After turning heads with their crushing rendition of Motörhead’s “Iron Fist”, UK thrash legends, Onslaught, return with the second single from their upcoming double-album Origins Of Aggression, which is due out on May 23 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

This time it’s personal. “In Search Of Sanity”, a re-recorded version of the band’s 1989 title track, explodes back to life in 2025 with a vengeance. Packed with towering riffs, mind-blowing solos, and vocal lines sharper than ever, this modern take breathes new fire into a thrash anthem – while keeping its roots raw and intact.

Guitarist and founding member Nige Rockett opens up about the song’s return: “This new recording of the title track from the album of the same name has completely blown me away… It’s like night and day compared to the original version. It’s common knowledge that I’ve never been a huge fan of the album overall. Don’t get me wrong – I love the songs, but at the time it just wasn’t an Onslaught album in terms of the production, vibe, and everything else that surrounded this particular release. It’s always been my dream to re-record the whole album and to finally make it sound like a real Onslaught record – the way it should have sounded the first time around. Here it is…! Tons of aggression and anger, a real heavy thrash song with all the necessary components. I hope you dig the new lease of life this track now has, as much as we do!”

Listen to the song here, and watch the video below:



“In Search Of Sanity” [2025 Version] is the second of three singles leading into Origins Of Aggression – a full-throttle retrospective featuring re-recorded classics and influential punk and metal covers, all delivered with a modern-day brutality.

Disc 1 features a fine selection of ten re-recorded tracks from Onslaught’s early days [1982-1989], while Disc 2 presents a colourful bouquet of cover versions of punk and metal songs that lead fans through the range of bands – from the Dead Kennedys, The Exploited and Discharge to Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and beyond – defining the group’s sound.

Origins Of Aggression can be pre-ordered [formats: 2CD-digipak, coloured vinyl, digital] or pre-saved on your favourite digital service provider (DSP) worldwide, here.

Cirith Ungol is pleased to unveil their live video of “Relentless.” The track and footage appears on the band’s upcoming Live At The Roxy offering, set for release on April 25 via Metal Blade Records.

One of the world’s most iconic music venues – the Sunset Strip’s Roxy Theatre – hosted a legendary 2024 gig by one of the world’s most iconic heavy metal bands: Cirith Ungol. The one-night-only performance was an album release show for the band’s 2023-released Dark Parade LP. It captured the lineup at the height of its considerable powers, performing Dark Parade in its entirety, along with a set of classic songs including “Join The Legion,” “Frost And Fire,” “Black Machine,” and “Atom Smasher.” The end result is a stellar live album and DVD.

On “Relentless,” co-founding drummer Robert Garven comments, “The Egyptian and Hindu guitar scales have always intrigued me for their exotic sound, so I wanted to come up with a sort of snake charmer melody for a new song. First I came up with a rhythm that is reminiscent of ‘The Fire’ off of the One Foot In Hell album. Next came the accompanying signature lead on top. It fit well and stuck, so we built the song from there creating simple, straight forward, rockin’ verses, choruses, bridges, and solo sections. I’m pleased with how it turned out. Relentless, overwhelming, forever black… Our many and treacherous demons thwarting our every effort to stay sane in an insane nightmare. Prayers? Realty? To whom and why? A twisted path to our inevitable downfall, despite the frail attempts at avoidance. The future leads nowhere? As of now it seems likely, Eternal and Black.”

Watch the “Relentless” video below:

Slaying audiences across North America on his "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" tour celebrating 20 years of "Transylvania 90210", Wednesday 13 has just unleashed the biggest surprise in his bag of tricks — brand-new single "No Apologies" featuring FASTER PUSSYCAT's Taime Downe. The track appears on the band's upcoming full-length album, "Mid Death Crisis", out this Friday, April 25 via Napalm Records.

"No Apologies" wastes no time ripping into a heavy rock rager, laced with fiery guitar leads and even more searing lyrics. The fast-romping anthem is an unapologetic exorcism of toxic demons and even more toxic people, and arrives alongside a new music video, also featuring Taime Downe.

Wednesday 13 comments: "This is the most rock 'n' roll song I've written in years. I wanted to go back to my roots, and my roots are '80s glam. The name at the top of that list was FASTER PUSSYCAT, so it made total sense to have Taime Downe guest on this track. Having one of my rock 'n' roll idols alongside me in the studio was an honor. We whipped up a nasty little middle finger salute to ourselves on this one, and the result is 'No Apologies'."

After returning in 2022 with his widely acclaimed full-length album "Horrifier", as well as several major tours supporting his solo work and celebrated MURDERDOLLS-centric shows, world-renowned fearsome frontman Wednesday 13 is back with another slew of harbingers of horror to slay the masses.

The Duke Of Spook himself dubs "Mid Death Crisis" as a fun, campy, "leave-your-brain-at-the-door" rager and a true return to his hard-rocking roots! Produced by guitarist Alex Kane (LIFE, SEX & DEATH, ENUFF Z'NUFF, ANTIPRODUCT) and mixed by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, PRONG, DEVILDRIVER) the album oozes infectious 1980s sleaze metal energy.

Eerie introductory track "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" vibrates with electricity before industrial-tinged "Decease And Desist" kicks in full blast. Wednesday 13's trademark crooning wastes no time entering the fold as he careens through the high-octane horror anthem, before tracks like "Rotting Away" and "Blood Storm" ensnare with metallic goth-punk energy that will have crowds moving wall to wall. Featuring Downe on guest vocals, standout heavy rocker "No Apologies" is a fast-romping exorcism of toxic demons, while the triumphant mini-murder ballad "Decapitation" riles up listeners with a catchy lead riff before making a hard left into a theatrical bridge straight out of a sinister '60s sock hop! Ragers like "In Misery", "Xanaxtasy" and "Sick And Violent" explore various genres of metal, injecting the album with elements of gripping heaviness for any listener, while downtempo stunners "I Hurt You" and "My Funeral" approach a more pensive territory.

Although its title, "Mid Death Crisis", may suggest otherwise, the Duke Of Spook shows zero signs of stopping on this refreshingly powerful and multi-faceted entry into the Wednesday 13 hall of horrific history.

