During a May 12 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", ex-METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted spoke about whether he is aware of any plans for the band to remix the "...And Justice For All" album for a possible 40th-anniversary expanded reissue in 2028. While "...And Justice For All" is considered one of METALLICA's classics, it has been criticized almost since the day it was released in 1988 for the lack of any bass guitar on the record. Newsted's playing is virtually buried in the mix — and many fans feel that drummer Lars Ulrich, who had very specific ideas for how he wanted his drums to sound, is to blame. Regarding whether he was hoping "...And Justice For All" would get the remix treatment at some point, Jason said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Nah, man. No. It's what it is. I don't think that you should go back and mess with things like that. I don't agree with it. I know other fans and stuff have done approaches or examples of what it would be if there was bass louder on the record, but I just don't spend time like that…. It's been 35 years or something; that's more than half of my life. I don't really pay too much attention to it.

"What I've come to with all this, 'cause people still like to bring it up, and I'm pretty happy that they do, because if it hadn't been so fucking bizarre, then we probably wouldn't be talking about it 35 years later with any kind of interest," Jason continued. "If it was just the record, there was a record and there's an album and it goes like this, then we probably wouldn't be saying anything else about it until the unboxing came. But since people still bring it up…

"On the cassette of 'No Life 'Til Leather', the original demo of METALLICA, and it's handwriting in a blue ballpoint pen, in Lars's handwriting," Newsted added. "And it says, 'METALLICA 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo', and then in parentheses, 'Turn bass down on stereo.' In his handwriting. Okay, that was the demo — the very first time anyone was going to hear their band. He was already in that mode. So it's 1982. That's where the playing field is, that's where we start. So as you go through things, and the way that any of the records were created, especially the trilogy of godliness, the first three, set the blueprints for our style of music, period. There are other bands that have come along and done quite well, but not like that, and not being that innovative or that important. There are many bands that exist, but there's only a few important ones, and that's an important one, and those are important albums. All of them, all the way through when we were rolling in fucking money, [were written the same way], in a 12-by-12 cave with a drum set and Marshall stacks that just about touched the roof and two people with a TASCAM cassette recorder, eight-track. And they go in and they make the albums that change the world. Two people, and Lars plays [his drums] with the guitar out of the monitor, not the bass. It's always been that. Before there was THE BLACK KEYS, before there was THE WHITE STRIPES, before there was FLAT DUO JETS or whoever those guys are, before there was those kind of bands with no bassist, there was [METALLICA guitarist/vocalist] James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich as the original garage duo. The other ones that came in — [late METALLICA bassist] Cliff [Burton], [METALLICA guitarist] Kirk [Hammett], myself — are the embellishment of the garage duo. If the garage duo chooses to put bass in their duo, then they do. If they don't, they don't. '…And Justice For All' is the largest-selling garage duo album of all time."

Asked how he felt about METALLICA's more progressive musical direction on "…And Justice For All" compared to the more straight-ahead nature of some of the band's earlier material, Jason — who ho was FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's bassist from 1981 to 1986, when he left the latter band shortly after the release of their debut album to join METALLICA — said: "Well, it was far more reminiscent of FLOTSAM music than it was of METALLICA music. So it was kind of just in stride for me as far as the style. FLOTSAM was very much the busy, up-tempo craziness like that, very progressive. So I think they kind of just fit right in it for me."

Seven years ago, Hetfield defended the sound of "...And Justice For All", saying that he and his bandmates simply "wanted the best-sounding record" they could make. "It was not all about, 'Fuck [Jason]. Let's turn him down.' That's for sure," he said. "We wanted the best-sounding record we could make. That was our goal. We were burnt. We were frigging fried. Going back and forth [between touring and mixing the album]. Playing a gig. No earplugs, no nothing. You go back into the studio, your hearing is shot. If your ears can't hear any high end anymore, you're gonna turn it up. So we're turning the high end up more and more and more and all of a sudden, low end's gone. So I know that played a bigger part than any hazing or any ill feelings towards Jason, for sure. We were fried. We were burnt."

Hetfield also addressed some of the criticism leveled at METALLICA by one of the "...And Justice For All" album mixers, Steve Thompson. In a 2015 interview with Ultimate Guitar, Thompson suggested that Ulrich was the culprit for the lack of any bass guitar on the record, claiming that Lars wanted his drums to sound a certain way — even if it meant cutting out the bass.

"We wanted it tight," James explained. "We wanted it fucking tight. That's what we wanted. We wanted the snare, we wanted the guitar, we wanted everything up front and in your face and really tight. And we thought we got it. And, you know, we kinda know what we want to sound like. Can we sit behind a desk and make it happen? No. We ask people to do it, and they do it. So [Thompson] did his job. He's got nothing to apologize for or point fingers at. No one's to blame for 'something.' It is a piece of art. It happened and it ended up the way it is for a reason. And for reasons we were just talking about. We were burnt. We're traveling, we're playing a gig, our ears were fried. We were not sleeping. He doesn't need to defend himself. He was a part of an awesome album in history, so I think he should be maybe be a little easier on himself."

