Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman has paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76. During an interview on Wednesday (July 23),Fetterman told reporters about Ozzy's passing: " Oh, Goddamn. I mean, I'm a BLACK SABBATH guy… People don't realize how their first album changed everything. Now, all of the giants in the business — METALLICA and others — they all owe debt to [BLACK SABBATH]. I'm a big METALLICA fan. And now he's rode the crazy train to the next world. And, absolutely, he was a treasure. And I grew up on those kinds of music."

A member of the Democratic party, Fetterman served as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2019. Prior to that, he served in the AmeriCorps and earned an MPP from Harvard.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1969, Fetterman has been advocating for LGBTQ rights, access to abortion and other progressive causes, but he has also expressed a desire to align with conservatives on issues like protecting the U.S. border and defending Israel.

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

Ozzy's family reality television show "The Osbournes" won a 2002 Primetime Emmy.

In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024.

Osbourne won several Grammys, including one in 1993 for his solo song "I Don't Want To Change The World".

Ozzy and his wife and manager Sharon started their annual tour — Ozzfest — in 1996 after he was rejected from the lineup of what at the time was the top touring music festival, Lollapalooza. The first traveling version of Ozzfest in 1997 included MARILYN MANSON and PANTERA as part of the lineup.

Osbourne leaves behind his wife, three children from his first marriage (including an adopted son from his first wife's previous relationship),and three with Sharon: Jack, Kelly and Aimee.

In a new interview with "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of the Pod Scum podcast, UGLY KID JOE guitarist and producer Dave Fortman spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to the "Rad Wings Of Destiny" album, which came out in October 2022. Asked if the songwriting process has gotten easier over the years, Dave responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's different. Certainly the surprising thing was — who knew? Me and Whit [UGLY KID JOE vocalist Whitfield Crane] just decided — I don't know when; it might have been 2023 — I was just, like, 'Just fucking come down. Let's just fucking go for it.'. And then we just sat and nailed out seven, eight songs in a row within about 12 days or something like that. That could be inaccurate — it might have been shorter, might have been a little longer — but it was pretty quick. We got 'em knocked out. Then we started realizing, wow, this whole translation thing really, really works for me to be able to pull riffs out of his head, make 'em into reality, and then lay 'em down to a drum machine and then just have him come start singing stuff, and we just go over and over and over and over and over. And once we can hear it, then we start correcting parts and doing all that stuff. But, yeah, I would say that part is brand new and really, really easy for us to do. We just did it again. We just wrote two more [songs] in another session that was this last — I don't know when he was here; March, whatever. So that part's really easy."

Fortman added: "Me and Klaus [Eichstadt, UGLY KID JOE guitarist] were majority songwriters from [the early days]. Klaus was on [UGLY KID JOE's full-length debut] 'America's Least Wanted'. Then we both are writing all the way through everything else. So [the process has] been the same for me. It's definitely not gotten easier. It's sort of just I've gotta do whatever I normally do, and it somehow it works out."

Asked if it "makes more sense" for UGLY KID JOE to release a new full-length album or an EP, Dave said: "Right now, an LP, for sure. 'Cause we have the material. Why not? We, like, I think, all of the songs, almost. There's a few we didn't even complete, 'cause me and Whit wrote a gazillion. I think it's probably two other ones we're not using; we didn't finish 'em up. But, man, I think there's, like, 12 songs or something."

"Rad Wings Of Destiny" saw UGLY KID JOE re-teaming producer Mark Dodson who was behind the desk for the band's debut album, "America's Least Wanted", which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022.

UGLY KID JOE will support LIFE OF AGONY on the European leg of the "30 Years Of Ugly" tour in November 2025.

In the spring of 2023, UGLY KID JOE completed its first U.S. tour in 27 years.

After a 15-year hiatus, UGLY KID JOE reformed in 2012 and has toured extensively throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

The band released the EP "Stairway To Hell" in 2012 and the full-length "Uglier Than They Used Ta Be" in 2015.

Five years ago, Crane told Eonmusic about UGLY KID JOE's huge success on the back of single "Everything About You" in 1991: "'Eye of the storm' is a good way to put it, because it just was all happening at a deadly fast gait. And it was a lot — it was beautiful and also very challenging, because there's a lot of people that surround the business of music that are full of shit. But when you're 23 [or] 24, you don't know how to negotiate that, so on one hand, it was super fun and we did all the things you should do at that age, and on the other hand, it was too much for me. But we survived it, and I can deal with it all now."

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees and music icons BAD COMPANY will be celebrated with a first ever, star-studded tribute album to be released October 24, 2025 via Primary Wave Music.

"Can't Get Enough: A Tribute To Bad Company" features legendary and contemporary artists from rock, country and Americana — genres deeply influenced by BAD COMPANY — including Hardy, THE PRETTY RECKLESS, Joe Elliott and Phil Collen from DEF LEPPARD, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, Charley Crockett, HALESTORM and more, offering fresh takes on the band's iconic songs. BAD COMPANY singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke also appear on the album, bringing the tribute full circle.

Elliott says: "I've loved BAD COMPANY since the very beginning. A phenomenal combination of two of my favorite bands, FREE and MOTT THE HOOPLE — what's not to love?! What a privilege it is for myself and Phil to cover one of my favorite BAD COMPANY songs withPaul and Simon! Wow!"

Hardy says: "There's a short list of bands my dad played for me as a young boy that shaped my love for rock 'n' roll, and BAD COMPANY is on that list. It's a very cool and surreal moment to be part of this project."

Slash adds: "BAD COMPANY was the background music of an important period in my youth. They were such a great band, and a huge influence on me then and still are today."

Kicking things off is THE STRUTS' "Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy", which was recorded and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. Watch the band's studio session video below.

"Can't Get Enough: A Tribute To Bad Company" track listing:

01. Ready For Love - HARDY
02. Shooting Star - HALESTORM (feat. Paul Rodgers)
03. Feel Like Makin' Love - SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS
04. Run With The Pack - BLACKBERRY SMOKE (feat. Paul Rodgers and Brann Dailor)
05. Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy - THE STRUTS
06. Bad Company - CHARLEY CROCKETT
07. Rock Steady - DIRTY HONEY
08. Burnin' Sky - BLACK STONE CHERRY
09. Seagull - Joe Elliott and Phil Collen of DEF LEPPARD (feat. Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke)
10. All Right Now - THE PRETTY RECKLESS

BAD COMPANY guitarist Mick Ralphs died in June at the age of 81.

