In a new interview with Ernest Skinner of Canada's Border City Rock Talk, ex-QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate was asked if he had thought about approaching original QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Chris DeGarmo to contribute to the upcoming third chapter in the band's classic "Operation: Mindcrime" album series, "Operation: Mindcrime III", which will be released as a Geoff Tate solo album on May 3. Tate responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No. No, not really. I haven't spoken with Chris in a decade, probably.

"When QUEENSRŸCHE was together, we had 30 really great years, which is a lifetime in the music business," he explained. "And not too many bands or artists stick around that long. And we managed to do that and created some amazing, amazing music. And I'm very grateful for that. And Chris was definitely a part of all that for many years. And then he wasn't. People go their separate ways, and they find different things to do in their life that they're interested in. And he moved on, and the band moved on without him. And then I moved on from the band. Things just happen. It's a journey."

Released under Geoff Tate's own name and not under the QUEENSRŸCHE banner, "Operation: Mindcrime III" is once again a concept album with a storyline following Nikki, a drug addict-turned-assassin manipulated by a shadowy figure known as Dr. X. However, unlike the first two installments, "Operation: Mindcrime III" will tell the tale from the perspective of Dr. X, "how the story happened from his point of view," according to Geoff. "It's all about him," Tate said. "We don't really know much about him in the first two albums. He's sort of this mysterious character that is lurking in the shadows, and he has a sway over Nikki and Mary. And he's really, really difficult to understand — how did he get to where he is, and what makes him powerful, what makes him the way he is? And this album, it's all about him. And we find out who he is and how he controls Nikki and Mary and other people in his sphere of influence. And, yeah, it's really the first two albums from Dr. X's perspective. The first two records were from Nikki's perspective. He was writing and he was talking and he was singing and he was complaining. And this one is all about Dr. X."

"Power", the first single from "Operation: Mindcrime III", can be streamed below. The track was written by Geoff and his guitarist/producer Kieran Robertson. It features vocals by Tate, drums by Rich Baur, bass by DISTURBED bassist and "Operation: Mindcrime III" co-producer John Moyer, guitar by Dario Parente and Amaury Altmayer, and synths and strings by Tate and Robertson. It was mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California.

"Operation: Mindcrime III" track listing:

01. The Scene Of The Crime
02. You Know My Fu@king Name
03. The Answer
04. Vulnerable
05. I'll Eat Your Heart Out
06. Do You Still Believe?
07. The Devil's Breath
08. Ascension
09. Set You Free
10. Descension
11. Power
12. You Can't Walk Away Now
13. A Monster Like Me

In a recent interview with the "Let There Be Talk" podcast, hosted by rock and roll comedian Dean Delray, Tate stated about "Power": "It's a cool track. 'Power' is the first — I don't know — we call 'em singles nowadays. It's the first release on the album. And, yeah, it's a really cool song — very, very energetic, very up, and kind of says a lot in a very short time, which I like."

Regarding the writing process for "Operation: Mindcrime III", which follows 1988's "Operation: Mindcrime" and 2006's "Operation: Mindcrime II", Geoff said:  "I think you use whatever sort of way you can in order to get what you want. And, for me, I sort of look at it as a story, and I write the story out first of what is happening, and then I kind of dissect it and create chapters, and those chapters turn into songs. And then I kind of work to link them all together and follow a storyline that makes sense. And then you gotta kind of factor in musically how you're gonna tie it together. Does it make sense musically and melodically to put this song before this song, before this song, before this song? 'Cause that's a big thing too, is making it flow, so it doesn't seem obtrusive and people don't have to turn the page back to find out what happened, and they're kind of following along in a chronological order."

After Delray noted that "Power" "sounds like QUEENSRŸCHE", Geoff said: "Yeah. Well, part of the whole writing process was keeping the music in the universe of 'Mindcrime', writing within that style, I guess you'd say."

As for how "Operation: Mindcrime III" was recorded, Geoff said: "There's 13 songs on the record, and it was recorded all over the world. And the beauty of modern recording is that if you have the right equipment, the quality gear, we just take it with us wherever we go. And we set up in hotel rooms backstage at shows, venues. I think one track was recorded in a church. Just wherever we have the right kind of room for the sound, we can record there. We recorded one of the songs, parts of it, in this castle in Italy. Do you remember that character Casanova? Well, he was imprisoned in this castle way back when. And the place is just an amazing ruin, of course, but it had this one room that was just incredible. It [had] big, high ceilings, open environment, big stone walls and that kind of thing. But it added a really unique sound to the song. So anyway, we just kind of took advantage of that wherever we could and wrote the album as we were touring around the world, really. And I wrote music for the album and lyrics for the album. And Kieran Robertson, my writing partner for this project, contributed so much to this record, playing guitar and also writing music and lyrics too."

Earlier this month, Tate was asked by Canada's The Metal Voice why he wanted to make another LP in the "Operation: Mindcrime" series. Tate said: "I'm interested in it. It's a subject I've always been interested in, the 'Mindcrime' saga, the story of these three characters, really: Nikki, Dr. X and Sister Mary. A fascinating triangle there of… Oh, it's an interesting relationship between all three of them. And Nikki's story has really been kind of chronicled on 'Mindcrime I' and 'Mindcrime II', and nothing has really been written about Dr. X. Like, who is he? What's he all about? Why is he the way he is? What got him to this place he's at? And I just found the subject to be interesting. And especially at the age I'm at now, where I'm probably very close to Dr. X's age, I'm looking at life differently now, and [I have] different goals, [and I have] a different reason to be, really, which I think probably happens with people as they age and get older. You've had past accomplishments, you've had things that you've done that you've really been interested, and you've followed your dreams, you followed your muse, and now you're at a different place where those wants and needs kind of change. So Dr. X is a character study, really, of where he is at and how he got to where he is."

Asked if "Operation: Mindcrime III' is "a prequel" to the first two albums or if it is a continuation of the story, Geoff said: "It's kind of a — hmm, I'd say it's in the same universe, but a different perspective. It's X's perspective. It's happening in time at the same time as 'Mindcrime I'."

