In a new interview with Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen & Shane McEachern, longtime IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain once again opened up about his decision to retire from touring with the band. The now-73-year-old British musician, whose real name is Michael Henry McBrain, announced his retirement on December 7, 2024 in a statement on MAIDEN's web site and social media. He also said that night's concert at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil would mark his final show with the legendary rock band.

Asked if walking away from MAIDEN was a hard decision for him to make, Nicko revealed (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "To be very, very honest with you, when we made the 'Senjutsu' record back in 2018, 2019, I thought then I would do the tour of that album and then I'd probably hang it up. And then knowing that the 'Run For Your [Lives' tour was coming up] — at the time we didn't know that that was the name of the tour, but I knew that in 2025 it would be the 50th anniversary [of the band]. And I thought, 'Well, I'll come out of retirement for that, if they want me.' Because we hadn't planned on [the] 'Legacy Of The Beast' or 'The Future Past' [tours at that point]. It was all 'Senjutsu', and that was gonna be over a two-year world tour, and I thought that that would do for me. So I had it in my mind that I would probably retire after that tour. But then, of course, we know what happened — the wonderful, great pandemic hit and ruined all the best-laid plans of a lot of businesses and people, personally as well as bands going out on tour. So that kind of put the spanner in that works. And it was decided that we would do the 'Legacy' tour and not a 'Senjutsu' album tour. It was gonna be like a mix of all kinds of stuff. Anyway, we did that, and then I had my stroke in '23. But there was the end of the 'Legacy' [tour] and then 'The Future Past' tour came along. So, the guys let me go with it and they carried me on their shoulders, which is phenomenal. I'm so eternally grateful to each and every one of 'em for that, and our management team."

Nicko continued: "It wasn't one of those decisions where I was, like, 'Ah, did I make the right decision?' I knew back in 2019 that I was planning on hanging it up. And I'd made rumors to the guys — I'd spoken to Davy [MAIDEN guitarist Dave Murray] about it back then, and I hadn't really mentioned it to Steve [Harris, IRON MAIDEN bassist]. I's kind of brushed upon it, but it wasn't talked about in depth.

"So, yeah, it was hard," he added. "Any time you've been in a band or working for someone for 42 years, it's a difficult decision. But it was made easier for me because I had it in my mind earlier on anyway, and having the stroke kind of put the cherry on it and I thought, 'This isn't fair for the rest of the guys.' And so that, that helped it out immensely."

Nicko was also asked about recent rumors that Murray was contemplating retirement from MAIDEN. The drummer said: "Well, yeah. We've all been away from our families, and David's family expanded, and Tasha, his daughter, had a little baby, baby boy, I believe. And he's a granddad. And he's ensconced himself in Maui with his wife, Tamar. And I talk to him about longevity and stuff and how physically demanding it is for us playing our kind of music — I think for anybody at our age playing any kind of music [is demanding], to be honest. [Laughs] Some are a little easier than others. I mean, we are high octane, from start to finish."

Nicko continued: "So, I would probably say that, in my opinion, I think that this is not likely to be the end, but I think if they do go carry on — I know 2027 is a year off for 'em, and that's okay. That's all great. That's like sitting back for a year and going, 'Oh, breathing time. Back to family.' But that's another year older. I mean, Harry [Steve Harris] will be 71. That's okay. I mean, I was 72 [after] I had my stroke … so age catches everybody up. Father time, he's gonna get you in the end. I just think with Davey, he's got more reason to wanna be at home, perhaps. I haven't spoken to him in a couple of years about ideas of retiring. … But, yeah, everybody's got their own thoughts about that, and I can't really speak for anybody else. But I made my decision, and I've been happy about that. I do miss being on stage, looking out and seeing our wonderful fans that we have around the world. I miss that. I miss my little walks with Janick [Gers, MAIDEN guitarist] or on my own and meeting in a coffee shop during our days off or days of the show. I do miss that. I don't miss the travel and living out of a suitcase. That I do not [miss]."

McBrain also talked about the possibility of MAIDEN making another studio album and the likelihood of him appearing on it. Nicko said: "Watch this space. That's a question mark. And I can't answer it, because I don't know. I did speak to Bruce [Dickinson, MAIDEN singer] — in December I [appeared at] a Monsterpalooza [convention] with him in California. And I said to him, 'Do you wanna do another record?' 'What do you think", he said, 'cause he is the baby of the band. He's got that baby gene in him. Look, he's just been in a studio and finished a new album, solo album, after 'The Mandrake Project'. But he said he wanted to do one, but he didn't know if anybody else wanted to. So that could change. That was three months ago. They obviously still talk to one another, and I don't see why not. And if they do, I would be delighted to go in and do a couple of tracks. I don't think I would do the whole album because [of] my handicap [following my stroke]."

Last October, Nicko told Jason Green of Waste Some Time With Jason Green that his health issues, including the partial paralysis he experienced when he suffered a stroke more than three years ago, contributed to his decision to stop touring with MAIDEN.

"I had a stroke in '23, in January, January the 19th, to be exact," he said. "And it left my right side paralyzed down to the waist and just slightly below. I couldn't move my leg very well. Anyway, it left me with a handicap of not being able to play fast single-stroke rolls, 16th notes, 32nd notes, a tempo like that, and then on from there. You need two hands to do that kind of speed, and [my right arm] just didn't work [the same way] anymore. So, we used to have to change the drum fills on various songs over the last two tours, the 'Legacy Of The Beast' tour part two, and then 'Future Past'. But going forward, there were songs on this new set that I knew I would have difficulty playing, and we wouldn't wanna change them, like the parts we changed, say, in 'Trooper', for instance; I didn't play the big drum fills anymore. So, we agreed. I had a big conversation with Steve and I told him, 'Look, I'm finding it very difficult with all the traveling and the recuperating time.' We didn't have days off, so to speak. And he said, 'Okay, I get it. And maybe it's best.' And so it was more of 80 percent me, 20 percent in agreement with the rest of the guys to hang it up. And that's why I retired."

Last September, Harris told Rock Candy magazine editor Howard Johnson about MAIDEN's first lineup change in 25 years: "To be honest, we didn't really have a choice and had to make the change after Nicko suffered his health issues. It was what it was, and we had a decision to make as to whether we wanted to carry on or not. Obviously we had a tour booked at the time that it happened, and the rest of us all wanted to continue. But ultimately, after we got through all that, it was Nick's decision to step away and we all respected the fact that he'd decided to do that."

McBrain has since been replaced by Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Harris's longtime bandmate in BRITISH LION.

In July 2025, Nicko told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about his exit from MAIDEN: "I had my health issues, which was one of the primary reasons that I decided to hang it up with the guys. And I wasn't doing the songs justice because of the handicap that I had. And it wasn't fair on everybody else either in the band. They supported me 100 percent through the 'The Future Past Tour', and that was fantastic. I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of brothers to support me through my darkest hour."

Elaborating on the physical ailments which contributed to his decision to retire from touring with IRON MAIDEN, Nicko said: "Primarily, I was fed up with touring in terms of the travel and not having days to recoup my body… I wasn't so much slowing down, although we did play the songs that… I got told off at rehearsals [in 2024] because I was playing the songs too fast, 'cause I'd been playing with [my Florida-based side project] TITANIUM TART [which plays MAIDEN songs] before I went off and did the rehearsals in Australia with MAIDEN. And I actually got told off for playing too quick. So it wasn't a question of not being able to drive the band. It was just not being able to drive the band with the drum fills that I'd been used to playing for 42 years. So the question mark was raised about the performance side. And that's quite right…So that was part of the decision that I made."

When Nicko first went public with his stroke in August 2023, the drummer said in a statement that the episode left him "paralyzed" down one side of his body and "worried" that his career with the band was over.

Six years ago, McBrain was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer and opened up about it in a single interview in 2021 but otherwise kept it mostly under wraps.

McBrain officially joined IRON MAIDEN in December 1982 for the 1983 "Piece Of Mind" album and tour, replacing Clive Burr, after McBrain's previous band TRUST had supported IRON MAIDEN during the U.K. leg of the "Killers" tour in 1981. McBrain brought a degree of finesse and technicality that was largely missing from IRON MAIDEN's early output. Whereas Burr was often lauded for his heavy-handed, punk-oriented style, McBrain was largely the opposite, playing with a degree of dexterity and flair that helped primary songwriter Harris take MAIDEN down more adventurous paths. He eventually became the third longest-tenured member of MAIDEN, behind Harris and Murray.

Six-string-wizard Paul Gilbert has released the music video for "Keep Your Feet Firm And Even", a song from his brand-new album "WROC", out now on Music Theories Recordings/Artone.

"WROC" is his highly ambitious new conceptual album. "WROC", which stands for "Washington's Rules Of Civility," could very well be the guitar superstar's most outlandish offering to date. Using George Washington's Rules Of Civility as a conceptual homing beacon, Gilbert has dared himself to think outside the box and use an etiquette guide dating back to the late 1500s as his main source of inspiration.

"Keep Your Feet Firm And Even" is inspired by Washington's Rules 10 and 19: "When you sit down, keep your feet firm and even, without putting one on the other or crossing them" and "Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave."

Talking about the song, Gilbert says: "Decades ago, when I first came across the Washington Rules Of Civility on my bookshelf, I read the introduction and thought, 'I am a civil person. I bet I can follow all these rules easily!' As I read further, I realized that some of the rules might be more challenging than I had anticipated. As I am typing this now, I am in fact 'putting one foot on the other and crossing them while I sit.' (breaking a Washington rule.)"

This follows the previous singles taken from the album, "Go Not Thither", "If You Soak Bread In The Sauce", "Show Not Yourself Glad (At The Misfortune of Another)" and "Conscience Is The Most Certain Judge".

