Video footage of POISON frontman Bret Michaels performing acoustic versions of the songs "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Nothing To Lose" as part of his new "Live From The Living Room" series can be seen below.

Michaels is a multi-platinum global superstar who has turned his passion for music into a multi-faceted brand that encompasses record-breaking touring sales, reality TV stardom, legendary songs that have sold over 32 million records, product endorsements as well as being a devoted philanthropist, all supported and followed by three generations of loyal fans.

Bret was born in Butler, Pennsylvania on March 15, 1963. Rising to fame as the frontman of POISON, one of rock's most iconic and enduring bands, he helped define rock 'n' roll on the Sunset Strip. POISON's massive success includes selling over 30 million records worldwide and numerous hit singles. Bret's solo career has charted its own course with multiple solo albums. His last album, "Custom Built", included guest appearances by Joe Perry (AEROSMITH) Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Buffett, Ace Frehley (KISS), Michael Anthony (VAN HALEN) and members of LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

When this multi-talented performer is not touring, he can be found both in front of and behind the camera as a director, producer and a reality TV superstar. Shows like "Rock Of Love With Bret Michaels" on VH1, "Life As I Know It" and Bret has also starred in and won Donald Trump's NBC hit "Celebrity Apprentice".

Michaels's latest television endeavor, "Rock My RV With Bret Michaels" will see him and his team revamping and redesigning dilapidated RVs in true rock star form and style. The show will begin airing on the Travel Channel in May.

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TORCHE has entered the studio to record its fifth album. The as-yet-untitled effort is being recorded by guitarist Jonathan Nunez at Cabana East in Miami, Florida. An early 2019 release via Relapse Records is expected.

The band commented: "The new record has a great balance of new elements that have become a part of our sound over the last couple years, which is very exciting for us. We're pushing classic signatures of our sonic identity and bringing new vibes to the table. This time around, there's going to more dynamics, while pushing our 'wall of sound' nature much further.”

TORCHE is often cited for its masterful combination of melodic songwriting and heavy music, with Spin dubbing the band's music "sludge-pop" and Filter saying the band proves "a heavy-rock band can be optimistic and sincere-without sacrificing any of the edge."

Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH debuted a brand new song, apparently titled "Wolves Ov Siberia", during their May 5 appearance at the Pulp Summer Slam festival in the Philippines. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

"Wolves Ov Siberia" is expected to appear on BEHEMOTH's long-awaited follow-up to 2014's "The Satanist" album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The new disc is being mixed by Matt Hyde, who has previously worked with SLAYER and HATEBREED, among others.

Back in January, BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski stated about what fans can expect from the band's next disc: "[2009's] 'Evangelion' was the most perfectly recorded and perfect sounding record, but then 'The Satanist' was something else. The new one is going to be something else once again, I'm sure about it. So when people tell me, 'You need to top 'The Satanist''… I don't need to top anything. I just want to make sure we take curves with our career. We're gonna take a different direction in order not to get stuck in the same pattern."

BEHEMOTH will join forces with SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and TESTAMENT for a massive North American tour in late spring and early summer.

BEHEMOTH's latest release was the live DVD/Blu-ray "Messe Noire". The set includes the band's victorious shows in Warsaw, Poland on October 8, 2016 and Brutal Assault 2016, as well as "The Satanist" cinematic archive featuring all official videos associated with the band's globally successful record of the same name.

Legendary death metal unit MORBID ANGEL has unveiled the unsettling new video for "Garden Of Disdain" from the band's recently issued "Kingdoms Disdained" full-length.


Produced by Nadar Sadek, "Garden Of Disdain" is a tale of allegory and Sumerian-fueled vision. Bristling with gore and metaphor, the clip is a disturbing piece that depicts the darkest, most hopeless sides of the human condition.


"My intention is to create a visual parallel to the song," offers Sadek, "a theme which repeats, yet within the loop-lay textures are controlled twists and turns. It was a bonus that I had the opportunity to use Sumerian iconography as well as obscure symbols of the pre-ancient past such as the Merkaba, a galaxy-roaming vessel. "


"Nader does some of the most interesting and dark visual art I have ever seen," says MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker. "We were excited to work with him and see our musical ideas put into such amazing visuals!"


MORBID ANGEL is currently in the midst of a U.S. headlining tour. The month-long trek kicked off on April 16 and will run through May 17, with support provided by ORIGIN, DREAMING DEAD and HATE STORM ANNIHILATION.

"Kingdoms Disdained" was released in December via Silver Lining Music in the U.S. and JVC in Japan. The disc, which reunites founding guitarist Trey Azagthoth with Tucker, was recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and produced by MORBID ANGEL with Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL, SIX FEET UNDER, BELPHEGOR).

Joining Azagthoth and Tucker during the recording sessions for "Kingdoms Disdained" was drummer Scotty Fuller (ANNIHILATED; formerly of ABYSMAL DAWN)

MORBID ANGEL in January 2017 announced the addition of Dan Vadim Von (guitarist/frontman of the American death metal band VADIMVON) to the band's lineup on second guitar. He joined the group as the replacement for Norwegian guitarist Destructhor (a.k.a. Thor Anders Myhren), who left the band three years ago.

Silver Lining Music recently released a special two-disc digipack edition of "Kingdoms Disdained", featuring seven instrumental demo tracks previously only available as part of the deluxe box set.

Video footage of Dave Mustaine performing the MEGADETH classic "Symphony Of Destruction" with bassist Bjorn Englen (DIO DISCIPLES, TONY MACALPINE) and several campers at last month's Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles, California can be seen below.

Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp is a non-competitive atmosphere designed for all levels of musicians and music enthusiasts. Participants are placed in bands with like-minded people and skill level to make for an off-the-charts experience.

Some of the campers play well and even gave up careers as musicians to become CEOs and lawyers. Some campers can't play at all. What they all have in common is passion for rock music. At Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp, they all get to pursue their passion — and meet, and play with the artists who became the soundtrack of their lives.


David Fishof is the founder and creator of the famed Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp where rock dreams become reality. The idea came to him after years of producing rock tours throughout the word. He's been honored to work with veteran rockers Roger Daltrey, Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, Todd Rundgren, Gene Simmons, Dr. John, Randy Bachman, and so many more. He feels fortunate to have seen their talent first hand. David's desire to share this experience with you, gave him the inspiration to produce the one-of-a-kind Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp.

For more information, visit www.rockcamp.com.



Not sure what the serious faces were all about but it was great having Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) as a special guest at the Rock’n’Roll Fantasy Camp last weekend. My campers nailed it! ?(Photo: Lisa Woodard) #rocknrollfantasycamp #davemustaine #megadeth #bjornenglen pic.twitter.com/MMOWNmfBTU— BJORN ENGLEN (@BjornEnglen) April 28, 2018

A fundraising campaign has been launched for former MALEVOLENT CREATION frontman Brett Hoffman, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

The GoFundMe page, which was started by Brett's "very close friend/family member" Tina Kuntz Mielcarek, is asking for donations to cover his "medical expenses and treatments."

Said Brett: "I have been in hospital for almost two weeks now. I've had a MAJOR surgery, many proceedures and tests. Have not eaten that entire time and have not even smelled the outside air in that time. I am, however, progressing forward. They do want me out so that I can go home and heal and rehab. That may take weeks. After that, they have a treatment they are confident in for my cancer.

"I know I have a long road and life has changed. I will still finish new album and do music. I just have a bit more important task at hand for the near future. This ,so far, has been the most trying, painful, torturous event that has EVER happened to me.

"I am on the battlewagon and I'm rolling!!! My wife, Kim, has been a rock for me!!! I love her with all my heart!!! My very close friends have all been battling with me and I've needed that support."

Brett performed on the first three MALEVOLENT CREATION releases until he left the band after 1993's "Stillborn" album. Five years later, he returned and performed on "The Fine Art Of Murder" and "Envenomed" before leaving again and being replaced by Kyle Symons. He rejoined MALEVOLENT again in 2006 and appeared on the group's last three albums, 2007's "Doomsday X", 2010's "Invidious Dominion" and 2015's "Dead Man's Path". He exited the group once again two years ago and was replaced by Lee Wollenschlaeger.

More recently, Brett has been involved with the FIRE FOR EFFECT project in which he was joined by guitarist and songwriter Gio Geraca (MALEVOLENT CREATION, ASHES OF ARES), bassist Tony Choy (PESTILENCE) and drummer Mike Smith (SUFFOCATION). Smith was later replaced by Derek Roddy (HATE ETERNAL, NILE, MALEVOLENT CREATION).

