In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, EPICA singer Simone Simons reflected on her band's support slot with METALLICA for three shows on the latter group's "M72" tour in Paris, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Gothenburg, Sweden. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That was one of our highlights. It was [May and June] 2023 [when] we played with METALLICA. It was amazing. I mean, it was a matter of seconds where we had to immediately jump in and confirm that we could do the gigs. And we couldn't believe it ourselves, but we were very grateful for it. It was lovely to play on that round stage — very different from what we're normally used to. But I decided to not think of the magnitude of that show, but just have a good time, run around on the stage. Luckily I was going to the gym a lot, so my stamina was pretty good so I could run, jump and sing and entertain the crowd."

Asked if she got to meet the METALLICA guys when EPICA played with the iconic San Francisco Bay Area-based act, Simone said: "Yes. Yeah, we met the whole band. And they were very lovely. And they were also very hospitable. They had welcome gifts in the backstage. There was a cake and there were cards — and, yeah, really nice. And we got a warm welcome from the guys."

Back in July 2023, Simons told Balkanrock about what it was like to share the stage with METALLICA: "It was amazing, mind-blowing. First we got the call if we could do shows with METALLICA and if everyone had time, because it was like in a couple of days. Magically we all had time and could not believe it. It still feels surreal. Even though we done three shows, they were all beautiful in their own way — Paris, Hamburg and Gothenburg. The METALLICA family was so nice to us. We met them in person and that was one of the highlights of my career. Still thinking about it."

Two years ago, EPICA guitarist Isaac Delahaye told Bring The Noise UK about how he found out that his band was going to open for METALLICA: "It was funny as my manager gave me an urgent call. I was in my home studio working on a new song and he kept calling me and eventually I answered and asked, 'What the fuck?', all agitated. He told me to check my WhatsApp and there was details of three European shows. I just checked dates and overlooked the words 'supporting METALLICA' and just said, 'Yeah, that's fine,' and then went back to work on my song. And it took a good five minutes for me to suddenly realize and go back to read it and sink in that it was METALLICA."

He continued: "It was a very last-minute thing, as FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH had to drop out, but we got the call to do three European shows with them which was very cool. The guys all came to say hi to us and the whole crew and band were very welcoming. Having now played a couple of shows with them to those huge crowds, it makes everything from now on easier."

Asked if EPICA were to cover any METALLICA song, which would it be, and at the same time, which of EPICA's own tracks he would like METALLICA to reimagine, Isaac said: "Oh, that's a hard question and something I've never thought about before. I'd probably choose 'Master Of Puppets' as the song maybe we would cover, and for them I'd get them to cover 'Consign To Oblivion'. It is a long song, but they could do a lot with it and maybe shorten it to two minutes and tell us this is the good parts and this is what we would do with it."

EPICA's new album, "Aspiral", will see the light of day on April 11 via Nuclear Blast.

To celebrate the "Aspiral" release, EPICA will play three exclusive shows in the United States in early May: in New York City, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

The "Aspiral" LP title is derived from the eponymous bronze sculpture made by Polish sculptor and painter Stanisław Szukalski back in 1965 and stands for renewal and inspiration — key words that define EPICA in 2025. In Szukalski's work every detail is a piece of art in its own right, and there's always more to the story than you initially think. The band saw this as the perfect analogy for the creation of this ninth album: each song stands on its own with a distinctive vibe and meaning, while together they enforce each other into a monumental effort.

The album, featuring stunning cover artwork by Hedi Xandt (RAMMSTEIN, GHOST, PARKWAY DRIVE),is now available for pre-order. The special editions even include the Blu-ray and audio recordings of the full monumental "Symphonic Synergy" performance in Amsterdam that the band recorded in 2024 with an orchestra and choir.

Recorded once again at Sandlane Studios and expertly mixed and produced by Joost Van Den Broek, "Aspiral" boasts 11 new tracks.

Released last November, "Aspiral"'s lead single, "Arcana", marked EPICA's first new release since "Omega" and the collaboration EP "The Alchemy Project".

The "Arcana" single also included "The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)", EPICA's collaboration with Europe's second-most visited theme park, Netherlands's magical De Efteling, and their new attraction, Danse Macabre.

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In a new interview with Heavy Consequence, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke about the fact that his band will appear at the upcoming "Back To The Beginning" charity show on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The concert will mark the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH's last-ever performance and Ozzy Osbourne's final appearance as a solo artist. Kirk said: "It's a real opportunity to say thank you to Ozzy and Tony [Iommi] and Geezer [Butler] and Bill [Ward], 'cause they fricking wrote the book on the genre. They developed it, they fleshed it out so that we can use what they did as a stepping stone to other ways to do this."

Hammett continued: "If it wasn't for those four guys, man, we might still be just kind of like wandering around in the dark. But the fact that they created a genre — not only created it, but then developed it and, and, and then turned it into like a few different things over the course of their career — is completely awe inspiring to me and my peers musically. I mean, how do you thank someone like that? … I feel lucky and blessed that I'm in a situation where I can actually say thank you to the progenitors of a fricking genre. I love those guys. I have love for them for what they did. And I just want them to know that I'm just extremely thankful, 'cause my life would be extremely different if they didn't do what they did."

Nearly two decades ago, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield told Rolling Stone magazine that he was surprised at how choked up he had gotten while honoring BLACK SABBATH at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in March 2006 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Hetfield — dressed in black jeans and a black shirt amid a sea of tuxedos — fought back tears as he recalled a young James, nine years old, stealing SABBATH records from his older brother. "Those monstrous riffs lived inside of him and spoke the feelings he could never put into words, sending chills of inspiration through him," Hetfield said. "They helped crack the shell he was stuck in. Also, scaring his mom and sister was an extra bonus. And now, as the former nine-year-old speaks to you here, as an adult musician — I know those two words really don't go together — I realize that without their defining sound, there would be no METALLICA, especially with one James Hetfield. Never have I known a more timeless and influential band. They have spread their wonderful disease through generations of musicians. They are always listed as an influence by heavy bands to this day. They are loved and highly respected as the fathers of heavy music."

Afterward, Hetfield told Rolling Stone, "It was like, 'Oh, no, I'm going to start crying,'" he said. "I'd never known it until I had to access all those emotions in front of that crowd, but it just goes to show how much SABBATH mean."

In addition to inducting SABBATH into the Rock Hall, METALLICA performed a medley of SABBATH songs ("Hole In The Sky" and "Iron Man") during the ceremony.

In his induction speech, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said about BLACK SABBATH: "Bill, Geezer, Ozzy and Tony, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't be here. Obviously if there was no BLACK SABBATH, there would be no METALLICA. If there was no BLACK SABBATH, hard rock and heavy metal as we know it today would look, sound and be shaped very, very differently. So if there was no BLACK SABBATH, I could possibly still be a morning newspaper delivery boy — no fun, no fun. So thank you for meeting, thank you for knowing each other, and thank you for forming a band.

"As one who has fought labeling at any opportunity given, I hereby not only acknowledge but scream from every fucking rooftop that BLACK SABBATH is and always will be synonymous with the term 'heavy metal.'

"SABBATH join what I consider a very short list of artists who can claim to be synonymous with their specific genre of music — one being Bob Marley with reggae, Bob Dylan with folk, Johnny Cash with country, perhaps Bill Haley with rockabilly, but no matter how you fucking slice and dice it, when you say 'heavy metal,' the words BLACK SABBATH hover in the shadows fighting for pole position. On any given day, the heavy metal genre might as well be subtitled 'music derivative of BLACK SABBATH.' Sure, we're all respectful to BLUE CHEER, we're enamored with LED ZEPPELIN, we're in awe of DEEP PURPLE and of course admiring of STEPPENWOLF and John Kay's first uttering of the words 'heavy metal,' but when it comes to defining a genre within the world of heavy music, SABBATH stand alone. They took pre-existing elements of blues, rock and soul, threw in the right amount of darkness and street cred, and fused those elements with a previously undiscovered 'X' factor — whatever the fuck that was — creating something unheard, unexperienced, unique and utterly groundbreaking with their huge hymns of doom. BLACK SABBATH are an entity of their own — in my mind, the only word that fits is the word 'pioneer.' They were, and much more importantly, still are considered pioneers of all things heavy. All the metal bands and all the so-called subgenres of metal still trace their lineage to one place: four kids in their late teens from the black country of Birmingham who named their band after a 1963 Italian horror movie starring Boris Karloff. Subsequently they changed hard rock and by doing so the entire family tree of metal and everything that metal, for better or worse, stands for, was and will be forever both invigorated and elevated."

"Back To The Beginning" sold out in less than 10 minutes last month. The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward — have played together in 20 years.

Also set to appear at the event are GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).

Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

DIRKSCHNEIDER, the band featuring former ACCEPT members Udo Dirkschneider (vocals) and Peter Baltes (bass),along with drummer Sven Dirkschneider (Udo's son) and the talented guitar duo of Andrey Smirnov and Fabian "Dee" Dammers, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of "Balls To The Wall" — originally released in late 1983 and the most commercially successful and best-known album by ACCEPT — by performing the LP in its entirety on a European tour which kicked off on February 26 in Vienna, Austria.

Fan-filmed video of DIRKSCHNEIDER's March 25 concert at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland is available below.

