BON JOVI, the Grammy Award-winning, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band and one of history's most iconic live acts, has announced a series of global concert dates that will mark the band's much-anticipated return to live touring with shows in New York, London, Dublin and Edinburgh. Starting in July of 2026 at New York's famed Madison Square Garden and concluding at London's iconic Wembley Stadium, the tour is produced by Live Nation.

The tour announcement comes after Jon Bon Jovi's much-documented vocal cord surgery and rehab process, as seen in the critically acclaimed Hulu docuseries "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story".

Jon Bon Jovi comments: "There is a lot of joy in this announcement — joy that we can share these nights together with our amazing fans and joy that the band can be together. I am lucky enough to be able to hold a light out to the audience each night and stand in their reflection for a tremendous collective experience — I get to stand in the WE of our concerts. And I've spoken extensively on my gratitude, but I will say it again, I'm deeply grateful that the fans and the brotherhood of this band have been patient and allowed me the time needed to get healthy and prepare for touring. I'm ready and excited!”

Tour dates:

July 07 - New York, Madison Square Garden
July 09 - New York, Madison Square Garden
July 12 - New York, Madison Square Garden
July 14 - New York, Madison Square Garden
August 28 - Edinburgh, UK, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
August 30 - Dublin, Ireland, Croke Park
September 04 - London, UK, Wembley Stadium

New York City: Fans can sign up now at bonjovi.com to access the artist presale, powered by Seated, which begins on Monday, October 27 at 10 a.m. ET. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, October 31 at 10 a.m. ET at BonJovi.com.

U.K./Ireland: Fans can preorder "Forever (Legendary Edition)" at shop.bonjovi.com to access the presale beginning Monday, October 27 at 9 a.m. local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, October 31 at 9 a.m. local time at BonJovi.com and LiveNation.co.uk.

BON JOVI will release "Forever (Legendary Edition)" on October 24 via Island Records. A re-release the songs from the band's 2024 "Forever" album features guest stars on each track, plus two more cuts. The guests include Bruce Springsteen, on "Hollow Man"; Jelly Roll, on "Living Proof"; and Jason Isbell, on "Waves". The two additional songs are a new one, "Red, White And Jersey", and a Spanish-language version of "We Made It Look Easy". There are also appearances on vocals by James Bay, Robbie Williams, Ryan Tedder, THE WAR AND TREATY, DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott, Lainey Wilson, Avril Lavigne and Marcus King, among others.

"This album is more than just a collection of collaborations, it is an album borne out of necessity," Jon said in a statement. "My vocal cord rehab was a well-documented journey that played out while releasing 'Forever' in 2024. I was singing well in the studio for recording, but the vocal demands and rigors of touring were still slightly out of reach for me. Without an ability to tour at that time, I continued working in the studio and called on some friends, great singers, artists, musicians and also just great people."

He continued: "The result is an album with a new viewpoint and new spirit — a collaboration album that proves we all get by in this world with a little help from our friends. I feel tremendous joy and gratitude releasing this album and I think it shows in the music. I can say with certainty that there is always something bigger than ME, and that's WE."

Produced by Jon with John Shanks, "Forever" featured Jon Bon Jovi once again alongside fellow founding BON JOVI members, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. They were joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.

"Forever" contained 12 new songs, including the hit lead single "Legendary".

In August 2024, a duet version of the "Forever" song "The People's House" featuring THE WAR AND TREATY was released, accompanied by a lyric video. In October 2024, the official music video for "The People's House" featuring THE WAR AND TREATY was released, accompanied by a statement from Jon Bon Jovi endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

"Forever" marked Jon Bon Jovi's return to the recording studio after surgery to repair his damaged vocal cords.

In June 2024, Jon told The Guardian that his damaged vocal cord was still not healed enough for him to resume touring. "It's a work in progress," he said. "There's no miracle. I just wish there was a fucking light switch. I'm more than capable of singing again. The bar is now: can I do two and a half hours a night, four nights a week? The answer is no."

Bon Jovi went on to say that making music will always be part of his life, regardless of whether he is able to return to full-scale touring. "It lights you up when you're out there," he said. "As long as I have the ability, I will write songs and make records."

BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler is the guest on the latest episode of Gabbing With Girlfriends, the podcast hosted by his wife and manager Gloria Butler. During the chat, which can be seen below, Geezer was asked a number of viewer-submitted questions, including what his initial reaction was to being approached to play at the "Back To The Beginning" event in July at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The concert marked Ozzy Osbourne's and BLACK SABBATH's final performance before the singer's death a little over two weeks later. Geezer said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I suppose I was just wondering how everybody would do. I knew Ozzy wasn't in the best of health. I knew Bill [Ward, original SABBATH drummer] hadn't been well for a while. Tony [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist] was up for it, and I was up for it as long as everybody else was. And I said 'yeah' straight away, 'I'll do it.' Especially as it was at Villa Park, [the home stadium of] my football team and one of the earliest places I ever went to and I was a little child."

Geezer went on to say that the event was particularly special because he hadn't been in contact with some of his longtime bandmates for nearly a decade. "Because you and Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] had fallen out, I didn't see Ozzy at all for about six years after the last gig," Geezer told his wife during the podcast. "Then you and Sharon [were] talking and everything was okay again, and it was great to finally get to talk to Ozzy again. We used to text each other every day. He used to send me some funny things and I'd send him some funny things. It was just great to be back together again after all these years. I mean, he's probably my oldest friend. I've known him for 57 years, so it was great to get back together again."

Reflecting on the rehearsal sessions for "Back To The Beginning", Geezer said: "When we get together, it's almost like we've just seen each other the week before, even though it's been like six or seven years or whatever. Of course, Tony was joking about Bill 'cause he kept saying he looked like [ancestral Hobbit] Gollum. [Laughs] The only shocking bit was when Ozzy came in. I knew Ozzy was very ill, but I didn't realize how ill he was. We were rehearsing, the three of us. We started — me, Tony and Bill — rehearsed for the first two days just to get all the music together, sort out which songs we were gonna do and everything like that. And then on the third day, Ozzy came in and he was helped in by two helpers. And I was just shocked to see him like that. And, of course, being Ozzy, he had to crack a few jokes and things. And they had like an armchair set aside so he could sit down to sing through the songs, 'cause he couldn't stand up. I think we rehearsed about six or seven songs and picked out four or five. We knew we could only do four or five 'cause of the time limit, and we picked out the four or five songs that sounded the best and which we were most comfortable with. And after that, we fell into the old SABBATH again. Ozzy could only do it once, could only rehearse, go through the songs one time and then he'd leave and we'd sort of carry on. We had to get the solos really well together and stuff like that."

Geezer added that he and the other members of SABBATH picked up where they left off years earlier. "Yeah, we always do," he explained. "There's never any sort of egos or resentments for each other. It's just a bit of a laugh fest when Tony picks up on taking the piss out of Bill as usual. Bill loves being taken the piss out of. It was just funny doing the old jokes, just talking about the same old stuff. It's good."

Referencing the fact that Ozzy died only 17 days after "Back To The Beginning", Geezer said: "I'm so glad it happened like that, that we finished on such a great note."

Ozzy and the other SABBATH members performed four songs for more than 40,000 people at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

The "Back To The Beginning" concert, which was hosted by actor Jason Momoa — whose passion for heavy metal music runs deep — also featured performances by METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, SLAYER, TOOL, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MASTODON and RIVAL SONS.

Less than three months ago, Geezer penned an article for U.K.'s The Sunday Times in which he reflected on his final appearance with Ozzy. Regarding what it was like to rehearse with Osbourne for "Back To The Beginning", Butler wrote: "I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was. He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane — being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones. He didn't really say much beyond the usual greetings and when he sang, he sat in a chair. We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs. We had a bit of a chat, but he was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old."

Looking back on Ozzy's performance at Villa Park, Geezer wrote in The Sunday Times article: "Nobody knew he'd be gone from us little more than two weeks after the final show. But I am so grateful we got to play one last time together in front of his beloved fans. The love from the fans and all the bands, musicians, singers and solo artists that night was incredible. Everyone had come to pay homage to the Prince. I am so privileged to have spent most of my life with him. Of course there are millions of things I will think of that I should have written, but how can I sum up 57 incredible years of friendship in a few paragraphs? God bless, Oz, it has been one hell of a ride! Love you!"

Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate also reportedly said the 76-year-old musician suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

In his tribute to Ozzy on the day of the singer's death, Geezer wrote on social media: "Goodbye dear friend- thanks for all those years- we had some great fun, 4 kids from Aston- who'd have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you."

