MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell has shot down a suggestion that the band's late mainman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister was a Nazi sympathizer.

Lemmy had an extensive collection of military and particularly Nazi paraphernalia from World War II, and he had been known to wear Iron Crosses and hats from the German air force. However, he publicly condemned racism, claiming he "only collected the stuff" and "didn't collect the ideas." He explained in an interview: "I've got friends of all colors and religious persuasions. I ain't got a racist bone in my body."

After a MOTÖRHEAD fan from Venezuela praised Lemmy on Twitter on Friday (June 4),calling him "the best rocker in history" despite his "Nazi tendencies," Campbell chimed in, writing: "FYI, Lemmy DID NOT, have any Nazi tendencies. He was a historian."

A short time later, Lemmy's longtime bandmate in HEADCAT (formerly THE HEAD CAT),Slim Jim Phantom of THE STRAY CATS, also weighed in, tweeting: "Phil Campbell is 100% correct & I will vouch for this true statement all day long. Best, SJP". Campbell then thanked Slim Jim Phantom for his words of support, writing: "Thanks Jim, we should know."

In a 2017 interview with Billboard, MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee was asked what Lemmy might have said about the events that took place earlier that year in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a white supremacist protest against the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee descended into violence that culminated in the death of activist Heather Heyer and injuries to almost two dozen others after a car rammed into a group of counter-protestors.

"Oh, he would have fucking hated it. I can totally speak for him there: He hated that shit," Dee said. "A lot of people judged him on the fact that he collected war stuff. A lot of people did not look behind the curtain. He hated fucking Nazis. He hated stupidity and he was fascinated by the stupidity of the human race. He would probably write some incredible lyrics about it — he thought it was so ridiculous."

More than a decade ago, DISTURBED frontman David Draiman, who is of Jewish descent and has spoken out against anti-Semitism for many years, had strong words for rock musicians who collect Nazi memorabilia. When asked in an interview with Revolver magazine about artists such as Lemmy and SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman who collected Nazi artifacts, Draiman said: "That's super-duper taboo and offensive to me. I don't understand the fascination. It's the most provocative imagery that you can brandish, and that's why people utilize it. And if that's their goal, I guess they're achieving it."

When told that Kilmister defended himself by saying he was just collecting artifacts of war history, Draiman replied: "I don't give a fuck who you are. If you're going to brandish Nazi symbolism, I'm going to have a problem with you because I don't understand how anybody could think it's okay to wear something on their body that symbolizes the annihilation and genocide of my people. I'm not okay with that and there is no excuse and there is no explanation."

Back in 2008, an investigation was reportedly launched into whether Lemmy committed a crime under German law by wearing what appeared to be a Nazi cap in a published photo. The picture in question appeared in a German newspaper prior to the band's July 5, 2008 "Wacken Rocks Seaside" concert in Aurich, Germany with MACHINE HEAD and SAXON.

All "anti-constitutional propaganda" — and specifically any attempt to propagate Nazism — is illegal under article 86 of the German Penal Code. Article 86a also prohibits all "anti-constitutional" symbols, including all Nazi insignia, flags, slogans and salutes.

Speaking to the New York Waste web site, Lemmy stated about his Nazi collection, "I don't only collect Nazi stuff, I collect objects from all the 'axis countries.' Also from countries who aren't even mentioned anymore as former part of the axis. Like Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Hungary. Okay, in the end, they all said, 'We're no Nazis' when they saw that the Germans were losing it. But five years before that, they went, 'Yeah!'"

When asked where he gets the objects he collects, Lemmy replied: "The USA is a great place for collecting that shit, 'cause the GIs took everything back to America. They took fucking warehouses full of uniforms, Mercedes staff cars. One guy shipped a Focke Wulf 190 fighter home in pieces and rebuilt it in America. Now he owns the only fucking FW 190 in the world. I used to buy a couple of things in Germany, but now you can't take anymore knives or things back home in a plane. And it's become more relaxed to buy stuff like that [in Germany]. There's five or six stores in Hamburg especially. They're advertising it. What's the point, anyway? It's not a nationalistic kind of thing, I mean, what the fuck you're gonna do? Pretend it never happened? There's airplane model kits of Messerschmidt 109 fighters. Shouldn't you touch them?"

On the subject of whether people should wear uniforms, Lemmy stated: "I'll tell you something about history. From the beginning of time, the bad guys always had the best uniforms. Napoleon, the Confederates, the Nazis. They all had killer uniforms. I mean, the SS uniform is fucking brilliant! They were the rock stars of that time. What are you gonna do? They just look good. Don't tell me, I'm a Nazi 'cause I have uniforms. In 1967 I had my first black girlfriend and a lot more ever since then. I just don't understand racism; I never thought it was an option."

Lemmy, who celebrated his 70th birthday on December 24, 2015, learned two days later that he was afflicted with an aggressive form of cancer. He died two days later, on December 28, 2015, at his home in Los Angeles.
FYI, Lemmy DID NOT, have any Nazi tendencies. He was a historian. https://t.co/mut44xTyjf

— Phil Campbell (@MotorheadPhil) June 4, 2022


Phil Campbell is 100% correct & I will vouch for this true statement all day long. Best, SJP 😺☘️🥁 https://t.co/2Pmehph0zi

— Slim Jim Phantom (@officialslimjim) June 4, 2022


Thanks Jim, we should know. https://t.co/mmZvAedJHC

— Phil Campbell (@MotorheadPhil) June 5, 2022

KISS launched the second European leg of their End Of The Road farewell tour at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany. Fan-filmed video from the show is available below.