On the topic of whether "Operation: Mindcrime III" is musically as heavy as the original "Operation: Mindcrime" album, Tate said: "Oh, yes. The new one is probably, I guess in the same realm. It's heavier than 'Mindcrime I'. I don't know. I'd have to go back and listen to it again, 'Mindcrime II', to see where it compared in the heaviness [laughs] scale."

As for his expectations for the "Operation: Mindcrime III" album, Tate said: "I just hope everybody can give it a spin, check it out. And especially with headphones. It's a wonderful headphone album. Absolutely. We spent a lot of time dialing all the details in that I find to be very important with the record, is it's gotta sound good on headphones. And it really sounds great with the mixing and the engineering on it. John [Moyer, DISTURBED bassist, who produced the album] did an amazing job putting it all together, and the sound, especially of the rhythm section — oh, it's phenomenal. It's really, really crunchy, punchy, big… I think it's miles above 'Mindcrime I' — absolutely. Especially the bottom end — the bass and drums, rhythm section. It's so modern, so huge. If you listen back to the 'Mindcrime I' album, it sounds like… I think it was one of the three first digital recordings made, and so it has a brittleness to it that you just don't hear anymore, 'cause the technology has gotten so much better now. The analog-to-digital converters are so much more sophisticated now. So, yeah, it sounds miles about that. I'm very happy, very happy with it."

Originally released in May 1988, QUEENSRŸCHE's third studio album, "Operation: Mindcrime" took the quintet to an entirely new level. The concept, revealed through the songs, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late and beloved British actor Anthony Valentine),Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. Regarded as one of the greatest concept metal albums of all time, "Operation: Mindcrime" was certified platinum in 1991 in the U.S. and was ranked in the "Top 100 Metal Albums Of All Time" by both Kerrang! and Billboard magazines. Rolling Stone included it on a similar list, noting that "nearly 30 years after its initial release, 'Mindcrime' feels eerily relevant."

The original "Operation: Mindcrime" album weaved themes of religion, drug abuse and underground, radical politics. By contrast, 2006's "Operation: Mindcrime II" was regarded as an unnecessary sequel that many felt cheapened the original album, despite being a decent record in its own right.

During QUEENSRŸCHE's 2012 legal battle with Tate over the rights to the band's name, guitarist Michael Wilton submitted a sworn declaration in which he said the idea to make "Operation: Mindcrime II" was first brought to the table by Geoff's wife and QUEENSRŸCHE's then-manager Susan Tate. "The band was hesitant and did not want to lessen the original," the guitarist claimed. "But Susan Tate and Geoff Tate hired a budget producer and took control without really any other input. Scott Rockenfield [drums], Eddie Jackson [bass] and I were squeezed out of having any input in the musical direction or business decisions, thus the project suffered. During the initial writing phase, I would show up to bring my input to the creative process only to find that the producer, the new guitar player (who were both staying with the Tates at the time),along with Geoff Tate had been up late the night before or up early that morning and had written the songs without me. I was then told my ideas were not needed as the songs were now done. I could, however, 'bring my own style' in during the recording after learning to play what they wrote for me. In frustration, I gave up on the writing process knowing that I would at least get to make changes in the studio to bring back the QUEENSRŸCHE sound into these songs that we were known for. The final straw was when they refused to let me to be a part of the final recordings and mixes. I was shut out and they had the nerve to replace some of my parts on my songs. They denied me flying to San Francisco to be a part of my band, telling me that everything was ready to go and I was not needed. Had the communication been better, and had I been aware that parts needed to be recorded or rewritten, I would have been there. It was not until years later that I even became aware of the issues during the final recording and mixing of 'Operation: Mindcrime II'. It was all under the control of Geoff and Susan Tate. Call it delusions of grandeur, but they were convinced that this was going to sell three times more than the original, and to date (six years later) this album has sold fewer than 150,000 copies. The original album sold over 500,000 copies within a year."

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012. Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson responded with a countersuit. The settlement included an agreement that Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson would continue as QUEENSRŸCHE, while Tate would have the sole right to perform "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Tate's replacement, Todd La Torre, has released four albums thus far with QUEENSRŸCHE: 2013's "Queensrÿche", 2015's "Condition Hüman", 2019's "The Verdict" and 2022's "Digital Noise Alliance".

During a February 6 appearance at MIDEM 2026 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, Sharon Osbourne, the British TV personality, music manager and the widow of rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, weighed in on an ongoing debate about whether rock music still matters and if people care about the genre the way young people growing up in the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s did. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " It's amazing to me that people still are saying, 'Rock music, will it continue? Will it last?' It's not disco. It's not a gimmick music. It is from the soul. And that's why you just have to, have to keep it going and give these bands a platform, the new talent a platform, because, for me, it'll, it'll never go away. And there's nothing like seeing bands playing their own instruments.

"I always hated boy bands because they just would sing and dance, and it's, like, 'What are you doing?' It's silly," she continued. "And you see these guys making the sounds that they make from a piece of wood and strings and you go, 'How on earth did they do that solo?' And the same with the drummer, the bass player. And it is a great art form that, unfortunately, people look at it as the bastard of the industry: 'You're bastards. Nobody wants you.' And that's people that are not on the street. They're removed from the street. They're in their offices, they're in their chauffeur-driven cars. They don't get what is actually happening. And two, the press. is very against it — mainstream press. 'Cause they just want the next big thing. That's all they ever wanna write about. So it's been hard. But also now seeing all those bands that started in late '90s still going. They're filling stadiums now."

Sharon added: "I think it's all about live shows. It really is. 'Cause the record industry is so tiny right now. A friend of mine had a No. 3 album in the charts just before Christmas, and I said, 'How many did you sell?' 8,000 to get a No. 3 album at that time of year. I mean, it's minute. And all of the streaming services are great, but first of all, the money that the artist gets is nothing; it's a joke. And it's ruined that whole thing of discovering a body of work in an album… You get what that band's about by listening to the whole album, not just a track that you think is good or whatever. The music industry now is touring. That's what it's about."

Sharon famously spearheaded Ozzfest, the annual multi-band touring juggernaut which began in 1996 and ran until 2018. It featured the crème de la crème of metal, both chart-toppers and newcomers divided between two stages. Many underground bands were represented on Ozzfest, including EARTH CRISIS, DRAIN STH, PUYA, ULTRASPANK, KILGORE and MONSTER VOODOO MACHINE.

Launched in 1996 after Lollapalooza declined to book Ozzy, Ozzfest began as a short run of dates in Phoenix, Arizona and San Bernardino, California. Ozzy headlined the inaugural shows, backed by a bill stacked with heavy hitters including SLAYER, DANZIG, BIOHAZARD and SEPULTURA.

"It was something Ozzy was very passionate about: giving young talent a stage in front of a lot of people," Sharon told Billboard magazine earlier this year. "We really started metal festivals in this country. It was [replicated but] never done with the spirit of what ours was, because ours was a place for new talent. It was like summer camp for kids."

In a new interview with Metal Kaoz, EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting discussed the band's twelfth studio album, "Goliath", which came out on March 20 via Napalm Records. Speaking about the recording process for the follow-up to 2021's "Persona Non Grata", Tom said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was awesome. We recorded in Pacheco [California], at our friend Juan Urteaga's studio [Trident Studios]. A lot of bands have done work there. TESTAMENT's done a bunch of work there. And we've known him for years, but we never tracked there. And it was a really good experience. It was a positive experience."

Asked how it felt, on a personal level, to go back in the studio to record new music, Tom said: "Oh, it felt great. It's pretty organic, the formula. Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist] and I, we were near his house where our jam room is in Northern California. We were kind of traversing the state, or I was, anyway, while we were writing stuff. And he would come up with a riff and I would meet up with him and we'd jam it out. So we went in with the makings of, like, seven songs, seven or eight maybe, and we ended up recording 18. Lee [Altus, EXODUS guitarist] and Gary both, even in the midst of me tracking, whoever was tracking, they were writing constantly. So, it was an explosion, pretty much, of being creative. So it was a really fun thing to be a part of. It was inspiring. We were inspiring each other. It was really cool."

On the topic of the songwriting process for "Goliath", Tom said: "The process has always been the same. We like to play music, and we like to jam and we like hanging out with each other. We enjoy each other's company. So, the music's kind of a byproduct of our life, if you look at it that way. We have to tour — we have to tour to make a living. But if the worst thing that happens to me is I gotta wake up in the world somewhere and play music, I'm fucking winning, dude. We're lucky people to have this journey, so we understand that."

Regarding why "Goliath" ended up being EXODUS's most collaborative album to date, Tom said: "I just think ideas were flowing so much, and they were coming from everybody. Jack [Gibson, EXODUS bassist] was helping with arranging, Gary was spitting out riffs, Lee was spitting out riffs, and I was trying to keep up. It didn't feel like hard work. It just felt inspirational, is the best word I could describe it with. And it was just a fun thing to be a part of. If you're in a band and that's going on, you wanna jump in."

Hunting also talked about the return of EXODUS singer Rob Dukes, who replaced Steve "Zetro" Souza in January 2025. Tom said: "[Rob] did a great job on this record, man… He brought a lot of really good ideas. It felt like maybe there was a little unfinished business there. And he came out just crushing. He blew our minds. Vocally on this record, he took it to places that we didn't even know it could go. And nobody ever says, 'That's not heavy enough.' There's no specific formula. I mean, we are who we are, so if we make music, it's gonna sound like EXODUS just naturally."

In December EXODUS filmed music videos for three songs from "Goliath", including "3111". The clips were helmed by Jim Louvau, a musical and visual creative artist based in Phoenix, Arizona, who previously worked on EXODUS's music video for the song "The Fires Of Division" from the band's 2021 LP "Persona Non Grata".

"Goliath" marks the first time in nearly three decades that an EXODUS album hasn't been mixed by Andy Sneap, who has acted as JUDAS PRIEST's producer and touring guitarist for eight years.

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

Dukes previously joined EXODUS in January 2005 and appeared on four of the band's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005),"The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007),"Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS's classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

EXODUS played its first concert with Dukes in nearly 11 years on April 5, 2025 at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the aforementioned "Bonded By Blood" LP inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

In a new interview with Barry Robinson of Classic Album Review, legendary vocalist and 2024 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Lou Gramm, best known as the iconic voice of FOREIGNER, spoke about his highly anticipated solo album "Released". Set to arrive on March 27, 2026 on CD (HNE Recordings / Cherry Red Records) and vinyl (Friday Music),"Released" marks the long-awaited completion of a pivotal chapter in Gramm's solo catalog. Produced by Gramm with associate producer Matthew Gramm, the album features ten original songs co-written with Lou's longtime collaborator and former BLACK SHEEP bandmate Bruce Turgon, originally recorded during the 1980s in the wake of his solo releases "Ready Or Not" (1987) and "Long Hard Look" (1989). Recently revisited and carefully completed, these recordings preserve the warmth, grit, and analog character of the original sessions while benefiting from a renewed clarity and sonic depth. The result bridges Gramm's celebrated solo era with the perspective and enduring vocal power that have defined him as one of rock's most influential and recognizable voices.

Regarding how "Released" came together, Gramm said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, my solo albums, which came out in 1987 and '89, we had 10 songs on each album, but actually had about 15 songs written, and they were in various forms of being finished. But after we picked the songs for the album, I was gnawed by the fact that there was so many good songs that didn't make it to the album and deserved to be released. So when I started to come about doing this album, I went back and listened to those unfinished songs and picked the best ones. And some of 'em needed a lead guitar, some of 'em needed a third verse. I started finishing them all. And it was a very cathartic process to hear them as a lot of potential to being done. And it felt great to hear them finished. And that's when I came upon the idea of doing one last solo album. I think there might be one or two freshly written songs, and the rest of 'em are songs from the 'Ready Or Not' album and the 'Long Hard Look' album, that, like I said, weren't quite finished, but the ideas were very good. So I went back and put the third verse in and put the guitar lead in and mixed it and mastered it. And that's what all these songs on this album were — almost done, but now they're finished… Some of 'em were complete except for a third verse. Some of 'em needed a guitar lead. Some of 'em needed percussion. Every song was well along, and it just needed one or two things to make it finished. And that was cathartic for me to go back and do that."

