This past July in Toronto at The Rockpile, Canadian thrashers Korrosive were opening support for legendary speed metal maniacs Exciter. During this epic show night, the band took the opportunity to capture the whole live experience for their fans. There were no corrections, overdubs, or tweaks made to the video. It is Korrosive being pure, raw, and unfiltered.


The band comments:


"We like to thank our guitarist Jack Neila for directing and editing the video. He used five cameras to capture the whole show in glorious 4K, complete with stage diving, windmilling, and a massive wall-of-death. We like to also thank Jake Disman for recording the audio directly from the soundboard, and our producer Ben Erikson (he did both our albums) for the mix. The sound is crisp, clear, and heavy. Enjoy the headbanging!"







Korrosive recently released their latest album, Toxic Apokalypse, via CDN Records (digital and CD) along with vinyl and cassette coming in 2023 (release date to be determined).


 


Toxic Apokalypse follows their first full-length 2021's Kaustic Hordes and the 2019 EP Melting From Within. Featuring eight assaulting bangers, each song on the album is quite different in a way from each other, and yet, still uniquely Korrosive. They push each track with speed and extremity, from “Fatal Strike” that has a ton of blast beats and solos, yet is still unmistakably thrash, to “Radioaktive Scourge”, filled with pure aggression, unlike anything they’ve released before. From its speed, the lyrics, and the sheer intensity, this song may be the shortest track on the record, but makes the largest impact and it’s over before you know it. And also strongly recommended is “Hail The Hellfire”, perhaps the band's anthem to the entire Toxic Apokalypse album. Written as a reflection of the period when the full-length was being composed, this track discusses the brutality of war and the end result of each and every individual involved in its cause, regardless of side.


 


 


The band adds:


 


 


"Diabolical, fast, unforgiving Armageddon. From slow passages, mid-tempo bangers, hyper-fast blast beats, and the occasional odd-time signature, it’s a ride in extreme thrash unlike anything before. Toxic Apokalypse is an album that will hit you hard, fast, and leave you with a 'what the f*ck just happened?' feeling."


 


 





 


 


Lyrically, the music sets the overall tone for how the lyrics are written and substance. Songs deal with topics of science fiction, Armageddon, and “what if” scenarios. The album art was created by the infamous Ed Repka (Dark Angel, Death, Hirax, Megadeth, Suicidal Angels, Venom).


 


 


"Typically, the way we write songs is to have each song done or be in the middle of the writing process, and I would create something out of that. It is rare for us that lyrics get written first before the song is made," adds Zarei.


 


 


One thing that the mosh pit can always expect from Korrosive is the energy they bring to their shows.


 


 


"I always think of a show, regardless of venue, as a performance that is meant to capture the crowd. And as a band, Korrosive always exudes that level of intensity during our shows."


 


 


Recommended for fans of Sodom, Kreator, Death, and Sepultura, Toxic Apokalypse was produced by Ben Erikson with mastering done by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Kreator, Cro-Mags, Municipal Waste, Soulfly).


 


 


“Radioaktive Scourge” lyric video:


 


 





 


 


(Photo – Michael Jari Davidson)


 

Accept bassist Martin Motnik recently released his second solo album, Dream Chaser. He has checked in with the following update:


"It's been an amazing year, and it's going out with another bang: my album is finally available on vinyl! Thanks to the generous help by Craig Lindsley of Lindsley Records I've been able to put this bass-heavy music on heavy 180g vinyl records, for best audio quality! High fidelity for low frequencies!


And right now I'm offering to make customized shirts that were previously reserved for my amazing crowdfunding supporters. I will personally customize your shirt with your name so you can tell the world that you're a Dream Chaser too!"




Go to this location to purchase Dream Chaser on vinyl LP and the customized shirts.





Dream Chaser consists of 10 bass-centric songs, with each song featuring a solo by a prolific guest musician. Artists joining Mornik on the record include Joe Satriani, Wolf Hoffmann (Accept), Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS, Grand Funk Railroad), Frank Gambale (Chick Corea), Trev Lukather (Steve Lukather's son) Andy Timmons (ex-Danger Danger), Mattias IA Eklundh (Freak Kitchen), Tim Tucker (United States Marine Band), Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck), and Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater, Sons Of Apollo).


 


 


Like on his first solo album, Bass Invader, with Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr All-Star Band, David Lee Roth), Motnik is again relying on world-class drumming, this time by Christopher Williams (Accept, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley), Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Carlos Santana, Chicago, Steve Winwood), Joe Babiak (Michael Angelo Batio, Attitudes & Altitude) and Bissonette.


 


 


Motnik: "On my new album I thought that every song should feature a guest solo, ideally each one played by a different guest. That artist should also be someone who was influential to my musical development or who meant a lot to me on a musical or personal level. Basically, I wanted to have an album where I’m playing with my heroes."


 


 


Motnik released the album on his own record label, Kintom Music. Stay tuned for updates.


 


 





 


 

Classless Act, one of rock’s most buzzed-about new bands, launches a brand new acoustic music video for the LP track, “All That We Are”. The video, which provides an all-acoustic take on the amped-up, energetic original track, was shot earlier this year, live with no overdubs, at Hollywood’s Sunset Sound, the studio where the band recorded most of its debut album, Welcome to The Show (Better Noise Music).





“All That We Are” is one of the five unplugged song/video collection, due out December 16, that also includes acoustic versions of the album’s stand-out singles, “Classless Act, “This Is For You,” Time To Bleed,” and “Storm Before The Calm.”  You can check out the “All That We Are” unplugged video below.




Said vocalist Derek Day, "'All That We Are’ - is it enough for us to survive? This is a question, a concept we found ourselves asking after all we have been through over the past two and a half years. Hell, the past seven or so years. We’ve been in a wee bit of a less-than-sunny time in our history. So what are we gonna do? Grow or go? Everyone needs to decide. We’ve got a show tonight, so I know what we’re doing!"





2022 has been a true breakthrough year for Classless Act, from having their second-ever road trek be supporting Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard on 2022’s biggest tour, the $173.5M grossing Stadium Tour, receiving over-the-top reviews for their debut album and live shows in North America, breaking into international markets with feature coverage in major music publications in Italy, the UK, Brazil, Australia, Finland, Poland, France, Spain, Romania, Russia, Czech Republic, and more, and having their vocalist, Derek Day, invited to perform two songs with Foo Fighters, Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx at the L.A. Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert.


Classless Act - vocalist Day, guitarists Dane Pieper and Griffin Tucker, bassist Franco Gravante, and drummer Chuck McKissock - is currently wrapping up 2022 with a 19-city tour comprised of support dates with Giovanni & The Hired Guns, and headline shows; upcoming dates are below.


December
2 - Destin, FL - Club LA
4 - Jacksonville, FL - Underbelly*
7 - Orlando, FL - House Of Blues
8 - Chattanooga, TN - Barrelhouse Ballroom
9 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom
10 - Johnson City, TN - Capone’s
11 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd Music House*
13 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
14 - Asbury Park, NJ - Wonder Bar
16 - Syracuse, NY - Lost Horizon
17 - Harrisburg, PA - Stage On Herr
18 - Richmond, VA - The Broadberry
21 - Kansas City, MO - Lucia*
22 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep*
30 - North Hollywood, CA - Knitting Factory*
31 - San Diego, CA - Beaumont’s*


* Headline Shows


(Photo - Travis Shinn)

Japanese power/speed metal sensations Lovebites, with the new formation welcoming new bassist Fami, will release its fourth original album on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 via Victor Records.


The new album, entitled Judgement Day, which seems to hint something, will contain ten new songs, and was mixed and mastered by Finnish masterminds, Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila, who have worked on all of the band's previous studio albums.


The cover art of the album features the wolf, which has appeared on all previous albums as the incarnation of the band, again on this album.







The limited editions A and B will have a documentary video of the auditions including an interview with the band on the day of the bassist auditions and an interview with Fami, who was still one of the finalists then. They will also include the four full studio sessions of "The Hammer Of Wrath," "Golden Destination," and "Shadowmaker," as well as "Bravehearted," the first song the five members played together after Fami joined the band. The limited edition C is a two-disc set with a CD containing instrumental versions of ten songs. The standard edition will also include one of a total of six illustration stickers, one for each member plus a secret one, at random.


And the first live concert with its new line-up will be held on Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12, 2023, right after the release of the album, at EX Theater Roppongi in Tokyo for two days.

In 2010 the Rikets world collapsed as vocalist Scott Rose's health had suddenly took a turn for the worse, and he eventually "took his ball and went home.”


Initially penned in 2014, the concept of "Misery" was born and then left to sit on a hard drive, unmixed and left in oblivion. Fast forward to 2020, losing family and friends during the pandemic, Scott felt it was time to fire up the writing machine and deliver the goods once again.







Going thru the pandemic as a frontliner, Rose had become increasingly pissed off, and one phone call with good friend Nic Bell inspired Rose to team up and get back in the studio along with Ben Schigel (Spider Studios) yet again. They re-recorded "Misery" to its final state, as well as the base skeletons for 5 more songs slated to be released thru Godsize Records.


With "Misery" being the first piece of metal music Scott had written in 10 years, he felt there was more to say and more creative doors needed to be opened.


"'Misery' is a journey into chaos and love lost coupled with a creepy sci-fi tale of how man and machine are fused together in bastard form," says Rose. "The transhumanism agenda is ruining our society"


The lyric "I am just bile, wires and disgust", is not far off from Rose's everyday reality, as he is constantly hooked into IV machines, and has been brought back to life not once, but multiple times now.


Today, "Misery" finally sees the light of day, as Rikets prepares for more blistering single releases leading up to a fire breathing new E.P., ironically titled Tales From The Construct Alpha.


Rikets embarks on a new chapter of dark synthwave, fused with alt-metal, which is right in line with the bands signature sound. The All American Death Cult once again has re-emerged, with explosive new material set to infect the masses in 2023.

Invictus, the solo project led by Maurizio Iacono, have released a video for "Eagles", featured on the band's debut full-length, Unstoppable, out now via MNRK Heavy.


Comments Iacono of the band’s latest video, “‘Eagles’ is one of the first songs that me and Chris Clancy wrote. It was put together during the baby stages of this band’s life, so it's an important track. The theme around it is about the military doing their duty for our country and our mistakes of not taking good care of these heroes when they get back home. Most of them need help and we just don't do enough to deliver proper care.”







The sound of Invictus resonates deeply with all those who forged themselves in the fire of life’s obstacles. Conceived as an unflinching examination of fury and determination, Invictus explores the depths of struggle, frustration, and perseverance that shaped Iacono into the man he is today.


Well-respected as the singer of Kataklysm and Ex Deo, head of Hard Impact Artist Management, founder of Distortion Music Group, and co-owner of hard-and-heavy booking agency Continental Touring, Iacono delivers dynamic new layers of heaviness and melody with his latest creative vehicle. A Latin epithet for various Roman deities, “Invictus” translates to “unconquered” or “invincible,” a theme put forward throughout Iacono’s latest output. The 11 songs that comprise Unstoppable offer an unflinching view of an unbreakable spirit, examined through the lens of ambitious, unapologetic heavy music. Iacono executed his vision alongside longtime collaborator J-F Dagenais (guitarist for Kataklysm and Ex Deo) and producer/main songwriter Chris Clancy (Mutiny Within). Powerhouse drummer Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc., Inhuman Condition) rounded out the record with a blistering performance. Iacono got to know Clancy, who often works alongside Colin Richardson and Andy Sneap, while making Kataklysm’s fourteenth album, 2020’s Unconquered.


Lyrically, the self-made, free-thinking singer reached further inward for Invictus, summoning a fearless power destined to provoke and inspire those disenfranchised by modern times. Invictus acts as armor against manipulation and disinformation from a stance more personal than political.


“It’s a record about everyday struggle because I’ve always been a fighter,” Iacono reasons. “It’s about the emotional impact of everything happening in our world, which inspired this anger in me and a need to express the importance of standing for what we know is true in our hearts. It’s a hybrid between that and revisiting things from my childhood that built me as a person.”


Unstoppable can be ordered here.





Unstoppable tracklisting:


"You Will Know Who I Am"
"Eagles"
"Bleed Me Out"
"Exiled"
"Get Up"
"Weaponized"
"3656"
"Ghost Of My Father"
"Darkest Of Enemies"
"American Outcast"
"Keeping The Wolves At Bay"


"Bleed Me Out" lyric video:





"Get Up" video:





"Exiled” video:





(Photo - Deidra Kling)

On March 10, the 25th anniversary edition of Blackmore's Night's Shadow Of The Moon will be released via earMusic. This incredible album was lovingly restored, remastered and remixed after the original master tapes were discovered. Find a lyric video for "Shadow Of The Moon" (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session) below.


Released back in 1997, it was a groundbreaking, radical departure from Ritchie Blackmore's previous work, but ultimately became something of a milestone in his career. Candice Night's beautiful voice and gift for storytelling complement the music perfectly, creating a timeless album.


Blackmore’s Night were founded in 1997 by legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and award-winning lyricist and singer Candice Night to stage and explore their love for traditional Medieval and folk-rock music. Together, they created a band that like very few others is a prime example of truthfulness and creative integrity.




The band’s debut album Shadow Of The Moon (1997) was not only Blackmore’s deliberate radical cut from his previous life as celebrated rockstar in Deep Purple and Rainbow; it was a ground-breaking statement of his artistic ideals: mainly acoustic music, influenced by the songs of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance with a touch of genius that made them sound contemporary. Shadow Of The Moon was a milestone album. It encompasses everything that Blackmore’s Night stand for to this day: beautiful melodies and warm atmospheres that are able to reach the soul as well as joyful songs to dance to and to celebrate.


The 25th Anniversary Edition of Shadow Of The Moon was converted in HD audio from the original recording, and it has been fully remixed, allowing the original performance to shine in its original glory. The original iconic artwork has been refreshed and reworked to celebrate the anniversary. Two previously unreleased acoustic recordings will be part of this reissue: “Spirit Of The Sea” and “Shadow Of The Moon”, both recorded in an intimate home session by Candice and Ritchie in 2022. All physical first print editions will also carry an exclusive “Shadow Of The Moon” documentary on DVD as bonus.


