A cause of death has been revealed for actress Julie E. "Tawny" Kitaen, who is best known in the rock world for her appearance in WHITESNAKE's video for "Here I Go Again".

A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff's Department in California said that the 59-year-old's cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy. The manner of death was ruled natural.

According to the spokesman, other significant conditions included mild coronary atherosclerosis (clogged arteries); mirtazapine (antidepressant), mirtazapine metabolite, alprazolam (Xanax), acetaminophen (Tylenol), pregabalin (nerve pain medication) and hydrocodone (opioid).

Kitaen died on May 7 at her home in Newport Beach, California.

Tawny's children — Wynter and Raine Finley, whom she shared with ex-husband, baseball player Chuck Finley — confirmed their mother's passing, writing in a statement: "We are heartbroken and saddened to announce the death of our mom. We just want to say thank you for all of you, her fans and her friends, for always showing her such support and love. You gave her life everyday. We miss her and love her and we know her legacy will live on forever."

While WHITESNAKE was working on it 1987 self-titled album, the band's lead singer David Coverdale started dating Kitaen, who had recently starred opposite Tom Hanks in the movie "Bachelor Party". Kitaen soon appeared in several of WHITESNAKE's music videos, including those for "Here I Go Again", "Is This Love" and "Still Of The Night". Footage of Kitaen writhing around on the hood of a Jaguar in the "Here I Go Again" clip has been called one of the most iconic — and sexiest — video moments ever filmed.

Last June, Tawny told "Ouch, You're On My Hair" about how she ended up being featured in the WHITESNAKE videos: "Ironically, I started dating David. He was two million dollars in debt to David Geffen at that time. I was working and had more money than David at that time, so I kind of supported us a little. And when I heard the album and I was allowed to go in and help mix the album… You know how when you sing different tracks, they give you a piece of paper and you pick the word from the best track. So I was able to do that. And John Kalodner, who was the biggest A&R guy in the business, who works for David Geffen, in my 'E! True Hollywood Story' called me Yoko Ono — because I picked the album covers, I picked the single, I picked the photographer. I made the rule that no girls were allowed backstage, so the groupies must have hated me.

"I'll tell you how I came to be in the video," she continued. "Marty Callner, the director of all the WHITESNAKE videos, had it all planned out — had the girl, had everything. The night before the shoot, David said, 'Will you come with me to Marty, the director of the video's house? We have to go over the story boards.' So we went over to his Bel Air mansion, and he opens up the door, and without even saying hi or hello, he pointed at me and he said, 'You're her.' And I'm, like, 'I'm who?' And he said, 'You're the girl.' And I was already an actress. I had turned down a couple of bands from not being in their video, because I was an actress. 'I'm not gonna do a rock video. Are you kidding?' That was the mentality. But it was my boyfriend at the time's video, so I thought, 'All right, I've already helped my boyfriend on all the RATT album covers' — referring to her former boyfriend, late RATT guitarist Robbin Crosby — "why can't I help my boyfriend in his videos?' And so that's how it happened. And this poor girl got a call that she was no longer gonna be in it, and here I was."

In a 2019 interview with Consequence Of Sound, Coverdale confirmed that Kitaen was not the first choice for the female figure featured in the video. "Claudia Schiffer was supposed to be 'the WHITESNAKE woman,' when she was the Guess jeans girl," he said. "But that fell apart near the actual shoot. And I was taking Tawny out for dinner, when Marty Callner called me, and said, 'You have to stop by, we have problems.' We went to his house on the way to dinner, he opened the door, his jaw hit the floor — as you know, Tawny was an absolute beauty — and he said, 'That's her! She's the WHITESNAKE woman!' And I said, 'Marty, this is a friend of mine. She's an actress.' And she said, 'No, David. I'm happy to do it!' So, sorry Claudia — you did very well afterwards, too."

Coverdale and Kitaen tied the knot in 1989 but the union only lasted two years. Kitaen married Finley in 1997 and divorced him in 2002, not long after she was arrested for allegedly attacking her husband in their SUV a few blocks from their home. According to the Los Angeles Times, Kitaen pleaded not guilty to the charges of domestic violence, and the case was dismissed in 2003 after she attended court-mandated counseling. When she and Finley divorced, she released a statement saying she was being treated for a dependency on prescription drugs and vowed to become "the healthiest and the best mother possible" to her two daughters.

Prior to hooking up with Coverdale, Kitaen appeared in RATT's "Back For More" music video. She was also featured in several reality shows, including "The Surreal Life", "Botched" and "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew". She had several other run-ins with the law, including a charge for cocaine possession in 2006 and driving under the influence in 2009.

One of the Jaguars from the "Here I Go Again" video was dusted off for WHITESNAKE's clip for "Shut Up & Kiss Me", from 2019's "Flesh & Blood" album.

The day after Kitaen's passing, Coverdale tweeted: "Just woke up to some very sad, unexpected news… My sincere condolences to her children, her family, friends & fans…"

"How did I get myself into such a mess? You'll have to watch the new Fury music video, 'Hell Of A Night', to find out," says bassist Becky Baldwin.


"I love combining music with horror, and a good lump of comedy for good measure, too! The first single from our forthcoming album is out now. 'Hell Of A Night' is a tribute to scary movies, so we had to get it out in time for Halloween." 


"Huge thanks to Lion Island Media for producing yet another amazing video, and making all of our nightmarish fantasies come true. This was perhaps the most fun video to shoot so far, drafting in dozens of friends and fans to make horrifying appearances." 


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This past July, WHITESNAKE announced that it had enlisted Croatian singer/multi-instrumentalist Dino Jelusick for its upcoming tour. Jelusick is a member of multi-platinum selling band TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and was previously part of DIRTY SHIRLEY (with George Lynch), ANIMAL DRIVE and recorded with many others. Dino has been singing, touring and recording since the age of five. Other than being a frontman, his main instrument are keyboards but he also plays bass, guitar and drums. He finished music academy and did theater work.

Asked in a new interview with Antihero Magazine what Dino's role will be on WHITESNAKE's final tour, the band's leader David Coverdale said: "He's going to be the way I have two guitar players.

"I've always seen WHITESNAKE as an orchestra," he explained. "I don't see it as a band-band. I don't want two guitarists playing exactly the same song, or just harmony guitars, I want two opposing… you've got the incendiary Joel Hoekstra, entirely different to the electrifying Reb Beach. And this is not to overwhelm Michele [Luppi, WHITESNAKE keyboardist]. Michele's totally secure. I adore him and what he brings to WHITESNAKE.

"In 2019, Dino's band opened for us in Zagreb, and this is very rare for me, and I went, 'Who the fuck is that?' And I was going, 'Wow, that kid's great.' And Joel said, 'Yeah, I worked with him in the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. He's a great guy.' And I said, 'That guy's a snake, dude.' And I said, 'Don't say anything yet. I'm going to keep my eyes and ears on him.'

