Danish death metallers, Livløs, have released an unboxing video for the vinyl and CD editions of their new full-length album, And Then There Were None, out now via Napalm Records. Watch below:





And Then There Were None is available as a digipak CD and digital album, as well as 1LP gatefold black vinyl and an exclusive transparent red 1LP gatefold (limited to 200). Order here.







Tracklisting:


"And Then There Were None"
"Serpentine Supremacy"
"Mortal Severance"
"Pallbearer"
"Kistefjael"
"Drenched in Turmoil"
"Seize the Night"
"Gallows"
"The Purest Black"


“Seize The Night” video:





"The Purest Black":





"And Then There Were None" video:





Livløs are:


Niklas Lykke - vocals
Franz Aleksander Posch - guitar
Kenneth Breinbjerg - guitar
Thomas Dannemand Jensen - drums
Søren Frambo - bass


(Photo - Nikolaj Bransholm)

John Lodge, legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues, and inductee of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, has released a live version of his classic hit, "Gemini Dream".


The song was recorded live in Las Vegas on The Royal Affair Tour, and appears on John’s new album, The Royal Affair And After, due for release on December 3 (vinyl on January 28), and available for pre-order here. Stream the track here, and watch the video below.







"Gemini Dream" was originally released on the 1981 Moody Blues album, Long Distance Voyager, and reached #12 in the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning John Lodge and Justin Hayward an ASCAP award for song-writing. The song deals with the relationship between performer and audience, and you can see and hear the electric connection between John and his audience when he performs this song. John and his 10,000 Light Years Band bring an incredible energy to this recording, and it was a fan favourite on the Royal Affair Tour, never failing to get the audience up and dancing.


“‘Long time no see’… those opening words to Gemini Dream resonate even more with me today - what was true in 1981 has become true again in 2021. The song is about balancing ‘twin’ lives – touring musicians, and non-touring musicians. I finished my tour on March 8, 2020, and was in lockdown within days, but I never expected to be off the road for this long… Although this was a forced ‘sojourn’, it was a creative time, writing and recording new songs and a time well-spent with family, but as the song says, “the time is right” to get back on the road. Let’s keep that Gemini Dream alive for all of us…..and thank you for keeping the faith.” - John Lodge





Joining John on stage is his 10,000 Light Years Band; Alan Hewitt (Music Director and Keyboards), Billy Ashbaugh (Drums), Duffy King (Guitars) and Jason Charboneau (Cello) and together they capture the heart of this classic Moody Blues song, a song that is so relevant again today for John and the band as they wait to get back on the road in 2022.


Stream the track: https://orcd.co/JohnLodgeGeminiDream





Tracklisting (CD and Digital):


"Steppin’ In A Slide Zone"
"Saved By The Music "
"Legend Of A Mind"
"Sunset "
"Late Lament" (with Graeme Edge)
"Nights In White Satin" (with Jon Davison)
"Gemini Dream"
"Isn’t Life Strange"
"I’m Just A Singer" (In a Rock and Roll Band)
"Ride My See-Saw" (with Jon Davison)

Metal/doom band, Sidewalk Mafia, have released a new single, "Cruel Sacrifices". Listen to the song on Spotify here , and watch a lyric video below.





The single opens a promotion for the album to be released in late spring 2022. The single is available via German record company Blood Rite Records.




The band operates as a duo, but in a gig situation, the band is a trio with a guest bassist. The band's sound is ultra-heavy but also melodic with low-tuned guitars.


The band says: "We released our first single, 'This Frozen Paradise' in early 2021. It was really well received around the world and actually
defined our style. 'Cruel Sacrifices' continues with it and represents everything we want to be. It is extremely heavy, melodic and oppressive, but at the same time atmospheric. This is a good song to start promoting our upcoming album."





(Photo - Mira Tiinanen)

Yesterday (November 21), Broken Hope celebrated the 30th anniversary of the release of their first full-length, Swamped In Gore - which subsequently launched the band out of the underground and into the mainstream.


As a forward-thinking, fledgling act, Broken Hope's Swamped In Gore was not only ahead of its time musically, but it was also the first digitally-recorded death metal album. To learn more about this seminal record, watch guitarist Jeremy Wagner recall their debut - and other notable events throughout the years:







Wagner comments: "This past weekend, Broken Hope celebrated the 30th anniversary of the release of our first album, Swamped In Gore. I mentioned in a video for This Day In Metal that it only seems like yesterday that I was writing music and lyrics for this first album. It was exciting to be so young and have a record deal and to quickly be signed to the greatest metal label on earth: Metal Blade Records.


Swamped In Gore is part of my heart and always a part of Broken Hope's live concerts. I'm extremely proud of this album and the life that it's taken on over these last 30 years, This record - like all records in the world - is immortal. Here's to generations of death metal fans to come, discovering this debut album by a youthful Broken Hope.


I'd like to add, for those who are wondering when Broken Hope is going to have a new album out, the answer is, we hope to have something out in 2022/2023. Mike (Miczek) and I have written around five new songs for our 8th studio album. As long as I'm here and burrowing in for winter, I'm going to keep writing my ass off...the riffs and the lyrics are flowing quite nicely. Cheers!"


To commemorate this milestone, Broken Hope has released a special collection of 30th anniversary merch, which can be purchased here.


Stay tuned for more news from Broken Hope and Jeremy Wagner coming soon!


(Photo - Corey Soria)

In a new interview with Heavy Consequence, Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) paid tribute to Eddie Van Halen, more than one year after the legendary VAN HALEN guitarist's passing. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "He changed the world. Jimi Hendrix was basically the Jesus Christ of electric guitar. That's the ceiling — you can't do anything more with guitar. And all of a sudden — if this was a Catholic hierarchy, Eddie was the second coming of Christ. If Jimi is the Jesus Christ of guitar, Eddie was the second coming. It was just, like, a whole new bag of tricks and all this other stuff that no one thought was possible. And the way he changed amplifiers and everything like that. Not only just his playing technique, but down to pickups, tremolo bars, with the Floyd Rose, amplifiers, the way amps are designed, with more high gain and everything like that — I mean, he changed everything across the board. Not just because of his doing taps and everything like that. Even the way guitars are made and the way amps are made, he changed everything. And on top of it, he was just a complete package. Aside of the playing and the tone, his songwriting [was] just phenomenal — just amazing. We're really truly blessed that we had him till he made it to 65. If you really think about it, after those first two records — I mean, after the first record, if he would have retired from music, he already changed the game. After the first one, if he pulled a Howard Hughes and just walked away and never picked up a guitar again, there's that first album alone — with 'Eruption' and everything he did on that record — he changed everything. But we're just blessed that we had him around for as long as we did. He was just a really great guy too — he was a sweetheart."

Earlier this year, Wylde spoke to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the first time he saw VAN HALEN live and got to hang out with Eddie. "The first time I saw them live was with at the Budokan in Japan, getting hammered with King Edward the night before," he said. "I had to do press all day, and the next day I went and saw them. Just sitting with King Edward in my room, him just chainsmoking and just jamming on my guitar down on his knees playing Jimmy Page licks the whole time, playing 'Heartbreaker' ... I'm just like, 'This is insane, I have god sitting in my room playing Jimmy Page licks.' So yeah, it was pretty mind-blowing."

Eddie and his brother Alex Van Halen formed a band called MAMMOTH in Pasadena, California in 1972, then renamed it VAN HALEN when singer David Lee Roth joined the group and, later, bassist Michael Anthony.