Featured songs:

Video 1

00:01 Love Child
03:49 Turn Me On
09:04 Fight It Back
12:43 Midnight Mover
16:02 Breaker
20:36 Living For Tonite
24:12 Losers And Winners
28:29 Head Over Heels
32:31 Balls To The Wall
40:44 Metal Heart

Video 2

0:01 Burning
7:02 Up To The Limit

In a recent interview with Andrew McKaysmith of the Scars And Guitars podcast, Udo and Sven spoke about the recently released reimagining of "Balls To The Wall" to celebrate the LP's 40th anniversary. The band's founding member and former frontman reinterpreted this classic with a fresh and star-studded twist. Far from a simple remake, this project was born out of countless conversations with prominent artists across the global rock and metal scene, who frequently asked: "Are you planning anything special for the 40th anniversary of 'Balls To The Wall'?" These discussions sparked the idea to re-record the album's legendary tracks alongside a stellar lineup of guest musicians, transforming the project into a heartfelt tribute.

Asked if there were any "complications" with ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and ACCEPT's management about releasing a reimagined version of "Balls To The Wall", Udo said: "No… Everybody can record [their own version of] the 'Balls' album, if they don't change arrangements or stuff like that. You can do that, my brother can do it, my sister, whatever — you don't have to ask."

He continued: "No, about this, there was no communication [with Wolf]. In a way, with Peter [Baltes, former ACCEPT bassist and current member of U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER] and with me singing and playing on this album, and, of course, a third member of ACCEPT, [former ACCEPT drummer] Stefan Kaufmann, was behind the scenes. He was very much involved in recording the drums and showed Sven how he had to play ACCEPT songs right. [Stefan] was [also] very much involved in guitar stuff — he was sitting together with the guitar players and told them, okay, how they had to play the rhythm guitars exactly, that it's getting nearly perfect. Stefan, he was a member of U.D.O. — I don't know — for a long time. And I know he's a really brilliant rhythm guitar player. He's a machine. And also Stefan is definitely a guy, he's really critical."

Added Sven, who plays drums in both U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER: "Stefan will always tell you if he doesn't like something. He will tell you right away. And he's very straightforward. So if he doesn't like something, when we record, he's very straightforward as well. So, that makes it more productive because you don't have to see what the guy's actually meaning, and is he telling me the truth? Is he just saying this is good, but he thinks it's bad or whatever? So it makes it easier in the studio, but also you have to face facts. If he doesn't like something, then you have to keep up with it and say, 'Okay, I will have to do it better.' So it was very productive working with Stefan. I was nervous when I recorded the drums because I had the original [ACCEPT drummer] sitting there on the mixing desk recording my tracks. But, yeah, it was really cool to have him and to hear his feedback on what he thinks and put my touches on it. He let me do that, which I really appreciate, and it's a big honor."

The reimagined "Balls To The Wall" was made available on February 28, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

In a separate interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, Udo and Peter spoke about the new version of "Balls To The Wall". Asked what led to the decision to release a reimagined version of the LP, Udo said: "Normally it was not planned to do an album; it was only planned to do a tour about the 40-years anniversary of 'Balls'. And so on some festivals, a lot of singers [from other bands] came up [and asked], 'Oh, you do something special for the 40th anniversary.' And then we said, 'Yeah, touring, definitely.' And then they said, 'Oh, I would love to sing a song of the 'Balls' album.' And then the idea came up very slowly. We said, 'Yeah, it can be interesting.'"

Udo continued: "To re-record the 'Balls' album, it's like, 'Don't touch the holy cow.' But with the guest-singer thing now, what we did, I think it worked out very well. The reactions are very good so far. And so I think I'm happy with the result of everything."

Asked if he enjoyed the process of hearing different guests singing with Udo, Peter said: "I enjoyed it tremendously. I also was nervous touching the album again. But after we started recording, I felt really into it. And I played it the way I play live today, the songs. I decided not to copy the original, on my bass playing specifically, because these songs evolved over so many years to what I'm playing today. And that was one of the reasons. The other as much as the holy cow and iconic it is, it also sits on the shelf somewhere and everybody's behind you and it hasn't been moved in 20 years. So it is an honor for us to be able to reintroduce the album to a younger generation, to a whole new world today. And I think it gives the album a great honor that it deserves, where it stands."

Udo added: "I was quite nervous when I started recording the album, with vocals. I mean, I was not quite sure that I'd hit all the notes [laughs], the high notes and all that. But in the end, I think it works. So I'm lucky. And I think especially the whole atmosphere between the guest singers and my vocals, I think it gives the whole thing a new dimension, a new atmosphere. And yeah, I like it very much."

Speaking with The Brutally Delicious Podcast, Udo stated about "Balls To The Wall - Reloaded": "Let's say in the beginning it was just planned to do a tour [celebrating] the 40 years of 'Balls To The Wall'. But then on festivals, some musicians came up and said, 'Oh, you do something special for this 40-years anniversary of 'Balls'. And I said, 'Yeah, touring.' 'Yeah. You know I love this song. I would love to sing on this,' and blah, blah, blah, blah. And then I think it developed."

Sven added: "The idea came together. We had so many great vocalists that wanted to participate on this album. So we sat down and had a thought if we can — because it's very tough in managing all this. I mean, everyone is busy, everyone is doing their own records and whatnot. So it was quite challenging, but in the end it worked out. I think we got the last vocals in last minute to get this done. But yeah, we have really good people on this album and we appreciate that they wanted to do it. And I think they're great new versions of the legendary album."

Asked if they had certain vocalists in mind for certain songs, Sven said: "We had a very long list. And stuff like [SAXON's] Biff Byford on 'London Leatherboys' was kind of obvious, that we wanted to have him for this. And, yeah, we're going on tour with SAXON as well in November this year. So, it all makes perfect sense. And, yeah, [there are some] very, very good collaborations."

Udo continued: "All the singers, they did a great job on it. For example, Joakim [Brodén] from SABATON, 'Balls To The Wall', he did a great job. And also [TWISTED SISTER's] Dee Snider on 'Losers And Winners'. And also Biff on 'London Leatherboys'.

"The thing was we did not tell them, 'Okay, you have to sing this line and this line and this line and this line.' [We told them to] sing the whole song and then we can see which parts fit together with my vocals," Udo explained. "And then, when you listen, for example, to the vocals of Biff for 'London Leatherboys', it can be a SAXON song… I mean, Doro [Pesch] did a great job on 'Winter Dreams'. And also Mille [Petrozza] of KREATOR, 'Fight It Back'. And also Michael Kiske, from HELLOWEEN, he was singing 'Losing More Than You've Ever Had'. He did a great job. Also for me, especially, it was interesting to hear this. 'Wow, okay. Good.' Yeah, I think we are happy and I think also the guest singers, I think they really enjoyed to do this. And that was the most important thing. And also that they put their own character on each song, not trying to be Udo. That makes no sense."

Referencing the new version of "Balls To The Wall" featuring Brodén, Sven said: "We called [Joakim] up because we have a long relationship with SABATON. We played their festival multiple times and we've always had a good time with them. So that was kind of natural, and he was totally up for it. But it was also very interesting. He, for example, did the speaking part. And then he came back to us and said, 'No, use Udo's, because he does it better.' But it was super cool that, yeah, everyone put his character and his style of singing on to the songs. So that was great."

Sven also talked about the overall approach when it came to the production of "Balls To The Wall - Reloaded", saying: "'Especially with the drum sound, we tried to get as close as possible from this old-school vibe, but still, I mean, now we have modern technology recording stuff, so it definitely sounds up to date, but it's still with the old-school vibes. It's natural. I mean, when Peter [Baltes, former ACCEPT and current DIRKSCHNEIDER and U.D.O. bassist] plays bass, it's Peter playing bass. So it is that sound. And as soon as Udo's kicking in… And our guitar players, they're doing it for such a long time that they also are totally into the vibe of this kind of music. So it came along naturally, I would say, the sound of this album. But still, it's modern quality, which I think is awesome."

Ten years ago — in 2015 — Udo announced that he would embark on a special tour during which he would perform ACCEPT songs one last time under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner before closing that chapter for good. Since then, the former ACCEPT frontman has continued to play ACCEPT material at select shows, including at the September 18, 2020 U.D.O. concert in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which was released on DVD and Blu-ray.

When he first announced the original DIRKSCHNEIDER tour in 2015, Udo said that had "to make a clear break for myself — close the book and this is it. And I have the problem that people come to me and ask me to play more ACCEPT songs," he explained. "Other people ask me why I play ACCEPT songs at all, because there are [more than] fifteen U.D.O. records. I want to avoid such things and avoid the repeating questions concerning ACCEPT. I just can't stand that anymore. There is nothing more to be said. U.D.O. exists longer than ACCEPT. We have more records than ACCEPT."

While acknowledging that some ACCEPT fans want to hear the band's classic songs performed by the group's original singer, Dirkschneider explained that "you always have these comparisons [between how these songs are played by ACCEPT and U.D.O.]. I don't want this anymore either. [The current lineup of ACCEPT] also play 'Metal Heart', they play 'Balls To The Wall' and 'Princess Of The Dawn'. And then some people tell me, 'Oh, [current ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo] is doing it better than you.' And I go, 'That's fine. Enjoy yourself.' But I don't want this anymore. And to avoid all of this in the future, I said, 'We are doing this one more time.'"

