Global music company BMG and global investment firm KKR today announced that they have acquired the entire music interests of American rock icons ZZ TOP. According to Variety, BMG paid a sum sources place at around $50 million.

The transaction marks the latest significant music rights deal the two companies have struck together since announcing in March 2021 that they would join forces in the fast-growing market for music IP.

The ZZ TOP agreement includes a buyout of the band's publishing catalogue and their income from recorded royalties and performance royalties. Previously, BMG served as co-publisher and administrator of ZZ TOP's publishing catalog.

In 1971, Billy Gibbons (guitar, vocals), Dusty Hill (bass, keys, vocals) and Frank Beard (drums) released their debut album ZZ TOP's first album. They would go on to release a total of 15 albums throughout the course of their 50-year career including the commercial breakthrough "Tres Hombres" (1973), platinum-certified "Degüello" (1979), gold-certified "El Loco" (1981), smash-hit diamond-certified "Eliminator" (1983), five-times-platinum-certified "Afterburner" (1985), and the platinum-certified "Recycler" (1990) and "Antenna" (1994).

Selling over 50 million albums worldwide, ZZ TOP have earned four gold, three platinum, two multiple-platinum album certifications, and one diamond album. Known for their distinctive look and unabashed blues-rock inspired sound, the success of the group was driven by six No. 1 rock singles and eight Top 40 hits including rock music staples "La Grange", "Tush", "Cheap Sunglasses", "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Legs", "Got Me Under Pressure" and "Sharp Dressed Man", among many others.

In 2004, the group was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and their recently released documentary "That Little Ol' Band From Texas" received a nomination for "Best Music Film" at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

ZZ TOP manager Carl Stubner of Shelter Music Group said: "We are proud to continue working with and expand our long-standing relationship with BMG. This new deal ensures ZZ TOP's remarkable legacy will endure for generations to come."

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said: "This deal is a testament to the success, staying power and continuing musical relevance of ZZ TOP, but also to the power of our partnership with KKR. This agreement furthers our vision of providing artists and songwriters not just a financial exit, but also a vehicle committed to respecting and treasuring their artistry."

Jenny Box, partner at KKR, said: "We are excited to invest in ZZ TOP's iconic music and we look forward to collaborating with BMG and ZZ TOP to further amplify the reach of their catalogue."

KKR is investing in the catalogue through its private credit investment funds and vehicles and will own its interest in the music through its recently launched Chord Music Partners platform. Latham & Watkins LLP served as advisor to KKR on the transact

I just think this Instagram… you know, the health, self-care, spirituality, that shit. OK, they’re right. But they’re bad people doing the right thing. And you have to figure out if that’s the case for a lot of things. Are these bad people doing a good thing for self-fulfilling needs? And I think these influencers that are like, ‘Everything’s groovy man, just travel and take pictures.’ Like, you don’t understand the struggle of people who don’t have the opportunity that you have, which is why I disregard anything these influencers say.

“It is important to start by finding core good people. You’ll have a lot in common with them and then you can feel good about being good. Then you can do good things together. I know personally; I felt that in my doing good, I was judging bad people. And I don’t like to judge. It’s not moral, it’s not ethical to judge people. You should not do that unless you understand the story. But I was understanding that I was a different kind of person. I thought in a different way, I spoke in a different way, I related to people in a different way and there are other people like me. And if we avoid bad people, that doesn’t make us ignorant to their plight, it makes us value who we are and our comprehension of things.

“These people, let’s say MAGA. They say, ‘Well, you hate me ’cause I wear a hat.’ Well you weren’t born in the red hat, it’s a choice you made. I don’t value your opinion at all ’cause you made these choices. I don’t hate you for saying that, [but] I am going to ignore you. I am going to ignore you and you are going to go away and I’m going to stay with the people that make me happy, ’cause when I can turn inward and be happy, then I can face out and help.”

Guitarist Chad Gilbert of the long-running pop-punk band NEW FOUND GLORY has been diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, a rare type of tumor that develops in the adrenal glands, small glands on the top of the kidneys.

A week after his diagnosis, the 40-year-old musician underwent successful surgery to remove the tumor and has since credited his wife and the hospital staff with saving his life.

Gilbert, who co-founded NEW FOUND GLORY in 1997, detailed his ordeal in an Instagram post which included a post-operation photo of him lying apparently sedated in his hospital bed.

He wrote: "For the last 14 days I've been living in the hospital having cancer removed. Here's the timeline of my unexpected journey:

"On December 5th, my wife found me unresponsive in bed. I'd been waking up drenched in sweat the last few days and we thought I was sick. Not being able to wake me, she called 911 and performed CPR and mouth to mouth. Apparently I was doing something called 'agonal breathing' and was minutes from death. I woke up with 7 paramedics surrounding my bed. I was so confused. My blood sugar somehow dropped to 20 and if my wife hadn't found me, I would've fallen into a coma or died. The paramedics took me to the ER in an ambulance. They couldn't figure out why my blood sugar kept dropping or why my blood pressure kept skyrocketing, even with blood pressure medication in my system. I was hooked up to two different drips I couldn't be separated from. The next day, an amazing endocrinologist visited me and asked a bunch of questions about my health. It honestly felt like she was an angel from heaven. She told me based on all my symptoms that I have a very rare tumor called a Pheochromocytoma! It's a tumor that grows on your adrenal gland and messes up all of your hormones. It was eating all my glucose, changing my hormones, and raising my blood pressure. I couldn't survive without IVs until this tumor was removed.

