KK'S PRIEST, which features former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),performed on Sunday, September 1 at the Rainbow Bar & Grill Backyard Bash 2024 in West Hollywood, California. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

According to Setlist.fm, KK'S PRIEST's setlist was as follows:

01. Hellfire Thunderbolt
02. Strike Of The Viper
03. One More Shot At Glory
04. The Ripper (JUDAS PRIEST song)
05. Reap The Whirlwind
06. Night Crawler (JUDAS PRIEST song)
07. Sermons Of The Sinner
08. Burn In Hell (JUDAS PRIEST song)
09. Diamonds And Rust (Joan Baez cover)
10. Hell Patrol (JUDAS PRIEST song)
11. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
12. Before The Dawn (JUDAS PRIEST song)
13. Breaking The Law (JUDAS PRIEST song)
14. Sinner (JUDAS PRIEST song)

Encore:

15. Raise Your Fists

KK'S PRIEST added two PRIEST classics to its setlist on KK'S PRIEST's recent European tour: "Sinner" and PRIEST's version of the Joan Baez song "Diamonds And Rust".

KK'S PRIEST, which also includes guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE),and German/American metal legends ACCEPT have joined forces for a North American tour. The massive run began on August 31 in Los Angeles, California, visiting a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada — such as Toronto, Montreal, New York and Nashville — before coming to an end in San Francisco, California on October 7.

KK'S PRIEST's first-ever U.S. headlining tour, which featured support from L.A. GUNS and BURNING WITCHES, kicked off on March 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and concluded on March 24 at Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

KK'S PRIEST's sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", came out in September 2023 via the Austrian label Napalm Records.

KK'S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.

KK'S PRIEST released its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.

Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.

Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

Polish extreme metal giants BEHEMOTH have announced the release of their monumental anniversary concert "XXX Years Ov Blasphemy" which originally streamed online in 2021. The career-spanning show, held at and filmed on three different locations, has a total running time of 90 minutes, divided into three different acts. This very special set features fan favorites as well as a few selected deep cuts that BEHEMOTH had rarely played live before.

For this event, BEHEMOTH went all in and took the concept of streaming shows during the pandemic to a whole new level, with a full production, incredibly detailed stage set-ups, breathtaking photography and a high-end sound recording.

Way too good to only be seen or heard once, "XXX Years Ov Blasphemy" will now be officially released on October 25 as three-CD + Blu-ray, three-LP and digital album.

As an appetizer, you can now watch the live video for the song "Cursed Angel Of Doom", which originally appeared on BEHEMOTH's first demo, "Endless Damnation", back in 1992.

BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski commented: "This project encompasses the BEHEMOTH mantra — connecting the ancients with the modern era by building a bridge through each decade. Join us in this celebration of black metal and unholy worship, as we continue to outlive Jesus Christ himself!

"We are delighted to put the spotlight on 'Cursed Angel Of Doom', the track that started it all. It signifies the beginning of an incredibly inspiring artistic journey that changed our lives forever.

"Legions — we hope you enjoy."

"XXX Years Ov Blasphemy" track listing:

Act 1

01. Chant Of The Eastern Lands
02. Lasy Pomorza
03. Summoning (Of The Ancient Ones)
04. Blackvisions Of The Almighty
05. Cursed Angel Of Doom
06. Pure Evil And Hate

Act 2

01. The Thousand Plagues I Witness
02. Decade Ov Therion
03. Christians To The Lions
04. 44 (The Youth Manifesto)
05. Heru Ra Ha: Let There Be Might
06. Chant For Ezkaton 2000

Act 3

01. Demigod
02. At The Left Hand Ov God
03. Alas, Lord Is Upon Me
04. Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer
05. Rom 5:8
06. O Father O Satan O Sun!

In a new interview with The Rock N' Roll & Coffee Show, ex-WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp was asked what his former bandmate, guitarist Vito Bratta, thinks about Mike releasing two albums of reimagined WHITE LION songs with a lineup that includes guitarist Marcus Nand. Tramp said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I can't sit here and completely honestly confirm what Vito thinks. He did give Marcus his blessing and so on. I have a feeling that it might awaken a few wounds. I mean, there are times when I sit and watch a JOURNEY [video] with Arnel Pineda singing, and I close my eyes and go, '[Steve] Perry's back.' And I think, man, how does Steve Perry feel? Probably one of the greatest voices next to Freddie Mercury. How does he feel? Has it really, really ever been completely confirmed that that's where he wanted to be, that's what he wanted to happen?

"You almost feel like my woman went away with the pool boy," Mike continued. " It's, like, 'Well when he can do it, we'll bring someone in who can do it and he's gonna be 100 percent.' And there will be people in the 25th row that [do] not know it's Steve Perry up there, I'll guarantee you.

"I haven't really gotten the chance to really say this in any interviews, and that is that when I turned to Vito three days before we were playing the final [WHITE LION] show on the first tour with the new rhythm section, and something had happened, and we were backstage waiting for the power to come back, I turned to Vito and go, 'When we play Boston the day after tomorrow, it's the final show. I'm done.' And Vito, with the classic Vito look, just goes to me. 'Okay.' Just like that. The day after the show, I fly back to Los Angeles, he flies to New York and stuff like that. And I've said this many times, but I don't think people listen. There [was] not one person in the big WHITE LION machine — record company, managers, publishers, merchandisers, road crew and Vito — who said, 'Let's just give Mike a couple of days to fucking calm down. And then we'll say, 'Okay, how about a break right now? And let's regroup and see where we're going with the next…' And up until today, and up until also tomorrow, not one single time in even in between the lines, in a hidden way or a sign in the sky has Vito ever come out with even anything that just smelled like, 'I would like to do something with Mike.' Not necessarily a WHITE LION reunion."

Tramp added: "If Vito had called me and [said], 'Let's do what Robert Plant and Jimmy Page did.' They knew they weren't gonna put LED ZEPPELIN back together because they felt John Bonham was [impossible to replace]. 'Let's do an album together. We're not gonna go out touring. Let's do something, let's see how strong our songwriting is.' Not a single word, but I have had to defend every time I brought WHITE LION back in one way or another — either with lawsuits, that I came too close to, 'Oh, you're calling it…' and stuff like that, all those things. And every time, after the smoke clears, I call Vito and he tells me 'you're my friend' and stuff, and we talk and we don't fucking get any further than just the weather today. But I still have to defend. And Vito has not done the courtesy, both to me and the fans… And as I say that, I consider Vito my friend, and I would do almost anything for him. He has not gone out and told the fucking world that 'I'm not coming back on stage. I'm not recording anything else. There will not be a reunion.' Instead, there's this old interview [that Vito gave to] Eddie Trunk. Eddie was part of WHITE LION at the beginning, so him and Vito and I have always been very, very, very close. And Vito is up there talking to Eddie — it's almost probably even 10 years ago — [and saying] 'Oh, well, the door's not closed.' Door's not closed? But it leaves me being sort of the bad guy, but I'm not gonna feel like the bad guy. I'm just going out there. I've been the only person keeping WHITE LION alive since WHITE LION broke up. One way or another, you can't do an interview or anything with me without WHITE LION being mentioned."

Tramp will release "Songs Of White Lion - Vol. II" on August 23 via Frontiers Music Srl.

MIKE TRAMP'S WHITE LION, the band fronted by the former WHITE LION singer, will embark on a U.S. tour this summer.

Last year, Tramp was asked in an interview about the possibility of WHITE LION reforming for a tour. He said: "When we broke up in '91, we always knew we would never go back together. And a lot of people always talk about reunions. WHITE LION reuniting would not be a better WHITE LION than WHITE LION was, so I'm out there performing the songs, not trying to recreate WHITE LION."

Asked if he has ever thought of calling his solo band WHITE LION and touring with new members, Mike replied: "I can't call it WHITE LION." Pressed about whether he would call his band WHITE LION if he could, Mike said: "I tried, and it cost me money. [Laughs] I think that the audience now is understanding that I'm just keeping the songs alive, and I'm able to perform it in a different way. I'm able to show the image that I'm not coming out there and doing a show but I'm gonna take them through like a greatest hits. I like to tell stories about what the songs are. You can't always do that on a festival when you have one hour, but that is my goal, that I will keep the songs alive. And I think that all the fans and the music fans know who Mike Tramp is and it doesn't need to be called WHITE LION. But it's called 'Songs Of White Lion'."

Back in 2019, Tramp revealed in an interview that he had apologized to Bratta for trying to resurrect his former band without his onetime songwriting partner and bandmate.

The Danish-born singer hasn't played with Bratta since WHITE LION performed its last concert in Boston in September 1991.

In the 33 years since WHITE LION broke up, Bratta's public profile has been virtually nonexistent, while Tramp has remained active, recording and touring as a solo artist and with the bands FREAK OF NATURE, THE ROCK 'N' ROLL CIRCUZ and, more recently, BAND OF BROTHERS. Tramp also attempted to revive WHITE LION with the 2008 album "Return Of The Pride", featuring new members. Two years later, Tramp ceded ownership of the name WHITE LION to Bratta in an out-of-court settlement.

Speaking to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation", Tramp said that he and Vito are once again on speaking terms following his ill-fated attempt to bring back WHITE LION a decade and a half ago.

"I have, over the past couple of years, been the one out there basically both admitting and apologizing that the only thing that I never planned to do in my career and wanted to do was go back and rehash a version of WHITE LION that had nothing to do with WHITE LION, nothing to do with the guys that played in the band," Mike said. "Mike Tramp's heart was not in it. It was just a moment of weakness, not believing enough in my solo albums. [You listen to] some guys saying, 'Hey, if you put a new WHITE LION together, you can play festivals and get much more money.' And then you fall for that and you engage in it and you go out there, and then you realize it's not what you wanna do. And then, of course, Vito did not want the name WHITE LION to be used without him being in the band. And it actually took a couple of years for me to really understand how much it meant to Vito. And when Vito one day told me in one of these conversations… First of all, he told me, 'Mike, I'm not against you. I just don't wanna turn YouTube on and see the title 'WHITE LION live in so and so,' and somebody doing 'When The Children Cry' solo and it's not me. WHITE LION was you and me, it was our band, we wrote the songs. That is the memories I want for the rest of my life.' And when he told me that, I had tears in my eyes and I totally understood it, because I had also gotten to that point that when we closed WHITE LION, we felt that this is where we wanted to stop it. There was something, going into the '90s, that didn't agree with the things we were looking at, and we wanted to somehow end it on a higher level than something that would not represent us in the future. But it just took many years to really understand it."

