SUN DONT SHINE (formerly EYE AM),the band featuring Kirk Windstein (guitar, vocals; CROWBAR, DOWN, KINGDOM OF SORROW) alongside former TYPE O NEGATIVE members Kenny Hickey (guitar/vocals) and Johnny Kelly (drums),plus Todd Strange (CROWBAR, DOWN),has released a new single, "In The End". You can now watch the official music video for the track below.

"In The End" will appear on SUN DONT SHINE's debut full-length album, "Birth To Death", due in early 2026 via Corpse Paint Records. The track represents a profound artistic evolution for the band, showcasing a slower, more contemplative side while maintaining the raw emotional intensity that defines SUN DONT SHINE's sound.

Corpse Paint Records' Andrew Spaulding comments: "'In The End' was one of those melodies that stayed with me from the moment it was written. I found myself humming it constantly. It carried a different weight — slower, more reflective — but the lyrics cut deep in a way that immediately made me think about the people we've lost along the way. For us, that includes giants who shaped this band's very DNA: Peter Steele, Dimebag Darrell and, most recently, Ace Frehley."

The single serves as both a tribute and a meditation on mortality, exploring themes that resonate far beyond the metal community. The song reminds us that none of us escape that final chapter, but we're given these days in between to make our story matter. This philosophy is reflected not only in the track's introspective lyrics but in its accompanying video concept — not a literal "Groundhog Day", but the idea that each new day is a gift to rewrite, to realign, to live with intention.

Windstein states: "'In The End' is a great example of what we want SUN DONT SHINE to sound like. It's got dynamics, melody and a bit of heaviness to it." With his earth-shaking riffs and Hickey's evocative, often ethereal melodies, the band strikes a delicate balance between heavy and haunting. Kelly's drumming keeps things tight but never feels constrained, while Strange's bass lines act as the backbone, holding down the bottom end with a ferocity only years in the rock trenches can cultivate.

"In The End" exemplifies the group's dynamic blend of heaviness and atmospheric nuance. Their music tells stories of resilience, reflection, and catharsis, with every song feeling like a journey guided by a sense of purpose that's as intense as it is unpredictable. "In The End" showcases what truly sets SUN DONT SHINE apart: the chemistry among its members. You can hear it in every note — a raw, almost unfiltered energy that comes from playing with people who have been through it all together, both the highs and the lows. Their music is about embracing imperfections and channeling them into something transcendent, capturing a moment rather than chasing perfection.

"In The End" is the journey we're all on… and the one we all must eventually take," the band concludes, encapsulating the universal truth that makes this single so powerfully resonant.

Although it was announced this past June that SUN DONT SHINE would release an EP called "Coming Down" in July via Corpse Paint Records, the band has since revealed plans to focus instead on putting out a full-length effort.

In a recent interview with Sh!t Talk Reviews, Hickey stated about SUN DONT SHINE's recent activities: "We ended up not going to Europe [like we were originally supposed to this summer] and opted to finish the record, add three more songs so that we can actually release an LP instead of an EP. So we took that month we would've been there. I went to New Orleans, we all met at New Orleans, and we all just concentrated on [writing] and recording three more songs."

Elaborating on the musical direction of the three latest SUN DONT SHINE songs, Kenny said: "They're great. It's just another level. I think the band is really beginning to find its sound. It's a darker, heavier, more versatile sound we got out of these three songs. Really, we just locked ourselves in a studio for almost a month and basically concentrated on music and jamming together and developing them. It's definitely just a next level up from the previous stuff that we've done. These three songs, they're just really explosive, very powerful."

Regarding a possible release date for the debut SUN DONT SHINE album, Kenny said: "It looks like beginning of the year, 2026, it's gonna be released. We have a number of singles that are gonna be released still up until then, so four more singles. When we were in New Orleans, not only did we record, but we also, we also shot three new videos. We shot one, which has a theme to it, in the Airbnb we were in, we're staying in. And then we shot two of the new songs that we worked on. So we got a lot done over there."

On the topic of a possible SUN DONT SHINE tour in 2026, Kenny said: It's definitely gonna happen. And we have some good stuff coming up in the beginning of the year too, in January. So, yes — the answer is yes… We're gonna find the time and we're gonna do it. We're gonna make it happen."

In September, SUN DONT SHINE released a new single, "What You Are".

This past June, SUN DONT SHINE released the official music video for the song "Coming Down".

The first single from SUN DONT SHINE, "The Promise Song", came out in January.

Under the band's original name EYE AM, SUN DONT SHINE released two singles, "Dreams Always Die With The Sun" in June 2023 and "Cryptomnesia" in November 2023, via Corpse Paint Records. The songs' accompanying music videos were shot and directed by Mike Holderbeast at OCD Recording And Production.

SUN DONT SHINE isn't just a band – it's a powerful convergence of four iconic musicians who have shaped the landscape of hard rock.

At its core, SUN DONT SHINE is a reflection of its members' shared philosophy: embrace the raw, reject the overly polished, and let the music speak for itself.

"I don't want our music to be one-dimensional," says Hickey. "I don't want it to be just dark and doomy or always so heavy. I want it to be both light and dark, dynamic and unpredictable."

It's a sentiment that runs deep in their sound, where each track takes on a life of its own, exploring contrasting moods and textures that reveal more with every listen.

With Windstein's earth-shaking riffs and Hickey's evocative, often ethereal melodies, the band strikes a delicate balance between heavy and haunting. Kelly's drumming keeps things tight but never feels constrained, while Strange's bass lines act as the backbone, holding down the bottom end with a ferocity only years in the rock trenches can cultivate.

Yet what truly sets SUN DONT SHINE apart is the chemistry among its members. You can hear it in every note, a raw, almost unfiltered energy that comes from playing with people who have been through it all together — both the highs and the lows. Their music is about embracing imperfections and channeling them into something transcendent, capturing a moment rather than chasing perfection. It's messy, it's visceral, and it's real.

The group's dynamic blend of heaviness and atmospheric nuance makes them a standout, but SUN DONT SHINE's identity goes deeper than their sound. With influences spanning everything from BLACK SABBATH to THE BEATLES, their music tells stories of resilience, reflection, and catharsis. Every song feels like a journey, guided by a sense of purpose that's as intense as it is unpredictable.

For Windstein it's about "breaking new ground." Whether they're delving into bone-crushing riffs or taking a melodic detour, SUN DONT SHINE is less concerned with fitting into a genre and more focused on creating music that resonates with their own experience and emotions.

Speaking to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, Kelly stated about how SUN DONT SHINE came together: "That was started with Andrew Spaulding. I met him; he was a merchandiser for DANZIG. And then TYPE O went on tour after that. We brought him out and he worked with TYPE O up until Peter [Steele, TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman] passed away. And we all remained good friends and stuff. And he started an indie label; he started a small little label. And he suggested putting me and Kenny together with Kirk Windstein and Todd Strange from CROWBAR. We've all been friends — I've known Kirk and Todd for, like, 30 years at this point. So we've always been friends and we've always crossed paths and hung out and this and that but never really had the opportunity to get in a room and play together. And Drew had it worked out. We all met in Florida. We got into a room, came up with that song, recorded it the next day, and that was it; it was done.'"

According to Kelly, "Dreams Always Die With The Sun" was written and recorded in less than a day. "Drew literally picked me up from the airport and drove me to rehearsal," he said. "And the guys were in the room. And I just put my suitcase over to the side, set up the kit and we started working on the song. And then the next morning we went to the recording studio, tracked all the drums. And then I was on a plane. I don't know where I was going after that, but I had to leave right after we were done tracking; I think my flight was at six in the morning the next morning. So I was there just literally for a few hours."

Regarding how "Dreams Always Die With The Sun" turned out, Johnny said: "It's a cool song. I really wasn't sure what to expect. I guess the best way to compare it — on a different scale, of course — would be like Scott Weiland and VELVET REVOLVER [got together]. You take these people from these bands and you put 'em together and you have a certain expectation of it. Then you're not sure if it's gonna meet it, if it's exceeding it or if it falls way below. But I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was and how much fun it was to work with everybody."

In addition to their work with TYPE O NEGATIVE, Hickey and Kelly had previously collaborated in a band called SEVENTH VOID, which released one full-length album, "Heaven Is Gone", in 2009, and SILVERTOMB, which issued "Edge Of Existence" in 2019.

