actually, if I've got a heavy tour coming up — let's say BAD COMPANY or something like that — I'll warm up for weeks, maybe a month before. And I'll just do it very gently. And I just do that, really, until I feel stronger, and I do it more and more each day until I can get to full strength. And just warm it up. I drink a lot of ginger tea, 'cause I find that's really very helpful. It's healthy for the whole body, actually, as well. You just get ginger roots, peel it, stick it in a pan, boil it and put a couple of spoonfuls of honey in it. It's beautiful."

The 73-year-old British icon got his Canadian citizenship in 2011, four years after marrying British Columbia fitness expert Cynthia Kereluk, the 1984 Miss Canada title holder best known for the long-running series "Everyday Workout".

Rodgers ranked No. 55 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Rodgers fronted QUEEN between 2004 and 2009. With Rodgers at the mic, QUEEN embarked on two world tours and released an album, "The Cosmos Rocks", in 2008. They amicably parted ways a year later when Rodgers returned to BAD COMPANY.

As vocalist with FREE, BAD COMPANY and THE FIRM in the 1970s and 1980s, Rodgers reportedly sold more than 90 million records.

Paul's new album, "Midnight Rose", is slated for release on September 22 via Sun Records. This is Rodgers's first solo LP of new music in nearly 25 years.

KIX guitarist Ronnie Younkins has confirmed to Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live! that he will rejoin his longtime bandmates when they play their final show on Sunday, September 17 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

"I'm very grateful to have been asked to join the band for some songs, and I'm very excited about it," Ronnie said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "What can I say? It's gonna be heartwarming. It's bittersweet; it's gonna be bittersweet."

Younkins, who has been sitting out KIX's live shows for nearly three years, with Bob Paré filling his spot, continued: "And then Bob's coming out to play. I thought Bob was gonna play on the first two songs with me, but he's not. Then he's coming out, playing the rest of the set, and then we'll be playing together on the last four songs that I play."

Ronnie went on to say that he has been going over all the songs with Bob in recent weeks. "[Bob] and I get along really well and he's a great guy and great guitar player," he said. "And he's a very interesting person. And he lets me blast in his warehouse. I mean, it is loud. I love it. It's louder than I can play in the band. I wouldn't play that loud 'cause I need to hear drums while I have in-ears, but it's loud. These Marshalls — he's got tons of Marshalls. It's just like Marshall fest."

Younkins, who has been unable to tour with KIX for the past couple of years after repeatedly getting in trouble with the police due to his battle with alcoholism, previously discussed the band's impending retirement this past May in an interview with Tulsa Music Stream. He said at the time: "Well, it's kind of bittersweet, but I think it's been coming for a little while. After talking with a couple of members about a year ago, particularly one member was really wanting to stop traveling. And then, with Jimmy's [Chalfant], the drummer's health condition, and most people know that he's had some heart problems, cardiovascular. I think topped off with that, it's time for the final show to come. And it's sad, but we don't wanna see Jimmy get any worse with his health. He's a strong guy. He's always been a very proficient drummer, businessman, person, and he always gets the job done. It's unfortunate. But I heard he played some songs on the Monsters Of Rock cruise. I think he played at Merriweather recently. So God bless him. And I'm glad he's out playing again. I knew he would."

During an appearance on the August 29 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", KIX vocalist Steve Whiteman opened up about the band's announcement that it would retire after more than 45 years. Speaking about his decision to call it quits, he said: "Well, if ever the world was shouting at a band to get the hell out, it's us. I announced last year to the band and to our agent that at the end of 2023, I was done, that my wife was retiring. I've been doing this since I was, like, 13 years old, and I'm sick of all the travel and all the B.S. and the only thing I really enjoy is getting on stage. And to be honest, I'm not as good as I used to be, and I know that, and I don't wanna go out sucking; I wanna go out being pretty good. But age takes its toll. And all the things that happened to Jimmy — Jimmy with a heart attack, and then when he just collapsed in Leesburg, Virginia and literally died on stage. And thank God for [KIX bassist] Mark [Schenker] and [guitar tech] Brandon [Dull] who knew how to get him back until the EMTs got there. But I could have stopped right there."

Regarding how he and his KIX bandmates decided to play their last-ever show on September 17 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, Steve said: "Jimmy and his wife discussed it and they'd come up with a date. And we were gonna end at Rocklahoma, because that was our first big festival show that [our booking agent] had booked us at, first time out of our little comfort area that we've been playing for four or five years before that. And we thought it would be cool to — that's where we started and that that's where we'll end. But then [our booking agent] talked us into doing the next week in Hinckley, Minnesota. And we thought it's not very fair to the hometown fans, because I basically wanted to just fade away. I didn't wanna make a big announcement or announce a whore tour or final anything. I just wanted to go away. But the guys talked to me about it and they thought we should do one more big show at home. So, luckily the people at Merriweather were willing to go for it. And we didn't know how it was gonna go, 'cause Merriweather is about a 15,000-seat venue. We thought, well, if we can draw four or five thousand people, that would be great. And I think we're over ten thousand [tickets sold] at this point. It's for the hometown fans and it's a big shebang to say thanks for all the years, for the memories, for the support. And [we] love you guys, but we're tired."

Whiteman also admitted that he is no longer able to deliver KIX's material the way that he was able to earlier in the band's career. "My voice, I used to… I never had a break," he said. "I had a four-octave range and I never struggled hitting anything. I've had to pretty much totally change the way I sing. Luckily, I was a vocal coach, so I knew how to — I don't wanna say 'fake' things, but change things so the fans really wouldn't know that I'm not singing like I used to. And there are nights, out of the past couple of years, where I've come off stage just humiliated because I can't sing 'Don't Close Your Eyes' like I used to, or I can't sing 'Cold Blood', and these are the songs that the fans are out there waiting for. And that's when I started to think I don't wanna do this if I can't do it well anymore."

