The official music video for the song "Whispering Dead Words" from THE TROOPS OF DOOM, the new Brazilian band featuring former SEPULTURA guitarist Jairo "Tormentor" Guedz, can be seen below. The track is taken from THE TROOPS OF DOOM's debut EP, "The Rise Of Heresy", which was released last October via Nuclear Blast's digital subsidiary, Blood Blast Distribution. The EP was mastered by Øystein G. Brun (BORKNAGAR) at Crosound Studio in Norway. It contains four new original songs and cover versions of two early SEPULTURA classics, "Bestial Devastation" and "Troops Of Doom".

THE TROOPS OF DOOM also includes acclaimed graphic artist Marcelo Vasco on guitar, Alex Kafer (ex-NECROMANCER, EXPLICIT HATE, ENTERRO) on vocals/bass and Alexandre Oliveira (SOUTHERN BLACKLIST) on drums. The band's goal is to revisit the essence of 1980s-style death metal, exploring a more primitive sound that takes listeners back to that era, while remaining fresh and genuine.

Guedz previously said about the project: "There's much passion and dedication on this work with THE TROOPS OF DOOM. The whole band and team is beyond fantastic, which drives me to push myself to the edge, putting out this feeling through the music somehow.

"We want to offer a full experience where the listener can feel as though they're in time machine, exploring that primitive and nasty metal sound from the '80s, inspired by my own SEPULTURA years as well as all those iconic bands we love like SLAYER, KREATOR, CELTIC FROST, SODOM, POSSESSED and DEATH, among others. It's a true homage to the old! That's what we're trying to revisit with this debut and I hope the diehard metalheads catch this and enjoy it, playing loud!"

"The Rise Of Heresy" track listing:

01. Whispering Dead Words

02. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

03. The Confessional

04. The Rise Of Heresy

05. Bestial Devastation (SEPULTURA Cover)

06. Troops Of Doom (SEPULTURA Cover)

THE TROOPS OF DOOM is:

Jairo "Tormentor" Guedz - guitar

Alex Kafer - bass, vocals

Marcelo Vasco - guitar

Alexandre Oliveira - drums

SEPULTURA was formed in 1984 in Belo Horizonte, the capital city of Minas Gerais. Jairo joined the group the following year and played on the band's first two releases, 1985's "Bestial Devastation" EP and their 1986 full-length debut, "Morbid Visions". He also participated in the early songwriting sessions for 1987's "Schizophrenia".

In early 1987, Jairo quit SEPULTURA after losing interest in playing death metal and was replaced by São Paulo-based guitarist Andreas Kisser.

Earlier in the month, OBITUARY announced a new two-part spring livestream series. The band performed its favorite songs on March 27 and will run through its classic third album, 1992's "The End Complete", in its entirety on April 3.

During the March 27 livestream, OBITUARY played a surprise cover version of POWER TRIP's Grammy-nominated track "Executioner's Tax (Swing Of The Axe)", featuring a guest appearance by POWER TRIP guitarists Blake Ibanez and Nick Stewart. The performance was dedicated to POWER TRIP frontman Riley Gale, who passed away last summer.

POWER TRIP confirmed Riley's death in a statement on August 25, 2020.

The Dallas, Texas-based band released two albums on Southern Lord, 2013's "Manifest Decimation" and 2017's "Nightmare Logic". A rarities compilation, "Opening Fire: 2008-2014", followed in 2018.

"Nightmare Logic" peaked at No. 22 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart.

POWER TRIP was said to be working on its third album at the time of Riley's death.

Last week, OBITUARY frontman John Tardy confirmed to France's United Rock Nations that the band has used some of the downtime during the coronavirus pandemic to work on material for a new studio album. "We've definitely been working on new tunes, and we've been taking our time," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "We didn't feel like releasing [a new album] now in the middle of the pandemic when you can't go on tour and support it is not what we wanted to do, so we're in no hurry. But by the time next year comes around, we're gonna be hitting the road again. We're getting tours set up, and we will be releasing another album next year before we hit the road and start touring again. So we are currently working on new material."

Asked what fans can expect from the follow-up to OBITUARY's 2017 self-titled album, John said: "I think it's just gonna sound like OBITUARY. [Laughs] You know us — we're kind of cavemen; we don't like to evolve too much. We like to change it up and do a little here and there, but we're getting too old to change too much, I think. So as long as it's heavy and pounding, then that's what you can expect."

San Francisco Bay Area-based metal/heavy rock outfit DRESS THE DEAD has released the official music video for the song "Knives Out", its first single on Blood Blast, a digital subsidiary of Nuclear Blast Records.

DRESS THE DEAD first announced the signing in December, along with a plan to release one new track per month for the first eight months of 2021. After the eight tracks are all released, they will become available in full album format as well.

DRESS THE DEAD stated about the track: "Knives Out! Ask yourself what's wrong with this picture?

"This was one of the first songs we wrote at the genesis of DRESS THE DEAD. Musically, it encompassed what we were after. All the anger and aggression, yet still leaning into positivity. That's what the video represents to us.

"As human beings, we have witnessed so much division and strife over the last decade. It boiled over on January 6th 2021 in Washington DC. Everything hit the wall and a large percentage of the American populous lost their fucking minds.

"With the 'Knives Out' video, we try to tell multiple stories through two separate lenses. One, while looking at our television from within your living room. The other by looking out your own window, seeing the unraveling of civility. The people's trust is almost completely broken.

"Almost all of the distrust is being fueled by mainstream and alternative media. The former caters to the corporations that control the narratives. This keeps the money and power flowing in their direction. The latter can create alternate realities not necessarily based on facts. Planting them on the internet and social media. Creating a frenzy of fear and paranoia. Both sides knowingly building up these tensions that eventually bring us to one another's throats. The divide-and-conquer game.

"We have lost our sense of reality. There's very little bullshit detecting anymore. Many run like lemmings towards the cliff on leaps of faith. What they WANT to believe. Mostly based upon hearsay. Rumors swimming in a sea of disinformation. Somehow, we need to see past the manipulation. Meanwhile the tension continues to mount."

DRESS THE DEAD was formed in 2016 and has been playing live since the end of that year — first with vocalist Peter Dolving (THE HAUNTED), and then with Kayla Dixon fronting the band since 2018.

DRESS THE DEAD features Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, MANMADE GOD, SPIRALARMS) on guitar, alongside Mark Hernandez (FORBIDDEN, VIO-LENCE, RE:IGNITION) on drums, Mikey Rowan (INSOLENCE) on guitar, and James Walker (MANMADE GOD) on bass — all seasoned musicians with independent and major label experiences.

"Losing Peter was a complete shock to us because he was into it," Craig said. "Some of the people we tried out were good but didn't have what we were looking for... just not the right fit. All of a sudden, I get a text from Kayla. She'd been checking us out for months and was already a fan of the music." A couple of days after that now legendary text message, Dixon sent Locicero a new version of the DRESS THE DEAD song "1969" with her vocals. He was floored. "It was like it was made for her," he said. "She seamlessly fit into the music. We haven't needed to readjust. What having her in the band allows me to do is to not hold back and write anything I feel like writing, knowing that she can do it and sing without any limits."

Dixon is not only an enigmatic frontwoman with a powerful presence, she's an accomplished theatrical singer and actor. Her vocal qualities help give DRESS THE DEAD a unique sound that no other band possesses. Together they all complete the musical unit that cannot fall under any one category or genre.

Dixon started working professionally in her junior year and finished high school via home study. She then decided to immerse herself in theater and was soon working professionally. During her freshman year in college, she emerged to front a death metal band. Just as she mulled moving back to the East Coast to pursue more theater work, she heard the doom band WITCH MOUNTAIN was looking for a new vocalist. She nailed the audition and moved to Portland. Having relocated to the West Coast, Dixon was recommended to Locicero through a mutual friend. She initially worried that she was so different from Dolving she might face backlash from fans who wanted a certain thing. "In my mind, I thought I was going to be trolled, and I didn't know if I was ready to face that," she said. "But surprisingly there has only been positivity from the first song."

