Tom Morello, legendary guitarist for rock bands such as Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage, will be Inducted to the 2024 Metal Hall of Fame. Inducting Morello will be guitarist John 5 (David Lee Roth, Rob Zombie).


The Induction will take place at the 7th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala, January 24, 2024, at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove, Anaheim, CA. The event will be hosted by radio-television Icon and 2024 Metal Hall of Fame Inductee Eddie Trunk, and entertainment personality Cathy Rankin.


Guest Performs include Joel Hoekstra, (Whitesnake, Night Ranger), Kings of Thrash (Featuring David Ellefson, Chris Poland of Megadeth), Ken Mary (Flotsam & Jetsam), Held Hostage, Keith St. John(Kingdom Come), Deconstruct, Jordan Ziff (Stephen Pearcy), Sergio Michel, Jack Gibson (Exodus), Ari Kamin (Adler's Appetite), and Sean Mcnabb (Dokken).




Blackened®, the award winning whiskey from Metallica, is the official sponsor of the 7th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala, and will have a special sampling experience. 


“Tom Morello has influenced guitarists, musical peers, and fans throughout the world," says Metal Hall of Fame President/CEO Pat Gesualdo. Numerous bands and artists in various genres throughout the Industry have called upon Tom to play guitar on their projects, making him one of the most go-to musicians of all time."





7th Annual Metal Hall Of Fame Gala


- Red Carpet Reception: 5 PM
- Awards Ceremony / Performances: 8 PM


2024 Metal Hall Of Fame Inductees:


Tom Morello (Inducted by John 5)
Eddie Trunk
Mick Mars (Special Video Induction)
Sebastian Bach (Inducted by Wendy Dio)
Tim “Ripper” Owens (KK’s Priest, Solo Artist)
Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot)
Penelope Spheeris (Producer/Director: Decline Of Western Civilization, Wayne’s World)
Cleopatra Records
Mikeal Maglieri / Whisky A Go Go    
Biohazard


+ Surprise Guests / All Star Jams!!


Get tickets here ($45.00 with Seated Table).


The Metal Hall Of Fame is a non profit, volunteer organization dedicated to forever enshrining the iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making hard rock and heavy metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they continue to inspire fans throughout the world, from generation to generation.  100% of proceeds from Metal Hall Of Fame events go to preserving hard rock and heavy metal music for future generations, and also bring free music programs to help special needs children and wounded veterans in health facilities and community centers.


(Photo - Eitan Miskevich)

Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST are celebrating their 35th anniversary with the release of their 14th album. Due on May 24 via Season Of Mist, "Pro Xristoy" is bound to hold a revered place in the band's heretical history. Always true to their name, with "Pro Xristoy" the members of ROTTING CHRIST pay tribute to the last of the Pagan kings by offering up more towering, gothic, melodic black metal.

Now that ROTTING CHRIST are closing in on four decades, some followers might've wondered if there was any sacred ground left for them to conquer. But "Pro Xristoy" is a testament to a band that's still on the rise.

"This album was inspired by the might of ancient pagan wisdom", says guitarist/vocalist Sakis Tolis. "It's a tribute to those who resisted the coming of Christianity, which destroyed all the values, traditions and knowledge of the ancient world".

"Pro Xristoy" track listing:

01. Pro Xristoy (1:29)
02. The Apostate (5:01)
03. Like Father, Like Son (4:35)
04. The Sixth Day (3:56)
05. La Lettera Del Diavolo (4:01)
06. The Farewell (6:15)
07. Pix Lax Dax (4:33)
08. Pretty World, Pretty Dies (4:51)
09. Yggdrasil (5:04)
10. Saoirse (6:17)
11. Primal Resurrection (bonus track) (5:32)
12. All For One (bonus track) (3:37)

Recording lineup:

Sakis Tolis: Guitar/Vocals
Themis Tolis: Drums
Kostas "Spades" Heliotis: Bass
Kostis Fouk: Guitar

Guest musicians:

* Amdroniki Skoula - Vocals (on "La Letra Del Diavolo")
* Nikos Kerkiras - Keyboard
* Christina Alexiou - Choir
* Maria Tsironi - Choir
* Alexandros Loyziotis - Choir
* Vasilis Karatzas - Choir

* Andrew Liles - Narration (on "The Apostate", "Pretty World, Pretty Dies")
* Kim Diaz Holm - Narration (on "Ygdrassil")

To kick off what's shaping up to be a year's worth of devilish festivities, ROTTING CHRIST is heading off on a tour of Latin America in early February. Fans from Mexico to Argentina will have the pleasure of banging their heads to an unholy litany of the band's greatest hits. They'll also be treated to new songs off "Pro Xristoy" that are bound to become setlist staples.

Sakis and his brother Themis started ROTTING CHRIST back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They've released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,3000 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, ROTTING CHRIST have but one vision — an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.

ROTTING CHRIST's evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervor. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to bush boundaries.

Photo by Chantik Photography (courtesy of Season Of Mist)

SAXON frontman Biff Byford 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 North America, South America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They are also supporting METALLICA on a massive stadium tour in 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.

Byford discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio. He said: "Yeah, I like PANTERA. All the guys in PANTERA were massive SAXON fans. We met them a few times back the day. We know Dimebag was a huge fan. But they all were really heavily influenced by a SAXON, JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD. So, yeah, I like PANTERA. And I think Zakk's playing guitar, I think, Zakk Wylde. I think it's good. I like PANTERA and the music should be played live. I know Dimebag and Vinnie are not there anymore, but I think they're there in spirit, definitely."

He added: "I know it's controversial, but I think it should be done, because it's not as if the guys aren't there. They've gone on, they've passed on, so, it's not as if they've not been invited to the party. I'm sure if they were alive, PANTERA would still be going — wouldn't they? — if Dimebag was still alive."

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.

Biff Byford photo courtesy of Freeman Promotions

Alex Van Halen's drumming has profoundly shaped the landscape of modern music and performance. The VAN HALEN drummer's distinctive style, rhythmic innovation and iconic drum sound are deeply embedded in the DNA of the music we enjoy today. Moreover, his elaborate and customized drum sets have undoubtedly influenced a generation of young drummers, encouraging them to expand their kits with additional drums or cymbals, or to create their own unique, custom drum setups.

In honor of Alex Van Halen's prestigious 2023 induction into the Modern Drummer Hall Of Fame, the magazine is thrilled to present an exclusive video series that pays tribute to Alex's remarkable career and enduring legacy. The series was filmed at the IronShore Studios in Grand Cayman and features interviews and performances by three of todays most recognized drummers playing on Alex's actual 2012 custom touring drum set, built by the great John Douglas.

The third episode features DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy, who joins Modern Drummer to share his passion for VAN HALEN's music and discuss his how Alex Van Halen shaped him to be the drummer he is today. After the interview, Mike takes to Alex's drum set, delivering a dynamic performance of several iconic VAN HALEN tracks. He also deconstructs some of his favorite Alex Van Halen drum grooves.

Last year, Portnoy named Alex Van Halen as one of the most influential rock drummers of all time and a major influence on his own style. In a video for Revolver, Portnoy stated about Van Halen: "He was playing a big, massive kid double bass kit. His double bass drumming was incredible. The drumming on the first four or five, even six VAN HALEN albums — all the early David Lee Roth albums — the drumming on every one of those albums is incredible and had a huge influence on me. My first band that I was playing with, when I was a teenager, we did all VAN HALEN covers."

Modern Drummer is the world's No. 1 publication on drums and drumming — loud and proud, and representing all styles and skill levels since 1977.

