During the latest episode of the "On The RAGS" podast, Gloria Butler, the wife of BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler, recounted her husband's experience traveling to the United Kingdom earlier this month from their house in Los Angeles. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "My husband flew to England where they're having to quarantine still. When you land, you have to tell them where you're staying. He gave them our house address. My husband, for those of you that don't know, is reclusive; he doesn't answer phones or answer doors or anything… But all of a sudden, there's a knock at the door. He would never, ever, ever answer a door. And he's jetlagging so badly that it's shocking he wasn't even sleeping or he could have been in the shower. But he actually answered the door. And they were checking up on him. It was the COVID police. How funny is that? I mean, how funny, but how scary, because he maybe wouldn't have answered the door. So he had to show his ID so they knew it was really him. They asked if he was there on his own, which he was. And they asked — which I thought was lovely — they said, 'I know this is really hard doing this, isolating. Is there anything I can get you? Are you okay here?'"

Asked what would have happened if Geezer hadn't answered the door, Gloria said: "He would have been in trouble. He would have been fined."

On May 14, Geezer tweeted about his U.K. lockdown experience, writing: "Nice to be back in England, but stuck in quarantine & need 3 COVID tests, even tho I’ve had my jabs. #COVID #LifeGoesOn #ofcourseitisraining".

According to the Evening Standard, police forces around the U.K. were handed powers by the government last year to enforce the "stay at home" message and break up large gatherings of people. Officers were also empowered to prosecute people for breaking lockdown, not wearing masks on public transport, throwing house parties, and meeting in the street in groups.

Geezer received his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on February 12. The musician took to his Instagram to share that he got the final dose of the vaccine. He posted a photo of him wearing a face mask and sporting sticker on his left arm that read: "I got my COVID-19 vaccine!" He wrote in an accompanying caption: "Second vaccination completed. Can I go to England now? #please #missingtherain #longestivebeenaway".

A founding member of BLACK SABBATH, Geezer is also the lyricist of such SABBATH classics as "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and others.

Geezer, singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi reunited in late 2011 and released a comeback album, "13", 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.

Two months ago, Geezer confirmed to Cleveland.com that he is writing a memoir.

Hosted by Risa Shapiro, Amy Motta, Gloria Butler and Sloan Kivo (the RAGS) "On The RAGS" features four extraordinary women from diverse backgrounds with unique insight into business, politics, family and entertainment. Their viewpoints, while often serious, are more often hilarious.






Nice to be back in England, but stuck in quarantine & need 3 COVID tests, even tho I’ve had my jabs. #COVID #LifeGoesOn #ofcourseitisraining

— Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) May 14, 2021

Julien's Auctions has announced the marquee lineup of "Music Icons", the world-record breaking auction house to the stars' annual music extravaganza on Friday, June 11; Saturday, June 12; and Sunday, June 13 2021 live at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills and online at juliensauctions.com.

A canon of over 1,000 music iconography featuring instruments, memorabilia, wardrobe and personal property owned and used by the greatest 20th- and 21st-century's pop culture icons representing the genres of rock and roll, pop, soul, R&B and beyond will be offered. A marquee lineup of legends including Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, Kurt Cobain, THE BEATLES, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Elton John, Little Richard and others join the previously announced female music icons lineup of Cher, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Whitney Houston and more.

Bursting onto the auction stage this summer will be one of the most coveted drum kits played by the legendary drummer Alex Van Halen. His custom designed Ludwig drum kit, stage-played on over 100 shows of VAN HALEN's 1980 "Invasion" tour, will make history once again as the first and only drum kit of the rock icon ever to come to the auction.

"This kit from the 1980 VAN HALEN 'Invasion' world tour spent five years on display at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland," said Alex Van Halen. "It's the only one like it in the world and I'm happy that 100% of the selling price will be going to charity via the Frangioni Foundation and Mr. Holland's Opus."

This spectacular and massive drum ensemble features a visually striking element: articulating kick drums, which began a long fascination Van Halen had with flexible hoses joining drums. The drum has a conservative estimate of $200,000 - $300,000.

In the early 1970s, Van Halen and his younger brother, prodigy lead guitarist, Eddie Van Halen, founded their namesake group and soon after with bassist Michael Anthony and singer David Lee Roth, conquered the world and entered into the pantheon of rock as of one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. VAN HALEN dominated the music charts, MTV and sold out arenas around the world, thrilling audiences with their high flying, energetic live shows throughout the '80s and into the '90s with the drum legend's fiery percussion and epic solos powering their classic hits "Runnin' With The Devil", "Unchained", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama", "Jump" and more. Van Halen's immense skill and intensity behind the drum unleashed the era-defining sound and fury of the '80s American hard rock music scene and the seismic shift that would propel other glam metal/hard rock bands such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, METALLICA and GUNS N' ROSES to follow. VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Five Charvel EVH Art Series electric guitars designed, hand striped and played by Eddie Van Halen will join his brother Alex's drum kit on the auction stage, including the last of the late legendary rock guitarist's Charvel legendary EVH guitars he played on stage. The Stealth black body with a silver hand-striped design by Van Halen, possibly in tribute to his EVH Wolfgang guitar, is applied with four white "Van Halen / 2012" guitar picks attached to a strip of adhesive tape, and is signed and inscribed "Kansas City / MO / 5.22.12 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen / 2012," with an additional note "Last one!!" indicating that this was his last Charvel stage-played EVH guitar. The lot comes with a photograph of Eddie Van Halen playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at Kansas City Sprint Center, on May 22, 2012. Other Eddie Van Halen Charvel EVH Art Series electric guitars include: a red guitar with a unique black and white hand-striped design by Van Halen that pays homage to his legendary "Frankenstein" Mark II guitar — and is uniquely numbered "5150" — the name of EVH's recording studio (and also the date that he played this guitar), signed and inscribed by EVH in silver sharpie: "Baltimore, MD / 5.15.08 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen '08" that comes with a DVD featuring footage from the show of Van Halen playing this guitar live on stage at First Mariner Arena, Baltimore, Maryland on May 15, 2008, and a Van Halen 2007-08 tote bag; a black guitar with a unique, yellow hand-striped design by Van Halen in tribute to his "Bumblebee" guitar, signed and inscribed in silver sharpie: "8.7.04 / Las Vegas NV / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen / 04" that comes with a black custom EVH tour flight case (not the standard hard case that typically accompanies these guitars,) a photograph of EVH playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada on August 7, 2004, a certificate of authenticity signed by Van Halen, two "VH" guitar picks, a ticket from the show, a corresponding backstage pass, and a Mandalay Bay hotel room key card; a yellow guitar with a unique, black hand-striped design by Van Halen in tribute to his "Bumblebee" guitar, signed and inscribed in black sharpie: "Des Moines IA. / 2.6.08 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen 2008" that comes with a black custom EVH hard case, a photograph of Eddie playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa on February 6, 2008, and a certificate of authenticity signed by Van Halen and a black body with a unique, yellow hand-striped design by Van Halen in tribute to his "Bumblebee" guitar with the words: "Las Vegas" partly visible under the bridge, signed and inscribed in silver sharpie: "Las Vegas NV. / 12.30.07 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen 2007," which comes with a black custom EVH hard case, a photograph of EVH playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas on December 30, 2007 (the last date of the first leg of VAN HALEN's 2007/08 tour), and a certificate of authenticity signed by Van Halen. Each of these guitars have a conservative estimate of $30,000 - $50,000.

Other drum kits from legendary rock bands will rock the stage with a singular and sensational drum kit heading this way from the legendary drummer Eric Singer of one of rock and roll's most notorious bands, KISS (estimate $50,000 - $70,000).

"KISS, keeping in line with Las Vegas: bright lights, big production, one-of-a-kind, i.e. Elvis, Rat Pack and Liberace style, I had this Pearl drum set custom made for the first-ever KISS Vegas residency," said Eric Singer. "These shows were recorded and featured on the 'Kiss Rocks Vegas' DVD. I also played this kit on the KISS and DEF LEPPARD tour as well as various other high-production KISS shows. The LED lights inside the drums ran in synchronization with the KISS light show, changing colors throughout the night controlled from the lighting board plus these drums sound amazing!"

Another fascinating and rare piece of art heading to the auction stage comes from another iconoclast and one of rock music's most signature artists of all time: Kurt Cobain. A self-portrait caricature drawing (estimate: $10,000 - $20,000) done in black felt pen on TNT Music Centre [sic] in Singapore stationery by the charismatic frontman of the group NIRVANA depicts himself playing the guitar and is signed "Kurdt Kobain Rock Star" and handwritten on the right, "I don't know how to play and I don't give a hoot!" Cobain gifted the drawing to Jacque Chong, a freelance photographer who worked with Cobain during NIRVANA's "Nevermind" album promotional tour in Singapore in 1992.

Julien's Auctions has broken world records with the sale of Kurt Cobain's memorabilia, including Cobain's cardigan worn on "MTV Unplugged" in New York, which sold for a record $334,000, his "In Utero" tour Fender Mustang guitar which sold for $340,000, his cardigan worn on his last photoshoot which sold for $75,000, a NIRVANA paper plate set list written in Cobain's handwriting which sold for a record $22,400 and the Guinness Book of World Record sale of Cobain's "MTV Unplugged" 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar, which sold for $6 million making it the world's most expensive guitar ever sold at auction.

"Each year, Julien's Auctions ups the ante for music fans and collectors in offering the most prized music memorabilia ever to come to auction," said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions. "From the first auction appearances of Alex Van Halen's Rock And Hall Of Fame-displayed Ludwig drum kit and Kurt Cobain's self-portrait drawing to Bob Dylan's handwritten and annotated lyrics to his 1969 classic 'Lay Lady Lay', this collection of fine and rare music collectibles is no exception and is one of our most exciting sales that is sure to make history once again on the auction stage."