Original CROWBAR bassist Strange returned to the band in 2016 for the touring cycle in support of the band's "The Serpent Only Lies" album.

Strange, who originally left CROWBAR back in 1999, stuck around for two years before departing once again to focus on his family life.

Windstein, who also plays in the New Orleans supergroup DOWN, released two albums with HATEBREED's Jamey Jasta under the KINGDOM OF SORROW banner. He also issued two solo albums.

Photo credit: Charles Dye (courtesy of For The Win Media)

In a new interview with Denis Denisdriver, vocalist Fernando Ribeiro of Portuguese goth overlords MOONSPELL spoke about a possible follow-up to the band's 2021 album "Hermitage". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we're kind of closing the cycle now that initiated a little bit before the pandemic, and then the pandemic stopped everything. We did an album called 'Hermitage' back then, which suffered a lot from the fact that we couldn't go on tour, et cetera. And so all these [things] that we've done [since then], especially the orchestra show and all the touring with DARK TRANQUILLITY and [celebrating the 30th anniversary of MOONSPELL's debut album] 'Wolfheart' was also a way to go step by step into our ultimate goal, ultimate question, which was, can MOONSPELL make interesting new music? And what kind of music will it be? And we took our time. Our last album, full-length, it's from 2021, so it's gonna be five years since we released new music. But we had to prepare ourselves, too, and we had to prepare our audience. So we already wrote all the album. We're gonna record it in December. It's coming out in the summer of 2026. I think in March you can already see the first single and the first video clip that we are gonna [film], I think, in January."

Regarding the musical direction of the new MOONSPELL material, Fernando said: "We'd done so much and we had so much musical experience and extensions, et cetera, that we felt in our heart that we had to do a very classic album. So it's a gothic metal album. I don't know if it's 'Irreligious Part Two' or whatever — it's not the terms we are thinking — but it's beautiful songs, romantic songs, melancholic songs with great riffs, great solos, great atmosphere, lyrics about fiction and fantasy. So we are very, very happy with the result of the songwriting. Now we're going to record it, and we can't wait for our fans to discover new songs about MOONSPELL, because I think it's high time they do that. I'm curious about their reaction, as always, but I think we're gonna have a great time together when the new album is out and when we take it on the road and on the festivals."

Fernando went on to say that he and his MOONSPELL bandmates are "very lucky" to "still [have] the drive to do new music and to have such a beautiful past and such an unpredictable past because I never thought that the MOONSPELL could be a professional band and tour and have fans all around the world. It was too good to be true when we were starting off in Portugal — especially coming out of Portugal that nobody had ever done it before us."

Last November, Fernando told IMPACT Metal Channel that "Hermitage" was "a complicated album because it got swallowed by the pandemic. It had beautiful reviews. It sold quite a lot because people were at home, so they found that was the way of supporting the band. We were met with mixed feelings, which is not new for MOONSPELL. I have mixed feelings about our albums, too. But this album, it was [conceived] before the pandemic, but then it was really affected by the zeitgeist of the pandemic. Everybody thought it was a pandemic album, and that wasn't good for the album… 'Irreligious' is going to be 30 years in 2026, so we can make celebrations around it. But let's say the big issue here, it's the pertinence of the album, of making new music, that is not made to fulfill a cycle of an album, two years of touring, another album. I think that kind of kills the creativity, at least for MOONSPELL. And also we have to answer, with music, to the why of making a new album. 'Cause we have so many albums, so many musical avenues we've pursued that it's, for us, hard to pick which MOONSPELL is coming next. But I want an album that doesn't need to grow on people. I want an album that speaks volumes to the fans and that they probably will say, 'Well, that's it.' So, I think it's a very important album. That's why we are stalling it so much."

October 26, 2024 saw MOONSPELL perform its first-ever symphonic show, dubbed "Opus Diabolicum", at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, Portugal's capital city. The band made history at this unforgettable live event, adding another magnificent chapter to both metal music made in Portugal and their very own legacy. Now, a year later, this monumental event can be yours to view anytime, available in DVD/Blu-ray, two-CD, black and colored vinyl and digital formats via Napalm Records on October 31, 2025.

On "Opus Diabolicum", MOONSPELL revisits its classics and its bombastic album "1755" at a one-off, exclusive show and its biggest production to date. The heavy metallic power of the dark metal pioneers meets the classical magnitude of the 45-piece Orquestra Sinfonietta de Lisboa (Lisbon Sinfonietta Orchestra) — one of Portugal's finest orchestras — conducted by maestro Vasco Pearce de Azevedo.

In the spring of 2023, MOONSPELL completed the "American Full Moon" 30th-anniversary trek.

More than three years ago, MOONSPELL canceled its summer 2022 North American tour due to "unsolvable logistic and transportation problems".

In September 2022, MOONSPELL released a very special Blu-ray/DVD and album, a live performance of their latest studio album, "Hermitage", with "From Down Below - Live 80 Meters Deep" via Napalm Records.

MOONSPELL's 13th studio album, "Hermitage", was released in February 2021 via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, PRIMORDIAL, GHOST, SÓLSTAFIR) at the Orgone Studios in the U.K.

In 2020, MOONSPELL parted ways with original drummer Miguel "Mike" Gaspar and replaced him with Hugo Ribeiro (no relation to Fernando Ribeiro).
 

In a new interview with Australia's Wall Of Sound, drummer Matt Byrne of Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED spoke about the band's longevity. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, it's a blessing. I think. The hard work and the loyalty from the fans have paid off. I think when you start out, you don't know if you're gonna last five years. You just don't know. You're just doing what you wanna do and just chugging along. And I think we're a perfect example of if you put the work in, it can happen and you can stay around for a long time. We're actually 31 years [old], 31 years right now. I've been in the band for 27 [years] and I would've never have thought I'd be in a band — any band — for 27 years and actually have a career. We can call it a career. It's crazy. I never thought that would happen. You're living the dream, really."

He continued: "So I think we're just blessed, man. We definitely put the work in over the years and I think a big part of it is we didn't lose our identity musically. I mean, we experiment here and there, but we never completely turned our backs on what we are to become something new or just try to go with what's popular or something at the time, like all of a sudden being a rap-metal band or something, something totally off the wall because that's what's selling at the time, maybe. We were never that band. We were always super loyal to our fans, and I think in turn they're super loyal to us. And that's huge, man. That's what keeps you going right there. And then those fans in turn… I mean, our fans from back in the day are now having kids, and some are having grandkids, so they're turning them on to our music. And here we are now, I think after being around for 30 years, a lot of the newer metal bands coming up now — I think we're in that weird stage of our career where we're now kind of being cited as an influence for them. So all of these things keep you going."

Asked if there was ever a moment where he and his HATEBREED bandmates thought they might have to pull the plug on the band because they couldn't do it anymore because they are getting too old or their priorities are shifting, Matt said: "Not yet. No. Everyone's feeling damn good and we're having a good time doing it. I mean, we're having some changes in HATEBREED world in general. But we're just trying to weather the storm and keep doing what we do."

At this year's Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky, Byrne spoke to The Kevin Powell Podcast about HATEBREED's next studio album, which is tentatively due in early 2026. Matt said: "I think this new material is way thrashier. There's always a tinge of metal to HATEBREED. I think a lot of people try to kind of pigeonhole us as a hardcore band, but I think over the years we've just gone way more metal. There is still the hardcore punk vibe to us, but I think the new stuff is way more metal, thrashy, fast, SLAYER-esque, if I may use that term. That's kind of the direction we're going in right now, but there's still a lot of groove to it. It's definitely the heaviest stuff that we've written to date. I know that can be a cliché thing with bands — 'Watch out, everybody. It's the coolest stuff,' or whatever they say — but it's true. It's true. It really is. So I'm excited for everyone to hear the other stuff too."

Regarding what fans can expect from HATEBREED in 2026, Matt said:  "New record, new music. It's a new era of the band. We've had some lineup changes. We dealt with some curve balls this summer, some health stuff. So we're coming out on top, we're grinding through, we're coming out on top. And, yeah — new production. We're just stepping up the show 100% and just forging onward."

