In a new interview with India's Sinusoidal Music, PARADISE LOST vocalist Nick Holmes spoke about the British gothic metal pioneers' 17th album, "Ascension", which came out on September 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's first LP in five years, following 2020's critically acclaimed "Obsidian", was produced by guitarist Gregor Mackintosh and mixed/mastered by Lawrence Mackrory. Asked about PARADISE LOST's mindset going into the writing process for "Ascension", Nick said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When we're writing songs, it's just about what we like as fans of music. It's first and foremost — we kind of set the bar very high. We are our own biggest critics on every level. So if I'm writing lyrics, I like to write lyrics that I like to read, and I change them often — I change them constantly, in fact, as I'm writing them, and I come back to them again and again… There's nothing done by accident. We spend a lot of time arranging songs and going back to them again.

"We had quite a lot of time at work on this album, time to kind of reflect on," he continued. "And a lot of the songs were written with big gaps in between. Obviously, we had the pandemic for two years, but we started writing, I think, prior to that, and then we picked it up after that again. And then we realized we didn't like what we'd written, so we changed again and then started again. But after all these years, it's always hard to get the ball rolling. And we never really look back at what we've done in the past… It's always hard to get the ball rolling, but once it starts, you get there eventually, which we have done, I guess."

Elaborating on the reasons for the long gap between "Obsidian" and "Ascension", Nick said: "It was about five years [between the two albums]. It's usually kind of around three years between each album, because you write and record and then you tour it for 18 months or perhaps longer, depending on if you go to America, and you spend more time in America, which we haven't done that for a while. In the two years [during the pandemic], we did a side kind of project, Greg and myself, with the HOST project. And then we re-recorded [PARADISE LOST's] 'Icon' album as well [for its 30th anniversary]."

Asked to name the most "challenging part" about creating "Ascension", Holmes said: "Like I said before, I think it's when you start writing, it's really difficult. You kind of don't know what's going on for the first few songs — it's a bit of a gray area — but then when you have maybe three or four songs, you start to get a gist of the writing process. So I always think of it as a snowball rolling down a mountain side, collecting snow, and it gets bigger and bigger. It kind of reminds me of that. But, yeah, there's so many albums as well. You don't wanna repeat yourself, but whatever we do, we just sound like PARADISE LOST. I do think we have a sound, mainly Greg's guitar, really, is the sound of the band, I think — his lead guitar playing. But I think just starting writing is always a bit kind of daunting. And that's based on just the amount of time we've been around and the amount of albums we've written."

In celebration of the new album, PARADISE LOST has announced a handful of intimate signing sessions and a record-release show in Leeds, U.K.

Sep. 21 - Birmingham, UK @ HMV (2 p.m. BST) - Signing Session
Sep. 22 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club (7 p.m. BST) - Record-Release Show
Sep. 24 - London, UK @ Rough Trade East (12 p.m. BST) - Signing Session

"Ascension"'s album cover fittingly features the painting "The Court Of Death" (1870-1902) by renowned British artist George Frederic Watts, which hangs in the Tate Gallery in London. The painting depicts Death as an enthroned angel flanked by allegorical figures of Silence and Mystery guarding sunrise and the star of hope, while a warrior surrenders his sword and a duke his coronet, showing that worldly status offers no protection. The painting's bleak, prophetic vision embodies "Ascension"'s dark, tormented soundscapes as mournful verses collide with dire, foreboding riffs.

In a recent interview with Jerry Kurunen of Rauta, Mackintosh stated about the making of "Ascension": "Something that really changed the approach to this record was… It was 30 years since our 'Icon' album a year or two ago, and we had to do a re-recording. But having to do that, re-learn those songs in such depth and re-record it put me in the headspace of '92, '93, 'Shades Of God', 'Icon' era, and that kind of influenced the songwriting for this record a a little bit. So probably over half the album is very much in that vein."

After Kurunen noted that PARADISE LOST has come "full circle" by returning to the band's "death/doom" roots on some of its recent albums, Mackintosh said: "Well, when you say full circle, the first time that was mentioned to me was when we did 'The Plague Within' [2015] album, which is — I don't know what year; it was 2014 or something — and I'd say that's true. That's pretty true. But since then we have been trying to maneuver around it, all our influences from all the past in different ways. Like 'Medusa' [2017] was far more of kind of sludgy record, and then the last one before this one, 'Obsidian' [2020], kind of has more gothy influences again, and this one, because of the 'Icon' re-recording, like I said, is kind of traveling somewhere between the 'Shades Of God', 'Icon' era-ish, but with a twist of now."

Asked what it felt for him and his PARADISE LOST bandmates to be inspired by their own music while making "Ascension", Gregor said: "It wasn't inspired by our own music. It was kind of — I said this before — it is kind of puts you in the headspace of where you were at that time, what your influences were at that time, how you felt. And at that time, around 'Shades Of God' and 'Icon', we were very much into the… Even the name 'Paradise Lost'. We even went back to that, It's from the book. What does the book mean? What's it about? What are the themes? This religious imagery, over-the-top religious imagery, even though we're all atheists. So we kind of went down that path. And with the music, it was just a case of… I never used to play the same thing as any of the other… It was, like, we were all playing our different bits and there wasn't too much riffage. It was there, but I was more of this harmony guy all the time. So we delved into that on this record. So it was more like the headspace. It wasn't really being influenced by our own stuff. It was just, like, 'Huh, this is interesting.' 'Cause over the years, incrementally, your style of playing changes, your style of songwriting changes, and you forget certain things. And then just revisiting it makes you think, 'Ah, okay.' … I mean, you try not to repeat yourself, obviously, but it gives you a warm feeling… So if you're getting that, it must be a good thing."

Mackintosh added: "I had half this album written three years ago. I had six or seven songs written, and I scrapped the whole lot because I wasn't happy with it. And then I just gave up for a year. And then we did the 'Icon' [re-recording] thing, and I was, like, 'Ah, okay. This is what it should be about. This is how it should go.' And so I've never used anything from those six or seven songs. If you're not feeling it, you're not feeling it. And we're in a lucky position that we haven't got a label saying, 'You've got to release this.' We do it in our own time. So if you're gonna live with something, it's better that you're comfortable with it."

PARADISE LOST performed alongside KING DIAMOND and at festivals in Europe this summer before embarking on the first part its "Ascension Of Europe" tour this fall.

Photo credit: Ville Juurikkala

In a new interview with Metal Hammer España, EUROPE drummer Ian Haugland offered an update on the band's documentary which the long-running Swedish hard rockers have been busy filming with producer/director Craig Hooper (DEEP PURPLE, SAXON) for Coolhead Productions. The film promises to tell the story of EUROPE, from formation until present day, telling of their rise to success in the mid-1980s, through hard times and heartache, to coming back in the millennium, and the current successes the band has achieved. Ian said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Well, we've been working on it for many years now. It's gonna be like a movie format, basically — well, lengthwise — it's gonna be an hour and a half, I guess. And the plan is to get it out on the big streaming services like Netflix and all the others. But it's gonna be out early next year. So next year is gonna be really busy for EUROPE because we have a new album and we have the documentary and we also have the 40th anniversary for [EUROPE's third album] 'The Final Countdown'. So we'd better shape up. [Laughs] So it's gonna be busy."

This past April, EUROPE frontman Joey Tempest told Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda about the band's upcoming documentary: "We've had this team with us for four or five years traveling with us to document the newEUROPE. But during COVID, we'd started thinking, 'Hang on a second. Maybe it's time to do the documentary.' People have asked us to do this many years now. But we decided, 'Okay, let's do it.' And then we found a box with old VHS tapes. Our first manager, he walked around with this huge VHS camera when we were just kids. We were still teenagers, and we were wondering, 'What are you doing with that thing? Stop filming,' kind of thing. But he kept filming, and there's [footage] from hotel rooms, there's [footage] from backstage from the middle of '80s and up to '92. And there's stuff from all over the world. And there's stuff that has never [been] seen before, and it was exciting for us as well. So, basically, it's new footage from the band today touring, and there's old VHS footage that has never been seen, and the whole story of us coming from the suburbs of Stockholm, going out in the world and then, in the early '90s, grunge hitting the scene, and it's a bit of a dip and then it's us building everything up again to where we are today. So it's quite a good story as well. And the director's done a great job. So we can't wait. It's gonna be exciting to put this out."

