On December 8, ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo was interviewed on "That Jamieson Show". You can now watch the chat below.

Tornillo joined ACCEPT in 2009 as the replacement for the band's original lead singer, Udo Dirkscheider. He can be heard on ACCEPT's last five studio albums, "Blood Of The Nations" (2010), "Stalingrad" (2012), "Blind Rage" (2014), "The Rise Of Chaos" (2017) and the upcoming "Too Mean To Die" (2021).

Asked about ACCEPT's overall approach since he came into the group, Tornillo said: "Basically, [we went] back to what we did in the '80s — what everybody did back in the day. The whole thing was, when I joined the band, Wolf [Hoffmann, guitar] did not want the band to rest on its laurels and only go out and play the classics. He wanted a real band. So we've been album-tour, album-tour — like it always was."

Mark also talked about his musical personal chemistry with Hoffmann, who is the sole remaining member from ACCEPT's classic lineup.

"It's grown quite a bit, actually," he said. "We've got a great mutual respect for each other and for our talents. This album ['Too Mean To Die'] was a total collaboration. This is the first ACCEPT album without Peter [Baltes, bass], so that was a big gap to fill. But everybody stepped up. Our [new] bass player Martin Motnik contributed quite a bit to this album."

Earlier in the month, Hoffmann told Sweden's RockSverige about his relationship with Tornillo: "Well, we've found a way to accept each other and work together, but, to be totally honest, we're not the biggest buddies in the world and probably never will be. I don't know. There's something… He grew up in New Jersey and I grew up in Germany, and maybe that has something to do with it. At least we work together really well and we respect each other, and he's a fucking brilliant singer, so it seems to work whatever recipe we've found. I'm not trying to really analyze it too much, but I can definitely say that we have different views on a lot of things, and that's okay. It seems to be working and the common ground is our music and the metal we make."

"Too Mean To Die" will be released on January 15, 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The LP was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with British producer Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH), who has been responsible for the magnificent studio sound of ACCEPT since 2010.

ACCEPT's lineup has been expanded with the addition of a third guitarist, Philip Shouse, who originally filled in for Uwe Lulis during last year's "Symphonic Terror" tour, before being asked to join the band permanently.

ACCEPT's last album, 2017's "The Rise Of Chaos", marked the band's first release with Lulis and drummer Christopher Williams, replacing Herman Frank and Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively.

ACCEPT's latest release was "Symphonic Terror - Live At Wacken 2017", featuring the band's performance at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

Steve Riley's version of L.A. GUNS recently released its first album, also titled "Renegades", via Golden Robot Records. Riley's version of L.A. GUNS is not to be confused with the band led by guitarist Tracii Guns and vocalist Phil Lewis, which issued two well-received albums, "The Missing Peace" and "The Devil You Know", plus the live release "Made In Milan", under the L.A. GUNS name over the last three years.

Riley is joined in his version of the group by Orlando, Florida-based guitarist/vocalist Kurt Frohlich, bassist Kelly Nickels (a member of L.A. GUNS' "classic" incarnation) and guitarist Scott Griffin (who played bass for the band from 2007 until 2009, and then again from 2011 to 2014).

Asked in a new interview with the Scars And Guitars" podcast if he has a strategy, from a business point of view, for differentiating between the two separate versions of L.A. GUNS, Riley said (hear audio below): "I think that we definitely sound different, even though we're going to play some of the older material that me and Kelly co-wrote. Obviously, everybody knows Kelly wrote 'The Ballad Of Jayne', our biggest hit. But we're going to, obviously, do the older material, 'cause the fans wanna hear it. But the difference is, in this new record, we don't sound like the other guys do — we definitely have a different style of writing. And it still stays true to L.A. GUNS.

"We're also gonna do a different approach to our live shows," he continued. "For the last 25 years, I've been doing two to two hundred and fifty club shows, and I don't wanna do that anymore. It's a grueling, grueling experience. You go on at 12:30 at night, and you're driving four hundred miles to each club show, and it's just a really, really hard deal. What we're gonna do — with me and Kelly — we're going to do maybe, like, between 25 to 40 shows a year, and they're all gonna be festivals, casinos and maybe fairs, and maybe a couple of satellite club shows. But the other guys are going to continue on doing those two hundred to two hundred and fifty club shows and not do as many festivals. So there is gonna be a different approach to how each band goes out live. We're not gonna do that big club tour everywhere. If we come over to Australia or New Zealand or Japan or Europe and there's clubs to do, that's fine, but in the States, we're gonna definitely stick to festivals, fairs [and] casinos. They're real comfortable shows to do, the festivals."

This past January, Riley was sued by Guns and Lewis in California District Court. Joining Riley as defendants in the case are the three musicians who perform in his recently launched rival version of L.A. GUNS; that group's manager, booking agent and merchandiser; and Golden Robot Records.

The complaint, which requests a trial by jury, alleges that Riley's version of L.A. GUNS (referred to in the case docket as "the infringing L.A. GUNS") is creating "unfair competition" through its unauthorized usage of the L.A. GUNS trademark. In addition, Guns and Lewis are seeking relief from and/or against false advertising, breach of contract and unauthorized usage of their likenesses.

At its core, Guns and Lewis's complaint calls into question Riley's claim of partial ownership of the L.A. GUNS name and logo and alleges that his usage of both has been unauthorized. In addition, Guns and Lewis claim — as Guns has done publicly in the past — that Riley has embezzled much of the group's publishing proceeds over the past two decades.

Despite leaving the band soon after the release of 2002's "Waking The Dead" to focus on BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION (his short-lived supergroup with MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx), Guns "is the owner of common law trademark righs" for the L.A. GUNS name and logo, the complaint claims. It notes that Guns founded the band in 1983, four years before Riley joined, and that Riley did not perform on the group's 1984 debut EP and contributed to just a single track on their 1987 self-titled full-length debut.

According to the complaint, Guns "has been injured by Defendants' unfair competition," while he and Lewis have "suffered harm including damages and and irreparable injury to their goodwill." It also claims that Riley's L.A. GUNS was formed "with the intent of tricking and confusing consumers into believing that the infringing L.A. GUNS band is the original [Tracii] Guns version" of the group.

In addition to actual and punitive damages, Guns and Lewis are seeking a "permanent injunction" that restrains all of the named defendants from using the L.A. GUNS name, logo and likeness, as well as "a declaration that Guns is the sole owner of the common law trademark rights" for the L.A. GUNS moniker "and any related design marks."

In a recent interview with the Swedish smartphone app BandBond, NIGHTWISH's Floor Jansen discussed people's fascination with her height. The 39-year-old Dutch-born singer, who lives in Sweden with her husband, SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl, said (see video below): "I'm taller than most women, and I'm taller — depending on where I am in the world — than most men. So that became something. I think it's difficult to see, when I'm on stage, how tall I am. But if you put me, for example, next to [NIGHTWISH] guitar player [Emppu Vuorinen, who is five feet, three inches tall], then the difference makes it even more fascinating. And more than that, I don't really understand why it really matters, because it's not like I can do much about it anyway. [Laughs]"

Several months ago, Jansen told Kerrang! magazine that her height means that her clothes need to be tailor-made.

"I am just over six feet tall, and while I am not a giant, I don't really fit into regular clothing," she said. "For the stage, I need to have entire outfits made specifically for me so I can be sure that everything is, shall we say, sitting in the right place. It's expensive — but very important."

Last month, Jansen released her cover version of the song "Let It Go" from the Disney movie "Frozen". She revealed that she got the inspiration to record the track through her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Freja, who had been listening to it and singing it "for months."

Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon.

Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013 and made her recording debut with the group on 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" album.

NIGHTWISH's ninth studio album, "Human. :II: Nature." , was released in April via Nuclear Blast. The effort is a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters on CD 2.

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman sat down for an interview with Cassius Morris on WatchMojo's brand new music podcast "Innersleeve" to discuss details of his upcoming New Year's Day livestream concert, his latest album, "Tokyo Jukebox 3", life in Japan, and many other topics. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked to name the one thing in Japan that was hardest for him to get used to when he first moved there, Marty — who has lived in Tokyo since 2003 — said: "It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, because I'd been to Japan so many times and I kind of knew the rules, and there's a lot of rules. The only one that I really had trouble with, and it wasn't a big deal, was the separating of garbage. Garbage and recycling is a definite thing over here. If you go to any place where trash is thrown out, like in your apartment building or in your housing complex or wherever you are, the trash is clean — you clean the actual trash before you throw it out. So, say you have a cardboard box, and there's a lot of tape and labels and stuff on it, you've gotta take all that sticky stuff off and all that garbage off, so the box is pristine and can be recycled. If you have a soda bottle that you drink, you have to wash the thing out and then take the label off, which is also recyclable, and separate that and put it in a different recyclable column, and then separate [it]. And all these things took a lot of time for me."

He continued: "In my very first [Japanese] apartment, I remember I threw something out wrong and got caught by the landlady there. 'Cause I put this bag down of trash, and you could hear the 'clink' of a bottle. And that bottle was not supposed to be in that trash bag; you can't [mix] bottles and paper and all that stuff. So she heard the clink — she happened to be there, and her head turned around. And I'm, like, 'Oh my God.' Here I am, another foreigner making us all look bad. But I quickly adjusted to that. It's a very clean place."

Marty will host a special livestream experience on New Year's Day (January 1, 2021) at 9:00 p.m. local time from Tokyo. The live concert will take place in a new multi-dimensional visual atmosphere designed specifically for this show by cutting-edge Japanese motion graphics creator Nobuyuki Hanabusa. Friedman will be joined by his Japanese band — which consists of drummer Chargeee, bassist Toshiki Oomomo and up-and-coming guitar wunderkind Naoki Morioka. Tickets are on sale now at this location.

Marty's latest solo album, Tokyo Jukebox 3", was released in October in Japan. According to Billboard, the LP features Marty's cover versions of a wide variety of pop songs, including such contemporary numbers as LiSA's "Gurenge" and OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM's "Shukumei", along with DA PUMP's dance track "U.S.A.", END OF THE WORLD's ballad "Sazanka", and the vocaloid hit "Senbonzakura Feat. Hatsune Miku". Some throwback J-pop hits from the '90s are included on the set as well, such as ZARD's "Makenaide" and EVERY LITTLE THING's "Time Goes By".

Released in Japan in 2009 and 2011, respectively, "Tokyo Jukebox" and "Tokyo Jukebox 2" — the ninth and eleventh chapters in Friedman's influential solo discography — featured energetic instrumental covers of Japanese pop (J-Pop) songs that can be enjoyed by anyone with a sweet tooth for melody, and captured Friedman's passion for the music of his adopted home country — although, as he warned in the liner notes, "I took the liberty of destroying and reconstructing them my own way."

Featuring Jeremy Colson (STEVE VAI, BILLY IDOL) on drums, "Tokyo Jukebox" featured reconstructed covers of J-Pop and J-Rock hits selected by readers of Japan's top entertainment magazine. "Tokyo Jukebox 2", meanwhile, was recorded in Los Angeles at The Village (AEROSMITH, KISS), and featured guest performances by Jason Bittner (OVERKILL, SHADOWS FALL) and Keshav Dhar (SKYHARBOR). The albums featured tracks originally performed by acclaimed Japanese acts such as MR. CHILDREN, SMAP, PERFUME and MAXIMUM THE HORMONE.

As previously reported, Marty's long-awaited documentary, titled "Spacefox", will tentatively arrive in 2021. The film, which is being directed by Jeremy Frindel, the founder of Substratum Films, follows Friedman's reinvention from lead guitarist in MEGADETH to one of the most famous TV personalities in Japan.

This past June, Friedman released a "Home Jams" version of his song "Self Pollution", which originally appeared on "Wall Of Sound". The new rendition of the song features Friedman, along with his longtime bandmates Kiyoshi (bass) and Jordan Ziff (guitar), plus Anup Sastry (drums). The split-screen video was filmed in Tokyo, Osaka, Phoenix and Baltimore, with each musician separated in his or her home.

Friedman's latest record, "One Bad M.F. Live!!", came out in October 2018. The album was recorded in Mexico City on April 14, 2018 during the final concert of Friedman's world tour in support of "Wall Of Sound".

"Wall Of Sound" was released in August 2017 via Prosthetic Records.

RAINBOW singer Ronnie Romero has decried the hardball nature of the music business, saying that "too many people" in the industry are "beyond the good and the evil."

Romero, who is originally from Chile but is now settled in Madrid, Spain, gave his scathing assessment of the music business while sharing a Christmas message via his official artist Facebook page.

The 39-year-old wrote: "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...

"I would love to tell all my experiences the last 5 years 'in the business'... some of you would be very surprised...

"Anyway, show must go on. Merry Christmas".

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.

Romero told Metal Shock Finland about his performances with RAINBOW: "I feel really good with my job, because I tried to make justice, not just to the songs, but all these singers — Ronnie James Dio, Joe Lynn Turner, Graham Bonnet, Ian Gillan and David Coverdale. I just tried to sing the songs in my own way and my own style, and I think the people appreciate that. I'm not just a copy of the other singers. I prefer to sing like Ronnie Romero singing these songs of Ronnie James Dio and David Coverdale and whatever. And I think the people prefer that, and they really appreciate the situation, because I think the people don't like to see a guy or pay for a ticket to see a guy try to sing like Ronnie James Dio. It's not a good idea. So I feel really good with my job and I know the people and the fans that have sent me messages and told me that they really appreciated [how I interpreted the songs]."

In addition to RAINBOW, Romero is also a member of LORDS OF BLACK, THE FERRYMEN and VANDENBERG.

Three years ago, Romero told Stargazed about how he first discovered hard rock: "I grew up in a family of musicians, so it was very easy to me to go into that. My father was a huge hard rock fan, and, of course, the first band that he show me was DEEP PURPLE, and they just blew me away. I mean, there are so many other bands that I love, like JOURNEY, DREAM THEATER, MASTERPLAN, KANSAS, QUEEN, but there is a special connection between DEEP PURPLE, my father (RIP) and me."


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...

Posted by Ronnie Romero Official Site on Saturday, December 26, 2020

Finland's To/Die/For have excited news to share. The five-piece has decided to reunite for one special live show next summer, where they will play songs from the first two albums - All Eternity (2000) and Epilogue (2001). To/Die/For will perform live at John Smith Rock Festival, taking place from 22 to 24 July in Peurunka, Laukaa - approx. 25 km from Jyväskylä (Finland).

Statement from the band: Next summer folks! We definitely want this to happen! Since we missed our All Eternity debut album's 20th anniversary jubileum extravaganza this year we'll make it up to you next summer. 2021 would actually be the 20th anniversary of our Epilogue album so we think we're gonna cook you up a very special setlist from our first two albums. Stay tuned."

Death metal purveyors Hate are currently stationed in Hertz Studios where the recording process of their next studio album is underway. Tentatively titled Rugia, the new material will feature 9 new tracks and is planned for summer 2021 release on Metal Blade Records.

Hate on the process: We have touched down in famous Hertz Studios to record our follow-up to 2019's Auric Gates Of Veles. Currently only bearing the working title "Rugya", the material contains 9 new songs which will chronicle this creatively fruitful time in our lives. HATE has always been a band that put exploration at the forefront of its priorities, and these last few years have definitely granted us passage towards new horizons."

Avantgarde death/black metal outfit Ad Nauseam eventually completed the works for their sophomore album, Imperative Imperceptible Impulse. The Italian band is known for taking its time when working on new music, in order to release the most seamless, refined material only, and the time has now come to send everything to the pressing plant. Imperative Imperceptible Impulse will be out on February 12th, 2021 on CD, LP and digital.


Album tracklist:

01. Sub Specie Aeternitatis
02. Inexorably Ousted Sente
03. Coincidentia Oppositorum
04. Imperative Imperceptible Impulse
05. Horror Vacui
06. Human Interface To No God

Envenom, the Lifeforce Records debut and third studio album by Swedish/German/Finnish doom death outfit Age Of Woe, is set to be released on February 26th, 2021. Additional details, track list and cover artwork, can be seen down under.


Track list as follows:

01. Inferno
02. Ghosts Who Hunt Alone
03. Förpestningen
04. Patriarch
05. A Feral Swarm
06. Avgrunden
07. The Twilight And The Dawn
08. Storm
09. Förbittringen
10. Envenom
11. Ljungeld

German progressive metal act Ivanhoe are pleased to introduce Chris Lorey (ex-Scenes) as the new guitarist and songwriter in the ranks.

