In a new interview with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, ZZ TOP's Billy Gibbons was asked about the band's decision to hire ZZ TOP's longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis, who had worked with the group for more than two decades, after the "totally unexpected" July 2021 death of their longtime bandmate, bassist Dusty Hill. Gibbons said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, Elwood and Dusty, they were two peas in a pod. Elwood starting off as a guitarist, he and Dusty were trading bass licks and guitar licks from day one. Elwood being quite the family member. He was with us for — gosh — three decades, knowing us inside and out. The big surprise… When he started out, Elwood was the skateboarder with an avocado sandwich and not a chin whisker to be found. After receiving the call from management saying ZZ TOP is gonna go back to work, and I said, 'Gee whiz, we'd better go rehearse.' And it was Dusty that said, 'Listen, if I'm late to the gig, give my guitar to Elwood. He knows it backwards and forward.' And I said, 'Oh, okay, fine. I showed up at the rehearsal and I said, 'Who's the new guy?' They said, 'Which one?' I said, 'That guy over there with the two-foot doormat hanging from his chin.' They said, 'Well, that's Elwood. And I said, 'No, no, the guy with the big beard.' And they said, 'That's Elwood.' He got lazy, just like we did."

The 72-year-old Hill died on July 28, 2021 in his sleep at his Houston, Texas home.

ZZ TOP played its first show following Hill's death on July 30, 2021 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Francis made his live debut with ZZ TOP on July 23, 2021 at the Village Commons in New Lenox, Illinois after Hill was forced to return to Texas to address a hip issue.

"When I first started doing it, Dusty was just sick and going home for a few weeks," Francis told Guitar World magazine. "It was entirely different; I was just helping out. I didn't have to worry about the weight of the crown because I was just helping. They pulled me aside and said, 'Can you honestly say you can't play his parts?' I said, 'I can do it, but I don't think people would enjoy me doing it.' They said, 'You can cover him for a few weeks.'"

Francis, whose place in ZZ TOP was made permanent shortly after Hill's death, went on to say that he still doesn't consider himself part of the band.

"We'd done some gigs when Dusty passed, and by that time, I wouldn't say I was comfortable because I'm still not fucking comfortable," he explained. "But I had a piece of paper on the riser for the first two shows if I got in trouble, and by the third show, I got rid of that, and just did the show.

"It's just weird," he continued. "Dusty is their bass player. I'm not the bass player. I'm not in the band. I'll never be in the band. I shouldn't be in the band. It's Dusty's thing. Sure, I'll still play with them, but it's a weird thing, man."

Hill joined ZZ TOP a year after its formation in 1969.

In a June 2023 interview with Classic Rock, Gibbons said about how Francis came to join ZZ TOP following Hill's passing: "Dusty was a great guy, a swell singer. He provided a solid platform for me to solo without having to look back. He was always on it. Dusty used to say: 'If I'm late to the stage, be sure to give my guitar to Elwood.' Elwood is a family member; he's been with us for three decades. And sure enough, Elwood picked up the parts and pieces [to replace Hill in ZZ TOP]. But whereas Dusty played with his fingers, Elwood uses a pick. It's a little sharper. He brings a little more finesse. And at the first rehearsal he showed up with a full beard longer than mine."

Gibbons admitted "there was a lot of curiosity" surrounding ZZ TOP's return to the live stage without Hill. "'What's this going to be like?' 'Can this guy hold up the bottom of the TOP?' In a trio it's a big challenge," he said. "Everything has to be working at a hundred and ten per cent. But Elwood was ready, having been a part of it for so long… [Dusty] said: 'The show must go on.' That was his wish, and we granted it."