Subscribe to Modern Drummer's digital monthly magazine at ModernDrummer.com.

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared a cover of "The Touch", originally performed by Stan Bush, from The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack, released in 1986. Check it out below.





Internationally acclaimed heavy metallers, Sabaton, are gearing up for an epic celebration as they approach their 25-year milestone in the music industry.




Founded in Falun, Sweden, in 1999, Sabaton's journey has been nothing short of legendary. Their music industry adventures have been fuelled by powerful anthems, 10 studio albums, passionate historical storytelling, and explosive international shows and tours, not to mention out-of-the-box initiatives and projects, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of their dedicated fan base across the globe.


To mark this momentous milestone, Sabaton will embark on a year-long celebration. Fans around the world can look forward to a series of celebratory events and an abundance of surprises.


The band has shared a new video along with the following message:


"Get ready for an epic journey through time and sound as we celebrate 25 years of Sabaton in the best way possible! Join us for a night filled with thunderous riffs, powerful lyrics and the bombastic energy of our very first studio album, Primo Victoria! We'll be sharing our reactions, reminiscing about the making of the album, and exchanging stories that have shaped our legacy as a band. This is not just a celebration – it's a metal extravaganza that you won't want to miss! Grab your favourite beer, crank up the volume and join us on a musical adventure. Let the celebration begin!"





Each month of 2024 will be dedicated to an album from Sabaton’s discography, beginning with Primo Victoria and ending with The War To End All Wars. Special activities and insights will be provided to grant fans a better understanding of each studio album.


Highlights include album stories, song facts, and album listening parties during which band members will reminisce on and discuss their favorite tracks, while sharing never-heard-before experiences with Sabaton fans.


Other exciting initiatives include fun games, contests, and giveaways that will grant fans the chance to win unique prizes, as well as a limited edition 25-year anniversary merch, including some very exclusive items.


Frontman, Joakim Brodén, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration, saying: "This is a massive milestone for us. Our fans have been with us every step of the way and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate this monumental occasion with them. We're planning some great things that we've never done before, and we're confident that 2024 will be one to remember, especially as we are heading to the studio at the beginning of next year to begin working on new music!"


Meanwhile, bassist and band manager, Pär Sundström, stated: “It’s hard to believe that a quarter of a century of us playing music and doing what we love the most has passed already. It’s been one hell of a journey, that’s for sure. We sing about history, but looking back we also wrote some history! Stay tuned!”


The 25th-anniversary celebrations will also include throwback photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into Sabaton's incredible journey, taking fans on a nostalgic trip through the band's history.


Follow the band’s social media channels and website to keep up to date with the latest news and celebrations. Keep your eyes peeled. 2024 is going to be an interesting year!


In the meantime, check out this video message from Pär and Tommy:

Swedish metallers SABATON have parted ways with their longtime guitarist Tommy Johansson.

Earlier today, SABATON released the following statement via social media: "After 7 amazing years in the band, our guitarist, Tommy, has decided to leave SABATON to pursue his own path. We wish him nothing but the best on his journey. We have been a close family and we will continue to support him in the adventures that await him in the future.

"Tommy joined the band in 2016 but he has been a close friend of SABATON ever since our first meeting at the end of a concert in 2005. As a valued member of the band, he has contributed to countless immortal memories.

"Tommy's departure from SABATON will not be effective immediately. He will stay on to ensure that all goes smoothly with the handover to our next guitarist.

"While a small part of his large heart will always remain within SABATON, we all know that he must follow his dreams.

"Even though we will not wake up daily in the tour bus next to him, we are sure that our paths will cross again many times in the future, both on and off the stage.

"Fly on your wings and strings brother!"

Tommy added in a separate statement: My dear friends! After 7 glorious years of Heavy Metal, I have decided to step down as the guitarist of SABATON.

"This has been the hardest decision I've ever made in my entire life.

"As many of you may know, I do a lot of things outside of SABATON. I play with another band, perform with various artists, and have a career as a singer that I've put aside for years to focus on SABATON. After doing this for seven years, I feel it's time to start following my heart. This means I will no longer tour with my brothers in SABATON and will not meet all you lovely SABATON supporters on the upcoming tours with the band.

"I will never quit playing music. I'll still be touring with MAJESTICA and other projects, but not on the same level as SABATON of course. I am sure I will meet you lovely fans on the road again in the future.

"My brothers in SABATON and the best crew in the world will forever be my second family and I will miss spending time with all these wonderful people. We had so much fun together every day. I've come to learn so much about life, about music and about touring that I wouldn't have learned anywhere else.

"A massive thank you to all you lovely SABATON fans for accepting me as the new guitarist in 2016. I am certain you will accept the person who takes over after me.

"All the best to you all and I'll see you again soon!"

Tommy Johansson is a well-known name, given his role as the longtime guitar player in SABATON. But before he joined the Swedish war machine, he had his own band REINXEED. His touring activities with SABATON slowed down the creative process for REINXEED but the group returned in 2019 — seemingly out of nowhere — with a new 10-track album titled "Above The Sky" and a brand new name, MAJESTICA. The album saw Tommy taking on vocal duties, something he last showcased as TWILIGHT FORCE's stand-in singer throughout autumn of 2017.

SABATON will enter the studio later this month to begin recording its eleventh album. The follow-up to 2022's "The War To End All Wars" is tentatively due later in 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records.

SABATON recently released the animated movie "The War To End All Wars", which tells the stories from the "The War To End All Wars" album. It begins with "Sarajevo", a song about the assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand, which sparked World War I. It ends with "Versailles", about the 1918 Treaty Of Versailles that ended the war. SABATON also has the Sabaton History channel on YouTube, which includes historical looks at World War II, Swedish military history and even the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica, among others.

In September 2022, SABATON announced a new EP trilogy titled "Echoes Of The Great War". The trilogy features new songs specifically about World War I, coupled with topically related catalog music.

The last EP in the "Echoes Of The Great War" EP trilogy, "Stories From The Western Front", was made available in April 2023 on all platforms. It features a never-heard-before cover of MOTÖRHEAD's well-known track "1916".

SABATON climbed the international charts with its tenth studio album, "The War To End All Wars", securing No. 1 positions in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Finland. Having achieved the top position for the second time in Germany, Sweden and Finland, the album peaked at No. 1 in Poland, Hungary and Austria for the first time in the band’s career. This and additional outstanding results in other territories have made "The War To End All Wars" SABATON's most successful album so far.

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe (courtesy of Nuclear Blast)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT TOMMY’S FUTURE WITH SABATON ⚠️
After 7 amazing years in the band, our guitarist, Tommy, has...

Posted by Sabaton on Saturday, January 20, 2024

Fan-filmed video of MR. BIG's January 17 performance at the RokIsland Fest 2024 in Key West, Florida can be seen below.

MR. BIG kicked off it U.S. tour on January 12 at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas.

MR. BIG's ongoing last worldwide tour is aptly titled "The BIG Finish". Since the band's original drummer and co-founder Pat Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson's disease in 2018, the band now feels it's time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy. The first leg kicked off in Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August 2023, where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows including Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Now MR. BIG is bringing "The BIG Finish" to the U.S. Joining MR. BIG on drums for this special final world tour is longtime friend of the band Nick D'Virgilio (SPOCK'S BEARD, BIG BIG TRAIN),stepping in for Torpey.

MR. BIG's final tour sees the band performing the entirety of its breakthrough platinum-selling 1991 album "Lean Into It" from start to finish as a featured highlight of the live setlist.

