In a new interview with Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern, former VAN HALEN members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony were asked about possible involvement with the album that VAN HALEN drummer Alex Van Halen has been working on with TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather.

Last year Alex revealed that he was putting together an album from incomplete tracks meant to become the next VAN HALEN record before the band's guitarist — and Alex's brother — Eddie Van Halen died in 2020. The drummer has since teamed up with Lukather to complete these recordings, which contain drums, guitar and bass, with only the vocals missing from the tracks.

Earlier this month, Alex told Gastão Moreira of Brazil's Kazagastão that "most" of the recordings for the upcoming album feature bass playing from Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's son and former VAN HALEN bassist, because "these are recordings that were made ready for the next [VAN HALEN record."

Asked by Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern if Sammy and Michael are involved with the upcoming LP, and if not, whether they would like to be, Hagar said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No. We haven't been asked, number one. I can tell you, the day I walked in the studio, in 5150, to basically, if you wanna call it an audition, but to meet the guys and to play music, we played for about eight hours at least. And we recorded everything. Everything that I ever did, and every time we made a record, we recorded hundreds of hours of jam and music, and then we cut 'em up, made songs. That's the way we did it. So there's so much stuff from Mike and I and Ed and Al in the studio. Like I said, just the initial day that I went in there, we got 'Summer Nights', we got 'Good Enough' and the beginnings of 'Get Up' from [the] '5150' [album] — three songs that came from that eight-hour jam. And I remember there was a blues thing we did, and I was making up lyrics. So there's so much stuff that Al could really choose from, if he wanted to include Mike and I. But, obviously, Al's got a reason, and he's Alex Van Halen; he can do whatever he wants. And, to me, it's an Alex Van Halen project, and it's not necessarily a VAN HALEN project, but I guess we'll see if it ever sees the light today. But I'm disappointed that Mike and I wouldn't be invited. It's, like, what? Are you kidding me? We're still alive. We're out here doing it. We're playing those songs. We can still do it, you know?"

Added Mike: "Yeah. If this is material that we jammed on or whatever, I'd have no problem coming in and singing or [playing bass] or whatever. It's all good there."

Earlier this month, Anthony told the WNCX radio station that the new VAN HALEN project should be kept instrumental, with the spotlight firmly on Eddie's playing.

"The way I personally feel about it is, if they wanted to do it justice, [the best idea would be] to just finish it up as a great instrumental nod to Eddie," Michael said. "Because getting a new singer in there, we're not forming a new band, and then you've got to work on lyrics and all that stuff. And who knows when anything would be put out at that point."

During the aforementioned Kazagastão interview, Alex said about the album he is working on with Lukather: "Ed and I had a lot of stuff that we made, that we made musically that we never let go. Many people have asked, what about releasing unreleased stuff? Well, we're not gonna release it in its embryonic form because it wouldn't make any sense. But I've been fortunate enough to have Steve Lukather, who was a good friend of Ed's, and we're working on putting a record together, but it has to be of the quality and the level of where we left it. Not just to say, 'Hey, here's some music that we made. If you like it, that's great.' No. It has to be the quality that we expect."

Regarding what Lukather's role is in the making of this new album, Alex said: "I call Lukather Luke affectionately. He is the connective tissue. Luke can play anything… But because of this talent that kind of blends in with everything, he doesn't get the recognition that I think he deserves. And I may be wrong. Maybe he is recognized the world over. He should be, because I can't play guitar. And I can work things out on a keyboard, but it takes me too long to figure it out. And by that time, the moment is gone. I went to Steve's house several times and we played a piece of music and he goes, 'Yeah, I got it. That's it. That's all we need.' Then he can do all the connective tissues. He knows where to put the solo, as far as structure and organ and structure and an organization. I have my opinions and he has his, and they are just opinions. So he can facilitate things that would've taken me 10 times as long. And I love the guy. We've known him for years."

Asked if he and Lukather are going to use some old Eddie recordings, Alex said: "Well, these are recordings that were going to be the next [VAN HALEN] record, and that were stopped because [Ed] didn't live that long… The drums are already recorded. The drums, the guitar and the bass are already in there. What we didn't have is a vocalist, and obviously the subtleties and the glue — we call it the glue or the spackle."

After Moreira brought up "Unfinished", the last piece of music Alex and Eddie wrote together, which is included with the audiobook version of Alex's "Brothers" book, the drummer said: "The feedback for that song was incredible. But there was no vocals on it and it was not completed. And that was the whole point."

He continued: "The lineage of how my brother and I did things was some of the stuff that our dad taught us were very deeply rooted, and one of his favorite songs was the 'Unfinished' by Schubert. And so this song was unfinished, so I figured we'd call it 'Unfinished' and then that's it. We weren't even aware that we were going to make this public at any point. This is just Ed and I working at the studio. Unbridled, unpressured, un-anything. And there are a couple of places, if you heard, where the needle goes right through the machine. [Laughs] I hope we didn't blow up any speakers."

Asked if the plan is to put some vocals on the songs on the album he is working on with Lukather, Alex said: "We originally had plans to — I think I can probably say without talking outta school, one of the singers who we really, really, really wanted to use for the new stuff was Paul Rodgers, and he has a relationship with Luke and we grew up on FREE and all that, but [Paul] can't do it anymore. And it was very difficult for him to bring himself to say, 'No, I can't. Count me out.' I respect that. I'm saddened and disappointed, but you know, that's life… He knows he can't do it — which I think is better than saying, 'Yeah, I can do it,' and then not be able to do it."

As for whether he and Lukather are thinking about inviting another singer sing on the record, Alex said: "Yeah. Luke and I are looking for somebody right now."

Asked if he has any special singers in mind for the project, Alex said: "No, because it depends on who you ask. If you ask record executives, you're gonna get one way of looking at it. If you listen to, I call it the peanut gallery, you're gonna get something else.

"Music is not so much about music as it is about people having a shared experience," Alex explained. "I'm 72. We gotta find somebody in that age group who was exposed to the same musical experience that we have. Otherwise, it doesn't have the depth.

"I can't remember what the expression is, but there's a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that a cucumber is a vegetable. Wisdom is knowing where to put it. [Laughs]"

After Moreira suggested LED ZEPPELIN legend Robert Plant as someone who is still very musically active, Alex said: "Robert Plant is brilliant. But if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. And he's out touring, doing his thing. He would've been an ideal choice. But nothing is etched in stone. And I really believe that the universe will work something out to where this project will come out the best it can possibly be. We have no other intent other than to have it come to fruition."

Last March, Lukather shot down reports that he would play guitar on a new VAN HALEN album.

De Telegraaf, the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper, reported that Alex was working on a collection of previously unreleased, unfinished VAN HALEN recordings, with Lukather helping him to complete it. The VAN HALEN drummer said of the project in a paywalled article (via Guitar World): "Ed and Steve Lukather were very good friends and they often worked together. There is no one who can do this process with me as well as he can."

Lukather, seemingly surprised about Alex's comment, is quoted in the same article as responding: "Did Alex say that? Oh, in that case the news is true. Ed, Alex and I were very close for years. It is true that we worked on it together."

On March 15, 2025, Lukather took to his Instagram to clarify his possible involvement in a new VAN HALEN album, saying: "For the record: Ever since Alex Van Halen dropped some we were gonna work together I think there is a huge misunderstanding.

"I will NOT EVER play a guitar note on a VH song ever!.

"Al asked me to help him go thru a ton of unfinished recordings of Al and Ed writing and recording that never saw the light of day. As of now thats all I got.

"The fact that ANYONE would think for even a second that I would play anything on this is ridiculous. I have too much love and respect for that and ... I play nothing like Ed.. more as a co-producer or something. I am honored Al would ask me though.

"Lets see ..."

Alex had previously said that there was enough VAN HALEN material in the vaults for another "three or four records". Speaking on an episode of Chris Jericho's "Talk Is Jericho" podcast, Eddie's brother said: "I've talked about it loosely, and I am rather superstitious, but I can say a couple of things that I've mentioned before. We're gonna go through the 'vault' and go through some of the musical ideas that were there."

He added: "There was some good stuff in there. And you have to remember, when in the thick of it, sometimes the really great stuff kind of passes you by. And it's not until you revisit it going, 'Whoa, I forgot about that. This kicks ass.' But that takes time. And you wanna do it right. I wanna do it right."

Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather had collaborated on several projects in the past, including Michael Jackson's "Beat It", on which Lukather played the main riff and Van Halen played the solo. Eddie also played bass on Lukather's debut solo album and made a guest appearance on Steve's 2003 Christmas LP "Santamental".

Back in November 2020, a little over a month after Eddie's death, Lukather reflected on his friend's passing, telling Metal Master Kingdom: "It's hard for me, man, 'cause the wound is still very deep. I'm very honored to have been Ed's friend — really a friend; not just a guitar buddy who had a beer with him once. [There is] 40-plus years with him, Al and I.

"I know all the guys [in VAN HALEN]. I love all the guys. I'm Switzerland [when it comes to their relationships with each other]. I was just on Sammy's [Hagar] show. He was beautiful to me. Mike's [Anthony] always nice to me. The brothers [Ed and Al] and I have always stayed very close. I've been in touch with Al more than anybody. And Janie [Eddie's widow] sent me some wonderful pictures of Ed and I when we were younger that she found somewhere. And I've been in touch — I talked to Wolf once. I'm gonna leave him alone. He's got his mom.

"This is a hole in my heart that won't go away. He was a real friend of mine, okay? We didn't get together and talk about guitars and stuff unless we wanted to play each other something new or brag about our kids. And really, we spent the last half of our relationship bragging about each other's sons, 'cause they both play. We always had that in common — the sons and the guitar. We have a lot in common off the gig that has nothing to do with [music].

"I loved the man. There's nothing to argue about how great he was as a musician. I don't have to. Who's gonna argue? He was one of the greats to ever pick up rock and roll guitar — he changed everything. And he was my friend. And I miss my friend more than anything. I miss the roar of one of his vehicles scaring the fuck out of my neighbors. And the way he laughed, and the way he fucking hugged me whenever he came by...

"The last thing I have in my phone is just a heart that he sent me.

"It's hard for me to talk about because it's an open wound. But I imagine how his family [feels]. My heart goes out to everybody in the Van Halen family."

Eddie died on October 6, 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

Press photo credit: Rob Shanahan

During an appearance on the February 24 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Wolfgang Van Halen spoke about his possible involvement with the album that VAN HALEN drummer Alex Van Halen has been working on with TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather.

Last year Alex revealed that he was putting together an album from incomplete tracks meant to become the next VAN HALEN record before the band's guitarist — and Alex's brother — Eddie Van Halen died in 2020. The drummer has since teamed up with Lukather to complete these recordings, which contain drums, guitar and bass, with only the vocals missing from the tracks.

Earlier this month, Alex told Gastão Moreira of Brazil's Kazagastão that "most" of the recordings for the upcoming album feature bass playing from Wolfgang, Eddie's son and former VAN HALEN bassist, because "these are recordings that were made ready for the next [VAN HALEN record."