In a new interview with Carlota of Kilpop, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bassist Chris Kael was asked for an update on his band's current activities. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We have a photo shoot tomorrow, actually, here in [Las Vegas]. Yeah, so we're all getting together… But, yeah, big five-hour photo shoot, getting ready for the next line of things. We're here in town working on new stuff as well. Going back to the old days, like the very first record. [On that album] I believe it was Zoltan [Bathory, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's founding guitarist] just in his apartment in Los Angeles, writing and recording right there in his apartment. He said that he didn't get a bed, he didn't get none of that, 'cause he didn't want anything to hold him down. He wanted to be able to go in there, record, be uncomfortable, and then get out and go do it. So, he's got a bed now and a much bigger house. But we're essentially doing it the way that it was done on that first record, just in the living room — set up and record and go."

Regarding the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the follow-up to FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's ninth album, "AfterLife", which came out in August 2022 via Better Noise, Kael said: "I think there's about six or seven songs at this point. Yeah, [we're] just kind of working on that and taking our time and really just kind of enjoying the break, with no rush. There's no deadlines, no impending tours. We've got six shows this year. I know we're doing Arizona Bike Week, playing up in Anchorage, Alaska, Sturgis, a couple shows in Wisconsin. We just announced Rocklahoma as well. And then other than that, we're just gonna be here writing and recording, going out to do those shows to get the live vibe again, get excited and then come back and bring that live energy back into the studio."

Last September, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH was forced to cancel its appearance in Mexico City as the support act for METALLICA due to an injury sustained by FFDP singer Ivan Moody.

Moody fractured his rib while performing with his FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bandmates at the 2024 Louder Than Life festival at Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Last summer, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH completed a headlining U.S. tour with support from MARILYN MANSON and SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL. The trek kicked off on August 2, 2024 in Hershey, Pennsylvania and ran through September 19, 2024 when it concluded in Houston, Texas.

Prior to the summer 2024 U.S. run, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH toured Europe as the support act for METALLICA on the latter act's "M72" world tour in addition to headlining shows with special guest ICE NINE KILLS and select appearances at major festivals.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

During an appearance on the February 27 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Ace Frehley confirmed that he is working on "Origins Vol. 3", the sequel to Ace's 2016 and 2020 collections of cover songs that inspired the former KISS guitarist. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I decided to reconnect with my old producer Alex Salzman. So, it won't be me and Steve Brown," referencing the TRIXTER guitarist/vocalist who helmed Ace's latest solo album, 2024's "10,000 Volts". "It'll be me and Alex Salzman collaborating on that record since Alex did 'Origins Vo. 1' and 'Vol. 2' and we have a formula that we came up with and it seemed to work."

Ace continued: "I was listening to the [first two 'Origins'] records last night on YouTube in my office on my desk. I have a set of Bose speakers, and the albums sound just as good as the new album, '10,000 Volts'. So, I'm gonna go back to my old formula with Alex. And maybe I'll bring back Steve to do the [next all-original] album since he's a very, very good songwriter and guitar player and engineer as well."

Asked if he has decided which songs he will cover on "Origins Vol. 3" yet, including whether he will once again do remakes of some KISS songs, Ace said: "I haven't decided. I have a list of about 50 songs, so… I really don't wanna give anything away. It's too soon."

Regarding the possibility of "Origins Vol. 3" being released in 2025, Ace said: "I could have it ready [this year]. I can do the album in a month because I don't have to write the songs. That's the beauty of the 'Origins' series. I don't write. So, the recording process is pretty seamless and rapid because all I have to do is Ace-ify it. [Laughs]"

Released in September 2020, "Origins Vol. 2" featured cover versions of THE BEATLES' "I'm Down", DEEP PURPLE's "Space Truckin'", LED ZEPPELIN's "Good Times Bad Times", THE ROLLING STONES' "Jumpin' Jack Flash", THE KINKS' "Lola" and THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE's "Manic Depression", among others. A cover of the 1975 KISS tune "She" also appeared as a bonus track. Guests on the set included CHEAP TRICK's Robin Zander, Lita Ford and former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

Released in April 2016, "Origins Vol. 1" debuted at No. 23 on The Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 16,000 equivalent album units. The CD featured KISS frontman Paul Stanley joining Ace on FREE's hit "Fire And Water", Slash trading leads on THIN LIZZY's classic "Emerald", Ford singing and playing lead on THE TROGGS staple "Wild Thing", then-ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5 playing guitar alongside Ace on the classic KISS composition "Parasite", and PEARL JAM's Mike McCready playing guitar with Ace on KISS's "Cold Gin".