Julien's Auctions public exhibition and auction location

Julien's Auctions

257 N. Canon Drive

Beverly Hills,

CA 90210

Public exhibition

Exhibition: Monday, June 7 - Friday, June 11, 2021

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Free to the public

Julien's Auctions live and online auction

Music Icons

Friday, June 11, 2021

Session I (Lots 1-381): 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Music Icons

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Session II (Lots 382-775): 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Music Icons

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Session III (Lots 776-1086): 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Registration is required to bid in this online auction and can be done in person at the exhibition, or online before the sale at the JuliensAuctions.com. Registration page to bid by phone, proxy or in person, or online at JuliensLive.com to bid live online, or by calling (310) 836-1818. For inquiries, please email [email protected] or call 310-836-1818.

THE OFFSPRING guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman has blasted Republican member of the House of Representatives for comparing a decision to continue requiring masks in the House to the steps Nazis took during the Holocaust to control Jewish people.

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, in a conversation with the Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody Real America's Voice TV show "The Water Cooler", attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and accused her of being a hypocrite for asking GOP members to prove they have all been vaccinated before allowing members to be in the House chamber without a mask.

"You know, we can look back at a time in history where people were told to wear a gold star, and they were definitely treated like second-class citizens, so much so that they were put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany," Greene said. "And this is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about."

Earlier today, Noodles took to his Twitter to share a video clip of Greene making her comments, and he wrote in an accompanying message: "Holy shit! People actually voted for this tweaker's nightmare! This is today's @GOP and a perfect example of why we need to move on without them. #PartyofTheInsane".

According to CNN, every Democrat of Congress in both the House and Senate is fully vaccinated. In the Senate, 92% of Republicans say they are vaccinated, but only 44.8% of House Republicans would say if they have received the necessary shots.

This past February, THE OFFSPRING singer Bryan "Dexter" Holland told the Minneapolis, Minnesota radio station 93X that he doesn't consider THE OFFSPRING "a political band." Noodles concurred, saying: "We try to ask questions. It could be about society, about personal relationships, or it could be about what we see happening in the world. In this case, it's what we see happening in the world on both the political stage and on the personal stage. So it's more kind of an expression of ideas that pose a question. At least that's what we're hoping for — rather than try to tell people what to think." Dexter added: "When you say the word 'political,' that sounds like you're gonna try to force your opinion about something on someone, and that's not what we're trying to do at all. We're making observations and leaving it up to you to make your own conclusions."

THE OFFSPRING's tenth studio album, "Let The Bad Times Roll", arrived on April 16 via Concord Records. The follow-up to 2012's "Days Go By" was once again produced by Bob Rock, who also worked on the band's previous two LPs.

Holland, Wasserman, drummer Pete Parada and new bassist Todd Morse wrote and recorded "Let The Bad Times Roll" in the last few years at various locations, including the band's studio in Huntington Beach, California.




Holy shit! People actually voted for this tweaker’s nightmare! This is today’s @GOP and a perfect example of why we need to move on without them. #PartyofTheInsane https://t.co/KcwFtLVFHT

— Noodles believes in Democracy! (@TheGnudz) May 22, 2021

Jeff Pilson has confirmed to Steve Mascord of the "White Life Fever" podcast that the sophomore album from his THE END MACHINE project, "Phase2", was informed at least partly by the tumultuous political divisiveness that is gripping the United States Of America at the moment.

"Obviously, especially in the U.S., what's gone on over the last several months politically makes you really stand up and take notice," Pilson said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). And something that we firmly believe is that people need to talk.

"I firmly believe that one of the biggest problems in the world right now is misinformation and just all the stuff that's out there that just isn't true," he continued. "But we need to talk. And the only way to get over people being in their little camps and just only hearing their own information is to talk.

"Yeah, we'd love to bridge the divide. Obviously, we're a rock band — we're not gonna change the world — but we can do our part. And so hopefully that's a positive message that people will take to heart."

Jeff also confirmed that differences in political views exist even between the members of THE END MACHINE.

"I think ultimately we all have the same goals in mind — we all want a safe, secure world and a prosperous world," he said. "But, yeah, we have differences, and I think working them out and talking them out and finding common ground is a great thing.

"George [Lynch, former DOKKEN and current THE END MACHINE guitarist] and I actually fairly in sync thought-wise, but, yeah, it's other guys. And that's great. Like I say, I welcome that. The main thing is that we talk. The main thing is that we understand and respect what people say. I mean, to just throw out what the other side says, I think, is really, really a bad mistake. And I think we've done way too much of that."

Asked if he has any advice on how to interact with people who have different political views from you without jeopardizing your friendship with them, Jeff said: "I think you always have to judge the situation at the moment. I don't think there's any one solution for everything. Some people don't wanna talk reasonably. Some people just wanna reinforce their own beliefs. And when that's the case, or even if I'm doing that, there's no sense talking. But if you have a point of view that's reasonable, why can't you talk about it? That's my feeling. Like I say, I think what's really made it bad is that people have two distinct sources of what they believe is the truth. And that's a problem — that's a serious, serious problem. And if we don't figure that out or something, we're gonna be in more trouble. And I think it starts with talking. So, talk when you can. Talk when people want to talk, when they're reasonable, when they have a desire to see what you think or when you have a desire to hear what they think. I think it's important to talk."

Back in 2017, Pilson — an acclaimed producer and a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N — said that then-President Donald Trump was "a dangerous man" whose vitriolic and divisive rhetoric could ignite another American civil war.

In September 2019, Lynch caught flak from some of his fans when he slammed Trump in an interview, calling the billionaire real estate mogul an "idiotic monster" and an "egotistical, self-aggrandizing, complete piece of shit" who "doesn't know anything." George was also criticized when told Australia's "Scars And Guitars" podcast that "progressives are more compassionate people by nature — we're wired to sort of be more empathetic and care about things outside of ourselves. We are about other people; it hurts us to see people in pain or suffer," he explained. "So they call us 'snowflakes.' But people that are wired, on the right, the way their brains are wired, they don't have that sense of empathy. I'm not saying it's good or bad — I'm just saying it is. And these people are the ones that have the guns. And they're willing to use them. And it's becoming pretty frightening."

"Phase2" was released on April 9 via Frontiers Music Srl.

A police department in New Hampshire has an active arrest warrant for Marilyn Manson.

Earlier today (Tuesday, May 25), the Gilford Police Department announced that they have an active arrest warrant for the shock-rocker, whose real name is Brian Warner, for two counts of misdemeanor simple assault involving an alleged incident with a videographer at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion.

"Mr. Warner, his Agent and legal counsel have been aware of the warrant for some time and no effort has been made by him to return to New Hampshire to answer the pending charges," the statement read. "Mr. Warner had been performing a concert at the Bank of NH Pavilion on August 18, 2019, when the alleged simple assaults occurred.

"The videographer had been subcontracted by a NH based company to video the concert, and had been located in the stage pit area when the alleged assaults occurred.

"The alleged assaults are not sexual in nature as has been asked by several other media outlets due to a number of other allegations made against Mr. Warner."

Manson performed in Gilford, New Hampshire on August 19, 2019 as part of the co-headlining "Hell Never Dies" tour with Rob Zombie.

If convicted on the charges, Manson could face a jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $2,000.

In a statement, Manson's attorney Howard King said: "It is no secret to anyone who has attended a Marilyn Manson concert that he likes to be provocative on stage, especially in front of a camera. This misdemeanor claim was pursued after we received a demand from a venue videographer for more than $35,000 after a small amount of spit came into contact with their arm. After we asked for evidence of any alleged damages, we never received a reply. This whole claim is ludicrous, but we remain committed to cooperating with authorities, as we have done throughout."

Seemingly contradicting King's statement, three concert attendees — including a security guard — told People that they saw Manson spit and "shoot his snot" at the camerawoman.

"He was spitting everywhere and one time it got on her camera so she wiped it off and looked semi-irritated. He noticed this and kept purposely spitting on her camera," one attendee told People. "I think her final straw is he got on the floor, got within 2-3 feet of her and hacked a giant snot rocket at her not the camera. She was pissed off and disgusted so she stormed off and he just laughed."

"I stopped listening to his music after that and told my husband I would never go to another one of his concerts again," she added.

A second attendee concurred, stating that he "bent down to shoot his snot all over this woman. I can remember him just laughing about what he did."

"I was right there when it happened, she was beyond furious when he did that to her," a third man, who works as a security guard at the venue, said. "He spit on her a couple of times and then leaned real close to the camera and blew a huge snot rocket on her. After he did that, she almost threw her camera right down on the ground."


UPDATE: 05.25.21 @ 8PM

The Gilford Police Department has an active arrest warrant for Brian Hugh Warner (aka: Marilyn...

Posted by Gilford Police Department on Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Canadian metal outfit SPIRITBOX will release its debut album, "Eternal Blue", on September 17. The band has also issued a brand new single titled "Secret Garden".

Speaking about the LP, SPIRITBOX vocalist Courtney LaPlante states: "We are very anxious to release our album. It is a body of work we have been accumulating for over two years.

"Having the recording process put on hold for so long due to the pandemic has made me see that I can never take the experience of tracking an album for granted ever again.

"I must say that although we never intended to wait so long to do this record, I think it did help the songs become stronger. I am so happy with every single song, I wish I could release each one as a single with a music video. They all reflect different moments and influences in our lives.

"We have had enough time to release the exact music we would like to put out into the world, with no need to compromise. Every single note and every single syllable is the music that we have always dreamed of making and we are very proud of it."

