THE DEAD DAISIES will kick off their summer in style with a massive pan-European jaunt that's set to radiate some heat. The first string of dates are a combination of arena and amphitheater shows with JUDAS PRIEST, FOREIGNER and WHITESNAKE, and performing at some of the most famous and coveted festivals such as Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium and Hellfest in France. Kicking things off in Germany, the band will also play a series of headline performances. Rejoining THE DEAD DAISIES is drummer extraordinaire Brian Tichy who will unite with Glenn Hughes, Doug Aldrich and David Lowy for a massive dose of undiluted rock, the first in Europe since 2018. These will also be the first shows with this lineup.

"What a great way to start off 2022," said Tichy. "I'm excited to get behind the drum kit and do some powerful, groovy rocking with my good friends Doug Aldrich, Glenn Hughes and David Lowy in THE DEAD DAISIES! Looking forward to seeing you all out on tour this year!"

THE DEAD DAISIES promise to perform their hits, along with songs from their latest album, "Holy Ground", and a couple of new tracks from the upcoming album.

The band is currently in Los Angeles recording a new LP with producer Ben Grosse for an August release, with first single due out in late May to coincide with the tour. This will be THE DAISIES' sixth studio album.

Said Hughes: "Hey loved ones, we cannot wait to come to Europe this summer and play for you all once again. There are so many beautiful cities to visit along the way. We are currently making a new record, so who knows hopefully we can bring a couple of new songs to you too!"

Added Aldrich: "It's already been too long since we played live and I'm ready to go…. But first we are making the new record, we will see you soon! Get your tickets asap! We are coming for ya!!"

"Holy Ground" was released in January 2021. Recorded at La Fabrique Studios in the south of France with Grosse, the LP was the band's first to feature Hughes, who joined the group in 2019 as its new bassist and vocalist, replacing John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY).

Brian first joined THE DEAD DAISIES in 2013 during the U.S. "Uproar" tour and has regularly played with the band ever since, including highlights in Cuba, in Poland with an immense orchestra at the Woodstock Festival (Poland) and performed on the "Revolución" and "Make Some Noise" albums. He is also known for playing with WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others.

THE DEAD DAISIES summer 2022 European tour dates:

Jun. 03 - Stadtpark Freilichtbühne Hamburg, Germany (with FOREIGNER)

Jun. 04 - Spardawelt Freilichtbühne Killesberg Stuttgart, Germany (with FOREIGNER)

Jun. 05 - Buderus Arena Wetzlar, Germany (with FOREIGNER)

Jun. 08 - Zitadelle Spandau Berlin, Germany (with FOREIGNER)

Jun. 10 - Freilichtbühne Peißnitzinsel Halle (Saale), Germany (with FOREIGNER)

Jun. 11 - To Be Confirmed

Jun. 13 - Matrix Bochum, Germany

Jun. 14 - Hirsch Nuremberg, Germany

Jun. 16 - Schlossgarten / Schloss Bruchsal, Germany (with FOREIGNER)

Jun. 18 - Hellfest Clisson, France

Jun. 19 - Graspop Festival Dessel, Belgium

Jun. 22 - Rockhal Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jun. 23 - Garage Saarbrucken, Germany

Jun. 25 - God Save The Kouign Fest Penmarch, France

Jun. 27 - Zenith Munich, Germany (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jun. 29 - Conrad Sohm Dornbirn, Austria

Jun. 30 - Komma Woergl, Austria

Jul. 02 - Fabrique Milan, Italy

Jul. 03 - Castello Di San Giusto Trieste, Italy

Jul. 06 - SRC Tasmajdan Belgrade, Serbia (with WHITESNAKE)

Jul. 08 - Masters Of Rock Vizovice, Czech Republic

Jul. 09 - Hype Park Krakow, Poland

Jul. 11 - Budapest Arena Budapest, Hungary, (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jul. 12 - Dvorana Stozice Ljubljana, Slovenia (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jul. 15 - Faliro Olympic Indoor Hall Athens, Greece (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jul. 17 - Midalidare Rock Mogilovo, Bulgaria (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jul. 18 - Arenele Romane Bucharest, Romania (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jul. 19 - Skenderija Sarajevo, Bosnia (with WHITESNAKE)

Jul. 26 - Theatre Antique Vienne, France (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jul. 27 - Z7 Pratteln, Switzerland

Jul. 28 - Substage Karlsruhe, Germany

Jul. 30 - Freilichtbuhne Peißnitzinsel Halle (Saale), Germany (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Jul. 31 - Rudolf Weber Arena Oberhausen, Germany (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Aug. 02 - Brose Arena (Bab Bamberg Arena MBH) Bamberg, Germany (with JUDAS PRIEST)

Aug. 05 - Time To Rock Festival Knislinge, Sweden

For more information, visit TheDeadDaisies.com.


EU SUMMER TOUR 2022

We're going to radiate some heat when we hit the EU on our upcoming Summer Tour!?? Only a few months to go! ?⚡️?

Posted by The Dead Daisies on Tuesday, March 22, 2022

According to Music-News.com, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards revealed on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast that the band is working on new music.


Richards: "We’re working on just about everything. At the moment we’re just feeling our way back. We’ve just finished this tour, and everyone is figuring out what to do this year. Obviously the Stone’s 60th is coming and I think we’re definitely going to be doing something there. It’s a little early in the year for me to say right now quite how the year’s going to pan out, especially with the old COVID on us. But hopefully we’ll be getting around all that and getting past it. There should be some interesting music this year."


Read the complete report here.




Richards recently joined Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to celebrate the 30th anniversary and re-release of his second solo album, Main Offender.


He tells Apple Music about deciding to make another solo record after Talk Is Cheap, the necessity of the hiatus from The Rolling Stones and how it made the band stronger, what he learned from being a frontman and how it benefitted The Stones, why he didn’t make another solo record for 23 years, the upcoming 50th anniversary of Exile On Main Street and more.


On the upcoming 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones' classic album, Exile On Main St., Keith says: "Well, Exile is, it is one of my favorite babies, man and it was an incredible record to make in this damn basement. And I sometimes wondered if we'd never get out of there, but one of my favorite. That house in the south of France where we recorded was bizarre to the max, and I have great memories of it. It was Riviera beach time. Everybody's going crazy. And yeah, that was a hell of a record. We liked it so much it became a double."


Watch below:

DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie has pushed back against allegations that he uses pre-recorded vocal tracks during live performances.

The rumor that LaBrie has been relying on pre-recorded backing tracks gained strength last month after fan videos of DREAM THEATER's current North American tour were shared on YouTube. Some fans have pointed specifically to the post-chorus of the DREAM THEATER song "Bridges In The Sky" where the alleged lip syncing occurs.

LaBrie finally addressed the Internet chatter during DREAM THEATER's concert this past Friday (March 18) at Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas. He told the crowd: "I'm gonna fucking clarify something for you now, okay? People have been saying I'm fucking lip syncing? Fuck you. Fucking, what is wrong with people online?"

He then apologized to the audience for his outburst, noting that he and his DREAM THEATER bandmates launched their current tour more than six weeks ago. "I guess I'm losing my mind because I'm almost at the end of a [tour] leg," he said.

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

In March 2020, SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers said that "90 percent" of rock artists use at least some pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. He told Rock Feed: "It bothers me that it bothers people. I'm, like, 'Why does this bother you?' It's the way it is. People have been doing this since the '80s. And we want the sound to be the best it can be. Could we go up there, just the four of us, and put on the best rock show ever? Of course. But that's not how we wanna do it."

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has previously said that he is "one of the last people" who are still not using pre-recorded tracks at their live shows. "I don't know how much longer I can say to you that I don't use tapes onstage, because I don't, and I never have," he told Consequence Of Sound. "And I still don't. When I have opening bands, and they're using tapes, and then I come out and I don't use tapes… sometimes, it makes me feel stupid, because I'm like, 'What am I doing, when all these kids half my age can come onstage and do all of my moves, but they don't have to warm up for an hour before the show, or weeks, before the first show?' Sometimes, I'm like, 'Why do I even bother, if the public is so used to this other way?' It's becoming very rare to come see a good band that's actually a real band — that's not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running. It just becomes more rare as the years go on."

In 2019, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith said that he doesn't "agree" with certain rock artists relying on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. "I tell you what, I see it with a lot of younger bands, and I don't think it's a good thing at all," he told the New York Post. "I mean, the music is getting too technical now. You have computerized recording systems, which we use, but I think we use them more for convenience than because we need to. We've toured with a couple bands that use tapes — it's not real. You're supposed to play live; it should be live. I don't agree with using tapes … I think it's a real shame."

One musician who has been open about his band's used of taped vocals during live performances is MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx, who said: "We've used technology since '87." He added the group employed "sequencers, sub tones, background vox tracks, plus background singers and us. [MÖTLEY CRÜE also taped] stuff we can't tour with, like cello parts in ballads, etc.... We love it and don't hide it. It's a great tool to fill out the sound."

In a 2014 interview, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars admitted that he wasn't comfortable with the fact that his band used pre-recorded backing vocals in its live shows, claiming that he preferred to watch groups whose performances are delivered entirely live. "I don't like it," he said. "I think a band like ours… I have to say '60s bands were my favorite — '60s and '70s bands — because they were real, like, three-piece bands or four-piece bands, and they just got up there and kicked it up. Made a mistake? So what? Sounded a little bit empty here or there? So what? It's the bigness and the rawness and the people that developed and wrote the songs and made them and presented them. To me, that's what I really like. I mean, I could put on a MÖTLEY CD and play with it all day long. I don't wanna do that."

KISS lead singer Paul Stanley, who has been struggling to hit the high notes in many of the band's classic songs for a number of years, has been accused of singing to a backing tape on KISS's ongoing "End Of The Road" tour.

Back in 2015, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons slammed bands who used backing tapes for not being honest enough to include that fact on their concert tickets.

"I have a problem when you charge $100 to see a live show and the artist uses backing tracks," Simmons said. "It's like the ingredients in food. If the first ingredient on the label is sugar, that's at least honest. It should be on every ticket — you're paying $100, 30 to 50 percent of the show is [on] backing tracks and they'll sing sometimes, sometimes they'll lip sync. At least be honest. It's not about backing tracks, it's about dishonesty.

"There's nobody with a synthesizer on our stage, there's no samples on the drums, there's nothing," Gene continued. "There's very few bands who do that now — AC/DC, METALLICA, us. I can't even say that about U2 or THE [ROLLING] STONES. There's very few bands who don't use [backing] tracks."

In a new interview with Las Vegas Weekly, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson was asked how he handled lockdown. He responded: "I had just done two spoken-word show in St. Petersburg and Moscow, and that was the weirdest experience, because they were doing simultaneous translation of a semi-comedic show. You'd say what approximates to a punchline and get no response. Then you go, 'Anyway, on Tuesday,' and they'd bust out laughing. There was a 30-second lag on the laughter.

"I went from there back to Paris where I was staying with my partner, Leana," he continued. "I got back on Saturday, and then the president of France comes on the TV and says, 'Tonight, midnight, all bars are shut.' I went, holy cow, let's go out and get a beer quick. So we all go out to all the bars and then we went home. We were like, this is weird. I guess this is lockdown.

"The weather was nice," Bruce added. "I scrubbed our little balcony and started cooking and we would make breakfast on the balcony. It was sunny and we were doing little workouts and moving the furniture and watching TV, so life kind of slowed down. At first, I was, like, "I'm going to be bored,' but then I was, like, 'No. I kind of like life slowing down. It's not so bad.' Then, after a year of it, I was, like, 'I'm done with this now.' And now I'm really done with it. I've been vaccinated, had COVID, been boosted. Enough. Let's get on with it."

Dickinson, who tested positive for COVID-19 in August after being fully vaccinated, told the 103.5 The Fox radio station that he doesn't believe "people should be forced to have vaccines. Maybe in hospitals and stuff like that — people who work there," he said. "But honestly, it's a personal decision. But I just think people are nuts not to take protective action against something that really could kill them.

"It's not a nice bug," Bruce added. "It's not the flu — trust me. I've had it, and I had two vaccines, and I'm really glad I had the two vaccines. And I'm kind of glad I had [COVID-19] as well 'cause now I've got more antibodies and all the rest of it. But it is not a nice bug. And I know a lot of people who have had it and who've still got long COVID — like, 22, 23 [years old]. Fit people — none of this, 'Oh, yeah, he died 'cause he was 85 and he was sick anyway.' Well, yeah, there is that. But there's a lot of people getting it. It's not a nice bug. And it's not the flu — it's way more contagious than that."

Long COVID is described as symptoms continuing for more than 12 weeks after an infection — severe or mild — which can't be explained by another cause.

Dickinson previously told Rolling Stone magazine that he doesn't personally believe that fans attending concerts should be required to get vaccinated, calling it "a personal choice," However, he said that he hopes everyone will get the shot. "Personally, I think people are just very badly advised if they don't go and get themselves double jabbed as quickly as possible, not for the reasons of going into concerts, but for their own health," he said. "Having said that, even if you've had a double jab, you can still get COVID, and therefore you can spread it to other people who might not have been vaccinated and they might get very sick and die. Now you cannot legislate against mortality. There are many things in this world that kill people and they're not illegal but are unfortunate. Cancer kills a lot of people. Heart attacks kill a lot of people. Obesity kills a lot of people. Malaria kills a shitload of people every year… So at some point, we have to just go, 'We're probably going to have to live with this. And if we're going to live with it, then you have your vaccination.'"

Bruce's two-month North American spoken-word tour kicked off on January 17 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will run through the end of March.

Dickinson, who had a golf gall-size tumor on his tongue and another in the lymph node on the right side of his neck, got the all-clear in May 2015 after radiation and nine weeks of chemotherapy.

