In a new interview with Australia's "Scars And Guitars" podcast, former ACCEPT singer Udo Dirkschneider was asked if he has had any contact with ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann in recent years. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Never. And I don't wanna have any contact with him… I'm really good friends now again with [former ACCEPT bassist] Peter Baltes; he did all the bass guitars on [my new] cover album ['My Way'], for example. I still have a good relationship with [ex-ACCEPT drummer] Stefan Kaufmann. Over the years, he was the guitar player in U.D.O. [and] he was producing U.D.O. and stuff like that. And the only guy I don't wanna talk to — let's say it this way — is Wolf. There's a lot of reasons why. I wish him all the best. [He's] a great guitar player anyway, but for me to work with him again — never."

During the same chat, Udo was asked if he has ever had an opportunity to meet current ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo, who joined the band in 2009. Dirkschneider said: "There was a festival, Masters Of Rock, happening in the Czech Republic, and I was a guest singer of LORDI — I did a song together with LORDI. And LORDI was headlining and ACCEPT was the special guest of this festival, not the headliner. And at the hotel, we [Mark and I] were waiting both for a driver, and he never said to me hello or something like that. Okay, I mean, what can I do? Why not say hello? I'm also really good friends with David Reece who did [ACCEPT's] 'Eat The Heat' album. We are really, really good friends; we talk sometimes on the phone and blah blah blah. I don't know… What I heard from Peter is that it was not allowed that he talk to me. Don't ask me. Forget it…"

Udo added: "He's a good singer, he's doing a good job now with ACCEPT, and I wish him good luck. And maybe one day [we will meet and speak to each other]. You never know."

Last December, Udo told Simfonia Metàl·lica that losing the rights to the ACCEPT name was the biggest mistake he made in his professional career. "This is the only thing I'm really not happy with," he said. "I was creating the name ACCEPT. And then, when we came — let's say in '80, '81, we had to sign a lot of documents. And sometimes you're not really looking on this. And then, in the end, when they fired me [from] my own band, I found a paper [saying] all the rights [to the ACCEPT name] go to Wolf Hoffmann. And that's really a big point, a bad point for me. The name is normally on me and not on Wolf Hoffmann."

He continued: "This was a big mistake — not really to look what you're signing. But anyway, this is history — [it happened] a long time ago. And I think in the end now, in a way I don't care. But sometimes [I think] I did a big mistake. But anyway, it happened."

Last year, Udo ruled out the possibility of a reunion with ACCEPT, telling TNT Radio Rock: "I don't wanna say anything bad. Wolf is a great guitar player. He's a great guy — I know that. But one thing, and that's why never ever can happen again a reunion or stuff like that, is he was stealing my name. A long time ago, in '81, when we had to sign some papers. I was really young, and, 'Yeah, okay,' I signed my contracts. There was some paper in between [all the others], and he [got] the rights [to the ACCEPT name]. But it was not Wolf [who orchestrated it]; I think it was now his wife. She was the manager of ACCEPT, and she was clever to put the [ACCEPT] name on Wolf Hoffmann. And this is the thing that makes me still angry — he was really stealing the name. I mean, I was making ACCEPT in '68.

"In the end, as a person, [he's] definitely a great guitar player, a great guy," Udo added. "It's history. I think I'm quite successful with U.D.O. If I want, I can do anytime a tour under [the name] DIRKSCHNEIDER and play ACCEPT songs. If I really say, 'Okay, I wanna do this again,' no problems at all. But the rest, in a way, is history.

"For example, I was working with Peter Baltes and Stefan Kaufmann together on the single 'Where The Angels Fly', and everybody was, like, 'Oh, what is this? This is more ACCEPT than ACCEPT is doing now at the moment.'"

Dirkschneider's long-running metal band U.D.O. released an album in July 2020 called "We Are One", featuring contributions from Baltes and Kaufmann. Baltes and Kaufmann also reunited with Dirkschneider in the studio to record an EP under the DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG banner, titled "Arising", which came out in August 2021.

In January 2021, Hoffmann was asked by SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" if he was surprised to see Baltes working with Dirkschneider on some new music last year. He responded: "Yeah, I probably shouldn't say much about that. Again, I can only speculate what that was all about. At the end of the day, we do our thing, and everybody has to know for themselves what they wanna do. Yeah, let me not say as much about that as I can, please."

Back in 2015, Hoffmann dismissed Dirkschneider's comment that the band's then-lineup — which included Baltes and Tornillo — performed live "without any emotion." "It's just hilarious at this point," Wolf said. "It's just a big joke in our lives. And we just go on about our lives, and we do our thing, and we just… We let these things go by and laugh about it. He's actually sort of our press agent, in a way. He keeps us [in the news]."

Released earlier this month via Atomic Fire Records, "My Way" contains 17 cover versions of songs that have influenced Udo the most, including classic tracks from URIAH HEEP, RAINBOW, THE SWEET, MOTÖRHEAD, LED ZEPPELIN, SCORPIONS, AC/DC and JUDAS PRIEST.

Alice Cooper, Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST) and Scott Stapp (CREED) are among the artists who performed last night (Saturday, April 30) at CoopStock 2 on at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona. The evening's festivities comprised a silent auction, food trucks, and live celebrity entertainment, including appearances by Larry The Cable Guy, Ed Roland of COLLECTIVE SOUL, Mike Mills of R.E.M., Danny Seraphine of CHICAGO, the comedy and music of Gary Mule Deer, SIXWIRE and Adrian Young of NO DOUBT. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers in Mesa and Phoenix.

The Phoenix location of Alice Cooper's The Rock Teen Center was built in partnership with Genesis Church and Cooper's Solid Rock Foundation. The 22,000-square-foot teen center, which opened in 2012, was meant to offer teens an outlet for their creativity and get them off the streets.

A year ago, the Mesa location of Alice Cooper's The Rock Teen Center opened, showcasing more than 11,000 square feet of space in partnership with Mesa Public Schools.

"Every kid out here," Alice said, "has got talent. Somewhere in you, there’s a talent that you want to get out. We invite you to come in and find your talent. It might not be music. It might be art. It might be dance. Whatever it is, you can discover it at Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers."

Asked in a new interview with Business Jet Traveler what prompted him to start his nonprofit, the Solid Rock Foundation, in 1995, Alice said: "I saw a very awkward drug deal go down between two 16-year-old kids, and it came to me: How does that kid not know he could be the best guitar player in town? Because he never picked up a guitar. The other kid could be the best drummer. Solid Rock provides these kids a place to change their life. One of our first success stories was Jordin Sparks, who won 'American Idol'. She started with us when she was 14. It just shows the other kids you can start from nothing and become something really important."



