Gibson TV, the iconic, American-made guitar maker's first-ever, award-winning, worldwide online network, has released a trailer for the next episode of "Icons", a longform interview series featuring some of the most iconic artists, producers and music business pioneers in the world. In the next episode of "Icons", PANTERA bassist Rex Brown sits down to discuss his childhood years in Texas, the band's formation and the legacy of the hardest-hitting metal group from the Lone Star State.

"I knew about those boys," Rex says in the trailer, referencing PANTERA's founding members, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. "I lived really close to them. Their middle school was, like, a mile and a half away. The summer of '81, [Dime] went into his bedroom with [OZZY OSBOURNE's] 'Diary Of A Madman' and probably the VAN HALEN collection, and Dime comes out this protégé dude that, I'd never heard anything like it. When he came out of that room, it just inspired me to just… 'Oh, my God. I've gotta keep up with this guy.' That was the choice I had to make. And it was because of those brothers. Absolutely."

Brown and his Texas brethren forged a blueprint with PANTERA that's been studied by nearly every metal act that followed. Dimebag is rightly immortalized as a good-natured, guitar-shredding legend. The rhythmic punch forged by Rex and Vinnie Paul has yet to be outdone. Along with singer Philip H. Anselmo, hailed as one of the greatest frontmen of all time, the self-described Cowboys From Hell PANTERA sparked a movement that reinvigorated heavy metal, inspired countless bands, and is memorialized in tattooed skin around the world, representing the five groundbreaking multi-platinum albums unleashed between 1990 to 2000 with billions of music streams annually.

This past summer, Gibson unveiled the Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird Bass. Rex worked closely with Gibson luthiers for two and a half years to create the Thunderbird bass that can fulfill any level of a player's ability. A striking new Bass model in Ebony, with Gold accents the Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird Bass is available now at select global dealers and on Gibson.com.

"Before meeting up in Nashville for a tour of Gibson USA, I got to meet the whole team at Gibson," said Rex. "Cesar Gueikian [Gibson brand president] and I forged a strong bond that day that I can only describe as 'long-lost brothers'. He invited me to his home that night and we played music into the wee hours.

"Gibson has come so far, in such a short amount of time, and I'm beyond delighted to be in cahoots with this extraordinary bunch of music professionals. This new Thunderbird with Gibson is a life-long dream."

The Gibson Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird Bass features a mahogany neck and body, with a slimmer neck profile, and gold hardware with a Hipshot bridge and tuners, including a Drop D Xtender. A pair of powerful Rexbucker T-bird pickups provide plenty of output and low-end punch. A master tone control is equipped with a push/pull switch that puts the pickups into passive mode when it is pulled out. Rex's signature is reproduced on the truss rod cover, and the backplate is embellished with a Rex Brown self-portrait sketch. A Modern series hardshell case is included. With enough case candy to make you lick your boots, Rex and Gibson have built the ultimate Thunderbird to sling low and watch it go.

Plenty of folks who've accomplished a lot less are fine to rest on past achievements, but Brown is forever charging forward. With music influences from John Paul Jones, Pino Palladino, Jaco Pastorius, Tom Hamilton, Pete Way and Geddy Lee, Rex's boots are firmly planted on the foundation of his storied past, while both eyes maintain a steely and steadfast gaze upon the future horizon.

As previously reported, the reformed PANTERA — featuring Brown and Anselmo along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) — will headline a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and stage some of their own headline concerts starting in December 2022.

In a new interview with LA Lloyd, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash was asked how many guitars he normally takes out on the road with him. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I tour consistently with two bands. So with GUNS N' ROSES, we take two rigs out to do international [dates]. So we'll be playing in the States, and then I have a rig that's already in Europe for when we get over there. And then that first rig will go to, say, somewhere like Australia. It's cost effective and it's less time consuming and so on."

He continued: "I've got about 15 guitars in each rig. So that's 30 right there. When I'm out with [SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND] THE CONSPIRATORS, I've got about eight guitars in each rig."