Regarding "Secret Garden", LaPlante adds: "I think this is the most scared I've been to put out a song, because I realize as we continue to release music in single format, listeners can start to assume what kind of band we are, and are alarmed when we do not meet those assumptions. I want to continue to showcase the fluidity that is inherent in heavy music, and even though this is just one part of a full body of work that may not sound exactly like this song, it is a song that we love and are obsessed with. I celebrate variation. 'Secret Garden' is exciting to me for this reason. I'm scared but excited, like I'm about to hit the big drop on a roller coaster, and I'm fully embracing that."

Today's announcement comes hot on the heels of SPIRITBOX's previous single release at the end of May for track "Circle With Me" which charted on Billboard at No. 1 Hard Rock Digital Song Sales, No. 5 Hot Hard Rock Songs, No. 9 Rock Songs Core Genre, No. 12 Rock Digital Songs, No. 50 Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, No. 71 Digital Songs. The track has already clocked up 4.3 million streams to date.

Prior to "Circle With Me", SPIRITBOX released two break-out, hit singles last year the heartbreaking and otherworldly "Constance" and the unrelentingly brutal "Holy Roller", which debuted at No. 25 on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs and charted as the No. 1 song of 2020 on SiriusXM's Liquid Metal.

The band released "Constance Reimagined" this past weekend in conjunction with The Grammy Museum COLLECTION:live #spotlightsaturdays in partnership with BMG. The band performed an incredible acoustic rendition of the song featuring a string quartet and filmed in a church.

The husband-and-wife duo consisting of Courtney LaPlante and Michael Stringer made its debut with an independently released EP in October 2017, quickly building a cult following. In 2018, they found their musical counterpart in bass player Bill Crook and partnered with Pale Chord Music to continue to create and release music in single and EP formats, and in fall of 2020, signed with globally renowned label Rise Records.

Drawing its name from a device that some believe is capable of communing with the dead, SPIRITBOX has a paranormal undertone that runs through everything they do, using EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recordings both at its live shows and within its tracks.

Having toured the world many times over with their previous bands — metal outfit IWRESTLEDABEARONCE (Courtney and Mike) and pop punk band LIVING WITH LIONS (Bill) — SPIRITBOX absorbed the highs and lows of living as working musicians and decided to try a different and more sustainable approach when it came to releasing their music. They took the concept of supply and demand and applied it to their release model, focusing on making fans across the globe by using the social media tools available to them, releasing shorter bodies of music and removing touring from the plan until a demand was built. In doing so they quickly garnered a cult-like online following which has lead to over 66.6 million streams across all platforms and sell outs on every physical release and most merch items they've released to date.

In February 2020, SPIRITBOX jumped on a plane and finally went on tour in support of AFTER THE BURIAL across Europe, which was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite having to return to Canada early, SPIRITBOX has remained busy, recording the two new music, shooting the accompanying videos, launching their Patreon and working on their debut LP.

"Eternal Blue" track listing:

01. Sun Killer

02. Hurt You

03. Yellowjacket (feat. Sam Carter)

04. The Summit

05. Secret Garden

06. Silk In The Strings

07. Holy Roller

08. Eternal Blue

09. We Live In A Strange World

10. Halcyon

11. Circle With Me

12. Constance

Swedish melodic hard rock band ECLIPSE has set "Wired" as the title of its eighth studio album, to be released in October via Frontiers Music Srl (and in Japan by Marquee/Avalon). A music video for the LP's first single, "Saturday Night (Hallelujah)", can be seen below.

"Saturday Night (Hallelujah)" is the first original ECLIPSE song released since the band's acclaimed 2019 album "Paradigm". According to singer/guitarist Erik Martensson, "It was another one of those Saturday nights at home, but for the first time in a very long time, there was hope. Suddenly, there were stories about someone's mom getting 'the shot', an old neighbor who was able to see the grandkids for the first time in a year, and I saw an ad for a gig — a real one, without screens or Internet connections. A songwriter buddy of mine was there, and we walked back to the studio and wrote most of what would become 'Saturday Night (Hallelujah)' in 15 minutes. There's absolutely nothing snotty about this song. It's about partying! Don't try to tell me you're not up for a good f--king party right about now?"

The group confirmed the title of "Wired" during a May 22 live chat on Instagram. "This is really a band record," Martensson said. "We've all been working very hard together to make something instead of just individuals doing their thing. It's been real teamwork.

"I really think this new (album) is the best one so far," he continued. "It's a very diverse album. There are really heavy rockers, and there are (also) more, like, pop/softer rock anthems. ['Saturday Night'] is like ECLIPSE's 'Rock And Roll All Nite', but I think we have a little of everything."

ECLIPSE is the primary musical vehicle of the prolific Swedish songwriter and producer Erik Martensson, who also comprises half of NORDIC UNION, an ongoing project with PRETTY MAIDS vocalist Ronnie Atkins. In addition, Martensson is one of three core members of the melodic rock/AOR supergroup W.E.T., which also features Jeff Scott Soto (SONS OF APOLLO, TALISMAN) and Robert Sall (WORK OF ART).

On July 16, Berlin's Space Chaser will release their new album, Give Us Life, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of the record, a video for the new single, "Remnants Of Technology" (produced by Lucas Fiederling / Peregrine Films), can be viewed below.

Space Chaser comments: "For our first sign of life on Metal Blade Records, we wanted to make the best music video we could possibly make. And with a lot of hard work and even more luck, we got something far greater than we could have ever dreamed of. We had this idea for a video lying around for years, but never were able to put it to film. Until now. We had a crew of 60 people working for us. Somehow word got around in the Berlin film scene, and almost everyone was on fire, and wanted to be a part of it. 50 Costumes, 4 make-up artists, 30 extras, a team of directors, camera operators, professional lightning - you name it, we had it. Two teams of set-builders worked tirelessly for a week together with the band. We built an entire bar in some humid, freezing cold basement for a total of 3 days and nights of shooting. The concept was planned for months, an entire week of preparation and two days of assembling everything. Everybody pulled their weight and helped make our little space short. Lucas Fiederling of Peregrine Films didn't sleep for two months straight. The result looks like a Michael Jackson video. If he was a thrasher. From Berlin. Watch The Skies."

Nothing can beat the thrill of thrash at its best, and no one is keeping the spirit and sound of the genre alive quite like Space Chaser. Marking their ten-year anniversary with their third full-length, Give Us Life, they are returning in force and once again establishing their importance in the scene.

"What we do is contemporary Thrash Metal, if you will, and while still having the 'old-school' elements everyone loves, we try to incorporate some of the influences that we expose ourselves to. Over the last ten years, this kind of music progressed a lot, and of course that has its influence on us. But what we do is still Thrash Metal, we just hope we're able to translate it a little bit better into 2021."

The album was recorded at their go-to studio, Berlin's Hidden Planet, with Jan Oberg, who the band acknowledge is a rather unknown name in the metal scene, but his work proves up to par with international standards nonetheless. The songs were produced by guitarist Leo Schacht and drummer Matthias Scheuerer with the help of Oberg, and for mastering they had Dan Swanö of Unisound Studios at the helm.

"It was the smoothest recording process we have ever had. Everybody went in perfectly prepared and every idea worked out just how we anticipated. It's almost surreal, though being satisfied with your production can lead you to get lost in details forever - and the intro for 'Burn Them All' was a bitch!"

Acknowledging that it feels weird to have reached their tenth anniversary already, this landmark has only stoked the fires.

"We never felt so pumped and ready for whatever life throws at us," they say, and asking what they see when they look to the band's future, they are emphatic. "World domination! Well…sort of. I think every band just wants to get as big a name in the metal world as possible, and we are no exception. We really hope to expand our fanbase outside of Germany with 'Give Us Life', and we never even dreamt of getting the chance to release a record through Metal Blade. Furthermore, we definitely want to tour a lot as soon as we are allowed to. We are anxious to leave Europe for the first time, and we want to prove that we are capable of delivering on an international standard."

Give Us Life can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- digipak-CD
- deluxe box set (pizza box, steel blue & gold w/ white splatter vinyl, demo cassette, back patch, art print, signed card - limited to 250 copies)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- purple / black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- midnight blue marbled vinyl (Nuclear Blast exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- white vinyl (Green Hell / TCM exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- ice blue marbled vinyl (EMP exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- gold w/ black dust vinyl (US exclusive)

Give Us Life tracklisting:

"Remnants Of Technology"
"Juggernaut"
"Cryoshock"
"A.O.A"
"The Immortals"
"Signals"
"Burn Them All"
"Give Us Life"
"Antidote To Order"
"Dark Descent"

"Remnants Of Technology" video:

Space Chaser lineup:

Siegfried Rudzynski: vocals
Leo Schacht: guitars
Martin Hochsattel: guitars
Sebastian Kerlikowski: bass
Matthias Scheuerer: drums




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Ontario-based modern death/thrash metal combo, Death Perception, have signed a deal with Wormholedeath for the release of their album, Ashes, out on June 18 worldwide. Details and a teaser video can be found below.

Says the band's Nathan Fraser: “The five of us at Death Perception are very pleased to be joining Wormholedeath. Wormholedeath is the perfect partnership for us. They have an incredible roster of death metal and black metal, including our own brother-band, Cuba’s “Mephisto”. Wormholedeath will be releasing our new album Ashes and we are excited to share it with everyone. This album has been the culmination of hard work and perseverance. There are some new elements to our album’s ten tracks, featuring some first appearances. Brian Lewis’ songwriting on the track 'Scars Over Skin'; Dana Bowman’s vocals on 'Bleed To Death'; and it’s the band first time working with Recording Engineer Steve Haines. This album promises to bash you with heavy songs, and also draw you in with intriguing lyrical messages and evolving soundscapes. Its our best work yet and I hope you will agree."

Tracklisting:

"Bleed To Death"
"Scars Over Skin"
"In Plain Sight"
"No Tears For The Dead"
"Crimson Darkness"
"The Kill"
"Wars"
"Vermin"
"Final Breath"
"Ashes To Mourn"

Album teaser:




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Canada's thrash metal machine Wreck-Defy - featuring guitarist Matt Hanchuck alongside former Annihilator singer Aaron Randall, former Testament bassist Greg Christian, and former Malevolent Creation drummer Alex Marquez - have released the official lyric video for the title track of their album, Powers That Be. Watch below.