Rodgers of FREE first met Ralphs in 1971. After an inspired jam session and a mutual sharing of songs, Ralphs made the bold decision to leave MOTT THE HOOPLE and form a new band with Rodgers, and BAD COMPANY was born. Adding former KING CRIMSON bassist/vocalist Boz Burrell and drummer Simon Kirke, the band was complete. With the help of LED ZEPPELIN's legendary manager Peter Grant, BAD COMPANY became the first band signed to ZEPPELIN's Swan Song label.

The group's success was meteoric. Their 1974 self-titled debut went five times platinum, producing classic hits like "Can't Get Enough" and "Movin' On", alongside electrifying rock anthems such as "Ready For Love", "Rock Steady" and the title track "Bad Company".

In a fitting tribute to the band' s enduring influence, BAD COMPANY will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame later this year in 2025.

Ralphs gave his final performance with BAD COMPANY on October 29, 2016, at London' s O2 Arena. Just days later, he suffered a debilitating stroke and remained bedridden until his passing.

Nuclear Blast will release a transparent red vinyl edition of Kreator’s Gods Of Violence album on September 19.

Preorder at the Nuclear Blast webshop.



Gods Of Violence was originally released January 2017 and was #3 on our BravePicks 2017 list. Tracks featured are “Satan Is Real”, the title track” and “Hail To The Hordes”. It would be the final album for bassist Christian Giesler – who left Kreator in 2019.

Peaceville Records will release a limited marble vinyl of Katatonia’s Viva Emptiness on August 15.

Katatonia was formed in 1991 by Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse. Their debut album, Dance Of December Souls, was released in 1993, gaining the band recognition for their eclectic brand of gothic doom/death metal & joining acts such as Paradise Lot & My Dying Bride as one of the genre’s defining bands. Over the years, Katatonia evolved beyond their more extreme metal origins to become one of the pinnacles of the progressive metal genre.

Viva Emptiness was Katatonia’s sixth studio album and is considered among the band’s strongest works; a step up even over the seemingly insurmountable greatness of previous release, Last Fair Deal Gone Down. The album was recorded at the famous Soundtrade Studios (part of the 301 group) in Stockholm in October/November 2002 and released the following year; further refining Katatonia’s unique and poignant brand of melodic dark rock and metal .

This edition of Viva Emptiness features the original 2003 audio mix, which has received a new half-speed master courtesy of Abbey Road Studios, London, and is presented on limited marble vinyl. The release contains the original artwork from Travis Smith.

Preorder at burningshed.com.



Tracklisting:

Side A
“Ghost Of The Sun”
“Sleeper”
“Criminals”
“A Premonition”
“Will I Arrive”
“Burn The Remembrance”

Side B
“Wealth”
“One Year From Now”
“Walking By A Wire”
“Complicity”
“Evidence”
“Omerta”
“Inside The City Of Glass”

BODY COUNT, the metal band fronted by hip-hop legend, actor and director Ice-T, paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne by opening its July 26 set at the Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach, California with a snippet of the song "Black Sabbath" by BLACK SABBATH. Video of the performance can be seen below.

Earlier this year, Ice-T told Metal Hammer magazine that the first BLACK SABBATH album was his "favorite metal" LP of all time. "It's the one I probably listened to the most growing up," he said. "I've actually sampled songs from SABBATH on my rap albums — and rock, too. I used BLACK SABBATH for [solo rap track] 'Midnight'."

In a 2021 interview with NME, Ice-T said: "The first song on the first BLACK SABBATH album ['Black Sabbath'], I played it 10,000 times. That song was my bridge into metal."

BODY COUNT guitarist Ernie "C" Cunnigan produced BLACK SABBATH's 1995 album "Forbidden", which featured guitarist Tony Iommi alongside singer Tony Martin, drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Neil Murray, and is often regarded as the SABBATH's worst studio recording. Upon its release, it was lambasted by critics and fans alike for its poor production. The album even featured a guest appearance by Ice-T on the opening track "The Illusion Of Power".

Ozzy died the morning of July 22, his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, BLACK SABBATH is widely recognized as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, with a career spanning decades and over 75 million albums sold worldwide. Their impact on the genre remains as significant today as it was in the early 1970s, with their music shaping generations of metal musicians.

Ozzy's family reality television show "The Osbournes" won a 2002 Primetime Emmy.

In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024.

Osbourne won several Grammys, including one in 1993 for his solo song "I Don't Want To Change The World".

Ozzy and his wife and manager Sharon started their annual tour — Ozzfest — in 1996 after he was rejected from the lineup of what at the time was the top touring music festival, Lollapalooza. The first traveling version of Ozzfest in 1997 included MARILYN MANSON and PANTERA as part of the lineup.

Osbourne leaves behind his wife, three children from his first marriage (including an adopted son from his first wife's previous relationship),and three with Sharon: Jack, Kelly and Aimee.

Guitarist Jason Richardson has exited ALL THAT REMAINS after a nearly seven-year run with the band.

Earlier today (Tuesday, July 29),Jason released the following statement via social media: "ALL THAT REMAINS and I have decided to amicably part ways. I'm incredibly proud of the record we made together and grateful for the relationships I've built during my time with the band. With everything happening in my own career and new opportunities that I have ahead, I need to prioritize what makes the most sense for my long-term future.

"There will be updates soon that I'm really excited to share with you all!

"I genuinely wish the rest of the band the absolute best in everything they choose to pursue.

"Excited for my next chapter! I've been grinding on a lot of different things behind the scenes and I'm feeling very optimistic".

