LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe has paid tribute to former MASTODON guitarist Brent Hinds, who died Wednesday night (August 20) in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta. He was 51.

On Saturday (August 23),Blythe took to his Instagram to share a photo of Hinds and he included the following message: "For the last few days Hurricane Erin traveled up the coast, bringing huge waves to our beaches- this is what us East Coast surfers wait all year for. Thursday morning I paddled out with some friends down in NC to ride some monsters. The sets were breaking well overhead, & I had that excited, nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach that comes when you head out into big swell to surf waves of consequence. I took a few on the head getting out, then got utterly destroyed dropping into a gigantic bomb, & finally I managed to catch 3 or 4 big waves that pushed the edges of my limited skill level. I got out of the water with a huge smile on my face, overjoyed to be alive in that moment, so very happy to be a 54 year old man who can still do such things. An hour later, I got the news that Brent Hinds had died in a motorcycle accident. He was 51, just 3 years younger than me.

"In many ways, Brent was like a hurricane — a wild & uncontrollable force well known for wreaking havoc wherever he touched down. Like a hurricane, Brent could be destructive at times. But also just like a hurricane, he produced rare things of pure beauty; these massive, gorgeous, waves of sound that provided people so much joy. Anyone who ever met him has a Brent story, because he was uncompromisingly himself, with a take it or leave it attitude. I knew & traveled the world with him on tour for over 20 years, & I did some pretty insane things with him in the early days. I have countless Brent stories- but none of those are really important now, though.

"A few hours after I heard he had died, I went back into the ocean- the swell had dropped some, but it was still big enough to warrant a few butterflies in the stomach. In my head as I paddled out was 'Floods Of Triton', the song my band did with MASTODON. One line in particular, 'A hurricane's ghost...', kept echoing in my mind. To my knowledge, the solo for that song was the last thing Brent recorded with MASTODON. I sang a bit of it sitting there on my board in the ocean, then turned & caught a nice sized wave for him, literally riding a hurricane's ghost. When I got out of the water, I could still hear the song we made together in my head the storm had passed, but the music remained. It still does.

"When you make music with other people, together you create something bigger than the individual musicians, forming something eternal. Music is comprised of sound waves, a form of energy. Energy can neither be created or destroyed- it only changes form. All music travels the cosmos forever- this is the meaning of another line I wrote for 'Floods Of Triton': 'Scream into eternity, remember this- all rivers run to the sea.' As individual musicians, we are just channels, rushing into the larger ocean that we call music. And as individual musicians, we are mere human beings, with all the attendant problems & flaws & moments of beauty & joy that come with the human condition. I am this, my bandmates are this, the MASTODON guys are this, & Brent was certainly this- beautifully flawed human beings. No matter what we create together, in the end we are just human beings. It is important to remember this.

"So I have been sad in an oddly numb sort of way for the last few days— someone I spent so much time with is gone, & as so often happens when a friend dies, I don't really understand that yet. But my sadness grows much sharper when I think of Brent's family, his other friends I know, & of my brothers in MASTODON. This is a truly terrible situation for everyone involved, something that NO ONE wanted to happen— that is the bottom line. It's not a soap opera, ok? Remember that.

"I took many photos of Brent over the years- this is the last portrait of him I ever shot. Every portrait I have of him shows a devilish twinkle to his eyes, & this one is no different. I found it the day I learned he died, but didn't feel like posting it, or really saying anything-sometimes it is better to be still & quiet. Instead I went into the sea, & rode waves, & heard various music he had made in my head. Sunset was beautiful that day, & I watched it from a boat in the sea. Even in a boat, the swell was big beneath to make me a little nervous- Brent would have enjoyed that ride, as he liked such things.

"Rest in peace, Brent- you were a TRUE rock n' roll wild man. Thanks for the tunes, the crazy times, & the many, many laughs. You will be missed.

"'Remember this- all rivers run to the sea...'"

Hinds was reportedly riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he collided with an SUV at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE, less than two miles from downtown Atlanta, according to Atlanta police.

Brent was found unresponsive by officers who responded to the crash around 11:35 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical workers.

Police said a woman driving a BMW SUV was making a left turn when she failed to yield and struck the motorcycle, which was headed west on Boulevard. The woman remained at the scene and spoke with investigators.

In March, MASTODON revealed that the band and Hinds had "mutually decided to part ways" after "25 monumental years together."

Since 2000, Hinds had served as lead guitarist and vocalist for MASTODON, alongside bassist/singer Troy Sanders, Dailor, and guitarist Bill Kelliher.

MASTODON's lineup had remained the same for 25 years, recording eight studio albums, beginning with 2002's "Remission" until the band's latest LP, 2021's "Hushed And Grim".

Hinds was involved with several music projects apart from MASTODON, including the group GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA — alongside members of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and ALICE IN CHAINS — as well as LEGEND OF THE SEAGULLMEN and the long-running project FIEND WITHOUT A FACE.

More recently, Hinds had a tour, "An Evening With Brent Hinds", set for November and December throughout Europe.

"I'm a free spirit," Hinds said in the MASTODON documentary "The Workhorse Chronicles". "I enjoy life and I live it to the fullest."

Brent played his first show since exiting MASTODON on March 21 with his band FIEND WITHOUT A FACE at 529 in Atlanta, Georgia.

MASTODON has had nine Billboard 200-charting albums and has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times. The band won a "Best Metal Performance" Grammy for "Sultan's Curse" in 2018.

MASTODON's latest album, "Hushed And Grim", was a double LP recorded at the band's Atlanta studio, West End Sound.

MASTODON recruited Ben Eller, a guitarist known for his popular YouTube channel, to step in for Hinds when the band played at TOOL's "Tool In The Sand" festival in the Dominican Republic in March. For MASTODON's spring 2025 tour and other recent shows, the band enlisted Canadian musician Nick Johnston. Johnston has six solo records under his belt, and has also worked with POLYPHIA, Guthrie Govan, PERIPHERY and many others.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by D. Randall Blythe (@drandallblythe)

In a new interview with FOX5 Las Vegas, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson, who just launched a North American tour with his solo band, spoke about the task of balancing his solo projects and his recording and touring commitments to the legendary heavy metal act. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We just got done with doing stadiums in Europe [with MAIDEN]. So we were doing, like, 75,000 people and stuff like that. And now I'm doing the House Of Blues [in Las Vegas with my solo band]. So, there's just horses for courses. There's different things that happen in that kind of environment, like the club, small theater, stuff like that, and it's brilliant, 'cause it's really intimate one on one.

"We don't have any problems with scheduling our extracurricular activities, really," Bruce explained. "I mean, MAIDEN gets set in stone a year or a couple of years in advance. In fact, with this same [solo] band I'm making a new record in January next year, and I'm thinking about 2027, to have that released and a tour and stuff. So we can schedule things around the whole MAIDEN world, which is brilliant."

Touching upon the similarities between his solo material and MAIDEN's musical output, Bruce said: "My stuff is, obviously, related, 'cause I write some of the MAIDEN songs and everything. But it's a little bit more varied. I mean, you've got the big old ballads like 'Tears Of The Dragon' and stuff, which, of course, I shall be playing [on the North American tour]. 'Cause I've got seven solo albums out now. It's a lot of stuff to pick from."

Dickinson kicked off his first extensive North American solo tour in almost 30 years in support of his current studio album, "The Mandrake Project", Friday night (August 22) at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California. Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour is once again his 2024 backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.

Dickinson's 16-song setlist at the House Of Blues included the live debut of "The Mandrake Project" track "Shadow Of The Gods" as well as the first-ever performance of the IRON MAIDEN song "Flash Of The Blade", from the band's 1984 album "Powerslave".

Before launching into "Flash Of The Blade", Dickinson told the crowd:  "Nobody has ever played this song, apart from on the record, of course, but nobody has ever played this song. And it's a song that I wrote. So I don't know whether any of you have got any clue what song it might be. But like usual, it's a conundrum. I shall not tell you. You will just have to figure it out. It probably won't take long… You'll die as you lived in a flash of the blade."

Prior to the April 12, 2024 Whisky A Go Go show, Bruce last performed with his solo band on in August 2002 at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.

Roy played guitar on Dickinson's 1994 album "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent three solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005).

O'Callaghan is an Irish musician who joined WHITESNAKE in 2021 and toured with the David Coverdale-fronted outfit the following year. She also hit the road with Dickinson in 2023 as part of a performance of Jon Lord's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" on nearly a dozen dates in Europe and South America.

Californian drummer Moreno previously played on "Tyranny Of Souls" and has worked with BODY COUNT, Jizzy Pearl, Dizzy Reed and Steve Stevens, among others.

Italian keyboard wizard Mistheria has collaborated with an array of artists live and in the studio, including Rob Rock, Mike Portnoy, Jeff Scott Soto and Joel Hoekstra.

"The Mandrake Project" arrived on March 1, 2024 via BMG.

Bruce and Roy recorded "The Mandrake Project" largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by Mistheria and Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's previous solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.

Dickinson's reworked version of his classic 1994 album "Balls To Picasso", now titled "More Balls To Picasso", arrived on July 25.

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.

During an appearance on the August 14 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson was asked if he and his bandmates would be interested in doing a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, the 17,600-capacity venue which has transformed live entertainment since opening in September 2023. He responded: "No. It's not MAIDEN. MAIDEN's about the relationship between the band and the audience, and the show, whilst it's a show, is an enhancement to what we do. The Sphere, as far as I can gather — I mean, I appreciate what you're saying about it's all encompassing, it's this and that, it's the other — but I think the band would be very uncomfortable with the idea. I mean, we just do a lot of stuff — we run around, we go around — and at the Sphere, what's the point? What's the point? In fact, what's the point of even being there, if you're a band?"

A massive, spherical venue known for its immersive entertainment experiences, including concerts and films, featuring a state-of-the-art 16K resolution wraparound screen and a powerful sound system, the Las Vegas Sphere is nestled near the Venetian Resort and Wynn Las Vegas just off the Las Vegas Strip.

The Sphere has already hosted residencies from a number of legendary rockers, including U2, PHISH, DEAD & COMPANY and THE EAGLES.

Earlier this month, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich confirmed that he and his bandmates were "considering" doing a residency at the Sphere in the fall of 2026 after the group's scheduled "M72" world tour dates conclude with another European run next July. Ulrich told "The Howard Stern Show": "I was there seeing U2 the first night, when they took that stage, I wanted to see it for myself before I saw it on YouTube or read about it. I was there, like everybody else that was there that night, I was completely blown away, and felt that was the beginning of another chapter in live performances.

"I'm not going to bullshit you, I would fucking love to do it, let there be no question about it," Lars added. "It's not signed, sealed and delivered, but speaking to me and asking my opinion, I would fucking love to do it."

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett also expressed an interest in playing the Sphere, telling The Hollywood Reporter in April: "That's a great example of how venues are changing. That's using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to A.I. and making it a crazy experience."

U2 opened the building with 160,000-square-foot LED screens and 4D features, playing to more 700,000 fans across 40 sold-out dates from September 2023 through March 2024. The shows commemorated one of U2's most successful albums, the chart-topping 1991 release "Achtung Baby", played in its entirety, along with select tracks from other U2 LPs.

Sphere's next-generation technologies include the world's highest-resolution LED display that wraps up, over and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment. The venue also features the world's most advanced concert-grade audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, which delivers audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest.

A key component of the Sphere experience that makes audiences feel like they've been transported to another world, Sphere's 10,000 haptic seats are integrated with Powersoft's infrasound system. Powersoft Mover is the company's revolutionary compact transducer that uses haptic feedback to provide event-goers with a more convincing, realistic experience, engaging the senses beyond visual and audio stimulation. Powersoft's patented moving-magnet technology is more durable, accurate and efficient, relying on an audio signal with ultra-low-frequency reproduction to make the chairs vibrate and shake as desired for each performance. To accompany the infrasound haptic system, Powersoft also supplied 2,500 audio channels for the seats, provided by 718 Powersoft Quattrocanali amplifiers.