“It’s hard to believe that 25 years have gone by since the snowy nights spent by the fireplace writing these songs. Much has changed since those early days, but the magic of the music still shines as brightly as it did back then. We feel truly blessed to have been able to bring these songs to the world, and do so again, in this remixed reissue proving they truly do stand the test of time. For 25 years we have graced historical venues stages worldwide and now we are able to revisit again, with you, this beautiful version of “Shadow Of The Moon”. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed revisiting those early days. We find that the songs are still timeless...” - Candice Night & Ritchie Blackmore





CD tracklisting:


"Shadow Of The Moon" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"The Clock Ticks On" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Be Mine Tonight" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Play Minstrel Play" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Ocean Gypsy" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Minstrel Hall" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Magical World" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Writing On The Wall" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Renaissance Faire" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Memmingen" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"No Second Chance" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Mond Tanz" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Spirit Of The Sea" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Greensleeves" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Wish You Were Here" (25th Anniversary New Mix)
"Shadow Of The Moon" (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session)
"Spirit Of The Sea" (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session)


Bonus-DVD:


- Documentary: The story of “Shadow Of The Moon” (30 min)
- Music Video Clips “Shadow Of The Moon”, “No Second Chance” & “Renaissance Faire” (with optional audio commentary by Candice Night & Ritchie Blackmore)


"Shadow Of The Moon" (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session) lyric video:





"Shadow Of The Moon" (25th Anniversary New Mix) lyric video:





Trailer:

In a new interview with Conversaciones Necias, former QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist Geoff Tate was asked if he has given any thought to his eventual retirement. He responded: "I think I'll keep traveling and singing songs until I can't do it anymore. I really enjoy it. It's a wonderful lifestyle, and I'm very fortunate and very blessed to still be in good health and able to do it.

"People say to me all the time, 'When are you gonna get a real job?'" he lauched. "This is my job."

Three years ago, Tate appeared to be more open to the idea of someday retiring from recording and performing live. At the time, he told Brickhouse TV: "If and when I can retire at some point, what I'd like to do with my time [is] just spend it in the vineyard. There's a point where you've got to kind of hang up your rock n' roll shoes and only come out on occasion. I've got 19 albums, and I really want to do at least 20, so I think I have one more album in me, maybe two."

But in early 2021, Geoff seemingly had a change of heart, telling Aftershocks TV: "I can't imagine stopping — I really can't. I love traveling and I love performing, so I've got the perfect gig. [Laughs] I can't think of anything else I'd rather do than play music. So I guess as long as I'm still healthy and can still sing [the songs], I'll continue to do it."

Earlier this month, Geoff said that he had still not completely recovered after recently undergoing an unspecified heart procedure.

The 63-year-old musician discussed his health in an interview with Tulsa Music Stream. Asked if he was feeling back to a hundred percent nearly six months after going under the knife, Geoff said: "Yeah, I think I'm — I don't know if I'd say 'a hundred percent', but I think after the New Year I'll be approaching that number. It was a really difficult few months there. [I'd] never been [seriously] ill in my life — I'd never actually been in a hospital ever — so this was something that was quite a bit different to get used to."

This past August, Tate said that "it took about a month" before he "could make a sound" and eventually regain his singing voice.

"I'd never been in a hospital before in my life, or I'd never had anything wrong with me, and this was the first experience for me," he explained to in Ritchie Birnie. "And I was just amazed at how much it took out of me. I've always been a pretty physical, pretty strong person, but, man, when I came out of the hospital, I was weak. I could barely walk."

On July 3, Tate took to his Facebook page to share a photo of him with Dr. Sami Kueri from the department of cardiovascular surgery at the Universitäts-Herzzentrum Freiburg-Bad Krozingen (University Heart Center Freiburg) in Bad Krozingen, Germany, and he included the following message: "All my gratitude to the talented Dr. Sami Kueri for giving me a healthy heart!! Feeling so much better each day!"

In June, Tate said that he would take a few months off the road as he recovered from a medical procedure.

On June 13, Geoff, who fronted QUEENSRŸCHE for 30 years — from the band's inception through 2012 — took to his social media to write: "I am having a medical procedure and my health professionals want me to recover over the Summer. I will be back and rocking South America in January. Looking forward to seeing everyone on the road."

Tate's recent tour celebrated the 30th anniversary of QUEENSRŸCHE's "Empire" and "Rage For Order" albums.

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

Tate was replaced in QUEENSRŸCHE by former CRIMSON GLORY singer Todd La Torre.

Geoff will embark on a tour in 2023 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of "Operation: Mindcrime".

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".