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"Detroit Rock City"
"Shout It Out Loud"
"Deuce"
"War Machine"
"Heaven's On Fire"
"I Love It Loud"
"Say Yeah"
"Cold Gin"
- Tommy Thayer guitar solo -  (Tommy Thayer)
"Lick It Up"
"Calling Dr. Love"
"Tears Are Falling"
"Psycho Circus"
- drum solo - 
"100,000 Years"
- bass solo
"God Of Thunder"
"Love Gun"
"I Was Made For Lovin' You"
"Black Diamond"




Encore:
"Beth"
"Do You Love Me"
"Rock And Roll All Nite"











To view the band's complete tour schedule, head here.

Bay Area thrash icons Vio-Lence perforned at Oakland Metro Operahouse in Oakland, CA on June 5th. Video courtesy of Capital Chaos TV is available below.













The band's tour schedule is currently as follows:


Dates:


June
10 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA                  
11 - Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR                


August
16 - Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA                      
17 - Catch One - Los Angeles, CA            
19 - Psycho Las Vegas @ Resorts World - Las Vegas, NV


Vio-Lence released their new 5-song EP, Let The World Burn, via Metal Blade Records. Stream now and purchase the following formats here:


- Digipak-CD
- Orange/red marbled (US exclusive)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- Crimson marbled (EU exclusive - limited to 400)
- Firefly glow marbled (EU exclusive - limited to 300)
- Deep violet marbled (EU exclusive - limited to 200)
- Ochre brown marbled (EU exclusive - limited to 200)
- All digital platforms (Spotify, iTunes, etc)





Let The World Burn tracklisting:


"Flesh From Bone"
"Screaming Always"
"Upon Their Cross"
"Gato Negro"
"Let The World Burn"


"Let The World Burn" video:





"Flesh From Bone" lyric video:

Creatures Fest 2022 is taking place take this Memorial Day Weekend (May 27 - 29) in Nashville, Tennessee at the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel. On May 29th, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick and his band - Todd Kerns, Zach Throne and Brent Fitz - performed the Revenge album in its entirety as well as other KISS classics. Original KISS drummer made a guest appearance during the set. Check out the footage below.


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"Unholy"
"Take It Off"
"Tough Love"
"Spit"
"Hooked on Rock 'n' Roll" (Peter Criss cover with Peter Criss)
"God Gave Rock and Roll to You" Domino
"Heart of Chrome"
"Thou Shalt Not"
"Every Time I Look at You"
"Paralyzed"
"I Just Wanna"
"Carr Jam / Sword and Stone"




Encore:
"Tears Are Falling"
"Crazy Crazy Nights"
"Turn on the Night"

Swedish melodic metal sensation Mile have signed a deal with Wormholedeath for the release of their upcoming new album, A Shattered Mind.


Mie started to take form in 2013 through Marcus “Masken” Karlsson (vocals), Fredrik Palm (guitar), and Marcus Folke (bass) when their old band Cabinett broke up. Dennis Kjellgren (drums) and David Wallberg (guitar) were soon to follow and join this new project that was to be called Mile. A name that is simple to remember, does not put the band in any specific category of music, and can represent the distance the music can take you. They rehearsed and wrote songs for a whole year before they started playing live because they knew what quality they wanted to show right from the start. In 2015 one of the founding members, bass player Marcus Folke left the band and the group was complemented by Niklas “Nike” Tidholm, who added an extra dimension to their live performance.


Their debut album Lost was released in 2015 and was streamed over 1,000,000 times during its first year. In 2016 the band released their first music video together with the single “Dressed In Black”. Their second album, The World In Focus, was released in 2018 and had, just as its predecessor, been streamed over 1,000,000 times long before its anniversary. It also contained the hit single "Crying In Your Sleep" which ended up on several major playlists on Spotify. The album was followed by a tour in Brazil before the band got back home for the Swedish festival summer. 




The band has played festivals where giants like Twisted Sister and Europe have been present, but Mile have also been supporting Dynazty, Cyhra, Smash Into Pieces, Implode, Ammotrack, and Mean Streak. In 2019 they went on a successful European tour as support for Corroded right before the pandemic struck. Today, Mile is closing in on 10,000,000 streams on Spotify, and has through hard work, been able to keep the steam up while preparing the upcoming third album.


In 2019 the band joined forces with Kingart Music Management to reach new heights, and now they are happy to join the Wormholedeath family. To celebrate the occasion, Mile has released the single and video, "Into The Fire".








 

Michael Anthony has weighed in on reports that he has been in discussions with David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen about taking part in an all-star VAN HALEN tribute project.

The former VAN HALEN bassist addressed the rumor nearly two months after former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted revealed to The Palm Beach Post that he was approached by the VAN HALEN drummer about six months earlier about playing bass for the project. Newsted told the Florida newspaper that he agreed to go to California to jam with Alex and legendary guitarist Joe Satriani and see if it felt right, but he eventually realized that it would be impossible to do justice to VAN HALEN's legacy. "How could you?" Jason said. "There's nobody that can top it, so how do you show it honor? I didn't want it to be viewed as a money grab. And then it kind of just all fizzled."

During an appearance on Thursday's (June 2) episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Anthony confirmed that he was involved in some of the early conversations about the VAN HALEN tribute.

"I haven't spoken to him in a little while, but I have spoken with Alex on occasion," Michael said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And for the most part, we don't even speak that much about music — more about just family, how we're doing and stuff like that. I know it still pains him a lot as far as Eddie [Van Halen; late VAN HALEN guitarist and Alex's brother] goes and will probably for the rest of his life. But I spoke with him and Dave last year about a possible something, but Dave just starts going [talking really fast] And I'm, like, 'Okay.' And we basically just had kind of a conference call about having a conference call to discuss it, and then that other call didn't happen for whatever reason on their end. I told them that I'd obviously be interested. And it would be more like a celebration of the music rather than putting together something and calling it VAN HALEN because that just wouldn't be right at this point."

Anthony went on to say that he hadn't been aware Newsted was involved in the discussions until Jason disclosed it in The Palm Beach Post interview. "That's the first that I'd even heard about anything like that," Michael said. "And it was kind of interesting because he said he spoke to [Dave and Alex] about a year ago, and that's about the time I was speaking with them. So I don't know. I'm gonna have to call Jason and ask him. [Laughs]"

When host Eddie Trunk noted that Roth said in his comment about the VAN HALEN tribute that "two of us" would be required "for every position" in the project's lineup, possibly suggesting that more than one guitarist and more than one bassist would be involved in the show, Anthony said: "I was kind of thinking along those lines also, but then one thing made me kind of change my mind and make me think, 'Well, Dave's just kind of being Dave,' and maybe he's just saying that it would take at least two people to be able to duplicate what one person in this band did, and the reason I thought of that was all of a sudden he brought up the name Pink. He was saying that Pink would have to be one of the David Lee Roth characters, or singers, and I'm, like, 'Huh.' That just sounded a little too 'Dave' to me.

"But I don't know," Anthony quickly clarified. "At this point, I've gotta tell you, I don't know if anything will ever happen. 'Cause Alex is — he's really hurting. Him and Edward were so close on all levels — musical levels and personally and whatever. It just seems to me like it might be really hard for Alex to even enter into something to bring back all those memories. I don't know. I could be wrong. I'm the guy that always says, 'Never say never.'"

According to Anthony, the proposed VAN HALEN tribute would likely take the form of a single concert rather than a full-fledged tour.

"What was being talked about was not actually doing a tour," he said. "You take something like this on tour and people are gonna think it's a cashgrab. I'd rather have something, like a memorial-type thing, done at a venue. And there were actually a couple of venues discussed. But do it that way instead of taking it on the road. And make it just a real celebration of the music…

"I actually would not be up for doing a tour right off the bat," Michael continued. "I think holding a celebration of Eddie and the music and the whole VAN HALEN legacy is great. And let's face it — none of us need the money. I don't need the money. I'd rather take the money and throw it in a charity."

Michael once again reiterated that he has no concrete idea whether any VAN HALEN tribute concert will take place. "I think it all really hinges upon Alex," he said. "And he's gotta be the person, really, that wants to do this and give his blessing to the whole thing for it to move forward. And like I said, when we speak, we really don't even speak about doing anything like that at this point. He's still healing. And if it gets to that point, I'm sure Alex will be the first one that'll wanna do something like that."

Asked whether there has been any bad blood between him and Alex and Dave in recent years, Anthony said: "Not at all. I only spoke to Dave that one conversation we had last year and I couldn't hardly get a word in edgewise, which is… that's typical Dave. But I have spoken to Alex on occasion, and it's great. We'll speak for, like, 45 minutes, an hour. And probably about the first 20 minutes is Alex, sometimes he'll vent to me a bit about all the circumstances around how everything happened with Eddie. But we basically just talk about family and we actually bring up some of the old times on the road, to lighten things up a bit."

Last June, Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang Van Halen, who joined his father in VAN HALEN for the band's 2007 reunion tour with Roth, replacing Anthony, told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" it would be "great" to eventually organize an Eddie Van Halen tribute show. "It's not in the immediate plans, 'cause that's a lot of moving parts that you've gotta corral to get that to happen. But I definitely think it should happen. Absolutely," he said.

Asked how he envisions the tribute concert taking place in terms of which musicians should be involved, Wolfgang said: "I have no idea. All I know is that the focus should a hundred percent be on Pop. While it could be a celebration of VAN HALEN and the band's history, I think more than anything, it should be focused on him… It's a tall ask and a big thing to figure out. But I do think it should happen at some point."

In November 2020, Wolfgang told Entertainment Tonight that proceeds from any tribute show in honor of his father will go toward Eddie's favorite charity, Mr. Holland's Opus, which helps underprivileged students access musical instruments. Proceeds from the debut solo single from Wolfgang's solo band MAMMOTH WVH, "Distance", are also benefiting Mr. Holland's Opus.

In February 2021, former VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar told Kyle Meredith that he will make every effort to take part in the Eddie Van Halen tribute concert.

"I have nothing to do with the [Eddie Van Halen] legacy," he said. "That's their business — that's Wolfie, Alex Van Halen; they're family members. Whoever wants to call me up and say, 'Here's the date,' I will be there. I don't care where I am. I'll cancel a [solo] show [if I need to]. [Laughs] [That's] something VAN HALEN would never do. I always make that joke — canceling a show was [out of the question with] VAN HALEN. I went out sick without being able to sing, Eddie went out with a crutch, Alex went out with a fucking neck brace — we wouldn't cancel shows. But I will cancel my show for a tribute to Eddieany day."

Eddie died in October 2020 at the age of 65. The legendary VAN HALEN guitarist passed away at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

Eddie was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had tongue surgery. He later battled lung cancer and had been receiving radiation treatment in Germany. Things took a turn for the worse in early 2019 when Eddie got in a motorcycle accident. He was subsequently diagnosed with a brain tumor, and received gamma knife radiosurgery to treat the illness.
#ICYMI on #TrunkNation - @EddieTrunk spoke to #MichaelAnthony about the #CHLA charity walk and then got into the rumored @VanHalen tribute tour clarifying what conversations are actually happening. Catch the replay at 10pET or anytime on the @SIRIUSXM app: https://t.co/Sbdq09EEUipic.twitter.com/XasLwpJIK6

— SiriusXM VOLUME (@siriusxmvolume) June 3, 2022

Pattern-Seeking Animals, the California-based progressive rock band featuring Ted Leonard (lead vocals & guitars), Jimmy Keegan (drums & vocals), Dave Meros (bass) and John Boegehold (keyboards), recently released their third album, Only Passing Through, via InsideOut Music.