This past May, Whiteman confirmed to Metal Edge that Chalfant's health scare — he collapsed onstage 11 months ago after suffering a cardiac arrest — expedited his decision to stop playing shows. "For sure," he said. "When Jimmy collapsed in November, that put a whole new perspective on things. It was the sort of thing that got me thinking, 'How much longer do we want to do this?' And if I'm being honest, I was ready to give up and go home then and there. But everybody rallied and pushed me to keep going and finish the dates we had booked. That's when we decided to go until this coming September. We knew we had these summer days, and Jimmy — once he felt good enough to get onstage — put his foot down and said, 'September is it for me.'"

The Baltimore-based act, which formed in 1977, announced its plan to call it quits during an appearance on May 7 at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Chalfant rejoined his KIX bandmates on stage for two songs — "Cold Blood" and "Blow My Fuse" — during the band's set on April 30 aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise. It marked his first live appearance with KIX since he collapsed onstage. Chalfant also performed with KIX at the M3 Rock Festival.

On November 18, 2022, Chalfant suffered a cardiac arrest during KIX's concert at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia. Chalfant was unconscious and carried offstage before performing the last song of the show.

KIX was founded in 1977 and released its first, self-titled album on Atlantic Records more than 40 years ago. Their breakthrough came with 1988's "Blow My Fuse", which sold nearly a million copies, thanks to "Don't Close Your Eyes". The band continued to ride the hard-rock wave until 1995, when KIX took a hiatus. Nearly 10 years later, KIX reunited and started touring regionally. A 2008 performance at the Rocklahoma festival led to more gigs and the release of a live DVD/CD called "Live In Baltimore" in 2012. In 2014, KIX released its seventh full-length album, "Rock Your Face Off", the band's first studio effort since 1995's "Show Business". The album debuted at No. 1 on Amazon's Hard Rock and Metal chart, in the Top 50 on the Billboard 200 chart, No. 5 on the Independent Albums chart, No. 11 on the Top Internet chart, No. 17 on the Top Rock Albums chart, No. 27 on the Indie/Small Chain Core Stores chart and No. 33 on the Physical chart.

KIX released "Can't Stop The Show: The Return Of KIX" in October 2016, a two-disc DVD/CD set that entered the Billboard Top Music Video Sales chart at No. 3 and rose to the No. 1 position, the band's highest-charting debut and first No. 1 ever in their 35-year history. The 71-minute film offered an in-depth look into KIX's decision to record their first new album, in almost 20 years.

In 2018, KIX celebrated the 30th anniversary of their biggest album, "Blow My Fuse", with "Blow My Fuse Re-Blown", a two-disc set with a remixed/remastered version of the album, along with the original demo recordings for all 10 songs. The reunion with longtime collaborator Beau Hill for this remix sparked the initiative to revisit "Midnite Dynamite" and take a similar approach to updating KIX's legacy.

On the 35th anniversary of the release of "Midnite Dynamite", KIX released "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit" in November 2020. For "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit", KIX partnered with Hill for a blistering update of the fan-favorite album.

Image courtesy of Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live!

Kalamity Kills, the band identity for the music of Jamie Rowe, has announced their self-titled debut album, Kalamity Kills. The album will be released to all digital outlets on September 15. iTunes and Amazon pre-sale are happening now.


Funded by fans via Kickstarter, the album was produced and engineered by multi-instrumentalist Jamey Perrenot in East Nashville, TN. The album features guest appearances from Ray Luzier (Korn), Kiarely Castillo (Conquer Divide), Ace Von Johnson (L.A. Guns), Greg Upchurch (3 Doors Down), Luke Easter (Tourniquet), Julia Lauren Bullock (The Foxies/The Dead Deads), as well as Rowe’s former Guardian bandmate, Tony Palacios.


“I’m beyond stoked to release this album,” says Rowe. “It’s been a long time coming! I’m so proud of the songs and can’t wait for everyone to hear them. From day one, Jamey Perrenot understood what I wanted to do musically and went above and beyond to turn the sounds I heard in my head into reality! Even though Kills is my songs and vision, it wouldn’t be what it is without Jamey.”




Kalamity Kills is an 11-track album that blends hard rock, metal, pop, and electronic rock elements. The album explodes with heavy guitars, pounding drums, and passionate vocals. The songs on Kalamity Kills have themes about the shared human experience: love, loss, pain, self-destruction, hope, and, ultimately, redemption.


“This album is most certainly about my journey through life,” says Rowe. “It’s about the deep valleys and the mountaintop seasons. Raw and unfiltered, it’s a musical story about finding hope in this chaotic world we are living in. It could be anyone’s story, but it is told with my own accent throughout. Musically, it was great to have so many musicians I respect become a part of this record. I like “big” sounding rock and roll like my childhood heroes made! I also threw out the rulebook on debut albums. I included not one, but two reimagined 80s covers, 'What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)' (originally by Information Society and featuring Kiarely from Conquer Divide) and 'I Still Believe' (originally by The Call but also made famous by Tim Capello on “The Lost Boys” film soundtrack). Both turned out killer!”


With a debut album of strong songs and a lineup of talented guest musicians, Kalamity Kills is ready to make some noise in the hard rock world and beyond.





Tracklisting:


"Anthem"
"Dearest Enemy (Pressure)"
"What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)"
"Dark Secrets"
"The Chemistry Of Meant To Be"
"A.L.I.E.N."
"Hellfire Honey"
"Burn"
"Sinners Welcome"
"I Still Believe"
"Amen"

Gothenburg, Sweden based blackened death metal act, Night Crowned, has announced its new album, Tales, slated to be released on November 10 via Noble Demon.


Night Crowned has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the heavy music scene. Their debut studio album, Impius Viam, released on February 28, 2020 (Noble Demon), instantly captivated both critics and fans, solidifying its place as one of the year's most exceptional releases.