"So, I think it's going to be fantastic," Coverdale added. "I'm going to have an orchestra of keyboards for a lot of songs on WHITESNAKE which are big epics, that make them even more musically orchestrated without having an orchestra on stage with us.

"I mean, the guy's great, I can't wait to sing with him. I already have three singers who are good enough to be frontman singers, with Michael Devin and Michele Luppi, and Reb Beach; they are really great singers. What's wrong with having another one? And I think he's a super guy. He has his challenges legally at the moment, but talent, belief, and courage will always win. And I can't wait for us to start rehearsals, I really can't. It's got to be exciting to me and adding another spice to an already good cocktail."

Last month, Dino told Mónica Moreira of More Than Words about his involvement with WHITESNAKE: "Well, David mentioned that he would love to fly me [to] his house and that he would love [for] me and him to write some songs for WHITESNAKE.

"I'll be playing keyboards. I'll be doing backing vocals. I'll be playing guitars on a couple of songs," he explained. "And that's as far as I know."

Asked if he is in any way a bit sad to know that this will be probably WHITESNAKE's farewell tour, Dino said: "Well, no. Every band has an expire date. WHITESNAKE has been going for 40, 50 years now. More than 40 years — since '78 or '77, when the first album came out. But I'm proud to be the last WHITESNAKE member ever. When you see the guys that played in this band. You had Jon Lord. You had Don Airey on keyboards. You had Timothy Drury, Michele Luppi and myself. It's five keyboardists of WHITESNAKE. There were a couple of more playing live — yeah, Paul Mirkovich was in 1994, playing that leg. Yeah, there were a couple of more. But, yeah, it's definitely a beautiful part of history in the making."

When Jelusick's addition to WHITESNAKE was first announced, David said in a statement: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome the extremely gifted Dino Jelusick to WHITESNAKE. We've had our eyes and ears on him since we played Zagreb together two years ago. You're going to love him!"

Dino said he has been influenced by WHITESNAKE and Coverdale from an early age.

"I am beyond honored to be part of one of my favorite bands of all time," he said. "To get the phone call from David Coverdale is something every singer and musician of my generation can only dream of; it still feels completely surreal. I cannot wait to start hitting the road with WHITESNAKE and, as the great DC said to me himself, to give a piece of my identity to the sound of this iconic band."

On October 29, WHITESNAKE will release newly remastered and remixed CD and LP deluxe editions of "Restless Heart", along with unreleased demos and studio outtakes and a DVD. The DVD includes music videos and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album with new interviews from Coverdale. The set comes with a hardbound book filled with rare and unseen photos from the era.

Coverdale, who will turn 70 on September 22, recently confirmed that he plans to retire from touring after WHITESNAKE's next batch of concerts around the world.

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

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

During an appearance on MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn's "No Fuckin' Regrets With Robb Flynn" podcast, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe elaborated on his recent Instagram post where he urged everyone coming to see LAMB OF GOD perform to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear a mask.

"I believe in fucking science," Randy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And I have friends who are doctors and scientists and nurses, and these are people I'm going to listen to — not someone on social media, not another musician, not a talking head on CNN, Fox News, USA Today, PBS; none of this stuff. I talk to my friends who are molecular biologists, immunologists, emergency room doctors, and I have friends who are nurses, one of whom works in a COVID ward — and someone very close to me. These are not my friends' neighbors' second cousin's buddy [saying], 'I heard this or that or the other'; these are people who are friends of mine I talk to directly. They're, like, 'This is real. This is the science. This is the data. This is what I see. These are the people I see dying.' So I'm going to listen to my friends 'cause they're a lot smarter than me.

"For me, everybody has to quote-unquote do their own research, I guess," he laughed. "My research involves talking to friends of mine who spent years of their lives pursuing degrees that cost them thousands and thousands of dollars, or who dedicate their lives to the service of others in the medical profession. And this is what these people are telling me. So I don't have to filter through all this data, through all these different media sources; I just talk to my friends. 'Are you vaccinated?' 'Yes.' 'Tell me about this vaccine. Tell me about the technology.' And I've had these conversations.

"When the vaccine came out very rapidly, comparatively, like anyone else, I was, like, 'Well, that's quick,'" Randy admitted. "But then some friends of mine explained to me, 'This is old technology. They've been working on this for 15 fucking years. It's not new. So cut it out with that.' And also, this is not just an American or one country's or one corporation's push; this is a massive international effort to get this vaccine ready — different ones ready — for distribution.

"I have a friend who works in intelligence — pretty high-level intelligence — and one of their jobs right now is helping out with COVAX, which is the international vaccine distribution arm. And he [was] talking to one of his co-workers from COVAX, and it was just, like, it's very frustrating with certain places where the vaccine is available and people don't wanna take it, and there are countries that are begging for it.

"All that aside, for me, like I said, it's a matter of talking to my friends and being, like, 'What's the deal with this?'" Blythe added. "Because these are people I trust, and they're a lot smarter than me… So I'm going to listen to them — I'm just gonna."

LAMB OF GOD's tour with MEGADETH, TRIVIUM and HATEBREED kicked off on August 20 in Austin, Texas. It marked LAMB OF GOD's first run of shows since the release of its self-titled album in June 2020.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 77 percent of Americans aged 12 years and older have been at least partially vaccinated against the coronavirus, while 67 percent are fully vaccinated.

More than 724,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the U.S.

Dr. Arturo Casadevall, chair of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told CNBC that COVID-19 vaccines "are extremely safe," noting that the risks of the side effects from the vaccines are significantly lower than the health risks posed by the virus. "COVID, on the other hand, is deadly, unpredictable."

Fully vaccinated people are five times less likely to be infected by the disease, 10 times less likely to be hospitalized and 11 times less likely to die because of the virus compared to those are unvaccinated.

During an appearance on the "Oral Sessions With Renée Paquette" podcast, Corey Taylor discussed the COVID-19 safety procedures and protocols that are being implemented on SLIPKNOT's ongoing "Knotfest Roadshow" U.S. tour, featuring support from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEVER 333 and CODE ORANGE.

"All the bands are super rad and so stoked to be back on the road," Corey said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And we have such stringent restrictions that everybody is really, really happy about it. We're doing our best to kind of set the standard so other bands, other tours can kind of come around and follow the example.

"Basically, [we're playing] Live Nation-only venues, which require all staff to be vaccinated," he explained. "It also means that at the gigs, you can either show a vaccination card or a negative test to come in. And it basically means that you're masked at all times backstage. If someone pops positive, they're quarantined and they stay behind.