Posted by Lea Woodford on Saturday, April 30, 2022



Posted by Lea Woodford on Saturday, April 30, 2022



Alice Cooper’s Rock & Roll Fundraiser Bash….❤️
Coopstock 2022 🎵🎼🎶

#AliceCooper #CreedScottStapp #PatrickWarburton #JudasPriest #LarryTheCableGuy #GaryTheMule #CollectiveSoul #REMMikeMills #MesaArizona #AliceCooperSolidRockTeenCenter

Posted by Suzie Curtin on Saturday, April 30, 2022



Yes there are perks to creating magazines . Here I am at Alice Cooper's Solid Rock non-profit. So excited to see my son's favorite band in his teens. Creed. Here is Scott Stapp.. love you PJ. Naomi Chirico

Posted by Lea Woodford on Saturday, April 30, 2022



Posted by Lea Woodford on Saturday, April 30, 2022



Posted by Lea Woodford on Saturday, April 30, 2022

Alice Cooper’s Coopstock 2 was as Advertised!! 😎👉🏼

Posted by Chris Edwards on Saturday, April 30, 2022

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A post shared by Metal God (@robhalfordlegacy)



Tickets are still on sale for Coopstock 2 on April 30th at Las Sendas Golf Club. Wear your grooviest outfits! Tickets and info at https://www.alicecoopersolidrock.com/event/rock-and-roll-bash-coopstock-2/

Posted by Alice Cooper's Solid Rock on Tuesday, March 15, 2022

In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, legendary rocker Ted Nugent was asked to name the best cover version he has ever heard of one of his songs. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Unfortunately, I never have. I've heard the versions of 'Cat Scratch Fever', and I love PANTERA and I love Lemmy [MOTÖRHEAD] and I love the RAMONES, but God, are they terminally Caucasian or what?

"There's a real Motown soulfulness to what me and my boys deliver; there's a grunt and a grind," he continued. "And I love musicians who put their heart and soul into stuff — I love METALLICA and I love SLAYER and I love MEGADETH and I love 'em all. But when I listen to music, I wanna hear a groove; I wanna hear some grunt. I wanna hear the bass and drums of Motown like [my bassist] Greg [Smith] and [drummer] Jason [Hartless] create, what Johnny Badanjek and Earl Elliott created, like what Cliff Davies and Rob Grange created, what Jack Blades and Michael Cartellone created, what Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert… You know what I mean? I like a sexy, grunting rhythm. And I hear it from METALLICA sometimes, and I love their heavy metal stuff — it's killer. They're unbelievable musicians and [they have] an incredible work ethic; they're all in the asset column of life and music. But when I heard Lemmy's version of 'Cat Scratch Fever', I thanked him, and I do appreciate it. And when I heard PANTERA's version of 'Cat Scratch Fever', I thanked them, but I think they're angry at me because I called them Caucasian, which I think is a racial slur somewhere. The RAMONES did 'Journey To The Center Of The Mind' [from THE AMBOY DUKES], and again, God bless 'em, I love 'em and I'm honored that they would choose my songs, but what Greg Arama [bass] and Dave Palmer [drums] did on 'Journey To The Center Of The Mind' as kids, teenagers — 15 years old they were; I think 16 years old — there's a Motown funk brother pulse to my songs and my rhythms. And those guys kind of flail away at it. And again, if you're a big fan of flailing away, God bless you — flail away."

Ted went on to clarify: "I'm not condemning it, but I'm critiquing it. And it's not quite the thump that my original songs [had]. And [my new album] 'Detroit Muscle' is wall-to-wall thump because Greg and Jason still channel The Funk Brothers [a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972] and they still channel that black soulfulness. We were raised on James Brown tightness, and that's what Mitch Ryder delivered, that's what Bob Seger delivers, that's what Kid Rock delivers, that's what GRAND FUNK delivers, that's what the MC5 delivered. Those are my favorite musical things because they have a sexy grind to the rhythm. And I just don't think anybody could claim that the RAMONES were ever sexy. And God bless 'em; they just weren't sexy. [Laughs]"

Back in 2006, Nugent slammed PANTERA's cover of his signature tune "Cat Scratch Fever" as having "no soul, no balls" and "no feel," adding that the members of PANTERA appeared as "Ozzy-like zombies on TV" whose conduct on stage went against his lifelong anti-drugs and -drink stance.

Responding to a fan posting on Nugent's official message board (dubbed "The Nuge Board") about late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and the VH1 "Behind the Music" special on PANTERA that premiered several days earlier, Ted (who posted on the message board under the name "Nuge") wrote that he "never thought too highly of anyone foolish enough to take on the nickname of a life-destroying dope product and promote such family-destroying conduct on stage." (Apparently referring to the fact that Darrell's "Dimebag" nickname is a slang term for a $10 bag of marijuana.)

When another fan pointed out that Dimebag "loved" Nugent's music and that he had stated in a magazine interview that he often played some of Ted's riffs before a show to loosen up the fingers — going so far as to cover "Cat Scratch Fever" for the 1999 "Detroit Rock City" soundtrack — Nugent responded, "though I'm no expert on all things PANTERA, I did hear their version of 'Cat Scratch Fever' and it was exceedingly white. No soul, no balls, no feel. Caucasian all the way. Elements of dope, booze and heroin disconnect quite apparent as usual. There is no excuse for such horrifically negative, irresponsible, criminal, America-wrecking behavior as such chimp-like substance abuse. Period. They appeared as Ozzy-like zombies on TV. Ya think. American drunks and dopers are allahpuke terrorists' favorite allies. Damn them. Damn them all."

After the fan who started the original thread (who called himself "the A_team") defended Dimebag by saying that "you have to at least respect Dime as a guitarist," adding that "even though he did drugs, I heard he didn't do very many," Nugent replied, "I indeed do respect all people for the positives in their life. Sadly, there comes a time of diminishing returns in the balance. At the end of the day, my respect is reserved for those solidly in the asset column of mankind."

"Detroit Muscle" was released on April 29 via Pavement Music. The follow-up to 2018's "The Music Made Me Do It" was produced by Michael Lutz and Nugent.

After a two-year delay, Mötley Crüe are set to finally launch their co-headlining North American tour with Def Leppard. Back in March, bassist Nikki Sixx sent out the following message to the fans:


"Here's a head fuck for you...


We pulled the plug seven years ago. Before that we did a two year tour, so the last time we rehearsed together was nine years ago. With that being said, talking on the phone, texting and emailing each other about our upcoming tour, and yes, band rehearsal is fucking exciting. We start rehearsal in a month.




So grateful to get to take this hot rod out for another spin with my brothers of 40 years. Damn. We're making the setlists now. Anything you wanna hear?"


On Sunday, May 1st, bassist Sixx checked in with the following update: 




 

 
 

 


View this post on Instagram

 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

A post shared by —Nikki Sixx— (@nikkisixxpixx)



Guesting on QFM96's Torg & Elliott radio show, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott recently revealed that the band and Mötley Crüe will rotate closing sets over the course of the tour.


