Ignacia Fernández, a 27-year-old model who is also the vocalist and founder of the Chilean progressive death metal band DECESSUS, surprised everyone at the Miss World Chile 2025 (Spanish: Miss Mundo Chile) semifinal last Sunday (November 2) by singing a death metal song.

Fernández, a Miss World Chile 2025 contestant, is representing the Las Condes district in this year's pageant, with hopes to then represent her country in Miss Universe.

For her performance in the semifinal of the beauty pageant, she decided to sing one of the original songs from DECESSUS, wearing a ball gown and accompanied by her bandmate, guitarist Carlos Palma.

Both the audience and the judges were taken aback during the first few seconds of the performance. That surprise quickly turned into a standing ovation: one of the judges said he had never seen anything like it in a beauty pageant.

Her performance earned her a place among the top 20 favorites in the beauty pageant and a spot in the final, which will be held this Sunday, November 9.

Formed in 2020, DECESSUS, which also features drummer Martín Fénix and bassist Jaime Pepe, has opened for such international acts as INSOMNIUM and JINJER. They have also performed at festivals in Finland and Germany, and in September 2024 they opened for EPICA in Santiago.

In an interview with the Chilean newspaper Las Últimas Noticias, Ignacia said she was nervous about how the public would react. "Television lends itself to people making memes and making fun of you," she explained. The song I sang is by my band. It's my job, my life."

However, the beauty queen received a positive reaction for her performance with Palma.

Regarding how she takes care of her voice, Fernández said: "I studied for more than two years, very focused. I have an ENT [ears, nose and throat] specialist and a speech therapist with whom I constantly make sure that everything is okay. I warm up during the day and before a show I take between 15 and 30 minutes to do several exercises calmly."

Fernández was born and raised in Santiago, Chile, where she combines her modeling career — which she began in 2013 — with her other great passion: extreme music.

As she has shared on her social media, metal "has been a fundamental part" of who she is as a person and of her life. For her, it represents "a refuge, a source of strength and purpose."

The appearance of a death metal singer in a global beauty pageant has not only generated curiosity, but has also sparked a debate about the stereotypes that persist in these types of events, according to the El Independiente newspaper. Fernández stated that this performance was a great opportunity to break down barriers, asserting that one shouldn't fear the prejudices of others.

Fernández will now compete for the Miss World Chile crown with very clear objectives. "I'm not trying to fit in. I'm trying to show myself as I am," she said in an interview after her performance.

During a new appearance on "Talk Is Jericho", the podcast hosted by FOZZY frontman and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho, former OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Jake E. Lee says reflected on the incident a little over a year ago when he was shot in Las Vegas. The now-68-year-old musician was hit three times in a shooting about 10 miles from the Las Vegas Strip early on October 15, 2024. He was later taken to the Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center's intensive care unit.

Regarding the circumstances that led to the shooting, Lee said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I was walking my dog. It was — I don't know — 2:30 in the morning, 3:00 in the morning, something like that. 'Cause it was middle of October, and last year it was hot. It was still, like, 80 degrees at night, at 3:00 in the morning. That's when I walk my dog; that's when we always go for walks. It's cooler [and] quiet, usually. We were walking. I saw these two guys in the driveway, hoodies pulled down, checking out this motorcycle that was in my neighbor's driveway. So I walk up, and they see me, and they go, 'Oh, shit.' And they start walking down the street real fast, but they're walking in the same direction I'm going towards my house. So I'm going that way, and I'm walking with an 85-pound pitbull. I'm still walking, and they keep looking over their shoulders and, eventually, I think they think I'm following them, when I'm really just going home. Finally they turn around and they got flashlights in my eyes. And they said, 'You need to turn around and get the fuck outta here.' [And I was, like], 'You need to turn around and get the [fuck outta here]. This is my neighborhood. You don't belong here.' And then there was a bunch of that. And I could tell they were kids. And they're scrawny, and I'm not scared of them. Plus I've got my dog. And I could see it's going nowhere. I go, 'Look, I'm going that way. Why don't you go that way? We'll call it a night.' They didn't say anything, but, 'All right. I'll start walking.' I'm walking, and I look over to see if they're walking. And one guy's just standing there staring at me. And he said, 'That's it. Keep walking, bitch.' And that pissed me off. That pissed me off. I turned around [and I was], like, 'Punk.' Then I heard gunfire. I didn't see a gun before that. Obviously, I probably would've spoken differently if I'd known there was a gun involved. But, yeah, at first I saw flashes — flashes was the first thing I saw. And then I could hear the shots, and I could hear the bullets whistling by. And I thought, 'Well, that's weird. I hear the bullets over there.' And then I looked down, and I see my dog's right there. I thought, 'They're trying to shoot my dog.' So I throw the leash at him and say, 'Go home.' He's glad to, and I watch him. And he keeps firing after my dog. Thankfully, my dog didn't get [hit], 'cause that would've killed me there. But after he found out he couldn't hit the dog, that's when I noticed a burning in my forearm. I was, like, 'Oh, shit. I must have got skimmed.' And then next thing I felt was like something hit me in the back. So I figure, 'Okay, it's time to run.' So I start trying to run, and then I got hit in the foot. It came in at the heel, came out just before the big toe. And that one felt weird. That one felt like I stepped on a vibrator. None of the shots hurt, which is interesting to me. [The forearm shot] just felt like a burn. The one in the back felt like a [push], and the one in the foot felt like if you barefoot stepped onto a vibrator. I got that kind of sensation — not pain, just a weird feeling. But then I fell to the ground, and as I was on the ground, I was just thinking, 'Did that just happen? This is weird. This is surreal.' Then shit started to hurt. Then the pain started coming, and I realized I had to call 911."

Lee went on to say that his injuries could have been a lot worse.

"Getting shot was unlucky, but everything about it ended up being lucky," he explained. "The one in the forearm was through and through, but it didn't hit any veins. It didn't hit the bone. It just went through the muscle [and] didn't tear it up or anything. So that healed pretty quickly. So that was lucky. 'Cause the back of my hand was numb for about three weeks, which was just weird. But that came back. The one in the back [was very close to] the spine."

Jake continued: "It's funny 'cause when the cops showed up, they pulled my shirt up and they said, 'Can you move your legs?' I went, 'Yeah.' And then paramedics showed up. 'Can you move your legs?' 'Yeah.' I get to the ER [emergency room], and the doctor says, 'Can you move your legs?' I went, 'Yeah. Ever since I was a baby. What's the big deal? Why does everybody keep asking me that?' 'Cause I didn't know. I didn't know until I got home from the hospital. My daughter was redressing the wound. She went, 'Oh, my god, dad.' I was, like, 'You take a photo and show me so I could see what the big fuss [is].' And I went, 'Oh, God.' It was so close to the spine. But it didn't [hit the spine]. It broke a couple of ribs, punctured my lung, but that's all healable. So that was lucky. And then the one in the foot came in at the heel, and the doctor said it would've gone all the way through and probably blown a couple toes off, but I have a titanium heel, 'cause I had shattered it, like, 18 years earlier. So it was titanium. So the bullet hit the titanium, ricocheted up and so I have all my toes. All of that's lucky. That night I had my phone in my shirt pocket, which I never do. I always put it in my pants' pocket. That night, for whatever reason, I put it in my shirt pocket. I fell on the ground and I realized, 'Ah, I can't really move.' I went, 'Oh, my phone's right here. So I was able to call 911.' So, yeah, a bunch of lucky things happened — other than getting shot."

Asked by Chris if they ever caught the guys who shot him, Jake said: "They did. I became friends with one of the detectives… They caught the guys two weeks after the shooting. And he had told me it's because it got news nationally — internationally, really — for a couple of days it did. And the mayor's office and everybody, city council and stuff, were, like, 'Oh, this looks really bad. A guy can't walk his dog without getting shot in Vegas. We need to solve this. We need to solve this.' So they had more resources available than they normally would. And they caught the guys. And the gun was tied to two previous murders. He'd already killed two guys. So, yeah, I have no doubt he was trying to kill me. Thankfully he didn't spend too much time at the range. [So he was charged with] two murders and attempted murder."

Police reportedly found 15 shell casings at the scene.

Jake's dog was unharmed.

Lee took part in the all-star "Back To The Beginning" event this past July in Birmingham, United Kingdom, which marked BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne's final performance.

Last November, Jake wrote on Facebook that the shooting occurred after he noticed two men "dressed in black, hoodies pulled down low" checking out a motorcycle in a driveway. "They saw us coming up on them and exited the driveway and quickly walked down the street, the same direction we were headed." The men "kept checking over their shoulders at us" as Coco "pulled hard on the leash." Lee added that the men then warned him: “You need to quit following us, turn around and fuck off."

Lee refused to back down, believing the men were "obviously more intimidated by an 80-pound pitbull than an old guy in a bright Hawaiian shirt. He explained that "after some macho back and forth," he and his dog continued to walk home, leaving the men behind. It was then he was shot.

"We were about 50 feet apart when I heard the shots," Lee said. "I quickly realized he wasn't aiming at me. He was aiming at my dog. I threw my end of the leash at Coco and yelled to go home. He did. He's a good boy.

"One bullet went through my forearm, one through my foot, and one in the back, which broke a rib and damaged a lung. All the fingers still move."

Lee, who was tapped by Ozzy Osbourne to replace the late Randy Rhoads in the singer's solo band, played on two Ozzy records: 1983's "Bark At The Moon" and 1986's "The Ultimate Sin".

In a statement to TMZ shortly after the shooting, Ozzy said: "It's been 37 years since I've seen Jake E. Lee, but that still doesn't take away from the shock of hearing what happened to him today. It's just another senseless act of gun violence. I send my thoughts to him and his beautiful daughter, Jade. I just hope he'll be OK."

After performing with Ozzy, Lee formed the hard rock band BADLANDS. He released the solo albums "Retraced" and "Guitar Warrior" in 2005 and 2007, respectively. After a self-imposed exile from the music industry and the public eye, Lee returned with a new band called RED DRAGON CARTEL, releasing a self-titled album in 2013 followed by "Patina" in 2018.

1986 is considered by many the pinnacle of the emerging thrash metal scene. We look back fondly and reference classics from METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH, KREATOR, DARK ANGEL, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, DESTRUCTION as some of these bands' and the genre's best work. But for those who were there or who just want to scratch deeper beneath the surface there is another level of bands, bands who still made an impact and were part of the scene. Many were outside the U.S. who are still cherished by those in the know but didn't have the same longevity and/or commercial relevance. Belgium's CYCLONE belongs to this second layer of bands, having released its debut, "Brutal Destruction", on Roadrunner in 1986, an album that is an underground and cult classic.

CYCLONE fell victim of changing times and musical styles and a lack of record company support, opportunities and international exposure plus shifting musical tides led to the group calling it a day in 1993 — until a reunion 15 years later, which began a series of festival appearances over the course of the past six years, including live performances at Graspop Metal Meeting, Keep It True, Alcatraz and True Thrash Japan, to name a few, along with a European tour supporting MIDNIGHT, and now finally some fresh music.

M-Theory Audio has partnered with CYCLONE and bring you the band's first new music in 35 years with the single "Eliminate" and its accompanying music video, which can be seen below. Punchy, old-school thrash metal is on hand with crunchy guitars and rebellious lyrics resulting in something that while ruthless is comfortably familiar, infectious and pure.

"Eliminate" comes from CYCLONE's upcoming EP, "Known Unto God", due out on February 6, 2026 on M-Theory Audio in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The five new songs were all written by core members singer Guido Gevels and guitarist Stefaan Daamen and recorded by Guido backed by a younger and invigorated lineup with vocal and drum production, along with mix and mastering handled by Martin Furia (DESTRUCTION, NERVOSA, EVIL INVADERS). The artwork of "Known Unto God" is courtesy of Ivan S. Bragin (OCTOBER TIDE, THE GATHERING). "Known Unto God" will be made available as on limited silver bullet-colored vinyl as well as on CD.