"12/6 I received a CT scan which showed some alarming news. My tumor was malignant and had grown from my adrenal gland onto my liver. It was huge. Which made my Pheochromocytoma even more rare since they usually are benign.

"12/8, three days since my amazing wife saved me from dying in bed. I was transported to a major hospital and moved into the ICU. I got an MRI which showed that the tumor was in fact one growth and had not spread to other parts of my body. Now that my miracle doctor, cancer doctor, and incredible surgeon had all the info they needed, they scheduled my surgery for Monday, 12/13.

"Now it's 4 days until surgery. This is when so much personal growth occurred. Looking back on the timing of all of this, the incredible people put in my life to save me, the hospital staff whom I have the highest respect for, the way they took care of me while caring for an entire intensive care unit… I just can't believe the strength these nurses have.

"My wife Lisa and my mom were the driving forces of my positivity. The only cure for a pheochromocytoma is surgery, one of my worst fears. But if surgery went well, all the glucose consumption, high blood pressure, and any other hormonal changes would immediately go away.

"When I got to pre-op, the surgeon drew the size of the tumor on a dry erase board to clarify how intense, large and dangerous my surgery was gonna be. But still reassured us he's done many way more difficult. So grateful for him! The surgery was predicted to be 4 and a half hours but he finished it in two. The tumor wasn't attached to anything tricky so they basically cut it out and peeled it off. But man this scar is insanely big. I couldn't grasp how large the tumor was until now.

"I was sedated and drugged up and don't remember anything from surgery day. My surgeon came in the next morning and let us know he got it all out!! Now we just needed the pathology report to make sure no cancer got in the lymphnodes.

"The joy and excitement from all the nurses and and doctors involved was super emotional. I didn't have a lot of family and friends around since it all happened so fast. But the hospital staff became that extra support and family, giving me cards and little gifts.

"The night of the 15th I was moved from the ICU to the Cancer Center. There I recovered from surgery! I'll know about future treatments in a few weeks but for now I'm able to come home!!!

"It's Sunday, December 19th. Yesterday was the first time I got to smell fresh air since December 5th. I'm home with my wife and baby and so thankful to be alive!!"

This is not Gilbert's first cancer scare. Back in 2010, he underwent thyroid surgery to remove a suspicious lump. While he was recovering from that operation, guitarist Anthony Raneri of BAYSIDE stepped in for Gilbert on NEW FOUND GLORY's tour.

Earlier this month, NEW FOUND GLORY gave fans an early Christmas gift — a brand new holiday album, "December's Here", out now via Hopeless Records. NEW FOUND GLORY is helping fans get into the holiday spirit with eleven original songs, including recent singles "Somber Christmas" and "Holiday Records".

Earlier this year, NEW FOUND GLORY released a new deluxe album, "Forever And Ever x Infinity...And Beyond!!!" "Forever And Ever x Infinity...And Beyond!!!" featured six new songs that the band wrote and recorded during the pandemic, including latest singles "Backseat" and "The Last Redeye".

NEW FOUND GLORY recently wrapped the "Pop Punk's Still Not Dead" tour, which featured support from LESS THAN JAKE, HOT MULLIGAN and LØLØ.

NEW FOUND GLORY is Gilbert, Jordan Pundik (lead vocals), Ian Grushka (bass guitar) and Cyrus Bolooki (drums).
























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A post shared by Chad Gilbert (@xchadballx)

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has praised director and producer Peter Jackson's "The Beatles: Get Back" documentary, calling it "eye-opening, joyous, astonishing and humbling."

The three-episode, nearly eight-hour documentary features the four members of THE BEATLES — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — crafting what was to become their final album. (THE BEATLES recorded "Let It Be" before "Abbey Road" but released the latter first.) It also includes the band's iconic final performance on a rooftop in London.

Stanley, who previously said that his life was "changed forever" after seeing THE BEATLES on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964, weighed in on the new documentary in a tweet Sunday night. He wrote: "WOW! Just watched The Beatles: Get Back. Eye opening, joyous, astonishing and humbling. To the very end their brilliance was without equal. The chemistry and magic between them is so powerful that seeing it end made me wish that much more they could have gone on forever. WOW."

Culled and restored from 60 hours of studio sessions and the aforementioned rooftop concert, "Get Back" has been praised for finally allowing us to experience what it felt like to be in the studio with the Fab Four. Some of the original footage appeared in a much more condensed form in director Michael Lindsay-Hogg's 1970 documentary "Let It Be", which was briefly available on home video in the 1980s, but never since. THE BEATLES drummer Ringo Starr was particularly unhappy with how that film came out, saying "there was no joy and no laughter" in it.