Asked if he understands why Vito doesn't want to play music professionally anymore, Mike said: "Yes, I do, because there are actually times when I also don't feel like doing it anymore. When all the magic around us, the stuff that made us fall in love with rock and roll — first of all, our heroes, then the industry, then the touring stuff — when all of that was really exposed that it was a two-faced kind of thing, that the people we thought loved us — and I'm not talking about the fans; I'm talking about the people that made money from us, and stuff like that — turned their back on us and stabbed us in the back, it really ripped us apart. And maybe it's just that I came from a different background than Vito, that I maybe was a little bit stronger or just of a different nature that I just fought back, but Vito just said, 'I just don't wanna deal with this.' And I understand now — I understand it from every conversation that I have with him."

Tramp also once again closed the door on a possible WHITE LION reunion, saying: "I can't be Mike Tramp 1988. I can't sing like that, and I'm not going up on stage and doing a half-assed job, which most of the bands out there are doing."

Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, WHITE LION released its debut album, "Fight To Survive", in 1985. The band had its breakthrough with the double-platinum-selling "Pride" album, which produced two Top 10 hits: "Wait" and "When The Children Cry". The band continued its success with the third album, "Big Game", which achieved gold status.

By the time WHITE LION released its final album, 1991's "Mane Attraction", alternative rock was in the ascendancy, leading to a swift decline of the so-called "hair metal" scene in terms of sales, popularity, radio play, and most importantly, relevance.

Mike released "Songs Of White Lion", in April 2023 via Frontiers Music Srl.

The Black Dahlia Murder recently performed at the 2024 edition of Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. Professionally-filmed footage of the band performing "What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse", "Nightbringers", and "Deathmask Divine" can be viewed below:





"Mammoth's Hand" is the latest single from The Black Dahlia Murder. The track comes by way of the band's upcoming tenth studio album, Servitude, set for release on September 27 via Metal Blade Records.




"Mammoth's Hand" is partly inspired by a scene from Don Coscarelli's 1982 swords 'n' sorcery epic, The Beastmaster. "We usually like to give some idea of what kind of diversity is gonna be on the album with the first two tracks we release," vocalist Brian Eschbach offers. "[guitarist] Ryan Knight wrote the music for this, and the slow rhythm made me think of these barbaric warriors riding mammoths out in the snow or that scene from The Beastmaster when the Jun horde takes the village."


Eschbach further elaborates, "'Mammoth's Hand' is a romp through a fictitious frozen tundra in which a clan of nomadic mammoth riding cannibals conquer villages in a time devoid of technology. The slow groove of this song is a vibe not often implemented by the group but immediately inspired a vision in my mind of a slow moving yet gigantic and powerful beast of antagonistic nature."


Watch The Black Dahlia Murder's video for "Mammoth's Hand," created by Marco Pavone:





The guitars, bass and vocals for Servitude were recorded at guitarist Brandon Ellis'  home studio in New Jersey. The drums were recorded by Mark Lewis in Nashville, Tennessee where the album was also mixed. Servitude was mastered by Ted Jensen.





Servitude will be released on digipak CD, cassette, and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants and special editions:


- Electromagnetic (US)
- Rising Smoke (US)
- Transcosmic Blue (US)
- Endless Tide (US)
- Utopian Black (US)
- Cursed Creation (US - Exclusive Band Tour Variant)
- Limited Edition Box Set *(with Ephemeral vinyl variant and a bonus LP that Includes 3 Live Tracks (US - Ltd. 400 / EU - Ltd. 600)
- 180g Black (EU)
- Bloody Pulp (EU - Ltd. 1000)
- Nature's Grain (Impericon Exclusive - Ltd. 300)
- Blood Spray (EMP Exclusive - Ltd. 200)
- Stone Cold (EU - Ltd. 200)
- Lost Nobility (UK - Ltd. 300)


Find pre-orders here.





Servitude tracklisting:


"Evening Ephemeral"
"Panic Hysteric"
"Aftermath"
"Cursed Creator"
"An Intermission"
"Asserting Dominion"
"Servitude"
"Mammoth's Hand"
"Transcosmic Blueprint"
"Utopia Black"


"Aftermath" video:










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INFRARED - "Demon's B

BLANDINI videos by Eric Hutcheson has uploaded multi-camera video of ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna performing the RAINBOW classic "Man On The Silver Mountain" with his tribute band to Ronnie James Dio on August 18 at Conduit in Orlando, Florida. The new group, in which Belladonna is joined by Mike Rivera on guitar, Rob Stokes on bass, and Jim McCourt on drums, is performing music from DIO, BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW. Check out the clip, along with the previously released video of Belladonna performing the DIO classic "Holy Diver", below.

A decade ago, Belladonna spoke to Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner about the ANTHRAX frontman's involvement in "This Is Your Life", the tribute to album to Ronnie James Dio. Asked why ANTHRAX chose to record a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Neon Knights", Belladonna said: "I think I suggested it. When we talked about doing something, collectively, we all like the song, so it was a no-brainer. We could pretty much pick anything… I went for the heavier."

Asked if recording the "Neon Knights" cover was a more emotional experience than some of the other cover versions ANTHRAX had recorded over the years, Belladonna said: "For me, no. I just love doing that type of thing, and it was another day for me to sing something of his. Obviously, I'm excited, because it is a record, but I don't think I did it any different. In fact, I only did a couple of takes. I mean, I actually have on video the first time I tried it, and it pretty much sounds like what it sounds like already. It was business as usual for me."

Regarding what Ronnie meant to him, Joey said: "Ronnie's an inspirational singer for me." He added: "I really believe that as you grow up, you're inspired by the people that perform and things that you would like to hear yourself be in that kind of category and have such a talent like he did and just be inspired. [He was a] great human being, great musician — just all that… He was just the slickest. He was so heavy but melodic, as well as his attitude about everything. He had great charisma."

Belladonna also spoke about the first impression Ronnie made on him. "He made me laugh big time," Joey said. "He just want[ed] to be funny. And yet he [was] so sincere and [could] have that serious point of view. You need to be enthralled with that when you're around him, to have him speak to you with that kind of attitude and spunk that he had. And I'd been around him when things weren't so good, which I won't bring up right now, but to have him share that with me, which was more private, about being in his band — things like that. Just to engage in that with me and run that by me."

Belladonna, whose most recent return to ANTHRAX was officially announced in May 2010, was originally the lead singer of ANTHRAX from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the influential thrash metal group's classic lineup (alongside guitarists Dan Spitz and Scott Ian, bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante),which reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. His voice was featured on over 10 albums, which reportedly sold eight million copies worldwide.

METALLICA has shared a new music video for "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" — late METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton's bass solo on the band "Kill 'Em All" album — featuring previously unseen photos of Burton from shortly before his death.

METALLICA commented: "We recently acquired hundreds of photos shot by late photographer Russ Marino in Detroit and Chicago in 1985 and 1986. While a few of the photos got the print treatment in magazines back in the ’80s, the vast majority — many of which are alternate images from the same shoot — are seeing daylight for the first time.

"Clark Eddy, whose name you may recognize from the credits of several other METALLI-projects, edited a new music video for '(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth' featuring some of the more electric moments and portraits.

"Visit the METALLICA Black Box at Metallica.com to check out 'Orion: A Tribute To Cliff Burton', an exhibit dedicated to honoring the man and musician's life and legacy. Including photos, images, and video from the past alongside newly conducted interviews, we hope this collection helps you connect with Cliff in a larger way than before.

"A huge thanks to the Burton family and friends for helping us celebrate Cliff this way."

Cliff was asked to join METALLICA in 1982 after the band saw him perform with his group at the time, TRAUMA.

The bassist was not willing to move to Los Angeles, where METALLICA was based, so they decided to move to the San Francisco area so that he would join.

Burton played on METALLICA's first three studio albums — "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets" — and co-wrote classic songs like "Ride The Lightning", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Fade To Black", "Creeping Death" and "Master Of Puppets".

His life was tragically cut short at the age of 24 in a tour bus crash on September 27, 1986 in Sweden.

Burton's initial replacement in the group was Jason Newsted, who stayed in the lineup until 2001. Robert Trujillo joined in 2003 and remains in the band to this day.

February 10, 2018 was proclaimed "Cliff Burton Day" by Alameda County supervisors. The late METALLICA bassist would have turned 56 years old on that date had he lived.

Back in 2016, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich spoke to Seattle's KISW 99.9 radio station about Burton's tragic loss when METALLICA's tour bus skidded on ice while the group was on tour in Scandinavia and Cliff was thrown out the window and crushed. Lars said: "We were so shocked and stunned that we didn't know what hit us. And, like most, I guess, kids in their early 20s who get ambushed with that type of thing, we jumped into a bottle of, in this case, vodka, for me, and stayed in there for quite some time. We weren't mature enough or seasoned in life enough to know how to deal with this other than just to sort of, basically, almost hide behind the alcohol and compartmentalized it. So the next few months were very difficult, and it was crazy, but we just put the blinders on and started auditioning bass players. And we knew in our hearts that Cliff would be the first one to kick us in the ass and tell us to keep going, if he could see us mope. And so there was no moping; we just kept going the best we knew how to."

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was asked in an interview with TeamRock what he thinks Burton might have thought about the drastic changes in its look and sound that METALLICA made through the 1990s and early 2000s with albums like "Load", "Reload" and "St. Anger". Hetfield replied: "Well, I certainly would have thought there would have been some resistance, for sure. I think the 'Black Album' was a great album and I appreciate the fact that we did have the balls to do that… I would certainly think that the 'Load' and 'Reload' [era], I would have had an ally that was very against it all — the reinvention or the U2 version of METALLICA."

Asked if Hetfield was personally comfortable with the more "alternative" image and music METALLICA made on those albums, the singer/guitarist replied: "No, no, not at all. There’s some great, great songs on there but my opinion is that all of the imagery and stuff like that was not necessary. And the amount of songs that were written was… it diluted the potency of the poison of METALLICA. And I think Cliff would have agreed with that."