RAVEN frontman John Gallagher has shared a new video message from the hospital, less than a day after it was announced that the British/American metal trio was postponing its previously announced summer/fall 2025 European tour due to the bassist/vocalist's health.

In the video message, which can be seen below, John states:  "Hey there, everybody. Not the video I wanted to make, but here we are. So, as you can see, I'm in the hospital and there's my metal horns. I got in on the 12th of August with bad headaches. They put me in surgery the next day. Found out I had a bleed on the brain. So we don't want any aneurysms and strokes and crap like that. So they went in, did the thing. [They] had to go in again on the 19th, bit more substantially, and things are working out. I am getting there, but as sad as it may seem, we're not going to be able to make the European tour. I'm just not strong enough, and as you know, our show is all about strength. And once I'm ready, we will come back better than ever. So thank you all and we will see you very soon. Rock until you drop."

When the RAVEN tour postponement was first announced on Saturday (August 23),RAVEN members John, guitarist Mark Gallagher and drummer Mike Heller wrote in a statement: "Raven Lunatics, got some unfortunate news for you! We are very sad to say that we have to postpone the upcoming European Tour due to John's health. He was admitted to hospital with a massive headache on August 12th. Following a CAT scan, it was determined that he was suffering from a bleed on the brain, Subdural Hematoma. Surgery was planned for the next day, then a further, more invasive surgery was performed on the 19th. He is now doing good, but of course, needs to recuperate and will not be able to fly on a plane.

"Very few shows have ever been cancelled in our 50 year career.

"We are working with our agency Dragon Productions, as well as the promoters to reschedule these dates.

"We would like to thank our booking agent Bart Gabriel, the promoters and of course all the Raven Lunatics who were coming to the shows for your understanding.

"We will be BACK – STRONGER than ever! Rock Until You Drop!"

Considered part of the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" movement of the early '80s, RAVEN is perhaps best remembered for its trailblazing tours in America in the early '80s that gave groups like METALLICA and ANTHRAX their first taste of the road.

In a 2014 interview with CantonRep.com, John stated about RAVEN's tour with METALLICA, dubbed the "Kill 'Em All For One Tour", the moniker coming from the combination of the bands' two albums at the time: "It was like guerilla warfare. There were 17 people in a six-person Winnebago. We ended up spending most of our time traveling in the back of one of the trucks, because it was more sanitary! You'd turn up in places like Oklahoma City going, 'Doesn't this remind you of the 'Blues Brothers?' And it was except there was no chicken wire, so when people were throwing (crap) around, it would hit you! But we'd played for punks in workingman's clubs in the North of England, so we just gave it back, kicked their beers over, jumped on the tables, and said, 'Are you with us or against us?' That was our job. It was METALLICA's first tour. We showed them the ropes, and they were completely out of control. It was great. It was like this big gang traveling across America."

RAVEN's classic albums "Rock Until You Drop", "Wiped Out" and "All For One" virtually invented both the speed metal and power metal genres, with the band consistently pushing the envelope while retaining its unique sound and attack — both in the studio and in their true element: onstage.

In a 2005 post on RAVEN's official message board, John stated about RAVEN's influence on other pioneering metal bands: "Anyone ever listen to the middle of 'Aces High' by IRON MAIDEN and compare it to part of 'Faster Than The Speed Of Light' [by RAVEN]? How about the chorus riff of METALLICA's 'No Remorse' to [RAVEN's] 'Lambs To The Slaughter'?? Makes me laugh...!"

RAVEN's latest EP, "Can't Take Away The Fire", came out in February via Silver Lining Music.

In a new interview with Metalshop TV, SHINEDOWN singer Brent Smith and drummer Barry Kerch spoke about the progress of the writing and recording sessions for the band's upcoming eighth studio album.  Barry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Listen, it's not quite done yet. When it's done, it'll be out. I can tell you there'll be two more songs that come out this year, and you will get a record next year, probably, I would imagine, within — we're hoping for March. We're close, but we're never gonna release anything that isn't up to our standards, and we're just not there yet. So, soon. Next year."

Added Brent: "Our whole thing about it was this: it was the idea of if we do it in a traditional setting in regards to releasing the record that we are creating right now, it would be a lot longer of time since the last album. And so we said, let's give them a couple of songs earlier in the year and then give them two more songs at the back half of the summer into the fall and announce the record in the fall, and it'll be out next year — probably late February, early March of 2026."

Kerch and Smith also talked about SHINEDOWN's massive success in the U.S., with Barry saying: " Radio built this band, for sure. This band was built on radio, because, look, we've been around for 22 years, 23 years, but really touring for just 21 years. And we never said no to radio. 'Hey, you wanna play our radio fest?' 'Can you come do an interview?' 'Can you come do these things?' And when you do those things, you gain mutual respect and then they might play your song a couple more times that week or whatever. So this band was definitely built on radio, and we will never turn our backs on radio. However, things have changed over those 20 years. And yes, Spotify's important. Yes, iTunes is important. Yes, Pandora's important. All of those outlets are important. To me, I look at it, and I think Brent would agree on this, is I want our song played on all of those things, and I want it to climb all of those charts. I wanna be on the top of all those playlists because the youth goes to those maybe more than they do radio, but all of it puts yourself out there and makes the band grow even more. So I think all of those outlets are important. They all just do different things. And, yeah, we could talk about Spotify maybe not giving back as much as artists would like and things like that, but the devil is who you know, and it is what it is these days. So you still wanna grow with all of those organizations."

Added Brent: "One thing that I'll say about the radio, though, because when you're being specific to said the United States and Canada, they're similar, but the difference in the u the U.S. to any other country is this, and I can just be honest about it. The platform for streaming broadens you out to an entire planet, but you're competing with 240,000 songs a day on just the Spotify streaming service alone. And it's not even counting Apple, Pandora, Shazam, Amazon — I can keep going — YouTube. I mean, people need to understand also, too, as far as streaming is concerned, YouTube is the number one place to listen to music. It's the highest, and it's not even talked about, but that's where most people listen to music. But in the United States of America, there's 50 states. In those 50 states, there are multiple cities. And in those cities, there are multiple towers that curate to that market. And you have AM and FM [radio], so you have talk radio, and then you have radio. Usually talk is AM, but FM, you have country music, you have alternative stations, you have rock stations, you have pop stations, you have hip-hop stations, you have urban stations, you have rhythmic stations. There are so many towers in every state, in every city. There's a culture in each one of those cities and there's a branding, if you will, and something that separates that city from every other. And their market share and their community, they double down on that. So it is a different thing in the U.S. than any other country. 'Cause you'll go into the U.K., there's three radio stations. You'll go into even the Czech Republic, I think there's one station. So the dynamic of that — yes."

Smith continued: "This is the way we've always looked at it, and I mean it from a global sense too. The reality is that the way that I've always seen it and the band has seen it and why radio is such a predominant thing for us, is it did build our band, because there were moments with the streaming services where they wouldn't give us playlisting, but radio was always there. We're also a band that's on five formats in the United States. So it's not just one style of music or one type of listener. And to their credit, I would say this: streaming will get your music played, but radio will give you a career."

Earlier this month, SHINEDOWN released a brand new single, "Killing Fields", via Atlantic Records. The track arrived just days before SHINEDOWN headed off on the largest and most ambitious tour it has ever set out on in its career. Performing at arenas all across the country, the tour kicked off on July 19 at Boston's TD Garden and the next day they performed at Madison Square Garden (the first time they have ever performed there as a band),as well as Los Angeles's Kia Forum on August 3. Joining on the second leg of the tour are BUSH and Morgan Wade on all shows.

"Killing Fields" is the third new song SHINEDOWN has made available in 2025 after the simultaneous release of "Three Six Five" and "Dance, Kid, Dance" in January. Breaking rules and doing what few artists have been able to achieve, "Three Six Five" is currently charting at five different radio formats: already hitting No. 1 at Alternative, it also has hit Top 10 at Hot AC and AC, No. 16 at Active Rock and is approaching Top 20 at Top 40 radio.

The massive support at radio can also be derived from the inspirational message of the song. Upon release of the animated music video, which featured storylines of three people each dealing with loss in their lives over the course of a year, and how they navigated through it, inspired fans all over the Internet. Many wrote in their own stories of loss and used the comment section of the video almost as an online therapy board.

Released simultaneously with "Three Six Five" was "Dance, Kid, Dance". The song has literally made history for the band as when it reached No. 1 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart, it marked SHINEDOWN's 22nd song to reach No. 1 on the chart. On the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart (where it also hit No. 1) SHINEDOWN became the only band in the chart's history to get 20 No. 1s on the chart. Not to mention when the song entered the Top 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, SHINEDOWN tied with the FOO FIGHTERS for the artists with the most songs to hit the top 10 in the chart's history with 32 songs each. On Mediabase, SHINEDOWN holds the record for the most No. 1s, No. 5s and No. 10s on the Active Rock chart, with a total of 24 No. 1s on the Mediabase chart. All these incredible accomplishments continue to solidify that SHINEDOWN have made a name for themselves in rock and are one of the biggest bands in the world.

This year has also come with some historic wins for the band as they recently took home two trophies at the iHeartRadio Music Awards where they won "Rock Artist Of The Year" and "Rock Song Of The Year" for "A Symptom Of Being Human". The awards were in celebration of the banner year they've had as "A Symptom Of Being Human" has hit nearly 125 million global streams and charted at five radio formats including a No. 1 at Active, Top 10 at Alternative, Top 10 at AC, Top 15 at Hot AC and a Top 20 at Top 40. The song, off SHINEDOWN's "Planet Zero" album, resonated with fans across the globe for the unifying message of its lyrics: that it is our human connections that matter the most.

Smith and SHINEDOWN bassist/producer Eric Bass co-wrote "Three Six Five", while "Dance, Kid, Dance" was written by Smith, Bass and Dave Bassett. The songs were produced by Bass at his own Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina.

For the tour, SHINEDOWN has teamed up with Musicians On Call and will be donating $1 for every ticket sold for the tour. As the nation's leading provider of live music in hospitals, Musicians On Call (MOC) has delivered the healing power of music to patients, families, and caregivers in healthcare environments for 25 years. More than one million people across all 50 states have experienced the joys of live music in the hospital setting through MOC's bedside, virtual, and streaming programs. MOC volunteers perform live for children and adults facing any health challenge, including Veterans recovering in VA facilities, family members supporting loved ones in need, and healthcare workers caring for patients. The collaboration is just one of the many charities SHINEDOWN supports as they frequently give back to organizations in need.

Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

During an appearance on "The Tucker Carlson Show", conservative rocker Aaron Lewis was asked for his opinion of Bruce Springsteen, who can best be described as Lewis's political polar opposite, having been a vocal opponent to U.S. president Donald Trump on many occasions. The STAIND frontman said of the New Jersey-bred musician who became rock 'n' roll's voice of the working class (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think that he is a disgusting display of not appreciating what was handed to him, in this country as being an American, the success that he has had. The fact that he duped us all with one of the most anti-American songs ever and called it 'Born In The USA' as some sort of celebration of how great it is to be born in the USA. I'm angry at myself for not seeing it for so long and actually giving him, in my mind, the credit of being a representation of blue-collar America."

Lewis continued: "I think that [Springsteen] has forgotten where he came from. I think that if you're not careful doing this, this career that that me and him have both been so blessed to have had, if you're not careful, it will consume you. And it's obvious that it creates a situation where you've lost sight of the reality of the country that you live in because you've lived such a cush… you've had so much, you have so much that it's really easy to take a stance that is so anti everything that you were lucky enough to have, lucky enough to create, lucky enough to change your situation in life. And he's just lost touch with the struggles. He's lost touch with the struggle."