The first chapter of CYCLONE history dates back to 1980 when five teenagers obsessed with NWOBHM decided to start a band. Experience they had not, but enthusiasm plenty. A few years later, and after a series of shows with then established ACID, the quintet released its "In The Grip Of Evil" demo — a cornerstone of European extreme metal. The demo was supported by opening slots for ANTHRAX, OVERKILL, AGENT STEEL, KREATOR and DESTRUCTION, which led to label interest, with the band choosing to sign with Roadrunner Records. The infamous "Brutal Destruction" was released, followed by tours supporting METALLICA and SLAYER. Times change, people change and hard choices have to be made, resulting in Guido and Stefaan working with three new players on 1990's "Inferior To None". A European tour with BLESSED DEATH was launched to support the album, followed by another continental run with SADUS, THE OBSESSED and THE ACCUSED. But by 1993 CYCLONE had decided to call it quits.

CYCLONE 2025 is:

Guido Gevels - vocals
VIncent Heyman - bass
Gabriel Deschamps - drums
Max Deschamps - lead guitar
Jesse Vandenbosshe - rhythm guitar

In a new interview with Mark Strigl, ARMORED SAINT singer John Bush spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's long-awaited ninth studio album, due next spring through Metal Blade Records. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it's coming out on Metal Blade. I think we have a date tentatively at April 6th. I'm not at liberty to mention the name [of the album] yet, although we should be [announcing it soon], 'cause we're almost ready to finish all the mixes. But, yeah, it's sounding killer. Jay Ruston's mixing it, who mixed the last two records, and he's just awesome. And it's sounding killer; it's sounding great."

Regarding the musical direction of the new ARMORED SAINT material, John said: "It's a little continuation of what we've done over the last few records — [2020's] 'Punching The Sky' and [2015's] 'Win Hands Down' — but it also sounds kind of different at the same time. So, I think it's a big step as far as our songwriting and kind of the sophistication of ARMORED SAINT's hard rock, heavy metal, but sounding different, but still sounding like SAINT at the same time. But [it's] a record that sounds like it's coming out in '26, not a record that is coming out in '85, which I love 1985 — 'Delirious Nomad', our second album [came out in 1985]. It's our [40th] anniversary [of 'Delirious Nomad'] right now, and so we're playing a bunch of songs on this tour from that record. But, again, I don't want to… As much as you look back and I'm down with that, 'cause we all do, and there's a nostalgic connection and I love that, I still want it to sound like a record that sounds like now. So that's always the little bit of the puzzle that you have to form there and the slight dilemma — like, how do we make it sound modern without sounding like another modern band? 'Cause we don't wanna sound like anyone else other than ourselves, but we don't wanna say, like, we're just going back, and going, 'What did we do then? Okay, let's do that.' We don't wanna do that. So it's a combination of looking forward and a little bit of the history."

This past September, John told Chel Evah of Art Paparazza & Chel Shock Photography about what will be a six-year gap between "Punching The Sky" and ARMORED SAINT's next album: "It's a long time coming, but I blame COVID, because it pushed everyone back a little bit, 'cause 'Punching The Sky' came out in 2020. Plus we've toured a lot in the last couple years. So, to do some writing in conjunction with touring, it's not easy. Everyone aspires to write on the road, but it's difficult. But we have a bunch of great tunes. We're really excited. The record sounds awesome. And I'm real fired up and I can't wait to go out in '26 and play a bunch of new tunes."

Bush previously talked about ARMORED SAINT's upcoming LP earlier in September in an interview with Pete Pardo of Sea Of Tranquility. He said at the time: "We went out and toured a lot [in support of 'Punching The Sky']. So, we were able to do that, and did a couple of more tours, and we were really not planning on it. But getting out there and playing was great. And we actually sold so many records and CDs on the road, it was crazy. We actually re-charted because we sold so many records out there. So, kudos to all the fanbase who bought records and CDs and shirts, of course. But it kind of did push things back a little bit. We don't work that quick as it is, quite frankly, but I always said it for years: the quality of the tunes is contrary to the amount, because that's the fact for us. But the new record will be out next year. And I think it's great. It's gonna just kind of build on everything we've been doing."

Circling back to ARMORED SAINT's increased touring activity and how it affected the making of the band's new album, John said: "We toured a lot. We actually put out four videos on the last record. So we've been on the public side maybe more than ever. And really I say this and it's really kind of the truth is ARMORED SAINT's probably bigger than we've ever been. Maybe there was a stretch in 1984 that we were maybe more popular, but honestly we're probably bigger than we ever were. So, we're just riding it. And the new record will be great, and I think people will dig it. And it really kind of shows sophistication in the songwriting, and we really believe in that. We try to kind of bring in all our different influences and styles and use some different instrumentation and take chances with arrangement a little bit. And I'm really proud of it. I think the songwriting is just — yeah, it's built on everything we've done. The origins of the band, our hard rock heavy metal band, but we really kind of feel like we just keep pushing the boundaries. And it's always gonna sound like SAINT. And this one does too. But I don't know. That's my pitch. I mean, of course it comes down to what the fans think."

After Pardo noted that ARMORED SAINT's musical output has been remarkably "consistent" over the group's four-decade career, Bush concurred. "When your band's been around as long as we have, and that goes for all the bands who have a four-decade career, is that usually new music means the opportunity to go take a piss or go get a couple of beers," he said. "But I really feel like people really think our last couple records have been great. And I think for us to keep building on that and keep writing new material that sounds very legit, I think is important. And not everybody can say that. Everybody kind of says it, but how much do you really believe it? And I really believe [it in our case]. I mean, again, it comes down to what the press and what the fanbase says, and they're the ones that make the final decision, really, on it. But at the end of the day, they've been saying ARMORED SAINT's making really great, modern music, so I'm stoked."

This past September, the band joined W.A.S.P. for a trio of U.K. shows before returning to the States to support legendary guitarist Michael Schenker on his "My Years With UFO" U.S. tour. ARMORED SAINT celebrated the 40th anniversary of its second album, "Delirious Nomad", with a five-song micro set of songs from the record throughout the tour.

Last November, ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera told Metal Kaoz about the musical and lyrical direction of the band's new material: "Every record we've made has been a little bit different than the one prior to it, and this one will be the same case where it will be a little different than 'Punching'. But our number one thing is just writing really great songs. We're not so concerned about trying to outdo the last record or do as good as it is or do the same thing. I always think that it's cool to just see where you are at that moment. And these songs that we've written, just like the last three or four records we've made, they all represent a particular time and place for us. So this these batch of songs, they're a reflection of where we are at a time and place right now. We're in post-COVID, we're coming back out of it, back into the world, and different things are influencing me personally than they were in 2014 when I was writing for [2015's] 'Win Hands Down'. So all those things are at play again. I'm trying to take a few chances as well on this, which we always try to do a little bit."

In June 2024, ARMORED SAINT released a rendition of "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)". The classic track was originally written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and was first released by PEOPLE in 1970. Additional covers include THE FOUR TOPS (1974),SANTANA (1978) and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (1989).

"One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)" was produced by Vera, mixed by Jay Ruston and mastered by Maor Applebaum.

ARMORED SAINT released the "Symbol Of Salvation Live" CD/DVD in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. The release came in celebration of the seminal album's 30th anniversary. "Symbol Of Salvation Live" was a combination live album and video of the band playing the album in its entirety at New York City's famed Gramercy Theatre during its 2018 tour.

In July 2023, ARMORED SAINT was inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

In May 2023, ARMORED SAINT's long-awaited documentary, Armored Saint: Band Of Brothers", had its world premiere in the band's hometown at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Photo by Stephanie Cabral

DEF LEPPARD was honored with the 2,825th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on October 9 at 11:30 a.m. PT at 1750 N. Vine Street. DEF LEPPARD received their star in the category of "Recording". Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Resnikoff, president and CEO Universal Music Enterprises (UMe),were guest speakers at the event, which was emceed by Bob Buchmann, Sirius XM radio personality.

An official video recap of the ceremony, as shared by the DEF LEPPARD channel on YouTube can be seen below.

In his speech, which can also be seen below in full, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott mentioned the band's founding guitarist Pete Willis and the late Steve Clark, who died in 1991. He said in part: "Are we in good company or what? So, from all of us up here, including Pete Willis and the late, great Steve Clark, we all say to each and every one of you, to our collective families, especially our parents who helped us get where we are now, just simply to our incredible, loving fan base out there, two words — thank you."

Jon Bon Jovi recalled first meeting DEF LEPPARD almost four decades ago, saying: "We hit it off immediately. Hanging out with Joe and the guys felt like hanging with my own band, but with a different accent. We stayed in touch, and as they went on to record 'Hysteria' and we recorded 'New Jersey', it was the MTV era, what we refer to as the Gold Rush. Now, there have been many a long night in various cities after each other's shows, and many celebrations, fun times and laughs and even the heartbreaks and loss. There's just some things that you're able to share with a brother from across the ocean that you just both understand."

Jon added: "The music of DEF LEPPARD was born and raised in our generation but has continued to reach new audiences who have made it their own for four decades and counting. Their legacy is, in fact, etched in stone. From their induction to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame to this spot on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, the name DEF LEPPARD will always be."

Resnikoff stated: "[DEF LEPPARD] are one of only four bands — along with U2, AC/DC and METALLICA — that have had Top 10 albums in five consecutive decades. With 'Hysteria' and 'Pyromania', they are one of only five rock bands to have two studio albums with more than 10 million in sales in the U.S. Only four other bands have reached this level: THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN, PINK FLOYD and VAN HALEN."

The Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce administers the legendary Walk Of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.

When DEF LEPPARD's Hollywood Walk Of Fame honor was first announced, the band said in a statement: "Honored to share that we will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on October 9, courtesy of the Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce.⁠ None of this would be possible without YOU. Thank you."

Ana Martinez, Walk Of Fame producer, added: "The Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce is proud to welcome DEF LEPPARD to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. DEF LEPPARD has earned a permanent place not only in music history, but now on one of the most famous sidewalks in the world."

DEF LEPPARD's Walk Of Fame honor was first announced in June 2023.

Recipients have two years to schedule star ceremonies from the date of selection before they expire.

Upcoming star ceremonies are usually announced ten days prior to dedication on the official web site www.walkoffame.com.

The Walk Of Fame, which originated in 1960, consists of more than 2,700 stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Los Angeles.

DEF LEPPARD consists of Joe Elliott (vocals),Phil Collen (guitar),Rick Savage (bass),Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums).

With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious diamond awards in the U.S., Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees DEF LEPPARD — Joe Elliott (vocals),Phil Collen (guitar),Rick Savage (bass),Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums) — continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic ground-breaking albums — including the 14-times-platinum "Hysteria" and 11-times-platinum "Pyromania" — that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group's spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading DEF LEPPARD to be heralded as the world's greatest live rock band.

In May 2022, DEF LEPPARD released their critically and commercially acclaimed twelfth studio album "Diamond Star Halos". The album debuted at No. 1 on the Apple, Amazon Music and Billboard's Hard Rock charts, and scored a Top 10 debut on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the band's eighth Top 10 album of their career. Globally, it notched numerous Top 10 chart entries, including a Top 5 debut in the U.K. Following this success, the band released their 13th studio album "Drastic Symphonies" with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023, which charted at No. 4 in the U.K. — their highest U.K. chart entry in over 32 years — and spent an impressive 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Current Classical chart.

By the end of this year, DEF LEPPARD will have sold over 4.5 million tickets across the globe since their sold-out stadium run in 2022 alongside MÖTLEY CRÜE, a massive feat in today's touring world. The group continues to push the boundaries with their electrifying live shows on their current summer tour with a number of headline shows and festival dates. Next year, the group returns to Las Vegas for their third residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Most recently, the band teamed up with legendary guitarist Tom Morello for their single "Just Like 73", which soared to No. 1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock chart.

Carrying the torch of NWOBHM is TAILGUNNER. Recently signed to Napalm Records, the young British band has announced its upcoming sophomore album, "Midnight Blitz", due out on February 6, 2026. Drawing heavily from classic heavy metal sounds, TAILGUNNER have found support in the very heroes they follow: after making a strong impression supporting KK'S PRIEST, legendary JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing went on to produce "Midnight Blitz". The dynamic album now pushes the genre forward just like its influences once did, with TAILGUNNER always crafting their sound and building on what they have, while never compromising on what they started with.