Burton's huge talent and achievements were chronicled in book form with the 2009 global publication of "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton", written by U.K.-based author Joel McIver and published by Jawbone Press. The foreword was provided by METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett.

PRETTY MAIDS singer Ronnie Atkins has crossed the five-year mark since he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Earlier today (Tuesday, September 3),Atkins shared the following update via social media: "On this very day it's been 5 years ago since I was diagnosed with cancer. But as it happened, in those 5 years I managed to write and record a lot of music. I got back on stage and toured around the world in different constellations and counting. I had a beautiful grand daughter and in a few days I'll follow my daughter up the aisle. This was all something I hardly dared dream about back then 5 years ago when I faced the devastating bad news. But I'm still here alive and kicking. I still have dreams to follow and above all I still have a huge lust for life !!!

"That said !!! I'm also aware that I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for the skilled onkologists/doctors, the ever evolving treatment methods, the fantastic staff/nurses that's been around me through this and finally God the allmighty for watching over me.

"I sincerely hope that my situation can serve as an example or at least a light in the dark to others who might find themselves tangled up in the despair and hopelesness that comes with this horrible disease.

"So let me use the opportunity to once again thank all my family and friends and all of you out there for having my back.
For all the blessings, greetings and love that was passed my way through these 5 years. I'm beyond grateful".

After being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, the now-59-year-old Atkins underwent at least 33 radiation and four chemotherapy treatments in the fall of that year before being declared cancer-free. In October 2020, he announced that his cancer had returned.

In a 2013 interview with Myglobalmind, Atkins joked that the secret to keeping his voice in shape was "twenty cigarettes a day and little drink now and then."

Formed in early 1982 by Atkins and guitarist Ken Hammer, PRETTY MAIDS' third album, 1987's "Future World", is still today regarded as a "classic."

During the ensuing years, PRETTY MAIDS continued to release albums usually followed by European and Japanese tours.

PRETTY MAIDS' latest album, "Undress Your Madness", came out in November 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

In July 2022, Atkins spoke about his cancer battle during an interview with Chaoszine. Regarding his prognosis. Ronnie said: "I don't know about my own situation. I'm living in intervals of three months — from scan to scan. You never know what's gonna happen. I never know what they're gonna tell me next time I turn up. I feel okay now, but it can happen pretty fast sometimes. The red light's been flashing a couple of times. They didn't find anything. The last two years I've been cancer-free, so to speak. It's still there; I've got metastasis in my bones — it's spread to the bone now, which is very bad. But I had immunotherapy for two years, which is probably why I'm still here. Now I'm not getting any treatments. I'm just saying that the future is very unpredictable."

Asked how long he thinks he can keep recording music and touring, Atkins said: "I'm happy every day I can open up my eyes. That's just the conditions of my life now. The cancer thing is totally a game changer, not just for me but for my family too. It's there 24-7 in your subconscious. But I feel good. It's not that I'm whining all the time or anything like that. I just go ahead and try to live my life as I used to, as much as I can. And that's it. It's not that I'm sitting [and saying], 'I've got half a year left.' I don't know how [long I have]. I'm not terminal. I just take it as it comes, really. That's all I can do."

He continued: "If you read the statistics, four or five percent [of the people with my type of cancer] are alive after five years. That's not really good. I'm on my third year now. So I try not to think about that. As I say, I take it as it comes."

Regarding how much of his daily thought process is occupied by his cancer battle, Ronnie said: "It's in your subconscious, 'cause you get reminded every day. Now I'm doing an interview with you, and we're talking about it. So I can never really let it go. I might meet somebody at the grocery store [and they ask you], 'Hey, how are you doing?' and stuff like that. You go on the Internet, and somebody died of cancer. You get constantly reminded about it. So that, of course… it's a bit of a dagger hanging above your head. But it is what is, and I can't change that. I'm alive."

Ronnie previously opened up about his cancer battle in a March 2022 interview with "The Bay Ragni Show". Reflecting on how he was first diagnosed with the disease, Ronnie said: "When I first got it… I knew there was something wrong during the summer of 2019. I had back issues for years, but I had this kind of non-pain, strange pain. It's something you know yourself if there's something wrong. My mother had the same thing, and she died of it. I was 22, actually; my mother was 57. So I went to the doctor, and he said, 'I think you just struck a nerve or something.' I said, 'We should check it out.' And they sent me off. And then, the very same day, they said they found a spot in the lungs. Then I had to go through the whole thing. I had two biopsies, having a needle stuck into my lungs. It was just a very bad experience."

He continued: "I'd been smoking for 40 years at the time — or 35 years at that time. I actually quit smoking, but I'd been a heavy smoker for years. And I also had my share of alcohol; that's no secret. And those two things combined is deadly. But I lived a fucking rock and roll life. I don't regret my life, because I had a great life; I had a great run. And that's also what some of the songs [on my solo albums] are all about. We take everything for granted. That's what life is all about. That's what we do — when we're good and we're healthy — and that's the way it should be; we shouldn't walk around thinking about death. So when I finally was told it was cancer, I wasn't surprised. But then again, I had some panic attacks. It took me a long time to kind of cope with it. But music helped me through it."

Asked if it's difficult for him to talk about his cancer battle now, Atkins said: "When I did [my] 'One Shot' [solo] album [in 2020], it's maybe a little bit more emotional and melancholic and reflecting than [my latest] album ['Make It Count'] is, but this album is as well 'cause it's still in my head. But I was kind of weak when I did that album in the summer of 2020. When we did this one. I kind of learned how to cope with it — if you can ever learn to cope with it. You've just gotta be realistic and say, 'Okay, it is what it is.' I can't change that. I can just hope that science can prolong my life as much as possible. I do everything I can myself… Well, I don't. I train every day. I still have a glass of wine and a beer and stuff like that. I don't smoke anymore, of course. So I hope that with the help of the higher powers and the good doctors and science that I'll be allowed some more years in life 'cause I've got a lot more to offer.

"I'm very realistic about the situation, so I can talk to people," he explained. "People come and say to me, 'But you look good.' I had immunotherapy and that kind of fucked things up in my body, but I was never really sick from the chemo and the radiation and the immunotherapy. Sometimes I was, but basically when I look at a lot of other people with cancer, I've been very fortunate. So I basically have been feeling good — as good as I can."

Photo credit: Tallee Savage

On this very day it's been 5 years ago since I was diagnosed with cancer.

But as it happened, In those 5 years I...

Posted by Ronnie Atkins Official on Tuesday, September 3, 2024

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have recruited André Hilgers as their new drummer.

The 50-year-old Hilgers ranks among the best and most accomplished heavy metal and hard rock drummers in Germany. He has previously played with such acts as AXXIS, RAGE, SILENT FORCE, SINNER and BONFIRE.

Earlier today (Saturday, August 31),PRIMAL FEAR released the following statement via social media: "And now it's official. We confirm our new drummer and it's none other than the powerhouse André Hilgers — as many of you already expected. André helped out on our last tour with U.D.O. and is a longtime friend. Now his time has come!"

Comments André: "I'm really happy that I'm a full member of the band right now and after our sensational tour together. Sometimes what belongs together comes together. Cheers Metal Heads!"

Adds PRIMAL FEAR bassist and producer Mat Sinner (a.k.a. Matthias Lasch): "André totally deserves it. We're looking forward to enter the studio with him soon and record a crushing new album!"

Earlier this week, PRIMAL FEAR recruited Italian/Cuban sensation Thalìa Bellazecca (ANGUS MCSIX, ex-FROZEN CROWN) as its new guitarist. The 24-year-old musician joined PRIMAL FEAR following the recent departures of guitarists Alex Beyrodt and Tom Naumann, drummer Michael Ehré and bassist Alex Jansen.

In announcing Bellazecca's addition to PRIMAL FEAR, singer Ralf Scheepers said: "After my last show in Italy, I got to know Thalìa personally and I realized what a wonderful person she is... Anyone who knows me knows that personal contact and sympathy is very important to me. So I read up on her musical projects and skills and was blown away by her incredible talent! I can't wait to work with her in the studio and of course live soon!"

Thalìa added: "I'm stoked and excited to have the opportunity to play with these giants of the heavy and power metal scene. I feel so honored to share the stage with these amazing musicians and to start a new journey also with this incredible and historical band! Can't wait to start working with all of you!"

Earlier in the month, PRIMAL FEAR confirmed that Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who has been primarily a studio member of the band for much of the past decade, will rejoin PRIMAL FEAR on the road.

PRIMAL FEAR said in a social media post: "To answer some of your questions - Magnus Karlsson is still in the band! The only difference to a week ago is that he will join PRIMAL FEAR permanently on albums (like always) and from now on @ all live shows and tours again!"

Added Magnus: "Can't wait to hit the stage with PRIMAL FEAR again! It's going to be an incredible ride! We're going to create something truly special together, both live and in the studio, and I'm so grateful to share this journey with all you metalheads! Metal is forever".

On August 23, Beyrodt, Naumann, Ehré and Jansen announced their departures from PRIMAL FEAR, writing in a statement: "Dear fans and friends of PRIMAL FEAR, we unfortunately have to inform you today that Alex Beyrodt, Tom Naumann, Michael Ehré and Alex Jansen, who helped us on bass for the last two years, are no longer part of the band PRIMAL FEAR. Triggered by decisions within the band that we do not agree with, this step was anything but easy for us to take. We would like to make it clear that despite the differences of opinion, there was no argument or bad blood.

"We would like to thank you for the time we spent together, the numerous albums, the tours, shows and festivals that have taken us around the world together, and of course for the love of the fans. We wish Mat and Ralf all the best for the future!"

This past June, it was announced that PRIMAL FEAR had officially signed a deal with new record label Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) for the release of the band's next studio album.

PRIMAL FEAR's latest album, "Code Red", came out last September through Atomic Fire. The 11-track follow-up to 2020's "Metal Commando" included the single, "Cancel Culture", themed around a topic that has been heavily discussed in recent years.

