Filmmaker Matt Zane says that he has received a cease-and-desist letter from the estate and family of late STATIC-X frontman Wayne Static regarding Zane's plan to go ahead with an unauthorized documentary focusing on Wayne and Static's wife, Tera Wray.

The legal notice arrived just days after the family made clear they were prepared to take action to halt any unapproved production. In a statement, the family said they "strenuously object" to Zane's plan to make the film, explaining that they are "not interested in the further development of any unauthorized biography or documentary…"

Zane, however, remains defiant.

"This won't stop me," he said. "I'm ready and willing to take this as far as it goes. If it ends up in court, so be it. This movie will be made and released if it's the last thing that I do."

Zane has also questioned why his project has been singled out when multiple unauthorized documentaries about Wayne Static already exist online.

"If you go to YouTube right now you'll see multiple unauthorized documentaries about Wayne Static with hundreds of thousands of views," Matt said. "None of them were threatened with legal action. I'm the only one served with a cease-and-desist letter — and I haven't even started production yet. Why am I being singled out?"

Since news of the estate's disapproval broke, Zane has faced intense backlash from segments of the fan community. He believes much of the criticism stems from a lack of awareness about his long-standing personal and professional relationship with Wayne Static and Tera Wray.

"Most people attacking me simply don't know my history with Wayne and Tera or the work I've done over the past 15 years," Zane explained.

Zane pointed to his filmmaking credentials and extensive work within the rock and metal world.

"My first documentary, 'DV Karloff: The Altered Noise', won an award at the American Horrors Film Festival. I've worked with Zakk Wylde, John 5, DMC, Wednesday 13 and more, directing commercials and music videos. STATIC-X themselves hired me for multiple music videos, commercials, and social media content. Wayne hired me for all of his video work after STATIC-X. My career may have started in adult films, but I haven't been in that world for many years."

Despite presenting what he considers clear facts, Zane says some critics refuse to reconsider their stance. The controversy has prompted him to reflect on a private exchange he once had with Wayne Static.

While the full e-mail remains private, Zane has highlighted this quote from Wayne publicly: "I've always felt people are too dumb to understand what's really going on around us. It seems like you share that feeling."

Matt also shared the email publicly on his Facebook page , giving fans and press a firsthand look at Wayne's words.

As tensions escalate, the dispute appears far from over. Whether resolved privately or in court, Zane insists the documentary will move forward — setting the stage for a highly publicized clash between an artist's estate and a filmmaker claiming to honor his late friend's legacy.

In their joint statement, the families of Wayne Static and Tera Wray asked that any rare or unseen footage in Zane's possession be submitted for review and possible inclusion in the official "Evil Disco" documentary, which is currently in development with the approval of Wayne's estate.

Zane, who had a long personal and creative relationship with both Wayne and Tera, responded: "I understand the family's concerns, especially Wayne's sister Aimee who is a wonderful person, but my obligation isn't to the families — it's to Wayne and Tera. They asked me to do this, and I know they would want the focus to be on the two of them."

In response to the estate's request regarding material, Zane stated that there has been confusion surrounding his involvement with "Evil Disco".

"I think the family is a bit confused about the creation of the official documentary 'Evil Disco'," he said. "I was hired and edited about 85% of that and in good faith allowed my footage to be used within the edit. I never signed over the footage legally for use but was willing to do so if the agreed-upon terms were met. I also allowed my personal footage of Wayne to be used in multiple music videos such as 'Stay Alive' and 'All These Years' even though the band hasn't officially licensed it from me."

Zane emphasized that his film will not conflict with the narrative direction of "Evil Disco", noting that the two projects serve very different purposes.

"I personally think both movies can exist. I watched a working cut of 'Evil Disco' with Wayne's sister Aimee and it's really cool, but it's more about the band — past and present. My movie is about Wayne and Tera."

Zane also confirmed that the unreleased Wayne Static music he had hoped to include will not be used without explicit approval from the estate.

"As far as the unreleased music, unfortunately I'm unable to use any of that without the family's consent," he said. "What I may do is create tracks based off of the music Wayne and I worked on and bring in other singers, similar to what Jonathan Davis did for 'Queen Of The Damned'."

However, Zane revealed the existence of additional solo material recorded by Wayne that has never been made public.

"But I can tell you this: there are six tracks Wayne wrote and recorded that I did not have any part in that are truly his final solo works," he said. "Yes, his vocals are on them and they were done in 2013."

Zane's film is intended to be a personal, emotionally driven account focused on the relationship between Wayne Static and Tera Wray — a story he says the couple explicitly wanted him to tell.

The crowdfunding campaign for the documentary is now live on IndieGoGo.

On December 10, the families of Wayne Static and Tera Wray released the following statement via social media: "A message from the families of Wayne Static & Tera Wray.

"We are sharing this with the world to ensure that our feelings are crystal clear on this matter.

"We are not interested in the further development of any unauthorized biography or documentary focused on our deceased son, daughter, and siblings, Wayne Wells ('Wayne Static') and Tera Lents ('Tera Wray'). This includes but is not limited to: any behind-the-scenes footage from music videos, adult film sets, concerts, house parties, developmental projects, reality TV pilots, private photos, or any other portrayals of Wayne Wells Static, Tera Lents Wray Static, or either of their likenesses. Any attempt to exploit their unauthorized likeness will be met with the appropriate legal response.

"We strenuously object to any further exploration or exploitation of this dark and tragic chapter in their lives. Additionally, we feel that the music video for the Wayne Static song 'Assassins Of Youth', directed by Matt Zane and released in 2013, and the STATIC-X 'Stay Alive' music video released in 2023, thoroughly depict the dangerous lifestyle that Wayne and Tera were embracing prior to their subsequent deaths. Further, STATIC-X is nearing completion of the official STATIC-X documentary titled 'Evil Disco - The Rise, Fall, And Regeneration Of Static-X'. The official documentary dives deep into the entire life's work of Wayne Static and STATIC-X. The film is expected to be around 80 minutes in length and devotes the appropriate amount of time to exploring the lifestyle changes and ultimate tragedies that followed.

"If Mr. Zane is in possession of any additional rare or unseen footage that could contribute to the celebration of Wayne's life and legacy, we kindly ask him to share the footage with our families so that we can review and consider it for potential inclusion in the official 'Evil Disco' documentary. Additionally, any unreleased music featuring the voice of Wayne Static or his musical compositions would require the approval of the estate before any publication or release.

"We further challenge Mr. Zane to share any musical works that he claims might contain the actual voice of Wayne Static so that we can determine their authenticity and quality for consideration. We are not interested in Wayne Static's voice appearing within any Al-generated music.

"In closing, we would like to thank the STATIC-X fans around the world for their continued love and support for Wayne and the band. We are so proud of the band and what they have accomplished together.

"STATIC-X's music is as popular as ever, and Wayne's energy and legacy have been celebrated and regenerated through the band's incredible return to the stage.

"We fully support the current team and lineup of STATIC-X and their continued respect and love for Wayne's memory and our family. We are delighted that the world is continuing to celebrate the powerful music that Wayne and the band created together and the incredible energy that he and the band have always carried onto the stage.

"Sincerely, The family and estate of Wayne Wells Static & Tera Lents Static".

Zane previously directed all of Wayne's solo videos, including the "Pighammer Promo", "Assassins Of Youth" and Wayne's last music video, "Noise Revolution", with DMC. At the time of Wayne's death, the trio were developing additional projects.

Wayne Static died more than a decade ago after mixing Xanax and other powerful prescription drugs with alcohol, according to the coroner's report. The 48-year-old Static, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, was found dead in his Landers, California home on November 1, 2014.

Tera Wray Static took her own life in January 2016. Her friends revealed that she was found dead at a friend's house in California.

Randy Emon, the supervising deputy coroner investigator for the San Bernardino County coroner's office, told BLABBERMOUTH.NET in a written statement at the time: "Our coroner records indicate [Tera] died on January 13, 2016 in Joshua Tree, CA. The manner of death was listed as suicide."

Tera's roommate at the time of her death wrote on Facebook that she came home after work and found "one of my dearest friends had ended her life in my guestroom where she was staying."

A statement which was apparently approved by Tera's mother said that "Tera suffered from depression since the death of her husband."

Wray, who was born Tera Lents, met Wayne during the Ozzfest tour in 2007 when she was modeling for Hustler lingerie. They were married in January 2008 and she retired from porn in August of that year.

Adult entertainment attorney Michael Fattorosi, who last spoke to Tera one day before her death, told New York Post's Page Six that Wray left behind a note instructing her roommate to call him and Tera's mother.

"She was one of the sweetest, most gentle women I have worked with in [the adult film industry]," Fattorosi told Page Six. "She had a light to her that was evident when she walked into room. She was always smiling and happy. I know she loved Wayne dearly. When they met and got married, she left the [adult film] industry to go on tour with him and the band. From what I understand, she was constantly by his side. His death must have weighed on her tremendously."

In July 2015, Tera paid tribute to her late husband with a sleeve tattoo that she showed off on Facebook.

Posted by Aimee Wells Pittman on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Two of the three lead actors from the iconic mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap" have paid tribute to the film's director, Rob Reiner, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead inside their Brentwood, California home Sunday afternoon (December 14). The couple's son Nick Reiner has been arrested and booked on murder charges for their killings.

On Instagram, Harry Shearer, who co-wrote the "This Is Spinal Tap" movies with Reiner, and played the British hard rock bassist Derek Smalls in the mockumentary, took to his Instagram to write: "Rob was a friend and collaborator through much of my life. He was funny, he was smart, he was a mensch. When he came to see the comedy act I was in, and, later, the musical comedy I had co-written, his laugh was uproarious and audible around the block. He was a great collaborator, and when the four of us proposed ideas for the films, he was the one who wrote them on 3x5 cards, and organized them into a movie. And Michele was a very good friend to my wife Judith. This is unspeakable, the stuff of Greek tragedy."

