In a brand new interview with the Tulsa Music Stream, ex-DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson spoke about the difficulties Don Dokken has had preserving his voice as he gets older and the issues Don has encountered trying to reproduce DOKKEN's classic material in a live setting. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, listen, to be fair, not all vocalists keep their range… You don't have a lot of Glenn Hugheses and Ronnie Dios out there in the world, whose voices seem to just never get affected. I can't sing like I could 35 years ago. So you've gotta keep that in mind.

"With that, I hope Don takes care of himself and I hope he can keep singing for as long as possible and I hope he has a little bit of a breakthrough," Jeff continued. "I know he's had a lot of health issues and he's had — it's just a lot of issues — so there's a reason why he's probably had some difficulties. But I wish him the best; I really do. I think he's just got a wonderful voice, and when it's working, it's a unique, magical voice. So I hope he has less problems in the future."

Jeff was also asked about Jon Bon Jovi, who has been receiving scathing reviews for his vocal performances during BON JOVI's current U.S. tour which kicked off April 2 in Omaha, Nebraska.

"I've been hearing about this. I haven't actually watched any of it," Jeff said. "I've heard that [he's been having a hard time], which is unfortunate. 'Cause I know we toured with Jon in the '90s, and I remember at that time talking with him about his singing. And he was taking it very seriously. After the show, he would go in his dressing room and he'd warm down for at least a half an hour. He was taking it really, really seriously. That was several years ago. So, once again, I hope he doesn't have problems. Now, there's a guy who doesn't have to worry about his next meal. But I do. 'Cause I know he's serious about what he does, so I hope, for his sake, it's getting better."

Don addressed his vocal issues in a 2020 interview with Antihero Magazine. At the time, he said: "Yes, it's been a problem. We get older, and our voices are not like they were when I was 27 or 30 or 35 or 40. When you get older, your voice is not as high as it used to be, so you lose your high notes. And I know every singer in this business, there's only a few singers that I know that when I see them live, I say, holy shit, they sound just as good as they did when they were 30, and now they're 70. Klaus Meine [SCORPIONS] still sings amazing. He's got an amazing voice. He still sounds the same. So I guess it's a God thing. Maybe God just gives people a gift."

He continued: "You see Glenn Hughes go out and do DEEP PURPLE songs. And Glenn Hughes, he's 70. He sings amazing. Ronnie James Dio, to almost the end of his life, when he had cancer, he did a concert at Radio City Music Hall [with HEAVEN & HELL] and he was fighting cancer, and he still sounded amazing, just like he did forever. So I guess some people are blessed and some people are not.

"In my world, I have good days and I have bad days, and I don't want to put the blame on anybody," Don added. "But when you're flying on an airplane for five hours in a pressurized cabin, and then you go to a hotel and the air conditioning's on, and it's 100 degrees outside, and then you go in your room and it's 60 degrees, then you get back on a plane, your voice goes out."

After DOKKEN's last studio album, 2012's "Broken Bones", failed to meet his expectations commercially, Don publicly questioned whether the band should or would make another record. He was also ruthlessly criticized by fans after radiation treatments from a bout with stomach cancer and eventual vocal-cord surgery hurt his performances.

He told the Bradenton Herald that he took a year or so off after "Broken Bones" to regroup and reassess the band's place in the rock marketplace.

"I was getting so bad I had to say, 'Guys, I'm just destroying our brand. I suck,'" Dokken said. "I put on 40 pounds. I couldn't sing. I just didn't look good; I didn't feel good. I just had to get the radiation over with and rehab and come back."

Don underwent neck and spine surgery in November 2019, leaving him unable to play guitar.

DOKKEN spent the last couple of years working, on and off, on the follow-up to "Broken Bones", tentatively due before the end of 2022.

A new trailer for "Pistol", a six-episode limited series about the legendary SEX PISTOLS guitarist Steve Jones, can be seen below. The series will premiere May 31 exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Based on Jones's 2018 memoir "Lonely Boy: Tales From A Sex Pistol", the series from Academy Award winner Danny Boyle, who also serves as executive producer and director, was created by Craig Pearce and written by Pearce and Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Jones, Boyle and Pearce serve as executive producers alongside Gail Lyon, Anita Camarata, Tracey Seaward, Paul Lee, Hope Hartman and Wiip. The series is produced by FX Productions.

"Imagine breaking into the world of 'The Crown' and 'Downton Abbey' with your mates and screaming your songs and your fury at all they represent," said Boyle. "This is the moment that British society and culture changed forever. It is the detonation point for British street culture...where ordinary young people had the stage and vented their fury and their fashion…and everyone had to watch and listen…and everyone feared them or followed them. The SEX PISTOLS. At its center was a young charming illiterate kleptomaniac — a hero for the times — Steve Jones, who became in his own words, the 94th greatest guitarist of all time. This is how he got there."

Anchored by Jones's memoir, which offers a fascinating new perspective on one of rock's greatest ever stories, "Pistol" moves from West London's council estates, to Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's notorious Kings Road SEX shop, to the international controversy that came with the release of "Never Mind The Bollocks", which is frequently listed as one of the most influential albums of all time. Their single "God Save The Queen" was banned by the BBC and reached No. 1 on the U.K.'s NME chart, but appeared at No. 2 on the official U.K. singles chart, leading to accusations that the song was purposely kept off the top spot. For the only time in chart history, the track was listed as a blank, to avoid offence to the monarchy.

