SEPULTURA drummer Eloy Casagrande has uploaded video of his drum solo from a February 23 performance with CASAGRANDE & HANYSZ, his prog metal project with João Hanysz, at SESC Paulista in São Paulo, Brazil. Check it out below.

CASAGRANDE & HANYSZ's debut EP, "Edge Of Chaos", was released in September 2020. The effort was produced, recorded and mixed by Andre Kbelo and was mastered by Carlinhos Freitas.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA 12 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.

In 2021, guitarist Andreas Kisser spoke to France's Loud TV about how Casagrande's addition to has affected SEPULTURA's sound.

"We're very lucky to have such great musicians here in Brazil, especially in drumming," he said. "We have great drummers and percussionists. You see [Carlos] Santana and all those great names, Paul Simon and stuff, always using some Brazilian here and there regarding the drum world. And Eloy started playing drums very early. He was made for SEPULTURA, man. I mean, he played in some other bands and stuff, but here with SEPULTURA, he's really exploding; he's really free to express himself the way he wants to, and SEPULTURA's music really provides that. And in exchange, he gave me especially to write many new possibilities. I think 'Machine Messiah' and 'Quadra' are the consequence of that interaction we have, which is great. It's so inspiring. It's fantastic.

"We are kind of always writing," he continued. "Sometimes he sends me some drum loops and I send him some riffs and stuff, and it's really cool that we build stuff from there. And he's a very professional guy — the best drummer in the world; at least for SEPULTURA he's the best. [Laughs]"

In February 2020, SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green told Australia's Everblack Media that Casagrande has had "a tremendous impact" on the group since he joined in 2011. "It's undeniable because he's such a strong force," he said. "He loves playing metal music. He's one of the most talented drummers I've ever seen, honestly. That power is consistent from beginning to the end. It really has rubbed off on all of us to really push ourselves further. He's such a perfect match for the band. He really is always influencing us in so many ways to really go beyond — above and beyond."

In 2019, the now-32-year-old Eloy told Drumtalk that he didn't care about the long-simmering feud between founding SEPULTURA members Max and Igor Cavalera and his current bandmates. "I respect all the history," he said. "I have total respect for the past drummers, Igor and Jean. They are amazing guys, incredible guys, but we just live in the present. I really don't care what happened, what didn't happen. I respect all the music. I respect their music nowadays. It's just that we have to follow our path and that's it."

SEPULTURA's latest album, "Quadra", was released in February 2020 via Nuclear Blast. The LP was created at Sweden's Fascination Street Studios with renowned producer Jens Bogren.

SEPULTURA comprises Green, Kisser, bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. and Casagrande.

TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider's first fictional novel, "Frats", will finally see the light of day in "late spring."

Dee revealed the timeline for the book's release while listing some of his current activities in response to a tweet from a fan.

The 67-year-old musician, who lives in Southern California, wrote: " A lot going on. Appearances on upcoming network TV Show; 'Rock Meets Classic' Germany tour in April; 'FRATS' novel released late spring; @Z2comics graphic novel next month; Release of 'Me' @OriginalFunko POP soon."

Last month, Snider told Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show that "Frats" is "a '70s period piece and coming-of-age story; it's all about toxic masculinity and growing up in a very toxic environment and how it affects people."

Three years ago, Dee described the book as "a period piece/coming of age story set on Long Island, NY in 1972/73 inspired by true event." But he quickly clarified: "No it's not my story."

Snider previously wrote two other books: "Dee Snider's Teenage Survival Guide: Or How To Be A Legend In Your Own Lunch Time", which was originally published in 1987 but was re-released in 2019, and Snider's official autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic", which was released in 2012 via Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Snider wrote "Teenage Survival Guide" more than three decades ago when he was approached by Doubleday to produce a sequel to a popular book from the '50s called "'Twixt Twelve And Twenty" by American music icon Pat Boone. At the time, the editors at Doubleday saw Dee as a modern-day pop figure whom kids would listen to and assigned a rock journalist, Philip Bashe, to work with the singer.

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final trek, titled "Forty And Fuck It", in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band's "core lineup" of Snider, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda and bassist Mark Mendoza, along with drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's last-ever full concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of TWISTED's longtime drummer A.J. Pero.

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.
Guilty as charged. Just living my best life. A lot going on.

- Appearances on upcoming network TV Show.
- "Rock Meets Classic" Germany tour in April.
- "FRATS" novel released late spring.
- @Z2comics graphic novel next month.
- Release of "Me" @OriginalFunko POP soon.

Stuff... https://t.co/KZozOOn0Q7

— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) February 28, 2023

PANTERA has announced two concerts in Germany after the band's festival appearances in the country were canceled following an outcry over singer Philip Anselmo's previous racist remarks.

The reformed group — featuring PANTERA's surviving members Anselmo and Rex Brown (bass) along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) — will now perform on June 2 at Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart and on June 3 at Messe Dresden in Dresden.

PANTERA was scheduled to appear at Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park, two simultaneous rock festivals, which will take place June 2-4 in Nürburgring and Nürnberg, respectively. However, after intensive discussions with artists, partners and fans, the festival promoters decided to remove PANTERA from the bill in late January.

Most of the backlash that led to the German concert cancelations stemmed from the fact that Anselmo made a Nazi-style salute when he performed at the January 2016 "Dimebash" event at the Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood in honor of late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. He also appeared to say "white power" as he made the gesture, but later claimed he was joking about drinking white wine backstage and was reacting to the audience members up front who he says were taunting him.

There was additional criticism with regard to the fact that Rock Im Park takes place in Nürnberg (known in its English form as Nuremberg),where Hitler supporters held a series of mass Nazi party rallies between 1933 and 1938.

In calling for Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park organizers to cancel PANTERA's appearances at the festivals, the German Green Party said in the Nürnberg city council that Anselmo "repeatedly and deliberately made Nazi gestures and yelled racist slogans." Réka Lörincz, the spokeswoman for the Greens against racism and right-wing extremism, added that "the former Nazi party premises" were "being deliberately misused for the staging and reproduction of racist and inhuman ideology." The Green Party rep told Germany's Stern magazine that Anselmo's apology for his white power outburst was "not credible enough" and that hosting the band on the former Nazi Party rally grounds "clearly exceeds the limit of what is bearable."

“We are relieved about the organizer's decision not to offer the band PANTERA a stage. Their singer Phil Anselmo had repeatedly attracted attention with anti-Semitic and racist incidents," Lörincz wrote in a statement on the Green Party's web site. "Therefore, a performance was unimaginable for us — especially on the former Nazi party rally grounds."

Back in May 2019, Anselmo was asked by U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine if he feels the "Dimebash" debate is something he has moved past. He responded: "I feel like it's ridiculous. I made an off-color joke and 'Boom!' — it's like I'm literally Hitler! I'm not. I take each individual one at a time, in the way that any logical individual will. I have love in my heart. Over the years, I've learned to take the first step with love and to put good faith first. I get along with everybody. If there's any doubt about my political leanings, people should get it out of their heads. I was raised amongst a dazzling [cast of characters] from the theatre, from the mental hospital, from all walks of life — all colors, creeds and kinds. It's absurd to me that anyone in this day and age would judge anyone by the color of their skin, their heritage or their religion. I'm a harmless guy. I'm a reactionary, not a troublemaker."

In the days following the "Dimebash" incident, MACHINE HEAD's Robb Flynn — who played PANTERA songs with Anselmo at the event — released an eleven-minute response video in which he denounced Anselmo as a "big bully" and a racist. He concluded by saying that he would never play another PANTERA song again. ANTHRAX's Scott Ian, who is Jewish, released a statement on his official web site saying, "Philip's actions were vile" and invited Anselmo to make a donation to the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

Former PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who hadn't spoken to Anselmo since the band's split in 2003, was dismissive when asked for a comment on the singer's white-power salute. "I can't speak for him," Vinnie said in a 2016 interview. "He's done a lot of things that tarnish the image of what PANTERA was back then and what it stood for and what it was all about. And it's sad."

In 2017, Anselmo blasted "false journalism in the metal community" for suggesting he was racist because of his actions at "Dimebash".

In the weeks after the "Dimebash" incident, Anselmo's DOWN project canceled a number of shows, including at France's Hellfest, Dutch festival FortaRock and U.K.'s Download. The singer wrote an open letter to the Hellfest organizers in which he said it was not the right time for DOWN to tour. He also revealed that he was suffering from a recurring knee injury and needed rehabilitation.

2 more European shows! 2 June - Stuttgart & 3 June - Dresden. Public onsale starts 3 March at 11am CET.

Posted by Pantera on Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Original SALIVA singer Josey Scott has revealed in a new interview with That Fuzzing Rock Show that he has launched a new band called SHADE VIOLENT. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's a collection of some friends of mine here where I live in Oklahoma. And my stepson Dylan is my rhythm guitar player. And we're just in the process of writing the record right now. And we're just now getting in the studio and starting to figure some things out. We've done a couple of shows, a couple of start-up shows… But, yeah, we're just getting it together and sort of sussing things out."