In a 2015 interview with Metal Rules, Brett was asked about how he developed his unique vocal style. "When I grew up, I knew I wanted to sing," he said. "I was playing bass at first and I kind of sucked at it. I tried singing and sucked at it. So I went into my room for like two years and practiced singing old JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN with [Bruce] Dickinson. I practiced those screams and could do them pretty good. Then when I transitioned over to death metal it worked because I learned the right way how to do those screams. It worked."

The official lyric video for the song "Insentience" from London's AKERCOCKE can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's sixth full-length album, "Renaissance In Extremis", which was released last August via Peaceville Records. Mixed by legendary studio guru Neil Kernon (NILE, DEICIDE) and mastered by Alan Douches (DEATH, MISFITS, CRO-MAGS) at West West Side Music, the disc is nothing short of a new dawn for these most eccentric of extremists.

A comprehensive reinvention and expansion of the band's multifarious sound, "Renaissance In Extremis" delivers euphoric force and mind-boggling weirdness. There are scything thrash and death metal riffs in abundance, plus warped but elegant melodies and clouds of ugly dissonance; moments of unsettling calm and quiet. "Renaissance In Extremis" is a bold, bullish and belligerent statement of creative intent: metal's dark spirit reborn in an explosion of bright ideas and inspirational fury.

Towering above the vast majority of nefarious contemporary noisemakers, AKERCOCKE erupted across the consciousness of the U.K. metal scene in the late '90s, wielding a fiendishly inventive blend of death, black and progressive metal. Their distinctive, smartly-dressed demeanour and eloquent preoccupation with all things dark and Satanic marked them out both as ferociously individual artists and enlightened students of the pitch-black sonic code. Immediately embraced by the British faithful upon the release of debut album, "Rape Of The Bastard Nazarene", AKERCOCKE spent the following decade leading the creative charge for their entire native scene.

AKERCOCKE received widespread acclaim for follow-up album, "The Goat of Mendes" (Peaceville, 2001) and despite enjoying furious momentum over the following years, the release of fifth album, "Antichrist", in 2007 signalled the end of the first chapter of the AKERCOCKE story, when the band retreated into the shadows and remained dormant for the best part of a decade.

Fast forward to 2018 and AKERCOCKE's ongoing return to active service reached its first invigorating climax. 2016 saw Mendonca reconvening with Gray and returning original second guitarist Paul Scanlan to reignite the flames that first drove this band to deftly redefine an entire genre. This was deftly followed by a triumphant live return at Bloodstock festival in August 2016.

"Renaissance In Extremis" track listing

01. Disappear

02. Unbound By Sin

03. Insentience

04. First To Leave The Funeral

05. Familiar Ghosts

06. A Final Glance Back Before Departing

07. One Chapter Closing For Another To Begin

08. Inner Sanctum

09. A Particularly Cold Sept

Photo credit: Tina Korhonen

Original Budgie drummer Ray Phillips has a new autobiography out now. It’s called The Ray Phillips Story: An Awful Biography Of A Great Life - From Budgie To Tredegar And Beyond. The first 150 copies will include a 12-track sampler CD of Phillips' work over the years with Ray Phillips Woman, Titus Oats, Tredegar, Six Ton Budgie and solo, including four previously unreleased tracks.

​The original Budgie lineup made three albums from 1971–73 that punched above their weights to influence heavyweight bands to come - Megadeth, Metallica and Soundgarden, to name three.

In the book, Phillips tells the story of his life. It’s a personal and musical journey filled with trials, tribulations and triumphs… and a jolly good laugh! He answers the question, once and for all, about whether he jumped or was pushed from Budgie, only a few months after drumming up a storm on classics from Budgie’s third album such as Breadfan, Parents and In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter’s Hand.

After leaving Budgie in late 1973, Phillips formed Ray Phillips Woman, a group that would tread the boards all over the UK from 1974-77. Phillips reunited with ex-Budgie guitarist Tony Bourge in Freeze, Storm and then Tredegar - the latter band releasing an accomplished self-titled album in 1986. After Tredegar, Phillips recorded albums under the Six Ton Budgie moniker and then in 2011 he released his first solo album, Judgement Day. In the book, Phillips talks about his battle to pay off a huge debt he incurred financing the Tredegar album.

The 496-page book is printed in full colour on high-quality 115gsm gloss paper. The book contains 118,000 words and over 600 images, many of which are unseen.

Phillips is busy rehearsing a three-piece band and plans to tour the UK as Ray Phillips Budgie in 2018, belting out Budgie classics from across the catalogue with renewed enthusiasm.

The book can be ordered here and will ship from later this week.

More information about the book, including a gallery of 30 pages, can be found here.

A short video about the book from Ray:

A longer video with more detail about the book, and audio from Tredegar’s "Battle Of Bosworth":

CD tracklisting:

"Rock ‘N’ Road Song" - Ray Phillips Woman [previously unreleased]
"Coming Home" - Titus Oats
"Betty’s Baby" - Titus Oats [previously unreleased]
"Love To Tango" - Ray Phillips [previously unreleased]
"I Love That Lady" - Ray Phillips [previously unreleased]
"Which Way To Go" - Tredegar
"Battle Of Bosworth" - Tredegar
"Love It Or Hate It" - Tredegar
"You Need Respect" - Six Ton Budgie
"Southern" - Six Ton Budgie
"Our Life" - Six Ton Budgie
"For The Love Of Cleo" - Ray Phillips

Legendary US progressive rockers Spock’s Beard will release of their 13th studio album, Noise Floor, for May 25th. For this album, Ted Leonard, Alan Morse, Dave Meros and Ryo Okumoto were joined in the studio once again by drummer and original member Nick D’Virgilio.

The band have released the "Beginnings" studio documentary video, which can be seen below:

Spock's Beard is a band that is in a continual state of evolution, as is always the case with genuinely creative musicians. And their new album, Noise Floor, fits perfectly into this process.

“We are always about evolution, not revolution. But what we have done this time is make the songs more melodic,” believes vocalist/guitarist Ted Leonard. “We still love our crazy prog, but now appreciate how important it is to grab people's attention early on.”

As with all Spock's Beard songs, most of the new album was written by the individual members, and then brought to the rest of the band as high quality demos. “We all do this type of thing in our home studios,” adds Leonard. “So, by the time they reach the stage where the entire band get to judge them, they are really developed, and therefore everyone can make a reasoned judgement.”  Much of what you will listen to here is very much the product of fresh inspiration from the Californian band.

One key change on this album sees the return of drummer Nick D'Virgilio, who originally left in 2011. There are also two violinists, a cello player, a viola player and an English horn featured on the album, thereby giving the sound a slightly more evocative and persuasive twist.

The album was once again engineered by long-time collaborator Rich Mouser and will be released as a 2CD digipak (featuring an EP of material from the same sessions), gatefold 2LP + 2CD & as digital download.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1 - Noise Floor

"To Breathe Another Day"
"What Becomes Of Me"
"Somebody’s Home"
"Have We All Gone Crazy Yet"
"So This Is Life"
"One So Wise"
"Box Of Spiders"
"Beginnings"

Disc 2 - Cutting Room Floor

"Days We’ll Remember"
"Bulletproof"
"Vault"
"Armageddon Nervous"

"To Breathe Another Day" video:

"To Breathe Another Day" studio documentary:

(Photo - Kat Mueller)

Prog metal veterans Redemption have checked in with the following announcement.

"Hello everyone! As you know, we are returning to Atlanta to play ProgPower this year and are extremely excited to do so! We're going to pull out all the stops for this and want to make it an evening to remember. And we will be filming it for a new DVD!

These things cost a lot to do right -- and we managed to pull it off with help from you all last time on Kickstarter. We'll be doing the same thing this time.
So what we'd like to learn is what would YOU like to see as benefits from a Kickstarter pledge. Names in the credits? Merch? Autographs? Visits with the band? An invitation to a rehearsal?

Let us know your ideas so that we can put together some cool packages in exchange for your support!"

Post your feedback on the official Redemption Facebook page here.

It was recently announced that eyboardist Vikram Shankar has joined Redemption.

Nick van Dyk - the band's guitarist and songwriter, who has also played the majority of keyboards on Redemption's seven studio albums - comments: "We haven't had a dedicated keyboard player since before 2011's This Mortal Coil. We were very happy and fortunate to have had Greg Hosharian in the band for some time, but when Greg left to focus on composing and conducting classical music, we decided to continue without replacing him and I returned to playing keys in addition to guitar. I'm comfortable enough handling things, but at the same time, from a performance and also from a compositional standpoint, it's always been in the back of my mind that having a dedicated keyboardist allows us to do more, sound better, and grow."

Van Dyk continues: "Almost as soon as Tom [Englund, vocals] joined Redemption, he introduced me to Vikram by way of Vik’s YouTube channel, where Vik showcases both original compositions as well as stunning arrangements of some great progressive metal songs. I was utterly floored. This is a guy who has perfect pitch, tremendous feeling to his playing, and is absolutely a virtuoso - I mean he literally plays blindfolded to perfect his technique. I've never seen anything like it. Then we spent some time together, both one on one and then with the rest of Redemption, and learned he’s a terrific guy as well as a terrific musician. He came out to LA for a few days and spent some time adding some parts to our otherwise-finished upcoming release, Long Night's Journey into Day, and it was evident that not only does he have technique and feel for miles to enhance our musicianship, but he and I share a similar compositional sensibility. We hear things the same way, plus Vikram adds fresh ideas and his tremendous talent as an arranger and writer. I can't wait to involve him more in songwriting for future material, and we are all thrilled to have him join us on stage and in the studio. He's an absolutely stunning talent."

"I'm honoured to have the opportunity to play alongside the talented folks in Redemption!" enthused Vikram. "The guys are wonderful musicians and wonderful people, and I can't thank them enough for welcoming me into the fold as they have. Can't wait to see and play for all the Redemption fans at Progpower USA and elsewhere, and for the future of our music and collaboration!"

Already confirmed to headline ProgPower USA 2018, Redemption - featuring Tom Englund (vocals; Evergrey), Nick van Dyk (guitars and keyboards), Sean Andrews (bass), Chris Quirarte (drums), Vikram Shankar (keyboards) - will release their seventh full-length album, Long Night's Journey Into Day, this summer via Metal Blade Records. The first to be produced with Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Primal Fear, Amaranthe, Doro, etc.), Long Night's Journey Into Day also features guest guitarists Chris Poland (Megadeth, OHM) and Simone Mularoni (DGM).

Stay tuned for more Redemption news coming soon.

(Photo - Stephanie Cabral)

Fan-filmed video footage of Y&T's April 22 performance at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, California can be seen below.

Y&T is still working on its long-awaited documentary, "On With The Show", to be released before the end of the year. "It's been taking an extremely long time to get that thing sorted out," frontman Dave Meniketti told Tigman of the Albany, New York radio station Q103 in a recent interview. "The documentary filmmakers just had no idea how much work was involved and how many different artists wanted to be in the documentary and so on and so forth, so it's taken a whole lot longer than they expected. But I just want all the fans out there to know that it is gonna happen, it is gonna come out sometime this year. I have no idea when, but we just keep prodding them back home and saying, 'Cmon, guys. You almost done yet?' But it's turning out fantastic. I've seen a lot of the footage, as have all the guys in the band, and we've had nothing but great feedback from all of us."

"On With The Show" is expected to contain commentary from a number of other artists, including Don Dokken (DOKKEN), Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER), Sammy Hagar (VAN HALEN, MONTROSE), Eric Martin (MR. BIG) and the members of ANVIL. The film is being built out of the hundreds of hours of personal footage shot over the years. It is set to cover the band's earliest days of rehearsing in drummer Leonard Haze's grandmother's house, then move through the first two albums, touring with JOURNEY, BOSTON and QUEEN, to their big breaks with AC/DC, OZZY OSBOURNE and DIO.

Meniketti is the only surviving member of the Y&T lineup — then known as YESTERDAY AND TODAY — that recorded the band's self-titled debut album.

Original Y&T rhythm guitarist Joey Alves died in March 2017 at the age of 63. Two founding Y&T musicians — Haze, 61, and bassist Phil Kennemore, 57, who both had left the lineup — died from complications of lung cancer: Kennemore on January 7, 2011, and Haze on September 11, 2016.

Y&T's current lineup is rounded out by guitarist John Nymann, drummer Mike Vanderhule and bassist Aaron Leigh.

Y&T released its first-ever acoustic EP, "Acoustic Classix Vol. 1", in January.

The band's latest studio album, "Facemelter", came out in May 2010 via Frontiers.

Pure Steel Records will release Spartan Warrior’s new album Hell To Pay (released on CD in February) on vinyl on June 22nd. 300 units will be available on black vinyl with insert.

Spartan Warrior, who are a hugely prestigious signing at Pure Steel, are one of the hottest bands of the NWOBHM movement. The band's debut album, Steel N‘ Chains, and their self-titled second album which were released during 1983 and 1984 to critical acclaim, were albums of great quality and continue to attract a deserved cult status among heavy metal aficionados.

In 2009 the band reunited and subsequently released the Behind Closed Eyes album, which also heralded the bands return to the live circuit both at home in the UK and abroad.

Hell To Pay is the bands fourth album and the 10 featured songs and the bands performances on this album provide firm evidence, if ever that were needed, that founding members David and Neil Wilkinson have lost nothing of their original power and appeal. Harnessing the force of a line up that has essentially been together since mid 2011 the band deliver 45 minutes of quality hard rock infused heavy metal. Drawing on influences as thunderous as Saxon and as melodic as UFO, Spartan Warrior show their dexterity as song writers and performers.

Driven by the powerhouse rhythm section of James Charlton (drums) and Tim Morton (bass), Spartan Warrior launch a heavy metal attack on tracks such as “Walls Fall Down”, “Fallen”, “In Memorium” and the title track “Hell To Pay” whilst equally delivering the sublime balladry of “Something to Believe In” and the hook laden choruses of “Lettin Go” and “Bad Attitude”.

The twin guitar attack of Neil Wilkinson and Dan Rochester is a force to be reckoned with and the vocals of David Wilkinson have lost none of their characteristic bite.

Spartan Warrior have delivered an album of great quality and which is truly representative of the bands status as a stunning live act.

Tracklisting:

Side A
“Hell To Pay”
“Bad Attitude”
“Letting Go”
“Court Of Clowns”
“Something To Believe In”

Side B
“Walls Fall Down”
“Shadowland”
“Covered In Lust”
“Fallen”
“In Memorium”

Lineup:

Dave Wilkinson - vocals
Neil Wilkinson - guitars
Tim Morton - bass
James Charlton - drums
Dan Rochester - guitars

DIO DISCIPLES, which pays tribute to Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager Wendy, is about to sign a deal with BMG for the release of the band's debut album.

DIO DISCIPLES is made up of former members of DIO, along with a rotating lineup of vocalists, including ex-JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens and LYNCH MOB frontman Oni Logan.

Billed as a "celebration of the music and legacy of the greatest singer in the world, Ronnie James Dio," DIO DISCIPLES have been playing Ronnie's music on tour in a bid to keep their old bandmate's memory alive.

Several years ago, guitarist Craig Goldy revealed DIO DISCIPLES were planning to start work on a project of original material, and they debuted three of the new songs during their May 2016 appearance at the "Ride For Ronnie" motorcycle rally and concert in Encino, California.

Fan-filmed video footage of one of the tracks, which is apparently called "Till The End Of Time", can be seen below.

In a brand new interview with the "Wired In The Empire" radio show, which airs on Riverside/San Bernardino, California's 96.7 KCAL-FM, Wendy stated about DIO DISCIPLES: "We're just about to sign a record deal with BMG for them to start making a new record."

Confirming that the debut DIO DISCIPLES album would include "all new material," Wendy said that the members of the band have "written about five songs already and were "very excited" about the opportunity to work with BMG.

As for when fans can expect to see the DIO DISCIPLES album released, Wendy said: "Actually, I'm going for a meeting with [BMG] next week, so I will know in a few weeks — to go over the marketing plan and when they think that they should have the record out."

Some of the recent DIO DISCIPLES shows have also included singer Joe Retta (SWEET, HEAVEN & EARTH). Joe hails from Rochester, New York and and was raised on '70s R&B and rock during an era when, as he describes it, "music had more soul and was more diverse." His influences include such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Steve Marriott, Paul Rodgers, Robert Plant and, of course, Ronnie.

In an interview with Myglobalmind, Goldy stated about the formation of DIO DISCIPLES: "You see, the band DIO was run like a family. So when your family member dies, the other members of the family that are left behind often try to do things to keep their loved one's memory alive. So that's where the DIO DISCIPLES came from. Wendy and Simon [Wright, sometime DIO DISCIPLES drummer] called me and said, 'We should really do something.' Because there were all these tributes going on for Ronnie; some of them were just trying to cash in on his passing and some of them were legitimate. However, we said, 'We are his family we should do something.' So that is where DIO DISCIPLES came from."

Goldy told Music Life Magazine that DIO DISCIPLES live performances are unique experiences. He said: "At every DIO DISCIPLES concert, there is a moment when the audience and band really connect. I am getting chills just talking about it. There are people in the audience looking up to the sky and singing at the top of their lungs with tears in their eyes, singing to Ronnie in heaven saying they miss him. It's just beautiful, and that's what the project was for."