MR. BIG recently entered the studio to record a new studio album to coincide with the last shows of the band's farewell tour.

Last November, MR. BIG singer Eric Martin was asked by Troy Patrick Farrell of the weekly live "This That And The Other" radio show why he and his bandmates feel that now is the time to officially pull the plug on MR. BIG. He said: "Well, I really didn't wanna end it. I think we're gonna be done with it. I would just keep the door open forever. I didn't wanna ever end something. I hate the end of anything, but Pat Torpey is not there anymore. And that's kind of taking the wind out of the sails. He was the anchor of the band. And Nick D'Virgilio is a great replacement. He's phenomenal drummer. He sings just like Pat. Nick's great. But everybody has so many other projects. I don't. I really like the MR. BIG project… I have a couple of irons in the fire. But, yeah, it's over. To me, it's kind of a bummer. But it's time. It's been 35 fucking years, man."

Martin went on to say that it "feels great" to have a drummer in MR. BIG who can not only reproduce Torpey's parts on the band's classic songs but who also has the voice to harmonize with him during MR. BIG's live shows.

"No offense to Matt [Starr]," Eric said, referencing the drummer who played with MR. BIG for four years prior to Torpey's passing. "I thought Matt Starr was great. He was fine. The thing about Matt is that he came when Pat just couldn't do it anymore. He had this little cocktail kit on the side and he would play drums with us once in a while. Matt did it. It was just too soon for me. I wasn't ready to give up Pat Torpey. And when Matt did it, Matt has his own style. He's more like a John Bonham. He's not a Pat Torpey, and I was looking for somebody to play exactly like Pat, because I could. I wanted it, and I was really bummed that Pat couldn't do it anymore. And Matt did it, and he did a fine job for us. We sounded like a different MR. BIG. Pat Torpey has this finessey kind of things, and he's like Steve Gadd meets Vinnie Colaiuta meets maybe like a John Bonham. But Matt has got that form, heavy rock [approach], but there's a lot of finesse in the MR. BIG style — you know, 'Colorado Bulldog' and all that. And Matt did a great job; he really did. But then, after Matt, we didn't do anything. COVID thing, Pat passed away first, actually. And then nothing happened. And then when we were gonna get another drummer, we wanted to do a different style — not a different style, but we wanted to find somebody new that could play exactly like Pat. And that's what we found in Nick. He's got the same chops and the incredible voice. Matt can sing too. I mean, he was great. But I'm just letting the folks know out there, there's no bad blood between Matt Starr and MR. BIG or me or anything like that. He's killer."

Regarding the possibility of MR. BIG making a new album as the follow-up to 2017's "Defying Gravity", Eric said: "We're doing it now. We're working on it now. [MR. BIG guitarist] Paul Gilbert and I — I've been going back and forth to Portland, Oregon, where Paul lives, and we've been writing and recording everything. And so far, I wanna say, [we have] 10, 13 songs so far. And Billy's [Sheehan, MR. BIG bassist] got one that he just brought in. And Nick — we said, 'Hey, Nick, if you've got any tunes, man, throw it our way.' And he's got four songs that are pretty good."

In an April 2023 interview with Border City Rock Talk, D'Virgilio spoke about how he landed the gig as MR. BIG's new touring drummer, five years after the passing of the band's co-founder, Pat Torpey. The 55-year-old Nick, who has spent the last nine years working for the Indiana-based online retailer of music instruments and audio gear Sweetwater, said: "It stemmed through Sweetwater. I've known Paul [Gilbert]; Paul was the one guy I knew most. I met Pat, and I met Billy — Gosh — at a music trade show back in the day. And I was definitely a fan of the band. I listened to a lot of Pat's drumming way before I ever met him in person. But at Sweetwater, we do a lot of recording workshops and we get artists in to come and people pay to come to the studio and hang in the studio with the artists that come in. Paul does it quite a bit; he's been there a bunch. Billy was there a while back as well, but Paul's been there a number of times. And I've been able to play as his rhythm section for these recording workshops. And I also had Paul play on a song on my solo record called 'Invisible' that I put out in 2020. Through all of this stuff, we got to just jamming some more stuff. And I know Paul through Mike Portnoy and Neal Morse and a lot of circles of musicians. After the last thing we did at Sweetwater, Paul just sent me an e-mail and asked if I would be interested in going on tour with MR. BIG in Asia. Now, this was [in] July [2022], when he first sent me the e-mail, so nine, 10 months ago or so. And I immediately said 'yes'. I think I said 'fuck yes', all in bold letters… So then I went sort of hog wild here in my studio and I videotaped and multi-tracked my drums. I kind of just went hog wild, sending back these demos of me playing and then singing all the parts. So I sang the lead vocal, and then I sang Pat's parts too. Since [it was an] audition, I figured I'd put my best foot forward. Long story short, they said, 'Yeah, we'd love to do it. And you're in,' basically. So that's kind of how it all happened. It came out of the blue."

As a session musician and touring artist, Nick has worked with many different kinds of artists and bands, from TEARS FOR FEARS, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Gilbert to Peter Gabriel and Eric Burdon and the ANIMALS. In 1996, Nick took Phil Collins's place in GENESIS and played on their "Calling All Stations" album. He has also carved out a major presence in the progressive rock world with his bands, SPOCK'S BEARD and BIG BIG TRAIN.

Before joining the Sweetwater team, Nick spent almost five years touring with Cirque Du Soleil's "Totem" as drummer, vocalist, and assistant bandleader.

When D'Virgilio's addition to MR. BIG was first announced in March 2023, Sheehan said in a statement: "We found a wonderful drummer in Nick, and he's got a great voice too. Nick has a vocal range similar to Pat's, and he'll be able to do the parts Pat did with a similar finesse. It's a big relief because MR. BIG has always been heavy on the harmonies. When the band began, we really relied on each other. We knew each guy would do exactly what he needed to do vocally and to do it righteously, on key, and in time. It's difficult to find a drummer who sings in that range, but Nick has the voice we really need onstage."

Gilbert concurred, saying: "Nick gets close to the spirit of Pat Torpey. Billy, Eric [Martin, vocals] and I have been really happy with the music we've already shared back and forth. I'm impressed with Nick's level of musical adaptability and breadth of skill. He and I have done some recording together, and I was blown away with his groove, and how he just played what fit the song. If the song requires him to be more progressive and stand out, he will stand out. But if the song requires him to groove, he will groove. That's actually a rare thing, and it really fits in with what we do in MR. BIG."

Martin added: "I love the fact that Nick was a fan of Pat Torpey and wants to keep our BIG sound intact. When I first saw his audition demo video of the 'Lean Into It' song 'Lucky This Time', Nick was playing drums with those signature Pat snare hits and singing harmonies spot on to what Pat used to do. It gave me goosebumps!! I am so thrilled to have this man who will be filling some mighty BIG shoes join us on our last tour."

Kickin' off the our 25th Anniversary year in style THIS WEEKEND at RokIsland Fest in Key West!! No better way to get...

Posted by RokIsland Fest on Tuesday, January 16, 2024

DOPE leader Edsel Dope, who is widely believed to be Xer0, the masked frontman of STATIC-X, 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 new appearance on the "Battleline" podcast, Edsel was asked for his opinion on rock bands who use pre-recorded tracks. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's 2024, man. I'm sorry — I know FOREIGNER was really cool back in the '70s, and they probably brought a 16-piece band up on stage with backing singers and frickin' keyboardists and all these things to make that shit happen. Well, it's 2024 — you don't need all that shit anymore. How about this one? Efficiency. How about efficiency for touring? How about we can't feed 26 people. When Ronnie Radke [of FALLING IN REVERSE] goes on tour and wants to play one of his hit songs that's got 52 keyboard lines and a full string section and all of this shit going on, it's, like, yeah, dude he's gonna hit a button, and that button is gonna do all the work, because that's what technology does for you.