Asked why it was cathartic for him to complete the songs more than three a half decades after they were originally started, Lou said: "Because when I went back to hear them after all these years, I remember recording them and remember the feel of of starting the song, what the idea was, and not finishing it and having it sit around for all these years was — it was just a little troubling to me. So when I decided to do this album, I was excited about going back and taking those ideas and finishing them up. Some needed a vocal, some needed a harmony, some needed a lead guitar, and so I went back and finished 'em all."

Produced by Lou Gramm himself, "Released" features appearances from an outstanding cast of musicians, including Tony Franklin on bass for "Long Gone" and Vivian Campbell (DEF LEPPARD) on guitar for the opening track "Young Love", alongside longtime collaborators such as Lou's brother Ben Gramm on drums.

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Lou Gramm emerged from a highly musical family before forming BLACK SHEEP, whose two albums for Capitol Records have since become cult favorites. A pivotal meeting with Mick Jones in 1975 led to the formation of FOREIGNER the following year, launching a career that produced a run of multi-platinum albums and hit singles. FOREIGNER famously became the first band since THE BEATLES to see their first eight singles reach the U.S. Top 20.

Alongside his work with FOREIGNER, Lou enjoyed major solo success with "Ready Or Not" (1987),featuring the hit "Midnight Blue", followed by "Long Hard Look" (1989),which included "Just Between You And Me". Now, with "Released", Lou delivers his third solo studio album, completing a vital chapter in his solo catalogue while standing proudly alongside both his earlier solo work and his defining recordings with FOREIGNER.

"Released" also includes "True Blue Love (Unplugged)", the original version of which appeared on "Long Hard Look", and follows recent high-profile collaborations with FOREIGNER connected to the band's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2024.

Lou Gramm will be touring throughout 2026 in support of "Released", including solo dates and special appearances with FOREIGNER.

"Released" track listing:

01. Young Love
02. Lightning Strikes
03. Walk The Walk
04. Long Gone
05. Heart And Soul
06. Long Hard Look
07. True Blue Love (Unplugged)
08. Deeper Side of Love
09. Time Heals The Pain
10. Word Gets Around

By the time Gramm left FOREIGNER for the first time in 1990, he had already released "Ready Or Not" and "Long Hard Look". He went on to launch LOU GRAMM BAND, which released an all-Christian rock album in 2009. He followed it up with "My Baby" in 2015.

SHADOW KING was a collaboration between Gramm and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell. The group released a self-titled album in 1991 and performed live only once, at the Astoria Theatre in London, England on December 13, 1991.

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

FOREIGNER's ongoing tour features Gramm on guest vocals for some of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame group's biggest hits. Gramm is sharing the stage with Luis Maldonado, who replaced longtime FOREIGNER frontman Kelly Hansen on lead vocals.

FOREIGNER replaced Gramm with Hansen in 2005. Guitarist Mick Jones, the only remaining original member of FOREIGNER, suffered from some health issues beginning in 2011, eventually resulting in heart surgery in 2012. In February 2024, Jones revealed on social media that he was battling Parkinson's disease, which explained his absence from FOREIGNER's live shows since 2022.

Reconnecting with his former FOREIGNER bandmates, Lou contributed words and vocals for the new song "Turning Back The Time" to coincide with FOREIGNER's induction into the Rock And Rock Hall Of Fame in 2024, and also the unreleased "Fool If You Love Him" for the latest FOREIGNER "4" box set in 2025.

Photo: Krishta Abruzzini (courtesy of Shore Fire Media)

Swedish/American extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY kicked off their seven-date Chinese tour earlier tonight (Friday, March 27) at Dongsan Live in Beijing. The concert marked the band's first live performance with new singer Lauren Hart (ex-ONCE HUMAN),who replaced Alissa White-Gluz, late last year.

Fan-filmed video of the Beijing show can be seen below.

This past February, ARCH ENEMY released its first studio recording with Hart, a new song called "To The Last Breath". At the time, Michael Amott, guitarist and founder of ARCH ENEMY, stated about the track: "Connecting with Lauren has marked an important step in my journey. Working with her was an exceptional experience — her remarkable voice, coupled with her dedication and professionalism, brings a rare level of excellence. I look forward to continuing the collaboration."

Amott added: "Make no mistake — this song is a reckoning. Musically, it's unapologetically aligned with my original vision for the band — and I believe longtime fans will recognize that immediately. Lyrically, it's about seeing through deception and dismantling the illusion of control. It captures that moment when you realize you've been fed poison — and you choose to fight back. Once that clarity hits, there's no retreat. It's do or die."

ARCH ENEMY recently announced an intimate European club show run dubbed "Back To The Root Of All Evil" in the summer of 2026.

Earlier in February, Angela Gossow shot down rumors that she had rejoined ARCH ENEMY following the departure of White-Gluz.

Speculation about Angela's possible return was sparked by a teaser video shared by ARCH ENEMY and Gossow in which a mysterious figure could be seen holding up a torch, captioned with a cryptic "2026" Everything else has been wiped off each of their accounts.

After a second teaser video was shared, Angela, who has been managing ARCH ENEMY for more than a decade, took to her social media to write: "It's not ME! But thank you for all the love! I am really excited to be involved in this new chapter as the manager. This is gonna CRUSH!"

After 13 years as ARCH ENEMY's vocalist, German-born Gossow shocked the heavy metal world in 2014 with the sudden announcement of her retirement from the band. While she is no longer performing with them, she has remained closely involved with ARCH ENEMY as their business manager.

When Gossow officially announced her departure from ARCH ENEMY in 2014, she said that she was "passing the torch to the super talented Alissa White-Gluz, whom I've known as a dear friend and a superb vocalist for many years."

ARCH ENEMY recorded three albums with vocalist Johan Liiva — "Black Earth" (1996),"Stigmata" (1998) and "Burning Bridges" (1999) — before Liiva was replaced by Gossow.

Gossow appeared on all ARCH ENEMY albums from 2001's "Wages Of Sin" through 2011's "Khaos Legions".

ARCH ENEMY released four studio albums with White-Gluz on vocals: "War Eternal" (2014),"Will To Power" (2017),"Deceivers" (2022) and "Blood Dynasty" (2025).

ARCH ENEMY 2026 is:

Lauren Hart - Vocals
Michael Amott - Guitars
Joey Concepcion - Guitars
Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass
Daniel Erlandsson - Drums

China, we’re coming for you! 🇨🇳

We are beyond excited to announce our upcoming shows. It’s been a long time coming, and...

Posted by Arch Enemy on Friday, February 20, 2026

Ross "The Boss" Friedman, a founding member of both MANOWAR and THE DICTATORS, whose influence in heavy metal and punk is noticeable to this day, has died at the age of 72. His passing comes a little over a month after it was announced that he had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

The news of Friedman's passing was shared via a statement on the social media of the Metal Hall Of Fame.

"It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of legendary guitarist, our dear friend, and Metal Hall Of Fame inductee Ross 'The Boss' Friedman," the statement read.

"Ross was a pioneering force in both punk and heavy metal, best known as a founding member of THE DICTATORS and MANOWAR.

"Ross will always be the Metal Hall Of Fame's 'Global Metal Ambassador' to the world. His powerful playing, unmistakable tone, and uncompromising spirit helped shape generations of musicians and fans around the world.

"Earlier this year, Ross publicly shared his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),facing it with the same courage and honesty that defined his life and career.

"Ross's impact on music is immeasurable. From the raw energy of early punk to the epic scale of heavy metal, his work left a lasting mark on the genre and on everyone who experienced it. Beyond his achievements on stage and in the studio, Ross was deeply respected by his peers and beloved by fans across continents. His legacy will live on through his music, his influence, and the countless lives he touched.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, bandmates, and fans worldwide during this difficult time.

"Further details will be shared as they become available."

When Ross's diagnosis was first announced in early February, his publicist said in a statement: "Ross 'The Boss' Friedman, founding member of punk rock legends THE DICTATORS and heavy metal stalwarts MANOWAR, has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The diagnosis followed several months of seemingly unrelated symptoms that included weakness in his hands and legs. A series of very minor strokes was initially thought to have been the cause, but changes in diet, exercise and added physical therapy did nothing to slow the progression or increase his strength."

At the time, Friedman added in his own statement: "It's difficult to know what lies ahead, and it crushes me not to be able to play guitar, but the outpouring of love has been so, so strong. I'm absolutely blown away by the love and support from family, friends and fans. I love you all."

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease that destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness, paralysis, and loss of voluntary muscle control.

Ross recorded six albums with MANOWAR before leaving after 1988's "Kings Of Metal". His work with MANOWAR included such classic LPs as 1982's "Battle Hymns", 1983's "Into Glory Ride" and 1984's "Hail To England".

Ross was one of the pioneers of both punk rock and heavy metal. First crashing on the scene with THE DICTATORS and with such classic albums as 1975's "Go Girl Crazy!", 1977's "Manifest Destiny" and 1978's "Bloodbrothers", Ross helped trailblaze punk rock (just to put it all in perspective, "Go Girl Crazy!" arrived a full year before the RAMONES' debut, and two years before THE CLASH's and SEX PISTOLS' debuts). By the end of the '80s, Ross had reconnected with his DICTATORS bandmates in MANITOBA'S WILD KINGDOM, which served as a bridge between his love of punk and metal, as heard on the group's popular 1990 debut, "…And You?" Throughout the remainder of the decade, Ross also played with such groups as THE HELLACOPTERS and THE SPINATRAS, before THE DICTATORS reunited, which resulted in several new releases starting from the late '90s all the way through the early 21st century. Also around this time, Ross joined forces with former of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT drummer Albert Bouchard in the band BRAIN SURGEONS. With Ross's main focus turning to metal music at this time, two additional projects were launched — DEATH DEALER and his solo outfit, ROSS THE BOSS.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement on the Passing of Ross “The Boss” Ross Friedman

It is with deep sadness that we...

Posted by Metal Hall of Fame on Friday, March 27, 2026

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner was asked about "The Ballad Of Judas Priest", the much-anticipated documentary about PRIEST and the legendary heavy metal band's epic journey to the top of rock and roll. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's really well put together, and it goes through the story, obviously, of where they started and what they went through and everything like that and talks to different people about PRIEST's influence on them. And there's a great bit in it where they go back to, I think it's a working man's club in Aston [United Kingdom] or somewhere like that, where they played their first show, and Ian's [Hill, PRIEST bassist] in there and he's sitting down, and it's still there. And he's in the club, and you can see the stage where they performed and everything. It's still there, man. And it's great, as a fan, to see that stuff. I haven't seen that stuff before. So it's really good. When it comes out, you should definitely check it out."

Asked if he appears in the documentary and whether his time in the band is covered in the film, Faulkner said: "I'm in it for a couple of minutes, which is more than I should be, really. In terms of PRIEST's story and the rise of PRIEST and the story and the legacy and stuff, I think I'm in it an appropriate amount, kind of near the end. It's about them, really; it's not about me… They created what we know as PRIEST. They created the heavy metal sound that we know and those albums in the '70s and '80s and 'Painkiller' in the '90s, they created that old stuff. I'm just happy to be there for my 15 seconds of fame at the end of it. But it's a great thing. I'm proud to be a part of it, of course."

Regarding his role in PRIEST, Richie said: "I say all the time, I'm part of a team. They've been doing it for 50-odd years. I'm part of the team now, and it is the crew and the management and everyone that pitches together to make that machine roll. And I can see how they've been doing it for that long. I've said to you guys before — they love it. And we'll do a tour and then we'll get excited and do an album, and then you get excited for the album and do another tour. So I can see how it happens. And we're doing another album, and we'll probably tour that."

Asked if PRIEST is writing material for a new album now, Faulkner said: "We've started recording it. Yeah, we were in the studio for a month in February laying the foundation. I don't know if I'm allowed to say that, but I've said it."