Asked by "Trunk Nation" host Eddie Trunk about his contribution to the upcoming LP, Wolfgang said: "I haven't played anything yet. So, I'm not sure what Al is talking about in that respect. They could be older ideas that maybe we worked on 15 years ago or something, 'cause there was a couple of years where Dad, Al and I were just jamming in the studio for three years or something. But, yeah, I really do think it's more of Al's thing to talk about. I'm really just here in a position of helping him with whatever he needs. If he needs bass on something, I'm there. If he needs anything else, I'm there. Whatever he needs. But it's definitely his thing to spearhead. And I am in a support position."

Wolfgang was also asked about his involvement in the ongoing series of reissues of Sammy Hagar-era VAN HALEN albums that are being made available via Rhino. He said: "I'm there in a support position as well. Al is the decision guy. I'm just there to help him with whatever he needs. So, again, I'm just in that support position."

During the aforementioned Kazagastão interview, Alex said about the album he is working on with Lukather: "Ed and I had a lot of stuff that we made, that we made musically that we never let go. Many people have asked, what about releasing unreleased stuff? Well, we're not gonna release it in its embryonic form because it wouldn't make any sense. But I've been fortunate enough to have Steve Lukather, who was a good friend of Ed's, and we're working on putting a record together, but it has to be of the quality and the level of where we left it. Not just to say, 'Hey, here's some music that we made. If you like it, that's great.' No. It has to be the quality that we expect."

Regarding what Lukather's role is in the making of this new album, Alex said: "I call Lukather Luke affectionately. He is the connective tissue. Luke can play anything… But because of this talent that kind of blends in with everything, he doesn't get the recognition that I think he deserves. And I may be wrong. Maybe he is recognized the world over. He should be, because I can't play guitar. And I can work things out on a keyboard, but it takes me too long to figure it out. And by that time, the moment is gone. I went to Steve's house several times and we played a piece of music and he goes, 'Yeah, I got it. That's it. That's all we need.' Then he can do all the connective tissues. He knows where to put the solo, as far as structure and organ and structure and an organization. I have my opinions and he has his, and they are just opinions. So he can facilitate things that would've taken me 10 times as long. And I love the guy. We've known him for years."

Asked if he and Lukather are going to use some old Eddie recordings, Alex said: "Well, these are recordings that were going to be the next [VAN HALEN] record, and that were stopped because [Ed] didn't live that long… The drums are already recorded. The drums, the guitar and the bass are already in there. What we didn't have is a vocalist, and obviously the subtleties and the glue — we call it the glue or the spackle."

After Moreira brought up "Unfinished", the last piece of music Alex and Eddie wrote together, which is included with the audiobook version of Alex's "Brothers" book, the drummer said: "The feedback for that song was incredible. But there was no vocals on it and it was not completed. And that was the whole point."

He continued: "The lineage of how my brother and I did things was some of the stuff that our dad taught us were very deeply rooted, and one of his favorite songs was the 'Unfinished' by Schubert. And so this song was unfinished, so I figured we'd call it 'Unfinished' and then that's it. We weren't even aware that we were going to make this public at any point. This is just Ed and I working at the studio. Unbridled, unpressured, un-anything. And there are a couple of places, if you heard, where the needle goes right through the machine. [Laughs] I hope we didn't blow up any speakers."

Asked if the plan is to put some vocals on the songs on the album he is working on with Lukather, Alex said: "We originally had plans to — I think I can probably say without talking outta school, one of the singers who we really, really, really wanted to use for the new stuff was Paul Rodgers, and he has a relationship with Luke and we grew up on FREE and all that, but [Paul] can't do it anymore. And it was very difficult for him to bring himself to say, 'No, I can't. Count me out.' I respect that. I'm saddened and disappointed, but you know, that's life… He knows he can't do it — which I think is better than saying, 'Yeah, I can do it,' and then not be able to do it."

As for whether he and Lukather are thinking about inviting another singer sing on the record, Alex said: "Yeah. Luke and I are looking for somebody right now."

Asked if he has any special singers in mind for the project, Alex said: "No, because it depends on who you ask. If you ask record executives, you're gonna get one way of looking at it. If you listen to, I call it the peanut gallery, you're gonna get something else.

"Music is not so much about music as it is about people having a shared experience," Alex explained. "I'm 72. We gotta find somebody in that age group who was exposed to the same musical experience that we have. Otherwise, it doesn't have the depth.

"I can't remember what the expression is, but there's a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that a cucumber is a vegetable. Wisdom is knowing where to put it. [Laughs]"

After Moreira suggested LED ZEPPELIN legend Robert Plant as someone who is still very musically active, Alex said: "Robert Plant is brilliant. But if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. And he's out touring, doing his thing. He would've been an ideal choice. But nothing is etched in stone. And I really believe that the universe will work something out to where this project will come out the best it can possibly be. We have no other intent other than to have it come to fruition."

Last March, Lukather shot down reports that he would play guitar on a new VAN HALEN album.

De Telegraaf, the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper, reported that Alex was working on a collection of previously unreleased, unfinished VAN HALEN recordings, with Lukather helping him to complete it. The VAN HALEN drummer said of the project in a paywalled article (via Guitar World): "Ed and Steve Lukather were very good friends and they often worked together. There is no one who can do this process with me as well as he can."

Lukather, seemingly surprised about Alex's comment, is quoted in the same article as responding: "Did Alex say that? Oh, in that case the news is true. Ed, Alex and I were very close for years. It is true that we worked on it together."

On March 15, 2025, Lukather took to his Instagram to clarify his possible involvement in a new VAN HALEN album, saying: "For the record: Ever since Alex Van Halen dropped some we were gonna work together I think there is a huge misunderstanding.

"I will NOT EVER play a guitar note on a VH song ever!.

"Al asked me to help him go thru a ton of unfinished recordings of Al and Ed writing and recording that never saw the light of day. As of now thats all I got.

"The fact that ANYONE would think for even a second that I would play anything on this is ridiculous. I have too much love and respect for that and ... I play nothing like Ed.. more as a co-producer or something. I am honored Al would ask me though.

"Lets see ..."

Alex had previously said that there was enough VAN HALEN material in the vaults for another "three or four records". Speaking on an episode of Chris Jericho's "Talk Is Jericho" podcast, Eddie's brother said: "I've talked about it loosely, and I am rather superstitious, but I can say a couple of things that I've mentioned before. We're gonna go through the 'vault' and go through some of the musical ideas that were there."

He added: "There was some good stuff in there. And you have to remember, when in the thick of it, sometimes the really great stuff kind of passes you by. And it's not until you revisit it going, 'Whoa, I forgot about that. This kicks ass.' But that takes time. And you wanna do it right. I wanna do it right."

Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather had collaborated on several projects in the past, including Michael Jackson's "Beat It", on which Lukather played the main riff and Van Halen played the solo. Eddie also played bass on Lukather's debut solo album and made a guest appearance on Steve's 2003 Christmas LP "Santamental".

Back in November 2020, a little over a month after Eddie's death, Lukather reflected on his friend's passing, telling Metal Master Kingdom: "It's hard for me, man, 'cause the wound is still very deep. I'm very honored to have been Ed's friend — really a friend; not just a guitar buddy who had a beer with him once. [There is] 40-plus years with him, Al and I.

"I know all the guys [in VAN HALEN]. I love all the guys. I'm Switzerland [when it comes to their relationships with each other]. I was just on Sammy's [Hagar] show. He was beautiful to me. Mike's [Anthony] always nice to me. The brothers [Ed and Al] and I have always stayed very close. I've been in touch with Al more than anybody. And Janie [Eddie's widow] sent me some wonderful pictures of Ed and I when we were younger that she found somewhere. And I've been in touch — I talked to Wolf once. I'm gonna leave him alone. He's got his mom.

"This is a hole in my heart that won't go away. He was a real friend of mine, okay? We didn't get together and talk about guitars and stuff unless we wanted to play each other something new or brag about our kids. And really, we spent the last half of our relationship bragging about each other's sons, 'cause they both play. We always had that in common — the sons and the guitar. We have a lot in common off the gig that has nothing to do with [music].

"I loved the man. There's nothing to argue about how great he was as a musician. I don't have to. Who's gonna argue? He was one of the greats to ever pick up rock and roll guitar — he changed everything. And he was my friend. And I miss my friend more than anything. I miss the roar of one of his vehicles scaring the fuck out of my neighbors. And the way he laughed, and the way he fucking hugged me whenever he came by...

"The last thing I have in my phone is just a heart that he sent me.

"It's hard for me to talk about because it's an open wound. But I imagine how his family [feels]. My heart goes out to everybody in the Van Halen family."

Eddie died on October 6, 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

In a new interview with Carl Craft of the New Jersey radio station 95.9 The Rat, HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale was asked what changes she, as one of the leaders of the female rock movement, hoped to see in the next few years. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've had conversations with my counterparts, with Amy Lee [of EVANESCENCE] and my friends, about this, and the women that came before me and we're talking my parents' generation, what I grew up on, which is HEART and Pat Benatar and Joan Jett and Lita Ford and all of those women, who I've actually met and gotten the opportunity to say, 'Hey, thank you for not giving up,' because I feel like if they had said, 'Oh, well, it's too hard,' that might've been my rhetoric as well. So they had it a lot harder than I had it, so they took some of the burden off of me by just existing and by passing the torch and keeping on keeping on. And so for me, my only responsibility is to try to make it a little easier for whoever comes after me. And that really — it's the simplest and the hardest thing to just exist as your truest self, be as honest as you possibly can and keep doing the work. No matter how weird things get or hard things get, don't roll over and die because of it, because that gives a signal to the next generation of female rockers saying, 'Oh, well, Lzzy did it, so therefore I can too.' And then hopefully as we pass the torch, it just gets a little easier and easier as we go along."

Lzzy continued: "No one generation can win the whole war, but we can win a lot of really tough battles and pass on some advice and just be an example."

After HALESTORM guitarist Joe Hottinger noted that HALESTORM will headline one of the stages at this year's Louder Than Life festival in Kentucky on a bill with several other female-fronted rock acts, Lzzy said: "And, again, that's a credit to all of us here, all the girls that came before us, for standing our ground, because now women feel like it's even more possible than even when I was coming up in the scene. And there's always gonna be misogyny and there's always gonna be roadblocks, and there's always gonna be these times where you feel, like, 'Oh, well, do I really belong here?' Yes, you do. And a lot of these women, these young women, just those layers of burdens are just kind of shedding away. And I feel like these young girls are just so much more confident in the fact that they know that they can do it and they can make it."

Hale added: "The misogyny roadblocks that I came up, for every one guy that was, like, 'Well, but you're a girl doing this,' for every one guy that did that, there were five or six other guys that were, like, 'Dude, there's something special going on. You gotta keep going.' So you have to choose what you believe as well. You can't let the opinions of one person or a handful of people direct your dream, because ultimately that's up to you. It's, like I was born a girl. I happened to like hard rock, and all I've ever wanted to do is be in a band with my buddies and see how far we can take it."

Back in 2019, Lzzy said that she didn't mind being asked questions about being a female in a rock band. "I've been talking about this a little bit lately, about the importance of bringing that up," she told Concert Addicts. "'Cause there's a lot of my female counterparts that are very upset about being asked that question. And I never get upset about it. I think that there is one specific moment in my life where you have to kind of embrace the fact that you're a girl.