Press Release statement: "Good things come to those who wait: Chris Lorey, formerly the mastermind behind Ludwigsburg's Scenes, has joined forces with prog metal veterans Ivanhoe as guitarist and songwriter. Chris has been connected to the band since their 90s release Symbols Of Time."

"Ivanhoe have additionally secured the services of drummer Micha Krebes (ex-Circuit Vision), who has also long been active in the Stuttgart prog music scene.

"Writing for the followup to their previous album, Blood & Gold, is currently underway in the Ivanhoe catacombs, for a planned release at the end of 2021."

Dark Essence Records have announced the details of Through Aureate Void, the second full-length album from Britain's Five The Hierophant, a band that uses unusual instruments to create a dark and drone-like universe where psychedelic black metal combines with jazz and doom to devastating effect. Set for release on the 26th February 2021, Through Aureate Void contains 5 tracks and features a cover by the legendary Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum.

The band explains: "It took us longer than anticipated, as you can imagine, due to circumstances that befall us all. Nonetheless, the new album is finished, and ready to take you on a journey through aureate void. It's quite abstract, and there's lots of experimentation, both in regard to the sound and instruments used, and to the song structures. A lot of it comes from improvisation and leaving things to chance. I suppose we have taken it further than our debut album."


Track listing is as follows:

01. Leaf In The Current
02. Fire From Frozen Cloud
03. Berceuse (For Magnetic Sleep)
04. Pale Flare Over Marshes
05. The Hierophant (II)

Americans Between The Buried And Me have recently completed the tracking of their next studio album, the follow-up to 2018's Automata II. The process took place at The Basement Recording studio in North Carolina with producer Jamie King.

Comments the band: "2020 ain't been worth a lick, but guess what...tracking for the newest BTBAM is in the books! As always, we owe Jamie King a massive debt of gratitude. It cannot be overstated how much this guy means to us, and how important he has been to helping us evolve over the past 20 years. We can't wait for you all to hear what we've cooked up over here. Until then, be safe and don't be an asshole."

Death thrash metal quartet Rapture (GRE) have unveiled details and first track off their upcoming full length effort. Entitled Malevolent Demise Incarnation, it has been set for March 26th, 2021 official release on CD and Vinyl by FDA Records and tape by Headsplit Records. The album's title/opening track is now available for streaming as an official video clip.


Full album tracklist:

01. Malevolent Demise Incarnation
02. Inanimate Frigidity
03. Predatory Menace
04. After your Eternity
05. I Am Become Death
06. Birthrape Leftovers, Praising The Maggots
07. Herald Of Defiance
08. Requiem For A Woeful Dynasty (Memento Mori)

In a new interview with journalist Jenniffer Weigel, SMASHING PUMPKINS mainman Billy Corgan was asked about the possibility of making a Christmas album, either as a solo artist or with his band. He responded (see video below): "I actually started a Christmas album a couple of years ago. We kind of did it quick, and I wasn't satisfied with the results, so I junked it all. But I had written some songs, and I had found some cool obscure songs, and picked a couple of classics that I liked. I hope we get around to it some time, but at the moment, it's completely stalled."

Corgan previously floated the idea of making a PUMPKINS Christmas album in a 2018 interview with USA Today. Asked at the time if the LP would include covers or be all original material, Billy said: "It would be a mixture. I have released two Christmas songs, and I was thinking it would be nice to re-record those in the context of the record we would make. It would be probably lean more acoustic. I would think it's a bit weird [to make] wild Christmas records. Although, I also like 'Jingle Bell Rock', which is basically 1950s rockabilly. But I don't know. When I think Christmas music, I tend to think something you want to put on and sit around the tree with the kids and not rock out to. I don't see us doing a rocking-out Christmas album."

Back in 1997, Corgan wrote and recorded "Christmastime" for "A Very Special Christmas 3".

SMASHING PUMPKINS' new album, "Cyr", was released in November via Sumerian Records. The 20-song follow-up to 2018's "Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun." was produced by Corgan. It features founding members Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha, along with longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder.

The "Cyr" title track premiered in late August. A second single, "The Colour Of Love", came out at the same time. Variety said the two tracks are "effortlessly taking their place alongside a catalog of cherished SMASHING PUMPKINS classics."

10-year-old music prodigy Nandi Bushell, who recently defeated Dave Grohl in a drum-off, has uploaded a video of her playing along to SLIPKNOT's song "Unsainted".

In a message accompanying the YouTube release of the one-minute clip, she wrote: "Yes! I am a total metal head! I love how awesome the drumming is in @Slipknot ! This is my first attempt at double pedals! Taking my playing to the next level. This song is called I #unstainted by #slipknot! Incredible drumming Jay Weinberg! This song brings my A game Corey Taylor #metalhead #metal #heavymetal #doublepedals. Thank you Ludwig Drums my new kits is sounding awesome! Zildjian Company Vicfirth Drum Sticks Roland #roland #vicfirth #zildjian #ludwig #zildjianfamily #zildjiancovers".

Several hours after Nandi posted the video, SLIPKNOT drummer Jay Weinberg retweeted the clip and wrote in an accompanying message: "Nandi!! You're unreal! I'm blown away by your passion and energy. Keep shredding on those drums! Next time we roll through your town, give me a shout — you gotta show me how you do that stick flip right there".

The young multi-instrumentalist, who lives in Ipswich, England, started playing the drums when she was just five years old. She now plays several instruments, including bass and guitar, and is said to be learning piano.

Last month, Grohl and Bushell announced that they were co-writing a song for Nandi to someday perform with the FOO FIGHTERS. They also met virtually for the first time, with Grohl asking her: "When the FOO FIGHTERS finally come back to the U.K., do you think that you would get up onstage and jam with us? But it has to be at the end of the set, because you're gonna steal the show. It can't be at the beginning of the set, because if you come out first, it's just all downhill from there."

"Yes, definitely, 100%," she responded.

Grohl is not the first high-profile rock musician who was impressed by Bushell's videos. Her cover of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's "Guerrilla Radio" was noticed by the band's guitarist Tom Morello, who later sent her one of his guitars.




Nandi!! You’re unreal! I’m blown away by your passion and energy. Keep shredding on those drums! Next time we roll through your town, give me a shout — you gotta show me how you do that stick flip right there ???? https://t.co/5JPvbPoALL

— Jay Weinberg (@jayweinbergdrum) December 26, 2020

Toronto-based punk n' rollers Piffbreak Arcade are showing fellow Canuckleheads Honeymoon Suite some love with a cover of the band's classic "Stay In The Light", taken from the self-titled debut album from 1984. Check it out below.

Piffbreak Arcade: "Cover-Alls EP is streaming everywhere now! What’s you’re favourite song on it? Check out 'Stay In The Light' by Honeymoon Suite.
A great tune by a classic Canadian band. This was a fun one to speed up and crank the distortion. Stoked on the guitars and vocals and how this song turned out! Stay up, stay safe, stay in the light!"

Check out Piffbreak Arcade's official Facebook page here. Go to the band's Spotify page here.

Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess has posted his Christmas Eve livestream on YouTube. Check it out below. Fans can check out the entire livestream via Rudess' Patreon page here.

Dream Theater have announced the Images, Words & Beyond Live in Japan 2017 streaming event, on January 30 at 7 PM, EST.

Filmed at the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, in September of 2017, this historic performance has never before been released worldwide. January 30, 2021 marks the first official release from Dream Theater’s Images, Words & Beyond tour, featuring a live performance of the classic album, Images & Words, captured in its entirety during their September 11, 2017 appearance in Tokyo. Don’t miss this presentation, in full HD, initially broadcast only for Japanese audiences, and now for the first time available to audiences worldwide.

Get tickets here, and watch a video trailer below:

Impellitteri guitarist Chris Impellitteri has checked in with the following message:

"Someone told me Impellitteri is the greatest band that no one has ever heard of!  Ha ha! I must admit we thrive in the underground and have loyal fans around the world that are like family. We are very fortunate to have that support. We have outlasted many of our peers and are going strong! 

I am looking forward to recording our next record and touring. The music we have written thus far is bad ass! There are some new musical ingredients within these songs that tell me we are still growing as a band."

Jimmy Kay and Perrin Wolfson of Canada's The Metal Voice spoke to Chris Impellitteri earlier this year under lockdown at his home in California and he spoke about possibly touring North America, being asked by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne to join the band in the ’80's and his guest appearance on the new studio Alcatrazz album (featuring Graham Bonnet) and more.

Some excerpts from the 60 minute chat streaming below are as follows:

Have you even been asked to join an established band in your career?

"Yes I have been offered multiple times to join big bands. I am not going to say who they are, cause some of the guitar players still exist in those bands. If I was to join an established band I have to recognize that I would need to be happy playing covers because really that is what you are doing is playing someone else's creations. There is nothing wrong with that but for me I like to be able to express myself as an artist."

Tell us about the time you were in discussions to join Ozzy's band

"This was long time ago even before Zakk Wylde. Forgive me if I get my years confused cause it was so long ago, maybe it was 1986-87 and I think Jake E Lee was still in the band. I was living in Hollywood and one of my roommate said you have to listen to this message on the answering machine. I played the message and it was Sharon Osbourne. Sharon basically said her and Ozzy were checking me out and wanted to know if I was interested in playing guitar for Ozzy. I remember thinking about it and at the time we had signed to Relativity Records and Sony to do the album 'Stand In Line' (with Graham Bonnet). I wanted to do join Ozzy because Randy Rhoads was such a hero of mine. I remember they called me a few more times, I probably talked to them five or six times but I knew that legally speaking I had a deal with Relativity Records so I couldn't go much further with it and that was the end of it. The reality is who knows how serious they really were because after 5-6 conversations it didn't go anywhere and the Jake E Lee thing kept going. I don't want to exaggerate the story too much let's just say they had an interest in me. I think the whole thing was initiated by some A and R guy on Atlantic records who was friends with the Osbournes, who turned them onto me. As a guitar player I am flattered to have even been called and obviously they saw something and there was intent but I don't know how serious it was."

Would you join Ozzy today if you were asked?

"I guess the answer would be yes, but I would want to do a record like Diary of a Madman but would the Osbournes allow it? I listened to Ozzy's newest record, Ozzy sounds great, a lot of the record sounds Pro Tooled. I listen to the album as a guitar player and I'm sorry it doesn't do a lot for me. It's good music, don't get me wrong. With someone like me, I'm hard headed. Let's pretend Ozzy called me again and if he would allow me to do another record like Diary of a Madman or Blizzard I would join in a heartbeat."

Primal Fear bassist and Rock Meets Classic master of ceremonies Mat Sinner has posted a new video clip along with the following message:

"Hope you had a great Xmas, stay safe guys! Here's some great unreleased footage of Eric Martin and RMC - check out the full video..."

The footage was shot on March 27th, 2015 in Regensburg, Germany at the Donau Arena. The song is taken from Mr. Big’s 1991 hit album. Lean Into It.

Rock Meets Classic recently confirmed Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider for the 2021 run of the annual tour. Snider will perform a Best Of Twisted Sister set for the duration of the tour.

Rock Meets Classic also confirmed that Europe frontman Joey Tempest will return as the headliner for the annual tour in 2021. This will be Tempest's second time with Rock Meets Classic, having headlined the 2016 run. Mike Tramp (White Lion), Midge Ure (Ultravox, Thin Lizzy) and Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Lords Of Black) have also been confirmed.

Below is the curent tour schedule for RMC 2021.

Snider previously performed with Rock Meets Classic with a special one-off set at Wacken Open Air 2015. Check out pro-shot footage below.

A true celebration of the grandiose, anthemic and breathtakingly fun hard rock music of the 1980s, Trapper brings together two of Canada’s brightest creative lights in a project that neither parrots nor parodies the genre that left an indelible stamp on millions of fans and pop culture. 

With Trapper, guitarist Sean Kelly (Lee Aaron, Helix, Honeymoon Suite) and vocalist Emm Gryner (David Bowie, Chris Hadfield) have discovered a truly organic creative force that will continue to write and record original material with that distinctly 1980s hard rock vibe, as well offering up their interpretations of other ‘lost’ 1980s rock gems. And the 1980s mentality is going to permeate every aspect of the band’s presentation. 

On Christmas Eve, Trapper released a brand new, original song featuring Tim Timlek on drums called "You Need An Angel". Check it out:

In November, Trapper issued "Winterlong", also featuring Tim Timleck on drums, from their forthcoming album due in Spring 2021.

For further details, visit Trapper on Facebook.