He may have wielded a cordless power drill for supersonic tremolo picking and used a slide to summon the voice of Ronnie James Dio in the past. Still, this latest recording is the sound of a musician defiantly broadening himself into new uncharted horizons for his first vocal album since 2016's "I Can Destroy".

The idea for the album came to him on the flight home from the last show of MR. BIG's final tour, where the group bid farewell to a packed house at Tokyo's Budokan Arena.

"I don't know why it came into my head," he shrugs. "But I love using lyrics to build melodies. I think I was looking for my own Bernie Taupin — who writes all the lyrics for Elton John. Neil Peart is another example, as he wrote the lyrics for RUSH, while Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee composed the music. I wanted to find my own Bernie or Neil, because while lyric writing is something I've certainly done, it's not really my favorite part of the process. So, I got George Washington to be my Bernie Taupin!"

On further investigation, it became clear that the first president of the United States of America had simply copied an English translation of the "Rules Of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company And Conversation" as a school writing exercise, inadvertently becoming its most widely credited author. Its lineage, however, can be traced even further back to a 1595 French etiquette manual written by the Jesuits.

As someone who has vividly shaped the role of the electric guitar in rock music, Paul Gilbert knows a thing or two about which rules to follow — and when to break them. In MR. BIG, he was responsible for pioneering pop rock anthems that saw the group top charts and headline arenas around the world. In RACER X, he pushed the electric guitar to its furthest limits, in a more metallic direction, leaving listeners and audiences mesmerized by how his compositions could be so technically thrilling and tastefully musical at the same time. As a solo artist, he's traversed both instrumental and vocal-led sonic landscapes that have crossed over from blues, classical and jazz to straight-up rock.

So, for Gilbert, there was palpable excitement in resurrecting these 16th-century guidelines for the hyper-advanced social order of today's world. "I've never had such a good time writing songs in my life!" he admits.

The album was recorded live over four days at The Hallowed Halls in Portland, Oregon, with Nick D'Virgilio on drums, Doug Rappoport on guitar, and Timmer Blakely on bass. Paul recorded additional vocals at home to sweeten the tracks, but the core energy comes from the live band jamming face to face.

It all kicks off with "Keep Your Feet Firm And Even", which is based on a Washington rule that Paul finds personally challenging. The hook-laden "Speak Not Evil Of The Absent" saw Gilbert molding unique phrasing to deliver a rule that's now 430 years old. "Some of these rules are easy to follow, and others... I don't know if I could ever do them! But it's certainly aspirational to think about them," says Paul.

"I'm really excited to play this music live and see how people enjoy it," adds Gilbert. "I would say 'WROC' is one of the most musical and listenable albums I've ever done. It's much more than just guitar licks that came from my fingers. The music came from my sense of melody. I've been enjoying that pure connection more and more. I feel like this is the most successful journey I've made to my Inner Melodic Generator... thanks to the inspiration from George Washington and those who went before him. They were my Bernie Taupins. Overall, the process was so enjoyable, and you can hear that joy in the tracks."

Ozzy Osbourne was honored with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award and an all-star tribute performance at the 2026 BRIT Awards on Saturday night, February 28 in Manchester, England.

After a video tribute, country music icon Dolly Parton appeared via video from Nashville to honor Ozzy, saying: "Ozzy Osbourne dedicated his entire life to music and his legacy has left a permanent imprint in the fabric of music lovers everywhere. Now talk about stealing the show."

Dolly went on to highlight the heavy metal legend for his over-the-top performance style, adding: "Ozzy knew how to get your attention with his love of theatrics, his musical gifts — he could turn any occasion into a full-blown show. And at his very core, Ozzy Osbourne was a showman. His legacy has left a permanent imprint on music lovers everywhere."

Dolly then introduced Sharon Osbourne, who appeared onstage with Ozzy and Sharon's daughter Kelly and Louis Osbourne, Ozzy's son from his first marriage.

"I'm honored to accept this award for my gorgeous husband," Sharon said. "God knows I wish he was here to accept it himself… Ozzy is looking down on us right now… He rose to become one of the most recognizable and respected musicians. … To be honest with you, he was the most humble egomaniac you will ever meet. At the end of the day, he will always be a rock star… If Ozzy was here tonight … he would be so proud to receive this from the country that he loved."

An all-star rock tribute performance closed the show on the night, paying homage to Ozzy, who sadly passed away last July. This performance, a special arrangement of "No More Tears" — the title track from Ozzy's multi-million selling 1991 album of the same name — was curated by Sharon, and boasted a phenomenal lineup of British and international musical talent, featuring musicians that played as part of Ozzy's band over the years: Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos and Zakk Wylde; and was fronted by Robbie Williams, invited personally by Sharon to be part of this special moment, as a long-standing fan of the music, and friend of the Osbourne family.

As well as being one of the most influential music figureheads and rock icons of all time, Ozzy hosted the BRIT Awards in 2008 along with his family Sharon, Kelly and Jack.

Stacey Tang, chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards committee and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music U.K. said: "Ozzy Osbourne has been a mighty force in modern music. Possessing an unmistakable voice and unique presence, he reshaped the sound and spirit of rock, inspiring generations of artists who followed. This Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a remarkable legacy built on originality and enduring influence, that continues to connect with fans worldwide."

With over 100 million worldwide album sales achieved over five decades; a legendary catalogue of music including 19 studio albums and eight live albums with BLACK SABBATH and songs including "Paranoid", "Iron Man" and "Children Of The Grave"; 13 studio albums as a solo artist with songs such as "Bark at The Moon", "No More Tears" and "Crazy Train"; and the launch of the successful touring festival Ozzfest, Ozzy Osbourne is one of music's most influential icons and personalities of all time, garnering international recognition across his 50-plus-year career from the worlds of music and entertainment. The many industry accolades awarded to Ozzy across his career include five Grammy awards, induction into both the UK Music Hall Of Fame and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (both with BLACK SABBATH and as a solo artist, in separate years) and the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement (with BLACK SABBATH).

Last summer saw the last-ever live performance from Ozzy, along with his BLACK SABBATH bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, as part of "Back To The Beginning", a historic benefit concert staged at Villa Park in Birmingham that was streamed worldwide and featured a who's-who of contemporary and classic rock artists including Tom Morello, METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, MASTODON and ANTHRAX covering and celebrating the musical repertoire of Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH.

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will took place at Manchester's Co-op Live, was broadcast exclusively on ITV and ITVX and was hosted by Jack Whitehall.

This year's BRIT winners trophy was designed by the acclaimed British and Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson.

In a new interview with Letty Sharp of The Smashing Skull Sessions, former IRON MAIDEN and current WOLFSBANE frontman Blaze Bayley was asked to name his favorite METALLICA album. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's such a difficult question. I really wish you hadn't asked that. It's gotta be 'Ride The Lightning' and 'Master Of Puppets'. I'm stuck on [those two]. I like '72 Seasons' and '…[And] Justice For All', but it's gotta be [sings 'Master Of Puppets' title track].

"It's one of those… I'm interested in brain function," Blaze explained. "I suffer with depression sometimes, bouts of depression, and I'm interested in brain function and what you can do to help yourself when you're in a funk and sometimes when you're in the real darkness. And one of the things I found from a doctor was if you have a song that makes you start tapping your foot, nodding your head, put that in your head, get it in your head, get it in your head. Start moving, start dancing, start moving, and this is something to help you get out of that funk. Start doing it. And I think that's one of those songs for me. Yeah, 'Master Of Puppets' and possibly 'Raining Blood' as well [from] SLAYER. I mean, they're old, old songs, though. I'm such a dinosaur when it gets to that. But I think it doesn't matter how old you are, it's what you get into first. You don't how old the album is or whatever. But that's it. Yeah, that's a horrible question, because there's so many."

Last spring Blaze embarked on a European tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of his first post-MAIDEN release, "Silicon Messiah". On this tour, Blaze played songs from "Silicon Messiah", previously unperformed songs from his most recent album "Circle Of Stone" and classic IRON MAIDEN songs from his era with the band.

Bayley fronted IRON MAIDEN from 1994 until 1999. The two MAIDEN albums he appeared on, "The X Factor" and "Virtual XI", sold considerably less than the band's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including several under the moniker BLAZE and more than a handful under his own name. He also appeared on 2012's "Wolfsbane Saves The World", the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group's self-titled 1994 effort, and a follow-up LP, 2022's "Genius".

Last year WOLFSBANE released "Live Faster", a full-throttle reinvention of the band's iconic debut, "Live Fast, Die Fast", which was originally produced by Rick Rubin and released on Def American Recordings in 1989.

Bayley's latest solo album, "Circle Of Stone", came out in February 2024.

The now-62-year-old musician underwent a quadruple bypass surgery following a heart attack in March 2023.

In a new interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt was asked if he was surprised when he was approached to play the band's first two reunion performances, which took place on September 22, 2024 at the Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois and on October 10, 2024 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California. Holt, who is also a longtime member of EXODUS, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, I was. I was super surprised. [But] it was a lot of fun. We were really good. We rehearsed really hard. I mean, we worked really hard. And we were really good, and we had a really good time, and that's what was most important. So now I think — we have one [gig] this year [in 2026], one show in Texas [at the Sick New World festival], and maybe next year they'll decide they wanna do another. I'm always available. And it gives me most of my time free for EXODUS, which is perfect for me. 'Cause this is where I'm supposed to be."

Earlier this week SLAYER announced its first live performance of 2026, which will take place on September 6 at the 20th anniversary of the Rocklahoma festival at Pryor, Oklahoma’s Rockin Red Dirt Ranch. As with Sick New World, SLAYER will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its thrash metal masterpiece "Reign In Blood" at the event, where they will share the stage with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, THE PRETTY RECKLESS, THE INSANE CLOWN POSSE, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and more.

