TESTAMENT's Alex Skolnick, QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre, Danko Jones and ex-SKID ROW/SAIGON KICK drummer Phil Varone are among the rockers who have reacted to President Donald Trump's baseless claim that the presidency was being stolen from him as vote counts showed his path to victory disappearing.

"This is a case where they're trying to steal an election, they're trying to rig an election, and we can't let that happen," Trump said in an appearance in the White House briefing room earlier today, offering no evidence to back up the claims and vowing to take the matter to the Supreme Court.

"If you count the legal votes, I easily win. If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us, if you could the votes that came in late," Trump said.

"We were up by nearly 700,000 votes in Pennsylvania. I won Pennsylvania by a lot and that gets whittled down to, I think they said now we're up by 90,000 votes, and they keep coming and coming and coming, they find them all over," he said, adding "our numbers started miraculously getting whittled away in secret."

On Wednesday, the Trump campaign took legal action in an effort to prevent former Vice President Joe Biden from reaching the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. The lawsuits contest ballot counting in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Trump's lead in Georgia slipped to about 3,600 votes as of 7 p.m. Thursday. The state has approximately 19,000 ballots left to count, according to the Washington Post. In Pennsylvania, Trump's lead dropped to under 65,000 votes and is expected to shrink as more ballots are counted in heavily Democratic areas. Several hundred thousand ballots remain to be counted.

Trump has frequently baselessly attacked mail-in voting as being susceptible to fraud, despite evidence showing that such voter fraud is exceedingly rare. Because of this, Democrats have voted disproportionately by mail, while Republicans have voted disproportionately in person.




I CALLED THIS (Full video: https://t.co/SgrdBrbWTL) https://t.co/jmUT0ARVR7 pic.twitter.com/kJxMl2yqZe

— Alex Skolnick (@AlexSkolnick) November 6, 2020








pic.twitter.com/7dlIhHvFxu

— Todd La Torre (@ToddLaTorre) November 6, 2020








They should not air his press conferences. Lie after lie. Disinformation. Misinformation. Everyday this motherfucker tears us apart.

— Doc Coyle (@DocCoyle) November 5, 2020








Hey @realDonaldTrump .. Way to lie to the bitter end... So with your theory, the states you won are a fraud as well? Dude, get some fucking help, you are delusional... Leave with dignity... It's pathetic and embarrassing... #TrumpMeltdown #TrumpIsLosing

— Phil Varone (@REALPHILVARONE) November 6, 2020








Someone has to cut off this stupid press conference of utter horse shit.

— Danko Jones (@dankojones) November 6, 2020








Dear America, let's Count Every Vote and then when they are all in, count them again. And if whoever is the loser still thinks the numbers are illegitimate, #CountEveryVote a third time. Problem solved! pic.twitter.com/Fr4dHJ2O5l

— del james (@deljamesgang) November 6, 2020








What about @CNN ??? Take him off it's misinformation. https://t.co/lu7fDUi4rs

— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) November 5, 2020








If the rest of our government actually wants to start working together the first thing they should do is agree that they should be looking at Article 25. Trump has lost his collective minds.

— KevinLyman (@KevinLyman) November 6, 2020








It’s so weird how the Trump Trolls have instantly disappeared off Twitter. They stopped on Election Day. Must have been their last pay day... ?

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 5, 2020








The latest election count...

Biden - 264

Trump - 214

POWERMAN - 5000

— Spider One (@therealSpider1) November 5, 2020








Why then do so many Trump supporters just repeat all his crazy, non-factual sound bites as a basis for their own beliefs? Not doing any solid research or their own critical thinking is part of a blind faith cult like following? https://t.co/7wpCxNbYH1

— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) November 5, 2020




























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In the eve of an historic moment, desperation and fear has erected a 9 foot barricade around the perimeter of the #PEOPLESHOUSE, caging himself from the country he is supposed to lead. This is not leadership, this is cowardice.

A post shared by Burton C. Bell (@burtoncbell_official) on Nov 5, 2020 at 4:45pm PST

In a new interview with Metal Asylum, MEGADETH's David Ellefson was asked if he ever "got crap" from other bassists for playing with a pick/plectrum instead of his fingers. He said (see video below): "Weekend-warrior and, in my opinion, not professional bass players give me shit about it all the time. And I say that because if you were a professional player, you would realize that, while you don't maybe always have to use the plectrum, it is a desired tone, especially in the studio.

"Sting, Phil Lynott, Paul McCartney, Gene Simmons… What I find is most of those bass players, like myself, also play guitar, and they probably write most of their things on guitar and they move 'em over to bass so they can easily go back and forth between bass and guitar. I'm the same way.

"At that point, I stop thinking about, 'Oh, I've gotta be this bass player.' Fuck that," he continued. "You're just being a musician playing the parts to write the tune — you're a composer. So you just grab anything and you write the part. So, for me, I'm way less of a bass snob. And I'm really not into that whole thing, quite honestly — the bass snob thing. I'm really more of a composer, a player and a performer.

"I've been in the studio many times, and even recently, I was playing with my fingers, and the engineer looks over and goes, 'What'd you change?' And I said, 'I'm playing with my fingers.' He goes, 'Don't do that. Get the pick. It sounds better.' I mean, like that. It's noticeable."

Ellefson's latest comments echo those he made in October 2018 at the Bristol, England stop of the European leg of his "Basstory" tour. At the time, he said: "For me, I ended up picking up a plectrum, a pick, mostly because you guitar players are always too loud. And I was in bands where I could afford amps about that size [points to a small amp], as a kid, and I couldn't afford big Ampeg SVTs and big stuff like that. And guitar players would get 50-, 100-watt Marshall half stacks and we would have to turn them against the wall, 'cause they were so loud. Because the sound man, when he does this [lifts arms above his head an shakes his head], that means the P.A. is off, you're not in it and you're too loud. And most guitar players go, 'Fuck that, dude! I'm gonna fucking play loud.' Pardon my language, but that's just kind of how guitar players are. So in order to compete with that, I picked up the plectrum, because when I got in a band, all of a sudden, that got in the mix; now I was in the room finally and got inside the kick drum. I learned that later making records about how to get my bass kind of right inside that kick drum, so as the drummer… as that beater hit the skin, that was the cannon and I was the cannonball right behind it. But that really is my philosophy."

Back in 2015, Ellefson told EMG that he "chose a pick 'cause as a young teenager I was always playing in bands with very loud rock 'n' roll guitarists, and in order to compete with them — I had my little 2x12 cabinet and a 100-watt head — I found that with a pick I was able to get a tone and dig into the notes. It was the attack. It cuts right through," he added, explaining that pick playing was of great importance for acquiring the desired sound for MEGADETH, allowing him to "pick up the guitar lines," as well as just groove the root note.

David's solo band, ELLEFSON, will release its covers album, "No Cover", on November 20 via earMUSIC (Europe) and Ward Records (Japan). The effort will be made available in conjunction with Ellefson's revived Combat Records, which will issue the album in North America via Amped.

Rock legends AC/DC have partnered with DC Shoes for an explosive collaboration that's shot to thrill on DC pro skateboarders Evan Smith and Wes Kremer. The collection tributes two of the band's most recognized albums, "Highway To Hell" and "Back In Black", both of which recently celebrated 40th-anniversary milestones.

AC/DC and DC Shoes' values overlap as seamlessly as the letters in their name, in the IDGAF and DIY culture of the band who, before the stadiums and superstardom, were gritty rebels of the Aussie pub rock scene.

In the early days of skateboarding, some of the industry's most memorable skate videos featured the roaring riffs of AC/DC. These videos inspired a generation of skateboarders and, AC/DC's ageless anthems continue to inspire today.

Join DC Shoes in saluting one of the world's most iconic rock bands of all time by getting behind this thunderous collaboration consisting of t-shirts, footwear and accessories. You never know, you might just find yourself shook, all night long.

AC/DC x DC Shoes drops November 7 at dcshoes.com and selected retailers worldwide.

Global pricing

Footwear RRP's: USD $55 - $75.

Apparel + Accessory RRP's: USD $25 - $75.

When DC launched in 1994, it was a profound disruption to the skateboarding industry — a juxtaposition of skateboarding, music, art, and streetwear with oversized confidence, style, and performance. DC established itself with groundbreaking product and an unmatched roster of team-riders who lived and breathed the brand ethos. DC helped shape modern collaboration culture by pioneering partnerships with the likes of Supreme, FTP, Shepard Fairey and Buscemi. In 2020, DC continues to push the envelope by collaborating with bold brands like AC/DC, 40s & Shorties, Paterson and Doublet.

THE OFFSPRING has just released its Bob Rock-produced cover version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", a rock song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 seasonal compilation album "A Christmas Gift For You" from Phil Spector.

Says THE OFFSPRING frontman Dexter Holland: "It just seemed like the world could use a nice holiday song right now. We've always been huge fans of Darlene Love, so when the idea came up to do a Christmas song, we jumped at the chance to record that one…and tried not to wreck it!"

This past April, THE OFFSPRING jumped on the "Tiger King" bandwagon by recording a cover version of THE CLINTON JOHNSON BAND's "Here Kitty Kitty", a song made popular by Joe Schreibvogel — better known as Joe Exotic, the "Tiger King" — through the Netflix docuseries.

The official music video accompanying the California rockers' rendition of "Here Kitty Kitty" saw Holland and guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman abiding by social distancing regulations while sporting facial masks. They were accompanied on drums by someone wearing a tiger costume while a couple of "feline" friends keep things light for the band's fans.

