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.

Rob Halford says that his debut blues solo album "will be ready when it's ready." The JUDAS PRIEST singer is collaborating with the same team that assisted him during the making of his 2019 Christmas LP "Celestial", including his brother Nigel and his nephew Alex (son of PRIEST bassist Ian Hill).

Speaking to "The Cassius Morris Show", Halford said (see video below): "We've started to kick the tires on this blues record. In fact, before we started talking today, I had some texts from my brother Nigel, who's a drummer. He worked with us all on the 'Celestial' Christmas album last year. And my nephew Alex, who's the son of Ian Hill, bass player from PRIEST, he was also on the Christmas album. And their good friend Jon Blakely on guitar. So the three of them are at my house, and they're just jamming away, putting together these ideas.

"Much like the Christmas album, I said, 'Guys, you love the blues as much as I do. You just go ahead and formally put all the pieces together, and then we'll make a record,'" he continued. "So it has started. And it'll be ready when it's ready."

A few years ago, Rob stated about his interest in making a blues record: "When I first became a musician in my late teens, I started to hear the extraordinary roots of the blues — Bessie Smith, Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters. They gave me the buzz… It's something I want to do because I want to explore what my voice can do in that wonderful world. That's how I learned to do a lot of that soaring, sweeping, and screeching. And also I discovered that I've got a voice that can go in different octaves, directions, and different kinds of projections. It's a combination of a sense of adventure and just being inspired by those guys, those wonderful singers. It's a mixture of everything but mainly a discovery of what the voice can do."

Back in 2015, Halford told Newsday.com that he was interested in recording a blues album and pursuing other non-heavy metal projects because he wanted to find out what his voice can do. He said: "I've always felt that [the blues is] very much a part of my background and musical roots. I don't know what kind of blues album I could do because there are so many different facets [to explore]. Maybe I'll just mix it up. As far as stuff out of the metal world, I'm a fan of people like Michael Bublé and Michael Feinstein. I've always been a fan of [Frank] Sinatra and Tony Bennett and Elvis [Presley]. I'd love to hear what my voice would sound like in that kind of musical mix, with wind instruments, trumpets and sax, piano, just that big-band sound."

Halford credited his vocal versatility and ability to take his voice in "different directions" as the main reason he was "so interested in trying these other opportunities." He said: I think if I had a voice that was different to what it is and was a little more in one focus, maybe I wouldn't be as adventurous about my ideas. But because my voice is able to do those different things, it's instinctive and natural to see what else I can do."

Halford released his autobiography, "Confess", on September 29 via Hachette Books.

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has released the official music video for the new version of his song "The Perfect World". The reworked track features guest vocals by Japanese pop singer Alfakyun and is included on Marty's new solo album, Tokyo Jukebox 3", which is being released today (Wednesday, October 21) in Japan. According to Billboard, the LP also features Marty's cover versions of a wide variety of pop songs, including such contemporary numbers as LiSA's "Gurenge" and OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM's "Shukumei", along with DA PUMP's dance track "U.S.A.", END OF THE WORLD's ballad "Sazanka", and the vocaloid hit "Senbonzakura Feat. Hatsune Miku". Some throwback J-pop hits from the '90s are included on the set as well, such as ZARD's "Makenaide" and EVERY LITTLE THING's "Time Goes By".

The original version of "The Perfect World", which featured MAN WITH A MISSION vocalist Jeanken Johnny, was released in 2018 and served as the main theme for the Netflix series "B: The Beginning".

Marty revealed the Tokyo Jukebox 3" cover artwork via his social media in late August, and he included the following message: "Just like everyone, I've had a real tough time dealing with 2020. We all suffered from a massive lack of fun this year, so I made it my mission to make feel-good, serotonin-level-raising music of the highest order, stuff that will hopefully kick you all in the feels, and hard.

"Making the album during a pandemic had its hellish challenges, but everyone is facing hardships now, so I was just thankful to have such cathartic work to do.

"Guitar fans will notice, and hopefully enjoy, some pretty cool updates to my guitar sounds. I've discovered that when you take off all spatial effects like reverbs and delays, your solo expressions can often live and breathe more, and have an urgency and unique attack to them, that I'm really digging."

Several weeks ago, Friedman told Bob Nalbandian of the "Shockwaves/HardRadio" podcast that he was putting the finishing touches on his new solo album. Asked what fans can expect to hear on the follow-up to 2017's "Wall Of Sound", Marty said: "Any record that I do, as you know, as everybody who listens to my stuff knows, it's gonna be — at least in my opinion — one step further, deeper, more, above, whatever it is; just a new step farther ahead, advanced — just something I've never done before. And I've had the luxury of much more time and much more of other people's time as well.

"Usually, it's really hard to track down and nail down members and studio people," he explained. "You really wanna have your 'A team,' but sometimes the 'A team' is very busy. But now it's been a lot easier to get people on board who are usually really, really busy, so scheduling has been just a breeze. And [I] love that."

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canadian guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer Aldo Nova has released a new single, "Hey Ladi Dadi", on all the digital outlets. He describes the song as "almost heavy metal, but with a hook that'll have you shaking your head and stomping your feet at the same time."

"Hey Ladi Dadi" is taken from Aldo's 23-song, one-hour-and-53-minute-long rock opera titled "The Life And Times Of Eddie Gage", which is due out in May 2021.

Nova decided in 2008 not to write, produce, or do anything for anyone else but himself and chose to pursue his vision of writing and creating a rock opera which, from its inception, was called "The Life And Times Of Eddie Gage". He wrote his first song for it on February 8, 2008 called "Go On", and continued to write and produce the initial eight songs that started the project rolling. All eight of these songs appear in its final form which was finished 12 years later — on May 12, 2020 — that also consist of songs written in 2011, 2013, 2015, and the bulk of the album being written in 2019.

In the rock opera, Aldo plays all the different characters, morphing his voice with each different song.

A Montreal native, Nova was approached by a 15-year-old Celine Dion to producer her first album, and released "Blood On The Bricks" on Jon Bon Jovi's Jambco label in 1991. It stood as the culmination of a long-running friendship and, as any knowledgeable rock fan might argue, a thank-you note of sorts: the rock superstar lifting up the personal hero whose sound provided the blueprint for his own hits.

Nova provided guitar, keys and background vocals for the demo of BON JOVI's first hit, "Runaway", and ended up playing with an assemblage of session musicians throughout BON JOVI's 1984 self-titled debut. Nova's imprint is also all over Jon Bon Jovi's debut solo album, "Blaze Of Glory" — especially the chart-topping title track, on which Nova's writing and producing went uncredited but were absolutely essential.

Over the next three decades, Nova's journey would take him through great professional highs and painful personal lows, and eventually into self-discovery and spiritual contentment. He decided again to focus on his roles as a writer, producer and session musician, capitalizing on the goodwill he'd generated in the industry to put food on the table for his family.

During the '90s and 2000s, in addition to tracks for popular foreign-language artists, Nova collaborated with Carole King, Jon Bon Jovi, Faith Hill and Clay Aiken (he co-wrote his hit "This Is the Night"), and did hugely successful work with Celine Dion. In 1997, Nova won a Grammy for Dion's blockbuster album "Falling Into You" and co-produced/co-wrote later Dion singles like the global smash "A New Day Has Come" and "You And I", the latter chosen as Hillary Clinton's campaign song in 2008.

In 2018, Aldo decided to come out of the darkness to record his album "2.0" which featured turbocharged versions six tracks from his debut album, along with a new song called "I'm A Survivor". It got a mixed response, but, as he says, "I realized a long time ago that whatever you put out, not everybody will like it, so I don't stress about it."