Last May, Holt told the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast about SLAYER's first reunion concerts: "Well, it [had] been years, but we rehearsed really hard for those shows. We put in the effort. I never stopped. I was on tour [with EXODUS] a month after the final SLAYER show. Only the pandemic slowed me down. So, my chops were up. So, it was just refamiliarizing yourself with the material a little bit."

Asked if he was surprised when he got the call letting him know that SLAYER was planning on returning to the live stage, Gary said: "Absolutely. People say, 'Oh, this and that. You planned this all along.' I'm like, look, I knew a little while before everybody else, but I didn't know forever. I knew early enough to sit down at home and start studying the songs, 'cause I wanted to be really prepared. But, yeah, I was surprised."

Holt continued: "I'm sure there were offers for the band forever, but they felt like it was time, and I'm more than happy to do it. And at least as of now, the current method, which has been [for SLAYER to play] a brief, minor, small little couple of shows [every year], that's fine because I'm fully committed to EXODUS. And so it allows me to do that and then go out [with SLAYER] and play with fire, which, that shit's expensive. EXODUS does not get pyro."

In October 2024, Holt told Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights that the SLAYER performances at Riot Fest and Aftershock were "surreal. It was awesome," he said. "We rehearsed really hard for it, like full production rehearsal. In the past, when I did rehearse — SLAYER rehearsed in this tiny little music studio room with little half stacks. This was cool 'cause I got to play with the entire rig — three amps, six cabs all on. I got to redesign the rig based on my EXODUS rig. So it was the exact same identical thing tone-wise, just three times as large, which was awesome.

"We were nervous," Holt admitted. "Tom [Araya, SLAYER bassist/vocalist] was nervous, and he sounded amazing. Sometimes you've just gotta forget about the time and how long it's been and just let muscle memory kick in and just do it. I mean, I only played one song I'd never played, and that was '213'. And 'Reborn' I'd only played, I think, once, so that was almost a new song — once or twice. Everything else was just refreshers."

Gary added: "I started working on the songs a long, long time ago, when the shows were first announced: 'All right, I'd better make sure I know how to play this shit still.' And I literally had to like dive into Internet tab on songs I'd played a hundred times. But then I'd [go], 'Man, I'm playing it wrong.' Then I just forget about it and just play, and then all right, my hands remember where the notes are.

"But it was spectacular," Holt said. "It was amazing. It was surreal. It was like this moment. The crowd was just very happy. And we were happy, and everything was good."

SLAYER's only U.S. East Coast performance of 2025 took place on September 20 at Hershey, Pennsylvania's 30,000-seat Hersheypark Stadium. Two days earlier, SLAYER performed at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky. The Louder Than Life show marked the reunited thrash metal pioneers' fourth full concert of 2025, following the band's appearances the 35,000-capacity Blackweir Fields in Cardiff, U.K., London, U.K.'s 45,000-capacity Finsbury Park, and the 100,000-capacity Festival D'été De Québec in Canada. SLAYER also helped celebrate BLACK SABBATH's incredible career by playing a six-song set at SABBATH's sold-out "Back To The Beginning" final concert on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.

The lineup for all of SLAYER's comeback shows in 2024 and 2025 was the same as the one which last toured in 2019: guitarist Kerry King and drummer Paul Bostaph, along with bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Gary Holt.

In July 2024, Kerry told Guitar World magazine that he "was very surprised" when Araya agreed to play three SLAYER shows in 2024. "I made my comments [about SLAYER being finished] based on [Tom] not wanting to play anymore. As far as I was concerned, we were done and never going to play again. To be honest, I don't know what switched.

"We've been turning down offers to play shows for at least three years. So, one came up that, I guess, enticed Tom to the point where he wanted to roll the dice and try a couple. I don't know, but that's all it is."

In June 2024, King was asked by Jonathan Clarke, host of "Out Of The Box" on Q104.3, New York's classic rock station, about how SLAYER's reunion shows came about. He responded: "I'll put it in the perspective everybody can understand. We've been turning down offers since beginning of 2020, pandemic and all. And then it started getting near the five-year anniversary of us stopping playing, so I'm, like, 'You know what? This is a three-show package. I think it would be fun to do.' It's kind of a five-year anniversary of our last tour. We're never gonna tour again — it ain't gonna happen. We're never gonna record again; that's not gonna happen either. But to do commemorative shows, I think that's kind of fun. I don't have to be married to it for a long time. Kids don't have to worry about it coming around on tour because we said we wouldn't. There's not a whole lot of weird diabolical shit going on here. I think people have just gotta say, 'Hey, it's anniversary celebration shows.' That's gonna be the end of it."

Days after SLAYER's reunion was announced, Tom Araya's wife wrote on social media that she "harassed him for over a year" before he "agreed finally" to play more shows with the band. "We shared that news with SLAYER's awesome managers and they did the rest!" she explained. "So yes without Tom it wouldn't have happened.. without me BUGGING HIM it wouldn't have happened."

Photo credit: Kevin Estrada (courtesy of Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald / HER PR)

In a new three-part video interview with former Geffen A&R executive Tom Zutaut, Don Dokken once again reflected on DOKKEN's participation in the 1988 "Monsters Of Rock" U.S. stadium tour, also featuring VAN HALEN, SCORPIONS, METALLICA and KINGDOM COME. The trek kicked off in East Troy, Wisconsin on May 27 that year and took in 28 dates over the ensuing weeks before concluding on July 30 in Denver. Don said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[METALLICA] kicked our butts. It's hard to play with METALLICA. They're the biggest band in the world now. And I remember on 'Monsters', they were going on right before us, and I thought… It is kind of, like, we're not heavy like them, so I told [our manager]. We had the same managers — [Cliff] Burnstein and [Peter] Mensch [of Q Prime] — and I said, 'Cliff, can you put 'em on after us?' I go, 'It's kind of hard to go on stage and sing 'In My Dreams' [after METALLICA's set].'

"They crushed us," Don continued. "They were right in the middle of recording the 'Black Album'. [Editor's note: METALLICA was actually in the middle of mixing '…And Justice For All' at the time of the 'Monsters Of Rock' tour.] It took 'em four years with [mega producer Robert John] 'Mutt' Lange. [Editor's note: Don was apparently referring to Bob Rock, who produced METALLICA's 1991 self-titled LP, also known as the 'Black Album'.] And I remember, the [METALLICA] bass player [at the time], Jason [Newsted], came to my hotel room one night and he wanted me to listen to a track [from the album that turned out to be '…And Justice For All'], and he said, 'Just give me your opinion, as a producer. Do you think the bass is too low?' And I said, 'Honestly, I wouldn't know 'cause I can't hear any bass.' I didn't mean to be mean. And, of course, he told Kirk [Hammett, METALLICA guitarist] and [the other guys in the band]. And I went, 'Oh, shit. I shouldn't have just said nothing.' But it was true. METALLICA doesn't put a lot of bass [on their albums]. It comes from their guitars and their kick drums."

Don went on to say that he actually learned about Q Prime's interest in METALLICA during the band's early 1980s club days in California. "They were playing the Troubadour," Don recalled. "And Cliff Burnstein was our manager. And I picked him up at the [Sunset] Marquis [hotel in West Hollywood]] and drove him to the Troubadour to see METALLICA — before he had signed them, he was thinking about signing them. And I have to be honest, I saw 'em and I said, 'You're gonna sign these guys?' I go, 'They're good. But…' At that time, it was AEROSMITH and LOVERBOY — it was more hard rock — and these guys came out like a machine gun firing. They were just in your face, over the top. I think they still had the guy that ended up leaving, the guitar player. I can't remember his name. The blonde [guy that ended up forming] MEGADETH. Dave Mustaine. And I said to Cliff… I said, 'Really? You're really into it?' At that time he had DOKKEN and just melodic rock. And he says, and I'll never forget it, he goes, 'These guys are gonna be huge.' He goes, 'They're gonna be huge.' And fast forward 10 years — this was way before the 'Black Album'. He saw it, and that was it. And then they got signed [to Elektra]. And now they're probably the biggest band in the world."

At that point during the discussion, Zutaut, who formerly worked for Elektra, claimed some credit for bringing the band to the label, which was signed to a contract by Michael Alago.

"Don … knows I signed METALLICA," Zutaut said. "There's always this controversy with Michael Alago. But I was leaving Elektra, so I turned the band over to Michael Alago, and it's kind of a complicated story and I won't get into all that right now."

Don previously discussed DOKKEN's participation in "Monsters Of Rock" during an October 2023 appearance on the Battleline podcast. He said at the time: "Yeah, that was a tough tour, because they hadn't done the 'Black Album' yet. I mean, METALLICA's now the biggest band in the world… And that was kind of maybe the reason we broke up, because of METALLICA. Because when we played the stadium tour, METALLICA came on stage every day with this attitude like, you know, do or die. I mean, they just gave it 100 percent, 110 percent. They were kicking ass. They were just coming out with '…And Justice For All', which was not my favorite METALLICA album. And they hadn't done the 'Black album' yet that's now took them into superstardom. And I would talk to the band. I'd say, 'Look at METALLICA.' And they're opening for us. And we had the same manager. And I used to say, 'Well, Cliff [Burnstein], I know they're opening up and they're only making half the money as us, but could you put them on after us?' Because when METALLICA went on and they closed the show with whatever it was, 'Kill 'Em All' or something like that, we're coming on stage doing 'In My Dreams', we look like THE MONKEES practically, 'cause we're just a straight-ahead rock and roll band. But I respected METALLICA so much because we'd be in Texas and it'd be, like, 105 degrees and they'd go on at, like, 3 o'clock, and it's just sweltering hot. But they went on every day. METALLICA had this mindset that, 'If this is our last show, we die. So be it.' They gave it 110 percent."

Don continued: "We'd been on the road for a year and a half. And I think we just kind of got full of ourselves. I mean, we had toured with AEROSMITH and all these other bands, and we weren't playing well, in my opinion, because the drugs. When you're on stage in front of a hundred thousand people, and I'm trying to front the band, and you've got all these cameras on you and big screens, and the camera would go to George [Lynch, DOKKEN guitarist] during a solo, and I'd look over and there's no George on stage. Where's George? I hear him playing, but he wasn't on stage, because he was standing behind his Marshall amplifiers doing coke. And I begged and pleaded and said, 'Is there any way you guys can't do drugs for 90 minutes?' And basically they said no. They were doing coke on stage and it was really, for me, depressing. I started the band, the band's called DOKKEN, and everybody was doing coke on stage. And I was, like, 'Jesus Christ.' And that's when the band unraveled."

Back in April 2021, Lynch told MetalTalk about DOKKEN's stadium tour with METALLICA: "That was pretty much the pinnacle of it, wasn't it? That was the last big tour of that style, I think, in that kind of giant rock arena tour, I think that was the last one. So it was kind of an end of an era. Nobody knew it at the time. And we were misplaced on that bill. It was kind of good for us, I guess, in a way, but we were billed over METALLICA; they hadn't quite gone over the edge yet. We had the same management company [Q Prime], so we were very fortunate to get that spot.

"The thing I will never understand about the management and that tour and the band was that in their insane thinking, the management called a meeting before the tour started and informed the band that Don was gonna be breaking the band up and trying to just hire us as musicians on the band," he continued. "Or else, if that didn't work, we didn't agree to that, he was just gonna leave, keep the name and kick us out. [And that was] before the tour started — literally days before it started.

"I operate — or at least then operated — out of a sense of commitment and on a mission. We built this thing as a family, as friends, as a band of brothers. And that was really the struggle between Don and I. Don was kind of out for himself and used people as best he could. I'm not saying this in a derogatory way. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, because we succeeded because of him and that mentality — the way he views the world and the way he operates. He's able to do things that I personally couldn't do, or I wouldn't live with myself. For better or worse, I don't know if it's good or bad — I can't even say — but we benefited from it. But it also was a double-edged sword and it worked against us in a sense that we split everything up equal, we all worked hard and to the best of our abilities, and we all contributed what we have to contribute, and a rising tide floats all boats and we all win. And we have this sense of like we did it together, and there's enough to go around. Don saw the writing on the wall, and with the managers' help, decided that he wanted the whole thing for himself. Because we were up for renegotiation on our [record] contract. And that's where you wanna be in this career. When you build yourself up and you double your record sales every record for three consecutive [albums], and then your contract ends and you have to renegotiate that contract, that is exactly where you wanna be.

"When you renegotiate, you're negotiating from a position of strength. And now you're MÖTLEY CRÜE, now you're VAN HALEN, now you're set for life," George explained. "And we all were looking at that, and we all worked for that, and we all earned that, and we should have been patting each other on the back and in a really good place. Instead Don took that as, 'Well, I'm gonna take this all for myself, and fuck these guys.' I had to go on stage knowing that every night. And it depressed me, and I kind of just fell into drugs and alcohol and just went out and went through the motions. I was quite dispirited. I mean, I had some good shows, but I was maybe just faking it to a certain extent, 'cause I was definitely dispirited. All this for this, and now I have to go out and put on a face? I'm just sort of like a 'wear my heart on my sleeve' kind of guy, and it was [very hard] for me to do. It was very depressing. And the only way I'd deal with it was drugs and alcohol."

All the members of DOKKEN's classic 1980s lineup — Dokken, Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson and drummer Mick Brown — reunited on stage for the first time in more than a decade in November 2009 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California.

A decade ago, the four musicians rejoined forces for a short Japanese tour. The trek marked the first time in 21 years they had hit the road together.

A DOKKEN concert DVD focusing on the band's reunion tour, "Return To The East Live (2016)", was made available in 2018. In addition to the Japanese performance, the set included footage from the classic lineup's only U.S. show in September 2016 at Badlands in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as well as newly recorded acoustic reworkings of "Heaven Sent" and "Will The Sun Rise". Also featured on "Return To The East Live (2016)" was "It's Just Another Day", the first DOKKEN track featuring the group's classic lineup since 1997's "Shadowlife".

Since completing the Japanese reunion dates, DOKKEN has continued to perform with the group's current lineup — including bassist Chris McCarvill, guitarist Jon Levin and drummer BJ Zampa (HOUSE OF LORDS).

DOKKEN's 13th studio album, "Heaven Comes Down", came out in October 2023 via Silver Lining Music. The LP was produced by Bill Palmer and Don Dokken and was mixed by Kevin Shirley (AEROSMITH, IRON MAIDEN).

In a new interview with the Thunder Underground podcast, GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall spoke about GREAT WHITE singer Brett Carlisle's audition for "American Idol" on the episode broadcast February 9.

Carlisle, who joined GREAT WHITE in late 2022, sang GREAT WHITE's classic ballad "House Of Broken Love", backed by Kendall on guitar and fellow GREAT WHITE member Michael Lardie on piano.

Kendall told Thunder Underground about Carlisle's appearance on the long-running TV singing competition:  "[We] didn't wanna stop him from any opportunity, like something that big, so we were fully supportive. And we go, 'Hey, man, we'll we'll go down there and jam with you, back you up.' Plus it didn't hurt the band. I mean, six million people watching every night, they're gonna know we still exist at least. So, it was a lot of fun. It was actually a good experience.

The 28-year-old Carlisle impressed "Idol" judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan at the audition — which took place at Nashville's Belmont University — enough to earn him a golden ticket to "American Idol"'s Hollywood round. Richie gushed, telling Carlisle: "Especially when you rock, you're going to be the poster child for this."

Underwood also asked Carlisle, Kendall and Lardie to play a bit of GREAT WHITE's 1989 hit version of "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", a cover of a 1975 song written and originally performed by former MOTT THE HOOPLE frontman Ian Hunter.

Kendall told Thunder Underground about GREAT WHITE's appearance on "American Idol": "They filmed us all day long. It was amazing how much they chopped it up, and it was just this little tiny segment."

He continued: "We don't have all the mediums we used to have where we're in everybody's face every five minutes. There's no MTV, no record stores, they don't play current music anymore on the radio. So, we're kind of flying under the radar — not by design on our part. But you get on a national show like that, all the old fans, maybe some of the ones that didn't know we're still around, know now. That's pretty cool."

Regarding GREAT WHITE's performance on "American Idol", Kendall said: "When we went out and saw where we were gonna do the audition with the judges right there and everything, there was a piano. And Michael saw there was a way to tune it down, 'cause we tune to E flat. And even though it was acoustic piano, it had a function to where you can tune the piano to E flat. It sounded so nice, I go, 'Let's deliver 'House Of Broken Love' that way' — acoustic guitar and piano. We never played it like that before, so it was a different look for the song."

Asked if Carlisle's appearance on "American Idol" gives him "pause at all thinking this might lead to [Brett] leaving [GREAT WHITE] at some point", Mark said: "Well, if that happened, I mean, God bless him. I, like I said, I didn't wanna stop something like that. It's not like he's looking for other things. He watched that show when he was a little kid and just for the hell of it, made this little audition tape, sent it in and they called him out of 230,000 people. So, he didn't figure to even get on it, but when he did, he [went], 'Holy shit, man. They called me.' So we weren't gonna stop it. We're fully supportive."

With his golden ticket secured, the Alabama native now advances to Hollywood, where he will compete alongside other hopefuls for a chance to continue on the nationally televised singing competition. There the contestants will face more rigorous challenges in hopes of advancing further in the season.

Asked what his "Idol" audition was like, Brett told AL.com: "I've never been with that many singers at that level before in a room, and it was cool that we all got to nerd out with the time that we had in the waiting rooms and everything else. Some really, really good people, all genres."

Kendall added: "Well, I was personally thrilled for him. But it was such a great experience [on 'Idol'], and it was so fun. They really did a lot with us. They filmed us all doing interviews, and Brett's doing interviews, and it was really exciting. It was just a really fun day, long day. Like, 12 hours there from six in the morning till six at night. But it was a great experience for Brett, and we really enjoyed ourselves. We don't want to slow him down for any opportunities or so we were happy to support that."

Carlisle was officially named GREAT WHITE's new vocalist in October 2022. Brett joined the group as the replacement for Andrew Freeman (LAST IN LINE),who sang for GREAT WHITE for only five months.

In an October 2025 interview with the Melissa & Roger's Wild Life podcast, Carlisle was asked to name the "proudest moment" of his career so far. He responded:  "Probably how happy these [other] guys [in GREAT WHITE] are [with the current lineup], and seeing how happy Mark is specifically, because he comes up to me and he's, like, 'Dude, there's nothing on the setlist we can't play now. You can sing whatever. We can do whatever we want.' And he'll pull me aside after we do soundcheck, we'll do 'Stick It', or a couple of times throughout the night where I hit higher notes, and he's, like, 'Dude, you were right on the top of that note.' I'm, like, it's cool.

"I like seeing everybody just excited and having a good time," Brett explained. "It seemed like for a little while before, when I was watching videos of them on stage, it looked like there was some separation and everybody was kind of in their own bubble. And I just like making sure everybody's okay, having a good time and asking questions to where we're openly talking about things."

Asked if he and his bandmates were "a little bit apprehensive" about the fact that Carlisle is only 28 years old while GREAT WHITE, as a group, has been in existence more than four decades, Mark told George Dionne of KNAC.COM in an April 2024 interview: "He's in his late 20s, but, believe it or not, he's kind of an old soul in a way. Nothing overwhelms the guy. He just goes out and just totally handles it every night, engages the crowd. He's real good with the interaction. He sings perfect all the time. And he's got really good song sense for a young man. I'm used to feeding people melody ideas when I write a song because that's the way I do it. Everybody has their own way to do it, but I always know that there's a lot of melody available, and he sometimes comes up with something way better than I had. So that's a good sign. And the way he delivers the new stuff, he really has a good handle on the music. And I don't know — I think he was born in the wrong time or something. In other words, we can stand together. It's not like he's standing next to his grandpa or something. It's not like we're CROSBY, STILLS & NASH, and, 'What's that 13-year-old doing there?' When we stand together, it just looks like a band. It doesn't look like we're with a little kid or anything. He's a little better-looking than us, but apart from that…"

Regarding what it has been like working with a singer who wasn't even born when some of GREAT WHITE's classic songs were written, Lardie told Robert Miguel of Uvalde Radio Rocks: "Well, I think he gets what we're trying to do. It's been a godsend to have someone with his youth, but at the same time he has what a lot of people would deem as an older soul. His parents did a great job bringing him up on '70s and '80s rock, so he's pretty well versed in that. And he comes from the South, so he's got a little bit of that blues and gospel edge to him."

Carlisle made his live debut with GREAT WHITE on September 24, 2022 at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to Brett, he felt welcomed by his new bandmates and the GREAT WHITE fans from the get-go.

"After meeting [the GREAT WHITE guys], they're all super-cool dudes," he told Kevin McKay of the 99 Rock WKSM FM radio station. "In Vegas, we had a rehearsal the day before, and I already knew half the songs well enough to be able to do it. So I wanted to do the best that I could on 'em. But after we hung out, everybody was cool and stuff. I mean, it's a big crowd. I love big crowds; they're fun."

Carlisle has been playing guitar and singing since the age of eight and counts bands like VAN HALEN, SKID ROW and METALLICA as his main influences.

In May 2022, GREAT WHITE announced that it had parted ways with singer Mitch Malloy and had replaced him with Freeman. Malloy had been in GREAT WHITE for nearly four years, having joined the group in 2018 following the departure of Terry Ilous.

Ilous, frontman of '80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after stepping in for touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and 2017's "Full Circle", before Terry was dismissed from the group.

In January 2023, Kendall told the "Mark 2.0" podcast that he was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response to Carlisle's addition to GREAT WHITE. "It was world news," he said. "I'm seeing stuff on the Internet from Italy, Germany, the U.K. And even some of the more online dirt-seeking-type entities that normally are just huntin' for the headline to say, 'He said his singer sucks'. That's the article. That's the way it starts. These guys actually said good things and posted some of the [fan-filmed videos]. They're cellphone cameras, so the quality probably isn't… But you can hear it. You need to sing great."

In October 2022, Carlisle was asked in an interview with AL.com about his approach to singing GREAT WHITE's classic songs. He said: "I just want to do the songs justice, because that's what people expect to hear. They want to go to the shows and hear the songs the way they remember them, the way they know them. It's not about me and how many high notes I can hit or anything like that. I just want to do the give the people, and the band, what they want."

Brett went on to say that he is honored to be singing for a band whose songs — including "Save Your Love", "Rock Me" and "Lady Red Light" — he had previously covered with his other band ALL OR NOTHING.

"I just want to learn from them," Carlisle said of his new bandmates. "It's just really cool to be included in what I've grown up listening to, like looking at the CDs and everything. And then now people are coming up after the shows asking me to sign like original GREAT WHITE cassettes and stuff. And I'm sitting here feeling like I'm not worthy. Because I didn't record that. But I'm, like, 'I just sang with them, so, sure, if you want me to.'"

In a new interview with Metal Mayhem ROC, RAVEN frontman John Gallagher opened up about his health, six months after it was announced that the British/American metal trio was postponing its previously announced summer/fall 2025 European tour so that the bassist/vocalist could undergo emergency brain surgery. Referencing RAVEN's upcoming North American tour, which is scheduled to kick off on March 18 in Louisville, Kentucky, John said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I am certainly ready for it, after all our little trials and tribulations. I call 2025 our medical gap year. My brother [RAVEN guitarist Mark Gallagher] had an ankle replacement and a knee replacement, which were kind of planned, but me getting knocked on the head and being in the ICU for two weeks and bleed on the brain wasn't planned. I'm just very, very lucky to pull through with it, with very little to show for it. Medically, I'm doing okay."

According to John, he and his RAVEN bandmates are ready to hit the road hard in 2026. "That's pretty much our attitude, is we gotta make up for that lost time," he explained. "So we will. This is a pretty extensive tour. We're going out. It goes right through till May 3rd. Then on, I think it's May 11th, we fly out to Europe and we're gonna be doing about a 15-, 16-date run there. And then the second leg of that will start in September. And in between we are planning on recording a new album."

Speaking in more detail about Mark's surgeries, John said: "Well, the ankle, Mark needed the ankle for an awful long time. I mean, you guys have seen him running around like a crazy man, but you don't see him curled up in a ball after the show. He's been in a lot of pain for many, many years, and this is something he's wanted to do. And [it was] basically bone on bone, no cartilage, so it really needed to be done. And the other thing that followed from that, of course, is all those years of compensating for the ankle with the other leg, and the knee got shot because of that. So he got both of them done. So he's a little bit more metal than what he was before."

As for how he is feeling at the moment and whether he is prepared to return to the road, John said: "Well, with my thing, I'm currently still on anti-seizure medication, which is being reviewed later this week. We'll see how we're doing. But I was basically given the green light to do whatever only a few weeks after with the caveat that 'you won't be strong enough to do any of that.' And they were right, 'cause [when] you get a head injury like that, it kind of sucks all the power out of your body to try and fix that. So it was humbling, put it that way. It took a hell of a lot out of me. But I'm doing pretty good now. And it was a little weird, a few strange things. As soon as I got back, I picked up a bass and started trying to play a few of my favorite MONTROSE riffs, and the fingers weren't going where they were supposed to go. So I put it down for a day or two and came back and realized I was about 80% of what I should have been. And I just had to work real hard and getting back to where I am — currently a little better than I was before. So I'm happy about that."

According to John, his inability to play the bass properly after being released from the hospital was "totally mental. Literally my fingers weren't going in the right place or were out of sync," he explained. "[It was] just a brain thing. Compared to a lot of people, I'm incredibly lucky. So it was just a small hurdle to work on, and it did scare me a little bit, but I was getting improvements almost immediately on that. And it only took a few weeks, and I got back to where I was supposed to be."

Referencing KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, who died last October after a fall at Ace's home, John added: "Believe me, very few moments go by where I'm not reminded [that] I could be where Ace Frehley is, and Ace could be where I am. God bless. I'm very, very lucky. My family, my friends, they've all been amazing. The doctors, the nurses, the whole deal."

Considered part of the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" movement of the early '80s, RAVEN is perhaps best remembered for its trailblazing tours in America in the early '80s that gave groups like METALLICA and ANTHRAX their first taste of the road.

In a 2014 interview with CantonRep.com, John stated about RAVEN's tour with METALLICA, dubbed the "Kill 'Em All For One Tour", the moniker coming from the combination of the bands' two albums at the time: "It was like guerilla warfare. There were 17 people in a six-person Winnebago. We ended up spending most of our time traveling in the back of one of the trucks, because it was more sanitary! You'd turn up in places like Oklahoma City going, 'Doesn't this remind you of the 'Blues Brothers?' And it was except there was no chicken wire, so when people were throwing (crap) around, it would hit you! But we'd played for punks in workingman's clubs in the North of England, so we just gave it back, kicked their beers over, jumped on the tables, and said, 'Are you with us or against us?' That was our job. It was METALLICA's first tour. We showed them the ropes, and they were completely out of control. It was great. It was like this big gang traveling across America."

RAVEN's classic albums "Rock Until You Drop", "Wiped Out" and "All For One" virtually invented both the speed metal and power metal genres, with the band consistently pushing the envelope while retaining its unique sound and attack — both in the studio and in their true element: onstage.

RAVEN's latest EP, "Can't Take Away The Fire", came out in February 2025 via Silver Lining Music.

Legendary guitar icons Joe Satriani and Steve Vai return with the SATCHVAI band release of their brand-new single, "Dancing", out now via earMUSIC, alongside a wildly entertaining new video directed by Satriani's son, ZZ Satriani. The single is released Monday, March 2.

Musically, "Dancing" — a reimagined interpretation of a song by iconic Italian singer, pianist, and songwriter Paolo Conte — showcases the SATCHVAI band at full throttle.

A vibrant, melodic conversation between two of rock's most expressive guitar voices built on momentum, melody, and fearless musical chemistry, the track captures the spirit of spontaneity and joy that defined their electrifying European tour.

The video stars actor, comedian and musician Brendon Small ("Metalacolpyse", DETHKLOK),a longtime friend of both guitarists, who hilariously portrays an overzealous talent manager pushing the duo to cast dancers for the band's upcoming live show.

The chaos unfolds in sync with the track's fast-moving melodic interplay between Satriani and Vai — a rapid-fire exchange of soaring guitar lines that mirrors the eccentric parade of auditioning performers. Eagle-eyed fans will also spot a cameo from the band's powerhouse drummer Kenny Aronoff, adding to the tongue-in-cheek energy.

Satriani shares: "'Dancing' really captures the playful side of what Steve, and I discovered on stage together last summer — that push-and-pull of melody and energy. The video gave us a chance to show that spirit in a completely different way. Watching ZZ bring this absurd casting concept to life — and having Brendon step into the madness — made it even more fun."

Vai adds: "This band thrives on surprise — musically and visually. 'Dancing' is a perfect example of that. It's melodic but relentless, and the video turns that energy into a kind of surreal comedy. It's a glimpse into the personality of this band before we even hit the stage."

The release arrives as SATCHVAI prepares to bring its "Surfing With The Hydra" 2026 tour Stateside for the first time. Launching April 1 in Seattle and running through May 30 at Wolf Trap, the tour follows a celebrated European run that included stops in London, Paris, Copenhagen, and festival appearances at Hellfest, Umbria Jazz Festival and Guitares En Scène. Support on all dates will come from progressive metal innovators ANIMALS AS LEADERS.

On the "Surfing With The Hydra" tour, fans can expect a full-band, high-energy performance featuring more new material from the forthcoming SATCHVAI album alongside iconic favorites from both artists' catalogues.

"Dancing" follows the duo's previous releases, including the cinematic instrumental "The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1" and the anthemic "I Wanna Play My Guitar", featuring powerhouse vocals from Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION). Together, these tracks preview a collaboration that is decades in the making.

Despite nearly 50 years of friendship, the SATCHVAI band marks the first time Satriani and Vai have formally united in a shared group — alongside drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Marco Mendoza and guitarist Pete Thorn — forging a live experience built on virtuosity, friendship and fearless creativity.

Formed in 2024 after decades of friendship and musical intersections, SATCHVAI brings together two of the most celebrated guitarists of all time for an unprecedented collaboration. More than just a band, SATCHVAI is a supercharged fusion of guitar-driven mastery, chemistry, and creative fire.

Photo by Larry DiMarzio

In a new interview with Finland's Tumma Nuotti, former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE frontman Joe Lynn Turner spoke about the lyrical inspiration for his latest solo album, 2022's "Belly Of The Beast", which is said to be "a lot darker" than his previous efforts. He explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I think that the messaging, as far as lyrically, was a place that I was in at the time. I mean, I'm not out of the this messaging, but I thought it was very important for the world to know what was actually happening. And that's why I called it 'Belly Of The Beast' because the 'beast' system is the system that we live in, whether it's government, education, religion, all institutions, for example. We, as a humanity, are being enslaved. Little by little, our freedoms are being taken away, and it's very important to realize that this is a very, very dangerous adjustment that they're trying to make slowly.

"I liken it to the theory of boiling the frog," Joe explained. "You take a frog, you put him in warm water, you put it on the stove, and little by little you turn the heat up and the frog doesn't realize it. And pretty soon you've got the heat and the fire all the way up and the frog is boiled to death. And that's the theory of the frog. And I think we are the frogs. Slowly but surely, our freedoms are being taken away. Control is being imposed, and they're making it sound like it's for our comfort and betterment, but that's not true. So 'Belly Of The Beast' was a big message trying to reach the people."

Turner added: "I don't think, coming off the pandemic, or the 'plandemic', as we say, [the message of 'Belly Of The Beast'] really reached enough people. I think now it's starting to gather much more of a understanding, simply because they're looking back now and saying, 'Hey, wait a minute. There was something about this in there.' … And it was — not disappointing to me at all, because I only hoped that at least a certain few would get it, would understand it. And there were some absolutely amazing reviewers who did understand it, which got the message out to the public more and more. But there's still time for people to wake up and understand what's really happening more and more. And I think at one point in the future, this album is gonna come back and resurface as, 'He told us. He was trying to tell us something in this album. It was not just great music, great melodies, but also an amazing message.'"

Turner went on to call out corporate greed, saying:  "I think the music industry today — all industries, really — there's a lot of evil out there. And people don't realize evil from good. And it's very strange to me why their intuition doesn't tell them, 'Excuse me, but this is right and this is wrong.' And that's basically good and evil.

"I think, and as the ['Belly Of The Beast'] record explains, we are in a spiritual war here," he explained. "Not only physically. War is not only physical, with bombs and bullets, but it's spiritual. And I'm not talking religion, I'm talking our inner spirits. People have lost the right and wrong of things, of values of where we should be going. And it's really very disappointing to see that. And that's, again, what 'Belly Of The Beast' was about. I was trying to reach people to say, 'Look, this is right and this is wrong. No matter where you're from, what color, what creed, whatever, there's just simply right and wrong.' And there's a lot of things today that need to be changed, and it only starts with us. 'Rise Up', for example, is an anthem. It's trying to tell the people, 'Look, we're being put in chains.' You can live on your knees, you can die on your knees, if you want, but you have to stand up for these things. And I think the people are too comfortable now, in a way, where they don't realize that someday they're going to be wishing they did rise up and it will be too late. So song by song by song, you can go through this thing. A lot of is personal. 'Dark Night Of The Soul', it's for every man, but it's really about me realizing, what's my purpose in life? Where do I go from here? What shall I be doing that's meaningful to the world? What will my life mean? And I think that's a question that everyone should answer… Well, we all [struggle with that question]. I mean, look, if you don't, then you have no self-reflection, then you have no inner dialogue, as we say. Like, where should I be? What should I be doing? How will I be remembered? How can I leave something for mankind? Or am I just here sucking up the energy and kind of being a useless, wasted flesh? We are all here for a purpose, and if you don't find your purpose, or at least look for it desperately, you are wasting your time… You'll be enlightened by so much once you start to really introspect and ask yourself, how can I be a better human being? What can I contribute to this world? What can I give? Because it gives me so much — what can I give back? Just don't take, take, take… We were born to love. And when you don't do that, there's no love there. It's just greed, which is unbelievable today."

Joe added: "The 'beast' system, by the way, is in the Bible. It's happened before in humanity, but humanity recovered from it a couple of times before. But this time I don't know if we can, because the powers that be have us in such good, great control right now that we're very comfortable with compliance, complying to the rules and the regulations, and everybody's so interested in Netflix and the material things in life — sex and drugs and this and this and that… If you just take, take, take, take, honestly, you will meet with a very, very horrible fate, because that taking — you may seem like you're winning now, but you're actually losing. Because the laws of the universe say — and maybe people will scoff at me, but this is true — there is such a thing called divine law. I'm not talking religion, people, I'm not talking this or that. I'm talking a divine law from the universe. And they say, if you take, take, take and never give, sooner or later it's over for you. Because to give is the real thing."

Joe founded FANDANGO in 1977 and sang for the band for four records before RAINBOW guitarist Ritchie Blackmore rang. His vocals powered the seminal "Difficult To Cure" in 1981, going gold in the U.K., France, and Japan in addition to cracking the Top 50 of the Billboard 200 and Top 3 on the U.K. albums chart. A year later, he ignited RAINBOW's "Straight Between The Eyes", which Guitar World retrospectively hailed as one of "The 25 Greatest Rock Guitar Albums" of 1982. It also spawned the Hot 100 hit "Stone Cold". During 1988, a Polygram VP wanted Turner to extend his writing and singing skills to collaborate with legendary shred virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen for his project RISING FORCE. Their album, "Odyssey", scaled the Top 40 of the Top 200, marking Malmsteen's highest bow on the respective chart and going gold in Sweden. Not long after, he reteamed with Blackmore for DEEP PURPLE's "Slaves And Masters" (1990),reaching gold status in Switzerland and Japan.

In addition, he has co-written for and appeared on classics such as Mick Jones's "Mick Jones" (1989),RIOT's "The Privilege Of Power" (1990) and Lita Ford's "Dangerous Curves" (1991),to name a few. Not to mention, he lent his background vocals to Michael Bolton's double-platinum "The Hunger" (1987),Cher's platinum "Cher" (1987),Billy Joel's Grammy Award-nominated quadruple-platinum "Storm Front" (1989),and many more. From 2001 to 2004 he teamed up with his friend and counterpart Glenn Hughes and formed HTP (HUGHES TURNER PROJECT). The release of two highly acclaimed original albums and two world tours in support gave him further recognition. Other collaborations range from shining on stage with "Raiding The Rock Vault" at LVH Hotel and Casino and an unforgettable turn on "X Factor Bulgaria" to two cuts on MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's 2021 album, "Immortal".

HASTE THE DAY, the metalcore band that made a scene splash in the '00s, returned in 2024 with the video for the new song "Burn". They also appeared at Furnace Fest that year. It was their first music in nearly a decade. But they didn't stop there. Earlier this month, the beloved band announced its new album, "Dissenter" will arrive May 1 via Solid State Records. It's their first album since 2015. Today, they share the visualizer for new single "Liminal", featuring SILENT PLANET's Garrett Russell. Watch it below.

"'Liminal' expands on the melodic, aggressive metalcore foundation of the record while leaning into the punk and hardcore influences that shaped our early sound," HASTE THE DAY explains. "Featuring soaring melodic guitar leads and a powerful guest vocal from Garrett Russell of SILENT PLANET, the song feels both familiar and forward-moving — drawing a clear line from 'Attack Of The Wolf King' into the present. Lyrically, 'Liminal' explores the tension of being stuck between two truths, caught in a space where movement feels impossible."

"Dissenter" track listing:

01. Cycles
02. Shallows
03. Grave
04. Burn
05. Liminal
06. Gnasher
07. Heretic
08. Escape
09. Adrift
10. Teeth
11. Oblivion

HASTE THE DAY conjures the sound of coming full circle. The Indiana-bred band rekindles the spark at the heart of its signature style by sharpening the edges, tightening the melodies, and amplifying the scope with cinematic ambition.

HASTE THE DAY has clung to its integrity since initially emerging at the turn of the century. Following "Burning Bridges" (2004) and "When Everything Falls" (2005),Stephen Keech made his formal debut as the group's frontman on "Pressure The Hinges" (2007). The band unleashed a trio of fan favorite offerings, namely "Dreamer" (2008),the seminal "Attack Of The Wolf King" (2010) and "Coward" (2015). The latter marked HASTE THE DAY's second straight Top 20 entry on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart and second Top 10 on the Hard Rock Albums chart. Along the way, they toured with everyone from HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD to NORMA JEAN. Despite going dormant in 2016, they amassed tens of millions of streams and continued to resonate with an ever-expanding audience. As such, their 2023 reunion gig at the sold-out Furnace Fest was met with overwhelming enthusiasm. Returning with their first full-length release in eleven years, the musicians tap into who they were and push forward together on their seventh LP, "Dissenter" (Solid State).

