STRYPER's Michael Sweet and FOZZY's Chris Jericho have criticized a U.S. Congressman's "light-hearted" attempt to be inclusive on Sunday, when he wrapped up a prayer in the House of Representatives with the words "Amen and awomen," saying it was "a perfect example of going way too far."

Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a United Methodist pastor from Kansas City, delivered the opening prayer for the 117th Congress and ended it by saying, "We ask it in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and 'god' known by many names, by many different faiths. Amen and awoman."

The word "Amen" comes from the Hebrew language, in which it means "certainty," "truth" and "so be it," according to the etymology explained in various dictionaries.

Earlier today, Sweet took to his Instagram to share the headline "Democrat's opening prayer ends with 'amen and a-woman'', and he included the following message: "As we should fight for ALL rights and respect ALL people, we should also respect the dictionary.

"'Amen' has nothing to do with gender, it simply means 'so be it'. That's the definition.

"Adding 'a-women' to the end of a prayer is a perfect example of going way too far. What do you think?"

A number of people weighed in with their opinions, including Jericho, who wrote simply: "Agreed".

Several Republican lawmakers took to Twitter to slam Cleaver for the ending, with one calling Cleaver's prayer "Political Correctness gone way off the rails." Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich called it "radical madness," while Donald Trump, Jr. poked fun at the episode, tweeting, "Awoman, Amen, and a Priest Walk into a bar..."

Cleaver told Snopes the pun was meant to underscore the fact that there is a record number of women serving in the new Congress and a first female chaplain of the House of Representatives.

"I am deeply disappointed that my prayer has been misinterpreted and misconstrued by some to fit a narrative that stokes resentment and greater division among portions of our population," he said in a statement. "I believe prayers to be a personal conversation between El Shaddai and the invocator. With this conversation, in the presence of the 117th House of Representatives, I concluded with a light-hearted pun in recognition of the record number of women who will be representing the American people in Congress during this term as well as in recognition of the first female Chaplain of the House of Representatives whose service commenced this week. I personally find these historic occasions to be blessings from God for which I am grateful.

"Rather than reflecting on my faithful requests for community healing and reversion from our increasingly tribal tendencies, it appears that some have latched on to the final word of this conversation in an attempt to twist my message to God and demean me personally," he continued. "In doing so, they have proven one point of my greater message — that we are all 'soiled by selfishness, perverted by prejudice and inveigled by ideology…'"
























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QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Todd La Torre will release his debut solo album, "Rejoice In The Suffering", on February 5, 2021 via Rat Pak Records. The official music video for the disc's second single, "Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall", can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Florida and features Todd and guitarist Craig Blackwell delivering the punishing track in front of a giant rock wall. The song and video was inspired by rock-climbing documentaries that Todd had watched while recording for the LP. The song further showcases the influence that metal has on La Torre has and continues to surprise fans and critics that know him from his work in QUEENSRŸCHE.

"'Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall' is a full-throttle thrasher," Todd says. "We wanted a no-nonsense, fast-paced shredder, with intense guitar riffs, solos, drumwork, and vocals. This song was inspired by a few different documentaries surrounding two particular near-insurmountable feats of rock climbing. While initially written about those achievements, this song is really meant to represent and embody this very special breed and the spirit of all climbing."

The first single from "Rejoice In The Suffering", a song called "Darkened Majesty", was released in December. The track is a driving metal song complete with furious drumwork from La Torre, dynamic tempo shifts and showcases Todd's vocals in a way most fans have not heard before.

The idea for a solo album was always in the cards for Todd. With QUEENSRŸCHE tour dates postponed indefinitely, the world events offered Todd the opportunity to explore his ideas for the effort. Todd teamed up with longtime friend and collaborator Craig Blackwell, alongside producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris, to create a diverse heavy metal album that draws influence from different styles. These styles will surprise fans who only know La Torre from his previous work with QUEENSRŸCHE or CRIMSON GLORY.

Says Todd: "'Rejoice In The Suffering' was truly a labor of love. It's a pure metal record that certainly showcases a wide range of my vocal abilities. I feel there is something for any true fan of metal on this album. This album is full of groove, dynamics, power, and substance and I can’t wait for people to hear it."

From the album's opening riffs of "Dogmata" to the vocal acrobatics that drive the album closer "Apology", it is apparent that La Torre has a true love of heavy metal. With Todd playing drums and recording the vocals for the album, songs like "Darkened Majesty" and "Critical Cynic" offer an inside look into his musical mind. Blackwell's guitar playing provides the perfect musical accents to La Torre's vocals. Todd even finds vocal wails not heard from him before as showcased on the title track and the punishing "Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall". The deluxe version of the album features three bonus tracks: "Fractured", "Set It Off" and "One By One". Fans can pre-order the album in various bundle configurations here.

"Rejoice In The Suffering" track listing:

01. Dogmata

02. Pretenders

03. Hellbound And Down

04. Darkened Majesty

05. Crossroads To Insanity

06. Critical Cynic

07. Rejoice In The Suffering

08. Vexed

09. Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall

10. Apology

Bonus tracks (deluxe version only)

11. Fractured

12. Set It Off

13. One By One

La Torre previously talked about his plans to release a solo LP in a 2017 interview with Canada's The Metal Voice. He stated about the direction of the material that will appear on the record: "Musically, it is probably, like, FIGHT meets PANTERA meets BLACK LABEL [SOCIETY]. It's definitely got that kind of southern… You know, PANTERA had that certain power groove — not full-fledged [speed], but has thrash elements. And then vocally, I'm singing probably a lot more chest voice, and then I've got some brutal gutteral vocals on it… That'll be a lot more brutal and more thrash, but the vocals are definitely more a power-metal, operatic kind of a thing — very aggressive…"

La Torre joined his first band BLACKWELL as the drummer, performing in high school talent shows and entering into the club rock music scene in Tampa Bay, Florida. In 2009, Todd was suggested to CRIMSON GLORY guitarist Jon Drenning by a mutual friend to help with some vocal rehearsals in preparation for a CRIMSON GLORY memorial concert. This would pave the way for more collaborations with the band, eventually joining as the band’s new permanent vocalist. La Torre was the lead singer for CRIMSON GLORY from late 2010 until resigned from the band in early 2013. In 2012, Todd became a household name in the metal world when he officially became the new lead vocalist of QUEENSRŸCHE. The band immediately began touring globally and started writing new material for the self-titled 2013 album "Queensrÿche". To date, QUEENSRŸCHE has released three studio albums with La Torre: "Queensrÿche", "Condition Hüman" (2015) and "The Verdict" (2019). Currently the band is writing new material for a fourth release for Century Media Records.

Miley Cyrus has collaborated with Elton John on a cover of METALLICA's "Nothing Else Matters".

The pop star discussed the project during an appearance on the U.K. radio show "Capital Breakfast With Roman Kemp". She said: "I did a METALLICA cover of 'Nothing Else Matters' featuring Elton John on piano. I've got Yo-Yo Ma, Chad Smith — so many all-stars.

"I'm so excited about this collaboration. Andrew Watt produced it, and I'm really stoked. I mean, having Elton John and METALLICA and me — I love it when ingredients don’t quite fit."

Cyrus previously said she was working on an album of METALLICA covers last October.

A year earlier, Miley performed her version of "Nothing Else Matters" at U.K.'s Glastonbury festival.

Cyrus's rendition of the METALLICA classic — which can be heard below — came five months after drummer Lars Ulrich said that he was "stunned" by her take on TEMPLE OF THE DOG's "Say Hello 2 Heaven" at the "I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell" concert at the Forum in Los Angeles.

Back in January 2019, Ulrich took to his Instagram to post a photo of him backstage with Cyrus, along with the message: "Still stunned by your next level version of 'Say Hello 2 Heaven' for Chris! Beyond inspiring."

According to Official Charts, AC/DC's "Power Up", along with classic titles from QUEEN, PINK FLOYD and THE BEATLES, were among the U.K.'s top selling vinyl releases of 2020.

Topping the overall end-of-year vinyl album chart is FLEETWOOD MAC's 1997 effort "Rumours", which sold 32,500 copies on vinyl in the U.K. in 2020. Elsewhere, "Power Up" landed at No. 8, QUEEN's "Greatest Hits" took the No. 7 spot, and PINK FLOYD's "Dark Side Of The Moon" came in at No. 13. The chart also includes two titles from THE BEATLES, "Abbey Road" and "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

"Power Up" hit the No. 1 spot in 18 countries, including in the U.S., where it sold over 117,000 copies in the first week.

In the U.K., "Power Up" opened with first-week sales of 62,000. 52,955 units of these were on a physical format (CD, vinyl, cassette).

AC/DC is the only Australian group in history to have had a No. 1 album in its home country across five decades: "Back In Black" (1980s), "Ballbreaker Live" (1990s), "Black Ice" (2000s), "Rock Or Bust" (2010s) and "Power Up" (2020s).

"Power Up" features AC/DC's 2021 lineup of Brian Johnson (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums), Cliff Williams (bass), Angus Young (guitar) and Stevie Young (guitar). The LP was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O'Brien, who also worked 2008's "Black Ice" and 2014's "Rock Or Bust".

"Power Up" is a tribute to Angus's brother Malcolm Young, who died in 2017 from effects of dementia at age 64. Malcolm is credited as a writer on all 12 tracks on "Power Up", along with Angus.

"Power Up" is available in multiple configurations, including digital, CD, and deluxe versions. The limited-edition, one-of-a-kind deluxe "Power Up" box is the ultimate fan package. Hit the button on the side of the box and watch the flashing neon AC/DC logo light up while the opening bars of "Shot In The Dark" blast out of the built-in speaker. Inside the box is the full CD package in a soft-pack with a 20-page booklet that features exclusive photos and USB charging cable allowing the box to remain powered up and on display. The vinyl LP was pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket. Limited-edition variants of the LP are available at select retailers nationwide, as well as the band's online st

Greg Puciato, whose recent streaming event "Fuck Content" merged the worlds of recording and performance, has released a video for "Don't Wanna Deal", a song whose creation was chronicled in the film.

Puciato said of the new track: "I 'Don't Wanna Deal' with having to come up with something to say about this song or video clip so I'm not gonna."

The 16-track "Fuck Content" album features five new songs not available on Puciato's critically acclaimed solo debut, "Child Soldier: Creator Of God", as well as live versions of ten of the album tracks. While all vinyl variants have now sold out, a collectible Blu-ray is currently available, as are limited-edition, Jesse Draxler-designed merch items. Both the film and album are available digitally, with downloads available directly via the Federal Prisoner webstore, and album streams available across all major platforms.

"Fuck Content" is a reflection of where Puciato is in his post-THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN life. He recently celebrated the release of KILLER BE KILLED's sophomore album, "Reluctant Hero", with the band landing on the covers of both Revolver and Kerrang! The album also debuted atop the iTunes Rock and Metal charts. His solo debut, "Child Soldier: Creator Of God", arrived the previous month, with Consequence Of Sound saying the 15-song album delivers "an experimental yet heavy sound that echoes Puciato's versatility as an artist." Puciato released four videos to accompany the release: "Do You Need Me to Remind You?", "A Pair Of Questions", "Deep Set" and "Fire For Water". In addition to writing and recording two high-profile releases, Puciato surprised fans at the end of last year by joining ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell for a pair of special performances.

On Monday, January 4, the metal world was shocked to hear about the passing of Alexi Laiho, former frontman of CHILDREN OF BODOM, at the age of only 41. As a tribute to both Laiho and late DEATH mainman Chuck Schuldiner, journalist and author Björn "Nalle" Österman thought it would be fitting to release two live recordings sung by Alexi from a memorial concert held in 2002 for Schuldiner that have remained in the vaults — until now.

On March 1, 2002 a memorial concert was held at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for Schuldiner, who passed away from to cancer on December 13, 2001 at the age of only 34. Four bands performed at the event: DIABLO, NORTHER, MORBID DREAM and a Finnish "all-star group" called EVIL CHUCKS, which only played covers of songs from the first three DEATH albums.

Vocals in EVIL CHUCKS were handled by three Finnish golden greats: Taneli Jarva (SENTENCED, POISON WHISKY), Jari Hurskainen (GANDALF, THE SCOURGER) and Laiho, who sang two songs from DEATH's third album, "Spiritual Healing" — "Within My Mind" and "Defensive Personalities".

The full lineup on "Within My Mind" and "Defensive Personalities" is as follows:

* Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM, BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT) - Vocals

* Mitja Harvilahti (MOONSORROW) - Guitar

* Janne Perttilä (MOONSORROW, BARREN EARTH) - Guitar

* Oppu Laine (AMORPHIS, CHAOSBREED, BARREN EARTH) - Bass

* Nalle Österman (GANDALF, CHAOSBREED) – Drums

Laiho died in his home in Helsinki last week. The musician had suffered from long-term health issues in the years leading up to his death.

Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded CHILDREN OF BODOM in 1993, and the band was one of the most internationally acclaimed metal acts in Finland up until their very last farewell concert in December of 2019. Last year, Alexi put together BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, which recorded three songs and shot one music video, to be released posthumously.

Alexi Laiho's wife has thanked his fans for their support, two days after the former CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman's death was made public.

On Tuesday (January 5), Australian-born Kelli Wright-Laiho, who has previously worked as a publicist for various extreme metal bands, took to her Instagram to post a black square, and she wrote in an accompanying message: "Thank you all so much for your beautiful energy and support. I'm taking time out to grieve our enormous loss with our immediate Finnish and Australian family. Understandably, as you are, we're completely broken but wanted you to know, We love and appreciate you all so much."

When Alexi's death was first announced on Monday (January 4), Kelli called him "the most loving and magnificent husband and father."

Laiho died in his home in Helsinki last week. The 41-year-old had suffered from long-term health issues leading up to his death.

Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded CHILDREN OF BODOM in 1993, and the band was one of the most internationally acclaimed metal acts in Finland up until their very last farewell concert in December of 2019. Last year, Alexi put together BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, which recorded three songs and shot one music video, to be released posthumously.

Besides CHILDREN OF BODOM, Laiho had played in such acts as WARMEN, SINERGY, KYLÄHULLUT and THE LOCAL BAND. Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden God and several other international prizes, the guitarist was also the main star, leading a group of one hundred guitar players at the Helsinki Festival in 2015 in "100 Guitars From Hel" — a massive concert piece he composed.

Alexi relished his role as stepdad in his family, and as uncle and godfather. Especially during the last years, the important family ties brought a welcomed balance to his life and the active touring. Laiho was particularly close with his big sister, parents and his sister's daughter.

BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT made its live debut last October at Rytmikorjaamo in Seinäjoki, Finland. The 17-song show consisted entirely of CHILDREN OF BODOM material.

Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henri "Henkka T. Blacksmith" Seppälä (bass) and Janne Wirman (keyboards) announced their departures from CHILDREN OF BODOM in October 2019. Two months later, they confirmed that they were the rightful owners of the CHILDREN OF BODOM brand.
























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In a new interview with Jack Antonio of the "Do You Know Jack?" podcast, legendary DOKKEN and LYNCH MOB guitarist George Lynch spoke about how the rise of grunge in the early 1990s forced most hard rock bands off the radio and MTV, with album and tour sales plummeting.

"Initially, I didn't see it coming," George admitted (hear audio below). "I was just blind to it. And me and the people around me got personally blindsided by it and hurt by it, because we were still working under the assumption that everything was the same as it was in the '80s — we were making records that way, and all that kind of stuff. Not that you should change to conform, or anything like that, but it was a period of adjustment. I was trying to get my head wrapped around it."

He continued: "I'm very open-minded about things and wanna try new stuff and explore music that I'm not familiar with and all that kind of thing. So I was thinking, 'What is it about this that is appealing or good?', or whatever, and I started figuring it out and getting it. You know — don't play guitar solos in the middle of every song, wear a flannel shirt, be depressed and talk about shit that matters. Drop all the trappings of silliness and superficiality. I get it. So it was kind of a learning curve. It affected me in my writing, to a certain extent, a little bit.

"The '90s was really kind of a vacuum for me, and I'm sure most of my contemporaries, as far as guitar music. We all had to kind of take a step back. So it was probably my least productive period — not that I didn't work and wasn't productive, but I was kind of fishing around, so to speak."

Lynch went on to say that he appreciated some of the "nu metal" bands that took over from grunge as the major alternative sound of the late 1990s.

"I had a [record] called 'Smoke This' in the late '90s and 2000 that I should have called LYNCH BIZKIT — [it was] in the LIMP BIZKIT [vein], a little bit," he said. "I loved it; I loved that music. In fact, I think LIMP BIZKIT is a great fucking band, and I'm actually a huge fan. I just caught 'em a few years ago. They were great."

Lynch recently collaborated with his former DOKKEN bandmate Jeff Pilson on a collection of studio recordings that turn pop music classics into metal anthems. Released on December 18, "Heavy Hitters" includes cover versions of such tracks as Carole King's "I Feel The Earth Move", Prince's "Kiss", OASIS's "Champagne Supernova", Madonna's "Music" and R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)".

DOKKEN's classic lineup — Pilson, Lynch, singer Don Dokken and drummer "Wild" Mick Brown — reunited for a short Japanese tour in the fall of 2016. The trek marked the first time in 21 years the four musicians had hit the road together.

Image credit: ESP Guitars

In a new interview with Drew Stone of The New York Hardcore Chronicles, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe reflected on his ordeal in a Czech Republic prison and his subsequent acquittal after he was accused of causing a fan's death by pushing him off stage.

Randy, who is also an author and photographer, said (see video below): "There was a show we played in Prague in 2010, and a young man was injured. He either leapt or was pushed from the stage, hit his head and died a month later. It was a crazy fucking show, and security was not doing their jobs. But we didn't know anything about it — my band didn't. So we showed back up two years later, and I go to the airport in Prague, and I was excited to go shoot some photos. It was a day off. And there were, like, seven people there. We thought someone was there to get a terrorist — [they were] wearing face masks and machine guns and shit. And they hand me a piece of paper saying I was being charged with manslaughter. We were, like, 'What the fuck?' We had no idea anybody was even hurt [at that show].

"So I went to prison for 37 days in the Czech Republic — a prison in Prague called Pankrác. It was, like, 123 years old at that time. It was like being in a MISFITS song, basically. Then I got out on bail, and was out for, I think, eight months maybe, then went back to trial and was found not guilty.

"So that's the long and short of it. It was a really sad time, and it's super tragic that this young man died," Randy added. "But I felt obligated to go back and face trial, because his family never came at me in the press; they just wanted to know what happened to their kid, and I cannot blame them. So I went back and stood trial and was found not guilty."

Blythe went on to say that the Czech judicial system is "very much" different from the one in the U.S. "For instance, when they granted me bail, the bail was almost a quarter million dollars," he explained. "So we borrowed that from the record label. And they were, like, 'We paid bail, [and] you'll be coming home soon.' And I was, like, 'Okay, cool.' And then the prosecuting attorney objected to the conditions of my bail. In America, you're granted bail, and you go. There, they're, like, 'Nope, you're not going.' So they went back to court while I was sitting in prison, and then they were, like, 'Okay, we're still gonna grant you bail, but now it's double.' So now we're up to almost half a million dollars bail, which is not the type of money we have. Luckily, some rather wealthy friends of ours in the music industry loaned us that money. And then I got out, and then went back and went to trial.

"It's different in that there's a judge who's a professional judge, like here, and then there's two, what they call 'lay' judges," he continued. "They're kind of like their version of jurors. So it's three judges. And it's weird — you've gotta get up and tell your side of the story. It's totally different than any American judicial system. So it was kind of a weird, weird time. But I knew I hadn't purposely tried to injure anyone or anything, and I felt that the kid's parents deserved some answers. So I went back and did my best to explain it to 'em."

According to Randy, he spent a month in Prague preparing for the trial. "Because I couldn't use an American lawyer; you have to use a Czech lawyer," he said. "So our band's lawyer went with me to kind of be an intermediary between the Czech lawyers and my lawyer. And we kind of had to explain what a show is like to three judges who all grew up in communist Czechoslovakia before the fall of the Iron Curtain. There was no reference point whatsoever. We had to explain what stage diving was, what moshing was. It was crazy, dude.

"So, it was not a cheap or fun undertaking — it was a difficult time of my life — but it was something I felt obligated to do. Me going to prison for a little while wasn't fun, but it doesn't compare anything to the loss that family felt. So that's something I kept cognizant in my mind at all times."

Blythe's prison experience inspired two songs on LAMB OF GOD's 2015 album "VII: Sturm Und Drang": "512", one of his three prison cell numbers, and "Still Echoes", written while he was in Pankrác, a dilapidated facility built in the 1880s that had been used for executions by the Nazis during World War II. It also led him to write the memoir "Dark Days", in which he shared his whole side of the story publicly for the first time.

"I think artistically, it was a very valid choice to use those two songs because they come from a very real, very dark place," Blythe told the New York Post back in 2015. "I write about things that are impactful for my life that stir up emotion in me, that affect me, that have some sort of impact within my life. Not that going to prison has no impact in my life, but I was out of prison and I felt it would be disingenuous to use it as a creative well to draw from."

LAMB OF GOD's self-titled album was released in June 2019 via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. The follow-up to 2015's "VII: Sturm Und Drang" marked the band's first recordings with Art Cruz, who joined LOG last year as the replacement for the group's founding drummer, Chris Adler.

"Lamb Of God" was recorded with longtime producer Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, GOJIRA, TRIVIUM) and includes special guest appearances by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT).


The NYHC Chronicles LIVE! Ep. #90 Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God / Photographer)

Wen. 12/30 @ 3:00 pm (EST) The NYHC Chronicles LIVE! Ep. #90 Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God / Photographer) w/ "Hardcore Shutterbug" Steven J. Messina & "Collectable of the Week" w/ Ratbones. Sponsored by NYHC Comics, The Organic Grill, Your Core Fan Page, The Texas Silver Rush & Chain Reaction Records and Skateboards

Posted by The New York Hardcore Chronicles Page on Wednesday, December 30, 2020

RAINBOW singer Ronnie Romero says that it would be "really hard" for him to be in just one band.

In addition to RAINBOW, the 39-year-old — who is originally from Chile but is now settled in Romania after living in Madrid, Spain for a number of years — is also a member of LORDS OF BLACK, THE FERRYMEN and VANDENBERG. He has also played with CORELEONI and recently laid down his vocals on a new SUNSTORM album.

Romero discussed his many projects during a recent interview with Romania's Maximum Rock. Speaking about his need to work with more than one band at a time, Ronnie said (see video below): "There is two elements and two factors that, to me, are very important in any project that I get involved. The first one is the artistic and creative side. In my case, and this is my personal opinion, I need to be busy with different things all the time. To me, it would be very boring to be in just one band doing just one kind of music and just one style of music. It would be very boring to play just heavy metal, because I grew up listening to different kind of music, different styles, different singers, different bands. So mostly, what I need is to be involved in different projects, to have the chance to develop my performance in different ways. That's why I have a heavy metal band like LORDS OF BLACK and I love to be involved with CORELEONI, for example, which is more classic hard rock music, and, obviously, with RAINBOW, because it's more classic rock, and THE FERRYMEN, which is more progressive, melodic heavy metal. Or now SUNSTORM, which is more AOR music — even more melodic than others. And that keeps me very busy mentally, in my creative side."

He continued: "The other side is, the other element is the business. Nowadays, there's no millionaire record labels and millionaire record deals anymore. So, to reach a certain point of life and comfort, you need to be busy with different things.

"I know that some musicians, they say, 'We want you just in these bands, because if you are in many bands, the people [think it is] boring,' or whatever. But, to me, it's really hard to be just in one band, mostly this year, waiting for shows, waiting for albums, just on my couch, and nobody is paying for that. [Laughs] So, exclusivity is not for free. If you want to have somebody committed in an exclusive way, you need to pay for it, and nobody is paying for that. Everybody wants a piece of cake, of you, and everybody wants it for free. And it doesn't work in that way."

Late last month, Romero made a social media post in which he decried the hardball nature of the music business, saying that "too many people" in the industry are "beyond the good and the evil." He wrote in part: "I'm SO fucking tired of this dirty 'music' world. Everybody think they have the right to tell what to do or how to do it. Everybody think they have the right to judge you. Nobody is enough educated to be polite or at least talk to you as a 'person'. Everybody wants a piece of your cake and they want it FOR FREE, because if you tell your price they get offended. Everybody think you should kiss their hand because they 'give u the chance'. Nobody cares about your feelings, your thoughts, your dreams, your plans... and then when you are not agree with them you are an asshole... everything is so unfair, but you anyway you need to smile all the time, because show must go on. Everybody will blame on you anyway, from their couch or from their golden throne... too many people is beyond the good and the evil..."

Romero made his live debut with RAINBOW in June 2016 after he was selected to front the latest version of the band guitarist Ritchie Blackmore had formed after quitting DEEP PURPLE.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD frontman M. Shadows spoke to Kerrang! magazine abut the status of the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2016's "The Stage" album. "We've been writing a record for a while, and most of it was already written [before the coronavirus pandemic]," he said. "But then we kinda took a break on it, and then it would be like, 'Hey, let's get together two days this week,' instead of five or six. It just started getting more casual. Then we recorded really casually, and — like I said — we're still in the middle of it: we still have all these things that we can't do. We're still trying to get string sections together, and our mixer is older and I know that they don't want him to travel right now because of COVID, so even if we got it done right now, we couldn't get it mixed. So we're just not worrying about it, you know? It's like, 'When we can, we can.' But right now, we can't. [Laughs]."

According to the singer, there are no plans for AVENGED SEVENFOLD to release new music until he and his bandmates are able to hit the road again.

"No one wants to put out the record if we can't tour it," he said. "The reality is — and no-one wants to hear this — in this day and age, rock 'n' roll just takes too long to make: you know, it's going to be a three-year record to make. And if we put that record out and then we're locked down for another year, as much as people don't want to believe this, they are not going to give a shit about a record that came out a year prior when it's time to tour. And so if it's going to take us two or three years to write a record, we're not going to put it out if we can't go play it live. We know the anticipation won't be there when the tours come around. You see it every day — if you look at iTunes or Spotify and see how quickly it all turns over, it's just weekly onto the next thing and onto the next thing again. If you just imagine putting out a record in August, and then you're not touring until next August, people don't want to hear this but they're not going to care; they're going to be like, 'What's next?' Once the GOJIRA record, or the new METALLICA record, or the new MEGADETH record comes out, they're not going to care about what came out the year prior. Our whole thing is: if it's going to take us three years to do a record, we're going to make sure we can play it live and people are going to be excited about it."

As for the musical direction of the new AVENGED material, M. Shadows said: "The [new] record sounds nothing like 'The Stage' — it's a completely new direction, and it sounds nothing like anything we've done. That's all I'll say about it: it's over the top, and it's very eclectic and wild."

AVENGED SEVENFOLD kept a low profile during 2019 and will likely not return to the road until the end of next year. A blood blister on M. Shadows's vocal cords forced the band to cancel a summer 2018 tour with PROPHETS OF RAGE and THREE DAYS GRACE.

Earlier this year, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's platinum-certified DVD/CD "Live In The LBC & Diamonds In The Rough" was released digitally for the very first time via Warner Records. "Diamonds In The Rough", originally issued in 2008 as a compilation CD that included B-sides recorded during the making of the band's self-titled debut, was made available on February 7, while "Live In The LBC", originally released as a live DVD from the band's 2008 show at Long Beach Arena, came out on March 6.

"The Stage" was surprise-released in October 2016. The release of the disc, which was announced the night it went on sale, earned the lowest sales of an AVENGED SEVENFOLD album in 11 years. It sold 76 thousand copies in its first week, 73 thousand of which were physical.

"The Stage", AVENGED's debut for Capitol, sold less than half as many copies in its first week as the group's two previous efforts, 2010's "Nightmare" and 2013's "Hail To The King"

Swedish metallers GHOST have shared an end-of-year Facebook update indicating that announcements about new music and live shows will be forthcoming in the next few months. The Tobias Forge-fronted act has been working on "several big things" for 2021 and will be issuing sporadic updates throughout the year.

The full message from A Nameless Ghoul, which was posted on December 30, reads: "Dear Friends, I hope this message finds you relatively well and hopeful for the future.

"Needless to say, we have all experienced a strange year -some of us an absolutely devastating year with loved ones passing, loneliness and a very somber outlook for the future. Yet there is some distance to go before we are somewhat back to where we'd regard life as normal again.

"With this , I want you all to know that we are working diligently on several big things for next year, so please do not confuse our silence with inactivity. And I confess, I wanted to reach out to let you all know we miss you, eternally.

"News pertaining to 2021 will be rolled out throughout the new year, so I ask for nothing but your patience.

"In the interim, focus on taking care of yourselves and your loved ones. Have hope and strive for a better and more optimistic future, because it's all within reach. We are almost there.

"Let's end this year with the knowledge that the roaring TWENTIES will begin in 2021!

"Happy Holidays and much love".

Last October, Forge told Sweden Rock Magazine that he was planning to enter the studio in January to begin recording GHOST's fifth album. "The actual recording will last around six weeks and then there's two to three weeks of mixing and mastering," he said. "So sometime in March the record should be finished, but it won't be released until after the summer. As it looks now, knock on wood, we will then go on tour. We won't release an album until we know that we are actually going on tour. The album release will coincide with the start of a tour. Of course, we could announce an album release date and then, for some reason, it might not be possible to tour, but that's a whole other matter."

In March 2019, at the final concert of GHOST's "Prequelle" album cycle in Mexico City, the band introduced the new character who will front the act for its next LP phase: Papa Emeritus IV.

Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle" album.

In October 2019, Forge confirmed to U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine that there would be a new character fronting GHOST by the time the group's next LP sees the light of day.

"Prequelle" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and features the chart-topping singles "Rats" and "Dance Macabre".

In December 2018, GHOST nabbed two Grammy nominations, "Best Rock Album" for "Prequelle" and "Best Rock Song" for "Rats".

Five years ago, GHOST became the first Swedish rock band ever to win a Grammy — 2016's "Best Metal Performance" for the song "Cirice".


[A Message From The Clergy]

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you relatively well and hopeful for the future....

Posted by Ghost on Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Jesse James Dupree of long-running southern hard rockers JACKYL was a recent guest on "That Jamieson Show". You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about his cover of Merle Haggard's "The Fightin' Side Of Me", which he recorded with his JESSE JAMES DUPREE & THE MODERN DAY FRONTIERSMEN project, Jesse said: "When the election was going down, you've got these guys that, God bless 'em, they get so polarized, either hardore Republican or hardcore Democrat. And I'm fine for everybody believing in what they believe in and fighting for it to an extent, but as the song says, and Merle said it — it was song of the year in 1971 or something — and the song says it very clear: you can pick your side, and you can be passionate about it, but when you start running down our country, you're walking on the fightin' side of me. So let's all remember that we're on the same team and don't be assholes, just because some media news commentator is doing his job at making us pick sides. We've all become victim of — we might as well be watching a WWE series, because everybody's gotten ridiculous with not understanding the one common reality, and that is the truth is always in the middle. So the Republicans ain't got it all figured out, the Democrats ain't got it all figured out. We need to pull everything back to center, flush the toilet and start over again."

JACKYL has just released a new concert DVD and CD, "Family Reunion - Live In Kansas City". The set was recorded during the band's December 21, 2019 performance at The Midland in Kansas City.

Jesse spoke about the DVD during a May 2020 Facebook Live chat. He said: "JACKYL did record a live DVD. And we recorded it — a live concert — at The Midland Theatre in Kansas City in December. It was sold out. There were nine cameras. [There were] 3,000 people in attendance. The place was just electric. We had DMC from RUN-DMC come out and sit in with us. We did 'Just Like A Negro', we did 'It's Tricky'. It was just a special night. It was the last show of the year.

"The cool thing about… You've heard people say before, 'The crowd was the star of the show,' and I've heard that almost cliché over the years," he continued. "But seriously, when you see this DVD, or you see the live stream, or however we end up releasing this thing, when you see it, you're gonna truly see that the crowd was the star of the show. And we were so humbled by the attendance that night, and they sang every word to every song. DMC was there, and he was blown away.

"I'm very proud of it," he added.

JACKYL's latest album, "Rowyco", was released in August 2016 via Mighty Loud Records.

In a new interview with Forbes, KISS frontman Paul Stanley was asked if there are any songs he is particularly excited to do at the band's New Year's Eve concert after not getting to play them for almost a year. He responded: "I never found any of the songs we play to be a chore. We are very lucky that we have so many songs that are considered classics, and that alone makes it exciting for me to play them, because I know the joy that it's giving other people and the pride I have in having a hand in those songs. So it's never been a chore for me and we've never thought, 'Hey, let's turn 'Shout It Out Loud' into a reggae tune cause we're bored.' You owe your audience exactly what they expect and more. For us, if somebody's been waiting, and I remember from when I was a kid going to concerts and even in the last few years, if you go to see somebody and you're anticipating hearing a song, by god, you want to hear it the way you expect to be, not changed because they're tired of playing it. This is my only night at your show, you damn well should play the song the way I know it.

Stanley went on to say that he has a new appreciation for some of the KISS songs after performing them for more than 40 years.

"Certainly with 'Rock And Roll All Night', it's amazing over the decades how it's resonated and only built in stature," he said. "And I remember sitting in a hotel room on Sunset Blvd. and coming up with the chorus. So that's the power of music. It's not lost on me and yes, when we're rehearsing, I go, 'Wow, we're KISS and these songs are great.' When we start 'Detroit Rock City', I go, 'Wow, this is potent stuff.'"

Last month, KISS announced a New Year's Eve concert at the Atlantis resort in Dubai. Landmarks Live Presents will produce the show live from The Royal Beach at Atlantis Dubai. The show producers claim the event, which will apparently attempt to set the world's record for largest pyro, will be filmed with more than 50 cameras and 360-degree views. It will be seen via livestream, with a ticket purchase on any computer, mobile device, or Apple TV.

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but is now expected to last well into 2022.

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Gene Simmons (bass, vocals), alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Peter Criss (drums) and Ace Frehley (guitar), KISS staged its first "farewell" tour in 2000, the last to feature the group's original lineup.

In its 47-year career, KISS has accumulated 23 gold and platinum albums — more than any other U.S. b

On the January 1 edition of their "More Nights With Deth" Internet broadcast, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and his trusty sidekick Thom Hazaert discussed and previewed their plans for the New Year, plus nerded out with special guests, including rock photographer and VFX guru Neil A. Lim Sang, whose IMDB reads like a pop culture "greatest hits," with credits including "The Mandalorian", "The Hulk", "Star Wars" and "Transformers".

Speaking about some people's reluctance to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Ellefson said (see video below): "The reality of it is the world is not gonna open up until this goes away. I know my daughter is probably gonna get [the vaccine]; she's in the nursing field now, so she's kind of one of the frontline workers. And there's gonna be certain people that are just gonna have to do it. The reality of it is we aren't just gonna lock down until it disappears — we're just not; it's not how it's gona be. So the only other option is get the vaccine. That is really the reality of it; it is just what it is.

"Look, we want the world to open up," he continued. "We all wanna be out rocking. It was fun to watch KISS in Dubai on the Internet [as part of the band's New Year's Eve livestream], but I'd rather go see 'em play here in town. It'd be more fun than watching it on my laptop. So I'm a fan, too. I wanna go see shows; I wanna see my buddies playing. I go out and I support the cause. I buy a t-shirt. I'll even buy tickets once in a while."

Ellefson went on to reveal that one of his uncles in Jackson, Minnesota died a couple of weeks ago from complications due to COVID-19. "And another friend of mine here from Scottsdale [died as well]," he said. "A buddy just called me this afternoon. It was my friend who I was hanging out with last night, and he just said, 'Hey, a friend of ours died.' And I was, like, 'Woah.'

"A year ago, we heard of somebody who died, and we didn't know them," Ellefson continued. "Then it kind of started to come in closer. Then we heard of somebody who knew somebody who had somebody who died. Then we knew of a family or a friend who had someone who died. Now, our own family and inner circle of people are… And look, obviously, I know of dozens of people who have had it and gone through it, and have gotten through it — everything from, 'I felt a little tired' to 'I couldn't smell one day, and I guess that was COVID.' It's been as minor as that.

"It's just one of these weird times. I mean, it is still weird — a year later, we're still here. That's why, to me, changing of the guard, new mandates — thank God that happened, to at least have a chance to try to deal with it differently, because the way it was dealt with… We were on the [MEGADETH-curated] Megacruise [in October 2019], and now we know the thing [the virus] was out there. None of us knew — no one told us — so we were on a cruise ship. And I think Megacruise, I'd like to think, was safe. But we're just seeing that people traveling, moving around the world — an illness can fly around the world literally within about 24 hours, just because of air travel. Back in 1905, that pandemic, they didn't have airplanes moving it around the planet, so you could kind of localize it a little bit."

Americans received just over three million initial doses of coronavirus vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech in the 19 days following first shipments. About 14 million doses have been distributed to states, the CDC reports.

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading member of the Trump administration's Coronavirus Task Force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the country will need to reach a 80-85% rate immunity to achieve so-called herd immunity.

FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson says that there is a "very, very simple" reason his band has not yet been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single. Criteria for inclusion includes "the influence and significance of the artist's contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll."

Eligible since 2002, FOREIGNER has had a huge number of rock hits, including "Cold As Ice", "Double Vision", "Hot Blooded", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent", and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, with no wins.

Asked in a new interview with Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com why he thinks FOREIGNER has yet to get the Rock Hall nod, Pilson said: "I think it's very, very simple why, and that's because critics were never all that into FOREIGNER; they always viewed it as very commercial and corporate.

"You always have to see where critics are coming from, and to them, when something sells a lot of records, in most cases, they will view that as having been because of some kind of compromise made by the artist," he continued. "And I just don't feel like FOREIGNER did that. I feel like we made honest music that's just really good that people happen to like.

"So, to answer your question, I think that they just look down on the band, and that's okay — they're critics; that's what they do. But I have a feeling that that has a lot to do with it, because The [Recording] Academy and everything very much reflects on that whole credible side of things and FOREIGNER was just never included in that.

"I think over time, I think someday FOREIGNER will get inducted," Pilson added. "I don't think I will — nor necessarily should I — but I think the band will, and I do think the original guys really do deserve their due.

"I know bands, like DOKKEN that I was in in the eighties, we used FOREIGNER as an example. That was what helped us to solidify the idea of hard rock with great songs and big catchy choruses. That comes partly from FOREIGNER. So FOREIGNER does deserve its just due, and hopefully, with time, it will get it."

Three years ago, FOREIGNER guitarist Mick Jones was asked by Tigman of the Q103 radio station in Albany if it means anything to him to get inducted into the Rock Hall. Jones responded: "Well, let's say it's not something I wrestle with or something that affects my life. Of course, it would be nice, but sometimes you wonder if it's a political thing more than a musical [thing] or [anything to do with] achievement. Because as far as achievements, we've certainly achieved a tremendous amount with the band. And we'll see. I guess someday. Who knows?"

FOREIGNER's recent release of "Double Vision, Then & Now" is a DVD/CD package that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the iconic album. It features a stunning reunion concert that brings together the current and original band members playing all the hits at the top of their game.

FOREIGNER's last album, "Can't Slow Down", was the only full-length collection of new songs to have been released by the band since Kelly Hansen took over vocals after original singer Lou Gramm left the band for good in 2002. The album entered the Billboard Top 30, driven by the radio singles "In Pieces" and "When It Comes To Love". The band also has released a series of live albums and compilations, including 2016's "In Concert: Unplugged" and 2017's "40".

FOREIGNER's current lineup is rounded out by Tom Gimbel (rhythm guitar, sax, vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Chris Frazier (drums) and Bruce Watson (guit

In a recent interview with Cryptic Rock, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith was asked to name the most important things he has learned from life on the road and everything which has transpired in his adult life. He responded: "Wow, I wish I knew then what I know now. [Laughs] I'm actually in a unique position because I left IRON MAIDEN for nine years and then rejoined. When I was in the band the first time, I was still a kid, really. I had no experience outside of being in a band to sort of compare anything with; I used to get very introspective and I was in my own little world. Having left the band, getting married, having kids, running a house, and being out in the real world gives you a different perspective. Having a second chance to join the band again has been amazing. I've probably enjoyed it more the second time around, so I have been lucky in that respect. I think I have been able to go back and do things a better way the second time around. I have enjoyed it more just from the benefit of having the time off and gaining a better perspective on it."

Smith is continuing to promote his memoir, "Monsters Of River & Rock", which was released in September via Virgin Books.

Last October, Smith spoke to "The Thinking Tackle Podcast" about how he copes with his band's heavy touring schedule and the pressure to perform day after day.

"It was more intense in the '80s, because I think when you're younger, you don't quite know how to handle things," he said. "I was only in my 20s when I joined; I was still a kid, really. I wasn't a very mature 24-year-old. And we were going out on the road, and we were doing all these shows. You've got a certain amount of responsibilities, especially when you start headlining. You can't be messing around, staying up all night and misbehaving.

"We played with some great bands," he continued. "For people who know, Michael Schenker and Yngwie Malmsteen opened up for MAIDEN. Now I grew up listening to those guys, and then they were opening up for us. That makes you think a little bit. You start examining yourself maybe a bit too much. And one thing leads to another… But when you're young, you go for it. And you have to dedicate yourself to one thing if you wanna make an impression."

Smith was born in Hackney, East London, on February 27, 1957. He joined IRON MAIDEN at the end of 1980. Adrian is the bandmember who has collaborated on the most side projects outside of IRON MAIDEN, as well as writing and recording a series of albums in the early '90s, before rejoining the band. IRON MAIDEN has sold 100 million albums, and tour the world playing to millions of fans. Onstage, Adrian uses Jackson and Gibson guitars. Offstage, he is an avid tennis player. However, his main hobby is fishing. He takes his rod and gear out on tour with him wherever he goes.

IRON MAIDEN's new double live album was released on November 20 via BMG. Containing over 100 minutes of classic MAIDEN music and available in multiple formats, including a limited-edition Mexican Flag, triple-colored (180g) vinyl and a limited-edition deluxe two-CD book format, "Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast: Live In Mexico City" was recorded during the band's three sold-out arena shows there in September 2019 and is a celebration of their "Legacy Of The Beast" world tour which began in 2018 and will finish this summer in Eur

Danish one-man act Mother Of All have signed a record deal with Swedish label Black Lion Records. The band will soon reveal info on the first full length album, which will be released later this year. Stay tuned.

Martin Haumann on the signing: "Black Lion is the perfect home for Mother Of All. I have witnessed a dedication to sharing the very best of the underground with metal fans all over the world. Their appreciation and understanding of Mother Of All's new material and its roots really impressed me. For unleashing my upcoming album I know our partnership will be perfect!"

Oliver Dahlbäck of Black Lion Records comments: "We are pleased to welcome Mother Of All into the ever growing Black Lion roster. Martin approached us with his songs from a new full length album and I really enjoyed the style he portrays with Mother Of All! Despite being a new name, Martin is no stranger to the scene, having spent a good portion of his time playing drums for the renowned Danish band Myrkur and recorded with Afsky. The new material is very exciting!"

In a brand new interview with The Metal Voice, legendary guitarist Michael Schenker discussed the legacy of VAN HALEN icon Eddie Van Halen, who died in October at the age of 65.

"The weirdest thing is actually VAN HALEN was supporting UFO at the Starwood [club in Los Angeles]," Michael said (see video below). "I was 19 years old, I guess. That would have been '74 or '75. I heard that some people were saying a phenomenal guitarist was there, but it was five years before they broke out with 'Van Halen I', which, even though I'm not listening to any music for the last 50 years, sometimes [you would] hear things coming out of speakers everywhere. And when I heard Eddie, I went, like, 'Wow! This is amazing.' But I didn't know that he actually was doing the tapping technique. Because I was always wondering how on earth he got such a smooth guitar sound. Everybody was doing tapping later, and trashed Eddie. Just like they did with me — they copied my style; people copied my style; 80 percent of all guitarists in the '80s — and trashed my style too. But I always come up with something fresh, so I'm always a step ahead anyway.

"But with the tapping that was so extreme, it was, actually, in the end, it appeared to be easy to do for overnight success," he continued. "So there was thousands of guitarists going to guitar school, learning tapping to be a star in one or two years. Well, that shows that tapping is not all, and actually doesn't create much emotion.

"But the thing with Eddie Van Halen, he had rhythm [and] style," Michael added. "And by the way, Rudolf [Schenker, Michael's brother and SCORPIONS guitarist] told me that he actually heard something Eddie did earlier, because it looks like Eddie was actually a bit influenced by me. There was a melody line or several things that he did that sounded like me, and people were actually saying, 'Wow! It sounds like Michael Schenker.' But the thing is he took it — in the next five years — so far forwards that I was blown away by what he did. And his drummer, his brother being a drummer, so it's in the family gene that his sense of rhythm, his sense of melody, his sense of sound, tone quality, the way he actually entertained was so complete. He's the best."

Eddie died on October 6 at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Following his death, fans left flowers at his childhood home on Las Lunas Street in Pasadena, California. Additional flowers, candles and fan mementos were placed on Allen Avenue where Eddie and his brother, VAN HALEN drummer Alex, scratched their band's name into the wet cement of a sidewalk when they were teenagers.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.