Philadelphia’s Single Bullet Theory is thrilled to announce the return of longtime guitarist Dan Loughry (pictured far right) to the band’s active lineup. Loughry, a pivotal force behind the band’s third record, On Broken Wings, is rejoining the fold after more than a decade away from performing with the band.

Dan originally joined SBT during the touring cycle for 2005’s Behind Eyes Of Hatred, contributing both rhythm and lead guitars to On Broken Wings. His tight, razor-sharp playing helped define the sound of that era, and he went on to perform dozens of shows throughout the East Coast and New England. Loughry was also present for the early writing sessions of the band’s fourth record, IV, and played virtually all guitars on the band’s crushing cover of Death’s “Spirit Crusher,” which featured none other than King Diamond drummer, Matt Thompson.

“This honestly feels like coming home,” said Loughry. “Single Bullet Theory has always been a part of me, and after sitting on the sidelines for the last decade, I’m beyond stoked to jump back in. The material is stronger than ever, and I can’t wait to hit the stage with the guys again.”

Loughry’s return comes following the recent departure of longtime guitarist Richard Gulczynski, who parted ways with the band due to personal and creative differences.

“Dan brings so much to the table,” said frontman and SBT founder Matt DiFabio. “His picking is insanely tight, the chemistry is undeniable, and on top of that, the guy has a brutal voice. That’s huge for us, especially with how demanding and hybrid our vocal arrangements have become over the years.” “I kinda knew we had the right guy again ” DiFabio continues, “The day after our first rehearsal with him, he is out buying $2000 baritone 6 string guitars”.



Single Bullet Theory is gearing up to release their brand-new single, “Freedom (They Will Come For You),” featuring a guest solo by James Murphy (Testament, Obituary, Disincarnate) with accompanying fall tour dates as well.

The band will be hitting the road with Pissing Razors and performing select shows with Byzantine. Stay tuned – the bullets are flying again.

Australian death metal veterans Monoliyth are back with a vengeance, unleashing their most savage offering yet: He Who Kills, their new full-length album dropping August 22, 2025, via WormholeDeath Records. Known for their relentless aggression and uncompromising brutality, Monoliyth dive deep into the darkest corners of the human mind, exploring the twisted psyche of serial killers through a vicious blend of old-school death metal and modern technical ferocity.

Fans of Death, Morbid Angel, Deicide, and Suffocation – prepare for total annihilation.

“This album is a grim reflection of the depraved, viewed through the eyes of the soulless,” says guitarist Mick Barr. “We wanted to deliver something raw, honest, and brutal — He Who Kills is exactly that.”

The first single, “Excised Unborn”, sets the tone with pulverizing riffs, guttural vocals, and a stark, violent video that can be seen below. The band also proudly announces their official signing to WormholeDeath Records, marking a new chapter in their ongoing legacy of sonic destruction.

“The single delivers everything fans have come to expect from us,” Barr continues. “Relentless riffs, crushing vocals, and a dark visual narrative. It’s pure Monoliyth.”

He Who Kills artwork and tracklisting:



Rise Of The Annihilated
Paradox
Sanity Unraveled
Endless Bleeding
The Killing Floor
He Who Kills
Excised Unborn
To Sever… Is To Savor

NIGHT RANGER paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne on Saturday, July 26 on the outdoor stage at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Prior to launching into a cover of Ozzy's classic track "Crazy Train", NIGHT RANGER guitarist Brad Gillis — who the pressure-packed job back in 1982 of replacing Randy Rhoads after Osbourne's virtuoso guitarist died in a plane crash — told the crowd:  "[Losing Ozzy last week] was a kick in the gut for me. I don't know how many people know, but I played with Ozzy back in '82 after the tragic death of Randy Rhoads. And I finished that tour and did the 'Speak Of The Devil' record. And NIGHT RANGER came out and had our record going, so I left Ozzy, and here I am with NIGHT RANGER 43 years later. But Ozzy Osbourne, man, he gave me my start. So, thank you very much."

NIGHT RANGER vocalist/bassist Jack Blades added: "Tommy Shaw [STYX] and I wrote some songs with [Ozzy] on the 'Ozzmosis' record, and he was a good friend of ours and he was a good friend of the NIGHT RANGER family. And [Ozzy's death] really hit hard — it really hit hard at home. So, we thought we'd play an Ozzy song tonight. What do you guys say?"

NIGHT RANGER has been playing "Crazy Train" regularly in recent years as a nod to the time when Gillis was a member of Ozzy's band.

In a 2004 interview with the Contra Costa Times, Gillis spoke about how he landed the Ozzy gig. While a member of an early version of NIGHT RANGER, Gillis was also playing with a club band by the name of ALAMEDA ALL STARS. After a Friday-night gig early in 1982, at which the band covered two Osbourne songs, Gillis was approached by friend Preston Thrall, the brother of guitarist Pat Thrall, who'd turned down the chance to replace Rhoads. Preston offered to get an audition for Gillis, who said okay, but didn't think much of it.

Sunday morning he was on the phone with Ozzy, who simply gave him a list of songs to learn. Tuesday he was in New York, with a one-way plane ticket and $150. The promised room at the downtown hotel wasn't there, so Gillis ponied up $135 and went upstairs and waited. He finally got the call at midnight to come to Ozzy's suite, where a party was happening.

"Ozzy says, 'Go get your guitar,'" Gillis said. "You remember those E.F. Hutton commercials? Everyone just stopped. He says, 'Play 'Flying High Again'. ' By the time I get to the solo, he stands up, puts his arms around me, and says, 'Bradley, pull me through this (ordeal).' He takes me out and says, 'I've got a new guitar player.'"

In 2021, Gillis told Guitar World magazine about his time with Osbourne: "You have to realize that after the sad death of Randy Rhoads, the band was going through a lot of emotional stress throughout the rest of the tour. So, when I joined the band, it was quite a heavy situation. Bernie Tormé was playing guitar at that time in the interim, before a permanent replacement was added. And when I flew to New York for the audition, I basically found out it was just me. So, I did the best I could practicing in my hotel room every day, with a small amp, a boombox and a live board cassette with Randy that had been recorded a few months earlier.

"At night, I would go to the shows to watch the live performance from the soundboard. I was amazed at the large castle, fire, explosives, and the hanging of the dwarf — realizing that in a few days, I was going to be up on stage. I'll never forget the sound man looking over at me and laughing, saying, 'You're next, buddy!'

"My first night was quite a horrendous experience — because not only was I scared to death, at soundcheck, we only played seven out of the 18-song set, and Ozzy didn't even show up. My first gig was sold out in Binghamton, New York for 8,000 people. That was basically my entrance into Ozzy's world. I ended up botching 'Revelation (Mother Earth)', as I ended up coming into the fast section too early, and the whole band looked at me, like, 'What the hell are you doing?' I stopped playing, regained my composure, and finished out the song and the set — with no other major mistakes. The next night before we went on stage, Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife] came up to me, saying, 'Bradley, you're doing a great job. But tonight… don't fuck up.'"

Video and image courtesy of Joe E Bravo

IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain played the last of four July 2025 shows in Florida with his TITANIUM TART project on Saturday (July 26) at OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida. Joining Nicko in TITANIUM TART are Rob Stokes on bass, Eldad Kira on keyboards, Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne on guitar, and Paolo Velazquez on vocals.

At some point during last night's concert, Nicko addressed the audience, saying (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " All of you know that I stepped back from touring with [IRON MAIDEN], and they've got a lovely lad [Simon Dawson playing with them now]. He's a baby. He's got a little tiny drum set…

"But here's the thing: you may ask yourself, how do I feel about a new drummer taking my place after 42 years? Well, the simple answer is I'm still the best-looking bloke in IRON MAIDEN," Nicko quipped. "I don't know whether Simon would agree with me 'cause he probably thinks he's the best-looking [member of IRON MAIDEN], which I can assure you is not the case. Bless his heart. But he's doing a wonderful job and I'm glad that you lot have welcomed him to the family. And regardless of whether or not he's me, he's not — there's no one that can replace me. I'm not saying to rub my ego or be [like], 'I am the best drummer for MAIDEN.' Not at all.

"So, yeah, thank you for bringing him into the family," Nicko added. "They're doing a splendid job out there, although Bruce's [Dickinson, MAIDEN singer] timing is a little bit shaky here and there. But there's nothing new there."

Nicko also touched upon the fact that MAIDEN's production for the ongoing "Run For Your Lives" 50th-anniversary tour includes digital screens instead of physical backdrops and props which characterized the band's previous shows. He said: "What do you guys think about the screens that they've got? Hands up who thinks they're great. Hands up, those people that prefer the old way."

After a few people in the audience expressed their preference for the physical backdrops and props, Nicko continued: "I know, and I spoke to [MAIDEN's longtime manager] Rod [Smallwood] about this last year. 'Cause I saw the sketch with these screens, and I said to him, 'Hey, I don't think we should be [changing the way we do things].' He said, 'We've gotta move into the 21st century, Nick.' He said, 'This is the 50th-anniversary tour. We've gotta have something special.' I said, 'Well, then put more drapes up. More drapes. Instead of The Trooper just having Eddie on the horse with his sword out, have him firing the gun off the… whatever. You put another one halfway through the song. But that's what they went with."

Nicko added: "I'm old school. I would've liked to see the drapes and the screens on the side."

The now-73-year-old British musician, whose real name is Michael Henry McBrain, announced his retirement on December 7, 2024 in a statement on MAIDEN's web site and social media. He also said that night's concert at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil would mark his final show with the legendary rock band.

Dawson is a former session drummer and MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's longtime bandmate in BRITISH LION.

In January 2023, Nicko was at his home in Boca Raton when he suffered a stroke with partial paralysis.

When Nicko first went public with his stroke in August 2023, the drummer said in a statement that the episode left him "paralyzed" down one side of his body and "worried" that his career with the band was over.

Five years ago, McBrain was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer and opened up about it in a single interview in 2021 but otherwise kept it mostly under wraps. The musician received his cancer diagnosis after undergoing an endoscopy at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University Of Miami Health System and the Miller School of Medicine. Within a week, McBrain's cancer was surgically removed and he now gets check-ups every few months to make sure the cancer hasn't returned.

McBrain was born in Hackney, East London, on June 5, 1952. His first experience of music came via his father's love of traditional jazz. Young Nicko's hero was Joe Morello, the late, great drummer with the legendary THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET. Nicko would often take to the kitchen, using forks and knives to beat on anything he could find at home. Fed up with him bashing up the kitchen utensils, his parents finally bought him his first drum kit when he was 12.

By the time he left school at 15, he was already a veteran of several part-time pub groups. Musically, however, his tastes had broadened to include more contemporary sixties sounds from THE SHADOWS, THE ANIMALS, THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES. On the recommendation of another drummer he knew, he began to take on session work, playing on countless different recordings.

In 1975, Nicko joined STREETWALKERS, the band formed by ex-FAMILY members, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist Charlie Whitney. From the late seventies until 1982 when he joined IRON MAIDEN, Nicko had spent his time in session work, most memorably with the PAT TRAVERS BAND on their 1976 "Makin' Magic" album, and also appeared in the band MCKITTY in the early 1980s. It was during a MCKITTY gig in Belgium that he first met Harris.

He officially joined IRON MAIDEN in December 1982 for the 1983 "Piece Of Mind" album and tour, replacing Clive Burr, after McBrain's previous band TRUST had supported IRON MAIDEN during the U.K. leg of the "Killers" tour in 1981. McBrain brought a degree of finesse and technicality that was largely missing from IRON MAIDEN's early output. Whereas Burr was often lauded for his heavy-handed, punk-oriented style, McBrain was largely the opposite, playing with a degree of dexterity and flair that helped primary songwriter Harris take MAIDEN down more adventurous paths. He eventually became the third longest-tenured member of MAIDEN, behind Harris and guitarist Dave Murray.

Global superstar Celine Dion has paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died last week at the age of 76.

On July 25, Celine took to her social media to write: "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ozzy Osbourne.

"Ozzy and I were label mates for many years — and although we came from very different musical universes, I always admired his boundless spirit and ear for melody on songs like 'Mama I'm Coming Home'. He was a true original! Fearless, and simply larger than life…but also kind, thoughtful, and generous.

"My heart is with his beloved wife Sharon, their children, and his millions of adoring fans from around the world.

"With all my love, - Celine xx…"

Celine, with over 250 million albums sold worldwide, is one of the most iconic and successful performers in pop music history. Her chart-topping hits include "The Power Of Love", "It's All Coming Back To Me Now", "Because You Loved Me" and "My Heart Will Go On". Celine has been honored with five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 20 Juno Awards and an impressive 43 Félix Awards. She received the diamond award at the 2004 World Music Awards, recognizing her as the best-selling female artist of all time. In 2016, she was presented with the lifetime achievement Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards.

Celine's two Las Vegas residencies, performed between 2003 and 2019, are the highest-grossing and best-selling residencies of all time. In 2024, she released her documentary "I Am: Celine Dion" which received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and became the No. 1 movie on Prime Video worldwide. That same year, she delivered a breathtaking performance of "Hymne À L'amour" at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Celine's five Grammy Awards include "Record of the Year" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for "My Heart Will Go On" in 1998, "Album Of The Year" and "Best Pop Album" for "Falling Into You" in 1996, and "Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal" for "Beauty And The Beast" in 1992. Both "My Heart Will Go On" and "Beauty And The Beast" received "Best Song" Academy Awards for their respective years of release.

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

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, BLACK SABBATH is widely recognized as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, with a career spanning decades and over 75 million albums sold worldwide. Their impact on the genre remains as significant today as it was in the early 1970s, with their music shaping generations of metal musicians.

Ozzy's family reality television show "The Osbournes" won a 2002 Primetime Emmy.

In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024.

Osbourne won several Grammys, including one in 1993 for his solo song "I Don't Want To Change The World".

Ozzy and his wife and manager Sharon started their annual tour — Ozzfest — in 1996 after he was rejected from the lineup of what at the time was the top touring music festival, Lollapalooza. The first traveling version of Ozzfest in 1997 included MARILYN MANSON and PANTERA as part of the lineup.

Osbourne leaves behind his wife, three children from his first marriage (including an adopted son from his first wife's previous relationship),and three with Sharon: Jack, Kelly and Aimee.

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy and I were label mates for many years— and...

Posted by Céline Dion on Friday, July 25, 2025

Earlier this week, BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi talked to BBC Midlands about the death of his bandmate Ozzy Osbourne. The guitarist — who co-founded SABBATH with Ozzy, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward in 1968 — said: "It's been difficult, because it's just a shock, really. I haven't been able to get myself organized properly since hearing this. It's been really strange.

Iommi went on to say that Butler was experiencing similar emotions when they spoke following Osbourne's death. "He's much the same. You just can't pull yourself together. It really has affected us bad."

When the interviewer noted that Iommi has lost his friend, Tony said: "Yes. And that is devastating. I find it difficult at the moment to really accept that. I still think he's there. I still go to text him and stuff, [but] he's not there anymore. It's really weird. Really weird. And I think that's gonna take a long time. 'Cause it's like losing a brother."

Asked what a fitting tribute to Ozzy would be, Tony said: "I don't know. You know, you could say a statue or a figure. But I think also the band should have something like that. 'Cause we've all been a team, and we're [all] gonna go at some point. But I think that'd be the thing — probably a statue. I can't think what else. I think he'd be happy that everybody remembers him and everybody loves him and everybody's come out like they have."

In a separate interview with ITV News, Iommi said that "it was a shock" for the other members of SABBATH to find out that Ozzy had died. "I mean, when I heard [on Tuesday], it couldn't sink in," Tony said. "I thought, 'It can't be.' I only had a text from him the day before. It just seemed unreal, surreal. And it really didn't sink in. And in the night I started thinking about it: 'God, am I dreaming all this?' But as I said before, he's not looked well through the rehearsals [for BLACK SABBATH's farewell performance at 'Back To The Beginning']. And I think he really just held out to do that show. I really feel, and me and Geezer were talking about it last night, that we think he held out to do it, and just after that, he's done it and said goodbye to the fans. And that was the end of it, really."

When the interviewer noted that playing that one final concert in SABBATH's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom "meant everything" to Ozzy, Tony concurred. "Oh, he's built up for it for a while now," he said. "He's been sort of training and trying to do what he can, so he could do this gig, so he could do it. And that's really what he wanted to do. I think he must have had something in his head that said, 'Well, this is gonna be it, the last thing I'm ever gonna do.' Whether he thought he was gonna die or what, I don't know. But he really wanted to do it and he was determined to do it. And fair dues, he'd done it."

On the topic of what it meant to all of the members of SABBATH to be together in Birmingham with Ozzy out there in front, around the corner from where they all grew up, Tony said: "It was really moving, I think. We all felt like, 'Wow.' And again, it was almost like a dream. Before you know it, we're off stage. And [we were thinking], 'What happened?'"

Asked what Ozzy was like when he came off stage, Tony said: "Well, he went to his dressing room and I went to mine and Geez went to his and so on. And then he came over. He came around before he was leaving on a wheelchair that brought him in to say goodbye and have a little chat for a bit. And he seemed all right. He enjoyed it. And he said, 'Oh, it went all right, didn't it?' I said, 'Yeah, it did.' But as I say, when I had the text off him the day before yesterday saying he's tired and he's really got no energy. And I thought, 'Oh, dear.' 'Cause it's a lot for him to do that under the problems he's got. And we could see it in rehearsal. We didn't want him there every day at rehearsal, because it's too much. He just wouldn't be able to stand it. So they'd bring him in and he'd sit down and sing a few songs, and then we'd talk about some rubbish old times or whatever, have a laugh, and then he'd go. And that's sort of what we did, really. But the gig was for him [to say goodbye], really, and for us to say goodbye, 'cause also SABBATH saying goodbye; it was the end of the band, and we'll never do that again. And to have Bill [Ward, SABBATH drummer] with us as well after all these years, after 20 years of not playing with Bill. I can't believe it's 20 years, to be honest."