Dirkschneider said that his vow to never play ACCEPT material again came with one caveat. "If the band ACCEPT dissolves one day in the near future and I am still around with U.D.O., then there is a chance that I put ACCEPT songs back in the setlist," he said. "But currently there is ACCEPT, so go see them [if you want to see those songs performed live]. They are playing these songs."

Udo previously said the original plan was for DIRKSCHNEIDER to only "a few shows," and "then [the tour] got bigger and bigger [due to demand]." But, he added, "I don't want to complain about that."

In the ever-turning wheel of existence, where past, present, and future blur into a singular, cyclical motion, GEMINI SYNDROME — whose current lineup includes COAL CHAMBER guitarist Miguel "Meegs" Rascón — has unveiled its latest offering, "Carousel", a haunting meditation on the cycles we trap ourselves in and the courage it takes to break free.

"I am my own worst enemy."

A confession. A revelation. A truth buried beneath layers of pretense. We sabotage ourselves in the shadows, hiding behind the illusion of control. The turmoil within is relentless, unseen yet omnipresent. "Carousel" rips the mask away, exposing this eternal conflict — the conscious self at war with the unconscious. The driver and the passenger. The master and the captive.

"We can often be our own worst enemies," says GEMINI SYNDROME drummer Brian Steele Medina. "There's this illusion of control, like we're holding the reins, but sometimes we don't realize we're just along for the ride. 'Carousel' captures that duality — the war between who we are and who we want to be."

To break the cycle requires an act of will — but true will is more than defiance; it is surrender. The courage to let go of the illusions that bind us. How can we evolve if we refuse to release the weight of our past? How can we ascend if we remain tethered to a wheel that never stops spinning?

"How can we become better than our present selves, when we live our lives like we're on a carousel?"

The question lingers like an incantation, a challenge to all who dare to listen. "Carousel" is not just a song — it is a rite of passage, a moment of reckoning for those willing to look into the mirror and confront the storm behind their own eyes.

"At some point, you have to face the mirror," GEMINI SYNDROME vocalist Aaron Nordstrom adds. "The song is about that reckoning — when you finally admit that you're the architect of your own suffering. But acknowledgment is the first step to change."

With towering riffs, hypnotic rhythms, and a chorus that lingers like a whispered truth, "Carousel" embodies the struggle between stagnation and self-awareness.

This is the journey of Origin: From Nothingness To Everything — the transmutation of the self through trial and tribulation. The endless fight to wake up, break free, and become more than the sum of our past mistakes.

The ride is not over. But the choice is yours: remain in endless repetition, or shatter the cycle and step beyond.

As GEMINI SYNDROME continues its journey of musical and philosophical alchemy, "Carousel" stands as a call to arms for those willing to step off the loop and forge a new path.

On the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the release of Lunar Strain, IN FLAMES is planning a special set at the two-day Borgholm Brinner festival. On the first day the band will play the entire material of this landmark work, with Mikael Stanne on vocals! Final negotiations and scheduling of all interested parties are currently underway. According to preliminary information, Oscar Dronjak from HAMMERFALL will also take part in the event and possibly Jesper Strömblad will appear on a couple of tracks.

Earlier in an interview with Total Rock in 2020, Mickael was asked what he thought about the possibility of getting on the same stage as IN FLAMES:

"[Laughs] That's a funny thought. Although... You know, it doesn't seem so absurd, because there is no enmity between us. We're all from the same town, big by Swedish standards but not so big by world standards, and when we started out we all hung out in the same places and kept in touch with each other, and we had nothing to share. The main issue in this matter will be the problem with the schedules of our performances and my ability to prepare for the concert. But I wouldn't mind if something like that happened in the future!"

Blues-rock trailblazer Joe Bonamassa is back with a brand-new single, "Still Walking With Me", out now via J&R Adventures. Following the introspective groove of "Shake This Ground", this latest release leans into a feel-good, classic vibe — buoyant and soulful, with a warm groove and an undeniable sense of gratitude.

Anchored by a warm groove and a classic feel, "Still Walking With Me" is an uplifting tribute to resilience, redemption, and the people who stick with us even when we don't deserve it. Bonamassa's lyrics walk the line between gratitude and humility — "You could've left a long time ago… I wouldn't blame ya" — while celebrating the kind of enduring partnership that weathers all storms. With its catchy refrain and unshakeable optimism, the song delivers a feel-good message wrapped in rich instrumentation and vintage tones.

Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley (IRON MAIDEN, THE BLACK CROWES, JOURNEY) and co-written with Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, ZZ TOP, LYNYRD SKYNYRD),"Still Walking With Me" is the second preview from Bonamassa's upcoming studio album, due out later this year. The new music expands his ever-evolving sound while remaining grounded in the blues-rock foundation that has made him one of the genre's most dynamic forces.

The single arrives on the heels of a monumental season for Bonamassa. Just this week, he wrapped the 10th-anniversary Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea X cruise, the sold-out floating blues festival that set sail from Miami with performances from BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS, Larkin Poe, KINGFISH, Samantha Fish, Joanne Shaw Taylor and many more. The milestone event continued Bonamassa's commitment to building community and keeping the blues alive for future generations.

Next up, Bonamassa heads overseas for an extensive European spring tour, followed by a June run with his powerhouse supergroup BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION (featuring Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian). After another round of summer dates across Europe — including sold-out shows in Ireland — he'll return stateside for his just-announced 2025 U.S. summer tour, a limited amphitheater run featuring stops at Greek Theatre, Red Rocks and more iconic venues.

With over 50 albums, 28 No. 1 Billboard blues albums and a relentless drive to evolve, Bonamassa shows no signs of slowing down. Whether on stage, in the studio, or at sea, he continues to find new ways to push the blues forward while honoring its legacy.

Joe is one of the most celebrated performing musicians of today. As a four-time Grammy-nominated artist and 15-times Blues Music Award nominee (four-time winner),he achieved his 28th No. 1 album on the Billboard Blues chart with his most recent live album and concert film, "Live At The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra". Only in his mid-40s, Bonamassa has become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalog. He has released more than 50 albums, including studio and live recordings, as well as collaborative albums with his adventurous side projects: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION and ROCK CANDY FUNK PARTY.

A prolific writer who is always on the hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons, Bonamassa has a limitless work ethic whether it's in the studio, on the road, or working with other artists to spur new music. In recent years, he has produced an immense number of albums, including Joanne Shaw Taylor, Marc Broussard, Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall and others for his independent labels Journeyman Records and KTBA Records, and has also launched Journeyman LLC, a full-service artist management, record label, concert promotion, and marketing company that builds awareness for independent artists worldwide.

Joe Bonamassa photo by Peter Nicholson (courtesy of Noble PR)

SKID ROW's fifth album, "Revolutions Per Minute", will be reissued on May 30 via earMUSIC. Originally released on October 24, 2006, the band's fifth LP marked SKID ROW's only release with drummer Dave Gara, the group's last full album with vocalist Johnny Solinger, and also SKID ROW's last studio album for 16 years until 2022's "The Gang's All Here".

SKID ROW exploded on to the music scene in the late '80s, becoming a predominant force in the hard rock and heavy metal genre. Known for their raw energy, melodic hooks, and a relentless edge, SKID ROW earned global success with hits such as "18 And Life", "Youth Gone Wild" and "I Remember You". The band became synonymous with the rebellious spirit of the late '80s and early '90s, selling millions of albums worldwide and solidifying their place in rock history.

Following the success of their last studio album, "The Gang's All Here", it's easy to recognize the consistent quality that guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill and bassist Rachel Bolan have brought to every chapter of their discography.

"Revolutions Per Minute" represented a pivotal moment in the band's career, with SKID ROW stepping outside of their comfort zone and bringing new ideas and influences into the fold. The album showcased the band's evolving style, combining their signature grit with a more modern, aggressive tone.

Newly mastered in 2025, this reissue edition of "Revolutions Per Minute" offers fans the opportunity to rediscover this classic album and appreciate its enduring impact.

"Revolutions Per Minute" track listing:

01. Disease
02. Another Dick In The System
03. Pulling My Heart out From Under Me
04. When God Can't Wait
05. Shut Up Baby, I Love You
06. Strength
07. White Trash
08. You Lie
09. Nothing
10. Love Is Dead
11. Let It Ride
12. You Lie (Corn Fed Mix)

"Revolutions Per Minute" 2006 recording lineup:

Johnny Solinger - Lead Vocals
Dave "Snake" Sabo - Guitar + Backing Vocals
Scotti Hill - Guitar + Backing Vocals
Rachel Bolan - Bass + Backing Vocals
Dave Gara - Drums + Backing Vocals

Solinger died in June 2021 at the age of 55. His passing came a little over a month after he announced he was suffering from liver failure.

Solinger, who was a member of SKID ROW from 1999 to 2015, appeared on the "Thickskin" and "Revolutions Per Minute" albums, as well as the "United World Rebellion" and "Rise Of The Damnation Army" EPs.

Solinger was fired by SKID ROW in April 2015 and replaced by TNT singer Tony Harnell. Tony quit the group only eight months later, and was succeeded by the South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I.

Bolan confirmed that Solinger was kicked out of the band, contradicting the singer's claim that he "decided to leave SKID ROW to pursue [his] solo career."

In late 2019, Solinger sustained injuries in a car crash and was forced to reschedule some of his solo shows.

Sebastian Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY. In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, featured a lineup consisting of Bolan, Sabo and Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and Solinger.

Theart was fired from SKID ROW in February 2022 and was replaced by Erik Grönwall, who was previously a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T.

Grönwall, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, left SKID ROW in March 2024, saying that he wanted to focus on his "full recovery". SKID ROW has not yet announced a replacement for Erik.

Spencer Charnas, horror icon, creative mastermind and frontman of theatrical, horror-themed metal powerhouse ICE NINE KILLS, has announced the launch of Pretty Evil, a sinister new brand that redefines high-performance personal care and cosmetics for those who live for the limelight... or the moonlight. The brand makes its debut with a killer first collection inspired by the theatrical flair and horror-fused ethos of ICE NINE KILLS.

Developed with elite chemists in the USA, Pretty Evil is war paint for the wicked. Designed to hold up under stage lights, sweaty mosh pits, or moonlit murder sprees, the debut collection includes make-up and haircare products that promise durability, intensity and cruelty-free confidence.

Charnas comments: "The passion and care we put into ICE NINE KILLS is reflected back in the unwavering support from our beloved Psychos. We've launched Pretty Evil with careful strangulation consideration. I consulted with high-end industry pros, undertaking a meticulous dismemberment process to ensure this is built to last. Would I be caught dead in Pretty Evil? Absolutely. And so should you."

The debut collection from Pretty Evil includes:

Die-Liner - Define and accentuate eyes. Die-Liner in Raven is a rich, high-pigment black eyeliner designed to make a statement. This unisex eyeliner delivers intense, long-lasting colour that won't fade — a versatile product for everything from a natural look or while performing.

Liquid Lipstick - Full-pigment liquid lipstick for those that aren't afraid to standout. Formulated to last all day, this unisex formula delivers bold, saturated colour that lasts through every adventure or performance. Goes on as a smooth liquid, dries to a comfortable, matte finish.

Welcome To Horrorwood Eyeshadow Palette - Create limitless looks with this universal eyeshadow palette designed to break beauty rules. Welcome To Horrorwood contains fifteen versatile shades to create looks from wearable natural, smoky to vibrant eye-catching styles. Featuring high-pigment matte and shimmer shades.

Devil's 'Do - Grim Grip - You're going to have to give the Devil his 'Do with this high hold, high shine pomade. Its hybrid formula has the instant flexible forming of a wax, with the perfectly set look of a gel. Having a scent profile reminiscent of secluded woods by the sea, you're sure to raise more than just some eyebrows. The firm hold will keep you looking sharp through even the most violent of nights.

Each product has been rigorously tested and field-proven ensuring it meets the high standards of performers and fans alike. Pretty Evil is here to prove that beauty is indeed in the eye of the beheader. Get yours before it's gone from prettyevil.co.

Pretty Evil is a collection of high-performance essentials in haircare, cosmetics, and skincare, designed to withstand the spotlight's glare or the spine-tingling thrill of the unknown. More than just another "collab," Pretty Evil is developed with top industry formulators in the USA, meticulously tested, and built to last. Every Pretty Evil product is vegan, cruelty-free, and designed to keep up with you long after the sun sets. Look good and feel Pretty Evil.

Charnas is the creative architect and front man of ICE NINE KILLS and one of modern metal's most visionary and recognizable figures. A lifelong horror obsessive and pop culture alchemist, Charnas has transformed ICE NINE KILLS into a multi-dimensional empire where music, cinema, and theatrical storytelling collide.

Under his leadership, the band's horror-themed concept albums "The Silver Scream" and "The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood" redefined the genre, earning Top 20 Billboard chart placements, global streaming success, and cult-like fan devotion. As a songwriter, performer, and strategist, Charnas has elevated ICE NINE KILLS beyond the stage, launching the Silver Scream Convention, immersive fan clubs, graphic novels, and now the Pretty Evil cosmetics line.

Known for collaborations with horror icons like Ari Lehman and Tony Todd, and for bringing theatricality back to live performance, Charnas has become a mainstay in both the metal and horror communities. Whether fronting the band on tour with METALLICA or creating blood-soaked beauty campaigns, he continues to push the boundaries of what a modern frontman can be.

Photo at bottom of page by Alexander Bemis

Spotify has released a "Women Of Metal: Roundtable" episode featuring SPIRITBOX's Courtney LaPlante, HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale and LACUNA COIL's Cristina Scabbia.

They didn't wait for permission — they carved their own path. LaPlante, Hale and Scabbia open up about their journey in metal, breaking through barriers, and transforming the genre through their passion, talent, and unbreakable bond.

Watch the full discussion below.

SPIRITBOX's sophomore album, "Tsunami Sea", was released on March 7 via Pale Chord/Rise Records.

SPIRITBOX recently completed a European tour, which included a February 13 concert at London's iconic Alexandra Palace, marking the band's largest headline show to date with 10,000 tickets sold.

SPIRITBOX will launch the "Tsunami Sea" North American tour on April 3 in Dallas, Texas. The 24-date trek — produced by Live Nation — brings LOATHE, DYING WISH and GEL along for the ride, tearing through cities across the U.S. and Canada.

This summer, SPIRITBOX will step onto even bigger stages, joining LINKIN PARK for select stadium dates in Italy, the Netherlands, and the U.K.

Formed in 2017 in the picturesque yet isolated region of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada by LaPlante and Courtney's husband Mike Stringer, SPIRITBOX cemented itself as a household name in hard rock circles in the summer of 2020 with the release of its blistering breakout single "Holy Roller", along with a host of other captivating singles shortly after, resulting in a media firestorm of hype.

Earlier this year, Lzzy and her HALESTORM bandmate Joe Hottinger completed "Halestorm's Lzzy And Joe: The Living Room Sessions" tour featuring the duo performing acoustic, stripped down versions of HALESTORM favorites and the music that inspired the band.

HALESTORM has spent the last few months recording the follow-up to 2022's "Back From The Dead" album with producer Dave Cobb.

Cobb has shared in nine Grammy wins, including four for "Best Americana Album" and three for "Best Country Album". He's also been named "Producer Of The Year" by the Country Music Awards, the Americana Music Association (twice) and the Music Row Awards, and has been a Grammy nominee in the category.

Last summer HALESTORM and I PREVAIL completed a co-headlining tour. Produced by Live Nation, the trek was also the catalyst and the creative spark for HALESTORM and I PREVAIL's collaborative track "Can U See Me In The Dark?", which was released last June.


"Back From The Dead" has tallied over 100 million streams worldwide. Rolling Stone called the title track "a biting but cathartic howler about overcoming all obstacles," and that song as well as "The Steeple" marked their fifth and sixth number ones at rock radio, respectively. Associated Press said the album "will definitely be in the running for best hard rock/metal album of the year." Their previous album, "Vicious", earned the band their second Grammy nomination, for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for the song "Uncomfortable", the band's fourth #1 at rock radio, and led Loudwire to name HALESTORM "Rock Artist Of The Decade" in 2019.

LACUNA COIL's latest album, "Sleepless Empire", was released on February 14, 2025 via Century Media Records.

Inspiration to create "Sleepless Empire" came during the sessions for "Comalies XX" (2022),the acclaimed remake of LACUNA COIL's breakthrough third record "Comalies". Writing and recording took place in northern Italy between Milano (the band's hometown) and Como, where SPVN Studios are located. As with their previous albums, production was done in house with LACUNA COIL bassist Marco "Maki" Coti Zelati at the helm, and artwork was hand curated by the talented Italian artist Roberto Toderico. Two other very special talents enrich the album, namely the guest vocalists: LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe on the song "Hosting The Shadow" and NEW YEARS DAY's Ash Costello on "In The Mean Time".

Zakk Wylde says that he doesn't know which songs will be performing at Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Taking place on July 5 at Villa Park, the all-star event — billed as "Back To The Beginning" — sold out in less than 10 minutes last month.

The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.

Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).

Speaking to "Chaz & AJ In The Morning" on 99.1 PLR, Zakk stated about his participation in "Back To The Beginning":  "As far as the SABBATH [last-ever concert] goes, I found out about it when you guys found out. It was just, like, 'Oh, cool. I guess this is gonna be crazy.' But I don't know what we're playing yet… Barb's [Zakk's wife and manager, Barbaranne Wylde] spoken to Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] a bunch about it. And I texted Ozz and stuff like that because I'm always sending him goofy stuff. But we haven't figured out what we're gonna be playing yet. I mean, even with the PANTERA celebration thing, we haven't figured out what SABBATH song we're playing [at the event]. Like, what's on the list? You can't have everybody playing 'Paranoid'. And then you've gotta figure SABBATH, if they're gonna be doing songs, you can't be playing songs that the guys are gonna play at the end of the night. So everybody's gotta get a list of, what song do you want us to play? I'll just learn it… As far as I'm concerned, I'm a team player. Whatever you need me to do — whatever pass route you need me to run, I'll run it."

Earlier in the month, Zakk told Riff X's "Metal XS", Zakk about his expectations for "Back To The Beginning": "Well, yeah, it's gonna be awesome. The gameplan is — let's hope this is what happens. I mean, you always gotta stay on the bright side of life. [Laughs] 'Cause Ozz was singing at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame thing. He was doing 'Mama, I'm Coming Home', 'cause Jelly Roll wasn't there when we did the soundcheck the day before [Ozzy's induction into the Rock Hall last October]. And Ozz was just sitting at the chair and he was singing 'Mama, I'm Coming Home', and it sounded great. So hopefully we'll just do this, and then Ozz will go, 'Let's just fire up the machine again and we'll do another tour.' You know what I mean? With Ozz and his throne that just flies over the stadium or whatever — shoots out buckets of water and does everything like that. So, yeah, if Ozz has a great time, whatever, and it's just, like, 'I wanna go out on the road again,' it's just, like, 'Good. Let's do it again.' I mean, what else is he gonna do? It's like Keith Richards said. He [was asked], 'When are you going to retire?' He goes, 'Retire from what?' If you like reading a book and having a cup of coffee, it's, like, why am I retiring from this? I enjoy it. I play music. I mean, what am I retiring from? It's something I enjoy, something I love doing. So hopefully that's what happens."

He added: "Considering all the bands that are on that thing and everybody's gonna be playing SABBATH songs, it's gonna be pretty mindblowing. It's gonna be pretty awesome. And then to see Ozz get up there and do a song with 'em and then watch SABBATH play. I think for all the bands that are gonna be there, 'cause if it wasn't for SABBATH, none of us would exist. You know what I mean? So I think it's gonna be special for everybody."

Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

In a recent conversation with ABC, Sharon Osbourne said that she received preliminary approval from Ed Sheeran, who has also been invited to “Back To The Beginning,” which will take place on July 5 at the Villa Park Arena in Birmingham, UK. When asked about how it came about, Sharon said:

"As Ozzy and I were sitting watching TV and switching channels we ended up on one of the music channels where they were just playing a clip of Ed flying like a vampire, I forget what the song is called. Ozzy looked at me and said: “What a great guy, let's get him on our show.” I said, "Are you sure? He's not really from our scene, what's he gonna do here?" And he's like, "Whatever. “he'll come if he wants to, especially when Ozzy calls you.” I thought to myself that I wouldn't do anything and I'd just make up something to him as usual, but about ten days after that conversation he asked me again if I had called the guy. I had nothing to do but reply that the process had been set in motion and he would definitely try and come to Birmingham."

As with the rest of the lineup, it is still unknown who will be performing which song at the show, which Tom Morello called “the greatest heavy metal show in history”.

During an appearance on The Mistress Carrie Podcast, GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge once again spoke about the fact that he will appear at the upcoming "Back To The Beginning" charity show on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The concert will mark the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH's last-ever performance and Ozzy Osbourne's final appearance as a solo artist. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "First and foremost, it's a huge honor since they have meant as much to me as most others, and from a very early age as well. And both Ozzy as a solo artist — that was generally predominantly his thing. When I grew up in the '80s, he was like the big star of the band. He was part of the mainframe of — I don't know — your glitterati of heavy metal, sort of top 40, top 10, if you will, with big hits, like 'Shot In The Dark' and 'Bark At The Moon'… So, of course, he was more like a face and more like a radio artist in my childhood, where BLACK SABBATH, of course, was a little bit of a… It was hard to really track them in the '80s, especially after the [Ronnie James] Dio years, because when Tony [Iommi] was going through all these different lineups, so you sort of paid attention, like, 'Oh, that's a new BLACK SABBATH record…' And later, when I was, like, 10 years old and when I really started buying records, I grew to love a lot of the '80s [SABBATH] stuff as well — I mean, even '90s stuff. I remember when 'Dehumanizer' came out and Dio was back, it was just, like, 'What?' A really cool record. It felt like they were a band to be counted on again.

"I'm digressing here a little," he continued. "But growing up with Ozzy and old BLACK SABBATH, it was hugely influential for me as a kid and onwards and just catapulting me into wanting to become a musician and write songs.

"Just to stay on the subject of BLACK SABBATH, I must say that especially their more proggy records… When I'm talking about my BLACK SABBATH influence it, especially on GHOST and as a songwriter, it's much more their mournful, big ballady or their big songs of 'Vol 4', 'Sabotage' and 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath', that sort of stuff, when they were really brave. And Geezer's [Butler] lyrics were so deep and naked and not at all dark and gloomy. Obviously, everybody's giving credit to them, but sometimes I think that they neglect… The whole metal genre, all the big heavy bands, it's always been, like, 'Yeah, BLACK SABBATH. When I think about them, I think about keyboards and I think about big mournful ballads. Those were the deep things.

"I love'Symptom Of The Universe'. I love'Children Of The Grave' too, but they were so much more than that, so much more than that," Forge explained. "And hugely influential for me. So, if I'm just gonna say all the positive things, that's a big honor. But, of course, it comes with the little backhand of the finality of the show and what that means is heartbreaking in a way."

Earlier in the month, Forge told Oran O'Beirne of Ireland's Overdrive about the fact that he will appear without the rest of GHOST at "Back To The Beginning": "The only thing I can really tell you, from what I gather, was that bands participating on stage playing, like full bands, are generally bands that are on tour at the time, whereas a lot of the artists that [are performing] singularly are ones that may not be sort of accessible in full group. We [in GHOST] were one of those, because we are about to start our U.S. tour, like, two days after that or something like that, so it was impossible for our entire entourage to multitask like that. We couldn't do it. Especially economically, it was, like, no fucking way. It's not gonna work. So, my job here, my mission, the gift that I've been given, which I feel really proud to be part of and being asked to do, is to play with — I don't know — some of the people playing there. Which I know a few others are doing too. I guess we're being put together in makeshift groups to play songs, which is phenomenal."

A few days earlier, Forge spoke to HardDrive XL's Lou Brutus about the influence BLACK SABBATH and Osbourne had on his development as a musical artist. He said:  "For me, obviously, one band that has meant — one band, BLACK SABBATH; one artist, Ozzy. Of course, I grew up in the '80s, so Ozzy was more prevalent, I guess, in presence because he was sort of — in media, he was just this over-the-top character whereas a lot of the stuff that that BLACK SABBATH was doing in the '80s I grew to love a lot later — with the exception of the [Ronnie James] Dio records, of course. But it took me some time to sort of like some of the '80s records with BLACK SABBATH, whereas now I'm a very, very wholistic in my worship. But Ozzy, obviously, as now obviously a singer, had a phenomenal impact on me. And, of course, everything that he was doing that was dark and haunting, and I guess I'm looking specifically at 'Bark At The Moon' and 'Diary Of A Madman', influenced me a lot."

Forge will appear at "Back To The Beginning" as Papa V Perpetua, the new character fronting GHOST for its 2025 touring cycle.

"Back To The Beginning" sold out in less than 10 minutes last month. The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.

Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).

Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

In a new interview with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello spoke about his participation at what he has called "the greatest heavy metal show ever", the upcoming "Back To The Beginning" charity event on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The concert will mark the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH's last-ever performance and Ozzy Osbourne's final appearance as a solo artist. Asked how his involvement with the concert came about and where the "preparation is at" at the moment, Morello, who will serve as the "musical director" at the show, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We had a big meeting about that earlier today. It came about [because] Ozzy and Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] asked me to do — they surprised me one day and said, 'There's gonna be one more BLACK SABBATH show, all four original members, the last-ever Ozzy Osbourne show. We wanna have a big day of celebration and will you help curate it?' And I was, like, 'Well, that's crazy. But yes, of course.'

"Heavy metal is the music that made me love music, and BLACK SABBATH invented heavy metal, Morello explained. "And Ozzy Osbourne, by discovering the guitarist Randy Rhoads, created, through Randy Rhoads, the music that inspired me to practice eight hours a day. So I owe a great debt to Ozzy and to BLACK SABBATH. And it's an honor to be a part of it.

"Where it's at now… First of all, when we first sat down, we have a very, very simple goal, and that's to make this the greatest day in the history of heavy metal," Tom added. "And to that end, you've probably seen the listed setlist. And let me tell you, there's some huge superstars who are gonna be surprises on that day too. So, the idea is to really acknowledge the importance of that band in a way that the whole world will forever know it."

In a separate interview with Clare Lane of the Chicago radio station WBEZ, Morello stated about what it has been like to work in the Osbourne universe: "Heavy metal is the music that made me love music, and BLACK SABBATH is the band that invented heavy metal. So, when Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne asked me to be the musical director of what's going to be the last BLACK SABBATH show — the last Ozzy Osbourne show in the soccer stadium that's like a half-block down from where Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, the bass player of BLACK SABBATH, grew up — I was honored to do that.

"Right now, we have, like, 14 bands. You know, it's METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES. It's, like, all the biggest bands in the history of heavy metal. The show is gonna be about 10 hours long, but it's gonna be a salute to a genre that people all around the world love. You know, it's been the music that has really made me love music. I'm interested in a lot of different kinds of music now, but I never would have been interested in any kind of music had it not been for metal."

Asked if he is going to take the stage, Morello said: "Oh, of course, I will be up there. Speaking of Northern Illinois, this may be a little bit of a spoiler alert, but Adam Jones, the guitarist of TOOL, he and I went to Libertyville High School together and played in a band. Billy Corgan, the singer of SMASHING PUMPKINS, grew up a few suburbs over. The three of us are going to play together for the first time ever at the show. So, there'll be an 847 connection."