Referencing the fact that Springsteen is a long and prominent supporter of Democratic presidential candidates, Aaron added: "It seems like most people who have lost touch with the true struggle of life, those are the people that vote for these fucking idiots. Those are the people that feel like they have to virtue signal. Those are the people that, somewhere along the way, they feel guilty for the success that they have had, so they somehow have to make it up with this nonsensical bullshit that… You grew up at the same time… I did. It was the most unracially driven... The verbal beating that we took over and over and over, our whole childhood of you don't judge a man by the color of his skin, you judge a man by the content of his character… It was the best that our country has ever been. And I think that that didn't work well for the Democrats and the Communists, because they thrive in the chaos. They want us at each other's throats. They want us bickering internally so that we have no sense of shared country pride, that we have no sense of shared morality because they've created so many things artificially for us to fight about."

Lewis previously called out Springsteen in his controversial solo single "Am I The Only One". The song, which took aim at liberals and touched on American flags burning and statues that had been removed in the country, saw Aaron criticizing Bruce at the end of the track, singing: "Am I the only one who quits singin' along every time they play a Springsteen song."

Asked during a 2021 appearance on The Daily Wire's "Candace" show why he chose to call out Springsteen in the song's lyrics, Lewis said: "Because he's always portrayed himself as the all-American middle-class guy. And during all of this craziness, he said that if one man is re-elected to the office of presidency that he was gonna move to Australia. How American is that? You're gonna bail on America just because you don't like the guy that may have gotten into office?"

In his 2016 memoir "Born To Run", Springsteen called "Born In The USA", the title track off his blockbuster seventh album, "a protest song," with the track's lyrics telling of a local loser who's railroaded into military service during the Vietnam War, scarred by his experiences in Southeast Asia, and completely forgotten about by his country when he returns home.

Lewis, who is widely considered to be one of the most politically conservative musicians in rock, made headlines in September 2021 when he urged his fans to chant "Fuck Joe Biden" during a STAIND concert in Pennsylvania.

Aaron told the Anchorage Press in a January 2020 interview that he considered the first Donald Trump impeachment by the House Of Representatives as the clearest representation of what's wrong with America these days.

Lewis was a staunch critic of President Barack Obama, telling a crowd at one of his solo concerts in 2016: "Barack Obama should have been impeached a long fucking time ago. Every fucking decision he makes is against the Constitution, it's against what's good for our fucking country, and he is truly the worst fucking president that we have ever had in the history of this fucking country."

That same year, Lewis told Billboard that he would support Trump in the U.S. presidential race, even though he was "disappointed" by the real estate mogul "with the bickering and the name-calling." Lewis added that he voted for Senator Ted Cruz, Trump's closest competitor in the Republican nomination race, in the Massachusetts primary.

In June 2021, Lewis made headlines when he accused the U.S. Democratic Party of fighting against every major civil rights initiative and of having a long history of discrimination.

In March 2022, Lewis told the Los Angeles Times that he doesn't blindly listen to information that is delivered by the mainstream media.

"I'm not uneducated; I'm actually really smart, and I look for myself. I seek other options of information," he said. "I refuse to believe that a huge, gigantic corporation has our best interest in mind."

Asked where he gets his news, Lewis said: "I have news feeds and people that I follow on Telegram. Dan Ball. Andrew Wilkow. Mark Levin. If I'm gonna watch any sort of news source on television, it's Tucker Carlson."

This past June, Springsteen ripped Trump during his "Land of Hopes And Dreams" tour, calling Trump a "treasonous" president who's "persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent." Springsteen later told The New York Times that Trump is a "moron", but only partially responsible for the "tragic" state of America. "I think that it was the combination of the deindustrialization of the country and then the incredible increase in wealth disparity that left so many people behind. It was ripe for a demagogue," Springsteen told The New York Times. "While I can't believe it was this moron that came along, he fit the bill for some people. But what we've been living through in the last 70 days is things that we all said, 'This can't happen here.' 'This will never happen in America.' And here we are." He added, "It's an American tragedy."

TESLA guitarist and songwriter Frank Hannon has announced the upcoming release of "Reflections", a new solo instrumental album arriving September 12. Written and recorded in the wake of personal loss and life upheaval, "Reflections" is Hannon's most intimate and revealing work to date — a 13-song collection of cinematic, Western-influenced guitar instrumentals tracked as raw first takes on his cell phone. Marked by intricate fingerpicking, soulful slide, and deeply felt melodies, the album captures Hannon reconnecting with his roots — musically, emotionally and spiritually — while offering a rare, unfiltered look into the heart of a guitarist who has helped shape American rock music for more than four decades.

Rooted in soulful bottleneck slide guitar and inspired by Hannon's late father-in-law, ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND legend Dickey Betts, the album's latest single "One More Time" is out today; a melodic, blues-infused shuffle that captures the upbeat side of the record. The accompanying video offers a personal glimpse into Hannon's home life with horses and features him playing a rare Gibson SG once owned by Betts himself.

"This song is a tip of the hat to melodic slide guitar–the kind Dickey played so beautifully on songs like 'Pony Boy' and 'Crazy Love'," Hannon shares. "I feel blessed to have spent the past 24 years learning from him and hearing his stories. I really miss him."

"Reflections" came to life during a period of grief and dislocation. The Hannons had been away from home for three years, staying by Betts's side during his final battle with cancer. After Betts's passing, Hannon and his wife evacuated during back-to-back hurricanes, traveling cross-country with a trailer full of horses–one of which later had to be put down. When they finally returned to California, Hannon climbed to his attic, picked up one of his most sentimental guitars, and began to play.

"Someone once told me, 'play guitar like you'll never be able to play again,'" he says. "That's what I did on this album — it's all from the heart."

The album's sound is just as honest as its origins. Using an Audigo wireless mic and mobile app, Hannon recorded and mixed every track directly on his cell phone–layering guitar parts, adjusting EQ, adding reverb and delay, and building fully realized recordings from first-take ideas.

"I was blown away by the sound quality and ease of use," Hannon says. Even mastering engineer Kevin Reeves, whose credits include THE BEATLES and John Coltrane, noted how little processing the mixes required due to the warmth and fidelity captured by the Audigo mic.

While best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of TESLA — whose hits like "Modern Day Cowboy", "Little Suzi" and "Love Song" helped define a generation — Hannon has always stood out for his melodic instincts, expressive tone, and acoustic virtuosity. His signature intro to "Love Song", inspired by Bach, remains one of the most iconic moments in '80s rock guitar. In 1990, TESLA's "Five Man Acoustical Jam" helped usher in the unplugged era, further cementing Hannon's legacy as a versatile and soul-driven player.

Outside TESLA, Hannon has released three solo albums, including the LA Music Awards-nominated "Six String Soldiers", and collaborated with artists like Rick Derringer, Dave Meniketti, Pat Travers and Dickey Betts. In 2020, Gibson honored him with a signature model: the Frank Hannon "Love Dove" acoustic guitar.

"Reflections" represents a new chapter. Its sound is steeped in the Western world Hannon grew up in — raised among horses, chickens, and goats in rural Sacramento, with a soundtrack of Johnny Cash and John Denver. That Americana spirit winds through the album and carries through to its quiet tributes, including a nod to cowboy legend Bill Riddle, who mentored Hannon in Western horseback riding and enlisted him to score music for his instructional DVD "True Grit".

"Reflections" is an album that stands on its own, yet remains rooted in the legacy of a guitarist whose heart has always been on his sleeve–and in his strings.

"'Reflections' is a defining moment for me as an artist," Hannon says. "It came together so naturally, and it reminded me how much I love the guitar."

To celebrate the release of "Reflections", Hannon will embark on a limited solo tour this September. The run includes a special performance at Daryl's House in Pawling, New York on September 10, followed by a featured set at Duane Betts's annual Horseshoe festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Hannon will join the lineup on September 12–13. Additional solo dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Photo credit: Brandon Gullion

In a new interview with the "Surviving Rocklahoma" podcast, '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford spoke about the status of her long-awaited new studio album. Ford's upcoming follow-up to 2012's "Living Like A Runaway" was once again helmed by guitarist/producer Gary Hoey, who contributes some guitar playing to the disc. Ford said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've had some trouble trying to get it out or it would've been released already — problems with record label stuff, but I think we might have gotten that under control now. And so we should have the record out hopefully by the beginning of 2026. I hope sooner, 'cause it's pretty much ready to go. But it's a dark fairytale record in kind of like [the animated film] 'Shrek', where Shrek meets [Princess] Fiona, but finds out that she's really an ogre. And it's, like, 'Ah', but it's cute, but it's dark. And at the same time, I think a lot of people will be able to relate to that. It's a concept record. It has a theme all the way through the record. It never lets up. There's lots of characters on the record, and it has some pretty amazing guitar riffs and guitar playing."

Asked about her collaboration with Hoey and producer Max Norman, best known for working with rock and metal artists such as Ozzy Osbourne and MEGADETH, Lita said: "Gary Hoey, first of all, has been with me for many years, and he has saved my life time and time again on different occasions. And so I always end up going, 'Hey, Gary, are you around next week? Can I come over and can we record?' He's got the greatest studio and a great guitar collection. And then I'll bring a few guitars, and we just have this really magical creative thing that happens between us. It's almost like I'll start a sentence and he finishes it, or vice versa — he'll start a sentence and I'll finish it. We make a good team in the studio. And so he produced this record. It took a long time to write it and record it, for multiple reasons. He's always on the road, I'm always on the road, and trying to get our time schedules together. One of our songwriting partners died in the process. And COVID shut everything down; COVID shut everything down for a year. 'Well, can we get in to do those drum tracks now?' 'No. It's COVID.' So it was a problem at the time, but we got around it, and all is good. Max Norman mixed the record. And Max's family — we all come from the same place in the rock music industry, and he did a fantastic job. I have [singer/songwriter/producer] Jean Beauvoir [CROWN OF THORNS, PLASMATICS] on one track, that wrote an amazing track, and he is such a great producer and just really brought that track to life. And now we have Adam Parsons Entertainment who's managing us, and we're gonna find this record a good home. We have a couple of possibilities now, so it's coming soon."

This past June, Lita confirmed to Dawn Osborne of TotalRock that her new album will include a collaboration with German metal queen Doro Pesch. "It's waiting to come out," Ford said. "And I'm dying. It's so good. It's not a ballad, and it's not a fast song. It's just a really powerful, mid-range song. And it will reduce you to tears."

As for how the song with Doro came about, Lita said: "When I ran into Doro, she was receiving an award in Los Angeles, and she says to me, 'Lita, we have to do a song together.' And I said, 'I've got it. I've got the title. I know what the title is.' Because sometimes you just grab titles, and you don't even know why. It's just something that sounds amazing. And so I wrote it down in my little book of titles. And soon after that, Doro had came along and she said, 'Let's write something.' And I got the title. So, I went ahead and wrote the song. And Doro did not write the song, but she sure sang the hell out of it. She came out and nailed it. So it was a great honor to work with Doro again."

In July 2024, Ford told Joe Rock of Long Island's rock station 102.3 WBAB about her upcoming LP: "The studio, for me, has always been trying to teach everybody what I wanna hear. And a lot of that is because they basically don't know themselves as a producer or an engineer. I've had some of the greatest engineers and I've had some of the greatest producers, and this album — we're finished with it now — [was produced by] Gary Hoey. Gary Hoey is a great musician, great guitar player. And Gary and I — I can throw any idea at Gary, and he would try and make it happen. And the thing about being in the studio is you try and make things happen, and if they don't happen, then they don't happen. You can only try. And so we got real creative with guitars and we played — there's a lot of great guitars on this new record. I'm really excited about it."

Lita went on to say that the creation of her new album was completely in her control. "There were no songwriters that I had to work with because somebody else wanted me to work with them," she explained. "This is strictly Lita and what Lita wanted to do. And it's a concept record. There's a big story behind it. And so it's gonna open a lot of doors for a lot of things. And a lot of people are gonna be able to relate to this record. And it has some great musicians. Bobby Rock played drums on it. Jean Beauvoir wrote one of the songs with me. And it's just a great record. And Gary Hoey, of course, produced it. Max Norman, who mixed it — Max Norman did a lot of stuff for Ozzy and MEGADETH, and he's just a metal guy. So it's all in the right hands. I've got all the badass people behind me. Got a new manager, and it's all good."