Comprised of former and current members of renowned acts such as Dark Funeral, Nightrage, and Cipher System, Night Crowned possesses a musical vision that is as haunting as it is clear. With their debut, they have crafted a work of art that exudes rage, melancholy, and pure destruction, resurrecting the dormant sounds of the influential Scandinavian acts and masterpieces from the '90s.




Night Crowned's rigorous pursuit of musical excellence knows no bounds, as they wasted no time in releasing the follow-up record, Hädanfärd, on July 9, 2021. Inspired by a story penned by vocalist K. Romlin, Hädanfärd delves into encounters with death, weaving a far-reaching concept that was meticulously developed during the band's intense demo process. The album's nine atmospheric tracks, accompanied by K. Romlin's written interpretations and explanations, form an infernal and bleak monolith that solidifies Night Crowned as one of Sweden's best kept blackened death metal secrets.


On November 10, the band's third full-length record will be released, again via Noble Demon, which once again has stunningly beautiful colored vinyls, shirt and Digipak CD bundles on offer.


With Tales, Night Crowned embarks on a new chapter, pushing the boundaries of blackened death metal to unprecedented levels. Brace yourselves for an auditory assault that defies conventions and redefines the limits of the genre. Night Crowned is a force to be reckoned with, and their relentless pursuit of musical excellence shows no signs of waning. With lyrics in both English and Swedish, Jonathan Thorpenberg's mixing skills put the band's sound on full display, while Jani Stefanovic's mastering ensures that every note is hit with precision. So surrender to the darkness and let Night Crowned guide you through their captivating narratives!


Listen to the haunting first single, "De Namnlösa", below. Stream the single here


Vocalist K. Romlin on "De Namnlösa": "I had the title for 'De Namnlösa' written down long before the demo was even done. The lyrics tell about an entity called Myling, a ghost of an unbaptized new born child. I really love the story of this entity and that you get that horror touch in the music."


Tales will be released on November 10 via Noble Demon and is available for pre-order here.





Tales tracklisting:


"De Namnlösa" (feat. Jens Rydén)
"She Comes At Night" (feat. Therése Thomsson)
"Nattramn"
"Loviatar"
"Flickan Som Försvann"
"Strandvaskarens Hymn"
"Lupus Luna" (feat. Therése Thomsson)
"Old Tales"


"De Namnlösa" lyric video:





Night Crowned are:


K. Romlin - Vocals
H. Liljesand - Guitar & keys
J. Jaloma - Drums
J. Eskilsson - Guitar & vocals
P. Eldor Pettersson - Bass

Professionally filmed video of METALLICA performing the song "Sad But True" on August 25 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles can be seen below.

METALLICA drew nearly 80,000 fans to the SoFi Stadium August 25 at the first of the band's two shows at the venue. It was the biggest crowd in the history of the SoCal stadium, which opened in September 2020. The San Francisco Bay Area-based metal legends drew a similarly sized capacity crowd on August 27.

Fans purchased more than 156,000 tickets for the two-concert stand, which was part of METALLICA's "M72" world tour.

The "M72" tour features a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, allowing promoters to sell more tickets than usual. And since METALLICA's stage is hollow in the center, there is even more space available to accommodate fans.

According to Billboard, METALLICA's giant ring-shaped stage also includes eight towers of monitors and speakers, with each of the towers is anchored by a raised platform that doubles as VIP seating, with eight folding chairs decorated with the black-and-yellow color scheme of the band's new album, "72 Seasons".

Taylor Swift's recent six-night bow at SoFi was attended by 420,000 ticket-holders, with 70,000-plus in attendance each time.

The "M72" tour launched in late April in Amsterdam.

A portion of proceeds from the shows go to METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundation, which seeks to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band and combat food insecurity; provides disaster relief; and bestows scholarships.

METALLICA's production travels in 87 trucks — 45 for the band and its setup, plus two groups of 21 each for the steel stage and towers. There are 130 people in the band's crew, plus 40 steelworkers, local hires and truck drivers.

METALLICA's manager Cliff Burnstein told Billboard that between 80% and 90% of fans at each concert are attending both shows.

METALLICA's two-night stand at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas last month was livestreamed to movie theaters across the globe. It marked METALLICA's first appearance in Texas since November 2021, when the band played before, during and after a Triad Combat event at Globe Life Field.
.@Metallica now holds the highest single-show attendance record at #SoFiStadium. Thank you for two incredible sold-out nights! ⚡️🤘#M72LApic.twitter.com/bnxV7sLKAJ

— SoFi Stadium (@SoFiStadium) August 28, 2023

Houston NWOTHM act Scrollkeeper has signed with Golden Core / ZYX Music for the release of their new EP Wetiko.


Wetiko features guest performance by Tommy Stewart (Hallow's Eve, Tommy Stewart's Dyerwulf) on Scrollkeeper's take of Hallow's Eve "Metal Merchants". The EP features guest performances by Andreas "Neudi" Neuderth (Sudden Death, Economist, Manilla Road, Sentry) as well.


The EP is out October 6 worldwide via ZYX Music and will be available in select stores. Preorders are available at ZYX Music.







Tracklisting:


“Your Blood First”
“Wetiko”
“Misery”
“Shadow Dancing”
“Sleep And Dream”
“Metal Merchants” (Hallows Eve cover)

Power/progressive metal band Immortal Guardian has slowly been teasing their forthcoming album since the spring of 2022 releasing new songs digitally alongside some great music videos every few months. Fans of the band have enjoyed the development and creativity of the album’s content and evolvement into a concept and final work. Unite and Conquer finally has a release date, October 27, and preorders launch today.


“We definitely took a new direction with our writing process and overall sound on the new album. We tried some new things Immortal Guardian has never done, but also kept a taste of our classic sound in the process,” explains guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian. “We were all going through some crazy experiences in our lives while making this album and I think it really reflects in the music. As we did during our ‘Psychosomatic’ album, we were writing these songs in real time as we lived through these major events in the world and in our personal lives.”


Unite And Conquer, like the hailed and successful 2021 Psychosomatic was written and recorded by the band themselves with credit going to Gabriel Guardian and bassist Joshua Lopez, who also mixed the album at his Widowmaker Studios. They enlisted the help of artist/photographer Masiha Fattahi (Threshold) with further design work by Jobert Mello (Sabaton, Primal Fear, Acid Reign), as well as guest vocalists Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, Gamma Ray) and Vicky Psarakis (The Agonist) to create a stellar new album.




“For generations, humanity has longed for a truth. The right to unite what has been divided. We long to be free from all our differences, genders, colors, nationalities, religions, beliefs, and any other type of separation,” elaborates vocalist Carlos Zema. “This real freedom relies on our minds, in being free from all these fears, repressions, oppressions, and everything else that stops us from being united. In the name of this truth, our voice will echo endlessly – Freedom!”


“Immortal Guardian's Unite And Conquer, lyrically traverses a multifaceted emotional journey, from introspection and self-discovery that passionately calls for unity and change. The poetic verses entwine seamlessly with the captivating melodies, delivering a musical narrative that resonates with the listener on a profound level, leaving an indelible mark on the heart and soul. With a simple message -- this is the time to Unite and Conquer.”


Always lyrically insightful and pushing musical boundaries, the latest from Immortal Guardian will please fans of progressive, power, and traditional metal with so much tasty playing and melodies. Evidence is already apparent in the five songs released to date, but there is still another half of the album ready to enjoy.


Preorder Unite And Conquer now on limited-edition vinyl –- the standard retail version (250 copies on insomnia red and black splatter) or the exclusive to band/label variant (100 copies on bone/black mix), as well as CD and Digital. Preorder here.


More info will be released by Immortal Guardian and M-Theory Audio in the weeks and months to follow, including new tour dates.





Tracklisting:


“Ozona”
“Echoes”
“Roots Run Deep” feat. Ralph Scheepers
“Perfect Person”
“Divided We Fall”
“Lost In The Darkness” feat. Vicky Psarakis
“Southern Rain”
“Unite And Conquer”
“Un Dia A La Vez”
“Rise Of The Phoenix” 


“Roots Run Deep”:





“Perfect Person”:





“Ozona”:





Immortal Guardian is:
Gabriel Guardian – guitars/keyboards
Carlos Zema – vocals
Justin Piedimonte – drums
Joshua Lopez – bass


(Photo - Carl Puentes)

Grammy-winning rock band, Greta Van Fleet, have released new visualizers for "The Archer" and "Meeting The Master", both featured on the band’s third studio album, Starcatcher, available via Lava/Republic Records/Universal Music Canada. Watch below:










The Starcatcher album is written and recorded by the band - lead singer Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner - alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.


Save/order the new album here.





Tracklist


"Fate Of The Faithful"
"Waited All Your Life"
"The Falling Sky"
"Sacred The Thread"
"Runway Blues"
"The Indigo Streak"
"Frozen Light"
"The Archer"
"Meeting The Master"
"Farewell For Now"


"The Falling Sky" video:





"Farewell For Now" visualizer:





“Farewell For Now” live video:





"Sacred The Thread" video:





"Meeting The Master" video:





In celebration of Starcatcher, Greta Van Fleet are out on their Starcatcher World Tour. Head here for additional info and to purchase tickets.





Tour dates:


September
15 - Boston, MA - TD Garden†
16 - 17 - Asbury Park, NJ - Sea Hear Now Festival 2023
19 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center†
22 - Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse†
23 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse†


November
6 - Hamburg, Germany - Sporthalle^
8 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome^
9 - Paris, France - Accor Arena^
12 - Brussels, Belgium - Forest National^
14 - London, UK - OVO Arena Wembley^
16 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena^
19 - Manchester, UK - AO Arena^
20 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro^
26 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Forum+
28 - Munich, Germany - Zenith+
30 - Bologna, Italy - Unipol Arena+


December
3 - Barcelona, Spain - Sant Jordi Club+
4 - Madrid, Spain - WiZink Center+
6 - Lisbon, Portugal - Campo Pequeno+


September 2024
20, 2024 - Mexico City, Mexico  - Foro Sol~
27, 2024 - Mexico City, Mexico  - Foro Sol~


† with Surf Curse
^ with Mt. Joy
+ with Black Honey
~ as part of Metallica: M72 World Tour

THE ROLLING STONES have revealed the full track listing of their hugely anticipated new album, "Hackney Diamonds", to be released on October 20. Album opener, the recently released single "Angry", is followed by a further 11 tracks. Late drummer Charlie Watts features on two tracks, "Mess It Up" and "Live By The Sword". "Live By The Sword" additionally features bass from former STONES bassist Bill Wyman. "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven" features vocals from Lady Gaga and keys and piano from Stevie Wonder, "Bite My Head Off" has bass from Paul McCartney, and "Get Close" and "Live By The Sword" feature piano from Elton John.

"Hackney Diamonds" track listing:

01. Angry
02. Get Close
03. Depending On You
04. Bite My Head Off
05. Whole Wide World
06. Dreamy Skies
07. Mess It Up
08. Live By The Sword
09. Driving Me Too Hard
10. Tell Me Straight
11. Sweet Sounds Of Heaven
12. Rolling Stone Blues

The 12-track album, was recorded in various locations around the world, including Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; Electric Lady Studios, New York; and The Hit Factory/Germano Studios, also in New York.

Last week THE STONES launched the album at a globally livestreamed event from Hackney Empire in East London. The livestream was followed by the premiere of the video for "Angry" starring Emmy-nominated actress Sydney Sweeney ("The White Lotus", "Euphoria", "The Handmaid's Tale"),which to date has had over 14 million views.

"Hackney Diamonds" is THE STONES' first studio set of new material since 2005's "A Bigger Bang". Since then, THE STONES have continued to smash box office records for fun on a series of global sellout tours and released 2016's Grammy Award-winning "Blue & Lonesome", which featured their brilliant versions of many of the blues tracks that helped shape their sound, and topped album charts around the world. Last year, they thrilled European audiences totaling nearly a quarter of a million on the anniversary "Sixty" tour.

"Hackney Diamonds" marks THE ROLLING STONES' first collaboration with New York-born producer and musician Andrew Watt, who was named "Producer Of The Year" at the 2021 Grammy Awards and has worked with Post Malone, Iggy Pop and Elton John.

The "Angry" music video was directed by Francois Rousselet, whose credits include work with Nike, Diesel, Pharrell Williams, and on THE STONES' "Ride 'Em On Down", from "Blue & Lonesome".

The bespoke artwork for "Hackney Diamonds" is by digital animator Paulina Almira.

"Hackney Diamonds" will be released across a number of formats including a special limited RS No. 9 Carnaby Red vinyl, available exclusively to pre-order direct from the flagship store. An exclusive "Hackney Diamonds" merch line is also available from the London store.

THE ROLLING STONES' upcoming LP will be the first since Watts died in 2021.

THE ROLLING STONES released a new track, "Living In A Ghost Town", in 2020.

In 2016, the band released "Blue & Lonesome", a covers collection paying tribute to old-school blues.

Two years ago, Richards told the Los Angeles Times the pandemic delayed work on the new album, while Jagger added, "We have a lot of tracks done, so when the tour's finished, we'll assess where we are with that and continue."

Photo credit: Mark Seliger

Grammy-nominated extreme power metal legends DRAGONFORCE have unleashed a standalone single, titled "Doomsday Party" The '80s-rock-influenced track is spiced up with hypnotizing retro video game soundscapes and epic guitar solos in true DRAGONFORCE manner.

Formed in 1999, the London, U.K.-based unit is known for its epic compositions, and the world's fastest band's signature lies in their masterful and lightning-fast guitar solos and inspiration drawn from a myriad of heavy metal styles and fantasy realms, blending '80s rock influences with infectious sing-along choruses and uplifting melodies.

DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li comments on "Doomsday Party": "We're super excited to unveil a brand-new DRAGONFORCE song after a wait of over four years! It was a tough decision to choose which of our new tracks to release first, but we decided on this one because it showcases a different facet of our music while still retaining the unmistakable DRAGONFORCE sound.

"The filming process for this video was a blast, and we had the opportunity to bring our vision to life in the city of Los Angeles, California. Our hope is that metal fans from all walks of the genre spectrum will find something to enjoy in it. We can't wait to play this live during our upcoming tour!"

In an interview with EMP conducted at last month's Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl, Germany, Li spoke about DRAGONFORCE's recent announcement that it had signed a new record deal with Napalm Records. Regarding how DRAGONFORCE ended up partnering with the Austrian label, Herman said: "We took the band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS on tour with us, and the guy from VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, the drummer [Thomas Caser], actually works at Napalm Records. And he saw how cool we were, and he thought, 'We've gotta sign DRAGONFORCE.' I ignored for him for, like, almost two years, like, 'Ah, whatever. I don't care. I don't need a record label.' And then it ended up these guys are pretty fucking awesome. So I said, 'You know what? Let's do it together.' Yeah."

Li also addressed DRAGONFORCE singer Marc Hudson's recent revelation that the band's follow-up to 2019's "Extreme Power Metal" album was "basically finished." Herman said: "Don't listen to the rumors, man. Here's the truth: it's not finished. And even if it's finished, I can't tell you because then we don't have a press release to say it's finished."

Last month, Hudson told Heavy Debriefings about the status of DRAGONFORCE's next LP: "I'm actually going into the studio probably tonight to finish off some stuff. But, yeah, we've been working on an album for a while now and, obviously, trying to play some shows in between. We've got a few festivals. We just did one last weekend, and then we've got one this weekend. Then obviously the big tour [in the fall]. So, yeah, we need to basically finish all that up. We've basically finished everything. It's just a case of like polishing the final product and then hopefully playing some of the songs — well, we definitely will be playing the songs on the next tour, so [we'll be] learning a new setlist and all that stuff."

Formed in 1999, the London, U.K.-based unit has captivated audiences worldwide with its highly successful records and iconic singles, including the platinum-selling anthem "Through The Fire And Flames". Renowned for their epic compositions, DRAGONFORCE's signature lies in their masterful and lightning-fast guitar solos, brilliantly crafted by the virtuosic duo of Li and Sam Totman. Comprising Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil, and drummer Gee Anzalone, the five-piece ensemble draws inspiration from a myriad of heavy metal styles, fantasy realms, and video games, blending 1980s rock influences with infectious sing-along choruses and uplifting melodies.

Last month, DRAGONFORCE announced the North American headline leg of a world tour. Featuring special guests AMARANTHE with additional support from Napalm Records labelmates NANOWAR OF STEEL, as well as EDGE OF PARADISE, the tour will begin on October 20 in Mesa, Arizona. After visiting many major cities across the U.S. and Canada, the tour will culminate in a grand finale in Los Angeles, California on November 19.

Last November, DRAGONFORCE released a music video for the song "The Last Dragonborn". The track is taken from "Extreme Power Metal", which came out in September 2019. Produced in Los Angeles, California by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited, the LP was also recorded, in part, on Li's livestream channel on Twitch with participation from the fans.

"The Last Dragonborn" was the first DRAGONFORCE music video to feature Vigil, who first joined the band as a touring member in January 2020.

DRAGONFORCE's platinum-selling single "Through The Fire And Flames" brought the London-based Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim and was featured as the most challenging song on "Guitar Hero III".

In March 2019, the "Through The Fire And Flames" music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE's first music video to do so.

"Through The Fire And Flames" is the leadoff track from 2006's "Inhuman Rampage" album, which was officially certified gold in July 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.

In August 2019, DRAGONFORCE parted ways with longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq. He has since joined German thrashers KREATOR.

DRAGONFORCE is:

Herman Li - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Sam Totman - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Marc Hudson - Vocals
Alicia Vigil - Bass, Backing Vocals
Gee Anzalone - Drums, Backing Vocals

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

MASTODON guitarist Brent Hinds and LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe are among the musicians who joined PANTERA on stage last night (Tuesday, September 12) at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia to perform the Philip Anselmo-fronted band's classic song "Walk". Fan-filmed video of their appearance can be seen below.

The reformed PANTERA kicked off its U.S. headlining tour with LAMB OF GOD on July 28 at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.

PANTERA's current setlist includes two songs which hadn't been performed live since the band's comeback last year: "Slaughtered", from PANTERA's 1994 album "Far Beyond Driven", widely considered the heaviest metal record to ever reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart; and "Revolution Is My Name" from PANTERA's final studio album, 2000's "Reinventing The Steel".

PANTERA's 2023 lineup includes two surviving members from the band's classic formation, Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX).

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

This past March, PANTERA headlined the 2023 "comeback" edition of Japan's Loud Park festival. The two-day "limited" event took place on March 25 at Intex Osaka in Osaka and March 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City near Tokyo.

In December, PANTERA played seven shows in Mexico and South America.

Brown was forced to leave PANTERA's Latin American tour after testing positive for COVID-19. Filling in for him at some of the shows was CATTLE DECAPITATION bassist Derek Engemann, who also plays with Anselmo in both PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS and SCOUR.

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

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his other home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Boundary-pushing German progressive metal quartet Unprocessed have returned with an intense new single, “Thrash”, along with the announcement of their third studio album, ...and everything in between, due out on December 1. The new record is the follow-up to the band’s 2022 sophomore effort, Gold. 


Listen to new single “Thrash” here and watch the music video below (directed by Leo Feimer and produced by the band’s own Leon Pfeifer).


Commenting on their new single, the band shares:




“'Thrash' is the ultimate composite of everything Unprocessed has ever created, ranging from the style of our tracks on ‘Covenant’ to ‘Gold’, while adding brand new never explored elements to our style. This new direction could be described as ‘Futuristic Thrash Metal’ and will hopefully create a moment for modern guitar playing and the innovation of new playing styles. Lyrically, 'Thrash' deals with the odd effects of a fever dream and its twist on reality for the person experiencing it.”


Firmly established as an innovative force in in the progressive music world, and lauded for their unique approach that transcends genre barriers, "Thrash" is one of the most extreme tracks Unprocessed have created. It’s beautifully melodic, intensely brutal, technically jaw-dropping and packed with hooks – it’s truly mesmerizing and unlike anything else.


“Thrash” is the first single taken from the upcoming album, '... and everything in between' a bold and complex record pushing the boundaries of technical musicianship, song construction, sonic production and more. Inspired by the emotions conjured from life experiences, Unprocessed have channelled their raw visceral power through their musical talent to create this special record. Never before could one have considered a band being likened to artists as extreme as The Dillinger Escape Plan, Polyphia and Bring Me The Horizon, yet Unprocessed have done it. This is Futuristic Thrash Metal.


On ...and everything in between, the band are "taking all influences and combining them into an ultimate evolution of everything Unprocessed has ever been, while still adding a new flavour and style to the mix. Epic riffs with intricate licks and mind-bending rhythms, brutal breakdowns, epic guitar solos and big and catchy choruses.


"...and everything in between can quite literally be described as everything in between the extremes of life. Dealing with anger, sorrow, nostalgia, love and fear the album reflects on the different shades of a personality that everyone is made out of (e.g. there is evil in everyone)."


Preorder here.





Tracklisting:


“Hell”
“Lore”
“Thrash”
“Blackbone”
“Die On The Cross Of The Martyr” (feat. Polyphia’s Scott LePage)
“Glass”
“Abysm”
“I Wish I Wasn’t”
“Purgatory”


“Thrash” video:





(Photo - Sönke Dannemann)

Manowar have shared the pro-shot video of "Manowar" performed live at the Riverside Festival in Aarburg, Switzerland on August 27th along with the following message:


"Being on stage and feeling the passion and electricity coming at us from the crowd is an incredible experience. Every.Single.Time! This song is dedicated to all who are facing adversity and struggle." 







Manowar bassist Joey De Maio is taking to the stage with his Words Of Power Spoken Word Tour 2023. A gifted storyteller, De Maio delivers thought-provoking, honest and fun entertainment, always with a motivational takeaway for his audience.⁣⁣


Following Manowar’s celebrated and sold-out Crushing The Enemies Of Metal 2023 arena tour the Words Of Power Spoken Word Tour 2023 is a unique opportunity to experience a different side of De Maio. Known for his thunderous bass playing and epic songwriting, De Maio will share stories and insights from his life and career, not only as the chieftain of one of the most indelible heavy metal bands of all time, and writer, bassist, and producer of iconic anthems such as “Warriors Of The World United”, “Battle Hymn” and “Kings Of Metal”. He will also share experiences from his life as an entrepreneur and studio owner, and how he rose from modest beginnings to the top; remaining successful in the cutthroat world of the music business for over 40 years. A frank look behind-the-scenes of a life fully devoted to music; reliving the glorious highs and often bitter lows that come with the territory. Anecdotes that provide inspiration not only to metal fans.⁣⁣


⁣⁣“I’ve received amazing feedback on my first Spoken Word Tour, and my Words Of Power podcast. I am humbled and honored,” said De Maio. “Words are a powerful tool. Some use them to put you down. I am hoping that through my Words Of Power, I can inspire others to find strength and motivation to go through life, empowered to accomplish their dreams and achieve greatness." ⁣⁣


Ten shows have been confirmed for Germany, with stops in other countries to be added. Each event will be an intimate and interactive experience, with De Maio taking questions from the audience and engaging them with lively storytelling.⁣⁣