"Mid Death Crisis" track listing:

01. There's No Such Thing As Monsters
02. Decease And Desist
03. When The Devil Commands
04. Rotting Away
05. No Apologies (feat. Taime Downe)
06. Decapitation
07. In Misery
08. Blood Storm
09. Xanaxtasy
10. I Hurt You
11. My Funeral
12. Sick And Violent

WEDNESDAY 13 is:

Wednesday 13 - Lead Vocals / Guitar
Jack Tankersley - Guitar
Troy Doebbler - Bass
Mike Dupke - Drums
Ashes - Lead Guitar

Photo credit: Anabel DFlux

Ashes Of Ares featuring former Iced Earth vocalist Matt Barlow and bassist Freddie Vidales have announced a European tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of IE’s Dark Saga album.

The band says, “Happy Wednesday! – Here is a teaser announcement that an announcement is coming:

“A dream of many fans is now coming true, as the European audience will have the opportunity to hear and witness the entire epic The Dark Saga album on stage.

“The monumental 1996 album that has brought so many memories and joy to metal fans will be played from start to finish, yes all 10 songs, along with songs from our forthcoming album.
Be sure to check back here tomorrow, when we will announce our first date in October. Guess where this is going to be.”

German power metal veterans PRIMAL FEAR will release their new album, "Domination", on September 5 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

To celebrate this announcement, the lead single "Far Away" has officially landed on streaming platforms worldwide. Packed with all the signature elements of a classic PRIMAL FEAR anthem — soaring melodies, thunderous drums and bass, and a blistering twin-guitar solo — the track also carries a powerful sense of yearning, brought to life by Ralf Scheepers's unmistakable vocals. Filmed at Dennis Ward's Kangaroo Studios in Karlsdorf-Neuthard, Germany, where the "Domination" recording sessions took place in late 2024, "Far Away" is also available now as a performance-style music video on YouTube.

Scheepers explains the meaning behind the single: "It's an expression of faith and trust, no matter where or what. We all know this feeling of missing someone so much, not being able to see or hear him/her every day — especially as musicians whilst touring."

Going strong for nearly three decades, PRIMAL FEAR was founded and is still led by Mat Sinner (bass, vocals) and Ralf Scheepers (vocals),who have never let down their global fanbase. Relentless and constantly pushing their limits, PRIMAL FEAR ensure that no two albums ever sound the same. After "Code Red" (2023) hit some of the highest chart positions of their career, expectations for the next release were higher than ever. Now joined by Italian/Cuban sensation Thalìa Bellazecca (ANGUS MCSIX, ex-FROZEN CROWN) on guitar and André Hilgers (AXXIS, RAGE, SILENT FORCE, SINNER, BONFIRE) on drums, the quintet was more than up for the challenge. And as "Domination" makes clear, no obstacle is too great for PRIMAL FEAR's powerhouse songwriting trio — Sinner, Scheepers and Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who also rejoins the band's live lineup after several years away.

From the hard-hitting opener "The Hunter" and first single "Far Away" to the uplifting mid-tempo anthem "Tears Of Fire" and the epic ballad "Eden" — featuring a guest appearance by AD INFINITUM's Melissa Bonny — "Domination" delivers on all fronts. Add in neck-breakers like "Scream" and "Crossfire", and the reflective, string-and-piano-driven closer "A Tune I Won't Forget", and it's clear: PRIMAL FEAR aren't here to reclaim the crown — they're here to prove they've never left the throne of heavy/power metal royalty.

"Domination" was recorded in autumn 2024, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers as well as Magnus Karlsson. Rounded off by multiple PRIMAL FEAR mixing/mastering engineer Jacob Hansen at his own studios in Denmark, the album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.

"Domination" track listing:

01. The Hunter
02. Destroyer
03. Far Away
04. I Am The Primal Fear
05. Tears Of Fire
06. Heroes And Gods
07. Hallucinations
08. Eden (feat. Melissa Bonny of AD INFINITUM)
09. Scream
10. The Dead Don't Die
11. Crossfire
12. March Boy March
13. A Tune I Won't Forget

Bonus track (physical only, excluding jewel case CD)

14. Bridges Will Burn

Warming up at five select summer festivals, PRIMAL FEAR will return to the live front with its longest European tour since 2018. Reigning Phoenix Music labelmates ELEINE have been confirmed as special guests.

In August 2024, guitarists Alex Beyrodt and Tom Naumann, drummer Michael Ehré and bassist Alex Jansen announced their departures from PRIMAL FEAR, writing in a statement: "Dear fans and friends of PRIMAL FEAR, we unfortunately have to inform you today that Alex Beyrodt, Tom Naumann, Michael Ehré and Alex Jansen, who helped us on bass for the last two years, are no longer part of the band PRIMAL FEAR. Triggered by decisions within the band that we do not agree with, this step was anything but easy for us to take. We would like to make it clear that despite the differences of opinion, there was no argument or bad blood.

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

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

PRIMAL FEAR 2025 is:

Ralf Scheepers - vocals
Mat Sinner - bass, vocals
Magnus Karlsson - guitars
Thalìa Bellazecca - guitars
André Hilgers - drums

Photo credit: Heiko Roith

Metal gods Judas Priest performed at Vibra São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil on April 20. Fan-filmed video of their entire show can be viewed below.

Setlist:

“Panic Attack”
“You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'”
“Rapid Fire”
“Breaking the Law”
“Riding on the Wind”
“Love Bites”
“Devil’s Child”
“Saints in Hell”
“Crown of Horns”
“Sinner”
“Turbo Lover”
“Invincible Shield”
“Victim of Changes”
“The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” (Fleetwood Mac)
“Painkiller”

Encore:
“The Hellion / Electric Eye”
“Hell Bent for Leather”
“Living After Midnight”

Finnish progressive metal band, Oddland, are thrilled to share their new single and official music video, “Freefall”, available today via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch the official video below, and stream/download the song here.



The band commented on the new single: “’Freefall’ paints a picture of a repeating nightmare in sleep paralysis that feels like you are forever falling, without a way out. Like a broken record, you are forced to relive it again and again, but with the difference that you can’t get up and change it. Hopefully people will find this song a pleasant ‘nightmare’ that you really don’t mind listening to again and again!”