In May 2022, bassist Marten Andersson (STEELHEART, LIZZY BORDEN, LYNCH MOB) officially joined Lita's touring band. Andersson replaced Marty O'Brien who became the touring bassist for DAUGHTRY.

In a 2023 interview with "THAT Rocks!", the YouTube series hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson, Lita stated about her next LP: "The problem is we've had so many things happen over the last few years. Our manager died; George Marshall died [in] '22. And then my songwriting partner died. And it's just been devastation. But we take all that pain and everything and we just put it right back into the album. And then we recorded the drum tracks in Minneapolis during Black Lives Matter and COVID. Everything was locked down and the place was boarded up and the guys had shotguns and Rottweilers. And then we went in and did drum tracks. And it was awesome. Just memories of just pure badassery."

Regarding what her plans are for live shows in support of her upcoming LP, Lita said: "Well, what I would like to do is put together a theatrical show, sort of like a rock guitar opera kind of thing. It's been done before and different bands have done it before, but I think in this case, it might be a little different and just to bring the whole show not to life just for audio, but for visual reasons also."

In January 2021, Lita told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that her new album contains "some of the best guitar playing" she has heard "in decades." She added: "And I'm not blowing smoke up my own ass, but Gary and I just nailed it with the guitar playing on this record.

"I'm a huge fan of people like Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter from Alice Cooper's 'Welcome To My Nightmare'. I mean, there's some really great duo guitar players — [JUDAS PRIEST's] Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing… Those guitar players don't exist anymore — they just don't exist. If you wanna hear them, you have to go back in time a little bit and dig them up into your favorite library, favorite music catalog. But I think Gary and I really nailed it on this next record. It's, like, oh my God. I'm crying — I'm just, like, crying listening to this stuff. It's so badass."

Ford's last release was 2016's "Time Capsule", a collection of songs that were recorded by Lita in the past, but never before made available.

Nine years ago, Lita released an autobiography, "Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir", via Dey Street Books (formerly It Books),an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

In an interview with Stefan Nilsson of Roppongi Rocks, founding WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp was asked if he has any plans to release new music under the MIKE TRAMP'S WHITE LION banner. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, you're obviously not the first one who has [asked about] that. The difficult part is, and we all know that from all our favorite bands, what do they play live? The greatest hits — all the big songs. And it's just the thing — I mean, how is MIKE TRAMP'S WHITE LION going to sound? And MIKE TRAMP'S WHITE LION on stage is going to play songs from the four [WHITE LION] albums. We're not gonna say 'we're gonna play a new song' because that new song, it cannot be represented by the name. WHITE LION are the four albums. So, you know what? It would have to be a completely different project under another name. And I'm highlighting the word 'project', because it's not going to be a band. We're not gonna be able to tour under a new name when I can't go on stage without the WHITE LION name… And the money is also not big enough."

"Songs Of White Lion - Vol. III", the third album in a series where Tramp reinterprets songs from his former band WHITE LION, will arrive on September 19 via Frontiers Music Srl. As was the case with "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. I" and "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. II" once again sees Tramp accompanied by his current solo band.

In a recent interview with Dawn Osborne of TotalRock, Tramp was asked if "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. III" is the final album in the series. Tramp responded: "I think when the first one came out, I was still very unsure about really what it was I was doing. To be honest, I think that I somehow both pushed myself into it and felt somehow obligated that since I couldn't go anywhere, regardless of if I showed up on stage with an acoustic guitar or two monkeys, they still will put WHITE LION on the poster. And so I had to find a way to deal with that. And I was speaking with Marcus [Nand], which now does the fine guitar work, and I had asked him if this was possible to sort of [put together] a refurbished version of the classic WHITE LION songs that sounds like how I sound today but at the same time is as close to the original as possible. So when we had done the first one, the first thing any interviewer did was, [they asked] will there be a number two? And, obviously, I started thinking about that. And as we got into number two, I knew there was gonna be a number three."

Asked if he has now re-recorded all the WHITE LION songs or if there are still some that he left out, Mike said: "No. No. And I really had hoped that I wouldn't get confronted with this, because somebody actually spoke to me the other day. He says, 'You know what? I know you you're talking about the completion of the trilogy.' He says, 'I think you [should] just record all the songs so that all the songs have been re-recorded and then that's that.' And I started thinking, 'Wow, okay.'"

Tramp continued: "It's sort of an easy thing to take on because most of the work is already there. Now jumping aside, doing the number three, we went in to do that album completely different than we did the first one. And had I known that we were going to do all three, I wouldn't have made the first one being like a 'greatest hits'. I would've balanced it. I wouldn't have put 'Tell Me', 'Wait' and 'Little Fighter', the big WHITE LION songs, on one album; I would've spread them out. Now as we're doing volume three, a lot of people have already said, when they hear this, this feels like a fresh new album. It's very heavy, it's the dark songs, et cetera, et cetera, and it doesn't just feel like you've just gone in there… Because there's a lot of songs that might not have been the familiar songs with the sort of average rock fan, the WHITE LION fan that knows the three songs. But for those who know the darker tracks from 'Fight To Survive' and 'Big Game' and things like that, this is an album that I really, really actually enjoy myself listening to."

In July, Tramp spoke about how this series of recordings came together, stating in a press release: "For me, the point of re-recording the old classic WHITE LION songs was all about letting the audience know how the band would sound if they come to see us live. Bringing the sound up today and away from a world no more.

"When I started with 'Vol. I', I must admit, I never thought I'd do 'Vol. II' and now 'Vol. III'," he continues. "But having done it all now, makes all the more sense to me. If I have to be active playing WHITE LION in 2025 and onward, there's got to be a natural progression in every way. That is exactly what this trilogy is all about."

In this final installment, Tramp revisits and reimagines ten more essential songs from the WHITE LION catalog, bringing them back to life with the passion, perspective, and authenticity that only decades of experience can deliver.

Once again backed by his trusted bandmates — Marcus Nand (guitar),Claus Langeskov (bass) and Morten Hellborn (drums) — Tramp offers fresh but respectful renditions of these classic tracks, capturing their spirit while elevating them with a more refined, seasoned sound.

From the raw defiance of "Fight To Survive" to the cinematic power of "Warsong" and the infectious rhythm of "Radar Love", this album is both a celebration and a reawakening.

Standing as more than a simple re-recording project, "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. III" is the emotional conclusion of a trilogy — a journey through time, memory, and music that connects the past to the present with integrity and fire.

"Songs Of White Lion - Vol. III" track listing:

01. Dirty Woman
02. Warsong
03. Fight To Survive
04. She's Got Everything
05. In The City
06. If My Mind Is Evil
07. Cherokee
08. All Burn In Hell
09. Don't Say It's Over
10. Radar Love

In a January 2025 interview with Australia's Heavy, Tramp was asked how he has managed to keep his voice in shape after all these years. Tramp, who turned 64 earlier that month, said:  "You know what? Obviously, you will recognize that it's the same singer, but it was very important for me that the growth of Mike Tramp through all the albums that I've done and the touring and the traveling became… Let's say, in reality, [WHITE LION] had not broken up. There would have been a natural progression. Vito Bratta and myself, which, of course, were the foundation of WHTIE LION, the songwriters, already knew that when we recording 'Mane Attraction', our fourth album, our last album. If you go back, you will already see that we were making the first step towards prog rock, where we wanted the band to go. We were going much more towards bands like JOURNEY, KANSAS or STYX and whatever bands would have come. We wanted the band to be a band of music and little by little, the hair would become less important. So, with my albums that have gone on, my voice has naturally just changed bit by bit a year. So when I reintroduced the WHITE LION songs, I definitely cannot sing them in the same key. So once we refurbished them and once we found the new key to the songs, I also went out there now with the knowledge of knowing that I wrote those songs 40 years ago. I wanted to sort of say, 'I'm gonna sing them a little different.'"

Asked why it was important for him to recreate those songs, Mike said: "Yeah, without any disrespect to myself and the band that I started, I personally cannot stand listening to the versions from that time. I was in a completely different place. So, for me to play these songs again, I had to find something that felt new and fresh, even though it was the same thing. So by singing these songs again and changing the keys of the songs, it's almost like they became fatter and fuller and not so gung-ho. We were so fast and singing so high and flying in the air. Now I'm going up to the mic stand and I'm fully in control. I used to run out on stage with WHITE LION and started screaming at the audience, and the band would look at me, 'He's gonna collapse in 10 seconds.' [Now I'm] going out fully confident and saying, 'We're gonna play these songs now for the sake of music.'"

When "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. II" was first announced last year, Tramp said in a statement: "Would Leonardo Da Vinci have re-painted 'Mona Lisa', if he had gotten a second chance? That we will never know, but I can say for sure, that I am beyond thrilled to have gotten a second chance to re-record and sing the songs I wrote between 1983 - 1990. Today I have such a better understanding of how I want to express the songs in my voice than I had when I was in my 20s, it's just a fact, and I've grabbed the chance. 'Songs Of White Lion' is a whole new chapter. [As a] matter of fact, it is current."

Tramp spent most of 2024 and the first half of 2025 touring the U.S. and Europe with his band MIKE TRAMP'S WHITE LION, which doesn't included any other members of the original WHITE LION group.

In 2023, Tramp was asked in an interview about the possibility of WHITE LION reforming for a tour. He said: "When we broke up in '91, we always knew we would never go back together. And a lot of people always talk about reunions. WHITE LION reuniting would not be a better WHITE LION than WHITE LION was, so I'm out there performing the songs, not trying to recreate WHITE LION."

Asked if he has ever thought of calling his solo band WHITE LION and touring with new members, Mike replied: "I can't call it WHITE LION." Pressed about whether he would call his band WHITE LION if he could, Mike said: "I tried, and it cost me money. [Laughs] I think that the audience now is understanding that I'm just keeping the songs alive, and I'm able to perform it in a different way. I'm able to show the image that I'm not coming out there and doing a show but I'm gonna take them through like a greatest hits. I like to tell stories about what the songs are. You can't always do that on a festival when you have one hour, but that is my goal, that I will keep the songs alive. And I think that all the fans and the music fans know who Mike Tramp is and it doesn't need to be called WHITE LION. But it's called 'Songs Of White Lion'."

Back in 2019, Tramp revealed in an interview that he had apologized to guitarist Vito Bratta for trying to resurrect his former band without his onetime songwriting partner and bandmate.

The Danish-born singer hasn't played with Bratta since WHITE LION performed its last concert in Boston in September 1991.

In the 34 years since WHITE LION broke up, Bratta's public profile has been virtually nonexistent, while Tramp has remained active, recording and touring as a solo artist and with the bands FREAK OF NATURE, THE ROCK 'N' ROLL CIRCUZ and, more recently, BAND OF BROTHERS. Tramp also attempted to revive WHITE LION with the 2008 album "Return Of The Pride", featuring new members. Two years later, Tramp ceded ownership of the name WHITE LION to Bratta in an out-of-court settlement.

Speaking to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation", Tramp said that he and Vito are once again on speaking terms following his ill-fated attempt to bring back WHITE LION a decade and a half ago.

"I have, over the past couple of years, been the one out there basically both admitting and apologizing that the only thing that I never planned to do in my career and wanted to do was go back and rehash a version of WHITE LION that had nothing to do with WHITE LION, nothing to do with the guys that played in the band," Mike said. "Mike Tramp's heart was not in it. It was just a moment of weakness, not believing enough in my solo albums. [You listen to] some guys saying, 'Hey, if you put a new WHITE LION together, you can play festivals and get much more money.' And then you fall for that and you engage in it and you go out there, and then you realize it's not what you wanna do. And then, of course, Vito did not want the name WHITE LION to be used without him being in the band. And it actually took a couple of years for me to really understand how much it meant to Vito. And when Vito one day told me in one of these conversations… First of all, he told me, 'Mike, I'm not against you. I just don't wanna turn YouTube on and see the title 'WHITE LION live in so and so,' and somebody doing 'When The Children Cry' solo and it's not me. WHITE LION was you and me, it was our band, we wrote the songs. That is the memories I want for the rest of my life.' And when he told me that, I had tears in my eyes and I totally understood it, because I had also gotten to that point that when we closed WHITE LION, we felt that this is where we wanted to stop it. There was something, going into the '90s, that didn't agree with the things we were looking at, and we wanted to somehow end it on a higher level than something that would not represent us in the future. But it just took many years to really understand it."