"We've only had two outside crew people test positive, and we have been lucky enough, once that happened, we have tested every day — all the crews of all the bands, all the [members] of all the bands, all the bus drivers; everyone — to make sure that we're all negative," Taylor added. "So it's an arduous process, but it's a necessary process to make sure that we keep this machine on the road. There are so many moving parts, there are so many people in so many different positions that you don't even realize that you can trace back contact with one of them through, like, six other people. You just never know — one person on the outside gets it, they have contact with three people who are close to you [and] boom, you're exposed. So it's a juggling act, trying to make sure that we keep it in check."

The "Knotfest Roadshow" tour kicked off in late September and is scheduled to wrap up in Arizona in early November.

Earlier this week, CODE ORANGE announced that it was canceling five previously announced headlining shows due to "newly enhanced COVID protocols" on the SLIPKNOT tour.

Last month, Corey said that his breakthrough case of COVID-19 produced symptoms that made him "the sickest" he had ever been in his life, and he credited the vaccine for keeping him out of the hospital.

The 47-year-old SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer, who is fully vaccinated, was forced to call off his appearance at a Michigan pop culture convention in August after testing positive for the coronavirus.

SLIPKNOT returned to the live stage for the first time in 18 months on September 4 at the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. The gig marked the debut of Taylor's new mask, which he had been working on for the past few months.

SLIPKNOT has spent the last few months working on a new studio album, tentatively due in 2022.

The band's latest LP, "We Are Not Your Kind", came out in August 2019. The disc sold 118,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Paul Stanley's longtime guitar tech Francis Stueber has died of COVID-19. He was only 52 years old.

The KISS guitarist/vocalist shared the news of his friend's passing in a social media post earlier today (Sunday, October 17). He wrote: "My dear friend, buddy and guitar tech for 20 years, Fran Stueber died yesterday suddenly of Covid. Both on and offstage I depended on him for so much. My family loved him as did I. He was so proud of his wife and 3 boys as they were of him. I'm numb."

Stueber has worked on all KISS and Stanley solo tours and one-off shows since 2002. He even took the stage with the band during the "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" episode where KISS performed for the troops, and was on hand when Stanley cut his 2006 solo album "Live To Win".

Stueber, who had also worked behind the scenes for HEART, THE OFFSPRING and REO SPEEDWAGON's Kevin Cronin, told Gibson in a 2007 interview: "If Paul goes out of tune, it's not his fault, it's my fault. Usually I change his guitar every four to five songs so he doesn't have to worry about going out of tune. It's pretty straightforward with KISS; Paul only plays one tuning and he plays no more than six guitars. Really the only reason I change guitars is for aesthetics."

Last month, KISS announced rescheduled North American tour dates after the band was forced to postpone five shows due to Stanley and bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons testing positive for COVID-19. Simmons later credited his vaccination for keeping his infection "minimal" and encouraged others to consider getting the COVID-19 shot. "Thanks to the vaccine, I'm really fine," Gene tweeted. He also responded to a person who seemingly mocked him for catching COVID even though he was inoculated. "Vaccine protects you about 95%. However, you can still get Delta Covid variant," Simmons wrote. "I did…But the effects are minimal, if you've been vaccinated twice. Without vaccine = hospital, pain and maybe death. Do your research. You'll come off much brighter."

In a recent social media post, KISS said the whole band and the crew members who are traveling with them on the tour are fully vaccinated. Members of KISS "and their crew have operated in a bubble independently to safeguard everyone as much as possible at each show and in between shows," the band wrote in the statement. "The tour also has a COVID safety protocol officer on staff full-time that is ensuring everyone is closely following all CDC guidelines," the statement continued.




My dear friend, buddy and guitar tech for 20 years, Fran Stueber died yesterday suddenly of Covid. Both on and offstage I depended on him for so much. My family loved him as did I. He was so proud of his wife and 3 boys as they were of him. I’m numb. pic.twitter.com/RvwUGpFt0X

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) October 17, 2021








We all love you Fran. Rest in peace. https://t.co/EkWgqHPZRc

— KISS (@kiss) October 18, 2021

In a new interview with "Amanpour And Company", Dave Grohl said that the chapter about NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain's 1994 suicide in his newly released memoir "The Storyteller: Tales Of Life And Music" was the most difficult part of the book to write. Asked why he chose to write that chapter last, Grohl said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "'Cause I was scared to write it. It's one thing to write about getting stitches when you're 12 years old or it's one thing to write about taking your kids to the daddy-daughter dance, it's another thing to write about something that you've barely spoken about with people close to you. I mean, I revealed some things in that story that I've never told my closest friends. I was scared to write it.

"First of all, I knew what people wanted me to write," he continued. "I think that people have a lot of unanswered questions — as do I. So I decided to write in a much broader emotional sense — the process of loss or grief and mourning, and how that's determined and how it differs from person to person. Yeah, it was a tough one to write."

Dave also recalled how a chance encounter in Ireland gave him the motivation to restart his life and form the FOO FIGHTERS in the months following Cobain's death.

"After Kurt died and NIRVANA was over, our worlds were just turned upside down," he said. "I don't know if anyone knew how to continue or what to do next. I personally didn't have any interest in music. I put my instruments away. It was hard for me to listen to the radio, which was very unlike me. And after a few months, I decided I would go on this kind of soul-searching trip in the middle of nowhere. I just wanted to be away from everyone and everything. So I went to one of my favorite places — the Ring Of Kerry in Ireland, where I'd been before. And it's entirely remote; there's nothing there. It's just country roads and beautiful scenery. And I was there driving down a country road and I saw a hitchhiker in the distance and I thought, 'Well, maybe I'll pick him up.' And as I got closer and closer, I noticed that he had a Kurt Cobain t-shirt on. So even in the middle of nowhere, I had Kurt sort of looking back at me. And that's when I realized, 'I can't outrun this. I have to go home. I have to get the instruments back in my lap and I have to keep playing music because it saved my life my entire life, and I think that it might do it again.' And I went home and started the FOO FIGHTERS."

"The Storyteller - Tales Of Life And Music" was released on October 5 via Dey Street Books and Simon & Schuster. In the book, Grohl shares what it was like growing up as a kid with big dreams in Springfield, Virginia, and how he lived out those dreams making music on the world stage. The book features anecdotes about David Bowie, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop and Paul McCartney, as well as stories about the time he played drums for Tom Petty, went swing dancing with AC/DC, and performed at the White House.

Regarding how he chose what to include in "The Storyteller", Grohl said in a recent trailer for the book: "I could write an entire book about the band SCREAM. I could write an entire book about my time in NIRVANA. The idea was to choose the stories that best described what it's like to be behind the curtain and on the inside of the music, from the drum stool looking out. To play music, have this beautiful family, travel the world, meet people from all walks of life, I never take any of this for granted, believe me."