Regarding his approach to the new music he is writing, Josey said: "My mission is to get back to that kid in Memphis. One of my favorite producers, Malcolm Springer, in Nashville, said, 'Where's that kid that used to run around with a green notebook full of lyrics under his arm and the backpack and the black blazer? Where's that kid at?' And that's exactly where I'm trying to find my way back to that kid. I'm trying to find a way back to that first love, why I fell in love with music in the first place and why I think music is so beautiful and so moving."

He continued: "I'm working with ScatteredBrains, a producer out of Nashville. And he told me, he said, 'This is an opportunity for you to tell your story. That's what this is about. At 50, when you've gone through your first arc of a musical career. You've done some wonderful things, and you've been through some horrible things.' And he said, 'It's time for you to tell your story.' And I think that's… My mission is to get back to why I fell in love with music in the first place and to tell my story and to join those two hands together."

Asked about a possible timeline for the release of the debut SHADE VIOLENT album, Josey said: "We're just taking it fast and loose. We're not really putting a time limit on it. I would like to get it out over the next three to six months. I'm definitely planning on dropping a single in the next three to four months, definitely. I just want to pay more attention to the music and make sure that everything is right and perfect this time, because it's a privilege and an honor to kind of finally be in the driver's seat and be the captain of my own soul and not have to answer to the whims of others. Which I'm badmouthing that in any kind of way. I just want a chance, like I said, to tell my story."

As for SHADE VIOLENT's plans for live appearances, Josey said: "We've been playing a couple of start-up shows, just getting all the back catalog tight. We're possibly gonna do… I'd like to do maybe a BLACKBONE song. I'd like to do some SALIVA songs that I was privileged enough to write with the guys. And then I wanna play the new stuff as well. Sort of have a then-to-now sort of thing."

As previously reported, Scott reunited with SALIVA for a one-off appearance last September at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. Scott performed three songs with the group at the event, which also saw SALIVA play with its singer of the past decade, Bobby Amaru.

Blue Ridge marked Scott's first appearance with SALIVA since he left the band at the end of 2011 after a 15 year-run with the group, reportedly to pursue a solo Christian music career. He was quickly replaced by Amaru, who can be heard on SALIVA's last four releases: "In It To Win It" (2013),"Rise Up" (2014),"Love, Lies & Therapy" (2016) and "10 Lives" (2018).

In October 2019, Scott announced that he was returning to SALIVA, explaining at the time that he wanted to get together with his former bandmates and "write a badass record." Less than a year and a half later, in March 2021, SALIVA guitarist Wayne Swinny poured cold water on those plans, saying that the reunion with the singer "never really got off the ground."

When Swinny spoke to WRIF about SALIVA's failed reunion with Scott, he said that even though there were some initial discussions about Josey's return to the group, there was no follow-up to ensure that the plan was executed.

In December 2021, Josey took to his Twitter to write: "I want 2 apologize 2 my fans because I thought I was gonna reunite w/certain people & make u new music, & that fell through, but, I believe everything happens for a reason. There are no coincidences. A blessing in disguise. Now it's just u, & me, how intimate is that?"

SALIVA released six albums with Scott and tasted platinum success and a Grammy nomination for its first big hit, "Your Disease".

In May 2021, SALIVA celebrated the 20th anniversary of its breakthrough major label debut, "Every Six Seconds", with a special project called "Every Twenty Years", an EP of classic songs re-recorded with Amaru.

📸 Rehearsal shots: Last night we tore through the setlist while our road crew worked on getting the sound dialed in and ready for summer festivals and tour runs! #joseyscottrocks #redalertrocks #clickclickboom

Posted by Shade Violent on Thursday, February 23, 2023

Posted by Shade Violent on Monday, February 20, 2023

In a new interview with Australia's "Scars And Guitars" podcast, Michael Sweet of Christian rockers STRYPER confirmed that he has talked to MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine "about writing [music] together. I think that would be kind of unique and pretty cool," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "We've talked about it in text messages — and on the phone. I think one conversation we had. And I mentioned how I'd love to write stuff with him, and he said he had a bunch of ideas that he's built up over the years, and he could present me with some ideas, riff ideas.

"I don't know if he wants to remain anonymous or not, but I kind of threw that out the window by just talking about it right now, so if it ever does happen, I think people will know," Sweet continued.

"I respect Dave as a writer and as an artist, and I think, or at least I hope, he respects me. And I think it would be really interesting for him and I to collaborate and write something together. I think it would be really great; it would turn out really great."

Mustaine and Sweet have been open about their friendship over the years, with Dave going so far as to write a blurb/quote for the Sweet's autobiography, "Honestly", back in 2013. In the blurb, Mustaine wrote: "Sometimes you see someone or something and you think you got it all figured out, just to find you were pretty far off base. That's a sucky feeling. I learned a long time ago not to judge a book by its cover, and as much as I used to think that I am nothing like Michael Sweet, I have come to realize that we both have had a lot of hardships in common; the same trials and tribulations, the same band problems, and some of the same relationship issues. Fortunately for us, we both believe in the same Jesus, and serve the same amazing, loving creator, so it's no wonder that we would both be standing on the same victorious side of life, once all the smoke clears at the end of the fight. I hope you will enjoy his memoirs and come to a new understanding and a new appreciation of Michael Sweet."

Mustaine, who was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and is now a born-again Christian, spoke about "spirituality" during a 2016 interview, telling Honolulu, Hawaii radio host Dave Lawrence: "A lot of people believe that I'm into religion, because I had said that I had become a Christian. So let me just say that religion's for people who are afraid of going to hell, and spirituality's for people like me who've been there. And I say that there's a whole spirit world of stuff that… There's good and bad in everybody and in all things."

Those comments echoed what Mustaine said three years earlier in a chat with the Nashville Scene. He stated at the time: "I don't think that my faith has anything to do with my lyrics. I try and keep religion out of it. Frankly, for me, I don't believe in religion. I have a personal relationship with God and with Christ, and that's it. I don't push that on anybody; it's private. I kind of leave it there. [Now-former MEGADETH bassist] Dave's [Ellefson] real open about it."

STRYPER is the first overtly Christian metal band to go mainstream. The group's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "Even The Devil Believes" and the band's latest effort, "The Final Battle".

Michael is joined in STRYPER by his brother Robert Sweet (drums),Oz Fox (guitars) and Perry Richardson (bass).

Dave Mustaine photo credit: Gibson

Industrial music icons STATIC-X kicked off their "Rise Of The Machine" U.S. tour last night (Saturday, February 25) at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California. Video of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of Capital Chaos TV).

STATIC-X recently partnered with master costume/prop maker Eddie Yang and his Deity Creative to evolve the look for guitarist/vocalist Xer0. Yang is a movie industry veteran known for his work with "Avatar", "Iron Man", "Man Of Steel", "The Amazing Spider-Man", "Robocop" and "Terminator: Salvation", to name just a few. Eddie got his start working with Academy Award winners Rick Baker and Stan Winston before branching out on his own in 2006 with Deity Creative. The updated Xer0 look — including the new mask and wardrobe — was the result of a collaboration between DOPE frontman and creative director Edsel Dope — who is widely believed to be Xer0 — and Ed McDonough from ECCO Studios and Eddie Yang. The idea for the new mask and overall image update was born out of a desire from STATIC-X to evolve Xer0's look to match the theme of the "Rise Of The Machine" tour. Xer0 unveiled his new look at the San Francisco show.

Says Yang: "I have always been a metal fan and have listened to STATIC-X since their first release 'Wisconsin Death Trip'. I am honored to contribute to Wayne's [Static, late STATIC-X frontman] legacy and to work with the band on their incredible vision for evolving STATIC-X and Xer0 into something that is truly unique. This project finally combined my passion for character design and metal music into one big check-off the bucket list."

"Eddie is a genius" says Xer0. "We wanted to evolve the Xer0 character into a more cybernetic/robotic figure for the 'Rise Of The Machine' tour and Eddie absolutely fucking killed it!!!!!!!

"Eddie took the mask to a level that we never imagined possible, and we are so stoked with the result," adds bassist Tony Campos.

STATIC-X's eighth studio album, "Project Regeneration: Vol. 2", is scheduled for release on November 3. The LP is a collection of 13 brand-new songs that contain the final vocal performances and musical compositions of founding vocalist Wayne Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" lineup featuring Campos, Fukuda and Jay. The new album was produced by Xer0 and mixed/mastered by longtime collaborator Ulrich Wild.

All of the music associated with "Project Regeneration: Vol. 2" is the result of collaborations between the four founding members along with their new vocalist/guitarist/producer Xer0. No additional guests appear on the album and there were no outside contributions to the songwriting, musical compositions, or the performances on "Project Regeneration: Vol. 2". Between the two releases, STATIC-X fans around the globe have been treated to over two dozen brand new songs — most of which feature Static on lead vocals — and all released after his untimely passing.

