Christian rockers STRYPER will release their long-awaited Christmas album, "The Greatest Gift Of All", on November 21 via Frontiers Music Srl. The 10-song effort will include five original Christmas tracks and five traditional Christmas cuts, including remakes of "Reason For The Season" and "Winter Wonderland", both of which originally appeared on a 1985 single and were also made available on the 1986 re-release of STRYPER's debut EP, "The Yellow And Black Attack".

Today, STRYPER has shared a new single, "On This Holy Night", taken from "The Greatest Gift Of All". The new track arrives alongside a lyric video, available to view below.

STRYPER comments on "This Holy Night": "We wanted to release a song that is dark and heavy yet describes how the world has taken 'Jesus' out of Christmas. What better way (or day) to release a song like this? Halloween! This song exemplifies everything that we are as a band, lyrically and musically."

On the new album, STRYPER guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet previously commented: "We have wanted to record a Christmas album for many years. Ever since we released our first single ('Reason For The Season') back in 1985, the fans have been asking for a full-length Christmas album. Well, the time has finally come.

"We wanted to make an album of five traditional songs and five original songs. To put our own spin on our own Christmas album and not follow the pack, so to speak. We could not be more pleased with how it turned out! We obviously re-recorded 'Reason For The Season' and 'Winter Wonderland' and we decided to go with 'Winter Wonderland' as the next single just to give you an idea of what it might sound like today in 2025.

"We're happy to say that we finally have our own Christmas album and hopefully it will become a fan favorite year after year."

With "The Greatest Gift Of All", STRYPER answers decades of fan requests crafting a holiday record that blends festive classics, brand-new compositions, and their unmistakable mix of faith, power, and metal energy.

In a move that makes the release even more special, "The Greatest Gift Of All" will be available exclusively in physical formats. Fans can look forward to a collectible release that captures the spirit of the season in true old-school fashion.

"The Greatest Gift Of All" track listing:

01. The Greatest Gift Of All
02. Go Tell It On The Mountain
03. Heaven Came (On Christmas Day)
04. Little Drummer Boy
05. Still The Light
06. Silent Night
07. On This Holy Night
08. Joy To The World
09. Reason For The Season
10. Winter Wonderland

This past July, STRYPER released the first single from the upcoming Christmas LP, a song called "Still The Light". Just in time for Christmas in July, the track also arrived alongside an official lyric video, available below.

At the time of "Still The Light"'s release, Michael Sweet commented on the track: "STRYPER fans worldwide have wanted a Christmas record for 40+ years. Now we can say that we have finally made this a reality. With the first single, 'Still The Light' — let's celebrate Christmas in July and acknowledge that Jesus will always be The Reason For The Season!!"

In a recent interview with Jorge Pozo of LotsOfMuzik, Michael stated about the upcoming STRYPER Christmas album: "It is awesome. Oh my gosh. We're so excited about this one."

Asked which songs will be included on the record, Michael said: "We've got five traditional Christmas songs on it. We did a remake of 'Winter Wonderland' and then we did a version of 'Silent Night', a version of 'Little Drummer Boy', 'Go Tell It On The Mountain', which is not one that's been covered a lot, which is cool, and it is considered a Christmas hymn. And then also 'Joy To The World'. So we've got those five songs, and then we did a remake of 'Reason For The Season', made it sound more today. It's still the same arrangement, but obviously with new tones. It sounds bigger and thicker and heavier. And then we did four new original Christmas songs: 'The Greatest Gift Of All', 'On This Holy Night', 'Still The Light' and — what's the other one? I'm trying to think. It's slipping my mind right now. It'll come to me. Anyway, we're really, really, really pleased with how this one turned out, man. It's really cool. It's gonna be a great album."

Regarding which of the songs on the Christmas album he feels "most connected to", Sweet said: "Probably the new stuff. I love the traditional stuff and it was awesome and fun doing that, but I always feel a little more connected with new material 'cause it's a little more exciting and hasn't been done before. So it's new territory."

Asked what he meant when he wrote in a social media post that the STRYPER Christmas album has "a unique signature", Michael said: "Well, I mean it definitely has a very unique signature. We didn't really plan it this way, but it has this really great merge of classic — it's got that undeniable classic sound to it, STRYPER classic sound, but yet at the same time it's got that undeniable modern-era STRYPER sound too, because we're tuned down to D now. So the guitars are a little thicker and things sound a little bigger and heavier. So it's got the perfect merge in combination of classic and modern. Something else we did — for example, we did every single solo in harmony. So every solo, every note is in harmony, which is a first. We've never done that on any album. But the minute you hear those harmony guitar solos, that's a very STRYPER signature sound. So you get lots of that on this album. It's really cool, man. It's exciting, and I can't wait for people to hear it. We have a new song called 'On This Holy Night'. It's very heavy musically — dark. It sounds almost like [BLACK] SABBATH. And it's got this cool vibe to it and such a great message about how we worldwide really more often make Christmas about everything but Jesus. So that's the message, and it's a cool message. And then we've got an uptempo song called 'The Greatest Gift Of All'. It's almost kind of a little GREEN DAY-slash-BLINK-182 sounding, and it's just this power-pop metal, slightly punk vibe to it. It's really cool. So it's got some new flavors to it that I think people are gonna like and appreciate."