Reflecting on SABBATH's early days when the band was formed, Tony said: "Oh, yeah. I think all those thoughts went through our heads. In fact, we talked about that when we were in the studio, when we were rehearsing. We sat down on the couch and we were all talking about old times, really. 'Cause you always remember that. You can't remember what happened yesterday, but you could remember what happened all that time ago. And so that's really what we were doing. We were talking about all the things that happened. 'Remember that, when we did this?' 'Remember?' And it was great. It was just bringing us all together again, as it was in the early days. And to have Bill there as well. And Bill [laughs] — I mean, Bill's Bill. [Laughs] He never changed. We said, 'Don't take your shirt off, Bill, please.' [Laughs]"

Asked if he thinks Ozzy enjoyed being on stage for that concert, Tony said: "I think he was moved and frustrated as well, 'cause he wanted to stand up. You could see he was trying to get up. But yeah, it meant everything to him. This is what we built up for, for that big ending where he could see all the people and we could all see all the people, and close it in that way. But we didn't expect to close it so quick with Ozz; we didn't expect him to go that quick, really. Well, we didn't expect him to go. So it's been a shock."

Iommi went on to say that he is happy that SABBATH got a chance to perform together one final time. "I'm really glad we did it, 'cause it was a final thing for everybody," he explained. "And I think if we hadn't done it, people couldn't have seen the band and Ozzy. It would've been a shame. But they've got a chance to see us all and see Ozz for the last time in that situation."

Asked how he will remember Ozzy, Tony said: "God, we go back so many years. I knew Ozzy before everybody, 'cause we went to the same school. He was always funny. Ozzy was Ozzy. There's never gonna be another Ozzy. He's the only one — [there was] one Ozzy and that's it. [And he's] just a special person, just the way he is. He says what he thinks. Many times we said to him, 'Now, don't get saying anything.' And, of course, he does. But it was funny. It really was funny. He did do some funny antics. And we did have a laugh on stage. As much as we were serious about the music, we'd always have this thing, and Ozz would always come over to me and pull faces. Of course, the audience couldn't see that, and he'd be pulling all these funny faces, and I'd just crack up. Then he'd go over to Geezer and do the same. He was just that sort of person. He was a showman."

As for Ozzy's contribution to the world of music, Tony said: "He had a special way, and that was it. There's not another Ozzy. And his antics and everything — we never knew what he was gonna do in all the years we've known him. So it was all a bit of a thing, 'I wonder what he's gonna do now.'"

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

At the "Back To The Beginning" concert, Ozzy and the rest of BLACK SABBATH performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

Photo credit: Gibson
Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi talks to BBC Midlands Today about the death of his bandmate Ozzy Osbourne. pic.twitter.com/QRCAigLkoh

— BBC Midlands (@bbcmtd) July 24, 2025

BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler has penned an article for U.K.'s The Sunday Times in which he reflected on his final appearance with his longtime bandmate Ozzy Osbourne.

On July 5, Butler reunited with fellow original BLACK SABBATH members Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward for the massive "Back To The Beginning" concert, which was being billed as SABBATH's final live performance as well as Ozzy's last-ever show. Just over two weeks later, on July 22, Ozzy's family announced that he had died at age 76.

Regarding what it was like to rehearse with Ozzy for "Back To The Beginning", Geezer wrote: "I knew he wasn't in good health, but I wasn't prepared to see how frail he was. He was helped into the rehearsal room by two helpers and a nurse and was using a cane — being Ozzy, the cane was black and studded with gold and precious stones. He didn't really say much beyond the usual greetings and when he sang, he sat in a chair. We ran through the songs but we could see it was exhausting him after six or seven songs. We had a bit of a chat, but he was really quiet compared with the Ozzy of old."

Ozzy and the other SABBATH members performed four songs for more than 40,000 people at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

The "Back To The Beginning" concert, which was hosted by actor Jason Momoa — whose passion for heavy metal music runs deep — also featured performances by METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, SLAYER, TOOL, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MASTODON and RIVAL SONS.

Looking back on Ozzy's performance at Villa Park, Geezer wrote in The Sunday Times article: "Nobody knew he'd be gone from us little more than two weeks after the final show. But I am so grateful we got to play one last time together in front of his beloved fans. The love from the fans and all the bands, musicians, singers and solo artists that night was incredible. Everyone had come to pay homage to the Prince. I am so privileged to have spent most of my life with him. Of course there are millions of things I will think of that I should have written, but how can I sum up 57 incredible years of friendship in a few paragraphs? God bless, Oz, it has been one hell of a ride! Love you!"

Ozzy died Tuesday morning, his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

In his tribute to Ozzy on the day of the singer's death, Geezer wrote on social media: "Goodbye dear friend- thanks for all those years- we had some great fun, 4 kids from Aston- who'd have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you."

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, BLACK SABBATH is widely recognized as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, with a career spanning decades and over 75 million albums sold worldwide, according to the band's web site. Their impact on the genre remains as significant today as it was in the early 1970s, with their music shaping generations of metal musicians.

In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024.

The original lineup of SABBATH came together with Iommi, Osbourne, Butler and Ward. That lineup recorded and toured through 1978, and periodically reformed through the '90s and 2000s for live work.

They regrouped again in late 2011 for a new album and tour, although Ward dropped out after a few months over financial issues. SABBATH used Ozzy's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos since then for live work. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk laid down the drum tracks on SABBATH's reunion album "13", which came out in June 2013.

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

"The End" was SABBATH's last tour because Iommi, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and is currently in remission, can no longer travel for extended amounts of time.

SABBATH wrote and recorded "13" and toured it all over the world while Iommi was going through treatment for his illness, with the guitarist having to fly back to England every six weeks.

Image credit: Ashdown Engineering

Prior to last week's death of BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne, SABBATH drummer Bill Ward reflected on the band's final concert in an interview with Mike Stark of the LA Radio Sessions show, which airs Sundays at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time) on 99.1 KLBP-FM in Long Beach, California. Asked what determined SABBATH's setlist for the "Back To The Beginning" concert on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, Bill said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Good question. I think it was a common denominator of what we thought we might be able to play. There was a couple of other songs that we tried. [It] didn't quite work out. I can think it was [about] finding the most popular songs — actually, popular is not a very good word, 'cause there's probably a lot of songs that are popular. Definitive — yeah, let's go with definitive, as being the most definitive songs that work for all of us, all of us being the bandmembers."

Asked what his feelings were once the final note was played in Birmingham, Bill said: "My feeling, at that point, was really to get off the drum [riser]. Really, that's what I was thinking about, and to see if Ozzy was okay. That's what I was thinking about. And making sure Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] and Tony [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist] are heads up. And then I wanted to see the audience, so I went out and I applauded the audience. So that's what was on my mind. And I looked behind me, and my family was there, and I applauded my family and people that were around me on the stage. I had a lot of staff members there, and I applauded them. So it was about just basically honoring all the people that had been listening. That's exactly what I was doing. It wasn't really anything that was deeper or mature or anything. I just wanted to say thanks to everybody. There was a lot of musicians there that I know, and I was applauding them as well. I love them very much. As you know, we've had our radio show for many, many years, so we've met a lot of artists."

Ozzy played a five-song set with his solo band — consisting of guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos — before being joined by fellow original BLACK SABBATH members Iommi, Butler and Ward for four classic SABBATH songs: "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "N.I.B." and "Paranoid".

Ozzy's solo set consisted of four songs from Osbourne's 1980 solo debut album "Blizzard Of Ozz" — "I Don't Know", "Mr. Crowley", "Suicide Solution" and "Crazy Train" — along with his 1991 "No More Tears" ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home".

The singer, who was battling Parkinson's disease, sang while seated on a black throne and appeared overcome with emotion at times. "You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the crowd.

At the end of SABBATH's set, Ozzy said: "It's the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Osbourne was then presented with a cake, while fireworks lit up the stadium from overhead.

A message on screen then read, "Thank you for everything, you guys are fucking amazing. Birmingham Forever," before the sky lit up with fireworks.

More than 40,000 fans attended the event in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Profits from the show, which also saw performances from METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, LAMB OF GOD and ANTHRAX, among others, will be shared equally between the charities Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice.

There was also an online auction benefiting those charities. Items up for bid included two Gibson guitars signed by performers, a GUNS N' ROSES pinball machine, several gold record and CD displays, including BLACK SABBATH's "Paranoid", LED ZEPPELIN's "Physical Graffiti" and METALLICA's "Master Of Puppets", plus more than a dozen travel packages.

A livestream of the daylong event was announced in June. While it was called a livestream, the video was delayed two hours from the in-arena start time.

Earlier in the month, Iommi told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the songs that SABBATH chose to perform on July 5: "We worked out what we were gonna play, what songs we were gonna play. And it was really a case of how long Ozzy could do it, really, because we didn't know — with him doing his own set [right before], which I said to him I didn't think he should do, because I didn't want him to get burnt out by the time he'd come with us. But he didn't, and he did his own set. We ended up doing four songs where we put aside sort of six or seven. But it worked out that we did four. So that was fine."

