Drumeo has shared a new video along with the following message:


"Watch Tommy Aldridge perform 'Still Of The Night' by Whitesnake. This track is from Whitesnake's self-titled album released in 1987 – with drums originally recorded by Aynsley Dunbar. This performance features Tommy Aldridge's powerful and precise drumming, intricate cymbal work, and dynamic fills, which showcase his exceptional technical skill and energy behind the kit."







In 2023, Drumeo shared an hour-long clip featuring Aldridge going through breakdowns on key Whitesnake and Ozzy fills. Find out what it was like working with Randy Rhoads ('You couldn't make it heavy enough for Randy'), and watch the Bonham fan perform some of his favorite tunes.

Rising Polish black metal band Odium Humani Generis will release their second full-length album Międzyczas via Malignant Voices on September 27, 2024 in CD, vinyl and digital formats. Preorder here.


Get a first taste of the album with the title track “Międzyczas”.


Międzyczas is an evolution of Odium Humani Generis’ sound which started with 2020’s debut album Przeddzień (Cult of Parthenope) and 2022’s EP Zarzewie (Folter Records). The album is a journey that moves through the emotional stages of fear, disappointment, sadness and loneliness resounding in every song. Listeners may notice influences from bands such as Taake, Drudkh, Lifelover, Sacrilegium, Vemod or Furia; however, Odium Humani Generis goes a step further, adding subtle but clear references to sounds outside of the traditional spheres of black metal. Despite its melancholic character, the album is full of energetic moments that break the dark, introspective parts and give the music intensity.




Międzyczas was recorded with Mariusz Konieczny at Heavy Gear Studio, and the album was mixed and mastered by The Fall (Owls Woods Graves, Hauntologist, Mgła (live)) at Skrzypłocz Studio. The unique graphic design was created by Emilia Śpiewak, and the band photos were taken by Radosław Chojnacki.





Tracklisting:


“Lustro”
“Idée Fixe”
“Międzyczas”
“Popłoch”
“Drogowskaz”
“Jarzmo”
“Granice”


“Międzyczas”:





Odium Humani Generis are: 
Biały – Guitars, Vocals
Ominous – Guitars
Bartos – Bass
Murukh – Drums

Since 2003, Brazil’s Paradise In Flames has been shattering boundaries and spreading its identity-filled sound infused with blazing notes of pure hatred to audiences far and wide. Their latest concept album Blindness is out now, complemented with a music video for the single “Black Wings”. The single mixes Brazilian folk elements with a direct reference to forró (regional Brazilian musical style). It rescues the pre-epidemic period of history, presenting the protagonist: Black Wings and her life story.





Coined as extreme philosophical symphonic protester metal, they have been honing their identity since their 2021 album Act One and have matured and improved since then, intertwining Brazilian bossa nova, death metal, and black metal.




Blindness tells the story of a philosophical work that portrays religion as a psychological illness, illustrating how men become blind in the pursuit of power. Lyrically, the songs revolve around a single plot inspired by the book by Jose Saramago. The musical structure creates an operatic scenario, where characters interact within a symphonic plot characterized by rapid pace and melodious themes. It is recommended for fans of Satyricon, Dark Funeral, and Batushka.





“This album proved to be the most challenging of our career, as it required a strong correlation between the music and lyrics. The concept was to have one set of lyrics for all 11 tracks, ensuring each song had a logical sequence while collectively creating an engaging atmosphere to captivate the listener. We believe that we successfully achieved our objectives with this album. In the physical CD and LP versions, listeners will be able to enjoy following along with the lyrics in hand, allowing them to seamlessly experience the album’s narrative in its entirety,” adds the band.


Order on Bandcamp.

Spanish rock band Strangers have unveiled their new single and the accompanying official video “Flames”, out today via Frontiers Music Srl.


Speaking about the track, the band stated: “Unleashing a wildfire of energy, the latest single from Strangers ignites the scene with a great anthem that sets the stage ablaze! Here it goes: Flames.”







Strangers, born in Madrid in 2012, was founded by Miguel Martin and Abel Ramos. Strangers have recorded and published three studio albums; Emotions (2013), Survival (2015) mixed and mastered by Erik Martensson and Brand New Start (2019) mastered by Dave Donnelly in Los Angeles.


After some lineup changes, Strangers decided to join forces with Celia Barloz as frontwoman. Celia, in addition to be a brilliant vocal coach, had already been collaborating with the band as backing vocals in live shows and some recorded vocals on Brand New Start. Strangers faces this new phase with a renewed sound.


Strangers recorded their most recent EP, Whispers in KV62 Studios, mixed and mastered by Andy C. during Summer 2023. Their latest single, “With You”, was released on May 8, 2024.


As a talented frontwoman, Celia Barloz will be inspiring a new generation with her passion, determination, and undeniable talent. With a beautiful and heartwarming voice, Celia's journey is only beginning, and the future of rock music looks brighter with each note she sings.





Lineup:
Celia Barloz - vocals
Miguel Martín - guitar
Abel Ramos - drums
César Chacón - bass


(Photo – Javier Ender Revan)

Rocker Mitch Malloy (ex-Great White) has shared footage from a recent concert, featuring his performance of "Hold The Line", the 1978 song featured on Toto's self-titled debut studio album.


Says Mitch: "Luke never officially asked me to join Toto but expressed he’d wanted me to be their singer at one point along the way and we’ve been pals ever since. It’s a funny story I tell live. I LOVE Toto and Steve Lukather."







After several years as the frontman for the Great White, Mitch returned to the studio writing and recording his new album, The Last Song. Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"I’m Living In Paradise"
"One Of A Kind"
"Using This Song"
"My Pleasure"
"Building A Bridge"
"I’ll Find A Way"
"Sometimes Love"
"You’re The Brightest Star"
"I See You"
"The Last Song"

In a new interview with NME, Pete Townshend talks about his new Quadrophenia ballet, and reveals his thoughts on researching setlists, and if more music and live shows from The Who are likely. An excerpt follows...


NME: Might hologram shows be something in The Who’s future?


Pete Townshend: “If somebody wants to do it I don’t know that I would stop them, but they’re not gonna get me in one of those grids.”




NME ‘Who’ [2019] was a fitting addition to the band’s album canon – what are the chances of there being more?


Townshend: “I don’t think there is. If there was a need or a place for a Who album, could I write the songs for it within six weeks? Of course I fucking could, it’s a piece of cake. The problem is I don’t think Roger wants to do it again. For me it would be a joy because I love writing songs, I love writing to a brief, I love having a commission, I love having a deadline and I love the feedback.