James also once again dismissed calls for METALLICA to remix "…And Justice For All" so that Newsted's contributions are more audible.

"All this [bass discussion] is after the fact, and it's, like, who gives a shit, man, really?" Hetfield said. "And why would you change that? Why would you change history? Why would you all of a sudden put bass on it? There is bass on it, but why would you remix an album? You can remaster it, yes, but why would you remix something and make it different? It'd be like… I don't know. Not that I'm comparing us to the Mona Lisa, but it's, like, 'Uh, can we make her smile a little better?!' You know?! Why?"

In a 2008 interview with Decibel magazine, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett attempted to explain the lack of bass on "…And Justice For All", saying that "the reason you can't hear the bass so well is because the bass frequencies in Jason's tone kinda interfered with the tone that James was trying to shoot for with his rhythm guitar sound, and every time the two blended together, it just wasn't happening. So the only thing left to do was turn the bass down in the mix. It was unfortunate, but for some reason or another, that album is known for the low end being there without the bass being very high up in the mix. It was an experiment, too — we were totally going for a dry, in-your-face sound, and some people really like that sound. A lot of the newer-generation bands, especially, think that album sounds great. But at the end of the day, it was an experiment. I'm not really sure it was 100 percent successful, but it is a unique sound that that album has."

In the Ultimate Guitar interview, Thompson said that he spoke out because he was tired of being blamed for the lack of bass. He remarked: "They flew us out [to METALLICA's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2009] and I'm sitting with Lars. He goes, 'Hey, what happened to the bass in 'Justice'?' He actually asked me that. I wanted to cold cock him right there. It was a shame because I'm the one getting the shit for the lack of bass."

Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that fans were extremely vocal about the sound of the album at the time of its release. "I mean, it was unbelievable, you know, '...And Justice For All', " he said. "People were saying, 'That's the worst-sounding record, where's the bass, and it sounds like it was recorded in a garage, and...' But, you know, listen, you do the best you can in the moment and then you move on."

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT singer Eric Bloom will miss some of the band's upcoming shows after undergoing an unspecified "non-life-threatening" surgery.

The 81-year-old musician broke the news of his absence in a social media post on Wednesday (May 13). He wrote: "During BÖC's time off I scheduled a non-life threatening surgical procedure. I am on the mend, but the recovery is taking a little longer than expected. Kasim Sulton will be standing in for me for a few shows and knock it out of the park!"

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's most recent concert took place on February 26 aboard the Rock Legends Cruise.

The band is scheduled to play its next gig on May 16 in Oroville, California, with additional dates on the itinerary through the summer and fall.

Sulton, best known for his work with UTOPIA, previously served as BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's bassist and backing singer from 2012 to 2017.

In addition to BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, Sulton has worked with Meat Loaf, HALL & OATES, CHEAP TRICK, Patty Smyth, Akiko Yano, Richie Sambora, Todd Rundgren and others.

Sulton sang lead on 1980s "Set Me Free", UTOPIA's only top 40 hit in the United States. As a solo artist, Sulton hit the Canadian top 40 in 1982 with "Don't Break My Heart".

Sulton has been a frequent collaborator, bassist and singer on many of Rundgren's projects and solo tours and is expected to join Todd's band for his upcoming "Damned If I Do" tour, which is scheduled to kick off on June 11 in St. Charles, Illinois.

BÖC is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as METALLICA, and BÖC was listed in VH1's countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.

Upon the release of BÖC's self-titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny or ambiguous, often all in the same song. BÖC's canon contains three stone‐cold classic songs that will waft through the cosmos long after the sun has burned out: the truly haunting "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from 1976's "Agents Of Fortune", the pummeling "Godzilla" from 1977's "Spectres" and the hypnotically melodic "Burnin' for You" from 1981's "Fire Of Unknown Origin". Other notable BÖC songs include "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll", "Then Came The Last Days Of May", "I Love The Night", "In Thee", "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars", "Dominance And Submission", "Astronomy", "Black Blade" and "Shooting Shark".
Msg from ERIC BLOOM:

During BÖC’s time off I scheduled a non-life threatening surgical procedure.
I am on the mend, but the recovery is taking a little longer than expected.
Kasim Sulton will be standing in for me for a few shows and knock it out of the park!
I’ll see you soon. pic.twitter.com/tPONKcp7ij

— realBLUEOYSTER CULT (@theamazingBOC) May 13, 2026

Brazilian metallers EMINENCE reached a definitive career milestone in 2025 by traveling to Denmark's legendary AntFarm Studios to fulfill a long-held dream: recording on European soil. This journey was the culmination of a powerhouse partnership with world-renowned producer Tue Madsen, resulting in a refined, hard-hitting sound that bridges the band's Brazilian roots with international excellence.

The band's latest single, "Silent March", serves as a bold introduction to this new era. The track, which will be released on May 29, features a guest appearance by Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA),whose iconic guitar work elevates the band's high-octane energy. Complementing the sonic weight, the band enlisted Charles Moreira (PENSE, COLID) to deliver a powerhouse performance on drums, while the visual identity was brought to life through a striking artwork concept by Rafael Moco.

Formed in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, EMINENCE carries not only the weight of its own history but also the responsibility of representing a scene that shaped heavy music in Brazil. Emerging from such fertile ground, their sound could never remain untouched. There is a symbolic and aesthetic charge that spans generations, resonating in the way the band constructs its sonic identity: heavy, intense, and modern, yet with roots firmly planted in the Minas Gerais metal tradition.

With nearly three decades on the road, EMINENCE has etched its name among the greats, taking its music far beyond national borders. The band has completed over 30 international tours, performing in countries such as Colombia, New Zealand, Japan, Suriname, Mexico, the United States, China, and across Europe. Notably, they were among the first Brazilian representatives to perform in the United Arab Emirates at the Sandstorm Festival — one of the region's largest heavy music events, a stage rarely accessed by Brazilian artists.

The EMINENCE resume includes appearances on historic stages and major festivals, including Rock in Rio (2015, 2019 and 2022),Woodstock Festival (Poland),South By Southwest (SXSW) (USA),CMJ (New York),Summer Breeze Brazil (2024),Knotfest Brazil (2024) and Rock Al Parque (Colombia). A significant highlight was being invited to join SEPULTURA's farewell tour, featuring historic shows in Belo Horizonte and Juiz de Fora. Furthermore, their presence in relevant cultural venues like Sesc Belenzinho in São Paulo proves that their music transitions naturally between massive metal stages and contemporary cultural circuits.

Over the years, EMINENCE — led by guitarist and founding member Alan Wallace — has built a solid bridge between tradition and modernity. Their music moves between extreme heaviness and technical nuance, paired with a vocal expression that combines aggression, control and power. Beyond the sound, the band has always prioritized aesthetics — from album covers and illustrations to music videos and live performances — understanding that image communicates values and expands the artistic experience. This vision is also reflected in their high-level partnerships. In 2021, amidst the pandemic, EMINENCE released "Dark Echoes", helmed by the renowned Danish producer Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, MESHUGGAH, BEHEMOTH). The album featured major collaborations, including Márcio Buzelin (JOTA QUEST),Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK) and Jean Patton (PROJECT46).

EMINENCE hasn't just participated in the history of Brazilian metal — they helped write it. Their contribution echoes in the reconfiguration of the national scene, offering music that balances brutality and sophistication while keeping the flame of a sound born to be global alive. Their movement alongside giants like SEPULTURA confirms that the legacy of EMINENCE is, above all, a reflection of resistance, innovation, and passion.

EMINENCE is:

Alan Wallace - Guitar, Synths
Bruno Paraguay - Vocals
Davidson Mainart - Bass
Thiago Caeiro - Drums

New York hardcore kings MADBALL remain one of the few legacy acts capable of seamlessly bridging the gap between the old-school era and the modern heavy music landscape. To say hardcore is in the band's DNA is an understatement — it is their lifeblood. On their tenth studio album, "Not Your Kingdom", which will be released on July 24 via Nuclear Blast, MADBALL delivers its trademark tales of survival, but with a deeper, more introspective edge. The lyrics offer a raw look into frontman Freddy Cricien's perspective on the current state of the world and the human condition, marking their most personal release to date.

The first glimpse into the album arrives with "Rebel Kids". An anthemic track at its core, it leans into the band's classic groove and unrelenting energy while striking a chord with the new generation of hardcore fans. The accompanying music video was co-directed by Freddy Cricien and Dave Causa, with Causa also handling filming and editing duties.

MADBALL's Freddy Cricien comments: "Funny enough, 'Rebel Kids' was the first track written for this album and actually was completely put together probably two years ago … or so. The sentiment, vibe and message of the song really became the catalyst for what came after. We all loved the song immediately but I couldn't have known it would be the first single. We have several songs that we feel could be first 'out of the gate'. But in the end 'Rebel Kids' made the most sense musically, lyrically etc. We look forward to releasing this song and album. It's a special one for us and we're hoping the rest of the world feels the same once they hear it!"

"Not Your Kingdom" track listing:

01. Tethered
02. Flammable
03. Rebelude
04. Rebel Kids
05. Don't Misstep
06. What Say You
07. Stab Wounds
08. Sunrise
09. Life's A Mural
10. Family First
11, Clockwork
12. IWI
13. The Ride
14. Chase A Dream

"Not Your Kingdom" was tracked at The Boneyard Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with additional interludes recorded by Jeff "Stress" Davis and Chuck Treece at Chop Shop Studios. The album was produced and engineered by the team of Andrew Baylis, Aiden Thompson and Grady Saxman, with final mixing and mastering handled by Lee Rouse. The striking cover art features photography by the legendary Cornell Capa, courtesy of Magnum Photos and the Cornell Capa Estate.

MADBALL is:

Vocals - Freddy Cricien
Guitar - Mike Gurnari
Drums - Mike Justian
Bass - Paul Delaney

In August 2023, longtime MADBALL bassist Jorge "Hoya Roc" Guerra announced his departure from the band. Cricien later said that there was "no bad blood or animosity" between him and Guerra, explaining that they were "simply moving in different directions".

MADBALL originated in the late 1980s, as a side project of AGNOSTIC FRONT. The band developed after AGNOSTIC FRONT frontman Roger Miret would let his younger half-brother, Freddy Cricien, take the microphone and perform lead vocals during AGNOSTIC FRONT shows.

MADBALL's latest album, "For The Cause", was released in June 2018 via Nuclear Blast. The record was mixed and mastered by renowned producer Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studios in Denmark. It was co-produced by Tim Armstrong (RANCID),who is also featured on the album.

Photo credit: Dave Causa

THE ROLLING STONES have released the video for the upbeat and infectious lead single "In The Stars" from their newly announced studio album "Foreign Tongues". Directed by Francois Rousselet, whose credits include work with Nike, Diesel, Pharrell Williams and on THE STONES' "Angry" from "Hackney Diamonds" and "Ride 'Em On Down" from "Blue & Lonesome", the new video features acclaimed actress Odessa A'zion ("Marty Supreme", "I Love LA"). The video, which was created by Deep Voodoo using groundbreaking deepfake technology, models THE STONES from the 1970s performing "In The Stars" amongst musicians, singers, dancers from different eras, different cultures and subcultures.

On working with THE ROLLING STONES, Odessa A'zion said: "Are you kidding me? It's my dream. The first record that I ever got that I listened to from start to finish was 'Tattoo You'. I'm obsessed with THE ROLLING STONES. This is in my bucket list for sure."

"Foreign Tongues", arriving July 10 from Capitol Records, is an incredibly vibrant 14-track collection that follows less than three years after the band's universally acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning "Hackney Diamonds", which topped charts worldwide and achieved multi-platinum success. "In The Stars" track was released last week in conjunction with the band's album announcement and is available digitally alongside the album's opening track "Rough And Twisted". "In The Stars" receives a physical release on May 15.

In the lead-up to the announcement of "Foreign Tongues", THE ROLLING STONES have been subtly building anticipation for the new project, including the limited white label release of the track "Rough And Twisted" only on vinyl under the name THE COCKROACHES. Circulating among fans and collectors, the release has already sparked excitement and speculation around the sound and direction of "Foreign Tongues", offering an early glimpse into the album's raw and exploratory energy.

Recorded during an exceptionally creative period, "Foreign Tongues" was brought to life in under a month at Metropolis Studios in West London, with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood reuniting with Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt, who also helmed "Hackney Diamonds". The result is a dynamic and forward-looking record that captures the band's unmistakable sound while pushing into new sonic and lyrical territory, further cementing their unparalleled legacy.

"Foreign Tongues" track listing;

01. Rough And Twisted
02. In The Stars
03. Jealous Lover
04. Mr Charm
05. Divine Intervention
06. Ringing Hollow
07. Never Wanna Lose You
08. Hit Me In The Head
09. You Know I'm No Good
10. Some of Us
11. Covered In You
12. Side Effects
13. Back In Your Life
14. Beautiful Delilah

"Foreign Tongues" will be available on a wide range of formats, including CD, deluxe CD editions, cassette, multiple vinyl variants (standard and limited colour pressings),exclusive retailer editions, and special box sets, alongside the single "In The Stars" on CD and vinyl formats.

Photo credit: Kevin Mazur (courtesy of Interscope Capitol)

MASTODON drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor confirmed the band's highly anticipated ninth studio album is "finished." The upcoming LP will be the acclaimed Atlanta progressive metallers' first without co-founding guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, who departed MASTODON in March 2025. Hinds passed away in a motorcycle accident five months later. He was replaced by touring guitarist Nick Johnston, who reportedly will appear on the new studio album.

"We're very excited about it," Dailor told BLABBERMOUTH.NET in a recent interview. "It was a hard record to make. It was a very emotional time for us. I lost my mom, we went through all this turmoil with Brent, and then he passed away. It's been tough. It's all in the music, it's all in the songs, and I'm excited to release it and get it out there into the world because we've been sitting on it for a while. A lot of this stuff, at least the skeletons of what this album is, we've been sitting on for two years now. A lot was going on."

Asked whether the new studio album features any musical contributions from Hinds, Dailor told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "No. It's all new stuff. Toward the end, unfortunately, it was hard to get him to come down to the [practice] space. He was interested in doing other stuff, which was fine. It was a confusing time. [Laughs] I was the one going, 'Come on, man. Come down. Let's riff.' He was a free spirit. He wanted to ride his motorcycle around and go do this and that. He was wherever the wind took him. Unfortunately, it was not down to the practice space to work on riffs. It was a little bit frustrating. I was okay with it. I was like, 'Hey man, everyone can do whatever they want to do in their life. If you're unhappy and not wanting to be here doing whatever, figure out what does make you happy and do that.'"

Brent was reportedly riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle late on August 20, 2025 when he was hit by an SUV turning left and failing to yield at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE, less than two miles from downtown Atlanta, according to Atlanta police.

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

According to a crash report, investigators found that Hinds was at fault for the accident because he was speeding. Relying on video of the intersection, investigators calculated that the musician was going between 63 and 68 mph, which is roughly twice the speed limit at the crash site, the report said.

In March 2025, MASTODON revealed that the band and Hinds had "mutually decided to part ways" after "25 monumental years together."

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

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

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

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

More recently, Hinds had a tour, "An Evening With Brent Hinds", set for November and December 2025 throughout Europe.

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

Brent played his first show since exiting MASTODON on March 21, 2025 with his band FIEND WITHOUT A FACE at 529 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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

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

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

Harper Nonfiction is set to publish the thrilling, hilarious and deeply personal autobiography of IRON MAIDEN's longtime drummer Nicko McBrain. "Hello Boys And Girls!" will be published into hardback, ebook and audio on October 22, 2026.

Nicko is the legendary drummer for IRON MAIDEN, joining the band in 1982, after stints with artists like STREETWALKERS, Pat Travers and TRUST and honing his craft from decades of session work among the highly competitive mean streets and studios of London's Soho. Through his powerful, precise drumming and charismatic stage presence, the long-serving drummer became a metal icon, pivotal in shaping IRON MAIDEN's dynamic sound.

With trademark humor and heart, McBrain takes us behind the scenes of one of Britain's biggest-ever bands. Experience the highs and lows of his illustrious career on the road, in the studio and being "Mr. Iron Maiden" to the worldwide legion of fans.

This is the story of what it feels like to remain not just relevant but more loved than ever after decades at the top, and to live a life transformed by music, brotherhood, and belief.

Packed with unforgettable moments, backstage stories, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and raw honesty, "Hello Boys And Girls!" is more than a rock memoir, it's a front-row seat to one of heavy metal's greatest lives.

Nicko says: "I'm very excited and honoured to be working with the wonderful Harper Nonfiction team on my very own book full of lots of fun stories, anecdotes and of course my incredible experiences with some of the greatest musicians and performers from the '70s, '80s and beyond! I am blessed to be able to finally share my path to where I am today, in my own words, with the world."

The now-73-year-old British musician, whose real name is Michael Henry McBrain, announced his retirement on December 7, 2024 in a statement on MAIDEN's web site and social media. He also said that night's concert at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil would mark his final show with the legendary rock band. McBrain has since been replaced by Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and MAIDEN founding bassist Steve Harris's longtime bandmate in BRITISH LION.

In July 2025, Nicko told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about his exit from MAIDEN: "I had my health issues, which was one of the primary reasons that I decided to hang it up with the guys. And I wasn't doing the songs justice because of the handicap that I had. And it wasn't fair on everybody else either in the band. They supported me 100 percent through the 'The Future Past Tour', and that was fantastic. I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of brothers to support me through my darkest hour."

Elaborating on the physical ailments which contributed to his decision to retire from touring with IRON MAIDEN, Nicko said: "Primarily, I was fed up with touring in terms of the travel and not having days to recoup my body… I wasn't so much slowing down, although we did play the songs that… I got told off at rehearsals [in 2024] because I was playing the songs too fast, 'cause I'd been playing with [my Florida-based side project] TITANIUM TART [which plays MAIDEN songs] before I went off and did the rehearsals in Australia with MAIDEN. And I actually got told off for playing too quick. So it wasn't a question of not being able to drive the band. It was just not being able to drive the band with the drum fills that I'd been used to playing for 42 years. So the question mark was raised about the performance side. And that's quite right…So that was part of the decision that I made."

When Nicko first went public with his stroke in August 2023, the drummer said in a statement that the episode left him "paralyzed" down one side of his body and "worried" that his career with the band was over.

Six years ago, McBrain was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer and opened up about it in a single interview in 2021 but otherwise kept it mostly under wraps.

McBrain lives at home in Florida with his wife Rebecca, their cat Lola, and two Yorkshire Terriers, Tigerlily and Tinkerbell.

McBrain officially joined IRON MAIDEN in December 1982 for the 1983 "Piece Of Mind" album and tour, replacing Clive Burr, after McBrain's previous band TRUST had supported IRON MAIDEN during the U.K. leg of the "Killers" tour in 1981. McBrain brought a degree of finesse and technicality that was largely missing from IRON MAIDEN's early output. Whereas Burr was often lauded for his heavy-handed, punk-oriented style, McBrain was largely the opposite, playing with a degree of dexterity and flair that helped primary songwriter Harris take MAIDEN down more adventurous paths. He eventually became the third longest-tenured member of MAIDEN, behind Harris and guitarist Dave Murray.

Photo credit: John McMurtrie

MÖTLEY CRÜE is gearing up to hit stages across North America this summer on "The Return Of The Carnival Of Sins" tour. The band's first extensive touring in two years will see them hit 35 cities with dates in July, August, and September, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of MÖTLEY CRÜE's groundbreaking 2006 "Carnival Of Sins" tour with a reimagined show and updated setlist. $1 of every ticket sold will be donated to ASAP! (After School Arts Program) through the Mötley Crüe Giveback Initiative to support students with hands-on programs in music and the arts.

To get you ready for the summer tour kick-off, MÖTLEY CRÜE has announced a limited-edition picture disc box set, "Crücial Crüe 1981-1989". It will be available via BMG on July 10 as a 5LP picture disc set, 5CD picture disc replica set, and ultra-limited 250 unit hand-numbered Crüeseum exclusive featuring a reverse color outer box.

"Crücial Crüe 1981-1989" includes MÖTLEY CRÜE's iconic first five studio albums, which have sold a combined 30 million copies globally: "Too Fast For Love" (1981; platinum U.S.),"Shout At The Devil" (1983; four times platinum U.S.),"Theatre Of Pain" (1985; four times platinum U.S.),"Girls Girls Girls" (1987; four times platinum U.S.) and "Dr. Feelgood" (1989; six times platinum U.S.).

Contained on these albums are timeless tracks that shaped a generation, created a genre and are still featured in the band's setlist to this day, including "Live Wire", "Too Fast For Love", "Shout At The Devil", "Looks That Kill", "Home Sweet Home", "Smokin' In The Boys Room", "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Wild Side", "Dr. Feelgood", "Kickstart My Heart", "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" and many more.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's music continues to find new fans and affect popular culture through continued placements in movies, TV shows, video games, commercials and sporting events worldwide. "Home Sweet Home" most recently is featured prominently in the trailer for "Bus Boys" (starring Theo Von and David Spade) while "Kickstart My Heart" marks a second year as the official theme for NASCAR's IndyCar race series. The track has also been featured in high-profile moments during the recent NFL Draft and continues to energize audiences throughout the current NHL playoffs, reinforcing the timeless appeal and adrenaline-fueled spirit of the CRÜE's sound.

Coming soon: "Crüe 45 RPM - The Singles Collection", an ultra-limited, hand-numbered, foil-packaged series of 10-inch vinyl, available only at the Crüeseum.

In addition to MÖTLEY CRÜE celebrating its 45th anniversary, the holy grail for music collectors, the Leathür Records original 1981 version of the band's debut album, "Too Fast For Love", also turns 45 this year.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's 33-city Live Nation-produced tour will kick off on July 17, 2026 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania at the Pavilion at Star Lake and will feature support acts EXTREME and TESLA.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's Las Vegas residency launched on September 12, 2025 and at Dolby Live at Park MGM and ran through October 3, 2025. The shows had initially been set for spring 2025 but were rescheduled after frontman Vince Neil revealed he had suffered a stroke around Christmas 2024.

In September 2025, Vince revealed that he had actually had a series of strokes before he suffered the "big one" in his sleep 2024 Christmas night, rendering him unable to get out of bed when he woke up the next day.

When MÖTLEY CRÜE originally postponed the Las Vegas residency, the band said it was because Neil needed a "medical procedure," but offered no further details.

Guitarist John 5 joined MÖTLEY CRÜE in the fall of 2022 as the replacement for the band's original guitarist Mick Mars.

When Mars announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE, he maintained that he would remain a member of the band, with John 5 taking his place on the road. However, in April 2023 the now-75-year-old musician filed a lawsuit against CRÜE in Los Angeles County's Superior Court claiming that, after his announcement, the rest of CRÜE tried to remove him as a significant stakeholder in the group's corporation and business holdings via a shareholders' meeting.

Mars suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS),a chronic and inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. After years of performing through the pain, he informed the other members of MÖTLEY CRÜE in the summer of 2022 that he could no longer tour with them but would still be open to recording new music or performing at residencies that did not require much travel.

During a May 12 livestream on his YouTube channel, Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack was asked by one of the viewers for an update on the status of the long-awaited Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne biopic. Jack said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I can tell you this: we are moving ahead. I was on calls today about it. The script is right there. We are good. This movie will absolutely happen. Realistically — I mean, look, we're already halfway through '26 — it probably won't come out until '28. But you never know. But, yeah, we're full steam ahead. We're about to start going out and getting a director attached. So, fingers crossed. I'm really excited. It's, yeah, very much been a labor of love, of course. But, yeah, I'm excited — I'm excited for everyone to see this film."

Jack previously talked about the Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne biopic in February 2026 during an appearance on an episode of the acclaimed podcast series "The Magnificent Others", hosted by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan. He said at the time: "We're working on my dad's movie right now, and I'm one of the producers on it. We're doing it at Sony Studios. And I'm really kind of in the trenches with that. And it's funny. Out of all the team assembled on it, with these amazing producers and directors and act[ors], whatever, I'm the least qualified, but everyone just comes to me. I'm the middleman for everyone because if they need questions for my mom or if my mom needs questions for them. So I've found myself in this position where I'm the middleman with it all, and I'm really enjoying the experience and just learning about it."

He added: "Movies, they're different. It's a different animal."

Asked by Billy if the details of the biopic have been announced yet, Jack said: "Well, it was announced that we were doing it with Sony Pictures. We haven't done announced the cast yet, 'cause we haven't settled [on all of it].

"Initially it was gonna go from kind of my dad as a young man to the kind of mid-'90s, but we're shrinking it down," Jack revealed. "We're doing a rewrite right now. In my perfect vision of it, it would be kind of tail end of SABBATH, him going solo. [Because] you gotta have the love story. And that's kind of the main focus of the film, and all the craziness that happened in the early '80s and Randy's [Rhoads, late Ozzy guitarist] tragic death. But, yeah, it's an origin story."

In January 2026, Jack told "Influenced", the SiriusXM show hosted by multi-talented musician and artist Billy Morrison, about the Ozzy and Sharon biopic:  "We are in full steam in the next phase of development with this movie. That's an acted movie that we've been developing with Sony studios for, like, six years already."

As for which actor will play Ozzy in the film, Jack said: "We have our decided pick, and I can't say anything [yet], but it's a phenomenal, phenomenal actor. We have a director attached, and we're doing a rewrite right now."

After Billy noted that Ozzy would "get a kick out of" having a movie made about his life, Jack concurred. "Oh, he would," he said. "And all he kept saying — I'd give him updates: 'Oh, we met with this guy', and 'this is happening'. And he just would go, 'I don't give a shit. Just tell me when it's out so I can go see it.'"

It was reported by Variety back in October 2021 that Ozzy and Sharon had partnered with Sony Pictures and Polygram Entertainment for the film, which will focus on the love story between the BLACK SABBATH frontman and his wife and manager. It will be scripted by Lee Hall, who previously worked on Elton John's "Rocketman".

Ozzy and Sharon, along with their children Jack and Kelly, discussed the biopic in an April 2024 episode of their revived podcast.

"By the time they finish this film, I'll be dead… I wanna be alive to fucking see it," Ozzy said at the time. "Movies take forever to make. Forever," Sharon added.

Asked which actress she would like to play her in the biopic, Sharon said: "Florence Pugh or the little girl from 'Game Of Thrones'."

The film is being produced by Sharon and her children Jack and Aimée Osbourne via their label Osbourne Media (which was also behind the Showtime documentary "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" and A&E's "Biography: The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne"),alongside Michele Anthony and David Blackman on behalf of Polygram Entertainment. Andrea Giannetti is overseeing development for Sony.

Variety also pointed out that music from BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy's solo career will be featured in the film.

In 2020, Ozzy stated about the biopic: "From what I understand, it's about Sharon and I and our relationship. It's how we met, fell in love, and how we married. She's my other half. She grew up a lot with me, and I grew up a lot with her."

"I hope it will be a story that everybody can relate to," Sharon said. "You don't have to be a fan of the music, because it's a story about a survivor. No matter what life throws at you, you pick yourself up and you start again. It's just an amazing story of overcoming everything that's thrown at you in your life."

Sharon added that the film will be "a lot more real" than the QUEEN biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody". "We don't want it to be squeaky, shiny clean and all of that," she said. "We're not making it for kids. It's an adult movie for adults."