Joey De Maio – Words Of Power Spoken Word Tour 2023:⁣⁣


November 
1 - Berlin, Germany – Kesselhaus⁣⁣
2 - Leipzig, Germany – Hellraiser⁣⁣
6 - Oberhausen, Germany – Resonanzwerk⁣⁣
7 - Münster, Germany – Jövel Club⁣⁣
8 - Hamburg, Germany – Logo⁣⁣
9 - Bremen, Germany - Modernes⁣⁣
12 - Mannheim, Germany – MS Connexion⁣⁣
13 - Offenbach, Germany – Capitol⁣⁣
14 - Erlangen, Germany – E-Werk⁣⁣
15 - Munich, Germany - Backstage⁣⁣


Tickets will go on sale soon on Eventim.de.⁣⁣


More information on the Words Of Power Spoken Word Tour 2023 can be found on JoeyDeMaio.com.⁣⁣


⁣⁣

Technical death metal veterans, Gory Blister, released their seventh full-length album, Reborn From Hatred, via Eclipse Records on September 8, and today, the band drop a new lyric video for the song, "Push Out The Venom".


The album was mixed by Ricardo Borges (Sepultura, Kreator, Carcass), and mastered by Peter Brussee (Steve Vai, Yingwie Malmsteen, Michael Bolton). "Push Out The Venom" is the third music video taken from the new album, and it was directed by Maurizio Del Piccolo.


“'Push Out The Venom' is about rejecting negativity in the world, and healing from trauma” says lead vocalist John St. John. “The only way to find freedom from this negativity is by purging emotional toxins and embracing positivity. I think everyone needs to free themselves from negative influences and past traumas that have darkened their mind and soul. The message of this song invites listeners to expel emotional toxicities and encouraging them to wake up from their nightmare, embrace freedom and release their deepest fears.”







The brutally-technical full-length release, Reborn From Hatred, contains eleven masterful songs, with artwork by Augusto Peixoto of Iron Doom Design. The music on the album screams for us to go hard, all the way, face-first into the den of our demons so we can wear their blood on our faces like war paint. The guitars on this record, while scorching, are patterned with such complexity, that there is a raucous intricacy to what is delivered as delicious and violent. The drum licks come in hurricanes of 4/4 and mixed meter time signatures, with the bass replacing our own pounding hearts. This is personal. Gory Blister are not just playing music, but providing our soundtrack as we walk through the fire. There’s a zombie in the funhouse, and we’re going in with baseball bats. There’s a rabid jackal loose in the gift shop, and we’re going in with a net. There’s a circus clown slaughtering people in the freak tent, and we’re going in with machetes, broadswords, and Mineral Mountain Battle Hatchets. The band never tells us to play nice, and like a muse inspires artists to create, Gory Blister shows us the way retool the darkness.


Order / save Reborn From Hatred here.





Tracklisting:


"From Ashes...
"Push Out The Venom"
"Relentless Fear"
"Profound Sedation"
"Unexpected Livings"
"This Blood Is Forever"
"Reborn From Hatred"
"Greedy Existence"
"Signs From Beyond"
"Generation Ship"
"...To Flames"


"Relentless Fear" video:





"Greedy Existence" video:





Gory Blister lineup:


Raff Sangiorgio (guitar/bass/synths)
Gianluca D'Andria (drums)
John St John (vocals)


(Photo - Maurizio Brioschi)

Derek Smalls, the bass force formerly of the fabled heavy metal band formerly known as SPINAL TAP, is back with a vengeance — this time with his sights firmly set on the movie phenomenon of 2023, that advocate of everything pink and fluffy, "Barbie". The self-described embodiment of lukewarm water reaches boiling point with Smalls's first track in five years, "Must Crush Barbie", an excoriating attack on the pink sensation available everywhere now via Bottomland Productions / Immortal Records.

"Must Crush Barbie" possesses the trademark qualities that Smalls and SPINAL TAP are known for — raw, bass-heavy, and most importantly, LOUD, offering a much-needed antidote to the ubiquitous pinkness that has spilled out of movie theatres this summer and onto the high streets with wall-to-wall media coverage. With "Barbie"'s forthcoming streaming premiere promising no let-up on the horizon, the furious salvo that is "Must Crush Barbie" offers some kind of relief.

"Been spending the last year or so as Brand Ambassador for BruegelCoin, the Dutch cryptocurrency," says Smalls. "Since it was cratering this past spring, I was following the news more than usual, which is where I got bombarded by all the 'Barbie' B.S. I don't know which angered me more, but it's really hard to write a song about crypto. But the overwhelming shroud of pinkness definitely deserved a major pricking. And that's where I came in."

The road of rock is a rocky road, and no one's life exemplifies that more thoroughly than that of Derek Albion Smalls.

Derek was born 1 April "hundreds of years before the dawn of history," having to endure growing up as an "April Fool's Baby." His father, Donald "Duff" Smalls, raised Derek after his mother, Dorothy, left home to join a traveling all-girls jazz band, THE HOTTEN TOTTIES.

While Derek had a quiet school career in his hometown of Nilford, on the River Null in the West Midlands, Duff carried on his work as a telephone handset sanitizer, working for the pioneering firm in the trade, Sani-Phone, until it was absorbed by the former British Telecom, primarily, according to reports at the time, for its "robust bill-collecting operation."

At age 17, Derek enrolled in the London School of Design, primarily, as he later explained it, "because of the initials." Like many art-school students of the period, he was more interested in music and soon found himself a member of the all-white Jamaican band SKAFACE. "I never even tried to play the guitar, because it had too many strings and they were too small. Bass felt just right," he told Ska News.

Walking one day in 1967 through the then-tatty Soho district of London, Derek spotted a "Bass Player Wanted" notice on one of the neighborhood's lampposts. It turns out Ronnie Pudding had just left the band SPINAL TAP for a solo career after their first single, "Gimme Some Money", had failed to chart. Derek fit right in and made a notable contribution to the band's jump on the Flower Power bandwagon, mouthing a silent "We love you" at the end of its performance of "(Listen To) The Flower People" on the short-lived TV music show "Bob's Your Uncle".