Powers That Be is available now at all digital retailers and providers. Also available on CD via Punishment 18 Records and vinyl via Doc Gator.

Tracklist:

"Beyond H8"
"Powers That Be"
"Skin"
"Drowning In Darkness"
"Space Urchin"
"Scumlord"
"Freedomless Speech"
"Goodbye To Misery"
"I Am The Wolf"
"On The Other Side"

"Powers That Be" lyric video:

"Scumlord" lyric video:

"Skin" lyric video:




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Marking Enemy Inside’s first new music since their 2018 debut album Phoenix, which made them one of Germany’s most promising newcomers, the band returns with a new album. With their second long player, Seven, the modern metallers have definitely done a step forward in their sound evolution.

Though sticking to their roots with the combination of hard guitar riffs and catchy hooklines the band strikes with an even more modern sound and surprises with new musical elements such as screams and breakdowns. This makes the record appropriate for metal fans of all ages.

The album Seven was deeply influenced by the seven deadly sins. It’s not about the Christian tradition but more about calling todays society into question and interpreting them in a more contemporary way. Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride, be they sins or not, can still be applied nowadays. We’re confronted with them all the time.

Seven will be released on August 27 as digipak CD, White vinyl (limited to 250 copies), Crystal Clear with gold & white Splatters vinyl (limited to 250 copies) as well as digital streaming and download formats.

Pre-order the album via the links below:

CD/Vinyl
- Rock Of Angels shop
- Music Megastore

Digital
Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

"Crystallize"
"Alien"
"Release Me"
"Break Through"
"In My Blood"
"Bulletproof"
"Seven"
"Black Butterfly"
"Black And Gold"
"Dynamite"
"Crush" (Jennifer Paige Cover)

"Release Me" video:

Enemy Inside are:

Nastassja Giulia - Vocals
Evan K - Lead Guitars
Dave Hadarik - Rhythm Guitars
Dominik Stotzem - Bass
Feli Keith - Drums




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One of The Big Four turns the Big 4-0 this year and is celebrating with a number of special activities and events to honor the landmark anniversary. Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, NY on July 18, 1981, Anthrax was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth.

Active over the past five decades, Anthrax has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with The Big 4. The band has built a strong reputation with fans as well as the record industry. With the lineup including Ian, bassist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante, singer Joey Belladonna, and guitarist Jon Donais, the band is being feted on their 40th anniversary by a wide range of friends and music contemporaries.

Each week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and wrapping on the band's official founding anniversary of July 18, Anthrax's social media accounts will offer a series of video testimonials sent in by former band members, fellow musicians, colleagues, and industry veterans sharing behind-the-scenes stories of working with the band and what Anthrax's legacy has meant all these years on. These videos will honor each album in chronological order beginning with the original release, Fistful of Metal. Go here for the full schedule, and watch the first nine below.

The 11-week series will include video contributions from Chuck D, Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl, Dave Mustaine, Gary Holt, Gene Simmons, Henry Rollins, John Carpenter, Kerry King, Mike Patton, Nergal, Norman Reedus, Michael Poulsen, Rob Zombie, Robert Trujillo, Roger Miret, Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Slash, Tom Morello and more. There will also be video clips from former Anthrax band members Dan Lilker, Dan Spitz, John Bush, Neil Turbin, and Rob Caggiano.

The finale will come as a very special Livestream performance from Anthrax on Friday, July 16, featuring a deep cuts set that will pull from the band's entire career-spanning catalog. All details including ticketing information will be announced shortly.

Fans will also be able to get their hands on a special 40th anniversary-edition bottle of Anthrax bourbon to enjoy during the Livestream and keep as a commemorative keepsake. More details will be coming soon.

Episode #1:

Episode #2:

Episode #3:

Episode #4:

Episode #5:

Episode #6:

Episode #7:

Episode #8:

Episode #9:

Episode #10:

Twenty-twenty-one marks Anthrax's 40th anniversary, during which time the band has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, six Grammy nominations, and a host of other accolades from the media, the music industry, and fans. In 1991, the band helped break down race and genre barriers when they collaborated with Public Enemy on the track "Bring The Noise," and was the first metal band to have its music heard on Mars when NASA played "Got The Time" to wake up the Mars Rover in 2012.

Along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, Anthrax is a card-carrying member of The Big Four, the four bands that defined the speed/thrash/metal genre. Anthrax has also introduced a series now sold-out signature whiskeys and bourbons and partnered with the Stockholm-based NEZUMI Studios for a high-end, limited-edition Baleine dive watch.

Twenty-twenty-one will see the release of Z2 Comics' "Among The Living" graphic novel with a track-by-track storyline inspired by Anthrax's iconic 1987 album, Among The Living. The book pulls together a "who's who" of names from the worlds of comics and music who created "bubble dialogue" and original artwork to express what the songs meant to them. Taking advantage of COVID-19's prohibition of concert touring, the band has been hard at work writing the next Anthrax album.

Anthrax’s Charlie Benante joined Strombo on Apple Music Hits earlier this week to talk about his new solo project Silver Linings, how the idea came about, why he chose some of the artists he covered, and his excitement for the next Anthrax album, saying, "the songs that we have so far are so angry."

On how the idea of a covers album came to be, Charlie reveals: “Basically what happened was last March, when the pandemic hit here, I was glued to the, to the news, and it started really depressed me. And it started started to kind of go downwards and my girlfriend Carla said to me, ‘You need to shut this stuff off… go be creative.” So what I did was, I set up this rolling electronic kit in my art room. And I Dude, I started just playing again, like when I was younger. So I called up my friend Alex Skolnick (Suicidal Tendencies), and I said, ‘Hey, would you guys want to kind of do something here?’ And they said, ‘Absolutely.’ So I sent them everything, and then we put it out. And then I was so overwhelmed by people who are going through the same exact thing I was, there was so much darkness. And they were like, ‘This is a light in just a really bad time.’ So that's how it happened. And it just snowballed from there.”

On some of the songs he chose to cover for Silver Linings: ”The first song was the Tom Petty song that I did with my girlfriend, Carla, because I was such a huge Tom Petty fan, same with her, but I pushed her out of her comfort zone because she never really sung like that. I just loved Tom Petty so much. And then the next one was the Massive Attack song, which was kind of difficult because there's, it's multi layered, and I’ve never made a song like that. So I had to kind of trust my instincts and, you know, teach myself how to play keyboards.”

Charlie expresses his excitement for the next Anthrax record: "I'm looking forward to the next actual Anthrax record and the approach. I mean, already the songs that we have so far, are so angry… and I think that that's the best thing for me, musically, is to get get that out. You know what I mean? We've all been suffering for a while, you know, with this (pandemic), and I think a lot of people are going to have some angry music come out, and I think the lyrics are going to be even angrier."

Listen at Apple Music Hits.

Silver Linings is available now via Megaforce Records. The album includes 14 tracks that feature an all-star cast of "who's who" in the thrash, metal, and rock worlds, with all cuts culled from Benante's acclaimed 'Quarantine Jam Video Series'.

Tracklisting:

"City Of Blinding Lights" / U2 - Frank Bello, Mark Osegueda, Charlie Benante
"Chloe Dancer / Crown Of Horns" / Mother Love Bone - Mark Menghi, Mark Osegueda, Charlie Benante
"Teardrop" / Massive Attack - Carla Harvey, Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
"Run DMC" / Run DMC - DMC, Rob Caggiano, Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
"Rhiannon" / Fleetwood Mac - Mark Menghi, Jennifer Cella, Randy McStine, Charlie Benante
"Yer So Bad" / Tom Petty - Carla Harvey, Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
"Transylvania" / Iron Maiden - Snake Sabo, Frank Bello, Jon Donias, Charlie Benante
"Presto Vivace" / U.K. - Ra Diaz, Alex Skolnick, Jordan Rudess, Charlie Benante
"Bad Guy" / Billie Eilish - Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
"Jimmy James" / The Beastie Boys - Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
"All The Way" / KISS - PJ Farley, Joe McGinness, John 5, Charlie Benante
"Mr Speed" / KISS - Joe McGinness, PJ Farley, Charlie Benante
"Public Image" / Public Image - Hank Von Hell, Dave Brownsound, Jason "Cone" McCaslin, Charlie Benante
"Funny Vibe" / Living Color - Ra Diaz, Corey Glover, Henry Flury, Charlie Benante

(Photo - Jimmy Hubbard)




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It's been a provocative, stimulating 18 months for black metal blues alchemists, Zeal & Ardor.

Channeling the energy from this profound period of reflection into writing new music, Zeal & Ardor offer a first hint towards their forthcoming, self-titled third album, debuting portentous, intense new song, "Run". Listen here, and below.

Zeal & Ardor's thoughtful frontman Manuel Gagneux elaborates, "'Run' is the first single we are releasing off of our self-titled album because, while there are definitely familiar elements present, it sets the tone for things to come. It is surely one of our most aggressive songs yet, but that is just a vanguard of what lies ahead. So run while you still can."

Acclaimed second album Stranger Fruit was released by MVKA in 2018, following the global attention-getting debut Devil Is Fine. Last October, the band shared a striking, standalone 6-track EP Wake Of A Nation.

Stay tuned for more information soon.




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Former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens has seemingly closed the door on the possibility of David Ellefson joining KK'S PRIEST, the new band Tim formed with fellow ex-PRIEST member K.K. Downing.