THE OFFSPRING recently completed work on its long-awaited tenth album. The follow-up to 2012's "Days Go By" was once again produced by Rock, who also worked on the band's last two LPs.

Acclaimed rock producer Nick Raskulinecz has told Gearphoria magazine that he would love to work with METALLICA, calling them "the greatest metal band of all time, in my opinion."

He said: "In the early/mid-'80s, there was METALLICA, and that was it. I dug a lot of the '80s hair bands, but once METALLICA started coming out, that's what really got me into heavy music. Between 1984/85, me and my friends were the guys in high school with the METALLICA patches sewn onto their jean jackets, walking down the hallways screaming 'METALLICA!' in everyone's faces at 9:30 in the morning. It was like a gang. That's how music used to be. You were in a gang with your buddies and you were in the know. There was this thing called METALLICA and in Knoxville, Tennessee, not a lot of people knew about METALLICA, but me and all my friends did. We were all about it. Recording a band like METALLICA, now, then or whatever, I think would be pretty awesome.'

When the interviewer told Nick that he "should hook that up," Raskulinecz responded: "Ahhh... I've tried. They're not interested. Who knows, maybe they'll read this and call me."

Based in Nashville, Raskulinecz has worked with RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN, RISE AGAINST and DEFTONES, among others, and over three decades in the studio, has notched 19 Grammy nominations, nearly 50 No. 1 rock records and 70 top 10 radio hits.

For the last few years, METALLICA has worked almost exclusively with producer Greg Fidelman, who helmed the band's latest album, 2016's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct". Prior to collaborating with Fidelman, METALLICA used Paul Curio for the band's debut album, 1983's "Kill 'Em All"; Flemming Rasmussen for the following three albums, "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets" and "…And Justice For All"; Bob Rock for 1991's self-titled album, "Load", "Re-Load" and "St. Anger"; and Rick Rubin for 2008's "Death Magnetic".

Holden Matthews, who pleaded guilty to setting three historically Black St. Landry Parish churches on fire, will spend more than 23 years in federal prison, reports Ashley White of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser. 

Matthews will serve 282 months after he was sentenced Monday by Federal District Judge Robert Summerhays. The judge sentenced him to 25 years but gave him 18 months credit for the time he has already spent in jail. While in prison, Summerhays recommends Matthews receive substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling. 

"I am sympathetic with your struggles and in wanting to fit in you became involved with an ideology that led you to this place," Summerhays told Matthews. “These actions were not impulsive, they were planned."

Matthews also must pay about $2.7 million in restitution to the three churches he burned. Matthews burned the three churches — St. Mary Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church — over a 10-day span in 2019.

During his sentencing, Matthews gave a statement to the court and apologized for his actions. "There are not enough words in the English language to express how sorry I am," Matthews said. 'If I could go back and change it all I would." Matthews also said he had "found Christ" while in jail and was remorseful that his crimes not only hurt his "real family and friends" but also his "brothers and sisters in Christ."

Federal prosecutors argued during a bond hearing earlier this year that Matthews set the churches on fire to gain notoriety in the black metal music community, a subgenre that focuses on dark themes. Followers have been tied to other church fires and extreme acts throughout the U.S. Matthews copied similar crimes committed in the 1990s by a Norwegian metal band.

Learn more at this location.

(Photo - Louisiana State Fire Marshal)

 

 




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Joe Bonamassa's new solo studio album, "Royal Tea", hit the Billboard charts this week with record-breaking numbers, as the blues-rock titan landed his 24th No. 1 album on the Blues chart; an incredible feat and more than any other artist in the history of the chart. The critically acclaimed new album reigned over a slew charts this week, also hitting No. 5 on Top Current Albums, No. 6 on Top Albums, No. 6 on Independent Albums, No. 7 on Rock, No. 41 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 48 on the Top Artist 100 chart.

"Royal Tea" is available now online and in stores from Bonamassa's own label J&R Adventures. Recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, "Royal Tea" features honorable nods to his British heroes Jeff Beck, John Mayall & THE BLUESBREAKERS, Eric Clapton, LED ZEPPELIN and CREAM.

Bonamassa has snatched a career-best release with "Royal Tea", chalking up another chapter for the Abbey Road folklore, and finally delivering the album he's dreamt of since the start.

"The reason I wanted to come to Abbey Road was for myself, the band and the fans," Bonamassa says. "The P.T. Barnum in me was going, 'Hey, this would be a cool event.' It was a risk coming over here, and this album has fought us to get here. But I think we've pulled it off…"

Bonamassa is known for taking risks and venturing into uncharted territory throughout his wide-ranging career but now he has found a new way to surprise his fans and music lovers. Since his 2000 debut, "A New Day Yesterday", that founding influence has stayed close to the surface of Bonamassa's astounding solo album catalogue. Yet he's always let his choice of studio infuse his work, whether stirring the vibe of the Greek island of Santorini into 2010's "Black Rock", placing his bets on Sin City for 2014's Vegas-tracked "Different Shades Of Blue", or working with the cream of Nashville on 2016's "Blues Of Desperation".

"Where you record an album leaves a fingerprint on the music," he points out. "This album is a snapshot, too."

These ten original tracks were co-written by Joe and a cast of homegrown notables, including former WHITESNAKE guitarist Bernie Marsden, ex-CREAM lyricist Pete Brown and national-treasure piano man Jools Holland.

"Writing this record in London has done its job," reflects Bonamassa. "It really does sound inherently British. Bernie and I, we finish each other's sentences. We're cut from the same cloth." Bonamassa's long-standing producer Kevin Shirley and regular touring band flew in for the recording sessions, which included Anton Fig (drums), Michael Rhodes (bass) and Reese Wynans (keys).

Photo credit: Jim Herrington

Iconic guitarist Steve Hackett will release his new acoustic album, "Under A Mediterranean Sky", on January 22, 2021 as a limited CD digipak, gatefold 2LP + CD + LP-booklet and digital album via InsideOut Music. "Under A Mediterranean Sky" is Hackett's first acoustic solo album since "Tribute" in 2008 and takes inspiration from Steve's extensive travels around the Mediterranean with his wife Jo.

Working closely with long-time musical partner Roger King, Hackett has used his time during 2020's lockdown to take us on an extraordinary musical journey around the Mediterranean, painting vivid images of stunning landscapes and celebrating the diverse cultures of the region. Famed for his rock roots with GENESIS, and through his extensive solo catalogue, Hackett demonstrates the exquisite beauty of the nylon guitar at times venturing into the exotic ethnic and often supported by dazzling orchestral arrangements.

"A lot of acoustic ideas had been forming over the years, and it felt like the perfect time to create this album," notes Hackett, "a time to contemplate the places we've visited around the Mediterranean with the kind of music which evolved from the world of imagination.

"Because we can't really travel substantially at the moment, I hope that the album will take people on that journey. Whether you sit down and listen to it or drift off to it with a glass of wine…"

Track listing:

01. Mdina - The Walled City (Steve Hackett / Roger King)

02. Adriatic Blue (Steve Hackett)

03. Sirocco (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King)

04. Joie De Vivre (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett)

05. The Memory Of Myth (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King

06. Scarlatti Sonata (Domenico Scarlatti)

07. Casa Del Fauno (Steve Hackett / Roger King)

08. The Dervish And The Djin (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King)

09. Lorato (Steve Hackett)

10. Andalusian Heart (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King)

11. The Call Of The Sea (Steve Hackett)

Our journey around the Med begins on the island of Malta, in "Mdina - The Walled City". Its imposing strength is portrayed by Roger King's dramatic orchestration while Hackett's guitar weaves through the atmospheric streets describing the creativity, love and strength that held Malta together between all the waves of conflict.

With Hackett's delicate guitar work, "Adriatic Blue" paints an enchanting view of stunning scenery as tall cliffs of forested mountains plunge into the deep blue sea along the Croatian coastline. "Sirocco" is altogether more atmospheric, inspired by the winds playing through the imposing structures of Egypt.

The lively "Joie De Vivre" expresses the unique sense of joy the French have through their wine, food and folk music, with paintings reflecting family gatherings, spectacular vistas and the vibrant colours of their cities. The art of dreaming is embodied in their sensual love of life.

"At first hand, I've marveled at the mystical whirling Dervishes," says Hackett. Along with otherworldly beings such as the Djin (Genie) they sprang from Persia's dreaming past. "The Dervish And The Djin" captures the extraordinary atmosphere of this most exotic of civilizations with the help of Hackett's touring band regular — Rob Townsend's soprano sax, the tar of Malik Mansurov (from Azerbaijan) and Armenian Arsen Petrosyan's duduk. "Of course, those countries are virtually at war with each other," Hackett adds, "and there has been something like a thousand casualties (at the time of writing) on both sides. Again, it's a case of music being able to do things that politicians fail to do — something constructive."

"The Memory Of Myth" embodies the deep and rich history of Greece and features the violin of Christine Townsend (no relation) while "Lorato" — "love" in the language of the African Tswana tribe — is a pretty folk tune. Love is the force that heals and links all disparate peoples of the Mediterranean.

Hackett and his wife Jo were enchanted by the little Faun statue in the House of the Faun, Pompeii. "The villas there seemed to come back to life as we walked through those wonderful atriums and gardens," inspiring "Casa Del Fauno" and featuring the light and airy flute of Hackett's brother John and Rob Townsend on flute.