The song was mixed and mastered by the Grammy nominated producers Carson Slovak & Grant McFarland from Atrium Audio (August Burns Red, Lorna Shore, Candlebox). The video for the song was shot by the band in various cities during Oddland’s European tour with Soen in October/November 2024, with additional cinematography during the tour’s last concert in Gdansk, Poland by Dariusz Feluz, who did an amazing job capturing the intense atmosphere on camera. The final editing and special effects were added by the band’s drummer Ville Viitanen.



Founded in 2003 in Turku, Finland, Oddland’s forward-thinking delivery melds aggressive tones, spacious textures, and glorious melodies into a seamless and cohesive entity. Following a string of successful demos, the band was signed to Century Media for the 2012 debut album, The Treachery Of Senses.

Mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö, the record was greeted with a barrage of critical acclaim, and was praised as the best prog-metal record ever recorded in Finland.

Oddland recorded the magnificent follow-up album Origin at Fantom Studios (Insomnium, Korpiklaani, Oranssi Pazuzu) after which it was mixed and mastered by Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, In Flames, Dimmu Borgir) and release worldwide through Sensory Records in 2016.

Containing a bit more than forty-five minutes of music, the album bears a theme which ties deeply into the lyrics and extensive artwork, with a separate piece of art being created for each of the nine songs, by Egyptian artist Mohammed Essam.

Oddland have performed at several festivals including FME, Tuska, Headway, Næstved metalfest and Progpower Europe, been touring Europe three times, both as support act for Persefone, for Manticora and as split headliner, in addition to many shows alongside the likes of established acts including Soen, Leprous, Swallow the Sun and Omnium Gatherum. It’s a great live band that leaves nothing to be desired.

In February 2022, the band signed with the brand-new German label Uprising! Records (a sub-label of Target Group) and released their third album, Vermilion. With an insanely amazing production that takes the listener into the universe of Tool and mixes that super production with a perfect blend of musical twists that would startle any Leprous, Pain Of Salvation or even Faith No More fan, you just can’t go wrong with these Finnish masters of prog.

Vermilion is nothing short of a production-wise masterpiece that combines all that prog-lovers love about prog. Mixed and mastered by Carson Slovak and Grant Mcfarland (Black Crown Initiate, Rivers Of Nihil, a.o.), with an eerie artwork, created by drummer/multi-talent Ville Viitanen, this album sees Oddland lifted to higher levels within the world of heavy metal.

Oddland is:

Sakari Ojanen – Vocals, guitars
Joni Palmroth – Bass
Ville Viitanen – Drums
Jussi Poikonen – guitars

Armored Saint played their biggest Wacken Open Air show so far in 2024. Below you can watch professionally-filmed footage of the band performing “End Of The Attention Span”, “March Of The Saint”, and “Reign Of Fire”:



Watch the full show at Magenta Musik, here.

Armored Saint will enter the studio next month to begin recording their long-awaited ninth studio album, tentatively slated for a spring 2026 release through Metal Blade Records.

In September, the band will join W.A.S.P. for a trio of UK shows before returning to the States to support legendary guitarist Michael Schenker on his My Years With UFO US Tour. Armored Saint will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their second album, Delirious Nomad, with a five-song micro set of songs from the record throughout the tour.

To further commemorate the cornerstone record, the band is making available a special Delirious Nomad wrapped guitar from Dean Guitars. Each guitar is signed by the band.

The impressive figures speak for themselves: Axel Rudi Pell has been part of the Steamhammer/SPV family for 39 years, initially from 1986 to 1989 with his erstwhile band, Steeler, and since then consistently as a solo artist. This remarkable consistency, which has produced 42 releases to date, is not about to change. The Bochum-based guitarist, composer and band mastermind has extended his decades-long contract again and has also announced two studio albums with the Hanover label.

Pell comments: “There’s never been any question for me about staying with SPV, for almost 40 years I’ve had an exceptional team behind me that stands for passion and excellence and has always allowed me complete musical freedom. There’s great trust and a strong friendship between SPV and myself, which I will be more than happy to continue.”

Axel Rudi Pell is currently on tour with his band and will then start working on his upcoming album.

Pell adds: “From May 2025, I will be sifting through the best riffs and hooks from the various ideas I’ve collected to write songs that will be in line with the tradition of my previous albums, but are also guaranteed to include a number of exciting new features. The studio recordings are scheduled to start in August 2025 and the new album is set to be released at the end of January 2026.”

Just a few weeks later, from March 2026, the Axel Rudi Pell band will be on tour again.

Steamhammer label manager Olly Hahn is also delighted to continue this successful collaboration beyond 2025, stating, “Thanks to Axel’s signature on his extended contract with Steamhammer/SPV, our 39-year journey will continue. I can’t think of another artist who has been with the same record company for such a long time. Thank you, Axel, for your loyalty and our easy collaboration! Here’s to the next five years at least!!!”

The whole SPV team is excited about the extension together with Axel.

Slavic black/death metal institution, Hate, are pleased to unleash the title track of their forthcoming new full-length, Bellum Regiis, set to drop on May 2 via Metal Blade Records.

With a dozen ferocious and lauded albums since 1996’s Daemon Qui Fecit Terra, Hate’s lucky thirteenth album, Bellum Regiis, finds the unrelenting Polish quartet forging a bolder and more aggressive style than ever. Bellum Regiis’ nine songs see vocalist/guitarist ATF Sinner, guitarist Domin, drummer Nar-Sil, and bassist Tiermes honing a modern sound rife with eerie atmosphere and depth. Produced by David Castillo (Candlemass, Carcass, Dark Tranquillity, Katatonia) at Stockholm’s Grondahl Studio, Bellum Regiis is lyrically a more “humanity focused and personal” album than 2021’s Rugia while its songs are timely aural and visual exploration of, according to the vocalist, “a struggle for power and everything that comes with it.”

Bellum Regiis roughly translates to “A War of Royalty” or “A War of Kings” and the title track encompasses the LP’s leitmotif. “As a song, ‘Bellum Regiis’ has both a deep melancholy and a sense of grandeur,” notes the frontman. “The vocals laid down by Eliza Sacharczuk [a renowned singer and voice teacher who runs a holistic arts center in Bialystok] give the song a strong sense of time. Whether that’s nostalgia, reminiscence, regret, or preparation for the future is in the eye of the beholder. These wars, these struggles, have been ongoing since the dawn of our existence. Whether they are futile or not, they are scars on our very nature. ‘Bellum Regiis’ represents the whole album in the best way possible.”