Elliott: "We're taking turns; 36 shows, so it's 18 each. It's all been worked out very scientifically. It's the same way that we did it with Journey in 2018. Exactly the same principle."





Torg & Elliott · Joe Elliott of Def Leppard


The Stadium Tour, featuring Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, with Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts will hit select cities in the US and Canada where each band will bring their electrifying stage shows while promising to perform their stadium sized anthems. Produced by Live Nation, the summer tour is set to steamroll through North America starting June 2022.


Def Leppard are one of the most important forces in rock music. In 2019, the icons closed out a sold-out worldwide tour including a North American stadium run & headlining the UK’s Download Festival to 90k screaming fans. Def Leppard’s star continues to rise and prevail. The band have amassed a staggering 5.5 billion streams since 2018, reaching a younger 18-44 demographic that now represents 58% of their fanbase. Additionally, the band have garnered an impressive 15 million followers across their social media platforms. Def Leppard also celebrates the landmark 45th anniversary of their formation this year, marking 45 years of legendary rock ‘n’ roll history making. Def Leppard’s influential career crosses generations and includes 110 million records sold, numerous hit singles and ground-breaking multi-platinum albums—including two of the best-selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria, both of which are certified Diamond (10x platinum).


“On behalf of the band, we’re beyond thrilled that The Stadium Tour is finally happening this summer … it’s been a while coming and we can’t wait to get back on stage again & we can’t wait to see you in one of the many stadiums soon!” said Joe Elliott.


Following the huge success of their Netflix biopic The Dirt, Mötley Crüe has seen a massive surge in new audience with fans around the world demanding the band tour again. This led to the band members reuniting and announcing that "Mötley Crüe is back" in 2019. While The Dirt caused a meteoric 350% increase in streams of Mötley Crüe's music across all platforms and the younger 18-44 demographic now represents 64% of the band’s fanbase most of the new fans have never seen any of the band's legendary live shows that Crüeheads have relished for 4 decades. In 2021, Mötley Crüe celebrated their 40th band anniversary, as well as the 40th birthday of their iconic debut album, Too Fast For Love. The 35th anniversary of their Girls, Girls, Girls hit album is coming up on May 15. Mötley Crüe have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, achieving 7 platinum and multi-platinum albums, 9 Top 10 albums, 22 Top 40 Mainstream Rock hits, 6 Top 20 Pop singles and 3 Grammy nominations. The band have amassed close to 5 billion streams across digital platforms. They have over 15 million social media followers, a New York Times best-seller and a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The band is ready to deliver an over the top stage show packed full of hit songs.


"It's on! We don't think we've ever looked forward more to kicking off a tour than this one. We can't wait to finally see all the fans across North America again. Get ready for a wild ride this summer!," Mötley Crüe said in a joint statement.


Poison will be bringing a rocking real and relevant no holds barred thunderous live show to The Stadium Tour this summer with the all original lineup of Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett. Poison will be unleashing an onslaught of hit after hit songs in its set. The humanitarian of the year, two years running, Michaels along with Poison is known to bring a unique style of passionate high energy, sincere gratitude and a positive attitude. Michaels engages all the fans and makes it an absolute epic ride of true live music. Together With C.C.Deville on guitar, Bobby Dall on bass, and Rikki Rockett on drums Poison will rock the stadium with a chemistry that will bring a big summer mega party vibe and Michaels promises to give 1000 % on the stage as the hotter it gets the harder Poison promises to rock!!!


Poison’s Bret Michaels also added: “There are not enough words to thank the three generations of fans for making this such an exciting, record breaking, historical tour with the fastest sell outs in history at these stadiums.”


Joan Jett grew up during a time when rock ‘n’ roll was off limits to girls and women, but as a teenager, she promptly blew the door to the boys’ club right off its hinges. After forming her band the Blackhearts in 1979, with whom Jett has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, she has had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover." With a career that has spanned music, film, television, Broadway, and humanitarianism, Joan Jett remains a potent force and inspiration to generations of fans worldwide. As a producer, she has overseen seminal albums by Bikini Kill, and the Germs' LA punk masterpiece ‘GI.’ Jett and Kenny Laguna (her longtime producer and music partner) co-founded Blackheart Records from the trunk of Kenny’s Cadillac after rejections from no less than 23 labels. 40 years later, Blackheart is a thriving entertainment company producing music, film and television, and continues to champion emerging bands. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts continue touring the globe with headlining shows alongside fellow rock legends like The Who, Green Day, Heart, and Foo Fighters. After two COVID-19 postponements, the group will return to the road in summer 2022 for The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Poison. 'Bad Reputation,' a documentary about Jett's life, premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and is now available for streaming.


“We are so excited to be back out on the road! We missed doing what we love most and can’t wait to see the fans out there again!” said Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.


Emerging rock band Classless Act, signed to Better Noise Music, is set to open the tour. With the release of their single “Give It To Me” in 2021, the band has already received critical praise. Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee was an early follower of the band and is excited to have them join him and his bandmates on the road, saying, "I remember when we went out with Ozzy in 1984 and how it was an insane game changer!! We literally blew up after having that opportunity to play live in front of 20,000 people every f***ing night! Since then, we’ve always felt it was important to help new bands; whether it was Guns N Roses, Skid Row or so many others. This summer we’re gonna help out Classless Act."





Confirmed dates for The Stadium Tour:


June
16 - SunTrust Park - Atlanta, GA
18 - Hard Rock Stadium - Miami Gardens, FL
19 - Camping World Stadium - Orlando, FL
22 - Nationals Park - Washington, DC
24 - Citi Field - Flushing, NY
25 - Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
28 - Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC
30 - Nissan Stadium - Nashville, TN


July
2 - EverBank Field - Jacksonville, FL
5 - Busch Stadium - St Louis, MO
8 - Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL
10  - Comerica Park - Detroit, MI
12 - Hersheypark Stadium - Hershey, PA
14 - FirstEnergy Stadium - Cleveland, OH
15 - Great American Ballpark - Cincinnati, OH
17 - American Family Field - Milwaukee, WI
19 - Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City, MO
21 - Coors Field - Denver, CO


August
5 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA
6 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA
8 - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON
10 - The Stadium Tour - Orchard Park, NY
12 - PNC Park - Pittsburgh, PA
14 - US Bank Stadium - Minneapolis, MN
16 - Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
19 - Minute Made Park - Houston, TX
21 - Alamodome - San Antonio, TX
22 - Globe Life Park in Arlington - Arlington, TX
25 - State Farm Stadium - Phoenix, AZ
27 - SoFi Stadium - Inglewood, CA
28 - Petco Park - San Diego, CA
31 - T-Mobile Park - Seattle, WA


September
2 - BC Place - Vancouver, BC
4 - Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton, AB
7 - Oracle Park - San Francisco, CA
9 - Allegiant Stadium - Las Vegas, NV

Extreme metal outfit, Obsidious, have released a visualizer video for their new single, "Bound By Fire". Pre-save the single here, and watch the clip below.





"Bound By Fire" will be featured on the band’s upcoming debut album, Iconic, which will be released on October 28 via Season of Mist. Pre-orders for the new album will start soon.




Obsidious comment on the track: "Another song with descriptive lyrics, this time dealing with a subject, unfortunately, on everyone's lips at present: the horrors of wars and armed conflicts. The suffering of innocent people who have little or nothing to do with it, seeing their lives cut short. People who see their comrades die and, in other cases, are even forced to kill people they knew or were friends with just because they were on the opposite side. Killing or dying for something they did not start. One of humanity's most brutal dichotomies."





The band previously released a lyric video for  "Under Black Skies", also featured on the upcoming Iconic album.


assist Sebastian Lanser commented on the track: “'Under Black Skies' turned out to be a very complex and demanding tune involving/incorporating multiple meter changes and metric modulations. Regardless of its complexity it has a lot of catchy moments. Our producer V. Santura once said: '‘Under Black Skies’ sounds like Dimmu Borgir on steroids'.”





Lineup:


Linus Klausenitzer - Bass
Rafael Tujillo - Guitar
Javi Perera - Vocals
Sebastian Lanser - Drums

Former TNT singer Tony Harnell says that he was on the list of candidates when JUDAS PRIEST was looking for a new vocalist to fill the massive shoes of Rob Halford in the early 1990s. "I was considered at one point, when Rob Halford left, my manager told me I was being considered for JUDAS PRIEST," the 59-year-old Harnell, who famously spent only eight months fronting SKID ROW, said during an appearance on the latest episode of the GUNS N' ROSES-centric "Appetite For Distortion" podcast (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And that would have been a huge dream for me because I knew the songs so well. Looking back on it, I'm kind of almost glad I didn't get the gig, because it was hard to be in the role I was in. And it would have been even more pressure and harder, I think, for me to have filled… With the childhood history I have with JUDAS PRIEST, it could have broken my heart, depending on the reaction of people. It doesn't matter how good you do the material — you're not the guy."

A year ago, Harnell released his cover version of the JUDAS PRIEST classic "Before The Dawn". In a message accompanying the YouTube release of the song, he wrote: "There's really no way to put into words the impact that @robhalfordlegacy and @judaspriest had on me and my decision to make music my life, but I'll try.

"It all started when my junior high school buddy Ed Gotti gave me my first PRIEST album 'Stained Class' in 1978 when I was just 15 years old. It blew my head apart. I listened to it every day, several times a day, it was my sonic bible that year. Of course I immediately went to the record shop and found 'Sin After Sin', 'Sad Wings' and 'Rocka Rolla'. I fell pretty hard for 'Sad Wings' as well. And I was the first in line to buy 'Hell Bent For Leather' when it came out later that same year and for me, it was the THE most bad ass album I'd ever heard or seen! That cover! I literally played the 8 track to death in my first car when I was just 16.

"What always struck me about Rob was his versatility. All the colors and textures in his voice, the use of various tones from beautiful to brutal and his ability to convey so many emotions in one single phrase. And of course his superhuman range and pure voiced stratospheric notes.

"I surfed nearly every morning and listened to these albums to and from the beach singing full blast and honing my craft, but I didn't know this at the time. I was literally training my voice without even thinking that's what I was doing. I was just in a musical trance. Next to surfing it was all I cared about and all I thought about and JUDAS PRIEST was driving my obsession.

"On the midst of all this heavy music there was this beautiful song 'Before The Dawn'. I just loved singing along to it so much. I performed it in my storyteller set on tour in Norway in September 2019 and it went over so well I figured at some point I'd record it. So here it is. With absolutely beautiful guitars from my brother @haape and a wonderful mix by my friend @rwikmark".

Tim "Ripper" Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 after being discovered when the band's drummer, Scott Travis, was given a videotape of him performing with the PRIEST cover act BRITISH STEEL. He recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Halford in 2003.

Last November, former ACCEPT frontman David Reece said that he was also high on the list of candidates to replace Halford. "I was in Tennessee, and I hadn't fully retired yet, 'cause I had obligations before I decided to retire," Reece recalled in an interview with "Waste Some Time With Jason Green". "I'm on the phone with [PRIEST co-manager] Jayne Andrews every two days. I'm in contention with [PRIMAL FEAR singer] Ralf Scheepers and Tim Owens. It came down to, like, three or four guys, and I was one of those guys. And in those days, I had done SIRCLE OF SILENCE and some really heavy, intense, SABBATH-y kind of stuff, and Glenn Tipton [PRIEST guitarist] went, 'That guy's got it. Let's get him over to England.' It never came into fruition, but I was still the guy people were thinking about."

Nearly a decade ago, Scheepers confirmed to Metal Kaoz that he was at one time considered as a possible replacement for Halford. "The truth is that I was on the singers list for JUDAS PRIEST, but, as you all know, Tim Owens [got the gig] and it was a great decision for the band since he is a great singer," Ralf said. "In the end, we were all happy since, after all, PRIMAL FEAR started then in 1997. I was never invited to rehearse with PRIEST — that [would have been] the next step — and the name of Tim came out of the blue, so they chose him. But you know, that's life and I am also happy since I wouldn't be for long with JUDAS PRIEST since Halford has returned, right?"

Original JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing discussed the band's vocalist search in a 2019 interview with Noizz Eater. He said at the time: "Ralf Scheepers from PRIMAL FEAR, he was one consideration, 'cause he's great. But I think everybody thought that having somebody new was a better option, and, obviously, Tim was a great singer — still is. But it was very difficult to find somebody to replace Rob, as you can imagine."

Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack has issued a health update on his father, shortly after the legendary heavy metal singer tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Jack appeared on Tom Newton Dunn's "The News Desk" on TalkTV Thursday night (April 28) and said (see video below): "He's doing well. I spoke to him shortly before coming in. He just says… I'll save the colorful language, but he says it sucks."

The news of the legendary heavy metal singer's diagnosis was shared by his wife and manager Sharon earlier that day on her new show "The Talk UK".

"Ozzy was only diagnosed... It was, like, middle of the night [U.K.] time. I spoke to him and he's okay," she said.

"I am very worried about Ozzy right now," she added. "We've gone two years without him catching COVID and it's just Ozzy's luck he would get it now."

When asked what the first thing is that she will do when she flies back to Los Angeles from the U.K., Sharon said: "[I will] hold him and kiss him with about three masks on, I think.

"My family is my life," she added.

As for the fact that she will be missing her new show, she said: "I can't believe my luck that I'm missing the show. I've only been there three days. I can't believe it — three days and I'm missing the show. But I will be back. I know I will. It'll take me a week to get my old man on his feet again and I will be back in a week."

Speaking about how the rest of the Osbourne family is coping with Ozzy's diagnosis, Sharon said: "Unfortunately, he was diagnosed in the middle of the night — they're all sleeping — so I haven't spoken to them yet, but they'll rally around. They'll be with him."

Regarding when people can expect to see her back on television, she said: "You're gonna see me back on air in a week 'cause I know my husband... we're gonna get him back on his feet and we're gonna get a negative test by next week."

Sharon herself was diagnosed with COVID-19 in December 2020. At the time, she said she said she was hospitalized for the infectious disease for a short time and was isolating away from Ozzy, who had tested negative.

In November 2020, prior to getting vaccinated for COVID-19, Ozzy told GQ magazine that he suffers from a respiratory disease which puts him at an increased risk of severe pneumonia and poor outcomes if he was to get infected with the novel coronavirus.

"I've got emphysema, so if I get this virus, I'm fucked," he said, referring to the type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) lung disease that makes it hard to breathe and gets worse over time.

Ozzy previously joked that Satan helped him ward off COVID-19 for the first two years of the pandemic. "My wife had the virus; my daughter had the virus and I never got it," he told Metal Hammer magazine last October. "Being a devil worshipper does have its good points."

In February 2021, Ozzy confirmed he received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, saying he "felt relieved " to get the jab.

Ozzy's COVID-19 diagnosis comes just one day after Sharon told Piers Morgan during an interview on his new show "Uncensored" that Ozzy is "dying to come home" to the U.K.

"He's doing okay. He sends you his love," Sharon said of the 73-year-old musician. "He's got one more operation left to do and then he's dying to come back home."

In January 2020, Ozzy revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He has also been suffering debilitating mobility issues following a recent back and neck surgery.

Ozzy has had other health battles in recent years, including the flu, pneumonia, a life-threatening staph infection in his thumb and a nasty fall.

In a brand new interview with RadioactiveMike Z, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio program "Wired In The Empire", Glenn Danzig revealed that he is currently working on four different movie scripts. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "'The Vampires' Vengeance' is the 'Death Rider' sequel," referencing his homage to Italian spaghetti westerns and classic vampire films, "Death Rider In The House Of Vampires", which came out last year. "That's almost done. Then I'm writing a werewolf biker movie — like one-percenter werewolf bikers, outlaw bikers. Then I've got a martial arts movie I've been working on for a while with the knife-fighting assassin. And then the 'Verotika' sequel."

Asked if he plans to star in any more of his films, Glenn said: "The only one I did a little role in was the 'Death Rider' role, the Bad Bathory role, which is a smaller role, 'cause I just like to concentrate on directing. Yeah, I don't know. Probably, obviously, in the 'Death Rider' movie, Bad Bathory comes back. But I don't think in the other ones I'll be making appearances.

"It's a lot of work doing a movie, especially if you're writing and directing, 'cause then everybody comes to the director when there's a problem," he explained. "And there's always a million problems on a movie; you don't even know it. It's just, like, 'Wow!' You come home exhausted, just like 'Wow!'

"I have to say, people — like the actors, all the people on the crew and everything, on the movie — everybody puts a lot of work into doing it. It's not easy. It's tough.

"It's way more difficult to make a movie [than to make an album]," he revealed.

Last August, Glenn said that actress Kim Director ("Blair Witch 2", "The Deuce") will come back for the "Death Rider In The House Of Vampires" sequel. "The others may or may not come back," he said. "If we do the sequel, you'll have to see it to see who doesn't come back and who comes back."

"Death Rider In The House Of Vampires" was written and directed by Danzig, with Glenn also acting as the executive producer, along with James Cullen Bresack. The cinematography was by Danzig and Pedja Radenkovic. The film follows the Death Rider, who travels to the desert Vampire Sanctuary, ruled by Count Holliday. The price of admission… one untouched virgin.

"Death Rider In The House Of Vampires" starred Devon Sawa as the Death Rider, Julian Sands as Count Holliday and Kim Director as Carmilla Joe. Joining them were Eli Roth as Drac Cassidy, Ashley Wisdom as Mina Belle, Victor DiMattia as Kid Vlad, Danny Trejo as Bela Latigo, and Danzig himself as the aforementioned vampire gunslinger Bad Bathory.

Glenn told Rolling Stone about "Death Rider In The House Of Vampires": "It's an homage to classic vampire movies and, of course, classic Italian spaghetti Westerns. I just mixed the two genres. I didn't think anyone would have done it before. Basically [the character] Death Rider travels to the vampire sanctuary out in the middle of the desert, and then it all goes crazy after that."

Asked if he wrote the Bad Bathory character for himself, Danzig said: "I started writing the script, and I had all these characters. And then eventually I was, like, 'You know what? I could do this, and we won't have to look for somebody and we get out of it cheap.' So I didn't originally intend for me to be that character, but then I just started thinking about him, like, 'I'll just do this one. It's not a big part. It'd be easy. I could still do the directing.'

"With directing, at least for me, you're involved in everything. People come to you with wardrobe, sets, casting; pre-production is insane. The director's got the hardest job. I just want to make sure I'm, like, a real director and not like one of these Hollywood directors where somebody else will start the movie and then they take credit. [Laughs]."

When it debuted at the Cinepocalypse festival in Chicago in 2019, Glenn's feature film directorial debut "Verotika" was compared by some reviewers to Tommy Wiseau's "The Room", the so-bad-it's-amazing drama which is considered one of the worst movies ever made.

Sebastian Bach sang a cover of Frank Sinatra's version of "Night And Day", a popular song by Cole Porter that was written for the 1932 musical "Gay Divorce", at the 40th-birthday party of Mike Love Jr., son of THE BEACH BOYS' Mike Love, at The Golden Tiki in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After Sebastian's wife Suzanne posted video of his rendition, the former SKID ROW singer shared the clip on Twitter and included the following message: "Happy Birthday Mike Love Jr we had an awesome time at your 40th! I've always loved this tune by @franksinatra by way of @U2 . have a great birthday dude".

Last fall, Bach returned to the stage for a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of SKID ROW's double-platinum, acclaimed album "Slave To The Grind". The trek kicked off on September 25 in Waterloo, New York and wrapped in San Diego, California on December 17.

Back in 2018, Bach told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM radio station that he was going to ink a deal with a U.S.-based heavy metal record label that would help him make a "career-defining" new solo album.

Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011's "Kicking & Screaming", the disc was released through Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian label which specializes in what's commonly called AOR, a term that once signified a popular radio format ("album-oriented rock") but nowadays applies to acts whose airplay is marginal.

Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY. In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, featured a lineup consisting of bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and singer Johnny Solinger. SKID ROW fired Solinger over the phone in April 2015, a few hours before announcing ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his replacement. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was replaced by South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I. Theart was fired from SKID ROW in February and was replaced by Erik Grönwall, who was previously a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T.
Happy Birthday Mike Love Jr we had an awesome time at your 40th! I've always loved this tune by @franksinatra by way of @U2 have a great birthday dude✌️ https://t.co/9hJgOqzTul

— Sebastian Bach (@sebastianbach) May 2, 2022



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Ric Parnell, who played Mick Shrimpton, the drummer of SPINAL TAP in the mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap", has died at the age of 70. Parnell was also a onetime member of ATOMIC ROOSTER, a 1970s British hard rock/progressive rock band which was led by extraordinary keyboardist Vincent Crane.

Ric played drums on solo albums for RADIO BIRDMAN's Deniz Tek, who paid tribute to his friend in a social media post on Sunday (May 1). He wrote: "Ric Parnell died early this morning.

"From day one, meeting him, I found him to be engaging, warm, and delightfully funny. We hit it off as pals immediately. He had a cheerful spirit that made you feel good, just being around him.

"Ric's amazing history in the music world is well known. I had the great good fortune to work with Ric on three albums. Studio time was casual, fun, and scattered with stories and humor. Ric never actually prepared for a session, but would come up with the beat and the arrangement on the spot. He would say 'How does this next song go?' I'd play it to him on a guitar, and he'd think about it for a minute. Then he would say 'Right! Got something.' Then he would nail it in one or two takes, and it was as perfect as it gets.

"Ric was one of a kind. He lives on in his music, and in our hearts."

Parnell big break came in 1984 when he played the role of Mick Shrimpton in "This Is Spinal Tap". His character was one of a long line of unfortunate drummers who all perish from freak accidents, his own fate being spontaneous combustion.

In a 2007 interview with Missoulian, he said about how he landed the role: "The first question they asked was, 'What do you think about a movie that's going to tear your career apart?' I said, 'You should have made this movie about 10 years ago.' They then asked me what other bands I'd been in, and I said, 'Well, I was in a band called ATOMIC ROOSTER.' They looked at each other and said, 'Yep, that's it, you're our man.'"

According to Wikipedia, Parnell remained with SPINAL TAP when it became a working band, recording a soundtrack album and promoting the film with live shows and a 1984 appearance on "Saturday Night Live". The character of Mick Shrimpton having died in "This Is Spinal Tap", Parnell assumed the role of his "twin brother" drummer Ric Shrimpton for the group's appearances subsequent to the film. This continued through the band's 1992 reunion album "Break Like The Wind" and the associated concert tour. Parnell was not a part of more recent SPINAL TAP activity.

Ric Parnell died early this morning.

From day one, meeting him, I found him to be engaging, warm, and delightfully...

Posted by Deniz Tek on Sunday, May 1, 2022

Gene Simmons has once again blasted people who are defiantly skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines, saying they are posing a risk to themselves and to all those around them.

The KISS bassist and co-vocalist discussed his views on anti-vaxxers while speaking to iHollywoodTV about his new Gibson signature bass. Asked what it has been like to return to the road with KISS during the pandemic, Gene said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Look, I've always been a safe guy. I've never been run over by a car. But then whenever I get to the street corner, I do what I was taught, which is look both ways, cross at the green, not in between, and all that stuff. So cars never hit me — surprise! The pandemic is the same thing. You've gotta get a flu shot. If you go to school, you get all kinds of… A polio shot, all kinds of shots. Which may not be life-threatening. The pandemic and COVID could be life-threatening, especially if you have predisposed other diseases, you could die. A million Americans have died. Close to 10 million worldwide have died because of this. I know the conspiracy idiots are telling you that it's not true — it is. So I got vaccinated twice, then had a booster, and I'm about to get another boost.

"This is gonna be a fact of life," he continued. "Every year I go and get my flu vaccine — I get the shots. Because even though flu might not be life-threatening, I don't wanna deal with the headaches and stuff. As a statement of fact, I did get COVID. We got off tour. All of us are vaccinated, and even though I was vaccinated, you can get COVID. However, as a factoid, I had zero symptoms — because of the vaccine. So I didn't have a runny nose, I didn't get backaches. In fact, my appetite went up and I gained a few pounds. But that's what happens when you have a vaccine.

"If you sit in your car, the law is you must wear a seatbelt," Gene added. "That's not gonna prevent an accident from happening, but it may prevent you from having to buy a new face when it crashes into your windshield. A vaccine may not prevent you from getting COVID but may be able to prevent you from having to be in the hospital and have a tube go up your ass. No, of course, some people like that sort of that.

"Usually I don't tell people what to do," Simmons clarified. "But it is an issue if your personal decision affects other people. 'I don't wanna wear the color blue' — nobody's gonna tell you what to do. But if you sneeze in public, don't you put your hand in front of your face? If you're yawning in public, don't you cover your face? I don't cover my face when I'm at home, 'cause there's nobody around. And those are not life-threatening events. If you're willing to cover your face when you're sneezing, which is not a life-threatening event, why wouldn't you get a vaccine [against COVID-19], which could be a life-threatening event for you and for others."

Last November, Gene lamented the politicization of the coronavirus vaccines, telling the livestreaming social selling online network TalkShopLive: "It has become political, unfortunately. The far left and the far right are both evil; they both spread all kinds of nonsense. I don't like either one of them. Politics are the enemy. Humanism and humanity is what we should all be concerned about. Love thy neighbor as thyself."

Back in August, Simmons tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. His bandmate Paul Stanley also caught the virus, leading the band to postpone a handful of concerts.

In October, Rolling Stone magazine published a story in which a group of KISS roadies suggested that the lack of COVID protocols enforced on the band's "End Of The Road" farewell tour led to the death of a longtime guitar tech, 53-year-old Francis Stueber. Stueber died of coronavirus in his Detroit hotel room on October 17, just two days after being quarantined. The crew members claimed the tour didn't take strict enough safety measures, including not testing everyone regularly. In addition, some crew members allegedly disguised their illness and/or faked vaccine cards.

Metallica have released more video from their show at Club Hípico in Santiago, Chile on April 27. The new clip for "Through The Never" joins the previously posted video for "Spit Out The Bone". Watch both, below:










Part 2 of Metallica's European Tour Poster Archive Sale will begin this Thursday, May 5 at 1 PM, PDT.


"Shows included will be from 2017-2019 on the WorldWired Tour. While we don’t have stock for every show, we do have most! However there are a limited number of each we do have, so make sure you’re signed in and ready to go Thursday at 1 PM PDT sharp!"





Important Checkout Information:


- Adding posters to your cart DOES NOT guarantee purchase.
- You must complete the checkout process before your purchase is officially reserved.
- The posters in this sale can only be purchased with each other. This means you can not have other items in your cart when you check out.
- Limit one of each poster per customer.
- Must be a Fifth Member (and logged in to your account) to purchase.


"Given the large-scale nature of this sale, we will be taking extra time to ensure every shipment is packaged as carefully as possible. Because of that, we will not begin shipping orders until May 30.


These posters won’t last, so make sure you’re in the Met Store and signed in to your Fifth Member account on Thursday, May 5 at 1 PM PDT!"

GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose joined county-pop superstar Carrie Underwood on stage Saturday night (April 30) at the Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, California to perform his band's classic songs "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City".

Carrie performed the opening verse and chorus of "Sweet Child O' Mine" with her band before telling the crowd: "Welcome to the greatest night of my life. Give it up for Axl Rose!" They then immediately launched into "Paradise City", with Underwood telling the audience: "You thought we were finished?"

Back in 2015, Underwood told E! in an interview with she really wanted to sing with Rose at some point in her life. She said: "I've covered enough GUNS N' ROSES stuff, and it was people like him who taught me how to sing."

"I look at people like him and Freddie Mercury, those people who were doing all these crazy runs. It was so different," Underwood added.

In 2013, Underwood delivered a faithful cover of "Paradise City" at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville.

Two years ago, while promoting her book "Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, And Get Strong With The Fit 52 Life", Underwood appeared on an episode of "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" and talked about flying to Las Vegas to see her favorite band GUNS N' ROSES and called it "one of the best nights" of her life.

"We were nowhere near Las Vegas, so naturally I said, 'Let's go to Las Vegas with the band and go see GN'R play,'" Underwood shared with Fallon. "It's kind of a life-long dream of mine I never thought would happen. Couldn't waste that opportunity, so I abandoned my husband, abandoned my children, went to Vegas, and saw GUNS N' ROSES. Amazing."

She continued: "Usually, when I go to concerts, I'm like, in a box on the side, which is great — it has its perks, there's usually a bathroom in there, it's kind of awesome,' she explained. "But you miss the energy of the crowd. Because we were in Vegas, we were just in there with everyone else, it was absolutely incredible. You could feel everybody, everybody was screamin', I was screamin' — I was, like, 'I'm never gonna see none of these people ever again, I'm gonna act like a fool!. It was amazing."

Following that show, Underwood actually met Rose backstage. "It's hard to meet your heroes, because I do consider him someone who taught me how to sing," she said. "But he was super cool and great and nice and we talked. We're best friends."

Carrie said in a 2014 interview that late QUEEN frontman Freddie Mercury was high on her list of first loves.

"I've always been a huge fan and lover of Freddie Mercury," she said. "I would listen to him when I was a kid. He could do so many amazing things with his voice. People like that — who had incredible voices — I was always drawn to. I would want to try to do what they do. They were my teachers."

She also said that if you scrolled through her iPod, you’d find some really hard rock music, like MUDVAYNE.

"When I work out, I like to listen to things that are really angry," she said. "I couldn't do it on a daily basis or driving in my car. I think that would be kind of weird."



Carrie Underwood Feat. Axl Rose - Sweet Child O' Mine & Paradise City - Live Stagecoach 2022

Posted by Gilmar Gunner on Sunday, May 1, 2022

Carrie Underwood y Axl Rose en el escenario del Stagecoach Country Music Festival 2022

Posted by Guns N Roses for ever on Sunday, May 1, 2022



When Axl Rose joins Carrie Underwood for 2 songs tonight at Stagecoach you get Guns N Country! #amazing

Posted by Kerry Zurier on Sunday, May 1, 2022



What a great concert Carrie underwood featuring Axl rose.
Stagecoach. That was a cherries on top of the cake.

Posted by Jose Leanos on Saturday, April 30, 2022

SEETHER was joined by former FLYLEAF singer Lacey Sturm last night (Saturday, April 30) during the band's concert at Santander Arena & Performing Arts Center to perform the FLYLEAF song "I'm So Sick". Fan-filmed video of her appearance can be seen below.

Prior to launching into the track, SEETHER frontman Shaun Morgan told the crowd: "We've known this person for a very long time. She's one of my favorite singers of all time. So we said, 'Hey, let's do this one song that you used to do.' And she's gonna play it with us tonight. I may screw it up, 'cause it's always on me if something goes wrong. But please make some noise for Lacey Sturm."

Sturm left FLYLEAF in October 2012. She was replaced by Kristen May, who recorded one album with the group, 2014's "Between The Stars", before exiting.

Lacey opened up about her reasons for her departure from FLYLEAF in a video promoting her 2014 memoir "The Reason: How I Discovered A Life Worth Living". At the time, she said: "We were on our second album when I got married. And the album was called 'Memento Mori'. And 'memento mori' means remember you're mortal, remember that you'll die and remember that your life is short and precious and so are the lives of those around you.

"For two years, I toured with my husband and it was really amazing, and then after those two years, we ended up getting pregnant with my son," she continued. "And I recognized that my priorities were gonna change even more and that message of 'memento mori' and remembering how short your life is was really weighing on my heart.

"We toured for ten years. I mean, we weren't home for more than a month, probably, a year. So, for me, I just felt really blessed to be pregnant and to be in a place where I could stay home if I wanted to, and really ask that question: how is this gonna change my priorities? How is this gonna look? We had a few things happen that really brought that message home, but the one that hit the hardest was the death of our sound engineer [Rich Caldwell]. We did one last show with FLYLEAF as a benefit for his wife Katy and their son Kirby. And it was really hard to do a show without him, and it was really hard to think it could be our last show. So I remember looking at my son after Rich had passed and just wondering to myself, if this was the last year I had with my son, how would I spend it?

"It was really amazing to recognize this season changing in my life and the freedom that I was gonna be able to focus on my family. And I'm so thankful for that time. And although it was really hard, I'm thankful. And that's the reason I stepped down from FLYLEAF."

Last December, Sturm released the official music video for her latest single, "Awaken Love". The track followed the previously released "The Decree" and "State Of Me".

Performing live with SKILLET before the pandemic shut down arena tours, Lacey has since been writing new music and finding creative ways to connect with fans. Singing on BREAKING BENJAMIN's 2020 single "Dear Agony (Aurora Version)", which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 after 20 weeks on the chart while racking up well over 16 million views on YouTube alone, Lacey has also performed with SHINEDOWN and others on drive-in theater stages and has hit virtual stages along with METALLICA, THREE DAYS GRACE, SEETHER and others during the Recording Academy-sponsored Octane Home Invasion festival.







Seether w/ Lacey Sturm - I’m So Sick

Posted by Dan Zona on Sunday, May 1, 2022



Seether W/ Lacey Sturm Performing ”Sick” by Flyleaf

Posted by Adrian Conrad on Sunday, May 1, 2022



Seether featuring Lacey Sturm - I’m So Sick

Posted by Jack Ayres on Sunday, May 1, 2022

SKID ROW guitarist Scotti Hill was forced to miss the band's concert last night (Saturday, April 30) at Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky after testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Filling in for him was one of SKID ROW's guitar techs.

