On a recent episode of the Rock & Roll High School podcast, hosted by two-time Grammy Award-winning producer and music executive Pete Ganbarg, legendary rocker Alice Cooper was asked if he is "still having fun" touring with his band. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, yeah. Touring for me is just part of life. I've been touring since I was 16 years old. I'm 77 now, and I think I'm doing my best shows now.

Cooper went on to say that musicians are either lifers, like he is, or they are not. He explained: "Same with [THE ROLLING STONES' Mick] Jagger, same with [THE BEATLES' Paul] McCartney and Ringo [Starr] and all those guys. We could have all retired 30 years ago financially, but it's what I love to do, and actually it really keeps me healthy. I get up and do 90 minutes a night 200 times a year. I feel great. If you're not on drugs, you're not drinking, you're not smoking cigarettes, it's a pretty healthy lifestyle… I mean, Jagger does a half an hour on a treadmill before he does the three-hour show, where he never stops."

Alice continued: "My wife says, 'With all the murder and all of the disease and all of the death on this planet, what kind of world are we gonna leave [THE ROLLING STONES'] Keith Richards?' … But you've gotta put [THE WHO's] Pete Townshend in there, and you've gotta put Rod Stewart in there and Elton John, all the guys that just do what they love to do. And especially Bob Dylan — [he does] 200 shows a year. He never stops. BEACH BOYS were like that too. So I'm just saying there are certain people that were born to be on stage."

Cooper added: "The great thing about Pete Townshend is, I tell young bands… They said, 'What should we do?' And I tell 'em, 'Go see GREEN DAY.' I said, 'Because GREEN DAY brings it every night.' I said, 'And go see Pete Townshend.' Pete Townshend is 78, 79, maybe he's 80 years old — I don't know — and his knuckles are still bleeding because he's hitting that guitar so hard. And he still has that angst, that WHO angst from 'My Generation'. I said, 'Maybe that never dies. I hope it doesn't.' And if you don't have the desire to do it, those are the people that just go, 'Okay, I'm done. I can't do this anymore.' I can't imagine not doing it."

Alice and illusionist Criss Angel recently announced an additional four show dates for their shock rock magic experience of a lifetime, "Welcome To Our Nightmare". Shows have been added on April 3 and 4 as well May 22 and 23.

Alice and Criss bring the smash hits to life — "Poison", "I'm 18", "School's Out", "You And Me" and more — in an unprecedented 90-minute revolutionary concert spectacle of magic, music, and mayhem. Additionally, fans can take advantage of exclusive ticket add-ons, including a limited number of Ultimate VIP Nightmare Experiences with an up-close-and-personal backstage meet-and-greet with Alice and Criss, and a Nightmare Collectible Package.

"Welcome To Our Nightmare" will play in the Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on March 6-8, April 3-4 and May 22-23, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. Known as the architect of shock-rock, Cooper (in both the original ALICE COOPER band and as a solo artist) has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where CNN can present real life shocking images. Few performers in the history of rock and roll have blended music, theater, and pure shock the way Alice Cooper has. For more than five decades, the godfather of shock rock has terrified, thrilled, and captivated audiences around the globe with a stage show unlike anything else in music. From the guillotines and snakes to unforgettable anthems like "School's Out" and "Poison", Alice Cooper turned concerts into experiences that blurred the line between rock and horror.

In a new interview with Get On The Bus, Matt Sorum reflected on VELVET REVOLVER, the band he formed in 2002 with fellow GUNS N' ROSES members Duff McKagan and Slash. Sorum, McKagan, Slash and guitarist Dave Kushner held an exhaustive singer search after VELVET REVOLVER's formation that lasted for almost two years, during which they issued an open invitation to the public to send in demos. Eventually they settled on former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland. VELVET REVOLVER released two full-length albums through RCA/Sony BMG — 2004's "Contraband" and 2007's "Libertad" — before dismissing Weiland in April 2008.

Sorum said about VELVET REVOLVER's early days (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Scott Weiland came in, and we made that record 'Contraband'. And Scott [was] just one of the greatest. And it was difficult times, early days, but so worth it. [There] was a lot of drugs and stuff. I'd gotten clean. And everyone else was cleaned up, and we went through all of our obvious cliché rock and roll shit; it was like a VH1 'Behind The Music' kind of thing. We'd all gotten cleaned up, and we made a pact that we were gonna do this. At that time, we were in our forties, which was fucking really old. It was, like, 'Oh, shit.' And labels didn't really give a shit if it was three guys from GN'R. [They said], 'Who's the singer and where are the songs?' And Weiland came in. And I remember it really jumpstarted the band. At that point we became VELVET REVOLVER, and it was just game on. It was so exciting. And after all the work — hard work — and I say this to people, 'cause I think a lot of people look at us like we're a bunch of guys just wake up, play music and it just happens. It's, like, 'Those guys don't work.' But yeah, it was amazing times. That, for me, was, like, I guess I was a founder of my first band. Obviously, I was in the other band, but it was a new band, and we had to recreate. We really couldn't be GNR. We couldn't just rest on that."

Regarding how VELVET REVOLVER's songwriting approach was different from the way GUNS N' ROSES wrote music, Matt said: "We came up with this album that was kind of [a reflection] of the times. There were other bands really big — LINKIN PARK — but we all liked QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, and the FOO FIGHTERS were coming. It was a different rhythmic sense. The rhythm wasn't this swagger retro rock and roll thing. It was more like pumping kind of punky. It was a good club. And I remember when we put out the first single, 'Slither', and it had sort of this Slash riff with this Weiland kind of 'Sex Type Thing' [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS] vocal, that monotone thing he did, into this big sweeping chorus. And we made the right video. And everything was very thought out when we came up with what we wanted to be. And the name of the album, 'Contraband' — here it was, 'Contraband'. It's, like, all this shit — drugs, paraphernalia — and that was really a reflection on our lives. That was sort of us from then to now. And, man, if you watch the first video, we were all in the best shape of our lives. We got really serious about, how are we gonna compete? We never talked about it like this ever, but it was known. It was just, 'We have to be the best we can be. Let's just fucking throw it down.' And I would say that hunger in that period of time, the hunger was exactly the same as when I was a kid. Fast forward 25 years, it was, like, 'I'm gonna do this. We're all gonna do this.' And the album blew up. When it came out on the radio, like every hour on KROQ [Los Angeles radio station], I was, like, 'Oh, here we go.' And it took off. And then we went out and we were headlining, selling out, all that stuff. So game on. It was exciting."

Sorum went on to lament VELVET REVOLVER's breakup, saying: "[The band] wasn't as big as GN'R, but it could have been. It just didn't last long enough. I don't think it's about the size, actually. You're playing an arena, and you're plenty big enough… But for me it was probably the best, because I was a lot clearer minded too. I'd gone through stuff, we'd all gone through stuff. We'd all made some mistakes. The other band had broken up. We really wanted to keep it together. Unfortunately, it kind of fell into bad habits again and the same old shit and the wheels came off. But I still reflect back on that [period], especially picking up the Grammy. We never got a Grammy with GN'R — ever. But that was a big moment. Three Grammy nominations and then we won one. And people say, 'Oh, awards, whatever.' But I don't know. It's nice to get one. [Laughs]"

Weiland was found dead on his band's tour bus in December 2015. The vocalist, who was 48 years old at the time of his death, was on tour with THE WILDABOUTS in Minnesota when he was found unresponsive.

In the past, Sorum had made it clear that he and his bandmates were very aware of Weiland's drug-addiction battles and chronic tardiness when they first joined forces with him to launch VELVET REVOLVER.

Weiland and his former VELVET REVOLVER bandmates said all kinds of nasty things about each other after their acrimonious split in 2008. But Sorum later said he wasn't bothered anymore, partly because he said he had a chance to talk things out with the frontman a couple of years before Scott's death.

VELVET REVOLVER reunited with Weiland for a four-song set in January 2012 at a Los Angeles tribute concert for late songwriter John O'Brien, but the band has otherwise remained inactive.

At one point it was reported that VELVET REVOLVER was going to team with STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor, but the idea was ultimately vetoed by Slash. The group and Taylor recorded demos of 10 songs together.

Earlier this month, Sorum told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about VELVET REVOLVER: "VELVET REVOLVER spawned from [GUNS N' ROSES] too, and that was a great run. It didn't last as long as I wanted it to. I was hoping it'd be more of a long thing and we'd still be here, but unfortunately it didn't go that way. But I think we could have really developed into a great rock and roll band, which I felt like we were on 'Contraband'. But when we first came out, I definitely felt youthful and on fire again. Because when you form a new band out of coming out of a band like GUNS N' ROSES, it wasn't about competition. It was about we have to compete in a younger market now. We were older guys then; we were in our forties at that point — which sounds young now. [Laughs] But we had to fire up. And when we made 'Contraband', I felt like I was 20. If you look back, we all got in great shape. We all got cleaned up. We weren't doing the hard-hitting party nights like we did, and we made a great record. 'Contraband' came out and sold three million copies. We got three Grammy noms. We won one. But we were on fire again."

Recounting an encounter with a fan which made him feel like VELVET REVOLVER had established its own footing after his run with GUNS N' ROSES, Sorum said: "I remember one time me and Duff were in New York, and we were at the gym or something — not like the old days. We were coming out of the gym. We walked out into the street somewhere in Manhattan, and this guy looks at us. He goes, 'Hey, you're Duff and Matt from VELVET REVOLVER.' And me and Duff had never heard that. We looked at each other [and thought that was so cool]. It was always 'GUNS N' ROSES, GUNS N' ROSES.' But at that point in time, GUNS N' ROSES wasn't there. We were. And GUNS N' ROSES is always gonna be there, but they weren't out, they weren't doing much. And we felt very proud of that. We had created something new. You can call it a supergroup or whatever, but that wasn't our intention. We just needed a great frontman, and Scott Weiland was that; he was a great frontman, with his quirks and everything else that went with it. Still, if you look back, in my opinion, he was one of one of the greatest rock and roll frontmen that I've been honored to work with, along with Axl and Ian Astbury [THE CULT] and all the great frontmen I've been in bands with."

More than four years ago, Matt revealed in his book "Double Talkin' Jive: True Rock 'N' Roll Stories" that he learned of the 2016 partial reunion of GUNS N' ROSES' classic lineup via the rumor mill even though he was on a South American tour with Slash and Duff when the Internet chatter first reached him. After he confronted Duff, the bassist told him: "Axl wants to use his drummer [Frank Ferrer]." "Go to Axl and tell him you want me on drums," Sorum responded. "Period. Now's the time." "Oh, man," Duff replied. "I already signed the deal."

Sorum told Rolling Stone in a 2021 interview that he had gotten over the fact that he will probably never play with GUNS N' ROSES again. "I've come to terms with the fact that they're doing their own thing, and I'm doing mine," he said. "I can't say that when it went down, I was completely happy with the circumstances. At the same time, I feel really good about my time in the band."

Photo credit: Jonas Åkerlund (courtesy of AFM Records / Ken Phillips Publicity Group, Inc.)

In a new interview with Rev. Tom Brice of Sportzwire RadioLorraine Lewis was asked about a possible 2026 arrival of a new full-length album from her long-running band FEMME FATALE, after the recent release of two singles, "Bad Love" and "Living Like There's No Tomorrow", via Cleopatra Records. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, absolutely. That is the plan. We've been dropping singles and videos. I know that there's a new single and video coming out with a really prominent rock artist singer. I can't mention [the artist's name] yet. That's coming out probably late February. I'm really excited about that. It's being mixed and mastered as we speak. It's a duet with an iconic singer. So stay tuned for that, everybody. I'm really excited. And then I have been in the studio, again with Scott Gutierrez, laying down my lead vocals. There is a song coming out that I love. I'm just gonna say the title of it — it's called 'Somebody', and it was written by Tommy Henriksen, who plays with Alice Cooper, Steve Brown [TRIXTER guitarist/producer, who is producing the FEMME FATALE album] and myself. And oh my God. So Steve actually messaged me this morning. He showed himself singing the chorus in the studio this morning and putting backing vocals on it. But I love the song. I really, really love the song."

Lorraine continued: "I'm so fortunate, I'm so lucky to be working with Steve, 'cause Steve knows everybody. And he brings in [a lot of guest musicians] to work on the tracks. And I'm just so grateful, I can't even tell you. But, yeah, sometime this year after we have dropped all of the singles and videos, we will gather everything up and a full album will be released on Cleopatra Records."

Last November, Lewis told George Dionne of The Rock Is George podcast about her plan of releasing several singles prior to the arrival of a full-length album: "Look, we could have done it a bunch of different ways. We could have done it old school, recorded an album and released it, and then you've got, like, four to six weeks to make a splash and hope that something catches fire. So, the way we are doing it, Steve and I, we decided, and Cleopatra agreed, is that we just kind of stay in the news. So every eight to 10, 11 weeks, we drop a single and a video, and it's, like, 'Oh, there's FEMME FATALE again.' … We have another single to drop that is ready to go, which actually… I'm gonna say what it is. It's the FEMME FATALE 'Falling In And Out Of Love' that has been re-recorded. And it's in the same key. It's badass. Steve just brought it. It's so huge sounding. It's massive. And I do wanna say Bruno Ravel has mixed and mastered all of the tracks. And I was thinking about that this morning. I was on my walk this morning, and I was thinking about the mixes and how they're mastered. And Bruno just has this thing that they're crunchy. The traps are crunchy and there's this frequency that sounds so radio to me. No matter what the tracks are, there's this thing that he does. I don't know how he does it. I just know when I listen to 'Bad Love' or 'Living Like There's No Tomorrow', it's there, this crispness, and it's yummy. It's radio to my ear, and I just want more of it. So shout-out to Bruno — great at mix and master."

She continued: "So that is the plan — dropping this stuff so that I stay in your face, if you will, as we go along. And then we gather everything up, and we'll drop an album [in 2026]. We have about — I wanna say we have six tracks in total that are 'done done'. There's also a duet that is coming out next year. And I will say originally it was [supposed to be] with [former FOREIGNER singer] Lou Gramm. And then Lou got super busy. We had recorded a song together, 'Heroes', and then Lou got really busy — [taking part in the FOREIGNER] Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and now he's on tour with FOREIGNER and doing all of these amazing things. So instead of just kind of waiting and sitting on it, we've made some other arrangements, and the vocals are done with another heavyweight artist that I think people are gonna be kind of blown away that I recorded this song with this badass that is iconic — honestly, iconic. And I can't wait for people to hear the track. So, it is 'Heroes', but it is with someone special. And I am going to have Scott Gilman put some saxophone on the track, and then Steve and I will be putting some backup vocals on it. But I'm hoping that will come out in February."

The official music video for "Bad Love", which was directed by Vicente Cordero and shot by David Hernandez, can be seen below.

Written by Lorraine, Brown and guitarist David Julian, "Bad Love", she previously said, "is about that magnetic kind of connection you know isn't good for you, but you keep going back anyway. It's messy, it's addictive and it's real. I wanted to capture that push-and-pull between desire and self-preservation. We've all been there. We see the red flag and still jump in headfirst... but if that red flag's on fire? Baby, that's your cue to run."

"Bad Love" also features the rhythm section of Joey Cassata on drums and Sean McNabb on bass, plus what Lorraine described as "a slaying guitar solo" from former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.

Regarding her collaboration with Brown, Lewis told Rev. Tom Brice of Sportzwire Radio: "A lot of people are working with Steve, because Steve is an amazing producer. It was last year that Steve reached out to me. He was just coming off the success of [Ace Frehley's] '10,000 Volts' album. [The '10,000 Volts' title track is a] great, great song. That and 'Cherry Medicine' I loved off the album. Classic Ace but in 2024. It was great."

She continued: "I'm just so lucky that Steve reached out to me. Steve and I were labelmates back in the day on MCA. We've also done the cruises together. We've known each other a long time. And so he reached out to me and said, 'Hey, let's do an album.' And I said, 'Let's go.' So the first song was 'Living Like There's No Tomorrow'. He had the chorus ready to go. I immediately was, like, 'Oh, this is such a great anthem.' And it just spoke to me then with everything that had gone on in the previous months before we started working together."

"Living Like There's No Tomorrow" was written by Lewis and Brown, who also produced the song at his Mojo Vegas 6160 studio in New Jersey. The track was engineered by Brown and Scott Gutierrez and was mixed by Bruno Ravel.

"Living Like There's No Tomorrow" features Brown and David Julian on guitars, with the guitar solo played by R.J. Ronquillo, and drums played by Kent Slucher.

FEMME FATALE released a self-titled MCA album in 1988 which produced two big rock singles and MTV videos: "Waiting For The Big One" and "Falling In And Out of Love".

The 67-year-old Lewis reactivated FEMME FATALE after a nearly six-year run as the lead vocalist of VIXEN, whom she was invited to join in 2019. Lorraine has also been recording with Lou Gramm, the original FOREIGNER lead singer and Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer. They have recorded an interpretation of David Bowie's "Heroes".

Lewis was fired from VIXEN in May 2024 and was replaced by Rosa Laricchiuta.

In January 2019, VIXEN recruited Lewis as its new lead singer following the departure of Janet Gardner.

Lewis had already performed with VIXEN in March 2018 in Durant, Oklahoma while Gardner was recovering from surgery.

A collection of demos for what was supposed to be FEMME FATALE's second album, "One More For The Road", was released in 2016 via FnA Records. The demos were recorded back in 1989/1990 with the original bandmembers and had never seen the light of day until more than a quarter century later.

"One More For The Road" contained 14 tracks, including a version of Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart".

FEMME FATALE released a live album in April 2024, "Demos + Live", that also included five demo tracks and a cover of AC/DC's "It's A Long Way To The Top".

In a recent interview with Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com, Lewis stated about the current FEMME FATALE lineup: "Well, it's all guys, for one thing. I've had a wonderful time being with the ladies of rock and roll — do not get me wrong — I've had a major blast. But FEMME FATALE originally was myself and four rocking guys, and we're getting back to the roots of that.

"Look, we can't go back to the '80s — I don't wanna do that — but I do want to be the front person, the leader of the pack that has these great rocking guys in back of me," she explained. "And so we're getting back to that look, getting back to that sound."

Photo credit: Ron Lyon (courtesy of Cleopatra Records / Schneider Rondan Organization)

On the red carpet of this year's Metal Hall Of Fame on January 21, 2026 in West Hollywood, California, Ronnie James Dio's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio confirmed to Reality Check TV that the reissue of "Stars", the 1985 charity single for famine relief released under the HEAR 'N AID banner, will finally arrive "next year".

On May 20 and May 21, 1985, 40 artists from the metal community gathered at A&M Records Studios in Hollywood, California to participate in the making of a record called "Stars" as a part of a very special fundraising project spearheaded by Ronnie James Dio known as HEAR 'N AID. The "Stars" single and a video documentary on the making of the record was used to raise money for famine relief efforts in Africa and around the world. These 40 artists — including members of MÖTLEY CRÜE, JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, QUIET RIOT, TWISTED SISTER, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT and even SPINAL TAP — along with hundreds of other volunteers, donated their time and talent over four months to make HEAR 'N AID a reality. "Stars" was a plea for unity in the fight against world hunger.

Due to contract differences with the labels, the "Stars" song and album weren't released until New Year's Day, 1986, and were only ever made available on vinyl and cassette. But Wendy said during a September 2023 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that she was continuing her efforts to correct that.

"Well, we've talked about it a lot," she said at the time. "I never seem to have the time, but it will be down the pipeline. I'd like to add some new stuff to it, to get some new, younger bands in there as well to record some stuff along with the old stuff. Obviously all the money will go to [Ronnie James Dio] Stand Up And Shout [Cancer Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable fund dedicated to support research and education that furthers early detection, prevention and treatment of prostate, colon and stomach cancers]. But it is in the works, but we just have to have the time… It's such a lot of things with… The bands are always great and the musicians are always great. It's all of the red tape behind it with the managers and the record labels, and that's what we have to deal with. But we will do it. It will be there sometime soon."

Back in 2016, Wendy told "Trunk Nation" that both a new version and the old version of "Stars" would be included on the reissue package. "Because the old version was only ever on, I think, vinyl and cassette; it was never on a DVD or on CD," she explained. "And we also have a lot of stuff that was behind the scenes that wasn't heard or seen, which is kind of fun. There's loads of photos we have. I think we have about a hundred signed posters by everyone, and a lot of those people are not alive now. But I just feel we wanna update it a little bit. So instead of just bringing the old stuff up as a reissue, let's update it with a bonus of some kind."

Earlier in September 2023, former DIO and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell told Guitar Interactive magazine about his involvement with "Stars": "When we did that, we were at Rumbo Recorders in L.A. recording the [DIO] 'Sacred Heart' album. And it was a really dark time for Ronnie and for the band. I mean, nobody wanted to be around Ronnie. Ronnie and Wendy had split up. They weren't getting divorced, but they were living separate lives. And Ronnie's mood was really, really dark. And the big difference between the 'Sacred Heart' album and [the first two DIO albums] 'Holy Diver' and 'The Last In Line' is that when we did 'Holy Diver' and 'The Last In Line', everyone was in the studio all the time. We were all there offering encouragement. There was a really good vibe. And then nobody went home early. Everyone was waiting for everything and excited by every little development in those records. When we were doing the 'Sacred Heart' album, nobody wanted to hang around. We cut the tracks and it was, like, 'Oh, okay. I'm gonna go. You done with me?' And it was just left Ronnie and Angelo [Arcuri], our engineer, and it was because of that energy, that vibe that was coming from Ronnie at that time. So it was really, really difficult to make. I'm not saying it's a bad record, but it was really difficult for [then-DIO drummer] Vinny [Appice] and [then-DIO bassist] Jimmy [Bain] and myself, and obviously for Ronnie, to make it."

He continued: "So, at that time, that 'We Are The World' thing had come out, with Michael Jackson and all the pop stars that made this great record. And Jimmy and I, who were roommates at the time — we were living in an apartment together — we happened to do an interview for a station called KLOS in Los Angeles, and the DJ asked us, he said, 'How come nobody from the hard rock world was invited to participate in that?' And we thought, 'You know, you're absolutely right.' And this was an era when hard rock was really sort of shunned. I mean, it never got nominated for a Grammy or anything. There was no real industry recognition, even though it was a very, very popular cultural force and sold in multi-millions. But the industry was yet to really fully recognize it as being legit. And so anyway, we were joking about this, and it was Jimmy who — he was a funny guy — and Jimmy right off the bat said, 'Yeah, we should do one. We should call it HEAR 'N AID.' We were all, like, 'Hahaha'; we fell off our stools. And then we went back to our apartment and Jimmy said, 'Well, do you wanna actually do this?' [And I said] 'Really? I mean, do we have time for this?' And he said, 'Yeah.' So Jimmy and I wrote the song. We didn't write the lyrics. We put the music together. We thought, 'We're not gonna get this off the ground without Ronnie. We need some clout. We need the name.' So we went in the studio the next day As I said, we're in the middle of doing the 'Sacred Heart' album. Ronnie's in a real dark spot. We offer it, and we say, 'Ronnie, what about this?' He immediately shuts it down. No interest. So, we keep pushing it on him for a couple of weeks, and then eventually he came back to us and said, 'You know what? Yeah. I'll get on board with this.' So he wrote the lyric for it."

Regarding how they ended up recruiting so many big names for the project, Vivian said: "I, with the help of a publicist we were working with at the time, went to the office every day with a publicist. She let me go through her Rolodex — this is how old school this is; her Rolodex — and look up names. I'd go, 'Oh, Jon Bon Jovi.' I'd literally be cold calling people that I didn't know… [I was] trying to explain, 'We're making this charity record. And we'll cover expenses. We'll get some sponsorship.' So that was my life for weeks, every day going into a whole different world for me, just getting on the phone and calling people. 'Hi, Neal Schon. Love your JOURNEY stuff. Is there any chance you could…?' 'Who else is doing it?' And the same old thing — nobody wants to commit until [other big names are involved]. But I was able to throw Ronnie's name there. I said, 'Well, Ronnie's doing it.' 'Oh, okay.' And calling up studios, like A&M studios, 'Hey, is it possible we can get a day free in the studio? It's for charity.' 'Hey, American Airlines, is there any way we can…?' 'Hey, Holiday Inn, can you…?' It was something I'd never done before, but I spent weeks and weeks and weeks doing it. And so it all came together, and it was just bonkers that it did.

"I remember the day we were doing it at A&M, with a film crew in there, and the guys from SPINAL TAP even showed up. And that made it great because that brought a little much-needed humor to the whole situation. And all these great guitar players — we had Yngwie [Malmsteen] there and George Lynch and Neal Schon, guys who were blazing guitar [players]. And I just remember I was so busy making sure that everyone had a limo ride, had a flight, had a hotel room, had something to eat. And then, at the end of the day, it's, like, 'Okay, now you've gotta play guitar.' It's, like, 'What?'"

British progressive rock legends URIAH HEEP kicked off the January/February 2026 Scandinavian leg of their farewell tour Thursday night (January 22) at Tempere-Talo in Tampere, Finland. Joining singer Bernie Shaw, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, drummer Russell Gilbrook and bassist Dave Rimmer on stage at the gig was Sam Wood, who is the guitarist of the THIN LIZZY spinoff outfit BLACK STAR RIDERS, and WAYWARD SONS, the band led by former LITTLE ANGELS frontman Toby Jepson. Wood is filling in for URIAH HEEP's founding guitarist Mick Box, who is forced to miss some dates on the band's current tour after falling ill. The news was announced in a statement posted on URIAH HEEP's social media accounts from Box's bandmates.

Fan-filmed video of the Tampere concert can be seen below.

In September 2024, URIAH HEEP announced its plans to embark on a farewell tour, dubbed "The Magician's Farewell", beginning with a seven-show U.K. run in February 2025.

Box, who hadn't missed any URIAH HEEP shows since the band was founded in 1969, told Classic Rock magazine last year that a number of factors contributed to URIAH HEEP's decision to retire from touring.

"None of us are getting any younger, and since Brexit and COVID, the touring side of the business is becoming tougher and tougher, making it almost impossible to do the really long tours that we like to do," Box said. "Tour bus prices have tripled. The government only allows us 90 days outside of the country. It's more and more difficult, on every front."

After the Tampere show, URIAH HEEP was scheduled to play 14 more gigs across Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

On January 21, Mick's URIAH HEEP bandmates released the following statement regarding his absence from the current dates: "We would like to let everyone know that Mick has been taken ill and will not be able to perform the first few shows on the Scandinavian leg of 'The Magician's Farewell Tour' starting in Tampere, Finland this Thursday.

"We are monitoring Mick's progress daily and he will be back on the road as soon as he is fit, and he sends his best along with his sincere apologies to you all.

"We have been very lucky to have Sam Wood stand in at the very last minute with Mick's blessing for the shows Mick cannot make.

"We truly appreciated everyone's understanding in this unfortunate position we are in and hope you can make Sam welcome in this less than easy task for him.

"We will keep you updated on Mick's progress and see you all starting tomorrow.

"Bernie, Phil, Russ and Davy."

In December 2024, Box was asked by Planet Rock's Paul Anthony what he is planning on doing with his time once URIAH HEEP has completed its farewell tour. Mick said: "I guess we'll do [some] writing and go in the recording studio and do other aspects of the of the game, but as I say, we're still gonna be touring, still gonna be playing. It's just that we're not doing the really long stuff. We'll do it in sections rather than a whole long splurge."

After Anthony noted that URIAH HEEP still records new music and is not known as "just a heritage act" which doesn't perform its more recent songs live, Mick concurred. "Well, yeah," he said. "I mean, when you look at it, we've got a lot of classic rock songs. And the new songs are soon to be classic, because it's only time that gives them that title. [Laughs] So, yeah, we look at it like that. And they merge very well, because it's the band doing what the band does, using the same template we had from day one, musically, and that's the Hammond organ, the wah-wah guitar, five[-part vocal harmonies], all that sort of stuff. We just apply that to each song and it's URIAH HEEP."

URIAH HEEP's farewell tour will run for approximately two or three years and will include performances in all parts of the globe.

URIAH HEEP's 25th studio album, "Chaos & Colour", was released in January 2023 via Silver Lining Music. The LP was recorded during the summer of 2021 at Chapel Studios in London with Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, COREY TAYLOR, BLACK STAR RIDERS) at the helm.

URIAH HEEP debuted in 1970 with the release of one of hard rock's milestones, "Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble", and has since sold in excess of 40 million albums worldwide. They have constantly toured the world, playing up to 125 shows a year to more than 500,000 fans. The band's live set features the classic tracks from the '70s and is a musical journey from the band's beginnings to the present day.

URIAH HEEP are proud to announce the January / February 2026 Scandinavian leg of “The Magician’s Farewell” tour. The...

Posted by Uriah Heep on Monday, September 22, 2025

In a new interview with Metal Kaoz, TROUBLE singer Kyle Thomas spoke about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the long-awaited follow-up to the band's 2013 album "The Distortion Field". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Real progress has been made. The music is nearly finished being recorded. I have gotten into the recording of the vocals.

"Things happen very slowly in the world of TROUBLE," he explained. "I always say that TROUBLE years are like dog years in reverse. [Laughs] It's true. But it's happening.

"I'm never a big fan of saying 'it'll be out by this time.' I can't say that," Kyle continued. "Not to mention I'm the singer of the band. I'm not a part of the business side of TROUBLE — that's not my job, and that's the way it should be. But for me, my job is to do the best work that I can do for TROUBLE and honor the legacy and create great music with people I love playing with and look up to.

"Rick [Wartell] and Bruce [Franklin], to me, are probably the most criminally unheralded guitar duo in rock history, and that's true. Any TROUBLE fan knows this. So, here we are. We're putting together another album, and I'm very excited about it.

"I don't wanna overhype it and give people a measuring stick that might be difficult to meet, but I'm extremely excited about the songs that they have given me to work on."

In a separate interview with Defenders Of The Faith, Thomas was asked about the reports that TROUBLE's upcoming album will be the band's "swan song", a reference to a person's final public performance or professional activity before retirement. He responded: "See, that question is a tough one because I just don't know. Ultimately, at the end of the day, whether or not it's the swan song, the answer to that lies within Rick and Bruce. Rob [Hultz, bass], Garry [Naples, drums] and I, our job is to help Rick and Bruce carry the torch, honor the legacy, and do our best to add to the legacy ourselves."

He continued: "We are in the process of recording the [new TROUBLE] album. I know for a decade or more there's been talks of, 'The album's coming out next year.' I still don't even want to say that, but the music is almost finished being recorded right now, if it's not 100% complete. I think it's already been sent over to Bill Metoyer for mixing purposes. I am in the process of recording vocals and still trying to sort out lyrics. To me, it's very important that this one is as good or better than any TROUBLE album that I hold dear to my heart. Again, that's a subjective thing. That's up to the fans more than anyone else. As a fan of the band, I can promise you I'm taking it extremely seriously and I'm not in any hurry to spit something out and leave it there that I wouldn't spend money on myself."

A year ago, Thomas was asked by  Scott Davidson of Chicago's Rebel Radio 92.5 FM where he gets the inspiration for his lyrics in TROUBLE. Kyle said: "Well, I think it's safe to say most of what I write comes off my sleeve. I like to write from my life experiences. That doesn't mean that everything that I write has something to do with my life in particular. It might be current events that I'm looking at, it might be something that happened to someone I know that's inspired me to jot something down. So, it's never really one thing, but I do try to at least have most of the lyrical content have some meat to it. But on another hand, there are times when I'll scat into a microphone when I'm listening to a new piece of music and whatever comes out, if it sounds cool, I'll try to find words that match what I scatted. But you try to keep it interesting, you try to not get into a pattern. I think more than anything, you don't wanna be in a pattern that's looping the same thing over and over again. I think that gets a little boring, perhaps.

"I used to work with a producer when I was younger, and he had a word that he used when we were experimenting, and he liked to call it 'blowing things up,'" Kyle continued. "Like, 'Let's blow this up. Let's blow that up.' And all that really meant was, 'Let's experiment with this idea and see if it sticks.'

"For me, my passion is a lot more aligned with songwriting and production and the magic that you make with your music in that regard, more so than trying to be a virtuoso at this or that," Thomas added. "That's less important to me than the quality of the craftsmanship of the material that you're working on. So, I don't know — maybe one day I'll figure out the songwriting enough to be able to live off of it. But that's definitely more important than just trying to be killer at something."

When Davidson noted that Kyle sings the classic TROUBLE songs the way they were originally sung, Thomas said: "I'm a TROUBLE fan. Before I was really even in bands, I was listening to TROUBLE. And I'm definitely a fan of [original TROUBLE singer] Eric [Wagner] and Eric's work, his legacy, the band and its legacy. So, for me, it was never an option of… I'm not gonna sit there and pretend to sing like Eric or pretend to be Eric. I think that is a disservice to Ericand to me, but to me, what Eric did in the song, the spirit of TROUBLE through him, through his voice, through his soul, is what I like to honor. I wouldn't dream of trying to put my own spin on it, per se. Now, again, like I said, I'm not trying to imitate him, but at the same time, there's a certain way the songs need to be sang.

"There's people that probably never will love me in this band because I'm not Eric," Kyle acknowledged. "And I mean, I can't help that. So, the good news is those old records will never let you down. Listen to those old records and stay home. And the people that wanna come see the show, they'll come and enjoy it. I've met people on the road that are old, old friends of the band, old friends of Eric's. They came up to me after a show and they go, 'Man, we didn't want to like you, but you do such a good job, it's obvious that you care about the songs and the band.' And I'm, like, 'Yes.' That's priority number one."

When TROUBLE announced its co-operation with Hammerheart Records in January 2020, it was already planned to record a new LP in the summer of 2020. However, that did not happen due to several reasons, including the coronavirus pandemic. But recording finally started in July 2022, according to Wartell.

Back in February 2019, Kyle, who joined TROUBLE in 2012, told "The Metal Magdalene With Jet" about the band's plans for a new album: "This time they've actually written songs with me in mind as the singer instead of, 'These songs were written when Kory Clarke was in the band, but that didn't work out, so let's give it to Kyle and have him back-cleanup, I guess.'"

TROUBLE's first studio album in six years, "The Distortion Field", landed at position No. 25 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released in Europe in August 2013 via FRW Records, the 12-song follow-up to 2007's "Simple Mind Condition" was helmed by veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) and marked the recording debut with Thomas following the departure of the group's frontman of four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

TROUBLE played its first official show with Thomas in October 2013 at the Day Of Doom festival in Barcelona, Spain.

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like "Trouble", "Manic Frustration" and "Plastic Green Head".

Singer Eric Wagner left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

Eric, who was TROUBLE's original singer, died in August 2021 after a battle with COVID pneumonia. He was 62 years old.

According to Wagner's TROUBLE and THE SKULL bandmate Ron Holzner, Eric was generally opposed to institutionalized medicine but he wouldn't make an exception for the COVID vaccine.

"We argued about it, and he stood his ground on the matter," Holzner told the Chicago Reader. "I always joked, 'The World According To Eric Wagner — you should write a book.' He lived his life his way."

Wagner, who smoked cigarettes and occasionally drank and vaped, had health issues, but had begun taking better care of himself and switching to a plant-based diet, Holzner said.

Image credit: Jackal Today

MOONSPELL frontman Fernando Ribeiro and TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick recently went on Side Jams With Bryan Reesman to talk about their love of books. When asked what were the most metal books they've ever read, this is how they responded:

Fernando: "For instance, 'Naked Lunch'..."

Alex: "That's funny, that's the first one I thought of."

Fernando: "It says 'heavy metal' in there. And some people just attribute the junction of these two words to William Burroughs. It's not my department, but I think it had to do with the tuning or the thickness of the strings of LED ZEPPELIN too. I think heavy metal expression was laying in there."

Alex: "['Naked Lunch'] is a little bit out there. It's a little bit far out, but it's so extreme. If you could channel the intensity of extreme metal to a book, definitely 'Naked Lunch'."

Fernando: "Tolkien, for sure, for symphonic or power metal. I really like this thing with books from the German authors like Thomas Mann and Günter Grass — that epicness of metal is contained in these books. I think the book 'Faust' by Goethe is a very, very heavy metal book because it has a story of every ingredient of heavy metal. It's epic. It has love, and to feel loved. It has a bargain with the devil. It has redemption too. So I think my pick, besides 'Naked Lunch', would be 'Faust' from Goethe."

Alex: "A modern one — Don DeLillo 'White Noise'. This unspeakable cosmic event — it's weird, it's almost like a pandemic but not really a pandemic. If I remember right... it's an airborne, toxic event."

Fernando: "He has a really short novel called 'Silence'. It's just come out, at least here in Portugal, and it's about the breakdown of communication [during a blackout] — I think it even takes place either in Chicago or New York — just how people react and get totally lost. We had a blackout here in Portugal and Spain. I was on tour, fortunately, but one of the things that people said was people [were] getting together to play card games or by candlelight. But the Don DeLillo 'Silence' book is not about the virtues of the blackout. It's about how people will get really crazy and without purpose when communications break down."

Skolnick also recalled meeting "The Handmaid's Tale" author Margaret Atwood by chance. "I was at a book event, and Margaret Atwood grabbed my arm and pulled me over," he recalled of being at BookExpo in New York City many years ago. "She pulls me over to a booth. I don't even know if this ever caught on, but it was a platform like Zoom. Except people meet authors and they can get a personalized signature, but digitally, and it's mailed to them. I forget exactly how it works. So she pulls me over… and then there was another writer on the screen. The author of 'Telegraph Avenue', I've read a bunch of his books, and his name is Michael Chabon. He's on this and we've just demonstrated this thing. I had a quick conversation with him, and he actually had a RUSH shirt on. We started talking about music. He's a big RUSH fan. So Margaret Atwood and Michael Chabon on a screen within minutes."

Skolnick previously expressed his love for reading books in a post on his official web site. He wrote: "I feel every good book is like a vitamin, a work out, a healthy meal or anything else you'd put in your body to make it stronger. Like all good habits, effort and patience is required and you won't notice the results right away. But over time, there is a noticeable improvement. In the case of books, the improvement is not in your physical body, but in your thought process and mental well being.

"It took years to discover this," he explained. "As a youth, the impersonal structuralism of the Berkeley Public School System offered little incentive to read, other than for the purpose of fulfilling requirements. A few great authors were encountered (Hawthorne, Dickens, Twain),but the entire concept and purpose of being a literate and independent thinker was left out of the curriculum, as was literature's place in contemporary life.

"As an adult, free to choose my own reading material, I've found there is nothing quite like bonding with a good book, one that doesn't just tell a story but challenges conventional ways of thinking and makes an attempt to rise above the sea of mediocrity in which, as a society, we are all drowning," Alex added. "For me, it is these books that inspire, challenge and lift."

As a young adult, Ribeiro reportedly studied philosophy at the University Of Lisbon for a period of time with the unfulfilled aim of becoming a high school philosophy teacher. He has published three books of poetry, namely, "Como Escavar Um Abismo" (2001),"As Feridas Essenciais" (2004) and "Diálogo De Vultos" (2007). He has also written a book of prose, "Senhora Vingança" (2011). He took part in the project "A Sombra Sobre Lisboa - Lovecraftian Tales In The City Of Seven Hills", a literary work featuring several authors and invoking Lovecraft's worlds adapted to the city of Lisbon. He wrote the introductions to "The Best Stories Of Howard Phillips Lovecraft", published in 2005, and translated the comic biography "Lovecraft" into Portuguese.

KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer recently reunited with his former bandmate in BLACK 'N BLUE, singer Jaime St. James, to write and record a new six-song EP, "Bombshell". The official music video for the EP's title track can now be viewed below.

The effort is available to order from the duo's web site, thayerstjames.com.

"Bombshell" track listing:

01. Bombshell
02. Bulletproof
03. Time of My Life
04. Tonight's the Night
05. Magnetic
06. I Wanna Fly

Thayer and St. James comment: "Our story has always been about friendship first. From the beginnings of BLACK 'N BLUE, before the tours, the records, and craziness of the '80s, we were two friends writing songs and chasing dreams together. That bond has never changed.

"'Bombshell' is the first time since the late '80s that we've written and recorded new music side by side. We didn't come into it with a plan, we just wanted to get together, write, and see where it took us. The joy for us is in the process, and that's what has kept us coming back to it after all these years.

"These six songs are simply two best friends doing what we love most: creating and recording music together. That's where it started, and that's where it still lives."

In December 2025, Jaime told Metal-Rules.com about the making of "Bombshell": "It is so much fun to write with [Tommy]. He feels the same way. Whenever we get together, there's this real magic happening, and I'm having an absolute blast working with him. Luckily, he has a little more time now. I live in L.A., and he's in Vegas or Oregon — he keeps places in both — but we still just meet up and make it work. And that's how we got this new six-song CD that just came out. 'Bombshell' — six great songs."

Jaime added: "We started [writing the EP] at the very end of 2024, and throughout most of 2025, we were writing and recording. It's just been released, and it's all brand new material. We both think it's some of the best stuff we've ever done."

Asked why he and Thayer didn't use the name BLACK 'N BLUE for this release, Jaime said: "Because it's not BLACK 'N BLUE — it's THAYER-ST. JAMES. Tommy and I released 'The Lost Tapes' EP three years ago, which was from 1989. It's a really good record, and it was released under the name THAYER/ST. JAMES, because it's just me and me playing on it — nobody else from the band. I called him and said, 'How about THAYER-ST. JAMES 2?' He said, 'You know what? Let's do it.' It's just the two of us, and honestly, it's really nice to write and create with only one other guy. With a full band, it's always, like, 'You don't like the song, right?' And he goes, 'What? We're going to make a good song.' All the other guys don't really get involved — it's just me and me — and Tommy has no plans on rejoining BLACK 'N BLUE. So, I said, 'Fine, we'll do THAYER-ST. JAMES. At least the music's alive.'"

In the late '70s, a glam metal band appeared in Portland called MOVIE STAR. The band included Thayer, St. James, drummer Pete Holmes, bassist Patrick Young and guitarist Jeff Warner. That band became BLACK 'N BLUE, releasing their 1984 debut album on Geffen with the hit single "Hold On To 18". The band recorded three more albums for Geffen, with two produced by Gene Simmons of KISS. The band broke up in 1989, reuniting in 1997 and again in 2007. The band later reunited without Tommy, who replaced Ace Frehley in KISS in 2002.

Back in 2022, Thayer and St. James issued a five-song EP titled "The Lost Tapes" consisting of five previously unreleased tracks recorded in the late 1980s.

In a 2005 interview with Inside_Out666, Thayer stated about BLACK 'N BLUE: "BLACK 'N BLUE formed in Portland, Oregon in 1981. Myself, Jaime St James and the other guys wanted to form a new heavy metal type band because at the time the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was starting to hit Stateside as well as MÖTLEY CRÜE in L.A. It was an exciting time."

Reflecting on BLACK 'N BLUE's first performance, Tommy said: "Jaime was originally the drummer of a band we had previous to BLACK 'N BLUE. One night at a Portland nightclub he jumped up front and starting fronting the band and the rest is history."

BLACK 'N BLUE released four successful and critically acclaimed albums through Geffen Records: their self-titled debut (1984),"Without Love" (1985),"Nasty Nasty" (1986) and "In Heat" (1987),with the latter two albums produced by Simmons. Catalog sales in the U.S. were in excess of one million units.

California crossover thrash/hardcore punk legends SUICIDAL TENDENCIES have recruited Xavier Ware as their new drummer following the recent departure of Jay Weinberg.

Earlier today (Friday, January 23),SUICIDAL TENDENCIES shared the following statement via social media: "We're SToked to introduce you to X, the new SxTx drummer! Breedxdrums

"X has already recorded some tracks for the new Cyco Miko album and is ready to officially jump on board with ST STarting with the ShipRocked Cruise. This will be ST's 3rd time doing ShipRocked and each time keeps getting better.

"Looking forward to seeing you there and or any of the shows/ festivals coming this year.

"So please welcome X and look out for lots of new annoucements coming soon from ST and the Cyco Family for 2026 and beyond!"

In addition to Ware, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' current lineup consists of singer Mike Muir, lead guitarist Dean Pleasants, rhythm guitarist Ben Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) and bassist Tye Trujillo (son of METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo).

Hailing from Beaufort, North Carolina, Xavier has been drumming since he was two years old. He explained: "I started in church and went on to perform in churches around my local and surrounding areas. With church, came school. Schooling allowed me to develop my music reading skills, perfect my ability in dynamics and strengthen musical techniques. I gigged throughout high school with different musicians and learned how to play jazz drums. This created the opportunity to audition and make the all-state jazz band in North Carolina three out of four times. In college I learned a bit of music theory and enhanced my jazz drumming. Since college, my playing and touch expanded, and have not been the same since! Out of college, I gigged around the triangle area of North Carolina with peers and professors alike.

"I hope my sound can continue to touch every heart, soul, and mind. I am very grateful for the opportunity to play drums in whatever setting, and I hope to be able to do so forever."

On January 11, Weinberg announced his departure from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES after an almost two-year run with the California crossover thrash/hardcore punk legends.

Jay played his first concert with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in March 2024 in Osaka, Japan.

Weinberg's pairing with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES came less than two months after he was announced as the new drummer of INFECTIOUS GROOVES, the long-running outfit formed more than three decades ago by Robert Trujillo alongside Robert's then-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bandmate Mike Muir.

Last November, Jay and his wife Chloe announced that they were anticipating the arrival of their first baby.

Throughout 2025, Weinberg had been actively involved with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES. Additionally, he released his debut solo track titled "Sandstone", featuring George Clarke of DEAFHEAVEN on vocals. Jay revealed that the song was the first of a series of upcoming collaborations, showcasing various guest singers whom Weinberg has been developing material with over several years.

We’re SToked to introduce you to X, the new SxTx drummer! Breedxdrums

X has already recorded some tracks for the new...

Posted by Suicidal Tendencies on Friday, January 23, 2026

KANSAS drummer Phil Ehart will release a memoir, "I Am Phil", in April.

Few musicians can claim a legacy as enduring and influential as Phil Ehart, the powerhouse drummer, bandleader, and co-founder of the iconic American rock band KANSAS. With the forthcoming release of "I Am Phil", Ehart offers far more than a chronicle of platinum albums and sold-out arenas — he delivers a deeply human, unfiltered account of a life spent shaping rock history from the inside out.

For more than five decades, Phil Ehart has been a driving force behind some of the most recognizable and enduring music in rock, helping define a sound that bridged progressive ambition with mainstream resonance. His rhythmic vision, musical and business leadership, and unwavering commitment to the craft have influenced generations of musicians and fans alike. Yet "I Am Phil" is not a victory lap. It is a work of remarkable transparency, honesty, and vulnerability.

In these pages, Ehart speaks plainly about the triumphs and the toll — the creative breakthroughs, the personal costs, the doubts, the discipline, and the moments that nearly broke him. He addresses fame without gloss, success without bravado, and faith, fear, and failure without disguise. From recounting humble beginnings in the jungles of Southeast Asia to the massive heart attack that nearly took his life, the result is a memoir that feels less like a legend recounting history and more like a trusted friend telling the truth.

"I didn't want to write a book that hid behind mythology," Ehart shares. "This is my story as I lived it — messy, meaningful, and real."

"I Am Phil" stands as both a vital contribution to rock literature and a rare act of courage. It preserves the history of an era while illuminating the man behind the music — an artist whose influence cannot be measured solely in chart positions or ticket sales, but in integrity, perseverance, and heart.

The book will resonate with longtime fans of KANSAS, students of rock history, and anyone who values authenticity over image. Above all, it affirms Phil Ehart's immeasurable contribution to music — not just in what he played, but in how he lives.

"I Am Phil" is available for pre-orders now at PhilEhart.net.

Phil Ehart is a founding member, drummer, and longtime leader of KANSAS, one of America's most influential rock bands. He has spent over 50 years shaping the sound and spirit of progressive American rock. He is also husband to Laurie, and father to Noah and Avery.

KANSAS currently boasts a lineup of vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin, guitarist Zak Rizvi, guitarist Scott Bernard, violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon, bassist/vocalist Dan McGowan, original guitarist Richard Williams, and original drummer Phil Ehart. Eric Holmquist performs on drums while Phil Ehart continues to recover from a major heart attack. KANSAS continues to energize audiences with their powerful live performances.

📚 Discover Phil Ehart's journey in his candid memoir, I AM PHIL!
https://conta.cc/3YVO5qY

Posted by Kansas on Friday, January 23, 2026

MONOLITH, the trio comprised of former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini alongside Hernán "Motley" Rodríguez (bass/vocals) and Andy Barrow (guitars/vocals),has released the official animated music video for its latest single, "Starchild". The clip, which was directed by Rodríguez, with animation by Carlo Cassani, can be seen below.

MONOLITH began telling its overall concept story last year with the release of the first three singles, "Oligarchs", "Mother Martyr" and "Gooru". Another track, "Farmer", followed in December 2025.

MONOLITH burst on to the music scene in early 2025 when its surprised the world with the announcement of its first single "Oligarchs". The song grabbed headlines when news spread about Mangini joining band founder Rodríguez and Barrow in this new project. The announcement of MONOLITH would mark the first band Mangini would participate in after his tenure in DREAM THEATER. The music video for "Oligarchs" has been viewed nearly 400,000 times since it was released. The follow-up, "Mother Martyr", continued to win over fans around the globe and that video has reached over 480,000 views.

MONOLITH is a dynamic and genre-defying band that brings together a unique blend of musical influences and backgrounds, creating a sound that pushes the boundaries of rock, metal, and Latin rhythms. The band formed when seasoned industry professionals — Rodríguez, Barrow and producer Gabo Sanoja — united over a shared vision of crafting music that was both innovative and deeply expressive. Mangini completed the trio's lineup, bringing in a legendary percussive force to the earliest forms of MONOLITH's sound. Together, these artists — each a master of their craft — form MONOLITH, a band that is as much about pushing musical boundaries as it is about creating meaningful, powerful connections with their audience. Their music is a testament to their collaborative spirit, showcasing an innovative mix of genres that promises to challenge listeners and inspire new ideas in modern rock and metal.

Mangini released his debut solo album, "Invisible Signs", in November 2023. Accompanying Mangini on the LP were Tony Dickinson on bass, Ivan Keller on guitar, Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE) on lead guitar and former EVANESCENCE guitarist Jen Majura on vocals.

Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Mike Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER 40 years ago. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".

Mangini made his name in the hard rock world in the mid-1990s when he played with EXTREME, before landing the gig with guitar legend Steve Vai in 1996. Nearly a decade later, Mangini took up a full-time teaching position at the world-renowned Berklee College Of Music.

In an interview with Loaded Radio, DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie was asked how Mangini took the news in October 2023 when LaBrie and the rest of DREAM THEATER broke it to the drummer that Portnoy was coming back. James said: "Well, he was very professional about it. [It was] very admirable of him to have been… He took it in style and class. I mean, obviously, I think it would have been upsetting — it must have been upsetting — but he took it for what it's worth and even saying things like, 'It kind of makes sense, guys. I see why this should be happening and why this would maybe inevitably be happening. It just makes sense for the band and the amount of history that you all have together. It seems natural.' So, yeah, no, he was a class guy. Classy. Yeah."

In a January 2024 interview with Chris Akin Presents…, Mangini was asked if he had any "advance notice" that Portnoy would return to DREAM THEATER in the fall of 2023 or if it was "really immediate". He responded: "Immediate. But it's like… So the fish comes up out of the water, it's immediate, but the fish was swimming for a while. Where was the fish? Whatever."

He continued: "The reason it was easy for me to deal with — very easy, actually — I was, like, 'Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Original guy back in band.' I got I got it. And I didn't have to go do through a drop-down menu; I didn't have to do it. It was just I looked at it and went, 'Okay.' And plus I don't know whether it was intuitive, instinctual [or] intellectual… but I have left so many things on the table for so many years — the publishing of more books, the classes that I wanna teach, the interaction that my own self-development comes largely from me having to teach and talk about it to people. At some point, I mean, I see the whole picture, the grid, and I know what I can't do, and that inspires me.

"But anyway, the answer to your question is, I got a call and understood the call, and said, 'Okay, let's do a joint statement,'" he explained. "And then the next day, I'm, like, 'Okay.' I'm having coffee and quite literally, at my think tank, looking at my list and going, 'How am I gonna complete this job now? I've gotta fix this or do that. I've got a lot to do.' My studio facility had construction, there was stuff that had to be fixed. I was, like, 'Let me just let all of this stuff happen and breathe and just finish these things.' So that's what my mindset was. I can't tell you anything different because that's what it was."

Asked how he managed to avoid being angry over the fact that he was being pushed out of DREAM THEATER when Portnoy wanted to come back, even though Mangini was the drummer that helped the band win its first Grammy Award, Mangini said: "Well, a) because I don't know that that's what is the full picture. I don't know that that is what happened indeed. And I don't let myself even think about it. People decide things and I respect that. It's just it is what it is."

In early November 2023, Mangini told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about his exit from DREAM THEATER and the return of Portnoy: "All I know is the decision was made and when I heard it, all I pictured was, 'Oh, this is an original guy going back to his band. Uh, okay. All right. Let's go to the next thing.' It was nothing more. I was told. It was just nothing more than — it seemed so simple to me. And maybe intuitively it's, like, 'Oh yeah, I get it.' And that was that. That's really it… So that's really the crux of it all is it was an easy thing for me to understand. And then once the news hit and it became real, which is when it set in, because once I knew about it, I just got busy. I was, like, 'Okay, I've got all these videos to finish.'"

The 62-year-old Mangini, who joined DREAM THEATER in 2010, continued: "I'm actually doing like a lot of stuff for my [recently released solo] album. I'll do some drum playthroughs. Not to yap and yap and yap about it, but I have a lot on my cork board and my lists and things to do and things to accomplish and things to complete. There's so much there I haven't been able to do. But once it hit and it became real, it was real quick for me. I'm, like, 'Okay, I get it.'"

When host Eddie Trunk noted that everything about his exit from DREAM THEATER, from the way it was handled to the fans' response to Mike's attitude about it, was "about as good as it could be," Mangini concurred. "It is as good as it could be," Mike said. "I think people are where they need to be. It's, like, there's stuff to do, there's places to be, there's people to see, there are things to accomplish and roles to fulfill and tasks to do. And that's what it is. That's really what it is.

"How lucky am I, how fortunate am I to be just a part of that history, to have all this amazing stuff happen?" he continued. "It's positive, positive, positive.

"I know I've accomplished some things with my career, and I've had a lot of struggles and a lot of things that didn't work or whatever, but for my parents to be in their 90s, to see this happen, and I'm not talking about career stuff; I'm talking about how I've treated people and how they treat me. I mean, I think that's what I want for my kids — I wanna feel well about how they are with people and how people treat them at the end of the day. I think that's just awesome."

Photo credit: Andrea Ballesta

The debut solo album from former ROXX GANG singer Kevin Steele, "One Thing Left To Do", will be released on February 27, 2026, via Steele Records/Amplified Distribution. It will be released digitally, on compact disc and on red vinyl. The LP's lead single "Snake Charmer" is out now on digital services.

"Snake Charmer", with its sexy, hypnotic groove and killer guitar riffs, explores the age-old dilemma of female wiles versus a man's blind obsession. The second single, "There's A Better Day Comin'", is a soaring rock 'n' roll anthem of hope. Its gospel-like arrangement is meant to convey a feeling of optimism in a world where we could all use some. In the third single, "Sad, Sad Song", Steele delivers a poignant ballad recounting his hardscrabble life and tragic youth.

Steele said: "This is the record I've always wanted to make. It's my first solo record. No compromises. I answered to no one but myself."

All of these songs showcase Kevin's masterful songwriting across all the musical styles that have shaped his colorful career, including glam, punk, rock, blues, and even southern gospel.

Kevin's band ROXX GANG was one of America's great acts and the first rock band signed to Virgin Records in America. Their debut record, the classic "Things You've Never Done Before", sold over 250,000 copies. In a way, they were the bridge between glam and grunge. Kevin's post-ROXX GANG band THE MOJO GURUS played a vital role in keeping rock and roll alive in the early 2000s, working with legendary producers Jack Douglas (John Lennon, AEROSMITH, NEW YORK DOLLS) and Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES). With "One Thing Left To Do", Steele brings his musical journey full circle with a truly remarkable record that you just have to hear.

Joining Kevin on this new record is guitar phenom/co-producer Billy Summer (Florida, LUXURY MANE, THE NEW BRUTARIANS) whose music has been heard on major TV shows and films such as "Ted Lasso", "The Affair", "Harpoon", "Life And Beth", "Chicago Fire", "Property Brothers" and many others. The result is one hot slab of rock and roll revelry covering several genres that showcase a track list of impressive playing and songwriting.

Kevin said: "Billy and I made such a great team. Instant connection of the minds. He knew instinctively where I was going musically with each song before I would even tell him. That's why they call us the Cosmic Twins."

On Friday, February 27, Steele will celebrate the release of his new record at Bayboro Brewing Company. Kevin will perform the new record in its entirety, backed by an all-star band of Tampa Bay musicians featuring guitarist Billy Summer.

"One Thing Left To Do" track listing:

01. One Thing Left To Do
02. Snake Charmer
03. The Bedspring Boogie
04. I Know What Yer Up To
05. Sad, Sad Song
06. The 9 Lives Blues
07. Fingers Crossed
08. Nobody Tells Me When To Quit (The Na Na Song)
09. My Baby Didn't Come Home Last Night
10. There's A Better Day Comin'

Kevin Steele - Lead Vocals, Harmonica
Billy Summer - Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Percussion
Steve Peake - Keyboards
Steven C. Tanner - Drums
Rob Pastore - Pedal Steel Guitar
Jim Stevens - Bass on "The 9 Lives Blues"
Kyle Lovell - Drums on "I Know What Yer Up To"
Scott Myers - Trombone, Vocals
Adam Turkel - Vocals, Percussion
Linda Militello and Zoe Summer - Vocals

All songs written by Kevin Steele except "Sad, Sad Song" written by Kevin Steele and Billy Summer

"One Thing Left To Do" was recorded at The Ward in St. Petersburg, Florida and was produced by the Cosmic Twins (Billy Summer and Kevin Steele). It was engineered by Billy Summer and mastered by Brian Merrill at Studio B in St. Petersburg, Florida. The cover art was created by Adam Turkel.

Photography by Linda Militello (courtesy of Michael Brandvold Marketing)

Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has announced his "Bass Warrior" European tour for March 2026. The trek will feature Ellefson and his solo band performing select cuts from his well-known catalog of MEGADETH hits, including MEGADETH's "Countdown To Extinction" album in its entirety, solo material and other hard rock and metal favorites which inspired him during his 40-year music career. Direct support on all dates will come from MADO.

Ellefson states: "'Bass Warrior' has become an annual celebration with my fans across Europe. This year I'm really excited to be performing the 'Countdown To Extinction' album in its entirety on the tour. It's always been one of my favorite albums in my discography and I'm looking forward to celebrating those songs with my fans on the tour in March."

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 23. VIP tickets will go live on Friday, January 30. Information can be found at www.basswarriortour.com.

"Bass Warrior" European tour dates:

March 12 - Kill Joy - Rome (Italy)
March 13 - Pocoloco - Paganica (Italy)
March 17 - Spazio Artis - Legnago (Italy)
March 18 - Reigen Live - Vienna (Austria)
March 19 - Bounty Rock - Olomouc (Czech)
March 20 - Kino Klub - Svatoborice (Czech)
March 21 - Rc Mlyn - Vrutky (slovakia)
March 23 - Muzeum - Bratislava (slovakia)
March 24 - Bergkeller - Reichenbach (Germany)
March 25 - Sounddog - Breda (Netherlands)
March 26 - De Kaller - Zutendaal (Belgium)
March 28 - Manoir Pub - St Maurice (Switzerland)
March 29 - Rock N Roll - Rho/Milan (Italy)

Ellefson launched his "Bass Warrior" tour in 2024, accompanied by guitarist and musical director Andy Martongelli (ELLEFSON-SOTO, ARTEMIS),as a way to perform songs for fans across Europe from his 40-plus years as a world-renowned recording artist.

Ellefson was originally in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play.

Mustaine reformed MEGADETH 22 years ago. Originally setting out to record a solo album, Mustaine enlisted studio musicians to play on what ultimately became MEGADETH's 2004 "The System Has Failed" comeback album, subsequently recruiting former ICED EARTH bassist James MacDonough to take Ellefeson's place for the album's touring cycle.

Ellefson sued Mustaine in 2004 for $18.5 million, alleging that the MEGADETH guitarist/vocalist still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

In his first book, Ellefson admitted that he became a salaried employee upon his return to MEGADETH 15 years ago. He told Metal-Rules.com in an interview: "Going from being a co-founding owner to just a sideman musician was initially why I didn't come back in 2004. I was not happy with the participations that were presented to me. In recent times, coming back, I found great joy in doing music with a lot of other people in other settings that helped me fall back in love with playing music. Now I can come back into or go into musical situations and be able to be there for a purpose and level of pay. Being a sideman absolves you from being involved in all the other stuff. At this point in my life, I would rather leave that stuff on the sidelines. Like American Express says, 'membership has its privileges,' being a sideman has its benefits. In my case, it helps retain a friendship too. In order to have a friendship, I had to give up some ownership."

During a February 2021 appearance on Mitch Joel's "Groove - The No Treble Podcast", Ellefson reflected on his legal battle with Mustaine, saying: "I firmly believe Dave and I ended up in that situation because he and I were not directly communicating. There was a new manager, a new lawyer, a new team of people, and they were all trying to impress the client, so they were just, 'Well, we're just doing whatever the boss tells us to do.' And it's, like, wait a minute — your job is to manage and counsel and direct your client, and — in my opinion — avoid litigation, avoid these things. Those people are no longer here — they've all been let go, thank God — and once most of them were let go was when Dave and I had an opportunity to come back and reconcile. And as soon as Dave and I get in a room, it's, like, 'What the hell are we fighting over? Get your guitar. Let's play. Let's jam.' And then it becomes about the music, and there it is. So when we keep it on that level, it goes well. When the business people and the lawyers and the people come in and they try to sort of put logic around it, that's when the trouble [begins].

"I've always said MEGADETH is completely illogical — there's no logic to it at all," he continued. "And there's not really supposed to be, because it's something of the heart — it's not of the head; it's of the heart. I always say the longest journey is the 15 inches from the head to the heart. To memorize it is one thing, but to know it by heart is another thing. And that's what we do as musicians — we don't just memorize it; we have to really [know] it by heart. And that's what a group is — a musical setting is about that. And, of course, there has to be some sort of business dynamic around it to kind of make it work, I guess — at least for the accountants."

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH nearly five years ago after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GRAMMY Award winning bassist DAVID ELLEFSON has announced his BASS WARRIOR TOUR in Europe for...

Posted by David Ellefson on Friday, January 23, 2026

In a new interview with Guitar World magazine, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari was asked when the band's leader Dave Mustaine told him MEGADETH's new, self-titled album was going to be the group's final effort. The 39-year-old Finnish-born musician said: "Pretty late in the process. We were in the studio for a good 10 months, and that's when there were first talks about the 'farewell' idea. So most of the album was done, I'd say. But, for example, the lyrics for 'The Last Note' were done after the farewell decision, so we really didn't think about it while making the other songs."

Asked how the news of MEGADETH embarking on a "farewell" tour and releasing its final album made him feel, Teemu said: "I have huge appreciation for Dave. It's super exciting to have my name printed in the [album] booklet; that's probably only going to hit when you actually see the physical product. But I haven't thought about it too much; I'm just living in the moment and making the best of the time we have. And the farewell tour isn't going to be short; we're going to go everywhere."

Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

MEGADETH's new album, the group's first with Mäntysaari, was released on January 23 via a partnership between Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint and the Frontiers Label Group's new imprint BLKIIBLK.

MEGADETH once again worked with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on the band's previous two albums, 2022's "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and 2016's "Dystopia".

Last year, Mäntysaari spoke to D'Addario about how he came to join MEGADETH in late 2023 as the replacement for Kiko Loureiro. He said at the time: "I was recruited on a short notice. It all happened kind of fast. First, it was kind of unclear if I'm gonna be needed or if I'm more kind of on standby. So I had learned the setlist, but it was not a hundred percent sure if I'm gonna be playing with the band or not. And then it was only like a week before the first tour when I got the visa in my hand and it was a hundred percent that I'm gonna be there."

Reflecting on his first show with MEGADETH, which took place on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mäntysaari said: "[It was] pretty unbelievable, surreal. By that time when the first show happened, everything had been moving along so fast that I didn't really have time to sit back and think, really, what's going on. I just tried to concentrate on learning the catalog as well as I could."

Teemu also talked about his musical influences, saying: "Heavy metal was what inspired me to pick up the guitar — IRON MAIDEN, classics, DIO. MEGADETH as well. MEGADETH was one of the first bands that I heard when I was getting into metal. I kind of tried to go with diverse influences. I played a little bit in a punk band. Fusion guitarists are some of my favorites, like Greg Howe and Guthrie Govan and Brett Garsed. I think I have a pretty strong blues foundation: Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales. I love that stuff. And that was kind of really fun to get into at an early stage and try to kind of pick things by ear, because a lot of that is a little bit easier stuff and when you learn your 12-bar blues, then you can jam along to bunch of stuff."

He continued: "In my early twenties, I got into jazz more. I was doing the mandatory military service in Finland — I was playing in the army — and it was more of a jazz background band. That kind of forced me to learn more about that world as well, which was a lot of fun. Classical music as well. A lot of movie scores, especially exotic stuff like Chinese and Japanese movie soundtracks. So I try to keep my ears and eyes open and learn from everybody.

"Finland has a really strong metal culture, so even smaller bands are doing really well in Finland, and even internationally and have been doing so for a long time," Teemu explained. "When I was getting into metal and growing up, STRATOVARIUS, CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH, SONATA ARCTICA, those guys were pretty well known in the late '90s, STRATOVARIUS [having been] one of the pioneers already in the '80s. So it was really interesting to grow up in a small country and see that there's all these bands that are making it abroad as well, 'cause it was kind of encouraging in a way as well that you can make it from a small country or a small city. It's also kind of more maybe accepted culture in Finland, almost mainstream. You hear a lot of metal in the radio all day, so that's kind of nice."

In August 2024, Mustaine was asked by Chuck Armstrong of "Loudwire Nights" how the dynamic within MEGADETH has changed since Mäntysaari's addition to the band. Mustaine responded: "Well, we are a band again. It doesn't feel like me and some side players or some session guys. Not that it felt like that with any of the previous lineups, but that was one of the fears that I had. I feel like Kiko did us a really huge courtesy by helping us find Teemu because with Kiko needing to step down… I thought I was gonna finish my career out with Kiko, and when things came up with him, he couldn't tour anymore because he needed to be home for his kids. So I see he's touring again, which I'm happy that he's still playing. But he had to go home. And when he did, he introduced us to Teemu. And it was an even closer connection between me and Teemu than Kiko and I had. We'll [Kiko and I] always be friends, but this new relationship I have is — it harkens me back to the days when we had Marty Friedman in the band and the four of us actually felt like a band."

Earlier in August 2024, Mustaine was asked by Kyle Meredith what Mäntysaari has brought to MEGADETH that wasn't there before. Mustaine responded: "God, he's such an amazing talent. And as far as being a human is concerned, he's a really humble guy. He's fun to be around because he's kind of — there's this 'greenness' to him, if that's a word, greenness. He makes it really fun because he's gone from being in a band that was pretty well known to being in MEGADETH. And so everything's very new for him at this level. And for us, we get to kind of enjoy ourselves, because we sometimes forget where we're at and then you see other people that, 'Wow, the bread is round and so is the meat,' that kind of shit. And it just makes him really happy, and it just reminds you of how good you have it."

Regarding how much a lineup change like that actually alters the musical DNA of the band, Dave said: "Well, it depends on who the new player is. If they're willing to learn the parts, then the songs either, they stay where they are or they get better. And a lot of times when you have a new player, like when Teemu came in, he played everything identical to the original players. So, he's been one of the best guitar players to step in and play somebody else's stuff."

Innovative Mongolian rock group and global phenomenon THE HU continue to push the limits of rock and bring the world along with them on their latest single "The Real You", out today (Friday, January 23) via Better Noise Music. With this new song, they're bringing Western music components to the forefront with a heavy, atmospheric sound, a hard-charging rhythm, and gritty and positively menacing vocals. The track takes their "hunnu rock", which blends traditional Mongolian instrumentation and throat singing with contemporary rock music, to an entirely new and breathtaking level.

"The Real You" — produced by Dashka (Dashdondog Bayarmagnai) and mixed by five-time Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer, mixer, and musician Chris Lord-Alge — is available on all digital outlets and the video can be seen below.

"'The Real You' single is the representation of our forthcoming new album," says THE HU's Temka (tovshuur player, throat singer). "While we have traditional songs that have our signature rhythm in our third album, there are few upbeat, fast songs such as this single. We recorded this song thinking of our ancestors, riding fast on the horse back through the landscape. Listen to this song to express the feelings you have buried inside and feel the overwhelming energy we pass through to you. Enjoy!"

"The Real You" is asking listeners to not judge others but focus on themselves and therefore become a better person. It's derived from the Mongolian proverb "Don't worry about what is on top of a person's head, just worry about what is not on yours." "The Real You" is sung in Mongolian, but listeners can feel the depth of its emotion and the ferocity of its intent with unflinching lyrics like "Will you keep slandering, gaslighting, menacing, and abusing?/Is it alright to keep enduring, fearing, and hiding?"

THE HU have passionately and unforgettably brought Mongolian music to the music frontlines. In November 2022, THE HU became the first-ever rock/metal band to receive the prestigious UNESCO "Artist For Peace" designation at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, France by UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay. Previous recipients include Celine Dion, Shirley Bassey, Sarah Brightman, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller and World Orchestra For Peace. With over 961 million all-time streams, 483 million video views, No.1-charting albums, multiple sold-out headlining tours, prestigious government honors and awards, collaborations with several of rock's biggest names, and featured music on video games including EA Games' "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order", THE HU have cemented their status as a global powerhouse.

Later this summer, THE HU will join IRON MAIDEN at Knebworth Park in the U.K. on July 11 along with THE DARKNESS, AIRBOURNE and THE ALMIGHTY for their "Run For Your Lives" tour stop. Excitingly, THE HU will also be part of the Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson "Freaks On Parade" U.S. tour along with ORGY, which kicks off August 20 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Photo credit: Blguunee Hiroshi (courtesy of Better Noise Music)