Consisting of vocalist Therese Damberg, her brother Marcus Damberg on guitar, Hampus Steenberg on bass and Kent Svensson behind the drums, Teaser Sweet have already made some waves in the Swedish metal scene.

They originally started out in 2013, when Marcus Damberg asked his sister and former bass player Christoffer Cardell “shouldn’t we start a band?” The initial line-up was completed by Kalle Krantz on drums. Before writing their own material, they used to play KISS cover songs. After recording a demo, they took to the stage and eventually released three albums and an EP: Hit And Run (2015), In The Night (EP, 2017), Hypnotized (2018), and Monster (2020).

For the new album, Night Stalker, Teaser Sweet has inked a deal with High Roller Records. Therese Damberg’s powerful yet melodic vocals at times sound like a cross between Acid’s Kate, Leather Leone and Johanna of Lucifer. However, she herself sees it in a different light: “If I must name a female singer, it is Doro Pesch that I love to listen to. Otherwise, it’s male singers that catch my attention, such as Rob Halford with his great feeling and attitude in his vocals.”

When asked about the big number of high-class female-fronted or all-female hard rock and metal bands in Sweden – from Crucified Barbara and Slingblade to Thundermother and The Gems –, the singer searches for an explanation: “Hard to say what the reason is for that. My guess is that Swedish women probably have an ear for hard rock and a confidence to follow their own path. ABBA laid the foundation for female singers from Sweden, and it is natural that hard rock bands have female singers just as there are bands with only men.”

Apart from being influenced by the music of Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Dio and even latter-day Europe, a song like “Deep In The Woods”, with its galloping bass work, owes a lot to Iron Maiden. Therese laughs: “You have a really good ear, that’s correct!” Elsewhere, numbers such as “Cold Is The Fire” and “Turn Me On” are also full of great hooks, making Night Stalker the band’s best album so far.



Tracklisting:

Intro
Night Stalker
Deep In The Woods
Living In Sin
Blue Sky
Eat You Alive
Turn Me On
Killer Machine
Cold Is The Fire

“Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, here we come,” begins a just-issued update from Metallica. “We’re taking the stage at Yas Island on December 6 after F1 qualifying – the night before the race.

Tickets to the After-Race Concerts are exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders. Get a ticket for the race + our show here.

If you already have a ticket to the race, Golden Circle upgrades are also available now at abudhabigp.com.”

Prior to performing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on December 3, Metallica will play Bahrain for the first time ever. Tickets for that show at Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre will be available via the venue on Thursday, April 24, at 4 PM AST (2 PM BST / 9 AM EDT).

Following one of the most successful comebacks in underground death metal history with their crushing 2023 release The Rebirth, death metal pioneers Deteriorot are back with another punishing visual installment. Today, the band unveils their powerful new music video for “Political Evocation”, the latest in a three-part series promoting The Rebirth.

A stark shift from the band’s usual themes of the supernatural and the undead, “Political Evocation” dives headfirst into the decaying fabric of modern society. Set against a backdrop of searing riffs and thunderous rhythm, the track delivers a scathing critique of political obsession, religious fanaticism, and the false realities curated through social media. The video itself is a cinematic assault, combining brutal performance shots with original film sequences that amplify the song’s message.

“The song lyrics are an observation of how society can get lost by obsessing over politics, religion, and falling into the trap of being divided while another side of it is oblivious and living in a fake social media world worshiping influencers and trying to be one themselves.”



But that’s not all — fans can rejoice knowing that Deteriorot is deep into post-production for their upcoming full-length album Awakening. Unlike the long waits between their past releases, the band is charging full speed ahead, ensuring that the flames reignited by The Rebirth continue to blaze.



Tracklisting:

Undead (Intro)
Dark Embrace
Return To Rot
A Nameless Grave
The Rebirth
Reanimate
Political Evocation
Hauntings
Unholy Rebirth

U.S. thrash metal quartet, Executionist, have unleashed a visualizer video for “Wheels Of War”, the second single from their forthcoming album, Sacrament Of The Sick.

Stream “Wheels Of War” now at this location.



Executionist will release its debut full-length album, Sacrament Of The Sick, on May 16. In the four years since the release of their debut EP, the band has sharpened the blades of its attack, both in terms of songwriting and performance.

Sacrament Of The Sick is a monumental step forward from Executionist’s previous material. Improved production, performances, and writing have made the Executionist sound nearly unrecognizable compared to the band’s debut EP, Destined For Destruction. Each track was meticulously crafted and poured over in Executionist’s home studio, and the final product shows that it was worth every ounce of attention. With a clear focus on melody and tighter songwriting, Sacrament Of The Sick is a sonic journey sure to leave a lasting impact on the listener.

Pre-order Sacrament Of The Sick on Bandcamp. Artwork by Mitchell Nolte:



Tracklisting:

“Ultionum”
“Edge Of Annihilation”
“Wheels Of War”
“Serrated Shadows”
“Divided We Stand…United We Fall”
“Thy Kingdom Come”
“Strange Aeons”
“Palace Of Kings”
“Sacrament Of The Sick”
“Coup De Grace”

“Serrated Shadows” video:

In a brand new interview with Eonmusic, Candice Night, who has been married to Ritchie Blackmore for 17 years but has been together with the legendary DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW guitarist for 36, discussed her musical partner and husband's health status, saying that he'd rather be remembered for how he was in his prime. During the chat, the elusive BLACKMORE'S NIGHT guitarist also chimed in to heap praise on his favorite band. The interaction took place while Night was talking to Eonmusic's Eamon O'Neill about her new album, "Sea Glass".

Speaking about Blackmore's health, Night said: "Right now Ritchie is having a quite a few medical issues. Believe it or not, he's going to be 80 in on April 14th, which is mind boggling, because he doesn't look and he certainly doesn't act it still. But you know at that age, some medical stuff starts catching up with you, and he actually had a heart attack about a year and a half ago, and he's got six stents in his heart at this point. And we're battling arthritis and some gout issues."