Watch Dave Meros' playthrough for the song "Time Has A Way":







Offering eight songs (and two bonus tracks) that are as varied as they are excellent, Only Passing Through is a work that will deliver on all fronts. From the opener "Everdark Mountain" to the weighty "Much Ado" and the 13-minute epic "Time Has A Way", the album has something to please fans in all quarters. If you ever wondered what Spaghetti Western Cinema would sound like in the world of 2022 prog, have a listen to "Said The Stranger". For some jazzier stylings, lend an ear to "Here With You With Me".


Boegehold is justifiably proud of the album: “Only Passing Through picks up where Prehensile Tales left off but soon takes several stylistic detours as it progresses. Everyone involved made this album a lot of fun to make and we're all looking forward to it finally being heard."


Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Everdark Mountain"
"I Can't Stay Here Anymore"
"Time Has A Way"
"Rock Paper Scissors"
"Much Ado"
"Only Passing Through"
"Said The Stranger"
"Here With You With Me"


Bonus tracks:


"I'm Not Alright"
"Just Another Day At The Beach"


"Everdark Mountain" visualizer:





"Rock Paper Scissors" video:





"I Can't Stay Here Anymore" video:

DIEHUMANE, the new band featuring former EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt, has finished recording its debut album. The 11-song effort, which will include an as-yet-undisclosed "10-minute cover," is currently being mixed by longtime STATIC-X producer Ulrich Wild.

The "avant garde alt-metal" group, which is based in Galveston, Texas, also includes Garret West on lead vocals, Sal Abruscato (TYPE O NEGATIVE, LIFE OF AGONY) on drums, Joshua Vargas on rhythm guitar, bass, piano, programming and Greg Hilligiest Jr. on keyboards, samples, additional guitar.

Vargas announced the recordings' completion in an Instagram post on Thursday (June 2). He wrote: "As of today, the DIEHUMANE album has finished recording. Ten originals and a 10 minute cover. The album is also over halfway mixed because Ulrich Wild is an absolute beast and we only have a few more to mix, then mastering.

"I'm super proud of this album. It's definitely it's own thing and only sounds like itself, which was always the most important goal and what made it worth doing in the first place. I'm pretty sure it won't be what some people are expecting, and it's definitely not gonna be some people's cup of tea, and that's perfectly fine. What no one will ever be able to say about it is that we were following others or trying to fit into a certain niche.

"And, as a guy who has sat with these songs for over a year, and since I know y'all are interested, I'll say it now: Rick Hunolt's guitar work on this is going to knock people flat. Every solo on here is a classic. There is the shit-ripping solos that he is known for, but then there's a bluesy and jazzy side of his playing that I'm super excited to see people discover. As well, Sal's drumming on this literally sounds like somebody awakened a sleeping giant. There's a song on here that we nicknamed 'The Bruiser' that would be just as heavy, dynamic, and intense if you stripped all of the other music off and just left the drums.

"To nutshell it, if you've read this and are still interested, you'll love it and it'll be worth the wait. Our first video shoots in a few weeks, so it's not much further now."

The news of Hunolt's project was first broken by BLIND ILLUSION's Mark Biedermann who took to his Facebook in February to write: "Here's what's really going on. Rick Hunolt's new band DIE HUMANE is going to blow your mind. I wish I could share what he gave me but just know this it is fresh, new and different with amazing vocals and top notch Guitar playing! That is after one listen to one song. Now let me get back to you in a few minutes as I have just received more. Dang it's good to be in the loop! Thank you Rick!"

Hunolt — the other half of the famed EXODUS "H-Team" who is on every studio recording from 1985 through 2004 and co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs such as "A Lesson In Violence" and "Deliver Us To Evil" — left EXODUS after the band's highly acclaimed 2004 reunion album, "Tempo Of The Damned". Following his departure, Hunolt was replaced by HEATHEN guitarist Lee Altus.

Rick discussed his exit from EXODUS during a November 2021 appearance on "Put Up Your Dukes", the new podcast hosted by ex-EXODUS singer Rob Dukes. He said: "During the recording of 'Tempo', Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist] had just gotten clean a little while prior to that, and I was still using. But I've gotta say, Gary Holt — my hat's off to the man for… He never sweated me. Not once did Gary say, 'Dude, you're a piece of shit. I'm gonna fire you from the band if you don't get your shit together.' He never said nothing. He let it take its course, you know what I mean?

"I was a mess," Rick continued. "We all were, but everybody got better, and I didn't. I fell down the rabbit hole even worse, I think, because I was just so depressed. I couldn't stop. I don't know what was up… To the point where I was gonna lose my position in the band I'd been in for over 20 years — my best friends, my life. Yeah, it was dark as fuck.

"One day, after spending my life, giving everything that I had and the whole world to EXODUS, one day I woke up and I wasn't in EXODUS anymore," Hunolt added. "And that morning was, like… Dude, I can't even describe the emotions that I [was feeling]. I woke up and I wasn't in EXODUS anymore, dude. It damn near took me out, bro."

Rick revealed that he went through a particularly difficult period after splitting with EXODUS. "I had to reinvent myself at 40-plus years old, [with] two little kids," he said. "I ended up moving out of Oakland. I had to get the fuck out of there, 'cause we were living at the studio; it was bad. And then we moved in with my wife's mom and I got a job at the [discount chain] Dollar Tree and I ended up working there for, like, two or three years. I mean, I can go on and on and on. But long story short, I met a guy who knew who I was and offered me a job on his ranch. And the rest is history. He taught me how to live my life and make money."

Hunolt makes a guest appearance on EXODUS's latest studio album, "Persona Non Grata", which was released in November via Nuclear Blast Records.

The San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' latest disc is the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was their first release since the departure of Dukes, the group's lead singer of nine years, and the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

Back in April 2019, Hunolt rejoined Holt and other EXODUS members Tom Hunting (drums) and Souza to perform several of the group's classic songs during a METAL ALLEGIANCE concert in San Francisco, California. More recently, Hunolt joined EXODUS on stage in August 2021 at Psycho Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada and in March 2022 at 3rd And Castro in West Oakland, California.

The original lineup of EXODUS consisted of guitarists Kirk Hammett (now in METALLICA) and Tim Agnello, Hunting and vocalist Keith Stewart. Holt joined the band in 1981, while Kirk left two years before EXODUS's debut album, "Bonded By Blood", saw the light of day.

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Udo Dirkschneider has once again expressed regret over not securing rights to the ACCEPT name, the band he co-founded in 1976. The German frontman has been vocal over his dissatisfaction with the current Mark Tornillo-fronted version of ACCEPT that features only one original member — guitarist Wolf Hoffmann. Despite announcing plans six years ago to stop performing ACCEPT material live, Dirkschneider continues to do so in both U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER.

In a recent interview with BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Udo talked about the business decisions that have forced him to carve out a legacy in U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER, which have also created fervent debate over whom should be performing ACCEPT's back catalog. "[ACCEPT's longtime manager] Gaby Hoffmann was clever to have us sign paperwork that all the rights should go to Wolf for the name in 1981," he said. "At this time, we were signing a lot of papers. I found out very late that I signed something like that. It's history. I'm fine with U.D.O., I'm fine with DIRKSCHNEIDER. I can still play ACCEPT songs. It doesn't matter if it's called ACCEPT or U.D.O. — people know what's going on. For me, it's history. It's not the nicest thing in the world, but it was a long time ago, but so what?"

Udo then delved into how he considers the two outfits that bear his names to be actual "bands" instead of him performing with a bunch of backing musicians. "I'm an open-minded person," he said. "For me, I never saw me in U.D.O. or DIRKSCHNEIDER as a solo artist. For me, it was important to have a band around me. It's not like I have to stand in front of everyone onstage. It's important that the band is one. I also said that to my band members: 'You also stand in the front if you have your part.' I think that's a good thing for the audience and fans to realize. It's not like just Udo. It's also the band."

In early 2019, Udo developed left knee issues that left him partly immobilized onstage. Now 70 years of age and promoting his "My Way" covers album, Udo talked about the health and fitness regimen that has helped him regain his previous form.

"I'm fine," he said. "No problems at all — I'm in good shape. I do a lot of walking around, swimming in the ocean. Walking has been good enough for me. Because of the pandemic, we only had four shows in the last two years. We are touring more with the intent of doing more than four shows. Now, it looks like we can move on again with touring. We'll start rehearsing in ten days for our tour in South America. Then we have the festivals over the summer, then a European tour.

"It's very important [to stay busy]," he continued. "If you're 70 years old, you're getting really old. But the whole business and what I'm doing keeps you young. [Laughs] For me, 70 is just a number. I don't feel like I'm 70. We will see how long I can do this. Hopefully, for a long time. People are asking me, 'When are you retiring?' I say, 'Retirement? What is this?' Sit at home, drinking coffee and watching the weather? That's not for me. I hope I can do this for a long time, but we will see."

Released on April 22 via Atomic Fire Records, "My Way" is billed as Udo's "most personal and extraordinary album to date." The effort contains 17 cover versions of the songs that have influenced the musician and singer the most, including classic tracks from URIAH HEEP, RAINBOW, THE SWEET, MOTÖRHEAD, LED ZEPPELIN, SCORPIONS, AC/DC and JUDAS PRIEST.

Groove rock masters CLUTCH have announced the second release of their Collector's Series vinyl reissues today. Getting the reimagined treatment this time is the band's 2005 classic "Robot Hive/Exodus", curated by bassist Dan Maines. The vinyl release is remastered and manufactured on 180-gram colored vinyl, stored in extra-heavy sleeves and limited to only 7,500 units worldwide. The gatefold jacket is printed on metalized polyester paper, and each album includes a numbered insert autographed by the band. As an extra special element, this 2xLP includes a seven-inch single with two tracks: "What Would A Wookie Do?" and "Bottoms Up, Socrates". These two songs were originally among the 16 songs written and recorded for "Robot Hive/Exodus" back in 2005 but were left off the final album due to time constraints.

Maines comments: "I'm very excited for the CLUTCH Collector's Series release of 'Robot Hive/Exodus'. With the additional seven-inch you can now hear the complete recording session remastered. We consistently play a number of these songs in our live sets every night and have even dusted off a couple more for our current tour."

The first album in this new series was "Blast Tyrant" curated by drummer Jean-Paul Gaster. The "Robot Hive/Exodus" artwork is in the vein of the original "Blast Tyrant" yet strikingly different.

CLUTCH recently released a brand new track, "Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone)", which was an homage to sci-fi author Philip K. Dick. The track and its accompanying video have clocked up 585,000 streams since release. Longtime fans of Dick, the members of CLUTCH have also curated a fun "inspired by" Sci-Fidelity playlist on Spotify to coincide with the release of the single.

CLUTCH has just wrapped up a two-leg trek across North America and has an extensive 2022 worldwide touring schedule, including summer festivals, further headline dates, and a return to Europe.

Early last year, Gaster told the Chicago-based webzine Metal Kaoz that he and his CLUTCH bandmates had "written a lot of songs" for the follow-up to 2018's "Book Of Bad Decisions" LP. He said: "We've been writing now for our new album, and I think we're spending more time than ever in the studio, just trying out different ideas. And most of the ideas don't ever really make it to the end; we try 10 things and we keep one.

"I think we are even more selective than we were before as to which ideas we really decide to focus on. And I think it is because we have so much more time. Before, we would come home for a tour and maybe we would have three weeks off. So, the first week, we don't do really much of anything — everybody goes back home to their families and we rest — and then the next two weeks we would get together and we would just jam really hard and get a bunch of ideas, and then on the road and play those ideas, and then come back and do it again. And that process might go on for a year and a half. This has been different. This is the first time where we've had so much time at home to work on ideas and never really tried them in a live setting. So I'm not sure how it's gonna impact the record. But I think it's gonna make for a different album — whether it's good, bad or otherwise, it's too early to tell. But, for sure, it's a different dynamic, and it requires more of us.

"So often, when we have new ideas and we put them in front of an audience, you can really tell right away — we know right away if the song is the right tempo, we know right away if the riffs are where they need to be, if the chorus is the way it needs to be," Gaster added. "It's a testing ground. And we don't have that right now. So, for that reason, I think we are being a lot more careful about what ideas we really wanna focus on, and which ones we think, 'You know what? We've done that before. Let's do something a little different.'"

"Book Of Bad Decisions" was recorded at Sputnik Sound studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Vance Powell. The record sold 26,000 copies in America during its first week of availability, giving the group its third consecutive Top 20 album on the Billboard 200.

Fan-filmed video of RAMMSTEIN's June 4 concert at Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany can be seen below (courtesy of YouTube channel jederlacht).

Last fall, RAMMSTEIN's pyrotechnician revealed how much fuel it takes to bring the band's flaming stage show to life. Speaking with Ultimate Guitar, Nikolai Sabottka said RAMMSTEIN's current stadium setup, "uses roughly 1000 liters [about 265 gallons]."

Sabottka went on to say that he and the members of RAMMSTEIN are continuously in search of new technologies that can take their fiery stage show to new heights. He explained: "In the prep of a tour, we sit and exchange all the different ideas before we go and actually test what has been prototyped and built beforehand. After the initial test, there are endless changes to be implemented, and sometimes it simply does not work the way we imagined it and effects get pushed back to research and development while others get approved and are produced on a larger scale."

RAMMSTEIN kicked off its European tour on May 15 at Prague, Czech Republic's Letiště Letňany Airport. The band is touring in support of its latest album, "Zeit", which arrived on April 29.

Till Lindemann (vocals),Paul Landers (guitar),Richard Z. Kruspe (guitar),Flake (keyboards),Oliver Riedel (bass) and Christoph Schneider (drums) spent two years working on the eleven songs on the new album. They were once again assisted by Berlin producer Olsen Involtini. "Zeit" was recorded at La Fabrique Studios in St. Rémy de Provence, France.

Bryan Adams managed to get a special scoop for the cover of the new album. The Canadian musician and photographer took the shot of RAMMSTEIN on the steps of the Trudelturm in Berlin Adlershof, an imposing monument to aerial research in the city's Aerodynamic Park.

Over the course of a career spanning almost 30 years, RAMMSTEIN has sold more than 20 million albums around the world and played countless spectacular, groundbreaking tours. When the band's sold-out stadium tour had to be postponed due to the pandemic, RAMMSTEIN used the time to work on their new album.

RAMMSTEIN fans can enjoy multiple "Zeit" formats. The new album was released as a standard CD in a digipack with a 20-page booklet, a special edition CD in a 6-panel digipack with a 56-page booklet including slipcase, and as a double 180g vinyl LP with a 20-page large-format booklet, as well as in the usual digital formats.

RAMMSTEIN's North American stadium run will begin on August 21 in Montreal and end on October 4 in Mexico City.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has spoken out against "cancel culture," saying it "is more dangerous than what it wants to cancel."

Cancel culture is the idea that someone, usually a celebrity or a public figure, whose ideas or comments are considered offensive should be boycotted. These people are ostracized and shunned by former friends, followers and supporters alike, leading to declines in any careers and fanbase the individual may have at any given time.

Addressing the cancel culture issue in a tweet earlier today (Sunday, June 5), Stanley, who is currently on the road with KISS, wrote: "Day off and I find myself thinking 'Cancel Culture' is more dangerous than what it wants to cancel. Is censorship and silencing people okay if you believe you're right?? That is a slope we're already slipping down. You defeat lies with truth, not gags."

Stanley and his KISS bandmate Gene Simmons previously spoke out against cancel culture while answering questions from fans at a KISS VIP exclusive soundcheck event in September 2021 in Austin, Texas. At the time, they defended actress Gina Carano after she was ousted from "The Mandalorian" over controversial social media posts.

Carano — a former MMA fighter who played Cara Dune in the hit Disney+ show — was dropped in February 2021 over a post that likened being a conservative in modern America to being a Jew in Nazi Germany.

Simmons and Stanley, who are both Jewish, were asked if they were fans of the breakout series. Gene called "The Mandalorian" "one of the best shows on TV" and said in reference to Carano: "They should have kept the chick, even though she had different political [views]. It's not about politics; it's about whether you're a good actress."

A couple of minutes later, Paul also weighed in on the topic, saying: "Look, political views… This whole cancel culture is so dangerous. The idea that people can't speak their mind. That's what freedom is all about. And to lose your job because you've got something to say — even if I find it offensive — that's... we've gotta look at that. Plus she can kick my ass."

Stanley and Simmons are not the first rock musicians to speak out against cancel culture. In April 2021, TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider, who was famously called to testify before the U.S. Senate against the proposition to have warning labels be placed on albums deemed "offensive" to listeners, said that "censorship has changed quite a bit" over the last few decades. "Now censorship still exists, but it's gone from the right more to the left," he told NewsNation's "Banfield". "We're in this P.C. world where we have to be careful about what we say and who we offend, and it's a very odd thing."

That same month, Snider's TWISTED SISTER bandmate Jay Jay French addressed the fact that the current trend of canceling people and companies has gotten out of hand during an interview with Rocking With Jam Man. Speaking about the fact that Marilyn Manson was accused by several women of abuse and assault, including "Westworld" actress Evan Rachel Wood, who claimed in a social media post that Manson "groomed" and "horrifically" abused her for years, the guitarist said: "Michael Jackson got accused of some pretty bad stuff, but Michael Jackson music is still being played. So, obviously, somebody decided that that was okay; someone decided that's not gonna bother people. And yet other people's music has been taken off. [Former pop star] Gary Glitter played in all the arenas around the country — baseball stadiums, football stadiums, everything. But then Gary Glitter got arrested for some weird stuff he did in Thailand with underage children and got banned everywhere. When I say 'banned,' I just mean the people said, 'We're not gonna play his music anywhere,' so they don't play his music. And I am in no way endorsing in any manner, way, shape or form his actions. What I'm saying is that that is a byproduct of what happens in life in general. And it's terrible."

He continued: "Cancel culture is not a healthy thing. Cancel culture is not healthy, because it just depends on who decides to do the canceling. So if they like TWISTED SISTER, we don't get canceled, we are okay, but if they hate TWISTED SISTER and they cancel us, it's not okay, so therefore it's not okay just to do it randomly. It's a personal choice. If you don't wanna buy something by somebody, don't buy it, but for the media to withhold it is opening up a can of worms that is almost impossible to put back in the jar."

Dee previously spoke about political correctness in 2020 when he told Canada's The Metal Voice that a movie like "Blazing Saddles", the 1974 American satirical Western black comedy film directed by Mel Brooks "could not be made today — it literally could not be made, because it would offend too many people."

While "cancel culture" may be a recent phenomenon, public scapegoating, shaming and silencing tactics are not. Republicans have for a long time used the phrase "cancel culture" to criticize the left, even though there's a long list of supposedly left-leaning associates who have been targeted or boycotted by conservatives, including Colin Kaepernick, Disney, Nike, Campbell's Soup, THE DIXIE CHICKS and Kathy Griffin.

Photo courtesy of Paul Stanley's Twitter
Day off and I find myself thinking “Cancel Culture” is more dangerous than what it wants to cancel. Is censorship and silencing people okay if you believe you’re right?? That is a slope we’re already slipping down. You defeat lies with truth, not gags.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) June 5, 2022

GUNS N' ROSES played a cover version of the AC/DC classic "Walk All Over You" during its headlining concert Saturday night (June 4) at Passeio Marítimo De Algés in Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

Six years ago, GUNS N' ROSES' Axl Rose did a string of European and North American concerts with AC/DC as a "guest vocalist," mostly to fan and critical acclaim.

In March 2016, AC/DC's singer of 35 years, Brian Johnson, had to leave the band's North American tour after doctors told him he might lose his hearing, while 40-year bassist Cliff Williams announced his retirement at the rescheduled trek's conclusion.

The lineup that completed the tour consisted of Rose, Williams, Angus Young, Chris Slade on drums and Angus's nephew Stevie Young on guitar.

AC/DC's North American tour with Rose ended in Philadelphia in September 2016, and despite initial fan trepidation, Axl got generally good reviews for his performances. Angus said at the time: "I mean, under the situation that we had, it was very good that he volunteered and said, 'Hey, if I can help, let me try.' So he's been very good. And he had to learn a lot of songs very quickly, and he's done a great job."

Duff McKagan, who is one-third of the reunited partial classic lineup of GUNS N' ROSES, got a chance to watch Rose and AC/DC play in June 2016 in London, England and in September 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Duff spoke about Axl's collaboration with AC/DC during a 2019 appearance on "The Church Of What's Happening Now" podcast. He said: "The way [Axl] did that was amazing. He was, like, 'If you guys don't mind, I'm gonna go try out. They need a hand here.' [Late AC/DC frontman] Bon Scott's his all-time [hero]. [We said], 'Dude, you know you don't really have to try out for AC/DC.' But he was really nervous. 'I'm gonna go try out. It fits in with our touring perfect.' And [GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] Slash and I were, like, 'You've got the gig.' But he went to Atlanta and tried out, quote-unquote, and got the gig. I saw him twice on that tour. I flew to London to see him, and I flew to Cleveland to see that. It was great."

McKagan added: "I think what it did for [Axl]… We got to know Angus through that. Angus has now come out and played with us a bunch of times. That was that thing when he was 14 or 15, 'Man, one day, if I ever got to be in AC/DC…' He was singing with a broom, and he finally got to do it. Amazing."

This past January, Slash told Classic Rock magazine about Axl's pairing with AC/DC: "I came out to a gig in London, and it was phenomenal. I was blown away, especially when he sang the Bon Scott stuff. That was a very proud moment, actually."

Asked by Classic Rock writer Paul Elliott if it felt weird seeing Rose fronting another band so soon after GN'R launched its reunion tour, the guitarist said: "Not at all. It was AC/DC, man.

"The fact that he got asked to do that was very cool," Slash continued. "And he worked his ass off doing it, too. He really adhered to the whole AC/DC regimen and pulled it off.

"In the moment, when it first came up, it was a little jarring, I have to say," the guitarist admitted. "I was super-proud that he was doing it, but how that was gonna happen and go right into the GUNS thing, I really didn't know. But anyway, it worked out. So it wasn't like a big deal.

"In all these years that we've been apart, he's become super-fucking professional. And he's never missed a beat during this whole time. So it's been great. There has been a sort of synergy that's been happening this last six years that we never had in our first incarnation."

Back in February 2017, GUNS N' ROSES was joined by Angus on stage for a pair of AC/DC songs — "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Riff Raff" — toward the end of GN'R's main set at two concerts at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

AC/DC reunited with Johnson and Williams in 2018 to record its long-awaited comeback album, "Power Up", which was released in November 2020.

In a new interview with New Jersey's WSOU 89.5 FM radio station, CHEVELLE drummer Sam Loeffler spoke about the band's plans for the coming months. He said: "We have some really fun festivals that we're doing and just kind of summer shows, summer festivals and things like that. And then we have some pretty big tours that are coming up in the fall. And in between then, we're writing another album right now. So hopefully we can get into the studio in November/December and have new music out in '23, which is the thing that excites us. We wanna write, we wanna play — that's our thing. So if we can get music out in '23, because that's what we do — we put out music, and hopefully we can keep new music coming out for the rest of our career. Keep going. We're not old, so we're just gonna keep doing it."

This past April, CHEVELLE canceled one concert and postponed another after Sam tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

CHEVELLE had been touring in support of its ninth album, "Niratias", which was released in March 2021 via Epic Records.

"Niratias" is one of CHEVELLE's most provocative records to date. Teaming with longtime producer Joe Barresi (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE),CHEVELLE recorded throughout 2019 and 2020 and ultimately pieced together an inimitable body of work. The album artwork was designed by Boris Vallejo — the famed and award-winning artist is responsible for the posters used for films like "Knightriders" and "National Lampoon's Vacation", as well as iconic '70s and '80s science fiction novel covers and magazines (such as Heavy Metal).

Over the course of its career, the Chicago rockers have generated nearly half a billion streams, notched seven No. 1 hits, and sold out shows worldwide. Their catalog spans the double-platinum "Wonder What's Next", which boasts the double-platinum smash "The Red" and the platinum hit "Send The Pain Below". "This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)" attained platinum status, while "Vena Sera" was certified gold. CHEVELLE has landed four Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, including "Sci-Fi Crimes" (2009),"Hats Off To The Bull" (2011),"La Gárgola" (2014) and "The North Corridor" (2016). The latter two each captured the No. 1 slot on the Top Rock Albums chart.

MEGADETH kicked off its month-long European tour Friday (June 3) at the Rockfest in Hyvinkää, Finland. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

Late last month, MEGADETH announced bass player James LoMenzo as a permanent member of the band. LoMenzo was MEGADETH's bass player in the mid-2000s and recently stepped back in as a touring member for "The Metal Tour Of The Year". Lomenzo has now officially rejoined the MEGADETH family.

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine commented: "I am thrilled to welcome back James to the MEGADETH family. James rejoined the fold as the touring bassist and it's been a blast having him back. We thought let's make it permanent."

James added: "I'm so excited to rejoin MEGADETH and move forward full steam into the next phase of this iconic band's history! With Dave, Kiko [Loureiro, guitar] and Dirk [Verbeuren, drums], There's no stopping us! It just feels great to be home again."

LoMenzo joined MEGADETH in 2006 and appeared on two of the group's studio albums, 2007's "United Abominations" and 2009's "Endgame". He was fired from the band in 2010 and replaced with returning original MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson.

In addition to MEGADETH, LoMenzo has played with Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde and WHITE LION. For the past nine years, LoMenzo has been performing with iconic rocker John Fogerty.

LoMenzo played his first show with MEGADETH in nearly 12 years last August in Austin, Texas. The concert took place three months following Ellefson's dismissal from MEGADETH after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving him were posted on Twitter.

During an appearance on a March 2022 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Mustaine discussed MEGADETH's reunion with LoMenzo, saying: "I'm thrilled. I think he's a really awesome person to have in MEGADETH. He was when we tried it the first time. And for whatever reason that things happen, things happened and we took a little sabbatical from playing [together]. And when things happened as they did, it was obvious to me that I needed to get a super kickass bass player to come in and cut all the tracks and learn 'em in relatively no time, because we were in the studio already, so I needed to get somebody that could really do all that stuff. And I hadn't made up my mind on James yet. So I ended up asking a super, super legendary bass player in the metal community, Steve DiGiorgio. I asked him if he would come in and guest on the [upcoming MEGADETH] record and help me to finish the record and cut bass parts. So he came out, and that was really wonderful to hear his interpretation of my songs and the stuff that Kiko and Dirk and I, the stuff that we're starting to write together; we're starting to really develop our chemistry."

MEGADETH's new album, "The Sick, The Dying, And The Dead", is tentatively due this summer. The follow-up to "Dystopia" features a cover of DEAD KENNEDYS' "Police Truck" and Sammy Hagar's "This Planet's On Fire", the latter of which includes vocals from Hagar himself.

DiGiorgio is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, having played with TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, Steve is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 20 years of touring the world.

Ellefson laid down his bass tracks on MEGADETH's sixteenth LP in May 2020 at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee. A short time later, he raved about his performance on the record, telling the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio program "Wired In The Empire" that his musical chemistry with Verbeuren was comparable to the interplay between Geddy Lee and Neil Peart on classic RUSH albums. "I feel like on the new MEGADETH record, me and Dirk have those same moments," he said. "It's MEGADETH — it's not RUSH, obviously — but in the field of what we do, there were these moments that I was just going, 'Oh, my God.' This is me as a kid going, 'This is my Geddy/Neil moment right here.'"

In June 2021, Mustaine announced during an episode of his Gimme Radio program "The Dave Mustaine Show" that Ellefson's bass tracks would not be used on the new MEGADETH LP.

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

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo performance of the Helloween classic "Eagle Fly Free", handling all vocal, guitar and bass parts. Check it out below.


Johansson: "The anthem of power metal - 'Eagle Fly Free' by Helloween! A song I've played live many, many times but never recorded - until now. As a small Easter egg you will also hear and see some Majestica in here as well..."







Johansson recebntly shared another video via his official YouTube channel. Check it out below.


Johansson: "I got a new, glorious guitar from Charvel Guitars - the Charvel Dark Amber! Follow me on my journey as I pick it up from the postal office, unbox it and try it out. Is it in tune? That is the question!"