“I was so pleased that the critical response to the last Who album was so positive, I wasn’t expecting that and I was grateful for it and inspired by it. So where I am at the moment is I’m thinking ‘well, I might write the songs and then say to Roger, either you sing on them or I’m gonna put them out as a solo album and Who fans will love me for it.”


NME: Does it make financial sense anymore for major established acts to make new albums?


Townshend: “Haha! It’s never been about the money. The Who never made any money from fucking records anyway. Our managers were criminals. I’d never seen a Who royalty statement prior to our first audit, which we did while we were making Quadrophenia. It emerged that Kit Lambert had stolen all of my Italian publishing royalties to buy himself a palace in Venice. There are black swans in our business, and they’re the ones that always mop up all the money.


“Look at the legendary Jimi Hendrix, I saw him in LA in the last two weeks of his life. He was happy, he was really nice to me, and he hadn’t been always in the past. I said, ‘How you doing?’ and he said, ‘Pete, I’m broke’. He was huge, and he was broke. [But] we didn’t give a fuck about the money. I lived in a little house in Twickenham by the Thames, I was happy to be by the water. I had one car. I had a tiny little studio, I was really happy. I had a beautiful wife, lovely kids, great friends and never wanted for anything really, except some time to myself and some time to have with my family. So today I’ve got a sense that I’m lucky to be here and be fit enough to walk around the block and to work with younger musicians, to do some producing and mentoring.


“I’ve been thinking about whether or not I should try to come in sideways to Kier Starmer and say, ‘Listen, I’m a long-term Labour supporter, and I want to know who the fuck you are’. But,‘No Pete, no Pete, don’t do it, you’ll get used’. Because they use you for whatever it is that they want to use you for. Politicians often use you so that they can blame you for something that really should be blamed on them. So I’m enjoying my life at the moment.”


Read more at NME.





Meet the new generation...


In 1973, guitar-smashing rock genius Pete Townshend wrote the epic album, Quadrophenia. Recorded by The Who, it quickly became an iconic and multi-million selling album. Quadrophenia defined a generation and in 1979 inspired the cult classic feature film of the same name.


Now it’s back - this time as an explosive dance production - Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet with a large cast of exceptional dancers, introducing new audiences to troubled mod Jimmy’s story while remaining true in spirit to the much-loved original.


Quadrophenia is steeped in the mythology of the 1960s - sharp suits, soul music, vespas and parkas but its themes of lost youth, rebellion, the search for belonging and hunger for social change are just as urgent today. A rich, orchestral version of the album by Rachel Fuller, first heard in concert version at The Royal Albert Hall and recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the backdrop for this adrenaline filled rollercoaster ride.


Choreographer Paul Roberts and Director Rob Ashford bring together some of the UK’s finest creative talent from the worlds of music, theatre, film and dance. With original costumes by renowned British fashion house Paul Smith and Natalie Pryce, projection by Nick Hillel and lighting design by Fabiana Piccioli.


Prepare to be blown away as the power of dance brings a whole new dimension to the raw energy and emotion of one of the UK’s most iconic rock albums.





Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet


Writer - Pete Townshend
Choreographer - Paul Roberts
Director - Rob Ashford
Orchestration - Rachel Fuller and Martin Batchelar
Costume Design - Paul Smith, Natalie Pryce
Projection - Nick Hillel
Lighting Design - Fabiana Piccioli


Touring the UK before opening at Sadler’s Wells - June 24-July 13.


Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet UK Tour 2025


May 28 - June 1 - Plymouth, England - Theatre Royal Plymouth
June 10 - 14 - Edinburgh, Scotland -  Edinburgh Festival Theatre
June 18 - 21 - Southampton, England - Mayflower Theatre
June 24 - July 13 - London, England - Sadler’s Wells
July 15 - 19 - Salford, England - The Lowry


Tickets on sale


• Patrons Sadler’s Wells from 10 AM, June 28, 2024
• Who Fan Club and Mailing List from 10 AM, July 1, 2024
• General Public from 10 AM, July 5, 2024


Watch a video trailer below, and find more information at modballet.com.

Deep Purple delighted fans in Istanbul with a thrilling performance last night (June 26) at Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park in Istanbul, Turkey, reports Türkiye Today.


Led by founding vocalist Ian Gillan, the lineup included Simon McBride on guitar, Roger Glover on bass guitar, Ian Paice on drums, and Don Airey on keyboards. The concert opened with their iconic hit “Highway Star,” followed by a lineup that included favorites such as “A Bit On The Side,” “Hard Lovin’ Man,” “Into The Fire,” “Portable Door,” “Anya,” and the timeless classic “Smoke On The Water.”


Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, vocalist Ian Gillan expressed his joy at returning to Istanbul, saying, “It’s wonderful to be back in Istanbul. We feel incredible energy from you on stage. We love you all.”




During the performance, keyboardist Don Airey paid tribute to Jon Lord, a founding member who passed away in 2012, with the song “Uncommon Man.” Airey’s keyboard solo, which incorporated Mozart’s “Turkish March” and Türkiye’s national anthem, "Independence March,” received thunderous applause from the audience.


Read more and see photos from the show at Türkiye Today. Fan-filmed video footage can be viewed below:





This summer, a new chapter is set to be written in the Deep Purple story. The new album, =1, is on its way, and it comes with 60 minutes of never-before-seen footage.


Join Deep Purple backstage on tour in their new documentary, Access All Areas. Subtitles are available in English, German, Spanish and French. The bonus DVD is exclusively included in the limited-edition =1 CD+DVD Digipak and limited-edition =1 box set.


Watch a trailer below:





Deep Purple recently released "Pictures Of You", the second single from their upcoming album, =1.





An update from Deep Purple states: "Enjoy an exclusive look behind-the-scenes! Be the first to see our brand-new pictures from the 'Pictures Of You' video shoot."


Photos below by Timo Jäger:

















"Pictures Of You" is now available for streaming and as instant gratification track with all digital download pre-orders for the new album. Additionally, the single is offered as part of a four-track bundle which features two previously unreleased live recordings from 2022 in Milan, Italy: "When A Blind Man Cries" and "Uncommon Man".


Listen to "Pictures Of You" here.





For collectors, the excitement continues as the physical pre-sale of "Pictures Of You" is underway. The single will be released on CD and 12” vinyl on June 28, with each format being strictly limited to 5,000 pieces worldwide, and each copy being hand-numbered. Order here.