Night confirmed that this, along with another issue, prevents Blackmore from travelling on planes for gigs. "He's still got his back problem that he's had, so travel is difficult for him because of all that sitting," she explained. "And standing on stage, even standing with the guitar is tricky, although I do see a lot of people even younger than him at this point in the industry, showing up in wheelchairs. I don't think he wants to be thought of like that or remembered like that. I think it's great that people still get to see those people; I would still go hear them, just to be under the same roof and hear what they sound like, but we'll see. Maybe if we can get some of these medical issues under control, maybe I can get him back on a plane, but as for right now, they actually warned him a couple days ago not to fly. So, who knows? You know, put positive energy, out there in the universe, and]hope that maybe we can get him back on there."

During the chat, Ritchie chimed in to comment on his favorite band. "He's wandering through with his boiled egg right now," said Candice, "[Speaking to Ritchie] What? THE POGUES? Oh, he said, one of his favorite bands is THE POGUES, I should mention that". The man in black then could be heard saying that the band's perennial Christmas favorite, "Fairytale Of New York" is his favorite song from the crossover folk act.

Read the entire interview at Eonmusic.

Coronary stents are primarily used to treat coronary artery disease, a condition where plaque buildup narrows or blocks the arteries supplying blood to the heart. By inserting stents for the heart, doctors can effectively restore blood flow and alleviate symptoms.

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT plays "Renaissance music," or "medieval music," with most of the tunes featuring lyrics conjured by Night and melodies crafted by Blackmore.

Ritchie, Candice and their two children reside on Long Island, New York, near Port Jefferson.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including "Smoke On The Water", but he has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice said in a 2017 interview that there was "no point" for the band to consider a reunion with Blackmore, explaining that he wouldn't be able to guarantee that every day with the notoriously moody guitarist would be fun.

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including "Smoke On The Water", but he has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

During his time away from PURPLE, Blackmore established the neo-classical band called RAINBOW, which fused baroque music influences elements with hard rock before gradually progressing to catchy pop-style hard rock.

Blackmore stepped away from his Renaissance-inspired brand of music with BLACKMORE'S NIGHT in 2016 to perform a handful of shows with a brand-new lineup of RAINBOW.

In addition to Blackmore and Night (backing vocals),the most recent incarnation of RAINBOW included singer Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT) and backing singer Lady Lynn.

The two shows RAINBOW played in Germany in June 2016 were caught on camera to produce "Memories In Rock - Live In Germany", which was released in November 2016 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and digital formats.

After Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE for the final time in 1993, he reformed RAINBOW for one album (1995's "Stranger In Us All") and one tour, ending things in Denmark in 1997.

Blackmore didn't join his former DEEP PURPLE bandmates at the group's 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.

Blackmore previously suggested that PURPLE's manager had blocked him from attending the Rock Hall induction ceremony, and he used that as an excuse for not attending the event.

Despite Blackmore being a no-show at Rock Hall, he was given several shoutouts during the induction speeches of the DEEP PURPLE members in attendance. In addition, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who inducted DEEP PURPLE into the institution, praised "Ritchie fucking Blackmore" for one of the most memorable guitar riffs of all time on "Smoke On The Water".

In a new interview with the Inner-Strength Check podcast, frontman and founding member Kelly Shaefer of the pioneering technical metal act ATHEIST was asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to the band's "Jupiter" album, which came out in 2010 via Season Of Mist. Kelly said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've got a tremendous amount of ideas individually, but collectively we've put together about six or seven songs."

Shaefer went on to praise the current ATHEIST lineup, which includes Yoav Ruiz-Feingold on bass, Alex Haddad on guitar, Jerry Witunsky on guitar and Dylan Marks on drums.

"I think it's really important, and I've touched on this in a couple of interviews over the last couple of months, that people have to understand that almost no band has all the original members," Shaefer said. "So people have gotta get over that. On the Internet, everybody just fucking hems and haws about, 'Ah, it's not the original guys.' It's, like, it's not with METALLICA, it's not with [JUDAS] PRIEST, it's not with [IRON] MAIDEN. No one. You'd be hard pressed to name me one band that has all the original members still the same — not ANTHRAX, not anybody. So you have to trust the main songwriters of the band, and myself and [former ATHEIST drummer] Steve Flynn and [late ATHEIST bassist] Roger Patterson were the real core of ATHEIST. And I, more than anybody, understand their contributions and their philosophies and templates for what constitutes an ATHEIST song. And being a guitar player myself, and being that I'm writing a lot of that guitar stuff, I need people to trust me to pick the right guys to be in the band to make a record with. And I couldn't have picked a better bunch of guys. I mean, the guys in this band right now, they each have their own individual bands that are tremendous, that have albums out. And they each have these different qualities that I find, as an arranger and a songwriter, it's almost like somebody giving you all these brand new colors to paint with and different kinds of brushes to paint with. And that's how I feel, like I have this tremendous palette of talent right at my fingertips. So they can play anything I can think of. Even if I can't play it, I can explain it to them. And they also have a different level of knowledge than I have. I don't read music. I learned everything by ear."

Circling back to the writing sessions for the next ATHEIST album, Kelly said: "I have four hours of just recorded riffs. I record on a nice little studio setup. And so that way I can play both guitar parts that I have in mind for whatever the song is that we're working on. And even in some instances drums. But a lot of times I'll record it to a click track, send it to the drummer and then let him react. And then when we get together and we get in a room, then we can really kind of finetune everything.

"I have a huge understanding of the quality level that ATHEIST needs to be at," he explained. "So with that said, though, all of this new material, much like every single ATHEIST album, is different. So there's not two ATHEIST records that sound identical at all. They're quite different, actually. And this one will be the same. But it'll be subscribing to that same philosophy of catching people off guard. Not tricking their ears, but sort of tickling their ears with different things that you wouldn't expect. The unexpected is something that I really love, and I love dynamics. I love it for it to be ferocious and then not, and then ferocious again.