Richardson grew up in Manassas, Virginia. His father is a musician, and instruments were all over the house. He took piano lessons in the fourth grade, but gave them up. Though he could emulate what his teacher was doing on the keys, he couldn't learn — yet — to read music. In the fifth grade, he tried violin and drums. The kit became his main instrument for a time, but he wanted to learn guitar in order to be able to write songs. At 12, his father gave him a gothic black Gibson Les Paul. He practiced endlessly. Obsessed with the band DREAM THEATER and in particular the song "This Dying Soul", he began cutting lawns and doing odd jobs in order to purchase a seven-string instrument. He bought his first at 14. His inventive technique began to develop while in a local band called GALLOWS HILL (with future VEIL OF MAYA bassist Danny Hauser). Trying to promote the group, he answered a trade ad to audition for ALL SHALL PERISH, hoping he could shine a light on his own group.

Instead, he won the audition and left high school in February 2009 — with three months left until graduation. He hit the road for 10 months with ALL SHALL PERISH. After touring together with BORN OF OSIRIS, Richardson filled in on a tour for guitarist Tosin Abasi (ANIMALS AS LEADERS),who was playing with the band at the time and had a scheduling conflict. Richardson ended up leaving ALL SHALL PERISH to begin his tenure with BORN OF OSIRIS. He remained with the group for more than two years and played on 2011's "The Discovery".

Richardson then joined deathcore act CHELSEA GRIN following the departure of guitarist Michael Stafford when he was unceremoniously fired from BORN OF OSIRIS in 2011. He remained with the band until 2015, playing on the "Evolve" and "Lilith" EPs and 2014's "Ashes To Ashes" album. His departure was mutual and amicable.

Almost immediately, Richardson launched a crowdfunding effort to finance his debut solo effort. He reached his goal quickly and went into the studio, playing many instruments himself and enlisting help from friends including drummer Luke Holland, vocalists Spencer Sotelo (PERIPHERY) and Lukas Magyar (VEIL OF MAYA) and guest guitarists such as Rick Graham, Jeff Loomis, Nick Johnston, Mark Holcomb (PERIPHERY) and Jacky Vincent. The album I was issued in the summer of 2016.

Richardson joined ALL THAT REMAINS on lead guitar after the tragic passing of their lead guitarist and co-founding member Oli Herbert in late 2018.

The follow-up album to his well-received first solo effort, "II", was released in the summer of 2022 and has Luke Holland on the drums again and a guest spot from POLYPHIA's Tim Henson.

Richardson has also collaborated with such artists as FALLING IN REVERSE, POLYPHIA, AUGUST BURNS RED, VEIL OF MAYA and WITHIN DESTRUCTION.

Less than two weeks ago, Jason shared the video for his version of "Hedwig's Theme". Watch it below.

"I'm so excited to finally have this coming out after working on it for so long," Richardson stated at the time. "I've always wanted to hear this iconic piece from John Williams arranged this way. Studying his music has been such a tedious but unbelievably rewarding and informative journey! I was psycho enough to get my hands on a conductor's book of the orchestra score. I read and recreated the entire thing from the ground up, note-for-note so I could have the entire orchestra in the song as well!"

He finished: "Once I did that, I went in and figured out all the guitar, bass and drum parts I wanted, while still trying to maintain the dynamics and spirit of his music, but with my own spin on it."

All That Remains and I have decided to amicably part ways. I’m incredibly proud of the record we made together and...

Posted by Jason Richardson on Tuesday, July 29, 2025

The official "after-movie" for "Coming Home Live", the upcoming live album from the SCORPIONS, can be seen below.

Throughout their phenomenal career, the SCORPIONS have played in countless stadiums around the world. To mark their 60th anniversary, the band, for the first time, performed at the stadium in their hometown of Hanover, where it all began. The show took place on July 5, 2025 at the Hanover Stadium Arena/Heinz von Heiden Arena in front of a sold-out crowd of 45,000 cans.

Spinefarm/Vertigo/Universal will release this extraordinary concert, featuring all of the band's biggest hits and many musical surprises, as the "Coming Home Live" live album on vinyl and CD on November 14.

Pre-orders are now available here.

"Back then, we just wanted to be part of the global rock family — that was our dream," says SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker, the man who founded the band six decades ago. "Since then, we've shared the stage with AEROSMITH and KISS, with METALLICA, AC/DC, and I don't even remember who else we're fascinated by — to the Berlin Philharmonic."

The band has always felt at home when performing at the world's major arenas. But even more so, over the years, the SCORPIONS have also influenced generations of rock fans, undoubtedly shaping the style and music of younger artists and fellow legends.

"They are the best thing that could have happened to hard rock or heavy metal," says Jon Bon Jovi about the SCORPIONS, while METALLICA's Kirk Hammett confesses, "I still remember being so smitten by the cover of 'Tokyo Tapes'. From then on, I was the biggest SCORPIONS fan and searched everywhere for all possible information about this band."

Members of SMASHING PUMPKINS, MÖTLEY CRÜE and GREEN DAY to GUNS N' ROSES and KISS have all said that the SCORPIONS' songs had a huge influence on their music.

The resources of their career years have now become an overflowing treasure trove, bridging the gap from yesterday to tomorrow, from 1965 to the iconic concert in the Hanover Stadium Arena on July 5. The fuel that spurs the SCORPIONS is the adrenaline that comes with performing live.

"It's the most important element," says SCORPIONS lead singer Klaus Meine. "And the strongest: The SCORPIONS are a band that, from the very beginning, has seen its place on stage and on some of the biggest stages in the world, in the biggest stadiums and arenas. It was always a challenge to win over fans and play a great show live."

But SCORPIONS constantly rose to the occasion and surpassed that challenge every time.

SCORPIONS lead guitarist Matthias Jabs says, "I don't like to think about the past. I prefer to think about what we're doing now or will do. And that's why, for me, the stadium concert in Hanover is the most important thing right now."

On September 26, SCORPIONS will release "From The First Sting", a collection showcasing the unforgettable anthems and iconic moments from their illustrious career. "From The First Sting" will be available on a deluxe 2LP and 2CD bookpack and 2CD format for European and rest-of-the-world fans, as well as 2LP vinyl and 1CD format for fans in the Americas.

During their career, the SCORPIONS viewed their music as a bridge between cultures. They performed in the former Soviet Union, China, and Southeast Asia, thereby fostering international understanding. Commercially, the band are also one of the best-selling hard rock and heavy metal bands of all time — with over 120 million album sales to their name.