Ellefson performed a full-length set of PRIEST classics with Owens, Downing and ex-JUDAS PRIEST drummer Les Binks in November 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. However, when KK'S PRIEST's formation was first announced a little over a year ago, the band's bassist was listed as Tony Newton, a founding member of the long-running British hard rock act VOODOO SIX. At the time, it was assumed that Ellefson's non-involvement with KK'S PRIEST was down to the fact that his main priority was MEGADETH, which was working on a new studio album.

On Monday (May 24), MEGADETH announced that Ellefson was no longer a member of the band, prompting speculation from some fans that he would join KK'S PRIEST in time to play shows in support of the group's upcoming debut LP.

Earlier today, a fan tagged Owens and Downing and tweeted: "Hey guys, #DavidEllefson Dave is available again!! Let's rock mf!!!" In response, Owens wrote: "We have a bass player, His name is Tony".

MEGADETH fired Ellefson two weeks after the leak of the bassist's messages and videos featuring a woman who is not his wife.

On May 10, several sexually explicit videos of Ellefson were leaked by an anonymous third party on the Internet and shared to Twitter; at least two of the videos revealed him masturbating. The longtime MEGADETH member later released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because mainman Dave Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play. After Mustaine reformed MEGADETH with an all-new lineup in 2004, Ellefson sued his former bandmate for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

Photo courtesy of K.K.'s Steel Mill




We have a bass player, His name is Tony ??‍♂‍???????

— Tim 'Ripper' Owens ?? (@TimRipperOwens) May 25, 2021

Ted Nugent has defended MyPillow's pro-Donald Trump CEO Mike Lindell who falsely alleged that the 2020 presidential election was marred by widespread voter fraud.

Several major retailers dropped MyPillow products after Lindell continued to push bogus claims of election fraud since Trump's loss to President Joe Biden in the presidential race. Lindell also made a number of unsubstantiated claims about Dominion — the company behind voting machines used in some states — tampering with the election results.

Nugent brought up Lindell in a May 10 Facebook Live stream during which he railed against the government and the media, accusing the former of engaging in criminal activity and saying the latter practiced Satanism.

"America, it's the last hope, and we're slipping dangerously over the edge of Marxism, thanks to the glaring criminality in our government," Ted said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "The viciousness, the cruelty, the hate, the lies, the Satanic horror that is the media, celebrating that children should be able to play on the street and stab each other. That's what the Democrats believe. They said it — they said it on CNN and MSNBC; they said it: 'You shouldn't interfere when children are stabbing each other. It's just what they do.' Satan. They've gotta be the Satan gang. Only Satan would say, 'Yeah, children stabbing each other is like playing hockey.'

"So if you believe in that stuff, it's not yours, it's not mine — it's it," he continued. "It's truth, logic, common sense. And I know I regurgitate that non-stop for at least 50 years, and I know that's why we connect, 'cause I know a lot of you can't say it or you'll get fired. Look at what they're doing to Mike Lindell. The H-E-B supermarkets, the Target stores, Walmart, Kroger, Starbucks, Bed, Bath & Beyond literally threw out that great entrepreneur Mike Lindell of MyPillow, who's in the asset column, creating thousands of jobs [and] quality products. And Delta and Coca-Cola and H-E-B and Kroger and Disney and Target — Target supports the people who burnt down their stores but not a great entrepreneur like Mike Lindell who asked legitimate questions about the 2020 election. Asking legitimate questions about whether the mask works, even though that lying piece of shit Fauci said you don't need 'em on Monday, but on Wednesday you need 'em, but you don't need 'em on Thursday, but for the weekend you've gotta wear two of 'em. What a prick. What a lying, genocidal, criminal, Satanic prick. Who would listen to Fauci?"

In February, Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.3 billion lawsuit against Lindell accusing him of selling lies involving the company's voting machines "because the lie sells pillows." In April, Lindell countersued Dominion for $1.6 billion accusing the company of "suppression of speech" and "attacks" against his company.

In the past, Nugent, a staunch Trump supporter, had referred to the novel coronavirus as a "leftist scam to destroy" America's 45th president. He had also repeated a narrative pushed by conservative media and disputed by health experts that suggests the official death count from the coronavirus is inflated.

SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine says that "it was the right decision" for him and his bandmates to complete their new album without producer Greg Fidelman.

The German-Polish-Swedish hard rock legends spent the last few months recording the effort at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany. Tentatively due later this year, the disc will mark SCORPIONS' first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of new and classic material.

SCORPIONS originally intended to record the new album in Los Angeles with Fidelman, whose previous credits include SLIPKNOT and METALLICA. However, because of the pandemic, some of the initial work was done with Greg remotely, after which SCORPIONS opted to helm the recordings themselves with the help of their engineer Hans-Martin Buff.

During an April 2021 chat with Scorpions Brazil, Meine stated about the band's decision to proceed without Fidelman (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When we played Los Angeles in 2019, we met with Greg Fidelman. And we came together there, and he liked the idea to produce our next record. And Greg came to Germany to see us, at Peppermint. Then the pandemic, the way it went over here [in Germany] and over there in the U.S., it changed all of our plans. Our plan was to go to Los Angeles last year in May and June, spend May and June in the studio, go to Las Vegas [and] play the [residency] shows. We even booked a studio in Las Vegas for the off days. And the album would have been pretty much done in August [or] September. So that was the plan. But then corona changed everything. And we started with Greg via Zoom. He joined us every other day in the studio — L.A. in the morning, and with SCORPIONS, it was dinner time over here in Germany. So we worked on the material together, to a certain extent. Then it was hard, at some point, to continue without him being with us in the studio or without us being in his studio in Los Angeles. So we had to make a decision to have a break that would have lasted way into this year — into spring this year — or to keep going. And we didn't want to lose the momentum of the songs for us working in the studio. And so we decided to keep going. Because with Hans-Martin Buff, we had an amazing engineer, and we had a great team around us, working with us. We had set up a super-great sound together with Greg, so it was all L.A. standard. But it was a plan B to record in Germany instead of Los Angeles. But there was no way out of this since we could not travel to Los Angeles and he could not come over to Germany. So it was difficult."

He continued: "We'd been working with Greg on all the songs; we went through all the material with him together. But at that point, we felt very strong that we should continue, that we should move on, and we had the feeling we trust our own people, we trust our own team. It's a team effort. If we would have had the feeling we can't pull this off ourselves, we probably would have stopped. But that means, at this point, in April '21, we would have never [gotten] there where we are right now, because of the decision [to keep] going. And for us, looking back, it was the right decision, because when you look what's happening right now, there's still no chance for us to go to Los Angeles, and there's still no chance for him to come here, because it's all so difficult with all those travel restrictions. So I think we made the right move. We all were very confident that we keep going, and it hopefully will be one of the best albums we ever did."

Klaus also spoke in more detail about SCORPIONS' approach on the new album, saying: "We tried to really reactivate the SCORPIONS DNA, and we tried to make an album where we feel this is what our fans around the world expect at this point. And, of course, having Mikkey Dee in the band, the guy who played 20 years with MOTÖRHEAD, you can imagine he's also like a powerhouse behind the band, pushing, 'Let's try this. Let's try that,' which is fantastic, which is great. So, the good thing is, looking back at the last couple of months, the way the band moved closely together to pull this off, to make this work, but not as a B option… I think this B option to record in Hannover turned way before this year started into an A option, because we had a great studio, great setup, great sounds and great people to work with. And Hans-Martin did an excellent job. And we can't wait that you guys will hear the new songs. It feels really good. But it was very complicated circumstances in this corona situation. It's not Greg's fault, but it's not our fault either. We had to make the best out of it in order to move forward."

Meine previously told Talking Metal that the goal with using Fidelman to produce the new LP was to bring "the old vibe from albums like 'Blackout', 'Love At First Sting' or even 'Lovedrive'. We try to focus on those albums and this attitude," he said. "If we get there, who knows — it's so many years later. But it's the spirit and it's the whole vibe around this album. This time, the focus is on the harder songs."

According to Meine, SCORPIONS' new LP features "no outside writers at all," unlike 2015's "Return To Forever", which was largely co-written by the album's producers, Mikael Nord Andersson and Martin Hansen.

Fidelman began his career as the guitarist and songwriter for RHINO BUCKET before launching his career as a producer, engineer and mixer, finding an early mentor in Rick Rubin.

SCORPIONS' last full-length collection of new recordings was the aforementioned "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016.

DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott has confirmed to Download festival host Kylie Olsson that he and his bandmates have used the coronavirus downtime to work on new music. "We have written some songs — I can't deny that we have written some songs remotely as an exercise to see if we could, and I can announce it was very successful," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "What are we gonna do with those songs? That's to be seen. We've gotta wait and see, because, obviously, everybody's in different continents, in different cities and all that kind of stuff. So there's a lot of work to be done before we get to a finished product. But we have not let the year go to waste."

Addressing the fact that it's been nearly six years since DEF LEPPARD last released album, 2015's self-titled effort, Joe said: "The industry being what it is, we're all aware of the fact that there's an element of the media that can't let go of the fact that records aren't that important anymore. And I know that's a sad thing to say, but it's a fact of life. Touring is massively important — way more than it was when you went out promoting records when they were important. Especially for legacy bands or whatever you wanna call 'em. Listen, I went to see THE ROLLING STONES in 1989 in case one of them died. That's 1989. They haven't had a death since the 1960s.

"I'm aware of the fact that when you've got a history — whether it be THE EAGLES or FLEETWOOD MAC or any of the bands from the '80s, like us and [IRON] MAIDEN and whoever else, we've got this legacy audience as well that wanna see us continue the journey, if you like. And that's become way more important.