"I grew up with my dad's music, so my introduction to rock was ALICE COOPER and CINDERELLA and DIO and BLACK SABBATH, so I was listening to a lot of dude bands — GUNS N' ROSES and METALLICA, all that stuff," she continued. "And then I remember when I heard Ann Wilson [of HEART] sing for the first time. My mom got me this live CD, 'The Road Home'. So I hadn't actually really heard a lot of their recorded stuff; I heard this live CD. And it blew my mind, because there was a small adjustment in my brain. It wasn't, like, 'Okay, I wanna be a rock star,' 'cause I wanted to be a rock star. But then also, like, 'Oh, a girl can sing that way.' And also I was, like, 'It's not so unreachable.'

"So I think that it's important to bring that up," she added. "Because some girls are, like, 'Oh, it's great, and I love rock music. But who's doing something that I wanna do? Who sounds like something that I wanna sound like? And who is in my gender?'"

HALESTORM's sixth full-length studio album, "Everest", came out last August via Atlantic Records. HALESTORM worked with producer Dave Cobb, after making three records with Nick Raskulinecz.

Fronted by Lzzy with drummer Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith, HALESTORM's music has earned multiple platinum and gold certifications from the RIAA, and the band has earned a reputation as a powerful live music force, headlining sold-out shows and topping festival bills around the world, and sharing the stage with icons including HEAVEN & HELL, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett and JUDAS PRIEST. Additionally, Lzzy was named the first female brand ambassador for Gibson and served as host of AXS TV's "A Year In Music".

"Love Bites (So Do I)", from HALESTORM's second album in 2012, won the Grammy Award that year for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance".

In 2019, HALESTORM was nominated for "Best Rock Performance" Grammy for the song "Uncomfortable".

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons and his solo band, GENE SIMMONS BAND, are among the artists who are performing during this year's Rock Legends Cruise XIII, which is sailing February 22-27, 2026 on Royal Caribbean's Liberty Of The Seas.

Fan-filmed video of GENE SIMMONS BAND's February 23 concert at the Platinum Theater on the ship can be seen below (courtesy of Philly Upstart on YouTube).

As previously reported, GENE SIMMONS BAND performed two KISS songs written by Ace Frehley for the first time ever during GENE SIMMONS BAND's concert on February 20 at L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The band — consisting of Gene on bass and vocals, Jason Walker on guitar and vocals, Brian Tichy on drums and vocals and Brent Woods on guitar — played "Strange Ways" and "Rocket Ride" as part of the 14-song set, which marked GENE SIMMONS BAND's first show of 2026.

During an August 2024 appearance on the Steve-O's Wild Ride! podcast, Simmons stated about his performances with his solo band: "[We're] just having a lot of fun."

He continued: "By the way, I designed a business model that is just semi-genius. I show up with my guitar pick. That's it. There's no manager, no roadies, no trucks, no equipment. Everything is provided by the promoter. The flights, the hotels, all the amplifiers, the drums, everything is rented locally. That's the promoter's cost, and whatever six-figure or more amount there is, I pocket. And I literally make more money per gig being Gene Simmons and the GENE SIMMONS BAND than I did in KISS — not counting the ancillaries and all that — because you don't have a 60-man crew, three double deckers, private jet that's on call seven days a week and 20 to 24 tractor trailers."

Simmons was born Chaim Witz in August 1949, at Rambam Hospital in Haifa to Jewish immigrants from Hungary. He was the son of Holocaust survivor Flora Klein and a father, Feri Witz, who soon abandoned his family, leaving them penniless prior to emigrating to America in search of a better life.Simmons is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and media mogul. He has achieved success that reaches far beyond his music career, extending into television shows, films, publishing, merchandising, worldwide restaurants, consumer products, and more.

Gene was inspired to become a rock star when he first saw a televised performance by THE BEATLES. He formed several bands and then met fellow KISS co-founder Paul Stanley in 1970 and they formed the group WICKED LESTER. In the winter of 1972, with a desire to create the "ultimate" rock band, not just "another" rock band, Simmons and Stanley formed KISS with original band members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. Inspired by his love of comic books and horror films, Simmons conceived the concept of his face paint. The addition of elaborate costumes, frenetic stage performances and ostentatious concert effects, catapulted KISS to international stardom and a coveted position as one of the most recognized rock and roll bands in the world.

Since their inception, KISS has developed millions of fans around the world, also known as the KISS Army. With over 100 million CDs and DVDs sold worldwide, KISS sold out stadiums and arenas around the world for five decades, breaking box-office records set by Elvis Presley and THE BEATLES.

KISS was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2014 and in 1999 received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Merchandising giant Simmons's keen business acumen has expanded the KISS brand beyond the stage. With more than 5,000 licensed/merchandised items, KISS has generated more money from merchandising and trademark deals than any other band in music history.

Recently, Gene launched Gene Simmons MoneyBag soda — a new line of sodas made with all natural flavors, colors, and pure cane sugar, and packaged in painted bottles.

Simmons is renowned and sought after worldwide as a notable and opinionated media commentator on a diverse range of topics from politics to business.

DROWNING POOL has collaborated with Sorry X, the enigmatic persona of Glendale, Arizona native Alexa Graves, on a new single, "The Wrong One". The official music video for the track, which was produced by Hiram Hernandez and is out now via SBG Records, can be seen below.

Regarding how the collaboration came about, DROWNING POOL guitarist C.J. Pierce said: "We stumbled on Sorry X's cover of 'Bodies' and were impressed by the sheer brutality of her vocals. We knew we had to collaborate."

Sorry X adds: "I'm a huge fan of DROWNING POOL, and I grew up listening to the 2000s nu-metal era, so I was stoked when they reached out to me. I'm really proud of how this track came together and I hope fans will feel the intensity and raw energy of this collaboration."

Sorry X is quickly building serious momentum, with more than 11 million independent streams and over four million social views.

Alexa has already shared stages with HALESTORM and is currently working with the aforementioned Billboard-charting producer Hiram Hernandez.

Her live band currently features guitarist Shea Moore and drummer Kash Jaeger.

DROWNING POOL, the Dallas, Texas-based heavyweights behind the platinum anthem "Bodies", have amassed more than 750 million streams, major sync placements (WWE, "Saw", "Call Of Duty") and continue to dominate live stages worldwide.

The band's current lineup consists of C.J. Pierce (guitar),Mike Luce (drums),Stevie Benton (bass) and Ryan McCombs (vocals).

Over the course of the last year and a half, DROWNING POOL has released two new singles — "Madness", which came out in April 2025, and "Revolution (The Final Amen)", which arrived in September 2024. "Revolution (The Final Amen)" was the first piece of music Pierce, Luce and Benton completed with McCombs in 13 years.

It was reported last year that DROWNING POOL was working on a brand-new EP set for release in 2026 via SBG Records. This project will mark the next chapter in the band's legacy as they gear up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their landmark debut album, "Sinner".

Photo courtesy of O'Donnell Media Group

Former SKID ROW singer Erik Grönwall will release his new solo album, "Bad Bones", on May 22.

After years of fronting some of rock's most iconic acts, Erik returns with his first fully original solo LP.

Known worldwide for his powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence, Erik has previously fronted SKID ROW and H.E.A.T., and toured across Europe and Japan providing lead vocals for guitar legend Michael Schenker. With "Bad Bones", he now turns the focus inward.

Built entirely on original material, the album represents a return to songwriting at its core — honest, powerful, and deeply personal.

Erik comments: "I've had the honor of fronting some great bands, but now it's time to tell my own story. 'Bad Bones' is about owning who you are and not apologizing for it. I've always walked my own path, no matter what people thought. I've never followed the norm — and I'm not about to start now."

Two hometown shows in Stockholm at the end of May are already sold out, with more festival appearances set to be announced.

"Bad Bones" track listing:

01. Born To Break
02. Bad Bones
03. Praying For A Miracle
04. Who's The Winner
05. Lost For Life
06. Twisted Lullaby
07. Save Me
08. Hell & Back
09. How High
10. Written In The Scars

Tour dates:

May 25 - Stockholm, Cirkus (SE)
May 26 - Stockholm, Cirkus (SE)
June 13 - Lisaa Loylya Festival, Vaasa (FI)
July 03 - Latitud 57, Oskarshamn (SE)
July 04 - Alive Festival, Borlange (SE)
July 06 - Time To Rock Festival, Knislinge (SE)
July 09 - Sommarrocken, Svedala (SE)
July 10 - Hasslafestivalen, Hasslo (SE)
July 17 - Overtarnea Cruising Weekend, Overtarnea (SE)
July 31 - Naturscen Skuleberget, Docksta (SE)
August 01 - Skogsröjet Festival, Rejmyre (SE)

In a recent interview with Roppongi Rocks' Stefan Nilsson, Grönwall stated about his upcoming solo album, on which he worked with his producer and former H.E.A.T. bandmate Jona Tee: "It was just one of those things that I've built my career in bands, I've loved being in bands, but I also asked myself, who am I as a songwriter when I release my own music? 'Cause I did a solo album after [appearing on the competition show] '[Swedish] Idol', but I have to say that was more Sony Music's album. And to be fair against the people I worked with then, and I didn't really know what I wanted to do either. So it was kind of, like, 'Okay, you have a guy who can sing stuff, probably. What do we do? Maybe this.' And then we just put it out there. And it was way too fast. We put it out just to get it out for people to shop for Christmas. [Laughs] So, yeah, it wasn't from the heart. But now it is. And I've never been prouder of an album than I am right now. I've really taken the time, and Jona has been next to me. And I've been experimenting. I've been soul searching, like, 'What if we do this? No, that doesn't feel right. This, no. Okay.' And then I realized that who I am as an artist is everything I've done so far, combined — H.E.A.T., SKID ROW, Michael Schenker. It's not that hard. It's rock and roll. If you can count to four, you can do rock and roll. 1, 2, 3, 4 — it's done. That's all you need."

Grönwall, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, also spoke his decision to join SKID ROW in early 2022 and his eventual departure two years later. He said: "For me, it was an obvious 'yes' [when I was asked to join SKID ROW], but I think what people have to understand is that I got the question five months after my bone marrow transplant against leukemia. [I had a] new immune system, new blood type — [I went through] a total reset of the immune system. I weighed 55 kilos [around 121 pounds] after all the chemo. And I got the question. If the question came a month before, earlier, a month earlier than that, I wouldn't have been able to do it. So it was perfect timing, but still the worst timing. So for me, it was a yes, but it was also one of those, like, 'If my doctor says no, I'm not gonna do it.' Because … health always comes first. So that's what I try to live by. And sometimes it's hard in this business because you've got beer in the fridge. So it was a yes for me, and I wanted to do it."