"From The First Sting" is a sonic journey through the band's timeless hits, from "Rock You Like A Hurricane" to "Wind Of Change", showcasing SCORPIONS' evolution while honouring the spirit of their classic sound.

"From The First Sting" features two previously unreleased tracks, "This Is My Song" and "Still Loving You", the latter of which features British violinist Vanessa Mae. The physical for European and rest-of-the-world fans comes housed in a carefully crafted 2LP colored vinyl and 2CD 40-page deluxe edition bookpack, comprehensively illustrating the enduring influence of the pioneering masters of their genre.

SCORPIONS' latest album, "Rock Believer", came out in 2022. The LP was recorded primarily at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany with engineer Michael Ilbert, who has earned multiple Grammy nominations for his mix work with producer Max Martin on albums by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

SCORPIONS originally intended to record the album in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, whose previous credits include SLIPKNOT and METALLICA. However, because of the pandemic, some of the initial work was done with Greg remotely, after which SCORPIONS opted to helm the recordings themselves with the help of their engineer Hans-Martin Buff.

SCORPIONS' latest album marked their first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of new and classic material.

SCORPIONS' previous full-length collection of new recordings was "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Mikkey Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.

In January, SCORPIONS postponed their 2025 Las Vegas residency due to Dee's recovery from his recent hospitalization. Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas 60th Anniversary Las Vegas Residency" was scheduled to kick off on February 27, 2025 at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. SCORPIONS.

The new dates are as follows: August 14, August 16, August 19, August 21 and August 23.

BUCKCHERRY will still provide support for the new SCORPIONS Las Vegas residency dates.

In celebration of SCORPIONS' 60th anniversary, the new show follows the band's two previous sold-out residencies at the venue — "Scorpions - Love at First Sting Las Vegas" in 2024 and "Sin City Nights" in 2022.

Earlier in January, Mikkey, who was previously a member of MOTÖRHEAD for 23 years, revealed that he was recovering after spending most of the holiday season battling a "very serious blood infection (Sepsis)."

With the ever-growing interest and respect around the world for the rock music genre known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) — the monumental British metal and European metal movement from 1979 through 1982 — there has never been a better time to celebrate the music of those pioneering bands from the era.

Several musicians who were key members of some of the biggest bands of that time — PRAYING MANTIS, DIAMOND HEAD, RAVEN, TANK and PERSIAN RISK — have come together as LORDS OF NWOBHM to faithfully perform many of those classic songs that are now a major part of rock music history.

LORDS OF NWOBHM's setlist will feature classic tracks from the above bands plus a carefully curated selection of songs from several of the other iconic artists from the era to make this the ultimate NWOBHM show.

The official LORDS OF NWOBHM lineup comprises:

Tino Troy (PRAYING MANTIS) - Guitar
John Gallagher (RAVEN) - Bass
Karl Wilcox (DIAMOND HEAD) - Drums
Cliff Evans (TANK) - Guitar
Carl Sentance (PERSIAN RISK) - Vocals

Two shows are already booked for Tokyo, Japan in January 2026, with more dates to be announced soon.

Gallagher says: "The cream of British metal playing the best of the NWOBHM!"

Adds Evans: "This music is in our blood!"

Wilcox states: "A hefty salute to the genre that spawned some of metal's biggest bands!"

Sentance says: "NWOBHM never dies!"

Troy comments: "The second wave is imminent!"

In an April 2023 interview with Japanese music critic and radio personality Masa Ito of TVK's "Rock City", Lars Ulrich spoke about METALLICA's enduring appreciation for New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and how it continues to influence METALLICA's music to this day. He said: "[New Wave Of British Heavy Metal is] a big part of the reason that METALLICA exists and it's a big part of the reason that, obviously, we're still sitting here.

"My playlists in my iPhone and the playlists in my car and the music that I listen to… Yesterday — I kid you not — I was listening to DEF LEPPARD's 'Good Morning Freedom', I was listening to HOLLOW GROUND, the single by this band HOLLOW GROUND, one of the lesser-known bands of British heavy metal, on one of my playlists in my car as I was driving to take my son to and from school and to his sports practices.

"New Wave Of British Heavy Metal is a big part of me, it's a big part of METALLICA," Lars continued. "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal is for us in METALLICA a gift that keeps on giving. And it's something that we circle and have circled in and out of forever.

"I know there's a lot of people that connect [METALLICA's recent single] 'Lux Æterna' to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. And I can tell you and look everybody in the eye and go, that wasn't necessarily the battle cry. When we sat down, we didn't say, 'Let's write a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal type of song.' But, obviously, I can hear those connections in the song when I disconnect myself from the recording and the writing process. And, like I said, I'm always proud to fly the flag for New Wave Of British Heavy Metal at any level that I can."

A self-proclaimed NWOBHM fanatic, Ulrich spent much of his time in the early 1980s tracking down obscure recordings from his favorite groups of the era. Ten years after the NWOBHM's glory days of 1982, Ulrich took time out to put together a multi-band compilation, "'79 Revisited: New Wave Of British Heavy Metal", along with journalist Geoff Barton, whose work in the now-defunct weekly U.K. rock paper Sounds had kept Ulrich posted while he was in the States.

At METALLICA's first-ever concert, which took place on March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, California, Ulrich, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney ran through a nine-song set, including no less than seven NWOBHM covers: four tracks by DIAMOND HEAD and one each from BLITZKRIEG, SWEET SAVAGE and SAVAGE.

Back in 2010, Lars was asked by Australia's long-running rock station Triple M about the band that was responsible for inspiring him to launch METALLICA. Ulrich said: "It was the summer of '81 and I'd been trying to get a band off the ground in California, but not much happened, so I sort of got fed up with the whole thing.

"DIAMOND HEAD were my favorite band, and I landed at Heathrow Airport (in London) and I went down to Woolwich Odeon, it was called, which was sort of a baby Odeon; it was about the size of this room we're in here. And there they were — DIAMOND HEAD. And I brown-nosed my way backstage and got a chance to meet them afterwards. I had actually written them a couple of fan letters. I was stunned to find out that they actually knew who I was. Maybe they didn't get as much fan mail as I expected, because the letter that I had sent them were actually on their radar. But then I ended up staying with them for the better part of the rest of the summer and ended up sleeping in the singer's front room.

