OBITUARY drummer Donald Tardy was recently interviewed on "Speak N' Destroy", a podcast about all things METALLICA, hosted by longtime journalist and METALLICA fan Ryan J. Downey. Speaking about METALLICA's classic 1988 album, "…And Justice For All", and the criticism that record has received for its dry mix and nearly inaudible bass guitar, Donald said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When there's conversations with my friends… We all agree the songs are killer; you can't deny those songs. I like the drum production, and some of my friends absolutely hate it. And there is something weird about it; it makes you feel like you just got out of a swimming pool and your ears are a little bit off. And I get that. But maybe because I loved the record, maybe because I loved the drumming on it, and maybe because it fit the production of the guitars and stuff, I just thought it was killer. I had no problem with that.

"I'm not a dude to argue with friends again and again, night after night about production," he explained. "Trust me — I've heard the reviews of our productions over the years. You can disagree or agree, or agree to disagree. But I liked it. And it's funny that some people just thought it was a bad production. It was a different production, but there's nothing bad about it."

While "…And Justice For All" is considered one of METALLICA's classics, it has been panned almost since the day it was released for the lack of any bass guitar on the record. Jason Newsted's playing is virtually buried in the mix — and many fans feel that drummer Lars Ulrich, who had very specific ideas for how he wanted his drums to sound, is to blame.

In 2021, Newsted told Metal Hammer that he was "fucking livid" when he heard "...And Justice For All" for the first time. "Are you kidding me?" he said. "I was ready [to go] for throats, man! No, I was out of my head, because I really thought I did well. And I thought I played how I was supposed to play."

Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that fans were extremely vocal about the sound of the album at the time of its release. "I mean, it was unbelievable, you know, '...And Justice For All', " he said. "People were saying, 'That's the worst-sounding record, where's the bass, and it sounds like it was recorded in a garage, and...' But, you know, listen, you do the best you can in the moment and then you move on."

In a 2008 interview with Decibel magazine, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett attempted to explain the lack of bass on "…And Justice For All", saying that "the reason you can't hear the bass so well is because the bass frequencies in Jason's tone kinda interfered with the tone that James [Hetfield, METALLICA guitarist/vocalist] was trying to shoot for with his rhythm guitar sound, and every time the two blended together, it just wasn't happening. So the only thing left to do was turn the bass down in the mix. It was unfortunate, but for some reason or another, that album is known for the low end being there without the bass being very high up in the mix. It was an experiment, too — we were totally going for a dry, in-your-face sound, and some people really like that sound. A lot of the newer-generation bands, especially, think that album sounds great. But at the end of the day, it was an experiment. I'm not really sure it was 100 percent successful, but it is a unique sound that that album has."

Japanese pop-metal band BABYMETAL has a trailer for its first concept album, "The Other One". The trailer previews snippets of all 10 songs from the release while also showing visual imagery for each track.

"The Other One" will see a simultaneous global release on March 24, with Cooking Vinyl serving as BABYMETAL's label home outside Japan.

Last year BABYMETAL was "sealed" from the world after a successful 10-year journey. In April 2022, "The Other One" restoration project began to recover the BABYMETAL we never knew existed within a virtual world called the Metalverse. A total of 10 songs have been discovered within "The Other One" restoration project, with each song representing a unique theme based on 10 separate parallel worlds that they have discovered. The upcoming concept album features these all-new tracks for us to experience the other BABYMETAL story that no one ever knew about.

Mastered again by the legendary mastering engineer Ted Jensen, "The Other One" allows listeners to continue experiencing the evolved BABYMETAL sound this concept album has to offer.

Prior to the release of "The Other One", the third pre-release single "Metal Kingdom" is available now for download and streaming. This follows previous singles "Divine Attack - Shingeki –", released last October, and the second single "Monochrome", released last November. One of the discovered 10 parallel worlds is Throne, and this third single centers around this theme. It is a powerful anthem ushering in the beginning of a new era while also representing the power and courage to step forward into uncharted territory. The track conveys imagery of one rising powerfully from the throne of silence, with a suitable fanfare announcing this new beginning.