After host Eddie Trunk noted that he was surprised to see Ozzy come back on stage so soon after performing with his solo band to sing the final four songs with SABBATH, Iommi said: "Yeah, that was my concern and that was all our concern, actually — Geezer, myself and Bill. We thought that he should have a longer break. And we didn't really know how we were gonna do it, because the original plan was we'd get a curtain and the curtain was gonna be raised and we'd all be there. But of course, on the day — well, the day before, when went down for a soundcheck to the stadium — the curtain didn't work and they thought best not to use it 'cause it was windy. So then we had to figure out how we were gonna get on stage, which was a revolving stage, by the way. It was mainly getting Ozz on, because he's in his throne. And then Geezer and I walk on. And Bill was already on. So it was making it up as we went on, really."

Iommi added that SABBATH was ready to play more songs but that he and the other musicians had run out of time. "Well, we had seven songs that we'd gone through, and then it went down to six," he said. "And then, of course, there is a strong curfew at the Villa. You know what, Eddie?! I'm surprised they managed to get all the bands in anyway — I really am — because the organization… How [RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist and event's music curator] Tom Morello had organized that was just incredible. He had really done a great job. But they were working to the minute, and it was touch and go. You couldn't go over your time span; otherwise I don't know what would've happened because they do work to a serious cut-off."

On the topic of which other songs BLACK SABBATH had rehearsed, Tony said: "Well, we started with 'Fairies Wear Boots', and then we'd done 'Black Sabbath'. And it was a little difficult for Bill 'cause he hadn't played them for so long. And Geezer and I, of course, we played them on the last tour. And, of course, Bill hasn't toured, don't forget, for a long time. So we could have done six [songs], but we ended up doing four."

NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen reunited with the band's former bassist/vocalist Marko Hietala on stage yesterday (Saturday, July 26) at the Kuopiorock festival at Väinölänniemi in Kuopio, Finland to perform two songs. First, Floor came up during Marko's set on the Matkus Stage for a rendition of "Left On Mars", a track from Hietala's 2025 solo album "Roses From The Deep". A short time later, Marko returned the favor by joining Floor on the Kuopio250 Stage for a duet on a version of the main theme from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "The Phantom Of The Opera", a song that NIGHTWISH had originally recorded a cover of in 2002 for the album "Century Child" and which NIGHTWISH had performed live countless times before.

In introducing Marko to the stage, Floor told the crowd:  "Now, this would've been the end of the show, but if you're here, and you're here and Marko Hietala is here, and he asks you to join, and you gladly say 'yes', how nice would it be to say, 'How would you come and sing with us too?' And he said 'yes'. And then for our fans twice today I get to share the stage with this amazing man, singer, performer and songwriter."

Fan-filmed video of both the "Left On Mars" and "The Phantom Of The Opera" performances from the 2025 edition of the Kuopiorock festival can be seen below.

In a January 2025 interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, Marko was asked if he had any regrets about leaving NIGHTWISH four years earlier. He responded:  "Of course. I was regretting it already when I was leaving. But it was not just NIGHTWISH. I've said this quite a few times, that I actually left everything. My trouble with depression and anxiety was constant. It just wouldn't go away and had gotten worse and worse and worse during the years. And I grit my teeth and held on until I felt that — yeah, it was when COVID was over, started to be over, and they said that, 'Okay, we got these plans for the spring and then these plans for touring' and all that. And then I kind of realized, 'I don't want to go. I'm feeling too bad. And if I go on the road, it's just gonna be a stress. I'm gonna be alone."

He continued: "Everybody's got their own survival methods [when it comes to being on tour] — they've gotta have them and all that — so I figured, 'I cannot do it.' And at the same time, I was also already looking kind of vaguely if there would be a place where I could escape to some winter months because the darkness was making the depression and anxiety worse and all that. And then I kind of realized that 'I wanna leave everything, all the responsibilities, everything. I need to find out what's wrong with me.' So I kind of came just to Spain to get away from everything, everyone I know, except for the wife and the dog. And then I was talking to psychiatrists here in Spain, there in Finland, through video and all that. And then one of them just suggested that 'you might have ADHD [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder].' I'm, like, 'How the fuck does it relate to depression and anxiety?' 'Well, it does. Read about it.' And I did. Yep. And it's that feeling of difference that you do not match the other people's capabilities of handling their daily tasks or whatever. And I was just always lost — everything was a mess and all that. And what do you know? There it is — the ADHD. And it makes you, as a social creature, a tribal creature, that kind of a thing, the social isolation, it's a slow way to death. We know that loneliness is a killer. Well, yeah, but I kind of learned to deal with it ever since I was a kid. But it doesn't really make it necessarily easier. It had its consequences. And I was like that: 'Nothing I ever do will make anything any better. Everything is grey and worthless. And I am too.' That was the thing that had been growing on me. So, when this ADHD thing came up, then I read about it, went to the neuropsychological test and all that, and yep, I got it.

Marko went on to say that he was feeling much better now. "Yeah, because now I know," he explained. "It's a relief to know that there are things in your history and in yourself that you just cannot help. That's what you are. So a lot of kind of guilt about things that were left undone or unsaid or went went straight to hell from the things you did and said, suddenly you find out that, okay, actually, no matter how much you wish you would have acted differently, you couldn't, with the knowledge you had that time… And you can forgive yourself for the shit. And then again, you can also forgive quite a lot of other people for not understanding. So, yeah, it's a relief. You get a load off your chest."

Hietala announced his departure from NIGHTWISH in January 2021, explaining in a statement that he hadn't "been able to feel validated by this life for a quite a few years now." He has since been replaced by bassist Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN),who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH in May 2021 at the band's two interactive experiences.

In a March 2024 interview with Brazil's Ibagenscast, Hietala was asked if he would consider taking part in a reunion of NIGHTWISH's classic lineup, either for a tour or fresh material. He responded: "Hmm, I would consider it. But I think that the organization there would have to be looked very carefully into it and some of it would have to be dismantled. Because the business side and how the people there work, they are one of the big reasons why I left."

He continued: "In all the bands that I've been [in], I found out that I'm probably the most kind of courageous person there is and therefore also I have the inner strength to be the most honest and most fair and the one who upholds the justice between the people and taking care of everyone most. And that is something that I saw, the last years, were lacking. So, these kind of things would have to be taken care of. But I mean, [NIGHTWISH] was a big part of my life and I always, always backed up the music that we did because I love to do music that is versatile and ambitious with a lot of all kinds of atmospheres of all the world, from sensitive and soft into the big and pounding metal and all that. So, musically, I have no regrets at all. I'm happy and proud to have been a part of it. But, yeah, the organizational situation and the attitudes and who talks to whom and about what, those are things that I would totally dismantle and make into a transparent situation."

In an August 2022 interview with Finland's Chaoszine, Hietala revealed that he went through a dark period in his life, which included depression, insomnia, anxiety and an ADHD diagnosis. Speaking about how he eventually came to the realization that exiting NIGHTWISH was the right thing to do, Marko said: "It was a long process. Of course, the COVID year that was there, where I had a lot of time for soul searching, it obviously gave me the last incentive that I need something else, that if I just continue with this I'm just gonna get sicker and sicker. But, of course, it's a process.

"I've been chronic depressive since 2010 [or] 2011, so I've been on a permanent medication ever since," he revealed. "Sometimes you get used to the meds [and] you will need more. We did raise [the dosage] during the years also, but it just didn't work. And now that I started to do… I had psychotherapy for over four years now, and then I also talked to psychiatrists and some doctors and did that also in Spain. Then my psychiatrist here in Finland said that I should do these ADHD neuropsychological tests, which I then did in Spain. And, okay, I got it."

Hietala reiterated that he "had been thinking about" leaving NIGHTWISH "for a while" before making the final decision. "Because I had a lot of weight. And I tend to… With the attention disorder, it tells me that when there are lots of trouble, then the disorder makes it into a real chaos," he explained. "There's a shitload of stuff coming and going and no peace anywhere. And for a year or two, I was already waking up every night at three o'clock to bad dreams and anxiety. So I'd say that the whole process probably started already with my former divorce [in 2016]. That was a very sad time when you think about your kids and your broken homes and all that. And then, when I started to get clear from that, then there were, well, all kinds of things. I don't really wanna go any deeper to what kind of things I'd gone through, but I'd gone through enough."

Acknowledging that making NIGHTWISH's 2020 studio album, "Human. :II: Nature.", was a "difficult" experience for him, Marko denied that his mental state at the time resulted in a diminished role for him on the final LP. "I think the original idea was to have that… we'll do a couple of [solo vocal appearances], or one solo for me and Troy [Donockley], and the rest Floor, and then the harmonies; that was the idea originally for that," he said. "So I don't know if it affected. I think it was sort of as planned. But at that time I already had serious trouble with concentrating and serious trouble with a constant black cloud over my head."

In July 2022, Hietala told Finland's Iltalehti that he had not kept in touch with NIGHTWISH since his departure or followed the activities of his former band.

In May 2021, NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen said that Hietala's decision to leave NIGHTWISH "came as a bit of a surprise." He told Finland's Kaaos TV: "Marko informed us in December [of 2020 that he was leaving the band]. And even though he has been very open about his state and problems during the past years, it still came as a bit of a surprise for us. So it was a really tough pill to swallow. And for a few days, I was actually quite confident that there's no coming back, that this is it. I remember talking to Emppu [Vuorinen], the guitar player, and we were, like, 'You think this is it?' 'Yeah, I think this is it.' I mean, enough is enough. So much has happened in the past. Something that broke the camel's back, as they say. Then, after some time had passed — a few days — we started to think that it's been such a ride of 25 years, with so many ups also, that this is not the way to end it."

Tuomas elaborated on NIGHTWISH's reasons for carrying on, saying: "I think we still have something to give, and that's the main point. The music is still there. We felt that there's still so much music that needs to come out from this band that, 'Okay, let's give it one more shot.' And then finding the new bass player was really easy."

He added: "It's not like we do this just because we need to do it and there's nothing else to do. On a personal level, I feel that there's still so many stories and melodies that I want to share with the world with one lineup or another, so that's why you want to continue and keep on going.

"I've said this a million times, that a lineup change is the ultimate energy vampire, and that's how it really felt and still feels."

In June 2021, Jansen spoke about Hietala's exit from the band in an episode of her "Storytime" YouTube video series. She said: "That was a very sudden surprise that, of course, was not fun at all. But we understand — I understand — it was a necessary thing for him to do. And from there, we had to think of how to continue without him, and that also, in preparations towards the virtual show, that was a huge challenge."

In December 2020, Hietala was crowned the winner of the fall 2020 season of "Masked Singer Suomi" — the Finnish edition of the popular masked singing contest. He was disguised as Tohtori — the Doctor.

"Roses From The Deep" was released in February via Nuclear Blast.

The studio version of "Left On Mars", which appears on "Roses From The Deep", features a guest appearance by former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen.

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Acclaimed rock innovators THRICE return with "Horizons/West", their highly anticipated new album set for release on October 3, 2025 via Epitaph Records. The announcement arrives alongside the release of the record's blistering lead single "Gnash", available now on all streaming platforms. Pre-sale for the "Horizons/West" vinyl and exclusive merch is available now at ThriceMerch.com.

Serving as a companion to 2021's "Horizons/East", the new full-length album continues the band's bold sonic exploration and philosophical depth, while standing firmly as its own statement. "Horizons/West" blends cinematic post-rock textures, intricate rhythms, and the raw urgency that defined THRICE's early work, offering an album that's equal parts introspection and confrontation.

"This is the first time we leaned into something that felt like a direct continuation, like a sequel to a previous album," says frontman Dustin Kensrue.

"Horizons/West" was produced and engineered by the band at New Grass Studios, with mixing and additional production by Scott Evans and mastering by Matthew J. Barnhart, both of whom also worked on THRICE's "The Artist In The Ambulance (Revisited)" (2023). The release continues the band's long-standing DIY ethos and adventurous spirit. The album also marks a lyrical deep dive into themes of personal identity, societal manipulation, technological anxiety, and spiritual awakening.

"A lot of this record is about parsing reality," Kensrue explains. "We're constantly being influenced by algorithms, by fear, by our own social echo chambers. 'Horizons/West' tries to pull the curtain back on some of that. We've always just followed our curiosity, wherever it leads," Kensrue reflects. "We want to keep growing, exploring, and making something that feels honest to who we are right now."

"Horizons/West" track listing:

01. Blackout
02. Gnash
03. Albatross
04. Undertow
05. Holding On
06. Dusk
07. The Dark Glow
08. Crooked Shadows
09. Distant Suns
10. Vesper Light
11. Unitive/West

Following the release, THRICE will embark on a nationwide headline tour this fall, joined by MODERN COLOR and DOWNWARD. The tour kicks off October 17 in San Diego, California and includes stops in New York City, Toronto, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles, wrapping up November 23 in Anaheim, California.

THRICE fall 2025 tour dates with MODERN COLOR and DOWNWARD:

Oct. 17 - San Diego, CA - Observatory NP
Oct. 18 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
Oct. 20 - Dallas, TX - HOB Dallas
Oct. 21 - Austin, TX - Emo's
Oct. 23 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Heaven
Oct. 24 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus
Oct. 25 - Orlando, FL - HOB Orlando
Oct. 27 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall
Oct. 28 - Norfolk, VA - NorVa
Oct. 29 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
Oct. 31 - Boston, MA - HOB Boston
Nov. 01 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Nov. 02 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA
Nov. 04 - Toronto, ON - Danforth
Nov. 05 - Montreal, QC - Beanfield
Nov. 07 - Cleveland, OH - Globe Iron
Nov. 08 - Detroit, MI - Majestic
Nov. 09 - Chicago, IL - HOB Chicago
Nov. 11 - Minneapolis, MN - Fillmore Minneapolis
Nov. 13 - Denver, CO - Summit
Nov. 14 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington's
Nov. 15 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Union
Nov. 17 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore
Nov. 18 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
Nov. 19 - Portland, OR - Roseland
Nov. 21 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
Nov. 22 - Los Angeles, CA - The Novo
Nov. 23 - Anaheim, CA - HOB Anaheim
Nov. 25 - Anaheim, CA - HOB Anaheim

Steadfast and straightforward creative conviction has guided THRICE since they emerged in the late '90s with a sound that combined hardcore grit and progressive ambition, establishing themselves as pioneers among their post-hardcore peers. From the underground punk scene to major labels and influential indie labels, with a rich catalog of intense, meaningful, and emotionally driven albums, THRICE is a singular entity that gains more significance with each new release among their fans. Dustin Kensrue (vocals/guitar),Teppei Teranishi (guitar),Eddie Breckenridge (bass) and Riley Breckenridge (drums) consistently evolve in sound and substance. From their earliest releases to the bold exploration over more than 20 years of material, THRICE built a reputation as a band for musicians and songwriters, and a group with consistent integrity willing to take artistic and commercial risks. "Palms" (2018),their first album for Epitaph, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Indie and Hard Rock charts. And they've never lost their connection to their diverse audience, which is best understood beyond the Billboard charts and massive streams, through personal impact and a relationship forged through years. The double decade anniversaries of "The Illusion Of Safety" (2002) and "The Artist In The Ambulance" (2003) inevitably fed the energy and creative self-assurance that resulted in "Horizons/West". "Horizons/West", their 2025 full-length studio album, arrives as a companion to 2021's "Horizons/East". It continues the themes and sonic ambitions of its predecessor while standing entirely on its own. In 2025, THRICE reaffirms its legacy while continuing to push forward.

Photo credit: Atiba Jefferson

Fan-filmed video of PANTERA's entire July 25 concert at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania can be seen below.

Featured songs:

001:11 Hellbound
05:31 5 Minutes Alone
11:43 Strength Beyond Strength
17:10 Mouth For War
22:00 Goddamn Electric
26:25 Guitar Solo By Philip Anselmo (With Dean From Hell)
29:28 Becoming
33:44 I'm Broken
38:21 10's
44:16 I'll Cast A Shadow
48:55 This Love
55:44 Cowboys From Hell
01:01:45 A New Level
01:06:13 Walk
01:11:54 Domination
01:13:20 Hollow
01:17:48 Fucking Hostile

In other news, PANTERA has postponed and canceled several shows on "The Heaviest Tour Of The Summer" with AMON AMARTH while the bandmembers mourn the death of Ozzy Osbourne.

"Ozzy wasn't just a legend who shaped the very foundation of heavy metal and inspired PANTERA from the beginning — he was family," the reformed outfit, which includes longtime Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde, wrote on social media. "A mentor, a brother, and a constant presence in our lives both on and off the stage. The bond we shared with him ran far deeper than music."

The post continued: "In light of this profound loss, we need time and space to grieve — to be with our families, our crew, and each other as we process and honor the life of someone who meant so much to us."

Shows set to take place July 28 in Saratoga Springs, New York and July 31 in Holmdel, New Jersey have been rescheduled for September 9 and September 8, respectively, while dates in Gilford, New Hampshire, on July 29, Birmingham, Alabama on September 8 and Virginia Beach, Virginia on September 10 have been scrapped entirely.

"We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time," PANTERA added.

PANTERA paid tribute to Ozzy during the band's July 22 concert at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. While performing a cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Planet Caravan" — during which the PANTERA normally shows archival footage of the band's founding members "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott on the big screens — PANTERA displayed photos and animated images of Ozzy, some of which included Wylde, who had been a member of Osbourne's solo band, on and off, for nearly four decades.

On July 22, Zakk shared the following message via social media: " "THANK YOU FOR BLESSING THE WORLD w/YOUR KINDNESS & GREATNESS OZ - YOU BROUGHT LIGHT INTO SO MANY LIVES & MADE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE - YOU LIVED w/THE HEART OF A LION - I THANK THE GOOD LORD EVERY DAY FOR BLESSING MY LIFE w/YOU IN IT - I LOVE YOU OZ. BEYOND FOREVER".

Ozzy and Zakk first teamed up 38 years ago when Zakk (whom Ozzy described as "a fucking absolutely amazing guitar player") joined Ozzy's band in 1987; they last recorded in 2022 on Ozzy's acclaimed album "Patient Number 9".