"A lot of these bands that came out of that period, everything about the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal that I really liked was that all these bands were really grounded. There was a relaxed atmosphere around them, it wasn't sort of... Everything that had been going on in the '70s with bands like QUEEN and PINK FLOYD and DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN, it was all about this larger-than-life type of thing and all these bands that were so grand and so majestic and so kind of out there. And a lot of these new bands — IRON MAIDEN and DIAMOND HEAD and all these bands — they were just kids, and they had their feet very firmly planted on the ground. So, in some way, the spirit of that whole movement was about keeping it real and all those attitudes just kind of rubbed off on us and rubbed off on me and made me want to start a band and really have the fans involved and give the fans as much access as possible."

In a new interview with Marko Syrjala of Metal Rules, founding KROKUS bassist Chris Von Rohr asked about the possibility of fresh music from the legendary Swiss hard rock band. He responded: "Well, you know — that's the question. Who needs new music? A lot of bands release a new album, so they have a slogan for a new tour. We're not one of those bands. Not at all. We have so many songs we've never even played live. We have over 20 albums, you know? And for us, the measure is always: 'Is it as good as the best KROKUS songs?'"

He continued: "So, Fernando [Von Arb, KROKUS guitarist] and I are always exchanging ideas. But it has to stand next to 'Long Stick Goes Boom' or 'Easy Rocker' or the other best stuff. Otherwise, it makes no sense. But yeah — it's very possible there's something new coming. Perhaps a new video or a new song. But a full new album? I don't believe in that. The young bands — they need albums. We don't need whole albums. Marc [Storace, KROKUS singer] makes his solo records, but KROKUS is another thing. Another circus, you know? If we come out with a new KROKUS album, it better be up there. And me, as a producer — I say, if the ideas and songs are there, then why not? But if not…?"

Asked if he is saying that he already has some ideas in mind for new KROKUS material, Chris clarified: "There are ideas, but I couldn't say, as a producer, 'Let's jump into the studio now and make an album.' I mean, it takes a lot of time. And it's pressure time — at our age, you know? When you're getting toward your mid-70s, you start thinking, 'How do I want to spend my time? What do I really want to do?' But it's not impossible. We'll leave it open."

Regarding what "the most critical factors" are that, if they happen, could lead to a new KROKUS album being released, Chris said: "I say this to every young band: Nothing is stronger than a strong song. You need a very, very strong song. Like on [KROKUS's 2010] 'Hoodoo' album, for example — 'Hoodoo Woman', you need a song on that level. Otherwise, it makes no sense. Otherwise, you just end up playing a B-song from any of the older albums. So… yeah, we're open. We discuss, we see, we collect ideas, and maybe we'll sit here in a year with a new album. Or a new thing. Everything is possible, you know?"

This past January, Storace was asked by Chris Akin Presents if some of the material on the two solo albums he has released so far — 2021's "Live And Let Live" and 2024's "Crossfire" — would have been made available under the KROKUS banner if the legendary Swiss rock band was actively making new music. He responded: "Well, it's very difficult to say, because if KROKUS were to write a new album, which we haven't done since a long while, unfortunately, it would have been me working with Fernando — mostly he comes up with the riffs and arrangements — and Chris is also there with ideas for lyrics and also arrangements and stuff. And then I throw in my piece and I come up with the vocal melodies and take it there to as many levels as I can. But still, yeah, it's something that didn't happen and I don't see it happening."

He continued: "There's never any words lost about a new album with KROKUS. But I'm glad KROKUS is back, since [2023]. [In 2024] we played a lot of festivals and enjoyed doing it. There's a new, refreshing, fun aspect within the band. Even the crew we have, we've had them since years. It's like one big family, and it's really something admirable, also considering how long we've been doing this, the age of the band, myself being the eldest, [at the age of] 73. But I think age is just a number, when you have the passion and the physical ability to follow it up. So it's a matter of taking care of yourself and not overindulging — in the music as well as other things."

Storace went on to say that he is not thrilled about the fact that KROKUS hasn't made an album of all-new material in more than a decade.  "I'm not too happy that KROKUS doesn't wanna do a new album, sit together and write new songs," he said. "For me, this creative thing is very important for my soul. My heart and soul goes into the songs that we write, and then it goes into the songs when we perform them. So it's the birth of what we create, and that's kind of stopped. We're feeding off old material, which is great — I love singing KROKUS songs, and [I'm a] sentimental guy anyway and nostalgic, and all that stuff, and, as I said, we've become more like a team again. So, never say never, but at the same time, that's the situation, how it is. So I enjoy doing the gigs with KROKUS, but I enjoy the creative and the fight for [my solo project] STORACE. It's a big fight. We don't hold out the platter, and nothing comes in raining from heaven. [Laughs]"

KROKUS's latest studio album, "Big Rocks", came out in January 2017. The disc saw KROKUS paying tribute to bands and artists like LED ZEPPELIN, QUEEN, THE WHO, STEPPENWOLF, Bob Dylan, THE ROLLING STONES and many more by presenting their very own versions of classic tracks such as "My Generation", "Tie Your Mother Down", "Whole Lotta Love", "Quinn The Eskimo", "Born To Be Wild" and others.

KROKUS's last collection of new music, "Dirty Dynamite", was made available in February 2013 in Europe via Sony Music and in North America in March 2013 via The End Records.

Five years ago, KROKUS postponed what was supposed to be the band's last-ever concerts in USA and Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic that was sweeping the globe.

Formed in 1975, KROKUS has sold over 15 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. KROKUS was also the first Swiss band to sell out Hallenstadion and has received a diamond disc for selling one million albums in Switzerland alone.

In the course of its career, KROKUS has rocked over 2,000 shows on five continents, countless cities, unique locations, crazy gigs, and loyal fans.

English rock journalist Malcolm Dome quite rightly said: "If you look at the long-term output of this band, KROKUS is clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years."

Image credit: Perry Denton

BUSH has released the official Ryan Valdez-directed music video for the song "Scars". The track is taken from the band's latest album, "I Beat Loneliness", which came out on July 18 via earMUSIC.

In a recent interview with Baltimore's 98 Rock radio station, BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale spoke about the lyrical inspiration for "I Beat Loneliness".  He said: "Well, I think it's like a snapshot of my life. I'm at a point in my life where I can look far enough back and remember when I first made records. I had no horizon, you know what I mean? And I didn't know what was happening, and the road was just infinite and open. And then, obviously, as you mature, you get older and you see what the lay of the land is and your time around, you gotta go, 'Okay, I can see the horizon.' So it kind of presents a different thing about making sure there's a reason to write. I call it making sure you improve the silence. And so I just went inside and found some things, just sort of experimented with myself musically and lyrically and just went inside and tried to be as clear as possible. Anytime I thought about an idea, I questioned myself if I was being clear enough about it. And I try to get right down to the kind of the really basic cell structure of people."

This past April, BUSH released a new single, "60 Ways To Forget People", a raw and emotionally charged taste from "I Beat Loneliness". The track explored the complexities of heartbreak, personal transformation, and the painful process of letting go.

Produced by Rossdale and Erik Ron (PANIC! AT THE DISCO, SET IT OFF, BAD OMEN),"I Beat Loneliness" marks BUSH's tenth studio album — a powerful testament to the band's enduring legacy and continued evolution. The record blends their grunge-rooted intensity with fresh textures and themes exploring mental health, solitude, and resilience.

"I Beat Loneliness" track listing:

01. Scars
02. I Beat Loneliness
03. The Land Of Milk And Honey
04. We're All The Same On The Inside
05. I Am Here To Save Your Life
06. 60 Ways To Forget People
07. Love Me Till The Pain Fades
08. We Are Of This Earth
09. Everyone Is Broken
10. Don't Be Afraid
11. Footsteps In The Sand
12. Rebel With A Cause

BUSH is on tour in North America from July 19 to August 30, before heading overseas to join VOLBEAT for a series of dates across Europe from September 18 through November 13.

In a separate interview with São Paulo, Brazil's 89 FM A Rádio Rock radio station, Rossdale stated about the 12 songs featured on "I Beat Loneliness": "I know that everyone [says] no one cares [about full albums anymore] and it's [all about] these singles, but I think that if I like an act, if I like a band, I just wanna hear their body of work. I don't wanna hear just one song. I'm a musician, so I wanna know what 12 ideas someone has, not just one idea. And so I'm excited for that. But I understand most people just listen to one song and move on, with so many bands. But [I'm] very excited about it."

Asked what fans can expect to hear on the new BUSH album, Gavin said: "Oh, it's in a similar vein to [2022's] 'The Art Of Survival' and [2020's] 'The Kingdom' — super detuned, super heavy, but there's moments of light. And so it's not like angst [all the way through], but it's just very… It is very sort of centered on people's mental health and well-being and those kind of challenges, because it becomes more and more apparent, people suffering more and more. So music is often the way that people — it's like a medicine. So it's really good to have heavy subjects within the songs, but the songs have loads of hope and light and lift you up. I want people to come see us and have a great experience. It's not a doom-and-gloom [collection of songs]; it's a sort of a, how do we fight the good fight?"

Gavin also spoke about the inspiration for the "I Beat Loneliness" title, saying: "The reason why I like that title — [there's] a song called that — is because anybody who has a degree of melancholy in their heart, and it's normal; sometimes you feel good, sometimes have a melancholy. And it's good to be reflective. You can't be smiling like a moron the whole time, like a maniac, so the idea of beating loneliness is that it's impossible, because you can't. But it's beautiful 'cause the idea is that if you feel you beat it, it's like a respite, and you're not in that mindset. But it's all temporary, because you come back and that sort of feeling can flood in. But I just like the idea 'cause it's impossible."

2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the release of BUSH's six-times-platinum debut album, "Sixteen Stone".

Last summer, BUSH celebrated its 30th anniversary with an extensive North American headline tour.

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

BUSH's current lineup consists of Rossdale, Chris Traynor (guitar),Corey Britz (bass) and Nik Hughes (drums).

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) and the aforementioned "The Kingdom" and "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.

On the latest episode of "The David Ellefson Show", former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and Joshua Toomey sit down with original MEGADETH guitarist Greg Handevidt for a deep dive into the band's earliest days. Greg shares pivotal stories from moving to Los Angeles with Ellefson, meeting MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine and helping shape what would become the legendary MEGADETH.

Regarding how he came to suggest "MEGADETH" as the name for the band, Greg recalled (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "We were sitting down in our little apartment, and Dave had read a pamphlet by Senator Alan Cranston talking about the 'arsenals of megadeath', and I think that really triggered something in him about nuclear war and just how devastating it was and everything. And I remember thinking, 'Holy shit, the arsenals of megadeath.' And he had that line in the lyrics. And it just occurred to me, 'Megadeath.' I'm, like, 'That would be a cool name for a band.' And I sat down, and at the time — and I still kind of feel this way, although my attitude about it sort of softened — but I was, like, 'Do you really want the word 'death' in the name of your band? Do you really want that?' It seemed kind of negative-karma-ey to me back then; that's what sort of was in my head. So I sat down and I just wrote it out as one word and I dropped the 'A' out, and I just wrote it on a piece of paper and I was, like, 'I think this is cool. We could call the band MEGADETH. One word. We take out the 'A'. It's unique. It doesn't have any sort of dark connotation around it. And I think people would see it and not be put off. It wouldn't put people off.' And I think at that point in time to break through in a commercial sense without just completely selling yourself out, I think there were barriers that would've… I'm not sure Capitol Records was ready to sign a band called 'DEATH' at the time. And maybe, maybe not. But even after all this, and I came back and I formed KUBLAI KHAN and we were shopping demos around, we kept getting stuff back sent to us saying, 'This is way too heavy. This isn't commercially acceptable. We can't sign you. This would never sell.'"

According to Handevidt, Mustaine "didn't like" the name MEGADETH "at first. It took him a couple of days" to warm up to it, Greg recalled. "And then I remember a couple of days later he came back and he was, like, 'Yeah, this is growing on me.' And that's how it came about. That's the story. It was a quick little thing."

In his book "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir", Dave actually credited a different former member of MEGADETH with naming the band.

"In the beginning, I was skeptical about my own singing ability, so we brought in a vocalist named Lawrence 'Lor' Kane," Mustaine wrote in the book. "Lor wasn't in the band long, but give credit where credit is due: it was Lor who suggested MEGADETH as the band's name. It happened when we were driving around one night, talking about finding exactly the right moniker. Lor knew I had already written a song entitled 'Megadeath' and thought it would work equally well as a band name. And he was right. So, thanks for that, Lor."

Mustaine reportedly came across the aforementioned pamphlet from California Senator Alan Cranston while he was on a four-day cross-country bus ride back to California after he was kicked out of METALLICA. The pamphlet, which was a political discussion of the dangers of nuclear armament, included the line "The arsenal of megadeath can't be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to."

Merriam-Webster defines "megadeath" as "one million deaths" and indicates that the term is "usually used as a unit in reference to nuclear warfare."

In a 2023 interview with Guitar World, Handevidt admitted that "there was some regret" after he left MEGADETH and the band found success without him. "How could I not be upset?" he said. "But we were so young, and there were a lot of things pushing me to leave. I mean… I was a kid, and one big issue was that I had a hard time being away from home. But I won't lie: there was definitely a falling out, and that was a huge part of why I split. No surprise, Dave got drunk one day and kicked me out of the band while he was angry. He never told me why, and I was just like, 'Great, now I'm in L.A. with nowhere to go.' But about a week later, we reconciled things. We rehearsed three or four more times, and then it was actually me who decided I needed to go back home to the Midwest. I found out I had a kid back there, and I felt tremendous guilt about not being in a position where I was doing anything to help raise my kid. Plus, the vibe was off when I was invited back. Had things felt cool, I might have stayed. But that's not what happened."

Handevidt went on to say that personality clashes with Mustaine influenced his decision to exit MEGADETH. "Yeah... that's true, too," he said. "The thing was, as history has stated, Dave — along with all of us — was pretty overindulgent and aggressive at the time. He had a chip on his shoulder, for sure. While that's made him great as a songwriter, it made it very hard for me to be in a band with him, especially since I was a kid."

In February 2016, Ellefson was asked by Cranked Up Live about Mustaine's comments to Real Rock 99.3 where the MEGADETH leader implied that Ellefson was not a founding member of the band. Ellefson said: "Now, look, when Dave came home from METALLICA, he had another bass player, kind of a kid he was almost teaching how to play bass, and another guitar player he had been working with a little bit, and a singer, named Lor. And those were kind of the first people that, I think, in April and May of 1983 that Dave was just kicking some ideas around [with], seeing if he could get anything going. But the day me and my friend Greg Handevidt knocked on Dave's door and asked him where to buy some cigarettes and beer, that was the day that there was a unity that moved forward, because me, Greg, Dave, that singer Lor and our drummer Dijon Carruthers, who helped create a lot of the lyrics and the concept of 'Black Friday' on the 'Peace Sells' record, that was… we were the group that were rehearsing for a few weeks, working on these new songs Dave was writing. And one day we came back to… I think it was me and Greg's apartment… And it was Greg who suggested… We were talking about band names, and Greg suggested… There was a name kicking around, FALLEN ANGEL, that I think Dave… That was kind of working title that he had. But he had a song called 'Megadeth', which was later retitled to become 'Set The World Afire'. And it was my friend Greg who suggested, 'I think we should call the band MEGADETH.' And it was decided that day, so, I mean, technically, whoever was in the room that day was a founding member of MEGADETH. And, again, I don't know why there has to be so much importance on that. I know, I was there. And quickly, all those other members either scattered or were let go, and within a month or so, it was me and Dave standing next to each other — Dave and Dave of this new group called MEGADETH."

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play. After Mustaine reformed MEGADETH with an all-new lineup in 2004, Ellefson sued his former bandmate for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

Original IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Mario Day has died at the age of 69. The British-born musician, who later formed a band called MORE and was the frontman of WILDFIRE and SWEET, had reportedly been battling cancer for the last few years.

Day's passing was confirmed by SWEET guitarist Andy Scott, who wrote in a social media post earlier today (Tuesday, July 29): "Paul Mario Day RIP. In 1985 Mick Tucker and myself put together the first new line-up of SWEET after the hiatus of the original band. We needed a singer and when Paul arrived for the audition we looked no further. Our first dates were in Australia, total sell-outs which boded well for the future. Europe followed suit and 3 sold out nights at the Marquee in London produced a live album, video and DVD. 'Live at the Marquee' did well in various charts around the world and Paul's vocal performance has stood the test of time.

"PMD was the original singer with IRON MAIDEN and had a stint with the band MORE before joining SWEET. He passed away peacefully at his home in Australia.

"My deepest condolences to his wife Cecily and family and friends. A sad day for all SWEET fans."

MORE also commented on Day's passing, writing on social media: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the great MORE vocalist Paul Mario Day.

"Paul was a huge part of the NWOBHM from his time in an early version of IRON MAIDEN and of course his fantastic performance on the 'Warhead' album. He was a well loved figure in British rock music and played many memorable shows not least the legendary 1981 Monsters of Rock show at Castle Donninton with AC/DC, WHITESNAKE/David Coverdale as well as tours with IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD and many other legendary artists. Mike Freeland remembers him fondly as a 'bloody great vocalist!'

"It's an honour for us to continue to play his music and we will always think of him every time we hit the opening notes to 'Warhead'.

"We send our deepest condolences to Paul's family and friends and also the many fans around the world who love his music. Play his music loud and sing along!

"Thank you. Rock in peace Paul".

A decade ago, Day, who was with MAIDEN from 1975 to 1976, suggested in an online post that he had co-written the band's song "Strange World" but was never credited for his contributions. Day wrote at the time: "This is my opinion. When I sang in IRON MAIDEN, it was a new pub band and nobody wanted to see or hear them. We were all nobodys all trying to make the best music we could and fighting for an audience. In 1976, photos/recording were next to impossible to have if you were poor boys from East London, so I cannot prove I wrote the words and melody for 'Strange World'. As for before the time of albums and recording deals, I would say it was creative theft, not deliberate, as probably I would have done the same thing myself to keep it clean and simple. I think, however, if it made me a mega amount of money in the future, I would have done the right thing and [made] amends. As back then we were all pulling for the same side and it still hurts to think the first-ever song I ever composed was on a big-selling album and nobody knows it was me. Not to mention how I scrape to earn a living while Mr. [Steve] Harris is living like a god!"

