POISON frontman Bret Michaels has released the official music video for his new solo single, "Back In The Day". Check it out below.

Michaels states: "'Back In The Day' is truly a modern-day throwback to a feel-good road-trip anthem. The video reflects the feel of early MTV videos with green screen, pop-up captions and never-before-seen photos and original Hi-8 images of my youth. It is a song that truly reflects on great times and pays homage to the radio stations and DJs that cranked up the music while bringing us great songs that have withstood the test of time, songs that all my friends and I would sing along to then and now. Music is a universal language meant to unite us, not divide us, and that is exactly what this song is about. It's also a hell of a lot of fun to sing along to, as is the video to watch as it weaves a story of my life and the music that rocked it!"

Pete Evick, who is best known as Bret's music director and guitar player of the last 20 years, stated about "Back In The Day": "It's been a long time coming, I've had this track sitting in my hard drive for months just dying to let everyone hear it. I can't explain the amount of fun me and Bret had recording this song. As always Bret pushes the boundaries and really makes me get creative and innovative with production.

"Trying to encompass elements from the 70's, 80,s 90's, and also still feel current and modern was the goal with everything about this song," he explained. "I think we got it! Meri Schaefer sings those amazing harmonies in the chorus and Norman Voss kicks out some heavy guitar throughout the song."

In a recent interview with Guy "Favazz" Favazza of the St. Louis, Missouri radio station KSHE 95, Michaels spoke about how "Back In The Day" came together: "I was driving in the car, and I'm driving along the beach, and as I'm writing this down… I do this crazy TikTok thing, and I show people how I write music. I said, 'Don't fear it.' I'm laying a beat, I'm playing the guitar. And I'm, like, [sings] 'Back in the day, radio played our favorite songs the DJs'd say.' And crank it up. And it all hit me, and the song just fell together. It's just a good-vibe song."

Bret, who toured with POISON as part of "The Stadium Tour" last summer, will hit the road in July for a limited run of live dates for his 2023 "Parti-Gras" tour. Michaels has created this tour with a Mardi Gras feel in celebration of his great fans and hit music. The renowned rockstar will bring a few of his rocker friends along for a mashup of all-killer, no-filler hits featuring special guests NIGHT RANGER and JEFFERSON STARSHIP with special appearances from Steve Augeri (former lead singer of JOURNEY) and Mark McGrath (SUGAR RAY), plus a nightly surprise guest to rock your world.

Presented by Live Nation, the 12-city limited date run kicks off on Thursday, July 13 at the one and only Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan; known for its epic concerts and parties, going on to make stops across the U.S. including at The Pavilion at Star Lake, in his birthplace of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania),Holmdel (New Jersey),Tinley Park (Illinois),Tampa (Florida),and more before wrapping up in Charlotte (North Carolina) at PNC Music Pavilion on August 6. The tour promises to be a modern-day throwback to epic tailgate parties, positive energy, and a much needed nothing but a good vibe.

Dark Tranquillity guitarist Johan Reinholdz, also known for his work with Andromeda and NonExist, has released his second solo album, Weightless And Numb. It is now available via Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music.  





The tracklist is as follows:




"Weightless And Numb"
"Bury Me In Your Heart"
"A Promise Unfulfilled"
"For Posterity"
"One Consciousness"
"The Lighthouse At The End Of The Sky"
"Where Sorrow Comes to Die"
"Lullaby For The Lonely"





Photo by Live Music Club

METALLICA has released the official Tim Saccenti-directed music video for a new song called "Screaming Suicide". The track is taken from the band's 12th studio album, "72 Seasons", which will arrive on April 14 via the band's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with METALLICA's James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and clocking in at over 77 minutes, the 12-track "72 Seasons" is METALLICA's first full-length collection of new material since 2016's "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct".

Says METALLICA: "We're back with another taste from '72 Seasons', the new album coming out on April 14. 'Screaming Suicide', the second track we're releasing in advance, is now available to stream and download and as an instant grat with all album pre-orders."

Adds METALLICA frontman James Hetfield: "'Screaming Suicide' addresses the taboo word of suicide. The intention is to communicate about the darkness we feel inside. It's ridiculous to think we should deny that we have these thoughts. At one point or another, I believe most people have thought about it. To face it is to speak the unspoken. If it's a human experience, we should be able to talk about it. You are not alone."

Regarding the "Screaming Suicide" music video, METALLICA said: "We first worked with Tim on 'Lux Æterna' and were so blown away that we asked him to come back for round two."

In a recently released behind-the-scenes look at the making of "72 Seasons", Hetfield stated about the LP's first single, "Lux Æterna": "'Lux Æterna' is an upbeat, kind of fast and joyous song, I would say — really indicative of New Wave Of British [Heavy] Metal stuff, so kind of a harkening-back-to-'80s kind of riff. It's just fun and makes me move. It was fun making the video, fun recording a song that comes out really easy, that was a real easy song to write and to perform, like I said, very much like the early '80s for us."

As for the inspiration for the "72 Seasons" album title, Hetfield said: "'72 Seasons' came out of a book I was reading about childhood, basically, and sorting out childhood as an adult. And 72 seasons is basically the first 18 years of your life. How do you evolve and grow and mature and develop your own ideas and identity of self after those first 72 seasons? Some things are more difficult than others — you know, some things you can't unsee and they're with you for the rest of your life, and other things you're able to rewind the tape and make a new tape in your life. So that's the real interesting part for me, is how you're able to address those situations as an adult and mature."

He continued: "There's been a lot of darkness in my life and in our career and things that have happened with us, but always having a sense of hope, always having the light that is in that darkness… Without darkness, there is no light, and being able to focus a little more on the light in life instead of all of the… how it used to be and how horrible it is... There's a lot of good things going on in life — focusing on that instead, and it helps to balance out my life. And there's no one meaning to it — everyone has some sense of hope or light in their life, and, obviously, music is mine. And the song specifically talks about gathering of people at a concert and [being] able to see the joy and the life and the love that comes out of music and the family and the kinship in that, and just a sense of uplifting."