Back in 1990, Ozzy told Guitar World magazine about why he picked Zakk to be his guitarist: "This is a bizarre story, but it's the God's honest truth. It was a bad period for me because I was sick of auditioning people – drummers, bass players, keyboard players, you name it. Now it was time to audition yet another guitar player. The spark had gone out of it, probably due to my various battles with drugs and alcohol. I had a lot of personal hang-ups about a lot of things, plus I was tired.

"I asked the guys who were in the band at the time to put out the word that I needed somebody and to have people send me résumés. I auditioned about 50 guys. Some of them were hilarious. I asked one guy to play something in a specific key. He said, 'I think it would be better in another key.' I said, 'No it wouldn't. Just play it in the key it was written in.' He protested again and I just thought, What the hell am I doing here? I'm jet-lagged to the max, arguing with some idiot guitar player. Then there were all these Eddie Van Halen clones on steroids. They played like Van Halen while standing on their heads and hopping on one leg. One guy even played like Eddie while eating a fucking sword!

"One morning I was confronted with a mound of tapes and I remember picking one up out of thousands and saying, 'Look here, a Randy Rhoads clone.' It was a picture of some guy with long blonde hair playing a Les Paul Custom. I couldn't even bring myself to listen to his tape. I tossed it back in the pile and forgot about it. Then about six months later, my drummer, Randy Castillo, walks in and says, 'I found this great guitarist from New Jersey, and his name is Zakk.' I walked into the audition and I knew I had seen him before, but I couldn't remember where. He plugs in and plays my whole catalog, note for note. I then asked him to play something of his own and he played some acoustic stuff and some classical stuff. He had a bounce and a spark about him. Then I realized where I saw Zakk before: he was the Randy Rhoads clone in the photo, the one tape I had picked out of thousands. Only it turned out that he wasn't a Randy clone at all. Randy would've looked like an ant next to Zakk.

"There were lots of benefits to choosing Zakk. He had followed my career and he knew my songs better than I knew them myself. We knew it wouldn't be hard to break him in."

In a 2022 interview with Revolver magazine, Wylde reflected on the first time he listened to BLACK SABBATH's music as a kid, saying: "I remember being in art class. My one buddy Tommy — he must have been like 11 years old — he had a sculpture of a jawless skull, which is basically the BLACK LABEL [SOCIETY] skull now: Skully. It was a jawless skull with a lightning bolt going through it that said, 'Black Sabbath 666.' I was, like, 'Wow, what is that?' And he goes, 'Oh, it's just a rock band my older brother listens to.' And I thought it looked so cool. I just wanted to figure out what it was. So, I was at the mall with my mother and my mom was, like, 'You can get a record.' Okay, so obviously, I ended up buying 'We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll' — but we know it's a double album. I had never heard a SABBATH song before in my life. So, I put the record on and I was beyond terrified the whole time I listened to the album. I was Catholic when I first put the needle down on it, and halfway through the second LP, I was a full-blown Satanist. And by the end of the album, I converted back to Catholicism just so I could thank God for creating BLACK SABBATH."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ozzy Osbourne's catalog, spanning his genre-defining work with BLACK SABBATH and his iconic solo career, has seen a resurgence the legendary heavy metal singer's passing.

In the days following the July 22 announcement of Osbourne's death, his solo Spotify monthly listeners jumped from 12.4 million to 18.7 million, an increase of 6.3 million. BLACK SABBATH, meanwhile, jumped from 19.8 million to 24.6 million.

In terms of individual songs, Ozzy's classic solo track "Crazy Train" added 8 million streams, hitting 809 million total; "No More Tears" gained 7 million, reaching 266 million; and "Mama, I'm Coming Home" spiked by 7.2 million to 245 million. BLACK SABBATH's timeless classic "Paranoid" racked up 9.3 million streams to reach an all-time number of 1.38 billion; "Iron Man" went from 581 million to 587 million; and "War Pigs" added 5 million to reach 385 million.

Ozzy died Tuesday morning (July 22),his family announced in a statement.

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the family said.

No cause of death was given, but Osbourne had battled a number of health issues over the past several years, including Parkinson's disease and injuries he sustained from a late-night fall in 2019.

Ozzy's death came a little more than two weeks after he took the stage for his final performance with BLACK SABBATH at Villa Park in the band's original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They performed four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.

Ozzy's family reality television show "The Osbournes" won a 2002 Primetime Emmy.

In 2006, Osbourne and the other members of the original BLACK SABBATH were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ozzy was also inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2024.

Osbourne won several Grammys, including one in 1993 for his solo song "I Don't Want To Change The World".

Ozzy and his wife and manager Sharon started their annual tour — Ozzfest — in 1996 after he was rejected from the lineup of what at the time was the top touring music festival, Lollapalooza. The first traveling version of Ozzfest in 1997 included MARILYN MANSON and PANTERA as part of the lineup.

Osbourne leaves behind his wife, three children from his first marriage (including an adopted son from his first wife's previous relationship),and three with Sharon: Jack, Kelly and Aimee.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin (courtesy of Premier)

In an interview with U.K.'s Primordial Radio, TRIVIUM guitarist Corey Beaulieu confirmed that a new song from him and his bandmates should arrive within the next two weeks, prior to their appearance at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival (taking place August 7-10). Regarding how and when the song will be rolled out, Corey said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I guess to protect me if I say something I'm not supposed to… Basically, it's gonna drop before… I can't remember the exact day, but it's supposed to come out before we play Bloodstock, 'cause we're gonna play it at Bloodstock. So, I guess that would be anywhere the first week of August. So within that timeframe."

He continued: "We've been hinting at this song online with clips and everything for a while, so people know it's coming. They just don't know exactly when. But it's gonna be before we start this tour, so the first week of August, in that timeframe, it's gonna drop, I believe. We've been filming some content and stuff to promote it, leading up to it, so there's gonna be a lot more ramping up to totally piss everyone off, 'cause they'd been just waiting for new music. So every time you post a snippet or a clip or some kind of teaser, it makes people more mad. So it's gonna ramp up, 'cause they just want the song."

Asked if TRIVIUM's recent tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's second album and Roadrunner debut, "Ascendancy", affected the songwriting process for TRIVIUM's new music, Corey said: "Well, last year we would get together and we were rehearsing 'Ascendancy', and in between the rehearsals we started writing some new songs. 'Cause, obviously, we've got the studio being built. When it gets done, we wanna have something ready to kind of break it in, get the studio up and running. So we started writing some songs. And there was no real, I guess, game plan, 'cause we weren't in the head space of, 'We're writing a record.' It was just, like, 'Hey, let's just write some songs and just kind of let it be what it is.' We'd rehearse 'Ascendancy' on a Monday and then Wednesday we would be, like, 'All right, we're just gonna work on writing some stuff.' And we kind of summed it up as the couple songs that we wrote, it was kind of like spirit animals of 'Ascendancy', where it was, like, we were rehearsing 'Ascendancy' and we kind of used the energy and playing those songs, and we were, like, 'Oh, let's kind of parlay that into new music.' And the new stuff definitely has kind of the spirit of 'Ascendancy', but also a lot of kind of what we do now kind of blended in. So I think just focusing on playing 'Ascendancy' definitely carried over into the writing of just trying to, I guess, capture that intensity and energy of what that record was. And when we played the stuff to some friends and stuff like that, they were just, like, 'Oh, shit.' This has got some pretty intense stuff. The first song coming out definitely is a very — I guess maybe the closest comparison might be 'Rain', in a sense of just something right in your face, fast, very aggressive. So, it's definitely gonna be cool."

Elaborating on TRIVIUM's plans to release new music, Corey said: "When we did the stuff, the intention was we thought we were gonna be doing the 'Ascendancy' tour from January to December, doing a full tour. And then the idea was we were gonna record a couple songs and then just release 'em as singles kind of as the year goes on for the tour, kind of, like, 'Hey, we're coming to South America.' Oh, new song drops. Or we're going there, and just releasing standalone singles. 'Cause it's been so long since we put out a record, it was kind of, like, 'Hey, let's give the fans some new stuff to listen to while we're doing the anniversary stuff.' And then once that abruptly ended, we kind of pivoted to doing an EP. So we're just gonna put everything out at one time. We're working on some really cool, special vinyl stuff, some collectible stuff. So kind of do a little special mini-release before we are able to get a [full] record done. So, kind of wanting to give the fans, since it's been a little bit of a wait to get 'em some new stuff to listen to, hold 'em over until we're able to finish up a new album."

TRIVIUM will embark on the "Ascend Above The Ashes" tour this fall. The trek will kick off October 31 in Myrtle Beach and runs though December 14, with an epic hometown show in Orlando. Special guests JINJER will appear, while HERIOT will serve as support.

While the tour will continue to celebrate the 20th anniversary of TRIVIUM's landmark "Ascendancy" album, fans can also expect new music soon. TRIVIUM will also make appearances at Louder Than Life and Aftershock this fall.

TRIVIUM and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently teamed up for "The Poisoned Ascendancy" tour during which the two bands celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Ascendancy" and "The Poison" albums, respectively, by playing them in full.