"Pistol" stars Toby Wallace ("Babyteeth", "Acute Misfortune") as Steve Jones, Anson Boon ("Crawl", "1917", "Blackbird") as John Lydon, Louis Partridge ("Enola Holmes", "Medici") as Sid Vicious, Jacob Slater as Paul Cook, Fabien Frankel ("The Serpent", "NYPD Blue") as Glen Matlock, Dylan Llewellyn ("Derry Girls") as Wally Nightingale, Sydney Chandler ("Don't Worry Darling") as Chrissie Hynde, Emma Appleton ("The Witcher", "Traitors") as Nancy Spungen, and Maisie Williams ("Game Of Thrones") as punk icon Jordan.

A year ago, Jones and Cook blasted Lydon for his disparaging comments after he lost a legal battle over the right to use the band's songs in "Pistol.

Jones and Cook argued in court that an agreement they signed with Lydon meant decisions regarding licensing requests could be determined on a "majority rules basis."

Lydon, for his part, claimed that the bandmember agreement had not been applied since it was signed more than 20 years ago and that "all decisions" about the use of SEX PISTOLS music and imagery had been made with "unanimous" agreement.

However, a judge ruled that the contract was valid and active, and that the majority of the band could overrule any individual member's veto.

Photo credit: Miya Mizuno / FX

Fan-filmed video of Ted Nugent's April 29 performance at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City Beach, Florida can be seen below.

Nugent's new album, "Detroit Muscle", arrived on Friday, April 29 via Pavement Music. The follow-up to 2018's "The Music Made Me Do It" was recorded with Ted's current band, which includes bassist Greg Smith and drummer Jason Hartless. The new LP was produced by Michael Lutz and Nugent.

Last November, Nugent released the LP's first single, "Come And Take It". At the time, he stated about the inspiration for the track: "Being the all-time gonzo progenitor of love songs that I am, it is only fitting that I unleash the All-American defiant battle hymn from we the people to punks who dare tread on us. Do you feel the love! Come and take it at your own risk."

In recent months, Nugent has been selling hats emblazoned with the words "Come And Take It", a slogan which originated in the Texas Revolution in 1835 and is now used as a symbol of gun-rights advocates and the NRA.

Nugent has repeatedly said that he is "very proud" of his new album as well as the LP's "musical integrity and the spirit and the attitude."

In December, Ted told Digital Journal about "Detroit Muscle": "What Greg Smith and Jason Hartless did was great. They put their heart and soul on every song, every lick, and every performance. I am just the luckiest guitar player in the world.

"I don't write songs," he explained. "I play my guitar every day and I escape the music so thoroughly with my hunting, fishing, my farming, and other activities. I plunge my fists into the good Earth each day, so I return to such a pure, primal connection with God's miraculous creation. Quite honestly, I immerse myself in my outdoor lifestyle. It's a martial art.

"You have to dedicate your entire being to the mystical flight of the arrow so music is really the ultimate escape for me," Nugent added. "When I get done with my outdoor activities each morning, I come in and I wash my hands and the next guitar lick is coming from such purity and such a cleansed life that it literally is just primal. All of my songs that I have ever composed are an instinctual ejaculation of my guitar riff dreams."

Nugent's "Detroit Muscle" 2022 tour will kick off on July 15 in Clearwater, Florida.

Joe Satriani, who was drafted into DEEP PURPLE to complete Japanese dates in December 1993, and stayed on for a European summer tour in 1994 following the abrupt departure of founder Ritchie Blackmore, spoke to VintageRock.com about his decision to decline a permanent position in the band. He explained: "I took my cue from those players that were laying the groundwork for the kind of stuff I do, like Jeff Beck. I saw the freedom that he had to play with interesting players that would inspire him to do different things. I thought that's really great. I love watching him live and I love his albums and he keeps you guessing and he's always progressing as a guitarist. He just keeps going forward. I love that attitude of just moving forward all the time. He's not really hampered like a legacy band where they're going to have to play their hits. Like when AEROSMITH goes out, they're just going to have to play those songs that are their hits. They've got to play 'Janie's Got a Gun', they've got to [play] 'Dream On'. They can't do a concert without it. But Jeff Beck really doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do. [Laughs] He can say, 'No, this is where I'm at right now. Check this out. No one else can do it. I can do it.' [Laughs] I love that attitude. It's a dangerous move. You miss all that input from a band and you miss the chance that you can go mainstream. It's very difficult for Jeff Beck to go mainstream like AEROSMITH or any other pop band where you're talking billions of streams and TV appearances and all the awards, that kind of stuff. However, everybody knows and respects Jeff Beck as a player, as a musician, as a composer, and they wouldn't dream of him changing his attitude. We like him being the iconoclast that he is.

"I had that choice to make when [DEEP PURPLE bassist] Roger Glover asked me to join DEEP PURPLE," Joe continued. "I just thought, I'm Joe from Long Island. I don't belong in this British royalty metal band. I knew I just didn't belong. I was a big fan of Ritchie Blackmore and I thought I'll never be able to rectify it. I'll always feel guilty that I have to copy Ritchie and I didn't want to do that.

"I've had friends who've had successful turns replacing famous people in bands," Satriani added. "But I remember what they would always say at the end of it. I remember Steve Vai telling me once, 'Joe, if you can avoid it, don't ever replace anybody famous in a band because the fans — they never let you forget it. You're always compared to the first guy, the original guy.' So I thought I'm going to take the chance. I've got a good relationship with my fans, and we'll stick together and try to just make better and better albums."