Two years ago, Tempest told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about EUROPE's upcoming documentary: "We found some old VHS tapes from — I think some of it's from San Francisco as well when we recorded 'The Final Countdown', in the studio with [producer] Kevin [Elson], and the hotel rooms in Japan, when we were very young and backstage from '83, '84. And we managed to put this documentary together with — people from GHOST are in it, Benny Andersson from ABBA's in it, talking, and we're just honored that people wanted to take part in this documentary."

In April 2025, Joey told El Expreso Del Rock about the upcoming EUROPE documentary: "We have found footage, old footage from hotel rooms, Japan and around the world, San Francisco, when we mixed 'The Final Countdown', there's some footage [that had] never [been] seen [before]. And there's a lot of new footage from us traveling around the world, in South America and other places, mixed in with the story of these young punks from Stockholm making it in the world and then grunge coming along and then building it up again, and it's a great story. So we're really excited to release this documentary."

In September 2023, EUROPE released a new song titled "Hold Your Head Up". The track, which was described by the band as "a punchy uptempo rocker with reminiscent elements of early EUROPE," was recorded in August 2023 at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm with producer Klas Åhlund (GHOST, ROBYN) and was mixed by Stefan Glaumann (RAMMSTEIN, DEF LEPPARD),who also mixed EUROPE's "Secret Society" album.

"Hold Your Head Up" was made available to stream and download on September 29, 2023 across all reputable digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple, iTunes, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora and YouTube Music.

EUROPE's latest album, "Walk The Earth", was released in October 2017 via Hell & Back Recordings (Silver Lining Music). It was recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios in London with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (RIVAL SONS, Shooter Jennings, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton).

Earlier this year, Tempest was asked by Colombia's Radioacktiva about the fact that it's been eight years since he and his EUROPE bandmates released "Walk The Earth". Joey said: "Honestly, we've never had this long break — ever. I mean, when we did 'Bag Of Bones' [2012], 'War Of Kings' [2015] and 'Walk The Earth', those three albums, they were, like, boom, boom, boom, touring all the way. And then all of a sudden COVID hit and we had some extra time. And then it kind of felt okay to leave it a bit and to live with the ideas, to write new stuff. And that's why this [upcoming EUROPE] album's gonna be special. These songs we lived with for a while — they're strong and there's some strong melodies. And it's gonna make this album special, that it has this extra time. But we've been touring ever since, as you know. So we're always on the road, but we haven't been in the studio, and we're going in this autumn, and that's gonna be a big moment."

This past March, Joey told El Expreso Del Rock that the musical direction of the upcoming EUROPE LP won't be similar to that of "Walk The Earth" and "War Of Kings". He said: "No, it'll move on. It'll be a new adventure. But I realize, hearing some of the demos we make now, that it's really strong, [with] great melodies. Some of it's really heavy as well. But there's also some connection to the past.

"I'm writing with everyone," he revealed. "I'm writing with John [Norum, guitar], I'm writing with John [Levén, bass] and Mic [Michaeli, keyboards]. And there's beautiful melodies there as well. I'm really excited. There's some great songs coming on. And it's been a while, so we've had time to live with the music, almost like a debut album, almost like the first album, because we have years to live with the songs. We know some of them are really strong because they have staying power; they've stayed for years now. So yeah, this could be an interesting album.

"Yeah, we just like to go on our own adventure, but always carry your past with you," he explained. "That's the thing."

Photo credit: Fredrik Etoall (courtesy of ABC Public Relations)

San Diego hard-rock/nu metal veterans P.O.D. have released their cover of THE BEATLES classic "Don't Let Me Down".

P.O.D. — Sonny Sandoval (vocals),Marcos Curiel (guitar) and Traa Daniels (bass) — has never shied away from wearing its influences proudly, and Curiel makes no secret of their respect for the Fab Four: "As cliché as it may sound, we've always admired THE BEATLES from the very beginning of our songwriting journey. Their melodies, the hooks, and fearless experimentation inspired us to craft our own take on the classic 'Don't Let Me Down', with nothing but the utmost respect. Thank you for helping lay the foundation of what we all know today as rock 'n' roll, pop and metal."

P.O.D.'s version of "Don't Let Me Down" comes as the band gears up for a huge fall 2025 run across North America, joining DAUGHTRY and SEETHER on tour. Curiel is raring to get back on stage, commenting: "Touring is a gift, a blessing to share P.O.D.'s music live with the world. Absolutely nothing compares to the energy of a crowd feeling and vibing every note. We're ecstatic to join an amazing lineup that embodies the true essence of rock 'n' roll fusing the familiar with the new — a real evolution. We are proud to be part of it. Let's jam, let's sing, let's rock."

The trek kicks off October 1 in Virginia Beach and runs through mid-November, hitting major cities across the U.S.

P.O.D. joined U.S. hard rockers GODSMACK as special guests on their March/April 2025 European tour. The trek kicked off on March 22 with a sold-out show at the Sofia Arena in Bulgaria and then made stops in Romania (Bucharest),Hungary (Budapest),Poland (Gliwice),Austria (Vienna),Croatia (Zagreb),Czech Republic (Prague),Germany (Munich, Berlin, Offenbach),U.K. (London),Belgium (Brussels),before finishing with two shows in Germany, Hamburg, and finally April 12 at the Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen.

In May last year, P.O.D. released its 11th album, "Veritas", via Mascot Records. The album was a Top 10 hit across the U.S. Billboard Current Hard Rock, Current Rock, and Current Alternative album charts, and has already surpassed 48 million streams.

P.O.D. has released several singles from the album including "Drop", "Afraid To Die", "I Got That" and "I Won't Bow Down".

"Drop" features a vicious vocal feature from LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe, while the equally eruptive single "Afraid To Die" features JINJER vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk.

As well as releasing "Veritas", P.O.D. has toured with SKINDRED, who between them brought the party in a major way to the U.K. They bulldozed through Europe with euphoric festival sets at Graspop Metal Meeting, Summerside and Rock For People. They supported MUDVAYNE, took on their blistering U.S. "I Got That" headline tour with special guests BAD WOLVES and NORMA JEAN, and festival stops at Louder Than Life, Aftershock, Sonic Temple, Welcome To Rockville and made waves on the ShipRocked cruise. They spent October 2024 touring Latin America, playing Knotfest and headline shows in Brazil as well as shows in Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

Get ready to be "One Step Closer" to dreamland! On September 26, Rockabye Baby! returns with its next release: "Lullaby Renditions Of Linkin Park".

The world's leading lullaby brand is taking 13 of LINKIN PARK's biggest songs and turning them into soothing, gentle tracks that will have the whole family feeling a little less "Numb" after a long day.

With twinkling bells, glockenspiels, and xylophones replacing face-melting guitars and scratching turntables, these gentle renditions are the perfect way to introduce your little one to rock's hardest hitters in a way that's soft enough for bedtime.

For a hint of what Rockabye Baby! has done, watch the super-cute animated video for "In The End" below.

"Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions Of Linkin Park" track listing:

01. One Step Closer
02. Numb
03. Bleed It Out
04. Somewhere I Belong
05. Crawling
06. Burn It Down
07. New Divide
08. In The End
09. What I've Done
10. My December
11. Leave Out All The Rest
12. Heavy
13. One More Light

Rockabye Baby! was created by David Lee Roth's sister Lisa Roth in conjunction with CMH Records. The label turns popular rock songs into lullabyes songs from artists like PEARL JAM, BLACK SABBATH, GUNS N' ROSES, METALLICA and JOURNEY, just to name a few.

"It's more for the parent than the child but it calms the child at the same time," Lisa Roth told Forbes magazine.

She added, "When I knew I'd really hit something right was when I saw an interview of Kirk Hammett of METALLICA talking about playing it for his child, and he said that it works."

Five years ago, Lisa told Variety about growing up with her famous brother: "When we were very young — and I'm several years younger than my brother — I just thought David was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I followed him everywhere. His entire life, he was cut from a different cloth. He was fun, funny smart, hyper and wonderful to have as a big brother. We grew up in a house with parents who loved music and art. Our father was a surgeon, but also an actor who owned an Equity waver theater. My mother was an artist who sculpted and painted. She introduced us to galleries — everything was about how things looked. She was an aesthete. As kids, we had a clear dose of science and a clear dose of the arts."