"I get it if a band is outright just like being a DJ, and there's no lead vocalist — I get it — but I don't feel like that's what that argument [against using backing tracks] is based on," he continued. "I feel like that argument is based on some stupid purist mentality that's so dated in its way of thinking and thinks of, like,' I see four guys on stage, so I only must hear what's coming out of those four people's bodies or the instruments, the pieces of wood that they're holding.' Like, okay, dude."

Dope, who has helped produce the most recent STATIC-X albums, also addressed the criticism FALLING IN REVERSE frontman Ronnie Radke faced after the latter band canceled its appearance at the WIIL Rock festival in September 2022 at Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, Illinois because FALLING IN REVERSE's laptops — which the musicians use to "run" their "show" — were lost. At the time, Radke said in a video message that he and his bandmates had "no other option" because "as a band in 2022, you need your laptops. It's like driving a car without an engine."

"You're going after arguably one of the most talented dudes of our generation," Edsel said, arguing that the pushback against FALLING IN REVERSE was unwarranted. "If you think Sebastian Bach is the dude of the '80s and you go, 'Man, that guy sings his ass off,' and you're right — Sebastian's so fucking talented. That's who Ronnie is of the younger generation. The dude's so fucking talented. He's like the only dangerous fucking rock star that we have out there right now that just does not give a fuck. He's uncancelable. He's everything you should be supporting in the rock and roll community right now instead of, 'Oh, let's tear him down' because he's evolved his sound into having a very — the most modern that it can be. I mean, dude, it's like an Eminem song mixed with, like, a fucking LAMB OF GOD song with incredible melodic vocals on it. He's just cutting down all the boundaries, blending everything together, and it's done in a very technological way. And the dude's not gonna bring 35 people on tour so that he can not have a laptop. Could he play without his laptop? Yeah, I'm sure he could, but who the fuck would wanna hear it? And that's Ronnie's point, too. He's, like, dude, no one wants to hear that. And of course, he makes fun of it, and Ronnie's a real sensible guy. But I just don't understand those battles. You're gonna go after the dude that has literally been doing this now for 15 years and he's constantly — I love the name of the band, too, FALLING IN REVERSE, because he's constantly ascended against all odds. That dude is now out there playing amphitheaters, co-headlining with PAPA ROACH. Do you even acknowledge how big the band is, how many fucking streams, how popular that dude has become? And you're gonna rip him apart because he not organic enough for you? Come on, dude. You're just a fucking hater."

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 recently completed "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."

In March 2023, 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."

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."

A decade is a long time, as vocalist Nick Walsh (Slik Toxik, Famous Underground) attests to in his latest social media post:


"Dear Moxy Fans,


After 10 incredible years as the lead vocalist and co-producer of Moxy, I have made the difficult decision to step down from my current position. My other projects require more of my time, and I feel that I can't give Moxy the 100% commitment it deserves. It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable memories and music that will forever be etched in our hearts.




I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our fans that have supported us throughout the years. Your passion and dedication have been the driving force behind the music, and I am truly grateful for every moment we've shared together.


While my role in Moxy may be changing, my love for music and the band will always remain. I look forward to seeing Earl Johnson and Moxy continue to thrive and bring joy to audiences around the world.


With heartfelt thanks,
Nick Walsh"


Video of Moxy performing live in Toronto, Ontario in 2015, with Nick Walsh on vocals, can be enjoyed below.








 

Pattern-Seeking Animals (P-SA) have released a drum playthrough video for "Window To The World", a song from the band's foutth studio album,  Spooky Action At A Distance. Watch below:





Spooky Action At A Distance finds Pattern-Seeking Animals more confident than ever, approaching new soundscapes and topics, showcasing their evolution, and commitment to pushing their own creative boundaries.Order here.







Tracklisting:


CD1
“The Man Made Of Stone”
“Window To The World”
“What Awaits Me”
“He Once Was”
“Underneath The Orphan Moon”
“Clouds That Never Rain”
“Bulletproof”
“Somewhere North Of Nowhere”
“Summoned From Afar”
“Love is Still The Light”


CD2
“There Goes My Baby”
“Orphans Of The Universe” (Live At ProgStock 2022)
“Elegant Vampires” (Live At ProgStock 2022)
“Time Has A Way” (Live At ProgStock 2022) *


*CD and digital album only


“Love is Still The Light” video:





“Clouds That Never Rain” video:





"Underneath The Orphan Moon" video:





"Somewhere North Of Nowhere" video:





“Window To The World” video:





"Time Has A Way" (Live ProgStock 2022) video:

During an appearance on SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" to promote GREEN DAY's new album "Saviors", the legendary pop-punk trio consisting of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool was asked for their opinion of some of the world's best-known rock drummers, including METALLICA's Lars Ulrich. When host Howard Stern opined that Ulrich "does a good job of integrating himself into" METALLICA and is "able to almost stand up during playing the drums," Armstrong said: "Lars has a really unorthodox way of playing. I think he's a really creative drummer. I think there's like — as far as the metal drummers of his genre, even up until now, people that were influenced by METALLICA, I think there is something very studious about the way other people play. But I think that the way that him and James Hetfield play together is so just in lock step. His drum fills are completely unique to the way Lars plays. I really dig the way Lars [plays]. He's a great drummer." Cool seemingly concurred and added: "And his energy is infectious. He's like a heavy metal muppet."

Three years ago, Lars told METALLICA's So What! fan-club magazine that he is no longer bothered by people's criticism of his drumming abilities. At the time, the Danish-born musician said: "Unlike years ago, I basically don't read any of the interviews that the other guys [in METALLICA] do. 20 or 30 years ago, we would all sit and fucking read every page of Kerrang! and every page of Circus magazine, see what so-and-so's saying and what the other band members were saying, what James [Hetfield, METALLICA guitarist/vocalist] was saying about this and that. Now there's just none of that. I also don't really read what people say about METALLICA.

"I'll say that occasionally, once every six months or something like that, it's kind of fun to go through the trolling section just because of the ridiculousness of all of it, but it's not something that I do regularly anymore," he revealed. "20 years ago, it would've been, 'Oh, my God, somebody said something bad,' or, 'That person said a nasty comment in the comments section,' or whatever. Now, none of that really means anything to me."

Back in 2016, Ulrich, who has gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, told the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast that he went through a period in the mid-1980s "that probably culminated in the 'Justice' album where I felt sort of compelled to try to show ability."

According to Lars, part of the reason for him feeling insecure about his abilities was the increased competition from some of his peers.

"Listen, when you've got Dave Lombardo and Charlie Benante breathing down your back, it was, like, 'Okay, I've gotta…' I tried to step it up a little bit and tried to do my own thing and do all this crazy shit," he said. "I was trying really hard to push the drums kind of into the foreground. And then, after like a year or two of that, I was, like, 'Okay. Seriously? Just do your thing. Chill out. Support the riffs. Do what's best for the song.' So since around I guess the late '80s — so I guess it's been, like, 25 years now — the only thing that's really interested me is just doing the best thing for the song."

Asked in a 2008 interview with U.K.'s Rhythm magazine if he was troubled by the fact that he's gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, Lars said: "It used to, back in the day — and I spent a lot of time overcompensating for that on the early records. But then you wake up one day and you're like, whatever. It hasn't bothered me for [many] years. I'm no Joey Jordison, I'm no Mike Portnoy, and I have nothing but love and respect and admiration for all those guys. When I hear some of the young dudes, they blow my mind with what they can do with their feet and stuff — but it's not something that makes me go, 'I need to feel better about myself so I'm gonna learn how to do what they do with my feet.' I'm not a particularly accomplished drummer but I am very, very, very good at understanding the role of the drums next to James Hetfield's rhythm guitar. I guarantee you I'm the best guy in the world for that, and that's enough for me."

Ulrich stated about his playing ability in a 2012 interview with DRUM! magazine: "I usually feel like I've regressed. [Laughs] I'm like, 'Why can't I do that anymore?'" He continued: "I can't say that I necessarily sit down to practice, like, 'I'm going to play and practice so I can get better.' What happens is that I just sit down and kind of play to just more stay in shape."

Ulrich added: "You know, METALLICA was up to two or three months off [in 2011], and I would sit down, I have an iPod next to my drums so I can play along to all kind of crazy stuff, and try to see if I can land in the same zip code of some of that stuff occasionally. But I can't say that I sit down to necessarily practice to sort of get better. For most of my stuff, it's about listening and about interpreting stuff that I'm listening to. So all the kind of sitting down and, you know, 'Now I'm going to do thirty-second-note paradiddles standing on my head — you know what I mean? I don't do that kind of stuff so much. For me it's more about the regimen of staying in shape, running every day, eating healthy, you know, being on top of that side of it."

GREEN DAY photo credit: Cindy Ord (courtesy of SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show")

British guitar sensation, Sophie Lloyd, has released the new video below, along with the following message:


"You need to check this out! Rocksmith+ has loads features for you to learn guitar after a break, or even guitar lessons for beginners. Rocksmith+ has over 7500 songs for you to choose from and with its guitar learning software you don't need anything other than a guitar and your phone!"







Sophie released her debut album, Imposter Syndrome, via her own Autumn Records back in November. The album is available as a digipack CD, Black Gatefold Vinyl and Limited Edition Gatefold Purple Splatter Vinyl. Orders can be placed here.





Tracklisting:


"Do Or Die" (feat. Nathan James)
"Pressure" (feat. Brandon Saller)
"Imposter Syndrome" (feat. Lzzy Hale)
"Let It Hurt" (feat. Chris Robertson)
"Runaway" (feat. Michael Starr)
"Fall Of Man" (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
"Lost" (feat. Cole Rolland)
"Hanging On" (feat. Lauren Babic)
"Avalanche" (feat. Trevor McNevan)
"Won't You Come" (feat. Marisa Rodriguez)
"Judge And Jury" (feat. Tyler Connolly)


"Judge And Jury" video:





"Runaway" featuring Michael Starr of Steel Panther:





"Lost" featuring Cole Rolland:





"Hanging On" featuring Lauren Babic:





"Fall Of Man" featuring Matthew K. Heafy of Trivium:

Finally, Paris-based alternative rock and metal act ONLAP has revealed new details about their forthcoming, hotly-anticpated studio album! "Waves" is slated for a release on June 14, 2024 via AFM Records.

Their first ever release on AFM Records, sees ONLAP to step up the ladder and evolve their already digitally incorporated DNA. Following a series of previously-released album tracks, such as "Nevermind", "Fever", "Hypnotized" and "Crawling In The Dark", now, the band is premiering a video clip for their new single "Afterglow".

"Afterglow" is a very special song, and one of the last single releases before our album "Waves" will drop in June 2024," the band comments. "This song is that kind of a message of comfort for all those who think that their best period, of age, of glory, of love, of happiness, of strength, of health, is behind them and past. The best is yet to come and this song is here to remind and accompany anyone who needs it. The video is quite a very special project, paying tribute to the Workout community, which has always supported ONLAP for all these years. So we brought together famous Youtubers and members of the ONLAP family to participate in this video and we are honored that so many people responded to this call. Looking forward to finally unveil this song and video!!"

"Waves" Tracklist:

01. Fever
02. Hypnotized
03. Never Ending Winter
04. Who Killed the Plan?
05. Ghosts (feat. Lansdowne)
06. Never Too Late (feat. Kiiara)
07. Nevermind
08. Afterglow
09. Crawling in the Dark
10. Ready For War
11. Ghosts (Reimagined)
12. Never Too Late (Reimagined)

In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Paul Stanley commented on the skepticism from some of the KISS fans with regard to the band's recent announcement that the legendary rockers will continue as digital avatars. The technology, originally developed for ABBA's "Voyage" show in London, will allow KISS to stay "on the road" in retirement.

The four members of KISS played their final show as humans at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 2 and revealed they would be continuing as avatars — to be deployed in ways yet to be revealed.

"One thing that's interesting is people, I think, perhaps even understandably, got the wrong impression initially of the avatars," Paul told Ultimate Classic Rock. "Because at the Garden shows, we wanted to give people a glimpse of some of the things, or one of the things, that's to come. But the avatars are really in their infancy. They're far from where they'll end up in terms of look and purpose. The purpose, ultimately, is not that we're being replaced by flying avatars. It's just another way of diversifying what KISS is."

He continued: "Quite honestly, many times in the last 50 years, people have scratched their heads about what our plans were. And nine out of 10 times they've been successful, and other people have followed. So that's nothing really new.

"We're in a fortunate position and a unique position of being a band that can do things that other bands can't do," Stanley added. "So to not explore and take advantage of many of them would be, I don't know, ridiculous, and also, really, at this point, mystifying. We've worked this hard to create four icons, and a band that's iconic in so many different ways, and to not diversify and maximize what we've created, we'd be crazy."

Earlier in the month, KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer told Guitar World magazine about the avatars: "It'll take some time to get the imagery where we want it to be. I haven't really thought about what it all means in the big picture, but with technology evolving as quickly as it is, there's no doubt that this is the direction a lot of entertainment is going."

Last month, KISS revealed that fans will apparently have to wait more than three years to see the band's first avatar performance. On December 22, KISS released a short video announcing that "a show" featuring the KISS avatars "is coming" in "2027". The band captioned the clip: "50 years is a long time, and what the future holds is in the making."

The KISS avatars were created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and were financed and produced by the Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, which is behind "ABBA Voyage".

Earlier last month, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons said that "about 200 million" dollars is being invested into the KISS avatar show.

Unlike the "ABBA Voyage" show, which recreates a 1970s-era ABBA concert in a custom-built London arena, KISS's avatars that appeared at the band's final concert in New York in early December will not be as grounded in reality as ABBA's digital replicas. According to BBC News, the KISS avatars will see the band appear as fantasy-based superheroes who are eight feet tall, breathing fire and shooting electricity from their fingers, while floating above the audience.

No further details have been announced yet for KISS's plan with the band's avatars. "We're going to figure it out after the tour," Pophouse CEO Per Sundin said prior to the final show at Madison Square Garden. "Is it a KISS concert in the future? Is it a rock opera? Is it a musical? A story, an adventure? These four individuals already have superpowers. We want to be as open as possible."

The avatars will now be available for live shows around the world and in digital online settings, which some people collectively refer to as the metaverse.

KISS will reportedly become the first American band to go fully virtual and stage its own avatar show.

JOCOUP Creative, an experiential design firm co-founded by former Universal Creative director Thierry Coup and BRC and Universal Creative alumni Johanna "Jojo" Atilano, is also involved in the project. Coup has been announced as creative director of the KISS avatar show.