STATIC-X — featuring the lineup of Campos, drummer Ken Jay, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and Xer0 — will hit the road in 2023, headlining the "Rise Of The Machine" tour with FEAR FACTORY alongside DOPE, MUSHROOMHEAD and TWIZTID. The 42-date trek kicks off February 25 in San Francisco, California and wraps up April 15, in Los Angeles, California. Dates have been selling out across the country, with select markets upgrading to larger venues to meet the demand for the tour. STATIC-X also recently revealed plans for a tour of Australia and an appearance at the Blue Ridge Rock Fest this year.

Static died after mixing Xanax and other powerful prescription drugs with alcohol, according to the coroner's report. The 48-year-old, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, was found dead in his Landers, California home on November 1, 2014.

Static founded STATIC-X in 1994 and achieved commercial success with "Wisconsin Death Trip", which included the rock radio hit "Push It".

The group issued five more studio albums before disbanding permanently in June 2013. Static had been pursuing a solo career at the time of his death.

Dope recently told Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio that the reason Xer0's identity has not been officially revealed is that he wants to make sure that STATIC-X is "properly represented, because I would never be interested in looking at a photo of STATIC-X or reading a liner note that mentions me as being the singer of STATIC-X. Edsel Dope has no interest in being the singer of STATIC-X," he clarified. "There's one living, breathing singer of STATIC-X, and that's Wayne Static. And then there's a character, an entity, for lack of better words, that was created in order to allow STATIC-X to have a future and to continue and be the legacy act that they are and tour and perform, and we gave that character a name that is respective to STATIC-X and fits the branding of what STATIC-X is, and that's what the importance is. It's the importance of recognizing the character as opposed to recognizing the person behind the character."

Back in October 2019, a photo was posted online clearly showing that Dope and Xer0 shared the same neck tattoo. However, Edsel later posted a lengthy statement on his band's Facebook page attempting to quash the rumors, implying Xer0's distinctive body ink was in fact a Photoshop job. Dope even provided a photograph of himself supposedly observing a STATIC-X performance sidestage to prove he and Xer0 were not the same person.

San Francisco Bay Area thrashers VIO-LENCE played their first show with drummer Adrian Aguilar (EXMORTUS) last night (Saturday, February 25) at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Video of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of Jessica Chase).

Aguilar joined VIO-LENCE following the departure of Perry Strickland.

VIO-LENCE recently announced that guitarist Phil Demmel will be unable to make the group's shows in Asia, Australia and New Zealand in early March and will be temporarily replaced by Miles Dimitri Baker (VOIDBRINGER, INTERLOPER, ex-RINGS OF SATURN).

The rest of VIO-LENCE's current lineup includes singer Sean Killian, former FEAR FACTORY, bassist Christian Olde Wolbers and guitarist Ira Black (VICIOUS RUMORS, HEATHEN, METAL CHURCH).

Notably, VIO-LENCE's shows in Asia, Australia and New Zealand will feature only Killian from the lineup that played its first comeback gig in April 2019 at the Oakland Metro in Oakland, California. The VIO-LENCE lineup that appeared at the Metro consisted of Killian, Demmel, Strickland, bassist Deen Dell and guitarist Ray Vegas.

Strickland confirmed his departure from VIO-LENCE earlier this month by sharing a video of him performing with the band and captioning it: "I'll Miss playing these songs !" After one fan asked Perry in the comments to clarify whether he has in fact exited the group, Strickland responded: "yes about a month ago".

Among the people reacting to Strickland's announcement was former OVERKILL and VIO-LENCE guitarist Bobby Gustafson, who wrote: "Good luck with what ever you do in the future. We had some good times finally."

One day after BLABBERMOUTH.NET posted a story about Strickland's exit, VIO-LENCE took to Instagram to share a posted for the band's upcoming Asian tour dates and captioned it: "Nobody quit Vio-Lence!!! #blabbermouth". When one fan responded, "Perry says different!", the VIO-LENCE account doubled down with: "like I said nobody QUIT Vio-Lence." Another fan wrote "Well he did" in reference to Perry "quitting" VIO-LENCE, to which VIO-LENCE responded: "No he didn't he is no longer in the band."

Gustafson joined VIO-LENCE in January 2020 as the replacement for Vegas but announced his departure from the band last October. At the time, VIO-LENCE cited "logistical difficulties that weigh too heavy to function in a productive manner" as the reason for the split with Bobby.

In March 2022, VIO-LENCE released a new EP, "Let The World Burn", via Metal Blade Records. The five-song collection, VIO-LENCE's first original release since 1993's "Nothing To Gain", was tracked at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS),mixed by Tue Madsen (DARK TRANQUILLITY, HEAVEN SHALL BURN) and mastered by Ted Jensen (ALICE IN CHAINS, DEATH ANGEL).

Formed in 1985, VIO-LENCE helped define and refine what came to be known as the Bay Area sound, dropping three seminal albums before splitting in 1993. Leaving behind a heady legacy, they reformed briefly a couple of times in the intervening years before becoming a full-time going concern once more in 2019. After playing a string of successful shows, the quintet started to think about new music and delivered "Let The World Burn", showcasing their first new material in 29 years.

VIO-LENCE's recording lineup on "Let The World Burn" consisted of Gustafson, Demmel, Killian and Strickland along with Olde Wolbers.

VIO-LENCE reunited soon after Demmel left MACHINE HEAD in late 2018.

Demmel was in MACHINE HEAD for nearly 16 years, during which time he played on five of the group's studio albums: "Through The Ashes Of Empires" (2003),"The Blackening" (2007),"Unto The Locust" (2011),"Bloodstone & Diamonds" (2014) and "Catharsis" (2018).

VIO-LENCE played its first show with Black in August 2022 at the Brutal Assault festival in Jaromer, Czech Republic.

Black, who grew up in the Bay Area and previously played with VICIOUS RUMORS, HEATHEN and METAL CHURCH, filled in for Demmel, who was on the road at the time with LAMB OF GOD as the temporary replacement for Willie Adler.

Although MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn was part of VIO-LENCE's classic incarnation and played on the band's debut album, "Eternal Nightmare", he wasn't approached about taking part in the band's reunion.

TONIGHT 🔥Come on out.. the rain is done!! This place will be wild!!

Bay Area thrash band Vio-Lence plays the Whisky A...

Posted by Jessica Chase on Saturday, February 25, 2023

ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT! 🔥

We play the Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood, CA with special guests CORRUPT, Violent By Nature and...

Posted by Vio-Lence Offical Page on Saturday, February 18, 2023

UMBILICUS, the new project featuring drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz (CANNIBAL CORPSE),guitarist Taylor Nordberg (DEICIDE, INHUMAN CONDITION),bassist Vernon Blake (ANARCHUS) and vocalist Brian Stephenson (FORE, OLD JAMES),played its first concert this past Thursday (February 23) at Will's Pub in Orlando, Florida as the support act for KING BUFFALO. Fan-filmed video of the show can be seen below.

UMBILICUS's debut album, "Path Of 1000 Suns", was released last September via Listenable Insanity Records. The LP's 10 original songs showcase the band's love for all things 1970s hard rock, covering a range of influences from GRAND FUNK RAILROAD to LUCIFER'S FRIEND to LED ZEPPELIN.

"Path Of 1000 Suns" was recorded, mixed and mastered by Nordberg at Smoke & Mirrors Productions in Spring Hill, Florida and is available on CD, vinyl, tape, as well as box set versions at the group's Bandcamp page.

Regarding how UMBILICUS came together, Mazurkiewicz told Extreminal in a 2021 interview: "20 years ago when [Jack Owen] was still in [CANNIBAL CORPSE], literally 20 years ago, he and I started a side project and we wrote some original songs and we played two shows here in Tampa in a small bar. The name of the band was PATH OF MAN. And we wrote about 15 songs, we made a couple of demo tapes. But we didn't really do anything with it. We played two shows and then the band fell apart. It was three of us. We had a singer, another friend of ours, a friend of mine, Vernon Blake. That was 20 years ago. It lasted a year maybe. [It was] a lot of fun and [then it] fell apart. Right around May or June [of 2020], I said, 'You know what? Now is the time to [do it] if I wanna do this again. Now is the time to do it because CANNIBAL CORPSE is finished recording the new record.' I had some time on my hands. So I called my friend Vern who played bass on that project and I said, 'Hey, you wanna start a project back up again? Let's do this.'"

As for the musical direction of UMBILICUS, Paul said: "[It is] a total kind of hard rock project. More of a rock and roll, hard rock kind of stuff. Stuff that I was grew up with — the late '60s, early '70s kinda stuff."

On the topic of how he found the other musicians for UMBILICUS, Paul said: "Jack wasn't gonna get involved in this. He doesn't live in Florida anymore, so we had to start fresh. We're, like, 'Let's start fresh,' Vern and I. 'Let's find a guitar player.' And we found a guitar player. He's the guitar player that plays in THE ABSENCE right now and INHUMAN CONDITION. They just released a CD, a smaller band, but his name is Taylor Nordberg. He is playing the guitar with us right now. We're trying to make this project go a little farther than we did the last one."