Last month, Satriani praised DEEP PURPLE for hiring fill-in guitarist Simon McBride to step in for Steve Morse, calling the Irish player's recruitment "a great call" by the band. Satriani made his comments while speaking to Eonmusic about new album "The Elephants Of Mars", which was released on April 8.

Morse's temporary hiatus from the classic rock icons was announced in late March. In a statement, he said that his wife Janine is battling cancer and added that he hopes he can rejoin PURPLE on tour "after she gets a clean bill of health."

Speaking to Eonmusic, Satriani applauded PURPLE for choosing McBride to fill in for Morse.

"Simon is a great call for that, so that's really great," he said; "I mean, the band is close to Simon, and Simon's a great guitarist."

Morse effectively took over Blackmore's DEEP PURPLE slot in 1994 and has since been in the group longer than Ritchie.

Back in May 2018, Satriani responded to an apparently two-and-a-half-decade-old interview with Ritchie which was posted earlier that month in audio format on the current RAINBOW leader's official YouTube channel. In that interview, Ritchie referred to Satriani as "a brilliant player" but criticized him for "never really searching for notes" or "playing a wrong note." Blackmore added: "If you're always playing the correct notes, there's something wrong — you're not searching, you're not reaching for anything."

During an appearance on "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon", Satriani was asked for his reaction to Blackmore's comments. "Well, it's unfortunate when somebody that you look up to has something negative to say about you," Joe said. "So that part will always hurt. I wouldn't hide my feelings about that.

"I get criticized on both sides of the fence for the opposite offenses," he continued. "And I don't quite understand it other than most of the time, when someone has criticism, it's because they're challenged and they feel that they have to strike out. So I get it — I understand why he would have to say something negative. I can kind of laugh at it, because I'm not like that myself. I tend to just look at the positive of another musician and focus on that."

In Blackmore's original interview, which was apparently conducted in 1997, he stated about Satriani and Morse: "I'm just glad they [DEEP PURPLE] found a guitar player to carry on because I thought I was going to be shackled to this band for the rest of my life. It was like a ball-and-chain thing, and luckily, they said, 'Well, we found someone.' 'Thank God, I can get out!'

"I haven't listened much [to DEEP PURPLE's recent recordings]. I just know that Joe Satriani and Steve Morse are brilliant players. I remember Steve Morse with the DIXIE DREGS; they're fantastic.

"I think what you mean is that certain people play from the heart and other people play from the head. I prefer a heart player, I prefer someone like a blues player, like Jeff Healey. Jeff Healey I think is tremendous.

"If I hear someone really technical running up and down a fingerboard, I can hear that for a couple of minutes and then I start to kind of get bored and think of other things, like playing football or something. But I do like to hear someone reaching for something, not quite making it and then sometimes they do make it.

"Joe Satriani is a very polished player — almost too polished; that's what worries me sometimes. But it's different strokes for different folks, as an enemy of mine used to say — which is such a corny thing. Some people are into that head music, that head technique; some people are into the heart technique; some people are into blues technique.

"I personally am into the minstrel technique — if I hear someone playing a lute or playing a crumhorn, it just moves me, I don't know why. Guitar players I find kind of boring — and that's not meant as a dig. I find myself boring.

"I think the main objective is to move people, make people think in their heart. I personally am not interested in appealing to other musicians. To me, it's more inspiring to move someone who doesn't know anything about music, but has a feel. They can say, 'I don't know what you're doing, but I just feel that's something there.' That, to me, is an incredible compliment, as opposed to, 'Well, you've just run up and down the fingerboard. That's wonderful, very fast.' All that means is I've just practiced the hell out of the guitar and I'm not really saying anything. I'm going from A to B, but not seeing anything on the way."

Photo credit: Eduardo Peña Dolhun

Yesterday, King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his singer wife Toyah Willcox returned with another episode in their "Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch" series. This time they take on "I Don't Know Why?" by Queens Of The Stone Age. Watch below:





A selection of Robert & Toyah's previous Sunday Lunch videos can be seen below:

























 

JUDAS PRIEST will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year. PRIEST will receive the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which will honor Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

According to the Hall Of Fame, the JUDAS PRIEST members that will get inducted include current members Rob Halford (vocals),Ian Hill (bass),Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar),Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.

In a new interview with Billboard conducted after he received the news before the public announcement, Halford said that PRIEST's former members are welcome to be part of the induction, and he feels any animosities can be set aside for the occasion.

"They have every right to be a part of the event," he said. "I'm very pleased for everybody. There's no bitterness. There's no angst. There's not that kind of stuff that's lingering. If there is you have to push all that away. You have to push it to the side and just understand and accept and respect this wonderful opportunity and what it represents in terms of recognition and a celebration."

Halford went on to say that Tipton — who's battling Parkinson's disease but was on the road playing during the encores of PRIEST's latest North American tour — will likely attend the ceremony.

The 2022 Rock Hall induction ceremony will be held on November 5 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. It will air at a later date on HBO and stream on HBO Max. There will also be a radio simulcast on SiriusXM's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Radio channel 310.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

In February, Hill and Halford told Billboard that they would be happy to stand alongside Downing at a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction later this year. "It's not a problem to us, no," Hill said. "Ken was an integral part of this band for a very, very long time. He deserves to be there along with the rest of us." Halford predicted that, "It won't be as awkward as Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss with KISS's Rock Hall induction]. I don't think it'll be awkward at all. I think you have to let all of that go because it's the night that matters. It's the moment that matters — but, again, the proverbial saying, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

In 2019, Halford was asked by Fox Sports 910's "Freak Nation" if fans could expect to see any of the former PRIEST members joining the band on stage during a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction. He responded: "With something like the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, there's a tinge of 'what if' [and] 'whatever.' It's an open book.

"I know what you're alluding to, and as I've had to [say] in the past, it's just a case of 'wait and see,'" he continued. "But it's a celebration, and it's 50 years of PRIEST, and, man, it's gonna be great. Should we get in, it's gonna be amazing."

After host Kenny Sargent brought up the original KISS lineup's controversial 2014 Rock Hall induction which was at least partly overshadowed by the musicians' decision not to perform, Halford said: "[PRIEST is] not the first band that this has happened to, and on the day, some things turn out the way a lot of people want 'em.

"I was thinking about this the other day," Halford added. "And this thing came into my head: 'Jim, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or of the one.' Spock [in] 'Star Trek'. When he goes in the radiation room. Isn't that great? … That's a t-shirt, or an inspirational card."

Downing previously told Rockin' Metal Revival that there is a very good chance that he would perform with his former bandmates again if PRIEST gets the nod. "Oh, I think absolutely," he said. "I mean, why wouldn't you, really? It's a special thing. We're all of an age now. These opportunities only come once in a lifetime. And it seemingly takes a lifetime to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I've always said, there's no such thing as a young legend, right? [Laughs] So, while we're still here, it would be great to receive that accolade and put on a great performance and put that one to bed."

Michael Sweet of openly Christian rockers STRYPER has shared a snippet of another song that will appear on the band's next album.

The 58-year-old guitarist/vocalist, who recently underwent surgery for a re-detached retina, took to his Instagram on Monday (May 2) to post a 43-second video from the studio, and he included the following message: "When we were growing up, I'd go from a BOSTON album to a @judaspriest album to a @journeymusicofficial album, to you name it.

"I'm a metalhead but I'm also a balladeer. And I'm not ashamed of that. I love a good ballad every now and then.

"This is a small piece of a new @Stryper ballad called 'Near'. There’s no syrup on top, only powered (or power) sugar;-)

"Hear the whole song on the new STRYPER album coming this fall. For now, here’s a little taste.

"We're bringing back the power ballad with this one".

STRYPER's follow-up to 2020's "Even The Devil Believes" LP was once again recorded at SpiritHouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts.

This past January, Sweet said that he was "more concerned with the state of our world" as he continued to work on lyrics for the band's upcoming 14th studio LP. At the time, he wrote on his social media: "I'll be honest. I'm a little nervous about the new album. Not the music itself but more so the process.

"We're obviously not operating at 100%," he continued. "Oz [Fox, STRYPER guitarist] lost the hearing in his left ear and I've lost my vision (hopefully and prayerfully short term) in my right eye. We'll be working this way and it's certainly a first. How will it affect our performances? Not much. It most likely will take a little longer to get what we want but maybe not. We'll have to see how that goes.

"I'm also at that place where I'm more concerned with the state of our world. I'm concerned about what I see on the news. Is it just me or does it feel as though we're in a much darker place these days? Our country, our world. Maybe I'm wrong but it feels as though darkness is overtaking the light. People seem much colder and more concerned about themselves than they do others. There are some good people out there but times are definitely changing sadly.

"So, as I've been facedown I've been writing lyrics and although there are some straight up songs about love, there's more of a take on the state of this world with lyrics that definitely address that," Sweet added. "Maybe, just maybe this album will shed a little light into and onto some dark areas. That's always my goal and always my desire. To help, not to hurt. To heal, not to damage. This is my intention with every song I write.

"Anyway - we appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we embark on what will be our 14th studio album and I really believe that this one has the very strong potential to be our best. I don't say that lightly. I would never say it if I didn't believe it.

"I hope to see you all at a STRYPER show in the very near future. It's been way too long…….

"May God Bless you all".

In December, Sweet stated about the musical direction of STRYPER's new material: "Lots of riffs, grooves, up tempo and mid tempo and everything has a great feel to it. I've only sent music to the guys so they haven't heard any melodies yet but the melodies are strong and powerful.

"It's always a little strange talking about your own music but I can say that I'm really excited about the direction of this album! I know you will be too. We've tuned down to D so the tuning makes it all sound a little fatter and heavier. There are a few songs with the low E string dropped down another step (C) so those songs have a bit more meat and potato's as well;-) There are a few ballads but they're not your typical 'piano' or 'acoustic' ballads. They're heavy as well and definitely guitar driven.

"Even though there have been obstacles along the way, this album really has shaped up to be an amazing piece of work," Sweet added. "We're a long way out but man, I can't wait for all of you to hear this!!"

In March 2021, Fox underwent the first of his brain surgeries to treat one of the tumors that were found in his head more nearly four years ago. That same month, STRYPER and Frontiers Music Srl announced that they have extended their working relationship for the release of more new studio albums together.

STRYPER and Frontiers originally joined forces in 2013 for the release of "Second Coming", an album comprised of new recordings of 14 songs from the band's early years, as well as two brand new songs. What followed has been a string of critically and commercially successful studio albums, including "No More Hell To Pay" (2013),"Fallen" (2015),"God Damn Evil" (2018) and "Even The Devil Believes" (2020). Additionally, a live album and long-form video, "Live At The Whisky" (2014) was made available. Every one of the albums released on Frontiers in the past nine years has successfully charted on the Billboard 200 chart and topped the Hot 100, Rock, Hard Rock, Current and Christian Music album charts.

STRYPER is one of the most well-known metal bands to emerge from the fertile '80s metal renaissance over three decades ago. The band first landed on the global scene in 1984 and and is responsible for such classic '80s metal albums as "Soldiers Under Command", "To Hell With The Devil" and "In God We Trust" and hit singles/videos such as "Calling On You", "Free" and "Honestly". To date, the band has sold upwards of eight million records worldwide and is a Dove Award winner and Grammy nominee. STRYPER was also the first band to have two songs in MTV's "Top 10 Video Countdown" simultaneously.

After being on a hiatus for much of the '90s, STRYPER returned stronger than ever in the early 21st century. Musically, the band has progressed and grown their fan base steadily and continuously, being one of the few "classic" metal bands of the '80s that managed to keep themselves front and center thanks to the consistency of their musical output.

Michael is joined in STRYPER by his brother Robert Sweet (drums),Oz Fox (guitars) and Perry Richardson (bass).

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A post shared by Michael Sweet (@michaelsweetstryper)



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A post shared by Michael Sweet (@michaelsweetstryper)

Original AC/DC singer Dave Evans has released the official music video for his latest single, "Who's Gonna Rock Me?", filmed entirely in Aruba for Sketch during his current "Sold My Soul To Rock 'N' Roll" Latin American tour.

The single, which features Dave on lead vocals, Bad Boy Troy on guitar, Gary Partin on bass and rhythm guitar, Martin Gilardi on keyboards and rhythm guitar, and Wasim Balzaar on drums, was released last year on Evans's label Chrystal Records.

As previously reported, Evans recently recorded two new songs with legendary producer Flemming Rasmussen, best known for having been helmed three of METALLICA's early albums, plus winning a Grammy for his work on METALLICA's "One" in 1989. One of the songs, "Guitarman", was written by Danish musician and composer Nicholas Hill, while the second track is a cover of an Elvis Presley classic that Evans had previously performed with AC/DC.

The new Evans recordings, which were made through a collaboration betwen Chrystal Records Argentina and Space Rock Productions Denmark, will be released in the next few months.

Dave recorded AC/DC's first two singles, "Can I Sit Next To You Girl" and "Baby, Please Don't Go". But in October 1974, less than a year after AC/DC's first gig, Evans was out of the band. He was replaced by Bon Scott, who sang on AC/DC's first six studio albums and became a legend himself after his death in 1980.

Last year, Dave was asked in an interview with The Rocker Diaries if he thought "that would be it" for AC/DC after Bon's death in 1980. He responded: "No, not at all. I mean, we all keep going. And AC/DC has had that many players through [the history of] the band. I don't know how many. 20? And three singers, plus a stand-in singer as well.

"We were always ambitious when we first started," he continued. "We always wanted to be the best in the world — all of us. And after me, Bon Scott got his chance. He did great with the band. And when he died, I just thought, 'Who are they gonna get?' I never thought [I would be approached about it] myself, because that's water under the bridge. And I was busy with bands as well at the time, and doing my own music and recording. I was just wondering who it would be. I had heard of [Brian Johnson's pre-AC/DC band] GEORDIE — just the name GEORDIE. I'd never heard of Brian. And then Brian popped up and, of course, the 'Back In Black' album came out, which was a massive album around the world, and they were off and running with Brian. But if Brian quit, they'd get another singer, and another singer. [They've gone through] different bass players [and] different drummers.

"The drive was always Malcolm Young," Dave added. "I remember Malcolm when I first met him. He was such a driving force. Just a tiny little guy — just a little touch over five foot tall — but, boy, he had a big heart and a big personality. And he was tough, too — Malcolm was very tough. And no matter what, he was AC/DC through and through. And, of course, once he passed away, which is very sad, AC/DC, of course, will never, ever be the same without Malcolm. How can it be?"

In May 2021, Evans released a new compilation album called "BADASS Greatest Hits". The effort contains "20 massive hits on one album," including Dave's version of "Rockin' In The Parlour", the song that originally appeared as the B-side of the "Can I Sit Next to You Girl" single.

Swedish Viking metal wolf pack, Månegarm, have released a drum playthrough video for the track “Stridsgalten”, featured on their new offering, Ynglingaättens Öde, out now. Watch below:





Månegarm on the album: “Thousands of working hours turned into this beast - our new album, Ynglingaättens Öde. We truly believe this album is our strongest and most complete album to date and despite the dark days of the pandemic, we have created a concept album that is 100% Månegarm and packed with strong melodies, riffs and powerful choruses. This time, we explore an old Swedish Norse dynasty of rulers where we detail their deeds, their rule and above all - their deaths. So come join us on this journey and meet the fate of the Yngliga kin!”







Ynglingaättens Öde is available in the following formats:


- Wooden Box (incl. Digipack, 7" Single, album cover flag, logo patch) – limited to 500 copies worldwide
- 1LP Gatefold Marbled Gold & Black – limited to 300 copies worldwide
- 1LP Gatefold BLACK
- Shirt & Digipack Bundle
- Digipack CD
- Digital Full Length Album


Order here.





Ynglingaättens Öde tracklisting:


"Freyrs blod"
"Ulvhjärtat"
"Adils fall"
"En snara av guld"
"Stridsgalten"
"Auns söner"
"Vitta vettr"
"Hågkomst av ett liv"


“Stridsgalten” video:





“En snara av guld” video:





"Ulvhjärtat" video:





Månegarm are:


Erik Grawsiö - vocals & bass
Markus Andé - guitars
Jakob Hallegren - drums


(Photo - Isak Skagerström)

Awake At Last are back with a new single, "Bloodline". Produced by Erik Ron (Godsmack, Black Veil Brides, I Prevail), the hard-hitting track contains plenty of angst at the current state of the world.





"'Bloodline' is written from a perspective of frustration, and a reluctance to accept the current state we all live in. The song questions the media, and how during such a dark time people seemed to be more divided than ever, rather than come together. It asks the question of whether or not we can learn from history, or if we are doomed to repeat it. I wanted it to connect to the listeners who couldn’t help but worry about what is going to happen next and whether or not we can rely on the current state of media and information to be prepared for it.” - vocalist Vincent Torres




Watch the "Bloodline" video below:





Lineup:


Vincent Torres - vox
Eric Blackway - lead guitar
Imran Xhelili - guitar
Drew Hansen - bass
Jeff Dorber - drums

Sharon Osbourne has tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to Los Angeles to look after her husband Ozzy.

The legendary heavy metal singer contracted the virus last week, prompting Sharon to step away from her new TalkTV show to head back to the U.S.

But now Sharon has revealed that she also tested positive.

She broke the news of her diagnosis as she shared an update on Ozzy while speaking to her co-star Jeremy Kyle on Monday's (May 2) episode of "The Talk UK".

"He's doing much better," she said about Ozzy. "His temperature is now back to normal; his coughing has stopped. He's doing much better.’

When Jeremy asked if it was "just an overreaction" from Ozzy, Sharon said "a little bit," before adding, "But I've got some news to share. My daughter Kelly has it, I have it and the entire household has it now."

When asked if Ozzy will be looking after her while she's sick, Sharon added: "Maybe. We'll see. I feel okay, actually."

Sharon herself was previously 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.

The news of Ozzy's diagnosis was shared by Sharon on April 28 on "The Talk UK". At the time, she said that she was "very worried" about him. "We've gone two years without him catching COVID and it's just Ozzy's luck he would get it now," she said.

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 came 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.

Frontiers Music Srl will release Swedish progressive metal masters Seventh Wonder's new studio album, The Testament, on June 10. Watch a video  for "The Light" below, and pre-order/save The Testament here.


The Testament follows 2018's Tiara, which, at the time, was the band's first new music in eight years. While the wait between albums was, mercifully, shorter this time around, the band certainly did not need any extra time to craft a stunning album showcasing their prolific instrumental skills and intricate songwriting. Indeed, The Testament is a high watermark in the band's already revered discography.


Seventh Wonder was formed in 2000 by bassist Andreas Blomqvist, guitarist Johan Liefvendahl, and drummer Johnny Sandin after their previous band fell apart. The music they were writing and playing turned towards progressive metal. When keyboardist Andreas “Kyrt” Söderin joined in late 2000, their new sonic explorations were only cemented further. Two demos were recorded (2001 & 2003) and the latter caught the attention of the label Lion Music, who signed the band in 2004. That collaboration spawned the first Seventh Wonder album, Become, which was released in June 2005. Become was well received by progressive metal fans and media alike; however, the band and singer Andi Kravljaca decided to part ways shortly after the recording process had ended. Enter the brilliant Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, ex-Vindictiv), who joined the band in 2005, actually prior to the official release of Become.




The next album, Waiting In The Wings was recorded in 2006 and mixed and mastered by legendary Tommy Hansen. This album was a huge leap forward in terms of song complexity and maturity and received outstanding reviews and fan accolades, establishing Seventh Wonder as a force to be reckoned with in the progressive metal world. 2007 was spent playing live in support of the album, including sharing stage with legendary bands such as Queensrÿche, Testament, Redemption, and many others in England, Holland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.


Simultaneously in 2007, a follow-up to Waiting In The Wings was written. The band hit the studio in May of 2008 to record their third full-length, Mercy Falls, which was hailed as a true masterpiece at the time of its release. Mercy Falls was supported with several live shows in Europe, including Italy, Norway, Finland, and Holland.


In 2010, the band released The Great Escape, which again was met with critical and fan acclaim and cemented the band's standing as one of the premiere progressive metal bands in existence. In support, the band again toured in Europe and also appeared live in the USA at ProgPower Festival.


After The Great Escape album release, drummer Johnny Sandin left the band and would later be replaced by the incredibly talented Stefan Norgren (ex-Lion´s Share). Seventh Wonder fans collectively lost their minds in 2018 when it was announced that after an agonizing eight year wait, the band's latest studio album "Tiara" would be released. "Tiara" once again continued the band's winning streak of crafting progressive metal masterpieces and was greeted with high levels of enthusiasm.


Now, in 2022, the band one again returns with another magnum opus of a progressive metal album, The Testament.





Tracklisting:


“Warriors”
“The Light”
“I Carry The Blame”
“Reflections”
“The Red River”
“Invincible”
“Mindkiller”
“Under A Clear Blue Sky”
“Elegy”


“The Light” video:





“Warriors” lyric video:





Lineup:
Johan Liefvendahl – guitar
Andreas Blomqvist – bass
Tommy Karevik – vocals
Andreas Söderin – keyboards
Stefan Norgren - drums

California deathcore act SUICIDE SILENCE has released a new song, "Thinking In Tongues". The song is currently available on all digital platforms and the video clip, which was directed by Vicente Cordero for Industrialism Films, will premiere today at 7 p.m. CET / 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.

SUICIDE SILENCE comments: "This song derives from the chaotic feeling of losing one's mind. Feeling like you're choking on every breath you take until you eventually break. Debilitating confusion sets in and your mind begins 'Thinking In Tongues', essentially processing thoughts that not even you yourself can understand. In a sense, this song evokes the ultimate sense of helplessness."

"Thinking In Tongues" marks SUICIDE SILENCE's final recording with longtime drummer Alex Lopez who exited the band last month. Ernie Iniguez, who recorded drums on SUICIDE SILENCE's "Become The Hunter" album, will be drumming for the group on the upcoming "Chaos & Carnage" tour and European festival run.

In a statement, Alex said: "So I'll make this as short as possible. SUICIDE SILENCE and myself have parted ways. I'll always love them and their families and everything we accomplished together during my time. I wish SS the best. With that said, I'm excited to continue making music and art, and plan to be involved with any projects I find fulfilling. I'd be truly grateful if you continued to follow and support what I do next, It's not over for me by a long shot. Love and thank you to all my fans, friends and supporters, the next chapter begins".

Lopez joined SUICIDE SILENCE in 2006 as the replacement for the band's original drummer Josh Goddard. He has appeared on all six of SUICIDE SILENCE's studio albums, including the group's latest, the aforementioned "Become The Hunter" being the most recent.

SUICIDE SILENCE's debut album, 2007's "The Cleansing", will receive an expanded 15th-anniversary re-release on June 24. "The Cleansing (Ultimate Edition)" will include liner notes by the band as well as extensive bonus material.

With nearly two decades of non-stop touring around the globe, hundreds of thousands of records sold, and cementing themselves as a linchpin band in modern extreme metal, the Riverside, California quintet recently returned to Century Media, the label that released the highly acclaimed albums "The Cleansing", "No Time To Bleed" (2009) and "The Black Crown" (2011).

SUICIDE SILENCE is currently working on material for the follow-up to "Become The Hunter" album, which was released via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. It will be the band's fourth LP with vocalist Hernan "Eddie" Hermida (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH),who joined SUICIDE SILENCE following the passing of frontman Mitch Lucker. The band recently finished an extensive U.S. tour with JINJER and has announced a co-headlining run on the U.S. 2022 "Chaos & Carnage" tour with CARNIFEX, labelmates LORNA SHORE, UPON A BURNING BODY, ANGELMAKER and DISTANT, beginning May 15 and running until June 4.

Photo by John Travis

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH have parted ways with guitarist Richard Shaw and keyboardist Anabelle Iratni. Richard will be replaced for the band's upcoming tour by Donny Burbage, while Zoe Marie Federoff will step in for Anabelle.

CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth commented: "It is with the gravest of sadness that CRADLE OF FILTH announce the departure of guitarist Richard Shaw and keyboardist Anabelle Iratni from the band's ranks.

"Due to other commitments Richard is passing his prestigious baton to newcomer Donny Burbage, who will be fulfilling guitar duties throughout the forthcoming US tour with DANZIG, alongside Ashok and bassist Daniel Firth.

"We also say farewell to Anabelle and thank her for her awesome contribution on 'Existence Is Futile', her successor being the very talented singer/keyboardist Zoe Marie Federoff.

"As with Rich, the band wish Anabelle continued success in all her future endeavours."

Regarding what led to Shaw and Iratni's departures, Filth said: "Unfortunately it just is what it is. If someone feels that their tenure with the band has ended, then who am I to argue with that? We have to respect that people have personal commitments and/or sometimes find the career choice of being in a band like CRADLE a tad overwhelming. That being said, the band are continuing as indefatigably as ever, with a slew of summer festival dates happening after the tour with DANZIG in the US and Canada, plus further Autumn announcements to follow swiftly after. We also have another exciting announcement to share, but all in due course! Regardless of what befalls us, we stay FILTHY!"

CRADLE OF FILTH's latest album, "Existence Is Futile", was released in October. The LP was pieced together in isolation at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk with studio guru Scott Atkins (DEVILMENT, BENEDICTION, VADER). Horror icon Doug "Pinhead" Bradley made a welcome return to the CRADLE fold, lending his dulcet tones to the band's most politically astute song to date, the epic "Suffer Our Dominion" as well as the album bonus track "Sisters Of The Mist", which is the conclusion to the "Her Ghost In The Fog" trilogy that started over 20 years ago on the infamous and classic "Midian".

A year ago, CRADLE OF FILTH announced the addition of Iratni to the band's ranks.

Iratni, who previously played alongside Filth in DEVILMENT, as well as her own group VEILE, made her live debut with CRADLE OF FILTH on May 12, 2021 during the band's livestreamed concert.

Anabelle joined CRADLE OF FILTH as the replacement for Lindsay Schoolcraft, who announced her departure from the group in February 2020 after a seven-year run.

It is with the gravest of sadness that 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗧𝗛 announce the departure of guitarist Richard Shaw and Keyboardist...

Posted by Cradle of Filth on Wednesday, May 4, 2022

It's official: JUDAS PRIEST will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year. PRIEST will receive the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which will honor Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

The award for Musical Excellence — which was originally titled the "sidemen" category when it debuted — is given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.

JUDAS PRIEST is the second band to receive the award for Musical Excellence; the E STREET BAND was the first. Last year, late OZZY OSBOURNE and QUIET RIOT guitarist Randy Rhoads was one of the recipients of the Musical Excellence Award.

According to the Hall Of Fame, the JUDAS PRIEST members that will get inducted include current members Rob Halford (vocals),Ian Hill (bass),Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar),Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.

"Wow, this is so exciting — at last. At last, you know?" Halford told Billboard after receiving the news before the public announcement. "And, glory hallelujah, there's another metal band in the Hall Of Fame! That's the blessing we've all been waiting for."

The induction ceremony will be held on November 5, 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. It will air at a later date on HBO and stream on HBO Max. There will also be a radio simulcast on SiriusXM's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Radio channel 310.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2022 inductees:

"Performer" Category

PAT BENATAR
DURAN DURAN
EMINEM
EURYTHMICS
DOLLY PARTON
LIONEL RICHIE
CARLY SIMON

Musical Excellence Award

JUDAS PRIEST
JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS

Early Influence Award

HARRY BELAFONTE
ELIZABETH COTTEN

Ahmet Ertegun Award

ALLEN GRUBMAN
JIMMY IOVINE
SYLVIA ROBINSON

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

"Nominee ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historian, and members of the music industry," Rock Hall officials said in a statement. "Factors such as an artist's musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration."

JUDAS PRIEST was previously on the ballot for Rock Hall induction in 2020, but failed to receive enough votes to make that year's class.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was also on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

Back in October 2020, Halford said that the heavy metal genre "hasn't been respected enough" by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Asked in an interview with Word In Your Ear if he was "bothered" by the fact that PRIEST hasn't been inducted into the Rock Hall yet, Halford said: "Well, let's put it this way. You have all of these institutions here in America — you've got the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for music; you've got the Basketball Hall Of Fame; you've got the Baseball Hall Of Fame; Football — you've got all of these places where, I think essentially, it's just a really nice, cool recognition of what you've done, the work that you've done and the things that you've achieved, the place that you've been put at, and so on and so forth.

"So, am I bothered if we ever get in? Not really. But I think we do deserve to be in there. Because I look at the list of people that are in there, and I feel that we have a place. And it would not only be for JUDAS PRIEST — it would be for British music, particularly British heavy metal music, and that's a beautiful achievement. [BLACK] SABBATH are in there, which is great. But I've always said that as far as what the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame represents, the genre of heavy metal music hasn't really been looked after enough and respected enough.

"So, I'd like to feel that eventually we will get in."

Regarding what his expectations are for the induction ceremony should PRIEST get chosen for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's class of 2022, Downing told "The Cassius Morris Show": "I think the big thing for me is, and I don't know how it works with the induction ceremony and all of that… That's another thing, because, obviously, there's gonna be people [being inducted] there that are not gonna be there, which is all a bit kind of strange. Obviously, with the great drummer of the age, Dave Holland, he's no longer with us; he's passed away. And he will be a part of it. So I suppose it's quite an emotional kind of experience, really. But I think that it's something that… I suppose it's a historical moment… I guess it's the big one, really. So we'll see what happens."

In February, Hill and Halford told Billboard that they would be happy to stand alongside Downing at a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction later this year. "It's not a problem to us, no," Hill said. "Ken was an integral part of this band for a very, very long time. He deserves to be there along with the rest of us." Halford predicted that, "It won't be as awkward as Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss with KISS's Rock Hall induction]. I don't think it'll be awkward at all. I think you have to let all of that go because it's the night that matters. It's the moment that matters — but, again, the proverbial saying, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

In 2019, Halford was asked by Fox Sports 910's "Freak Nation" if fans could expect to see any of the former PRIEST members joining the band on stage during a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction. He responded: "With something like the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, there's a tinge of 'what if' [and] 'whatever.' It's an open book.

"I know what you're alluding to, and as I've had to [say] in the past, it's just a case of 'wait and see,'" he continued. "But it's a celebration, and it's 50 years of PRIEST, and, man, it's gonna be great. Should we get in, it's gonna be amazing."

After host Kenny Sargent brought up the original KISS lineup's controversial 2014 Rock Hall induction which was at least partly overshadowed by the musicians' decision not to perform, Halford said: "[PRIEST is] not the first band that this has happened to, and on the day, some things turn out the way a lot of people want 'em.

"I was thinking about this the other day," Halford added. "And this thing came into my head: 'Jim, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or of the one.' Spock [in] 'Star Trek'. When he goes in the radiation room. Isn't that great? … That's a t-shirt, or an inspirational card."

Downing previously told Rockin' Metal Revival that there is a very good chance that he would perform with his former bandmates again if PRIEST gets the nod. "Oh, I think absolutely," he said. "I mean, why wouldn't you, really? It's a special thing. We're all of an age now. These opportunities only come once in a lifetime. And it seemingly takes a lifetime to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I've always said, there's no such thing as a young legend, right? [Laughs] So, while we're still here, it would be great to receive that accolade and put on a great performance and put that one to bed."

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

The Rock Hall didn't induct BLACK SABBATH until 2006, and METALLICA followed three years later.

Eligible for induction since 1999, KISS didn't get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn't get inducted until 2016.

We are thrilled and honored to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022. This is also a great moment for...

Posted by Judas Priest on Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Guitarist/producer, Dario Mollo, has shared the video below, in which Space-T perform a cover of Deep Purple's "Rat Bat Blue", originally featured on the 1973 album, Who Do We Think We Are.


Space-T lineup:


Andy Senis - Bass
Fabio Meggetto - Keys
Andrea Biancheri - Vocals
Alessio Benedetto - Drums
Dario Mollo - Guitar

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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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.