"The Life And Times Of Eddie Gage" track listing:

01. Hey Ladi Dadi

02. Free Your Mind

03. Follow The Road

04. Just A Man

05. You're My Woman

06. Dyin' From A Broken Heart

07. King Of Deceit

08. Crawl

09. The Bitch In Black

10. Hollywood Swingin'

11. On The Way To The Psycho Ward

12. Your Ass Is Mine

13. Spaceman

14. The Blvd To Nowhere

15. Let Me In (interlude)

16. Only One Love

17. Burn

18. When All Is Said And Done

19. Hell And Back

20. For Me

21. Go On

22. God Knows Your Name

23. Say A Little Prayer

Former and current members of STATIC-X, SOULFLY, MADBALL and D.R.I. have joind forces to record a "quarantine jam"-style cover of the SEPULTURA song "Manifest" from the Brazilian band's 1993 classic album "Chaos A.D." The lyrics were re-written to touch on 2020 issues of police brutality in the U.S., specifically the Breonna Taylor case from March of this year.

The project was initiated by Walter "Monsta" Ryan. Recording was done individually and mixed by Brian "Mitts" Daniels. The video was edited and put together by MichaelxCrusty, with additional filming by Gina Dalberth.

Recording lineup:

* Matt Dalberth (REVIVAL) - Vocals

* Marc Rizzo (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY) - Guitar

* Brian "Mitts" Daniels (ex-MADBALL, SKARHEAD) - Guitar

* Tony Campos (STATIC-X, SOULFLY, FEAR FACTORY) - Bass

* Walter "Monsta" Ryan (ex-D.R.I., MADBALL) – Drums

In a 2008 interview with Kerrang! magazine, former SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera stated about the original inspiration for "Manifest": "'Manifest' is very close to me. That's about a massacre of prisoners by police at a jail in São Paulo. One hundred and eleven prisoners were killed, and one of my friends was there and took pictures of it all, one of which we used in the artwork."

England-based post-metalcore quintet ARCHITECTS will release its ninth studio album, "For Those That Wish To Exist", on February 26 via Epitaph. The record arrives as the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed 2018 release "Holy Hell", which took a look at the pain and despair that lay at the heart of losing a brother, bandmate, and best friend in Tom Searle, the group's founding guitarist.

On "For Those That Wish To Exist", ARCHITECTS examine the part we are all playing in the world's slow destruction, and tackle the biggest questions facing the future of our planet. Such concerns that have long been prevalent in the music of a band who have continually championed and shared their platform with causes such as Sea Shepherd, are outspoken critics of barbaric exercises such as fox hunting, and who focus on sustainability in everything from their touring to merch production.

The record's 15-tracks hang in a limbo between energizing positivity that it is not too late to correct our collective course, and a paralyzing negativity of defeatism; where hope and despondency are bed-fellows triggered daily by the simple act of existence. A reflection of human condition, "For Those That Wish To Exist" calls for all of us to rise to challenge established models and strive for a collective betterment.

"This album was me looking at our inability to change to a way of life that would sustain the human race and save the planet," summarizes principal songwriter Dan Searle. "I wanted to look in the mirror and ask ourselves the question of what are we going to do, as opposed to trying to point the finger at politicians. Change has to start on a personal level. The world has developed a culture of wanting someone else to deal with it, when we need to take our own responsibility. It has to start there."

Yesterday, the band shared the first glimpse at the forthcoming record with the release of the first single, "Animals".

"For Those That Wish To Exist" track listing:

01. Do You Dream Of Armageddon?

02. Black Lungs

03. Giving Blood

04. Discourse Is Dead

05. Dead Butterflies

06. An Ordinary Extinction

07. Impermanence (feat Winston McCall of PARKWAY DRIVE)

08. Flight Without Feathers

09. Little Wonder (feat. Mike Kerr of ROYAL BLOOD)

10. Animals

11. Libertine

12. Goliath (feat. Simon Neil of BIFFY CLYRO)

13. Demi God

14. Meteor

15. Dying Is Absolutely Safe

ARCHITECTS is vocalist Sam Carter, drummer Dan Searle, bassist Ali Dean and guitarists Josh Middleton and Adam Christianson.

Photo credit: Ed Mason

An acoustic version of the song "Black Eyes Blue" from Corey Taylor can be streamed below. The original track is taken from the SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman's debut solo album, "CMFT", which was released on October 2 via Roadrunner Records. Taylor recorded the effort with his band consisting of Jason Christopher on bass, Dustin Schoenhofer on drums, and Zach Throne and Christian Martucci (STONE SOUR) on guitar. The LP was completed at Kevin Churko's The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER and STONE SOUR, among others.

"I love what I've done in the past, I love the projects that I've been attached to, but this, honestly, was probably the most enjoyable album that I've done since the first SLIPKNOT album," Corey told Kerrang! magazine. "There was such a sense of, 'We're doing it together.' I hadn't felt anything like that for a really long time, man. People grow apart, relationships become fractious… people stop liking each other sometimes, in certain bands, you know? But with this, it was totally different, because we were all friends before that. We just happened to all play together, and then we formed a band around that friendship, and it all really galvanized it."

On "CMFT", Taylor touches on lifelong influences ranging from hard rock to classic rock, punk rock to hip-hop.

"I was talking to my wife about this the other day — I was, like, 'Fuck! There's nobody for me to hide behind!'" Corey told Kerrang! "It's easy to take risks when you have the benefit of a well-established name — and by that, I mean the bands that I've been in for 20 years. But I also feel like I've earned the right to put something out there and throw people for a loop — not only with the things that I've done with both bands, but the guest spots that I've done with several bands: everybody from TONIGHT ALIVE to Zakk Wylde to Tech N9ne. I mean, I've really spread out, in a cool way. I've never sequestered myself to one corner of the genre; I've never allowed myself to be painted into a corner. And I think because of that, people's minds are a lot more open when they hear that I'm putting something out. They're gonna come into it with this mindset of, 'Okay, I don't know what the fuck I'm about to hear. This should be interesting. I think by doing that, that really sets the tone for your career."

Earlier in the year, SLIPKNOT canceled all of its previously announced summer 2020 tour dates, including the "Knotfest Roadshow", Knotfest UK and Knotfest At Sea, due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS will release a new album in 2021, bassist/vocalist Todd Kerns has confirmed. The effort will be the follow-up to "Living The Dream", which came out in September 2018 via Slash's own label Snakepit Records, in partnership with Roadrunner Records. The disc was Slash's fourth solo album, and third with Slash and his CONSPIRATORS bandmates Kerns, Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Frank Sidoris (guitar and vocals).

On Sunday (October 18), Kerns took to his Instagram to write, in part: "Lots of new music coming. New @officialalterbridge coming next month. A new @officialmyleskennedy solo album in 2021 plus SMKC4. New @toquerocks New @minefieldusa NEW MUSIC! That's what it's all about. I know 2020 has been beyond challenging but 2021 is going to awesome eventually. At least there will be a ton of new music. Once we get the live show thing sorted we'll be cool."

In September 2019, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS released "Living The Dream Tour" on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2 CD, 3LP black vinyl, limited-edition 3LP red vinyl, digital video and digital audio via Eagle Vision. The set was shot on location on February 20, 2019 at London, England's Eventim Apollo.

Last November, Slash told "The Marshall Podcast" that the road was "the only place" he and THE CONSPIRATORS "really do get a chance to work" on new music. "If we're doing theaters and arenas and all that kind of stuff, we have our soundchecks, so I work on that stuff during that time," he said. "Because that's when I do all the writing — during the road trip. So when the tour is over, at some point, we all get together and we revisit all that material that we worked on while we were on the road. Which is actually what all the records we've done so far are a culmination of."

