In a new interview with Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live!, David Ellefson discussed how he moved on from his exit from MEGADETH last year and got involved in a host of new projects, including ELLEFSON-SOTO, Ellefson's collaboration with Jeff Scott Soto, which has just released a full-length album, "Vacation In The Underworld", via Rat Pak Records.

"The funny thing is I'd been working this hard for the last 20 years and even the last 12 years I was in MEGADETH," Ellefson explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

"In 2002, Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] broke the band up, and I said at that moment, 'I will never put all my eggs back in one basket ever again.' That was at the most expensive point in my life. I had a family. My kids were young. I was the only breadwinner. So I learned my lesson; I said, 'Never again.' So even when I went back to MEGADETH, I continued doing other things and I continued playing with other people and we had METAL ALLEGIANCE; we did all these things. And quite honestly, it's big-boy time. Everybody, get over it. Look what happened a few years back when it all ended and nobody was left with anything. And I was an owner of the group at that time.

"Honestly, by the time we got to where things were last year, I think it showed the character of everybody — quite honestly," David continued. "And honestly, I was kind of, like, 'Hey, man, if you don't have my back, then fuck it — I don't wanna be here anyway.' I'd rather get moving on...

"We already had this record done; me and Jeff had this record done. I loved it. We were excited about it. It was already in motion.

"For me, I always have stuff in the pipeline — I always have other music, other people that I play with," Ellefson added. "And again, it's back to that 'never put all your eggs in one basket ever again.' And I think the other thing, too, is setting my life up in a way that I don't just have to go out and do the music hustle to pay the bills. And that's a very fortunate place to be, and for that I'm always grateful for the work we did in MEGADETH because a lot of that is the royalty money and things like that keep things moving forward. And I'm very blessed with that, because I have other friends in bands bigger than the one I was in who aren't recouped [and] they do have to go do the hustle. 'Cause it's easy to get into those golden handcuffs of you grab the big advances, the managers take their share; meanwhile, the band are basically the ditch diggers out paying back the advances and paying the bills. Touring is expensive. I look at my friends in ANTHRAX who, I guess, decided not to go to Europe because of the expenses. These are real-world realities now. Fuel costs are up — I mean, everything. A gallon of milk — everything has gone up in price. And so I consider myself very fortunate, again, to make music I like with people I like. And quite honestly, if I don't enjoy the music and/or if I don't enjoy the company, I don't wanna be there. Like I said, at my age, however many years I've got left on the planet, man, I wanna enjoy 'em. And if that means one day I just decide to stop playing music so I can just do stuff that I enjoy, I'll do that. I've done my part; I've made my mark. I've left a legacy. I've been happy with the things that I've created. And if that joy ends and if hustling over to Italy gets old and tiresome [laughs], as it can at our age, then I won't do that anymore either. So, to me, I'm kind of just at peace with all of it. It's, like, one day it was this; the next day it was that. And it's, like, 'All right. Life moves on.' I didn't feel like I had to fight my way out the door; I didn't have to hate on everyone. I was, like, 'Hey, you know what, guys? I wish you the best. Have fun. I'm gonna be hanging out over here now.' And that's the reality of it."

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter. At the time, Ellefson released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan. He also filed a report with the police department in Scottsdale, Arizona alleging unlawful distribution of sexually explicit images of him by unknown offenders. In the report, Ellefson admitted that he had been exchanging sexual text messages with a Dutch teenager, who captured a video of several of their virtual "masturbating encounters" without his consent and shared them with friends. (According to Ellefson, the woman was 19 at the time of their first virtual sexual encounter.) The now-57-year-old musician, who lives in Scottsdale, first became aware of the video on May 9, 2021, when the claim "David Ellefson of MEGADETH is a pedophile" appeared on Instagram. Ellefson told police he was notified on May 14, 2021 by MEGADETH that the band would be parting ways with him. Three days later, he was fired.

David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

SLIPKNOT's latest album, "The End, So Far", has topped the official U.K. chart. It marks the band's third No. 1 in the country, following 2001's "Iowa" and 2019's "We Are Not Your Kind".

SLIPKNOT's seventh LP beat out a reissue of George Michael's 1996 album "Older", which came in at No. 2, followed by THE SNUTS' "Burn The Empire" at No. 3.

"The End, So Far" was released on September 30 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to "We Are Not Your Kind", it is the band's final record with Roadrunner after first signing with the rock and metal label in 1998.

Last month, SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor once again shot down the rumor that the band break up after the release of "The End, So Far".

Ever since SLIPKNOT announced the title of its new LP in July, speculation had been rife that the name is a reference to the fact that the LP will mark the end of the band's recording career.

Taylor, who turned 48 last December, addressed the rumor during an appearance on an episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said: "People have been talking about the end of SLIPKNOT since 2003, so it doesn't really matter. If I had a nickel for every time I've had to straighten fans out, I'd have a shit-ton of nickels, let's put it that way.

"Nothing sells albums like drama, let's put it that way, and even drama that doesn't even come from us; it just comes from the fans," he continued. "But at the same time, I kind of started saying onstage… explaining what the title is. It's the fact that it's… It's the end so far, which just means it's the end of one era and the start of the next.

"If you look at all of our favorite bands — [IRON] MAIDEN, METALLICA, [BLACK] SABBATH; you can even talk about JUDAS PRIEST; all these bands that we grew up on, loving; and our friends in ANTHRAX as well — every one of those bands has had different eras in their career; it's never been a straight line," Taylor explained. "There's no through line except for the members. And every era comes to a natural end and then it's the next one. So that's what the title reflects."

Asked by host Eddie Trunk if he believes that each era in a band's trajectory usually corresponds to a major lineup change, Corey responded: "I do, but at the same time, you can still have the end of one era and the beginning of another with the same bandmembers. So, to me, it can be a reflection of the fact that you have different members or you're just moving in a different direction. For me, it's more about just letting the fans know that we will be back and to remind them that you just never know what you're gonna get with us."

Taylor continued: "I mean, every album has always felt different; it's always sounded different. And to me, I feel like this era is more about us dealing with the grief that we've had to deal with and now kind of getting to the point where we can now move on comfortably into the future, and it's not about that. It's a part of our history now; it's not our narrative. And now we can kind of move on and kind of see what the future holds for SLIPKNOT, musically where we can go now. Because of the way we've done things, we've set it up so we can go in any direction we want, and as long as it comes from the heart, it doesn't matter. So that's kind of the era, I think, that's being set up now. The next era will definitely be more of like a 'gloves off, let's just see what happens and go for it.'"

In the past, Taylor has repeatedly hinted that he would quit SLIPKNOT if he ever felt that he wasn't able to perform up to a certain standard. During a 2016 appearance on an episode of the "Someone Who Isn't Me" podcast, Taylor was asked if he thought he would ever decide that he is "tired of touring." Taylor replied: "You know, honestly, if you'd asked me a year ago, I would have said no. But, I mean, just now… I'm just kind of starting to… I'm not young anymore. And as willing as my will is, I'm just beat up, man. I mean, I might as well be 60 in SLIPKNOT years, for Christ's sake."

He continued: "I don't know if I would retire. I might step away from SLIPKNOT at some point, just because the way the music is, and that sense of energy, I don't know if I could be able to do that into my fifties. And I would never want the band to feel like I was holding them back, because I just couldn't physically do it. So that means I wouldn't completely quit music; I would probably just step away from SLIPKNOT."

In a 2019 interview with the "Marshall Podcast", Taylor touched upon possible retirement, saying: "It's when you stop caring that you should stop. Period. Because you're not doing it for the same reasons that you started doing it in the first place.

"I talk to fans all the time and they're, like, 'What's your motivation for doing this?', and it's the same since I was 13. It's because I love doing this, I love doing music, I love making music, creating it.

"The money's gonna come and go. If I wanted to make money, there's a host of different jobs that I could do just to make money. This isn't about that; there's something deeper. I'm glad I get to make money doing this, but it's not about that for me, it's about the next one."

Asked if there had been moments where he lost sight of that bit, Corey said: "Only when I was drinking. And it wasn't because of the music. Like, I was still committed to the music, but I was so out of it that it took me out of myself, so I can't even include that because it wasn't me at the time. I also know that one of the things that I realized and what actually encouraged me down the road of sobriety was seeing how bad my voice was sounding, how bad my creative level was at. That was a huge piece in me, calling it a day on that shit."

In a 2018 interview with Music Universe, Taylor was asked about his bandmate Shawn "Clown" Crahan's assessment that the next SLIPKNOT album could be Clown's last. "We all kind of say that," Taylor explained. "I've said it in the past. We've always said — and this is not in a negative way — we've always said that when we get to the point where we physically can't do SLIPKNOT the way we want to do it, we'll stop. And for some of us, the years of being in SLIPKNOT have taken [their] toll. Cold mornings kick my ass. My neck, my knees, my hips… [DJ] Sid [Wilson] has broken every damn bone in his body. Clown, he's had his share of health issues and whatnot and physicality. We've all had an injury in this band — from our necks to our retinas. And honestly, if that was his decision, I wouldn't do SLIPKNOT without him — absolutely not."

He continued: "There's a certain mentality that goes into SLIPKNOT, and he started it. He's always been the vision for this band, for SLIPKNOT, and without that, it crumbles. So, yeah, if he left, that would be it for me as well. And I say that, honestly, in a very positive way, because none of us would want to continue doing it from a half-assed point of view. Nobody wants to go 50 percent on a SLIPKNOT album."
They've done it 🎸🩸@slipknot claim their third Official UK Number 1 album with The End So Far 🤘🏻🤘🏿🤘🏽

Read the full story ➡ https://t.co/rAhw1NmfXapic.twitter.com/Me7OiI2uTJ

— Official Charts (@officialcharts) October 7, 2022

Two years ago, DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci released his second solo album, "Terminal Velocity", via Sound Mind Music/The Orchard. The follow-up to 2005's "Suspended Animation" featured guest musicians Mike Portnoy (SONS OF APOLLO, ex-DREAM THEATER) on drums and Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS) on bass. The effort marked the first time Petrucci and Portnoy recorded together in over a decade, as well as their first time playing together since Portnoy departed DREAM THEATER.

During an October 3 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Petrucci stated about DREAM THEATER fans' response to his renewed collaboration with Portnoy (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "You see that right away. It makes people so happy to see that reconnection. It's literally like… Any sort of post of a photo from that, every comment is just literally, like, 'I'm crying. This makes me so happy,' blah blah blah. More than any sort of controversial, stupid thing anyone could say, the overwhelming reaction is just a great, positive feeling in the DREAM THEATER-Mike Portnoy big community. And I love that. It's the way it should be."

When host Eddie Trunk pointed out to Petrucci that the guitarist's reunion with Portnoy, including their current run of tour dates in support of "Terminal Velocity", has resulted in DREAM THEATER fans speculating about Portnoy's possible return to the band, John said: "I've been very vocal about this and outspoken and very careful about this to be clear with my intentions and Mike and I and our reuniting. The stuff that we are doing together with my solo stuff, with LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, with Mike touring with me, this is its own thing, and DREAM THEATER is its own thing, and the history that we now have with Mike Mangini in the band for 12 years, it's important for me to make sure that people don't misunderstand this. Because it's not good for anybody; that kind of weirdness or controversy, as we all know, it's just toxic. So I've been saying… Maybe I'm selfish but I feel so lucky that I get to do this with Mike [Portnoy] and play live with him, play this instrumental music, record, and being in DREAM THEATER with Mangini, it's like I've kind of been spoiled. I get two of the greatest drummers in the world to be able to play with. And I think it's important for people to know that and to have that clarity — I really do."

Petrucci kicked off his first headlining solo tour this past Wednesday night (October 5) at The Strand Ballroom & Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island. Petrucci performed material from "Terminal Velocity" as well as songs from his widely acclaimed debut release, "Suspended Animation".

The historic tour will run through October and November and promises to be an unforgettable night of live musicianship. The recently reunited all-female band MEANSTREAK is the special guest openers for the tour. MEANSTREAK is comprised of guitarists Marlene Portnoy (Mike's wife) and Rena Sands (Petrucci's wife),vocalist Bettina France, bassist Martens Myung (wife of DREAM THEATER bassist John Myung) and drummer Yael.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 35 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

In March 2021, Petrucci and Portnoy's instrumental progressive rock/metal project LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT released its third album, "LTE3", via InsideOut Music. The effort arrived 22 years after the release of 1999's "Liquid Tension Experiment 2".