"I know what ATHEIST should sound like," Shaefer added. "And if everybody just allows that to happen… And you're not gonna get a repeat performance out of us. You're gonna get something new. And it might take you a couple years to get used to it, but that's the way it was with 'Piece Of Time' and 'Unquestionable Presence'. It took 15 years for people to go, 'Ah.' Fucking finally. Or, 'Wait a minute. I understand now.' All those little things. Back then. when it first came out, it was not that well received and people were very confused by it. So it's really refreshing to go out now in this generation and get the love and appreciation from a lot of young bands. And it's nice. So sometimes it's nice to be the old guy. [Laughs]"

This past January, Kelly was asked by Altars Of Metal why it has taken 15 years for ATHEIST to come up with a new album's worth of material. He replied: "We've been having a lot of contractual problems for the last seven years, and that's why we haven't made any new music, is because the business of music has held us from doing that. So anybody out there wondering why we haven't had a new album in a while, it's because of the business. And we're working really, really hard to get that sorted out. But while that's happening, we're writing music and having a blast. And so I can't say enough about the guys in my band now; I just love them so much. And they have such attention to detail that I can't wait to take it around the world this year."

ATHEIST was formed in 1988 by Shaefer and drummer Steve Flynn. Followed by bands such as DEATH and CYNIC, they would define a sound that is a pillar of complex, progressive, jazz-infused death metal intensity, with supreme musical prowess — the genre celebrated and known today as "progressive technical death metal." ATHEIST attained that status thanks to its debut, "Piece Of Time" (1989),and second album, "Unquestionable Presence" (1991),both regarded as important benchmarks of the genre.

Last year, ATHEIST re-released its entire discography, comprised of four albums that span the band's 30-year career, on all streaming services worldwide. The return to digital platforms was the first phase of a comprehensive reissue campaign. The second phase offered their albums in various physical formats with all-new revised layouts via Nuclear Blast.

In a new interview with The Heavy Metal Sitdown, Wednesday 13 spoke about the enduring popularity of his former band, the revered glam punk icons MURDERDOLLS. When the interviewer suggested that the MURDERDOLLS never became as "big" as they should have been, Wednesday 13 said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Music's crazy and the world is crazy how things happen. With MURDERDOLLS, it put me on the map. For a lot of people, they're like you — they go, 'This is my favorite record,' and, 'Why was it not as big as GUNS N' ROSES or METALLICA?' But to you, it was. And to me, it changed my life.

"I don't think that it's had its time yet," Wednesday 13 continued. "There's a lot of bands that you'll see… I mean, I was wearing RAMONES t-shirts when I was in high school. Now people wear RAMONES shirts 'cause they got it at Walmart, and they don't even know who they are. And if the RAMONES were around, they would be an arena band right now instead of a club band. So with time, bands get bigger. And I'm noticing by my shows, playing out here every night, my front row is all teenagers with 'X's on their hands. They weren't there 23 years ago. So the teenagers have found Wednesday 13 and MURDERDOLLS. So I don't think we've got to the level that we're gonna get to yet. I think it's still to come. I know that may sound strange, but I predict that."

After the completion of the touring cycle for their 2002 debut album, "Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls", MURDERDOLLS went on hiatus so that guitarist Joey Jordison could focus on his other band SLIPKNOT, in which he played drums. In 2010, MURDERDOLLS released a sophomore album, "Women And Children Last", which did not feature guitarist Acey Slade, bassist Eric Griffin and drummer Ben "The Ghoul" Graves, all of whom toured in support of "Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls" but did not appear on any of MURDERDOLLS' records.

Wednesday 13 reunited with Griffin and Slade on stage for the first time in over a decade in August 2018 at Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood. The event, which celebrated the life of Graves, saw the trio performing some of MURDERDOLLS' classic songs.

Graves, who also worked with PRETTY BOY FLOYD and DOPE, passed away in May 2018 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was only 45 years old.

The MURDERDOLLS did a number of major tours in support of "Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls". By the summer of 2003, the tenacity of the band was paying off. Tours with IRON MAIDEN, PAPA ROACH and the FOO FIGHTERS around the world and a Top 40 U.K. single with "White Wedding" made the band fan favorite in Metal Hammer, Metal Edge, Kerrang! and Rock Sound magazines.

Wednesday 13's new full-length album, "Mid Death Crisis", will arrive on April 25 via Napalm Records.

Wednesday 13 previously described "Mid Death Crisis" as a fun, campy, "leave-your-brain-at-the-door" rager and a true return to his hard-rocking roots. Produced by guitarist Alex Kane (LIFE, SEX & DEATH, ENUFF Z'NUFF, ANTIPRODUCT) and mixed by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, PRONG, DEVILDRIVER),the album oozes infectious 1980s sleaze metal energy, further accented by a blitzing guest vocal from FASTER PUSSYCAT's Taime Downe.

Photo credit: Anabel DFlux

Sadly, Toronto’s Cancer Bats have suffered a tremendous loss while touring The United States. The band issued the following statement:

“All our gear and merch was stolen last night!! It’s a major bummer. We unfortunately have to cancel our show at Red Flag tonight in St. Louis, MO due to our van being totally fucked by the fucks that robbed us. But we should be back in action for Tuesday’s show in Madison, WI!

We will post pictures and info about the stolen gear soon. So peeps in the Indiana area please keep an eye out. We had some cool shit!!”

This past Monday, April 21, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson took part in the Musicians Institute's MI Conversation Series with host Ryan J. Downey in Hollywood, California. During the chat, which can be seen below, Dickinson spoke about MAIDEN's upcoming "Run For Your Lives" world tour, which is scheduled to launch on May 27 in Budapest, Hungary. The trek will mark MAIDEN's first with new drummer Simon Dawson, who previously played with MAIDEN co-founder Steve Harris as a member of his BRITISH LION project. Asked if MAIDEN has already started rehearsing with Simon, Bruce said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we've already had a rehearsal with Simon on the last [MAIDEN] tour. Simon was tagging along with BRITISH LION, as Steve was doing shows [with both bands]. But it was kind of insurance for us because we weren't sure… We were hoping Nick [IRON MAIDEN's longtime drummer Nicko McBrain] was gonna make the tour, but there were some times during the show when, not so much his drumming, but his physical body was really… We were worried. We were, like, 'We do not want to end up with Nick in hospital, and we do need to have a backup.' And Simon was suggested by Steve, and we all went, 'Yeah, but how do we know it's gonna work?' So we said to Nick, 'Look, in the middle of the tour, we've got a couple of days in Portland, Oregon. We're gonna rent a rehearsal place and we're gonna just give Simon a go just to see if it works, just in case.' So we did. And a couple of us were, like, 'I don't know how this is gonna be, but hey…' And honestly, I was pleasantly shocked. I was, like, 'Wow.' We went through the whole set without a break. And this guy had not rehearsed with anybody. He just, like, turned up with MAIDEN. We went through the entire set of the tour that we were on at the time, and it was all there. I thought, 'My God, we could do a show tonight if we had to. That's unreal.'"