Earlier in September, Byrne told Baby Huey of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone about HATEBREED's new music: "We just released a single ['Make The Demons Obey'] over the summer. We have a new record that'll be coming out next year — not sure when, but it's about 90 percent, 85 percent done. [We're] still tweaking some stuff, but next year's our target [release]. We released a single, 'Make The Demons Obey'. We've been playing it live. We're playing it tonight. It's very fast. It's heavy. It's HATEBREED. It has HATEBREED all over it. So, it's a lot of fun to play. It's always fun playing the new stuff. We've been playing 'I Will Be Heard' since 2002, so as much as you love that song, it's fun to play newer stuff."

Released in July, "Make The Demons Obey" marked the first taste of new HATEBREED material after the group's "Weight Of The False Self" album which came out in 2020.

"Make the Demons Obey" is everything you know, love, want, and expect from HATEBREED. PMA lyrics, sick riffs, singalongs that will make you bumrush to the front of the stage, and some of the deadliest, most ignorant (in the best possible way!) breakdowns known to man.

"Lots of bands say that their newest release will be their heaviest and I guess we are no different," HATEBREED singer Jamey Jasta stated at the time of the song's release. "We've managed to push the envelope and surpass our expectations. We've become tighter, harder and more vicious than ever. This is the most excited I've been for any HATEBREED release."

"Very exciting things are happening in the HATEBREED camp," added Byrne. "It's time to unleash this beast — new music is here! This is the fastest, most vicious, and most aggressive music we have ever created and I'm pumped for the world to hear it."

When "Make the Demons Obey" was made available, HATEBREED was independent and was still deciding what direction it would like to go regarding a record label. But HATEBREED remained open to all options and ideas. In the interim, they will be releasing singles to keep fans satisfied and will self-fund the upcoming album.

HATEBREED guitarist Wayne Lozinak returned to the live stage at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California in early October. He was diagnosed with a meningioma in the brain while on tour in Europe but thankfully, it was benign. He underwent a craniotomy — a surgical procedure that involves opening the skull to access the brain — on August 4.

Lozinak has been a key part of HATEBREED's sound since rejoining the band in 2009.

While Lozinak was away, HATEBREED continued its European and American tours, with touring bassist Matt Bachand stepping in on guitar, and Carl Schwartz of FIRST BLOOD and TERROR joining the group on bass duties.

This past April, HATEBREED announced it was resurrecting the beloved and annual "Summer Slaughter" tour for 2025, which kicked off on July 8 in St. Petersburg, Florida and ran through July 28 in Grand Rapids. Support for this year's run included FUGITIVE, GRIDIRON, INCITE, ESCUELA GRIND and SNUFFED ON SIGHT on select dates.

HATEBREED celebrated its 30th anniversary with a North American tour last fall. Support on the trek came from CARCASS, HARMS WAY and CRYPTA.

HATEBREED has released eight studio albums and has consistently sold out shows the world over. Over the course of its career, the band has gone from playing basements and backyards to being a featured attraction on countless festivals like Graspop Metal Meeting, Ozzfest, Warped and Download.

To date, HATEBREED has sold over 1.5 million albums in North America alone.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new album from Sweden’s rotten crusty deathgrinders Ghoulhouse (Rogga Johansson of Paganizer / Ribspreader). Realm Of Ghouls is up now for pre-order and will be released December 5 on CD and Digital formats along with merch.

Below is the official description:

Ghoulhouse return to Horror Pain Gore Death Productions with the terrifying new album Realm Of Ghouls. Sweden’s own Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Revolting, etc.) and Håkan Stuvemark (Wombbath) are back with a deadly vengeance, as Ghoulhouse unleash more old school rotten, crusty grindcore/death metal. Realm Of Ghouls is the third album in the rancid catalog of Ghoulhouse, vomiting forth 11 symphonies of sickness… for true necroholics only. For fans of Autopsy, Boneyard, Coffins, Dismember, Exhumed, Impetigo, Haemorrhage, Gruesome Stuff Relish and Repulsion.

Pre-order via the following links:

– CD
– Digital
– Merch

Listen to the single “Fetid Flesh Fairytale” via the visualizer below.



Tracklisting

“Hacksore”
“Rotten Rancid Remains”
“Mall Full Of Zombies”
“Kingdom Of Squirming Worms”
“Where Ghouls Are Bred”
“Dying In The City (Of The Living Dead)”
“Fetid Flesh Fairytale”
“Pit Of Maggots”
“Realm Of Ghouls”
“Rothead”
“Devoured By Famined Pigs”

Californian label Ripple Music has announced a powerful final chapter from late TROUBLE frontman and doom metal icon Eric Wagner with the release of "Eulogy" this December 12, 2025 — a two-track record featuring his final and previously unreleased song "Nothing But Blue Skies" as well as a stirring TROUBLE cover, paying tribute to the unrivaled heavy metal leader.

Eric Wagner — the legendary frontman of TROUBLE — cut a path through doom unrivaled by others. More than a singer, he was a mystic poet for the heavy and the haunted. With his mournful, melodic bellow, he gave life to the monolithic riffs that defined TROUBLE as the undisputed "godfathers of doom."

His lyrical genius, a unique blend of spiritual turmoil and existential dread, reached its zenith on classics like "The Skull" and the seminal album "Psalm 9". Later, with the doom masterpiece "Trouble" and the haunting "Manic Frustration", he explored brighter, more melodic territories without losing his searching spirit.

"Eric Wagner's vocals were the perfect human hook, a window to a sometimes tortured soul that perfectly fit the music," stated Kerrang! magazine. "Doom metal may have lost one of its finest voices, but the seeds Eric Wagner helped plant across music continue to thrive, and will for a very long time to come."

Wagner's legacy extended beyond TROUBLE, with projects such as doom supergroup THE SKULL and the revered LID, ensuring his iconic voice and songwriting continued to resonate for decades. Though his voice was stilled in 2021, his work remains an eternal echo in the hall of heavy music and a guide through the darkness he so masterfully articulated.

For the first time, Ripple Music is presenting an unreleased gem with the song "Nothing But Blue Skies" — the final track ever recorded by Wagner before his untimely passing. Second track "The Misery Shows (Act II)" is a heartfelt cover of the TROUBLE song recorded by Eric's solo band in his honor and memory. It will be issued on limited seven-inch vinyl on December 15, with preorders available via Ripple Music

Ripple Music founder Todd Severin comments: "Last year, I was approached by the members of Eric Wagner's solo band, entrusting me to release the last song Eric recorded, at the time of his solo album, but left off that record. The band really wanted the song to be heard, and recorded a cover of the TROUBLE song 'The Misery Shows (Act II)' to be the B side in honor of his memory. I spoke to some of Eric's closest friends, and all were on board."

Guitarist and producer Victor Arduini adds: "I was asked to contribute the solo section for a mostly acoustic demo that was considered for Eric's last album, but was the odd song out and never completed. I also had a recording of 'The Misery Shows (Act II)' that was never fully finished, so I got Dave Snyder to record the drums, Chuck Robinson to record bass and acoustics, and my dear friend Kelly L'Heureux to add harmony vocals. The vocals of my partner in doom Brian 'Butch' Balich, who brought it all together. Both these songs are very spiritual in nature and have deep meaning to me. Eric spent his life not afraid to speak his faith in God, and I always connected with his insight and spiritual awareness. I'm blessed to be able to play a small part in this release alongside all the other musicians."

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like "Trouble", "Manic Frustration" and "Plastic Green Head".

Wagner left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

Eric, who was TROUBLE's original singer, died in August 2021 after a battle with COVID pneumonia. He was 62 years old.

According to Wagner's TROUBLE and THE SKULL bandmate Ron Holzner, Eric was generally opposed to institutionalized medicine but he wouldn't make an exception for the COVID vaccine.

"We argued about it, and he stood his ground on the matter," Holzner told the Chicago Reader. "I always joked, 'The World According To Eric Wagner — you should write a book.' He lived his life his way."

Wagner, who smoked cigarettes and occasionally drank and vaped, had health issues, but had begun taking better care of himself and switching to a plant-based diet prior to his death, Holzner said.

Photo credit: Alyssa Hermann (courtesy of Earsplit PR)

IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson sang the U.S. national anthem when the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Colorado Avalanche on October 7 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles as part of the NHL's (National Hockey League) first day of regular-season play. The game was the third of three games broadcast on ESPN.

