Former JOURNEY singer Steve Perry will release an acoustic version of his comeback album "Traces" on December 4. "It's eight songs from the 'Traces' record done acoustically and I'm really proud of it," he told Rolling Stone. "It's called 'Traces Alternate Versions And Sketches'. I cut the vinyl in Abbey Road. I'm really pleased with the sonics and I'm really pleased with the simplicity of the song and the lyric and the chords, which is basically what it's stripped down to."

Perry also told Rolling Stone that he been busy creating new music since the April release of his cover version of the BEACH BOYS classic "In My Room".

"I have a studio and I'm always writing and always recording stuff," he album. "I have lots of music, so much stuff."

Perry's first solo album in more than two decades, "Traces", was released in October 2018 via Fantasy Records (a division of Concord Records/UMG). He credited his late girlfriend, psychologist Kellie Nash, who died more than seven years ago, with helping him want to sing again; she'd made him promise he wouldn't go back into isolation when she passed.

Last year, Perry told "The Jim Brickman Show" that the response to "Traces" has been "really great. It's been an interesting experience to release a record in this age that we live in. Meaning, it's such a different landscape… Now we're streaming, now we've got everything… all this stuff. And so it's been such an interesting experience to release music into the new landscape of what it all means. We're streaming, we're still selling some on iTunes…. Nobody sells records anymore; everybody's streaming. But I didn't do this to sell records. If people wanna own it and take it with them, then that's beautiful. But if you wanna listen to it, that's also beautiful, 'cause all I wanted to do — and I said this to many of my friends… The reason I make music again was, number one, to keep a promise that I wouldn't go back into isolation. And number two, I wanted to just see if I was viable as a songwriter, singer, arranger, mixer, producer. I wanted to see if I could even remotely do some sort of creative involvement with all that. And in the beginning, it was challenging, because of the new technologies. But now I've embraced the living crap out of all of it. I have a great studio."

Perry dated Nash for nearly two years before she died in December 2012 after being diagnosed with breast cancer. He mourned for two years, and then began recording again.

Upon its release, "Traces" was met with wide acclaim and tremendous excitement from fans and critics all over the world. The album entered the Billboard 200 Albums chart at No. 6, Perry's highest debut as a solo artist and earned the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer his best-ever chart entries in the U.K., Germany, Canada and Japan.

Perry reunited with JOURNEY for the first time in years as they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2017. The iconic singer appeared onstage with his former bandmates as they each gave speeches, but did not perform with the group later in the event.

MR. BUNGLE will release "The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo" on October 30 via Ipecac Recordings.

As was the case with MR. BUNGLE's live performances this past February, original MR. BUNGLE members Trevor Dunn, Mike Patton and Trey Spruance are joined by Scott Ian (ANTHRAX, S.O.D.) and Dave Lombardo (DEAD CROSS, SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES).

The 11-song release features tracks written by the Eureka, California-born band for their 1986 cassette only demo as well as a reimagined cover of the S.O.D. classic "Hypocrites / Habla Español O Muere" (a.k.a. "Speak English Or Die") and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's "Loss For Words".

The third and final single from "The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo", a song called "Sudden Death", is available below.

The album was produced by MR. BUNGLE, recorded by Husky Höskulds at Studio 606, and mixed by Jay Ruston. Rhea Perlman narrates "Anarchy Up Your Anus".

"Recording this music with these guys was an enormous head-rush of virtuosity and surprises every day in the studio," explains Patton. "Trey's video game-esque solos, Scott's bionic right hand and cyborg-like precision, Dave's caveman-meets-Bobby Brady-like drum fills, Trevor's solid foundation and laser-focus to detail. There is nothing sweeter than getting your ass kicked by true comrades…where everyone has a singular drive and mission."

Dunn adds: "Recording this record felt like we were finally utilizing our Ph.Ds in thrash metal. All we had to do was go back to our original professors for some additional guidance and talk them into joining us. Turns out we were A+ students. We even went for extra credit by revisiting some tunes that we'd given up on back in the day. It was less like a trip of nostalgia and more like the refining of an original, worthy document. We were haunted for 35 years by the fact that this music wasn't given it's due respect. Now we can die."

"The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo" track listing:

01. Grizzly Adams

02. Anarchy Up Your Anus

03. Raping Your Mind

04. Hypocrites / Habla Español O Muere

05. Bungle Grind

06. Methematics

07. Eracist

08. Spreading The Thighs Of Death

09. Loss For Words

10. Glutton For Punishment

11. Sudden Death

MR. BUNGLE has announced a Halloween special, "The Night They Came Home!", a virtual live concert experience. Tickets are $15 and available now via www.mrbungle.live. The first screening airs at 12 noon Pacific/3 p.m. Eastern on October 31 with the on-demand program available for the following 72 hours. An array of exclusive, commemorative merchandise, including a limited (1000 copies) neon green vinyl variant, will be available to attendees.

MR. BUNGLE was formed in an impoverished lumber and fishing town by a trio of curious, volatile teenagers. Trey Spruance, Mike Patton and Trevor Dunn beget the amorphous "band" in 1985 up in Humboldt County, California, sifting through a variety of members until around 1989 when they settled on a lineup that managed to get signed to Warner Bros. Records. No one really knows how this happened and it remains a complete mystery that even the algorithms of the internet can't decode. Up until 2000, they released three albums ("Mr. Bungle" in 1991, "Disco Volante" in 1995 and "California" in 1999), toured a good portion of the Western hemisphere and avoided any sort of critical acclaim. Some argue that the band subsequently broke up but there is also no proof of this. What is true is that they took 20 years off from performing under said moniker while they pursued various other musics that, in contrast, paid the rent.

Photo credit: Buzz Osborne

Legendary rock icons KISS make waves on the Swedish drinks market with KISS Black Diamond — their premiere dark rum release under KISS Rum Kollection with seasoned spirits producer Brands For Fans.

KISS Black Diamond Premium Dark Rum has just been launched at Systembolaget in Sweden, available to purchase online via the ordering assortment. Other markets to follow.

Taking its name and character from the rock monolith that is the closing song on KISS's eponymous debut album from 1974, KISS Black Diamond Premium Dark Rum is an exceptionally smooth blend of Caribbean cask rums aged up to 15 years and bottled at 40%.

To music and culture fans, KISS remains one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll after 45 years. To the same note, KISS Black Diamond Premium Dark Rum lives up to the band's illustrious career with its dominant tasting profile. Leading with a nuanced aroma of pronounced oak character, the tones follow with distinct notes of dried fruit, butterscotch, vanilla and nuts. The palate is layered with a restrained sweetness and marked oak initially, followed by well-defined tones of dried apricot and dates, arrack, vanilla fudge, cinnamon and chocolate.

The label draws inspiration from the band's early days, referencing both costumes and their iconic make-up, making it a pure treat for fans who grew up loving KISS and now discovering great rum.

Sari H. Wilholm of Brands For Fans says: "It's an amazing match for a band who were pioneers both musically and visually in the world of rock 'n' roll. This is our fourth rum in our portfolio, multiple of which have won awards in reputable global spirits competitions. With the success of these in mind, we feel confident about the future with KISS Black Diamond and KISS Rum Kollection. When I taste this rum by KISS and look at the bottle, I feel proud of what we've achieved with this product. It's damn good. Listening to 'Black Diamond' still gives me the chills, and the rum makes me just as excited!"