"I want to be continually creating," Dixon added. "When I heard '1969', I thought it was great. When Craig sent me the other songs, like 'Promises & Kisses', I was really in. I wanted it to be in a band that was heavy emotionally and sonically."

Ronnie James Dio's former wife and longtime manager Wendy Dio has reflected on the legendary heavy metal singer's passing, saying she thought he was going to beat cancer.

Ronnie lost his life to stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, in May 2010. The disease often does not cause symptoms until its later stages. Usually, by the time stomach cancer is diagnosed, the prognosis is poor.

The musician, who was suffering from abdominal discomfort saw a doctor in the winter of 2009, and after a series of tests, he was diagnosed with cancer.

"We were told it was stage four cancer, but we didn't believe that Ronnie wouldn't make it, because Ronnie was a very strong person," Wendy told U.K.'s Planet Rock digital radio station in a new interview (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And we went to Houston to MD Anderson [Cancer Center] for his chemo treatment, and we would say, 'We're killing the dragon.' We called it the 'dragon,' and we said, 'We're killing the dragon.' Ronnie didn't suffer a lot. He did his chemo treatments. And I didn't think he was gonna die. I [thought] he was gonna beat it.

"When I realized it was too late was on the Friday [May 14, 2010]. He got up and said he didn't feel well at all," she continued. "And so I called his doctor over, and we went to the hospital. He was in extreme pain — agony — and so they gave him a bunch of morphine, and Ronnie actually went into a coma. And we stayed in the hospital there until Sunday morning when he passed away."

According to Wendy, a number of Ronnie's closest friends and associates got to see him one final time before he died on May 16, 2010.

"[BLACK SABBATH bassist] Geezer and [his wife and manager] Gloria Butler were amazing; they were there with me the entire time," she said. "They just couldn't do enough for me. And it was really nice.

"With Ronnie coming back with SABBATH this last time [as HEAVEN & HELL], all the problems everybody had had before all disappeared," Wendy added. "They were all the best of friends. They were doing amazing, playing amazing. The friendship was unbelievable. And Terry [Geezer] and Ronnie were planning to [take] a trip to Egypt together.

"There was about 30 people [who] came — close friends of Ronnie's — and we were in the hospital with him. And he passed away Sunday morning."

Asked if she was in denial at the time about Ronnie's health, Wendy said: "[I was in] denial. Total denial. Especially when three weeks before he passed away, he was accepting the [Revolver] Golden Gods award [in Los Angeles], and he was doing fine. And we all thought, 'He's gonna make it.'"

Ronnie passed away less than six months after announcing he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

In 2006, BLACK SABBATH's "Heaven And Hell"-era incarnation reunited as HEAVEN & HELL. Dio, Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Vinny Appice recorded the acclaimed 2009 album "The Devil You Know", and toured on and off for the next few years.

Ronnie James Dio's long-awaited autobiography, titled "Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography", will be released on July 27 via Permuted Press. The book was partially written before the singer's death and was originally scheduled to be published several years ago via MTV Books. Also in the works is a career-spanning documentary on the life and times of the legendary rock icon. It is the first documentary about Dio to be fully authorized by the artist's estate. BMG is both financier and executive producer of the film.




On-air now: Wendy Dio joins @WyattVW on My Planet Rocks.

She's playing her favourite songs and talking about the late great @OfficialRJDio

"I didn't think he was going to die. I thought he was going to beat it"

? https://t.co/UGulIKTvbp | app | smart speaker | DAB pic.twitter.com/NdZCUuZCPj

— Planet Rock (@PlanetRockRadio) March 28, 2021

The official music video for "Paint The Sky With Blood", the title track of the debut EP from BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, the band launched by ex-CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho, can be seen below. Due on April 23 via Napalm Records, the effort was recorded in Finland back in 2020 and was meant to be the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Sadly, that chapter ended far too soon with the December 29 passing of Laiho, and now, the three-track piece embodies a whole new meaning. "Paint The Sky With Blood" is an overwhelming tribute to an outstanding artist and an exceptional sonic heritage, and, at the same time, a modern homage to the genre itself.

A storm of raging guitars and blaring drums merge with Laiho's versatile vocal power, leading into a heavy attack — title track "Paint The Sky With Blood" – opening the 14-minute EP of the same name. The song is strikingly reminiscent of early CHILDREN OF BODOM elements, while also adding exciting modern influences into the fold. Second track "Payback's A Bitch" and its massive riffing are on a quest for retribution, delivering a hard-hitting, second-to-none offense. The interplay of Laiho, guitarist Daniel Freyberg, drummer Waltteri Väyrynen (PARADISE LOST), bassist Mitja Toivonen (ex-SANTA CRUZ) and live keyboardist Vili Itäpelto is not only a testament to the band's extraordinary musical ability, but also showcases their skill in deftly incorporating a variety of genre influences.

Closing cover track "Where Dead Angels Lie" is an absolute triumph — originally performed by Swedish extreme metal formation DISSECTION, the track shines as a timeless classic with a new edge. Eerie riffs and vocals alternating between menacing murmurs and characteristic guttural, distorted vocals stay faithful to the original while branding this version with an undeniable BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT punch.

The surviving members of BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT said: "Like ourselves, Alexi was beyond stoked about these songs and anxious to get these out so we are happy that we can fulfill his wish. Needless to say that we are honored and proud to be a part of his very last creative work and unleash it the way he wanted it to. It's time to let the beast out of the cage one more time as a celebration of Alexi's music, legacy and the man himself."

"Paint The Sky With Blood" track listing:

01. Paint The Sky With Blood

02. Payback's A Bitch

03. Where Dead Angels Lie (DISSECTION cover)

"Paint The Sky With Blood" will be available in the following formats:

- 10" Spined Sleeve Oxblood

- 10" Spined Sleeve Inkspot Ox/Black

- 10" Spined Sleeve Black

- Deluxe Box

- 1 Digipak Mini CD

- Digital Album

[Deluxe Box]

Alexi passed away in his home in Helsinki, Finland. The 41-year-old had suffered from long-term health issues leading up to his death.

BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT made its live debut on October 23 at Rytmikorjaamo in Seinäjoki, Finland. The 17-song show consisted entirely of CHILDREN OF BODOM material.

Alexi and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded CHILDREN OF BODOM in 1993, and the band was one of the most internationally acclaimed metal acts in Finland up until their very last farewell concert in December of 2019.

Besides CHILDREN OF BODOM, Laiho had played in such acts as WARMEN, SINERGY, KYLÄHULLUT and THE LOCAL BAND. Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden God and several other international prizes, the guitarist was also the main star, leading a group of one hundred guitar players at the Helsinki Festival in 2015 in "100 Guitars From Hel" — a massive concert piece he composed.

ANTHRAX guitarist Jonathan Donais has confirmed to "The Chuck Shute Podcast" that the band is working on a new album. "Hopefully, once this pandemic's over, there'll be a new record and a ton of touring behind it," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I know the band is working on stuff, and I know they've got stuff written. [But] I haven't gone into the studio with them or anything yet."

Asked if he is involved in the ANTHRAX songwriting or if the other guys piece together the material on their own, Donais said: "They've done all the writing. They've got a system down. All bands work different. It works great for them. They've been successful for over 35 years, [and] they're going strong — stronger than ever, really. The last few records have been amazing."

Donais, who joined ANTHRAX in 2013 as the replacement for Rob Caggiano (now in VOLBEAT), went on to admit that he has not yet actually heard any of the material that will appear on the band's follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" album.

Five years ago, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello said that Donais "brought a great energy to the band." ANTHRAX rhythm guitarist Scott Ian added: "Jon's approach towards lead guitar playing, he's more of a guy who's looking to construct something that makes sense and helps a song rather than the 45 seconds for him to be showing off how many notes he can play in X amount of measures."