Jamie Lee Curtis and her husband, "This Is Spinal Tap" franchise actor and writer Christopher Guest, who reportedly got married at Reiner's house in 1984, shared a statement from Curtis in which she wrote: "Christopher and I are numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michele Singer Reiner and our ONLY focus and care right now is for their children and immediate families and we will offer all support possible to help them. There will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared and the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage and their global care for a world in crisis. We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve."

Reiner recently directed "Spinal Tap Il: The End Continues", the sequel to "This Is Spinal Tap", which featured cameos from music legends Paul McCartney and Elton John, among others.

McCartney paid tribute to Reiner on social media, writing: "What a tragedy the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, is. It is so shocking in many ways but for me especially so, because over the last year I had been working with him. He directed me in 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues'. He was such an upbeat, lovable man.

"Life can be so unfair and this tragedy proves it. His father, Carl Reiner, was a great humourist before him and Rob followed in his dad's footsteps doing a terrific job making many great films. I will always have fond memories of Rob and the idea that he and his wife will no longer be in the world with us is heartbreaking.

"Thanks for all the humour, Rob. Rest in Peace. Love Paul".

On his Instagram story, John wrote: "I am in disbelief at today's news of Rob and Michele. They were two of the most beautiful people I'd ever met and they deserved better. My thoughts are with them and their loved ones."

During a press conference on Monday, Los Angeles Police Department chief Jim McDonnell revealed Nick Reiner had been "booked for murder". The LAPD later said an initial investigation conducted by the agency's Robbery Homicide Division "determined that the Reiners were the victims of homicide," adding authorities' investigation revealed Nick Reiner was "responsible for their deaths."

The 32-year-old Nick began using drugs at age 15 and had struggled with substance abuse for more than a decade and a half. In the past he had said in the past that he had been homeless at times when he was on the run and refusing to go into rehab. He reportedly had at least 17 stays in rehab facilities.

The original "This Is Spinal Tap" film — directed by Reiner and written/improvised/performed by Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer — was released in 1984 to critical acclaim and went on to become a cult classic that has directly inspired actual metal bands like METALLICA, spawned the "turn it up to 11" idiom, and been referenced in pop culture ever since. In 2002, it was deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the Library Of Congress, and was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.

"This Is Spinal Tap" was released to little fanfare with some viewers convinced the bumbling dinosaurs — who had a knack of losing drummers in freak accidents — on screen were a genuine band. But word of mouth about the smartly observed film, which took a pop at bands such as STATUS QUO, LED ZEPPELIN and BLACK SABBATH, spread and it became a sleeper hit.

NEFARIOUS, which features Rick Hunolt (EXODUS, DIEHUMANE) and Doug Piercy (HEATHEN, ANVIL CHORUS) on guitar, Tom Gears (BLIND ILLUSION, ANCIENT MARINER) on bass and Will Carroll (DEATH ANGEL) on drums, has announced the addition of vocalist Sean Rivera to the group's ranks. Rivera joins the group as the replacement for Katon W. De Pena (HIRAX),who sang on NEFARIOUS's debut album, "Addicted To Power". Rivera brings an unlimited vocal range, a larger-than-life presence, and pure stage fury. His energy pushes everything harder, faster, louder.

From the start, NEFARIOUS has sought someone fully committed, present, and ready to grow with the band.

Piercy states: "We wanted someone who could be in the room with us — creating, rehearsing, and ready to play. It's hard to get tight as a band when they can't rehearse on the regular. The Bay Area has always thrived on that energy, and now we've got it. Long-distance situations can get complicated when there's simply no communication."

Hunolt adds: "Sean Rivera has brought NEFARIOUS to the next level. The metal gods gave us a true musical wizard. Not only is he an amazing singer, and absolute stellar musician (guitar, keyboards),but he is an amazing human to work with and I can't wait for you all to hear this man sing. C'ya on the road in '26 .. Lfgoooooo!"

Rivera comments: "When Doug and Rick reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try out for NEFARIOUS on vocals, I was excited and nervous. Everyone in the band are fantastic players and have such seasoned musical histories, and stepping into that felt really significant to me. After listening to the album I thought the songs were great and knew it was a project I wanted to be a part of. Thankfully, everyone liked what my vocals added and I was really stoked when they asked me to join. They're all really great people and have been super supportive with the whole process of learning the songs and becoming a part of the band. I feel really fortunate to be given this opportunity and I'm really excited for all we can accomplish together on the road ahead!"

NEFARIOUS will play its first show with Rivera at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco on Saturday, January 3, 2026. More dates will soon be announced, followed by a full European tour in August/September 2026, kicking off at the legendary Alcatraz festival in Belgium.

A new version of the previously released NEFARIOUS song "Day After", featuring Rivera's vocals, can be heard below.

During a recent livestream, De Pena stated about his departure from NEFARIOUS: "Yeah, NEFARIOUS was great. I'm glad I did the record. I'm very proud of the record. And I did one show with them. That was awesome too. But I have to focus on HIRAX. That's my band. It's been my band for 40 years, and that's where my heart's at and that's what I gotta do. But I wish NEFARIOUS all the best. Great band and great musicians."

Carroll discussed the NEFARIOUS singer switch during a recent appearance on Zetro's Toxic Vault, the YouTube channel of former EXODUS frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza. He said in part: "Things didn't work out [with Katon]… HIRAX is touring, and they're pretty busy. So that played a part in it. But it was a communication thing that was really the problem. He would not talk to us for months at a time… He just broke off communication with us. So we took that as he didn't wanna be in the band… And we did waste some time waiting and sitting around… But we had to move on. And that's where Sean comes in."

Regarding NEFARIOUS's new vocalist, Will said: "His name is Sean Rivera. And he sings for a band, or he's in a band called COFFIN HUNTERS. Not to be confused with the [side band of EXODUS bassist] Jack Gibson, COFFIN HUNTER. This one's plural, COFFIN HUNTERS, and they're more of a traditional heavy metal band. They play a lot in Santa Rosa. Rick discovered him. Rick went to one of their shows and saw him sing. And we knew things were kind of going south with Katon."

In a social media post, Carroll stated about his appearance on Zetro's Toxic Vault: "I didn't say anything out of line or untrue. In fact, I gave a very vanilla version of the whole Katon thing."

The Katon-fronted version of NEFARIOUS played its first — and only — show on July 19 at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco.

"Addicted To Power" came out on July 18 via Relentless "Metal" Records, with the collector vinyl available through Hectic/Bleeding Priest Records.

Regarding how NEFARIOUS came together, Katon told The Metal Crypt: "I think it was going to be a solo record for Doug Piercy at first. We had all run into each other from years of playing in the same scene. It seemed like the timing was really what it was. I did a couple of benefits. I did one for Tom Hunting from EXODUS where we raised money for his hospital bills. We did another one for Sean Killian, the singer from VIO-LENCE. At those benefits, I saw a lot of these musicians. We talked to each other and obviously talked about music. Then it came around to where we played some shows together. I think that's what made us all notice each other a little bit more, like, 'Hey, I wonder what it would be like to play with those guys.' Even though I live in Los Angeles, I go up to San Francisco quite often. It's been working out pretty well. We're just going to keep writing music. The one thing that we all have in common is we love writing music. I think that's what keeps us so motivated to do this."

On the topic of NEFARIOUS's musical influences, Katon said: "We all listen to a lot of music. Some of it would surprise people. Obviously, there's going to be heavy metal influences in there because we all grew up on DEEP PURPLE and early SCORPIONS. We love Uli John Roth, obviously, BLACK SABBATH and THIN LIZZY, bands like that. You can't help it. When you play music for as long as we have, other styles of music are going to come into play, whether it's classical music or jazz. Myself, I love stuff like Luciano Pavarotti. There's going to be those things. It also helps the songwriting because you take from some of your heroes, like Jimi Hendrix or, like I said, back to opera music or classical music, you can't help but intertwine some of that in the music. That is in the roots of the music. Then, obviously, thrash metal plays a very big part of it, because we all came from a lot of the early bands. There's going to be some of those influences. People will hear a little bit of the EXODUS thing; they will hear a little bit of the HIRAX thing. Even with Doug, he's just a well-rounded guitar player, and his songwriting skills are majorly off the charts. This guy's got a big brain, and he really has a great way of looking at music. People are going to hear the stuff that we grew up on, whether it's BUDGIE or any of that kind of stuff. They're also going to hear thrash metal mixed in with elements of classical music."

Describing NEFARIOUS's sound, Katon said: "I think we're a cross between, obviously, early thrash metal, but also a lot of the heavy metal influence is there as well. You will hear some harmonies, bands like [IRON] MAIDEN and THIN LIZZY. We'd be lying if we said that wasn't there, because we grew up on that stuff. DEEP PURPLE's a big influence. RAINBOW. Obviously, Ritchie Blackmore, stuff like that. It's going to be in there. I think we also have a different way of looking at it, because we've been doing it for so long. We're not trying to be like a lot of the other bands, and we're not trying to be modern. There are modern sounds, because we're recording in modern studios. The music's definitely coming from the right place. I think that people hear that when they listen to this new song 'One Nation Enslaved', you can hear that we definitely have stuck to our guns. We're not trying to do commercial music, but we also are writing songs that are memorable."

The music for "Addicted To Power" was recorded at Subterranean Studio in Oakland, California and Pyramid Studio in San Francisco, California. It was mixed by Damien Rasmussen of Smoke And Mirrors Productions.

De Pena previously stated about NEFARIOUS: "We're not a band. We are a gang ready to crush skulls and make eardrums bleed ... Necks will be sore ...!!"

Press photo courtesy of Freeman Promotions

POISON frontman Bret Michaels has announced that his "Unbroken: Then, Now And Forever" biopic and book will be released in 2026.

On December 9, the 62-year-old singer/songwriter, global entrepreneur and philanthropist took to his social media to write: "UNBROKEN Then, Now and Forever – the biopic and the book officially coming 2026. If I can survive rocking out on shag mustard-colored carpet on my first guitar ('technically a ukulele' lol) and remain as excited now as I was then, and survive the highs, the lows, good people and the downright maliciousness in the business I've chosen to be in and still get to rock with my friends with a smile on my face on the stage today. That is THE IT FACTOR – the intangible spirit that keeps me unbroken!!!"

Bret's first book, titled "Bret Michaels: Auto-Scrap-Ography", came out in May 2020. The title referred to the scrapbook-like approach Bret took to the memoir.

"The only way I could do it, was a scrapbook," Michaels told the Arizona Republic in a 2020 interview. "I love reading autobiographies. Love it. My problem is sometimes there's not enough pictures for me. You read three chapters about a friend they wrote this song with, but I never see this friend. It would be great to see the friend."

With a blend of hardcopy digital and digital e-book — and a never-before-seen audio/visual biopic read by Michaels, with both still and moving images — the "Auto-Scrap-Ography" was handwritten by the artist, detailing his journey even up to and including his battle with diabetes and the coronavirus.

Bret was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at six years old. In the last couple of decades, Michaels has helped raise tens of millions of dollars through his Life Rocks Foundation to donate to diabetes awareness and research through the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). He has collaborated with both the ADA and JDRF, acting as a spokesperson and sponsor, earning him numerous awards from a variety of organizations.

When Bret is not touring, he can be found both in front of and behind the camera as a director, producer and a reality TV superstar. His first foray into reality TV brought the record-breaking "Rock Of Love With Bret Michaels" franchise to VH1, one of the most successful shows in the network's history, shattering weekly rating records during its run. Following three successful seasons of the show, he teamed up with VH1 for the docuseries "Life As I Know It".

Michaels first rose to fame as the frontman of POISON, helping to define the rock-n-roll scene on the Sunset Strip. One of rock's most iconic and enduring bands, POISON's massive success includes selling over 40 million records worldwide and numerous hit singles.

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In a new interview with U.K.'s The Sound Lab, John Cooper, the frontman and bassist for the Grammy-nominated Christian rockers SKILLET, was asked if there are any plans for him and his bandmates to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut album in 2026. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There's nothing special for 30 years, like a 30-year concert or a specific thing. We should do something like that. For about six months we've been saying, 'We should do something,' but nobody's come up with anything good yet. So if we do, I'll let you know. But we need to do something.

"The funny thing is, is that because we have so many new fans over the last five years, a lot of the younger fans, they can't wrap their head around us being around for 30 years," John continued. "So whenever I've said it on a few interviews, '30 years next year,' you see these comments, like, 'How old are you guys?' And I'm, like, '35. Don't ask.' Anyway, it's kind of a funny thing.

"But we are gonna be releasing new music [in 2026], Lord willing," Cooper added. "We're working on it now. We have a couple of songs finished already. So I'm kind of hoping that next year will be the release of new music that will be a nice 30-year kind of… I don't know… Starting over — let's start over again, release new music. Feel like a young person again, releasing songs that you love and songs that you believe in, singing about things that you care about. That's what I hope."

Asked about the musical direction of the new SKILLET material, John said: "Yeah, we are in the middle of that now. Sometimes you don't wanna speak too early because things can change in the studio. You're sure it's gonna be one thing and then all of a sudden it starts [going in a different direction]. But that kind of happened a little early this time, and so I feel like I can share a little bit.

"The Christmas song that we [released in November, 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'], we did experiment with some of the new things that we are already trying in some of our newer music. And it's been kind of fun because it's been a bit of a… SKILLET's been around for so long, we've had so many different sounds and things we've tried. We have a lot in the arsenal, so you can kind of pull out something that maybe you hadn't done in a little while and try to make it fresh again. And that's kind of what we did on this Christmas song on the really heavy parts. There's some more metal aspects to that that I don't think we've done anything that heavy since, like, 2003 maybe. And that was really fun, getting to do some of the really low tunings again. And we've always done a little bit of it, but we kind of went overboard. And that's because we're kind of going a little bit that direction on the new stuff as well. Also, what's kind of cool with this resurgence of metal is… For people that've seen SKILLET live, they may or may not recognize — I don't know — SKILLET live, we have more touches… I don't mean we're overboard prog, but we have some touches of prog metal in our set, more than we do on our records. And some of that is because as music shifts and changes, some of the younger fans weren't really understanding that stuff 10 years ago. It just wasn't in their wheelhouse. We did a touch of that at the very end of a song, one of our songs called 'The Resistance'. 'The Resistance' ends with this prog rock kind of jam session, and our fans loved it, but we're having a little bit more of that in our live show. And so now we're able to bring some of that. We did it in the Christmas [song], 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel', and we're doing some of that in the new music as well. And I'm, like, why not? It's 30 years. We need to come out with a bang and show people that we're still as young as we used to be— ish [laughs], sort of."

In various interviews over the years, John Cooper has said that he "always had faith in God" and that his mother was a "Jesus fanatic." He also claimed that he was willing to put his career on the line to take a stand for Christ.

In April 2021, Cooper told the "Undaunted.Life: A Man's Podcast" that it was perfectly fine for Christians to play rock music. "I would say that music is created not by the Devil; [it is] created by the Lord," he said. "All things were created by God. So instead of thinking that the Devil owns a genre of music, I would say capture that music and bring it back into subjection under the Lordship of Christ."

John has written in depth about his views in the two books he has released so far, "Awake & Alive To Truth", which came out in December 2020, and "Wimpy, Weak, And Woke", which became available in late 2023.

Cooper told Baptist Press about how his faith directs him to speak out on cultural issues: "If Jesus is the truth, then that means He has something to say about culture, politics, abortion and sexuality. The Bible has something to say about these things."

SKILLET's latest album, "Revolution", arrived in November 2024 via the band's Hear It Loud imprint.

During a December 6, 2025 appearance on the CNN program "The Story Is With Elex Michaelson", Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Sammy Hagar spoke about the return of his hit "The Best Of All Worlds" residency to Dolby Live at Park MGM for 11 performances March 11-21, 2026 and September 18-26, 2026. The 2026 residency will reunite Hagar with the powerhouse "Best Of All Worlds" band featuring fellow Hall Of Famer and original VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony, 15-time Grammy nominee and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, powerhouse drummer Kenny Aronoff, and multi-instrumentalist Rai Thistlethwayte.

Hagar, who turned 78 this past October, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's a dream come true for an elderly rock star that still wants to perform, because the hardest part of doing a tour and playing shows is not the show itself. It's the packing up and moving into hotels, travel, travel, travel, running around. You get to the show late. Some days you don't even have time to have a good meal. But with the residency, you get a good night's sleep. They give you the best rooms on the planet. Great food — Vegas has got the best restaurants in the world; they're all in Las Vegas now. And it's just so much easier. You get to rehearse. I don't know — to me, it's a dream come true. It's extending my touring life. Otherwise, I don't know if I'd go on tour again and do a major tour. I mean, I could go out and do a few shows here and there. But anyway, Vegas, yes. Residency. Thank you."

During his previous tours, Hagar gave thousands of dollars to local food banks in each city he visited. The Red Rocker had partnered with food banks during past tours and has seen firsthand the positive impact they have on those in need.

"I had an alcoholic father [who was] abusive to my mother, and we would always have to leave and sleep in the car," Hagar explained to "The Story Is With Elex Michaelson". "I mean, we were basically homeless because my mom didn't have a job, she didn't have an education. And then finally she left my dad for good when we were little. She raised four kids single-handedly. And we'd go out together into the grape vineyards and we'd pick grapes when it was apricot season up in Hemet… We'd go up there and camp and pick apricots — the whole family, the kids. We'd pick berries. It was a struggle, but my mom made it so much fun. We were always camping. All my friends were going. 'We wanna come stay with you for a couple days. You guys are out camping, having a good time. But it was struggle."

He continued: "Food banks really played a big role in my mom being able to survive and feed four kids, and especially on a holiday. With the holidays coming up, that's why we're talking about this. The food banks are so important. And you give a dollar and it feeds a couple of families. It's really bang for the buck. So it's my favorite way of giving back, because I remember waiting in line with my mom, all four of us kids. And it mattered."

After Hagar sold 80 percent of his Cabo Wabo Tequila business in 2007 to Gruppo Campari for $80 million, the rock singer and his wife started The Hagar Family Foundation, a private non-profit which eliminates much of the red tape that can hamper funds getting quickly to the people and charities that need them. Today Hagar owns Caba Wabo Cantina, Sammy's Beach Bar And Grill and Sammy's Red Rocker Bar And Grill, all of which fuel the foundation's activities, ensuring it continues to make an impact.

"People always keep telling me, every time I open a new restaurant… I was making a deal to open one in here in Hawaii on the big island, and I just said, 'Man, let's put it off for a year,'" Hagar said. "I'm going back to my musical career, which is where it all comes from. Without my music, without my success there, I wouldn't be able to do any of this. So anyway, I'm not gonna finish that project till next year. But the thing is, people say, 'How much money do you need? You open up all these restaurants, man. How much money do you need?' I'm going, 'It's not my money. I give this money away. I create jobs.' If I had my way, I would have a restaurant in every airport, in every city in America, in the whole world. I mean, I could employ all these people. I could give millions a week to food banks and to children's hospitals, which is my two favorite things to do, but as it is, we do pretty good. We give a lot. And on tour it's so much fun 'cause I get the food banks, if it's on a day when I'm working, I get them to come down, collect a check, and give some of their people that donate their time to give away food and to work at the food banks, 'cause it's should be all donation, I give them free tickets, I give 'em front-row seats, and it's a give, give, give, give, everybody win, win, win. I've been doing it for 13 years. It's been millions and millions of dollars, and it feels so good."