In a January 2019 interview with Danish webzine Power Of Metal, Day was asked about his supposed contributions to "Strange World", which appeared on MAIDEN's 1980 debut self-titled album. "That's something I really don't talk about anymore, if you don't mind," he said. "It's all good. It's all finished with. It's happened. That's good. I can't speak for anyone else. I can't speak for them, but I'm talking the present, because I've had this discussion. Everything's fine as far as that's concerned. I don't want to go down that road."

Day also talked about how he landed the gig as MAIDEN's first singer. "It's hard to remember the details, but I remember Steve being the bass player playing in a band at the Bridge House in Camden," he said. "It was GYPSY'S KISS. I knew the guitar player because he was maybe one year above me at school, but never knew him to talk to. I knew Steve and I thought, 'He's bloody good.' I heard he was only playing for three years and I thought, 'He's bloody amazing!' That was forgotten. I was working as a motorcycle mechanic in East London. I was outside the workshop and I saw Steve Harris and a group of guys walking past the workshop. I never really was in a band, I just worked with guitar players in bedrooms, just sort of learning, experimenting, because I wasn't really a singer. I just felt I could sing. So I said to the group of people and I focused on Steve because I've seen him before: 'I think I'm a singer. Could I join your band?' And he went, 'No.' I went, 'Okay, no problem.' I went back to work. A few days, or maybe a week or two later, Steve says, 'I couldn't say anything because the singer was with me of the band.' I don't know who it was and he says, 'Yeah, I'm interested. Do you want to come and have a blow?' So I did, they liked me and straight away, I was singing some of Steve's songs. He wrote some songs before the IRON MAIDEN period, they were in the old band. I sang and he wanted me to stay. I seemed to fit and then we started rehearsing. Then all the songs were being written and I was singing his songs."

Day was booted from MAIDEN in 1976 due to his supposed lack of stage presence. He was asked whether his departure had anything to do with its members' inability to deal with inter-band issues. "What happened to me, I think, was quite reasonable," he said. "It hurt me like losing a girlfriend that you had been in love with for maybe five years, losing a girlfriend suddenly. That's the emotion, but the thing is, for instance, Steve was saying, pardon me, I've got to let you know, that was my first real band. I never, ever sung with a drummer before, so I had zero experience. I just used to sing with records at home and had the patience to do. Steve was saying, 'You've got to get better. You've got to be more in the audience's face. You've got to be commanding. You've got to be a hero.' And I agreed with him, but I didn't actually know how to make that happen. I got warning for maybe three months: 'Get it together. Get it together.' And I wanted to, I just didn't know how to do it. So the funny thing is, the worst experience was the best lesson because when I got that notice and I felt so gutted, it changed me. The real reality. IRON MAIDEN at that time were nothing, honestly. It was the beginning… Everyone had to start from zero. That was when I was in the band, that was their zero point. What Steve was doing was trying to make the band big. He knew what he wanted. What he wanted is what he got. He got one of the biggest bands on the planet. As much as it hurt, as much as it upset me, I learnt a big lesson that day. I really did. I used that emotion, I guess, in my singing."

In December 2018, four-fifths of the original IRON MAIDEN lineup reunited for the first time in 42 years. Harris, who formed IRON MAIDEN on Christmas day in 1975, was photographed with Paul Mario Day and guitarists Dave Sullivan (1975 - 1976) and Terry Rance (1975 - 1976). Missing from the photo op was drummer Ron "Rebel" Matthews.

Day was replaced in MAIDEN by Dennis Wilcock. He went on to front SWEET and MORE while Rance still plays with AIRFORCE, which features former IRON MAIDEN drummer Doug Sampson.

MAIDEN's first demo recording, "Soundhouse Tapes", featured Harris, singer Paul Di'Anno, guitarist Dave Murray and Sampson. It eventually landed MAIDEN a record deal with EMI in 1980. The band's self-titled debut album brought about a new lineup with the addition of Clive Burr to replace Sampson and Dennis Stratton on guitar.

Paul Mario Day RIP

IN 1985 Mick Tucker and myself put together the first new line-up of Sweet after the hiatus of the...

Posted by The Sweet on Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Band statement:

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the great MORE vocalist Paul Mario Day.

Paul was a...

Posted by MORE on Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider joined KREATOR on stage on Sunday, July 27 at Greece's Chania Rock Festival to perform the song "Fallen Brother" in honor of Ozzy Osbourne. Video of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of Altars Of Metal).

The studio version of "Fallen Brother" appears on KREATOR's 2017 album "Gods Of Violence" and pays respect to fallen music icons such as Lemmy, Jeff Hanneman, Cliff Burton, Peter Steele, Prince, David Bowie and Bon Scott, among others.

Prior to launching into "Fallen Brother" at Chania Rock Festival, KREATOR frontman Mille Petrozza told the crowd: "We wanna play a special song for you tonight, and we wanna dedicate it to the great Ozzy Osbourne. I also wanna invite a guest. I wanna invite one of our good friends, Mr. Udo Dirkschneider."

Ozzy died the morning of July 22, his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, BLACK SABBATH is widely recognized as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, with a career spanning decades and over 75 million albums sold worldwide. Their impact on the genre remains as significant today as it was in the early 1970s, with their music shaping generations of metal musicians.

Ozzy's family reality television show "The Osbournes" won a 2002 Primetime Emmy.

In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024.

Osbourne won several Grammys, including one in 1993 for his solo song "I Don't Want To Change The World".

Ozzy and his wife and manager Sharon started their annual tour — Ozzfest — in 1996 after he was rejected from the lineup of what at the time was the top touring music festival, Lollapalooza. The first traveling version of Ozzfest in 1997 included MARILYN MANSON and PANTERA as part of the lineup.

Osbourne leaves behind his wife, three children from his first marriage (including an adopted son from his first wife's previous relationship),and three with Sharon: Jack, Kelly and Aimee.