Swedish sleaze rock veterans CRASHDÏET have released "Sick Enough For Me", the second single from the band's upcoming studio album, "Art Of Chaos".

"Art Of Chaos", set for release on May 8 via Ninetone Records, is described by CRASHDÏET as "the ten sleaziest tracks we've written in a very long time" — a high-octane return to the raw nerve, massive hooks, and filthy rock'n'roll swagger that built CRASHDÏET's reputation from the start.

With new member Chris Young on bass, the band presents a re-energized lineup, and CRASHDÏET sound more focused than they have in years. Live, the band continues to deliver intense, unforgettable shows — and on record, they prove why they remain one of the most relevant names in the ongoing revival of sleaze and glam rock.

Last month CRASHDÏET released "Satizfaction", the first single from "Art Of Chaos". At the time, CRASHDÏET described the track as everything the band "stands for: raw energy, uncompromising attitude, razor-sharp riffs, and a chorus that hits instantly. The song captures the band's DNA while pointing firmly toward a new era where sleaze rock once again takes center stage."

CRASHDÏET are pioneers of glam and sleaze metal, a band forged through turbulence, tragedy, and sheer determination. With a career marked by lineup changes, personal losses, and highs and lows on the global stage, they have consistently risen from the ashes — true survivors of the rock scene.

Their sound is a fearless collision of 1980s arena rock swagger — think GUNS N' ROSES, KISS and SKID ROW — infused with a raw punk attitude, solidifying their role in the revival of sleaze and hair metal. Their debut album, "Rest In Sleaze" (2005, Universal Music),earned critical acclaim and launched their career in Sweden. After the heartbreaking loss of frontman Dave Lepard in 2006, the remaining members kept the flame alive, recruiting new vocalists, touring worldwide, and delivering six more studio albums to their dedicated fanbase.

Over the years, CRASHDÏET have collaborated with rock icons including Mick Mars (MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Michael Starr (STEEL PANTHER),cementing their place in the glam metal pantheon.

Today, CRASHDÏET hits the stage with a solid lineup, anchored by original member Martin Sweet, promising high-octane performances that honor their legacy while pushing the band into exciting new territory. While Peter London is taking a longer break from the band, Chris Young has stepped in on bass for this album cycle, embracing the challenging role with energy and dedication. Fresh music is on the horizon, with fans set to experience the same signature attitude and intensity that has defined CRASHDÏET from day one.

CRASHDÏET is:

John Elliot - Lead Vocals
Martin Sweet - Guitar
Chris Young - Bass
Michael Sweet - Drums

Photo courtesy of Ninetone

We’re rolling out the next single from our upcoming album Art of Chaos!

“Sick Enough for Me” is a high-energy party...

Posted by CRASHDÏET on Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Fan-filmed video of DREAM THEATER's entire February 18 concert at Idea Live in Bangkok, Thailand can be seen below (courtesy of the DIY BY PIPE channel on YouTube).

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle And The Sleeper
02. Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928
03. Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu
04. Act I: Scene Three: I. Through My Words
05. Act I: Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy
06. The Mirror
07. The Enemy Inside
08. Peruvian Skies
09. As I Am

Act II:

10. In The Arms Of Morpheus
11. Night Terror
12. Midnight Messiah
13. Are We Dreaming? (Interlude)
14. Bend The Clock
15. The Shadow Man Incident
16. Octavarium

Encore:

17. Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On
18. Pull Me Under

DREAM THEATER played its first concert with drummer Mike Portnoy in 14 years on October 20, 2024 at the O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom. The drummer, who co-founded DREAM THEATER, played on 10 of the band's albums over a 20-year period, from 1989's "When Dream And Day Unite" through 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", before exiting the group in 2010. Portnoy returned to DREAM THEATER in October 2023 after being replaced by Mike Mangini, who played with DREAM THEATER across five studio albums and accompanying world tours.

This past December, Portnoy spoke to Australia's May The Rock Be With You about DREAM THEATER's 40th-anniversary tour, which launched in late 2024. Asked if the milestone put more "pressure" on him and his bandmates or if they treated the tour as "more of a celebration", Mike said: "It's a celebration. There's no pressure. I mean, for me, it's surreal that it's been 40 years since we started this band. We were teenagers at college, Berklee College Of Music, back in 1985, and here we are 40 years later. We've been around the world dozens and dozens of times, and it's just been quite a journey and quite a trip. And if anything, it's just more surreal than anything. It's just hard to believe how quickly time has flown."

On the topic of the "discussions" which take place between him and his DREAM THEATER bandmates about putting together a setlist for the current tour, Mike said: "Well, there's not really any discussions. Those guys trust that in my lap. I've always been the guy that wrote the setlist in the band, at least in my time here, and for me, writing the setlist for this 40th-anniversary tour was actually easier than you would think. Coming back to the band after not having been in the band for over 15 years, whatever it's been, it was all a fresh, clean slate for me to work with. It wasn't like, 'Oh, I played this song a billion times over the last couple years.' I hadn't played any of these songs in so long. So for me, I was able to write with a clean slate."

DREAM THEATER kicked off its summer/fall 2025 "An Evening With Dream Theater" tour on September 5, 2025 at Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The concert saw James LaBrie (vocals),John Petrucci (guitar),John Myung (bass),Jordan Rudess (keyboards) and Mike Portnoy (drums) perform their latest, 16th studio album, "Parasomnia", in its entirety, as well as the entire seven-movement masterpiece "A Change Of Seasons", for the first time since Portnoy's return to the band in October 2023, in addition to other classics and fan favorites from DREAM THEATER's catalog. The 30-city U.S. trek ran through October 25, 2025, when it wrapped in Long Island, New York.

"Parasomnia" came out on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. The LP was produced by Petrucci, engineered by James "Jimmy T" Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returned once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.

"Parasomnia" is an eight-song, 71-minute set which was recorded at DREAM THEATER's DTHQ studio on Long Island, New York. It is the follow-up to 2021's "A View From The Top Of The World", which debuted at in the top 10 of Billboard's Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Rock Albums and Independent Albums charts. Six songs on "Parasomnia" are over seven minutes and the closing epic "The Shadow Man Incident" clocks in at nearly 20 minutes.

The 2025 North American leg of DREAM THEATER's 40th-anniversary tour kicked off on February 7, 2025 at The Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The trek was "An Evening With Dream Theater" and was the first tour of North America since Portnoy's return to the lineup. The tour concluded on March 22, 2025 in New York City.

Portnoy, Petrucci and Myung started DREAM THEATER as MAJESTY in 1985, after meeting at the Berklee College Of Music in Boston. LaBrie came on board in 1991, while Rudess joined in 1999.

Prior to Portnoy's return to DREAM THEATER, the drummer and Petrucci worked together on the latter's 2020 solo album, "Terminal Velocity", and toured together. Portnoy and Petrucci also joined Rudess and bassist Tony Levin for a third studio album as LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT in 2021.

CLOSE ENEMIES — the all-star band featuring Tom Hamilton (AEROSMITH),Tony Brock (THE BABYS),Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow),Trace Foster (AC/DC's tech guru) and Chasen Hampton — has released the official music video for the song "Rain". The track is taken from CLOSE ENEMIES' debut full-length album, which will be made available in March through TLG|ROCK, distributed through Virgin Music Group.

Formed after AEROSMITH retired from touring due to Steven Tyler's vocal issues, CLOSE ENEMIES deliver a fresh, electrifying rock experience that blends grit, musicianship, and the unmistakable energy of true veterans of the stage.

Unlike the name suggests, these five guys are close friends, each with an illustrious musical career.

Last October, CLOSE ENEMIES released its fifth single, "More Than I Could Ever Need", via TLG|ROCK, distributed through Virgin Music Group. It was the follow-up to "Rain", which came out in June 2025. "Sweet Baby Jesus" came out in April 2025. "Inside Out" was released in February 2025, with CLOSE ENEMIES' debut single, "Sound Of A Train", arriving in January 2025.

Foster and Stroud spoke to the "Is Breakfast Included?" podcast about how the band came together three years ago. Peter said in part: "I'm sure each of us have our own perspective. It was sort of in layers. Trace and I had already been working on another band project, trying to get something off the ground, and then just out of the blue — I think it was at the when an AEROSMITH tour had to go on a hiatus — apparently Tom and Trace had been speaking where Tom said, 'Man, I got all these songs I would love to try to do something with,' and the light bulb goes off in Trace's head, and he goes, 'I know just the guy to come up, and maybe we can get together and help you with that.' So he asked if I'd be interested in going up there and just jamming around, and I said, 'Yeah, well, I think I know just the drummer who would be into it.' And that was Tony Brock, who's a longtime buddy of mine. And we had always been trying to figure out some way to play together. And I figured that Tony and Tom might find some common ground and a good comfort zone playing-wise. So that was sort of the initial get-together."

Trace added: "I had this other band, and I thought we're riding around in a van, doing shows and not making any money. And I'm, like, if I'm gonna do this, I need to up my game, because at our age to be driving around in a van, not to make any money… So I called Peter. Why not? Why not start there? I just thought we could add him to the band I was already in. And then we did it. And it started to work really well. And then, of course, like every other band that you've been in in your life, somebody does something wrong and they're out of the band. Me and Peter were, like, 'This isn't worth it. Let's just wait.' And then, like he said, we started putting this other project together, 'cause we did all kinds of writing and we got the guy from Atlanta, Gary Stier, that was in my original band in Atlanta. I started writing with him, and then I brought Peter in. Peter knows Gary, of course. So the band that I was in in Atlanta all knew Peter, but I didn't so that's the weird thing. And then it just kind of went from there. Everybody's schedule didn't always jibe, and we just tried to make it work, and then we were in Las Vegas with AEROSMITH and I literally went, 'Man, we really gotta do something.' And then I just looked at Tom, and it was one of those moments where you go, 'This is the guy. He's asking for some help,' and this and that. I just walked up and I said, 'Hey…' I didn't ask him. I basically told Tom, I said, 'Hey, we're gonna come to Boston and work on your songs.' And he was, like, 'Well, let me think about that.' And then like an hour later, he was, like, 'I think that's a really good idea.' So that's how it started. And once Tom and Tony played together, it was pretty much a given."

Peter continued: "That was a great five days. I loved it, too, where Trace suggested to Tom, 'Hey, why don't we come up for a couple days, two or three days?', and he goes, 'How about five?' First he was, like, 'Well, let me think about it.' He was like, 'How about five? You guys wanna move up here?' I was, like, 'Man, there you go. I said, 'That's a reflection of somebody who knows hard work right there.'"

CLOSE ENEMIES made its live debut on October 11, 2024 at Eastside Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee.

