EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt says that he is "beyond thrilled" with the band's upcoming follow-up to 2021's "Persona Non Grata" album. The 61-year-old musician, who is also a member of SLAYER, took to his Instagram on Thursday (October 23) to thank the EXODUS fans in Latin America for an "incredible" tour and to say: "Now, no shows until next March! Next time you see us, it's new album time. And what an album it is. I know, everyone always says 'best thing ever' but truly we write for ourselves. And we are beyond thrilled. Most organic and massive sounding thing ever. (the more organic, the harder the mix! Took a while to be satisfied) Sounds like five dudes going for it. Bass is PROMINENT. Low end is giant. It's killer as fuck."

At this month's Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California, Holt told Baby Huey and Chasta of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone that Mark Lewis had mixed the new EXODUS material, which is tentatively due next March via Napalm Records, and described it as "something else, man… It's crushing, but it's also all anthems. Every song's an anthem. It's awesome. We're super proud of this record."

Gary also confirmed that he and his EXODUS bandmates have recorded nearly two albums' worth of material this time around. "We have 80 percent of the next follow-up done," he said. "We started recording March 2nd, and I've been home four weeks till today. We stopped recording and we were on tour the next day. We went to Europe, and we were home for two weeks. Then we went on [tour] in the States. I was home two weeks, [went] to Europe, and then I went and joined SLAYER for [the summer 2025 shows]. And then I came home for two more weeks. So I'm exhausted."

Lewis had previously worked with MEGADETH, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER and BAD WOLVES, among many others.

The follow-up to "Persona Non Grata" will mark the first time in nearly three decades that an EXODUS album hasn't been mixed by Andy Sneap, who has acted as JUDAS PRIEST's producer and touring guitarist for more than seven years.

Gary previously wrote on Instagram about EXODUS's collaboration with Lewis: "First album since 97 to mix with someone else, and it's crushing. Andy said it's time to venture out of our comfort zone and it's amazing. Mark has CRUSHED IT!"

EXODUS's upcoming LP will be the band's first since the departure of singer Steve "Zetro" Souza and the decision to bring Rob Dukes back.

In a recent interview with Chicago's Rebel Radio 92.5 FM as part of the station's 31st-anniversary celebration, Dukes praised the material on EXODUS's upcoming effort, saying: "It's killer. It's the best thing I've ever done with EXODUS. I thought [2010's] 'Exhibit B: [The Human Condition]' was probably some of my best work, and I think this tops it. It's so different than what we've done. We've added so many little different things that it's still EXODUS, but we've definitely stepped outside the box a little bit and tried a few different things and it worked well… It's fast. it's dark, it's awesome, man. It's gonna be a lot of fun to go play these songs live."

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

Dukes previously joined EXODUS in January 2005 and appeared on four of the band's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005),"The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007),"Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS's classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

EXODUS played its first concert with Dukes in nearly 11 years on April 5 at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This past June, Holt told longtime Serbian hard rock/heavy metal journalist Jadranka Janković Nešić that he and his EXODUS bandmates recorded 18 songs for their next studio album. He said: "It's [going to be released as] two totally separate records, but we kept writing and kept writing and we had so much material that we just [thought], let's work extra hard and so when it's time to start thinking about a [second] new album [after the first new one], we could relax a little bit. I wish we had 20 songs done [instead of 18], 'cause then we would have the next album done, and then I could go on vacation or something. I've never had one."

Holt went on to say that none of the songs EXODUS has recorded so far for the two upcoming albums are "fillers", or tracks that were included simply to add time. "They're all great," he claimed. "They're all amazing. There are 18 songs, and they're all totally awesome. It's hard to pick which ones [will end up on the first new album]. But we did it so we could work less later."

He continued: "We're getting older. I'm 61 years old. By the time we think about releasing the next album, that's gonna be three years [from now], so I'm gonna be that much older. And then I can go on vacation in between albums. Like I said, I've never gone on vacation. I've had vacations where I played guitar to be, but I've never gone on a vacation where I didn't have to play to be there.

"After the whole [second new] album [is done] and all, yeah, I'm gonna go [on vacation] somewhere," Holt added. "I don't know how not to work though. I'm a workaholic. My wife will have to tell me to shut the phone off. At home I relax, though. But at home where I live in the country, it's a lot of work living there in the woods. So, I'm working, but it's working on my house, and I like that. I live in the country, yeah. No city life for me anymore."

Regarding the musical direction of the new EXODUS material, Gary said: "It's 100 percent EXODUS and at times 100 percent different. There's some surprises on it. It's super heavy. There's some moments that are so fast. There's moments that are super slow. Just satanic, evil as fuck."

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the aforementioned "Bonded By Blood" LP inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

Photo credit: Lisa Holt

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gary Holt (@garyholt_official)

During an October 23 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the new album from his long-running project SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's done. We still have to mix it. I'm gonna mix it in January. I think it's in January — somewhere in there when I get back — and mix it and finish it up. But it doesn't come out till 2027. But then we're gonna do a full-blown tour. And that's the thing, is I had to find a window where I could do a full-scale tour with the CONSPIRATORS. And I didn't wanna release it until I was able to do that, and 2027 is the real window for it. So that's when the record comes out."

As for how the new SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS LP turned out, Slash said: "It's really cool — the record's badass. All things considered, I don't like to hype a record up, but I'm excited about it."

Slash previously revealed in an August 2025 social media post that the recording sessions for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS were completed. He wrote at the time: "Recording for #SMKC record number 5 is done today. Album title [to be confirmed]. This has been a super cool session all around. & we all agree it's one of, if not the best one yet. Unfortunately you'll have to wait till 2027 to weigh in, too much going on next year to put it out. But it will be worth the wait. Full blown world tour to follow!"

In a recent interview with J.J. Caithcart of Different Stages Radio, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS drummer Brent Fitz stated about the band's next album: "Slash has the greatest work ethic of any musician I've ever worked with. So, we got busy. We toured together in 2024, and then we were out doing other things, and then Slash did a blues record and tour. And then, as soon as that was done, we got right into the studio in L.A. He has an amazing working studio. We can be busy there in L.A. We did that for a month, and then we went out to Florida and recorded most of all the bed tracks, the music parts of it."

Asked if there was a working title for the upcoming SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS album, Brent said: "Nothing. No, no. It's always gonna be a Myles thing, or Slash, just songtitles and lyric ideas. I will say that what's fun is when we do write these songs, and this'll be our fifth record together, but we always have comedic working titles. And Todd's [SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS bassist and backing vocalist Todd Kerns] usually good — Todd and Slash — good for coming up with things that won't be the final title, 'cause obviously with lyrics with Myles, it'll be something completely different. But we usually just give something a title so we can go, 'Hey, let's work on that song.' 'What song?' 'Oh, the song in E.' No, we'll give it a title. But over time we've had these goofy titles, I'll just say, that sometimes they stick. And to this day, some of our songs, I go, 'Oh, it's called 'Wicked Stone'.' And I'm, like, 'But it used to be something completely ridiculous.' And I still think sometimes when I look at our setlist live, I go, 'Oh, that's the 'Elephant Disorder' song.' It's just funny how… We have a whole bunch of goofy working titles for the songs right now."

This past January, Kennedy told Heavy Consequence about the next SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS album: "As far as the progress goes, I think a lot of it is well on its way. I have to get my vocals recorded. Just have to find a window of time to do that in between the touring and whatnot. I have my vocals written and melodies and lyrics and all that stuff. I just need to get in to the studio and knock it out."

He continued: "As for the direction of the record, it's still riff-based rock 'n' roll with a heavy dose of the blues element that Slash brings, like only he does. It's some really great stuff. I think it's going to be another fun one to tour live."

In December 2024, Myles told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that "the demoing and all that, the writing" for the next SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS album "was done before I even embarked on this last [solo] tour. The easy part is the recording; the hard part is the writing. Slash and I were — he was sending me demos of the tunes. Then I was spending time with him, coming up with melodies and lyrics. And so that's all done — I think with the exception of one song. Now I just have to find a moment to get in the studio and all that, knock that out. But I will say that just even in the demo process and where we stood there before they went in to actually make the record musically, it is really exciting stuff. I'm really, really stoked about where this one's going. It's gonna be cool."