Last November, Ian told "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, that he and his bandmates likely won't release any music until the coronavirus pandemic has subsided and they are able to tour in support of the effort. "That's where I am personally right at this moment," he said. "Six months from now, who knows where the world is gonna be? We don't know. Maybe things will be closer to being back to normal; maybe they'll be further away from back to normal. Nobody has an answer to this, so anytime someone asks me about that, I really don't have an answer.

"In my brain, I don't wanna put a record out until I can play shows," he continued. "That's what I wanna do, but, of course, I don't control the world and I don't control what's gonna happen with COVID. I think I can safely say we will certainly be ready to make a record [in 2021]. So I think we will probably go do that once we're ready to go do it. There would be no reason to have a record [written] and then just sit around and not record it. So, I think once we actually feel like we're ready to go into the studio, we'll do that, regardless of where things are at on the planet, and then just take it from there. At least it'll be in the can, and then we'll be able to make a decision on what the best course is for us to take at that point."

At the 2019 Download festival in the United Kingdom, drummer Charlie Benante said fans can expect to hear some surprises on ANTHRAX's next disc. "There's some extreme stuff on this record that we touched on," he said. "There's different things that we're gonna try and do that's gonna make it next level."

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the band experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

Richie Kotzen was the featured guest on BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker" during the "Rock God" segment. Cooper picked Prince and stated about his choice: "One of my favorite artists of all time growing up was Prince. What really drew me in was once I realized that he was basically the mastermind behind everything I was hearing. The guitar player, the singer, the songwriter, the drummer — oftentimes the engineer, producer, arranging. And then, on top of it, his performing was just — nobody performed like him.

"I did have the privilege of going to his house years ago," he continued. "He rented a house in Los Angeles. And a buddy of mine that worked with him got invited to an Oscar after-party. And so there I was hanging out with all these people at Prince's house. And I was in the living room. They had everything set up. A band was playing, but the stage was low. And I was in the back, so I couldn't totally see who was up there. I knew Prince was up there. And my buddy says to me, 'Hey, did you see Stevie Wonder is here?' I said, 'No, I didn't see him. But someone was in there singing the hell out of 'Superstition'.' And my buddy's, like, 'You idiot. That was Stevie Wonder.'"

Kotzen is currently promoting the debut album from his collaborative project with IRON MAIDEN's Adrian Smith. Recorded on the Turks & Caicos Islands in February 2020, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, SMITH/KOTZEN's nine-track opus is a consummate collaboration between these two highly respected musicians who co-wrote all the songs and also share lead vocals and trade off on guitar and bass duties throughout the record.

In February 2020, Kotzen released his 22nd solo album, "50 For 50", via his own custom label, Headroom-Inc. The three-disc collection is just what the title implies: a collection of 50 previously unreleased compositions produced, performed and written by Kotzen in honor of his birthday. It's the follow-up to his critically acclaimed "Salting Earth" album, which came out in April 2017 via Headroom-Inc.

WARRANT guitarist Joey Allen spoke with Darren Paltrowitz — host of the "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" — about how he and his bandmates have been spending their downtime during the coronavirus pandemic. Asked if there has been any talk of WARRANT making a follow-up to 2017's "Louder Harder Faster" album, Joey said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We talked about it last year when this whole pandemic started, and we were, like, 'Should we do something now? Should we do something live on the web? Should we do a new record?' And everybody was just, like, you know what? We've been at this since I got back in the band, Steven [Sweet, drums] came back in the band, since 2004, so that's roughly 16 years where we just haven't taken a break from the road or making a record; I think we made three records in that time. So it was just, 'Let's take a break and go away.' We don't wanna do anything that's gonna harm the brand. We just haven't gone away. So we went away. And now we're firing up to come back."

Allen went on to say that he and the other members of WARRANT are "stoked" to return to the road. "We just wanna get back out and play," he said. "We've worked really hard. We're working hard right now getting ready to go back out and play.

"We don't rehearse usually; we just keep touring. As long as we play two or three gigs a month, we don't have to rehearse," he continued. "Well, it's been 13 months, 14 months since we've played a gig, and we're gonna have to rehearse for the first time in years — maybe the first time in a decade, at least. So we're setting up the first rehearsals, which will be before our first gig going back in. So it's fun. It's exciting."

Last May, WARRANT guitarist Erik Turner told the "Talking Metal" podcast that the group was "throwing some ideas around" for a new LP. He said: "I've been sending Robert [Mason, vocals] some riffs, and Robert's been working on songs. I've got a song going with Jerry [Dixon, bass]. So it's a slow, long process for us, but the seed of a new record has been started. Now, that doesn't mean the seed will grow into a record. We've got a long way to go. We don't have one finished song. We've got a couple of things cooking, and we're actually sending ideas around back and forth to each other."

"Louder Harder Faster" was recorded with producer Jeff Pilson — a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N, among others — and was mixed by Pat Regan, except for the song "I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink", which was mixed by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, PRONG, LAST IN LINE).

Mason replaced original WARRANT frontman Jani Lane in 2008 and has brought a degree of stability to the band after Lane's unceremonious departure and subsequent 2011 death.

THE OFFSPRING singer Bryan "Dexter" Holland and guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman spoke to the 100.3 The X Rocks radio station about the band's upcoming tenth studio album, "Let The Bad Times Roll", which will arrive on April 16 via Concord Records. The follow-up to 2012's "Days Go By" was produced by Bob Rock, who also worked on the band's last two LPs.

Speaking about the long gap between "Let The Bad Times Roll" and the previous OFFSPRING album, Noodles said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've been working on it for a while. Really, about two or three years ago, everything started really kind of clicking, and we had a really creative period — then and since, actually.

"We were hoping to have the record done probably five years ago, ultimately, and it just took longer to make something that we really felt was strong and representative of the band in the best light."

Added Dexter: "I think that's it. It had to feel right before we wanted to put it out. We're not really under a deadline. We didn't even have a label, actually — we were sort of floating out there. So it was a good time to just take our time and make the right record."

Asked how hard it was for them to sit on those songs for so long without being able to share them with their fans, Dexter said: "There really is this feeling, when you have something that you're really happy with… 'Cause sometimes you go through a bunch of stuff that, 'Oh, this song needs work. This needs work.' When you have something that's clicking, you're, like, 'Oh, man. I can't wait to get this out.' But you just kind of have to sit on it for a while. I mean, we basically sat on this since the pandemic started, 'cause we kind of thought, 'This is probably not the best time to release a record, 'cause we can't go out and tour, we can't promote it, can't be there to play it for the people,' so we've kind of been sitting on it for the better part of a year. Although we kept on going back and tweaking it, and it actually got better over that year. But we decided, well, we can't wait forever if we're gonna put this out."

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.

In December, THE OFFSPRING released the official music video for its Rock-produced cover version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", a rock song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 seasonal compilation album "A Christmas Gift For You" from Phil Spector.

Last April, THE OFFSPRING jumped on the "Tiger King" bandwagon by recording a cover version of THE CLINTON JOHNSON BAND's "Here Kitty Kitty", a song made popular by Joe Schreibvogel — better known as Joe Exotic, the "Tiger King" — through the Netflix docuseries.

STRYPER guitarist Oz Fox is "doing great" less than a month after he underwent the first of his brain surgeries to treat one of the tumors that were found in his head nearly three years ago.

STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet offered an update on Oz's condition during an interview with Talking Metal that was conducted more than a week ago. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Oz is] doing great, believe it or not — he's doing really great. Just a few days after his surgery, he was pretty much back to normal in terms of how he sounded, talking to him on the phone. He's gonna be great, man; he's gonna be fine. He's heading home, I think, tomorrow. He wound up staying close to the hospital just in case anything were to happen. And he's doing great, man. He's in good spirits, and everything's cool."

On March 20, Fox made a Facebook post indicating that he had finally returned home following his surgery more than two weeks earlier.

Fox's tumors — one by his ear and the other in the back of his brain — were discovered when he suffered his first seizure in August 2018 while performing with SIN CITY SINNERS at Harrah's in Las Vegas. Over the past two and a half years, both tumors had grown and were posing a serious health risk to the guitarist, who turned 59 last June. Specifically, the tumor behind the ear, if it continued to grow, could have caused hearing loss, balance, vision and spinal problems, while the tumor in the back of Oz's brain was in the area where left side of his arms, hands and body operate. Removing it could have affected the upper left motor function and potential ability to recognize faces and objects.

Fox discussed his health during a January 17 interview with SIN CITY SINNERS manager Jason Green. Speaking about his procedure, Oz said: "I've got a great team of people, great team of doctors that are very specialized. They do hundreds of these procedures a year. They're gonna open up the skull. The good thing is the [first] tumor [they will operate on] is towards the outside of the head, towards the outside of the brain, which it's easy access — they don't have to go too deep to get to it. And they did all testing on me to make sure that wherever they go in there, they won't damage any of my functions. They did some really extensive testing — something called an fMRI, Functional [Magnetic Resonance Imaging], and they had me think about things, they had me actually act like I was playing guitar, and I had to hum backgrounds while I was playing, 'cause I couldn't move my head or my jaw. I had 'em play a STRYPER song, and I just kind of played to it and acted like I was playing guitar and tried to imagine what I was playing. And then they would see where the brain functions were while I was doing all that. And after they checked everything and went through it, they figured out that all of my activity for playing and singing and all that was nowhere near the tumor. So there's a good chance I'll retain all of that. But there's still always a risk. You never know with the brain. They seem to think I'm gonna be okay after the procedure, but it'll take time to recover, 'cause you may have some bleeding, some brain swelling — all that kind of stuff."

Asked if the surgeons would only work on one of his tumors during the initial procedure, Fox said: "They have to work on the right-brain low-grade tumor — they're gonna work on that first — and if all goes well with that, [there will be a] six-week recovery time, and then I can start working on the left one [behind the ear]. For the other side, it will be a bit different. They have to go into a different part of my skull here. They'll have to cut a portion of my skull out to get into that area, and then, of course, replace it again. I'll have steel titanium plates in my head and all that crazy stuff. The only thing about this one is it's so close to the audio nerves that I could lose my hearing. They say it affects nerves on the side of my face here, so that could be a problem. I'm already feeling numbness around my mouth."

Oz went on to say that his medical team initially tried "doing some other things that were non-invasive" without the desired results. "We were trying to get the tumors to shrink by using different methods that they say are proven to help do that," he explained. "But that didn't work — they still grew. And so now we're, like, we'd better go in and take some action — get working on cutting them out. Otherwise, if [the tumors] get too big, they won't be able to help me. Again, the left ear, when they work on this tumor, there's a good chance I could lose my hearing, or the nerves going to my balance part of the ear, the cochlea. If that happens, then I will have to really recuperate in a way where my right ear would take over for my balance, which it's amazing that the brain can do that."

According to Oz, he may be out of commission for several months after his second operation.

"It's gonna be a journey," he said. "I may be recovering for a while — maybe through summer. Hopefully I'll be recovered by the end of summer. If anything happens where I'm not, then, oh, well. We'll see how it goes."

Fox said that he is realistic about the risks involved with the operation and the likelihood of any complication, including death.

"The worst thing that could happen is something could go wrong and I could pass," he said. "Well, if that ever happened, in whatever situation — I could die driving a car, getting in a wreck somewhere or somebody running into me. But because of my [Christian] faith, I know where I'm going, and I have a belief in eternity with my soul. And because I've followed Christ for so long now, and I have a full-on relationship — I've surrendered my entire life to him — the promises that he gives in his words are that I have a better place to go to after this. I'll basically be changing addresses with my soul. That's the mindset I have.

"Nobody wants to ever leave their family or things that they invested in years, but when it's your time, it's your time," he reasoned. "So that doesn't scare me. I mean, we could go down in a plane. [Laughs] So, you never know. And I'm certainly not afraid of that — I'm not afraid of death. The only thing I think I'd be… Well, I don't even wanna say it… There's not fun ways to die, let's put it that way. [Laughs] If it's quick, it's better. [Laughs]"

Last October, Fox was briefly hospitalized after suffering another massive seizure.

Within weeks of Fox's original August 2018 seizure, STRYPER toured Australia and Japan as a three-piece, and later recruited Howie Simon (JEFF SCOTT SOTO, GRAHAM BONNET) to fill in while Fox was unable to go on the road.




Made it home!

Posted by Oz Fox on Saturday, March 20, 2021

DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess spoke to Metal Wani about the writing and recording process for the band's upcoming follow-up to 2019's "Distance Over Time" album. He said: "I've gotta say I laid down what I think, sonically speaking at least, are the best keyboard tracks of any DREAM THEATER album. And I guess there are different factors that have influenced me and the reason I'm expressing that. One is we learn so much from every album that we do, and we take those lessons into serious consideration, and so when we go to do the next album and the next album, there's always something that we feel we can do better.

"Everything we went for, we took the time to make it a little bit more special," he continued. "Instead of finding the usual DREAM THEATER pads sound or whatever, I'd be, like, 'You know what? Let's find something a little bit cooler. Let's get something more sonic.' And so we would take the time and go, 'Yes, that's it!' Or, like, you're looking for a drone. [And we'd be, like] 'Let's add some movement to the drone.' Just something."

Jordan went on to agree with DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini's recent comment that the band's upcoming LP will be more "energetically unrelenting" than most of the group's recent efforts.

"I said to John [Petrucci, guitar] one day after working and reviewing one of the tracks," he said. "We were leaving or walking out to the parking lot, and I was saying, 'You know, John. This is crazy, but here we are. I'm, like, 64 years old. You're a little bit behind me, but we're getting older.' And people ask me nowadays, 'Do you feel yourself slowing down? What's going on?' And I'm, like, 'No. I don't.' And like I said to John, 'When I listen to this album, it's like we're 20 years old or something. What is happening? What kind of vitamins are we eating?'

"I'm really proud of us, 'cause everybody — not one guy, everybody across the board in this group — is vital as ever," he continued. "When you hear this album, you'll know exactly what I'm [talking about]. You'll be, like, 'Oh my god. I see what he's saying.'

"James [LaBrie] is doing vocals now, and I was listening to something that he just put together — kind of the final rough mix; it's not mixed, but it's just a rough mix, if you will — and I was, like, 'Holy shit. People are gonna freak out.' I can't wait to share this album."

Earlier this month, Petrucci told Metal Injection about the making of DREAM THEATER's new album: "Everybody just came to the table to play. Everybody is on fire. The best ideas and best playing. And so the album, it's lit up. There's definitely a lot of energy and excitement to it. I'm really pumped about it."

"Distance Over Time" marked DREAM THEATER's first album for for Sony Music's progressive imprint InsideOut Music. The group spent the past 25 years recording under various labels in the Warner Music Group system, most recently Roadrunner Records, which released five albums by the band between 2007 and 2016.

DREAM THEATER recently released its ninth career live album, "Distant Memories - Live In London". Recorded at DREAM THEATER's sold-out show at the Apollo Theatre in London, the live release documents the band's world tour in support of "Distance Over Time" and the 20th anniversary of their seminal concept album "Metropolis Part 2 - Scenes From A Memory".

Michael Anthony says that CHICKENFOOT will "definitely" reunite for more live shows and possible new music.

The supergroup, which features the ex-VAN HALEN bassist, alongside legendary guitarist Joe Satriani, former VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, has been largely inactive since 2012 when it toured with Kenny Aronoff on drums due to Smith's busy schedule with his main band.

In 2018, CHICKENFOOT reunited at the Fillmore in San Francisco during the fifth annual "Acoustic-4-A-Cure" benefit concert. The even marked the band's first performance together in just over two years.

Asked in a new interview with Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA if there are any plans for CHICKENFOOT to play again, Anthony said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think there'll definitely be some kind of CHICKENFOOT [activity] in the future. Sammy and I, we talk about it all the time, and I text with Joe and Chad all the time, if we're not speaking. And I know Joe really wants to do it."