This past October, Hagar released "Sammy Hagar & The Best Of All Worlds Band - The Residency", a 19-track live album recorded during his first Dolby Live run, on October 10, 2025 via Big Machine Rock.

"The Best Of All Worlds" Las Vegas Residency at Dolby Live at ParkMGM:

March 2026: 11,13, 14, 18, 20, 21

September 2026: 18, 19, 23, 25, 26

For more than four decades, Grammy Award winner and Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Sammy Hagar has been one of rock music's most dynamic and prolific artists. From his breakthrough with MONTROSE to a multiplatinum solo career and his years fronting VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT, THE CIRCLE, and now "The Best Of All Worlds" band, Hagar has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and delivered anthems like "I Can't Drive 55", "Right Now" and "Why Can't This Be Love". In 2024–'25, his "Best Of All Worlds" tour became one of the year's top-grossing rock runs, leading into a hit Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM and the aforementioned live album, "Sammy Hagar & The Best of All Worlds Band - The Residency".

Beyond music, Hagar is a pioneer in the spirits and lifestyle space, founding Cabo Wabo Tequila and leading award-winning brands including Sammy's Beach Bar Rum, Santo Spirits with Guy Fieri, and Red Rocker Brewing Co. His restaurant ventures include Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill locations at airports in Honolulu, Hawaii; Maui, Hawaii; Las Vegas, Nevada; Cleveland, Ohio; and Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as Cabo Wabo Cantinas in Cabo San Lucas and Las Vegas, and the Cabo Wabo Beach Club in Huntington Beach.

A No. 1 The New York Times bestselling author, TV and radio host, and philanthropist, Hagar has also earned numerous honors, including a Grammy Award (1992),induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (2007),recognition as the first Honorary Ambassador To Los Cabos (2022),and a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame (2024).

After four decades, 14 gold records, and having traversed 80 countries and numerous diverse cultures, SEPULTURA has transcended into one of the most influential metal bands of our time, serving as Brazil's emissary to the rest of the world.

SEPULTURA has just announced the final European leg of the band's "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour. The trek will launch on June 6, 2026 in the Netherlands and will conclude with the previously revealed last-ever European concert on August 9 in Dublin, Ireland.

2026 European tour dates:

June 06 - Maastricht, Netherlands - South Of Heaven
June 07 - Plzen, Czech Republic - MetalFest
June 08 - Zagreb, Croatia - Tvornica Kulture
June 09 - Milan, Italy - Circolo Magnolia
June 10 - Rome, Italy - Eur Social Park
June 12 - Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield
June 13 - Nickelsdorf, Austria - Nova Rock
June 14 - Würzburg, Germany - Posthalle
June 17 - Saarbrucken, Germany - Garage
June 19 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
June 20 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
June 21 - Lisbon, Portugal - Rock In Rio Lisboa
June 23 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
June 24 - Potsdam, Germany - Waschhaus Potsdam
June 25 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhell
June 26 - Huskvarna, Sweden - Folkets Park
June 27 - Oslo, Norway - Tons Of Rock
July 29 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
August 01 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia
August 02 - Tallinn, Estonia - Tallinn Rock Festival
August 05 - Villena, Spain - Leyendas del Rock
August 07 - Walton-on-Trent, UK - Bloodstock Festival
August 09 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena

Tickets will go on sale this Thursday, December 18 at 10:00 a.m. CET.

With their latest opus, "Quadra", an album that made a triumphant entry at No. 5 on the German chart and garnered over seventeen million streams on Spotify, the band originally hailing from Belo Horizonte has once again spread the colors and rhythms of Brazil worldwide. However, in late 2023, they announced their plan to unite their forces for one final, powerful farewell tour, bidding adieu to a 40-year existence.

For this final journey, SEPULTURA has enlisted the prodigious 23-year-old American virtuoso Greyson Nekrutman as their new drummer and together, this quartet has embarked on multiple tours across North America, Europe and Latin America, presenting a career-spanning set to their fans that honored the forty years of SEPULTURA. Yet their journey has not reached the final end yet and their farewell tour will see them celebrate their legacy on several continents until 2026.

To date, the band has unleashed fifteen studio albums upon the world, having sold over three million units in the United States and 20 million worldwide, thus earning multiple gold and platinum records in various corners of the globe, including France, Australia, Indonesia, Cyprus, and their home country. To this day, their magnum opus, "Roots", has been streamed a staggering 225 million times on Spotify.

In an interview with Jarek Szubrycht as part of "Mystic Talks" at this year's Mystic Festival in Gdańsk, Poland, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser spoke about the band's plans to release new music with Nekrutman, who officially replaced SEPULTURA's longtime drummer Eloy Casagrande in February 2024. He said:  "We recorded four new songs with Greyson on drums. I don't think nobody knows that, but there we go. We have four new songs, and we have the intention, next year, to release an EP, just to celebrate this momentum. It's original songs that we worked [out]. It's already recorded and everything, and we're taking our time, really, to see where it's gonna be the good time to do it."

Regarding how the new SEPULTURA material came about, Andreas said: "It was very spontaneous. We had a situation that we played the 70000 Tons Of Metal [cruise in January 2025] and we stayed in Miami. 'We have this studio. We have a few ideas. Okay, let's do it.' [Laughs] And it was great. No pressure from labels, no due date. The songs [don't] even have [names] yet. [Laughs] But it's great… We did it in our time with no rush. There's no names [for the songs]. We can decide that later. We're still mixing the material — no rush. And it's great. Because of the farewell [tour] idea, we can do that as well, to plan something like that, or not plan something like that, plan as less that we can to really to challenge ourselves artistically to work something like that."

Asked if SEPULTURA's decision to embark on a two-and-a-half-year farewell tour was motivated in any way by his desire to explore other styles of music away from extreme metal, Andreas said:  "I never felt kind of locked in the SEPULTURA world to write [in a specific style]. We were always very fearless to do whatever we want. I mean, 'Nation' is a very different album, 'A-Lex', all those albums that were inspired by books and stuff. It is, I think, more of the routine of being in a band like SEPULTURA. 40 years — 40 years, man. Have you ever done something for 40 years, like your job? Think about it. [Laughs] It's an amazing achievement inside the entertainment business to have such a band for so long, and ups and downs, to have a following. Every time we were doing albums, we were playing, we had a deal with the record label, regardless of the formation, regardless of the time we were. We played for 10 people, then we were back to play big places and stuff. It's a beautiful history. It's a beautiful history of art and life. And I was kind of feeling to get in that mode of doing another album, doing another tour, it's kind of too predictable. I mean, an artist has to be not in the comfort zone. If you're there, you're fucked, because you're going to lose touch with reality. You're gonna start living in this bubble of what SEPULTURA should be. There's no 'should'. There's a new SEPULTURA every day. We can do anything we want, musically wise, because we conquered that. SEPULTURA is this. It is not thrash metal. It's not heavy metal. It's not dark metal. It's not Brazilian metal. It's SEPULTURA metal. That's why we have a name, right? [Laughs] Otherwise, why have a name? This is SEPULTURA. That's what we are — very free. We're not scared or to take risks. Art is risks. If you do something new, you're gonna take risks. There's no other way. And that's where you learn, with your mistakes or with your errors and your everything. But it's great to stop in a great momentum without fighting, without an external factor breaking up this band. It's our own terms. We chose that very peacefully, a conscious decision. We took two years talking about working out, preparing this, and now we enjoying ourselves. It's amazing. And why not? I mean, it's a privilege to have that, to have that possibility, to stop while we can or to stop in this momentum. And then the future is the future. Let's see. [Laughs]"

Kisser also once again spoke about what SEPULTURA's final concert might look like. He said: "The idea is to do it around October 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil. A big SEPUL-fest type of show, a party with bands that are important. And as a part of SEPULTURA's history, we like to invite every member that was a part of SEPULTURA, including the Cavalera brothers [Max and Igor], to be a part of the concert, to play, to jam. I mean, it's totally irrelevant to discuss the past, who is right, who is wrong. We're never gonna get to a point — we're gonna have two different views of it, and that's fine. This is irrelevant. Let's jam for the fans, to ourselves, to our families [who had] never seen us together. But not only them — Jairo [Guedz], Eloy Casagrande, Jean Patton and Roy Mayorga, musicians that were a part of SEPULTURA in very specific and important moments that kept SEPULTURA flowing and going regardless of our problems and our challenges that we had. So hopefully that will happen. They are gonna be invited. If you wanna be a part of this party, you are welcome. If not, that's fine."

SEPULTURA kicked off its farewell tour on March 1, 2024 at Arena Hall in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The sold-out show marked the band's debut performance with Nekrutman, who previously played with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

SEPULTURA announced Casagrande's departure on February 27, 2024, explaining in a statement that he was leaving to join "another project", with Eloy later confirming that he was the new drummer of SLIPKNOT.

The news of Eloy's exit from SEPULTURA came just two months after the band announced it would celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024 by embarking on a "farewell tour" which will cover the entire globe.

In SEPULTURA's statement, the remaining bandmembers expressed their shock over Casagrande's departure, saying they were "taken by surprise" that their now-former drummer would "abandon everything related to SEPULTURA" less than a month prior to the start of the tour.

SEPULTURA is putting together a live album commemorating its last run of shows. The band is recording 40 songs in 40 different cities for what will be a "massive compilation of our best, most energetic moments on stage," according to a statement released by SEPULTURA in December 2023.

SEPULTURA kicked off the North American leg of the massive "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour on September 17, 2024 at the Concord Music Hall in Chicago, Illinois. The band played a career-spanning set that honored SEPULTURA's 40 years of existence. Joining SEPULTURA on this tour were Florida-based death metal veterans OBITUARY, iconic New York hardcore pioneers AGNOSTIC FRONT, and São Paulo, Brazil's death/thrash metallers CLAUSTROFOBIA.

Photo credit: Edu Defferrari

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In a new interview with Metal Covenant, guitarist Ken Hammer of Danish hard rock veterans PRETTY MAIDS spoke about his 2024 health scare. He said: "Yeah, [it happened in the] summer [of 2024]. Just before we were going back together again, I had a blood clot in my brain. So I couldn't speak, and I couldn't write or anything. Thank God I had some medicine, and it solved it. But I still have it. If I get too excited, I can't speak properly. My brain and my mouth are not working together when I get too excited, you know. I lost my mom, and I lost my brother, and recently, like 10 days ago, I lost my dad. But it's all life, you know. You just have to come to terms with it."

Asked if he and his PRETTY MAIDS bandmates still drink alcohol and smoke, the 62-year-old musician said: "I smoke this [shows his electronic cigarette)]. I haven't touched a cigarette in 12 years. And I don't drink that much. I just like for people to think I am. I live in Sweden now, in Karlshamn, and when I'm home and alone, I don't drink at all. I mean, two weeks can pass before I have a beer. I like to go down to the pub and have a beer or two beers, and then go home, and that's it. But I don't drink that much. I actually never have, because I have kids, and I always have small kids, and I can't go walking around fucking drunk all the time. It doesn't work. I have five kids and two grandchildren. And my daughter is pregnant and she's gonna give birth any day now. But when I'm away I can get drunk one day, and then I need at least one day off, preferably two, before I get drunk again, and I go, 'Never again.' And I've said that many times."

Asked if it is tempting for him to drink a little bit more on a tour bus when he and some of his bandmates are consuming alcohol, Ken said: No. I can drink one beer still, and they can do whatever they want. I'm not, like, 'I don't drink anymore.' No, I do, and I like it. But it's different. It's an age thing. You know, the body reacts."

Back in December 2003, Ken was reportedly diagnosed with a blood clot in his heart but made a full recovery.

PRETTY MAIDS singer Ronnie Atkins was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019. The now-61-year-old Atkins underwent at least 33 radiation and four chemotherapy treatments in the fall of that year before being declared cancer-free. In October 2020, he announced that his cancer had returned.

In a 2013 interview with Myglobalmind, Atkins joked that the secret to keeping his voice in shape was "twenty cigarettes a day and little drink now and then."

Formed in early 1982 by Atkins and Hammer, PRETTY MAIDS' third album, 1987's "Future World", is still today regarded as a "classic."

During the ensuing years, PRETTY MAIDS continued to release albums usually followed by European and Japanese tours.

PRETTY MAIDS' latest album, "Undress Your Madness", came out in November 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

In a new interview with American Musical Supply, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist John 5 was asked why the band has yet to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "Oh, I have no idea. I'd vote for 'em. I have no idea. But if it was up to me, I'd have 'em in one day after the 25 years," he said, referencing the fact that artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single. "Is that what it is? 25 years? I think they should be in it, and I think it'd be wonderful. They deserve it, because I think it's all about influence. And so many bands, so many countless musicians and bands have been influenced by MÖTLEY CRÜE. And I think it's what's important. So, yeah, it's a head scratcher. But I think they deserve it by far. Yeah."

Other iconic hard rock and metal bands like IRON MAIDEN, SCORPIONS and STYX have also yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

CRÜE won the 2019 "Voice Your Choice" in-museum Rock Hall fan vote but failed to make the list of nominees for the Class Of 2020. The band saw its votes surge when its biopic "The Dirt", premiered on Netfix in March 2019.

Asked by Radio Sara of Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR radio station in a May 2024 interview how he would react if MÖTLEY CRÜE was nominated for the Rock Hall, MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil said: "I think it'd be pretty cool to be inducted, but we'll probably be dead when they induct us."

CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee chimed in: "It's weird. It's one of those things where you're, like, 'Oh, that would be so fucking rad.' And it's a weird double-edged thing, because, at one point, it was, like, 'Whoa, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.' And then, over the years, there's been a bunch of people getting inducted into it that — I don't know — sometimes you're, like, 'How's that possible?' or 'I'm not sure that this quite fits' or whatever. And so then you go, you're, like, 'Yeah, maybe it's not that cool.' But if the fans think it's cool, then it's cool."

In December 2023, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx said that "people get too worked up" about which artists get inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The bassist took to his account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to write: "I think people get too worked up about the RRHF. If you get in that's cool and if not, it's not a big deal. It's not some elite club that defines you. It's an award. None of us hopefully make music just for awards. I do like the idea of jamming with other musicians at the ceremony."

In an October 2020 interview with "CLE Rocks" podcast, Lee was asked about Sixx's previous assertion that he would "probably decline" the Rock Hall nomination. Tommy said: "I get Nikki's, like, you know what? There's a bunch of people that are in there that he doesn't agree with, and, yeah, I might not agree with that either. And it seems like just fucking anybody's in there now. I get his disappointment with that. But at the end of the day, for me, dude, it would be a fucking honor regardless. Because there is a bunch of people that deserve to be there. I wouldn't kick it out of bed, you know? [Laughs]"

In 2019, Sixx said that CRÜE was told by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame that it would never be inducted into the institution because of how he and his bandmates "acted." Tommy, for his part, told "CLE Rocks" that he didn't believe the band's exclusion had anything to do with CRÜE's notorious 1980s partying lifestyle.

"MÖTLEY's always been that kind of band that just, (a) won't go away, and (b) with some of those kind of people, we've always butted heads with that kind of stuff," Lee explained. "People sometimes don't think that we're the fucking real deal, I guess. I don't know what their deal is. Who knows, bro? Who knows?"

Back in 2015, Sixx said that if his band was ever honored into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, he would "probably decline" the nomination, explaining that the Rock Hall "has lost touch with art, songwriting craft, lyrics and influential music." He explained: "It's a fixed old-boy network that has lost touch with art, songwriting craft, lyrics and influential music and usually has other agendas at hand. Young bands tell me it's a joke, and these bands are the future."

Three months later, CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars told Rolling Stone that he didn't think the band would ever get the Rock Hall nod. "We were there when the thing was being built; we had to wear hard hats while we were walking around the building site. They were like, 'One of these days, you guys will be in here!' Right. [Laughs] I'd have to say, 80 percent no, 20 percent yeah. But it's like when you're a kid in kindergarten, and you take a nap and get a gold star as a reward. I don't need a few handful of people to say that I got a gold star, because I already got it from my fans. I see the crowds, I see the enthusiasm, I see all that stuff, and that's already satisfying enough for me."

Lee told Rolling Stone that he was somewhat torn on the question of even wanting to be in the Hall in the first place. "I do give a shit about it, because it's a time-stamp, it's the acknowledgement of your peers and fans and the music industry," he explained. "But then again, there's a part of me that goes, 'If we don't, that's fucking cool, too!' In my heart, I know that we came, we saw, we kicked its fucking ass; I don't need a pat on the back, or an induction, or another platinum album or two. Maybe I'm just not good with compliments."

Neil chimed in: "We'll probably go in at some point, but we might not all be alive when it happens. Our grandkids will probably have to pick up the awards."

OBLIVEON, the acclaimed progressive metal band, has parted ways with bassist Antoine Baril. Playing bass on the group's long-awaited new album will be Steve DiGiorgio, widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, having been the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, DiGiorgio is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 30 years of touring the world.

On Saturday (December 13),OBLIVEON released the following statement via social media: "After a year together and three fun shows this summer filled with great memories, we want to share that Antoine will not be part of our future adventures.

"Antoine is an exceptional musician and a wonderful person. We've shared some truly great moments, both on stage and off, and we're deeply grateful for his time, energy, and talent throughout this past year.

"As our respective projects have become increasingly demanding, our paths naturally took different directions.

"We sincerely wish Antoine the very best in all his upcoming musical endeavors. He'll always remain a part of the OBLIVEON story.

"Looking ahead, the bass sessions planned for December will continue as scheduled with our friend Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT). Steve and the band have known each other since the late '80s, during his early days with SADUS, and have maintained a strong friendship ever since. Working together now feels like a natural continuation of that long-standing connection.

"Steve is currently at the studio recording bass tracks for the new album, and we're excited to share this next chapter with you."

OBLIVEON has been a fixture in the Canadian and international metal scene since the late 1980s, with a unique sound that blends intricate guitar riffs, technical drumming, and soaring vocals. The band's previous albums, including "From This Day Forward", "Nemesis", "Cybervoid" and "Carnivore Mothermouth", have received critical acclaim and have become classics of the progressive metal genre.

The new album, which will be OBLIVEON's first in over two decades, promises to be an exciting addition to the band's already impressive discography.

OBLIVEON's journey began in the heart of Montreal in January 1987, when three friends decided to turn their passion for music into something greater — a relentless drive to carve their own path in the underground metal scene. What started as a pastime quickly transformed into something more serious with the release of two early demos in March and September of that year. These demos resonated throughout the alternative metal circuit, gaining the band significant attention and laying the groundwork for what was to come.

It was in 1989, however, that OBLIVEON truly began to define their unique sound. With the arrival of a second guitarist and a new drummer, they released the iconic demo "Fiction Of Veracity", a work that marked a pivotal moment for the band. This release was more than just another demo — it was a declaration of their evolving identity. While many categorized them as a death metal band due to the heavy influence of the era, OBLIVEON always pushed beyond conventional boundaries, experimenting with soundscapes that set them apart from the rest of the genre.

As the years progressed, OBLIVEON's sonic vision matured. With each release, they continued to expand the horizons of metal by infusing futuristic, cosmic atmospheres into their music. Their riffs became sharper, more mechanized, and their compositions took on a distinctly "cybermetal" edge — a sound that became a signature element of their identity. OBLIVEON always maintained the raw intensity of their death metal origins, but their work became far more intricate, blending intricate rhythms, haunting melodies, and technical prowess to create a listening experience that was both powerful and thought-provoking.

In the summer of 1999, they released their fourth and most recent studio album, "Carnivore Mothermouth". This album was the culmination of years of exploration and growth, pushing the band's futuristic, progressive metal style to new heights. It showcased OBLIVEON's ability to craft an immersive sound that felt both otherworldly and deeply connected to the visceral roots of metal. "Carnivore Mothermouth" served as both an evolution of their signature sound and a conclusion to that chapter of their career, further solidifying their place as pioneers within the cybermetal scene.

After four groundbreaking albums, OBLIVEON disbanded in 2002. But even in their absence, the impact of their music endured. The band reunited periodically for special performances, keeping their spirit alive in the hearts of fans. And in 2021, to the excitement of their loyal following, OBLIVEON officially reunited once more — not to relive past glories, but to create something new. With fresh material and the promise of an upcoming album, set for release in 2026, OBLIVEON is poised to once again push the boundaries of metal and remind the world why they've been considered trailblazers for decades.

OBLIVEON is:

Martin Gagné: Guitar (since 1987)
Alain Demers: Drums (since 1989)
Pierre Rémillard: Guitar (since 1989)
Bruno Bernier: Vocals (since 1994)

Antoine was previously an active member of AUGURY and FROM DYING SUNS, having also worked with several notable bands such as CONTEMPLATOR and DEVIANT PROCESS.

BAND UPDATE

After a year together and three fun shows this summer filled with great memories, we want to share that...

Posted by OBLIVEON on Saturday, December 13, 2025

Shortly after completing their "Sleepless Empire" European tour, Italian metallers LACUNA COIL continue their live momentum with the announcement of their "Sleepless Empire" U.S. tour, which is set to start in March 2026. With this run of dates, the band brings their signature dark atmosphere and the emotional intensity of new album "Sleepless Empire" to stages across North America.

LACUNA COIL return to the U.S. with special guests ESCAPE THE FATE, as well as VOWWS (March 24 - April 13) and AXTY (April 15 - April 29). The tour is set to start in New York on March 24 and conclude in Albany on May 1. Tickets go on general sale Friday, December 19 at 10 a.m. local time.

The announcement comes with a corresponding new official video for "Hosting The Shadow" that shows LACUNA COIL in full force during their set at Aftershock festival in October 2025. Joining them on stage is LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe, who is featured on the album track.

Speaking on the video, LACUNA COIL vocalist Cristina Scabbia shares: "Filming the video for 'Hosting The Shadow' at Aftershock, sharing the stage with my family in LACUNA COIL and with Randy Blythe was a truly cathartic experience. Randy is not only an incredible, professional musician, he's also a precious friend and has added so much to our song. I think the video shows clearly the level of emotion and joy we shared both off and onstage. I used that positive energy to give it my all even though I was performing with a fever! Please enjoy the video, I truly hope you like it!"

The track stands out as one of the most powerful moments on "Sleepless Empire", and the video captures the raw energy and uncompromising presence of the band on stage.

LACUNA COIL 2026 tour dates:

March 24 - Gramercy Theatre - New York, NY
March 25 – Palladium - Worcester, MA
March 27 - Globe Iron - Cleveland, OH
March 28 - Saint Andrew's Hall - Detroit, MI
March 29 - Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL
March 31 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
April 2 - The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT
April 3 - Treefort Music Hall - Boise, ID
April 4 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
April 5 - McMenamins Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
April 7 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
April 8 - Ace Of Spades - Sacramento, CA
April 10 - The Bellwether - Los Angeles, CA
April 11 - House of Blues San Diego - San Diego, CA
April 12 - The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
April 13 - Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM
April 15 - The Echo Lounge & Music Hall - Dallas, TX
April 16 - Aztec Theatre - San Antonio, TX
April 17 - House of Blues Houston - Houston, TX
April 19 - House of Blues New Orleans - New Orleans, LA
April 21 - House of Blues Orlando - Lake Buena Vista, FL
April 22 - Culture Room - Fort Lauderdale, FL
April 24 - Music Farm - Charleston, SC
April 25 - Hell at The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
April 26 - The Underground - Charlotte, NC
April 28 - The Broadberry - Richmond, VA
April 30 - XL Live - Harrisburg, PA
May 1 - Empire Live - Albany, NY

"Sleepless Empire" came out in February via Century Media Records. Inspiration to create the LP came during the sessions for "Comalies XX" (2022),the acclaimed remake of LACUNA COIL's breakthrough third record "Comalies".

In October 2024, Italian guitarist/producer Daniele Salomone confirmed that he has joined LACUNA COIL as the replacement for the band's longtime guitarist Diego Cavallotti.

Salomone made his live debut with LACUNA COIL on August 4, 2024 at the Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Râșnov, Romania.

In June 2024, LACUNA COIL announced Cavallotti's departure. Diego, who joined LACUNA COIL in 2016, initially as a fill-in guitarist following the exit of Marco "Maus" Biazzi, later said in a social media post that "this decision is not the result of my dissatisfaction or desire to explore new opportunities."

Cavallotti and Salomone played together in the Italian metal band INVERNO, which released its debut album, "Stasis", in December 2023.

Photo credit: Marco Castellani

In a new interview with Doc Rock of the Metal Shop 101 podcast, DEATH ANGEL singer Mark Osegueda spoke about the rise — and eventual near-demise — of the 1980s thrash metal scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mark said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We were fortunate enough to be a part of it, and it's just an amazing area to live and grow up, especially back then — especially back then. It's changed dramatically from what it was, as far as the people that occupy it. I mean, back then it was more of a blue-collar city, or this area was mostly a blue-collar area, with a lot of artists and whatnot from the people that carried over from the '60s. And they were having children, and a lot of longshoremen and people like that, that were out here, that had kids, and these kids, us kids basically gravitated to rock and stuff like that. It seemed like just kind of that next generation of heavy music and tangible, that we could pick up instruments and become that. And we formed our own little scene out here, and it ended up becoming extremely healthy, in a weird way, 'cause everyone started forming bands, but everyone was very supportive of each other. There was friendly competition, which made everyone better players. And even though everyone was a thrash band, everyone had their own unique sound — no one sounded like each other. But if METALLICA was in town, they'd be at your shows. If EXODUS was in town, they'd be at your shows. METALLICA moved up here from Southern California because, at the time, Southern California didn't get 'em. But the Bay Area had a blue-collar scene [that] completely latched on to them."

Mark continued: "When SLAYER first came up here from Southern California and played, we went ravenous for 'em — it was crazy… And it still carries on to this day. If all the other bands are in town, we all go to each other's shows. And now there's a whole, I guess, newer crop of younger bands coming up too. And they're putting on their own shows here or at smaller clubs and bars that are having these metal shows, and they're packing 'em out. And it's been great. As I said, it's always been a very communal and supportive scene out here that. I guess that's what it was, friendly competition, that bred wonderful bands that had their own unique sound."

Asked how he thinks the thrash music scene has evolved and changed in the last four decades, Mark said: "Well, it ebbs and flows, 'cause, in all honesty, when DEATH ANGEL went through [the] 'Act III' [album touring cycle], it was peaking; it was peaking up in 1990. That's 35 years ago. And then we broke up in '90, but we still paid attention to what was happening in metal, individually, and you could just basically see the scene basically died throughout the '90s. Thrash metal, or metal in general, at least in the States, thrash metal especially, if the bands didn't break up, they were trying to go down different paths that didn't really stick to their roots. Everyone was just kind of fishing for what they were doing — everyone. And literally almost through all of the '90s, that was the case. And that was for thrash metal. 'Cause if I'm being perfectly honest, during that time in the '90s is when death metal got really big, which is awesome. But for my particular genre that I played in, it nosedived. And then I think what kind of really brought it back, in all honesty, if I could pinpoint a time, it was, to me, once again, the Bay area coming together, and it was in 2001 when Chuck Billy [TESTAMENT singer] got diagnosed with cancer and there was a big benefit show here in San Francisco called 'Thrash Of The Titans'. And all of these metal bands, thrash bands from that time, got together to raise money for Chuck and cancer research, for a great cause. And we were one of them. People flew out from all over the world to see the show. And bands that hadn't played in years, us included, got together for this one-off show. And it's literally like a bomb went off again throughout the world, and the ripple effects kind of brought thrash back alive, if you ask me. All of a sudden we were getting offers to go to Europe, and we toured Europe for maybe three years on just our original three records, and then we started getting offers to record new material, which was a whole other bag of beans. But we stuck with it and have, and we've had a career ever since. So, as I said, the scene shrunk, almost died, and then has now grown to a point where it just keeps growing, and younger bands are coming up and it's just making for a more well-rounded thrash scene. And now you have these huge festivals that mix different types or subgenres of metal. It's bringing a whole different crowd of people who had never seen this type of music and enabling them to see it and judge it for themselves if they're affected by it. But I like to think that if you're into metal and heavy music, there's really no way that you can't be intrigued or affected by the energy and the output of thrash metal in general."

DEATH ANGEL officially kicked off its "Act III U.S. Tour 2025" on November 26 at the Oriental Theater in Denver, Colorado.

"Act III U.S. Tour 2025" celebrates the 35th anniversary of DEATH ANGEL's "Act III" album and sees the band performing the LP in its entirety. The trek, which features support from VIO-LENCE (replacing originally announced support act TOXIC HOLOCAUST),LIONS AT THE GATE and MISFIRE, will wrap with two Christmas shows on December 18-19 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California.

DEATH ANGEL was nominated for a Grammy Award for the title track of its latest studio album, "Humanicide". Released in May 2019 via Nuclear Blast, the disc saw DEATH ANGEL returning to producer and friend Jason Suecof (DEICIDE, TRIVIUM) of Audiohammer studios for the recording and mixing, along with the mastering of the legendary Ted Jensen (SLIPKNOT, PANTERA) of Sterling Sound, who added the final touches and brought it all to life, with artist Brent Elliott White (LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH) providing the ominous cover artwork.

DEATH ANGEL has released two new singles in 2025, "Wrath (Bring Fire)" , which was first made available in May, and "Cult Of The Used", which came out in November.

San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS have filmed music videos for three songs from their upcoming studio album, tentatively due next spring via Napalm Records. The clips are being helmed by Jim Louvau, a musical and visual creative artist based in Phoenix, Arizona, who previously worked on EXODUS's music video for the song "The Fires Of Division" from the band's previous LP, 2021's "Persona Non Grata".

On Friday (December 12),EXODUS shared a photo from the "post-video shoot wrap dinner" at Peppermill Steakhouse in Tempe, Arizona via social media and included the following message: "Post video shoot wrap dinner with all but [EXODUS bassist] Jack [Gibson] (earliest flight home tomorrow!) and friends! Three days, three videos done, and they're gonna be sick as fuck. Seriously sick. We couldn't be happier, and we HATE making videos! @jimlouvau makes is fun for all of us!"

Last month, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt told Robb Chavez of Robbs MetalWorks about the band's recently completed follow-up to "Persona Non Grata": "It's fucking awesome. It'll be out next March, I think — March 20 — and it's fucking awesome. I mean, it's so awesome. We're so proud of this record."

According to Holt, EXODUS completed nearly two albums' worth of material during the latest recording sessions, with a view toward releasing the second collection of songs when the first touring cycle is finished.

"80 percent of the follow-up [to EXODUS's next album] is done already," Holt explained. "We just kept working. We never stopped. We were in the studio for two months. And we tend to record by… We all live together in a house, or sometimes we build a studio in a house, and it's like heavy metal summer camp. But we like each other enough to live together still. A lot of bands — that's a rarity. And so we write the whole process. When we started recording, we only had four songs done and a million ideas. And Lee [Altus, longtime EXODUS guitarist] wrote a ton of stuff; he wrote four out of 10 songs on the new album."

Gary also talked about the return of EXODUS singer Rob Dukes, who replaced Steve "Zetro" Souza in January. He said: "It's fucking been amazing. When you hear [Rob's] vocals on this new record, you're gonna shit your pants."

Elaborating on what fans can expect from the new EXODUS material, Holt said: "The new album is so killer, dude. And everybody says that — I know that — but, dude, this album's so good. Me and [EXODUS drummer] Tom Hunting call each other and [I tell him], when I listen to it, it makes me wanna cry, it's so good. It's that fucking good. We made something special."

Asked what it is about the new EXODUS album that is so good, Gary explained: "It's just the songs, dude. It's all about the songs. I mean, it's crushing, but it's all anthems. And it's so varied, this record. So many different aspects of EXODUS are in there, from the blinding speed to the slowest, heaviest shit we've ever done. And Rob's vocals are, like, at the top of the pyramid on this shit."

As for the status of the second collection of new songs EXODUS had written during the most recent sessions, Gary said: "We still gotta record a little bit more to complete it. Our goal, we fell a little bit short. We have eight songs done. It was hard picking which ones go on this, 'cause I still, to this day, I have panic attacks, like, 'I should have put that one on it. That song is so sick.' But you're trying to balance a record. And we just picked what we thought were the best ones for this album."

At this past October'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 will be released 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."

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!"

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.

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.

Post video shoot wrap dinner with all but Jack( earliest flight home tomorrow!) and friends! Three days, three videos...

Posted by Exodus on Friday, December 12, 2025

On Saturday, December 13, legendary vocalist John Bush played the first of three live concerts showcasing the music he helped create during his decade-long tenure singing with ANTHRAX. At the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California, Bush performed songs spanning all four albums he recorded with the band: "Sound Of White Noise", "Stomp 442", "Volume 8: The Threat Is Real" and "We've Come For You All". Joining Bush on stage were his CATEGORY 7 bandmates Phil Demmel (guitar),Mike Orlando (guitar) and Jason Bittner (drums),along with his longtime ARMORED SAINT partner and best friend Joey Vera on bass (CATEGORY 7 bassist Jack Gibson had a schedule conflict and was unable to make the gig). CATEGORY 7 also opened the show before returning as John's backing band for the ANTHRAX material.

Bush's ANTHRAX setlist included not only the well-known anthems, but also some deeper cuts that hadn't been performed live in years.

John's setlist was as follows:

01. Potters Field
02. Random Acts Of Senseless Violence
03. Refuse To Be Denied
04. Inside Out
05. Cadillac Rock Box
06. Hy Pro Glo
07. Catharsis
08. 1000 Points Of Hate
09. Black Dahlia
10. Black Lodge
11. King Size
12. Safe Home
13. Room For One More
14. Fueled

Encore:

15. What Doesn't Die
16. Only

Fan-filmed video of the entire concert can be seen below.

In a recent with Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz, Bush stated about the fact that he had to prepare for his ANTHRAX-era shows: "Well, I've been singing to the ANTHRAX songs right now because I'm trying to remember them. Strangely enough, they actually are coming back to me, which is funny 'cause I haven't sung those songs in years. Some of 'em I have — I did a couple things at the METAL ALLEGIANCE shows that we did — but mostly just like 'Only' and maybe 'Room For One More'. Yeah, it's funny how my memory is still there. I still have a lot of work to do, but, yeah, it's good. So I'm working on that. I'm singing to the CATEGORY 7 songs 'cause that's gonna open for it… But, yeah, this is a memory challenge, for sure."

Asked if he looks back fondly on 2003's "We've Come For You All", which marked his final album of new material with ANTHRAX, Bush said: "Yeah. I look fondly on all of 'em, really, to be honest. I think all four records are really cool — all a little different from one another. Certainly different times and different growth of the band. But 'We've Come For You All' was pretty solid. We signed to Nuclear Blast in Europe at that time, so they kind of gave us a resurgence, 'cause they're a great label in Europe and they just know what they're doing. And we really kind of re-established ourselves on that record, particularly in Europe. In America, I think it was on Sanctuary, and I think they kind of folded not too long after that. So, not as well of a job done here in America, but it was still received well and we toured and some great, great tunes on that record. Some really powerful anthems, if you will."

John also talked about Keanu Reeves's appearance in the "Safe Home" video and the guest contributions of THE WHO vocalist Roger Daltrey and PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott to the "We've Come For You All" LP. He said: "Yeah, we were very honored and lucky that we had Keanu Reeves do that for 'Safe Home' video. And, of course, Dimebag played on every album after 'Sound Of White Noise', 'cause it just started with 'Stomp' and then it continued on to 'We've Come For You All'. And we were, of course, honored to have Dime do anything on the record, and he played some killer leads throughout. Roger Daltrey, I was in New York at the time recording and when he did his part in L.A., so it was a drag 'cause I wasn't in the studio when he did it. But it's Roger Daltrey. End of story."

During an appearance on the July 31, 2025 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Bush was asked what led to his decision to play several concerts showcasing songs from his era of ANTHRAX. He responded: "Obviously I've talked about this for quite a while, and it's come and gone because of various reasons — scheduling, or maybe I was just reluctant at the time. And Dan DeVita, who I owe a lot to, because he's the agent who books ARMORED SAINT, and he's booking this, and I've known Dan for years and years. He works for TKO, and he's doing great for himself, and he's always been there for us and for me. And the thing is, he kept saying, like, 'When do you wanna do this? Let's do this.' And we had a plan to do it in the summer of this year. We had dates for Europe that were ready to go. And then for whatever reason, I don't know if I got cold feet or some of the negotiations kind of fell apart with some of the people I was talking to. And so we pulled out. And we actually had some legitimate gigs — we had a couple of festivals that were big and it was gonna be cool. For whatever reason, it didn't happen. So it's a moot point now. But the reality is, look, I am gonna be 62 [in August]. And I've been talking about this forever, and so let's just do it. Let's stop talking about it and let's do it. So we found the right dates to do it, which is in December, and it's three shows. It's L.A., it's St. Charles, which is outside of Chicago, and then New York City. And I'm gonna go out and we're gonna play songs from these records, and I think it's gonna be really exciting and fun. I think fans are gonna be stoked, and I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. There's really, really killer tunes on those records that I'm really proud of, and it's gonna be fun to sing them live."

On the topic of how he chose the musicians to play these shows with, Bush said: "It was gonna be the four guys from CATEGORY 7, and Jack Gibson just has a scheduling conflict. So that was the original plan. But it was funny, 'cause we talked about doing this and it was, like, well, here's the band. We've only played one show with CATEGORY 7 — we played the Whisky [A Go Go] just a couple weeks back — but every time we were gonna do some shows, a couple of things fell apart, a couple of balls were dropped. Whatever — that's a moot point. But I think the [CATEGORY 7] record actually is pretty off the charts; it's a killer record, [and I'm] really proud of it. And so we wanted to play some shows, and then, like I said, a couple of things fell apart. But then the idea came of, like, okay, well, wait a minute here. Here's a bunch of incredible musicians. And these guys can play these songs. Bittner played in ANTHRAX, or did some touring with them when Charlie [Benante] was having some injury issues. So he knows a lot of tunes. And it just made sense. It was, like, 'Well, wait a minute. We could piggyback this thing. It'll be really kind of interesting to have one band play and then kind of come back and play again.' So, it's gonna be a little much for not only me as a singer, it's gonna be a lot of songs. It's gonna be a lot of songs for the band to know and learn. But I think in the end it's gonna be a cool story, and it's gonna be fun. Like I was saying, if I was trying to put a band together from scratch of people that I would like to do these ANTHRAX songs, I would choose those guys 'cause they're amazing. So it just made sense. So it's gonna be a lot of fun. And like I said, a lot of these songs — I mean, 'Potter's Field' and 'Fueled' and 'Safe Home', we haven't played these songs — I haven't played these songs, and nor have they, in years and years. So, it's gonna be really cool and exciting to kind of resurrect some of these tunes that a lot of people dug and are great songs that just haven't been heard in a long time."

Asked about the possibility of playing more shows celebrating his era of ANTHRAX in 2026, John said: "Well, we're gonna take this step [by playing these three shows in December]. And for me, this was a big step. So I was, like, let's do this. And Dan, like I said, my agent, he was, like, 'Why don't we do this? We'll kind of play like three shows, strategic, and start with this.' The [new] ARMORED SAINT record is coming out in March or April, so I'm gonna be definitely wanting to do a lot of touring and association with that, because we're really stoked about this upcoming [ARMORED SAINT] album — it sounds killer — so we're gonna do a lot of stuff with that. So it's finding a way to merge some of these things together, but let me kind of get this out there, see what the vibe is. It seems like it's actually pretty awesome so far… But let's see what we get and let's see what happens. And sure, there's a lot of places that I would like to take it — certainly Europe and even South America and maybe even Japan. And the sky's kind of the limit. Obviously, there's a shelf life 'cause this is not new material. These are records that are 20 to 30 years old at this point. So it's not new music. And, of course, ANTHRAX has new music, and they're making a record and they have a new record coming out next year. But the fact is they just really haven't been playing any of these tunes. So they've been kind of almost put in a time capsule. And I get it — I really do. To just call it as it is, I understand, especially from the standpoint of [longtime ANTHRAX singer] Joey Belladonna. They're gonna have a third new record after he came back in the band. They obviously have their catalog of stuff that he did, and they probably have a plethora of material to play, not including any of the Bush songs. But the reality is I don't want these songs to just go into oblivion here. There's some really great material here, and in the '90s these songs had a lot of impact on people. So, I'm figuring, well, if you guys aren't gonna do it, then I should do it. And that's why I'm finally doing it."

Asked if he would still be doing these shows if the Belladonna-fronted lineup of ANTHRAX was performing a lot of the material Bush recorded with the band live, John said: "Well, I'd say most likely not. I used to say, 'Do songs [from my era]. I want you to do tunes.' I understand why you don't, but I wish they would. Because, again, it's something that I invested emotionally and a lot of time, as well as those guys did. So, I would prefer them to play the tunes. I understand if they don't, but if they were, then maybe not. But they don't, with the exception of 'Only'. And there's a lot of great tunes. I've been putting a setlist together, and it's probably more songs than I really wanna sing, to be honest, 'cause it could be a very long set. Plus I wanna play some deep tracks — I don't wanna just play the obvious songs, like 'Only', 'Room For One More', 'Fueled'. I wanna play 'Safe Home', whatever. I wanna play some deep tracks, because it will be more fun that way. So, would I do this [if ANTHRAX was still performing songs from the Bush era live]? Probably not. I would say probably not. But they're not, so I am."

Regarding whether he has gotten any feedback from ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian or drummer Charlie Benante or anybody else in the band about him doing this, John said: "I have not spoken to them. I know that they knew that I was flirting with this and I have been talking about it for a long time. So it's not like it's gonna come as some major shock. But I haven't really had a conversation with them after I made this announcement. But I'm hoping they're supportive of it. Again, it's celebrating the music that those guys made and those guys wrote and performed on. So, like I said, a lot of those tunes are great. So, I'm hoping they're just gonna be supportive of it and maybe will wanna come out and play a song or two. But for me, my main ambition is — it really comes down to, the primary reason is to honor those songs and honor those records and honor me singing them. And that's really the main thing. So, what happens after that? I mean, of course I'm open-minded, in terms of having people come out. I actually think it would be cool if I had some other various people maybe come out and do some little guest spots. I have some ideas of people. I don't wanna say who yet, but I think that would be really cool for other people to come in and stop in and do a song or two in one of the three shows. And I have some ideas. Like I said, I don't wanna reveal that yet. And that's not even including Scott, Charlie and Frankie [Bello, ANTHRAX bassist]. But whatever. I'm open-minded. I'm hoping it's a really positive vibe throughout the whole thing, and like I said, we're just celebrating some of those records that sometimes are forgotten, which, like I said, I get it. It's hard to compete, especially with the '80s ANTHRAX, because it was so huge and it was such an impactful time. And those are great, incredible records. But we did still make some really cool stuff in the '90s, and I know there's a lot of people that love those albums and songs, so I'm gonna rock 'em out."

Remaining John Bush performing songs from his era of ANTHRAX:

Dec. 18 - St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre
Dec. 20 - New York, NY @ Racket

In March 2024, Bush told Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone that he would "love" to perform material from his time as the singer of ANTHRAX. "It wouldn't be some long tour; it would probably be like a handful of shows of doing my era in ANTHRAX," he explained. "'Cause they don't play too many of the songs — they play 'Only', and they just don't play too many. And I get it, because there's a large catalog that ANTHRAX has, not only from the beginning, but now they've made — they're about ready to make their third record, I believe, after that. So, I understand. I really do. I totally get it. But there are some songs that would be fun to hear, I think, for fans and for myself. It just has to kind of work with time, really; that's the key component. But it would be fun, for sure. I just don't know at this point when that would happen. And I don't know — they've kind of got their own thing going on, too. They're busy, they're making a new record. One day maybe something. Maybe it'll be me with various musicians doing it. Probably not with the band, actually. Or if they ever wanted to say, 'Hey, you wanna come out and sing a couple songs?' Yeah, I'd be into that. But I always say it's something that Joey Belladonna should be wanting to do. If this is something that he's not into and he's uncomfortable, then it shouldn't be done, because there's no point. But who knows?"

After Blakk suggested the possibility of ARMORED SAINT opening for ANTHRAX and Bush jumping up on stage and doing a couple of songs with the headliners, John said: "I would love ARMORED SAINT to go out and play some shows or do a tour with ANTHRAX. I think that would be killer. I've said it. It'd be really fun… Who knows?"

ANTHRAX has had a number of vocalists — including Bush, Belladonna, Neil Turbin and Dan Nelson — over the last 42 years, with guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante remaining the sole bandmembers who have appeared on every one of the group's studio albums.

Turbin sang on ANTHRAX's debut LP, 1984's "Fistful Of Metal", before getting booted and being replaced by Belladonna. Belladonna performed on four ANTHRAX albums, including the fan favorite "Among The Living" (1987) before he himself was fired over creative and stylistic differences. Bush fronted ANTHRAX between 1992 and 2005 but was sidelined when the band reunited with Belladonna for a 20th-anniversary tour. When that collapsed, and relationships disintegrated with next frontman Nelson, Bush returned for a time before Belladonna took the job back in 2010.

In October 2022, John told The Metal Voice that a special tour during which he would perform material from his time as the singer of ANTHRAX "would be great. I don't really wanna go out and do like a 30-date tour with it, but it would be cool to do a handful of shows in some key markets," he said. "We can certainly play those songs for a support slot or even a headlining slot, let's face it. I think there's enough songs of the four records [I recorded with ANTHRAX] that would make for a great show… I'm open to it. It's just a matter of… the timing, I think. Really, that's what it comes down to."

Regarding the fact that ANTHRAX played "Only" live on a recent U.S. tour, with Joey Belladonna on vocals, Bush said: "I always support Joey singing those songs. I wish they would do more, to be honest… I have no qualms with that. I support that. And Joey, we're not the best of friends, because we just aren't. It's funny, 'cause my wife and his wife have become pretty good text friends, so they're closer than him and I. But I always endorse it and tell him he did a great job and support whatever he does. He has his own backlog of stuff, and he also has the new songs and the new records that he's done. So I understand, and I'm not offended by it. But if they wanna play some songs from the John Bush-era albums, I'm great with that as well."

In September 2020, Bush told The Metal Voice that he was "caught by surprise" by Ian's comment that was not opposed to taking part in a special concert featuring most of the singers that have fronted the band over the course of its nearly four-decade existence. "I was, like, 'Wow. Okay.' And I thought that's a great idea. That would be really cool," Bush said. "I think that would be an amazing thing for the fanbase. But what I keep saying is that Joey Belladonna is the singer of ANTHRAX, and Joey should be the singer of ANTHRAX, as far as I'm concerned. And if this happens, it needs to have his approval, really, quite honestly. Because I wouldn't want him to feel like, 'Well, this is not my idea, and I don't wanna do this,' because he is the singer who'd be sharing the stage [with the rest of us], quite honestly. So I think it would be something that Joey would have to give endorsement to, for that to happen, if that's an idea. And again, I think it would be a fun thing to do a couple of handful of shows, sporadic stuff."