"When we finished that [2015] album, we never really thought about making another record until we just felt the timing was right," Elliott explained. "And we always just fall into place. We're constantly writing songs, so when it comes to piecing songs together, it's not like they're all absolutely brand spanking new, just written, hot-off-the-press stuff. Some of them are ideas that have been percolating for a year or two with a piece missing. And you wait and you wait and you wait, and then you have this epiphany, or one of the other guys goes, 'Why didn't you ask? I've got a bit that would fit in there perfect.' So there's been a lot of that going on. But that's a constant; that's nothing to do with coronavirus. We've been doing it since the 'Def Leppard' album came out, and we will continue to do it, whether we release an album or not. We've got songs in our heads."

DEF LEPPARD released a box set, "The Early Years 79-81", in March 2020 via UMC/Virgin. "The Early Years 79-81" box set represents the band's first two albums, "On Through The Night" (1980) and "High 'N' Dry" (1981), and was prepared in conjunction with Elliott who acted as executive producer on the set. The mastering was done by the band's long-serving sound engineer Ronan McHugh.

Eagle Rock Entertainment released DEF LEPPARD's "London To Vegas" in May 2020. This limited edition 2Blu-ray+4CD, 2DVD+4CD, DVD/Blu-ray+2CD and digital format release features two concert films: "Hysteria At The O2" and "Hits Vegas, Live At Planet Hollywood".

DEF LEPPARD's latest greatest-hits collection, titled "The Story So Far - The Best Of", was released in November 2018.

DEF LEPPARD's "The Stadium Tour" with MÖTLEY CRÜE, POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS was recently officially postponed until 2022.

Prior to the latest postponement, "The Stadium Tour" was slated to kick off on June 19, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee and conclude on September 12, 2021 in San Diego, California. The trek will now launch on June 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia and run through September 7, 2022 in San Francisco, California.

Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted's official YouTube channel has just shared a video of him and his THE CHOPHOUSE BAND performing a cover version of the Jason Isbell song "White Man's World" in March 2019 at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, Florida. Check it out below. Also available are previously released performances of the Johnny Cash classic "Folsom Prison Blues", the Jason Isbell song "Cover Me Up", Johnny Cash's "Big River", the blues classic "Cocaine Blues", Tom Waits's "Jockey Full Of Bourbon", Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World", "I've Been Everywhere" (originally written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack and later recorded by Johnny Cash) and the John Anderson song "Seminole Wind".

Named after Jason's four recording studio facilities around the U.S. and featuring a fluid roster of players, THE CHOPHOUSE BAND began in 1992 when Newsted founded The Chophouse Records Studio in San Francisco.

THE CHOPHOUSE BAND is led by Newsted, playing acoustic guitars and performing lead vocal, accompanied by 
close friends/musicians of all walks and styles, sharing some great American songs from familiar and unfamiliar heroes.

Jason told the Palm Beach Florida Weekly about THE CHOPHOUSE BAND: "We all get along great because there's not money involved. They've got their own bands, their own families, their own gigs. We do benefit gigs, six a year, and that's it. I record and write and play songs the whole rest of the time. They could all run circles around me musical theory-wise. They could tell you everything they're playing, and all the relating chords. I surround myself with the bad-asses, and they make me look really good. I'm playing cowboy chords the whole time, and they're doing their fancy shit to make me look good. I just concentrate on singing, and getting across the things I want people to hear."

Asked by Boca magazine how deep his song archive is with THE CHOPHOUSE BAND, Newsted said: "I keep two bibles — heroes, and my songs. I try to stay at about 100 in the bible of heroes — everything from [LED] ZEPPELIN to John Prine to Dolly Parton. My [personal] song bible is probably between 24 and 32, most of them in the last 10 months. The band's favorite band collectively is JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT. I've become friends with [Isbell] over the past couple of years, and taken time to learn 20 of his songs. We always perform at least one in the set, trying to make it my own — kind of the idea with all of them."

Jason left METALLICA back in 2001, but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.

Seven years ago, Jason shelved NEWSTED, the heavy metal project he operated between 2012 and 2014, saying that it cost him "an awful lot of money — hundreds of thousands of dollars." He added: "I couldn't continue because the business is such a harsh thing now and so different than what I had known."

"Redemption", the new music video from Georgia hard rockers THE CEO, who feature SEVENDUST's Vince Hornsby on bass, can be seen below. The song is the title track of THE CEO's debut album, "Redemption", which will be released on June 25 via Rat Pak Records.

"Redemption" is an up-tempo rocker that features an intense and inspiring vocal performance from Mack Mullins, with sludgy guitars and a piercing rhythm section rounding out the track. The clip showcases the group doing what it does best and delivering a heartfelt and rocking performance, while Mack sings about taking control of one's legacy and destiny.

"'Redemption' is an intense, call-to-action track," explains Mullins. "It is our response to all of the divisiveness dominating the headlines these days. It's angry and loud, yet relevant and hopeful. I love this song."

From the driving guitar riff of album opener "Twin Flame" to the final vocal melody of album closer "Alone And Dead", THE CEO has created a sound that fits right in with Active Rock radio today. Songs like "Behind These Eyes", "The Storm" and "Casting Shadows" showcase the band's harder side. THE CEO explores its softer side on "Black Hearts" — the longest track on the album and a song that is sure to be a fan favorite.

"Redemption" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (ALTER BRIDGE, SEVENDUST, MYLES KENNEDY, TREMONTI, MAMMOTH WVH).

"Redemption" track listing:

01. Twin Flame

02. Behind These Eyes

03. Redemption

04. Black Hearts

05. Dirty Tragic

06. The Storm

07. Alive

08. Beginning & The End

09. Bourbon Straight

10. Work Of Heart

11. Casting Shadows

12. Alone and Dead

THE CEO was formed in 2018 by two real-life CEO entrepreneurs, Mack Mullins (vocals) and Mike Dunn (guitar). Mullins and Dunn enlisted Gary Stone (producer, songwriter and musician) to write the group's self-titled independent debut, "The CEO" (June 2019). The overwhelming positive response to this release led to an invite to record with Baskette. This time joined by Chase Brown (guitar) and Joseph Herman (drums), the band entered Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida to record "Redemption", whose musical direction was previously described as "an aggressive blend of '70s-inspired groove hard rock and modern metal" and "a balance of raw energy and aggression inspired by bands as varied as METALLICA, SEVENDUST, BLACK SABBATH to IRON MAIDEN, THREE DAYS GRACE and KISS." Dunn has since been replaced by Beau Anderson.

METALLICA is apparently teasing a deluxe version of the band's self-titled album.

Earlier today, METALLICA shared a video of the band performing the song "Wherever I May Roam" during a San Diego concert in 1992. It was accompanied by the caption "'And the road becomes my bride…' — San Diego 1992" along with the hashtags "#fbf", "#BlackAlbum2021" and "#ComingThisFall". The Facebook and Instagram posts have since been edited to remove the "#ComingThisFall" hashtag, but the hashtag can still be found in the Facebook post's edit history.

Back in 2017, METALLICA announced that it was preparing deluxe remastered versions of its "…And Justice For All" (1988) and "Metallica" (1991) albums and reached out to its hardcore fans for help to get content for the new editions. "…And Justice For All" has since been reissued for its 30th anniversary in 2018, and now the the self-titled LP, more commonly called "The Black Album," is expected to get the same treatment.

METALLICA's self-titled LP in 2014 became the first album to sell 16 million copies since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991.

"Metallica" was already certified 16 times platinum on December 13, 2012 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for shipments in excess of 16 million copies in the U.S.

The album in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN's 1997 record, "Come On Over", as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era.

The album was the first of four collaborations with producer Bob Rock, with whom the band clashed throughout the recording of the disc.

METALLICA performed "the black album" in its entirety at a number of European festivals in 2012.




“And the road becomes my bride…” — San Diego 1992

#fbf

#BlackAlbum2021?

Posted by Metallica on Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Legendary guitarist and composer Jason Becker, who has been living with ALS for over 30 years, says that he thought he was on his "way out" following several "scary health issues."

Last month, Becker underwent treatment for a bacterial infection. He spent several days at a hospital in Northern California after experiencing "shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate," according to his mother.

Earlier today, Jason released the following statement via his social media:

"Hey everyone,

"I am finally starting to feel like myself again, after many months of scary health issues, and thinking I was on my way out.

"Once again, thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes; I honestly feel that energy and I'm very grateful. It feels so good to know you are out there and your kindness and support brings tears to my eyes.

"How can I possibly thank Herman Li, Nayla, Colleen, Stephen, Amy, and all the musicians who got together and donated their time and guitars and put their hearts into their music, all for my benefit? Your loving words and gestures are humbling & I am honored. Thank you all. I am blessed beyond belief for each and every one of you.

"I am hoping to be able to check in on the computer and try to keep up with everything as much as my energy will allow me, and I hope to get back to music, in some form, as much as I can.

"I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. My family and I could not have gotten this far without you all."

Becker's story is one of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and, ultimately, triumph. A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the technical guitar duo CACOPHONY, with his great friend Marty Friedman. In 1989, at only 19 years old and after wowing audiences all over the world, the young virtuoso became the guitarist for David Lee Roth, following in the huge footsteps of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai. He wrote and recorded on Roth's third solo album, "A Little Ain't Enough", and was poised for superstardom when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as Motor Neurone Disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease, the same condition Stephen Hawking lived with for over five decades. It is a fatal condition with a life expectancy of maybe five years. Maybe.

That was more than 30 years ago. He lost the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own. But never lost his will to live or his desire to create music. Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords. He imparts his musical vision to his team who then can input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and then generate charts for session musicians. His inspiring music and life story have been the subject of countless news articles and magazine cover stories.

Becker's latest album, "Triumphant Hearts", was released in December 2018 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group. The disc features guest appearances by a who's who of six-string gods, including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert and Joe Bonamassa.

Beginning in March, some of the world's greatest guitarists came together to raise money and celebrate Jason's music via a virtual event hosted in part by DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li at twitch.tv/hermanli.