The only non-original piece is Domenico Scarlatti's "Sonata". This embodies the Baroque music of Italy, a sensitive interpretation embellished with cross-string trills, a technique introduced to Hackett by the fine classical guitarist, the late Theo Cheng.

Hackett also expresses his admiration for the flamenco guitarists of Andalucía who are celebrated on Andalusian Heart. "One of the flamenco guitarists was showing me the extraordinary things they are able to do,” Hackett explains. "Seeing the gypsies playing and dancing in caves there, you get the feeling that these people are dancing for their lives."

Our journey comes to an end with "The Call Of The Sea", a gentle and peaceful reflection of the vast body of water that unites the many civilisations both ancient and modern.

"Under A Mediterranean Sky" features Steve Hackett playing nylon, steel string and twelve-string guitars, charango and Iraqi oud. Keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements are by Roger King. Featured musicians are John Hackett and Rob Townsend, flute ("Casa Del Fauno"); Malik Mansurov, tar and Arsen Petrosyan, duduk and Rob Townsend, Sax ("The Dervish And The Djin"); Christine Townsend, violin ("The Memory of Myth" and "The Call Of The Sea"). All tracks were produced by Steve Hackett and Roger King with all tracks recorded and mixed by Roger King at Siren.

"I had a great time doing this album, seeing it take shape, and I'm very pleased with the outcome. I'm very proud of it," says Hackett. "The nylon guitar has a very individual sound but, within the compass of what the nylon-strung guitar can do, there are a lot of different tones. You can do the full-on attack, the kind of salvo that you expect from the flamenco players but, at the same time, it can also be very gentle, gentle as a harp. It's shades of black and white. It's also exciting to play alongside instruments from around the world, as well as a wide range of orchestral sounds."

Scott Phillips says that a reunion of CREED is "a possibility down the road."

This past June, CREED updated its Facebook profile with an old photo, igniting rumors of the band's imminent return.

Phillips, who is promoting ALTER BRIDGE's new EP, "Walk The Sky 2.0", discussed the chances of a CREED comeback during a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio.

Asked about CREED changing its social media a few moths ago to reflect a classic band photo, the drummer said: "I didn't know that that had happened. That's interesting. I'm the worst when it comes to social media. I go through phases where I'm into it for about two days, and then I don't pick it up for about two months. But, that being said, there's always talk every now and then of the possibility of us getting back together and doing some stuff. We're all in a good spot right now where we feel like we have a good relationship amongst the four of us. Obviously, Mark [Tremonti, guitar] and Brian [Marshall, bass] and I are in the same band together. But Scott [Stapp, vocals] seems to be doing really, really well. There's some dialogue. We tend to check up on each other when it's birthdays and holidays, things like that. So, there has been some chatter, and there's no specific timetable for anything or no specific plans, but it's a possibility down the road. We'll just kind of let it play out naturally and see what happens."

Phillips's latest comments echo those of Stapp, who told "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, in July that he wouldn't rule out a CREED return, eight years after the band completed a tour in support of its fourth album, 2009's "Full Circle".

"For the longest time, there's been nothing but positivity and support for each other with the guys and myself," he said. "And so anything is possible. If that time comes, I guarantee you, and you can be sure, that we will let the whole world know."

CREED disbanded in 2004 but reunited five years later for the aforementioned "Full Circle" LP and an extensive tour. The band had begun working in 2012 on a follow-up album, but the project was abandoned. Stapp has since toured and recorded as a solo artist, although he suffered a drug-related mental breakdown in 2014 and spent several years recovering from that.

Back in 2019, Tremonti said in an interview on Jamey Jasta's podcast that he was sitting on an album's worth of material for CREED. Asked whether CREED could reunite again, Tremonti said, "People say, 'Is it done? Is it over? Is there new music coming out?' I'm sitting on an entire CREED album... When we were together doing the reunion tour, we put a lot of music together and I have like really sketchy little demos of probably 13 songs. I listened to them maybe a year ago and they're good songs."

Tremonti added: "It's just, there's no time. Is it good enough for me to put everything on the back burner that I've been working on for the past 14 years? No. Is it good enough to maybe 10 years from now or seven years from now... or some big resurgence happens or there's an anniversary where everybody's like, 'We want to see CREED and the world demands it like they used to.' I wouldn't say no."

Tremonti, who also leads his own self-named band and plays in ALTER BRIDGE with the other instrumental members of CREED, told The Pulse Of Radio a while back he doesn't see CREED working again anytime soon. "I'm just so full of commitments between TREMONTI and ALTER BRIDGE, and juggling these two bands writing-wise and just touring-wise, it's like almost impossible to do all three, and I'm very satisfied with what I'm doing now," he said.

Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick has addressed Ace Frehley's recent comment that Bruce blows Tommy Thayer off the stage.

In a chat with "That Jamieson Show", the original KISS axeman stated about Bruce: "Of all the guitar players that have taken my place in KISS, Bruce by far blows them all away, as far as I'm concerned. He's definitely the best guitar player.

"When Tommy gets up there and does my solos, he tries to play 'em note for note, but he doesn't have the swagger or the attitude," Ace explained. "Bruce used to play my solos, but he'd kind of make 'em his own, and he'd switch notes a little, and he had some originality. Tommy is just going through the motions. Bruce, by far, blows Tommy off the stage."

Kulick reacted to Frehley's compliments during an October 21 interview with Rob's School Of Music. He said (see video below): "I always knew that Ace liked me — he would say kind things about me. Not that I think he commented too much on KISS and everything. His relationship with them is very different than it would be for me. I was just one of those lucky guys who stepped in. And what I think he's reflected on, which has been wonderful, of course, is the fact that I was able to take signature riffs of his, but then make it my own, so I think he appreciated that. Now, clearly, Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] do want Tommy to be the 'Spaceman,' which means to play more like Ace, and Tommy always knew that stuff better than me. So it was part of his job description, if you get what I mean, and I don't fault him for it. I think he does it great. And I'm good friends with Tommy."

Bruce also talked about the fact that he got to make a guest appearance on "Origins Vol. 2", the sequel to Ace's 2016 collection of cover songs that inspired the original KISS guitarist.

"I think it's a really cool thing that I got to be on a track and to have me represented," Kulick said. "And, of course, his fans are really rabid about him, and many of them, of course, are supporters of the non-makeup [era of KISS], but the ones that aren't, they got some exposure with me."

Two years ago, Frehley told Yahoo! Entertainment that he had "nothing bad to say about Tommy… You know, it'd be one thing if Tommy would have invented his own character, invented his own guitar solos," he said. "But unfortunately, he's copying everything I do, note for note. There's not much leeway for anybody to say what he's doing is original. I don't know how I could handle that, you know? I don't think I could step into a situation and be somebody else. It's almost like being a robot. Poor Tommy. My heart bleeds for him."

In March 2019, Thayer admitted to Argus Leader in an interview that his addition to KISS in 2003 as the replacement for Frehley was met with some backlash from the band's fans. However, now that he has been in KISS even longer than Frehley's combined years, he says that he has become more comfortable in the lead guitar role.

"I have to be honest, when I first came into the band, there was some pressure," Thayer said. "It was kind of a no-win situation when you're replacing somebody like that. There's a lot of fans who are unhappy with this and I understand. They followed the band for a long time and it's hard to see things like that change sometimes. After a few years went by, I got more confident and more comfortable in the situation, as time goes on, it continues to be a growing experience and something that I get more used to."

Thayer told Rolling Stone magazine that he had no discomfort about wearing Frehley's makeup. He explained: "First of all, I didn't have any input on that. That was a decision that those guys made. There was not even a conversation about it, because I think it was so obvious, that they weren't going to introduce new characters 30 years into the band. I never thought that there should be some new designs or something. I thought that would have been ridiculous. And the only thing is, you've got a lot of push-back from some of the diehards. And that's understandable. Hey, you know, if you lived in the seventies and KISS was your favorite band, and that's what you grew up with, and suddenly there's another guy wearing that makeup, I can understand how some people, it might not have appealed to them as much. But as time as gone by, a lot of people have changed their mind."

Back in 2015, Thayer refused to criticize Frehley after Ace spoke out against Tommy in an interview, describing him as "just a guy up there copying me and trying to move like me and trying to sing like me and trying to play like me."

Thayer told Australia's The Herald: "I don't want to get into a back-and-forth, but I'm sure you can kind of assess what you think when you hear all that.

"I think [Ace] had every opportunity in the world to continue in KISS and be in KISS as long as he did the right thing, but it worked out better for me and he has to lead his life," he continued.

"As far as the jabs and all that, he can say that stuff and I'm not going to say anything bad about him. I just wish all the best to everybody in whatever they're doing."

In 1984, Bruce joined KISS, and accompanied the band on the "Animalize" tour and continuing with them until the 1996 reunion tour. Bruce is heavily featured on "Kissology - Vol. 2" and "Vol. 3", the band's DVDs spanning their historic four-decade-plus career.

In a new interview with Rocking With Jam Man, vocalist/guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metal legends ANVIL was asked to name his "dream tour." He responded (see video below): "If I could get an opening slot for one of the major bands, it would be nice. It would be nice to go on tour with METALLICA — only because I've known 'em for many years, and we've never done it. There's two good reasons. So that would be kind of a dream tour. We got to do one show with them [in August 2013 in Singapore], which was pretty cool, but it would be nice to do a whole tour. Why not?"

