In a new interview with Niclas Müller-Hansen of RockSverige, NICKELBACK guitarist Ryan Peake spoke about bassist Mike Kroeger's comment about three years ago that he wanted to make a SLAYER covers album. Asked if that is something all four members of NICKELBACK could agree on doing and whether it's even a possibility for NICKELBACK to make a record like that, Ryan laughed and said: "I don't know if it would be something we all could agree on because we are all have our different likes and dislikes when it comes to music. Mike's is really heavy, and I like SLAYER, so I get that. I think we could probably agree on doing a heavy covers album or something like that."

He continued: "I got kicked out of Ryan Vikedal's [former NICKELBACK drummer] garage for playing [SLAYER's] 'South Of Heaven'. I went down to see him before he was actually in the band and I was just kind of jamming with him. We grew up with that."

Circling back to the idea of NICKELBACK making a SLAYER covers album, Ryan said: "I don't know. This is what I like about this band. I don't think anything's going to be so crazy to hear from us. I think if a metal band went and made a full-on country album, it might be, like, 'What are you doing? You've got nine metal albums, and now this?'

"We've kind of dipped our toes in a lot of different music, I feel, and especially with 'No Fixed Address', where we kind of tried to stretch our legs a bit, that it's maybe believable.

"I love metal stuff, I love pop stuff, I love some country, for sure. Chris Stapleton is unreal. He is singlehandedly saving country music. I grew up with country music, but I haven't been listening to it in years until I heard him do something with an acoustic and another guy with an upright bass and his wife singing harmony. That was it. I had goosebumps like crazy, and I love when music does that. And it doesn't matter where it comes from.

"Maybe [we can] do a TESTAMENT, SLAYER, MESHUGGAH album? I don't know. [Laughs]"

In January 2019, Mike told Australia's Wall Of Sound that metal is "what I listen to without fail," adding that "if we could actually sink in and do a metal album, all four of us would love it. I know that we're all — on differing scales — metalheads at our core. We all know everything about the 'Big Four' — METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER. I would do a SLAYER cover album if I could. That's where my heart lies. There are just never enough hours in the day to do everything, but let's just say I wouldn't count it out."

But six months later, Kroeger offered a different take on the possibility of recording a SLAYER covers album, telling the New Hampshire Union Leader that he never said NICKELBACK as a band would partake in such a project.

"As a journalist yourself, you realize the importance of context and how context can be manipulated," Mike said. "I can't remember who I was talking to, but I know this got somewhat distorted, and then it was put on a wire and then everybody got it.

"I said this in an interview with somebody in, I think, Australia, and then it got regurgitated and switched around and then reformatted it into this clickbait form," he continued. "What I said was, 'I would like to make a SLAYER cover record or have a SLAYER cover band or make a metal album.' I didn't say [it involved] NICKELBACK … Like, 'Hey, everybody, be outraged because NICKELBACK wants to make a heavy metal album.'"

According to Mike, he still has a passion for the heavier forms of music and he often entertains the idea of dabbling in the more extreme styles than NICKELBACK is known for.

"I'm a metalhead, love metal music, love SLAYER in particular; they're one of my favorites," he said. "And I would love to play that music, but I couldn't speak for NICKELBACK in saying that we want to do a SLAYER cover band or make a death-metal record.

"I know that the drummer, Daniel [Adair], he's a big fan of metal. I don't know if he wants to be in a metal band. He might. I know Chad [Kroeger, guitar/vocals] and Ryan both like heavy metal, but I don't know if they wanna make a record of it or play in a band that plays SLAYER covers. I sincerely doubt it."

Asked if SLAYER was the first metal band he really got into, Mike said: "I remember particular moments in my life when I heard a kind of music or a band for the first time, and I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. SLAYER's one of those. I was skateboarding with friends and we had a little boombox with us. And I remember one of the guys put on a cassette tape … [I] put on a cassette tape of the 'Reign In Blood' album. I just sat down and I was' like, 'What on earth is that? What, what is this? I need to know what this is.' And it just got me. That's one in particular that I remember distinctly socking me right between the eyes."

Esoteric will release a STEPPENWOLF box set, "The Epic Years 1974-1976", on January 27, 2023.

STEPPENWOLF was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by John Kay (vocals, guitar, harmonica),Goldy McJohn (organ, piano) and Jerry Edmonton (drums) who were previously members of the Canadian band THE SPARROWS. They were joined by Michael Monarch (lead guitar) and Rushton Moreve (bass). The band signed to Dunhill / ABC Records and were propelled to success in 1968 with their classic single "Born To Be Wild", which became even wider known when the track was featured to great effect in the classic 1969 counterculture film "Easy Rider".

Over the next four years, the band released eight albums and enjoyed huge success. In February 1972, STEPPENWOLF disbanded, with John Kay recording a solo album, but by '74 they had emerged once again and over the next three years they would record three further albums for Epic.

Following on from "Magic Carpet Ride", Esoteric's acclaimed boxed set of the first era of STEPPENWOLF's career, "The Epic Years 1974-1976" gathers together all of these albums, along with two rare bonus tracks. The set also includes an illustrated booklet with a new essay by STEPPENWOLF aficionado Jim Christopulos.

Track listing:

Disc One – Slow Flux

01. Gang War Blues
02. Children Of Night
03. Justice Don't Be Slow
04. Get Into The Wind
05. Jeraboah
06. Straight Shootin' Woman
07. Smokey Factory Blues
08. Morning Blue
09. A Fool's Fantasy
10. Fishin' In The Dark

Disc Two – Hour Of The Wolf

01. Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)
02. Annie, Annie Over
03. Two For The Love Of One
04. Just For Tonight
05. Hard Rock Road
06. Someone Told A Lie
07. Another's Lifetime
08. Mr. Penny Pincher

Bonus tracks

09. Angeldrawers (B-side of single)
10. Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World) (Mono promotional single mix)

Disc Three – Skullduggery

01. Skullduggery
02. (I'm A) Road Runner
03. Rock N' Roll Song
04. Train Of Thought
05. Life Is A Gamble
06. Pass It On
07. Sleep
08. Lip Service

To purchase, go to this location.

††† (CROSSES) — DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno's project with FAR guitarist Shaun Lopez — has just released a new EP, "Permanent.Radiant". The official music video for another one of the EP's tracks, "Holier", directed by Lopez and Lorenzo Diego Carrera, can be seen below.

"Permanent.Radiant" arrives nine months after ††† (CROSSES) released two new songs, "Initiation" and "Protection", neither one of which appear on the new EP.