Asked if he writes any of the music for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS or if he is mostly in charge of coming up with the lyrics and the melodies, Myles said: "Yeah, most of what I'm doing is lyrics and melodies. Occasionally if something comes in and I'm, like, 'Hey, can we change this chord progression for the sake of the melody?' But it's interesting 'cause more so on [2012's] 'Apocalyptic Love', when I played guitar on that record, there was a little bit more of, 'Hey, try this part. See what this sounds like, if we utilize this to help the arrangement somehow.' But it's funny — I was thinking about that the other day, and I was just, like… It just highlights how cool [Slash] is. I [was] coming in, it was [my] second record [with Slash] and I've got my guitar, and I'm, like, 'What do you think? What if we tried this?' And I'm, like, 'You're sitting there with Slash. He doesn't need any help, man.' But he was so cool and so accommodating. But as the years have gone on and we've made all these records, one thing that continues to amaze me is just how much he understands, not just the riff thing, but coming up with chord progressions that really lend themselves to coming up with compelling melodies for me. It's, like, he knows how to sequence the chords where it's gonna really leave room for a melody, which I appreciate. And, like I said, occasionally I'd be, like, 'Hey, can we try a G here instead of a D 'cause I hear the melody doing this?' Or I'll send the melody back and he'll go, 'I'm gonna change this chord because I feel like it suits the melody better.' I'm, like, 'Great.' So yeah, he totally gets it."

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS entered the studio in November 2024 to begin recording its fifth album.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS kicked off "The River Is Rising - Rest Of The World Tour '24" on January 23, 2024 with the band's return to Mexico City's Pepsi Centre WTC. The group's 24-song setlist included the live debut of a deep GUNS N' ROSES cut, "Don't Damn Me", featuring Kerns on lead vocals.

Support on various dates of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS's "The River Is Rising - Rest Of The World Tour '24" came from MAMMOTH WVH.

Prior to the launch of "The River Is Rising – Rest Of The World Tour '24", SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS last performed in February and March 2022 as part of a U.S. tour.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "4", was released in February 2022 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.

"4" was Slash's fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Kennedy, Fitz, Kerns and guitarist Frank Sidoris.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS released "Live At Studios 60", their first-ever double live LP, for the 2022 Record Store Day. The effort contained a performance of "4", plus four additional songs from the group. Recorded live in Los Angeles at Studios 60, the "Live At Studios 60" double LP exclusive Record Store Day release was limited to only 2,250 copies. The full concert featured all the songs from "4". Additional performances of the group's Top 5 rock radio hits, including "You're A Lie", "World On Fire", "Anastasia" and "Driving Rain" are also included in the double vinyl package.

For "4", Slash and the band traveled across the country together to Nashville, Tennessee and recorded the new album at the historic RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile),revealing a stunning new sound and style all captured live in the studio. Cobb shared the band's desire to lay down the tracks live, in the studio including guitar solos and vocals — a first for the group.

Slash released a blues album called "Orgy Of The Damned" in May 2024 via Gibson Records.

In the summer of 2024, Slash brought his brand-new "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival to cities across the U.S.. On all dates, Slash performed alongside his blues band featuring bassist Johnny Griparic, keyboardist Teddy "ZigZag" Andreadis, drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan has shared a new video on his YouTube channel in which he answered a number of fan-submitted questions. Asked what it was like playing with legendary rocker Iggy Pop, Duff said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I've done it a couple times now, I'm fortunate enough to say, in my lifetime. He is a hero and he is a badass. He's the real deal. And you get in a room with Iggy, you'd better be prepared. And getting to write some music for him on this latest record was super fun. We got to play some shows with him — me and [drummer] Chad [Smith, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS] and [Grammy-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist Andrew] Watt [on guitar] and Jamie [Hince] from THE KILLS [on guitar] and Matt [Clifford] from THE ROLLING STONES [on keyboards]. A really killer band."

Duff added: "Playing with Iggy is… yeah. When you get into rehearsals, you'd better know your shit, and when you get on stage with him in front of an audience, know your shit well enough to be able to let it all go because you're on stage with Iggy and that's not gonna happen very many times in your life."

Three and a half decades ago, McKagan contributed to Pop's "Brick By Brick" album, an experience he later described as "super epic" but marred by the fact that McKagan was still drinking at the time. In 2023, McKagan got a chance to work with Pop again, this time on the album "Every Loser", and he played shows with Iggy in support of the record.

"This time was kind of a redo," Duff explained during a 2024 appearance on the "Rockonteurs" podcast. "And to be able to put together a band for him, and he let us pick the setlist… This is the soundtrack to my life, where do you start?"

Pop later returned the favor by appearing on McKagan's solo album "Lighthouse", released in October 2023.

Starting at just 15, McKagan has been a part of such diverse and influential bands as THE VAINS (1979),THE FASTBACKS (1980),THE LIVING (1982),THE FARTZ (1990),10 MINUTE WARNING (1993) and LOADED (1998),along, of course, with his historic role as founding member of both GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER. In addition to his prolific musical efforts, McKagan is The New York Times best-selling author of 2011's "It's So Easy: And Other Lies" and 2015's "How To Be A Man: (And Other Illusions)", and the co-host (with Susan Holmes McKagan) of the popular "Three Chords & The Truth" radio show, airing in North America on SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard (Ch. 38). In addition, "Three Chords & The Truth" airs weekly on stations around the globe, including the U.K.'s Planet Rock, Denmark's myROCK, Finland's Radio Rock, Germany/Switzerland/Austria's Rock Antenne, Iceland and Canada's x977, and Poland's Antyradio.

Sid Wilson, turntablist and creative force behind the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning metal icons SLIPKNOT, has announced the launch of his bold new venture, Vomit Face Records. The label makes its explosive debut with "Take It Back" a genre-bending single from Houston rapper Lil Bushwick featuring unreleased vocals from his father, the late Bushwick Bill of GETO BOYS fame. The track is co-produced by DJ Lethal (HOUSE OF PAIN, LIMP BIZKIT) and Wilson, bridging rap's raw storytelling with punk and industrial energy.

"Bushwick Bill and I had made a promise to each other to make an album," Wilson shares. "After several roadblocks in scheduling, Bill sadly, and unfortunately, passed away due to illness most were unaware of. In meeting his son and discovering that he too was a music artist, I made a promise to the spirit of the great Bushwick, that I would fulfill our pact by producing an album for his son. We did just that, and through the help of a dear friend DJ Lethal, we were able to add an unreleased track of Bill's, and I'm proud to say, we made the impossible possible for this iconic hip-hop lineage of father and son."

Lil Bushwick adds, "Being able to collaborate with my pops six years after his passing brings me a different type of joy. Hearing his voice again speaking life and expressing himself just as I remembered takes me back to the simpler times. I know he'd be proud of how I approached each verse my own way. He was always big on being yourself and I'll forever be that. Long live Chuckwick 4L."

Vomit Face Records stands as a haven from outliers, a home for artists who blur boundaries and defy convention. Its roster already spans a wide creative spectrum featuring Lil Bushwick, Sid Wilson, J57, DEAD X HEDZ, Rome Fortune, Ricardo Grimm and Mars Black.

"Vomit Face Records is about tearing down the walls," says Wilson. "This is for the artists who don't fit in and never wanted to. It's rebels in motion that unapologetically stand out. It's to celebrate imperfection, people making real art out of the mess in a world that rewards fake. It's where the sound, hard work and spirit collide and no one can tell you how to look or feel. Real art isn't pretty, it should stir something slightly uncomfortable and break down those walls to create something new inside of you. It's a place for the misfits to have a voice and a place to make their own."

Lil Bushwick's forthcoming self-titled album, "Lil Bushwick", arrives October 31, opening with his father's legendary line "This year Halloween fell on a weekend." The album is a daring, emotional journey through grief, legacy and evolution blending Houston hip-hop roots with experimental, hardcore production. Narrated by Bushwick Bill, the album pays tribute to the spirit of a hip-hop pioneer while carving a new path forward.

"This project shows my diversity as an artist," says Lil Bushwick. "It pushes the envelope musically and experiments with sounds I never thought I'd rap on. It takes you through every emotion and brings you into the mind and life of Bushwick."

In a new interview with Australia's Heavy, bassist John "Tumor" Fahnestock spoke about SNOT return to the live stage and the reactivated Santa Barbara-based metal/punk rock hybrid's plans for the coming months. Referencing the fact that Andy Knapp of fellow Southern California band STRONGER THAN MACHINES made his live debut with SNOT on January 17 at the Parish room at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California, John said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I think things are a lot different now. We're pretty much saying SNOT is back at this point. We finally found, in Andy, what we basically were dreaming of having. And I'm not saying anything negative on the past singers that we had. Before, when we put SNOT together, it wasn't, like, 'We're reforming. We're back,' anything like that. We were just more doing it for fun, for the love of music, love of Jamie [Miller, SNOT drummer] and Mikey [Doling, SNOT guitarist] and myself playing together. And we were, like, 'Let's go out and play the songs,' but it wasn't seriously saying, like, 'We're back and coming back to here to stay and swing,' like we are now. And, like I said, it's a blessing to have found Andy and what he's doing. And, obviously, the response from the fans has been nothing but positivity."

Asked what it was like returning to the live stage under the SNOT banner, Fahnestock said: "Yeah, coming off this last tour and seeing the response from the crowd, it brought tears to our eyes. And it brought tears to their eyes, to our fans. I'd look out and see people crying, and there are 16-year-olds and they're singing our songs and they knew all the lyrics and they're fucking losing their mind. And I wasn't expecting that at all. And it wasn't that way 10 years ago when we ran through those areas. Yeah, a lot has changed. I think there's a big resurgence now of bands from the '90s, the late '90s, getting a whole resurgence. And I see it a lot, and it's a good thing — it's a really good thing. I think that style and the ['90s] metal thing is actually coming back now and being embraced."

Reflecting on how the latest SNOT reunion came about, John said: "There was a festival in the U.S., and it's kind of where this all started, and it's called Sick New World. And I went there, and it was SYSTEM OF A DOWN and COAL CHAMBER and INCUBUS and all the bands that came up in that era. That's when Mikey and I again started getting a fire under our ass, thinking, 'Dude, if we could only find the right singer, we could do this again.' And we did. So we're back."

Fahnestock also confirmed that there are plans for SNOT to release new music, possibly as early as January or February 2026. He said:  "Mikey and I, we've been writing for, like six, seven years now, believe it or not. We've put away a lot of music that we recorded and we kind of kept it under the belt. And then, when we found Andy, we were, like, 'Hey, let's revisit those songs that we stashed away.' And then Mikey's, like, 'No, let's write two new ones too and then add to it and then revisit and re-record those.' So we went in, and we still jell like that; it's crazy. So we threw down two new songs with [producer] Chris Collier. He works with KORN and Mikey does a lot of stuff with Chris in [Las] Vegas. So, we just got drums done with Jamie when he had some time off from BAD RELIGION; our drummer plays in BAD RELIGION also. And now we're gonna work on vocals with Andy. And we're gonna go in in November and start messing around with it and see where it goes."

Asked if the new SNOT music follows the same "eclectic" direction as the band's 1990s output, John said: "Exactly. It's how we write. It's crazy. Mikey picks up a guitar and it smells like SNOT, bro. It's fucking eerie. And what's really eerie is I could hear [late SNOT singer] Lynn [Strait]. Like, 'What would Lynn do on this?' In my head I could hear him, 'cause it sounds like he should be there. So, yeah. It's crazy."

Last month, Doling told Ore Bihovsky of TotalRock's "Louder" radio show about SNOT's return to the live stage: "I'm really excited, first of all. Just having SNOT back — [I] never expected it. We found a new singer who's amazing, and he made it all possible. And we put some tickets on sale and they're all selling out, all the shows, and we're pretty blown away. We're very grateful to be doing it and super stoked."

Asked how it feels to have Knapp fronting SNOT, three decades after the band's formation and 27 years after the passing of Strait, Doling said: "Honestly, it feels kind of like it used to, with Andy. Andy brought energy to the band that we haven't seen or had since Lynn Strait… Having Andy in the band, he's brought that energy again to us. The shows are full of energy. It's wild, man."

After Ore noted that this is the first time that he has heard the members of SNOT say that the band is officially "back", Doling clarified: "Well, before, when we [played gigs with other vocalists], it was more like we wanted to fucking just get together and play. We weren't really focused on new music or promotion or selling shows. We didn't give a shit. We just wanted to go out and play. This time, we feel like we found the right singer. Also, that it's the right time to actually bring it back full blown. So we're getting in the studio, we're recording new music, we're booking tours. We've got the booking agent. And we're just going full-on, man, and it's great."

Asked about new SNOT music and whether the band is working with a record label at the moment, Mikey said: "I think what's going on is that… There's been a couple of labels that reached out, but they were not the ones that we'd be interested in working with. And I wanted to wait till we started thinking about that kind of stuff until we recorded a couple songs and see where we are. Well, we have recorded a couple of new songs, and we're working with Chris Collier, the producer — a fantastic producer. He just did the last couple of KORN records, he's done the last few PRONG records. He's amazing, and he and I click musically. So, we're working together on some new songs. It's going very well. It's funky. It's punk. It's got attitude. It's cool. It sounds like old SNOT. And we're trying to keep it like that. We don't wanna change the sound. We wanna keep it like 1996, '97 — lots of wah pedal, lots of grooves, some heavy punk influences. It's cool."

Regarding when fans can expect to hear some new SNOT music, Doling said: "I'm hoping by the end of the year or maybe the beginning of the year 2026. I think we're going to drop a single, and maybe a couple months after that drop something another one. It'd be cool to have two songs out next year. And during the next year, we're gonna try to complete an entire album. So I've got — I don't know — seven or eight new songs written. We've recorded two. It's just a matter of having the time to get in the studio. We're playing so much, we're out on the road, and getting everybody in the same room, it's a little hard. It is challenging, but, we're making it happen."

This past July, SNOT entered Dead End Studios in Palm Desert, California with Collier to lay down tracks for two brand new songs.

SNOT recruited former GODSMACK drummer Shannon Larkin to sit behind the kit for the band's performance in May at the Welcome To Rockville festival at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Due to Miller's touring commitments with BAD RELIGION, he was unable to make the date.

In April, SNOT recruited Doc Coyle (GOD FORBID, ex-BAD WOLVES) as the band's touring guitarist after the group's recent split with Sonny Mayo.

The news of Mayo's departure was broken by Doling, who stated in a video message at the time:  "Sonny Mayo has decided to quit SNOT. SNOT doesn't fit into his life right now, and he just wants to focus on himself and his life. And SNOT's just too busy for him to be able to continue.

"So I'd like to wish Sonny Mayo the best of luck in his future, and I wanna thank him for all he's contributed to SNOT over the years. We love you, brother," Mikey continued.

"That being said, our very, very good friend from GOD FORBID, formerly BAD WOLVES, Doc Coyle, is going to be filling in on guitar for the upcoming shows. And we're excited to have him on board. And thank you very much, Doc Coyle."

SNOT disbanded in 1998 following Strait's death, putting an end to a career that generated considerable promise but only one studio album, "Get Some". The band had been writing material for its sophomore CD and had completed 10 songs at the time of Strait's tragic passing. As a memorial to Strait, SNOT eventually decided to release those tracks, with lyrics and guest vocals provided by a host of stars from the alt-metal community. The resulting album, "Strait Up", was a fitting tribute from Strait's peers and friends, featuring members of LIMP BIZKIT, KORN, SLIPKNOT, SEVENDUST, (HED) P.E., COAL CHAMBER, SUGAR RAY, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SOULFLY, and more.

SNOT in 2014 recruited Carl Bensley (VITIATE, CONSUME THE FIRE) to sing for the band following the departure of Tommy "Vext" Cummings (ex-DIVINE HERESY, BAD WOLVES).

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lynn died in died in a car accident in December 1998 as he attempted to drive across Highway 101 in Mussel Shoals, California. The 30-year-old singer died instantly after his 1992 Ford Tempo was broadsided by a southbound full-size pickup truck about noon. Also killed was Strait's small bulldog, SNOT's mascot Dobbs, who adorned the cover of the band's debut album, the 1997 Geffen Records release "Get Some". Strait, a Santa Barbara resident, was crossing the highway after visiting his girlfriend in the community. Lynn apparently pulled into the path of the truck, which was going about 65 mph. The impact sent Strait's car spinning into the center divider where it stopped, a California Highway Patrol officer told the Los Angeles Times at the time.

Cummings fronted SNOT in 2008-2009 before he and Mayo exited the group amid "strained relationships."

In a new interview with Chile's Futuro, LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda spoke about how fans have been reacting to singer Emily Armstrong joining the band in 2024, seven years after Chester Bennington's death in 2017. The band went on hiatus shortly after. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " It's just a very exciting time. It's kind of a rebirth of the band.

"We had kind of started getting back together a few years ago, and it was a very slow and organic build. When it started, we didn't say, like, 'We're going to bring the band back.' We didn't say, 'We're going to go tour.' We just kind of got together and wanted to see what it would be like to get together and write music and spend time together again. And we hoped we would end up here, but a lot of things had to go right in order for that to happen. And they did. So we're very grateful for that, the opportunity, and thrilled with the new music and the tour and the way the fans have responded to it."

LINKIN PARK introduced its new lineup during a September 2024 live performance event, with Armstrong and Colin Brittain, a songwriter and producer for G FLIP, ILLENIUM and ONE OK ROCK, joining Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Joe Hahn. LINKIN PARK also released a new single, "The Emptiness Machine", and announced an album "From Zero", which arrived in November 2024 via Warner. It marked LINKIN PARK's first full-length effort since 2017's "One More Light", which was the last LINKIN PARK album before Bennington's death.

Regarding what it has been like working with Emily and Colin, Mike told Futuro: "It's been awesome. When they were coming into this era, this chapter, they were already so prepared, they were so ready for it. They just hadn't done it. I mean, Emily has played for — I don't know how many [years], like 10 years or more with DEAD SARA. Colin was in multiple bands before he got into producing and writing with other people. And when I met Colin, I could tell that we had a lot of similar ways of looking at music and similar ways of thinking. I was just writing and producing stuff with him, and all of a sudden he got behind the drum kit and I was, like, 'Oh my God. He's an amazing drummer.' And as it turned out, Rob [Bourdon], our previous drummer, he didn't wanna keep playing. So that was almost just like good luck for us that we knew a guy already that that was so great. Emily is a total phenomenon. For us to find a once-in-a-generation voice like Chester and then to find another one like Emily is crazy. It doesn't make any sense."

Asked how he knew Emily was "the one" when it came to finding a replacement for Chester, Mike said: "Well, it's not just the singing, 'cause there's thousands and thousands of great singers out there. And when I worked with people, I've had a bunch of experiences where I worked with lots of different singers who are so talented and I've played shows with lots of singers who are so talented, but there's an an intangible thing that happens when people get in a room and they make things together, and you just feel like the vibe is so effortless and strong and easy. It's easy to hang out with each other. Even when you have differences of opinion on something that you're making or something that you're doing, it doesn't turn into arguments. Nobody's killing the energy, the vibe. And that was the experience we had with Emily and Colin. But as we were starting to make music a couple of years ago, we just found ourselves wanting to do more with them because they were so fun to hang out with and we would always make such good stuff together."

Shinoda went on to say that he and his LINKIN PARK bandmates had no expectations that "From Zero" would turn out to be a commercial success. "When we're making things, we're not thinking about hits," he explained. "That's not part of our process at all, really. First and foremost, we wanna love what we're doing, we wanna love playing it every night, we wanna feel like it artistically represents an important chapter for the band and that we're proud of where it sits in our catalog. And that's been the way we've approached things every time since the beginning. There are, of course, moments when it's, like, 'Okay, well, the label wants to release a single,' so you have to do marketing and you have to do promotion. And I totally enjoy doing that stuff. I love making surprises and scavenger hunts. Like the timer — in the beginning of our launch [for the new era of LINKIN PARK], we did a timer [on the band's web site] that counted down to zero and then the fans expected something to happen and it didn't happen; it just bounced back up and started… It went to 3, 2, 1, 0 and then it went 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and they were, like, so mad. But they realized later, the album is called 'From Zero'. The whole point was this is an actual marking of something that's gonna start at that point and go on until whenever. It's not just a countdown to something happening and then it's over. So the process of doing these things, the creative process, making things and sharing them with people, that's an everyday thing for us. I don't get too caught up in numbers and comparisons, unless it's like just checking in to see, like, 'Oh, do people like it? How are we doing with the fans in terms of maybe the show. Are fans excited about the show?' And so far the tour has been so much fun and such an undertaking and it's a lot of joy every night, I think."

At the first first show of LINKIN PARK's "From Zero" tour in September 2024 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Shinoda addressed the band's new chapter while reflecting on LINKIN PARK's return to the stage. "I mean, that's part of why we're back out here," he said. "We are thrilled to be back out here. It is not about erasing the past. It is about starting this new chapter into the future and coming out here for each and every one of you."

"From Zero" featured the No. 1 single "The Emptiness Machine" and propelled LINKIN PARK to be the only rock band in 2024 to exceed two billion streams. "From Zero (Deluxe Edition)" was released in May.

Delson contributed to "From Zero", but hasn't been part of LINKIN PARK's live shows in support of the LP. The live guitar position has instead been filled by Alex Feder.

Photo credit: James Minchin III (courtesy of Warner Records)

At this past weekend's Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California, TRIVIUM's Paolo Gregoletto spoke to Baby Huey and Chasta of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone about the band's recent split with its longtime drummer Alex Bent. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've had a great nine years together. I feel like it's kind of a weird thing because, obviously, being in a band together, but I feel like because we've all had families and stuff, there's a tighter connection there that even just what people see. So I think it's one of those things, we all were kind of sad, but at the same time, we said, 'Alex, we want you to kind of make the statement. You kind of lead how you'd like to handle all this stuff.' And I didn't wanna put words in his mouth or say whatever. He made the statement. I feel like we ended on great terms. And that's really kind of it. I mean, there's no juicier CRADLE OF FILTH [-style] drama [with former hired musicians sharing their grievances online]. And, again, it's one of those things where we wanted him to make a statement."

Paolo continued: "In the past we've always been very, like — we don't really like to get into any behind-the-scenes stuff with that. And, of course, we've had changes before, but we felt like in this instance, rather than just saying 'we're parting' or whatever, we [told Alex], like, 'Well, you've been around for so long, our fans would wanna hear from you.' And so that made it more important to us to be, like, 'Okay, you are gonna say whatever you'd like to say.' We didn't [tell Alex], 'You can't say this or that.' And then just give it 24 hours. And then as we hit the stage [at the Aftershock festival] today, be, like, 'Okay, this is the guy playing with us for today, for the tour,' and then that's kind of it."

Speaking about TRIVIUM's new touring drummer Greyson Nekrutman (SEPULTURA),who made his live debut with the band at Aftershock, Paolo said: "It's been a crazy whirlwind. He was on a tour in Canada, a drum-clinic tour. And he said, 'Yeah, I'll do it.' And he got home. He spent two 12-hour days, just in there, working on it, and then we flew him down. We jammed for two days, flew out here, and we're gonna go jam in our little room here in a bit. But everything's good. I feel like there's good vibes. Of course, it's one chapter ending, but I feel like the music that we made [with Alex] for the last nine years was great. And especially for the EP ['Struck Dead'] coming [in late October], if that's kind of the end cap on this era of TRIVIUM [with Alex], I'm very happy with everything we did."

Addressing TRIVIUM's plans for the coming months, including the search for Bent's replacement, Paolo said: "We're gonna be out, I think, in Europe next summer. The first couple months [of 2026] is gonna be kind of, like, of course, [working on the next full-length] record and stuff. And then we're gonna probably take a little bit of time and maybe jam with some people, just kind of see what we're feeling for the next step.

"This is still kind of new, so we're not totally sure [what we're gonna do about a new drummer], but we've never really taken a moment to kind of just step back," Paolo explained. "Because Greyson is incredible, but he is with SEPULTURA. And they have commitments, and we're very lucky that there's no clashes at the moment. He can get us through the end of the year, and [we] feel like the songs are in good hands. But … once we get off the road, once we get to holidays, everyone's got clear heads — we know a lot of great people, and we don't know if there's someone that might be interested in that. So we're, like, well, let's just take a moment. And next year we'll get into that. And then, of course, the record is gonna be the big thing for us. And, of course, you know what follows that — more touring, coming back around."

The 23-year-old Nekrutman, who also previously toured with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, will play drums for TRIVIUM on "The Ascend Above The Ashes" North American tour. The trek will kick off October 31 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and run through December 14, with a hometown show in Orlando, Florida. Special guests are JINJER and HERIOT.

When Alex announced his departure from TRIVIUM on Friday (October 3),he said in a statement: "I am beyond grateful for the incredible past nine years with TRIVIUM — filled with unforgettable moments, music, and friendships that I'll always carry with me. I'm so proud of every record and tour we created together, and I know TRIVIUM will continue to dominate the world; they'll always have my support.

"While this chapter has come to a close, this is by no means the end of my path as a musician. I'm excited for this new chapter, and I look forward to continuing to create, perform, and share music in new ways.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Your encouragement means the world."

Nekrutman officially replaced SEPULTURA's longtime drummer Eloy Casagrande in February 2024.

In December 2016, TRIVIUM parted ways with Paul Wandtke and welcomed Bent, a former member of BATTLECROSS and DECREPIT BIRTH who had previously played with TESTAMENT as a fill-in for that band's longtime drummer Gene Hoglan.

Back in 2017, TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy admitted to the That's Not Metal Podcast that it had been difficult for the band's core trio — Heafy, Gregoletto and guitarist Corey Beaulieu — to keep a drummer prior to Bent's addition in 2016.

"The drumming is what the band is built upon, it's the foundation for which all the music is built upon, and if you don't have a strong foundation for a house or a building, it eventually collapses," Matt explained. "And I'm so thankful that the stars finally aligned, after eight records, to find the guy that we needed to find. And I think that when people hear Alex, it's not a question of 'Why?' It's more like an observation, like, 'Oh, I see you did it again, but I know why.' Because he's that freakin' good."

"Struck Dead" will arrive on October 31 via longtime label Roadrunner. The effort was produced by TRIVIUM and recorded with Mark Lewis at the band's Hangar Studios in Orlando, Florida. It was mixed and mastered by Josh Wilbur.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, October 7) marks the publication of Ozzy Osbourne's second autobiography "Last Rites" (Grand Central Publishing). The memoir was finished just days before the rock icon's untimely July 2025 passing and it chronicles the past seven or so years of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter's life.

"Last Rites" is the shocking, bitterly hilarious, never-before-told story of Ozzy's descent into hell. Along the way, he reflects on his extraordinary life and career, including his marriage to wife Sharon, alongside his reflections on what it took for him to get back onstage for the triumphant "Back To The Beginning" concert, streamed around the world, where Ozzy finally reunited with his BLACK SABBATH bandmates and surrounded by the musicians he'd befriended throughout his storied career. Unflinching, brutally honest, but surprisingly life-affirming, "Last Rites" demonstrates once again why Ozzy has transcended his status as "the godfather of metal" and "The Prince Of Darkness" to become a modern-day folk hero and international treasure.

At the age of 69, Ozzy was on a triumphant farewell tour, playing to sold-out arenas and rave reviews all around the world. Then disaster. In a matter of just a few weeks, he went from being hospitalized with a finger infection to having to abandon his tour — and all public life — as he faced near-total paralysis from the neck down.

Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, 1948, Ozzy Osbourne is a rock music legend. He is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author (the new autobiography follows Ozzy's New York Times bestsellers: 2010's autobiography "I Am Ozzy" and 2011's "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy: Advice From Rock's Ultimate Survivor"). His music career, with more than 100 million records sold (with BLACK SABBATH and as a solo artist),has spanned five decades and as a solo artist and a member of BLACK SABBATH, Ozzy is a multiple Grammy winner and two-time Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee.

Ozzy's son Jack Osbourne talks about "Last Rites" in the question-and-answer session below.

Q: How did the idea for doing "Last Rites" come about?

Jack: "My father had been working on 'Last Rites' for a very long time — chipping away at it over the last three or four years. He always felt he needed to do a follow-up to 'I Am Ozzy', because so much had happened in the 20 years since that book was released. From life after the TV show, to the SABBATH reunion, to releasing his last two albums, and finally his health issues. It was important to him to capture all of that."

Q: Do you or other family members have favorites passages/anecdotes from the book?

Jack: "If I'm being honest, not many of the family members have read the book yet — it's been difficult time for everyone. For me, the last chapter is what I've reflected on the most. He finished it just a few days before he passed."

Q: Throughout "Last Rites" Ozzy reflects on his early life with the insight gained as we grow older. Were there things that changed about him and the way he experienced the world towards the end of his life?

Jack: "There's a lot to reflect on with that question. My father was always considered the 'wild man of rock,' the 'Prince Of Darkness' and so on, but the last seven years were the complete opposite. Because of his injuries and declining health, he slowed down. And sometimes with a curse comes a blessing. Slowing down gave him the space to really reflect on his journey — his successes, his failures, his joys, his sadness and ultimately, what mattered most to him. This book captures some of that."

Q: Do you recall any moments or conversations with Ozzy as he was working on the book — funny, touching, surprising — about the material he wanted to include or stories about working with a writer on the project?

Jack: "He was very private about the process and didn't share much about what he was including. I'd try to ask, but he'd often brush it off. I've often said this about my father, he was the most humble egomaniac you could ever meet. He honestly didn't think anyone would care about what he was writing in 'Last Rites'. So when I asked him, he always downplayed it."

Q: It's so clear from reading "Last Rites" that Ozzy loved his fans. Is there anything that didn't make it into the book that you'd like for them to know?

Jack: "Here's the truth — my father fought a very hard fight to get on that stage in Birmingham on July 5. He was determined to say goodbye to his fans, and that's exactly what he did. He loved them deeply because they gave him the life he had. He always said he would have been nothing without their love and support. That last show was his way of giving back one final time."

Q: What do you think Ozzy would like readers to take away from the book?

Jack: "My father would want people to smile, laugh, and feel love when they read it. He absolutely hated when people felt sorry for him. I know some fans will get emotional — it's hard not to — but he couldn't stand when people cried in front of him or got sad around him. So enjoy his words. Feel his energy. Remember who he will always be. And never stop loving him."

Pre-Order LAST RITES now. Release day is October 7. Link in comments below

Posted by Ozzy Osbourne on Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Multi-Grammy Award-winning Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees AEROSMITH and British multi-platinum, award-winning rock star Yungblud have released a new version of "My Only Angel", the first single from their collaborative EP titled "One More Time". Dubbed "My Only Angel (Desert Road Version)", the stripped-down rendition featuring a guest appearance by comedy legend Steve Martin.

Inspired by the original track's emotional core, AEROSMITH and Yungblud returned to the studio to explore its more vulnerable side. During the session, AEROSMITH singer Steven Tyler — a longtime admirer of Martin — imagined the distinctive sound of a banjo bringing the song to a close. He reached out to Martin, who accepted the invitation and recorded his part remotely. The addition gives the new version its defining final moment: a soulful ending that trades the drive of the original for a grounded, textured feel, with Martin's standout banjo solo carrying the song to its finish.

"I'm playing banjo on a Steven Tyler song!" Steve revealed on Instagram. "Here's our text exchange for no particular reason."

Martin played banjo on some of his early comedy albums, such as "A Wild And Crazy Guy", and has gotten more serious about the instrument in recent years, joining bluegrass bands and releasing music.

Earlier this month, Martin and Alison Brown unveiled their debut collaborative album, "Safe, Sensible And Sane". Out now via Brown's Compass Records, the release features an array of guest artists, including Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, THE INDIGO GIRLS, Tim O'Brien, Jason Mraz and more.

Out on November 21 via Capitol Records, "One More Time" marks AEROSMITH's first new music in over 12 years. Produced by Matt Schwartz, "One More Time" features four original tracks co-written by AEROSMITH and Yungblud, with both AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler and Yungblud sharing the vocals, as well as a fiery 2025 mix of the classic "Back In The Saddle".

The "One More Time" EP artwork was designed exclusively by Chrome Hearts' Joe Foti, a first for the luxury brand, and is available now to pre-order digitally as well as limited-edition vinyl.

"My Only Angel", the first track released by the music legends and one of the most prevalent young voices in rock, is available now on all digital platforms and with an accompanying visual. Opening with Tyler's towering vocals a cappella as he asks, "Would you cry, if I called you my angel? Would you leave me one more time?"  the track awash in delay, loose guitar echoes over a steady beat, a rumbling bassline, and strains of soft piano. Yungblud and Tyler lean into the refrain's hypnotic harmony until a signature Joe Perry fret-burning solo takes hold, underscoring the chemistry between two generations of rock.

"The decision to meet Yungblud and make this music with him…was like plugging into pure electricity!" said Tyler. "For Joe and me it was another cosmic collision… to find ourselves in the studio with this outrageously talented and positively wild animal named Dom. Here's this kid that lives his life out loud…grew up on our records and the British invasion... and now we're in the studio together creating something that bridges generations. He devoured all the same greats looked up to…and then he started to dream on. It's as simple as that."

Tyler added: "When we sang and played together for the first time, there was an immediate unspoken vibration throughout the studio… it reminded me of the wheels of the car vibrating my seat as the boys and I drove into Boston 50 years ago for the very first time. It had that same deep intimate pressure of necessity. To make it… make it great… something fresh and new…and make it last forever. That's the rock n roll way baby! Yungblud wants this next chapter in rock history and asked us to be a part of it. We got on so well… the vibe in the room was epic from the start… we had a blast… and were truly honored to write with him! Rock and roll becomes timeless when you pour your heart and soul into it… that's when the magic happens."

Of the collaboration, Perry said: "A year ago, I got a call that Yungblud wanted to come to Sarasota to work with me and write some songs. I had heard his single and said, 'Hell yeah, this guy's got the juice.' Four days in the studio and we got to know each other along with his team. I called Steven and told him, 'You have to hear this guy Yungblud — he's the real deal.' Fast forward to May and we're in the studio with Steven recording new music. The end result turned out to be an amazing collaboration between AEROSMITH and Yungblud. Let the music do the talking."

Yungblud shared: "AEROSMITH have been such a staple of rock and roll and showmanship for me, so I've been ready for this my whole life. As soon as we entered the studio, the chemistry exploded and the songs just poured out of us. It's the kind of collaboration that young me wouldn't even dream of so to sit here holding a vinyl in my hand that says AEROSMITH and Yungblud on it is truly blowing my mind. Steven and Joe are at the top of their game and working with them is a huge fucking honor. I'm making records with my heroes, the shows insane every night and rock 'n' roll is waking the fuck up whether you like it or not. I'm loving every second."

Yungblud (real name Dominic Harrison) first met the legendary band when they paired up in the studio with the intention of featuring on a version of the nine-minute epic "Hello Heaven, Hello". Chemistry started to flow, and what began as a guest spot soon turned into a writing session, eventually evolving into a five-track EP. Beyond the lead single, the collection showcases Yungblud's raw spirit colliding with the band's legendary musicianship: Perry and Brad Whitford's guitars cut through with signature fire, Tom Hamilton's bass anchors the arrangements, and Tyler's unmistakable voice intertwines with Yungblud's across every track. Longtime friend Matt Sorum, former drummer of GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER, lends his presence behind the kit across the EP.

The announcement of "One More Time" and release of "My Only Angel" followed Tyler, Perry and Yungblud's September 7 performance honoring the legendary Ozzy Osbourne with a medley of his greatest hits at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.

Yungblud kicked off the tribute with Osbourne's "Crazy Train" before slowing things down with a cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Changes". Tyler then took the stage to sing Osbourne's hit ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home", accompanied by Perry on guitar. Yungblud returned to the mic to duet with Tyler on the tune, which ended with pyrotechnics and Yungblud shouting into the microphone, "Ozzy forever!"

After the performance, both AEROSMITH and Yungblud shared a brief clip of Tyler and Yungblud embracing, with Steven saying cheekily, "We've got a secret!"

At the July 5 "Back To The Beginning" concert, Yungblud sang a version of "Changes", backed by EXTREME's Nuno Bettencourt on guitar, ANTHRAX's Frank Bello on bass, SLEEP TOKEN's II on drums and BLACK SABBATH/OZZY OSBOURNE touring keyboardist Adam Wakeman on keys. The original version of "Changes" appeared on SABBATH's fourth album, "Vol. 4", released in 1972.

"One More Time" EP track listing:

01. My Only Angel
02. Problems
03. Wild Woman
04. A Thousand Days
05. Back In The Saddle (2025 Mix)

AEROSMITH are one of the most influential and impactful bands in history. To date, the quintet — Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer — have sold over 150 million albums globally, garnered four Grammy Awards, earned induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (class of 2001),and played to over 100 million fans across every livable continent. From the streets of Boston, Massachusetts in 1970, they forever raised the bar for rock 'n' roll with soulful swagger, blues gusto, eloquent songcraft, and epic vision, inspiring generations of fans and artists to follow.

As one of only four American rock bands with more than 90 million RIAA albums sold — and one of just two with 25 RIAA gold and platinum albums — their catalog includes 30 albums reaching the Billboard Top 200 and 28 songs appearing on the Billboard Hot 100. Both the nine-times-platinum "Toys In The Attic" (1975) and four-times-platinum "Rocks" (1976) earned spots on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time," while their signature single "Dream On" not only streamed more than five billion times but also earned a place in the Grammy Hall Of Fame. Additional career highlights include producing era-defining music videos such as "Amazing", "Crazy", "Janie's Got a Gun", "Livin' on the Edge" and "Love In An Elevator". Their Top 5 chart-topping hits include "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing", "Angel", "Janie's Got A Gun" and "Love In An Elevator". "Dream On" ranks as the third most streamed classic rock song and the 18th most streamed rock song overall, based on Luminate data, spending 23 weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 6.

AEROSMITH also hold the record for the most total RIAA certifications by an American group. They were the first hard rock band to appear at a Super Bowl halftime show and the first band to have their own attraction at Disney World with Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

Yungblud is fast becoming one of the world's key musical voices of his generation, blending influences from rock and punk to monumental effect. His arena-filling performances have cemented his place as one the world's most electrifying musical exports. He has received several accolades, including the MTV EMAs and the O2 Silver Clef Award for "Best Live Act". Known for his electrifying stage presence and boundary-pushing lyrics, Yungblud continues to challenge conventions while inspiring fans worldwide with messages of authenticity and acceptance. This year, Yungblud debuted own curated festival Bludfest and released his first book, the instant No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller "You Need To Exist: A Book To Love And Destroy" on Penguin Books.

Born in Yorkshire, England, the 28-year-old multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer first picked up a guitar at age two and began writing his own songs at age 10. Following the release of his self-titled EP and his full-length debut, "21st Century Liability" (2018),his subsequent three albums "Weird!" (2020),"Yungblud" (2022) and "Idols" (2025) all debuted at No. 1 in the U.K. Official Albums chart. His lyrics has resonated with millions around the world, earning him meteoric success. He has since accumulated tens of millions of followers, eight billion streams, sold three million albums to date and over one million concert tickets. He continues to perform to sold-out crowds around the world and headline some of the world's biggest festivals.

This summer marked the start of a landmark new era as he unleashed his critically acclaimed, chart-topping album "Idols" alongside the Paul Dugdale–directed feature-length documentary "Yungblud: Are You Ready, Boy?" — a raw and powerful portrait of his journey so far. He's now storming through a completely sold-out North American tour bringing his album to life for fans across the continent.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steve Martin (@stevemartinreally)

In celebration of Halloween this year, AVENGED SEVENFOLD has shared its cover of the MISFITS song "Some Kinda Hate". The original version of the track appeared on MISFITS' 1985 compilation album "Legacy Of Brutality".

"In keeping with the spirit of the season, this year's offering of 'Some Kinda Hate' is available to all," says AVENGED SEVENFOLD. "Enjoy?"

In 2024, guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman released their version of "Skulls", while 2023 saw them reworking "Astro Zombies", 2022 produced "Last Caress" and Halloween 2021 marked the release of a version of "Hybrid Moments". All four tracks feature Vengeance on vocals.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Life Is But A Dream…", was written and recorded over the span of four years. It was produced by Joe Barresi and AVENGED SEVENFOLD in Los Angeles and mixed by Andy Wallace in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. The album is a journey through an existential crisis; a very personal exploration into the meaning, purpose and value of human existence with the anxiety of death always looming.

"Life Is But A Dream…" reportedly sold 36,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. AVENGED SEVENFOLD's previous LP, "The Stage", debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 album chart in November 2016. The surprise release of "The Stage" earned the lowest sales of an AVENGED SEVENFOLD album in eleven years. It sold 76,000 copies in its first week, less than half the tally of its previous two efforts.

Last month, AVENGED SEVENFOLD postponed its fall 2025 Latin American tour due to M. Shadows's vocal injury. The band was scheduled to to kick off the tour on September 25 in Buenos Aires, Argentina but ended up calling off the trek after M. Shadows was diagnosed with vocal fold hematoma, a condition where a blood vessel in the vocal cord ruptures and leaks blood under the lining of the vocal cord.

ONCE BITTEN, the new band featuring past members of GREAT WHITE — Tony Montana from the multi-platinum era and co-writer of some of their biggest hits, and powerhouse vocalist and former member of GREAT WHITE, Andrew Freeman — along with longtime members of JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, Robby Lochner, Dan McNay and Ken Mary, has released its debut single, "Rockin' Like The 80's".

ONCE BITTEN states: "'Rockin' Like the 80's' is our tribute to the era we grew up in — the time when GREAT WHITE was at its peak. It's packed with the sounds, the energy and the vibe of that decade… but most importantly, it's dedicated to YOU — our friends and family who've stood by us through JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE and now with ONCE BITTEN. From running band pages, to spreading the word, to showing up at shows — you've been part of the journey, and we are grateful and feel blessed for the friendships we've made along the way. This song is our open letter of thanks."

In a video update, Freeman said about "Rockin' Like The 80's": "Tony Montana wrote this awesome song. I tracked the vocals for it. It's a fun song, and it's trying to bridge the gap between the '80s generation and today. And it's brilliant. Tony wrote the whole thing, and it's brilliant. Tony and Robby Lochner, I think, gets an honorable mention. I know he did something on it as far as writing is concerned."

Regarding ONCE BITTEN's future plans, Andrew said: "Basically, ONCE BITTEN is JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE with me singing. So the guys that played with Jack all those years are in the band, and we were doing some shows and we're doing songs, we're writing songs. Because why not? Because they don't wanna stop playing, and I don't blame 'em. So we're making music, 'cause that's what we do. And we weren't blessed with a brand name where we could just go out and do whatever we want. But we can do whatever we want, and we are."

ONCE BITTEN performsGREAT WHITE classics and new hits.

Tony first came on the scene as the bassist for GREAT WHITE on the tour for "Once Bitten…" and was part of the band through its most successful period. After spending time away, he reunited with original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell, first playing bass and then guitar in JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE.

Russell's death was announced by his family in a social media statement on August 15, 2024.

The news of Jack's passing came less than a month after he announced that he was retiring from touring following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.

Russell was performing with his version of GREAT WHITE when a pyrotechnics display sparked a nightclub fire that killed 100 people at a 2003 concert in Rhode Island. At the time of the fire, the group that was on the road was called JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE. Guitarist Mark Kendall, who founded GREAT WHITE with Russell in 1982, later said he was asked to join Russell and his solo band on the tour to help boost attendance. Guitarist Ty Longley died in the blaze.

Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed.

Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE up until his death while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.

In a new interview with the "Everblack" podcast, DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess was asked if he is the kind performer who gets annoyed by fans in the audience holding up their phones and taking pictures and short videos of the band's concerts. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No, I'm not at all. I think people should be allowed to take pictures. I think that the only problem is if you see somebody just out there [holding the phone up and filming] the whole time, just capturing the whole thing. I just think that that's kind of rude. But I don't mind pictures at all. As a matter of fact, I think it's great. Take some pictures, capture a little clip, but don't sit there the whole time and just hold your phone and capture the whole thing. That's not right."

He continued: "The other thing that's not cool, for those of people who are listening that are gonna be gonna be in this situation, if you're in the front row and [DREAM THEATER guitarist] John Petrucci is right next to you — come on. Don't just sit there and hold the phone. That doesn't feel good to the performer. It's not acceptable. Yeah, take a picture, sure, grab a moment, but put your phone down. Enjoy it. It's rude for the player to have something right up to them. That's distracting."

Rudess added: "Just to finalize that thought — do it in a natural way. Yeah, grab your phone, take a couple of pictures here and there. Absolutely. Enjoy it. Just don't put it in somebody's face and don't hold it up the whole time 'cause you paid money for a ticket."

Jordan is also a solo artist whose latest album, "Permission To Fly", was released in September 2024; an educator who shares his skills through detailed online tutorials; and the founder of software company Wizdom Music. His work combines a rigorous classical foundation (he began his piano studies at Juilliard at age 9) with a genius for improvisation and an appetite for experimentation.

DREAM THEATER will release "Quarantième: Live À Paris" on November 28 via their longtime label partner Inside Out Music/Sony Music.

"Quarantième: Live À Paris" documents DREAM THEATER's November 23, 2024 concert at Adidas Arena in Paris, France during the band's 40th-anniversary headlining tour of Europe, and it features the lineup of James LaBrie (vocals),John Petrucci (guitar),John Myung (bass),Jordan Rudess (keyboards) and Mike Portnoy (drums). The effort contains a setlist that spans the band's entire career with classics like "Metropolis Pt. 1", "Panic Attack", "Octavarium" and "Pull Me Under" represented among other fan favorites.

Presented in several formats, with artwork by longtime collaborator Hugh Syme, "Quarantième: Live À Paris" will be available as a limited deluxe 3CD+3Blu-ray artbook, including 68 pages of photos and artwork as well as an additional Blu-ray of bonus material. It will also be available as a special edition 3CD+2Blu-ray Digipak, limited deluxe 180g 4LP boxset and digitally. The Blu-ray includes the full show with Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound and high-resolution stereo audio.

DREAM THEATER's summer/fall 2025 "An Evening With Dream Theater" U.S. tour is hitting 30 cities across the United States, kicking off September 5 in Reading, Pennsylvania and running through October 25, when it wraps in Long Island, New York. The tour is making stops in Orlando, Floria; Detroit, Michigan; Kansas City, Missouri and Providence, Rhode Island, among others. DREAM THEATER is performing its latest album, "Parasomnia", in its entirety as well as classics and fan favorites from the band's catalog in what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music.

"Parasomnia" came out on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. The LP marked DREAM THEATER's first release with Portnoy since 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings".

"Parasomnia" was produced by Petrucci, engineered by James "Jimmy T" Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returned once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.

"Parasomnia" is an eight-song, 71-minute set which was recorded at DREAM THEATER's DTHQ studio on Long Island, New York. It is the follow-up to 2021's "A View From The Top Of The World", which debuted at in the top 10 of Billboard's Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Rock Albums and Independent Albums charts. Six songs on "Parasomnia" are over seven minutes and the closing epic "The Shadow Man Incident" clocks in at nearly 20 minutes.

The North American leg of DREAM THEATER's 40th-anniversary tour kicked off on February 7 at The Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The trek was "An Evening With Dream Theater" and was the first tour of North America since Portnoy's return to the lineup. The tour concluded on March 22 in New York City.

Portnoy, Petrucci and Myung started DREAM THEATER as MAJESTY in 1985, after meeting at the Berklee College Of Music in Boston. LaBrie came on board in 1991, while Rudess joined in 1999.

Prior to Portnoy's return to DREAM THEATER, the drummer and Petrucci worked together on the latter's 2020 solo album, "Terminal Velocity", and toured together. Portnoy and Petrucci also joined Rudess and bassist Tony Levin for a third studio album as LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT in 2021.

At last night's (Wednesday, October 22) opening night of Birmingham Royal Ballet's "Black Sabbath - The Ballet"'s return to Sadler's Wells in London, United Kingdom, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi made a surprise appearance, playing the guitar solo to the hit production's closing song, "Paranoid".

QUEEN guitarist Brian May, who was in attendance at last night's performance, shared a couple of short videos of Iommi's appearance and he included the following message: "Wow ! The true Father of Heavy Metal making that beautiful axe sing like a bird tonight at Sadlers Wells. Tony Iommi plus a 40 piece orchestra and a cast of 50 dancers - putting the icing on the cake of a great production of Black Sabbath The Ballet. Proud to call this infinitely modest and generous genius my friend."

Last month, Iommi spoke to BBC Breakfast about "Black Sabbath - The Ballet", which returned with a homecoming at Birmingham Hippodrome from September 18 to September 27 following dates in Europe and the USA. The production then visited Manchester's The Lowry, Salford for the first time (October 8-11) before returning to Theatre Royal Plymouth (October 16-18),Sadler's Wells, London (October 22-25) and finishing with a Scottish premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre (October 30 - November 1).

Iommi said that he wishes his SABBATH bandmate Ozzy Osbourne was alive to see "Black Sabbath - The Ballet".

"[The ballet] means everything, and it's a shame in a lot of ways [Ozzy] didn't get to see the ballet because he wanted to see it," Tony said. "It's our lives and music."

Iommi said that he was sold on the ballet idea after an initial get-together with Birmingham Royal Ballet director Carlos Acosta, who had "Black Sabbath - The Ballet" on his mind since he first arrived in Birmingham at the start of 2020, just before the pandemic hit. BLACK SABBATH played its first-ever gig in The Crown pub just a stone's throw from Birmingham Royal Ballet's base on Thorp Street. The pub was recently saved from demolition and is deemed a heritage site by fans.

"I couldn't believe it at first, but when we got together at a meeting the enthusiasm in Carlos was incredible," Iommi said. "When Carlos presented it to us, taught me about it, he had this same vibe as I had when I put songs together and that excitement of doing it. He knew he had a vision of what it should be, and it gave me the confidence."

Following a complete sell-out premiere season in autumn 2023, bringing heavy metal fans to ballet for the first time, the 2025 tour will incorporate brand-new audio interviews with BLACK SABBATH bandmembers, voices such as Sharon Osbourne and fans from across the globe. The sound design has also been revised, sharpened and turned up to full volume for this electric night of dance and rock that audiences have never experienced before.

Acosta said: "Back in 2023 we were blown away by the awesome success of 'Black Sabbath - The Ballet', selling out at every performance with standing ovations and bringing audiences that had never experienced live dance before to the theatre. Now, in 2025, we are cranking the volume up to 11 with a big, bold U.K. tour that is sure to knock everyone's socks off!"

Iommi said: "BLACK SABBATH have always been innovators and never been predictable, and it doesn't come any more unpredictable than this! It was incredible to see what Carlos and the team at Birmingham Royal Ballet did back in 2023 — bringing our music to life in a way I never thought possible! It's fantastic that more fans across the country get to see this extraordinary production this autumn on a U.K. tour."

Composer Christopher Austin is the mastermind behind the classical reimagining of some of BLACK SABBATH's most iconic songs, played live at every performance by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Tony Award-winning Christopher worked closely with Iommi on the score, creating full orchestrations of legendary BLACK SABBATH tracks alongside new orchestral works inspired by their music. The orchestra is joined by guitarist Marc Hayward who plays live on stage alongside the dancers at every show.

Christopher Austin said: "For the music team, creating the score for this extraordinary ballet has been an exhilarating journey, and it all began with the most amazing gift from Tony: his trust in us to honor the band's music and his encouragement to follow our own new paths with those iconic songs.

"The passion and commitment of the whole creative team at BRB and the overwhelming response from audiences has made 'Black Sabbath - The Ballet' the experience of a lifetime and I can't wait to be back in the theatre conducting this magical show."

The eight BLACK SABBATH tracks featured are:

* "Paranoid" ("Paranoid" album, 1970);
* "Iron Man" ("Paranoid" album, 1970);
* "War Pigs" ("Paranoid" album, 1970);
* "Black Sabbath" ("Black Sabbath" album, 1970);
* "Solitude" (Master Of Reality" album, 1971);
* "Orchid" (Master Of Reality" album, 1971);
* "Laguna Sunrise" ("Vol 4" album, 1972) and
* "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" ("Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" album, 1973).

A full-length, three-act Ballet Now commission, "Black Sabbath - The Ballet" was created by a host of international talent including lead Swedish choreographer Pontus Lidburg and Cuban designer Alexandre Arrechea with additional choreographers Raúl Reinoso and Cassi Abranches and composers Marko Nyberg and Sun Keting. Dramaturgy is by Richard Thomas and lighting design is by KJ. Metal curator is Lisa Meyer.

In an October 2023 video from Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sharon Osbourne the wife and manager of BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne, said: "When I first heard that Birmingham Royal Ballet was putting on a ballet to BLACK SABBATH music, I just thought, this is so left field. It's so not expected. Who would have ever thought the combination? And I just thought, brilliant. This is just so out there that it's wonderful."

Iommi, who had been present at some rehearsals for the U.K. "Black Sabbath – The Ballet" dates, came up on stage at the end of the opening performance to play guitar on the band's classic song "Paranoid". Iommi also took a bow at the end of the night along with the cast and crew. Also in attendance at the event were Iommi's bandmate, SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and Sharon Osbourne, along with LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant and ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA's Bev Bevan, who served as the touring drummer for BLACK SABBATH from 1983 to 1984 and played percussion on "The Eternal Idol" album in 1987.

In April 2023, Iommi was asked by Birmingham World if he could ever have imagined that half a century after he formed SABBATH that Birmingham's ballet company would be dancing to their music. Tony laughed and said: "I wouldn't have believed them, really, to be honest. At the time when I got involved with BLACK SABBATH, I thought it was great, because it was something so different, and hasn't been done before. And I found it, I think, a good challenge.

"I'm looking at our music differently now with this [the ballet], because it is being interpreted in a different way. It's still got the basic things, but then it did have in the different orchestral things coming in. And then I never thought for a minute we would have people dancing to BLACK SABBATH and 'War Pigs' and 'Iron Man'. But here we are, you know."

Regarding Birmingham Royal Ballet's interpretation of SABBATH's music, Tony said: "Birmingham Royal Ballet are very conscious of the work being what it is — the SABBATH music. We don't want to change it so you can’t recognize it. So they've held that part of it, but added another dimension to it. So I was very happy with that."

As for whether he thinks the Black Sabbath Ballet could inspire heavy metal fans to become ballet fans, and ballet fans to become heavy metal fans, Iommi said: "I certainly hope so. I mean, it is a strange combination, but you've got to push the boat out. And, you know, hopefully, we can get everybody together. But they're opposite but they're not at the same time — because it's still creative. They're creating what they're doing. We're creating what we've done, and we're bringing them together. And I think it'd be really interesting to see the SABBATH fans and then to see the ballet fans liking it, hopefully."

Acosta revealed early last year that 60 percent of tickets at that point for the U.K. shows had been bought by SABBATH fans. He said that "BLACK SABBATH is so different from the world of ballet, and I wanted to multiply our reach. I hate to be predictable; I hate for the company to be taken for granted. Everyone knows 'Swan Lake' and 'Cinderella' … [It's] a great opportunity for us to show people the world of dance."

Austin, who supervised the music for the project, said: "Unlike THE BEATLES where you can buy two enormous volumes of all their scores with all the instrumental parts, there's not so much for BLACK SABBATH.

"When I was asked to take part in this project I thought, where do you start? The BLACK SABBATH catalog is enormous, it's so rich and so varied. So the process initially was starting to narrow down the amount of material that we wanted to work with that would furnish us with variety, with richness, with different emotional tones, but also help us create this evening-length show."

Austin added: "What I love about BLACK SABBATH music is the glorious irregularity. All the aspects of music — the flexibility of tempo and feel. And the extraordinary early period Ozzy vocals which are stratospheric, it's exceeding Pavarotti in term of the high notes and ringing power."

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's "Today" program, Acosta said he had been a fan of SABBATH for more than two decades, and said he felt the band's classic protest song "War Pigs" still has particular resonance.

"'War Pigs' is so relevant today, how sometimes politicians and governments hide behind words. And all the wars happening at the moment... it's timeless," he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)