In November, METALLICA released the Tim Saccenti-directed music video for "Lux Æterna", along with details about the album's accompanying "M72" world tour featuring two-night stops in nearly two dozen cities. Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only) and promoted by Live Nation, the 46-show trek will launch in Amsterdam on April 27 and will include shows all over Europe and North America through 2024. Each "No Repeat Weekend" on "M72" will feature two completely different setlists and support lineups. The "M72" tour will feature a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the "I Disappear" full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age. Opening acts for the tour include PANTERA, MAMMOTH WVH, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS, ARCHITECTS, VOLBEAT and GRETA VAN FLEET.

In the six years since the arrival of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", METALLICA has reissued some of its classic albums, released a second live album with the San Francisco Symphony, commissioned a covers album featuring the likes of GHOST, VOLBEAT, WEEZER, Corey Taylor and THE HU, and landed on the Billboard songs chart with "Master Of Puppets" after a prominent placement in the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things".

Photo credit: Tim Saccenti

David Crosby, a founding member of THE BYRDS and CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (later CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG),has died. He was 81 years old.

His wife released a statement, writing: "It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers."

In Crosby's unparalleled six-decade career, the native Californian has created songs that resonate as indelible cultural touchstones for more than three generations, not only as a solo artist, but as a founding member of THE BYRDS in the mid-60s, CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (recipients of the Grammy for best new artist in 1969),and CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG. He's collaborated with dozens of artists, including Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, PINK FLOYD's David Gilmour, Phil Collins, Elton John and Carole King.

The folk rock pioneer, who was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2009, has also served as our social conscience, not only eloquently writing about societal issues on such songs as "Almost Cut My Hair" and "Wooden Ships", but continuously donating concert proceeds to likeminded causes. His towering influence and brilliant ability to capture the spirit of our times in his music remains undiminished.

Throughout Crosby's career — from its beginnings in the socially conscious burgeoning California folk scene in the early 1960s, his surprising views on gun control, his recovery from drug abuse and deteriorating health, and his influence on a whole new generation of folk-oriented singer/songwriters — he has remained an icon of counterculture, an advocate for social responsibility, and a thorn in the side of hypocrites of all stripes.

Crosby played at some of rock's most culturally significant concerts, including the Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock and the Altamont Free Concert.

In 2019, filmmaker Cameron Crowe made a documentary of Crosby's life and music called "David Crosby: Remember My Name".

Photo credit: Anna Webber

The legendary Grave Digger live album, 25 To Live, will be released on February 3 in a strictly limited, one-off 4LP box via Metalville Records.


Recorded in 2005 in Sao Paulo in front of a frenetic audience, the 27-song concert features not only all the classics but also rarely played live tracks, and is still one of the absolute high points in the band's successful career.


The limited edition of 500 copies worldwide also includes a poster and a certificate signed by Grave Digger vocalist Chris Boltendahl. Packaging and tracklisting below.







Tracklisting:


LP 1:


Side A
"Passion" (Intro)
"The Last Supper"
"Desert Rose"
"The Grave Dancer"
"Shoot Her Down"


Side B
"The Reaper"
"Paradise"
"Excalibur"


LP 2:


Side A
"The House"
"Circle Of Witches"
"Valhalla"


Side B
"Son Of Evil"
"The Battle Of Bannockburn"
"The Curse Of Jacques"
"Grave In The No Man's Land"


LP 3:


Side A
"Yesterday"
"Morgane Lefay"
"Symphony Of Death"


Side B
"Witch Hunter"
"The Dark Of The Sun"
"Knights Of The Cross"


LP 4:


Side A
"Twilight Of The Gods"
"The Grave Digger"
"Rebellion"


Side B
"Rheingold"
"The Round Table"
"Heavy Metal Breakdown"

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck passed away on Tuesday, January 10 at the age of 78. Beck’s family shared in a statement that he died after contracting bacterial meningitis.


Beck played guitar on Morrissey's "Black Cloud" (from the 2009 album Years Of Refusal), and The Smiths legend took to his official website, Morrissey Central, to pay tribute to his collaborator.







Says Morrissey: "We are losing so many, so quickly, that it is difficult to stay sane and to keep your thoughts strong. Are we all dreaming? The greats of pop and rock music are now almost entirely wiped-out.


"Jeff raised the guitar to a higher plane. Watching and listening to him play on 'Black Cloud'… I hadn't ever seen anything like it. He turned the guitar into an adventure for everyone who listened to him. He was also very easy company, and funny, and his death is a stark message for the rest of us. I am privileged beyond words to have witnessed Jeff's greatness. But it's not enough to simply say those words. The days are darker now."

Werewolves Of London is the long-awaited reissue of the 1998 concert release from British hard rock institution, UFO. The show features the reunited classic lineup of the group with guitar extraordinaire Michael Schenker returning to the fold along with founding members Phil Mogg and bassist Pete Way as well as longtime rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Paul Raymond. Joining them for this release is drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio). Still basking in the glory of their highly regarded 14th album, Walk On Water, the group rocketed around the globe for an extended epic world tour.


Now this fantastic concert album is being remastered and re-released on both physical and digital formats. Hear the group rip through several highlights from Walk On Water (“Pushed To The Limit,” “A Self Made Man”) as well as their best-loved works, the unstoppable juggernauts "Doctor Doctor," "Lights Out," "Rock Bottom" and more!


By way of previewing the release, the group’s killer version of “Only You Can Rock Me” is being released as a single (listen below), which will be followed by the full album on CD and audiophile quality 180g black vinyl on February 17. Additional vinyl colors – red, yellow, blue, and purple – will be released a few weeks later on March 24th. Order yours now.




Order the CD/cassette/vinyl here. Pre-order the digital here. And watch for an exciting reissue of Walk On Water, coming in March.








Tracklisting:


"Natural Thing"
"Mother Mary"
"A Self Made Man    "
"Electric Phase"
"This Kid's"
"Out In The Streets"
"One More For The Rodeo"
"Venus"
"Pushed To The Limit"
"Love To Love"
"Too Hot To Handle"
"Only You Can Rock Me"
"Lights Out"
"Doctor Doctor"
"Rock Bottom"


"Only You Can Rock Me" (Live):

In a new interview with Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio, ex-HIM frontman Ville Valo discussed the factors that contributed to the breakup of his former band. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "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 [Mikko Lindström], 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.

Two 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

In a new interview with Brutal Planet Magazine, former SEPULTURA and current SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera spoke about his reputation as a modern-day riffmaster. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "I've always been intrigued by riffs, man. I think riffs are amazing; they are magical. There's something about it. Your personality comes through the riff — anger, desperation, happiness; all those come through riffs. And I love riffs because of that. That's why I ended up… It's not the reason why I took the two strings out — that was a long time ago, in Brazil — but when those strings came out of my guitar and I happened to only have four strings, it forced me to be even more creative with only four strings. I don't have the other two to help me out; I've gotta do everything with four; I've only got four. So I became even more of a full rhythm riff player with four strings than before. I still, to this day, most of my guitars have four strings on them."

When asked in a 2005 interview what prompted him to start exclusively playing a four-string guitar, Max said, "I don't do leads, ya know? More than ten years ago, when those strings broke, a friend of mine said, 'Don't replace them, you don't use them anyway. You are just going to be spending money for nothing. Save the money and buy some beer.' I was, like, 'Okay, cool,' and I never put them back. Over the years, it's become a trademark that I thought was kinda cool. It's something that's different about how I do things. The guys that make the guitars that I work with, they must think that I am crazy when their bosses tell them not to put the other two strings on because I don't use them. I can only imagine... They are probably saying, 'What the fuck is wrong with this guy?' [Laughs] I am a completely rhythm player... all I do is riffs. Working with so many great guitar players, there is so much talent for playing the guitar, it convinces me further to keep the other strings off."

Regarding how, in his opinion, playing with only four strings had changed his overall sound, Max said, "I think it’s changed it in a sense that it's made me a complete riff freak, ya know? Everything that I do when I am writing a song is riff-orientated, which is the foundation of my sound. I love [BLACK SABBATH guitarist] Tony Iommi...his style of playing...he does leads as well, of course, but his riffs, the solid rhythm section that he helps create, that is where I really base my style on, being as solid of a riff player as I can be. Instead of being a player who plays riffs and does a little bit of leads, I say, 'Fuck that!' and just stay completely obsessed with riffs. On every album, I try to play better, more solid, kick-ass riffs as much as possible, ya know?"

Earlier this month, SOULFLY recruited Mike DeLeon as its new touring guitarist.

Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.

In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's most recent run of shows.

SOULFLY will embark on a massive U.S. tour later this month. The 57-date trek will run from late January to early April, and will feature support from Florida death metallers BODYBOX, Maryland progressive metallers HALF HEARD VOICES, Los Angeles industrialists DRIFT and Botswana metallers SKINFLINT.

SOULFLY is continuing to tour in support of its twelfth album, "Totem", which was released in August via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2018's "Ritual" was recorded at Platinum Underground in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino and Arthur Rizk with assistance from John Powers. Produced by Max alongside Arthur Rizk (KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE),the LP boasts guest appearances from John Powers (ETERNAL CHAMPION),Chris Ulsh (POWER TRIP) and John Tardy (OBITUARY). Rizk was also responsible for playing lead guitar on the record. The artwork for the album was created by James Bousema.

Grammy Award-nominated and multi-platinum selling rock band FALL OUT BOY will release its eighth studio album, "So Much (For) Stardust", on March 24. The official music video for the LP's first single, "Love From The Other Side", which was directed by David Braun and Open The Portal, can be seen below.

"Technology has made it really easy to make records much more quickly these days. There's nothing wrong with that, and that spontaneity can be exciting," shares FALL OUT BOY's Patrick Stump. "But we wanted to get back to the way we used to work. We wanted to make a record that was really lovingly crafted and deliberate and patiently guided — like someone cooked you a delicate meal. I'm not a very proud guy, but I'm pretty proud of this record."

"So Much (For) Stardust" marks a homecoming for the band on multiple fronts; the first of which found the band reuniting with renowned producer Neal Avron, whom they've worked with on three previous albums ("From Under The Cork Tree", "Infinity On High", "Folie À Deux"). On working with Avron for this record, Stump notes: "Neal not only taught us how to make records, but has a unique capacity to really take time and focus on a record. We thought it was a no-brainer to work with him again, on a record where that was very important to us, and he was gracious enough to agree to work with us."

Additionally, "So Much (For) Stardust" will be released on Fueled By Ramen/Elektra — FALL OUT BOY's first album with the label since their 2003 debut album "Take This To Your Grave", which celebrates its 20th anniversary on May 6.

"Our band has been an ongoing art project for twenty years and we know there have been many inception points along that journey," says FALL OUT BOY's Pete Wentz. "We wanted to create an album that merged those points together — something new, but carved from our foundation. Fueled By Ramen and Elektra seemed like the perfect home for this."

Johnny Minardi, VP of A&R for Fueled By Ramen/Elektra, says: "We're incredibly excited to welcome back FALL OUT BOY to the Fueled By Ramen family. It's been twenty years since the release of their debut album on Fueled By Ramen, and it's a true pleasure to be working together again.

"Growing up in Chicago, I had the privilege of watching FALL OUT BOY play DIY venues around the city, eventually growing into the global superstars we know them as today. They are a truly special band that has altered the landscape of rock music and who continually evolve with each new release. They have made an incredible album and we can't wait for the world to hear it."

Tonight, the band will appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to perform the broadcast debut of "Love From The Other Side". "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" airs on ABC at 11:35/10:35c, and is available next day on Hulu. Pete and Patrick will also appear on "The Zane Lowe Show" on Apple Music this morning to discuss the new single.

Anticipation for the record started brewing in November, after a mysterious ad appeared in the Chicago Tribune and continued building with multiple teaser sites in December, the latter of which featured a clay animation video titled "A Claymation Fall Out Boy Celebration" on Christmas that included a quick audio preview of "Love From The Other Side" for eagle-eared fans. On January 11, the band officially revealed the single's release date just days before they took the stage at the 2023 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO on Saturday in Los Angeles, California.