Along with the announcement and fittingly introduced by air raid sirens comes the first new song, title track "Midnight Blitz". Blitzkrieg drums and screaming twin lead guitars make the 1980s come alive again — a powerful harbinger of what earned TAILGUNNER K.K. Downing's rare endorsement to begin with.

TAILGUNNER comments on "Midnight Blitz": "Whilst touring our debut album, we shared stages with members of IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and ACCEPT — we watched, we learned, and we put it all down on tape. The aim behind 'Midnight Blitz' was to craft an all-time album opener, like 'Aces High', 'Painkiller', 'Welcome To The Jungle' and 'Hells Bells'. Everyone remembers the first time you hear the opening track on an album that changes everything. The hair stands up on the back of your neck and you know from this moment onwards, nothing will ever be the same. The launch sequence on the next era of TAILGUNNER has been hit. 'Masters of the skies, never call it quits. Time to do or die, we are the Midnight Blitz!'"

Downing comments on TAILGUNNER: "TAILGUNNER is a band we should have seen emerge years ago from the U.K. They personify everything that is heavy metal. They are loud and proud, and totally descended from everyone in metal that has gone before — their energy and rawness, together with their brand of metal, incorporates all of the godfathers and much more. MAIDEN, PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD, DEF LEPPARD — the list is endless. The band has a youthful freshness and a uniqueness that will no doubt elevate them to being a true metal favorite of the fans."

Watch the official music video for "Midnight Blitz" below.

"Midnight Blitz" is classic heavy metal without being pastiche. This is a band for the here and now – not just worshipping at the altar, but determined to stand upon it as the metal gods of a whole new generation of headbangers. TAILGUNNER prove their skills effortlessly, carving themselves out as heavy metal's future and grabbing the torch from the legends themselves. Catchy hooks, killer riffs, and appealing to every heavy metal fan.

TAILGUNNER comments: "Like phantoms of the clouds, the 'Midnight Blitz' screams silently through the air. Descending on their prey, a heavy metal militia striking at the speed of sound. Only blood can run! Whilst touring our debut album, we were described by one roadie as 'The bastard child of MAIDEN and PRIEST' and that became the ethos for our new album 'Midnight Blitz'. Just like our fore bearers, we are determined to push forward, always crafting our sound and building on what we have, whilst never compromising on what we started with — pure heavy metal! We are not just worshipping at the altar of those who have gone before, but determined to stand upon it and be the heroes for a whole new generation! We played over 100 shows touring our debut album, sharing the stages with some of the most legendary names in metal while paying our dues in blood, sweat, tears and endless nights out on the road. Everything we learned is on display here, packed into 10 tracks in what we feel can be a true, essential TAILGUNNER album. Produced by none other than the metal guitar god K.K. Downing, working closely with K.K. during this entire process has been the ride of a lifetime and you can hear those touches of a bonafide metal god throughout this album!"

The ambitious quintet fires with more precision than ever before on 10 versatile tracks. An air raid siren stands as harbinger of the onslaught from the powerful title track, "Midnight Blitz", in which blitzkrieg drums and screaming twin lead guitars serve as a powerful sign of what is to come. The epic "Tears In Rain" showcases frontman Craig Cairns's broad vocal skills and the band's ability to deliver huge, infectious choruses. "Follow Me In Death" boasts TAILGUNNER's MAIDEN-esque approach to grandiose, heavy melodies, while "The Lost Boys"-inspired "Dead Until Dark" turns up the '80s vibes full throttle. With "Barren Lands And Seas Of Red", the young British band prove they have epics in their arsenal, continuing to intertwine catchy choruses with manic, thrash tinged riffs before letting audiences catch their breaths during the modern classic ballad "War In Heaven" — goosebumps guaranteed! The following "Blood Sacrifice" ups the tempo significantly and offers numerous opportunities to raise your fist and shout along, while "Night Raids" and "Eye Of The Storm" add triumphant notes, respectively, preparing for the grand finale. The epic, power metal feel of "Eulogy" wraps "Midnight Blitz" up masterfully, shifting from gently orchestrated melodies and memorable vocals before exploding into speed metal fireworks.

"Midnight Blitz" track listing:

01. Midnight Blitz
02. Tears In Rain
03. Follow Me In Death
04. Dead Until Dark
05. Barren Lands And Seas Of Red
06. War In Heaven
07. Blood Sacrifice
08. Night Raids
09. Eye Of The Storm
10. Eulogy

TAILGUNNER is:

Craig Cairns - Vocals
Rhea Thompson - Lead Guitar
Zach Salvini - Lead Guitar
Bones - Bass Guitar
Eddie Mariotti - Drums

Photo credit: Tunde Valiszka

In a new interview with Germany's Rock Antenne, Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., who joined Ozzy Osbourne's band more than a decade and a half ago, spoke about his time with the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer. Asked what it was like being around Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon Osbourne, on and off, for a period of several years, Gus said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I really have nothing bad to say about these people. They treated me so nice for the time that I was there with them. When you're there, it's like you're kind of part of the family as well. So, yeah, it was only good times. A lot of laughs. British guys from the '60 and '70s, their humor is insane. So it's impossible to be in the room with them and not start laughing two minutes into this. So they always crack jokes, always say funny stuff. Same with Ozzy, [he was] that character, that crazy character that everybody has seen from television and stuff. But, yeah, it was just nice to be like a fly on the wall, hear these guys tell their stories and just be funny in their way. So, yeah, for me it was some of the best years of my life."

Asked how he felt when he first heard about Ozzy's passing, Gus said: "It hit me hard, man. It was shocking. I didn't expect it. I mean, I knew he was very sick and all that stuff. But especially two weeks after he did his big farewell show [in Birmingham, United Kingdom]. So, yeah, it was pretty shocking. If you look back on it, you couldn't even direct this thing. The way it was all done, it was just meant to be like that, I guess, in some way. But, yeah, I think it shocked everybody, 'cause they saw him on stage, like, 10 days before he passed. And he was there, he was in good spirits and everything."

Gus added: "Anyhow, but for me, it was a really tough pill to swallow, so to speak, because even though — I'll tell you this — I wasn't close to him after I left the band and stuff; it's not like we were in touch and we were friends or whatever. But he's such a big figure in my musical career and in my life. I feel like there's my life pre-Ozzy and post-Ozzy. So it has been such a big transformation for me and such a big change in my life. And, of course, that affected me. So I'll miss him, of course, like everybody else."

The day of Ozzy's passing, Gus, whose real name is Kostas Karamitroudis, took to his social media to write: "RIP @ozzyosbourne. Dear Ozzy - Thank you for everything you've done for me — the advice, the precious memories and for the music. You changed my life forever and I'll never forget that. As a guitar player, it was the highest honor in my career to record an album and tour the world with you for 7 years. My condolences to the family".

In a July 2024 interview with Romania's Rock FM to promote his acoustic shows in the country with Romero, Gus spoke about how he looks back on his time with Ozzy. He said: "It was a big step up and a big challenge to go from one level to another as a performer, as a guitar player. I came from a background of having my own bands and kind of like always feeling secure in that, but getting a gig like that, for me, was a big challenge, obviously, and intimidating. So I had to step up my game very quickly. I had to dissect my own playing style and figure out what it is and try to improve it. It made me a better professional, so to say, better performer. I just one-upped everything that comes together with being not only a musician, but as an entertainer and performer. So it definitely, that gig helped me to bring out the stage persona a bit more to the front — because that stuff only exists on stage, in my opinion, not off stage. So it made me work hard on that and develop that. It was a great opportunity."

Less than two years earlier, Gus told Czech Republic's Backstage TV that he had some "really good times" playing with Ozzy. "It was a really highlight of my career, obviously, playing at such a big level and, of course, to play with one of the fathers of this music, heavy metal," he said. "So, just to be a part of that legacy is incredible; it's mindblowing. I still cannot believe it happened. I learned a lot.

"I'm not a guy who thinks so much about the past," Gus explained. "I think I have evolved since then; I have become a better musician, better person, better performer. That was a big stepping stone for me. I look at those days with a lot of joy, and I have nice memories, nice feelings about Ozzy and Sharon [Ozzy's wife and manager] and the [rest of the] Osbournes; they treated me very nice. And it was some of the best years of my life with them; I got to see and experience things that not many musicians do, so I was lucky in that sense. But I'm doing my thing now and I've had my own thing for a long time. And I'm happy where I'm at in life right now."

In 2021, Gus was asked by Guitar World how he found out he was no longer in Ozzy's group. "Sharon called me at home," he said. "I was kind of expecting it. They had announced a festival, and I was waiting to hear back what was going to happen. And then eventually, she gave me a call. I think it was in the middle of the night, because we have such a time zone difference. She called me in Greece, and said, 'I just wanted to let you know personally, so you don't find out online, we're going to do the farewell tour, and Zakk is coming back for that.' And I was, like, 'No worries at all. No problem.' And I thanked her for everything they had done for me. We're still on good terms, so, no problem at all."

Back in 2018, Gus told TrueMetal.it that "it was a little bit of a relief" to find out that Ozzy was getting back together with his longtime axeman Zakk Wylde. "I was just kind of tired of waiting around for all these years, not hearing anything about potential tours or recording activities," Gus said. "Of course, [Ozzy] was very busy with BLACK SABBATH — I understand that — but then in between of all that, there would be all these one-off [solo Ozzy] shows popping up and I had to make myself available for that. But there was never any… I felt like there was no… I didn't see stuff coming up for the future, you know? So, as much as I loved being in that band and working with him, in a way, it was a little bit of a dead end for me, speaking personally. Of course, now he's gonna go on a big tour again and do his farewell thing, and that's great for him, but it was not a creative thing for me."

It was announced in April 2017 that Wylde would be rejoining Ozzy's backing group for all his upcoming solo show dates.

Gus, who played on Ozzy's 2010 studio "Scream", told TrueMetal.it that part of his frustration stemmed from the fact that he wasn't told far in advance when his services would be needed by Ozzy, making it difficult for the guitarist to make long-term plans with any of his other projects. "There was never any definite announcement, like, 'Hey, guys, we're gonna see you next year' or something; it was always, like, 'We'll see what happens,'" he said. "So that's a bit of an uncertainty right there, and, of course, I had my own band [and] I had stuff to do, but I could never really book stuff too far ahead into the future just in case something [with Ozzy] came up. So it was really hard to get some info at some points… Anyways, you know, that's how it is; that was the situation. So, yeah, in a way, like I said, it was a relief, because now I can totally control what I'm gonna be doing, and that's a much nicer feeling."

Ozzy died the morning of July 22, his family announced in a statement.

On October 9, California Film Institute's Mill Valley Film Festival featured "Metallica Saved My Life", a documentary that explores the life-changing impact of the San Francisco Bay Area heavy metal band on its fans, as its Centerpiece Screening at Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, California. METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich and "Metallica Saved My Life" director Jonas Åkerlund were on hand for a post-show conversation followed by a reception that evening.

Speaking on the red carpet about METALLICA's enduring connection with the band's fans, Ulrich said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the stereotype that you just brought up about the headbanging, crazy thrashing-their-head-against-the-stage type of thing, that was so 40 years ago. And so what we see as we tour, not just in the U.S. or North America but all over the world, the key word is really diversity — a diversity in every applicable sense. And so where that meets the continuity of us seeing a lot of the same fans and a lot of the same faces down in the front rows around our shows, we thought that celebrating them, celebrating the diversity, celebrating the sense of community that they're all bringing would be a great thing. So to take this camera and kind of turn it 180 [degrees] and instead of having it on us, really celebrating the fans. And also within the band, and the reason I wanted to be in a band myself was to be part of a community, to be in a gang, a community, a collective, whatever word you wanna attribute to that, and that same dynamic is what really is among the fans. And you'll see tonight in the movie that it really is about community and collective and sharing experiences. And as an only child growing up, that is really the key element that all this really is about. I think human beings are herd animals and we all long for community and to share whatever passions we have with others. And that's why we're doing our music thing, and the fans that follow us around and are a part of our journey, that's really the boxes that are being checked for them too."