DIO DISCIPLES is:

* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) - Vocals

* Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) - Vocals

* Craig Goldy (DIO) - Guitar

* Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Bass

* Scott Warren (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL) - Keyboards

* Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, OPERATION: MINDCRIME) - Drums

Capitol/UMe is poised to celebrate the 30th anniversary of POISON's best-selling album, 1988's five-times-platinum "Open Up And Say… Ahh!", with a sensationally reproduced 180-gram reissue. The LP was pressed in two collectible color variants: red vinyl (available at select retailers) and a limited edition of 1,000 in green vinyl (available exclusively at The Sound Of Vinyl).

This exciting LP reissue also restores the album's original full-frame cover art, which initially featured a glammed-up cat person's elongated tongue extending fully down the middle of the cover image, ultimately protruding between the last two words of the album title that had been scrawled across the bottom. Yet back in the day, "Open Up And Say… Ahh!" was instead issued with a tighter, widescreen, mostly green-eyes-only view amidst a black background.

Originally released on May 3, 1988, "Open Up And Say… Ahh!" cemented POISON's status as one of the biggest bands of the 1980s, in turn garnering four Top 20 hits and including their first No. 1 single, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn". Produced by Tom Werman (CHEAP TRICK, TED NUGENT, TWISTED SISTER), engineered by Duane Baron, and recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles, "Open Up And Say… Ahh!" sealed POISON's standing in the rock pantheon with ten tracks chock-full of instantly singable choruses mixed with fist-pumping riffs, courtesy of the four-man-band chemistry between vocalist/rhythm guitarist Bret Michaels, lead guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall, and drummer Rikki Rockett.

The acoustic-driven universal lover's lament "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" reached No. 1 in December 1988, and fans of the cult-favorite 1991 film "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" will recall the power ballad's ubiquitous chorus as being the answer to the eternal question, "What is the meaning of life?" The album's other big singles include the ever-anthemic and always energetic "Nothin' But A Good Time", the wide-eyed dreamer's warning of "Fallen Angel", and a raucous cover of the 1972 Loggins and Messina hit "Your Mama Don't Dance".

These days, POISON remains a consistently powerful concert draw, as this summer sees them heading out on their "Nothin' But A Good Time" tour 2018, with special guests CHEAP TRICK and POP EVIL.

"Open Up And Say… Ahh!" track listing:

1A

01. Love On The Rocks

02. Nothin' But A Good Time

03. Back To The Rocking Horse

04. Good Love

05. Tearin' Down The Walls

1B

01. Look But You Can't Touch

02. Fallen Angel

03. Every Rose Has Its Thorn

04. Your Mama Don't Dance

05. Bad To Be Good

OTEP, the band led by singer, poet, illustrator, author and activist Otep Shamaya, is about to unveil the most uncompromising, candid, all-inclusive and controversial assessment of the current residing political regime that it has ever released in the form of its eighth full-length album, titled "Kult 45". Drawing influences from politically charged recording artists of the past but allowing her artwork to remain fully and undeniably OTEP, Shamaya continues her nearly two-decade invasion of the senses on July 27 when "Kult 45" drops via Napalm Records. This is OTEP like you've never heard them before.


"Kult 45" is available for pre-order now exclusively via the Napalm Records online store, and will be available in CD (jewel case) format with bonus tracks and vinyl format in black, as well as individual red and gold vinyl colors (each Napalm Records exclusives). Digital pre-orders will become available soon.


Throughout the span of her career, Shamaya has been an undeniable force in bringing awareness via various acclaimed mediums to social and political injustices felt by various communities and subcultures. For years, publications such as Revolver magazine have lauded Shamaya for "following in the footsteps of outspoken musicians from folk singer Woody Guthrie to RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Zach de la Rocha, dubbing her "one of music's catalysts for social change". So, with the political climate as it is today, it's prime time for OTEP to make their voices heard in their primary medium — song.


"You can expect a complete and total mutiny of the senses on 'Kult 45'," says Shamaya. "That said, it's important for fans to know that this record is not just an indictment of Trump. The idea is rather to empower people to stand up and remind them this is our country and we have the power. It's primarily a rallying cry for people with common sense and good-natured patriots to rise up and know that we own this nation.


"Although the album is produced well technically, lyrically, it's very raw," she continues. "Musically, we explore different genres — we're trying to reach everyone. I don't want to be limited to one genre or to be anchored to a particular space where I can only reach certain political minds. It's important to me that I'm sending a clear and concise message to the Resistance — the people out there bending the barricades and fighting for justice is this country."


"Kult 45" was recorded at The Lair in Los Angeles, completely utilizing the same equipment used for OTEP's first album, "Sevas Tra" (down to Shamaya's vocal microphone, a SHURE Beta 58), in order to create a sound reminiscent of their roots. "Kult 45" was self-produced by the band, with assistant engineering from Larry Goetz, Nicolas Schilke and Lizzy Ostro.


Shamaya explains that "Kult 45" is the most authentic album OTEP has ever released, at least since their first record, and self-producing it helped achieve this result. "We had the freedom to be able to write, record and exist within the songs on 'Kult 45'," she says. "Things needed to be said and songs needed to be written that reflect the times. We weren't under anyone else's agenda, there was no pressure to create a 'single' or a song for radio, and the band was really able to shine."


"Kult 45" track listing:

01. Hail To The Thief

02. Halt Right

03. Molotov

04. Said The Snake

05. Undefeated

06. Trigger Warning

07. Cross Contamination

08. Shelter In Place

09. Boss

10. To The Gallows

11. Sirens Calling

12. Invisible People

13. Be Brave

14. Wake Up (cover of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE)

15. Feral Oracle (bonus track)

16. The Tribe Speaks (bonus track)


OTEP does not hold back on "Kult 45", pointing out all sorts of political duplicities and leaving them in their wake. The band explodes on aggressive, adamant anthems like "Halt Right" and "Molotov", which act as timely outcries against the recent resurgence of hate groups. Tracks like the in-your-face "Cross Contamination" explore the hypocrisy of the evangelical right giving Trump a pass on his infidelities, and cherry-picking scriptures to fit their ideologies. "Invisible People" approaches immigration issues while pointing a strong finger at Trump, the electronically charged "Boss" aims to break, fight, and redefine gender roles, and "Trigger Warning" targets rape culture — specifically Stanford rapist Brock Turner — with a vengeance.


"Shelter In Place" investigates the topic of school shootings, specifically. "This song is extremely important to me because it was inspired by the bravery of those Parkland students who formed the March For Our Lives," says Shamaya. "The outro is, 'hey hey NRA, how many kids did you kill today?' because they've actively taken measures to make our kids less safe in school. They want to arm teachers, they want to put more guns in schools and on the street. The song itself isn't specifically anti-gun, but aimed at the hypocrisy of the NRA and certain belief systems that lose sight of what's truly important — the lives of our children."


The album pre-closes with a cover of "Wake Up" — an homage to political music icons, major "Kult 45" writing inspiration, and original track recording artists RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE — as well as a unique finisher, "The Tribe Speaks", featuring recorded voicemails from fans expressing how OTEP's music has changed their lives. "In the voicemails people say they feel empowered, that the music saved them," explains Shamaya. "They told us that they discovered their identities with our music. There was a girl who said that she considered committing suicide and that our music pulled her out of that. These were all based on last album, and I think that this album will have a similar impact on people. These are so moving — it's what keeps me fighting. Really."


"We want to empower people," ends Shamaya. "This album wasn't written to only wake people up, it's meant to carbonate people with the hope and confidence that they can make a difference."


OTEP will go out on a headline tour supporting "Kult 45", beginning July 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Hard Rock Hotel And Casino. The tour will run for nearly a month and a half, coming to an end in Ventura, California on August 18.

Singer, songwriter, producer, performer, mother, teacher, rock 'n' roll legend… Lee Aaron is wearing a lot of hats these days. With a career spanning over 35 years and still going strong, Aaron is one of Canada's most diverse artists and, as Billboard once described her, "an invincible voice."

She proves it yet again on "Diamond Baby Blues", out April 27. Aaron delivers a world-class vocal performance that may very well be the finest in her career.

She was one of the first women in Canada to navigate the male-dominated waters of rock 'n' roll, pioneering the way for a significant number of artists. Her 1989 album, "BodyRock", was proclaimed by Chart magazine as "one of the 20 most influential Canadian albums of the '80s, with artists like Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette and Shania Twain under Aaron's influence."

Born in Belleville Ontario, Lee's family relocated to Winnipeg when she was two. Living two doors down from the MacLean family (MacLean & MacLean), Burton Cummings was a frequent visitor and Aaron's earliest musical memories were of the rehearsals and parties that occurred in that Dowling Avenue home throughout much of her early childhood.

Smitten by the music bug, after moving back to Ontario she studied voice and piano as a teenager as well as appearing in numerous musical theatre productions. At 15 she was invited to join a band in the Toronto suburbs. Initially playing saxophone and keys, by 17 she had evolved into the band's lead singer and was discovered by local talent agent the summer she graduated school. Working with Canadian greats from MOXY, SANTERS and Rick Emmett, by 19 she had written and recorded her debut album, 1982's "The Lee Aaron Project".

Between 19 and 21, Aaron weathered a period that she today describes as "painful and embarrassing" in which she was subjected to overtly sexist marketing, exploitive photographs, emotionally uncomfortable stage wear and "being thrown into situations I had neither the self confidence, maturity or life experience to navigate." As a result of this, the song "Metal Queen" was born. A response — not just to her own experience but the entire sexist culture of '80s rock — the song was intended as a feminist statement of power and strength. Women were much more than the ornamental, eye candy depictions of the era, but strong and intelligent, in control and a force to be reckoned with. The song and subsequent video catapulted Aaron to iconic status with legions of fans around the globe and over the years has become an enduring anthem of empowerment for men and women alike.

The late '80s and early '90s brought radio hits, gold and multi-platinum sales with "BodyRock" and "Some Girls Do" (1991), multiple JUNO nominations and song writing awards. She appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines — even TV Guide! — and for several years seemed to be everywhere, her videos in near constant rotation on MuchMusic. Aaron turned the tables on the sexist status quo in her video for "Whatcha Do To My Body", which featured a group of rugged, attractive men objectified in a tongue and cheek, yet respectful manner. This resonated deeply with the public and became a smash hit.

Recurrent themes in her writing — from teenager to maturity — have always been female empowerment and individualism, challenging the feminine stereotype and of course, love, in all its beauty and iniquity.

She re-emerged in 1998 performing blues and jazz in intimate venues around Vancouver, surprising fans and industry insiders alike with a musical left turn and released "Slick Chick" (2000) a spirited and soulful nod to her early influences. Despite initial skepticism, her authenticity and solid live performances from coast to coast led to credibility as one of the country's most respected and versatile female vocalists and songwriters.

She followed up with the jazz-infused "Beautiful Things" (2004) but perhaps her most challenging career move to date was to become a wife and mother. Less than a month after completing the "Beautiful Things" tour, Lee and her husband welcomed a daughter in 2004 and a son in 2006. She took a recording hiatus to focus on her young family, but continued to perform selected live dates. She also released "Museum", a collection of jazz performances on DVD in 2006; "Rarities, Studio & Live", a 3-DVD career anthology in 2008; "Live In Sweden", a DVD of her 2011 concert at Sweden Rock Festival; and a 30-year commemorative CD, "Radio Hitz And More", in 2012.

During this time, Aaron returned college to expand on her post secondary education, acquiring a certification in specialized education. Working with exceptional youth in her community, she soon found herself helping design and implement programs for gifted children. "I've worked with differently-abled thinkers all my life… they're called musicians!" she says. "Working with kids who learn in unconventional ways is intuitive work; just like music. When you find a teaching strategy that works — just like a song idea — the light bulb goes on and it's magical."

In 2016, Aaron catapulted back onto the scene with "Fire And Gasoline", a stellar collection of rock originals. Canadian and European dates followed and video singles "Tom Boy", "Fire And Gasoline" and "Bad Boyfriend" have well over 100,000 views on YouTube and continue to grow in popularity.

Last year brought multiple honors, with a permanent star on the Arts Walk Of Fame in her former hometown of Brampton, Ontario, her iconic "Metal Queen" and "BodyRock" outfits on display at The National Music Centre in Calgary and the "Back In The Spotlight" Fan's Choice award from Music Express.

"Diamond Baby Blues" is a fiery collection of blues-based rockers, rock 'n' roll and hard-rock that pays homage to the giants of the late '60s and '70s music scene.

Set to perform at Wacken Open Air, Germany's biggest open-air festival this summer, Sweden's Skogsrojet and a string of Canadian shows, this multi-talented songstress shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

On the eve of their first tour ever tour of Australia, drummer Linda McDonald from The Iron Maidens revealed plans to the Australian Rock Show for the band to record a new tribute album in August. Speaking to the Australian Rock Show podcast McDonald stated: "We are actually going into the studio to record another Tribute CD in August. We've already released a few but they're all out of print - people keep asking for them. The CDs we did record previously do not feature any of the more recent band members, so we're gonna go ahead and do that, give the fans what they want"

McDonald also spoke about Phantom Blue's plans to re-unite with the original members, but after guitarist Michelle Meldrum passed away in 2008 the plan was put to rest. Check out the audio interview here.

Los Angeles-based guitarist Nikki Stringfield (The Iron Maidens, Femme Fatale, solo) has released a cover of Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box" in tribute to Kurt Cobain, who passed away 24 years ago on April 5th, 1994.

Nikki says: "Kurt was the reason I decided to start playing guitar when I was 14 years old and continued to inspire me throughout the years. Most people don't realize the impact he had on me and my music so I wanted to finally cover one of my favorite Nirvana songs. I've been wanting to do this for a long time so I hope you all enjoy!"

Directed by Diego Gonzales - Don Diego Productions
Filmed at Metal Sanaz's "Unfriendly Studios" in Los Angeles, CA
Produced by Patrick Kennison of Heaven Below/Lita Ford
Special thanks to Mary Whitman

Nikki has her own signature model guitar from Schecter Guitars and is also endorsed by GHS Strings and Seymour Duncan pickups.

PANTERA has released a new teaser for the band's long-awaited fourth home video as "a special '4' 20 surprise" on Friday, April 20. Check it out below.

PANTERA's last home video, titled "3: Watch It Go", was released in 1997 on VHS format through Elektra Records. The set featured over two hours of music videos, concert footage and various backstage clips.

"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney told the "Talk Toomey" podcast in a 2017 interview that the release of PANTERA's fourth home video will depend on the success of the "Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over" set, which contains video footage of the late PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN guitarist captured between the mid-'80s and his later years.

She said: "There's not a market for DVDs anymore, and that's what the industry told us. They passed on [releasing 'Dimevision Vol. 2'], and I had to go to our really good friend Brian Slagel, just to get this going with Metal Blade. So this video is kind of, 'We're gonna prove you wrong. There's still this strong cult following for PANTERA home videos and 'Dimevision'.' So if the people get out and really support this package and go old school and not the digital format… 'cause it's so hard to get clearances for every little thing. That's exactly why the previous PANTERA videos are not out there on iTunes that you can get them, because trying to go back and get all those clearances, it would be so expensive today, there's no way. So we have to go with the old-school format. And if people will support it and show the love and it does well, then that gives us the green light for the next project. So it's really gonna depend on that."

Haney added that she has "so much footage" for a possible new PANTERA home video. "'Cause you have to think, after [1994's] 'Far Beyond Driven', there was still, like, four huge two-year tours for the live [album, 1997's 'Official Live: 101 Proof'], [1996's] 'The Great Southern Trendkill', [2000's] 'Reinventing The Steel'… So there is more than enough for more than one volume than four, for sure."

"Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over" was released in November via Metal Blade Records. The DVD/CD set — which includes more raw footage, true gems and classic Dimebag moments — also contains five previously unreleased demos, picked from a vast catalog Dimebag accrued since Haney gave him his first four-track in 1984.

Dimebag was shot and killed by a crazed gunman while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at a Columbus, Ohio rock club in December 2004.

Here’s a special “4” 20 surprise! #panterahomevideo4 #420 #pantera #dimebagdarrell #rexbrown #philanselmo #vinniepaul A post shared by Pantera (@panteraofficial) on Apr 20, 2018 at 4:37pm PDT

"Scream For Me Sarajevo", a documentary telling the story of a 1994 concert given by IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson while the Bosnian War was raging and Sarajevo itself was under siege, will be released on June 29 on DVD, Blu-ray and digital via Eagle Vision. In addition, the music from the film is being released on CD/double LP via BMG.

Comprising music from the film which spans Bruce Dickinson's solo career, the album features the rarities "Acoustic Song" (previously only available as a bonus track on the 2001 "Best Of Special Edition"), "Inertia (Live)" (previously only available as a bonus track on the expanded re-release of "Skunkworks" in 2005) and the album closer "Eternal" (previously only available as Japanese bonus tracks on "Tyranny Of Souls").

"Scream For Me Sarajevo" album track listing:

01. Change Of Heart

02. Tears Of The Dragon

03. Gods Of War

04. Darkside Of Aquarius

05. Navigate The Seas Of The Sun

06. Road To Hell

07. Arc Of Space

08. Omega

09. River Of No Return

10. Power Of The Sun

11. Strange Death In Paradise

12. Inertia (Live)

13. Acoustic Song

14. Eternal


"Scream For Me Sarajevo", the film and album, is now available to pre-order exclusively via PledgeMusic at www.screamformesarajevo.com.

"Scream For Me Sarajevo" will be released beginning May 10 in select theaters across the U.S. and Canada.

The first time Dickinson was in Sarajevo, the city was cut off from the world, its citizens brutally terrorized by shooting, bombing and starvation with electricity and water supply being nothing short of a luxury. Bruce and his then-solo band drove through the frontlines and ultimately played a show for the people trapped in the city. What this gig meant to the people and how it changed Bruce and his band is told in "Scream For Me Sarajevo".

Featuring footage from the historic gig, the film also meets those that made it to the show and made the show happen; determined to keep living their lives despite the atrocities going on around them. Interviews with the band, crew and security bring home the reality of the situation that was not only dangerous, it was barbaric.

"We weren't protected, there was no plan and the bullets were real, but fuck it, we went anyway," said Bruce in his autobiography "What Does This Button Do?" "The gig was immense, intense and probably the biggest show in the world at that moment for the audience and for us. That the world didn't really know didn't matter. It changed the way I viewed life, death and other human beings."

In addition to the feature film, a specially recorded interview with Dickinson will be included as exclusive theatrical-only content in participating theaters.

In a December 2015 interview with the Radio Sarajevo show "The Aebyss", Bruce spoke about the security concerns he has in an age of terrorism when it comes to deciding which countries to travel to in order to play for the people there. He said: "Personally, yeah, I'll play no matter what. Your concern has to be, actually, for people who don't have a choice in the matter. I mean, it was my choice [in 1994] — actually our choice, collectively, 'cause we all, collectively, said, 'Yeah, we're all crazy enough to try and do this thing and drive into Sarajevo in the middle of a war and see if we can do and do a gig. And [laughs] we're not quite sure when we're gonna come back.' But those poor people that went for that [EAGLES OF DEATH METAL] concert at the Bataclan [in Paris, France] had no choice; they were completely, completely innocent in every possible way. And, of course, nobody knew that the place was gonna get targeted. So, unfortunately, there's a judgment call that people have gotta make, and you have to make it on the best information available — as to whether or not you're suddenly gonna get… If somebody says, 'We're gonna massacre everybody at a rock concert,' you say, 'Well, is it some lunatic, or is it genuinely credible that this might happen?'"

He continued: "You can't take the responsibility for what might be some lunacy, massacring people, just because you wanna be kind of 'macho man' and stand up and say, 'Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, we did this and people threatened us, but we were like macho men.' And that's great until one day it turns out that somebody does go and do [something like that] and then you have lots and lots of dead women and children, and you go, 'Maybe we shouldn't have done the show, because there was a credible threat.' So, unfortunately, you've gotta be grown up about it. But, at the same time, you still need to be able to offer people that hope and send that message out there. They can't stop… Real life just carries on. I mean, when the Irish Republican Army, years and years ago… when I was a kid, things were getting blown up left, right and center in the U.K., and one lot was blowing things up and horrendous things happened, and nothing stopped — people just got on with it and carried on. You don't stop. You don't back down from living your life. And that was the message in Sarajevo — that in all the craziness, this little bastion of rock and roll and kind of normality happened, for five minutes, in the middle of it. You know, yeah, you know what? There is light at the end of the tunnel there. So all those kinds of things are acts of defiance, but not involving guns or bombs or bullets and things like that."

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler performed live for the first time with members of the the newly formed ADLER'S APPETITE FEATURING CONSTANTINE MAROULIS band at the the fourth annual "Ride For Ronnie" motorcycle ride and concert, which took place on Sunday, May 6 in Encino, California.

Joining Adler for the "Mr. Brownstone" performance were his ADLER'S APPETITE bandmates Constantine Maroulis (vocals), Carl Restivo (rhythm guitar) and Michael Thomas (lead guitar) along with special guest Tanya O'Callaghan on bass. Check out video footage below (courtesy of Jessica Chase of Metal Horns Social Media Marketing).

Adler, Maroulis, Restivo and Thomas, plus bassist Sean McNabb, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of GNR's classic debut album by performing "Appetite For Destruction" in its entirety on an Australian tour later this month.

Each stop on Adler's Australian tour will feature a question-and-answer session with Steven and his mother, Deanna Adler, steadfast supporter and author of "Sweet Child Of Mine: How I Lost My Son To Guns N' Roses". During the last quarter century, Deanna Adler kept her diaries, journals, and personal letters, as well as a dozen scrapbooks and hundreds of photographs, putting them aside for safekeeping. This is your opportunity to experience the rare personal and emotive journey about raising her son, and the efforts of keeping him alive and herself sane.

Tour dates:

May 16 - Discovery, Darwin

May 17 - The Gov, Adelaide

May 18 - Capitol, Perth

May 19 - The Backroom, Brisbane

May 25 - 170 Russell, Melbourne

May 26 - Max Watts, Sydney

ADLER'S APPETITE FEATURING CONSTANTINE MAROULIS will make its official live debut on May 10 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

"Of course, GUNS N' ROSES was the soundtrack to my youth," Maroulis told Billboard. "To play with Steven has been the highlight of my career. He's a lovely guy, and his playing on 'Appetite [For Destruction]' was second to none, and that sound he made on it defined that whole generation's sound."

Adler stated about the singer: "Let me just fucking tell you something... this guy Constantine, who I call 'Casanova'... he came up to New York and I'm, like, 'Oh my God, I got this great rock and roll singer!' I'm finally working with a real superstar again. I call him 'Casanova' because he's so goddamn sexy. Because he dresses so nice. I wish I was his size so I could double my wardrobe! ... He flew up to New York and within five minutes, I wanted to kick his fuckin' ass! And within 10 minutes, I fell in love with him!"

Adler added: "GUNS N' ROSES are the biggest rock band in the fuckin' world now, and since the guys don't want me to play with them and I love these songs and I'm so proud of them ... now I finally have a singer who can compete with the young Axl Rose. Axl is Axl and Casanova is fuckin' Casanova.... That's all I want. Also, his name isn't 'asshole' it's Axl. It sounds like you're saying 'asshole,' but it's Axl."

Metallica have released pro-shot footage of their … And Justice For All classic “The Shortest Straw”, filmed at Arena Leipzig in Leipzig, Germany on April 30th

Earlier today, Metallica have checked in with the following announcement:

"In March we kicked off the All Within My Hands eBay auctions including autographed memorabilia, music, and Metallica experiences with all proceeds benefiting the foundation. The first two auctions have blown us away! We are so appreciative of the donations we’ve received from Metallica fans around the world. Now round three is underway!

This month’s first featured item is a complete set of the Funko POP! Rocks: Metallica, autographed by all four members of the band. We’re also bringing you a classic… the Live Shit: Binge and Purge VHS Set again, autographed by all four members of Metallica. Yes… you read that right: old school VHS set straight from 1993! Both auctions will end Tuesday, May 8th at 1:30 PM PDT. 

Keep an eye out for new auctions on the first Tuesday of each month and stay tuned to AllWithinMyHands.org as well as the AWMH Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for updates and links to each auction. Are you a collector and want to make sure you don’t miss a thing? Auction alerts won’t always come from the Metallica Mailing List, so sign up for the AWMH Mailing List now to receive notifications each time a new auction begins. All funds raised will be donated to a cross-section of national and local charities and as always, we appreciate all your love and support!"

Last year Metallica announced the formation of All Within My Hands, their foundation that aims to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported them for so many years, as well as encourage participation from fans and friends and facilitate volunteerism among the Metallica family. With that in mind, Metallica today announced their first day of service on Wednesday, May 23rd, inviting Metallica fans across the United States to volunteer for a day at the community food banks the band supported during last summer's North American tour.

In cooperation with Feeding America Metallica made contributions to their local partners in each city they performed in during the 2017 stadium tour. With the aim of continuing to support the fight against hunger, Metallica is encouraging fans to give a few hours of their time on May 23rd to make a difference. Check the list below to find participating food banks and more information about how to sign up to pitch in that day. Each registered volunteer on May 23rd will receive a special All Within My Hands t-shirt commemorating Metallica's first united day of service. Please note that space is limited and fans must register. Unfortunately walk-ins will not be accepted.

For those who do not live near one of the food banks listed on the site or are unavailable on this day, the band encourage visiting Feeding America to find a local food bank in their community.  

For more information and a list of participating food banks, please visit metallica.com and allwithinmyhands.org.  

Fan-filmed video footage of Sebastian Bach's May 5 performance at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland can be seen below (clips uploaded by YouTube user Jennifer Harrell).

Bach recently began "cutting demos" for one of the tunes for his next studio album. According to the former SKID ROW singer, the song was written by former MARILYN MANSON and current ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5, "and it rips."

Sebastian previously stated that "the mission" of his next record "is to capture a cool vibe, and I think that really involves live drummers playing — not just a drum machine, which seems to be too pervasive today in music."

According to Bach, he is still "in the writing and demoing stage" for the follow-up to 2014's "Give 'Em Hell". "I'm in the process of changing record labels," he said. "My manager, Rick Sales, wants me to have a good demo that he can take to people to play for them. Right now we have seven songs. Two of them are by John 5, and I also have Steve Stevens [BILLY IDOL] sending me some tunes, and Billy Morrison [BILLY IDOL]. And Brent Woods [VINCE NEIL]. And we will see which riffs make the cut."

Sebastian also talked about the inspiration for his forthcoming album. He explained: "My tastes have changed a bit since my doctor told me that if I wanna keep my hearing in great shape, I have to turn the music down sometimes. He told me this a couple of years back. And since he told me that, I've taken his advice and I don't crank my music as loud as it will go anymore, and that's all I can tell you. So I've gotta make a record that I like. So I don't think it's gonna be a death metal record; I think it's gonna be more uplifting and fun. And also real people playing real music — that's very important to me."

Bach was particularly thrilled to be once again working with John 5, whom he described as "just incredible. Everybody knows him and he is one of the greatest guitar players in rock and roll.

"Some people always want me to reunite with the old band, but think of it this way — I get to make records with John 5. So that's pretty amazing," he added.

Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which was criticized by some for sounding "too modern" and a departure from his '80s hard rock past.

Sebastian's autobiography, "18 And Life On Skid Row", came out in December 2016 via Dey Street Books (formerly It Books), an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Napalm Records has announced that legendary Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider inked a deal with the label for his upcoming solo album. This opus is entitled For The Love Of Metal and will deliver what its name promises: pure world class metal.

Dee Snider doesn’t need any introduction anymore, right? Influential hard rock legend, reality TV star, Broadway alumni, horror movie director, radio host and as you all know - he is a thoroughbred heavy metal enthusiast.

For The Love Of Metal is produced by Hatebreed vocalist Jamey Jasta and features contributions from Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage), Mark Morton (Lamb Of God), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Joel Grind and Nick Bellmore (Toxic Holocaust) and Charlie Bellmore (Kingdom Of Sorrow). So prepare for a unique masterpiece.

This brand new Dee Snider album will be out this summer.

Dee Snider on the signing: “I am beyond excited to be working with one of the world’s leading labels for heavy music, it’s a perfect home for this album! I believe there’s something for every hard rock and metal fan on this record and I cannot wait to unleash it on the world July 27th!”

Thomas Caser, Managing Director of Napalm Records comments: "We are absolutely delighted to announce this signing today. It’s an honor to work with such an iconic artist such as Dee who lives and breathes METAL! This album is nothing but pure metal and adrenaline!”

Song titles set to appear on the LP include "American Made" and "Lies Are A Business", which will open the disc. More album details coming soon.

Live dates:

August
3-4 - Rejmyre, Sweden - Skogsröjet Festival
10-12 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Metal Festival

Hollywood-based bashers Salems Lott have posted a guitar solo playthrough of their song "Fatal Attraction" from the record, Mask Of Morality. Solo by Jett Black.

Salems Lott recently released a new video for the track Royal Desperado from their new album "Mask Of Morality" released on April 6th.

Check out the brand new music video directed by Ian Moore, produced by UWOWI with photography by Hector Puig:

Salems Lott guitarist Jett has checked in with the following comment:

"Mask Of Morality is the story of the individual vs the bloodthirsty mob. ‘Royal Desperado’ is one of the songs that embodies this tale the most and in the story section of the video we see the elements of re-emerging and rabid tribalism vs individualism. If you're paying attention to western society and it's affinity towards consuming repetitive & tranquilized art with little sign of counter movements in addition to our predilection towards mob justice, you should be very alarmed by our increasing tendency towards resentful, robotic and self-enslaving herd-like behavior that risks demolishing the cornerstone of our society (the individual)."

Fan-filmed video footage of QUEENSRŸCHE's May 5 performance at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland can be seen below (clips uploaded by YouTube user Jennifer Harrell).

For the past year, QUEENSRŸCHE's founding drummer Scott Rockenfield has been taking time off from the band's touring activities to spend time with his young son, who was born in February 2017. Filling in for him is former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo.

Earlier this year, QUEENSRŸCHE entered the studio with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris to begin recording the follow-up to 2015's "Condition Hüman" LP, but has not indicated if Rockenfield was involved with the making of the disc. However, the band did confirm that Grillo did not play on the record, which will mark QUEENSRŸCHE's third full-length release with singer Todd La Torre, following the departure of Geoff Tate in 2012.

Back in December, La Torre spoke to KNAC.COM about where he is getting his lyrical inspirations from for the new QUEENSRŸCHE material. "A lot of the stuff on this, I think, just has to do with, again, the political spectrum and just what's going on in the world," he said. "And QUEENSRŸCHE always injected those kinds of topics in their content. And so a lot of it has to do with just what's going on socially and politically, and globally and these subjects are timeless. So, if you listen to songs from the '60s that have to do with social discourse and stuff like that, it still applies today."

ALICE IN CHAINS has released the official video for its new single, "The One You Know". The song is taken from the band's much-anticipated follow-up to 2013's critically acclaimed album "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here". Due out later this year, the new disc was recorded in part at Henson Studios in Los Angeles with Nick Raskulinecz, who produced both "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" and its predecessor, 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", and was mixed by Joe Barresi (TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE).

Guitarist and co-vocalist Jerry Cantrell told Guitar World about the upcoming LP: "It's not that we were keeping it a secret — we just didn't want to say a whole lot about it until we had something to say. And we certainly have something to say with this one. It's a fucking strong record."

The basic tracks for the new ALICE IN CHAINS album were laid down at Studio X in Seattle, marking the first time the band had recorded in the city in more than 20 years, since tracking its 1995 self-titled album at the same facility back when it was known as Bad Animals. "It was cool to be back, because the studio is a part of our history," Cantrell told Guitar World.

As for the musical direction of the new ALICE IN CHAINS material, Cantrell said: "It's a record we haven't done yet, I can tell you that. But it's also a record that has all the elements of anything you would expect from us. It's got our fingerprint. And we're really proud of the material that we wrote and the performances we captured. There's some really heavy shit, some really ugly stuff, some real beautiful stuff, some weirdo trippy shit… it's good!"

Cantrell also addressed the fact that it has been five years since the release of ALICE IN CHAINS' last album. "It's a lot of work doing a record," he said, "and I think it gets harder the older we get. But we just wait until we're ready and until we have enough material that's up to the ALICE IN CHAINS standard, and then we do what we do. This is just the racket that we make when we get together."

"The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" was the band's second disc with singer William Duvall, who joined in 2006 following the death of Layne Staley.

"The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" sold 62,000 copies in its first week of release. It followed up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue".

The first two singles from "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", "Hollow" and "Stone", both hit No. 1 on the rock radio airplay charts, while the album itself debuted on the Billboard album chart at No. 2.

On June 29, GUNS N' ROSES will reissue its classic 1987 debut album, "Appetite For Destruction", in a "Locked N' Loaded" box via Universal Music Group.

The "Appetite For Destruction: Locked N' Loaded" box is the one true GN'R Holy Grail. The box includes the Super Deluxe Edition with four CDs featuring the album newly remastered for the first time ever; "B-sides N' EPs" newly remastered; the previously unreleased 1986 Sound City Session N' More recordings; a Blu-ray Audio disc with the album, bonus tracks and music videos in brand new 5.1 surround sound along with the unearthed music video for "It's So Easy" originally shot in 1989 but never finished; and a 96-page hardcover book showcasing unseen photos from Axl Rose's personal archive and a wealth of memorabilia.

Among the rare and previously unreleased material are two songs GUNS N' ROSES recorded with producer Mike Clink, "Shadow Of Your Love" — laid down during a trial session that resulted in Clink getting the production job — and an acoustic version of "Move To The City", which was recorded during the "GN'R Lies" sessions. Additional highlights of the unreleased audio include the first two work-in-progress recording attempts of the 1991 epic masterpiece "November Rain" which was originally penned as the ballad for "Appetite", covers of songs like Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel", AEROSMITH's "Mama Kin", two distinctly different recordings of THE ROLLING STONES' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (one electric, one acoustic) and two never-finished tracks/jams, "The Plague" and "New Work Tune".

On the vinyl front, the original "Appetite For Destruction" album has been broadened to 2LPs for the first time, including expanded gatefold jacket art and a limited-edition foil printed plastic slipcase. The music itself is being presented on three sides only for maximum audio fidelity, with the fourth side featuring a vinyl Hologroove Hologram of the band's iconic logo. Seven seven-inch singles are also included: the five original singles from the album, plus one for "Patience" and a new song, the aforementioned "Shadow Of Your Love". All of the bonus tracks appearing on 12-inch vinyl will only be available in the "Locked N' Loaded" box, including a reissue of the band's first EP, "Live ?!*@ Like A Suicide".

Watch the official lyric video for "Shadow Of Your Love" below. Also available is the official "Locked N' Loaded" unboxing video.

"Appetite For Destruction: Locked N' Loaded" track listing:

Disc One - Appetite For Destruction

01. Welcome To The Jungle

02. It's So Easy

03. Nightrain

04. Out Ta Get Me

05. Mr. Brownstone

06. Paradise City

07. My Michelle

08. Think About You

09. Sweet Child O' Mine

10. You're Crazy

11. Anything Goes

12. Rocket Queen

Disc Two - B-sides N' EPs

01. Reckless Life

02. Nice Boys

03. Move To The City (Live)

04. Mama Kin

05. Shadow Of Your Love (Live)

06. You're Crazy (Acoustic Version)

07. Patience

08. Used To Love Her

09. You're Crazy

10. It's So Easy (Live)

11. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Live)

12. Whole Lotta Rosie (Live)

Disc Three - 1986 Sound City Session

01. Welcome To The Jungle (1986 Sound City Session)

02. Nightrain (1986 Sound City Session)

03. Out Ta Get Me (1986 Sound City Session)

04. Paradise City (1986 Sound City Session)

05. My Michelle (1986 Sound City Session)

06. Think About You (1986 Sound City Session)

07. You're Crazy (1986 Sound City Session)

08. Anything Goes (1986 Sound City Session)

09. Rocket Queen (1986 Sound City Session)

10. Shadow Of Your Love (1986 Sound City Session)

11. Heartbreak Hotel (1986 Sound City Session)

12. Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986 Sound City Session)

Disc Four - 1986 Sound City Session N' More

01. Shadow Of Your Love

02. Move To The City (1986 Sound City Session)

03. Ain't Goin' Down No More (Instrumental Version - 1986 Sound City Session)

04. The Plague (1986 Sound City Session)

05. Nice Boys (1986 Sound City Session)

06. Back Off Bitch (1986 Sound City Session)

07. Reckless Life (1986 Sound City Session)

08. Mama Kin (1986 Sound City Session)

09. New Work Tune (1986 Sound City Session)

10. November Rain (Piano Version - 1986 Sound City Session)

11. Move To The City (Acoustic Version - 1986 Sound City Session)

12. You're Crazy (Acoustic Version - 1986 Sound City Session)

13. November Rain (Acoustic Version - 1986 Sound City Session)

14. Jumpin' Jack Flash (Acoustic Version- 1986 Sound City Session)

15. Move To The City (1988 Acoustic Version)

Blu-Ray Audio

01. Welcome To The Jungle

02. It's So Easy

03. Nightrain

04. Out Ta Get Me

05. Mr. Brownstone

06. Paradise City

07. My Michelle

08. Think About You

09. Sweet Child O' Mine

10. You're Crazy

11. Anything Goes

12. Rocket Queen

Bonus Tracks

01. Shadow Of Your Love

02. Patience

03. Used To Love Her

04. You're Crazy

05. Move To The City (1988 Acoustic Version)

Music Videos

01. Welcome To The Jungle

02. Sweet Child O' Mine

03. Paradise City

04. Patience

05. It's So Easy (Brand New Video From 1989)

Female vocalist Pamela Moore, who is best known for her performance as Sister Mary on QUEENSRŸCHE's 1988 epic release "Operation: Mindcrime" and 2006's sequel "Operation: Mindcrime II", has just released a new album, "Behind The Veil".

A team of masterful musicians helped bring this masterpiece to life: Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE) on bass, Casey Grillo (KAMELOT, QUEENSRŸCHE) on drums, Michael Posch on guitar and orchestration and newcomer Craig Church on guitar and orchestration. The record also features special guest appearances by Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR), Randy Piper (W.A.S.P.) and Elliot Anders.

"I am very grateful and deeply honored to have such amazingly talented friends who agreed to join me on this album," Pamela said.

"'Behind The Veil' is by far my most personal work yet. The sudden loss of my mother really hit home and left me asking some very difficult questions. It was a reality check of sorts and that's what I would say 'Behind The Veil' has become... a reality check.

"Life is short. Don't waste it. Run for your life and always be grateful that you still can run!"

Moore is a proven musical powerhouse and veteran entertainer. A native of Seattle, Washington, Pamela moved to New York City in the late nineties to become the singer for RADAR, recording the band's 2000 release, 'R.P.M." When RADAR dissolved in 2001, Pamela returned to the Pacific Northwest. Pamela continued following her passion, making guest appearances on various albums in the next decade. Pamela also toured with QUEENSRŸCHE between 2003 and 2008 as a featured vocalist and stage actress. That tour reignited Pamela's desire to record her own album, and she began writing songs with former RORSCHACH TEST guitarist Benjamin Anderson. The two found instant chemistry as Pamela's lyrics and melodies brought Anderson's musical ideas to life. "Stories From A Blue Room", released in 2006 under Planet Sweet Records, was the compelling result. The eleven-track album featured guest vocals from Terri Nunn (BERLIN) and contributions from guitarists Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE) and Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE).

After touring extensively with QUEENSRŸCHE, Pamela took her time finding the perfect collaborators for her next album, "Resurrect Me". Chicago-based guitarist Michael Posch (RADAKKA) provided potent, addictive metal grooves and soundscapes. Combined with Pamela's stylistic, emotive power vocals and inquisitive lyrics, they created pure metal magic. "Resurrect Me" was released in 2013, with very happy fans across the globe.

"Behind The Veil" track listing:

01. Rise

02. Sickness

03. Beneath The Voodoo Marsh

04. My Eternal

05. Slow Burn

06. WiFi Zombies

07. These Scars

08. Just Breathe

09. Undertow

10. Run

Joey Severance, frontman for Finland-based Tornado, has checked in with the following update:

"Dear Friends! I am excited to share with you the cover of the forthcoming new Tornado album. This cover was created by DigitalRowye and as you can see, it's right up our alley! We are extremely proud of this record and can't wait for you to hear it."

Tornado - Commitment To Excellence tracklist:

"A Minute Of Nothing"
"White Horse Of The Apocalypse" (Solo: Karl Sanders/Nile. Additional Vocals: Niko Kalliojärvi/ex-Amoral)
"Global Pandemic"
"Spirit And Opportunity" (Additional Vocals: Ross Dolan/Immolation)
"The Flight Of Yuri Gagarin"
"Endless Forms Of Torment" (Additional Solo: Adam Phillips/Pro-Pain)
"Through Difficulties To Victory"
"Supremacy
"Chaos Among The Ruins"
"United Forces (S.O.D. Cover)
"At The Chapel Of Rest (Additional Solo: Glen Drover/ex. Megadeth)

Tornado:
Superstar Joey Severance - vocals
Tommy Shred - guitar
Henri Steel - bass
Jimmy Grey - drums

UK-based doom pop band Courtesans have checked in with the following update:

"We recently recorded a couple of tracks acoustically, here is one of the results....a song destined for our new album, 'Walking On Waves'." 

The clip below is an exclusive interview with Sinead La Bella, Saffire Sanchez, Agnes Jones of Courtesans for the radio show Louder with Ore B on Rhino Radio (RhinoRadio.co.uk). It was conducted in Birmingham, England on December 6th, 2017. During the interview they discuss the effects of bullying and supporting the Sophie Lancaster Foundadtion, which was launched after 20 year-old Sophie Lancaster was beaten to death in August 2007 for looking "different."

Following the release of their acclaimed debut album 1917 and 2016's successful Pledge Music campaign, Courtesans released their 5-song EP, Better Safe Than Sober, on March 31st, 2017. Check out "Feel The Same" below, the second music video to be taken from the EP

The Courtesans on "Feel The Same" - "A tale of deception, desperation and resignation. It’s about a hollow belief in other people’s honour, honesty and good intentions when dealing with your emotions.Holding on to what you thought you were told was true but being confronted with the chilling reality of having been lied to and then left alone to battle the pain of understanding the lies you were spun, questioning everything you thought was real."