EVANESCENCE performed the song "Better Without You" on Monday's (May 10) episode of the daytime talk program "The Kelly Clarkson Show". You can now watch video of the band's appearance below.

Clarkson introduced EVANESCENCE by saying: "My next guests have been rocking it out for nearly two decades, earning two Grammys with their first album out of the gate. It's been 10 years since they've put out a new album, but they spent their time during the pandemic digging in creatively, and the result is a new LP that's certainly been worth the wait. Now performing 'Better Without You' from their new album, 'The Bitter Truth', give it up for EVANESCENCE."

EVANESCENCE and HALESTORM have announced a fall 2021 U.S. tour. Produced by Live Nation, the trek will kick off Friday, November 5 in Portland, Oregon, and take the bands to arenas across the country before wrapping up in the Northeast right before the holidays.

EVANESCENCE's next livestream event, "Driven to Perform Livestream Concert", will take place on May 13. Presented by Cooper Tires and hosted by Alice Cooper, the free concert stream will include several songs from "The Bitter Truth" performed live for the first time.

Fans can tune in at 8 p.m. CT on May 13 (2 a.m. on May 14 BST) via DrivenToPerformConcert.com or through EVANESCENCE's Facebook page.

Upon its release, "The Bitter Truth" charted at No. 4 in the U.K., making it the band's fourth Top Five album in the country. EVANESCENCE's first full-length release of all-new material in a decade, "The Bitter Truth" also debuted as the top-selling rock and alternative album in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music Connect.

Shortly after its arrival on March 26, "The Bitter Truth" rose to the top of the iTunes album charts in 22 countries. Recorded during the pandemic, it confronts the dark realities of the world head-on. Yet its resounding message is one of light, and that pushing through is better than giving up.

A kiss-off to the naysayers and the cheats in the rearview mirror, "Better Without You" explodes with the "metal catharsis" that runs through 'The Bitter Truth'" (Los Angeles Times). The official music video for the track was directed by filmmaker Eric D. Howell ("Ana's Playground", "Voice From The Stone"), who also directed the video for EVANESCENCE's "Use My Voice".

EVANESCENCE's new music was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who also worked on 2011's self-titled LP.

Former ACCEPT singer David Reece says that it's "very strange" to see the band carrying on with guitarist Wolf Hoffmann as the sole remaining member of the group's classic lineup.

Reece was recruited for ACCEPT's "Eat The Heat" LP in 1989 following the departure of Udo Dirkschneider. Reece's higher-pitched delivery was in sharp contrast to Dirkschneider's distinctive style, and overall, the album was a critical and commercial disappointment. Midway through the "Eat The Heat" tour, differences between the band and Reece had come to a head, leading to the altercation between the singer and bassist Peter Baltes in Chicago. By the end of 1989, ACCEPT had hung it up.

Asked by Argentinian journalist Lucas Gordon what he thinks of ACCEPT's current lineup, which no longer features Baltes, Reece said: "I respect the history of the band. It's kind of the Wolf Hoffmann show, in my opinion. A lot of great people have left. I respect that they continue. I'm not really a fan. I admire them. But it's not like I look at AC/DC. ACCEPT is ACCEPT, but it's really just Wolf now. Very strange. But they carry on.

"I wish everybody success," he continued. "I mean, I have no right to criticize anybody, 'cause people criticize me. It's a small world, and everyone knows everyone. And I hope it works for them. It seems to be going well. They've had [singer] Mark [Tornillo] for four or five albums now, I think, [and they've done] big tours. And they have a new album [that was recently released], so I wish them luck."

This past January, Hoffmann called "Eat The Heat" "a dark time in our history of ACCEPT. I would say that all of the '90s were very difficult and very dark in a way, and I don't even like to think about it so much," he told Hardrock Haven. "If only you journalist guys didn't constantly ask me about it, I would never even think about it. [Laughs] 'Cause it was just a time when heavy metal was going through a very dark period. The traditional sound was out of style and nobody wanted to listen to it, so it was sort of searching for a new direction — especially in the '90s. 'Eat The Heat' came out at the beginning of that era and it was meant to be a new chapter, but it's just never panned out because basically everything went wrong with that album. And it's just something you go through in life. I don't see why I still have to defend myself in a way… People always ask me this question almost in a provocative way, as if I have to defend myself about this album. It's ridiculous… It's almost like people have to apologize that they like it."

He continued: "There's something about this album that rubs a lot of people the wrong way and they have such a strong opinion about it… It's sometimes laughable. In my mind, it had some fantastic songs but it was just never executed properly, and it was not meant to be. But over the years, I've met so many fans who said exactly the same thing, 'Man, I really wanna apologize, but I really like this album… I know nobody likes it, but I think it's great.' And I think that's so bizarre. If you like it, you like it. It's so strange that people are so opinionated about it.

"It's just music," Wolf explained. "You can like it or not, but it's not more than that. In any case, it wasn't the period of time that I like to even think about much, 'cause it was very difficult."

In a new interview with Aftershocks TV, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares was asked why the band's former lead singer Burton C. Bell seemingly tried to "sabotage" Dino's efforts to complete the 2017 album they recorded together and finally get it released. Cazares responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That was something I didn't understand. If you're gonna quit, then okay, quit. Don't try to sabotage me continuing to move forward with the band. That was something I couldn't understand. I don't know why he was being a vindictive ex-girlfriend; he seemed to be very vindictive. And I was, like, 'Okay. Where is this hatred coming from?' 'Cause he hasn't spoken to me in three years, so I don't know — I really don't know. I can't get into his head and see what he was thinking. I can only go by what he said in the media and what he tried to do to me. I don't know. I don't know how to answer that question other than the fact that that was kind of fucked up what he did. It's almost like, 'If I can't have it, nobody can have it.'"

Last month, FEAR FACTORY released its first new song in over five years, "Disruptor". The track will appear on the band's upcoming album, "Aggression Continuum", due on June 18 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Aggression Continuum" features Cazares and Bell alongside drummer Mike Heller. It was produced and engineered by Damien Rainaud (DRAGONFORCE, ONCE HUMAN), with keyboards by Igor Khoroshev (ex-YES), and programming on two songs from longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY). "Aggression Continuum" was mixed by A-list rock and metal producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TRIVIUM), who also mixed FEAR FACTORY's previous album, 2015's "Genexus".

Last September, Bell issued a statement officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY, saying that he "cannot align" himself with someone whom he does not trust or respect.

Bell's exit from FEAR FACTORY came more than two weeks after Cazares launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him with the production costs associated with the release of FEAR FACTORY's long-awaited new LP.

Bell later told Kerrang! magazine that his split with FEAR FACTORY was a long time coming. "It's been on my mind for a while," he said. "These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just drained me. The egos. The greed. Not just from bandmembers, but from the attorneys involved. I just lost my love for it.

"With FEAR FACTORY, it's just constantly been, like, 'What?!' You can only take so much. I felt like 30 years was a good run. Those albums I've done with FEAR FACTORY will always be out there. I'll always be part of that. I just felt like it was time to move forward."

Pressed about whether there is any chance of a reconciliation with FEAR FACTORY down the line, Burton said: "I'm done. I haven't spoken to Dino in three years. I haven't spoken to Raymond [Herrera, drums] and Christian [Olde Wolbers, bass] in longer than that, and I have no intention to. I'm just moving forward with my life."

In October, Dino issued a statement in which he said that the door for Burton to come back to FEAR FACTORY wouldn't "stay open forever." The guitarist also revealed that Burton "lost his legal rights" to the FEAR FACTORY name "after a long court battle" with Herrera and Olde Wolbers. "I had the opportunity to do something right, and I felt that obtaining the name in full was the right thing to do for the both of us, so after nearly four years we can continue as FEAR FACTORY, to make more records and to tour," he said. "That is why it is sad to hear that he decided to quit and, in my opinion, for whatever issues he has it seems like it could've been worked out."

In explaining his reasons for starting a fundraising campaign, Cazares said that all donations would go toward covering newly incurred production costs involved with the making of the new FEAR FACTORY LP, including re-recording the drums, guitars, bass and keyboards, as well as production by Rainaud and Cazares, and mixing and mastering by Sneap. Burton's original lead vocals, which were recorded in full in 2017, remain on the new version of the album.

FEAR FACTORY's fundraising campaign marked the first public activity from the band since it completed a 2016 U.S. headlining tour on which it performed its classic second album, "Demanufacture", in its entirety.

Bell's ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS project released its second full-length album, "Apocrypha", last October via Dissonance Productions.

On May 6, SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian was joined by students from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to perform "Bari Aragil" at the Hope For Armenia virtual event hosted for Teach For Armenia.

The program in support of education in Armenia and Artsakh drew many attendees, including cameos by actress and singer Cher and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian.

Modeled after Teach For America, Teach For Armenia is a partner of the Teach For All global network, putting an emphasis on the importance of education so that children can continue to grow and thrive.

Serj previously performed "Bari Aragil" with his father Khatchadour Tankian more than a decade ago, and they even filmed a very special video for the track showcasing the two of them singing it together. It was featured twice on the Thanksgiving day Armenia Fund Telethon broadcast worldwide in 2009.