Erik, who auditioned for "Swedish Idol" back in 2009 by singing a cover of SKID ROW's "18 And Life", continued: "SKID ROW has been one of those fans that I've been listening to when I grew up. I love the band. I had a lot of fun in that band, but it was really hard for me to… Here I am doing what I love, my dream, and I get to do it with one of the bands that I grew up listening to. And it was just so surreal. And I did the '18 And Life' when I auditioned for 'Idol' and it was just, like, 'Is this happening? It's surreal.' But at the same time, I had this voice in my head saying, 'Health first, health first.' You gotta respect the guy who went through all the shit at the hospital, the guy who fought for his life. You have to stand up for that guy now. And I felt like it was really hard to say 'no' to touring and to doing shows, because you don't wanna be that guy. You don't wanna be the typical singer. [Laughs]"

Asked if his departure from SKID ROW to focus on his health was also an "easy" decision for him, Erik said: "It was harder. It was really hard. And also because I had a really good time in the band and still have a lot of respect and love for the guys. But, for me, I asked for… I wasn't saying 'no' to touring completely. I was just saying I need a month off at home in between tours. Just 'cause I was still doing checkups at the hospital and I still do it. I actually have one in February coming up. So I kind of felt like I was everywhere and I didn't really take care of myself. And that became stressful because knowing what I've been through, and I don't know what can happen if… It's very unpredictable. Cancer is very unpredictable. So I just wanted to take care of myself, recuperate, have that time. I was still living in Sweden, so [I] just [wanted to] have that time to really take care of myself. So, [what I asked for was] one month off and three weeks on the road, one month off, three weeks on the road. But they are a touring band, and that didn't work for them. And that's completely fine. No hard feelings. That was just something I needed. And then that happened. I decided to take a step back and started doing more stuff on YouTube."

Erik added: "I love singing and I love putting stuff out on YouTube, doing songs I love, interpretations. But then I also found a love for writing music again. So I asked myself after SKID ROW, like, who am I? Who am I? Because I've always built my career in bands. So what do I sound like? And that's what we're gonna find out now."

A year ago, Erik opened up about his decision to exit SKID ROW, telling Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic: "It was a really, really tough decision. And if I could have stayed in the band, I would. It just got to a point where I was, like, well, if I'm gonna respect the guy who went through all of this and respect my own values, I just had to make that decision. But it was the right decision, but it was a hard decision."

Grönwall went on to say that both he and the members of SKID ROW "took a risk" when they decided to work with each other. "I remember once saying to [SKID ROW bassist] Rachel [Bolan], like, 'Wow, you guys took a really big risk with me.' And he was, like, Yeah, but you took it that times four' or something, 'cause there are four [other] people in the band. But the thing is we found each other right away. And I still think we were so good for each other. They helped me and I hope I added value to SKID ROW. It feels like it. And they added value to Erik Grönwall, the Grönwall business. So it was a really, really good relationship we had, and we had a really good thing going. But they definitely took a big risk."

Elaborating on the factors that were involved in his decision to leave SKID ROW, Erik said: "I understand it's hard to grasp how what a bone marrow transplant comes with or a leukemia treatment comes with. There's so much, and it's not like there's any blueprint for it. It's just, 'Okay. Today this is happening to your body. Okay, we've gotta check what that is.' And it's blood tests every month, every third month, every six months. And it's a big thing. And it's a lot to keep keep track on, obviously. But we were really good for each other. And those guys were very extremely generous from day one. Very democratic. It was democratic from day one. It wasn't like I was the hired guy. I was part of the band. So they made me feel really good about that. And I wanted to be a part of the band as well. There's a lot to say, obviously, but we had a really good thing together."

Regarding why SKID ROW turned down his proposed touring schedule of three weeks on the road, including traveling, and then one month off, Erik said: "I can't speak for them, obviously. I gave them a proposal that I thought would be manageable for me, but it didn't work for them. And they have to do what they do, and they've been doing this for a long time, and they somehow always manage to come back again. So it's not for me to say."

Erik added that he really wanted to make things work, given the circumstances, but he was given no choice but to leave.

"I can also feel saddened that we ended up here," he said. "But I think we really tried to find a solution. And at the end of the day, everybody's gotta do what they feel is best for them."

Grönwall also spoke highly of SKID ROW's original singer Sebastian Bach, who hasn't fronted the group since his 1996 departure.

"I've always said, from the day I joined SKID ROW, I was, like, if I meet [Sebastian], I'm gonna shake his hand and just say, 'Thank you for the inspiration,' because he was a vocal inspiration for me when I grew up," Erik said. "And I will say it again, what he did on [SKID ROW's] 'Slave To The Grind' [album] — [one of] top three best vocal performances of all time in rock and roll history. That was insanely good. So, for me, it was a privilege to go out and sing those songs. There's a lot of stuff going on vocally, which makes it fun, obviously. It's not fun on bad days, though. When you have a cold, then it sucks — then it's the worst job in the world —but on good days, it's great."

SKID ROW's longtime friend Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM) handled lead vocals for the band's four concerts in late May 2024 and early June 2024, two months after Erik's exit from the group.

At the time of Grönwall's departure, SKID ROW members said in a statement that they were "proud" of what they had "created and accomplished with Erik" over the previous two years" and wished "nothing but the best to him and his health."

In January 2025, Erik told Finland's Chaoszine about his exit from SKID ROW: "Leaving the band was one of the toughest career decisions I ever had to make. I loved being in that band. It didn't hurt waking up being the lead singer of SKID ROW. But I would still be in the band if that was an option.

"I left to respect the person who went through the leukemia — I mean, the person at the hospital," he explained. "I promised myself that I would always put my health first. And when I felt like I couldn't do that being in the band, I just had to make that decision.

"I loved my time in the band. I had so much fun with the guys. We clicked right away, and I will always look back at that time with a smile, for sure. And I would have loved to stay in the band. But given the circumstances, we just couldn't find common ground in terms of how much we should tour."

Grönwall went on to clarify that he was always open to continuing with SKID ROW if an agreement had been reached regarding how much time to spend on the road.

"I'm not sure if it's been said in any interview, but, for me, it was never about not touring at all," he said. "I just wanted to have more time in between to recover. So, my suggestion was three weeks on the road, including traveling, and then one month off, three weeks on the road, including traveling, one month off, just to have that time in between. But they didn't find that feasible, and that's totally fine. I mean, SKID ROW has been doing this since before I was born. [Laughs] They have a recipe. I totally respect that they didn't find out feasible at all. But it was what I needed, and here we are."

According to Erik, leaving SKID ROW has given him "a lot of freedom" to pursue other projects.

"I won't stop being an artist," he said. "I can pretty much do whatever I want. And I like that. I'm not signed to any label right now. I don't wanna be. I like that kind of independence, freedom. Maybe there will come a time when it makes sense to sign with someone, but right now I'm doing everything from [my home]. It's nice to wake up, just go downstairs, put on some coffee, get in here and sing, and then go to the next room here and record the video and put it on YouTube. It's kind of convenient."

In a November 2024 interview with Chris Akin Presents, Bolan and SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo addressed Erik's exit from the group. When host Chris Akin noted that Grönwall's explanation for exiting SKID ROW sounded a little "fishy" to him and other SKID ROW fans in light of the fact that Erik had immediately announced that he was releasing his autobiography and was planning to go on tour with Michael Schenker in 2025, Rachel said: "Well, I'll put it this way: we understand exactly what you're saying. And I'd be a liar if I said sometimes I don't feel the same way. We were told exactly what he announced to the rest of the world via his YouTube channel. That's exactly what we were told. That's exactly what he sent in a text to Snake. I'm not gonna sit here and shit talk the guy because it's not gonna do anything. But we had a really, really, really good thing going, and we're here now."

Bolan continued: "You're not the first person to say this to any of us. We've all been DMed and a lot of fans thought think the same thing, and, like I said, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I thought the same thing at times, but we're just going by what he told to us."

Snake chimed in: "Obviously, we had to postpone and cancel some shows. There was definitely some health issues with him while we were out there. But what Rachel is saying is 100 percent true. This is what we were told, and we made attempts to figure it out, how we could do this where we could cut way back on the touring, but it just wasn't economically feasible for anybody — it just couldn't be done. And, yeah, we had a really, really good situation, but he was the one who left."

Bolan and Sabo also touched upon the fact that Grönwall released a demo version of a song called "Can't Kill What's Dead" which Erik said he co-wrote with his producer Jona Tee for possible inclusion on a new SKID ROW album while he was still in the band.

"Yeah, I heard the song for the first time in [Erik's October 2024] post," Rachel said. "So I'm not even sure what he was talking about."

After Akin clarified that Erik said "Can't Kill What's Dead" was one of three songs Grönwall co-wrote with Tee for potential inclusion on a new SKID ROW album, Rachel said: "That's creative wording. That's for sure."

Added Snake: "That's news to us. I mean, I guess we would have to play on it for it to be on a SKID ROW record."

Rachel continued: "Yeah, I saw the post and I was, like, 'Huh. Okay.' I was as confused as everyone else. I'm, like, 'Okay.'"

The English version of Grönwall's autobiography, "Power – Music, Death, Life", was made available in December 2024 via HarperCollins.

Grönwall, who was a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T. for nearly a decade before exiting the group in October 2020, announced in September 2021 that he was cancer free after receiving a bone marrow transplant one month earlier.

Grönwall sang on four H.E.A.T. studio albums — "Address The Nation" (2012),"Tearing Down The Walls" (2014),"Into The Great Unknown" (2017) and "H.E.A.T II" (2020).

More recently, Erik sang on two of Michael Schenker's albums, 2024's "My Years With UFO" and 2025's "Don't Sell Your Soul". He also toured Europe and Japan with the legendary German guitarist.

In September 2021, just four months before joining SKID ROW, Grönwall released his new cover version of "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms.

In 2018, Grönwall debuted in the U.S. for 10 million viewers in NBC's live broadcast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". Along with John Legend, Alice Cooper, Sara Bareilles and others, Erik played the key role of Simon Zealotes.

In late March 2022, SKID ROW released its first single with Grönwall, "The Gang's All Here". The song is the title track of the band's latest album, which arrived in October 2022 via earMUSIC.

SKID ROW played its first show with Grönwall on March 26, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada as the support act on the rescheduled dates for SCORPIONS' "Sin City Nights" residency.

Grönwall lives in Knivsta, a city in Uppsala County in east central Sweden, with his wife and their son.

Erik Grönwall returns with a BANG!!!

New Single "Bad Bones" now out on Streaming platforms.
Track Credits:
Lead...

Posted by Johan Nylén on Friday, February 27, 2026

BEARTOOTH has returned with a new single, "Free". The track was co-written and co-produced by Jordan Fish and marks both the band's first new music since 2023 and the start of a bold new era after signing to Fearless Records. The song arrives as BEARTOOTH is on the road for a North American arena tour as the direct support for BAD OMENS.

Where past records chronicled survival, "Free" marks a turning point, capturing a moment of clarity inside chaos. BEARTOOTH frontman Caleb Shomo states: "'Free' is the start of the next chapter of my music and my life. The emotional roller coaster that is living can be very complicated at times. In one day you can equally experience pure fear and pure joy. This song shows a glimpse of what is to come from the next BEARTOOTH album, which is the most honest depiction of my soul I will most likely ever make."

Of his new record deal, Shomo notes: "Fearless has empowered me as an artist like nothing I've ever experienced. They all truly love what they do, and it shows in the work. They go about their business with humility and a hunger for joy. At the end of the day, they care about the music and supporting the people involved. Their ability to spread that support to artists and listeners alike is truly beautiful and I couldn't be more proud to sign a deal with Fearless."

More than a decade into their career and with over 1.3 billion streams worldwide, BEARTOOTH has spent years channeling raw, unfiltered emotion into music that resonates with millions. With one RIAA-certified platinum single and one gold single under their belt, 2023's "The Surface" cemented the band's place at the top of the rock world, delivering back-to-back No. 1 singles at Active Rock radio and a No. 1 Billboard Hard Rock album.

In September 2024, BEARTOOTH dropped "The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" via Red Bull Records. The expanded edition of the 2023 album featured the brand new song "ATTN." "The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" also included new mixes of beloved album tracks and live cuts. The live renditions on the package were recorded at the Hard Rock in Sacramento.

"The Surface" was released in October 2023 on Red Bull Records. It debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Hard Rock Albums, Luminate Alternative Albums, and Luminate Record Label Independent Current Albums, as well as No. 5 on Billboard's Top Album Sales. The single "I Was Alive" landed at No. 1 on both the Billboard Mainstream Airplay chart and the U.S. Mediabase Active Rock radio chart. Just six months prior, the album's previous single, "Might Love Myself", also hit No. 1 and was the band's first-ever chat topper at the format.

BEARTOOTH's first full-length album, "Disgusting", released in 2014, marked a pivotal moment in their career. With Caleb Shomo at the helm as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, the album received critical acclaim and established BEARTOOTH as a formidable force in the rock scene. Their participation in the Vans Warped Tour further solidified their reputation, allowing them to connect with fans and showcase their dynamic live performances.

Following the success of "Disgusting", BEARTOOTH continued to evolve, releasing four more studio albums: "Aggressive" (2016),"Disease" (2018),"Below" (2021) and the aforementioned "The Surface". Each album demonstrated Shomo's growth as a songwriter and musician, with tracks that resonated deeply with audiences. The band's ability to adapt and innovate while maintaining their core sound has garnered them a loyal fanbase and critical praise.

Zacky Vengeance, founding member and guitarist of the multi-platinum rock band AVENGED SEVENFOLD, has released his second solo single, "Lighthouse", under his real name, Zachary Baker. A full-length album, "Dark Horse", will follow on April 3 via his label his Vngnz Records.

Vengeance's debut solo single, the "Dark Horse" title track, arrived in December. The song blended the 44-year-old musician's poignant storytelling with Americana influences, signaling a striking evolution from his hard rock background into a songwriter stepping fully into his own.

Regarding his how his solo project came about, Zacky told Rock Feed: "Honestly, it just came from a place inside of me that I didn't fully know existed. It was just this longing to create something using my own voice, telling my own story, adhering to the rules that I wanted to follow, which are far different than you'd get from a lot of producers or a lot of record labels, and just taking everything that I've ever learned — from the entirety of the first time I ever picked up a guitar to the first time we ever filled up our van with gas and drove on the back roads using a shitty old Rand McNally map to get to the next city, and driving across the country, stopping every single place, the fights we would get into, the stories that we would have, drunken nights, just everything. I wanted to capture all of that, stories of falling in love and stories of loss and all the heartache — everything that's real about me, but I wanted to sing it in my own voice, which is something that I never really loved. I never really liked my own voice, so I was, like, 'I don't have one of these great voices,' like a great rock singer or a great country artist that have all these pitch-perfect vocals. And then I was, like, 'But I gotta get it outta me.' And I didn't know why or how it even came about, but it was literally like a therapy session."

Elaborating on the musical direction of his solo material, Zacky said: "This is very real. It's not a humor album. It's not contrived in any way. I'm not gonna throw on a cowboy hat and boots and try and make my way to Nashville. I'm going to remember that I love going to Nashville. I named my son Tennessee. I've spent vacations in Gatlinburg and I've been to West Virginia and North Carolina and Texas and Georgia, and I love being in Oregon and fishing. And I've done everything in between. I've lived a lot of life, and now I get to tell my story. I get sing it in my own voice. It's gonna piss a whole lot of people off. Everything about this is great. Like, what am I gonna do with it? And then I would show some people, and they would be, like, 'Huh.'"

Asked what the initial reaction was from the people who were first presented with his solo music, Zacky said: "In the very first few songs, the reaction was completely, like, 'Huh. Yeah. Okay, okay. Well, when are you guys gonna write the next 'Hail To The King'?' And I was, like, 'Never. That's not how we operate.' And it kind of made me get in my own head a little bit. I started developing a little bit of timidness about, 'No one's gonna take this seriously.' I kind of got depressed about it. And then I just found myself, throughout the early days of bringing this to life and thinking about how it was really helping me write these songs and helping me feel better in these therapy sessions and getting stuff off my chest, I kind of got depressed again. I started drinking a whole lot, and I was, like, 'I'm just not gonna do anything. I'll wait till AVENGED goes back on tour.' And it's kind of like waiting to die."

He continued: "AVENGED, we kind of had this kumbaya moment where we're like, let's just be fearless and let's make [the 2023 album] 'Life Is But A Dream…' and do whatever the we want and make the art alongside Wes Lang, who's one of the greatest artists that we love, and let's make these songs that people are not know what to expect… And then next thing you know, we're playing in front of 40,000 people in India and selling out stadiums in Indonesia and headlining and selling out Rock In Rio off an album that the radio stations wouldn't even play. And it's just, like, we have fans that respect what we do. And it gave me this excitement, like, 'Hey, stop drinking yourself to death. Find purpose in every day. Finish these songs. When you get sad, when you're depressed, put the bottle down, march up in the studio, start saying your truth. Tell your story. Be honest and be open. You're not perfect.'"

Zacky added: "I'm so far from perfect as a person, but I'm very much myself. I'm uniquely me. My music sounds like me. It's coming from my voice. It's my story. I was, like, 'What do I like about it?' I love that it's imperfect. I haven't changed the guitar strings on this old Telecaster in three months. They're rusty. My fingers are bleeding. It's perfect. I love how it sounds. This thing's a little bit out of tune. I can't really hit that note. My voice is cracking. The mic's a little too hot. There's a buzz on it. It's perfect. I like this. I love this."

Vengeance went on to say that he intentionally wanted to keep the creative process for his solo debut as free of outside influences as possible.  "For this first attempt at it, it had to be me finding myself, creating and then breaking any rules that I thought existed," he explained. "And I didn't wanna get into a studio with a producer. I didn't want the input. I didn't want people to tell me what is possible and what's not possible. I knew it would be dead in the water because the second that I opened up and showed it certain people — and this isn't my band, by the way; this is management or friends or whatever — they instantly shut it down. They didn't like it. They didn't get it. They didn't understand it. I was, like, 'I can't show this to anybody until I do it.'"

Asked if those people were viewing his music "from a predominantly business lens", Zacky said: "Of course. Of course. And it's been the bane of our existence for so long. People look at bands as, 'Oh, you did 'Hail To The King'. It has the most amount of streams. We need another 'Hail To The King'.' It's, like, that's not how it works. We didn't set out to write 'A Little Piece Of Heaven' to try and mimic some other hit song. We didn't write 'Hail To The King' with the intention of trying to write some hit. We didn't write 'Bat Country'. Our songs are crazy. They're ambitious. 'The Stage'… It's not how it works."

On the topic of when fans might get to hear his debut solo album, Zacky said:  "I really wanna get it out early-ish [in 2026]. I'm so excited to share it, and I don't have this hard-pressed timeline. I know it's important. I love the artwork. I love the idea of putting out a vinyl record. All that's getting built now. Everything's completely finished. And it's just giving it enough time for people to hear 'Dark Horse' and make their determination on if it's sincere enough for them. If they like it, if they hate it, if they find it to be gimmicky — that's just not gonna happen. That's one thing that's not gonna happen. They're gonna hear in there and say, 'Okay, this is real. There's sincerity behind this. This is a side of Zack that we didn't fully know. But it makes sense.'"

"Dark Horse" track listing:

01. Dark Horse
02. Misfit Hearts
03. Unlikely Cowboy
04. I'll Stop Pretending
05. Before I Go
06. Lighthouse
07. The Storm
08. Long Highway
09. Star Crossed
10. Someday
11. Fireflies

The "Dark Horse" cover artwork can be seen below.

Growing up in Olympia, Washington, Zacky was influenced by punk rock and metal bands. He picked up the guitar at a young age, inspired by bands like METALLICA and MISFITS. His first guitar was a hand-me-down from his father, which he used to hone his skills and develop his signature style.

As a founding member of AVENGED SEVENFOLD, Zacky has played a crucial role in the band's dynamic. His rhythm guitar work complements lead guitarist Synyster Gates, creating a powerful and cohesive sound. Together, they have crafted some of the most memorable riffs and solos in modern metal.

Outside of music, Zacky is known for his love of tattoos and his involvement in the Vengeance University clothing line. He is also an advocate for animal rights and often uses his platform to support various charitable causes.

As previously reported, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and GOOD CHARLOTTE will join together next summer for a North American tour. Promoted by Live Nation, the 16-city trek will kick off July 25 in Ridgedale, Missouri, with additional stops in Shakopee, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, and more before wrapping August 27 at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, Arizona.

For AVENGED SEVENFOLD, this run follows the release of their new song, "Magic", streaming everywhere as of December 6, 2025. AVENGED SEVENFOLD debuted the song in the recent season of "Call Of Duty" Black Ops 7, and released the track fully independently, continuing the ambition of the band's current work. The band once again partnered with the incredible world renowned fine artist Wes Lang for the single artwork. "Magic" is the first new release since the critically acclaimed 2023 album, "Life Is But A Dream…" — a boundary-pushing project that further cemented the band's reputation for reinvention, ambition, and incredible live performances.

In a new interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such of German thrash metal veterans SODOM once again discussed his decision to cut down on the band's touring activities for the foreseeable future. Asked if he is still going to continue writing new music, even though he is not planning on playing any live shows, Tom said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, yes. I have a couple of new ideas for lyrics, and sometimes I come up with a guitar riff. And I take one of my bass guitars, recording some stuff… Sometimes I wake up in the night, I get some ideas for anything. I gotta write it down and put it on my computer."

He continued: "We have an option [for a new album] with [our longtime record label] SPV. That is another thing. They wanna have a new album. I don't know when, but I think in the next one or two years we're talking about a new album.

"That's what I do," Tom noted. "And also on the last album, [2025's] 'The Arsonist', our drummer Toni [Merkel] had a couple of songs written on his album, which is great.

"Yes. I still have ideas," Tom added.

Earlier this month, Angelripper told This Day In Metal about his decision to stay away from the road: "I have two kids. My daughter is 31, and my son is 28. So now I could spend more time with them and doing other things. I'm gonna do the re-releases for BMG. I also do some other things. I start writing new lyrics. I have new ideas for new songs already. You never can stop it. The only thing I stop is touring and all that stuff."

Tom went on to say that "it's a shame" he and his bandmates have not done any touring in support of their latest album, 2025's "The Arsonist".

"To make this decision to stop is always uncomfortable," Tom explained. "It's never a good time to stop. But nowadays, I enjoy my free time. I enjoy doing other things, like hunting and other stuff that I'm gonna do. And I don't wanna set up any time schedule for the next [live show] I wanna do. Just being on tour, playing festivals and shows, it's where the money's coming from.

"I know that we are gonna lose a lot of money because [we are not playing] all the festivals — just in Germany, we have 50 festivals around — and I know we're gonna lose, I especially will lose a lot of money, but I don't care," he continued. "I'm 63 years old. I have to calm down a little bit doing other things. My doctor said, 'You're in a very good condition, but calm down a little bit. Do other things.' But I know being on stage, it's my life — it's the biggest part of my life. But I don't wanna waste so much time for traveling around. Sitting on airports and hotels, backstage. If you are at my age, you think about the next years, what you're gonna do."

Tom also addressed the fact that a lot of international musicians are canceling U.S. tours because they have decided that going through the complicated process of getting a U.S. artist visa may not be worth the financial and safety risks.

"Visa, especially to go to the U.S., America., it's so much paperwork to do," he explained. "And it's so hard to get to U.S., America, just for a couple of shows. And I don't wanna live in U.S. I just wanna make a couple of shows and go back home. I don't wanna stay there. But it doesn't matter. They don't take care. You have to do all the paperwork. And I remember the last shows in U.S., America was really hard. In the end, we go to the embassy, to Frnakfurt, get an interview, what they call, and then you get the stamp, and it's very expensive. It's $2,000 [for] each person to get the working papers — for the band and also for the crew as well. And they ask me, why you don't take the crew in America? Because we have our own crew for all equipment. So a band has to take its own crew, because every guitar is different, every guitar amp is different. It's very hard. But American bands come to Germany or Europe [and they] just need a passport. They don't need any visa stuff."

Asked if his break from touring is a "full retirement" or if he plans to eventually come out and play a few shows with SODOM, Tom said: "No, no, no. It's like [SLAYER's] Tom Araya. You remember when he stopped doing this, he talked about the same [thing]. He said, when [they] release a new album, [a] SLAYER album, they are touring worldwide. And he said, 'I've never been home and I never seen my kids growing up.' So that's the same. But nowadays they're gonna do a couple of shows with SLAYER, and [SLAYER guitarist] Kerry King and all the other bandmembers have other bands touring around.

"I don't think about it," Tom continued. "But I cannot tell my band we just do five shows in a year. It's not enough. You have to do every show you can get. That is very important. But now it's gone for a while, and I have no plans, what to do."

Regarding how he is spending his time nowadays, Tom said:  "I'm looking not so much TV. I've spent more time with the family. I've spent a lot of time in my hunting district. I'm living without any pressure. I remember last year we had so many shows, and the time schedule was packed with everything. And then I thought, I have to stop it now. I wanna get more to my hunting district, because I have to do my job there and everything. Sometimes I'm just doing nothing. I just sitting, drinking my coffee. Just relax. But if you are touring and all this stuff, you can't relax. You're always under pressure. It's really hard. But the other guys from the band, I see [SODOM guitarist] Frank Blackfire, he is pushing his own band, which is called FRANK BLACKFIRE. And Toni, my drummer, he's the best drummer in Germany. He gets so many other bands he's gonna play drums with. That is not a problem.

"But I don't have any plans [to go back to playing shows]," Tom added. "I don't wanna set myself under pressure when I tell the people I'm coming back next year for the festival season or whatever. I don't know. When I think I have to go [play some shows], I go. I call my booking agency, try to get shows, whatever. But if you wanna play next year, the summer festivals, we have to book [it] now. That is the thing. But I never mind."

Last May, Angelripper also publicly discussed his decision to cut down on SODOM's touring activities for the foreseeable future. Asked by Chaoszine if this was a "hard decision" to make at this point in SODOM's career, Tom said: "Yes, because when you make a break or you stop something, the time is always uncomfortable, I think. The record company, they told me, 'Oh, you release a new album. You have to go on tour. You have to play festivals.' I know. But it's my decision. I'm working for the whole production, I'm working for the promotion for the new album. That's not a problem. But I wanna stop touring for a while. I need more time for my family, for my hobbies, for my good old friends or time for myself."

Tom continued: "My doctor said, 'You are in very good condition for your age, but slow it down a little bit.' And I'm still working on the band; I'm still working for re-releases. I just wanna do more home office. But I have no plan to come back. I don't wanna have any pressure. When I say, 'Okay, I come back in April '27,' whatever, I put myself under pressure. I don't want [that]. Maybe — I don't know how long it takes. I will see what happens. I don't have any plans. But I'm sure I'm coming back one day."

Angelripper previously discussed SODOM's decision to take a break earlier in May 2025 in an interview with RapidMetalFire. He said at the time: "I think you know the story of Tom Araya. Maybe you heard something about it. I think he's got the same problems, like [issues with his] neck [when performing live]. He couldn't more headbang. I can headbang. It's not so massive… But that is not the reason why. The reason why is I want to spend more time with other things. I want to spend more time with my family. I need more time going for my hunting district. I want to spend time doing nothing.

"If you are a professional musician — I'm also the manager of the band — you are busy every day," Such explained. "There is no time to breathe. There is no time to relax. I like to spend the time on stage. I like to spend the time making music, but I hate wast[ing] time on airports or hotels.

"If you're getting [63 years old] like me, you say, 'Okay, I need money to make my [living] from [playing] music.' I know — money is a very important thing. But there is something you cannot buy with money: the freedom," Thomas added. "And that's what I told to my boys, to my group. I told them, I think two years ago, 'In this year, I wanna slow down the things a little bit,' because I can't do nothing, because I'm still working on re-releases. The only difference is I have my home office. That's the only thing. But I can tell you, I have no plan what to do. I have no plan how long I'm gonna rest. I have no plan when I restart the band, so I don't wanna live without any plans in the next times. I can't tell people I want to come back in '27 or '28, maybe '26 — I don't tell the people. When I think I wanna come back, I go."

Asked if SODOM is still "receiving booking requests" from promoters around the world, Thomas said: "I receive a lot of booking requests… I get some offers from this [and that] festival. I get some offers for making a tour with HEAVEN SHALL BURN. They were interested in maybe a SODOM tour. I get a thousand of requests [for] the 'Big Four' [of German thrash metal: KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, SODOM and TANKARD] worldwide. That is not a problem… People are still interested. It's not something bad because we have no success. I can book tours every day over the year, if I want. That is another thing. SODOM is still — we are still very much a success, I think. People are really interested in coming [to see us]… So that is not the problem. I know that people wanna see SODOM."

Elaborating on his reasons for taking a break from the road, Thomas said: "I love my fans, but I also love myself. I also love my family. I also love my old friends. Now it's time to stop [and] just [concentrate on] doing other things. That's very easy. I'm still healthy. I'm able to do it. I'm still creative. Maybe the day will come I don't know what to do, I'm not more creative, I cannot write lyrics, I cannot play bass. Then it's gone. It's just a break. But I don't know how long it takes."

NEVERMORE has shared a second audition video submitted by vocalist Berzan Önen prior to his addition to the band in early 2025.

Also joining longtime NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams in the reformed version of the group are Jack Cattoi on guitar and Semir Özerkan on bass.

Says NEVEMORE: "'Sentient 6' is the second of five NEVERMORE audition videos from our new vocalist Berzan Önen. This was recorded and submitted in January of 2025 along with 'Born'. All vocals are done by Berzan."

To showcase the new lineup, NEVERMORE's first live appearance will take place on April 1, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. The band has also signed a record deal with Reigning Phoenix Music.

On this new chapter, Loomis and Williams previously said: "We are thrilled to announce that NEVERMORE has officially signed with Reigning Phoenix Music! It was obvious from the start that they were the perfect partner for the new era of NEVERMORE. Their passion for metal music combined with the extensive industry pedigree of their team made the choice easy. We can't wait to get back on stage in front of our fans in Istanbul on April 1st, and we are just as excited to finish writing and putting together the new NEVERMORE album!"

Reigning Phoenix music co-founder Gerado Martinez commented on NEVERMORE joining the RPM roster: "There are no words to describe how proud and excited RPM is at the prospect of being part of NEVERMORE's next chapter. Having been a fan since 1995 when I saw them on tour with DEATH, I've followed them on their entire musical journey and cannot wait for what is yet to come."

Directed and produced by Ola Englund, NEVERMORE has released a documentary film showcasing their rehearsals in January of this year at Swans Neck Soundworks in Väderstad, Sweden. Featuring powerful, raw performances of their tracks including "The River Dragon Has Come", "Engines Of Hate" and "The Heart Collector", it offers an thrilling insight into the band's new era. The film also sees Loomis and Williams discuss their decision to bring NEVERMORE back, introduce the new members, and reveal their thoughts throughout the audition process. Additionally, Loomis and Williams share news of forthcoming festival appearances across 2026, and future plans for NEVERMORE.

NEVERMORE enters 2026 with purpose, fire, and a clear sense of who they are. Forged in the aftermath of SANCTUARY, the band carved out a sound defined by precision musicianship, fearless songwriting, and emotional intensity. From their self-titled debut in 1995 through landmark releases such as "Dead Heart In A Dead World" and "This Godless Endeavor", NEVERMORE built a global following and a reputation as one of modern metal's most distinctive voices.

Now that legacy moves forward under the leadership of Loomis and Williams, joined by Cattoi, Özerkan and Önen. After years apart, the spark that first ignited the band has returned with renewed focus. For Van, the timing feels natural.

"It's been brewing for quite a while and has just started to manifest itself into the now," Van said. "So what better time is there to kick things off than now?"

New music is already taking shape. Van smiles at the early results. "If the new music had to be described by one word, that would have to be delicious. Because it's so good it's gonna leave you hungry for more." The writing process is unfolding alongside preparations for the stage, with the band focused equally on honoring the catalog and building what comes next.

The addition of Berzan signaled a powerful evolution. Jeff remembers the first time he saw Berzan's audition video. "He really stood out strong in so many ways upon a first listen," Loomis said. "I could really feel the emotion and passion when I heard him sing for the first time. He wasn't just going through the motions." The connection was immediate. "I could tell right away that he was a fan of Warrel's singing just by the way he delivered and said certain words. I was really blown away at first watch."

The history of NEVERMORE includes an extraordinary lineage of musicians who shaped its evolution. Guitarists Pat O'Brien, Tim Calvert, Steve Smyth and Chris Broderick each left a distinct imprint on the band's catalog and live presence. Bassist Jim Sheppard played a central role in shaping the band's identity during its defining years.

Following the band's disbandment, Jeff Loomis released the acclaimed solo albums "Zero Order Phase" and "Plains Of Oblivion", co-founded CONQUERING DYSTOPIA and spent nearly a decade as a member of ARCH ENEMY, contributing to releases, including "Will To Power" and "Deceivers". Van Williams remained active through projects such as ASHES OF ARES and GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS. Warrel Dane continued creating until his passing in 2017, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire musicians and fans worldwide.

As NEVERMORE steps into 2026, the mission is grounded in honesty and intensity. Jeff captures the heart of it. "Van and I are super passionate about the band," he says. "What we deliver and bring back to the audience is us wanting to hear those old tracks again just as much as the fans. We obviously want our old fans there every step of the way, but also look forward to meeting a new generation of fans as well."

NEVERMORE effectively split up in 2011 when Loomis and Williams announced their departure from the band due to personal differences with Dane and Sheppard. Warrel later described NEVERMORE in an interview as "the greatest band that alcohol ever ruined."

Dane died in in December 2017 in São Paulo, Brazil while recording his posthumously released solo studio album, "Shadow Work". The musician reportedly had a heart attack during the night and could not be revived.

According to guitarist Johnny Moraes, who played in Warrel's solo band, Dane had a history of addiction and other health issues. "His health was already very weak because of his diabetes and his problems with alcoholism," he said.

The instrumental parts for Dane's follow-up to 2008's "Praises To The War Machine" solo album were almost completed and he had begun laying down his vocals shortly before his death.

When Loomis and Williams revealed their plan to launch a "world search" for a vocalist and bassist for the reformed version of the band, Van addressed Jim's absence from the reunion, saying: "Some people think it's disrespectful not to involve Jim or inform him of our plans. But those who feel that way don't know the history of the band or the behind-the-scenes dynamics that led to this decision. While it may not have been the most ideal approach, the reality is that there hasn't been communication with Jim in years.

"We felt that sometimes, for the sake of a fresh start, it's necessary to move on from relationships that may no longer be conducive to growth or new beginnings. We made this decision with the intention of honoring the legacy of the band while moving forward in a way that felt right for us at the time. That said, we wish him good health and he is free to pursue whatever path he chooses. Without going into too much detail, I'll just say respect goes both ways, and certain things became irreconcilable over time for us… I wish the situation with Jim were different, but the past has brought us here."

Williams also denied that he and Loomis were reforming NEVERMORE as a "money grab", explaining: "Most musicians don't do this for the money. We've spent countless hours thru the years sweating, rehearsing, performing, and recording simply because we love it. This is what we chose to do in life because we've always loved it. That's what drives us, the passion for music, the connection with fans, and the creative process. If money comes from that, great but it has never been the focus, but we also have bills to pay like you."

For his part, Jeff defended the decision to reactivate NEVERMORE with new musicians, writing: "No one can replace Warrel Dane. Bottom line. With his interesting melodies and charisma onstage, he was a force that was a huge part of the band both lyrically and spiritually. With that being said, we aren't looking for a Warrel Dane clone. We are looking for someone that can carry the older NEVERMORE tunes in his vocal style, and someone who can add something new and refreshing to the next chapter of the band. Obviously, this won't be the easiest thing to do."

Loomis "amicably" left ARCH ENEMY in December 2023 and was replaced by Joey Concepcion.

Jeff, who was the main songwriter in NEVERMORE, joined ARCH ENEMY in late 2014, but was not involved in the writing for the latter act's two albums that he appeared on, 2017's "Will To Power" and 2022's "Deceivers".

In December 2019, Sheppard launched a project called THE DEAD HEART COLLECTIVE, featuring music and lyrics inspired by Dane. At the time, Sheppard sent his synopsis of THE DEAD HEART COLLECTIVE to BLABBERMOUTH.NET in which he explained his decision to start a new project as a vehicle for Warrel to "channel songs and paintings" through him.

Sheppard addressed NEVERMORE's return in a statement he released to BLABBERMOUTH.NET on January 4, 2025. He wrote at the time: "In my heart, NEVERMORE will always be Warrel, Jeff and I living in a one-room apartment, slaves to an eight-track recording machine, non-stop songwriting insanity. We were driven, we were hungry... To quote Dave Mustaine, we were ready to 'smile, eat shit and ask for more!'

"True, I've been retired. I enjoy my new life in Alaska following bears with my wife Priscila, a wildlife photographer.

"My opinion of [Loomis's and Williams's] press release [announcing the NEVERMORE comeback is] Van came across self-promoting and Jeff felt very sincere; he truly wants to capture a little piece of the magic we held.

"I'm disappointed no one reached out to me concerning the name NEVERMORE, a name that means blood, sweat and tears. With that said, I wish them the best."

In a recent interview with Chris Akin of The Classic Metal Show, TESTAMENT's Alex Skolnick was once again asked why his band wasn't included in the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal (METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX) — the dominant thrash metal groups that helped bring that genre into the mainstream. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I never give it much thought, because, to me, it's not just the 'Big Four' — it's the first four. Those bands had albums out when TESTAMENT was still called LEGACY and was still a local band that I used to hear about when I was in high school. And they supported some of those bands, but all of the 'Big Four' bands had records out at the time that LEGACY was still getting started. And by the time LEGACY became TESTAMENT and released its first, debut album, those bands all had several albums out. So you can't really make the comparison. They were there [and] they were so much further along by the time we even got started. So I think it makes more sense to look at, okay, the next wave after the so-called 'Big Four' bands. And it's an honor that people think — most of the time we're one of those names. That's great. I'll take it."

After Akin noted that TESTAMENT is widely considered to be one of the "top eight" thrash metal bands of all time, Skolnick replied: "And that is just fine with us. I mean, I can't speak for anybody else in the band, but I don't know of anybody that has any issue with that. [Nobody] says, 'No, we should be in the 'Big Four'.' No. They're the 'Big Four'. All good. But we'll proudly take our place in the next wave."

Skolnick previously talked about TESTAMENT's exclusion from the "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal during a 2019 interview with the "Basel Meets" podcast. Alex stated at the time: "Interestingly, I have no problem with it, because I look at it as a seniority thing. I joined TESTAMENT in very late '85; I think my first gig was early '86. So, 1986 — what happened [that year]? METALLICA releases 'Master Of Puppets'. They were already on their third record. They were on their way to becoming one of the biggest bands in the world, which was clear… I mean, it wasn't clear they would be that level, but we knew they were gonna at least be as big as IRON MAIDEN and SCORPIONS at that time. So they were already off and running. SLAYER released 'Reign In Blood' that year, after having several albums out. ANTHRAX had several records out. I think at that point, MEGADETH was on their second record. So all those bands, they were past their first record. They were all off and running. At the time, the classic TESTAMENT lineup was just forming. So, I'm fine with that. They were there first, and they were doing big things. And we came along a little later. But I have no problem with those groups being classified together."

Alex's comments echoed those of TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy, who told the "Music Mania" podcast in 2018 that his band came along too late to be included in the "Big Four".

"When you say 'Big Four,' you think of the '80s when that was what was referred to as the 'Big Four', which is correct — those four bands [METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX] were the biggest four bands of our era; at that time, all [of them were] at the platinum level, when there was much more acceptability to this music," he said. "Around '91 [or] '92, the grunge scene came in, and all the bands following us — EXODUS and OVERKILL and all those kind of bands — lost that momentum because the industry started changing its format. So when they say [METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX are the] 'Big Four,' I say that's correct. We were the next generation of the 'Four' [laughs], but we were just caught in the wrong time… wrong place, wrong time."

Several years earlier, Billy told Metal Insider that METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX are the only bands that deserved to be lumped together as part of the "Big Four".

"I think that when it comes down to the 'Big Four', as far as I can see it, back when metal was at its height in the late '80s/ early 90s, all of those 'Big Four' bands had a ton of great success and were selling millions of records," he said. "I think around that same time, we were growing apart as a band and the music market had changed. So I think we were kind of, I guess, as they say, 'on deck in the batting circle' waiting for our success selling millions of records at that time.

"So when people say the Big Four, Five or Six, I don't see it that way," he continued. "The 'Big Four,' those four bands had great success selling millions of records. But the rest of us — EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL [and] TESTAMENT — we didn't sell out those festivals or that amount of records. So I don't see us being compared to that. I'd say if metal was still going as strong as it was, yeah, we all stood a chance to sell a lot of records. That's just my take on it. When people talk about that, to me, those four bands are justifiable, and that's it. I don't see any other bands that were the 'Big' whatever."

Back in 2017, OVERKILL vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth said that "when it comes to being selected and not selected" for inclusion in the "Big Four", "that's a simple accounting issue. When you talk numbers, numbers make the world go around, numbers put food on your table, and numbers put the 'Big Four' in arenas. And they sell enough records to do that… He who sells the most gets the pole positions."

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine said in a 2013 interview that EXODUS "probably" should have been included if the "Big Four" were expanded and considered the "Big Five" "because there was nobody else at the time that had that kind of pull or that kind of importance in the metal community. Granted, it was with [late EXODUS singer Paul] Baloff, and Baloff had a voice that you had to have an acquired taste for, but you know, I liked him."

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett concurred, telling U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine in a 2014 interview that "EXODUS in the '80s had some bona fide problems, but I think their first album [1985's 'Bonded By Blood'] is just as good as [METALLICA's debut] 'Kill 'Em All'. We were just playing the music we wanted to hear because no one else was playing it and it wasn't being played on the radio. It was only a small group of people who knew about it and it was almost elitist in that 'No posers allowed!' thing."

Heavy metal legend, acclaimed filmmaker and pop culture icon Rob Zombie has shared "F.T.W. 84", the fourth and final single from his eighth studio album, "The Great Satan", which is being released today (Friday, February 27) via Nuclear Blast Records. Following the success of his Top 10-charting record "The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy" (2021),Zombie is back, revisiting his early Hellbilly roots for a slaughterhouse of anthemic punk-infused heavy rock/metal.

"The Great Satan" track listing:

01. F.T.W. 84
02. Tarantula
03. (I'm A) Rock 'N' Roller
04. Heathen Days
05. Who Am I
06. Black Rat Coffin
07. Sir Lord Acid Wolfman
08. Punks And Demons
09. The Devilman
10. Out of Sight
11. Revolution Motherfuckers
12. Welcome To The Electric Age
13. The Black Scorpion
14. Unclean Animals
15. Grave Discontent

Rob Zombie will team up with Marilyn Manson for a summer tour across North America. The "Freaks On Parade" trek will kick off in West Palm Beach on August 20 at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, followed by gigs in Charlotte, Toronto, Kansas City, Auburn, and Ridgefield, stopping at venues along the way like Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Tinley Park's Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in West Valley City, and Clarkston's Pine Knob Music Theatre. The tour will wrap up on September 20 at Toyota Pavilion in Concord, California.

Rob's seventh studio album, "The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy", was released in March 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The LP marked Rob's first new album in nearly five years. The follow-up to 2016's "The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser" was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris.

"The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy" was the third consecutive effort to feature Zombie and guitarist John 5 alongside bassist Matt "Piggy D." Montgomery and drummer Ginger Fish.

In the fall of 2022, John 5 exited Rob's band to join MÖTLEY CRÜE as the replacement for that group's founding guitarist Mick Mars. John 5 has since been replaced in Zombie's band by returning guitarist Mike Riggs.

Riggs had previously spent six years as a member of ROB ZOMBIE. Riggs joined forces with Rob in the '90s and stayed with him into the early 2000s, eventually leaving in 2004 (when Rob Zombie was largely focusing on films rather than music) to start a project of his own. Riggs songwriting and crunching guitars can be heard on Rob Zombie's "Hellbilly Deluxe", "American Made Music To Strip By", "The Sinister Urge" and "The Past, Present & Future" records.

More recently, Riggs had kept busy with his band SCUM OF THE EARTH, named after a song from "Sinister Urge". SCUM OF THE EARTH favors the sort of rhythmic, industrial-influenced, mildly funky, hip-hop-minded alternative metal that Riggs honed during his initial Rob Zombie days.

John 5 had worked with Zombie for 16 years, co-writing on all studio albums since "Educated Horses", and composing the score for Zombie's 2013 movie "The Lords Of Salem".

In January 2024, Piggy D. announced that he was exiting Rob's band after 18 years. Matt has since been replaced by a returning Rob "Blasko" Nicholson.

Blasko was a member of Rob Zombie's band from 1997 through 2006, playing bass on the first three Zombie albums: "Hellbilly Deluxe", "The Sinister Urge" and "Educated Horses".

Nicholson left Zombie in May 2006 in order to join Ozzy Osbourne's recording/touring band.