When Jam Man pointed out to Lips that ANVIL influenced METALLICA in the beginning of the latter band's career, Kudlow said: "Ultimately, I don't know what that gets me. [Laughs] That doesn't even get me into the movie theater. [Laughs] That doesn't even buy me popcorn or a coffee.

"[A tour is] what I'm hoping it will get me; one day maybe they'll give me that opening slot. But so far, it hasn't meant much."

Lips previously spoke about ANVIL's Singapore concert with METALLICA during a 2015 interview with Record Collector magazine. He said: "[It] was amazing. Very interestingly, when we got there, we were in the changing room, and I was gonna get myself sorted, and all of a sudden [legendary rock photographer] Ross Halfin walks in, and he starts in [adopts British accent]: 'Where is your homosexual guitar player?' He goes up to Robb [Reiner, ANVIL drummer] and he starts giving me fucking stick right away. So he proceeds to tell us: 'I knew you were here. That's why I [came looking] for you, but I just told the [METALLICA] guys that you're here and they thought you were playing a pub nearby and they were going, 'Let's go watch them.'' He goes, 'No, you don't have to leave the venue. They're opening for you tonight.' And then they're freaking out. So, you know, we got together. I mean, I hadn't talked to James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] since 1983; so that's a long time ago."

He continued: "We [METALLICA and ANVIL first] met back in '83 with the Old Bridge Militia. If you know what that is, it was an area in New Jersey. Jonny Z [Megaforce Records] had brought METALLICA, and they were all staying at our friend Joe's place. And we just happened to be down at the same time, and that's when we first met. And we came down with a copy of the 'Forged In Fire' album and they just had 'Kill 'Em All'. And we swapped and we listened to each other's records and had a good time that day, all that, and I hadn't seen [James] again since. It was pretty out there. And it felt like [when we saw them in Singapore] we just continued the conversation from 35 years ago. Here we are now."

Lips went on to praise the METALLICA guys for remaining "really down to earth" despite their mega-rock-star status. He said: "To them, we're from the same world, so you never got the feeling, like, 'Hey, man, we're big rock stars and you're just the little guys.' It was nothing like that. It was with huge respect — mutual respect, which is… That's a good thing. Nothing wrong with that."

The ANVIL frontman also recounted a funny incident that happened in the days following the Singapore concert. He said: "What was really interesting, a week later, we get home back from Singapore, and the METALLICA movie ['Through The Never'], the 3D one, had just come out and it was being debuted in Toronto. So James is walking along the street in Toronto, and Robb's son is up on a scaffold doing some painting. And he looks down and he goes, 'Hey, James, wait right there. I'm coming down.' He lowers the scaffold. James is just watching this guy. He goes, 'I'm gonna stay here. I've gotta see what the fuck… This guy really acts like he really desperately wants to talk, so I'm gonna see what he has to say.' And Tyler goes running up to James. He goes, 'I'm Robb Reiner's son.' And James goes, 'Oh my fucking God! I can't believe it, man. I was just with your dad last week. This is fucking unbelievable.'"


Rocking with Jam Man Talks With Lips from Anvil

Rocking with Jam Man Talks With Lips from Anvil about Covid and how it is effecting the band and the entire world, how touring is going to be, How they are recording their 19th album and joked it will be Anvil-19, we talk about Anvil's past and his best and worst memories, and He talks about what he got from influencing Metallica

Posted by Rocking With Jam Man on Sunday, November 1, 2020

Former Guns N' Roses manager Doug Goldstein recently joined the Appetite For Distortion podcast for a closer look into the GNR live album, Live Era '87-'93. He also answers fan-submitted questions. Check out the interview below.

On guitarist Gilby Clarke being fired in 1994

Goldstein: "Gilby still believes that Axl (Rose) was the bad guy who threw him out of the band, and all I can say is that Axl, from the beginning of Gilby being hired, said, 'Once the tour's over, guys, that's it for Gilby, because I want to take this in a different direction...' They all knew it, yet particularly Slash - and to a great extent Duff (McKagan) as well - were telling Gilby, 'We're going to keep you around, we're going to keep you around.' And Axl stayed consistent: 'I've always said it, once it's over, it's over!' It was pretty unfair to Axl that he took the heat for shitcanning Gilby when that really wasn't the case at all.

Maybe they really wanted Gilby to stay in the band, but they certainly weren't very vocal about it to Axl at all. They didn't put it this way, they didn't stick up for Gilby when it came time for Axl to say, 'That's it, we got to go in a different direction.' There was no conversation about, 'But, wait, we love him and he's got to be here.' None of that."

During a conversation with Ultimate Guitar's Justin Beckner, Clarke addressed Goldstein's comments.

Clarke: "Well, I will comment on it. But look, Axl was the guy who threw me out of the band. That's a fact. There have been a lot of statements after the fact, but I can only comment on things that Axl spoke to me. I'm not going to go through hearsay about things that have been written on message boards or anything like that, I'm only going by what he said to me. And Axl very much wanted me in the writing process. I know that has been spoken about afterward and why he changed his mind, I don't know. But I know that I was going to be in the writing process of that record.

Axl and I do not have a bad relationship. I mean, I haven't spoken to him in a long time, we were never close, but while we were in the band together, we did talk quite a bit. He would call me on the phone and we had some very nice conversations about music and the future of the band and all that kind of stuff. Also, I may have felt that maybe he had something against me during all these years, but you know, he invited me to come to play with the band when the band got back together. So obviously if he had a problem with me, he would not have invited me. I don't know what Doug is talking about."

UG: Is that door between you and Guns open at this point?

Clarke: "Oh yeah, always. Always. But you know, no matter what, I have respect for the band. I've always thought that even after I wasn't in the band, I always paid the band their respect. I never took it for what it was or what it wasn't but I always tried to treat those years with respect. I never try to put the band down or try to gain from that. But if it ever came up, I'd have to see what the situation is. Just like before when people asked me and I said, yeah I would absolutely be a guest. But that situation didn't work out for me at that time. 

There's also something else that's in the back of my mind. When the band was going through changes and we were in flux, Axl did have that idea of three guitars a long time ago and I think I was maybe the only one who was adamant in saying that was a bad idea. I just thought - you have Slash. You have a rhythm guitar player that accentuates Slash, but Slash is the sound of the band. If you put three in there, you take away one of the great things about that band."

Read more here.




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Founding KISS guitarist and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame member, Ace Frehley, recently guested on The Disc Dive. In the installment below he talks about Love Gun, Alive II, Dynasty, Unmasked, and Music From The Elder.

On the Unmasked album, released in 1980:

"Most of the songs that I wrote in those days, I played bass on. In retrospect, I think Gene (Simmons) might have been hurt a little because a lot of times I wouldn't even ask him. I'd go, 'I'm playing bass on this song; I wrote the bass part, I wanna do it.' I never really gave him a chance to do his version of what the bass part should be. At that point I guess I was becoming a little pushy about the way I wanted my songs to sound. Be that as it may, it seemed to work at the time."

Origins Vol. 2 continues Frehley’s reflections on a lifetime in music and inspiration. No stranger to cover versions throughout his musical history - having recorded, rebranded, and repossessed such notable nuggets as "New York Groove", "Do Ya" and "I Wanna Go Back" throughout his eight previous studio efforts - this new collection presents a thoughtful and exciting selection of songs that inspired and helped shape the legendary guitarist. That spirit of fun is carried through with exquisite execution, and guitar aficionados will enjoy Frehley's fresh interpretations of these classic songs.

Origins Vol. 2 features some extraordinary guests, including Robin Zander of Cheap Trick on Humble Pie's "30 Days In The Hole," and former KISS comrade Bruce Kulick on Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression." Origins Vol. 1 alumnus John5 also returns, playing on Cream's "Politician," and The Beatles' "I'm Down." Finally, the exquisite Lita Ford returns on vocals, this time on The Rolling Stones' 1968 hit "Jumpin' Jack Flash".

Origins Vol. 2 is the follow-up to 2016’s Origins Vol. 1, which hit #23 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and was his second highest-charting solo album and his 4th Top 40 album.

Origins Vol. 2 tracklisting:

"Good Times Bad Times" (Led Zeppelin)
"Never In My Life" (Mountain)
"Space Truckin'" (Deep Purple)
"I'm Down" (The Beatles)
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" (The Rolling Stones)
"Politician" (Cream)
"Lola" (The Kinks)
"30 Days In The Hole" (Humble Pie)
"Manic Depression" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
"Kicks" (Paul Revere & The Raiders)
"We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" (The Animals)

Bonus track:
"She" (KISS)

"I'm Down" visualizer:

"Space Truckin'" video:




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Stone Sour have released a demo version of "Peckinpah", which is available for streaming below.

Guitarist Josh Rand states: "'Peckinpah': The Certain Side gets back on its feet and steels itself to overthrow the vain madness that looks like possession."




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The official lyric video for "Too Mean To Die", the title track of the upcoming album from German/American metallers ACCEPT, can be seen below. The disc will be released on January 15, 2021 via Nuclear Blast.

ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann explains: "We decided to not let ourselves be overly influenced by current events. Fans will get a hard, direct and uncompromising metal album, but, of course, accompanied with a wink: we are too mean to die! Weeds do not go away! ACCEPT do not let themselves get down!"

The first single from "Too Mean To Die", "The Undertaker", was released in a two-track format, with a previously unreleased live version of "Life's A Bitch" recorded in Oulu/Finland 2019. It is available digitally and as exclusive seven-inch vinyl in three colors, each limited to 300 pieces. Colors for Europe are gold and marble and red for the USA.