In November 2020, SYSTEM OF A DOWN made new music available for the first time since 2005 in order to rally for Armenia. They released "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz" and pledged royalties earned, including from purchases on Bandcamp, to the major non-profit Armenia Fund. Along with other donations from fans on their social pages, they have raised over $600,000.

Tankian was born to Armenian parents, with four grandparents who escaped from Armenia to Lebanon during the persecution of the Armenians.

German metal queen Doro Pesch has confirmed to Brazil's "Inside With Paulo Baron" that she was one of several people who received a bullet from late MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister as a personal gift. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Two weeks ago, I got a little box from America. It came to my mom's house. At the moment, I'm in Germany. I go back to the States in two weeks. But I was in Germany. And then my mom said, 'Hey, do you expect something?' And I said, 'No.' And then she said, 'Shall I open it up?' And I said, 'Yeah, open it up.' And she said, 'There's a letter in it. And there's a little box in it. It's jewelry or something.' And I said, 'Okay. I'll wait. I'll get it.' And it was the bullet of Lemmy with Lemmy's ashes in there. And I tell you, I almost dropped dead. It was, like, 'Wow.' And then I heard that somebody said Lemmy wrote a list and he wanted his closest friends or family to have his ashes. And I've got this bullet right here. I had no words for it. It's pretty moving and touching. But in the letter, it said, 'He liked you a lot' or 'he loved you a lot,' and I thought, 'Oh, man. That feels so good.' That makes you feel like… Now I'm motivated for the next hundred years to do good and to rock the fans. That gave me so much love and so much energy."

Doro's bullet is not the only one whose existence has been publicly revealed. Two months ago, former "Headbangers Ball" host Riki Rachtman said that he was also mailed a bullet, calling it "the greatest gift I've ever received in my life." He added that he was "getting it made into a necklace so I can keep it on me everywhere I go." Last year, tennis player Pat Cash shared a photo of another Lemmy bullet, saying it had been gifted to UGLY KID JOE singer Whitfield Crane.

"#Lemmy (RIP) from #Motörhead asked that his ashes be put in some bullet and given out to his closest friends, last night one was presented to my mate #whitefieldCrane whilst we were having dinner at 'Lemmys bar' in 'The Rainbow'," Cash wrote on Instagram in February 2020.

Lemmy died in December 2015 at the age of 70 shortly after learning he had been diagnosed with cancer.

He had dealt with several health issues over the last few years of his life, including heart trouble, forcing him to cut back on his famous smoking habits.

MOTÖRHEAD had to cancel a number of shows in 2015 because of Lemmy's poor health, although the band did manage to complete one final European tour a couple of weeks before his death.

Last June, it was announced that Lemmy will get the biopic treatment. The upcoming film, "Lemmy", will be directed by Greg Olliver, who previously helmed the 2010 documentary of the same name, "Lemmy".

"Lemmy" will go into production later this year, with VMI introducing the film at the Cannes virtual market. It will follow Kilmister's life growing up in Stoke-on-Trent, becoming a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and a member of seminal psychedelic rock band HAWKWIND before forming MOTÖRHEAD.

A custom-made urn containing Lemmy's ashes is on permanent display in a columbarium at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood, California.






Before his death #Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets & handed out to his closest friends Today I received a bullet & was literally brought to tears Thank you @myMotorhead pic.twitter.com/gnI9aWe4iU

— Rev. Riki Rachtman (@RikiRachtman) March 22, 2021








Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister’s ashes were placed into bullet casings and distributed to his closest friends. pic.twitter.com/vlsqYYCZWY

— Eric Alper ? (@ThatEricAlper) March 25, 2021

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke was recently interviewed by Markus Brandstetter of Hyperlocrian.com. You can now watch the chat in 13 parts below.

Asked what it was like joining GUNS N' ROSES three decades ago, Gilby said: "When I joined GUNS, of course I'd never played a stadium before, but I had played arenas — I had done tours doing arenas and clubs, House Of Blues-sized, all that stuff. When I joined GUNS and people say, 'How did you go from that…?' It happened so fast. From the day I went in to jam with them until when I went on stage was only two weeks. I didn't get the gig until a week in. I had one week to learn 50 songs; I had to learn the whole catalog, 'cause they don't have a setlist. So what I was thinking about was remembering the songs. I wasn't thinking about the rock star stuff. I wasn't thinking about, 'Oh my God. I've gotta stand on stage. Oh my God. This is GUNS N' ROSES,' and all that comes with it. All I was thinking about was remembering 50 songs. Every day, I sat there with a cassette player, with the headphones on, learning Izzy's [Stradlin] parts. I didn't wanna disappoint the guys. They had already done a couple of months of touring. I didn't wanna get on stage and be the one that was hitting bad notes. Because we were pretty loud; you could hear my guitar as well as you could hear Slash's guitar. I didn't wanna be the guy making mistakes. So it was really important to me to learn all those songs. That's all I cared about, was being able to play."

Regarding what it was like going on the "Use Your Illusion" tour at the height of GUNS N' ROSES' success, Gilby said: "To be honest, I didn't think about all that stuff. I wasn't thinking about the rock star stuff. I was building new relationships. I didn't know Slash well before the GUNS tour. I knew him a little bit, but I didn't know him well. We became friends during the tour. Matt [Sorum] I did know before. So I was building these relationships. And I wouldn't say that I had to fit in — I really didn't. They didn't put that pressure on me. They gave me so much freedom. They never told me what to play; they never told me what to wear; they never told me what to say. They accepted you for who you were. And of course, we all make mistakes. Sometimes because I was the new guy and most of them weren't doing interviews so much, you'd say something in the press, and Slash would go, 'Ah, man. Why'd you say that?' And I'd go, 'Well, you know… All right. Now I won't say it.' [Laughs] They like to keep their world their own — you know, close — which I caught that later on. That's what I was thinking about, was really the friendships of the band. And it's not even fitting in — I fit in already. We were all part of the same scene. It was really easy to fit in. But I didn't think about all that stuff. I really was just concentrating once again on playing the songs well. I wanted Slash and Axl [Rose] and Duff [McKagan] to be proud of what I was doing. I wanted it to go well. I wanted to do well for them, and I'm sure they wanted me to do well also."

Clarke replaced Stradlin in the GUNS lineup in 1991, during the "Use Your Illusion" tour, and stayed with the band for three years. After exiting GUNS N' ROSES, Clarke continued as a producer and solo artist, while also playing in SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA, HEART and other acts.

Clarke, along with Slash, McKagan, and former GN'R drummers Steven Adler and Sorum, performed three "Appetite For Destruction" songs with Myles Kennedy at the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in April 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. Kennedy, who handles lead vocals in Slash's solo band and ALTER BRIDGE, sang "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City", with "Use Your Illusion"-era member Sorum sitting behind the drum kit on "Brownstone" and the man he replaced in GN'R, Adler, pounding the skins for the other two songs.

Clarke's new solo album, "The Gospel Truth", was released in April via Golden Robot Records.

Finland's Steve'N'Seagulls and Samy Elbanna (Lost Society) performed the classic Mötley Crüe tune, "Kickstart My Heart", on Seagulls’ Nest Episode 3. You can watch the performance below.

A message states: "We had a blast with this one - make sure to check out our friends Samy & Lost Society!"




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One of the biggest names in Brazilian metal, Claustrofobia, recently released the single "Riff Cult" on all streaming platforms. The band have now released a bass playthrough video for the single, which can be seen below, along with the official music video.

The playthrough, recorded at the Swamp Loco Agency in Las Vegas, shows Caio D’Angelo installing the EMG pickups model 35 DC / 35 CS on the bass Jackson (set signed by Megadeth bassist's David Ellefson).

Yamada shows the composition of the bass for "Riff Cult", the second song that the musician composed with Claustrofobia and says: “Check it out, guys! It was in this song that I realized the importance of a more rhythmic bass, 'following' the drums more than the guitar itself, an experience that influenced me a lot in the compositions of the band's new album. It was recording this single as well that I realized the difference in using EMG pickups. The sound was much more defined and solid, with well balanced bass and medium basses, we arrived at the sound we used to record the next full album”.

"Riff Cult" was produced by renowned Brazilian producer Adair Daufembach who has worked with names like Megadeth, Angra, Kiko Loureiro, Aquiles Priester, Dirk Verbeuren and Tony MacAlpine. For Claustrofobia, the song is a tribute to the Riffs, a key component of metal. Vocalist Marcus D'Angelo emphasizes this aspect by stating “We consider a culture, a cult. It is the hook of all Metal, everything is born from the guitar riff. And Riff by Riff we are fueling our passion for Metal, fueling our desire to continue the legacy. The Riff is what addicts us in a good way. In this quarantine the love for Metal became more evident, without shows and without contact with the fans, so we decided to pay tribute and celebrate”.

"Riff Cult" video:

"Riff Cult" making of video:

(Photography: Courtney Ware)




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Derev is a progressive rock/metal band from Toronto, Canada, formed by the Italian/Armenian guitarist Armando Bablanian and the Syrian/Armenian drummer Michel Karakach. Derev’s sound combines the energy and intensity of metal music with the atmospheric sound of old-school progressive rock, while incorporating elements of their Arabic and Armenian heritage.

The plan for what eventually became Derev was in the works since Michel and Armando met in high school while living in Kuwait. At the time, they were unable to pursue the project due to circumstances of living in the Middle East.