VAN HALEN was one of the biggest rock bands in the country in the 1980s, with hits like "Runnin' With The Devil", "Dance The Night Away", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama" and "Jump". The group, which later featured Sammy Hagar on vocals, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena after emigrating to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1962.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

In a brand new interview with the "Iron City Rocks" podcast, legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen spoke about the recording process for his latest album, "Parabellum", while the coronavirus pandemic was in full swing. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The whole thing is very surreal. Because in an estimated hundred thousand years of human civilization, this has never happened before. There's been many, many, many, many pandemics — I mean, countless: the European plague and the 1918 [flu pandemic] and whatever — but there never, ever has been a situation where every event, every… At one point, even restaurants were closed. That never happened before; this is the first time in human history, as long as humans have existed. So, obviously, not only for me, but for everybody, this was very surreal.

"Personally, I've always been the kind of person that's kind of, like, if you get lemons, you make lemonade," he continued. "So I was, actually, in March 2020, I was on a world tour; I was all over the place. And at the time exactly, in late February, early March — the second of March, actually, I think it was — we played in Mexico City. And agents called and they said, 'We're gonna push back the gigs two, three weeks or so.' [Laughs] So I went home and very much enjoyed doing certain things. So it was fine. I went into the studio and started recording some songs and writing some songs, which I always do anyway. And this thing just dragged on and dragged on. I just said, 'Okay, I'm just gonna record and write songs.' So, basically, I spent a year in the studio.

"Having said that, I've learned from many years of doing this that too much time is also not good because you start second-guessing things," Yngwie added. "It's not good. So, basically, I only would go into the studio when I [was] very inspired and I would do first takes and stuff like that. When a riff or a melody came to me, I would capture it; that's what I did. Then, of course, I got the schedule with the engineer. And before I knew, I had, like, 80, 90, almost a hundred [ideas]. And I started weeding them out — listening in the car a lot, just cruising around and listening to the stuff. So that's what I did.

"Obviously, I wanted to go out on the road… But, as I said, me personally, I feel bad for everybody that had bad things happen and so on, but for me, it was kind of like — I don't know… It was a long vacation or something. That's a bad description… It obviously was a bad thing for everybody. I'm glad it's almost over."

"Parabellum" was released in July via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group. Only four of the songs on the LP feature vocals. The album title is Latin, translating as "Prepare For War".

After working with some of the top hard singers of the past four decades, Yngwie now handles much of the lead vocals himself in his own band, backed by a lineup that includes keyboardist Nick Marino, bassist Emilio Martinez and drummer Brian Wilson.

Yngwie has just kicked off a month-long fall 2021 U.S. tour — his first major run of shows in 20 months.

David Coverdale has lamented the politicization of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it "heartbreaking."

The WHITESNAKE leader touched upon the pandemic's devastating impact on artists' ability to perform, to create and to earn a living from their music while discussing his upcoming "farewell" tour, which is scheduled to launch in 2022.

"This very much is gonna be me standing there in a very highly charged emotional moment, probably sobbing, as you've seen me do many times, my thank-yous to people and wishing people to stay safe and well and thanks for the journey," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

"For me to achieve completion, which is why I'm signing off on this, I'm so concerned for the welfare of the people coming to see us — for my crew, my band. Strict health protocols will be applied.

"I'm a target for this virus," Coverdale continued. "I can't understand politicians who've made this a political issue as opposed to a health issue. It's a health issue. And the only way we're gonna get out of it is if people adhere to the advice of the scientists, the doctors, whatever.

"I'm so familiar with seeing community. When I look into my audiences, they're different ages, different colors. I have a very healthy balance of male/female… So, that sense of community is like every show I do. How come we can't take it out of there?

"This was the perfect opportunity for the world to come together and get this virus, kick its ass, but instead there was so much divisiveness," David added. "It was heartbreaking to see."

Earlier this year, Coverdale told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station that he has been forced to delay his retirement tour due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

"People, as you can imagine, are extraordinarily desperate to go to shows and to perform shows," he said. "It's just not safe, and it's not gonna be the energy, the atmosphere that we're familiar with. We have to make sure [to] work as a global community, and, for me, as a global artist, work together and be, as they would say, in solidarity with each other and support each other and respect each other. It's a global pandemic — it's not just us. And mask up. Let's get out of this. Get vaccinated, and let's get out of this thing.

"I don't think it's ever gonna be the same," he continued. "I think society has changed. This has been a really challenging time for people who have been alone, I think. And that's a lot of my target audience with my social media — to try to uplift people's spirits, until I can get out there and truly do my appreciation and gratitude tour. And hopefully while I'm still physically able to do it and not just farting dust."

Early last year, WHITESNAKE was forced to cancel its U.S. tour with SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE and NIGHT RANGER so that Coverdale could undergo surgery for bilateral inguinal hernia. Eventually, all of the shows were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Coverdale, who turned 70 this past September, had both his knees replaced with titanium in 2017 after suffering from degenerative arthritis. He later explained that he was in so much pain with arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to perform live.

WHITESNAKE had been touring in support of its latest album, "Flesh & Blood", which was released in May 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

STAIND frontman Aaron Lewis has opened up about his recent COVID-19 diagnosis, saying that he beat the virus by taking ivermectin, a drug with no evidence of being a safe or effective treatment for COVID-19. He said he also used Z-Pak, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections by inhibiting the growth of bacteria in the body.

Lewis touched upon his COVID-19 battle publicly during his solo performance last night (Saturday, November 20) at the The Event Center at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, West Virginia. Addressing the sold-out crowd at the 1,200-person-capacity venue, Aaron said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "So, I really… I wasn't very vocal about it 'cause at this point I think it's just an attention ploy. But it's important to share information with people. That's the foundation of this country, is communicating.

"So I just had COVID," he continued. "And it was in my body for a week. It took a week for me to go from testing positive to testing negative. And at the risk of being called a conspiracy theorist, I took ivermectin and a Z-Pak — two things readily available. And if they weren't locking up all the ivermectin, you could get it from any doctor. It won awards for its applications on humans long before it ever went to a veterinarian application. It's not just a horse dewormer.

"So, yeah, I took ivermectin and a Z-Pak and a whole bunch of supplements, and I sat in an infrared sauna and I sat in one of those hyperbolic or hyperbaric oxygen chambers. And I got a bunch of I.V. stuff. And in a week, it was gone. It worked a hell of a lot better than the vaccine seems to be. But that makes sense because it's readily available drugs that are cheap and don't make anybody any money."

Vaccines against COVID-19 have proven to be a safe and effective tool in fighting the virus that's killed more than 770,000 Americans.

In recent months, ivermectin has become a popular medication to treat COVID-19 among people who oppose vaccinations.

While ivermectin is used to treat horses for parasites and worms, it has been approved for human use to treat infections such as head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.

The Food and Drug Administration has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans and has warned against taking the veterinary form of the drug. The FDA said clinical trials are ongoing but currently available data does not show ivermectin is safe or effective against the virus.

Back in May, fellow conservative rocker Ted Nugent revealed that he also used ivermectin, along with hydroxychloroquine and various vitamins, to beat COVID-19. He added that he "took intelligent, professionally guided care" from the Frontline Doctors, a group of doctors who made a video in July 2020 calling for the use of hydroxychloroquine to battle the novel coronavirus, despite warnings from public health experts.

Podcaster Joe Rogan recently sparked backlash when he said that he had taken Z-Pak, prednisolone and ivermectin following his own coronavirus diagnosis.

There are only three vaccines approved by the FDA to prevent COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

In a recent interview with RadioactiveMike Z, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio program "Wired In The Empire", MASTODON drummer Brann Dailor was asked about the first time he heard METALLICA's music. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think my entry point to METALLICA was 'Ride The Lightning'. That's where I started with them, and I think it was my cousin Randy who showed me my first METALLICA tape, which was 'Ride The Lightning'. He just gave it to me. And so thanks, cousin Randy, for showing me the way. And, man, the title track, 'Ride The Lightning', that's the one for me. I was already into [JUDAS PRIEST] and [IRON] MAIDEN, and he was, like, 'This is the next step.' So I was, like, 'Okay. Cool.'"

Calling METALLICA's Lars Ulrich "one of my main influences growing up," Brann went on to discuss the impact of the band's mega-selling self-titled album, better known as the "Black Album," which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. He said: "That album solidified them. Any time that they wanna go play at any stadium in the world, they can do it, and it's because of the 'Black Album.' So kudos to them."

Dailor previously singled out Ulrich as one of his musical inspirations during a 2017 chat with the "Let There Be Talk" podcast. He said at the time: "Lars was one of my guys, I love Lars and I love his playing. I don't know why [he is constantly being criticized for him playing ability]. It really bothers me. If someone talks shit about him — I stuck up for him in middle school and I'll stick up for him now.

"I once got in a fight in middle school for him. We went to see METALLICA [on the '…And Justice For All' tour]. QUEENSRŸCHE was opening, and their drummer was Scott Rockenfield — [a] great drummer. The next day, some kid talked smack about Lars: 'Scott Rockenfield's way better. Lars sucks.' I was, like, 'Fuck you!' We got into it, tussled a little bit. I told Lars about it. He was proud of me. [Laughs]"

Dailor is not the only member of MASTODON who has publicly praised METALLICA. Back in 2015, MASTODON bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders told ARTISTdirect: "METALLICA is a giant reason why I picked up the bass and why I'm where I'm at today. [We later supported] them in front of a hundred thousand people at Wembley Stadium. That was magnificent. If you flashback and told 13-year-old Troy this information, my head would've exploded."

MASTODON's new album, "Hushed And Grim", was released on October 29. The follow-up to 2017's "Emperor Of Sand" was recorded at West End Sound, which is located inside of Ember City, the rehearsal facility that members of MASTODON manage in Atlanta. Helming the effort was Grammy-winning producer/mixer/engineer David Bottrill, who has previously worked with MUSE, DREAM THEATER and TOOL, among many others.

Last month, BRITISH LION, the side project of IRON MAIDEN bassist and founder Steve Harris, withdrew from the previously announced U.K. tour with THE DARKNESS, citing "completely unacceptable" tour "protocols."

THE DARKNESS's U.K. trek kicked off on November 17 in Brighton and will conclude on December 17 in London.

Asked in a new interview with TotalRock about BRITISH LION's decision to pull out of the tour, THE DARKNESS frontman Justin Hawkins said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's very important that we remain COVID-free. We don't wanna end up having to cancel shows. So we're testing every day and bubbling very strictly. Nobody's allowed their wives, girlfriends, partners, lovers. So it's very much an insular experience. It's unusual for us; we're normally the party band."

"The thing about BRITISH LION is I think that they were… [Steve] very successful with his other band. We can't afford to walk away from a tour because of disagreement about COVID measures, but he obviously can, and that's their prerogative. I think they're doing their own stuff now. I'm just really pleased that we've got [fellow British rock band] MASSIVE WAGONS on [the tour as BRITISH LION's replacement], who don't mind testing themselves every day. That's all we're asking, really."

When BRITISH LION first announced that it was withdrawing from THE DARKNESS tour, the Harris-led band said in a statement: "Due to circumstances beyond our control BRITISH LION are really sad and disappointed to announce that we will not be able to participate in the tour with THE DARKNESS. Very recently we received their own protocols that are not Government protocols which are completely unacceptable to us. Therefore, we have no alternative but to withdraw from the tour."

Last month, BRITISH LION announced that it would stage its own U.K. headlining tour in November/December 2021.

BRITISH LION's second album, "The Burning", came out last year.

The band completed its first U.S. tour in January and February 2020.

"The Burning" was released on January 17, 2020 in digipack CD, double gatefold vinyl and digital download formats via Explorer1 Music (E1). The LP was recorded, engineered and mixed at Barnyard Studios by Tony Newton and produced by Steve Harris.

BRITISH LION comprises singer Richard Taylor, guitarists David Hawkins and Grahame Leslie, Harris on bass and keyboards, and drummer Simon Dawson.

SEETHER guitarist/vocalist Shaun Morgan was the featured guest on BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker" during the "Rock God" segment. Shaun picked NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain and stated about his choice: "I first heard of NIRVANA in 1993, because, growing up in South Africa, there were sanctions against the country up until '92, so a lot of American music didn't make it through to us. But a friend of mine's parents had been to England and they brought me the CD one day, and there was this naked baby on the front. I went home and put it on and immediately fell in love with the opening to 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and felt this real ethereal visceral rage that was being spoken about for me. Kurt's voice, the anger with which he played, the lyrics that he wrote all spoke to me as a teenager, and it was perfectly timed with my teenage self and my father not getting on very well. I felt like Kurt's music was speaking for me. I immediately listened to the CD from start to finish and I think I put it on repeat and it must have played 10 or 12 times till I eventually fell asleep that night. The very next day, I went to school and I asked the kid who gave me the CD if I could keep it for a while. And then I said, 'Okay, now I need to find a guitar.' I went and bought myself my first guitar and immediately started teaching [myself how to play]. After I learned how to play 'Polly' through a friend of mine who taught me to play, I started teaching myself the rest of the album, just kind of fumbling about, trying to figure out how to play guitar at the same time.

"That music was so powerful to me as a child that I didn't feel like I was alone anymore," he continued. "'Cause we lived out on a farm and my brother was a bit younger, my parents and I weren't getting on very well, I wasn't particularly popular at school. It felt to me like somebody had my back. And I'd always spent my childhood wishing I had an older brother, so it kind of fit the whole picture for me. And I was a fan for a really long time of the band, right up until [Kurt] died. I remember when he died, I was about 16, and it was a traumatic experience for me. I really felt like I'd lost a friend and a voice. For all those reasons and for being the inspiration for me to pick up a guitar and become a musician, Kurt Cobain was, at the time, my rock god."

SEETHER's eighth album, "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" ("If You Want Peace, Prepare For War"), was released in August 2020. An EP, "Wasteland - The Purgatory", was issued digitally and on CD in July. The five-track set, which was written and produced by Morgan, engineered by the band's newest member Corey Lowery, and mixed by Matt Hyde, also included three never-before-heard songs, and an alternate/stripped down version of "Wasteland".

In July, SEETHER joined 3 DOORS DOWN on the latter band's "The Better Life" 20th-anniversary tour as special guests on select dates throughout the sum

David Draiman of DISTURBED, which recently played its first pandemic-era shows, spoke to Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2018's "Evolution" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's on in a big, big, big fucking way. It really, really is. I mean, we are so genuinely excited.

"They asked me going in, 'Where do you wanna go with this?' And I'm, like, 'I wanna go back. I wanna go back to our meat and potatoes. I wanna go back to where we came from.'

"The week in between the Indiana shows and the [Welcome To Rockville] show was amazing," Draiman added. "We pumped out six new DISTURBED songs. They are rhythmic, they are anthemic, they are polysyncopated, they are meat-and-potatoes DISTURBED. It's somewhere between 'The Sickness' and 'Ten Thousand Fists' as far as vibe. And it's can't-stop-but-bob-your-head kind of thing. I couldn't be more happy. And we're so genuinely excited that we don't wanna wait. We're gonna track it after the New Year. We're guns blazing right now."

Asked if DISTURBED has already decided on a producer and studio for its upcoming sessions, Draiman said: "We're still trying to suss all that out. We've written with a couple of guys. We're trying to just kind of go wherever we're gonna be able to find a little spark of inspiration here and there. So we're still trying to suss everything out.

"The way that I see it happening is we're probably not gonna put out something in the traditional full-length; we're probably gonna be doing two separate releases," he explained. "So we'll probably have one geared for release — if everything works as planned — by the fall, and then maybe something the following year as well."

When Brutus asked Draiman to clarify if that means that the next DISTURBED release will be an EP, David said: "Define it what you want, but it would like five or six songs at a pop — something like that.

"We live in an environment right now and in an age where people's consumption of music has been very soundbitish and very track-driven and very single-driven," he continued. "And there's definitely some beauty towards continuing to try and [make] things like concept records and telling a long story over the duration of a series of songs — there's huge merit to that — but I think that when you write 10 songs and three of them actually get worked at radio and maybe, if you're lucky, the fans are really familiar with half the record and the rest ends up sitting on a shelf, and if you do end up pulling it out one day, it's like an obscure, weird moment during the set, and it's almost like gratuitous for yourself. I don't wanna do that anymore. I wanna make everything count. I wanna make sure that we get the biggest bang for everything we're putting out there. I think that that should be easily attainable. It seems to be where the environment is going, and it seems to be — whether we like it or not — what the digital age has funneled us into."

In October 2020, Draiman told "Loudwire Nights" that DISTURBED's new music would be "blisteringly angry" and added that he was "dying" to sink his teeth into "new, original, angry, ferocious, brutal material."

DISTURBED performed live for the first time in nearly two years on September 25 as one of the headliners of the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

In March, DISTURBED's "The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour" was officially canceled. The amphitheater tour, with very special guest STAIND and BAD WOLVES, was originally slated to take place in the summer of 2020 but was rescheduled to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was eventually scrapped altogether.

"The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour" was supposed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of DISTURBED's seminal album "The Sickness". On this tour, the band was expected to perform songs off the album, as well as tracks from "Evolution" and DISTURBED's extensive catalog.

In September 2020, DISTURBED released a cover version of Sting's 1993 single "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You".

Julien's Auctions held "Icons & Idols: Rock N' Roll", the world-record breaking auction house to the stars' annual two-day music event on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20, 2021 live in Hard Rock Cafe New York and online at JuliensAuctions.com in front of a global audience of music fans, investors and collectors bidding live in person, on the phone, and online. The sale for over 1,000 sensational artifacts and memorabilia owned and used by some of the world's legendary music artists of all time, including Eric Clapton, THE BEATLES, Elvis Presley, David Gilmour, Keith Richards, Eddie Van Halen, U2, GUNS N' ROSES, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, LED ZEPPELIN, and more brought in a total of nearly $5 million U.S. dollars.

Some of the most storied guitars in rock history ruled the stage once again with the sale of the 1968 Martin D-45 acoustic guitar, previously owned and stage-played by the legendary guitarist and rock icon Eric Clapton as the weekend's biggest moment. The instrument sold for an incredible $625,000, more than twice its original estimate which was used by the guitar legend of seminal bands THE YARDBIRDS, JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS, CREAM and BLIND FAITH, at the historic debut live concert performance of DEREK AND THE DOMINOS at the Lyceum Theatre in London on June 14, 1970. DEREK AND THE DOMINOS would later go on to write and record some of the most iconic songs of Clapton's career, including the classic ballad "Layla" whose handwritten lyrics on The Thunderbird Motel, Miami Beach, Florida, stationery also sold at the auction for $37,500. An off white Squier Stratocaster Fender Affinity Series electric guitar signed by THE YARDBIRDS band members Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton also sold for $16,000, eight times its original estimate.

Sensational guitars from U2 took the spotlight in the sales of The Edge's 1976 Gibson Explorer electric guitar, stage-played and photo matched selling for $437,500, the U2 legendary guitarist's concert used Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar selling for $96,000 and a 2005 Gretsch Irish Falcon model G61361 electric guitar, stage-played and signed by U2 frontman Bono on the neck of the guitar selling for $115,200.

A prized cream Fender Stratocaster Vintage '57 reissue electric guitar owned and stage played by David Gilmour took in $200,000. One of six vintage Stratocasters purchased in the mid-eighties by the legendary PINK FLOYD guitarist, the electric guitar was customized and set up to his personal specifications. Known as Cream No. 2 as a backup for Cream No. 1, the guitar was taken on the PINK FLOYD "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason" tours 1987, 1988, 1989 and at Knebworth in 1990 and PINK FLOYD's "The Division Bell" tour in 1994 as well as exhibited at Fender's exhibition in the USA in December 1993 and EMI's 1997 Music 100 exhibition in London. A custom-made black Fender Stratocaster electric guitar signed by Gilmour also sold for $51,200 with all proceeds of this sale going towards Teenage Cancer Trust.

The King Of Rock And Roll reigned the auction stage once again in the sale of his 1972 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar that was played by Elvis Presley during the mid-to late 1970s both on and off stage, which sold for $187,500. His show-stopping jewelry and wardrobe also made appearances in the sale of his black Fred Segal shearling leather jacket that sold for $43,750, his gifted 14K yellow gold ring centering an oval star sapphire (sold for $12,800), a Lord Elgin watch given to Presley by Jean and Julian Aberbach of Hill And Range Music Company (sold for $12,800), his sterling carved eagle silver ring (sold for $10,2400) as well as a page of Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" movie contract from March 12, 1957, signed by Presley which sold for $25,000, eight times its original estimate of $7,000.

Amy Winehouse's Fender Stratocaster electric guitar finished in Daphne Blue was another auction sensation which sold for $153,600. The five-time Grammy Award-winning retro-soul music superstar and pop diva played the guitar in many of her early performances, including the television show "Later... With Jools Holland" in November 2003 and in the 2003 video for "Take The Box". "The Property From The Life And Career Of Amy Winehouse" recently took in a record $4 million U.S. dollars for Julien's Auctions two-day event, the highest total amount of the icon's items sold at any auction. Her figure-hugging floral print white cotton ruched mini dress worn by Amy Winehouse while performing during the Oxegen Festival 2008 at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland also sold for $21,875, seven times its original estimate of $3,000.

An EVH Fender "Frankenstrat" guitar stage played by guitar god Eddie Van Halen signed by him and his brother Alex Van Halen sold for $83,200. The historic ax, gifted to Kevan Hill, a childhood friend and first bandmate of Eddie and Alex Van Halen in their first band BROKEN COMBS in 1964, consists of a guitar strap attached to screw eyes, bicycle reflectors on the back used to reflect the stage lights, five VAN HALEN 2012 guitar picks taped on the body and an image of Eddie printed on metal.

Hard rock and heavy metal iconography made some noise as pieces such as the original artwork for the cover of the 1983 QUIET RIOT album "Metal Health" hand-painted by Stan Watts sold for $44,800 as well as the original metal "asylum" mask that Watts wore to create the iconic image sold for $50,000, six times its original estimate of $8,000. Other items rocking the auction stage (with winning bids) included: the 1989 MTV VMA Moonman presented to GUNS N' ROSES for "Best Heavy Metal Video" for "Sweet Child O' Mine" ($37,500); a 1964 Fender Precision Bass guitar stage-played by Cliff Williams during live concert performances with AC/DC ($50,000); an electric guitar, owned and used by Joe Strummer, who, according to prior owner and former manager Gerry Harrington, used it in the studio for the "Grosse Point Blank" soundtrack and on his solo 1989 album "Earthquake Weather" ($34,375); a custom-made 2007 Gretsch drum kit in black that was played by drummer Taylor Hawkins for FOO FIGHTERS and Dave Grohl, most notably with LED ZEPPELIN in London ($50,000); two NIRVANA concert set lists in Kurt Cobain's hand, one from a NIRVANA performance at Calton Studios in Edinburgh on November 29, 1991, along with a ticket and one on a tablecloth handwritten and signed by Kurt Cobain, additionally signed by Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and others (each $16,000); and others.

Other top highlights included (with winning bids):

* Iconic pieces from the Queen of Pop including a hot pink charmeuse silk headband with bow embellishment worn by Madonna in her iconic 1984 "Material Girl" music video which sold for an astonishing $28,125, fourteen times its original estimate of $2,000, her MTV Video Music Award Moonman Award presented to Madonna for "Best Female Video" of 1986-1987 for "Papa Don't Preach" ($22,400) and her charcoal grey skirt suit circa 1940s worn in her Golden Globe-winning role as Eva Peron in "Evita" ($10,000);

* A yellow vintage THE GERMS cropped t-shirt owned and worn by Belinda Carlisle of THE GO-GO'S which sold for an impressive $22,400, twenty-eight times its original estimate of $800;

* Keith Richards's red with gold embroidery and rhinestone cropped jacket worn on the "Get Yer Yas-Yas Out" album, as well as on stage during the infamous Altamont concert, where an audience member was stabbed to death by the Hell's Angels, and was featured in the Maysles Brothers documentary film "Gimme Shelter" ($38,400);

* A framed colorful rendition of a clown hand painted by Frank Sinatra on canvas in oil, and signed "Sinatra" ($56,250);

* A Duesenberg Starplayer TV-MC guitar owned and played by JJ Cale ($32,000);

* A custom Gibson Mastertone banjo owned and played by Jerry Garcia during his years with the OLD & IN THE WAY band and signed by Garcia and David Grisman ($22,400);

* A Custom Shop 50th-anniversary 1954 reissue Fender Stratocaster, made for Carlos Santana ($25,600);

* A cream-colored Fender Telecaster guitar from the 1990s, signed by THE ROLLING STONES members Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards who has inscribed "Time Is On My Side" ($19,200);

* A custom Washburn PS2000 electric guitar personally owned, used, signed, and inscribed with handwritten lyrics by Paul Stanley ($25,000);

* Neal Schon's 1965 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Solid Body Electric Guitar ($28,800) and 1962 Gibson Les Paul SG electric guitar ($31,250);

* A 1962 Britain pressing 7" record single of THE BEATLES "P.S. I Love You" signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr ($22,400);

* A pair of custom drumsticks owned by LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham which sold for $28,125, fourteen times its original estimate of $2,000;

* A Gibson Les Paul custom 80th-birthday electric guitar with the custom serial number LP1915 referring to Paul's birth year ($57,600).

Julien's Auctions is the world-record breaking auction house. Collaborating with the famous and the exclusive, Julien's Auctions produces high profile auctions in the film, music, sports and art markets. Julien's Auctions has received international recognition for its unique and innovative auction events, which attract thousands of collectors, investors, fans and enthusiasts from around the world

PUDDLE OF MUDD frontman Wes Scantlin reportedly walked offstage midconcert last night (Saturday, November 20) at the EPIC Event Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin after complaining about the venue's lights.

The episode, which happened early in the band's set, was captured in a video that was uploaded to Facebook by a fan who who attended the show, Mitch Andre. At the beginning of the three-minute clip, Scantlin can be seen holding both his hands in front of his face while attempting to sing one of the band's songs. At the end of the track, he tells the crowd: "I don't know why the lights have to be blinding me for this whole show. Now I can see all you people. But if you guys were standing up here where I'm at right now, it's like a fucking flashlight blinking in your fucking head, and I don't think that's fucking cool, really." He then apparently addresses the in-house light technician directly, saying: "Sounds like a fucking motherfucking idiot to me. Fuck you, motherfucker. Out of nowhere, here's another fucking douchebag fuck. I've got a flashlight too, motherfucker."

Andre, who made his video public on Facebook, included the following comment in his post: "PUDDLE OF MUDD, I sincerely hope that Wes gets the help he needs. This was one of my favorite bands growing up.. That being said, my friends and I couldn't take it and had to walk out on your second song, making it the ONLY concert I have ever walked out on due to poor performance. On top of that, you showed up half hour late to your own show... This was my second time seeing you, and will be my last. Last night's show, before Wes walks off in the middle of their 4th song...."

Another fan who attended last night's concert, Tyler Patnode, shared Andre's video and added the following message: "This was by far the WORST performance I have ever seen and attended . I seriously feel bad for the EPIC Event Center for hosting this crap show. This man needed to retire 10 years ago. PUDDLE OF MUDD such a shame."

Wes had almost non-stop problems with the law, alcohol, finances and other issues, before claiming to have gotten sober in 2017. Scantlin said that he ended up going back to rehab and receiving treatment "because there's really nowhere else to go." He also credited his family and fans for giving him the strength to try to get better.

Scantlin was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in September 2017 after he attempted to board a plane with a BB gun. He pleaded no contest and was banned from LAX unless it involved traveling for work.

Before that, there have been a few tumultuous years for the singer and guitarist. In January of 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of breaking into his former home and vandalizing some of the property.

He skipped two court dates related to the charges later that spring, which led to another arrest.

Prior to that, Scantlin was arrested in December 2015 for possession of a controlled substance and had several previous busts that same year for driving under the influence.

Additionally, he was arrested at a Denver airport in 2015 for taking a joyride on a baggage carousel and taken into custody as far back as 2012 for an altercation with a flight attendant.

He also ended a number of PUDDLE OF MUDD shows in 2016 early with various meltdowns, including one in which he accused a fan of stealing his house

PUDDLE OF MUDD was formed in 1991 in Kansas City by Scantlin, the only original member still with the band. The group into the mainstream with 2001's "Come Clean", which yielded three hits — "Control", "Blurry" and "She Hates Me".

PUDDLE OF MUDD's latest album, "Welcome To Galvania", was released in 2019 via Pavement Entertainment.




Puddle of Mudd, I sincerely hope that Wes gets the help he needs. This was one of my favorite bands growing up..

That being said, my friends and I couldn't take it and had to walk out on your second song, making it the ONLY concert I have ever walked out on due to poor performance.

On top of that, you showed up half hour late to your own show... This was my second time seeing you, and will be my last.

Last night's show, before Wes walks off in the middle of their 4th song.....

- not my video, just editied.

*viewer digression is advised*

Posted by Mitch Andre on Sunday, November 21, 2021

With the uncertainties of possible lockdowns and rising infection numbers, planning a Pan-European Tour as glam metal sensation Deathstars have done is getting nearly impossible and a massive risk for bands around the globe. For this reason, the Swedes see themselves forced to once more postpone their upcoming shows - yet the time will come for you to finally witness the combo live on stage with the songs from their new, still untitled album that has been quietly in the making within the past years.


"It’s been a frustrating couple of years, yet because of too much uncertainty regarding the pandemic we need to postpone the European tours again. We of course regret to inform you this but it’s not in the hands of the band. We like to thank the fans for patience and hope to see you all during the upcoming shows," states Whiplasher Bernadotte. 


New tour dates are as follows:




November 2022
17 - Stockholm, Sweden – Klubben
18 - Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
19 - Malmö, Sweden - KB


December 2022
14 - Kiev, Ukraine – Atlas
16 - Yekaterinburg, Russia - Fabrika       
17 - Moscow, Russia – Urban
13 - St. Petersburg, Russia – Aurora Hall


January 2023
26 - Berlin, Germany – Hole 44
27 - München, Germany – Hansa39
28 - Stuttgart, Germany – Im Wizemann
29 - Zürich, Switzerland - Plaza
30 - Milan, Italy – Legend
31 - Rome, Italy – Largo   


February 2023
2 - Lyon, France – Rock N Eat Live
3 - Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 2
4 - Madrid, Spain – Shoko Live
5 - Toulouse, France – Connexion Live
6 - Paris, France – La Maroquinerie              
8 - Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
9 - Glasgow, UK – G2
10 - Manchester, UK – Academy 3
11 - London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
12 - Antwerp, Belgium – Kavka
14 - Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
15 - Köln, Germany - Luxor
16 - Utrecht, Netherlands – Tivoli Vredenburg
17 - Hamburg, Germany – Grünspan


March 2023
15 - Tampere, Finland – Olympia
16 - Helsinki, Finland – Tavastia
17 - Tallinn, Estonia – Tapper Club
18 - Riga, Latvia - Melna Piektdiena
19 - Vilnius, Lithuania – Vakaris
20 - Warsaw, Poland – Hydrozagadka
22 - Budapest, Hungary - A38 Ship
23 - Cluj, Romania – Form Space
24 - Bucharest, Romania – Quantic      
26 - Ljubljana, Slovenia – Orto Bar
27 - Vienna, Austria – Szene
28 - Prague,Czech Republic – Meet Factory
29 - Leipzig, Germany – Anker
30 - Hannover, Germany – Musikzentrum
31 - Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset

Redemption is the second full-length album from Switzerland's Rage Of Light. It's also the first release featuring the new singer, Martyna Halas, who replaced Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum). It is dueto be unleashed on December 8th.


The new album showcases the band's new synergy with a heavier, more mature sound. It digs deep into the internal battles that torment nearly everyone in the digital age, yet with a refreshing ray of hope. Check out the official video for their new single "Breaking Infinity" below.


Redemption was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Vladimir Cochet (Conatus Studios).







Tracklist:


"Iciness"
"2.0"
"Crusade for the Sun"
"Lead the Riot"
"Chasing a Reflection"
"Exploder"
"Breaking Infinity"
"Aspiration"
"Beyond"


"Breaking Infinity"





Line-up:


Lead vocals: Martyna Halas
Synthesizers and vocals: Jonathan Pellet
Guitars and bass: Noé Schüpbach

DEF LEPPARD drummer Rick Allen, who has been expressing himself in recent years through his art, recently spoke to Joe Rock about one of the main themes of his artwork, which is actually his right arm. The 58-year-old musician famously lost his left arm to amputation after a near-fatal auto accident in England in 1984.

"Not too many people know this, but I broke my right arm really badly [in the 1984 accident], and during the healing process, the hospital, they said, 'There's a chance that you may lose your right arm as well,'" Rick recalled (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "So when I was able to get through that horrible period in time and get all the infection out of there and then actually fix the bone and the arm, you can imagine I was so grateful. And I think that's something that speaks to that. The handprint is really, for me, a sign of gratitude, that I can still do what I do. And I put my hand through a lot — from drumming to the artwork and, obviously, everything that I do. So it's pretty symbolic. It's the only one I've got, but I'm really blessed to have it. [Laughs]"

Allen lost his arm after he was thrown through the sunroof of his car, and his left arm got caught in the seatbelt when it came undone during the crash. As a result, the arm was severed from his body. Initially, doctors reattached the arm but they would eventually have to amputate because of an infection.

After Rick's life-altering accident, he had to relearn how to play drums and drum manufacturer Simmons worked with him to build a kit. His DEF LEPPARD bandmates stuck with Allen through the difficult time and the drummer persevered through an accident that would have ended most people's careers.

Allen spoke about his accident during an interview with Modern Drummer. He said: "I remember coming around in the hospital and then realizing what had happened to me after the accident, and honestly, I wanted to disappear. I didn't wanna do this anymore. And then I started getting these letters from all over the world… I got encouragement from everywhere — from my family, from the guys [in the band], from people all over the world. And I don't know what happened, but I discovered the power of the human spirit and just said, 'You know what? I can do this.' It was really a collective thing. It was all this encouragement I was getting from other people, and then it just manifested in wanting to succeed. And that's exactly where it came from."

Rick also talked about the support he received from his bandmates in DEF LEPPARD who stuck by him through his recovery and waited patiently for his return.

"They left the decision to me, whether I wanted to go on or not, and they gave me time to grow and develop, really, a whole new style [of playing]," Allen said. "And that's all I needed — I just needed the time. I needed the time to build my confidence and realize that I could do it. Nobody ever said, 'Well, you have to make a decision now.' I think that was the most important thing — just that time that they gave me just to find myself."

After visiting the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2006, Allen dedicated himself to helping war veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of sustaining injuries similar to his own.

Allen told ABC News in 2012: "I didn't know what my life would be like after that terrible day. It was the darkest time in my life… My desire is to encourage a support system for warriors, de-stigmatize PTSD, share their stories and offers alternative ways to pave the road to resiliency and health."

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE have completed work on a new studio album tentatively titled "These Crazy Times".

Hagar and his bandmates — drummer Jason Bonham, bassist Michael Anthony and guitarist Vic Johnson — recorded the effort with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, who has previously worked with RIVAL SONS and SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, among others.

Sammy broke the news of a new CIRCLE album during a chat with Joe Rock. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We just finished a whole freakin' record. Right now it's tentatively called 'These Crazy Times'. And it is all brand new songs. We went in with Dave Cobb, the producer in Nashville. And it's not a country record. He's a great producer. He's a rock guy to the bone. He just happens to produce Chris Stapleton and Brandi Carlile. RIVAL SONS, he produces that band too. Anyway, he's a great producer. We went in and did a whole new record with THE CIRCLE. And it's so badass, I just can't wait to get it out."

THE CIRCLE's first album of all-original material, "Space Between", was issued in May 2019 via BMG.

Earlier this year, SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE released their massively popular "Lockdown Sessions" as an album collection titled "Lockdown 2020".

"Lockdown Sessions" began in March 2020, when the COVID-19 shelter-at-home order went into effect. With time on their hands and their upcoming tour in limbo, Bonham challenged Hagar, Anthony and Johnson to record a warmup jam they'd been playing backstage before concerts for several years. Equipped with iPhones and their respective instruments, they each laid down their individual tracks from the den, music room, closet and even showers of their homes, and "Funky Feng Shui" and the band's "Lockdown Sessions" were born.

Over the next eight months, their "Lockdown Sessions" became a hit with critics and fans alike, producing 10 tracks and reaching an online audience approaching 30 million. The sessions gave the band the opportunity to throw down raw and raucous compact covers of classic hits that they'd jammed to backstage but never planned to record, including THE WHO's "Won't Get Fooled Again", Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds", AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" and more. When plans for an album came to fruition around the holidays, the band came together to record one more track, a cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" which they'd offer as an instant download or single purchase.

For more than four decades, Hagar has been recognized as one of the best and most accomplished lead singers and songwriters in rock music. From breaking into the industry with the seminal hard rock band MONTROSE to his multi-platinum solo career to his ride as the frontman of VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT and his latest supergroup THE CIRCLE, Hagar has amassed 25 platinum albums on sales surpassing 50 million worldwide. Along his journey, he has set the tone for some of the greatest rock anthems ever and earned the highest respect of the music industry with a Grammy Award and induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

At THE CIRCLE shows, fans experience the legendary artists performing some of Hagar's greatest hits, spanning more than four decades, including songs like "I Can't Drive 55", "Dreams", "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy", "Mas Tequila", "Why Can't This Be Love", "Right Now" and many m

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford has confirmed to the "SpeedFreaks" radio show that he was one of several people who received a bullet from late MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister as a personal gift. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "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."

Halford's bullet is not the only one whose existence has been publicly revealed. Six months ago, German metal queen Doro Pesch confirmed she also got a bullet, saying she "almost dropped dead" after opening the package and realizing what it was. "It was, like, 'Wow,'" she said. "And then I heard that somebody said Lemmy wrote a list and he wanted his closest friends or family to have his ashes. And I've got this bullet right here. I had no words for it. It's pretty moving and touching. But in the letter, it said, 'He liked you a lot' or 'he loved you a lot,' and I thought, 'Oh, man. That feels so good.' That makes you feel like… Now I'm motivated for the next hundred years to do good and to rock the fans. That gave me so much love and so much energy."

Back in March, former "Headbangers Ball" host Riki Rachtman said that he was also mailed a bullet, calling it "the greatest gift I've ever received in my life." He added that he was "getting it made into a necklace so I can keep it on me everywhere I go." Last year, tennis player Pat Cash shared a photo of another Lemmy bullet, saying it had been gifted to UGLY KID JOE singer Whitfield Crane.

"#Lemmy (RIP) from #Motörhead asked that his ashes be put in some bullet and given out to his closest friends, last night one was presented to my mate #whitefieldCrane whilst we were having dinner at 'Lemmys bar' in 'The Rainbow'," Cash wrote on Instagram in February 2020.

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

He had dealt with several health issues over the last few years of his life, including heart trouble, forcing him to cut back on his famous smoking habits.

MOTÖRHEAD had to cancel a number of shows in 2015 because of Lemmy's poor health, although the band did manage to complete one final European tour a couple of weeks before his death.

In June 2020, it was announced that Lemmy will get the biopic treatment. The upcoming film, "Lemmy", will be directed by Greg Olliver, who previously helmed the 2010 documentary of the same name, "Lemmy".

"Lemmy" will follow Kilmister's life growing up in Stoke-on-Trent, becoming a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and a member of seminal psychedelic rock band HAWKWIND before forming MOTÖRHEAD.

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






Before his death #Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets & handed out to his closest friends Today I received a bullet & was literally brought to tears Thank you @myMotorhead pic.twitter.com/gnI9aWe4iU

— Rev. Riki Rachtman (@RikiRachtman) March 22, 2021








Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister’s ashes were placed into bullet casings and distributed to his closest friends. pic.twitter.com/vlsqYYCZWY

— Eric Alper ? (@ThatEricAlper) March 25, 2021

In a new interview with "The Dan Chan Show", BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski spoke about his folk/blues/Americana-influenced solo band ME AND THAT MAN and the various business ventures he is pursuing away from the music business. Asked what he looks for when deciding which projects he gets himself involved with, Nergal said: "As human beings, we're very complex. It's pretty much just to ask if we let ourselves try things out.

"I love my heavy metal cage, and that is my mother womb, so to say, but I'm really willing to try things out. I'm not saying I'm gonna be a good actor, but I really wanna play in a theater at some point. If I fail, I fail, but let me fucking try.

"My mind is really all over the place," he continued. "Some people, they can't really split their mind — they just focus on one thing and that's it. I can really do three things at the same time — almost like Napoleon [Bonaparte, who reportedly could think and speak so fast that he was able to dictate five letters to his secretaries at the same time]; I'm just a little taller than him.

"Yesterday I had dinner with [IRON MAIDEN singer] Bruce Dickinson. If you ask me what I look up to, I look up to Bruce Dickinson. He's the renaissance man. He's someone who's, like, holy shit. That is awesome. I mean, what all he does — all he captures, all he embraces. All the knowledge, all the curiosity, all that hunger for life and all its dimensions, that is a way to go for me.

"There's people that tell me, 'Ah, you do this for money. You do this for that. You're just cashing in, monetizing.' I'm, like, 'No.' I'm having fun with bringing — I don't know — BEHEMOTH whiskey. It's fun. I play with it. Do I need to do it? No. But I have a need to do that, so I will. As long as I'm having fun with that, I bring it along."

ME AND THAT MAN will release its third full-length studio album, "New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 2", on November 19 via Napalm Records.

Last month, BEHEMOTH celebrated its 30-year career with a massive livestream event called "XXX Years Ov Blasphemy". The event featured three separate sets in three spectacular locations, commemorating the band's three decades making music and art.


























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During an appearance on the latest episode of "Landry.Audio", SUFFOCATION guitarist Terrance Hobbs discussed the relative lack of racial diversity among heavy metal musicians, with the genre primarily dominated by white men. Asked why he thinks there aren't more black hard rock and heavy metal musicians, Terrance said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't know. I think that they're out there — don't think that they're not. I just think that a lot of 'em haven't had the time or a chance or a band that people have taken notice to, to say, 'Hey, there's a black guy in the band.' You look at old ENTOMBED — they had a black guy in the band. You look at HIRAX. Howard [Jones] from KILLSWITCH [ENGAGE]. You look at CYCLONE TEMPLE, another band from Chicago — they had a black guy. OCEANO has a black guy. LENG TCH'E has a black guy. So there's bands out there that have black guys. JESUS PIECE, another band from Philadelphia out here — a black guy in the band. VULVODYNIA from South Africa — a black guy in the band. So, the brothers are out there, man. They're making heavy shit — don't think they're not. They may not be playing hockey that much, but they're still out there.

"I think for us [in SUFFOCATION], the time and place, it was just an oddball thing. Me, I happened to just pick up a guitar when I was, like, 10 or 11 years old, and by 13, everything I wanted to do was just play guitar. So I locked myself in a room and was just listening to things that had guitar; it wasn't dance music. And it was heavy. And then when we were in high school — me and Frank [Mullen, vocals] and Mike Smith [drums] and Doug Cerrito [guitar] — we would play the 'Battle Of The Bands', and we all wanted to play heavy music. For us, it was just that's what we wanted to do; it didn't matter about color or anything. For [SUFFOCATION's first record label] Roadrunner, back at the time, Nuclear Blast, Relapse, I was happy that they paid attention to us even though it was that way. Because we never knew if it was gonna be… Are we gonna get signed, and are they gonna look at us like we're fucking shot? … You just never knew how anybody was gonna take it. And we were very fortunate to not really have any of those problems."

In a 2020 interview with Loudwire, SEPULTURA frontman Derrick Green, who is black, said the subject of racism in the music industry can be hard to understand if it's not something that affects you directly. "Unless you really experience it, then it's hard for you to really imagine it's happening," he said. "But it's consistently happening. It exists all around the world." BAD WOLVES guitarist Doc Coyle concurred, saying: "Go to a GOD FORBID music video on YouTube and look at the comments and ask yourself if there's racism in metal. There's this idea that if I haven't experienced it, then it must not exist. It kind of speaks to this idea of the limitations of empathy. You can try to see the world through someone else's eyes, but you just can't. And the truth is if someone feels like that's their experience, even if I haven't experienced it, I have to give them the latitude to express their experience. By saying it doesn't exist — that's the definition of gaslighting."

As previously reported, SUFFOCATION will release a live album, "Live In North America", on November 12 via Nuclear Blast Records.

SUFFOCATION created the template for the brutal death metal genre in the early 1990s. Landmark albums such as "Effigy Of The Forgotten" and "Pierced From Within" also went on to inspire the birth of the tech-death and slam death metal genres.

SUFFOCATION's latest studio LP, "...Of The Dark Light", came out in 2017.

In a new interview with "R.A. Nation", ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna touched upon the fact that the none of the "Big Four" bands of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, ANTHRAX, SLAYER and MEGADETH — sound alike despite the fact that they had a lot of the same influences. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Speaking of the 'Big Four', the whole lineup and that stuff, it was really nice to have differential type of bands and different sounds and vocals and just the whole aura of it all; I love that part."

Joey also attempted to explain how ANTHRAX has managed to keep producing quality music several decades into its career, with many people calling the band's latest album, 2016's "For All Kings", the group's strongest effort to date. "I think that we just have such a good vision of what we wanna sound like and how we just, as a group, go into a record," he said. "I just think it's so fun because there's such great ideas, and we have a wide ability to take on all kinds of things. We're not just stuck in one zone; I think we have a lot to offer. Every record you feel it. Like right now, I can't wait to do another one because it's just an adventure every song. And you never know what you're gonna get too. I mean, we really take our time. Obviously, it takes us a little longer [to put out a new album] than most bands sometimes, I think, because it's just not that straight-ahead thing. There's so much going on to the songs, we just want it to be really, really hot and heavy and strong and everything."

As for how he personally approaches making albums, Belladonna said: "I always just kind of go in there and just do my thing. I don't really do anything different. I think I'm just as focused as I can possibly be. I think I'm a lot more relaxed about it. I don't seem to worry about it as much as I would before. You do what you do and you just kind of strive [to do the] best you can with [each] record."

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".

"For All Kings"'s arrival 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, whose most recent return to ANTHRAX was officially announced in May 2010, was originally the lead singer of ANTHRAX from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the band's classic lineup (alongside Dan Spitz, 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.

Belladonna had been critical of ANTHRAX's decision to fire him at the height of the band's success, telling MikeJamesrRockShow.com five years ago: "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."

Phil Lewis has commented on the out-of-court resolution of the legal dispute over the rights to the L.A. GUNS name. Under the terms of the April 2021 settlement agreement, he and guitarist Tracii Guns will continue to operate under the L.A. GUNS trademark, while Steve Riley and his bandmates from the other version of L.A. GUNS will now operate under the new name RILEY'S L.A. GUNS.

Speaking to Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com, the singer said: "Unfortunately, it required us going to court, spending a lot of money on lawyers. And it actually required him" — referring to Steve — "spending a lot of money on lawyers when he could have just been a gentleman about it in the first place and put his name to make it clear. But he was adamant in interviews, that he goes, 'No, we're not changing our name. Why should we? We've got every bit as right, as much right to it as they do.' And it was fucked up. And so it was necessary for us to spend a shitload of money to resolve this. Now it's resolved, I don't give a fuck. He can go out. It doesn't bother me as long as he's got that 'Riley' prefix and there's no confusion. 'Cause they were exploiting it, and it was put together to exploit confusion. It was put together for horrible, horrible reasons, and when you do something for all the wrong reasons, it rarely works out.

"Since the reunion [between Tracii and me], we've been on such a roll, and it was kind of fucked up that we had to stop and deal with that," Phil added. "But the pandemic actually worked in our favor, because it stopped both of us from playing. And it's resolved, and now we just move on."

RILEY'S L.A. GUNS features Riley alongside Orlando, Florida-based guitarist/vocalist Kurt Frohlich, bassist Kelly Nickels (a member of L.A. GUNS' "classic" incarnation) and guitarist Scott Griffin (who played bass for the band from 2007 until 2009, and then again from 2011 to 2014).

In January 2020, Riley was sued by Lewis and Guns in California District Court. Joining Riley as defendants in the case were the three musicians who performed in his rival version of L.A. GUNS; that group's manager, booking agent and merchandiser; and Golden Robot Records. The complaint, which requested a trial by jury, alleged that Riley's version of L.A. GUNS (referred to in the case docket as "the infringing L.A. GUNS") was creating "unfair competition" through its unauthorized usage of the L.A. GUNS trademark. In addition, Guns and Lewis were seeking relief from and/or against false advertising, breach of contract and unauthorized usage of their likenesses.

Back in May, Tracii told The SDR Show about the legal dispute with Riley: "We ended up settling in a way where, basically, [Steve] licenses the words L.A. GUNS for free; I'm not even asking for a percentage of when he plays. I'm just saying, 'Hey, I could have taken your house. I could have taken anything you own. But I don't want you to die in the street, and I don't want you to be poor.' And I really love his son, Cole. It just got to the point with all this litigation…

"I live in Denmark half the time, so when we did this thing called a mediation, that mediation started at 11 p.m. Denmark time, and it was nine hours," he continued. "And I just had a baby. And my wife and my baby were in the bedroom, and I'm in the living room, and this is our first apartment there, which is, like, 72 square meters — it's tiny. And I'm up, and I'm doing this mediation. And finally, it just got to the point where [we were] just going back and forth, and I'm, like, 'How can I easily make it just make sense?' 'Cause in the end, they had no argument. 'Well, I'm in L.A. GUNS.' That was the argument. No, you're not — you're not in L.A. GUNS. You were hired by me. The bass player guy was hired by me. And it's as simple as that. But if you wanna pretend that you came up with the name or you formed the band or it was your musical vision or that you even wrote one fucking song, you can go live in that fantasy, as long as it doesn't infringe on my business."

L.A. GUNS' new studio album, "Checkered Past", has just been released via Frontiers Music Srl.

In a new interview with The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn, KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee spoke about David Lee Roth's absence from the rescheduled U.S. leg of the band's farewell tour.

Roth performed as the opening act for the February/March 2020 North American leg of "End Of The Road", but is not making any appearances on the latest KISS run of shows which kicked off in August. McGhee explained Roth's non-participation in the trek by saying (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was just a year and a half later. He had commitments that he had to do. And we just, 'We get it. You've got stuff that you have to do.' We talked about it eight months ago. And I said, 'Listen, don't worry about it, David. If you've got things that you have to do, that you wanna do, it's been a year and a half later, don't worry about it.' And he said, 'Thanks.'"

McGhee also addressed the controversy surrounding KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons's recent comments about Roth. In August, Simmons told Rolling Stone: "[Roth] took being a frontman way beyond anything. And then, I don't know what happened to him … something. And you get modern-day Dave. I prefer to remember Elvis Presley in his prime. Sneering lips, back in Memphis, you know, doing all that. I don't want to think of bloated naked Elvis on the bathroom floor."

Doc insisted Gene's words were misinterpreted, explaining: "We really, really enjoyed having David out.

"The press drives me crazy, because they sensationalize every fucking thing you say or do, and they take things out of context to make it more sensational than what it is.

"In no way did Gene or anybody say — would say anything against David Lee Roth," McGhee continued. "Actually, if you ask Paul Stanley or Gene Simmons, in the '70s and '80s, the best front guy in the entire world was David Lee Roth — by far, hands down. [He] blew everybody away. There wasn't anybody that didn't look up to David Lee Roth and go, 'Holy fuck.' Robert Plant, anybody — I don't care who it was. That guy [Roth], he was the shit. So we have all the respect in the world [for him].

"I loved listening to all the VAN HALEN stuff [when David was performing it on the 2020 tour]; I really did. I had a good time with it."

Roth was apparently irked enough at Gene's original Rolling Stone comments to take to his Instagram to share an image of a young boy wearing shades and extending the middle finger to the camera along with the words "Roth to Simmons:" Dave posted the image 18 times.

Simmons later clarified his original statement, telling the 95.5 KLOS radio station that his words were misconstrued.

"It doesn't matter if somebody misunderstood what I meant; it only matters if I hurt somebody," he said. "So I'm deeply sorry I hurt Dave's feelings. Obviously, that was not my intention, because privately and publicly I've always said nobody touched David in his prime — not [Mick] Jagger, not Robert Plant. Nobody. He changed what a modern frontman was. And then the subject went onward to other subjects, and Elvis came up.

"The point was if a truck runs you over, it doesn't matter if the guy says, 'I'm sorry I ran you over,' because what's the difference? You've been run over. So Dave's feelings were hurt. I'm profoundly sorry I hurt his feelings. That was certainly not my intention."

Asked if he had been in contact with Roth in an effort to smooth things over, Simmons said: "I haven't. I've tried to reach out. I haven't been able… I never had Dave's contact info, but historically speaking, I'm the guy that put the band originally on the map — signed them to my deal, produced a 24-track demo. And with that I'm told how that's how they got their deal with Warners. I never asked for a dime. That was out of my pocket, and I forgave them whatever they owed me contractually. I just tore up the contract and said, 'God bless.'"

As for whether it was David that bowed out of the KISS tour or it was KISS that dismissed him from the latest run of shows, Gene said: "Neither. The tour ended because of COVID — we all went home — and then we all made different plans. We didn't know when we were gonna go out on tour [again], and so we decided this time to go back out with [David] Garibaldi, who's a painter."

In a January 2020 interview with Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show", Paul Stanley was asked what the best part was of having Roth opening for KISS. Stanley said: "Well, Dave's got so many great songs. All the VAN HALEN catalog is terrific, and that's what he's doing. So, people get to hear all those great songs, and it was something that really appealed to us."

Simmons has repeatedly taken credit for "discovering" VAN HALEN and flying the band to New York to record demo at Electric Lady Studios, with Gene at the production helm. But he ended up not working with the group after his KISS bandmates and manager, Bill Aucoin, expressed little interest in his demos.

In March 2020, Roth postponed the final six shows of his Las Vegas residency due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month, the legendary VAN HALEN singer announced that he was ending his career with his Vegas shows during the first weeks of January 2022.