Montgomery's debut performance with Rob Zombie came on May 24, 2006 during an appearance on CBS's "Late Night Show With David Letterman".

Members of legendary Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM played the first of two shows celebrating the group's music earlier tonight (Thursday, February 26) at the Tavastia club in Helsinki. The concert, dubbed "Children Of Bodom – A Celebration Of Music", featured original CHILDREN OF BODOM members, bassist Henkka Seppälä, keyboardist Janne Wirman, drummer Jaska Raatikainen and early guitarist Alexander Kuoppala, along with longtime friend Samy Elbanna, known from the band LOST SOCIETY, paying tribute to CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist and main songwriter Alexi Laiho, who passed away on December 29, 2020 in his home in Helsinki, Finland. He died of alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue. Furthermore, Laiho had a cocktail of painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in his system. He had suffered from long-term health issues leading up to his death.

The setlist for the first of two "Children Of Bodom – A Celebration Of Music" concerts was as follows:

01. Living Dead Beat
02. Sixpounder
03. Bodom Beach Terror
04. Silent Night, Bodom Night
05. Deadnight Warrior
06. Towards Dead End
07. Everytime I Die
08. Bodom After Midnight
09. Lake Bodom
10. Bed Of Razors
11. Needled 24/7
12. Angels Don't Kill
13. Blooddrunk
14. Warheart
15. Follow The Reaper
16. Downfall

Encore 1:

17. Are You Dead Yet?
18. Hate Me!
19. Hate Crew Deathroll

Encore 2:

20. In Your Face

Fan-filmed video of the show can be seen below.

When "Children Of Bodom – A Celebration Of Music" was first announced last October, CHILDREN OF BODOM said in a statement: "We want to celebrate the life's work of our band and at the same time the musical legacy of our friend and bandmate Alexi.

"The gig will be played at the Tavastia club, which is important to CHILDREN OF BODOM, and at the same time, we will fulfill the long-standing wish of our fans."

The official CHILDREN OF BODOM book was published in August 2025 via the London, U.K.-based publisher Rocket 88. The book tells the story of the Finnish melodic death metal pioneers as an oral history in which Seppälä, Wirman, Raatikainen and Kuoppala plus other former members, their friends and colleagues recall the 30-plus-year history of their career.For the first time, members of the band tell the story of CHILDREN OF BODOM in their own words. Henkka, Janne and Jaska recall the founding of the band with Laiho and the struggles, adventures and triumphs they experienced in the more than 30 years that followed. Drawing on personal memories and new interviews with the band conducted by Finnish best-selling author and longtime friend of the band Timo Isoaho, the official CHILDREN OF BODOM book tells the whole story, warts and all, of the groundbreaking melodic death metal band.

Henkka, Janne, Jaska and Alexander said in a statement: "Since we stopped making music and suffered the tragic loss of our brother Alexi, we've been remembering so many great times that we had together, and you can now read about those times in this book. It tells the full history of CHILDREN OF BODOM in our own words."

In December 2023, Seppälä and Wirman hosted a listening party for CHILDREN OF BODOM's latest live album, "A Chapter Called... Children Of Bodom (Final Show In Helsinki Ice Hall 2019)", at the Bodom Bar & Sauna in Espoo, Finland. The LP, which was recorded at CHILDREN OF BODOM's final concert on December 15, 2019 at the Black Box in Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki, Finland, was made available via Spinefarm.

During the question-and-answer portion of the event, Wirman and Seppälä discussed their mindset going into CHILDREN OF BODOM's final concert, which took place a year before Laiho passed away.

Janne said: "I felt a sense of relief onstage [at the final concert] 'cause I was very tired of Alexi's problems and constant problems with one guy. And then this guy who was our best friend and who wrote all the music, all of a sudden from 2016 on, just became someone I didn't recognize anymore. He was a different person, and he was so overcome with his disease and problems and it got to the point in 2019 we decided that this can't go on anymore. And then this was the last show. It was short notice, and we [originally] had so much better plans for how to say goodbye to all the international fans, how to do a proper farewell around-the-world tour [during 2020-2022] and whatever. But now, something we did not know, was [that] the pandemic [would happen], obviously, and that would have canceled all of those plans anyway."

Added Henkka: "So it was kind of, like, in a way we are lucky that we had this confrontation within the band that made us decide to drop [the group] earlier than we were supposed to and have this final show that was recorded. Because if you would have kept on the original plan with Alexi that let's do a farewell tour until 2022, I think it was, so then the pandemic would have ruined everything. And we probably would have never had this kind of last proper souvenir."

Asked if it ever entered their minds that they could take a long break away from each other and then maybe regroup at a later date, Henkka quipped: "That would have been like a mature way of dealing with it." Janne said: "Our manager at the time, Steve, did ask me that, at the eve of the last show, Steve asked me that, 'Are you ever gonna play with Alexi again?' And I said, 'I would only [play with him] if he would seek help and become fully sober.' And I knew that wasn't an option, that he had decided at that point, unfortunately, that he's just gonna die by his addictions, which is horrible. And it's very sad, but I knew him well enough that there was no way that he's gonna get better. And then that's why somehow it was also a relief for me at the last show. I realized that I need to let go."

Added Henkka: "The problems were pretty bad — I mean, within the band, all the relations. And I don't think anybody could see a future anymore. So [putting the band to rest] was the only option at the time. I'm sure that Steve, our manager, had some hopes of a reunion show within some years, of course, because he's a businessman [laughs], but it didn't even cross my mind at that time."

Continued Janne: "That's why I said that at the time I said that I will never play again with Alexi, 'cause I knew that he will not get sober, he will not get help for his problems. And then it would've been a totally different opinion. If somehow any of us would've felt that, 'Okay, Alexi is gonna get help. He's gonna get better,' all of us would've been, like, 'Okay, fine. Let's give him a couple of years and then let's get back together.' But that was not foreseeable at the time."

Added Henkka: "At the time it was, it was an impossible point."

Released with the blessing of Laiho's estate, the concert album completed the legendary band's career which began in Espoo, Finland in 1993 as INEARTHED. Over their career, CHILDREN OF BODOM released ten studio albums, two live albums, two EPs, two compilation albums and one DVD. The final lineup of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of Laiho (lead guitar, lead vocals),Raatikainen (drums),Seppälä (bass),Wirman (keyboards) and Daniel Freyberg (rhythm guitar).

In a July 2023 interview with BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Wirman opened up about the string of events that led to the band's 2019 demise and the deterioration of Laiho's health.

"Alexi's downfall started in 2016," Janne said. "I don't know what caused him to do that. He told me but didn't tell anyone else in the band — he made sure no one else was in the room — and told me, 'Dude, from now on, I'm going to drink until I die.' I said, 'Fuck, man. You can't say that to me.' He said it another time in 2018. I knew that was what he was doing — he said he wouldn't take any help for his medical issues. He was going to keep drinking. That's what he did, which is fucking crazy."

Janne continued: "A lot of people who haven't had a family friend or work buddy or someone who is sick with alcoholism, a lot of people don't understand you cannot help the person who doesn't want help. He had decided he didn't want help and would keep drinking until he died. That's what he did."

Wirmen then detailed BODOM's final years, beset by infighting largely stemming from Laiho's substance abuse issues. "The last years were pretty bad," he said. "There was a lot of bullshit. It's so crazy because he was in such a good place a couple of years before. He was happy about being sober and on tour, and the shows were good. I don't know what happened to him. Something pushed him over the edge where he decided, 'Fuck it. I'm going to keep drinking.'"

Alexi's ashes were buried in December 2021 — nearly a year after his tragic passing. He was laid to rest at the Malmi Cemetery, a large cemetery located in the Malmi district in Helsinki, Finland.

Alexi and Jaska founded CHILDREN OF BODOM in 1993, and the band was one of the most internationally acclaimed metal acts in Finland up until their very last farewell concert. In 2020, Alexi put together BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, which recorded three songs and shot one music video, all of which were released posthumously.

Besides CHILDREN OF BODOM, Laiho had played in such acts as WARMEN, SINERGY, KYLÄHULLUT and THE LOCAL BAND. Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden God and several other international prizes, the guitarist was also the main star, leading a group of one hundred guitar players at the Helsinki Festival in 2015 in "100 Guitars From Hel" — a massive concert piece he composed.

In 2022, Wirman, Raatikainen and Seppälä discussed publicly for the first time the circumstances that led to the band's split and ultimately Laiho's death. In an interview with Finland's Helsingin Sanomat, the three surviving members of CHILDREN OF BODOM said the real reason for the band's breakup was not that they wanted to stop touring in order to spend more time with their families, which is how Laiho explained it to Helsingin Sanomat in November 2019. Instead, what caused the group to split was Laiho's substance abuse, and that is also what eventually killed him a year after they went their separate ways.

Laiho's addiction began to take a serious toll on CHILDREN OF BODOM in 2008, when the band was the support act on a SLIPKNOT tour. In the ensuing years, Laiho promised his bandmates that he would not drink on the road anymore. Although he kept his word for a few years, Alexi "went into a tailspin again in 2016," according to Wirman. Laiho, who had a substantial income as COB's main songwriter (all other income, from gigs to merchandise, was split equally),repeatedly complained that his income was declining and threatened to pull himself out of the limited liability company, AA & Sewira Consulting Oy, he and the other members formed in 2003.

After CHILDREN OF BODOM's manager brought up Laiho's substance abuse at a business meeting in New York in early 2019, Alexi refused to go into rehabilitation but did agree to see a doctor. He was diagnosed with diabetes, and he began taking medication to treat the condition.

In the summer of 2019, Laiho filed an application with the Finnish Patent And Registration Office to register the CHILDREN OF BODOM name to Laiho. This infuriated his bandmates who saw this as an attempt to hijack the name and brand that was controlled by the group's LLC.

During CHILDREN OF BODOM's tour of Russia in October 2019, Laiho "was hitting the bottle like back in 2008," his bandmates told Helsingin Sanomat.

"I told Alexi that you don't usually drink starting at breakfast before a gig, and now you don't even warm up with the guitar before going on stage like you always do," Raatikainen recalled.

Laiho later apologized and stopped drinking for the last concerts of the tour."His hands were shaking for two days, but the gigs in Moscow and St Petersburg went pretty well," Raatikainen said.

Raatikainen, Seppälä and Wirman decided to go with Alexi's wish from a few years back and buy him out of the LLC. Laiho retained the rights to his music and was paid royalties on performances and record sales as before, but sold his part of the LLC that owns the name of the band and the merchandising rights.

According to the trio, Alexi was sober for CHILDREN OF BODOM's entire final tour of Finland in December 2019 and he "exchanged cordial messages" with them even after the start of the pandemic.

Alexi's sister Anna Laiho told Helsingin Sanomat that the three surviving members of CHILDREN OF BODOM "have the full support of our family."

Anna, Alexi's Australian wife Kelli Wright-Laiho and a few close friends attempted to get him professional help in the fall of 2020, but he refused.

"At heart, he was a warm and caring person, always ready to help others. But he had his demons, and he wanted to fight those alone", Alexi's sister said. "He wanted to make his own choices. For better or worse."

CHILDREN OF BODOM – A Celebration of Music

Starting tonight at Tavastia in Helsinki.
Celebrating a legacy that still...

Posted by Children Of Bodom on Thursday, February 26, 2026