SKID ROW singer Erik Grönwall addressed Hill's absence before launching into the band's classic song "18 And Life". He told the crowd: "Unfortunately, Scotti got COVID and he's home and resting. And luckily, we have the best and coolest fucking crew in the world. So this guy right here, that guy is usually a guitar tech but he's an awesome fucking guitar player. And this guy learned all the songs in less than a day. Give it up for Casey, everybody, c'mon. What a fucking hero."

Grönwall joined SKID ROW in January as the replacement for ZP Theart, who had been in the group for more than six years. Theart played his final gig with SKID ROW in February before being officially given the boot.

In late March, SKID ROW released its first single with Grönwall, "The Gang's All Here". The song is the title track of the band's upcoming album, which will arrive on October 14 via earMUSIC.

SKID ROW recorded most of "The Gang's All Here" in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, STONE SOUR, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, RUSH and ALICE IN CHAINS, among many others.

Grönwall was a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T. with whom he recorded four studio albums — "Address The Nation" (2012),"Tearing Down The Walls" (2014),"Into The Great Unknown" (2017) and "H.E.A.T II" (2020) — before exiting the group in October 2020.

Grönwall was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021. Six months later, he announced that he was cancer free after receiving a bone marrow transplant in August. "Some anonymous wonderful human being somewhere in the world donated his/her blood cells so that I could get a second chance at life," he told Headbangers Lifestyle in January. "Sometimes I can just get tears in my eyes when I think about it. It's so beautiful that one person who is not connected to me in any way wanted to do that for me. He/she doesn't know that the blood cells were for me. It's completely anonymous."

Last September, Grönwall released his cover version of "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms.

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









Skid Row 18 an Life 4-30-22 Ashland Kentucky

Posted by Jeff Ramey on Saturday, April 30, 2022



Hell of a show last night in Ashland KY! I’ll put up samples throughout the day! Good time!

Posted by William Bub Koster on Sunday, May 1, 2022



The end of "Slave to the grind" and the song "The Threat". 4/30/22 Ashland Kentucky

Posted by Brian Lawrence on Sunday, May 1, 2022

Happy New Year! We're kicking of 2022 with another 🚨 NEW SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 Saturday, April 30th, join us for a HUGE...

Posted by Paramount Arts Center on Monday, January 3, 2022

Former SEPULTURA drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera joined U.K. hardcore punk legends DISCHARGE on stage this past Thursday, April 28 at New Cross Inn in London to perform the classic DISCHARGE song "Protest And Survive". Video of his appearance can be seen below.

Igor and his brother, ex-SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera, previously performed "Protest And Survive" and "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" with members of DISCHARGE back in December 2019 at 02 Academy in Birmingham, England.

Six years ago, Max stated about how he first discovered DISCHARGE's music: "There was a time in Brazil around '82, I believe — '82 or '83 — we used to go to this place called Woodstock Records. And we didn't have money for imported records, so we'd buy cassettes. And I just remember the guy from the store recommended that one side of the cassette I should the DISCHARGE 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing' album. And the other side was HELLHAMMER 'Apocalyptic Raids'. So I just bought that cassette and took it home and fell in love with it. It was so cool. It was not until later that I realized that [DISCHARGE] were punks — that they [had] mohawks and all that. It was on the same tape with a metal band — I liked HELLHAMMER and I liked DISCHARGE. I wanted more so I ended up discovering more stuff, bought more tapes. I got some other records — I got the 'Why' EP and 'Never Again' and all that. So, yeah, it was killer. I became a big fan. It was mostly me and Igor — we were kind of like the punk heart of SEPULTURA. The other two guys didn't like punk stuff very much, so it was mostly me and Igor. But I think the influence is… Even today, to me, 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing' is a wall of guitar that has never been done again ever since. The album still today sounds amazing. It's just a wall of guitars coming at you. It's incredible. It's sonic violence. It's what I like about it, and I fell in love with it."

He continued: "We were right on the edge of the crossover of metal and punk when SEPULTURA started. Because the beginning of the thrash metal movement, I think what inspired it was the combination of stuff like MOTÖRHEAD mixed with DISCHARGE — you get thrash metal, which is great. So it's perfect for that."

In a 2016 interview with Antihero, Igor stated about what drew him and Max to some of the early hardcore punk music: "It has a lot to do with the energy. I remember also me and Max digging through certain records and always we would find, like, this song. This song is the best … And usually it was the one with more raw power to it. Even though on the [BLACK] SABBATH record, if it would be like a ballad, we would be, like, 'That's cool, but that's not it.' If it was something a bit heavier, we would get into it. And eventually that moved to the point where we were, like, 'Man, this is it. 'That's where hardcore, they get that. They were extracting the cool thing about metal and the cool thing about punk and kind of mixing it up and bringing this style that me and Max to this day, that's something that we really love. Those old records, and also new bands."

As previously reported, Max and Igor will perform select tracks from SEPULTURA's seminal "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" albums on a U.S. tour this spring/summer. Joining Max and Igor on the trek will be Mike Leon of SOULFLY and Daniel Gonzalez of POSSESSED.

In 1996, Max exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band split with Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their son (who was born in January 2006).




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MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro has shared more behind-the-scenes video from the rehearsal sessions for the 2022 leg of the band's "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM and IN FLAMES. Check out the 11-minute clip below.

Featured songs:

00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Soundcheck
02:07 - Trust - Cryptic Writings
05:36 - Symphony of Destruction - Countdown To Extinction
07:34 - Sweating Bullets - Countdown To Extinction
11:07 - Final

The 49-year-old Brazilian musician, who lives in Finland with his wife and kids, and his MEGADETH bandmates kicked off the 2022 leg of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" on April 9 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Last month, MEGADETH bassist James LoMenzo discussed the band's setlist for the 2022 leg of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" during a bassist roundtable video chat with Knotfest's Ryan J. Downey. "You have to take into account that Dave's [Mustaine, MEGADETH frontman] been through a lot with his voice, so a lot of the songs that we pick are predicated on [the fact] that he is healing correctly," the bassist said at the time, referencing Mustaine's recent battle with throat cancer. "So that's part of it as well. But it's a long road ahead. We're always swapping in songs. We've got a whole pile — they're all sitting, waiting to be let loose. That's the great thing about being in this band, is that there's just an inexhaustible catalog.

"I don't know how to say this delicately, so I'll just say it. The truth of the matter is when you go to see a lot of your favorite bands — let's be the fan guy; okay, let's go to see our favorite band… I remember when JUDAS PRIEST was doing all of 'Nostradamus'," he continued. "It was a good record, but it wasn't 'Hell Bent For Leather'. And I've gotta say that people wanna hear the songs that they love. Why wouldn't you play them for 'em?

"So that's the problem with a band like MEGADETH," James added. "And there are bands, as we move along — all bands, as you move along, you start just getting this giant catalog. And how do you get enough in there to give the core fans what they really want as opposed to the esoterics? You try and throw a thing here and there, but you've gotta keep the hits, man."

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.

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