"Back To The Beginning" sold out in less than 10 minutes last month. The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.

Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).

Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

SLIPKNOT's Eloy Casagrande has shared drum-cam video of him and his bandmates performing the song "Gematria (The Killing Name)" on March 8, 2025 at Centennial Park at Centennial Park in Sydney, Australia. Check it out below.

In an interview for the cover story of the January 2025 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, Casagrande was asked for his opinion of his replacement in SEPULTURA, Greyson Nekrutman, who joined the latter band at around the same time in his life as Eloy did in 2011. The Brazilian musician responded: "Yes, and when I see him playing, I can remember myself in the same spot. When I joined SEPULTURA, I was his age. That's quite interesting. He's a very good drummer. I used to watch him playing videos he posted on social media when he was playing more jazz and drum solos. He's a brilliant player and I wish him and the rest of the band all the best. I have a lot of respect for him. I wish I could talk to him more one day. Maybe we could bring all the SEPULTURA drummers together.

"Greyson came to my studio in São Paulo when he joined the band to do some rehearsals, and we had a very good talk," Eloy added. "He had just two or three weeks to learn all the songs, so I gave him some advice like, 'We used to play that song faster. Be careful with this song because we used to play it slower.' I wasn't teaching him how to play the songs because he can play anything he wants to play. He's an incredible drummer."

Asked what it was like getting the call from SLIPKNOT and how he got the gig, Eloy said: "Everything happened at the end of 2023 when I got a call from SLIPKNOT's manager asking me if I was interested in doing an audition for SLIPKNOT. That year, SEPULTURA decided to stop playing, so it was a very natural decision for me to keep playing with someone else instead of just retiring. At the end of [2023] and the beginning of [2024], I wasn't supposed to talk to anyone about that. The audition was a big secret. Nobody could know about it. SEPULTURA didn't even know, it was just something between me and the guys from SLIPKNOT. It was my decision to do the audition. I said, 'Okay, I'm interested in doing an audition because SEPULTURA is going to stop. I have one and a half years left of working with them and I'm going to be done.'

"Through the years, I have played many times with SLIPKNOT," he continued. "We shared stages when I was playing SEPULTURA, and that was the place that I always wanted to be. I grew up listening to their music, so I wanted to have the experience playing live with SLIPKNOT with a mask on my face. In my first show with the band I was thinking, 'Oh, this is really happening. Oh my god. I can't believe it.'

"Going back a little bit, before I was invited to do the audition, I took my drums to a studio in São Paulo and did a proper sound and video recording," Eloy explained. "I played six songs, and I sent it to the guys. I chose three songs and then they asked me to play three specific songs. They were 'Eyeless', 'Purity' and 'Gematria'. My flight was booked to go to the audition, so at the end of January [of 2024], I flew to Palm Springs, California, and spent ten days with them there. The first five days, the whole band was rehearsing like it was a live show. Every day, the guys came with a different setlist, and we just played those songs."

In December 2024, Modern Drummer magazine's readers voted Casagrande as the No. 1 metal drummer in the publication's 2024 Readers' Poll.

After parting ways with Jay Weinberg in November 2023, SLIPKNOT teased fans with a hint about a new drummer 11 months ago, posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption "Rehearsal."

The band explained in a statement that the split with Weinberg was a creative decision. Jay followed up with a statement of his own, saying that he was "heartbroken and blindsided" by his dismissal.

Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.

Casagrande abruptly quit SEPULTURA in February 2024, shortly before he was supposed to begin rehearsals for the band's recently launched 40th-anniversary farewell tour.

"February 6th, a few days prior to the first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed the band that he was leaving SEPULTURA to pursue a career in another project," the band said in a statement.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA more than 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.

SLIPKNOT's latest album "The End, So Far", arrived in August 2022. It marked the band's the last full-length LP before the departure of both keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the group in June 2023, and Weinberg.

SLIPKNOT recently completed the North American portion of the "Here Comes The Pain" tour. The band was celebrating the 25th anniversary of its seminal debut album, "Slipknot", which catapulted the band back in 1999.

In an interview with Tone-Talk, SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root spoke about how Casagrande came to join SLIPKNOT and his impact on the band's overall sound. He said: "We didn't even try anybody else. Eloy's name came up. He contacted us, actually, about wanting to be a part of it and started sending a bunch of videos in. I think him and our bass player [Alessandro 'Vman' Venturella] might've had a little bit of a relationship before. I think they knew each other. They had mutual friends. And Vman's really in tune with a lot of really great, proggy, heavy musicians that are passionate about their instruments. And it just seemed like a no-brainer. And he's really respectful of the legacy of [SLIPKNOT's original drummer, the late] Joey [Jordison], and Joey was a huge influence on him. And he's so humble. The dude has so much humility. And you could tell he just lives and breathes his craft, to the point where I see his passion and it ignites my passion for my instrument. And Brazilians, South Americans in general, are so passionate about what they do. Our manager told me, he was out to dinner with four or five promoters from South America, and they were all really stoked. They're all, like, 'It's so good you've got a Brazilian drummer in SLIPKNOT now. We kind of feel like we've won the World Cup.' It's a cool feeling. And God, he just fits in so well. I don't know, man. I mean, there's a lot of things I can say about it. I'm just glad it happened when it did. And we're lucky to have him — we are really lucky to have that dude."

ANTHRAX will enter the studio next week to resume recording the band's long-awaited new album.

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante offered an update on the making of the follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" in a social media post about the group's concert in Lima, Peru, which took place Saturday night (March 29).

Charlie wrote: "I've been getting a lot of 'when the new album?' We won't release a new album until [Tower Records] is back in business , fuck this streaming shit!

"Joking- Back to recording next week. We threw out a bunch of old tunes and made some new ones that destroy the older ones.

"I know it's been a while and you’ve been very patient… it's in the oven and cooking".

Last month, ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna told The Adventures Of Pipeman about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's new album: "We have nine or ten songs — I forgot; I lost count — but I've got maybe two or three more to go, and then we'll be done with the record. I'm still working on it. I haven't finished it yet."

At January's NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello told American Musical Supply that the band's new LP is "supposed to come out [in] September [or] October."

Last November, Bello returned to Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California to resume recording the bass tracks for ANTHRAX's next effort.

ANTHRAX is once again working with producer Jay Ruston, who previously helmed "For All Kings" and 2011's "Worship Music" albums.

Last September, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian told Jon Wiederhorn of Guitar World magazine that he and his bandmates hoped to finally release their new album in early 2025.

"We're taking our time and not rushing anything because we want it to be exactly how we want it," Ian said.

"We're not in a place in our lives anymore where we could have dropped everything and said, 'All right, we've got two months of studio time. Let's finish writing and then get in there and record it all and do the vocals. Mix, master and we're done — like in the old days.' We have families and commitments now, so it can't work that way anymore and hasn't in a long time."

Regarding the musical direction of the new ANTHRAX material, Ian said: "There are crushing riffs and great, hooky choruses. Even some of the thrashiest songs have great choruses. We're always looking for the hook, and I think we've accomplished that."

He added: "With the songs we've written, we'd be able to put together a nine- or 10-song record that would be thrashier than anything we've done in a long time. But there would also be a way to make it a very different kind of album depending on which songs we choose. And I can tell you, I know which way I'm leaning. And I think we're all on the same page. We want this record to punch people in the face. And then we can use the bonus tracks for other things, but in the context of the record, I really want it to hit hard."

As for his expectations for the new ANTHRAX album, Scott said: "I'd like to think this record will be a slew of songs that people are going to be very excited about hearing live for the next few years. I generally feel the riffs, the grooves and the breakdowns – we used to call them mosh parts in the old days — I think they're gonna connect with our fans. And a lot of these songs are tailor-made for our live show, so I hope we'll be playing them for a long time."

In August 2024, Benante told Metal Hammer magazine about ANTHRAX's upcoming LP: "There's a song which has the same kind of epic feel as 'In The End' [from 2011's 'Worship Music'] and 'Blood Eagle Wings' [from 'For All Kings']. It revolves around the journey we've been on in the band. And there are three songs that don't sound like anything we've done before. One called 'The Edge Of Perfection' I had way before COVID, and it has just stayed with me — the melody and the chords, but also the aggression."

In January 2024, Bello told Rodney McG about the long delay in getting new ANTHRAX music out: "There wasn't a rush, obviously. I know it's been eight years since our last record, but we wanna make sure it's right, and it is [right]. We are very confident. I'm not worried about how right it is. It's right on exactly where I think, and the rest of the band think, we need to be. I love that it's more complicated for me to play. I love the challenge of that. I think we stepped it up a little bit, the heaviness. Again, everybody's gonna prop their record. Doing this for so long, this is how I feel.

"I don't wanna get complacent," he continued. "I want the challenge, 'cause I'm a fan. I'm a fan, and it has to stimulate me. And it has to get me going on stage."

As for the musical direction of the new ANTHRAX material, Bello said: "On this record, there's stuff that we've never done before. I'm just saying right out — there's stuff, in a heavy way, which I'm very proud of. I like that we went that way with it and just went, 'What the fuck was that?' Some of the things that Charlie Benante does on drums, Scott and I were just, 'What the fuck was that?' And that's great, 'cause you wanna raise your game after that. I think it makes everybody step up a little bit. I'm doing some bass stuff that I had some fun with on this that I would never have done. I think there's a lot of cool stuff that's going on vocally, melody-wise. I'm really happy where the next ANTHRAX record is going."

In October 2023, Ian told "THAT Rocks!" that he and his ANTHRAX bandmates had "only really been working on" their new LP "for a year-ish, I would say… But then once lockdown and all that stuff happened, we just all walked away; nothing creative was happening at all with us through that whole period," he explained. "And then, slowly but surely, when we started playing shows again in '21 and going into '22, that's when we started working again, really. And then in the last year, we really started to put stuff together and Charlie and Frankie and I getting together and having writing sessions and arranging stuff."

In September 2023, Belladonna was asked by Tulsa Music Stream if he is typically presented with finished lyrics to sing or if he gets to contribute a lot lyrically to the content. Joey said: "I love doing lyrics, but there's a lot of lyrics that Scott — he just loves to do it. It's his thing. He just digs into such — these topics that he likes to go and get into, and we all kind of have our own little thoughts on the songs. But I get in there and I really kind of — I dig into the whole thing a lot further. There's a lot of stuff that I have to… When you start singing on something, you really have to find the pockets of what you wanna do, what kind of tone I wanna throw on it and how I wanna go for a certain range for certain things and how I approach it is very important. There are lyrics, but at the end of the day, I have to go in there and still sing as good and catchy and appropriate as I can to make this stuff my thing, my style. Obviously, we're not the hit-oriented type of thing, but I'm always going for something cool to catch you off guard and neat and different. I have my own style, so I just kind of do my thing."

During an August 2023 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Ian said about the musical direction of the new ANTHRAX material: "Certainly of the nine [songs] we've tracked so far, from a riff point of view, it's definitely — I mean it's riffs with all capital letters. Like if you were going to write, you would write 'riffs' in all capitals with an exclamation point. The riffs are killer. It's very riff-centric. There's a lot of faster uptempo material, certainly."

Ian added: "I will say there is a song — I won't say any titles yet, 'cause it's still probably a working title — there's definitely one song, it's the fastest thing we've ever done. There's another song that we haven't recorded yet that's also in the vein, more of a 'Gung-Ho' or a 'Caught In A Mosh'. Because Charlie and I talk all the time. I said, 'We still need something that's like a three-and-a-half-minute just ripper. You know, something like that.' And then we come up with something like that and I'm, like, 'Hey, I forgot I'm 60 now, and now I have to play this song for the next three years.' Just make my life harder."

Earlier in 2023, Benante was asked by Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules why it has taken so long for ANTHRAX to complete the writing process for a new LP. Charlie said: "If we didn't get hit with this whole global pandemic thing, it would have been out probably two years ago, three years ago. But we all know what happened. But now, being that some of the songs were [written] before the pandemic hit, they're old to me. So now there's a bunch of new songs that kind of came in the mix. So that's a good thing. You can never have enough… We're still working on the older ones because we really like a lot of those."

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

Frank played his first show with ANTHRAX in nearly a year and a half on October 12, 2024 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

Bello and ANTHRAX were supposed to perform at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky on September 27, 2024, but their show ended up being canceled due to severe weather.

Prior to Aftershock, Bello last played with ANTHRAX in May 2023 at the Milwaukee Metal Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In April and early May 2024, Bello sat out ANTHRAX's South American tour as well as two U.S. festival dates due to "personal reasons." Filling in on those shows was ANTHRAX founding member and original bassist Dan Lilker, marking his first appearance with the band in 40 years. Lilker, who co-wrote and played on ANTHRAX's debut album "Fistful Of Metal", was also a member of STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH with Benante and Ian.

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Kevin Cronin says that he is "deeply disturbed and hurt" by his exclusion from the upcoming "retrospective concert" honoring the legacy of REO SPEEDWAGON.

Founding REO SPEEDWAGON member Neal Doughty, bassist Bruce Hall, original REO drummer Alan Gratzer, guitarist Steve Scorfina, rhythm guitarist Mike Murphy and original REO frontman Terry Luttrell will reunite in their hometown of Champaign, Illinois for a charity concert on June 14. The event will also show a memorial video to former REO SPEEDWAGON members, the late Gray Richrath and Greg Philbin. Proceeds will benefit the REO Speedwagon Foundation for genitourinary cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Cronin, who took over the role of lead singer in REO SPEEDWAGON after Luttrell left the band in 1972, addressed his absence from the Champaign event in the comments section below a Facebook post in which he announced his participation in the 2026 Rock Legends cruise.

"The organizers of the Champaign event could have picked a date when all of the former members of REO were available to participate," Kevin wrote. "Instead they chose June 14, 2025, a date where it was public knowledge that I was previously committed to perform with STYX and KEVIN CRONIN BAND in Bend, Oregon.

"Bottom line, I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can't possibly be there in-person. And then being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this."

Cronin added: "After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO SPEEDWAGON, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded."

Kevin added in a postscript: "35-year REO veterans Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt were not even shown the respect of being invited to the Champaign event."

Last month, Cronin, the iconic voice and writer behind REO SPEEDWAGON's greatest hits, spoke to the "Let There Be Talk" podcast with rock and roll comedian Dean Delray about his upcoming "Brotherhood Of Rock" tour with STYX during which he will perform REO SPEEDWAGON's 1980 album "Hi Infidelity" in its entirety, while STYX will play 1977's "The Grand Illusion" from front to back. Kevin said: " Yeah, we're both doing the whole albums. Both REO and STYX have done several residencies at the Venetian theater in Vegas. And we did the 'Hi Infidelity' show three times, and we put together a whole new presentation for the residency, as did STYX for their 'Grand Illusion' residency. And so this summer we just thought, 'You know what? Those shows did so well and people reacted so well to them…' 'Cause you play the whole album and then you also do all the hits that people wanna do too. So it's a cool thing and it's unique because we've never done it — neither band has ever done it — anywhere else except in Vegas. And so we did it as REO SPEEDWAGON three times over the past year and a half, but that same band is gonna be touring this year as the KEVIN CRONIN BAND, because I'm not able to tour as REO SPEEDWAGON anymore."

Asked why is unable to tour as REO SPEEDWAGON anymore, Kevin said: "Well [laughs], that's a good question. And it's a complicated question. God, it's a tough one because our bass player, Bruce Hall, who, he and I worked together for almost 50 years. I was instrumental in getting him in the band. Any side project I ever did, Bruce was part of it. But over the past several years, things became a little bit of a struggle for us, just musically, personally and physically. And Bruce's had back problems for a long time and it finally just gave out on him. And we had a week before the first Las Vegas residency. So he had to go home and take care of his health. And we could have either canceled the residency and the gigs to follow, but I put so much of my heart and soul into that residency show. People plan their vacations. People come to Vegas from Europe and stuff. And I just was, like, 'If I can pull this off, I've gotta try to do it without Bruce.' We just got lucky that Elton John had retired, and our buddy Matt Bissonette, who had been with Elton for 12 years, was available. He came in with charts for every song, and within two days the charts were gone. He had the bass parts. Then he goes, 'Teach me the harmony, the vocal harmonies.' I'm, like, 'Okay.' I gave him all the harmony parts. And he's just an amazing bass player, great singer, good dude, and the chemistry between Dave [Amato, guitar] and Bryan [Hitt, drums], who have been with me in REO SPEEDWAGON for 35-plus years, and Derek Hilland, who took over when Neal Doughty retired in late 2022, the five of us just — something happened, something magical happened. But Matt was subbing for Bruce, and Bruce was… His doctors told him he'd be ready on March 1st of 2024. And he wasn't; he wasn't there. And then it got pushed back to June 1st. And meanwhile, I'm thinking by this time, I'm not sure what's gonna happen. Bruce, he had major back surgery and there were some other issues, musical issues, that popped up. He was supposed to be there March 1st — didn't do it. And I'm, like, 'I don't know what's gonna happen here.' So my thought was, let's keep Matt in the band so when Bruce joins, it'll just be a six-piece group. I was working on a setlist where Bruce and Matt could kind of switch off between bass and acoustic guitar. And it was gonna be a little awkward, but at least that we would have the insurance and Bruce would have the security that if, for whatever reason… Because the show is one thing — getting on and off the bus, packing your bags, getting out of hotel rooms, when you have major back surgery at 70 years old, that's tough. So I needed Matt as an insurance policy. And then, out of nowhere, I understand, through an attorney, that Bruce has decided to sit out the 2024 tour as long as he gets paid in full as if he were touring. And so we didn't have much choice. That's what we did, and that's what he accepted. And we went ahead and finished the 2024 tour with Matt Bissonette on bass, five-piece band. It was the most successful tour we've had in 35 years. The band was just on fire, the crowds were crazy and it became this just-good-vibes thing.

"My thing — I'm a lead singer of the band," Kevin added. "I didn't run for office, but I became the leader of the band. I'm the guy who pulls it together. And so I just felt that band lifting me up in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time. And it really felt good. And I felt like I was lifting them up and there was just this positive vibe going on."

Cronin went on to say that "Bruce was never fired. I don't have the right to fire him," he explained. "And it's funny because there was kind of a narrative, an inaccurate narrative that was kind of circulating online that put it in terms of that I somehow quit REO SPEEDWAGON to pursue a solo career. And that's bullshit. And then there was another narrative that I somehow prevented Bruce from touring with the group in 2024 when the truth is I was trying to find a way that he could tour with the band in 2024. And he — what I understood is that he decided to sit the tour out. So, I don't know exactly why. I can't tell you 'cause he never called and talked to me about it. But he did make some demands. He said that he'd be ready to come back in 2025. But he put these demands in place that — there were a number of demands, but two in particular.

"I've kind of stayed above the weeds here on this thing, 'cause I don't really feel like the fans care to know or need to know," Kevin continued. "If you've been in bands, you know — shit goes on, and it's a brotherly thing. And a lot of relationships are love-hate, and things get weird for awhile and then things get worked out. But there was a couple of demands that one of them it would have been irresponsible for me to go along with, and the other one, it was impossible for me to go along with. And so we just hit a stalemate. And the way our band is set up, Neal, Bruce and I are the three kind of heritage members. Even though Dave and Bryan have been with us for 35 years, they weren't there when the records were recorded. So it was a special relationship between the three of us. And there was a kind of a retirement situation that was built in so that if anyone left the band for whatever reason, they were well taken care of, as long as the band continues touring. So, it was a sweet deal, but Bruce, he just feels like if he's not in the band, then the band, it can't be REO SPEEDWAGON. And to me, it's, like, if there's two guys in a band who can't work together anymore and one of them has the ability to keep the band going and keep the legacy going and keep playing the songs for the fans who we've nurtured over a 50-year period and the other guy can't do that, well, then it's incumbent on the other guy to go, 'All right, maybe my time's up. Go ahead.' I mean, that's what [original CHEAP TRICK drummer] Bun E. Carlos did. When Bun E. and Robin [Zander, CHEAP TRICK singer] couldn't work together anymore, one or the other of them was gonna leave the band, Bun E. stepped down gracefully. Yeah, 'cause if Robin steps down, what are they gonna do? Robin is the face and the voice of the band. And for whatever reason, Bruce was listening to people that were giving him advice, I guess, to, like, 'If you're not in the band, then burn the whole thing down.'

"And at any rate, I'm not gonna stop," Cronin added. "Nobody can stop me from singing these songs, playing these songs and giving the fans what they want. And if you want the REO SPEEDWAGON experience, there's only one place you're gonna get it, and that's the KEVIN CRONIN BAND. It's the same band. I'm not going out there and singing a solo album worth of songs. I'm singing the songs that I wrote for REO SPEEDWAGON and the songs that Gary [Richrath] and I worked on together with REO SPEEDWAGON."

Last December, Kevin told Billboard that he "never quit" REO SPEEDWAGON. He added: "I never will quit the band. I just got outvoted and…have to stop calling it REO SPEEDWAGON." The vote Cronin referred to was a 2-1 decision with Doughty and Hall regarding the use of the REO SPEEDWAGON name.

The "Brotherhood Of Rock" tour, along with special guest Don Felder (a former lead guitarist of THE EAGLES),will kick off May 28 in Greenville, South Carolina at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

STYX and Kevin Cronin (as part of REO SPEEDWAGON) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, they came together to form the Rock To The Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which still collects donations for local charities at every stop on STYX's ongoing tour.

General tickets for the trek, produced by Live Nation, are on sale now on LiveNation.com. STYX and the KEVIN CRONIN BAND are also offering VIP packages via their own StyxWorld.com and KevinCronin.com web sites, as well as on LiveNation.com. Citi is the official card of the "Brotherhood Of Rock" tour.

Image credit: 3rdDayRocker

Japanese pop metal band BABYMETAL has signed to Capitol Records, which will release the group's new album, "Metal Forth", on June 13. Meaning "beyond metal," "Metal Forth" features collaborations with Poppy, SPIRITBOX, Tom Morello, BLOODYWOOD, POLYPHIA and SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL — artists that BABYMETAL has connected with over the years while touring the globe. Their massive track "Ratatata" with ELECTRIC CALLBOY, which has already attained millions of streams across all platforms, will also be included. The next single, "From Me To U (Feat. Poppy)" will arrive this Friday, April 4.

Tom March, chairman and CEO of Capitol Records, said: "BABYMETAL's groundbreaking sound and compelling artistic vision have not only cultivated a worldwide following, but have also demonstrably shifted global music culture. We at Capitol Records are privileged to join them in this next chapter as we continue to amplify their international reach and influence with the upcoming release of 'Metal Forth'."

Key "Kobametal" Kobayashi, producer and manager of BABYMETAL and CEO of Babymetal World, LLC, added: "This year BABYMETAL celebrates its 15th anniversary and embarks on an exciting new chapter. With Capitol Records as our global partner, the sound of BABYMETAL will resonate across the world as we take on bolder, more dynamic endeavors than ever before. Stay tuned for what's to come."

BABYMETAL celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and on their annual "Fox Day" (April 1) — a hugely important date in BABYMETAL lore — the band is releasing the "Legend Map". Described as "a sign from the god of metal, the Fox God," the map unveils their plans for 2025, including the new album and an extensive world tour.

On May 10, the band will embark on its first-ever headline arena tour in Europe, playing 12 shows across eight countries, with support from Poppy and Bambie Thug. The May 30 tour finale will take place at the O2 Arena in London. BABYMETAL is the first Japanese group to headline a show at this iconic venue. The band will kick off its biggest North American tour yet in Houston on June 13 — the day of their album drop, with support from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, JINJER and BLOODYWOOD on select dates. The 24-date run will hit major cities including Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago and San Francisco before wrapping up on July 23 in Phoenix.

The band has also added arena shows in Japan and an Asia tour. In addition to its previous headline outings, BABYMETAL has opened for such artists as Lady Gaga, METALLICA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

"Metal Forth" track listing:

01. From Me To U (feat. Poppy)
02. Ratatata (BABYMETAL x ELECTRIC CALLBOY)
03. Song 3 (BABYMETAL x SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL)
04. Kon! Kon! (feat. BLOODYWOOD)
05. KxAxWxAxIxI
06. Sunset Kiss (feat. POLYPHIA)
07. My Queen (feat. SPIRITBOX)
08. Algorism
09. Metali!! (feat. Tom Morello)
10. White Flame

After two landmark performances at the Yokohama Arena, celebrating the birth of Momometal in a spectacular fashion, in March of 2023 BABYMETAL released its highly anticipated concept album "The Other One", which garnered widespread acclaim and introduced fans to a new era of BABYMETAL's sound. This new era was the start of a journey that has seen 2024 become watershed year for BABYMETAL, underscoring their evolution as a groundbreaking force in the music world.

They successfully completed a monumental world tour that started in 2023 and spanned 25 countries across 98 performances, including a slot as special guests to SABATON all around Europe, a co-headliner with DETHKLOK across North America, as well as their own headliners in Asia, Australia and their home of Japan.

Before embarking on a festival run in the summer of 2024, BABYMETAL released their collaboration with ELECTRIC CALLBOY on the hit single "Ratatata", which soared to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. This collaboration not only highlighted their artistic versatility and ability to innovate, but also reinforced their position alongside other leaders in the metal genre.

Their collaboration with BRING ME THE HORIZON, "Kingslayer ft. BABYMETAL", released in October 2020, was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 25, 2024. Making waves at major music festivals including Download in the U.K., Hellfest in France, Rock Im Park in Germany, BABYMETAL delivered electrifying performances that left music fans across Europe in awe. Audiences at Resurrection Fest (Spain) and Rock Am Ring (Germany) were treated to an extra special live collaboration with ELECTRIC CALLBOY, who performed "Ratatata" alongside BABYMETAL.

In April 2023, BABYMETAL announced the addition of a new third member, Momoko Okazaki, who goes by the name of Momometal.

Okazaki had been a member of BABYMETAL's trio of backup dancers (along with Kano Fujihira and Riho Sayashi),known as "Avengers", since 2019, following the departure of one of BABYMETAL's original members, Yuimetal, in October 2018.

Momoko's addition to BABYMETAL was announced during the band's show at the Pia Arena MM in Okazaki, Japan.

Momoko was once a member of SAKURA GAKUIN and participated in South Korean reality TV show "Girls Planet 999" as a contestant. However, the singer left the series after the show's first elimination round.

In 2018, BABYMETAL announced the departure of Yuimetal, who was formerly one of the members of the Japanese group's core trio. She exited the band, explaining in a statement that she would go on to pursue a solo career as Mizuno Yu.

BABYMETAL was formed in 2010. Their mission was to unify the world through heavy metal by creating a fusion of heavy metal and the Japanese pop genre. Their music contains a stunning mix of electronic pop, a pinch of alternative and industrial rock, and is leveled up by fast-driven heavy metal. Their live shows are ground-breaking and epic visual as well as sound performances. BABYMETAL continued to travel the path of metal with the international release of their three albums, telling the story of the mighty Fox God and his brave metal warriors.

A book about the first ten years of BABYMETAL, "Bessatsu Kadokawa Souryoku Tokushuu", was released in Japan in October 2020. It contains a long interview with Su-metal and Moametal as well as never-before-heard stories from band producer Kobametal from BABYMETAL's decade-long history, photos taken from live shows, a discussion between Demon Kakka and Kobametal, and much more.