KISS Black Diamond Premium Dark Rum is bottled at 40% abv in 500 ml and was released on October 20 available to order online via the ordering assortment. The retail price in Sweden is SEK 369,00.

KISS Black Diamond Premium Dark Rum

Monopoly Reference: 82250-02 Alc.

Vol: 40.0%

Origin: A Variety of Caribbean Rums up to 15 years.

Volume: 500 ml

Price: 369 Sek

Swedish rockers REFUSED will release new EP, "The Malignant Fire", on November 20. The effort contains four new songs and one album track, including "Born On The Outs", which can be streamed below.

Covering EDM legends SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA's hit "Greyhound" might seem a bit out of the ordinary, but REFUSED crafted lyrics for the otherwise instrumental track, and along with the video, have become the architects of the REFUSED version called "Born On The Outs" in typical, catchy REFUSED fashion.

"Kris [Steen, guitars] has talked about the riff in the SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA song 'Greyhound' forever, so we decided to give it our own spin," singer Dennis Lyxzén says. "[Drummer] David [Sandström] and I added some lyrics for this version, which we've called 'Born On The Outs'. Make no mistake though; this is very much 'Greyhound'. But with added lyrics about people who refused to take a side in the ongoing fight against fascism. So, you know, another ordinary REFUSED song."

As for the EP, Lyxzén shares: "There are certain traditions within the REFUSED camp and one of the sturdiest is the idea that after every album there comes an EP. This time, however, I think that we outdid ourselves. 'Malfire' is my favorite song of the record so it's more than fitting that we shine some extra light on that. This EP was supposed to be something that was released before a tour but in these weird times that tour never happened. However, this still a great EP that follows a great record. More than ever, we need music to lead the way when things are the darkest. Here's a little attempt from us."

Alongside "Born On The Outs" and "Malfire", "The Malignant Fire" EP is rounded out with three brand new songs from the band.

The EP will be available on all streaming sites, as well as on vinyl, which can be purchased here with some exclusive t-shirt bundle options.

"The Malignant Fire" EP track listing:

01. Malfire

02. Born On The Outs

03. Organic Organic Organic (Go Fuck Yourself)

04. Faceless Corporate Violence

05. Jackals Can't Be Bothered To Dream

Formed in Umeå, Sweden in 1991, hardcore-punk legends REFUSED are one of the most influential rock bands of the early '00s. Artists as diverse as LINKIN PARK, RISE AGAINST, STEVE AOKI, PARAMORE, THURSDAY, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, BLINK-182 and AFI have been cited the band as being a fundamental influence on their musical styles. "The Shape Of Punk To Come" has become a cultural touchstone for the entire post-hardcore generation as the year zero of stylistic genre-bending — utilizing electronics, jazz and slick production for the first time, and their reputation tent-poled by politically radical lyrics and solidified by their energetic live shows to spread their message.

After a 14-year pause, the band reunited in 2012, playing much-anticipated shows like mainstream festival Coachella and were subsequently awarded the "Special Prize for Music Exports" by the Swedish Ministry of Trade in 2013. In 2015, they released their fourth studio album "Freedom", which was recorded with Nick Launay (NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS, KILLING JOKE), while also turning to Swedish pop/producer Shellback, whose credits include Taylor Swift and Britney Spears, for the lead single "Elektra". In late 2019, their fifth full-length studio album, "War Music", was released to massive critical acclaim.

RATT singer Stephen Pearcy has released a new solo song called "Night Flight". The track, a collaboration between Pearcy and his longtime guitarist Erik Ferentinos, is expected to appear on Stephen's upcoming sixth solo album, which is tentatively due in 2021. The follow-up to 2018's "View To A Thrill" will feature 13 tracks.

Pearcy shared "Night Flight" on his social media last night, writing in an accompanying caption: "'Night Flight' (Pearcy/Erik Ferentinos) from the Covid Tapes TFR 2020 RATT #rattproblem".

On Wednesday, Pearcy first hinted that there was a problem within the RATT camp, stating on his Facebook page: "Looks like RATT will not be recording any new music anytime soon." He added in a statement: "Anything I write I think of RATT first and did when went in for 'View', or try and offer it up, nothing there I move forward. Hence the next (6th) solo record with Erik Ferentinos and Matt Thorne. When we go into the studio we're prepared, we don't f#+k around, we go for the throat, next."

This past July, Ferentinos, who has played with Pearcy for nearly two decades, told All Music/All Bands about the musical direction of Stephen's next album: "The new record will have the '80s rock sound that fans have come to expect from us with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. There are some heavy bangers on there that the RATT fans will love. I try to keep it edgy, but I want us to have a hit. I'm always trying to top what we've done so far, with catchier riffs and melodies to get more fans interested in our music."

Stephen's most recent release was the "All That I Want" solo single, He told Marci Wiser of the 95.5 KLOS radio station: "I didn't know where that song was gonna end up — a RATT song or solo — so I decided it's just gonna be put out there."

Asked if the track will appear on a full-length album at some point in the future, Pearcy said: "No. It's just a song. That's all I do is write with Erik Ferentinos, a co-writer friend of mine, been in my band forever, solo band. And it's all good. We just write and if we feel it fits to be heard, we put it out."

As for the lyrical inspiration for "All That I Want", Pearcy said: "It's a relationship song, and it just felt right for the times. Everybody's locked up, and what's really important to you? Your partner — somebody close to you, somebody to dig, love."

This past March, Pearcy released another new solo song called "Making Crazy".

Pearcy's fifth solo LP, "View To A Thrill", came out in November 2018 via Frontiers Music Srl. The follow-up to 2017's "Smash" was produced by Matt Thorne and Pearcy and was mixed and mastered by Thorne and Ferentinos.

Pearcy and bassist Juan Croucier are the sole remaining original members in RATT's current lineup, which made its live debut in July 2018 in Mulvane, Kansas. Joining them in the band are drummer Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE, RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER) and guitarist Jordan Ziff (RAZER).

RATT hasn't released any new music since 2010's "Infestation" album.




“Night Flight” (Pearcy/Erik Ferentinos) from the Covid Tapes TFR 2020 RATT #rattproblem www.officialstephenpearcy.com

Posted by Stephen Pearcy on Thursday, October 22, 2020

A 2020 Terry Date mix of PANTERA's song "Goddamn Electric", taken from the upcoming 20th-anniversary reissue of the band's final opus, "Reinventing The Steel", can be streamed below.

"Reinventing The Steel" represented a recommitment to everything the band loved about heavy metal. Released in 2000 at the peak of nu-metal's popularity, the album's back-to-basics approach flew in the face of the trend and served as a potent reminder of the enduring power of primal metal. PANTERA's swan song turns 20 this year and Rhino will celebrate with two new versions that feature an unreleased mix of the album by longtime producer Terry Date.

The first is "Reinventing The Steel: 20th Anniversary Edition", a three-CD set that includes a newly remastered version of the original album and a selection of rarities. A major highlight is the new mix by Terry Date, the legendary producer who was behind the console for the band's previous four landmark albums: "Cowboys From Hell" (1990), "Vulgar Display Of Power" (1992), "Far Beyond Driven" (1994) and "The Great Southern Trendkill" (1996). The set will be released on October 30 and will also be available through digital and streaming services.

"Reinventing The Steel: 20th Anniversary Edition" will also be released as a double-LP set on silver vinyl that features the new Terry Date mix on one album, plus eight rare bonus tracks making their vinyl debut on the other. Limited to 5,000 copies, the 180-gram audiophile vinyl collection comes in an embossed, foil jacket and will be available on January 8.

