Former SKID ROW drummer Phil Varone has once again responded to ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's claim that Varone's decision to pose nude for an Playgirl is "further proof that the name 'SKID ROW' has completely lost all credibility, cool, accuracy and is now devoid of all meaning in every way."

Varone, who was one of eight patients featured on the "Celebrity Rehab" spin-off series "Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew", was featured on the cover of Playgirl more than a decade ago. The publication, which included a 16-page spread on Varone, hit newsstands in December 2010.

A short time after Varone's appearance in Playgirl was announced, Bach took to his Twitter to write: "[This is] further proof that the name 'SKID ROW' has completely lost all credibility, cool, accuracy and is now devoid of all meaning in every way."

Varone reflected on Bach's comments in a brand new interview with Sofa King Cool. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Baz is very ironic. I've known him for… I knew those guys 10 years before I joined the band. I mean, they were friends of mine. Before I joined the band, I knew Sebastian. And I never really understood why he said anything. This is a guy who wore a shirt that said 'AIDS Kills F**s Dead'. This is a guy that threw a bottle into a crowd and almost killed a girl. And the band had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep his ass out of jail and pay all these things in medical. And he's talking about me on Playgirl?

"He's in a war with himself, 'cause I've got nothing to say," Phil continued. "The guy was a tremendous rock star — legendary — and he's always gonna be that way. And I just don't understand at what point the people go the extra mile to say anything when it's, like, 'Dude, you already have the gig. Just shut up. People like you already. Don't ruin it.' 'Cause people like him, he can just talk himself into a hole.

"What does me doing Playgirl have anything to do with SKID ROW or hurting SKID ROW? Not to mention that one of his favorite bands, TYPE O NEGATIVE, Pete Steele did it. Bret Michaels did it. Brad Pitt did it. I mean, so many people have done Playgirl. It was a bucket list thing for me. I mean, granted, yeah, my dick is bigger than his, so don't be mad at me about that. Scream at whoever you believe the maker is.

"I don't know what his deal is," Varone added. "I just thought it was funny. 'Cause it's very hypocritical. If anything was gonna ruin the band, it would have been him back then. And doing Playgirl is not porn at all. It's a naked body. When did naked bodies become pornography? I don't know. Because in Europe no one gives a shit. Everyone's naked over there."

Varone joined SKID ROW in 2000 — about four years after Bach parted ways with the group.

Back in February 2010, Varone filed a lawsuit against SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo and bassist Rachel Bolan, accusing his former bandmates of "spreading lies" and destroying his reputation. He claimed Sabo and Bolan "embarked on a crusade to spread vicious lies about Varone in an effort to destroy his professional and personal reputation" and "to prevent him from truthfully describing his career history as the drummer for SKID ROW, by contending that his use of the band name is trademark infringement." In addition, he claimed the pair "had falsely informed people that Varone had slept with Sabo's wife, that Varone is a cocaine addict and that Varone is a liar," adding, "Its (SKID ROW's) complete omission from a description of Varone's professional experience deprives Varone from the benefits of his experience as a professional studio and live musician and rock star who toured the world, gave countless interviews, made hundreds of appearances and amassed thousands of fans worldwide." According to the complaint, Sabo, Bolan and their lawyer contacted night clubs and both Oprah Winfrey's and Tyra Banks' talk shows in advance of his appearance in connection with "Sex Rehab" and successfully prevented Varone from being identified as a former drummer of SKID ROW.

In 2014, Varone slammed his former bandmates in SKID ROW as "clueless, jealous dummies" whose recent "piece-of-shit records" are best used as "a set of drink coasters."

During an interview on "The Classic Metal Show", Sabo was asked about "Waking Up Dead", the 2007 documentary from Varone which followed Phil through four years of drug abuse and wall-to-wall sex with groupies while drumming for the band. "I thought it was gross, man, to be quite honest with you," Sabo said. "See, that's just a lifestyle I never cared for or partook in. I never did drugs. The worst thing I ever did was drink too much vodka and puke, and that's basically the extent of my shit. So to live that and to see that, I thought it was pretty gross and disgusting, to be honest with you. I don't have any empathy for that situation at all, because you have choices. You make choices in life, and that was the choice that he made. And I don't wanna be a part of that or a party to it. So, I guess the only thing I can say is that I thought it was pretty gross."

In a 2006 interview with Metalshrine, Bolan stated about "Waking Up Dead": "I haven't [seen it] and I don't support it at all… That's [Phil's] world. I don't do drugs and the guys in the band don't do drugs. I don't endorse it. That's his world and he wanted to put our image in it and being the fact that the guy was only in the band for two years.... The fact that he thinks he has the right to go out and use the SKID ROW name is preposterous. Yeah, that's his world, not ours."

Shark Island was once the house band at the world-famous Gazzaris on the Sunset Strip. Signed to Epic Records in 1989 the band released their debut album, Law Of The Order, and also saw the tracks "Dangerous" and "Father Time" featured in the movie Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, as well as the song "My City" from the movie Point Break.


Lead Singer Richard Black would go on to be part of the short-lived supergroup Contraband, which also featured Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO), and members of L.A. Guns, Ratt, and Vixen. They released one album in 1991 before disbanding.


S’cool Bus is where it all started, with tracks produced by Rick Derringer and capturing the band during the heyday of the Sunset Strip. This hidden gem is remastered and repackaged along with bonus tracks "Bang A Gong" (Live) and "I'm Electric" (Original Studio Recording). Both are taken from the same time period and make for a great addition to the original recordings for this Deluxe Edition.




About this release, “What a powerful souvenir of a bygone era on the sunset strip, and a real gem for those who wish they were there. It will never happen again,” says Richard Black (the eye witness).


You can pre-save the Deluxe Edition here


Limited edition S’cool Bus bundles are available for pre-order that include the classic Shark Island poster signed by Richard Black. You can also order the band’s latest album Bloodline 2.020’and other cool merch at the store. UK/European pre-orders here.


S’cool Bus bundle includes:


- One (1) S'Cool Bus (Deluxe Edition)
- One (1) Autographed Poster
- One (1) Sticker





S’cool Bus tracklisting:


"Déjà Vu"
"Sex Drive"
"Excess Marks The Spot"
"Here Come Trouble"
"Puss N Boots"
"Read My Lips"
"Automatic Girls"
"New York, New York"
"Palace Of Pleasure"
"Bang A Gong" (Live)
"I'm Electric" (Original Studio Recording)

Approximately one year ago, legendary guitarist Steve Vai underwent shoulder surgery to repair an injury. That procedure was successful, enabling him to record his new album, "Inviolate". However, in preparing for a U.S. tour in support of the LP, it became clear that a new injury emerged that requires another surgery prohibiting the tour to be staged as previously announced.

Steve discussed his physical issues in a new interview with Holland's FaceCulture. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The shoulder started years ago and it was something I was experiencing when I was working out. And I let it go, to the point where I kind of crossed a point of no return where therapies weren't gonna work and they had to get in there and fix it. And they did, and they did a great job. And it healed. And I made 'Inviolate'. Unfortunately, over the summer, I tore another tendon, and that's why we had to move the American leg of the tour to the fall — because I had to get another surgery. But it's all right. I'm not worried about any of that."

According to Steve, he never lost his belief that he would be able to continue writing and recording music after recovering from his surgery. "What I noticed is I didn't panic," he said. "There was never a time where I thought… Well, there was a moment after I got the sling off where I started to try to play and there was nothing there — I couldn't pick, I couldn't strum. And I thought, 'Okay, this is what it's like at the end of the day for a musician.' And for about 10 seconds, that thought, 'This is it. I'm done.' That was in my head. And I can honestly tell you that with that thought, there wasn't any fear but there was a disappointment, of course.

"I don't define myself as just a guitar player," he explained. "People say, 'Music is your life.' Music isn't my life. Music is something I do in life. Life is much bigger than what you do in it. So I never felt restricted in expressing creative musical ideas, even if I didn't have a guitar. And I always knew that that was gonna be there, no matter what. So I wasn't devastated. But then another little voice came in, the voice of my higher self — it usually comes in to the rescue — and it said, 'Shut the fuck up and just start playing. You know you got this.' And I said, 'Okay. Yes, sir.' And I just started. And it came back."