"Too Mean To Die" 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 latest album, 2017's "The Rise Of Chaos", marked the band's first release with guitarist Uwe Lulis and drummer Christopher Williams, replacing Herman Frank and Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively.

ACCEPT's upcoming LP will be the group's first without bassist Peter Baltes, who exited the group in November 2018. He has since been replaced by Martin Motnik.

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.

ACCEPT 2020 is:

Wolf Hoffmann - Guitar

Mark Tornillo - Vocals

Christopher Williams - Drums

Uwe Lulis - Guitar

Martin Motnik - Bass

Philip Shouse - Guitar

FILTER mainman Richard Patrick has unveiled the Mister Sam Shearon-created cover art for the band's upcoming album, "Murica". Check it out below.

Late last month, FILTER released the official music video for the "Murica" title track. Patrick is recording the LP with such players as original FILTER member Brian Liesegang and guitarists Jonny Radtke and Alex Crescioni.

Speaking to Alternative Press about the "Murica" clip, Patrick said: "The character in the video is a Trump-supporting, gun-loving, unmedicated, super-freak 'merican unhinged and at his wits' end. And he's trying to take control of something that is not out of control. And he's afraid. He's the super-afraid white male. The Trump-supporting nutbag that I hope I can reach.

"These guys that are so far right that they think CNN, NBC, ABC, MSNBC [and] BBC are all out to get our President Trump. Like they're all in a conspiracy to be super-left-wing, crazy liars. I'm trying to make an attempt to show them what they look like. These are the guys that can only listen to Fox News and Breitbart and that type of news outlet. They believe every fucking thing that the Rush Limbaughs, the Alex Joneses [say] and listen to only the right wing, 'the truth, man.' They do their 'own research' and believe 9/11 was an inside job, President Obama wasn't a real citizen and the lunar landings were faked. Hillary Clinton personally went out and killed people in Benghazi and it's her fault, she's [a] criminal and 'lock her up.' It's those people that I'm portraying in the video.

"Who is the character aiming at at the end of the video? He's aiming at anyone from the left and at anyone from the normal middle. The regular folks who make up the country that are pretty much normal and just want to raise their kids and stay COVID-19-free and try and make a living."

Asked if he thinks "Murica" is going to piss people off or it's going to be a rallying point, Patrick said: "I just wanted to show this surreal, crazy side of what America looks like. I literally am doing it just so the record shows that someone was willing to fuckin' say something about the right. Something about how crazy they are.

"A lot of my fans are from the right, and they're, like, 'Man, I like 'Hey Man, Nice Shot'. Why are you fucking talking about politics?' Because it has to be done. Someone has to say it. I'm not hearing a lot of hip-hop guys sayin' it. Country music represents the right. I'm not hearing anyone from the left say anything. Let the public record show that I tried something during this time period that at least maybe 100,000 fans are going to see on YouTube. At least I know that I said something, and I tried, and that's it.

"I don't make music to try and get rich. I have built up my scoring career, and I can make money other ways other than just selling records. For me, FILTER are my mouthpiece.

"I just wanted to make a video that was like what MINISTRY in 1988 might've done right now. From my earliest upbringings, something like U2's 'New Year's Day'. They were a political band. They wrote 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', and they were talking about things that were important to them in Ireland. I just feel like there's no other choice for me right now than to examine the craziness of America. This place known as Murica."

Richard has successfully led and spearheaded FILTER for the last 20 years, releasing many platinum records, including "Title of Record" and "The Almagamut".

The reunion of Patrick and Liesegang reportedly happened after they were challenged from the stage in mid-performance by their mutual friend Louise Post of VERUCA SALT, who stopped her concert to admonish them "to bury any bullshit, forget the crap, and get their shit together." The two had an interesting conversation on the drive home. After initially treating their renewed collaboration as an experiment to see what "might happen," they rediscovered not only their friendship, but also their unique "yin and yang" working style.

FILTER's most recent LP, "Crazy Eyes", came out in April 2016 via Wind-Up Records.
























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#murica album art by @mistersamshearon

A post shared by Richard Patrick (@filter_richard_patrick) on Nov 2, 2020 at 10:01pm PST

Glenn Hughes has paid tribute to Ken Hensley, former URIAH HEEP vocalist songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who died peacefully on November 4 following a very short illness. He was 75 years old.

Earlier today, the legendary ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist took to his social media to write: "So deeply saddened to hear that my long time friend & Brother, for five decades, Ken Hensley @uriahheepofficial ,has passed. An incredible songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, and more importantly, - a beautiful kind human being. Your music will live on Ken. Honored to have sung a song called 'Last Dance' on your solo album, Blood on the Highway. All my Love ..."

Hensley was one of the most important musicians of the past half a century. His work with URIAH HEEP in the 1970s helped to make the band hugely influential. He also collaborated with bands such as BLACKFOOT, W.A.S.P. and CINDERELLA, as well as building a very successful solo career. As a writer, he was responsible for such classics as "Lady In Black", "Easy Livin'", "July Morning" and "Look At Yourself".

A very spiritual person, Hensley became an inspiration to many and known for encouraging talented artists.

Ken had recently finished work on a new project, "My Book Of Answers", which is due for release end of February 2021.

He leaves behind a wife, Monica, and two brothers Trevor, Mark and sister Dawn, and his close friend and manager Steve Weltman.

Photo credit: David Pickles
























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So deeply saddened to hear that my long time friend & Brother, for five decades, Ken Hensley @uriahheepofficial ,has passed. An incredible songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, and more importantly, - a beautiful kind human being. Your music will live on Ken. Honored to have sung a song called “Last Dance”on your solo album, Blood on the Highway. All my Love ...??? G

A post shared by Glenn Hughes (@glennhughesonline) on Nov 5, 2020 at 10:14am PST

Poland's black/death metal tyrants, Azarath, are streaming a new song off their upcoming album, Saint Desecration, due out November 27 via Agonia Records.  Listen to "No Salvation" below:

The unholy metal congregation is pealing its bells for the third time this decade, announcing the successor of Blasphemers' Maledictions (2011) and In Extremis (2017). Saint Desecration is a new extreme illumination revealed by Azarath at the altar of blackened death metal. Unrepentant and provocative to the core, the album is set to astound the connoisseurs of sonic terror.

Azarath crept from the shadows over two decades ago and is often described as a demonic mutation of Krisiun, Behemoth and Immolation. Co-founded by sole original member and drummer Inferno (of Behemoth fame), the group comprises long-running guitarist Bart (Damnation, Armagedon), long-time bassist Peter (ex-Lost Soul) and new vocalist Skullripper (Embrional).

Saint Desecration was recorded and mixed at Tall Pine Records with Haldor Grundberg (Satanic Audio) at helm and mastered at Audiosiege Studio by Brad Boatright. The cover artwork was painted by Marta Promińska of Hypnagogic Painting.

Pre-order here.

Formats:

- Digi CD
- Jewelcase CD
- Black LP
- Marbled Lava LP
- Picture LP
- Digital

Tracklisting:

“Death-At-Will”
“Sancta Dei Meretix”
“Let Them Burn…”
“Fall Of The Blessed”
“No Salvation”
“Profanation”
“Reigning Over The Death”
“Life Is Death, Death Is Life”
“Inflicting Blasphemy Upon The Heavens”
“Beyond The Gates Of Burning Ghats”
“Pure Hate” (Digi CD bonus track / guest vocals by Stillborn’s Killer)

"Sancta Dei Meretrix":

(Photo - Aleksander Ikaniewicz)




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Former Uriah Heep keyboardist, Ken Hensley, passed away on Wednesday, November 4. The sad news was delivered by his brother, Trevor, in a post on Facebook.

Said Trevor Hensley: "I am writing this with a heavy heart to let you know that my brother Ken Hensley passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening. His beautiful wife Monica was at his side and comforted Ken in his last few minutes with us. We are all devastated by this tragic and incredibly unexpected loss and ask that you please give us some space and time to come to terms with it.

"Ken will be cremated in a private ceremony in Spain so please don’t ask for information about a funeral. Ken has gone but he will never be forgotten and will always be in our hearts."

Uriah Heep guitarist Mick Box has paid tribute to his former bandmate Ken Hensley with the following message:

"I received devastating news this morning from Ken’s manager Steve Weltman that Ken Hensley has passed away.

"I had just finished watching his video of the unboxing of the 50th Anniversary Box Set last night, where he seemed absolutely fine and justifiably proud of his time in Uriah Heep, which has just added to the shock.

"We may not have always been the best of friends, but there were some wonderful times we shared too, which are the ones I will always remember.

"Ken wrote some amazing songs in his tenure with the band, and they will remain a musical legacy that will be in people’s hearts forever. His communication through lyrics and melody have stood the test of time, and with the power and chemistry of the band bringing those songs to life, we achieved success we could only have dreamed of.

"My sincere condolences go to his family and wife Monica and may he rest in peace."




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In the new video below, The Dead Daisies drummer Deen Castronovo performs a playthrough of the band's single, "Unspoken":

Another recently released playthrough video sees The Dead Daisies rhythm guitarist David Lowy perform a playthrough of the band's latest single, "Bustle And Flow":

Glenn Hughes performs a playthrough of "Bustle And Flow":

Rock bands have always used music videos to express their creativity and innovation, “Bustle And Flow” is no exception.