Bruce will hit the road with IRON MAIDEN for a new North American leg of the band's "Legacy Of The Beast" tour in September.

Sacramento, California dark hardcore/metalcore outfit WILL HAVEN has just premiered a new documentary on the current state of the band, now playing on YouTube. The documentary is just the tip of the iceberg for the band in 2022, as they prepare for live dates, and put the final touches on their impending seventh LP.

Picking up where the first "Foreign Films" installment left off, the new documentary focuses on WILL HAVEN's regrouping in recent years, and the creation of their 2018-released sixth LP, "Muerte", their first for Minus Head Records. Directed by David Owen Blackley of Her Name Is Murder Productions, the film features energetic live footage and intimate interviews with its members, showcasing the band's passion for the music they write, the diehard fanbase that helped them maintain their mainstay cult status since the 1990s, and hints at what lies ahead.

WILL HAVEN guitarist Jeff Irwin states about the film: "I'm excited to finally share this documentary. I love it because it has the same feel as our original release but with a much more mature version of us as well as reliving the history of the band. I have watched it about twenty times, and I still find things in there I didn't notice the first time. Dave did an amazing job capturing us and our fans and making an art piece out of it similar to what Brad Oates did with the original 'Foreign Films'. I think it’s a great documentary for new fans to learn about the band and our crazy journey for the past twenty-five years. My advice is to sit back and turn up for volume and enjoy the ride."

Brad Hardie of Minus Head Records adds: "It's an honor to work with WILL HAVEN. I grew up in Sacramento, and there was always a certain allure about them. I look forward to spreading the word about them with 'Foreign Films II' and releasing another record."

Watch WILL HAVEN's "Foreign Films II" now below.

WILL HAVEN is currently holed up at Pus Cavern in Sacramento with Joe Johnston, putting the final touches on what will be the band's seventh LP. Upon completion, the LP will be sorted for release later this year through Minus Head Records.

Irwin says: "Making this new album and being in the studio has been a blessing over the past two years.

"We started writing right before COVID came and then everything shut down. We decided to take the downtime to go in and just record the record, so while the world had stopped, we were in the studio working and feeling blessed to have an outlet during those two years of COVID.

"The world was crazy and I think it came out in our music.

"I don't like saying this or that about the record; all I can say is that the emotion is there and we are happy with the result. [We] look forward to sharing it with new and old fans."

In the meantime, WILL HAVEN has confirmed a batch of U.K. tour dates for June. The band will play Bournemouth on June 8, followed by a special set in London the following evening where they'll play their Revelation Records-released third album, "Carpe Diem", in its entirety. June 11 will see the band performing at the massive Download festival.

WILL HAVEN tour dates:

June 08 - The Anvil – Bournemouth, UK

June 09 - The Underworld – London, UK (playing "Carpe Diem" in full)

June 11 - Download Festival – Leicestershire, UK

WILL HAVEN is:

Grady Avenell - vocals

Mitch Wheeler - drums

Jeff Irwin - guitar

Adrien Contreras - bass

Photo by Rocking Ryan Richardson

Musical icons Danny Elfman and Trent Reznor have joined forces for a brand new version of "Native Intelligence", the duo's second collaborative reimagining of music from Eflman's ambitious double album "Big Mess" (ANTI- / Epitaph Records). Featuring a lead vocal from Reznor and backing vocals from Elfman that soar over a precise syncopated orchestral arrangement and blistering rock instrumentation, the never-before-heard song serves as a fitting encore to the duo's collaboration of "True" last year. Listen to the track now below.

Both of Elfman and Reznor's versions of "Native Intelligence" and "True" are featured within the brand new collector's edition box set of "Big Mess", along with all 18 original songs from "Big Mess" and bonus discs containing additional unreleased reinterpretations and remixes of tracks from the album. Limited to 1500 copies worldwide, the stunning release offers fans the ultimate window into the creation and visuals of the groundbreaking project and is available for purchase now.

Included within the box set is a 60-page, hardcover artbook containing never-before-seen renderings of the distinctively unsettling digital sculptures of Elfman done by artist Sarah Sitkin, a 20-page stitched soft cover lyric book with behind-the-scenes photos, a 12" x 9" art print signed by Danny himself, a detailed life-sized light up model of Elfman's peculiar hand designed to be a stand-alone showpiece or one-of-a-kind night-light, a code which provides downloadable digital audio files and a behind-the-scenes mini documentary on the making of "Big Mess", and four LPs on exclusive color variants. The bonus discs are comprised of new remixes from HEALTH, clipping. and more, as well as never-before-released songs with featured vocalists including Rebekah Del Rio, FEVER 333, Blixa Bargeld and the aforementioned Trent Reznor.

On the horizon for Elfman is "Danny Elfman: From Boingo To Batman To Big Mess And Beyond!", a pair of momentous concert performances at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 16 and April 23, 2022 that will see him perform tracks from "Big Mess" live for the first time ever along with OINGO BOINGO songs, which he has not performed since their 1995 farewell tour, as well as other music spanning his entire career. The 2020 festival notably served as the impetus for "Big Mess" over two years ago, when the cancellation and quarantine that followed triggered the creation of what would become the "Big Mess" double album.

Elfman officially unleashed "Big Mess" in June 2021. Clocking in at 18 tracks, the sprawling double album finds the four-times-Oscar-nominated, Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning composer breaking bold new ground as both a songwriter and a performer. Joined on the album by drummer Josh Freese (DEVO, WEEZER, THE VANDALS), bassist Stu Brooks (DUB TRIO, Lady Gaga, Lauryn Hill), and guitarists Robin Finck (NINE INCH NAILS, GUNS N' ROSES) and Nili Brosh (Tony MacAlpine, Paul Gilbert), the project has garnered widespread praise since its release including the Los Angeles Times, who called it a "a fiercely political work filled with bombastic peaks and strikingly meditative valleys."

The songs on "Big Mess" unite both harmonically complex arrangements and simple high energy driving music with biting, acerbic wit as they reckon with the chaos and confusion of the modern world. Elfman paired each single with groundbreaking music videos that channel the record's unique visual journey, including the artificial-intelligence-generated "In Time" (Zev Deans), "Happy" (Aron Johnson), "Sorry" (Jesse Kanda), "Love In The Time of Covid" (Sven Gutjahr), "Kick Me" (Petros Papahadjopoulos), "True" (Sarah Sitkin), "Insects" (Sam & Andy Rolfes), and reimagined duet version of "True" featuring Trent Reznor (Aron Johnson). Led overall by Elfman's creative director Berit Gwendolyn Gilma, each of the video's directors have created individual statements that shape a diverse but cohesive whole; all of which channel the feelings of anger, angst and frustration that pulse throughout the album. The "Big Mess" album and visuals were produced by Danny Elfman and executive produced by Elfman's longtime manager Laura Engel.