In a new interview with Golden Robot's "Conversations With..." video podcast, veteran talent manager Doc McGhee, who has worked with KISS, MÖTLEY CRÜE, BON JOVI and SKID ROW, among many others, spoke about the importance of musical chemistry within a band and the role of a lead singer in any group. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Bands are like marriages, okay? And you have problems keeping any band together. And more bands will break up than not, for sure.

"When Sebastian Bach left SKID ROW, and then later in life, I have to do a terrible fucking TV show called… I did it for MTV — for Rick Krim at MTV… VH1. And he said, 'You have to do this thing called 'SuperGroup' for me. You put together the supergroup. We can't tell you who's gonna be in the band.' I said, 'Well, I'm not gonna do it, because I'm not gonna have fucking idiots, and then I'm gonna look like an idiot.' [He said] 'No, no. This is gonna be big. I'll do anything for you.' Blah blah blah blah blah. 'Okay. Fine.' I show up. [The band consisted of] Sebastian Bach, Ted Nugent, the kid from BIOHAZARD [Evan Seinfeld], the bass player… and Jason Bonham. But I'm sitting there with Sebastian, and somebody says to me, 'You know Sebastian is pissed off at you.' And I go, 'Okay. What could he be pissed off at me for? It's been years since he's been in SKID ROW. What can he be pissed…?' 'Well, you took all his publishing away from him.' So I said, 'Really? Did I take his publishing away from him? How the fuck did I take his publishing?' I said, 'Let's get Sebastian.' So I get Sebastian. And I go, 'So, Baz, I hear that you think that I took your publishing away from you.' He said, 'I didn't get any publishing.' I said, 'Sebastian, you didn't write anything. If you don't write fucking something, you don't get it.' But he doesn't get… So, it's, like, okay, whatever."

Reflecting on the period when Bach exited SKID ROW in 1996 while he was still managing the band, McGhee said: "I don't say to [SKID ROW guitarist] Snake [Dave Sabo], who I love, and Scotti [Hill, guitarist] and Rachel [Bolan, bassist], who I really, really care about and [are] good people, I don't say to them, 'You know something? We're gonna find a better lead singer and we're gonna go on and fuck him.' I go, 'You're fucked. Sorry. You guys can't play with each other? You're gonna be playing pay toilets again using your own change — even though artistically you're gonna feel better about it. You've never been a bride; you've been a bridesmaid a bunch.' But after 'Slave To The Grind', they had a chance to get on the PANTERA tour and the GN'R tour, they had a chance to make that step up, and they couldn't do it. But am I gonna fucking throw the lead singer out? You have to be fucking retarded."

Bach joined SKID ROW in 1988 as the replacement for the band's original lead singer Matt Fallon, who sang on demo versions of songs that were eventually re-recorded for SKID ROW's multi-platinum 1989 eponymous LP.

Six years ago, Sebastian slammed his former bandmates in SKID ROW for claiming to have written all the songs on the group's early records without him. During an appearance on the "Snider Comments" podcast with host Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER, Bach said: "The biggest lie that those guys always tell is, 'We wrote all the songs on all the records.' If you listen to my albums and the SKID ROW albums, and then you listen to the SKID ROW albums without me, and then listen to my solo albums, that'll give you all that you need to know about who wrote what. When they say, 'We wrote the song '18 And Life', you [just] sang it.' Okay, let's examine that statement. You can go listen to the original version of that song online, and then you can listen to me doing it, and there's something called a melody line. Okay? Where it goes, [singing] 'Lived nine to five and he worked his fingers to the bone.' Every time my voice goes into the register where you turn it up and go, 'Holy shit! Did you fucking hear that?' Those are the notes that I wrote, okay? Nobody does that in the version before that I didn't fucking… 'Can I sing this note in this part?' 'Yeah, do that, Sebastian. Yeah, do that.'"

He continued: "So I'm nineteen years old, taking these fucking songs and turning them into JUDAS PRIEST songs, as far as… I'm rewriting the melody lines, never thinking anybody was gonna like it, never thinking anybody was gonna buy it. I'm thinking I'm gonna be the next MALICE, not the next BON JOVI. The last thing anybody ever thinks is that somebody is gonna like this shit. That was, like, the last-case scenario. So I'm not in court, saying, 'I wrote this note! I fucking…' I'm not gonna be in litigation when I'm nineteen. You know?! So, [them saying] 'We wrote all the songs' is such a fucking pile of shit."

Asked in a 2013 interview with Metal Covenant if Bach "actually wrote anything significant on [SKID ROW's early] albums," Sabo responded: "To be totally honest, yeah. I mean, he contributed to things here and there. There is no doubt; you can't deny it. But to the extent that what Rachel and I would put into a song, no. I mean, Rachel and I spent three months on 'Quicksand Jesus'. So to sit there and say that he didn't contribute anything, then I'd be lying. But to sit there and say that he contributed equally as we did, that would be a lie."

In a 2010 interview, Bolan stated about SKID ROW's split with Sebastian: "There was so much tension and so much infighting that it was hard to write songs. Snake and I formed the band, we wrote the songs, and then other people played and sang it. People wanted to break away from what had been working, and that impeded the songwriting."

Regarding the decision to reform SKID ROW in 1999 without Bach, Bolan said: "The blood was so bad after [1995's] 'Subhuman Race' and there was just so much stuff in the press, we knew it wasn't going to work [with Sebastian]. We decided we'd rather go on being happy with what we were doing than get right back into all the tension and dissension. We loved the music, we loved playing, and we knew we could do this and have fun again. So we decided right there to continue without him."

In a new interview with Germany's Radio Bob!, legendary GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash spoke about what it was like to be back on stage after being sidelined for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "GUNS just did a U.S. tour, which was a lot of fun. It was great because you had all these crowds that were super hungry for live gigs. And so it was a very energetic tour. At the same time, [we] also had a lot of intense restrictions. We didn't have any kind of aftershow guests — no guests whatsoever — and we never left the hotel pretty much the entire time. And everybody just had to really keep it together so that we didn't have somebody get sick and have to postpone the tour and all that kind of stuff. But we made it through unscathed. So it was good."

Slash and his bandmates played the final show of their "We're F'N Back" run on October 4 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

"We're F'N Back!" came on the heels of the "Not In This Lifetime" run that began in April 2016 and became the No. 3 highest-grossing tour in the history of Billboard Boxscore.

As was the case with "Not In This Lifetime", the latest GUNS N' ROSES tour featured classic-lineup members Slash, Duff McKagan (bass) and Axl Rose (vocals) backed by guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

GUNS launched its long-rumored and long-awaited reunion tour with an April 2016 club show in Hollywood and appearances in Las Vegas and at California's Coachella festival.

As previously reported, GUNS N' ROSES will release a new four-song EP, "Hard Skool", on February 25, 2022. The effort, which is exclusive to the GUNS N' ROSES official store, contains the two new songs the band released in the last two months — the title track and "Absurd" (stylized as "ABSUЯD") — as well as live versions of "Don't Cry" and "You're Crazy".

GUNS N' ROSES is now said to be working on a new studio album — the first under the GUNS banner since "Chinese Democracy" and the first to feature Rose, Slash and McKagan since 1993.

Finland's melodic death metallers Re-Armed have announced an EP celebrating their 20th anniversary, titled XX. The EP will contain five other songs in addition to today’s first single / video release, As The Stars Align. The EP will be released digitally via Inverse Records on January 27th,  2022.
 

 
The band comments on the new single, EP and on the band’s 20th anniversary:


"The single’s soundscape is filled with lots of sweet melodies, while still maintaining raw energy brought by impulsive drums and highlighted growl vocals. Song lyrics continue the theme explored in the previous album; wonders of the universe and

The New Black guitarist / Who Brought The Dog frontman Fabian "Fabs" Schwarz kept himself busy during lockdown with more musical experimentation. He recently released a full album of '80s-inspired synth wave tunes under the moniker SixMixSix, and is gearing up for a new EP release.


Fabs: "I have a release date! The Weird World EP will hit all major platforms on November 5, 2021! That is the most relaxing stuff I have ever done. So calm down and chill!! Save the date. Here is what you can expect..."





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SixMixSix recently released a live album recorded this past summer in Würzburg, Germany at the annual Umsonst & Draussen festival. It is available for free download here.


"This is just a document about our very first show EVER! So have fun with this historical grain of sand."


Live @U&D WÜRZBURG by SIXMIXSIX


Tracklist:


"The Howler"
"Plains Of Eidolon"
"Antarktos"
"Fortuna"
"Evening Star"
"Heart Of Deimos"
"Continuity"
"Cambion Drift"
"Star Winds"
"Azathoth"


Following is Schwarz's announcement for the SixMixSix debut:


"It is finally here! Grab your headphones, choose a pla

In the latest episode of the "On The RAGS" podast, Gloria Butler, the wife of BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler, and her co-hosts Risa Shapiro, Amy Motta and Sloan Kivo talked to the legendary bassist about life, recreation and inspiration. Asked why he never swears, Geezer said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When I was a kid, 'cause I had very, very strict Irish Catholic parents. There were seven kids in the house. None of us were ever allowed to swear. And so when I went out the house, I used to have the worst mouth in the street on me. And this one day I was calling everybody all these swear words and everything, and somebody complained about my language, and the police came to frighten me, to the house. My dad belted the hell out of me with his leather belt. That's what stopped me swearing. And he said to me, 'It makes you sound really, really ignorant, 'cause only thick people swear because they can't think of a proper English word to say.' That stuck in my mind. And when I went to swear, I'd think of a different word. And it expanded my vocabulary."

As for how he got his famous nickname, Geezer, whose real name is Terry, explained: "It came because when I was at school, my brother was in the army, and he was based with a lot of Cockneys. And people in London call everybody a 'geezer.' [It means] just a man — like, 'Hello, mate.' It's just like somebody calling you 'dude' over here [in America]. In England, it'd be 'geezer.' So my brother used to come home from leave from the army, and he'd be going, 'Hello, geezer. How are you, geezer?' And so because I had looked up to my brother when I was about seven years old, I'd go to school calling everybody a geezer. And so that's how I got cursed with it."

A founding member of BLACK SABBATH, Geezer is also the lyricist of such SABBATH classics as "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and others.

Geezer, singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi reunited in late 2011 and released a comeback album, "13", in June 2013.

In February 2017, SABBATH finished "The End" tour in Birmingham, closing out the quartet's groundbreaking 49-year career.

"The End" was SABBATH's last tour because Iommi, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and is currently in remission, can no longer travel for extended amounts of time.

Seven months ago, Geezer confirmed to Cleveland.com that he is writing a memoir.

Hosted by Risa, Amy, Gloria and Sloan (the RAGS), "On The RAGS" features four extraordinary women from diverse backgrounds with unique insight into business, politics, family and entertainment. Their viewpoints, while often serious, are more often hilarious.

Christian metallers Stryper have checked in with the following update:


"We've just introduced a new T to the Stryper online store to coincide with the upcoming release of the film: Electric Jesus.





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Electric Jesus - a coming of age, rock-and-roll comedy, follows the ill-fated exploits of a Stryper-loving, Christian metal band during the summer of 1986. The film is set to be released November 2 in the U.S. and Canada — soon, through the entire world!


The film stars The Office’s Brian Baumgartner as the band’s woebegone road manager, '80s teen icon Judd Nelson as a firebrand preacher, and newcomers Andrew Eakle, Shannon Hutchinson, and Wyatt Lenhart as devout teens determined to 'make Jesus famous.'


Electric Jesus has been making waves in the U.S. film festival circuit, winning numerous awards and converting hundreds of devotees. It is a stunning breakout from writer / director Chris White, who co-produced the film wit

Aeon have released a playthrough video for the track "Let It Burn", featured on the band's recently released new album, God Ends Here (Metal Blade Records). Watch below:





With 2012's Aeons Black standing as one of the defining death metal albums of the twenty-first century, it has been a long wait for the follow up. In 2021, Sweden's Aeon finally return with its successor, God Ends Here, and in doing so only up the ante with a record that is bigger, harder and stronger in every way. A darker, even more epic collection, it is everything an Aeon fan could want with a few surprises in store, pushing the genre in new directions, and once again asserting that they are one of the most important bands in extreme metal.




The main reason for the gap between records lies in finding the right drummer, having had a few pass through their ranks in the interim, Dark Funeral/Imperium drummer Janne Jaloma now manning the kit. Making his recording debut with the band is also bassist Tony Östman, who joined in 2013, during the touring cycle for Aeons Black. Guitarist Daniel Dlimi, who departed the Aeon fold in 2013, also returned to the band's ranks in 2019, which inspired guitarist Zeb Nilsson to write, having really missed collaborating with him.


Drums were recorded in Jaloma's own Studio Starköl, guitars and bass in the band's own Rise to Dominate Studio, and the vocals were recorded at Metallfabriken Studio, where some guitar re-amping was also done. Producer Ronnie Björnström, who presided over Aeons Black, once again oversaw proceedings, making sure everything sounded as big as possible. Expanding the sonic palette are strings and choirs, the orchestral elements primarily programmed by Nilsson with Dlimi handling those on "Mephistopheles", while Nilsson wrote the choir parts. With dramatic artwork by Italian artist Paolo Girardi the final piece of the puzzle, the finished package extends Aeon's legacy and gives the genre the push that was intended from the outset. They may have been gone a long time but make no mistake: Aeon are back, and God Ends Here will lay waste to all.





God Ends Here can be ordered here in the following formats:


- jewelcase-CD
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- gold vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- orange w/ red splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- gold / black melt vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- gold w/ black splatter vinyl (US exclusive)





God Ends Here tracklisting:


"The Nihilist"
"Liar's Den"
"Let It Burn"
"Orpheus Indu Inferis"
"Church Of Horror"
"Deny Them Eternity"
"Forsaker"
"Into The Void"
"God Ends Here"
"Severed"
"Just One Kill"
"Mephistopheles"
"Let The Torturing Begin"
"Despise The Cross"
"Overture: Magnum Reginae"
"Queen Of Lies"


Album stream:





"God Ends Here" video:





"Church Of Horror" lyric video:





Aeon lineup:


Tommy Dahlström - vocals
Zeb Nilsson - guitars
Daniel Dlimi - guitars
Tony Östman - bass
Janne Jaloma - drums (session)


(Photo - Tony Östman)

Boston's Fathom Farewell will be unleashing their Kraken EP on Friday, October 22nd via Blood Blast Distribution. Before it officially drops, the New England metalcore powerhouse is sharing the latest music videom for the single “Save Your Breath”, a track about being misunderstood, which is a common theme that has followed band founder and vocalist Alex Cohen throughout his life.


Alex explains in further detail: “From as long ago as I can remember I have been very energetic and maybe to some even at times overbearing.  I’ve learned over time how to filter some of my actions based on who I’m around so I don’t interfere with their natural process of getting to know me. However, before I had a proper grasp on who I am, I definitely rubbed people the wrong way at times without intending to.  I feel pit bulls specifically experience this every day.  They are some of the most compassionate, empathetic and caring creatures we have on the planet and yet due to the misbehavior of a small few they are stigmatized as vicious and threatening. This was the main point I was considering when writing the song, I want it to be a voice for anything or anyone that’s persecuted for being misunderstood.”







Fathom Farewell's Kraken EP was produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Piquette of No Boundaries Studios and the album artwork was done by Dixon of Intuitive Design. It will be the fourth release from the band following Consume The Earth (2019), Decomposition (2017) and Drowning Limits (2015).


Pre-save the new EP here.





Tracklisting:


"Kraken"
"Eulogy"
"In Time"
"Nameless City"
"Save Your Breath"


"Kraken" video:





"Eulogy" lyric video:





"Namless City" lyric video:





(Photo - Alex Cohen)

Metallica has released pro-shot footage of their performance of "No Leaf Clover", at The Independent in San Francisco, CA on September 16. Check it out below:





Watch Metallica perform "Of Wolf And Man", "The God That Failed", "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and "Frantic" at Aftershock 2021 in Sacramento, CA (October 8, 10):
















Knucklebonz has launched the pre-order for the Lady Justice (Metallica) On Tour Series Collectible. This is a limited edition of only 1,988 created. Shipping is estimated for spring 2022. Stay tuned for updates.





Each piece is hand-crafted. All KnuckleBonz statues are officially licensed, limited edition collectibles. This is a fine-arts process where each statue is hand-cast, painted and numbered on the base.

Halestorm have launched a new video series, Tales From The Dead. The first two episodes are available below.


Says the band: "Who else loves the spooky season?!! Here are Tales From the Dead with Halestorm."










Halestorm recently revealed “Back From The Dead”, their first new song since 2018’s Vicious album, and the first single from their upcoming album expected in 2022.





The band have released behind the scenes footage from the video shoot for “Back From The Dead”, which can be seen below, along with the official video. Directed by Dustin Haney (Noah Cyrus, Luke Combs) and produced by Revolution Pictures, the clip features Lzzy and the band in a morgue and cemetery somewhere between life and death.


“’Back From The Dead’ is about survival, not in a physical sense, even though I know we all have been touched by death especially these last few years,” said Lzzy Hale. “This song is personal and written from a mental health perspective. I wanted to give myself and the world a hard rock song we could shout out loud as the gates opened again. I was on the edge of this world getting completely lost in oblivion, but even though it was the harder of two choices, I didn’t just let the darkness and depression in my mind dig me an early grave. I didn’t just sit and let it take me. I’ve erased my name from my headstone, so save your prayers, I’m back! I hope this song, as I pass it on to you, reminds YOU of your strength individually and that you are not alone.”








(Photo - Jimmy Fontaine)

After releasing their vibrant fifth studio album, Viridian, in 2020, Temperance delight their devotees with the persuasive new offering Diamanti, to be released on November 19 via Napalm Records. With Diamanti, the exceptionally skilled Italian outfit once again showcases their extraordinary ability to merge brilliant vocal melodies, hefty power metal guitar riffing, and symphonic soundscapes in perfect harmony - all dressed in modern surroundings. This is an offering that fans of bands like Amaranthe will fall in love with immediately.


The new single, “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal”, breaks in with full force, telling an epic tale and creating a far-reaching sense of common bond. This absolute anthem showcases the powerful strength and energy of all three vocalists Alessia Scolletti, Michele Guaitoli and Marco Pastorino, providing a taste of the upcoming album.


Michele Guaitoli (vocals, piano) on the new single: “If there is one thing that makes Temperance unique on the scene, is that we just don’t care about any commercial rule. We write our music for how we like it. We don’t ask ourselves “will this work?” We don’t question our songwriting putting it in relation of the market. This attitude is the same that we have when it comes to accepting limits: we don’t accept the idea of having limits. We are here to break the rules. Why just one singer? Let’s have three. Why just a style? Let’s play many. If we want something, we fight for it even if we need to break the rules of a certain scheme. What about heavy metal? Does it have rules? Does it have a scheme? If yes, we’re here to break it.”




A new guitar & bass playthrough video for “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal” can be seen below:





Check out the official music video for “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal”:





Diamanti was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe), with the cover artwork once again created by Yann Souetre (Ayreon).


Marco Pastorino (vocals, guitar) on the new album: "With Diamanti, we managed to combine our best qualities and selected the best Temperance songs so far.  It's not our heaviest album, it's not our fastest work, but surely it's our favourite one so far! We weren't necessarily supposed to record a new album only one year after Viridian, but luckily we made it! In this album you will find our trademarks: the vocal harmonies, the catchy melodies, but also epic stuff, strong arrangements, and long tracks - I am very proud of Diamanti and I am convinced we have written a bombastic album!"





Diamanti will be available in the following formats:


- 1CD Digipak
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- 2LP Gatefold Curaçao Sea
- 2LP Gatefold Diamond Clear
- Digital Album





Tracklisting:


"Pure Life Unfolds"
"Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal"
"Diamanti"
"Black Is My Heart"
"Litany Of The Northern Lights"
"You Only Live Once"
"I The Loneliness"
"Codebreaker"
"The Night Before The End"
"Fairy Tales For The Stars"
"Let's Get Started"
"Follow Me"  


"Pure Life Unfolds" video:





Temperance are:


Alessia Scolletti - vocals
Michele Guaitoli - vocals, piano
Marco Pastorino - vocals, guitar
Luca Negro - bass guitar
Alfonso Mocerino – drums


(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has weighed in on the controversy that erupted after a district leader in Texas asked teachers to offer students books with an "opposing perspective" of the Holocaust.

During a meeting last week between teachers and Gina Peddy, the executive director of curriculum, they discussed which books teachers should have in their libraries. NBC News, which obtained audio of the meeting from an unnamed employee, said that the subject of recent statewide legislation, as well as the Holocaust, came up.

"Just try to remember the concepts of [House Bill] 3979," Peddy could be heard saying on tape, according to NBC News. "And make sure that if you have a book on the Holocaust, that you have one that has an opposing, that has other perspectives."

A teacher at the meeting asked, "How do you oppose the Holocaust?" Peddy responded, "Believe me. That's come up," according to NBC News.

According to NPR, House Bill 3979, which went into effect last month, mandates, among other things, that if public school teachers choose to discuss current events or widely debated or controversial public policy or social issues, they should present numerous points of view "without giving deference to any one perspective."

On Thursday, Stanley, who is Jewish, took to his Twitter to share the NBC News article, and included the following message: "This is so FUCKED. There will ALWAYS be 'opposing views' but there are NEVER opposing FACTS."

TWISTED SISTER's Jay Jay French agreed, chiming in in a tweet: "completely insane. and you can thank Trump for unleashing the stupids".

Superintendent Lane Ledbetter has since issued a statement via Facebook apologizing for the incident.

"As the Superintendent of Schools, I express my sincere apology regarding the online article and news story released today," he wrote. "During the conversations with teachers during last week's meeting, the comments made were in no way to convey that the Holocaust was anything less than a terrible event in history."

"Additionally, we recognize there are not two sides of the Holocaust," he continued. "As we continue to work through implementation of HB3979, we also understand this bill does not require an opposing viewpoint on historical facts. As a district we will work to add clarity to our expectations for teachers and once again apologize for any hurt or confusion this has caused."




This is so FUCKED. There will ALWAYS be “opposing views” but there are NEVER opposing FACTS. https://t.co/p9ys5zDWEs

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) October 14, 2021








completely insane. and you can thank Trump for unleashing the stupids

— Jay Jay French (@jayjayfrench) October 14, 2021

Passend zum zwanzigjährigen Jubiläum des Albums wird am 07.10.2011 Sol Invictus' "The Killing Tide" in gewohnt aufgearbeiteter, erweiterter Edition neu veröffentlicht. Die Neuauflage enthält zudem sieben Bonuslieder: Neben einer alten DAT-Aufnahme von "The World Turns" und der ursprünglich auf der Shock-7" veröffentlichten Version von "Somewhere In Europe" finden sich fünf Liveaufnahmen des Sol-Invictus-Auftritts im Frankfurter Sound Depot von 1991 als Ergänzung.
Das 1997 veröffentlichte und seit langer Zeit vergriffene "The Blade" stellt die zweite Sol-Invictus-Neuauflage aus dem Hause Auerbach Tonträger im Oktober dar. Auf der nun erscheinenden Version dieses von vielen Fans als Top-Album der Sol-Invictus-Diskographie gehandelten Werks befinden sich neben dem Originalalbum vier Bonuslieder: Das ursprünglich auf "In Europa" veröffentlichte "Time To Meet The King", dessen Entstehung aber in die Zeit von "The Blade" fiel, ein früher Mix von "Nothing Here & Remember And Forget", eine ursprünglich verworfene Version von "Only I Know" und eine unveröffentlichte Version von "In God We Trust".
Wie bereits die vorangegangenen Neuauflagen erscheinen auch "The Killing Tide" und "The Blade" im Portrait-Digipak-Format, enthalten neue Artworks sowie Liner-Notes von Tony Wakeford und sind auf jeweils 700 Stück limitiert.

Tracklist The Killing Tide:
01. Like A Sword
02. In A Silent Place
03. Let Us Prey
04. The Killing Tide
05. Figures On A Beach
06. The Man Next Door Is Very Strange
07. Our Lady Of The Missing Presumed Dead
08. The Wild Hunt - Something Grim This Way Comes
09. A Figure On A Beach

Bonus
10. The World Turns
11. English Murder (live at Frankfurt Sound Depot 1991)
12. Fields (live at Frankfurt Sound Depot 1991)
13. Raven Chorus (live at Frankfurt Sound Depot 1991)
14. Black Easter (live at Frankfurt Sound Depot 1991)
15. Death of the West (live at Frankfurt Sound Depot 1991)
16. Somewhere in Europe (originally released on Shock 7" EP)

Tracklist The Blade:
1. The Blade
2. In Heaven
3. Time Flies
4. The House Above The World
5. Laws And Crowns
6. Once Upon A Time
7. See How We Fall
8. Gealdor
9. From The Wreckage
10. Nothing Here
11. Remember And Forget
12. The Blade

Bonus
13. Time To Meet The King (originally released on "In Europa")
14. Nothing Here & Remember And Forget (early mix)
15. Only I know (outtake)
16. In God We trust

QUEENSRŸCHE's Michael Wilton has confirmed that guitarist Mike Stone will likely contribute guitar solos to the band's next studio album.

Since late May, Stone has been handling second-guitar duties in QUEENSRŸCHE, which announced in July that longtime guitarist Parker Lundgren was exiting the group to focus on "other business ventures."

Stone originally joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years before leaving the group.

In an interview with Straus Project conducted before QUEENSRŸCHE's October 16 concert at the Arcada Theatre in St Charles, Illinois, Wilton stated about Stone (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "He's such a gracious guy to stop his life and come out on the road with QUEENSRŸCHE. He loves it. He was with us in the early 2000s, and so he knew the songs. So it just made sense, the transition into what we're doing. And he's learning more songs in the repertoire, so we can eventually start playing different songs in the setlist."

Asked if Stone is someone who might be involved in the recording process for the next QUEENSRŸCHE album as a full-fledged member of the band, Wilton said: "He's pretty much a touring guy. It's up to him, basically. But I think we'd like to have him come into some of the recording and do, like, double solos, 'cause he'll be playing 'em [live] anyway. And just to have a little diversity in the guitar area. So we'll utilize him as much as we can, as much as he allows us."

As for the progress of the songwriting sessions for QUEENSRŸCHE's "The Verdict" LP, Wilton said: "We've been writing lots of songs, lots of demos, and we've been putting songs together for this next QUEENSRŸCHE album. We've been doing these think-tank sessions where we all meet in a room and improvise and just come up with ideas. And you get instant yays and nays — if it's something we can work on. 'Cause sometimes I'll play something and I won't recognize it as something that I thought was really cool or something. And then [singer] Todd [La Torre will go], 'Oh, that's really cool. If you put that in this part right here…' You get a lot of this spontaneous creativity that happens, which is different than the way we did 'The Verdict'. 'The Verdict', we all had completed songs, and we were e-mailing, waiting for responses, waiting for this and that.

"It's kind of like the old days, but now you have technology. And it's faster, actually. For me, I'll come up with an idea — a riff and a couple of parts right here — and [producer] Zeuss [Chris Harris] will tell [drummer] Casey [Grillo], 'Casey, come play a drum beat to this. Let's see how this works.' And then we just build from something that simple into a song. And it's fun.

"We've got, like, 23, 24… I don't know. There's so many of these demos."

Lundgren, a former member of original QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate's solo group who was also briefly married to Geoff's stepdaughter Miranda, announced his departure from QUEENSRŸCHE in a social media post on July 2.

The 34-year-old musician wrote: "For several years, I have been deeply immersed in collecting and selling guitars, as well as rare and fascinating musical instruments. This passion led to the opening of my guitar store Diablo Guitars in 2019. Since then, my business has grown and I recently acquired a storefront with a full-service repair shop. In 2020, my wife and I opened Lucky Devil Latte, which has quickly expanded to multiple locations. With these new endeavors and ensuing responsibilities, my time to devote to QUEENSRŸCHE has become increasingly strained, and I no longer am able to commit the time and focus it deserves. For these reasons, I have made the difficult decision to step down from my role as guitarist in QUEENSRŸCHE.

"I want to thank my friends, family, and fans for making the past 13 years an amazing journey. I wish nothing but the best for my fellow band members, crew and everyone who has supported us.

"I hope to have your continued support as I pursue new ventures."

The remaining members of QUEENSRŸCHE added in a separate statement: "For over a decade, it has been a great pleasure watching [Parker] evolve and flourish as a guitarist, songwriter, and most importantly, a wonderful human being. Parker will always be family to us and we wish him all the success in the world with his new endeavors. Take hold, brother!"

Lundgren, who joined QUEENSRŸCHE in 2009, previously sat out some of QUEENSRŸCHE's U.S. shows in September 2018 when the band was on tour as the support act for SCORPIONS.

Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson are the sole remaining original members of QUEENSRŸCHE, which split with Tate in 2012 and replaced him with ex-CRIMSON GLORY frontman Todd La Torre.

QUEENSRŸCHE has released three albums thus far with La Torre — 2013's "Queensrÿche", 2015's "Condition Hüman" and the aforementioned "The Verdict".

Earlier this week, original QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against Wilton and Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge.

Rockenfield hasn't performed with QUEENSRŸCHE in more than four years. The band has used former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo for touring purposes since April 2017.

The drum tracks on "The Verdict" were laid down by La Torre.


Queensryche at the Arcada 10/16/21

I had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Wilton & Todd La Torre of Queensrÿche this evening before their show at the Arcada Theatre. They haven't talked to ANYONE on this tour, and I am honored they take the time when in town. I hope you enjoy this stripped down Straus Project EXCLUSIVE!!! - J.R.

Posted by Straus Project on Saturday, October 16, 2021

English extreme metal legends, Carcass, recently released their new album, Torn Arteries, via Nuclear Blast Records. The band have released a drum playthrough video for their single, "The Scythe's Remorseless Swing". Watch as the band's beastly drummer Daniel Wilding unleashes his fury upon the kit on one of the album's most ferocious tracks.


Commenting on the song and playthrough, Wilding says: “Super happy to bring you another play through. This is 'The Scythes Remorseless Swing.' Definitely one of my favourite songs to listen to and play on the album! Pretty straight forward drum and arrangement wise but has such a lot of energy, dynamics, groove and power. Just a super fun one to play. Enjoy”







Torn Arteries can be ordered in a variety of bundles and formats, including CD, Box Set and limited edition vinyl pressings. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Torn Arteries"
"Dance Of IXTAB (Psychopomp & Circumstances March No. 1 In B)"
"Eleanor Rigor Mortis"
"Under The Scalpel Blade"
"The Devil Rides Out"
"Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment Limited"
"Kelly's Meat Emporium"
"In God We Trust"
"Wake Up And Smell The Carcass / Caveat Emptor"
"The Scythe's Remorseless Swing"


"The Scythe's Remorseless Swing" video:





"Dance Of IXTAB (Psychopomp & Circumstance March No. 1 In B)" video:





"Kelly's Meat Emporium" visualizer:





Lineup:


Bill Steer - Guitars
Jeff Walker - Bass/Vocals
Daniel Wilding - Drums
Tom Draper - Guitars


(Photo - Ester Segarra)

Just in time for Halloween, Varja release a disturbing, horror-themed music video for “Wavering”, a dark ambient piece from their Irkalla EP.


Written, produced, shot, and edited by vocalist Annamaria Pinna and bassist David Sussman, “the video for 'Wavering' is the third chapter of a larger film inspired by the Sumerian classic hero myth, Descent of Inanna,” explains Pinna. The pair just received three Official Selection distinctions from the Montreal Independent Film Festival 2021, the 2021 ARFF Paris and the New York Independent Cinema Awards for their video “Maya”, which was released last year.


On the release of “Wavering”, Pinna reveals, “This song is a very different format from the last three singles we've released. It's more of a meditative piece rather than a full-on alt-metal song. In 'Irkalla', our objective was to weave a tapestry of melodic alt-metal with dark ambient experimental pieces that create an esoteric space to explore the dark night of our souls. 'Irkalla' is meant to be listened to in its entirety, and 'Wavering' is a part of that experience. What is important is that the music may provide a portal to go on a journey. The journey will be different for each individual. My musical heroes have done this for me. 'Wavering' may surprise some of our fans and we are excited to introduce this song as a bridge to our dark ambient musical side."







In connection with the release, Varja will be holding a contest to give away the handmade coffin featured in the "Wavering" music video to one lucky fan, along with a full Irkalla gift pack including: Irkalla vinyl, CD, T-shirt, ritual pack, mask and stickers. Yes, Varja is actually giving away a coffin; a hand-constructed pine box made by an Upstate New York casket artisan, and perfectly suitable for burial. For contest rules, check out the band's website and socials. The winner will be announced at midnight on Devil's night into Halloween, and will be personally hand-delivered by the band within 99.9 miles of NYC. The contest is free to enter. Contest rules and details are on Varja's website and social media pages.


Irkalla is available both digitally and physically on CD/vinyl. Physical copies include an additional dark ambient EP dubbed the Shadow Queen Ritual Music, which is not available anywhere else.





Tracklisting:


“Irkalla”
“Maya”
“Crown Or Crucify”
“Wavering”
“Sever The Tie”
“Win”


“Maya” video:

German metal band, Thunder And Lightning, have released a new single, "A Nation Of Fools", feat. Mob Rules singer Klaus Dirks.





The single is now live on all streaming services. Get it here, and watch a music video for the song below: