Duff McKagan has shared "Longfeather", the new single from his eagerly awaited third solo album, "Lighthouse", arriving everywhere on Friday, October 20. The song's official music video, directed by Connor Ellmann, Kuj Durollari and Arben Durollari, can be seen below.

"'Today is a good day to die' refers not to a macabre yearning for death," says McKagan, "but rather a lust for life and the learned habits of a good and honest daily striving. Longfeather was protecting his home. He couldn't hold up ALL of the Western wave….but he did his everything to keep his family safe. O Longfeather is gone. And O, Longfeather is home. I see you. I see you. Thank you Longfeather for giving me hope and a solid place to stand."

"Lighthouse" will be available in several variations, including CD, deluxe CD with fold-out photo print, cassette, standard black vinyl, and deluxe vinyl in a host of colors, each with lithographs, booklet, sticker, and guitar pick. Signed versions and exclusive store versions will be available as well.

For more than 40 years, McKagan has been an unstoppable creative force, spanning a multitude of bands, tours, collaborations, and writings. Now, with his long-awaited new solo album, "Lighthouse", the veteran musician proves to be, at his heart, a gifted singer-songwriter with a distinctive knack for authenticity and introspection.

In 2019, McKagan opened his own recording studio, allowing him a long-hoped-for opportunity to "finally explore songs that I may have written the night before or some of those old riffs from years ago. This is a big deal for me." He spent much of the next two years working with longtime producer/collaborator Martin Feveyear (Mark Lanegan, Brandi Carlile),chipping away at a series of intensely personal new songs.

"Lighthouse" now marks the first full-length collection born in McKagan's studio. Songs like "Hope" (featuring veteran Paul McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and melodic lead guitar from Slash) and the philosophical "I Just Don't Know" (featuring contributions from McKagan's longtime friend, Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS) see McKagan baring more of his artistic spirit than ever before, fusing acoustic elements with hard-edged rock 'n' roll to land at the sweet spot between soul-searching reflection and pure energy. The 11-song collection is further highlighted by an additional take on the title track, "Lighthouse (Reprise)", joined by the one and only Iggy Pop.

McKagan first unveiled his new music earlier this year with "This Is The Song", a three-song EP honoring Mental Health Awareness Month alongside a call to action on Propeller. The EP — which was met by critical applause in Rolling Stone, Consequence Of Sound, Loudwire and American Songwriter, to name just a few — includes the deeply moving title track, "This Is The Song", joined by an official companion video streaming now on YouTube.

Starting at just 15, McKagan has been a part of such diverse and influential bands as THE VAINS (1979),THE FASTBACKS (1980),THE LIVING (1982),THE FARTZ (1982),10 MINUTE WARNING (1983) and LOADED (1998),along, of course, with his historic role as founding member of both GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER. Produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Shooter Jennings, McKagan's 2019 second solo album, "Tenderness", marked a powerful new chapter for the ever-evolving artist, taking on societal ills and his own personal transgressions against a rich sonic backdrop of Americana-fueled arrangements. Named by Loudwire as one of that year's "50 Best Rock Albums" and hailed by Rolling Stone in a three-and-a-half (out of four)-starred rave as "an album full of beauty and heart…It's music of conscience, heavy songs with a light touch," the album includes the volatile rocker "Chip Away", which earned extraordinary praise from the maestro himself, Bob Dylan, who recently declared the song a personal favorite.

"There's a Duff McKagan song called 'Chip Away' that has profound meaning for me," Dylan told The Wall Street Journal. "It's a graphic song. Chip away, chip away, like Michelangelo, breaking up solid marble stone to discover the form of King David inside. He didn't build him from the ground up, he chipped away the stone until he discovered the king. It's like my own songwriting, I overwrite something, then I chip away lines and phrases until I get to the real thing."

Along with his prolific musical efforts, McKagan is The New York Times best-selling author of 2011's "It's So Easy: And Other Lies" and 2015's "How To Be A Man: (And Other Illusions)", and the co-host (with Susan Holmes McKagan) of SiriusXM's popular "Three Chords & The Truth" radio show on Ozzy's Boneyard (Ch. 38). McKagan currently serves as a core member of a modern-day "Wrecking Crew" alongside Grammy Award-winning musician/producer Andrew Watt and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith, recording and co-writing on such recent albums as Ozzy Osbourne's "Ordinary Man" (2020) and two-time Grammy Award-winning "Patient No. 9" (2022) and Iggy Pop's acclaimed "Every Loser" (2023). What's more, McKagan — with Watt, Smith, and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Josh Klinghoffer — is part of the recently unveiled IGGY POP & THE LOSERS lineup, who made a high-profile televised debut earlier this year with an electrifying performance of the feverish "Frenzy" on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

"Lighthouse" track listing:

01. Lighthouse
02. Longfeather
03. Holy Water
04. I Saw God On 10th St
05. Fallen
06. Forgiveness
07. Just Another Shakedown
08. Fallen Ones
09. Hope (feat. Slash)
10. I Just Don't Know (feat. Jerry Cantrell)
11. Lighthouse (Reprise) (feat. Iggy Pop)

Photo credit: Connor Ellmann

In a new interview with Guitar World, PEARL JAM guitarist Mike McCready spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's new studio album. The follow-up to 2020's "Gigaton" is being recorded with Andrew Watt, the multi-Grammy-winning producer who has worked with Dua Lipa, Post Malone and Justin Bieber, as well as Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Vedder and THE ROLLING STONES.

"It's just about finished," McCready said of the new effort. "I think there's a few tweaks here and there that have to happen, and we're probably not going to have anything out this year. But Andrew Watt brought an energy and a youthfulness and a great ear to us that I think we needed. He kind of kicked us in our asses a little bit. Like, 'Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go go go!' He's the most hyper guy I've ever met besides myself. But he's a giant fan of our band, and he's a really smoking guitar player in his own right. He got us into a room and just pushed us as hard as we could be pushed."

He continued: "You know, it's hard for a quote-unquote outsider to come into our world because we've done things a certain way. We're open to new things, but we are also in our own world. We've done things for 30 years. So we know the dynamics of our band very well. But sometimes we need to get pushed and questioned, and Andrew did a great job of that."

This past June, PEARL JAM bassist Jeff Ament told Kyle Meredith about the inspiration for the band's new material: "Well, we've talked a lot about, in the last three or four years, how we've sort of earned the right to do whatever the fuck we want to right now. And so why wouldn't we go all the way with that? Saying, like, 'Everybody, make a list of the 10 things that you wanna do in this band before we're done. Where is the city that you've never played? Or where is the venue you wanna go back to? Or what's the kind of song you wanna write? Or what's the cause you wanna get behind within the context of the band?' Those are sort of the things I talk about.

"It feels like we're sort of at this point where we should be able to turn a big corner," he continued. "We've earned the right to sort of, like… And that's tough, because there's five of us that are pulling the cart. And so sometimes you end up pulling the cart in opposite directions. It's, like, just embracing all of that — embracing everybody's ideas and everybody's hopes and dreams and wishes and styles.

"We have this amazing community as a band and the families within the band, and the people that we work with and the people that have worked with us for, like, 32 years in some cases. It's taken us this long for it to work this efficiently. We should be killing it right now in every way. I think that's what we hope for musically. I think we wanna turn the corner and I think we wanna access all the best parts of each other and we wanna flourish within that. We just wanna support the best parts of each other so we consequently make the best music.

"Sometimes there's a lot of ego involved, and if somebody feels like they're working harder than the other person, or whatever the stuff is, but if you can just leave that stuff behind and focus on how do we support each other so each person brings the best to the song we're working on right now," Ament added. "And I think that's what we're trying to do. The stuff we've been doing the last couple of years, it sort of feels like we've hit on that in a few instances."

2020 officially marked 30 years of PEARL JAM performing live. Eleven studio albums, hundreds of unique live performances and official live concert bootleg releases later, the band continues to be critically acclaimed and commercially successful — with over 85 million albums sold worldwide. PEARL JAM was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017.

"Gigaton" was released in March 2020. Featuring fan favorites "Dance Of The Clairvoyants", "Superblood Wolfmoon" and "Quick Escape", the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums, Top Alternative Albums, and Billboard Vinyl Albums Chart. In addition, it hit Top 5 on Billboard 200 chart, No. 2 on Billboard Top Album Sales chart and to date has reached over 200 million global streams. The album was critically acclaimed, with Entertainment Weekly raving, "It's a sturdy rock album from five guys who know what they're doing, took time till they had something to say, are interpolating new influences and sound stoked to be back together in a room."

Photo credit: Danny Clinch

STAIND has released the official music video for its new single, "Here And Now". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Confessions Of The Fallen", which will arrive on September 15 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG. STAIND's first new LP album since 2011 was produced by Erik Ron (GODSMACK, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, BLACK VEIL BRIDES).

"Here And Now" is classic STAIND — a powerful, emotionally charged ballad that touches deep in the soul. The video directed by Bradley Golowin, perfectly captures the sentiment of the song, exploring the joy and pain of real-life moments that shape us all. The intimate performance footage of the band further amplifies the intensity of the song.

"Here And Now" is the fourth track released from the new album, following "In This Condition", "Cycle Of Hurting" and debut single, "Lowest In Me", which reached No. 1 for two consecutive weeks at Active Rock and Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.

"Confessions Of The Fallen" track listing:

01. Lowest In Me
02. Was Any Of It Real?
03. In This Condition
04. Here And Now
05. Out Of Time
06. Cycle Of Hurting
07. The Fray
08. Better Days
09. Hate Me Too
10. Confessions Of The Fallen

Asked in a recent interview with Cutter's Rockcast if "Lowest In Me", is a good representation of the entire "Confessions Of The Fallen" LP, STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok said: "Listen, there's a couple of songs that kind of go to, I think, what we're actually really known for — that 'It's Been Awhile', 'Outside' type of thing. But a lot of it has the heavy [edge to it]. And there's something — there's an electronic element that there wasn't in any of our stuff before; it's in this. There's a couple of songs that have a little bit more [of it than others]. And that was something that Aaron [Lewis, STAIND frontman] spoke of for a long time, that he wanted to do. And I really think that Erik, the producer, was really helpful in bringing that element to what we do. 'Cause I remember, in our preliminary talks of it, I was, like, 'I don't know how to write a record like that, 'cause that's not what I do.' And it was something as simple as taking a guitar riff that I wrote and playing it on a synthesizer or breaking it up and making some cool sounds out of it."

Mushok went on to say that he is "real happy with the way that it turned out. It was definitely a little — I just wasn't sure," he explained. "But as I heard it, I was, like, 'Oh.' Actually, I really liked it… I can't wait for people to hear it, 'cause I really feel like it worked. I feel like it's STAIND 2023, I guess. It's kind of… It's a little more modern version, I think, of what we've always done."

In June, Mushok spoke to the Z93 radio station in Saginaw, Michigan about why it took STAIND so long to make a new studio album. He said: "I always hoped that [we would get around to working on new music]. Aaron wanted to pursue his country career and kind of felt like doing STAIND was something that would be detrimental to what that would be. He had to show the country people, 'I'm a country guy.' And I was able to go off and do a few other things, which was great — play with some really great people, musicians. Thankfully I was able to do that. That being said, I'm very thankful that we're back together and doing this. Because this is really kind of what I started with Aaron — over 28 years ago, whatever, or 27 years ago; whatever it was. So it's great to be able to be back making music again. And I'm looking forward to going out and doing these shows."

Asked if it was the initial plan to write new material when STAIND reunited for its first full live show in five years in September 2019 at the Louder Than Life music festival in Louisville, Kentucky, Mike said: "There was always talk of doing music. Even when we were off, it was funny — I remember Aaron would call me randomly, and I would always be at the same place, this indoor soccer place at my son's soccer game. And I would be, like, 'Oh, it's Aaron.' And we would kind of talk about ultimately [writing new music]. We knew it was in the future. We never had any plans. Then it finally started to come together. I wanna say 2018, I think, we started talking about it. And, honestly, that KORN tour [in 2021] was really where a lot of the record got put together, was on that. I was working every day, and I was able to demo a lot of the songs on that tour and able to get Aaron in a room and say, 'Listen to some of the music,' and get some direction from him of where he wanted it to go and some changes that he wanted to make and what he liked and what he didn't like. So a lot was done on that, and it really gave me the foundation and kind of a roadmap of where things should go. So it was actually really productive and a really good time."

STAIND recently released the DJay Brawner-directed music video for "Lowest In Me".

In May, Mushok told Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio about the songwriting process for "Confessions Of The Fallen": "I had a lot of songs, and they were all demoed. So it was basically just instrumental songs. I would take something that I liked, and I would just play it for him. Aaron would listen. And [he would say], 'Oh, I like that verse. Maybe we could try this. Maybe change the chorus a little.' So it was just really kind of getting ideas of where he was at, what music that I had that he was wanting to sing over and really kind of taking those notes, going back and reconstructing the songs, if need be, changing parts, rewriting stuff. And finally when we decided we were gonna do it, and I kind of had a pretty good group of what I thought would make up the record, and Erik ended up being the producer, Erik and I kind of went back and did the same process through the music. Kind of refining the songs, demoing them. And he'd take it to Aaron and they would work on the melody and the lyrics."

In an interview with Billboard, Lewis said that it took him "a long time to be ready to do another STAIND record. I got really burnt out on digging into the dark corners of my psyche every night to deliver those very deep, dark songs in a manner that was believable and authentic," he explained. "I needed to step away from it for awhile and do something different. It just came back together naturally."

Regarding the lyrical inspiration for "Lowest In Me", Aaron told Billboard: "Everybody has got people in their lives that don't bring out the good in somebody. Just with what's going on in the world right now, there's so many things, so many people that are like, 'You bring out the lowest in me.' There's a lot of factors out there that could fall under the 'you' category."

When "Confessions Of The Fallen" was announced in April, Lewis stated about the LP's musical direction: "I did want to modernize the sound and bring us up to date. You can certainly recognize the band but at the same time you can hear that we've been paying attention and understand what kind of sounds and approaches we can use that maybe weren't around the last time we did this."

STAIND has released seven albums since 1995, the latest being 2011's self-titled effort. The band has had a number of hit songs during its first two decades, including the Top 10 smash "It's Been Awhile" from the No. 1 album "Break The Cycle". Follow-up LPs "14 Shades Of Grey" and "Chapter V" also topped the Billboard chart.

STAIND released its first album in nine years, "Live: It's Been Awhile", in May 2021 via Yap'em/Alchemy Recordings. The "Live: It's Been Awhile" album was accompanied by "The Return Of Staind", a two-part global streaming series in partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents.

STAIND and GODSMACK recently completed a 25-city co-headlining 2023 tour, produced by Live Nation. The trek launched on July 18 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, Missouri, with stops across the U.S. before wrapping up in Austin, Texas at Germania Insurance Amphitheatre on August 31.

Former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE singer Joe Lynn Turner has just kicked off a six-date tour of Bulgaria with the the Bulgarian rock band AXAT. Dubbed "Rock & Roll Forever", each stop on the trek sees Turner perform a set of RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE classics with the musicians from AXAT to close out the night.

Video of the September 11 concert in Ruse, Bulgaria can be seen below (courtesy of the Facebook page of Krasimir Todorov).

Joe performed without his trademark wig live for the first time this past June at the Rock Orchestra Fest at Dinamo National Olympic Stadium in Minsk, the capital and the largest city of Belarus.

The singer, who turned 72 last month, said in 2022 that now was the right time to finally drop the hairpiece he has worn since the age of 14 after being diagnosed with alopecia at three years old.

Turner went public with his new look in August 2022 in a series publicity images released to promote his latest solo album, "Belly Of The Beast". In a press release for the LP, Joe said that he started wearing the wig to deal with "emotional and psychological damage from cruel bullying in school."

"In a way, it's a blessing and a curse," Joe admitted. "I have nothing to prove, and I can wear a wig — or not. I am free to do what I want. I'm a grown man, and I'm getting to be an older man.

"Many men in this business eventually come to the decision to continue to 'wear hair' or shave their head which is very fashionable today. Either way, it takes a lot of personal courage. Assholes in high school trying to kick me around made me stronger and gave me the necessary motivation and strength to rise above the rest. Anger and pain are a great tool. If applied correctly, it could develop you to become the best version of yourself. Instead of running away, I was 'hiding in plain sight.'"

In a recent interview with Barbara Caserta of Italy's Linea Rock, Joe spoke about what it has been like finally ditching the wig after all these years. He said: "Well, first of all, I don't think I was ready. And with the love, support, understanding of my family and close friends, especially my wife, who thinks I'm much sexier without it, I just said, 'You know, I'm 71 years old. I'm not trying to hide it from anyone. What the hell is the difference?' So with the change, with the transformation of my music, I made a transformation physically. And I said, 'Okay, here we go.' It's not a big deal to me — it never was.

"But also, I think the industry wasn't ready. I think back then [in the 1980s], everything was about the hair and you had to fit in with the uniform. Everybody wears a uniform; everyone wears a costume in life.

"So I think now is the time. Just like a good wine, you can't make the wine come before its time; it needs to ferment. And I needed to ferment. I needed to be more strong emotionally, more strong psychologically, more mature, and I think I've reached that point.

"And the upshot of that whole thing is, which is really unique, is that if I want to play a show like the old Joe Lynn Turner, I just put the hair back on. And if I play 'Belly Of The Beast', I take the hair off. Now, that is a costume. And you know what? Bands like KISS, bands like SLIPKNOT, GHOST, they have the makeup, they have the masks, they have the hair, they have everything. There's no big deal with this. This is show business. So what's the big deal?"

Turner previously discussed his decision to drop the wig in an interview in September 2022 with the "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern" podcast. At the time, he said: "It's absolutely liberating. First of all, I'll give a little background. It was an open secret. It wasn't like I was trying to fool people or ever denied it or anything. In fact, I never thought it was that important, but certain, shall we say haters, or whatever, these bigots, these bullies, they would always take a shot at me, which I always thought they were just pretty jealous, really, to be honest with you. And then it said more about them than it does me. That's not my kind of people. What about the music? That's what's important."

He continued: "I knew this was on my so-called bucket list before I was gonna leave this planet. And while we were making this record, I started to feel, 'Something has to happen.' And my partner, wife, co-manager — she's amazing — she just said, 'Now's the time, man.' And I said, 'You know, you're right.' Even though I was trepidatious about it — of course, she would know naturally I would be a little fearful, because you're putting your foot in an unknown territory — she said, 'You know what? Once you're yourself, people love you more.' And she was damn well right. Once you're yourself, people love you more, because you come out and say, 'This is me. I've got nothing to hide. I've got nothing to prove. Take your shots. Do what you've gotta do. And hey, by the way, here's the record. Now what?'"

Alopecia areata is a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Hair follicles are the structures in skin that form hair. While hair can be lost from any part of the body, alopecia areata usually affects the head and face. Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter, but in some cases, hair loss is more extensive. Most people with the disease are healthy and have no other symptoms.

Alopecia became a topic of discussion in the mainstream media in March 2022 when actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony. Will's wife, the 50-year-old actress Jade Pinkett Smith, experienced hair loss due to alopecia and has always openly shared her struggle. The confrontation took place after Rock made a joke, calling Pinkett Smith "G.I. Jane" in reference to her bald head, which she has previously explained is due to alopecia. The shocking incident saw Will storm on stage to hit Chris following the offending comment before returning to his seat and yelling "keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth" shortly before he collected his best actor gong for his role in "King Richard".

A few hours after Joe first posted his new photos on social media, fellow ex-RAINBOW singer Graham Bonnet took to his Facebook page to share one of the images and he wrote in an accompanying message: "Hi all. Graham here. I'm posting this photo of my friend Joe Lynn Turner because I was moved to tears today when I saw it.

"Joe exemplifies the meaning of rockstar. His bravery is staggering. This industry is ruthless (especially in our genre),particularly when it comes to hair. I still hear the tale about Ritchie Blackmore posting a guard at my hotel door to keep me from getting a haircut. BTW, that never happened, although he was so pissed when I did visit the barber.

"But I digress...... I don't know if Joe will see this but I want him to know how proud I am of him and how moved I was at his honesty.

"You have blazed a trail today, Joe. If you are reading this, I want you to know that I never realized what a beautiful man you were until I saw this photo."

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

1990 saw Turner reunited with RAINBOW leader Ritchie Blackmore in a reformed DEEP PURPLE for the "Slaves And Masters" album.



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𝓐𝓗𝓐𝓣 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓢𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓖𝓾𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓙𝓸𝓮 𝓛𝔂𝓷𝓷 𝓣𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓻

𝓣𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓽𝓼: https://sme.bilet.bg/

12 𝓢𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 2023 - 𝓥𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓪
14 𝓢𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 2023 -...

Posted by Joe Lynn Turner on Tuesday, September 12, 2023

“On the Rock'n'Roll Forever tour, along with our favorites "AHAT", in SIX BULGARIAN CITIES we will see the "new" image...

Posted by Joe Lynn Turner on Friday, August 18, 2023

Preparing for the release of their upcoming album, Seas of Oblivion, out September 20,  Kill Devil Hill releases their new single, “Pharmaceutical Sunshine” - a song that speaks to the current opioid epidemic currently affecting countless families across the United States.


With Johnny Kelly on drums (Type O Negative), Mark Zavon on guitar, Dewey Bragg on vocals, and Matt Snell (ex-Five Finger Death Punch) on bass, Kill Devil Hill combines gut-punching guitar riffs and hard-hitting vocals to create a uniquely modern take on classic doom and metal. The group is best known for their ability to deliver thundering doom in their music, with strong spiritual messages behind the lyrics. This track in particular promises to be one that stops audiences in their tracks, as it covers topics that hit close to home for many around the country, not to mention, one that band members have experienced first-hand.







Kill Devil Hill members explained how this new track holds a special place in their hearts and reflected on a deeply personal journey that was ongoing at the time they recorded the song. Lead vocalist Dewey Bragg describes, “This song is a heartfelt reflection on the far-reaching impact of the opioid epidemic, not only on my own family but on countless families across America.” Several band members have felt the effects of this in their own families, triggering a heart-felt inspiration to use music as a tool to speak to the masses about this ongoing crisis in our country - and hopefully provide a beacon of hope for those in need of a helping hand, and a voice of understanding.


“We are in the middle of an unprecedented epidemic that is frequently swept under the rug but has now gotten so far out of control that it’s become impossible to ignore. Overdose deaths related to opioids and synthetic opioids like Fentanyl are skyrocketing, up over 30% in just one year. More than 130 people die of opioid-related overdoses every day. That’s like a Boeing 737 crashing daily, and yet the story barely makes the news. Addiction can cause deep depression, which intensifies the desire to use in order to escape, leading even further down that dark path. I’ve seen close friends and even a family member struggle with these issues, and it is truly heartbreaking to watch. It’s perfectly natural for someone who is constantly living under a cloud of depression and addiction to reach for a little “Pharmaceutical Sunshine” to lift them out of that dark place, but unfortunately, it only tightens the downward spiral. This song was written to shine a light on this massive issue, and hopefully, through raising awareness, can help some to avoid the terrible pitfalls of opioid addiction.” - Mark Zavon, guitarist, Kill Devil Hill


Not only does the song speak to the deeply troubling epidemic across America, but it reinvigorates fans by bringing them what KDH delivers best - bridging the gap between contemporary and classic metal with emotionally charged lyrics and vocals containing a powerful message at their core. In “Pharmaceutical Sunshine,” Kill Devil Hill showcases their ability to point their creativity at a worthy cause, calling attention to a sinister undercurrent which has claimed far too many victims.


KDH created “Pharmaceutical Sunshine” in hopes that audiences can connect with and relate to the painful experience conveyed through the lyrics and message of the song - and hopefully find some solace in the music in a time of intense emotional turmoil.


“Music has the power to transcend barriers and touch hearts. I firmly believe that this song can serve as a beacon of hope for those who are struggling with addiction or have been affected by it in some way. It is my sincere desire that the lyrics and melodies provide comfort, encouragement, and support to those who may be in the midst of their own battles.” - Dewey Bragg, lead vocals, Kill Devil Hill


With a style comparable to Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, KDH uses their addictive sound to pull in audiences to a new way of experiencing metal music. Not only does KDH deliver an unforgettable sound, but they convey deeply spiritual and meaningful messages behind each and every track they deliver. “Pharmaceutical Sunshine” is a perfect example of their ability to take something incredibly painful, and turn it into a deeply moving, anthemic representation of an emotional human journey many people can relate to. This song provides comfort, encouragement, and support to anyone who is in need - and inspires us to find a solution for this issue through understanding the true weight of the pain it has caused for so many of us.





Pre-save the upcoming Kill Devil Hill album, Seas Of Oblivion, here. Pre-order physical bundles here.





Seas Of Oblivion tracklisting:


"Blood In The Water"
"Before The Devil Knows"
"Playing With Fire"
"Undertow"
"Pharmaceutical Sunshine"
"Eye Of The Storm"
"Darkest Days"
"The Bitter End"
"The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea"
"Seize The Day"
"You Can’t Kill Me California"
"From The Ashes"
"Stranger Than Fiction"
"Seas Of Oblivion"
"Solitude" (Black Sabbath)


"Playing With Fire" lyric video:





"You Cant Kill Me California" lyric video:





"Blood In The Water" video:





"Before The Devil Knows"

According to SIX FEET UNDER singer Chris Barnes, he has just begun recording the vocal parts for the band's next studio album.

On Monday (September 11),Barnes took to his social media to write: "Probably won't be able to sleep tonight .. I start recording vocals for the New SIX FEET UNDER Album tomorrow!!! Some of the most intense songs we've done. Super excited for this one!"

In late August, Chris said that Jeff Hughell had finished recording the bass parts for the new SIX FEET UNDER LP. Jeff "did an AMAZING job on these new Songs!" Chris wrote. "Can't wait for you to all hear this Album .. it's a Ripper!!!"

A month earlier, Chris said that drummer Marco Pitruzzella was done recording his parts for SIX FEET UNDER's next studio album. He also added that guitarist Jack Owen would be tracking rhythm guitar "in a couple weeks."

Barnes added: "Things are coming together awesome! Some real killer songs on this album. It will definitely satisfy all our SFU Fans appetite. #pureDEATHMETAL'"

Chris previously said the material for the next SIX FEET UNDER LP was shaping up to be "incredibly fucking heavy."

SIX FEET UNDER's 17th full-length album, "Nightmares Of The Decomposed", was released in October 2020 via Metal Blade Records.

Comprised of 12 tracks, "Nightmares Of The Decomposed" was tracked at various studios, including Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, which over the years has played host to the likes of AC/DC, BLACK SABBATH and AEROSMITH, among others. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Chris Carroll, while the album's mastering was handled by Chaz Najjar at Badlands Recording in Denver, Colorado. The finished product came packaged in artwork by Luke Hunter.

Barnes exited CANNIBAL CORPSE in 1995, one year after the release of the band's "The Bleeding" album. Six years ago, he told "The Chainsaw Symphony" radio program about his departure: "I just didn't like being around them, because I was being ridiculed, and I just didn't feel comfortable being in the same room with people that weren't very nice to me personally. And I was part of that too, so we had all of our own type of differences, personally, and I don't think it was gonna be able to be worked out. You know, mutual respect goes a far way when it comes to being in close quarters with people."

Owen left CANNIBAL CORPSE in 2004, explaining in a statement that his "heart just wasn't in it anymore, and it was reflected in my appearance on stage. Times change, and I just don't enjoy the music as much as I used to, and the only thing keeping me in the band was steady work, and the pay," he said. "These things makes it unfair to myself, my band members, and especially the fans."

After Barnes left CANNIBAL CORPSE to form SIX FEET UNDER, he was replaced in the former band by George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher.

Photo credit: Gustavo Abdiel Torres

On October 6th, MDD Records will release My Veneration, the second album from Patriarchs In Black, the band by riff god Dan Lorenzo (Hades, Non-Fiction) and Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative, Quiet Riot). Once again the two warhorses are supported by a whole bunch of guest musicians. The complete list, which you can find below, reads like a "who's who" of the rock, doom and metal scene. 


With "Dead Or Dying" there is now also a musical taste of the opener, with Karl Agell (Corrosion Of Conformity) on vocals. Here's what Dan says about the song: 


"I played 'Dead And Dying' to a couple of my friends after Karl finished it, and they all said the same thing; 'Karl is singing better than ever'. I agree. Karl has been touring with Legions Of Doom and Lie Heavy. and I guess instead of that hurting his voice, it's actually making it stronger. I wrote the music for this song, but Karl wrote all the lyrics and melody."
 
Karl Agell comments: "Death is the great equalizer. It comes for every living thing. Life is short and precious. It's up to us to make the most of it. The countdown begins the moment we are born. We're either 'dead or dying."




Dog Eat Dog's Dave Neabore is the guest bassist on the track.





Guests on the album include:


Karl Agell (COC, Blind) - vocals
John Kosco (Godsmack acoustic) - vocals
Mark Sunshine (Unida, Riot God) - vocals
Rob Traynor (Black Water Rising) - vocals
DMC ( RUN/DMC) - vocals
Gianni Pontillo - vocals
Kelly Abe (TV Show Search for Ozzfest) - vocals
Bobby Jensen (Paul Stanley hair fire guy) - vocals
Johnny Araya - bass
Eric J. Morgan (A Pale Horse Named Death) - bass
Dave Neabore (Dog Eat Dog) - bass
John "JD" DeServio (Black Label Society) - bass
Eddie Heedles -  (A Pale Horse Named Death) - guitar solo





Check out a brief video teaser:

TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider joined POISON frontman Bret Michaels at an event being billed as Parti-Gras Day on September 8 at Capital Credit Union Park in Ashwaubenon, a suburb of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Also appearing at the concert were original FOREIGNER lead singer Lou Gramm and former JOURNEY vocalist Steve Augeri.

Fan-filmed video of Snider performing a couple of TWISTED SISTER classics with members of Michaels's solo band can be seen below.

This past June, nearly five months after TWISTED SISTER's one-off onstage reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California, Snider was asked in an interview with 94.5 KATS about the possibility of more live performances from him and his bandmates. He responded: "Well, I'm a man of my word, and I said that we were retiring in 2016. And that's it. People reacted very positively when I said I could see TWISTED getting together for a charity event for a few songs. We got together for the Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame induction [in January]. I can see something like that. We're all friends, and it's fun. But going out, hitting the road…

"I was offered a role… They're doing a new Broadway production of 'Peter Pan', and they want me to play Captain Hook," he continued. "And they wanted me to go out on tour for two years, playing Captain Hook, and then bring it to Broadway. And I was going, 'I am flattered. I would be an amazing Captain Hook, now that I think about it. But at the same time, that part of my life is done. That living out of a suitcase — I'm done.'"

This past April, Dee told Yahoo! Entertainment that the band will come back together next year for special performances "at different political rallies that need our support." The singer added: "We were all in favor of gonna go down to support Beto [O'Rourke], but we couldn't schedule it. You know, the band has a concern that the [classic TWISTED SISTER] song ['We're Not Gonna Take It'] is being co-opted by the extreme right… and we want to make sure that people still know it's a song for everybody and it does not represent that selfish micro group. It is really for the mass people, the moderate people, the people that just want to live their lives, be themselves, and not have people tell 'em they can't be themselves. So, I think you'll see us at political rallies and stuff like that. We'll be out there next year."

On hand to be inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame were Snider, guitarist Jay Jay French, bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza and Mike Portnoy, who has played drums for TWISTED SISTER since the passing of former member A.J. Pero. Guitarist Eddie Ojeda was absent from the event after contracting COVID-19; filling in for him was Keith Robert War.

The highlight of the ceremony — which also saw FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm, NWOBHM heroes RAVEN, and guitarists Chris Impellitteri and Doug Aldrich honored — was TWISTED SISTER's highly charged three-song set consisting of the staples "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and "Under The Blade", as well as the anthem "We're Not Gonna To Take It".

In late January, Snider told Eonmusic that there were no additional TWISTED SISTER reunion performances in the works. "A hard 'no plans'," he said at the time. "No plans at all to do that."

Going on to reference both OZZY OSBOURNE and MÖTLEY CRÜE's retirement and returns, he added: "You know, I've said when people retire, they should leave the stage, and all those bands, I'm tired of buying 'No More Tours' shirts and seeing people signing contracts in blood and then they show up three years later. I don't believe in that bullshit, so I don't think it's going to happen."

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final trek, titled "Forty And Fuck It", in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band's "core lineup" of Snider, French, Ojeda and Mendoza, along with Portnoy. The band's last-ever concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of Pero.

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

The surviving members of the classic lineup of TWISTED SISTER previously reunited virtually in March 2021 for a special episode of Mendoza's Internet TV show "22 Now". The hour-and-a-half-long program was a tribute to Pero, who died exactly six years earlier at the age of 55 while on tour with the band ADRENALINE MOB.

Prior to the March 2021 virtual reunion, the four surviving members of TWISTED SISTER reunited for two days and nights in November 2019 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the band's classic album "Stay Hungry".

Such a great night in Green Bay. After a week of rehearsals there and then to hit the stage with Steve Augeri, Lou…

Posted by Norman Voss on Tuesday, September 12, 2023

TOMORROW NIGHT - THE END OF SUMMER PARTY YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!

Bret Michaels performing Poison's biggest hits along...

Posted by EPIC Event Center on Thursday, September 7, 2023

Four-time Grammy award-winning and diamond-certified rock legends, Aerosmith, kicked off their farewell tour, Peace Out, with special guest The Black Crowes on Saturday, September 2 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Hi-res fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Back in the Saddle"
"Love in an Elevator"
"Cryin'"
"Janie's Got a Gun"
"Adam's Apple" (first performance since 2018)
"Livin' on the Edge"
"No More No More"
"Rag Doll"
"Hangman Jury"
"Seasons of Wither"
"Movin' Out"
"Stop Messin' Around" (Fleetwood Mac)
"Rats in the Cellar"
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
"Sweet Emotion"
"Toys in the Attic"




Encore:
"Dream On"
"Walk This Way"





After only three shows, Aerosmith's "Peace Out" Farewell Tour has temporarily ground to a halt. Earlier this evening, singer Steven Tyler issued the following statement:


“I’m heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor’s orders not to sing for the next thirty days. I sustained vocal cord damage during Saturday’s show that led to subsequent bleeding. We’ll need to postpone a few dates so that we can come back and give you the performance you deserve.”


Rescheduled Dates:


January 2024 
29 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena


February 2024
14 – Chicago, IL – United Center 
17 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
21 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
26 – Raleigh. NC – PNC Arena 
29 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 


All previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates. Refunds will be available for those unable to attend. Fans with questions regarding refunds are asked to reach out to their point of purchase.








Currently, Aerosmith is expected to resume their "Peace Out" Farewell Tour, with special guests The Black Crowes, on October 11 in Tampa, Florida at Amalie Arena.


Four-time Grammy award-winning and diamond-certified rock legends, Aerosmith, kicked off their farewell tour, Peace Out, with special guest The Black Crowes on Saturday, September 2 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.





The electrifying show, performed in an immersive 360° production, garnered rave reviews from critics. The Associated Press lauded it as "positively brilliant," while USA Today noted that “the band was in peak form for this victory lap." Echoing this sentiment, the Philadelphia Inquirer praised Aerosmith’s "ability to make such a grand-scale performance feel like a raw and raucous club date,” while PEOPLE described the show as “epic,” declaring that "Aerosmith is peacing out with a bang.”





Produced by Live Nation, this monumental 40-date North American tour includes stops at iconic arenas across the US and Canada, including Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, New York’s Madison Square Garden and Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, with a special stop in their hometown of Boston for New Year’s Eve 2023.





With THX’s Certified Live! high-fidelity experience, each arena is calibrated with leading-edge technology so fans don’t miss a beat of Aerosmith’s classic rock tunes in quality audio. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com. Information on VIP packages is available at aerosmith.com/vip.





Aerosmith's Peace Out tour dates are listed below.





September
12 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena - POSTPONED
15 - Chicago, IL - United Center - POSTPONED
18 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena - POSTPONED
21 - Cleveland, OH - Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse - POSTPONED
24 - Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena - POSTPONED
27 - Washington, DC - Capital One Arena - POSTPONED


October
11 - Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena
14 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
17 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
20 - Sunrise, FL - FLA Live Arena
23 - Austin, TX - Moody Center
26 - St Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
29 - Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse


November
1 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Arena
4 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
7 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
10 - Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center
13 - St Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center  
16 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
19 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena     
22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Arena
25 - Portland, OR - Moda Center             
28 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena


December
1 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center    
4 - San Jose, CA - SAP Center             
7 - Los Angeles, CA - The Kia Forum  
10 - Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
28 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
31 - Boston, MA - TD Garden    


January 2024
4 - Cincinnati, OH - Heritage Bank Arena           
7 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center    
10 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
13 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena
16 - Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Center
19 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
23 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
26 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
29 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena


February 2024
14 – Chicago, IL – United Center 
17 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
21 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
26 – Raleigh. NC – PNC Arena 
29 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 


(Photos - Aaron Perry)

On September 9th, Mr. Big vocalist hit the stage at RockTember 2023 in Hinckley, MN with Trixter guitarist Steve Brown and bassist P.J. Farley for a set of hits from both bands. Fam-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Everybody Needs A Little Trouble" (Mr. Big)
"Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" (Mr. Big)
"Alive and Kickin'" (Mr. Big)
"One in a Million" (Trixter)
"Take Cover" (Mr. Big)
"Shine" (Mr. Big)
"To Be With You" (Mr. Big)
"Give It To Me Good" (Trixter - with Danger Danger vocalist Ted Poley)







RockTember 2023 took place at Grand Casino Amphitheater in Hinckley, MN on September 8th and 9th.

Eight years following their debut LP Charnel Passages – one of the most anticipated death metal debuts of current death metal cannon – US-via-UK abyssal death metal contingent Cruciamentum has finally emerged with their second LP. Obsidian Refractions is set for release in November on Profound Lore Records, who today issues the cover art, track listing, preorders, and lead single, “Abhorrence Evangelium.”


Now more commanding than ever with a formidable new lineup, Obsidian Refractions sees Cruciamentum deliver their most advanced, demanding, and overpowering work yet. Taking everything in the band’s death metal paradigm to the next sonic measure beyond anything the band has previously released, Obsidian Refractions combines the very essence and aesthetic of ancient cult death metal while encapsulating the dynamic, complex, next-level affectations relevant in today’s death metal landscape. 


The darkness and resonating unequivocal uncompromising evil and magnitude surrounding the record also builds upon the Cruciamentum aura of dark death metal majesty, combined with the progressive, savage, and complex yet aggressive substance of the album. Through the unrelenting and ever tectonic-shifting riff assault, Obsidian Refractions is a modern death metal monument unparalleled.




Featuring artwork by David Glomba, Obsidian Refractions was mixed by Greg Chandler (Esoteric) at Priory Recording Studios and mastered by D. Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studio.


The first preview of Obsidian Refractions, “Abhorrence Evangelium,” is now streaming. Obsidian Refractions will be released through Profound Lore Records on LP, CD, CS, and digital formats on November 24. Find preorders including merch options and digital presaves here.





Tracklisting:


“Charnel Passages”
“Abhorrence Evangelium”
“Necropolis Of Obsidian Mirrors”
“Scorn Manifestation”
“Interminable Rebirth Of Abomination”
“Drowned”


“Abhorrence Evangelium”:





(Photo – Necroblanca Photography)

New progressive metal quartet Nospūn have announced a performance at next year's heralded Prog Power USA festival. The band will open Day 2, on September 5, 2024 joining a stellar lineup which includes Dark Tranquility, Leprous, Twilight Force, Scar Symmetry, and Northtale.


The band had this to say: "We've been dreaming about playing ProgPower since we were teenagers, so it's almost surreal to have gotten the invite to play there next year! Not only that, but we get to share the stage with bands whose music we enjoy, so it really is a dream come true. It may be a year away, but we're already mentally preparing and getting psyched up to perform music from Opus for a dedicated crowd of prog noggins!"


To celebrate the announcement, the band are also sharing a new play-through video for the track "Dance With Me" featuring bassist Cole Millward.







Hailing from North Carolina's music scene, Nospūn recently released their stunning debut album, Opus, a sonic journey that combines intricate melodies and powerful rhythms, creating something utterly breathtaking.


Opus was recorded, mixed, and mastered by bassist Cole Millward at Giant Spoon Productions. Buy/stream here.





"Earwyrm" video:





Nospūn are:


Phillip Rich - Vocals
James Nelson - Guitars
Cole Millward - Bass
Paul Wood - Drums

Unleashing their latest album Live To Regret in November 2022 via Exitus Stratagem Records, modern doomsters Aittala offered up an 11 track full-length that defied the limits of genre rules. 


From their thrash-inspired track “Cannibals”, which confronts the tightening grip of governmental monitoring and control to their sludgy “Big Brother” about the devolution/zombification of the human race due to technology to the smoky stoner-infused “Never Forget”, which talks about dealing with a toxic person along with many more.


Today, the band shares their modern-day metal ballad "Saint" about the pleasure and pain of a destructive relationship with a new visualizer featuring scenes from the classic horror movie Carrie.







Vocalist/guitarist Eric Aittala adds:


“‘Saint’ is one of my favorite songs Aittala has released both musically and lyrically. We intended to shoot a video for it, but it just never materialized. I just happened to watch Carrie recently and was inspired to use scenes from the movie to tell the story of the song. The chilling scenes from the movie lend themselves perfectly to the dark tone and theme of Saint. We hope you agree!”


Aittala is currently working on new material to follow Live To Regret, which was produced by Eric Aittala and John E. Wooten IV, who also mixed the record along with mastering by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering.





Aittala live:


September
23 – Raeford, NC – Castle Hoke (Benefit show for Lahaina, Maui fire victims)
29 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506


(Photo - Formont Photography)

In a new interview with "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern", founding JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing was asked about the possibility of him ever rejoining his former bandmates on stage in the future. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I asked them if they want me to step back into the role a couple of times in writing, and the answer came back, 'No.' So it is what it is. And then I went, 'Okay, fine. Then I will start [a new] band,' and that's what I've done [with KK'S PRIEST]. And now I'm pretty happy, really, because I've rediscovered… I mean, I used to write all the material for the band back in the late '60s, early '70s and I forgot what it was like to be... It's kind of nice to put material down and just say what goes and what doesn't yourself, without having to collaborate and everything takes so long. It's great just to get on with it."

Downing went on to say that he is particularly disappointed that fellow founding PRIEST member Ian Hill (bass) has seemingly decided against having K.K. rejoin the group. "Honestly, the worst thing about the whole thing is that Ian has denied me the opportunity to step back into the band," he said. "I mean, we went to kindergarten together; we were like brothers. And we spent many years at the back of the bus complaining about everybody else. [Laughs] I always thought it was me and him for many years. But I just don't know how that can happen, like I say. And Rob [Halford, vocals] left the band for 14 years. And when I was instrumental in inviting him back into the band. How can he deny me the opportunity to go on stage and play my songs? They're saying, 'We're gonna do it, but you can't.' Because Ian and Rob never wrote any of the music for this band."

Asked if he thinks Ian has been pressured by the PRIEST management or by Rob and guitarist Glenn Tipton to keep Downing from returning to the band, K.K. said: "Something's wrong somewhere. It doesn't make sense. How can Ian, the bass player that's never written any songs, deny me the opportunity of being in the band? All of those years, and I've written all of those songs and riffs, but how can he stand over there and play bass and not allow me to play the guitar to those songs? It doesn't make any sense. And it doesn't make any sense not to have the original guy back from the trademark lineup. It doesn't make any sense. Am I that bad? [Laughs] But anyway, so I've gone ahead and made two albums [with KK'S PRIEST] in two years, and those guys have done two albums in 14 years. I just don't get it. I don't get it."

Pressed about whether he thinks it's attorneys and management causing all the issues between the members of the classic PRIEST lineup, Downing said: "Well, somebody out there has decided that 'I am gonna change history and I'm gonna be the one that's gonna decide what the fans hear and what they don't and who they see and who they don't.' Somebody in that band is making those decisions. But they only have it on their conscience, really, because we all know what the fans… I mean, [former PRIEST vocalist Tim] Ripper [Owens] is a great singer and he made two great albums with us. We did so many tours and he's a lovely guy and he's great, but the fan demand to have Rob back in the band was just too overwhelming, really, because Rob, I guess, their assertion is Rob is the voice of the band, just like Freddie Mercury with QUEEN or Bruce [Dickinson] with [IRON] MAIDEN, and the list goes on and on and on. So that's undeniable. And I think that Tim would be the first to acknowledge that and get that. Even if he sang the songs better, as we spoke, Rob is the voice of JUDAS PRIEST. But now gladly Ripper is the voice of KK'S PRIEST, because that guy is singing so much better than even I've ever heard him before. It's fantastic. So I'm so fortunate to have him back in the saddle with us."

Asked if he would consider rejoining JUDAS PRIEST if the band was going to make one final album and he was approached about playing on it, Downing said: "One thing's for sure: that will never happen ever… I know Glenn's retired from touring. But whether he can write and record, I don't know. I haven't had an update on Glenn's health, sadly. I really don't know. But it's only because I'm so close and in the industry, I heard an awful lot of things from a long time ago, but, like I say, unconfirmed.

"I would have to say, at this point. I spent a lot of time and effort trying to work things out in a way," he explained. "It's pretty complicated stuff. Like I say, I wasn't happy with a lot of things. The 50th-anniversary book and everything that's done, I don't get anything, any money from any of that whatsoever. So it gets tough to see all the merchandise with all these images that I paid for and was a part of creating, a lot of these images. It gets very commercial, the whole thing, and maybe that's what it's all about anyway. The first three, four years of JUDAS PRIEST, the 50 years, Glenn and Rob weren't there, so how does it become a 50th-anniversary book if you don't include the first years? And it wasn't right to do that. And they asked the fans to pay five hundred dollars for a book that's not accurate. But there's so many things, grievances, it gets to be a quagmire.

"In 2010, we all, as friends, as directors of the company, as businessmen, as bandmates, all of that, we all decided to end the band. We all decided to retire in 2010," he continued. "The management — and I've got the e-mails — said, 'We need you to think of a tour title that means the definitive end of the band.' So the tour title was the 'Epitaph' tour. So, because of certain circumstances, I was being asked to write an EP to support the tour. So I'm saying, 'So you want me to end my career on an EP? I'm not gonna do it.' So, there was a lot of disgruntlement then, and I eventually went, 'Right. If nobody's gonna listen to me, you can do the farewell tour on your own. I'm not doing it.' And so I opted out to do the farewell tour. 15 years later, it's easy to say now, but if the idea was then to carry on, I should have known about it, I should have been told about it. Or at least if the option was that they were gonna carry on, I should have had the option to… They should have said, 'We're carrying on. Will you step back in?'"

Downing added: "But then they quickly announced, and maybe they were surprised that Richie [Faulkner, Downing's replacement in PRIEST] would bring a newfound energy to the band, because that's what they said in statements to the press. And they also said, 'Well, none of the fans are missing K.K.' so maybe they felt — I don't know — reborn without me. Which is a bit odd, because I actually felt at the time, in 2010, that I was the energy in the band, that everybody else seemed to just go through the motions. I didn't know about Glenn's illness at the time. But something didn't seem right. I do know that Rob released two studio albums in 2010 and did a world tour, including the Ozzfest, singing JUDAS PRIEST songs, and everybody was in fear that he was gonna take off again. So we thought that all of these reasons were why we needed to fold the tent, really, on JUDAS PRIEST. And that's what we planned. Someone moved the goalpost on me, I'm afraid."

When the interviewers told Downing that they, and other PRIEST fans, miss seeing him up on stage with the band, K.K. said: "Thank you so much, guys. And I can understand why. I was there so long. [Laughs] I was like an old shoe or a wart on your neck or something. I was a part of life. The last tour that they just did, I saw the setlist and they were playing one song off the last two albums. All the rest were my songs."

He continued: "I can only surmise that there's commercial aspects [that are standing in the way of me returning to PRIEST] and just… I don't know. I don't know. Maybe Glenn didn't really ever want me to be there and him not to be there. I don't know. Maybe he saw that as an end of an era, and I think he's right, as far as I'm concerned."

Downing performed with PRIEST at last year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles.

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the November 2022 event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

The JUDAS PRIEST members that got inducted include current members Halford, Hill, Tipton and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members Downing, drummer Les Binks and late drummer Dave Holland.

Halford, Hill, Tipton and Travis were joined by Binks, Downing and current guitarist Richie Faulkner for a three-song medley consisting of "You've Got Another Thing Comin'", "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight".

Faulkner, nearly three decades Downing's junior, joined PRIEST after K.K. left in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Image credit: Mind Art Visual

Led by the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal legend, Barry Graham Purkis (aka Thunderstick), and fronted by the mesmerizing lead vocalist, Raven Blackwing, October 2023 sees the release of a brand-new studio album from Thunderstick. Lockdown will be the band’s first new studio album since the critically-acclaimed Something Wicked This Way Comes album in 2017.


A collection of fourteen titles playing for one hour and twenty minutes, Lockdown features brand-new material never before released, and includes compositions written by Barry Graham Purkis during the band’s original tenure in the 1980s that only made it to demo stage at the time due to live commitments.


Taken from the album, stage favourite "Go Sleep With The Enemy (I Dare Ya)", was released as a single in August and has been picking up extensive airplay.




Lead singer Raven Blackwing: “I’m very excited about the forthcoming full-length studio album which is my first with the band. I have been working really hard on the live shows and believe that the album tracks present many different facets of my onstage characters. I hope that our fans enjoy meeting them all.”


Thunderstick's alter ego and creator Barry Graham Purkis adds: “What can I say… I am so pleased that I am able at last to announce that we have new material ready for release. Drum tracks for this album were laid down pre-covid in 2019, so to say it has been a long time coming would be an understatement. I do believe, however, that it has been worth the wait. I regard the new material as some of the strongest that I have recorded. Something that I can thank the many guest appearances for, as well as my live band.”


Featuring the band’s regular touring line-up of Raven Blackwing (vocals), Pete Pinto and Dave Butters (guitars), Rex Thunderbolt (bass) and the legendary Thunderstick/Barry Graham Purkis (drums), the album also features a number of guest appearances from friends of Purkis, including former Thunderstick guitarists, Dave Kilford and Vinny Konrad; ex-Iron Maiden guitarist, Terry Wapram; Dave John Ross from NWOBHM band, More; and solo heavy metal guitarist, Marius Danielson.


Lockdown will be released via Roulette Records on October 20 in CD format and on all the main digital platforms. Pre-orders will be available here.


The album was mixed and mastered by BGP/Danielson at Legend Recording Studios, Ålesund, Norway. It features original artwork by Baz Crowcroft.





Tracklisting:


"Cortege Of The Dark Princess"
"Torn'N'Twisted"
"Snakebite"
"I'm A Rockstar ( In My Head)"
"Who The Devil Are You?"
"Those Days"
"Warhead"
"Snowfall In Space"
"Thunder Thunder '23"
"Hold On Me"
"Valkyrie Warriors"
"Go Sleep With The Enemy (I Dare Ya)"
"Dawn Of The Crystal Night"
"I Close My Eyes"

Head-bangin', booty-shakin' rock squad Clutch have announced the fourth release in their series of live concert recordings, shared under the collective moniker PA Tapes. Released today, Tuesday 12th September, PA Tapes (Live In Nashville, 9/24/22) boasts another 20 live tracks to delight both new and old fans alike, drawn from the whole breadth of their three decade, stellar catalogue.


Legendary for changing the set list every night, with each band member taking turns in the hot seat, Nashville's songs that evening were selected by chief storyteller Neil Fallon, who notes, "Marathon Music Works is one of our favourite venues in the U.S. The crowds there make it easy to have a good time and we certainly did just that on September 24th." 


A decade on from boldly declaring, "If you're gonna do it, do it live on stage, or don't do it at all' in their acclaimed single "Earth Rocker", Clutch's PA Tapes comprise meticulously mixed and mastered live shows from around the world. Renowned for their captivating and authentic live performances, the handpicked shows reflect some of the best live atmosphere, giving fans globally a chance to experience the energy and excitement of a CLUTCH concert from the comfort of their own homes, whenever they like. The series launched in February 2023 and will total five or six edited and mastered digital only live shows.




PA Tapes (Live In Nashville, 9/24/22) is available from today, Tuesday 12th September, on all digital platforms, including Spotify. Make sure to check out the previous releases from the PA Tapes series, including recent shows recorded in Seattle and Copenhagen, and a very early show at the famous King's Head Inn in Norfolk, Virginia from 1993!





The tracklist is as follows:


"Passive Restraints"
"The Mob Goes Wild" 
"X-Ray Visions" 
"Firebirds" 
"Slaughter Beach" 
"Immortal" 
"The Soapmakers" 
"Mountain of Bone" 
"La Curandera" 
"Promoter (Of Earthbound Causes)" 
"Walking in the Great Shining Path of Monster Trucks" 
"Nosferatu Madre"
"Skeletons on Mars" 
"Big News I"
"D.C. Sound Attack!" 
"Electric Worry" 
"Rats" 
"Spacegrass" 
"Noble Savage" 
"The Face"





 


To see Clutch's live itinerary, including festival performances, click here.


 


 


Lineup:


 


 


Neil Fallon - Vocals

Tim Sult - Guitar

Dan Maines - Bass

Jean-Paul Gaster - Drums


 

Black/doom metal project In A Forest Dark has officially joined forces with Wormholedeath Records. Led by the mastermind multi-instrumentalist, Mário Pereira, known for his work with Eternal Mourning, In A Forest Dark is poised to unleash a torrent of haunting and immersive soundscapes upon the world. The project's debut album, Buried Giant, is set to be re-released on October 20th.


Mário Pereira expressed his excitement about this collaboration, stating, "I am very happy to announce my unholy pact with the mighty Wormholedeath Records! It's an honor to join the team. Together with Wormholedeath Records, I'm positive that 'In a Forest Dark' will ascend to new heights, unleashing dark sonic creations upon the world. Prepare yourselves for an immersive journey through the realms of doom, black, and gothic metal. The darkness awaits."


At the core of In A Forest Dark lies the conceptual masterpiece, Buried Giant. This album weaves an intricate tapestry of doom and black metal elements, seamlessly entwined with haunting gothic influences, birthing a fusion that embraces both the sublime darkness and melancholic beauty. Inspired by Kazuo Ishiguro's evocative novel The Buried Giant, the music delves deep into the realms of mystery and enchantment. Each composition, a mosaic of soulful melodies, atmospheric layers, and emotive lyrics, creates an all-encompassing sonic journey.







Mário Pereira's artistic vision transcends mere musical composition. With In A Forest Dark, he introduces listeners to an immersive sonic voyage into the depths of doom, black, and gothic metal. Channeling the essence of The Buried Giant, the debut album is a testament to his unique ability to translate literature into captivating soundscapes. From conception to production, Pereira commands every facet of this auditory masterpiece, inviting audiences to traverse the veiled dimensions of the human experience.


The music video for "Where My Heart Went" offers a glimpse into the sublime darkness and melancholic beauty of In A Forest Dark's sound

In a brand new interview with Baltimore's 98 Rock radio station, Jacoby Shaddix reflected on PAPA ROACH's cover version of the AEROSMITH classic "Sweet Emotion", which the singer and his bandmates performed at the 2002 MTV tribute to the legendary rockers, "mtvICON: Aerosmith".

"So MTV, back in the day, asked us to come do this thing to honor AEROSMITH," Jacoby recalled. "And what was the song? 'Sweet Emotion'. They were, like, 'We want you guys to do 'Sweet Emotion'.' And I'm just, like, 'Let's go.' But that's, like, big shoes to fill. We just hacked our way. It was bad. It was not good."

Asked if he and his PAPA ROACH bandmates had a chance to speak to the AEROSMITH guys after the performance, Jacoby said: "It's funny 'cause our drummer at the time [Dave Buckner] ended up marrying Mia [Tyler], one of Steven's [Tyler] daughters. And so that was like the beginning of a relationship that happened at this place."

Circling back to AEROSMITH's reaction to PAPA ROACH's rendition of "Sweet Emotion", Shaddix said: "I could tell that they were just kind of, like, 'Hmm, that was loud.'

"We were young numbskulls playing, like, I mean, nu metal," he explained. "We weren't, like, classic rocker vibe, you know? And so we did our best, but it just wasn't good enough. It just wasn't good."

At the "mtvICON: Aerosmith" taping, PAPA ROACH guitarist Jerry Horton admitted to a few nerves prior to taking the stage before AEROSMITH.

"I don't normally get nervous," he told MTV at the time. "But it's one thing to cover a song from a band, it's another to cover it while they are listening to it."

Back in 2015, the Audioeclectica blog dubbed PAPA ROACH's cover of "Sweet Emotion" "one of the worst renditions of a great song. Their version of 'Sweet Emotion' will forever be put next to Celine Dion's version of AC/DC's 'You Shook Me All Night Long'," the blog post added.

Mia Tyler and Dave Buckner wed during an AEROSMITH concert in Las Vegas in 2003. They split up two years later, explaining in a joint statement that their lives were "heading in different directions and they each want[ed] different things for their futures."

Mia is the half sister of "Lord Of The Rings" actress Liv Tyler.

It was the first marriage for both Tyler and Buckner.

Metal Mania continues to grip the Wargaming world, as World Of Tanks Modern Armor (WOTMA) welcomes the legendary band IRON MAIDEN as the final act of Metal Fest. First the might SABATON began Metal Fest, then mosh monsters MEGADETH brought the thunder to the show. Now IRON MAIDEN storms the Metal Fest stage for the big finale!

WOTMA's Metal Fest, an immersive in-game music event, will amplify its adrenaline-fueled experience with a heavy metal double-down encore, featuring branded tanks and awe-inspiring commanders. The Metal Fest event is a three-act extravaganza, with each act showcasing a powerhouse band. SABATON led Act 1, MEGADETH took the spotlight in Act 2, and now, IRON MAIDEN closes out the massive festival as the headliner for Act 3.

From September 12 to October 3, IRON MAIDEN offers players an unparalleled hard rock experience. As players embark on the quest to conquer challenge stages, they'll unlock a trove of exclusive rewards that truly embody the spirit of IRON MAIDEN.

The IRON MAIDEN-themed Senjutsu TO-55 flamethrower tank brings fire-shooting damage to enemies in the game's World War II battles. Following in the "Senjutsu"'s tracks is the "A Matter Of Life And Death" (AMOLAD) tank, a Cold War vehicle exclusive to World Of Tanks Modern Armor that was designed specifically for this event. Both tanks truly embody the power and commanding force that make IRON MAIDEN the metal legends they are.

IRON MAIDEN's iconic figurehead Eddie appears as a 3D Hero Commander, his guttural growling voiceover sending shivers down the spine as his rage comes to the fight.

There will also be a gallery of 14 different Eddie 2D Standard Commanders to collect. Each one is meticulously designed to pay tribute to Eddie, who has appeared on all IRON MAIDEN album covers to date.

Additionally, tankers will feel the fever of the coming battle with the resonating power of two IRON MAIDEN songs, "Brighter Than A Thousand Suns" and "The Writing On The Wall". These metal anthems will echo through the garage as the triumphant prelude for those who own these epic IRON MAIDEN tanks.

World Of Tanks Modern Armor is a team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored combat. Players immerse themselves in fierce 15-v-15 tank combat with opponents from around the world, fight it out on a variety of maps, and take command of their preferred vehicle out of over 900 tanks from 11 different nations.

World Of Tanks Modern Armor is played by millions of players worldwide and is available on PlayStation4 and 5 and on Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X. World Of Tanks Modern Armor can be downloaded for free by all PlayStation Network and Xbox Live account holders, with stunning 4K resolution and HDR support on PlayStation4 Pro, PlayStation 5, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X.

IRON MAIDEN is a British heavy metal band that formed in London in 1975. They are one of the most iconic and influential bands in the history of heavy metal music. The band is known for its energetic live performances, elaborate stage setups, and their distinctive figurehead Eddie, which has appeared on most of their album covers.