In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Tom said about CLOSE ENEMIES' debut gig: "I was a little bit nervous, you know. But that feeling, it energizes you. It doesn't hold you back. It makes you want to dive in deeper and deeper."

Speaking to AARP, Tom described Hampton as "a gifted singer who really made the songs come to life."

"When I joined, these guys had worked up a bunch of great songs, and I was able to contribute something I had," the bassist continued. "All of these guys are great musicians, and it's an honor and a challenge to be part of it all. I'm looking forward to seeing how people like it. I think they'll be pleasantly amazed."

In a March 2025 interview with Forbes, Hamilton stated about his involvement with CLOSE ENEMIES: "It's been really amazing to be out on the road with CLOSE ENEMIES for the last few months. I can't believe the response we've been getting, considering that the fans haven't heard much of the record yet. The band's been getting tighter and tighter and more confident with every show."

As for what it's been like performing AEROSMITH's "Sick As A Dog" and "Sweet Emotion" with CLOSE ENEMIES, Hamilton said: "For me, playing those songs is something I've been doing for most of my life. I think I might have forgotten to notice the pressure some of the guys might have felt diving into them. It's been great to see everybody learn them and put their own spin on them. With the level of musicianship in this band, it didn't take long."

Photo credit: Rick Diamond (courtesy of O'Donnell Media Group)

PRE-ORDER YOUR SIGNED CLOSE ENEMIES ALBUM IN BLUE VINYL 👉👉 https://bit.ly/48WjjCH

Recently we made available...

Posted by Close Enemies on Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Kid Rock has made Billboard history as his reimagined cover of Cody Johnson's "'Til You Can't" — now featuring a newly written, faith-forward third verse — debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart (chart dated February 21, 2026). The milestone marks Kid Rock's first-ever appearance on the chart and his first No. 1.

The chart-topping debut follows Rock's headline performance of the track during Turning Point USA's "All-American Halftime Show" on February 8, where he premiered the added verse that immediately ignited conversation across both country and Christian audiences. During that performance, the name "Robert Ritchie" — Rock's given name — was inlaid on the stage, underscoring the personal tone of the message delivered in the new verse.

By the numbers (tracking week February 6-12)

* 3.7 million U.S. streams
* 51,000 digital sales
* No. 1 on the All-Genre Digital Song Sales chart
* No. 9 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs
* No. 14 on Hot Country Songs
* No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100

Kid Rock now shares a co-writing credit on the hit for his added lyrics, including the newly written verse lines: "There's a book that is sitting in your house somewhere / That could use some dusting off / There's a man that died for all our sins / Hanging on the cross / You can give your life to Jesus / And he'll give you a second chance / 'Til you can't."

"This one isn't about me — it's about redemption and the moment," said Robert Ritchie. "I've lived a big, loud life, and I've made mistakes like any man. But I've also learned you don't get unlimited tomorrows. If this verse helps somebody pick their head up, dust off that book, and take one honest step toward grace — then I'm thankful I got to be a part of it. And I don't take a second of it for granted. God is good."

With rare cross-genre momentum — impacting Christian, rock, country, and the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously — "'Til You Can't" stands as a defining career moment for Kid Rock: a mainstream chart breakthrough rooted in reflection, redemption, and a message that resonates far beyond any one format.

"'Til You Can't" (Kid Rock Version) is available now on all major streaming platforms and digital retailers.

Kid Rock (Robert James Ritchie) is a multi-platinum recording artist and powerhouse live performer whose genre-blending catalog has made him one of the most recognizable voices in American popular music. Over the course of his career, he has released a string of major hits and fan-favorite anthems that bridge rock, country, and hip-hop — earning widespread acclaim for his ability to unite audiences across formats. Renowned for high-energy, arena-level performances and a signature heartland storytelling style, Kid Rock remains a defining cultural figure — creating moments that resonate beyond the stage and into the national conversation. Equal parts storyteller and showman, he has built a career defined by grit, authenticity, and an unapologetically original sound — connecting with fans across formats and generations.

Image credit: Turning Point USA/YouTube

SUN DONT SHINE (formerly EYE AM),the band featuring Kirk Windstein (guitar, vocals; CROWBAR, DOWN, KINGDOM OF SORROW) alongside former TYPE O NEGATIVE members Kenny Hickey (guitar/vocals) and Johnny Kelly (drums),plus Todd Strange (CROWBAR, DOWN),will release its debut full-length album, "Birth To Death", on April 1 via Corpse Paint Records.

The official music video for the LP's latest single, "Power To Live" — shot and edited by Mike Holderbeast — can be seen below. The song is described in a press release as "a fierce and unflinching track that confronts humanity's refusal to learn from its own violent history while defiantly clinging to survival, awareness, and the will to keep going."

Written by Hickey and Windstein, "Power To Live" was recorded at OCD Studios in the summer of 2025, produced by Duane Simoneaux, co-produced by Vinnie LaBella, and executive produced by Andrew Spaulding.

"Power To Live" grew out of a conversation around the single's striking cover art, when Hickey remarked how shameful it is that, as human beings, we still haven't evolved beyond killing one another. That observation became the song's core: a stark acknowledgment of history's repeated failures, paired with a refusal to surrender to them.

"The track is a challenge to the times we're living in," SUN DONT SHINE explains, "an insistence on survival and consciousness in the face of cycles that refuse to break."

SUN DONT SHINE collaborated with visual artist Nadiya Vizier (CROWBAR, Sailor Bob tattoo) on the striking cover artwork for "Power To Live". To mark the release, the band and artist are unveiling a strictly limited art collaboration, available exclusively alongside the single. The collection includes 100 hand-signed posters autographed by Vizier, a custom sticker sheet, and 10 ultra-limited trucker caps featuring original artwork from the release. Each piece was created specifically for "Power To Live", blending the song's urgency and message with Vizier's unmistakable visual language. All items are extremely limited and tied directly to the "Power To Live" streaming release — once they're gone, they're gone.

Musically, "Power To Live" channels SUN DONT SHINE's signature blend of heaviness and atmosphere — earth-shaking riffs, evocative melodies, and a deep sense of dynamic push and pull. With Windstein's crushing guitar tone locked against Hickey's haunting hooks, Kelly's precise yet unrestrained drumming, and Strange's thunderous low end, the song carves out a landscape that's as brooding as it is anthemic. It's a sound that feels lived-in and battle-tested: the result of four lifers who know how to let a song breathe, build, and ultimately explode.

The "Power To Live" video, directed by Mike Holderbeast, extends the song's core themes into stark, unsettling imagery. Rather than offering a literal narrative, the clip juxtaposes performance and atmosphere to underscore the tension between destruction and the will to endure. The visual approach mirrors SUN DONT SHINE's larger ethos: capturing raw emotion in the moment instead of sanding it down into something neat and disposable.

At its core, SUN DONT SHINE is about rejecting the overly polished and letting the music speak for itself. Every track feels like a journey — restless, dynamic, and emotionally charged — driven by a chemistry that can only come from players who have been through life's highs and lows together. With "Power To Live", the band continues to define what their future looks like: unflinching, emotionally resonant, and unwilling to look away from the world as it is.

Although it was announced in June 2025 that SUN DONT SHINE would release an EP called "Coming Down" via Corpse Paint Records, the band has since revealed plans to focus instead on putting out a full-length effort.

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

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

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

In September 2025, SUN DONT SHINE released a new single, "What You Are".

In June 2025, SUN DONT SHINE released the official music video for the song "Coming Down".

The first single from SUN DONT SHINE, "The Promise Song", came out in January 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Legendary BAD COMPANY and FREE vocalist Paul Rodgers has shot down rumors about his health following the revelation that he had been approached to sing on an 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 week, Alex told Gastão Moreira of Brazil's Kazagastão that he and Lukather had attempted to recruit Rodgers to sing on the new album, but that "[Paul] can't do it anymore. And it was very difficult for [Paul] 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."

Earlier today (Saturday, February 21),Rodgers responded to renewed questions about his health by releasing the following statement via social media: "To squash the rumours... My health is good. I feel fit and strong and I am rehearsing to perform March 2nd at the Adopt The Arts Sound And Vision Awards in Palm Springs.

"Thanks to VAN HALEN for inviting me to work on a track with them, but I am in my acoustic, zen phase of life."

Paul skipped BAD COMPANY's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, which took place last November at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The singer later revealed to Igor Miranda of Rolling Stone Brasil that he had suffered high blood pressure, chest pains and heart palpitations just days before the event. Rodgers said after seeing his doctor, he was warned not to fly. In his words, "I feel that I dodged a bullet by doing that." He went on to say that he was embracing what he called a "zen phase" of life and enjoying calm and quiet moments, even joking that these days he sings daily "to a crowd of one."

The now-76-year-old Rodgers suffered 11 minor strokes and two major strokes — one in 2016 and another in October 2019 — several years ago, which required him to undergo a major surgery to recover from. At the time, Rodgers underwent a carotid endarterectomy, a procedure to remove plaque from the arteries running through your neck to your brain, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

"They cut the neck, and [the doctor] said that he was very careful because he knew I was a singer and that when you cut the neck, it's very close to the vocal cords," Rodgers explained to "CBS Mornings" in a September 2023 interview. "They told me, they were very clear, 'You may not come out of this alive.'"

It took Rodgers six months after the above-mentioned surgery to return to playing the guitar and singing. "Each thing was a step forward," he explained. "Each thing that I did was an achievement … 'Oh, I can do this. I can sing,'"

Paul eventually returned to the studio in Vancouver and began recording his latest album, "Midnight Rose", which came out in September 2023. The effort marked his first solo LP of new music in nearly 25 years.

The British icon got his Canadian citizenship in 2011, four years after marrying British Columbia fitness expert Cynthia Kereluk, the 1984 Miss Canada title holder best known for the long-running series "Everyday Workout".

Rodgers and founding BAD COMPANY drummer Simon Kirke are the last two surviving members from the band's original lineup. Bassist Raymond "Boz" Burrell passed away in 2006 at the age of 60. BAD COMPANY guitarist Mick Ralphs died earlier last year due to complications from a stroke he suffered in 2016.

BAD COMPANY had been eligible for induction since 1999 and received its first nomination in 2025.

Rodgers ranked No. 55 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

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Guitarist Gregor Mackintosh of British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST has revealed that he is going through some "health issues" which have resulted in him losing a significant amount of weight.

Earlier today (Monday, February 23),the 55-year-old musician, who co-founded PARADISE LOST nearly four decades ago, shared the following message via social media: "Hey Everyone. I've been told that there are a lot of messages regarding my weight loss over the past few months. I wouldn't normally comment on such a private thing, but I think it's for the best in this case, to stop any further speculation.

"I do have some ongoing health issues, which have intensified of late. I won't bore anyone with the details, but I am getting good care and I feel fine. None of this affects my ability to play and I am currently on tour with PARADISE LOST. The crowds are killer and PL are sounding better than they have in years.

"I truly appreciate everyone's concern.

"See you on the road."

PARADISE LOST is continuing to tour in support of its 17th album, "Ascension", which came out last September via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's first LP in five years, following 2020's critically acclaimed "Obsidian", was produced by Mackintosh and mixed/mastered by Lawrence Mackrory.

In a 2025 interview with Echoes And Dust, Gregor was asked if he still looks forward to and enjoys touring. He responded: "Yeah, because each night is different; it's always different. Certain things happen, good or bad, within a day that make things memorable, and you can never really get bored of traveling around. I mean, the travel is boring. Flying is boring. I do get sick of airports, but actually seeing places and being different places is great. Meeting different people. I'm a bit of a loner, though. I'm not a social butterfly, so I'm very selective about how and when I hang out at these places, but yeah, I still enjoy it. The performing side is not the side that I got into this for, though. It's the creative side. Some guys in the band live for the performing side. For me personally, it's having a nugget of something in your head and then seeing it come to fruition and being a record was always the thing that excited me the most, and continues to do that. But the performance side, it has its highs and lows."

In a new interview with Kyle Meredith, FAITH NO MORE frontman Mike Patton was asked if there was a sense of "closure" associated with the band's final bit of touring, which took place a decade ago. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I didn't really think so at the time, but, yeah, maybe. And I think that we all kind of felt it, but it was unspoken. And it's funny: when you've been in a band or a musical situation for a period of time, you always, in the back of your head, you're kind of thinking, 'Well, maybe this is it.' And I don't mind that feeling. I don't see it as a sad thing. I see it as being present and being able to really appreciate it while it's happening."

After Meredith noted that Patton has been involved in so many different and diverse musical projects away from FAITH NO MORE, Mike said: "I'd never really understood, and I had to figure this out very early on, was the concept of a side project, that's assuming that there's a main one. And for me, I really never had one. There were projects like FAITH NO MORE where I spent more time on, in terms of touring and promoting, quote-unquote, if you will, but everything that I've done was of equal importance to me. They just weren't viewed that way. And the public, for whatever reason, needs to have a hierarchy kind of built in there just to make themselves feel better about it, I guess. I don't know."

Last October, FAITH NO MORE keyboardist Roddy Bottum was asked by Greg Prato of Alternative Nation if he would consider playing shows again with his bandmates. He responded: "I don't think so. No." Pressed for a reason for his reluctance to reunite with the influential alt-metal act, which scrapped all of its previously announced fall 2021 performances more than four years ago, saying Patton was unable to perform as hoped due to mental health issues, partially exacerbated by the pandemic, Roddy explained: "It's not just me. I don't think anyone's sort of up for it at this point. We had a bunch of shows that we were gonna play, and they got canceled, just for various reasons. But I don't think the course that we were on has fixed itself. I just don't see it happening again, honestly. I think we did a really good job. We played a bunch of reunion tours, and I think we did what we kind of set out to do. So I don't think anyone's upset about it or anything. But I mean, for sure, getting back together would mean a big paycheck, but I think all of us are pretty good with what we did, sort of just, like, artistically with the band and committing to ourselves and playing with each other. I think we're all pretty good with the decisions that we've made up to now, and I don't see what could really happen more getting back together and doing more shows."

FAITH NO MORE, which hasn't played a concert since 2016, initially reunited for touring purposes in 2009, 12 years after issuing its previous studio set, "Album Of The Year", and followed that up with 2015's "Sol Invictus" album. Asked by Alternative Nation what he recalled about FAITH NO MORE's reunion shows, Bottum said: "When we did the first reunion tour, we had broken up for like… almost 15 years. And it was kind of, like, I used to have dreams when I was younger — I get to school and, 'Oh my God, I forgot to study for the test.' And then the test is right then, and I'm, like, 'Oh my God, I'm gonna fail.' At some point after FAITH NO MORE broke up, I kept having these dreams that I would show up, 'Oh my God. FAITH NO MORE was doing a reunion tour, and I forgot to learn the songs.' It became this thing that sort of replaced that dream scenario for me. So, I kept having these dreams. That was a nightmare I kept having. And then we structured a whole tour and learned the songs and played the songs and did the tour, and it's, like, I was able to address that nightmare in a real, actual physical sense. And I think it was key in moving forward in my life in some weird way. Plus, it was just really fun. Billy [Gould, FAITH NO MORE bassist] and I have been friends since we were, like — I don't know — nine or 10 years old. So, it was fun to sort of tap back into that friendship and just hang out."

In April 2025, FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin addressed the band's status in an interview with the "Let There Be Talk" podcast with rock and roll comedian Dean Delray. He said at the time: "All I can say is, and I think I do want this to be on the record, actually — because we don't promote ourselves, we don't talk about ourselves, and that's, that's really been to our detriment. But we'd been rehearsing for six months for these dates [in September/October 2021]. We'd been rehearsing instrumentally and we incredibly sounded phenomenal. I mean, the bass player said, 'I've never heard us sound this good. This is how these songs sounded in my mind.' And we've never gotten that on album, on live, whatever. I mean, we were ready, we were prepared. And it came to pass that when the gear was in the truck, when it was rolling to Chicago, 36 hours before we were supposed to be on stage, and our guy [Mike Patton] doesn't show for the rehearsal, the one rehearsal that we're gonna do. And we go to go see him and see what's going on. 'What the hell's going on here? Our gear's rolling already to the gig.' And it was very clear that he was unable at that point to physically do it. We made the decision that, 'Look, we've gotta support our guy.' It's gonna be a shit storm canceling fucking 75 shows, but none of us wants to be the guy that breaks his back and forces him to do something that he's not in the position to be able to do. It wasn't even an argument. The only argument was, 'How the fuck did we logistically do this? Because we have to.' I mean, we did support him in our way, and whether that's perceived or not is beyond — I can't control it. So we pull these shows and just wait to see. Hopefully things are better, and try to find out what we can around the edges. But ultimately shows get started to get booked with another band," referencing Patton's sporadic appearances with his long-running avant-garde/thrash band MR. BUNGLE in the last four years, "and that's continued to this day. So it's my take, my position, my statement on it is that he's gone from being unable to do the shows to clearly being unwilling to do shows with us. And that's heavy. That's a big difference. That's a big difference. And we haven't really had much dialogue on it."

Bordin continued: "It doesn't feel great to me. It honestly kind of hurts my feelings a little bit, but that's personal. That's a private thing. It's business. We were never gonna force somebody to do something that they weren't able to do. And now, as I say, it looks like it's more really about being willing to do it."

Bordin clarified that he was "grateful for what [Patton has] given to us. I mean, we're blessed to have been blessed by such a gigantic, enormous talent," he said. "And the future? I don't know. Will he be willing to do stuff or not? It's not for me to say.

"I tell my kids a lot of times, especially when they were young, it's, like, appreciate what you have and don't really trip on what you don't have," the drummer continued. "So I'm grateful for the time we had with [former FAITH NO MORE guitarist] Jim [Martin]. I'm grateful for the time we have with [former FAITH NO MORE singer] Chuck [Mosley]. I'm grateful for the time even we had with [former FAITH NO MORE member] Courtney [Love] 'cause we learned from all of it. And certainly am I grateful for the time with Mike Patton? Yeah, because my life would be very different without it. But I can't force him to do something that he, from where I'm sitting, doesn't seem to wanna do. That's all I can say. And I don't wanna be controversial. I'm not looking for a fucking headline — I'm really not. I'm just trying to tell you sort of what it looks like from here."

In January 2025, Gould was asked by Chile's Radio Futuro what is going on with the band at the moment. He responded: "I don't know. I honestly don't know. And you don't have to believe me, but there's nothing… Right now we're in a really weird spot, a really strange spot, and I can't really tell you what's going on. I don't know myself. I get different information from people, and I'm in the band, so…"

When the interviewer suggested that Gould "calls the shots" in FAITH NO MORE, Bill replied: "Uh, not really. If I did, probably we'd be playing in Chile next week. [Laughs]"

In October 2024, Bottum said that FAITH NO MORE was on "semi-permanent hiatus".

After FAITH NO MORE canceled its fall 2021 performances, the other members of the band issued a statement expressing their disappointment about the tour cancelation while also throwing their support behind Patton.

In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Patton revealed he developed agoraphobia and depression during lockdown, and started drinking heavily. "Because I was isolated so much, going outside was a hard thing to do," he said, "and that's a horrible thing. And the idea of doing more FAITH NO MORE shows — it was stressful. It affected me mentally. I don't know why, but the drinking just… happened."

Patton didn't return to the stage until December 2022, when MR. BUNGLE played six shows in South America.

In July 2022, Patton discussed the mental health issues which caused the cancelation of FAITH NO MORE and MR. BUNGLE's live appearances in an interview with Rolling Stone. At the time he said: "It's easy to blame it on the pandemic. But I'll be honest, man: At the beginning of the pandemic, I was like, 'This is fucking great. I can stay home and record.' I've got a home studio. So I was like, 'Yeah, what's the big deal?' And then something clicked, and I became completely isolated and almost antisocial [and] afraid of people. That sort of anxiety, or whatever you want to call it, led to other issues, which I choose not to discuss."

Asked to elaborate on the "other issues" that led to the cancelations and whether that included "substances" and "alcohol", Patton said: "It was a little bit of everything. But mostly, in my experience, it was mostly mental. I saw some therapists and all that stuff, which is the first time I ever had to do that in my life. And they basically diagnosed me as having agoraphobia; like, I was afraid of people. I got freaked out by being around people. And maybe that was because I spent two years basically indoors during Covid. I don't know. Maybe it reinforced feelings that I already had. But just knowing about it, talking about it, really helped."

Mike said that he realized he had a problem "right around the time that FAITH NO MORE was about to go back on the road. That's when I kind of lost it, and it was ugly and not cool," he said. "A few days before we were supposed to go on the road. I told the guys, 'Hey, man, I don't think I can do it.' Somehow my confidence was broken down. I didn't want to be in front of people, which is weird because I spent half of my life doing that. It was very hard to explain. And there were some broken feelings on both sides about it, but it's what I had to do. Because otherwise something really bad could have happened… It was right before our first rehearsal, and I just freaked out. I just said, 'I can't do it.' They had been rehearsing so [pauses] if I were them I'd be really pissed off at me. And they were. And they probably still are. But it's just about being true to yourself and knowing what your limits are. And I knew that if I kept pushing, it could have been some sort of disastrous result. It was just like, 'Goddamn it. Maybe I don't need to do this. Even though I agreed to do it, and it's gonna bum a lot of people out. I gotta take care of myself.' So I'm getting better at that."

As for where things stood with FAITH NO MORE as of July 2022, Patton told Rolling Stone: "Radio silence. [Laughs]. I don't know. We may reschedule stuff; we may not. I'll just leave it at that. It's a little confusing and complicated. So if we do, we do. If we don't, that's cool, too."

Photo credit: Crackerfarm

POSSESSED frontman Jeff Becerra has taken to social media to offer an update on the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2019's "Revelations Of Oblivion" LP. He wrote on Instagram:  "I'm working on song nine for the new album. It's a huge undertaking, and I know not everyone will enjoy my work—but it's not about that. I write from the heart, and while I don't need everyone's approval, I truly hope those who listen will enjoy it."

In an October 2025 interview with Australia's Devil's Horns Zine, Becerra stated about POSSESSED's next LP:  "I'm working on the last three sets of lyrics, and then the album is finished. And it's a trip. It's a whole different animal. I don't know if people will love it or hate it. I hope they love it. It's different. It's definitely different."

A year earlier, Becerra told Alex Stojanovic of MetalMasterKingdom.com that POSSESSED's new material was turning out "very cool, very heavy. But a lot more tempo switching. And it's cool.

"POSSESSED will never sell out," he continued. "I'd rather die. But it's still very, very heavy. It's probably gonna be one of our darkest albums. And also something that you don't have to grit your teeth to get through the whole thing."

Jeff also talked about the POSSESSED songwriting process, saying: "We all write. I think I wrote 63 or 64 percent of the last album, so 50 percent and that extra music. 50 percent would be lyrics, if we're doing it at 100. Even though it's not really broken down that way, it's easier to explain that way. So I'll write riffs, definitely, I'll send them to Dan [guitarist Daniel Gonzalez]. Me and Dan are kind of the main guys, but more and more, on this one you're seeing Claudeous [Creamer, POSSESSED guitarist] and Robert [Cardenas, POSSESSED bassist] coming out and showing off the riffs.

"This [version of] POSSESSED has been around more than three times as long as the first one, so, yeah, we work well together," he explained. "And they're not afraid to say, 'Hey, no, this is not good' to me and vice versa. But we're looking for what's good or what is mendable or what is perfect as is. And so I think we're all super picky about what we do."

In June 2024, Becerra was asked by El Planeta Del Rock how he looked back on "Revelations Of Oblivion" five years after the LP's release. Jeff said: "I really liked it. It's weird. When you make new music, you're like, 'Oh, this song's gonna go over like gangbusters,' but then it's always the songs that you didn't expect [that] statistically do better. So I've lost track of trying to pay attention or trying to guide the machine. I'm just playing what I want, and I think with 'Revelations', I had to kind of stay in my own lane, which was great. It was straight-forward."

POSSESSED originally split in 1987, leaving behind a short but highly influential legacy, most notably 1985's "Seven Churches" album. Internal tensions after the release of 1987's "The Eyes Of Horror" EP led to the band's dissolution, with guitarist Larry Lalonde joining Bay Area tech-thrashers BLIND ILLUSION, then PRIMUS, while Becerra, guitarist Mike Torrao and drummer Mike Sus each going separate directions.

Two years after POSSESSED's split, Becerra was the victim of a failed armed robbery attempt, leaving him partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound and sending him into a spiral of drug and alcohol abuse. POSSESSED was reactivated by Torrao in 1990 with a completely different lineup, but only released two demos before dissolving in 1993. Becerra then reformed POSSESSED in 2007 with his own lineup, which released its first studio album in 33 years, "Revelations Of Oblivion", in 2019.

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SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine and guitarist Matthias Jabs spoke to KPTV FOX 12 about the band's upcoming Las Vegas residency at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas" will take place from Thursday, September 17 through Saturday, October 3, 2026, and will once again feature special guest BUCKCHERRY. The new residency follows the band's three previous sold-out runs at the venue: "Scorpions - Sin City Nights" in 2022, "Love At First Sting Las Vegas" in 2024, and "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas 60th Anniversary Las Vegas Residency" in 2025.

Asked what it's like to celebrate SCORPIONS' 60th anniversary with yet another Vegas residency, Klaus said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's fantastic. It's a little bit unreal. I mean, 60-plus years. It's so crazy. When we started out, we had no idea we would make it that long. In those days, in the late '60s, '70s, it was, like, wow, maybe another month, another year. But when we're 30, this is done. It's all over. We had no idea this would carry us through all our whole life. It's fantastic."

Regarding what it is about SCORPIONS songs like "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "Wind Of Change" that still resonates so much with people after all the years, Klaus said: "Well, it shows the power of songwriting. I think the SCORPIONS were always an amazing live band, and we still are. These days, together with Paweł [Mąciwoda] on bass and Mikkey Dee on drums, it's a very powerful band, but it's all about the songwriting as well. When you think about those songs you just mentioned — 'Still Loving You', 'Rock You Like A Hurricane', 'Wind Of Change'. And after all these years, those songs are still relevant. Songs like 'Rock You Like A Hurricane', the young generations listen to a track like this on [the Netflix show] 'Stranger Things'. So playing in front of three generations after all these years, it's wonderful, and it's a huge compliment also for the songwriting."

Jabs also talked about the experience of staging a residency in Vegas, which means he and his SCORPIONS bandmates don't have to travel from one city to another, week after week, which can be very stressful.

"It is fantastic to be in one place for a change, since we've been touring the globe for so many times," Matthias said. "And we will do this also this year. We are on our way to Asia soon. But when we come back in the late summer to Vegas, we are gonna enjoy being in one spot, playing the same theater for, like, 10 shows and enjoying the time off also without having to travel, which is also good for the crew and for everybody. And especially in Vegas, where you can do so many things, it's never gonna be boring. And so it's really something to look forward to for the fans who come in to see the SCORPIONS show and also go to the casinos or to great restaurants, see other shows, whatever. It's just the capital of entertainment."

The seven performances on sale are:

Sept. 2026: 17, 19, 23, 25, 27, 29
Oct. 2026: 1, 3

Shows begin at 8 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Ticketmaster.com/ScorpionsVegas.

With over 110 million records sold around the world, SCORPIONS will play fan favorites from their incredible catalog, including "Wind Of Change", "Still Loving You", "Rock You Like A Hurricane", "Send Me An Angel" and many more.

Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, SCORPIONS were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970's with their debut album, "Lonesome Crow", released in 1972. The band rose to arena status with seminal releases "Lovedrive", "Virgin Killer" and "Animal Magnetism". In the '80s, SCORPIONS amassed a string of Billboard chart toppers from "Love At First Sting" and "Blackout", including multiple Top 10 singles "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "No One Like You", as well a string of successful singles such as "Send Me An Angel", "Still Loving You" and "Wind Of Change". The band was also ranked No. 46 on VH1's "Greatest Artists Of Hard Rock" and their hit "Rock You Like A Hurricane" also landed as No. 18 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs".

Celebrated across the globe, the iconic rock act has sold more than 110 million albums worldwide and has received multiple honors including World Music Award winners, a postage stamp in Brazil, a star on Hollywood RockWalk and Echo honors. Most recently, they were honored with the Lower Saxon State Award.

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson joined SMITH/KOTZEN, the collaborative project featuring IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith and THE WINERY DOGS frontman and acclaimed solo artist Richie Kotzen, during the latter act's concert Saturday night (February 21) at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in London, United Kingdom to perform the MAIDEN classic "Wasted Years". Fan-filmed video of Bruce's appearance can be seen below.

Smith originally wrote "Wasted Years" for MAIDEN's 1986 album "Somewhere In Time". He told U.K.'s Total Guitar magazine about how the track came together: "I was messing around with a little four-track and I'd just put that riff down for 'Wasted Years'. I was playing Steve [Harris, MAIDEN bassist] some other stuff and I played it to him by accident and he said, 'What's that?' I said, 'You probably won't like this as it's so commercial,' but he really liked it and insisted we do it. So something you'd think he wouldn't want to do, he does. But I do like to sit down and visualize us doing different things. Obviously, we can't do anything too drastic, but whatever works, really."

Joining Smith and Kotzen as part of their touring band is Richie's wife, internationally acclaimed bass player Julia Lage, formerly of the Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian rock band BARRA DE SAIA and currently a member of VIXEN. With a strong pedigree in rock, Lage has played alongside the likes of Pat Travers, Elliot Easton (THE CARS),Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME) and Mark McGrath (SUGAR RAY). In addition, SMITH/KOTZEN has enlisted drummer Bruno Valverde of ANGRA.

Having first joined together as SMITH/KOTZEN on the 2021 self-titled debut album, which was a Top 20 hit in the U.K. as well as a huge success across the rest of Europe and North and South America, the duo played live to rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. They reconvened in 2024 to record their second full-length album, "Black Light / White Noise", which was released in April 2025, and has seen a huge demand from rock fans around the world for another tour.

SMITH/KOTZEN released the "Better Days …And Nights" EP in September 2022 via BMG. The effort comprised five previously unreleased live tracks, plus for the first time ever on CD, the four studio tracks featured on their sold-out, limited-edition 12-inch vinyl EP, "Better Days", released in conjunction with Record Store Day in November 2021.

The live songs were recorded during SMITH/KOTZEN's inaugural whistle-stop tour of the U.S. and U.K. at the start of 2022, which attracted unanimously rave reviews from fans and media alike, celebrating the duo's debut on stage together with stellar back-up from Lage and Valverde.

Japan's metal bible Burrn! magazine reviewing the Whisky A Go Go show in Los Angeles pronounced it, "An amazing night….this rock n' roll band is very different from any other…totally unique …and bringing you great songs!". U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine said the show was a, "masterclass in guitar playing and performance".

The original EP tracks were produced by Kotzen and Smith and mixed by Kevin Shirley. The live tracks were produced and mixed by Kotzen and Smith.

SMITH/KOTZEN's eponymous debut album was released globally through BMG in March 2021 to media and fan acclaim, charting No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart in the U.S., Top 20 in the U.K. as well as in other major markets such as Germany, Japan and Canada.

Smith is best known as one of IRON MAIDEN's principal guitarists, having also enjoyed success as a solo artist. Kotzen is the frontman for THE WINERY DOGS as well as having been the guitarist for both MR. BIG and POISON during his long and acclaimed career, which has to date seen him release more than 20 solo albums. Both artists are also prolific songwriters.

Former ARCH ENEMY vocalist Angela Gossow has praised the band's current singer Lauren Hart, calling her "Angela reincarnate".

Hart, who previously sang for the band ONCE HUMAN, was introduced as ARCH ENEMY's new frontwoman last week with the release of the group's new single "To The Last Breath". Her addition to ARCH ENEMY was announced just days after Angela shot down rumors that she had rejoined ARCH ENEMY following the recent departure of Alissa White-Gluz.

Earlier today (Sunday, February 22),Gossow shared a photo of her with Hart, and she included the following message: "My sister at [heart]. Such a warm and genuine human. We share the same taste in music, the same vocal technique and dedication to music, people and fitness. We have known each other personally since many years. Been following her journey with ONCE HUMAN, was hoping for her breakthrough. Then I crossed my fingers for her joining another known metal band. Didn't work out. She never gave up! Then I was looking into putting a new band together for her - thinking a cross over between DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY/ IN FLAMES and MACHINE HEAD/ ONCE HUMAN style. I asked her to send in various cover tracks to get a full picture on her vocal skills ( she crushed!) and started scouting for musicians fitting her talent. And then things happened in the ARCH ENEMY camp. I thought hard about rejoining the band. I looked at my life, my age, my still young children, my workload as the manager for [ARCH ENEMY]. And the answer was no. Both emotionally and also rationally. We received many applications from great vocalists all over the world. I put Lauren forward to the guys. Michael [Amott, ARCH ENEMY's founding guitarist] connected. She recorded vocals in December 2025. She rose. Like a Phoenix to the sky. So intense. So glorious. She is Angela reincarnate. Exceeding my skills. Ready to last for decades. I am honoured and humbled to be working with her. Finally."

Angela added in a postscript: "All the best to Alissa! She is gonna kill it with her solo album! Wanted to do it since 2016. She has got some great female talent at her side and will leave her mark in the world of metal for sure:)"

Gossow also wrote in a "post postscript": "Yes, I am down for doing single shows".

Speculation about Angela's possible return was sparked by a teaser video shared by ARCH ENEMY and Gossow in which a mysterious figure could be seen holding up a torch, captioned with a cryptic "2026" Everything else had been wiped off each of their accounts.

After a second teaser video was shared, Angela, who has been managing ARCH ENEMY for more than a decade, took to her social media to write: "It's not ME! But thank you for all the love! I am really excited to be involved in this new chapter as the manager. This is gonna CRUSH!"

After 13 years as ARCH ENEMY's vocalist, German-born Gossow shocked the heavy metal world in 2014 with the sudden announcement of her retirement from the band. While she is no longer performing with them, she has remained closely involved with ARCH ENEMY as their business manager.

When Gossow officially announced her departure from ARCH ENEMY in 2014, she said that she was "passing the torch to the super talented Alissa White-Gluz, whom I've known as a dear friend and a superb vocalist for many years."

ARCH ENEMY recorded three albums with vocalist Johan Liiva — "Black Earth" (1996),"Stigmata" (1998) and "Burning Bridges" (1999) — before Liiva was replaced by Gossow.

Gossow appeared on all ARCH ENEMY albums from 2001's "Wages Of Sin" through 2011's "Khaos Legions".

ARCH ENEMY released four studio albums with White-Gluz on vocals: "War Eternal" (2014),"Will To Power" (2017),"Deceivers" (2022) and "Blood Dynasty" (2025).

Born in Los Angeles but raised in Australia, Hart first hooked up with former MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader in 2014 in their ONCE HUMAN project. She also served as a guest vocalist for KAMELOT between 2018 and 2019, and also joined DIVINE HERESY — the long-running and currently inactive project of Dino Cazares of FEAR FACTORY — in 2022.

Amott praised Hart in a statement, saying: "Connecting with Lauren has marked an important step in my journey. Her remarkable voice, coupled with her dedication and professionalism, brings a rare level of excellence."

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During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Dumb Blonde" celebrity podcast, hosted by Bunnie XO (real name: Alisa DeFord),wife of country singer Jelly Roll, Sharon Osbourne was asked how she is "picking [herself] back up" after the July 2025 death of her husband, legendary BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne. Sharon, who managed Ozzy's career and played a key role in his solo success after he was fired from BLACK SABBATH in 1979, responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I'm getting there. I'm getting there. It's hard. Jesus, it's hard, but I'm getting there. I'm gonna keep working and I'm gonna keep doing what I do in my life. And that's it."

Asked if she and the rest of her family knew that Ozzy was dying when they staged the "Back To The Beginning" concert — which marked Ozzy's final performance — last July, Sharon said: "Yeah. Two weeks before the show, they said he could probably die, and he did. But he wanted to do it so bad. He needed it. And it's, like, 'Whether I die in two weeks or I die in six months, I'm still dying. And I wanna go my way.' And he did. He went like a rock star."

Reflecting on the outpouring of love at Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH's farewell show, Sharon said: "It's kind of bittersweet, because, again, we knew. Ozzy had sepsis earlier on last year. And very few people ever walk away from that without losing a limb or their life… And as soon as he got sepsis, the kids and I, we knew it was time. And then when we went to England, he went into hospital for a week. And when he came out, they said, 'You know, Ozzy, this could kill you.' And he said, 'I'm doing my show.' And it was — I mean, he went out like a king."

Sharon continued: "The thing is when you've lived your life that way, and it was, like, 'Okay, six months more to go out the way I wanna go out.' It's like saying, when you get really old and somebody's still smoking and they're, like, 78 years of age, and you're, like, just let him smoke. Leave him alone. He's 78. Leave him alone. And it's, like, he went the way he wanted to go. He knew. He knew."

Sharon also talked about Ozzy's final hours and his eventual death at the age of 76 following a heart attack.

"It was so quick," she said. "And thank God. And I knew when they were trying to revive him, I knew. I'm, like, 'Don't. Don't do it. Leave him.' He was done. But again, he went out like a rock star. Ooh, did he ever? … He was a king. And he loved people. He loved his audience. He loved 'em so much. And even if you didn't like his music, you couldn't dislike him."

This past December, Sharon revealed the final conversation she had with Ozzy just before he died, less than three weeks after he played his final concert with BLACK SABBATH at the aforementioned "Back To The Beginning" event.

In an interview with Piers Morgan on his program "Piers Morgan Uncensored", Sharon described he last evening with Ozzy at their home in Buckinghamshire, England, saying: "He was up and down to the bathroom all night, and it was like 4.30 and he said, 'Wake up.' I said, 'I'm already bloody awake. You've woken me up.' And he said, 'Kiss me.' And then he said, 'Hug me tight.'"

She added: "I can't help wondering if I should have, could I have? If only I'd have told him I loved him more. If only I'd have held him tighter. And he went downstairs, worked out for 20 minutes and passed away.

He had a heart attack," Sharon said of his final moments.

"I ran downstairs, and there he was, and they were trying to resuscitate him, and I'm, like, 'Don't — just leave him. Leave him. You can't. He's gone.' I knew instantly he'd gone. And they tried and tried, and then they took him by helicopter to the hospital and they tried, and it's, like, 'He's gone. Just leave him.'"

During the same chat, Sharon said that Ozzy knew that he was near the end of his life and that a doctor had told him if he went ahead with his planned final show, he "wouldn't get through it", but he insisted on playing the gig anyway.

Last November, Sharon revealed that Ozzy was fondly remembered by King Charles III in a handwritten note to the BLACK SABBATH singer's family.

"Our King, now we're talking," Sharon said on the November 12, 2025 episode of "The Osbournes" podcast. "He is an amazing person, not just because he wrote to us when Ozzy passed, but if he did it for us, you know he does it for many, many, many people."

Sharon said that she was grateful for how kind King Charles had been to Ozzy over the years.

"He's got a good heart," Sharon continued. "He didn't have to do certain things that he's done for Ozzy in the past. Ozzy's birthday. When Ozzy was sick in hospital with the motorbike accident, he reached out. He is a good, caring man with a good heart."

Ozzy's death certificate revealed that died on July 22 of a heart attack. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31, 2025 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and his wife bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer's friends and family members attended the service, including his SABBATH bandmates, Robert Trujillo (METALLICA),Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT).

The day before the private funeral, thousands of fans gathered in the streets of Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy. Sharon, along with their children Aimée, Kelly and Jack, joined mourners for the emotional tribute.

A little over seven months ago, Ozzy reunited with the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for what was his final performance at the "Back To The Beginning" charity concert in their original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

At "Back To The Beginning", Ozzy played a five-song set with his solo band — consisting of guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos — before being joined by Iommi, Butler and Ward for four classic SABBATH songs: "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "N.I.B." and "Paranoid".

Ozzy's solo set consisted of four songs from Osbourne's 1980 solo debut album "Blizzard Of Ozz" — "I Don't Know", "Mr. Crowley", "Suicide Solution" and "Crazy Train" — along with his 1991 "No More Tears" ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home".

The 76-year-old heavy metal singer sang while seated on a black throne and appeared overcome with emotion at times. "You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the crowd.

In a new interview with Finland's Chaoszine, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari spoke about the making of the band's final, self-titled album, which arrived late last month via MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers Label Group's new BLKIIBLK label. Teemu said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was a lengthy process, I guess — 10 months in the studio. [So it was] pretty intense in that sense, but also, I think, very enjoyable, kind of, I'd say pretty relaxed, because we were kind of in this bubble the whole time.

"It seems like the songs came together pretty spontaneously," he continued. "A lot of the songs started out as kind of improvised jams with all the guys, and all the bandmembers got involved quite heavily, so that was really nice to have everybody's contribution included.

"Going to the recording of the new album, I tried not to stress about it too much," Teemu explained. "Of course you could start thinking, what about the legacy of the band? How do you compete with the previous classic albums? But I tried not to think about it too much. Of course freely taking kind of influence from the different, great eras of the band, but at the same time trying to create something fresh and new. And we felt like trying to include the current bands, really the band sound in there, the sound that we've developed now playing together live for a few years and how tight we've kind of gotten together and tried to put that on the album and make the kind of MEGADETH album that we would ourselves love to hear as well."

Speaking about his contributions to "Megadeth", Teemu said: "My contribution to this album, first of all, it was kind of a surprise that Dave wanted to include us bandmembers so much. So pretty early on he asked me and the guys if we have some riff ideas and then we should start saving them because at some point we were gonna start recording the album. And so we did. And then we basically started pre-production by listening through the whole MEGADETH catalog, all the songs, including all the bonus tracks and cover tracks, alphabetically, over 200 songs. We listened and we made notes, like what we liked in the songs, what are some of the parts that we could use maybe as an inspiration or a catalyst to inspire ideas for the new album. And Dave was telling us stories, like how he came up with lyrics and little backstories, like how the songs originally came to be. So that was a big inspiration to get the creative minds working. Then we went to studio late in 2024, and then stayed in the studio until '25, August, September. In the studio, we had a really nice setup where it was like this one really big room. One corner had the recording equipment in there, all the amps and whatever you need, a recording booth for acoustic guitars and vocals. And then in one side of the big room, we had all our live equipment, so the full live setup, basically, so we could anytime go there and jam with the guys and come up with these ideas, which is then how a lot of the songs kind of started. We just sat down and maybe had a little snippet of an idea and then developed that together. Or maybe even didn't have any idea, but somebody just started playing and the other guys joined in, and we had the producer recording everything. And then soon we had starting points for a lot of songs."

"Megadeth" debuted at the top of the U.S. album chart after earning 73,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending January 29, according to Luminate. The bulk of that sum was driven by pure album sales (purchases of physical and digital copies of the album),totaling 69,000. The follow-up to "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" was released via Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers Label Group's new BLKIIBLK label.

MEGADETH also claimed the top spot in Australia (highest previous position No. 2) and Austria (highest previous position No. 8). Other top five spots included No. 2 in Finland (and No. 1 physical),Sweden (plus No. 1 physical; highest previous position No. 9),and Belgium (highest previous position: No. 6); No. 3 in both the U.K. and Germany (highest previous position No. 6); No. 4 in the Netherlands (highest previous position No. 7); and No. 5 in both Italy (highest previous position No. 15) and New Zealand (highest chart position ever).

"The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" sold 48,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked MEGADETH's eighth top 10-charting album.

MEGADETH's previous top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 were "Countdown To Extinction" (No. 2, 1992),"Youthanasia" (No. 4, 1994),"Cryptic Writings" (No. 10, 1997),"United Abominations" (No. 8, 2007),"Endgame" (No. 9, 2009),"Super Collider" (No. 6, 2013) and "Dystopia" (No. 3, 2016).

For its final album, MEGADETH once again worked with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on MEGADETH's last two LPs, the aforementioned "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and "Dystopia".

In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, drummer/vocalist Gil Moore of legendary Canadian rockers TRIUMPH spoke about the band's decision to reunite for TRIUMPH's first tour in more than 30 years. The North American run of shows will celebrate the legendary Canadian rockers' 50th anniversary, and feature support from APRIL WINE. The 2026 trek will kick off with a series of dates in Canada, beginning April 22 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and running through a May 8 show in Calgary, Alberta. From there, the band will hit the U.S. starting May 13 in Rosemont, Illinois, and wrapping up June 6 in Boston. In all, 10 Canadian and 16 American cities are included on the tour. For the 2026 tour, TRIUMPH's classic lineup consisting of Moore, Rik Emmett (guitar, vocals) and Mike Levine (bass, keyboards) will be joined by guitarist Phil X, drummer and keyboardist Brent Fitz and bassist Todd Kerns. Phil X, whose real name is Theofilos Xenidis, is a member of BON JOVI and a former member of TRIUMPH, while Fitz and Kerns are both members of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS.

Moore said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've been so busy rehearsing. It's been nonstop here with TRIUMPH rehearsals and also putting together the new drum riser and the drum sets that we're using and stuff. So I've been coming outta here just kind of exhausted after doing all the rehearsing and hitting the gym as hard as I'm hitting it."

Gil continued: "Brent Fitz was just in town. He came in from Vegas. So we were working on the drums for the last four days. He just headed back, actually, out to Winnipeg. So that was a lot of fun. We got some amazing new gear that we're using and, yeah, we worked on some arrangements here hard at [Gil's] Metalworks [studio in Ontario, Canada] and just keeping the other guys informed over FaceTime and looking forward to the next get-together with everybody. Rik and I and Mike are working — we're on our own schedule — but Phil and Todd and Brent, they'll be coming in. We were looking at the 23rd of March, but I think we're gonna back it up and get them hopefully out even a week before that. So we're gonna have, I would say, probably two full band rehearsal weeks at Metalworks Studios, and then we move into the Hard Rock in Orlando. And we have about, I think, four or five production rehearsals in the Hard Rock, and then we launched the first date down there. So, a lot of rehearsing coming up, a lot of getting in shape, but it's a lot of fun and kind of rediscovering my instrument and rediscovering singing again in a good way. So, I'm loving it."

Regarding how TRIUMPH's live show will be different from how it was during the band's heyday, Gil said: "The only way it's comparable is the fact that we always brought theater to the stage back in the day. So we were always trying to do things different and be one step ahead with production techniques, just to really get the audience into the music, really, to emphasize the music. But the difference being is now the technology has changed. So the TRIUMPH of yore and that type of show, it's so much easier to do the things now that we wanna do in a more impactful way. I mean, video was never much of a factor back then, if at all, whereas now video's a big part of the mix. Our lighting director, Paul Dexter, is working extremely closely with us on all the designs and everything. And I can't wait to see it when it's set up in an arena and it's all there in front of us. It's gonna be something else."

Elaborating on what will be involved in the TRIUMPH production rehearsals for the upcoming tour, Moore said: "Well, it's just different. Not only are we doing production rehearsals in Orlando, after we leave there, we go and we play the Hard Rock Seminole in Hollywood, Florida, and then we head straight to Sault Ste. Marie, which is up north of Michigan, where we have two more production rehearsal days, full arena rehearsals there. So altogether, I'd say we have, like, six or seven full production rehearsals. Band rehearsals, it's more like 25, something like that. But don't forget, because a lot of the production stuff, we're working with the designers and Paul's team, and that's going on in the background. They're already working on that. A lot of the show is already put together. And these consoles now that they use, whether it's a sound console or a lighting console, they'll have built-in memories and everything. They're basically like big computers. So it's not like you show up in the arena and you have nothing and you start from scratch. It's, like, no, we show up in the Hard Rock or GFL Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, and most of this stuff is dialed in, so you're kind of tweaking it. And the band is already pre-rehearsed, so we're not gonna waste a lot of time with, how does this song go again? That kind of stuff."

Asked if TRIUMPH has already decided on a setlist for the upcoming tour, Gil said: "It's pretty much ready to go, but I'm saying we're tweaking some of the arrangements. And I would say there's maybe two or three songs that could either be added or taken out. So there's a 'for sure' list and then a 'maybe' list, and, yeah, that kind of depends as we start rehearsing on which ones really — the band consensus is, yeah, these are really the best ones. So we'll make those adjustments in rehearsals probably. So we'll probably rehearse more songs than we're actually gonna play."

Last month, Moore was asked by Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon of The Metal Voice how Rik agreed to take part in TRIUMPH's 2026 tour after previously saying that he was not interested in hitting the road anymore, Gil said: "Same way I did. I mean, I said exactly what Rik said. I said, 'Sorry. I love you guys, but my life… I'm in a different spot now and I'm doing the stuff I love to do, which I'm still doing with [my studio] Metalworks and things like that, that are near and dear to me. So it was a big challenge to do this. But, man, there's just something about the magic of when we got together with Brent and Todd and Phil, and seeing people's faces again and talking to people and receiving the messages online. And it all came together. I said it was like a laundry hamper that opened on the floor. It was also just these puzzle pieces that are sort of scattered on the table and they sort of all come together."

Referencing the fact that Phil X, Fitz and Kerns previously played with Gil and Rik on June 6, 2025 at the Rogers Festival At The Final, a free outdoor concert in the ICE District ahead of Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Moore continued: "We're sitting in the trailer backstage in Edmonton looking at each other and we're singing harmonies together and talking about music, and all of a sudden we're, like, 'Man, this feels good.' I'm sitting there, I'm looking at Rik Emmett and Phil X play, two of the greatest guitar players, I would say, in rock and roll. Anybody that argues with me, get off this interview. Those two guys are a double-barreled shotgun. So me as a drummer, I'm sitting and I'm watching these guys and I'm watching how well they play together and how they got off on each other's playing. And Phil's complimenting Rik. Rik's complimenting Phil. Phil's complimenting Rik. Rik's complimenting [Phil]. 'No, you take this part.' 'No, you take this part.' 'No, you do it.' 'No. Hey, let's do it together.' This is magic. It's happening. It's lightning in a bottle. It's right in front of you. Or me and Brent. I've never met a drummer that, for some reason or other, he's a technical dude like me; he's into all of this tech and the science behind drums and every little tidbit of minutiae in the erector set. [It's] fantastic the way we jell. And Todd Kerns, he's taller than me, so I nicknamed him Too Tall. He's a hell of a singer, he's a hell of a bass player, but let's face it: he's six-foot-four. What are you gonna say about that?"

As for which musicians will perform certain songs during TRIUMPH's 2026 tour, Gil said: "Well, for starters, Mike, like we've said from the beginning, has got some health challenges. But, man, I'll tell you what: he wants to be there. He's got the spirit and the will. He's part of the brotherhood, of course. So when I say we're a brotherhood, he's the number one brother, and we're hoping that he's gonna be at as many shows as possible. But I can't predict that part of it. As far as Rik and I are concerned, unless we get hit by a bus, we will be on the bus. We will be at every show. We will be playing all the way through every show. Now, let me say this. When you've got guys like Phil and Todd and Brent, these guys are not side sidemen. That is not who we're talking about here. We're talking about guys that are rock stars, big time, in their own right. I mean, what Brent and Todd have done with Slash, what Phil's done with TRIUMPH or what he's done with BON JOVI subsequently… I mean, Rik and I are not puck hogs. Okay? So these guys are gonna shine in this show. And we would be idiots not to let them do that. These guys are great players and great singers, so we're gonna share the stage. We're not gonna hog the stage. And as far as individually who does what in which songs, those are things that we work out in rehearsals. We have a template, obviously, like who's gonna sing which song, or blah blah, blah, but once we get into the arena and we get [our lighting director] Paul [Dexter at Masterworks in Los Angeles] and we get the big sound and lighting system set up and everything, and then we start working on it, that puck's gonna get passed around a little bit. And I'm not sure exactly what, but just think of guitars, for example. You got two guys like Phil and Rik. When they get together, they're, like, 'Hey, man, you take it.' And, 'No, no. You're doing better than me. You take it.' They're just passing it back and forth, back and forth like this. And then, when they start playing together, holy crap. It's amazing. So, it's gonna be a lot of fun working out those parts. With Brent and myself, I don't know. I've never done double drummers before. It's gonna be fun. It's a double-barreled shotgun we've got going. We've got this massive riser that we're building and we're both gonna be up there. How we're gonna trade it back and forth, or what we're gonna do... Rik is talking about wanting me to sing upfront as well. I never could really do that well in TRIUMPH before because you have no drums. Now we have drums. So I don't know if that's gonna happen until we get in a rehearsal environment and then we see, how does it feel? And no wine before its time."

Moore added: "We're entering into an environment that is new to us. So it's not like when we practiced for a TRIUMPH tour back in the day when it was just Mike, Rik and Gil and there was — I don't know — a simpler environment, whereas we're trying to elevate the whole concert experience to another level and we're trying to use our talents wisely and have something sustainable. I mean, Live Nation's already talking about more dates, and we're getting bombarded with, 'Oh, you're not playing here,' you know, the different cities. They're, like, 'Hey, come on. What, do you hate us?' Like, 'Why are you not here?' So we're getting, we're already getting the, Hey dude, it's time. So, once we get in that big arena to rehearse, that's when a lot of the details are gonna get sorted out. But anybody that thinks that Mike or Gil and Rik aren't playing, I mean, I don't know — I guess they think O.J.'s not guilty."

In December 2025, Levine was asked by SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard (Channel 38) host Mark Strigl whether he expects to appear at all of the upcoming TRIUMPH tour dates. Levine said: "I'm going to attempt to play as many shows as I can. I have a problem with my hand that precludes me from being able to really play well. That is a big issue. I don't want to go up there and not be able to execute properly. There is that. In the meantime, we are going to do some shooting. There is going to be some really neat video stuff, special effects. So I am going to pre-record a couple of things, just so… when I am feeling good, and they will get pumped into the show at various times. I will be there physical or virtually in one way shape or form."

In a separate interview with the Preston & Steve show on Philadelphia's active rock station 93.3 FM WMMR, Emmett stated about TRIUMPH's upcoming tour: "There's these three guys now that are gonna sort of step in. We've got Brent Fitz on drums and keys, and he can sing. Phil X on guitar, and he can sing his head off. He's unreal — he's like a force-of-nature guitar player. And then Todd Kerns on bass. But Todd Kerns can play anything, and he can sing like — one minute he sings like me, next minute he sings like Axl Rose. He can just go so high and so great, and I'm going, 'This is gonna be such an ass kicking. I'm gonna love this.' Here's these younger guys."

When the interviewer joked that this means Rik, Mike and Gil can "take every other show off" if they need to, Emmett said: "Well, I don't think we can take the shows off, but honest to God, [Gil] and I are sitting around every day doing script meetings and going over stuff on Zoom like this, and we're going, like, 'Well, maybe after the second verse we could kind of back out a little and then pick it up the next song.' I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna be able to make it through all of the songs, singing all of the vocals. When I did the Hall Of Fame thing with Phil, I sang the intro and the first verse, and then when it came to the really high notes, I just went, 'Phil.' But that's kind of so much fun that you're seeing the songs move to the next generation and they get the energy that these people bring and the character and the personality. And it's not me; now it's gonna be them, but I go, 'Yeah, good. Take the legacy. Run with it.'"

Earlier in December, Moore spoke to "The Afternoon Rock Ride With Bilal", which airs weekdays on Canada's legendary rock station CHOM 97.7 FM in Montreal, about how all the musicians involved plan to perform the classic TRIUMPH songs on the 2026 tour. Gil said: "There was a lot of confusion, I think, that came from a number of sources and so on, and that's why we posted [a statement on our social media clarifying that]. But Rik and myself will be on stage playing the whole show. With us, we brought Phil X back into the band, who, of course, played a tour with us and recorded an album with us in 1992. So we got a double-barreled shotgun on guitar. And we're hoping Mike Levine will be there. He's gonna be at selected shows, but Rik and I will be at every show. And we also have — we borrowed Brent Fitz and Todd Kerns from Slash's band, so they're gonna be there to help us as well."

Asked by host Bilal Butt if that means that Moore and Emmett will be "taking a break here and there" during TRIUMPH's set while the other musicians perform on their own, Gil said: "I doubt it. I mean, it's possible that we'll take a break for a song or something like that and pass the baton around, so to speak. But I would say for the majority of the show, we'll both be on stage. I mean, until we get into rehearsals, it's hard to say. Rik's got a lot of vocals that are very high, and I did too, so I know that I'm working… I actually got a vocal coach to start getting back in shape and stuff, so I'm gonna sing as many of my songs as I can. And so far it's going pretty well. But, yeah, anybody thinking that we're not gonna be on stage or whatever, it's just false Internet nonsense. We will be there, and we'll be playing."

Moore also addressed Mike's health, saying: "Well, Mike, he's had some struggles, so that's why I say he'll be at select shows as he's able, but he can't commit to being at all the dates. He's very, very pumped up about the tour, so he's very much part of everyday discussions with TRIUMPH. He's not as interested as Rik and I are in what's going on, and we've got every hope that he's gonna be at as many shows as he can make."

During a December 9 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Emmett was asked how Phil, Brent and Todd will be involved in "filling out the sound" and "filling in" where Rik, Gil and Mike are no longer able to reproduce the original material,.Emmett said: "That's an ongoing thing. And every day I sit down with the script and I look at the tunes and I think about it. And the big thing is, first of all, they're incredibly skilled and talented and experienced musicians in their own right. And they deserve to end up feeling like they're as much a part of this as Gil and Mike and I are. I want them to feel that sense of sort of ownership and pride in what's going on, because — and this goes back to the songs again and the way that we present them, those songs have a life of their own. But I think this hunger that everybody is understanding is out there now for TRIUMPH to come back and play these songs, I think that hunger will be sustained by those guys, even if we get old and infirm and we can't necessarily do it. I think the songs are still gonna be there, and if those younger guys wanna start carrying a bigger workload, I think they could in."

Referencing the fact that Phil X, Fitz and Kerns previously played with Gil and Rik on June 6, 2025 at the Rogers Festival At The Final, a free outdoor concert in the ICE District ahead of Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Emmett continued: "In the short term, I'm gonna tell you this: I know that they can all sing fantastic. And there was a moment in Edmonton, and it actually made it on social media, where Gil and I and those three guys, in the trailer, we were just singing 'Lay It On The Line' background vocals to warm up. And I thought, 'Okay.' This was a great moment — it was one of my favorite moments in that experience out there — and I thought that should be part of the show. We should have moments where the band should cut out in 'Lay It On The Line' and we should just sing the harmonies. And we can do that in 'Fight The Good Fight'. We can do that in songs that we never did it originally. It's like another arrow in my quiver, it's another tool. I go, 'Okay.' There's things I wanna try and take advantage of. And they're all incredibly skilled. Fitzy can play keyboard parts, and Todd is as good a guitar player as he is a bass player. There's so many playing cards that are on the table now, I go, 'Oh…' Those people that are only listening on radio, I'm rubbing my hands in glee. That's what's happening. This is gonna be a really fun thing to get to play with over the next little while. And then those weeks that Gil was talking about, those dress rehearsals and stuff, man, I think there's gonna be an opportunity to build some things. And never mind the [stage] production that Gil's talking about and where this whole thing started, just musically, artistically, there's gonna be something here that's gonna be quite something."

Regarding how Fitz and Kerns were chosen to take part in the TRIUMPH 2026 tour, Gil said: "When I convinced Phil that this was something [that was gonna happen] — and at first I think he thought, 'Oh, this is fanciful. It's not gonna happen.' And then he realized, 'No, no, it's serious. It's gonna happen.' So when it came to filling the other spots in and stuff, and he said, like, 'Who do you want me to get?' And he was kind of going through this, this, this and this. And I said, 'It's really simple. We've gotta find some people that have great hearts.' All these guys we're talking about, they're really good players, but we want people that are gonna be good in the dressing room. So we wanna get good people. And immediately he goes right to Todd and Brent. And he says, 'That settles it. I got the guys.' And it's because of how they are as people, in addition to all their talent. They're very, very talented, as Rik said, tremendously talented people, but it's who they are. That's why they were picked. And Phil picked them."

Noting that Phil X already replaced Rik in TRIUMPH once before, host Eddie Trunk asked Emmett if he was "worried" that he would have to take a step back and give the spotlight to the younger musician on the upcoming tour. "No, no, no. The total opposite," Rik said. "If somebody had said, 'Well, it's just gonna be the original three guys,' I would've been far more reluctant than when they came to me and said, 'And guess who else we've got?' And in my mind I'm thinking, 'Phil X.' I definitely wanna give this guy so much rope that he hangs himself, because he's such an incredible player and he's a different kind of a player than I am. Tahat whole world of sort of the Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads — he's got a virtuosity that it's not a part of my playing at all. But he has all this experience. He's been out on the road with BON JOVI and that. And I think, well, I think maybe he's gonna get an opportunity to stretch himself a little bit more and maybe have a little bit more leeway.

"TRIUMPH is a band that doesn't really have a musical leader," Emmett explained. "Gil's kind of the leader in certain ways. When we first started in the early days, Mike was kind of the guy that was the producer in the studio and was a leader in that respect. But I think all of these guys that we've got, and Phil in particular, they have leadership capability in certain ways, and I want Phil's star to shine. I'm happy to kind of take a backseat, move back upstage a little bit and let him have some room."

Formed in Mississauga in 1975, TRIUMPH rose from playing high school auditoriums and rock 'n' roll bars to selling out iconic arenas, from Toronto's famed Maple Leaf Gardens to Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. Their virtuosic musicianship, soaring vocals, and dazzling, high-production live shows helped define an era of arena rock. Blending hard rock power with progressive ambition, TRIUMPH has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and earned multiple gold and platinum certifications, building a global following through headline tours and landmark festival performances, including the 1983 US Festival before 500,000 fans. With hits like "Lay It on The Line", "Magic Power" and "Fight The Good Fight" — combined with pioneering stage productions featuring pyrotechnics, laser lighting, and theatrical flair — TRIUMPH became arena rock legends, securing a permanent place in Canadian and international rock history.

The band's return to the road follows a defining year honoring TRIUMPH's impact across generations. In June 2025, the band was celebrated with "Magic Power: All-Star Tribute To Triumph" (Round Hill Records, June 6, 2025),a 15-track tribute album featuring rock luminaries such as Phil X, Sebastian Bach, Slash, Nancy Wilson, Joey Belladonna, Dee Snider, Lawrence Gowan, Deen Castronovo, Alex Lifeson, Jeff Keith, Mickey Thomas and produced by the world-renowned Mike Clink (GUNS N' ROSES, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITESNAKE).

Further solidifying their celebrated status, TRIUMPH was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame in October, a prestigious honor recognizing their enduring influence, masterful songwriting, and contributions to Canada's cultural legacy. This induction adds to their long list of accolades, which includes membership in the Canadian Music Industry Hall Of Fame (2007),the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (2008),and Canada's Walk Of Fame (2019).