Last year, Paul described UMBILICUS to Metal Plague as "a rock 'n' roll project, a hard rock project." He added: "I'm passionate about rock 'n' roll music and hard rock and music from the '70s and all that. That is what this is… It's pure rock 'n' roll. If people hear this and they're gonna be expecting it to be anything like CANNIBAL CORPSE, it's nothing like it. It's pure rock 'n' roll with great vocals, great songs, great riffing, and we are very proud of it."

When UMBILICUS's formation was first announced in December 2021, Mazurkiewicz said in a statement: "UMBILICUS was formed in the summer of 2020 and driven by our love of rock and roll from the late '60s, '70s and early '80s.

"I've been listening to well-known bands like GRAND FUNK [RAILROAD], BAD COMPANY and STEPPENWOLF and not-so-well-known bands like SIR LORD BALTIMORE and LUCIFER'S FRIEND for the last 20 years or so now. The more I listened to these bands, the more I wanted to play music like this. It is just so much fun to sit back and groove out and play by complete feel without beating my body down. To just play some pure hard rock!

"We composed 10 very cool songs throughout 2020 but the one piece of the puzzle was missing: an awesome voice to tie it all together. Enter Brian Stephenson! An amazing vocalist and lyricist that completed the lineup!

"I am so proud of what we have written and I can't wait for the world to hear what we have to offer!"

UMBILICUS is:

Brian Stephenson - vocals
Paul Mazurkiewicz - drums
Vernon Blake - bass
Taylor Nordberg - guitar

Following the announcement of their impending third full-length album, Reaching Beyond Assiah, and title track, Outlaw has unveiled their next single, "Everything That Becomes Nothing", and an accompanying video, which can be viewed below.


Reaching Beyond Assiah will be released on March 31st via AOP Records. Pre-order / pre-save your copy now at this location.







Long celebrated by cult followers and critics in the underworld, Outlaw has emerged with their most ambitious record yet. Over the course of seven songs, the band finds a beautiful balance between furious vocals, pummeling rhythm and aurally satisfying melody. 





Tracklisting:


"Bliss Of Soul"
"To Burn This World And Dissolve The Flesh"
"Beyond The Realms Of God"
"The Unending Night"
"Everything That Becomes Nothing"
"The Serpent's Chant"
"Reaching Beyond Assiah" 





 

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has claimed its 15th consecutive No. 1 hit on the U.S. Active Rock Radio chart (Mediabase) with current single "Welcome To The Circus". The single also adds to 5FDP's record streak of No. 1's on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart where the band continues to hold the record for the longest run of leading consecutive entries since 1981.

"Welcome To The Circus" is the opening track from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's latest album, 2022's "AfterLife". Upon its release last August, "AfterLife" immediately shot to the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Top 100 Album, the Rock and Metal charts in the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany (where it also debuted at No. 3 on the official album chart),Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Poland. "AfterLife" also debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Rock and Metal charts and No. 2 on the iTunes Top 100 charts in the U.K., France, Netherlands, Sweden and Hungary. Additionally, "AfterLife" hit Top 10 on the iTunes Top 100 in Italy, Spain, Ireland and Belgium. It entered as No. 1 Rock Album on the UK Official Rock and Metal Album charts and debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200. Most notably, with "AfterLife" the band broke the record for most No. 1 albums in the history of Billboard's Hard Rock chart.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has added headline shows in Luxembourg, Bratislava, Prague and Bucharest to the band's already impressive run of 2023 European tour dates which includes a number of shows in direct support of METALLICA, as well as major festivals appearances at U.K.'s Download festival and Germany's Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park festivals, among others. Presale for the newly announced headline shows will start on March 1 at 10 a.m. local time with the general onsale beginning on March 3 at 10 a.m. local time.

2023 European tour dates:

Apr. 29 - Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands (w/ METALLICA)
May 17 - Stade de France, Paris, France (w/ METALLICA)
May 21 - Rockhal, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg (Headline)
May 28 - Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany (w/ METALLICA)
May 31 - O'Nepela Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia (Headline)
Jun. 03 - Rock Im Park, Nürnberg, Germany (Festival)
Jun. 04 - Rock Am Ring, Nürburg, Germany (Festival)
Jun. 08 - Download Festival, Donington UK (Festival)
Jun. 11 - O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic (Headline)
Jun. 14 - Metalhead Festival, Bucharest Romania (Headline)
Jun. 18 - Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden (w/ METALLICA)
Jun. 23 - Summerside Festival, Aarburg, Switzerland (Festival)

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has amassed 28 top 10 hit singles and 15 No. 1 singles. Having become one of the most recognizable names in music, 5FDP frequently play all major festivals and sell out arenas around the world. Since their debut album, "The Way Of The Fist", came out in 2007, the band has released eight consecutive albums, seven of which were certified gold or platinum by the RIAA, as well as two chart-topping greatest-hits albums. In addition, 5FDP has earned numerous national and international awards and honors over the last decade, such as the prestigious Soldier Appreciation Award by the Association Of The United States Army, an honor bestowed only upon Elvis Presley before them.

Metal Blade Records will reissue Behemoth's 1996 album, Grom on March 31.


The third release in the Slavonic Trilogy reissue series. Grom was originally released in 1996 and will be available on March 31 digitally, on CD, and vinyl with pre-orders for physical copies starting today. The reissue is beautifully packaged and is available on the following formats: Digital, 2 CD media book, and a gatefold 2 LP. Physical formats include bonus audio material and booklets containing exclusive archival content. Bonus content contains these following rarities: cover versions, rehearsals, and live tracks.


Comments Nergal: "Twenty-seven years since its first release, it's time to give Grom its time in the spotlight! Our second album now re-issued with plenty of archived, never before seen photos and liner notes. It's a beautiful collector's item. Grom remains a key piece of Behemoth history and I embrace it as much as any of our other albums. Behemoth would never be where it is now without it. Check it out and pre-order your copy now!"




Worldwide pre-order links here.


Metal Blade will release Grom worldwide, excluding Poland.


Gatefold 2LP:


- copper hotstamping
- 24p booklet


Audio:


Disc 1: Grom
Disc 2: bonus vintage material


24-page Booklet Exclusive Archival Content:


- lyrics
- old photos
- flyers
- interviews with former and current Behemoth members Nergal, Baal, Les, Zbigniew "Inferno" Prominsky
- interview with David Thierie, "Grom" cover artist
- interview with Krzysztof Maszota (Warrior Studio, Poland)
- interview with Carsten Molior of Solistitium Records
- interview with Orjan "V'gandr" Nordvik (Helheim)
- interview with Michal Kraszewski (Creator of the Behemoth 1992 logo, Editor of Euronymous zine, Amon Magazine, Vox Mortis Magazine, Novum Vox Mortis Magazine)


Mediabook 2CD:


- hardcover
- copper hotstamping
- 48p booklet


Audio:


Disc 1: Grom
Disc 2: bonus vintage material


48 page Booklet Exclusive Archival Content:


- lyrics
- old photos
- flyers
- interviews with former and current Behemoth members Nergal, Baal, Les, Zbigniew "Inferno" Prominsky
- interview with David Thierie, "Grom" cover artist
- interview with Krzysztof Maszota (Warrior Studio, Poland)
- interview with Carsten Molior of Solistitium Records
- interview with Orjan "V'gandr" Nordvik (Helheim)
- interview with Michal Kraszewski (Creator of the Behemoth 1992 logo, Editor of Euronymous zine, Amon Magazine, Vox Mortis Magazine, Novum Vox Mortis Magazine)


Vinyl Variants:


Europe:


180g Black
Stone Gray Marbled (500)
Gold w/ Black Dust (300)
Dust Gray Marbled (200 of 500)
Picture Disc -band exclusive- (666)


US:
Dust Gray Marbled (300 of 500)





Tracklisting:


"Intro
"The Dark Forest (Cast Me Your Spell)"
"Spellcraft And Heathendom"
"Dragon's Lair (Cosmic Flames And Four Barbaric Seasons)"
"Lasy Pomorza"
"Rising Proudly Towards The Sky"
"Thou Shalt Forever Win"
"Grom"


Bonus material:


"Freezing Moon" (Mayhem Cover 1995/1996)
"Total Desaster" (Destruction Cover 1995/1996)
"Ostatni tabor" (Kat Cover 1996)
"Rising Proudly Towards The Sky" (Rehearsal 1995)
"Dragon's Lair" (Cosmic Flames And Four Barbaric Seasons) (Rehearsal 1995)
"The Dark Forest" (Cast Me Your Spell) (Live in Maastricht, Pagan Triumph Tour 1996)
"Spellcraft And Heathendom" (Live in Maastricht, Pagan Triumph Tour 1996)
"Lasy Pomorza" (Live in Krakòw, XXX Years Ov Blasphemy 2021)


Lineup on reissue:


Nergal: Vocals / Guitars
Baal: Drums
Les: Bass


Current lineup:


Nergal: Vocals / Guitars
Orion: Bass / Vocals
Inferno: Drums / Percussion

German heavy metal institution, Mystic Prophecy, will release their 12th studio album, Hellriot, on May 19 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records.


At least with their celebrated last masterpiece Metal Division and chart successes in several countries (including #20 in the official Top 100 German album charts), Mystic Prophecy belong to the spearhead of international heavy metal. They are one of the most successful acts of the genre on digital platforms and with several hundred thousand followers on Spotify. At their live shows they prove again and again that they understand heavy metal as a passionate ultimate fight. And with their new album, Hellriot, they pick up where they left off with Metal Divison: Powerful concise hooks with shout-along factor, hard-hitting and monstrous sound paired with technically brilliant riffs, all refined by a powerful modern production that is second to none and makes the band so popular and unique. In short: With Hellriot, Mystic Prophecy deliver brilliantly and make every heavy metal heart beating mercilessly faster.


Hellriot will be released on May 19 as jewel case CD, limited mediabook CD, various vinyl colors and picture discs and digital streaming / download format. Also released as a limited to 666 copies collector’s hardcover boxset that includes: the limited mediabook CD, velvet bag, all in one flatware/multitool, raincoat, and signed autograph.




Pre-order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Hellriot"
"Unholy Hell"
"Demons Of The Night"
"Metal Attack"
"Paranoia"
"Revenge And Fire"
"Rising With The Storm"
"Road To Babylon"
"Azrael"
"Cross The Line"
"World On Fire"


- Produced by by R.D. Liapakis
- Mixed & Mastered by Henrik Udd
- Cover Artwork & Layout by Dusan Markovic
- Additional layout by Michael Gladigau


Mystic Prophecy tour dates:


April
22 - Schapen, Germany - Mosh’n’May


May
6 - Braunschweig, Germany - Rock in Rautheim
17 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
18 - Mannheim, Germany - 7er Club
19 - Schirnding, Germany - Gemeindehalle
20 - Oberhausen, Germany - Kulttempel


July
7 - Irslingen, Germany - Wolfweez Open Air
15 - Bornhöved, Germany - Blizzard Open Air
29 - Laichingen, Germany - Rock Dein Leben


August
4 - Rattenberg, Austria - INNROCKreloaded Festival
12 - Rajevo Selo, Croatia - Pannonian Rock Festival
26 - Erkelenz, Germany - Metal De Houte Festival


September
23 - Neuenstadt a. K., Germany - Stadthalle


October
6 - Zliv, Czech Republic - RockTime KD
7 - Freising, Germany - Lindenkeller


Info and tickets here.


Mystic Prophecy lineup:


R.D. Liapakis - Vocals
Markus Pohl - Guitar
Evan K - Guitar
Joey Roxx - Bass
Hanno Kerstan – Drums


(Photo - Frank Kollbi)

Mid-Atlantic rock band, Silvertung, is back! Following a two-year hiatus of uncertainty, they were left with the most important decision of their music career... shut down or face the adversity they've been dealt.


"Giving up was NOT an option," asserts lead vocalist, Speed Vincent. After experiencing the world-changing effects of the pandemic, he reformed Silvertung with all new members and a reinvented sound.


Injecting new styles and ideas, Silvertung is setting their own pace and rules within the quartet’s musicianship. Their newest single "Integrity" is an unrelenting sonic message with intense, hard-hitting beats, aggressive guitar riffs and confident, demanding statements like “Hope you see the light, before the light becomes your enemy.” Unified with infectious melodies, fierce screaming vocals, and harmonies, firing up a massive, uplifting chorus. Mastering the elusive balance between surprising newelements, without deviating from the empowering motivation the band is known for.







"Integrity" reveals the fortitude to fight through and stand on your own after dominating the fears of emotional and physical abuse, and the anger of being used. Pre-save "Integrity" here.


This track was produced by Steven Wright at Wright Way Studios and Silvertung. Mastered by Tony Eichler at Goldtone MasterWorks, LLC


Fresh off a 32-day tour in 16 states throughout the mid-west, "Integrity" is Silvertung's first release in 2023. "The band has more new music, videos, and touring coming this year," says Vincent. "Not only is Silvertung back, we’re just getting started!"


Catch Silvertung on tour following the "Integrity" release and festivals, including Rock Fest 2023, featuring Slipknot, Pantera, Godsmack, Falling in Reverse, Ice Nine Kills, Papa Roach, Asking Alexandria, In This Moment, Highly Suspect, 10 Years, among others.


“We are excited about our upcoming tours,” says Speed, “plus playing festivals. We’re eager to get back on the road and meet you all!”


BraveWords is premiering the video for "Integrity", which gives a glimpse into the band’s energetic live performance. Watch below:





Tour dates:


March
2 - Kent, OH - The Outpost Concert Club
3 - Danville, KY - The Nook
4 - Janesville, WI - The Back Bar
5 - Springfield, Mo - Outland Ballroom
8 - Lombard, IL - Brauer House Lombard
9 - Chippewa Falls, WI - Joel`s 4 Corners
10 - Mankato, MN - The What`s Up Lounge
11 - Kansasville, WI - Live at 1175


April
28 - Baltimore, Md - Zen West
29 - Frenchtown, NJ - Artie’s Bar and Grill
30 - Mt Holy, NJ - Union Firehouse*


Festival appearances:


June
9 - Unity, WI - Monster Hall Music Festival


July
15 - Cadott, WI - Rockfest 2023


August
12 - Jones, MI - Summerfest 2023*


More dates to be announced.


Lineup:


Speed Vincent - lead vocals/guitar
Marc Marchetti - lead guitar
Jimy Grime - bass/backing vocals
Andy Romeo - drums

"Feelings Of Absinthe" is the new video from Lillian Axe, from their Billboard charting comeback album From Womb To Tomb. The video was directed by Todd Schmidt and is being premiered exclusively through BraveWords! Watch below:





Band leader, Steve Blaze adds:




“We are very excited to premiere our new video on BraveWords and would like to thank Tim and the rest of the BraveWords team!


“A few words also here about the video itself, Todd and I were talking about hearing Adam Curry on Joe Rogan’s podcast. My wife brought up the idea of how cool it would be to have Adam be part of our brand new video (by way of an intro) because Adam was the MTV VJ who introduced our very first video on Headbangers Ball from our very first album. I emailed Adam and he was incredibly gracious, and agreed to do this. He has been such a kind and considerate person. Todd and the band have worked very hard on this video, and we feel like it is the pinnacle of all videos that we have done so far.”





From Womb To Tomb is out via Global Rock Records.

Atomic Fire Records has announced the signing of Swedish cult metal band Cemetary, one of the most exciting bands of the '90s capable of merging death metal with gothic and doom flavours. Cemetary's founding member and mastermind, Mathias Lodmalm, is back to remind us that true legends never die.





"After several decades in the wilderness, Cemetary finally arrive home at Atomic Fire Records. For better or for worse, I have always gone my own way and rolled the bones as they may. Roughly a decade ago, I started crafting a sound that came to be the upcoming album Come To Ruin. Working with a label was never a thought, quite the opposite. But when I heard the rumblings from Donzdorf, it pulled me in, and what I saw was the finest team in metal today. To finally be able to work with people as passionate as myself is a true blessing. I am forever grateful. Old titles will come back to life with the highest production values possible. Not only one, but two new albums are being prepared to usher in the apocalypse with a ferocity never before heard from the band. This has been a long time coming - plans are best laid. Thanks to all who patiently waited and kept Cemetary alive by tuning into the sound," enthuses Lodmalm.




Atomic Fire Records co-founder/A&R Markus Wosgien adds, "It was in 1993 when I discovered Cemetary with their second album, Godless Beauty, which guided me into another world, similar as Tiamat (Clouds) and Paradise Lost (Shades Of God) did the year before. But Cemetary were different, even more intense and with more "corners and edges." Songs like 'And Julie Is No More' and 'By My Own Hand' stuck in my head and I can repeat every second even three decades later. Some months ago, Lake Of Tears mastermind Daniel Brennare introduced me to Mathias Lodmalm and we started to talk about the past and future. So that's why we kick off our cooperation with beautiful re-issues of their '90s albums, starting with An Evil Shade Of Grey and my all-time favorite, Godless Beauty, including individual interviews and new graphics. Mathias is also in the final steps of a brand-new Cemetary album and the demos we heard took us back to the band's origin and breathe the mood of those first two cult records."


Over 20 years have passed but now it's time to break the silence - a new incarnation of Cemetary springs to life. In celebration of their return is a limited exclusive t-shirt, designed by Lodmalm himself. Featuring Cemetary's logo, this collector's item is limited to only 34 pieces worldwide to celebrate 34 years of the band's existence! Pre-order it now, here.





Based in Borås, Mathias Lodmalm and his comrades immediately got recognition unleashing a stunning debut album titled An Evil Shade Of Grey (1992), shortly followed by their masterpiece Godless Beauty (1993) as well as Black Vanity (1994). Cemetary incessantly dominated the extreme metal scene releasing two more records (1996's Sundown & 1997's Last Confessions) and touring all over Europe.