Danny Elfman photo credit: Jacob Boll

Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, author as well as founding member of hard rock bands ALTER BRIDGE, CREED and TREMONTI, Mark Tremonti is "stepping out" with his most-ambitious and challenging project to date. Mark has partnered with National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) as he releases an album of Frank Sinatra covers titled "Tremonti Sings Sinatra". The album of selections from Frank Sinatra's catalog is being released as part of a new charity initiative created by Tremonti called Take A Chance For Charity. Proceeds from the album — scheduled for release on May 27 — will go to support NDSS and the work they do to advocate for and support individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Mark and his family were blessed to welcome their first daughter Stella last March — who was born with Down syndrome — and the idea for the project was born. A video sharing the story of Take A Chance For Charity can be seen below.

"For years, I've loved singing along to Frank's songs," Mark explains. "One night, I found an old video of him performing 'The Song Is You' from 1944. It made me want to dive into his vocal approach. I was all in and I wanted to do something with it. When we found out about our daughter Stella's Down syndrome diagnosis, the stars aligned. My obsession with Sinatra had its reason. Frank Sinatra raised more than a billion dollars for charity and that is a fact I wish the public the public knew more about. Beneath his cool and calm persona, he had a big heart. Doing this charity in his name was another way the stars had aligned. I decided to do this record to raise funds for families and individuals with Down syndrome. This project is the start of a new purpose that I will have for the rest of my life."

Tremonti has come together with surviving members of Frank Sinatra's orchestra, creating new takes on some of the classics and some deeper cuts from Frank's catalog. From the opening horns and piano of "I've Got You Under My Skin" to final vocal outro of "All Or Nothing At All", Tremonti showcases the signature vocal approach and exemplary musicianship that made Sinatra's work timeless. To see his vision through, Mark reached out to Sinatra's musical director Mike Smith who collected as many remaining members as possible of Frank's touring band to record the music for "Tremonti Sings Sinatra". Popular standards like "I've Got The World On A String", "My Way" and "That's Life" find new life in the hands of these incredible musicians. Tremonti — known for his guitar work that has won him countless accolades — leaves the instrument behind and just sings on the 14-track album. The artwork on the album cover is an original painting that Tremonti created especially for this project. A video for the first track "I've Got You Under My Skin" can be seen below.

The track listing for "Tremonti Sings Sinatra" is:

01. I've Got You Under My Skin

02. I've Got The World On A String

03. I Fall In Love Too Easily

04. Wave

05. Fly Me To The Moon

06. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)

07. My Way

08. You Make Me Feel So Young

09. Luck Be A Lady

10. That's Life

11. Come Fly With Me

12. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

13. The Song Is You

14. All Or Nothing At All

Take A Chance For Charity is a new charity focused on giving artists, actors, athletes and anyone with a platform the ability to get out of their comfort zone. The idea is to have people get out of the genre they are known for to raise funds and awareness for the charity of their choice. An actor can sing, an athlete can dance, a musician can perform a song out of their musical genre - any artistic interpretation. This gives participants the ability to do something out of the ordinary — in fact, extraordinary — all in the name of charity. "Tremonti Sings Sinatra" will be the first release for the cause, the recipient being NDSS.

The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome. NDSS envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities. Founded in 1979, NDSS supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: resources & support, policy and advocacy, and community engagement. Within these focus areas, NDSS engages in various activities, events, and programs on topics that are critical to our community such as federal and state advocacy and public policy, health and wellness, education, and employment. NDSS creates resources to support individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers across the lifespan and hosts awareness and engagement events throughout the country including the National Buddy Walk Program, the Times Square Video presentation and New York City Buddy Walk, Racing for 3.21 on World Down Syndrome Day, Run for 3.21, DC Golf Outing, the annual NDSS Gala & Auction, and various other events. Visit www.ndss.org for more information about NDSS.

Some quotes about "Tremonti Sings Sinatra":

Hank Cattaneo, Frank Sinatra's "Duets" producer: "Mark did a fantastic job on this record, His voice and take on the tunes are amazing!"

Slash (GUNS N' ROSES): "Mark's take on Sinatra is nothing short of uncanny. I could never have expected one of my fave metal guitarists to do such faithful renditions of Sinatra classics. Not only instrumentally, but vocally! And these recordings are for a cause near and dear to my heart; I was very close to an uncle who had Down syndrome when I was growing up. I fully appreciate and support Mark's commitment to NDSS."

Kirk Hammett (METALLICA): "Holy shit, I knew Mark was a ripping guitar player, but no way did I ever have a notion that he had golden pipes as well!!! Totally blown away. Totally into it. Let's hear more, Mark."

Chris Daughtry: "When Mark first played me a track from this project, my jaw dropped. Gave me chills! This is a side of Mark's voice that people need to hear and I'm certain they will be just as blown away as I was."

John Petrucci (DREAM THEATER): "Wow! I am absolutely blown away by Mark's performance on this album!! He delivers the songs authentically, embodying all that is Frank but giving us a glimpse of his own personality as well. I love the arrangements and the fact that some of Frank's original band members contributed to these tracks. Honestly, I've known Mark for a long time and know he is super talented but had no idea he was capable of channeling Old' Blue Eyes like that! Just absolutely beautifully done and what makes everything even that much more touching is the cause. I bet Mark's daughter Stella was in his heart during every step of the recording processes. Incredible!"

Tyler Connolly: "Okay this is so frickin' good! I had a smile on my face when I heard marks voice come in on 'I've Got You Under My Skin'. The production is fantastic, and I love that he has gifted the album to the NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society) Not surprised that he's killed it on this one. Congrats, Mark. This is amazing!"

Brent Smith (SHINEDOWN): "Once again, Mark Tremonti never ceases to amaze me. These renditions of some of the most beloved Sinatra tunes, are so eloquently done that it is remarkable. And what a beautiful gift to the NDSS. Much love, respect, and success to this incredible project."

James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER): "I met Mark around 10 years ago. First thing that struck me was his easy going, down-to-earth, respectful nature. That, to me, is a priority and a true measure of one's makeup. Mark's talent precedes him, I've listened to him since the '90s 'til present day. It wasn't until I listened to Mark's solo albums that I was able to fully realize his vocal abilities. What a great voice!!! A beautiful and unique sound, alongside perfect delivery, dynamics and feel.

"When asked for my take on Mark's Sinatra project, I really didn't know what to expect. I went into this from the perspective of what I've heard. I was asked to listen to two tracks. I listened to the whole damn thing!!! I was completely blown away. He sounds just like Frank, with just enough of his own vocal characteristics to infuse just the right amount of himself while honoring Frank's musicality. Mark did absolute justice to the number one iconic, legendary crooner of all time. A stellar job, nailing the inflections, nuances and all the subtleties in Frank's delivery that made him unparalleled. Bravo, Mark. An admirable endeavor and cause for NDSS. All the best, Mark, Vicky and lovely Stella."

Damian Muziani of BLACK SABBATH fan site Black-Sabbath.com has shared a four-minute report on the world premiere of "Dio: Dreamers Never Die", the career-spanning documentary on the life and times of the legendary rock icon Ronnie James Dio, which took place this past Thursday (March 17) at this year's SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. You can watch the video below.

On Friday, several music personalities who were involved in the making of the film — Dio's wife and longtime manager Wendy Dio, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach — took part in a panel, "Dreamers Never Die: The Enduring Power Of Metal" panel, hosted by SiriusXM's Eddie Trunk at Austin Convention Center.

Damian, who was the last person to conduct a post-show interview with Ronnie James Dio after his final performance ever in 2009, asked Butler for his memories of Ronnie. The 72-year-old musician said: "I was really glad that me and Ronnie had made up and all the past was in the past. At the end of the film, I was so glad that we got together in HEAVEN & HELL and sorted everything out. It was great."

Photos from both days can be found below. More pictures of the "Dreamers Never Die: The Enduring Power Of Metal" panel are available at Shutterstock.

"Dio: Dreamers Never Die" is the first documentary about Dio to be fully authorized by the artist's estate. According to the film's official description, it "delves deep into his incredible rise from '50s doo-wop crooner to his early classic rock days in Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW, to replacing the iconic lead singer Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH, to finally cement his legend with DIO. Ronnie's biography is completely unique to the tired sex, drugs and rock and roll clichés. The film is about perseverance, dreams and the power to believe in yourself."

"Dio: Dreamers Never Die" was financed solely by BMG and was helmed by Don Argott and Demian Fenton ("Framing John DeLorean", "Believer", "Last Days Here"), produced by Don Argott and Sheena Joyce for 9.14 Pictures, and executive produced by Wendy Dio for Niji Productions and Kathy Rivkin Daum for BMG.

Ronnie James Dio's story transcends the standard rock documentary. Set against the backdrop of Dio's autobiography — half finished by Ronnie before his untimely death from stomach cancer in 2010 — the film chronicles the inspiring journey of his life, love, and storied career. Whether playing sold-out stadiums or battling illness, his powerful voice and gentle heart have had a profound influence on his family, friends, and fans around the world.

Wendy Dio recently told Argentinian journalist Lucas Gordon about "Dio: Dreamers Never Die": "I saw the first cut of it. It was very emotional. It's very different from [Dio's autobiography]. 'Cause the book finishes in 1986, with Ronnie playing Madison Square Garden. But the documentary goes all the way through his life till the end. And it was very emotional. I was watching it with my publicist and a person from BMG, who are funding the documentary. And we all cried. It was very emotional. But it's really interesting and really good. Rob Halford is great in it, talking about stories. Lita Ford [and] Jack Black [are also in it]. Eddie Trunk and Mick Wall [author of Dio's autobiography] both kind of narrated it and everything. I'm very pleased with it."

Last August, Wendy told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about what fans can expect to see in the documentary: "There's a bunch of stuff from [old] Super 8 [tapes] and some other stuff. There's fantastic interviews with all kinds of different people about when they were working with Ronnie or what they were doing at the time, maybe supporting Ronnie. It's totally different to the [recently released Dio] book. And I'm very interested to see this cut. I'm excited, actually, to see it. And I think it's gonna be great."

In October 2019, Wendy told the WSOU radio station that the documentary "will go from Ronnie's childhood all the way through [to the end of his life]. I think they interviewed Jack Black, and I think they interviewed all of Ronnie's bandmembers and Doug Aldrich and, I think, Jeff Pilson. They were getting ready to go to Arizona to interview Rob Halford and Lita Ford. And then they were going into England to interview Tony Iommi. They already did Geezer. So there will be very interesting stories from different people. I think it'll be a great thing, and it'll show people a lot of things that people have never seen before."

Ronnie James Dio passed away of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history. The singer, who was recording and touring with BLACK SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2009. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

Dio's autobiography, titled "Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography", was released last July via Permuted Press.




Great time in Austin, TX at @sxsw with Wendy Dio at the World-Premiere of Dio: Dreamers Never Die. #hostlife? #actorslife #journalist #heavymetal #sxsw #movies

Posted by Damianemcee on Friday, March 18, 2022



Great time in Austin, TX at @sxsw with Wendy Dio at the World-Premiere of Dio: Dreamers Never Die. #hostlife? #actorslife #journalist #heavymetal #sxsw #movies

Posted by Damianemcee on Friday, March 18, 2022



Interviewing legendary Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler @sxsw #dio #dreamersneverdie die #sxsw2022 #hostlife?

Posted by Damianemcee on Friday, March 18, 2022



We had a surreal time premiering Dio: Dreamers Never Die at SXSW. Thanks to everyone who came to support the film. It…

Posted by Demian Fenton on Sunday, March 20, 2022



DIO DREAMERS NEVER DIE DIO DREAMERS NEVER DIE was not one of the films I picked for the SXSW dance card. It was so low...

Posted by Reel News Daily on Sunday, March 20, 2022



Tonight's the night! Ronnie's documentary, DIO: Dreamers Never Die has it's world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX at the The Paramount Theater!

Fo the full SXSW schedule, visit SXSW.com.

Posted by Ronnie James Dio on Thursday, March 17, 2022



Next week, Ronnie's documentary, DIO: Dreamers Never Die has it's world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin,...

Posted by Ronnie James Dio on Tuesday, March 8, 2022



Ronnie James Dio Dreamers Never Die!

So pleased to meet the fabulous, gracious, kindhearted boss lady Wendy Dio after a…

Posted by Noa Durban on Friday, March 18, 2022



At SxSW Honoring the late great

Ronnie James Dio ??

with Sebastian Bach & Eddie Trunk & Mrs. Ronnie James Dio and daughter.. Such a good time! Thanks? Eddie Trunk Sebastian Bach

Posted by Keefe Norman on Thursday, March 17, 2022



Sebastian Bach from Skid Row in Austin for the Premiere of DIO: Dreamers Never Die

He has a great spirit and was easy...

Posted by Keefe Norman on Friday, March 18, 2022



Posted by Eddie Trunk on Friday, March 18, 2022



Posted by Gilberto Manzano Ibarra on Thursday, March 17, 2022



The Dio clan here..

Breaking bread last night at SXSW..

Jeffrey,Sebastian,Eddie,

Good times???

#eddietrunk #sebastianbach

Posted by Oni Logan on Friday, March 18, 2022

























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A post shared by Eddie Trunk (@eddietrunk)






























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MACHINE HEAD celebrated the 25th anniversary of the band's second studio LP, "The More Things Change…", with a special full-album play-through this past Friday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m. PDT. Joining MACHINE HEAD's Robb Flynn and Jared MacEachern for the event was original "The More Things Change…" guitarist Logan Mader. You can watch the full performance below.

Released in 1997, "The More Things Change..." was MACHINE HEAD's last LP to feature Mader, and the first to feature drummer Dave McClain. The album reached No. 138 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1997, and as of 2002 had sold over 115,000 copies in the United States. In 2020, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1997 by Metal Hammer magazine.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Flynn has been staging "Acoustic Happy Hour" solo sessions every Friday, during which he has performed a number of MH tunes as well as covers of other artists' songs.