Accompanying the new single release, the official music video for "Pictures Of You" can be viewed below:





The enigmatic album title =1 encapsulates the band’s philosophy of unity amidst complexity, promising an album that resonates deeply with their five decades spanning hard rock legacy.


In a recent interview regarding the sonic direction of their upcoming album, Simon McBride shared insights, saying: “The new album will reflect what the five of us create in the rehearsal room. Many of the songs, like ‘Portable Door’, were written in the first sessions and literally came together in 5 or 10 minutes. It all was so easy and natural.”


Ian Gillan, highlighting the organic nature of Deep Purple’s song writing, added: “Throughout Deep Purple’s history, our best songs have always been those that were written in no time at all. We’ve played what felt good and developed songs as we have always done.”


The enigmatic title =1 symbolizes the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one. Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris, and Berlin in recent days.


With three consecutive No.1 albums in their back pocket, this is Deep Purple at their pinnacle. Now WHAT?! (2013), inFinite (2017), and Whoosh! (2020) have sold over one million copies worldwide, making Deep Purple one of the most successful rock bands currently active. The latest studio album, Whoosh!, reached #1 on the album charts in 7 countries and charted in the top 10 in another 12.


Taking the US by storm this summer Deep Purple will be shaking the walls of arenas, with an explosive lineup of unforgettable hits taken from their repertoire of rock spanning over half a century.





=1 will be released on July 19 via earMUSIC as Ltd. CD+DVD (Digipak), CD (Jewelcase), 2LP Gatefold (black, 180g), Ltd. Purple 2LP Gatefold (180g), Ltd. Crystal Clear 2LP (180g) and Ltd. Box Set (CD+DVD Digipak, 2LP black Gatefold, 3x exclusive 10” vinyl editions feat. live recordings from Deep Purple’s 2022 tour, exclusive Collector’s T-shirt, 2x exclusive guitar picks, 1x exclusive art print, 1x exclusive lanyard, and the chance to win a Golden Ticket giving access to all shows on the Deep Purple =1 More Time tour).


All LPs include a rich 12-page vinyl sized booklet. The bonus DVD features the approx. 60min documentary ‘Access All Areas’ joining Deep Purple backstage on tour and providing an exclusive look behind the scenes.


Further exclusive items are available via the official album store (here): Ltd. 2LP Picture Disc, Ltd. Cassette, strictly limited canvas signed by all band members - limited to 50 items only and various other merchandise items.





Tracklisting:


"Show Me"
"A Bit On The Side"
"Sharp Shooter"
"Portable Door"
"Old-Fangled Thing"
"If I Were You"
"Pictures Of You"
"I’m Saying Nothin’"
"Lazy Sod"
"Now You’re Talkin’"
"No Money To Burn"
"I’ll Catch You"
"Bleeding Obvious"


"Portable Door" video:





=1 More Time tour dates:


August
14 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live
15 - Tampa, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
17 - The Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
18 - Durant, OK - Choctaw Casino - Grand Theater
19 - Fort Worth, TX - Dickies Arena
21 - Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
22 - Sterling Heights, MI - Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
23 - Tinley Park, IL - Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
25 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage
27 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
28 - Gilford, NH - BankNH Pavilion
30 - Camden, NJ - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
31 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center


September
1 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
3 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
4 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Broadview Stage at SPAC
6 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
7 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
8 - Scranton, PA - The Pavilion at Montage Mountain


Tickets are available at deeppurple.com.


(Photo - Ben Wolf)

Earlier this year, members of ICE NINE KILLS and FROM ASHES TO NEW formed a brand new band called HILLHAVEN. Today, they have shared the official video for their third track "GAPS". It follows the buzzy prior singles "Damned To Dream" and "The God You Think You Are".

"GAPS" is a slight change of pace for the band, but still captures who the HILLHAVEN is at its core.

"This song was quite literally the conception of HILLHAVEN," says vocalist Chris Kelly. "I had originally written it for another project, but when that didn't work out, I sent it to Maty [Madiro, drums] and, almost immediately, the conversation became one about starting something new. The thought was exciting, but terrifying at the same time."

He continues, explaining: "I had never been a frontman, I was VERY new to writing lyrics, and this was going to involve a level of vulnerability that would surely push beyond my comfort zone. Still, though, it was a no-brainer — having the chance to make something fresh with guys at this level. A lot of HILLHAVEN's lyrics are deeply cathartic, covering darker subjects as a way of healing. This is one of the hopeful songs.

Kelly finishes: "It's got a little more of a 'feel-good' vibe than the last two songs we've put out and I think listeners are gonna dig that. The usual 'doom and gloom' lyricism in rock and metal can be a little numbing at times, so it's nice to throw some positivity into the mix."

The lineup is comprised of the aforementioned Kelly (ALUSTRIUM, ex-GALACTIC EMPIRE, and who is rumored to play for BABYMETAL's band) on vocals, as well as FROM ASHES TO NEW's Maty Madiro on drums; ICE NINE KILLS' Ricky Armellino on guitars; live FROM ASHES TO NEW member Jimmy Bennett on guitars; and bassist Jaime GoWell.

MEGADETH played the song "Kick The Chair" live for the first time since 2009 this past Monday night (June 24) at Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

"Kick The Chair" appeared on MEGADETH's tenth studio album, "The System Has Failed", which came out in September 2004. The LP was MEGADETH's first to be released after frontman Dave Mustaine recovered from his arm injury sustained in 2002. It was also the first MEGADETH studio album to not include original bassist David Ellefson.

In addition to Mustaine, "The System Has Failed" featured former MEGADETH member Chris Poland (guitar),who previously performed on "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" (1985) and "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" (1986),as well as session drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist Jimmie Lee Sloas.

MEGADETH recently announced a North American tour "Destroy All Enemies", produced by Live Nation. Support on the 33-city trek, which includes stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston and St. Louis, will come from MUDVAYNE and ALL THAT REMAINS. The tour begins in Rogers, Arkansas on August 2 and runs throughout the month before wrapping in Nashville, Tennessee on September 28.

Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH last September after the band's longtime axeman Kiko Loureiro, announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that Mäntysaari would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

The 37-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

MEGADETH played its first concert with Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.

Since its inception in 1983, MEGADETH has ascended from its raw thrash metal roots to become an unstoppable force in the heavy metal world. With founder Dave Mustaine at the helm, MEGADETH's journey has been marked by a penchant for pushing the boundaries of speed, technicality, and complexity in their music. Their groundbreaking album "Rust In Peace", released in 1990, is frequently cited as a seminal work in the thrash metal genre. Along with the critically acclaimed "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?", it cemented MEGADETH's place in the annals of metal history.

Over four decades, the band's discography has earned numerous certifications, including platinum and multi-platinum awards, with albums like "Countdown To Extinction" and "Youthanasia" achieving widespread critical acclaim. 2016's "Dystopia" not only marked a high point with their first Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" after twelve nominations but also set the stage for their latest triumph, "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" in 2022. MEGADETH's status as part of the "Big Four" of thrash metal underscores their trailblazing role in the genre, laying the groundwork for countless bands and musicians who have followed in their wake.

In a new interview with Revolver magazine, SLIPKNOT co-founder and percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) was asked when fans can expect to hear some new music from him and his bandmates. He responded: "Well, one thing I can say is this: There's always going to be new SLIPKNOT music. But we've also said that there is a filter, and we are the filter, and that filter must go through everyone. And when I was telling you that we're doing a lot better communicating, now apply that to communicating about music. I can say that there's gonna be music sooner than you can imagine, delivered to you in a way you can't imagine. And I'm excited because we're not on a label. And there's a lot of dismay with that, you know what I mean? But there's also a lot of middle fingers with that. I love it, you know? Come and get us, or we'll come to get you."

Asked if SLIPKNOT will be putting out the new music independently or if the band is seeking a new label home after being on Roadrunner Records for nearly a quarter century, Crahan said: "What I can tell you is that we've already been motivating around creating music, because of the love of doing it. So you're gonna get music really soon. And if I can have a loud voice in it, I will make sure that we have at least a good amount of music put out before we do anything with anybody. Now, I don't hate labels. In fact, I'm from the generation of record deals and producers and pre-producing your album and cutting to two-inch tape. So, I have a fantasy with all that; I like it when we can just book our plane tickets and go rock out in the studio. If we don't go with a label, we're gonna have to do all that ourselves, which might mean hiring some people to help pick up the loose ends, which makes it a business — and I'm not sure we're interested in opening up another business. But I am interested in understanding what it means to go directly from our brains to your brain with nobody in the way; I'm interested in that potential."

Last month, SLIPKNOT revealed that a new song "Long May You Die" was recorded during recent sessions with the band's latest addition, former SEPULTURA drummer Eloy Casagrande.

In an interview with Brazil's Veja São Paulo, Eloy hinted that he and his new bandmates had worked on new material together, saying: "I think that was also part of the audition. They threw new ideas at me to see what my songwriting was like," he said. "They wanted to test me in every way."

However, Casagrande clarified that "I'm still trying to understand how the dynamics of the band work. It's not so clear yet how things work in terms of records and new songs. We've written a few things, and they're shelved for the time being.

"I don't think there’s any pressure to record new material," he added. "But I'm sure they want to, I don't know when, because right now the band is focused on celebrating its 25th anniversary."

SLIPKNOT has played a handful of shows so far with Casagrande, including on April 25 at Pappy + Harriet's in Pioneertown, California, April 27 at Sick New World in Las Vegas, Nevada and May 12 at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida.

For all the gigs so far in 2024, SLIPKNOT adopted a classic look, bringing back the 1999 red jumpsuits and elements of their early masks into their modern versions, tying into the fact that SLIPKNOT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

After parting ways with Jay Weinberg last November, SLIPKNOT teased fans with a hint about a new drummer four months ago, posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption "Rehearsal."

The band explained in a statement that the split with Weinberg was a creative decision. Jay followed up with a statement of his own, saying that he was "heartbroken and blindsided" by his dismissal.

Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.

Casagrande abruptly quit SEPULTURA nearly five months ago, shortly before he was supposed to begin rehearsals for the band's recently launched 40th-anniversary farewell tour.

"February 6th, a few days prior to the first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed the band that he was leaving SEPULTURA to pursue a career in another project," the band said in a statement.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA nearly 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.

SLIPKNOT's latest album "The End, So Far", arrived in August 2022. It marked the band's the last full-length LP before the departure of both keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the group in June 2023, and Weinberg.

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello joined JANE'S ADDICTION on stage last night (Tuesday, June 25) at Carlswerk Victoria in Cologne, Germany to perform the songs "Mountain Song" and "Chip Away". Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

During an October 2021 appearance on the "Tuna On Toast With Stryker" podcast, Morello offered up some high praise for JANE'S ADDICTION, declaring that the Perry Farrell-fronted group "redeemed hard rock and metal music."

Morello first discovered JANE'S ADDICTION in the late 1980s. "They had made 'Nothing's Shocking', but 'Nothing's Shocking' hadn't come out," Morello recalled. "And I snuck into a JANE'S rehearsal and I was a big fan of them."

The future RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE rocker was floored by what JANE'S ADDICTION brought to the table. "They were it," he declared. "Because what they did — along with a couple other bands, I'd credit SOUNDGARDEN and LIVING COLOUR on sort of a short list — is they redeemed hard rock and metal music. All of us who loved hard rock music but were somewhat embarrassed by the devil stuff and the groupie stuff and that, all of a sudden there were bands that were kicking my ass just as hard, just as hard as [BLACK] SABBATH and AC/DC and LED ZEPPELIN, but there was like an artistic and intellectual content and a poetic content to it. And so I was all in on JANE'S."

Morello later recalled an instance when he and his previous band, LOCK UP, impersonated JANE'S ADDICTION at a JANE'S ADDICTION concert.

"The lights go down, the crowd roars, and out on stage comes me in a Dave Navarro wig," Morello explained. His band would get though roughly half a song before the real JANE'S ADDICTION came out.

"I remember the feeling. I'd been to a lot of shows, but I remember the feeling that I got from the crowd," he said. "There are bands that people like, there are bands that people love, and then there are bands that people believe in. And the intensity off of that crowd — it wasn't for me, I was an imposter! But I felt that kind of, almost like religious intensity."

Although NIRVANA is credited with being the first "alternative" band to break out into huge mainstream success, Morello has taken issue with that. Speaking at the 2011 induction of JANE'S ADDICTION into the Guitar Center RockWalk in Hollywood, Morello argued: "NIRVANA often gets credit for being the first 'alternative' band to break through, the band that changed music and led rock out of the hair metal wilderness of the '80s. That's just not true. It was JANE'S ADDICTION: inspiring, intelligent, furiously rocking and artistically deep."

Perry Farrell said after Morello's speech, "That speech made me sound so damn good, I don't need to look in the mirror ever again. Just play that over and over every morning."

The classic lineup of JANE'S ADDICTION performed live for the first time since 2010 in late May at London, England's Bush Hall.

Guitarist Dave Navarro returned to the band for the first time in three years after long COVID forced him to take a break from touring.

While Navarro was away from JANE'S ADDICTION, bassist Eric Avery, who rejoined in 2022, vocalist Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins recruited Josh Klinghoffer and Troy Van Leeuwen to fill in for the guitarist on various tours.

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A post shared by Stephen Perkins (@stephenperkinsdrummer)



Posted by Wizard Live on Wednesday, December 6, 2023

DEF LEPPARD has shared the official music video for the band's latest single, "Just Like 73". The track features a guest guitar solo from Tom Morello.

During an appearance on the June 20 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen stated about "Just Like 73": "We started it when we were doing [2022's] 'Diamond Star Halos' [album], and anyone who doesn't know, that's a line from a Marc Bolan song [from] T. REX. He says 'hubcap diamond star halo'. And me and Joe [Elliott, DEF LEPPARD singer] have always used that phrase to describe the time that we got really baptized into music. I remember seeing [David] Bowie on 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' and 'Top Of The Pops' and was, like, 'Oh my God. This is my guy.' I was, like, 14 or 15. I'd already seen DEEP PURPLE; it my first concert, which was amazing. So, then all of a sudden this glam stuff came out. So we would always describe that as 'Diamond Star Halos'."

Phil continued: "I was writing a song with Dave Bassett, who I wrote 'Kick' with. And the same deal — I really want to put a SLADE slant on the backing vocals and just make it very much about '72 or '73. And Joe heard the demo and he's, like, 'Why can't you have both?' So we did, and then Joe started writing some lyrics because he's obviously really tapped into that, and all the verse lyrics and all the imagery from exactly that 'Diamond Star Halos' period ends up on this song. We actually hadn't finished it, so the rest of the band hadn't even heard the demo, and we played it to everyone and they all loved it. They all put their stuff on it. Viv [guitarist Vivian Campbell] played guitar, Sav [Rick Savage] did [his bass tracks], Rick [Allen, DEF LEPPARD drummer] put his part on and then we had some vocals — everyone had sung on it — and before you know it, it came out like this. So, we're really thrilled. It actually sounds better than the stuff on 'Diamond Star Halos', to my ears. So I'm really excited about that. And it seems that everyone really digs it as well."

Asked if this is a one-off single or the seed of another DEF LEPPARD full-length album, Phil said: "Oh, it's absolutely the seed of another DEF LEPPARD record. I mean, it was a leftover from the album before, but it was also the start of a new album. So, without a doubt. [Joe and I] write all the time. We send each other things. Sav gets in on there. Just between the three of us, there's just a lot of stuff floating around already. So we've, yeah, got a bunch of stuff. It's really exciting. And it's a great place to be. It's never that thing where, 'Well, we've got to sit down and write an album.' It's, like, 'Wow, I can't wait to play this to the guys and see what the reaction is.' And we keep pushing the boat out even further."

Regarding whether he envisions a new DEF LEPPARD full-length album coming out this year, Phil said: "This year would be pushing it, I think this year. But once we kind of get into the groove, I think — yeah. Who knows? Next year [or] early the year after. But you know how these things go. We have these tours and everything, but we've got a new song. So that's really exciting. So that'll be on the go pretty soon."

"Just Like 73" will arrive on seven-inch vinyl on August 2, 2024 and will be available in a special color variant only through the band's D2C store and in black at all retailers.

"Just Like 73" notably marks the first collaboration between the iconic rock titans and the legendary guitarist, sonic innovator and co-founder of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE. The single revolves around a classic DEF LEPPARD stomp fueled by a robust stadium-size beat, thick riffing, and a signature chant, "Rock with me, just like 73!" Meanwhile, a knockout gang vocal gives way to a signature fret-scorching solo from Morello. The instantly recognizable whammy bar wheezes as he shreds at lightspeed into one last head-nodding hook.

Of the collaboration, Elliott previously shared: "It encapsulates a time that burned deep into our DNA. We wanted to celebrate that very important and glorious time."

Morello said: "I had a blast rocking a solo on 'Just Like 73'. I played 'Rock Of Ages' in my college cover band almost 40 years ago and here DEF LEPPARD are still killing it in stadiums with a brand new tune that's one of their best."

DEF LEPPARD teased "Just Like 73" on social media earlier this month, sharing an image with two different phone numbers for U.S. and U.K. fans to call.

"Light up the fuel. Just Like 73. Hotline Now Open," the band wrote in an accompanying caption.

Fans who called the phone numbers were able to hear Elliott singing lyrics from the song, which marks the band's first new original music since 2022's "Diamond Star Halos" album.

DEF LEPPARD's 23-city trek with JOURNEY is scheduled to begin on July 6 in St. Louis, Missouri and continue through September 8 in Denver, Colorado. Along the way, the two Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees will bring their show to stadiums in major cities like Chicago, Nashville, Boston, Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and more. CHEAP TRICK will play two shows at the beginning of the tour and two concerts at the end of the trek, while STEVE MILLER BAND will join the bill for the majority of shows and HEART will appear on three dates.

Elliott previously shared that DEF LEPPARD's set on the 2024 tour will celebrate specific parts of the rockers' history. "We may even have a surprise or two up our sleeves," he said in a statement.

JOURNEY recently completed a number of dates as part of its 50th-anniversary "Freedom" tour.

The DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY tour is being promoted by AEG Entertainment.

Both bands are offering VIP packages through their respective web sites.

DEF LEPPARD's VIP experiences include a premium seat, personal photo with the band, exclusive merchandise and more.

DEF LEPPARD's 12th studio album, "Diamond Star Halos", came out in 2022. A year later, the band followed it up with "Drastic Symphonies", a collection of reimagining of some of DEF LEPPARD's greatest hits with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road. The album spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Current Classical chart.

DEF LEPPARD's 2022 stadium tour across North America with MÖTLEY CRÜE reportedly sold more than 1.3 million tickets.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

John 5 has shot down a claim that he plays along to pre-recorded guitar tracks during MÖTLEY CRÜE concerts.

Several videos posted on YouTube have suggested that John 5 was not playing during the song "Wild Side", with the guitarist seemingly not moving his hands while the music continues to be heard.

However, in a video posted to Instagram earlier today (Tuesday, June 24),John 5 addressed these claims and explained to non-musicians what he was doing to achieve the above-mentioned effect. He said: "I wanna clear up some confusion. Somebody on the Internet or some web site is saying, 'Oh, John's playing to a backing track. His hand isn't even on the guitar. But I do this a lot. It's just hammer-ons and pull-offs. But if you're not a musician, you don't really understand what's going on."

After demonstrating the hammer-on and pull-off technique that he uses on stage, he added: "I think the part in 'Wild Side' that's on the Internet saying, 'Oh, look, John's hand isn't even on there.' I do this thing where I flip the pick around on my neck. Very simple. So, it's not a big thing. You know, a lot of things are played with one hand. A lot of musicians know this, so, uh, nothing to worry about. No backing tracks. Very simple."

Last August, ex-MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman John Corabi, who joined the band in 1992 as the replacement for original singer Vince Neil, was asked by Cassius Morris if he thinks there is any truth to Mick Mars's claim that he was the only bandmember to play 100 percent live on CRÜE's 2022 stadium tour, claiming bassist Nikki Sixx "did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour." Corabi responded: "Nowadays recording on Pro Tools, 'cause I released a couple of [solo] songs a little bit ago, if you said to me, 'Hey, can you just give me the rhythm guitar track?' I could literally just go online, highlight that track and e-mail you just that track. So as far as the drums go or any of that stuff nowadays with computers and all that shit? Yeah, it's possible. Is it happening? I don't know. I haven't toured with MÖTLEY for 27 years, 28 years."

Asked if MÖTLEY used any backing tracks while he was in the band, Corabi said: "No. I mean, we did use tracks. I'll say that right now. We were using some backing vocal tracks, and we used, for the song 'Misunderstood', there was a 53-piece orchestra on that track, so we just used the orchestra tracks to enhance what we were doing live on stage. But then Nikki was playing bass, Tommy [Lee] was playing drums, Mick was playing guitar, I was playing guitar and I was singing. Now whether or not they've elaborated since — I couldn't tell you. I haven't seen MÖTLEY live since… I saw them one time in my entire life, and that was a tour they did in, like, 2003 or [200]4 with… they toured with AEROSMITH. And I saw them that one time, and I haven't seen them since. So I don't know about Mick's claims. Mick has never really been a bullshitter in the past, so if he says they were using tracks, then, you know, maybe they were. I don't know."

In June 2023, Nikki told Jen Thomas, the entertainment writer at U.K.'s Metro that "the silliest thing" he has ever read about himself and the rest of CRÜE "was from Mick Mars's attorneys," referencing the recent lawsuit filed against MÖTLEY by the band's founding guitarist. "I'm just really sad at what's happened... They put out that the band doesn't play live. We're, like, who is playing the bass then? It's literally one of the funniest things.

"Imagine being in a rock'n'roll band for 42 years and some guy in a suit puts out that the band doesn't play," Nikki continued. "The silliest thing is, because of the way a lot of media is these days, they don't cross-check. They just run with headlines and we call it clickbait. I mean, that's about as silly as it gets."

When Mars announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE in October 2022 as a result of worsening health issues, he maintained that he would remain a member of the band, with John 5 taking his place on the road. However, in his lawsuit, which was filed in April 2023 in Los Angeles County's Superior Court, the now-73-year-old musician said that, after his announcement, the rest of CRÜE tried to remove him as a significant stakeholder in the group's corporation and business holdings via a shareholders' meeting.

In response to Mars's lawsuit, CRÜE's manager of 29 years, Allen Kovac, told Variety that Mars is coming out with a list of allegations "to gain leverage in a smear campaign on MÖTLEY. He's attacked the band, and he's done it in a slanderous way, with false accusations and misrepresenting the facts to the fans. Mick is not the victim. The victims are MÖTLEY CRÜE and the brand, which Mick is so prideful of." But, he added, "What's upsetting to me is not Mick, but his representatives, who have guided Mick to say and do harmful things to the brand he cares about so much, MÖTLEY CRÜE. He has a degenerative disease and people are taking advantage of him. It's called elder abuse."

Kovac continued: "Mick's representatives have no idea what they've created, but I've stopped the band from speaking about this, so they're not gonna turn the fans against Mick. But I am going to make sure that people understand that Mick hasn't been treated badly. In fact, he was treated better than anyone else in the band, and they carried him and they saved his life."

Mars suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS),a chronic and inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. After years of performing through the pain, he informed the other members of MÖTLEY CRÜE last summer that he could no longer tour with them but would still be open to recording new music or performing at residencies that did not require much travel.

Regarding Mick's claim that he was the only CRÜE member to play 100 percent live on their most recent tour, Kovac told Variety: "Everything is live with Nikki's bass playing and Tommy's drum playing. When they've used loops, they're still playing. There are augmented vocals, which were (recorded) in the studio and are backgrounds behind the two ladies who are singing and (other background vocals by) John 5 and Nikki Sixx, and before that Mick and Nikki." He described the pre-recorded vocal layering as where "you multi-track and you do gang vocals with, like, 20 people, just like all the other bands do with background vocals. They've got background vocals in the mix. That's the truth.

"But Nikki played his bass and always has," Kovac continued. "Vince was singing better than he was before (on the latest tour). That was in reviews. Now, John 5 is playing like who John 5 is. I've heard John 5 perform and I heard Mick perform. Both are great guitar players. Unfortunately, Mick is not the same. He hasn't been the same for a long time. Which was in reviews! You see that the professionals knew. DEF LEPPARD (which alternated headlining spots on tour) knew. And (Mars) caused a train wreck up there, because he would play the wrong songs and the wrong parts, even with the guide tracks. When he played the wrong song, it wasn't Nikki Sixx that had a tape; it was the soundman bringing it into the mix so the audience could hear a song, even though the guitar player was playing a different song." He says audiences "would hear it at first, but (sound engineers) would fix it so that we could keep the song going. I heard it. I'd go to the soundboard."

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SLAYER guitarist Kerry King has launched the second in a series of interview videos to promote his recently released debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise". Check it out below.

Asked about the lyrical themes covered on "From Hell I Rise", Kerry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, just like anything I've written in the past, I'm gonna bag on religion, I'm gonna bag on politics, I'm gonna write war-reference songs. And I don't think I veered too far from any of that. I do dabble in spooky horror movie kind of lyrics. I like to think of 'em as mini-screenplays to where if I write it correctly, you can visualize it. And you don't even need to see a video; you can visualize what I'm describing."

Elaborating on his disdain for religion, Kerry said: "Religion hasn't changed at all. I think it's the biggest lie among humanity for centuries, not just a couple… I mean, I've been here for a few decades, but that's been here since the dawn of time, essentially. It's very easy to poke fun at it. It's very easy to find holes in it. It's very easy to look at the news and find priests that act inappropriately around young women and young boys. You don't have to look far for that stuff. And these are the people you're following."

Earlier this month, Kerry spoke to Consequence about his tendency to write lyrics — with both SLAYER and his solo project — that are critical of organized religion. Asked what he sees in the real world that leads him to write songs on that topic, Kerry replied: "Well, I think it's a farce. When I was in grade school, I couldn't tell you what grade, but during the summer one year, my parents said, 'Hey, you want to go to Sunday school?' Because I did all kinds of extracurricular stuff at school. So I'm, like, 'Yeah, I'll check it out.' I didn't know what church was. And this isn't what gave me my hatred for it, but it's just a fun story. So I went to Sunday school, [and] like a week into it, I went to my parents. I'm, like, 'I don't think I want to go to this anymore.' Even that little kid knew it was a bunch of dog shit."

He continued: "It's like politics these days. What's said in the press is gone within 48 hours. All the things Donald Trump did as president, I remember seeing on the news how many lies he'd made in four years, and like 36 hours later, it's like it never happened. That's basically how religion is. You hear about all these priests around the world getting convicted for sexual assault or inappropriate conduct with minors, and a day later it's gone. But I remember that shit, and it's been fueling my lyrics for the last probably 40 years. So, thank you religion for keeping me occupied."

Last month, King talked to Germany's Moshpit Passion, about the increased prevalence of lyrics about religion and occult themes in heavy metal today compared to how it was when the band first started out more than 40 years ago. He said: "Yeah, I think people got desensitized over the decades, 'cause when we came out, it was far more taboo than it is now. And I think what I do is more like just putting opinions on the table."

He continued: "I think a lot of people are just born into their beliefs — they come down from their parents, their friends, whatever. And I don't believe in God or the devil — I don't believe in anything; I'm an atheist — but I like to put options on the table for those people that may never question what they believe or why they believe it. I don't care if you believe in God — good on you; have fun with that; that's a good story — but I just like to throw things on the table and say, 'Hey, have you ever thought of a different perspective? Have you ever thought of all the preachers that get arrested for fondling little boys?' This world isn't perfect. So I just put things out on the table and hopefully get people thinking about their own life and figure things out for themselves."

He later added: "That's why, first and foremost, I always say I am an atheist. I don't believe any of it. But I don't mind writing about it. [Laughs] I like to think of my songs as mini screenplays that give you visuals in your mind. And it just makes you think of things, makes you think like you're watching a movie in your head. Maybe someday somebody will make up a movie based on a short story by Kerry King, and that story is my song."

King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", was released on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Joining Kerry in his new band are Mark Osegueda (vocals; DEATH ANGEL),Phil Demmel (guitar; MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE),Kyle Sanders (bass; HELLYEAH) and drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS).

In early May, the KERRY KING band performed its first live show at Reggies in Chicago. In the days following, the band went from playing an intimate venue to performing at the huge U.S. festivals Welcome To Rockville (Florida) and Sonic Temple (Ohio).

The KERRY KING launched a European tour on June 3 —King's 60th birthday – in Tilburg, The Netherlands. The trek combines headline shows in the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain but also festival appearances such as Rock Am Ring, Hellfest, Tuska, Download, Sweden Rock Festival and many more.

All material for "From Hell I Rise" was written by the 60-year-old SLAYER guitarist. Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles last year was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.

KERRY KING will be special guest on the upcoming LAMB OF GOD/MASTODON North American "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headline tour. The six-week run will launch on July 19 in Grand Prairie, Texas and will wrap on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska.

In a new interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, MEGADETH bassist James LoMenzo was asked if he and his bandmates have commenced work on material for the follow-up to 2022's "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" album. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're actively working on music right now. In a way — well, it is; it's a new band at this point. It's a new version of MEGADETH, as if nobody expected that coming. [Laughs] We're talking with Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] every day. Dave really wants to do another record and just get something fresh out there. The last one I thought was great. When I had just joined the band, they just finished recording it. I begged, I pleaded, I said, 'I know, I know, I know, but could I please play bass on this?' Cause there's a few things I had heard were so great. And they were, like, 'We've been doing this for two years. We just have to get on the road. It's done.' I was, like, 'All right.' But [session bassist] Steve DiGiorgio [who played bass on 'The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!'] did an amazing job. I really love the way he played on this. And I enjoy playing his style."

LoMenzo also talked about MEGADETH's latest addition, Teemu Mäntysaari, who replaced the band's longtime guitarist Kiko Loureiro last fall. He said: "He's good. He's young. He's younger than the rest of us, so he keeps us on our toes. But he's really helpful because he's got a… We've already walked this journey for a while, Dave and I, so to have that kind of fresh blood, that's really… He's very focused. And it's not contagious, 'cause I don't do that, but it's good to have somebody there to kind of corral us old guys into a corner and go, 'Okay, I've worked on this. Are we ready to go?' It's, like, 'Oh, we should work on this now. Okay. Let's go.' He really helped us out because he came to us at a crucial time where… Kiko, who I adore, could not stay with us due to his family stuff. And that's the most respectful thing I think you can think of is… We all have a life and sometimes it's better to have a life and do your stuff the way you're supposed to, do life right. I've been in and out of bands my whole life, and let me tell you, man, you leave stuff at home, it's there; it's always there. So when Teemu came along, he was the exact right guy we needed. We needed somebody who could just kind of step up and get right in. And he was so crazily prepared. And to this day, him and I were just working on some music before we started. So, it's great sitting down with him and breaking down the things. And he's shown me some new technology that really helps me move things ahead that I wasn't aware of. He's on top of all that stuff."

LoMenzo was MEGADETH's bass player in the mid-2000s and stepped back in as a touring member for the 2021 leg of "The Metal Tour Of The Year". In May 2022, it was announced that Lomenzo was officially rejoining the MEGADETH family.

LoMenzo joined MEGADETH in 2006 and appeared on two of the group's studio albums, 2007's "United Abominations" and 2009's "Endgame". He was fired from the band in 2010 and replaced with returning original MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson.

In November 2022, LoMenzo reflected on his initial departure from MEGADETH in an interview with Ashdown Engineering. He said at the time: "After three or four years in MEGADETH, David Ellefson returned. And I, like you, was pretty excited about that, because I had always been a fan of MEGADETH anyway. I'm one of those crazy guys that's, like, I want it to be the original band. I always want it to be the original band; it's kind of the way I grew up. But in lieu of that, I had to take the charge of the bass spot when he couldn't be there. So when he came back, I was fine with it. I've done two great albums — 'United Abominations' and 'Endgame'; we've done two world tours, been all over the place. And so at that point, I was kind of excited to maybe try something new. And so I went back home. I started a video production company. I started doing these local jams where all my famous friends would come by and jam with me. It was great. And eventually I ended up in [rock legend] John Fogerty's band."

On the topic of how he rejoined MEGADETH, James said: "How do I end up back in MEGADETH? It's like that 'Godfather' movie — 'Just when I thought I got out, they pull me back in again.' No… But anyway… When they needed a bass player — it became apparent — I thought to myself, 'They'll probably call me up.' But I also thought to myself, 'It's been a while since I played that kind of music, so maybe it'll be great. It'll be all right. Maybe not.' Sure enough, the phone rings, and Dave [Mustaine] is, like, 'We've gotta do this 'Metal Tour Of The Year'. James, I know you're the guy who can do it. I would love to have you here. If you would just commit to just doing this tour, that would be great.' And I thought, 'Well, that's kind of weird. He doesn't want me to rejoin the band.' But then I thought about it. He knew I had another band, and he was telling me, 'I don't want you to screw up whatever you've got going.' I was being loyal to John. So we went out on the tour, and gosh, it was just the best time. I was so enamored with the band that he put together that I was blown away. And Dave, gosh, he's just delivering the goods every day. The great thing about Dave is he's been through a lot. He recovered from cancer. He's had problems with his back. Over the years, he's had more things than most professional wrestlers would have, and he shows no sign of it — he just gets up there and plays and just gives it his all. So after that tour, I was sitting there going, 'Man, I think I might like to stay here for a while.' And so, luckily, as luck would have it, not too long after that, Dave calls me up at home and he goes, 'You know, we would love to have you be part of the band officially if you wanna stay.' And I thought, 'That's exactly what I was thinking, man. Let's do it.'

In addition to MEGADETH and Fogerty, LoMenzo has played with Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde and WHITE LION.

LoMenzo played his first show with MEGADETH in nearly 12 years in August 2021 in Austin, Texas. The concert took place three months following Ellefson's dismissal from MEGADETH after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving him were posted on Twitter.

Ozzy Osbourne has teamed up with Liquid Death to spread a message: do not snort Liquid Death's electrolyte drink mix, Death Dust.

After countless comments on Liquid Death's Instagram about snorting Death Dust, the healthy beverage brand decided to team up with Ozzy for a new video warning against questionable uses of Death Dust. Watch the clip below.

The collaboration follows the release of Liquid Death's newest batch of Death Dust, which has dialled up the flavor intensity in a big way! Single-flavor packs are also now available for the first time.

Ozzy says: "I love how Liquid Death makes a healthy thing like hydration more fun. Sharon, the family, and I drink Liquid Death all the time, it's delicious. But seriously, don't snort or inject anything they make. It's much better for drinking."

Death Dust isn't a drug — it's a delicious electrolyte drink mix packed with essential vitamins and electrolytes the body needs. Available in single-flavor packs in addition to the variety packs. Three delicious flavors include Severed Lime, Mango Chainsaw, and Convicted Melon.

Order at Amazon, and find more information at liquiddeath.com.

This past March, Liquid Death closed $67 million in financing from strategic partners and new investors including top national distributors, along with notable names in entertainment and sports.

"Liquid Death has become the fastest growing and leading brand across the water, flavored sparkling water, and iced tea categories. We continue to see extremely strong consumer and retailer demand and are proud to have raised a strategic, oversubscribed, 'up' round to fuel our growth," said Mike Cessario, founder and CEO of Liquid Death. "What began as appealing to inbound interest has culminated in a leading group of strategic investors from finance, entertainment and distribution backgrounds. This round, coupled with the appointment of Stephen Ballard, a seasoned sales executive and White Claw alum, will enable us to continue scaling a world-class distribution network to murder thirst and plastic bottles around the globe."

The $1.4 billion valuation is a strong increase over prior funding rounds. Distributor investors include the No. 1 distributors in North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, and top distributors in other key markets around the country. New institutional investors include SuRo Capital alongside follow-on investors Live Nation, Science, Inc. and Gray's Creek Capital Partners. Other prominent investors in the round include actor Josh Brolin, NFL All-Pro and entrepreneur DeAndre Hopkins, "The Chapelle Show" co-creator Neal Brennan, Brazil's largest metal band SEPULTURA's Derrick Green, and Australian comedian Jim Jefferies.

Liquid Death hit $263 million in retail scanned sales through registers in 2023 and expanded to 113,000 retail doors across the U.S. and U.K. The company achieved over triple-digit growth for the third consecutive year, becoming the fastest-growing top water and top iced tea brand, according to SPINS.

The company's newest product lines, iced tea and flavored sparkling water, saw hypergrowth in 2023. In just a few months after launch, Liquid Death became the second largest ready-to-drink tea on Amazon by total sales. Liquid Death's flavor line is the top dollar contributor in the convenience channel to the flavored sparkling category despite being in the market for less than two years.

The funding will go toward product innovation as a multi-category beverage platform and scaling operations, the needs for which have been accelerated by higher than anticipated retailer demand for Liquid Death's new flavored sparkling water flavors and iced tea flavors slated to launch this spring.

The news follows the launch of Death Dust, Liquid Death's hydration sticks and first core product beyond the ready-to-drink beverage category. The brand also recently auctioned off the side of half a million cases via the viral "Biggest Ad Ever" campaign with the winning bid going to Coinbase for more than $500,000.

Liquid Death's social following captures 7.9 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, making it the third most followed beverage globally only behind Red Bull and Monster. This summer Liquid Death will be prominent at music festivals, iconic music and entertainment venues and bars through its partnership with Live Nation, a longtime investor in the company, which also participated in this round.

As one of the fastest growing non-alcoholic beverage brands, Liquid Death is the first beverage company using comedy and entertainment to make health and sustainability 50 times more fun. Liquid Death takes the healthiest thing you can drink and packages it into infinitely recyclable tallboy cans that can actually compete with the fun marketing of unhealthy brands across energy drinks, beer, and junk food. A portion of Liquid Death's proceeds goes to nonprofits who are helping to fight plastic pollution and bringing clean drinking water to those in need.