TAP then went on to carve a reputation as one of England's loudest bands. Its series of mishaps — breakups and reunions, drummers perishing in bizarre ways — was chronicled in a 1984 film. "A hatchet job," Derek calls it dismissively. "There were plenty of nights when we found our way to the stage, but of course, they didn't show you that."

In the late 1980s, as TAP's fortunes waned, Derek joined a Christian heavy-metal band, LAMBSBLOOD. Their best-known song, "Whole Lotta Lord", made a respectable showing on the Christian charts. To cement his relationship with the band members, all of whom were Americans, Smalls got a Christian "fish tattoo." As luck would have it, TAP soon reunited for 1992's "Break Like The Wind" album and toured across America. Concerned that he would have to cover up the tattoo, Derek hired an artist to fix it, and the piece now featured a devil eating the fish.

Following that tour, TAP broke up and reunited twice more, once in 2000 for an American tour that included a historic New York venue that Derek described onstage as "Carnegie Fuckin' Hall," and in 2009 for appearances at the Glastonbury Festival and Wembley Arena. In between, Derek cultivated a near-thriving career on camera, building upon his cameo role in the 1979 Spaghetti Eastern "Roma '79". He appeared in TV commercials for the Belgian snack food Floop and served for a time as a judge (alongside the lead singer for the Europunk band HOT GARAGE) on the Dutch reality competition show "RokStarz" before the show was rebooted as "Tomorrow's HipHop Hero". Derek stepped forward as a composer during this time; his jingle for Floop, "I'm In The Floop Group", was a regular earworm on European television until the publisher of "The In Crowd" threatened a plagiarism lawsuit.

Derek's fortunes have fluctuated with his romantic entanglements. His long-time girlfriend Cindy Stang went through a good share of his back royalties to launch her ill-fated tech start-up, macrame.com. Of that project, Smalls now says ruefully, "It was ahead of its time. Or behind the curve. Or both." He's also had his share of personal struggles, having twice sought treatment for Internet addiction.

In 2019, Smalls parlayed his celebrity in the Low Countries of Europe in a position as Brand Ambassador for BruegelCoin, a Dutch-based crypto coin. He made personal appearances outside branches of traditional banks and did TV and press interviews promoting the cryptocurrency. In 2022, BruegelCoin collapsed in a wave of lawsuits. Derek, who had been paid in the novel currency, was out of luck…

"Must Crush Barbie" credits:

Lyrics: Harry Shearer
Music: CJ Vanston
Lead Vocal: Derek Smalls
Drums: Wade Murff
Bass: Derek Smalls
All Other Instruments: CJ Vanston
Backing Vocals: CJ Vanston, Derek Smalls
Barbie SFX: Crystal Springs Water Bottle
Recorded at The Treehouse, N. Hollywood
Produced and mixed by CJ Vanston
Mastered by Lurssen Mastering

Photo credit: Rob Shanahan

Always the most controversial album in Motörhead’s catalogue, Another Perfect Day was up against it from the start. After former Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson replaced Fast Eddie Clarke, the band’s sixth studio album presented what Lemmy called a more “musical” approach, the classic line-up’s full-tilt ferocity harnessed to more traditional guitar rock tropes enhanced by carefully crafted production.


In 1983, it was initially startling to hear Lemmy and Phil’s patent hell-bound express draped in Robbo’s effects-laden multi-storey guitar overdubs instead of getting hot-wired by Eddie’s deceptively complex thermonuclear blues riffs and embellishments. Following the likewise lambasted Iron Fist and its reappraisal, Another Perfect Day stands before us forty years on from the turbulent time that spawned it as an inevitably divisive one-off chapter in Motörhead’s chaotic early history.


Forty years on, Another Perfect Day holds its own as this most surreal detour in Motörhead’s early roller coaster, deserving its reappraisal away from the heat of the moment when the classic lineup dissolved and Robbo joined the band.




To celebrate the 40th anniversary of this sixth record in the Motörhead album arsenal, it is being presented in new deluxe editions. There will be hardback book-packs in two CD and triple LP formats, featuring an amplifier blowing remaster of the original album, previously unreleased demo bonus tracks and a previously unreleased, full concert recorded at Hull City Hall on 22nd June 1983, plus the story of the album and many previously unseen photos. There’s also a limited edition, blue and black swirl of the original standalone album.


See below for full details of the Another Perfect Day releases and be sure to visit iMotorhead.com for news and updates.








Due for release on October 27, you can pre-order the title in various formats here. A video for a previously unreleased demo version of "Climber" (aka "Shine") can be found below.





Tracklisting:


Original Another Perfect Day Album:


"Back At The Funny Farm"
"Shine"
"Dancing On Your Grave"
"Rock It"
"One Track Mind"
"Another Perfect Day"
"Off To War"
"I Got Mine"
"Tales Of Glory"
"Die You Bastard"


CD & Digital Bonus Tracks:


"Turn You Round Again" ("I Got Mine" B-Side)
"Hoochie Coochie Man" (Live, "Shine" B-Side)
"(Don't Need) Religion" (Live, "Shine" B-Side)
"Climber" (Demo)
"Fast One" (Demo)
"Chinese" (Demo)
"Climber" (Instrumental Demo)


Live At Hull City Hall, June 22,1983 (Previously Unreleased):


"Back At The Funny Farm"
"Heart Of Stone"
"Shoot You In The Back"
"Marching Off To War"
"Iron Horse / Born To Lose"
"Another Perfect Day"
"Hoochie Coochie Man"
"(Don't Need) Religion"
"One Track Mind"
"Go To Hell"
"America"
"Shine"
"Dancing On Your Grave"
"Rock It"
"Bite The Bullet"
"The Chase Is Better Than The Catch"





(Photo - Allan Ballard)