Michael, who has spent most of the last few years playing with Sammy in THE CIRCLE, continued: "It's kind of funny, 'cause we start doing THE CIRCLE thing, and Sammy gets all enamored with THE CIRCLE. He's all, 'Oh, yeah. It's THE CIRCLE this and that.' But you never know. He might wake up tomorrow and go, 'Oh my God. CHICKENFOOT — let's do a CHICKENFOOT gig.'

"I definitely think that CHICKENFOOT will do something else," Anthony reiterated. "Whether we'll record another album, which would be great — I'd love to do that. But I'd love to just together and even just do some shows — do a bunch of shows with those guys. 'Cause that's actually some of the best times I've ever had on the road. Believe me — touring with Chad Smith is like touring with no other… Even hanging out with Chad since he's been sober, he's still crazier than some of the most crazy people I know.

"But we definitely have a great time. And I definitely feel that we'll [get together], if not to record some new stuff, hopefully in the near future to at least get together and play some shows together."

Two years ago, Joe told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station that "the door is always open" for CHICKENFOOT to play again, "because there's a true connection between the four of us, and we'd all do it in a second."

In March 2017, CHICKENFOOT released "Divine Termination", its first new tune in five years, on "Best + Live", the band's first-ever best-of collection.

CHICKENFOOT's most recent album of all-new material was "Chickenfoot III", the band's second LP, issued in 2011.

During an appearance on this past Thursday's (March 25) episode of SirusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", IN THIS MOMENT singer Maria Brink was asked if she and her bandmates have used the coronavirus downtime to work on new music. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There [are] conversations happening right now and music being made. We had time to finally build music studios in our houses. I think we're on the same page as everybody else. And we've had time to empower our business in a lot of ways, learn a lot of the business side that we didn't always typically understand or know and really diving into the business as a whole. I think we've been working really hard to empower the band a lot. We have some cool collaborations that we're doing right now, and we are starting to write new music. So, it's definitely happening.

"All that time went by, and everybody's feeling so much right now," she continued. "I think we all have so much emotion, so it's the perfect time for all artists — or painters or whoever it is — to be expressing themselves, 'cause they're filled with all kinds of stuff. That's the artists' dream. They want a broken heart or some sort of tragedy — same with poets — to do good art."

Regarding whether IN THIS MOMENT thought about staging a livestream during the pandemic, guitarist Chris Howorth said: "We actually talked about it a lot at the beginning, and we were going back and forth on some ideas. And then we just decided we're such a visual band and we want to present everything in such a way that we just didn't feel like the cubes on the screen was gonna work for IN THIS MOMENT. So we started looking for other ways to do it — content. We also did have the album that was out, and we had a couple of videos come out throughout the break on that, so that kind of helped satiate our need to do stuff for a little bit. But we're now at that point where we've gotta be on tour. Things up kicking up. It's been a full year, and there's no more waiting around. And we still don't wanna do a livestream, because we know we're going on tour — we feel it in our gut — in the summer/fall."

IN THIS MOMENT's U.S. tour with BLACK VEIL BRIDES, DED and RAVEN BLACK, which was originally set to kick off last March, will now take place in "late summer, early fall," according to Howorth. The trek will be "nine and a half weeks" long and will see all the bands performing in "100 percent capacity" venues.

IN THIS MOMENT's latest album, "Mother", was released on March 27, 2020. The disc was once again recorded at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with producer Kevin Churko. The LP contains three covers, including the STEVE MILLER BAND's "Fly Like An Eagle" and QUEEN's "We Will Rock You", which features vocal backup from HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale and THE PRETTY RECKLESS's Taylor Momsen

Former "Headbangers Ball" host Riki Rachtman spoke with Elliott Fullam of Little Punk People yesterday about his new Gimme Metal TV show called "The Ball" and he also went into more detail about his Lemmy bullet that he received as a personal gift.

He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I love MOTÖRHEAD. MOTÖRHEAD was a band that I was a huge fan of before I ever met Lemmy. When I was [very young], I liked MOTÖRHEAD, and they never, ever became a band that I was bored with; I always liked them. And then through [my Hollywood club] the Cathouse, I became friends with Lemmy, and then through MTV, I became better friends with Lemmy. He'd come to my house when I'd have barbecues, and he played my birthday party. And whenever I needed MOTÖRHEAD to do something at the Cathouse, Lemmy was always there. And he was just a very, very kind person and cool. I mean, he's Lemmy."

He continued: "I'd talk to [Lemmy's] manager once in a while, Todd Singerman — he's such a great guy — and Todd says to me, 'Hey, MOTÖRHEAD's got something for you. Lemmy's got something for you that's personal. What's the best address to send it. So I'm thinking they're gonna send an album or something. I've got a lot of stuff.

"Lemmy was one of a few guys that him and Todd always used to wish me happy birthday. I have this 'Happy Birthday' thing from the city of Los Angeles that they sent me. They were always so good to me.

"And so I didn't know what it was. So I get it in the mail, and I'm opening the box, and it doesn't say who it's from. And I'm, like, 'I don't know what this is.' And I open the box, and I take out this little plastic thing, and there's a bullet in it. And I was, like, 'Wow. That's kind of cool.' And the bullet says 'Lemmy'. So I open this up, and this bullet says 'Lemmy' on it. So I'm holding it. And I [tell my girlfriend], 'Look how cool this is. This is a bullet.' I wondered maybe this was from Lemmy's belt or something like this.

"So I got this letter from MOTÖRHEAD, and I'm reading it. And it says that when Lemmy died, he wanted his ashes to be put in bullets and given out to his close personal friends," Riki added. "And when I read that, my eyes started getting really, really teary eyed. And I showed it to my girlfriend, and she started getting teary eyed.

"It is the greatest gift I've ever received in my life. It is, without a doubt, my prized possession. I'm getting it made into a necklace so I can keep it on me everywhere I go.

"When we did the Cathouse 30th anniversary, we did a tribute to MOTÖRHEAD, and we had a bunch of guys playing MOTÖRHEAD songs. And to know that Lemmy said that and gave that was very, very touching, and it means a lot to me."

Rachtman's bullet is not the only one whose existence has been publicly revealed. 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

SLIPKNOT percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan and Murphy Quint, the head distiller at Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, recently answered a number of questions submitted by members of the band's fan club, Outside The 9. Part one of the question-and-answer session can be seen below.

Asked how "in-depth" his mask-design process is, Crahan replied (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "For me, it's always been easy. I wake up. I have a feeling. It seems natural. It goes on. I'm there. I look at it, and I go, 'That's exactly what I feel like. The in-depthness is in my mind. It's the subconscious thought of something I can't hold. How do you mold that in your brain? How do you turn it in circles? How do you look into it? How do you fit into it? It's so untangible, it's so not here, so the process, the heaviest part of it is in your own brain — in visualizing the pain or the discomfort you actually wanna put yourself in for that album cycle. For example, for this mask, for the cycle 'We Are Not Your Kind', I chose not to have something that covered my entire head, because I've done it quite a bit over my career, and the exhaustion from heat not being able to escape fatigues my show, and I'm wanting to give a better show personally, physically, spiritually, mentally.

"So it's a manual task once it gets out of the subconscious and into the conscious and then into words and then into body language and possibly pencils," he continued. "And then it's just work from there. But the real tedious stuff comes from staying up at night, wondering who you're gonna be, who you can represent.

"As we all know, we're a very unique band because I wouldn't say that we go all out on these things, and I think that's what makes them so personal and special, whereas we all know you can watch a Hollywood movie and there could be so much money spent on these things, but maybe it's overdone, maybe it looks overdone, maybe you don't feel that character.

"I've always felt that we just naturally know — whether it's expensive or plastic or leather or latex — just let it be what it is," Crahan added. "And that's about as hard as it is — is to admit to yourself who you're going to want to be for all of you for the next 18 months, possibly the next three years."