On Monday, October 27, the official LA Kings channel on YouTube shared an eight-minute behind-the-scenes video of Dickinson's appearance at Crypto.com Arena. Check it out below.

Bruce previously sang the U.S. national anthem on September 14 prior to Pittsburgh Steelers' home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dickinson first revealed that he would sing the U.S. national anthem at an NFL game during a recent interview with soprano Elizabeth Zharoff. He said at the time: "I'll let you in to a secret. So, I've got to sing the national anthem in Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've asked me to do this. I'm going to do it a cappella and stuff, and as long as you start at the right place, you're good to go."

Bruce first sang the U.S. national anthem during his September 11 solo concert at the House Of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to launching into the U.S. national anthem, Dickinson told the audience at the House Of Blues:  "So I'm gonna let you in to a dirty little secret that is gonna happen on Sunday. I've been asked to sing the American national anthem at a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Now, I've never done this before in my fucking life, and I'm trying to avoid the embarrassment of reading the fucking words off the back of my hand. Look, no writing on the back of my hand, or failure to read the auto cue because, fuck me, there is no auto cue, all right?! So because today is the kind of — it can't have escaped your attention that today is 9/11, right? And on this day, on that day, I was in New York City and I witnessed all the shit that happened.

"So normally I do a little bit of like an a cappella — that's just me singing on my own — a bit of [the IRON MAIDEN song] 'Revelations'," he continued. "But I thought, with your kind permission, I would have a go at the American national anthem, because it's the only fucking time I'm gonna practice it.

"We were down in Brazil [a few days ago for a festival appearance] and I was talking to the punk band, mates of mine, BAD RELIGION," Dickinson added. "And the guy went, 'Oh, you're gonna sing the anthem?' He said, 'Fucking make sure you start low.'"

Bruce then sang a few lines of "The Star-Spangled Banner", occasionally accompanied by fans in the crowd.

Dickinson told Travel Trade Gazette back in 2012 about his experience on September 11, 2001: "I'd just completed my line training and was all signed off to fly, and was in New York with the band. It was a really sunny day, and I was sitting on the roof of the hotel by the pool. I had a Boeing 757 manual on my lap, reading up, when a little old lady walked up to the pool attendant and asked if it was true that a plane had flown into the twin towers. I thought it must have been a small private plane, and went back to my reading. Then more people arrived, and someone said it was some sort of airliner, and I thought, 'Oh boy…'"

In 2015, the singer described to "Nights With Alice Cooper" the scene he witnessed shortly after the World Trade Center towers came down. He said: "It was strange, because there was no panic of anybody. Everybody was just… There was just an air of 'unreality.' There was no traffic. It was a lovely day — a beautiful day — and I was just walking around and looking at people. People were drinking at bars, having a beer. And it got to the evening, and it was obviously pretty somber. Nobody was cracking any jokes; there were no funnies about this one. And to this day, I can't think of any."

He continued: "I wandered around the next day and I thought, 'I don't know what to do now. I'll go and give some blood.' So I had a wander around and found some way to go and give blood. And it was queuing around the block. And all they were doing was the guy was coming around saying, 'Okay, here you go. Come back tomorrow. We don't need any blood. There are no survivors.' So I went and wrote a piece of paper saying, 'If we need your blood, we'll give you a call.'"

Dickinson went on to say: "Then the wind changed. And this, kind of, pall of gray shit started slowly advancing up towards Midtown. And up 'till then, upper Manhattan up by Central Park, you couldn't smell it. And I was out taking a walk, just walking around, because there was nothing else to do. And I could smell this acrid smell and I thought, "I'm not sure whether or not being in an air-conditioned building is better for you or it makes no difference whatsoever, but you know what? I'm gonna go sit in my room, 'cause this has got bad shit in it, this stuff.' And, of course, they're now discovering exactly how much awful stuff was in it. I mean, I just got a quick sniff of it."

Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour was once again his 2024 backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.

Dickinson kicked off "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour on August 22 at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California.

Bruce was touring in support of his latest solo album, "The Mandrake Project", which arrived on March 1, 2024 via BMG.

Dickinson's reworked version of his classic 1994 album "Balls To Picasso", now titled "More Balls To Picasso", arrived on July 25.

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.

Founding SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil will release a memoir, "A Screaming Life: Into The Superunknown With Soundgarden And Beyond", on May 19, 2026 via HarperCollins imprint William Morrow.

From SOUNDGARDEN's humble beginnings manifesting grunge in Seattle's beer-soaked punk clubs to their revered status today as rock icons, the band's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. In "A Screaming Life", Thayil goes backstage to introduce the band that fearlessly pushed the boundaries of rock, invented a new genre, and amassed fervent fans from every corner of the world.

Thayil shares the story of how he and his SOUNDGARDEN bandmates — Hiro Yamamoto, Ben Shepherd, Matt Cameron and Chris Cornell — faced the triumphs and challenges on the road to their meteoric rise. His storytelling channels the essence of SOUNDGARDEN's era-defining sound — one that's supercharged with raw creativity and unapologetic lyrics — and explores the ways that SOUNDGARDEN was shaped by the diverse backgrounds of its creators: Thayil's Indian heritage and founding bassist Hiro Yamamoto's Japanese background added unique dimensions to the band's identity, influencing not only their music but also their experiences in the industry.

For SOUNDGARDEN fans and '90s alternative rock enthusiasts, "A Screaming Life" not only gives behind-the-scenes access to one of the most revered bands, but it also demonstrates the power music and its creators have to transform culture.

Thayil announced the book project on Instagram earlier today (Tuesday, October 28),writing: "Hey, all you friends of SOUNDGARDEN! Kim Thayil here to tell you that I've been working on a book during the past few years! It's called 'A Screaming Life', and it tells my story as an American son of immigrants growing up in Chicago. Then, along with another immigrant's American son, Hiro Yamamoto, we travel to Seattle as idealistic youths, involve ourselves with underground and independent subcultures, and connect with Chris Cornell to form SOUNDGARDEN. It follows my experiences, journeys and growth with the band and the building of the Seattle music scene; ultimately, to partner with Matt Cameron and later Ben Shepherd as we worked and played towards our worldwide successes. I explore the heights, depths and insights gained from my experiences within the unique and special brotherhood we built."

As previously reported, SOUNDGARDEN will join the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame class of 2025 in the Performer category. The Seattle grunge legends were first nominated for the Rock Hall in 2020, and were on the ballot again in 2023 before finally being chosen for induction this year.

Thayil, Cameron, Cornell and Shepherd are being included in the induction, as is Yamamoto, who was with SOUNDGARDEN from 1984 to 1989 and played on the band's first two EPs and first two albums.

Cornell was found hanged in his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel in May 2017, following a SOUNDGARDEN show at the city's Fox Theatre. His body was found soon after he had spoken with a "slurred" voice to his wife by phone. The death was ruled a suicide.

Image courtesy of Guitar Center

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by soundgarden (@soundgarden)

In a new interview with "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, Wendy Dio, widow and longtime manager of Ronnie James Dio, was asked for her opinion of the "Back To The Beginning" event, which took place in Birmingham, United Kingdom in early July and marked Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH's final concert. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it was amazing, and I'm so glad to see that Ozzy got to play the last time before he passed away. And that's something that I think was very important to him and very important to the SABBATH guys. [BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler's wife and manager] Gloria Butler is my best friend, and I we talk about all that, and she's so glad that Geezer and Tony [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist] did that because it was the closing of BLACK SABBATH lineup at that time. And, of course, we can't have Ronnie or Ozzy anymore playing with BLACK SABBATH. But they'll do odd things off of it. I think Geezer is doing something with Paul Rodgers, I saw, next year in Palm Springs. I'm very excited about that. I'll be one of the sponsors for that."

During the same chat, Wendy was asked how the music industry has evolved over the last few decades compared to the male-dominated world she encountered when she first started managing Ronnie 40 years ago. "It's definitely changed for the better over time," she said. "At the time when I was managing Ronnie, it was definitely a man's world. There were no other [women] managers except Sharon [Osbourne] and I, and we were the only two innovators of being women managers. And I think women managers make a great job. There's so many women managers now. They can multitask a lot of times when men can't, and I think they do an excellent, excellent job for managing bands, and I'm so glad to see all these women come out and manage bands."