After obtaining his dental degree during the war in Syria and seeking asylum in Canada, Michel joined Armando in Toronto to form the band after an eight-year hiatus, where they met the bassist Liam Horrigan who recently joined the project.

In anticipation of their debut EP, Leap Of Faith, Derev has already released two singles and an animated music video in early 2021. Leap Of Faith features Adel Saflou (Ambrotype) on vocals and will be released on May 21. The band will also be releasing a video for the track “Turab” on the same day. Pre-order the EP here.

Says Derev, “Leap Of Faith is our debut EP. It’s meant to introduce the band’s diverse style and unique sound, merging the heaviness of metal music with the atmospheric feel and rhythms of old school progressive rock, while experimenting with middle-eastern scales derived from the band’s origins. Even though the EP is not a concept album and each song aims to discuss a different topic, the common theme is about seeing things from a different, unconventional perspective and taking the risk of action to make a change, rather than accepting the status quo, thus the EP’s name.”

The main themes, melodies, and riffs came out of prolonged jam sessions between Armando and Michel. From there, they were slowly developed into full songs through numerous iterations of rehearsing, adjusting, and recording demos. Once the structure of a song was ready, they wrote lyrics and worked on the general vocal melodies and harmonies. The entire EP was recorded at home. Guitars and bass were recorded in the band’s home studio in Toronto. Adel Saflou (guest vocals) took their demos, added his own character and sound to it and recorded the vocals in his home studio in Amsterdam. Michel tracked the drums on his electric kit, and then fine-tuned it to preserve his performance, while keeping everything sounding organic. Once everything was tracked the band sent the songs to James Zhan who mixed and mastered the EP.

Tracklisting:

"Tunnel Vision"
"Turab"
"Futile"
"Delayed"
"Slipping Down Again"
"Ghost Of Guilt"

"Futile" video:

"Delayed" lyric video:

Derev:

Armando (guitarist/songwriter), an engineering graduate from the University of Toronto, has been an active musician for over 10 years. His most notable work is with the Canadian metal band “Till I Conquer” with whom he has released an EP and 3 singles.

Michel (drummer/songwriter) has been an active drummer for the past 10 years. He was constantly organizing and playing shows while obtaining his dental degree in Syria. Fortunately for him, he had the opportunity to immigrate to Canada and pursue his musical career with Armando to bring Derev to life.

Liam (bassist) who’s also an engineering graduate from the University of Toronto, started his musical career with Ottawa-based act “Open Season”. He has diversified across instruments, genres, and locations (including performances throughout southern Ontario and the release of an alternative rock solo EP as @t_ii_f), Liam is excited to be returning to his bass playing roots with Derev.




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According to Deadline, Chris Cornell's widow and his doctor have reached a confidential settlement in a lawsuit in which she accused the physician of over-prescribing drugs that eventually caused the singer to commit suicide.

"After years of litigation and settlement negotiations, plaintiffs and (Dr. Robert Koblin and Robertson Cardiovascular Center LLC) have reached a confidential settlement agreement to resolve all claims asserted by each plaintiff," the Cornell family's attorneys state in court papers filed April 2. "Unfortunately, as with many celebrity cases, this action has also attracted the attention of troubled individuals who have harassed plaintiffs, including by threatening the life and safety of plaintiffs Toni Cornell and Christopher Nicholas Cornell."

In Vicky's original lawsuit, she claimed Dr. Robert Koblin prescribed 940 doses of the anti-anxiety drug Lorazepam (a.k.a. Ativan) as well as Oxycodone during the last 20 months of his life, without even examining the SOUNDGARDEN frontman, performing lab studies or doing anything else to determine if Chris was in danger. The lawsuit alleged the doctor took no steps to protect Chris even though Koblin knew the musician was an "addiction-prone individual."

According to the lawsuit, Koblin never warned Chris about the dangers of suicide or other side effects of long-term Lorazepam use.

The "unmonitored use of such excessive amounts of Lorazepam ... was known to increase the risk of suicide because it can severely impair judgment, thinking and impulse control and diminish the ability of a patient to think and act rationally," the lawsuit said.

"At the time of his death, Mr. Cornell had everything to live for and was planning a future of recordings, performances and continued work as a charitable activist," the lawsuit added.

Vicky and her two children were suing for unspecified damages.

The plaintiffs' attorneys need court approval of the part of the settlement involving the Cornell children because those plaintiffs are minors. A hearing is scheduled July 26 before Judge Michael E. Whitaker.

In February 2019, Koblin responded to the lawsuit, saying Cornell was "well aware" of the risks with taking the anti-anxiety meds, and arguing he was covered by a malpractice law that protected doctors when a death occured as result of a patient's ongoing disease or condition. The doctor also claimed Cornell asked "not to be informed" of all the risks associated with taking anti-anxiety medication, and that he did everything in his professional capacity to help the singer.

Chris was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of May 18, 2017 after being found unresponsive in his Detroit hotel room after a SOUNDGARDEN show the previous evening. The 52-year-old had sedatives and an anxiety drug in his system, but died by hanging himself. According to the medical examiner, the drugs didn't contribute to the cause of de

GRETA VAN FLEET has released a performance video for the song "Tears Of Rain" as part of the Grammy-winning band's "Candlelight Sessions". The track is taken from the group's sophomore studio album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate", which came out on April 16 via Lava/Republic Records.

A bold evolution from the band's 2018 full-length debut "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army", "The Battle At Garden's Gate" came together primarily on the road or while in the studio after the runaway success of 2017's "Highway Tune" led to the band packing up, leaving home, and eagerly soaking up new experiences on an extended road trip around the world.

Over the past three years, GRETA VAN FLEET — vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist Sam Kiszka, and drummer Danny Wagner — played to hundreds of thousands of people across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South America and New Zealand. While driving to gigs, the first-time world travelers passed many unfamiliar sights, from the favelas in Sao Paulo to the Gold Coast of Australia and everywhere in between, meeting and enjoying conversations with fans and other musicians that opened up new worlds to them. To cap off the change-filled era, the quartet moved from Michigan to Nashville, immersing themselves in Music City's rich history. The melding of all these experiences opened their eyes to amazing new worlds of culture, history, philosophy and spirituality — and ushered in an entirely new way of looking at life and the approach to their music.

Accordingly, GRETA VAN FLEET poured everything they experienced into these new songs — the music reflects their spiritual and intellectual growth, increased awareness of the inequalities plaguing the modern world, and deep empathy for what other people are going through.

"We realized that while growing up, we had been shielded by many things, and we were unaware of a lot of things," says Wagner. "And then we were thrown out into this huge world, and it was a bit of a culture shock at first. But as we started to travel a lot, meet new and different people and experience different cultures, our definition of 'normal' changed."

"I suppose that everything has changed except what got us here in the first place," adds Sam Kiszka. "Everything — our perception of the world, perception of life itself, what it means to be an artist, what it means to be part of a beautiful, gorgeous society. We've gained a larger understanding of why we're all here."

In general, the album's arrangements are spacious and leisurely, giving the music pleasing dynamics, as the band touches on all manners of rock 'n' roll. "The Battle At Garden's Gate" is cinematic, capturing the breathtaking energy of an exciting fight scene or the smoldering passion of a brooding, heroic protagonist saving the day. The new music also illustrates that the members of GRETA VAN FLEET are paving the way for a new generation of musicians — ones that use rock 'n' roll's foundational elements to build an entirely new sonic blueprint.

Sonically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" also feels bracingly modern, an embodiment of genre-blended musical freedom. Recorded in Los Angeles with Greg Kurstin (FOO FIGHTERS, PAUL MCCARTNEY), the album is ambitious and expansive, marked by epic journeys such as the second single, "Age Of Machine", and the Top 5 rock hit "My Way, Soon", which boasts a towering chorus hook and rip-it-up-and-start-again lyrics.

Josh explains: "It's very dynamic, lyrically speaking. And that's the human experience. It's much more than pain or fear; it's also beauty. People need people, and love is important." Lyrically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" muses about the influence of technology on modern life; the role conflict plays in the global sphere; the deceptive fulfillment of tangible riches; and philosophical questions about life, love and power.

"There was a lot of self-evolution happening during the writing of this album that was prompted by experiences I had, experiences we all had, so a lot of contemplation occurred," Josh says, while Jake adds, "It's reflecting a lot of the world that we've seen, and I think that it's reflecting a lot of personal truth. What Josh does very well with the lyrics is telling ancient tales with a contemporary application."

For Josh, working with Kurstin provided the confidence he needed to push his songwriting into these vivid dimensions. "I'm always a little bit hesitant about my abilities as an artist; I think a lot of artists feel that way," he says. "But Greg hovering over me while I'm on the piano, taking an interest in what I was doing — that was really important for me."

That added confidence is obvious. Josh sounds commanding on each song, stretching his already-acrobatic voice to newer heights, while the instrumentalists fearlessly push themselves into new territory. Easy going organ and acoustic folk-rock riffs drive one song, while another ends in a torrent of guitar noise that rivals Neil Young's onstage guitar freakouts with CRAZY HORSE. "For all of us, the performances — and the aspects of them that are captured — preserve where we're at musically in time right now," Jake says.

The future is unwritten, and the sky's the limit for these curious travelers and truth-seekers. Josh says, "certainly after this, we've grown in so many ways. This album has taught us a lot, about life in general, about ourselves, about all of us, about the world we live in."

SATYRICON drummer Kjetil-Vidar "Frost" Haraldstad has confirmed to the "Heavy Demons" radio show in a new interview that the band's working on the follow-up to 2017's "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" LP. "There will be a new album in 2022," he said. "And we will continue to be unpredictable and creative and innovative, I hope. That flame has never died in us; it's still burning. We're moving ahead, and we're still evolving."

This past March, SATYRICON frontman Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven shared an Instagram photo of him in the studio with THORNS guitarist, keyboardist and programmer Snorre Ruch, and he included the following message: "Snorre Ruch and have been sparring musically for over twenty years with THORNS and @satyriconofficial This project is the new SATYRICON album that I'm working on which is close to a musical work in its approach. It is not a collection of songs and it does not have the instrumentation you are used to hearing. Black Metal has unlimited forms of expression as long as it has the feeling that is unique to real Black Metal. You'll like this and I look forward to sharing it with you in about one year from now."

"Deep Calleth Upon Deep" was released in September 2017 via Napalm Records. The disc was recorded in Oslo, Norway and Vancouver, Canada, during early 2017 and mixed together with revered studio guru Mike Fraser (who previously worked on SATYRICON's 2006 album, "Now, Diabolical").

Frost told "The Jasta Show" that "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" is an album that he and his bandmates had worked on "for a long time. It's all about getting the right expression for each and every song," he explained. "It has never been anything that we've discussed in the band, but at least I personally feel that every song has a life of its own, a very strong and unique identity. This album is really about giving life to those eight songs that constitute it. Like with every SATYRICON album, I guess it's very, very diverse, and this is more true than ever with the new one. In particular, when it comes to this identity bit, I feel the songs, even if they fit extremely well together in a compilation of songs, each and every one, it's very, very different from the others — almost like human beings are different from each other."

SATYRICON's first two albums, 1993's "Dark Medieval Times" and 1994's "The Shadowthrone", will be released as remixed and remastered reissues with altered cover artworks, on May 28 via Napalm Records.

BrewDog, leading global craft brewer and the world's only carbon negative beer brand, is teaming up with IRON MAIDEN, one of the world's most successful and revered rock bands, to launch Hellcat, an India Pale Lager, in fall 2021. Together, BrewDog and IRON MAIDEN are bringing their respective expertise to unite and excite craft beer lovers.

"We're thrilled to partner with a world-renowned rock band like IRON MAIDEN," said James Watt, CEO and co-founder of BrewDog. "IRON MAIDEN, like BrewDog, have maintained their spirit of independence throughout their stellar career. Hellcat is a hop-forward lager with a golden hazy appearance and crisp finish — an epic beer worthy of this massive collaboration."

BrewDog and IRON MAIDEN unite to launch Hellcat — a feisty 6% ABV India Pale Lager where hops and malts collide. Hellcat rages with a citrus-forward flavor with a no less aggressive malty backbone. The result is a hazy-gold IPL with an epically complex balance. As with all BrewDog beers, Hellcat is carbon negative and BrewDog removes double the CO2 it takes to make.

"I've been looking for the perfect partner with whom to bring a fresh, exciting beer to the U.S.," said Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of IRON MAIDEN. "I've long been an admirer of BrewDog, not just because of their beers, but also of their attitude and style. When I met the BrewDog team, we discovered the respect is mutual, and that we could make an undeniably unique beer together."

Brewed and exclusively available in the USA, Hellcat joins the global Trooper family of beers crafted by MAIDEN vocalist and beer aficionado Bruce Dickinson and the family-owned Robinsons Brewery. IRON MAIDEN's Trooper beer was launched in 2013, has sold over 25 million pints worldwide, and has been exported to over 60 countries. The Trooper family of premium beers has evolved and expanded to include stouts, lagers, IPAs and more.

Hellcat will be available for purchase online at BrewDog.com/usa, and at select distributors and retailers across the country, starting fall 2021.

Since 2007, BrewDog has been on a mission to make other people as passionate about great craft beer as it is. With more than 102 bars across the globe and export into 60 countries, BrewDog continues to revolutionize the craft beer industry by pushing the boundaries, investing in people, putting great beer first, and championing sustainability through action.

HELLYEAH and MUDVAYNE frontman Chad Gray discussed his views on religion and spirituality during a recent appearance on the "Making Waves, The ShipRocked Podcast". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I am spiritual, and I believe in something bigger than me, and I believe in something bigger than us, but I am not religious at all. I can't get behind religion — the judgmental aspects of it. And I hope people don't hate me now because I'm saying this. 'Cause I have a relationship, but I have a relationship with what I wanna have a relationship with, not what somebody's telling me that I have to have a relationship with. You shoud be able to, on some level, build it on your terms."

He continued: "The Ten Commandments, those are pretty important. You don't have to be religious to not wanna kill people, or not lie, so I kind of live my life by that — by the Commandments. It's just, like, do the right thing. You don't even really need those written out to know not to wanna do that. So I do have a level of spirituality inside of me. And I have a connection with something. I'm very grateful, in my life, for… As turbulent as my life has been at times, something's always carried me through it. But I think that's just a belief in something larger."

Last month, MUDVAYNE announced that it was reuniting after a 12-year hiatus, and will be performing at all four Danny Wimmer Presents U.S. festivals in 2021: Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival (a headlining performance) in Ohio, Louder Than Life in Kentucky, Aftershock in California and Welcome To Rockville in Florida. These dates mark the band's first shows since 2009 and their only dates this year.

MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms. MUDVAYNE is Gray, Greg Tribbett (guitar, backing vocals), Matthew McDonough (drums, synthesizer) and Ryan Martinie (bass).

In March, Gray released a solo single, a cover of "Always On My Mind" — a song made famous by Willie Nelson. The track was originally recorded for his fall 2020 wedding to SiriusXM on-air personality Shannon Gunz.

Nuclear War Now! Productions announces September 15 as the international release date for a reissue of Sarcofagus' cult second album, Envoy Of Death, on vinyl LP format.

Although Britain is rightfully credited for the historic effect that its heavy metal scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s had on the genre as a whole, the significance of a scene that was developing at the same time to its northeast should not be overlooked. In Sweden, for example, bands like Heavy Load, Gotham City, and Mercy were beginning to establish themselves. Similarly, in Sweden's neighbor to the east, a group named Sarcofagus emerged as Finland's first heavy metal band under the primary direction of Kimmo Kuusniemi.  

Sarcofagus first released the "Go to Hell / All Those Lies'' single in 1979, and then quickly released its first two albums in 1980, the very same year in which Iron Maiden released its self-titled debut. The first of these recordings, Cycle Of Life, provided evidence of a talented group that was on the brink of fully defining itself. While it is a worthy accomplishment in its own right, Cycle Of Life was to be overshadowed by its imminent successor, Envoy Of Death.

Over the span of its first three recordings, Sarcofagus underwent a few lineup changes, which culminated in the quintet of Kuusniemi (guitars), Juha Kiminki (bass), Ari-Pekka Roitto (drums), Esa Kotilainen (keyboards), and Hannu Leidén (vocals) on the second album. Following the "Go to Hell / All Those Lies'' single, the addition of Kotilainen, one of the most accomplished keyboardists in all of Finland, proved to be of essential significance to the band's climactic sound, which had fully developed by the time the second album was recorded.  

Although it is heavy metal at its core, Envoy Of Death also exudes elements of heavy psych, which are often expressed in the atmospheres created by the keyboard passages and the twisted, effect-laden guitar leads. While this sound is easily observed by even the most casual listener, what is perhaps more elusive is the thematic concept that frames the album and gives purpose to each song. Envoy Of Death narrates the story of six lives that have followed their own unique paths to their ultimate conclusions and now face final judgment. The opening/title track introduces the listener to the trial, and each of the six ensuing tracks recounts the life and death of one of the "defendants," whose fate is soon to be determined.  

As a longtime fan of Sarcofagus, and Envoy Of Death in particular, Nuclear War Now! is honoured to reissue this masterpiece of pioneering Finnish heavy metal, which shall serve to remind us of our own black contracts, whose fulfillment awaits us at our pending demise.

Cover and tracklisting, as well as a full album stream, can be found below.

Envoy Of Death tracklisting:

"Envoy Of Death"
"Deadly Game"
"Wheels Of Destruction"
"Insane Rebels"
"Die To Win"
"Stolen Salvation"
"Black Contract"

Envoy of Death by Sarcofagus




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In just over one year, Joe Bonamassa and the Keeping The Blues Alive foundation have exceeded expectations for their fundraising goals by bringing in $500,000 to benefit their Fueling Musicians program. The initiative provides immediate $1,500 cash payments to musicians to help them get back on the road after being sidelined for over a year following the COVID-19 touring halt.

The Keeping The Blues Alive second annual Stream-A-Thon, hosted by Bonamassa, was a spectacular display of musicianship and featured more than three and a half hours of music performances from over 35 talented musicians including some of Joe's legendary friends and rising stars. Fans in more than 42 countries tuned in to watch the line up which included TOTO, Dion, Ana Popovic, Warren Haynes, Bobby Rush, Joanna Connor, Jared James Nichols, Emily Wolfe and many more.

"I am so proud of this event. Our wonderful team did a magnificent job on our second KTBA Stream-A-Thon. We raised over $45,000 in an afternoon, all of which will be given to artists in desperate need of relief," commented Joe. "I want to thank everyone who participated, contributed, and donated their time to make this happen. Reaching as many musicians as possible has been our goal from the beginning and I am pleased to see that we will be able to help hundreds of musicians get the music started again. The more donations we receive, the more help we can provide."

In addition to Joe's philanthropic endeavors, Bonamassa recently performed a critically acclaimed blues rock trio concert from "music's best address," ACL Live, on April 1 to a socially distanced crowd and a global audience via livestream. This incredible performance is only available on-demand through the end of the week (May 2). Each ticket includes a donation to KTBA's Fueling Musicians program.

Keeping the Blues Alive Records released a very special collaboration digital album created by the legendary Jimmy Vivino (music director, "Conan"), to help Joe raise money for musicians in need. THE BLUE QUARANTINOS is made up of Jimmy on guitar/vocals together with Jesse Williams on bass and Rob Paparozzi on harp. The aptly named album "Phoning It In" was recorded quarantine-style via Zoom, Skype and studio tracking. 20 special guests, including Dion, Bonamassa, NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALL STARS, Shemekia Copeland and many more, donated their talents on 12 amazing tracks. 100% of the proceeds will go to KTBA's Fueling Musicians program.

Individuals or organizations interested in helping Joe support this program should go to the Keeping The Blues Alive web site, ktba.org

KISS frontman Paul Stanley recently spoke to SiriusXM's "Jim & Sam Video Interviews" about how his stage performances have damaged his body. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Both my rotator cuffs have been repaired. I popped my bicep tendon about a year and a half ago and that had to be surgically repaired. I've torn the cartilage in both my knees, and that's been taken care of. I've had a hip replacement. But modern medicine and science, God bless it. I'm good for another 50 thousand miles. And whether genetics play a part in it too — my dad [just turned] 101 [in early April]. And I don't mean he's some guy who doesn't know where he is or who he is. He could have this same conversation with you. God bless him. I hope those genes don't skip a generation."

The 69-year-old guitarist/vocalist confirmed that KISS-related activities are to blame for his physical injuries over the years.

"Most of my doctor friends, my orthopedic surgeons say, 'There's no 60-year-old, there's no 50-year-old basketball players, football players, and you're up there on stage running around with 40 pounds of gear, running back and forth and jumping up in the air, and your body will betray you at some point,'" he explained.

In a 2013 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Stanley said that performing live with KISS was "like doing a triathlon with a guitar around my neck. You have to jump, sing, swing your arm and play the right chord. With that combination, anything can go wrong. I used to jump up in the air and land on my knees. It didn't hurt then, but it does now."

Stanley reiterated those sentiments in a 2014 interview with The New York Times. He said: "Things that didn't hurt me 40 years ago hurt me today. From 40 years ago. I've had both my rotator cups repaired, my knees. I've had a hip replacement. But I'm doing splits and everything on stage. I'm blessed. Every time I go out on stage, it is exhilarating."

Stanley, who had his first hip replacement at age 52, told U.K.'s Independent that he had no regrets about the nightly strutting in his eight-inch heels. "Every scar on my body was proudly earned," he said. "There's nothing worse than looking back and wishing you had done things, but I did 'em all. That's how life is supposed to be lived."

Stanley, who grew up half-deaf and scarred with a deformed right ear, eventually had reconstructive surgery in 1982 to create an ear using a piece of his rib c

During a new appearance on The VR Sessions' "Riff On It", GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's new studio album. He said (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We just started writing again — like, literally a month ago; not even. I bought a property down in Florida recently, because I just wanted to get away from all this nonsense that is going around the country. I don't wanna go down that whole conversation right now, but I've learned a lot from this whole political nonsense and crap that's happened with COVID about just people and the way everyone's behaved during it. And I just wanted to kind of check out for a little bit and go focus on myself, my life, my family and my band, who is doing great, by the way. So I bought a place in Florida, and I actually moved the studio that we had up here in the New England area down to Fort Myers area. And that's where we've been working. It's been going good. We have probably — I don't know — 12 songs written in the last three weeks. And, obviously, as everyone knows, a song isn't a song until the lyrics and melodies are done. So I just started diving into that. And I came home to take a little break from the band so I could literally catch up and start writing some melodies to some of these instrumentals that we have."

Sully continued: "We never, even last March when COVID started really becoming a thing and they were starting to shut down the country, I knew right away… There was bands that were, like, 'Oh, we're gonna push our tour back until the fall,' or, 'We're gonna go next spring.' And I don't know why I knew this, but I just knew this thing was gonna make a mess. So we immediately were, like, 'Okay, we're shut down and we're gonna not even think about 2020.' And 2021 is even shady and maybe a possibility by fall, but I still think that it's not gonna be quite ready yet. So we decided to just focus on this year being in one place, working on music with no agenda, with no timeline, with no even plan on what kind of music we're gonna write. It could be piano and acoustic ballads, it could be vintage road rock, it could be a big, fat, heavy rock song. We just said, 'Let's just go play and be happy playing together. And we'll just jam. And whatever happens happens. We'll throw it in different folders and we'll sort it out later.' And that's just gonna be our agenda for the rest of the year. We plan on trying to get a record finished by the end of the year, maybe two [records]. We might do like a specialty album and a big full-length rock record and then release it sometime in the first quarter of '22."

This past March, Erna told "The Mistress Carrie Podcast" that GODSMACK was planning to make "a full-length rock record" as well as "a really cool vibey acoustic album or EP." He also left the door open to once again collaborating with outside songwriters, just as was the case on 2018's "When Legends Rise".

"[On] the last record, I really enjoyed the process of not only writing by myself or writing with my band, but then I ventured out too, and I worked with some other writers who are just really great songwriters, like [John] Feldmann, who writes for BLINK-182 and 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER and a really weird list of bands that no one would ever make the connection of GODSMACK and those kind of artists," he said. "Great artists, but just a different style of music. Or Erik Ron. Or even Clint Lowery from SEVENDUST; I did some writing with him. And I enjoyed the process a lot, and out of that process, I got some great songs. And so, yeah, it does inspire me, and it makes me think outside the box."

Last September, GODSMACK's "Bulletproof" single was certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for accumulating one million certified units. According to the RIAA, one equivalent song unit is equal to a single digital song sale, or 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams.

"Bulletproof" was released February 28, 2018 as the first single from "When Legends Rise"; the track was previously certified gold in the U.S. and was also the most-played song at rock radio in 2018.

Originally released April 27, 2018 via BMG (the band's debut on the label), "When Legends Rise" marked GODSMACK's first album in four years. The album earned career milestones for the group: four No. 1 rock tracks (an accomplishment that makes GODSMACK one of only four rock acts to achieve this), and a record 11th No. 1 singles in the band's career with the album's fourth single "Unforgettable".

"Unforgettable" followed three previous No. 1 singles from "When Legends Rise": "Under Your Scars" and "When Legends Rise" plus "Bulletproof". "When Legends Rise" entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart in the top ten (No. 8), with four No. 1 placements on other charts: Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Music Albums, Top Independent Albums and Top Alternative Albums.

Last June, GODSMACK's music publishing catalog and master royalty stream was acquired by Primary Wave Music Publishing. The deal includes the Grammy nominee's publishing and master income stream for its compositions and masters across its entire career to date. Titles include their debut album "Godsmack", "When Legends Rise", "Awake" and "1000hp", as well as their Billboard No. 1 albums "The Oracle", "IV" and "Faceless", which features the Grammy-nominated single "I Stand Alone". Erna, who formed GODSMACK in 1995, wrote the single, which shot to No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart upon release. It went on to sell over a half million copies, helping "Faceless" to quickly go platinum. Also included in the deal are EPs and compilations, including "The Other Side" and "Good Times, Bad Times".

According to TMZ, former PUDDLE OF MUDD guitarist Paul Phillips has filed a lawsuit against Florida's Baptist Medical Center Of The Beaches and two doctors, claiming their treatments left him with a brain injury and serious seizure condition that might affect his ability to play music.

Phillips, who played in PUDDLE OF MUDD from 2001 to 2005 and 2009 to 2011, was admitted to the hospital back in November 2019 after complaining about an altered mental status and possible seizure. He initially suffered from low sodium levels, but doctors gradually brought the levels back to normal before he was discharged from the hospital. Three days later, he suffered a seizure and was rushed back to the hospital. An MRI scan showed brain damage, which he now claims was caused by the treatment he received at the hospital.

As a child, Phillips first started to learn the guitar when he was just 11 years old. He was influenced by his father, who used to play in a cover band during Phillips's childhood. As he got older, his first real gig came with a Jacksonville-based band called HAPPY HOUR. After his friend Fred Durst invited him to audition, Phillips became a member of PUDDLE OF MUDD in 1999, and stayed there until 2005.

The band's first major hit came in 2001, with the release of the album "Come Clean", which was certified triple platinum and sold more than five million copies. On that record, the most popular single was "Blurry", which climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Phillips departed several years later, in 2005, and joined the band OPERATOR for a short stint, only to return to PUDDLE from 2009 to 2011.

Since his 2011 departure, Phillips has stayed busy, writing and playing music for "Nitro Circus: The Movie", as well as acting in the horror film "The Guy Knows Everything", and joining REV THEORY for a short time. He has also appeared in several shows for "Burn Season". Currently, he is involved in a project called THE FALLOUT COLLECTIVE. Phillips has also worked on several fitness and clothing shoots.

Photo courtesy of Paul Phillips's Facebook page

In a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Glenn Danzig was asked if the MISFITS reunion is "done." He responded: "I don't know. I mean, right now, something like a MISFITS show would have to be in a bigger place. And I don't know that those places are open yet. So we'll see. I mean, the door is open. If we do it, I would like to play some places we haven't played yet, Texas or Florida or places like that. We haven't done any shows in those states, and those states are fully open."

Glenn also seemed to dismiss the idea of releasing new music from any of his projects, explaining: "With people thinking they can download your record for free and all of that stuff, it gets to the point where you're just, like, 'Why am I going to do a new record? People are just going to steal it. It's going to cost me money to make it. Am I going to make any money back?' I love doing music, but if I spend a ton of money doing a record and it just gets downloaded for free and people steal it, what's the point?"

He continued: "I mean, we'll see. Maybe I'll just go in and do a song or two and give it away for free or something, I don't know. It doesn't cost too much, but for the most part, I think all these people who just decided that, you know, 'Fuck the bands, I'm going to get this for free,' well, your bands are probably not going to put out new music."

The initial comeback performance by MISFITS members Danzig, Jerry Only and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein took place at the 2016 Riot Fest. The estranged bandmates played together for the first time since 1983 and were backed by former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo and guitarist Acey Slade.

Since then, the original lineup of the MISFITS has reunited for scattered dates, with the most recent one taking place in December 2019 at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Prior to the Riot Fest concerts, Glenn, Jerry and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein last performed together on October 29, 1983.

The original MISFITS band broke up in 1983, and Only brought forth a new version of the MISFITS in 1995. Various members have come and gone, but Only, along with BLACK FLAG's Dez Cadena, has kept some form of the MISFITS in the recording studio and on the road for most of the last two and half deca

Ted Nugent has opened up about the darkest days of his battle with COVID-19, saying that he had "never been so scared" in his entire life.

A week after after publicly revealing that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the outspoken conservative rocker discussed his experience during an episode of his "Ted Nugent's Spirit Campfire" Internet show.

The 72-year-old pro-gun activist, who had previously the virus was "not a real pandemic," told his co-host John Brenkus (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I never am a sympathy guy. I'm a tough guy. I'd rather err on the side of 'tough guy.' Five [or] six days ago, it was really scary. I didn't think I was gonna make it. I literally couldn't function for about 20 hours, and then they came and they rescued me… I've never been so scared in all my life.

"I've had the flu three or four times in my life," he continued. "I'm in bed and I'm giving birth to swampage — I mean, I go through six boxes of Kleenex an hour. Okay, that's the flu, and you've got a headache and you've got body aches. Maybe you've got some diarrhea, and just overall pain.

"I don't struggle to express myself. The six-foot-two, 225-pound headache [this time] was like nothing I have ever experienced. I mean, from my tip of my toes to the top of my hair, I literally was dizzy and weak and struggled to get up to go to the bathroom. And I would lay in the bathtub a couple of times a day with the water as hot as I could take it just to divert."

Despite his COVID-19 diagnosis, Nugent reiterated his previous stance that he wouldn't be getting the vaccine and he mocked people who wear face masks, despite that both the CDC and World Health Organization have urged their universal use.

"Everybody out there, stand your ground," Ted said. "Do not compromise. Make a choice. Your body, your choice. I don't believe the masks work. I think that's a scam. I wouldn't trust the vaccine; nobody can tell you what's in it. If you wanna take the vaccine, take the vaccine. But you should know the facts that people who have taken the vaccine have been tested positive after taking the vaccine. People that wear masks and social distance have been tested after wearing masks and social distancing, and they've been tested positive. So make your own choice."

Last week, Ted said that he was being treated for COVID-19 by a group of doctors who made a video last July calling for the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to battle the novel coronavirus, despite warnings from public health experts. Nugent also detailed his clinical management of COVID-19, saying he has been taking hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug used to treat several neglected tropical diseases in humans and also used in veterinary medicine.

In the past, Nugent, a staunch Trump supporter, had referred to the virus 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.

In a recent interview with Aftershocks TV, QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre was asked if he and his bandmates have considered staging a livestream concert during the coronavirus pandemic. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've talked about doing a streaming thing. Right now, it's… Especially even a few months ago, even leading up to now, I wasn't comfortable getting on an airplane at that point, when all this was kind of happening. And so just trying to limit the risk of exposure, other members in the band are a little apprehensive to be in a gathering, and then maybe there's a production crew. It's something that we've obviously talked about, but it's a matter of getting together and rehearsing out a special type of a set. Instead of just playing a normal set, you wanna do something unique and special that maybe is something that people will never see again, and get 'em to tune in. And, again, that requires days and days of rehearsal."

He continued: "I think just because of the pandemic, even though a lot of bands are [doing it and] it appears to be quite lucrative, from a safety perspective, we've still just been a little apprehensive for that reason… It's a tough dilemma, because on the one hand, you wanna do everything you can do be as safe as you can. On the other hand, you are human, and you can't live in a bubble forever. How do you balance those two things with some semblance of sanity and still be cautious? I don't know. So, it's weird."

Last month, QUEENSRŸCHE regrouped for the first time in a over a year at wrestling icon Hulk Hogan's former estate in Belleair, Florida to work on demos for its upcoming follow-up to 2019's "The Verdict" album.

Guitarist Michael Wilton told Canada's The Metal Voice about the musical direction of the new QUEENSRŸCHE material: "It is what it is. I can't describe it. I have a hard time telling people what my guitar style is. I have no idea what I do technically or whatever. This is — I think it's just organically happening. We've got a lot of ideas. So now we're just building it. And that's kind of the joy of doing this as a band, is we get to see it happen in real time and see the songs build from the riff to the finished song. And we're in that process right now. So it's kind of hard to say where we're going or what we're doing. Our producer, Zeuss [Chris Harris], if this is any indication, he says it sounds like QUEENSRŸCHE … I think we're just going with our gut right now. You don't wanna take too many drastic chances in this day and age. So I think it's more of a continuation of 'The Verdict', maybe, in some sense. We're riding that wave. It's been good to us. [Laughs]"

QUEENSRŸCHE's next disc will apparently mark the recording debut with the band of Casey Grillo, who replaced original drummer Scott Rockenfield in 2017.

This past January, Rockenfield shot down suggestions that he quit QUEENSRŸCHE or retired from playing music. The drummer, who hasn't performed with QUEENSRŸCHE in more than four years, took to his Facebook page to say that fans "have not been given the facts by any means" and implied that he would offer more details at a later date.

Scott's comments marked the first time he has publicly addressed his status with QUEENSRŸCHE.

The drum tracks on "The Verdict", were laid down by QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre.

Former FORBIDDEN guitarist Craig Locicero has joined the San Francisco Bay Area skate punk/thrash/crossover band THE BONELESS ONES. The group, which also features MACHINE HEAD drummer Chris Kontos, recently reunited after a 35-year beak and is working on a new studio album, to be released via Beer City Records.

THE BONELESS ONES formed in 1984, inspired by Thrasher magazine's skate rock tapes and driven by many skate-related bands of the time. After two years of playing countless shows across California, THE BONELESS ONES recorded and released its debut album, "Skate For The Devil", It was quickly eaten up by not only skateboarders, punks and metalheads, but it also gained mainstream attention from reviews and interviews in Playboy, Creem and, of course, Thrasher, which backed these guys from the start.

The members of THE BONELESS ONES went their separate ways in the summer of 1987. But after a three-and-a-half-decade break, they are back. And, with Craig's help, are ready to carve a new spot in crossover history.

Commented Locicero: "I was one of the lucky kids who witnessed THE BONELESS ONES play their legendary show on the UC Berkeley campus. That gig stuck with me to this day. Luke was a ripping guitarist and the entire band was on fire! It's an honor to play his parts and add to their legacy. Max, Troy and Chris are all legends in the punk/skate rock scene. THE BONELESS ONES were legit! All of the newer and older material is jumping off with energy and sounds electric! It's also a side bonus for me to play heavy, punk and trashy tunes with Kontos. We really never had a chance to do that until now. It's so much fun to be a part of their relaunch. I'm more than happy to be a part of the fun. Because make no mistake about it, THE BONELESS ONES are all about fun."

Added Kontos: "I'm so excited to finally be playing some kick-ass metal/punk/crossover music with Craig Locicero. Over the years, Craig and I have made some incredibly cool music in SPIRALARMS, but this is a completely different animal with THE BONELESS ONES. The energy and vibes are perfect. Craig brings that old-school Bay Area style back to the band, and Max, Troy and myself could not be more enthusiastic about having him with us. The new BONELESS ONES record is going to be amazing!"

THE BONELESS ONES recently went out to Mojo Garage in Redwood City with Joe Miller to capture six live songs for fans to enjoy. The first track, which can be heard below, is a brand-new tune called "Heavy Is The Face", which was brought in by Craig at the band's very first rehearsal with him. The entire six-song set will be broadcasted on the event called "May The Fourth Be With You" on May 4. The set includes some THE BONELESS ONES' classics as well as two more brand new tracks called "Cops And Robbers" and "Tied To A Stake".

KK'S PRIEST, the new band featuring former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals), along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE), will release its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", on August 20 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. Original KK'S PRIEST drummer Les Binks (ex-JUDAS PRIEST), unfortunately, sustained a wrist injury, but will make special guest live appearances when the band tours.

Today fans are able to pre-order the LP in various configurations, including an exclusive limited-edition autographed metal vinyl (silver disc) with bonus CD album, via the band's online store. The album can be pre-saved via all global digital streaming partners as well.

The powerful first single from, "Sermons Of The Sinner", titled "Hellfire Thunderbolt", is also available today and features a stunning new performance video. Of the song, Downing explains: "We are delighted to finally be able to release our first track to the world. It gives a real flavour of the sound and showcases the amazing players I've got in this band. We can't wait for the fans to hear the record."

"Sermons Of The Sinner" track listing:

01. Incarnation

02. Hellfire Thunderbolt

03. Sermons Of The Sinner

04. Sacerdote Y Diablo

05. Raise Your Fists

06. Brothers Of The Road

07. Metal Through And Through

08. Wild And Free

09. Hail For The Priest

10. Return Of The Sentinel

KK'S PRIEST, which pays homage to Downing's past, will play select shows to mark the 50th anniversary of PRIEST and Downing's career as a founding member. KK'S PRIEST's setlist will consist of PRIEST classics and new songs.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's upcoming 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Downing, Owens and Binks performed a full-length set of PRIEST classics with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson in November 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Joining them on second guitar was Mills of HOSTILE, the British metal band whose two albums, "Eve Of Destruction" and "The New World Disorder", were both produced by Downing.

Binks played drums on PRIEST's "Stained Class", "Hell Bent For Leather" (released as "Killing Machine" in the United Kingdom) and "Unleashed In The East" albums.

Southern California veteran musician Rob Farr, best known as the bass player for WARRIOR, has passed away at the age of 58. Farr died peacefully in his sleep and was found dead on Sunday, May 9 after last playing a gig with his cover band RADIO 80'S two nights earlier at The Kraken in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California on Friday, May 7.

Farr's longtime bandmate, drummer Dave DuCey (RHINO BUCKET, WARRIOR), posted the following message on his Facebook page: "I'm in shock. My friend Rob Farr passed away yesterday. We played in a band together for 8 years (NATIONAL DUST) and it's hard to believe that it's true. We played in Sturgis together in '06 and '07 and countless other gigs. We played together at the Bang Your Head Festival in 2009 in Germany, and Rocklahoma the same year with WARRIOR. We played together at the Keep It True Festival again in Germany with WARRIOR in 2014. I recorded 2 albums with him in NATIONAL DUST ('The Road Is My Home' and 'National Dust III') and an album with WARRIOR ('The Wars Of Gods And Men') back in 2004. He always had a huge, beautiful smile and loved playing his bass guitar and had a true love for music. He will be sorely missed. Rest In Peace, Rob!!"

Farr grew up in the San Fernando Valley era of Los Angeles but was a resident of Oceanside, California at the time of his death. He began playing in bands at the age of 13 and was part of the bustling 1980s L.A. music as a member of thrash pioneers DÉTENTE, HIT & RUN and TIGER ROSE. He joined WARRIOR in time for the band most recent album, "The Wars Of Gods And Men", which featured Marc Storace of KROKUS on lead vocals, and subsequently recorded three albums with biker rockers NATIONAL DUST between 2005 and 2012.

Photo credit: Monica Wild

Macabre released their demented, heinous bloodbath of an album, Carnival Of Killers, last November via Nuclear Blast. Today, the band releases an animated music video for "Richard Speck Grew Big Breasts".

In 1996, award-winning news journalist, Bill Kurtis, debuted a series on Chicago’s WBBM-TV displaying video clips of Richard Speck and two other inmates in a staff training area inside the maximum-security Stateville Correctional Center. The footage included Speck detailing how he was enjoying himself in prison by engaging in sexual acts as well as showing the use of illegal substances. Speck's appearance was noticeably altered as he had used illicitly supplied female hormones to grow breasts.

Macabre's Corporate Death comments, “I started getting the idea to write this song after seeing the Speck videos on Channel 2 News here in Chicago. We played it out a few times soon after including an appearance on the top-rated Mancow's Morning Madhouse radio program but only recently has it been properly recorded and released for our Carnival Of Killers album. I wanted to give it a punk rock feel, I was going to a lot of club shows then and was inspired by Dayglo Abortions, 7 Seconds, MDC, and vocally by D.I.."

Watch the animated video for "Richard Speck Grew Big Breasts":

Carnival Of Killers was recorded and mixed by Tomek Spirala of Studio1134 with the exception of drum tracks as he recorded them at Kiwi Audio with the help of Mark Walker. The mastering of Carnival Of Killers was handled by J.F. Dagenais at JFD Studios in Dallas, TX. The “Where’s Waldo” meets serial killer album artwork was created by Corporate Death (lead singer | guitarist Lance Lencioni) and artist Laz Gein and highlights the album's most memorable references.

Order your copy of Carnival Of Killers in the format of your choice here. Save the album to Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer here.

Carnival Of Killers tracklisting:

Intro
"Your Window Is Open"
"Joe Ball Was His Name "
"Stinky"
"Abduction"
"Tea Cakes"
"Them Dry Bones"
"Richard Speck Grew Big Breasts"
"Slaughter House"
"Breaking Point"
"The Lake Of Fire"
"Warte, Warte"
"Now It’s Time To Pay"
"The Wheels On The Bug"
"Corpse Violator"
"The Murder Mack"

"Joe Ball Was His Name" video:

"The Wheels On The Bug" video:

“Your Window Is Open” video:

"The Lake Of Fire" visualizer:

Lineup:

Nefarious (Charles Lescewicz) - Bass, Vocals
Corporate Death (Lance Lencioni) - Guitar, Vocals
Dennis The Menace (Dennis Ritchie) - Drums




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Former SKID ROW singer Johnny Solinger has announced that he is suffering from liver failure.

Solinger, who was a member of SKID ROW from 1999 to 2015, appearing on the "Thickskin" and "Revolutions Per Minute" albums, as well as the "United World Rebellion" and "Rise Of The Damnation Army" EPs, revealed his diagnosis in a social media update earlier today (Saturday, May 8). He wrote: "It is with a heavy heart I must let everyone know what's going on with me and my health. I have been hospitalized for over the last month. I have been diagnosed with liver failure. And prognosis is not so good. As with most musicians I do not have health insurance and it’s very difficult to get proper care without it.

"I am currently under at least seven different medications and I need to have my abdomen drained off fluid that gets accumulated every couple of days. I have lost a lot of strength and will require physical therapy as well.

"At the moment, I am looking into putting together some sort of fundraiser to help with the medical bills and with the palliative care I will need in the coming months. I am kindly asking those of you who could help put this together to step forward. I would not be asking you all this if I didn't really need the help, but sadly this is where I'm at.

"I appreciate and want you all to keep me in your thoughts and send me all the healing vibes you can, but I get exhausted easily so I will ask you to please not call or text unless absolutely necessary. But please, if you can help in this difficult time, I will wholeheartedly appreciate it.

"Love you all. I will post a link where you can donate very soon but I wanted to update you on my condition."

Solinger was fired by SKID ROW in April 2015 and replaced by TNT singer Tony Harnell. Tony quit the group only eight months later, and was succeeded by the South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I.

SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan confirmed that Solinger was kicked out of the band, contradicting the singer's claim that he "decided to leave SKID ROW to pursue [his] solo career."

Asked what led to Solinger's departure from SKID ROW, Rachel said: "It was evident. There were certain things going on out on the road that kind of set us thinking… Things had been going on for a little bit. And, you know, I'm not here to say anything bad about the guy.

"At certain times, you just get the feeling someone isn't putting a hundred percent into things," he added. "And SKID ROW is very important to the rest of us. And we wanted to carry on with quality performances and quality songs, so we decided to make a change."

Asked if there was ever a time where they felt things were "clicking" and "100 percent right" between Solinger and the rest of the band, Rachel told "Eddie Trunk Live": "We were clicking big time. I thought we made a lot of great music together. And even with [the ongoing trilogy of] EPs, when we were in the studio, we were making great music. Snake [guitarist Dave Sabo] and I would write, and everyone came in and really sunk in. I think it was when we were in the studio that it really became evident that we all didn't have the same heart and soul… We weren't all putting the same heart and soul into it. And it's just one of those things, man. It's rough to make a decision like this, but we did."

Added Snake: "This has nothing to do with Johnny not being a good person; he's a really good person, and we all got along well. There's no animosity at all from our end. And these are terrible decisions to make, man. They're awful. The guy's been with us for fifteen years, and we saw a lot of miles of road together, and I feel extremely fortunate to have spent that time in a band with him. And he's a great singer and he's gonna be fine. He's gonna pursue his solo stuff, I guess, and that's what he should do."

On the topic of how Solinger reacted to being fired from SKID ROW, Snake said: "There was no screaming and shouting. We were both very respectful to one another. And we should be. I mean, like I said, we've traveled a lot of miles together, and this is not something that is easy in any way, but yet it's something that was necessary."

Asked how parting ways with Solinger was different to the split with Sebastian Bach in 1996, Rachel said: "That was a completely different situation. There was a lot of bad blood there, and… Yeah, it was a completely different situation. This is something, like Snake said, there's no animosity. It's just… We all didn't have our eyes on the same prize at this point, and it interfered. It interfered with moving forward. And that's why we made a change."

In late 2019, Solinger sustained injuries in a car crash and was forced to reschedule some of his solo shows.


It is with a heavy heart I must let everyone know what’s going on with me and my health. I have been hospitalized for...

Posted by Johnny Solinger on Saturday, May 8, 2021

Brazilian/Dutch death metal band CRYPTA will release its debut album, "Echoes Of The Soul", on June 11 via Napalm Records. The official lyric video for the LP's second single, "Starvation", is available below.

Formed in June 2019, the four-piece consists of vocalist and bassist Fernanda Lira and Luana Dametto on drums (both former members of Brazilian thrash metallers NERVOSA), plus supremely talented guitarists Sonia Anubis (COBRA SPELL, ex-BURNING WITCHES) and Tainá Bergamaschi (ex-HAGBARD). They enforce a heightened level of potency and experience from their successful past and current projects, enhancing influences from both classic and modern death metal genres, plus significant extreme and black metal elements, to create a sound of their own.

"Echoes Of The Soul" was recorded in January 2021 at the Family Mob Studio (Brazil), mixed by Arthur Rizk (CODE ORANGE, POWER TRIP) and mastered by Jens Bogren (OPETH, DIMMU BORGIR, SEPULTURA). The cover artwork was created by Wes Benscoter, who is internationally famous for his stunning covers for bands such as SLAYER, KREATOR, BLACK SABBATH and many more.

Atmospherically dark and threatening, the 55-second intro "Awakening" prepares the listener for the oncoming ferocity of "Echoes Of The Soul", dispensing murky, fiery fuel into the death metal machine. Their significant sonic texture derived from various death metal subgenres and traces of classic thrash becomes instantly evident as the album begins, reflective of the entirely vicious, infernal aura the 10-track debut is about to unleash. CRYPTA unbridle high-powered sonic demons and nourish cumulative, explosive energy with raging guitar riffs, Lira's unmistakable vocal color and Damettos's menacing drums. Tracks like "Starvation", "Kali" and "Blood Stained Heritage" incite an uncontrollable storm of pure rage and belligerence, while offerings like "Under The Black Wings" and "Dark Night Of The Soul" deliver a message of pure hardness in perilous atmosphere. "Death Arcana" provides its listener further insight into CRYPTA's sonic mastery and captivates with sprawling solos reminiscent of earlier times, yet spiced with a modern twist.

"Echoes Of The Soul" track listing:

01. Awakening

02. Starvation

03. Possessed

04. Death Arcana

05. Shadow Within

06. Under The Black Wings

07. Kali

08. Blood Stained Heritage

09. Dark Night Of The Soul

10. From The Ashes

The first single and music video, "From The Ashes", was released last month.

Lira stated about the track: "The song is basically about the well-known tale of the phoenix, but in a more philosophical sense. It talks about the ever-changing cycles of life, about the many endings and beginnings we have to go through, about how many old versions of ourselves need to figuratively die in order for us to keep growing and evolving as human beings, and finally, about building resilience to endure all these rebirths."

The first audiovisual work immediately takes the viewer into the funeral spectra of CRYPTA's universe and also reveals full commitment on a cinematographic level. The track itself is an infernal omen of the album's sinister stories and already presents a first spark of their impressive interplay: Lira's forceful vocals, Anubis and Bergamaschi's bold axe attacks and Dametto's prominent sophisticated drumming summon the phoenix to rise from the ashes — with the last crackle of this debut full-length conjuring screams for more.

André Gustavo, movie director at O2 Filmes, said: "I believe the song perfectly matches the current moment we're living, during which all humanity needs to reinvent itself and be reborn 'From The Ashes'. The videoclip preparation itself can also be translated through it: building up such a big production during this terrible moment we're living was a big challenge to all of us. I believe, for all of that, from the creative and cinematographic perspective, we had a great final outcome for the video".

CRYPTA is:

Fernanda Lira - Vocals, Bass

Sonia Anubis - Guitar

Tainá Bergamaschi - Guitar

Luana Dametto - Drums

Photo credit: Renan Facciolo

In a new interview with Aftershocks TV, former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley was asked if it bothers him that some people stopped following his career once he was out of the band and they didn't have any interest in checking out his solo output in the decades that followed. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, not really, because I don't wanna be big. I'm not trying to be big. I'm not trying to play stadiums. I'm not thinking, 'I've gotta get back into big theaters. I've gotta get into arenas.' I've done it — I've done all of that. And now, I don't want too many fans. Maybe I'll get a few more fans with [my new album] 'War Within Me'. I don't want a lot more fans. I don't wanna be really popular. I'm happy where I am, doing what I'm doing. And if people wanna say, 'Well, the worst albums IRON MAIDEN ever made are with Blaze Bayley,' that's a good thing for me 'cause it will put people off and stop them buying 'War Within Me' and listening and getting into it, and then I'll have too many fans.

"I have to sign 1,500 CDs to ship out for my pre-orders on ['War Within Me']. My arm is aching, man. If I get a lot more fans, I may have to start working it out to do my signature left-handed.

"But it's just not important — it's not important at all," he continued. "Of course, within every performer and artist, there is a lust for recognition. I've had that recognition for years, and I have wonderful, loyal fans that support me. Really, my motivation is to do work worthy of the support I have. My fans will get the album, and I just want them to genuinely feel, 'Yeah, exactly what I expected — a great record.' Even if I have to work my heart out, I have to work my guts out, I'm where I want to be.

"The people that hated Blaze Bayley for being in IRON MAIDEN, I hope they still hate me," the singer added. "Because then at least I'm something. If [people] say, 'Who's Blaze Bayley?' 'He's the worst thing to ever happen to IRON MAIDEN,' then I'm okay with that. Because I'm still friends with the guys in the band. I still talk to Steve [Harris, MAIDEN bassist], have the odd call to the management, check everything's okay and all of that. So I really don't care what people think. Why should I? The only opinion that really matters to me is the people that supported me for so many years and make it possible for me to live my dream."

The 57-year-old Bayley, who was born in Birmingham, recorded two studio albums with IRON MAIDEN — 1995's "The X Factor" 1998's and "Virtual XI" — before Bruce Dickinson returned to the group. The MAIDEN albums he appeared on sold considerably less than the band's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including several under the moniker BLAZE and more than a handful under his own name. He also appeared on 2012's "Wolfsbane Saves The World", the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group's self-titled 1994 effort.

"War Within Me" came out on April 9. All songs were written and produced by Blaze and guitarist Christopher Appleton.

STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet has apparently weighed in on the controversy surrounding MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson's intimate involvement in communications with a woman other than his wife.

Over the weekend, sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the 56-year-old Ellefson were leaked on Twitter. The MEGADETH later released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan.

Earlier today, Sweet, who is a devout Christian, posted the following statement on his social media: "As a Christian it's important to remember that we're ALL sinners. Often we grab the first stone (and the biggest) to throw at anyone who has failed, who has publicly 'sinned'. The only difference between us and them is we've perfected the art of hiding our sins.

"We all sin," he reiterated. "No one, and I mean no one is blameless. We all sin on a daily basis. Instead of tearing each other down we should be lifting each other up. Praying for one another and praying even more, even harder when a brother or a sister stumbles and falls. What a world this would be if we all magically were able to do this.

"When you see someone who has fallen, help them up. I'm not saying to support the sin but I am saying we should support the sinner.

"And there's my 2 cents for the day;-)".

Although Sweet didn't mention Ellefson by name, most of Michael's followers on Facebook and Instagram assumed that his comments were addressing the MEGADETH bassist.

In his statement on Monday, Ellefson wrote: "As you may or not know, some private and personal conversations and interactions have surfaced online, released with ill intention by a third party who was not authorized to have them or share them. While certainly embarrassing, I want to address it as openly and honestly as possible.

"As much as it's not something I'm proud of, these were private, adult interactions that were taken out of context and manipulated to inflict maximum damage to my reputation, my career and family," he continued. "The other party involved has made a statement which you can see below. I thank her for doing so and hope that this clarifies that the situation was not at all as presented."

Ellefson's statement was accompanied by a screenshot of a social media post from the woman involved, who denied any suggestions that she was underage at the time. The woman also revealed she recorded the intimate moments and shared them with a friend without Ellefson's permission, calling herself "naïve" for doing so and claiming that the contact between her and the musician was "all consensual and all online." She also called assumptions that she was "groomed" by Ellefson "misinformation".

"Yes, those video calls did happen, but I was the one to initiate it and never was I underage, I was always a consenting adult. Nothing inappropriate ever happened before that. It was all consensual, I'm not a victim and I have not been groomed in the slightest as I was the one to initiate it," the woman stated.

David, who became a Lutheran pastor nearly a decade ago, and his wife Julie Ellefson have been married for 27 years. They reportedly dated for six years after getting together in 1988. After two days of engagement, they married on April 2, 1994. They have two children, Roman Alexander (25) and Athena Grace (22).


As a Christian it’s important to remember that we’re ALL sinners. Often we grab the first stone (and the biggest) to...

Posted by Michael Sweet on Tuesday, May 11, 2021