Back in January 2019, Sharon told Variety that she had approached Danny Boyle ("28 Days Later", "Sunshine", "Trainspotting") about directing the film. "It's the madness of my childhood, growing up in the industry with a powerful father who was somewhat violent," she said.

Sharon went on to say that she "would get a complete unknown" to play Ozzy. "It's Ozzy at a very young age," she explained. "It's Ozzy at 20."

Sharon's father, former music mogul Don Arden, became known as the "Al Capone of pop" and the "English Godfather" for his tough-guy business practices while overseeing the careers of acts ranging from ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA to BLACK SABBATH. Arden and his daughter became estranged in 1982 after she took over the management of Ozzy's solo career, also marrying the singer. Father and daughter were not on good terms for nearly 20 years until reconciling in 2002.

Sharon had to pay her father $1 million in a court settlement after she gained control of Ozzy's affairs.

Ozzy died on July 22, 2025 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate also reportedly said the 76-year-old musician suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

Ten months ago, Osbourne reunited with the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for what was his final performance at the "Back To The Beginning" charity concert in their original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

Hard rock giants BREAKING BENJAMIN are back with a brooding and haunting new single, "Something Wicked", signaling the latest chapter for the band and the tease of a forthcoming full-length album. Marked by their signature blend of atmospheric tension, thunderous instrumentation, and raw emotional weight, the track finds the band pushing deeper into their darker sonic territory while staying rooted in the sound that has defined them for years. "Something Wicked" builds from a simmering, introspective opening into a powerful, anthemic crescendo, showcasing frontman Benjamin Burnley's unmistakable vocals as they shift between vulnerable restraint and explosive intensity.

Speaking on the single, Burnley shares: "'Something Wicked' is a quick look into our influences both musically and thematically. We challenged ourselves especially hard on this record and on this song. We pushed every boundary we've previously had as far as it will go, then pushed a little more. 'Something Wicked' was the result."

In October 2024, BREAKING BENJAMIN released a new single called "Awaken". BREAKING BENJAMIN's first new music since 2018 was made available via the band's new global recordings agreement with BMG. The partnership with BMG also marked the group's first new label home since releasing BREAKING BENJAMIN debut album nearly 25 years ago. "Awaken" quickly shot to No. 1 on the Rock Digital Songs charts and landed in the Top 20 on multiple additional Billboard charts, including Hot Hard Rock Songs, Digital Song Sales, Hot Alternative Songs and Hard Rock Songs. The single has also since surpassed 131 million streams globally.

BREAKING BENJAMIN are no strangers to the upper echelons of the rock charts. Since bursting on to the scene with 2002's "Saturate", the band has amassed an impressive string of mainstream rock radio hits, with ten songs hitting No. 1, numerous platinum and multi-platinum songs and albums, 8.5 billion combined streams worldwide and a social imprint of over 6.5 million, a true testament to the band's global influence and loyal fan base. BREAKING BENJAMIN's studio album "Ember" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and marked the multi-platinum band's fourth Top 5 debut on the Billboard 200, following 2015's No. 1 debut for "Dark Before Dawn" (gold),2009's "Dear Agony" (platinum) at No. 4 and 2006's "Phobia" (platinum) at No. 2. "Ember" spun off two No. 1 hits at Active Rock Radio with "Red Cold River" and "Torn In Two". "Aurora" and "Ember" charted Top 10 across numerous countries worldwide and topped charts across multiple genres, including Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums and Top Digital Albums.

In June and July, BREAKING BENJAMIN will be heading to Europe to tour the continent for their first overseas shows since 2017, with support from CHEVELLE and RETURN TO DUST.

BREAKING BENJAMIN's May 9 performance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida marked the band's first live appearance with new drummer Brian Medeiros (RED, OTHERWISE). Medeiros took over from ASKING ALEXANDRIA drummer James Cassells, who has been sitting behind the kit for BREAKING BENJAMIN for the past eight months after BREAKING BENJAMIN drummer Shaun Foist announced that he would "step away" from touring with the band to "focus on healing" in his ongoing battle with Hashimoto's disease.

BREAKING BENJAMIN commented: "We want to thank James for helping us in a time of need last year, a legend in the making! We welcome Brian to the stage with us moving forward on the road."

James added: "Last year I had the opportunity to step in and play drums for BREAKING BENJAMIN during a pretty unexpected chapter, and I just wanted to say thank you to the band, crew, and everyone who welcomed me along the way. From the first show to the last, it was an absolute privilege to share the stage with such incredible musicians and perform for so many passionate fans every night. I've met a lot of genuinely great people through this experience and I'm incredibly grateful for all the support, kind messages, and encouragement I've received throughout the run. Wishing the guys nothing but the best moving forward."

Photo credit: Dominique D'Costa