Asked to name some of the biggest challenges facing bands starting out these days, and whether she had any piece of advice to offer to help get them off on the right foot, Wendy said: "I think they have to be passionate. They have to be willing to work hard. I think it's harder now because there's less record labels. Record labels don't seem to put the money into helping a band anymore. They just throw 'em against the wall, and if they stick, they stick. It's a much harder [for newer bands now]. Even though you've got the Internet and you've got a lot of things that we didn't have at that time, I still think it's harder for these bands. There's more bands than there was before, and there's less record labels. I think you just have to stick to your guns and go for it. And don't change, and always think of what you want to do and not get pushed around and told by other people to change because if you have a vision, you should follow your vision."

Back in August 2021, Wendy was asked by Trevor Joe Lennon if there was "peace" between Ronnie and the man he replaced in BLACK SABBATH, Ozzy Osbourne, in the later years. Wendy said at the time: "I don't think there was ever really a lot of problems there. They both did their own thing, and they both were successful at it. Maybe Don Arden [Sharon Osbourne's father and former manager for both Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH] had some problems there in the beginning when Ronnie was in BLACK SABBATH, but I don't think there was any bad blood between [Ronnie and Ozzy].

"The press tries to make bad blood all the time about everybody — they're trying to get people to fight with each other, 'cause it's good for press or whatever," she continued.

"No, I don't think [there were any issues between Ronnie and Ozzy]. We just didn't run in the same circles."

In April 2021, former BLACK SABBATH, DIO and HEAVEN & HELL drummer Vinny Appice told "Another FN Podcast With Izzy Presley" that not all SABBATH fans embraced Ronnie when he first joined the band. "Ronnie had to put up with people in the front, like 'Where's Ozzy?' signs and all this 'Where's Ozzy?' stuff, and he had to do that," he said. "And he hated singing those songs — he hated singing 'Iron Man' and 'Sweet Leaf' and the Ozzy songs. That's why eventually [SABBATH reformed as] HEAVEN & HELL years later, so we didn't play the old [Ozzy-era] stuff anymore."

In a 2009 interview with U.K.'s Absolute Radio, Ronnie said that BLACK SABBATH's decision to reunite as HEAVEN & HELL in 2006 with him on vocals was done in part "to differentiate us from the SABBATH that had come before. What it really did was this — it allayed this: 'Hey, play 'Iron Man'," he explained. "We didn't have to worry about that or feel bad about not playing those songs — about playing 'Iron Man' or 'Paranoid' or 'Black Sabbath' or 'Fairies Wear Boots' — we didn't have to do that, because we tried to differentiate ourselves by a timeline and by a name that, of course, that spoke so much of… You think of HEAVEN & HELL, you usually think of that song, so now you think of this band. And I think it was wonderful that it worked so well."

Asked if ever felt an obligation to play some of the Ozzy-era SABBATH songs, especially at various European festivals, as a way of letting the audience know, "This is what we're famous for," Ronnie said: "Well, it's not what I was famous for, and I'm part of this band. I mean, I don't hear Ozzy doing 'Heaven And Hell', so why should I do the other songs? And I think that's very sensible. We come from different generations of SABBATH — the two generations that were most important, I think. And no, I think we tried so hard to call this band a different name, that why go back and relate to that? It makes us really seem [like] hypocrites, I think, to do that."

Dio replaced Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH in 1980, recording the "Heaven And Hell" and "Mob Rules" albums, plus "Live Evil", before leaving in 1982. He rejoined the group 10 years later for an album called "Dehumanizer", and again teamed with the group under the HEAVEN & HELL banner. HEAVEN & HELL released an album called "The Devil You Know" in 2009.

Ronnie passed away of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history. The singer was diagnosed with cancer in late 2009. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

The "Bowl For Ronnie" celebrity bowling party, the annual event benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, is set for Thursday, November 13, 2025. Taking place at PINZ Bowling Kitchen + Bar in Studio City, California, the event will once again be hosted by television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, who is heard on SiriusXM's 103 Faction Talk channel. "Bowl For Ronnie" will feature a celebrity bowling tournament and a raffle drawing for prizes and memorabilia. Last year's bowling event sold out well in advance and brought in more than $70,000 for the charity, whose mission is to raise awareness and much-needed funding for cancer research.

The evening of fun, food, and, of course, bowling with rockers and celebrities competing for trophies kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with open bowling and a VIP pre-party for lane sponsors, celebrities and their guests.

A very limited number of spectator tickets are still available from Eventbrite.

100% of the net proceeds from "Bowl For Ronnie" will go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. Lane sponsorships are now on sale, and participants are encouraged to gather friends, family and co-workers for the ultimate bowling team.

The PINZ Bowling Kitchen + Bar is located at 12655 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, California.

Video of new TRIVIUM drummer Alex Rüdinger (formerly of WHITECHAPEL) playing through the band's song "Bury Me With My Screams" can be seen below.

Late Monday night (October 27),Rüdinger took to his social media to share a photo of his current drum setup, and he included the following message: "Quick shot of the setup I'll be using on this run with @triviumband !

"Last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy (in a good way!). As [TRIVIUM] mentioned in their initial post [announcing Rüdinger's addition to the band], there's some history between us. Nearly 10 years ago, I was asked about playing with TRIVIUM, & it was honestly one of the most conflicting situations of my career. My band at the time, GOOD TIGER, had just launched, & we had just completed this crowdfunding campaign that raised us a ton of money to start this new band.

"I honestly didn't know what to do. Part of me was worried about how it would look — start this new band, then bail to join an already established band. That was definitely one thought that I had. But more than anything, at the time — I didn't want to let my friends down. The whole reason I did GT was because we were friends, first & foremost.

"I was totally upfront with GT — they even encouraged me to go & meet TRIVIUM. They didn't want me to leave, but they didn't want me to stay and regret it. So I did — I flew down to Florida, & spent some time with Matt, Corey, & Paolo.

"In the end, I made the decision that I thought was right, & not what was truly best for myself. If I had been honest with myself, the truth was that I wanted to do this back then. But that's not the decision that I made, & it's something I did in fact come to regret (quite a lot).

"But life goes on, & while I often looked back on it & wondered what might have been, you can't change the past. So I did my best to move on, & life took me where it took me.

"Then two weeks ago, that all changed. I saw that they parted ways with their drummer, I immediately reached out, & here I am.

"To say I'm thrilled to be doing this is truly an understatement. I feel as though I have an incredibly rare opportunity — a second chance at something that I always wanted. It's honestly quite surreal.

"I'm just incredibly thankful, excited, & can't wait to play these 13-14 songs that I've learned thus far (& in time, even more!).

"Thank you Matt, Corey, & Paolo for trusting me to do your music justice, & welcoming me (again) with such enthusiasm.

"That's all for now, ya'll - hope to see you at a show!

TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy chimed in below Alex's post: "Thank you so much Rudi-san. It took us a decade — but we're finally making music together. Here's to the future!"

Earlier this month, TRIVIUM parted ways with longtime drummer Alex Bent and replaced him with Rüdinger.

Rüdinger will sit behind the kit for TRIVIUM during the band's fall 2025 North American tour. He will also be part of the writing sessions for the next TRIVIUM album.

In a recent interview with Belgian Jasper, TRIVIUMbassist Paolo Gregoletto was asked what the process of going through another drummer change has been like for him personally, being one half of the band's rhythm section. He responded: "You've gotta start from square one again in a lot of ways because the first thing you've gotta do is get people up to speed on the music you've done, 'cause you're touring, probably, so that takes a bit of effort. I feel like it's made me a lot more aware of every aspect of our band because I know the drum parts pretty, pretty well, down to little, little things that I'll kind of bring up from time to time, like, 'Hey, actually, this part has this' blah, blah, blah. And I don't know — it's just something I've started to retain in my head. And also maybe it's because, as a bass player, you focus in on the rhythm a lot more than… I don't know if a guitar player wouldn't, but you focus in on the little things like that because you often are playing off of what they're doing."