Philip Anselmo, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, Rex Brown and Vinnie Paul Abbott had already earned a No. 1 album and several Grammy nominations by the time PANTERA began recording "Reinventing The Steel" in 1999. The album would prove to be a celebration of the skull-rattling strain of metal the quartet had cultivated through the years with songs like "We'll Grind That Axe For A Long Time", "Goddamn Electric" and "I'll Cast A Shadow". Certified gold and embraced by fans and critics alike, the album would unexpectedly become the band's last.

The three-CD and digital versions open with an unreleased mix of the album by Terry Date, who had been helping PANTERA perfect its piledriving sound since 1990. Date — who likes Sterling Winfield's original mix of the album — says he was initially apprehensive about remixing "Reinventing The Steel" for this reissue. Eventually, he agreed knowing that diehard fans would be curious to hear his take on the album. He says: "I'm just trying to remember what we used to do as I'm going through this stuff. But the riffs and performances are strong. It's just classic PANTERA."

The CD and digital collections also include a newly remastered version of the original album, which was co-produced by Darrell, Vinnie and Winfield. It's joined by radio edits for singles ("Revolution Is My Name", "Goddamn Electric"); covers (BLACK SABBATH's "Electric Funeral" and "Hole In The Sky", Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever"); soundtrack contributions ("Avoid The Light", "Immortally Insane"); and previously unreleased instrumental rough mixes for every album track.

In a 2012 interview with Revolver magazine, Vinnie Paul stated about "Reinventing The Steel": "I felt like things had turned a corner. I felt like Phil [Anselmo, vocals] had discovered some of these demons and maybe had some people around him that wanted to help instead of taking the other direction. We kind of wanted to go back and really grab some of the things that people liked the most about 'Vulgar ['Display Of Power]' and 'Cowboys [From Hell]', and Phil's exact words were that he wanted to make a record that was 'more anthemic,' lyrically. More stuff that people could sing along to. Dime [PANTERA guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott] spent a lot of time in the studio with Phil working with him on his vocal arrangements and melodies."

Anselmo concurred, telling the magazine: "I had kind of cleaned my act up. I had a new fire lit under my ass. Dimebag and I were very close on this one. I showed up for the jam sessions, and I think they were impressed with how I was. I wasn't all fucked up constantly. It was a breath of fresh air. I guess I was dealing with the pain in a better way at the time, and if I was using, it was minimal and very spotty. But there was a renewed bit of brotherhood. There was a renewed sense of enjoyment with the songwriting. I spent a lot of time at Dimebag's house on the particular run. I remember his mother passed away, when we were doing that record, from cancer. I was a pallbearer at the funeral. So it was a bonding thing as well. Somebody's mother passes and it's a big thing. Especially her. She was a big part of their lives, in my life, and in Rex's life. It was a heavy deal. I was there for it. I love that record."

Rex said that he found it difficult to look back on "Reinventing The Steel" knowing that it marked PANTERA's final studio effort. "This record is the end, so it's hard to talk about," he said. "To me, it's a great last performance. One thing we always said is, 'You're only as good as your last show.' Or your last note, or the last thing you do. Because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. It could all end. And I'll be goddamned if it didn't."

"Reinventing The Steel: 20th Anniversary Edition" 3CD track listing:

Disc One: New Terry Date Mix

01. Hellbound

02. Goddamn Electric

03. Yesterday Don't Mean Shit

04. You've Got To Belong To It

05. Revolution Is My Name

06. Death Rattle

07. We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time

08. Uplift

09. It Makes Them Disappear

10. I'll Cast a Shadow

Disc Two: Original Album Remastered

01. Hellbound

02. Goddamn Electric

03. Yesterday Don't Mean Shit

04. You've Got To Belong To It

05. Revolution Is My Name

06. Death Rattle

07. We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time

08. Uplift

09. It Makes Them Disappear

10. I'll Cast a Shadow

Bonus Tracks

11. Goddamn Electric – Radio Mix

12. Revolution Is My Name – Radio Edit

13. I'll Cast A Shadow – Radio Edit

14. Goddamn Electric – Radio Edit

Disc Three: Bonus Tracks

Non-Album Tracks & Covers

01. Avoid The Light

02. Immortally Insane

03. Cat Scratch Fever

04. Hole in the Sky

05. Electric Funeral

Instrumental Rough Mixes

06. Hellbound *

07. Goddamn Electric *

08. Yesterday Don't Mean Shit *

09. You've Got To Belong To It *

10. Revolution Is My Name *

11. Death Rattle *

12. We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time *

13. Uplift *

14. It Makes Them Disappear *

15. I'll Cast a Shadow *

"Reinventing The Steel: 20th Anniversary Edition" 2LP track listing:

LP One: New Terry Date Mix

Side One

01. Hellbound

02. Goddamn Electric

03. Yesterday Don't Mean Shit

04. You've Got To Belong To It

05. Revolution Is My Name

Side Two

01. Death Rattle

02. We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time

03. Uplift

04. It Makes Them Disappear

05. I'll Cast a Shadow

LP Two: Bonus Tracks

Side One

01. Avoid the Light

02. Immortally Insane

03. Cat Scratch Fever

04. Hole In The Sky

Side Two

01. Electric Funeral

02. Goddamn Electric – Radio Mix

03. Revolution Is My Name – Radio Edit

04. I'll Cast a Shadow – Radio Edit

* previously unreleased

WARRIOR SOUL will release a covers album called "Cocaine And Other Good Stuff" on November 13 via Livewire/Cargo Records. The LP is preceded by a single, a cover of Alice Cooper's "Elected", the official music video for which can be seen below.

"Cocaine And Other Good Stuff" is an incendiary compilation of songs that everyone in the band, both current and previous members, had some input choosing, and it shows true honesty in the recordings, making it a fresh take on some very listenable rock jams.

Says singer Kory Clarke: "We wanted to make a record that was not about all the crap we are all living in, as it seems like a well-worn path for. So, I had to think out of the box."

The album was recorded all over the western world (Edinburgh, Scotland; Newcastle, England, Copenhagen, Denmark; Los Angeles; New York; Chicago; Detroit; Sheffield, England; Costa Blanca, Torrevieja, Spain) in home studios.

Track listing:

01. Good Times Roll (Ocasek)

02. Cocaine (Cale)

03. Crosstown Traffic (Hendrix)

04. Cold Gin (Frehley)

05. D.O.A. (Van Halen, Van Halen, Anthony, Roth)

06. Elected (Cooper, Buxton, Bruce, Dunaway, Smith)

07. Outlaw (Kilmister, Campbell, Dee)

08. Firehouse (Stanley)

09. Get Down Tonight (Casey, Finch)

10. We're An American Band (Brewer)

11. Living After Midnight (Halford, Downing, Tipton)

The idea for a covers album started when Clarke was contacted by legendary rock photographer, Alex Ruffini's brother, enquiring if WARRIOR SOUL would record a cover of a KISS song, which was Alex Ruffini's favorite band, for a tribute in aid of cancer research. WARRIOR SOUL recorded "Cold Gin". Once the band started recording, it sounded really positive and they decided to assemble a complete record of covers ranging from MOTÖRHEAD to KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND.

Says Clarke: "I contacted many of the musicians who have played with WARRIOR SOUL recently and asked if they wanted to be part of it. Everyone was very much up for it and ready to go. We called John Dryland at Livewire/Cargo Records, and he said, 'Of course, go for it. The irony of recording 'Good Times Roll' during a global pandemic really works as you can hear the sneer of sarcasm right through every chorus."

WARRIOR SOUL is known for recording some electrifying covers previously, including songs by JOY DIVISION, Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Kory Clarke has performed on several compilation and tribute albums singing other acts songs but this is the first complete album of its kind from WARRIOR SOUL.

Recording lineup:

Kory Clarke - Vocals

Dennis "El Guapo" Post - Guitar

Adam Arling - Guitar

John Hodgson - Guitar

Christian Kimmett - Bass

Kath Edmonds - Drums

Ivan Tambac - Drums

John Besser - Drums

Geoff Yeaton - Horns, Sax

Blacklight Media Records / Metal Blade Records welcome War Curse to its worldwide roster.

Formed in 2013 in Cincinnati, OH, War Curse unleashed their debut full-length Final Days (Static Tension Recordings / Iron Mouth) in 2015. Their sophomore record, Eradication (Svart Records), was released in 2019. War Curse's upcoming album - and Blacklight Media Records / Metal Blade Records debut - will surely please fans and critics once again upon its release in 2021.

Guitarist Justin Roth comments: "It's hard to believe that we made it from the basement to Metal Blade Records in 7 years, but it's proof that hard work still pays off. Now with Blacklight Media and the entire Metal Blade crew behind us, we have an opportunity to capitalize on that effort and realize the full potential of War Curse. We couldn't be more thankful or excited."

Forged in tradition and unconcerned with industry trends, War Curse walks a path blazed by thrash metal titans of yesteryear while creating a distinct imprint of their own. High energy shows across the world garnered War Curse the reputation of being a must-see live act, captivating fans young and old with their thoughtfully written, no-holds-barred brand of metal. The band's true-to-roots Bay Area sound has resonated with crowds and media alike, giving War Curse the ability to transcend genre lines and appeal to everyone from diehards to casuals. Simply put, War Curse is a sleeping giant ready to emerge as the next torchbearer.

Stay tuned for more news about War Curse coming soon.

War Curse lineup:

Blaine Gordon - vocals
Justin Roth - guitar
Joshua Murphy - guitar
James Goetz - drums
Johnnie Wallace - bass

(Photo - Brian Vogel)




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After several years of inactivity, Norwegian metal band Trail of Tears has chosen the plague-ridden 2020 as the year of its return to the scene.

With a revamped line-up featuring original members Ronny Thorsen (vocals), Runar Hansen (guitars) and Jonathan Alejandro Perez (drums), the band joins forces with long-time member Endre Moe (bass), new guitarist Nicolay “Jørni” Johnsen and acclaimed female singer Ailyn (ex-Sirenia, Her Chariot Awaits).

New music is in the pipeline, and the band is eager to return to the worldwide live circuit in a massive way once the world allows it.

Furthermore, there are plans to perform several albums in their entirety, to coincide with their upcoming anniversaries. More information to follow shortly.

The band states: “We have missed you all immensely, and can`t wait to see you again soon!”

(Photo by: Frank Morten Møller)




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In the new video below, The Dead Daisies rhythm guitarist David Lowy performs 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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Frontiers Music Srl announces the signing of ScreaMachine to the label. The band hails from Rome, Italy and are proud heavy metallers. The quintet's gloriously loud sound is inspired by titans like Judas Priest, early Metallica, early Iced Earth, Savatage and Accept. But even if the guys are in love with the legendary 80’s metal sound, they are not living in the past. Their aim is to deliver an aggressive and traditional heavy metal sound blended with modern production and up-to-date songwriting.

The musicians involved are no strangers to the metal scene. The members come from respected Italian acts like Stormlord, Kaledon, and Lunarsea, and have been active since the ‘90’s with respectable discographies and hundreds of gigs under their collective belts.

Born from an idea of Francesco Bucci (bass player and songwriter of the extreme epic metal act Stormlord), the five metalheads have joined forces to deliver the heaviest of metal they can muster. ScreaMachine is now eager to unleash its rage worldwide and join fans in their celebration of heavy metal.

ScreaMachine are:

Valerio “The Brave” Caricchio - Lead Vocals
Francesco Bucci - Bass
Alex Mele -  Guitars
Paolo Campitelli - Guitars
Alfonso “Fo” Corace - Drums




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Legendary Norwegian outfit TrollfesT is back, ready to deliver their groovy, energizing and K.A.O.S-infused sound to the masses! After gathering millions of streams on YouTube and Spotify, TrollfesT will be joining Napalm Records for the next chapter of their career.

Since forming in 2003, the band has played numerous shows all around the world, making appearances at Wacken Open Air, 70000 Tons Of Metal and Summer Breeze, sharing the stage with Alestorm, Wintersun, Korplikaani and Finntroll, making a name for themselves as the pioneers of True Norwegian Balkan Metal!

In True Norwegian Balkan K.A.O.S., TrollfesT release an energizing and bombastic re-recording of their classic “Der Jegermeister” to celebrate their signing to Napalm Records. “Der Jegermeister” is the magnificent, brilliant, wisdom super troll that loves to hunt and drink, and is a fan favorite at live shows! This re-recording will get you moshing on your sofa, raiding the kitchen for alcohol or wherever mother, wife, husband, partner, dog or cats hide them. Trolls never hide alcohol.

Watch the latest music video for “Der Jegermeister” below:

TrollfesT on signing with Napalm Records: “There are few things more welcome than good news in tumultuous times and with that in mind it is with unbridled joy that we announce our signing to Napalm Records. We are excitedly excited about this excitement and have overwhelmingly positive feelings of exuberance toward this endeavour. It is a pure honour to work with such legends. Gleefully chipper and tremendously exalted, we cannot wait for the next chapter of TrollfesT history where world domination, millionaire status, private airplanes and studios built of beer are sure to only be the minor ingredients, that or we will continue to roam the outskirts of obscurity. Either way, we will enjoy ourselves stupendously.”

TrollfesT are:

John Espen Sagstad (Mr.Seidel) - Guitar
Fabian Jiru (Grimdrap Glutenfri Fleskeng) – Guitar
Jostein Austvik (Trollmannen) – Vocals
Eirik Renton (TrollBANK) – Bouzouki/Vocals/Various
Kai Renton (Fjernkontrollet) - Synth/Accordion
Dag Stiberg (DrekkaDag) – Saxophone
Øyvind Erik Strønen Johannesen (Lodd Bolt) - Bass/Vocals
Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow (Kjellkje) - drums/vocals

(Photo - Kjells Angels)




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New York metal band Letter Of Marque has released their official music video for “White Lie”.

“Making this video truly helped us emphasize what we want the people to understand. One bad decision can last for generations,” says the band.

Letter Of Marque was founded over the summer of 2016 by Matt Gund (Vocals), Vinny Antonelli (Rhythm Guitar), and Jeff Pritchard (Cello/Lead Guitar). The band was originally called "Out In The Open" due to the bands very "out there" style of metal. After cycling through a few other names, the band decided "Letter Of Marque" was the best fit. This decision was solidified when vocalist Matt Gund got "Letter Of Marque" tattooed on his ring finger in April 2018, essentially becoming married to the band.

Griffin McCarthy joined the band as the drummer at the start of 2017. We knew after just one practice that he was a perfect fit for the band. He is still with us to this day, and continues to shock the band with his talent on not only the drums, but piano as well.

In November 2018, the band finished recording their debut album Outbreak at Westfall Recording Studio, which was released in June 2019. Reese Ortenberg recorded all bass tracks for this album.

In July 2019, Derek Lankeaux joined the band as the bass guitar player.




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On August 29, 1981, the Outlaws rocked Lorelei in Germany. And now, fans can see and hear the proof, with the recent arrival of Live at Rockpalast 1981.

60 minutes of southern rock at its finest, the classic Outlaws lineup of Freddie Salem (guitar/vocals), Hughie Thomasson (guitar/vocals), Billy Jones (guitar/voc), David Dix (drums) and Rick Cua (bass) is on display throughout this hour-long performance (issued via MIG), which can be purchased here.

And all the expected early Outlaws classics are included - “Devil’s Road,” “Hurry Sundown,” “Holiday,” "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky," and "Green Grass And High Tides." The track "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" (original title: "Ghost Riders In The Sky: A Cowboy Legend") was penned by Stan Jones and had already been covered by Johnny Cash and the Blues Brothers, became the new anthem of southern rock fans in the Outlaw version. At Lorelei, the Outlaws played an 8-minute version of “Ghost Riders In The Sky” with a guitar battle between Freddie Salem, Hughie Thomasson and Billy Jones, while the blissful fans in the audience waved an oversized Southern States banner. Another incredible live experience is their other Southern statement, "Green Grass And High Tides", which stretches over a breathtaking 20 minutes.

Guitarist Freddie Salem (who also pens the liner notes for the CD/DVD) remembers: “Speaking for the other Outlaws and myself, after playing in thousands of shows for thousands of people, Lorelei, Germany and the Rockpalast concert will always remain a wonderful and ongoing memory in our career!”

For more than 45 years, the Outlaws have flown the Southern Rock banner like no other band in the land. Known for their unique triple-guitar rock attack and three-part country harmonies, the Tampa-born group"s first three albums on Arista - featuring hits like "There Goes Another Love Song", "Green Grass & High Tides", "Knoxville Girl" and "Freeborn Man" - became Southern Rock milestones, while relentless tours with peers like The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band and The Charlie Daniels Band - as well as performing alongside The Who, Eagles and The Rolling Stones - solidified the reputation of "The Florida Guitar Army" as genre legends.

And now, fans can witness the band at the peak of their in-concert powers, with the most-welcome arrival of Live at Rockpalast 1981.



Tracklisting (CD/DVD):

"Devil’s Road"
"Hurry Sundown"
"Holiday"
"Long Gone"
"Angels Hide"
"Waterhole"
"There Goes Another Love Song"
"Green Grass And High Tides"
"Ghost Riders In The Sky"

Tau Cross will release their third album, Messengers Of Deception, on December 4 via Heretical Music/Easy Action Records. A video for the single "Burn With Me" can be found below.

The album is an epic journey both lyrically and sonically, as Rob ‘The Baron’ Miller grapples with the cosmological origins of evil and deception and the way they have manifested in our World over millennia.

Miller caused some controversy just over a year ago when Relapse Records cancelled the release of the album’s first incarnation and the band split apart at the same time. He stated the intention to continue regardless at that time, and has re-recorded every instrument, re-worked several of the songs and also added new material along the way.

The Baron had this to say: “I considered the material to be an important and critical part of my development as a writer, but also as a condensation of some of the more esoteric ideas I have been following in recent years, particularly since the recent incarnation of Amebix and the consequent result that has become Tau Cross. My interest in Gnostic Cosmology, occult magick traditions and the links with the UFO and folk tale phenomena have led to a kind of synthesis and a connecting of dots that sees its full scope and import in this most recent work. There are themes within Messengers Of Deception that should lead the listener to some serious food for thought.”

The material has all been improved on significantly, along with the production, to re-assert Tau Cross as one of the more original, important and thoughtful bands in the field of punk/metal. New members The Kurgan on guitar and Talamh behind the drums have brought an overall heavier and darker hue to the work, which in this case is richer than anything Tau cross has so far embarked upon.



Tracklisting:

"Yaldabaoth"
"Hollow Earth"
"Burn With Me"
"Black Cadillac"
"Violence Of The Lord"
"Messengers Of Deception"
"Babylonian Death Cult"
"Drowning The God"
"Three Tides"
"Sorrow Draws The Plough"

"Burn With Me" video:

James Kottak says that he is "still very good friends" with his former bandmates in the SCORPIONS, four years after his exit from the group.

In September 2016, the drummer was dismissed from the legendary German hard rock band during his well-publicized battle with alcoholism and was replaced by former MOTÖRHEAD member Mikkey Dee.

In a new interview with the SCORPIONS official fan club Crazyscorps, Kottak discussed the circumstances that led to his departure, saying: "I always liked a drink here and there. And then I always also take a pain medication called Aleve. It's what all the baseball players take, all the footballers, and it works like a charm. You take those of those and you don't feel anything. But on top of that, I'm a rock drummer in a rock band, and you've got the green light to drink.

"From 2008 to 2011, I didn't drink," he explained. "I just woke up one day and said, 'I just don't wanna drink anymore.' I didn't go to rehab; I didn't do any of that stuff. I just didn't wanna drink anymore.

"If you have any knowledge of A.A. [Alcoholics Anonymous] or any type of program or rehab, it only lasts so long and then you have what we call in recovery a relapse. I would go through these phases of a year or maybe two years of no drinking, and then you gradually…

"SCORPIONS, we play our show, we go back to the hotel, [and] 45 minutes later, we're all downstairs having dinner," he continued. "And everything's just the right price — free. All these flights back and forth from Europe, from L.A. — I was just flying constantly. Which I'm not complaining about, but it's always business or first class, and once again, all the booze is at the right price. I'm going, 'I've got the next two days off. I might as well have a drink.' And that's what triggered me to start drinking again sometimes.

"It's a typical alcoholic way of thinking: 'Well, I may as well have a drink. Why not?' And that's typical alcoholic disease thinking. 'Cause it is a disease."

Kottak, who joined the SCORPIONS in 1996, recalled one particular turning point when he spent three months at Eric Clapton's Crossroads drug and alcohol treatment center on the island of Antigua.

"I've been to hundreds — I won't say thousands — I've been to hundreds of A.A. meetings," he said. "I spent 92 days in rehab down at Eric Clapton's rehab place. I was only supposed to stay there 30 days. They offered me, they said, 'Hey, if you wanna stay another couple of weeks, it's okay.' And I'm, like, 'What? Well, do I have to pay?' 'Cause it's expensive — it's, like, 30 grand a month. They go, 'No. You can just stay if you want.' So I stayed another two weeks, then another two weeks. And long story short, I was there 92 days, which it changed my entire life and my whole way of thinking."

James went on to say that he is "still very good friends" with members of the SCORPIONS. "Me and Matthias [Jabs, guitar] e-mail, and me and Klaus [Meine, vocals] e-mail regular, like, maybe once every few weeks. And I just say, 'Hey, man, how are you?' And Klaus will write back, 'Hey, everything is great here. What's going on with you?' It's that kind of a thing.

"I saw them a year and a half ago down in Orange County, which, from here, it sounds close, but it was like a two-hour drive. I went and visited with the guys, and I said hello to the crew, and I went backstage, and I went and visited with Klaus privately.

"They're my friends, man," Kottak added. "Just 'cause you're not in a band [together] anymore doesn't mean you can't be friends. And these guys are my friends."

Asked if he had any regrets about the way his time with SCORPIONS came to an end, Kottak said: "Of these's always a regret with any change. But 21 years in rock and roll might as well be 150 years."

Two years ago, Jabs said that he and his bandmates "had to make" the decision to fire Kottak, explaining that they gave the drummer "all the chances" to get better. "We reached the point — or he reached the point — where it was just not worth it," Jabs said.

Kottak spent most of the last two years touring with a revamped version of KINGDOM COME, also featuring guitarists Danny Stag and Rick Steier, and bassist Johnny B. Frank, along with singer Keith St. John (formerly of MONTROSE and LYNCH MOB). Original frontman Lenny Wolf declined to participate in the reunion.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian has admitted that it's "frustrating" to see his bandmate John Dolmayan publicly voicing his support for Donald Trump.

In recent months, Dolmayan has praised Trump and has accused Democrats of "demonizing" the president and "blaming him for everything under the sun." The drummer also called Democrats "the true bigots" who "fought to maintain slavery" and were "directly responsible for 70 plus million abortions, a large majority of whom were black."

Tankian discussed his relationship with Dolmayan during a recent interview with Forbes about the current crisis occurring in their cultural homeland of Armenia and Artsakh.

Asked if it's frustrating for him to see John so publicly supportive of America's 45th president, especially considering Dolmayan is Armenian as well, Serj said: "He's my brother-in-law and my drummer. Is it frustrating being politically opposite to your own drummer and brother-in-law? Fuck yeah. Of course it's frustrating. But that's having to do with American politics. When it comes to Armenian issues, we're on the same exact page. We know what injustice is happening, we work together. We're doing different auction activities and working together on many fronts. The Armenian nation is united, whether you voted for Republican, Democrat or neither. But I was a Bernie [Sanders] supporter, I still am. I feel like he still would've been the best choice going forward. But I'm okay with [Joe] Biden. The elections are coming up and normally I'm very vocal, but this war and the daily death toll [in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh] has really taken up my full spectrum of focus."

Last month, Dolmayan defended his reasons for voicing his political views that are ideologically opposed to those of Tankian, telling the "Deviant Gentlemen" podcast: "SYSTEM OF A DOWN has a legacy of being left-leaning, which isn't always the case. Serj, of course, is responsible for the lyrics, but they didn't always represent the band in the way that we maybe wanted [them] to. There's four individuals in the band. I don't speak for any of the individuals except for myself, and neither does Serj. But because he had that platform of writing lyrics, the perception was out there that that's how the band felt at all times, where I don't even think Serj necessarily felt those ways at all times. You're supposed to have diversity of opinion even within your own mind, and you should judge things based on information that's presented to you.

"If you're a SYSTEM fan and you gravitate towards the music, you enjoy the music, but you don't necessarily agree with the perceived message, well, where do you go?" he continued. "If you think that Serj is the mouthpiece of the band, which he is, as far as vocally, but not necessarily for ideology, then you have nowhere to go. So I wanted to present a different view and to give kids out there who think differently and who are critical thinkers, not necessarily following the norm, that there is a different option, you can think differently, it's okay to have diversity of opinion, as long as it's done peaceably."

Asked if he has been approached by anybody in the music industry and told to tone down his political rhetoric on social media, John said: "No. My manager, he was just, like, 'Look, maybe you guys are going a little too far' — for both Serj and I. And we did have a private text conversation between me, [our manager] and Serj. And again, I think Serj views himself in a way where he's really doing the right thing. And he really does care about people. And he does a lot for individuals and our nation as well. He's really trying to help people, Serj. I believe he's a good person, inherently. But again, it's that moral high ground that they think they're on — that perceived moral high ground. It kind of blinds them to being open about ideas they might be wrong on."

Dolmayan supports Trump's claim that his administration has done more for the African-American community "than any president since Abraham Lincoln."

In recent months, Tankian has called for Trump to resign and described him as "completely useless" over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Less than a month out from the November 13 arrival of AC/DC's seventeenth full-length album, "Power Up", Angus Young and Brian Johnson make their first-ever podcast appearance on Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk". Among many highlights during the fascinating and far-reaching hour-long interview is talk about Brian's audition, the writing process, the stories behind classic songs, the power of Phil Rudd, memories of the late and great Malcolm Young, and the legend of Angus's signature Gibson SG used on every album.

Asked if he has ever had to undergo any surgeries as a result of performing in such a physical way during AC/DC's live concerts, Angus said (hear audio below): "None whatsoever. Being on stage, I might [get] the odd bruised ankle. I used to lose a lot of my nails on my feet. They used to go first, because [of the] wear and tear. I was guaranteed every tour, at least three or four times during a tour, I would lose a toenail or two. So that was always expected. But I've been pretty lucky.

"I've even gone through stages in my early years, because you had to use what the stage was in the building," he continued. "Some buildings, they had an A stage and a B stage. I could always tell when we got the B stage, because I could guarantee my feet were gonna go through them.

"I've been lucky — I've been pretty lucky," he repeated. "I think the worst I ever got was a thing with my finger one time — I had a splint. That lasted all of a second. That came off first thing, and I still had to play with a fractured finger. So I got through that."

As for Brian, the singer said: "I've been lucky. I've never spent a night in hospital in my life — touch wood. Apart from the obvious, when my ears went and all that, but that's invisible. So, thank God about that. Other than that, honestly, I've been as lucky as Angus in a way. We should have been hurt — me and Angus — many times, but we were always very lucky."

Two weeks ago, AC/DC released "Shot In The Dark", the first single from "Power Up". The follow-up to 2014's "Rock Or Bust" features AC/DC's reunited lineup of Angus, Brian (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums), Cliff Williams (bass) and Stevie Young (guitar).

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

In a new interview with Machine Music, HELMET leader Page Hamilton discussed his relationship with PANTERA in the early 1990s and his band's influence on what eventually became the Philip Anselmo-fronted act's "Vulgar Display Of Power" album.

"If you look at what they were doing before they 'became' PANTERA – the music wasn't interesting to me," Page admitted. "They were good players, but they hadn't found their voice yet. And I saw them play, they were opening for PRONG in Minneapolis; we were opening for THE MELVINS. And I saw MIND OVER FOUR and they were okay, and then I saw PANTERA, and I was, like, 'There's something there. That's a good fucking band.' And I was kind of blown away. They were playing [songs] from 'Cowboys From Hell'. Well, then they came in and watched us and I said something on mic, like, 'Guys, I don't know if you saw that band PANTERA, but that was really incredible.' And that was not our crowd, that was not that Amphetamine Reptile, Lower East Side New York crowd, but I didn't give a shit. I never wanted to be a part of some club anyway — because we didn't really fit in. We weren't indie; we weren't metal. But I saw PANTERA and went, 'That's the fucking real deal.' And then I heard somebody say, 'Thanks!' and I looked down and the band was standing in front of me.

"Long story short, we got to Dallas six months later and they had hooked up with us and started playing parts of what would be 'Vulgar Display Of Power' to us, which is their HELMET album," Page continued. "They had this ability already, but they had to discover their voice. They had started to discover it with 'Cowboys From Hell', but by the time they had heard HELMET, it was just there. And Dime [PANTERA guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott] had told me, he said, I told you you were going to influence me.' And I was flattered, because that guy could play. nd I get that it's a process, a learning process, even for great musicians."

Later in the chat, Hamilton circled back to the time when PANTERA came to see HELMET perform in Dallas.

"They played us some songs from 'Vulgar Display Of Power' in the parking lot," he recalled. "[We were] at the parking lot, drinking beers before the HELMET show and they're playing us this album that they were working on. I remember we had started our song 'Distracted', off of 'Strap it On', and Phil [Anselmo, PANTERA singer] was right in front of me, and I remember all of their faces lit up when they caught the groove. Like they were waiting going, 'What the fuck is this?' and then went wild once they caught the groove. I love those moments where there's this revelation, like, 'I don't know what is this, but it feels so good. Why does it feel so good?'"

Although HELMET disbanded in 1997, Hamilton revived the band in 2004, and the group has continued to tour and record.

HELMET's latest album, "Dead To The World", was released in October 2016 via earMUSIC.

ALTER BRIDGE frontman Myles Kennedy has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, calling him ""the king" of guitar players. The legendary VAN HALEN axeman died on October 6 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.

Speaking to Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA, Kennedy stated about Van Halen (see video below): "I know [Eddie's son] Wolfie way better, and the handful of interactions I had with his father were profound for me, because, at the end of the day, he and Jimmy Page are the reason that I picked up a guitar.

"What's interesting is when you see how people on social media… I've never seen just a wall of post after post of people expressing what he meant to them," he continued. "It's really pretty beautiful in that sense. And I thought with Wolfie, and how people are showing their support for him, it shows the humanity. To see all these fans going to Wolfie and just being there, I think that's beautiful.

"I love Wolfie. He's a special person, and geez, people have no idea how talented that guy is. Obviously, he plays bass. You should hear him play the drums. Woah! I mean, he can go off. I've talked with people who've seen him play the guitar, and he's got his dad's genes.

"As far as the loss of Eddie Van Halen, he was the king," Myles added. "And the next day, I got in my car and I put on 'Van Halen I' and I just drove — I just drove and listened. And, you know, hats off."

Eddie died at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. His wife, Janie, was by his side, along with Wolfgang, and Alex, Eddie's brother and VAN HALEN drummer.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

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

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

TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider has testified in a case involving Australian politician Clive Palmer and the band's classic song "We're Not Gonna Take It".

Palmer adopted the melody and rhythm of "We're Not Gonna Take It" in his political advertisements for the United Australia Party. The advertisements feature a vocalist singing the TWISTED SISTER song's melody along with the lyrics: "Australia ain't gonna cop it, no Australia's not gonna cop it, Aussies not gonna cop it any more."

In TWISTED SISTER's original, Snider sings: "Oh we're not gonna take it, no we ain't gonna take it, oh we're not gonna take it anymore."

Universal Music, which acquired publishing rights to "We're Not Gonna Take It" from Snider in 2015, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Palmer in February.

Palmer accused TWISTED SISTER of "swindling its hit song from a famous Christmas carol." Snider had previously admitted that glam rock band SLADE and "O Come, All Ye Faithful" were influences while he was writing "We're Not Gonna Take It".

The opening five words in the lyrics of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" have the same melody as the song in the ad, as well as the chorus of "We're Not Gonna Take It", but the Christmas carol follows a different chord progression and is traditionally played in a different musical style to both the ad and the TWISTED SISTER classic.

"The rendition was awful, the message was misrepresentative, and Mr. Palmer's image is not good for my heavy metal image either," Snider, appearing from the U.S. told the court, according to News.com.au. "There is nothing to gain from that representation."

Palmer's attorney played a mashup of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "We're Not Gonna Take It", performed during a live Christmas concert in Chicago, which was featured in the 2014 stage musical "Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale".

Snider said the two songs were "rhythmically different, and that is inspiration not duplication." He added the songs had to be "shoehorned" together to create the versions used in his musical and the 2006 cover. "It was very difficult," he said.

Universal attorney Patrick Flynn told the court that Palmer had balked at paying a $150,000 copyright fee to use the song, instead offering just $35,000.

The hearing continues before Justice Anna Katzmann.

In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, SKUNK ANANSIE frontwoman Skin addressed the topic of racism, stating that there has been an "erosion of rights" since Donald Trump became president of the United States.

"Racism has grown since Trump came to power and the U.K. voted for Brexit," the British-born singer said.

"Black Lives Matter is really important, because there's been an air, when black people talk about racism, they kind of get shoved to the side," she continued. "No one really wanted to talk about it. And now it's put it right smack front and center in front of people's faces. It’s really vital that people put this at the forefront of conversation, because racism and anti-semitism have been getting worse and worse over the last few years.

"There some things happening now that have similarities to what was happening in the 1930s, just before Hitler came to power, and it was a slow erosion of rights of people over a long period of time. If you're not the one being persecuted, it's very easy to step aside and not get involved.

"I'm not calling Trump a Nazi," Skin clarified, "but I am saying there's a very drip, drip erosion of rights. So I'm really pleased about Black Lives Matter. I really support it, obviously, because I'm a black person and my life matters. And I think it's made a lot of white people much more aware of all the subtleties of racism, all the things that are happening that they didn't see."

Skin released her memoir, "It Takes Blood And Guts", on September 24 via Simon & Schuster. The book was co-written with music journalist, biographer and broadcaster Lucy O'Brien, who has written for Q, MOJO, Sunday Times and The Guardian.

During an October 7 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach confirmed that there was "a little talk" of him joining VAN HALEN shortly after Sammy Hagar departed in 1996.

"[SKID ROW manager] Doc McGhee had me up at the office, and Ray Daniels was managing [VAN HALEN] at the time, and Ray and Doc were talking. But they didn't want [VAN HALEN guitarist] Eddie [Van Halen] to smoke weed. And I go, 'That's funny,' because I was smoking weed with Ray Danniels. I go, 'So you can [smoke weed] but I can't. What the fuck? The lead singer of VAN HALEN can't smoke pot? What?' But that was a discussion.

"I was summoned into Doc's office, and there was talk about it," he reiterated. "At the time, they were looking for a singer. But I didn't get to audition. I don't think Doc was into me leaving SKID ROW either; there was something about that."

In 1999, when the news came that VAN HALEN had parted company with Gary Cherone and was again in the market for a new lead singer, rumors once again abounded, and Bach's name was thrown in the mix. At the time, Bach shot down the chatter, telling MTV News: "The thing is, man, there's only one singer for VAN HALEN, and that's David Lee Roth, and if they've got no use for him, what possible use could they have for me? If they don't like him, they definitely won't like me."

He continued: "I mean, when they're looking for singers and they pick Gary Cherone, they're thinking in ways that we're not. I mean, I love Gary. He's a really nice guy, but you can't be a really nice guy and be the lead singer of VAN HALEN. It just doesn't go together. You got to kick some ass, man, and he does kick ass in his Gary Cherone way. But David Lee Roth was doing kicks off of the drum riser and flying 40 feet in the air. It's a tough act to follow. I can't do that, but I can sing the Sammy Hagar stuff and the David Lee Roth stuff. I'm not bragging, I'm stating a fact."

Eddie died on October 6 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. His wife, Janie, was by his side, along with his son, Wolfgang, and Alex, Eddie's brother and VAN HALEN drummer.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman passed away from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

Genesis Publications and the Janis Joplin estate present Janis Joplin's personal scrapbook in a new limited-edition book, "Janis Joplin: Days & Summers - Scrapbook 1966-68". The book will ship worldwide in March 2021.

Compiled between 1966-1968, as the singer found her star rising, Janis Joplin created a personal record of her meteoric rise to fame and the flowering of sixties counterculture in which she was to play a lead role.

From the singer's earliest intimate blues gigs in local coffee houses, to her first appearances with BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY, to the band's breakthrough performance at Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, Janis's story is remarkable. Throughout it all, she collected posters, souvenirs, press clippings, photographs and records, and annotated them with her comments.

Featured alongside are previously unpublished items from her personal archive, including letters she wrote home to her family and a preceding scrapbook from her senior high school years, 1956-59. Collectively, they offer a brand new perspective on the Port Arthur girl that transformed into a rock goddess, setting the world on fire with her talent.

Written by the people who really knew Janis and those inspired by her, the book's in-depth text provides a fascinating, new account of the singer's extraordinary life. With an introduction by Grace Slick and an afterword by Kris Kristofferson, the book's list of contributors includes BIG BROTHER bandmates Peter Albin and Dave Getz, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, musicians Mick Fleetwood, Chrissie Hynde, Taj Mahal and Jimmy Page, talk show host Dick Cavett, as well as siblings Laura and Michael Joplin.

Limited to only 2,000 copies worldwide, each book in the "Days & Summers" edition is hand-numbered, estate-stamped with Janis Joplin's signature, and hand-signed by her BIG BROTHER bandmates Peter Albin and Dave Getz, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE's Jorma Kaukonen, and Janis's siblings, Laura Joplin and Michael Joplin.

The large-format book (325mm x 305mm / 12¾" x 12") is printed on heavyweight 200gsm paper with gilt and deckled page edging. Additionally, Deluxe copies are fully bound in a navy, vegan leather, blocked with gold, pink and blue foiling.

"Days & Summers" is the name Janis Joplin gave to the scrapbook she kept during her high school years, and the book's cover design is similarly inspired by Janis, featuring her own hand-drawn lettering and decorative linework.

Exclusive to the Deluxe copies is a beautiful, artist-signed drawing of Janis Joplin by Grace Slick. Hand-numbered 1 of 350 copies, the signed Deluxe print is an archival Giclée made onto Hahnemühle German Etching paper (100% cotton rag, 310gsm) that is suitable for framing (254mm x 200mm / 10" x 8").

All copies in the limited edition include a special 7" single containing two exceptionally rare recordings: two blues tracks from "The Typewriter Tape" recording session from 1964 by Janis Joplin and Jorma Kaukonen ("Daddy Daddy Daddy" by Janis Joplin, and the blues standard "Trouble In Mind"). Capturing Joplin at a pivotal moment, before joining BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY, "The Typewriter Tape" recordings have attained mythic status among bootleg recordings. Given the historic nature of the two tracks, the single is pressed on 180-gram audiophile vinyl.

For more information and for orders, go to JanisJoplinBook.com.

Photo credit: Fantality Corp

Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend was recently interviewed by Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio about his upcoming "Order Of Magnitude - Empath Live Volume 1" release and how he's been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Asked if he thinks the music industry will be forever changed because of the COVID-19 crisis, Devin said: "Yes. I think everything will forever be changed. I can't think of anything that won't be. That's not necessarily to say that it will be bad, but… Even last night, I had two separate dreams about being in crowds of people. The year before last, I had a couple of really exciting experiences. I went and spent a bunch of time in India and I went and spent a bunch of time in China. And both those places have a population density that is crazy. And last night, I had two separate dreams — one that I was in China, and one that I was in India, and in both of the dreams, I was panicking, because there was too many people around. I was just, like, 'Man, how do I find a way to function with this amount of people?' And I think that maybe all of us have got that kind of internalized sense now — to a certain degree, at least, depending on what your view on this scenario is of what is a safe environment to be in. And I think, at the very least, it's gonna take a while to shake that."

Pressed about whether he thinks anything positive has come out of the pandemic for musicians, Devin said: "Yeah. I'm trying to figure out what. My knee-jerk reaction is just to say yes, but I don't know why. I think there's something to be said for the tenacity that it requires to maintain a positive frame of mind through an environment of relentless negativity that benefits us as people and as artists. Because I think you can kind of take one of three paths with a scenario like this. You can either run with it and try and pivot your life so that you can continue to create, or you can be resistant towards it and go at it from the angle of fear and, who knows, victimization. And then there's the other side where it sweeps the legs out from underneath you, and it can be the end of you, to a certain degree, professionally or otherwise. And I think that it gives the industry an opportunity to see how much can be done in the face of this sort of thing. And it was a lot. And I think that it ends up that we — at least I — didn't recognize the amount of things that I was capable of doing when the chips were down. And that will benefit anyone who takes that point of view in the future, because, all of a sudden, we've got all this new skill set, like OBS or Twitch or podcasts or streaming or concerts or any of these things. "For me, it was like having kids as well. Prior to having kids, I didn't think that I'd be able to do it. I'd be, like, 'There's no way I could be a father. There's no way.' And then I found that it was just, like, I guess you don't give yourself enough credit sometimes for the things that you're capable of. And a lot of times, the ways that that is tested is through adversity. When things are going great, there's no need to see how you're gonna rise to these occasions. It doesn't have to happen. The obstacles create the need for solutions, and those solutions are interesting."

"Order Of Magnitude - Empath Live Volume 1" will be released on October 23. The set has been described in a press release as "a document of [Devin's] winter 2019 European tour that saw him taking on possibly his most ambitious live show to date."

Recorded in December 2019 in London, U.K. on the penultimate night of the tour in support of his latest album "Empath", this run of shows saw Devin joined by an incredible lineup of musicians. The band was made up of guitarists Mike Kenneally (ex-FRANK ZAPPA) and Markus Reuter (STICK MEN, THE CRIMSON PROJECT), drummer Morgen Agren (KAIPA, MATS & MORGAN, FRANK ZAPPA), bassist Nathan Navarro, HAKEN keyboard player Diego Tejeida, and guitarist/vocalist Ché Aimee Dorval, as well as vocalists Samantha and Anne Preis and Arabella Packford.

Former JOURNEY singer Steve Perry has revealed to Rolling Stone in a new interview that he was invited by Eddie Van Halen for a jam session in 1985 after David Lee Roth left VAN HALEN.

"Man, at some level within me I felt so honored because I was in awe of Eddie's natural talent," Steve said. "He was just born with it. I wanted so badly to do that. We talked about how cool that could be musically. This was before Sammy [Hagar]. The next day, and in the weeks to come, I thought, 'I don't know that I should do that. If it goes creatively to what I know it can go to…' Whatever I could bring to that, I know it would be something I'd really love doing."

He continued: "My only problem I had with it was the thought, 'I don't know that I could be the guy to go out and represent the David Lee Roth years with my voice. I don't know if I want to be that guy.' I think representing their legacy up to that point would have been something vocally that I don't think I was really suited to doing. It's a different kind of singing. David had something vocally that I would say was in kinship with Louis Prima. Later on, he did 'Just A Gigolo' and sounded more like Louis Prima. He was a real character."

VAN HALEN was the support act for JOURNEY on Perry's first tour with the band in 1978.

Hagar replaced Roth in VAN HALEN in 1985 and recorded four studio albums with the band — "5150", "OU812", "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Balance" — all of which topped the U.S. chart.

Steve's first solo album in more than two decades, "Traces", was released in October 2018 via Fantasy Records (a division of Concord Records/UMG).

Perry reunited with JOURNEY for the first time in years as they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2017. The iconic singer appeared onstage with his former bandmates as they each gave speeches, but did not perform with the group later in the event.