In a 2017 interview with Rockhok, Portnoy insisted that had "no longing to reunite" with DREAM THEATER but said that he would return to his former band "for the fans." He explained: "The ball's in their court, to be honest. I have no longing to reunite with them; it's not something I necessarily am looking to do or want to do. I'm very content with all the eighty-seven bands I currently have going, so it's something I need. But I would do it for the fans, because I'm a very sentimental person and I have a lot of great, fond memories of those guys and the times. I'm a sentimental guy, so I would never close the door on it. So, really, the ball's in their court, honestly. [But] if you're asking me the odds [of a reunion happening], I would say, don't bet on it, because I know their personalities as well and I don't think they're the type that are looking backwards."

A couple of years ago, Portnoy told Loud that he left DREAM THEATER because he wanted to expand his musical horizons. "[I didn't] want to go to my grave and just be the drummer from DREAM THEATER," he said. "I knew there was way more to what I had to offer."

During an appearance on a recent episode of "The Ron Keel Podcast", W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless spoke about what fans can expect to see on the band's upcoming 40th-anniversary tour. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, in '86 we did a record called 'Inside The Electric Circus'. And I had, as a kid… I was born in Tampa [Florida]. Before I moved to New York when I was seven, in Tampa, there's an area there that's just south of Tampa called Gibsonton. And Gibsonton is an area where a lot of people from the circus go in the off seasons in winter there. So I grew up — literally — around seeing circus people. As a matter of fact, where we lived, there was a family that were trapeze artists. And when I was a little kid — like, when I was five — I'd walk over there and I'd watch 'em rehearse. And I was fascinated by it. So the whole idea of the circus has been something that's really been part of my makeup. So we visited this in '86. But what happened is when we were moving into playing arenas… What I originally wanted to do was more like an old-fashioned 1930s carnival. But because we were moving into bigger venues, everyone said, 'Well, it's not big enough. It's not flashy enough. It's gotta be bigger. It's gotta fill up those rooms.' So what we ended up doing was a much more flashy production. And it was good, but it was not my original idea. So I'm getting an opportunity now to go back and do this thing that looks like a 1930 carnival, but this is a dark carnival. And dark in the sense that when we first started, and [we were] making the demos, one day we were in the studio and something happened and a piece of gear broke down and we had to take a few hours off. And so there was a movie theater across the street and 'Road Warrior' was playing there. And so we said, okay, we wanted to see the movie, so we went over and watched it. And I was absolutely riveted to it. And I remember thinking, 'All right. If we go out and we do this stuff live, this is what we're gonna look like; this is what we're gonna feel like.' And the whole idea, when we wearing the pants that had no backs in 'em and all that stuff, all that came from the 'Road Warrior'. We thought for sure we would get busted on this, and we were waiting for those questions. And we never once got busted on it, and we couldn't believe it. [Laughs] Because we stole our whole act from that movie — the girl on the rack; all that stuff came from that movie. So if you can imagine today an old 1930s kind of sideshow, dark carnival-slash-'Road Warrior', that's what this is gonna look like."

W.A.S.P.'s first live performance since December 2019 took place on July 23 at Skansen in Stockholm, Sweden. A week later (July 30),W.A.S.P. also played at Skogsröjet festival in Rejmyre, Sweden.

W.A.S.P. recently postponed its European 40th-anniversary tour, originally scheduled for spring of 2022, until the spring of 2023. The new dates will take place in March, April and May of 2023. All tickets previously purchased for the 2022 tour will be valid at the rescheduled 2023 shows.

W.A.S.P. will embark on its first U.S. tour in a decade this fall. The trek will coincide the band's 40th anniversary and will include support from ARMORED SAINT and MICHAEL SCHENKER on select shows.

Lawless has led W.A.S.P. as its lead vocalist and primary songwriter since its beginning. His unique brand of visual, social and political comment took the group to worldwide heights and sold millions of records alongside a legacy of sold-out shows across the globe for four decades. He is joined in W.A.S.P.'s current lineup by bassist Mike Duda and guitarist Doug Blair, whose tenures in the band span 26 and 18 years respectively, along with drummer extraordinaire Aquiles Priester.

In a recent interview with Metal Edge magazine, Lawless was asked how he plans to stage a "real-deal W.A.S.P. show" to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary "with the existence of cancel culture and woke culture." He responded: "That's a complicated question you just asked. Because first of all, I'm not gonna even consider a woke culture. That has nothing to do with my world. You know, if that's what somebody wants to do that's their privilege. Free country. But our fan base is our fan base. So, one of the things I learned a long time ago is that if you're going to have a genuine career… And when I say a real career, I'm talking about somebody that does it for a lifetime, I'm not talking about somebody that just makes records. And that's okay, too. In the pop world, that's fine. You know, that's what people want. But if you're going to have a genuine career, I'm not talking about somebody that's around for five years, or 10 years. I'm talking about somebody who's around 20 years, 30 years, longer. What you're saying, in effect, is you're going to take that fan base on a lifelong ride. And if you're going to do that, you have to have an intimate relationship with them. And if you don't have that intimate relationship, they will never feel like they know you.

"You've got to be willing to crack your skull open, and let them come inside and walk around barefoot, inside your head," he continued. "You really do. And the only way you can do this is with lyrics. We can do interviews like this, and it helps considerably. I mean, people get to know you a lot that way. But the lyrics are where they're really gonna get to know you. Because that's what they're listening to most of the time. And so to do that, you've got to be willing to share parts of yourself that a lot of artists just aren't willing to do. Let them get in there, into the nooks and crannies, and find the good and the not so good.

"So, to get into a culture that is doing that, that would do me no good, because I'm talking to specific people out there. First of all, our type of music, whether it's us or anybody else in our genre, we are a subculture. We're not mainstream. We're not the pop world, which is 50 percent of the market. We're a smaller market, like, you know, 25 to 30 percent of that potential pie that's out there. It's not going to do me any good to try to talk to people that aren't going to listen anyway. My whole thing is to try to identify what it is I'm thinking and feeling at the moment. Because I, too, like everybody else, my opinions are gonna change from time to time.