Produced by Live Nation, the North American leg of "The Poisoned Ascendancy" kicked off on March 30 at PNE Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, making stops across North America in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and more before wrapping up in Raleigh, North Carolina at Red Hat Amphitheater on May 18.

Released in March of 2005, TRIVIUM crafted a classic in the form of "Ascendancy". It concluded 2005 as Kerrang!'s "Album Of The Year," went gold in the U.K., and has since surpassed global sales of 500,000 copies. Opening the main stage of Download festival that year, the Floridian four piece — barely out of their teens — delivered a set that left all who witnessed it in no doubt that they were looking at future legends, with Kerrang! readers later voting it as the tenth best gig of all time.

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In The Court Of The Dragon", came out in October 2021 via TRIVIUM's longtime label Roadrunner Records. The record was produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur and recorded in the fall of 2020 at Full Sail University in Orlando. The album cover is an original oil painting by French artist Mathieu Nozieres.

German hard rock legends SCORPIONS have released "Still Loving You (Taratata, 28 Apr 1996)" as the second single from their upcoming greatest-hits album "From The First Sting", due on September 26 via BMG. This powerful live version of their iconic hit was recorded during a taping of the French music show "Taratata", where they performed alongside internationally acclaimed violinist Vanessa-Mae. The video has already been viewed over 101 million times on YouTube and is now available as audio on streaming platforms for the first time.

In celebration of their sixth decade as a band, SCORPIONS will release "From The First Sting", a thrilling collection showcasing the raw energy, unforgettable anthems, and iconic moments from their illustrious career. "From The First Sting" will be available on a deluxe 2LP and 2CD bookpack and 2CD format for European and rest-of-the-world fans, as well as 2LP vinyl and 1CD format for fans in the Americas.

During their career, the SCORPIONS viewed their music as a bridge between cultures. They performed in the former Soviet Union, China, and Southeast Asia, thereby fostering international understanding. Commercially, the band are also one of the best-selling hard rock and heavy metal bands of all time — with over 120 million album sales to their name.

"From The First Sting" is a sonic journey through the band's timeless hits, from "Rock You Like A Hurricane" to "Wind Of Change", showcasing SCORPIONS' evolution while honouring the spirit of their classic sound.

"From The First Sting" features two previously unreleased tracks, "This Is My Song" and "Still Loving You", the latter of which features British violinist Vanessa Mae. The physical for European and rest-of-the-world fans comes housed in a carefully crafted 2LP colored vinyl and 2CD 40-page deluxe edition bookpack, comprehensively illustrating the enduring influence of the pioneering masters of their genre.

Perfect for die-hard fans and newcomers alike, "From The First Sting" delivers the ultimate SCORPIONS experience — a blistering ride through 60 years of hard-hitting, heart-pounding rock that continues to leave its mark on the world.

2LP and 1CD track listing

01. In Search Of The Peace Of Mind
02. This Is My Song*
03. Speedy's Coming
04. In Trance
05. Pictured Life
06. The Sails Of Charon
07. Top Of The Bill (Live)
08. Always Somewhere
09. The Zoo
10. No One Like You
11. Rock You Like A Hurricane
12. Big City Nights
13. Wind Of Change
14. Still Loving You (feat. Vanessa Mae)*
15. Humanity
16. Rock Believer

* Bonus tracks

2CD track listing

CD1

01. In Search Of The Peace Of Mind
02. This Is My Song
03. Speedy's Coming
04. In Trance
05. Pictured Life
06. The Sails Of Charon
07. Top Of The Bill (Live)
08. Holiday
09. Always Somwhere
10. Lady Starlight
11. The Zoo
12. No One Like You
13. When The Smoke Is Going Down
14. Still Loving You
15. Rock You Like A Hurricane
16. Big City Nights

CD2

01. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Live)
02. Believe In Love
03. Send Me An Angel
04. Wind Of Change
05. Under The Same Sun
06. Still Loving You (feat. Vanessa Mae)
07. Mind Like A Tree
08. You & I
09. Wind Of Change (Moment Of Glory)
10. Always Somewhere
11. Maybe I Maybe You
12. Humanity
13. The Best Is Yet To Come
14. House Of Cards
15. Rock Believer

Photo credit: Marc Theis (courtesy of Wilful Publicity)

Following a landmark year that included back-to-back No. 1 singles at Active Rock with "Artificial" and "Pieces", and sold-out tours with BREAKING BENJAMIN, STAIND and DISTURBED, multi-platinum rock band DAUGHTRY is keeping up the momentum with the announcement of an upcoming EP, "Shock To The System (Part Two)", arriving September 12 via Big Machine Rock.

After the April release of the haunting "The Day I Die" which set the tone for this next chapter, DAUGHTRY delivers another bold preview with new single "The Bottom", available now on all platforms. Built on a swaggering groove that cuts through a haze of distortion, "The Bottom" finds frontman Chris Daughtry flexing his vocal range with a hypnotic cadence as he confesses, "I was down in a hole until I clawed my way back from the bottom." The track captures the raw honesty and sonic intensity that define "Shock To The System (Part Two)" and gives fans a deeper glimpse into the EP's emotional core.

"'Shock To The System' is about facing the things we've ignored and confronting the wake-up calls that force us to go deeper and get honest," says Chris Daughtry. "These songs unlocked something in me as a writer and a human being. 'Part Two' is the result of that journey."

"Shock To The System (Part One)" delivered major milestones for the band, scoring their first-ever No. 1 at Active Rock with "Artificial", followed by another No. 1 with "Pieces". The project drew widespread praise from outlets such as Billboard and Spin, who highlighted the palpable heaviness and fearless creative evolution of this new era.

"Shock To The System (Part Two)" track listing:

01. The Seeds
02. Divided
03. The Day I Die
04. The Bottom
05. Terrified
06. Razor
07. Antidote

DAUGHTRY remains a force of nature in rock music and culture, standing out as one of the best-selling rock bands of the 21st century. The history-making group has scored multiple platinum and gold certifications, notched two No. 1 debuts on the Billboard 200, packed venues worldwide, and sold north of nine million albums and 25 million singles. Recently, 2021's "Dearly Beloved" spawned a procession of Top 10 Billboard Rock Airplay hits, namely "World On Fire", "Heavy Is The Crown" and "Changes Are Coming". DAUGHTRY teamed up with Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM for a chart-busting cover of JOURNEY's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" during 2023. Chris Daughtry has further distinguished himself with featured vocals for PAPA ROACH, BAD WOLVES, NOTHINGMORE and SEVENDUST. Embedded in popular culture, his presence can also be felt everywhere from "Family Guy" to his comic book cover art including DC comics variant cover of Batman #50. In 2024, "Shock To The System (Part One)" spawned the group's first-ever No. 1 at Active Rock with "Artificial", along with earning the title of Billboard's "Most Played Artist" at Active rock in 2024. Beyond looks from Billboard, Spin and more, Loudwire marveled at how "There's quite the palpable heaviness to the first installment of the singer's planned EPs." Between playing arenas with BREAKING BENJAMIN, STAIND and DISTURBED, the band recorded "Shock To The System (Part Two)" (Dogtree Records/Big Machine Label Group) alongside producers and co-writers Marti Frederiksen and Scott Stevens.

In November 2021, Chris's stepdaughter Hannah Price was found dead in her home. It was later revealed that Price, 25, died by suicide while under the influence of narcotics at her home in Fentress County, Tennessee.

Chris was on tour when Price died, and subsequently postponed a series of concert dates.

Fan-filmed video of GHOST performing the song "Square Hammer" on July 19 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania can be seen below. Also available is a two-camera mix of GHOST's performance of the song "Peacefield" on July 12 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

During a July 4 question-and-answer session with fans at Birmingham, United Kingdom's HMV Vault, GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge addressed the band's announcement that GHOST's 2025 world tour would be "a phone-free experience", with guests maintaining possession of their phones at all times, secured in Yondr pouches. Asked if he got any "pushback" from his camp about enforcing this so-called "phone ban", he said: "Oh, pushback. I think that the first initial pushback, it wasn't necessarily muscular pushback, but it was an inquiry to maybe reconsider. But that was more from — you know, the first person that you'd speak to when you're an artist is obviously your manager and your agent. And 'I have this idea.' It's, like , 'Mm-hmm. You sure about that?' And then the agent comes and, like, 'Oh, I love the idea, but…' Because it also adds a lot of baggage to the administration part and the practical bit of the concert, and anything that makes things harder is always frowned upon. And, of course, we had to really vet that idea. What does it mean? Who has done this before? Oh, not many. Okay. But who does that?

"The thing is that there are a lot of artists [who phone shame the audience], and I know a lot of artists — a lot more than let people know — absolutely hate the phones," Forge continued. "But it's one thing to phone shame people and [it's] another to go through the hurdle of doing what we did. And, of course, we had to weigh that. Essentially, what people wanna know [is] what does it cost? What's the ramifications of it, time-wise and economically? 'Okay, that's about right.'"