Flynn told Kerrang! magazine about "Acoustic Happy Hour": "It's just basically a free show on Facebook. I try to learn two new songs every Friday. I take requests, and I try to play MACHINE HEAD songs that have never been played live acoustic. Last week I covered MUSE, TOOL and LYNYRD SKYNYRD. It's been fucking awesome. The first three or four were horrible — I knew they were — but I knew that if I kept sucking for six weeks I would get past it.

"For the first 20 years of my career, I never took singing lessons," he continued. "Then I did some about 10 years ago. With these acoustic shows, I've been back in contact with my old singing teacher to try and figure out why I can do a three-and-a-half hour MACHINE HEAD show, but this clean singing is kicking my ass. It's been an opportunity to un-learn all the wrong shit and get an opportunity to do things right."

MACHINE HEAD recently completed work on a new full-length album for a tentative summer release. The follow-up to 2018's "Catharsis" will include the three songs that were featured on last summer's "Arrows In Words From The Sky" single: "Become The Firestorm", "Rotten" and "Arrows In Words From The Sky". Much of the new MACHINE HEAD LP was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with producer Zack Ohren.

In November 2020, MACHINE HEAD released a single, "My Hands Are Empty", via Nuclear Blast. The song marked the first musical collaboration between Flynn and Mader in 24 years.

"My Hands Are Empty" was just one in a line of singles to be released by MACHINE HEAD, which issued "Do Or Die" in October 2019, "Circle The Drain" in February 2020, and the two-song digital single "Civil Unrest", consisting of "Stop The Bleeding" and "Bulletproof", in June 2020. "Stop The Bleeding" featured guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach, and was written and recorded just days after the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.


The More Things Change, 25th Anniversary Play-Through - March 18, 2022 ?????????

The More Things Change, 25th Anniversary Play-Through - March 18, 2022 ????????? • Celebrating the 25th anniversary of The More Things Change, Robb and Jared are joined by OG guitar player Logan Mader, for an in-full and in correct running order play through of the band's second album.

All of the album's tracks, like openers and live set staples "Ten Ton Hammer" and "Take My Scars", through to album closing tracks and mega deep cuts "Blistering" and "Blood of the Zodiac" are given the Electric Happy Hour treatment in a not-to-be-missed show.

Rounding out the show, the boyz jammed through six tracks from their classic debut album, "Burn My Eyes", making this a perfect setlist for fans of the earliest era of the band. Again, this is an Electric Happy Hour not-to-be-missed!!

Beers Up!!

Support the boyz, leave ‘em some beer money!??

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/backmachinehead

Visit Ten Ton Trading Co. - The OFFICIAL Machine Head Store

https://tentontradingco.com/

We're goin' on tour in '22!!

https://www.machinehead1.com/pages/tour

Posted by Machine Head on Friday, March 18, 2022

According to Variety, Dave Grohl's metal album that he recorded as the fictional band DREAM WIDOW in the FOO FIGHTERS' horror-comedy film "Studio 666" will be made available digitally next Friday, March 25, with a physical release to follow later this year. The LP's first single, "March Of The Insane", came out last month.

In "Studio 666", FOO FIGHTERS move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much-anticipated tenth album. Once in the house, Grohl finds himself grappling with supernatural forces related to related to the studio's former residents — the aforementioned fictional act DREAM WINDOW — that threaten both the completion of the album and the lives of the FOO FIGHTERS.

"I wind up finding this creepy basement. And I go into the basement, I find this tape by a band [DREAM WIDOW] from 25 years ago that recorded there," Grohl told Howard Stern. "And there's this song that, if recorded and completed, the fucking demon in the house is unleashed, and then, whatever, all hell breaks loose."

Grohl also revealed a bit about DREAM WINDOW, saying: "The singer went crazy and murdered his whole band because of creative differences… We come in 25 years later to record, having no idea what happened 25 years ago, and I start becoming possessed by the spirit of the guy from 25 years ago and the spirit of the house. But this song, 'March Of The Insane', this is their lost record. This is the record they were making before their singer murdered [them]."

Dave told Rolling Stone about the DREAM WIDOW LP: "It will be the lost album. It'll be the album they were making before he fucking killed the entire band." According to Grohl, "some of it sounds like [doom-metal pioneers] TROUBLE; some of it sounds like CORROSION OF CONFORMITY; some of it has a KYUSS vibe."

"Studio 666" stars Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee.

Released domestically in more than 2,000 theatres on February 25, the film's all-star cast also includes Whitney Cummings, Leslie Grossman, Will Forte, Jenna Ortega and Jeff Garlin.

In 2004, Dave's then-metal side-project PROBOT released its self-titled album. The LP featured Grohl, ex-ZWAN guitarist Matt Sweeney and FOO FIGHTERS producer Adam Kasper accompanying some of metal's most celebrated and respected frontmen, including Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD), Scott "Wino" Weinrich (THE OBSESSED), Denis "Snake" Bélanger (VOIVOD), Conrad "Cronos" Lant (VENOM), Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, ex-SEPULTURA), Tom G. Warrior (CELTIC FROST), Eric Wagner (TROUBLE), King Diamond (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND), Lee Dorrian (CATHEDRAL, ex-NAPALM DEATH), Mike Dean (CORROSION OF CONFORMITY) and Kurt Brecht (D.R.I.).

In a new interview with Elliott Fullam of Little Punk People, MESHUGGAH's Tomas Haake was asked if he naturally keeps count of everyday tasks since he's a drummer. He responded: "Not really. I do have one weird thing, though. I don't necessarily see the connection with me being a drummer, but maybe there is. And that's… I really can't walk up staircases without counting the steps. And for a while, actually, I used to count my steps when I was just walking too. But that would be the only thing where I have some kind of weird OCD that kind of kicks in. But you can ask me, all the staircases that I use in life, that I've used more than a couple times, you could ask me, and I would tell you the exact amount of steps for all of them. Anything that's in my neighborhood, I know 'em all."

MESHUGGAH's ninth studio album, "Immutable", will be released on April 1 via Atomic Fire. The follow-up to 2016's "The Violent Sleep Of Reason" was recorded at Sweetspot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden; mixed by Rickard Bengtsson and Staffan Karlsson; and mastered by multiple Grammy Award winner Vlado Meller (METALLICA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SYSTEM OF A DOWN). Visionary artist Luminokaya once again created the cover artwork.

Last December, MESHUGGAH announced that it was postponing its previously announced U.S. tour, originally planned for early 2022, to September/October 2022. At the time, the Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers said that they needed "to prioritize the physical health of one of the band members who is currently undergoing medical treatment related to a skin condition on his hands, hindering him from rehearsals and from all in all playing his instrument." Haake has since confirmed to Rolling Stone that he is suffering from hand eczema. "I've got to tape up all my fingers and put on gloves just to mess around on the kit, even," he explained. "That means I haven't really touched the drums since we recorded the album, and that was, like, early April. So I'm almost a year out, without even hitting a drum."

According to Haake, he's been suffering from the condition for nearly two years and he has yet to get any clear answers from any of his doctors. "I've been to so many specialists and dermatologists about this at this point and they're all, like, 'Huh?' They say it looks like contact eczema, but we've ruled that out because I've done all the tests that you can do, as far as anything that I might come in contact with. It goes up and down, but it's a bummer, for sure, whether you're a drummer or not. I mean, we all need our hands to function for daily life."

Tomas added that his "hands are bumming me out, man. I try to stay positive about things like this and not allow myself to just get all depressed over it," he said. "It is what it is. We'll see if some new doctor has something important to tell me that helps me clear this up. But, yeah, I mean, if not, I will still have to play."

LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst debuted his new look during the band's first concert of 2022, which took place last night (Saturday, March 19) at the Vive Latino festival in Mexico City.

Professionally filmed video of the entire concert is available below.

LIMP BIZKIT's setlist was as follows:

01. Out Of Style - 00:38

02. Dirty Rotten Bizkit - 04:16

03. Turn It Up - 07:24

04. Dad Vibes - 08:42

05. Break Stuff - 13:49

06. My Generation - 19:08

07. Livin' It Up - 23:41

08. Nookie - 32:44

09. Hot Dog - 37:00

10. My Way - 42:20

11. Rollin' - 48:50

12. Take A Look Around - 53:51

As previously reported, LIMP BIZKIT will return to the road this April for the month-long "Still Sucks Tour". The AEG Presents trek will kick off in the band's former home state of Florida and will include a stop in New York City at Madison Square Garden (May 13) as well as cross-country shows in Baltimore (May 15) and Las Vegas (May 28) before concluding with a Los Angeles-area date (Ontario on May 31). LIMP BIZKIT will be supported by SCOWL, WARGASM UK, $NOT, DYING WISH and YUNG GRAVY for various shows.

Later this year, LIMP BIZKIT will follow the U.S. shows with a European run of dates.

Last October, LIMP BIZKIT released its long-awaited new album, "Limp Bizkit Still Sucks".

LIMP BIZKIT had not released a new studio LP since 2011's "Gold Cobra", although the band has spent a lot of time writing and recording music over the past decade.

Last September, LIMP BIZKIT released a single called "Dad Vibes". The track, which was originally premiered during the band's concert at Lollapalooza in July, was made available via Suretone Records and ADA.

"Dad Vibes" arrived weeks after LIMP BIZKIT canceled all of its previously announced live appearances for 2021, explaining in a statement that it was doing so "out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the fans."

LIMP BIZKIT was scheduled to appear at several festivals last summer and fall, including Aftershock, Blue Ridge, Rebel Rock and Rocklahoma.

A few days after the summer 2021 shows were called off, Durst told Billboard about the decision: "In short, the system is still very flawed. Even if the performers, crews, staff, and promoters do their best to ensure safety on and behind the stage, that doesn't ensure the safety of the audience as a whole. We are all in this together, and we all — individually and as a whole — have to make our best efforts to be as responsible and proactive as possible moving forward to combat and stop spreading COVID."

Durst also denied that there was a specific incident that prompted him and his bandmates to pull the plug on the trek, saying it was "just perception."

Durst made headlines in late July when he debuted a new look at the band's concert at Metro in Chicago, with the frontman sporting wavy salt-and-pepper locks accompanied by a horseshoe-style mustache.






#ViveLatino2022 ??? | #LimpBizkit la rompió en el Foro Sol y hasta invitó a un fan mexicano a subirse al exico o para cantar Rollin'

? Alejandro Aguilar

Sigue nuestra cobertura especial aquí ??: https://t.co/MHJoxtEKVu pic.twitter.com/pq8eArDqOD

— El Sol de México (@elsolde_mexico) March 20, 2022








Limp Bizkit en el vive latino pic.twitter.com/s0duDwwIGD

— ☠️Pepito MaLo ☠️ (@malo_pepito) March 20, 2022








Limp Bizkit pic.twitter.com/55lPZ5rBwd

— Palmerita (@AleDeLaReguera) March 20, 2022

It was back in 1974 when AC/DC, then fronted by Dave Evans, performed its own interpretation of "Heartbreak Hotel", a classic hit song by Elvis Presley, which got a special mention in the newspaper review of AC/DC's performance at the Sydney Opera House and became such a success at every concert. And despite the talked-about intention, AC/DC has never recorded this cover.

Paying tribute to AC/DC's upcoming 50th anniversary, Evans chose to record the song in almost the exact way the band used to perform it live. The music was recorded as a collaboration with musicians from Denmark and produced by Danish sound engineer, record producer and Grammy Award winner Flemming Rasmussen, recording engineer of the album "Difficult To Cure" by RAINBOW and producer of METALLICA's albums "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets" and "…And Justice For All". As the final layer, the vocal tracks were recorded earlier this week by Evans on the Caribbean island of Aruba at Studio Tiss.

Evans's version of "Heartbreak Hotel" will be released later in the year.

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?"

Last May, 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" sin

Drum-cam footage of SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph performing the song "Hell Awaits" with his bandmates can be seen below. The video was apparently filmed when former MACHINE HEAD guitarist Phil Demmel filled in for SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt for four European shows in the fall of 2018 after Gary returned home to be with his dying father.

In August 2020, Bostaph confirmed that he is involved in a brand new project headed up by his SLAYER bandmate Kerry King. The duo has spent the last couple of years working on music with the hopes of recording it properly once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided.

The drummer opened up about his latest collaboration with King in an interview with Australia's Riff Crew. Asked to describe the musical direction of the music he has been working on with the founding SLAYER guitarist, Bostaph said: "I guess the best way to put it is Kerry writes what he writes. Is this gonna be a rock and roll record? No. Is it gonna be what you want it to be? Yes. Is it gonna be what you expect it to be? Yes. It's not gonna be some rehashed stuff… It's gonna sound like SLAYER without it being SLAYER — but not intentionally so. I mean, Kerry's been writing songs in SLAYER his entire career, and he has a style. And that style, as a songwriter, you just don't change your style because your band is done. But that's what you love to write.

"Are things gonna maybe morph over time? Yeah. I would imagine so," he continued. "I don't think the first song Kerry wrote as a kid is the same as the last song he wrote for [SLAYER's final album, 2015's] 'Repentless'. Songwriters do change over time based on their influences and how they feel at the time.

"Kerry's on fire right now. So, all I can say is if you like heavy music and you like SLAYER, you'll like this. Is it gonna be SLAYER? It's not gonna be SLAYER — SLAYER is done; they retired…

"The thing about it is that we don't wanna sound like 'Baby SLAYER,' you know what I mean?" he added. "There is SLAYER. But it's gonna be good — it's gonna be really good. I've been listening to the music and I just cannot wait to get into the room and start jamming with Kerry.

"Part of it for me is that I don't have to… And this is not an insult; it's definitely a compliment… I don't have to drum under the show of [original SLAYER drummer] Dave's [Lombardo] drumming badassery. That's a good thing to do, but I might be able to stretch out a little bit and do some things that I like to do and still make it fit within the framework of what we're doing. I'm looking forward to trying some things that I've wanted to try within SLAYER but couldn't, just because I didn't have it developed well enough. And we'll see if I can make some of that stick in some of the new music."