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, BLACK SABBATH is widely recognized as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, with a career spanning decades and over 75 million albums sold worldwide, according to the band's web site. Their impact on the genre remains as significant today as it was in the early 1970s, with their music shaping generations of metal musicians.

In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024.

The original lineup of SABBATH came together with Iommi, Osbourne, Butler and Ward. That lineup recorded and toured through 1978, and periodically reformed through the '90s and 2000s for live work.

They regrouped again in late 2011 for a new album and tour, although Ward dropped out after a few months over financial issues. SABBATH used Ozzy's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos since then for live work. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk laid down the drum tracks on SABBATH's reunion album "13", which came out 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.

SABBATH wrote and recorded "13" and toured it all over the world while Iommi was going through treatment for his illness, with the guitarist having to fly back to England every six weeks.

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash will release a new electrifying live album and concert film, "Live At The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival", on November 7 via earMUSIC. The official video for the set's latest single, "Crossroads" (a.k.a. "Cross Road Blues"),a song originally written by the American blues artist Robert Johnson, can be seen below.

"Live At The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival" sees Slash bringing his love of the blues, his musical roots, to the fore with a full-throttle live album and concert film capturing his electrifying July 17, 2024 performance at the Mission Ballroom, Colorado. Touring as part of the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, Slash and the formidable ensemble known as SLASH'S BLUES BALL deliver a gritty, soulful set paying homage to the legends who shaped rock and blues.

The band features Slash on lead and rhythm guitar, joined by longtime collaborator Teddy "ZigZag" Andreadis (keyboards, harmonica, vocals),Tash Neal (rhythm guitar, vocals),Johnny Griparic (bass, backing vocals),and Michael Jerome (drums). Together, they tear through a blistering set of blues standards and rock staples, paying tribute to icons like Bukka White, Howlin' Wolf, Booker T. & the MG's, FLEETWOOD MAC, Freddie King, THE TEMPTATIONS, T-Bone Walker, Hoyt Axton, Robert Johnson, THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, Bob Dylan and Elmore James.

The set includes smoldering takes on "Parchman Farm Blues", "Killing Floor", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Oh Well", "Big Legged Woman" and "Key To The Highway", followed by the slow-burn groove of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", the smoky soul of "Stormy Monday", and the gritty punch of "The Pusher". Slash also debuts a brand-new original, "Metal Chestnut", before diving into "Cross Road Blues" and a fiery rendition of "Stone Free". The encore features "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" and a blistering closer with "Shake Your Money Maker".

Intercut with candid, behind-the-scenes interviews, Slash reflects on his deep personal connection to the blues, sharing stories behind the songs and his reverence for the artists who paved the way. SLASH'S BLUES BALL delivers the blues like it's meant to be — loud, live, and dangerous.

"Live At The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival" will become available in retail stores and online as 2CD+DVD digipak, 2CD+Blu-ray digipak and heavyweight black 3LP gatefold. Further exclusive formats will be available in the official album store.

CD 1:

01. Intro
02. Parchman Farm Blues
03. Killing Floor
04. Born Under A Bad Sign
05. Oh Well
06. Big Legged Woman
07. Key To The Highway
08. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

CD 2:

09. Stormy Monday
10. The Pusher
11. Metal Chestnut
12. Crossroads
13. Stone Free
14. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
15. Shake Your Money Maker

S.E.R.P.E.N.T. is an anagram and stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N' Tolerance. The festival is a celebration of the blues, featuring an all-star lineup varies.

Slash formed the "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the blues, and to perform with other blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. Slash also has a strong desire to give back to charities that he has supported over the years, as well as to help lift marginalized communities that share his restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. A portion of the proceeds from each VIP package and "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival ticket sold directly benefited the following charities that Slash had selected: The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute and War Child. "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival had partnered with Plus1.org to support these charitable endeavors.

Slash's blues album, "Orgy Of The Damned", came out in May 2024 via Gibson Records. The LP features guest appearances by AC/DC's Brian Johnson, AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler, Iggy Pop, Chris Stapleton, THE BLACK CROWES' Chris Robinson, ZZ TOP's Billy F. Gibbons, BAD COMPANY's Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato and Gary Clark Jr.Slash is backed on the album by prior collaborators Johnny Griparic (bass) and Teddy Andreadis (keyboards),as well as drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Although he grew up in England, Slash's American grandmother turned him on to the blues early on and he was immediately taken with B.B. King. At the same time, his parents raised him on a healthy diet of '60s British rock 'n' roll, from THE WHO to THE KINKS. Once he moved to Laurel Canyon, Slash found himself surrounded by rock and folk singers like Joni Mitchell, CROSBY, STILLS & NASH and Neil Young — all of whom eventually inspired his playing and songwriting. It wasn't until he began playing guitar himself that Slash realized all of his favorite musicians had been influenced by the same B.B. King blues records he'd listened to as a young kid.

An official documentary about late IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno, "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer", will finally be released in 2026. The film was helmed by Wes Orshoski, co-director and producer of the acclaimed 2010 film "Lemmy" about the MOTÖRHEAD icon, and 2015's "The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead", about punk rock legends THE DAMNED.

On Tuesday (October 21),Wes took to his Instagram to share a few photos of Paul, and he included the following message: "With today being the first anniversary of Paul Di'Anno's death, it seems like the right time to let folks know that starting next week, my documentary about Paul (IRON MAIDEN's iconic early frontman) is finally going to leave the nest. Beginning with a friends & family screening on Tuesday in London, 'Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer' is going to start hitting European film fests this month, with a wider release coming next year.

"I started shooting this film in 2017 and for years there wasn't much to capture. Paul was in a wheelchair, desperately waiting for surgeries that doctors in the U.K. refused to greenlight. By the time the pandemic hit, Paul's health had nosedived. And that's when everything changed for him and my film. Kastro Pergjoni, who runs the Cart & Horses pub in London (known as 'The Birthplace of IRON MAIDEN') launched a crowd-funding campaign to help Paul take control of his own destiny. MAIDEN fans around the world gave. And Croatian MAIDEN superfan/writer Stjepan Juras lobbied for Paul to seek treatment in Zagreb, where he could be treated affordably. Paul acquiesced. Without question, Kastro and Stjepan not only changed Paul's life, they extended it. My film largely documents their efforts, which were without question responsible for nearly all of the good moments at the end of Paul's life. So to remember The Beast today, here are some behind the scenes shots."

In August 2024, Di'Anno discussed the status of the documentary in an interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM. Paul said: "Wes is a good mate of ours. He'd done the MOTÖRHEAD rockumentary. He'd done THE DAMNED [one] as well. And he's a great guy. We've had this in the pipeline for a couple of years now. The unfortunate part about it is we had to take our time in between when he can come over and do this. But the unfortunate thing is I'm sitting in a fucking wheelchair, which is a pain in the ass, but what are you gonna do?"

Asked by Dionne if the documentary will focus on a particular portion of Di'Anno's life or if it will cover everything from beginning to end, Paul said: "Everything. But you'll see the determination sometimes and the despair. And it goes through the whole lot of emotions and stuff. It's a bit strange."

Di'Anno added: "I trust Wes. He's got me in all sorts of weird situations. He even wanted to come in and fucking film the operation. And they said, 'No.'"

Di'Anno was laid to rest on November 21, 2024 at the City Of London Cemetery And Crematorium in Manor Park, East London, United Kingdom.

Di'Anno, whose real name was Paul Andrews, passed away on October 21, 2024 at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.

An official statement shared to Di'Anno's Facebook page on November 11, 2024 with permission from the late musician's family revealed that his cause of death was caused by a "tear in the sac around the heart."

"Dear fans and friends," the statement began. "We have received permission from Paul's family to bring you the news of Paul's cause of death, after the results of the autopsy have been received."

It continued, "His sisters Cheryl and Michelle confirmed the following: 'Basically he had a tear in the sac around the heart and blood has filled inside it from the main aorta artery and that has caused the heart to stop.' Paul's death was instantaneous and hopefully painless. May he rest in peace."

Born in Chingford, East London on May 17, 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of English heavy metal band IRON MAIDEN between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album "Iron Maiden" and the influential follow-up release, "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN, Paul Di'Anno had a long and eventful recording career with BATTLEZONE and KILLERS as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.

Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.

His first career retrospective album, "The Book Of The Beast", was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving IRON MAIDEN.

In December 2022, Di'Anno spent time in Split, Croatia recording an album with his new project called WARHORSE. The band was formed earlier that year by Di'Anno and two guitarists/authors, Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante "Pupi" Pupačić. The resulting LP was made available in July 2024 under the PAUL DI'ANNO'S WARHORSE banner.

WARHORSE previously recorded three songs, two of which — "Stop The War" and "The Doubt Within" — were released in May 2022 as a special DVD single along with Paul's video message to all fans who bought the single and thus helped raise funds for his knee operation.

The WARHORSE single marked Di'Anno's first music release after a seven-year hiatus due to severe health issues.

Di'Anno, who finally underwent his knee surgery in September 2022, played the first show since the operation on October 1, 2022 at the Keep It True Rising II festival in Würzburg, Germany.

In May 2022, Di'Anno came face to face with MAIDEN bassist and founder Steve Harris for the first time in three decades before the band's concert in Croatia. Also in May 2022, Paul played his first full solo concert in seven years at the Bikers Beer Factory in Zagreb. The show was filmed and parts of it will be included in the "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer" documentary.

Photo credit: Marco Benjamin Alvarado (courtesy of Central Press for Conquest Music)

Guitarist Gene Palubicki (ANGELCORPSE, PERDITION TEMPLE),vocalist and bassist Steve Tucker (MORBID ANGEL) and drummer John Longstreth (ORIGIN, HATE ETERNAL, ex-ANGELCORPSE) have finished recording their debut album as MALEFIC THRONE. Titled "The Conquering Darkness", the effort is set for release on November 28 via Agonia Records.

The trio was put together by Palubicki in 2020, after initially having met in 1997, when both ANGELCORPSE and MORBID ANGEL were recording their own albums side by side.

"This band's roots can be traced all the way back to the mid-'90s when Gene, Steve and I first met at Morrisound studios," Longstreth comments. "It's an amazing feeling to see those old conversations and hangouts develop into a true celebration of blistering infernal death metal. I have no doubt that this union will be absolutely crushing."

Palubicki stresses out that the music produced by MALEFIC THRONE has the imprint of all three members very present in every moment of the songs. The synthesis of the three members through delivery and writing is what makes band its own special entity, with an an increased dynamic within the form of death metal they generate.

"The Conquering Darkness" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Menegroth The Thousand Caves (GORGUTS, ORIGIN, ATHEIST) with Colin Marston. Longstreth hints at the outcome as extremely brutal and infernal nuclear death metal. Its cover artwork was painted by renowned artist Daniele Valeriani (DARK FUNERAL, MAYHEM). Christophe Szpajdel (EMPEROR, MOONSPELL) crafted the band's logo.

Track listing:

01. Blasphémait Desecration
02. The Voice Of My Ghost
03. Athirst For Dissonance
04. Born Of Plague
05. Divine Tragedy
06. Carnage Of The Forgotten
07. When Our Shadows Align
08. Forged In Stone

In a 2022 interview with Bardo Methodology, Gene stated about MALEFIC THRONE's musical direction: "I wanted to create something which wasn't just reflective of my own background, but that also leaned somewhat towards the histories of the other members. Now, that's not to say I was trying to make it sound like one of my bands combined with MORBID ANGEL and ORIGIN. Nevertheless, I was conscious of the idea that MALEFIC THRONE was meant to incorporate elements which — at least to my interpretation — might have been more relevant to their past projects than something I've done with any of my bands. So, even though MALEFIC THRONE has a clear element of what could be identified as 'my sound' or whatever, I do things within the songwriting and arrangement of riffs that might not be entirely in line with, say, PERDITION TEMPLE. Basically, I try to create a framework for the music and the whole flow of structures that gels more organically with the backgrounds of the other members, if that makes sense."

Lineup:

Gene Palubucki - guitars
Steve Tucker - vocals and bass
John Longstreth - drums

At this past weekend's Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky, BLACK VEIL BRIDES vocalist Andy Biersack spoke to PK of the ALT 105.1 radio station about the band's recently released track "Hallelujah". The Tampa, Florida-based choir One Voice Ensemble lent its talents to the song, which was produced by Biersack and guitarist Jake Pitts and was made available in July by BLACK VEIL BRIDES' label partners Spinefarm. Andy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We just wrapped the [new BLACK VEIL BRIDES full-length] record. We put that song out… In the old days, they used to be called a 'street track', right? It's not a single; it's just showing 'this is what we're working on' kind of thing. So we did that before the record was done. We just wanted to get something out, because it had been a year since we had released anything. And so now the [full-length] record is done. It's fully mixed. It's going into mastering. Our work's getting done. I think that we'll probably have another song out before the end of the year. And the record will get announced early next year."

He added: "I'm hyped, man. I really love the record. We're really excited about it. We produced it ourselves. And it's our first record with Spinefarm as a label, and so it's just a great relationship, a great situation."

Asked if this is the first time members of BLACK VEIL BRIDES have produced their music themselves, Andy said: "Yeah. We've been able to work with really great producers over the years, and so Jake and I feel like we learned a lot from them. We worked with Bob Rock, John Feldmann, Erik Ron, all these guys who are top of the game. And so we wanted to try our hand. And we're never gonna do what they do, but we felt like it's our record and we wanted to take ownership over it and see how good we can do on our own. And I think the result is, at least for us, it's pretty exciting. I think it's one of the best things we've done because it's unfiltered us. If you're a fan of what we do, it's going to be the most of what we do, 'cause without anybody else's voice in the room, you're left to your own devices."

He continued: "As from a writer and a singer perspective, for me, one of the things I found to be the most exciting about this record was when you write a song and you work with a producer, a lot of times the producer hears it a certain way. So I get in the booth to sing it and the phrasing, they'll say, 'Ah, sing it this way' or 'that way.' And so for this, it's exactly how I pictured it in my mind as I'm writing the thing down. And so for better or for worse, it feels the most complete."

Three months ago, BLACK VEIL BRIDES released an animated video for "Hallelujah", directed by Marco Pavone (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, PINK FLOYD, SHADOW OF INTENT).

"Hallelujah" received its live debut at Warped Tour in Long Beach, California on July 26. BLACK VEIL BRIDES will also make appearances at Rock The Locks in Umatilla, Oregon (September 26) and Aftershock (October 5) before heading to South America for six headline shows. The "We Missed Ourselves Tour 2025" will also feature UNDEROATH, SILVERSTEIN, SENSES FAIL and I SET MY FRIENDS ON FIRE.

When "Hallelujah" was first made available, Biersack said in a statement: "'Hallelujah' is an important song for us, not only because it is the first track from the new record, but also as a signifier of what's to come for the band. On a narrative level, it represents the themes and ideas I am exploring lyrically on the album.

"I am fascinated by the current state of discourse and how often we seem to prioritize ideological certainty over the heart and soul of humanity. Over the years we have developed a tremendous connection with our audience, which is often dismissed or misinterpreted by the 'scene.' We stand at a unique inflection point culturally and I want to be able to speak openly about how much I believe in being true to yourself over the fear of mass hysteria or in-group recriminations.

"When my grandfather's voice spoke to 'the outcasts' in the first moments of our first record in 2010, it was a sincere call to arms for all those who feel different. In many ways this record is the natural evolution of that same idea. This is the heaviest and most vitriolic BVB record by far but more importantly I believe it is the most sincere and honest record we have ever made."

Earlier this year, Andy credited Feldmann and Ron with helping him develop the skills in the studio to oversee a BLACK VEIL BRIDES recording from beginning to end. Biersack told Brandy-Baye Robidoux of Idobi Radio: "I wouldn't know how any of this stuff functions without particularly those two. Jake and I have always said we learned how to be people in a studio from John Feldmann. And then that carried over to where when we started working with Erik, who also had worked with Feldmann as an engineer in his early career, we come from that same school. And so I think in a lot of ways we brought that same sort of means of production to our record. It's just that we were doing it on our own. But it really comes from that for us."

Asked if it was "more challenging or easier" to produce the new album themselves, Andy said: "I would say it was a little bit more challenging in the capacity that you've gotta make sure that you get it right. I would say the easier thing is for me vocally, sometimes — and I guess this will be determined by how people hear it — but sometimes when you're singing, if you're working with a producer who is also a singer, they have a way that they want to hear something. So if I go, 'This melody goes this way,' and they go, 'Oh, this melody should go this way.' And then you're, like, 'Oh,' and that's unnatural. I always say, like, there's certain times when I can hear on records where I would've wanted it to be pushed this certain way, and then somebody else wanted it to go this other way, and then I just end up sounding like I don't know what I'm saying in the song. With this, it's just the way I want it, for better or for worse. So we'll find out whether that was the right way or not. We'll find out. We'll see if people like it."

Regarding whether BLACK VEIL BRIDES is "pulling from any unexpected influences" this time around, Andy said: "Well, I think we have a total lack of interest in any commercial crossover. We've been in the major label system for most of our career, where even though we were a band with a lot of shreddy guitars and I'm writing about theological ideas, they're, like, 'But where's the single?' And so you'd always kind of have to temper that with, 'We've gotta make sure that there's a single.' And what we have found, and thankfully working with Spinefarm now, 'Bleeders' was not a song that was made to be a hit. And yet it was a song that, because the label believed in it, did really well at radio and traditional places. So we want to be able to make songs that are enjoyable and that people at radio wanna play — we sincerely want that — but we are not in a position now where we're going to the studio going, like, 'Okay, but we've gotta make sure that we have the song that it's cool for the executives' kind of thing, which is kind of something that we had been bogged down by for a lot of years… And sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. In some cases, you make a concept record that's an hour and a half long, but you happen to have a song that is a platinum single on it. People are, like, 'All right, fine. You could do weird stuff.' If you do that same thing and then you don't have that platinum single, yeah…. And we've seen both sides of that. So, at this point I feel like the best bet is just to make the coolest thing we can make as opposed to trying to go, 'I hope we've got that big hit on there,' 'cause you can't prescribe those things."

In May 2024, BLACK VEIL BRIDES released the title track from their "Bleeders" EP, inspired by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's "Sweeney Todd". The band paid tribute to the classic musical with a music video for the title track that is inspired by the musical's 2007 Tim Burton-directed film adaptation.

Released in June 2024, the three-track EP, which included "Bleeders", a cover of "My Friends" from the Sondheim classic, and a cover of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday", was BLACK VEIL BRIDES' first release for Spinefarm.

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner

Kirk Hammett, legendary guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling and nine-time-Grammy Award-winning band METALLICA, has shared official video of the "Kirk Hammett The Collection: Live" June 7, 2025 book event at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center in Tampa, Florida. The intimate, live discussion took a deep dive into Kirk's storied music career and celebrated the launch of his new coffee table book, "The Collection: Kirk Hammett". Joining Hammett on stage at one point during the Tampa event was METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo, who took part in a surprise jam with the guitarist.

Hammett said: "I am thrilled to share 'Kirk Hammett The Collection: Live' in Tampa, Florida June 7, 2025. This summer during the 'M72' tour, I took the book LIVE in six cities to share and discuss the rich history and artistry behind each of these unique and rare instruments. Every picture tells a story and thanks to Ross Halfin and his exceptional photography, every picture in this book is worth a million words! Thank you to Gibson for making my passion for Greeny and guitars a reality. I hope you enjoy the LIVE journey as much as I did."

METALLICA has added one unusual feature to its shows on the band's recent tours: at each stop, Hammett and Trujillo have been covering songs from some of their musical heroes — often choosing songs that are far removed from the band's traditional metal sound. The "doodles," as the band refers to them in their setlists, are pared-down interpretations — just bass and guitar and sometimes Trujillo singing.

Released worldwide via Gibson Publishing, "The Collection: Kirk Hammett" is a premium, hardcover coffee table book in which Kirk tells the stories behind the rare and highly collectible instruments he has used on hit records and on stages worldwide in front of millions of fans. "The Collection: Kirk Hammett" is available globally via Gibson.com and the Gibson Garage locations in three premium formats: limited signed and numbered Custom and Deluxe Editions and a Standard hardcover.

A 400-page premium coffee table book, "The Collection: Kirk Hammett" explores in unprecedented detail the extraordinary guitar collection and life in music of one of heavy metal's true pioneers, Gibson signature artist Kirk Hammett. Shot on location in Hawaii and Los Angeles by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin and featuring rare imagery from Halfin's photo archives, this latest release from Gibson Publishing features exclusive new interviews with Hammett conducted by Chris Vinnicombe (Gibson editor-in-chief) and Mark Agnesi (Gibson director of brand experience). "The Collection: Kirk Hammett" takes the deepest-ever dive into the METALLICA star's eclectic guitar collection, documenting the instruments he has leaned on throughout his career, from his early days with Bay Area thrash trailblazers EXODUS to selling over 125 million albums worldwide and rocking out with METALLICA for over 40 years on the world's biggest stages. Guitars under the microscope include Hammett's storied 1979 Gibson Flying V and Greeny, the legendary 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard formerly owned by guitarists Peter Green and Gary Moore, and so much more. "The Collection: Kirk Hammett" is a must-have for fans of Kirk Hammett and METALLICA and anyone with an interest in fine guitars.

In a video teaser featuring narration from Jason Momoa, the actor — who is a longtime METALLICA fan — says: "Every guitar has a story, and the thrill of finding the right one can be as electrifying as any song it will play. Collecting is an obsession, a passion, and a neverending quest for discovering the perfect tone. No one knows this more than Kirk Hammett."

Hammett was a member of EXODUS's original lineup before replacing Dave Mustaine in METALLICA in 1983. In fact, Hammett was not only the person who came up with the EXODUS name, but also the first from the band to meet original EXODUS singer Paul Baloff and brought him into the group. With Hammett on guitar, METALLICA went on to record its debut album, "Kill 'Em All", later in 1983.

In a 1994 interview with Metal Hammer, Hammett said his EXODUS bandmates were less than happy about his decision to leave the band.

Coming to select cities on the Metallica #M72 North American Tour…

KIRK HAMMETT / THE COLLECTION: LIVE
A Conversation...

Posted by Gibson on Thursday, April 10, 2025

Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy have announced that they will "step away from touring for an undetermined amount of time" following the completion of their ongoing DEATH CULT/THE CULT tour.

Earlier today (Wednesday, October 22),Astbury and Duffy released the following statement: "Mother Nature has a cycle of change and evolution that is inevitable. The moon's phases change, tides rise and fall. Change is necessary for creation and rebirth. It is with this in mind that, following the remaining dates on our current North American THE CULT/DEATH CULT 8525 Tour, we have decided to step away from touring for an undetermined amount of time. We have toured extensively over the last few years and we shall now shift our focus to writing, recording new music, and exploring other projects that shall be revealed over time. It is a time for us to turn inward to recharge our spiritual batteries.

"When we return to the stage, it shall be with an even stronger fire and energy that we will share with all of you.

"Ours is a communal bond, and it will not be broken, simply paused. Until then, we have five remaining shows on this current tour, culminating at The Shrine in Los Angeles on October 30. Please join us for what has been an incredible celebration of 40 years of THE CULT and DEATH CULT.

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love and support. It keeps us alive."

Billy added: "It's been a beautiful three years celebrating our music with THE CULT family around the world. Now it's time to go home and spend time with our own families, and create some new music."

Ian stated: "My deepest gratitude to all who attended and immersed themselves in our world. I am deeply grateful to be connected to our CULT family as we ready ourselves for our final five shows for some time, and we take the opportunity to dive deeper into our next creative adventures. More shall be revealed. Blessings to you all."

Remaining DEATH CULT/THE CULT shows:

October 24 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl
October 25 - Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October 27 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
October 29 - Del Mar, CA @ The Sound
October 30 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Shrine Auditorium

DEATH CULT laid the groundwork for the band we now know as THE CULT, and in 2023, to mark the band's 40th anniversary, Astbury and Duffy, along with John Tempesta on bass and Charlie Jones on drums, revived DEATH CULT for a special run of shows.

Out on January 16, 2026, "Paradise Live" is a 16-track live album that documents this rebirth of DEATH CULT. Recorded at the iconic Albert Hall in Duffy's hometown of Manchester on November 18, 2023, the release, which features no overdubs, will be available on 2LP, CD, and digitally. Two editions of the vinyl will be available: a black splatter edition available exclusively from the band's webstore, and a white splatter edition will be available everywhere else.

As New Noise Magazine wrote, "Ian and Duffy are brothers in musical cause and are counterparts to a quintessential era of gothic new wave or first wave Camden-era punk. DEATH CULT were the brothers of THE CLASH and SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES. They were in the scene."

THE CULT's first incarnation was SOUTHERN DEATH CULT, formed in 1981, releasing their sole, self-titled album posthumously in 1983. That same year, DEATH CULT formed, with Astbury joining forces with Duffy for a musical partnership that has endured for more than 40 years. DEATH CULT became THE CULT in 1984, releasing "Dreamtime" that same year.

Ian and Billy initially weren't sure how many shows they would do as DEATH CULT, but the post-punk gothic futurists decided to listen to the requests to keep the fervor going. The next leg of shows begins tonight in Niagara Falls and continues to October 30 in Los Angeles. These truly special evenings will have DEATH CULT opening for THE CULT.

THE CULT has enjoyed numerous international and U.S. gold and platinum certifications. Astbury and Duffy have released 11 studio albums over THE CULT's 40-year career. The band found international renown with the 1985 album "Love", which featured the enduring rock anthem "She Sells Sanctuary", as well as the oft-heard follow-up single "Rain". "Electric" arrived in 1987, with Rolling Stone saying the collection of songs (particularly "Love Removal Machine", "Wild Flower" and "Lil' Devil") "swaggers, crunches and howls." Most recently, THE CULT released "Under The Midnight Sun". Mojo, in a review of the eight-song album, said "rock's unquenchable melodramatists have the fire in their eyes still."

During this past Friday's (October 17) "Tribute To Ace Frehley" episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick spoke about the band's original axeman Ace Frehley who died on October 16 at the age of 74. Asked by host Eddie Trunk if it "meant a lot" to him to know that Ace "had a lot of respect" for how he handled the KISS gig, Bruce said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[I had] a tremendous feeling of accomplishment to have him support how I played, what my role in KISS was. Of course it's gonna be different to Tommy [Thayer, latter-era KISS guitarist] being the Spaceman. We understand that. And Vinnie [Vincent, former KISS guitarist] I'm not sure he had any opinion of. But I kept hearing from people that were close to him that he always said really wonderful things to me. And we got closer more in the last three to four years doing some events together. We did 'The Vault' together with Gene [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist] when he presented 'The Vault' and then a couple of those Creatures Fest gigs that we performed together. And then the KISS Kruise, and we actually jammed together. I shouldn't forget 'Unplugged', which is coming up on a big 30th anniversary."

Kulick continued: "I didn't really know Ace, but I so much respected… You gotta understand when I joined the band, and I hope everybody understands that I was asked to be flashy, be '80s rock. And we all know that Ace was a player that was very unique. He was closer to a Jimmy Page that it wasn't all flash; it was melody, and [his solos] were like another song within a song. Now, as my tenure with KISS increased through the years and we'd go deeper into the catalog, I wouldn't reinterpret his solo. And by the time of 'Unplugged', playing them on acoustic, some of those deep tracks, I was just playing, as note for note as I could do, what Ace played. So my respect for him as a player and how special he was for the KISS music just grew and grew and grew. And I think he knew I respected him and I wasn't trying to outshine him or something. There was no way. I was always aware of that shadow of his iconic nature in KISS."

Bruce went on to say that he was aware Frehley was likely not going to recover from a second fall he had around October 3, resulting in the cancelation of Ace's gigs for the remainder of the year.  "I didn't talk about it, but the KISS guys knew," he said. "I was informed and not to talk to anybody. The privacy of a family is imperative with this. With anybody's illness or death, they get to choose how that is handled. And for me to know any day now [we would get the news of Ace's death], and I want the listeners to understand the torture of that. When are we gonna get that news? So, in a way I was mourning the whole time, but when it actually was real, it was just completely awful. And it hit me harder than I ever thought, really."

In a November 2024 interview with Loaded Radio, Bruce was asked why he wasn't ever approached to rejoin the band after Ace left for good back in 2001. He responded: "That's a great question. And not everyone's aware of some of the backstory. I would hear things about them having problems with Ace and Ace was getting erratic or difficult. And Tommy Thayer was actually tour managing with them; he was on the road with them. Because even during my era, he was involved with the band, helping with 'Kisstory' and doing things for the group. He wrote some songs with Gene and was always part of the inner circle, shall I say. So from what I understood, there was one or two things that KISS did — not a concert, even though once Ace was almost not gonna make it and they made Tommy get the outfit on. [He had a] similar build — tall and thin — and Ace made it to the show. But there were a couple of other things they needed to do. I believe 'That '70s Show', when they were taping, Ace didn't show up. 'Tommy, get the outfit on.' And then I think there was a private gig, too, that no one would really know about — one of those things where you go to an island and play for some rich people. And Ace wouldn't go. And KISS wasn't gonna say, 'All right, we're not gonna take the gig.' So if they ever had a thought of me, I think they would have known that that probably would have been a lot harder. Tommy was younger, there already, if you know what I mean, working with them. And Tommy, not everybody knows that he was in a tribute band for fun at times called COLD GIN as Ace Frehley."

Bruce continued: "So if they would have went to me, I can't say I absolutely would have said 'no.' I miss being in KISS. I do realize it would have kind of pooped on my era because then I'd have to kind of play the role of the 'Spaceman' and shoot rockets and play more like Ace. I was never given that direction from Gene and Paul, where Tommy knew that it actually was more comfortable with his natural style of guitar playing. He wasn't a Floyd Rose, play-some-flashy-riffs king of the mountain. So I never felt like they made the wrong choice — ever. I always felt that was the right way to go 'cause then Tommy could assume the role of the Spaceman in the group. Eric [Singer, KISS drummer] sometimes gets some criticism, like Tommy has, but Eric being behind the drums and having five years in the band without the makeup, maybe he gets a little less. Neither of them really deserve criticism because they're talented players doing a great job. And it was Gene and Paul's choice to say, 'And now you're the Catman,' 'And now you're the Spaceman.' It wasn't [Tommy and Eric] saying, 'Please, I wanna be the Spaceman.' And to new generations, Tommyis the Spaceman. Even though Eric has a lot of credibility from 'Revenge' and 'MTV Unplugged' and 'Carnival Of Souls' and all the work that we did together for those five years. So, I actually kind of lost the big gig on many levels for the right reasons though. And I was never fired the first time. It was simply, 'Well, we're making all this money. Now we're selling out from arenas to stadiums in makeup.' So my era ran its course."

In 1984, Bruce joined KISS, where he remained as their lead guitarist for twelve years, accompanying the band on the "Animalize" tour and continuing with the band until the 1996 reunion tour. Bruce is heavily featured on "Kissology – Vol. 2" and "Vol. 3", the band's DVDs spanning their historic 45-year career.

In an April 2020 interview with Sleaze Roxx, Kulick said that he was "relieved" he wasn't approached to rejoin the band after Frehley left for good back in 2001.

"When I had to leave in '96 after the success of the KISS 'Unplugged' performance, people were aware of the musicianship that existed in the band between Eric Singer [drums] and I, but after 20 years of people hearing about KISS in makeup, it was kind of like 'Star Wars' when it was rebooted people went to see what it was all about," he said. "I understood that it was the original guys, they put the makeup on and people were excited to either see it again or see it for the first time. That carried on, then it carried on and it carried on. [Laughs] It then reached a point where Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] couldn't continue with Peter [Criss] so they called on Eric Singer to step into the role and the makeup.

"Eric is such a tremendous drummer," he continued. "I was genuinely happy for him. I still am. Then when Ace started dropping the ball, it was seamless for them to go with Tommy Thayer who does such a fantastic job as the 'Spaceman.'

"If I had been asked to step into the 'Spaceman' role, it would have been really awkward for me. I get asked by the fans a lot, 'Well, why aren't you there?' I think Tommy stepping into the role was a lot more natural than Bruce Kulick becoming the 'Spaceman' and shooting rockets off of my guitar. I would have had to play the songs note for note like Ace. I don't think I could do that and remain happy in the band. Tommy does that to perfection. I was never required to learn the classic stuff note for note, but if you're going to be the 'Spaceman,' it would have to stay true to the way Ace plays it. That's not to say that I don't play the classic songs with respect. I play the GRAND FUNK RAILROAD songs with respect, while injecting my own style into them, like I did in my time in KISS. I would lose my 'liberties' if I stepped into the 'Spaceman' role.

"I'm friends with Tommy, Bruce added. "We've gotten closer over the years on the 'Kiss Kruise'. We've spoken a lot on the 'Kruise'. He once said to me, 'Hey, I never got into the Floyd Rose whammy bar thing. How do you play 'Crazy Nights'?' I said, 'Don't worry about it. Play it how you play it. It's what works for you. I don't take any offense and you don't need to copy how I do it.'

"Tommy's style is so much closer to Ace's than mine. I have a unique style to my approach you can hear it on 'Tears Are Falling', 'Who Wants To Be Lonely', 'Unholy' and even the acoustic solo on 'Forever'. I am proud of my body of work for that era of KISS. I'm embracing it. The fans are embracing it. It's all good."

Kulick went on to say that he is at peace with the fact that he will never be part of the makeup era of KISS.

"I was relieved [when they didn't ask me to step in after Ace left]," he said. "I think if I had been asked and done it, I think it would hurt. I know that Tommy and Eric avoid… I'm close to both but I'm closer with Eric. They avoid reading things online. Their best medicine is to just do a great job every night and not read that stuff. I'm shocked that sometimes someone will leave a snarky comment toward me. I'm, like, 'Really?' I don't get into that stuff and I don't like anything negative on social media and I never do or post anything negative. I won't allow anything negative. There's times I read something and I choose to ignore it. Everyone has a voice these days. They have a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone.

"I was relieved, but how could I not have 'entertained' the idea if I was asked? At the time when they swooped Tommy right in, I was already in GRAND FUNK RAILROAD and I was and still am pretty happy with my role in the band. Sure, it wasn't KISS, but it's a great gig. Now think of it from this angle. Let's say they made the right proposition and I took it, then Ace wanted back into the band. Where would that have left me? No KISS gig and no gig in GRAND FUNK."

In some of his recent interviews, Bruce once again confirmed that he wasn't asked to perform at KISS's final show and wasn't invited to attend the event, which was held last December at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

With everyone still feeling the impact of the sudden death of Ace Frehley, I started collecting all the photos and...

Posted by Bruce Kulick on Monday, October 20, 2025

Silver Lining Music will release "No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" on November 14. The third single from the all-star compilation is TESTAMENT's cover of METALLICA's "Seek & Destroy".

"We had fun covering METALLICA's song 'Seek & Destroy'," comments TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy. "Songs like this started a movement."

The first single from "No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" was THE ALMIGHTY's blistering, full-throttle cover of METALLICA's legendary "The Four Horsemen", THE ALMIGHTY's first recorded work with their founding lineup since 1991, chosen by the band as both a nod to their roots and a declaration of intent.

THE ALMIGHTY guitarist Ricky Warwick commented: "'The Four Horsemen' by METALLICA got us back into the studio with the original lineup for the first time since 1991… Unbelievable.

"When the opportunity presented itself, it was really a no-brainer. METALLICA has been a huge influence for us. It was a bit nerve-racking because we had not been in the studio for such a long time. We did the whole thing in a day and a half with as much power and passion as you would expect from THE ALMIGHTY. It is such a powerful track. I think it turned out great, make sure you turn it up really, really loud!"

Watch THE ALMIGHTY's video for the band's cover of "The Four Horsemen", edited by Freakshot Film, below.

The second single from the all-star compilation is former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson's monumental cover of METALLICA's instrumental epic "(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth".

Ellefson comments: "It was a total honor to be asked to participate in this album, especially to record the iconic bass composition '(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth' by the one and only Cliff Burton [late METALLICA bassist]. I was able to borrow one of Cliff's Aria Pro signature bass guitars and signature Morley fuzz/wah pedal for the session to replicate his sharp-yet-thunderous tone he created on the original recording. It is my hope that this homage will highlight Cliff's larger-than-life personality and that his music will always live on through this unique and iconic song he gave to the world."

Ellefson and Dave Mustaine formed MEGADETH in 1983, after Mustaine got kicked out of METALLICA. METALLICA recruited Kirk Hammett and went on to record its debut album, "Kill 'Em All", later that year, while Ellefson and Mustaine began work on MEGADETH's first LP, "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!"

During a 2019 ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE conversation with moderator Ryan J. Downey at the MI Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Ellefson was asked if Burton was an inspiration on his bass playing during MEGADETH's formative years. Ellefson responded: " I met Dave [Mustaine] in June of 1983. He had just left METALLICA literally not more than eight weeks before that, in April. So I didn't know anything about METALLICA, didn't know who Dave was, heard nothing about Cliff Burton — knew nothing about it, coming from the Midwest. And I didn't know anything about Cliff. And because the only recording Dave had of METALLICA was 'No Life 'Til Leather', and that had another bass player on it named Ron McGovney. So when we did a cover of 'Mechanix', I played Ron McGovney's basslines."

He continued: "Really, quite honestly, my METALLICA bass player was Ron, believe it or not, and I kind of modeled what we did off of that 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo. And I remember the day when 'Kill 'Em All' and we sat… There was complete silence in the room, and we sat and we listened to the album. And the differences — tempos were pulled back. And obviously the bass solo, 'Anesthesia'. That was really my first experience hearing Cliff. And at that point, we were two months into… MEGADETH was well on its way.

"So, long answer to your short question is I didn't really have an influence [from Cliff]… That was not where my influence came from. And quite honestly, growing up in a rural area of Minnesota, bass players in rock and roll were cool, but when I started hearing some jazz players… Those guys were more of my influence, along with Steve Harris [IRON MAIDEN] and Geddy Lee [RUSH] and Ian Hill [JUDAS PRIEST] and the metal guys. But, for me, I went more into the jazz world… But those were the things that I brought in, and I think that made, me and Dave, our participation together with the MEGADETH sound something that was… And even then with Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland — they were jazz-fusion musicians. We really had a very different sound — different even from ANTHRAX, from METALLICA, from SLAYER — a very different sound. And I think that probably is what sort of set us apart as our own pillar of the 'Big Four.'"

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" is a colossal celebration of the most propulsive debut album in heavy metal history, reimagined by the legends who inspired it and the generations that came in its wake!

The veteran likes of SAXON, DIAMOND HEAD and MOTÖRHEAD — three of METALLICA's favorite bands — are joined by rising stars such as TAILGUNNER and Swedish prog metallers SOEN to create a who's who of heavy music, with each performer lending their unique sound to one classic track. Contributions from thrash giants TESTAMENT, ex-MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal linchpins TYGERS OF PAN TANG show the label looking beyond their own artists to amass the greatest lineup possible. Joining the superstar lineup are the legendary RAVEN (closing with the thundering anthemic "Metal Militia") who were part of METALLICA's first-ever tour, 1983's famous "Kill 'Em All For One" venture.

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" is an ambitious achievement worthy of METALLICA's game-changing legacy. By the fans and for the fans, it reaffirms the Four Horsemen's ironclad status — and its stacked roster continues the band's mission to shove metal up your ass.

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.

"No Life 'Til Leather - A Tribute To Metallica's Kill 'Em All" track listing:

01. Hit The Lights - TAILGUNNER
02. The Four Horsemen - THE ALMIGHTY
03. Motorbreath - SOEN
04. Jump In The Fire - TYGERS OF PAN TANG
05. (Anesthesia - Pulling Teeth - DAVID ELLEFSON
06. Whiplash - MOTÖRHEAD
07. Phantom Lord - SAXON
08. No Remorse - DIAMOND HEAD
09. Seek & Destroy - TESTAMENT
10. Metal Militia - RAVEN

DIAMOND HEAD's version of METALLICA's "No Remorse" was originally included on a reimagined and re-recorded version of DIAMOND HEAD's "Lightning To The Nations" album, which was released in 2020 via Silver Lining Music.

"I wanted to cover a song from METALLICA's debut album, 'Kill 'Em All'," DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler explained, "partly because METALLICA covered songs from DIAMOND HEAD's debut album 'Lightning To The Nations' and it felt like things have come full circle to me. None of the band members knew how to play any of the songs from 'Kill 'Em All', and I eventually decided we should all learn 'No Remorse'. Then when we got into the rehearsal room, we played 'No Remorse' and immediately it just sounded great; it was very 'DIAMOND HEAD' and it really suited us as a band. Of the four covers we ended up doing, 'No Remorse' sounded the best straight away. I've seen METALLICA live over twenty times and they don't play 'No Remorse' very often, but it's always great when they do."

Back in December 2011, SAXON's Biff Byford joined METALLICA on stage for the first of four intimate shows at the 1,200-capacity Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only. The iconic metal vocalist performed the SAXON classic "Motorcycle Man" with METALLICA.

It wasn't the first time Biff and METALLICA had surprised their fans with a live rendition of the song: in 2009, Byford joined the San Francisco heavy metal giants in Paris, at Palais Omnisport de Bercy.

METALLICA's second-ever gig was opening for SAXON, and Biff has been a longtime friend of the California band; like many other seminal bands of the genre, METALLICA always recognized SAXON as one of their main influences.

When METALLICA played Sheffield Arena on February 28, 2009, they invited as VIP guests former SAXON members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson.

There has always been a strong link between the pioneering MOTÖRHEAD and mighty METALLICA. A unique bond of friendship between the two has stood over the decades, with METALLICA even playing Lemmy's 50th birthday party in 1995. In turn, MOTÖRHEAD have paid homage to some of METALLICA's finest compositions, even winning a Grammy Award for their cover of "Whiplash" in 2004.

METALLICA paid tribute to MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy on its 2016 album "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out less than a year after the iconic rocker's death.

Shortly after Lemmy's passing, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich penned a lengthy tribute to the MOTÖRHEAD mainman in which looked back on the influence Lemmy had not just on METALLICA but also on him personally.

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal" podcast, hosted by Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel, SIX FEET UNDER vocalist Chris Barnes spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's upcoming album. The follow-up to last year's "Killing For Revenge" is tentatively due in early 2026 via Metal Blade Records.  Barnes said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the new album's done. I finished vocals last week down in Miami, at the Criteria [studios]."

Regarding what fans can expect from the new SIX FEET UNDER LP, Chris said: "It's a really interesting album… Well, me and Jack [Owen, SIX FEET UNDER guitarist] wrote the songs on this… This time he wrote half of the lyrics on the album; I wrote the other half. And that's been really interesting for me too, to collaborate as a lyricist with someone… So me and Jack collaborated on [CANNIBAL CORPSE's debut album] 'Eaten Back To Life', on [the song] 'Shredded Humans'. And his writing style and his storytelling is very immersive as well. And I love the way Jack writes. He's been a really amazing addition to SIX FEET UNDER as far as progressing the band and keeping things interesting."

He continued: "This album, it encompasses just a lot of everything we've done. I mean, even going back to 'Haunted', there are some songs that are very rhythmic and I think more on the simple, straightforward side. And then there's some songs that are very thrashy, which kind of came into play on the last album, on 'Killing For Revenge', where they're more thrashy-based type of death metal. And then there's some songs — one of the songs really reminds me of like something we would've done on 'The Bleeding' when I was in CANNIBAL CORPSE, when [Jack and I] were both in CANNIBAL CORPSE. So it's really, really cool."

Regarding the production of the upcoming SIX FEET UNDER LP, Barnes said: "We haven't mixed the album yet; that starts next month in November. Mark Lewis is gonna be mixing this album. So we're gonna be working with him again. We haven't worked with him since 'Undead' and 'Unborn'. And I really liked his mix that he did on — he did the new DYING FETUS record, but the last one, I was really, really a fan of that. And we actually reconnected on SIX FEET UNDER's tour earlier this past year — it was January, February 2025 here when we were in Nashville and we talked backstage and we had a really good conversation. So it was sticking with me for a few months after that, like, 'Man, I just really love that production he did on the FETUS album and it'd be great to work with him again.' So I kind of connected with him after that tour, a couple of months after, and he was, like, 'Oh, man, I'm down. Let's do this.' So he's really open to explore the production and the mix in an interesting way so that it complements these songs, 'cause they are very diverse from each other."

He added: "I don't like blanket productions. I think I mentioned to you years ago, I was, like, how come one song can't have one production, like with a different snare sound, for instance? And why can't that song have another sound to it on the same album? And I understand there has to be some cohesiveness throughout the album. I'm a big fan of making each song its own entity. We're not gonna go so far with it like that, but I've always respected bands and albums and producers that have been able to do that and not just do a blanket production to make it sound more organic, I guess."

A month ago, SIX FEET UNDER canceled its previously announced "Midnight In Hell" tour with EXHORDER, WRETCHED and INCITE "due to unforeseen circumstances". The trek was scheduled to launch on September 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana and conclude on October 25 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

"Killing For Revenge" came out in May 2024 through Metal Blade Records. The LP marked the second effort that Barnes and Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) had created together since reuniting for 2020's "Nightmares Of The Decomposed". Owen also produced "Killing For Revenge".

SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, CANNIBAL CORPSE. It became the frontman's sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, "Haunted". Only Barnes remains from SIX FEET UNDER's original incarnation, but the quality has remained remarkably consistent. The current lineup of Barnes, guitarists Owen and Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit.

While Barnes is the sole remaining member, SIX FEET UNDER is about more than he and Owen. The singer is thrilled with the current lineup, and what each member brings to the table. "Jeff and Marco have been with me for about 10 years," Barnes said in last year's press release. "I'm really fortunate that I have probably the best musicians in metal. If you look at it, we have the same amount of original members as CANNIBAL CORPSE. Jeff is a killer bass player. Marco's probably the best drummer out there. Jack's the greatest songwriter I've ever been involved with over the 30-plus years I've been doing music professionally. And Ray is just a phenomenal guitarist who can play everything from jazz to death metal. The lineup now is untouchable."

"Killing For Revenge", which featured a guest appearance by guitarist Jason Suecof on "Neanderthal", was mixed and mastered by Chaz Najjar at Badlands Recording in Denver, Colorado. The record was released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl.

SIX FEET UNDER is:

Chris Barnes - vocals
Jack Owen - rhythm guitar
Ray Suhy - lead guitar
Jeff Hughell - bass
Marco Pitruzzella - drums

On August 15, 2025, just five days before the tragic death of ex-MASTODON guitarist Brent Hinds, MASTODON guitarist Bill Kelliher was interviewed by Niels Guns of the Sixty Scales And The Truth podcast at the Dynamo Metalfest in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. During the chat, which has just been uploaded to YouTube, Kelliher stated about MASTODON's current lineup, which includes the band's latest addition, Canadian musician Nick Johnston (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We have gone through a lot of changes in the past, I guess this year, but all for the good. We are the strongest band we've ever been right now. And this is on every level — writing, touring, performing, just being friends and hanging out. Honestly, it's like being in a relationship with someone for so long that was not really something you were that stoked about anymore. Relationships get old — it happens — and you get a new wife maybe or a new girlfriend or something. That's the only way I can really relate it to, but it's a genesis of just a new band. We are just all firing on the same level finally. And it's the band I've always wanted to be in, and it's finally here. So we're just taking full advantage of it."

On the topic of Johnston, who is known for his catchy, melody-driven instrumental music, Bill said: "He is fricking good. And more importantly, he's just very humble and he is very extremely excited to be where he is with us. And he fits right in with us. And we're all pretty laid-back guys and don't take ourselves too seriously. Our music, I live and breathe MASTODON every day. But Nick is surely becoming one of those same people. At first it was weird, honestly, it was different, 'cause he's not the guy that's been there for 25 years, but he's quickly adapting to fit right in with us. And we're writing together like crazy. And he's just always so excited about going on. He's like a kid in a candy store when he goes on stage. He's, like, 'Yeah, I can't wait to get out there and grab the candy.'"

Regarding how MASTODON ended up recruiting Nick as the replacement for Brent, Bill said: "We found him — I believe he was doing some overdub guitar work with Brendon Small from DETHKLOK out in L.A. years ago. And I think Brann [Dailor, MASTODON drummer/vocalist] was out there visiting with Brendon, who is a friend of ours, and he heard Nick in the studio, and he was, like, 'God, who is that guy? That guy's really, really good.' And he just started thinking, if something ever happens, then maybe we could play with that guy someday, I think. And it just sort of [evolved from there]."

Kelliher went on to say that it was important for MASTODON to find someone who had musical chemistry with the other guys in the band but was also a good fit on a personal level. "Your heart has to be into what you're doing, especially if you're an artist," he explained. "You can't just get up there and fake it. I know if I were to fake it, if I didn't wanna do this anymore, I would stop doing it. But I love my band and I love all the hard work we've put into it. It pays off. Every day you have to do something positive for your band."

Touching upon MASTODON's split with Hinds, Kelliher said: "People go in separate paths. And sometimes you're doing something for the wrong reasons. It's just like being in a relationship with someone. You wanna get divorced, but you don't know how to do it. You don't know how to tell them. It's kind of similar."

Referencing Brent directly, Bill said: "I honestly just wish the best for that guy. I just hope he can find what he likes to do, and we're gonna keep on doing what we like to do."

Bill also revealed that MASTODON's upcoming follow-up to 2021's "Hushed And Grim" album will feature songwriting contributions from Johnston, who hails from Toronto and released his seventh solo album, "Child Of Bliss", in 2024.

"Well, we're kind of still in the writing process," Kelliher said. "Honestly, I've been writing for the new record since 'Hushed And Grim'. Even before 'Hushed And Grim' was finished, I still had extra songs, and then I just keep writing more and more and more. So now we've got, like, 20-some ideas. 'Cause I own a studio as well — not just the one in my basement, but I have a proper studio. So we'll demo the stuff at my house and we bring it to my studio with my engineer, and then we bring in Nick and João ['Rasta' Nogueira], the keyboard player, and we start jamming the songs and say, 'You wanna add something? Please add whatever you want in here.'

"It's only been a slow kind of process because you take one song a day and you've got 20 songs, it's taken 20 days and we've been touring and we've been busy," Bill continued. "We're in a good place, though. I feel like the stuff that I've written, mostly Brann and me, it's really good. It still needs the touch of the other guys, but there's also these whole new songs that Nick is bringing in, like, 'Hey, I've got this whole song.' I'm, like, 'Okay, cool. This is great.' So it's a combination of both. It won't be until the next record, after this one, I think, where it really will be more of kind of more Nick being in there. He's gonna be in the new record, for sure, yes. But he's writing like crazy. I'm writing like crazy. It's like a race. I don't know — not a race, and not a competition either — but we're just so full of energy. We just don't wanna get lost. I'm, like, Let's concentrate on the songs that we have that we had before Nick joined and get those out with their help.' And then it'll be more of a cohesive, like, 'Oh, this is definitely… Part A is Nick and part B is Bill and part C is Brann and part D is Troy [Sanders, MASTODON bassist/vocalist].' You know what I mean? It's a little lopsided still, because he's only just joined the band. But it's still gonna be fucking awesome. I'm so excited. Everything that we've been demoing is incredible."

He added: "I just feel like we've been given a booster shot of adrenaline, like, 'Kaboom!' It's kind of a clean slate. Now we can really open our minds and really just kind of write whatever we feel like writing without worrying about what another person's gonna think. Because that was a real challenge for a long time, and now I feel like it's just like a new, fresh start. It's the easiest way to put it."

Hinds died in a motorcycle crash on August 20. Brent was reportedly riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he was hit by an SUV turning left and failing to yield at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE, less than two miles from downtown Atlanta, according to Atlanta police. Hinds was found unresponsive by officers who responded to the crash and was pronounced dead by medical workers.

In March, MASTODON revealed that the band and Hinds had "mutually decided to part ways" after "25 monumental years together."

Since 2000, Hinds had served as lead guitarist and vocalist for MASTODON, alongside Sanders, Dailor and Kelliher.

MASTODON's lineup had remained the same for 25 years, recording eight studio albums, beginning with 2002's "Remission" until the band's latest LP, 2021's "Hushed And Grim".

Hinds later claimed he had been ejected from MASTODON and called his former bandmates "horrible humans" in a social media post.

MASTODON has had nine Billboard 200-charting albums and has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times. The band won a "Best Metal Performance" Grammy for "Sultan's Curse" in 2018.

MASTODON's latest album, "Hushed And Grim", was a double LP recorded at the band's Atlanta studio, West End Sound.

MASTODON recruited Ben Eller, a guitarist known for his popular YouTube channel, to step in for Hinds when the band played at TOOL's "Tool In The Sand" festival in the Dominican Republic in March. For MASTODON's spring 2025 tour and other recent shows, the band enlisted Johnston, who has also worked with POLYPHIA, Guthrie Govan, PERIPHERY and many others.

IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith spoke to Germany's Metal Hammer about the newly released book "Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams - The Official Visual History". Available now via Thames & Hudson, "Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams - The Official Visual History" is described in a press release as "a magnificent visual celebration of the first 50 years of IRON MAIDEN, chronicl[ing] the evolution of heavy metal's most prestigious band, with unparalleled input from band members and management."

Regarding MAIDEN's 1981 split with singer Paul Di'Anno and addition of Bruce Dickinson, Adrian said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Bruce is a very different character to Paul. He was very focused on his craft. He was a singer and he took care of his voice. Bruce is Bruce, and he was probably a bit more professional. He was a powerhouse. Bruce could sing six nights in a row and just keep going and going and going. So that enabled the band to progress and tour and keep going."

Asked if drummer Nicko McBrain's addition to IRON MAIDEN in December 1982 for the 1983 "Piece Of Mind" album and tour, replacing Clive Burr, had an impact on his guitar playing, Adrian said: "Yes, it did. Nick is a show in his own, [with a] very distinctive style. I suppose, yeah, whoever you're playing with affects your playing. Nick, probably at one time, I thought he was probably technically the best player in the band, because he had all the flashy chops, as they call 'em. So, Nicko, yeah, he definitely made his mark, didn't he?"

Regarding Nicko's December 2024 announcement that he was retiring from touring with MAIDEN and Simon Dawson's addition as McBrain's replacement, Adrian said:  "Yeah, it was never gonna be the same. Obviously, Nick was a massive part. He's a big personality. It would never be the same. But it was unfortunate. He had a stroke and physically there's nothing he could do about it, really. He tried — we all tried to help him."

He continued: "I think the MAIDEN drumming gig is one of the hardest, physically. For two hours live you've gotta be really, really on the front foot. And, yeah, he did great to get through those [last couple of] tours, and it was quite amazing — a tribute to him, really. And he was incredible over the years. A lot of people loved him. Well, we all loved him — Well, we still do. [Laughs] And he'll always be a part of the band, even now. So [it was] very sad. Simon's come in, and he knows Nick was a massive part of it. But Nick gave him his blessing and wished him luck. He said to me — I still talk to Nick — he said, 'Good luck for the tour' and everything. 'Cause he still wants the band to do well because he still feels like he's a bit of a part of it, and he is, really. But it's nice to keep the music alive. It's bigger than all of us, really, I think, is to get out there and keep that thing, whatever it is, out there and going."

"Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams - The Official Visual History" has been described as "a truly spectacular and beautiful book, featuring never-before-seen items and photographs, which have been curated with enormous attention to detail over a number of years, it celebrates one of Britain's most influential and biggest-selling bands, who have become arguably the biggest metal band in the world."

Organized chronologically, "Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams" tells the story of the band from their first pub gigs in 1975 and their first record deal in 1979, through the recording and reception of groundbreaking albums, including their self-titled debut, 1982's global breakthrough "The Number Of The Beast" and the stadium-conquering "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son", to 2021's hugely acclaimed double-album "Senjutsu" and the forthcoming "Run For Your Lives" world tour.

The book traces the evolution of IRON MAIDEN's iconic Eddie mascot, alongside exclusive comments from his creator Derek Riggs, and documents the band's spectacular and complex stage productions and extensive live tours, including the "Somewhere Back In Time" world tour of 2008, which made international headlines as Bruce Dickinson piloted the band's very own Ed Force One 757.

Presenting iconic album and single artworks, photographs of the band's instruments past and present, stage props, hand-written lyrics and artefacts from the archive and the band's personal collections, as well as landmark photographs by Ross Halfin, John McMurtrie and more, "Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams" is rife with revelatory stories and intriguing insights from pivotal band members and management. It is bookended by a foreword from bassist and band founder Steve Harris and an afterword by vocalist Bruce Dickinson.

Harris said: "I've been pleasantly surprised at some of the stuff that I've managed to unearth for this book. I knew I had kept a lot of things from the early days but they have lasted really well and the photography has brought them back to life. I hope the fans are going to love looking at all the stuff presented like this! It's the right time to bring it all together for part of our 50th celebrations."

Tristan de Lancey, creative director at Thames & Hudson, comments: "IRON MAIDEN is an institution. Hailed as pioneers of British heavy metal in the 1980s, the band has come to embody a spirit of fearless creative independence and ferocious dedication to their fans that has won them a huge following around the world and across generations. With astonishing archival access and more meticulous, hands-on participation from the band than I ever thought possible, we have been gifted the tools to create something beautiful, comprehensive and unique which, I have no doubt, raises the bar for illustrated books in this music genre. Every page will surprise and delight its audience — just don't expect metal fans to be the only ones who buy it…!"

"Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams - The Official Visual History" has been curated by Ben Smallwood and co-edited by Alexander Milas and Terry Burrows, incorporating contributions by band members and creatives past and present.

Tristan de Lancey acquired world all languages rights for Thames & Hudson from Oliver Stanton at Global Merchandising Services. Thames & Hudson has sold rights in six countries thus far: in France to Editions du Chêne (Hachette Livre); in Germany to Prestel Verlag (Penguin Random House); in Japan to Kawade Shobo Shinsha; in Spain to Libros Cúpula (Grupo Planeta); in Brazil to Belas Letras; and in Italy to Rizzoli Lizard (Gruppo Mondadori). The book will be published by Thames & Hudson in the U.K., U.S. and Australia.