Complicating the creative process is the fact that Myles Kennedy and THE CONSPIRATORS don't live in the same town as Slash. "Myles is in Washington state, and I'm in L.A. and the rest of the guys are in [Las] Vegas," Slash explained. "So I fly everybody to L.A. and we'll stay there and we'll do pre-production and go in and do a record. But now that GUNS N' ROSES has become a thing, I have to do that. But I will have accumulated enough material out [out on the road] that when the time comes to work on CONSPIRATORS stuff, I already have the material."

Speaking in more detail about how songs come together with THE CONSPIRATORS, Slash said: "We write the whole time. I write the music ideas, and then I'll bring it into a soundcheck situation. For me, the most important thing is the drums. So I'll start working on an idea with Brent, as well as Todd, and even Frank — we'll all stand there together and do it. And then just see if it catches, if it's a cool idea with all the other instruments involved. That's the thing about guitar players — you write bitchin' guitar stuff all day long, but is it a song? So we start working it up. And then Myles will be there and he'll catch it and maybe start recording something into his phone. And we'll just sort of get the nucleus of an idea, and in some cases work on it for a few days until we have an arrangement. And then there's some stuff that we didn't ever get to play in soundcheck that I recorded on my phone in my room and I'll bring that up later."
























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Me cosplaying as bass player for @officialalterbridge In reality this is when @markttremonti jumped on stage with SMKC when his band @tremontiofficial played with us. I could never take the place of @bmarshall73 He’s a badass! On the other hand Mark’s bass player that night was none other than @wolfvanhalen Another badass. I’m just happy to get up there and play surrounded by unparalleled talent. I’m a lucky man. Lots of new music coming. New @officialalterbridge coming next month. A new @officialmyleskennedy solo album in 2021 plus SMKC4. New @toquerocks New @minefieldusa NEW MUSIC! That’s what it’s all about. I know 2020 has been beyond challenging but 2021 is going to awesome eventually. At least there will be a ton of new music. Once we get the live show thing sorted we’ll be cool. Hope you are having a restful and happy Sunday! Thinking of y’all #smkc #slash #myleskennedy #conspirators #theconspirators #marktremonti #tremonti #alterbridge #brianmarshall #wolfgangvanhalen #sundayfunday #sunday #sundaymornings #sundaymorning #easylikesundaymorning

A post shared by Todd Kerns (@toddkerns) on Oct 18, 2020 at 11:49am PDT

SLAVES ON DOPE's Jason Rockman and Kevin Jardine present a brand-new cover project called THE KINGS OF QUARANTINE alongside a veritable who's who of rock and rap artists. Their first release is a song from one of the most celebrated modern rock bands, FAITH NO MORE, with a rendition of "We Care A Lot". The video features a myriad of artists such as Frank Bello (ANTHRAX), Ray Luzier (KORN), Bill Kelliher (MASTODON), Ivan Doruschuk (MEN WITHOUT HATS), Dennis Lyxén (REFUSED), Walter Shreifels (QUICKSAND), Kevin Sharp (BRUTAL TRUTH), Darryl McDaniels (RUN-D.M.C.), Esoteric (CZARFACE), Richard Patrick (FILTER) and Raine Maida (OUR LADY PEACE). The video also features a guest appearance from FAITH NO MORE's founding member and bass player Billy Gould delivering a special message.

The project came together after a discussion between Jason and Bill about possibly doing a cover song together. Jason then went back to his longtime music partner Kevin Jardine and picked their favourite band FAITH NO MORE with the song "We Care A Lot".

"Kevin and I have always been massive fans of FAITH NO MORE, and having the opportunity to cover one of their songs with such great company has been a dream come true. We are so grateful to all the musicians involved that accepted our invitation," says Rockman.

The music industry has been severely touched by the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Artists, creators, and musicians have had to find new fun ways to remain sane in the creative sphere.

"We did this because we care a lot about everyone! Especially those who put their lives on the line to make sure we are okay," adds McDaniels.

"I care a lot about being part of this amazing cover. It's an honor and a privilege. To be rubbing elbows with the likes of these gentlemen makes me feel very proud," says Patrick.

A digital version of the song is available for purchase. One hundred percent of the profits will be donated to Roadie Relief, a fundraising effort to support qualifying roadies who have submitted an application for financial help.

Legendary rock musician Ann Wilson has returned with her first release in two years. "The Revolution Starts Now" is available today on Ann's official YouTube channel and for digital download on AnnWilson.com.

"The Revolution Starts Now" was originally recorded by Steve Earle and first appeared as the title track of his Grammy-nominated 2004 album "The Revolution Starts Now".

"This is my first release since my 2018 solo album release 'Immortal'," says Ann about the release. "'The Revolution Starts Now' is a powerful, uplifting anthem of unity. It's an incitement to think higher than polarization and derision. We need that now. I used to love this song in a 'fun' way. Nowadays, I take it much more seriously and urgently.

"Things are just building and have been building for a long time for this sort of fever pitch before the election, and I have never seen a time when people have been so divided," Ann adds in an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone. "Even with the pandemic, which could have been a real unifier, it seems like there's the lowest common denominator in human nature at play, where everyone's just all split up and divided and hating each other. So this song talks about thinking higher."

The single artwork for Ann's "The Revolution Starts Now" was designed by American street artist and activist Shepard Fairey, who first emerged with his "Andre The Giant Has A Posse" sticker campaign before becoming widely known during the 2008 U.S. presidential election for his Barack Obama "Hope" poster.

Wilson is one of the greatest voices in the history of rock and roll. For the past 40 years, Ann has been the lead singer for the rock band HEART (35 million records sold), thrilling audiences with her vocal power and natural gift to wrap her voice around an emotion in a song and lay it at the listener's feet. Ann carved out a place for women to dominate a rock stage, and her icon status was cemented when HEART was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.

After an extensive 2019 with HEART, Ann's looking forward to bringing the same musicians on the road to perform all the great songs, and others, that she's made famous since she founded her band in 1973.

AC/DC will release its long-awaited comeback album, "Power Up", on November 13. The follow-up to 2014's "Rock Or Bust" features AC/DC's reunited lineup of Brian Johnson (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums), Cliff Williams (bass), Angus Young (guitar) and Stevie Young (guitar). Johnson and Williams both left in 2016 for health reasons; and Rudd was sidelined in 2015 with various legal issues.

In a new interview with Australia's Triple M radio station, Angus was asked if he and his AC/DC bandmates were subjected to a "punishing schedule" during the "Power Up" recording sessions. He responded (hear audio below): "Nah, not really. Everyone was happy to be doing it. For us, it was probably as we all knew it, how we've always done an album. There was no pressure for anyone, because we got the songs [together]. And that's how we've always done it, any album we ever did. We always tried to get all the hard work done before, get the songs all together. So whenever we got into the studio, all we had to concentrate on was getting a great performance."

"Power Up" was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O'Brien, who also worked 2008's "Black Ice" and 2014's "Rock Or Bust".

"Power Up" 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 Metal Hammer magazine, LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda spoke about how the band's debut album, "Hybrid Theory", which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, defied easy categorization and helped diversify metal's appeal beyond its core audience with its blend of hip-hop swagger, screaming, irresistible pop hooks and circuit-bending.

"At the time, if you asked somebody what they were listening to, they'd say... 'Rock. I listen to hip-hop. I listen to jazz,'" Shinoda said. "It wasn't until five years later they'd say, 'Everything.' 'Hybrid Theory' did some of that work. It was part of the progression towards breaking down boundaries between styles of music.