Stanley isn't the only hard rock or heavy metal musician to publicly praise "Get Back". Earlier this month, SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor told HardDrive Radio's Lou Brutus about the documentary: "It is one of the most fascinating things I've ever seen. 'Cause it challenges everything we thought we knew about them, especially that period. But at the same time, it reinforces what we thought we knew. To me, it's cool watching their dynamic knowing that they'd been together since they were teenagers in one form or another. They'd been playing together since… I think it was — what? — 1956 when they all started kind of jamming together. And to watch that all kind of unfold and to see…

"Being in a band with people for multiple years, I understand how a dynamic works, so I can watch that with a certain savvy about how that plays out dynamic-wise, emotionally," Taylor added. "Knowing that, especially from George's point of view, who's such a great writer, but then you get in a circle, and you've got John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it's, like, where do you fit? So, watching him fight with that and try to kind of find his voice and find out who fits in with that whole thing, it's fascinating. And knowing how that feels, especially in SLIPKNOT — not so much in STONE SOUR, but in SLIPKNOT — I could relate to that in so many different ways. And then watching them get stoked when something would pop. Especially watching Paul figure out 'Get Back' and watching that happen was so cool, dude. Because I've done it — I've sat there and just twisted on a riff until the melody line comes to mind, and just playing it and exhausting every avenue. If you wanna know how to write a song, there's your blueprint right there. It's just that easy."




WOW! Just watched The Beatles: Get Back. Eye opening, joyous, astonishing and humbling. To the very end their brilliance was without equal. The chemistry and magic between them is so powerful that seeing it end made me wish that much more they could have gone on forever. WOW. pic.twitter.com/LvHzPQG5lf

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) December 20, 2021








50 years ago today I saw the Beatles make their debut playing on the Ed Sullivan Show and my life changed forever. pic.twitter.com/oJ4a4kMpoJ

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) February 10, 2014

SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor has praised director and producer Peter Jackson's "The Beatles: Get Back" documentary, calling it "one of the most fascinating things" he has ever seen.

The three-episode, nearly eight-hour documentary features the four members of THE BEATLES — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — crafting what was to become their final album. (THE BEATLES recorded "Let It Be" before "Abbey Road" but released the latter first.) It also includes the band's iconic final performance on a rooftop in London.

Taylor, who released his first solo album last year, discussed "Get Back" in a recent interview with HardDrive Radio's Lou Brutus. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I watched the first episode and then, obviously, life kind of pulled me away.

"It is one of the most fascinating things I've ever seen. 'Cause it challenges everything we thought we knew about them, especially that period. But at the same time, it reinforces what we thought we knew. To me, it's cool watching their dynamic knowing that they'd been together since they were teenagers in one form or another. They'd been playing together since… I think it was — what? — 1956 when they all started kind of jamming together. And to watch that all kind of unfold and to see…

"Being in a band with people for multiple years, I understand how a dynamic works, so I can watch that with a certain savvy about how that plays out dynamic-wise, emotionally," Taylor added. "Knowing that, especially from George's point of view, who's such a great writer, but then you get in a circle, and you've got John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it's, like, where do you fit? So, watching him fight with that and try to kind of find his voice and find out who fits in with that whole thing, it's fascinating. And knowing how that feels, especially in SLIPKNOT — not so much in STONE SOUR, but in SLIPKNOT — I could relate to that in so many different ways. And then watching them get stoked when something would pop. Especially watching Paul figure out 'Get Back' and watching that happen was so cool, dude. Because I've done it — I've sat there and just twisted on a riff until the melody line comes to mind, and just playing it and exhausting every avenue. If you wanna know how to write a song, there's your blueprint right there. It's just that easy."

Culled and restored from 60 hours of studio sessions and the aforementioned rooftop concert, "Get Back" has been praised for finally allowing us to experience what it felt like to be in the studio with the Fab Four. Some of the original footage appeared in a much more condensed form in director Michael Lindsay-Hogg's 1970 documentary "Let It Be", which was briefly available on home video in the 1980s, but never since. THE BEATLES drummer Ringo Starr was particularly unhappy with how that film came out, saying "there was no joy and no laughter" in it.

Canada's The Metal Voice recently spoke to Jethro Tull leader, Ian Anderson. In the interview, Anderson spoke about the new album The Zealot Gene, gave an update on the continuing reissues of the bands catalog, and spoke about meeting Iron Maiden's Steve Harris and performing with Bruce Dickinson.


The Metal Voice asked Ian Anderson about working and meeting Iron Maiden's Steve Harris and performing with Bruce Dickinson: "I probably met Steve Harris briefly on one occasion a little bit more on another occasion. I know he is a rather shy person, he said he never wanted to push himself forward in terms of trying to meet me or talk to me. I think I got in touch with him and asked him if he would do a little throw away intro to a particular track on a live concert tour we did, in terms of being a video. A little video contribution that he offered to introduce a song."