On the topic of whether there were any challenges balancing the STRYPER sound with the traditional sound of the songs on the Christmas record, Michael said: "No. Not at all. It just all came together so naturally. As you know, we did remakes, re-recordings of 'Winter Wonderland' and 'Reason For The Season'. So we tried to stay true to the original form. The only difference is they'll both be tuned down a half a step, and 'Winter Wonderland', we didn't do the joking around in the beginning. Because we felt like that was something that you shouldn't touch. That was with Tim [Gaines, original STRYPER bassist] and that was a spontaneous, fun thing. And we didn't wanna go down that road and try to mimic that; that could have been real corny. But other than that, it's the same arrangements. And the other traditional songs sound killer. 'The Little Drummer Boy' is powerful. It's a really good album, and we're excited. We've been talking about a Christmas album since 1985, believe it or not."

STRYPER guitarist Oz Fox recently sat out the band's Latin American tour on advice of his doctor. The 64-year-old musician, who underwent a brain surgery in May 2024, was once again temporarily replaced by Howie Simon (JEFF SCOTT SOTO, GRAHAM BONNET),who previously filled in for Fox on several tours in the past.

STRYPER's latest studio album, "When We Were Kings", came out in September 2024.

The band recently completed the U.S. leg of its 40th-anniversary tour, which was described as "a celebration of both classic hits and new-era fan favorites, including outfit changes and an exciting new show production."

In December 2023, Michael underwent partial thyroidectomy, the surgery to remove part of his thyroid gland. It is the most common surgery for thyroid cancer.

Formed 41 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 other albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil", "Even The Devil Believes" and "The Final Battle".

Photo credit: Pedro Blanco

Last night was a night to remember as rock icons and hometown heroes Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Sammy Hagar and Jay Buchanan, frontman of RIVAL SONS, took the stage together at the Stage Red Fontana Youth Music Foundation's inaugural gala presented by Earl Minnis Presents at Stage RED Theater at 8463 Sierra Ave. in Fontana, California.

The two powerhouses brought the crowd to its feet with a rousing set that included a heartfelt rendition of LYNYRD SKYNYRD's "Simple Man", a song both artists dedicated to their mothers. Hagar's emotional performance honored his late mother, while Buchanan's tribute was made extra special by his mom's presence in the audience. The night continued to rock with high-energy hits, including Hagar's VAN HALEN hit "Finish What Ya Started" and several fan favorites that showcased the enduring chemistry between the two frontmen.

Hagar, joined by his wife Kari Hagar, and Buchanan, joined by his wife, Caitlyn Buchanan, shared the stage in a celebration of music, community and mentorship. City of Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren welcomed guests and led the evening's program.

The unforgettable event commenced with a cocktail reception featuring creations made with Hagar's award-winning spirits, like the Santo Sunrise crafted with Santo Mezquila and the tropical Macadamia Piña-jito made with Sammy's Beach Bar Red Head and Platinum Rums.

Presented in partnership with the City of Fontana, the event marked the official launch of the Stage Red Fontana Youth Music Foundation, which aims to empower local youth by providing funding for instruments, resources and music education opportunities. The evening also honored Anthony Allmond, longtime music director at Kaiser High School, for his decades of leadership and impact on young musicians. The Kaiser High School Marching Band set the tone early, leading a spirited procession down Sierra Avenue to kick off the night.

In a moving announcement, the Grammy Museum Grants Program revealed it will send two local Fontana students to Grammy Camp, offering them an extraordinary opportunity to explore their musical passions at the next level.

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors, including Earl Minnis Presents and Gibson Gives, which donated a stunning cardinal-red Les Paul guitar for auction, as well as the City of Fontana. Together, Hagar, Buchanan and their community proved that the spirit of rock and roll and the love of music education continue to thrive in Fontana.

Hagar commented: "Last night Stage Red Fontana was full of Fontana soul. Was great to have another homeboy Jay Buchanan there to help raise funds for young musicians from our hometown. To get them musical instruments in school and programs to give them a better chance to fulfill their dreams — I'm so happy and proud that Jay and I have the same goals in mind and came from the same cloth. That's a miracle in itself. Not only is he a great singer, he's a great human being. See you next year!"

Stage RED Theater, formerly known as Center Stage Theater, is a premier performance venue in Fontana, California. Renovated and rebranded in 2024, the venue is named in honor of Sammy Hagar, Fontana's native son. This state-of-the-art facility features some of the latest technology in audio, video, lighting, and presentation. Additionally, the theater boasts a complete banquet and catering menu and a full bar. Stage RED Theater is available for concerts and private events. For more information, visit StageRedFontana.com.

For over four decades, Grammy Award winner and Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Sammy Hagar has been one of rock music's most dynamic and prolific artists. From his breakthrough with MONTROSE to a multiplatinum solo career and his years fronting VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT, THE CIRCLE, and now THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS BAND, Hagar has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and delivered anthems like "I Can't Drive 55", "Right Now" and "Why Can't This Be Love". In 2024-'25, his "Best Of All Worlds" tour became one of the year's top-grossing rock runs, leading into a hit Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM and the upcoming live album, "Sammy Hagar & The Best Of All Worlds Band: The Residency".

Beyond music, Hagar is a pioneer in the spirits and lifestyle space, having founded Cabo Wabo Tequila and led award-winning brands including Sammy's Beach Bar Rum, Santo Spirits with Guy Fieri, and Red Rocker Brewing Co. His restaurant ventures include Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill locations at airports in Honolulu, Maui, Las Vegas, Cleveland and Charlotte, as well as Cabo Wabo Cantinas in Cabo San Lucas and Las Vegas, and Cabo Wabo Beach Club in Huntington Beach, California.

A No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, TV and radio host, and philanthropist, Hagar has also earned numerous honors, including a Grammy Award (1992),induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (2007),recognition as the first Honorary Ambassador to Los Cabos (2022),and a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame (2024).

Jay Buchanan is the electrifying frontman of RIVAL SONS, the Grammy-nominated rock band celebrated for reviving and redefining classic rock. With multiple chart-topping albums, sold-out world tours, and performances alongside legends such as BLACK SABBATH, AEROSMITH and THE ROLLING STONES, Buchanan has solidified RIVAL SONS as one of the most powerful forces in modern rock. Jay began chasing his musical dream in Fontana, singing in the FUSD Elementary School Honor Choir and the Fontana Middle School Madrigals. He spent his teens playing coffee shops and busking throughout the Inland Empire, recording his first studio tracks at just 16. In January, Jay will release his sixteenth studio album and first solo record, "Weapons Of Beauty".

Rock legends MÖTLEY CRÜE will release a special 40th-anniversary limited-edition deluxe box set of "Theatre Of Pain" on November 14 in North America and November 28 in the rest of world via BMG.

The official lyric video for a previously unreleased live version of "Keep Your Eye On The Money", which will appear on the 40th-anniversary limited-edition deluxe box set of "Theatre Of Pain", can be seen below. This version of the track was recorded at the Long Beach, California show of the "Theatre Of Pain" tour on November 27, 1985.

Released in June of 1985, "Theatre Of Pain" marked a bold new chapter for MÖTLEY CRÜE — stylistically daring, musically explosive, and unapologetically street glam.

Fueled by the swagger of "Smokin' In The Boys Room" and the anthemic pull of "Home Sweet Home", the CRÜE's third studio album broke new ground while staying true to their hard rock roots. This trailblazing album set the music and style template for many bands that followed, while the CRÜE themselves continued to evolve and reinvent their look and sound with each album.

"Theatre Of Pain" was MÖTLEY CRÜE's first LP to hit the U.S. Top 10, landing at No. 6, and became a global smash (No. 7 Australia, No. 7 Sweden, No. 5 Finland, No. 11 Canada, first U.K. Top 40 at No. 36). The album is now RIAA-certified four times platinum in the U.S. and three times platinum in Canada.

The album's lead single, MÖTLEY CRÜE's cover of "Smokin' In The Boys Room", became the band's first U.S. Top 20 hit, reaching No. 16. The iconic "Home Sweet Home" video was the most requested on MTV for over 90 days, leading to the infamous "Crüe Rule", limiting videos to 30 days. The song recently hit No. 1 again — this time at U.S. classic rock radio — thanks to MÖTLEY CRÜE's new version featuring global superstar Dolly Parton.

The 40th-anniversary deluxe box set for "Theatre Of Pain" is a must-have for fans and collectors, featuring reimagined artwork, the newly remastered album on color vinyl, a never-before-released 1985 Long Beach live concert (2LP),rare demo recordings (1LP),and a 76-page hardcover book packed with never-before-seen photos and memories from the "Theatre Of Pain" era. This definitive set captures the raw energy and spirit of a band at their peak — and is available only for a limited time.

"Theatre Of Pain" 40th-anniversary limited edition box set includes:

* 1LP remastered "Theatre Of Pain" original album on color vinyl
* 2LP never-before-released live album originally recorded for Westwood One radio broadcast on color vinyl
* 1LP rare demos album on color vinyl
* 76-page hardcover book featuring many never before published photos from "Theatre Of Pain" tour

In addition to the limited-edition deluxe box set, "Theatre Of Pain" 40th-anniversary edition will be available in standard audio, Dolby Atmos audio, as well as a variety of physical configurations including standard CD and LP sets alongside CD and LP exclusive variants at Walmart, an LP exclusive for independent retail, an LP exclusive for Amazon and an LP exclusive for Urban Outfitters. A limited-edition "Theatre Of Pain" 40th-anniversary cassette will also be available exclusively at the Crüeseum.

Fans can step inside the Crüeseum to experience the new "Theatre Of Pain" collection, showcasing unseen candid moments, tour-worn clothing, backstage itineraries, powerful live photography, and more from MÖTLEY's 1985 classic.

This past September, MÖTLEY CRÜE stormed back on to the Las Vegas Strip launching their new show, "The Las Vegas Residency 2025", at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Running through October 3, the residency marked the band's third Vegas takeover and its first in more than a decade.

As previously announced, MÖTLEY CRÜE donated a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales of "The Las Vegas Residency 2025" to Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY),a Las Vegas-based organization that provides the thousands of young people experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada with wraparound support to help move into stable housing, grow and flourish.

In a new interview with George Miller of United Kingdom's Devolution Magazine, CRO-MAGS founder Harley Flanagan discussed the feature documentary "Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos", which charts his tumultuous life and survival. Asked if Flanagan's early life — which consisted of childhood neglect and sexual abuse as well as drugs, violence and PTSD — is what ultimately fueled the CRO-MAGS' hardcore sound, Harley said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't know, man, because my life is pretty fucking good now, I gotta say, and I'm making some of my best music. But I can't eradicate one from the other because I still had those experiences. So I may not be living that same exact struggle at this point in my life. Nonetheless, I still struggle with those exact same experiences. [Laughs] They still echo in my brain… as I try to move forward in life. Because, quite honestly, when you have PTSD, it's like sometimes being in a peaceful environment is almost more torture than being in the chaos because in the chaos you feel a certain sense of, 'This is my comfort zone. I'm in a state of fight or flight.' When there's no fight or flight, you find your mind racing to a place to create it. So sometimes calm can be more difficult than a war when you're raised in battle."

Flanagan also talked about his songwriting process, saying: "A lot of the stuff is actually written in the studio. Typically I'll go in with half the songs kind of formulated and the other half will just kind of happen, and then I'll just move a couple parts around, but that'll be the basis of the song. In fact, I find more often than not, those are the songs that come out the best because they're just burning; they're coming out right then and there. And then the good thing to do is to freestyle some vocals or whatever, and then come back to them and revisit them later with actual lyrics, and take it from there."

He added: "My process is still evolving. Who knows? Maybe that's why I haven't had any real success, because I haven't stuck to a formula long enough for people to sink their teeth into it. I don't know. But do you wanna be a successful artist or do you want to be a satisfied artist?"

Asked how he defines success, Harley said: "Success, for me, is… I appreciate the woman that I am married to every day, all day, all the time. And my kids are young adult men now and doing well, and I've survived through already things that would've broken a lot of people. So I feel super successful because I married someone that really complements everything in my life so perfectly, and my kids are growing up to be strong, well-rounded young men who are figuring things out. And that makes me proud of that. And fuck, man, if that ain't success, I don't know what is."

"Wired For Chaos" arrived in theaters this past June. A trailer for the film can be seen below.

Flanagan burst on to the punk music scene at the age of 11 in the late 1970s as drummer for his aunt's New York-based band THE STIMULATORS, later founding the seminal hardcore act CRO-MAGS. Flanagan tells his inconceivable story through gritty footage of NYC's downtown 1970s and '80s music scene as the backdrop, alongside stories from friends and peers like Flea, Ice-T, Henry Rollins, Michael Imperioli, members of BAD BRAINS, BEASTIE BOYS, CIRCLE JERKS, ANTHRAX and many others.

While Harley's journey as a musician is certainly explored, "Wired For Chaos" centers on the lasting effects of trauma and its integration into his present-day life. Harley Flanagan was a child prodigy musician, who raised himself in the very adult world of rock 'n' roll. He was born to a Warhol Factory "it" girl, enmeshed in the Lower East Side artist sub-culture of the late '70s and '80s, surrounded by copious amount of sex, drugs and violence (as victim and later perpetrator),simultaneously achieving punk rock legend status.

In addition to touring with his band CRO-MAGS all over the world, today Harley Flanagan is also a jiu-jitsu professor (under the tutelage of Master Renzo Gracie),devoted husband (having married a Park Avenue attorney),the father of two sons and a deeply introspective human. He confronts his past, hoping that it can bring him some peace, and pass what he's learned forward to others struggling. Though he has moved on from the violence of his youth, it is never far away as he works through his very pronounced PTSD. His primal instincts to survive remain sharp. The film is built around a vast archive of material, scenes with Harley and his friends, several intimate interviews with Harley and his wife, and abstract imagery and animation.

Harley's childhood with iconic artists (Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, Joe Strummer, Alan Ginsburg) looks enviable on the surface, but ultimately his DNA is riddled with the trauma of abuse and sexual violence, laying the groundwork for an unstable adolescence and rocky young adulthood.

The career of filmmaker Rex Miller, who directed "Wired For Chaos", spans more than 25 years and has yielded two Peabody Awards, several Emmys and two Oscar shortlists. He recently directed (with Sam Pollard) the film "Citizen Ashe" (CNN Films),which won "Best Documentary" at both the 2022 Critics Choice and Grierson Awards and was nominated for a Sports Emmy for "Best Feature Documentary".

GODSMACK and Republic/UMe have announced the release of the 25th-anniversary edition of the band's landmark sophomore album, "Awake", available on March 6, 2026, on deluxe 2LP smoky green color vinyl and CD. This commemorative edition includes a special holographic lithograph of the cover art and features five bonus tracks, including "Why", which was featured on the "Any Given Sunday" soundtrack, and a BLACK SABBATH cover of "Sweet Leaf".

Following their multi-platinum self-titled debut in 1998, GODSMACK returned two years later in 2000 with an album that not only met but surpassed all expectations. The release delivered a powerful collection of songs that quickly became fan favorites, including "Bad Magick", "Awake" and "Greed", and cemented the band's reputation as one of the defining acts of their era. Building on the momentum of their breakthrough success, the sophomore album's title track earned GODSMACK their first Billboard No. 1 hit, while another standout single, "Vampires", garnered the band their first Grammy nomination. The reissue celebrates a defining moment in GODSMACK's career, showcasing the enduring legacy of an album that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

Track listing:

Side A

01. Sick Of Life
02. Awake
03. Greed
04. Bad Magick

Side B

05. Goin' Down
06. Mistakes
07. Trippin'

Side C

08. Forgive Me
09. Vampires
10. The Journey
11. Spiral

Side D

12. Why (revised original mix)
13. Sweet Leaf (BLACK SABBATH cover)
14. Trippin' (clean mix)
15. Awake (a cappella)
16. Bad Magick (a cappella)

With over 20 years of chart-topping success, GODSMACK has cemented itself as 21st-century hard rock titans. To date, the Massachusetts hard rockers have accomplished a staggering 12 No. 1 singles at mainstream rock radio, including "Surrender", "Soul On Fire", both from the band's most recent album, "Lighting Up The Sky". Additionally, they've enjoyed 20 Top 10 hits at the format — the most of any act since February 1999 — as well as four Grammy nominations and were named Billboard Music Awards' "Rock Artist Of The Year" in 2001. Selling over 20 million records worldwide, the band has released eight studio albums: "Godsmack" (1998),"Awake" (2000),"Faceless" (2003),"IV" (2006),"The Oracle" (2010),"1000hp" (2014),"When Legends Rise" (2018) and "Lighting Up The Sky" (2023).