After the band split-up in 1997, Lodmalm released his swansong, Phantasma in 2005. Continually active in the metal underground, he re-emerged as Cemetary 1213 to create the science fiction inspired concept album The Beast Divine, showing a much colder and harder edge than its predecessors.


Cemetary are:


Mathias Lodmalm - vocals, guitars, bass
Mattias Borgh - drums


(Photo - Manuel Teichert)

As New York City progressive rock/metal quartet, Ice Age, prepares to release their epic third album, Waves Of Loss And Power, through Sensory Records next week, the band offers another preview of the record, today issuing a visualizer for the song, “Together Now.”


Ice Age’s first in twenty-two years, Waves Of Loss And Power boasts a unit firing on all cylinders that cannot be ignored. The album showcases vocalist/keyboardist Josh Pincus, guitarist Jimmy Pappas, drummer Hal Aponte, and bassist Doug Odell wearing their varied influences confidently on their collective sleeve. The band conjures the spirits of Kansas and Genesis (“Riverflow”), fleeting shades of Queensrÿche, Rush, and Fates Warning (“The Needle’s Eye,” “Together Now”), and flexes their “hit song” muscle with the infectious hooks of “All My Years” and “Float Away.” In true prog tradition, Ice Age continues the epic sagas begun on the first two albums with abiding narrative nods to the musical motifs and thematic tapestries of “Perpetual Child” (from The Great Divide) and “To Say Goodbye” (last visited on Liberation). In all respects, Waves Of Loss And Power is a seminal masterwork of catchy, thoughtful, and bonafide progressive songwriting.


Engineering for Waves Of Loss And Power was principally handled by Jimmy Pappas with mixing and mastering exquisitely dialed-in by auditory guru Rich Mouser (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic, Dream Theater). The cover art concept and booklet design were brought to life by Bjorn GooBes of Killustrations, with a fresh new band logo by Thomas Ewerhard.




“Together Now" encapsulates the maturity and next-level dynamics of Ice Age. This song went through a painstaking gestation period to arrive at what you hear on the new album. It’s a progressive epic full of heaviness, drama, soaring vocals, melodic soloing, and a precision drumming masterclass, all riding a cresting wave of lyrical optimistic power.





Waves Of Loss And Power will be released on CD as well as all major streaming and digital music platforms through Laser’s Edge division Sensory Records on March 10. Find pre-orders for the CD at the label webshop here and the digital at Bandcamp – the standard version here and the 24-bit hi-res version here.





Tracklisting:


"The Needle’s Eye"
"Riverflow"
"Perpetual Child, Part II: Forever"
"Together Now"
"All My Years"
"Float Away"
"To Say Goodbye, Part IV: Remembrance"
"To Say Goodbye, Part V: Water Child"


Teaser:





Ice Age will also return to the stage this year in support of the new album. The band has already been confirmed to perform at the 2023 edition of ProgPower USA. The massive festival runs from September 6 - 9 and will see the band sharing the stage with the likes of Kamelot, Caligula's Horse, Myrath, Delain, Green Carnation, Doro, Cynic, Swallow The Sun, and many more. Watch for additional regional dates to post surrounding the release of Waves Of Loss And Power.





Ice Age lineup:


Josh Pincus - vocals, keyboards
Jimmy Pappas - guitars
Hal Aponte - drums, percussion
Doug Odell - bass


(Photos - Roy Somech)

Mentalist and former Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch has released an alternate drum playthrough video of the Pretty Maids song, "Back To Back", featured on the band's 1984 album, Red Hot And Heavy. Watch below:





Thomen's previous drum cover videos are available below:

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke to the SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard host Mark Strigl about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's next studio album. Asked what fans can expect to hear on the follow-up to 2018's acclaimed "Firepower" LP, Halford said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's what we love about PRIEST, isn't it? I've always said we're the band that can kind of rip the skin off your face with 'Painkiller', and then the next second we can be your 'turbo lover', or we can go and 'break the law' or we can become 'the sentinel'.

"We've always had so much fun and adventure with not only the albums, but the songs within the albums," he continued. "It's part of who we are. And making these little microcosms of our personalities within the songs especially, all those names that I've referenced just, they've each got like a little mini-movie going on in your head when you think of the lyrics and the message, and then it's all supported by incredible music working together.

"That 'Firepower' record was a real pure effort on our part to do a little bit of reflection and reinforce a lot of the things that we've loved about PRIEST from day one," Halford explained. "That's not to say we went, 'Okay, let's get a bit of a vibe from 'Rocka Rolla' here.' And then, 'How about some 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'?' And 'Don't forget 'Point Of Entry'.' It was none of that. It was just really this overall umbrella of things that we've achieved in metal, and just using that in the back of our minds as we went through from song to song to song. And I wanna say it made it a little bit easier. And what I mean by that is when you have a focus and a direction and a template on which to work from, then you can keep going back to that and going, 'Okay, this is where we're focusing the ideas and the creativity,' and so on and so forth. So that's how 'Firepower' came together like it did. That album, to me, as a PRIEST fan, is as important as, say, 'Painkiller' was in reaffirming this band, and also what 'British Steel' was in reaffirming this band. And what I mean by reaffirmation is that it's like a football team or a basketball team. That team has been there forever, but you're bringing these ideas, you're bringing these moves, and then you go, 'Yeah, these are the things that make that band great.' 'These are the things that make this team great.' And because I overthink everything, that was my thought philosophy behind 'Firepower'. So you've got that in the back of your mind when you're trying to write this current album. And it can be a mind game."

Rob added: "You always wanna do better when you're in a band. Every band goes, 'This is the greatest record we've ever made,' as you should say, because that should be your logic behind whatever you're doing at that given moment in time, giving it a thousand percent so you stand by that statement: 'This is the best thing we've ever done, as of right now.'

"So what's what we're trying to do with this next one. And the substance of it is great, man. I mean, again, you've got all the things that you need from this band. And it's so difficult to talk about music, isn't it? All I can say is — you can tell by the way I'm expressing myself — there's a tremendous amount of belief and love and thought and power and riffs and crazy drums and screams. Man, it's just roaring again. But it's also got those familiar elements of some of the previous material. That's not to say that we're doing 'Firepower' Mark 2 — we're not. But we're in the home stretch. It feels wonderful. I listen to it every day. I've still got a lot of work to do myself, but the foundations of all the instrumentation are so thrilling to listen to. And it feels good.

"We wrote so many songs, like we always do — we overwrite, overwrite, overwrite — and then we curate the best things that we need to work with. So we have an album-plus worth of material, and it's roaring; it's roaring, man. It's on fire."

Halford previously about what fans can expect to hear on the band's upcoming LP last month in an interview with Metal Express Radio. At the time he said: "When you're in a band, you're always trying to better yourself; you're always trying to say, 'This is the best album we've ever made.' It's just a natural thing to do. And I'm aware of the great success and love that was given to 'Firepower'. And so how do you deal with that? Well, firstly, you have to let that go. You have to let that go, because it's like you're chasing after something that's elusive. What's the point of trying to emulate something that you've already done? We've just gotta do like we've always done with PRIEST, the way that every album has its own concept, every album has its own thing. 'British Steel' isn't 'Painkiller'; 'Painkiller' isn't 'Point Of Entry'; 'Point Of Entry' isn't 'Nostradamus'. So this album is shaping up to be its own thing."

He added: "It's great. It's a really good album, and I know our fans are gonna love it."

Last November, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner spoke to Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules about the musical direction of the band's upcoming LP: "You know what? The Internet seems to know everything these days about what the new album's going to sound like based on a couple of words that [we've] put out there [in previous interviews]. I think we've used the word 'progressive', and everyone thinks it's gonna become 'Nostradamus' [PRIEST's controversial 2008 symphonic heavy metal concept double album about Nostradamus], or RUSH, which is two different things. I've definitely used the word 'progressive' [to describe the new PRIEST material in previous interviews], purely because it's got a few musical turnarounds that 'Firepower' doesn't have. But that doesn't make it a RUSH record. It just makes it — instead of, like, a verse into a bridge into a chorus, there might be a couple of more musical passages in there to make it a bit more… interesting; might be the wrong word. I don't know. You've gotta be careful with the words you use these days. So it's not 'Firepower 2', but it's the same band a few years later, so there's obvious connections to the last record. But it's not 'Firepower 2' by any means."

Richie continued: "No PRIEST records have sounded the same, but it's got a common DNA. And you always try and make the next one sound a bit better — or whatever 'better' may be; 'better' is subjective. So, is it better written? Are the lyrics better? Does it sound better? And 'better' is always subjective. So it's hard to pinpoint, really. But it's a bit more of a musical adventure than the last one, I'd say. But then again someone might listen to it, when it does come out, and have a totally different interpretation of what it is. So it's always tough to sum up your own music without sounding up your own butt."