Explaining why Dawson was the right man to replace McBrain, Dickinson said: "The incredible thing was with Simon, which, obviously, when it was suggested, after Nicko decided to retire, or retire from live playing, that Simon should take over, and there were other drummers that people thought were kind of in the frame. And one of the reasons that we didn't pick those other type of drummers was 'cause, although they were very good drummers — nothing wrong with their drumming — they all wanted to sound like Nick. And you can't replace Nicko. You shouldn't even try to replace him. You don't want a Nicko clone. You want a drummer that plays the material but plays kind of their own style. And if I'm honest, if I closed my eyes at moments during that rehearsal [with Simon], it was like having [late MAIDEN drummer] Clive Burr back in the band, 'cause he's got that feel. It's that big band swing time feel. He has all the same influences and everything. And I was just, like, 'Oh my God. Wow.' So I'm actually really excited. We start [rehearsing for the tour] next — not next week. Hang on. I actually go back to Europe tomorrow. And then we've got, like, 10 days and then we start. So we will be going through it. I've got my little speaker set up in my little Airbnb at the moment. I've got the whole setlist on there."

Bruce went on to say that "Run For Your Lives" will mark the start of "a new chapter with Simon, and I look forward to it. There's no shame in that," he added. "We are doing the best we can do for the music.

"MAIDEN has always been greater than the sum of any individual part, which is kind of the way it should be, really, when you've got something like that," Bruce explained. "And we're also in the semi-unique position that we've never really had to — well, we've never really been darlings of any mainstream media. [We] have got to where we are now and getting bigger and bigger and bigger without, basically, anybody taking any notice of us at all."

Regarding the setlist and the production for the "Run For Your Lives" tour, Bruce said: "The show that we've designed is unlike any other MAIDEN show we've ever done. I should not say anymore, 'cause once we get to the first two shows in Budapest, then everyone will be all over the social media saying what they think about it and so on and so forth. But I'm really excited. It's like a whole new chapter for us, this new show. And we've never really done a kind of greatest-hits tour. And if there was one, then this would certainly be it. I mean, the first 25, 30 minutes, I kid you not, is gonna blow people's minds. They're [gonna go], 'I can't believe they're playing that, that, that.'"

He added: "We sold a million tickets in Europe for this summer, for basically two and a bit months this summer, and we are bringing it to the USA in '26."

McBrain played his last-ever gig with MAIDEN more than four months ago in São Paulo, Brazil.

The 72-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 iconic heavy metal act.

Despite the fact that he was stepping away from touring, McBrain said that he would remain closely connected to IRON MAIDEN and continue to be involved in "a variety of projects" with the band, while also focusing on personal ventures and his existing businesses.

On December 8, 2024, IRON MAIDEN announced Dawson as its new touring drummer.

The São Paulo performance marked the final show of "The Future Past" world tour, which began in May 2023.

Last September, IRON MAIDEN promised fans "a spectacular and elaborate new show" on its 50th anniversary tour in 2025 and 2026.

MAIDEN said it will "cover classics and fan favorites from the first nine albums, from 'Iron Maiden' to 'Fear Of The Dark', many of which we haven't played in years and many we will likely never play again in the future. We have already been hard at work for months putting together an even more spectacular and elaborate new show which will bring the songs to life more than we have ever been able to do before."

"Fear Of The Dark" marked Dickinson's last album before he exited MAIDEN and then later returned in 1999.

Tapped to replace Clive Burr in 1982 after touring activities for the "Number Of The Beast" album concluded, 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.

McBrain spent his early drumming years playing for the likes of Pat Travers and French rockers TRUST, eventually falling on to the radar of Harris and MAIDEN during the group's initial European tour.

We had the legendary Bruce Dickinson 🎤 come by for our Conversation Series and give us deep insight into the Mandrake...

Posted by Musicians Institute on Monday, April 21, 2025

📣 Just Announced!

Brucedickinsonhq is joining us for the MI Conversation Series, this upcoming Monday, April 21st to...

Posted by Musicians Institute on Wednesday, April 16, 2025

For the first time in over 50 years, the surviving members of the original ALICE COOPER band — singer Alice Cooper, guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith — have reunited to release a brand-new studio album, "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper", due on July 25 via earMUSIC.

This highly anticipated album is heralded as the successor to their iconic records "School's Out", "Billion Dollar Babies", "Love It to Death" and "Killer".

The first single from the album, "Black Mamba", is out today, featuring the legendary Robby Krieger of THE DOORS. This track serves as a venomous introduction to the new era of ALICE COOPER, packed with familiar classic riffs and electrifying energy.

"The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" is a high-voltage journey into vintage horror and classic 1970s shock rock, capturing the sound, energy, and mischief that made the original ALICE COOPER band legendary. In a truly special moment, the album features a posthumous appearance by Glen Buxton, the band's original guitarist who passed away in 1997, through an unreleased recording that seamlessly blends the past with the present on "What Happened To You", featuring his original guitar part.

If that wasn't cool enough, one of the bonus tracks (box set and limited smart format) also includes a long-lost gem from 1970 — a raw, alternate take of "Return Of The Spiders" (not the version heard on "Easy Action") — recently unearthed from original multi-tracks missing for 50 years and now enhanced and mixed by Bob Ezrin.

Alice, Neal, Michael and Dennis have reunited with their producer Bob Ezrin in an old-school recording studio in Connecticut, rekindling the magic from the 1970s. This album is a celebration of friendship, nostalgia, and the timeless sound that solidified Alice Cooper as a rock icon. Fans can expect a powerful and nostalgic experience that bridges the gap between the band's storied past and their vibrant present.

From the venomous bite of "Black Mamba" to the rebellious charge of "Wild Ones" and the soft, haunting melodies of "See You On The Other Side", every track feels like a rock 'n' roll classic.

"The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" is going to be released on July 25 in a wide variety of formats and limited vinyl colors. It will also be available as a limited box set and as a limited art print (smart format),featuring exclusive access to two bonus tracks from the start, plus the full album automatically delivered as a high-definition download on release day.

The original ALICE COOPER group — Alice Cooper (vocals),Michael Bruce (guitar),Dennis Dunaway (bass),Neal Smith (drums) and Glen Buxton (guitar) — redefined rock in the early 1970s, blending raw, hard-hitting music with shocking theatricality. With Bob Ezrin at the helm, they pioneered shock rock, delivering rebellious anthems, dark storytelling and over-the-top stage shows featuring guillotines, snakes, and macabre theatrics.

Albums like "Love It To Death" (1971),"Killer" (1971),"School's Out" (1972) and "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973) turned them into superstars, producing legendary hits like "I'm Eighteen", "Elected", "School's Out" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy". Their mix of hard rock, glam, and horror made them one of the most influential and controversial bands of their era, leaving a permanent mark on rock history.

Alice Cooper has sold countless millions of records worldwide and shaped rock history forever. Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011, their music remains as powerful and relevant as ever.

Now, with "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper", the original band reunites for one more epic chapter, reclaiming the sound and legacy that made them legends.

Cooper told Billboard that making a new album with his original bandmates "was very much like this was our next album after [1973's] 'Muscle Of Love', just like, 'Okay, this is the next album.' Isn't that funny after 50 years? All of a sudden it just falls into place."

Ezrin said about the making of "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper": "None of them has changed much as a person. Obviously, everyone's older and more mature and more settled, but when we all get together and I watch the interplay between them, it's like they just walked out of high school and were hanging out in the local cafe. They just revert to type. They revert to who they were as kids when the first got together… and make music together like they did 50-some years ago."

As for the possibility of the original COOPER band hitting the road again, Alice said: "We haven't even gotten to that point yet. I don't really see it being a full-out tour; it would be very, very hard, I think, if you haven't done it for a long time. But I could see it being a feature, like going into certain cities — Detroit, New York, L.A., London maybe, and doing a half-hour or 40 minutes in a club or something. We always leave those things open, and if it looks feasible, then we do it."

"The Revenge of Alice Cooper" track listing:

01. Black Mamba
02. Wild Ones
03. Up All Night
04. Kill The Flies
05. One Night Stand
06. Blood On The Sun
07. Crap That Gets In The Way Of Your Dreams
08. Famous Face
09. Money Screams
10. What A Syd
11. Inter Galactic Vagabond Blues
12. What Happened To You
13. I Ain't Done Wrong
14. See You On The Other Side
15. Return of the Spiders 2025 (bonus track)
16. Titanic Overunderture (bonus track)

Formed in 1968, the original ALICE COOPER band forged a theatrical brand of hard rock that was destined to shock and had never been seen before. Within five years, they would release no fewer than seven studio albums, amongst them their international breakthrough "School's Out" (including the Top 10 hit of the same name) and the U.S. No. 1 "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973). By 1974, the band had risen to the upper echelon of rock stardom... and then it dissolved.

In October 2015, over 40 years later, record store owner and superfan Chris Penn convinced the original lineup to reunite for a very special performance at Good Records, his record store in Dallas, Texas. Alice, Michael, Dennis and Neal were joined on stage by Alice's current guitarist Ryan Roxie (standing in for Buxton).

Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he's best known for. With a schedule that includes six months each year on the road, Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new, enjoying it as much as the audience does. Known as the architect of shock rock, Cooper (in both the original ALICE COOPER band and as a solo artist) has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where mainstream media can present real-life shocking images.

Photo credit: Allison V. Smith (courtesy of earMUSIC)

On the latest episode of SiriusXM's Ozzy Speaks, Ozzy Osbourne sat down with co-host Billy Morrison and gave a health update. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm in heavy training for this ['Back To The Beginning' concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom] that's coming up [in early July]. I haven't done anything for — this will be seven years [since I played a full concert], and so I've been through all this surgery. It really is like starting from scratch."

Asked what sort of training he is going through at the moment, Ozzy said: "Well, it's endurance training. The first thing to go when you're laid up is your stamina, so believe it or not, I'm doing two sets of three-minute walks a day and weight training. I've gotta get going, you know."

He explained: "I'm waking up in my body. I mean, three minutes to you, for instance, is nothing, but I've been laying on my back recovering from umpteen surgeries."

Ozzy announced his last-ever performance on February 5, revealing that the original members of BLACK SABBATH are reuniting for the first time in 20 years for the show. Joining them at the concert called "Back To The Beginning", which will take place on July 5, will be a host of metal bands SABBATH inspired, including METALLICA, SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, PANTERA and ANTHRAX.

Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — said on his SiriusXM show "Ozzy Speaks": "I'm not planning on doing a set with BLACK SABBATH but I am doing little bits and pieces with them. I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable."

The 76-year-old heavy metal singer, who revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, added that he is doing what he can to get ready for the Villa Park concert.

"I am trying to get back on my feet," he said. "When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I'm not dead. I'm still actively doing things."

This past February, Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne told The Sun that her husband is struggling to walk amid his battle with Parkinsons disease, but that his singing voice is "as good as ever". She said: "[Ozzy's] very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.

"Parkinson's is a progressive disease. It's not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been."

Ozzy talked in more detail about his condition on his SiriusXM radio show. He said: "I have made it to 2025. I can't walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I'm still alive. I may be moaning that I can't walk but I look down the road and there's people that didn't do half as much as me and didn't make it."

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The concert will mark the first time that Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have played together in 20 years.

Sharon told BBC News about Ozzy: "He's doing great. He's doing really great. He's so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It's exciting for everyone."

According to Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring "for now" in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery and rescheduled his "No More Tours 2" shows from going ahead several times because of illness, the pandemic and logistical issues, will not play any more shows after the Villa Park event.

"Ozzy didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there's no been no full stop," she explained. "This is his full stop."

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

"It's an endless amount of people," said Sharon. "They're going to be doing some SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and they'll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they're all icons."

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

"For Ozzy right now, it's definitely: 'I love you and good night'," Sharon told Reuters.

She added that Ozzy was doing well and excited about the gig. "It's stimulated him," she said. "He's very, very excited and very thankful that he can do it."

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Osbourne's previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February 2023.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.