Åkerlund stated about his involvement in the film: "This was probably the easiest elevator pitch I have ever heard in my life. A METALLICA film about the relationship that they have with their fans? I'm in. And then, three years later, a year and a half in the edit room to figure it out and make it interesting. We had a massive amount of footage, which is great, but it's also a lot of options. So we really did write our script in the edit room on this one, and it took some time and we had to do some sacrifices. We had to put some stories on the editor on floor, and then they came back up and then we were doing that for quite some time."

Regarding the fact that METALLICA transcends the heavy metal stereotype in the type of fans the band attracts, Jonas said: "I've been a METALLICA fan all my life, so I've seen them over the years and I noticed how the audience had changed over the years, going from angry young male beer-drinking headbanging to an enormous diversity. Same music, same guys, same metal, but now it kind of works with a broader audience, which is amazing to see, which is part of what this film is about — how the diversity actually has changed, so many people's different stories and all that stuff."

"Metallica Saved My Life" documents the incredible stories of family, identity, redemption, loss, and salvation that make METALLICA's fans perhaps the most recognized example of why music matters to the world, and of why METALLICA is the kind of band that can literally save lives, including their own.

Åkerlund, who previously directed METALLICA's music videos for 1998's "Turn The Page", 1999's "Whiskey In The Jar" and 2016's "ManUNkind", interviewed fans from 23 different countries for the documentary.

During the post-show conversation at the Mill Valley Film Festival, Ulrich said about METALLICA's connection with its fans: "I guess the first thought that comes to mind is because we are fans. And that will always be part of who we are. So when I see these guys out in the front row, that was me and still is me, whether it's music or whether it's film or whether it's any kind of other creative endeavors or art in general."

He continued: "We were just talking at dinner five minutes ago about seeing DEEP PURPLE in 1973 — I actually saw them twice in 1973 — and seeing all these bands around Copenhagen [Denmark], THIN LIZZY and BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW and SWEET and SLADE and STATUS QUO and blah, blah, blah. And I was the guy that somehow ended up outside the Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen next to the main train station waiting for Ritchie Blackmore or Phil Lynott to try to get their autographs. And whenever anything has spoken to me, appealed to me or fascinated me creatively, I've always wanted to try to get close to it. And so I think the answer, really, is that all of us, and Kirk [Hammett], Rob [Trujillo] and James [Hetfield] all are like-minded in that sense, and I think all of us really just so identify with the fans and the people that are out there, because we're just the ones up on stage, but we're all the same. And ultimately, if there's any kind of — I'm not big on manifests or M.O.s or whatever, but if there's anything that METALLICA certainly strives for is to try to break down that barricade, that barrier that exists between a band and an audience and try to do away what with whatever it is that separates us and try to have us all just be one of sharing an experience together. And so that's sort of what's in our head space. That was in our heads when we started 150 years ago, and that's still in our heads now. The only difference is that what we're doing is connecting with more people than it used to."

On the topic of what his initial reaction was to seeing "Metallica Saved My Life", Lars said: "It's a lot of different emotions. The first time we saw this in Mexico City about a year ago, we were all just sitting, crying, weeping, proud, just appreciative, grateful.

"When James and I started [METALLICA], I was 17, and so this is the only thing I've ever done in my life. And so when you watch this movie, when we watched it the first time, it's basically like your whole life flashing in front of your eyes. This is not just a part of it… This is everything I've ever done other than the first 16 years of attempting to play tennis. So from 17 on, this is it. You're looking at my life. So it's kind of a bit of a mindfuck. The fact that it's still connecting, the longevity of it, in the purest moments, it's being probably dumbfounded by the fact…

"If you and I were sitting here or sitting anywhere in 1983, 42 years ago, going, 'In 2025, 42 years from now, we'll be sitting in a movie theater looking at all this and [we will be winning] Grammys and [playing in sold-out] stadiums,' that would just not be an option of how that was gonna play out.

"When we started METALLICA, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, all those guys, they were still in their thirties," Ulrich added. "I mean, that's fucking crazy, right? They were still in their thirties. So the idea that you could play rock and roll in your sixties, much less play rock and roll in your eighties, like those guys are doing now, or [Bruce] Springsteen in the seventies, or Neil Young, or all these amazingly, amazingly cool people, that didn't exist. So the idea, it's, like, 'Okay, fine. Let's start a band, and then five years from now we'll get real jobs and whatever else.' And so the fact that 42 years later that this is still connecting with everybody in terms of just such a cross section of people of all the ages and demographics and countries and all the rest of it… that's just insane."

This past June, Ulrich and Trujillo were interviewed by Heavy Consequence on the red carpet of the premiere of "Metallica Saved My Life" at New York City's Tribeca Festival at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Asked why it was important to put the spotlight on the METALLICA fans in the documentary, Lars said: " Well, I think that there's so many great stories to be told. There's so much diversity. And I think probably the greatest thing about our fans and all the people that are turned on and inspired and caught up in our music is how different they are. And so if we were standing here, say 40 years ago, it would be much easier to define who they are. But today, 44 years later, it's almost impossible to define. So I always say, if you've got 10 people, you get 10 different stories. You get a hundred people, you get a hundred different stories. And just trying to share some of those stories and get a little bit of a peek into the lives and their points of view, their diversity, what they go through to be part of all of this. And it's just great for us to kind of turn the spotlight away from us and on to the fans and get a chance to hear their stories. And that's been the best part of the last three years on this project."

Robert chimed in: "The fans are as important as the music. They're as important as we are. They're attached to everything that we do, and they're the reason we're here now. They're the reason we're on tour. They mean so much to us and vice versa. So it's amazing to see their stories and hear what they have to tell. And it's very international, and it goes deep."

Asked if there were any fan stories that particularly resonated with them, Lars said: "Well, as an only child, the reason I wanted to be in a band was to belong to something bigger than myself, to belong to a collective, to a group, to a gang, however you wanna phrase it, and every one of the fans who have their version of that are the ones that I just really relate to. There's a girl, a Chilean girl, in the movie, called Camilla, whose story I relate to. There's the Norwegian Vikings, me as a Scandinavian, who I relate to. There's lots of them. I find a connection to pretty much all of 'em. And I think ultimately what we try to do in METALLICA is break down that barricade that separates the band from the fans and try to make it all-inclusive and put us all on an equal pedestal. And everybody's that's got that same objective in mind, I feel a kinship with."

Added Robert: "Absolutely. Same here. Every night on stage, you look in their eyes and you see that sort of happiness that exudes through the music and through what we do. And there's just mutual respect and love. And it's a very powerful thing. I kind of feel it more than ever nowadays, especially on that stage [during the 'M72' tour], 'cause they're right there. And even though it's larger venues, there's a connection that we're feeling, 'cause we get to sort of make the rounds and find the sweet spots with 'em. So it's really fun and exciting."

Also speaking on the red carpet of the "Metallica Saved My Life" premiere, Hetfield stated about how the idea for the film came together: "It all started with a friend of ours, Jim Breuer, who is a comedian that was opening up for us in the arena tour, and he was traveling around with a lot of these fans and just kind of got to know them staying in the Airbnbs with them. And he says, 'James, you have got to hear these fricking stories. They're unbelievable — where these people came from, how they got into music and why.' … Such deep emotional human stories. So he's the one that inspired this in a way. We didn't know what to do with it at first. What? Do you just do a podcast or blah, blah, blah? It's, like, no. Let's get together. And everyone knows our bio; we wanna get the fans' bios out there."

Regarding why Jonas was the right person to helm "Metallica Saved My Life", Hetfield said: "He's our kind of favorite go-to guy, and he gets us. He's done a couple of our just song videos and whatnot, and he totally gets us. He gets that world. He grew up in a metal band himself from Sweden. He's a big fan of metal, so we knew he was the guy."

James went on to talk about how the METALLICA members' personal stories are intertwined with those of the band's fans. He said: "It's not like we clock in at eight and clock out at five. Our job, it kind of… It's, like, we're leaving home for a month and a half. There's an anxiety, there's a weirdness, there's a ritualistic psycho-ness in our heads that happens. And the winddown after that too. How do you get back into regular life? And, hey, I'm not objectified by my neighbors now. I'm just a dude, which is great. I'm taking the garbage out in my underwear, being a regular guy. And that's what we are at the end of the day. And this is all just wonderful dust. It's not real out here, essentially. So we try to stay as grounded as possible, and I think this movie really shows how we are the same as our fans, and we've got, and they've got, a great story to tell."

Ulrich was equally excited about sharing the fans' stories, saying:  "This is a celebration of the diversity of our fans. I've said for years, for decades, if you line up 10 METALLICA fans, you get 10 different stories. If you line up a hundred METALLICA fans, you get a hundred different stories. This is 10 to 15 of those stories. We're turning the spotlight away from us and on to the fans and celebrating how unique our fanbase is and all those great human beings. And this is really ultimately about trying to break down that barricade that separates a band from its audience and trying to celebrate the oneness of all of it and how we're all in it together and how we all are METALLICA together."

In a statement announcing "Metallica Saved My Life" in April, the band said: "As a few of you may know, we've been working behind the scenes the last couple of years on a new film that will be released later this year starring you guys! 'Metallica Saved My Life' explores our world through the lives of fans who have supported each other through highs, lows, trials and triumphs for over four decades. And yeah, we're in it a little bit too."

Back in July 2023, METALLICA put out a casting call for "superfans" of the band to possibly appear in an upcoming documentary. The filmmakers were looking for "big personalities, unique characters and unexpected stories from METALLICA fans who consider METALLICA to be their favorite band, real 'Fifth Member' types. All stories and walks of life" were "welcome and encouraged to reach out."

The documentary was produced by METALLICA and Mercury Studios, powered by Universal Music Group.

We’re excited to share that #MetallicaSavedMyLife will be making another festival appearance this year, and this time...

Posted by Metallica on Tuesday, September 9, 2025

"The Accidental" by Francis Rossi, due on January 30, 2026 via earMUSIC on CD, LP, and digital formats, comes as something of a surprise.

It was certainly a surprise to Francis, who had no plans to record an album. "This truly came out of nowhere," says Rossi. "I spend my life in and out of the studio, rehearsing, tinkering, but something happened earlier this year and, before I knew it, we had created something special."

While Rossi's previous solo albums explored his love for acoustic ballads, vocal harmonies, and the blend of British rock with country influences, this album, his first in seven years, marks a true return to the energetic, guitar-driven sound that made him a legend with STATUS QUO.

"The Accidental" sees Rossi playing to his strengths, but taking risks, cutting loose, and exploring new territory. This album is all about old bones and fresh blood.

The fresh blood in question comes largely from Hiran Ilangantilike, a guitarist who was originally a school friend of one of Francis's children, and co-producer Andy Brook. What became the sessions for "The Accidental" was initially born of just plugging in and making some serious noise, but something clicked in the studio. Lightning was indeed bottled: There was a swing and a groove, and the songs started pouring out. With John "Rhino" Edwards and Leon Cave later laying down the bass and drums parts, and Amy Smith again bringing an extra dimension on back-up vocals, this became a project with a bite and DNA all of its own; albeit Francis's playing is a distinctive as ever. Almost all of the songwriting credits reflect this fresh and collaborative ethos, though there are two that bear the classic QUO hallmark: Rossi/Young. Rossi produced "The Accidental"; co-producer Andy Brook recorded, mastered, engineered, and played on the record, and co-wrote three tracks.

Kicking off with a flourish "Much Better" segues into the ebullient "Go Man Go", teeing up future classic "Push Comes To Shove" and the plaintive yet strutting blues singalong of "Back On Our Home Ground" (who will be the first sports team to adopt this one?). By then the engine is well and truly running, and the highlights keep coming. The chug and chant and choppy chords of "Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)" give way to the cantering "Picture Perfect", which could only be a Rossi number. The long strides of "November Again" distill a melancholy refrain into a catchy chorus, and the epic "Beautiful World" channels vintage-era QUO with enough guitar to get the balcony of the Glasgow Apollo bouncing again. "Time To Remember" is built around a piano line and swaying melody and serves as a poignant and powerful coda to an extraordinarily strong set of new songs.

Today's announcement coincides with the launch of the first two songs: "Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)" and "Go Man Go" are available for streaming and download now.

"For anyone who liked any of my solo albums previously, well, I've no idea what you'll make of this one because it's a real departure, but I love it," Rossi says. "It's loud, the guitars are right to the fore, and there are some great songs there."

This new album finds Rossi once more at the top of his game, with a searing yet thoughtful collection of rockers that will please anyone who likes their dose of heavy cut with melody and verve. Mark Twain said that the accident is "the greatest of all inventors" when there are no rules, expectations or preconceptions, anything can — and will — happen. "The Accidental" proves that amazing things unfold when an artist with an unrivaled track record is inspired to create new music — even after more than 50 years of success — by the sheer love of playing. That unbridled joy is where the elemental magic that animates "The Accidental" is conjured.

"The Accidental" track listing:

01. Much Better
02. Go Man Go
03. Push Comes To Shove
04. Back On Our Home Ground
05. Dead Of Night
06. Going Home
07. Bye My Love
08. Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)
09. Picture Perfect
10. November Again
11. Things Will Get Better
12. Oh So Good
13. Beautiful World
14. Time To Remember

In a new interview with Rob Edwards of the Talkin' Bout Rock podcast, STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet was asked if it is more difficult being a Christian rock band today than it was when the band first started out more than four decades ago. Michael responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it's different. There are challenges now that are different from the challenges then. So back in the '80s, the challenges for us were the different sound and the different look and basically singing about Jesus. It was difficult for people to take the lyrics and look at the image and listen to the sound and combine the three. People were, like, 'Wait a minute. This can't be Christian music.' Now it's more about just the message itself."

He continued: "The Christian message, from my experience, is a message that is persecuted to no get-out, man. I hear it and I read it in e-mails, I hear it from people, I see it at our shows, those people that come to just speak out against the faith and Christianity. I don't get it. It's bizarre. But I see that more often with Christianity than I do with other religions. And for some reason… I mean, it seems to me like certain religions are off limits — you can't say anything bad about certain religions because if you do, you're a bad person. But yet it seems like you could say anything you want about Christianity. I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. Somebody else out there, convince me that I'm wrong. But this is from my personal experience. And it kind of bums me out, but at the same time, it also drives me to do more. That's the way I'm built. It's never stop. Get up. You get knocked down, get back up. Keep going."

Last year, Michael was asked as part of the "1 Question With…"interview series if STRYPER's increasingly heavy and aggressive musical direction has been inspired by the fact that he and his bandmates have never fully embraced in heavy metal and hard rock circles, largely because of their Christian lyrics. He responded: "Well, it does upset me often when you see a band come out or a person come out and speak about openly their faith, their belief, whether it's they're a Muslim or they're an atheist or they're Satanist or whatever it is. And [they get applauded for it]. But often when a Christian comes out, a Christian band like STRYPER or what have you, they get [criticized for it]. And it's just the way it is. And people that don't agree with that, they're clueless. Because it's out there everywhere for the world to see. Anyone with eyes and ears can hear it and see it. So, continue to deny that. It's truth.

"We've been mocked from the very beginning," he continued. "If we sang about girls or Satan, we would have been the cool kids. But we're not, because we sing about Jesus.

"METALLICA and SLAYER — no disrespect to those guys, I would never wanna be like those guys," Sweet added. "Not in a million years. Yeah, [METALLICA are] playing stadiums. Who cares? I didn't get in this for the money. I didn't get in this to play stadiums. I mean, obviously, there's a rush that comes with that when you play to a big crowd and it's electrifying. But my point is that's not what we're doing this for. So we don't long to be METALLICA or SLAYER, and we're not that style. I grew up on [IRON] MAIDEN and [JUDAS] PRIEST. That's metal to me. Those are the true metal bands. Classic metal with a great singer and great melody — not the other stuff. Again, this is my opinion. People will disagree with me. Perfect. Totally, that's the way it works. But, man, we're gonna keep being who we are. We have been for 40 years. I don't know how much more time we have left in us or [how many] years we have left in us. It could be another 10 or 15. And we'll just keep doing what we do."

Three and a half years ago, Michael claimed that STRYPER was never a "Christian" band despite the fact that the lyrics in a number of STRYPER songs explicitly point to Christ. During an appearance on an episode of the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast hosted by FOZZY frontman and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho, he explained: "I recently, in the past few yeas, said quite a few times, and it's really caused a stir, that we're not a Christian band. And people say, 'What?' But we're Christians in a rock band. And there's a difference.

"I look at PETRA as a Christian band, I look at SWEET COMFORT, I look at REZ BAND as Christian bands, 'cause they were Christians in a rock band," the STRYPER frontman continued. "And they were brought up in the church, for the most part. We weren't brought up in the church; we were brought up on the streets of L.A. playing Gazzarri's, Troubadour, Whisky, and we became Christians. And we just continued doing what we always did, but with a different message.

"So we're a rock band that's comprised of Christians," Sweet added. "We're really not a Christian band. But if people wanna call us a Christian band, that's okay. But I view us as just a rock band that decided to take a different path."

Michael went on to say that STRYPER's lyrics come from the heart and are not meant to be a marketing gimmick, as is the case with some of the band's more extreme counterparts.

"With a band like SLAYER — not just SLAYER but a number of other black metal bands… What's interesting is STRYPER, we read the Bible, we pray, we go to church, we believe in what the Bible says," Michael said. "So by doing so, so to speak, we practice what we preach. We're not perfect — in any sense of the word, we're not perfect — but we really do our best to represent Christ, represent God and all that God stands for. But it's funny when you hear about SLAYER, and you think Satanic band, pentagram, evil, and then Tom [Araya, SLAYER frontman] is going to church every Sunday with his kids. Which is great. But my point is it's a polar opposite of what they represent themselves as. STRYPER, on the other hand, you get what you get. We are what we are on stage and off stage. It's not like we're going to the satanic church after we get off stage."

Even though STRYPER's third album, 1986's "To Hell With The Devil", made Sweet and his bandmates the first contemporary Christian act to score a platinum album, the group has often felt unwelcome in Christian circles, with some members of the church feeling that Christianity and heavy metal are incompatible.

In a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Michael said: "We've never been accepted by either side. The secular side, the mainstream, they've never accepted us to this day. We're probably that band that everyone's going to go to whenever there's a time to mock. We'll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we've never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don't fit into their little club. We're not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching."

Formed 42 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil", "Even The Devil Believes", "The Final Battle" and the band's latest effort, "When We Were Kings".

Original SALIVA singer Josey Scott, who left the band in 2011 and was replaced the following year by Bobby Amaru, has once again blasted his successor, accusing Amaru of treating him like a "lowly, disgruntled old employee".

Asked in a new interview with Carr Stereo Podcast With Terrie Carr how he feels about the war of words which has erupted between him and Bobby in recent months, more than three years after the two singers shared the stage during SALIVA's appearance at the 2022 Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, Virginia, Scott said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's just heartbreaking. The one word I could put to it is it's heartbreaking to see something that you created from the ground up, that you were a founding member of, and then to get treated like you are this lowly, disgruntled old employee is just crazy to me. Like Will Ferrell says, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

"I don't know how to explain it," Josey continued. "You never know the darkness that lurks in a man's heart. You don't know how people are going to react. I heard somebody say the other day, they said, if you wanna see how somebody really is, give them fame and money. And that's true, because we certainly were given a little bit of fame and money, and we came apart at the end of the runway, like any other plane that was trying to land with no landing gear.

"Wayne Swinny, my blessed lead guitar player in SALIVA, who I adored, he was famous before we were famous in Memphis," Josey added. "He was in a band called TNA that was gigantic there in Memphis, along with TORA TORA and ROXY BLUE back in the late '80s, early '90s. And I'd always dreamed of being a band with him. And to be able to take that journey with Wayne Swinny from the beginning was just so magical. And then to watch it sort of be whittled down to just him there in what I call the last days of Wayne's life and the last days of SALIVA. We had talked about doing a reunion tour with Chris Dabaldo, the original [SALIVA guitar player]."

After Carr noted that the process of reuniting some of the SALIVA original members "got muddied" before the tour could take place, Josey concurred. "And not only to have those waters muddied, but to then be blamed for muddying those waters," he said. "I was, like, 'How is this my fault?' I'm trying to play fair and to do this. I'm trying to actively, with a positive attitude, do this. I think this will be great for the fans, number one that were begging us to do it, begging us to have a reunion of the original members." Apparently referencing Amaru, Scott continued: "And to have those waters muddied by somebody who wasn't even in the picture in the beginning, who was a child — this guy was a child when we were releasing 'Click Click Boom'. This guy was a kid. He was still trying to kiss a girl and go on a date. He was 15, 16 years old. So to have those waters muddied by that person, it's just heartbreaking. I keep coming back to that word. And then Wayne called me and said, 'Well, it doesn't look like the reunion is gonna happen, so will you come out to Blue Ridge music festival and do the encore with the guys?' They wanted me to come out and do 'Always', 'Your Disease' and 'Click Click Boom'. And I was, like, 'Yes, Wayne. Of course.'

"People go into a burning building to save who they love, and I felt like I wanted to look Wayne in the face one more time and experience being on stage with him one more time by hook or crook — I didn't care," Scott explained.

Reflecting on the discussions with Amaru that took place prior to the Blue Ridge performance, Josey said: "It's funny because even the negotiations for me to come just do three songs, [we went] back and forth with this guy. And then, of course, his management blamed me, said I was a diva and I was demanding all this stuff. That is just totally untrue. It was him that was demanding.

"It took me a minute, but I figured out his game," Josey continued. "His game is he does these things, then blames you for doing these things. This is my experience with that person. You sort of throw your hands up and go, 'What's happening?' And then they blame you. They go into the press and they go to their little minions and their outlets and they blame you. They say you're the problem, you're the one doing the things. And I was just baffled.

"You gotta give the kid credit for playing multidimensional chess with this," Scott added. "And I told my wife one time, I said, this guy has his fingers in every pie. Once I looked into it, he was the tour manager, he was the business manager, he was booking shows — he was like the fricking Swiss Army knife of lead singers. He did everything he could possibly do but become me."

Last month, Josey shared official lyric videos for his two new singles, "Who?" and "Famous", both of which appear to be lyrical jabs at Amaru. The songs arrived in early October, less than two months after the current lineup of SALIVA — fronted by Amaru — released a new single, "Hit 'Em Where It Hurts", featuring lyrics which were apparently aimed at Scott.

Nashville producer ScatteredBrains, who worked on both "Who?" and "Famous", took to his Instagram to share about the former track: "Long time coming, about 15 yrs to be exact. The first single 'Who?' from @therealjoseyscott has arrived !!! I am beyond proud of this song and Josey for finding the strength to push back and push forward during a time where he's being bullied out of his own god damn legacy, his creation, his band SALIVA.

"Please listen, like, share and spread the message that there is only one real SALIVA and that is with Josey at the driver seat. If the fans are ready, Josey's ready to give yall that real shit like he never left !!! I know yall tired of watching a cover band play his music, we are too."

When "Hit 'Em Where It Hurts" was first made available in early September, Amaru said in a statement: "'Hit 'Em Where It Hurts' is an anthem about proving people wrong, not with words, but with action."

Apparently referencing Scott, Amaru added: "I sincerely wish him the best, but this song is really for the fans who've stood by us, and for anyone who's ever had to fight for what they believe in. To me, it's about resilience, loyalty, and never backing down. That's exactly what SALIVA should stand for."

Scott previously ripped Amaru in an interview with Rock Feed, saying in part: "The only problem I've had with Bobby is Bobby seems to say one thing in the press and act one way in the press. He acts victimized, like I've done something to him. And that seems to be his M.O., is he does these things behind the scenes, and then when he gets in front of the cameras or gets in front of an interviewer, he acts like it's you that's doing these things. And honest to God, I'm not doing any of any of these things that he's saying that I'm doing." Scott went on to lament the fact that Amaru is "treating me like I'm some kind of former disgruntled employee that I don't have the right to have any kind of voice about this or anything."