"The Other One" track listing:

01. Metal Kingdom
02. Divine Attack - Shingeki -
03. Mirror Mirror
04. Maya
05. Time Wave
06. Believing
07. Metalizm
08. Monochrome
09. Light And Darkness
10. The Legend

BABYMETAL will make a return to the live scene alongside SABATON and LORDI on their European tour in April and May.

BABYMETAL was formed in 2010. Their mission was to unify the world through heavy metal by creating a fusion of heavy metal and the Japanese pop genre. Their music contains a stunning mix of electronic pop, a pinch of alternative and industrial rock, and is leveled up by fast-driven heavy metal. Their live shows are ground-breaking and epic visual as well as sound performances. BABYMETAL continued to travel the path of metal with the international release of their three albums, telling the story of the mighty Fox God and his brave metal warriors.

A book about the first ten years of BABYMETAL, "Bessatsu Kadokawa Souryoku Tokushuu", was released in Japan in October 2020. It contains a long interview with Su-metal and Moametal as well as never-before-heard stories from band producer Kobametal from BABYMETAL's decade-long history, photos taken from live shows, a discussion between Demon Kakka and Kobametal, and much more.

BABYMETAL's third studio album, "Metal Galaxy", came out in October 2019 via earMUSIC/Edel. The follow-up to 2016's "Metal Resistance" was based on the concept of "The Odyssey Of Metal Galaxy".

In 2018, BABYMETAL announced the departure of Yuimetal, who was formerly one of the members of the Japanese group's core trio. She exited the band, explaining in a statement that she would go on to pursue a solo career as Mizuno Yu.

Dolly Parton says that Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks and Steven Tyler are among the artists who will appear on her much-anticipated rock album.

Titled "Rock Star", the LP will feature covers of classic songs by legendary acts, including THE ROLLING STONES' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and LED ZEPPELIN's "Stairway To Heaven".

During a new appearance on "The View", Dolly said: "If I'm going to be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, I better do something to earn it. So I'm doing a rock 'n' roll album and I'm having a lot of the rock stars that I met that night be on the album with me."

"The View" co-host Joy Behar asked Parton if THE ROLLING STONES singer Mick Jagger will be featured on her cover of "Satisfaction", to which Parton replied: "I'm doin' my best to try to get him on, but I did his song anyway. I think Pink and Brandi Carlile are gonna be singing on that particular song with me.

"We've got great artists like Paul McCartney singing with me. Stevie Nicks, we just finished our song last night," Parton told "The View" hosts, before revealing that John Fogerty, Steve Perry and Steven Tyler will also join her on the collection.

"We got a lot of iconic singers that are going to be on with us. So I'm looking forward to it," she said. "I'm even going to have Cher on. I've been getting a song for her. We've been trying to get the right thing together but that's going to be a big thrill."

Parton last month said she wanted Elton John to appear on the project, which is due for release later this year. Prior to that, the country icon expressed her desire to reunite LED ZEPPELIN's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant on the album.

Dolly told BBC Radio 2 about "Rock Star": "I'm working on that album and that will be coming out sometime next fall hopefully, in time for the Christmas season next year. And so I'm going to do a lot of classic songs that are rock songs and then a few that I've written."

After Dolly was nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame a year ago, she initially asked to be withdrawn from the list, but she eventually changed her mind and accept the honor.

A new song featuring Parton, Debbie Harry, Cyndi Lauper and more will be released this Friday, January 20. "Gonna Be You" will be included on the soundtrack to the upcoming film "80 For Brady".

Photo credit: Stacie Huckeba

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan has weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Keenan, who has played with Anselmo in their side project DOWN for more than 30 years, discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in an interview with the "BREWtally Speaking" podcast. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I know the PANTERA crew; I know everybody like the back of my hand. And Phil sings in DOWN. On a selfish note, yeah, is it gonna put DOWN on the backburner for a year or two? Sure. Do they need to get this off their chest and get it out there? Yes. Do the kids need to hear this? Yes.

"It's insane," he continued. "They've got Grady [Champion], Darrell's tech, is with them. Sonny [Satterfield], their [original] lighting guy, is with them. It's gonna be a very cathartic thing.

"They've been working really hard at it. And those guys all deserve it.

"I don't care what anybody says — I could give a rat's ass — but I know internally they need to close the book," Pepper added. "And they're gonna do it. And it's gonna be great.

"People need to hear that shit, dude. I think they've got a good lineup and the way it's gonna work. And they're all working their butts off. That's a fact."

Last month, PANTERA played seven shows in Mexico and South America. The band will next headline the 2023 "comeback" edition of Japan's Loud Park festival. The two-day "limited" event will take place on March 25 at Intex Osaka in Osaka and March 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City near Tokyo.

Brown was forced to leave PANTERA's Latin American tour after testing positive for COVID-19. Filling in for him at some of the shows was CATTLE DECAPITATION bassist Derek Engemann, who also plays with Anselmo in both PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS and SCOUR.

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

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

Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his other home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Former SEPULTURA and current SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera has once again weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Max, who has spent the last few years playing SEPULTURA-centric shows with his brother, former SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera, discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in an interview with the "Appetite For Distortion" podcast. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it's cool that they're doing that. I do something very similar with my brother, where we go out and we play a lot of SEPULTURA albums that the fans really love it and they never got the chance to see it, for one reason or another. And they get to see it with the real drums and the real vocals and the real guitar. So it's the closest you get to the real thing. And PANTERA is the same thing.

"Yeah, I'm friends with all of those guys [in PANTERA]," he continued. "And I've been friends with Phil for many years. I actually thanked him for letting me borrow his guitar player. Mike DeLeon is jamming with us [in SOULFLY]. He plays with [PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE] ILLEGALS, with Phil Anselmo, for many, many years. So I thanked Phil for letting me borrow his guitar player."

Circling back to the PANTERA reformation, Max said: "Yeah, I think it's cool, especially the generation that never got to see it. I was there. I got to see it from the side of the stage every night. It was great… But I'm thinking about people that never got to see it, never got to experience that. For sure, go see it. It's not the original thing, but it's as close you can get from the original thing. It's fucking cool. The music is so powerful, it's so good, it's so cool that it will get through to the people. And I feel that way when I do those things with my brother. When we play those old songs, it connects to the whole audience. And it's a huge tribute.

"It sucks that Dimebag and Vinnie are no longer here, but at the same time, especially if you're a young kid and you grew up loving PANTERA and never got to see it, for sure, go see it, man," he added. "Just be a part of it. It's a unique experience."

Max previously spoke about the prospect of Anselmo and Brown reuniting for a PANTERA tour last August in an interview with Metal Hammer magazine. At the time, he said: "It's a delicate issue, man. On one hand, yes. But then sometimes I think if it was like me and Igor had died and somebody else would carry on without us, I don't know how I feel about that. I'm not sure I would really like it. It's a tough one. At the same time, you know, people want to hear those songs. The fans deserve to hear those songs."

Asked if the PANTERA comeback has made him rethink the possibility of doing a SEPULTURA reunion, Max said: "No. I'm good with what we did and so pleased with the reaction. It's a different thing with us and PANTERA; I'm not sure who founded PANTERA and stuff like that, but SEPULTURA was me and Igor. But if they do it the way we did, as a tribute, well, all right, you know? I think we gave the songs justice, we played them as good as they can be played and people were completely satisfied when they came to see us. At this point in my life, I'm satisfied having one foot in the past playing those old records and another in the future doing stuff like [SOULFLY's new album] 'Totem' and KILLER BE KILLED. I want to experience both sides."

In July 2022, Max told the "Talk Toomey" podcast that it would be "totally cool" if Anselmo and Brown reunited for a PANTERA tour as a tribute to the original albums. Referencing the criticism that has already been leveled at Philip and Rex for touring as PANTERA without the Abbott brothers, Max said: "You kind of can say similar things about our stuff because it's not all the four original guys, but it's as close as you get to that, and it's done really well.

"But, yeah, I'm excited," Max added. "Those [PANTERA] records are so good, they have so many fans, and they should be heard. And rest in peace, Vinnie and Dime, but if it's done right with the right heart on it, hell yeah — I'm totally on board. I think it would be great.

"This new generation, they embrace that stuff. So this music doesn't get outdated. It's not like some stuff that with time just kind of fades out; it's out of fashion. It doesn't happen with this music. So I think all of those records are like that. And, of course, PANTERA is the same vein with 'Far Beyond Driven', 'Cowboys From Hell' — those are some great fucking records, man. People want to hear it. I think it's cool. It should be fun."

Last month, PANTERA played seven shows in Mexico and South America. The band will next headline the 2023 "comeback" edition of Japan's Loud Park festival. The two-day "limited" event will take place on March 25 at Intex Osaka in Osaka and March 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City near Tokyo.

The mystical world of Avaland returns in 2023 with the fantasy symphonic power metal band's sophomore full-length, The Legend Of the Storyteller, due out on March 31st via Rockshots Records, following their 2021 debut Theater Of Sorcery.


Compared to its predecessor, The Legend Of The Storyteller is heavier and is a much more epic power metal record full of anthems upon anthems for fans to chant to as they are taken on a journey over twelve theatric tracks. The record also hears double vocal duties from Adrien G. Gzagg and Jeff Kanji, along with album guests that include Zak Stevens (Savatage / TSO), Madie (Nightmare / Faith In Agony), Pierre “Cara” Carabalona (Eltharia), Ivan Castelli (Lionsoul), Angèle Macabiès, Jens Ludwig (Edguy) and Bruno Ramos (Sortilège / Manigance).


Lead by Adrien G. Gzagg (autor / composer / lead singer / synths and orchestrations), the album's storyline is aprequel to the band's first album Theater Of Sorcery, as he explains further:




"This album, as the first one, is a journey, a trip out of our world, into the universe of Avaland. We enjoy seeing Avaland as a great saga, as a movie, or series. We feel like listening to Avaland is like watching Game Of Thrones, The Lord Of The Rings, or reading comics, it’s an escape from everyday life. For this album, we took a lot of inspiration from Game Of Thrones and Arthurian Myths. We love fantasy and mythologies and we also find ourselves having a great fascination for alchemy and esoterism. Time is also a great subject, it's mystical… in fact, time will be at the center of this saga. This new opus is showing a heavier and darker atmosphere of Avaland’s theatrical universe. Are you ready to be part of The Legend Of The Storyteller?"


Avaland's first single in support of The Legend Of The Storyteller is entitled "Crimson Tyranny" (feat. Cara, Madie & Zak Stevens).


“This song is the first one I composed for this album. It defines the atmosphere for this new album: darker than Theater Of Sorcery, but also more epic, especially with its mighty chorus (with some Blind Guardian influences). It’s a mind-sticking song, beware of this infernal hook 'Crimson! Tyranny!'. The title of the song is a tribute to 'In The Court Of The Crimson King' by King Crimson." adds Adrien G. Gzagg.





The Legend Of The Storyteller artwork and tracklisting:





"The Vision" 
"Crimson Tyranny" 
"Insurrection" 
"To Be The King" 
"Secret Night" 
"Kingslayer" 
"The Gift" 
"Out Of The Fog" 
"Betrayers" 
"Madness Of The Wise" 
"You’ll Be The Legend" 
"Lies" 
"La Folie Du Sage" (Bonus Track)


Pre-save The Legend Of The Storyteller on your favorite digital platform now at this location; or pre-order a physical copy here.


 

KISS co-founders, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, are featured in a new interview with American Songwriter, in which they discuss the band's history, their upcoming final concert, and much more. In the following excerpt, the pair talk about the band's final bow.


Simmons says “the end” of KISS, meaning their final live performance, is bittersweet, but there’s really no closure to the band with the opening of the KISS World Museum in Las Vegas, a KISS cartoon and film in the works, the KISS Kruise, licensing, and everything that will expand the legacy long after Stanley and Simmons have stopped playing on stage.


“It’s happy and sad because things come to an end,” says Simmons. “Your life and my life, even the planet we’re on at some point is just going to stop and maybe that’s OK.”




Simmons says that the timing is right for KISS to end. “I still have hair on my head - lots more on my back,” jokes Simmons. “They call me Chewbacca. KISS will continue. The culture will still continue. We’re just getting off the stage while the getting is good, and while we’re still convincing doing it. We’re the hardest-working band on the stage. It would be great if we were U2 or the [Rolling] Stones, two of my favorite bands, because to prepare for a show you put on your favorite sneakers and your T-shirt and you’re set. You don’t have to break out the platform heels.”


Stanley admits that heavy touring schedules and wearing their suits of armor have taken their toll. “Being on tour is pretty much three hours of elation, and 21 hours of being away from home, which honestly is not fun,” reveals Paul. There are nights when I’m going to bed and going, ‘What the hell am I doing here? Why am I here when I have a family home?’ So there certainly is a push and pull, but there’s nothing like being on stage, the gratitude that I feel.”


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


Read more at American Songwriter.


Robomagic Live recently announced that KISS will play their final UK dates ever in June / July 2023.





Tour dates:


June
3 - Plymouth, UK - Home Park Stadium
5 - Birmingham, UK - Resorts World Arena
6 - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena Newcastle


July
5 - London, UK - The O2
7 - Manchester, UK - AO Arena
8 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro


The complete KISS tour itinerary can be found here.

SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo has weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Sabo, who manages Anselmo's DOWN project as part of the successful management company McGhee Entertainment (KISS, TED NUGENT) headed up by Doc McGhee, discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in a new interview with "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen & Shane Mceachern". Asked if he supports Anselmo and Brown touring again under the PANTERA name, Snake said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "My gosh, a thousand percent. And it's not a reunion; it's impossible for it to be a reunion. This is like a celebration, in my viewpoint, and I think theirs as well, 'cause I've spoken with them.

"Philip and Rex and Charlie and Zakk are friends of mine, and I've known those guys forever," he continued. "I first met Zakk at the music store in Toms River when he was 18 years old, so we have a history. And I played in ANTHRAX for a short period of time, filling in. And, obviously, Philip and Rex, PANTERA toured with [SKID ROW], and I manage DOWN. So there's very close-knit friendships there.

"When they first started talking about it, they never viewed it as anything other than a celebration of the legacy of the band, a celebration of the Abbott brothers and a chance to put that in front of as many people as possible so people can get a chance to witness this music performed by some of the original members of the band in a setting that is a one-of-a-kind event, in my view. And I love it. I love it.

"Those guys are so invested in it too, and for all the right reasons," Snake added. "It came to a point where they decided, 'You know what? It's 20-some years. And this music has a life of its own. It's our music. Let's go out, put a great band together and go out and perform it and remind everybody of this legacy and how great Vinnie and Dime were and still are, because their music lives on. I think it's really special. And to me, that's the show of the year — is PANTERA."

Last month, PANTERA played seven shows in Mexico and South America. The band will next headline the 2023 "comeback" edition of Japan's Loud Park festival. The two-day "limited" event will take place on March 25 at Intex Osaka in Osaka and March 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City near Tokyo.

Brown was forced to leave PANTERA's Latin American tour after testing positive for COVID-19. Filling in for him at some of the shows was CATTLE DECAPITATION bassist Derek Engemann, who also plays with Anselmo in both PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS and SCOUR.

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

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

Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his other home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Former JOURNEY singer Steve Perry has paid tribute to British guitar legend Jeff Beck following his death on January 10.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer, who rose to prominence with THE YARDBIRDS, died "suddenly" after contracting bacterial meningitis, his representative said.

Perry took to his band's social media on Tuesday (January 17) to write: "After sitting for days in the sad news of Jeff Beck's passing, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't share my thoughts and feelings.

"No one, and I mean no one, played more lyrical guitar than Jeff Beck. He always had a bold insistence to play timeless melodies with simple emotional phrasing, like no other.

"My dream was that some day, I'd get to sing with him.

"His passing left a one of a kind void that will never be filled !

"God speed Jeff…

"My deepest condolences to his family…

"Sincerely, Steve Perry".

Having cultivated one of the most influential careers in rock history, Beck was universally acknowledged as one of the most talented and significant guitarists in the world, and has played alongside some of the greatest artists of rock, blues and jazz.

Over the course of his distinguished 50-plus-year music career, he had earned an incredible eight Grammy Awards, been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time," and been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame twice — once as a member of THE YARDBIRDS and again as a solo artist. In the summer of 2016, the guitar virtuoso celebrated his five decades of music with an extraordinary concert at the famous Hollywood Bowl.

Speaking when he was inducted to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for the second time in 2009, Beck said: "I play the way I do because it allows me to come up with the sickest sounds possible. That's the point now, isn't it? I don't care about the rules. In fact, if I don't break the rules at least 10 times in every song, then I'm not doing my job properly."

Beck famously replaced Eric Clapton as THE YARDBIRDS' lead guitarist in 1965 and later went on to form THE JEFF BECK GROUP, which featured Rod Stewart on vocals and Ron Wood on bass. Their two albums — "Truth" (1968) and "Beck-Ola" (1969) — would become musical touchstones for hard rockers in the years to come.

The constantly evolving Beck's next move — a power trio with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, which released "Beck, Bogert And Appice" (1973),once again shattered people's preconceptions of what a rock guitarist was supposed to sound like.

1985's "Flash" kept Beck in the spotlight as he earned the "Best Rock Instrumental" Grammy for the song "Escape". A second Grammy came with Jeff Beck's "Guitar Shop" with Terry Bozzio and Tony Hymas, and a third for "Dirty Mind" from the "You Had It Coming" album in 2001. 2009 saw the release of the platinum-selling "Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott's", which earned a Grammy for "A Day In The Life".

Beck's astonishing 2010 solo album, "Emotion & Commotion", brought about two additional Grammy Awards; Beck was nominated in five categories before bringing home three: "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" for "Hammerhead" and "Best Pop Instrumental Performance" for "Nessun Dorma", both from "Emotion & Commotion", and "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals" for "Imagine", his collaboration with Herbie Hancock.

His "Rock 'N' Roll Party (Honoring Les Paul)" album was nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album". In 2016 he released "Loud Hailer" and in 2017 "Jeff Beck: Live At The Hollywood Bowl" was released, both to widespread critical acclaim.

The eight-time Grammy winner is survived by his wife Sandra.

After sitting for days in the sad news of Jeff Beck's passing, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't share my thoughts...

Posted by Steve Perry on Tuesday, January 17, 2023

In a recent interview with MoreCore.TV, MACHINE HEAD bassist Jared MacEachern was asked how he and his bandmates manage to "stay relevant" after all these years. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "You hope that you creativity and the art that you create, you always hope that it stays relevant.

"It's hard to say," he continued. "I'm not quite sure if Robb [Flynn, MACHINE HEAD frontman and sole remaining founding member] always has a plan, or if he's sitting there at home, writing songs and going, 'Okay, how are we gonna remain relevant with these songs?'

"You hope that you remain relevant," Jared repeated. "I think part of it is… you can't stop. You have to always keep creating and pushing yourself to try something different in many cases with bands. Again, I don't know if we sit at home going, 'Okay, how are we gonna stay relevant?' I just think that maybe one big part of it is just chance or luck. And you just hope that the climate is ready — the climate of the audience — is ready to accept what you're putting out there.

"But the short answer is, how do you remain relevant? I don't know," MacEachern added. "I don't know. I think it's just something you hope for and something that you can work towards maybe in your subconscious. But you just create this art and you put it out there and you hope that it's accepted."

MACHINE HEAD is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Of Kingdom And Crown", which came out last August. The follow-up to 2018's "Catharsis" includes the three songs that were featured on the 2021 "Arrows In Words From The Sky" single: "Become The Firestorm", "Rotten" and "Arrows In Words From The Sky". Much of the new MACHINE HEAD album was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with engineer/producer Zack Ohren.

As previously reported, MACHINE HEAD recruited HAVOK's Reece Alan Scruggs to play second guitar on the "Electric Happy Hour (Live)" fall 2022 tour. Scruggs filled in for Polish guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED),who was unable to make the trek due to his touring commitments with his longtime band DECAPITATED.

Reece made his live debut with MACHINE HEAD on November 3 at Strummer's in Fresno, California at the opening show of the "Electric Happy Hour (Live)" tour.

Vogg joined MACHINE HEAD's touring lineup prior to the launch of the band's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour in late 2019.

In November 2020, MACHINE HEAD released a single, "My Hands Are Empty", via Nuclear Blast. The song marked the first musical collaboration between Flynn and original "Burn My Eyes" guitarist Logan Mader in 24 years.

"My Hands Are Empty" was just one in a line of singles to be released by MACHINE HEAD, which issued "Do Or Die" in October 2019, "Circle The Drain" in February 2020, and the two-song digital single "Civil Unrest", consisting of "Stop The Bleeding" and "Bulletproof", in June 2020. "Stop The Bleeding" featured guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach, and was written and recorded just days after the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.

DESTRUCTION frontman Schmier has once again blasted bands who rely heavily on backing tracks during their concerts, saying "many rock acts betray their fans with pre-recorded tracks to have a flawless live performance."

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

Schmier addressed some rock acts' reliance on pre-recorded tracks in a social media post on Monday (January 16). The 56-year-old German musician shared a graphic for a festival called No Playback Festival, and he included the following message: "The difference between Rock N Roll and Pop music was always that we play live and they use backing tracks. That has sadly changed. Many rock acts betray their fans with pre-recorded tracks to have a flawless live performance. Do the fans really want that? Or do they want honesty and a raw live feeling of real musicians playing real instruments and not computers playing their fave songs for the hard earned ticked money? I made a stand about this a long time ago but it got worst since. Now I just saw a Romanian promoter slandering my band cause I spoke out against backing track bands on his festival before.

"Sorry but there is no excuse to use a laptop. Play live or go home ... if you have pride and you are musician, stop the cheating!!!

"There is this festival near Karlsruhe/Germany from fans for fans that want real honest live music. This is a real GEM nowadays ...support real music - not laptops! #noplaybackfestival"

After some of the people commenting below his post disagreed with his sentiments, suggesting that there are circumstances under which the use of enhancements is acceptable, Schmier fired back: "sorry but its all freakin bullshit. If you wanna listen to a laptop and pay money for it ok. I do NOT and it is not neccesary to find excuses to cheat - just don t … I have ZERO tolerance cause it is the beginning of the end. It is called LIVE for a reason! Play live or go home …"

He added: No song EVER needs backing tracks sorry. Excuses from overproduced studio recording are lame as fuck. Do it live like the rock bands always did. Imagine the BEATLES were like: 'well live we can not do it really – need a little help …'"

Schmier also clarified his original comments, writing: "The problem is you don t know what really is LIVE anymore, once the backing track is running. So to justify choirs is also wrong. It is all a cheap cheat. What happened to handmade music? Do you think the BEATLES would have used backing tracks as well cause it is easy???"

The DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist went on to explain that he has nothing against bands using intro tapes or relying on a click track to keep from rushing tempos.

"Intros are Intros and nobody is faking to play them, they are a tool to announce shows and build up tension," he wrote. "A click-track is an important tool to keep the band tight and has nothing to do with fake instruments, choirs or vocals coming of a pre-recorded hard disc. Musician to me, means to play live and real. But the word 'live' lost the meaning to many so called 'musicians'. There is even bands which play their whole show from a hard disc...and then play along the playback."

Schmier previously discussed the use of pre-recorded tapes at rock concerts during a 2016 interview with Metal Forces magazine. Speaking about the DESTRUCTION track "Elegant Pigs", which addressed that very topic, Schmier said: "It's just a sad fact that a lot of rock and metal bands nowadays are using backing-track tape for backing up the band, with vocals, and strings, and backing vocals, and guitars, and keyboards, and all kinds of shit. For me, when you play live, there should be no backing track. A lot of vocalists also back up their whole lead vocals with backing tracks nowadays, and that's a very sad fact. In that song 'Elegant Pigs', I'm asking 'What the fuck happened to rock 'n' roll?' It's lying. The fans don't know when the band is cheating, but for me it's a fucking topic that I want to talk about. A lot of my musician friends don't like the fact that I'm talking about it, but I don't care. For me, rock 'n' roll is a holy spirit, and it's a fucking no-go to do this in this kind of music. A lot of pop bands have been doing this for generations, but not in heavy metal. Yeah, I'm dealing with stuff that is basically bothering me. It's also a big release for me to write lyrics — kind of my own psychological session."

Regarding why some rock bands use backing tracks, Schmier said at the time: "I think there are different reasons. What I hear on times, of course, is that the big bands are doing it so they sound live like they do on the record. They say, 'The big bands are doing it, too. I wanna sound good live,' and so then they use all of this backing stuff. Then there's another reason, which is that there are a generation of singers that can't do it anymore, or could never do it. Then they're backing up their vocals; the high parts, the melodic parts, the harmonies. They're backing them up with all of those backing tracks. Then there's a third thing, which is the new generation. The new generation is the laptop generation, who grew up producing their albums on their own laptops. When you go onstage, you just flip out that laptop, and then you have like 20 backing tracks running with the band. I see this a lot with all of the new bands. There's one singer, and he's singing in three harmonies live, and it's, like, 'What the fuck?' It's different. It goes from generation to generation — it's not just the old guys that can't do it any more. It's also a new thing which the young guys do too."

DESTRUCTION's latest studio album, "Diabolical", came out in April 2022 via Napalm Records.

The difference between Rock N Roll and Pop music was always that we play live and they use backing tracks.

That has...

Posted by Schmier Fink on Monday, January 16, 2023

Onward guitarist Toby Knapp has checked in with the following update:


"I was recording my solo album, Transmission To Purgatory, and became very bored with the material. I boxed the album up and starting writing different music. The aforementioned material turned into a Waxen album titled Die Macht Von Hassen. I became very interested in this new music and I think the listeners will enjoy it. 


After my last Waxen album, Blasphemer In Celestial Courts (2019), I didn't want to be connected to black metal because I dislike how it's almost become popular culture. It's a fashion and a lot of the new bands don't even understand what the music stood for. It's not for everyone and it was created that way."




This will be Waxen's sixth album and Knapp's tenth release through Moribund Records, tentatively scheduled for a spring 2023 release. 


The postponed solo album will still be finished and released. 

Founding SCREAMING TREES bassist Van Conner has died at age 55. The news of his passing was announced earlier today (Wednesday, January 18) in a Facebook post by Van's brother, SCREAMING TREES guitarist Gary Lee Conner.

Gary wrote: "Van Conner bassist and song writer of SCREAMING TREES died last night of an extended illness at 55 It was pneumonia that got him in the end. He was one of the closest friends I ever had and I loved him immensely. I will miss him forever and ever and ever…"

Van formed SCREAMING TREES in 1985 in Ellensburg, Washington with Gary, singer Mark Lanegan and drummer Mark Pickerel. After the band's initial breakup in 2000, Van continued to write, produce and record music with his friends and family.

SCREAMING TREES were considered to be one of the pioneers of the Seattle grunge movement in the 1990s, along with THE MELVINS, MUDHONEY, SOUNDGARDEN, and more. The band released seven albums, five EPs and three compilation albums.

SCREAMING TREES' single "Nearly Lost You" was featured in the movie "Singles" and cracked the Top Five of the Billboard Modern Rock chart.

Lanegan died last February at age 57.

Let me put this letter on Van’s grave.
🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲
Van Conner bassist and song writer of Screaming Trees died last...

Posted by Gary Lee Conner on Wednesday, January 18, 2023