"So Much (For) Stardust" is FALL OUT BOY's first new studio album since 2018's "Mania", which garnered a Grammy nomination for "Best Rock Album" and marked their third consecutive and fourth overall No. 1 album.

Most recently, FALL OUT BOY embarked on "The Hella Mega Tour" in July 2021 alongside GREEN DAY and WEEZER, playing live in front of over 1 million fans on a sold-out global stadium tour. The U.S. leg included numerous sold-out stadium gigs — including renowned venues like Chicago's Wrigley Field, Boston's Fenway Park and Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium. Critical and fan acclaim poured in, with USA Today hailing it "the most stacked lineup of any rock tour in 2021," Billboard noting that each night was "serving up a buffet of hits in front of one of the largest concert crowds," and Rolling Stone calling it "wildly entertaining." The tour was nominated for both "Major Tour Of The Year" and "Best Rock Tour" at the Pollstar Awards in 2021. The international leg of the tour took place throughout the summer of 2022.

Photo credit: Pamela Littky

In a new interview with American Songwriter, KISS frontman Paul Stanley spoke about the band's "End Of The Road" farewell tour, which is expected to conclude at the end of this year, five decades after KISS's formation.

"Being on tour is pretty much three hours of elation, and 21 hours of being away from home, which honestly is not fun," Stanley said. "There are nights when I'm going to bed and going, 'What the hell am I doing here? Why am I here when I have a family home?' So there certainly is a push and pull, but there's nothing like being on stage, the gratitude that I feel."

He added: "And the workout that I get on stage, I couldn't do that in a gym. If you could pack 10,000 or 100,000 people into a gym to cheer you on, you'd do things that you couldn't do without them there, so flying over an audience on a wire, that's pretty cool. If I try that during the afternoon when nobody is there, I'm terrified. Adrenaline makes you stupid."

Stanley went on to say that the end of KISS as a touring entity is unavoidable.

"There are two things that are inevitable: death and taxes," he explained. "And it's inevitable the demise of us playing as a live band. Do I want to see that day? No. But it's necessary. Before we have no choice, I'd like to end it.

"When I think about the end of it, it doesn't make me happy," he added. "I'll be ecstatic looking at what we've accomplished and what we've done, but it's the end of an era. It's also the end of a huge part of my life.

"I take my kids to school, and I do all kinds of things, but the band has been most of my life," Stanley said. "The connection to the audience and that adrenaline rush and the emotional rush of doing a show, I don't want that to end, but a lot of things have to end. I'd like to think that in the best situation you can control it, and that's simply what we're doing. If we were in t-shirts and jeans, we could do this into our 80s and 90s but not in eight-inch platform heels and 40 pounds of gear."

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but has since been extended to at least late 2023. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band's classic song "Detroit Rock City" on "America's Got Talent".

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Gene Simmons (bass, vocals),alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, KISS staged its first "farewell" tour in 2000, the last to feature the group's original lineup.

Mark Tremonti says that he is "sure" that a reunion of CREED will happen at some point in the not-so-distant future.

Nearly three years ago, CREED updated its Facebook profile with an old photo, igniting rumors of the multi-platinum act's imminent return.

Mark, who is promoting the new ALTER BRIDGE album, "Pawns & Kings", discussed the chances of a CREED comeback during a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio. He said: "There's always talks — people running ideas back and forth — but we don't know as of yet, 'cause we're so in the deep with this ALTER BRIDGE record that's it's tough to kind of get sidetracked right now."

He continued: "I'm sure something will happen at some point. CREED was such a popular band back in the day, it would be a shame to not do something with it. I know there's still tons of fans out there that would appreciate it, so it's just a matter of timing."

Tremonti's latest comments echo those he made last fall when he spoke to The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn. At the time, he stated about the possibility of a CREED reunion: "It's just a matter of timing. We're all so busy running around the world doing our things, we would just have to have the time where it made sense. I don't think we need to rush into it, because I don't think CREED fans are going anywhere. I think whenever we decide to do something, I think it's gonna be a safe time to do it. It's just gonna be when it makes sense for everybody. You don't wanna derail a whole album cycle by jumping into doing CREED. It would just have to make sense."

In September 2021, Tremonti told The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn that constantly being associated with CREED — more than 10 years after the band completed a tour in support of its fourth album, 2009's "Full Circle" — was "definitely both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you right now if it weren't for CREED; I wouldn't have this career, this long career," he said. "But at the same time, for my entire life, I will be that guy from the band CREED, which is good and band. 'Cause certain people loved CREED, certain people hated CREED. So no matter what I do artistically, I'm gonna be the guy who was in CREED that was, at certain points critics liked to come after us. So I've kind of lived in both worlds — I was in a band that sold lots of records but got some critical attacks, but I also got to be in a band that didn't sell as many records but got critical praise. So I got to see both sides of it. It would be great to have it all in one. But it's tough."

CREED disbanded in 2004 but reunited five years later for the aforementioned "Full Circle" LP and an extensive tour. Singer Scott Stapp has since toured and recorded as a solo artist, although he suffered a drug-related mental breakdown in 2014 and spent several years recovering from that.

In 2019, Tremonti said in an interview on Jamey Jasta's podcast that he was sitting on an album's worth of material for CREED. Asked whether CREED could reunite again, Tremonti said, "People say, 'Is it done? Is it over? Is there new music coming out?' I'm sitting on an entire CREED album... When we were together doing the reunion tour, we put a lot of music together and I have like really sketchy little demos of probably 13 songs. I listened to them maybe a year ago and they're good songs."

Tremonti added: "It's just, there's no time. Is it good enough for me to put everything on the back burner that I've been working on for the past 14 years? No. Is it good enough to maybe 10 years from now or seven years from now... or some big resurgence happens or there's an anniversary where everybody's like, 'We want to see CREED and the world demands it like they used to.' I wouldn't say no."

This week, symphonic metal titans Epica will finally kick off the Epic Apocalypse Tour 2023, a European co-headline tour with Apocalyptica, that will take them to 21 countries over the course of the next 3 months.


Just in time for the first show in Vilnius (the band’s first-ever performance in Lithuania), they have released a new live video for "Rivers", an atmospheric ballad off their latest full-length release, Omega. Filmed in Santiago de Chile during the band’s Latin American Tour in 2022 by Panda Productions, the new live video can be viewed below:







The band also have three vinyl re-releases - The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion and Design Your Universe (Gold Edition) - that are out this Friday and available for purchase here.

QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton and singer Todd La Torre spoke to Pete Pardo of Sea Of Tranquility about the band's recent North American tours as the support act for JUDAS PRIEST. Michael said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "JUDAS PRIEST was one of my influences when I was [in my] late teens, early 20s. So I was gravitated to the two-guitar hard rock/metal bands. I was listening to these guys — all their old albums, I still have 'em, the LPs. And for me, since we've been able to tour with them, they're just really nice guys; they're super easy to work with, and they bring it every night. They kick ass. Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer] has still got it. And for me, it's a good package. And our music complements each other in some way. But for me, it's just, like, 'Yeah, I grew up listening to these guys, and now I'm on tour with them. It's pretty damn cool.'"

Added Todd: "Yeah, it's awesome. And thing is, too, anything can happen. We turn on the news or the Internet, and somebody's passed away, something tragic happened. And to see a band that's been around as long as JUDAS PRIEST has, to be on a tour with them, you're, like, 'How many more tours does anybody have?' You don't know. So to be able to get two tours with them was really awesome. And they changed the set up on both legs; it was totally different. And getting to know them, like Michael said… We'll be going to our dressing room and we'll hear them rehearsing in one of the little side rooms. Scott [Travis, PRIEST drummer] has a practice kit and they would all be in there and they'd be rehearsing a part to a song. And we're, like, 'Oh, yeah.'

"It was a lot of fun," he continued. "[We have] so much respect for them. And the organization treated us so well. It was a real treat, and we're very honored that they not only chose us one time, but I think that they saw we did deliver… And behind the scenes, our crew… There was a 10-minute changeover for us, so we had to have everything off — boom, boom, boom — and done. And adhering to that timeline and being professional and out of their way… We're a totally self-contained unit, so we don't rely on them for a bunch of stuff. We have all our own everything. And it was just a seamless thing. We couldn't have asked for a sweeter situation.

"Michael has toured with everybody — Ozzy [Osbourne] and DIO and [IRON] MAIDEN. I don't have those experiences, but I did get to do some great tours with the SCORPIONS and now a couple of great tours with JUDAS PRIEST, and, obviously, festival stuff where I played with other bands. But these actual tours were really great. And the timing couldn't have been better as well because of the new [QUEENSRŸCHE] album ['Digital Noise Alliance']. It was, like, we had a built-in several thousand people a night. A lot of QUEENSRŸCHE shirts in the audience. Good reaction on the songs. Man, [we're] very, very thankful to them."

Last month, QUEENSRŸCHE announced an early 2023 U.S. tour in support of its sixteenth studio album, "Digital Noise Alliance". Direct support on the trek will come from former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman, with TRAUMA opening each show.

La Torre told Canada's The Metal Voice about QUEENSRŸCHE's setlist for the upcoming tour: "We're gonna play a nice handful of songs from ['Digital Noise Alliance'] and the last three records. And then I think we're talking about doing some pretty deep cuts that have never been done since the beginning of the band and maybe something that hasn't been done for sure at least maybe since I joined the band. And then you'll have a few staple songs, but I'm pretty sure that this setlist is gonna be really for the diehards that follow everything we do, because you're gonna have a huge chunk of my era with the band being played. If you [think] you're just gonna get a lot of the old stuff that we kind of usually play, a lot of that stuff is not gonna happen on this tour. So I'm looking forward to it."

Wilton previously discussed the band's 2023 tour in an interview with Rock Show Critique. He said: "It's a full 'Digital Noise Alliance' headline tour. We're really excited to get out there and get touring again. We're rebuilding and establishing again, because for us it's a bit of the Wild West. There's a lot of congestion out there, there's a lot of bands touring, and to put a tour together like this, we're really happy that we can get out there and do a full tour."

"We appreciate the fans, their input," he continued. "For us, I think we're gonna make this different than previous tours 'cause we're really gonna mix up the setlist. So, for people saying, 'Oh, they're just gonna play the same stuff again,' they'll be surprised.

"You've gotta keep a balance, 'cause you've got the hardcore fans that wanna hear the deep cuts and they wanna hear the new stuff," Wilton explained. "And then you've got the casual fans that just wanna hear the hits, the staples from the legacy albums. But it's a headline set, so we have 90 minutes. There's a lot of wiggle room in there for some different stuff."

"Digital Noise Alliance" came out on October 7 via Century Media. The record was once again helmed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with QUEENSRŸCHE on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict" LPs.

Guitarist Mike Stone, who rejoined QUEENSRŸCHE in 2021, contributed guitar solos to the band's new studio album.

Since late May 2021, Stone has been handling second-guitar duties in QUEENSRŸCHE, which announced in July 2021 that longtime guitarist Parker Lundgren was exiting the group to focus on "other business ventures."

Stone originally joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years before leaving the group.

For the past six years, drummer Casey Grillo has been filling in for original QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield, who stepped away from the band's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son.

In October 2021, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge. A few months later, Wilton and Jackson filed a countersuit against Rockenfield, accusing him of abandoning his position as a member of the band and misappropriating the group's assets to his own personal benefit.

Charlie Benante says that "it felt right" for him to take part in PANTERA's comeback more than 20 years since the last time the band performed live.

Joining the ANTHRAX drummer in PANTERA's reformed lineup are surviving members Rex Brown (bass) and Philip Anselmo (vocals),along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY).

According to Billboard, the lineup was given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

It was first reported in July that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

PANTERA recently played seven shows in Mexico and South America and will next headline a number of major festivals across North America, Europe and Asia, and stage some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

Benante opened up about his participation in PANTERA's return during a new appearance on the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast, hosted by wrestling superstar and FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho.

Charlie said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET) "I had found out [about PANTERA playing shows again] towards the end of December [2021] — maybe it was the beginning of January [of 2022] when Philip called me up — and I immediately said, 'Yup. I wanna do it.' It just felt right. For some reason, with Darrell and Vinnie being gone, I, myself, missed these songs. You can listen to 'em all you want, but I think having them being performed in front of you and being performed the right way, it really resonated with a lot of people once they really found out that this was gonna happen."

He continued: "We always joke about if THE BEATLES, if John [Lennon] and George [Harrison] had still been here, would there have been a reunion. And I think the first thing I said was it probably would have been at the first Live Aid. The thing about Vinnie and Dime not being here anymore, and Philip and Rexare here, I think those guys felt, 'I wanna go play my songs again too.'"

Benante went to say that he knows "that there's die-hard fans who have their issues with" him, Wylde, Anselmo and Brown performing under the PANTERA name, "but for me and Zakk, we're just honoring our friends, to be honest with you. That's what we're doing," he explained. "And that's it. I enjoy playing these songs. When I look down at the setlist and I see the next song coming, man, I get so excited. So, for me, it's so great to be doing this. And seeing the reaction… I mean, you saw the videos [from the shows in Mexico and South America]. The people are just loving it. So why would you even be so negative about something when you see how much fun people are having and the joy that it's bringing? … We couldn't even ourselves; that's how loud it was. It was so loud. I've said this with ANTHRAX too, when we've come down [to South America], that sometimes you just wanna stop playing and just take it all in. And that's one thing that the fans in Chile, you didn't see a lot of [people holding up their phones and filming the show]. You just saw them in the moment enjoying it. And that was one thing that I was just applauding."

According to Charlie, "celebration" is the best way to describe what the new PANTERA lineup is trying to accomplish by bringing the music back to the live stages across the world. "I think that's the most accurate word you can use for this thing, because it is a celebration of the music and the vibe that these guys created," he said. "Vinnie and Dime would be all for it. And I know there were issues with those guys in the past, but, man, it's 2022 now. You can't hold on to grudges all your life. You've gotta let shit go and you have to just say, 'I'm gonna enjoy this. I wanna hear 'Cowboys From Hell' again. I wanna hear 'I'm Broken'.' That's it. Just come out and celebrate it."

As for all the naysayers, Benante added: "I did say something about two or three weeks ago about how I thought it was disrespectful for people to say the things that they were saying, because I felt that Vinnie and Dime, if it was the opposite way, they would be probably doing this too, 'cause they'd want their music to live on. That's the thing, because there's two generations who never have seen PANTERA. And this isn't the PANTERA that started this whole thing… Yes, it's Philip and Rex, and it's myself and Zakk who are filling in for Darrell and Vinnie. And we're just trying to play these songs as best as we possibly could play them."

While he was alive, Vinnie Paul had repeatedly dismissed talks of a PANTERA reunion, telling Germany's EMP Rock Invasion in 2014: "People are selfish, man. They want what they want; they don't care what you want. And it's unfortunate that people go, 'Oh, wow, man, they can get Zakk Wylde to jump up there on stage and it's PANTERA again.' No, it's not, you know. It's not that simple. If Eddie Van Halen was to get shot in the head four times next week, would everybody be going, 'Hey, man, Zakk, go play for VAN HALEN. Just call it VAN HALEN.' You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's really selfish for people to think that, and it's stupid. It's not right at all."

He continued: "They call it a reunion for a reason. It's called bringing the original members back to what it was. So there's a lot of these things that they call reunions that aren't really reunions. They've got one dude from the band floating around in them, you know. That's not a true reunion. With PANTERA, it'll never be possible."

He repeated those same sentiments a few months later, telling PlanetMosh in a separate interview: "Without Dimebag Darrell, there is no [PANTERA] reunion. And that's all there is to it. We were a very influential band, and we touched millions and millions of people with that band, but it's over. People really have to come to grips with that, and that's all there is to it. If all of us were still here, then the possibility would truly be there, but since it's not, you know… It's selfish of the fans to want something that they can't have. And they don't ever understand that, and I get it. There's things I want in this world too. You know, people in fucking hell want ice water, but they're not gonna get it. So… Anyways, I'm glad that the people who have decided to follow me in HELLYEAH do, and hopefully more of them will. And the ones that wanna live in the past are gonna live in the past."

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie and Philip to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag.

Vinnie, who is Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Haney told the producers of "Behind The Music Remastered: Pantera" that she forgave the singer after they found themselves unexpectedly face to face at a concert in California.

In a new interview with Colombia's Radioacktiva, NICKELBACK bassist Mike Kroeger spoke about he and his bandmates are sometimes inaccurately perceived by the media and the record-buying public. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Rock and roll can be very serious. And in the past we have been mistakenly judged as taking ourselves too seriously. And that's funny, because anybody who knows us [knows that's not true].

"We did an interview a little while ago in Toronto, here in Canada, and the interviewer asked us if we do take ourselves very seriously or too seriously. And my brother [NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger] gave an answer to it — and Ryan [Peake, NICKELBACK guitarist] gave an answer to it — and then I told the interviewer that I was so close, so close… I was just gonna stand on the table and take my pants off, just to prove how 'serious' we are. And it was funny, 'cause the interviewers, they didn't really know what to say. But my guys, the band guys were all just, like, 'Thank you for not taking your pants off on national television. Thank you.' Because we don't take it seriously.

"We want, like anybody, to be treated with respect, but we don't think we deserve respect or that people have to treat us in some special way," Mike explained. "We're not a protected class, that's for sure. We're happy to take the shots.

"Believe it or not, there's more NICKELBACK jokes from inside NICKELBACK than there is from outside NICKELBACK. [Laughs]"

NICKELBACK's tenth studio album, titled "Get Rollin'", was released on November 18.

NICKELBACK's history dates back to 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, where they got their start playing covers in a band called VILLAGE IDIOT, a nod to the small-town nature where they played and grew up. In 1996, Chad, alongside Ryan, made the 10-hour trek west to follow Mike to Vancouver, British Columbia, where the band still resides and continues to make music today.

The band's numerous smash hits, coupled with worldwide sales of over 50 million albums sold, seals their status as one of the top-selling acts of all time and the second best-selling foreign act of the 2000s in the U.S., behind only THE BEATLES. The wildly popular smash hit "How You Remind Me" was named Billboard's "Top Rock Song Of The Decade", which was a contributing factor in the publication's decision to crown NICKELBACK "Top Rock Group Of The Decade" shortly after.

Beyond their Juno Awards, the group has received nine Grammy Award nominations, three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, a People's Choice Award and seven MuchMusic Video Awards. They were inducted into Canada's Walk Of Fame in 2007.

In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind, drummer Mike Portnoy said that THE WINERY DOGS, his power trio with guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen and legendary bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH),could not exist without any one of those three members. He explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[That's] especially [true] with a trio. I mean, if you have a band of four or five people, maybe you could sub somebody out if somebody's sick or somebody can't do a tour or whatever. But when you're down to only three people, those are usually three distinctive personalities. You look at RUSH, look at ZZ TOP, look at THE POLICE, look at KING'S X — I mean, these power trios… CREAM… You have to have those three personalities to make up that sound and style. And it's the same with THE WINERY DOGS. I don't think we could sub out any of us for a show or for a tour. It has to be Mike, Billy and Richie or it can't be THE WINERY DOGS."

THE WINERY DOGS will release their third album, "III", on February 3 via the band's Three Dog Music label (via Burnside Distribution/The Orchard). Following in the footsteps of their first two albums, "III" was once again produced by THE WINERY DOGS and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston.

"III" is the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed and Billboard-charting album "Hot Streak", which was released October 2, 2015 on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment). After landing in the Top Five on many of Amazon's pre-order charts, including No. 1 on the Amazon BestSellers/Hard Rock chart and No. 1 on the Amazon Pre-Orders/Hard Rock Albums charts, it sold 30% more than their 2013 self-titled debut, landing them on various Billboard album charts including No. 2 on "Top Current Alternative Albums," No. 5 on "Top Current Hard Music" and "Top Hard Music Albums," No. 6 on "Top Current Rock Albums" and "Album Core / Genre Rock," No. 15 "Top Current Physical Albums," No. 16 "Top Current Albums," and No. 30 on the "Top 200 Albums" chart.

Upon its release, "Hot Streak" racked up rave reviews. Allmusic.com hailed, "'Hot Streak' is the trio's second album, and its loose, friendly feel shows that the trio doesn't feel compelled to rely on instrumental pyrotechnics. The bluesy, soulful 'Think it Over' would appeal to those who admire THE ALLMAN BROTHERS, while 'Captain Love' shows that the band also has some hard rock energy to unleash, and the title track lets fly some of the technical proficiency that its members are known for." And GuitarInternational.com praised, "'Hot Streak' picks up where their debut CD left off, but showcases the band coming into their own with straight-ahead rockers like 'Oblivion', 'Captain Love' and 'Devil You Know'."

THE WINERY DOGS is hitting the worldwide concert trail starting February 15 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania at the Palace Theatre for their "202III World Tour". Ticket and VIP package info can be found on the band's official web site.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

In a new interview with the Igor Miranda YouTube channel, former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate spoke about the touching ballad "Silent Lucidity" which originally appeared on the band's triple-platinum-certified album "Empire". "Well, it was a very popular song, and still is," he said. "I hear it all the time in everyday life. It just floats in and out on radio stations and TV stations and pumping gas at the gas stations; it pops on the speaker. [Laughs] It's just weird. I hear it in films and TV shows. It's a song that is with us at all times. And that's a great thing. I love that it's surprising that I hear it.

"I get asked to play that song a lot," he continued. "People tell me stories about the first time they heard it or what that song means to them. And it seems to have had quite an emotional impact on people. I think people have been married to the song and buried to the song. [Laughs] Children have been born, children have been made to that song. It's been played a lot."

After building a devoted fan base with album and EP releases throughout the 1980s, including 1988's critically acclaimed "Operation: Mindcrime", QUEENSRŸCHE broke into the mainstream across North America and abroad with the 1990 release of "Empire". In the U.S., the album peaked at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart and "Silent Lucidity" quickly became a heavy rotation staple at rock radio and on MTV, topping Billboard's Modern Rock singles chart and earning QUEENSRŸCHE the coveted MTV "Viewers Choice Award" for the song's music video. "Empire" also made the U.K.'s Top 10, and the album's international success led to QUEENSRŸCHE's 18-month headlining "Building Empires" world tour, the band's longest trek to date.

During a February 2017 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Tate was asked if he ever imagined when "Silent Lucidity" was first written that it would become such a cross-genre hit. He responded: "No. And I doubt anybody does that ever writes a song that becomes very popular. There's no way to predict that; you just write what it is you write."

He continued: "That song almost didn't make the record. It wasn't completed until the very end, and it didn't have any of the orchestra; it was just vocals and guitar. And the producer that we worked with at the time, Peter Collins, didn't think that it was a very completed idea, and he thought it should be saved for another record [so] we could get more time to complete it. But we pursued it and made it happen and put it on the record, and I'm glad we did, 'cause it definitely has made an impact."

Asked who in the band really pushed for "Silent Lucidity" to be included on "Empire", Tate said: "Oh, [then-QUEENSRŸCHE] guitarist] Chris [DeGarmo, who wrote the track] and I. We were very into the song, and we wanted it on the record. The problem is we presented it too early to the producer; we didn't have all the parts in place. Very few people can imagine something out of thin air, before it's actually there. So it's asking a lot for us to say, 'Well, just imagine it with this orchestral accompaniment.' [Laughs] 'Cause that could be anything. So until Michael Kamen finished the orchestra parts, it was really an unknown. But then once we had those in place and we played it back for Peter, he was all thumbs up. He [said], 'Oh, it's a beautiful song here. You should definitely put it on the record.'"

Tate also talked about "Silent Lucidity"'s lasting influence, saying that "People have been married to that song, children have been born to that song, people have been buried to that song, and children have been made to that song. It's really had quite an impact on the population, you know."

According to Geoff, he has been approached "many, many times" to perform "Silent Lucidity" at various family gatherings and other functions. "I've actually declined every time but once," he said. "And the reason why I declined after that was because of this one time. I did it for some people that I knew that I was pretty good friends with, and they wanted me to sing it at their wedding. And they had a karaoke guy come in, and they had the music all together, and I said, 'Okay, I'll do it for you.' So I sang the song, and everybody loved it. And after my performance, I'm standing there, having a glass of wine and talking with some people, and several people came up and they commented and said how much I sounded like that guy that sings that song. They said I did a really great job and I should be really proud and maybe I should think about doing this professionally. [Laughs]"

"Silent Lucidity" was written about a person having a lucid dream. A lucid dream happens when you are aware that you are dreaming, and can control parts of it. DeGarmo got the idea from a book called "Creative Dreaming". "The song is about the ability to realize that you're dreaming, recognize it, and actually participate in the dream, shape it, change it," the guitarist said in a 1990 interview. "I had never had the opportunity to present it in song form, to talk about it. It happened nicely on this particular project."

In August 2022, Cyhra featuring former Amaranthe vocalist Jake E and Kamelot drummer Alex Landenburg, announced their rescheduled No Halos In Hell tour dates for Japan. The shows were scrapped for early 2022 due to the global pandemic.


Guitarist Euge Valovirta has shared a rehearsal video for the tour, running through information, his gear, sounds, and a warm-up exercise.







Four shows have now been added to the tour. The band's schedule is as follows:


January
19 - Duo Music Exchange - Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan
20 - Duo Music Exchange - Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan
21 - Imaike Huck Finn - Nagoya, Japan
22 - Am Hall - Osaka, Japan
24 - Varon - Osaka, Japan
25 - Imaike Huck Finn - Nagoya, Japan
26 - Space Odd - Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan
27 - Space Odd - Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan
28 - Koenji High - Suginami City, Tokyo, Japan


Cyhra recently released a new single, "Ready To Rumble". Check out the official video below, stream and purchase the song here.


The song will appear on the band's new studio album, due to be released in 2023.

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo cover of the AC/DC classic "Thunderstruck". Check it out below.





Johansson kicked off 2023 with a power metal cover of Bonnie Tyler's 1983 hit, "Total Eclipse Of The Heart". Check it out below.

On January 6th, Y&T performed at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy, CA. Fan-filmed video of the entire show is available below.


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"Hard Times"
"Straight Thru the Heart"
"Lipstick and Leather"
"Don't Stop Running"
"Shine On"
"Mean Streak"
"Midnight in Tokyo"
"Lonely Side of Town"
"Summertime Girls"
"Surrender"
"Blind Patriot"
"Winds of Change"
"Barroom Boogie"
"Contagious"
"Dirty Girl"
"Hurricane"
"Rescue Me"
"Black Tiger"




Encore:
"Open Fire"
"Hell or High Water"
"Forever"





Y&T recently added three dates in California to the band's 2023 tour itinerary. The new dates are:


July
21 - Agoura Hills, CA - The Canyon
22 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
23 - Montclair, CA - The Canyon


For tickets, and the most up-to-date concert info, head here.

Those Damn Crows have issued the Nathan Roach-directed music video for “See You Again” – taken from their upcoming Inhale/Exhale album, out February 17 via Earache Records.





Inhale/Exhale is available for pre-order worldwide now at earache.com/thosedamncrows on an immense number of formats including: a collector's edition bundle (which will house a burnt orange and black splatter vinyl with alternate fire carousel cover, exclusive to this edition); limited edition coloured vinyl with an exclusive 12-page booklet (clear with black smoke, purple, yellow), plus blue and white splatter vinyl with alternate blue sky carousel cover; signed CD with exclusive 12-page booklet and alternate fire carousel cover; a cassette collection of the band's full discography; USB; and digital download. HMV carry two more exclusive formats: CD with alternate blue sky carousel cover and black vinyl with alternate fire carousel cover. A green vinyl format exclusive to indie stores is also available.







Inhale/Exhale tracklisting:


"Fill The Void"
"Takedown"
"Man On Fire"
"Wake Up (Sleepwalker)"
"This Time I'm Ready"
"I Am"
"See You Again"
"Lay It All On Me"
"Find A Way"
"Waiting For Me"


"Man On Fire" video:





"Wake Up (Sleepwalker)" video:

Sweden’s Siena Root will release their eighth studio album, Revelation, on February 24 through Atomic Fire Records. In advance of the record’s release, today the band reveals a lyric video for the track “Keeper Of The Flame.”


Issues the band of the track, “‘Keeper Of The Flame’ is a modern rock classic, stuffed with powerful vocals, rock organ, and bluesy guitar licks, guided by an ever-present, soulful golden thread. This ballad explores the conflict between requited attraction and heartbreak starting off slowly with Rhodes piano and vocals that tug at your heartstrings to only evolve into a fully blown rock track towards the end.”


Preorder Revelation on CD, LP, pre-save it on your favorite DSP or preorder it digitally to receive “Keeper Of The Flame” and “Coincidence & Fate” immediately at this location.




Fittingly titled Revelation, the recording serves as the group’s most versatile offering of their long-spanning career, guiding listeners through a true journey rather than simply stringing together song after song. The eleven-track offering was recorded analogously at Silence Studio in Koppom, Sweden and Root Rock Studios in Stockholm, Sweden where it was also mixed. Mastering was handled at Stockholm’s Cutting Room.


Founded in the late ’90s, Siena Root are constantly working on something new. They’ve continually changed their approach and experimented with their sound — not only to keep their music fresh but to challenge themselves, which is among the main reason why the group’s relevance remains after all these years. Besides touring with acts such as Deep Purple and Dewolff, the quartet — founding members drummer Love Forsberg and bassist Sam Riffer with guitarist Johan Borgström and vocalist/keyboardist Zubaida Solid — have always brought an infectious performance to stages globally and consistently gaining new fans with every show.





Lineup:


Zubaida Solid - vocals, keys
Johan Borgström - guitars
Sam Riffer - bass
Love Forsberg - drums


(Photo -  Petter Hilber)