Asked if he understands why Vito doesn't want to play music professionally anymore, Mike said: "Yes, I do, because there are actually times when I also don't feel like doing it anymore. When all the magic around us, the stuff that made us fall in love with rock and roll — first of all, our heroes, then the industry, then the touring stuff — when all of that was really exposed that it was a two-faced kind of thing, that the people we thought loved us — and I'm not talking about the fans; I'm talking about the people that made money from us, and stuff like that — turned their back on us and stabbed us in the back, it really ripped us apart. And maybe it's just that I came from a different background than Vito, that I maybe was a little bit stronger or just of a different nature that I just fought back, but Vito just said, 'I just don't wanna deal with this.' And I understand now — I understand it from every conversation that I have with him."

Tramp also once again closed the door on a possible WHITE LION reunion, saying: "I can't be Mike Tramp 1988. I can't sing like that, and I'm not going up on stage and doing a half-assed job, which most of the bands out there are doing."

Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, WHITE LION released its debut album, "Fight To Survive", in 1985. The band had its breakthrough with the double-platinum-selling "Pride" album, which produced two Top 10 hits: "Wait" and "When The Children Cry". The band continued its success with the third album, "Big Game", which achieved gold status.

By the time WHITE LION released its final album, 1991's "Mane Attraction", alternative rock was in the ascendancy, leading to a swift decline of the so-called "hair metal" scene in terms of sales, popularity, radio play, and most importantly, relevance.

Mike released "Songs Of White Lion", in April 2023 via Frontiers Music Srl. "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. II" followed in August 2024.

The official DEEP PURPLE YouTube channel has uploaded a new three-minute video of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich in which he discusses the reissue of DEEP PURPLE's classic 1972 live album "Made In Japan", which has just been made available as 5CD+Blu-ray and 10LP box sets featuring newly remixed versions of all three of its concerts, plus both stereo and Atmos mixes by Steven Wilson. Wilson's stereo mix is also available separately as a 2LP version.

Ulrich says (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Hey, everyone. Lars here. I just wanna take a brief second and say 53 years ago, this very weekend, DEEP PURPLE were in Japan for the very first time, and those three concerts were recorded. Two nights in Osaka, one night in Tokyo were recorded and eventually became the 'Made In Japan' album — in my humble opinion, hands down the best hard rock live album ever. I have heard it just about 18,000 times, and every time I hear it, it just gets better and better and better, and it's so crazy cool. It's so lively, it's so energetic and just 'aarghhh'. You know what I mean? You know what I mean?

"Now, there is a reissue, remaster, all that 're' stuff, version of the album that includes — let me get this right — all three nights of the three concerts," he continued. "So not just one version of each of the songs, but three different versions of each of the songs. And it's coming out right now and it's got, obviously, everything else, depending on what package you get. It's got the kitchen sink and more of the kitchen sink and a bigger kitchen sink and all that stuff in it.

"But just going back to the music, the crazy thing about hearing this, and like I said, I've heard it a lot, is that when you hear the three nights of the three the three different concerts, the versions of the songs, they're all fucking so crazy cool, but they're different from each other. So one night 'Child In Time' is this long, and the other night 'Child In Time' is that long and the third night 'Child In Time' is that long, because the solo is a different length. [Then-DEEP PURPLE guitarist Ritchie] Blackmore is in a different mood. [DEEP PURPLE drummer] Ian Paice is playing against him in this kind of way and it sets up these vibes. And then [DEEP PURPLE singer] Ian Gillan goes over here and then [DEEP PURPLE bassist] Roger Glover's holding this down. And [then-DEEP PURPLE keyboardist] Jon Lord goes here on the keyboards and over there, and it's also crazy fucking cool.

"So maybe this is the longest video honoring [laughs] and saluting this great piece of work," Lars added. "I promise you I'll shut the fuck up now. But 'Made In Japan', people, 'Made In Japan', 'Made In Motherfucking Japan' is coming out again as a reissue and all that good stuff. Check it out. Just check it out. Maybe you've already heard it 9,000 times. Maybe you've never heard it. Wherever you fall, just check it the fuck out, 'cause in terms of live hard rock and roll, this is as good as it gets.

"Thank you for listening to this babble. Lars saying over and out."

On August 15, 1972, DEEP PURPLE took the stage in Japan for the first of three shows that would give rise to one of rock's most celebrated live albums, "Made In Japan". Universal Music made available a Super Deluxe Edition of the landmark release on August 15 — exactly 53 years after the first performance was recorded.

"Made In Japan (Super Deluxe Edition)" features new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of the original by acclaimed producer Steven Wilson, all three concerts newly remixed by Richard Digby Smith, and several rare single edits. It was released as a 5CD/Blu-ray set at retailers nationwide, and a 10LP black vinyl edition, available exclusively from the official artist shop and UMG D2C stores.

A 2LP black vinyl version of Steven Wilson remixes was made available on August 15. The digital companion was also made available everywhere on August 15.

Originally intended as a Japan-only release, this double live album became a surprise global phenomenon. Released in the U.K. in December 1972 and in the U.S. the following March, "Made In Japan" went platinum in America and several European countries.

Singer Ian Gillan, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, keyboardist Jon Lord, bassist Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice — DEEP PURPLE's famed Mk II lineup — turned studio staples like "Smoke On The Water", "Highway Star" and "Space Truckin'" into explosive live statements. "We came halfway around the world and found the audience singing every word. It was magical," Glover recalls in the collection's liner notes.

The band enlisted engineer Martin Birch — who had worked on several of their best-known studio albums — to record the shows to eight-track tape at Festival Hall in Osaka and the Budokan in Tokyo. The performances on "Made In Japan (Super Deluxe Edition)" capture DEEP PURPLE at full throttle, powering through songs from their then-new album "Machine Head", along with fan favorites like "Child In Time", "Strange Kind Of Woman" and "Speed King". The collection also includes rare single edits, like the German version of "Black Night" and the Mexican edit of "Space Truckin'".

The live album garnered widespread critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone declaring it "PURPLE's definitive metal monster, a spark-filled execution of the typical PURPLE style." This recognition led to its impressive ranking at No. 6 on their "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Live Albums Of All Time". AllMusic also praised the album, stating that "DEEP PURPLE pushed its music into the kind of deliberate excess that made heavy metal what it became." Additionally, the album achieved commercial success, landing at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Wilson harnesses the raw energy of the original tapes in his new stereo and Atmos mixes. "It's all completely as it happened on the night," he says. "The album has a power and sense of abandon that they never quite captured in the studio. Hopefully this new mix makes it feel even more like you're there."

CD 1: Original Album (2025 Steven Wilson Remix)

01. Highway Star
02. Child In Time
03. Smoke On The Water
04. The Mule
05. Strange Kind Of Woman
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'

CD 2: Osaka, August 15, 1972

01. Highway Star
02. Smoke On The Water
03. Child In Time
04. The Mule (Drum Solo)
05. Strange Kind Of Woman
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'

CD 3: Osaka, August 16, 1972

01. Highway Star
02. Smoke On The Water
03. Child In Time
04. The Mule (Drum Solo)
05. Strange Kind Of Woman
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'

CD 4: Tokyo, August 17, 1972

01. Highway Star
02. Smoke On The Water
03. Child In Time
04. The Mule (Drum Solo)
05. Strange Kind Of Woman
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'

CD 5: The Encores

01. Black Night (Osaka, August 15, 1972)
02. Speed King (Osaka, August 15, 1972)
03. Black Night (Osaka, August 16, 1972)
04. Lucille (Osaka, August 16, 1972)
05. Black Night (Tokyo, August 17, 1972)
06. Speed King (Tokyo, August 17, 1972)
07. Black Night (German Single Edit)
08. Space Truckin (Mexican Single Edit)
09. Smoke On The Water (U.S. Single Edit)

Blu-ray: Steven Wilson Atmos Mix

Super7 will release a new ReAction figure of late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott later this month.

When it comes to guitar legends, few were as wild and untamed as Dimebag. With every electrifying guitar riff, he tore through the airwaves, creating the soundtrack for a generation of headbangers. Super7 will immortalize this iconic shredder in its collection of 3.75" scale music legend ReAction figures.

This articulated figure captures the powerhouse guitarist in all his glory, adorned with his oversized Razorblade necklace, right down to his iconic pink beard, intricate tattoo detailing, and a whole lotta Getcha Pull. He also comes with a removable Culprit CherryBomb model guitar accessory, so he's ready to unleash those unforgettable solos and power chords on your collection at a moment's notice. Packaged on a full-color blistered cardback, this figure is the ultimate tribute to Dime's legacy.

Order here for shipping in late August.

Founded in 2001, Super7 is the premier pop-culture design house and producer of lifestyle-oriented collectibles, toys and apparel based in San Francisco. Led by designer Brian Flynn, Super7 has harnessed the graphics, aesthetics and energy of his youthful obsession with science fiction, giant monsters, comic books, punk rock, skateboarding, robots and rebellion to build a unique and innovative business that crosses all categories and is not bound by traditional manufacturing boundaries. In addition to its owned branded products, Super7 also designed, manufactured and distributed officially licensed programs for G.I. Joe, Transformers, Disney, Powell-Peralta and Peanuts as well as for music legends IRON MAIDEN, MISFITS, BEASTIE BOYS and more.

Dimebag was murdered while on stage at the Alrosa Villa in north Columbus, Ohio. The shooting happened in December 2004, only moments after the guitarist's then-band DAMAGEPLAN took the stage. 25-year-old Nathan Gale used a 9 mm Beretta handgun to fire 15 shots, killing Dimebag and three other people, before being killed himself by police officer James D. Niggemeyer, who arrived on the scene minutes after Gale began his rampage.

Dimebag and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, formed PANTERA in the mid-1980s in Texas. The band recorded four independent albums before their 1990 major label debut, "Cowboys From Hell", introduced a heavier sound and made them a favorite with metal fans. 1994's "Far Beyond Driven" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 without benefit of a commercial hit single.

The group splintered in 2002 following the departure of volatile lead singer Philip Anselmo. Dime and Vinnie regrouped with DAMAGEPLAN, releasing the band's debut album, "New Found Power", in February of 2004. The group was touring in support of the record at the time of the shootings.

The riffs live on! Celebrate the legacy of Dimebag Darrell with the new ReAction Figure of the legendary shredder,...

Posted by Super7 on Tuesday, August 19, 2025

In a new interview with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda, DEFTONES drummer Abe Cunningham explained the long gap between 2020's "Ohms" and the band's upcoming effort, "Private Music", which is scheduled to arrive this Friday, August 22 via Reprise/Warner. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's five years, which is the longest time we've ever taken, man. And a lot of that was by design. We knew we needed to make a record, and it was part of the plan. Stephen [Carpenter, DEFTONES guitarist] always wants us to, like, he's, like, 'Why are you guys always going? Why don't we ever just take a break?' And so we sort of designed it around his wanting to be able to chill for a minute after a lot of years of doing this, even though he chills a lot."

Abe continued: "We set up the writing periods in different locations. The first one was in Joshua Tree, in the desert, Southern California — a beautiful, very magical, spiritual, alive place in the desert. And that was only maybe six days of that writing, but maybe five songs came out of that. It was a pretty fruitful session. And then we took a month off and then we went to Malibu. So all these chunks of time were separated by maybe about a month, month and a half. And we would kind of marinate on what we had written and have time to live with it a bit and then go back and do more. But the whole record was written in just maybe a month all put together, but over a long time, so we could kind of just chill and take a break. And then recording was in different locations as well. So it kind of makes it fun. It's not all at once, it's not all having to be done at once. It makes it breathe a bit."

Asked if DEFTONES touring bassist Fred Sablan, who replaced Sergio Vega in 2022, contributed to the writing process for "Private Music", Abe said: "Yeah, fully, a hundred percent. Sergio was involved a hundred percent too, man. People, they think he was a sideman. He was fully allowed to write and paid to write — all that bullshit. Fred is the same, man. Fred has contributed to every song and was wonderful to write [with].

"We've known Fred for quite a while," Abe continued. "He's from Northern California, very near where we're from, so when we got with him, there was a certain lingo, just the way that we talk, it was just kind of natural. So, Fred is awesome, man. He's a very solid player. He's very cognizant, very respectful of both Chi's [Cheng, late DEFTONES bassist] style and Sergio's style too, and trying to be himself as well. Chi was more of a finger player, where Sergio played mostly with a pick, — two obviously different styles, and he is trying to meld those two worlds, but also being respectful for both of that. So he's a great, great guy, man. It's awesome."

Cunningham also talked about DEFTONES' ever-evolving sound, which merges heavy metal with atmospheric elements. Asked if he and his bandmates always make a conscious effort to update their sound on every album or if this is something that comes "completely naturally", Abe said: "I'd say it's natural. You can't help sounding like yourself. Of course, I don't think there's anything wrong with us sounding like us. We always try to keep it moving forward. And quite frankly, we don't really sit around and talk about much. There's nothing written, really — maybe some ideas, tiny ideas. Nothing really happens until we're all in the room jamming. And that's how we come up with our music. So, there's not really a concept ever, man. Lyrics come last. The music's always gotta be tight and stand on its own first, and then Chino [Moreno, DEFTONES singer] will add his lyrics. And those are written at the end too. So it's not like it's written around the lyrics — it's all written with us together."

"Our [songwriting process] is pretty old school, pretty simple," he explained. "We're brothers, so there's a lot of fighting. There was a lot of fighting in the past. I think we have better ways of communicating with each other over the years now. But it's brothers getting in a room, talking shit. The most important part is the hang, how we're hanging out, the vibe. Because then the music just kind of comes. We love each other, but it's not always easy, man."

DEFTONES notably recorded and co-produced "Private Music" in various locations in California, including Malibu and Joshua Tree, as well as Nashville, Tennessee with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz. It marks their third collaboration with Raskulinecz who had previously helmed "Diamond Eyes" (2010) and "Koi No Yokan" (2012).

DEFTONES recently received several new RIAA certifications, recognizing recent sales milestones. "White Pony" is now RIAA-certified double platinum, "Diamond Eyes" is RIAA-certified platinum and notable singles "Change (In The House Of Flies)" is RIAA-certified four times platinum and "Be Quiet And Drive" is RIAA-certified double platinum.

Earlier this year, DEFTONES launched their first North American headline tour since 2022 produced by Live Nation, and it proved to be their most significant and successful yet. DEFTONES saw 100% sellout business of an extensive arena run, including legendary venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York, TD Garden in Boston, and even a two-night stand at Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Of the latter, Los Angeles Times raved, "DEFTONES have never been bigger, or more definitional for what young people want out of heavy music in all its gradients. A band ahead of their time for 30 years and counting."

The next round of dates commences on August 22 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia and continues in arenas across Canada and the United States, including Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on September 10 and Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on September 15. This second leg comes to a close on September 17 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. DEFTONES welcome PHANTOGRAM and IDLES as direct support on select dates. THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA will open all shows.

Formed in Sacramento, California in 1988, DEFTONES have always defined boundless creativity in the music space. Across nine studio albums, they have carved out an unmistakable sonic identity — ferocious yet dreamlike, while making space for constant refinement and surprise. Now, decades on from the groove-forward sound of their era-defining debut, "Adrenaline", and following a long line of masterpieces including 2000's "White Pony", 2010's "Diamond Eyes" and 2020's "Ohms" — an album that earned them their second and third Grammy nominations — they return with one of the most focused statements of their career: "Private Music". Joining the band's creative core of Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Abe Cunningham and Frank Delgado (as well as touring bassist Fred Sablan, who appears on the album) is Raskulinecz. The result is a lean, masterfully paced 11-song set that plays like a new DEFTONES benchmark. Meditating on the beauty and peril of nature, the challenge of cultivating a positive mindset and visions of a journey beyond the physical realm, private music showcases DEFTONES at their most evolved. At once a psychedelic voyage and a skull-rattling wallop, it's the latest peak in a catalog filled with immersive, emotive triumphs.

"Private Music" track listing:

01. My Mind Is A Mountain
02. Locked Club
03. Ecdysis
04. Infinite Source
05. Souvenir
06. Cxz
07. I Think About You All The Time
08. Milk Of The Madonna
09. Cut Hands
10. Metal Dream
11. Departing The Body

DEFTONES recently announced the 2025 installment of their music festival, Dia De Los Deftones. The event, which returned in 2022 for the first time since 2019, will take place on November 1, 2025 at Petco Park in San Diego. Joining the influential alt-metal outfit at this year's event will be CLIPSE, 2HOLLIS, RICO NASTY, DEAFHEAVEN, REGULO CARO, ECCA VANDAL, GLARE and UNIVERSITY.

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

The band KANSAS has welcomed guitarist Scott Bernard as its newest member.

Scott has already performed with KANSAS at several shows over the past year, filling in for guitarist and original member Richard Williams as needed.

Bernard is a New Iberia, Louisiana-born, Nashville, Tennessee-based session guitarist and vocalist who has performed alongside Kenny Loggins for 17 years, serving as guitarist, background vocalist, and musical director for the past seven of those years. Scott has also worked with Michael McDonald, WHITEHEART, John Schlitt, Richard Marx, Al Stewart, Joe Bonamassa, Alan Parsons, Mark Schultz, Michelle Wright, BLUE SKY RIDERS, Terri Clark, Gary Burr, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Shannon Brown, Adam Nitti, Chely Wright, Katrina Elam, Nicole C. Mullen and many others.

"To say that I am excited to join the KANSAS family is quite the understatement," states Bernard. "As a lifelong KANSAS fan, their music has been an integral part of my musical upbringing."

Bernard adds: "My first concert that I attended as a young teen was KANSAS and I have closely followed their career ever since. They were and remain my favorite band ever. I am deeply humbled to be chosen to help perpetuate their legacy, which is both a privilege and a surreal experience."

Original member and guitarist Richard Williams remains an active member of KANSAS but will be scaling back touring.

Williams comments: "Scott Bernard is a fantastic guitar player, a great guy, and is my hand-picked choice to help carry on the legacy of the band KANSAS. He's not only an incredibly talented guitarist and vocalist, but he's also a Wheathead."

Richard adds: "I am not stepping down nor retiring. But I am slowing down. Macular degeneration has made travel increasingly difficult to the point where it impedes my ability to get to as many shows as I want. I will still be at, and perform at, as many concerts as I can.

"Adding Scott as a member of KANSAS, alongside Zak Rizvi on guitar, allows the shows that I'm not at, and KANSAS, to go on well into the future. When we all three are there, we will all perform.

"In 1974 we made a statement that 'KANSAS is a band!' It was true then and continues to be true now."

KANSAS just wrapped a summer series of concerts with fellow classic rockers 38 SPECIAL and continues to tour, with concerts booked throughout 2025 and already into 2026.

Along with Scott Bernard and Richard Williams, KANSAS is currently comprised of vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin, guitarist Zak Rizvi, violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon, bassist/vocalist Dan McGowan, and original drummer Phil Ehart. Eric Holmquist performs on drums while Phil Ehart continues to recover from a major heart attack.

In a new interview with Pierre Robert of Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR radio station, Alice Cooper spoke about his recent tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, a performance of BLACK SABBATH's classic song "Paranoid" during Alice's July 25 gig at London's sold-out O2 Arena. Reflecting on how he found out about the BLACK SABBATH legend's passing and his decision to play "Paranoid" in Ozzy's honor, Alice said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I was on my way on stage in Scotland, I think it was, going on stage, and somebody said, 'Ozzy just passed.' And I went, 'Oh, it's one of those A.I. stories that you can never believe any of these stories.' And then somebody said, 'No, for real. He's gone.' And I went, 'How weird. Just two weeks ago they had the big thing ['Back To The Beginning' concert] in Birmingham. And then they must have known — he must have known that he was on his way.' But at the same time, the O2, I said, 'Well, yeah, we have to tip our hat to Ozzy.' Of course, he was an old, 40-year-old friend for me; I've known him forever. So, I called up [actor] Johnny Depp, who's in the HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES with me. And Johnny's a killer guitar player. I mean, he's a really good guitar player. He was playing with Jeff Beck when Jeff Beck passed away. So, you don't play with Jeff Beck unless you're a guitar player. And he came up, and we never told the audience what we were gonna do. At the end of 'School's Out', they figured, 'Well, there's nothing else after that,' with the balloons and the confetti and the whole thing, and then the guitar player starts 'Paranoid', and the place went crazy. And at the end, I just said, 'Hey,' I said, 'Everybody say good night to Ozzy.'"

After Robert noted that "Back To The Beginning" was "a grand way" for Ozzy to go out, with " artists of all different generations" paying tribute to him at the event, Alice said: "There must have been knowledge of, you don't have that much longer. And [Ozzy's wife and manager] Sharon's such a great lady, and [their kids] Jack and Kelly, they're really a cool family. I felt very, very sorry. But I think at least it wasn't sudden. I think that they saw it coming and prepared for it."

Last month, Alice was asked by Darren Redick of U.K.'s Planet Rock if Ozzy Osbourne's July 22 death gave him pause in any way. Alice responded: "Even though you know it's coming, especially with Ozzy, especially with certain guys in rock where you go, 'He certainly hasn't been well for a while.' But what a shock to the system… He was a very beloved character in rock."

Elaborating on his relationship with Ozzy, Alice said: "We did shows together. He was not one of those guys that I would say [was] one of my best friends, but we were close when we saw each other. We'd go, 'Oh, good to see you, man,' dah, dah, dah. We didn't hang in the same sort of people. I knew [Ozzy's wife and manager] Sharon, I think, more than I knew Ozzy, 'cause I'd met Sharon before for other things, and I met [their son] Jack a couple of times.

"Ozzy and I did four or five things together — he sang on [my album] 'Hey Stoopid', and we did Brazil together, a soccer stadium down there together, and things like that," Alice continued. "But there was never that, 'Let me call Ozzy,' there was never that thing. I just respected him and I think we had a mutual respect for each other. We had a lot of the same players. I mean, the great thing about being a lead singer without a band is that you get your pick of — you know who the guitar players are, you know who the drummers are, you know who the bass players are. So between us, we had the same drummer at one time. You get your pick of the litter."

Cooper and his band found out that the world lost Osbourne just minutes before they were due to go perform in Cardiff, Wales, which is about two hours from the place where legendary BLACK SABBATH singer was born. Before hitting the stage, Alice recorded the following quote for his radio show "Alice's Attic": "Well, we all know that time is going to take us rockers, but when the giants fall, it's really hard to accept. Even though everybody saw it coming with Ozzy, it just took our breath away when it happened. So, Ozzy and family, your records and your music and your legend and all that you brought — the humor to the rock business — will live on forever and we're gonna miss you, man."

Alice and his band then dedicated their Cardiff show to Ozzy's memory and they were able to celebrate along with the crowd who had also just learned of this great loss for rock and roll. Following the concert, Alice summed up his thoughts by saying: "The whole world is mourning Ozzy tonight. Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon.

"I always saw Ozzy as a cross between the prince of darkness, which is the persona his fans saw, and the court jester. That was the side that his family and friends saw. He was and will continue to be a rock and roll legend.

"Rock and roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own, it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better.

"Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and the rest of the Ozzy brood — our prayers are with you tonight. A titanic boulder has crashed, but rock will roll on."

In 1991, Ozzy provided backing vocals to Cooper's song "Hey Stoopid", which was the title track of Alice's 12th studio album. The two worked together again on the song "Wake The Dead", which appeared on Cooper's 2008 album "Along Came A Spider".

In a new interview with Guitar World magazine, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was asked if he was invited to participate in the band's upcoming "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas" event. Set to take place November 14-16, 2025 at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, this special fan experience is being organized by fellow KISS founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons with co-producers Pophouse, creators of boutique music vacations Topeka and music-led destination experience company Vibee. "They asked me and I declined," Frehley told Guitar World. "There's no way I'm gonna be involved with that, you know?"

Referencing the fact that KISS played its last two concerts in December 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where none of the group's former members made guest appearances with the legendary rock act, Frehley added: "Their biggest mistake is that they should have done that at Madison Square Garden, not in Las Vegas in a 5000-seater, or whatever it is."

This past May, Simmons confirmed to Greg Schmitt of "Noize In The Attic" that Frehley and original KISS drummer Peter Criss were "welcome" to appear at "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas". After Schmitt noted that KISS is one of the last bands of his generation that have all living members and that "it'd be great if somebody could really utilize that still," Simmons said: "I like the way you think, but it's dreamland, my friend. That's not how life works. You can lead a horse to water, but that's all you can do. We invited — I personally invited Ace and Peter to jump up on stage with us at Madison Square Garden [for the final KISS concert]. 'Hey, why don't you invite him on the show?' I did, but they said no. 'I want this and I want that.' 'Well, you can't have that, but join us to celebrate the beginning.'"

Recently added activities at "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas" include a special acoustic KISS "kick-off" set on Friday, November 14, along with performances from former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini performing the music of RATT, ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach, QUIET RIOT, BLACK 'N BLUE, Chris Jericho's KUARANTINE, KISS tribute bands MR. SPEED and KISS NATION, School Of Rock, comedian Craig Gass and DJ Noiz. There will also be question-and-answer sessions with Simmons and Stanley, as well as longtime KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer manager Doc McGhee. Other panelists include KISS producer Bob Ezrin, KISS photographer Lynn Goldsmith and KISS Army founders Bill Starkey and Jay Evans.

KISS had previously set a 12-show residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022 but ultimately canceled all of the dates.

Simmons told Rolling Stone in a November 2023 interview that the second Madison Square Garden "End Of The Road" concert would mark "the final KISS-in-makeup appearance."

In January 2024, Ace spoke to Rock Candy magazine about why he never made it on stage one last time with KISS for their final show at Madison Square Garden after last leaving the band back in 2002.

"Fans would constantly reach out to me and say, 'Ace, please come back to the band,'" Frehley explained. "So the fans were and are my primary motivators, and I want them to know that I did try, but I couldn't make it happen. They never asked me."

Frehley dismissed the idea that his well-documented troubles with drugs and alcohol could ever have been a reason for Simmons and Stanley not reaching out to him.

"I'm sober, and all my friends and associates will tell you as much," he stated categorically. "I got to the point in life where drugs and alcohol had taken me over, and I'm just so happy to be away from all that."

Despite the much-reported rifts with Simmons and Stanley over many years, nevertheless Frehley insisted that he still had affection for both of them.

"I want people to know that I do love Paul and Gene," he said. "I wish things would have been different, but it wasn't to be…" Nor did Frehley hold any animosity towards his replacement Tommy Thayer.

"He's a good guy and deserves a break," Ace said. "He's not me, but he was never going to be me. In a lot of ways, his task was impossible."

In November 2023, prior to KISS's final concert, Frehley told Mark Strigl of SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard that he didn't hold a grudge against KISS, despite all the badmouthing that had gone on between him and some of the other original KISS members in recent years.

"I wish KISS the best, all the best on their final shows for the 'End Of The Road' tour," he said. "There's really no hard feelings. We say things sometimes in the heat of passion or sometimes our memory isn't… [we don't] recall things. But I love those guys. We're all getting old, our memory isn't what it used to be, so I just let it roll off my back."

In April 2023, Frehley told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he was still open to playing with KISS at the band's final shows in New York City. "Money motivates me, just like it motivates them, but I don't put money before God," he explained. "If I got a quarter of a million dollars a night, and I can make half a million dollars for playing three or four songs, five songs, I'd take the money. [I'd] buy a Ferrari… buy a Maserati. [Laughs] I don't really wanna play with those guys ever again after what they've done, but money can change my mind."

Frehley continued: "Look, I'm a capitalist. I grew up in America. But I'd never put money before people's feelings. I like money as much as the next guy does, but money isn't my God, like it is theirs. They're all atheists. Whatever they can do or say, whether it's true or false, as long as it makes them the most amount of money, they're gonna do [it]."

Ace also addressed the issue of whether he would have performed with KISS at the band's final concerts while wearing his trademark "Spaceman" makeup — the same makeup his replacement Tommy Thayer had been sporting for more than two decades. "Sure. For a quarter of a million dollars," he said, explaining that "I'm a good-looking guy. I don't need the makeup."

When Trunk pressed Ace about what he thought the odds were of him playing with KISS at the final concerts in New York, Frehley said at the time: "It all depends on money. If I get a formal invitation with a check, I'll be there. But they've gotta have deep pockets… If they don't wanna pay me, I won't be there, ladies and gentleman."

Ace also once again confirmed that he had never received a formal invitation to join his former bandmates at their last-ever shows. "Absolutely not," he said. "From what I understand, the shows are sold out. The only reason they sold out is they made innuendos that me and Peter were gonna be there, [that] they invited us. I wasn't invited. They lie all the time. Haven't they said, 'We're inviting Ace and Peter to come up and play?' Or at least me? Multiple times. So, people bought the tickets. But I haven't been given a formal invitation or given an offer monetarily. And I'm probably not gonna get one now after this interview. And guess what: I don't give a shit."

Despite everything that had been said between all the parties, Ace claimed that he still looks back fondly on his time with KISS and he doesn't hate his former bandmates.

"Look, the bottom line is this: deep down in my heart, I love those guys, because we created something so special that it will be remembered for years," he said. "When we're all dead and buried, there will still be people listening to KISS music. And I'm overjoyed. But I want my legacy to be cleared of any of this bullshit and lies."

MIRADOR, the new band co-founded by Grammy Award-winning GRETA VAN FLEET co-founder Jake Kiszka and IDA MAE's Chris Turpin, has shared "Fortune's Fate", the latest single from its upcoming self-titled album, "Mirador", due on September 19 via Republic Records.

MIRADOR states about the song: "'Fortune's Fate' is a song of yearning and escape, one that embodies the quest for freedom and self-discovery. The protagonist's journey is a metaphor for the human experience, torn between the comfort of familiarity and the allure of the unknown. This song is an ode to the desperate romantic, who chases destiny despite the cost, leaving behind the one they love. As an artist, you're perpetually walking the line between ecstasy and disaster, radiance and ruin. It's a testament to the power of fate, guiding us toward our true purpose, and the enduring force of love, which awaits us in every lifetime."

MIRADOR will embark on a European tour in November, with shows in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Dublin and more.

MIRADOR recently expanded its headlining tour due to popular demand. Tickets for all initial dates sold out immediately upon going on sale, and a second run of fall dates in larger venues were added in Nashville, New York City and Los Angeles, and new dates have been announced in New Orleans, Boston, Austin, Portland and more.

"MIRADOR comes from a deep passion for rock 'n' roll, early folk, and country blues as well as folklore," says Turpin. "Our world lives in those traditions," Kiszka adds. "There's an unspoken mysticism. You can trace it back to the stories of meeting the devil at the crossroads, selling your soul, and losing your mind to the wind. MIRADOR definitely inhabits a lot of that. We're hyper aware of our lineage, so we can build our own future as a band. It's two guitar players from notable groups coming together to create a new mythology. As soon as we were in uncharted territory, we knew we were doing something right."

MIRADOR has the uncanny ability to conjure sky-shaking and boundary-bursting rock 'n' roll by invoking spirits of ancient myth, traditional folklore, and Delta-born blues in one concentrated musical incantation. Kiszka not only shares vocal and guitar duties with critically acclaimed co-vocalist and guitarist Turpin, but he also shines as a producer and songwriter, stepping out on his own. The group, filled out by Mikey Sorbello on drums and Nick Pini on bass and keys, stretches the limits of rock 'n' roll and showcases the band's myriad influences and uncompromising vision.

Kiszka and Turpin met in 2018 when IDA MAE opened for GRETA VAN FLEET during a sold-out three-night stand at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. On the road, Kiszka and Turpin cemented their friendship by way of late-night jam sessions fueled by wine and a shared passion for everyone from Charley Patton, Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins to Martin Carthy, Bert Jansch and FAIRPORT CONVENTION.

"We were like long-lost brothers," says Kiszka. "After we wrote those songs, I realized we had a chemistry I'd never had with anybody but my own brothers. It was obvious we needed to do this."

The world got to know MIRADOR when they spent a month opening up GRETA VAN FLEET's "Starcatcher" world tour in arenas coast to coast throughout 2024. Galvanized by this nightly trial by fire, the band rolled right into a Savannah, Georgia studio with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton) and they cut "Mirador" live in barely two weeks.

"After four weeks on our first tour, we went to the studio," says Turpin. "By the time we got there, Dave harnessed a lot of the intensity and frenetic energy from the road." Kiszka adds, "if we didn't cut our teeth in the most intense circumstances, I don't think the record would have the same spirit."

"Feels Like Gold" introduces the album with rumbling guitars breaking like a wave against a it's towering chorus, "and it feels like gold." On "Fortune's Fate" a turbulent guitar groove tosses and turns before spilling over into an emotional crescendo, "there goes my shadow to the one I love." Elsewhere, "Heels Of The Hunt" launches forward on a rapid-fire drum roll, while wild riffs chase goosebump-inducing vocals through a bluesy haze. The finale "Skyway Drifter" opens with finger-picked accents before breaking open into a cathartic breakdown.

"For me, it would be beautiful if this is all-consuming for listeners — like when you see a movie at the cinema," Kiszka concludes. "We're trying to immerse people in the world of MIRADOR and where we're coming from. There's so much duality in the album: the humanity, the soul, the adventure, the tyranny, and the journey. It's a very important record for us, but also in terms of what has gone down in the world of rock 'n' roll today. We hope you feel like you belong to this place as much as we do."

MIRADOR tour dates:

Sep. 12 - Chicago. IL - The Metro
Sep. 13 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
Sep. 14 - Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation
Sep. 16 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Sep. 18 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
Sep. 19 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
Sep. 20 - Philadelphia, PA – TLA
Sep. 22 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
Sep. 23 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
Sep. 24 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's
Sep. 26 - Oklahoma City, OK - Beer City Music Hall
Sep. 27 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
Sep. 28 - Austin, TX – Mohawk
Oct. 01 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
Oct. 02 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre
Oct. 03 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park
Oct. 04- San Francisco, CA - August Hall
Oct. 06 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
Oct. 07 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
Oct. 08 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
Oct. 10 - Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell
Oct. 11 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
Oct. 13 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada
Oct. 14 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl
Nov. 03 - Amsterdam, NL – Tolhuistuin
Nov. 04 - Berlin, DE – Lido
Nov. 05 - Cologne, DE – Luxor
Nov. 07 - Paris, FR – Bataclan
Nov. 09 - Bristol, UK – Trinity
Nov. 10 - Manchester, UK – Gorilla
Nov. 11 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
Nov. 14 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy 2
Nov. 15 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3 Warehouse
Nov. 16 - Dublin, IE - Opium Rooms

Photo credit: Dean Chalkley

Legendary rockers CHEAP TRICK will release their new album, "All Washed Up", on November 14 via BMG.

The official visualizer for the LP's first single, "Twelve Gates", can be seen below.

The follow-up to 2021's "In Another World", "All Washed Up" was described by CHEAP TRICK singer Robin Zander as: "It's CHEAP TRICK. It sounds like us. It's got some good, bad and ugly on it, just like our other records."

"All Washed Up" track listing:

01. All Washed Up
02. All Wrong Long Gone
03. The Riff That Won't Quit
04. Bet It All
05. The Best Thing
06. Twelve Gates
07. Bad Blood
08. Dancing With The Band
09. Love Gone
10. A Long Way To Worcester
11. Wham Boom Bang

Founded in 1974, CHEAP TRICK is an indisputable American institution, beloved around the globe for its instantly identifiable, hugely influential, brand of pop-rock 'n' roll. The bandmembers are true pioneers with an unparalleled streak of certifiably classic tunes, from "He's A Whore", "California Man" and "Dream Police" to "Surrender", "I Want You To Want Me" and the worldwide No. 1 hit single "The Flame".

2016 saw CHEAP TRICK inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, a long-overdue acknowledgment of a nearly five-decade career that has earned them more than 40 international gold and platinum certifications, myriad awards and industry honors, featured appearances on over 20 movie soundtracks, and total record sales well in excess of 20 million.

CHEAP TRICK's current lineup includes three of its original members: singer Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson. Drummer Bun E. Carlos stopped touring with the band in 2010 and was replaced by Nielsen's son Daxx. Rounding out CHEAP TRICK's current touring lineup is Robin Zander's son, Robin Taylor Zander, on rhythm guitar and vocals.

CHEAP TRICK's 20th studio album, "In Another World", was released in April 2021 via BMG. Produced by longtime associate Julian Raymond, the LP saw CHEAP TRICK doing what they do better than anyone — crafting indelible rock 'n' roll with oversized hooks, mischievous lyrics, and seemingly inexorable energy.

"In Another World" — which marked CHEAP TRICK's first new LP since 2017's double-header of "We're All Alright!" and "Christmas Christmas" — showcased CHEAP TRICK at their most eclectic, touching on a myriad of distinct sounds and song approaches, from the swampy Chicago blues number "Final Days" (featuring fiery harmonica from Grammy Award-nominated singer and WET WILLIE frontman Jimmy Hall) to a timely rendition of John Lennon's still-relevant "Gimme Some Truth", originally released for Record Store Day Black Friday 2019 and featuring the instantly recognizable guitar sound of erstwhile SEX PISTOLS guitarist Steve Jones.

In a new interview with "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen & Shane McEachern", JUDAS PRIEST drummer Scott Travis was asked why the two studio albums singer Tim "Ripper" Owens recorded with JUDAS PRIEST — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — are not available on the major streaming services. Travis replied (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think the record label went out of business. And with [singer] Rob [Halford] being back in the band, it's kind of probably a delicate situation as far as, 'Hey, we wanna re-release these records.' But I'm not even sure who owns the rights [to them], to be honest, like I said, because the record label went out business. But we're in a different moment.

"Rob is the singer of JUDAS PRIEST and was, obviously, early on and is a legend in his own right," Scott added. "But there were some good songs during the Ripper years, definitely some good songs in there. But to [re-]release the whole records, I don't know."

Back in March 2024, former JUDAS PRIEST and current KK'S PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing was asked by Rob Rush of Long Island's 94.3 The Shark radio station about the absence from the streaming platforms of the PRIEST albums with Owens. Downing said at the time: "Yeah, [it's] a little bit of a mystery, really. Obviously, I no longer have any control over those records, but I don't think that it's a label thing 'cause labels always like to sell records, don't they? And, obviously, myself and Ripper, we're still very proud of everything that we've done as a part of our history and legacy, and we'd very much like to see the records out there in the stores once more. So, hopefully, we'll see that come to fruition. But the good news is that this band KK'S PRIEST will be out there playing those songs, so everyone is welcome to come down and experience those magical times that we now refer to as the 'Ripper era' or the 'Ripper years.' And, yeah, so everyone can enjoy those songs again in a live format, which, in a lot of ways, is even better. But let's hope the records will appear at some point."

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 after being discovered when Travis was given a videotape of him performing with the PRIEST cover band BRITISH STEEL. JUDAS PRIEST at the time was seeking a replacement for Halford, who has since rejoined the band.

In 2019, JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill was asked in an interview with "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" if the unavailability of the Owens-era PRIEST albums was a rights-related issue or if it was a deliberate attempt to bury that part of PRIEST's past. Hill responded: "It's an odd one, really, because there's some good material on both of those albums. And Ripper is a terrific vocalist, and he did a tremendous job on 'Jugulator' and 'Demolition'. And why they're not for sale has got nothing to do with us — put it like that. Whether it's a contractual thing between Sony and whoever owns the copyrights to those albums, I don't know. But it is a shame, because there's some good material there. And as a band, it's still JUDAS PRIEST. I know it wasn't the trademark lineup, but it was still JUDAS PRIEST nonetheless. So, it's disappointing — if that's true that the material is not available. It really is."

A few years ago, Tim told "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" that he was a little miffed by the fact that fans cannot find the music that he made with PRIEST on any of the music-streaming services or other online retailers. "My issue is I would like to buy the records," he said. "I'd like to buy some to even sell when I'm touring solo, but you can't when they're kind of gone. And that's only the thing I talk about… If they were out there, I could maybe buy 'em at cost and sell 'em at my concerts. That would be kind of cool. Then I'd have my whole catalog."

KK'S PRIEST features former JUDAS PRIEST members Downing and Owens, alongside guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour.

In a 2021 interview with Classic Rock magazine, Halford was asked if he has ever listened to "Demolition" and "Jugulator". "No. I still haven't," he said. "This might sound selfish, but because it's not me singing, I'm not attracted to it. I sound like a twat, but I'm really just not interested. And that's no disrespect to Ripper, 'cause he's a friend of mine."

Halford went on to say that he first met Owens "when the band went through Ohio, [and Tim] came to the show. Was it awkward? Not in the least," he said. "We gave each other a hug. He's a massive PRIEST fan, and when the opportunity came for me to go back, he was, like, 'Thumbs up, it's great. I'm happy for the band, I'm happy for Rob.' I respect his chops; he's a great singer."

Two decades ago, Halford explained why he was reluctant to hear "Jugulator". "It's just too difficult for me to listen to the band when I'm not in it, and that's nothing to do with taking a shot at Ripper," he said. "I just can't listen to it. It's just psychological. I should just put it on and listen to the fucking thing, but then if I do, [interviewers] will say, 'Well have you heard it?', and I'll go, 'Yeah', and then you'll go, 'What do you think?', and I don't want to do that. I don't want to be put in that situation. I just love all the things that I've done with the band and I'm happy to be a part of that great legacy and that's all. You want to treat it with respect because that's what it deserves."

In October 2020, Halford told "The SDR Show" that he would "absolutely" be open to performing material from "Demolition" and "Jugulator" with PRIEST. "Those two albums are just as valid as everything else in the PRIEST catalog," he explained. "So who knows? That day may yet come."

A year earlier, Richie Faulkner said that "Hell Is Home" is one of his favorite songs from the Owens era. The PRIEST guitarist, who joined the band in 2011 as the replacement for Downing, offered his opinion during a live video chat. He said: "I was listening to the Ripper albums the other day, and 'Hell Is Home' is such a great track. It's really heavy and the vocal melody is really great. I think Ripper sings it really well. It's probably one of my favorite PRIEST songs of the Ripper era. 'Hell Is Home' — I really like that."

MASTODON drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor has paid tribute to the band's co-founding guitarist Brent Hinds, who died earlier this week after being injured in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta. He was 51.

At the end of MASTODON's August 22 concert at the Alaska State Fair as part of the ConocoPhillips Alaska Concert Series at the Borealis Theatre in Palmer, Alaska, Dailor stepped out to the front of the stage and told the crowd (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "We lost somebody very special to us yesterday. Brent Hinds, 25 years with us as our guitar player, one of the most creative, beautiful people that we've ever come across in this world, tragically left us. Very, very unfortunate. We loved him so, so, so very much. And we had the ups and downs of a 25-year relationship. You know what I mean? It's not always perfect, it's not always amazing, but we were brothers to the end. And we really loved each other and we made a lot, a lot of very beautiful music together. And I think that that's gonna stand the test of time, evidenced by you people here tonight."

Brann continued: "So we will continue to play Brent's beautiful, beautiful music that he helped us make, that we formed this band together and traveled the world together, slept in a van together, laid our heads down on beds of fucking kitty litter, got way too drunk to remember anything the next day about a thousand, million times over and over again with the love that we shared and the beauty, all the audiences that we played, for all the stages we stepped on."

He added: "I don't know. We're just at a loss for words. We're absolutely devastated and crushed to lose him and to be able to never have him back again. But you guys made it okay for us to come on stage and do this tonight. So that was for fucking Brent, okay?! Thank you guys so much. We will see you real soon. Okay? I'm gonna give you guys some fucking pieces of wood, okay? We love you.

"Thank you, Alaska, for having us. It's the 50th state for us to cross off of our bucket list. So thank you for the amazing milestone and thank you for helping us get through that one. It was fucking tough for us, but you guys are fucking amazing, so thank you, thank you, thank you once again. We'll see you real soon, okay?! We love you, we love you, love you, love you so much. Good night."

Hinds was reportedly riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle late Wednesday (August 20) when he collided with an SUV at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE, less than two miles from downtown Atlanta, according to Atlanta police.

Brent was found unresponsive by officers who responded to the crash around 11:35 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical workers.

Police said a woman driving a BMW SUV was making a left turn when she failed to yield and struck the motorcycle, which was headed west on Boulevard. The woman remained at the scene and spoke with investigators.

MASTODON commented on Hinds's passing in a statement on social media, writing: "We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief… last night Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident. We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we've shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many. Our hearts are with Brent's family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone's privacy during this difficult time. RIP Brent."

In March, MASTODON revealed that the band and Hinds had "mutually decided to part ways" after "25 monumental years together."

Since 2000, Hinds had served as lead guitarist and vocalist for MASTODON, alongside bassist/singer Troy Sanders, Dailor, and guitarist Bill Kelliher.

MASTODON's lineup had remained the same for 25 years, recording eight studio albums, beginning with 2002's "Remission" until the band's latest LP, 2021's "Hushed And Grim".

When MASTODON announced Brent's departure from the band on March 7, they wrote in a statement: "Friends and Fans, After 25 monumental years together, MASTODON and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways.

"We're deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we've shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors.

"We are still very inspired and excited to show up for fans in this next chapter of MASTODON. As we move forward, all 2025 touring plans will remain intact. We look forward to seeing you on the road."

Hinds later claimed he had been ejected from MASTODON and called his former bandmates "horrible humans" in a social media post.

Hinds was involved with several music projects apart from MASTODON, including the group GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA — alongside members of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and ALICE IN CHAINS — as well as LEGEND OF THE SEAGULLMEN and the long-running project FIEND WITHOUT A FACE.

More recently, Hinds had a tour, "An Evening With Brent Hinds", set for November and December throughout Europe.

"I'm a free spirit," Hinds said in the MASTODON documentary "The Workhorse Chronicles". "I enjoy life and I live it to the fullest."

Brent played his first show since exiting MASTODON on March 21 with his band FIEND WITHOUT A FACE at 529 in Atlanta, Georgia.

MASTODON has had nine Billboard 200-charting albums and has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times. The band won a "Best Metal Performance" Grammy for "Sultan's Curse" in 2018.

MASTODON's latest album, "Hushed And Grim", was a double LP recorded at the band's Atlanta studio, West End Sound.

MASTODON recruited Ben Eller, a guitarist known for his popular YouTube channel, to step in for Hinds when the band played at TOOL's "Tool In The Sand" festival in the Dominican Republic in March. For MASTODON's spring 2025 tour and other recent shows, the band enlisted Canadian musician Nick Johnston. Johnston has six solo records under his belt, and has also worked with POLYPHIA, Guthrie Govan, PERIPHERY and many others.