Elaborating on the mindset that led him to suggest the "phone ban" in the first place, Forge said: "I am vehemently against what I experienced, culminating on the last bit of our last tour cycle, where — and just for complete transparency, we went obviously to all kinds of different countries where temperament differs. So, with or without phones, there are certain parts of the world where people are just generally slightly subdued. But there are other parts of the world where people are exactly opposite and very engaged. And it really hit me when we came to certain countries where they have generally been much more enthusiastic, and you come out — there's, like, 18,000 people there, and there's, like, 10,000 phones. And they're not even bouncing anymore. And you're just like, 'What is this? What has happened?'"

After one fan suggested that it is a form of "disrespect", Tobias replied: "I don't know if it's disrespect… This is the thing that most people, most individuals haven't thought about how it is, because you think that, 'Well, no one cares about what I'm doing. I'm standing here in the back. I'm just gonna take a photo. I'm gonna film a song.' So each individual is not doing a purposefully disrespectful diss, but the sum of it becomes a completely changed, especially for an artist who you come out on a stage and you're expecting, like, 'Fucking people are gonna rage,' and then all of a sudden it's, like, the crowd that you've seen for, at that point, through 13 years has just gone less and less and less engaged in exchange for these phones. What's that about? What the fuck? And so I just felt that I came to a point where I'm, like, 'I don't think I wanna do this. I don't think I wanna do this. If this is how it's gonna be, I'd rather not do it.' That that's how worthless it became because of the phones. Especially a show like ours. I mean, I know that there are a lot of artists who [do] a completely more a free-form show, but we don't. Our show is pretty sort of nailed and arranged. There's obviously a certain wiggle room for individualism. But, yeah, in order to do what we do, we need to have a certain regimen. And so what do we feed off of? [The crowd]. And that is crucial. That is crucial for us to be able to do the show. If you came into a dress rehearsal and saw us do the same thing but without a crowd, it's dramatically worse. But when you have an engaged crowd, it becomes better because you're two… It is exactly like that. It's an exchange. And if someone in the act of doing it just takes a phone out…?"

Asked by the moderator if the decision to ban phones on the 2025 tour has "paid off" for GHOST so far, Tobias said: "Oh, absolutely. [It's been a] fucking life changer. Life changer for the existence of the band. Absolutely. We had a collective… Just walking off stage first night [of the tour] was just, like, this has completely changed the entire outlook of how this feels. So, yeah, now we're doing that. And I think that there are a lot of bands that are looking at this and just, like, 'Okay, so how do we do that too?'"

Earlier this month, GHOST kicked off the U.S. leg of the "Skeletour" world tour in support of the group's sixth studio album, "Skeletá", which came out in April. Marking a bold evolution in GHOST's live performances, the tour is the band's most theatrical and cinematic production yet. Designed by Tobias Rylander and GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge, the tour embraces a grander and more ambitious scale than ever before.

The set design is a striking blend of gothic symbolism and brutalist architecture, melding the ornate drama of cathedrals with the stark lines of modernist concrete forms. Inspired by brutalist cathedrals across Europe, the stage transforms into a sanctum of dark majesty: part sacred temple and part rock coliseum.

At the core of the design is the "Grucifix" — GHOST's reimagined crucifix inspired by their iconic logo. Suspended above the band, this colossal structure functions as both a visual centerpiece and a dynamic lighting rig, casting an ethereal glow over the stage.

Rylander's design includes sculptural scenic facades on the lighting pods, echoing the textures and verticality of cathedral interiors, further reinforcing the ecclesiastical themes central to GHOST's identity.

The lighting leans into a retro-rock aesthetic, with visual nods to classical QUEEN and VAN HALEN. The tour also represents a milestone for the band as it's the first time a full-scale video production led by Rylander and video director Amir Chamdin. With video content by Green Wall Designs, the creative direction transcends the physical stage, evolving into a fully immersive multimedia experience.

In keeping with the show's theatricality, the stage itself has been engineered to perform as much as the artist. Multiple elevated performance platforms, mechanical lifts, and concealed entrances are strategically placed to accommodate dramatic reveals and character transitions. A living, breathing cathedral of performance, "Skeletour" redefines the GHOST live experience, where sacred architecture collides with the raw energy of rock and roll.

Renowned for his work across live music world tours, fashion, theatre and art installations, Rylander has collaborated with artists such as Beyoncé, THE 1975, Childish Gambino, Chappell Roan, The XX and FKA Twigs. "Skeletour" marks his first creative partnership with the Grammy Award-winning band, bringing a new dimension to GHOST's already-iconic stage presence.

The European leg of GHOST's 2025 world tour kicked off on April 15 in Manchester, United Kingdom and concluded on May 24 in Oslo, Norway. The North American leg of GHOST's 2025 tour launched on July 9 in Baltimore, Maryland and will wrap up on August 16 in Houston, Texas.

Through the use of technology like Yondr, fans are able to place their phones in a pouch that unlocks only after they leave the no-cell-phone zone. The pouch can also be unlocked at specific cell phone stations inside the venue.

Phones, Apple watches and other communication devices are placed in the pouch and sealed using a magnetized lock, which can be opened with an unlocking base.

This past May, "Skeletá" landed at position No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 86,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the LP's first week of release. According to Billboard, 89% of that figure (77,000) consisted of traditional album sales, with vinyl purchases accounting for over 44,000 copies. Notably, "Skeletá" was the first hard rock album to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 since AC/DC's "Power Up" in 2020.

The music video for the LP's first single, "Satanized", introduced the new character who is fronting GHOST for its 2025 touring cycle: Papa V Perpetua.

Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle". In March 2020, at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City, Mexico, the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the character who fronted the act for its "Impera" (2022) album phase.

In a recent episode of the Broken Record podcast, Mike Shinoda spoke about LINKIN PARK's decision to reinvent itself by hiring Emily Armstrong — co-founder of alternative rock band DEAD SARA — to front the group seven years after previous singer Chester Bennington died by suicide. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think that one of the things that really drove us is the idea that if we had just like hung it up and said, 'Okay, that was a good run,' and called it quits, that is such a shitty way for the band to end or stop making new music. That is an awful story. No one wants to read that book. And instead to be able to say, 'And then the guys dusted themselves up off and got up again,' that, to me, is the exactly the book I wanna read. That's the thing that's the hardest to do and the most intimidating, the most challenging, the most that could go wrong, honestly. And for ourselves and for our kids, for our fans, to do it and say… Yeah, we took huge risks on this."

He continued: "There's so much about the new music, the new lineup and everything else that is… I mean, before anybody knew anything, we were, like, 'Okay, here's a laundry list of the things that people are not gonna like.' … [These were] all of the things that they ended up not liking, all the things that anybody on the Internet argued about and continues to argue about our band. If anyone thinks that we didn't think of those things, they're crazy. We live and breathe this band. We thought of all those things. We went, 'Okay. Is that okay? That's gonna be okay, right?' The open-mouth breather, neck beard misogynist metal fan who loved our first two records and hasn't listened to the band since, but like thinks he's a LINKIN PARK fan, he's gonna hate this band and be vocal about it. So, that's okay. Great, because that person's gonna get replaced by ostensibly a 15-year-old girl who's, like, 'I've never been into like loud music before, and I wanna learn to play guitar now.' And I love that."

Asked if he and the other members of LINKIN PARK have ever taken part in any joint therapy sessions to deal with whatever issues they might have encountered along the way, Mike said: "I don't know if we have a problem with authority or something, but that type of thing, we've brushed up against it and it hasn't worked well for us because we just feel like the person, if there's a mediator, that they don't know us at all. Because they don't. We know everybody's buttons, we know where all the bodies are buried, so you can totally subtly antagonize each other if you want to. And so for us it was much more about… Well, the problem isn't that we know each other so well; the problem is that you've gotta care a lot and be grateful that this thing is very special and that if you do something to antagonize your bandmate, like you would antagonize your sibling, you're hurting yourself. I love the band. If I'm doing something that's making him or her uncomfortable or upset, then I'm hurting myself. So I think that we, thankfully, have a very emotionally intelligent band who can self-regulate to some degree."

In addition to Shinoda and Armstrong, LINKIN PARK's current lineup includes bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell guitarist Brad Delson, DJ Joe Hahn and drummer Colin Brittain.

In 2024, LINKIN PARK returned to the top of the charts with its latest album, "From Zero", the band's first new release in seven years. The critically acclaimed album features No. 1 single "The Emptiness Machine" and propelled the band to be the only rock band in 2024 to exceed two billion streams. LINKIN PARK is currently on tour in support of the album, with dates throughout North America, Europe and South America. "From Zero (Deluxe Edition)" was released on May 16.

Delson contributed to "From Zero", but hasn't been part of LINKIN PARK's live shows in support of the LP. The live guitar position has instead been filled by Alex Feder.

Last September, more than seven years after Bennington's death, LINKIN PARK debuted Armstrong and Brittain on a livestream.

"From Zero (Deluxe Edition)" 2CD is a limited pressing. It features a four-panel softpak packaging with 16-page booklet and showcases three new songs, five live tracks recorded around the world and all new, expanded packaging.

In late January, LINKIN PARK released an a cappella/vocals-only version of "From Zero", dubbed "From Zero - A Cappellas".

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine (courtesy of Warner Records)