Elaborating on the deterioration of his relationship with Amaru over the course of the last three years, Josey said: "See, when I first came back while Wayne was alive, Bobby seemed supportive of me. He seemed like he was gonna support me having my own band and me doing my own thing. And then as soon as Wayne dies, he sends me — he still says in the press that he's supportive of me and there's gonna be two SALIVAs or whatever, but at the same time sends me a cease-and-desist [letter] saying I can't even call myself the former lead singer of SALIVA. I couldn't even have the word 'SALIVA' on my poster. It's just ludicrous. It's absolutely ludicrous. And like I said, he talks out of both sides of his neck, is what bothers me so badly. He says one thing and does another. If you'll notice, when he came on Rock Feed with you, he was talking about how I was this sad person with quitter's remorse, and then puts out a diss track about me. And I'm just, like, 'Okay. All right. I see where this is going now.'"

Scott went on to say that he was surprised to hear that SALIVA had released a "diss track" about him. "I'm just, like, 'This is something rappers do, dude. This ain't something rocker guys do,'" Josey, whose real name is Joseph Sappington, said. "So I had to [respond] in kind — twice."

This past August, Scott made it clear that he had no intention of rejoining the band he co-founded nearly 30 years ago. Josey explained to Youngstown Studio that he didn't foresee ever teaming up with the current version of SALIVA, noting that he had "butted heads" with Bobby and insisting that he didn't "want to give the fans the Temu version of SALIVA," a reference to the Chinese e-commerce site, "with some kind of a bastardized version that Bobby puts together." Josey went on to say that he wanted to get the SALIVA name back and use it with members of his new band, explaining that he named SALIVA completely on his own and that the SALIVA name's "rightful place" was with him, not with the Amaru-fronted version of the group. "That was what I came to the table with," he said of the SALIVA moniker. "I put that band together one member at a time. That's my name."

Amaru, who has been a member of SALIVA for 13 years, later addressed Scott's comments about the current lineup of the band in an interview with Rock Feed. Bobby said: "I watched that interview that [Josey] did [with Youngstown Studio]. I usually don't pay attention to the  Blabbermouth headlines or any of his interviews and stuff. But so many people were sending it to me that I watched it front to back.

"It doesn't bother me, the things that he says about me — I'm not really bothered by it,"  Bobby insisted. "I just feel like I see a sad man who just has quitter's remorse. And that's what it feels like to me.

"I like to take negative stuff and turn it into positivity and create music and stuff, and some people just like to be negative and bash online or whatever, or take jabs. And for me, I love music, [and] always have. And I love  SALIVA, love the brand."

Referencing  Swinny, who died in March 2023 after suffering a brain hemorrhage while on tour,  Bobby added: " Wayne had a vision. We all had a vision when I got in the band, was to take a broken project and revive it, and that's what I've been doing. And, unfortunately, Wayne's life was cut short. We love and we miss him every day. And I'm only honoring him. I didn't even know that I wanted to do this anymore when he passed away — I didn't feel like I wanted to — and some things started happening and  Josey took it upon himself to just go and call himself [and his solo band]  JOSEY SCOTT'S SALIVA. And I just felt like that was wrong. I felt like it was classless, and  Wayne would be rolling in his grave over that. And people that knew  Wayne and know the situation, they would agree with that. And I think, for me, it's, like I decided to continue on and I just wanna put out killer music. And I feel like the band has been accelerating, and he hates that. It bothers him."

Bobby continued: "I don't know. I mean, I wish the guy well. I just hope the guy could find positivity and put it to the music, just keep doing what he's doing. He has fans, but  SALIVA is gonna keep doing what  SALIVA's doing and what  SALIVA's been doing. 14 years — November will be 14 years for me. And I'm grateful. I am. And we have a lot of cool things on the horizon, a bunch of unannounced festivals for '26. And, hey, man, we're gonna keep putting out music."

In a new interview with Ollie Winiberg of Drummer's Review, longtime TRIVIUM drummer Alex Bent spoke to about his recent departure from the band. Asked if the split with the Florida metallers was "amicable", Bent said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "You know what?! It's one of those things where it's, like, 'You guys are gonna go your way. I'm gonna go my way.' And we're just keeping it all positive, man. I wish them the best, and it seems like they wish me the best. And you move on to different chapters in life, and that's really it."

Alex also talked about his final recording with TRIVIUM, the "Struck Dead" three-song EP, which arrived on October via the band's longtime record label Roadrunner. The effort was produced by TRIVIUM and recorded with Mark Lewis at the band's Hangar Studios in Orlando, Florida. It was mixed and mastered by Josh Wilbur. Bent said: "[The 'Struck Dead' EP] means a lot to me because I was recording this during a really crazy time in my life, where my daughter was in the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]. She almost died twice, and at the same time, I'm trying to record this EP, so I really kind of poured my heart and soul into it. I was literally going back and forth from the NICU hospital, being there with her, and then I would go straight to the studio. And I spent a lot of time at the studio trying to just come up with parts that I felt were perfect. I wanted every single note to count, so I would be there late and then my wife would come and get me from the studio and then we'd go back to the hospital. It was a crazy, crazy time in life. And I'm really grateful now. My daughter's doing amazing. She's thriving. And when I listen back to these songs, I'm, like, 'Man…' It just weighs really heavy on me, 'cause it takes me back to trying to balance all of this stuff. But at the end of the day, I'm really happy with the way that the EP came out. And, yeah, like I said, my heart and soul is poured into it, man."

As for Alex's future plans, Bent said: "Man, for me, I don't have a solid, solid plan laid out. I'm not, like 'It's gonna be A, B, C, D, exactly like this.' But I definitely wanna focus more on myself as a player. I would love to get into doing drum clinics and drum shows. I'm always doing session work. I mean, I was literally driving back to California, driving home and getting calls left and right, thankfully for work. I mean, shoot — yeah, it's been nonstop. So studio work. I'm still down to tour. If anything, I'm more hungry now than ever. I'm planning to tour. If there is a bigger band that wants to hit me up, I'm down, man. For me, this is not the end at all. If anything, I feel like I'm just getting started. So I still feel hungry, like that 22-year-old kid that's ready to hit the road and keep on going, man. If anything, I wanna go harder now for my family. I wanna keep doing this. I don't plan to ever stop."

Last month, TRIVIUM recruited drummer Alex Rüdinger (formerly of WHITECHAPEL) to sit behind the kit for the band's fall 2025 North American tour.

SEPULTURA drummer Greyson Nekrutman played drums for TRIVIUM for the group's appearance at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California in early October.

In a recent interview with Australia's Wall Of Sound, TRIVIUM guitarist Corey Beaulieu stated about the band's split with Bent: "It just kind of happened, and it was kind of a surprise. I don't think anyone was really expecting it. But it is what it is. When it all kind of went down, we all wished each other the best. There's no hard feelings. It was just kind of one of those things where it's, like, life changes paths. And it's all positive. We made three amazing records together. The ['Struck Dead'] EP is amazing, which it will be his last thing. He started working on the [next TRIVIUM full-length] record with us, so hopefully when that's finished and done, he'll feel a part of that."

Corey continued: "When [Alex] came into the band, we had a great chemistry, a great writing team. I think all the music we did together is — hopefully the fans just are really excited about what was created in that time. And Alex, he's a great drummer, a great person and stuff, and I'm sure he's got plans for whatever his next chapter is."

Referencing the fact that Nekrutman performed with TRIVIUM at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California, just a few days after Alex's exit, Corey said: "I guess the timing [of Alex's departure] kind of put us in a pickle, but with all that going down, it was, like, we just had to kind of like, block everything out and like focus on how to get… We didn't have much time to get ready for this show [at the Aftershock festival] and we have a tour coming up. But there's a lot of amazing musicians out there, and luckily we were able to find someone that could give us a helping hand to be able to play Aftershock and not cancel."

TRIVIUM bassist Paolo Gregoletto told Thunder Underground about the band's split with Bent:  "I don't feel like I want fans to be, like, Hey, okay, we're over it. We expect you to be over it,' kind of thing. I'm like, no. I'm, like, we made a lot of great music and there's a lot of history between us. He was almost in the band as long as Travis [Smith, former TRIVIUM drummer] was and almost made as many albums, I believe. So that's a pretty big chunk of our history right there. And I think 'The Sin And The Sentence', of the stuff we all did together, is maybe one of my favorite records we've done. And I think the EP ['Struck Dead'], too — if that's the end of the chapter, I'm, like, that's a great ending right there, 'cause I think it's a very, very cool EP. And I can say without a doubt, I feel that the albums and EP has been an incredible run. I don't feel we had a real weak point. I can't say that's something I feel like for our whole career. So I'm, like, I feel very proud of that. It was a lot of effort and work and everyone's part."

At Aftershock, Paolo told Baby Huey and Chasta of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone about Bent: "We've had a great nine years together. I feel like it's kind of a weird thing because, obviously, being in a band together, but I feel like because we've all had families and stuff, there's a tighter connection there that even just what people see. So I think it's one of those things, we all were kind of sad, but at the same time, we said, 'Alex, we want you to kind of make the statement. You kind of lead how you'd like to handle all this stuff.' And I didn't wanna put words in his mouth or say whatever. He made the statement. I feel like we ended on great terms. And that's really kind of it. I mean, there's no juicier CRADLE OF FILTH [-style] drama [with former hired musicians sharing their grievances online]. And, again, it's one of those things where we wanted him to make a statement."

Paolo continued: "In the past we've always been very, like — we don't really like to get into any behind-the-scenes stuff with that. And, of course, we've had changes before, but we felt like in this instance, rather than just saying 'we're parting' or whatever, we [told Alex], like, 'Well, you've been around for so long, our fans would wanna hear from you.' And so that made it more important to us to be, like, 'Okay, you are gonna say whatever you'd like to say.' We didn't [tell Alex], 'You can't say this or that.' And then just give it 24 hours. And then as we hit the stage [at the Aftershock festival] today, be, like, 'Okay, this is the guy playing with us for today, for the tour,' and then that's kind of it."

When Alex announced his departure from TRIVIUM on October 3, he said in a statement: "I am beyond grateful for the incredible past nine years with TRIVIUM — filled with unforgettable moments, music, and friendships that I'll always carry with me. I'm so proud of every record and tour we created together, and I know TRIVIUM will continue to dominate the world; they'll always have my support.

"While this chapter has come to a close, this is by no means the end of my path as a musician. I'm excited for this new chapter, and I look forward to continuing to create, perform, and share music in new ways.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Your encouragement means the world."

In December 2016, TRIVIUM parted ways with Paul Wandtke and welcomed Bent, a former member of BATTLECROSS and DECREPIT BIRTH who had previously played with TESTAMENT as a fill-in for that band's longtime drummer Gene Hoglan.

In a new interview with Ian Danter of U.K.'s Planet Rock, Jon Bon Jovi spoke about BON JOVI's 2026 tour, which will see Jon and his bandmates perform several nights in some cities, including at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, where they will play six sold-out shows at the iconic venue. Asked if BON JOVI will perform "in the round" on the upcoming trek, Jon said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No. That much I think I know. I've seen a couple of diagrams [of the stage] that they'd like to go and build."

Referencing the fact that METALLICA's ongoing "M72" world tour features two-night stops where each "No Repeat Weekend" consists of two completely different setlists, Jon added: "The one thing that I am in control of, the only thing I'm in control of [is the setlist], 'cause at this point, because I do [rehearsals of] two hours a day, four days a week of sets, of shows. I was looking to METALLICA. And I talked to Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer]. I said, "So let me get this straight. If you're only doing 'Master Of Puppets' on one night and 'One' on one night, is the audience mad that they're not there [the next night]?' And he goes, 'Nope. We have enough songs that it works.' He goes, 'And your catalog…' And I went, 'I'm digging that concept.' So not that we're gonna do that, but I have enough songs and enough hits, I could do two separate entire shows and have hits on both sides. So I'm having a lot of fun putting together shows that are multiple-night kind of shows."

Asked by Danter if BON JOVI has ever played entire albums on any of its previous tours, Jon said: "We've done those in situations, like we did the 'This House Is Not For Sale' album at some theater here for a record and for a TV show. And we've done 'Lost Highway' like that. So there've been a couple, but not a lot. I think '2020' we did that too, but that was during COVID. But no, we've never performed 'Slippery [When Wet]' in its entirety or 'New Jersey' in its entirety or 'Keep The Faith' in its entirety."