Anderson adds, "I think his interest in Jethro Tull is probably based on having gone in a direction kind of beyond the performances that you would associate yourself with Iron Maiden. The first thing Iron Maiden seemed to be linked to Jethro Tull was a song called Cross -Eyed Mary which was on the Aqualung album and they did it on an early record release. I think they did it in the same key as I did but puts it in the impossible key for Bruce Dickinson. Bruce is a tenor and I am a baritone a low baritone. So for him to sing down here, he had to go up an octave but then he was going up really an octave which out it in a very uncomfortable high register that even as young Bruce Dickinson, he was pushing  his luck singing it an octave higher, than my original vocal. "




He continued," I don't really know these people very well at one occasion Bruce was a guest of mine at Canterbury Cathedral's performance I did in 2011 and he is a great person to work with, very professional, very straightforward, Easy going guy we learnt his couple of songs and he sang on one of ours. I got an e-mail this morning from Bruce Dickinson, that he sent a couple of days ago about asking me to do some live performance project together at the end of next year. "





Jethro Tull recently announced details for the group’s first studio album of new material in over 18 years. Originally making headlines in March of this year, the band’s newest offering, titled The Zealot Gene, will see a January 28 release via InsideOutMusic.


A record that began to take shape as early as 2017, The Zealot Gene, in many ways, seeks to defy convention during a time when the business of being a touring and recording artist has never faced more uncertainties.


Tull bandleader Ian Anderson holds no reservations about the role for which the mythos and themes of Biblical storytelling played in the lyrical content of the new album, saying: "While I have a spot of genuine fondness for the pomp and fairytale story-telling of the Holy Book, I still feel the need to question and draw sometimes unholy parallels from the text. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly rear their heads throughout, but are punctuated with elements of love, respect, and tenderness.”


Looking back on the earth-shaking disruption of the Coronavirus pandemic, which ultimately ended the band’s touring plans and hopes of a 2020 release for The Zealot Gene, Anderson shares, "It was so sudden. Amidst the concerns and warnings of the scientific community and a few more enlightened politicians, we all retreated in disbelief to our homes to wait out the storm."


The Zealot Gene will be offered in the following formats:


- Special Edition Digipak CD
- Gatefold 2LP+CD+LP-booklet
- Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook
- Limited Deluxe 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook


Both artbook editions feature a second CD of demos and initial ideas, plus extended liner notes and an interview with Ian Anderson undertaken by Tim Bowness (no-man). The Deluxe 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook comes on white vinyl and includes a 3rd LP with the rough demos. It also includes a slipmat and a numbered art print.


Pre-order here.





The Zealot Gene tracklisting:


"Mrs. Tibbets"
"Jacob's Tales"
"Mine Is The Mountain"
"The Zealot Gene"
"Shoshana Sleeping"
"Sad City Sisters"
"Barren Beth, Wild Desert John"
"The Betrayal Of Joshua Kynde"
"Where Did Saturday Go?"
"Three Loves, Three"
"In Brief Visitation"
"The Fisherman Of Ephesus"


"Sad City Sisters" video:





"Shoshana Sleeping" video:





With more than 30 albums to their credit and sales totaling more than 50 million, Jethro Tull are one of the most successful rock bands of all-time with a catalog that contains classics that still resonate today. Led by Ian Anderson, Tull still continue to tour throughout the world, entertaining audiences of all ages.


The band currently consists of:


Ian Anderson - Flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals
Joe Parrish-James – Guitar
Florian Opahle - Guitar (album only)
Scott Hammond – Drums.
John O’Hara - Piano, keyboards and accordion
David Goodier - Bass guitar

Peaceville Records will reissue My Dying Bride For Darkest Eyes on CD/DVD on February 11 and vinyl (coming June 3).


For Darkest Eyes contains My Dying Bride’s iconic 1996 performance from Krakow, Poland, featuring numerous classic doom anthems from the early career of the UK Metal Gods. The show was filmed as the band was riding a wave of popularity due to their recent breakthrough third album, The Angel & the Dark River (plus their tour with British metal legends Iron Maiden in the winter of 1995), showcasing several tracks from that release such as “The Cry of Mankind” and “Your Shameful Heaven”, as well as renditions of other established numbers such as “The Crown of Sympathy” and “The Forever People”.







The DVD includes additional footage from several early shows from 1992 and 1993, as well as an appearance at the esteemed Dynamo Festival from 1995, plus six promo videos.


Preorder at the Peaceville Records webshop.

Valkyrja, one of the prominent acts among the current Swedish black metal scene, was originally founded in 2004, “with the common collective goal of channelling violence, deprivation and loathing through means of extraordinarily potent audio emissions”; a parallel and extension of their own philosophies - boundless and without limitation in their art.


Throne Ablaze was the band’s fourth studio album, originally released in 2018 and was a spectacular assault of finely honed Scandinavian black metal, steeped in ritualistic darkness and seething grimness. Upon release, the album was considered a highpoint for the band among an already highly revered repertoire, capturing the attention of the metal world with eight tracks of pure majestic malevolence, showing once more why Valkyrja is considered a prime force in today’s black metal climate.







Throne Ablaze was again recorded at Necromorbus Studio (Watain, Mayhem), with Tore Sjerna at the helm handling production duties.  


This edition of Throne Ablaze is presented on vinyl for the first time, including gatefold sleeve. Purchase at the Peaceville Records webshop.


(Photo: NecrosHorns)

U.D.O., the German metal band led by original ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, has signed with Atomic Fire Records.

Udo states: "As a globally active artist, it is very important for me to work with our respective partners in a trusting and highly professional way since large parts of our careers depend directly on their work. But a friendly relationship and fun in day-to-day cooperation are just as important. With my U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER bands, I have always paid attention to long-term partnerships, which really did not make the decision to change labels again after nearly 20 years of cooperation with AFM Records easy for me. I would like to specifically thank Jochen Richert and his team once again for the very trusting and personal cooperation over the last two decades! But when the opportunity arose to follow a fresh path with the newly founded Atomic Fire Records label and experience new inspirations, I seized it immediately and won't let go. The opportunity to work with a nationally and internationally experienced and successful team consisting of friends and years-long companions was too tempting. The team and the concept as well as Atomic Fire Records' professional setup worldwide has convinced me completely and I look very optimistically and happily toward the future and a cooperation with Markus Wosgien, Markus Staiger and Florian Milz and their team."

Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien says: "I was nine years old when I listened to a real metal song for the very first time, a live version of 'Metal Heart' and it hooked me immediately. On that day, heavy metal became the center of my life. I started spending my whole pocket money for ACCEPT's records before I also discovered other groups. ACCEPT were the ultimate band and the definition of heavy metal — it just had to sound like this. I was working with U.D.O. in support of their 'Mastercutor' album during my time at AFM Records, but I even had the chance of cooperating with ACCEPT for four full-lenghts after their reunion in 2009. To welcome Udo Dirkschneider to Atomic Fire Records is a kind of a knightly accolade for us. He's an icon and an old hand of metal who still has a lot to say. We're pleased to release an outstanding album around his 70th birthday and can't wait for all those U.D.O. hits that are yet to come."

Dirkschneider, who will turn 70 years old on April 6, 2022, plans to release a "special album" to coincide with his birthday.

U.D.O.'s latest album, "Game Over", was released in October via AFM Records.

Last year, U.D.O. collaborated with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, the military band of the German federal armed forces, on an album called "We Are One", which was released in July 2020 via AFM Records/Soulfood Music.

SiriusXM's Jose Mangin recently interviewed Sammy Hagar in the limo which was gifted to Jose from the estates of PANTERA founders "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott. Jose has worked hard to restore the car and plans to take it all across the country and have epic hangs and chats with all of his buddies to reminisce about his dear friends, whom many of us still hold so dear.

In an interview clip which was posted on December 8, which marked the 17th anniversary of Dimebag's death, Sammy recalled a time when he was supposedly approached by PANTERA's then-manager about joining the band, apparently as the replacement for Philip Anselmo.

"How about if I tell you something crazy. I don't believe it; I don't believe it's true," Sammy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "But PANTERA had a manager. This was before I actually became friends with Vinnie. And [the manager] said PANTERA, he said, want me to be the lead singer of the band. And he asked me, 'Would you be interested?' And I said, 'No, not after [my split with] VAN HALEN [in 1996]. I'm not gonna join another band, especially covering for somebody else,' and this and that. And I brought it up to Vinnie one time. He didn't remember it. But I don't know if there's any truth to that."

This is not the first time Hagar had discussed being offered the singer gig in PANTERA. Back in 2011, he told Forbes: "I was asked at one time to be in MÖTLEY CRÜE. I was asked at one time to be in PANTERA by their managers. I was asked to be in VELVET REVOLVER when Scott Weiland quit and went back to the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. I was waiting to be asked to be in LED ZEPPELIN to say no, since they were the greatest band on earth and no could replace Robert Plant. I was asked to be in AEROSMITH and I said no."

He continued: "Certain bands and certain frontman singers are more difficult to replace than others. Steven Tyler and that band have stayed together for 40 years and you don't to walk into something like that. They had one moment years ago, when they replaced Joe Perry, but it's still always been Steven at the front of AEROSMITH. You don't replace that.

"When I came into VAN HALEN, it was easy because Dave [Lee Roth] wasn't a great singer, but he was a good frontman," Hagar explained. "In those times, I was selling out the same arenas they were, so it was like the combination of two forces and it worked but it's a rare thing. We were all lucky that the fans accepted it and it got bigger. I would avoid bands that are going to break up pretty soon."

In a 2015 question-and-answer session at the DFW Acura Performance Showroom in Dallas, Texas, Vinnie Paul said that VAN HALEN was "a huge influence" on him when he first started playing drums. "Eddie and Alex [Van Halen] inspired me and my brother [Dimebag] so much," he said. "It was really just unbelievable the parallels that we had between ourselves."

In a lasting sign of deep respect, Eddie Van Halen donated the black-and-yellow tape-striped guitar pictured on the back cover of "Van Halen II" to be buried with Dimebag.

Julien's Auctions has announced additional marquee items added to the celebrity lineup of instruments, memorabilia, wardrobe, artwork, and more to be sold at MusiCares Charity Relief Auction taking place live in Beverly Hills and online at juliensauctions.com on Sunday, January 30, 2022.

This official Grammy Week event precedes the 64th annual Grammy Awards telecast. Proceeds will benefit MusiCares, the leading music industry charity, which provides the music community a support system of health and human services across a spectrum of need including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, unforeseen personal emergencies and disaster relief.

Headed to the auction is a Keith Richards signed Gibson ES-335 in Ebony that includes a one-of-a-kind four second video authenticating his signature taken at Germano Studios. The Gibson ES-335 is the cornerstone of the Gibson ES line-up. From its inaugural appearance in 1958, the Gibson ES-335 set an unmatched standard. With impeccable sounds across its wide-ranging tonal palette, the ES-335 can be found in the hands of jazz, blues, and rock players all over the globe. SKU ES33500EBNH1 S/N: 211310255. Donated by Gibson Gives (estimate $6,000 - $8,000).

Another highlight hitting the auction stage will be from another music legend from the most important band in rock history: Paul McCartney. THE BEATLES legend is offering a signed sunburst Hofner brand B-Bass Hi Series violin bass guitar (estimate: $4,000 - $6,000). McCartney helped make the Hofner violin bass guitar famous by the 1960s, as it was one of his main bass guitars that he played with THE BEATLES, notably at the Apple Rooftop concert and the "Let It Be" album recording sessions.

BTS kicked off the initiative with the auction announcement of their custom made ensembles (estimate: $30,000 - $50,000), worn in their unforgettable performance of their smash hit song "Dynamite" filmed from Seoul, South Korea at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards ceremony that aired on March 14, 2021, will additionally be offering to the auction an Epiphone brand 56 Les Paul Pro ebony electric guitar signed by the band members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin and V on the body, and Jung Kook on the pickguard (estimate: $4,000 - $6,000). Another previously announced BTS item on offer is a group of three unique rings worn by j-hope (estimate: $2,000 - $4,000).

MusiCares Person Of The Year 2022 honoree Joni Mitchell's work will also be showcased in the auction with her offering of the artist proof print of her original oil painting of music icon Jimi Hendrix (estimate: $2,000 - $4,000). This artist's proof will be signed and framed by Joni Mitchell. "I have always thought of myself as a painter derailed by circumstance," she said in 2000. "I sing my sorrow and I paint my joy."

Other sensational highlights include (with estimates):

* Bono's handwritten lyrics to U2's new song "Your Song Saved My Life" from the upcoming "Sing 2" animated movie coming out in December starring Scarlett Johansson, Bono, Reese Witherspoon and others ($4,000 - $6,000).

* Gene Simmons's two limited-edition pieces of original artwork: Immortal, a 30 x 22 inches red, silver and black hand pulled screenprint signed and numbered AP 3/50 framed ($1,000 - $2,000) and Skull Candy, a 21 x 35 inches mixed media multiple silk screen and giclee print of a skull suspended in a shadow box frame signed and numbered AP 3/35 framed ($1,000 - $2,000).

* A class white Gibson brand ES-355 Bigsby VOS electric acoustic guitar donated by Gibson Gives and signed by Tom Petty when he was being honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in 2017. Petty has played a number of various Gibson brand guitars and bass instruments throughout his career, including acoustic-electric models like the ES 355. The guitar is accompanied with a Tom Petty and THE WILDFLOWERS 9LP DTC Ultra Deluxe edition box set complete with a unique and hand-made necklace by Maria Sarno, a lyric book with illustrations by Blaze Brooks (exclusive for the set), a litho print of photo of Tom Petty, a 7" of "You Don't Know How It Feels", tour program, stickers and more. Only 500 box sets were published ($6,000 - $8,000).

* A gold Gibson ES-335 electric acoustic guitar signed by Harry Styles with the inscription "All my Love" and a heart symbol, "Watermelon Sugar" (2019, 2020) 7" pink colored record single inscribed "All my love to you Treat people with kindness" signed by Styles and three-color Polaroid-like photographs from the photo shoot for the song's music video ($3,000 - $5,000).

* A black leather knee-length coat signed by Ozzy Osbourne four times in white marker on the back of the inside of the jacket ($1,000 - $2,000).

* Chris Stapleton's handwritten lyrics of "Broken Halos" inscribed on a polar white Fender Player Telecaster guitar ($2,000 - $4,000).

* A special item donated by the Chris Cornell Estate.

The star-studded pieces join a dazzling array of previously announced one-of-a-kind items being offered at this exclusive charity auction from music legends including Dave Gahan, DEPECHE MODE, deadmau5, Demi Lovato, Dolly Parton, James Hetfield, Jason Aldean, Jeff Beck, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lionel Richie, Machine Gun Kelly, Slash, Scott Weiland, Tim McGraw and more. A lucky music fan will also have the chance to win at the auction The Ultimate 64th Grammy Awards Telecast experience which includes two platinum-level seats to the telecast on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Staples Center in Los Angeles (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000).

The auction will start closing in real time and in lot order for live bidding at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time on January 30, 2022.

Julien's Auctions public exhibition and live auction location

Julien's Auctions

257 N. Canon Drive

Beverly Hills,

CA 90210

Exhibition: Monday, January 24 - Friday, January 28, 2022

11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Free to the public

Julien's Auctions live and online auction

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Anthony Kiedis (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) and Dexter Holland (THE OFFSPRING) were the surprise guest musicians who performed last night (Monday, December 20) at the third "Above Ground" benefit concert founded by guitarists Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION) and Billy Morrison (BILLY IDOL) at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California. They joined an all-star bill that included Perry Farrell (JANE'S ADDICTION), Etty Lau Farrell, Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT), Mark McGrath and Franky Perez. The event was host Dr. Drew Pinsky and included an art installation by Risk Rock.

Following previous successful events in 2018 and 2019, while sitting out in 2020 due to COVID-19, the evening celebrated the vinyl album as an art form, with the performance of two seminal albums in their entirety, while at the same time raising awareness and funds for the treatment of mental health. Throughout the event, there was an art installation from multi-talented fine artist, sculptor and graffiti pioneer Risk Rock.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to MusiCares, the leading music charity that acts as a safety net for the music community.

"MusiCares has literally saved more than a few of our friends from dying," said Navarro and Morrison. "Their role cannot be overstated, and we have precious few organizations that actively step in to help people on the brink. On the frontline, finding and paying for beds in treatment, arranging therapy and counseling, and actually speaking up on a public level about the importance of mental health are all reasons why we continue to do what we can to draw attention to this subject."

Navarro and Morrison, with an array of special guests, performed two musically/culturally seismic albums: Lou Reed's 1972 album "Transformer" and THE SEX PISTOLS' 1977 release "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols".

In 2018, the "Above Ground" guest musicians performed 1980's "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" by ADAM AND THE ANTS and the 1967 self-titled album by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO. In 2019, they tackled David Bowie's 1972 effort "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" and THE STOOGES' 1969 self-titled debut LP.

Canadian epic symphonic artist, Oscar Rangel's Avantgarde, have announced their debut full-length album, Ghost Of Time, to be released on January 21 via Boonsdale Records. Their new single "The Mist", featuring Timo Tolkki is out now. Listen on Spotify here, and watch a lyric video below.





"Avantgarde is my fantasy, my artistic utopia," says Oscar Rangel. "A collection of my dreams, desires, fears and meanderings."




Experimental contemporary music that blends theatrical imaginations, rock and metal sounds. Mystical passages and eccentric textures with eclectic and expressive voices that feel straight out of a twisted Vaudeville.


Rangel continues: "If you like creepy fantasies, magical horror, and dark arts, this artistic expression is for you."


The sound of Oscar Rangel’s Avantgarde ranges from intimate passages to choirs and instrumental sections of epic proportions. Gather around, because this is a good tale, a tale of power, a tale of lust, a tale of chaos, a tale for us.





Avantgarde lineup:


Oscar Rangel (all instruments)
Timo Tolkki (lead guitar)
David Michael Moote (guest vocals)
Ivan Rodgon (guest vocals)
Avelina de la O (guest vocals)
Phoebe & Eva Karkanis (guest vocals)
Kirsti Heitz (guest vocals)
Mazetecpatl (Pre-Hispanic flutes)

Have you ever wanted to watch Lord Of The Rings characters play football? Chaotic Italian bunch, Nanowar Of Steel, have made it happen. On their single, “Il Signore degli Anelli dello Stadio”, the parody metallers combine their love for the classic J. R. R. Tolkien fantasy with the world’s favorite team sport.


Nanowar Of Steel on the song: "’Il Signore degli Anelli dello Stadio’ (‘The Lord of the Stadium Rings’) is the first epic-football-metal song ever released (at least by Nanowar Of Steel). What would happen if all of a sudden, all the creatures of the Lord Of The Rings had their own football team? And more importantly, which songs would their supporters sing? Nanowar Of Steel has got the answer for you!”


Watch the animated lyric video for “Il Signore degli Anelli dello Stadio”:







Nanowar Of Steel turns to the musical roots of their homeland, bringing heavy new life to traditional Italian music on their new album Italian Folk Metal. Filled with references to Italian folklore, Nanowar Of Steel puts its own comedic metal twist on the various traditional sounds of their beautiful country.


Each song on Italian Folk Metal is performed in a distinct style of Italian folk music: Napoli-based sounds of musica neomelodica clash with melodic guitar sweeps on “Scugnizzi of the Land of Fires" and speedy accordions (prominently known from northern Italy‘s mazurka) are layered with dizzying guitar solos on “La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri".


Mixed with the band‘s eclectic, comprehensive brand of catchy, comedy-infused metal, Italian Folk Metal is a truly multi-faceted listening experience and a deep dive into the roots of Italy’s folklore! In the process of recording the new album in Rome and Milan during the summer of 2020, Nanowar Of Steel took the Italian-focused theme as an opportunity to gather Italy’s crème de la creme of musicianship: the album features Francesco Paoli from Fleshgod Apocalypse on “L’assedio di Porto Cervo”, Alessandro Conti of Luca Turilli's Rhapsody and Trick Or Treat fame on “La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri” and Frozen Crown’s Jade on “Rosario", among others. Italian Folk Metal showcases Nanowar Of Steel’s musical versatility at its best!





Order Italian Folk Metal here.





Italian Folk Metal tracklisting:


"Requiem per Gigi Sabani in Re minore"
"L'Assedio di Porto Cervo"
"La Maledizione di Capitan Findus"
"La Marcia su Piazza Grande"
"La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri"
"La Polenta Taragnarock"
"Scugnizzi of the Land of Fires"
"Rosario"
"Il Signore degli Anelli dello Stadio"
"Gabonzo Robot"
"Sulle Aliquote Della Libertà"
"Der Fluch des Kapt’n Iglo"
"El Baile del Viejo que Mira las obras"


"Sulle Aliquote Della Libertà" lyric video:





"La Polenta Taragnarok” video:





“Gabonzo Robot” video:





"Der Fluch des Käptn Iglo" video:





Nanowar Of Steel are:


Gatto Panceri 666 - Bass
Potowotominimak - Vocals
Mr. Baffo - Vocals
Abdul - Guitar
Uinona Raider - Drums


(Photo - Marco Dazzi])

Former CRO-MAGS frontman John Joseph says that he beat COVID-19 by "investing" in his immune system.

The 59-year-old, who is also an author, Ironman triathlete and proponent of a vegan, clean-living lifestyle, shared the news of his diagnosis in an Instagram video earlier today (Monday, December 20).

He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm wearing my 'Virus' shirt. You know why? I had the so-called death virus that they're shutting every fucking thing down for. The omicron. Oh my God! It's the end of the fuckin' world.

"Guess what. A couple of days [later], I'm back to fuckin' normal," he continued. "Why do you think that is? That's because I invested in my immune system. I take care of myself. I fasted, [ate] a lot of fruit, a lot of teas, a lot of organic vitamic C and different drinks. And you know what? I still ain't takin' that motherfuckin' shot. I ain't takin' none of them. That's just me. I don't tell anybody else what the fuck to do.

"The problem now is the overreach, like these motherfuckers in the government saying, 'Oh, yeah, there's gonna be a lot of illness and death visiting the unvaccinated.' Really? Fuckin' tell me about it, dude.

"Fuck this shit show. This government now signing shit to lock motherfuckers up that don't take the vaccine. The unvaccinated ain't the problem. If you got three fucking shots in and you're still getting coronavirus, you need to ask yourself what the fuck is going on. That's the real fucking deal.

"Anyway, the voice of fuckin' reason. You're entrusting your health with the ones who are profiting off of your illness," Joseph added. "Think about that for a fuckin' second. Think about the disconnect that it takes for you to entrust your health to these motherfuckers. All of them — Pfizer, J&J [Johnson & Johnson], Moderna, fuckin' AstraZeneca — fuckin' corrupt companies. Do some fuckin' research. Before they were all safe and effective; now the J&J, yeah, it causes blood clots.

"Wake up, people. You're being fuckin' played, and that's the reality of the situation."

Back in March 2020, at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Joseph said that no one was addressing "the real issue" — that eating animals is bad for human health.

A year earlier, Joseph, who is the author of the book "Meat Is For Pussies", which attacks the myth that men need meat to be fit and strong, told GQ.com that his plant-based diet is "second nature at this point." He explained: "You know, we look at everything that we put into our cars, we're obsessed with the fine details of all those sorts of things. But when it comes to what we put in our bodies, man, if you read the label and you can't pronounce this shit, you shouldn't be eating it. Our body is our only vehicle to get through life."

The new coronavirus is believed to have originated from one of Wuhan, China's many "wet markets" — so called because animals are often slaughtered directly in front of customers. These markets put people and live and dead animals — dogs, chickens, pigs, snakes, civets, and more — in constant close contact.

In the U.S., more than 61% of the population are currently fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, while more than 72% have received at least one shot, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

More than 805,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the U.S.

According to the CDC, unvaccinated people are 10 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to those who are vaccinated and had a booster shot. Unvaccinated people are also 20 times more likely to die from the virus.

According to the nonpartisan, nonprofit web site Fact Check, while vaccines reduce the probability of getting infected, they are not 100% effective, so there is a chance that an unvaccinated person could infect a vaccinated person — particularly the vulnerable, such as elderly and immunocompromised individuals. And, despite vaccination providing excellent protection against severe disease, a small proportion of vaccinated people still require ICU care.

In 2019, Joseph and drummer Mackie Jayson reached a settlement with CRO-MAGS founder Harley Flanagan regarding ownership of the CRO-MAGS name. Flanagan is now performing under the name CRO-MAGS while Joseph and Jayson are performing as CRO-MAGS "JM".
























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by John Joseph (@johnjosephcromag)










Beat Covid in three days because of the Immune System I invested in over 40 years ago. I GOT ANTIBODIES BITCHES!!!! No Rona ?? ? for me - everybody else - do what the fuck you feel.

— John Joseph (@jjcromag) December 20, 2021








You can learn a lot from an alien pic.twitter.com/L0uXkCC3lY

— John Joseph (@jjcromag) December 20, 2021








News stories everywhere of kids having mental health issues because of the Rona - but guess what? The Government is kicking up big money for mental health services - i.e. meds - boy oh boy Big Pharma is loving it.

— John Joseph (@jjcromag) December 17, 2021








Omicron = A bad cold - they are playing you

— John Joseph (@jjcromag) December 7, 2021








At this point with the shots not working or stopping anything it should be your choice not the Govt demanding you do anything. Like so many of them said last year and I quote “it’s not our job to mandate any shots” That’s right.

— John Joseph (@jjcromag) December 3, 2021








Even with two jabs you can still get ‘Rona and spread it. See - I don’t tell anybody what to do - so stay in your lane on my decisions. I do what’s right for me and will not be guilt tripped by people rolling up to the McDonald’s drive through or whack ass hypocrite vegans.

— John Joseph (@jjcromag) November 3, 2021