Regarding why now was the right time for TRIUMPH to reunite for a tour, Rik told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station in a separate interview: "I think we all had to sort of bow to the ambition and desire of Gil Moore, who wanted to get the rock and roll machine back up on the road so that he could mount some sort of show thing that only he can imagine. And that Mike and I just go, 'Oh, God, what are we getting ourselves into?'"

Asked by Meltdown if it's correct to say that Gil was "the mastermind behind all the TRIUMPH stagecraft" back in the day, Moore replied: "I'll take one for the team for that, yeah. I always felt better behind the scenes, to be honest. I always liked the technology and the big spectacle and all that. But I think we tried to use the stage in a way that we really enhanced the music. And what I see now in a lot of tours, I'm seeing a lot of flashing, kind of gratuitous flotsam and jetsam of effects and stuff. And that's not the intent here. What we're really trying to do is tell the story of TRIUMPH from the early days to the present and really trace the interest that our fans have had that's gone on for years and now decades to become what they tell us, so how they own the songs, how they have been impacted by the lyrics. And we've noticed that in that feedback that it's all about kind of the positivity in some of our songs, the uplifting messages within the 'never surrender' and the 'hold on to your dreams' kind of content that was in the lyrics. So hopefully the show will add another dimension to that, I'll say, and not just be a bunch of flashing nonsense. It's gonna be something that's very, very well crafted. I've been working on it for about six years with our back-in-the-day lighting director Paul Dexter, who's really a kind of a genius in this area. So we're gonna try to bring that to the stage and really have a show that people will never forget. That's what we're trying to do."

Asked if the success of the 2021 TRIUMPH documentary "Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine" and the recent TRIUMPH tribute album "Magic Power: All Star Tribute To Triumph" was partly the impetus for the 2026 reunion tour, Mike said: 'The doc and the tribute record certainly were, I guess, slight impetuses, if that's a word, for us to do more things. I think the strongest impetus was the fact that that Rogers Communications, which owns the Maple Leafs and the Blue Jays and the cable networks and stuff, used 'Lay It On The Line' in a TV commercial throughout all the Stanley Cup playoffs. It was like a hit record, and people discover were rediscovering TRIUMPH, including brand new fans. And you couldn't go anywhere without somebody singing the song behind you. They'd go, 'Oh, there's a guy from TRIUMPH. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 'Lay It On The Line', man.' And so that kind of had some influence. And Live Nation started to talk to us about maybe doing something. And as far as [fellow Canadian rock legends] RUSH [reuniting for a tour] was concerned, they contemplated their return a long time ago, and we didn't even know about it while we were talking about what we were gonna do. So, we sat down and talked it out and said, 'Okay, let's toss the coin and do it.'"

Referencing the fact that TRIUMPH's reunion tour will also include Phil X, Fitz and Kerns, Emmett said: "We're not just going do this on our own, first of all. We're gonna have three other musicians join us. And I think that that's gonna make it so that it's not just the good old TRIUMPH that's trying to see if they can survive this thing. It's gonna be a new thing, and there's an energy to that that excites me and makes me wanna be involved and make it happen. I mean, Gil pretty much touched on it, that there's these folks that it was the soundtrack of their lives, and now they're bringing their kids, and there's grandkids involved in this now. So yes, we're old. I think there's going to be a level of curiosity. 'Are they gonna drop dead when they're trying to actually make this happen? Will the flash pots go off and scare them that they're just gonna keel over?' But I feel safe."

Rik continued: "We played out in Edmonton. Gil and I went out there [and played with Phil X, Brent and Todd]. Mike didn't make it, but we went out there and it felt like it was fun. And I think at the bottom of it, all of this stuff that we're talking about, the songs and the big show and all the nostalgia of the three of us getting back together, really the bottom line has to be, well, yeah, but is it gonna be fun? And I think that's something that translates to the audience. I think they get a sense of, 'Look at these guys. They're just having the time of their lives. Yes, they're very old lives. They're in their seventh decade, eighth decade of life. Wow.' But if we're not gonna have fun with that, what's the point?"

Elaborating on what fans can expect from the upcoming TRIUMPH show, Rik said: "Yeah, well, we made it through three songs out there in Edmonton. So there's a little bit of a spine to build from. Of course, that wasn't with any production. We were just playing out — it was all these people that were outside the arena. It looked like a holding pen. And they were going crazy and it was fun, but it was like an outdoor show. What we're planning here is a much more intense, multi-leveled multimedia… There's going to be screens that are doing things at the same time that we're playing… Anyhow, we've got a lot of work ahead of us because there will be an intense period of trying to figure out what the script is for this thing. Then you get to the point where it's, like, well, now we're gonna have to go into the studio and the six of us are gonna have to be bashing away for a while. Then we're gonna have to go into an arena somewhere and set this thing up because it's a massive thing."

Rik's memoir, "Lay It On The Line - A Backstage Pass To Rock Star Adventure, Conflict And Triumph", came out in October 2023 via ECW Press.

Moore, Levine, and Emmett formed TRIUMPH in 1975, and their blend of heavy riff-rockers with progressive odysseys, peppered with thoughtful, inspiring lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing quickly made them a household name in Canada. Anthems like "Lay It On The Line", "Magic Power" and "Fight The Good Fight" broke them in the USA, and they amassed a legion of fiercely passionate fans. But, as a band that suddenly split at the zenith of their popularity, TRIUMPH missed out on an opportunity to say thank you to those loyal and devoted fans, a base that is still active today, three decades later.

After 20 years apart, Emmett, Levine and Moore played at the 2008 editions of the Sweden Rock Festival and Rocklahoma. A DVD of the historic Sweden performance was made available four years later.

Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack is the featured guest on the latest episode of the acclaimed podcast series "The Magnificent Others", hosted by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan. Osbourne joins Corgan for a wide-ranging conversation about his upbringing in the spotlight, the realities of fame, paranormal experiences, and forging his own path. The two reflect on Jack's father's legacy, the lasting impact of BLACK SABBATH and the power of rock music. Osbourne also discusses what lies ahead, including an upcoming film about his father.

Regarding the status of the long-awaited Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne biopic, Jack said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're working on my dad's movie right now, and I'm one of the producers on it. We're doing it at Sony Studios. And I'm really kind of in the trenches with that. And it's funny. Out of all the team assembled on it, with these amazing producers and directors and act[ors], whatever, I'm the least qualified, but everyone just comes to me. I'm the middleman for everyone because if they need questions for my mom or if my mom needs questions for them. So I've found myself in this position where I'm the middleman with it all, and I'm really enjoying the experience and just learning about it."

He added: "Movies, they're different. It's a different animal."

Asked by Billy if the details of the biopic have been announced yet, Jack said: "Well, it was announced that we were doing it with Sony Pictures. We haven't done announced the cast yet, 'cause we haven't settled [on all of it].

"Initially it was gonna go from kind of my dad as a young man to the kind of mid-'90s, but we're shrinking it down," Jack revealed. "We're doing a rewrite right now. In my perfect vision of it, it would be kind of tail end of SABBATH, him going solo. [Because] you gotta have the love story. And that's kind of the main focus of the film, and all the craziness that happened in the early '80s and Randy's [Rhoads, late Ozzy guitarist] tragic death. But, yeah, it's an origin story."

Last month, Jack told "Influenced", the SiriusXM show hosted by multi-talented musician and artist Billy Morrison, about the Ozzy and Sharon biopic:  "We are in full steam in the next phase of development with this movie. That's an acted movie that we've been developing with Sony studios for, like, six years already."

As for which actor will play Ozzy in the film, Jack said: "We have our decided pick, and I can't say anything [yet], but it's a phenomenal, phenomenal actor. We have a director attached, and we're doing a rewrite right now."

After Billy noted that Ozzy would "get a kick out of" having a movie made about his life, Jack concurred. "Oh, he would," he said. "And all he kept saying — I'd give him updates: 'Oh, we met with this guy', and 'this is happening'. And he just would go, 'I don't give a shit. Just tell me when it's out so I can go see it.'"

It was reported by Variety back in October 2021 that Ozzy and Sharon had partnered with Sony Pictures and Polygram Entertainment for the film, which will focus on the love story between the BLACK SABBATH frontman and his wife and manager. It will be scripted by Lee Hall, who previously worked on Elton John's "Rocketman".

Ozzy and Sharon, along with their children Jack and Kelly, discussed the biopic in an April 2024 episode of their revived podcast.

"By the time they finish this film, I'll be dead… I wanna be alive to fucking see it," Ozzy said at the time. "Movies take forever to make. Forever," Sharon added.

Asked which actress she would like to play her in the biopic, Sharon said: "Florence Pugh or the little girl from 'Game Of Thrones'."

The film is being produced by Sharon and her children Jack and Aimée Osbourne via their label Osbourne Media (which was also behind the Showtime documentary "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" and A&E's "Biography: The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne"),alongside Michele Anthony and David Blackman on behalf of Polygram Entertainment. Andrea Giannetti is overseeing development for Sony.

Variety also pointed out that music from BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy's solo career will be featured in the film.

In 2020, Ozzy stated about the biopic: "From what I understand, it's about Sharon and I and our relationship. It's how we met, fell in love, and how we married. She's my other half. She grew up a lot with me, and I grew up a lot with her."

"I hope it will be a story that everybody can relate to," Sharon said. "You don't have to be a fan of the music, because it's a story about a survivor. No matter what life throws at you, you pick yourself up and you start again. It's just an amazing story of overcoming everything that's thrown at you in your life."

Sharon added that the film will be "a lot more real" than the QUEEN biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody". "We don't want it to be squeaky, shiny clean and all of that," she said. "We're not making it for kids. It's an adult movie for adults."

Back in January 2019, Sharon told Variety that she had approached Danny Boyle ("28 Days Later", "Sunshine", "Trainspotting") about directing the film. "It's the madness of my childhood, growing up in the industry with a powerful father who was somewhat violent," she said.

Sharon went on to say that she "would get a complete unknown" to play Ozzy. "It's Ozzy at a very young age," she explained. "It's Ozzy at 20."

Sharon's father, former music mogul Don Arden, became known as the "Al Capone of pop" and the "English Godfather" for his tough-guy business practices while overseeing the careers of acts ranging from ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA to BLACK SABBATH. Arden and his daughter became estranged in 1982 after she took over the management of Ozzy's solo career, also marrying the singer. Father and daughter were not on good terms for nearly 20 years until reconciling in 2002.

Sharon had to pay her father $1 million in a court settlement after she gained control of Ozzy's affairs.

Ozzy died on July 22, 2025 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate also reportedly said the 76-year-old musician suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

Seven months ago, Osbourne reunited with the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for what was his final performance at the "Back To The Beginning" charity concert in their original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin