In a powerful episode of the Music Drives Us podcast, rock legend Simon Kirke — founding drummer of BAD COMPANY and FREE — reflects on more than five decades in music and the lessons learned along the way. From crafting iconic hits like "All Right Now" and "Feel Like Makin' Love" to overcoming addiction and finding balance through recovery, Simon shares a story of resilience, creativity, and hope. With honesty and heart, he talks about the healing power of music, his ongoing passion for performing, and what it truly means to keep the beat — in life and on stage.

Asked what advice he would give to young musicians about how to deal with peer pressure, especially in the age of social media, and avoid going down the wrong path, Simon said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Peer pressure is so rampant now. It has been for every generation of musicians. But with social media, it's off the charts. And the cyber bullying that takes place…. Kids are killing themselves 'cause they're getting cyberbullying. I don't wanna get off the subject, but stay off drugs. Stay away from drugs, because the path of my past is littered with hundreds of people — boys and girls, men and women — who went way before their time. And I know you can [say], 'Man, [I'm] gonna have bit of weed and have a little sniff of something.' You don't know what's in that sniff anymore — you don't. The shit that I used to snort was maybe 10 percent pure, but at least it didn't have fentanyl in it.

"I don't wanna sound like an old fart, 'cause I am, but don't go down that drug path, man," Simon repeated. "Really don't. Because the other thing is, since the advent of YouTube and TikTok, I am seeing musicians who knock on me sideways, and they're 12, 13, 14 years old. There's guitarists out there, there's drummers out there — there's a little girl in Japan who's probably 15 now, she plays like John Bonham. My point being the competition is just off the chart. And I know just up the road you've got one of the best musical universities in the world in Berklee, and I did a little talk there, because for some reason they wanted me to talk and I gave them the same message. Be on time, 'cause when you're late, you disrespect everyone else. Don't come in 15 minutes later, 'Oh, I didn't do my homework. Sorry,' and there's a rock falling out your nose. 'Cause you are wasting your life, just wasting your life.

"If you're a member of Berklee [College Of Music] or Oberlin or Juilliard, you are in a privileged place and your parents are paying up the wazoo for you to be there," Kirke added. "So don't waste your time with drugs. Listen, have a drink now again, if you wanna socialize and you don't wanna be a nerd. Everyone goes through that. But if you see warning signs, you start drinking more than you should, just put your hand up and say, 'I got a problem.' 'Cause you couldn't do that in the '60s and '70s. If you said, 'I got a problem,' [they'd call you] a wimp. 'You can't hold your drink.' No, I can't hold my drink, 'cause when I have one beer, I want 20 more. And that's how it is with alcoholics. And then you get behind the wheel of a car. Boom. End of your life."

Kirke and singer Paul Rodgers are the last surviving original members of the British supergroup BAD COMPANY which will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame tonight (Saturday, November 8) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will stream live on Disney+. ABC will air a prime-time special on January 1, available on Hulu the next day.

BAD COMPANY guitarist Mick Ralphs died in June, just weeks after learning the band was going to be inducted into the Rock Hall.

Earlier this month, Rodgers announced that he would skip the Rock Hall ceremony "to prioritize [his] health," but he said Kirke will be there and "some outstanding musicians."

Born and raised in London, THE BEATLES perked a teenage Simon's interest in rock music, and he picked up the drums — leading to a gig with a local band called THE MANIACS, on which Simon supplied drums and lead vocals (something quite uncommon at the time).

Simon worked out a deal with his parents after graduating high school, that if he couldn't "make it" as a drummer in a band within a two-year period, that he would begin a college career. Just a few months before the deadline, Simon landed a gig with a group called the BLACK CAT BONES. The drummer befriended the group's talented guitarist, Paul Kossoff, who in turn convinced Simon to leave the group with him and begin a new outfit with singer Paul Rodgers. Soon ex-JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS bassist Andy Fraser signed on and FREE was officially formed in 1968. Mixing blues with hard rock, the group would prove to be quite influential, especially on the strength of their classic 1970 release, "Fire And Water", and its strutting, anthemic hit single "All Right Now".

When the band broke up, it didn't take Simon long to find another gig, joining Paul Rodgers in a new band, BAD COMPANY, which was quite similar stylistically to FREE. Joined by ex-KING CRIMSON bassist Boz Burrell and ex-MOTT THE HOOPLE guitarist Mick Ralphs, BAD COMPANY was the first group signed to LED ZEPPELIN's record label, Swan Song. Their debut album, 1974's "Bad Company", would go on to become one of hard rock's all-time classics, as it birthed such long-standing rock radio standards as "Can't Get Enough", "Ready For Love" and the title track, written by Paul and Simon himself. The group hails as one of the all-time top rock outfits. Kirke is the only member of BAD COMPANY who's been in every lineup of the band.

Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of Yoth Iria, one of Greece’s most revered and influential contemporary black metal acts. Founded by veterans of the Hellenic extreme metal scene, Yoth Iria embody the dark mysticism, grandeur, and spiritual intensity that have defined Greece’s unique contribution to the genre, while adding their own distinctive twist.

“This new chapter with Metal Blade Records marks not only a huge step forward but also a true milestone in our journey. It is a great honor for us to join the roster of such an iconic label and stand alongside so many legendary bands,” comments the band.

The band is currently working on their new studio album, set for release in spring 2026 via Metal Blade Records. Fans can expect a monumental and atmospheric continuation of Yoth Iria’s legacy, pushing the boundaries of black metal with renewed creative vigor.

“Yoth Iria represent everything that makes the Hellenic black metal tradition so enduring: atmosphere, mysticism, and uncompromising artistic spirit. We are thrilled to welcome them into the Metal Blade family and to help bring their next chapter to the world,” says Markus “Bart” Grasseck, European Label Manager at Metal Blade Records.

Before the new album’s release, Yoth Iria will embark on a European tour as direct support to Nailed To Obscurity throughout November and December 2025. The band will bring their intense live performance to stages across Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and more.

In a new interview with "Steve And Rik's POTcast", the podcast hosted by Steve Whiteman of KIX and his friend Rik Parks, TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider spoke about why he changed his mind about returning to the road, nine years after the completion of TWISTED SISTER's "40 And Fuck It!" farewell tour, and after he repeatedly slammed KISS and MÖTLEY CRÜE farewell tours and subsequent reunions as mere cash grabs. Dee said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Why am I doing a reunion with TWISTED SISTER? [Sighs] I'll say that it was my idea. The [other] guys [in the band] couldn't even believe I was making the call. And it had to do with — I said this publicly already — I had a little bit of a health scare. It was okay, and it was okay, but it was enough to make me say, 'Wow, that was weird.' I never had to think about those things before. And I'm 70 years old, and I'm, like, 'Do I wanna go out like that, go silently, or do I wanna go kicking and screaming?' And I picked up the phone and I called up John [TWISTED SISTER's founding guitarist Jay Jay French] and Eddie [Ojeda, TWISTED SISTER's longtime guitarist], Jay Jay and Eddie, and said, 'What do you think about getting together?' And they couldn't believe I was suggesting it, 'cause I told 'em,'[It's] not happening. [It will] never happen.' But circumstances, particularly [since] this was emotional circumstances, made me change my mind. Am I regretting it? A little bit right now, sorry to say. [Laughs]"

Regarding how his voice is right now and whether he is capable of getting through a 90-minute or two-hour set with TWISTED SISTER, Snider said: "I know that I've lost a note. My voice is powerful as fuck. But I'm missing my top notes, and I hate that. I hate that because I know where they were… So I don't like that fact that I've lost a note or two on the top. And damn if I'm not aching. I was always aching back in the day, but it's a different kind of aching. And I don't like that either."

He added: "People go, 'Damn, dude.' I go out there [and make guest appearances] with [POISON frontman] Bret Michaels or Lita Ford or whoever, and people go, 'Holy crap, man. Your voice sounds as strong as ever. And you haven't missed a step.' I go, 'For four songs. Yeah, I'm great for four songs. But 90 minutes, 75 minutes, 60 minutes. That's a lot.' But, yeah, it's a lot to carry. So, I'm gonna start. I've got like a local band. I moved to North Carolina now. I built a family compound. So I've got everybody here. But I'm gonna start weekly rehearsing the set with a local band, just to get going."

When Whiteman noted that Snider is "brave" to stage a TWISTED SISTER reunion after not performing a full set with the band in nearly a decade, Dee said: "I'm [either] brave or stupid. Up till TWISTED's retirement, and we did that in 2016 — I mean, first of all, I was 175 pounds, and I was shredded. I had a 29-inch waist. I was 62 years old, and people were going, 'What the actual fuck is going on there?' And I'd take my shirt off at every show and people would go, 'Damn, look at that guy.' I saw wives hitting their husbands, going, 'Why don't you look like that?' But what I really loved is the smiles, man. When you hit start singing and you are on and you're still delivering, the audience would just light up. And I'd see fathers doing like this to their sons, going, 'That's Dee fucking Snider.' They were being transported back to their youth through the performance. And it was the way they remembered it and I looked the way they remembered. And I loved that. And I walked away and said, 'Okay, I don't wanna ever see a look of dissatisfaction.'"

He continued: "Somebody was reviewing our show and said, 'When a reunion is good, it makes you feel young again. When it's bad, it makes you realize how old you've gotten.' And I wanna be the first part. And the review was, like, 'TWISTED SISTER made me feel I was 19.' But I never wanna be that guy where people go, 'Yeah, time's passed,' and make people feel old, just looking at me on stage."

Snider added: "But, yeah, I feel a great weight to make sure I'm in shape, to make sure my voice in shape and start rehearsing those three, four, five, 10 songs, to get there and not let people down. I don't wanna do it."

TWISTED SISTER recently announced its first reunion concerts as part of the band's 50th-anniversary tour. The Snider-fronted act will perform at a number of European festivals next spring and summer, including at Sweden Rock, Copenhell and Graspop Metal Meeting.

TWISTED SISTER's 2026 shows will feature the band's three core members: Snider, founding guitarist Jay Jay French and longtime lead guitarist Eddie Ojeda. Bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza won't be joining the celebration. Russell Pzütto, who has toured with Snider's solo projects, will replace Mendoza on bass. Joe Franco, who briefly played with the group in the mid-1980s, will sit behind the drum kit, stepping in for A.J. Pero, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 55.

Snider previously talked about why he changed his mind about returning to the road in a recent interview with John "JP" Parise of Long Island, New York's 102.3 WBAB and Tampa, Florida's 102.5 The Bone radio stations. He said: "First of all, I own [my previous] statements [about not wanting to stage a TWISTED SISTER reunion]. I said that and more. I singled out bands. I named names. I ranted and raved about this, and I expected to get excrements for this, but I'm getting hit hard.

"I'm not gonna lie, and I can only tell you so much, but this is the total truth," he continued. "I turned 70 this year and I had a health scare. And I'm okay… And it shook me up… I won't say [exactly what it was], and I'm okay. But it really made me re-evaluate a lot of things. [When I was] 40, 50, 60, I thought I was superhuman. TWISTED SISTER retired 10 years ago when I was ripped to shreds. And then [at] 70, something happened and it was a re-evaluation, quite honestly. And part of that re-evaluation was looking and saying… Am I ready to go? Well, you never know when you're gonna go quietly to the night. You never know when your time is up. And do I really wanna do that without rocking one more time. And I stopped doing solo stuff a few years back as well. I mean, I go out and I join Bret Michaels or Lita Ford on stage [during their shows] for a couple songs, but I don't go out and perform. And upon talking to my wife and re-evaluating, it was I, me, who called the [other] guys [in TWISTED SISTER]. I called them. They never called. I mean, we talk, but they never brought it up because I was, like, 'This is not happening, guys. It is done. It is over, just like I told everybody.' But, like I said, I had a life-changing experience and re-evaluation of a lot of things, and I reached out. I said, 'Guys, what do you think about doing it one more time?'"

According to Dee, Jay Jay and Eddie didn't immediately jump at the opportunity to return to playing live shows with TWISTED SISTER. "It was a conversation," Snider explained. "At this point, do we wanna take this, for lack of a better word, victory lap, so to speak? But it was a conversation. And then everybody goes, 'Well, how can you not, with Alice [Cooper] out there [at the age of 77]?' Alice told me... I said, 'Dude, when are you gonna retire?' He says, 'I'm looking forward to singing when I'm 80.' So he's got no plans. [Mick] Jagger's out there [playing shows at age 82]. Paul McCartney's doing three hours [at age 83]. Now I know he doesn't run around like I do, but the same time, you go, well, there's precedents. People are out there into — there are octogenarians out there [touring] now. So we decided to go for it and go out on a high note."

After JP criticized some of the media's coverage of TWISTED SISTER's return, particularly as it relates to reports of the band "touring" again, Dee said: "It doesn't say that in the press release. I checked. I'm seeing, 'Tour.' 'They're hitting the road again.' Wait a minute — who's hitting the road? We're flying first class on an air jet airplane. Private plane.

"I'm sorry, folks. People are saying, 'Come to this town, come to that town.' No, man," he clarified. "This is a handful of dates — I'm thinking it's about 20, 25 shows around the world, festivals almost exclusively. And it's not a full-blown tour or anything like that. It's a celebration for us, and I hope you're celebrating with us for the fact that 50 years ago, next year, we got together — me, Eddie and Jay Jay — and we, against all odds, we had success."