"The Ballad Of Judas Priest" will receive its North American premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian international documentary film festival, which will present documentaries from around the world to audiences in Toronto from April 23 to May 3.

"The Ballad Of Judas Priest" received its world premiere at the 76th Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival, in February.

Co-directed by documentary filmmaker Sam Dunn and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello in his directorial debut, "The Ballad Of Judas Priest" celebrates the legendary band's lasting impact on music and culture with their influence reaching far beyond metal. Featuring unforgettable anthems and pop culture staples like "Breaking The Law" and "You've Got Another Thing Comin'", "The Ballad Of Judas Priest" captures the passion, resilience and enduring legacy of a band whose music and story continue to inspire generations.

Rising from humble, working-class roots in Birmingham, U.K., to become global rock legends, JUDAS PRIEST didn't just help shape heavy metal culture — they forged it. Widely credited as being one of the pioneers of the heavy metal genre in the 1970s, JUDAS PRIEST has sold more than 50 million records and released 19 studio albums for their legion of dedicated fans around the world. In 2022, they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. With their 2024 album "Invincible Shield", the band became the first heavy metal act to release studio albums 50 years apart. The album drew widespread acclaim, receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance".

The documentary is a production of Banger Films and directed by Sam Dunn and Tom Morello. Producers include Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn. It is executive produced by Tom Morello, Rick Krim, Sheila Stepanek and Jayne Andrews. Tom Mackay, Krista Wegener and Abby Davis serve as executive producers for Sony Music Vision. Sylvia Rhone is executive producer for Epic Records. The film is presented and distributed by Sony Music Vision.

JUDAS PRIEST's current touring lineup consists of singer Rob Halford, bassist Ian Hill, guitarists Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap and drummer Scott Travis.

PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease more than 15 years ago but announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of PRIEST's "Firepower" album. He was replaced by "Firepower" and "Invincible Shield" producer Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

Released in March 2024, PRIEST's latest album, "Invincible Shield", entered the U.K. chart at No. 2, just behind Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine".

Prior to "Invincible Shield"'s arrival, PRIEST's highest U.K. chart achievement was with 1980's "British Steel", which reached No. 4.

PRIEST's 2018 album "Firepower" entered the chart at No. 5.

"Invincible Shield" was JUDAS PRIEST's fifth Top 10 album, after the aforementioned "British Steel" and "Firepower", as well as 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" (No. 6) and the 1979 live album "Unleashed In The East" (No. 10).

"Invincible Shield" landed at No. 1 in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as No. 5 in France, No. 8 in Italy and No. 16 in Australia.

Canadian rockers NICKELBACK have teamed up with three-time Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion for a brand-new campaign surrounding the return of the popular Flamin' Hot Dill Pickle flavor from Cheetos, a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The resulting song, "Pickle's Back", is a reimagining of NICKELBACK's Hot 100 chart-topper "How You Remind Me".

In an interview with Billboard, Megan Thee Stallion stated about her collaboration with NICKELBACK: "I know it sounds crazy and it looks crazy, but when you put it together, it's, like, 'Wow, I did not know my two worlds needed to collide like this.'

"I feel like growing up listening to a song like 'How You Remind Me', it's just in your brain," she continued. "You hear it on the radio all the time, you hear it in TV shows, you just know the song. You know the words, without ever having really learned the words. I feel like it's just very nostalgic. So when I got the opportunity to work with them and then remix this song, I was, like, 'Damn, what does Megan Thee Stallion bring to this song? What am I gonna say that's gonna make this 'hot girl'?'

"It was very fun figuring out how to Meg-ify NICKELBACK," she added. "And they were super excited. That's something that really shocked me too, because I was like, 'Does NICKELBACK know who the hell I am?' So when we met and they were fans too, I was, like, 'Not NICKELBACK is hot boys!' We were both in there fanning out, and it was great. So when the song got all finished, I was, like, 'Yeah, I would definitely listen to this. If it wasn't me, I would be listening to this.'"

Chris Bellinger, chief creative officer at PepsiCo Foods U.S., told Variety that the idea behind the collaboration was to get younger consumers not only to pay attention, but to pass the video along to their friends. "What we've seen is I can buy a view, but I can't buy a like and I can't buy a comment. And I definitely can't buy a share," he said. "I want to get the text message from someone or someone to text someone else, and be like, 'You've got to check this out. You're not going to believe what Cheetos just did. You're not going to believe NICKELBACK and Megan Thee Stallion are singing about Cheetos Flaming Hot Dill Pickle. Watch this.' Yeah. That's worth gold to us."

2023 Canadian Music Hall Of Fame recipients and diamond-certified selling group NICKELBACK was named the "most successful rock band of the decade" by Billboard in 2009. Globally celebrated for their career defining and award-winning hits "How You Remind Me", "Photograph", "Far Away", "Rockstar" and more, the four-piece comprised of Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair is one of the most commercially viable and important acts of the past two decades. Their success includes worldwide sales of more than 50 million units, solidifying their status as one of the top-selling acts of all time and the second best-selling foreign act in the U.S. in the 2000s decade, behind only THE BEATLES. Their inescapable and irresistible smash "How You Remind Me" was named Billboard's "Top Rock Song Of The Decade" and was the most played song on U.S. radio (any format) in the 2000s, according to Nielsen Soundscan, with over 1.2 million spins. Amongst all of these accolades, they've also been named Billboard's "Top Rock Group Of The Decade" and received nine Grammy Award nominations, three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, a People's Choice Award, twelve JUNO Awards, seven MuchMusic Video Awards, and have been inducted into Canada's Walk Of Fame (2007) and the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (2023). With more than 23 chart-topping singles and fans spanning the globe, NICKELBACK boasts more than twelve consecutive sold-out world tours, playing to well over 10 million diehard and adoring fans.

Swedish heavy rock band SISTER SIN has released a cover of the CINDERELLA classic "Somebody Save Me". You can now listen to the track below.

SISTER SIN comments: "40 years since [CINDERELLA's] 'Night Songs' was released. This is our take on the fantastic 'Somebody Save Me' track and a tribute to that album. Enjoy! And yeah, here's to Mr. Keifer for having one of the best voices in rock 'n' roll! Raaaawwr!"

SISTER SIN's version of "Somebody Save Me" was recorded and produced by Mikael Andersson at Soundport Studios. It was mixed and mastered by Lawrance Mackrory at Rorysound Studios. The cover art was created by Albin Haglund.

Earlier this month, SISTER SIN released a second new single, "Drive". It was the follow-up to last month's "Suicide Hill", which marked SISTER SIN's first new music in 12 years.

"Drive" and "Suicide Hill" were recorded by SISTER SIN's current lineup of Liv Jagrell on vocals, Jimmy Hiltula on guitar, Andreas Strandh on bass, Dave Sundberg on drums and Sebastian Svedlund on rhythm guitar and was mixed and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Rorysound Studios.

"Suicide Hill" is inspired by the 1988 classic movie "Maniac Cop" as well as the novel "Suicide Hill" by James Ellroy.

Although the SISTER SIN reunion was announced back in December 2019, the coronavirus pandemic delayed the band's return to the live stage until June 2022 when the group performed at Backstage Rockbar in Trollhättan, Sweden.

In a recent interview with the Denim And Leather podcast, Liv stated about SISTER SIN's split more than a decade ago: "We broke up in 2015. And to be honest, it was due to too much touring. We were all very, very tired — super exhausted. I do love the touring, so I couldn't really see that I was exhausted as well, but we had two band members that couldn't take it anymore for personal reasons. So they left the band in 2015 after [the] Mayhem [festival in the U.S.] and after we had done a couple of more [gigs] — Summer Breeze and some shows — and they left the band, and it was only me and the drummer. And we kind of said that it's not gonna be SISTER SIN if we take in two new members. It didn't feel right to do that. So then we said, 'Let's end it here instead,' because it would be weird to take in two new members and then maybe it doesn't work, et cetera. So, we quit. And when I think about it, I think maybe we were a little bit doing it in a rush, 'cause we were also tired and a bit angry and frustrated, 'cause I really felt that we quit when we were in our prime. And I had still some bitterness towards that, because all I wanna do was play music and tour, but I totally understand why my bandmembers left. They were not feeling well. I could see it. They were not happy."

Regarding how she ended up launching her own project LIV SIN, Jagrell said: "For me, my whole life was living around SISTER SIN; my whole life was being the vocalist of SISTER SIN. And when that disappeared, I didn't know where to go. I didn't know what to do. I lost my whole identity. And for almost a year I was super depressed and I didn't know where to start over and how to start over. I just felt like my whole life was over. But then after a while, I was with a boyfriend, who is now my husband, who told me and got me to believe that just because SISTER SIN doesn't exist, it doesn't mean that I need to stop making music. I can still continue making music. So after almost a year, I started to believe in that thought or I started to believe in that, and I was, like, 'Okay, I wanna still make music.' And then I was, like, 'What kind of music do I wanna do?' 'Cause I've always been into heavier music, more modern metal kind of music. So I was, like, 'Okay, if I'm gonna do my own thing, I need to make music that I really wanna do.' And I started LIV SIN. And obviously the music has a little bit changed over the years, but it goes towards the heavier stuff all the time, 'cause that's more my identity, actually. I'm not very much a rock and roll girl. I'm more much a metal girl, so I started with LIV SIN, and finally I felt that I also could make music that suited my voice and I could experiment with my voice, which I really love to do. Me, the guitar players and the drummer write the music, but I write all the lyrics, I write all the melodies. So, in a way, LIV SIN is obviously more my music and more of me, 'cause I can get my creativity out and I do the music I'm more passionate about. And I still love doing the SISTER SIN stuff, because it's super cool. But [LIV SIN] is maybe more my kind of music."

After the interviewer noted that Liv is now making music and playing shows with both LIV SIN and SISTER SIN, she explained: "Obviously I'm more active with LIV SIN, because we are a band that is active and we try to release records in the cycle of two, three years, et cetera, et cetera, and play as much as we can, even though it's harder today after COVID, et cetera. But SISTER SIN, we kind of didn't talk for five years, and then we started to talk a little bit in 2019. And then we said, 'Shouldn't we do a festival summer 2020, just to end the band in the right way?' Because we felt that we didn't — as I said, we rushed when we quit the band. So we were, like, 'We do a full festival summer, and then we say a real goodbye.' And then COVID came. So there was no five-year reunion thing. Instead we did some festivals in 2022 — I think it was postponed to 2022 — and we played a little bit. And the guys were really having a good time when they were playing. So they said that maybe we should try to do some shows here and there and again. So we do a little bit, and then they made two songs and recorded. And so we are releasing two songs and a cover this spring. So it's like a small kind of EP. So, two original songs and one cover. So I'm juggling both bands."

As for SISTER SIN's future plans when it comes to performing live, Liv said: "We'll see, because the guys in SISTER SIN, they have full-time jobs and they also have families, so they can't tour like we used to. They're really, like, 'This is how we can do it.' And it's mostly some shows here and there, festivals, et cetera, weekend things. No longer tours. We try to find a way to make it work."

Jagrell announced the SISTER SIN reunion seven years ago after revealing that her post-SISTER SIN outfit LIV SIN was "taking a little bit of a break" following the departures of guitarist Chris Bertzell and bassist Tommie Winther.

SISTER SIN announced its split in November 2015, saying in a statement that the band's "relentless" touring and recording schedule took its toll and "the motivation for some members just wasn't there anymore." However, the group left the door open for a possible comeback, saying: "It is our hope that the flame will burn once again and hopefully resurrect this Swedish bastard sometime in the future. Time will tell…"

Eleven years ago, Liv told Sleaze Roxx about the end of SISTER SIN: "We toured too much and we got burned out. That's the simple answer. They just felt like they did not want to do this anymore. [In 2015], we had been out for almost four months or something so it's a lot of time away from family. It's a lot of time away from friends. And also just to survive in the business is hard, so I think we maybe worked too hard in the last years."

SISTER SIN's fifth studio album, "Black Lotus", was released in October 2014 via Victory.

Promotional photo by Mathias Colouri (courtesy of David Sundberg)

SISTER SIN goes CINDERELLA

40 years since "Night Songs" was released. This is our take on the fantastic "Somebody Save...

Posted by Sister Sin on Thursday, March 26, 2026

In a new interview with Poland's Noise Magazine, Swedish producer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) weighed in on a debate about people using an A.I. (artificial intelligence) music generator as a tool to create melodies, harmonies and rhymes based on artificial intelligence (A.I.) algorithms and machine learning (M.L.) models. Asked if he has personally used A.I. during his songwriting process, Peter said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Nope. I know sometimes [social media users go] on our Instagram or Facebook and [post] A.I. stuff, and I see people [going], 'Well, no, no.' … They hate it. But, no, I never even thought about doing that. I don't need to — I have ideas. And that's the whole point of writing — to get your ideas out.

"Those, those tools are for — I don't know — truck drivers who want to write their own music," Peter explained. "Just in particular, anything except a musician — it's good tools for them to write, 'Oh, my brother's birthday. It's [his] 40th birthday. I need to write him a song.' Okay, A.I. 'Happy birthday,' blah, blah, blah. I think it's more a tool for that. But, of course, I'm sure there's other people who's trying to write music in the band. But I never tried, so… I am not interested."

Asked what his opinion is of artists using album covers which were generated by artificial intelligence (A.I.),Peter said: "Whatever works. It's up to every person, I think, to decide what they wanna do. Like I said, I wanna stay away from A.I. as long as I can, put it that way. And there's a lot of talent out there that can [come up with] really cool covers for you — without A.I."

Tägtgren has a rich history in music. He is the leader and co-creator of the legendary death metal band HYPOCRISY, co-creator and music author of the project LINDEMANN (albums "Skills In Pills" and "Frau Und Mann"),and owner of Abyss Studio (Sweden),where he produces many world-renowned metal bands and albums, among which are AMON AMARTH, AMORPHIS, CELTIC FROST, DARK FUNERAL, DESTRUCTION, DIMMU BORGIR, IMMORTAL, Joe Lynn Turner, MARDUK, POSSESSED, SABATON and SEPTICFLESH.

Legendary actor, cultural icon, and recording artist William Shatner is proving once again that age is no barrier to creativity. At 95 years of age, Shatner is continuing work on his highly anticipated heavy metal project — and has just announced a major collaboration that is sure to electrify fans worldwide.

Shatner has officially recruited Rob Halford, the iconic frontman of JUDAS PRIEST, to join him on a reimagined version of the classic metal anthem "You've Got Another Thing Comin'". The collaboration pairs Shatner's unmistakable spoken-word intensity with Halford's soaring, powerhouse vocals, creating a bold and unexpected take on one of heavy metal's most enduring tracks.

"I've always been drawn to the energy and storytelling of heavy metal," said Shatner. "Working with Rob on this track brings that intensity to life in a way that feels both timeless and entirely new."

Rob adds: "One life I'm gonna live it up!' William Shatner is boldly doing that more than ever, and I am honored to reinforce this message with him — 'taking flight I said I'll never get enough!'"

The upcoming album, currently in production, continues Shatner's long-standing exploration of music across genres, pushing boundaries and defying expectations. This latest project leans fully into the heavy metal world, featuring high-profile collaborators and bold reinterpretations of classic songs.

Cleopatra Records founder and head Brian Perera says: "I'm honored to be a part of another chapter in William Shatner's musical journey, and celebrating as he goes louder, harder and heavier than ever."

Indeed, Shatner has already taken a first step into these waters, as part of former MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland's upcoming NUCLEAR MESSIAH project. Their collaboration "Prophet Of Fall-Out" is scheduled as both the all-star aggregation's next single and video, ahead of the full "Black Flame" album release at the end of April.

Further details about William Shatner's album, including additional guest appearances and release dates, will be announced soon.

William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 70 years as an award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. He is one of Hollywood's most recognizable figures and a major philanthropist.

In 1966, Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the television series "Star Trek". The series spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the "Star Trek" movies, one of which he directed.

Shatner played the title role in the hit television series "T.J. Hooker" before hosting television's first reality-based series, "Rescue 911".

He won Emmys and his first Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer Denny Crane on both "The Practice" and "Boston Legal". He received four more Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods.

Shatner's love of music inspired him to record the critically acclaimed album "Has Been". The Milwaukee Ballet performed "Common People", a dance presentation set to several numbers from the record; the event and its preparations are featured in the documentary "Gonzo Ballet", which played to sold-out houses at film festivals worldwide.

In September 2021, Shatner released the autobiographical album titled "Bill" with tracks featuring Joe Jonas, Brad Paisley and Joe Walsh, to name a few. In October 2020, "The Blues" album quickly reached No. 1 on Billbord's Blues chart. Shatner previously released the country music album "Why Not Me", in August 2018 with Jeff Cook and Heartland Records. Quickly following that, Shatner experienced much success with "Shatner Clause", a holiday album released in October 2018 which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard chart.

Off the screen and broadcast waves, Shatner has authored nearly 30 best-sellers in both the fiction and non-fiction genres. His autobiography, "Up Till Now", was a New York Times best-seller and was followed by "Shatner Rules", which was released in October 2011. William Shatner's book "Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship With A Remarkable Man", was released in February 2016, appearing on the New York Times bestseller list. Shatner's released "Live Long And…What I Might Have Learned Along The Way" in September 2018 and "Boldly Go", a fascinating and timely collection of essays in which Shatner reflects on key events from his 90-years of life, was released in October 2022.

In April 2011, Shatner launched his hugely popular one-man show, "Shatner's World", on Broadway. He toured in Australia and New Zealand, followed by tours in Canada and over 50 cities in the United States.

Shatner has been successful in another area — horse breeding. A longtime dedicated breeder of American Quarter horses, he has had enormous success with the American Saddlebred, developing and riding world champions and has won numerous world championships in several equine events. His passions for horses and philanthropy were united when he started the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which benefits Los Angeles-based children's charities.

Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still making time to work with charities and further his passion in equestrian sports. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

William Shatner photo by Elizabeth Shatner