"Permanent.Radiant" track listing:

01. Sensation
02. Vivien
03. Cadavre Exquis
04. Day One
05. Holier
06. Procession

In December 2021, Lopez confirmed that ††† (CROSSES) had signed a new deal with Warner Records. That same month, ††† (CROSSES) dropped its cover of Q Lazzarus's "Goodbye Horses" as a digital single. The track was previously covered by ††† (CROSSES) back in 2014.

Prior to "Goodbye Horses"' digital arrival, ††† (CROSSES)'s last release was a cover of "The Beginning Of The End" by '90s electropop band CAUSE & EFFECT. Made available in December 2020, it was the first new music from the alternative band since its 2014-released, self-titled record.

Moreno told The Pulse Of Radio how he got involved with the group in the first place, which was started by Lopez and Chuck Doom. "Shaun and Chuck were working together for a while before I came into the picture, and I just so happened to come in one day," he said. "These guys were, you know, writing some stuff and I heard it and I liked it right off the bat, and I sort of weaseled my way [Laughs] into the project. I think their idea was to get a bunch of different singers to, you know, just write different tracks, and... it didn't happen."

††† (CROSSES)'s CD included the songs from the band's two previously released EPs along with five new tracks.

Moreno told Rolling Stone about ††† (CROSSES)' sound: "By listening to the music, you can tell that a lot of the influences come from the new-wave era. That was basically the scene that I came up on. I just happened to wind up in a metal band when I was 15."

Asked about ††† (CROSSES)'s heavy use of the cross in the band's imagery and songtitles, Moreno said: "I think a lot of bands are influenced by religious symbolism and not even necessarily Christianity or Catholicism. Our band definitely doesn't follow any of those. It's more of the aesthetic. The art, the way it works. The initial name of the band was going to be HOLY GHOST. But at the last minute, another band came out with the name, so Shaun suggested CROSSES. It's a very strong symbol. Three crosses is great. It's great to look at, there's three of us in the band."

††† (CROSSES) made its live debut in January 2012 at The Glass House in Pomona, California.

SKID ROW singer Erik Grönwall has shared his cover version of the GUNS N' ROSES classic "You're Crazy". The track, which features Philip Näslund on guitar and Dennis Holm on drums, was produced by Näslund and was mixed and mastered by Kristoffer Folin of Purple Skull Music.

Erik, who made his recording debut with SKID ROW on the recently released studio album, "The Gang's All Here", spoke to The Rock N' Roll & Coffee Show about how he has been accepted by the band's fans since he joined the group earlier this year as the replacement for ZP Theart. He said: "There's so many different types of fans. I've realized that… 'Cause when we did the show in California, [some] people came up to me after the show, and they were, like, 'Sebastian [Bach], you've still got it.' [Laughs] Yeah, that happened. Then you have the fans who still think that Sebastian is in the band, and then you have the fans who know the whole story."

Erik went on to say that he isn't bothered by the fact that some fans are still clamoring for a reunion of the band's classic lineup.

"I understand the fan perspective of wanting the original lineup — I understand that — because I'm a Bon Scott guy myself," he explained, referencing AC/DC's late singer. "But I think that people are really excited about this new album, and I feel like even the people who want the original lineup are actually starting to approve."

He added: "When I joined this band, I realized that it's such a privilege to have people so interested in the band, talking about the band, discussing everything. A lot of bands would kill for that, and that's a privilege. You have all these people talking about SKID ROW and they like that singer or they like that song or they like that era, and that's just incredible, having people so excited about it or hating it. [Laughs]"

Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY. In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, featured a lineup consisting of bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and singer Johnny Solinger. SKID ROW fired Solinger over the phone in April 2015, a few hours before announcing ex-TNT singer Tony Harnell as his replacement. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was replaced by Theart, the South African-born, British-based singer who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I.

"The Gang's All Here" arrived on October 14 via earMUSIC. The group recorded most of the LP in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, STONE SOUR, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, RUSH and ALICE IN CHAINS, among many others.

Grönwall, who auditioned for the competition show "Swedish Idol" back in 2009 by singing a cover of SKID ROW's "18 And Life", joined SKID ROW in January. Theart, who had been in the group for more than six years, played his final gig with SKID ROW in February before being officially given the boot.

Grönwall was a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T. with whom he recorded four studio albums — "Address The Nation" (2012),"Tearing Down The Walls" (2014),"Into The Great Unknown" (2017) and "H.E.A.T II" (2020) — before exiting the group in October 2020.

In September 2021, Grönwall announced that he was cancer free after receiving a bone marrow transplant. "Some anonymous wonderful human being somewhere in the world donated his/her blood cells so that I could get a second chance at life," he told Headbangers Lifestyle in January. "Sometimes I can just get tears in my eyes when I think about it. It's so beautiful that one person who is not connected to me in any way wanted to do that for me. He/she doesn't know that the blood cells were for me. It's completely anonymous."

In September 2021, Grönwall released his cover version of "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms.

In 2018, Grönwall debuted in the U.S. for 10 million viewers in NBC's live broadcast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". Along with John Legend, Alice Cooper, Sara Bareilles and others, Erik played the key role of Simon Zealotes.

The ViewFromTheCheapSeats YouTube channel has uploaded video of IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain and ex-JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens performing a couple of PRIEST and MAIDEN classics on Saturday, December 3 at the 13th-anniversary celebration for Rock N Roll Ribs, the barbecue restaurant owned by McBrain and close friend Mitch Tanne, in Coral Springs, Florida.

A barbecue joint with a musical bent, Rock N Roll Ribs showcases its love for smokey Southern cooking with food like barbecued pork and chicken and clever takes on MAIDEN songs, like "Final Frontier" dog, "Moonchild Mahi" sandwich and "Aces High" fries.

"It's not just MAIDEN fans that come in," McBrain said about the restaurant in a 2010 interview. "We do get a lot of pilgrimages, people come in and look at all the stuff on the walls, but most people that come in always come out satisfied. And it's not major expensive. A rack of ribs is [$20], and you get a pound and a quarter to a pound and a half of ribs."

Asked if he has always been a BBQ fan, McBrain told Broward Palm Beach New Times back in 2013: "Yeah! You know, I'm a Brit, and we don't have a very long summer, so it's very few and far between people get out and do a barbie in the backyard. Touring around America, I always used to love buying a rack of baby backs and some cole slaw and French Fries, and that was my main BBQ experience, the baby backs. Then a friend of mine taught me how to make the ribs we make in the restaurant, and I started to make some sauce, and it was very successful and people liked it, and that's where Rock N Roll Ribs was born, really. It was a dream we had and it finally came into fruition. I've got to be honest, it's not a business that's making a lot of money for us, but we make a lot of people smile and a lot of people happy. I'm very happy, it's great! I love it when I meet people and they say things like, 'these are the ribs I've ever had,' or, 'Your pulled pork is to die for,' and it warms the cockles of me heart!"

