ALTER BRIDGE drummer Scott Phillips has weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

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

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

Phillips discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in an interview with Danny Wimmer Presents, conducted at last month's Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida where both PANTERA and ALTER BRIDGE were performing. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's incredible. And I feel like if you're gonna pay tribute to the Abbott brothers, picking Charlie from ANTHRAX, who's really nailing Vinnie's parts, and Zakk Wylde on guitar… I mean, I couldn't think of two better people to fill those roles and pay tribute to Dime and Vinnie."

He continued: "I'm excited to see it. We've got a couple of other shows, I think, that we're doing in Europe over the summer where we're gonna get a chance to see them as well. But tonight being the first night definitely will be a special one."

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

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

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

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

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

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

On June 21st, In Flames performed at Liseberg in Gothenburg, Sweden. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"The Beginning of All Things That Will End"
"The Great Deceiver"
"Everything's Gone"
"Where the Dead Ships Dwell"
"Darker Times"
"End The Transmission" (live debut)
"Behind Space"
"Cloud Connected"
"Only for the Weak"
"Foregone Pt. 1"
"State of Slow Decay"
"Alias"
"The Mirror's Truth"
"I Am Above"
"Take This Life"







In Flames recently announced they have parted ways with bassist, Bryce Paul. A message from the band follows...


"Jesterheads, We want to inform you that our brother Bryce Paul has decided to step away from the band. We wish him well on his future endeavours and thank him for everything he put into the band the last several years. Our friend Liam Wilson (The Dillinger Escape Plan) will be stepping in to help us out this summer!"


Find In Flames' complete tour itinerary here.

Voraath, the brutal horror-inspired extreme metal band featuring members from Xael, Rapheumets Well, Implosive Disgorgence, and Sweet Blood has announced new vocalist Chelsea Marrow (Visitant, The Monster Factory - Death Metal Choir for the video game DOOM Eternal) to their lineup. To debut her vocal prowess they are unleashing a re-envisioned, remixed, and remastered version of the single and music video "Siren Head" along with the addition of guest melodic vocals from Taylor Presnell to be distributed by Exitus Stratagem Records.





Band founder and drummer Joshua Ward comments:




"This was the first song we wrote as a band, it was a fun song inspired by our children who were fans of the horror creature ‘Siren Head,’ which is a creature developed by Trevor Henderson. So for us, this was a bonding song for us and our kids. Our lore features interdimensional deities anyways so it was not out of our conceptual scope to write a song about Siren Head. With our new vocalist bringing so much to the table and revitalizing the project, we wanted to remake the song to introduce her sound and stylistic approach to our music, setting the pace for what's to come with the full album."


Voraath is an otherworldly and experimental death metal band that brings together emotional yet brutal music and science fantasy appealing to both metal enthusiasts as well as those who appreciate the lore of the music. The band's origin began with an idea to merge extreme metal with storytelling by band founder and drummer Joshua Ward (Xael).


"I wanted to create more than just another metal band but an intricate brand with lore to explore alongside the music. We are creating a metal multiverse," adds Ward.


Integrating science fantasy, soundscapes, and metal, Voraath looks forward to tantalizing audiences and leaving them anticipating their forthcoming debut album, which is currently in the works.


As they tour across the American Midwest, they promise an onslaught of theatrics, bringing their stories of the music to life. Atmospheric and driving, the medley of blast beats, chugging bass, and heavily distorted solos will be both intense and immersive.


"Our stage wear is directly from the lore. Each one of us is a character in the lore of our music. Tactical dystopian armor, Alien-like helmets with red glowing lights, we try to represent the vibe we are writing about," says Ward.


Lineup:
Chelsea Marrow - Vocals
Tylor Kohl - Guitar
Paul McBride - Bass
Joshua Ward - Drums, Keys, Vocals, Studio Guitars


(Photo – Picture: Jamie Leblanc, Art: Joshua Ward)

Watch Vio-Lence perform “Eternal Nightmare” and “Kill On Command” at hometown show in Oakland, CA at the Oakland Metro Opera for the 35th Anniversary of their 1988 debut Eternal Nightmare. 


Videos courtesy of Jessica Chase:










Eternal Nightmare was originally released in ’88 via Mechanic Records and peaked at #154 on the Billboard 200. 


Lineup:


Vocals- Sean Killian
Guitar- Phil Demmel
Guitar- Ira Black
Bass- Christian Olde Wolbers
Drums- Adrian Aguilar

In a new interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix spoke about how living through the coronavirus pandemic felt like being in a Stephen King movie. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Absolutely, man. Absolutely. My gut tells me that there wasn't a lot of honesty coming from our leaders. I'll tell you that. My gut tells me that this seemed like a great time for the rich to get rich and for the people that have control to just kind of tighten the grip. So, that's what my gut's telling me. Is that true? I don't know. But sometimes… My mama told me, man, you've gotta listen to your gut."

Back in May 2017, less than three years before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Shaddix told NME that he didn't identify with any political party in the U.S. "I'm on the ticket of 'none of the above,'" he said at the time. "I am really not impressed with American politics and American politicians. The state of affairs is really fucking depressing, and it saddens me."

Shaddix went on to criticize the then-presidency of Donald Trump, saying he was unimpressed by the real estate mogul's administration of the executive branch.

"The current administration just seems like a fucking shit show and I am not impressed," he said. "I am not a fan and I think we have a long way to go."

In July 2019, Shaddix and his PAPA ROACH bandmates used their own lyrics to poke fun of Trump, turning the then-president's tweet about "NO COLLUSION, NO OBSTRUCTION, TOTAL EXONERATION. DEMOCRAT WITCH HUNT!" into the words of their 2000 smash "Last Resort".

Earlier this year, Shaddix told U.K.'s Express that he struggled to keep himself in a positive headspace throughout 2020. "The pandemic, for me, had an effect of me spending a lot of time alone in my head," he said. "And that's not really a good place for a person like myself. Ruminating on negativity is one of my downfalls, and I really had to stop myself from spiraling into a really dark space. I struggled for a while."

He revealed that, despite having his family and friends around him, the fact that the biggest aspects of his life (touring, writing, recording, performing, et al) were all "torn away" from him, was too much to handle. "I think a lot of people could identify right?" he went on. "We have this life and this routine and then all of a sudden it's like — nope, you're fucking locked away. It's not good for the spirit, not good for the soul."

PAPA ROACH recently announced the digital deluxe edition of the band's eleventh studio album "Ego Trip", and the long-awaited release date of "Ego Trip" standard edition on vinyl. The 20-track digital deluxe release features remixed versions of songs from the original record, as well as new music.

An album that sprouted almost by mistake in the throes of a global lockdown, "Ego Trip"'s seeds were planted when the quartet entered a COVID-secure mansion in Temecula, California in the summer of 2020. What started as an escape and an exercise in keeping the creative juices flowing, in a world that had completely ground to a halt, quickly grew into something bigger.

PAPA ROACH are two-time Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling leaders in alternative hard rock music, who in 2020 celebrated the 20th anniversary of their iconic album "Infest".

DEF LEPPARD has shared the seventh behind-the-scenes video from the band's "The World Tour", featuring footage from concerts at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden (June 7),Rockfest in Helsinki, Finland (June 9) and Trondheim Rocks in Trondheim, Norway (June 11).

DEF LEPPARD and MÖTLEY CRÜE's co-headline tour hit Latin America and is making its way around Europe before it comes to the U.S. in August. Produced by Live Nation, the U.S. leg of the world tour kicks off on August 5 in Syracuse, New York.

This past February, MÖTLEY CRÜE and DEF LEPPARD played two shows at the 7,000-capacity Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Atlantic City gigs marked MÖTLEY CRÜE's first U.S. live appearances since the announcement that founding guitarist Mick Mars would no longer tour with the legendary rock act. He is being replaced on the road by former ROB ZOMBIE and MARILYN MANSON guitarist John 5.

DEF LEPPARD is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Diamond Star Halos", which sold 34,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release in May 2022 to land at position No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked the band's eighth top 10 LP.

Of "Diamond Star Halos"' 34,000 units earned for the week, album sales comprised 32,000, SEA units comprised 2,000 (equaling 2.7 million on-demand official streams of the album’s songs) and TEA units comprised less than 500 units.

DEF LEPPARD's previous Top 10 albums included "Pyromania" (which peaked at No. 2 in 1983),"Hysteria" (No. 1 for six weeks in 1988),"Adrenalize" (No. 1 for five weeks in 1992),"Retro Active" (No. 9; 1983),"Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection" (No. 10; 2005),"Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" (No. 5; 2008) and "Def Leppard" (No. 10; 2015).

Last summer, DEF LEPPARD completed "The Stadium Tour" with MÖTLEY CRÜE and guests POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS. The 36-date trek was originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020 but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus crisis.

Lee Ving, frontman for the legendary punk band FEAR, joined MEGADETH on stage last night (Saturday, June 24) during the latter band's concert at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida to perform the song "Nothing Is Something" from Ving's 1996 collaboration with MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine, MD.45. Video of Lee's appearance can be seen below.

Both FEAR and MEGADETH served as the support acts for MISFITS at the Tampa show, with the horror punk pioneers making their first Florida appearance featuring the classic lineup of original singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig and original bassist Jerry Only with longtime guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein.

In 1996, Ving and Mustaine released "The Craving", the sole album from the duo's side project MD.45. That version included vocals and harmonica by Ving. In 2004, Mustaine reworked the album, replacing Ving's tracks with his own. In Mustaine's 2011 autobiography, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir", he stated the change was "an effort to entice interest from MEGADETH fans who might have overlooked the original."

"The Craving", was a critically panned affair that featured a musical style once described by Mustaine as "the New Wave of British Heavy Metal crossed with a punk singer, and whatever influences the two of us have melted into one."

In a May 2020 interview with "The 80its" podcast, Ving said that the 2004 re-release of "The Craving" was done "without any notification or preparation, like notifying the guy who sang it first." When asked if Mustaine had contacted him since, Ving said that Mustaine had "not reached out in practically any way."

But Ving said that he wanted some closure to the matter. "In fact," Ving said of Mustaine, "if I knew how to call him, I would, just to get pressure off the matter. And we could be what friends we could be."

Back in 2004, Mustaine revealed in an online post that he got $250,000 from his then-record label Capitol to make the MD.45 album. But he claimed that Capitol "did not market MD.45 at all because it would have possibly interfered with their other priority, the successful band MEGADETH. However, the great people of EMI allowed me to go back in and re-issue this record, which I am totally pumped about."

Mustaine and Ving reportedly created the MD.45 band name by reversing their initials. Mustaine's reversed are "MD" and Ving's are "VL," which is 45 in Roman numerals.

Two decades ago, Mustaine told Classic Rock magazine that "a lot of" the music on "The Craving" "was intended for MEGADETH, but every time I turned around, Marty [Friedman, then-MEGADETH guitarist] had a solo record coming out; Nick [Menza, then-MEGADETH drummer] had his own solo project. Y'know, was this MEGADETH or not? I said, 'You don't see me going off to play with anybody else. If I'm not doing it, then none of you guys are. And if I do it, then we all can — but I might not come back.' By the time I got into the studio with Lee, I figured it was a case of goodbye. But we got back together after a little period of time."

The Bahomar YouTube channel has uploaded video of SLIPKNOT's June 21 concert at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany. Check out the clips below.

In a recent interview with Finland's Chaoszine, SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor was asked about the group's new keyboardist, two weeks after Taylor and his bandmates announced the departure of longtime member Craig Jones.

"Obviously, any time you have a change like that, it makes you have to kind of lean into adversity a little bit," Corey said. "We took a little more time to kind of figure things out. Obviously, [him being a] new guy."

Taylor added: "[He's] good — really good. He's a total musician. But it took him a second to kind of find his way. But now he's killing it; now he's really, really good."

SLIPKNOT played its first show with its new mystery member on June 7 at the Nova Rock festival in Austria. The concert took place hours after the band announced in a social media post that it had parted ways with Jones.

A short time after SLIPKNOT revealed Jones's exit from the group, the band's original post announcing his departure was deleted and a photo was shared of SLIPKNOT's apparent new member. The same unidentified person appeared onstage behind the keyboards at the Nova Rock show and all subsequent SLIPKNOT tour dates.

No reason was given for Jones's departure from SLIPKNOT.

Jones joined SLIPKNOT in early 1996, shortly after the band had finished the recording of its demo album "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat." He was initially brought in to replace Donnie Steele, one of the two original guitarists, though he quickly moved on to the role of sampling and keyboards. Following the departure of drummer Joey Jordison in 2013, Jones was the second-longest-serving member in the band.

A week ago, it was announced that SLIPKNOT co-founder and percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) would once again sit out some of the band's upcoming shows in order to stay home with his wife, who is suffering from undisclosed health issues.

SLIPKNOT is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "The End, So Far", which was released last September via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to "We Are Not Your Kind", it is the band's final record with Roadrunner after first signing with the rock and metal label in 1998.

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Norwegian progressive rock group Avkrvst recently released their debut album The Approbation on June 16. Today, the band has shared their third single from the album “Isolation.”





The Approbation is a concept album about a bleak soul who is left solely with his thoughts, isolated on a cabin deep into the dark forests, far away from civilization. The 49 minute long concept album contains 7 songs, which take the listener though the thoughts of a man struggling towards the acceptance of death, being hauled into the abyss.




The whole album is written and recorded at a cabin in Alvdal (Norway) during a rainy, cold fall and winter. Throughout the album, the sounds of rain and train horns from afar can be heard, which are actual sounds recorded outside the cabin at night under the stars.


Sonically, The Approbation is a massive sounding piece of music. It’s everything from lush, melancholy moods to heavy, more aggressive atmospheres. It tries to capture the feeling of a cold, gloomy fall - a dark sky, filled with gazing stars above the mist. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Østerdalen"
"The Pale Moon"
"Isolation"
"The Great White River"
"Arcane Clouds"
"Anodyne"
"The Approbation"


"Arcane Clouds" video:





"The Pale Moon" video:





At the young age of 7 years old, Martin Utby and Simon Bergseth made a pact that they would form a band when they got older. Now, 22 years later they’ve done just that. An album is ready - 55 minutes of music inspired by everything they grew up listening to - everything from Mew, Anekdoten and Porcupine Tree to Opeth, Neal Morse and King Crimson.


All the music has been written at a small cabin, deep into the Norwegian forests (Alvdal, Nor- way). Simon (composer, guitars, bass and vocals) and Martin (composer, drummer and synths) have later been joined by Øystein Aadland on bass/keys, Edvard Seim on guitars and Auver Gaaren on keys.


(Photo - Kristian Rangnes)

THE HALO EFFECT, the new project featuring five former members of the Swedish metal band IN FLAMES — Jesper Strömblad (guitar),Daniel Svensson (drums),Peter Iwers (bass),Niclas Engelin (guitar) and Mikael Stanne (vocals) — debuted two brand new songs, "Become Surrender" and "The Defiant One", during its February 2023 Swedish tour. Speaking to MoreCore.TV about the decision to perform new material before it is officially recorded and released, Mikael said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We decided to [test the water a little bit], see if people are into the new stuff that we're writing. Not that it's super different, but still… And it's been fun to kind of, yeah, try things out and see if people are into it. And they seem to be digging it. So we're really excited. We're in the mixing stage of album number two, and it's starting to sound pretty good." Niclas added: "[The second album is] done. We're doing the finishing mixes next week with Jens Bogren, and it feels really, really good… We're ready to go." Mikael continued: "It's gonna be awesome. So it feels great to just have everything kind of ready to go. And then we can do all of our other things, and then we're gonna release the album… Unofficial yet, but it's coming."

Asked what fans can expect from the second THE HALO EFFECT album, Niclas said: "I think it's gonna be more riffage, maybe — if that's possible." Mikael added: "To me… We listen to it every day now in order to kind of finalize the mix. But it's more focused, I think. For me, it feels like we are more confident in who we are, whereas the first album was kind of, like, 'Hey, let's figure things out, see where we can take things.' Now it's become focused and more final, I think, and more confident… I cannot wait to start releasing singles and stuff like that. It's gonna be awesome. I cannot wait. It sounds so good." Niclas concurred, saying: "Especially after playing a lot of shows together, you get that chemistry going [between the bandmembers]."

Last month, THE HALO EFFECT released a visualizer for the song "Path Of Fierce Resistance". The track, which was previously released as a Japanese exclusive on THE HALO EFFECT's debut album, "Days Of The Lost", was finally made available in the rest of the world

THE HALO EFFECT recently completed an eight-date North American tour leading up the band's appearance at this year's Milwaukee Metal Fest. Support on the trek came from UNEARTH and HIGH COMMAND.

"Days Of The Lost" entered the official chart in Sweden last summer at position No. 1. This was believed to be the first time a debut LP from a metal act had ever topped the chart in Sweden in its first week of release. "Days Of The Lost" also landed at No. 6 in Germany.

Asked in a recent interview with Tomar Uma if THE HALO EFFECT is a "band" or just a "project", Mikael said: "It is definitely a new band. It started out as a project or an idea, but because of the time we had, I think we made it into a proper band and we wanna treat it as such because we want to make sure that we do everything we possibly can to make this as good as it possibly can be. We wanna do some tours; we wanna do cool festivals. And we're already starting to plan for more recordings and the next album and that kind of stuff. So everybody's just excited. And because it felt good and we were on a roll… You really can't hold Niclas and Jesper back once they get started. So they've already started writing new stuff. Let's keep up. It's gonna be a lot of work [laughs] the next couple of years, that's for sure."

Stanne was also asked if "Reroute To Remain", IN FLAMES' sixth album, which came out in 2002 and featured Jesper, Peter and Daniel, was an influence on the way THE HALO EFFECT approached the songwriting process. He responded: "I don't think so. I love that album — I think it's fantastic — but no, I don't think so. But, obviously, the other guys were a big part of it, so maybe that's something… They had that experience, so that will color and will somehow affect them. But I don't think it ever came up, so I don't think that was a particular influence. But, of course, everything is a part of what you do, right?!"

Svensson, who joined IN FLAMES in 1998, announced in 2015 that he was leaving the group to focus on his family life.

A member of IN FLAMES since 1997, Iwers issued a statement in November 2016 saying that he was exiting the band "to pursue other endeavors."

A founding member of IN FLAMES, Strömblad quit the band in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.

Strömblad's THE HALO EFFECT bandmates have been supportive in his ongoing battle with the bottle, going so far as to hire THE HAUNTED's Patrik Jensen to fill in for him at any gigs he is unable to play.

Engelin has been sitting out IN FLAMES' tour dates for the past four years but has never officially confirmed his departure from the band. Engelin's replacement for IN FLAMES' live shows and in the recording studio since then has been former MEGADETH and current ACT OF DEFIANCE guitarist Chris Broderick.

John Vihervä is the new bass player of Timo Tolkki’s Strato. John is one of the three original members of Stratovarius, and is one of the three founding members of the band back in 1985 in Helsinki.


John Vihervä is already recording his bass parts for the upcoming album from Timo Tolkki’s Strato, Return To Dreamspace, to be released by Warner Music Japan on October 27 (with the rest of the world to follow).


He is a professional musician and has played gigs extensively both in Finland and outside, and will also accompany the band on the tours that are currently being booked. In concert the band will be performing songs from Return To Dreamspace, as well as from the Stratovarius albums, Fright Night, Twilight Time, and Dreamspace.




Stratovarius released their debut album Fright Night (1989) through CBS Finland. From that started one of the biggest success stories in the history of melodic metal. They defined what is currently known as “power metal” with albums like Fright Night (1989), Twilight Time (1993), Dreamspace (1994) and Fourth Dimension (1995).


Timo Tolkki wrote more than 100 songs for the band before leaving the group to embark on a successful solo career back in 2008, and is responsible for writing such power metal anthems like “Black Diamond”, “Hunting High And Low”, “Speed Of Light”, “Paradise”, “Forever” and “Destiny”. More than 4 million copies of Tolkki-era Stratovarius  albums have been sold.


Stay tuned for further updates.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was interviewed last night (Saturday, June 24) on the "Fox News Saturday Night" program, hosted by former MTV VJ Kennedy. Asked how the pandemic influenced his songwriting, Mustaine said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've tried to use things that we all deal with without putting too much of a black-or-white yin-or-a-yang to it. I try and go right up the middle so that you can think what you want. With my kids, I've always said, 'Here's the pro. Here's the con. Here's what Dad would do. And here's what happened.'"

When Kennedy brought up the fact that Mustaine is often accused of putting his politics into his music, Dave said: "Well, I don't put any political party favoritism into my lyrics. I talk about issues that affect all of us. I've grown up in a very real outlook towards life and the world. I've been living on my own ever since I was 15. So, back in 1976 — that's like a 10-year-old nowadays. So I know what it's like for a lot of the kids that are growing up in our nation. And I have my own beliefs of what a big part of that problem is, and I try and put it into lyrics in an easily palatable way so that people can maybe take a look at stuff and maybe not want what I have but ask themselves… 'I don't want what Dave has, but do I want what I have?' That kind of a thing, to give yourself a different perspective and maybe another shot at something in life."

Asked to name an issue that keeps him up at night, either as a parent or someone who reads the news, Mustaine said: "Believe it or not, I don't really watch too much of the current affairs right now, because I don't have a lot of time to do that. There was a period while I was going through my recovery from my previous illness where I got to watch a lot of TV, but I'm just so busy right now. I know a lot of the current affairs that are going on, and I think it's just like anything in life. When people are gonna look back, they're gonna figure out who's doing what, they're gonna correct it, and we're gonna move on."

Back in June 2018, Mustaine addressed the controversial comments he made on stage in Singapore in August 2012 about then-President Barack Obama "staging" murders and turning the United States into "Nazi America." Asked by Kerrang! magazine if he had any regrets about what he said, Mustaine responded: "I have no regrets. If you weren't there, you won't know what happened. We were in Asia and soon discovered that the guy doing our monitors really wasn't a monitor guy; the first two shows had been disastrous. We got a local guy to help us and it was a fucking mess. Naturally, I threw caution to the wind and we knew we couldn't take the gig too seriously. That night I had a couple of drinks and I was really just joking with the audience."

When asked to clarify what the "joke" was exactly, Mustaine said: "What I said was how much I wanted to live in Singapore because it's beautiful — the streets are immaculate, there's no graffiti, and hardly any crime at all. It really is a remarkable Asian paradise. I was drinking and started talking about the shootings in America. All I said was next time it happens, I'd come and live out there in Singapore. Whatever else came out along with that was to soften the blow to the audience about the sound issues. When I say stuff that I mean, I stick by it and nobody can shake me from it. And when I'm joking around and laughing, people need to be smart enough to know it is not meant seriously."

During the August 7, 2012 concert in Singapore, Mustaine told the crowd: "Back in my country, my president is trying to pass a gun ban. So he's staging all of these murders, like the Fast And Furious thing down at the border and Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now the beautiful people at the Sikh temple."

He continued: "I don't know where I'm gonna live if America keeps going the way it's going because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America."

Fast And Furious was part of a federal sting operation intended to trace the movement of weapons from legal dealers in the United States to the leaders of Mexican drug cartels. The government lost track of some weapons, which were later found at crime scenes in Mexico.

A week after the Singapore concert, Mustaine spoke with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones about his controversial comments, claiming that he was merely repeating the theories of Larry Pratt, a pro-gun activist who runs the organization Gun Owners Of America. He said: "To clarify things, no one can deny there were criminal rogues in the administration. CBS News got the memos, Congress has the information and basically, Larry Pratt, the head of Gun Owners Of America, who is a highly respected person, said that if they would stage 'Fast And Furious,' they'd be capable of staging everything. And it was all done to blame the Second Amendment. We'd be fools not to look at this. Our U.S. border patrol agents were killed. And like I said, I was just quoting Larry Pratt. That's it bottom line."

He continued: "In the heat of the moment, when you're onstage and you're talking, sometimes you're not as eloquent as you'd like to be. Like I said, I was just quoting what Larry said. We really need to investigate this and we need to have the Attorney General release the documents and find out who's responsible for this. People died and the democratic process says, 'Let's investigate this. Let's find out what's going on here.'

"I love our country and my whole thing with this is that I think we should just look into it... I just think that we deserve to know the truth — that's it.

"I'm a patriot," he added. "I've always been controversial. I'm a political songwriter. And this wasn't done to hurt any our my fellow countrymen. I think that it's something that we really, really need to look into."

Earlier in 2012, Mustaine made headlines when he voiced his support for ultraconservative Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. He explained at the time that the Pennsylvania politician looked "like he could be a really cool president… kind of like a JFK kind of guy."

Later that year, Mustaine revealed his "birther" opinions on Alex Jones's talk show, saying he doubted President Obama was born in the United States. He said: "With all of the proof about his birth certificate being fake… And you see the signs in Kenya that say 'the birthplace of Barack Obama.' Hello?! C'mon, guys. How stupid are we right now?"

Mustaine has consistently denied that he is a Republican, telling Artisan News in a 2012 interview: "I'm an independent, not a Republican — I've never been a Republican. I've always said that. I don't belong to any party — I'm non-partisan. And for me, the sad thing is, instead of voting for the best man, I have to vote for the lesser of two evils."
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com

Wolfgang Van Halen (MAMMOTH WVH, VAN HALEN),Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA) and Mike DeLeon (SOULFLY, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS) joined PANTERA on stage on Wednesday (June 28) at the Evil Live festival at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal to sing backing vocals on the song "Walk". Fan-filmed video of their appearance can be seen below.

PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX),are touring the world under the PANTERA banner. They are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

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

Max, who has spent the last few years playing SEPULTURA-centric shows with his brother, former SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera, discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in a February 2023 interview with Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of Rock Interview Series. He said: "There's two sides for that, right?! It's so tough, because [on] one hand I understand that the fans wanna see it, and you still have somewhat a big part of that band, but you are missing two key elements on the brothers that are irreplaceable, in my eyes. So it's tough. It's really tough."

He continued: "The only thing that maybe… It's a little bit strange that they call it PANTERA. It should be called some kind of tribute to PANTERA — I think. It would have been a little bit more of a tribute to those songs and to that era. Because I don't really think it's PANTERA without the brothers."

Max previously discussed the PANTERA return in an interview in January with the "Appetite For Distortion" podcast. At the time, he said: "I think it's cool that they're doing that. I do something very similar with my brother, where we go out and we play a lot of SEPULTURA albums that the fans really love it and they never got the chance to see it, for one reason or another. And they get to see it with the real drums and the real vocals and the real guitar. So it's the closest you get to the real thing. And PANTERA is the same thing.

"Yeah, I'm friends with all of those guys [in PANTERA]," he continued. "And I've been friends with Phil for many years. I actually thanked him for letting me borrow his guitar player. Mike DeLeon is jamming with us [in SOULFLY]. He plays with [PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE] ILLEGALS, with Phil Anselmo, for many, many years. So I thanked Phil for letting me borrow his guitar player."

Circling back to the PANTERA reformation, Max said: "Yeah, I think it's cool, especially the generation that never got to see it. I was there. I got to see it from the side of the stage every night. It was great… But I'm thinking about people that never got to see it, never got to experience that. For sure, go see it. It's not the original thing, but it's as close you can get from the original thing. It's fucking cool. The music is so powerful, it's so good, it's so cool that it will get through to the people. And I feel that way when I do those things with my brother. When we play those old songs, it connects to the whole audience. And it's a huge tribute.

"It sucks that Dimebag and Vinnie are no longer here, but at the same time, especially if you're a young kid and you grew up loving PANTERA and never got to see it, for sure, go see it, man," he added. "Just be a part of it. It's a unique experience."

Last August, Max spoke about the prospect of Anselmo and Brown reuniting for a PANTERA tour in an interview with Metal Hammer magazine. At the time, he said: "It's a delicate issue, man. On one hand, yes. But then sometimes I think if it was like me and Igor had died and somebody else would carry on without us, I don't know how I feel about that. I'm not sure I would really like it. It's a tough one. At the same time, you know, people want to hear those songs. The fans deserve to hear those songs."

Asked if the PANTERA comeback has made him rethink the possibility of doing a SEPULTURA reunion, Max said: "No. I'm good with what we did and so pleased with the reaction. It's a different thing with us and PANTERA; I'm not sure who founded PANTERA and stuff like that, but SEPULTURA was me and Igor. But if they do it the way we did, as a tribute, well, all right, you know? I think we gave the songs justice, we played them as good as they can be played and people were completely satisfied when they came to see us. At this point in my life, I'm satisfied having one foot in the past playing those old records and another in the future doing stuff like [SOULFLY's new album] 'Totem' and KILLER BE KILLED. I want to experience both sides."

In July 2022, Max told the "Talk Toomey" podcast that it would be "totally cool" if Anselmo and Brown reunited for a PANTERA tour as a tribute to the original albums. Referencing the criticism that has already been leveled at Philip and Rex for touring as PANTERA without the Abbott brothers, Max said: "You kind of can say similar things about our stuff because it's not all the four original guys, but it's as close as you get to that, and it's done really well.

"But, yeah, I'm excited," Max added. "Those [PANTERA] records are so good, they have so many fans, and they should be heard. And rest in peace, Vinnie and Dime, but if it's done right with the right heart on it, hell yeah — I'm totally on board. I think it would be great.

"This new generation, they embrace that stuff. So this music doesn't get outdated. It's not like some stuff that with time just kind of fades out; it's out of fashion. It doesn't happen with this music. So I think all of those records are like that. And, of course, PANTERA is the same vein with 'Far Beyond Driven', 'Cowboys From Hell' — those are some great fucking records, man. People want to hear it. I think it's cool. It should be fun."

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chilli’ with Wolfgang Van Halen in Lisboa, Portugal. @wolfgangvanhalen

Posted by Soulfly on Wednesday, June 28, 2023

In a new interview with Planet Rock's Wyatt Wendels conducted at this month's Download festival in the United Kingdom, DISTURBED guitarist Dan Donegan was asked if the title of the group's latest album, "Divisive", is an observation of it is a statement of intent that he and his bandmates are trying to be divisive. The 54-year-old Illinois-based musician, who in the past had shared posts on his personal Facebook page that amplified Republican talking points and that were derogatory to Democrats, responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I usually am maybe more cryptic in my answers 'cause I like to leave it up for your own interpretation on how you view it. But, yeah, it's just the divisive nature of just the state of the world and the industry and how things have been going on in America especially. It's been quite crazy, if you've seen. I don't know how the media and the news covers that over here. So it's been a rough go. And I think… I don't know what the hell happened. We're so divided, now more than ever. You go on social media and everybody's there… It's, like, you wake up in the morning ready to start… Who can I attack today? We focus so much on our differences and the things that we dislike or disagree on or hate. And it's just kind of… When's it gonna be over? It's just like one big temper tantrum from everyone."

"Divisive" came out last November. The LP was recorded earlier last year with producer Drew Fulk (MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, LIL PEEP, HIGHLY SUSPECT) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Donegan's divorce inspired the "Divisive" song "Don't Tell Me", which is a duet with HEART's Ann Wilson. In two decades, it breaks ground as the first-ever guest collaboration on a DISTURBED record.

According to Billboard, "Divisive" sold 26,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release, with 22,000 units via album sales.

On the all-format Billboard 200 chart, "Divisive" debuted at No. 13.

DISTURBED has had five No. 1s on the all-genre chart, beginning with "Believe" in 2002.

Earlier this month, DISTURBED was forced to cancel two shows on its ongoing European tour due to singer David Draiman's "vocal issues."

Last month, Draiman underwent on operation to have a benign tumor removed from the radius in his right arm.

Sirenia lead guitarist, Nils Courbaron, has announced that he's formed a new band with bassist Francesco Saverio Ferraro (Freedom Call, Vexillum), vocalist Mike Livas (Silent Winter) and drummer Michael Brush (Sirenia, ex-Magic Kingdom, Iron Mask).





The band was in France last week to finish the mixing and mastering of their first album at the Vamacara Studio. They also took some photos at the studio. No release date has been announced at this time, but Nils said, "It's the most ambitious project I've ever done... stay tuned!"




Nils' incredible guitar playing and compositional skills can be heard on the instrumental track "Purple Horizon" from his solo project:

Danish death metal act, Plaguemace, have inked a worldwide record deal with premier Austrian rock and metal label, Napalm Records.


The neck-bending old school death metal band was formed in 2019 in the heart of Denmark by vocalist Andreas Truelsen and guitarist Simon Truelsen. Soon, the two brothers were joined by Anton Holm Smidstrup on second guitar and vocals, Ruben Brandt on bass and Matias Zacho on drums. The quintet released their six-track EP, Primal Priest, in November 2020.


Plaguemace’s thrashy death’n’roll is spiced up with bombastic melodies, brutal breakdowns and infectious grooves, reminiscent of bands such as Grave, High On Fire, Entombed and Obituary. The outfit’s ferocious energy and dirty riffs are unleashed on stage in a vicious vortex of guitar shreds, headbanging and pure lunacy.




As the pandemic loosened its tight grip on the world, the band began performing live, and within that first year, they played 25 concerts in total. The performances included support slots for bands such as Baest, Katla and Crocell, and appearances at festivals such as Metal Magic and Tornvang Open Air.


Stay tuned for news on Plaguemace’s debut album.  


Plaguemace on the signing: “We are super stoked to sign with Napalm Records. They wholeheartedly understand the vision for our debut album and we are beyond excited to share it with everyone. We have an amazing gut feeling about this partnership and we are certain that we have found the perfect label for us.”


Sebastian Muench, Senior A&R, adds: “The energy of Danish band Plaguemace is completely unique to me. The innovative approach of the band seems to revolutionize death metal and is just a lot of fun. We are very happy to welcome Plaguemace to the Napalm family.”


Plaguemace is:


Andreas Truelsen - Vocals
Simon Truelsen - Guitar
Anton Holm Smidstrup - Guitar, Vocals
Ruben Brandt - Bass
Matias Zacho - Drums


(Photo - Malene Vinge)

Boston’s Final Gasp have signed to Relapse, and will unleash their debut album, Mourning Moon, on September 22. A harrowing journey through all things hardcore, metal, and goth, Mourning Moon drags the listener through twelve thrilling tracks. Vocalist and guitarist Jake Murphy delivers an unmatched, soulful performance while taking on the weightiest of topics.


“The whole record has to do with loss,” he explains. “The title comes from that anxious feeling you have when you go to bed and you’re thinking about everything all at once. You’re regretting decisions you’ve made - or didn’t make - and you’re up all night thinking about it.”


Mourning Moon’s hook-laden title track explodes out of the underground and aims straight for the stars. It’s downright catchy and showcases Final Gasp’s knack for expert songwriting and lyrical craft.




“Mourning Moon professes eternal love through a lens clad in black and morbid as ever, dripping in melancholy while being propelled forward by a cavernous beat. “I wrote this song for someone but it ended up being about so many people who are either here or gone. It’s a love letter to loss,” Murphy explains.


The lead single is available today accompanied by a cinematic video shot in the North Shore of Massachusetts, and directed by Caleb Gowett. He tells, “Dumah and Azrael have been banished from Heaven. Azrael on the Earth realm, and Dumah below. Azrael must trick the mourning Groom into helping him summon Dumah. But first Dumah will need an earthly body. The Groom’s recently deceased Bride will do just fine. Azrael and the Groom complete the summoning ritual and bring Dumah to the Earth realm. Reunited again, the Angels of Death light the flames of war and begin their reign over Earth. Destroying humanity one soul at a time.”


Watch the video below.


Final Gasp recorded Mourning Moon in Philadelphia with famed producer Arthur Rizk (Ghostmane, Cavalera Conspiracy, Sumerlands). Its foundation was built by the band’s two previous EPs - 2019’s Baptism of Desire (Primitive Propaganda) and 2021’s Haunting Whisper (Triple B). “Every song was  written with nothing but a natural feeling for what felt right,” Murphy tells. “There’re tons of different influences, like Killing Joke and Die Kreuzen, even Echo & The Bunnymen and SSD.  But we’re not really thinking about other bands. We feel like we’ve tapped into something that’s our own.”


Mourning Moon proves to be one of the most inventive journeys this side of the genre in recent times - now, Final Gasp are ready to emerge from the shadows, and step into the forefront of extreme music's new guard.


Pre-order / pre-save Mourning Moon here.





Mourning Moon tracklisting:


"Climax Infinity"
"Homebound"
"Botched Ritual"
"Frozen Glare"
"Seize"
"Blood And Sulfur"
"Mourning Moon"
"Unnatural Law"
"14 Gates"
"Temptation"
"The Vanishing"
"Rows Of Heaven"


"Mourning Moon" video:





Since emerging in 2019, word of Final Gasp’s experiential and aggressive live shows spread quickly amongst the underground. Following recent support tours with High Command and Poison Ruin, the band head out on a DIY Summer U.S. tour, routing Final Gasp through most cities for the first time ever. Dates include Philadelphia, NYC, LA, Austin, the midwest, both coasts and more.





Final Gasp is:


Jacob Murphy - Vocals
Alex Consentino - Guitar
Sean Rose - Bass
James Forsythe - Guitar
Peter Micanovic - Guitar  
Eric Lester - Drums


(Photo - Tyler Hallett)

DRAGONFORCE frontman Marc Hudson has signed a worldwide contract with Napalm Records. Hudson's first solo album, "Starbound Stories", will arrive on August 25. The effort is described in a press release as "a sparkling, anime-inspired power metal ride, heavily influenced by both Japanese music and video game soundtracks, and featuring a horde of notable guests.

Hudson comments: "It is with great pride that I can finally announce my signing to Napalm Records. I'm very grateful for the label's belief in me as a solo artist and can't wait to have Napalm on my side to show 'Starbound Stories' to the world!"

The first single from "Starbound Stories" is "Astralive", which marks the start of an exciting new chapter and serves as a first taste of Marc's upcoming solo debut, accompanied by an official music video. "Astralive" lures with an undeniably catchy chorus whilst also featuring fast drum patterns, spellbinding guitarwork and keys, and skillful power metal vocals that reach for the skies.

Hudson states: "'Astralive' is the first single from the album and takes the listener on a power metal journey through space and time. This song explores the cosmic mysteries of the universe and mankind's eternal search for wisdom beyond the stars."

Instrumental album opener "As The Twilight Met The Sea" acts as an introduction to the soundscapes of the album and features samurai metal master Ryoji Shinomoto (RYUJIN, previously known as Gyze) on traditional Japanese instruments. Shinomoto also lends his vocals on the following track, "Freedom Heart", which also features a solo by guitar virtuoso Syu (GALNERYUS). Explosive power metal anthem "Dracula X" features a guitar solo by Jacky Vincent (ex-FALLING IN REVERSE, ex-CRY VENOM) and guest vocals by Adrienne Cowan (SEVEN SPIRES). Beautifully emotional successor "Stars" features classically trained violinist Mia Asano on electric violin. Energetic "The Siren" is led by a tingling melody and ballad-like vocals. "Swansong" starts off with a beautiful keyboard intro that could be pulled from a movie soundtrack. Sentimental vocals approach before the song progresses into a full-blown power metal ballad, with high screams and plenty of effects that further enhance the magical atmosphere while backing up the guitars and drums. Steve Terreberry, known on YouTube as Stevie T., performs a guitar solo on "Call Of The Martyrs" and is joined by prog guitarist Galen Stapley (AZURE). Stapley also provides a solo on the following title track, "Starbound Stories". "One More Sight Of The Sun With You" is sung in Japanese, staying true to the main themes of the album and closing the entire offering on an uplifting note.

Hudson's debut solo album is an outstanding musical adventure balanced between power metal, video game soundtracks, Japanese music and even pop influences, showcasing virtuosity throughout all of its grand instrumentation.

"Starbound Stories" track listing:

01. As The Twilight Met The Sea
02. Freedom Heart
03. Dracula X!
04. Stars
05. The Siren
06. Astralive
07. Swansong
08. Call Of The Martyrs
09. Starbound Stories
10. One More Sight Of The Sun With You

Recording lineup:

Marc Hudson - Vocals, Guitar, Backing vocals
Shaz D - Keyboards
Frédéric Leclercq - Guitars, Bass
Rich Smith – Drums

Photo credit: Oliver Lloyd Design

"Deep, deep into the lush, tropical forests of Durham, UK, lies a studio that... well, basically makes fkn music," begins an update from Annihilator frontman Jeff Waters.


"I just finished ANOTHER record yesterday... man, the last 4 years have seen me make 4 records! Yesss... Can't wait for you to hear the 3 you haven't heard. AND 1 more record to do, as well, making it 5 records in 5 years... on a roll, I must say! Then, time to tour and enjoy my latter years! Haha! Work is fun as heck but I will have done my time in HEAVEN/HELL by the end of 2024! Well, maybe 2025.... maybe 2026 haha [❤]


(Btw, Annihilator was started Dec 1984... 2024 would be 40 years since I wrote 'Crystal Ann' and John Bates and I wrote the first version of 'Alison Hell' [🙂] )."




Annihilator's last album Ballistic, Sadistic was released in 2020; it was their 17th studio full-length.


The aforementioned studio is Watersound Studios, pictured below.





 

Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes has weighed in on bands who rely heavily on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances.

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

During a June 23 question-and-answer session in Northampton, England, Holmes said about some bands' reliance on backing tracks (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "If people wanna pay for it and go see it, then do it. But I don't like it. I never did. When W.A.S.P. started doing it during the second album, during 'Wild Child' they'd have a tape machine… and I hated it. 'Cause if you're not on stage doing it, it's not live; it's not real. And then 'The Headless Children' came in, and that's where he started sampling. It's not called backing tracks; it's called sampling. That's what it actually is. And I hated it. It's not real.

"If you pay to see a real gig, it should be real, whether they sound good or like crap," he continued. "That's the way I look at it. I don't sample; I never will. I would rather play when I'm a little bit off, but it's for real. Some people would rather do it. I heard MÖTLEY CRÜE is doing it. DEF LEPPARDhas to sample. You can't do them eight-part harmonies on the vocals — unless you have other people singing in the background."

Holmes went on to say that relying on backing tapes is "not rock and roll," adding that aging rockers are using tracks "because they can't sound like they did 40 years ago."

According to Chris, a rock show is supposed to be raw, with all of its imperfections.

"It's rock and roll," he said. "It's what it is. You're out of tune here and there, who cares? As long as it sounds good."

W.A.S.P. has been criticized for the group's supposed use of backing tracks, including for Blackie Lawless's lead vocals, for at least several years, as Metal Sludge pointed out in 2019 after Lawless and his bandmates performed at the Helgeåfestivalen in Sweden.

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

During a May 25 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Blackie was once again asked about complaints from some of the band's fans about the use of backing tracks during W.A.S.P.'s live performances. He responded: "About 10, 12 years ago, we did 'The Crimson Idol' the first time in its entirety with orchestration. Now, prior to that, we had just done — I call it the 'Live At Leeds' version… Because if you look at what THE WHO did with the 'Live At Leeds', which we all thought was live at the time, and we now realize there are overdubs on those as well, like most live records. We would take the bare-bones approach to doing it. Well, we decided to take an approach where we tried to make it sound exactly like the record. And we had never used orchestration or anything like that. So we went in the studio, we took all the tracks off the record as far as the orchestration, we took the background vocal tracks, we took doubles on leads — we did everything. And we took it and we tried to make it sound as much like the record as we could. I stood in the middle of the room that first night in rehearsal, and I swear to you it was like an out-of-body experience. I had never heard anything sound like that before. I had never played with a live orchestra before. And so this was the closest thing you would get to doing something like that.

"Listen, I understand both sides of the argument on it," he continued. "For me personally, when I'm up there, I'm singing my ass off. But what's wrong with having enhancement to make something sound exactly like the record? Because you're not gonna get a band like QUEEN or any other band that does big productions like that… Four guys cannot go out there and reproduce that record. It's impossible. It won't happen. So do you want it to sound like the record or do you want it to be just a general live performance? And that's a question of taste.

"If you're gonna start making records where you have a lot of orchestration and things like that going, it is impossible to make it sound like that record unless you have that," Lawless added. "And you can also make the argument, which has been going on Broadway for the last 20 years, the musicians' union has been fighting this fiercely but technology rolls on and it's not gonna stop, where they no longer have live music in Broadway productions. And the musicians' union has had a fit over that. Well, even before that happened, when you had keyboards introduced that had entire orchestras in them, you've got one guy now replacing a hundred and twenty different people. So where do you draw the line?

"Like I said, I understand if somebody wants a true, organic experience, but from my perspective, I looked at it and I said… Once I heard it sound exactly like the record, I thought, 'I cannot go back to this again.' I mentioned THE WHO a second ago, the 'Live At Leeds' approach. THE WHO used tapes for years until they started hiring all these other guys to go out with them. But even still, a lot of the keyboard stuff — 'Won't Get Fooled Again', things like that — that's all on tape."

"When I go out on that stage, I take a lot of pride in this gift that God's given me," Blackie added. "And I like to show it off; I'll just be flat-out honest with you. But I think people wanna see that or they wanna hear it. So I don't think there's anything wrong with it. If you've got a guitar player that is really, really good, people are going there to see that. But again, when I went into rehearsals that one night and I heard what it sounded like when it sounded like the record, I thought, 'I can never go back.' Like I said, it was a flat-out out-of-body experience."

Asked what percentage of the vocals during W.A.S.P.'s live concerts are on tape, Blackie said: "You mean from my lead vocals? For my lead vocals, I would encourage people to go… We did five shows where I was sitting. Go look at those last couple. You're gonna hear it loud and clear. 'Cause when we were in Sofia, I cracked a couple of times, which I normally don't do. But it was getting towards the end of the tour. I mean, it wasn't anything catastrophic, but for me, I don't normally crack. But it happens. It's part of the live experience. But when we start doing the choruses and things like that, myself and Mike Duda and Doug Blair, we're all out there singing, but we're using backups behind that too. Because when we did it in the studio, we were using three and four tracks at a time to create that. You cannot make those choruses sound huge like that with just individual vocals creating that, because when you're doing it in the studio, you double and triple tracks. I mentioned QUEEN a while ago — they were using 24 tracks of vocals to create those sounds. You cannot create those chorus sounds by two or three guys doing that. It is impossible… Unless there's 20 guys in that room doing that, it ain't gonna sound like that… If you're doing 24 tracks of vocals to create that chorus effect, a handful of guys cannot do that, even with electronic doublers. And then you can get into that argument — okay, you're using mechanical effects to enhance one guy out there. I mean, where do we draw the line with this now?"

KISS frontman Paul Stanley, who has been struggling to hit the high notes in many of the band's classic songs for a number of years, has been accused of singing to a backing tape on KISS's ongoing "End Of The Road" tour.

Back in 2015, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons slammed bands who used backing tapes for not being honest enough to include that fact on their concert tickets.

"I have a problem when you charge $100 to see a live show and the artist uses backing tracks," Simmons said. "It's like the ingredients in food. If the first ingredient on the label is sugar, that's at least honest. It should be on every ticket — you're paying $100, 30 to 50 percent of the show is [on] backing tracks and they'll sing sometimes, sometimes they'll lip sync. At least be honest. It's not about backing tracks, it's about dishonesty.

"There's nobody with a synthesizer on our stage, there's no samples on the drums, there's nothing," Gene continued. "There's very few bands who do that now — AC/DC, METALLICA, us. I can't even say that about U2 or THE [ROLLING] STONES. There's very few bands who don't use [backing] tracks."

This past March, KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee defended Stanley's vocal performance on "End Of The Road", explaining that the "Star Child" "fully sings to every song" at every concert. He explained: It's enhanced. It's just part of the process to make sure that everybody hears the songs the way they should be sang to begin with. Nobody wants to hear people do stuff that's not real, that's not what they came to hear."

When McGhee was asked to clarify if he was "actually saying there are backing tracks that [Paul is] singing to," Doc said: "He'll sing to tracks. It's all part of a process. Because everybody wants to hear everybody sing. But he fully sings to every song."

In March 2020, SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers said that "90 percent" of rock artists use at least some pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. He told Rock Feed: "It bothers me that it bothers people. I'm, like, 'Why does this bother you?' It's the way it is. People have been doing this since the '80s. And we want the sound to be the best it can be. Could we go up there, just the four of us, and put on the best rock show ever? Of course. But that's not how we wanna do it."

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has previously said that he is "one of the last people" who are still not using pre-recorded tracks at their live shows. "I don't know how much longer I can say to you that I don't use tapes onstage, because I don't, and I never have," he told Consequence Of Sound. "And I still don't. When I have opening bands, and they're using tapes, and then I come out and I don't use tapes… sometimes, it makes me feel stupid, because I'm like, 'What am I doing, when all these kids half my age can come onstage and do all of my moves, but they don't have to warm up for an hour before the show, or weeks, before the first show?' Sometimes, I'm like, 'Why do I even bother, if the public is so used to this other way?' It's becoming very rare to come see a good band that's actually a real band — that's not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running. It just becomes more rare as the years go on."

In 2019, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith said that he doesn't "agree" with certain rock artists relying on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. "I tell you what, I see it with a lot of younger bands, and I don't think it's a good thing at all," he told the New York Post. "I mean, the music is getting too technical now. You have computerized recording systems, which we use, but I think we use them more for convenience than because we need to. We've toured with a couple bands that use tapes — it's not real. You're supposed to play live; it should be live. I don't agree with using tapes … I think it's a real shame."

One musician who has been open about his band's use of taped vocals during live performances is MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx, who said: "We've used technology since '87." He added the group employed "sequencers, sub tones, background vox tracks, plus background singers and us. [MÖTLEY CRÜE also taped] stuff we can't tour with, like cello parts in ballads, etc.... We love it and don't hide it. It's a great tool to fill out the sound."

In a 2014 interview, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars admitted that he wasn't comfortable with the fact that his band used pre-recorded backing vocals in its live shows, claiming that he preferred to watch groups whose performances are delivered entirely live. "I don't like it," he said. "I think a band like ours… I have to say '60s bands were my favorite — '60s and '70s bands — because they were real, like, three-piece bands or four-piece bands, and they just got up there and kicked it up. Made a mistake? So what? Sounded a little bit empty here or there? So what? It's the bigness and the rawness and the people that developed and wrote the songs and made them and presented them. To me, that's what I really like. I mean, I could put on a MÖTLEY CD and play with it all day long. I don't wanna do that."

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson joined a covers band on stage this past Friday (June 23) at the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire to perform the MAIDEN classics "The Trooper" and "Run To The Hills". Video of his appearance can be seen below. The event was a retirement party for a military aircraft known as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

Known as the workhorse of the RAF, the Hercules has been the backbone of U.K. operational tactical mobility tasks since the 1960s, working around the globe on military and humanitarian relief operations.

The Hercules is being replaced by a fleet of 22 Atlas A400Ms, supported by other RAF aircraft.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak paid tribute to personnel and crews of 47 Squadron, who he said have served with "professionalism and distinction throughout" and have his full thanks.

Three years ago, Dickinson was officially attested into the Royal Air Force, the United Kingdom's aerial warfare force. The British singer was awarded the role of Honorary Group Captain.

Bruce has held a commercial pilot's license for more than 20 years.

Dickinson had other connections with the RAF, having completed an emergency landing at RAF Halton in 2015. He was flying his Fokker triplane when it began to run low on fuel.

A year and a half ago, Bruce, who flew his group around the world in their customized jumbo jet dubbed Ed Force One, named after MAIDEN's iconic mascot Eddie, told the Associated Press that he would not be sitting in the pilot's seat when he and his bandmates returned to the road later that year. "You know, when you get to 65, if you're an airline pilot, they just take you out the back and shoot, right?" he said. "So, I'm going to be sitting in the back being the backseat driver."

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),commercial pilots have to retire at age 65. There is currently no maximum age limit for being a private pilot or for being an Air Force pilot.

Dickinson gained a commercial pilot's license after learning to fly in the 1990s. In 2012 he set up Cardiff Aviation, an aircraft maintenance company which has since changed its name to Caerdav.

Bruce, who spent a few years flying planes for Astraeus Airlines, told CNN in a 2007 interview: "Aviation's been kicking around my family for as long as I can remember; my uncle was in the RAF. But I always thought I was too stupid. I was useless at maths and majored in history at university, so I thought history majors don't become pilots, let alone rock stars. And then our drummer learned to fly, so I said, 'If a drummer can learn to fly, then anyone can.'"

Dickinson told Wales Online that he still gets a thrill out of flying, but that it's a totally different sensation to playing live.

"The satisfaction flying airplanes is getting the job done, but the satisfaction with playing live is external, looking out at all the people looking at you," he said. "With an airliner, it's all internal. If you've got passengers, nobody goes, 'Wow! Wasn't that great?' They're thinking about the rest of their day. Your job as an airline pilot is to deliver them safely and be invisible. That's quite nice for me because it's completely the opposite to what I do when I sing."

Image credit: Eddie The Head Fan Club Facebook / video by Brian Davis

"The Trooper" Bruce with the 47 Squadron Band in a farewell party for the C-130 Hercules. 23/06/2023.

Friday night at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Bruce Dickinson play with the 47 Squadron Band in a farewell party for the C-130 Hercules.
"The Trooper" 23/06/2023.
Video by Brian Davis.

Posted by Eddie The Head Fan Club on Saturday, June 24, 2023

Speech & "Run To The Hills" at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Bruce Dickinson play with the 47 Squadron Band.

Friday night at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Bruce Dickinson play with the 47 Squadron Band in a farewell party for the C-130 Hercules.
Speech & "Run To The Hills" 23/06/2023.
Thank you so much Brian Davis for the video 🤘

Posted by Eddie The Head Fan Club on Sunday, June 25, 2023