Asked by JP "how big the dump truck full of money" was "that showed up in [Dee's] driveway" that convinced the singer to reunite TWISTED SISTER for the band's 50th anniversary, Snider said: "I'm gonna be honest. The numbers are getting higher and higher and higher, but it wasn't really where I — I had this place in mind, and it wasn't there. But like I said, honestly, it wasn't about the money. Yeah, if there was no money, I'm not gonna do it. I'm not gonna lie about that. But it really was this sort of looking in the mirror going, 'Hey, man, that was scary. And I don't wanna go out like that.' I do not wanna go out quietly. Kicking and screaming, man — that's the way I wanna go."

Dee also talked about the challenges of preparing for TWISTED SISTER live performances, particularly as it relates to the physical demands of stepping on a stage for an hour and a half. He said: "I always had a mixed relationship with the concerts. I did so much prep and I got so into it, it was so intense, I made myself miserable. When I go out there, it's the greatest moment in my life for 90 minutes, and I get off the stage and I feel really good for about 15 minutes, half hour, and then I start [to think], 'Oh no. I've gotta do this again tomorrow.' And I start getting manic. And [my wife] Suzette would never come out the road with me. She said, 'You're miserable. You sit in the room, you obsess.' I sit there, and I'm not one of those people, but I sit there writing a list of the exact time I've gotta eat my protein and what time I've gotta do my neck stretches and a hot bath and vocalizing. I write it down on a sheet, and I check it off. I'm, like, manic. And so that's another reason why going back to it, there's a lot of discomfort in the whole — and being away from the family and being away from my wife, 'cause she doesn't wanna be anywhere near me, which I understand. So, this way of doing it, going out and doing a show on a weekend and going out, there'll still be that day of getting ready for the show because it's sort of my method. But at least after the show, Suzette will be out there and we'll go and we'll enjoy wherever we are for a few days and relax until the next one comes. So it'll be one day of intensity as opposed to just an endless day after day after day of obsessing and making myself crazy."

During a September 10 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Dee stated about Mark's absence from the TWISTED SISTER 2026 tour: "I can only simply say irreconcilable differences and leave it at that. I can't get into the weeds and I can't go down that path. And I won't. But irreconcilable differences. People change, and however it is, and I'm not saying he changed; maybe we changed whatever it is. So in deciding who to use on bass, my bass player on the last two Dee Snider albums, 'For The Love Of Metal' and 'Leave A Scar', was Russ Pzütto. And he was Mark Mendoza's bass tech, and a great bass player… So, he did an amazing job on those two albums. He was a great guy to tour with. The band all knew him from years of working with TWISTED, and again, he seemed like a likely choice. As a matter of fact, one time he was Mark's choice to fill in for him. And one gig, it was in Belgium at Graspop, and Mark couldn't make it, and Russ stepped in and played with TWISTED. So he actually has performed with TWISTED once before."

Asked if he thinks the door is open for Mark to play with TWISTED SISTER again at some point during the reunion tour, Dee said: "I can't imagine it right now. I can't imagine it right now. I mean — I plead the fifth. I can't go beyond that. But things have happened that I don't see being reconciled, hence the term 'irreconcilable differences.'"

French previously addressed Mendoza's departure in a statement to Rolling Stone, explaining: "Me, Dee and Eddie have performed as TWISTED SISTER for nearly 50 years with 10 different bass players and drummers. The band has never discussed internal realignment before and has no intention of doing it now. Suffice to say that almost all bands with a 50-year history have gone through realignment as a byproduct of time. We wish Mark well in his future endeavors."

Franco played on TWISTED SISTER's 1987 album "Love Is For Suckers". Mike Portnoy, who took over for Pero after he died near the end of TWISTED SISTER's 2016 run, is busy touring with DREAM THEATER and is unable to participate in the upcoming TWISTED SISTER live activities.

In a separate interview with Joe Rock of Long Island's rock station 102.3 WBAB, Jay Jay was asked if there is any chance of TWISTED SISTER releasing at least one new song to coincide with the group's upcoming shows in 2026. The last new track French and the rest of TWISTED SISTER recorded was "30", which TWISTED SISTER laid down for the 25th-anniversary reissue of the "Stay Hungry" album in 2009. Jay Jay said:
"We played ['30' live]. I love the track. We made a video. It's a great song. And Dee [Snider, TWISTED SISTER singer] predicted that nobody would care. We played it several times on the tour following the release, and Dee said, 'This is the bathroom song coming up, everybody.' People were looking around going, 'What's that bathroom song?' You know the point in the show where someone says, 'This is a new track,' and you all get up and go to the bathroom? He goes, 'We have a bathroom song that's coming up. I'll give you plenty of warning.' And so he made such a point of saying it that nobody would get up and go to the bathroom, 'cause now they were completely humiliated. So he'd say, 'Coming up in two songs is the bathroom song.' And we would play it, [and] everyone was there, everybody clapped."

French continued: "But I guess here's the important point. If you're gonna play 15 songs or 16 songs, whatever the amount songs are, and you laid them out on a grid and you said to a fan, a real fan, 'Okay, we're gonna play this, this, this, but we're gonna put this new track in and we're gonna take this track out.' How do you think the vote would go? You know the answer to that question would be 95-5 against or maybe 99-1 against. And that's the truth. That is simply the truth. I don't care how you wanna cut it, but when you're a classic band like us who's had a ton of product out there and we have five albums and everybody knows who they are, and with [returning TWISTED SISTER drummer] Joe Franco on drums, we're gonna play songs from the album that he played drums on, 'cause he was a bonafide member of the band, it becomes a situation where if we did, what are we taking out to put that in? And that becomes a Dee issue. I trust his vibe as a frontman to control the audience, 'cause he's great at it, have control of the ebb and flow of the night. Now, having said that, he wrote a song and he presented it to us and we're considering recording it. We're considering it, and if we do, then we may play it. But we haven't done it yet. It could happen. However, like I said, if you asked a hundred fans what they wanna hear, you would get a response of almost zero on a song they didn't know."

Two and a half years ago, TWISTED SISTER staged a one-off reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California. On hand to be inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame were Snider, French, Mendoza and Portnoy. Ojeda was absent from the event after contracting COVID-19; filling in for him was Keith Robert War. TWISTED SISTER played a highly charged three-song set consisting of the staples "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and "Under The Blade", as well as the anthem "We're Not Gonna To Take It".

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

Nashville-based, blues-soaked Southern rockers Parker Barrow announce the release of their new five-track EP, Hold The Mash, on Wednesday November 5th. The EP is available on all streaming platforms.

Hold The Mash marks the band’s first release since their debut album, Jukebox Gypsies (2023), and features the previously released 2025 singles “Make It” and “Novocaine”.

The EP also includes the new single “The Healer”, and two more new songs “Glass Eyes Crying” and “Olivia Lane”.

Make It
Glass Eyes Crying
Novocaine
Olivia Lane
The Healer

Rikki Rockett has thrown shade at Pete Evick, who is best known as Bret Michaels's music director and guitar player of the last 21 years, after Pete suggested that Bret is "the one carrying the torch" for POISON while the multi-platinum rock act is not actively touring.

Earlier this week, Anthony Bryant of The Hair Metal Guru shared a new interview with Evick in which Pete was asked if he ever talks to the POISON drummer. Pete responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I keep quiet about a lot of things, but most people know I do not. I don't speak to Rikki. I have spoken to Rikki.

"Me and Rikki, our birthdays are only two days apart. If you believe in astrology and know anything about a Leo, we are poster children of Leos. There is incredible insecurity and incredible arrogance in the soul of a Leo. I'm the other woman. I'm Bret's best friend in [Michaels's solo] band. He's Bret's best friend in POISON, even though him and C.C. [DeVille, POISON guitarist] get along notoriously better, because these days Rikki is the one out of the three of them that still cares the most about POISON, still carries the flag. It's his pride and joy. He doesn't want anything else.

"Rikki loves POISON and wants to do it," Pete continued, apparently referring to the fact that POISON hasn't toured in more than three years. "And I respect that and I respect everything Rikki is. He's one fourth of one of my favorite bands of all time. A lot of times I have to go to the POISON rehearsals and take care of things. And the last time I actually saw Rikki face to face, I said, 'Rikki, I know you don't want me here, buddy. I'm sorry that I'm in your world.' And he gave me a hug and he said, 'Life's too short.' So, I think that any of the problems that maybe me and Rikki had — and we had some problems — I think that that's over."

Evick added: "But I think your question is, there's so much mystery behind the POISON camp, and do I have any insight that I'm willing to give? That's the question, right? I'm glad you asked that, because the one thing that I wanted to correct you about … you had mentioned, why wouldn't Bret play solo and keep the portion of the money as opposed to splitting it four ways? The truth of the matter is he doesn't split that money four ways with POISON. He does get the lion's share of that because he's worked that out in his deal because he's the one carrying the torch.

"A lot of people have this misconception. This isn't about POISON; this is about the music industry. A lot of people have this misconception — I call it the BON JOVI theory, because when I was a kid, I fell for it. I believed that BON JOVI were all best friends and that they were splitting everything four ways, and they were gonna live happily ever after in the neighborhood together. It's just not fucking true. And any job in any business, someone gets paid more than someone. There's hierarchy. There's that. And so many of the fans just think they split it four ways, and they don't. And I know Bret gets mad when I say this, but I've already said it a million times. He deserves that. [He's done the reality TV shows] 'Rock Of Love', 'The Apprentice', just staying out there. Even the solo band itself, 'cause Bret's a year-round guy. We don't stop playing. It's nonstop. And the POISON guys don't wanna do that. C.C. doesn't wanna play Thursday, Friday and Saturday all year long. Bret does. So I see both sides of it. Does the solo band tarnish POISON's worth because we're oversaturating the market? I see that, but I also know there's a whole lot of people that only go to see POISON that still don't come to see [Bret's] solo band."

Pete went on to say: "The POISON politics are intense and unique and would be a smash hit movie or a smash hit reality show in itself. However, it's not punching each other out. It's cordial. It's business. No one's fighting with each other. No one's hating each other. There's not stupid childish rock and roll drama, but there is a lot of politics to get those four on that stage together."

After apparently watching at least past of Pete's interview with The Hair Metal Guru, Rikki took to his social media to write: "If Pete Evick thinks that the BMB [BRET MICHAELS BAND] is carrying the POISON torch then Pete must be a Bic lighter! Keep practicing CC's solos, Pete!" Rikki also commented on various fans' responses to his post, explaining that "When POISON tours we do 40 plus shows in a year. BMB does not do that… BMB is out there because Bret doesn't want to tour with POISON. Not the other way around." Rockett added that "Pete needs to stay out of POISON business. That's all."

A short time later, Pete personally took to the comments section below Rikki's original post to write: "Oh Rikki Rockett I love you buddy, I truly do. I'm going to say this one time to you and all your fans and all the POISON Fans. First is… I'm not going to fight with Rikki, I'm not going to say anything negative. He is 100% correct in his statement. CC is a hero and an influence of mine, He has also been a good friend to me on more than one occasion. EVEN if I played those solos NOTE FOR NOTE, they are his. I have never written a solo that millions of people can hum note for note, he has written several. I also never in a million years said 'BMB' was carrying the torch. I DID NOT SAY THAT. I said Bret was, and by that I mean his TV shows, his appearances at NFL games, his interviews. Just like Dee Snider, Rob Thomas, Mark McGrath and so many others.

"Moving on, I'm curious if Rikki or anyone listened to the interview? If you did you know I spent the entire time praising POISON and Rikki.

"I played POISON songs in every high school talent show, My band learned 'Unskinny Bop' the day the video was released and was playing it in a bar the next night. I am a FAN, I am a huge fan, I have NOTHING to say negative about any member of the band or the collective.

"I've been in Bret's band 21 years now, and though it's out of passion and love for those songs, It's also been about blocking some clown ass hired gun from making a paycheck from music he probably doesn't like or appreciate.

"Again, I will never claim to be as talented or as original as CC Deville, he wrote the soundtrack to my life. But, all of you are reading click bait way out of context.

"Rikki, put aside the legend that you are and all the rockstar stuff, as a human, we are both LEO's and we have both proven to be outspoken at times. I know I Irritate the shit out of you on the rare occasion that I end up on your radar and for that I'm truly sorry, I've spent many nights wide awake bumbed out that I've created such a tension with a childhood hero, a guy I've paid money to see, a guy I had posters of on my wall.

"Did you know the last time you played Charlotte with JACKYL, I bought 4 tickets, never told Bret I was there till after the show and sat there in the crowed as a fan! Even while I was on Bret's payroll! I'm a fan. That's it, IM A FAN.

"I do not regret a thing I said in that interview, most of the comments were incredibly kind and uplifting on the YouTube page untill this. But, I will say it again, Rikki I'm truly sorry to have irritated you today. I hope you at least find the time to listen to the part where I talk about how original your swing is and that all your jazz influence created a perfect style for the POISON songs and how no other rock drummer could have done it like you!"

An hour later, Rikki, who has spent the last few months playing sporadic shows with his new band THE ROCKETT MAFIA, responded to Pete's post, writing: " I'm not out to get you, but your facts are not straight. CC does in fact want to tour and has never been the reason POISON doesn't tour. POISON on tour as a band carries the torch. TV shows from 15 years ago, do not. Sure, any amount of attention to our members, Bret or otherwise helps with visibility, but at the end of the day, making music and playing music as a band is the silver lining. It's what really counts. The songs, the hits, the music that speaks to someone's soul, the long haul upstream and the sacrifice is the real sauce that is POISON.

"I have never taken anything away from Bret, but playing our songs with other guys does not carry the torch," Rikki continued. "If anything, when done to death, it erodes the legacy eventually. In ROCKETT MAFIA, we do a couple POISON songs, but I would not fill a set with them. When I do, it's a salute, not a money grab. Bret likes to play music and so do I.

"I'm ready for a POISON tour because that is where my soul is and always will be," Rockett added.

This past May, Rikki told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that POISON "got a great offer" for a tour in 2026 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band's debut album, 1986's "Look What The Cat Dragged In". He said at the time: "To be honest with you, it's in Bret's lap right now — honestly. So, we're good to go, and hopefully we can make a deal and do it. I think it would be a shame not to do it, because this is our 40th anniversary — all original members. We're not getting any younger. We can tear it up. We've still got it. Let's do it. That's how I feel about it."

Rockett went on to say that the offer he and his bandmates received was for a "headlining" tour and that most of the POISON members had already agreed to do it. "I'm good to go, [and so are bassist Bobby Dall and guitarist C.C. DeVille]. It is [up to Bret at this point]. And that's just being truthful… I mean, as far as I know, we're good to go. There just hasn't been anything solid. I haven't signed anything or anything like that. But it's more than a year away, or about a year away, so we have time. But hey, with the economy, who knows? [Laughs] I just wanna get out there while we can."

Last December, Michaels told Ethan Dometrius about POISON's 2026 touring plans: "So here's the deal. I go through '25. We're doing a bunch of these big festivals [with my solo band] … So I'm doing a bunch of those. And then 2026, C.C. and Bobby and Rikki, I'm here because of them, because of us having each other's back in the beginning, through the middle, through right now. And it'll be four years since we've toured, since 'The Stadium Tour', together, and we're just hoping to make this absolutely 40 awesome dates, and just putting every, as we do, putting every ounce of energy on that stage and just bringing an absolute party."

Regarding POISON's mindset when performing live, Bret said: "POISON just goes out there. And I say this, that stadium tour, I was so grateful to be on it. And I just hit that thrust and I couldn't stop… I told 'em, I said, 'I can't stop smiling right now. It's ridiculous.' And we just went out there, and we play real live music. We don't mess around. We just give it, thrills and frills and good times."

In September 2024, Bret told Arizona Republic about POISON's plan to tour in 2026: "Yeah, that would be incredible. We've just got to work out all the moving parts. But all original members. There's so much planning goes behind that. When I'm out as Bret Michaels, it's simpler because I'm making all the end decisions. When you're in a band like POISON, it's a committee. You go in there, and you figure it out together. You make sure everyone's good. And hopefully, we can make that work in '26."

Asked if things were "good" between him and his POISON bandmates during "The Stadium Tour", Bret said: "Absolutely. I want to be very clear. Other than an occasional throwdown fistfight — I'm not making this up — we're like best friends. But there's no gray area. All of a sudden, we'll get in a fistfight. But the next day, we'll go out and play. We'll work it out like a band of brothers. 'The Stadium Tour' was amazing. We were having fun. We didn't get too many soundchecks. We just dealt with what we were given and were grateful to be there. DEF LEPPARD and MÖTLEY, they were amazing. They played great. But we just came out, and we knew we had one hour at 6 o'clock to go out there and give it everything we had. And it was one of the only stadium tours that from Live Nation's lips to everyone's ears, it was 98 to 100% filled when POISON went on."

Earlier in September, Michaels released a statement via social media in which he said that he was planning to "perform limited shows" in 2025 to focus primarily on his health, "starting with my diabetes which needs a tune-up, not to mention a little R&R." He added that 2026 "would be the perfect" time for a POISON 40th-anniversary tour, "with 40 awesome limited dates to go out, play real live hit songs, and rock the world."

Bret's explanation came two days after Rockett revealed on social media that Michaels was no longer interested in touring with POISON in 2025.

On September 10, 2024, the POISON drummer took to his official Facebook page to write: "I keep getting asked multiple times a day, 'Why isn't POISON touring in 2025 now?' Super simple answer, Bret doesn't want to." The following day, Rikki clarified: "People, I never said that Bret is cancelling the 2025 tour. It didn't get booked. I said the reason POISON isn't touring in 2025 is because Bret doesn't want to. Doesn't matter what the reason for him is as far as what I said. I'm simply telling you why so that CC, Bobby or myself doesn't get blamed. It isn't dirt. It isn't a fight. Just the facts, ma'am. Surmise what you want from it. You will anyway!"

POISON's long-delayed North American trek with DEF LEPPARD, MÖTLEY CRÜE and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS was originally planned for 2020 and later moved to 2021 and then to 2022.

In 2018, POISON completed the "Nothin' But A Good Time" tour with CHEAP TRICK and POP EVIL.

POISON's last album of new material was 2002's "Hollyweird". An album of covers, "Poison'd", followed in 2007.

If Pete Evick thinks that the BMB is carrying the Poison torch then Pete must be a Bic lighter! Keep practicing CC's solos , Pete!

Posted by Rikki Rockett on Tuesday, November 11, 2025

In a new interview with Andy Addams of Shred Music TV, Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with MEGADETH and ANGRA, was asked what advice he would give to young guitarists who are just starting out. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Ah, well, that's hard to answer, because, is it a person that is like, 'Okay, I'm gonna buy my first guitar. I like bands, I like music.'

"I think at the beginning, it's quite natural," he continued. 'I have a mentorship group that I have some young kids. It's very natural. I think all of them is, like, the parents come and say, like, 'Oh my God. My kid plays really well.' Or it's, like, 'He's playing guitar the whole day,' or something like that. It's that passion, that energy [that you have when you are] 12 years old, 13 years old, 15 years old towards the instrument instead of doing something else. I was a bit like this when I was 14, 15. I think this moment is natural. So it's not about the business, it's not about the industry: 'I'm gonna be a professional.' It's about enjoying to play music. I still believe that it has to start there, because if you don't have that in any profession, how are you gonna succeed? Then it's better to go to a profession that is for sure is gonna give you money right away — just go be a lawyer, be a tax advisor or buy and sell stuff and get the commission and that's it. When that product doesn't sell anymore, just buy and sell another product that's selling. So, once you decide to be a musician or to have a band, it is a different kind of decision. So that passion has to be there, that willing[ness] to practice, to play, to rehearse, to spend the time, to invest, buy instruments. It even doesn't feel like an investment. It's just, like, 'I wanna buy a new guitar. I wanna have a pedal.' It's just, like, you wanna have it because it's gonna help you to make more music."

Kiko added :"So, yeah, I don't see in the beginning as, how do I get into the industry? So after, once you have this passion, you're doing all this commitment and then if you want to become a professional, then you have to understand the industry. Then yes. So there's also this mistake that people might think that only talent or playing, somebody will call you or something's gonna happen, or a manager or a label. Where do I get a label? Is there a manager? People expect that something's gonna happen. But you actually have to learn how the industry works and start making your connections, and then put yourself out on either Internet… Of course, nowadays I would start there. I would start [with the] Internet — TikTok, Instagram, whatever platform you feel more connected to, that you like to use. Choose one at least, and be consistent. The same way you have to be consistent practicing or rehearsing, you need to be consistent doing the Internet game. And then keep developing your musicianship [and] understand the music business.

"Most of the professions, when you [go to] university, they don't teach much how to succeed in the industry," Kiko noted. "In music, that's for sure. But sometimes you hear this from architects or designers. They learn a lot of stuff, but [not] how much do I charge? How do I pay taxes? What kind of invoice do I [need to put together]?' Whatever. The practical things. How do I create an audience that I can convert this audience to buy my product? Or things like that. Or if you wanna tour, what's the finances of the tour? Et cetera. So if you do an album, okay, what's the finances of the album? How much do you pay?"

In November 2023, Kiko announced his decision to "extend" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, explaining that he didn't want to "hinder any of the band's plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour."

Kiko revealed in September 2023 that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland.

One day after Kiko's announcement that he was "extending" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, band leader Dave Mustaine released a statement in which he said that he loves Loureiro and respects and fully supports Kiko's decision. He described Kiko as "a top-notch professional, a maestro" and thanked the guitarist "for his dedication and hard work these past nine years, helping us to achieve a Grammy on 'Dystopia' and the additional awards we have received on this latest record 'The Sick... The Dying...And The Dead'." Mustaine added: "I could not have done this without Kiko Loureiro."

MEGADETH played its first concert with Kiko's replacement, Teemu Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 38-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.

Kiko's latest solo album, "Theory Of Mind", was released in November 2024.

In a deeply emotional episode of "The Osbournes" podcast, Sharon, Kelly and Jack Osbourne came together for the first time since Ozzy Osbourne's passing to share raw memories, laughter, tears and the incredible outpouring of love from around the world. They discuss Ozzy's final days, his determination to perform one last show, his legendary spirit, and the powerful lessons of gratitude and authenticity he left behind. This is a heartfelt tribute to one of rock's most iconic legends — from the people who knew him best.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction - Waves Of Grief
00:01:39 The World Mourns Ozzy
00:04:46 The Final Year: Pain & Determination
00:14:06 Hospital Stories & Hidden Strength
00:16:35 Ozzy’s Last Show - A Living Wake
00:21:36 Authenticity, Fame & Staying Grounded
00:28:46 The First Manager & Music Industry Battles
00:39:50 Dealing With Vultures & Fake Tributes
01:02:00 Celebrity Reactions & Royal Condolences
01:09:51 The Power Of Time, Grief, & Family
01:26:20 Legacy Of Love - "He'll Always Be Here"

Regarding their reasons for recording the episode, Sharon said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I feel so bad. So many people have reached out to us. I mean, it's just been overwhelmingly wonderful, everybody's reaction, for the loss of Ozzy. And it's just been overwhelming, and I feel so bad. Everybody's reached out to us that we know that we love, thousands and thousands of people who we've never met, and I just want everybody to know that everything that has been sent to us we've read, we appreciate."

Kelly chimed in: "The outpouring of love has been so helpful to us. I never could have even imagined it to be as helpful as it has been, to know that we are not alone in our grief and our sadness, and that the rest of the world loved him as much as we did."

Asked by Jack if she found that the outpouring of love from everyone "added a different element to it", Kelly said: "I haven't seen an outpouring like that since Princess Diana died. I didn't expect it."

Jack commented: "But it definitely added a different element to it. For me, it was almost a beautiful, but also unexpected, strange… 'Cause I said this the other day — I was doing an interview for Dad's book, and what I said was, when you grow up — every child does this — you're, like, 'I wonder what's gonna happen when my dad's gonna die. I wonder what's gonna happen when my mom dies.' It's just normal, I think; everyone has those thoughts. And it never crossed my mind that it would impact anyone kind of outside of… I didn't think it was gonna be like it was."

Kelly added: "It wasn't just the heavy metal community. It was the entire world."

Sharon said: "I just think, all of it, I just think, my God, Ozzy would just be… It was hard for him to take the show because he didn't realize how much he was loved, and that was his beauty, because he never took it for granted from anyone. He never took it for granted, 'I'm this, I'm that.' He had no idea. He was so living in his bubble. He never had any idea how much people loved him, admired him. Even if they didn't like his music, they liked him. And he was just larger than life. He was one in a zillion."

Sharon, Kelly and Jack also revealed that they received messages of condolences from both U.S. president Donald Trump and King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Jack said: "Love him or hate him, [Trump] didn't have to call and leave a voicemail."

Sharon concurred, saying: "Listen, when it comes to politics, we know nobody comes out a winner. Whoever you like, half of people are gonna [be unhappy], and now it's more so than ever in history, that people's choice of which party, which politician… You can't come out a winner. All I know is a man that I know, I worked with for a month — I spent one month with him and his wife, who was always gracious, elegant, just a delight to talk to, his wife. And he was always, 'How are the children? How's Kelly? I'm so proud of Kelly and Jack for what they've done. And their manners are great.' And he was just a great guy to talk to, and he has always treated me with respect."

Sharon continued: "Listen, I'm not American. I can't vote. I don't wanna vote. I don't vote for anyone. I vote for no one. Never have, never will. But this thing is, all I know is he's treated me with respect, your father with respect. He wanted nothing from us — nothing. [His wife] Melania, the same. Nothing. And they have been great. And for him to take his time to do that for us, and because, do you know what? He doesn't live in a bubble. He knows what's going on in the streets. He knows what is going on. And I can't say that for our prime minister [in the United Kingdom]. Again, for President Trump and Melania, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

After Jack confirmed that the Osbourne family "got a lovely letter" from King Charles III, Sharon said: "Our King. Now we're talking. Our King, he's an amazing person. He is an amazing person. Not just because he wrote to us when Ozzy passed, but if he did it for us, you know he does it for many, many, many people. Now here's a man that does know what's going on in the street with people. Not just politics, not just… Here's a man that cares about the environment, animals. He cares about many, many, many things, and he's got a good heart. He's got a good heart. He didn't have to do certain things that he's done for Ozzy. In the past — Ozzy's birthday, when Ozzy was sick in hospital with the motorbike accident, he reached out. He's a good, caring man with a good heart, and Ozzy's, as me, we are royalists, and that's it. We respect him, we respect his family, and that's it. And he, again, took the time out of his day to write us, have it hand delivered to us, a note from the King for Ozzy's passing with his condolences, and that says so much."

Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and his wife bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer's friends and family members attended the service, including his SABBATH bandmates, Robert Trujillo (METALLICA),Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT).

The day before the private funeral, thousands of fans gathered in the streets of Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy. Sharon, along with their children Aimée, Kelly and Jack, joined mourners for the emotional tribute.

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

At "Back To The Beginning", Ozzy played a five-song set with his solo band — consisting of guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos — before being joined by Iommi, Butler and Ward for four classic SABBATH songs: "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "N.I.B." and "Paranoid".

Ozzy's solo set consisted of four songs from Osbourne's 1980 solo debut album "Blizzard Of Ozz" — "I Don't Know", "Mr. Crowley", "Suicide Solution" and "Crazy Train" — along with his 1991 "No More Tears" ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home".

The 76-year-old heavy metal singer sang while seated on a black throne and appeared overcome with emotion at times. "You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the crowd.

Twice-Grammy-nominated transcendent singer, songwriter and subversive performance artist Poppy will release her next album, "Empty Hands", on January 23, 2026 via Sumerian Records. She sets the stage for the project with a new single, "Bruised Sky", out everywhere now.

"Empty Hands" marks Poppy's seventh studio album, and with each new release, she crystallizes her identity as a true visionary unconcerned with genre. The album draws from eclectic influences, with industrial elements, pop sensibilities, and moments that call back to Poppy's surrealist roots with her signature uncanny, machine-like voice.

"Bruised Sky" embraces Poppy at her heaviest sonically, with powerful and commanding vocals that effortlessly shift between melodic bridges and death growls. As Poppy's vocals build, so does the guitar backing her, matching her ferocity decibel for decibel. "Bruised Sky" was produced and co-written by longtime collaborator Jordan Fish. The song's music video, directed by Orie McGinness, sets Poppy and her band against a gritty, dark and dystopian backdrop.

Poppy is having a monumental year. "Suffocate", her collaboration with KNOCKED LOOSE, was nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 2025 Grammy Awards. She previously made history in 2021 as the first-ever female solo nominee in the category for her solo track "Bloodmoney". From performance art provocateur (see new variety show "Improbably Poppy"),to video director, to sci-fi graphic novel author, to a globe-traveling recording artist whose songbook encompasses anything from brutal metal breakdowns and snappy '60s bubblegum, to trap-pop and grunge-punk, absolutely nothing has been off-limits when it comes to Poppy masterfully executing her varied artistic vision.

Recently, Poppy released "Unravel" co-produced by Jordan Fish. The track followed an enigmatic cover of WHAM's holiday favorite "Last Christmas", exclusively for Spotify, and a musical tour de force in collaboration with Amy Lee and Courtney LaPlante titled "End Of You". Upon release, "End Of You" was immediately met with widespread praise and debuted at no.1 on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs chart.

To prepare for her new chapter, Poppy closed out the second leg of her "They're All Around Us" tour, continuing a nearly year-long celebration of her critically acclaimed album "Negative Spaces". This was followed by several dates as support for LINKIN PARK on their South American tour. Next, she plans to visit Australia and Europe on her newly announced 2026 "Constantly Nowhere" tour.

Photo credit: Hector Clark

In a new interview with U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine, MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine spoke about the band's recently announced "farewell" tour, which will officially launch in 2026. The trek, dubbed the "This Was Our Life" tour, will mark the end of more than four decades of musical history for the 64-year-old musician.

"We're easily talking about touring for another three to five years," Dave said. "And if we're going to be doing it for that long then, shit, I'll be looking at the birthday I don't even want to think about," he added, referencing the fact that he will turn 70 in 2031.

As someone who overcame addiction to drugs and alcohol and beat throat cancer, Mustaine added: "I'm not caught up in longevity and stuff like that, and being one of those guys who can play until he's in his 80s. I have to remember that people live and they die. And I need to take good care of myself."

Mustaine also talked about his decision to record a version of the classic song "Ride The Lightning" from his former band METALLICA as the bonus track for MEGADETH's upcoming "final", self-titled album, which will arrive in January. Saying that it was a case of "closing the circle" and "a matter of showing respect to where this all started", Dave explained: "If you're going to do a cover song. You've got to do it at least as good, if not better."

Asked if he would call his recording of "Ride The Lightning" a "cover" version then, Dave said: "No. Because I wrote the song too. I think other people will say that, but if you're asking me, I don't think it's a cover song."

As for whether he thinks his version of "Ride The Lightning" is better than the original, Dave said: "When it was done, we played it for a couple of people, and a lot of people we know are fans of that band and that song, so they knew what they were listening to, A vs. B, and the consensus has been pretty much the same — that we did a fitting homage. I think we did it at least as good — it's a little faster."

MEGADETH's upcoming self-titled album will be released on January 23, 2026. The follow-up to 2022's "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" will be made available via Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers Label Group's new BLKIIBLK label.

MEGADETH played its latest single, "Tipping Point", live for the first time on October 14 at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, The Netherlands during the band's European tour as the support act for DISTURBED.

In a press release announcing MEGADETH's final album and farewell tour, Mustaine thanked fans for their commitment and love while celebrating the band's impact on the music world.

"There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional," Mustaine said. "Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them."

He continued. "We can't wait for you to hear this album and see us on tour. If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it's now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it's now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it's our last studio album. We've made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour.

"Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything."

For its final album, MEGADETH once again worked with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on MEGADETH's last two LPs, the aforementioned "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and 2016's "Dystopia".

Guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH two years ago. He stepped in as the replacement for Brazilian-born guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who announced in September 2023 that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that the now-38-year-old Finnish musician would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

Released in September 2022, MEGADETH's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!", sold 48,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked MEGADETH's eighth top 10-charting album.

MEGADETH's previous top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 were "Countdown To Extinction" (No. 2, 1992),"Youthanasia" (No. 4, 1994),"Cryptic Writings" (No. 10, 1997),"United Abominations" (No. 8, 2007),"Endgame" (No. 9, 2009),"Super Collider" (No. 6, 2013) and "Dystopia" (No. 3, 2016).

Led by the growled vocals and razor-wire riffing of Mustaine, MEGADETH are one of the "Big Four" thrash titans. Shortly after being kicked out of METALLICA in 1983, Mustaine met bassist David Ellefson, and the pair bonded quickly, forming the core of MEGADETH. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland later joined, and MEGADETH released their underground-hit debut "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" in 1985. Its follow-up, "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?", solidified the band's status with sprawling yet tightly wound songs like the uneasy opener "Wake Up Dead" and the fiery title track.

"So Far, So Good... So What!", released in 1988, featured a new lineup as well as a thrashy cover of the SEX PISTOLS' "Anarchy In The U.K." and the anti-PMRC broadside "Hook In Mouth". In 1990 they released "Rust In Peace", with Nick Menza on drums and technical wizard Marty Friedman on guitar; songs such as "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18" blended pummeling riffs and suspicion-fueled lyrics with a stadium-rock ambition that matched the era's metal-embracing tendencies.

"Countdown To Extinction", released in 1992, and "Youthanasia", released in 1994, continued the band's dominance of metal and emergence in rock's mainstream, with the latter album's "À Tout Le Monde" being a rare thrash ballad. After a brief breakup in the early 2000s, MEGADETH returned as a de facto Mustaine solo project with 2004's "The System Has Failed". Ellefson rejoined in 2010 prior to the album "Th1rt3en" and remained in the MEGADETH lineup until 2021, when he was fired.

In addition to Mustaine and Mäntysaari, MEGADETH's current lineup includes drummer Dirk Verbeuren and bassist James LoMenzo.

Legendary rockets AC/DC kicked off their first Australian tour in a decade earlier tonight (Thursday, November 12) in front of 80,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

The band's 21-song set included AC/DC's first performance of the 1976 Bon Scott-era classic "Jailbreak" in over 34 years.

Fan-filmed video of the "Jailbreak" performance can be seen below.

"Jailbreak" was originally released as part of the Australian version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" album. The song was not made available in North America until 1984. It was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Scott.

AC/DC's five-date Australian tour will include additional dates in Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, before wrapping up in Brisbane on December 14. Support on the tour will come from AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS. In Melbourne, THE CASANOVAS opened the show; LARGE MIRAGE in Sydney, OSCAR THE WILD in Adelaide, THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND in Perth, and HEADSEND in Brisbane.

Produced by TEG, AC/DC's fall 2025 tour is the band's first in Australia since 2015.

The "Power Up" tour shares its name with AC/DC's 2020 album, which debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA chart in Australia and 20 other countries around the globe. "Power Up" notably notched the band's third No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 and exploded as one of the best-selling albums of 2020 worldwide. It closed out the year on Rolling Stone's "Top 50 Albums Of 2020" and Consequence Of Sound's "Top 50 Albums Of 2020." Plus, it garnered Grammy Award nominations in the categories of "Best Rock Album', "Best Rock Performance" and "Best Music Video" for "Shot In The Dark".

In 2024, the "Power Up" tour kicked off in Europe with a staggering 1.7 million tickets sold in the first days of sales, eventually surpassing 2 million tickets sold across 24 shows. Earlier this year, AC/DC concluded 10 sold-out shows in North America and played 15 additional shows across Europe before returning to Australia.

AC/DC played its very first show on December 31, 1973 at Chequers Nightclub in Sydney, Australia. They are one of the most influential rock bands in history, with over 200 million albums sold worldwide. The band's "Back In Black" LP is the best-selling album by any band ever and the third best-selling album by any artist, with global sales of 50 million and counting.

AC/DC was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003. The band continues selling out stadiums on multiple continents, selling millions of albums annually and generating streams in the billions.

The "Power Up" 2024 European tour marked AC/DC's first with the band's new touring lineup, consisting of longtime singer Brian Johnson, founding member and lead guitarist Angus Young, as well as rhythm guitarist Stevie Young (who officially joined the band in 2014, replacing his uncle Malcolm Young, who retired due to dementia),drummer Matt Laug (who joined in 2023, replacing longtime drummer Phil Rudd) and former JANE'S ADDICTION bassist Chris Chaney, who came on board in 2024 replacing longtime bassist Cliff Williams. Williams retired from AC/DC after the conclusion of the 2016 "Rock Or Bust" tour, although he did return to the fold briefly for the 2020 "Power Up" album and an appearance at Power Trip.

AC/DC's "Power Up" album came out in November 2020. The follow-up to 2014's "Rock Or Bust" was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O'Brien, who also worked 2008's "Black Ice" and "Rock Or Bust".

AC/DC's current tour comes nine years after Johnson bowed out of a 2016 run of shows due to a hearing condition.

Jay Buchanan — frontman of American rock band RIVAL SONS — has announced his debut solo album, "Weapons Of Beauty", coming February 6, 2026 on Sacred Tongue Records via Thirty Tigers, hot on the heels of his recent appearance in the Bruce Springsteen biopic "Deliver Me From Nowhere", now in cinemas worldwide.

With "Weapons Of Beauty", Buchanan — the hard-eyed, preacher-voiced frontman of Grammy-nominated RIVAL SONS — steps fully into his own. A debut solo record that trades the thunder of the stage for something slower and more cinematic: a high-and-lonesome desert song from a man unsteady under the weight of his past, carrying it like a heavy sack of gold into his future.

Buchanan stands tall among the breakthrough vocalists of the last two decades — just as comfortable singing with Jason Isbell, THE BEE GEES, Miranda Lambert, MASSIVE ATTACK, THE BLOODY BEETROOTS or Brandi Carlile as with the arena-rock band he's best known for. His voice remains his signature instrument: powerful, earthen, and impossibly expressive — a gritty echo of the California mountains themselves.

In preparation for "Weapons Of Beauty", Jay disappeared into the Mojave Desert for three months, holed up writing in an underground, windowless bunker. His goal wasn't escape so much as renewal: living simply in the tiny space, powered by a gas generator, writing by firelight at the foot of abandoned gold mines.

"The silence," he says, "was both terrifying and liberating. A caterpillar knows when it's time to get into the cocoon."

Out there, surrounded by heat and horizon, Buchanan began shaping songs about longing, endurance, and an almost romantic celebration of the hard-worn miles living by prospect across the American landscape.

Spanning ten tracks, "Weapons Of Beauty" traces Buchanan through the sun-bleached dust of an American-gothic wilderness. The album opens with "Caroline", a spare, aching letter to a lost home or lover, introducing a recurring theme of return and forgiveness — a song that promises to bring a tear to the eye, a classic wounded tale of loss told in a way that is wholly his own.

"I suppose that writing about unquenchable grief allows you a kind of permission to pay respect to those deep chasms in your life without wallowing in them," Buchanan states. "Putting it in a song lets you buy the ticket and take the ride — and then move on."

Filmed in the same gold mines Jay frequented while sequestered in the Mojave Desert, the video illustrates the journey of a couple in sickness and in health. Buchanan performs to the camera as their memories play out through projections on the cave walls behind him.