"And so the idea is, when you take people on that lifelong ride, they look at what you wrote 30 years ago, and they go, 'Oh, wow, look what he was thinking,'" Blackie added. "And they listen to something, whatever the last thing was that came out, and they go, 'Oh, wow, look at how he's thinking now.' So this is that intimacy, where you take people and you're literally communicating with them over the course of this journey. So, trying to do anything from a standpoint of being influenced socially would do me no good. Or anybody like me that does this. You have to be true to yourself. I mean, we got into this not giving a damn about what people thought so why should it be any different now?"

JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill spoke to Andrew Daly of Vinyl Writer Music about the status of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2018's "Firepower" LP. He said: "There is an album in the pipeline, and it's not far from being finished. Whether it'll be out sometime next year or the year after, we don't know yet. But there will probably be a little bit more touring next year in 2023, so we'll wait for the dust to settle and let everybody catch their breath. And then we'll probably start again in 2024; it might be sooner than that, but we'll see what happens. As far as sound, we've taken it forward again; it's gonna be a bit more intricate and maybe more complicated than 'Firepower'. But that's what we've always tried to do, and hopefully, it's another step in the right direction."

When asked what JUDAS PRIEST owes its longevity to, Hill said: "Well, probably our sense of humor and the fact that we started as friends and we're still all friends. And it's also the culture of this band, how strong it is, how we get along, and how we operate, all of which have made an enormous difference. I mean, obviously, guitarists have changed, drummers have changed, and vocalists have changed, but we've always made sure that we could get along with whoever has come into this band. I think that's very important too, because if you've got any animosity between any one of the members, it'll come to a head sooner or later, and you won't last long. So, we just befriend everyone and take them as they are, and I think that's the secret to staying together. If you do that, you won't rub each other the wrong way too much. [Laughs]. That's how things last; it's what's worked for PRIEST, so we'll keep doing it until it doesn't."

Last month, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner told The Entertainment Outlet that the drums, guitars and bass have already been recorded for the band's new LP. "I think the main thing we have to do now is vocals. So we've got the U.S. leg of the tour coming up, so Rob's [Halford, vocals] gotta protect his voice and use his voice sparingly before that. So maybe after that. I mean, we've got [dates in] the U.S. and we've got South America, which takes us into December. So maybe in the New Year we can start working on vocals."

Regarding when fans can expect to see the next PRIEST LP released, Richie said: "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."

As for what the new PRIEST material is sounding like, Faulkner said: "[Producer and touring guitarist] Andy Sneap was texting me this morning, and he was saying it sounded really solid, really confident. He was saying… I know people love this stuff on the socials, but it's not 'Firepower 2'; it's its own thing. Some people might like that; some people might hate that. When you read the socials, people read comments like that and they know what the album sounds like straight away. I don't know how they do that. But it's all good. It means they're invested in PRIEST and they're invested in the new music. But as he said, it sounds confident, it's sounding great and solid. It's always good as well when you've got something like this and no one's heard it. So you're excited to release it to the world — you want the world to hear it, but they haven't heard it yet. So it'll be great for the world to hear it. They might hate it. But it's still exciting."

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).

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 was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years ago after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier. 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.

NIGHTWISH will release "Human. :II: Nature. (Tour Edition)" on November 18 via Nuclear Blast. It will be made available as a luxurious 2CD plus Blu-ray digipak and include the band's latest album alongside NIGHTWISH's two interactive experiences in May 2021 when the group performed in a tavern called "The Islanders Arms" built in a virtual world. On both nights, the fans experienced a one-and-a-half-hour performance, hearing songs live off "Human. :II: Nature." for the first time ever. Each of the two nights had its own slightly different setlist. Originally available just as a DVD release and on Blu-ray in Japan, this new edition is the ultimate version to re-experience this unique and magical show NIGHTWISH created after their world tour had to be canceled.

Half a year in preparation and premiered on May 28 and May 29, 2021, "An Evening With Nighwish In A Virtual World" was not just a regular streaming show. It was an exceptionally ambitious production, allowing fans to follow the band playing live in an astonishing 3D world, designed according to the band's vision, while interacting with each other.

NIGHTWISH's two interactive experiences drew 150,000 viewers, setting the record for the largest paid virtual concert in Finland's history. Most of the viewers came from Europe and North America, but the performance was a truly global event, with fans in 108 countries purchasing tickets to the show and the box office gross exceeding one million euro.

"This is definitely one of the coolest things NIGHTWISH has ever done," the band comments. "Entwining visual elements, technology and music in such an extraordinary way offers a unique experience to us all."

About 30 people from seven different countries, many of them longtime fans, put everything they had into the game to craft a high-quality virtual concert featuring a NIGHTWISH-themed tavern, elaborate animations and 3D models that provided an atmospheric and inimitable stage for the group's 100-minute-long, stellar career-spanning set brilliantly mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox.

Celebrating the announcement, NIGHTWISH has released a video for "Noise", taken from "An Evening With Nightwish In A Virtual World".

"Human. :II: Nature. (Tour Edition)" track listing:

CD 1: Human. :II: Nature.

01. Music
02. Noise
03. Shoemaker
04. Harvest
05. Pan
06. How's The Heart?
07. Procession
08. Tribal
09. Endlessness

CD 2: All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World

01. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Vista
02. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Blue
03. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Green
04. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Moors
05. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Aurorae
06. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Quiet As The Snow
07. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Anthropocene (incl. "Hurrian Hymn To Nikkal")
08. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Ad Astra

Blu-ray: Virtual Live Show From The Islanders Arms 2021

01. Intro
02. Noise
03. Planet Hell
04. Alpenglow
05. Élan
06. Storytime
07. How's The Heart?
08. Harvest
09. Dark Chest Of Wonders
10. I Want My Tears Back
11. Ever Dream
12. Nemo
13. Sleeping Sun
14. Pan
15. Last Ride Of The Day
16. Ghost Love Score
17. The Greatest Show On Earth
18. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World: VIII. Ad Astra

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen recently spoke to Rauta about what fans can expect from the band's upcoming follow-up to "Human. :II: Nature.". He said: "I feel it's gonna be the third part of a trilogy started by 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' [2015] followed by 'Human. :II: Nature.' and then finished by this upcoming album."

According to Tuomas, NIGHTWISH's next LP will cover previously uncharted ground while continuing in the more cinematic style that has characterized some of the band's recent efforts.

"There's always something new," he explained. "It's important for my own mental health, when it comes to writing music, that you need to search for some new territories and try not to repeat yourself. And that can be heard on the upcoming album, for sure, already on the demo that we've done."

Asked if NIGHTWISH's upcoming LP will once again be an exploration of evolutionary science, as was the case with the previous two releases, Tuomas said: "Yes and no. It sails on the same waters, but there's some new surprises there as well."

Holopainen went on to say that NIGHTWISH fans will have to wait a while before hearing new music from the band. "We'll enter the studio next year and the album is gonna come out maybe early 2024," he said.

In August, Holopainen told Knotfest that he and his bandmates had spent "the past few weeks" listening to a demo of the next NIGHTWISH album. "Because of COVID, lots of free time, I decided to use that well, so I wrote all the songs for the next album, demoed it, wrote the lyrics, and now we have been brainstorming over it with these guys," he said, referring to drummer Kai Hahto and the rest of NIGHTWISH.

Added Kai: "Yeah, it's been great. The six of us, in the same room, listening to fresh demos for the upcoming album, checking the lyrics and the vocal parts and stuff like that. So it's been wonderful. This man [Tuomas] has been really productive."

Earlier in the month, Tuomas told Rock Sverige that he spent "about a year" working on the music and lyrics for the next NIGHTWISH album, "and then we finished the demos about two months ago. We're hitting the studio next summer, so in about a year from now," he revealed. "Like I said, might as well use the time for something."

Asked if he got any kind of inspiration from the pandemic, Tuomas said: "Yeah, lyrically there's a couple of things that reflects the pandemic, but not in the way you would expect."

"Human. :II: Nature." was released in April 2020. The follow-up to 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters, on CD 2.

In August, NIGHTWISH announced the addition of bassist Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN) as an official member of the band. Koskinen, who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH at the band's two interactive experiences, had spent the last year touring with NIGHTWISH as a session musician.

CRO-MAGS founder Harley Flanagan says that his former bandmate John Joseph McGowan will no longer be able to use the CRO-MAGS JM name to promote his live shows.

As part of a settlement between Flanagan and Joseph filed on September 30 at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Joseph has agreed not to use the CRO-MAGS mark, the CRO-MAGS JM moniker or any derivative thereof for any of his projects. Going forward, CRO-MAGS mark will only be used by Flanagan.

Earlier today, Flanagan released the following statement via social media: "As you may have guessed CRO-MAGS 'JM' is no more… 'Someone' would like you to think this was a decision they made, but in fact it was the result of them breaching the terms of the settlement which permitted them to use that name. Now…. There can be only one. The charade and confusion is over, it is done. Thank you to all of those who helped make it so."

The latest development comes four months after Harley filed a lawsuit against John for allegedly ripping off the CRO-MAGS name.

According to the New York Post, the federal trademark infringement lawsuit, filed by Savoia NYC Inc., which is owned by Flanagan, claimed that McGowan used the name "Cro-Mags Jam" in violation of a 2019 settlement agreement giving Flanagan the rights to the CRO-MAGS name.

The suit alleged McGowan used "Cro-Mags Jam" to promote an April 23 benefit concert in the East Village's Tompkins Square Park, causing confusion about who was actually performing, according to the filing.

"The impermissible phrase Cro-Mags JAM suggests that Mr. Flanagan, the original member of CRO-MAGS, would be conducting a jam session with other musicians—which is obviously not the case," the suit stated.

"This clearly constitutes unfair competition, trademark infringement, and a material breach of the Settlement Agreement, as it is an impermissible use of Plaintiff's CROMAGS Mark," the filing added.

When the New York Post article was first published, Flanagan shared a screenshot of the story and he included the following message: "When you have fought for something that is yours as hard as I have and spent the kind of money that I have you have to protect what you own you can't just walk away from it when people decide to violate the terms. I have no problem fighting for what's mine anybody who knows me knows that. I'm not afraid to do what's right and I'm not afraid of anyone. So until you've had to fight for something that is yours as hard as I have you should shut the fuck up."

Flanagan sought a permanent injunction to stop McGowan from using the trademark in any form.

In April 2019, McGowan and Mackie Jayson reached an agreement with Flanagan over the rights to the CRO-MAGS name. At the time, it was announced that going forward, McGowan and Jayson would perform as CRO-MAGS JM while Flanagan would get to use the CRO-MAGS name for his own version of the band.

In 2018, Flanagan, who founded the CRO-MAGS at the age of 14 and toured with the band for some 20 years, sued members of the group for allegedly using the CRO-MAGS name without his permission.

Claiming that CRO-MAGS was his idea when he formed it back in 1981, Flanagan filed a lawsuit against the then-most recent lineup of the group — including McGowan — in part for copyright infringement, saying he trademarked the "Cro-Mag" name for recording in 2010 and for merchandise in 2009 and then again in 2017.

According to the New York Post, Harley claimed in the lawsuit that the other members of the CRO-MAGS took over the band around 2002 when "Flanagan's first son was about to be born… and Flanagan had to stop touring to help with the baby."

In July 2012, Flanagan was arrested in New York City on charges of attacking several members of the CRO-MAGS during the CBGB Festival. Flanagan, who had been a panelist at one of the event's seminars, allegedly attempted to attend the concert of his former band.

At the time, McGowan told the New York Post he and Flanagan started the band together in the early '80s, but Flanagan continually took all the credit for himself. McGowan claimed the situation got so bad, Flanagan pocketed every cent from their 1986 tour. "That caused me to lose my apartment and be homeless in 1987," John said. "I lived hand to mouth."

In a separate interview with The New York Times, McGowan said that Flanagan "has been a negative thorn in the side of this band forever."

As you may have guessed Cro-Mags “JM” is no more. ..
"Someone" would like you to think this was a decision they made,…

Posted by Harley Flanagan on Thursday, October 6, 2022

Metal never rests, and neither does Los Angeles's Kitten Rescue. To help raise funds for the group's lifesaving rescue efforts, rockers have come together donating items for the group's charity auction. Items available include JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford's autographed HISS t-shirt and Full Moon Kitty t-shirt, Slash's autographed iconic top hat and Epiphone guitar, an autographed drumhead and drumsticks from John Tempesta (THE CULT, WHITE ZOMBIE),a pair of L.A. GUNS New Year's Eve Bash tickets at Hollywood's legendary Whisky A Go Go, a private guitar lesson with Tracii Guns, a divinely inspired Schecter Elite Evil Twin C-1 6-string guitar, as well as many other cat-related products, artwork and other items.

To view the complete list of items, register and bid, click here.

Kitten Rescue is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization devoted to finding loving homes for unwanted, homeless cats and kittens. Kitten Rescue saves cats and kittens from the streets of Los Angeles and from city shelter euthanasia. Since their start in 1997, they have grown into one of the largest, most well-respected animal welfare groups in L.A. Other notable rock icons such as BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and his wife Gloria, OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Robert "Blasko" Nicholson, legendary DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and his wife Gabi, as well as BLABBERMOUTH.NET are some of the organization's loyal supporters. None other than Halford and Elvira, "Mistress Of The Dark", have lent their image in support of Kitten Rescue.

Kitten Rescue's first in-person "Fur Ball At The Skirball" gala since the pandemic will be held this Saturday, October 8 at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. The event will celebrate the history of the organization which started as a small grass-roots network to save kittens that would otherwise be immediately euthanized at shelters. Hosted by radio and TV personality Mark Thompson, the gala will be a night of nostalgia and inspiration, comedy and entertainment. At the event, Kitten Rescue will honor actress Miranda Cosgrove with the Angel Award for her dedicated hands-on work in saving cats in her community and for her advocacy. Celebrity attendees will include Nathan Kehn and Jackson Galaxy.

"Fur Ball At The Skirball" is Kitten Rescue's largest fundraiser of the year. Its success direct impacts the organization's ability to fulfill its mission to save the most vulnerable felines of Los Angeles — neonates, undersocialized cats, medical cases and special-needs kitties. With a kitten season in Los Angeles that lasts for most of the year, there are thousands of felines at risk each year and Kitten Rescue wants to save as many as it possibly can.

Kitten Rescue has saved well over 30,000 cats and kittens since its inception.

KnuckleBonz has announced its team of artists is well into production on a new officially licensed, limited-edition BLACK SABBATH set of hand-cast and painted collectible statues. These Rock Iconz statues are created featuring the band from a moment in performance history during their 1975 "Sabotage" era. The base of the statues have a mirror effect as a tribute to the iconic album cover.

The BLACK SABBATH Rock Iconz collectible statues are crafted by hand using a fine-arts process where each figure is hand-painted, numbered, and comes with a certificate of authenticity on the base. The BLACK SABBATH Rock Iconz set is hand-cast and crafted in 1/9 scale, making the average height of each statue approximately nine inches tall. These are limited-edition statues; only 3000 each are created, making these highly collectible.

BLACK SABBATH superfans can pre-order now and reserve this limited edition.

Tony Simerman, CEO/creative director of KnuckleBonz, Inc., said: "It was so surreal putting SABBATH on our 'lighted stage' that we use here in the studio for the promo video shoot... It was like watching 'Don Kirshner's Rock Concert' in 1975. We got chills."

All work created by the company is officially licensed and approved by the artists and their management. KnuckleBonz, the creator of the Rock Iconz music collectible series, has been developing iconic, high-quality statues of the legend of rock music since 2003.

The BLACK SABBATH Rock Iconz statue set is only offered as a complete set and sells for $666 USD. These are not sold individually. KnuckleBonz is offering a limited time pre-order special for the set at $599 USD.

Each statue ships in a custom package and ships worldwide. These highly exclusive, limited-edition collectibles are now available for pre-order to reserve. The anticipated ship date is early 2023; however, KnuckleBonz will announce a more precise shipping timeframe later this year. Stay tuned to Knucklebonz.com in the coming weeks for updates.

KnuckleBonz, Inc. is a music merchandising company focused on the creation of high-end products for music enthusiasts since 2003. KnuckleBonz is committed to fine craftsmanship and artistry and has developed the Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl and On Tour collectible series. KnuckleBonz is solely focused on offering quality products specifically for the music superfan.

DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci kicked off his first headlining solo tour last night (Wednesday, October 5) at The Strand Ballroom & Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island. Petrucci performed material from his recently released solo album, "Terminal Velocity", as well as songs from his widely acclaimed debut release, "Suspended Animation". "Terminal Velocity" marked the first time that John and former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy recorded together since Mike left the band in 2010. Now, John is taking his instrumental trio on the road performing live with Portnoy and legendary bassist Dave LaRue in an onstage reunion that has been 12 years in the making.

Asked in a recent interview with Robert Cavuoto of Sonic Perspectives if this tour will be the first time he and Mike have performed together since Portnoy exited DREAM THEATER, Petrucci said: "It will be, yeah — since Mike left. He left the band about 12 years ago, so our last show was a festival in Japan that we played together. The first show of this tour is in Providence, Rhode Island on October 5th, and when we step on stage, that'll be the first time we've stepped on stage together and performed live since that last show in Japan. So it's a big deal; it's kind of a personal event for the two of us. And I'm so happy that him and Dave could do this tour with me. Obviously, they recorded drums and bass on 'Terminal Velocity', so it's that same trio, that same band. We played a bunch of shows as that same trip back in the early days of 'G3', so the first ones I did in 2001 — it was me, Mike and Dave. So the band is back together. [Laughs]"

The historic tour will run through October and November and promises to be an unforgettable night of live musicianship. The recently reunited all-female band MEANSTREAK is the special guest openers for the tour. MEANSTREAK is comprised of guitarists Marlene Portnoy (Mike's wife) and Rena Sands (Petrucci's wife),vocalist Bettina France, bassist Martens Myung (wife of DREAM THEATER bassist John Myung) and drummer Yael.

In a September 2021 interview with Revolver, Petrucci said about his renewed working relationship with Portnoy: "Chemistry is everything. It's funny, too — with my solo album, I'd gone in, written all the music, recorded all the guitars, programmed drums, played bass. It was all done, and then I had to go in and get Dave LaRue to play bass on it and Mike to play drums on it. And when Mike started playing drums — I remember the first day he came into the studio and he just started playing to this music that I wrote, it just sounded like the two of us. It just was really nostalgic. Even though we didn't write it together, we weren't jamming together, we weren't even in the same room when I was writing it, but there's just something about that chemistry that creates this magical sound. And one of the things I thought was really awesome with the fans out there was when it came out, it just got such a positive reaction. People were just, like, 'I'm just so happy that you did this,' and the music sounds positive and happy. And this was, like, really all during the heart of the whole pandemic. So it was a very good, positive [experience]."

In 2020, Petrucci told "Coffee With Ola!" that "it was really great" for him to have Mike play on the record. "I hadn't done anything musically with him since he left DREAM THEATER over 10 years ago," he said. "And it was really just fun, because it's different when you're in a band with somebody. Really, we grew up together — we met when we were 18. And you're in business together. It's different than when it's, like, fast forward, now it's, like, my friend is playing drums on my album. It was so easy going and so cool. He was able to come to my studio despite the pandemic situation on the East Coast in the U.S. It was safe for him to come to the studio — he doesn't live that far from me. And he spent a week, and we had fun. And he did a killer job.

"These songs take a lot of different skills, I think, as a drummer — some are uplifting and happy; some are metal; some take double-bass chops; some you've gotta do a shuffle; some are blues; some is Latin feel," Petrucci explained. "And it's just a testament to Mike's playing — he knows how to do all that stuff. And he came in, totally easy going, did it. We had fun. And I'm really happy that he did it."

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 35 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

In March 2021, Petrucci and Portnoy's instrumental progressive rock/metal project LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT released its third album, "LTE3", via InsideOut Music. The effort arrived 22 years after the release of 1999's "Liquid Tension Experiment 2".



John Petrucci killing it

Posted by Djecy Ramos on Wednesday, October 5, 2022

California glam metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER will release their sixth studio album, "On The Prowl", on February 24, 2023. The LP was produced by STEEL PANTHER and is now available for pre-order in multiple configurations, including CD, cassette, and two different color variant vinyl records.

From the opening synth intro of "Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)" to the thunderous outro of "Sleeping On The Rollaway", STEEL PANTHER is back with the infectious riffs, pounding drums, unforgettable vocals alongside the witty humor that has earned them a global audience. Songs like "On Your Instagram", "Magical Vagina" and "One Pump Chump" are sure to fit in on the biggest live stages next to the band's most memorable songs. "1987" is an incredible retro look at that unforgettable year and the band even slows things down on the reflective "Ain't Dead Yet". The first single from "On The Prowl" is the memorable "Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)". A music video for the song can be seen below

STEEL PANTHER drummer Stix Zadinia states: "The song and video are an absolute public service announcement. People have been asking STEEL PANTHER for advice on life, love and the pursuit of happiness for decades. 'Never Too Late' is a reminder to never give up, follow your heart, realize your dreams, overcome your challenges, navigate the rough seas, reach for stars and any other cliché you have in your pocket. Basically, what we are saying it is never too late to get some pussy tonight."

"On The Prowl" track listing:

01. Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)
02. Friends With Benefits
03. On Your Instagram
04. Put My Money Where Your Mouth Is
05. 1987
06. Teleporter
07. Is My D**k Enough (feat. Dweezil Zappa)
08. Magical Vagina
09. All That And More
10. One Pump Chump
11. Pornstar
12. Ain't Dead Yet
13. Sleeping On The Rollaway

Late last month, STEEL PANTHER singer Michael Starr spoke to the "Everblack" podcast about his relationship with the band's original bassist Lexxi Foxx who left the band in July 2021. "I just talked to him today," Michael said. "He's doing good, man. He did exactly what he wanted to do. He started a family. He's living in Chicago. Him and his wife just had a baby. So Lexxi Foxx is not gay. I thought he was gay this whole time. It's so weird."

Starr continued: "The party never stops. Just because he's not on tour doesn't mean he's fucking having a good time. And we miss him. I fucking miss him. And we still stay in touch and talk. We talk just about every other day — just stay in touch with one another. I mean, we were together for 27 years, 26 years, and we know each other's moms and dads and all of our cousins. We know everything about one another. So it's been really, really sad not having him in the band, but I understand why he's doing what he's doing. And he was one of the smart guys — he saved up all his money. Not me — I'm still living at my mom's. Let's go."

In September, STEEL PANTHER announced the addition of Spyder as the band's new bassist.

"Spyder has filled in for Lexxi many times," Starr told "Everblack". "He's a super-close friend of the band. We've known him for years. As a matter of fact, [STEEL PANTHER guitarist] Satchel and I were in a VAN HALEN tribute band for a while, and Spyder was the bass player in that. We have a rich history with him… He did all of Europe with us and he did a great job.

"First of all, I just wanna say this: Lexxi Foxxcannot be replaced," Michael added. "That's just the way it is. It's like trying to replace David Lee Roth, in my opinion. You can't fucking replace Lexxi Foxx. And also trying to find somebody that has the ability to make somebody laugh, do choreography moves from 40 years ago, jump around on stage and know what to wear. And not only that — most people think that STEEL PANTHER's music is super easy to play, and it's not. Satchel's an incredible writer, and the stuff he writes [is] not easy to play. So you've really gotta be able to play bass, you've gotta be able to sing, you've gotta be able to engage the audience, you've gotta be able to talk to 'em. There's a lot that goes into it… Seriously, it's really hard to find someone that has all those qualities and you can hang out with them. 'Cause you think about it — the show is an hour and a half. The other 22 and a half hours we're together either sleeping or hanging out, soundchecking or whatever. So it's a lot of time to spend together offstage. So you'd better be cool with him."

To coincide with the new bassist announcement, STEEL PANTHER announced a U.S. tour, "Claus & Paws Holiday Party". The eight-city trek will kick off in late November after the band wraps up its recently announced Canadian leg of the "Res-Erections" tour 2022.

Just four months ago, Starr and Zadinia discussed their search for a permanent replacement for Foxx in an interview with RAMzine. Michael said: "We tried out over… We had how many video submissions… probably [over 700]. And we went through every single video. And we did some test runs with some people. And when we find the right guy, you guys will know."

Added Stix: "On this tour, we have our friend Spyder with us, who is a great friend and an even better bass player. He's not that great a friend. I'm kidding. He's awesome. We've known him since 1990. He's one of our homies and he's killing it. And we cannot wait to jam with him. But we are still searching for the permanent guy 'cause Spyder's got another gig; he's got a paper route that he works on."

Continued Michael: "We may never find another replacement for Lexxi. We love him. We miss him dearly. And I'm glad he's doing what he wants to do in life. But replacing him, it's like trying to replace Stix or me — it's impossible. So we may never, ever have a bass player. We might just be trying out bass players until I die."

Stix added: "And every time we get a new guy, we just say, 'Hey, come out. There's no money involved. So just try out.' We just keep doing it forever."

A year ago, Lexxi — whose real name is Travis Haley — told Rocking With Jam Man that he hadn't spoken with his former bandmates since his exit. "I still talk to the singer a little bit; I have in the past," he said. "But I think that those scars and I think that the departure, the way that it went down, I think there's some sore spots. But that's tough for me to talk about.

"That was something that I'm very proud of — to be that character for such a long period of time, and to play with those cats," he continued. "They're all amazing musicians. And I just think that it is different to not have that [in my life] — I'd been in character for so long — but I have to say it's a little refreshing as well."

When STEEL PANTHER first announced Lexxi's exit in July 2021, the band jokingly said that Foxx "started his side business, 'Sexy Lexxi's Prettiest Pets,' to bring in money for Botox during the lockdown." After realizing that "his love for making pets pretty was greater than his love for being pretty himself," he chose "to hang up his mirror and focus on his newfound passion: making ugly dogs pretty," the group wrote in a statement.

Back in December 2018, Lexxi sat out a STEEL PANTHER tour after being admitted to "sex rehab." The real reason for his absence was never officially disclosed.

During an appearance on an episode of the "2020'd" podcast, Satchel stated about Lexxi's departure: "We didn't want him to quit. Nobody wanted him to quit, including a lot of fans. I'm sure a lot of fans are very sad that he left. But he's the guy who left the band. I think he's got his own things he's dealing with, and he just wanted to go and do that. So, I don't know… I can't answer for Lexxi Foxx. But we will all miss Lexxi Foxx, and we all wish him the best in everything that he does. But we didn't fire him; he quit the band. So we're gonna have to move on and get somebody else who's younger and foxier and doesn't need as much Botox," referencing the drug doctors have been using for years to treat wrinkles and facial creases.

Formed in 2000, STEEL PANTHER specializes in imitating and exaggerating the less flattering aspects of 1980s hair metal, with unrepentantly crude, non-PC sexual content as a favorite lyrical theme.

The group's music has been described as "VAN HALEN meets MÖTLEY CRÜE meets RATT meets 'Wayne's World', complete with operatic shrieks, misogyny, shredding guitar solos and libidinal overdrive."

Fourteen years ago, STEEL PANTHER changed its name from METAL SKOOL to its current moniker and shifted the focus of its act from '80s metal covers to originals.

Haley, who was an original member of STEEL PANTHER, recently announced the formation of his new band HOLLYWOOD GODS N' MONSTERS with longtime friend and television celebrity from MTV's "Pimp My Ride", Diggity Dave.

The long-awaited debut release from W.A.S.P. lead guitarist Douglas Blair's innovative pet-project is quite an interesting departure from the usual metal confines: Blair's SIGNAL2NOISE is a "power duo" created by Blair, with Finnish drummer Toxy London and American studio drummer John Anthony. The concept is based upon using an eight-string hybrid bass/guitar instrument designed by Blair called "GuitarCross" — and the inherent creative flexibility and efficiency of only two brains.

The GuitarCross is the monster vehicle upon which Blair commandeers three bass strings and five guitars strings, shooting their sounds into an array of dedicated amps — creating a veritable wall of sound. Blair has made these GXs with his own hands, an unbridled imagination, and rare proprietary electronics.

SIGNAL2NOISE's self-titled five-song EP spotlights five powerhouse songs, all recorded live with only vocals and lead guitars added. Guest vocalists Lotta Valtanen (Finland) and Warpony (Montana, USA) contribute to several tracks, while Blair's searing signature lead guitar work can be heard on two others.

In May 2021, the duo debuted its first single and video titled "Generica", which was shot in Turku, Finland and Los Angeles, California. On September 15, 2022, SIGNAL2NOISE's second single and video titled "Out" premiered at a release party at Stockholm, Sweden's legendary rock room Garlic & Shots. "Out" was shot in Turku and Van Nuys, California, and was edited by Davey Robertson in Los Angeles.

Blair was originally a member of W.A.S.P. for a short time in 1992. He was also a quick replacement on W.A.S.P.'s "Unholy Terror" tour in 2001 on two festival gigs when Chris Holmes left the band. Blair rejoined W.A.S.P. in 2006 and has played with the group ever since.

Blair is currently preparing for W.A.S.P.'s upcoming 40th-anniversary U.S. tour which is scheduled to kick off on October 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On September 3rd, Sammy Hagar & The Circle performed at RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater in Ridgefield, WA. Newly posted fan-filmed video of the band performing the Van Halen classic "Poundcake" can be viewed below.





Sammy Hagar & The Circle released their new album, Crazy Times, via UMe on CD/Digital on September 30. It will be issued on vinyl on October 28. Order the new album here.







Tracklisting:


"Intro: The Beginning Of The End"
"Slow Drain"
"Feed Your Head"
"Pump It Up"
"Be Still"
"You Get What You Pay For"
"Crazy Times"
"Funky Feng Shui"
"Father Time"
"Childhoods End"
"2120" (bonus track)
"Father Time" - Acoustic Demo (bonus track)


"Funky Feng Shui" video:





"Crazy Times" video:





"Pump It Up" video: