WARRIOR SOUL frontman Kory Clarke spoke to TotalRock Radio 's "Neil Jones Rock Show" about the recent passing of the band's original bassist Pete McClanahan. After confirming that he had no further information regarding the circumstances surrounding Pete's death, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I just hope it's not anything stupid like what happened to [former WARRIOR SOUL drummer] Mark [Evans, who was killed in 2005]. But I don't know. No one's told me anything. It's devastating, obviously. I don't know what to say. I wish it would have been George Bush or someone like that. [Laughs]"

Asked when the last time was that he spoke to Pete, Kory said: "I think I asked him to go out on the road with me a few years ago. Yeah, that was the last time I spoke with him.

"He's kind of a mysterious character," Kory added. "You never know where he is. I heard that he had a kid and he was playing with some other guys. I don't know exactly. But he's a pretty quiet guy; he's not a Facebook/Instagram guy."

Pressed about whether he had good memories of playing with Pete, Kory said: "Yeah. He was great, man. He was a real clutch player in the studio, writing-wise. Those big riffs for 'Hero' and 'The Losers', those came out of him."

Asked if the passing of Pete and Mark makes him think more about his own mortality, Kory said: "Yeah, of course you do. I always find it interesting that when somebody dies, no matter who it is, you're, like, 'How did it happen?' Because you wanna make sure that you're not doing what they were doing. [Laughs] But, yeah, you ponder it all the time. And you just hope that you stay out of the crossfire and get through."

As a member of WARRIOR SOUL, McClanahan was a driving force behind the band's music until the mid-1990s. After being out of the group for several years, he agreed to rejoin WARRIOR SOUL in 2013 for a European tour.

McClanahan's most recent band THE WORRIED released its debut album in 2017.

Pete's death marks the second passing of a WARRIOR SOUL member in less than two decades. Back in 2005, Evans's burnt body was found in a wheelie bin in an east London car park. The 48-year-old was strangled and transported in a wheelie bin to Electric Parade, Ilford. A member of the public discovered the burning body after finding his garden fence on fire.

Evans appeared on the following WARRIOR SOUL albums: "Drugs, God & The New Republic" (1991), "Salutations From The Ghetto Nation" (1992) and "Chill Pill" (19

Zeal & Ardor have released an official video for song, "Death To The Holy", taken from their newly released, self-titled, third album.


Frontman Manuel Gagneux comments, "‘The video to 'Death To The Holy' marks a visual departure from our established aesthetic. A short and buzzing rumination on the question "What would happen if we get proof of God's nonexistence?" Directed by Jen Ries, it perfectly matches the song's urgency and relentlessness.’’







The new 14-track record is a masterclass in distilled rage. Recorded by Marc Obrist and Manuel Gagneux at Hutch Sounds, it was mixed & mastered by Will Putney at Graphic Nature Audio. All songs were written and performed (except drums) by the multi-lingual Gagneux.


Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Zeal & Ardor"
"Run"
"Death To The Holy"
"Emersion"
"Golden Liar"
"Erase"
"Bow"
"Feed The Machine"
"I Caught You"
"Church Burns"
"Götterdämmerung"
"Hold Your Head Low"
"J-M-B"
"A-H-I-L"


"Church Burns":





"Golden Liar" video:





"Bow":





"Run" video:





"Erase":





"Götterdämmerung":





(Photo - Georg Gatsas)

ENVY OF NONE, the new band from Alex Lifeson (RUSH), Andy Curran (CONEY HATCH), Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne, will release its self-titled debut album on April 8 via Kscope. The official Jaden D.-directed music video for the LP's second single, "Look Inside", can be seen below.

Curran, having a "soft spot" for "Look Inside", recalls the song's creation: "I was in my studio late one night, headphones on… a few glasses of red wine deep and thought, wouldn't it be fun to pull out my bass, blow up the tone, double it and play to a really messed up super slow drum groove. It's got a real stoner vibe to it. That's what happens when you mix wine and bass… Mission accomplished!"

With the rough bed track and song name sent to Wynne, her initial thoughts were one of introspection. "Sometimes you have to shine a light on all the ugliest pieces of yourself in order to truly change, and you have to keep slaying that dragon over and over again," she says. "It is a continuous, slow and painful process. The guitars and bass really drive the grittiness and heaviness I felt when I wrote those lyrics. It feels like an all-encompassing sludge, and that is what I absolutely love about this song."

Lifeson is no stranger to the concept of evolution. As a founding member of RUSH, he's been able to explore more musical ground than just about any other guitar player out there — taking rock to new progressive heights throughout the decades and always in the most wildly inventive of ways. His influence can be heard on countless bands around the world, from indie shoegaze and math rock to heavy metal and beyond. Over the last few years, Lifeson has been focusing on a new project that, no matter how well-acquainted you are with his discography, will undoubtedly shatter all seeds of expectation and blow the mind. That project is ENVY OF NONE.

"Envy Of None"'s 11 tracks — which ricochet between various shades of alternative, experimental and synth rock — throw surprises at every turn, twisting dark melodies against contemporary pop hooks. Lifeson himself is proudly aware of how little of it crosses over with the band that made him famous.

However, it was only when Wynne became involved that this truly started to feel like a band destined to go somewhere. Her haunting melodies and soul-baring intensity is — by the admission of her own bandmates — what truly brought this music to life. All things considered; she is a star in the making.

"I sent over an early version of the song 'Shadow'," explains Curran. "When I played what she'd done back to the others they were like, 'Who is this crazy talented person?!'"

The album's first single, "Liar", was released in January. Its industrial beats, driving fuzz bass and atmospheric guitars concoct a seductive swirl indeed — thrilling in ways closer to the darker art rock of DEPECHE MODE, NINE INCH NAILS and A PERFECT CIRCLE than anything these musicians have been known for prior.

"Maiah became my muse," says Lifeson. "She was able to bring this whole new ethereal thing through her sense of melody on tracks like 'Liar' and 'Look Inside'. After hearing her vocals on 'Never Said I Love You', I felt so excited. I've never had that kind of inspiration working with another musician. When we say she's special, it's because she's really fucking special."

"One of my favorite things about these songs is the intimacy of them," reveals Wynne. "It makes them feel different and more honest. There are some heavier songs too, like 'Enemy', and then tracks like 'Kabul Blues', that sound completely different to anything else."

The album closer, "Western Sunset", which was penned by Lifeson in tribute to his dear friend Neil Peart. It's a highly emotive piece of music to honor a man deeply missed by the rock community at large, and even more so by those who were lucky enough to know him.

"I visited Neil when he was ill," says Lifeson. "I was on his balcony watching the sunset and found inspiration. There's a finality about a sunset that kinda stayed with me throughout the whole process. It had meaning. It was the perfect mood to decompress after all these different textures… a nice way to close the book."

ENVY OF NONE is:

* Alf Annibalini - Guitar, Keyboards, Programming

* Andy Curran - Bass Guitar, Synthesized Bass, Programming, Guitar, Background Vocals, Stylophone

* Alex Lifeson - Guitar, Mandola, Banjo, Programming

* Maiah Wynne - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Keyboards

"Envy Of None" track listing:

01. Never Said I Love You [04:06]

02. Shadow [03:21]

03. Look Inside [04:44]

04. Liar [03:13]

05. Spy House [02:23]

06. Dog's Life [04:36]

07. Kabul Blues [03:12]

08. Old Strings [05:15]

09. Dumb [04:19]

10. Enemy [04:16]

11. Western Sunset [02:25]

"Missionary Man", the new solo single from HEART singer Ann Wilson, can be streamed below. The track is taken from Ann's upcoming album, "Fierce Bliss", due on April 29 via Silver Lining Music.

One of the premier hard rock vocalists of all-time, Wilson smashed boundaries with her band HEART, the eight-times platinum, 35-million-plus-selling Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame trailblazers who formed in 1973. During a decades-long career, Wilson rode the roller coaster of fame, fortune and madness, learning both joyous and hard, hard lessons along the way. Fast forward to summer 2020 and a meeting with legendary veteran "artist's lawyer" Brian Rohan provided the catalyst for "Fierce Bliss"'s creation.

Ann says: "Brian recommended people to me that knew people in Nashville, so I met these guys like [famed Nashville session guitarist] Tom Bukovac and Tony Lucido at those Muscle Shoals Sound Studio sessions. I'd never met them before, and they really inspired me. It was like a big door opening."

With the musical chemistry organically established, "Fierce Bliss" came together quickly. "I had originally intended to go in, record a few songs and see what I had, but it just took on this life," remarks Wilson. "At Sound Stage in Nashville, Kenny Wayne Shepherd came in and played on a couple songs. He was a whole other influence coming in. He just played his butt off, and with the gospel singers and everything else coming together, the whole project just started to grow."

Wilson continues: "I'd known Warren Haynes from GOV'T MULE for a while. We'd written a couple songs together with GOV'T MULE playing, and those rounded out the record. So all of a sudden, where there was no record before, suddenly I had eleven cool songs that I really liked."

"Fierce Bliss" is classic rock comfort food of the finest ingredients, carrying a richness and light that allows you to escape into timeless nostalgia. 11 perfectly weighted and selected songs ranging from Wilson's own co-penned originals to breathtaking covers and collaborations. "A Moment In Heaven" could easily apply to anyone who has seen their career suddenly bathed in a bright beam of glory before the spotlight is abruptly moved elsewhere. There is a deeply spiritual air about Ann Wilson 2022, and both "Black Wing" and "Angel's Blues" show different facets of that soul and ethos. Furthermore, Wilson brings new life and verve to classic songs, such as QUEEN's "Love Of My Life", EURYTHMICS' "Missionary Man" and Robin Trower's "Bridge Of Sighs", and has helped fashion definitive versions of each which stand toe-to-toe with the originals.

To cap it all, the album artwork comes from the mind and hands of celebrated fantasy artist Roger Dean, who aside from his work in fantasy art is also renowned for his YES sleeve artwork.

Wilson will soon be hitting the road with her new band, and make no mistake, she's a performer at heart thus her excitement is palpable. Ann Wilson seems to be more comfortable with herself (and her art) than ever before with both "Fierce Bliss" and the band she'll be touring with. "I think that for someone who's been through as much as I have, and has lived to tell the tales, it's okay to share my experiences," says Wilson sagely. "I've heard from a lot of younger musicians and listeners too who have thanked me for staying around and for just keeping upright, just making it through, making the concessions once but not twice, and being able to live through it all with dignity."

Last month, Ann released the first single from "Fierce Bliss", a song called "Greed". At the time, Ann stated about the track: "'Greed' is that thing in our animal nature that makes us want MORE. Whether it be money, sex, power or ecstasy, it fires our craving. It happens with all of us. When you turn around and catch yourself making decisions because you want the money, or because you're caught in the headlights of glory, well, those are greedy moments."

Wilson continued: "I think people who claim to have made every decision from a root of pure idealism, and never done anything dark or greedy, is lying. I think everybody who ventures into especially the music industry hoping for a career with big success, ends up making these Faustian bargains at some point even if only briefly. It's an aggressive song and I think I write best when I'm angry."

"Fierce Bliss" track listing:

01. Greed

02. Black Wing

03. Bridge Of Sighs

04. Fighten For Life

05. Love Of My Life (feat. Vince Gill)

06. Missionary Man

07. Gladiator

08. Forget Her

09. A Moment In Heaven

10. Angel's Blues*

11. As The World Turns

* Available on CD and digital formats only

Ann Wilson - Vocals

Tom Bukovac - Guitar

Tony Lucido - Bass

Sean T Lane - Drums, Percussion & Bike

Gordon Mote - Keyboards

Tim Lauer - Keyboards

Produced by Ann Wilson and Tom Bukovac

"Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues" produced by Ann Wilson and Warren Haynes

Mixed by Chuck Ainlay

Recorded by Chuck Ainlay at Fame Studios, Muscle Shoals, AL and Soundstage, Nashville, TN

"Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues" recorded by Joe Paterno at Power Station, Waterford, CT

"Black Wing" recorded by Sean Walker at Uberbeatz, Lynnwood, WA

Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, Edgewater, NJ

Executive producer: Jim Zumwalt

Musicians who appear on "Fierce Bliss":

Vocals - Vince Gill on "Love Of My Life"

Lead Guitar - Kenny Wayne Shepherd on "Bridge Of Sighs" and "Missionary Man"

Guitar - Warren Haynes on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Guitar - Tyler Boley on "Black Wing"

Keyboards - Danny Louis on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Keyboards - Dan Walker on "Black Wing"

Bass - Jorgen Carlsson on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Bass - Andy Stoller on "Black Wing"

Drums - Matt Abts on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Choir - The Rev Nathan Young Singers on "Missionary Man"

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre spoke to FOX17 Rock & Review about the band's upcoming studio album, which was recently recorded for a tentative late 2022 release. Helming the effort once again is Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with the band on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict" LPs.

"Each song might have a little different attitude and we wanted to just use real amps and all the vintage, real stuff that was used throughout the history of QUEENSRŸCHE," Todd said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

"We did all the drums at a place in Clearwater [Florida] — a huge home with the most amazing ceiling for a drum room," La Torre continued. "So we did all the drums there. And then, really, at my place [in St. Petersburg, Florida], we're able to track all the guitars, bass and vocals.

"Those days of renting thousand-dollar-a-day studios, we don't really need that anymore. And our producer Zeuss, who did the last two QUEENSRŸCHE albums — he does all Rob Zombie's stuff; he's a very seasoned producer, [and] he does mixing and mastering, so he's a one-stop shop — he's down here from Massachusetts. So he's handling all those duties. And things are going really well. We're having a great time."

Last November, La Torre told Canada's The Metal Voice about the musical direction of the new QUEENSRŸCHE material: "It doesn't sound like 'The Verdict'. It's its own new kind of thing. We really kind of just focused more on melodic hooks. I don't think we went in thinking, like, 'Oh, we need to sound old school or new or this.'"

He continued: "You know what we did on this record… Every other time, each guy would kind of submit their own song ideas and then we would kind of work on that. But what we did on this record was, other than Eddie [Jackson, bass] — Eddie has a couple of songs that are really cool that he wrote and then showed us kind of when they were pretty much done. And then Michael [Wilton, guitar] kind of wrote some interesting chords — still staying within the keys and everything. But we all got in a room with our here [in Florida], and we literally started from scratch. Like, 'Michael, what do you got?' [And he would] come up with a riff. And Casey [Grillo] would sit on the drums, or I would sit on the drums. We were all actually in a room and just tried it like the good old days. So this record was totally like that — the whole thing pretty much, minus one or two songs. And even that changed a little bit."

In early 2021, Wilton told The Metal Voice about the new QUEENSRŸCHE material: "Our producer, Zeuss, if this is any indication, he says it sounds like QUEENSRŸCHE … I think we're just going with our gut right now. You don't wanna take too many drastic chances in this day and age. So I think it's more of a continuation of 'The Verdict', maybe, in some sense. We're riding that wave. It's been good to us. [Laughs]"

In October, Wilton confirmed that returning guitarist Mike Stone would contribute guitar solos to the band's next studio album.

Since late May 2021, Stone has been handling second-guitar duties in QUEENSRŸCHE, which announced in July that longtime guitarist Parker Lundgren was exiting the group to focus on "other business ventures."

Stone originally joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years before leaving the group.

For the past five years, Grillo has been filling in for QUEENSRŸCHE's original drummer Scott Rockenfield, who stepped away from the band's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son.

In early October, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against the band's fellow original members Wilton and Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge.

QUEENSRŸCHE recently pulled out of SCORPIONS' rescheduled "Sin City Nights" Las Vegas residency in order to support JUDAS PRIEST on the "50 Heavy Metal Years" North American tour dates in March-April 2022. The tour kicked off on March 4 in Peoria, Illinois and will conclude on April 13 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

SoCal artists (HED) P.E. have released their new video for "Across the Universe" featuring Ipcus Pinecone from VILLEBILLIES and ELEPHANT ROOM. The song is the latest single from (HED) P.E.'s new album "Califas Worldwide", which dropped last month on Suburban Noize Records.

"This track was produced by one of Tech N9ne's producers and Demi was in a band the VILLEBILLIES that we toured with back in the day. Always enjoyed their music and was stoked to collaborate with them," said (HED) P.E. frontman Jared Gomes. "I got a psychedelic feeling from this song and the other rappers on the track are fire. Shevy Chase, one of the rappers, also created the video and killed it."

On "Califas Worldwide", (HED) P.E. collaborated with different bands and producers from around the world and melding it with their trademark G-Punk sound. Califas is a Hispanic nickname for Southern California, a moniker that perfectly describes (HED) P.E.'s Huntington Beach G-Punk sound as it melds together with artists from around the world to create the unholy union of "Califas Worldwide". The album features guest appearances by Angelo Moore of FISHBONE, H.R. of BAD BRAINS, Norwood Fisher of FISHBONE, Peter Distefano of PORNO FOR PYROS, and more.

In order to bring those Cali vibes to life visually, (HED) P.E. enlisted Jim "Taz" Evans to create the cover art. Known as the "Rock Poster God," Taz has illustrated and designed some of the most iconic rock posters for everyone from Neil Young, RAMONES, SMASHING PUMPKINS, THE PIXIES, and more. For "Califas Worldwide", Evans came up with an iconic lowrider and street art that have been synonymous with the southern California landscape.

(HED) P.E. are the pioneers of the G-Punk sound, which fuses together punk-rock, metal, hip-hop and reggae. The band has toured the world for 20 years sharing the stage with the likes of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, KORN, Tech N9ne, TOOL as well as the original BLACK SABBATH on the iconic Ozzfest tour. (HED) P.E. experienced a creative resurgence after signing with Suburban Noize Records in the early 2000s and was instrumental in developing the booming underground scene.

(HED) P.E. will join DROWNING POOL, ILL NIÑO and EVOLUTION EMPIRE on the "Brothers In Arms" tour kicking off on March 13 in San Antonio, Texas.

Avantasia mastermind Tobias Sammet recently checked in with a new update, calling the new Avantasia album "one of my strongest albums ever." He opens up about the album in a new interview, which will be released this summer. An excerpt is available below.


Q: Is the new album a conceptual continuation of your most recent effort, Moonglow?


Tobias: "Yes, in a way it is that, but it's far from being just more of the same. It's new and fresh, a good mix of fantasy and poetry, but with each song having autobiographical chracteristics too. I am very proud of those lyrics, they mean a lot to me and even though they have a fantastic approach I reveal a lot about myself."




Q: What can you say about the new music?


Tobias: "It's always hard to judge your own work when you're still so close to it. Some of it is quite heavy, it clearly shows my power metal sides, not just as a writer but also as a vocalist. A friend of mine just said that some of the stuff sounds like my earlier stuff, Avantasia or Edguy at the turn of the millenium."


Q: Was that an intentional move?


Tobias: "No, it wasn't at all. I guess it just happened because I was deeply involved in every tiny little step of the realization and production as in the earlier days. I was locked in at home and I had the time to deal with a lot of the details. It bears my trademarks and it's a very personal album."


Q: So what else can you tell your fans about the new album? 


Tobias: "The album is called A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society. At first our label was wondering if we couldn't come up with a longer album title maybe (laughs). Given the attention span of the brave new world it's not very memorable perhaps, but it's the concept and the title was on my mind for quite a while. Most fans know that I have never taken the easy way just to deliver things bite-sized for what the market can handle. Our fans are smart enough to memorize the title. As an artist you need to follow your vision, otherwise you get an ulcer and ulcers kill creativity."


Q: Can you tell us anything about the guests?


Tobias: "There are many, some you would expect, some you would not expect. We'll announce them in due time. But they all delievered. When I listen to the final master I am astounded myself how we could have come up with something as energetic and uplifting as this album in these two years of isolation."


Read the complete interview here.


Wacken TV continues to share pro-shot video from the Wacken Open Air archives, and they recently posted footage of Avantasia performing "Dying For An Angel" at the 2014 edition of the festival. Check it out below.

DEFTONES have parted ways with their longtime bassist Sergio Vega.

The 51-year-old musician, who officially joined DEFTONES in 2009, confirmed his exit Tuesday night (March 8), just days after a new photo of the band without him emerged online on various digital service providers (see below).

In a video message posted to his Instagram, Sergio said: "Hi everybody. I hope this finds you well. I didn't wanna have to make a video about this, but after the recent band photo posted on DEFTONES' Spotify, I feel the need to clear the air. I'm not very good at this, so I wrote out a statement and I will read it to you now.

"To give a brief history about me and my friendship with DEFTONES. We met in 1995. I filled in for [late DEFTONES bassist] Chi [Cheng] — rest in peace — in 1999 and was asked to work with the band after his tragedy in 2009. Because of the love they have for QUICKSAND, I was asked to bring the same approach as a songwriter and arranger to them as well. I was also told that, similarly to Frank [Delgado, DEFTONES keyboardist and turntablist], I would be brought in over time to become an official member. I had worked with the band for 12 years, and at the start of every album cycle, I asked about becoming an official member, but the contract would be improved instead.

"COVID was a breaking point for a lot of people and I started to question my place in the band and the future that I wanted for my career. I really started to need something stable, because, at that point, my contract with them was canceled. One day I got a call from the guys about an internal band situation, and they asked me if I was solid and that I would have to fly out to L.A. to help work it out right away. I said, of course, I was all in, and 'we can handle my situation later. But I can't go back to my old contract.' Our respective management had a conversation to discuss a new contract and they offered me the same deal. At that point, it was clear there was no opportunity for growth for me, so I declined the offer. And then I called the guys immediately to see where the miscommunication was to resolve it but there was no response. A couple of days later, I received an e-mail from their lawyer that their offer was withdrawn and that they wished me the best. So I left the band early last year and since then I've been focused on my band QUICKSAND as well as working as a producer and writer for other artists and projects. And I'm mentioning this because there was some speculation about me selling my gear and quitting music altogether.

"Out of respect for the people who have held tickets for this tour the past couple of years and everyone who supports the band, I felt it important to bring some clarity to the situation.

"Lots of love and thanks to DEFTONES' amazing fanbase for always being engaged and supportive of the band through good times and bad. I appreciate every single one of you. All my love to the fans that have become friends, the people that have supported my other projects. It brought me so much joy to see DEFTONES shirts at QUICKSAND shows and I will cherish this forever.

"Lastly, thanks so much to the 'TONES. I wish they had the chance to tell you this in person. I want you to know that I appreciate all the years we spent together, writing, performing, being taken into your worlds. I learned a lot from each one of you. When you brought me in, you created a new sense of passion for music that I will always cherish and carry with me. You truly changed my life."

Vega cut his teeth in the New York City hardcore scene in the late 1980s before going on to play in the influential post-hardcore trio QUICKSAND. QUICKSAND released two major-label albums ("Manic Compression" and "Slip") before calling it a day. Soon after, Vega found himself filling in with the DEFTONES and eventually joined the band as the full-time replacement for Cheng.

QUICKSAND reformed in 2012 and released a comeback album, "Interiors", in 2017, ending the band's 22-year interval between LPs. A follow-up effort, "Distant Populations", arrived last August.

Chi died in April 2013 at the age of 42. He had been in a semi-comatose state for more than four years after being seriously injured in a car accident in November 2008. In addition to not recovering full consciousness, Cheng had been in and out of hospitals for various infections as his family has struggled with the mounting costs of care since he had lost his health insurance a few months after the accident.

Cheng required surgery after the car accident to remove part of his brain, but his recovery was strong enough that he was taken off life support seven months later.

Over the course of the last couple of years of his life, Cheng emerged from his coma for brief intervals. He was able to open his eyes and apparently could see and hear things going on around him but could not respond verbally.
























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IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain joined Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen's project SMITH/KOTZEN on stage earlier tonight (Tuesday, March 8) at Islington Assembly Hall in London, United Kingdom to perform the MAIDEN classic "Wasted Years". Video of his appearance can be seen below (courtesy of, among others, Eonmusic).

Joining Smith and Kotzen as part of SMITH/KOTZEN's touring band is Richie's wife, internationally acclaimed bass player Julia Lage, formerly of the Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian rock band BARRA DE SAIA. With a strong pedigree in rock, Lage has played alongside the likes of Pat Travers, Elliot Easton (THE CARS), Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME) and Mark McGrath (SUGAR RAY) and VIXEN. In addition, SMITH/KOTZEN has enlisted drummer Bruno Valverde of ANGRA for its U.S. West Coast and European dates.

In a recent interview with Metal Edge magazine's "Another FN Podcast With Izzy Presley", Richie stated about how the short tour came together: "What happened was it was all just by timing. Nathalie [Dufresne-Smith, Adrian's wife] and Adrian came into town, and Adrian said, 'Hey, we're gonna be there for a couple of months. You wanna write some more songs?' And we did get together and we did about seven things that are in the works; we have some demo stuff that are in the works. And then we started thinking, 'Man, we're here. Why don't we play?' Julia was in the house and we were talking about it. And it just kind of — boom. It just made sense. 'Let's go. Call Bruno.' And we put it together. It was real easy."

Adrian added that fans can definitely expect to hear more music from SMITH/KOTZEN, which released a full-length album and an EP during 2021.

"We started writing with a view to doing another album, and then we got sidetracked on dates," Smith said. "Like Richie said, we've got six or seven things. It's just taking where we left off with the EP — just writing as we do.

"I don't wanna change the world," he added. "I just wanna make good rock music. It's n there, and you've just gotta do it. You just have to do it, really. It's one of those things."

SMITH/KOTZEN's eponymous debut album was released globally through BMG in March 2021 to media and fan acclaim, charting No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart in the U.S., Top 20 in the U.K. as well as in other major markets such as Germany, Japan and Canada. A follow-up EP, "Better Days", featuring four new tracks was released on November 26 in conjunction with international Record Store Day's Black Friday event.

Smith is best known as one of IRON MAIDEN's principal guitarists, having also enjoyed success as a solo artist. Kotzen is the frontman for THE WINERY DOGS as well as having been the guitarist for both MR. BIG and POISON during his long and acclaimed career, which has to date seen him release more than 20 solo albums. Both artists are also prolific songwriters.






EXCLUSIVE: Nicko McBrain joins Smith Kotzen on stage in London #ironmaiden #wastedyears #Smith Kotzen

Posted by Eonmusic on Tuesday, March 8, 2022



























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Legendary guitarist Pat Travers and his band have just released a blazing new single, "Push Yourself". Built around Travers's trademark Fender Strat, the track crackles with intensity and bravado. The guitar playing is matched in grittiness and power by Travers's own vocals, which ring out like a wakeup call to anyone thinking that this veteran blues rocker will be resting on his laurels.

As Travers himself puts it: "'Push Yourself' is a mantra I use when I need to get my ass in gear and get stuff done. Pretty simple."

The "Push Yourself" music video, which was assembled using recent live footage of Travers tearing up the stage intercut with scenes from the recent LYNYRD SKYNYRD dramatization "Street Survivors: The True Story Of The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash", can be seen below.

In addition to the single being available on all digital platforms, it will also be pressed on limited-edition red seven-inch vinyl backed with another new cut, "Full Spectrum", both of which are set to appear on Travers's new studio album coming later this year.

PAT TRAVERS BAND has scheduled a number of concerts this spring and summer, including select dates with CACTUS.

Upcoming shows:

March 12 - Kent Stage, Kent, OH (with CACTUS)

March 13 - Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, PA (with CACTUS)

March 26 - Uptown Art Expo Fest Altamonte Springs, FL (PAT TRAVERS BAND only)

April 22 - Tampa Bay Seafood & Music Festival - Tampa, FL (PAT TRAVERS BAND only)

April 29 - Backseat Bar & Grill- Winchester, VA (PAT TRAVERS BAND only)

May 20 - Ramona Mainstage- Ramona, CA (PAT TRAVERS BAND only)

June 11 - Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH (with CACTUS)

June 12 - Token Lounge, Westland, MI (with CACTUS)

June 16 – Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago, IL (with CACTUS)

June 17 - Wildey Theater- Edwardsville, IL (with CACTUS)

June 18 - The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL (with CACTUS)

METALLICA played its first concert of 2022 on February 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show, which was reportedly attended by 60,000 fans, featured support from GRETA VAN FLEET and ICE NINE KILLS.

Professionally filmed video of METALLICA's performance of the song "Battery" from the Vegas gig can be seen below.

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Whiplash

02. Ride The Lightning

03. The Memory Remains

04. Seek & Destroy

05. Fuel

06. One

07. Sad But True

08. Moth Into Flame

09. Wherever I May Roam

10. For Whom The Bell Tolls

11. Creeping Death

12. Fade To Black

13. Master Of Puppets

Encore:

14. Battery

15. Nothing Else Matters

16. Enter Sandman

The Las Vegas show took place more than two months after METALLICA's two 40th-anniversary concerts at Chase Center in San Francisco, California which featured different setlists. They were part of METALLICA's "San Francisco Takeover", a four-day citywide celebration of the band's 40th anniversary that also included a film festival, photo exhibit and curated lineup of smaller venue shows featuring other acts.

Last month, METALLICA announced it will perform only two summer stadium shows in 2022: Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York on August 11, and PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14. Both shows will feature special guests GRETA VAN FLEET and ICE NINE KILLS.

METALLICA previously played at Highmark Stadium on July 25, 1992, and Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium on July 26, 1992.

This spring, METALLICA will perform at the BottleRock festival in Napa on May 27 and Boston Calling on May 29. The band also has a number of South America and European dates scheduled for spring and early summer.

Formed in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, METALLICA has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history, having sold nearly 120 million albums worldwide and generating more than 15 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on all seven continents. The band's several multi-platinum albums include "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets", "… And Justice For All", "Metallica" (commonly referred to as The Black Album), "Load", "Reload", "St. Anger", "Death Magnetic" and "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", released in November 2016 and charting at No. 1 in 32 countries.

METALLICA's awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, and its 2009 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. In June of 2018, the band was awarded one of the most prestigious musical honors in the world: Sweden's Polar Music Prize.

During the question-and-answer portion of his March 1 spoken-word show at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson was asked how his technique of hitting the high notes has changed over the years as his voice has aged. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I'm not sure it has changed that much. When your voice is very young — I discovered my voice, when I was young, as being quite tinny; it didn't have a lot of [depth] to it. And your voice, it thickens a bit as you get older. And obviously talking for two and a half hours doesn't help. But when you get to hitting high notes… My high end… When I was in the early days — SAMSON and stuff like that — I used to go into my little falsetto thing, but that got blown out of the water when I did [MAIDEN's] 'The Number Of The Beast' [album], because I pushed up into my high register, which is not like a cash register; it's a bit that actually happens in your voice. But it is a kind of high register. As my publisher said — he was a South African gentleman called Ralph Simon, and he worked with Zomba Music. And Ralph, he managed other producers, so he managed Martin Birch and they also managed the guy that did all the DEF LEPPARD albums ['Mutt' Lange]. So, anyway, he would chat to me about this stuff, and when we would do the MAIDEN things, like we'd do 'Run To The Hills', he'd come up [to me and say], [adopts South African accent] 'You have this thing that Mutt does with all of his bands. It's the high frequency thing that makes the Americans go raving mad. You've got that high octave. When you go into it, like 'Run To The Hills', and when you sing, 'Run to the hills, run for your life,' it makes the Americans go raving mad; they can't help themselves.' So I took that advice. I thought, I'd just go to that high octave that makes the Americans go raving mad."

Dickinson'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.

Bruce's spoken-word show is split into two parts. The first section sees him take a humorous and often satirical look at the world from his own very personal perspective, treating the audience to private insights into his drive and ambition, peppered with plenty of MAIDEN anecdotes, and a myriad of other experiences encompassing not just the giddy heights but also the extreme lows, as told first-hand in his inimitable anarchic style, punctuated with photographs, videos and sometimes even erupting into song a cappella, to illustrate a point. The final section of the evening is devoted entirely to the aforementioned question-and-answer session, with the opportunity to pose questions on any subject whatsoever. As Bruce's answers are all completely improvised — the more left-field and quirky the question, the more interesting and compelling the response is likely to be.