In a 2016 interview with The Aquarian Weekly, Frehley admitted that doing the first covers album was "the record company's idea. To be honest with you, initially, I wasn't that excited about the project, because I had just come off the high of the success of 'Space Invader', which is all originals except for a cover of 'The Joker'," he said. "It was almost, like, 'Okay, I'm going to go through the motions and get this out of the way and then jump into the studio for my next real studio album.' But I've gotta tell ya, man, once I started the process and started remembering the groups that influenced me, narrowing down which songs I thought were going to be best for the record, and then started the recording process; I really started getting more excited about it."

"10,000 Volts" came out in February 2024 via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music).

The official music video for the "10,000 Volts" track — directed by Alex Kouvatsos from Black Wolf Imaging — was released in late November 2023. A clip for "Cherry Medicine", which was directed by Justin H. Reich of Three Thirty-Three Creative and produced by Reich and Steve Seabury, followed in February 2024.

Photo credit: Jayme Thornton

In a new interview with Primordial Radio, LACUNA COIL frontwoman Cristina Scabbia was asked how she handles negative reviews of her band, as well as online trolls who attack her personally on the Internet. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's also impossible to read all [the reviews] because now there are so many outlets — not only the few printed magazines, but also Internet. It's everywhere. And everyone has an opinion, even if they don't know anything about music, even if they don't hear a record.

"I read them whenever I have the chance — I read them all," she admitted. "I'm very present online. I try to figure out what people are thinking about the record and [their] opinions. I don't mind if people like it or not. Obviously, I'm very happy if people like our music. I don't mind if the criticisms are touching personal aspects of musicians. If you're listening to the record and you don't like it, it's fine. If you are saying something about me, my private life, or just, like — I don't know — 'I can't stand her because this, this and that,' I will reply you. I will show myself on social medias 'cause I can't fathom the idea that these people can take advantage of people that is way weaker than me and might not have the biggest shoulder to kind of react and could go downhill. Because too many people think that they can do whatever they want with what they write without thinking about consequences.

"So, yeah, you can attack LACUNA COIL. And you can attack Cristina Scabbia because Cristina Scabbia will stand up and reply and tell you that you're a fucking asshole," she added. "And will do it not just for you, but for everyone else to read that you're a fucking asshole. So maybe next time you either change your tone or don't say anything. Because if you do it to me, I react. If you do it to someone who is not in the right mental state, this person could do something very bad. And you would be walking out there feeling, 'Oh, I have a keyboard. I can write whatever the fuck I want.' No, that's not exactly how it works. You can express your preference. You can tell, 'I don't like this record. I prefer the record that they did years ago.' And it's the same for reviews. I mean, why would I care about the review of a guy that — I don't know — maybe just listens to black metal and maybe just listened to our record once very quickly, analyzing it and giving it a vote? I don't care. It's just like, okay, whatever. You have a different taste. You thought that the record sucked. Or maybe you wouldn't like it anyway. I mean, you can't please everybody."

LACUNA COIL's latest album, "Sleepless Empire", was released on February 14, 2025 via Century Media Records.

Last October, Italian guitarist/producer Daniele Salomone confirmed that he has joined LACUNA COIL as the replacement for the band's longtime guitarist Diego Cavallotti.

Salomone made his live debut with LACUNA COIL on August 4, 2024 at the Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Râșnov, Romania.

In June 2024, LACUNA COIL announced Cavallotti's departure. Diego, who joined LACUNA COIL in 2016, initially as a fill-in guitarist following the exit of Marco "Maus" Biazzi, later said in a social media post that "this decision is not the result of my dissatisfaction or desire to explore new opportunities."

Cavallotti and Salomone played together in the Italian metal band INVERNO, which released its debut album, "Stasis", in December 2023.

In a new interview with with Paltrocast host Darren Paltrowitz, EPICA vocalist Simone Simons was asked if it was a "difficult" process making the band's upcoming album, album, "Aspiral". She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It didn't feel difficult. It was definitely more intense because we had scheduled more writing camps where we would get together to spin off each other's brains or spawn ideas back and forth, also together with our producer. And I think compared to how we did it back in the day, let's say before [2021's] 'Omega', we were often writing, recording while still being on the road. And that, I think, is more difficult. And we learned from that mistake by making more time, clearing our schedule to really focus on the writing and recording of the album, to stay in the flow and to keep a better balance. We toured a lot in our whole career, but for us it's also important that we get to put the right amount of energy and focus into creating new music because that definitely has the priority. Without music, we cannot tour. Of course, we have a lot of albums now, but still it's a new way how we roll nowadays."

To celebrate the "Aspiral" release, EPICA will play three exclusive shows in the United States in early May: in New York City, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. Tickets and VIP upgrades will go on sale this Friday, February 28 at 10 a.m. local time.

The "Aspiral" LP title is derived from the eponymous bronze sculpture made by Polish sculptor and painter Stanisław Szukalski back in 1965 and stands for renewal and inspiration — key words that define EPICA in 2025. In Szukalski's work every detail is a piece of art in its own right, and there's always more to the story than you initially think. The band saw this as the perfect analogy for the creation of this ninth album: each song stands on its own with a distinctive vibe and meaning, while together they enforce each other into a monumental effort.

The album, featuring stunning cover artwork by Hedi Xandt (RAMMSTEIN, GHOST, PARKWAY DRIVE),is now available for pre-order. The special editions even include the Blu-ray and audio recordings of the full monumental "Symphonic Synergy" performance in Amsterdam that the band recorded in 2024 with an orchestra and choir.

Recorded once again at Sandlane Studios and expertly mixed and produced by Joost Van Den Broek, "Aspiral" boasts 11 new tracks:

01. Cross The Divide
02. Arcana
03. Darkness Dies In Light - A New Age Dawns Part VII
04. Obsidian Heart
05. Fight to Survive - The Overview Effect
06. Metanoia - A New Age Dawns Part VIII
07. T.I.M.E.
08. Apparition
09. Eye Of The Storm
10. The Grand Saga Of Existence - A New Age Dawns Part IX
11. Aspiral

The band's music video for the uptempo anthem "Cross The Divide", directed by Kunststoff, can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Mexico's Euphonico, Simons stated about the inspiration for the LP's first single, "Arcana", she said: "Well, it was kind of a lot of things coming together. Rob [Van Der Loo, EPICA bassist] and I are, besides colleagues, we're also really good friends. And he had a deck of tarot cards with him. And I thought, 'Just for the fun of it, let's do a session. Let me draw some cards and then you explain to me what they mean.' And it was a very enlightening experience, I guess. The song, the music was also written by Rob. And then I came up with the idea, like, 'What if I write a song that's kind of inspired by the meaning of the tarot cards and the session that I had with him and what I think it meant for me at that time in my life and where I am now?' So, yeah, it's a very — how do you say? — soul-searching kind of topic, and that's something EPICA has been writing about for quite a while, but so far we haven't touched on the tarot subject. So I thought this could be a cool topic to integrate in the new album, which is all about reinventing yourself, like a rebirth, renewing yourself. So it kind of a cool thing to draw inspiration from."

Elaborating on the writing and recording process for EPICA's upcoming album, Simone said: "I think 'Arcana' was one of the songs that came together quite quickly. We had many writing camp sessions in Holland. We rented a house where we were meeting a couple times for, like, a week in a row, and we were all just sitting together. And Rob had also kind of a clear view of what he wanted vocal-wise, and then he just let me do my thing. And it went very naturally to write the lyrics.

"The vocal recordings [for the new EPICA album] took place in the summertime, which is a good time to do so because autumn [and] winter is a time when everybody gets sick," she explained. "So, for me, it's great if I'm in the summer in the studio, so I'm in a good shape or not running a risk of getting a cold and that it affects the voice, because I did have to record albums back in the day where I did get sick. And luckily you can't hear it. I know which songs are the ones. But it was a very smooth process. We worked together with the same producer, Joost Van Den Broek, who became a little bit like the seventh EPICA bandmember. And it's great working with him. Yeah, we were diving into all the little details and we were really concentrated on making the songs as a band together.

"I think people that don't know EPICA, they don't know that we don't live in the same village," Simone added. "We live, actually, in four different countries. So for us to get together and really work on the songs is tricky. And we started doing that already for 'Omega', and we really liked that, to clear our touring schedule, because we tour a lot and to really be there together and not everybody at home in their home studios. You get a total different result if everybody's there in the same room; you feed off each other's creativity, and that's very beneficiary for the songs."

Asked if there is a main songwriter in EPICA or if everybody contributes to the songwriting process, Simone said: "Everybody gets to write songs. And some songs, I think the guys did write demo songs on their own, because we all have our home studios, and when we were together in the writing camp, then we were sparring off ideas and sending each other the files, and then everybody was working on a random song at the same time. There was a funny moment where, I think, Coen [Janssen, EPICA keyboardist], Ariën [Van Weesenbeek, EPICA drummer], Rob and I were sitting in the living room area, but kind of far apart from each other, and Coen was working on a song and he thought he had his headphones plugged in, but it was running out of the speakers. And then we said, 'Oh, cool. That sounds great. Which song are you working on?' And he was, like, 'Oh shit, you guys could hear what I was working on.' So it was everybody in different rooms. Isaac [Delahaye, EPICA guitarist] was in the attic playing the guitar, and I had to wait until very late before I could go sleep 'cause he went on writing music, recording guitars until almost one o'clock in the morning. But it was a really lovely experience. And everybody gets to write songs and everybody gets to work on those songs. So, we all put our little own salsa on the songs. [Laughs]"

"Arcana" marked EPICA's first new release since "Omega" and the collaboration EP "The Alchemy Project".

The single is now available on all streaming platforms. It also includes "The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)", EPICA's recently released collaboration with Europe's second-most visited theme park, Netherlands's magical De Efteling, and their much-anticipated new attraction, Danse Macabre.

The previously released music video for "Arcana", directed by Remko Tielemans, can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Spain's Mariskal Rock, Simone stated about EPICA's upcoming album: "I'm so happy with the songs, I'm so proud how everything turned out and it's gonna be another amazing EPICA album. We added a couple of new elements, but also went back to the roots, the old EPICA. And yeah, I just can't wait for people to hear this.

"I loved 'Omega' and we toured so much with 'Omega' and had wonderful experiences, but then when you reach the end of a touring cycle, you start to get itchy and feel, 'Okay, now it's time to do the new album. Can we do it as good or maybe even better than the last album?' That's always the thing we strive for, ways to renew ourselves a little bit. And we feel a very strong spiritual connection also that it's our ninth album. So there's gonna be themes around the symbolic meaning of nine, the number nine."

Elaborating on the musical direction of EPICA's next album, Simone said: "The songs are heavy. There's a beautiful ballad, a very cinematic song, very uptempo, very doomy, melancholic and amazing, amazing power riffs. It's the most epic EPICA, I think, so far. Yeah, I think so. I mean, I'm feeling it. I'm very happy with it. I'm proud of it."

In the latest episode of her "After Dinner Thinks With Ann Wilson" podcast, HEART singer Ann Wilson addressed the fact that she has been performing while sitting in a wheelchair during the first few shows of the 2025 North American leg of the band's "Royal Flush" tour, which kicked off Friday night (February 28) at the BleauLive Theater in Las Vegas. The show marked HEART's first live performance since the band postponed the remaining dates of its 2024 North American tour in July in order for Ann to undergo cancer treatments. Ann said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I think some people thought that I was in a wheelchair because of cancer, which I just kicked its ass and I'm nice and clear now. It's not about cancer. It's about me being a klutz [five days before the tour] and missing a step and falling into a parking lot and busting my elbow in three places and then having to have it pinned back together with screws and all that kind of stuff."

Ann continued: "In other ways, I'm perfectly fine. It's just I don't have the use of my left arm right now. So it's hard to navigate when you just have one hand and your other whole arm is in a sling… And you don't have the same balance. So I had to get used to that. And singing on stage, I really think that the pain level is still way too high for me to take it out of the sling. So I chose to sit because then I can just concentrate on singing and not on keeping my balance and having somebody out there catching me when I reel to the side."

Regarding the fact that some HEART fans have expressed their disappointment to see Wilson in a wheelchair, she said: "I've gotten so many suggestions, like 'Make it look like a throne.'

"I think it's looked on as some kind of an admission of vulnerability," she added about her decision to perform while sitting in a wheelchair. "And we have to look at the person and go, 'Oh, that's too bad' and bring negativity into it. It doesn't have to be that way. No, it's a great tool. And I'll be up and out of it after a while."

Wilson went on to say that her arm "just hurts too much" for her to be standing right now. "Yeah, there's pain involved with this injury," she explained.

Referencing some of her other recent health ailments, Ann said: "This is number three. First I had my knees done, then I had cancer, now I have the elbow. So that's gonna be it."

The rescheduled "Royal Flush" tour will wrap up on April 16 in New York City.

Earlier this week, HEART announced the "An Evening With Heart" spring/summer 2025 U.S. tour. The trek, which will see the band performing two separate sets each night, will kick off May 31 at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City and conclude on June 28 in Hollywood, Florida.

The current members of HEART feature Nancy Wilson (rhythm, lead and acoustic guitar, backing and lead vocals),Ann Wilson (lead vocals and flute),Ryan Wariner (lead and rhythm guitar),Ryan Waters (guitars),Paul Moak (guitars, keyboards and backing vocals),Tony Lucido (bass and backing vocals) and Sean Lane (drums and bike).

In December 2023, HEART played its first three concerts in more than four years — in Highland, California, at Greater Palm Springs in Palm Desert, California, and in Seattle, Washington.

Prior to HEART's December 27, 2023 show in Highland, the band's last performance took place in October 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The 2024 leg of "Royal Flush" featured CHEAP TRICK as support on most of the North American leg. HEART was also scheduled to join DEF LEPPARD and JOURNEY for summer stadium shows in Cleveland, Toronto and Boston.

HEART toured North America in the summer of 2019 after a nasty split that kept the Wilson sisters estranged for three years.

Ann and Nancy had a falling out during HEART's 2016 tour, when Ann's husband Dean Welter was arrested for assaulting Nancy's then-16-year-old twin sons in a backstage altercation at a gig near their hometown of Seattle. He pleaded guilty to two lesser assault charges to avoid jail time.

HEART's 2013 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame saw Ann and Nancy reunited with the four musicians who helped HEART achieve its initial success in the mid-1970s — guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, drummer Michael DeRosier and longtime guitarist-keyboardist Howard Leese.

The Wilson sisters' reunion with HEART's original lineup at the Rock Hall ceremony marked the first time the group played together in 34 years.

When Ann and Nancy formed HEART, the idea of two women leading a rock band was still groundbreaking. From the moment 1975's "Dreamboat Annie" was released, they became stars. With hits like "Magic Man", "Crazy On You", "Barracuda", "Alone", "What About Love" and "These Dreams", the band became one of the biggest hit-makers in the Seventies and Eighties, selling more than 35 million records. In 2012, their memoir "Kicking & Dreaming: A Story Of Heart, Soul And Rock & Roll" became a New York Times bestseller.

Don't miss Heart in Los Angeles next week on Monday, March 3! Get your tickets now.
🎟️ https://crpto.la/heart24fb

Posted by Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, February 25, 2025