"I listened to 90% rap music, then I'd look at a lot of rock bands and I'd be like, 'There's something too white [about it],'" he continued. "That was one of the things that turned me off, especially hair metal. Hair metal felt like very white music, and I was growing up in a very diverse city, so I didn't gravitate to it. That didn't resonate with me. And it wasn't just about race. I don't mean the color of skin. I just mean the culture of it. When nu metal started at the very beginning, it was a very diverse place."

One musician who quickly reacted to Shinoda's comments is Stephen Pearcy, frontman for 1980s California rockers RATT, widely considered one of the most successful acts of the Sunset Strip glam metal scene. Pearcy tweeted out a link to Mike's "Hair metal felt like very white music" quote, and he included the following message: "Lol, Didnt know rock music had a race. wtf, I didn't know what hair metal felt like. Thanks. all music to me"

The term "hair metal" was coined in the late 1990s as a way to disparage acts thought to have been all flash and no substance. Its use became widespread after grunge gained popularity at the expense of 1980s metal.

This past July, former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach took issue with being called "hair metal," saying that "being labeled something that I never set out to be labeled gets under my skin. It's a pain when people try to rewrite history," he tweeted. "Believe me none of us ever set out to be in a hair metal band that did not exist in the 80s".

That was not the first time Bach reacted negatively to the term "hair metal." In a 2012 interview with The New York Times, he famously said: "I am the man who put the hair in hair metal. I also headlined Broadway musicals. I acted in millions of TV shows. I didn't get to star in 'Jekyll And Hyde' on Broadway because of my haircut. My voice has gotten me everything in my life, not my hair."




Lol, Didnt know rock music had a race. wtf, I didn’t know what hair metal felt like. Thanks ?? all music to me☠️???‍☠‍??

— STEPHEN E PEARCY (@StephenEPearcy) October 20, 2020

With only 14 days left until one of the most important elections in American history, MINISTRY's Al Jourgensen is encouraging fans to "Git Up, Get Out 'N Vote" by whatever means necessary ahead of the November 3 deadline. Today, MINISTRY releases a brand-new video to spread the message, using the music and lyrics from the notorious song that originally appeared on the band's 2012 release "Relapse".

Stay tuned to MINISTRY's official social media accounts (@WeAreMinistry) the next two Tuesdays (October 27 and November 3) for additional surprises that will launch leading up to Election Day.

To provide the perfect soundtrack to get fans engaged in the upcoming voting season, MINISTRY has also created a new playlist, "The Soundtrack To Your Election", available now on Spotify. With 30 powerful selections, the playlist features personal favorites of Jourgensen as well as MINISTRY's own rally cries including new single "Alert Level" and tracks from the highly politicized album "AmeriKKKant", the band's most recent full-length release.

Jourgensen has spent decades using his music to rally fans and listeners to the fight for equal rights, restoring American liberties, exposing exploitation and putting crooked politicians in their rightful place. Songs like "Thieves", "Lies, Lies, Lies" and "N.W.O." have taken on political corruption and the societal constructs that led to historic events like 9/11 and the 1992 Los Angeles riots while the George W. Bush administration spurred an entire trilogy from the industrial godfather.

With America still on the brink, Jourgensen has re-entered the studio to create his missives that will become material for a to-be-announced new album on Nuclear Blast Records. The first taste, "Alert Level" was released in April, and asked fans to be part of the larger conversation by answering the question posed by the song, "How concerned are you?" Many of the videos have been shared across MINISTRY's social media pages as the band and Jourgensen encourage fans to remain engaged and informed in 2020.

Sammy Hagar has offered more details about his renewed friendship with Eddie Van Halen in the months leading up to the legendary guitarist's death.

Hagar, who previously said he hadn't talked to Eddie since since the conclusion of VAN HALEN's 2004 reunion tour, discussed his former bandmate in a new interview with Guy "Favazz" Favazza of the St. Louis, Missouri radio station KSHE 95.

Hagar said (hear audio below): "I reached out to Eddie because… George Lopez, the comedian, who I've known for a long time and who also is dear friends with Eddie, calls me up and says, 'Sammy, I need you to call Eddie. I played golf with him. He's not doing good,' blah blah blah. And everyone knew Eddie wasn't doing good. He said, 'I just was with him, and he said he loves you and he's so disappointed that you haven't reached out to him.' I said, 'I reached out to all these people. I reached out to Alex [Van Halen, Eddie's brother].' I didn't have Eddie's contact number. I reached out to all these people: 'Tell Eddie I love him. I hope he's doing well.' So George says, 'Here's his number. Call him.' So I call him. And Eddie said — my favorite line from Eddie in a long time… He goes, 'What took you so long?' I go, 'I reached out to Al. I reached out to everybody.' He's going, 'You didn't call me.' And I said, 'Oh, man. Ed, I love you.' And it was just one big love fest from then on. That was back in the beginning of the year, before COVID. So, yeah, we've been texting and talking about Wolfie [Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen] and his new record, and about us and the things we did and how great the stuff is."

Sammy went on to say that he was comforted by the fact that he made peace with Eddie before the influential rocker's death.

"Yeah, it's really a sad thing," he said. "It was a tough one. But if I wouldn't have contacted Ed and we buried the hatchet like that and became friends again, I'm not sure how I could have taken it. It would have been devastating."

Asked if former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony had also reached out to Eddie prior to the guitarist's passing, Hagar said: "You'd have to ask Mike that. I don't think so. But Ed told me a million times, 'Give Mike my love,' or something. But I'm not sure they communicated. I don't think so. It's probably not my place [to say]."

Hagar replaced David Lee 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.

Sammy, Eddie, Alex and Michael last teamed up in 2004 for a U.S. summer tour. In exchange for taking part in the tour, Anthony reportedly had to agree to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the band name and logo.

In his autobiography, "Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock", Hagar slammed Eddie, saying the guitarist was unkempt, hunched over, frighteningly skinny, drinking wine straight out of a bottle, missing part of his tongue (after a cancer scare) and several teeth. He told an interviewer in 2012: "What happened on that reunion tour in '04 was some of the most miserable, back-stabbing dark crap I've ever been involved with my whole life."

In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Eddie questioned an "embellished" portion of "Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock" that painted the guitarist as a "very angry drunk" during the group's 2004 reunion tour.

Early last year, rumors were rampant that the classic-era lineup of VAN HALEN would reunite for the first time since 1984. It's unclear why the tour didn't happen, though there has been online chatter that a health setback involving Eddie might have been responsible.

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

Eddie died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

The guitarist was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had tongue surgery. He later battled throat cancer and reportedly had been receiving radiation treatment in Germany.

TWISTED SISTER's Jay Jay French has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, saying he was as important to rock and roll as Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix were. The legendary VAN HALEN axeman died on October 6 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.

French spoke about Eddie's influence during an appearance on the Van Halen tribute episode of "80's Glam Metalcast". He said (hear audio below): "[Eddie] resides with the gods — he's right up there. He is, to rock and roll, as important as Chuck Berry was, as important as Jimi Hendrix was. There guys are immortals and they speak a language.

"For 10 years, what Eddie Van Halen did was he created generations, legions of guitar players around the world in that style, and that's what makes him so important. Jimi Hendrix pioneered the sound of a Stratocaster into a Marshall amp with distortion and a whammy bar and found a language nobody heard before. And then Eddie Van Halen came along and took it to another level.

"So when it comes to guitar players who were inspirational, who created dreams, who made more people wanna go out and buy a guitar and play a guitar and emulate who they are, that's who Eddie Van Halen is," Jay Jay added.

"He was a pure artist. He was absolutely a pure, dedicated musician. He didn't wanna get himself involved in the business."

French also recalled his first time seeing VAN HALEN perform, in August 1978 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, as the opening act for BLACK SABBATH.

"It was spectacular to watch," he said. "They were on fire. I thought they pretty much blew SABBATH off [the stage]. I thought Ozzy [Osbourne] didn't have his best stuff that night, and I thought David Lee Roth was just on fire and spectacular. VAN HALEN, it was a treat to see them."

Although Jay Jay was "shocked" by Eddie's passing, he wasn't exactly surprised. "I know people close enough to the organization that have informed me over the years about his treatment," he explained. "So I can't say that I'm completely stunned that it happened, but it's still in all a tremendous loss."

Eddie had been battling throat cancer and died surrounded by friends and family at a Santa Monica, California hospital, according to TMZ. He is survived by his second wife Janie, brother Alex and son Wolfgang.

VAN HALEN had been inactive since it completed its U.S. tour in October 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

LINKIN PARK's debut album, "Hybrid Theory", has re-entered Billboard's Album Sales chart at No. 3, having sold 17,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending October 15, according to Billboard.com.

Billboard's Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales and does not include track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units.

"Hybrid Theory"'s reappearance on the chart has been fueled by the album's 20th-anniversary deluxe reissue, which was made available on October 9 via Warner Records. The set comes in multiple physical and digital formats, including a super deluxe box set, super deluxe vinyl box set and deluxe CD that all come with the original "Hybrid Theory" as well as the "B-Side Rarities" with 12 previously released tracks from the album era.

The limited-edition super deluxe box set consists of five CDs, three DVDs, three vinyl records, an 80-page illustrated book featuring previously unseen photos, a replica tour laminate and a poster of late frontman Chester Bennington, and three lithographs of new art by Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn and "Hybrid Theory" art director and reissue art director Frank Maddocks. The vinyl box set features "Hybrid Theory", "Reanimation" and "B-side Rarities" on vinyl.

Last month, "Hybrid Theory" was officially certified 12 times platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of 12 million copies.

"Hybrid Theory" — the band's original name before it was changed to LINKIN PARK for legal reasons — was issued in October 2000 and was a breakout success for the group, which had formed in 1996 and had played the Los Angeles club scene for several years. The album yielded four massive hit singles — "One Step Closer", "Crawling", "Papercut" and "In The End" — while going on to sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Bennington was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home on July 20, 2017 after hanging himself. LINKIN PARK headlined an all-star tribute concert for Bennington in October 2017 in Los Angeles but has not announced any future plans for recording or touring.

STEEL PANTHER guitarist Russ "Satchel" Parrish has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, calling him "a great guitar player and a great songwriter." The legendary VAN HALEN axeman died on October 6 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.

Satchel spoke about his admiration for Van Halen during an appearance on the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast. He said (hear audio below): "A lot of people know this, but [STEEL PANTHER singer] Michael [Starr] and I used to be in a VAN HALEN tribute band [ATOMIC PUNKS] for years. As far as tribute bands go, that band started in the early '90s, just as a way to make money, but also because we were huge VAN HALEN fans, and we all grew up learning to play rock on VAN HALEN. That's the first stuff I remember hearing on guitar that blew me away when I was, like, seven years old. Somebody played me 'Eruption'. I didn't even play guitar yet, but I just went, 'Uhhh… That's a guitar?' I didn't know that a guitar could make that sound. And, of course, I think that was part of what made me become a guitar player, looking back in retrospect.

"It's so weird, because I never even talked to Eddie, I never met him one time, but he's been such a huge part of my life, from the beginning of me playing music," he continued. "Because he wasn't just a great guitar player either. Throughout my guitar playing and my music, my learning of music, I realized that one of the reasons why I always put on VAN HALEN instead of Yngwie Malmsteen… Yngwie is a great guitar player, but Eddie wasn't just a great guitar player and a great lead guitar player, he was also a great songwriter and a great musician. You can listen to any VAN HALEN songs — he cared about all the parts and all the rhythms.

"Eddie in the early days, listening back to some of his live playing, there's no guitar player that's been better than that, in my opinion. He was so on fire, and he had so much attitude. And his tone was so clean. Most guys would never be able to play the kind of stuf he got away with, with so much aggression and just attitude. It was unbelievable. He was a technician, but he was also such a great performer as well. And he didn't have to concentrate. How many guitar players do you know who could smile like Eddie and make it look so easy, and actualy look totally at ease, 'cause he was at ease, and play the kind of shit he was doing. It was mind-boggling. It was like he was laughing at all of us — like, 'You'll never be able to do this.'"

Satchel went on to say that he was shocked to learn of Eddie's passing.

"We all knew that he was sick, and we all had talked about it for a while, but the longer he went, the more you just kind of go, 'Oh, well, maybe it's not gonna happen,'" Satchel said. "And then all of a sudden, it happens, and it's like a ton of bricks.

Eddie died 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 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.

The official music video for "Dying To Live", a new song from SEVENDUST, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Jensen Noen, known for his work with FALLING IN REVERSE, CROWN THE EMPIRE and ASKING ALEXANDRIA, to name a few. The track is taken from SEVENDUST's 13th studio album, "Blood & Stone", which will be released on October 23 via Rise Records. The follow-up to 2018's "All I See Is War" was once again tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.

From the pulsating intro of opener "Dying To Live" to the album-closing cover of SOUNDGARDEN's "The Day I Tried To Live", SEVENDUST continues to push the sound it has made their own for more than 25 years. Tracks like "Love", "Blood From A Stone", "Kill Me" and "Against The World" showcases why the band has been adored by fans and critics alike. Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery, John Connolly, Vince Hornsby and Morgan Rose have raised the bar with "Blood & Stone". The new music fits perfectly alongside with the bands most seminal tracks that have become the cornerstone of the band's live performances.

Lowery spoke about the new SEVENDUST LP in an interview with Front Row Entertainment Live. The guitarist/vocalist said: "I think this is one of our strongest records in a while. I'm proud of all the music we do. Every band likes to say, 'Oh, yeah, the new record is the best one we've ever done.' I think it's a very reflective record for where we're at musically, where we're at as a band. So that's always a goal. I think we just wanna be genuine. We don't wanna put out a dud record. Not everyone's gonna like it; we understand that. We just try to do what we do best. We're not the heaviest band in the world; we're not a pop-rock band at all either. We're just this aggressive band that has our own thing, and we stay true to that."

"Blood & Stone" track listing:

01. Dying To Live

02. Love

03. Blood From A Stone

04. Feel Like Going On

05. What You've Become

06. Kill Me

07. Nothing Left To See Here Anymore

08. Desperation

09. Criminal

10. Against The World

11. Alone

12. Wish You Well

13. The Day I Tried To Live

Last month, SEVENDUST announced its first-ever livestream and its only show of 2020: "Sevendust: Live In Your Living Room". The event will take place on October 23 — the release date of its 13th studio album, "Blood & Stone", via Rise Records. The show will be live starting at 9:00 p.m. EDT/6:00 p.m. PDT and available globally at the corresponding hour for each territory. This will be a SEVENDUST show not to be missed as the band will not have any tour dates until 2021.

Tickets for the live stream are $17.00 and available here.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn / Chuck Brueckmann

Miley Cyrus is working on an album of METALLICA covers.

The pop star revealed her latest project during a chat with Interview magazine. Speaking about how she has been spending her downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said: "We've been working on a METALLICA cover album and I'm here working on that. We're so lucky to be able to continue to work on our art during all of this. At first, it felt uninspiring and now I've been totally ignited."

Miley previously performed a cover of METALLICA's "Nothing Else Matters" at U.K.'s Glastonbury festival in 2019.

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

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

Not all evil is wicked...especially when it comes with a pedigree, is presented in a fantastic bottle, and was curated by a metal band that has a proven track record for choosing some excellent spirits. Such is the case with ANTHRAX's "Evil Twin I" and "Evil Twin II", the band's brand new, limited-edition, award-winning, high-end Double Cask Ryes. Only one barrel of each spirit will be produced, yielding 238 numbered bottles for "Evil Twin I" at cask strength of 120.1 proof. As "Evil Twin II" has not yet been "dumped," the number of bottles and cask strength for it will be announced shortly. For a Happy Halloween, "Evil Twin I" is available to order starting today at Mash and Grape, and, if ordered before October 23, delivery can be expected by October 31. Details for ordering "Evil Twin II" will be announced shortly, and can be expected to arrive on your doorstep in time to help make your year-end holidays a little brighter.

Both "Evil Twin I" and "Evil Twin II" were produced by Hillrock Estate Distillery, located in the luxuriant Hudson Valley Highlands in New York State. "Both of these whiskeys are delicious," said ANTHRAX's Scott Ian, who recently went up to Hillrock to check out the process, from the planting to distilling to the bottling. He sampled eight different rye whiskey barrels, and personally 'pulled the bung,' emptying the 'Evil Twin I' barrel. Check out the video below.

"All eight were different from each other as every barrel expresses itself differently," Scott explained, "and I chose my two favorites. The barrel that became Evil Twin I showed off espresso, caramel, vanilla and spice — the barrel that became Evil Twin II had maple, cinnamon, clove and black pepper notes that all played together really well — both barrels were delicious so we decided to do both! I'd put these ryes up against any rye on the market. The care and attention that went in to both of them, every step of the way, from field to glass, from the harvesting of the estate-grown rye to the distillation, to the beautiful bottles and the labels, each was made with the highest levels of perfection."

"We're so happy to be working again with ANTHRAX," said Hillrock Estates' owners Cathy Franklin and Jeffrey Baker. "We had a lot of fun with the whole band on 'The Healer' bourbon earlier this year, and were impressed by their appreciation for delicious spirits during those tastings. With 'Evil I' and 'II', it was great that Scott was able to come up to Hillrock and be really involved in finding the perfect blends for 'Evil I' and 'Evil II'. We're sure ANTHRAX fans will enjoy both."

"Evil Twin I" and "Evil Twin II" mark the second time ANTHRAX has worked with Hillrock Estate, as it produced the band's signature bourbon, "The Healer", this past June. Explained Ian: "We decided to release another whiskey because it seemed like people were very happy with 'The Healer'. Where 'The Healer' bourbon was extremely approachable and smooth, the 'Evil Twins' are spicier, sweeter, richer, stronger, and bolder. So, when we say 'Evil Twin,' we mean it in a great way."

"The Healer", along with the band's first two bourbon whiskeys, 2014's "Indians" and 2015's "The Devil You Know", sold out within two days.

ANTHRAX has been writing new material for the band's next release, expected out in 2021. The new album will follow ANTHRAX's 2016 release, "For All Kings", the critically acclaimed, 11th studio album that became ANTHRAX's highest-charting debut in two decades when it entered Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart at No. 9.

In an article by Andreas Andreou for Crystal Logic, about Savatage in the ‘80s and the Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne connection, Jon Oliva remembers the Black Sabbath audition that never happened.

"It was somebody from the management office for Black Sabbath that approached me", Oliva said. "I did have a set list of songs that I would have to sing at the audition, 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid', 'Sweet Leaf', 'Symptom Of The Universe', 'Iron Man' and the 'Black Sabbath' song."

The article cleverly explores the Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne connection with Savatage through the story of the band during the ‘80s adding interesting details and most important, new comments directly from Jon Oliva, mastermind of Savatage and also Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

“I would have loved to do an album with Black Sabbath", Jon Oliva recalls about the Black Sabbath audition that never happened. “I think my voice would have fit them very well and it wouldn't bother me that Tony Iommi was in charge because he is the riff master. What you're going to say... I would have just sang my ass off but again, you know, the '80s were very weird for me. I did have a lot of problems but it is what it is and I'm glad that Savatage was able to continue.”

Jon Oliva also remembers the first moment he met Ozzy Osbourne: “I actually had dinner with him at the Lakeland Civic Center here in Florida. I doubt he remembers because he was totally wasted... It was very interesting and very funny. I was with a group of people who won a radio contest and that's what the prize was, to have dinner with Ozzy. I remember he came out in an evening dress and was totally wasted, one of the funniest things I've ever seen and it didn't last very long."

In the Crystal Logic article, you can read a view in the '80s era of Savatage, the albums, the events and the record companies with the element of the Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne connection and influence upon Jon Oliva and his brother Criss Oliva who died on October 17th of 1993.

Find the article here.




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QUIET RIOT has hinted that it will continue making albums following drummer Frankie Banali's death.

Banali, who joined QUIET RIOT in 1982 and played on its breakthrough album, 1983's "Metal Health", the first heavy metal LP to top Billboard's album chart, died in August after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

The surviving members of QUIET RIOT later said it was "Frankie Banali's wish that the band continue and we keep the music and the legacy alive."

After a fan expressed his wish on Twitter to see QUIET RIOT make more new music, adding that he is "quite happy" with the band's current lineup, the group replied: "The band will go on! And we have enough tracks of Frankie Banali for many future albums! \m/"

QUIET RIOT played its first concert after Banali's death on October 9 at at the Grand Stage Amphitheater near Urich, Missouri. The group now features drummer Johnny Kelly (DANZIG, TYPE O NEGATIVE).

At some of QUIET RIOT's 2019 and 2020 shows, Banali was replaced by Kelly or Mike Dupke (W.A.S.P.), depending on each musician's availability.

QUIET RIOT's shows last year with Kelly and Dupke marked the first time ever that the band performed without any of the members from its classic lineup: Banali, singer Kevin DuBrow, guitarist Carlos Cavazo and bassist Rudy Sarzo.

QUIET RIOT initially featured the late guitar legend Randy Rhoads and went through some early lineup shifts before securing the musicians that recorded "Metal Health".

Bassist Chuck Wright has been a part of QUIET RIOT, on and off, since 1982, having initially been involved in the "Metal Health" recordings (he played bass on the tracks "Metal Health" and "Don't Wanna Let You Go"). Guitarist Alex Grossi was in the last version of the band, from 2004 through 2007, before Kevin passed away, and was asked by Banali to return in 2010.

QUIET RIOT went through two vocalists — Mark Huff and Scott Vokoun — before settling on Jizzy Pearl in 2013. Pearl announced his exit from QUIET RIOT in October 2016 and was briefly replaced by Seann Nichols, who played only five shows with the group before the March 2017 arrival of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin. Pearl returned to QUIET RIOT in September 2019.

QUIET RIOT's latest studio album, "Hollywood Cowboys", came out last November via Frontiers Music Srl.




The band will go on! And we have enough tracks of Frankie Banali for many future albums! \m/ https://t.co/aOTooL3blz

— QUIET RIOT (@QUIETRIOT) October 17, 2020

Julien's Auctions announced today that two of Eddie Van Halen's most iconic guitars will take the stage of "Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock 'N' Roll", the world-record breaking auction house to the stars' annual music extravaganza on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2020 live at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills and online at www.juliensauctions.com. One of rock music's most influential guitar legends of all time headlines an all-star lineup featuring hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia owned and used by some of the world's greatest music artists of all time, including Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, AEROSMITH and more.

Eddie Van Halen thrilled audiences with his virtuosic and electrifying guitar playing on his stripe designed electric guitars in his high energy performances while flying through the air. At center stage of this auction will be two of these important guitars custom designed and played by the lead guitarist and co-founder of the American rock band VAN HALEN.

Van Halen hand striped a 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series electric guitar with maple neck and fingerboard, Fender Stratocaster-style headstock numbered on the back #54, in the unique white and black abstract design in the style of his 1978 Van Halen I guitar. The front of the body is signed Eddie Van Halen, initialed VH 04 and inscribed in Van Halen's hand San Antonio Texas / 9-28-04. This guitar also features an EVH humbucking pickup with evidence of a cigarette burn to the front. Accompanying the guitar are multiple photos of Van Halen hand-applying taped stripes to the guitar, photos of him playing the guitar on stage in San Antonio and an EVH hardshell case with a partly smoked cigarette in a plastic vial. The EVH Charvel Art guitars are a limited-edition series of guitars inspired by Eddie Van Halen's most famous guitars where each one has a unique body, designed by Van Halen himself.

A customized electric guitar serial number F 0024 built by Van Halen with his guitar tech Matt Bruck at the guitarist's 5150 home studio is another unique and personal favorite from the rock legend. Featuring a red body with white and black stripes designed and applied by Van Halen, the guitar features a maple neck and fingerboard with dot inlays, pointed Kramer headstock with Kramer machine heads, single humbucker pickup and Floyd Rose tremolo. In 1991, the guitar was gifted to Van Halen's close friend Bryan Cash, the owner of Cash's Centenary Oyster House in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is inscribed Yo - / Bryan / Let's get / shucked / up / Eddie Van Halen / 5150 and was displayed at the bar where it was played by Van Halen when he visited. The guitar also includes a white Van Halen guitar pick and 2 backstage passes, one labelled Bertinelli Guest. Both guitars are estimated to sell each between $40,000 - $80,000.

VAN HALEN, with lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen, his brother and drummer Alex Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony and singer David Lee Roth, shot to rock superstardom soon after the release of their 1978 self-titled debut album. VAN HALEN dominated the music charts throughout the '80s with their classic hits "Runnin' With The Devil", "Unchained", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama" and "Jump" and played to sold out arenas around the world throughout the decade and into the '90s with singer Sammy Hagar. From his star making guitar solos on VAN HALEN's "Eruption" to his now iconic contribution to Michael Jackson's "Beat It", the charismatic songwriter and musician is deified as one of the greatest guitarists in rock history and is worshipped by legions of fans, fellow musicians and critics alike. Eddie and the rest of VAN HALEN were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007. The beloved pop culture icon died on October 6, 2020 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.

"As we were preparing for our annual 'Icons & Idols: Rock 'N' Roll' auction lineup, we were stunned to hear the sad news of Eddie Van Halen's passing last week," said Darren Julien, president/chief executive officer of Julien's Auctions. "We are honored to include at this event two iconic guitars from his brilliant and blazing career as one of rock's greatest and most gifted guitar heroes. His instruments join their rightful place among other rock royalty items from Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson, AEROSMITH and many others we look forward to announcing in the coming weeks."

Julien's Auctions public exhibition and auction location:

Julien's Auctions Beverly Hills

257 N. Canon Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Monday, November 30 - Friday, December 4, 2020

Daily: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Free to the Public

Julien's Auctions live and online auction

"Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock 'N' Roll"

Friday, December 4, 2020

Session I: 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Session II: 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Session III: 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Session IV: 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time

DEEP PURPLE guitarist Steve Morse has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, calling him " one of the most inventive rhythm players" he has ever heard. The legendary VAN HALEN axeman died on October 6 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.

Speaking to Everyone Loves Guitar, Morse said (see video below): "[Eddie] was a mighty guitarist and a mighty songwriter and one of the most inventive rhythm players I've ever heard.

"I luckily got a chance to work with him for a few days," he continued. "We were both endorsing Music Man, and Albert Lee, of course, also was. And we had a band called BIFF BABY'S ALLSTARS, started by Sterling Ball, and some of his brothers were playing and singing in the band originally. And John Ferraro and Jimmy Cox — just great session musicians. So it was just one of these things where you couldn't go wrong, and the feel was gonna be there. The thing is, can you step up and keep up with them? I always enjoyed doing that gig. At that point, I'd played a number of gigs with them and knew what the deal was. But Eddie came in cold, just, like, 'Sure, I'll do it.' And we were doing country, two-step western swing and rockabilly, and then getting on into a lot of rock sections too, where the solos were pretty much just straight rock and roll, and that's where, of course, Eddie blew the doors off the place when he did that stuff. But all the stuff he wasn't as comfortable with, he was very original and inventive with coming up with ways of following the change… Just using his ear — he had great ears.

"So I just wanted to say a few words about how I got to stand next to him and play for a few days and really experience the breadth of his talent," Steve added. "We had a lot in common. We sat and talked a lot during that time. We were almost exactly the same age and both were having our only sons being born months apart.

"It was kind of surreal and very sad to hear of his death.

"I guess the main thing to remember about Van Halen is what he contributed to the worldwide music vocabulary and some very great songwriting too. And, of course, the soloing.

"Eddie, we're sorry you're gone, and everyone feels very sad about it. But you've gotta be proud of the legacy you've given the world and helped redefine the guitar technique library, as well as written some amazing tunes."

Eddie died 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 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.

FEAR FACTORY drummer Mike Heller has confirmed to New Breed TV that the band's 2012 album "The Industrialist", will be released on digital services in a new version where the drum-machine technology used on the original recording will be replaced by live drums.

"'The Industralist', which never had real drums, is going to be — at least as far as drums go — re-recorded," Heller said (see video below). "I will be recording real drums on [it], and it will get a release alongside the original."

Legendary extreme-metal drummer Gene Hoglan (TESTAMENT, DEATH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK) laid down the drum tracks on FEAR FACTORY's 2010 album, "Mechanize", but was dismissed from the band before the recording sessions for "The Industrialist".

Hoglan later criticized FEAR FACTORY for deciding to use a drum machine on "The Industrialist", saying: I don't care what kind of drum machine you use, I will kill your drum machine. If you have a drummer like myself at your disposal, yet you are gonna go with a drum machine, I don't understand the thought process behind that." He added: "I gave FEAR FACTORY the deadliest record they can ever imagine, at the time, and their efforts afterwards weren't taken as seriously. So the proof is right there."

In a 2012 interview with ReGen Magazine FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares defended the band's decision to embrace drum-machine technology on "The Industrialist". He said, "The songwriting process was much quicker, much more efficient, much more cost effective." He continued: "Obviously, a band like FEAR FACTORY has always embraced the technology from the beginning — we've always been open about it, we've always talked about it. We've always talked about guys like [producer] Rhys Fulber helping us out, ever since 'Fear Is The Mindkiller', which was after 'Soul Of A New Machine'. We've embraced all that." Cazares added: "Most people are saying, 'Them using drum programming is no different. It doesn't really sound any different.' You know what I mean?! They can expect it from a band like FEAR FACTORY. Again, it's very cost effective."

Late last month, singer Burton C. Bell issued a statement officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY, saying that he "cannot align" himself with someone whom he does not trust or respect.

Bell's exit from FEAR FACTORY came more than two weeks after Cazares launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him with the production costs associated with the release of FEAR FACTORY's long-awaited new album.

bassist David Ellefson, who runs several other businesses outside the band, including heading up a record label, creating a line of coffee blends, producing a horror film and writing books, was asked in a new interview with The Front Row Report how he manages to shuffle through his crazy and always-changing schedule. He responded (hear audio below): "Every day, honestly, if you wanna know the truth, I just wake up, I get on my knees, I say a little prayer and [say], 'God, lead me where you need me,' and then the calendar just fills up. [Laughs] It's that simple. I just check in with the boss and follow the marching orders. And honestly, that just kind of keeps it real simple. When the phone rings and e-mails show up, I figure I know who sent them my way. And it's cool.

"I always go back to my childhood. I grew up on a farm in Minnesota. I came from a good family. We worked hard six days a week and went to church on Sunday and just kind of followed the 'good orderly direction,'" referring to an acronym that is used in 12-step programs for the word "God."

"I was in a drug and alcohol rehab back in the late '80s. Right before we recorded 'Rust In Peace' in 1990, I got sobered up. They told me, they said, 'Keep God real simple. Good orderly direction. Just do the next right thing, and a good life will follow.' And I say there. I remember just kind of going, 'God, my fingers hurt, my body hurts, coming off of all the drugs. And I don't even know if I still wanna play the bass anymore.' And this moment just followed right after where I thought, 'Wait a minute. You started playing music for fun when you were just a kid at 11 years old. Sex and drugs just got in the way of the rock and roll. Get that out of the way, and you'll be good.' And that's what happened. And quite honestly, since 1990, since I got clean back then, it's been a wonderful and blessed life — a happy life. The powers that be just seem to kind of put stuff in my path. And I'd like to think my life is just a mirror of following that good orderly direction."

Ellefson, who grew up attending Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Jackson, Minnesota, re-embraced his faith at the age of 25, after going through a 12-step recovery program. When Ellefson later settled down in Arizona, he started a contemporary worship service at a church in Scottsdale. He called it MEGA Life, partially a play on MEGADETH. In 2012, Ellefson began studying for the ministry through an extension program of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because frontman Dave Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play. After Mustaine reformed MEGADETH with an all-new lineup in 2004, Ellefson sued his former bandmate for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

The official lyric video for "Cut The Strings", the new single from FIRSTBORNE, the band featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Chris Adler and fellow MEGADETH alum James LoMenzo, can be seen below. The track is the follow-up to FIRSTBORNE's self-titled debut EP, which came out earlier this year and marked the acclaimed drummer's first dedicated band release since his departure from MEGADETH and LAMB OF GOD.

FIRSTBORNE features Girish Pradhan on vocals and guitar, Myrone on guitar, LoMenzo on bass, and Adler on drums.

Pradhan stated about "Cut The Strings": "Every time there's a force that challenges the most fundamental right of a human being — freedom — music has always served as the voice of the common person. The special existence of humans in the world has music right in the heart of it."

The FIRSTBORNE self-titled EP included five songs and two lyric videos. The EP represented several years of dedicated introspection and refined effort to the idea of a heavy and positive message.

As might be expected, Adler chose his bandmates in this endeavor meticulously.

Recently, Adler shared the stage across the Middle East with LoMenzo in HAIL! Prior to that, LoMenzo and Adler orbited each other for years traveling together on tours crossing the globe. The connect was inevitable.

Adler and Myrone began collaborating in early 2019 after Myrone noticed Adler's e-mail address attached to a Bandcamp sales notification email. Adler had been a fan of Myrone's talent for years prior and as soon as they connected, it was game on.

A chance meeting in India, almost a second home to Chris after eight visits, was the spark needed to form the international group FIRSTBORNE and for Chris to return to the studio. Adler met and shared the stage with Pradhan during a six-week clinic tour of India in the fall of 2019. After the first show of the clinic tour, Adler immediately called Myrone, noting he'd "struck gold" in their search for a singer for the then-unnamed project.

Girish Pradhan is the glue that united FIRSTBORNE. Pradhan on vocals represents an almost unprecedented international collaboration.

Pradhan is an established and well-known recording and touring artist in India and resides in Bengaluru. His band GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES made international headlines earlier this year with their new album "Rock The Highway" and music videos "Rock 'N Roll Is Here to Stay", "Identity Crisis" and "Rock The Highway".

Speaking on his experience creating with FIRSTBORNE, Myrone explains: "Every single part of this experience has been extremely surreal for me. Girish is one of the best metal vocalists on the planet, Chris is one of the most influential drummers of the last 25 years, and JLO can play anything from MEGADETH to John Fogerty to Motown and everything in between. I can't believe I get to share space on a .wav with them."

Myrone is a Los Angeles-based producer/guitarist who pioneered the "soft shred" genre. In the last six years, he has released seven albums and two EPs of instrumental guitar music and racked up millions of Spotify streams. In addition to his own recordings, he has collaborated with Rivers Cuomo (WEEZER), SZA, Little Boots, Michael Christmas and Deaton Chris Anthony. Most recently, Myrone was Guitar #1 in the L.A. production of "Rock Of Ages", the 29th-longest running show in Broadway history.

LoMenzo is a veteran touring/recording musician since his multi-platinum band WHITE LION in the 1980s. Lomenzo is one of the most in-demand rock bass players in the world. His list of credits includes WHITE LION, Zakk Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/PRIDE & GLORY, MEGADETH, Jerry Cantrell, David Lee Roth, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, LYNCH MOB, FREHEY'S COMET and more. Recently he's been the touring/recording bassist for the legendary John Fogerty and can be seen in the live concert film "John Fogerty : My Fifty Year Trip" recorded live at Red Rocks.

LoMenzo had this to say about his collaboration within his new band, FIRSTBORNE: "I first met Chris in 2006 on MEGADETH's 'Gigantour'. I was playing bass with MEGADETH at the time. Watching Chris on that tour, I recall being struck by the creativity, speed and power of his drumming with LAMB OF GOD. In contrast, I found him to be a gentle, thoughtful soul. Years later, I had the opportunity to finally play with Chris, performing in the Middle East with the all-star metal band HAIL! We had a great time. At this time, Chris mentioned he was looking forward to exploring making all kinds of music. I suggested he keep me in mind. Next thing I know I'm being introduced to Myrone through a demo that Chris forwarded to me. I was immediately drawn to the music. Myrone's guitar is uniquely untethered to any one style. He's a brilliant and capable amalgam of classic rock, new and classic metal. Girish on top of all this had me stunned! A soaring, powerful voice that while uniquely his own, conjures images of the greatest singers of metal, blues and classic rock. His voice is a powerful, emotive vehicle to inform through his heartfelt and socially conscious lyrics. To my ear, the combination of all this musical talent is wonderfully unique and perfectly familiar. I'm very proud and excited for music fans to hear this new musical collaboration."

Adler added: "I've been incredibly fortunate in my creative endeavors. From the start, I sought out the best players I could find to work alongside. It's been an incredible journey that is clearly not over. Some things have changed. This may not be exactly what people expect from me right now, and I'm aware and embrace that. It's time for something new. I'm have a platform to present something important, true and collaborative. Creating FIRSTBORNE beckons cohesiveness as a mission statement. This is not about being mad all the time, egos or fabricating polarizing drama. 'This is right' is now my alarm clock. Girish, Myrone and James have the exact locker room mentality of 'kill 'em all! but let's make sure everyone is okay and having a kick-ass time' that I try and bring to everything I do. FIRSTBONE is the result of all of my experiences, both positive and negative, and I'm proud of what we are doing together."

Adler is a Grammy-winning American metal drummer from Richmond, Virginia. Chris founded LAMB OF GOD in 1994 and helped usher in what critics have dubbed the "New Wave Of American Heavy Metal." LAMB OF GOD's discography with Chris includes multiple gold records and platinum DVDs as well as five Grammy nominations.

Chris received a Grammy for playing drums on legendary thrash metal band MEGADETH's 2016 record "Dystopia". Chris also toured with MEGADETH in support of the record while juggling and occasionally combining tour dates with LAMB OF GOD.

Chris has collaborated and contributed to records with PROTEST THE HERO, TESTAMENT, THAIKKUDAM BRIDGE, Michael Angelo Batio and Ron Jarzombek.

In 2018, Chris created an artist management firm Kintsugi Management.

FIRSTBORNE is:

Vocals: Girish Pradhan

Guitar: Myrone

Bass: James LoMenzo

Drums: Chris Adler