Asked if she has ever heard directly from artists whose songs Rockabye Baby! has covered, Lisa said: "Steven Tyler wrote liner notes to AEROSMITH's lullabies. Joe Elliott contributed liner notes to DEF LEPPARD's lullabies. Elton John has been nice to us, mentioning us in the press many times. Kirk Hammett from METALLICA likes us. I've yet to hear anything angry or nasty. That's not my goal whatsoever — quite to the contrary."

She added: "I have a brother who is pretty well known in the music industry, I know what it was like for him and his group coming up, to make it happen. It was about hitting the pavement and playing every bar within a 500-mile radius, seven nights a week, rain or shine. I would never in a million years do anything that disrespected what I know it takes to become successful. I'm hyper-aware of every word we say and every image we create in regard to respecting every artist we pursue."

Rockabye Baby! is the world's leading lullaby brand. With over 130 releases to its name and over four billion streams since its humble beginnings, the label continues to bring joy and rest to parents, babies and people who love music the world over.

Rockabye Baby!'s independent, Los Angeles-based team of music lovers, parents and creative individuals lovingly crafts instrumental lullaby renditions of your favorite artists.

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French spoke about why singer Dee Snider changed his mind about returning to the road, nine years after the completion of TWISTED SISTER's "40 And Fuck It!" farewell tour, and after Dee repeatedly slammed KISS and MÖTLEY CRÜE farewell tours and subsequent reunions as mere cash grabs. Jay Jay said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think we should run [all of Dee's comments about that] before we go on stage every night [in 2026]. I think we should play all of [Dee's statements]: 'We're never getting back together again.' 'We refuse to do this.' 'Anyone who does this is an idiot. 'You're a joke if you do that.' 'Why would you do that?' We'll just keep running them all. Of course Blabbermouth's gonna take this right now, 'Look what Jay Jay said about Dee.' I didn't say this about Dee. In fact, it was Dee who, I think, suggested, 'We should just run all my quotes.'"

Addressing the perception that Dee seemingly went back on his word by initiating the TWISTED SISTER reunion this time around, Jay Jay continued: "Well, why does a dog lick his balls? 'Cause he can. It's, like, you do it. So, okay. So he changed his mind… Look, I didn't have to say yes. He just called me and said, 'You wanna do it again? Would you be up for it?' And I thought about it and I said, 'Look, I'm 73.' And when we retired 10 years ago, it was amazing. We did like a 14-year reunion tour."

Reflecting on TWISTED SISTER's last reunion and the impact the band's performances had on the fans who attended the gigs, Jay Jay said: "When you're playing with all these other bands, whose names will go nameless — I don't want a Blabbermouth hit on me — but I cannot tell you how many bands we played with that, let's say, we're either the headliner or the co-headliner, or we don't close, someone else closes, and then our fans are singing our songs in between their songs when they go on stage. They've gotta feel like crap. It makes me feel great. I mean, we're a predatory band. We love blowing bands away. That's part of why we did what we did to begin with. I mean, we learned it in the bars. That's how we learned our performance technique, in the bars."

TWISTED SISTER's 2026 shows will feature the band's three core members: French, Snider and longtime lead guitarist Eddie Ojeda. Bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza won't be joining the celebration. Russell Pzütto, who has toured with Snider's solo projects, will replace Mendoza on bass. Joe Franco, who briefly played with the group in the mid-1980s, will sit behind the drum kit, stepping in for A.J. Pero, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 55.

Asked by The Metal Voice why Mendoza won't be part of TWISTED SISTER's 2026 lineup, Jay Jay said:  "It happens with bands. Bands are like marriages, and things happen. Listen, I was clear when I said this: me, Dee and Eddie have played through 10 different drummers and bass players. Most people don't know this. We have never spoken about why someone is in and why someone is out. We never have. And don't forget, I go back three more years. I go back to 13 ex-members of the band — 13. I had never spoken about them. My attitude is a realignment takes place, however way you have to do it to keep your business moving, and you make your business move. And that's really all there is to it. And I don't wanna bring in any more than that. People know what they know, and I have no reason to throw dirt on anything whatsoever. You make the move to keep the business moving forward, and it's exactly what TWISTED SISTER has always done.

"Incidentally, if you look at [JUDAS] PRIEST and you look at MÖTLEY [CRÜE] and you look at AEROSMITH and you look at every one of these bands, how many people are left [that were there] originally?" he continued. "And the answer is one, two, three guys. We have four original members. We have 80 percent original. Joe Franco's back with us. He was one of our drummers. He played on our albums and toured with us. So we have a very high percentage of original bandmembers, and I'm very proud of that because some bands are touring with no original members. Okay? None. We will not mention them. And by the way, I have no problem with that. If you can buy tickets and you're selling a product, sell the product. But last I looked, KISS had two original guys in it. AC/DC, ask anyone, 'Who's in AC/DC?' What will they say? Angus [Young] and Brian [Johnson]. That's what they'll say. Ask anybody, 'Who's in GUNS N' ROSES.' They'll go, 'Axl [Rose] and Slash.' 'Who was in AEROSMITH?' 'Joe Perry and Steve Tyler. Everyone knows one or two guys and they don't know the rest. In our case, we've got four original members of the band. And I'm really proud of that. And I'm proud of me, Dee and Eddie, let me tell you. We've been together shoulder to shoulder on stage for thousands of shows — not hundreds. Thousands of shows. And we're gonna celebrate that one more time."

Asked if TWISTED SISTER's 50th-anniversary celebration will be a proper "tour" or if it will focus largely on festival appearances and one-off headlining gigs, Jay Jay said: "We were very careful in the wording of the press release [announcing the reunion]. We're getting together to celebrate performances to mark the 50th anniversary. In the 14 years the band reunited, we never said we toured. We played 15 to 20 shows a year for 14 years. Just how it goes. Now it turns out every promoter in the world is calling us. It's not like we didn't expect this to happen. So do I anticipate more to be added in? I do… We go where the offers take us. And we want to go out there and meet the fans one more time, 'cause it really is a hell of a feeling to go out and do that. And I'm honored to be part of a company that has lasted all this time."

On Friday, TWISTED SISTER announced its first reunion concert as part of the band's 50th-anniversary tour. The Snider-fronted act will perform at Barcelona Rock Fest, which will take place from July 3 to July 5 in Barcelona, Spain. Also confirmed so far for the Barcelona Rock Fest's tenth-anniversary edition are ACCEPT, HELLOWEEN and POWERWOLF.

In a recent interview with John "JP" Parise of Long Island, New York's 102.3 WBAB and Tampa, Florida's 102.5 The Bone radio stations, Snider stated about why he changed his mind about returning to the road: "First of all, I own [my previous] statements [about not wanting to stage a TWISTED SISTER reunion]. I said that and more. I singled out bands. I named names. I ranted and raved about this, and I expected to get excrements for this, but I'm getting hit hard.

"I'm not gonna lie, and I can only tell you so much, but this is the total truth," he continued. "I turned 70 this year and I had a health scare. And I'm okay… And it shook me up… I won't say [exactly what it was], and I'm okay. But it really made me re-evaluate a lot of things. [When I was] 40, 50, 60, I thought I was superhuman. TWISTED SISTER retired 10 years ago when I was ripped to shreds. And then [at] 70, something happened and it was a re-evaluation, quite honestly. And part of that re-evaluation was looking and saying… Am I ready to go? Well, you never know when you're gonna go quietly to the night. You never know when your time is up. And do I really wanna do that without rocking one more time. And I stopped doing solo stuff a few years back as well. I mean, I go out and I join [POISON frontman] Bret Michaels or Lita Ford on stage [during their shows] for a couple songs, but I don't go out and perform. And upon talking to my wife and re-evaluating, it was I, me, who called the [other] guys [in TWISTED SISTER]. I called them. They never called. I mean, we talk, but they never brought it up because I was, like, 'This is not happening, guys. It is done. It is over, just like I told everybody.' But, like I said, I had a life-changing experience and re-evaluation of a lot of things, and I reached out. I said, 'Guys, what do you think about doing it one more time?'"

According to Dee, Jay Jay and Eddie didn't immediately jump at the opportunity to return to playing live shows with TWISTED SISTER. "It was a conversation," Snider explained. "At this point, do we wanna take this, for lack of a better word, victory lap, so to speak? But it was a conversation. And then everybody goes, 'Well, how can you not, with Alice [Cooper] out there [at the age of 77]?' Alice told me... I said, 'Dude, when are you gonna retire?' He says, 'I'm looking forward to singing when I'm 80.' So he's got no plans. [Mick] Jagger's out there [playing shows at age 82]. Paul McCartney's doing three hours [at age 83]. Now I know he doesn't run around like I do, but the same time, you go, well, there's precedents. People are out there into — there are octogenarians out there [touring] now. So we decided to go for it and go out on a high note."

After JP criticized some of the media's coverage of TWISTED SISTER's return, particularly as it relates to reports of the band "touring" again, Dee said: "It doesn't say that in the press release. I checked. I'm seeing, 'Tour.' 'They're hitting the road again.' Wait a minute — who's hitting the road? We're flying first class on an air jet airplane. Private plane.

"I'm sorry, folks. People are saying, 'Come to this town, come to that town.' No, man," he clarified. "This is a handful of dates — I'm thinking it's about 20, 25 shows around the world, festivals almost exclusively. And it's not a full-blown tour or anything like that. It's a celebration for us, and I hope you're celebrating with us for the fact that 50 years ago, next year, we got together — me, Eddie and Jay Jay — and we, against all odds, we had success."

Asked which festivals fans can expect to see TWISTED SISTER at next year, Dee said: "All the usual suspects. They're not announcing the dates because the events want to announce on their schedule, when they present their new lineup, whatever. But a lot of those names I'm seeing on the list, a lot of the usual suspects, whether it's [U.K.'s] Download or Sweden Rock or [France's] Hellfest, [as far as] Europe [is concerned]. I'm not saying 100 percent, but I've seen all these names popping up — [as well as Maryland's] M3 and [Oklahoma's] Rocklahoma. So I don't know if all these deals are signed, sealed and delivered, but these are all the names that I'm seeing — like I said, the usual suspects for where you would see an '80s, a hundred-year-old '80s metal band going out and playing."

Asked by JP "how big the dump truck full of money" was "that showed up in [Dee's] driveway" that convinced the singer to reunite TWISTED SISTER for the band's 50th anniversary, Snider said: "I'm gonna be honest. The numbers are getting higher and higher and higher, but it wasn't really where I — I had this place in mind, and it wasn't there. But like I said, honestly, it wasn't about the money. Yeah, if there was no money, I'm not gonna do it. I'm not gonna lie about that. But it really was this sort of looking in the mirror going, 'Hey, man, that was scary. And I don't wanna go out like that.' I do not wanna go out quietly. Kicking and screaming, man — that's the way I wanna go."

Dee also talked about the challenges of preparing for TWISTED SISTER live performances, particularly as it relates to the physical demands of stepping on a stage for an hour and a half. He said: "I always had a mixed relationship with the concerts. I did so much prep and I got so into it, it was so intense, I made myself miserable. When I go out there, it's the greatest moment in my life for 90 minutes, and I get off the stage and I feel really good for about 15 minutes, half hour, and then I start [to think], 'Oh no. I've gotta do this again tomorrow.' And I start getting manic. And [my wife] Suzette would never come out the road with me. She said, 'You're miserable. You sit in the room, you obsess.' I sit there, and I'm not one of those people, but I sit there writing a list of the exact time I've gotta eat my protein and what time I've gotta do my neck stretches and a hot bath and vocalizing. I write it down on a sheet, and I check it off. I'm, like, manic. And so that's another reason why going back to it, there's a lot of discomfort in the whole — and being away from the family and being away from my wife, 'cause she doesn't wanna be anywhere near me, which I understand. So, this way of doing it, going out and doing a show on a weekend and going out, there'll still be that day of getting ready for the show because it's sort of my method. But at least after the show, Suzette will be out there and we'll go and we'll enjoy wherever we are for a few days and relax until the next one comes. So it'll be one day of intensity as opposed to just an endless day after day after day of obsessing and making myself crazy."

During a September 10 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Dee stated about Mark's absence from the TWISTED SISTER 2026 tour: "I can only simply say irreconcilable differences and leave it at that. I can't get into the weeds and I can't go down that path. And I won't. But irreconcilable differences. People change, and however it is, and I'm not saying he changed; maybe we changed whatever it is. So in deciding who to use on bass, my bass player on the last two Dee Snider albums, 'For The Love Of Metal' and 'Leave A Scar', was Russ Pzütto. And he was Mark Mendoza's bass tech, and a great bass player… So, he did an amazing job on those two albums. He was a great guy to tour with. The band all knew him from years of working with TWISTED, and again, he seemed like a likely choice. As a matter of fact, one time he was Mark's choice to fill in for him. And one gig, it was in Belgium at Graspop, and Mark couldn't make it, and Russ stepped in and played with TWISTED. So he actually has performed with TWISTED once before."

Asked if he thinks the door is open for Mark to play with TWISTED SISTER again at some point during the reunion tour, Dee said: "I can't imagine it right now. I can't imagine it right now. I mean — I plead the fifth. I can't go beyond that. But things have happened that I don't see being reconciled, hence the term 'irreconcilable differences.'"

French previously addressed Mendoza's departure in a statement to Rolling Stone, explaining: "Me, Dee and Eddie have performed as TWISTED SISTER for nearly 50 years with 10 different bass players and drummers. The band has never discussed internal realignment before and has no intention of doing it now. Suffice to say that almost all bands with a 50-year history have gone through realignment as a byproduct of time. We wish Mark well in his future endeavors."

Franco played on TWISTED SISTER's 1987 album "Love Is For Suckers". Mike Portnoy, who took over for Pero after he died near the end of TWISTED SISTER's 2016 run, is busy touring with DREAM THEATER and is unable to participate in the upcoming TWISTED SISTER live activities.

Two and a half years ago, TWISTED SISTER staged a one-off reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California. On hand to be inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame were Snider, French, Mendoza and Portnoy. Ojeda was absent from the event after contracting COVID-19; filling in for him was Keith Robert War. TWISTED SISTER played a highly charged three-song set consisting of the staples "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and "Under The Blade", as well as the anthem "We're Not Gonna To Take It".

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

MEGADETH will release a new single, "Tipping Point", on Friday, October 3. A teaser for the song's accompanying music video is available below.

On August 14, MEGADETH announced that its upcoming LP will be the band's last. The Dave Mustaine-led outfit will also embark on a farewell tour in 2026.

Mustaine and the rest of MEGADETH have yet to reveal the final album's title, release date or the band's remaining tour dates.

In a press release announcing MEGADETH's final album and farewell tour, Mustaine thanked fans for their commitment and love while celebrating the band's impact on the music world.

"There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional," Mustaine said. "Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them."

He continued. "We can't wait for you to hear this album and see us on tour. If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it's now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it's now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it's our last studio album. We've made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour.

"Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything."

The follow-up to 2022's "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" will be released via Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers Label Group's new BLKIIBLK label, and is expected next year.

Fans can register for early access to exclusive information and offers surrounding the upcoming final album on MEGADETH's web site. The initial run of farewell tour dates will also be announced later this year.

For its final album, MEGADETH is once again working with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on MEGADETH's last two LPs, the aforementioned "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and 2016's "Dystopia".

Guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH two years ago. He stepped in as the replacement for Brazilian-born guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who announced in September 2023 that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that the now-38-year-old Finnish musician would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

Released in September 2022, MEGADETH's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!", sold 48,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked MEGADETH's eighth top 10-charting album.

MEGADETH's previous top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 were "Countdown To Extinction" (No. 2, 1992),"Youthanasia" (No. 4, 1994),"Cryptic Writings" (No. 10, 1997),"United Abominations" (No. 8, 2007),"Endgame" (No. 9, 2009),"Super Collider" (No. 6, 2013) and "Dystopia" (No. 3, 2016).

Led by the growled vocals and razor-wire riffing of Mustaine, MEGADETH are one of the "Big Four" thrash titans. Shortly after being kicked out of METALLICA in 1983, Mustaine met bassist David Ellefson, and the pair bonded quickly, forming the core of MEGADETH. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland later joined, and MEGADETH released their underground-hit debut "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" in 1985. Its follow-up, "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?", solidified the band's status with sprawling yet tightly wound songs like the uneasy opener "Wake Up Dead" and the fiery title track.

"So Far, So Good... So What!", released in 1988, featured a new lineup as well as a thrashy cover of the SEX PISTOLS' "Anarchy In The U.K." and the anti-PMRC broadside "Hook In Mouth". In 1990 they released "Rust In Peace", with Nick Menza on drums and technical wizard Marty Friedman on guitar; songs such as "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18" blended pummeling riffs and suspicion-fueled lyrics with a stadium-rock ambition that matched the era's metal-embracing tendencies.

"Countdown To Extinction", released in 1992, and "Youthanasia", released in 1994, continued the band's dominance of metal and emergence in rock's mainstream, with the latter album's "À Tout Le Monde" being a rare thrash ballad. After a brief breakup in the early 2000s, MEGADETH returned as a de facto Mustaine solo project with 2004's "The System Has Failed". Ellefson rejoined in 2010 prior to the album "Th1rt3en" and remained in the MEGADETH lineup until 2021, when he was fired.

In addition to Mustaine and Mäntysaari, MEGADETH's current lineup includes drummer Dirk Verbeuren and bassist James LoMenzo.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

Legendary German/American metallers ACCEPT have parted ways with guitarist Uwe Lulis. Uwe joined ACCEPT a decade ago as the replacement for the band's longtime axeman Herman Frank.

Earlier today (Thursday, September 25),ACCEPT released the following statement via social media: "After deep deliberation, ACCEPT will return to the traditional two guitar player lineup and has parted ways with German guitarist Uwe Lulis.

"This decision was solely based on logistical challenges, with no personal or musical disagreements at all. Uwe and ACCEPT are on excellent terms and remain good friends, Metal Brothers in Arms and will continue to be so.

"We had a fantastic decade together, created killer songs and brought metal to the biggest stages around the world .

"We wish him all the best and celebrate our time together with honour and utmost respect.

"Uwe is a very successful metal producer, and has his own UWE LULIS PROJECT which we invite you all to check out and follow!

"Onwards and upwards brother!! We salute you and every moment you were with us!"

Prior to the release of ACCEPT's 2021 album "Too Mean To Die", the band's lineup was expanded with the addition of a third guitarist, Philip Shouse, who originally filled in for Lulis during 2019's "Symphonic Terror" tour, before being asked to join ACCEPT permanently.

Earlier this year, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann revealed to Mark Strigl that the band's longtime producer Andy Sneap won't be involved with ACCEPT's upcoming 50th-anniversary album. Wolf said: "He will not be on this one, because he asked for a year off from us. I asked him, I begged him to produce his album, but then we found a good buddy of his. His name is Zeuss [Chris Harris]. He's producing it."

Hoffmann continued: "[Andy is] kind of part of the family now, but he's been touring so much with [JUDAS] PRIEST [as that band's touring guitarist], and he's been working so much in the studio last year. I think he did SAXON, he did PRIEST, he also did DREAM THEATER — he's done a bunch of stuff. So when I said, 'Hey, can we work this year again?' He said, 'Man, can I please have a year off?', which is understandable."

Sneap produced ACCEPT's last six studio albums: "Blood Of The Nations" (2010),"Stalingrad" (2012),"Blind Rage" (2014),"The Rise Of Chaos" (2017),"Too Mean To Die" (2021) and "Humanoid" (2024).

Zeuss has previously worked with ROB ZOMBIE, HATEBREED, QUEENSRŸCHE, SHADOWS FALL, DEMON HUNTER, OVERKILL and REVOCATION, among many others.

Over the past five decades, ACCEPT has sold millions of albums and inspired countless musicians. Their energetic live performances and iconic albums such as "Balls To The Wall", "Restless And Wild" and "Metal Heart" have left a lasting mark on the heavy metal genre. Hoffmann's guitar style and musical vision have made the band one of the most respected on the heavy metal scene.

After a hiatus in the band's career, Wolf was introduced to New Jersey singer Mark Tornillo in 2009. The chemistry and fit between them was so remarkable, ACCEPT reformed and almost immediately rose to global success with chart-topping albums. ACCEPT continues to be celebrated for each of their new records with Mark, who is now the longest-reigning frontman of ACCEPT, placing the Hoffmann-Tornillo partnership firmly in the Metal Hall Of Fame.

For decades, ACCEPT has been recognized as a guarantee of high quality and each of their albums has reached the top of the charts, delivering energy, melodies, killer riffs and an impressively powerful stage presence for 50 years.

Tornillo joined ACCEPT in 2009 as the replacement for Udo Dirkschneider, who was the band's original lead singer. Mark can be heard on ACCEPT's last six studio albums.

BREAKING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ACCEPT

After deep deliberation, Accept will return to the traditional two guitar player...

Posted by ACCEPT on Thursday, September 25, 2025

Nearly five decades after its original release, The Rolling Stones are set to celebrate their groundbreaking 1976 album Black And Blue with a definitive Super Deluxe Box Set, arriving globally on November 14 from Interscope/UMe. Originally released in April, 1976 Black And Blue marked a bold new chapter for the band and now returns in a stunning, remixed and expanded package across multiple formats.

Available as a 5LP vinyl box set and a 4CD box set, both editions include a Blu-ray disc, a hundred-page hardback book, and a replica tour poster. A limited edition 5LP version on exclusive Black And Blue marbled vinyl will also be available via select online retailers, alongside streamlined 2-disc and 1-disc formats on both vinyl and CD. Additionally, a limited edition 1LP zoetrope vinyl will also be released. Now available to pre order here.



Black And Blue is the Stones’ 13th studio album, the first following the departure of former guitarist Mick Taylor who was eventually replaced by Ronnie Wood. The recording sessions famously served as auditions with guitar greats Harvey Mandel, Wayne Perkins, Jeff Beck, and Robert A. Johnson all contributing. Ultimately, free from commitments to The Faces, it was Ronnie Wood who joined Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts & Bill Wyman as a bona fide Rolling Stone appearing on three tracks. Soon after Ronnie officially signed up for the band’s U.S. tour, starting his continuing tenure with the group across five decades with multiple live and studio albums and dozens of Stones groundbreaking world tours. In a brand-new interview included in the new box set, Ronnie reflects on joining the band in 1976 with these words – “Right then, this is where I’m meant to be.”

Musically, Black And Blue showcased The Rolling Stones’ adventurous spirit by infusing reggae, funk, and soul into their signature rock sound. The swaggering “Hot Stuff,” the driving “Hand Of Fate,” the poignant ballad hit single “Fool To Cry,” fan favourite “Memory Motel” plus “Melody” featuring the talents of Billy Preston a heavy contributor to the whole album. Black And Blue was the second to be self-produced, credited to ‘The Glimmer Twins’ a pseudonym used by Jagger and Richards for their roles as producers. On release it went to No. 1 on the USA album chart and stayed there for four consecutive weeks gaining immediate platinum status while in the UK Black And Blue went to No. 2 in May 1976.

The Black And Blue 2025 reissue includes a six-track disc of previously unreleased recordings, including the Jagger/Richards composition “I Love Ladies,” plus a high-energy take on Shirley & Company’s “Shame, Shame, Shame” which is available to listen to now here, and below. Also included are four amazing Stones instrumental jams from the 1975 sessions featuring the guest guitarists.

To accompany the reissue, a new music video for “Shame, Shame, Shame” will premiere on September 25. Directed by acclaimed Dutch filmmaker Camille Boumans, the video is a collage of Stones history and attitude, blending rare archival photography with hand-drawn animation and modern flair. Known for her award-winning work with global brands and her distinctive blend of classic and contemporary aesthetics, Boumans brings a fresh energy to the Stones’ legacy.

In addition and a must for Stones fans is a full live concert recording from the bands celebrated six night residency at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre, where they were joined onstage by Ian Stewart, Billy Preston, and Ollie Brown – all of whom had contributed to the studio album.

The accompanying Blu-ray disc offers a previously unreleased TV broadcast of the Stones’ 1976 show at Les Abattoirs in Paris, plus Dolby Atmos surround sound mixes of both the studio album and the live Earls Court concert. All audio content is also available in high-resolution stereo. Rounding out the Super Deluxe Box Set is a 100-page hardback book featuring a brand new essay by recognized Stones expert Paul Sexton, exclusive photographs from the album sessions and tour, and a replica poster from the 1976 Paris concert.

Release formats Include:

– 5LP Super Deluxe Box Set
– 4CD Super Deluxe Box Set
– Limited Edition 5LP Marbled Vinyl Super Deluxe Box Set
– 2LP / 2CD (Album + Outtakes & Jams)
– 1LP / 1CD (2025 Steven Wilson Mix)
– 1LP Zoetrope Vinyl



Tracklisting:

1CD – Steven Wilson Remix 2025

“Hot Stuff”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Cherry Oh Baby”
“Memory Motel”
“Hey Negrita”
“Melody”
“Fool To Cry”
“Crazy Mama”

1LP – Steven Wilson Remix 2025

Side A
“Hot Stuff”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Cherry Oh Baby”
“Memory Motel”

Side B
“Hey Negrita”
“Melody”
“Fool To Cry”
“Crazy Mama”

2CD

Disc 1: Steven Wilson Remix 2025

“Hot Stuff”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Cherry Oh Baby”
“Memory Motel”
“Hey Negrita” (Inspiration by Ron Wood)
“Melody” (Inspiration by Billy Preston)
“Fool To Cry”
“Crazy Mama”

Disc 2: Outtakes and Jams

“I Love Ladies”
“Shame, Shame, Shame”
“Chuck Berry Style Jam” (With Harvey Mandel)
“Blues Jam” (With Jeff Beck)
“Rotterdam Jam” (With Jeff Beck & Robert A. Johnson)
“Freeway Jam” (With Jeff Beck)

2LP

Disc 1: Steven Wilson Remix 2025

Side A
“Hot Stuff”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Cherry Oh Baby”
“Memory Motel”

Side B
“Hey Negrita” (Inspiration by Ron Wood)
“Melody” (Inspiration by Billy Preston)
“Fool To Cry”
“Crazy Mama”

Disc 2: Outtakes and Jams

Side A
“I Love Ladies”
“Shame, Shame, Shame”
“Chuck Berry Style Jam” (With Harvey Mandel)

Side B
“Blues Jam” (With Jeff Beck)
“Rotterdam Jam” (With Jeff Beck & Robert A. Johnson)
“Freeway Jam” (With Jeff Beck)

Super Deluxe 4CD + Blu-ray

Disc 1: Steven Wilson Remix 2025

“Hot Stuff”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Cherry Oh Baby”
“Memory Motel”
“Hey Negrita” (Inspiration by Ron Wood)
“Melody” (Inspiration by Billy Preston)
“Fool To Cry”
“Crazy Mama”

Disc 2: Outtakes and Jams

“I Love Ladies”
“Shame, Shame, Shame”
“Chuck Berry Style Jam” (With Harvey Mandel)
“Blues Jam” (With Jeff Beck)
“Rotterdam Jam” (With Jeff Beck & Robert A. Johnson)
“Freeway Jam” (With Jeff Beck)

Disc 3: Live at Earls Court 1976

“Honky Tonk Women”
“If You Can’t Rock Me”/”Get Off My Cloud”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Hey Negrita” (Inspiration by Ron Wood)
“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”
“Fool To Cry”
“Hot Stuff”
“Star Star (Starfucker)”
“You Gotta Move”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Band Intro
“Happy”
“Tumbling Dice”
“Nothing From Nothing ”
“Outa-Space”

Disc 4: Live at Earls Court 1976

“Midnight Rambler”
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”
“Brown Sugar”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Street Fighting Man”
“Sympathy For The Devil”

Blu-Ray Disc

Black And Blue (Steven Wilson Remix 2025)

Les Rolling Stones Aux Abattoirs, Paris-Juin 1976

Band Intro
“Honky Tonk Women”
“Hand of Fate”
“Fool To Cry”
“Hot Stuff”
“Star Star”
“You Gotta Move”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Band Introductions
“Happy”
“Outa Space”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Street Fighting Man”

Live at Earls Court Live 1976

Band Intro
“Honky Tonk Women”
“If You Can’t Rock Me/Get Off My Cloud”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Hey Negrita”
“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”
“Fool To Cry”
“Hot Stuff”
“Star Star (Starfucker)”
“You Gotta Move”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
“Happy”
“Tumbling Dice”
“Nothing From Nothing”
“Outa-Space”
“Midnight Rambler”
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”
“Brown Sugar”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Street Fighting Man”
“Sympathy For The Devil”

Super Deluxe 5LP + Blu-ray

Disc 1: Steven Wilson Remix 2025

Side A
“Hot Stuff”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Cherry Oh Baby”
“Memory Motel”

Side B
“Hey Negrita” (Inspiration by Ron Wood)
“Melody” (Inspiration by Billy Preston)
“Fool To Cry”
“Crazy Mama”

Disc 2: Outtakes and Jams

Side A
“I Love Ladies”
“Shame, Shame, Shame”
“Chuck Berry Style Jam” (With Harvey Mandel)

Side B

“Blues Jam” (With Jeff Beck)
“Rotterdam Jam” (With Jeff Beck & Robert A. Johnson)
“Freeway Jam” (With Jeff Beck)

Disc 3: Live at Earls Court 1976

Side A
“Honky Tonk Women”
“If You Can’t Rock Me”/”Get Off My Cloud”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Hey Negrita” (Inspiration by Ron Wood)

Side B
“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”
“Fool To Cry”
“Hot Stuff”
“Star Star (Starfucker)”

Disc 4: Live at Earls Court 1976

Side A
“You Gotta Move”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Band Intro
“Happy”

Side B
“Tumbling Dice”
“Nothing from Nothing”
“Outa-space”

Disc 5: Live at Earls Court 1976

Side A
“Midnight Rambler”
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”
“Brown Sugar”

Side B
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Street Fighting Man”
“Sympathy For The Devil”

Blu-Ray Disc

Black And Blue (Steven Wilson Remix 2025) Hi-res stereo and Atmos Mix

Les Rolling Stones Aux Abattoirs, Paris-Juin 1976

Band Intro
“Honky Tonk Women”
“Hand of Fate”
“Fool To Cry”
“Hot Stuff”
“Star Star”
“You Gotta Move”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Band Introductions
“Happy”
“Outa Space”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Street Fighting Man”

Live at Earls Court Live 1976

Band Intro
“Honky Tonk Women”
“If You Can’t Rock Me”/”Get Off My Cloud”
“Hand Of Fate”
“Hey Negrita”
“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”
“Fool To Cry”
“Hot Stuff”
“Star Star (Starfucker)”
“You Gotta Move”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
“Happy”
“Tumbling Dice”
“Nothing From Nothing”
“Outa-Space”
“Midnight Rambler”
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”
“Brown Sugar”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Street Fighting Man”
“Sympathy For The Devil”

“Shame, Shame, Shame”:

From the swampy heaviness of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY to the Southern sludge of DOWN, Pepper Keenan has shaped some of the most iconic riffs in heavy rock. In the latest episode of Gibson TV's "Riff Lords", Pepper breaks down the songs, tunings, and tones that defined CORROSION OF CONFORMITY records like "Deliverance", "Wiseblood" and "In The Arms Of God", as well as DOWN's "NOLA" and "Down II".

Pepper shows you how to play CORROSION OF CONFORMITY classics including "Albatross", "Clean My Wounds", "Senor Limpio", "King Of The Rotten", "13 Angels", "Paranoid Opioid" and "Stare Too Long" — before switching gears to DOWN and teaching fan favorites like "Lifer", "Ghost Along The Mississippi", "Stone The Crow" and "Bury Me In Smoke". Along the way, he shares insights into groove, restraint, tone, and his unique approach to writing riffs.

These are essential guitar lessons for fans of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, DOWN, and anyone who wants to learn how to capture Pepper's crushing tone and heavy Southern groove.

Keenan joined CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1990, but he did not become the band's lead singer until the recording of "Deliverance", which came out in 1994.

In 2014, after nearly a straight decade traversing the globe as a guitarist with New Orleans supergroup DOWN, Pepper reconnected with the core CORROSION OF CONFORMITY trio of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean and drummer Reed Mullin to hit the road hard.

Thus far, Keenan has appeared on six CORROSION OF CONFORMITY studio albums as well as three full-lengths and two EPs with DOWN.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's most recent studio album with Keenan, "No Cross No Crown", came out in 2018 on Nuclear Blast. A follow-up effort will arrive in 2026.

DOWN, in which Keenan is joined by vocalist Philip H. Anselmo (PANTERA),guitarist Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR),drummer Jimmy Bower (EYEHATEGOD) and bassist Pat Bruders, is working on a new studio album for a 2026 release.

SHINEDOWN singer Brent Smith recently joined Billboard's "Behind The Setlist" podcast for a wide-ranging talk about the band's music and business. Smith explained the importance of radio for the band and how it has helped give SHINEDOWN a career in a way that streaming alone couldn't replicate. He also explained the writing of one of the band's new songs, "Three Six Five", and talked about the band's upcoming album and tour plans.

Asked what he thinks has been the secret to SHINEDOWN's success so far, Brent said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think there's a couple of things. I live by the motto that the secret to success is to never arrive. Once you figure that out and understand that there's always a bigger mountain to climb, depending on who you are, what you have to say and how you want to present yourself to the public from a global scale as an artist.

"I think we're very, very lucky because we've always looked at SHINEDOWN as everyone's band," he continued. "So even from the beginning, that ideology of, 'Is it a rock band?' — yes, it's a rock band, but that's not everything that we are, because we're not influenced by just one style of music or one genre. We have a pretty vast palette. We swim in a pretty big ocean.

"I've had people say it to me before, they're like, 'Are you a rock band? Are you a pop band? Are you a country band, a metal band, an alternative band?' I'm, like, we're just SHINEDOWN. We would like to think that there's something for everyone. The other side of that is whether you've been a fan of the band from day one or you're just kind of finding out who the band is, the way we've always seen it is our audience allows us to evolve and to be ourselves. So they want us to not give them the same song over and over again. They don't want the same record over and over again. So that makes it very challenging for us in the studio because you don't ever wanna write a record or write music for an audience per se. I do kind of come from the Rick Rubin school — when I'm saying that where it's, like, if you're walking into a studio and you're saying to yourself, 'I'm gonna write this album,' or 'I'm gonna write this song today because I wanna win an award,' that's not the way to do it, I don't think. I think that you have to write it because you have something to say. So I think that there's an authenticity to what we do, or at least I hope there's an authenticity to what we do, that the public can see is very genuine with us. So I think that's where some of the longevity comes from.

"In North America and Canada, I've gotta be honest, 'cause I'm not taking anything away from any other territory from a global scale, but specifically in North America, the reason this band has had the career that it's had thus far, and while we're very proud of the last 20 years, we're focused on the next 20 years and beyond, is broadcast radio, terrestrial radio," Smith explained. "Even with the consumption of streaming and how there's an open floor now, which I think is great — I mean, for the discovery of new music — but when you're in a band, what I can tell people, and this is just from my experience, streaming will get your music played, but radio will give you a career, 'cause it gave us a career and it continues to do that. So radio is a big part of the success of the band in North America. And also because we're on multi formats, 'cause we are on alternative radio, we are on active and mainstream radio, we are on pop radio, we are on alternative radio, we are on hot AC, we're on AC… Once again, SHINEDOWN is everyone's band — eight to 80 and beyond.

"I know that's kind of a long-winded [answer], but it's a lot to unpack because we take the music and we take the brand very, very seriously, but we also take all the program directors and the APs [associate producers] and the music directors that have been with us from day one that are still with us and the new stations that are with us…

"Rock and roll is most certainly not dead, and radio is most certainly not dead," Brent added. "We're living proof that you can grow an audience from the radio."

Asked what he thinks it is about radio specifically that has helped SHINEDOWN so much, Brent said: "I think specifically the one thing about radio is that it's localized. We'll just utilize North America for a minute here. You have 50 states in the U.S., and inside those 50 states you have multiple cities. And inside those multiple cities, you have multiple towers from AM to FM, and then you have different formats inside of those cities. So you're curating a very specific audience in those states and in those cities. What makes them original? What makes them true to who they are? What are those markets like? What are the people like in those markets? What are they into? You have the sports teams. You have the culture. You have the dynamic of education, you have the dynamic of the restaurateurs, the art districts. There's all these different things, but in each one of those states, it's very localized in what they're into, what their identity is. So those radio stations are very, very proud of their culture and are proud of their people. Now, granted it's a lot of work because you've gotta go into all of those different markets and you have to go into all those cities. And for a band like us, one of the things that we have to be very strategic about, because we care so deeply about radio and those formats, we have to make sure in certain cities, if we're being played on six radio stations, each one of those stations, we need to be able to go in and say hi, say thank you, do promotion, do very specific events. So you have to tailor your touring cycles and your album cycles to making sure that you're able to get into those fundamental markets. And it's not just the A markets or the B markets, it's also the tertiary markets. That's another thing about radio that's really, really powerful. A lot of times people will talk about the A markets, like the big cities, but they don't realize some of those tertiary markets, they have just as many people and you don't want to neglect those markets.

"The tour that we just got finished with, the 'Dance, Kid, Dance' tour, there were two legs of that tour," he continued. "And the way that I see it is the first show on the first leg was in Des Moines, Iowa. And the first show on the second leg, or the first two shows on the second leg, was the Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden. Well, yes, they're different markets. But the reality is that the Des Moines arena holds 15,000 people and the Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden hold 15,000 people, the way it's scaled. So, you see what I'm saying? They're still the same magnitude of the public. So that's a lot of why it's important for us personally, is you wanna build it grassroots, because when you go outside of America, it's a little bit different. When you talk about the scale of streaming and consumption and YouTube versus Spotify, Deezer, what you get in the European markets, the U.K. markets versus what you do in Australia or South America or Asia.

"So that's kind of a long-winded answer, but the fact of the matter is you keep coming back, you keep touring those cities in North America. Our band has kind of always looked at it — you wanna steadily be growing, you wanna steadily be climbing those mountains because you don't want this massive rocket ship, and then all of a sudden it's, like, well, how much further can you go before you drop off? And then it's also the idea of keeping up with the Joneses. Everybody's, like, 'Well, you were this. Now you're this. Now you're that.'

"Look, it is a very competitive industry now, not only in the world of recorded music and streaming and all those different elements, views on YouTube and all of that, but just the touring aspect of how artists make money now, a big chunk of it is in touring and merchandising and can you fill a room up, no matter what size, whether it's five or five hundred thousand, 'cause we played for both," Brent added. "And you have to constantly remember that people evolve. Your younger audience is gonna get older. You're gonna gain a new audience. But specifically with radio, radio has just always worked for us to be able to grow our awareness and our audience in North America."

SHINEDOWN recently made history (once again) as the band's latest single, "Killing Fields", reached No. 1 on the Active Rock Mediabase chart. This is a massive moment for the band as it solidifies their 23rd single at the format. This marks the third No. 1 for the band this year with their No. 1 at Alternative for "Three Six Five" and two No. 1s at Active Rock with "Dance, Kid, Dance" and now "Killing Fields". In addition, it further solidifies their record of holding the most No. 1s, Top 5s and Top 10s in history on the Mediabase Active Rock chart.

Fresh off their massive "Dance, Kid, Dance" arena tour, where they sold out Madison Square Garden and performed at some of the countries’ most iconic venues, including Kia Forum in Los Angeles, SHINEDOWN's song "Three Six Five" also hit Top 20 at Top 40 radio. SHINEDOWN is the only rock band currently on the Top 40 chart as "Three Six Five" continues to reach new audiences with its message of love and loss. The song has been charting at five radio formats after hitting No. 1 at Alternative, Top 10 at Hot AC and AC, No. 16 at Active Rock, all in addition to reaching Top 20 at Top 40 radio.

SHINEDOWN recently took home two trophies at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, where they won "Rock Artist Of The Year" and "Rock Song Of The Year" for "A Symptom Of Being Human". The awards were in celebration of the banner year they've had as "A Symptom Of Being Human" has hit nearly 125 million global streams and charted at five radio formats, including a No. 1 at Active, Top 10 at Alternative, Top 10 at AC, Top 15 at Hot AC and a Top 20 at Top 40.

Soultone Cymbals has uploaded a new video of former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler playing through the band's classic song "Civil War". Check it out below. An accompanying description reads: "A true rock legend at work — Steven Adler drives the beat of this unforgettable track.

"Steven plays a completely customized set of cymbals, designed specifically for him."

Also available is a previously released video of Adler playing through another GUNS N' ROSES song, "You Could Be Mine".

The former GUNS N' ROSES drummer's current solo band lineup includes lead guitarist Michael Thomas, rhythm guitarist Alistair James, bassist Cristian Sturba and lead singer Ariel "Ari" Kamin.

"You don't get better than Michael Thomas and Alistair James; they are two of the best guitarists in rock," noted Adler.

Thomas previously delighted music fans as the lead guitarist for ENGINES OF AGGRESSION, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and FASTER PUSSYCAT. In addition to providing Adler with smooth rhythms, James has engineered recordings for HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES — the supergroup featuring Johnny Depp, Joe Perry of AEROSMITH, and Alice Cooper.

Kamin was a well-known rocker in Argentina with such bands as CRIATURAS SALVAJES and GN'R tribute act SON OF A GUN when he was selected to come to the U.S. and join Adler in electrifying audiences with the music of GUNS N' ROSES. Audiences have been blown away.

"Ari Kamin is the total package. He's everything a rock 'n' roll front man is supposed to be," Adler said. "Not only does he have an incredible voice, he really connects with the audience. He's one of the best you'll ever experience."

In 2021, Adler told the M3 Rock Festival YouTube channel about how he ended up recruiting Kamin to front his ADLER solo band: "Actually, I went to Argentina [in November 2016] — my wife's from there; her family lives there — and the GN'R guys invited me to do a couple of songs. And so I had a little party at a club called the Roxy in [Buenos Aires], and he was the singer [that played with us that night]. You can go on my web site and see — the Roxy in Argentina. He was so great. I was, like, 'You're coming with me.' And the guitar player from the band that opened up for GN'R was so amazing. I told him, 'Come down. I wanna jam with you.' And he came down. I tell you, if [GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] Slash would have seen him playing, he would have been in the back, in the dressing room, practicing. That's how good he was."

Kamin replaced Constantine Maroulis of "American Idol" and "Rock Of Ages" fame, who was the vocalist for ADLER'S APPETITE for a dozen or so dates in May 2018, including an Australian tour.

Although he wasn't included in the lineup that launched the "Not In This Lifetime" trek in 2016, Adler rejoined GUNS N' ROSES at several shows on the tour, including three stops on the U.S. leg and one gig in Buenos Aires, Argentina, playing drums on "Out Ta Get Me" and "My Michelle".

In February 2017, Adler revealed that he was originally supposed to appear at more than just a handful of shows on the GUNS N' ROSES reunion trek. He claimed that he expected to play all the "Appetite For Destruction" material during the entire tour, only to be told he was out after he hurt his back during rehearsals.

Speculation was rampant that Adler would participate in at least a portion of the reunion tour ever since GUNS made it official in January 2016.

GUNS N' ROSES' current drummer is Isaac Carpenter, who made his live debut with the band on May 1 at Incheon, South Korea's Songdo Moonlight Festival Park. Carpenter replaced Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in GUNS N' ROSES' storied run, in March.

Having earned the rare endorsement of K.K. Downing as the next big thing in metal, and touring the U.K. supporting KK'S PRIEST, British newcomers TAILGUNNER have just signed with Napalm Records. Further endorsing his praise for the band, the JUDAS PRIEST guitar legend has now taken on a new role of producer for their dynamic sophomore album. TAILGUNNER have quickly made a name for themselves amongst heavy metal fans — this young band from the home country of metal is one to watch!

TAILGUNNER comments on the Napalm signing: "There are iconic partnerships — like denim and leather, Jack and Coke, and swords and tequila. Now we hope to add TAILGUNNER and Napalm Records to that list.

"We're proud of being pure heavy metal, with zero apologies or compromise. That's why joining the world's biggest independent metal label feels right at home.

"The blitzkrieg of our first three years as a band continues full throttle — with our upcoming sophomore album, and together with the incredible team at Napalm behind us and the great and legendary K.K. Downing producing the record, we're taking on the world n' planting the flag for British metal right at the top of it. Heavy metal for eternity!"

K.K. Downing states: "TAILGUNNER is a band we should have seen emerge years ago from the U.K. They personify everything that is heavy metal. They are loud and proud, and totally descended from everyone in metal that has gone before — their energy and rawness, together with their brand of metal, incorporates all of the godfathers and much more. [IRON] MAIDEN, PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD, DEF LEPPARD — the list is endless. The band has a youthful freshness and a uniqueness that will no doubt elevate them to being a true Metal favourite of the fans."

Napalm Records senior A&R Sebastian Münch adds: "Over the past few months, I've been fortunate enough to witness the development of the new album, and it's simply incredible. K.K. Downing has already said everything perfectly here. TAILGUNNER are not a copy or nostalgically drawing on IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST or DEF LEPPARD, but are creating their own fresh, authentic heavy metal universe."

TAILGUNNER will support FOZZY on the "Eyes On You" U.K. tour in February 2026.

TAILGUNNER is:

Craig Carns - Vocals
Rhea Thompson - Lead Guitar
Zach Salvini - Lead Guitar
Bones - Bass

Photo credit: Tunde Valiszka

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "One Life One Chance With Toby Morse" podcast, Mark "Barney" Greenway spoke about the fact that NAPALM DEATH is often classified as a political band. He said in part (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "Ultimately, the thing about politics is it's meaningless unless you put human beings first. That's the point. It doesn't matter where you position yourself. The ultimate thing, for me at least, is to be a human being. That transcends everything. So, although I'm sort of set on the fence a little bit in some ways because even though my upbringing was kind of, sort of — I hate to say this; it sounds a bit contrived — but I kind of came from a left-wing background. My dad and my brothers were union people, which in the U.K. was traditionally quite left-wing. Also in the U.S., but less so now, I think. In the U.K. it was always — if you are a union person, generally you were kind of, sort of a left-leaning person. So, that's the house I grew up in. And I also was a union rep for some time. So, yeah, that was my background. But above and beyond that, in my formative years — 14, 15, 16, when you start to think about things — I was, like, 'Well, yeah, you know what? It's gonna benefit me in this world if I always try and advocate for world peace and dignity for everybody.' So we're striving for that — still now striving for that, in our own ways, to whatever capacity that we have."

Greenway went on to say that polarization is not necessarily a new phenomenon but is more noticeable now because of social media.

"The thing is it's very easy to look at what's going on now and go, 'Well, it's worse than it's ever been,' but there always was quite a significant amount of that stuff going on throughout the world," he said.

Greenway previously spoke about the perception that NAPALM DEATH is a political band in a 2022 interview with RAMzine. He said at the time: "Well, the thing is is this: I would say we're equally apolitical because the ideas that we actually espouse are human ideas, and human ideas surely, and should, transcend politics. But, yeah, for sure, I'm a person — I come from the left; that's how I grew up; that was where my ideas kind of came from. So, yeah, it's that. That's what we are — we are a 'human ideas' band."

Asked if he ever encounters fans who begrudge him for his opinions and how he feels and what he represents, Greenway said: "From time to time, you get people that are in opposition to what you say, but you know what? That's fine, man. I'm not here to beat people with a stick; that's not the point. 'Cause that's kind of entrapment in a way. And I'm not there. But I am here to say there is a better way; there are better ways. It doesn't mean I'm here to say, 'You must do what I say and do what I do.' The whole essence of where NAPALM takes ideas was about actually true freedom, anarchy in a way — peaceful anarchy. So that's where I continue to… that's where my path goes."

More than a decade ago, Greenway told Washington Post Express that he wasn't a fan of "mainstream" politics. "The power structures really bug me," he said. "I won't go into this too deeply because we'll be at this forever, but I think the structures that are in place at the moment give the people in power more rights than you and me have, and how can that be right? Systems evolve and systems change, and maybe there's an argument that the whole worldwide system really needs to change so the people at the bottom of the scale right now really get more input, because it's just not happening and it needs to at some point if we want to maintain a peaceful, tolerant world — it's just got to. So, in that sense, NAPALM's not really — I'm probably playing cat among the pigeons right here — but is it really a political band at the end of the day? I don't know. I see it as an extension of the things I believe in, and the band does: humanitarianism and peace and tolerance. Is that politics? Maybe it is and maybe it isn't; I don't know. But would I still be involved [in social issues] if the band were to go on pause? Well, yeah, because I was of that nature before I joined the band. It wasn't like I flipped a coin overnight and decided this was how I was gonna direct myself; I was that way, to be honest, since I was 6 or 7 years old. My dad was involved with trade unions, and I understand what I believe to be injustice. So, I will always be involved with something, because I can't really see me working for someone in a suit, making money for them, and getting really bored. [Laughs]"

NAPALM DEATH are credited as pioneers of the grindcore genre by incorporating elements of crust punk and death metal, using a noise-filled sound that uses heavily distorted, down-tuned guitars, grinding overdrive bass, high-speed tempos, blast beats, and vocals that consist of incomprehensible growls or high-pitched shrieks. Their music features extremely short songs, fast tempos, and sociopolitical lyrics. Even after exerting an indelible influence on the entire world of heavy music for nearly 40 years, there is still no band on Earth that sounds like NAPALM DEATH. Not just pioneers, but an enduring benchmark for invention and fearlessness in heavy and experimental music of all kinds, the Birmingham legends are still hurtling forward at full pelt.