The Dead Daisies have collaborated with Creative Works (London), a branding and content studio (live concert graphic artists for Guns N’ Roses and Aerosmith, amongst others) to provide the latest visuals for “Bustle And Flow”. Together they are forging new ground creating narrative driven real-time immersive visual and music content, that spans live, social and digital channels. This Animated Music Experience (A.M.E) uses the Unreal Engine game engine that is behind the worldwide online video game phenomenon Fortnite, amongst others.

The Dead Daisies are always looking for original ideas and providing unique experiences for their fans. This new offering taps into the gaming aesthetic that dominates the globe and enables the band to connect with audiences of all ages, whilst remaining on the cutting edge of technology.

A spellbinding animation sets the backdrop for the song from their upcoming album, Holy Ground which will be released January 22, 2021.

In this dark, fiery tale a Mysterious Woman arrives at the entrance of a foreboding Sideshow Carnival that has pitched up on the outskirts of town in the grounds of an old dilapidated church graveyard. With stealth and speed on her side, the Raven deals out her punishment outwitting her prey at every turn and subjecting her quarry to a swift demise.

“Filled with energy and vigor, 'BustleAand Flow' emerged as one of the last tracks to make the cut. It builds and builds and has great movement. The song and the video are about walking through the fear,” says vocalist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Glenn Hughes.

The Animated Music Experience can be seen below:

Lineup:

Vocals/Bass: Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Country Communion)
Guitar: Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio)
Guitar: David Lowy (Mink, Red Phoenix)
Drums/Vocals: Deen Castronovo (Journey, Bad English, Hardline)




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“Night Fang,” the first single from Ohio-based rockers Mollo Rilla’s sophomore album, Viva El Camino, is available today via all major digital music providers here . BraveWords is hosting the video for the new single; check it out!

“...the song is a fictitious story about a band of troublesome misfits hunting down a mischievous werewolf. Once tracked down, the group discovers the werewolf is not what they imagined at all, and a raucous party ensues! Although entirely mythical and fabricated, the story teaches the age old lesson, 'never judge a book by its cover' and respect, celebrate, and appreciate others differences and accept those for who (or in this case ‘what’) they are. " – Vocalist/guitarist Marco Ciofani

Viva El Camino, the follow up to the band’s stunning 2019 self-titled debut, is set for release December 4 via Seeing Red Records. With a drive to up the ante from the first record, the quartet flew to Los Angeles to work with renown engineer Bil Lane (Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne) and producer/engineer Andrew Murdock (aka Mudrock), whose credits include Godsmack and Powerman 5000 and many more, at the Hobby Shop Recording Studio West.

Since Mollo Rilla’s inception, the group’s core mission is one of musical freedom - and simply creating damn fine rock music. Together, the group effortlessly blends styles from Latin to rockabilly, surf to hip hop, and even Disco. Mollo Rilla’s lyrical themes focus on feelings, thoughts and beliefs on freedom, fantasy, faith and, of course, love.

No stranger to the music industry, main lyricist and songwriter Ciofani was previously signed as a songwriter under Roundhill publishing in Nashville. For a year he co-wrote songs with artists all around the city, including former members of Cage the Elephant’s Lincoln Parish. Disenchanted with Nashville and writing music for others, Ciofani returned to his hometown of Cleveland to create something all his own, and in 2017 he found the perfect musicians to compliment his unique writing style. May 2019 saw the release of Mollo Rilla’s independent debut, followed by extensive touring that spring and summer. Another single, “Sangria,” was released in the fall of 2019 and received airplay on Cleveland's iHeart Radio station, 100.7 WMMS. Based on the buzz surrounding their debut album, Mollo Rilla was invited to share the stage with such luminaries as Weezer, Halestorm and Static X at the 2020 Inkcarceration Festival, which ultimately was thwarted by COVID-19.




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It's been 15 years since the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling SYSTEM OF A DOWN, one of the most beloved rock bands in the world, released new music. For years, fans and press speculated about this, and of late, the rumor mill has gone into overdrive hypothesizing when the band might return to the studio. Today, motivated by the recently-erupted conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the latter aided by Turkey and accountable for the greatest violence the region has endured in 26 years, SYSTEM OF A DOWN — Daron Malakian (guitars, vocals), Serj Tankian (vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass) and John Dolmayan (drums) — announces the release of its first new songs in 15 years: "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz". Produced by Malakian, who also wrote the music and lyrics, both songs are streaming now on all DSPs and are available for purchase on Bandcamp with band royalties earmarked for the Armenia Fund.

So why now? Last month, profoundly affected by the unwarranted surprise attacks and bombings of civilians perpetrated by Azerbaijan and Turkey (Turkey was responsible for the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as well as over 100 years of denial), Dolmayan texted his three bandmates.

Said Dolmayan: "I texted, 'no matter how we feel about each other, no matter what issues linger from the past, we need to put them aside because this is bigger than SYSTEM OF A DOWN and bigger than all of us.....we need to do something to support our people.'" Joined together on a subsequent conference call, everyone voiced the same concern and the vital importance of helping in some way, the way they knew best — music.

"The aggression and injustice being perpetrated against the Armenian people in Artsakh and Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey is a human rights violation and a war crime," said Tankian. "All of us in SYSTEM realize this is an existential battle for our people, so this is very personal for us. What we need right now is for the world to put politics aside and support Armenia by sanctioning Turkey and Azerbaijan and recognizing Artsakh."

Today, SYSTEM OF A DOWN also releases the music video for "Protect The Land" that incorporates recent footage of the protests and on-the-ground fighting in Artsakh, but in a very personal and aesthetic way. As he did for all previous SYSTEM OF A DOWN releases, Odadjian executive-produced the music video and curated the cover and brand art for the project. "I wanted to show the unification of our people around the world for one common cause, illustrating the power in numbers," he said, "so we brought together people from all ages and professions who believe in and are fighting for that same cause. It's one thing to come up with an idea, but to see it come alive as happened with this video, has been just incredible."

On the recording of "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz", Odadjian added: "It was such a pleasure for us to be together in the studio again, very comforting and natural, like no time had passed at all."

In announcing the release of the new songs, SYSTEM OF A DOWN explained in a statement: "We as SYSTEM OF A DOWN have just released new music for the first time in 15 years. The time to do this is now, as together, the four of us have something extremely important to say as a unified voice. These two songs, 'Protect The Land' and 'Genocidal Humanoidz' both speak of a dire and serious war being perpetrated upon our cultural homelands of Artsakh and Armenia.

"On September 27, the combined forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey (along with Isis terrorists from Syria) attacked the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which we as Armenians call Artsakh. For over the past month, civilians young and old have been awakened day and night by the frightful sights and sounds of rocket attacks, falling bombs, missiles, drones and terrorist attacks.

"They've had to find sanctuary in makeshift shelters, trying to avoid the fallout of outlawed cluster bombs raining down on their streets and homes, hospitals and places of worship. Their attackers have set their forests and endangered wildlife ablaze using white phosphorus, another banned weapon.

"And Why?

"Because over 30 years ago in 1988, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (which at the time was an Autonomous Oblast within the USSR), were tired of being treated as second class citizens and decided to declare their rightful independence from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic whose borders engulfed their own.

"This ultimately led to a war of self determination by Armenians in Karabakh against Azerbaijan that ended in a cease fire in 1994, with Armenians retaining control of their ancestral homelands and maintaining their independence to the present day. Our people have lived there for millennia, and for most families there, it's the only home they and their forefathers and mothers have ever known. They just want to live in peace as they have for centuries.

"There is an immediate need for global citizens to urge their respective governments to not only condemn the actions of the corrupt regime leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey, but to also insist world leaders act with urgency to bring peace to the region and rightfully recognize Artsakh as the independent nation it is.

"Most importantly and urgently, we humbly implore you to donate, in sums small or large to provide desperately needed aid and basic supplies for those adversely affected with what are ever growing accounts of crimes against humanity.

"We realize that for many of you, there are more convenient ways you like listening to music, so please consider the opportunity to download these songs as an act of charity above all else. The music and lyrics speak for themselves. We need you to speak for Artsakh."

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Malakian stated: "If we don't do this, there isn't any other huge Armenian rock band out there that's gonna do this. There aren't that many big Armenian celebrities out there that are going to do this. It's kind of a duty. We came together because our country needed us, not necessarily because we're so amped to do a brand-new SYSTEM OF A DOWN song. Our people needed us to do this."

"Protect The Land" a was originally written by Malakian for the next album by his other group, SCARS ON BROADWAY, while "Genocidal Humanoidz" was penned three or four years ago when Malakian, Dolmayan and bassist Shavo Odadjian convened for a jam session that produced several songs, only to abandon them when Tankian wouldn't commit to an album.

For the time being, there are no plans for SYSTEM OF A DOWN to record any more new material.

"If it was up to me, we'd have a new album every three years," Dolmayan said. "But things aren't up to me. I'm at the mercy of my team, and although I fought for it for many years with band members, I've accepted that it is what it is. We do have five albums and [now] two songs. We've accomplished a lot in our careers. If it ends at that, so be it."

Photo credit: Clemente Ruiz






We as System Of A Down have just released new music for the first time in 15 years. The time to do this is now, as...

Posted by System Of A Down on Thursday, November 5, 2020

In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith was asked if he has a favorite image of the band's mascot Eddie over the course of MAIDEN's four-decade career. He responded: "In the early days, the images of Eddie with all the bloody axes made me feel a little uncomfortable as I thought it was a bit violent. As we get older, the imagery is slightly more subtle, like with the 'Brave New World' album cover. It's broader, and you can still use the Eddie imagery in a subtle way. I'm big into subtlety."

Eddie, whose full name is Eddie The Head or Edward The Head (also known as Edward The Great), is a perennial fixture in the often-violent MAIDEN album cover art, as well as ever present in the group's live shows.

Eddie made his first appearance on MAIDEN's debut single, "Running Free", in February 1980. The skeletal character was created by illustrator Derek Riggs, who was the band's sole artist — designing album covers, single covers and t-shirts — until 1992's "Fear Of The Dark" LP, which saw MAIDEN collaborate with Melvyn Grant. Grant was also responsible for 1998's "Virtual XI" and 2010's "The Final Frontier", while Hugh Syme designed 1995's "The X Factor", Steve Stone created 2000's "Brave New World", David Patchett handled 2003's "Dance Of Death", Tim Bradsheet took the reins for 2006's "A Matter Of Life And Death", and Mark Wilkinson designed 2016's "The Book Of Souls".

Smith is currently promoting his memoir, "Monsters Of River & Rock", which was released on September 3 via Virgin Books.

IRON MAIDEN's new double live album will be 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 next summer in Europe.

British hard-rock heroes THUNDER will release their 13th studio album, "All The Right Noises", on March 12, 2021. The disc's first single, "Last One Out Turn Off The Lights", can be streamed below.

"All The Right Noises" is a return to the full-throttle sound of THUNDER that has seen them create a hugely successful 30-plus-year career at the forefront of British rock, all built around the lifelong friendship of vocalist extraordinaire Danny Bowes and songwriting genius and guitarist Luke Morley.

"All The Right Noises" is an intense confection of illicit charms that reasserts their authority as the number one band in the land. Recorded in the months leading up to the first COVID-19 lockdown, it was originally due for release in September 2020. Strange to reflect then on how much of the new material appears to address the challenging new world we now inhabit.

On the album, Luke says: "All the songs were written and recorded pre-COVID. But it is interesting how if you look at some of the tracks through the prism of COVID, they still make a lot of sense.”

The volcanic lead single from the album, "Last One Out Turn Off The Lights", could easily be mistaken for world-ending lockdown rage. But, says Luke, "That was directly about Brexit, but you could apply it to everything else."

The track is indicative of both the ferocity and message of the album as a whole, with subjects tackled including depression, mental health, and diversity. With their knack for imaginative songwriting, "All The Right Noises" also takes aim at Donald Trump in a song written from his perspective, as well as a song Luke describes as "like the opposite" of "My Generation" by THE WHO in its message.

"All The Right Noises" will be available in 1CD, 2CD, 2LP, and 4LP formats, with the 2CD and 4LP releases containing bonus tracks. The LP versions feature a stunning pop-out of the "Singing Ringing Tree", which appears on the album's glorious artwork. The photo cover art was shot by the band's long-term collaborator Jason Joyce. The sculpture, which also appears in the video for "Last One Out Turn Off The Lights", is set in Burnley, Lancashire, and resembles a tree which harnesses the energy of the wind to create a choral, discordant sound.

"All The Right Noises" follows on from 2019's stripped back and reimagined album "Please Remain Seated", which continued THUNDER's consecutive Top 10 U.K. album chart run since their ecstatically received comeback six years ago.

With their most recent success, THUNDER have proven themselves as vital now as when they emerged with their debut album in 1990, "Backstreet Symphony", and their hit follow-up in 1992, "Laughing On Judgement Day", which was only kept off the top spot by Kylie Minogue.

Track listing

01. Last One Out Turn Off The Lights

02. Destruction

03. The Smoking Gun

04. Going To Sin City

05. Don't Forget To Live Before You Die

06. I'll Be The One

07. Young Man

08. You're Gonna Be My Girl

09. St George's Day

10. Force Of Nature

11. She's A Millionairess

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT and Frontiers Music Srl continue their release of archival treasures from the band's vault with the December 4 release of "Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016" on CD/DVD, Blu-ray, and 2xLP. Additionally, the label will also reissue "A Long Day's Night" on the same date (ex-North and South America). Fans can get their first taste of the "Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016" via a live performance of "Harvest Moon" from the release below.

BÖC played, as they always do, an inspired set on the second day of the Rock Of Ages festival 2016 in Seebronn, Germany. One of the band's few appearances on German soil in the past few years, the set is now available for fans to enjoy, both with their ears and eyes, in the comfort of their own home.

The band ripped through an extremely solid and memorable performance that kicks off with "This Ain't The Summer Of Love" and closes with their evergreen hit "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". In between, the band delivers with hot takes on gems like "Burnin' For You", "Golden Age Of Leather", "Then Came The Last Days Of May" and "Godzilla".

"Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016" track listing:

CD:

01. This Ain't The Summer Of Love

02. Golden Age Of Leather

03. Burnin' For You

04. Od'd On Life Itself

05. Harvest Moon

06. Me 262

07. Buck's Boogie

08. Lips In The Hills

09. Then Came The Last Days Of May

10. Godzilla

11. (Don't Fear) The Reaper

DVD:

01. Golden Age Of Leather

02. Burnin' For You

03. Od'd On Life Itself

04. Harvest Moon

05. Me 262

06. Buck's Boogie

07. Lips In The Hills

08. Then Came The Last Days Of May

09. Godzilla

10. (Don't Fear) The Reaper

Blu-ray:

01. Golden Age Of Leather

02. Burnin' For You

03. Od'd On Life Itself

04. Harvest Moon

05. Me 262

06. Buck's Boogie

07. Lips In The Hills

08. Then Came The Last Days Of May

09. Godzilla

10. (Don't Fear) The Reaper

This Ain't The Summer Of Love (Blu-ray Bonus Audio – Stereo and Surround Mix)

Lineup:

Eric Bloom - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser - Guitar, Vocals

Richie Castellano - Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals

Jules Radino - Drums, Percussion

Kasim Sulton - Bass Guitar, Vocals

In addition to the above archival release, "A Long Day's Night" is also due for reissue. Recorded live on June 21, 2002 at the Navy Pier / Skyline Stage in Chicago, "A Long Day's Night" celebrates, at the time, 30+ years of incredible music from the band. This release truly highlights the band's phenomenal career up until that point in time.

Originally released in 2002 on CD and DVD, "A Long Day's Night" is now being reissued on CD/DVD, Blu-ray, and vinyl. The audio appearing on all formats has been completely restored and remastered to achieve a stunning new listening experience. The set will be available from Frontiers Music Srl outside of North and South America.

The memorable show was captured on the release "A Long Day's Night", so titled because it took place during the summer solstice. For two hours, guitarist/vocalists Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma, keyboardist/guitarist Allen Lanier, and their bandmates regale a revved-up crowd with CULT classics like "Burnin' For You", "Last Days Of May", "Godzilla", and, of course, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper".

Highlights include over two hours of concert, rare interview footage, behind-the-scenes coverage, fan interviews, bio and discography information.

Look behind the scenes with the producers of the 2020 reissue of "A Long Day's Night", as they describe the process of restoring and remastering the BLUE ÖYSTER CULT 30th-anniversary show from Chicago in 2002 below.

PAPA ROACH recently entered a studio in Southern California to begin writing and recording material for the follow-up to last year's "Who Do You Trust?" album. Earlier today, the quartet uploaded another short video from the studio dubbed "Papa Roach - Live From The Bubble Pt. 2" and included the following message: "It's 2020 and like all bands, we had to cancel massive tours, so we're taking this opportunity to get in the studio and write new music together. We all got tested and quarantined ourselves in 'the bubble' to write our next album."

In September, PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix spoke to Shroom of the WEBN radio station about the musical direction of the band's new material. He said: "This stuff is fire. It feels so good to be back in and creating music with the guys. Especially 'cause we're not on the road, it's a good thing for us to do is to get together and live our purpose. Creating is, I believe, my life's purpose — writing songs and connecting with people through music.

"The stuff is, some of it's really aggressive and abrasive and angry, and some of it is very self-reflective as well in the sense of, like, I'm really digging deep into some stuff," he revealed.

"We just finished up a song yesterday. It's called 'No Apologies', and it's a song I wrote to my father in the sense of forgiveness for what we've been through as a father and son in our lives and how we've kind of just not really been connected. It was very healing for me. I can't wait to go find that old man and play him that song and just have that moment of closure and healing for us. I think that's important, and the music gives us that opportunity."

This past July, Shaddix told Rock Sound TV that PAPA ROACH's next album will be released through band's own record company. "We are in partnership with Warner/ADA, and so it's like an artist services group," he explained. "And we're gonna do that for an album and see how it works out. We've been super focused in the creative marketing behind what we do and the imaging and the videos and the messaging and everything, we were, like, let's take it in our hands and see where we can go with it and try it for an album."

Jacoby also said that PAPA ROACH recently completed a new song called "Bloodline" which he described as "P. ROACH meets SYSTEM OF A DOWN meets DEVO." He said: "I played it for my kids and my wife, and everybody was, like, 'That's fire. That's sick.' There's something nutty about where it's almost got, in a sense, a little ENTER SHIKARI-ness to it. I've been a big fan of those guys and just how kind of kooky they are. They've always been nuts. They've been an influence on me as a creative person for some years. Not to say that the whole record will sound like that, because we never sound like one thing."

"Who Do You Trust?" was released in January 2019. The disc was produced by Nick "RAS" Furlong and Colin Cunningham except for the song "Top Of The World", which is helmed by Jason Evigan.

The documentary film "Mean Man: The Story Of Chris Holmes" will be made available on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD on January 15.

Written and directed by French filmmakers Antoine De Montremy and Laurent Hart (whose music production career includes televised interviews with SCORPIONS, DEEP PURPLE, SLAYER, GUNS N' ROSES and more), "Mean Man: The Story Of Chris Holmes" was a project that was born in 2014 after they had an opportunity to meet and direct Holmes in a music video for the Holmes-penned song "Let It Roar" in Cannes, France. At that time, the former W.A.S.P. guitarist had more or less disappeared from the music scene, leaving his home in the U.S. to seek a new beginning with his wife Sarah in France. Not content with merely directing a music video for the reborn Holmes, De Montremy pursued his bigger dream of writing and directing a documentary film about this iconic metal guitar legend, and for the next several years shadowed him throughout Europe while filming everything from band rehearsals, to recording sessions to live performances.

By creatively combining archival footage, interviews with past and present band members and musical peers, family members and childhood friends — interspersed with beautifully filmed concert performances of Holmes's current solo band — De Montremy skillfully portrays the story of an iconic guitar player who has lived a life of extreme highs and lows. After losing the publishing rights of his own songs and combatting dangerous addictions, the legendary W.A.S.P. guitarist is shown starting over from scratch while living at his mother-in-law's in Cannes, France as he puts together, with his wife, a brand new band and a brand new musical role as not only the main guitarist, but now as the actual lead singer of this newly born musical project aptly named MEAN MAN.

Says De Montremy: "Over the last five years, I've had the privilege to establish a true relationship with Chris Holmes and to follow him throughout Europe. I was impressed by his charisma, his approach towards life, his multiple experiences and taste for simplicity which have actually altered my own vision of existence. In fact, he has almost become a spiritual father to me, in the way that he inspired me in many of my own decisions."

Holmes joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and remained with the group until 1990. In 1996, the guitarist returned to W.A.S.P. and stayed with the band until 2001. Chris has not played with W.A.S.P. since.

During a November 2017 press conference in Moscow, Russia, W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless was asked what he would say to those fans who continue to call for the band to reunite with Holmes. He responded: "People get divorced for certain reasons, and there's times when the kids want the parents to get back together, but sometimes it never happens. And this is one of those [times]. Sorry."

Paul Stanley has paid tribute to Ken Hensley, former URIAH HEEP vocalist songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who died peacefully on November 4 following a very short illness. He was 75 years old.

Earlier today, the KISS frontman took to his Twitter to write: "RIP Ken Hensley. URIAH HEEP toured with us in the seventies. We were thrilled to have them share the stage with us. A classic British powerhouse with a slew of killer songs and soaring harmonies. Ken was a huge part of their success and a true rockstar."

Hensley was one of the most important musicians of the past half a century. His work with URIAH HEEP in the 1970s helped to make the band hugely influential. He also collaborated with bands such as BLACKFOOT, W.A.S.P. and CINDERELLA, as well as building a very successful solo career. As a writer, he was responsible for such classics as "Lady In Black", "Easy Livin'", "July Morning" and "Look At Yourself".

A very spiritual person, Hensley became an inspiration to many and known for encouraging talented artists.

Ken had recently finished work on a new project, "My Book Of Answers", which is due for release end of February 2021.

He leaves behind a wife, Monica, and two brothers Trevor, Mark and sister Dawn, and his close friend and manager Steve Weltman.




RIP Ken Hensley. Uriah Heep toured with us in the seventies. We were thrilled to have them share the stage with us. A classic British powerhouse with a slew of killer songs and soaring harmonies. Ken was a huge part of their success and a true rockstar. https://t.co/IkjQOBsQyV

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) November 5, 2020

Albert Bouchard, who is best known as a founding member of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, will release "Re Imaginos" on November 6 through he and his brother's (Joe Bouchard) new imprint label, RockHeart Records/Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group). The album is Albert's reimagining of the 1988 BLUE ÖYSTER CULT LP "Imaginos", which was originally intended as Albert's solo album. As Albert explains: "Most BOC fans know at this point that 'Imaginos' was supposed to be my solo album. Some people think it's the best BOC album, others think it's not a 'true' BOC album. In either case, they're right. I made this new album for them so that they can hear a more properly realized version of the tale."

The official video for the album's second single, "Blue Oyster Cult", can be seen below.

Albert says: "'Blue Oyster Cult' was a poem that Sandy Pearlman wrote in the late '60s. When BLUE ÖYSTER CULT was finalizing our recording contract with Columbia Records, we took the poem as our band name. Eric Bloom put Sandy's poem to music on our third album, 'Secret Treaties'. This version is different from that but very similar to the version I created for the original 'Imaginos' album in 1988. It tells the story of a sailor who has been put ashore and is discovered by the Blue Öyster Cult, non-human beings who nurse 'Imaginos' back to health and give him a mission to find the mysterious black mirror, hidden deep in the jungles of the Yucatan peninsula."

The original BLUE ÖYSTER CULT lineup sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart "Burning For You".

"Black Telescope" is the first single and video and tells the story of an undead creature that takes the form of a fish and now uses alchemy to rule the solar system. This being sees with the power of the mind and does not need eyes. It was more ordinary and needed the help of technology to rule the world in the past, at a time when it was in the shape of a human sailor and knew the dangers of the deep. When the sailor went to the telescope workshop, he experienced a strange rebirth and became an all-powerful force.

Also to celebrate the launch of RockHeart Records and the release of "Re Imaginos", the Bouchard brothers are offering a limited amount of the official RockHeart Records cowbell autographed personally by both Joe and Albert.

Albert's infamous cowbell part in "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was the basis of the classic Will Ferrell skit on "SNL", which also starred Christopher Walken. With "The Reaper", an all-time classic on YouTube and every other digital platform, with zillions of views, the Bouchard brothers are forever cemented in pop culture.

"Re Imaginos" track listing:

01. I Am The One You Warned Me Of

02. Del Rio Song

03. In The Presence Of Another World

04. Siege And Investiture Of Baron Von Frankenstein's Castle At Weisseria

05. Girl That Love Made Blind

06. Astronomy

07. Imaginos

08. Gil Blanco County

09. Blue Oyster Cult

10. Black Telescope

11. Magna of Illusion

12. Les Invisibles

In a year full of bad news, Maryland hard rock icons KIX are excited to bring some good news to their fans. On the 35th anniversary of the release of "Midnite Dynamite", KIX will release "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit" on November 20. For "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit", KIX partnered with long-time collaborator and the album's original producer, Beau Hill (ALICE COOPER, RATT, WARRANT), for a blistering update of the fan-favorite album. "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit" is available for pre-order now on the band's webstore where fans can also purchase special commemorative merchandise including T-shirts, hoodies, keychains, and more.

KIX's third album, originally released October 7, 1985, "Midnite Dynamite" reflected the band's true essence, as the popular musical landscape of the mid-1980s had shifted in their favor. From the slash-and-burn riffing of the album's title track and the high-speed antics of "Layin' Rubber" to the AEROSMITH-flavored groove of numbers like "Cold Shower" and "Sex", to the heart-break melancholia of the album's sole ballad, "Walkin' Away", "Midnite Dynamite" is packed with material that delivers not only attitude in spades, but also pummels the listener with hook after hook.

Thirty-five years after its initial release, "Midnite Dynamite" remains a fan and band favorite, and Hill (who also remixed KIX's hit album "Blow My Fuse" to mark its 30th anniversary in 2018) relished the opportunity to return to the original 1985 multi-track tapes.

About the new mix, Hill says: "The guitars don't have as much schmutz on them as the original, and Steve's vocal just jumps off the page now without all the bulls**t that I was putting on it then. I guess that's what happens when you mix and produce for an additional 35 years."

"Back in the '80s, everything had way too much echo, way too much reverb," recalls vocalist Steve Whiteman. "It was so muddy that sometimes you would lose some really dynamic performances. Beau cleaned all that up on the 'Blow My Fuse' re-release, and he's doing the same thing on 'Midnite Dynamite', so it sounds incredible."

"Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit" also includes original demo recordings for seven out of the ten songs, plus one early album mix of the song "Walking Away".

"We chose to include a demo disc, like 'Fuse 30 Reblown', even though we were missing two songs," says bassist Mark Schenker. "Nobody had a copy on either cassette or two track stereo quarter-inch tape. I searched high and low and couldn't find the demos of 'Scarlet Fever' or 'Bang Bang'."

KIX will hit the road in 2021 playing select deep cuts from the album "Midnite Dynamite" to celebrate the release of "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit".

"Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit" track listing:

Disc One: Re-mixed by Beau Hill; mastered by Jay Frigoletto

01. Midnite Dynamite

02. Red Hot (Black & Blue)

03. Bang Bang (Balls Of Fire)

04. Layin' Rubber

05. Walkin' Away

06. Scarlet Fever

07. Cry Baby

08. Cold Shower

09. Lie Like A Rug

10. Sex

Disc Two: Original Demo Recordings

01. Midnite Dynamite (Demo Version)

02. Red Hot (Black & Blue) (Demo Version)

03. Layin' Rubber (Demo Version)

04. Walkin' Away (Early Album Mix)

05. Cry Baby (Demo Version)

06. Cold Shower (Demo Version)

07. Lie Like A Rug (Demo Version)

08. Sex (Demo Version)