Paolo continued: "Yeah, you just have to kind of pick back up, start again. I guess for us it's a lot easier, being a band for 20 years. We have a pretty established thing. We have our records. We know them really well. It's, like, we know who we are. It was harder going through that in the beginning, but now it's… I don't wanna say that we're used to it, because it's been nine years [since the last time we had to change drummers], so it's not something we were expecting, but you, I guess, can weather and handle these kind of things a lot better. I think being our age, that's part of it too. Maybe when you're younger, it's a lot more of an emotional thing. But I don't feel like that now. I just know what we've gotta do, and I wanna get to it and I wanna get to the tour. I wanna make sure this tour, for the people coming out, this is the best TRIVIUM show you've ever seen. And it's gotta be that level."

In a separate interview with Australia's Wall Of Sound, TRIVIUM guitarist Corey Beaulieu stated about the band's split with Bent: "It just kind of happened, and it was kind of a surprise. I don't think anyone was really expecting it. But it is what it is. When it all kind of went down, we all wished each other the best. There's no hard feelings. It was just kind of one of those things where it's, like, life changes paths. And it's all positive. We made three amazing records together. The [upcoming 'Struck Dead'] EP is amazing, which it will be his last thing. He started working on the [next TRIVIUM full-length] record with us, so hopefully when that's finished and done, he'll feel a part of that."

Corey continued: "When [Alex] came into the band, we had a great chemistry, a great writing team. I think all the music we did together is — hopefully the fans just are really excited about what was created in that time. And Alex, he's a great drummer, a great person and stuff, and I'm sure he's got plans for whatever his next chapter is."

Gregoletto told Thunder Underground about TRIVIUM's split with Bent:  "I don't feel like I want fans to be, like, Hey, okay, we're over it. We expect you to be over it,' kind of thing. I'm like, no. I'm, like, we made a lot of great music and there's a lot of history between us. He was almost in the band as long as Travis [Smith, former TRIVIUM drummer] was and almost made as many albums, I believe. So that's a pretty big chunk of our history right there. And I think 'The Sin And The Sentence', of the stuff we all did together, is maybe one of my favorite records we've done. And I think the [upcoming] EP ['Struck Dead'], too — if that's the end of the chapter, I'm, like, that's a great ending right there, 'cause I think it's a very, very cool EP. And I can say without a doubt, I feel that the albums and EP has been an incredible run. I don't feel we had a real weak point. I can't say that's something I feel like for our whole career. So I'm, like, I feel very proud of that. It was a lot of effort and work and everyone's part."

At this year's Aftershock festival, Paolo told Baby Huey and Chasta of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone about Bent: "We've had a great nine years together. I feel like it's kind of a weird thing because, obviously, being in a band together, but I feel like because we've all had families and stuff, there's a tighter connection there that even just what people see. So I think it's one of those things, we all were kind of sad, but at the same time, we said, 'Alex, we want you to kind of make the statement. You kind of lead how you'd like to handle all this stuff.' And I didn't wanna put words in his mouth or say whatever. He made the statement. I feel like we ended on great terms. And that's really kind of it. I mean, there's no juicier CRADLE OF FILTH [-style] drama [with former hired musicians sharing their grievances online]. And, again, it's one of those things where we wanted him to make a statement."

Paolo continued: "In the past we've always been very, like — we don't really like to get into any behind-the-scenes stuff with that. And, of course, we've had changes before, but we felt like in this instance, rather than just saying 'we're parting' or whatever, we [told Alex], like, 'Well, you've been around for so long, our fans would wanna hear from you.' And so that made it more important to us to be, like, 'Okay, you are gonna say whatever you'd like to say.' We didn't [tell Alex], 'You can't say this or that.' And then just give it 24 hours."

When Bent announced his departure from TRIVIUM on October 3, he said in a statement: "I am beyond grateful for the incredible past nine years with TRIVIUM — filled with unforgettable moments, music, and friendships that I'll always carry with me. I'm so proud of every record and tour we created together, and I know TRIVIUM will continue to dominate the world; they'll always have my support.

"While this chapter has come to a close, this is by no means the end of my path as a musician. I'm excited for this new chapter, and I look forward to continuing to create, perform, and share music in new ways.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Your encouragement means the world."

In December 2016, TRIVIUM parted ways with Paul Wandtke and welcomed Bent, a former member of BATTLECROSS and DECREPIT BIRTH who had previously played with TESTAMENT as a fill-in for that band's longtime drummer Gene Hoglan.

"Struck Dead" will arrive on October 31 via longtime label Roadrunner. The effort was produced by TRIVIUM and recorded with Mark Lewis at the band's Hangar Studios in Orlando, Florida. It was mixed and mastered by Josh Wilbur.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alex Rüdinger (Rudi) (@alexrudinger)

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has praised "Ozzy: No Escape From Now", the new documentary chronicling the final four years of BLACK SABBATH legend Ozzy Osbourne's life.

"Ozzy: No Escape from Now", released earlier this month on Paramount+, looks at Osbourne's last six years, from his battle with Parkinson's to his farewell at the "Back To The Beginning" concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom, including behind-the-scenes moments at the gig.

Directed by Tania Alexander, and produced by Echo Velvet in partnership with the Osbourne family and MTV Entertainment Studios, the two-hour film includes interviews with Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon and children Aimée, Kelly and Jack Osbourne.

On Monday (October 27),Sixx took to his social media to share the "Ozzy: No Escape From Now" artwork and description from Paramount+, and he included the following message: "This documentary it's so raw and real just as Sharon and Ozzy lived their life and filled with so much laughter.

"I'm beyond grateful that S&O took us under their wings and taught us the ropes and broke our band international.

"I'm always here for you Sharon and family. You do know I loved Ozzy with the deepest part of my heart.

"I'm so sorry for the family and friend's loss. Always-"

This past September, Sixx spoke to Billboard about MÖTLEY CRÜE's absence from the "Back To The Beginning" farewell concert, which took place July 5 in Birmingham, England, two weeks before Osbourne passed away at the age of 76. "It was something we were just unable to do… We couldn't do it even if we wanted to," Sixx, who watched the streaming concert online, explained, referring to CRÜE frontman Vince Neil's recovery from a then-unspecified medical procedure, which the singer recently revealed was a stroke that occurred late last December.

Sixx went on to say that Osbourne played an instrumental role in the CRÜE's career when Ozzy took the Los Angeles hard rockers on the road as his opening act in 1984.

"Honestly, they broke our band, Ozzy and Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager]," Sixx said. "Sharon saw a band that something was happening with and it was a perfect fit for Ozzy, and we just became so close and Ozzy took us around the world and just did everything for us…and of course all the wild and fun stories that is Ozzy. I'll forever be in debt to Sharon and Ozzy for that."

Circling back to the "Back To The Beginning" concert, Nikki said: "And, man, I gotta tell ya — Ozzy, way to fuckin' go out with a bang. He really did it, and everybody showed up because they loved him and supported him. Unfortunately, we don't have him anymore, but we got one of the greatest rock stars of all time who came while we were here on this planet and went back to the fuckin' stars, man. It's like, 'I came down there and I kicked some fuckin' ass.' Thank you, Ozzy, every day for the opportunity to have a career."

It is not clear if MÖTLEY CRÜE was invited to perform at "Back To The Beginning", which featured METALLICA and GUNS N' ROSES, who paid tribute to Osbourne and the original BLACK SABBATH at what was billed as their final show. The charity gig featuring the four original BLACK SABBATH members — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward — also included performances from SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS and more, with RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello serving as the musical director. The event featured all-star jams that included AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler, SMASHING PUMPKINS' Billy Corgan, Morello, Sammy Hagar and more.

Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that what little he remembers of the '84 tour with the CRÜE was pretty wild. "The 1984 tour was the most craziest tour I think I've ever done in my life," he said. "I don't remember it, but I remember I used to wake up every morning or come around thinking, 'What the fuck went on last night?' I mean, everybody keeps asking me, 'Hey, Ozzy, did you really snort a line of ants?' You know what, the answer to that is: I don't know, but it's very possible."

When asked by Page Six if the story in the MÖTLEY CRÜE biopic "The Dirt" about Ozzy allegedly drinking his own pee and snorting a line of ants was true, Sixx reconfirmed it. "Of course," he said. "We were a wild young band and he kind of took us under his wing. We thought we could compete with that, but you can't with Ozzy. He won."

Back in April 2019, guitarist Jake E. Lee, who played guitar for Osbourne on the 1984 tour, disputed the Ozzy ant-snorting story, telling Tone-Talk: "I was there, and I never saw ants. I was right there. He snorted a little spider. There was a not a trail of fucking ants there. Tommy [Lee, CRÜE drummer] says it, Nikki says it, Ozzy says it — they were fucked up. I was not. I was just trying to get a fucking sun tan. That's all I was doing. They were getting fucked up. Ozzy snorted a little tiny stupid spider that was crawling across. There was no ants — there was no fucking ants. I don't care what the other guys say — there was no ants."

In October 2023, Ozzy's son Jack asked Sharon during their "The Osbournes" podcast if it's true that Ozzy snorted a line of ants. Sharon said: "I was not there, thank God. I used to try and stay away from MÖTLEY when they were with Ozzy. And I don't know. I honestly don't know. All I know is that I think it made their movie. And I wanna know why, now we're on the subject, of why, when they advertise their movie on Netflix, it's a picture of a guy imitating Ozzy. Why isn't the ad campaign a picture of MÖTLEY CRÜE? Why is it a picture of your father?" Jack said: "Well, I know, I know the answer to that. 'Cause Ozzy Osbourne's bigger than MÖTLEY CRÜE", to which Ozzy replied: "No. No. No. Stop. Stop. Stop. Let's move on." Sharon continued: " The thing is I just think it's an invasion." She then went on to call Sixx an "asshole." After Ozzy said, "No, he's not," Sharon countered with, "Yes, he fucking is."

Pressed by Jack if Ozzy did in fact snort the line of ants, Sharon said, "I say no." But Ozzy claimed otherwise. "Yes. Yes, I did," he said. "I was there. I did it. [In] my nostril… I was drunk and I did it."

A short time later Sixx responded to Sharon's comments, writing on Twitter: "We had a lot of love and respect for Sharon. We love Ozzy. So when people comment on stuff calling her a plastic granny tranny I have it deleted. Not sure what she's upset about now but let's not perpetuated her comments by posting negativity about her."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikki Sixx (@nikkisixxpixx)

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy Award-winning guitarist Peter Frampton will record a special for the 50th anniversary of his landmark album "Frampton Comes Alive!" on November 8 in Nashville. "Frampton Comes Alive 50th Hits And More" will be taped at Analog at Hutton Hotel in front of a live audience airing on public television and YouTube.

Tickets for the taping are already sold out.

Fans will be treated to a rare and intimate evening with one of rock's most enduring artists, celebrating the golden anniversary of his most iconic album. The special will feature performances beloved classics and career-spanning hits in an exclusive live setting.

The special arrives on the heels of the legendary musician's extensive "Let's Do It Again!" headline tour, with its third leg wrapping up in Orlando on November 4. Despite announcing a farewell run in 2019 due to a diagnosis of the degenerative disease inclusion-body myositis, Frampton has spent the last few years touring the country over, appearing on stages across America, sitting in with the house band at "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Frampton is one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. In 2007, Frampton won a Grammy for "Best Pop Instrumental Album" for "Fingerprints" and in 2014 was inducted into the Musicians Hall Of Fame. He received the prestigious Les Paul Innovation Award at NAMM's TEC Awards in 2019 and most recently received the 2024 Les Paul Spirit Award at the Gibson Garage Nashville. Last fall, the iconic guitarist was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland.

In 2020, Frampton was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, his autobiography, "Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir", debuted on The New York Times Bestsellers list and he appeared on Dolly Parton's latest album, "Rockstar", as the only artist featured on two tracks.

In 2023, Frampton unveiled "Frampton@50" on Intervention Records, a numbered limited-edition vinyl box set featuring Frampton's essential 1972-1975 studio releases "Wind Of Change", "Frampton's Camel" and "Frampton". He also received The Myositis Association's Heroes in the Fight 2023 Patient Ambassador Award and unveiled his historic performance at London's Royal Albert Hall as a live album via UMe.

After 50 years, "Frampton Comes Alive!" remains one of the top-selling live records of all time, selling over 17 million worldwide.

Can’t believe it’s been 50 years since Frampton Comes Alive! We’re marking the anniversary with a special PBS taping in...

Posted by Peter Frampton on Monday, October 27, 2025

The Memnoch's Curse channel on YouTube has uploaded video of the entire 2025 "Above Ground 4" benefit concert, which was held this past Sunday, October 26 at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California. The bill included special guests Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR),Billy Idol, DMC (RUN-DMC),Rick Springfield, Sully Erna (GODSMACK),Elliot Easton (THE CARS),Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME),Josh Freese (NINE INCH NAILS),B-Real (CYPRESS HILL),Billy Howerdel (A PERFECT CIRCLE),Matt McJunkins (A PERFECT CIRCLE),Gilby Clarke (GUNS N' ROSES),Marc Labelle (DIRTY HONEY),Scott Shriner, Fred Coury (CINDERELLA),Jesse Hughes (EAGLES OF DEATH METAL),along with Donovan Leitch, Franky Perez, Erik Eldenius, Paul Trudeau, Derek Day and the "Above Ground" singers: Laura Mace, Kitten Kuron and Erica Canales.

The "Above Ground 4" show honored the groundbreaking self-titled debut albums by the NEW YORK DOLLS (1973) and THE CARS (1978),along with a special star-studded encore.

Originally set for January 2025, the rescheduled show marked the fourth iteration of the event which again raised awareness and funds for mental health and suicide prevention. The "Above Ground" team made the decision to postpone the event until later in the year following the horrific wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles earlier this year.

Featured songs in video below, plus time stamps and performer details:

NEW YORK DOLLS (1973 debut album):

00:00:00 Personality Crisis (ft. Corey Taylor, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Erik Eldenius & Paul Trudeau)
00:04:07 Looking For A Kiss (ft. Corey Taylor, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins & Erik Eldenius)
00:08:20 Vietnamese Baby (ft. Franky Perez, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins & Erik Eldenius)
00:14:14 Lonely Planet Boy (ft. Billy Morrison, Steve Stevens, Derek Day, Matt McJunkins, Erik Eldenius & Paul Trudeau)
00:19:52 Frankenstein (ft. Derek Day, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Erik Eldenius & Paul Trudeau)
00:26:02 Trash (ft. Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins & Erik Eldenius)
00:29:51 Bad Girl (ft. Marc LaBelle, Gilby Clarke, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins & Erik Eldenius)
00:33:26 Subway Train (ft. Marc LaBelle, Gilby Clarke, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins & Erik Eldenius)
00:39:00 Pills (ft. Gilby Clarke, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Erik Eldenius, Paul Trudeau & Franky Perez)
00:42:39 Private World (ft. Jesse Hughes, Gilby Clarke, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Erik Eldenius, Paul Trudeau & Franky Perez)
00:47:23 Jet Boy (ft. Corey Taylor, Gilby Clarke, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins & Erik Eldenius)

THE CARS (1978 debut album):

00:52:08 Good Times Roll (ft. Nuno Bettencourt, Billy Morrison, Scott Shriner, Fred Coury & Paul Trudeau)
00:56:40 My Best Friend's Girl (ft. Nuno Bettencourt, Billy Morrison, ???, Scott Shriner, Fred Coury & Paul Trudeau)
01:01:23 Just What I Needed (ft. Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Scott Shriner, Fred Coury & Paul Trudeau)
01:06:00 I'm In Touch With Your World (ft. Franky Perez, Billy Morrison, ???, Scott Shriner, Fred Coury & Paul Trudeau)
01:10:04 Don't Cha Stop (ft. Donovan Leitch, Nuno Bettencourt, Billy Morrison, ???, Scott Shriner, Fred Coury & Paul Trudeau)
01:14:50 Bye Bye Love (ft. Sully Erna, Billy Howerdel, Billy Morrison, Scott Shriner, Josh Freese & Paul Trudeau)
01:19:54 You're All I've Got Tonight (ft. Corey Taylor, Billy Howerdel, Billy Morrison, Scott Shriner, Josh Freese & Paul Trudeau)
01:25:03 Moving In Stereo (ft. Corey Taylor, Elliot Easton, Billy Morrison, Scott Shriner, Josh Freese & Paul Trudeau)
01:30:51 All Mixed Up (ft. Rick Springfield, Elliot Easton, Billy Morrison, Scott Shriner, Josh Freese & Paul Trudeau)

Encore:

01:36:35 Jessie's Girl (snippet ft. Rick Springfield & Nuno Bettencourt)
01:37:22 You Really Got Me (ft. Rick Springfield, Nuno Bettencourt, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Erik Eldenius, Paul Trudeau & Billy Idol)
01:41:37 Rebel Yell (ft. Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Erik Eldenius & Paul Trudeau)
01:48:30 Rock Superstar (ft. B-Real, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Josh Freese & Paul Trudeau)
01:55:11 It's Tricky (ft. DMC, Donovan Leitch, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Josh Freese & Paul Trudeau)
01:59:08 Walk This Way (ft. DMC, Derek Day, Nuno Bettencourt, Billy Morrison, Matt McJunkins, Josh Freese & Paul Trudeau)

Founded in 2018 by Dave Navarro, Billy Morrison and manager Rick Canny, Above Ground is a registered 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to raising funds for and awareness to the issues of mental health and suicide prevention. Since 2018, Dave and Billy have helped to raise more than $500,000 for MusiCares via various fundraising opportunities.

Since its launch, "Above Ground" has featured Navarro and Morrison alongside a star-studded lineup of their friends, including Jack Black, Corey Taylor, Anthony Kiedis, Juliette Lewis, Gavin Rosdale, Jerry Harrison, Courtney Love, Billy Idol, Al Jourgensen, Steve Stevens, and many more. The events have highlighted full-length albums from legendary acts including ADAM AND THE ANTS, Lou Reed, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, David Bowie, THE STOOGES and SEX PISTOLS.

MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S. based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts.

MusiCares is here to support the music community during times of disaster, such as the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. Music professionals affected by these events can reach out for assistance with costs related to evacuation and relocation, damage to music instruments, equipment, vehicle, and spaces, medical care, mental health services, funeral costs, and other essential living expenses.

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Steve And Rik's POTcast", hosted by Steve Whiteman (of KIX fame) and Rik Parks, EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt reflected on his participation in the "Back To The Beginning" concert, which marked Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH's final performance. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When I got a call to do that, which I was, like, 'Oh my God, I get to go and play two songs.' And everybody was doing two songs, and [they] hit [me] up, like, 'Hey, can you do a Randy [Rhoads] song and 'Bark At The Moon' stuff, 'cause you're able to play this stuff?' I'm, like, 'Great. I'm on it.' And then I get a call, like, three or four days later, 'Can we throw three more at you?' And I kept going, like, 'Wait, what's going on?' They go, 'Oh, Wolfgang Van Halen just dropped out.' I'm, like, 'Well, what are the songs?' Yeah, he's dropping out 'cause he's smart. Nobody wants to play those fucking Randy Rhoads or Jake E. Lee solos, or whatever it is, nobody wants to fucking do it because if you go down in flames on that stage with Ozzy there and all your peers watching you, your career's over. So then I was at five songs, and I'm sitting here in this room and I'm going, 'Okay, let me fucking decipher this shit.' And then they [went], 'Can we throw another three [songs at you]?' I ended up playing 12 fucking songs. And you know me, I'm, like, yeah, but instead of learning 'em, I was, like, 'Well, I gotta fucking own this shit. I gotta put the time in [and go] all in. You gotta fucking get your shit together."

Nuno continued: "I didn't even know it was even [gonna be] streamed [globally] at the time. I thought it was just in front of the audience [at the stadium], which is big enough anyways. But then two days before, my manager was, like, 'Oh, by the way, they're streaming this globally.' I'm, like, 'What?' I'm, like, 'Wait a second. What?' [He was, like], 'Yeah, [there's gonna be] millions of people watching.' I'm, like, 'Great.' I'm playing all these other songs I'd never played before on stage with a band that you've never played with before. And so, once that happened, you realize that you walk off the stage and you're doing it — never mind the rehearsals. You show up, and you don't know that at all the rehearsals all those artists are gonna be there, and they're just sitting on the floor watching you to see if you can actually play this shit or not. And the phones are up. And the reason it was so important to do the homework and to actually own the songs and put in the hours as if… What was said to me by — I don't know if you guys know who [producer and YouTuber] Rick Beato is or whatever. but he said to me, he called me up, he goes, 'Everybody was raving about your performance.' But he goes, 'One thing I noticed is you didn't just learn the stuff. You performed it.' And he goes, 'That's what stuck out for you more than everybody else.' And I said, 'But I just did what I normally do.' I didn't try to go, and I didn't even know if anybody's gonna notice. I just wanted to respect the songs, know them and show up and know my shit and fucking go all in and do what I do. And also sing, do the harmonies, do everything that nobody's expecting you to do. And I sat in this room — instead of learning it, maybe doing an hour on each song, I was in here for like weeks, for fucking four or five hours a day, standing up, performing the fuckers, knowing it all. Not sitting in the chair, 'cause that's easy, but like down low where it's 20 times harder to play down by your fucking knees, 'cause it looks better. And I just showed up and just fucking went all in. And all of a sudden I was, like, 'Wait, what just happened? Everybody's fucking [raving about it].' And all I did was be me. All I did was — do what you do, show up and fucking deliver. And that's it."

Last month, Nuno spoke to Page Six about what it meant for him to honor Ozzy with a medley of Osbourne's greatest hits on September 7 at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards alongside AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, and Yungblud. He said: "Listen, that means everything, especially my 15-year-old self as a guitar player coming up and listening to rock and metal. He was a godfather to us. He started it in the early '70s, and that's how rock became heavier and heavier. And for him, what he did with BLACK SABBATH, and then be out of there and have a whole other career as Ozzy Osbourne, the solo artist, and then be a reality star after that, this guy's affected culture in a way and touched everybody in so many different ways. So it means everything. Especially having been part of [Ozzy's final concert] in Birmingham [in early July], and going up and performing and actually talking to him and saying goodbye. We didn't know [he was going to die so soon after that] — I mean, we knew it, but we didn't know it. And so that was really special."

Regarding what it was like to take part in the "Back To The Beginning" concert, Nuno said: "When I was 15 and his guitar player [Randy Rhoads] passed in a bad plane accident in 1982 or '81, I believed when I was 14 that I was gonna replace him. And there was an ad to send a cassette in. So I did — I put a cassette together at 15, sent it in. 'This is my gig. I'm gonna get it.' Of course, I didn't. Nobody ever called. Cut to 12 years later, I'm opening for AEROSMITH with EXTREME in London, and my booking is coming in. [He said], 'Sharon [Ozzy's wife and manager] just called. Ozzy wants you. He wants you to be in the band.' This was 1995, '96. And I said no. I was in a band that we were just up and coming with EXTREME and we had hits out. But the last words we said to each other when we took the big group photo [at 'Back To The Beginning'] and I was at his feet, I grabbed his hand saying, 'Thank you for everything and thank you, Ozzy, for what you mean to me.' And he pulls me in by the hand and he goes, 'You were the only guitar player who said no to me.' But he laughed. He goes, 'I love you.' And he laughs. He goes, 'Thank you for being here' to honor him. And I was, like, 'Thank you.' I said, 'Thank you for everything.'"

Nuno also talked about the vibe between all the musicians who were involved in "Back To The Beginning", saying: "You know what really, really, really blew my mind, is that when you get GUNS N' ROSES and METALLICA — they're the biggest bands in the world — to come together to do something… I've been part of those things before, tributes, and it's always like everybody's egos, they're rock stars. All of a sudden, every member of every band is in the same room. It was like heavy metal summer camp. We were all a bunch of kids again, 'cause Ozzy was like our dad or our godfather, like, 'You guys behave.' But everybody put egos at the door. It was a hug fest. There was so much love, and you could feel it on that stage. Nobody was complaining and everybody was just helping each other out and supporting each other. I've been doing this for 40 years. I've never seen that on a tour anywhere else where everybody was just like a big community and big rock family. And that's what Ozzy does to everybody for us."

Ozzy's final concert on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom saw him and his fellow original SABBATH bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward perform four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. The festival served as a tribute to the legendary heavy metal act, including additional performances from such other groups as METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, SLAYER, TOOL, PANTERA and ALICE IN CHAINS. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.