n October 2025, The Mourning quietly welcomed Brazilian vocalist Nanda Hayek into the lineup, known for her work with OverAlive and her background in psychotherapy and existential studies. Rather than announcing the change immediately, the band spent months crafting new material and building a complete visual identity around the single.

“If I Die I Die” is the first release to showcase the renewed dual‑vocal dynamic between Hayek and founding vocalist Johnny Ray, expanding the band’s emotional range and intensifying its modern metal edge.

Written by Francesco Pinter and Johnny Ray, and produced, mixed, and mastered by Alex Nasla, the single blends progressive metal intricacy with a darker, more direct heaviness. The band describes the track as “a psychological and spiritual battle,” moving from dread into cathartic release.

Lyrically, the song is framed as a dialogue between fear and faith, one voice clinging to control, the other fighting to break free. The refrain “If I die I die” is not nihilistic, but a moment of liberation: the refusal to let fear dictate one’s life.

The accompanying music video visualizes the song’s emotional arc through a symbolic narrative. A woman is hunted by a mysterious figure of death, terrified at first, then increasingly resolute. She rides her motorcycle toward the confrontation she has avoided, only to discover that death was never the true enemy. Fear was. “By facing it directly, she conquers the thing that had been ruling her,” adds Johnny Ray.

Originally released on Walpurgis Night in 2006, Dissection’s third and concluding opus marks the seminal Swedish band’s crowning achievement. Everything about Reinkaos feels grandiose, otherworldly, and utterly complete: The timeless, majestic music blended with lyrics pertaining to the Anti-Cosmic Current and stunning illustrations provided by the late Timo Ketola together form a black diamond of exceptional elegance and vigor.

Unlike most bands which merely adopt the symbolism and imagery of Satanism for entertainment purposes, Reinkaos represents the real deal and is an enduring testimony of genuine Luciferian spirituality manifested as music.

To honor the dark legacy of Jon Nödtveidt, Darkness Silence Productions will issue a suite of definitive physical editions on August 13, 2026, including an expansive 7-LP leather-optic box set featuring the “Last Dissection Rehearsal Ever” and unreleased recordings from the Reinkaos era.



Editions:
-LP – including 24-page booklet, 1000 on black vinyl, 1000 on silver vinyl
-CD – jewel-case CD including slipcase
-7LP box – each title will have own booklet/insert and an own double-sided A2 poster, leather optic box with embossed silver hot-foil print and 4 art-prints (A4), 333 on black vinyl, 333 on white vinyl
-6CD box – leather-optic box with embossed silver hot-foil print and limited to 666 copies

The box sets include:
Reinkaos
Reinkaos Instrumental Rehearsal
Midsummer Massacre Rehearsal (2LP – The Final Rehearsal)
The Hall Recordings
Maha Kali
Roughmix 2005 / Starless Aeon

In a new interview with The Jesea Lee Show, singer Sam Carter of chart-topping British metalcore icons ARCHITECTS named METALLICA and LINKIN PARK as two of his favorite bands to tour with. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "METALLICA really know how to treat bands… METALLICA, it's, like, the first day we got flowers, we got a cake delivered by [METALLICA frontman James] Hetfield… [METALLICA drummer] Lars [Ulrich] was hanging out with us most days. Hetfield would come in and hang out with us. They really taught us to be on it with your supports. And we always are. We always try and make an effort and make sure everyone's okay. But actually really make people feel welcome because that made us feel like a million bucks."

He continued: "After the shows [METALLICA] invited us for dinner every night and we would go to a closed off restaurant with them and eat in insane places. And they don't need to do that. And they're doing this — there's no cameras. There's nothing there. There's no one following them around with a video camera. It's just their TM [tour manager] and them bringing that stuff and just being, like, 'Welcome to the tour. You need anything, we've got you,' which is so sick. And the same with LINKIN PARK. Yeah. The first day, LINKIN PARK invited us into their dressing room. Mike's [Shinoda] texting me, asking me to go and sing with them. And they're two of the biggest bands in the world."

Last September, Sam described METALLICA and LINKIN PARK to Secret Los Angeles as his ideal bands to tour with.

"It felt like a dream come true," Sam said. "It was a real line-in-the-sand moment of, like, 'Oh, you are doing well.' You've got that opportunity to support these two bands that when you were kids would be shocked if they knew we existed, you know?"

"LINKIN PARK was a dream, really," he continued. "You were playing to people you knew you could get on board and win over. Like, if we could only show them our band, then their fans would like it. It was a great opportunity for us and really fun."

Sam added: "We were apprehensive, especially going into METALLICA, because we thought that we might get sort of treated like second-class citizens, but it wasn't like that at all. They made time to hang with us and go for dinner."

"I know it's not every day you get to play to that kind of fanbase. With METALLICA, it's all so vast. You see people with their kids and their grandkids in the crowds."

ARCHITECTS released its triumphant eleventh album, "The Sky, The Earth & All Between", in February 2025, delivering some of the band's best music yet. The LP was touted as "serious, fun, deep, kneejerk, angry, and beautiful. It's like life, then, only louder," by Kerrang!, with BLABBERMOUTH.NET calling out the "band's pristine instrumentation." The album earned a #23 spot on the Billboard Rock Albums chart.

The masterful rock album shifts between aggressive, melodic, and experimental sounds while maintaining a cohesive vision, an elemental summation of everything ARCHITECTS have been and could become. From the ferocious single "Blackhole" to the pop-metal brilliance of "Everything Ends", which charted at No. 1 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart.

From their early days playing pub shows in Brighton to sharing stadium stages with METALLICA and LINKIN PARK, ARCHITECTS have consistently pushed the boundaries of heavy music. "The Sky, The Earth & All Between" represented a bold evolution, fusing ferocious energy, intricate melodies, and emotional depth.

Photo credit: Ed Mason

In a new interview with Jason Brown of Friday 13th Metal, legendary guitarist George Lynch was asked about the number of lineup changes his long-running LYNCH MOB project has gone through over the years, particularly in the vocalist department. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, there was always a different reason to change bandmembers. But usually it was just people moving on. LYNCH MOB isn't a big enough band to maintain a membership for life, to expect that kind of allegiance. I got one show coming up in two weeks. It's a one-off. I usually don't do that. And then I don't have another couple of shows or whatever, a few shows, until late July, I think. Sometimes we do work much more than that, obviously, but with those kind of big holes in our scheduling, it's hard to hold on to people at this level. It really is. I mean, we all have to do other things. All my bandmembers do other bands, other projects. They prioritize this one, or they try to, but I can't expect allegiance 100%... It's not allegiance, but I can't expect them to turn down other work."

George also talked about LYNCH MOB's decision to call its new live album "The Final Ride". The LP follows the release of what was billed as LYNCH MOB's ninth and "final" full-length studio record "Dancing With The Devil", which came out last November. Lynch said: "Well, yeah, I could make up some kind of lie to make it make sense, but, yeah, it was supposed to be [LYNCH MOB's final album], but then I changed my mind again. But you know what? Sue me. I can't get in trouble for changing my mind. I mean, I know I'm the first band to ever retire and then change our minds. I know nobody else has ever done that in history. I was the first, probably, right? KISS never did it. Nobody ever did it. Yeah, nobody did that."

George continued: "So, it's pretty common [for musicians to announce their farewell tours and then change their minds]. You go, 'Okay, I'm gonna hang it up, hang up the spurs,' so to speak, and then about a month into that, you're, like, 'Okay.' There's only so many lawns you can mow,' you know what I mean? Then you gotta get busy."

Lynch also confirmed that there are tentative plans for LYNCH MOB to release a new studio album in the not-too-distant future.

"Well, at this point right now I've got one and a half [songs in the works], actually, in the studio worked up to some degree," he said. "But one is pretty finished and the other one I still need to work on. So I'm not very far along. But once I get a little momentum going, things'll go quicker. But in the past bunch of years I've tried to really work fast, and I'm not gonna do that this time. I'm gonna take my time. And I really wanna focus on making sure every song is great, that there's no filler and there's no I'm-gonna-skip-over-this-track songs."

As for the musical direction of the new LYNCH MOB material, George said: "It won't be like the first album. I think it'll be — let's just say maybe a little more ALICE IN CHAINS style... It's not gonna be like ALICE IN CHAINS, but I would say more like that world than the DOKKEN world. So the 'Wicked Sensation' record was a heavier record than the second record. We tried to be more polished and more radio friendly, more DOKKEN-esque, and that didn't work out, I didn't think, very well. So we're gonna lean on the heavier side. But right now that's what I'm doing — I'm just searching for grooves and riffs and just trying to be Tony Iommi and just come up with great, nasty riffs and awesome grooves that get people off. And once I do that, then it's off to the singer and he does his thing."

LYNCH MOB will release "The Final Ride" on May 29, 2026 via Frontiers Music Srl.

On "The Final Ride", Lynch is backed by a formidable lineup featuring Gabriel Colón (vocals),Jaron Gulino (bass) and Jimmy D'Anda (drums).

Despite the fact that LYNCH MOB completed "The Final Ride" farewell tour in March 2025, the band has continued playing gigs with a revamped lineup consisting of Lynch, vocalist Andrew Freeman (LAST IN LINE),drummer Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER, OZZY OSBOURNE) and bassist Jaron Gulino.

In an October 2025 interview with Tim Caple of Rock 'N' Blues Experience, George spoke about why he is still playing shows under the LYNCH MOB banner, more than a year after the completion of the band's "The Final Ride" farewell tour celebrating LYNCH MOB's 35-year legacy. George said: "Well, I think you can see a common thread throughout this interview that I make really bad decisions [laughs] throughout my life. Horrible. You do not want me in charge of any of your decision making. So, if I give you any advice, do the opposite for a better outcome. I don't wanna be in charge. I shouldn't be managing anything or making any decisions about anything other than just playing my guitar and writing music. Having said that, I still try to do the right thing and be smart, but whatever.

"So we decided, or I decided, I think earlier this year, if I'm not mistaken, that this was the 35th anniversary, I believe, of the band, so maybe let's go out with a nice bookend and put out a good record and call it a day," he explained. "And we called it 'The Final Ride' — the tour was called 'The Final Ride'. And so I did that and sort of — not fired the band; we just all agreed to do this. So everybody went their separate ways. And there was some momentum and some interest because of that announcement. So all of a sudden my agent started getting all this work opportunity. He talked me, as agents do, talked me out of quitting LYNCH MOB touring. He said, 'Well, just add a few more shows.' Well, that's parlayed into, we just kept it going. So here we are. We're still touring, we're still putting out records. It's a different band than it was last year, but… Brian Tichy's back in the band. Andrew Freeman, Jaron Gulino and myself. It's a great band. And why not?"

He continued: "So, people are, like, 'Well, you said you were retiring LYNCH MOB.' I go, 'Well, I lied. I changed my mind. I'm sorry. Sue me. I'll see you in court.' I mean, what do you want me to tell you?

"So that's what it is. I make silly decisions — off-the-cuff decisions — sometimes that aren't well thought out. Here we are."

Tichy was previously a touring member of LYNCH MOB in 2010, 2012–2013, 2015, 2020 and 2025; Gulino was in LYNCH MOB from 2022 to 2025; and Freeman played with LYNCH MOB in 2003, 2010 and 2019.

LYNCH MOB was formed in 1989 after Lynch parted ways with his former band DOKKEN. Their debut release, "Wicked Sensation", was met with critical and fan acclaim and went on to be certified gold in sales by the RIAA. The band would continue on through the years with a cast of talented players joining Lynch throughout their musical journey over the course of six more studio albums.

In August 2020, Lynch announced that he was ending LYNCH MOB due to the racial insensitivity of the moniker, saying he would no longer record or perform under that name. Two years later, George had a change of heart, explaining that he had to "live with the fact that [the name LYNCH MOB] has some negative connotations that I probably have to continue explaining for the rest of my life, and I don't mind doing that. But it is a brand that I built, and I'm just gonna stick with it. As far as a marketing thing and a brand thing and a business thing and a working thing, and it keeps my band guys working and it keeps the fans happy, it makes sense."

It was a hot day in the Polish summer, over 750,000 fans had crammed their way into the Czaplinek-Broczyno airfield in northwestern Poland for the 2025 Pol'and'Rock festival, a storied tradition for over 30 years. WEDNESDAY 13 — the namesake band of the former frontman of the MURDERDOLLS — hot off its smash hit album "Mid Death Crisis", took the stage and proceeded to decimate onlookers with a triumphant hit parade, commanding the crowd with excitement and awe. Thankfully, for us all, they had the soundboard tapped, and now that explosive performance will live on forever as "Un-Alive At Pol'and'Rock 2025", dropping September 25, 2026 via Napalm Records.

Wednesday 13 comments: "I'm so excited for the release of our new live album. And it's not just a live record in front of a few people; this is the biggest concert we've ever played. Over 750,000 people in attendance for the Pol'and'Rock festival where we deliver one of the most memorable Wednesday 13 concerts of our career."

A career-spanning set of both WEDNESDAY 13 and MURDERDOLLS hits, the band journeys through Mr. Motherfucker's extensive catalogue. With MURDERDOLLS classics like "Summertime Suicide" and "197666", Wednesday 13 takes us from the beginning through his solo catalog, featuring "Transylvania 90210" hits "Look What The Bats Dragged In" and "Bad Things", "The Dixie Dead"'s "Too Fast For Blood", "Horrifier"'s "Good Day To Be A Bad Guy", and a plethora of bangers from "Mid Death Crisis", including "In Misery", "When The Devil Commands" and "Rotting Away". A bloody good time from beginning to end, this album is meant to be heard with the windows down, your accelerator through the floor, and bats on the moonlit horizon.

"Un-Alive At Pol'and'Rock 2025" track listing:

01. Blood Fades To Black
02. Look What The Bats Dragged In
03. Too Fast For Blood
04. Rotting Away
05. I Want You Dead
06. When The Devil Commands
07. Summertime Suicide
08. 197666
09. There's No Such Thing As Monsters
10. In Misery
11. Good Day To Be A Bad Guy
12. Nowhere
13. I Walked With A Zombie
14. Bad Things
15. I Love To Say Fuck

WEDNESDAY 13 will embark on the extensive "Shocktober Blood" tour across North America this fall. Kicking off September 23 in San Jose, California, the trek will haunt a slew of major cities across the United States, including Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Nashville, Tennessee before its conclusion on Halloween in Denver, Colorado.

Wednesday 13 previously described "Mid Death Crisis" as a fun, campy, "leave-your-brain-at-the-door" rager and a true return to his hard-rocking roots. Produced by guitarist Alex Kane (LIFE, SEX & DEATH, ENUFF Z'NUFF, ANTIPRODUCT) and mixed by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, PRONG, DEVILDRIVER) the album oozes infectious 1980s sleaze metal energy, further accented by a blitzing guest vocal from FASTER PUSSYCAT's Taime Downe.

WEDNESDAY 13 is:

Wednesday 13 - Vocals
Jack Tankersely - Guitar
Ashes - Lead Guitar
Troy Doebbler - Bass
Mike Dupke - Drums

Photo credit: Anabel DFlux

Former BATTLE BEAST frontwoman Noora Louhimo has been crowned the winner of the 2026 edition of the Finnish singing competition "Tähdet, Tähdet" ("Stars, Stars"). In the program, nine popular Finnish recording artists compete for the title of "Tähtien Tähti", the Star Among Stars. Each week the show covers a different genre of music which forces the artists to adopt to varied musical and lyrical styles in order to perform a cover version of an iconic song of said genre (either Finnish or internationally known),often having to go beyond the artist's comfort zone.

In the final episode of "Tähdet, Tähdet", where Noora faced off against Venla Edelmann, Jukka Poika, Aarne Pelkonen, Louhimo sang a rendition of "My Heart Will Go On", a song originally recorded by the Canadian singer Céline Dion as the theme for the 1997 film "Titanic". Earlier in the season, Noora sang a cover of the AC/DC classic "You Shook Me All Night Long" as part of the show's eighth episode, with "Rock Classics" as the theme, as well as a version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance".

When Louhimo's participation in "Tähdet, Tähdet" was first announced in January, she wrote in a social media post: "The show is about finding the greatest entertainer of Finland by performing 8 different music genres. There are 9 artists competing of the title of The Greatest Entertainer TÄHTIEN TÄHTI. So great to get to show what I can do as an artist and see what others can do. Very inspiring and nerve breaking!!! I am so happy and excited I've met such big hearted and talented people, amazing production team and exceptionally good atmosphere behind the scenes and on stage."

Last December, Noora opened up about her decision to leave BATTLE BEAST after 13 years. Asked by Finland's Chaoszine how long she had been contemplating her departure from BATTLE BEAST, Noora said: "Well, for me it has been kind of a long process. Nothing happens in an instant or anything like that. But in my life so many [things] happened, these kind of situations, like health wise — people have heard about my health issues with the artery [ruptured], and a year before that I was in a car accident — and things like this that really make me prioritize what I want in my life. And maybe because of these events also I started to think about what things I wanna do in life and what I want to achieve. And because in BATTLE BEAST, it is very demanding schedules, and it's always, like, either you are making an album with them or you are preparing an album or you are touring. There is no time for a solo career or whatever you want to do, like extra. And that was something that became too big of an issue for me because I'm an artist and I need to do different things to express myself to feel fulfilled."

Noora, who in 2021 released her debut solo album, "Eternal Wheel Of Time And Space", under the NOORA LOUHIMO EXPERIENCE banner, continued: "When I [released my solo LP], it was like I had already thought about a solo album for a decade. And when the pandemic came, I was, like, 'Okay, now I can do it.' But after that, I haven't been able to do anything, almost, in my solo career for five years, and it's been really kind of… I need that. It's, like, when people have been asking, like, 'Why are you doing so many things and not just focusing on BATTLE BEAST?' or something that, and all I can say is that it's my nature to do many different things to express myself, and that keeps me going and that keeps me happy."

Louhimo went on to say that she wanted to present the news of her exit from BATTLE BEAST in a way that was respectful to everybody, including her now-former bandmates.

"When we informed [the fans] about this, everything that we said on the video [announcing my exit] was honest and true," she explained. "13 years I was building the band with the guys, and I have a huge respect towards them as well and also towards our fans. And what I feared the most breaking the news was losing the fans, because I love all of [them]. And it is like when you say out loud that actually I need to do this to be happy and maybe disappoint some people, it was the scariest thing I have ever done, because being rejected is maybe the worst nightmare for me. Just to put myself out there honestly, what I want to be happy, has been maybe the hardest thing I have ever done."

Asked if it was surprising to her how hectic it actually is to be in an internationally touring metal band like BATTLE BEAST, Noora said: "No. No, no. And in a certain point, I really loved it. But like I said, it's just not enough for me to be in one band. And also I have so many ideas and visions that I want to achieve in my lifetime. And as I said, I've realized so many times how fragile our lives can be, as also we could realize it's very much on our tour as well, because we had this man having a heart attack at our [December 1] show [in Bratislava, Slovakia]. But it was underlining this. I was just thinking with myself also, when that happened and when these other things happened in my life, that I don't want to regret anything in my life. I want to do things that make me happy. And when I'm doing those things, I can make other people around me happy. But if I always try to just make other people happy and then get depressed myself, it's not cool. And I want to encourage people to do this. Like I said in the news as well, that I wouldn't be Noora Louhimo or Mother Beast [Editor's note: a reference to Noora's stage person] if I didn't walk the talk, that I have been encouraging people to go to their dreams and stand behind themselves a hundred percent. And now I'm doing that and showing maybe some example to others."

Asked when she announced to the other members of BATTLE BEAST that she was planning to leave the band, Noora said: "I did announce this after the summer [of 2025], after the summer shows had been done. Because I wanted to have enough time with the guys to think through, what are we gonna do? And also with our record label and our agents and stuff like that. So this has been a long process, but I also definitely didn't want to say that, 'Okay, I'm leaving now,' and then new album was coming out and things like that. But I knew also that there is no right time for this kind of [announcement]."

Regarding her plans for the coming months, Noora said: "[I am] definitely now a hundred percent [focused on my] solo career. And I'm really excited about the future and, and things that will happen in the future. And I've got already so much music in my mind and in the works that will be released in the near future. And, yeah, a lot of different projects that I really want to get into."

As for a possible release date for her new solo music, Noora said: "When this year is done, then I will concentrate, focus totally on the songwriting process. But I definitely want to give people something before the whole album is released. So definitely [there will be] singles coming out."

On the topic of the musical direction of her new solo material, Noora said: "I really like to play around with different genres, as I have always done that. So I don't really want to label myself into anything specific, but I will definitely do something different as well. I will definitely do heavy metal in the future as well. I would really be interested in doing some like guest vocal stuff as a guest in some other projects and not necessarily put myself into, 'Now I'm in this band.' But now I just wanna fly free and try different things and experience different things. And in the future, because I want to be an artist that can do anything she wants, including heavy metal music, it's never out of question, so I will definitely do also heavy metal music. And just wait for it."

Noora has since been replaced in BATTLE BEAST by Marina La Torraca, a Brazilian vocalist from São Paulo, best known as the powerhouse frontwoman of modern metal band PHANTOM ELITE and as a member of the symphonic metal project EXIT EDEN.

BATTLE BEAST's first shows with Marina took place in March 2026 when the band hit Japan and Australia.

Louhimo joined BATTLE BEAST in 2012 with no previous experience as a metal vocalist but quickly acclimated herself as the replacement for Nitte Valo (a.k.a. Nitte Vänskä).

Nearly four years ago, Noora admitted publicly that she had been struggling with eating disorders and her weight since she was "a little child" and said that she was "still trying to find a balance." She added that she had "been depressed and anxious sometimes 'without a reason'."

Louhimo revealed in November 2023 that she had been diagnosed with a ruptured left carotid artery, causing the postponement BATTLE BEAST's tour.

BATTLE BEAST's seventh studio album, "Steelbound", came out in October 2025 via Nuclear Blast.

Photo credit: Marek Sabogal (courtesy of Nuclear Blast)

In a new interview with Mind Behind The Music, the podcast hosted by John White, an American guitarist and composer from Albany, New York, GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall confirmed that the band is still working on new music with Brett Carlisle, who was officially named the band's new vocalist in October 2022. Brett joined the group as the replacement for Andrew Freeman (ex-LAST IN LINE),who sang for GREAT WHITE for only five months. Asked if he and his GREAT WHITE bandmates have fully formed new songs ready to be released, Mark said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We have three ready to go, but we have seven on tape. That's just me and him. The other guys have — [GREAT WHITE rhythm guitarist/keyboardist] Michael Lardie has a bunch of stuff. So when you put it all together, we probably have 16 or 17 songs, maybe. Not all finished, not all totally finished, but I have three ready to go that we played in soundcheck and stuff. Not everything carved in stone yet, but just the basic ideas."

Regarding how the GREAT WHITE songs usually come together, Mark said: "I'll show them the riff at soundcheck and they just launch in and just start catching on. And you can kind of tell if it's gonna work or not just by the groove and stuff. I'm speaking through the music. I don't even have to say, 'Hey, check out this idea.' I just start playing, and they all come in."

On the topic of what it has been like to work with Carlisle, Kendall said: "He's been in the band almost four years. He's totally awesome, and it's just a blessing to keep this thing going. Our fans are so damn loyal. It's just incredible. Everywhere we go, there's tons of fans in front of the stage, so we're really having a good time."

After White noted that Carlisle is younger than the other members of GREAT WHITE, which probably brings back some of that passion and the energy that they had when they first started, Kendall concurred. "Oh, yeah. Not to mention, he's kind of an old soul in a way. It's kind of a trip. It's like he fits in — the way he looks and the way he sings, he fits in so good. I mean, even in photo shoots, it doesn't look that weird or anything. It's not like he's standing with CROSBY, STILLS & NASH or something, or THE ROLLING STONES or something like that. So it's kind of a trip in how well he fits for being such a young man. He just barely pushes 30. So, it's awesome. And he sings the songs perfect… So, in that regard, it's good for the band, 'cause they go see the show and they're going, 'This is what I heard on the radio all my life.' So, it works in that regard. But we're making new music in the studio, and he just sounds totally amazing on our new stuff, so we're real excited to have him in the band… We finally have a singer, after all these years, that's absolutely great. We're not just settling. The dude's badass, so that makes it really fun."

Asked if he thinks GREAT WHITE's musical direction has changed as a result of Carlisle's addition to the band, Mark said: "Not at all. We just write the best songs we can, and the best ones make the record. That's the way we've always been. Nothing has changed. He's an '80s rocker to his core, and all the little cover bands he's been in playing our type stuff, so he's all about it, man."

On the topic of Brett's live performance, Mark said: "He has killer energy. He's not scripted. In other words, in between the songs, he knows how to get the crowd going. He's very natural with that. And he really digs the fans. Nothing overwhelms the guy. He's just in the moment, and he's respectful. He's happy with his position in the band. Yeah, he has a lot of energy on stage, and he sings perfect every night. He loves all the '80s stuff, and he's really talented, man. Like, when I play him new stuff, he launches right in and starts... He hears it, you know? So he's really good in that way. Live, he's just all over the place on stage. He just rocks. [He's] just a good guy to be around."

This past March, Mark told the Thunder Underground podcast about the musical direction of the new GREAT WHITE music: "Well, there's stuff that really rocks, and then kind of mid-tempo stuff, kind of in the FOREIGNER range on a couple things. And then a couple of other things are almost like if our first album [1984's self-titled effort] and [1987's] 'Once Bitten' had a kid. The energy of our first album, but just a new flavor to it. We've got a couple of ballads, but they're more blues-type — real blues with killer hooks. We've got one song that's really cool. But it's not a sappy ballad, like a 'Save Your Love' type ballad. It's more slow blues with a groove or whatever, but I guess you could consider it a ballad. It's just the way the chord structures are. You'll be able to hear a lot of different sides to this guy's voice, which is kind of the idea. But we want it to rock. We wanna show a lot of energy too."

Earlier in March, Carlisle spoke to Seb Di Gatto of The Metal Gods Meltdown about his songwriting chemistry with Kendall and Lardie. He said: "Me and Mark, we write really well together. I live in Alabama, he lives in California, so there's a bunch of space between us, but he has sent me stuff and we've sent some things back and forth. We have finished three songs in, like, a matter of a few hours before, just writing. We clicked so well. And same with Michael. We work really well together. Me and Michael are better on harmonies. And we've had some really cool ideas as far as layers and feel kind of things. But Mark, he'll come up with a riff and he'll start scat singing over it and just kind of showing me what he's thinking about it. And so I'll take the syllables that he's saying and then turn it into a couple of words and then turn it into a chorus or something like that. And I'm, like, 'Okay, now I gotta make the rest of the song make sense. I've gotta make verses out of this, 'cause we have a chorus, we know what the song's about, so I need to write a song around whatever it is now.' And he just gets so stoked about it. It's cool."

Asked if fans can expect to get a new studio album from GREAT WHITE in 2026, Brett said: "We've recorded a couple of demos, but we haven't been to the 'studio studio' to lay down tracks. We have some songs to do it, and yes, that is the plan, but I can't say confidently any dates or when we will be doing it. But we have the stuff. And I think the hardest part of it is, because we all live so far apart and we play a lot of weekend shows, so we're usually home three or four days at a time, and so it's a lot to coordinate. But, yeah, we all wanna make it happen."

Carlisle made his live debut with GREAT WHITE on September 24, 2022 at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to Brett, he felt welcomed by his new bandmates and the GREAT WHITE fans from the get-go.

"After meeting [the GREAT WHITE guys], they're all super-cool dudes," he told Kevin McKay of the 99 Rock WKSM FM radio station. "In Vegas, we had a rehearsal the day before, and I already knew half the songs well enough to be able to do it. So I wanted to do the best that I could on 'em. But after we hung out, everybody was cool and stuff. I mean, it's a big crowd. I love big crowds; they're fun."

Carlisle has been playing guitar and singing since the age of eight and counts bands like VAN HALEN, SKID ROW and METALLICA as his main influences.

In May 2022, GREAT WHITE announced that it had parted ways with Malloy and had replaced him with Freeman. Malloy had been in GREAT WHITE for nearly four years, having joined the group in 2018 following the departure of Terry Ilous.

Ilous, frontman of '80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after stepping in for touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and 2017's "Full Circle", before Terry was dismissed from the group.

Fan-filmed video of MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH frontman Chad Gray's May 26 concert at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan can be seen below.

Gray launched his "30 Years Of Madness" series of live appearances on April 24 at the Fremont Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. The gig saw Gray backed by HELLYEAH guitarist Christian Brady, MUDVAYNE touring guitarist Marcus Raffety, drummer Devin Attard, guitarist Joe Bonasorte and bassist Nick Villarreal, among other musicians.

In a recent interview with Jesea Lee, Chad was asked if he is open to the idea of releasing new music under the Chad Gray banner. The singer responded: "I'm certainly not opposed to it. But just promoting music and everything is just done differently now. It's about having those tools. It's about having the right people plugged in to be able to let people know that you have new music.

"We released the new MUDVAYNE songs ['Hurt People Hurt People' and 'Sticks And Stones' in 2025], and everybody was super stoked about those. But I thought for sure 'Sticks And Stones' would be a Top 10 single, and it topped out at [Top] 20. It was weird, because everybody at radio fucking loved that track. It's just it's done a little bit differently now than it used to be. It's not saying that it's not able to be done now, because people do it. But I'm not sure we were plugged into completely that world."

Asked if the disappointing performance of "Hurt People Hurt People" and "Sticks And Stones" contributed to MUDVAYNE's decision to take a break from touring and recording in 2026, Chad responded: "No. Not at all. It was just merely, like, boom, boom, boom, boom. Four years in a row of just hitting it. Like, let's chill. Let's put it on ice for a minute and see what kind of opportunities come, having put it on ice for a year. Just see what happens. 'Cause we just headlined [a tour]. So who knows? [We weren't interested in] headlining again within such a short amount of time. We want things that we do to be successful, and we want people to be excited to see us, and sometimes when you kind of know you're gonna be able to see them next year, you kind of pass. 'Ah, maybe I'll pass this year, and I'll just go see them next year.' So it's just one of those things, where you're just, like, 'Eh.'"

Referencing his solo project, Chad said: "I'm excited. I'm excited about what we did. I'm excited I decided to do this. I think the fans really enjoyed [the first show]. I think the fans are gonna continue to enjoy it. I know I enjoyed it, and I'm gonna continue to enjoy it. And I think I'm doing it for the right reasons."

After Lee noted that some fans will likely be excited about the prospect of seeing songs from both MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH performed on the same night, Chad concurred. "That's exciting for me, too," he said. "You can't always guarantee that MUDVAYNE fans are gonna be HELLYEAH fans and that HELLYEAH fans are MUDVAYNE fans. They were two separate things. They were two completely kind of different things. And with HELLYEAH, it was funny, 'cause [late HELLYEAH and PANTERA drummer] Vinnie [Paul Abbott] used to say, like, 'Man, it's frustrating to me because people look at our band like a wall between me and PANTERA and you and MUDVAYNE.' And that's not what it is at all. It was just some dudes getting together in a room and going for it and just having some fun. But people did kind of look at it like, 'I'm not gonna like HELLYEAH because HELLYEAH is keeping Chad away from MUDVAYNE, or keeping Vinnie away from doing the PANTERA reunion,' or something like that. And we always wanted HELLYEAH to kind of stand on its own. That's why we never played MUDVAYNE songs and we never played PANTERA songs in our sets. We just wanted HELLYEAH to be what HELLYEAH was. It was a very true band that was real. There was a lot of passion in that project. It was a passion project, is what it really was. And there was a lot of passion in that project. We worked really hard in that band for fucking 12 years."

Back in March 2021, Gray released a solo single, a cover of "Always On My Mind" — a song made famous by Willie Nelson. The track was originally recorded for his fall 2020 wedding to SiriusXM on-air personality Shannon Gunz.

The "30 Years Of Madness" concerts mark Chad's first-ever solo performances and are taking place during a year when MUDVAYNE is not scheduled to do any touring. It is also an opportunity for Gray to play songs from HELLYEAH, which has been inactive since early 2020 when its U.S. tour was canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, Gray had reunited with his previous band MUDVAYNE, which played its first two shows in 12 years in 2021 and has since completed several tours, in addition to releasing the aforementioned two new songs, "Hurt People Hurt People" and "Sticks And Stones".

In a recent interview with "The David Ellefson Show", Gray was asked how the idea for his solo gigs came about, Chad said:  "Since we brought [MUDVAYNE] back in '21, we've done it once a year for the last four years. And it's just, like, management, everybody's just, like, 'We should probably give it a break. We should probably just take 2026 off.' And I'm just, like, I'm 54 fucking years old. I'm not taking a year off. That's like me putting my happiness in a cage for a year. That's where I shine. I love to service my fans. I love to fucking help however I can and give back. And just sitting around my fucking house with my thumb in my ass, doing fucking projects and shit, it's not the way I'm wired, man. I wanna work. I'm a worker bee."

Gray continued: "I was writing, recording or touring nonstop in one band or another for 20 fucking years. And Vinnie passed. It took a little bit [of time to get back into it]. I came back to the MUDVAYNE table, put that back together. And then we did it. And then we were off 46 weeks. And then we did it, and then we were off 46 weeks. And the old days of like writing, recording, touring, writing, recording, touring, which is what I loved, that was out the fucking window. So even though I'm going out once a year for six weeks or seven weeks or whatever, I'm just sitting around the fucking house all the time. So the whole idea of this, honestly, was when we said we were gonna take the year off, and it's just, like, I don't wanna do that."

Vinnie Paul recorded a total of six albums with HELLYEAH over a decade, including its latest, "Welcome Home", for which he laid down his drum tracks before his passing.

STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga stepped in as Vinnie Paul's replacement for the touring activity in support of "Welcome Home", which came out in September 2019.Mayorga previously played with HELLYEAH bassist Kyle Sanders in MEDICATION, the early 2000s outfit which also featured guitarist Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD) and singer Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE).

MUDVAYNE guitarist Greg Tribbett sat out the band's summer/fall 2025 "L.D. 50 25th Anniversary" tour after his wife reportedly lost her year-and-a-half-long battle with cancer.The "L.D. 50 25th Anniversary" tour kicked off on September 11, 2025 in Dubuque, Iowa and concluded on October 26, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

In 2024, Greg sat out the remaining shows on MUDVAYNE's "Destroy All Enemies" tour with MEGADETH due to what at the time was described as a "family issue". Filling in for him was Rafferty, who has served as a guitar tech for several metal bands over the years, including LAMB OF GOD and HATEBREED. He also worked for HELLYEAH, which originally featured both Tribbett and Gray.

"Sticks And Stones" and "Hurt People Hurt People" were released through Alchemy Recordings, a record label created in partnership between Dino Paredes, former American Recordings vice president of A&R, and Danny Wimmer, the founder of Danny Wimmer Presents, the premier production company for rock music festivals in the United States. Other Alchemy artists include STAIND and CHEVELLE.

Prior to the arrival of "Hurt People Hurt People", the reunited metallers hadn't put out any new material since 2009, which means more than a decade and a half had gone by without a single fresh MUDVAYNE song.

MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms.

L.A. GUNS will release a new live CD and DVD, "Live From The Guild Theatre", on July 3 via Cleopatra Records. Recorded on July 10, 2025 at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, California and celebrating the release of the band's then-new album "Leopard Skin", L.A. GUNS fire off killer versions of fan favorites, including "Electric Gypsy", "One More Reason", "The Ballad Of Jayne" and more.

The L.A. GUNS lineup for "Live From The Guild Theatre" consists of singer Phil Lewis, guitarist and band founder Tracii Guns, bassist Johnny Martin, guitarist Ace Von Johnson and touring drummer Shawn Duncan.

"Live From The Guild Theatre" track listing:

Disc 1 (CD)

01. Intro - Taste It
02. Cannonball
03. Electric Gypsy
04. Sex Action
05. Hellraisers Ball
06. Hit And Run
07. Like A Drug
08. Speed
09. One More Reason
10. Theremin Jam
11. Over the Edge
12. Guitar Solo
13. I Wanna Be Your Man
14. Lucky Motherfucker
15. Never Enough
16. The Ballad Of Jayne
17. Rip And Tear

Disc 2 (DVD)

01. Intro - Taste It
02. Cannonball
03. Electric Gypsy
04. Sex Action
05. Hellraisers Ball
06. Hit And Run
07. Like A Drug
08. Speed
09. One More Reason
10. Theremin Jam
11. Over The Edge
12. Guitar Solo
13. I Wanna Be Your Man
14. Lucky Motherfucker
15. Never Enough
16. The Ballad Of Jayne
17. Rip And Tear

For more information, visit cleorecs.com.

"Leopard Skin" was released in April 2025. It marked the first fruit of L.A. GUNS' reunion with Cleopatra Records, a label known for its diverse roster and innovative approach to music production.

Hot on the heels of 2023's "Black Diamonds" album, "Leopard Skin" was L.A. GUNS' fifth studio effort in seven years, since the core team of Lewis and Guns reunited in 2017. "Leopard Skin", like the last few L.A. GUNS records, reconvened the tight-knit lineup of Guns, Lewis, Martin, Von Johnson and studio drummer Adam Hamilton.

"Black Diamonds" came out in April 2023. It was the fourth studio album since the much-welcome reunion of the band's core foundation of Lewis and Guns. It followed the well-received studio albums "The Missing Peace", "The Devil You Know" and "Checkered Past", plus the live release "Made In Milan", and a covers EP "Another Xmas In Hell".

In April 2021, a settlement was reached between drummer Steve Riley and Guns and Lewis over the rights to the L.A. GUNS name. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Guns and Lewis continue to operate under the L.A. GUNS trademark, while Riley and his bandmates from the other version of L.A. GUNS were allowed to perform and record under the new name RILEY'S L.A. GUNS. Riley died in October 2023 at the age of 67.

L.A. GUNS was formed in 1983 and have sold over six million records, including 1988's "L.A. Guns" and 1990's "Cocked And Loaded", both of which were certified gold. "Cocked And Loaded" contained the hit single "The Ballad Of Jayne" that went to No. 33 on Billboard's Hot 100 and No. 25 on the Mainstream Rock charts. From the mid-'90s to the mid 2000s, L.A. GUNS continued to tour and release new music. Following their successful performance at SiriusXM's Hair Nation festival in September 2016, L.A. GUNS went into the studio to record the critically acclaimed "The Missing Peace", which was the highest-selling release for Frontiers Music Srl in 2017. Their 12th album, "The Devil You Know", was released in 2019 to the same critical acclaim.

Grammy-winning band, America, announces Halcyon Days, a collection of beloved hits arriving July 10 via Primary Wave on vinyl, CD, and all digital platforms.

Available for pre-save and pre-order now, the collection features 2011 re-recordings of their classic songs, including “A Horse With No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” “Tin Man,” and “Sister Golden Hair.” It also includes the bonus track “World Of Light,” available digitally for the first time today, alongside a new lyric video (watch below). America, with Dewey Bunnell at the helm, continues to celebrate its enduring legacy with tour dates throughout 2026.

The release arrives at a moment of renewed cultural momentum for the band, as “A Horse With No Name” continues to find new audiences online following a recent viral resurgence across social media. The iconic track has also earned “Billions Club” status, further cementing America’s enduring influence and cross-generational appeal.

Originally founded in 1970 by Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and the late Dan Peek, America became one of the defining voices of classic rock, earning global acclaim through their signature harmonies, vivid songwriting, and genre-blending sound that fused folk, pop, rock, and jazz influences. Across decades, the band’s music has remained a staple of radio, film, television, and popular culture. The band won the Grammy® Award for Best New Artist in 1972 and went on to create a celebrated run of albums and hit singles that helped shape the sound of the ’70s and early ’80s.

As further testament to the band’s lasting cultural impact, America’s music has been featured across film, television, and gaming for decades. Their recordings have appeared in acclaimed films including American Hustle, The Nice Guys, The Last Unicorn, Miss Stevens, and Girl Most Likely, as well as hit television series such as The Sopranos, Friends, Breaking Bad, BoJack Horseman, and Saturday Night Live. Their music has also been featured in major video game franchises, including Grand Theft Auto, continuing to introduce the band’s iconic catalog to new generations of listeners.



Tracklisting:

“A Horse With No Name”
“I Need You”
“Sandman”
“Ventura Highway”
“Tin Man”
“Sister Golden Hair”
“Daisy Jane”
“The Border”
“Survival”
“All My Life”
“Paradise”
“World Of Light”

Back On Black has announced the June 19 reissues of four titles from Danish thrash metal legends, Artillery, on vinyl and CD. Titles include Penalty By Perception, The Face Of Fear, X and Legions. Order here.

Danish Thrash pioneers Artillery return with a brutal and melodic reissue of their 2013 career-highlight, Legions. Originally marking the debut of powerhouse vocalist Michael Bastholm Dahl, this album is a furious, riff-laden showcase that bridges the gap between old-school technicality and modern speed metal.



Tracklisting:

“Chill My Bones (Burn My Flesh)”
“God Feather”
“Legions”
“Wardrum Heartbeat”
“Global Flatline”
“Dies Irae”
“Anno Requiem”
“Enslaved To The Nether”
“Doctor Evil”
“Ethos Of Wrath”
“The Almighty”
“Eternal War”

Originally released in 2016, Artillery’s eighth studio album Penalty By Perception solidified the band’s resurgence, offering a high-octane blend of technical proficiency, relentless thrash riffs, and melodic sensibilities. Back on Black is proud to present this special reissue, bringing one of the band’s most celebrated modern albums back to the forefront.

Recorded at Medley Studios in Copenhagen and produced by Søren Andersen (DA-T.A.C.), this album was lauded as a triumphant mix of old-school aggression and modern production. Featuring the iconic lineup of guitarists Michael and Morten Stutzer, this record is a “riffalicious” staple for fans of Testament, Exodus, and Anthrax.



Tracklisting:

“In Defiance Of Conformity”
“Live By The Scythe”
“Penalty By Perception”
“Mercy Of Ignorance”
“Rites Of War”
“Sin Of Innocence”
“When The Magic Is Gone”
“Cosmic Brain”
“Deity Machine”
“Path Of The Atheist”
“Welcome To The Mindfactory”

Danish thrash veterans Artillery return to the spotlight with a reissue of their critically acclaimed 2018 masterpiece, The Face Of Fear. This 9th studio album sees the band delivering a no-filler, “old school” approach recorded with long-time producer Søren Andersen at Medley Studios.

The Face Of Fear finds the band at their best, blending the rapid-fire technical riffing they are famous for with the melodic, soaring vocals of Michael Bastholm Dahl, who joined in 2012. The album is a “masterpiece” of traditional speed/power metal that satisfies fans of both modern and old-school thrash. Featuring the late Morten Stützer’s final work on a studio album, this reissue honors a crucial chapter in the band’s longevity.



Tracklisting:

“The Face of Fear”
“Crossroads To Conspiracy”
“New Rage”
“Sworn Utopia”
“Through The Ages Of Atrocity”
“Thirst For The Worst”
“Pain”
“Under Water”
“Preaching To The Converted”
“Mind Of No Return” (Rerecorded Version)
“Doctor Evil” (Rerecorded Version)

Nearly 40 years since their inception, Denmark’s Artillery proved they remain at the cutting edge of thrash with their 2021 masterpiece, X. Now, in 2026, this definitive 10th studio album returns, offering a blend of ruthless technicality, hook-laden songwriting, and pure molten metal. X delivers eleven tracks of relentless energy, combining classic 80s Thrash with the melody and complexity that defined their seminal works like By Inheritance.



Tracklisting:

“The Devil’s Symphony”
“In Thrash We Trust”
“Turn Up The Rage”
“Silver Cross”
“In Your Mind”
“The Ghost Of Me”
“The Force Of Indifference”
“Varg I Veum”
“Mors Ontologica”
“Eternal Nights”
“Beggars In Black Suits”

On May 30, 2026 at the legendary Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, THE DEAD DAISIES returned for a special night of rock featuring Glenn Hughes on vocals and bass. Glenn joined guitarist Doug Aldrich, drummer Tommy Clufetos and guitarist David Lowy for this rare, one-off performance delivering a thrilling 50/50 split set, kicking off with 10 of THE DEAD DAISIES' favorite tracks followed by almost as many iconic DEEP PURPLE classics.

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Unspoken
02. Resurrected
03. Chosen And Justified
04. My Fate
05. Fortunate Son (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL cover)
06. Born To Fly
07. Rise Up
08. Radiance
09. Hypnotize Yourself
10. Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)

DEEP PURPLE set

11. Stormbringer (DEEP PURPLE cover)
12. Sail Away (DEEP PURPLE cover)
13. Space Truckin' (DEEP PURPLE cover)
14. Gettin' Tighter (DEEP PURPLE cover)
15. Might Just Take Your Life (DEEP PURPLE cover)
16. Smoke On The Water (DEEP PURPLE cover)
17. Mistreated (DEEP PURPLE cover)
18. Highway Star (DEEP PURPLE cover)

Encore:

19. Long Way To Go
20. Burn (DEEP PURPLE cover)

Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below (uploaded by the SGE channel on YouTube).

Hughes exited THE DEAD DAISIES in May 2023 after a four-year run with the band. He has since been replaced by a returning John Corabi. It's Corabi's second stint THE DEAD DAISIES. He originally joined in 2015 and departed four years later to make way for Hughes.

In a recent interview with Illinois Entertainer, Hughes stated about the prospect of performing with THE DEAD DAISIES again: "It's great to be back with my friends. This is my family; I love everyone in THE DEAD DAISIES. Everyone is such a good friend of mine. So for me to go back and play the songs I did with THE DAISIES, and to, of course, play a set of DEEP PURPLE songs, is a miraculous achievement."

Speaking specifically about the selist for the Arcada show, Glenn said: "Joining this great idea of having two sets, DAISIES and then PURPLE, it's exhilarating for me. I think it's exhilarating for the people who are coming to see it. All the songs I did with PURPLE are classic songs, and I'm so grateful to have been in the band during that period of time. But there'll be some other classic songs as well. I'm smiling because it's a moment to celebrate both THE DEAD DAISIES and, of course, the era of DEEP PURPLE that I was in."

In a 2023 interview with Myglobalmind, Glenn stated about his decision to leave THE DEAD DAISIES: "I am primarily a solo artist, and I'm real comfortable being in that genre. When I joined THE DEAD DAISIES, David Lowy had me come in and write some songs, which turned out to be great. And we recorded 'Holy Ground'. And then the pandemic hit and we obviously did a second album [2022's 'Radiance'] and you saw some shows. In December [2022], David Lowy wanted to take a hiatus for six months, and it was at that time where I was getting a lot of offers to do my own work again. And Joe [Bonamassa] and I decided to do [the fifth] BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION [album]. So, at the beginning of [2023], I switched gears and started going back to my solo work and playing with my band, and writing with Joe.

"THE DEAD DAISIES will continue with my friend John Corabi, and I had nothing but great times with that band, but it was never going to be forever for me," Glenn explained. "I may have said before that BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION will be the last band I record with, and I believe that will be the truth. And with THE DEAD DAISIES, it was all good. We ended amicably. They didn't want me to go, but it was time for me to go back to my band."

In a new interview with MetalTalk editor Steve Ritchie, singer Andrew Freeman addressed LAST IN LINE drummer Vinny Appice's recent revelation that the band was looking for a new vocalist. Asked about his current status with the group which was originally formed by original DIO members Appice, Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Jimmy Bain (bass),Andrew said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "LAST IN LINE's not really doing anything. They haven't done anything in two years. I heard that they're looking for a new singer. But there's been no official announcement besides [Appice's] Eddie Trunk interview and a couple of other ones. But press didn't really pick up on it. So, who knows what's going on with that? He was also talking about chemtrails and some conspiracy theories as well. So, who knows what's going on with that?"

Andrew continued: "I am a free agent, as you would say. And I've always been a free agent. One thing [Vinny] did say [in the 'Trunk Nation' interview], which, I thought, was kind of complimentary, and maybe it wasn't meant to be, is that I'm my own thing. And he's right — I am my own thing, because when you work… We haven't done a gig in two years — literally two years this past weekend. We were working on a [fourth full-length] record, and that stalled. So I don't know. Anything that is going on with those guys could be settled with a conversation, as far as I'm concerned, because I was not really given any reason at all about what happened."

Freeman added: "After that many years, I kind of find it — I don't wanna say it the wrong way, but it's just not smart from a business standpoint, because you have established a brand over 14 years and you have brought a guy in who [got] accepted by your fans. So now, after all that time and three albums and an EP and all that touring and all that branding and promotion, and now you're gonna bring somebody else in, when you don't really work that much. So, again, I don't understand it. But I'm not really questioning it either. I've given up a lot of really good gigs to stay with that band and stay loyal to that band for a long time, at the loss of financial gain. And I've invested a lot of time and money into that project that doesn't really serve me, in a sense. It serves them, because if you read the articles, the interviews, the reviews, it's always about how great it is to hear Vivian and Vinny and Jimmy playing together, and I'm the side guy, basically. But I'm not the side guy; I'm an owner of the name and owner of the business. So it's gonna be difficult for them to do that. And the amount of time they invest in it is really not going to... If they invest the same amount of time they've been investing in it in the past six years, I'd say, and before that… It was even less the past six years, but before that it was minimal as well… In my opinion, they're not gonna do much, unless there's some grand plan that I don't know about. But as long as [Vivian's main band] DEF LEPPARD is a viable touring act, [LAST IN LINE] is good for about five to 10 shows a year."

After Ritchie noted that little had been heard from LAST IN LINE since the release of the band's latest album, "Jericho", which came out in March 2023 via earMUSIC, Andrew concurred. "Yeah," he said. "In that time, Viv got sick and had the cancer diagnosis and had treatment. In the two years that we've been down, he had a pretty intense cancer treatment and was out of commission for a while. And, obviously, we all agreed — his health comes first. And again, this is a side project, so we're not gonna push him. So, obviously we want him to be healthy. So I don't know. I don't know where to go with it. So, it wasn't all about, 'We're not working, we're not working.' Again, I don't see where it's gonna be a viable thing. If you have people in place that know what to expect, then maybe it would go. Who knows?"

Freeman was an original member of LAST IN LINE, which he formed in 2012 with Appice, Campbell and Bain — Ronnie James Dio's co-conspirators and co-writers on the "Holy Diver", "Last In Line" and "Sacred Heart" albums. LAST IN LINE's initial intent was to celebrate Ronnie James Dio's early work by reuniting the members of the original DIO lineup. After playing shows that featured a setlist composed exclusively of material from the first three DIO albums, the band decided to move forward and create new music in a similar vein.

The news of Freeman's departure from LAST IN LINE was shared by Appice in an April 2026 interview with the Denim And Leather rock and metal podcast. Speaking about LAST IN LINE's current status, Vinny said: "We're looking for a singer for LAST IN LINE. So, Phil [Soussan, current LAST IN LINE bassist], Vivian and myself, we're on the lookout and listening to different singers."

Asked if there are plans for LAST IN LINE to record a new album as the follow-up to "Jericho", which came out in March 2023 via earMUSIC, Vinny said: "Yeah. We have a deal in place with earMUSIC, but we're making this change. And we're gonna wait until we settle down with a new singer and write some stuff and then record it. And then do some dates."

Vinny first brought up the fact that LAST IN LINE was looking for a new vocalist during a March 25 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He stated at the time about LAST IN LINE's current status: "We parted ways with Andy Freeman, the singer, and we're looking for singers, actually, right now. So we have a deal in place. And Viv's busy — he was busy with [DEF] LEPPARD and he's doing a lot of rally racing, so we're trying to schedule finishing our next record and then playing some dates. 'Cause we have a lot of fun playing. It's great to play with Viv again. It's awesome. So that's what we're doing right now."

After "Trunk Nation" host Eddie Trunk brought up the fact that Freeman is busy playing with "a couple of tribute bands", Vinny said: "He's playing a Dio show [with a band called] DIO RULES. He didn't really wanna play that stuff with us, which is — go figure — and now he's doing all Dio stuff. Crazy."

Asked what happened between Freeman and the rest of LAST IN LINE to cause the singer's departure, Vinny said: "Yeah, [there was] a lot of tension between us, and the last show, one of the last shows [we played], [at] the M3 [festival in Maryland in 2024], there were things he commented to the audience, and people were scratching their heads, going, 'What's up with that?' He's his own thing. So finally we just said, 'It'd be a lot smoother to find another singer.' So that's what we're doing."

As for whether LAST IN LINE already has "any prospects" in mind as a potential replacement for Freeman, Appice said: "No, we don't have any prospects. If you know anybody, you could text me, that might fit the bill. We're gonna have to set something up. Maybe we can get some videos and stuff. Kind of like SKID ROW did — they set something up, and people are sending in videos, singing and all that. We have a couple of guys, but we're waiting to see if that's gonna work out. But we'll see."

Last November, Freeman was asked about LAST IN LINE's status in an interview with the Talkin' Bout Rock With Rob Edwards podcast. He said at the time: "I don't have any information, honestly. I wish I could tell you more. We started working on a record [in 2024]. So, that's kind of where we're at. It's a side project. [There is] not a lot of information there right now. So [we're] just working on a record."

Andrew continued: "It's not a place where you can make a living, that's for sure. Again, it's a side project, so you try to facilitate it when it comes.

"For me, I was put in a position, [with] the original DIO band getting back together and me being at the helm of it was quite an honor, for me as a fan of that band," Freeman added. "So, I just kind of feel like I have an obligation to facilitate it for as long as it goes. So if I can do that and try to do gigs around it and make it make sense when it makes sense, we'll continue on. But, honestly, it's all about what Vivian wants to do, if he wants to continue on, if he's got the time to continue on. He's a race car driver now too, so between his day job and his race car driving, there's really not a lot of time to do anything."

In June 2025, Freeman disputed Campbell's claim that LAST IN LINE's fourth album was already written. He said in a social media update at the time:  "LAST IN LINE, as previously reported by one of the members of the band, he said we have a whole record done. Well, we don't have a whole record done. We have four songs that we've done. I know that we don't have a whole record done because I haven't fucking wrote it yet. So, yeah, we have four songs done. We're working on an album."

Andrew continued: "Obviously, Viv was sick for a while [battling Hodgkin's lymphoma] and recovering from his bone marrow transplant and all of that stuff. So he is a hundred percent now, from what I understand, and is going to be going back out with DEF LEPPARD. And we had decided that we were taking a break and his health was the most important thing — obviously — which I fully support. So the guy needs to be better and well, and we are obviously a side project to his bigger job, which is why I am doing a lot of other things. So, when those guys are ready to go and make it happen, I'm in. But, obviously, the man's health comes first, and we're not gonna rush it."

Freeman added at the time: "That's the beauty of LAST IN LINE, is that we can do it whenever we want. It's a cool gig and I'm really happy to be a part of it and proud to be a part of it, to be able to enable that thing to happen with those dudes. They're the classic [DIO] lineup. This thing has roots way back into some of the greatest bands in rock history, so it's an honor for me to do it. But we don't have much happening. As far as [LAST IN LINE] gigs, there's not gonna be any gigs this year, and there might not be any next year. But, again, working on an album, and when those guys are ready to go, I'm ready to go. So we'll keep you posted on that."

During a June 11, 2025 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Vivian confirmed that he and LAST IN LINE bandmates were working on material for a possible fourth studio album. Asked what was going on with LAST IN LINE, Vivian said: "Not a lot, actually. There hasn't a lot been going on. Our last show was the first week of May last year at the M3 festival in Baltimore. Then right after that, I went touring with LEPPARD all through the summer, and, obviously, right after the summer tour with LEPPARD, I was dealing with [undergoing a bone marrow] transplant [as part of Vivian's battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma] and the chemo and stuff. So it's basically my fault [we haven't done more]. [Laughs] I've gotta kind of schedule things and get us back up and started again."

He continued: "But the short answer is we probably won't do anything this year. We're working on a record. We actually wrote the songs so long ago, I've practically forgotten them, but we do have an album written. We have four master tracks that we're currently working on. And the ball is in my court. I've gotta do guitar on those tracks. I've only done one so far. So once those four are finished, we'll probably release 'em, actually. I mean, we did write an album's worth of music, but I'm not sure if we'll put it all out as one thing. We might release it piecemeal, because getting back to albums and stuff, when you put out a record, it's just got such a short shelf life nowadays. So maybe it might be more beneficial for us to release two, three or four tracks at a time. And hopefully next year we'll get back into doing some shows. But it's been rough since our last show. We lost our road manager, roadie guy. It's not like DEF LEPPARD. We travel in sprinter vans and we have one roadie. And his name was Mark Weber, and, unfortunately, he passed away last July. And so next time we do go play, we'll be playing without Mark."

Campbell added: "It's been a rough ride with LAST IN LINE with the attrition rate. We lost [original LAST IN LINE bassist] Jimmy Bain to cancer on the eve of the release of our debut album. And we lost our manager, Steve Strange, three years ago to cancer. And now we lost Mark. But having said all of that, it is very, very cathartic for me to play on stage with LAST IN LINE. It really exercises the muscle of guitar playing furiously. It keeps me sharp and on top of my ga.me And the travel's hard, back-to-back shows, five or six hours every day in a sprinter van, cheese sandwiches, no sleep, but when we're on stage, it is just electrifying for me to play. It just kind of recharges my batteries. And then when I go back to DEF LEPPARD, I feel so, so confident about my playing again. So, yeah, I'd like to get back at it. I do miss it, to be honest. And there will be new music."

"Jericho" was helmed by Chris Collier, who has previously worked with KORN and WHITESNAKE, among other bands. LAST IN LINE's first two albums were produced by former DOKKEN and current FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson.

In 2022, LAST IN LINE surprised fans by releasing a unique version of THE BEATLES classic "A Day In The Life", which was made available on the limited 12-inch silver collector's EP with the same name.

LAST IN LINE's debut album, "Heavy Crown", was released in February 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl, landing at No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Initially, the release had been preceded by tragedy when Bain unexpectedly died at the age of 68 on January 23, 2016. LAST IN LINE, honoring what they knew would be Bain's wish to keep the band moving, brought in Soussan and committed to sustained touring in support of the album before beginning work on the follow-up release, 2019's "II", which was also made available through Frontiers Music Srl.

In the fall of 2024, Soussantold Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of Rock Interview Series about the progress of the songwriting sessions for LAST IN LINE's fourth studio album: "We had got together, and in the crazy way that we do, we usually get together and get into a room. And we don't really bring in ideas. We just get into a room and plug in and start banging around and seeing what comes out, seeing what sounds cool. And we've got a whole bunch of embryonic ideas, and so we're working that at the moment. We do have to work around the DEF LEPPARD schedule, obviously; that's part of the parcel of what we do, and it's fine. And Viv has some personal things that he has to do as well, which is not my business to talk about. So that's going to mean where it's gonna be a little hard for us to get together as much to do this record. However, the 'Jericho' album, we got together and recorded half of those ideas just before the pandemic. It wasn't a plan. We found ourselves in L.A. 'Let's go into a studio and let's just do that.' And it turned out to be somewhat prophetic because of what happened with the pandemic. At least we had half an album to work on. But in the process of doing that, we found that we were able to work on a record remotely, using file transfers and doing things. So, half of 'Jericho' was done that way. And a lot of this album is probably going to be done in a similar kind of way as well."

Asked if there has been any thoughts of maybe going out on a tour opening for a bigger band and getting more exposure to LAST IN LINE, Phil said: "It would be great, if it would work out and if everything made sense. Just prior to the pandemic, we were really on a good roll, and we had been going to Europe quite a lot and we had done tours opening for SAXON, for example, that was just terrific. It was a lot of fun for everyone on the tour together, and we had a great time. When that whole period came along, it really disrupted a lot of our plans. We had plans to go to South America, to Japan and back to Europe, a bunch of festivals in Europe, and all of that vaporized. And it's been hard trying to get that impetus back on track again. Not for any crazy reasons. One of the reasons, which is no secret, it's extremely expensive to try to get to Europe now, what with the kind of costs involved in touring — the fuel costs and the transportation costs and the way that the exchange rates have been, it's almost been a little prohibitive. And we've sort of been waiting for an opportunity to be able to go there and do that. We'd love to, sooner rather than later, I hope. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Regarding how difficult is it for a band at the level of LAST IN LINE to make a profit going out on the road, Phil said: "It's not really about making a profit. It's about, basically, being able to cover everything, cover all the expenses. We're very passionate about what we do, and I think I am personally, and that's always been my mantra, is to be passionate about what I'm doing and let the money take care of itself. So it's not just about trying to make money, but sometimes it's just cost prohibitive to be able to do something. I mean, if you figure the expenses of — I don't wanna get into details, but once you start adding these numbers up, then you realize it's going to be really in the whole to do a tour. But if we can cover it and get close to covering it, then that's fine. I mean, thank God that we don't all live paycheck to paycheck and we're able to be able to do these things and get together with our fans in a way that works for everyone. I mean, that's the most important thing, is getting the music in front of the people who love our band and being able to find a way to do it."

In 2023, Vivian told Classic Rock magazine about the "Jericho" songwriting process: "One thing we insist on in LAST IN LINE is that we have to be in the room together when we cut the tracks, old school, because that's how we did the early DIO records with Ronnie [James Dio]. We started this record in January 2020 in L.A., intending to finish it that April, and then obviously COVID happened and things got… discombobulated. It wasn't until February 2022 that we were able to get back into the studio, but that break only made the record stronger."

Photo credit: Jim Wright (courtesy of earMUSIC)

In a new interview with Robert Filipowski of Poland's link textTeraz Rock, P.O.D. vocalist Sonny Sandoval confirmed that the band has completed work on a new studio album. The recording sessions for the follow-up to 2024's "Veritas" took place in the Whitman section of South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Grammy-winning music producer and engineer Will Yip at his new Memory Music Studios. Sonny said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We actually finished [recording the new LP]. We spent a couple of weeks in Philadelphia. It was our first time recording outside of California. And it came out more incredible than we had ever planned. I think we were more prepared to go into the studio this time. We had already done writing on tour. Vocally, I had finished about nine songs here at home. The producer is Will Yip. He just won 'Best Rock Album' with TURNSTILE, he won a Grammy for 'Best Rock Album'. But we had already been friends prior and agreed to work together even before all of that. And so we went with him."

Elaborating on how P.O.D. approached the recording sessions for the upcoming LP, Sonny said: "We only had two weeks. And we didn't even think we'd finish the record. We just wanted to get started, but we went in, and because we were so prepared, and Will is such a genius, we finished the whole record. And so now we're done, with 13 songs ready to be mixed and mastered. And so hopefully you'll start hearing songs soon enough. But it's heavy, but also it's extremely beautiful. I'm singing in ways that I've never done before, and it's... [Will] really pushed me to do that. It's the first time [P.O.D. guitarist] Marcos [Curiel] ever wrote on a seven-string guitar, so we have about six or seven songs on a seven-string [guitar]. And, yeah, it's amazing. I would even dare to say it could be the best album that we've ever written."

Asked if there is a timeline as to when the new P.O.D. album is going to be released or when the first single will arrive, Sonny said: "I know we will probably start releasing singles, just waterfalling it, but we're already coming into all of our touring in Europe, and the holidays will be here. And so, if I was to guess, I would guess maybe the first quarter of next year, but that allows us to release three or four songs beforehand, which we like doing. We like sending out songs and just getting people familiar with it. But we'll be touring our butts off up until then. We'll most likely will land an amazing tour to support it. And, yeah, I can't wait for the whole world to hear it."

Last month, Curiel told the 99.7 The Blitz radio station about P.O.D.'s upcoming LP: "We did vocals, guitars, bass, everything that needed to be recorded, in 12 days in Philadelphia. Now it's going to mix. And we went in with Will Yip. Will Yip, actually, his latest claim to fame is he got a couple of Grammys for TURNSTILE. And he also produced a lot of hardcore bands like TITLE FIGHT and QUICKSAND and all that. We went to Philly and recorded a record that we had been writing since October, and we just banged it out. We're, like, 'Hey, we got a little window. Let's go.'"

As for a possible release date for the new P.O.D. album, Marcos said: "We don't have a release date. We don't have a title yet, but it's coming. And I think we're gonna hopefully release a new song just to the public in August. And we're excited about it because we really feel strongly about this new music."

Asked how the new P.O.D. album will be different from "Veritas", Marcos said: "I think that's ['Veritas'] kind of the introduction of where we were into where we were headed. Now this new album is an extension of that, but fresh."

He added: "We're excited. We can't wait for people to hear it, 'cause as an artist, people are, like, 'Oh, yeah, you're playing all your bangers, all your big hits.' We're grateful. Those songs are timeless, but we're not done. We wanna create, we wanna create music that rocks, and hopefully people love it as much as we did creating it and playing it."

Earlier in May, Curiel told SWOMP about working with Yip: "Will is credited for pretty much working from everything from CIRCA SURVIVE, Anthony Green, QUICKSAND, CODE ORANGE, TITLE FIGHT, and most recent, his biggest accolades, Grammys for TURNSTILE. And now he's working with P.O.D.

"It wasn't, like, 'Oh, we're gonna get with Will 'cause he's a Grammy [nominee]...' It was because we've been fans of his work, but he was also a fan of our band," Marcos explained. "And when the opportunity arose, he took it, and was, like, 'Dude, I love your band. I wanna produce you guys.' And we were, like, 'Let's go.' And we're super excited about it."

Regarding the recording process for P.O.D.'s upcoming album, Marcos said: "I can say this proudly, we did a record — 13, 14 songs — all tracked, vocals, drums, and guitars, in 12 days. It kind of set the tone, like, it's good to be prepared. I kind of like it… And the songs came out so dope. We're extremely proud of it, dude."

On the topic of what it was like for P.O.D. to record outside of California for the first time, Marcos said: "[It was] awesome, actually."

P.O.D. bassist Mark "Traa" Daniels chimed in: "Sometimes it's good to get out of our element. It's easy in California, because everything's there. Our family's there, so it was good to get out of our element, be in a situation where we can pull 10-, 12-hour shifts and have nowhere to go."

Marcos added: "We had a 10-minute walk every morning from our Airbnb to the studio. And we got to soak in the community and the culture and the vibe of South Philly. I felt like Rocky sometimes, bro [a reference to the fictional movie character who has become the city's unofficial underdog mascot]… But the streets were just like that. We were, like, 'Look at these houses.' So much culture and vibe there, bro."

Asked what Yip brought out of P.O.D. throughout the recording process, Marcos said: "He's heavily invested. He understands our band. That was one of the key things that kind of enticed me as a writer, as a musician. He started way back with [1990s hip-hop label] Ruffhouse [Records, home to THE FUGEES, CYPRESS HILL and Lauryn Hill], so he has that whole hip-hop background and foundation. Lauryn Hill, FUGEES, all that stuff. But then he has this indie rock and punk rock, post-hardcore, hardcore vibe. We thought it would be a perfect thing for our band. And when we got with him, we weren't mistaken. It was a good vibe, just everything. Vibe, cultural, food-wise. He's a foodie. So there's things you're passionate in life. There's food, then there's music and your family. He's all of those things… He wasn't trying to change us. He was, like, 'This is what P.O.D. is. Let's try to enhance that and make it fresh.'"

Sonny Sandoval added: "It was so good. And he's a fan of our band, which, it was inspiring. His energy was inspiring. A lot of producers, they're just jaded, and a lot of it is all, as Marcos says, transactional. They do a record because they get paid. It's money, and they're trying to build their catalog. But [Will is], like, 'I only wanna work with bands that I actually respect and like.'

Marcos continued: "It was a team effort. His positivity is very contagious in a great way, man."

P.O.D. released a studio version of its rendition of THE BEATLES classic "Don't Let Me Down" last September.

In May 2024, P.O.D. released its eleventh album, "Veritas", via Mascot Records. The album was a Top 10 hit across the U.S. Billboard Current Hard Rock, Current Rock, and Current Alternative album charts.

P.O.D. released several singles from the album including "Drop", "Afraid To Die", "I Got That" and "I Won't Bow Down".

"Drop" featured a vocal feature from LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe, while "Afraid To Die" featured JINJER vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk.

Photo credit: Alicia Hauff

A Meal Train fundraiser has been launched for former SNOT and SEVENDUST guitarist Sonny Mayo, who recently suffered a heart attack and is recovering after undergoing emergency triple bypass heart surgery.

Organizer Megan Wright wrote: "Our dear friend Sonny suffered a heart attack and had a life saving triple bypass surgery. Please support Lara and Sonny while he recovers over the next couple months. The first month home will be full time care taking for Lara and will be the highest risk for infections and sickness so bringing meals to them will support his recovery tremendously! If you can't bring a meal please continue to cover them in prayer!"

A heart bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, is used to improve blood flow to the heart. A surgeon uses blood vessels taken from another area of the body to bypass the damaged arteries.

The term triple bypass refers to the number of coronary arteries bypassed in the procedure. In other words, a triple bypass means three coronary arteries are bypassed.

Back in 2018, Mayo was diagnosed with a genetic coronary artery disease after suffering two heart attacks over the previous several years. He then decided to try a new form of treatment in 2019: stem cell therapy.

After experiencing unpleasant side effects from heart medications, Sonny was introduced to stem cell therapy through listening to a Joe Rogan podcast. Raising money through GoFundMe, he was able to take a trip to Panama and receive stem cell therapy which had not yet been legal in the United States.

Mayo left SNOT in April 2025, just three months after the reactivated band played its first gig. The news of Mayo's departure was broken by SNOT guitarist Mikey Doling who said that Mayo "decided to quit SNOT" because "SNOT doesn't fit into his life right now, and he just wants to focus on himself and his life. And SNOT's just too busy for him to be able to continue." Mayo has since been replaced by Doc Coyle of GOD FORBID and BAD WOLVES fame.

Mayo was fired from SEVENDUST in March 2008 — just one week prior to the release of the group's "Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow" album, which he wrote and recorded with the Atlanta-based band. He was replaced by SEVENDUST's original guitar player, Clint Lowery, who was previously with the group from their inception in 1995 until December 2004.

Mayo was in SEVENDUST for three years — long enough to appear on three of the band's full-length albums: "Next" (2005) on the now-defunct Winedark Records; "Alpha" (2007) on 7Bros. Records, SEVENDUST's wholly owned label through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group; and the aforementioned "Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow" which came out in April 2008 on 7Bros/Asylum.

During a May 21 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", legendary rocker Alice Cooper weighed in on the growing popularity of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in music, particularly as relates to its possibilities and its implications in terms of the way we make, produce and distribute music. Alice said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, here's the deal. I could right now create a rock star. I could create a Yungblud, a guy that's really appealing, rock, tough, cool looking. I could create a guy named — I don't care — Starboy or whatever, and make him look great. He doesn't actually exist. I could tell the A.I., 'I want him to sound like Tom Petty and Freddie Mercury. And here's what the album's about. Write the songs.' Okay, now you've got a rock star that doesn't exist, and you've got an album that doesn't exist except in this world. And what happens if it sells? Who gets the money? A.I. wrote the songs. This guy had nothing to do with the creativity of the songs. So who's gonna get that money? They have to write the check to the A.I.? That's gonna happen. You watch that happen, because the guy that just suggested what it should be did not write the songs."

Cooper continued: "If I could tell it to write a song about Eddie Trunk joining THE ROLLING STONES, they would write you a great song — except for one thing. The one thing it can't do — it's never been in love. It's never had its heart broken. It's never been angry. It's never been happy. It only knows words. And it only knows how to put words together. But it has no emotion. It has no heart, it has no feel, has no soul to it, and that's where it dies right there. That's why you could put an album out and you listen to it and go… You know that it doesn't come from any root inside, any heart, any experience. When they get that, then I think… I don't know what's going to happen to music."

Cooper's definitive autobiography, "Devil On My Shoulder", will be published by Ebury Spotlight on October 8, 2026.

Building on over sixty years of rock folklore, Cooper will support the book's launch with an intimate eight-date U.K. speaking tour. Each evening will feature the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee in conversation with a special guest moderator, followed by an audience question-and-answer session, offering fans a rare glimpse behind the greasepaint and guillotines.

No stranger to doing things his own way, Alice Cooper has cast a long shadow over rock music with an unrivaled live show and timeless anthems like "School's Out", "No Mr. Nice Guy" and "Poison". Selling over 50 million albums worldwide, he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2003, and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inducted him as part of its class of 2011. Boasting one of the most influential catalogues in history, Rolling Stone cited 1971's platinum-certified "Love It To Death" among the "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time", while other platinum releases spanned the seminal "Killer" (1971),"School's Out" (1972),the Billboard 200 No. 1 "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973),"Welcome To My Nightmare" (1975) and "Trash" (1989),to name a few. The latter even graced Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums Of All Time."

He's so embedded in generations of popular culture that he not only made a cult-classic appearance in "Wayne's World" during 1992, but he also starred alongside John Legend and Sara Bareilles in NBC's 2018 production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert" — and also memorably appeared on both "The Muppets" and "That 70s Show!" as well as in Tim Burton's "Dark Shadows" film. Beyond hundreds of syncs, everyone from Etta James, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, MEGADETH and THE FLAMING LIPS has covered his tunes. THE BEASTIE BOYS, DISTURBED, and countless others have sampled him. His collaborators have notably included the late Vincent Price, AEROSMITH, GUNS N' ROSES and Jon Bon Jovi, to name just a few. Plus, he co-founded HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES alongside AEROSMITH's Joe Perry and Johnny Depp. Most recently, 2025's "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" reunited the surviving members of the original ALICE COOPER band to widespread critical acclaim. After thousands upon thousands of gigs and easily a million miles traveled, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee continues ever onwards into rock 'n' roll folklore.