Rock N Roll Ribs
4651 State Rd. 7 (US441)
Coral Springs, FL 33073
954-345-RIBZ (7429)

Nicko and Tim performed with McBrain's band TITANIUM TART in which he is joined by Rob Stokes on bass, Eldad Kira on keyboards, Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne on guitar, and Paolo Velazquez on vocals.

McBrain was born in Hackney, East London, on June 5, 1952. His first experience of music came via his father's love of traditional jazz. Young Nicko's hero was Joe Morello, the late, great drummer with the legendary THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET. Nicko would often take to the kitchen, using forks and knives to beat on anything he could find at home. Fed up with him bashing up the kitchen utensils, his parents finally bought him his first drum kit when he was 12.

By the time he left school at 15, he was already a veteran of several part-time pub groups. Musically, however, his tastes had broadened to include more contemporary sixties sounds from THE SHADOWS, THE ANIMALS, THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES. On the recommendation of another drummer he knew, he began to take on session work, playing on countless different recordings.

In 1975, Nicko joined STREETWALKERS, the band formed by ex-FAMILY members, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist Charlie Whitney. From the late seventies until 1982 when he joined IRON MAIDEN, Nicko had spent his time in session work, most memorably with the PAT TRAVERS BAND on their 1976 "Makin' Magic" album, and also appeared in the band MCKITTY in the early 1980's. It was during a MCKITTY gig in Belgium that he first met IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

He officially joined IRON MAIDEN in December 1982 for the 1983 "Piece Of Mind" album and tour, replacing Clive Burr, after McBrain's previous band TRUST had supported IRON MAIDEN during the U.K. leg of the "Killers" tour in 1981.

With 14 studio and eight live albums currently under his belt with MAIDEN, Nicko's role as the driving force behind the band's sound has served as a major influence to many of today's top drummers and solidified his place in music history.

McBrain and his wife still live in the same Boca Raton, Florida home they bought in 1989 when Nicko relocated from England.

Multi-platinum rock band Candlebox has announced that they have been selected by the preeminent Milwaukee-based cancer charity This Time Tomorrow Foundation (TTTF) as its official “2022 Featured Artist.” As part of this prestigious honor, Candlebox has unveiled their version of the non-profit’s theme song “This Time Tomorrow 14”.





Candlebox performed the song to a live audience in mid-November at TTTF’s 13th Annual Storytellers Concert & Gala where they helped generate $371,000 for the foundation, breaking the record for the charity. 




“This is a great example of how the artist and the song found each other and knowing that the band who wrote ‘Far Behind’ and ‘Riptide’ was doing TTT 14, I knew it was going to be something special,” said Cory Zimmermann, president and co-founder of TTTF. “Candlebox’s ’This Time Tomorrow 14’ raises the bar on so many levels. You can literally feel every note and lyric of emotion throughout the entire song. What these guys did with my song is truly astonishing and the people it will inspire is endless."





“This Time Tomorrow” was originally written by Zimmermann as a way to raise money for a friend affected by cancer and in 2011 the song was transformed into a 501 (c) (3) foundation designed to help families touched by the disease. Each year, the foundation selects an artist or band to recreate the song to help support TTT’s “Random Acts Of Kindness” campaign, which donates money directly to cancer patients and their loved ones.


To coincide with the release of Candlebox’s rendition of “This Time Tomorrow 14,” the band is also unveiling an emotionally poignant video. Directed by Zimmermann, the vignette features exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage of the recording of the song as well as a tribute to those affected by cancer. 


“We are honored to be selected as TTTF’s ‘Featured Artist,’ as this is an organization that has always been very close to our hearts,” said Candlebox Frontman Kevin Martin. “We’ve been fortunate to know Cory for many years and are truly humbled by his selfless dedication to such a great cause. To be given the creative license to reinterpret his song and film such a moving video was an experience none of us will forget.”


“This Time Tomorrow 14” is the first single released since Candlebox’s hit 2021 album Wolves, which peaked in the top 10 on two Billboard charts (Hard Music Albums and Alternative Albums). Candlebox is currently finishing production on their official feature-length documentary, Far Behind: The Candlebox Story, which is being produced by Warner Music Entertainment (WME), the television and film division of Warner Music Group, and Highway West Entertainment. The band will also be celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2023 and revealing plans for a year-long celebration.


Find more about Candlebox at candleboxrocks.com.

Frontiers Music Srl have released the sophomore album, Elevate, from Brazilian melodic rockers, Landfall. Hailing from Curitiba, Brazil, Landfall features singer Gui Oliver (ex-Auras), guitarist Marcelo Gelbcke, bassist Thiago Forbeci, and drummer Felipe Souzza.


Watch a video for the title track below, and order/save Elevate here.


The band’s delightful melodic rock/AOR sound can best be described as falling somewhere between classic melodic rock, a là Journey, and slightly heavier influences, such as classic era Dokken, White Lion, and Extreme. With phenomenal musical and songwriting abilities and the golden voice of Oliver, Landfall is truly a welcome addition to the melodic rock genre.




“This record definitely sums up the essence of who we are as a band. Being our second album, we were much more comfortable creating this music, so I think our personalities as musicians are even more apparent this time. As a group, we are currently living such a great moment and I think it has been reflected in our new music," says guitarist Marcelo Gelbcke.


Lead singer and lyricist Gui Oliver believes that the new songs are stronger than ever and capture the best of each band member. “We know exactly what we want to say, the music we want to play. Also, Marcelo and Felipe were meticulous in every detail of the production creating a special atmosphere for the songs," he says.


“In terms of writing and production, the entire process went smoothly, although we knew we would have a lot of work coming on our way. We did the whole piece in nine months. Even before we wrote the first seed of a song, we knew from the beginning what we should focus on and where to go. This makes a huge difference in the end. As we're self-producers, what you will listen to on the tracks is the exact way we want to sound. ‘Elevate’ is the Landfall's version 2.0. Powerful tones with well-built foundations and harmonies and really catchy melodies," says drummer Felipe Souzza.


Landfall was originally formed by drummer Felipe Souzza and guitarist Marcelo Gelbcke, childhood friends who have been playing together since they were about 15 years old. Some years later, bassist Thiago Forbeci joined up with them and added new musical input and influences, at which point the band decided to go in a new direction. During this period, they released three independent albums under the name Wild Child, performing several concerts around Brazil, including opening for acts such as Glenn Hughes and Mike Vescera.


Joined in 2017 by the former Auras singer Gui Oliver, Landfall began writing songs that would eventually become their first album released by Frontiers Records, “The Turning Point”. As a songwriter, Oliver had previously written songs for several artists from the label, including Jimi Jamison, Bobby Kimball, Fergie Frederiksen, and Issa. About Landfall, he said “I was really glad to be back with Frontiers with a new band and new songs in a new perspective. When I met the guys for the first time, I was really impressed by what gifted musicians they were. I knew we could make some great music


During the period between releasing The Turning Point and commencing work on their second album Elevate, Marcelo Gelbcke, along with Semblant vocalist Sergio Mazul, wrote, produced, and recorded the first Icon of Sin album, a heavy metal tour de force featuring the incredibly talented Brazilian vocalist Raphael Mendes. As for Gui Oliver, he released the debut Mayank album together with Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Hardline), Rolf Nordström (Perfect Plan), and Nicholas Papappico (Robin McAuley), another killer slice of melodic rock/AOR.





Tracklisting:


"Never Surrender"
"Two Strangers"
"Waterfall"
"Rescue Me"
"Heroes Are Forever"
"Elevate"
"Feels Like Summer"
"H.O.P.E."
"Shadows Of Love"
"The Wind"
"Chance To Destiny"


"Elevate" video:





"Heroes Are Forever" lyric video:





"Two Strangers" video:





Lineup:


Gui Oliver – Vocals
Marcelo Gelbcke – Guitars
Thiago Forbeci – Bass
Felipe Souzza – Drums

During a conversation with former EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt for his Zetro's Toxic Vault YouTube channel, EXODUS singer Steve "Zetro" Souza spoke about why he thinks his band failed to achieve the same commercial heights as the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal, namely METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Between the release of [EXODUS's debut album] 'Bonded By Blood', which was May of '85, and the release of 'Pleasures Of The Flesh', which was October 8, 1987, two and a half years went by. At those days, [any band which went] two and a half years without doing an album [was] killed. Everybody who was listening and had their eye up on you had forgot about you already. Although I believe 'Pleasures' was a very highly anticipated record because of what 'Bonded' had done. People were really, like, 'Woah. What are they gonna put out next once they get a new singer?' But [Torrid Records, EXODUS's original record label] didn't wanna let the band go, and nobody else wanted to take a chance on buying the band except for Combat, so Combat had to pay Torrid for us to go there, so it took a long time to get that to go before the record was [released]. There was a lot of things to it, but I think as a whole, being my first record, I was very proud of that album — very much so…

"When 'Pleasures' came out, we did a couple of high-profile tours," he continued. "Thrash metal was now still very, very new. We're talking 1987, early '88. We did that with ANTHRAX, and then we went out with M.O.D. headlining, and they were all very, very successful. And I believe people were starting to get this, 'Oh, what's this thrash thing? MÖTLEY who?' … But this rode its way. Even 'Fabulous Disaster' we had not done a video for yet. And the very first video that any heavy band did was METALLICA for 'One' off of '…And Justice For All'. So that was the only first band that was heavy. And that wasn't until '88. So we were doing something relatively new. And I think going from 'Pleasures' and writing 'Fabulous' really solidified it… We put out 'Pleasures' in '87, October 8th, and we did a full world tour, and then we came back, and 'Fabulous' came out in January of '89. So not even 15 months [later], really."

A year ago, Hunolt told Heavy Culture why he thinks EXODUS didn't break through like the "Big Four" bands did. He said: "First of all, we were just kids. We couldn't even buy alcohol. We were super young and just crazy, full of crazy energy. We recorded the album, 'Bonded By Blood', and it took forever and ever and ever and ever for it to come out — it took forever. So that really messed us up in the world. SLAYER, METALLICA and EXODUS — we were all there at the same time, we all had albums ready to be released, and, of course, ours was last one [to come out] because of record company craziness. So, the follow-up [1987's 'Pleasures Of The Flesh'], losing Paul [Baloff, vocals] was super tough.

"I think that when anybody… A good example if 'Van Halen I' — to this day, everybody compares everything that they've done after 'Van Halen I' to 'Van Halen I'. Same thing that we've been dealing with for 30 years — everything that we do after 'Bonded By Blood' is gonna be compared to 'Bonded By Blood'. So there's always gonna be people that say that, 'No, no, no. Nothing will ever be as good as 'Bonded By Blood'.' And then there's gonna be people that say, 'Yeah, their stuff after that is good too.' It's always gonna be that way. We have no control over it.

"Hiring a new singer [Zetro] and putting out 'Pleasures'… And then we had to wait another year for 'Pleasures' to come out; it was, like, another year for 'Pleasures' to come out. So that was like a double… '84, and then we waited till… 'Pleasures' came out, what, '86 or something? Late '85? So, people were just waiting and waiting and waiting. And we're sitting there going, 'Goddamn it.' It was a lot of pressure. Meanwhile, we got METALLICA and SLAYER and ANTHRAX now on board releasing albums every year. And we're just slowly but surely losing traction. It was tough. But shit happens. We were just kids. We didn't know anything.

"I think losing Paul was a big deal back then," Hunolt added. "I think that maybe we made a mistake by firing Paul. And this is just looking back on everything for me; this is just my personal thought. This is the stuff that I think about sometimes. What would have happened if we didn't fire Paul? I just think that maybe we would have gotten a little bit more traction if we didn't have that lag in between.

"People love Paul. And Paul was… he's a legend. He was going through a bad time in his life, and I guess, at the time, we felt that maybe he was holding us back; I think probably that's what we were thinking. I think that probably we might have thought about getting him better instead of firing him.

"But as far as the 'Big Four' goes… Well, I don't know… Maybe it should just be the 'Big Five.' I will say this: I think that everybody has their place in the old-school thrash. If you wanna give 'em a number or whatever, go ahead. I think it doesn't mean anything. I think that the people that were there and the people that love our genre know where everybody stands. And I know where we stand, for sure. Without EXODUS, I think that thrash metal would be very, very different."

The original lineup of EXODUS consisted of guitarists Kirk Hammett and Tim Agnello, drummer Tom Hunting and vocalist Keith Stewart. Guitarist Gary Holt joined the band in 1981, while Kirk left two years before "Bonded By Blood" saw the light of day, and joined METALLICA.

Souza is now on his third stint with EXODUS, having previously fronted the band from 1986 to 1993 and 2002 to 2004. A decade following his second departure, Souza returned to the fold in 2014, just in time to appear on "Blood In Blood Out".

Following weeks of teasing, progressive rockers, Haken, are pleased to announce their seventh studio album, Fauna, their most genre-busting and conceptually fascinating album to date. The album will be released on March 3, and following the release of "Nightingale" earlier this year, they are pleased to present "The Alphabet Of Me", the second track taken from the record. Watch the video, directed by Crystal Spotlight, below.


Vocalist Ross Jennings comments: “When composing and presenting initial song sketches, we very much had an “anything goes” mentality, and whilst sounding atypically Haken, it was a piece that was all exciting us to explore and integrate into our song canon.


Where the lyrics are concerned, I leant heavily on one of my favourite writers Philip K Dick, for inspiration. Keeping our loose concept of spirit animals in mind, I re-read ‘Do androids dream of electric sheep?’ (Which would later be adapted into the 1982 film ’Blade Runner’) knowing symbolically that animals played a key role in the story. This, along with revisiting both movies from the Blade Runner franchise, opened up some deeper philosophical topics about the nature of identity which have served as a backbone for the lyrical content.”




Fauna sees the band exploring new ideas conceptually as Ross continues. “The premise of the album when we started writing it was that every song would have an animal assigned to it. They all have something related to the animal kingdom that we could write about, but they also connect to the human world. Each track has layers, and some of them are more obvious than others.”


“It reminds me of 'The Mountain',” adds guitarist and fellow founder Richard Henshall. “There, we had the idea of not really a narrative-based album, but more the concept of climbing a mountain and overcoming the obstacles along the way. Then we took that and thought about how it could relate to our everyday lives. All of Fauna’s animals relate to us, personally.”


Fauna also marks the return of keyboard player Peter Jones, whose sounds can be heard permeating the entire album. “What Pete’s brought sonically to the band has played a massive role in why we do have a lot of new sounds on this record,” says Ross. “It’s always a new dynamic when there’s a change in personnel, and this is a fresh and reviving one. It’s certainly helped proximity-wise, with Pete being in the country: Pete and Ray [Hearne, Haken’s drummer] would be at Rich’s place and they’d just start jamming. That’s really key to how the songs start.”


Fauna will be available on several formats, including Ltd 2CD (incl. instrumentals), Standard CD, Gatefold 2LP & as Digital Album. The albums stunningly detailed artwork was created by Dan Goldsworthy (Charlie Griffiths, Sylosis).


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Taurus"
"Nightingale"
"The Alphabet Of Me"
"Sempiternal Beings"
"Beneath The White Rainbow"
"Island In The Clouds"
"Lovebite"
"Elephants Never Forget"
"Eyes Of Ebony"


"The Alphabet Of Me" video:





"Nightingale" video:





Haken recently announced a co-headline tour with Between The Buried & Me in Europe for early 2023, with support from Cryptodira. These will be the first dates in support of Fauna, find the full list of dates here.


Haken are:


Ross Jennings
Richard Henshall
Charlie Griffiths
Pete Jones
Conner Green
Ray Hearne

Frontiers Music Srl recently announced the signing of Polish heavy metal band, Scream Maker. The band is currently working on a new studio album, which is anticipated for release in 2023.


In the meantime, Frontiers have reissued the band's latest album, Bloodking, on CD/Digital. Order here, and watch a new video for "Mirror Mirror" below.







Scream Maker formed in Warsaw, Poland in late 2010 when the original members, including current member Michał Wrona (guitar), gathered together out of a shared love of heavy metal. Wrona is joined in the current incarnation of Scream Maker by vocalist Sebastian Stodolak, bassist Jan Radosz, drummer Tomek Sobieszek, and guitarist Bartosz Ziółkowski.


Scream Maker has produced three full-length studio albums (2014's Livin In The Past, 2016's Back Against The World, 2022's Bloodking), plus one EP ("We Are Not The Same") and played over 300 shows in Poland and abroad, including gigs with luminaries such as Judas Priest, Motörhead, Megadeth, Saxon, Slayer, Nightwish, Primal Fear, Stratovarius, Onslaught, and many more.


The band recorded their debut album, Livin In The Past with producer Alessandro del Vecchio (Jorn, Hardline, Revolution Saints) and the album featured guest appearances from Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Wojciech Hoffmann of Turbo. The album was released by Perris Records in April of 2014 in the US and Europe and followed by a tour that included shows with Primal Fear, Paul Di'anno, Blaze Bayley, and more. In May 2014, the band toured China for the first time, playing six festivals and unexpectedly becoming the first Polish artist to have an album released by a domestic record label in China.


In the summer and autumn of 2015, between gigs with Saxon, Black Label Society, and Motörhead, Scream Maker gathered at HEAR Studio in Warsaw to record their second album, Back Against The World. The album was crafted under the guidance of Radoslaw Kordowski, as well as, once again, Alessandro Del Vecchio.


The album was releasing in May 2016 and once again the band got busy playings shows in support of the album, including shows with Megadeth, Korn, Slayer, another tour of China (their third, but not last, as China has become a regular touring destination for the band), as well as the third edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial that they had started pack in 2014, but this time, the tribute included several shows. The band would organize a fourth edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial in spring 2017 and in December 2017, the band opened the first ever Polish concert by the Dio Returns tour. The band has continued with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial shows as the years have gone on, turning it into a regular tradition.
Once the global pandemic hit in 2020 and slowed the band's regular busy touring schedule, they focused on fine-tuning and recording material for their third full-length album, BloodKing, which was released in January 2022.


The album was mixed by Tomasz "Zed" Zalewski, with two songs, "When Our Fight Is Over" and "Hitting The Wall" being mixed by Alessandro Del Vecchio. With touring opening back up, the band got busy playing gigs again and in early September 2022, they have planned their own two-day festival in Warsaw (with Polish legends Turbo headlining), which will also include another edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial. In the fall of 2022, the band will embark on another tour with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial, after which they will devote themselves to writing and recording their fourth full-length album.





Tracklisting:


"Invitation"
"Mirror, Mirror"
"Bloodking"
"When Our Fight Is Over"
"End Of The World"
"Scream Maker"
"Hitting The Wall"
"Join The Mob"
"Die In Me"
"Powerlust"
"Tears Of Rage"
"Petrifier"
"Candle In The Wind"
"Brand New Start"
"Too Late"


"Mirror, Mirror" video:





"Bloodking" video:






Lineup:


Sebastian Stodolak – vocals
Michał Wrona – guitar
Bartosz Ziółkowski - guitar
Jan Radosz – bass
Tomasz Sobieszek – drums

Frontiers Music Srl has released Journey's Lollapalooza performance from Chicago, IL, which took place on July 31, 2021. Live In Concert At Lollapalooza is available on CD/DVD, Blu-ray, and Vinyl, serves as a testament not only to the band's enduring legacy, but their relevance to a whole new generation of rock 'n roll fans. Watch a performance of "Only The Young" below.


Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, Journey have 25 gold and platinum albums, including the fifteen million selling Greatest Hits collection, with total sales adding up to 80 million records around the world.


As the band’s legend continues to grow larger and their touring gets bigger, they recently released a new studio album, Freedom, in July 2022. It was their first album of new material to be released in eleven years, since 2011’s Eclipse.




Order / save Live In Concert At Lollapalooza" here.





Tracklisting:


"Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)"
"Only The Young"
Guitar Interlude
"Stone In Love"
"Be Good To Yourself"
"Just The Same Way"
"Lights"
"Still They Ride"
"Escape"
"La Do Da"
Piano Interlude
"Who's Crying Now"
Guitar Interlude
"Wheel In The Sky"
"Ask The Lonely"
"Open Arms"
"Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'"
"Faithfully"
"Any Way You Want It"
"Don't Stop Believin'"


"Only The Young" video:





"Any Way You Want It" video:





"Be Good To Yourself" video:





Journey Lollapalooza 2021 lineup:


Neal Schon - Guitars
Jonathan Cain - Keyboards
Arnel Pineda - Vocals
Deen Castronovo - Drums
Narada Michael Walden - Drums
Marco Mendoza - Bass
Jason Derlatka - Keyboards, Vocals

Guitarist Lars Eric Mattsson has released his new single, a cover of Uriah Heep's "Easy Livin'". Stream, download the single via digital platforms, and watch the video below.


Says Mattsson: "Here is my Uriah Heep tribute, 'Easy Livin’', 50 years after the original release."







Mattsson previously released “Emmaretta”, a remake of a 1969 Deep Purple track. Watch the video below:

Screamer, the Swedish band surrounding vocalist Andreas Wikström, have released a video for "The Traveler", featured on their new album, Kingmaker, out on January 13 via SPV/Steamhammer as CD DigiPak (incl. poster), LP version, CD/LP bundle with shirt (only at the Steamhammer shop). Find the clip below.


It’s the physically tangible intensity of their songs, their enthusiasm and their irrepressible drive that has always set Screamer apart from other acts. The band benefits to no end from their amazing energy in combination with the musicians’ inspiring and diverse songwriting. This rewarding mix has already produced four studio albums and one live recording since 2011.


Like its predecessors, Kingmaker sparkles with a wealth of songs in the catchment area of classic heavy metal, the kind that has been an integral part of our lives since the early 1980s. At the same time, Screamer skinsman Henrik Petersson promises his band’s most mature and focused album yet, saying: “‘Kingmaker’ had us refine our signature style even more and bring out the essence of our strongest fortes.”




New songs such as "Renegade", "Chasing The Rainbow" and "Hellfire" are trademark Screamer numbers. Says Petersson: “In addition, they show what we are about this time, musically as well as in terms of content. Normally our lyrics are about life on tour, the joys of heavy metal and the life that goes with it.” 


However, the unusual, melancholy "The Traveler" is not your typical Screamer fare.


"Kingmaker also features socio-critical approaches, for example on 'Ashes And Fire', and fantasy influences on 'Sounds Of The Night', which you might refer to as little adventure stories,” adds vocalist Andreas Wikström.


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Kingmaker"
"Rise Above"
"The Traveler"
"Hellfire"
"Chasing The Rainbow"
"Ashes And Fire"
"Burn It Down"
"Fall Of A Common Man"
"Sounds Of The Night"
"Renegade"


"The Traveler" video:





"Hellfire" video:





"Kingmaker" video:

Vocalist Ronny Munroe (Vicious Rumors, ex-Metal Church) has teamed up with musicians from Germany for a new band called Cave.


Besides Ronny, Cave's lineup includes Chris Lorey (Ivanhoe), Roberto Palacios (Chinchilla) and Chris Schwinn (Chinchilla). Munroe has arrived in Stuttgart to record the first album with the band.


According to Ronny, "the music in Cave speaks to me since the songs have elements of all the bands I always liked mashed into one."




The band burns to present their new material live in 2023.


Says Roberto Palacios: "Why Cave? At B&R I was "only" a guest musician. Although I am an official member of the others mentioned above, for various private reasons the mills stand still here. Since we are not getting any younger, I decided at the end of 2021 with Chris Lorey to give 120% full throttle again and therefore founded the band Cave. The music is not easy to put in a drawer, which challenges us as musicians, so we could inspire none other than Ronny Munroe for the band. Finally, the commitment of my bandmate Chris Schwinn was rounded off, so that the rhythm section is complete here. There are not many German bands that form a band with an American singer in such a difficult time, but you will see that it was worth it."

Kansas, America’s legendary progressive rock band, will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2023. To commemorate this landmark occasion, current label InsideOutMusic have released Another Fork In  The Road - 50 Years Of Kansas in Europe. The title will be available in North America on December 16.


A career-spanning collection, it features carefully-selected tracks from across the bands sizable discography, as well as a new version of "Can I Tell You". Originally recorded and released on their 1974 debut, the song is updated by the current lineup, providing a full-circle perspective on the band’s long and continuing history that has seen them release 16 studio albums and sell in excess of 30 million albums worldwide.


Today you can listen to the brand new version of "Can I Tell You" on streaming services, and below.




"The song 'Can I Tell You' may not have been our biggest 'hit,' but it is one of the most important songs in the career of the band Kansas," says original member and guitarist Richard Williams. "'Can I Tell You' was the first song on the demo reel we sent to Don Kirshner. Hearing that demo is what led to Kansas getting a record deal. It felt appropriate, after fifty years, to come full circle and record it with the current lineup."





Phil Ehart comments: "We are really honored by the commitment that InsideOut Music has put into Another Fork In The Road. This is far more than just another greatest hits album. Another Fork In The Road'is an in-depth representation of the evolving and winding musical journey of the band Kansas that's been 50 years in the making."


Another Fork In The Road - 50 Years Of Kansas arrives as a 3CD Digipak collection, including extensive liner notes by journalist Jeff Wagner, as well as pictures of rarely-seen memorabilia and archive material, all overseen by founding member Phil Ehart. Order here.


The full tracklisting is below. Please note, due to licensing restrictions there are minor differences between the European & North American release.





Disc 1:
"Can I Tell You" (new 2022 version)
"The Absence Of Presence" (The Absence Of Presence, 2020)
"Throwing Mountains" (The Absence Of Presence, 2020)
"Crowded Isolation" (The Prelude Implicit, 2016)
"Summer" (The Prelude Implicit, 2016)
"The Voyage Of Eight Eighteen" (The Prelude Implicit, 2016)
"Icarus II" (Somewhere To Elsewhere, 2000)
"The Coming Dawn (Thanatopsis)" (Somewhere To Elsewhere, 2000)
"Distant Vision" (Somewhere To Elsewhere, 2000)
"The Wall" (Always Never The Same, 1998)
"Dust In The Wind" (Always Never The Same, 1998)
"Desperate Times" (Freaks Of Nature, 1995)
"Under The Knife" (Freaks Of Nature, 1995)


North America Version – Disc 2:
"Fight Fire With Fire" (Drastic Measures, 1983)
"End Of The Age" (Drastic Measures, 1983)
"Incident On A Bridge" (Drastic Measures, 1983)
"Play The Game Tonight" (Vinyl Confessions, 1982)
"Crossfire" (Vinyl Confessions, 1982)
"Windows" (Vinyl Confessions, 1982)
"Hold On" (Audio-Visions, 1980)
"Loner" (Audio-Visions, 1980)
"Curtain Of Iron" (Audio-Visions, 1980)
"No One Together" (Audio-Visions, 1980)
"On The Other Side" (Monolith, 1979)
"Angels Have Fallen" (Monolith, 1979)
"How My Soul Cries Out For You" (Monolith, 1979)


EU Version - Disc 2:
"House On Fire" (In The Spirit Of Things, 1988)
"Rainmaker" (In The Spirit Of Things, 1988)
"Silhouettes In Disguise" (Power, 1986)
"Secret Service" (Power, 1986)
"Three Pretenders" (Power, 1986)
"End Of The Age" (Drastic Measures, 1983)
"Incident On A Bridge" (Drastic Measures, 1983)
"Play The Game Tonight" (Vinyl Confessions, 1982)
"Crossfire" (Vinyl Confessions, 1982)
"Windows" (Vinyl Confessions, 1982)
"Hold On" (Audio-Visions, 1980)
"Loner" (Audio-Visions, 1980)
"No One Together" (Audio-Visions, 1980)
"On The Other Side" (Monolith, 1979)
"How My Soul Cries Out For You" (Monolith, 1979)


Disc 3:
"Carry On Wayward Son" (Two For The Show, 1978)
"Portrait (He Knew)" (Point Of Know Return, 1977)
"Sparks Of The Tempest" (Point Of Know Return, 1977)
"Miracles Out Of Nowhere" (Leftoverture, 1976)
"Magnum Opus" (Leftoverture, 1976)
"Icarus – Borne On Wings Of Steel" (Masque, 1975)
"Child Of Innocence" (Masque, 1975)
"Down The Road" (Song For America, 1975)
"Song For America" (Song For America, 1975)
"The Devil Game" (Song For America, 1975)
"Death Of Mother Nature Suite" (Kansas, 1974)
"Belexes" (Kansas, 1974)
"Journey From Mariabronn" (Kansas, 1974)


Kansas will celebrate their 50th anniversary with extensive touring in North America in 2023. The band is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin, and original guitarist Richard Williams.


For a full list of upcoming dates, head here.

“V is for Versatile: A Puscifer Concert Film featuring music from the V is for… era” and “Parole Violator: A Puscifer Concert Film featuring Conditions of My Parole,” Puscifer’s recently streamed concert films, are now available to rent or purchase via Puscifertv.com, and Apple TV/iTunes.





The films, and their companion soundtracks, which are also now available via all formats through Puscifer.com and indie retailers, focus on two chapters in Puscifer’s discography. With “V is for Versatile,” the band takes viewers into the famed studios of Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound as they re-interpret and re-record songs from their V is for… era. Agent Dick Merkin, Major Douche, the briefcase and a few surprise cameos are interspersed amongst the studio footage. With “Parole Violator,” the outfit led by Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell and Carina Round offer a live, track-by-track re-imagination of their critically-acclaimed 2011 album, Conditions of My Parole. The film also features recurring Pusciverse characters Billy D. and Hildy Berger.




A video for “Horizons”, taken from Parole Violator, can be seen below.





V is for Versatile tracklisting:


"Queen B"
"DoZo"
"Va**** Mine"
"Momma Sed"
"The Mission"
"The Undertaker"
"Trekka"
"Indigo Children"
"Potions"
"Dear Brother"
"Breathe"
"The Humbling River"


"Indigo Children" video:








Parole Violator tracklisting:


"Tiny Monsters"
"The Green Valley"
"Telling Ghosts"
"Toma"
"Man Overboard"
"Monsoons"
"Oceans"
"The Rapture"
"The Weaver"
"Horizons"
"Conditions of My Parole"
"Tumbleweed"


"Horizons" video:

Active rock outfit Budderside have released an emotional new single, “Joker”, which pays tribute to vocalist Patrick Stone’s late father, Charles E. Stone, who passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19.


Known as the “joker,” Stone’s father was a Korean War veteran and stunt pilot. To honor his memory, Budderside - Patrick Stone (vocals), Sam “Bam” Koltun (lead guitar), Logan Nikolic (rhythm guitar), Gabe Maska (bass) and Jeff Dewbray (drums) - filmed the “Joker” music video at Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA surrounded by historic warbirds and aerobatic aircrafts, with Stone’s face painted to resemble the joker character.


Watch the touching video, directed by longtime collaborator Vicente Cordero, below. “Joker” is available now to stream/download across all digital platforms here.




“‘Joker’ pays tribute to my father who was a veteran and stunt pilot that I lost due to Covid,” shares Stone, whose outstanding soaring vocals underline the song’s heart and soul.


He continues to reminisce about his relationship with his father and how it inspired the track: “Imagine you’re a child, Dad wakes you up before dawn, takes you to the airport and straps you into his two-seater acrobatic aircraft and you both launch into a gorgeous, burning orange and red sunrise. He flips the plane upside down just as you come over the Santa Cruz mountains above Steamers Lane, the engine growling into a dive toward waves covered with surfers who begin jumping from their boards in fear of a crash. Dad laughing his ass off, upside down and lightning fast, then, spinning upward, straight for the stars. He cuts the power into a stall! You fall backwards, your heart spit from your chest, all the angels in heaven vibrating in your bones and Dad, The Joker, laughs even louder as the free fall consumes you. A quick trick with the controls, the engine comes back to life like an earthquake, the power under your seat, you both scream! Then, like a dream, the clouds act like a blanket and softly carry you to wherever you want to go. This was a typical Sunday morning for my dad and I.”





"Joker” lyrics:


Fear is my own design
Loss is my every chain
Possessions hold me down
Reminding me of times of pain


Hold me closer now
As I push you away
Into a new chapter
Alone so proud dying so brave
So brave


Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joke is on you and…


I can’t be everything
Like you are everywhere
In every breath I breathe
Shining the light on mystery


The mountains sing the song
Resting your soul to sleep
The fallen snow it lays
The child down where he believes
Believe in me


Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joke is on you and…


I’m following the ghost that has failed you,
and I won’t ever forget he betrayed you


Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joke is on you and…


Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joker in the sky





Budderside have been steadily releasing a series of singles leading into the release of their upcoming third album, due in 2023, which they recorded earlier this year with producer Matt Good (Asking Alexandria, Hollywood Undead). Their recent single “The Truth” topped the Danny Wimmer Presents “Power Hour” fan-powered music video countdown Twitch show hosted by VJ/music personality Matt Pinfield, SiriusXM dj Caity Babs and industry exec Josh Bernstein. It was #1 for nine weeks, the maximum allotted amount. Budderside’s recent singles include “Never Worth It,” “Too Far,” “Ghostlighting” and “Voices.”


The LA-based group have been seen performing one-off gigs at hometown venues including The Whisky and Viper Room throughout the year. When they’re not touring or recording, Koltun can be seen on the road with Dorothy and Faster Pussycat and Nikolic appears with Diamante on tour. Stay tuned in 2023 for additional tour dates.


(Photo - George Reed)

Jayne Andrews, who has been managing JUDAS PRIEST for 36 years, is a guest on the latest episode of "Gabbing With Girlfriends", the new podcast hosted by Gloria Butler, wife and manager of BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler. During the chat, which can be seen below, Andrews spoke about PRIEST's reunion with original guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing at this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction, which was held on November 5 in Los Angeles. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was a bit strange, to be honest, because I dealt with everything for [K.K.] and [former PRIEST drummer] Les Binks [who was also being inducted]. Les, I'd never met him before. I never had any reason to have any dealings with him. But he seemed really nice — really friendly. He came and introduced himself to me. We bumped into him at the airport; they were on the same flight as us. And Ken just kept himself to himself. Even when he got on stage with the band [to perform at the Rock Hall], he didn't really communicate much with anybody."

When Butler noted that the whole situation seemed "sad" and "bizarre," Andrews continued: "Well, it was, because, to me, if ever there was a time to try and build bridges, that was it. It was such a massive accolade for all of them — for [K.K.] and for Les and for Rob [Halford, vocals] and Glenn [Tipton, guitar] and Ian [Hill, bass] and Scott [Travis, drums]. And [former PRIEST drummer] Dave Holland, who's no longer with us, but he was inducted."

She continued: "We all said, any grievances or problems, we put them behind us. This is a very positive time. And that's the way we looked at it. And it's just a shame that [K.K.] didn't seem to look at it the same way… It's sad for him, really, because it shows — I don't know. It shows, really, that all the things that he says, when he had the opportunity, he didn't take it. He could have stuck his head around the door, in the dressing room, 'cause they'd arranged separate dressing rooms. Well, there's five of them [in PRIEST's current lineup], anyway, in the band, so you don't need another two in there as well. It was better, because, obviously, I didn't know what would be happening, how the atmosphere would be. But, to me, he should have just stuck his head around the door and said, 'Thank you for inviting me on stage with you.' 'Cause they didn't have to [perform with Downing and Binks at the Rock Hall]. They were absolutely told, 'You can go on stage with who you want. You don't have to go with him or with anybody. You go with your band, as you want.' I said to the guys. I said, 'It's a massive accolade to your careers, to honor you for what you've done.' And I said, 'It's eight and a half minutes of your life. Be the bigger men. Invite them both on stage,' which is what they did. And to me, that would have made him the bigger man, if he had just stuck his head around the door and done that. But, you know, there you go…"

After Butler brought up the ruckus surrounding the 2006 induction of the group BLONDIE into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (BLONDIE singer Deborah Harry did not want to perform there with former members of the group), Andrews added: "To be honest — and I probably shouldn't really say this — [K.K.] seemed a little bit nervous and almost out of his depth. And when we talked about it afterwards, we thought, well, PRIEST have carried on touring all these years; he hasn't. So he's probably lost a bit of confidence, coming to a big event like that, obviously, [and] having to confront all of us. He didn't know how we would be… I said we've got to see one person. He's got to see six people, really — five [without] me… But it's just a shame that once he realized that there was no animosity from our side that he didn't just stick his head around the door and say 'thank you.' But there we go. He didn't, so never mind."

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at this year's Rock Hall, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

The JUDAS PRIEST members who got inducted include current members Halford, Hill, Tipton and Travis, along with former members Downing, Binks and Holland.

Halford, Hill, Tipton and Travis were joined by Binks, Downing and current PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner for a three-song medley consisting of "You've Got Another Thing Comin'", "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight".

Last month, Halford was asked in an interview with the San Antonio Current if performing with Downing at the Rock Hall ceremony helped put aside some of the acrimony that K.K. has shown about not being in band for these last few tours. Halford responded: "I think we should let the music speak for itself, really, because as you'll see from the performance, you'll see that all of that other stuff is irrelevant. All the things that have been said and suggested just float off into the air. What matters is what's going down on that stage at that time you're performing together. And there he is on my right-hand side. It just felt like he was always there. Look behind me and there's [Les], and the memories just are overwhelming. But, more than that, you're focusing on the moment that you're back together again and playing live. It was really a whirlwind. We were in each other's company for a very, very short space of time. We had very little time to communicate. But for the purpose of the induction of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame together, it was absolutely crucial that K.K. and Les were there. They were inducted, they needed to be in the room. And more than that, we were thrilled that they took the opportunity to say, 'Yeah, we'll come and jam on stage again with you guys.'"

In a separate interview with Lauren "Lern" Elwell of the KSHE radio station, Halford said it was "good" performing with Downing and Binks at the Rock Hall. He added: "We hadn't seen [Downing] forever. And I've still yet to watch footage of that. All I remember is my brief interactions with K.K., because I'm always running around the stage like a mad drag queen. My interactions with Ken and with Les, it was great. It felt wonderful to have that moment together after such a long time. And that just shows you the power, the weight, the vibe that the Rock Hall suggests you try to attempt. Try and recapture something of the essence that it really part of why you're here, why you're being inducted. I was just so happy that Ken and Les showed up, because they needed to be there. It was entirely their choice, but I said it makes absolute sense if you're in the room and we're playing together. And we did, and it was magical."

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

In his 2018 autobiography "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", Downing wrote that he told Tipton and Andrews that he had "hated" them both "since 1985." Last year, he explained his outburst to Classic Rock magazine: "I was angry. Glenn had formed a relationship with Jayne from day one, and it felt a bit like a John-and-Yoko situation. I didn't like that."

JUDAS PRIEST was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction in 2020, but failed to receive enough votes to make that year's class.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was also on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.