HASTE THE DAY is:

Stephen Keech - Vocals
Scott Whelan - Guitar
Dave Krysl - Guitar
Giuseppe Capolupo - Drums
Michael Murphy - Bass
Brennan Chaulk - Guitar

Photo credit: Dave Pluimer

Following the success of its recent singles "Dead" and "Ego Death", California's ATREYU has announced its long-awaited new studio album "The End Is Not The End", set for release on April 24 via Spinefarm. To coincide with the announcement, ATREYU has shared the new track "All For You", alongside an official music video, available below.

On the new single "All For You", ATREYU comments: "It's hard to give someone what they want or need when they don't know what that thing is. It's hard to love someone who doesn't love themselves."

"The End Is Not The End" is undeniably ATREYU's heaviest album ever and their most adventurous.

"We realized what made ATREYU great in the beginning was that we didn't sound like anyone else," frontman Brandon Saller explains. "We didn't really make sense anywhere. We weren't an emo band, a metal band, a punk band — but somehow it all worked. We kind of just carved our own path."

Guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Porter McKnight, drummer Kyle Rosa, and Saller created several of "The End Is Not The End"'s songs on creative trips.

"Tokyo made us feel like kids again," Saller says. "We'd write for a few hours in the morning, then go out and get lost in all this inspiration. The first song we finished was 'Dead', and we knew we were on to something."

After the Japanese sessions, the band and their producer decamped to San Juan Island off the coast of Washington, where isolation became a creative accelerant. "It was the polar opposite of Tokyo," Saller explains. "We didn't leave the house for four days and wrote some of the heaviest songs on the record."

The result is an album that feels simultaneously classic and unfamiliar, aggressive and unselfconscious, deeply emotional and unconcerned with trends. Produced by Matt Pauling, ATREYU's tenth album is vibrant, inventive, and beautifully aggressive.

"It's our heaviest, most metal record we've made," Saller points out. "But it's also the biggest musical journey we've taken in years."

The album moves seamlessly from soaring melodic heft to muscular metallic weight, with cinematic shades and atmosphere, all tied together by a driving, raw intensity. Tracks like "Dead", "Ghost In Me", "Children Of Light" (featuring Max Cavalera) and "Afterglow" sound both timely and timeless.

"The End Is Not The End" track listing:

01. The End Is Not The End
02. Dead
03. Break Me
04. All For You
05. Ghost In Me
06. Glass Eater
07. Wait My Love, I'll Be Home Soon
08. Ego Death
09. Death Rattle
10. Children Of Light
11. In The Dark
12. Afterglow
13. Break The Glass

ATREYU recently announced a spring tour supporting SEVENDUST, kicking off April 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana before concluding in Knoxville, Tennessee on May 20.

ATREYU's riffs, hooks, melodies, and relentless energy remain a driving force in heavy music, with over a billion streams worldwide and a fanbase that keeps growing. The Southern California band recently wrapped a triumphant co-headlining U.S. run and tore through massive festivals like Download, Hellfest, Welcome To Rockville and Inkcarceration.

Since forming around the turn of the millennium, ATREYU has pushed well beyond its DIY roots — earning multiple RIAA gold records, Top 20 Billboard 200 debuts, and spots on major film and video-game soundtracks. Their latest album, "The Beautiful Dark Of Life" (2023, Spinefarm),debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Hard Rock Albums and has already racked up over 75 million streams, with singles like "Gone" and "Watch Me Burn" lighting up rock radio and flagship playlists like Spotify's "Volume" and Apple Music's "The Riff".

ATREYU is:

Brandon Saller - Lead Vocals
Dan Jacobs - Guitar
Travis Miguel - Guitar
Porter McKnight - Bass/Vocals
Kyle Rosa - Drums

Photo credit: Sean Stiegeimeier

Jon Schaffer, the founder, chief songwriter, and driving force behind iconic heavy metal acts ICED EARTH, DEMONS & WIZARDS, SONS OF LIBERTY, JON SCHAFFER'S PURGATORY and the SCHAFFER/BARLOW project, returns with a powerful reimagining of his most unflinching work. Jon Schaffer's "Sons Of Liberty - Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2)" is a bold new mix that fuses the raw essence of the "Brush-fires Of The Mind" LP (2009) and the "Spirit Of The Times" EP (2011),breathing fresh life into a message that has proven eerily prophetic in an era of escalating world challenges.

"Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2)" is out now on all streaming platforms, inviting listeners everywhere, old or new, to discover its urgency. For collectors, a special physical rollout will arrive via The Circle Music on July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence. This includes a double gatefold vinyl edition in five vibrant colors (with an exclusive limited run of 100 copies available only at www.icedearthmerch.com),a luxurious limited-edition leather box CD, and a sleek digipak CD, and cassette.

Originally crafted with programmed drums to minimize costs, these releases were designed not for profit, but as a gift to the world to be copied, shared, and amplified freely.

At its core, SONS OF LIBERTY's music exposed the machinations of a fraudulent financial system and the insidious creep of authoritarianism, serving as a stark warning to humanity. Today, with those shadows cast longer than ever, this music stands as a timeless testament to truth, unfiltered and unapologetic.

What sets "Sons Of Liberty - Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2)" apart is its transcendence of partisan divides. This is not an echo chamber of political agendas; it's a universal wake-up call, championing freedom as the bedrock of peace and prosperity for every person on the planet. In a world fractured by division, Schaffer's lyrics rally for pro-freedom/pro-humanity ideals: anti-authoritarian, non-partisan, and rooted in the unyielding principles of liberty. It's a reminder that true empowerment comes from questioning and resisting systems that promote aggression and erode our shared dignity, fostering unity through principles of liberty, individual sovereignty, and collective resilience.

Elevating the original material to new heights, this release features thunderous, newly recorded drums by longtime friend Mark Prator, whose precision and groove has powered classics from ICED EARTH ("The Dark Saga", "Something Wicked This Way Comes"),DEMONS & WIZARDS (self-titled debut) and JON SCHAFFER'S PURGATORY (EP 2018). Paired with a cutting-edge modern mix by Jim Morris, the result is a sonic powerhouse that has matured like a fine wine — delivering an intensity and honesty that's all too rare in today's pop culture landscape.

In an age where ideas can be silenced, this stands as the most censored and canceled heavy metal music in history. It begs the question: Why? Are thought crimes an inevitable reality in a world that fears unbridled truth? Dive in, reflect, and educate yourself — because freedom isn't a spectator sport; it is difficult, it requires action, and it's the only path to a better world for all of us.

Schaffer said: "SONS OF LIBERTY was always meant to be more than music; it was a wake-up call and an attempt to start brushfires of freedom in the minds of those with ears to hear.

"Those who know me know that I am not here to please everyone; not with my music, nor with my ideals and principles. I respect the rights of others to disagree, and to speak freely. I will stand up for their rights, especially if I strongly disagree with them. This is the cornerstone of liberty. It's not so impressive to stand up for the people that share your beliefs and agree with you. Are you into freedom enough to allow others to live as they choose, as long as they don't aggress? This is a legitimate question that we all should reflect on."

Jon continued: "My wish with the first SONS OF LIBERTY album in 2009 was to inspire the people to inform themselves. When these songs were first released, I wanted to expose the financial and political systems that prosper through aggression and subjugate our personal freedom. 17 years later the message has only become more relevant, and the situation more urgent."

"Adding Mark Prator's drums and Jim Morris's new mix finally gives these tracks the sonic power they deserve. They both absolutely crushed it. It doesn't sound like a demo anymore. The artwork is a huge step up from the originals as well. Back in '09 I had no vision for what the 'Brush-fires' cover would look like. It was the first and only time in my career that has happened. However, this time it came to me, and I believe it's one of the best covers in my entire catalog. Roy Young and David Newman Stump did a fantastic job."

Schaffer added: "The system has tried to silence and cancel this music because it speaks uncomfortable truths, but you cannot cancel the spirit of liberty. Not yet. The aggressors are working hard to destroy our power of discernment, distract us, divide us, and in the end, conquer us. This collection of music is for everyone who refuses to be a spectator in the struggle for their own sovereignty.

"I am always learning, and I am always willing to be convinced that another point of view is a better way forward. Bring a reasonable argument, and I'm all ears. Through the years I have grown, and changed my views as I learn, but my principles remain. I can't see any other viable path to peace than through freedom. I think about these issues often and discuss them in great depth with my friends. It is my strongly held belief that collectivism, when mandated by the state, in any form, is more dangerous to our liberties than an invading army. Trading our freedom for 'safety' has never turned out well. Not ever.

"In the future, it is my intention to write a new chapter of SONS music focusing on what I believe to be the solution. Until then, as a great friend and mentor says… Don't aggress. Be an excellent human. Live and let live."

"Peace. Jon"

CD track listing:

01. Jekyll Island
02. Full Spectrum Dominance
03. False Flag
04. Our Dying Republic
05. Molon Labe
06. Indentured Servitude
07. Feeling Helpless?
08. Don't Tread On Me
09. The Cleansing Wind
10. Mind Control
11. Alive
12. Tree Of Liberty
13. Spirit of the Times
14. We The People
15. *Jekyll Island (Full Version)

Vinyl track listing:

Side 1

01. Jekyll Island
02. Don't Tread On Me
03. False Flag
04. Our Dying Republic
05. Indentured Servitude

Side 2

01. Tree Of Liberty
02. Feeling Helpless?
03. The Cleansing Wind
04. We The People

Side 3

01. Alive
02. Full Spectrum Dominance
03. Molon Labe
04. Mind Control
05. Spirit of the Times

Side 4

01. Jekyll Island (Demo)
02. Don't Tread On Me (Demo)
03. False Flag (Demo)
04. Our Dying Republic (Demo)
05. Indentured Servitude (Demo)

In October 2024, Schaffer was sentenced to three years of probation and 120 hours of community service in connection with his involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021. At the sentencing hearing, Jon was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $200 financial assessment. Schaffer later became one of about 1,500 people accused of crimes related to the riot who were pardoned by U.S. president Donald Trump.

Following the initial reports that Schaffer was involved in the riot, his ICED EARTH bandmates distanced themselves from his actions. Singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton later posted separate statements on social media announcing their resignations. BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch also quit DEMONS & WIZARDS, his long-running project with Schaffer. The allegations also apparently affected Schaffer's relationship with his longtime record label Century Media, which had released albums from both ICED EARTH and DEMONS & WIZARDS. As of mid-January 2021, the Century Media artist roster page did not list either band.

In April 2025, Schaffer said in an interview that the legal issues and professional setback he faced as a result of his involvement in the Capitol riot have been "the biggest gift" of his life, in part because "it is what led" him "to [Jesus] Christ."

Out today, "Tron Ares: Divergence" reimagines the original "Tron: Ares" soundtrack with 20 songs — a mix of previously unreleased "Tron: Ares" score material from NINE INCH NAILS alongside remixes from ARCA, Mark Pritchard, Boys Noize, Lanark Artefax, Chilly Gonzales, Danny L Harle, Jack Dangers, Pixel Grip, Working Men's Club, The Dare and Schwefelgelband.

"Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" — featuring all original music created by NINE INCH NAILS for the third installment in the groundbreaking "Tron" film franchise — debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Top Dance Album charts and in the top five of the Billboard 200 last fall. In the U.K., it claimed the top spot on the official soundtrack albums chart. The soundtrack, which marked the first-ever film score by the pioneering group, is a bracing departure from the acclaimed scores that bandmates Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have composed under their own names, winning two Oscars, three Golden Globes, a Grammy and an Emmy in the process.

Lead single "As Alive As You Need Me To Be", which won a Grammy for "Best Rock Song", was hailed by The New York Times as "a return to the buzz-bomb synthesizers, stomping march beat, stereo ricochets and gut-wrenching vocals of the band's heyday."

Earlier this month, NINE INCH NAILS launched the second North American leg of their critically acclaimed "Peel It Back" tour with shows in such cities as New Orleans, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Washington D.C., Boston, Newark, Montreal and Hamilton. The run follows last year's sold-out global tour across Europe and North America, which drew more than 450,000 fans and earned widespread praise. The Times, in an opening night review, said, "The show was a revelation — a thrilling onslaught that combined angst, sincerity and a nightmarish otherworldliness…" Uproxx hailed it as "a triumph of sound, obviously, but also sight. It could have been a movie, and NINE INCH NAILS were the stars."

The tour continues tonight with a show in Tulsa, Oklahoma at BOK Center before making additional stops in Austin, Las Vegas, San Diego, and more. The run concludes on Monday, March 16 in Sacramento, California at Golden 1 Center.

Founded in 1988 by Reznor, NINE INCH NAILS is widely considered one of the most innovative, influential acts in modern music. Known for fusing industrial, electronic, rock and ambient sounds into emotionally raw and sonically aggressive compositions, the Grammy-winning, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees have redefined the boundaries of what mainstream music could be, selling over 20 million records worldwide, including over 11 million albums in the United States alone. NINE INCH NAILS was named "Live Act Of The Year" in 2025 by Consequence.

"Tron Ares: Divergence" track listing:

01. Converge
02. I Know You Can Feel It (Mark Pritchard Remix)
03. Godmode
04. A Question of Trust (Boys Noize Remix)
05. Operand
06. Zero State
07. Empathetic Response (Lanark Artefax Remix)
08. 100% Expendable (Chilly Gonzales Remix)
09. Who Wants to Live Forever? (Danny L Harle Remix)
10. Infiltrator (Jack Dangers Remix)
11. A Framework
12. Ghost In The Machine (Boys Noize Remix)
13. What Have You Done? (Boys Noize Remix)
14. As Alive As You Need Me To Be (Pixel Grip Remix)
15. The First Betrayal
16. I Know You Can Feel It (Working Men's Club Remix)
17. Shadow Over Me (The Dare Remix)
18. Terminal
19. Forked Reality (Schwefelgelb Remix)
20. As Alive As You Need Me To Be (Arca Remix)

Photo credit: John Crawford

In a new interview with Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen & Shane McEachern, longtime IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain commented on the band's nomination for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's class of 2026.

While MAIDEN has been eligible to join the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame since 2004, McBrain and several other former and current members of the band have only been nominated three times: in 2021, 2023 and 2026.

After one of the interviewers noted that the Rock Hall has "gotta get it right this time" and finally induct MAIDEN, Nicko said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah. You just never know, do you? I mean, it has been a long road. Many nominations — I'm not sure how many this is; maybe the third or fourth one, perhaps."

Referencing the fact that the 2026 nominees for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame include rap, metal, R&B, hip-hop, Britpop, blues rock and pop artists, Nicko continued: "Yeah, in the greater scheme of things, it's not really a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame anymore, but it's still a wonderful accolade to be given finally to hopefully — the guys may go, 'Yeah, we're gonna induct them.' But at the end of the day, it's really something that the whole of the band have talked about over the years, and it's not something that's voted for by your fans, although they do open it up to its fans to be voted in. At the end of the day, it's the board that decide. And so that kind of puts a bit of a question mark about the authenticity of fans voting you in. But, yeah, it's still, in my book, something that's a great accolade to even be considered again."

After one of the interviewers observed that many musicians are getting older and passing away before they get a chance to be inducted into the Rock Hall, Nicko concurred. "There is that," he said. "I mean, mind you, if you think to yourself, there's so many great bands out there that have not been inducted or even nominated over the years, and as you say, certain members are getting along in the tooth or passing away, and you look back and go, in retrospect, man, these guys should have been [inducted] and they weren't. But, yeah, it's something that there's a lot of controversy over it, and there has been."

Apparently addressing the fact that Jann Wenner, who co-founded Rolling Stone magazine and was a co-founder of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and who had long faced accusations of bias against metal, prog-rock and other genres, was removed from the Hall's board of directors in 2023 after making comments that were seen as denigrating black and female musicians, Nicko added: "And if somebody that was very controversial is no longer a part of the voting board as such, then who knows where it may go? As I said, for me personally, it's a lovely accolade to have, but one that it's steeped with controversy in terms of what the MAIDEN camp feel."

The official 2026 Rock Hall inductees will be announced in April, along with the "Musical Influence" and "Musical Excellence" awards, as well as the "Ahmet Ertegun Award" reserved for a prolific music industry veteran.

Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they're eligible for induction.

Nominees will be voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals.

The Hall Of Fame previously said the IRON MAIDEN members that would get inducted include the current lineup of singer Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris and guitarists Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers, along with former guitarist Dennis Stratton, ex-singer Paul Di'Anno and former drummers Nicko McBrain and Clive Burr.

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

IRON MAIDEN was on the ballot for the second time in 2023, but the institution's voters snubbed them once again.

The only metal or metal-adjacent acts to have made it into the Rock Hall so far have been BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN, METALLICA, AC/DC, JUDAS PRIEST, KISS, VAN HALEN, RUSH, GUNS N' ROSES, Ozzy Osbourne and DEEP PURPLE.

IRON MAIDEN finished in the fourth place in the fan vote for the 2023 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction class.

Seven years ago, Harris said that he didn't care that his band had yet to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame despite the fact that it had been eligible since 2004.

"I don't mind that we're not in things like that," he told Rolling Stone in an interview. "I don't think about things like that. It's very nice if people give you awards or accolades, but we didn't get into the business for that sort of thing. I'm certainly not going to lose sleep if we don't get any sort of award, not just that one, any award. I don't think we deserve to have this or that necessarily. With what we do, whatever comes of it is great. Whatever doesn't come of it is great, too."

Dickinson made headlines in 2018 when he referred to the Rock Hall as "an utter and complete load of bollocks" during a spoken-word gig in Australia, insisting that the Cleveland-based institution is "run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Americans who wouldn't know rock and roll if it hit them in the face."

Bruce later told The Jerusalem Post that he was "so annoyed with that coverage because they took my statement out of context to make it seem like I was upset that we weren't in the Hall Of Fame.

"I'm really happy we're not there and I would never want to be there," he continued. "If we're ever inducted, I will refuse — they won't bloody be having my corpse in there.

"Rock and roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland," Bruce added. "It's a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it's dead. It's worse than horrible, it's vulgar."

Harris previously told "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" that he wasn't concerned about whether IRON MAIDEN would eventually be inducted into the Rock Hall. "I don't really think about it, to be honest. I think awards are things that are nice to have when you get them, but it's not something you're really striving for — it's not what it's about it," he said. "It's never been about that. It's aways been about just trying to make good music and go out and play good live shows, and that's it, really. Hopefully people will appreciate it. It's probably nice when people give you awards — don't get me wrong; I think it's great — but it's not something that you would lose sleep over if you didn't get any.

"It's the way that I am," Harris added. "I don't know. Maybe the rest of the guys [in the band] might think differently to me, but that's the way I think. It's not that I don't care about [awards]. It's just… And it's not that they're not meaningful when you do get 'em — it's nice. But I certainly don't worry about it or anything like that. I think other people are the ones that make a bigger deal out of it than us, about whether we got one or not."