Last year, Crahan told "The Fred Minnick Show" that he can't ever see SLIPKNOT ditching its trademark costumes and performing unmasked. "There's not a day that doesn't go by that every member wishes we didn't have to wear that stuff," he said. "Especially since it was my idea in the sense of I brought it to the table. And for all I know, maybe some of the guys think it's the worst thing ever. They went with it because of our love for each other and our dream and our brand, but secretly, some people could be just, like, 'I can't believe I signed up my whole life for this,' whereas I'm only doing it with that. So I never forced it on anyone. It seems like it's what we wanted to do. And it's helped, and it really is who we are.

"People ask me all the time, 'Are you gonna take off the mask?'" he continued. "And I say, 'Why do I need to do that?' You're only asking me because of behavior. You're only doing that because you have a hypothesis of all the other artists, some way or not, but I'm not a part of that test, that field research. I'm the Clown in a band called SLIPKNOT. We are not your kind. We are not like you. We're not part of your hypothesis.

"For me, it's pure religion," he added. "It's my life. And I can't ever fathom going in so personal because of laziness or stress or just the will to not wanna put it on anymore. I signed the deal we did in the beginning, and there's just never been any [thought] of anything else. I really couldn't fathom us any other way. I would feel cheapened; I would feel betrayed. I think that's the difference. It's the self-worth in the dream, in the art that you create. Ours is very, very, very precise, and we do not deter away from staying the course."

Crahan's comments echo those of SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor, who told Ireland's Overdrive in a 2019 interview that he couldn't see SLIPKNOT ever going unmasked.

"It's such a part of our art," he said. "It's also part of the reason why we change the masks with every album. Unlike KISS, they have always used the same make-up and it never evolved. For us, we've changed with every album and not only the masks but also the outfits. You can totally tell every album by the uniform. I think things like that have kept SLIPKNOT relevant, it's kept the music vibrant, it's kept the live shows different and it's kept us from stagnating. So, no, I could never see us losing the masks. If we ever got the notion to do SLIPKNOT unmasked, I think I'd be, like, 'Well... eh, no.' We are all in our 40s now and we still very much have a love/hate relationship with what we do but every time we step on stage, we're absolutely prepared to give it everything we've got. So, for me, personally, when that feeling stops, when we start trying to cut corners and try to make things easier, just so we can 'get on with it,' that's when it's gonna be time to call it a day."

Last year, SLIPKNOT was forced to cancel all of its summer 2020 tour dates, including the "Knotfest Roadshow", Knotfest UK and Knotfest At Sea, due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

The band had been touring in support of its latest album, "We Are Not Your Kind", which came out in August 2019. The disc sold 118,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix was a guest on the latest episode of "Rock This With Allison Hagendorf", a weekly Spotify show celebrating all things rock and alternative, featuring exclusive interviews and highlighting the best music from legendary and emerging artists. You can now listen to the program below.

Asked when fans can expect to hear some new PAPA ROACH music, Jacoby said: "Summertime feels like the time to drop in some new music. And we're just gonna drop music, like, a track, then wait about six weeks, eight weeks, drop another track, wait six weeks, drop another track, and just through the end of the year, just keep dropping music to lead up to a release of an album. And this thing is just a banger of a record. Lyrically, it comes from the gut. It's, like, I just get so brutally honest in this music that there's some stuff, I'm, like, 'God, do I really wanna put this in a song?' But I have to. It's, like, there's healing in it. I have to remind myself — there's healing in this. And the funny thing is every time we feel a little uncomfortable about something, it means we're on to something. That's what we found out about ourselves. It's 'cause we're stretching ourselves outside the box."

Shaddix went on to say that PAPA ROACH's new album will contain the band's first-ever ballad. "And it's not like a corny love song kind of ballad," he explained. "It's a really unique take. It's like a little-bit-of-sawdust-on-the-floor kind of ballad. And it hits so hard with emotion. And we've had some cool people come in — this cat [emerging indie/alternative artist, songwriter and producer] No Love For The Middle Child, he rolled in and played some strings on stuff and played some piano on stuff. And so to just have other people be involved in the process of what we're doing and really to come to know some great people, younger dudes in the music scene, has been a real fun part in the last few years. And we're like, 'All right, let's have that cat come in and create a little bit with us. Let's see what happens.'"

He concluded: "It's an exciting time to be in P-ROACH, I will say that."

Last July, Shaddix told Rock Sound TV that PAPA ROACH's next album will be released through band's own record company. "We are in partnership with Warner/ADA, and so it's like an artist services group," he explained. "And we're gonna do that for an album and see how it works out. We've been super focused in the creative marketing behind what we do and the imaging and the videos and the messaging and everything, we were, like, let's take it in our hands and see where we can go with it and try it for an album."

In January, a snippet of a brand new PAPA ROACH song called "Stand Up" was included in commercial for Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) partnership with ESPN.

PAPA ROACH's second greatest-hits collection, "Greatest Hits Vol. 2: The Better Noise Years", was released on March 19 on Better Noise Music.

"Greatest Hits Vol. 2 - The Better Noise Years" includes 12 of the band's top 10 hits released between 2010 to 2019 as well as three previously unreleased remixes and two unreleased acoustic recordings recorded live at the YouTube Studios in New York City.

PAPA ROACH's latest album, "Who Do You Trust?", was released in January 2019. The disc was produced by Nick "RAS" Furlong and Colin Cunningham except for the song "Top Of The World", which is helmed by Jason Evigan.

In December, PAPA ROACH released a five-song EP, "20/20", featuring "new takes on old jams," including "Last Resort" and "Scars".

A federal court upheld a pre-trial detention order for ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer in connection with the siege on the U.S. Capitol.

On March 19, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ordered the 53-year-old musician, who resides in in Edinburgh, Indiana, held without bail on six federal criminal charges related to his alleged involvement with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He ruled that while Schaffer wasn't a flight risk, he does pose a danger to the community.

A short time after the hearing, Schaffer's attorney Marc Victor filed a "motion to amend detention order," claiming that "the government failed to establish Mr. Schaffer's dangerous to the community by clear and convincing evidence."

Victor wrote: "Mr. Schaffer is 53 years old. He has no criminal convictions. He does not have a substance abuse or mental health issue. He has no history of violence and was not violent on January 6, 2021. He entered the capitol with pepper spray. He did not threaten anyone with or discharge the spray. He left the capitol after approximately sixty seconds and returned home to Indiana."

On March 24, a U.S. magistrate judge filed an "order of detention pending trial" concluding that Schaffer "must be detained pending trial because the Government has proven by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community."

During the March 19 hearing, government lawyers presented exhibits consisting of a video interview Schaffer gave in November 2020 at a pro-Donald Trump rally expressing his political views and a video and still photos taken on January 6, showing him inside the U.S. Capitol holding "bear spray." Schaffer's attorney argued his client's comments in the video interview — that "if somebody wants to bring violence, I think there's a lot of us here that are ready for it" — were taken out of context, and that he knows he used bad judgment on January 6 and wishes he had a "do-over." He pointed out that the guitarist has no prior record and insisted that he isn't a danger to the community. He also argued the musician was not responsible for the insurrection and was encouraged by former president Donald Trump.

In the March 24 "order of detention pending trial" — obtained by BLABBERMOUTH.NET — the judge wrote: "In response to the Government's exhibit of Mr. Schaffer speaking at a rally in November 2020, Mr. Schaffer argues that he was simply explaining his political views. When asked about violence in the video interview, Mr. Schaffer responded that he didn't want violence, but that he was prepared to meet any violence with self defense. In response to the video that shows him entering the Capitol, Mr. Schaffer argues he was only in the building for 60 seconds and only unholstered the bear spray in question because he thought someone was trying to take it. Mr. Schaffer said he is not a flight risk because he voluntarily contacted his lawyer and surrendered himself. He is a high profile musician so would have difficulty fleeing. He has a stable girlfriend, stable residence, and a daughter. He is 52 years old with no criminal history or substance abuse problems. Mr. Schaffer argues the weight of the evidence is weak, as the Government did not provide evidence that he knowingly entered the Capitol building unlawfully. There was no evidence of violence presented and Mr. Schaffer says he is not affiliated with the 'Oath Keepers.'

"Mr. Schaffer is charged with carrying a dangerous weapon (bear spray) onto restricted, Capitol grounds. His actions on January 6, 2021, during the certification of the electoral college vote, were shocking to the rule of law and the democratic process. As Chief Judge Howell noted in United States v. Barnett, the title of the offense does not 'properly capture the scope of what [the defendant] is accused of doing here.' In this case, there appears to be premeditation and a weapon present. Mr. Schaffer appeared in the video to be one of the first people to breach the Capitol. There is some evidence, and evidence still being developed, that defendant is affiliated with groups that present ongoing threats of danger to the community, e.g., the 'Oath Keepers.'

"The government presented a number of exhibits at the detention hearing that show Mr. Schaffer was in possession of bear spray. There is video of him clearly entering the Capitol and three police officers that appear to fall back in self defense. Thus, it doesn't seem likely or reasonable Mr. Schaffer was under the impression he was 'invited in' by Capitol law enforcement.

"Mr. Schaffer has no criminal history and no documented history of substance abuse. He is employed and has a stable residence. It is true he is within his rights to demonstrate and share his political views through lawful means. This case concerns unlawful means of demonstration. Mr. Schaffer's status as a firearms owner does not have any bearing, negative or positive, on this decision.

"While Mr. Schaffer is most likely not a serious flight risk due to his status as a well-known musician, there remains the concern of danger to the community. Mr. Schaffer's views on the government and current administration are long held. His statements, including the November 2020 interview, show that this was not an isolated event. He has stated there would be 'bloodshed' if the current administration came to power. This transfer of power has taken place, so it cannot be assured Mr. Schaffer will not engage in further violence to support his political ideology if released. The Government alleges Mr. Schaffer is a lifetime member of the 'Oath Keepers,' which is an organization that has questioned the legitimacy of the government and threatened political violence. Last, although Mr. Schaffer claimed he would only respond to violence in self defense, there was no violence directed against him on January 6, 2021, yet he engaged in violent and destructive behavior when he entered the Capitol armed with a weapon."

Schaffer waived his preliminary hearing as well as his rights to an identity hearing and production of a warrant in late January in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, court documents state. He was then transported by a United States marshal to Washington, D.C. where government lawyers and Schaffer's legal team have mutually agreed to handle all proceedings.

Schaffer will appear in a status hearing next month.

Last month, a man resembling Schaffer was seen in security footage from the U.S. Capitol riot that the House impeachment managers obtained and submitted as evidence for former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial. The clip in question, which was released by CNN on February 15, shows rioters charging through a breached entrance and engaging and pushing officers. Schaffer can be seen near the front of the mob, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, a tactical vest and black leather fingerless tactical gloves, and pointing his finger while yelling at the officers.

Schaffer was photographed wearing an "Oath Keepers Lifetime Member" cap during the insurrection. The Oath Keepers describe themselves as an association of former law enforcement and military personnel dedicated to "support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic." But the Anti-Defamation League describes it as "a large but loosely organized collection of right-wing anti-government extremists who are part of the militia movement, which believes that the federal government has been coopted by a shadowy conspiracy that is trying to strip American citizens of their rights."

Schaffer was held in the Marion County Jail for nearly two months after surrendering to police on January 17. He made his first court appearance the following day.

Just hours after the insurrection, ICED EARTH fans recognized Schaffer in a photo released by federal investigators.

Schaffer is believed to be one of at least 400 people who are being investigated by FBI officials over their roles in the insurrection.

More than 250 criminal cases have been filed so far. Charges include unauthorized access, theft, damage to government property and assault on law enforcement officers.

IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith has told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that fans can expect some surprises when the band finally returns to the road once the pandemic has subsided. "I think it'll be worth the wait, put it like that, as far as the MAIDEN thing goes," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "There are some very, very exciting things in the pipeline. So that's all I can say, really… But I think the fans are gonna be delighted."

IRON MAIDEN currently has European tour dates booked from June 5 through July 11, although it is almost certain that the shows will be postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.

IRON MAIDEN's latest double live album was released in November via BMG. Containing over 100 minutes of classic MAIDEN music and available in multiple formats, including a limited-edition Mexican Flag, triple-colored (180g) vinyl and a limited-edition deluxe two-CD book format, "Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast: Live In Mexico City" was recorded during the band's three sold-out arena shows there in September 2019 and is a celebration of their "Legacy Of The Beast" world tour which began in 2018.

IRON MAIDEN hasn't released any fresh music since 2015's "The Book Of Souls" LP, which was recorded in late 2014 in Paris, France with longtime producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley.

"The Book Of Souls" was the longest MAIDEN album, clocking in at 92 minutes, with lyrics heavily based in the themes of death, reincarnation, the soul and mortality.

Smith is currently promoting the debut album from his collaborative project with Richie Kotzen. Recorded on the Turks & Caicos Islands in February 2020, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, SMITH/KOTZEN's nine-track opus is a consummate collaboration between these two highly respected musicians who co-wrote all the songs and also share lead vocals and trade off on guitar and bass duties throughout the rec

OBITUARY frontman John Tardy has confirmed to France's United Rock Nations that the band has used some of the downtime during the coronavirus pandemic to work on material for a new studio album. "We've definitely been working on new tunes, and we've been taking our time," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "We didn't feel like releasing [a new album] now in the middle of the pandemic when you can't go on tour and support it is not what we wanted to do, so we're in no hurry. But by the time next year comes around, we're gonna be hitting the road again. We're getting tours set up, and we will be releasing another album next year before we hit the road and start touring again. So we are currently working on new material."

Asked what fans can expect from the follow-up to OBITUARY's 2017 self-titled album, John said: "I think it's just gonna sound like OBITUARY. [Laughs] You know us — we're kind of cavemen; we don't like to evolve too much. We like to change it up and do a little here and there, but we're getting too old to change too much, I think. So as long as it's heavy and pounding, then that's what you can expect."

John's latest comments echo those made by his brother, drummer Donald Tardy, who told Italy's "Heavy Demons" radio show that he and his bandmates are "very excited about the new songs. [They're] very OBITUARY style, but just like a good red wine that's been opened, it's just getting tastier and tastier. Some of these riffs and some of these songs that we have for the new album fans are really gonna love. We stick to our roots. We are OBITUARY. We do not try to play a million miles an hour. We want it to be midtempo and groovy and heavy, and that's really what we're trying to deliver to our fans."

Earlier in the month, OBITUARY announced a new two-part spring livestream series. The band performed its favorite songs on March 27 and will run through its classic third album, 1992's "The End Complete", in its entirety on April 3.

Tickets, t-shirts and bundles are available at www.obituarylive.com.

Last October, OBITUARY took part in a three-part "live stream concert series" featuring full-album performances of "Slowly We Rot", "Cause Of Death" and rare classics. The first two streams — a "Slowly We Rot" set; and a "Cause Of Death" set — were live from the ESI Streaming Studio in Tampa, Florida. The third stream, featuring rare classics and special tracks, was broadcasted live from OBITUARY's recording studio in Gibsonton, Florida.

Photo credit: Stefan Schippe

In a new interview with Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com, George Lynch was asked if there has been any talk of more shows featuring the reunited classic lineup of DOKKEN. He responded: "I've actually been talking to Don [Dokken] a little bit, and we're both in agreement that that should probably happen — meaning some kind of a meaningful reunion done in the right way, carefully and with proper preparation and time and rehearsals and not just throwing it out there like we did last time." George went on to say that "the obvious choice" to replace DOKKEN's recently retired drummer "Wild" Mick Brown would be Mick's brother Steve, who can be heard playing alongside Lynch and ex-DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson on the upcoming THE END MACHINE album, "Phase2".

In a separate interview with Alamo True Metal, Lynch reflected on the last time DOKKEN's classic lineup — Dokken, Lynch, Pilson and Mick Brown — reunited for a short Japanese tour in the fall of 2016. The trek marked the first time in 21 years the four musicians had hit the road together.

"I think I was slightly disappointed in it — not overwhelmingly disappointed, but I have some regrets," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I wish we had prepared more. And I know we all feel that way. 'Cause of the logistics, we all had things we had to do right after the time we had allotted and beforehand. So we just were barely able to even pull it off with everybody else's pre-existing commitments. The fact that we got to do it at all was… you know, we were fortunate for even being able to pull it off. So we were a little underprepared, I feel. And yes, we were offered a good amount of money to go to Japan and do some other things, so it made it just kind of a no-brainer."

A DOKKEN concert DVD focusing on the band's reunion tour, "Return To The East Live (2016)", was made available in 2018. In addition to the Japanese performance, the set included footage from the classic lineup's only U.S. show in September 2016 at Badlands in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as well as newly recorded acoustic reworkings of "Heaven Sent" and "Will The Sun Rise". Also featured on "Return To The East Live (2016)" was "It's Just Another Day", the first DOKKEN track featuring the group's classic lineup since 1997's "Shadowlife".

Since completing the Japanese reunion dates, DOKKEN has continued to perform with the group's current lineup — including bassist Chris McCarvill, guitarist Jon Levin and drummer BJ Zampa (HOUSE OF LORDS).

Over the past four years, Lynch has appeared on recordings by THE END MACHINE, KXM, ULTRAPHONIX and SWEET & LYNCH.

MACHINE HEAD's Robb Flynn and Jared MacEachern held the latest "Electric Happy Hour" on Friday, March 26 during which they performed their sixth album, 2007's "The Blackening", in its entirety. You can now watch the video below.

Featured songs:

5:42 Clenching The Fists Of Dissent

14:23 Beautiful Mourning

22:50 Aesthetics Of Hate

30:40 Now I Lay Thee Down

36:37 Slanderous

42:17 Halo

58:03 Wolves

1:08:47 A Farewell To Arms

1:18:29 Imperium

1:30:09 The Dagger

1:35:53 Battery

1:37:45 Thunder Kiss '65

1:39:55 Old

1:50:48 Darkness Within (acoustic) (intro 1 - memories from The Blackening)

2:01:14 Darkness Within (acoustic) (intro 2)

2:03:50 Darkness Within (acoustic)

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Flynn has been staging "Acoustic Happy Hour" solo sessions every Friday, during which he has performed a number of MH tunes as well as covers of other artists' songs.

Flynn told Kerrang! magazine about "Acoustic Happy Hour": "It's just basically a free show on Facebook. I try to learn two new songs every Friday. I take requests, and I try to play MACHINE HEAD songs that have never been played live acoustic. Last week I covered MUSE, TOOL and LYNYRD SKYNYRD. It's been fucking awesome. The first three or four were horrible — I knew they were — but I knew that if I kept sucking for six weeks I would get past it.

"For the first 20 years of my career, I never took singing lessons," he continued. "Then I did some about 10 years ago. With these acoustic shows, I've been back in contact with my old singing teacher to try and figure out why I can do a three-and-a-half hour MACHINE HEAD show, but this clean singing is kicking my ass. It's been an opportunity to un-learn all the wrong shit and get an opportunity to do things right."

In November, MACHINE HEAD released a new single, "My Hands Are Empty", via Nuclear Blast. The song marked the first musical collaboration between Flynn and original "Burn My Eyes" guitarist Logan Mader in 24 years.

"My Hands Are Empty" was the latest in a line of singles to be released by MACHINE HEAD, which issued "Do Or Die" in October 2019, "Circle The Drain" in February, and the two-song digital single "Civil Unrest", consisting of "Stop The Bleeding" and "Bulletproof", in June. "Stop The Bleeding" featured guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach, and was written and recorded just days after the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.

In July, MACHINE HEAD canceled its previously announced rescheduled 2020 tour dates for Europe and Australia due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

Each show on MACHINE HEAD's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour consisted of two parts: part one saw Flynn and MacEachern performing alongside new recruits, guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED) and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT); while part two featured "Burn My Eyes" played in its entirety for the first time ever, with original "Burn My Eyes"-era drummer Chris Kontos and Mader joining in.

During the latest episode of Elton John's Apple Music 1 show "Rocket Hour", the legendary singer told guest SG Lewis that he recorded "something" with METALLICA.

"I've just done something with METALLICA," he revealed. "During this lockdown period, I've been working with [the virtual band] GORILLAZ and people like that. I haven't been doing any Elton stuff, but I've been doing great stuff with other people."

It is not clear what project with METALLICA Elton was referring to, but earlier this year, Miley Cyrus said that her upcoming METALLICA covers album will feature John playing the piano on her version of "Nothing Else Matters".

In a January 2021 interview with U.K. radio station Capital FM, Cyrus said: "I did a METALLICA cover of 'Nothing Else Matters' featuring Elton John on piano, I've got Yo-Yo Ma, Chad Smith; so many all-stars in this band. I'm so excited about this collaboration."

Cyrus continued: "I mean, having Elton John and METALLICA and me ... I love when ingredients don't quite fit. Or it seems like a concoction that no one would ever put together, and you gotta have someone like [the song's producer Andrew] Watt that will take that risk."

In September 2019, around the time when METALLICA played two concerts concerts with the San Francisco Symphony at the city's Chase Center, drummer Lars Ulrich posted a picture of him, his wife and John on Instagram, writing: "Beyond inspiring to spend an evening in the company of one of the greatest songwriters and entertainers ever... thank you Elton for your generosity and embracing vibes!"

Last year, John made a guest appearance on on Ozzy Osbourne's "Ordinary Man" album, playing piano and singing on the title track.

Earlier this month, METALLICA celebrated the 35th anniversary of its classic third album, "Master Of Puppets", by performing the song "Battery" on an episode of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert".

In January, Ulrich told Classic Rock that METALLICA was making "glacial" progress on the follow-up to 2016's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" album. Two months earlier, Ulrich said in an interview with Rolling Stone that METALLICA was nearly a month into "some pretty serious writing" sessions for its next studio album. That same month, Lars told Kara Swisher at the CNBC Evolve Summit that he and his METALLICA bandmates have been working on new music for "the last six [to] eight weeks virtually." But he admitted that they have encountered a myriad of technical issues which have slowed their progress.
























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On Saturday, March 27, NIGHT RANGER performed at SeaWorld's Seven Seas Food Festival in Orlando, Florida. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of YouTube user "concertsrock").

All theaters and stadiums at SeaWorld Orlando are operating at limited capacity with modified seating to allow for proper physical distancing.

Last fall, NIGHT RANGER commenced the songwriting and recording process for its as-yet-untitled new studio album. Due later this year via Frontiers Music Srl, the LP will be the follow-up to "Don't Let Up", which was released in March 2017.

Songwriting started with the three original members Jack Blades (lead vocals/bass), Kelly Keagy (lead vocals/drums), and Brad Gillis (lead and rhythm guitars) meeting and putting their initial ideas together. The recording then began, with Eric Levy (keyboards) and Keri Kelli (lead and rhythm guitars) joining the process. The plan, subject to change, was to deliver the record to Frontiers in the first few months of 2021 for a tentative summer release.

NIGHT RANGER stated: "What this world needs now is to come together through music and NIGHT RANGER is on it! We are excited to create a new studio album with our great partners at Frontiers Music. Our biggest problem is that we have so many songs, we're trying to figure out which ones to leave off! Rock and Roll baby."

With more than 17 million albums sold worldwide, over 3,000 live shows performed, NIGHT RANGER's popularity is fueled by an impressive string of instantly recognizable hit singles and signature album tracks such as "Sister Christian", "Don't Tell Me You Love Me", "When You Close Your Eyes" and the anthemic "(You Can Still) Rock In America".

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his singer wife Toyah Willcox - accompanied by a mysterious stranger - are back with another episode in their "Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch" series. This time they take on ZZ Top's "Gimme All Your Lovin'". Watch below:

Watch Robert & Toyah's renditions of Motörhead's "Ace Of Spades", Mötley Crüe's "Girls, Girls, Girls", the Black Sabbath classic “Paranoid”, Metallica's "Enter Sandman", and Alice Cooper's "Poison", below:




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