Asked if his songwriting approach with King has changed compared to how it was within the confines of SLAYER, Bostaph said: "Right now, the formula's gonna be the same. I know how Kerry writes.

"When I first joined SLAYER, before we did [1994's] 'Divine Intervention', Kerry and I were roommates, and we barely knew each other," he explained. "And we spent a lot of time together, on a friendship level and jamming musically. I know what he wants out of a song, and we have that formula, and it's a good formula that works, and we're not gonna change it. If it's not broke, don't fix it. You know what I mean?"

Around the same time, Kerry told Dean Guitars that he had plenty of musical ideas for his upcoming project. "I've been very, very lucky with riffs in 2020," he said. "Maybe because I can't go anywhere — I don't know — but riffs have certainly not been a problem. And looking forward into the future, what that means for me is I'm gonna be able to cherrypick the best stuff. And it's good stuff. I've got more than two records' worth of music, but to be able to go through that and cherrypick the best 11 or 12 [songs]… That first record should be smoking."

According to Kerry, who recently partnered with Dean Guitars as a signature artist, most of the songwriting for his next project so far has been a solitary effort.

"Right now, I'm the only lyricist, because I'm the only one writing music, because I'm not positive who everybody is that's gonna be playing with me," he said. "So it's all on me at the moment. So, actually, I've actually gotta cherrypick those songs, pick my 10 or 12 favorites and actually start trying to put lyrics on them, just to move the process forward."

SLAYER played the final show of its farewell tour in November 2019 at the Forum in Los Angeles. One day later, Kerry's wife, Ayesha King, said that there is "not a chance in hell" that the thrash metal icons will reunite for more live appearances.

When SLAYER first announced that it was embarking on its final tour back in January 2018, Ayesha assured fans that they would "always get music" from her husband.

King has said in previous interviews that his post-SLAYER musical efforts would not be much different from the sound fans have grown accustomed to hearing from him.

"If someone quit, I'm not going to go around with a made-up SLAYER," he told AZCentral.com back in 2010. "But my next band would sound like SLAYER, that's all I know."

Arizona thrashers SACRED REICH have canceled two shows on their North American tour with SEPULTURA after frontman Phil Rind was hospitalized with a non-COVID-19-related illness. The trek, which kicked off on March 4 in Sacramento, California, also features support from CROWBAR and ART OF SHOCK.

Earlier today (Saturday, March 19), Phil released the following statement via social media: "Hi everyone, I have been battling a non-Covid illness since last Sunday in Pittsburgh. I have been doing my best every night because as they say 'the show must go on' even though my asthma has been getting progressively worse.

"I went to the hospital this morning in Philadelphia and have been admitted. As a result SACRED REICH will not be performing tonight in Philadelphia or tomorrow night in Baltimore on the Quadra Tour with SEPULTURA, CROWBAR and ART OF SHOCK.

"We are very disappointed to let you down. It sucks.

"Have a great time at the shows and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

"Peace and love, Phil & SACRED REICH".

SACRED REICH's tour with SEPULTURA, CROWBAR and ART OF SHOCK is scheduled to conclude on April 9 in Berkeley, California.

SACRED REICH's latest album, "Awakening", was released in August 2019 via Metal Blade Records. The band's first LP in 23 years was produced by Arthur Rizk, who has previously worked with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, POWER TRIP and CODE ORANGE, among others. The album marks SACRED REICH's first release since the return of drummer Dave McClain.

"Awakening" was described in a press release as "a timeless collection comprised of blistering thrash, crushing grooves, killer solos and socially conscious lyrics that demonstrate a true understanding of everything that matters most in the world today."

"Awakening" was engineered by John Aquilino and was mastered by Maor Appelbaum.

In 2019, SACRED REICH guitarist and founding member Jason Rainey exited the band for "health reasons" and was replaced by Joey Radziwill. Rainey died in March 2020 of an apparent heart attack.


We are very sorry. Have fun at the shows with @sepultura @crowbarmusic @artofshock #quadratour #asthmasucks

Posted by Sacred Reich on Saturday, March 19, 2022

Former QUIET RIOT singer and "American Idol" finalist James Durbin has joined forces with STRYPER members Robert Sweet and Perry Richardson (bass; also ex-FIREHOUSE) and RIOT guitarist Mike Flyntz in a new project called CLEANBREAK. The band's debut single and video will be released next month via Frontiers Music Srl.

FAITHSEDGE singer/songwriter Giancarlo Floridia, who was involved in the songwriting process for CLEANBREAK, took to his Facebook on Wednesday (March 16) to write: "After months of not being able to say anything I’m proud to announce my songwriting debut for Frontiers records. These new songs will be on the CLEANBREAK debut album featuring 'American Idol' finalists James Durbin, STRYPER drummer Robert Sweet, FIREHOUSE/STRYPER bass player Perry Richardson and the guitar monster Mike Flyntz of RIOT!

"It's an amazing thing to be writing songs for your multi platinum MTV heroes and I know you guys are going to love the result.

"Thank you Alessandro for taking me on board and thank you Seann Nicols for helping me with all the demos for the album.

"I am hoping to bring to the songwriting table my history of working with band members of STRYPER, RATT and yes DOKKEN. And there is more to come as I am working on more songs with Alessandro !!

"Please join the CLEANBREAK Facebook page or Instagram page below ! Never ever ever ever give up on yourself to my friends! Now let's rockkkkkk !!!"

CLEANBREAK is:

James Durbin (QUIET RIOT) - Vocals

Mike Flyntz (RIOT) - Guitar

Perry Richardson (STRYPER, FIREHOUSE) - Bass

Robert Sweet (STRYPER) – Drums

Durbin recorded two studio albums with QUIET RIOT — 2017's "Road Rage" and 2019's "Hollywood Cowboys" — during his three-year stint with the group. In September 2019, QUIET RIOT parted ways with Durbin and replaced him with Jizzy Pearl. Pearl previously fronted QUIET RIOT from 2013 until October 2016, when he was briefly replaced by Seann Nichols, who played only five shows with the group before the March 2017 arrival of Durbin.

Richardson joined STRYPER in the fall of 2017 as the replacement for longtime bassist Tim Gaines.

Photo credit: Giancarlo Floridia


Music Video Shenanigans with @perryrichardson777 #CLEANBREAK @frontiersmusicsrl

? @giancarlosongs

Posted by James Durbin on Sunday, March 13, 2022



After months of not being able to say anything I’m proud to announce my songwriting debut for Frontiers records. These...

Posted by Giancarlo Floridia on Wednesday, March 16, 2022



Cleanbreak is:

James Durbin - Vocals

Mike Flyntz - Guitar

Perry Richardson - Bass

Robert Sweet - Drums

Instagram: instagram.com/cleanbreakofficial

Posted by Cleanbreak on Wednesday, March 16, 2022