Asked if longtime PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease nine years ago after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier, will play on the band's album, Richie said: "He will be, yeah. I don't think he's recorded his guitar parts yet, but he's definitely involved in the writing of it. Obviously, we're all aware of his challenges with Parkinson's, so we were adamant that if he couldn't play that particular day that he was involved in the writing. He'd share his ideas with me and I'd kind of be his… he would share his ideas through me."

In October, Halford told AXS TV's Katie Daryl about what PRIEST fans can expect from the upcoming LP: "The same energy, the same vitality, the same determination, and it really is, again, another affirmation of what you love about JUDAS PRIEST. If you listen to any album from PRIEST from 'Rocka Rolla' in the '70s up to the 2000s with 'Firepower' and everything that went on between there, whether it was 'Turbo Lover' or whether it was the 'Painkiller' or '[You've Got] Another Thing Comin'', all of these pinpoints connect the dots of this great 50 years of metal, this journey that we're on. And it ain't over yet, folks, because that means another album and another tour. And we can't wait to keep pouring out the metal, 'cause that turbo power isn't gonna get turned off anytime soon."

In February 2022, Halford was asked by Remy Maxwell of Audacy Check In if he agreed with Faulkner's recent comment that the band's upcoming album will be more musically "progressive" than "Firepower". He responded: "Yeah, the metal is there. But here's the thing: we've tried our best not to replicate anything that we've done. From 'Rocka Rolla' all the way through to 'Firepower', each record has had a distinctive character. And it's tough because fans go, 'We want another 'Painkiller',' 'We want another 'British Steel'.' And [it's, like], 'Dude, we've already done that.'

"Fans know that we're a band that is always full of adventure and trying new stuff," he continued. "And so, yeah, this has got probably some more progressive elements that we've never really delved into before. And that's exciting, because, again, it gives us and our fans another opportunity to see a different side of PRIEST. But it's still metal. There's just more of it. There are more notes than there were before."

Also in February, Faulkner told Canada's The Metal Voice about the overall sound of the new PRIEST music: "Whenever you start a record, you never know how it's gonna turn out. So you might start with an idea of what it's gonna be, and as it kind of rolls on, it comes out something different. So you don't quite know. And also it's really hard to sum up your own music, I find, without sounding really pretentious. But I think this one — it's not 'Firepower 2', I don't think. It's its own thing, it's its own animal. If anything, I would say it's a bit more progressive in places, and in places it's got a bit more of that 'Killing Machine' swagger."

Faulkner added: "I know everyone says, 'Oh, is it the next 'Painkiller'?' or 'Is it the next…?' whatever… I don't know if they'd ever done it, but I know we've never done it when I've been in the band; we've never tried to recreate an album. It's always we try to create an album that stands on its own legs. So I think it's definitely a little bit more progressive than 'Firepower' and, as I said, in places it's got a little bit of that 'Killing Machine' angry swagger attitude going on. But again, as I said, we're waiting to see what it turns out like, 'cause it could turn out completely different."

Two years ago, Halford confirmed that PRIEST's next album would see the band reuniting with the "Firepower" production team consisting of Andy Sneap, longtime collaborator Tom Allom and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH).

Bassist Ian Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Founding guitarist K.K. Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Faulkner.

In a new interview with Czech TV Česká Televize, ex-HIM frontman Ville Valo was asked about the possibility of a reunion of his former band. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It would have to be for a good reason. There would have to be some new music or whatever. Just playing the old songs wouldn't make any sense. Maybe one day. But I said… I felt that that's done and dusted with. It was a good part of my life, and it was a great that we ended it. And it would be risky to try it again."

Last month, Ville discussed the factors that contributed to HIM's breakup in an interview with Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio. At the time, he said: "I think it was just that we were a bit worn out. We lost the spark. We all loved touring, but the spark wasn't there when we started working on new material. We didn't think it sounded great. And when you'd been with a band for such a long time, and we considered that what we had done, that we had done great things, at least great things for ourselves, things that we really enjoyed and things that really made a difference for ourselves, it was quite sad to all of a sudden realize that the new stuff is not up to par and it just doesn't feel right. It took a while for us to actually make that call, to be able to say that 'let's be done with it.' Because it had been such a big part of everybody's life. Since we were kids — I knew the guitar player and the bass player, Migé [Mikko Paananen, bass] and Linde [Mikko Lindström, guitar], I knew them since I was maybe 10 years old or so. So we literally grew up together, with having HIM as sort of the soundtrack and the backbone for our lives. It was sad, but then yet at the same time I'm quite proud of the fact that we ended on good terms, because that's quite rare in the world of music."

He continued: "It seemed that we had lost interest — as simple as it is. I think that we had come to the end of that journey. It felt that we played all the songs we were made to play. So it was quite simple, but yeah, it was quite dark for a bit. The brain didn't compute. It was weird. And also it was quite scary because I didn't know what was gonna happen, and neither did the rest of the guys. How it was gonna feel after the band was done with. 'Cause I thought that it might be that I feel like a completely different person or I feel that I've just lost a leg, that there was gonna be a lot of phantom pain. But there was none. There was just a great wave of relief, to be honest with you. And it felt really good."

Asked if that means that the door is at least slightly open for HIM to return at some point in the future, Ville said: "It'd be lovely to play with some of the lads, especially Migé, the bass player. He's one of the guys who also was here at my home studio, when 'Neon Noir' [my solo album] was born, every couple of months he came over to listen to where I was at with the album. He was my Rick Rubin — this guru who didn't say much but whose opinions anyway matter the most. He's a lovely chap and a really, really good friend. He helped me out once again to get myself out of this whole…

"I never say never — definitely," he said in regards to the possibility of a HIM reunion. "If there's good reason and if there's good timing, it'd be great. They're great musicians and they're great guys — we shared a lot of good things, both on a personal level and a musical level — but at this moment in time, none whatsoever. I'm not interested at all. 'Cause it doesn't make any sense. It's only been a few years since we disbanded. It's getting close to six years now. So it hasn't been long. And I think there's also the danger of rehashing something and messing it up royally. We ended on a high note, so that's quite nice. At the end of the day, we did end the band for a good reason. It was quite painful being with the band that you love to death and at the same time realize that things are not working out, and no matter what you do, the love is not there anymore. So I'd be very wary of trying to reanimate that because it might end up being that sort of Frankenstein monster that nobody wants to really meet."

Valo previously discussed the possibility of a HIM reunion during an appearance on a November 2022 episode of "The James McMahon Music Podcast". At the time, he said: "Never say never, I'd say. HIM was so much more than just a band to me. I met Migé, the bass player, when I was about 12. I met Linde, the guitar player, when I was maybe 13 or 14. So we grew up together and went through so many different phases in our lives anyway together, with HIM providing the soundtrack for it and the focus or being the focal point. And it's so much more than about just monetary things.

"If there would be a good reason, good sort of idea or good cause, or if, all of a sudden, everybody would start to gravitate towards each other, I think that would be the best thing," he continued. "[If] all of a sudden everybody in their own lives just start[ed] to… where it would make sense [to get back together] after all this time. 'Cause you need to take breaks.

"[Toward the end of HIM], it wasn't necessarily fizzling out, but we had definitely lost the spark regarding creating new music. We tried to work it out, but it didn't sound good. It started to feel like a day job, and when it starts to feel like that, it's definitely time to end it, in the world of rock and roll, I think. Or in our world of rock and roll. So I cannot tell you whether we're gonna feel like that in the future. I wouldn't mind, but I don't wanna do it right now. It's not something I will think about constantly, or ever, to be honest with you."

Asked if he ever had people suggesting to him during his time with HIM to pursue a solo career or whether he had those aspirations himself, Ville said: "It was a weird existence, because I did write most of the songs [in HIM], and a lot of people, when we started out, they thought it was a solo project, also because it was called 'HIM'. It was a weird combo. So all those 25 years I had to fight for the guys to get some recognition, saying that I do write the songs, I sing the songs, but we are childhood mates and that the sound and the way they play their instruments, it makes a big difference; it cannot be just whomever. So I'm actually glad not to talk about that at all [when it comes to my solo project]; I don't have to, 'cause I played all the stuff by myself and I'm the one to carry the blame or the good and the bad and the ugly."

HIM completed a farewell tour in 2017, closing the final chapter on the band's 26-year career.

Three months ago, Ville told Radio Bob! about HIM's split: "I think it was the right call to call it a day with HIM. We'd done it for a long, long time and it started to sort of, like, wither away a bit. It was maybe our interest and maybe just sign of the times. We'd been together for such a long time that we were ourselves really surprised that it lasted for such a long time."

"Neon Noir" came out on January 13 via Heartagram Records, distributed by UMG/Spinefarm.

Ville's headline tour dates will take place this spring across Europe and North America.

Photo credit: Juha Mustonen

Finnish gothic metal band Poisonblack will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Escapexstacy, which was released in 2003 via Century Media Records, with a series of very special shows in their native Finland.  


"We are going to play the Escapexstacy album in full + a selection of other Poisonblack gems in September 2023 (dates below). Tickets will be on-sale starting Tuesday February 28th at 9am Finnish time." reads a statement from the band.


September
22 - Oulu - Kantakrouvi
28 - Jyvaskyla - Lutakko
29 - Tampere - Olympia
30 - Helsinki - On The Rocks




Poisonblack's current lineup consists of:


Ville Laihiala - vocals, guitar
JP Leppäluoto - vocals
Antti Leiviskä - guitar
Janne Markus - guitar
Marco Sneck - keyboards
Antti Remes - bass
Tarmo Kanerva - drums


 

TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon spoke to Ernest Skinner of Border City Rock Talk about the band's upcoming live album, "Full Throttle Live!". Due this summer, the LP will include the band's latest single, "Time To Rock!", plus other songs, all recorded last August at Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Hannon said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "On 'Full Throttle Live!' that's coming out, it's all live, and we're gonna record, in my garage next week, we're gonna record live in my garage and put that on as a bonus track at the very end of it — a secret track. Remember when bands would put secret tracks [on their albums]? Well, we're gonna do a cover of AEROSMITH's 'S.O.S. (Too Bad)'… That's a rocker… Yeah, we're gonna work on that when I get home here next week. I'm really excited about recording that song. And it's gonna be the bonus track on the live album."

The official lyric video for "Time To Rock! (Live)" can be seen below.

Back in July 2022, TESLA vocalist Jeff Keith told "The Chuck Shute Podcast" about "Time To Rock!": "Like with all TESLA songs, we like to have that raw, live feel, and this song has totally just got that raw and live feel."

Regarding the lyrical inspiration for "Time To Rock!", Jeff said: "It's that kind of song that just, you know, everything you might have going on when you go to a concert, you wanna just kind of let your hair down and this song is exactly about that. Just not let things go, but just drop 'em down and still hold 'em in your hands tight, but just let things go and let your hair down for four and a half minutes. Time to rock!"

Keith previously discussed "Time To Rock!" that same month in an interview with the "Metal From The Inside" podcast. Regarding the band's decision to debut the track during a live performance in early June 2022 — weeks before the song's official release — he said: "We wanted to play it live for our hometown crowd. We played Thunder Valley [Casino], which is right down the street from our houses in Sacramento; it's actually in Lincoln, California. But we wanted to play it for our hometown crowd first. So we thought we'd play it for our hometown crowd, and we're having so much fun with it, we're playing it for every crowd — some new material — and we're excited about that."

As for whether TESLA fans can eventually expect to see a new full-length album from the group, Jeff said: "Right now, the way things work — the guys were explaining to me — 'cause usually that's all you did was made a record, since I've been in the band. And they go, now, with social media or whatever you call it — Spotify, whatever the names are; I don't go on the Internet, but it's a wonderful tool to have these iPhones and you can release a single without making a [full] record. So so far we've just put out some singles. But probably in the next year — no more than two years — we're gonna go and say, 'Let's make a whole record again.' But right now, it's very convenient because you can just download a single. And the guys were explaining to me, they go, 'Jeff, it's just like back when THE BEATLES, and before that when people would put out a single on a 45 record. Like Hank Williams, he'd do something live and just put it out as a single. Back in the day, they used to just put out singles, and then, of course, they would records too. So we're kind of in that mode. And now, instead of it being on a 45 record, it's on a digital form that you can have people download. I don't know — it's the best I can understand it."

Hannon spoke about "Time To Rock!" in June 2022 in an interview with Robert Cavuoto of Sonic Perspectives. Asked if DEF LEPPARD's Phil Collen, who produced TESLA's latest album, 2019's "Shock", will return to helm the band's follow-up effort, Frank responded: "The 'Shock' album that Phil did, they worked really hard on that. When I say 'they,' I'm talking about Phil Collen and Brian Wheat, our bass player. Man, they really worked hard on the album. It was a collaboration. Phil wrote most of the songs. And some people thought it was a great album and other people didn't like it. But we gave it a shot. But from now on… Brian and I had a discussion… Brian and I are the founding members of the band TESLA, along with Jeff Keith. And we decided from now on, we're gonna write and produce our own music. We worked with enough producers — we've had producers coming and going our whole career — so from now on, at our age, we're gonna produce our own music.

"The best thing about producing ourselves is it's imperfect and it's edgy and it's got the warts and everything and it's as real as it can be because it's us. We're not technicians where we know how to make things perfect."

Asked if TESLA will continue to focus on releasing individual singles before dropping another full-length album, Hannon said: "Yeah, we're gonna put out singles after singles and just focus on one song at a time, man, and rock that song.

"What happens is when you're young, man, you can write 10 songs and frickin' put out an album every year, but as you get older, like we are now, it's not as easy to do that," he explained. "So you end up sacrificing quality for quantity, and we don't wanna do that. Why put out 10 songs that are just in a rush when we can spend our time and just create singles that we're real proud of?"

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

TESLA will celebrate 36 years of entertaining audiences around the world with a five-night residency at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada. The residency will begin on Friday, March 17.

During a recent episode of The SDR Show, FOREIGNER lead singer Kelly Hansen was asked if the band's original frontman Lou Gramm has been invited to make appearances during the legendary rockers' upcoming farewell tour. (Lou previously shared the stage with Hansen and other members of the current and original FOREIGNER lineup in 2017 and 2018 to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary.) Kelly responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The door is always open to all the original members, all the surviving members of the band to come and play with us. I encourage that and I really enjoy doing it. I've always loved having those guys and respected everything that they've accomplished, even though sometimes it's not always reciprocal, and I understand why. Because if you're the guy who did the stuff originally and someone's out there doing it now and you're not, I understand. But I'm only trying to extend the legacy and present these songs as faithfully as I can, and I'm not trying to hurt anybody. I'm just trying to do my thing."

Last October, Gramm was asked during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" what he thought of Hansen, who has been in the group for nearly two decades. "I think he's a good singer," Lou said. "And he sings those songs okay; he sings them good. But he mimics my style right down to the ad-libs, and I'm offended by that… I just think that if he's gonna sing the songs, he could sing the melodies that are familiar, but when it comes to the ad-libs and all the little things that set me aside as a vocalist when I sing them, he should make his own up. He should have his own ad-libs that are his own; he doesn't have to mimic me."

Gramm's latest comments echoed those he made a little over two months earlier when he told John Beaudin of RockHistoryMusic.com about Hansen: "Kelly is all right. He's a good singer. But I think Mick [Jones, FOREIGNER's founding guitarist and leader] really told Kelly, when he first got in the band, that he had to study me, because he sings those songs with the same musical innuendos and vocal licks and ad-libs as I have. He's mimicking me. His voice doesn't sound like me, but he's singing the songs the way I would sing them.

"Some people say, 'Well, take it as a compliment, Lou.' I don't take it as a compliment," Gramm continued. "You're a singer with a big band like that — use your voice and your style. Don't hang your coat on my hook.

"I don't think he should sing the songs verbatim like me," Lou added. "Maybe sing a couple of parts. But let his own influences show — show the fans that he's the new singer now, not me."

Asked what it was like to share the stage with Hansen and other members of the current and original FOREIGNER lineup in 2017 and 2018 to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary, Lou told RockHistoryMusic.com: "It was okay. [Kelly] was bouncing off the walls. He couldn't stand still or sit still. After a song ended, I couldn't even get a word to thank the audience or tell 'em that I was happy to be part of the reunion. At the end of the song, the last song hit, and there wasn't a quarter of a second of space before he was yapping away to the audience… It was, like, 'Jeez, will you quiet down for a minute?'"

Pressed about whether it is "over now" for him and FOREIGNER, Lou said: "I think so, yeah. I don't wanna be a part of it. Well, Ian [McDonald, guitar] has passed away and Ed Gagliardi [bass] passed away, even though he wasn't part of the reunions. Two original members of the six are now gone. And Mick is in very poor health. I think when the new FOREIGNER plays, I've heard that he comes on for one song and then waves and goes offstage. [In the recent past] he would play the whole last half of the set. But then he was in the hospital again for weeks. He had some heart problems and his recovery time was very long and tedious. And I heard that he comes out for one song now — when he comes on. Most of the time FOREIGNER has no original FOREIGNER members in it."

Gramm was the voice on FOREIGNER's biggest hits, including "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice" from the band's eponymous debut in 1977, and later songs like "Hot Blooded" and "I Want to Know What Love Is".

The 72-year-old Gramm left FOREIGNER for good in 2002 and has battled health issues in recent years, including the removal of a non-cancerous tumor. He told the Democrat & Chronicle in 2018 that he was planning to retire, but still reunited with FOREIGNER for several shows that year.

FOREIGNER replaced Gramm with Hansen in 2005. Jones, the only remaining original member of FOREIGNER, suffered from some health issues beginning in 2011, eventually resulting in heart surgery in 2012.

Gramm and Jones's June 2013 performance of "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Juke Box Hero" at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City marked the first time the pair performed together in a decade after Gramm left FOREIGNER for a second time. Hansen has fronted the group for the past 18 years.

Kelly Hansen photo credit: Karsten Staiger