Hey everyone,

I am finally starting to feel like myself again, after many months of scary health issues, and thinking I was on my way out. Once again, thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes; I honestly feel that energy and I'm very grateful.

-1- pic.twitter.com/b2QTrCoxxU

— Jason Becker (@jasonelibecker) May 21, 2021

Celebrating one of the most iconic bands of all time, A&E has announced the new definitive documentary film telling the stories behind the phenomenon of KISS. Directed by D.J. Viola, "Biography: KISStory" chronicles the band's five decades in the business as founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons reflect on their historic career. The four-hour, two-night event airs Sunday, June 27 and Monday, June 28 from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. Check out a trailer below.

After 50 years of rocking and rolling all night and partying every day, the No. 1 gold-record-selling band of all time, KISS, shares their story of success before finally smashing their last guitar and extinguishing the fire-breathing demon. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, along with current members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer as well as guests Dave Grohl (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), manager Doc McGhee, music producer Bob Ezrin (ALICE COOPER, PINK FLOYD) and more tell the wild story of the most successful and influential band in the world.

Selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and over 40 years of record-breaking global tours, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band is giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their rise to fame. Featuring original recording sessions, home movies, behind-the-scenes stories and rare footage, the film grants fans an all-access pass to the band's legendary journey. Fans will hear a first-hand account of the emotional story behind the band's start in New York City's gritty rock scene of the 1970s, their meteoric rise to fame, almost losing it all to drugs and alcohol in the 1980s and how they ultimately fought their way back to the top of the charts in the 1990s to become a household name synonymous with rock and roll.

"Through the 'Biography' lens, we are able to give fans a backstage pass to a two-night event that honors the legacy of the rock icons behind KISS," said Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP and head of programming for A&E. "This documentary event is a special tribute to a one-of-a-kind band and the incredible Kiss Army fanbase that has idolized them for generations."

"Biography: KISStory" is a Leslie Greif production, produced for A&E Network by Critical Content and Big Dreams Entertainment with Leslie Greif and Jenny Daly serving as executive producers and D.J. Viola serving as director. Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson serve as executive producers for A&E Network. A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for "Biography: KISStory".

The celebrated "Biography" brand continues to highlight newsworthy personalities and events with compelling and surprising points-of-view and remains the defining source for true stories from some of the most accomplished non-fiction storytellers of our time. Extensive on-air and branded digital content, including short form, will roll-out on all platforms, including Biography.com, the home to hundreds of profiles of notable cultural figures and influencers.

Sullivan King, the one-half metal, one-half bass music artistic creation of Keaton Prescott, has officially unleashed his new video and single “Loud” featuring Jason Aalon of Fever 333. The newest single is high-energy paired with an explosively dynamic video, which can be seen below.

On the release of “Loud”, Keaton shares, “I am literally one of the biggest god damn Jason Aalon fans ever, to the point where I’ve crowd surfed on stage at Letlive. shows and traded picks with the guitar player which is easily one of my fave memories of when I used to be a psychopath at metalcore and punk shows n whatever ya know. So to have Jason on this song is beyond a humbling honor.”

“Loud” follows up March’s release “Venomous”, featuring Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills.

(Photo credit: Ashley Osborn)

 




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Since April 2020, VAN HALEN singer David Lee Roth has spent much of his time creating COVID-themed drawings — he calls them comics — and then sharing the finished works on his social media channels. Some of his latest work can be found below.

According to a New York Times profile from last summer, Roth picked up the pen and ink during his coronavirus lockdown, but he had long been interested in art.

"My approach is the best of both worlds: vintage and hyper-atomic digital," he said. "Sort of like watching 'Dragnet' on your iPad.

"You know, I moved to Japan for two-plus years to study Sumi-e and calligraphy, and four nights a week I trained and then I did homework. Jesus, I've spent thousands of hours learning to operate a horsehair brush with a block of ink that I grind myself. Hasn't changed its recipe in 700 years.

"So everything in the comics is hand-drawn — all the typeface, all the colors, the line work, the lighting," he explained. "And once I'm done, I work with Colin Smith, the Led Zeppelin of Adobe Photoshop. Together we scan everything, and then I'm able to move into areas that otherwise weren't graphically available without decades of effort."

This is not the first time Roth has shared some of his visual art with the public. Back in 2009, Roth released dozens of his own drawings and artwork, which he called at the time "authentic originals and incompetent imitations." He offered them up as "an official answer to the question 'what do you do in your spare time?'"

According to the Van Halen News Desk, the VAN HALEN frontman always been into art. Throughout his whole life, while touring the world, you could find him doodling on just about anything — setlists, tour riders, female body parts, etc. He was always a major part of the visual side of VAN HALEN, and always tried to make the stage show "look like the music sounds." He designed stage clothes, orchestrated photo shoots, came up with the stage choreography, etc. He also had a hand in designing VAN HALEN's early tourbooks and a few of their t-shirts.

In March 2020, Roth postponed the final six shows of his Las Vegas residency due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Roth performed as the opening act for the February/March 2020 North American leg of KISS's "End Of The Road" farewell tour.

VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen died of cancer in October at age 65.

Roth, who performed with VAN HALEN for the last time in 2015, tweeted shortly after Eddie's death: "What a long great trip it's been."




pic.twitter.com/2GMwzmsmh7

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) May 21, 2021








pic.twitter.com/cjb5A2KCS3

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) May 18, 2021








pic.twitter.com/HpPqDamdlL

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) May 14, 2021








pic.twitter.com/BLWtOLcOEE

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) May 12, 2021








pic.twitter.com/oYw7kCHK95

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) May 7, 2021








pic.twitter.com/puYovKfRv4

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) April 30, 2021








pic.twitter.com/SHZSSZKDle

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) April 28, 2021

Toronto rocker Danko Jones has checked in with the following update:

"We are pleased to announce that we're #1 in Germany! Our song, 'I Want Out',  is #1 on the German rock charts and #102 on mainstream charts. We have never had a number one song in Germany before and this is a BIG deal to us. Thank you to everyone in Germany who has dug the song. Our full-length album, Power Trio, comes out August 27th. I can’t wait until we can rock together."

 

 

 

 



Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Danko Jones (@danko_jones)

Heralded by the raucous lead single "I Want Out", Power Trio - the 10th studio album from Toronto rock juggernauts Danko Jones is set to arrive on August 27. The full-throttle album sees the band reunited with Canadian independent label Sonic Unyon Records, who issued the trio's first recordings and who will release the band's latest masterpiece in North America. Pre-orders are available here. Watch the video for "I Want Out" below.

Power Trio sees Danko Jones delivering each engine-revving riff, soul-shaking stomp, and shout-it-loud hook with a sniper’s precision. It's such a simple, self-evident title, but one loaded with significance, as it speaks to the special triangular alchemy Danko shares with his trusty bass-slinging accomplice JC and drummer Rich Knox. It also stakes out the band’s place on a storied lineage of three-piece titans Jimi Hendrix Experience, ZZ Top, Rush, Motörhead, Venom, Dinosaur Jr., and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, to name a few.

When you choose to start a power trio, you’re not simply forming a band, you’re entering a blood pact - a tacit acknowledgement that all three members need to carry their equal share of the weight lest the whole enterprise collapse. There’s nowhere to hide in a power trio - no second guitarist to cover your mistakes, no keyboard player to smooth things over, no horn section to distract the crowd. If you fuck up, the whole band fucks up. Everybody needs to be on their A-game at all times.

Power Trio follows the band's electrifying, world charting album, A Rock Supreme released in 2019. It also sees the band once again tapping into the production prowess of Eric Ratz, who previously amped up the bone-breaking boogie of 2017's full-throttle rocker Wild Cat and 2015's bloodlusty Fire Music.

Tracklist:

"I Want Out"
"Good Lookin'"
"Saturday"
"Ship Of Lies"
"Raise Some Hell"
"Blue Jean Denim Jumpsuit"
"Get To You"
"Dangerous Kiss"
"Let’s Rock Together"
"Flaunt It"
"Start The Show" (feat. Phil Campbell)

"Flaunt It" lyric video:




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SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor performed at the Vibes Event Center in San Antonio, Texas on Friday night (May 21) as part of his solo tour, "CMFTour 2021". Taylor and his band ran through anthems from his critically acclaimed solo debut "CMFT", choice cuts from his SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR catalogs, and various covers and surprises. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

Support on all "CMFTour 2021" dates comes from girl gang dance squad CHERRY BOMBS, led by Taylor's wife Alicia Taylor.

Taylor decided to launch this tour for a few significant and personal reasons. As always, he endeavors to deliver an unforgettable show for fans, but just as importantly, he recognizes the massive impact that the ongoing global pandemic has had on live music venues and touring crews alike. It upholds his staunch commitment to supporting live music and the industry surrounding it as illustrated last year through his popular eBay guitar auction, which raised $150,000 for COVID-19 relief, and his COVID-19 safe secret L.A. show benefiting Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — a 501(c)(3) non-profit healing musicians and music industry workers in need.

"It's the full shebang," Taylor told Rolling Stone about the tour. "The CHERRY BOMBS are gonna do their show, with fire and aerial and rock and all the good stuff, then me and the boys will get up and play for, like, two hours."

Regarding how the idea for the tour came about, Taylor said: "We'd been looking for opportunities to play here and there constantly, but it wasn't until a promoter friend of ours asked us how we would approach a tour with the kinds of safeguards we were interested in that we realized we could put a tour together. We'll be taking as many precautions as we can: the usual social distancing, pod seating (sectioned off area with an allotted number of people who came together allowed inside), temperature checks, waivers signed at the door, masks in place everywhere but your pod, etc. We're encouraging everyone to get vaccinated as well before the tour."

Taylor recently made history as he reached No. 1 at Active Rock Radio with his powerful single "Black Eyes Blue". The achievement put Taylor in a class all his own, making him the first artist in the history of the format to reach No. 1 with three separate projects, following chart-topping efforts from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR.

"CMFT" made impressive debuts on charts around the world in October, entering at No. 1 on Billboard's Current Hard Rock Albums chart, while claiming No. 2 on Current Rock Albums, No. 6 on Vinyl Albums, and No. 9 on the Top Albums charts. Furthermore, "CMFT" landed Top 10 on the official album charts in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with Top 20 debuts in the United Kingdom, Finland and Japan (international chart).

Featured in Rolling Stone's "Fall Album Preview 2020," "CMFT" has been garnering widespread critical applause, with Forbes affirming, "Corey Taylor's singing is undeniably the best it's ever been. From SLIPKNOT's last album to his new solo material, Taylor is easily among the best sounding rock singers alive." Kerrang! raved, "Corey Taylor certainly couldn't have predicted how important a sense of uninhibited joy would be on his debut solo effort, it's just what 2020 needs — and, even more importantly, exactly what he delivers." The Daily Beast attested, "'CMFT' finds the singer broadening his horizons and showing off his considerable versatility," while Stereogum noted, "Corey Taylor's lived several lives in the span that it takes most of us to push through just one, and it's clear that he cherishes every experience he's had so far." New York magazine added that "CMFT" "bridges his vast tastes and influences, dabbling in punk rock, metal, reflective acoustic tunes, plaintive piano ballads, and hip-hop, with Taylor's power-house vocals and introspective lyrics acting as a guide."

"CMFT" is highlighted by the singles "Culture Head", "HWY 666", "CMFT Must Be Stopped" (featuring Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie), and the Active Rock radio hit "Black Eyes Blue". Taylor also hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hard Rock Songwriters chart following the unprecedented debut of "Black Eyes Blue" and "CMFT Must Be Stopped", the latter of which has racked up more than four million YouTube views for its star-studded music video. Furthermore, Taylor debuted the pummeling "Culture Head" during WWE's NXT broadcast on the USA network, illuminating yet another facet of "CMFT" and showcasing the broad spectrum of this fiery and fearless rock 'n' roll opus, as Taylor touches on lifelong influences ranging from hard rock to classic rock, punk rock to hip-hop. 14-time world champion and EVP of global talent strategy and development at WWE, Triple H, also shared a WWE exclusive performance of Taylor and his band tearing through the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Ace Of Spades".

"CMFT" has been a long time coming for Taylor, with newly written tracks alongside some dating back to his teens. Recorded at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas with producer Jay Ruston and his band — Christian Martucci (guitar), Zach Throne (guitar), Jason Christopher (bass), and Dustin Schoenhofer (drums) — the album traces a wild and exhilarating roadmap through Taylor's musical psyche.

EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting has vowed to perform with his bandmates at this summer's Psycho Las Vegas festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will take place in late August, more than four months after Tom started treatment for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach.

Hunting's participation in the concert was announced on Friday (May 21) by his EXODUS bandmate Gary Holt. The guitarist took to his Instagram to share a poster for the event, and he wrote in an accompanying message: "YEEEERAAAAAHHHH BAAABY!!! Back on a fucking stage!!!! When asked about doing this show, Tom said 'if I'm walking I'm drumming!' So we said BOOK THAT MOTHERFUCKER!!! I may shed a tear or two in my many beers while on a metal vacation with [my wife Lisa]! See, we already booked rooms before being added! We were going ANYWAY!! So know, I get to go back to work for an hour then RAGE!!!!"

A GoFundMe campaign to help Hunting with medical expenses has already raised nearly more than $92,000 — including $5,000 from Tom's former EXODUS bandmate, current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett, and $1,500 from FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho.

The 56-year-old Hunting revealed the diagnosis in a statement released on April 13. He said at the time: "Today I will be starting treatment for a squamous cell carcinoma. It's a gastric tumor that was diagnosed in my upper stomach in February.

"I'm making this public to raise awareness for people to pay attention to symptoms of stomach and esophageal issues. If they persist, please go get it checked out.

"I'm not gonna be sheepish talking about it. I feel that if I can help someone with what I've learned, or someone out there has information to share with me, it's a win-win! When you can name the enemy, it's empowering, and you're 1 step closer to killing it!

"Ok, you've heard the bad news. The good news is he feels great physically! I'm gonna beat this like a fucking snare drum that owes me money!!! I've had great doctors and a great support system that is an army in itself. I'm ready for the fight!"

After Hunting went public with his diagnosis, Holt said that EXODUS will "delay" the release of its recently completed new album, "Persona Non Grata", "so that when Tom has defeated this, he will be back to full strength to hit the road and pummel his drums like only he can! When he has kicked cancer's ass like we know he will, we will resume kicking YOUR asses with the sickest record yet!" he said.

The squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach is a very uncommon entity, with worldwide incidence of 0.04% to 0.07% of all gastric cancers.

"Persona Non Grata" will be the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

"Persona Non Grata" was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and was mixed by Andy Sneap.
























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A post shared by Gary Holt (@garyholt_official)

Earlier today (Sunday, May 23), FAITH NO MORE bassist Bill Gould spoke with Darren Paltrowitz — host of the "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" — about the success of his Yebiga rakija brand, the motivation beyond launching rakija in the States, how spirit distribution and music distribution compare, future plans for FAITH NO MORE and his label, and more. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about FAITH NO MORE's comeback album, 2015's "Sol Invictus", Gould said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We were very ambitious on this one. We recorded the album in our rehearsal room without telling anybody. So there were some limitations with that, obviously; it wasn't a real studio. So to make it sound good took a lot of effort. And I was pretty exhausted by the end of it; I don't know if I'd do it that way again. But I'm very happy with what we did and how we did it. It was a really ambitious goal, and I think we made it work. I think if we do something in the future, it'll be different, like they all are; all the albums are different. But I'm cool with this one. If we put it out, I'm cool with it."

Gould also talked about FAITH NO MORE's upcoming shows with SYSTEM OF A DOWN and KORN at the Banc Of California Stadium in Los Angeles in October. The dates were initially scheduled to take place in May 2020, and were moved back to May 21 and 22, 2021. The dates were recently once more postponed due to COVID-19.

Asked if it's fulfilling to play stadiums and arenas more than four decades after FAITH NO MORE's inception, Gould said: "It's great. It's really great. And it's also great that we still are who we are; we didn't really change our own way of doing things. We've always been kind of the black sheep in the music world, and I've always been a little frustrated that we never seemed to get it over the net — this thing that we thought was so great. And now we're being accepted for who we are, and I think that is absolutely amazing. That's a great feeling."

FAITH NO MORE initially reunited for touring purposes in 2009, twelve years after issuing its previous studio set, "Album Of The Year", and followed that up with the aforementioned "Sol Invictus".

Earlier this month, FAITH NO MORE pushed its scheduled summer 2021 European shows back to the summer of 2022.

Chuck Mosley, who sang on FAITH NO MORE's first two albums, died in November 2017 "due to the disease of addiction," according to a statement from his family. He was 57.

ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna spoke to Syracuse, New York's classic rock radio station TK99 about the time he and his bandmates were asked to co-star on an episode of the groundbreaking TV sitcom "Married With Children", a show that happened to be a favorite of all the ANTHRAX members. The episode was titled "My Dinner With Anthrax", and the band spent a week with the Bundy family at the iconic Sunset-Gower Studios in the heart of Hollywood, learning their lines, rehearsing and shooting the episode — and getting into a little hot water with the show's producers when they took "Bud Bundy" (David Faustino) to see METALLICA.

You can watch video of Belladonna's interview with TK99 below.

This past February, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante said that the band's appearance on "Married With Children" was "one of the highlights" of his career. "On the last day we filmed the show, we actually did two," he said. "We thought the first one went great, the audience laughed a lot and we all hit our marks. The writers and producers came down and decided to change some of our linesThere was a different rhythm now, but the new lines were funnier."

A synopsis of the "My Dinner With Anthrax" episode, which originally aired March 1992, reads as follows: "It's Al and Peg's 20th anniversary, and Peggy wants only one thing from Al... Meanwhile Kelly and Bud win the 'My Dinner With Anthrax' contest, which means a house party with the thrash-metal band, but there will be no party unless they get rid of mom and dad first. The answer: tricking them into taking a Florida 'vacation' that turns out to be a time-share sales scam where the salesman won't leave them alone." Each member of ANTHRAX had a couple of lines to say in the show and the band performed "In My World".


























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Heavy metal coven, Burning Witches, have announced that they will stream a release show for their new album, The Witch Of The North, on Friday, May 28 at 8 PM, CET. The stream will be free of charge and accessible for fans all over the world. However, if you want to show the band your support, you will be given the opportunity to buy different kinds of 'support tickets'. So, mark the date in your calendars and prepare to get blown away once more by one of the most exciting new bands in heavy metal today.

Release Show Live Stream
Friday, May 28, 2021
8 PM, CET - 7 PM, GMT - 2 PM, US Eastern - 11 AM, US Pacific

You can access the stream here.

Burning Witches comment: "We want to give the release of our new album The Witch Of The North a special kick, by uniting all our fans worldwide for a free stream on this special day! Let’s make it a day to remember! Tune in on the 28th of May for this online concert, it will be a magical night on release day! Thanks for the great support - we hope to meet you all on tour very soon! Your favorite Witches!"

The Witch Of The North can be pre-ordered in various formats here.

Tracklisting:

"Winter's Wrath"
"The Witch Of the North"
"Tainted Ritual"
"We Stand As One"
"Flight Of The Valkyries"
"The Circle Of Five"
"Lady Of The Woods"
"Thrall"
"Omen"
"Nine Worlds"
"For Eternity"
"Dragon's Dream"
"Eternal Frost"

"The Witch Of The North" video:

"Flight Of The Valkyries" visualizer:

(Photo - Kevin Grab)




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