Last month, BON JOVI announced a series of global concert dates that will mark the band's much-anticipated return to live touring with shows in New York, London, Dublin and Edinburgh starting in July of 2026 at New York's famed Madison Square Garden. And due to overwhelming demand, the band has already added additional dates at Madison Square Garden. The tour is produced by Live Nation.

The tour announcement came after Jon's much-documented vocal cord surgery and rehab process, as seen in the critically acclaimed Hulu docuseries "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story".

Produced by Jon with John Shanks, BON JOVI's latest studio album, 2024's "Forever", featured Jon Bon Jovi once again alongside fellow founding BON JOVI members, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. They were joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.

"Forever" contained 12 new songs, including the hit lead single "Legendary".

BON JOVI released "Forever (Legendary Edition)" on October 24 via Island Records. A re-release the songs from "Forever", it features guest stars on each track, plus two more cuts.

FOZZY singer Chris Jericho's 1980s KISS cover band KUARANTINE has released the official music video for its version of "Unholy", the song originally written by Gene Simmons and Vinnie Vincent and featured on KISS's 1992 album "Revenge". The clip, which was produced by HM Studios and shot at HM Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada, can be seen below.

Last year, KUARANTINE released its version of "Good Girl Gone Bad", a classic, hidden gem from the KISS songbook. The song was made available on Madison Records via The Orchard. It was the No. 1 Most Added track on the SMR Rock chart as well as the Most Added song on the Mediabase Active Rock Activator Panel.

When "Good Girl Gone Bad" was first released, Jericho said in a statement: "The mission of KUARANTINE has always been to pull the forgotten gems from the non-makeup, '80s KISS catalog, give them a modern polish, and unleash them on current mainstream rock radio, so they can get the respect they deserve. With that mindset, we feel we've hit another home run with the 1987-released underrated Gene Simmons classic 'Good Girl Gone Bad'. It's got more hooks than a tackle box, with a great chorus and brain-melting solos. This song is the perfect springtime tune to crank in your car and rock out with your unmentionables out! And with two Top 20 singles in our repertoire, we're stoked to get to the Top 10 and beyond. It's time to get KRAZY with KUARANTINE!"

In 2020, Jericho joined forces with TRIXTER/FOZZY bassist P.J. Farley, guitarist Joe McGinness and drummer Kent Slucher to form KUARANTINE. KUARANTINE's lineup is completed by YouTube sensation Charlie Parra Del Riego (guitar).

Five years ago, Jericho was asked by Loud Hailer if KISS was a big influence for how he wanted to perform with FOZZY in terms of putting on a show. He responded: "That's what rock 'n' roll is. My favorite frontmen were always about that — Paul Stanley [KISS], David Lee Roth [VAN HALEN], Mick Jagger [THE ROLLING STONES] and Bruce Dickinson [IRON MAIDEN]. It was always about the performance, and that's what rock 'n' roll is to me. I'd rather have a great performance rather than worry about hitting every note properly, which is important too, but you have to have some showmanship. You have to be a frontman, you have to be the party host. And that's I take great pride in doing that."

Regarding how he was first introduced to KISS's music, Jericho said: "I was a big BEATLES fan in the '70s and I was into THE STONES and that sort of thing, so when all of my friends were into KISS, I never really rated them. And then when I started to get into heavy metal, I'll never forget when I saw this video that started with his hands on fire and he looked like he was having the best time ever with his band, making out with chicks and hanging out backstage and then he jumps through a ring of fire, and I'm, like, 'Who is that guy?! Who is this?' 'This is KISS.' 'I thought that KISS wore makeup.' 'No, KISS took their makeup off a few years ago.' 'Well, who is that guy?' 'That's Paul Stanley.' 'Fuck, well, I wanna be like that guy.' So I got into KISS at that timeframe, on the 'Animalize' record, just as they started playing without makeup, and that's my favorite era of KISS. There's a whole sub-genre of KISS fans who love '80s KISS better than '70s KISS, and I'm one of them. And so are the other guys in KUARANTINE. So why not do this and bring a little bit of focus back on to those songs that are great songs that a lot of people just don't know?"

At 12 million strong on social media, there is nothing Jericho can't do. He is easily one of the biggest entertainers of the modern era, cross-pollinating the rock, wrestling, and broadcast realms. Jericho has rocked the world for decades with his band FOZZY, which has garndered 150 million streams (and counting). The band recently performed for over 80,000 rabid fans at an AEW event held at Wembley Stadium, along with a successful, sold-out U.K. tour. He's a main attraction for AEW wrestling, watched by millions of viewers on TBS each week. His over-the-top, rock star persona is one of the most beloved in the history of the sport. He is also a best-selling author a film producer, and actor. He also launched the Chris Jericho Rock N Wrestling Rager At Sea cruise experience. The sixth voyage, "Six On The Beach!," set sail to Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic, on January 31 through February 4 of 2025 and once again sold out. Jericho also hosts the incredibly popular and influential "Talk Is Jericho" podcast. It's a top-rated SiriusXM show that has collected over 220 million downloads while clocking 1,000 episodes.

Prior to "Good Girl Gone Bad"'s arrival, KUARANTINE's most recent single was a version of "Silver Spoon", which originally appeared on KISS's 1989 album "Hot In The Shade".

KUARANTINE first debuted in May 2020 with the release of "No No No", which reached No. 25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The band has since issued its versions of "Heart Of Chrome", featuring former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, and "Love's A Deadly Weapon".

Jericho has surrounded himself with a group of top-notch touring musicians for KUARANTINE. Slucher has been the powerhouse behind the kit for country music sensation Luke Bryan for the past 17 years, from small clubs to headlining stadiums and amphitheaters. McGinness is a rising country singer/guitarist, who has shared the stage with artists such as OLD DOMINION, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE and Granger Smith, and is also a member of KLASSIK '78, a digital tribute to '70s KISS. Farley rose to fame in the New Jersey-based gold-selling rock band TRIXTER, which toured with KISS, POISON and SCORPIONS, before writing and recording two solo albums and eventually joining FOZZY in 2020. Newest bandmember Parra, who hails from Lima, Peru, is a global rock guitar YouTube sensation, amassing more than 850,000 followers.

According to BBC News, BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi will raffle off one of his Gibson SG guitars to raise money for the hospital where he received his cancer treatment.

The 77-year-old guitar legend was treated at Birmingham, United Kingdom's Heartlands Hospital in 2012 after being diagnosed with lymphoma a few months earlier. Four years later, Iommi revealed that his cancer was in remission.

Earlier today, Iommi joined staff at Heartlands Hospital to help launch a fundraising drive as part of a £150,000 appeal to refurbish the hospital's cancer treatment center.

Speaking to BBC about his diagnosis, Iommi said: "It was a terrible shock. It's really hard when you're going through that. You just never think until you're in that situation, and I know how difficult it is, and how they feel. I like to be able to give something back and be involved and help."

Reflecting on the treatment he received at Heartlands, Tony said: "The more comfortable you can make the patient, the better. I know when I was in, they treated me so well, that everybody was so nice, the nurses were nice, everybody was great. To have the right environment means a hell of a lot."

Iommi will make an announcement on his social media when the raffle goes live.

Iommi revealed his cancer diagnosis in early 2012, shortly after SABBATH announced a reunion tour and album. He underwent treatment throughout the recording of the disc, titled "13", and the subsequent tour to promote it.

The BLACK SABBATH guitarist successfully underwent an operation in January 2017 to remove a noncancerous lump from his throat.

"13" was the first album in 35 years to feature Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together.

During a June 2023 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Iommi stated about his health: "I'm up and down. I go for my checks. In fact, I was there the day before yesterday, just getting different checks again. It's like any old person [laughs] — you have problems. But, no, all in all, it's been pretty good. Certainly as far as the cancer side of it, it's been — dare I say — good. I get other ailments, like your hands ache and feet and things like that. But apart from that, it's good. And I think doing what I'm doing keeps me up. I don't sit at home just sitting on the couch; I'm out and about doing stuff. And it's good — it keeps you motivated; it keeps you moving."

Regarding where his cancer battle stood at the time, Tony said: "Well, they keep it under control. They check the immune system all the time to make sure you keep it up. I have [vitamin] B12 shots and just try and eat a bit better and try and look after your health a bit more. That's why, really, I had to stop these major tours, because they were long tours and late-night tours. By the time you'd finished playing, especially when we were in the States, and we'd have a base, say, in New York, for 10 days, and we'd have our own plane and fly out to different places and come back. And by the time we get back to the hotel, it's three o'clock in the morning. And these late nights were affecting me a bit. And my oncologist said, 'You know, you shouldn't really be flying as much and doing this amount of work.' So that's sort of why it came to the end of me touring for 18 months. But, yeah, I loved it — I love touring; I love playing; I love seeing the audience. And I still wanna get out and play, but I won't be able to do major tours like that. As I said before, maybe a week or two or whatever, but it's hard to do that, because you've got the crews that work — you have top-notch crews, and you can't expect them to just do two weeks. They wanna get out and do a U.S. tour. But I will be going out, I suppose, doing something along the line. I've been asked to do various things, and we'll see what happens."

In February 2017, SABBATH finished "The End" tour in Birmingham, closing out the quartet's groundbreaking 49-year career.

"The End" was SABBATH's last tour because Iommi can no longer travel for extended amounts of time.

Iommi previously spoke about his battle with lymphoma in a 2013 interview with Guitar World magazine. At the time, he said: "The [cancer] diagnosis came when I was doing my book tour [in 2011] before we started rehearsal. On the book tour, I saw a doctor because this lump appeared in my groin. We thought it was just a swollen gland, so he gave me antibiotics. After the book tour, I was going to L.A to start rehearsals. He said if it wasn't gone in two weeks when I got there, I should see another doctor. So I did, because it was still there. He gave me more antibiotics, because I had developed an infection from this other problem I had with my prostate. It was too big and had to be cut down. So I thought the other lump was part of that. But it never went away. So we were rehearsing and writing, and I kept feeling this pain down in my groin. And Ozzy kept saying, 'You don't look really well.' And I'd say, 'Well, I don't feel too good.' He also told me to go get it checked out. I was going back to England to have the prostate operation, so I decided just to wait until then. They said they'd take out that other lump while they were in there. I thought nothing of it at all, but they found out it was cancer."

He continued: [After they told me I had cancer] my whole life changed. And they're so casual about it! They say, 'The good news is that your prostate is really good. But the lump, we found lymphoma in it.' Lymphoma, what's that? Well, I knew what it was, but I wanted to hear them say it: cancer. Once I heard that, it was awful. I thought, God, of all the times."

Filmmaker Matt Zane has announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign in January 2026 for a new documentary exploring the intense and often turbulent relationship between Wayne Static (STATIC-X) and his wife Tera Wray.

Production is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with Zane — a longtime friend and collaborator of Wayne's — directing and producing the project.

"Most people are unaware that I knew Wayne for about 14 years, and I actually knew his wife Tera before him," says Zane. "We were all close, and I worked on every project he did after leaving STATIC-X."

Zane previously directed all of Wayne's solo videos, including the "Pighammer Promo", "Assassins Of Youth" and Wayne's last music video, "Noise Revolution", with DMC. At the time of Wayne's death, the trio were developing additional projects, including an unfinished docuseries that aimed to chronicle the couple's life together.

"I filmed bits and pieces over the years, but we needed a few solid weeks in the desert at their house to finish it — that was the plan. Unfortunately, funding fell through," Zane explains. "I know this is something Wayne and Tera wanted to get done, and they wanted me to do it. I feel I owe them this — to tell their story the way they wanted it told."

Zane also confirmed the film will feature previously unreleased music created with Wayne.

"There's about an EP's worth of material Wayne and I recorded for a movie Tera was doing, but his label stepped in and stopped it. Some of those ideas ended up on 'Pighammer', but the rest has been sitting in my archives. I'm revisiting it now and will finish some of it with help from A.I. technology."

The crowdfunding campaign will officially launch January 2026 , with details and updates coming soon.

Zane is also seeking to connect (through the EveryoneDiesTheMovie.com contact button) with friends, colleagues, and associates who were close to Wayne and Tera during the final seven years of their lives for potential interviews.

Please note: The families of Wayne Static and Tera Wray, as well as the original members of STATIC-X, are not involved in or endorsing the project.

Wayne Static died more than a decade ago after mixing Xanax and other powerful prescription drugs with alcohol, according to the coroner's report. The 48-year-old Static, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, was found dead in his Landers, California home on November 1, 2014.

Tera Wray Static took her own life in January 2016. Her friends revealed that she was found dead at a friend's house in California.

Randy Emon, the supervising deputy coroner investigator for the San Bernardino County coroner's office, told BLABBERMOUTH.NET in a written statement at the time: "Our coroner records indicate [Tera] died on January 13, 2016 in Joshua Tree, CA. The manner of death was listed as suicide."

Tera's roommate at the time of her death wrote on Facebook that she came home after work and found "one of my dearest friends had ended her life in my guestroom where she was staying."

A statement which was apparently approved by Tera's mother said that "Tera suffered from depression since the death of her husband."

Wray, who was born Tera Lents, met Wayne during the Ozzfest tour in 2007 when she was modeling for Hustler lingerie. They were married in January 2008 and she retired from porn in August of that year.

Adult entertainment attorney Michael Fattorosi, who last spoke to Tera one day before her death, told New York Post's Page Six that Wray left behind a note instructing her roommate to call him and Tera's mother.

"She was one of the sweetest, most gentle women I have worked with in [the adult film industry]," Fattorosi told Page Six. "She had a light to her that was evident when she walked into room. She was always smiling and happy. I know she loved Wayne dearly. When they met and got married, she left the [adult film] industry to go on tour with him and the band. From what I understand, she was constantly by his side. His death must have weighed on her tremendously."

In July 2015, Tera paid tribute to her late husband with a sleeve tattoo that she showed off on Facebook.

Image courtesy of Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival

Fresh off the announcement of the band's highly anticipated new album "Listen Up!", NEW FOUND GLORY has shared a new single, "Treat Yourself". The third track to be released from "Listen Up!" , "Treat Yourself" is a fast-paced song about being kinder to yourself in the face of hard times. Watch the "Treat Yourself" visualizer below.

"This is a fast more West Coast punk-style song," shares guitarist Chad Gilbert. "It's about how people are very hard on themselves when it comes to mistakes and failure and how a lot of that is put on by false expectations of the world and people around you."

He continues: "People seem to forget about the hard times they already have been through and conquered in their past, which should be a reminder that they are capable of getting through tough times. A reminder that we are our own worst enemies at times and we have to give ourselves a break. We gotta treat our own selves better."

"Listen Up!" is set to be released on February 20, 2026 via Pure Noise Records. The band's first full-length in nearly six years, "Listen Up!" is a collection of songs about resilience and hope through hard times.

NEW FOUND GLORY spent last summer on the "Supercharged: Worldwide In '25" tour with THE OFFSPRING and JIMMY EAT WORLD, before performing at the Epcot International Food And Wine Festival. They also recently wrapped up a U.K. headline tour with special guests REAL FRIENDS and KOYO. They'll be heading to Australia later this year for Good Things festival, and next year fans in Indonesia can catch them at Hammersonic 2026.

It's been decades since NEW FOUND GLORY's likeness was chiseled onto pop-punk's Mount Rushmore, but as the quartet, formed in Coral Springs, Florida, in 1997, approach their landmark 30th anniversary, they still have a lot to say.

"We wanted to make something that really focused on how lucky we are," NEW FOUND GLORY guitarist Chad Gilbert explains of "Listen Up!", the band's eleventh studio album and first release for Pure Noise Records. "We've all gone through serious stuff in our lives, and I think the lyrics on this record are more meaningful and purposeful than ever. It's a positive outlet that hopefully keeps people going."

The album's spirit is indeed a testament to resilience, shaped not only by Gilbert's ongoing battle with an aggressive metastatic cancer but also the ever-evolving dynamic between him and his bandmates — vocalist Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Cyrus Bolooki — as they continue to push each other creatively. It's the same full-hearted sentiment that colored their 2023 acoustic EP, "Make The Most Of It", here delivered in three-minute bursts of the band's trademark pop-punk sound: the shiny melodies that launched them on to "TRL" in the early 2000s, the ghosts of the tight-knit punk and hardcore scenes they came up in as teenagers.

That kinetic energy informed "Listen Up!" from its earliest stages of the writing process, with Bolooki and Grushka traveling to Gilbert's Nashville-area home to flesh out the songs the guitarist had been crafting. Sitting face to face with their instruments, the three fell into a rhythm of workshopping and arranging together, leaning into a riff-first mentality that harkened back to iconic songs like "My Friends Over You" and "All Downhill From Here" in what Bolooki calls a musical return to form.

At this stage in their decorated career, NEW FOUND GLORY's goals are straightforward: keep inspiring the next generation of artists and continue writing songs that help their audience — and themselves — find strength, courage, and joy. The band has come a long way from their humble South Florida beginnings, as detailed on the "Listen Up!" standout "Beer And Blood Stains", a nostalgic riff-factory detailing the band's early battle scars at local clubs, where danger meant more than catching a stray elbow in the swirl of a circle pit. "Looking back, was it fun or crime?" Pundik muses on the track before elevating the album's simple-yet-profound mission statement: "It's good to be alive."

"Listen Up!" track listing:

01. Boom Roasted
02. 100%
03. Laugh It Off
04. A Love Song
05. Beer and Blood Stains
06. Medicine
07. Treat Yourself
08. Dream Born Again
09. You Got This
10. Frankenstein's Monster

Press photo courtesy of Big Picture Media

In a new interview with Brazil's 92.5 Kiss FM, AVANTASIA frontman Tobias Sammet was asked how much he thinks the "cinematic and artistic production of a show influences the audience experience". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I grew up with bands like KISS and QUEEN, and also then BON JOVI and DEF LEPPARD doing the in-the-round, in-your-face thing, with a stage in the middle, and starting off with [the DEF LEPPARD song] 'Stage Fright'… It was all big, it was high gloss, it was pyro and it was crazy and it was big hair, big shoulders and big poses. That's the music I grew up with. And I never really understood grunge music, where they were watching their shoes and playing, like, 'Here we are now. Entertain us.' No, no — you entertain us. You people on stage have to entertain people, not entertain us — the audience doesn't have to entertain the band. So I grew up with a completely different approach."

Tobias continued: "I want theatrics. I want a show, I want a spectacle. It can be basic, [like] AC/DC [was] in 1980 or 1979 with Bon Scott — but still it was theatrical. It was a guy dressed up in a schoolboy's uniform showing his bare ass, dancing around like crazy. And then you had Bon Scott with his torn jeans standing there like a rock god. It was still a show. And I think that's what it has to be — it has to be a show. But I don't want the show to get in the way of the music. That's always a fine line, because when I see [QUEEN's] Freddie Mercury, he never gets in the way of the music. He was going on stage. He was being himself. He made the whole world watch him. And that's the way you have to approach it, because it's like going into a lion's cage. As a frontman, you are stepping in front of 10,000 people and you have the biggest spot, and you can only do it if you have confidence and if you present a show and you say, 'Here I am, watch me. I'm doing it for you. I'm doing it for myself. Let's have a great time and put on a show.'"

Sammet added: "What I don't really get, I have to say, is many bands these days are wearing masks and everybody's having blood here, and it looks almost like a masquerade, it looks like carnival. I mean, everybody has to do it the way they wanna do it. KISS wore masks as well, but still it was an amplification of the music, their show. Today, when you open up a metal magazine — there are not so many anymore — but when you open up a metal magazine, it looks like watching a catalog for costumes for live-action roleplay. It's, like, one is a gladiator, one is a wolf, one is a this, that, this, that. Everybody has to know themselves, but I don't want the show to distract from the music… And it has to be balanced…. My creed is always, we wanna put on a show. I wanna be a showman. I go on stage and I don't change. It's not a masquerade. When I wear my top hat and my coat and I go on stage to enchant the people and be a frontman, this is just — my head and my clothes are an extension of my personality. I don't know if a gladiator's helmet or a Viking helmet is an extension of your personality unless you're a bit off to Cuckoo Island. To me, it's just like an extension, and I always wanna find the right balance. I want people to enjoy the music and have the visuals that accompany the music, but not distract from the music."

AVANTASIA's tenth studio album, "Here Be Dragons", was released in February via Napalm Records. The 10-track offering was written and composed in its entirety by Sammet himself, produced and recorded by Sammet together with Sascha Paeth, mixed by Paeth and mastered by Michael Rodenberg. The cover art was once again created by acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews.

Photo credit: Kevin Nixon

Welsh ragga metal legends SKINDRED have released their brand-new single, "You Got This", accompanied by a brilliantly entertaining video.

The title track of their forthcoming ninth album, which has just been announced with a release date of April 17 via Earache Records, "You Got This" is an instant SKINDRED classic, with Mikey Demus's wrecking ball riffs bouncing through your head, as drummer Arya Goggin detonates a characteristically full-throttle rhythm. Meanwhile inimitable frontman Benji Webbe lurches between uncompromising toasting and delivering hooks like a heavyweight champion.

The inspiration for the track came when gym devotee Benji saw a man struggling to complete his exercises as he started his rehabilitation after a stroke. The personal trainer told him, "You got this," and the mood completely lifted.

"I was watching from a distance, and I could see the struggle and the pain, but in that moment, I knew he had got this," recalls Benji. "It's such an empowering statement and it applies to so many battles that everybody faces: it could be a recovery from a stroke, or it could be studying for your exams at school. For me, having songs that lift people who are going through tough times is the most important thing. I feel like that's what I'm put on this planet to do."

Benji is the ultimate frontman — a man whose wild enthusiasm is instantly contagious, an adrenaline shot of pure motivation. His phenomenally powerful vocals are balanced with lighter, melodic moments of emotion that champion self-belief, resilience, and finding joy in the small things that make life worth living — he's the loudest life coach you'll ever meet.

And on the album "You Got This" he leads the newly slimmed-down Newport trio on a thrilling journey to follow the mainstream breakthrough that came with 2023's critically-acclaimed album "Smile". That album shot straight into the U.K. official album chart at No. 2 and SKINDRED went on to receive the "Best Alternative Music Act" award at the MOBOs, also winning "Best UK Act" at the Heavy Music Awards.

Long revered as one of the best live bands on the planet, they played their largest headline show to date at Wembley Arena and toured the world, smashing every festival and headline performance and winning tens of thousands of new fans in the process. Those new fans will join SKINDRED's long-established rabid fanbase in lapping up every note and lyric of "You Got This". It's an all-killer-no-filler set which features everything that people love about the band — hard-hitting slammers, mega addictive hooks, earwormy soundclash elements, and dancehall vibes destined to ignite venues across the globe.

Production came from the Grammy-winning Jay Ruston, whom Arya admires for having the songwriting chops to work with '80s power ballad master Desmond Child, while also producing SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor and Mike Patton's MR. BUNGLE. "It was working with someone who didn't just stay in one lane, which is exactly what SKINDRED has always been about," says the multi-talented drummer.

So now it's all about SKINDRED's future. There are big plans incoming, especially live, where Arya has seen the audience evolve into a mix of youngsters attending their first gig alongside the two generations above them. Benji is dreaming of Coachella or a prime Pyramid Stage slot at Glastonbury. But Mikey comes at the question from a different angle.

"When you start a band, you don't think for a second that you're going to headline Wembley," he says. "I don't feel like we made it happen; the audience made it happen by committing to be there and travelling so far to come. When you're in a band you're always looking at the next thing and it can be hard to be like, wow, what's happening right now is amazing. There are still so many people out there who should know us but have never heard of us. So, we've got this whole fight ahead of us still."

Earlier this week, SKINDRED's founding bassist Dan Pugsley announced his departure from the band, writing in a social media post: "I've been getting a lot of concerned messages, so I just wanted to let you all know that I'm okay but I am no longer a member of SKINDRED.

"I want to thank my family, my friends, and especially all the SKINDRED fans for the incredible love and support you've shown me over the years. I'll always be deeply grateful for it.

"This band has been such a huge part of my life, and now I'm taking some time to figure out what's next for me. I'm really looking forward to new creative opportunities ahead."

Photo credit: Dean Chalkley