In 2023, the Massachusetts-bred quartet took a victory lap with their eighth studio album, "Lighting Up The Sky", dropping one more classic album as they ascend into the celebratory portion of their career. The powerful storytelling of "Lighting Up The Sky" covers boy-meets-girl, obstacles in relationships, the polarized political climate, and the state of the world, betrayal, connection, rebounds, and more.

In a new interview with the Metal Mayhem ROC podcast, OVERKILL singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth was asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to their latest album, "Scorched", which came out in April 2023 via Nuclear Blast. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're demoed out. Jeramie Kling's playing drums for us now. [Former OVERKILL drummer] Jason Bittner moved on to other things… So we're just moving along as if there is no issue with D.D.," he added, referencing OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni's recent shoulder surgery and ongoing recovery. "We're going to start recording before the first of the year. We'll get some stuff done, I'm sure just the drum tracks; we're working on those as of right now. I'm just filling in the blanks with what the other dudes have done. And it's kind of business as usual at this point. So, no big news to report as of this moment, but tomorrow you never know."

This past September, Verni told Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com about OVERKILL's upcoming LP:  "We are demoing stuff right now. We probably have maybe nine or 10 songs kind of scratched out that I gave to Blitz a little while ago. Usually the process is I'll demo everything up musically [and] then I'll give it to Blitz. He'll spend some time with it and kind of do his thing with them. Then we get everybody together, kind of that. So I gave it to Blitz maybe not too long ago."

As for a possible release date for the new OVERKILL album, Verni said: "I would think next year, for sure. Just when will it be — spring? Will it be fall? Somewhere in there. But [in] '26 [there] will definitely be a new OVERKILL record."

In August 2024, OVERKILL confirmed Kling as the group's new drummer. Kling joined the veteran New Jersey thrash metal outfit as the replacement for Bittner, who announced his exit from OVERKILL earlier that month.

A founding member of THE ABSENCE, Kling appeared on VENOM INC.'s second album, 2022's "There's Only Black", and has played with such acts as FORE, RIBSPREADER, GOREGÄNG and NECROMANCING THE STONE. He was also briefly affiliated with the reunited Florida death metal band MASSACRE, which led to the formation of INHUMAN CONDITION, alongside Terry Butler (OBITUARY, ex-DEATH) and Taylor Nordberg (DEICIDE). In addition to being a drummer, Kling is a recording engineer, producer and live sound engineer.

Bittner joined OVERKILL in 2017 and played drums on the band's last two studio albums, 2019's "The Wings Of War" and the aforementioned "Scorched".

Last November, Jason admitted to "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of Pod Scum that he "hadn't been happy" in OVERKILL "for, like, two fucking years. It wasn't a surprise that I quit. I'd been dissatisfied for a long time, but I'm a team player. I don't like to leave things. I love the guys personally. So I just kind of just hung in there, but I was not happy where I was career-wise, let's say, within the confines of that band. I wasn't a bandmember. And that's the main thing for me to keep doing this at this point in my lifetime." He added that he felt he wasn't "being paid fairly" for his time" but clarified that there was "no animosity" and called his decision to leave "just a business thing." He explained: "I can play five shows with SHADOWS FALL and make more money than playing 30 with OVERKILL."

In September 2024, Verni told Capital Chaos TV about Bittner's departure: "We kind of knew that that was coming. He had told us a while ago that he was just kind of burned out on too many things and had his hands in too many pots. So I think we kind of knew that was coming."

OVERKILL played its first concert with Kling on August 30, 2024 at the Posada Rock festival in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania.

During an October 9 appearance at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, veteran rocker Billy Idol discussed the inspiration behind the title of his latest album, "Dream Into It". "I bought [THE BEATLES single] 'She Loves You' when I was seven years old," Idol recalled. "I really loved what was going on in England — THE BEATLES and THE [ROLLING] STONES, it was so exciting. Then sort of dreaming about this music revolution that you're watching going on and just dreaming about being part of it, and then gradually over time, going from being a fan to sort of actually pushing the glass yourself… But there was a little bit of struggle. You had to struggle a bit to find those notes you're looking for, to find those words, to find how you feel. And that's what I did – I would dream into things, and that's why I called the album 'Dream Into It'... The first half of the album's kind of about my early life. and then the second half of the album's about today, really — about me today. We're still finding things to sing about. You're still finding the world exciting, and it's still an answer that music gives you somehow. It's given us a life that we sort of hoped we could have, being part of this music revolution, and it helped me to push the glass."

Idol's longtime wingman, guitarist Steve Stevens, said that the process of making an album in the present day wasn't that different from when he and Idol recorded the singer's 1982 self-titled debut full-length. "The thing we wanted to establish was [that] we were going to have the same drummer and bass player on the record, so it felt cohesive, like a band," Stevens said. "Josh Freese, one of the greatest drummers of all time, and Chris Chaney on bass — they're mates of ours, so we brought them in. Billy, we call [him] the 'punk police.' What he's really good at [is] if there's a bit of a guitar solo, he goes, 'Don't erase that first idea.' I'm always like, 'I can do it better. There's some real stinkers in there,' and you learn to love that initial flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing. [With Billy,] you don't lose that initial thing, and if there's a couple of mistakes, with Pro Tools, you can go in and edit those couple of notes or change them. But really, we still try and get a performance. All of the vocal performances are from the beginning of the song until the end. It's not really any different than it ever was, the process of doing it."

Idol explained that the manner in which "Dream Into It" was recorded brought back memories of how he made the 1994 concept album "Cyberpunk". "Most of it was done in the producer's [house]," Idol said. "He's got, like, a little room attached to his house. I don't think it's even 100 percent soundproofed. Rather like I made the 'Cyberpunk' album in my house, this is what we were kind of doing with this album. It was not so different. We're using a lot of modern technology, but then we would go into a studio and run it through analog, so we could keep the warmth of analog. It's beautiful. We were kind of trying to get the best of all possible worlds, really, one way or another."

One thing that differed from past Idol recordings, however, was the age of their collaborators. "The album before, [2014's] 'Kings & Queens Of The Underground', everybody was older than us. [This time,] everybody was younger than us, or a similar age," Idol said. "We worked with Trevor Horn on 'Kings & Queens Of The Underground'. That was a great experience. He's a fantastic producer, but we just sort of felt like maybe this time, we'll work with someone younger than us and see what happens. Somebody, maybe, [who's] not quite so well-known — somebody that we can bring along with us. But at the same time, these guys have worked on a lot of modern music, and they're just as big in their own world as we are in ours, and sort of putting the two worlds together really worked. And I think we've got what we're looking for – we got fresh ideas and fresh feelings with the songs, so even if we are replicating some ideas, they seemed to come out fresh."

Idol further explained that "Dream Into It" "had to seem fresh. It couldn't seem like regurgitated, secondhand ideas. It had to hit you that it was fresh, that we couldn't just be repeating ourselves. Obviously, something like [first single] 'Still Dancing' does have echoes of 'Rebel Yell' — you're still going to get that – but I think it sounds fresh. It's like a fresh version. Most of the rest of the album, there's a lot of touchstone things about it that you can look back in our history. Even Steve's guitar playing, there's little bits and pieces of the first album. There's little bits and pieces of 'Kings & Queens Of The Underground'. There's all the Steves on the record, and all the Billys. We've got different personas we can bring into it after all this time of working with ourselves."

While "Dream Into It" was released just six months ago, Idol said he's already starting to ponder his and Stevens's next steps. "I've started a little bit thinking about where are we going to go next, but I haven't really 100 percent overthought that yet, because we're still sort of coming to grips with presenting the 'Dream Into It' album," he said. "But I just know when we do face that moment, I think it's going to be a lot of fun to see where we go, because this has been very exhilarating, and it's been a positive experience, and all that is going to end up playing into the next thing we do. It's just going to power the next thing. One day I'll pick up my guitar and I'll start singing, and I'll get a new feeling, and that'll be the beginning of the next record. That's what happens – suddenly, something about your voice connects to what you're doing and you get this [feeling] — 'Ooh, ooh. That's good.' And once you got that, you hold onto it and you work it, and then you get together with your mate and you work it small, and then eventually with a producer. It's really exciting. It's part of the dream — it's part of dreaming into it. Something will happen — something always happens in my life that will stir the thoughts. In the old days, we used to try and speed life up so that experiences happen so you have things to write about, but we've lived a long time now, so there's a lot to mine."

Idol's ninth album, "Dream Into It", was released via BMG on April 25. A two-part concept album about the singer's life, the record features Idol and Stevens backed by Josh Freese (NINE INCH NAILS, FOO FIGHTERS) on drums and Chris Chaney (JANE'S ADDICTION, AC/DC) on bass and includes guest vocal performances by Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett and Alison Mosshart (THE KILLS, THE DEAD WEATHER).

For 46 years, Idol has been one of the definitive faces and voices of rock and roll. Between 1977 and 1981, Idol released three albums with GENERATION X as their camera-ready frontman. In 1982, he embarked on a transatlantic/trans-genre solo career that integrated the bold and simple lines of punk and rock and roll decadence. Touring consistently around the world for the last ten years and showing no signs of slowing down, Idol released both "The Roadside" EP in 2021 and "The Cage" EP in 2022 on Dark Horse Records, earning praise from fans and critics alike, in the lead-up to the 2025 release of his critically acclaimed first new full-length LP in over a decade, "Dream Into It". In 2023 Idol cemented his name among Hollywood legends with a star on the Walk Of Fame, plus Idol received his first Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination earlier this year.

Photo credit: David Raccuglia

During an October 23 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash was asked what it has been like playing with the band's new drummer Isaac Carpenter, who replaced Frank Ferrer in March. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Isaac's killer. It's been great. From the first day that he came in to audition, he's just been amazing. And it was funny 'cause when he came in to audition, he was one of probably six or seven guys that we tried out — all known players whose names I will not mention — but it got to a point where we'd narrow it down to, 'Okay, we want four guys to come back', then three guys, then two guys, and Isaac was always there; he was always one of the guys. And the way that he plays and then also his sort of spirit and his whole attitude all together just… We sort of knew from the first day, but we kept going to make sure. So it's been great. And he's really given a lot of energy to the show."

Slash also talked about GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose's recent onstage meltdown. During the opening song of the band's concert last Saturday (October 18) at Estadio Huracán in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rose appeared to lose his temper, violently throwing his microphone at the drum kit, tearing off his leather jacket and storming off stage. At a later point in the show, which was part of GUNS N' ROSES' South American tour, Rose walked up the drum riser and kicked the bass drum, telling the crowd: "So, I'll just try and wing this". At the time, it was unclear whether Rose's frustration was directed at the sound onstage or if he was dissatisfied by Carpenter's performance behind the kit. GUNS N' ROSES later issued a statement explaining that "Axl's in-ear monitor pack had only the percussion in his ears versus his entire mix" and that "the situation had nothing to do with Isaac Carpenter's playing, who is top notch and a great drummer."

Slash told "Trunk Nation": "Oh, that whole thing, God, it got so blown out of proportion. Well, we all are on in-ears. So for monitors, instead of wedges on the stage, we use in-ear monitors. And so there was something fucked up in Axl's mix where the only thing that he could hear was the drums. And that was it. And it was the first song. So he's trying to communicate that to the engineers and they don't know what the fuck he's talking about. And so it was one of those frantic moments trying to get it together at the beginning of the set. And that was it. And he was pointing out that it's the drums; it's not something else. Whatever your myriad of different things it possibly could be, it was the drums, and that's what he was trying to convey. But it got really blown out of proportion. Jesus. I guess people were thinking that it had something to do with Isaac because it was directed at the kit, but it wasn't about Isaac."

Prior to joining GUNS N' ROSES, Carpenter was a member of GN'R bassist Duff McKagan's LOADED. Isaac's career also spans an impressive roster of acts, including live and studio work with AWOLNATION, Adam Lambert, the hardcore metal outfit BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA, A PERFECT CIRCLE, THE EXIES, OURS and BLACK LAB, in addition to his large session film and TV roster. Carpenter made a name for himself by uniquely blending versatility and groove with crushing force and technical skill, cementing his reputation as a multifaceted drummer in the industry.

Earlier this year, McKagan spoke about Carpenter's role in GUNS N' ROSES, comparing him to the band's previous drummers Ferrer, Steven Adler and Matt Sorum. "Isaac has got this ability to swing and groove that only a few drummers have," Duff said. "Steven had it as well, Steven Adler, and Matt is a great, solid drummer with amazing fills — and Matt's amazing. They're both amazing drummers. And Isaac somehow blends both of those two guys and adds his own thing. So he adds a new sort of excitement to the songs. And the groove and swing of the songs right now with Isaac is super impressive and super fun."

Slash told "Trunk Nation" that GUNS N' ROSES will "definitely" tour the U.S. in 2026. "[An announcement will] be coming soon, so I can safely say that that's happening," he said. "So we've been doing a bunch of international stuff all year so we have to come back to the States, so we planned [that] for next year."

Hard-rocking quintet TYKETTO will release its sixth studio album, "Closer To The Sun", in March 2026. The band, consisting of Danny Vaughn (vocals),Harry Scott Elliott (guitar),Ged Rylands (keyboards),Chris Childs (bass) and Johnny Dee (drums),will make the LP available via British rock specialist label Silver Lining Music, which is home to the likes of EUROPE, URIAH HEEP, SAXON, Michael Monroe, SOEN and DIAMOND HEAD, to name a few.

With founding member Vaughn at the helm, TYKETTO continues to create and craft the type of powerful, anthemic songs which saw the band burst through the hard rock landscape in 1987 and release its debut album, "Don't Come Easy", through Geffen Records in 1989. Since that landmark debut, TYKETTO has released a further four studio albums and toured internationally to a loyal and dedicated fan base.

"I was pleasantly shocked when Danny and the band put pen to paper," says Silver Lining owner Thomas Jensen. "We're talking about a really wonderful band in terms of sheer songwriting quality and live delivery, and if I'm honest, one which probably didn't get the credit it deserves. We're all glad to be part of a team determined to shift that needle!"

Vaughn adds: "Many years of hard work ground to a complete halt when COVID first hit us all, and it was really touch and go as to whether or not TYKETTO would continue. Since our return in 2023, the band has been on a steady upward trajectory, with more fans coming out to see and support us than ever before. This fantastic upward rise has now culminated in our signing a brand-new record deal with Silver Lining Music, who have already shown not only love and support for us, but also a real understanding for our personal relationship with our fans. The end result of all of this is an album that TYKETTO fans are going to absolutely fall in love with. For TYKETTO, these are the best of times!"

This past August, Vaughn told Euro Weekly News about "Closer To The Sun": "I'm buzzing about our new album — it's going to be a fan favorite. We just finished mastering it, and it drops in March. A tour is planned, along with some big festivals."

In late 2024, Vaughn told Myglobalmind about the TYKETTO songwriting process: "It's a team effort in that everybody is submitting music to me, and I'm just keeping it all in files. I get to decide what's TYKETTO and what isn't. I tend to want to be the guy that always does the lyrics and melody because I have to believe in what I'm singing. Harry has submitted some loose lyrical ideas, and I've thought, 'Oh, I can work with this.' It's not really a question of arrogance; it's just that I'm the vehicle that these songs have to get through, so I need to understand or believe in what I'm singing."

Press photo courtesy of TAG Publicity / Silver Lining Music

On Monday, March 2, 2026, Adopt The Arts, a nonprofit organization working to provide music education curriculum for underserved elementary schools, will take over the historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California for the "Adopt The Arts: Sound & Vision Awards" honoring two Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame legends — Paul Rodgers (FREE, BAD COMPANY) and Geezer Butler (BLACK SABBATH).

Adopt The Arts co-founder, former GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum, will perform at the event, alongside an explosive all-star lineup of the following musicians:

* Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE)
* Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM)
* Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT)
* Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME)
* Robert DeLeo (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS)
* Billy Duffy (THE CULT)
* Phil X (BON JOVI)
* Stevie Salas (Mick Jagger)

Tickets are on sale now at this location.

Proceeds benefit Adopt The Arts music education programs in Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley, providing music education and creative opportunities for over 3,500 elementary students.

Adopt The Arts takes a holistic approach to music education because it recognizes that music isn't just a technical skill to be learned but also a means of creative expression, cultural exploration and personal development.

Adopt The Arts students will have experienced firsthand that music is an integral part of our being and has the potential to positively influence our world.

Adopt The Arts was co-founded in 2010 by Sorum, activist and entrepreneur Abby Berman and founding board member, Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning actor Jane Lynch. Adopt The Arts was formed in response to major cuts to arts education budgets throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District Elementary schools.

Since its inception a decade and a half ago, Adopt The Arts has fully funded the music program at Rosewood STEM Magnet Elementary in Los Angeles.

Some of the foundation's other supporters include Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP, METALLICA, QUEEN, Slash of GUNS N' ROSES, visual artist Shepard Fairey and more.

In a 2019 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sorum credited a particular music teacher for his nearly four-decade career. "My high school teacher came to me when I was about 16 and I was in the jazz band," he said. "He really gave me that inspiration that I needed in my life."

💥 THE ROCK EVENT OF THE YEAR IS COMING TO PALM SPRINGS! 💥
Get ready for a night where ROCK ROYALTY meets PURPOSE!
On...

Posted by Adopt the Arts on Tuesday, October 28, 2025

During an October 28 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk",  legendary bassist Billy Sheehan, who was a member of David Lee Roth's backing band in the late 1980s, was asked for his opinion of the original VAN HALEN singer's recent live performances. Billy responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, he's still my hero. I still love him. He gave me my biggest break ever. I wouldn't be here without him, and I love him and I love what he did in VAN HALEN. So I'm just kind of staying off the subject."

Billy continued: "I know he's having a great time. God bless him. It's tough to see him out there. I know it's a struggle for the lead vocals, but I still love him and care about him and he's still one of my favorite singers and performers ever, of all time, best frontman ever. And like I said, as you get older, things aren't the same. You can't quite jump that high anymore, that's for sure. So, yeah, but I wish him the best. It's a little bit sad to see, but I know he's enjoying himself and having a good time, making a lot of people happy."

Back in December 2022, Sheehan reflected on his time as a member of Roth's backing band, telling the "Talk Louder" podcast: "[David] is a phenomenon of nature and he's still my hero and I'm still supremely and forever grateful for the break he gave me. And we had a ride together; we had a wonderful time. He's a jokester and a comedian… I learned so much from him, it's unbelievable. It was like getting a PhD in Show Biz 101; he knew it inside and out. And he is on. If he's not on, he's probably not there. If he's not around, he's probably not on. But if he's around, he's on. He's never not on."

Sheehan went on to say that Roth is "very smart." He added: "I just finished [VAN HALEN producer] Ted Templeman's book, and Ted really praised his lyrics. I don't think VAN HALEN would have been VAN HALEN without those lyrics, 'cause they weren't your typical 'baby, I love you' lyrics… And the stuff he did on [Roth's debut solo album] 'Eat 'Em And Smile' was quite fantastic. I think if we would have kept that 'Eat 'Em And Smile' vibe and style, the band would have really done incredibly well. Unfortunately, he made a left turn and did [1988's] 'Skyscraper'. It takes a lot of courage to make that kind of a turn. I give him credit for the courage. I didn't like the results of it myself personally. Like [David] Bowie, with 'Ziggy Stardust' suddenly came out with the 1984 record, when he broke up his original band and then went off and just went into the dance kind of thing, it took a lot of guts. So I think Dave kind of did that same thing with 'Skyscraper'. Unfortunately, it was not as successful as it could have been."

In the summer of 2022, Sheehan told We Go To 11 that he had the only existing professionally filmed video of a concert performance by Roth and the band for "Eat 'Em And Smile". "I've got it," Billy said. "I have it. I think I'm the only guy with it. They shot it pro. It's Dave's tour and Dave's business, so I can't do anything with it, unfortunately. At some point, maybe I'll try and get in touch with Dave, 'Do you wanna put this out?' But I had a pro-shot [video]… I forgot how I got it. As far as I know, nobody else has it. I just reviewed it the other day and backed it up again to another three drives to make sure I didn't lose it."

Sheehan continued: "I'm not sure if it could be out someday, if Dave would be interested in doing it, but I've got it; it's here for him. If he wants it, I'll be happy to put it on my Dropbox and send it over to him. But most of [the videos that are out there] are hand-held [clips], shaky with [muffled] audio. This one is — the audio is good; it's not great. But it's better than most of the hand-held camera things.

"Back then, a video camera, to sneak it into a venue [was very difficult], but somehow people did. It's pretty amazing. I mean, they were sneaking bottles of Jack Daniel's in, and a camera wasn't too far of a stretch during concerts in 1986 there.

"So, yeah, I do have a pro-shot [concert]," Billy repeated. "And for a while I couldn't find it, so I thought, 'Did I imagine that? Am I fooling myself here?' But sure enough, the other day, 'Uh-uh. There it is. I've got it.'"

"Eat 'Em And Smile" was the first of two Roth albums to feature the duo of Steve Vai and Sheehan on guitar and bass.

Billy said in a 2017 interview with Songfacts that he was "ready to go" if Roth ever decided to do some shows with the "Eat 'Em And Smile" band. "We have a great respect and love for Dave and what he did for us," he continued. "There's no secret undercurrent thing going on that I'm not talking about. The fact of the matter is it's Dave's call. If he chooses to do so, I couldn't be happier."