"I can see a parallel here," Buchanan adds, "spending twelve hours deep in the earth, trying to mine our own treasure, knowing full well so many have perished in those same caves chasing a future cut dangerously short. That's a hell of a way to spend a Sunday!"

Most recently, Buchanan delivered an explosive performance as the frontman of the Stone Pony house band in the Springsteen biopic "Deliver Me From Nowhere". Talking about his involvement, Buchanan states: "More than anything, it was just a really good hang. I played a band leader, so no acting there. Being on stage together playing music was about bringing Jeremy [Allen White] into my world, and being on camera in a film was about him bringing me into his. It was amazing. Jeremy and Scott [Cooper] made me feel like I belonged there — and that was just what I needed."

"Weapons Of Beauty" displays nearly fifty minutes of masterful storytelling and heart-breaking lyricism. If it feels cinematic, there's a reason: Buchanan entrusted acclaimed filmmaker Scott Cooper (who directed him in the Springsteen film) to sequence the album — a task Cooper generously took on.

"On the flight home after the film wrapped, Scott and I had a conversation that stayed with me as I went directly to the desert," Buchanan says. "I don't want to get too personal, but we were kind of living on opposite sides of the same coin that day, and he was the last person I spoke to before my desert exile. Months later, the night the record was finished, when I listened to the playback for the first time, I immediately thought of him sequencing it. The whole undertaking had left me so raw that the pan was just too hot for me to pick up. I knew I could trust him — if he'd help me."

Cooper wasn't the only friend to lend a creative hand. Buchanan enlisted lauded American realist painter Jeremy Lipking to create the album's rich, romantic cover painting — a perfect companion to its vision of the American landscape.

"Jeremy Lipking is an old friend and family on my wife's side," Buchanan explains. "We've been wanting to work together forever. He was the only person to hear some of my demos direct from the desert. I told him I was writing a Jeremy Lipking painting. It was important to me that the music have a scenic quality — the America I've seen over decades of touring: lonesome sunsets, big-clouded skies, silhouetted by our dreams and failures."

"Weapons Of Beauty" track listing:

01. Caroline
02. High And Lonesome
03. True Black
04. Tumbleweeds
05. Shower Of Roses
06. Deep Swimming
07. Sway
08. The Great Divide
09. Dance Me To The End Of Love
10. Weapons Of Beauty

"As music continues to be choked out by technology, I wanted to draw pictures in the dirt," states Buchanan. "This approach is right with me, and I've just come to a point where there is no longer a choice. 'Weapons Of Beauty' is the sound of these plates shifting within me, too loud to ignore. Surprisingly, I've never known a vulnerability to feel so empowering."

Photo by Matthew Wignall

Today it was announced that longtime KISS drummer Eric Singer will join the highly anticipated "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas", taking place November 14-16, 2025, at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Singer will reunite with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer for two "unmasked" performances, one acoustic and one electric, marking the first time KISS has performed together since retiring from touring in 2023. Singer will also participate in a fan question-and-answer session alongside Simmons, Stanley and Thayer, host a "Name That Tune" guitar and drum riff activity with Thayer, and sign the event poster as a gift for all guests. His addition comes as the KISS family and fans around the world honor the memory of founding guitarist Ace Frehley, whose creativity and influence helped define the band's unmistakable sound and legacy.

This special KISS Army fan event, co-produced by Pophouse, Topeka and Vibee celebrates the band's five-decade career and the 50th anniversary of the KISS Army. In addition to the "unmasked" performances and Singer's return, the weekend will include appearances from QUIET RIOT, Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini performing the music of RATT, Bruce Kulick, Sebastian Bach, BLACK 'N BLUE, KUARANTINE, School Of Rock and more.

Fans can look forward to question-and-answer sessions with members of KISS, longtime manager Doc McGhee, producers Eddie Kramer and Bob Ezrin, photographer Lynn Goldsmith, and KISS Army founders Bill Starkey and Jay Evans, along with interactive activities, meet-and-greets, photo ops, and other unique fan experiences honoring KISS's unmatched legacy.

Vibee experience packages include a three-night stay at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, premium access to all performances and panels, curated gifts, a signed event poster, and collectible memorabilia.

KISS had previously set a 12-show residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022 but ultimately canceled all of the dates.

Simmons told Rolling Stone in a November 2023 interview that the second Madison Square Garden "End Of The Road" concert would mark "the final KISS-in-makeup appearance."

Regarding what fans can expect to see at "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas", Paul told "Artist Friendly With Joel Madden": "It's gonna be awesome. And we're gonna play all the songs that we normally play, but I'll be more like this [without any makeup] than I am… The KISS gear is hung up and that will stay in the bat cave.

"Look, I've always thought that you can get the biggest production and put on a big show and a band still sucks," he continued. "A band that's no good is still no good with all the trappings. And you could take a car, an old beat-up car without an engine and paint it any color you want, it may look beautiful, but it ain't going anywhere. So, I've always thought that the band at its core has always been a kick-ass band."

For more information and to secure your package for "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas", visit KISSKruiseVegas.com.

During the band's 50-year history, KISS was known for exceptional and first-of-its-kind fan events that always put the fans first. Events like the "KISS Kruise" were yearly fan get-togethers that created a community and connection to the band. With the band's final shows on "the "End Of The Road" world tour, KISS Army members have anxiously awaited news of continued exciting events. Known for their trademark larger-than-life blistering performances, KISS has proven for decades why they are, hands down, the most iconic live show in rock and roll.

Photo credit: Jen Rosenstein

Silver Lining Music will release "No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" on November 14. The fourth single from the all-star compilation is RAVEN's cover of METALLICA's "Metal Militia".

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" unites METALLICA's favorites, their peers and the generations that came next. METALLICA's first proper tour was with RAVEN in 1983, on the famous "Kill 'Em All For One" venture. Thus, it is only fitting that RAVEN is featured on the album with its powerfully unapologetic rendition of "Metal Militia". With unrelenting energy and raw precision, RAVEN channels the ferocity of the original while stamping their own unmistakable identity on the track — a bold statement that captures the spirit and intensity of the entire album.

"We are very happy and honored to have been asked to be part of this awesome tribute to our old sparring partners," comments RAVEN's co-founding lead vocalist and bassist John Gallagher. "Our cover version is many things as you will hear… in the best tradition of the guys themselves, but I think we captured that METALLICA 'snarl'…. Especially by changing a few key elements! Features Mark on vocals, today all is revealed!"

In a January 2025 interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, John Gallagher talked about METALLICA opening for RAVEN back in 1983 and 1984. Asked what his thoughts were about METALLICA at the time, John said: "Yeah, they were good. They were energetic. They were like a gang, which is always appealing 'cause we were, obviously, like a gang. It wasn't the mentality of a one guy starting a band and putting adverts out and having a bunch of mercenaries come in. There was none of that. They were a gang. But as far as, 'Do you see them in — whatever — 10 years being the greatest thing since sliced bread?' It's, like, no, not a chance. And to be fair, the band that you could have said that with was at least a good year away because they really changed on the second record. It showed some maturity and breadth and the ability to do different things other than just [playing fast] all the way through. So, they sat, they learned and they soaked it all in and they did a whole bunch of stuff."

John continued: "They said to us on the tour, 'We love your 'All For One' album because you've broadened your sound without compromising who you are.' I was, like, 'Oh, well, I guess we did. Okay.' So they did kind of the same thing. They stretched out and did 'Fade To Black', which was, like, 'This is really cool. This is different.' Some slower-paced songs — still fast stuff, but mixed it up a bit."

He added: "We had a long conversation with James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] a couple of years ago up at METALLICA HQ [in Northern California]; we visited there. And [he was] very humble and very, 'I don't know how this all happened, but we're very grateful and humbled that it did. And we're gonna continue to do the best we can.' You can't ask for more than that."

Gallagher also spoke about what it was like for RAVEN to open for METALLICA at a November 2022 concert at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida celebrating the life, legacy, and achievements of Megaforce Records founder Jon "Jonny Z" Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula. He said: "Yeah, that was really cool. That was for a good purpose because Jon and Marsha Zazula, who managed them and managed us, made a huge difference in both our careers. Absolutely. And it was good to recognize and celebrate that. And they were so good… And we got to hang out for a long time and talk. And it's really surprising about the level that they're at and the things they've went through that it's the same guys. That's pretty cool."

Considered part of the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" movement of the early '80s, RAVEN is perhaps best remembered for its trailblazing tours in America in the early '80s that gave groups like METALLICA and ANTHRAX their first taste of the road.

RAVEN's classic albums "Rock Until You Drop", "Wiped Out" and "All For One" virtually invented both the speed metal and power metal genres, with the band consistently pushing the envelope while retaining its unique sound and attack — both in the studio and in their true element: onstage.

In a 2005 post on RAVEN's official message board, John stated about RAVEN's influence on other pioneering metal bands: "Anyone ever listen to the middle of 'Aces High' by IRON MAIDEN and compare it to part of 'Faster Than The Speed Of Light' [by RAVEN]? How about the chorus riff of METALLICA's 'No Remorse' to [RAVEN's] 'Lambs To The Slaughter'?? Makes me laugh...!"

The first single from "No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" was THE ALMIGHTY's blistering, full-throttle cover of METALLICA's legendary "The Four Horsemen", THE ALMIGHTY's first recorded work with their founding lineup since 1991, chosen by the band as both a nod to their roots and a declaration of intent.

THE ALMIGHTY guitarist Ricky Warwick commented: "'The Four Horsemen' by METALLICA got us back into the studio with the original lineup for the first time since 1991… Unbelievable.

"When the opportunity presented itself, it was really a no-brainer. METALLICA has been a huge influence for us. It was a bit nerve-racking because we had not been in the studio for such a long time. We did the whole thing in a day and a half with as much power and passion as you would expect from THE ALMIGHTY. It is such a powerful track. I think it turned out great, make sure you turn it up really, really loud!"

Watch THE ALMIGHTY's video for the band's cover of "The Four Horsemen", edited by Freakshot Film, below.

The second single from the all-star compilation is former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson's monumental cover of METALLICA's instrumental epic "(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth".

Ellefson comments: "It was a total honor to be asked to participate in this album, especially to record the iconic bass composition '(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth' by the one and only Cliff Burton [late METALLICA bassist]. I was able to borrow one of Cliff's Aria Pro signature bass guitars and signature Morley fuzz/wah pedal for the session to replicate his sharp-yet-thunderous tone he created on the original recording. It is my hope that this homage will highlight Cliff's larger-than-life personality and that his music will always live on through this unique and iconic song he gave to the world."

Ellefson and Dave Mustaine formed MEGADETH in 1983, after Mustaine got kicked out of METALLICA. METALLICA recruited Kirk Hammett and went on to record its debut album, "Kill 'Em All", later that year, while Ellefson and Mustaine began work on MEGADETH's first LP, "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!"

During a 2019 ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE conversation with moderator Ryan J. Downey at the MI Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Ellefson was asked if Burton was an inspiration on his bass playing during MEGADETH's formative years. Ellefson responded: " I met Dave [Mustaine] in June of 1983. He had just left METALLICA literally not more than eight weeks before that, in April. So I didn't know anything about METALLICA, didn't know who Dave was, heard nothing about Cliff Burton — knew nothing about it, coming from the Midwest. And I didn't know anything about Cliff. And because the only recording Dave had of METALLICA was 'No Life 'Til Leather', and that had another bass player on it named Ron McGovney. So when we did a cover of 'Mechanix', I played Ron McGovney's basslines."

He continued: "Really, quite honestly, my METALLICA bass player was Ron, believe it or not, and I kind of modeled what we did off of that 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo. And I remember the day when 'Kill 'Em All' and we sat… There was complete silence in the room, and we sat and we listened to the album. And the differences — tempos were pulled back. And obviously the bass solo, 'Anesthesia'. That was really my first experience hearing Cliff. And at that point, we were two months into… MEGADETH was well on its way.

"So, long answer to your short question is I didn't really have an influence [from Cliff]… That was not where my influence came from. And quite honestly, growing up in a rural area of Minnesota, bass players in rock and roll were cool, but when I started hearing some jazz players… Those guys were more of my influence, along with Steve Harris [IRON MAIDEN] and Geddy Lee [RUSH] and Ian Hill [JUDAS PRIEST] and the metal guys. But, for me, I went more into the jazz world… But those were the things that I brought in, and I think that made, me and Dave, our participation together with the MEGADETH sound something that was… And even then with Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland — they were jazz-fusion musicians. We really had a very different sound — different even from ANTHRAX, from METALLICA, from SLAYER — a very different sound. And I think that probably is what sort of set us apart as our own pillar of the 'Big Four.'"

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" is a colossal celebration of the most propulsive debut album in heavy metal history, reimagined by the legends who inspired it and the generations that came in its wake!

The veteran likes of SAXON, DIAMOND HEAD and MOTÖRHEAD — three of METALLICA's favorite bands — are joined by rising stars such as TAILGUNNER and Swedish prog metallers SOEN to create a who's who of heavy music, with each performer lending their unique sound to one classic track. Contributions from thrash giants TESTAMENT, ex-MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal linchpins TYGERS OF PAN TANG show the label looking beyond their own artists to amass the greatest lineup possible. Joining the superstar lineup are the legendary RAVEN (closing with the thundering anthemic "Metal Militia") who were part of METALLICA's first-ever tour, 1983's famous "Kill 'Em All For One" venture.

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" is an ambitious achievement worthy of METALLICA's game-changing legacy. By the fans and for the fans, it reaffirms the Four Horsemen's ironclad status — and its stacked roster continues the band's mission to shove metal up your ass.

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" track listing:

01. Hit The Lights - TAILGUNNER
02. The Four Horsemen - THE ALMIGHTY
03. Motorbreath - SOEN
04. Jump In The Fire - TYGERS OF PAN TANG
05. (Anesthesia - Pulling Teeth - DAVID ELLEFSON
06. Whiplash - MOTÖRHEAD
07. Phantom Lord - SAXON
08. No Remorse - DIAMOND HEAD
09. Seek & Destroy - TESTAMENT
10. Metal Militia - RAVEN

DIAMOND HEAD's version of METALLICA's "No Remorse" was originally included on a reimagined and re-recorded version of DIAMOND HEAD's "Lightning To The Nations" album, which was released in 2020 via Silver Lining Music.

"I wanted to cover a song from METALLICA's debut album, 'Kill 'Em All'," DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler explained, "partly because METALLICA covered songs from DIAMOND HEAD's debut album 'Lightning To The Nations' and it felt like things have come full circle to me. None of the band members knew how to play any of the songs from 'Kill 'Em All', and I eventually decided we should all learn 'No Remorse'. Then when we got into the rehearsal room, we played 'No Remorse' and immediately it just sounded great; it was very 'DIAMOND HEAD' and it really suited us as a band. Of the four covers we ended up doing, 'No Remorse' sounded the best straight away. I've seen METALLICA live over twenty times and they don't play 'No Remorse' very often, but it's always great when they do."

Back in December 2011, SAXON's Biff Byford joined METALLICA on stage for the first of four intimate shows at the 1,200-capacity Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only. The iconic metal vocalist performed the SAXON classic "Motorcycle Man" with METALLICA.

It wasn't the first time Biff and METALLICA had surprised their fans with a live rendition of the song: in 2009, Byford joined the San Francisco heavy metal giants in Paris, at Palais Omnisport de Bercy.

METALLICA's second-ever gig was opening for SAXON, and Biff has been a longtime friend of the California band; like many other seminal bands of the genre, METALLICA always recognized SAXON as one of their main influences.

When METALLICA played Sheffield Arena on February 28, 2009, they invited as VIP guests former SAXON members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson.

There has always been a strong link between the pioneering MOTÖRHEAD and mighty METALLICA. A unique bond of friendship between the two has stood over the decades, with METALLICA even playing Lemmy's 50th birthday party in 1995. In turn, MOTÖRHEAD have paid homage to some of METALLICA's finest compositions, even winning a Grammy Award for their cover of "Whiplash" in 2004.

METALLICA paid tribute to MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy on its 2016 album "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out less than a year after the iconic rocker's death.

Shortly after Lemmy's passing, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich penned a lengthy tribute to the MOTÖRHEAD mainman in which looked back on the influence Lemmy had not just on METALLICA but also on him personally.

Legendary punk-metal band CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (C.O.C.) has announced the launch of COC Skateboards, a high-octane line of skate decks forged from the band's rebellious spirit and outsider roots. In partnership with Volatile Skateboards, this long-awaited fusion of music and skate culture is now live at cocskateboards.com.

From the underground clubs of North Carolina to the concrete bowls of the skate world, C.O.C. has always stood for raw energy, free thought, and explosive expression. Now, that ethos rides again.

"Skating and C.O.C. have always been synonymous," says the band. "This is more than merch — it's a movement. No compromise. No apologies. Just pure attitude."

Whether you're bombing hills or hanging decks on your wall, COC Skateboards are built to make mamas cry since 1982.

This past September, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY released a special rendition of "Fire And Water" by English rock band FREE. The classic track was originally made availale in 1970 on the FREE album of the same name. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's version came spontaneously in the studio during some downtime while recording their forthcoming new full-length, set for release next year, and serves as the first of the "Riffissippi Studio Jam Sessions", a special collection of jammed out interpretations of songs by some of the band's favorite artists.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY recently completed a North American tour supporting JUDAS PRIEST and Alice Cooper. The trek, which commenced on September 16 in Biloxi, Mississippi and ran through October 26 in Houston, Texas, included several CORROSION OF CONFORMITY one-off headlining shows scattered throughout.

Since forming in 1982, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY has woven their distinct riffs deep into the fabric of heavy metal for over four decades. Across ten landmark, critically acclaimed albums, the band has continued evolving. From the early days of thrash to their more recent, blues-infused metal, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY has managed to progress with each release keeping fans and critics alike guessing.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's last full-length album, "No Cross No Crown", was released in 2018 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Recorded with longtime producer John Custer, the record marked the first studio recording with guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan in over a decade and, earning the No. 67 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart, No. 12 on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart, and No. 3 on the Top Hard Music Albums chart upon its first week of release, is the highest-charting album of the band's career.

Some of guitar-recording sessions for CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's upcoming LP took place at a private Miami, Florida studio owned by Barry Gibb of the BEE GEES.

Last October, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY recruited onetime DOWN guitarist and current PANTERA bass tech Bobby Landgraf to play bass for the band on the 2024 edition of the Headbangers Boat cruise. He has since joined CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in the studio and on the concert stage.

In September 2024, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's founding bassist Mike Dean announced his departure from the band.

Two years ago, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY confirmed the return of drummer Stanton Moore for its upcoming album.

Reed Mullin died in January 2020 at the age of 53. The drummer, who co-founded CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1982 as a hardcore punk act alongside guitarist Woody Weatherman and Dean, had missed a number of shows in the preceding four years due to a variety of health issues, including an alcohol-related seizure he suffered back in June 2016.

In 2014, after nearly a straight decade traversing the globe as a guitarist with New Orleans supergroup DOWN, Pepper reconnected with the core CORROSION OF CONFORMITY trio of Weatherman, Dean and Mullin to hit the road hard. "Reed called me and mentioned maybe playing a couple shows," Keenan recalled back in 2017. "I said, 'Let's just go to Europe and see if it works.' So we went to Europe and then ended up going back four times in one year... We toured for a year and then started tracking."

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY recorded "No Cross No Crown" in about forty days over the course of a year at a North Carolina studio with longtime producer John Custer.

Images courtesy of COC Skateboards

In a new interview with the Talkin' Bout Rock With Rob Edwards podcast, LAST IN LINE singer Andrew Freeman commented on the status of the songwriting sessions for the band's fourth studio album. Freeman is joined in the group by DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE) and drummer Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO). Andrew said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't have any information, honestly. I wish I could tell you more. We started working on a record last year. So, that's kind of where we're at. It's a side project. [There is] not a lot of information there right now. So [we're] just working on a record."

Andrew continued: "It's not a place where you can make a living, that's for sure. Again, it's a side project, so you try to facilitate it when it comes.

"For me, I was put in a position, [with] the original DIO band getting back together and me being at the helm of it was quite an honor, for me as a fan of that band," Freeman added. "So, I just kind of feel like I have an obligation to facilitate it for as long as it goes. So if I can do that and try to do gigs around it and make it make sense when it makes sense, we'll continue on. But, honestly, it's all about what Vivian wants to do, if he wants to continue on, if he's got the time to continue on. He's a race car driver now too, so between his day job and his race car driving, there's really not a lot of time to do anything."

This past June, Freeman disputed Campbell's claim that LAST IN LINE's fourth album was already written. He said in a social media update at the time:  "LAST IN LINE, as previously reported by one of the members of the band, he said we have a whole record done. Well, we don't have a whole record done. We have four songs that we've done. I know that we don't have a whole record done because I haven't fucking wrote it yet. So, yeah, we have four songs done. We're working on an album."

Andrew continued: "Obviously, Viv was sick for a while [battling Hodgkin's lymphoma] and recovering from his bone marrow transplant and all of that stuff. So he is a hundred percent now, from what I understand, and is going to be going back out with DEF LEPPARD. And we had decided that we were taking a break and his health was the most important thing — obviously — which I fully support. So the guy needs to be better and well, and we are obviously a side project to his bigger job, which is why I am doing a lot of other things. So, when those guys are ready to go and make it happen, I'm in. But, obviously, the man's health comes first, and we're not gonna rush it."

Freeman added: "That's the beauty of LAST IN LINE, is that we can do it whenever we want. It's a cool gig and I'm really happy to be a part of it and proud to be a part of it, to be able to enable that thing to happen with those dudes. They're the classic [DIO] lineup. This thing has roots way back into some of the greatest bands in rock history, so it's an honor for me to do it. But we don't have much happening. As far as [LAST IN LINE] gigs, there's not gonna be any gigs this year, and there might not be any next year. But, again, working on an album, and when those guys are ready to go, I'm ready to go. So we'll keep you posted on that."

During a June 11, 2025 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Vivian confirmed that he and LAST IN LINE bandmates were working on material for a possible fourth studio album. Asked what was going on with LAST IN LINE, Vivian said: "Not a lot, actually. There hasn't a lot been going on. Our last show was the first week of May last year at the M3 festival in Baltimore. Then right after that, I went touring with LEPPARD all through the summer, and, obviously, right after the summer tour with LEPPARD, I was dealing with [undergoing a bone marrow] transplant [as part of Vivian's battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma] and the chemo and stuff. So it's basically my fault [we haven't done more]. [Laughs] I've gotta kind of schedule things and get us back up and started again."

He continued: "But the short answer is we probably won't do anything this year. We're working on a record. We actually wrote the songs so long ago, I've practically forgotten them, but we do have an album written. We have four master tracks that we're currently working on. And the ball is in my court. I've gotta do guitar on those tracks. I've only done one so far. So once those four are finished, we'll probably release 'em, actually. I mean, we did write an album's worth of music, but I'm not sure if we'll put it all out as one thing. We might release it piecemeal, because getting back to albums and stuff, when you put out a record, it's just got such a short shelf life nowadays. So maybe it might be more beneficial for us to release two, three or four tracks at a time. And hopefully next year we'll get back into doing some shows. But it's been rough since our last show. We lost our road manager, roadie guy. It's not like DEF LEPPARD. We travel in sprinter vans and we have one roadie. And his name was Mark Weber, and, unfortunately, he passed away last July. And so next time we do go play, we'll be playing without Mark."

Campbell added: "It's been a rough ride with LAST IN LINE with the attrition rate. We lost [original LAST IN LINE bassist] Jimmy Bain to cancer on the eve of the release of our debut album. And we lost our manager, Steve Strange, three years ago to cancer. And now we lost Mark. But having said all of that, it is very, very cathartic for me to play on stage with LAST IN LINE. It really exercises the muscle of guitar playing furiously. It keeps me sharp and on top of my ga.me And the travel's hard, back-to-back shows, five or six hours every day in a sprinter van, cheese sandwiches, no sleep, but when we're on stage, it is just electrifying for me to play. It just kind of recharges my batteries. And then when I go back to DEF LEPPARD, I feel so, so confident about my playing again. So, yeah, I'd like to get back at it. I do miss it, to be honest. And there will be new music."

LAST IN LINE's third album, "Jericho", came out in March 2023 via earMUSIC. The LP was helmed by Chris Collier, who has previously worked with KORN and WHITESNAKE, among other bands. LAST IN LINE's first two albums were produced by former DOKKEN and current FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson.

In 2022, LAST IN LINE surprised fans by releasing a unique version of THE BEATLES classic "A Day In The Life", which was made available on the limited 12-inch silver collector's EP with the same name.

Formed in 2012 by Appice, Campbell and bassist Jimmy Bain — Ronnie James Dio's co-conspirators and co-writers on the "Holy Diver", "Last In Line" and "Sacred Heart" albums — LAST IN LINE's initial intent was to celebrate Ronnie James Dio's early work by reuniting the members of the original DIO lineup. After playing shows that featured a setlist composed exclusively of material from the first three DIO albums, the band decided to move forward and create new music in a similar vein.

LAST IN LINE's debut album, "Heavy Crown", was released in February 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl, landing at No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Initially, the release had been preceded by tragedy when Bain unexpectedly died at the age of 68 on January 23, 2016. LAST IN LINE, honoring what they knew would be Bain's wish to keep the band moving, brought in Soussan and committed to sustained touring in support of the album before beginning work on the follow-up release, 2019's "II", which was also made available through Frontiers Music Srl.

Last fall, Soussantold Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of Rock Interview Series about the progress of the songwriting sessions for LAST IN LINE's fourth studio album: "We had got together, and in the crazy way that we do, we usually get together and get into a room. And we don't really bring in ideas. We just get into a room and plug in and start banging around and seeing what comes out, seeing what sounds cool. And we've got a whole bunch of embryonic ideas, and so we're working that at the moment. We do have to work around the DEF LEPPARD schedule, obviously; that's part of the parcel of what we do, and it's fine. And Viv has some personal things that he has to do as well, which is not my business to talk about. So that's going to mean where it's gonna be a little hard for us to get together as much to do this record. However, the 'Jericho' album, we got together and recorded half of those ideas just before the pandemic. It wasn't a plan. We found ourselves in L.A. 'Let's go into a studio and let's just do that.' And it turned out to be somewhat prophetic because of what happened with the pandemic. At least we had half an album to work on. But in the process of doing that, we found that we were able to work on a record remotely, using file transfers and doing things. So, half of 'Jericho' was done that way. And a lot of this album is probably going to be done in a similar kind of way as well. And the plan is probably to get back out on the road again after the summer of '25."

Asked if there has been any thoughts of maybe going out on a tour opening for a bigger band and getting more exposure to LAST IN LINE, Phil said: "It would be great, if it would work out and if everything made sense. Just prior to the pandemic, we were really on a good roll, and we had been going to Europe quite a lot and we had done tours opening for SAXON, for example, that was just terrific. It was a lot of fun for everyone on the tour together, and we had a great time. When that whole period came along, it really disrupted a lot of our plans. We had plans to go to South America, to Japan and back to Europe, a bunch of festivals in Europe, and all of that vaporized. And it's been hard trying to get that impetus back on track again. Not for any crazy reasons. One of the reasons, which is no secret, it's extremely expensive to try to get to Europe now, what with the kind of costs involved in touring — the fuel costs and the transportation costs and the way that the exchange rates have been, it's almost been a little prohibitive. And we've sort of been waiting for an opportunity to be able to go there and do that. We'd love to, sooner rather than later, I hope. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Regarding how difficult is it for a band at the level of LAST IN LINE to make a profit going out on the road, Phil said: "It's not really about making a profit. It's about, basically, being able to cover everything, cover all the expenses. We're very passionate about what we do, and I think I am personally, and that's always been my mantra, is to be passionate about what I'm doing and let the money take care of itself. So it's not just about trying to make money, but sometimes it's just cost prohibitive to be able to do something. I mean, if you figure the expenses of — I don't wanna get into details, but once you start adding these numbers up, then you realize it's going to be really in the whole to do a tour. But if we can cover it and get close to covering it, then that's fine. I mean, thank God that we don't all live paycheck to paycheck and we're able to be able to do these things and get together with our fans in a way that works for everyone. I mean, that's the most important thing, is getting the music in front of the people who love our band and being able to find a way to do it."

In 2023, Vivian told Classic Rock magazine about the "Jericho" songwriting process: "One thing we insist on in LAST IN LINE is that we have to be in the room together when we cut the tracks, old school, because that's how we did the early DIO records with Ronnie [James Dio]. We started this record in January 2020 in L.A., intending to finish it that April, and then obviously COVID happened and things got… discombobulated. It wasn't until February 2022 that we were able to get back into the studio, but that break only made the record stronger."

Photo credit: Jim Wright (courtesy of earMUSIC)

In a new interview with the Disturbing The Priest With Brandon Battick podcast, DARK ANGEL drummer Gene Hoglan was asked for his opinion on the use of use A.I. (artificial intelligence) when it comes to designing album cover art, particularly as it relates to the band's latest LP, "Extinction Level Event". He responded in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't care. We utilize some A.I. on our stuff. I think the general public, they aren't quite aware of all the actual computer art that we did put on to our A.I. stuff. I understand the new A.I. generation is very anti-A.I. I don't care. I like kickass art."

Gene continued: "It took us three years to put the artwork together for ['Extinction Level Event'], and a lot of it came from my concepts. And that's one thing you'll see on the deluxe packages or whatever — each song has its own panel with its own artwork, which, for the most part, where we could, we tied it in to the subject matter of the song. And it is kickass artwork. Kickass art is kickass art.

"When people started putting art on computers, doing computer-generated art 40 years ago, I'm sure the artists who were paint brushing and doing pointillism and all that kind of stuff were, like, 'Why are doing this on a computer? This isn't an artist. This is a travesty.' Just like 25 years ago when people stopped buying albums, CDs, cassettes and started downloading and ripping songs off the Internet. Same sort of thing," Gene explained. "That was the technology at the time… And those are the same people then that it's the same mindset now that doesn't wanna actually explore or possibly listen to me when I'm saying, look, there's photography in our new artwork. Cain [Gillis, 'Extinction Level Event' cover artist] is out there taking pictures of things and blending them into that. And Cain is doing tons of computer stuff.

"I am no artist, I'm no computer person at all, but I understand there's a bit of a backlash," Hoglan added. "And I'm, like, well, hey, if you wanna deny yourself the pleasure of the DARK ANGEL music because you have your viewpoints, which I'm not saying they're misguided, but I don't think people have quite understood… Like I said, people didn't understand 20 years ago when these bands are putting a lot of money into these records and now we're just taking them for free or listening to their music for free.

"Everybody's got their opinion. Me, I don't care. I love our artwork, and if our opinions disagree on it, then hey, man, fair enough. I'm gonna have a different opinion, but I know exactly all the work that went into this. I will say one thing: if anybody thinks our artist, Cain, just typed in a sentence into an A.I. generator and out popped this perfect piece of artwork, that is absolutely not anywhere near the case. It took tons of work — actual human work. Cain told me he spent over — I think it was 2,000 hours on the artwork for this record. Have an artist charge you by the hour, [and] then keep that in mind. And I think that's another thing where people say, 'It takes the money out of the artist's pocket.' No, it didn't. This is our artist. I said, 'I want art like this. Do what you want, man. You're our artist. You figure it out.' And then he would send me things. And he's, like, 'This is an incomplete thing. This took me six days to figure out, rendering this, working on this pretty solidly. I have all this work that I have to do to it.' And then I'd be, like, 'Yeah, I like this one.' We have thousands of pieces of art all built up, built up, built up and in certain mode of completion.

"When it comes to whatever it is that I do, I've just always just kind of listened to myself and my instincts were, like, well, I guess this approach is here. We're not the first person to utilize it, but our artwork was definitely not solely A.I. at all… And when this was started, there was not quite, I guess, as vocal a backlash as possibly there is for anybody who utilizes it now, but we are not the first, we are definitely not gonna be the last. So you can fight it. And I appreciate those 25 years ago, anybody today who fights the streaming and says, 'I'm gonna buy the physical product.' I know a lot of my friends have reached out to me and said, 'I love the new album. It sounds great. I love the artwork. This is killer.' So I hear differently."

DARK ANGEL's first new album in 34 years, "Extinction Level Event", was made available digitally on September 5 via Reversed Records.

This past June, DARK ANGEL released "Circular Firing Squad", the second single from "Extinction Level Event". The LP's first single, the "Extinction Level Event" title track, was written by DARK ANGEL guitarist Jim Durkin a decade ago, long before he suffered from severe liver disease, and, to the surprise of everyone, passed away in 2023. It was recorded and mixed at the Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, executive produced by Hoglan, produced and engineered by Rob Shallcross and mixed by Mike Fraser.

Durkin died on March 8, 2023 at the age of 58. An original member of DARK ANGEL, Durkin played on the band's first three albums — 1985's "We Have Arrived", "Darkness Descends" and 1989's "Leave Scars" — before departing the group in 1989. He was part of DARK ANGEL's lineup when the band reformed in 2013, and had been playing with them, on and off, ever since.

Prior to his death, Durkin had been sitting out some of DARK ANGEL's gigs. He was replaced at the shows by Hoglan's wife Laura Christine, who has since joined DARK ANGEL as a permanent member.

Hoglan and Christine wrote everything except for the title track on "Extinction Level Event". Other songs appearing on the effort include "Atavistic", which is described as "a full-on three-minute thrash metal barrage", "Woke Up To Blood", the title of which stemmed from a dog attack, and "Terror Construct", which Gene wrote about the way the media and corporations team up to spread fear among the masses so they can continue to fill their pockets.

The seeds of "Extinction Level Event" were planted in late 2013 between the time when TESTAMENT stopped touring to work on their new record and Hoglan was scheduled to work on his next major project. After the first batch of writing sessions for "Extinction Level Event", Hoglan had to put writing for DARK ANGEL on hold until late 2022. With other obligations behind him, Gene laser-focused on DARK ANGEL, listening back to the jams he and Durkin made earlier, and writing more than 10 new songs over the next three months. With a full album of pummeling new songs, Hoglan flew to Vancouver to track the album at the Armory. There, he and his bandmates worked with Rob Shallcross and Mike Fraser, and over a few sessions, DARK ANGEL had recorded everything but the vocals.

DARK ANGEL released two albums with Don Doty on vocals — the aforementioned "We Have Arrived" and "Darkness Descends" — before he exited the group and was replaced by Ron Rinehart (after a brief stint with Jim Drabos in 1987). The band issued two more studio LPs — "Leave Scars" and "Time Does Not Heal" — before calling it quits in 1992.

During a November 6 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", TRIUMPH guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett spoke about the Canadian rock legends' three-song reunion performance — consisting of the tracks "Allied Forces", "Fight The Good Fight" and "Lay It On The Line" — on June 6, 2025 at the Rogers Festival At The Final, a free outdoor concert in the ICE District ahead of Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Bassist Mike Levine did not take part in the reunion show, but three other Canadian musicians joined Emmett and drummer Gil Moore for the set: guitarist Phil X, drummer and keyboardist Brent Fitz and bassist Todd Kerns. Phil X, whose real name is Theofilos Xenidis, is a member of BON JOVI and a former member of TRIUMPH, while Fitz and Kerns are both members of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS. Asked about the likelihood of more performances featuring members of TRIUMPH, Rik said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's a possibility, but… I'll give you the straight-from-the-horse's-mouth sort of situation. Gil and I are capable, from time to time, but if you think I'm gonna go out on the road and play night after night after night after night, that's not gonna happen. And Mike is not really… He's getting frailer. He's not looking to necessarily be banging around in airplanes and tour buses and stuff either. So the thinking is, find three guys that can become sort of the same core trilogy."

Referencing Moore's ongoing plans for TRIUMPH to develop a high-tech concept that would bring the band's music back to the stage, Emmett continued: "A lot of times what happens now with touring acts, oh, they've got a keyboard player that's over behind the [scenes]. They've got some background singers. I mean, PINK FLOYD would have the girl singers over there and the large horn section over there. It's not like you couldn't supplement with side men and have it be that an audience would go, 'Well, that's cool. That's fine. They're there.' So, TRIUMPH made a deal with a Vector Management, which is this guy Jason Murray from Canada, and they've done stuff like the LYNYRD SKYNYRD things and Peter Frampton's tour. So [Jason] said, 'Rik, we're trying to put this thing together.' And it's gonna be Gil Moore, the dreamer of TRIUMPH — always was, production guy — Gil wanted to have the largest-scale kind of show possible. He wants to play the Sphere [in Las Vegas]. He wants to have digital stuff and holograms and lasers and the whole shoot and match. And they go, 'Well, but it would need to be scalable,' like, somebody has to be more of a realist and say, 'What if you wanna do a Wednesday night in Milwaukee?'

"So, the three core guys would be Brent Fitz and Phil X and Todd Kerns," Emmett explained. "And part of it was drag Rik to Edmonton and have Rik sort of vet how this is going down and whether or not he likes this situation and can he get along with the guys? And it was great. I loved the guys, and it was a fantastic experience. So it was kind of, like, okay, passing the torch, as you described. And then the manager Jason Murray says to me, 'We wouldn't need you on every show, but would you be willing to, like, [play] six to eight shows? You come out [and play with the band]?' And I went, 'Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Sure. If you need me to show up.' And I said, 'Is this kind of like the way Brian May would occasionally show up at one of the QUEEN Broadway shows and come up?, and they went, 'Yeah, yeah. Like that, Rik.' I go, 'Okay. Yes, sure. I would be happy to do that, but I don't wanna have to jump around on stage for two hours. I'm not gonna do that.' 'Oh, no, you don't have to do that.'

Rik added: "So that's what I know. That's where it's at. And the talk has been, oh, maybe March of 2026 there would be some launch dates, there'd be some stuff to see how it plays."

As for what has been the cause of the delay in getting the TRIUMPH "mixed-reality tour" off the ground, Rik said: "The guy that mixed sound for us in Edmonton, Harry Witz, who was a guy that had been out with us back in the day, Harry sent me a text today and said, 'What's going on?' And I went, 'Harry, I don't know what's going on.' And I said, 'Gil is talking…' And I think part of it is, really, that there needs to be a big chunk of change that has to be sort of set up so that you can say, 'Okay, this thing's a go.' And they're still waiting on the money. They're still waiting to see whether or not that stuff will all lock down. And given Gil's track record of persistence in these things, man, I would never bet against that guy. It's gonna happen. It's just a question of when."

Emmett also talked about the challenges of singing the classic TRIUMPH material, particularly when it comes to hitting some of the high notes that the band is renowned for. He said: "Oh, I can't sing them. Tonight [at The Sands in Cancún, Mexico] we'll do 'Magic Power' at the end of the night. And that used to be in the key of D, and I do it now in the key of A. That's the way it's come down. I can't cut a lot of the really, really high notes anymore — I just can't. I'm 72 years old… I didn't necessarily abuse myself as much as some guys that you know, some of the guys you know and love. I'm not like that. I had an approach that was more like a jock. It was more like I was a professional athlete, so I felt like if I'm gonna hit those notes every night and I'm gonna run around and I'm gonna do the gig, I can't burn the candle at the other end too. I just wasn't that kind of a guy. So, I took care of myself. But the pipes, it's just age. I can't run as fast as I used to. I can't sing as high as I used to. You work around — tune the guitars down a bit."

Asked by Trunk if that's where guys like Phil and Todd would come in and whether they would handle the bulk of the singing at any hypothetical future TRIUMPH shows, Rik said: "[That's] exactly right. Both of them. And Todd, he's amazing. He has sort of no limit — he can go as high as you want. Phil's a bit more of a kind of a screamer rocker kind of — he's Phil, so you get that style. He sings the Gil stuff amazing. And I think Todd would be the guy that would end up singing some of the crazy… But they could do, say, 'Fight The Good Fight' in the original key, D minor. I do it in B minor when I do it. And, like I said, 'Magic' gets down a long way. So I this whole thing of, who would sing what? I don't think between the two of 'em, I don't think it matters."

This past September, Gil told Jason Saulnier about TRIUMPH's plans to return to the stage: "One of the things we're planning, and this has been ongoing for five years with our lighting director, I've been working on a mixed reality platform to sort of recreate TRIUMPH with younger musicians and bring out the original bandmembers virtually into it. And I've called it the first six-piece power trio of all time. [Laughs] That's a joke. So that's ongoing. A lot of work [is] taking place behind the scenes on that. And if and when it launches, it will become public knowledge, and tickets will be on sale all over North America and maybe elsewhere in the world."

Moore admitted that recreating the TRIUMPH live experience is "a bit of a dream, but it's got some legs and some momentum right now. And not to give too much away on it, but, yeah, that's what the plan is," he said, before adding that artificial intelligence "is very strongly part of our toolkit."

As for how the TRIUMPH virtual live show would be presented to the audience, Gil said: "The fans have let us know, in no uncertain terms, that the music that resonated the loudest was related to the more positive aspects of our music — positive lyrics, themes like 'never surrender'. I think it's perhaps a sign of the times, where people feel like the world's a difficult place. So if you have a lyric like 'follow your heart', 'I can survive', 'hold on to your dreams,' they're inspirational themes that resonate well right now. So we've constructed our ideas around that narrative. And that's purposeful, because I feel like the role of music in the community is to lift people up. And we have enough things that are difficult right now for young people, old people, everyone."

Moore added: "There's a lot of things we're seeing — bad trends in society, bad trends in in the world, and politics in some circles — and let's use music as the big gun to bring people together. We've always known it can do that, but maybe we have to really circle the wagons, all of these musicians all around the world, and say, 'Hey, there's a greater good here with music.' I know most of my musician friends feel the same way that I do. I don't know that it's always articulated publicly, but I think there's a growing awareness among musicians that what they're doing has a greater importance than it might otherwise seem."

This past May, Moore told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the TRIUMPH virtual show: "I've had people ask me, 'Well, is that like what ABBA's doing in London?' And I say, 'Well, no. It's not.' That's a lot of three-dimensional content and so on. And it's kind of an animated movie, if you will.

"Paul Dexter [our lighting designer from back in the day], he did Ronnie Dio from BLACK SABBATH's initial hologram events that were done. He also did Frank Zappa, which is where I caught up with him, 'cause we're buddies. And I said, 'Paul, can we do something with TRIUMPH?' So we talked about it. And he said, 'Well, take a look at Frank's hologram.' And so I went and saw it. We went back to the hotel after the gig, and I said, 'No, this would never work for TRIUMPH.' So we were kind of scratching our heads, saying, 'Well, what could we do?' Because we both like technology and I've always been a geek when it comes to lighting and sound and things. So we started to investigate.

"My school [Metalworks Institute] up here in Canada was partners with Microsoft in their development, a partner program. They had a mixed reality department, and we started looking into it. The next thing you know, all of a sudden we went off on a different path altogether, and we've been through two or three different technologies that we wanted to use to bring the original bandmembers into a new band with new musicians. So basically the best of both worlds — to try to have players that can cut the road and are younger than us and have got the tremendous playing skills, but be able to give fans kind of the throwback that they want. So we thought if we can bring the three bandmembers into this and bring Phil [X] back to reignite the original band, now we have a six-piece power trio.

"I don't think anybody will [understand it] until it's out there, until it's seen. But Paul and I are doing our best. No wine before its time. We'll see where it goes, but right now there's a lot of conversations between Mike, Rik and I, and Phil and our manager Jason and [producer] Mike Clink, of course, who's been an instigator in a lot of things. And hopefully we're gonna bring something out there that fans are just gonna go 'wow' for, and then everyone will know what it is. [Laughs]"

Asked if he misses the stage and playing live, Gil said: "We did feel that way about it. And with me, because I wanted to be at home, raise my kids, and I also had an elderly mother, there was reasons why I wanted to stay in Toronto. So once it takes you away from that, I'll call it live game, which is truly a sport in a three-piece power trio, especially for the drummer, and if you're gonna sing on top of that, it's a real athletic endeavor. And it is for Mike and Rik as well. But your life takes a turn into a new area. And I love what we do at Metalworks and I love being with my family. So ultimately my family takes precedence over traveling. And I know you can get back and forth and so on, but I just wanna be there all the time for them. So I'm very happy with that decision

"If we get this mixed reality tour rolling, it'll be a great way to really thank the fans because I'm totally blown away with how loyal TRIUMPH fans are," he continued. "And I guess some of the thinking behind this is, as you know in Michigan, 'cause you're in Detroit, but everyone knows in Grand Rapids you would see TRIUMPH, you'd see TRIUMPH in Saginaw, you'd see triumphant in Petoskey, you'd see TRIUMPH in Flint. We played all of those smaller towns as well, and we'd sneak around the corner and play Green Bay, Wisconsin, or the other way and play Toledo. Yeah, there were the Chicagos, the Clevelands, the Detroits and the L.A.'s and New Yorks, but there were also these smaller towns. That's how we built it up. And that's why I think a lot of those fans have those experiences from those small towns, not just the big ones. And this is an effort to say, okay, maybe we can take the TRIUMPH show back into those markets and bring back some memories and also some real surprises."

Earlier in May, Moore told Talkin' Bout Rock about the upcoming TRIUMPH mixed reality show: "[It's] something I've been working on with Paul Dexter, who's our lighting designer from back in the day. And Paul's really kind of a genius behind the lighting board. And he was involved in the early stages of holograms — he did Ronnie Dio from SABBATH and he did Frank Zappa as well. And we got together, 'cause I was trying to look at a way to bring TRIUMPH back to life because people wanted us to tour, but I knew I couldn't because I didn't have the time. And you reach a certain stage after we did the [2021 TRIUMPH] documentary ['Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine'] and we performed, and I said, 'You know what?' The type of performance we did, like the vocals were so high and there was so much high energy… I saw the THE EAGLES this year, and I thought certain types of music are easier on you physically. The hard rock power trio is probably about as tough as it gets. Singing and playing drums, for example, that's another thing — it's like a double whammy. So, I wanted to see if there was a way, through technology, to do something completely different, 'cause I didn't really like the hologram situation. The hologram itself was pretty cool, but it's just the way… I was sitting with Paul afterwards and he said, 'What do you think?' And I said, 'The hologram's cool, but it's not a platform. It's just a feature on a platform.' And that became the turning point. He said, 'A feature on a platform, not the platform.' He was, 'Well, what do you mean?' And I said, "Well, we, we need something that surrounds that. That's just one effect.' So we set out on this path towards mixed reality, which was starting to become something that was being talked about in research circles and so on at the time. A.I. hadn't kicked in yet. And there were some additional types of projection technology that were coming along that were more sophisticated than how these original holograms were produced using the Pepper's ghost technique. And so we just pursued it, pursued it, pursued it over a bunch of years. So we've got it to the point now where we really think we've kind of nailed it."

Gil, who was promoting the TRIUMPH tribute album "Magic Power: All Star Tribute To Triumph", went on to say that the TRIUMPH live experience would entail "bringing the original band virtually in with the new musicians. So you've got the best of both worlds. You've got the power and the strength of some of the best musicians in the world, who we've recruited, by the way, from this album, from the tribute album. So this would be Phil X's TRIUMPH when it comes out, if we get it launched, which we're hoping is gonna happen either later this year or early next year. There will still be Mike, Rik and Gil in the show, but we'll be there virtually. And hopefully this will be the first power trio with six people in it. [Laughs]"

Moore added: "So, yeah, that's the plan. It's a wild plan and we'll have to see where it goes… We're pretty excited about it. And Paul Dexter's a genius. And we've got other people. We've got a technical team of about a half dozen guys. And then, of course, Phil, he's looking at just some great guys to work with as well. Like I said, they're guys from this tribute album. They're the best guys you can get anywhere in the world to play hard rock. So I think if it all gels, it's gonna be really something. But, yeah, I've got my fingers crossed. We'll just keep [on] going and do our best and see where we land."

In March 2025, Emmett told Talkin' Bout Rock about the upcoming TRIUMPH live experience: "Gil's got a bee in his bonnet about wanting to do this heavy-duty 3D hologram-ish… He wants TRIUMPH to go back and do a tour — not the guys in the band, but screen projection, digital stuff. And he wants to have a band that would have Phil X sort of putting the musicians together so that there would be a live band. But then we would be joining them by playing on the screens and just all this incredible stuff. And he's sending me scripts."

Moore has been talking about a possible TRIUMPH live experience for several years, including in a 2021 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock. He said at the time that he was working on a "mixed-reality concept" that it is based on "sort of holography, but not in the traditional sense." He had been collaborating on the project with Paul Dexter, who had worked with TRIUMPH in the past on lighting and set design and was heavily involved with the hologram tours for both Ronnie James Dio and Frank Zappa.

"I'm not crazy about holograms," Moore said he told Dexter, "but the three-dimensional presentation — the holography, if you will — if you were able to deliver it on a better platform with more variables, I would like it." As for the audio, Gil said that it would consist of "Mike, Rik and Gil," for the most part, sourced from live concerts that no one has ever heard before. "But the presentation would be more akin to a biopic movie combined with classic video," Moore explained. "Combined with a combination of real effects as well as fake [ones] and magic."

Moore also talked about a possible new TRIUMPH live show in a May 2023 interview with The Metal Voice. He said at the time: "I have a plan to do a mixed reality tour for TRIUMPH. I've talked about it a few times in a few interviews. And, yeah, I'm very serious about that. I'm working with our lighting director Paul Dexter at Masterworks in Los Angeles. He's unbelievable and he's kind of the godfather of holograms. This is not a hologram tour by any means or a hologram concert, but we are gonna use forms of holography or three-dimensional recreation to do this. Yeah, there's a lot of technology involved. Let's put it this way — it's not gonna be like anything that anybody's ever seen before, if Paul and I get our way with the way we're developing the content that's gonna be seen, but it's gonna be something that'll blow people's minds and it'll be TRIUMPH through and through."

Elaborating on what this proposed TRIUMPH live experience will look like, Gil said: "I don't wanna tell too much other than the key is think of mixed reality and what that means. No glasses, no tricks that way — all the tricks will be coming from the stage — but we've got some phenomenal plans. All the music is pre-recorded, because it's all from live shows, but it will be custom tailored to this particular performance, let's say. And it involves some actors. It involves footage of Mike, Rick and Gil, and recreations of Mike, Rick and Gil, and some of the coolest things that people are gonna see in the touring market, I can tell you that."

Asked if the upcoming TRIUMPH live experience is an answer to fans who are constantly asking the three original guys to tour together again, Gil said: "It is, really. In a sense, there's this feeling of obligation to the fans, and yet your life moves on. So I'm fully engaged doing what I'm doing, and I have a lot of things that I'm working on that I'm passionate about in the education field and so on for music, so I don't have the bandwidth for another TRIUMPH tour at this stage. And Mike and Rick have different things they're doing as well. But we talk about TRIUMPH all the time — we love it, we're brothers, we always will be — and, yeah, this is a way to give something to the fans that we know will absolutely knock them right off their chairs. And we're excited about it. And we do have the bandwidth to do that, thanks to not only Paul, but our video director, Don Allan, some great technical people that we're working with — Harry Witz at Clair Global audio who's gonna do all the sound. This thing is gonna be really something else."

Emmett, who quit TRIUMPH — acrimoniously, in 1988 — over music and business disputes, went on to pursue a solo career, while TRIUMPH carried on with future BON JOVI guitarist Phil X for one more album, 1992's "Edge Of Excess", before calling it a day the following year.

Emmett was estranged, both personally and professionally, from the two other members of the legendary Canadian classic rock power trio for 18 years before they repaired their relationship.

Rik's memoir, "Lay It On The Line - A Backstage Pass To Rock Star Adventure, Conflict And Triumph", came out in October 2023 via ECW Press.

Moore, Levine, and Emmett formed TRIUMPH in 1975, and their blend of heavy riff-rockers with progressive odysseys, peppered with thoughtful, inspiring lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing quickly made them a household name in Canada. Anthems like "Lay It On The Line", "Magic Power" and "Fight The Good Fight" broke them in the USA, and they amassed a legion of fiercely passionate fans. But, as a band that suddenly split at the zenith of their popularity, TRIUMPH missed out on an opportunity to say thank you to those loyal and devoted fans, a base that is still active today, three decades later.

After 20 years apart, Emmett, Levine and Moore played at the 2008 editions of the Sweden Rock Festival and Rocklahoma. A DVD of the historic Sweden performance was made available four years later.

Back in 2016, Moore and Levine reunited with Rik as special guests on the "RES 9" album from Emmett's band RESOLUTION9.

Released in 2021, TRIUMPH's documentary, "Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine", was produced by Banger Films and directed by Sam Dunn and Marc Ricciardelli.