Last February, Vai revealed that he had undergone shoulder and trigger finger surgeries, explaining that his shoulder had been "screwed up."

During an appearance on Tyler Larson's "Guitar Villains" podcast, Vai said that he sustained the finger injury by holding a tough chord for too long.

"I was doing this fun thing, and I had to put my thumb in this really weird position," he said. "And I had to kind of hold this chord really for a long time — I was meditating on it. And I knew it was a hard position, and I just kept sitting there and playing it and playing and playing, and 20 minutes later, I'd kind of come out, and I [felt pain in my hand]. So I kind of sprained this, and then, all of a sudden, I developed trigger finger. My wife said, 'Don't show anybody,' 'cause they did that operation and they cut in there, and the guy's fooling around with everything in there, and it's really bizarre. But it's all fine — it's something very simple that they can fix. But I won't be able to play for a while."

"Inviolate" is being released today (Friday, January 28) digitally and on CD via Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group.

The first U.S. leg of Vai's tour dates will now begin on September 28 in El Cajon, California and wrap the first week of December. The itinerary will now feature performances in 52 markets as opposed to the initial plan of staging 54 shows. All ticket and VIP purchases will be honored for the rescheduled date. Vai's performance in Atlanta, Georgia will now take place at the Variety Playhouse instead of The Eastern and due to scheduling conflicts, the Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Billings, Montana shows will no longer be a part of the tour.

QUIET RIOT singer Jizzy Pearl, whose JIZZY PEARL'S LOVE/HATE band opened for the "Dio Returns" tour in 2019, was asked in a new interview with the "Cobras & Fire" podcast for his take on the Ronnie James Dio hologram. "Dio Returns" featured a holographic image of the legendary metal singer performing alongside a living backing group consisting, in large part, of Ronnie's onetime DIO bandmates.

"Well, at the time, everyone was sort of bagging on it, but I was the opening band, so I felt it was my duty to defend it," Jizzy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)

"[I have] mixed feelings about it," he admitted. "Whitney Houston, they're doing one in Vegas now, of a hologram.

"If people wanna go see it, then that's okay. If they don't wanna go see it, then that's okay too. It's kind of like bands like us — QUIET RIOT or WARRANT or NIGHT RANGER. People bag on it, but if you don't wanna go, don't go. If you're into it, have a good time. So that's my feeling on it."

When interviewer Bakko expressed his disappointment over how the hologram looked in person, saying that he "thought it was gonna be more three-dimensional," Jizzy said: "You're supposed to suspend reality. You're not supposed to sit there and… I mean, you can sit there with a notebook and a clipboard and pick the shit apart, but you're supposed to embrace the idea of Dio.

"Look, I toured with Dio for years and I was friends with the guy," he continued. "So I knew the guy, I hung with the guy, I drank booze with the guy, so it was maybe weirder for me to see it. But then again, I realize that it's a theater piece. So take it for what it is."

The Dio hologram was created by a company called Eyellusion and made its debut at the Wacken Open Air festival in August 2016 in front of more than 75,000 fans.

The Dio hologram production used audio of Ronnie's live performances from throughout his career, with the DIO band playing live, consisting of Craig Goldy on guitar, Simon Wright on drums and Scott Warren on keyboards, along with Bjorn Englen on bass. Also appearing with them were ex-JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens and LYNCH MOB frontman Oni Logan.

This past September, Ronnie James Dio's former wife and longtime manager Wendy Dio said that she decided to pull the plug on the hologram of the legendary metal singer because she "wanted to see real Ronnie." Speaking about how her reaction to the hologram evolved over the years, she said: "When I first saw it, I cried. Then I got used to it because it wasn't Ronnie. And then we took it out [on tour]. The first [version] was not that good. The second one was a lot better. But I decided that I don't wanna do it anymore; I decided I want real Ronnie. So we're working on a stage with the DIO band, which will be going out in March [of 2022]. Instead of having a hologram, it will have film of Ronnie with the live band playing and with special effects and everything else. So that's what we're working on. We're working on it with Paul Dexter [who was Ronnie's lighting designer and stage designer for years] and a bunch of other people. And also the Eyellusion people, who did do the hologram, are doing a bunch of special effects for us with it."

Wendy continued: "I never say never [about bringing back the hologram], but technology gets different every day, every day, every day. And I just decided that I wanted to see real Ronnie. … QUEEN does [something similar, using footage of Freddie Mercury]. Ours will be a little bit different to that because we have all these great effects, 3D effects. It's almost like going into — what's that ride at Disneyland, when you go through, and it's like a 3D effect? That's what we're working on right now."

Two former DIO guitarists have publicly expressed their doubts about the Ronnie James Dio hologram. In December 2019, Tracy "G" Grijalva, who played for DIO from 1993 through 1999, said that the hologram "looks creepy" and resembles "a puppet." Nine months earlier, Doug Aldrich, who was in DIO between 2002 and 2006, told XS Rock that "Ronnie would probably not" like the hologram. "He would probably be, like, 'This is not what I signed up for.' A hologram? It's not really what he would want to be. I'm just guessing, you know, that it's something that Wendy thought about and she decided that Ronnie would be fine with it. But I knew Ronnie well enough to know that he was very particular and he would prefer for them to let him just die and be in peace."

After the "Dio Returns" tour's initial seven-date run was completed in December 2017, Ronnie's hologram underwent some changes before the launch of the 2019 leg of the trek, which took place in May and June of that year.

The "Dio Returns" 17-song set consisted of seven tunes sung by the Dio hologram — the rest featured Owens and Logan separately or together — and encompassed material from Dio's lengthy career, including his earlier days in RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH.

A few years ago, Wendy told Patch.com that critics of the Dio hologram were "entitled to their opinion. I just ask that people come and see the show first before criticizing," she said. "We got a lot of flak in the beginning but I think more and more people are getting used to it. It's for the fans. It's for the fans who would love to see Ronnie back up on the stage and the ones that never got a chance to see him. I think Ronnie would approve. If anybody saw the 'Sacred Heart' tour in 1986 we tried to make a hologram then. We had Ronnie in a crystal ball hanging from the stage talking through it. Also he was an innovator in music, so why not be an innovator in technology."

In 2020, TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick, who toured with Ronnie on two separate occasions a decade and a half apart — in 1992 when Dio fronted BLACK SABBATH and again in 2008 when Ronnie was the singer of SABBATH offshoot band HEAVEN & HELL — offered his opinion on the Dio hologram on Twitter, writing: "I don't believe in those hologram shows. It would be one thing if the artist was still alive, chose not to tour for whatever reason, gave his or her approval & maybe even had a hand in the process. But Dio had no say." Skolnick also added a thumbs-down emoji as a way of voicing his disapproval.

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman said in a 2016 interview that he had mixed feelings about concerts featuring the Dio hologram. He said about the prospect of seeing a holographic version of Ronnie: "It makes me sad. I'm always happy to hear any music from anybody that's left us, that we've lost. But I don't know… The hologram thing, to me, it almost isn't letting the dead be dead." He added, "It just seems weird... Is there a difference between a hologram and a guy dressing up like Ronnie James and doing it?"

A behind-the-scenes look at Nita Strauss performing her latest single, "Dead Inside", at halftime at a Los Angeles Rams game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California last month can be seen below.

In October, Nita shared "Dead Inside", her first new music since the release of her critically acclaimed debut solo album "Controlled Chaos" in 2018. The track is her first-ever solo collaboration with a vocalist, David Draiman, frontman of Grammy-nominated rock icons DISTURBED.

Strauss has been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.

Nita released "Controlled Chaos" to mass acclaim from fans and media alike, with Metal Injection calling it "a great debut that — as its creator intended — leaves no doubt", and Guitar World stating "'Controlled Chaos' is a panoramic view of Nita Strauss's many strengths". To date the album has clocked up 6.7 million streams worldwide, with music videos for singles "Our Most Desperate Hour", "Pandemonium", "Alegria" and "Mariana Trench" generating over 3 million YouTube views.

As well as performing with Cooper, Nita has also played with R&B star Jermaine Jackson, early MTV darlings FEMME FATALE, video game supergroup CRITICAL HIT and popular tribute band THE IRON MAIDENS.

In April 2020, Nita launched "Rock Guitar Fundamentals" — a three-module online guitar teaching program suitable for learners of all levels. The course is available at www.iwanttoplayguitar.com.

Nita's live show is mostly instrumental in nature, combining originals with covers.

Cradle Of Filth frontman Dani Filth has checked in with the following update:


"I have now joined the hallowed ranks of Cameo, the absolute best place to get personalised videos featuring your favourite stars. Not that I am one of those hallowed few,  but hopefully I come at least a close second or third. You can therefore have me bang to rights and mouthing your filthy demands at this location. All else is pretty self-explanatory (see accompanying weird video)!"







Cradle Of Filth, has announced a digital show stream, a one-off special performance, titled The Infernal Vernal Equinox. The concert will be aired this Spring Equinox, Sunday, March 20, during which the band will play monumental 1996 studio album Dusk... And Her Embrace in full. ⁣


The Infernal Vernal Equinox show stream, March 20 at 11 AM, PST / 2 PM, EST / 7 PM, GMT / 8 PM, CET. Tickets available here.


Frontman Dani Filth states: "Greetings fellow Filthlings...⁣ After the glorious success of our livestream extravaganza back in May last year, we have decided to undertake a second in which we will play our legendary musical excretion 'Dusk... and Her Embrace' in its dark cinematic entirety, accompanied by a further bout of new album tracks and fan-favorites.⁣


Being unleashed on March 20th, 2022 - the day of the Spring Equinox - and known as 'The Infernal Vernal Equinox', this full live-stream ritual will also premiere the incredible third single video from 'Existence Is Futile' plus will include the entirety of our first livestream free for your vulgar delectation.⁣


So, Children of the Night, be expectant of horrific spectacle, big production, and razor-sharp Black Metal mayhem ascending your way.⁣ Warning. This one-off special performance is intended solely for those tortured souls still clinging to the last of winter’s grip.⁣ Happy f**king Spring!!!⁣"⁣





Cradle Of Filth in 2021 A.D.:


Dani Filth - Vocals
Richard Shaw - Guitar
Ashok - Guitar
Daniel Firth - Bass
Martin ‘Marthus’ Skaroupka - Drums
Anabelle - Keyboards & Backing Vocals

JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford says that his cancer is still in remission, two years after he was first diagnosed with the disease.

On World Cancer Day, which is observed every year across the globe on February 4 to raise awareness about the deadly disease and its symptoms, the 70-year-old singer took to his Instagram to write: "world cancer day..guys be preemptive get your blood work done regularly..my latest tests reveal I'm still in remission amen #heavymetal #ink #fuck #cancer #prostate #earlybird #good #health #staysafe #love #family #friends #fans #one #world #peace #respect #all".

Last year, Halford went public with his battle with the cancer of the prostate, a walnut-sized gland that is part of the male reproductive system. In an interview with Spain's Mariskal Rock, he said: "It's in remission. I count my blessings — thanks to God. It was a time when… You know, timing is everything in rock and roll and heavy metal. And, of course, this was going on during the pandemic — the initial stages of the pandemic — so the world was completely closed down. PRIEST would have been on a bit of a hiatus anyway, because we had just been around the world three times with [PRIEST's latest album] 'Firepower', so we were gonna be on a kind of a break although we were writing for the new album. And so I was able to take care of three things, really — promote [my autobiography] 'Confess', do some writing with the band before I came back [home] to Phoenix, and then get this cancer business sorted out."

Rob, who previously mentioned his cancer battle in the new chapter added to the updated paperback edition of "Confess", continued: "It's just a miracle what they can do with health care these days; it's absolutely remarkable. So in my story, my main message is to guys everywhere around the world, when you get to a certain age, it's very important that you get your prostate checked, your bloodwork checked, get a colonoscopy. It's all these things that old blokes like me go, 'Wait, wait, wait.' That's the worst thing to do. So that was part of the reason I wanted to push the message out. And the fact that it's been out for a while anyway — it's been out since September [2021] in the final edition of the 'Confess' paperback — so it was gonna surface anyway."

In "Confess", Halford revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer after experiencing symptoms for at least a couple of years.

"I felt a combination of shock, horror, and oddly, relief — at least now I know!…'Am I going to die?'" he wrote. " It was all I could think of. I know blokes who've died of prostate cancer. 'No, you're not going to die, Rob,' said Dr. Ali."

In July 2020, Rob underwent prostatectomy, an operation where the entire prostate gland is removed plus some of the tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles. After more cancer was found early last year, he went through radiation treatments in April and May 2021 and eventually got then all-clear in June 2021. He also had an appendectomy after a tumor was discovered on his appendix.

"It's been a draining year, I can't deny it, but I'm delighted to have come through it," Halford wrote in the book. "I feel like I've had the most thorough MOT that a Metal God can have."

Rob said that his outlook on his cancer battle changed after watching a commercial for the Phoenix Children's hospital. "It showed kids with cancer," he said. "Some only babies. They were lying there, with tubes coming out of them, fighting for their lives. They didn't know what was going on…It made me feel totally ashamed of myself; Rob, how dare you be so selfish? And from that second, I change my entire mental attitude towards my disease."

"Confess" was released in September 2020 via Hachette Books. It was written with Ian Gittins, co-writer of "The Heroin Diaries" by Nikki Sixx.
























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W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless says that he wishes his former bandmate Chris Holmes "the very best" in his battle with cancer.

It was announced earlier today that Holmes has been diagnosed with a cancer in throat and neck. As a result, the 63-year-old ex-W.A.S.P. guitarist canceled his appearance aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise. However, Holmes still expects to be able to complete his previously announced Canadian tour, which is scheduled to launch in Quebec City on May 5 and wrap up in Vancouver on May 28.

A few hours after Chris's diagnosis was made public, Lawless released the following statement via W.A.S.P.'s social media: "The entire W.A.S.P. family are all optimistic of a positive outcome concerning the diagnosis for Chris. I certainly wish him the very best."

Holmes joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and remained with the group until 1990. In 1996, the guitarist returned to W.A.S.P. and stayed with the band until 2001. Chris has not played with W.A.S.P. since.

The news of Chris's battle with cancer was shared earlier today by his wife and manager, Cathy-Sarah Holmes. She wrote on his Instagram account: "This post is not easy to write because of the personal nature of it and we would rather you hear it directly from us before stories and rumours start to circulate and by respect for all of you who love and support Chris, we feel that this is exactly what we need at this time. Recently Chris was diagnosed with a cancer in throat and neck but the medical team have assured us there has been no metastasis and this is a good news . He will have to start as soon as possible a treatment of 7 weeks.

"I know how important the Monsters of Rock Cruise is for Chris and the band but the health of Chris is what we have to focus on right now for the next 7 weeks and we will reschedule the MORC for a future date. Thank You very much Larry Morand for your kindness & understanding in this matter, you are much appreciated and the world need more people as you . Thank you also to all the team who make a wonderful work following every band in each step.

"The bandcamp will still continue to run during this time but if there might be some delays please forgive me.

"The best way to keep Chris positive is to continue to focus on the upcoming Canadian tour, shows we have in September and the UK tour in October. Don’t forget Chris is strong and he is a fighter and he will come back stronger than before.

"Many of you in your own way shows us everyday how much you care,we are lucky to have you as friends, your strength keeps our spirits high to continue to fight another day.

"Please we just ask for some privacy while we deal with this at this moment and Chris will come back to you stronger and ready to burn the stage with Stephen, Ollie, Lex and Florian.

"Keep rocking, Chris and Catherine Sarah Holmes".

Last year, Holmes told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that W.A.S.P. was "a group, a band" on the first LP. "And after that, the second album, it wasn't a group — it was a one-man show," he said. "And it's been a one-man show after that ever since. It's the way it is. Look at the records. It's the way it is in that band.

"W.A.S.P. never played any shows until I was in the band, so where does a band start — when they record or when they do their first show?" he continued. "I came in before the first show, and it was 'one for all, all for one.' But then when money came into it and fame, people changed — they change real bad. And I never changed. I don't change. I haven't changed the way I think, the way I am. I'm not gonna change. I am what I am.

"During the [making of the] second [album], I was told the manager wants to use Blackie's image [on the cover], which the manager didn't tell me that — Blackie told me that."

According to Chris, he, guitarist Randy Piper, drummer Tony Richards and Blackie were all part of W.A.S.P. initial management contract, but Blackie was the only one signed to the record label. "Everybody thinks we [all] signed to the label, but it wasn't [like that]," Holmes told "Trunk Nation".

"I never learned about the business till about 10 years ago," he explained. "How do you learn about the business? You've gotta be in there with the manager and all that stuff, so I was always kept from that… I put my trust into somebody, and [I found out later that he was] sticking a knife in my back. I didn't find that out until 2010 or '11.

"Once [W.A.S.P.] became [all about] one person, [my attitude was] 'Hey, I'll just do my thing, and leave me alone. I'll play my guitar.'"

Despite the fact that he only got songwriting credit on a a couple of the songs on each of the first four W.A.S.P. records, Holmes was adamant that his input was essential to the band's overall sound.

"If I would have quit after the first album, the way I play guitar, the way I play is really important to writing those songs," he told "Trunk Nation".

"If I hadn't joined in the beginning, it would have never worked. Blackie told me that the first day, when he came and talked to me to play in W.A.S.P. He says, 'I've got this band. It's not gonna work unless you're in it.' He told me that to my face."

In October 2020, Chris said that he would never consider returning to W.A.S.P. unless Lawless agreed to pay him the publishing royalties that he allegedly owes him. He told Canada's The Metal Voice: "A lot of people think I made money from W.A.S.P. I've never gotten my royalties, or even my songwriting. All the stuff that I wrote, I've never gotten paid one penny. And you know whose fault it is? It's my my fault for not knowing the business, how it is. I trusted somebody.

"After every album, when the album is done, how they split up the publishing with the publishing contracts, the publishing companies — that's where the money comes from," he continued. "I was never told about when that meeting was. Because the other guys in the band never wrote — I was the only one [other than Blackie]. So I'm the only one that they have to screw over to get all the publishing. So I was never told. Then when I dug into it in about 2006 or [2007], I went into Sanctuary Music, had a lawyer go in to find out where all my publishing is, and I was written in as a session player into all the records. And if you don't know about it, and you're not told, and you don't see, you don't know. So I trusted Blackie Lawless about that. And when I found out, it really kind of yanked me wrong. It yanks me wrong — it makes me see he was sticking a knife in my back from the first day, from the first album, and not telling me, and being my best friend."

Last month, Lawless shot down Holmes's claim that the guitarist was "screwed" out of receiving royalties on the W.A.S.P. albums that he performed on. Lawless discussed Holmes's tenure with W.A.S.P. in an interview with "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Asked to respond to Holmes's assertion in Chris's recently released documentary "Mean Man: The Story Of Chris Holmes" that he was financially taken advantage of during his time in the band, Lawless said: "I don't really know much about… I spoke to [former W.A.S.P. guitarist] Randy Piper a couple of years ago. I don't really know what's going on with the rest of the guys. And I'm not sure exactly what you're talking about with Chris about not being paid.

"Chris, at two different points in his musical career, received settlements from this band; he signed documents as such," Blackie explained. "And he was paid quite well.

"I haven't seen what you're talking about. The answer I'm giving you right now is based on what you just said to me."

The W.A.S.P. frontman went on to confirm that he hasn't seen Chris's documentary and was once again asked about Holmes's claim that there is money and songwriting credits that he didn't get that he's due. Lawless said simply: "That is not true."

During a November 2017 press conference in Moscow, Russia, Lawless was asked what he would say to those W.A.S.P. fans who continue to call for the band to reunite with Holmes. He responded: "People get divorced for certain reasons, and there's times when the kids want the parents to get back together, but sometimes it never happens. And this is one of those [times]. Sorry."




The entire W.A.S.P. family are all optimistic of a positive outcome concerning the diagnosis for Chris. I certainly wish him the very best. - Blackie Lawless#waspnation #wasp #blackielawless #hardrock #heavymetal #80smetal #wildchild #thelastcommand #theheadlesschild #thecrims pic.twitter.com/2cZXC2IpDy

— W.A.S.P. Nation (@WASPOfficial) February 6, 2022

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford has shared a photo containing two of his most prized pieces of rock memorabilia: a bullet containing late MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister's ashes and Ronnie James Dio's ring he received as a gift from the legendary heavy metal vocalist's widow and manager, Wendy Dio.

Halford posted the picture on his Instagram and he wrote in an accompanying caption: "'Ronnie & Lemmy' #heavymetal #ink #motivation #legend #icon #inspiration #strong #power #style #love #family #friends #fans #one #world #peace #respect #all @_ronniejamesdio @officialmotorhead".

It was last November that Halford first confirmed that he was one of several people who received a bullet from Lemmy as a personal gift. He told to the "SpeedFreaks" radio show: "When Lemmy passed away, I had this beautiful opportunity to speak at his memorial. We had a great get-together; all of us musicians from all over the world, we met in Hollywood and we talked about Lemmy and his great life and the things that he's left us. And then, not too far back, I get something in the mail from the Lemmy people; Lemmy's office, his manager and everybody still work tirelessly to keep his name with us, as he always will be. They sent me — it's a bullet [laughs], it's a bullet with some of Lemmy's ashes inside of it."

He continued: "This is nuts. This is the kind of thing that Lemmy would have loved to have done. However you choose to interpret what I've just said, that's entirely up to you. But to be thought of, to be brought into this small circle of friends where you actually own a little bit of Lemmy's ashes and you wear it around your neck on a pendant and he's close to your heart in the truest sense in terms of his mortal remains, that's just mind-blowingly powerful. To use an object like that to carry his remains is just so Lemmy — it's provocative, it makes you think, it makes you talk. But as far as having a beautiful part of Lemmy physically with me right now in my house, that's just magical."

UGLY KID JOE's Whitfield Crane, German singer Doro Pesch and former MTV VJ Riki Rachtman are among other people that received the bullets.

Lemmy died in December 2015 at the age of 70 shortly after learning he had been diagnosed with cancer.

A custom-made urn containing Lemmy's ashes is on permanent display in a columbarium at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood, California.

When Wendy first revealed that she gave Rob with one of her husband's rings four years ago, she tweeted: "This was a ring I bought Ronnie when he first joined BLACK SABBATH, it has a cross on it. Rob was such a good friend of Ronnie's I thought he should have it."

In October 2020, Halford picked Ronnie James Dio as his "Rock God" in an interview with BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker", stating about his choice: "Every singer will have a story about a fellow singer who was an inspiration to them. One of my main inspirations and someone that still is, to this very day, an inspiration in my life in metal, as a metal singer, is Ronnie James Dio.

"I can't remember exactly when I heard Ronnie's voice, but I do know that the first time I did hear it, it was just like an electric shock, a bolt of lightning, because this voice had so much power and so much character and so much energy and so much of everything that makes a great singer," he continued. "So from that moment on, I was a huge Ronnie James Dio fan. And I followed his career from pretty much when he first came to [be known] throughout the world of rock and roll. The great things that he did with ELF, and then, of course, with RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH [and] HEAVEN & HELL. What a great legacy Ronnie's left. It's all about the voice. Even now, I always blast some Ronnie before I go out on the stage, because he psyches me up — he gives me the essence of what a great singing performance should do. I just love listening to the man. Not only his voice, of course, but also his great work in helping other people.

"If ever a man was a rock god, for me, it will always be Ronnie James Dio."

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

A free public memorial service was held on May 30, 2010 at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, attended by more than 1,500 fans, friends and fellow musicians.
























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This was a ring I bought Ronnie when he first joined Black Sabbath, it has a cross on it. Rob was such a good friend of Ronnie's I thought he should have it.

We had a great time at the show.

- Wendy Dio

Photo by Rene Ruston pic.twitter.com/1JMjzWKfJK

— Official Dio (@OfficialRJDio) April 23, 2018

Chris Caffery, who has been a member of SAVATAGE for more than 30 years, was asked by Pete Pardo of Sea Of Tranquility about the possibility of new music from the cult metal outfit. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm trying to figure out which quote I can use that Blabbermouth will throw up there and say, 'Chris Caffery said…' It's funny with that, because I was talking to somebody. I did an interview, I think, in December, and they asked me how I felt about it, and I told them that me and Jon [Oliva, SAVATAGE leader] were writing literally with the idea of SAVATAGE in mind in 2021. And I told them that I definitely felt more optimistic than I had [in the past]. And [on Blabbermouth] they were, like, 'Chris Caffery's completely optimistic about SAVA…' And I'm, like, yes, because in 20 years, the only thing we did was mention the fact that we might do something. This was the first time where… With the re-release of all the records on vinyl, that was the thing that just got us talking and going and saying, 'All right. Maybe we should do another record.' Jon had material. I started working on stuff with him; he started working on stuff with Al [Pitrelli, SAVATAGE guitarist]. We have a bunch of pieces to a puzzle now. Whether or not this is going to happen… I'm always the same about it — I would have done 20 records between now and 2002, so you're not getting anything different out of me as far as how I feel about it. Do I think it's gonna happen? I don't know. I kind of consider SAVATAGE to be like Halley's Comet. [Laughs] It comes once every so often. If you're not looking, you might miss it."

Caffery went on to say that he "would love to see" a new SAVATAGE album come to fruition. "And I'll stay optimistic about it." However, if it fails to materialize, he won't take it to heart.

"So many wonderful things happened in my life because of SAVATAGE," he said. "I'm not gonna get upset… I'll be disappointed if we never play again, just because I love the band. I'm a fan of it more than I'm a member of it. I love that band and the music.

"I try to tell people even if we did it once maybe as a way to celebrate and travel the world and thank the old fans and let the new fans celebrate with us, which has been a pretty crazy roller-coaster ride [since] the beginning of SAVATAGE; there's been a lot of losses and a lot of things. I mean, all bands have that with your bandmembers… We had Criss [Oliva, SAVATAGE guitarist] and we had Paul [O'Nelll, SAVATAGE producer] pass, and we went through a lot in the history of this band. But the music has brought so many people together. And I know that there's no lack of SAVATAGE fans, whether they were fans that had kids or kids that just became fans.

"I stand there with the fans on it," Chris added. "I'd love to see it happen. As far as [being] a member of the band goes, I'm lined up and ready, and I always am. I would prioritize anything I do for SAVATAGE, so it's not a question of whether or not I would like to play. I'm just waiting for it to be the right time.

"I've always said, you can't force it, just because it's something that everybody wants us to do… I think that we all have some really cool music, and if it does happen, it'll be a fun SAVATAGE album. Like I said, it'll be a good way to celebrate everything we did.'

Last spring, Jon Oliva told That Metal Interview that he had been working with Caffery and Pitrelli on new SAVATAGE material "over the last couple of years." Oliva went on to say that he and his SAVATAGE bandmates "would all love" to make a new studio album. "But there's no deal with a record company to do it," he explained. "There's no plan — actual plan — saying we're gonna start recording SAVATAGE. There's no plan like that. All we're doing, as being musicians and songwriters, is we're compiling new material. So if we do get, 'Hey, why don't you guys do this? We've got a company that wants to give you guys [a deal], we're gonna be prepared.

"A lot of the fans, which it makes me upset, because SAVATAGE fans, I love them so much, because they have never, ever turned their backs on SAVATAGE — ever. And I just don't want to lead them down a road of false shit," he added. "If something happens where we say, 'Okay, we're ready to do this. Let's do it, guys,' I will be the first person to make a professional press release to tell everybody. But I just don't want to, because it's not solidified in stone right now. Do we wanna do it? You bet your fucking ass we wanna do it. But do we have the material for it? You bet your fucking ass we have enough material for another 10-year run. But all I can say is if we do a SAVATAGE thing, it's gonna fuck you people up — it's gonna be fucking blowaway."

SAVATAGE's last album release, "Poets And Madmen", in 2001 was highlighted by Jon Oliva's return as lead vocalist, replacing Zak Stevens, who left the band citing family reasons, and the departure of Al Pitrelli, who accepted an offer to join MEGADETH in 2000. Pitrelli did record solos for some songs prior to his departure. Another very limited U.S. tour followed, supported by FATES WARNING in the early shows, and then NEVERMORE for the remainder. Around this time, Jon chose Zak's replacement in the form of Damond Jiniya (DIET OF WORMS). Damond performed Zak's parts on tour, with Jon having an increased vocal role in proceedings.

Last September, Jon Oliva was arrested on the west central coast of Florida for driving under the influence as well as possession of a controlled substance. Police charged Oliva with possession of cocaine, which is a felony, and DUI, which is a misdemeanor. He has since apparently accepted the plea agreement laid out by the Pasco County prosecutor whereby he will be placed on 18 months of probation and will undergo drug and alcohol evaluation.

Back in 2016, Jon announced on social media that he suffered a stroke in April of that year. At the time, he said: "It was not as serious as it could have been, but it did leave me with some physical recovery challenges often associated with strokes."

Despite his health issues, Jon said that he didn't regret the way he had lived his life. He wrote: "I lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle since I was 18. It's all I knew and I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to step back and make some life-changing decisions... which I have."

Shortly after SAVATAGE's reunion performance at the 2015 Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, Oliva claimed that he felt better than he had in 20 years because he had "stopped drinking and eating" in preparation for the concert. He explained: "It's my voice that's freaking me out, because, even when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, doing songs like '24 Hours Ago' were always really hard to do. And, of course, I didn't realize that it was all the drugs and alcohol I was doing. But, after doing that, getting my act together and stuff, singing '24 Hours Ago', it's actually easy now. [Laughs]"

In addition to his work with SAVATAGE, Oliva is well known for co-creating the classical music-meets-prog rock and pyro act TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA alongside the project's founder Paul O'Neill. Oliva has reportedly remained involved in TSO's activities even after O'Neill's April 2017 death of an accidental drug overdose.

Jon's brother Criss, who was one of the founding members of SAVATAGE, was killed in October 1993 by a drunk driver when he and his wife Dawn were en route to the Livestock festival in Zephyrhills, Florida. The driver of the other car was found to have a drunk driving record of seven prior DUIs and having a blood alcohol content of .294 percent.

Stern Pinball, Inc. has begun production on a new line of pinball machines celebrating the iconic Canadian progressive rock band RUSH. RUSH pinball machines will be made available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.

A new video of the RUSH pinball machines being produced at Stern's factory in Elk Grove Village, Illinois can be seen below.

RUSH first burst on to the scene when its song "Working Man" crossed the pirate radio airwaves from Toronto, Canada to Cleveland, Ohio and then onto the rest of North America and the world. Their magnum opus "2112" represents one of progressive rock's greatest works. RUSH's music remains in constant rotation to this day. Absolutely uncompromising in every conceivable way, the band featured bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and the late drummer, percussionist and lyricist Neil Peart.

Stern's RUSH pinball machines, reflect the energy, excitement, and experience of a live RUSH concert. In this epic music pinball adventure, players will travel with RUSH through time.

Immersed in exclusive RUSH concert footage and guided by custom speech from Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, and fellow Canadian Rock Hall Of Famer Ed Robertson of the BARENAKED LADIES, players will experience RUSH and their iconic music as never before. This RUSH pinball concert under glass features sixteen iconic songs, accentuated by sound and lighting effects. Songs include "Headlong Fight", "Far Cry", "One Little Victory", "Working Man", "2112", "Tom Sawyer", "The Spirit Of Radio", "Freewill", "Cygnus X-1" ("Book One: The Voyage" and "Book Two: Hemispheres"), "The Big Money", "Subdivisions", "Limelight", "Fly By Night", "La Villa Strangiato", "Bastille Day" and "Red Barchetta".

RUSH pinball machines include Stern's new Insider Connected system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in a variety of ways. Stern Insider Connected provides dynamic entertainment and player engagement features. Insider Connected also provides an operator focused toolset to drive location play and remotely manage every aspect of the machines. Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/.