The East--West Sounds (Memorial) YouTube Channel has shared fan-filmed video of Black Sabbath's entire 1992 New York City show, which took place at the Beacon Theater on October 14th. Check it out below.


Setlist:


"The Mob Rules"
"Computer God"
"Children of the Sea"
"Time Machine"
"War Pigs"
"I"
"Die Young"
-guitar solo -
"Black Sabbath"
"Master of Insanity"
"After All (The Dead)"
- drum solo- 
"Iron Man"
"Heaven and Hell"




Encore:
"Neon Knights"
"Paranoid"

Toby Knapp is an internationally renowned American guitar virtuoso schooled in the metal finger-picking styles of Uli Jon Roth and Yngwie Malmsteen. He was just 18 when he signed with the esteemed metal label Shrapnel Records in 1992, and continues to have a productive and prolific career in rock and heavy metal. Knapp has since released over 22 albums under his own name and with his many bands, including Onward, Toby Knapp, Waxen, Where Evil Follows, Necrytis, Affliktor and Darken. He is also a full time guitar teacher and session studio and live musician for many world class national artists including Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Godless Rising, Fetid Zombie, Abhor and others, With both feet firmly planted in both progressive Metal as well as Thrash and death metal, he has given nods to the legends of heavy metal while blazing his own electrifying trail.


Toby Knapp now returns with his ninth solo album, Transmission To Purgatory, featuring eight tracks of unique and patented soaring melodies, searing guitar solos and most importantly solid song crafting with stunning songs! An astounding slab of pure instrumental hard rock and heavy metal destined to revive and reinvigorate the genre for the 21st century. Transmission To Purgatory is a guitar driven instrumental heavy metal epic full of killer riffs and searing guitar solos.







Tracklist:


"Damnation's Corridor"
"No Raid at Dawn"
"The Law of Malice"
"Abramelin Carousel"
"Delirium Hierarchy"
"Hydrophobia #2"
"A Vulture's Bane"
"Black Light Temple"





The album will be released on February 23rd, 2024 via Moribund Records.

Metalville Records has announced March 29th as the international release date for Swedish hard rock band The Quill's 11th album, Wheel Of Illusion.


With a storied history dating back to the early '90s, The Quill has consistently pushed boundaries, blending powerful riffs and soulful melodies. States bassist Roger Nilsson, "Making new music is always hard work - but by now, we all know what we need to make a great album. The writing process is really where we gel as a band. We've always loved banging out ideas together in rehearsals - it's always been a team effort with everyone pitching in trying to make every song the best possible."


Wheel Of Illusion promises to be a sonic journey, showcasing the band's evolution while staying true to their hard rock roots. From the thunderous drumbeats to the searing guitar solos, each track is a testament to The Quill's enduring commitment to delivering a raw and authentic sound.




Says guitarist Christian Carlsson, "Even though we have a well-defined sound by now, firmly rooted in the classic rock of the '70s, we always try to find new ways of adding sounds and influences to our music. This time, we found hints of early British NWOBHM creeping in. We also used some old vintage keyboards, which added a bit of a different flavor to keep things fresh."


The album explores themes of introspection, resilience, and the enigmatic nature of reality. With lyrics that resonate and music that captivates, Wheel Of Illusion is poised to become a defining chapter in The Quill's musical legacy.





Tracklisting:


"Wheel Of Illusion"
"We Burn"
"Rainmaker"
"Elephant Head"
"Hawks & Hounds"
"Liber"
"Sweet Mass Confusion"
"The Last Thing"
"Wild Mustang"


The Quill lineup:


Magnus Ekwall - vocals (Ayreon, Mountain Of Power)
Christian Carlsson - guitar (Cirkus Prütz)
Roger Nilsson - bass (Spiritual Beggars, Arch Enemy, Firebird)
Jolle Atlagic - drums (Hanoi Rocks, Electric Boys, Firebird)


For further details, visit The Quill on Facebook.


(Photo by Goran Markov)


 

Watch “Slash: The Making Of 4,” the debut release from Gibson Films, for an all-access look into the making of 4 by Slash Feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators. Witness the magic of making an album the old-school way with the help of Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb.


In this new documentary on the writing and recording process of “4,” fans of Slash will get an intimate look at his ever-evolving journey as a guitarist and really see the electrifying synergy between Slash and Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators as they tell all on what it’s like being in a band together for over a decade. The documentary also offers an in-the-studio glimpse into the creative process behind the album “4,” as the band records live with the legendary producer Dave Cobb. You can also experience the magic of their performances as the band performs tracks like “Whatever Gets You By,” “Actions Speak Louder Than Words,” “The River is Rising,” and more tracks from the new album.


Hear Myles Kennedy’s heartfelt reflections on the beauty of working alongside Slash, the band’s perspectives on why “4” is a remarkable addition to their legacy, and how Slash’s powerful riffs, guitar techniques, and songwriting prowess are consistently evolving. Fans will be treated to an inside look at how Slash and Myles Kennedy’s collaboration works so well, how the band including Todd Kerns, Brent Fitz, and Frank Sidoris have evolved over time to become the powerhouse that it is today along with more live performances like “Fill My World” and “April Fool.” This documentary is a treasure trove for Slash fans of one of rock's most enduring legends.

Mercury Studios will release the first official audio companion of Live At Shea Stadium 1982 on March 1.


Previously released on DVD and Blu-ray in June 2015, The Who (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Kenney Jones) delivered both classic tracks and rarely performed songs: “Pinball Wizard,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “My Generation,” “Substitute,” “Who Are You,” “I Can’t Explain,” “See Me Feel Me,” “Baba O’Riley,” and many more.


The tour promoted the 1982 album, It’s Hard, and the set list was comprised of several tracks from that album, some of which the band would only play live on this tour.




The Who’s 1982 North American tour was their last to feature Kenney Jones on drums and the band did not tour again until 1989. This recording features the show from the second of their two nights at New York’s Shea Stadium and was recorded on October 13th 1982.





Tracklisting


3LP:


Side 1:
"Substitute"
"I Can’t Explain"
"Dangerous"
"Sister Disco"
"The Quiet One"


Side 2:
"It’s Hard"
"Eminence Front"
"Behind Blue Eyes"
"Baba O’Riley"


Side 3:
"I’m One"
"The Punk And The Godfather"
"Drowned"
"Tattoo"


Side 4:
"Cry If You Want"
"Who Are You"
"Pinball Wizard"
"See Me Feel Me"


Side 5:
"Love Reign O’er Me"
"Long Live Rock"
"Won’t Get Fooled Again"


Side 6:
"Young Man Blues"
"Naked Eye"
"I Saw Her Standing There"
"Summertime Blues"
"Twist And Shout"


2CD:


CD1:
"Substitute"
"I Can’t Explain"
"Dangerous"
"Sister Disco"
"The Quiet One"
"It’s Hard"
"Eminence Front"
"Behind Blue Eyes"
"Baba O’Riley"
"I’m One"
"The Punk And The Godfather"
"Drowned"
"Tattoo"
"Cry If You Want"


CD2:
"Who Are You"
"Pinball Wizard"
"See Me Feel Me"
"Love Reign O’er Me"
"Long Live Rock"
"Won’t Get Fooled Again"
"Young Man Blues"
"Naked Eye"
"I Saw Her Standing There"
"Summertime Blues"
"Twist And Shout"

BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale, backed by a string quartet, performed the band's 1994 single "Glycerine" on last night's (Tuesday, January 16) episode of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". You can now watch his appearance below.

BUSH will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an extensive North American headline tour. The "Loaded: The Greatest Hits Tour" will kick off on July 26 in Bend, Oregon and include shows at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey (August 21) and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles (September 15). Most of the dates will be produced by Live Nation. Jerry Cantrell and CANDLEBOX will be the special guests on all dates. Additional guests will be announced.

In order to make attendance possible for fans of every budget, a limited amount of tickets in participating markets will be as low as $19.94 (before taxes and fees),a nod to the 1994 release of BUSH's debut album, "Sixteen Stone".

With over 24 million records sold, one billion streams and a procession of No. 1 singles, the band — comprising Gavin Rossdale (vocals, guitar),Chris Traynor (guitar),Corey Britz (bass) and Nik Hughes (drums) — stand tall as rock outliers whose imprint only widens as the years pass. "Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023" (Round Hill Records),their first-ever greatest-hits collection, provides an expansive view of their incredible legacy with 21 tracks spanning nearly 30 years — from their breakthrough hit "Everything's Zen" to their latest single, "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere", which is already within the Top 20 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

BUSH released "Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023" on November 10 via Round Hill Records. The set includes a new song called "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere", which was written by Gavin and produced by Rossdale and Corey Britz.

"Loaded" includes iconic hits from each of BUSH's nine studio albums as well as "Mouth" (The Stingray Mix) from the 1997 remix album "Deconstructed" and a cover of THE BEATLES' "Come Together" that saw a very limited release in 2012.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of BUSH's six-times-platinum debut album, "Sixteen Stone", so it's only fitting that "Loaded" explodes with five tracks from the seminal album: their debut single, "Everything Zen", "Little Things", "Machinehead" and the group's first No. 1 singles — "Comedown" and "Glycerine", which topped Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart in 1995.

Other chart-topping hits included in the collection include the Grammy-nominated "Swallowed" (from 1996's "Razorblade Suitcase"),"The Chemicals Between Us" (from 1999's "The Science Of Things"),"The Sound Of Winter" (from 2011's "The Sea Of Memories") and, from the band's 2022 album "The Art Of Survival", "More Than Machines", BUSH's seventh single to top the Active Rock Radio chart. "Bullet Holes", which figured prominently in the box office smash "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum", is one of three songs pulled from 2020's "The Kingdom".

BUSH broke up in 2002 but reformed in 2010, and has since released five albums: "The Sea of Memories" (2011),"Man On The Run" (2014),"Black And White Rainbows" (2017),"The Kingdom" (2020) and the aforementioned "The Art Of Survival".

"Black And White Rainbows" was crafted after Rossdale went through a divorce with pop star/reality TV judge Gwen Stefani in 2015.

In recent postin on their official Facebook page, Alcatrazz/Jimmy Waldo responded to recent comments by Graham Bonnet and his girlfriend Beth-Ami Heavenstone, reports Marko Syrja for Metal-Rules.com.


In particular, a video in which Beth-Ami (seemingly doing all the talking) claims that Jimmy Waldo and the other members of the current band “never wrote anything” on any past Alcatrazz album and that any credit given was a mere gesture on Graham’s part. The video in question can be viewed below.


The band stated in various posts on their Facebook page (Note: they do not speak for current lead vocalist Doogie White)...




“How can this woman claim to be an expert on “who really wrote what” 40 years ago?


By her own admission in the full-length interview, “She knew nothing about Graham before meeting him” in 2013.”


One such example: “Remember a song called 'Island In The Sun'?”


The main theme of this signature Alcatrazz song (arguably the first successful single the band had via MTV) was written by Jimmy Waldo, the bridge part was written by Yngwie Malmsteen, and the lyric and vocal melody was written by Graham Bonnet, this is an example of how you fairly give credit amongst writers.


We will post (in the FB comments below) the song containing Jimmy’s parts (the entire main melody line) when it was called 'Take Another Ride' as a New England demo (Jimmy and Gary’s previous pre-Alcatrazz band.)


Clearly, 'Island In The Sun' became a better song due to the COLLABORATION of the writers in Alcatrazz (including Graham Bonnet and Yngwie Malmsteen), but excluding someone who wrote a main part of a signature song (by outright saying, “Those guys never wrote anything” based on an ongoing personal/trademark issue) shows the lack of class Graham Bonnet has.”


Read the full report at Metal-Rules.com.





Alcatrazz, as well as Lillian Axe, will be special guests on Girlschool's "Final North America Tour". Confirmed North American dates, with more to be announced, are listed below.





Dates:


March
21 - Houston, TX - Hell's Heroes Festival*
22 - New Orleans, LA - Southport Music Hall
24 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
25 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
27 - Bensalem, PA - Broken Goblet
28 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
29 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
30 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre


April
2 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
6 - Detroit, MI - Token Lounge


* Girlschool only


Tickets on sale here.

During a recent appearance on the "TODDCast Podcast", TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon was asked to recount a near-death experience that he had during his four-decade-plus touring career. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, I've pressed my luck and I've been very lucky in different situations. Like everybody has, I've been on motorcycles. I've lived a pretty crazy life as far as doing things, riding horses. I've competed in events with the horses. But I'll be honest. Okay, now, I don't wanna get too crazy, but near death, I would say, for me, has been with addiction and drugs. I've pushed myself with cocaine and alcohol years ago to a point to where, like, 'Oh my god, am I gonna make it?' And I'm only sharing that. It's very personal. And hopefully — I don't know what's gonna happen with that statement. I've been clean and sober now for a couple years and I don't recommend drugs or alcohol to anybody. And if you want to die, especially nowadays with fentanyl and all that shit, it's Russian roulette out there. But even before all of that, back in the glory days, the near-death experiences, I would say, would be my own stupid self-inflicted bullshit. So, by me making this statement, I'm just hoping that someone will be motivated to not do that. Life is so much better when you're clear minded and not hung over and having a near-death experience of overdosing and feeling like shit and puking and all that crap that goes with that."

TESLA will return to the House Of Blues inside Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino Las Vegas in 2024 with its "Tesla: The Las Vegas Takeover". Shows will be held on April 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13, 2024, and are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.

In August 2022, TESLA released a standalone single, "Time To Rock!" A year earlier, the band issued another new track called "Cold Blue Steel".

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

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

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

Alice Cooper invites music lovers on an unforgettable journey into the world of rock 'n' roll with a first time ever vinyl edition of his breathtaking live album, Theatre Of Death - Live At Hammersmith 2009.


Feel the audience's energy and experience Cooper's unparalleled stage presence as he spins a macabre tale. This album not only highlights musical uniqueness, but also showcases the theatrical quality that makes Alice Cooper a pioneer in the field of rock spectacle. The recording takes you straight to the heart of the 2009 show and makes it a must for die-hard fans and newcomers to the exciting world of Alice Cooper.


With a track list that feels like a best-of of his greatest successes, Theatre Of Death is a musical journey through Cooper's impressive career. The intensity of his vocals, coupled with the band's enthusiasm for playing, ensures an unforgettable experience. Hits such as "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "School's Out," and "Poison" are showcased, among many others.




The limited vinyl first edition is pressed on two red 180g LPs and includes a DVD with the complete concert film. As an additional highlight, the package includes a numbered concert ticket replica that takes listeners back to Alice Cooper's fascinating world of horror.


The album is a testament to the shock rocker's enduring influence and a tribute to his role as a true music icon.


The title will be available everywhere from March 8. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


Side A:
"School’s Out"
"Department Of Youth"
"I’m Eighteen"
"Wicked Young Man"
"Ballad Of Dwight Fry"
"Go To Hell"
"Guilty"


Side B:
"Welcome To My Nightmare"
"Cold Ethyl"
"Poison"
"The Awakening"
"From The Inside"
"Nurse Rozetta"
"Is It My Body?"


Side C:
"Be My Lover"
"Only Women Bleed"
"I Never Cry"
"The Black Widow"
"Vengeance Is Mine"
"Devil’s food"
"Dirty Diamond"


Side D:
"Billion Dollar Babies"
"Killer"
"I Love The Dead"
"No More Mr. Nice Guy"
"Under My Wheels"
"School's Out"

In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked what he thought about METALLICA's decision to launch legal action against Napster in 2000. Although the case was settled out of court, 300,000 users were banned from the pioneering music file-sharing service as a result and METALLICA's image took a tremendous beating in the eyes of music fans. Ellefson said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Lars Ulrich] was 100 percent right. And, in fact, we were told by our manager, 'Shut up. Don't say anything about it. It's too controversial. Stay out of it.' But I totally — I mean, on the sidelines, I'm going, 'He's totally right.' And like he said, he goes, 'Look, we have the money to fight this.' Unfortunately, it was an unwinnable thing and it was just such bad press, unfortunately."

David continued: "Look, he's right. You can't go to the grocery store and just decide to take a loaf of bread and go, 'It's digital bread. It should be free.' Or if you're sitting at home on Amazon or whatever, Uber Eats, it's, like, yeah, you've gotta pay for it when it shows up at the door. So, there's no free lunches… But, no, he was right. It's like, look, music costs people time, money. It's an endeavor. I mean, look, if you just wanna play for free and for fun, go in your living room and play. But when you're out selling a product, which a song is when it's professionally marketed, then, yeah, look, there's cost to these things, and for people to just take it is, you know, whatever."

Ellefson added: "A lot of it, I think, was just sort of educating people about how the Internet can't just run amok with things, as it tends to do with certain things. For me, Steve Jobs [the visionary co-founder of Apple Inc.], he's my hero anyway. I'm an Apple guy, always have been. And in a way, he kind of saved the day with that by creating the iTunes store, even if it was just so he could sell more iPods. He created his own little music grocery store to kind of create the ecosphere.

"So, look, Lars was right. Steve Jobs got the job done, and we all live happily ever after."

Ellefson previously discussed METALLICA's lawsuit against Napster in an October 2020 interview with "theFIVE10" podcast. Asked how he stayed relevant when the music industry changes so frequently, he responded: "I think you just roll with the punches. I remember when the whole Napster thing was going on, and Lars, in particular, of METALLICA was fighting the good fight, and they were absolutely right. And I remember our manager saying, 'Oh, don't jump into that controversy. You've gotta be careful.' And I said, 'Fuck that. They're wrong. They're stealing our music. They are wrong, and Larsis right.' Unfortunately, it was an unwinnable battle. It's like looting — somebody just opened the front door of Walmart, and everybody ran in and stole everything. So even they [METALLICA] had to just sort of back off and let it take its course.

"Thank God for our pal Steve Jobs who, in my opinion, saved the music business," he continued. "Even though it was self-serving 'cause he wanted to sell iPods — 'Hey, I've got a device. How do I get the music on there?' — but Steve, to his credit, in his time away from Apple, he had made friends with [David] Geffen and [Jeffrey] Katzenberg and all these guys down in Hollywood, and he understood Hollywood. He understood the film business, the music business, so with him being a computer guy, he rallied it together.

"I still buy everything on iTunes," Ellefson added. "I subscribe to Apple [Music] radio. I don't subscribe to Spotify. I don't give them my money, since they don't give me very much of my money. But Apple pays well, so thank you, Apple. And I buy all their products, and I own their stock. So I'm an Apple guy, through and through."

Asked what he thinks the next platform or medium will be for getting music out to the masses, David said: "Well, look, who knows? I mean, all I know is we live one day at a time… So, the future — who knows? I mean, China sneezes on us, and now we're doing Zoom meetings. Who knows? So to predict the future… Again, I think you just kind of take it one day at a time. I think the biggest thing about it is just be resilient. People ask, 'Do you have any advice for musicians?' And it's just learn to play along, learn to play nice, learn to play nice with your bandmates and the world around you, because things change quickly. Someone who was playing behind you last year is now the headliner over you this year, and that's how it goes. So, be resilient."

Five years ago, Ellefson lamented Spotify's meager artist payouts, telling Graspop Metal Meeting: "As great as the digital streaming is as a promotional thing, it's extremely unfair to us. They've built entire massive fortunes on the backs of our music that we don't get paid for. And that, fortunately, is gonna change… Now, as far as the fans, the user? My daughter, my kids, I don't think they hardly bought any music — they always get everything… My daughter, for sure, gets things off Spotify, so I pay attention. And certainly YouTube and all that stuff, so, of course, it's important. Because if we're not on our drums and guitars, we're probably on our phones. So it's important that we pay attention to it, because our fans are a part of it. So if we wanna connect to our fans, we need to be there.

"Thank goodness, again, like I said, the middle is getting connected better as far as the fairness of the royalty and everything, which, of course, makes us feel better, because we feel like we're being compensated for a lot of hard work," he added. "And somebody had to pay to make those records, so it's nice that everybody now starts to get a fair take on that."

METALLICA sued Napster after the band discovered that a leaked demo version of its song "I Disappear" was circulating on the pioneering music file-sharing service before it was released.

In May 2000, Ulrich famously delivered a literal truckload of paper to Napster Inc., listing hundreds of thousands of people who allegedly used the company's software to share unauthorized MP3s of METALLICA's songs.

METALLICA representatives compiled the more than 60,000-page list of 335,435 Napster user IDs over one weekend in response to Napster's promise to terminate the accounts of users who trade material without permission. Real names were not included in the list.

In later years, METALLICA embraced digital music: in December 2012, the band made all of its studio albums, as well as various live material, singles, remixes and collaborations, available on Spotify.

ASKING ALEXANDRIA's Ben Bruce has announced that he is "stepping away" from the band.

Bruce formed ASKING ALEXANDRIA in 2006 and has played on all of the British band's eight studio albums, including ASKING ALEXANDRIA's latest full-length release, 2023's "Where Do We Go From Here?" A new ASKING ALEXANDRIA EP, "Dark Void", arrived earlier this month.

In a message posted on Instagram earlier today (Friday, January 19),the guitarist thanked the ASKING ALEXANDRIA fans for their "years of love and support" before explaining that "it's time to dedicate my life to my family. On top of family medical situations, leaving my children means missing out on too many important moments in their lives."

Ben's full statement reads as follows:

"To my amazing AA family,

"First and foremost, I want to say thank you to everyone for the years of love and support. It means more to me than you can imagine.

"I've spent my entire life dedicated to music. It's been my first love since about the age of 2 and the journey I've been on has been absolutely incredible. As I've grown older and my life has inevitably changed, I have come to realize how precious time is. The time I have spent with all of you has been the time of my life. But now it's time to dedicate my life to my family.

"On top of family medical situations, leaving my children means missing out on too many important moments in their lives. It's so important for me to be there for them as they grow, and to be here for my family as they need me to be, which means, after a lot of thought, I will be stepping away from ASKING ALEXANDRIA.

"Thank you to everyone who has come and seen me play live and listened to the songs I've written over the years. The memories will love on in my heart forever. I truly love you all so much for the years of support you've given me and ASKING ALEXANDRIA. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Bruce has been the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of ASKING ALEXANDRIA since the band's inception nearly two decades ago.

Ben Bruce has announced he is stepping away from Asking Alexandria.

Posted by The State of the Scene Podcast on Friday, January 19, 2024