Recorded in Germany at Sebastian "Basi" Roeder's Backyard Studios, with the helping hands of Scheepers as well as Mitch Kunz, "Code Red" was produced by Sinner and co-produced by Scheepers and Naumann. Longtime PRIMAL FEAR collaborator Jacob Hansen once again took care of mixing and mastering at his own Hansen Studios in Denmark. Additionally, Stan W. Decker, who created previous works for the band, including 2017's "Angels Of Mercy - Live In Germany", 2018's "Apocalypse" and 2021's "I Will Be Gone", provided the record’s magnificent artwork.

Back in August 2021, PRIMAL FEAR announced that it was scrapping all of its previously announced dates for 2021 and 2022 "due to a serious illness issue." Four months after canceling the concerts, Sinner revealed that he had spent the previous eight months in eight different hospitals.

Formed by Sinner in 1997 as an outlet for Scheepers (who had left GAMMA RAY and was a rumored candidate for the then-open JUDAS PRIEST vocal spot, but was considering early retirement from metal),PRIMAL FEAR has emerged as one of the most consistent European metal bands, rarely straying from its core PRIEST-styled power metal sound.

For more than a decade, Sinner had been the musical director and co-producer for the prestigious European arena tour "Rock Meets Classic".

….. and now it’s official. We confirm our new drummer and it’s non other than the powerhouse André Hilgers - as many of...

Posted by Primal Fear on Saturday, August 31, 2024

In a new interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights, GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier was asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to 2021's "Fortitude" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I wish I could… It's not a secret, but I've gotta say we're in the middle of it, and until it's completed, it's hard to tell people what it's gonna be. And also, I don't want to. I want people to be surprised. But we're working. We're trying to deliver something that is meaningful and impactful. We're very ambitious in terms of writing songs and the quality of it. And we wanna take a clear step forward and upward with this album. So we're putting all our love and energy on it."

As previously reported, GOJIRA's performance at last month's Olympic Games opening ceremony is now available on streaming services. The French progressive metallers performed a surprise rendition of "Ah! Ça Ira", a popular song during the French Revolution, alongside opera singer Marina Viotti as well as a number of beheaded figures representing the slain Queen Marie Antoinette. The performance took place outside the Conciergerie, a former prison and residence of French kings during the French Revolution where Antoinette was held before she was beheaded in 1793.

GOJIRA made history as the first metal band to ever perform at the Olympic Games. The performance made international headlines and was widely regarded as one of the most talked about moments from the 2024 summer Olympics.

GOJIRA is considered a standard-bearer for French rock and bringing French rock to an international audience. Metal Hammer declared GOJIRA "metal's most important band" in 2016.

GOJIRA has been nominated for a Grammy Award three times — twice in 2017, for "Best Metal Performance" and "Best Rock Album" ("Magma") and once in 2022 for "Best Metal Performance".

"Fortitude" entered Billboard's Top Albums chart at No. 1 in May 2021, while also claiming the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top Current Albums, Current Rock Albums and Current Hard Music Albums tallies. The release also marked a career high debut on the Billboard 200 for GOJIRA, arriving at No. 12, with several career high chart positions and Top 10 debuts in countries around the globe including: France (No. 2),United Kingdom (No. 6),Australia (No. 3),Germany (No. 8),Belgium (No. 2),Netherlands (No. 4),Denmark (No. 3),Portugal (No. 4),Finland (No. 2) and Norway (No. 10).

Furthermore, GOJIRA concluded a month-long fundraising initiative in support of the indigenous-owned NGO The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) who advocate for environmental and cultural rights of indigenous tribes in the Amazon. Working with the social good-focused digital platform Propeller, the charitable campaign raised over $300,000 through an auction and raffle of one-of-a-kind items from the band and their friends in METALLICA, TOOL, SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, Slash and more. All proceeds were donated to APIB to support their work aiding the indigenous tribes of the Amazon who have suffered immensely — victims of deforestation, land loss, forced labor, violence, and harassment.

Recorded and produced by Joseph Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio — GOJIRA's Ridgewood, Queens, New York headquarters — and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),"Fortitude" is GOJIRA's first album in five years and the follow-up to 2016's Grammy-nominated LP "Magma". A collection of songs urging humanity to imagine a new world and then make it happen, "Fortitude" has been earning widespread critical praise with Rolling Stone naming it one of their best albums of April 2021 and remarking "It's all the rage of death metal mixed with the conscience of punk rock and the musicality of progressive rock." NPR hailed "Another World" as "an apocalyptic banger," and Paste called "Into The Storm" a "much-needed revolutionary anthem." Stereogum declared, "hearing this band operating at their peak is a life-affirming thing," while Revolver attested "Fortitude" "could spark a revolution."

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

SLIPKNOT co-founder and percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) has weighed in on GOJIRA's performance at last month's Olympic Games opening ceremony.

GOJIRA performed a surprise rendition of "Ah! Ça Ira", a popular song during the French Revolution, alongside opera singer Marina Viotti as well as a number of beheaded figures representing the slain Queen Marie Antoinette.

Crahan told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about GOJIRA's appearance: "I got goosebumps. I know this is going to sound stupid, but I'm just so proud of them. I know the word 'proud' probably sounds weird coming from me, but that band is so incredible, and they're friends of ours, and Mario [Duplantier] is one of my favorite drummers in hard rock."

He continued: "When I saw the performance, I was just proud to have them do that. What a huge, huge honor, what a huge performance. And what an enormous metaphor: you have all these wonderful athletes, the best of the best of the best together, and someone involved thought, 'We should get GOJIRA to open this up…' Like, GOJIRA are the gold medal."

GOJIRA made history as the first metal band to ever perform at the Olympic Games during the opening ceremony of the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris, France on July 26. Working alongside composer Victor Le Manse, the quartet injected their signature heavy riffs and punishing rhythms into "Ah! Ça Ira!" . Joined by French-Swiss mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti and nearly 300 classical musicians, GOJIRA performed from the windows of Paris's iconic Concierge amidst a grand spectacle of pyrotechnics. The performance made international headlines and was widely regarded as one of the most talked about moments from the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Speaking exclusively to Rolling Stone following the performance, GOJIRA frontman Joseph Duplantier commented: "We took it as an opportunity to represent the metal scene. So it was our task to really go for it and lay it down, not just be there and play a few notes to shock people. We decided to go full-on with double-kick drums, screaming, growling, epic moments, and a tempo breakdown at the end; we really wanted to show what metal is all about."

Next month, GOJIRA will hit the road in North America, providing direct support to KORN. The 24-city trek kicks off on September 12 in Tampa, Florida, visits arenas coast to coast, and wraps on October 27 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The band is also scheduled to appear at numerous festivals, including Louisville, Kentucky's Louder Than Life.

CREED frontman Scott Stapp portrays Frank Sinatra in the just-released biopic "Reagan". The film, which hit theaters on Friday (August 30) includes a scene of Sinatra singing at the Ambassador Hotel's Cocoanut Grove club in Hollywood, where he performed at a fundraiser in 1970 for Ronald Reagan's second California gubernatorial campaign.

Stapp will also make an appearance on the movie's soundtrack, covering "Swinging On A Star", the American pop standard introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1944 film "Going My Way" and subsequently recorded by numerous artists, including Sinatra for his 1964 album "Sinatra Sings Days Of Wine And Roses, Moon River, And Other Academy Award Winners".

When Stapp's involvement with the film was first announced in December 2020, he said in a statement: "Sinatra in performance mode was an exercise in restraint. He had this steely, stylish swagger and his sheer presence commanded a room. I was excited to join the cast and blown away by the on-set attention to detail, style and overall production."

"Reagan" director Sean McNamara previously said: "We are honored to have Scott in 'Reagan'. Scott's known for big, high-energy performances, so it was a thrill to see him shift gears to embody Sinatra's contained charisma."

According to a press release, "Reagan" offers a unique and captivating perspective on one of America's greatest leaders. Dennis Quaid delivers a portrayal of Ronald Reagan that transcends the boundaries of a traditional biopic, delving into the enduring impact of his journey, sustained by the steadfast and loving support of Nancy Reagan. Jon Voight and Penelope Ann Miller co-star.

The film is narrated by Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent whose life becomes intertwined with President Reagan's when Reagan first catches the Soviets' attention as an actor in Hollywood.

Reagan was president from 1981 through 1989 and died at age 93 on June 5, 2004, from Alzheimer's disease.

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Nottingham-based industrial rock outfit PITCHSHIFTER has re-released its long-lost original version of their monster single "[NOS] Genius". The unheard and recovered version of the track comes as a celebration of 27 years since the release of the band's magnum opus album, "www.pitchshifter.com", and comes with more than a few surprises, including killer mixes from WARGASM, ENTER SHIKARI, THIS IS MENACE and more.

The six-track, limited-edition, 12-inch colored vinyl formats will only be available for purchase on the band's U.K. November tour, and won't be available on streaming platforms or in any other formant until 2025.

"NOS" refers to "new old stock", materials that were never released that are still unused, new, and in their original packaging. PITCHSHIFTER have applied this NOS concept to the original and correct version of "Genius" that fans can now finally hear as a "new" song after almost three decades, including the correct set of lyrics.

"[NOS] Genius" track listing:

A1. [NOS] Genius (PITCHSHIFTER's original version)
A2. Genius (Enter Shikari Sound System Mix, Rou Reynolds)
A3. De-Genius (This is Menace Mix, vocals from Paul Catten, Mikee Goodman, MD Clayden)
B1. Neurogenius (Wargasm Mix, Milkie Way and Sam Matlock)
B2. [NOS] Genius (Bad USB Pitchshifter Mix)
B3. 8-Bit Genius (ChipTune Pitchshifter Mix)

During the last minute of the album mixing process in 1997, the dubby pre-chorus section of the original version of "Genius" was chopped out, taking some of the original lyrics with it. This meant that the album version of the song repeats the first line of each verse without resolving to the intended second lyric. In short: you've never actually heard the correct version of "Genius". Bugged by this, the band finally get to release the original and correct version as they wrote it: "[NOS] Genius".

PITCHSHIFTER's "Everything Still Sucks!" November tour 2024:

Nov. 26 - Thekla, Bristol
Nov. 27 - Gorilla, Manchester
Nov. 28 - Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth
Nov. 29 - The Garage, London
Nov. 30 - Rock City, Nottingham

PITCHSHIFTER have influenced bands from FEAR FACTORY to PENDULUM. They have released 10 albums, toured in over 30 countries, recorded John Peel sessions, played the U.S. Ozzfest (with OZZY OSBOURNE, INCUBUS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and PANTERA),have a name check in the intro James O'Barr's "The Crow" graphic novel, shared a tour bus with Chris Shiflett (FOO FIGHTERS) on the Vans Warped Tour, have had their live shows shut down due to stage invasions, had a crop circle for their logo appear in field, supported DEFTONES on their "Around The Fur" U.S. tour, turned down MOTÖRHEAD, opened for BLACK SABBATH at Milton Keynes Bowl, rocked main stage at Reading Festival, played with every metal band in the known universe, from PARADISE LOST to CARCASS, NAPALM DEATH, KORN and LIMP BIZKIT. And just in case that's not enough: Iggy Pop puked on their shoes at Brixton Academy.

Former FEAR FACTORY singer Burton C. Bell said: "Back in '92 FEAR FACTORY weren't even signed. I was always searching for new and exciting music, and stumbled across a CD by a new band called PITCHSHIFTER. I immediately thought, 'What a great name,' and decided to buy it. My buddy and I went to my apartment, opened two bottles of Saint Ides, rolled a fat one and started the CD. The first song came on like a f**king freight train right through my head. The CD just got heavier and heavier as it went on. I was hooked from that moment on, and I enjoyed that same train ride throughout PITCHSHIFTER's travels."

PITCHSHIFTER is:

Jon "JS" Clayden - vocals / programming
Mark D Clayden - bass

Oz Fox of Christian hard rockers STRYPER has offered an update on his health, three months following his release from the hospital after undergoing his latest brain surgery. The procedure, which forced him to sit out the band's spring 2024 "To Hell With The Amps" acoustic tour, was reportedly overseen by Richard G. Everson, MD at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, California.

On Thursday (August 29),Oz got on Facebook Live, accompanied by his wife Annie Lobert, and he stated about his condition (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I am preparing, getting things together, because I'm going to rehearse. So I just thought maybe I'd let you know that I am planning to be out with the [the rest of the STRYPER] boys [on the band's 40th-anniversary tour starting in early September]. We're still planning, so it's just still kind of in the works, but I'm feeling a lot better. I finished my chemotherapy and radiation… Well, the chemo and radiation together, and then I have more I'm taking later. But I did finish radiation, not last Monday, but the Monday before. So since that's all done, it looks like I'm feeling pretty good. My doctors didn't know if I would be feeling well at the end of it all. And I am feeling really good. So that's a big plus."

Oz added: "Thank you for all the prayers. I know that I got some of you guys praying for me. And, yeah, I think the prayers are working, and I appreciate it… And having all of these issues happen, people would think, and maybe some people who would go through this would think, 'Why me?' or la la la la. But it's not like that at all. For me, I think God allowed this to happen to me because he knows I would trust him to get me through it. That's the bottom line, guys. It's almost like the story of Job. I mean, Job was tested and he came out with flying colors. So in this case, I don't see it any different than that. Job was a servant. I kind of feel like I'm doing the same thing, serving God and doing whatever it is he has a plan for in my life…

"So I'm looking forward to being out and just jamming with the guys and being on stage again," Fox added. "Now I can't tell you all of the details — we're not gonna tell you that — but I just wanna say that I'm looking forward to being out again and being able to be in front of y'all, say hello to y'all. I really hope that you can all come to see us. Just look on our calendar at the Stryper.com web site of where we're playing, and come on out and see us and see me. I know all of us are excited to see everyone. And I am really looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to being with y'all. And it's gonna be exciting — it's gonna be an exciting time. So, again, thank you so much. Thank you so much for all your support, your prayers and for get getting the fundraiser t-shirt. That's helped us so much get through so many things. We didn't know what we would do, but thankfully you guys came through. And God put it on your guys' heart to help. And the boys were fantastic through it all getting through their acoustic tour without me. And I thought it was really awesome that they were able to do that. And thank you for supporting them and coming out to see them. I was just cheering them on and hoping it would be a success. And it certainly was, in my opinion, a huge success for the band."

Fox's two tumors — one by his ear and the other in the back of his brain — were discovered when he suffered his first seizure in August 2018 while performing with SIN CITY SINNERS at Harrah's in Las Vegas.

In October 2020, Fox was briefly hospitalized after suffering another massive seizure.

Within weeks of Fox's original August 2018 seizure, STRYPER toured Australia and Japan as a three-piece, and later recruited Howie Simon to fill in while Fox was unable to go on the road.

STRYPER's new album, "When We Were Kings", is due on September 13 via Frontiers Music Srl.

STRYPER's 40th-anniversary tour will begin this fall. The dates kick off September 11 in Greenville, Tennessee and conclude November 16 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

STRYPER's 40th-anniversary tour will be a celebration of both classic hits and new-era fan favorites, including outfit changes and an exciting new show production. In most cities, this will be a two-set "evening with"-style show.

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".

Oz is joined in STRYPER by Michael Sweet (guitar, vocals),Robert Sweet (drums) and Perry Richardson (bass).

STRYPER's "To Hell With The Amps: The Unplugged Tour" kicked off in late May. For the first time ever, the Christian rockers staged a full tour where they performed their hits and fan favorites acoustically.



Oz update with his better half Annie Lobert

Posted by Oz Fox on Thursday, August 29, 2024

PANTERA was joined by the Seahawks Blue Thunder drumline for a performance of the song "Walk" during the band's August 30 concert at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington as the support act for METALLICA. Video of the collaboration can be seen below.

Back in January 2023, PANTERA and ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante performed "Walk" and ANTHRAX's "Indians" with the Seahawks Blue Thunder drumline at Lumen Field.

Seahawks Blue Thunder is a high-energy entertainment drumline which was established in 2004 at Lumen Field, performing throughout the stadium before, during and after games.

Not your typical drumline, Blue Thunder uses a variety of rhythms and visuals, incorporating rock and roll drumming alongside drum corps style, endearing them to Seahawks fans of all ages. Blue Thunder is also available for parades, parties and corporate event appearances.

Blue Thunder features guest drummers at rehearsals and game days as well as an occasional joint performance on a big stage. Some of the other more prominent guests included: Alan White (YES, John Lennon, George Harrison),Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),Will Calhoun (LIVING COLOUR),David Garibaldi (TOWER OF POWER),Byron McMackin (PENNYWISE),Mike Derosier (HEART),Steve Smith (JOURNEY),Yuri Ruley (MXPX),Scott Rockenfield (QUEENSRŸCHE),Matt Cameron (PEARL JAM, SOUNDGARDEN),John Tempesta (THE CULT, WHITE ZOMBIE) and Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER).



Posted by Mark Dooley DelaGarza on Friday, August 30, 2024



Seahawks Blue Thunder rocking out with Pantera. What a show!!!

Posted by Tina Melum Warns on Saturday, August 31, 2024

Pantera

Pantera with Blue Thunder at Lumen field 8/2024

Posted by Seth Pohlman on Saturday, August 31, 2024

In a new interview with the On The Road To Rock podcast with Clint Switzer, John Cooper of Christian hard rockers SKILLET weighed in on the long list of musicians who have objected to Donald Trump using their songs at political rallies. Ahead of the 2020 election, that included Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, R.E.M. and GUNS N' ROSES. Earlier this year, Celine Dion has asked Trump to stop using "My Heart Will Go On", FOO FIGHTERS denounced his use of "My Hero" and Beyoncé blocked Trump from using her song "Freedom" in a campaign video.

Asked if he is "cool" with SKILLET music being used by politicians at their rallies, Cooper said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "This is my personal opinion, and this could change. I don't want somebody later to say, 'Well, you said blah blah blah.' My personal opinion at today, I don't care who plays my song at their political rally, because I believe in America over party. I believe in the foundations of this country. And plus, we have this thing called social media, and let's just say, hypothetically, let's say that you're running for president, and you're playing my song, and let's just say that I don't like your platform. I can always go on social media and say, 'Hey, I wanna make it clear, this dude may be using my song, and I'm happy for him to use it. It doesn't mean that I'm supporting his presidency, but I love America.' You can do that. There's a lot of ways you can go around it. Now, I do think there's a difference. Let's just say that you then wanted to use my song on one of your paid advertisements on a commercial. Now we're getting into something. But if you're playing my song at a political rally and you're walking out and my song's playing, I go, hey, you know what? Go America. It's the best country in the world, and we can disagree on some things."

In recent years, many musicians have fought publicly against the GOP's co-opting of their songs and their respective messages.

AEROSMITH, THE BEATLES, QUEEN, Elton John and THE ROLLING STONES, as well as the estates of Tom Petty, Prince and David Bowie have also objected to Trump's use of their music at rallies.

By contrast, Kamala Harris received approval from Beyoncé's team to use "Freedom" from her 2016 album "Lemonade" as part of her presidential campaign.

In August, Isaac Hayes's estate took legal action against the Trump campaign for its use of "Hold On, I'm Coming" at multiple Trump rallies over the last two years.

According to Billboard, the performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP require political campaigns to obtain licenses to use songs in their catalogs, with a caveat in the license that allows songwriters to object to usage in a political campaign. At both ASCAP and BMI, members can request to withdraw their music from political-campaign licenses.

"How it works is that the blanket license gives the campaign authorization to play any one of BMI's 22.4 million musical works wherever campaign events/functions occur, but there is a provision built into this license so that if we receive an objection from a songwriter or music publisher about a particular song(s) being used in a campaign, we will remove that song(s) from the license," Jodie Thomas, a spokesperson for BMI, told Business Insider. "We will then notify the campaign that the song has been removed from their license and that they are no longer authorized by BMI to perform that song at any campaign events or functions moving forward."

In recent years, Cooper he has become more outspoken about what he sees as a serious threat to Christianity in America. He regularly uses his platform to address hot-button issues like sexual ethics, post-modernism, abortion and deconstruction from a biblical perspective.

In various interviews, John has said that he "always had faith in God" and that his mother was a "Jesus fanatic." He also claimed that he was willing to put his career on the line to take a stand for Christ.

DEVILDRIVER guitarist Mike Spreitzer has announced his departure from the band.

Earlier today (Tuesday, September 3),Spreitzer released the following statement via social media: "After 20 years of playing guitar for DEVILDRIVER, I have decided it is time to go my own way.

"Since around 2014, DEVILDRIVER gradually started to feel more like a part-time job. Our touring schedule is not what it used to be and I want to get back to being a full-time musician. In addition, the mere creation of my side project was met with a heavy amount of negativity from a specific individual that made things extremely uncomfortable for me.

"Ever since I was six years old I wanted to play in a metal hand and live the majority of my life on a tour bus with my friends traveling from city to city. Show up, set up, perform, leave, and repeat. I miss the camaraderie with my band and crew. I miss my bunk. I miss waking up and walking to a coffee shop with whoever would join me. I miss playing guitar all day in the dressing room before the show. I miss laughing my ass off every day with the guys. I miss the summer festival runs where I get to see all my friends from other bands that I have toured with over the last two decades. I miss the aroma of the venues. I miss the putrid smell of the bathrooms in a European dive bar. More than anything else, I miss the look of joy on everyone's face while you lovingly kick the crap out of each other in the crowd.

"I've waited patiently for DEVILDRIVER to become full-time again. I respectfully understand that since 2019 serious issues had to be dealt with that were out of anybody's control resulting in keeping the band off the road. We had a pandemic, there were family emergencies, and health issues that had to be addressed. But these dilemmas started in 2019. DEVILDRIVER became part-time long before this unfortunate chain of events. I would rather not sit at home waiting for this to become a full-time job any longer.

"In an attempt to fill the downtime. I started VERONA ON VENUS. It was never my intention to make VOV a priority over DEVILDRIVER. The only way I can see myself touring as much as I would like is by getting VERONA ON VENUS up and running or perhaps an opportunity to join another band.

"To all the DD fans out there, I love you with all my heart. You are some of the most dedicated humans I have ever met. The vitality in all of you has been the brightest light in my life. You filled my soul with happiness. l am forever grateful for every single one of you and will never forget your unwavering devotion.

"I wish Dez, Jon, Alex and Davier the very best."

In April 2004, DEVILDRIVER was about to embark on its first European tour opening for Swedish heavy metal band IN FLAMES. Two days before the tour began, then-DEVILDRIVER guitarist Evan Pitts was forced to withdraw from the tour due to personal reasons, leaving the band without a second guitar player. At the time, Jon Miller and Jeff Kendrick lived with Spreitzer when not touring with DEVILDRIVER. When Mike heard that Pitts would not be going on the European tour, he immediately offered to fill in temporarily for the duration of the tour. Shortly after DEVILDRIVER returned to its then-home base of Santa Barbara, Pitts had decided not to continue with the band and Spreitzer became a permanent member.

Since joining DEVILDRIVER in 2004, Mike has continued to tour with the band and contribute on the albums "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand", "The Last Kind Words", "Pray For Villains", "Beast", "Winter Kills", "Trust No One", "Outlaws 'Til The End: Vol. 1", "Dealing With Demons Volume I" and "Dealing With Demons Volume II". He has also written and recorded music for small movie projects, including the documentary "Tokyo Comedy Store" that has been featured on the Documentary channel in the United States. In 2009, Mike co-wrote three songs featured on the video game "MX vs ATV Reflex" soundtrack alongside Raymond Herrera, Christian Olde Wolbers and Jeff Kendrick. In 2012, Mike worked with London-based alternative rock band ESO and featured on their debut single, "We Are Watching You".

Photo credit: Jeremy Saffer (courtesy of Napalm Records)

I hope you all understand…

Posted by Mike Spreitzer on Monday, September 2, 2024

In a new interview with Mark Kadzielawa of 69 Faces Of Rock, legendary German singer Udo Dirkschneider spoke about being able to perform classic ACCEPT songs with his DIRKSCHNEIDER project while still continuing to make new albums and tour with his long-running band U.D.O. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's, in a way, a good thing to have this. A lot of people always ask, 'Can you [play ACCEPT songs] again?' and blah, blah, blah. So, but, yeah, then I said, 'Okay.' But now it's more important for me at the moment [to play in North America] with U.D.O. So after the American and Canada tour [in September/October], we [DIRKSCHNEIDER] start in South America for the 40 years of 'Balls To The Wall' anniversary. And that will be also a long tour. I play the whole 'Balls To The Wall' album. And there are songs on that I never played with ACCEPT, and I think also ACCEPT never played these songs. And then, of course, we play the most classic stuff. And that will be a very interesting tour. Definitely."

He continued: "It's also good that we [will] have a break with U.D.O. We had a lot of touring and festivals behind us, and now America and Canada. And that was already planned for a long time — normally it was planned to go on tour already [with DIRKSCHNEIDER] this year, but then, of course, ACCEPT is also on a world tour. Then we said, 'Okay, we start then later.' And so far it looks already really, really good. The [ticket] pre-sales already for [DIRKSCHNEIDER's European tour] next year are unbelievable. So, what can I say? I'm happy I can do both. And, of course, another thing, now two members of ACCEPT are also on stage," he added, referencing the fact that former ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes is also a member of both U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER.

Udo went on to say that fans can go see both ACCEPT and DIRKSCHNEIDER perform the classic material live. "Let's say ACCEPT is doing their own thing, and now I do the DIRKSCHNEIDER thing," he explained. "And so far the people like it and they were always asking for that. And so next year there will be a lot of [shows]. And already in November [of this year], we start in South America. And then we will see, That will be definitely next year until September, October, we are on tour with the 'Balls To The Wall' 40-year anniversary. And then the new album will come with U.D.O. In between [tours], we are working on the new album. And then another U.D.O. tour starts. So, here we go."

DIRKSCHNEIDER, which is completed by drummer Sven Dirkschneider (Udo's son) and the talented guitar duo of Andrey Smirnov and Fabian "Dee" Dammers, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Balls To The Wall", which was originally released in late 1983 and is the most commercially successful and best-known album by ACCEPT, by embarking on a full European tour in the spring of 2025.

Nine years ago — in 2015 — Udo announced that he would embark on a special tour during which he would perform ACCEPT songs one last time under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner before closing that chapter for good. Since then, the former ACCEPT frontman has continued to play ACCEPT material at select shows, including at the September 18, 2020 U.D.O. concert in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which was released on DVD and Blu-ray.

When he first announced the original DIRKSCHNEIDER tour in 2015, Udo said that had "to make a clear break for myself — close the book and this is it. And I have the problem that people come to me and ask me to play more ACCEPT songs," he explained. "Other people ask me why I play ACCEPT songs at all, because there are [more than] fifteen U.D.O. records. I want to avoid such things and avoid the repeating questions concerning ACCEPT. I just can't stand that anymore. There is nothing more to be said. U.D.O. exists longer than ACCEPT. We have more records than ACCEPT."

While acknowledging that some ACCEPT fans want to hear the band's classic songs performed by the group's original singer, Dirkschneider explained that "you always have these comparisons [between how these songs are played by ACCEPT and U.D.O.]. I don't want this anymore either. [The current lineup of ACCEPT] also play 'Metal Heart', they play 'Balls To The Wall' and 'Princess Of The Dawn'. And then some people tell me, 'Oh, [current ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo] is doing it better than you.' And I go, 'That's fine. Enjoy yourself.' But I don't want this anymore. And to avoid all of this in the future, I said, 'We are doing this one more time.'"

Dirkschneider said that his vow to never play ACCEPT material again came with one caveat. "If the band ACCEPT dissolves one day in the near future and I am still around with U.D.O., then there is a chance that I put ACCEPT songs back in the setlist," he said. "But currently there is ACCEPT, so go see them [if you want to see those songs performed live]. They are playing these songs."

Udo previously said the original plan was for DIRKSCHNEIDER to only "a few shows," and "then [the tour] got bigger and bigger [due to demand]." But, he added, "I don't want to complain about that."

Back in 2018, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann declined to comment on Dirkschneider's decision to embark on one final tour during which the singer would perform nothing but ACCEPT songs. "I have lots of thoughts about that, but I'm not gonna share 'em with you," he told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". "I'd rather not comment on that, because that seems so much 'back and forth,' and I think I should stay away from it… You can draw your own conclusions all day long, but I'm not gonna get into it; it's just not worth it.

"I get asked [about Udo] so many times, and, man, it's been so many years — it's such an old story by now," Wolf continued. "We've moved on way past that, and we've had [15] brilliant years [with Mark Tornillo], we're making cool albums; I think we're doing fine. So I don't spend any time thinking about it.

"I'm very proud of the history we have together and all that, but I'm just not gonna get into the current 'he said, she said' whatever — it's not worth it," Hoffmann concluded.

Legendary German/American metallers ACCEPT kicked off their "Full Metal Assault Tour 2024" with KK'S PRIEST on Saturday, August 31 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

ACCEPT's setlist was as follows:

01. The Reckoning
02. Humanoid
03. Restless And Wild
04. Straight Up Jack
05. London Leatherboys
06. Dying Breed
07. Demon's Night / Starlight / Losers And Winners / Flash Rockin' Man
08. Princess Of The Dawn
09. Metal Heart
10. Teutonic Terror
11. Fast As A Shark
12. Pandemic
13. Balls To The Wall

ACCEPT and KK'S PRIEST's North American tour will visit a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada — such as Toronto, Montreal, New York and Nashville — before coming to an end in San Francisco, California on October 7.

In a recent interview with Metal Journal, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann was asked why he and his bandmates decided to announce that they will embark on a 50th-anniversary tour in late 2025 when they still have plenty of touring to do this year in support of their latest album, "Humanoid". He said: "Things like that take time. People have asked me for the last two years: 'Are you gonna do an anniversary thing?' Everybody wants to know. So I finally said, 'Okay, we're gonna do it.' And it's gonna be massive, man. It's gonna be a huge surprise with all the guests that we're gonna have. And I think it's gonna be completely different from anything we've ever done before. So I think it's gonna blow people away. But that doesn't take away from this tour that we have coming up, because, first of all, it's gonna be another year or more before we even go on this next tour. So if you like the new album, 'Humanoid', and if you love ACCEPT, you've gotta see this tour, no matter what. It's gonna be definitely a highlight anyhow."

On the topic of whether there was any talk about possibly announcing a farewell tour to coincide with ACCEPT's 50th anniversary, Wolf said: "We've been doing it for a long, long time. And I honestly don't know how long I can do this. I mean, nobody knows what the future will bring, and it has crossed our mind, absolutely. So, it might be that we go off with a highlight like this and then just really say, 'Okay, this was it.' I don't know yet, to be honest."

Regarding whether former ACCEPT members Udo Dirkschneider (vocals) and Peter Baltes (bass) will be invited to take part in the 50th-anniversary tour, perhaps just in the form of a guest appearance at select shows, Wolf said: "Yeah, of course, of course. That doesn't mean they're gonna [show up]. We have to wait and see. Of course, everybody [is invited]. The door is always open for anybody to join us on this, because it's gonna be a retrospective of all the 50 years of ACCEPT, and whoever wants to participate is more than welcome. Yes, sure."

Asked if he will call Udo and Peter directly to ask them to participate in the tour or if he will wait for their call, a visibly irritated Wolf said: "Can you shut up already? You're not gonna get me to talk about it. I'm sorry, man. I know it's a nice try. Everybody wants to know these things."

Wolf also talked about ACCEPT's plan to release a special album in early 2026 that will cover the band's entire musical history. The anniversary LP will contain a carefully curated selection of the best ACCEPT songs from the last five decades, re-recorded — partly with well-known surprise musical guests and colleagues — as well as with some rare tracks that have not been played so often before. He said: "I can't tell you anything yet, because it's way too early. I can just tell you it's gonna be a massive thing. And I don't really wanna get into it yet because I'm not really here to talk specifics about it. It's still in the planning stages. It's gonna be amazing. I think it's gonna be some really big names that are gonna be participating in that. And you'll have to wait. Sorry. It's just too early."

As for whether ACCEPT has already "selected" the guest musicians who will appear on the album, Wolf said: "Yes, we have selected a lot of it. Not all of it, but we have selected a lot."

Over the past five decades, ACCEPT has sold millions of albums and inspired countless musicians. Their energetic live performances and iconic albums such as "Balls To The Wall", "Restless And Wild" and "Metal Heart" have left a lasting mark on the heavy metal genre. Hoffmann's guitar style and musical vision have made the band one of the most respected on the heavy metal scene.

After a hiatus in the band's career, Wolf was introduced to New Jersey singer Mark Tornillo in 2009. The chemistry and fit between them was so remarkable, ACCEPT reformed and almost immediately rose to global success with chart-topping albums. ACCEPT continues to be celebrated for each of their new records with Mark, who is now the longest-reigning frontman of ACCEPT, placing the Hoffmann-Tornillo partnership firmly in the Metal Hall Of Fame.

For decades, ACCEPT has been recognized as a guarantee of high quality and each of their albums has reached the top of the charts, delivering energy, melodies, killer riffs and an impressively powerful stage presence for 50 years.

Tornillo joined ACCEPT in 2009 as the replacement for Dirkschneider, who was the band's original lead singer. Mark can be heard on ACCEPT's last six studio albums, "Blood Of The Nations" (2010),"Stalingrad" (2012),"Blind Rage" (2014),"The Rise Of Chaos" (2017),2021's "Too Mean To Die" and 2024's "Humanoid".

In a new interview with Rock Feed, BLACK VEIL BRIDES frontman Andy Biersack spoke about his band's collaboration with legendary METALLICA and MÖTLEY CRÜE producer Bob Rock on the 2014 album "Black Veil Brides". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Look, this is something that bands can't do, because a lot of bands are not in a position financially to be able to do this. We've been very lucky, where we said to our label, 'We want to make a record that replicates, on every level, on a sonic level, [METALLICA's 1991 self-titled album, also known as] the 'Black Album.' … So much so that we wrote all the record in the same room that they wrote the record in, in Burbank, with Bob in the room. We recorded all of the drums in the same room that they recorded in Burbank with Bob. We used the snare drum that was used. On Kempers — this didn't end up working out; we ended up making our own deal — but we tried on Kempers to steal the signal chain of their amps and use that for a tone, which ultimately didn't sound good. But we tried even that. We flew to Vancouver to record on the Little Mountain [studio] desk that they recorded that record on. They made a booth that was identical for me to what James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] had when he did vocals, using the same speakers and using the same handheld microphone. Bob — and I don't wanna give this away; this might be a secret — Bob gave me James's personal warmups to do every day. So, to this day, I have a CD of James Hetfield singing his warmups that he does every single day that I would do every day. I was still drinking, so I made the same hot toddy drink, I guess, that James made every day."

Biersack continued: "You have to understand, I was 23 at the time. So I'm just, like, everything. And then once that's all done, we went to the same room on the same mixing desk at Henson [studios] in L.A. and mixed everything in the same room. And the backup singers, we had the same exact backup singers come in and do harmonies. Like, we did it all. And the record was successful for us. It's a great record. I love it. We did not make the 'Black Album.' Spoiler alert — that didn't happen. But it was more about getting the opportunity to do that and to live out this dream. We would every day be, like, This is unbelievable,' like wish fulfillment to the millionth degree."

This past May, BLACK VEIL BRIDES released the title track from their "Bleeders" EP, inspired by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's "Sweeney Todd". The band paid tribute to the classic musical with a music video for the title track that is inspired by the musical's 2007 Tim Burton-directed film adaptation.

Released in June, the three-track EP, which included "Bleeders", a cover of "My Friends" from the Sondheim classic, and a cover of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday", was BLACK VEIL BRIDES' first release for Spinefarm.

In support of the American Red Cross, BLACK VEIL BRIDES recently hosted a virtual blood drive during the U.S. "Bleeders" tour, inspired by the "Bleeders" single.

Fans attending the tour were asked to present their proof of a blood donation to the American Red Cross (e-mail, app confirmation, donation photo, sticker, etc.) when they visited the BLACK VEIL BRIDES merchandise booth to receive an exclusive merchandise package, consisting of a signed poster, pin and patch.

In a new interview with Reality Check TV, EXODUS's Tom Hunting offered an update on his health, more than three years after he underwent a successful total gastrectomy during his battle with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach. The drummer said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[I'm] doing good, doing great. With the health and cancer, everything, yes. Everything is good. They take pictures often. They don't see anything in there. So I just kind of go out there in the world and live my life."

Back in February 2023, Hunting told Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", about how he was first diagnosed with cancer: "The first thing that happened [is] I was losing weight and I didn't have hunger for food. It's hard to explain what that would feel like. In the past, I've had those kind of flareups and it was always due to anxiety or something. But this felt different. And it was lingering. I was going to see doctors. And they did a bunch of scans. They didn't see anything in the scans. All the blood work was good. And then they sent a camera inside there.

"I urge anybody who's having a gut problem, if [the problems] persist, they're gonna do a CT scan first. Tell them you want an endoscopy. That's the best test out there. It probably saved my ass, looking back."

Tom continued: "I was taking antacid stuff, like Pepcid and whatever. And I probably took that Zantac drug that they're talking about causing cancer. I brought that up to my doctors too. Zantac has a lot of the same stuff that your Pepcids and your other ones have in it too. And at the end of the day, you shouldn't have to take that shit for, like, a year. So, that was there. It was an esophageal type of cancer that showed up in what is called the cardinal region of my stomach; it was forming in there and causing me not to eat. I couldn't burp. That was another one. I had this tumor inside me, and I couldn't burp. And as soon as they gave me my first dose of chemo, before the surgery, something loosened up in there and I was able to burp. It felt so good. [Laughs]"

According to Hunting, he "ended up having two different kinds of cancer. They found a tumor inside my stomach," he said. "So then they do what they call a laparoscopic surgery, which they send two things inside of you. They make two cuts and they send a camera inside of you to physically explore the region and the outside region. And mine was in a weird spot; mine was in my stomach. So, okay, they wanted to check out the outside of the stomach lining — some crazy testing that they've gotta do. But it's all part of the process to make you a candidate for the surgery. When they did the laparoscopic [procedure] with me, it's two incisions, it's a camera that goes in and another tool that moves your organs out of the way for this camera to go do its job. So they found nodules of mesothelioma on my abdomen wall."

When asked if the doctors said there was anything in particular that caused his cancer, such as eating habits, lifestyle, living or working environments, genetics, or something else, Hunting replied: "I asked the specialist, I was, like, 'Did I do something to [cause] this? Did I do a brake job on my car and sniffed asbestos or some shit?' And he said it could have been anything. That cancer could have been just environmental, and it just happened.

"It's funny, 'cause had I not had the original cancer, I never would have needed a laparoscopic procedure to begin with, and they never would have found the mesothelioma," Tom explained. "But for a minute, when they were doing that test, what they thought they were looking at was the same type of cancer that they saw in my stomach. So there was a minute there where I was, like, stage four plus plus plus, like, 'Give him chemo. Keep him comfortable.' I wouldn't have been a candidate to even get any kind of surgery. So they found out it was a different type of cancer that was in my stomach. That makes you a candidate to get the surgery and the treatment after to try to knock out any nodules of mesothelioma that they would find in there."

Regarding his post-surgery recovery, Hunting said: "They took out 42 lymph nodes and my stomach and all this crazy surgery — like two surgeries in one surgery — and they didn't find one speck of cancer in one of the lymph nodes, which is, like, 'Holy shit.' If you're going through it, that's the fucking jackpot. The best three words you can hear are 'nothing to see'.

"Fortunately, it's been… After the surgery, I got six months, or five and a half months of immunotherapy, 'cause they found out that the chemo didn't affect the cancer like they wanted it to, so they did the surgery. It trains your immune system to go out and kill rogue cells that it finds. It's pretty high-tech shit. And I'm a beneficiary of that too."

Tom added: "Science is great. And I had a lot of good people to talk to along the way to help me out. And that's kind of where I'm at now. I wanna be that ear for somebody who's recently getting told that news.

"I'm thankful. And I'm definitely one of the lucky ones. Science is killer, and what they're able to do for people in my situation and others nowadays is leaps and bounds from what they could do even five years ago."

In December 2021, Hunting told the "Put Up Your Dukes" podcast that he wanted to use his experience as a cancer survivor to interact with others who may be going through a similar situation.

"I'm not qualified now, but I think in a couple of more months, they deem me qualified to talk to other people about this disease, and I'm gonna do it," he said. "'Cause I want people to know about it and I want people to get checked. Just going public with it — I don't do social media, but what I read on the EXODUS [sites] was, like, 'Hey, I'm having gut problems too,' and, 'I'm gonna go get checked out now.' I hope people get the answers they're looking for."

"I'm not saying those drugs that they give you for your gut are bad. They get you by. But if you're having what you think is a gut problem, tell 'em you wanna get scoped. 'Cause some of those scans and some of those tests, they won't pick up what's going on inside there.

"Since I'm on this journey, dude, they're fucking scanning me constantly," Tom added. "'Cause they wanna see how I'm reacting to what they're doing too. So it's all part of the science and the evolution of the science. If they can help me live — and I love my life — and I can help them develop the science to help the next batch of people who you know are gonna get this shit, that's a win-win."

Hunting rejoined his EXODUS bandmates on stage in October 2021 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

A GoFundMe campaign to help Hunting with medical expenses had previously raised more than $114,000 — including $5,000 from Tom's former EXODUS bandmate, current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett, and $1,500 from FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho.

EXODUS released its latest album, "Persona Non Grata", in November 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records.

In a new interview with Rodrigo Altaf of Sonic Perspectives, former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman spoke about his touring plans in support of his most recent solo studio album, "Drama". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We are right now in the process of planning out the tours. We've done a a couple festivals in Asia. We have a Tokyo show this week, a couple shows in Tokyo. But the world tour is probably gonna start later in the year, early next year. And we're gonna be on tour for a long, long time after that and hopefully hit Canada and play everywhere. We've already got some festivals for next year lined up. And now we're just kind of strategizing where the main tours are gonna happen. This is gonna be a big one. It's gonna be a big one."

Last month, Friedman announced 2025 U.S. tour dates in support of "Drama", out now on Frontiers Music Srl. The trek will kick off on January 25 in Las Vegas and wrap up on February 22 in Los Angeles.

Marty previously commented on the tour: "My three band members from Japan, Chargeeeeee, Wakazaemon and Naoki, have created the ultimate setting to perform music from all stages of my career. If you've seen us live before, you know what to expect. If not, you are in for a unique treat. You will remember my band's performances on this 'Drama' tour for a long time. Our last two USA tours have left an unforgettable impact on them. We are all beyond excited to cross the pond and play for my home country again!"

The dynamic acoustic duo of Nikki Stringfield and Patrick Kennison will perform as special guests for these dates.

Tickets, exclusive meet-and-greet VIP Packages, stage-played guitars and more are available at MartyFriedman.com.

Friedman's autobiography, "Dreaming Japanese", will arrive on December 3 via Permuted Press.

In a recent interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, Friedman was asked if he is "putting it all out there" with the book. The 61-year-old musician, who has lived in Japan since 2003, said: "Yeah. The entire criteria of the book was things that I've never said in the media, things that I couldn't say in the media, private things and all of the inner interpersonal relationships in all of the bands that I've been in, all of the projects I've worked on. And it's almost like a spy-like double-agent look into the Japanese music business and the Japanese entertainment industry, because I came in completely as a foreigner, but I'm working within that industry as someone who is in Japan, lives in Japan, speaks Japanese, works on the Japanese projects. So I can kind of report to the rest of the world what it's really like from an American's perspective, which I think the publishers of the book found quite fascinating and I really drew that to a complete conclusion. But it's basically everything that no one knows about me. So if you're slightly interested, hopefully you will get a lot of very unexpected information out of it."

In May, Friedman was asked by "THAT Rocks!", the YouTube series hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson, why now is the right time for him to release his book. He responded: "I've always kept my private life completely out of media. Even in the Japan media, where I'm much more visible than in America, I've kept private things to myself and kept everything always about the topic at hand, whatever that be, whatever the program is about or whatever I'm releasing or whatever. So it's never really been terribly personal. But at the same time, every person has a deep personal story behind everything, and I've been working on an autobiography for years. And when it started to take shape and become something real, I started to look for publishers who were interested. And I found an absolutely excellent, excellent publisher that got excited about it. And when we started working on it, it, it just became this monster of a project, way beyond anything I'd imagined it being. And I think a lot of your fans are going to enjoy it because it's got so much deep details about the metal life that I've lived before I went over to Japan and the metal life now, but the real deep private relationship details between myself and all the other bandmembers from all my bands and all of the management things and life things that people don't see when they just see you on stage or they hear the records or they read the interviews. There's serious life stuff that you would only be comfortable talking about in a complete tell-all autobiography. And even then, I'm not even sure if I'm comfortable saying it, but I said, if I'm gonna do this, the main criteria is going to be all of this stuff is not stuff from interviews. And all of this stuff is gonna be stuff that's very private and very true."

He continued: "Of course I have no agenda at this age. The only thing I'm promoting is [my new solo album] 'Drama', which takes up about maybe four sentences of the autobiography. So the whole thing is just very deep and detailed into things that I think that no one really knows, because maybe I haven't really been that vocal about in the past."

After Florentine suggested that he could do the audiobook in English and Japanese all on his own, Marty said: "I could. I'm just so not into the idea of doing that. I dread the day when they say, 'Okay, we want you to do the audiobook.' 'Cause I listen to these books, and it just seems like a ton of work. I've done voiceover stuff for a lot of TV shows in Japan, and just one half-hour show takes friggin' forever. So, I'm just thinking, an entire book of, I think it's like 150,000 words, just dreading that. So I'm hoping that like A.I. can clone my voice and do it for me, 'cause I'm not looking forward to doing that work."

When Marty first announced his autobiography on May 13, he wrote in a social media post: "After an exhaustive and seemingly endless process, I'm beyond excited to let you know that I've just turned in the final manuscript for my autobiography, 'Dreaming Japanese'.

"I've always kept my private life completely out of the media, so with nervous excitement, I am thrilled to share the story about my upbringing, home life and career for the first time. You will enjoy the deepest dive into never before revealed details about my life in MEGADETH and the personal relationships within the band written with alarming clarity. Same goes for all of my other bands, from the very beginning.

"I outline the entire story why — and exactly how — I dropped living the high life in a multi-platinum band to start from scratch in Japan dreaming to play J-Pop, and how that spiraled into eventually exceeding even my loftiest goals, even becoming a government appointed Ambassador. It`s a complete immersion into my daily Japanese life as I guide you through the inner workings of the Japanese television industry and music scene, from my my unique and unprecedented perspective."

Friedman spoke about his autobiography in a recent interview with BLABBERMOUTH.NET. He said: "We're in the last editing stages. All the content is done. It's extremely long. The point that we're at is that 'You got to cut out a lot of this.' We're cutting out things. It's hard because it is extremely long. It's too long. We're cutting out certain things, but what I can say about it is it is by far the most detailed account of anything I've participated in in my life. Any little subject has the deepest details about it. There are little details and very personal details. Of course, a lot of people want to know about MEGADETH. I made it very sure to give the most complete and honest account of all things that were never in any interviews. Interviews are usually where you're talking about a topic and in 'impress mode.' But I wanted to get personal and talk about how things affected me in every little situation. All that is in great detail, as well as the transition into Japanese television and being the only foreigner in a world of completely Japanese people, as well as the pros and cons of that. It has all of the very important details that you can't say in interviews, like private and personal things that don't usually come out. I tried to keep that as the criteria: Did I talk about this in an interview? If so, it got cut. It's all new stuff."

Nightwish vocalist Floor Jansen has shared a new video along with the following message:


"Step into a world where history meets the stage! Performing at the Royal Park concert series, I found myself in the heart of Paleis Soestdijk, where Dutch royalty once roamed. Imagine preparing for a show in Queen Juliana’s former living room—it’s like stepping back in time. The gardens, the grandeur, and the stories these walls could tell. Despite the weather's mood swings, the energy from the audience and the beauty of this place made it truly special. It was an unforgettable experience, blending the past with the present in the most enchanting way. Can't wait to do it all again!"







Nightwish will release their new album, Yesterwynde, on September 20. It marks the band’s tenth studio album, following on from the release of Human. :II: Nature. in 2020.


Yesterwynde will be available in a number of different vinyl variants, as a jewelcase, digipak, earbook and as part of a deluxe vinyl box set. Order the album here.





Yesterwynde tracklisting:


"Yesterwynde"
"An Ocean Of Strange Islands"
"The Antikythera Mechanism"
"The Day Of..."
"Perfume Of The Timeless"
"Sway"
"The Children Of 'Ata"
"Something Whispered Follow Me"
"Spider Silk"
"Hiraeth"
"The Weave"
"Lanternlight"


"Perfume Of The Timeless" video:

On August 15, Behemoth performed at the 2024 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl. You can now watch professionally-filmed footage of the band's full set, courtesy of ARTE Concert.


Setlist:


"Post-God Nirvana"
"Once Upon A Pale Horse"
"Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer"
"Conquer All"
"Ov Fire And The Void"
"Cursed Angel of Doom"
"Christians to the Lions"
"Demigod"
"The Deathless Sun"
"Blow Your Trumpet Gabriel"
"Bartzabel"
"No Sympathy For Fools"
"Chant for Eschaton 2000"
"O Father O Satan O Sun"







Behemoth recently released a video trailer for "The Unholy Trinity" European tour, scheduled for April 2025. Find the clip below.


Says Behemoth: "Legions of Europe! It’s that time again… We are beyond thrilled to announce that we’ll be bringing together the blasphemous forces of Behemoth, Satyricon and Rotting Christ for ‘The Unholy Trinity’ European tour." 🔥


Tickets are on sale now. Dates are listed below.

Italian death metallers Perfidious have announced the forthcoming release of Savouring His Flesh, their first album in seven years. The album will be released October 25, 2024 via Time To Kill Records.


Preorder at timetokillrecords.com.


The first single, "In The Reign of Perpetual Agony", is now streaming.




The band comments: "Embark on a profound exploration of the human condition with our debut single. This track delivers a raw, unfiltered expression of old school death metal, staying true to its roots. Expect relentless riffs, thunderous drums, and guttural vocals. No compromises, just pure, unadulterated death metal.”


Perfidious create their own bludgeoning world of dizzying and pummelling death metal where they relentlessly whip up a maelstrom of old school riffs and drum patterns, taking influences from both the European and the American traditions.


Perfidious’ mission since their inception has been to revive the greatness and restless energy found in death metal of the past and combine it with something bolder and more intense.