Travel back in time with RUSH by shooting pinballs through a custom sculpted, electromagnetic Time Machine. Players will explore Red Barchetta, Subdivisions, and Fly By Night Multiball action. The RUSH Premium and LE model pinball experience includes a motorized ramp with custom lighting effects and a custom sculpted Clockwork Angels Clock, inspired from Neil Peart's bass drum from their "Time Machine" tour. This motorized clock illuminates, and when it strikes midnight players will be transported to a Headlong Fight Multiball frenzy.

Additional features on the Premium and LE models include a custom subway system, locking pinballs to unleash a high energy Far Cry Multiball. The "Dead End" vertical upkicker propels pinballs up an additional wireform ramp return for non-stop pinball action. As an encore, a three-bank of musical drop targets guard a secret ball lock for players to discover an adrenalized Freewill Multiball to continue their musical pinball journey.

Limited to 1,000 LE machines globally, the highly collectible LE version includes the Expression Lighting System. With 96 intelligent RGB LEDs, the Expression Lighting System enables full-color spectrum control. Positioned in pockets cut into the cabinet sides to provide color themed full playfield illumination, this integrated playfield lighting system is synchronized to custom light shows specifically designed for every song and dynamically responsive to game events. The LE version also includes an exclusive full color mirrored backglass inspired by "Clockwork Angels" iconic custom cabinet artwork, custom high gloss and powder-coated guitar-shaped pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern chairman and CEO Gary Stern.

"Partnering with RUSH, we created a musical pinball experience that every fan will want to explore. Incredible music, memorable toys, unique mechanical pinball action, and custom speech will make players feel like they are on tour with the band," said Stern. "In memory of Neil Peart, we have also decided to support the Neil Peart Research Award sponsored by the Glioblastoma Foundation as it researches cures for this deadly brain cancer."

RUSH pinball machines will be showcased virtually to the press and public for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 5 to January 8.

RUSH pinball machines and accessories are available now through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.

Eddie Van Halen's ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli discussed her new book, "Enough Already: Learning To Love The Way I Am Today", in a recent interview with Brigitte Quinn on 1010 WINS. Bertinelli reflected on the special relationship she had with her late ex-husband, saying: "We kept our connection. There was a few years, right after I moved out, that he was a little angry at me, but we always made an effort to stay in touch, to stay connected. Especially as [our son] Wolfie grew up, we wanted to co-parent as well as we could together. And I'm very grateful that, near the end of his life, we were able to come to an understanding of how sorry we were, we were able to atone for all of the regrets we had for how we treated each other and to come back to the love we originally shared for one another."

According to Valerie, both Ed and she were very different people from the way they were portrayed in pop culture. "We were really kind of homebodies," she said. "Except for our jobs — mine on television and Ed's in front of thousands and thousands of people playing — those were just things that we did; that wasn't who we are. And we kind of lived a very quiet, sheltered life together. I mean, there were some crazy times — yes, because there was drugs and alcohol; I mean, the '80s were crazy — but when you get down to it, Ed had the most generous heart. He was so kind. He just didn't know how to be that way with himself because he was in so much pain and he dealt with his pain through drugs and alcohol. And I was too young to really be as compassionate as I could have been back then."

Bertinelli split with Van Halen in 2002 after 21 years of marriage. They officially divorced in 2007. Eddie then went on to marry Janie Liszewski in 2009, while Valerie also remarried, tying the knot with Tom Vitale in 2011. Valerie told People magazine that both marriages were struggling before Eddie's death. She eventually filed for separation from Vitale in November 2021.

In "Enough Already: Learning To Love The Way I Am Today", Valerie writes about saying goodbye to Eddie when the legendary guitarist died from cancer. She and their son, Wolfgang, 30, were by his side in his final moments.

"I love you are the last words Ed says to Wolfie and me and they are the last words we say to him before he stops breathing," Bertinelli writes.

Eddie died in October 2020 at the age of 65. The legendary VAN HALEN guitarist passed away at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

Eddie was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had tongue surgery. He later battled lung cancer and had been receiving radiation treatment in Germany. Things took a turn for the worse in early 2019 when Eddie got in a motorcycle accident. He was subsequently diagnosed with a brain tumor, and received gamma knife radiosurgery to treat the illness.

California glam metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER were joined onstage by Joey Belladonna (ANTHRAX) and Jason Hook (ex-FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) to cover JUDAS PRIEST's "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" during their ShipRocked concert aboard the Carnival Breeze on January 25. You can now watch fan-filmed video of the performance below (courtesy of YouTube user PGMD).

Belladonna, whose most recent return to ANTHRAX was officially announced in May 2010, was originally the lead singer of ANTHRAX from 1985 to 1992, and was considered part of the band's classic lineup (alongside Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Frank Bello and Charlie Benante), which reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. His voice was featured on over 10 albums, which reportedly sold eight million copies worldwide.

Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

ANTHRAX's latest album, 2016's "For All Kings", followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

Belladonna had been critical of ANTHRAX's decision to fire him at the height of the band's success, telling MikeJamesrRockShow.com: "Personally, it sucks just to think all those years went by that I didn't really have a chance to do anything. 'Cause I could have sang on any of those records [that were made during the John Bush era]. Not to say that what they did was… whatever reason and whatever style and all that stuff. I could have easily sang that regardless, no bones. It would have been easy to sing. It's just I think they were chasing some other idea. I always say that, whether they disagree. I don't think there was any reason to move. But you know what? We're here now."

SKID ROW's Rachel Bolan is recovering after having his appendix removed.

The 55-year-old bassist was scheduled to play with his bandmates this past Saturday (January 29) at the Showroom at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona but had to pull out of the gig after being diagnosed with appendicitis and undergoing surgery. He was replaced at the show by Robbie Crane, who has had stints with Vince Neil's band, RATT and LYNCH MOB, before joining BLACK STAR RIDERS as a full-time member.

Earlier today, Bolan shared an Instagram photo of him lying on a hospital bed, as well as a picture of his cat, and he included the following message: "Hey everyone. I've been getting a lot of DMs asking why I wasn't playing at our recent show of the Live To Rock Tour in Scottsdale, AZ. Welp… last Monday evening I was rushed to the ER with appendicitis and had an appendectomy the next afternoon. Long story short, the surgeon (and a couple other doctors) said that I could under no circumstances play the show or fly. They were concerned about the 3 incisions as well as the possibility of blood clots on an airplane.

"Everyone at St. Thomas midtown were incredible. @ascensionsaintthomas is the goods. I was in good hands from start to finish. And thankfully @leila_1plus was with me the whole time.

"I feel incredible and I'm ready to get back at it.

"I honestly don't know what hurt worse, the appendicitis or missing a show.

"Thanks to Robbie Crane for holding down the bottom end in my absence.

"As you can see Lovey hasn't left my side since I've been home. #heal #heal #rockandroll".

As previously reported, SKID ROW has replaced QUEENSRŸCHE as the support act on the rescheduled dates for SCORPIONS' "Sin City Nights" Las Vegas residency. The run of shows, which was originally slated to take place in July 2020 and was later pushed back to May 2021, will now happen in March-April, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

SKID ROW is continuing work on its long-awaited new album for a tentative early 2022 release. The band is recording its new album in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, STONE SOUR, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, RUSH and ALICE IN CHAINS, among many others.

SKID ROW's new LP will mark its first release with South African-born, British-based vocalist ZP Theart (DRAGONFORCE, TANK, I AM I), who joined the band in 2016 following the departure of Tony Harnell (TNT, STARBREAKER).

Unlike 2014's "Rise Of The Damnation Army - United World Rebellion: Chapter Two" and 2013's "United World Rebellion: Chapter One", SKID ROW's forthcoming release will be a full-length record.

SKID ROW's new LP will be released via earMUSIC, the recorded music label of German entertainment group Edel AG which boasts a roster of global artists including DEEP PURPLE, Alice Cooper, BABYMETAL, THUNDER, STATUS QUO and many more.


























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Wildstreet had a huge 2021 and are set to follow suit in 2022. They released their new album, Wildstreet III, via Golden Robot Records and spent most of 2021 on tour in the USA, but they remarkably also toured in Europe performing at Swiss Rock Cruise in Switzerland, France and Belgium.  


They are set to release two new singles on February 15th: 'One Tattoo' and 'Born To Be (RLK)'. Both tracks were originally released in 2014 under the name Rave La Kill and both will be released with accompanying lyric videos.


'One Tattoo' is an electronic love song which is slick and modern. On 'Born To Be (RLK)', the song structure is identical to the version on Wildstreet III. This version has a more modern and electronic vibe, with all the arena hooks one would expect from Wildstreet. Both singles were mixed by Kyle Kelso and mastered by Howie Weinberg.







Pre-order the singles below.


- "One Tattoo"
- "Born To Be (RLK)"

Legendary GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash, who released his self-titled memoir, "Slash", in 2007, was asked in a new interview with Barbara Caserta of Italy's Linea Rock if there are any other rock autobiographies that he is particularly fond of. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "To tell you the truth, I don't read rock and roll books. I've read a book about national artists and I've read books about rock and roll, but I've never read anybody else's… Well, I read the Jim Morrison one, and I read the most recent Joe Perry one, but for the most part, I stay away from autobiographies. A lot of it is because I know people — I know the people that wrote them — and it feels like spying on them. [Laughs] It's like following people on their Instagram; if you know them, it feels like spying. But I also used to think that rock and roll books were 75 percent bullshit too, and I didn't want to get into… 'Cause autobiographies are largely written by other people, or biographies are totally written by other people, so it's their own fantasy that they're sort of building up in these books. That sort of inspired me to write my book myself and not rely too much on a ghost writer — to be as honest as possible. So they inspired me in that way."

Back in 2008, Slash told the Los Angeles Times about the process of writing his own book: "It was a different experience. I was resigned to writing the book due to the fact that some guy came out with an unauthorized Slash book. So, I just decided to do my own book, because doing an interview or press release to offset any of this stuff didn't work. The guy who I wrote the book with [Anthony Bozza] had such a genuine zeal for my whole story. Not just the cliché stuff. It was a real collaboration between us. I wrote entire chapters of the book on my Blackberry… sending it to my co-writer. But you know, it was worth it, because finally after all my input, it turned out good."

Shortly before the book's release, Slash told E! Online that it would include a bunch of stuff about his years with GUNS 'N' ROSES, but not necessarily because he was feeling nostalgic on the occasion of what was at the time the 20th anniversary of "Appetite For Destruction".

"I never wanted to write a book, because it would be too final," Slash explained. "The only reason I wrote it is because a lot of the stuff I was reading and seeing about the band got pretty frustrating. I just had to straighten out some shit."

"It almost reads like a journal, except for the fact that I never wrote anything down," Slash said. "It was a hard book to make, because I was pretty fucked up from 1980 to 2000-something. I really had to dig deep to try and remember a lot of shit."

Bozza told BostonNow.com that the greatest thing for him as a writer working on Slash's book was that the iconic axeman "never really gave it up in the press. He didn't talk about the stuff that went on behind the scenes with himself or with the band," Anthony said. "To be honest, I don't think he ever really cared about that kind of stuff."

Getting the soft-spoken musician to open up for the book wasn't easy, Bozza admitted. Part of the problem was that when they first met, Slash was heavily into his oxycontin phase, "binging" on the synthetic heroin on a daily basis, according to Bozza. "So when he agreed to write the book, I wasn't sure it would really happen," he said. "But right after we met, he went into rehab and was sober — or not on oxycontin, when we did the interviews."

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS' new album, titled "4", will be released on February 11 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG. "4" is Slash's fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals).

In a new interview with Columbus Alive, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson was asked if there was something that he learned, good or bad, from a global pandemic over the course of the last two years. He responded: "Well, in IRON MAIDEN, we kind of already predicted this would happen [on our latest album, 'Senjutsu', which was recorded in 2019, before the pandemic]. We didn't exactly know what it was going to be. 'The Writing On The Wall' [and] 'Hell On Earth' were both tracks that were predictive of what's happening now."

He continued: "I curiously found that there were things about lockdown that I enjoyed. Everything was shut down, so everything was slow, and I spent time just sitting around with my partner. It was great. And even though I've now got 42 shows and I'm going to be running around all over the place, there's a little part of my brain that has just been tweaked and says that it's alright to slow down. Although, having said that, I now have a million things to do."

In late January, Dickinson kicked off a two-month North American spoken-word tour.

"Senjutsu" was released in September via BMG. The band's first LP in six years was recorded three years ago in Paris with longstanding producer Kevin Shirley and co-produced by bassist Steve Harris.

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

Bruce's second wife, Paddy was found dead in May 2020 at the home they once shared in Chiswick, West London, following a "tragic accident." London Ambulance Service confirmed that the patient was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bruce and Paddy had married in 1990 after two years of dating and shared three children: Austin, Griffin and Kia. They tied the knot after dating for two years following Bruce's split from first wife Jane.

Dickinson is believed to have split from Bowden privately in 2018, although their breakup wasn't made public until November 2019.

Bruce, 63, now reportedly lives in Paris with fitness instructor Leana Dolci

In a new interview with Music Feeds, KORN singer Jonathan Davis was asked if there were there any records that he and his bandmates released after the commercial highs of the first decade of KORN's where he felt a bit flattened by the reaction. He responded: "I think [2010's] "Korn III[: Remember Who You Are]'. That was hard because we were trying to recapture something and it was way in the past and we failed miserably. I mean, I like the record, but it wasn't fun to make because [producer] Ross [Robinson] was doing his methods and he really turned them on really hard. And it was just a fucked up, weird time in the band when we did that."

Davis previously opened up about his issues with "Korn III: Remember Who You Are" in a 2017 interview with Independent. At the time, he said: "I think it would have been a much better album if [Ross Robinson] hadn't been so fucking hard and let us have a bit of fun… That record sounds forced to me and it took me to a very dark place that I didn't want to go back to."

Davis told The Pulse Of Radio a while back why "Korn III" didn't work for him. "I think with 'Korn III', it was something we wanted to do just to see what happened if we worked with Ross again, and it came out but it seemed kind of forced," he said. "Seemed like he was on a mission to take us back to '94, '95. It wasn't a pleasant experience for me. Not that it was Ross's fault, 'cause I love him to death, but I think it was kind of forced. It just proved to us when we did that record that we need to experiment and keep doing what we're doing. We're not scared to try new things and different things."

In the Independent interview, Davis said that 2002's "Untouchables" was the KORN album he was most proud of. He explained: "We spent a lot of money making that record and it took us two years to make; I remember we spent a month just getting drum sounds. [Michael] Beinhorn is my favorite producer ever. He's just got a great ear and he's not afraid to tell you if you suck."

Davis added: "I'd do vocal takes and think they were the best and then he'd tell me to go home because he thought my voice wasn't right. I'd get so mad at him, but I love him. It was so much work. If I can find the footage, I'm going to put a little documentary together about that record because it's a one-of-a-kind that will never be made again."

KORN's new album, "Requiem", will be released on February 4 via Loma Vista Recordings. The band will celebrate the LP's arrival with a special record-release event this coming Thursday, February 3 at the Hollywood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California. "Requiem Mass" will see the Southern California heavy music pioneers perform an intimate set in front of a 300 attendees.

KORN kicked off a short run of shows with SYSTEM OF A DOWN Monday night (January 31) in Phoenix, followed by dates in San Diego (February 1) and Los Angeles (February 4 and February 5). KORN's headlining tour with CHEVELLE and CODE ORANGE will launch Marc

Slovenian thrashers Thraw, feat. Tilen Hudrap (U.D.O, Dirkschneider, ex- Pestilence, ex-Paradox, Testament (live), ex-Vicious Rumors) have released an official music video for their new single, "Century Of Enslavement". Watch the clip below.





Formed by Domen Hudrap (younger brother of the iconic Slovenian bassist Tilen Hudrap in 2006, Thraw immediately rose to the forefront of the 00's resurrected thrash movement at the very beginning of their existence. Throughout the following three years the band played numerous shows across the country as well as abroad and landed spots at some of the most famous open air festivals, including the legendary MetalCamp, where the band shared the stage with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Opeth, Morbid Angel, Tankard and many more, as well as many other festivals i.e Metal Mania Open Air (with Exodus, Pro-Pain…). The band directly supported one of their biggest early influences, the bay area thrash gods Heathen shortly after that and released highly acclaimed EP's Injecting Hate and Encephalic Opressions, which cemented their place among the best newer thrash acts of the new millennium.




Thraw always had a unique sound and take on thrash, adding a plethora of musical elements with absolutely no limits, which was clearly shown on their debut full length album, Decoding The Past, mastered and co-produced by the world renowned American producer Juan Urteaga (Exodus, Machine Head, Testament, Sadus), released in 2013 to international acclaim and distributed globally via Metal Tank Records.


Thraw continued putting out selected released through the years (Doomsday Code, Transforming Reality and Gunshot Treatment, to name a few) and remained artistically active, yet 2021 (which marked the 15th anniversary of the band) brought a lineup change: Thraw was joined by Lenart Mlinar, lifelong friend of the band, who joined the Hudrap brothers and O. Paternus on drums. With the new found energy, resulting from many ideas comprised during the corona virus pandemic the band hit the studio and recorded an offering that easily competes with the high standard of their past releases and quite possibly surpasses them: "Century Of Enslavement".

In a new interview with the "Loaded Radio" podcast, former TYPE O NEGATIVE drummer Johnny Kelly was asked if there has ever been any talk of staging a concert in honor of the band's late frontman Peter Steele. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Coffee talk. There was never any serious consideration, like, should we do something? Is there even a point of doing it? Or also, is it just a blatant cash grab? So all these things go through your head.

"People celebrate [Peter] all the time," he continued. "They do it daily. I see it online all the time and the impact that he had.

"Maybe somewhere down the road there may be something that's… I don't know. But I know that for me, it would have to include Kenny [Hickey, guitar] and Josh [Silver, keyboards] as well. Anything that we do, it would have to be the three of us. And there's no way you're getting Josh to do anything like that. [Laughs]"

Asked who would handle Peter's vocal parts if they ever did end up doing a tribute concert, Johnny said: "I don't know. I'd want a girl to do it. I'd want a female vocalist — like Ann Wilson [HEART] or something like that. [Laughs] But even so, that's the first thing. When you think about doing some kind of tribute show, you're just gonna get all these people… Yes, Peter was very highly regarded by our peers and stuff like that, and you'll just get a bunch of dudes up there just trying to sound like Peter. And you can't do that. And it's, like, all right, so what's the most remote thing from Peter? You'd have to do something completely abstract. And I would say get a female vocalist. I think Peter would get a kick out of… He would get off on seeing a girl sing his songs, seeing a female sing them. And it would really stress the point of doing something as a tribute instead of trying to recreate something."

Steele passed away in April 2010 from heart failure at the age of 48. Born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York, he stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall, and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable features in TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.

Before forming TYPE O NEGATIVE, Steele played for the metal group FALLOUT and the thrash band CARNIVORE.

"Going through a midlife crisis and having many things change very quickly made me realize my mortality," Steele told Decibel magazine in 2007. "And when you start to think about death, you start to think about what's after it. And then you start hoping there is a God. For me, it's a frightening thought to go nowhere. I also can't believe that people like Stalin and Hitler are gonna go to the same place as Mother Teresa."

In a 2020 interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, Kelly said about Steele: "Peter, for the most part, he was a clown. He was always joking around — sarcastic, very self-deprecating humor. Just the opposite of what the music portrayed. When we were working on music and stuff, the end result, he was very serious about what he wanted, how he wanted something to sound. Other times, he was a clown.

"I always said that he wanted to be a normal person, but because he was Peter, that was just not in the cards for him; it was completely impossible," he continued. "I bet he would love to just be able to hang out, go to the bar, have a few drinks. And we would try to do that, and the minute he would come out to the bar, everybody gravitated towards him. He couldn't go to the store by his house without something happening to him."

Asked if that was because of Peter's size, Johnny said: "I think so. He just had this very striking look. He didn't look normal. And he had fangs. [Laughs] He was six and a half feet tall, [had] long black hair and fangs. You're not gonna get the normal response when you're going grocery shopping."

TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon has canceled his previously announced solo shows in February, including his appearance on the Monsters Of Rock cruise, due to "the ongoing and changing COVID issues."

The 55-year-old musician, who battled the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus last year, shared the news of his change of plans in a social media post earlier today. He wrote: "My FEB SHOWS POSTPONED: I will not be performing live shows during the month of February, including the MORC. As I will be spending this time with my family. With the ongoing and changing Covid issues, contagiousness of the virus, I must put the safety of my family and fans as first priority. I apologize for any inconvenience this causes anyone. See you on the road later this year. Sincerely, Frank".

This year's Monsters Of Rock cruise is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Departing out of Miami, Florida, the five-day/five-night full ship charter cruise will set sail February 9-14 aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, visit two ports in CocoCay, Bahamas and Labadee, Haiti, and feature performances from rock icon Alice Cooper, along with appearances by over 35 artists.

Last September, Hannon said that he and his TESLA bandmates went through "COVID hell" after being infected with coronavirus.

In August, TESLA announced it was postponing a few shows after Frank tested positive for COVID-19. At the time, Hannon wrote in a social media post that he had "not been able to move all week" and revealed that he woke up with a 102-degree fever and could "hardly breathe" on the day that TESLA was scheduled to leave for tour.

Hannon later opened up about his COVID-19 battle in an interview with Marci Wiser of the 95.5 KLOS radio station, saying: "We went through COVID hell, and luckily none of us died from it. I just lost another friend who died from COVID. This is a real thing, man. People that are anti-vaxxers and all that — I was on the wrong side of that fence, listening to all the baloney. But we went through it and we survived it.

"Our friends in STYX and our friends in these bands that have been successfully touring, they've given us some advice that we follow [while we are on the road now]," he continued.

"As much as you hate wearing a mask, you've just gotta do it when you're close to people. And so we're doing that. We're all vaccinated now. And we're being careful but we're trying to live our lives too."

Hannon also elaborated on his battle with COVID-19, saying: "I wanna describe it, 'cause I got some flak from some clown on the Internet, saying, 'All you had was the flu. All it is is the flu. Quit making a big deal about it.' And that's the biggest crock. I'm telling you, man — it was a month of hell. It was a hard one.

"It affects everybody differently," he continued. "Like I said, unfortunately, sadly a lot of people are dying from it. But for me, it was like a month-long hangover. Imagine drinking all the tequila and whiskey and smoking a pack of Pall Mall non-filters for three days — imagine that — and then waking up hung over from that for a month. That's what it felt like."

Earlier in September, Hannon told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station that he "got vaccinated" before going on the road with TESLA, but admitted "it was a little too late. I was not wanting to get vaccinated, and I put it off too long. I got vaccinated and about a week later I played a gig and caught COVID and took it to the band by accident. And everybody got sick. It knocked me down for a month, man. It was a month of hell, not being able to breathe and in a lot of pain."

He continued: "People dismiss it as being, 'Oh, it's only a flu,' or, 'It's a cold,' or whatever, but I just lost three more friends — people in the industry that have died from it. So it's a very serious thing. And I don't take it lightly anymore, that's for damn sure."

TESLA played the first two shows of its summer 2021 tour without Frank. Filling in for him was Howie Simon (JEFF SCOTT SOTO, GRAHAM BONNET, STRYPER), who previously stood in for Hannon in September 2018.

"Myself, I didn't even do one show [of the summer run]," Frank told WRIF. "The morning that we were leaving to go on tour, I came down with a 102 fever. So I called one of my friends that plays guitar, and he filled in for me. They did another show up in Oregon, and they got sick. So we got the kibosh put on TESLA right away."

In August, TESLA released the official music video for its brand new single, "Cold Blue Steel". The clip was directed by Brandon Gullion and produced by Hannon.

TESLA's latest album, "Shock", was released in March 2019 via UMe. The follow-up to 2014's "Simplicity" was produced by DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen.
























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He’s a Modern Day Cowboy.. but heading to sea with us, please welcome Frank Hannon to the Monsters Of Rock Cruise!...

Posted by Monsters of Rock Cruise on Friday, December 24, 2021