This past August, Gibson Brands announced the launch of Gibson Publishing in partnership with Slash. Gibson Publishing's first release, "The Collection: Slash", is a stunning, premium coffee-table book that explores in unprecedented detail the instruments Slash has used on countless hit records and on stages worldwide in front of millions of fans. Due in January 2023, "The Collection: Slash" will be published in hardcover in two editions, Custom and Deluxe via Gibson Publishing and is available for pre-order now via Gibson.com.

Gibson Publishing marks the next major step in the evolution of Gibson Brands' media platform and promoting music experiences to fans worldwide. As with the recently launched music label Gibson Records — which released SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' acclaimed new album titled "4" this year — the first project for Gibson Publishing is a premium book with Gibson global brand ambassador and rock legend Slash.

"It's been a blast working with Gibson to create a platform for me to talk about my favorite thing, guitars," said Slash. "This book is a great exposé of all the great guitars I've collected over many years."

Slash is featured in a recent episode of Gibson TV's popular interview series of the same name, "The Collection", which takes viewers on a deep dive into the extraordinary, personal guitar collections of music's biggest artists. Slash and Mark Agnesi (Gibson TV host and director of brand experience) sit down to discuss the never-before-told stories behind his holy grail vintage pieces, to prototype Gibson signature models, drool-worthy Gibson Les Pauls, Flying Vs, and more. Watch as Slash and Mark cover a wide range of Slash's staggering collection of around 400 instruments.

Over 300 pages in length, "The Collection: Slash" is a lavishly illustrated, rare and collectible book with numerous photos of the guitarist and his impressive guitar collection, shot by the Gibson team and legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin, whose relationship with Slash extends back to an early GUNS N' ROSES portrait session from 1986. Accompanying the imagery are insights drawn from the new, exclusive interviews with Slash himself. Written and edited by Gibson editor-in-chief Chris Vinnicombe, "The Collection: Slash" is a must-have for both Slash fans and those who admire fine and rare guitars.

"Launching Gibson Publishing in partnership with Slash for our debut book 'The Collection: Slash' marks an important milestone for all of us at Gibson Brands," said Cesar Gueikian, brand president of Gibson Brands. "We continue to leverage our iconic past and lean into the future creating more opportunities for music fans around the world to experience original storytelling. With Gibson TV, Gibson Records and now Gibson Publishing, we are organically growing our own media platform that continues to create compelling original content. I am proud of what our media team led by Beth Heidt, Mark Agnesi, Todd Harapiak, Lee Bartram, and Chris Vinnicombe have accomplished together with the extended team. And I am grateful to Slash and his team's partnership for our debut publication."

"The Collection: Slash" Custom edition measures 297 x 420 mm (11.69 x 16.54") and comes in a deluxe clamshell box with premium case candy. The Custom edition includes an Axe Heaven Appetite Les Paul miniature, an exclusive Slash bandana, a guitar pick tin with Dunlop guitar picks, a cover poster, four guitar art prints, and a certificate of authenticity. The Custom Edition is hand-signed by Slash and is limited to 500 copies worldwide.

"The Collection: Slash" Deluxe edition is presented in a Les Paul slipcase and measures 240 x 340 mm (9.45 x 13.39"). It includes a cover poster, four guitar art prints, and a certificate of authenticity. The initial print run of the Deluxe edition is hand-signed by Slash and is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.

Due January 31, 2023, just ahead of Alice Cooper's 75th birthday, via Motorbooks, "Alice Cooper @ 75" is a lavish illustrated biography of the original "shock rocker," examining an extraordinary career through the lens of 75 key events, releases, and collaborations.

Pythons, guillotines, stage blood… Cooper is widely considered the godfather of shock rock thanks to his inventive concoction of vaudeville, horror film conceits, and three-chord rock 'n' roll. In the 208-page "Alice Cooper @ 75", veteran rock journalist Gary Graff shows you this rock icon through the lens of 75 career accomplishments, events, and partnerships:

* Cooper's childhood in Detroit and Arizona and early garage bands THE EARWIGS and THE SPIDERS
* All 28 studio albums, including those as frontman of ALICE COOPER the band
* The greatest single like the classic-rock standards "I'm Eighteen", "School's Out" and "Welcome To My Nightmare"
* Collaborations with artists including Slash, Dave Grohl, Johnny Depp, Wayne Kramer, and many more
* Associations with notable guitarists, including Glen Buxton, Nita Strauss, Orianthi, and others
* Non-musical passions like classic cars and, of course, golf; his tireless charity work
* His relationship with wife and entertainment accomplice Sheryl

Every page is illustrated with stunning concert and candid offstage photography, as well as gig posters, album covers, period ads, and more. Bonus material includes a sturdy slipcase, a gatefold timeline, two pullout posters, and a previously unpublished 8" × 10".

Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock. With his influence on rock and roll long since acknowledged, his place in rock history and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame secure, and his multiple gold and platinum albums, sold-out tours plus countless honors and career achievement awards, there is little that Alice hasn't achieved in his remarkable career.

Cooper has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where 24-hour cable news can present real-life shocking images.

Still touring worldwide year-in and year-out, still hosting his worldwide syndicated radio show, still writing and recording new music, Cooper shows no sign of slowing down. This book is your unprecedented retrospective of Alice's career from teenage garage rocker to international star and celebrity.

AEROSMITH, the best-selling American rock band of all time, last night celebrated the first time in their history that their iconic recordings are unified in one place through a multi-faceted close working relationship with Universal Music Group.

UMG is now the official worldwide home to AEROSMITH's entire recorded music catalog, future new music releases, merchandise and audio-visual content.

In addition to supporting the band's consolidated catalog, this relationship will also make use of unprecedented access to the storied "Vindaloo Vaults" and personal archives of bandmembers Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, who will actively help curate their collections of music, photos, video footage, artwork, journals, set lists and memorabilia.

The historic global alliance between AEROSMITH and Universal Music Group was announced last year. The band's manager Larry Rudolph and longtime attorney Jeff Smith represented the band.

Since AEROSMITH's founding 50 years ago, the group has gone on to sell more than 150 million albums around the world; produced genre-defining music videos such as "Amazing", "Crazy", "Janie's Got A Gun", "Livin' On The Edge" and "Love In An Elevator"; launched extravagant record-shattering global tours, most recently with their ongoing smash hit Las Vegas residency. The band has broken numerous boundaries, including becoming the first rock band with a massive commercially successful hip-hop collaboration with RUN DMC on "Walk This Way" and the first hard rock band to appear during a Super Bowl Halftime Show with their 2001 performance, and in 1999, AEROSMITH became the first band to have their own themed attraction at Disney World in Florida, and later Paris with the launch of the Rock 'N' Roller coaster starring AEROSMITH.

With broad cultural influence, AEROSMITH has prominently appeared in films, television shows and video games, as well as influencing multiple generations of rock bands, both as style icons and acclaimed multi-instrumentalists. MusiCares honored the band in 2020 as Person Of The Year for their many artistic achievements and dedication to philanthropy, including Steven Tyler's initiative Janie's Fund initiative, which supports young women who've suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect.

Joe Perry, AEROSMITH co-founder and lead guitarist, commented: "It's been a long road but I'm extremely happy and proud to say on behalf of AEROSMITH we have been able to bring our 50 years of music under one roof by partnering with UMG. This will allow us to bring our music to our fans in ways we never were able to before. It's something we've dreamed about happening for a long time. It's a win for AEROSMITH, UMG and ultimately our fans. Needless to say we are very excited. It's an incredible way to celebrate 50 years and the many more years to come."

Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG, said: "AEROSMITH's global success places them in rarefied air among the all-time greatest rock icons. On the band's 50th anniversary, AEROSMITH continues to influence the course of music not only through their iconic catalog but also through film, television and video games and their inimitable style. On a personal note, I couldn't be prouder that they have chosen UMG as their global partner. We look forward to building upon their incredible legacy and ensuring their music continues to inspire fans around the world."

AEROSMITH manager Larry Rudolph said: "I couldn't be happier for the band members and their families. Not only are we bringing together the band's entire catalog in one place, but we're entrusting these recordings to the very capable hands of Sir Lucian, Bruce Resnikoff and the incredible UMG system worldwide. I would like to thank Sir Lucian for tirelessly working together to craft perhaps the most unique and mutually beneficial catalog arrangement in history and providing a huge commitment to AEROSMITH. The members of AEROSMITH and I thank him and we all look forward to many years of successfully continuing to share the catalog of the greatest American rock band in history with the world."

The partnership significantly expands AEROSMITH's historic relationship with UMG. The band recorded some of its biggest-selling albums for Geffen Records, including "Done With Mirrors" (1985),"Permanent Vacation" (1987),"Pump" (1989) and "Get A Grip" (1993). AEROSMITH additionally works with Bravado's Epic Rights for merchandise and has previously released concert films through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Additionally, AEROSMITH is part of UMG's partnership with YouTube bringing music videos into current video and audio standards, with recent releases, including "Dude Looks Like A Lady" and "Dream On".

Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2001, AEROSMITH is tied for the most RIAA album certifications by an American group with 25 gold, 18 platinum, 12 multi-platinum and one diamond. As the band was founded in Boston in 1970, April 13 has been declared "Aerosmith Day" in Massachusetts by former governor William Weld.

Photo (left to right): Larry Rudolph, Tom Hamilton, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford

The Royal Mint, the official maker of UK coins, has launched a new collectable coin celebrating the iconic British rock and roll band, The Rolling Stones.





The Rolling Stones collectable coin is the fifth in The Royal Mint’s ‘Music Legends’ series, which celebrates legendary British artists through original new designs. This latest coin follows designs in honour of music icons Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, and The Who and has become one of The Royal Mint’s most popular global coin collections.




Designed by Hannah Phizacklea, the coin brings together elements of The Stones’ instruments, stage presence, heritage and fashion to celebrate the global impact of their music. The bespoke coin captures the band in their element, mid-performance via a silhouette illustration designed to reflect the energy and excitement of attending their gigs.





The band said: “We are delighted to be honoured by way of an official UK coin. Even more significant that the release coincides with our 60th anniversary.”


Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint said: “Our Music Legends series is creating a new generation of coin collectors, and we are delighted to honour The Rolling Stones’ musical achievements with this new collectable coin. We hope this provides a fitting tribute to the band’s sixty years of rock and roll music for their millions of fans across the globe.  With a list of hits that includes eight UK number one singles, thirteen UK number one albums, and countless hits internationally, The Rolling Stones are UK rock legends, and we anticipate this coin being incredibly sought-after by coin collectors and music lovers alike. The coin is also one of the last to be released bearing the effigy of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, marking a significant moment in history.”


Since forming in 1962, The Rolling Stones have wowed fans around the world with their timeless hits, classic albums and iconic performances. A legendary act with cross-generational appeal, The Rolling Stones are one of the biggest-selling acts in British music history and are hailed by many as ‘The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World’.


Brought together by The Royal Mint and Bravado, Universal Music Group’s leading merchandise and brand management company, The Rolling Stones coin is available as limited-edition precious metal proof editions as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition. The Brilliant Uncirculated coin is also available in colour exclusive to The Royal Mint. View the full collection on The Royal Mint’s website, here.


The Rolling Stones recently announced the release of GRRR Live!, the definitive live hits album from the band’s career. Released on February 10 via Mercury Studios/Universal Music, the album will be available in various formats; 3LP black, 3LP coloured white (Indies exclusive) 3LP red (d2c exclusive), 2CD, DVD + 2CD, BluRay+ 2CD. The Blu-ray and digital versions will include Dolby Atmos.





The best live band in the world deserve the ultimate live greatest hits album and GRRR Live! is it, The Stones at their best! The album is available to pre-order here and features some of the greatest songs of all time including "It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)", "Honky Tonk Women", "Start Me Up", "Gimme Shelter", "Sympathy For The Devil" and "(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction".


The Rolling Stones celebrated their golden anniversary in 2012 & 2013 by embarking on the 50 & Counting Tour, a 30-show itinerary for North America and Europe. On December 15, 2012, the band took the stage at Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center for the final of four shows in the New York area. Featuring guest appearances by The Black Keys ("Who Do You Love?"), Gary Clark Jr & John Mayer ("Going Down"), Lady Gaga ("Gimme Shelter"), Mick Taylor ("Midnight Rambler") and hometown hero Bruce Springsteen ("Tumbling Dice"), the concert proved to be one of the most memorable shows in the band’s history.


Since its original airing on pay-per-view in 2012, this show has not been available to fans until now. The concert has been re-edited and the audio has been remixed. Three songs from the December 13 show (also in Newark) will be available as bonus features on the DVD and Blu-ray: "Respectable" (with John Mayer), "Around And Around", and "Gimme Shelter".





GRR Live! tracklisting:


CD1:


"Get Off Of My Cloud"
"The Last Time"
"It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)"
"Paint It Black"
"Gimme Shelter" (with Lady Gaga)
"Wild Horses"
"Going Down" (with John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr)
"Dead Flowers"
"Who Do You Love?" (with The Black Keys)
"Doom And Gloom"
"One More Shot"
"Miss You"
"Honky Tonk Women"
Band Introductions


CD2:


"Before They Make Me Run"
"Happy"
"Midnight Rambler" (with Mick Taylor)
"Start Me Up"
"Tumbling Dice" (with Bruce Springsteen)
"Brown Sugar"
"Sympathy For the Devil"
"You Can’t Always Get What You Want"
"Jumpin’ Jack Flash"
"(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction"





(Photo - Claude Gassian)

In a new interview with the Corpus Christi Caller Times, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was asked about the inspiration for the band's upcoming follow-up to 2018's "Firepower" album. He responded: "We never really know. I don't think we've ever made a plan, per se. We did a little bit with 'Firepower' because we wanted to explore our other classic elements with PRIEST. I think the only other time where we had a kind of blueprint was 'Painkiller'. We wanted 'Painkiller' to reinforce the ferocious metal power this band possesses. Besides those two, everything is just whatever happens. We get together, as we have done for all these albums, we meet at a studio, everyone brings their ideas — some days we start with nothing — and then we end up with a song that will live forever. It's just joyous. We always try to make an album that stands alone.

"['Firepower'] was so well-received and critically acclaimed," he continued. "It was kind of like, 'Is that it? Should we leave it there? Should we leave the party now?' But that record, along with the reception from our friends and in the industry, gave us even more energy and more determination to make another PRIEST album. And make one that's a strong piece of work to come after 'Firepower'."

Earlier in the month, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner told Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules about the musical direction of the band's new material: "I've definitely used the word 'progressive' [to describe the new PRIEST music in previous interviews], purely because it's got a few musical turnarounds that 'Firepower' doesn't have. But that doesn't make it a RUSH record. It just makes it — instead of, like, a verse into a bridge into a chorus, there might be a couple of more musical passages in there to make it a bit more… interesting; might be the wrong word. I don't know. You've gotta be careful with the words you use these days. So it's not 'Firepower 2', but it's the same band a few years later, so there's obvious connections to the last record. But it's not 'Firepower 2' by any means."

Richie continued: "No PRIEST records have sounded the same, but it's got a common DNA. And you always try and make the next one sound a bit better — or whatever 'better' may be; 'better' is subjective. So, is it better written? Are the lyrics better? Does it sound better? And 'better' is always subjective. So it's hard to pinpoint, really. But it's a bit more of a musical adventure than the last one, I'd say. But then again someone might listen to it, when it does come out, and have a totally different interpretation of what it is. So it's always tough to sum up your own music without sounding up your own butt."

Asked if longtime PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years ago after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier, will play on the band's album, Richie said: "He will be, yeah. I don't think he's recorded his guitar parts yet, but he's definitely involved in the writing of it. Obviously, we're all aware of his challenges with Parkinson's, so we were adamant that if he couldn't play that particular day that he was involved in the writing. He'd share his ideas with me and I'd kind of be his… he would share his ideas through me."

Last month, Halford told Q104.3 New York's "Out Of The Box With Jonathan Clarke" that PRIEST's upcoming studio album is "close" to being completed. "All the writing's done; the bulk of the recording is done," he said. "I've still gotta put my vocal tracks down. So, in essence, it's done, which is a great feeling, because that really points us to the metal future. Everything that we've done in PRIEST over the last 50-odd years has been driven by the latest music that we're making. So this is no exception.

"We'll finish this 50th-anniversary celebration down in São Paulo, Brazil on December the 18th, and that'll be this year done," Rob added. "And then next year we're kicking off with our good friend Ozzy [Osbourne] in the U.K.; we'll do some shows with him. And [in the rest of] Europe. And then a few other bits and pieces we've got going over in Europe. And then we stop. And then we plan the next release sequence for the next PRIEST album."

Earlier in October, Halford told AXS TV's Katie Daryl about what PRIEST fans can expect from the upcoming LP: "The same energy, the same vitality, the same determination, and it really is, again, another affirmation of what you love about JUDAS PRIEST. If you listen to any album from PRIEST from 'Rocka Rolla' in the '70s up to the 2000s with 'Firepower' and everything that went on between there, whether it was 'Turbo Lover' or whether it was the 'Painkiller' or '[You've Got] Another Thing Comin'', all of these pinpoints connect the dots of this great 50 years of metal, this journey that we're on. And it ain't over yet, folks, because that means another album and another tour. And we can't wait to keep pouring out the metal, 'cause that turbo power isn't gonna get turned off anytime soon."

Regarding when fans can expect to see the next PRIEST LP released, Faulkner told The Entertainment Outlet: "It's always tough to talk about timeframes, because, as we know, things change. But Rob always says, 'It's done when it's done.' There's no point in rushing anything at this point in the band's career. But it's getting there — we're working on it and it's getting there. And we're using the time we've got. These days as well, we don't need 18 months in a 10,000-square-foot studio in Fiji to do a record. The way things are these days, we can do it in a lot more economical way. So we're making technology work and we're making all that work for us so we can get it done in the best way we can so we can get it out when we can. But it'll be done when it's done."

This past February, Halford was asked by Remy Maxwell of Audacy Check In if he agreed with Faulkner's recent comment that the band's upcoming album will be more musically "progressive" than "Firepower". He responded: "Yeah, the metal is there. But here's the thing: we've tried our best not to replicate anything that we've done. From 'Rocka Rolla' all the way through to 'Firepower', each record has had a distinctive character. And it's tough because fans go, 'We want another 'Painkiller',' 'We want another 'British Steel'.' And [it's, like], 'Dude, we've already done that.'

"Fans know that we're a band that is always full of adventure and trying new stuff," he continued. "And so, yeah, this has got probably some more progressive elements that we've never really delved into before. And that's exciting, because, again, it gives us and our fans another opportunity to see a different side of PRIEST. But it's still metal. There's just more of it. There are more notes than there were before."

Also in February, Faulkner told Canada's The Metal Voice about the overall sound of the new PRIEST music: "Whenever you start a record, you never know how it's gonna turn out. So you might start with an idea of what it's gonna be, and as it kind of rolls on, it comes out something different. So you don't quite know. And also it's really hard to sum up your own music, I find, without sounding really pretentious. But I think this one — it's not 'Firepower 2', I don't think. It's its own thing, it's its own animal. If anything, I would say it's a bit more progressive in places, and in places it's got a bit more of that 'Killing Machine' swagger."

Faulkner added: "I know everyone says, 'Oh, is it the next 'Painkiller'?' or 'Is it the next…?' whatever… I don't know if they'd ever done it, but I know we've never done it when I've been in the band; we've never tried to recreate an album. It's always we try to create an album that stands on its own legs. So I think it's definitely a little bit more progressive than 'Firepower' and, as I said, in places it's got a little bit of that 'Killing Machine' angry swagger attitude going on. But again, as I said, we're waiting to see what it turns out like, 'cause it could turn out completely different."

A year and a half ago, Halford confirmed that PRIEST's next album would see the band reuniting with the "Firepower" production team consisting of Andy Sneap, longtime collaborator Tom Allom and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH).

Bassist Ian Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and guitarist Glenn Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Founding guitarist K.K. Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Faulkner.

Tipton announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of "Firepower". He was replaced by Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

Rock And Roll Beauty has announced the release of the TWISTED SISTER limited-edition beauty collection.

Known for its outrageous glam rock style and rebellious heavy metal music, TWISTED SISTER rose to super stardom thanks to their hit music videos, while their rousing live shows cemented their legacy.

Through a unique collaboration with TWISTED SISTER, the licensing agent Epic Rights and the design team at Rock And Roll Beauty comes this brash and unique color cosmetic collection. The stars of this line are the TWISTED SISTER logo eye shadow palette, lip kit, three-pack eye liner, and blush palette featuring bold colors and metallic shades. To help set the stage, the collection also includes cosmetic bags, a mirror, candles, and nail decals. All products are specially designed to create a glam look that screams, "you can't stop rock 'n' roll."

Product exclusively available at www.rockandrollbeauty.com and internationally at www.revolutionbeauty.com/uk.

TWISTED SISTER joins Ozzy Osbourne, DEF LEPPARD and Jimi Hendrix in Rock And Roll Beauty's collection.

Rock And Roll Beauty marries nostalgia with the artistry of today's finest beauty products and accessories. The company's talented designers create limited-edition collections working with your favorite blasts from the past. Each collection is skillfully curated to encompass the uniqueness of each reminiscence and combine it with the latest in cruelty free cosmetics and accessories. From the company's unique one-of-a-kind collectible palettes to the metallic shimmer shades and tattoo stamp eyeliner, Rock And Roll Beauty will rock your world!

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final trek, titled "Forty And Fuck It", in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band's "core lineup" of Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda and Mark Mendoza, along with drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's last-ever concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of drummer A.J Pero.

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

The surviving members of the classic lineup of TWISTED SISTER — Snider, French, Ojeda and Mendoza — reunited virtually in March 2021 for a special episode of Mendoza's Internet TV show "22 Now". The hour-and-a-half-long program was a tribute to Pero, who died exactly six years earlier at the age of 55 while on tour with the band ADRENALINE MOB.

Prior to the March 2021 virtual reunion, the four surviving members of TWISTED SISTER reunited for two days and nights in November 2019 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the band's classic album "Stay Hungry".

From this Christmas, Mono are pleased to announce that they will be releasing a mini album series called "Heaven" every year. For volume 1, the band recorded 3 new songs. The pre-order is available now exclusively from Bandcamp and will be released on December 25. All the funds gained from this platform will be put towards the recording for the 12th album which is now scheduled for February 2023.

The 3-piece effort was recorded by Takaakira ‘Taka’ Goto at Studio Forty-4. Drums recorded by Amak Golden at Golden Hive Studio in August 2022. Mixed and mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri and Jeremy deVine at Black Knoll Studio in October 2022.

The grand finale of Atrocity's Okkult trilogy will be available early next year. The new album, Okkult III, will be released on January 20 via Massacre Records. Pre-order here.


The band recently released the new single and video, "Desecration Of God", which is available on streaming platforms here. Check out the official guitar playthrough video below.







Guest musicians on the album include: Elina Siirala (Leaves’ Eyes, Angel Nation), Zoe Marie Federoff (Cradle Of Filth, Catalyst Crime), Robse Dahn (Equilibrium), Misstiq, Jonah Weingarten (Catalyst Crime, Pyramaze) as well as Igor Górewicz.


Killer production by Alexander Krull at Mastersound Entertainment. Striking horror sound effects provided by Emmy Award-winning Canadian sound designer Katie Halliday (Saw, Stranger Things, Star Trek: Discovery).


The lyrical concept about the dark side of human history, obscure stories and mysterious places is spun further on Okkult III. "We look deep into the mental abysses of the serial killer Józef Cyppek from Szczecin, Poland, in the 1950s ('Cypka'), experience the great conspiracy of the Schwarze Reichswehr after World War I ('Born To Kill'), dive into the world of modern ghost conjuring ('Faces From Beyond') and into the occult machinations of the Vatican and the Order of the Knights Templar ('Bleeding For Blasphemy')," says Atrocity.


Okkult III is the culminating conclusion of the Okkult trilogy, and a self-proclaimed German death metal masterpiece.





"Desecration Of God"
"Fire Ignites"
"Born To Kill"
"Bleeding For Blasphemy"
"Priest Of Plague"
"Malicious Sukkubus" (feat. Elina Siirala & Zoe Federoff)
"Lycanthropia"
"Faces From Beyond"
"Cypka"
"Teufelsmarsch" (feat. Robse Dahn & Misstiq)


"Desecration Of God" video: