Bassist and producer Jeff Pilson is best known for playing with DOKKEN and FOREIGNER, but he also toured with DIO in the 1990s and performed on three of the group's albums — "Strange Highways" (1993), "Angry Machines" (1996) and the group's tenth and final studio release, "Master Of The Moon" (2004).

During a recent interview with Dave Lawrence of Hawaii Public Radio, Pilson was asked to recount how he first met Ronnie James Dio, as well as to share any cool stories about the legendary heavy metal singer. He responded (hear audio below): "I first met Ronnie, I believe it was 1982. I was in a band that came down to L.A. — I was living in San Francisco at the time, but I was in a band that came down to L.A. to play. And we were playing a gig with the band ROUGH CUTT that Ronnie's wife, Wendy, was managing, and Ronnie had been helping them out, producing them, I think, and whatnot. Anyway, so Ronnie came to the gig that night, and I certainly knew who he was, but I'd never met him. But I got to meet him, and he turned out to be just this wonderful, sweet, great guy, and I just had a wonderful first impression. Little did I realize that only about a year and some [months] later, I would be doing shows with DOKKEN [and] we would be opening for DIO.

"The DIO band and the DOKKEN band got to be very, very, very close, and that was a friendship that started in 1983 that probably, in a roundabout way, ended up with me being in [the DIO] band in 1993.

"[Ronnie] was just great," Jeff continued. "He was just such a wonderful person. The voice — that goes without saying; everybody he was a great singer. But he was a great musician, great band leader — just a great energy. He was a great person.

"I think the story that comes to mind is just how great he was with fans. I've never seen an artist anywhere close to approaching the level with fans that Ronnie was. Every night we would play, he would sit out there in front of the bus — and I'm talking in Buffalo, New York when it's degrees below zero — he would stand out there until everybody had an autograph, and he would not rush people. We would be there till one and two in the morning sometimes, and he signed everything from everybody. He knew the fans. He'd see somebody and say, 'Wait a minute. Your dad was sick. How's he doing?' And the person would look at him, like, 'Holy shit! You remember that?' [Laughs] But it was just amazing. He was incredible. And it was from the heart — he really, truly loved his fans and appreciated them. And even his lyrical message was always that, 'Don't be the small guy. Be the bigger person. Claim what is yours. Don't let anybody tell you that you aren't entitled to whatever you feel you're entitled to.' It was just a great message. And he was just such a great person and great musician. And I'm so glad his legacy will always live on because of that music."

In recent years, Pilson produced the first two albums by LAST IN LINE, the group formed in 2012 by former members of the original DIO band — Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain and guitarist Vivian Campbell.

Pilson and the rest of FOREIGNER are next scheduled to perform at the Frontyard Festival at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida on March 23 and March 24. The new purpose-built, live entertainment event is designed to re-engage artists and guests in a safe, socially distanced setting.

BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski has blasted the Polish government's near-total ban on abortion, saying the country is "moving back to the obscure, scary, medieval past."

Last October, the predominantly Catholic nation's Constitutional Court ruled to ban terminations of pregnancies with fetal defects. Abortion will now only be permitted in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's health or life is in danger.

Earlier today, Nergal took to his Instagram to write: "Today Polish government imposed a near-total ban on all abortions, including the termination of pregnancies with fetal defect. I'm passionately enraged!! Becoz of this political discourse Poland has been on downward spiral to social oblivion for years now. We are moving back to the obscure, scary, medieval past.

"From now on my dear women, in the eyes of Polish political leaders you are just a breeding tool in their rigorous Catholic narration, u have NO control over your body whatsoever."

The 43-year-old Polish musician continued: "The consequences of choosing religious fundamentalists as your country's authorities: continuous limitations and censorship of main human liberties.

"What one can do? Well, the battle is lost… but the war is to be won by those enlightened, forward thinking.

"Do NOT cease your fight, spread the word, speak up and support Polish women in their relentless struggle! EXTERMINATE RELIGIOUS CANCER! Fuck the system! ***** *** !!!!"

The October ruling by the Constitutional Court found that a 1993 law allowing abortion in cases of severe and irreversible fetal abnormalities was unconstitutional. The implementation had been delayed by Poland's conservative government after nationwide protests.

Two years ago, 98% of abortions in Poland were carried out on those grounds, meaning that the ruling effectively banned the vast majority of pregnancy terminations.

Amnesty International called Poland's law taking effect "a terrible day for women and girls in Poland. This harmful ruling rolls back on pregnant people's sexual and reproductive rights and puts their health at risk," said Esther Major, a senior research adviser at Amnesty International. "We stand in solidarity with women and girls in Poland and share in their outrage at this cruel decision."

After the government announced it would put into effect the decision banning abortion in all but a few circumstances, hundreds of protesters, led by a movement known as the "Women's Strike", gathered in cities across Poland.
























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AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young have topped this week's Billboard's Hard Rock Songwriters chart.

The brothers made it to the No. 1 position through their songwriting credits on two tracks on the latest Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, "Shot In The Dark" and "Realize", both of which are taken from AC/DC's "Power Up" LP.

Elsewhere, on the Hard Rock Producers chart, "Power Up" producer Brendan O'Brien once again took the No. 1 slot, thanks to his work on the aforementioned two songs.

The weekly Hard Rock Songwriters and Hard Rock Producers charts (which began in June 2019) are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart; As with Billboard's yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).

"Power Up" came out in November. The follow-up to 2014's "Rock Or Bust" features AC/DC's 2020 lineup of Brian Johnson (vocals), Phil Rudd (drums), Cliff Williams (bass), Angus Young (guitar) and Stevie Young (guitar).

"Power Up" is a tribute to Malcolm, who died in 2017 from effects of dementia at age 64. Malcolm is credited as a writer on all 12 tracks on "Power Up", along with Angus.

In December 2014, Malcolm revealed he had dementia which forced him to retire from AC/DC. His nephew Stevie Young stepped into Malcolm's position.

Angus later said that he realized during the recording of the band's 2008 album "Black Ice" that his brother's faculties were impaired.

Malcolm died in November 2017 after failing health for several years.

Hundreds of mourners gathered for his funeral in Sydney, Australia, including Angus and other members of the Young family, along with Johnson, AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams.

Malcolm was remembered as a "humble man" and "musical mastermind," with friend David Albert saying in his eulogy that Malcolm's impact on the music industry was nothing short of momentous. Young's beloved Gretsch guitar, "The Beast," rested on his coffin during the service.

"Power Up" was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O'Brien, who also worked 2008's "Black Ice" and 2014's "Rock Or Bust"

Nuclear Blast has announced the signing of Arizona's GO AHEAD AND DIE. The band features vocalist and guitarist Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA) along with his son, singer, guitar and bass player Igor Amadeus Cavalera, as well as Zach Coleman on drums. GO AHEAD AND DIE's sound mixes elements of death and thrash metal, with early CELTIC FROST influences and a punk attitude.

Max Cavalera describes GO AHEAD AND DIE as a "one-of-a-kind father/son collaboration bringing the old school with a new attitude! Sick riffs and abrasive lyrics from Igor and brutal drumming from Zach Coleman (BLACK CURSE, KHEMMIS) inspired me," he says. "Extreme times call for extreme music!"

Igor Amadeus Cavalera states: "We are beyond excited to sign with Nuclear Blast. They are definitely the right choice for this colossally heavy record. G.A.A.D. will deliver fast-paced, hate-fueled energy that hasn't been heard in years.”

Zach Coleman adds: "I could not be more excited to be a part of G.A.A.D. and to have the album come out on Nuclear Blast! I feel like we were able to capture (extreme) aggression with the record. It's a mix of old school (think '89-era metal/punk) style and newer sounds that reflect what's going on around us. Protest and survive!"

Nuclear Blast comments. "For such a heavy, brutal and pissed-off record, GO AHEAD AND DIE will leave any metal fan with a smile on their face. With riffs the size of boulders and a genuine 'fuck off' attitude that speaks about today's horrors, this album will without a doubt leave a mark in metal and we are happy to be part of the journey."

GO AHEAD AND DIE is:

Max Cavalera - Guitar, Vocals

Igor Amadeus Cavalera - Bass, Guitar, Vocals

Zach Coleman - Drums

Photo credit: Jim Louvau

In a 14-page mega-interview in the latest issue of Rock Candy magazine HEART guitarist and vocalist Nancy Wilson insists that she takes full responsibility for the band's image during their hugely successful "MTV sex kitten" era. The 1985 "Heart" album proved to be the most successful of the band's 50-year career, hitting number one on the Billboard chart and going five times platinum. Its success was partly down to a radical image overhaul that saw sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson going for a new "sexy and fabulous" look.

"We knew we had to do something radical to be noticed," Nancy tells Rock Candy editor Howard Johnson. "Especially because MTV was so image driven at that point. We were kinda desperate, so we said, 'Sure, we'll put on the jewelry, the costumes, and the high heels. Sure we'll simper at the camera.' So we put on the lace gloves and away we went!

"There were a lot of people saying, 'You look sexy and fabulous,'" Nancy says. "And this is gonna work. And it actually did work! We were in the game not to be failures."

With the benefit of hindsight, Nancy recognizes that there was a personal price to pay for such huge success. "It paid massive dividends, but in a way it was a question of 'gain the world, but lose your soul.' We'd started out really passionate and idealistic, but suddenly there was this whole different tone to the '80s. People really cared about what you looked like."

With her first-ever solo album ready for release, Nancy is hopeful that there will also be HEART live shows in 2021. "There's an offer on the table for the band to play and we're working on it," she says. "I'd love to get up on stage with Ann again."

Rock Candy is a 100-page, full-color bi-monthly rock magazine, created in the U.K.. It covers the sights, sounds and smells from the greatest era in hard rock music, the '70s and '80s. Put together by respected U.K. rock journalists Derek Oliver, Howard Johnson and Malcolm Dome — all frontline writers for the legendary Kerrang! magazine in the golden era — Rock Candy is available in print format with a free digital download version for anyone who buys the mag online at www.rockcandymag.com.

Nancy's debut solo album, "You And Me", is tentatively due in April via Carry On Music. Nancy plays guitar and sings every song on the new album which features collaborations with Sammy Hagar, Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES) and Taylor Hawkins (FOO FIGHTERS). The first single, "The Rising", is Nancy's stunning rendition of the Bruce Springsteen song.

A guitar virtuoso from the age of 10, Nancy is revered as an ingenious guitar player, a gifted lead vocalist, and as an award-winning songwriter. Nancy has co-written a collection of indelible songs that have earned their way into the classic rock canon ("Magic Man", "Crazy On You", "Barracuda", "Straight On"). She has also earned several nominations for her film scoring work.

During an era when females in rock 'n' roll were scarce, Nancy helped to carve out a place for women to front rock bands, dominate on stage. Her icon status was cemented when HEART, who have sold 35 million albums, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. That same year, she and her sister received a star on the Walk Of Fame in Hollywood. In 2013, the Wilson sisters celebrated another career milestone when they performed LED ZEPPELIN's "Stairway To Heaven" at the Kennedy Center Honors. Their note-perfect performance was met with rousing cheers and a standing ovation in the staid concert hall, and brought members of LED ZEPPELIN to tears. The video went viral on YouTube.

Paul Stanley has released a live performance video for a cover version of THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS' "O-o-h Child", recorded by the KISS frontman's R&B band SOUL STATION.

"'O-o-h Child' is a song of optimism and hope," Stanley said in a statement. "I think we could all use some words about things getting 'brighter' and a time when 'we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun.' You can see the effect it has on us all performing and I'm certain the audience will feel that. I remember first hearing THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS on the radio and I felt like my problems were lifted from my shoulders. That's the power of music and I want to share it."

SOUL STATION's cover of "O-o-h Child" will appear on the band's debut album, "Now And Then", which will be released March 5 on Universal Music Enterprises.

SOUL STATION is a band gathering some of today's leading musicians to pay tribute to the greatest artists and songs from the R&B and soul catalog to keep this vital music current. While a surprise to many, Stanley's early pivotal roots in this music has quietly turned this passion into a celebrated touring and recording band. Stanley's 15-piece ensemble group has toured the U.S. and Japan, and recently recorded an album of nine classic soul songs and five new original songs.

Speaking about the new music, Stanley said: "Between us doing some great SOUL STATION shows and starting the album, I started to think that neither the band or the music we love should depend only on the past so I started writing with the goal of seamlessly taking songs into the present. From what a lot of people I respect have told me, that mission was accomplished."

When Stanley conceived SOUL STATION, the group excelled in the live venue setting, playing smaller, intimate clubs — a setting where Paul Stanley would reflect on those classic hits that were his early inspiration, playing the songs with a reverence and respect for how he and the band believe they should be performed and heard.

"Long before I ever heard the great British bands, I grew up listening to Philly Soul, Motown and so much more," he said. "I was lucky to see Otis Redding and Solomon Burke among others. That music and its storytelling gave me strength and hope even in some tough days. The great classics of that era are magical medicine for most and I felt myself drawn back to that era for some sorcery I think we could all use."

Stanley's bandmembers include Rafael "Hoffa" Moreira (guitar and backing vocals), Sean Hurley (bass), Alex Alessandroni (musical director, keyboards), Ely Rise (keyboards), Eric Singer (drums and backing vocals), RayYslas (percussion), Gavyn Rhone (backing vocals), Crystal Starr (backing vocals) and Laurhan Beato (backing vocals) and Jon Pappenbrook (lead trumpet).

The band is augmented by three string players and two horn players of the same stature enabling SOUL STATION's wall of sound to be firmly rooted in the past while staking claim to both the present and future.

"Now And Then" track listing:

01. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love

02. I Do

03. I, Oh I

04. Ooo Baby Baby

05. O-o-h Child

06. Save Me (From You)

07. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

08. Whenever You're Ready (I'm Here)

09. The Tracks Of My Tears

10. Let's Stay Together

11. La-La – Means I Love You

12. Lorelei

13. You Are Everything

14. Baby I Need Your Loving

Speaking about how the idea for SOUL STATION came about, Paul told Scott Lipps: "I was really lucky, because, before I ever saw [LED] ZEPPELIN or any of the British bands that I grew to love, or the blues bands that I saw, I saw Otis Redding as a kid, I saw Solomon Burke and THE TEMPTATIONS. So that really is the core of what I do. It's not all that I do, but it's in there, and it always has been. SMOKEY [ROBINSON] AND THE MIRACLES; early Stevie Wonder; Philly soul; Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, all the things that they produced — Thom Bell. So you have THE DELFONICS, STYLISTICS, BLUE MAGIC, THE TEMPS, FOUR TOPS, and on and on. So, for me, that music, unfortunately, has been relegated to becoming samples in somebody's rap songs. Those songs deserve so much more, not only respect, but to be listened to, because when we play those songs live, everybody's faces light up, because they're just great, great songs.

"SOUL STATION is 15 people, and everybody's played with everyone from Smokey to Stevie Wonder to Natalie Cole to TEMPTATIONS, Whitney Houston, and on and on and on," Stanley continued. "And it really is like a family. We hang out at my house and have a great time. But what really bonded us together was this love of that music and wanting to recreate it accurately, respectfully. Even some of those bands, when they wound up playing live, did these uptempo, kind of soulless versions of their own songs. And we're playing those songs the way they're supposed to be, and it's glorious.

"Look, I started doing it selfishly, 'cause I love that music, and to have it surrounding me, and to get to sing those songs, is crazy. And then to also write some new tunes that really marry so well to the old tunes is like writing another page.

"Will it surprise some people? Yeah," Paul added. "But, honestly, I'm not… Somebody said, 'Oh, you're reinventing yourself.' I'm not the champion of blues rock or hard rock or metal or this. I did 'Phantom Of The Opera'. I'm a singer, and I choose to sing whatever I choose to sing at any given time. So, really, honestly, it's as natural for me to sing Philly soul as it is to sing rock. It's just I haven't done it publicly."

Last May, Stanley released a cover version of Smokey Robinson's classic song "Ooo Baby Baby", recorded by SOUL STATION. In a statement accompanying the clip, Stanley said: "These are challenging times. Long before I ever heard the great British bands, I grew up listening to Philly Soul, Motown and so much more. I was lucky to see Otis Redding and Solomon Burke among others. That music and its storytelling gave me strength and hope even in some tough days. The great classics of that era are magical medicine for most and I felt myself drawn back to that era for some sorcery I think we could all use."

He added: "While it's hard to connect physically, some of SOUL STATION decided to reach out and make a virtual and emotional connection on a great Motown and Smokey Robinson classic, Ooo Baby Baby."

In 2019, Stanley told the Real Radio 104.1 radio station that he wanted to wait for the right time to release the SOUL STATION LP. "It really deserves full attention and my full commitment," he explained. "So until we can do great live performances — the band is amazing live — and until we can promote it the way we should, it's just going to simmer."

Asked if he gets any hate from KISS fans for making an album that is stylistically far removed from the music his main band is best known for producing, Stanley said: "I'm sure there are some people who'd rather me doing a KISS album or something like that, but when you sign on with me, you understand that we're both in this together, and sometimes I have to do what I need to do. And that's part of the joy and the reward for me. So I would rather do a great SOUL STATION album right now than tamper with KISS or the KISS legacy and do something that I'm really not feeling at the moment."

NAPALM DEATH frontman Mark "Barney" Greenway spoke to Australia's Riff Crew about how he is dealing with the coronavirus crisis and what the touring circuit might look like post-pandemic. He said (see video below): "On a personal level, I'm dealing with it okay. I've been keeping busy. I've done about seven weeks of interviews, and I'm not joking. I'm not exaggerating; it's literally that. But why not use the time? If it's time when we're not out there playing gigs, if there's enough people that wanna talk about the [new NAPALM DEATH] album and the band to fill that time, then why not? So that's been the thing, really.

"My situation is okay," Barney, who lives in Lancing, west of the city of Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England, continued. "Presently, I live alone. I've only got myself to answer to, which is not to say that's the same for everybody. People that have families and dependents, it's a very hard slog for them.

"This virus thing [isn't] messing around. Luckily, I haven't had any direct family members that have died or been seriously ill from it thus far, but I know people that have, and it's very real. All these people that say it's a hoax, they need to open their eyes a little bit, because this is just simply not the case.

"In terms of NAPALM itself, we're just on ice, in terms of the live situation," he added. "But there's not much I can do about it. It is what it is, and many people are in this boat, not just musicians, although we have been hit particularly hard, because gigs are gonna be the last thing to open up. But I'm mindful that right now it's about the safety of people in general. I would never wanna cut adrift more vulnerable parts of the population, such as older people with serious conditions. To disregard them is just not the human thing, as far as I'm concerned.

"So, I will live with it for now. We'll take what comes and we'll deal with it in the process of time. But I do miss the gigging and stuff — I really do. I miss getting out there. We were due to come to Australia — we were in talks to come again — but it hasn't happened. And it's disappointing, in some respects, but I'm not gonna sit here and jump up and down about it, because I think that would be a bit sort of arrogant, and I just don't wanna do that."

NAPALM DEATH released its latest studio album, "Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism", in September via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2015's "Apex Predator - Easy Meat" was again recorded with longtime producer Russ Russell and features artwork by Frode Sylthe.

In these troubled times, blackgaze pioneers Alcest shine a little light into the dark with their otherworldy sound. Labeled as innovators of a surreal genre mixing shoegaze and black metal, the French duo has established itself as a forerunner of its own style of music that draws the listener into a dreamy soundscape, achieving them over 42 million streams worldwide.

Their latest studio album Spiritual Instinct saw the light of day in 2019 via Nuclear Blast. Hitting the German album charts at #12, it was supported by a massive European tour which included several sold out shows. With Spiritual Instinct, Neige and Winterhalter melded both the heavy and lighter aspects of the band, and today, Alcest present a brand-new face to their art with a cinematic instrumental acoustic version of their hit single “Protection”. Listen now here.

(Photo – Andy Julia)

Next week, Sensory Records will unveil Cleopatra, the epic Dan Swanö-mastered second album from New Jersey-based symphonic metal quintet, Everdawn. With the record nearing release, a new lyric video for the song "Your Majesty Sadness," which features guest contributions from Therion/Candlemass vocalist Thomas Vikström, is now playing through an exclusive premiere hosted by Prog.

Formerly known as Midnight Eternal, Everdawn is embodied by lead vocalist Alina Gavrilenko, guitarist/vocalist Richard Fischer, bassist Mike LePond (Symphony X), drummer Dan Prestup, and keyboardist Boris Zaks. Through the course of eleven epic new songs, the band delivers forty-eight minutes of epic, progressive, symphonic metal on Cleopatra.

Everdawn keyboardist Boris Zaks delves into the "Your Majesty Sadness" single, "Oftentimes, we find ourselves walking an eternal path between sheer joy and deep sadness, utter acceptance and cold seclusion, affectionate love and brutal loneliness. It's not always up to us whether we shift towards helpless self-destruction or find ways to embrace who we are and turn our weaknesses into strengths. 'Your Majesty Sadness' reflects on the inner strength of a soul searching for answers, losing motivation and finding strength to carry on despite the emotional setbacks. In addition to the phenomenal vocals of Thomas Vikstrom, the song tells the story of fading love, intimacy and attachment looking forward to times when romance and chivalry rule the world again."

Everdawn is embodied by lead vocalist Alina Gavrilenko, guitarist/vocalist Richard Fischer, bassist Mike LePond (Symphony X), drummer Dan Prestup, and keyboardist Boris Zaks. Through the course of eleven epic new songs, the band delivers 48 minutes of progressive, symphonic excellence on Cleopatra.

The vocals for Cleopatra were recorded at Soundmine Recording, the guitars were recorded at Frightbox Recording with engineer Bobby Torres, the bass, drums, and keyboards recorded at RMF Recording Studios, the bass engineered by Richard Fischer and additional editing by Bobby Torres. Upon completion, the album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound (Opeth, Riverside, Katatonia), and is completed with cover artwork by Gyula Havancsák of Hjules Illustration and Design, and photography by Alexandra Hassan and Northern Luna. Additionally, Therion vocalist Thomas Vikström provides additional vocals to the track "Your Majesty Sadness".

"Ghost Shadow Requiem"
"Stranded In Bangalore"
"Cleopatra"
"Your Majesty Sadness"
"Infinity Divine"
"Pariah's Revenge"
"Lucid Dream"
"Heart Of A Lion"
"Toledo 712 A.D."
"Rider Of The Storm"
"The Last Eden"

"Your Majesty Sadness" lyric video:

For further details, follow Everdawn on Facebook.

Rare video footage of the Scorpions performing the Animal Magnetism album track, "Make It Real", live on the German TV show Rockpop In Concert in December 1983 can be seen below. Footage licensed from ZDF Enterprises.

Previously released footage of the band performing "Dynamite", "Can't Live Without You", "Holiday", "Always Somewhere", "Blackout", and "Coming Home" at the same show is available below.

In the fall of 2018, Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer, Steve Perry, made his long-awaited return with the release of Traces, the legendary musician’s first new album in 25 years. The album’s personal expression of love, inspiration and renewal resonated with both critics and fans around the world, thrilled to have their voice of a generation making new music once again.

Now, on Traces (Alternative Versions & Sketches), available via Fantasy Records, Perry revisits several of his favourite tracks, stripping away the grand production touches, taking the songs down to their essence. Presented acoustic and raw, (including some in sketch form) tracks like "Sun Shines Gray", "No Erasin’, No More Cryin’", and "Most Of All" take on new and richer meaning. In this setting, Perry’s iconic soulful voice glides out-front vibrant, clear and warm while the lyrics take on greater significance as well, even more intimate than before.

Produced by Perry and his longtime collaborator and friend, Thom Flowers, Traces (Alternative Versions & Sketches) offers a fascinating glimpse into Perry’s creative process and a deeper understanding into an already treasured album.

“When writing these songs, the original inspiration is always my first compass – where the songs should go,” stated Perry. “Alternate Versions & Sketches is exactly that, and I’m very excited to have you hear the original seeds of these songs.”

Brand-new, special edition merchandise is now available exclusively on Perry’s online store. Order Traces (Alternative Versions & Sketches) here.

Listen to "Sun Shines Gray" (Acoustic) from the release below.

Tracklisting:

"Most Of All" (Radio Mix)
"No Erasin’" (Acoustic)
"I Need You" (Acoustic)
"No More Cryin’" (Acoustic)
"Most Of All" (Stripped)
"We’re Still Here" (Acoustic)
"You Belong To Me" (Stripped)
"Sun Shines Gray" (Acoustic)

"Sun Shines Gray" (Acoustic):

"You Belong To Me" (Stripped):

"We're Still Here" (Acoustic):

"No More Cryin'" (Acoustic):

"I Need You" (Acoustic):

"Most Of All" (Radio Mix):

"I Need You":

"No Erasin’" (Acoustic):

"Most Of All" (Stripped) visualizer:

"Most Of All" performance video:

(Photo - Myriam Santos)

Trial (swe) have released a new 2-track EP, Sisters Of The Moon, via Metal Blade Records. A music video for the title track can be found below.

The EP can be ordered here as a 7" in the following versions:

- black vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 222 copies)
- gold vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 111 copies)

The members of Trial (swe) joined forces in 2007 in Sweden, laying their previous musical endeavors to rest to create something together. Doomed by the restlessness of youth, many songs were written during their humble beginnings, but few withstood the test of time. For two years, Trial (swe) rehearsed, wrote and fought their way through hard times - until finally, in 2009, they found Linus, who was able to unite the band and become the voice of Trial (swe).

From then on, their vision became clear. The group released their first demo in 2010 - without money, proper equipment or label - which lead to a record deal for their first full-length, The Primordial Temple (2011). Determined to develop their brand of heavy metal even further, Trial (swe) wrote and recorded the Malicious Arts EP (2013), which became yet another stepping stone from where the band was to where they wanted to be. "That EP, in many ways, became our first road to liberate us from ourselves," Trial (swe) recalls. "Rising from the ashes of our former selves, we took things further beyond, which ultimately resulted in the album 'Vessel'."

After earning acclaimed reviews for Vessel (2015), Trial (swe)'s popularity continued to grow, and it wasn't long before Metal Blade Records signed the band. With plans to re-invent themselves once again, Trial (swe)'s debut for the label proved to be another step forward in their career. They took the colossus that is Motherless (2017) and headed out on the Roadkill tour together with Metal Blade comrades Ram and Portrait to conquer Europe. After the tour, the cold winds of change were blowing. On the other end of the storm, Arthur W. Andersson (ex-Air Raid) stepped forth as the new front-man of the band. Re-energized and fully focused, they entered their new phase. As the curse of the world grew stronger, they decided to reveal their new singer through their EP, Sisters Of The Moon. Covers of Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath were recorded during the black summer of 2020, displaying new levels of Trial (swe) - traditional yet unconventional. "With 'Sisters...', we decided to pay tribute to one of the biggest bands out there, the Mighty Mac. Our version is a different take than the original, filled with blazing guitar duels and piercing vocals. This is a side of Trial (swe) you've never heard before," the band explains. "For our Sabbath cover, it all made sense to record 'Die Young,'" the band continues, "as it is the most outstanding song on 'Heaven and Hell'. This one is more true to the original, and we are happy to share both of the songs with you."

Sisters Of The Moon tracklisting:

"Sisters Of The Moon"
"Die Young"

"Sisters Of The Moon" video:

Trial (swe) lineup:

Arthur W. Andersson - Vocals
Alexander Ellstrom - Guitars
Andreas Johnsson - Guitars
Andreas Olsson - Bass
Martin Svensson - Drums

Five Finger Death Punch have released a lyric video for "The Tragic Truth", featured on the bands recent album, A Decade Of Destruction, Volume 2. Watch below:

A Decade Of Destruction - Volume 2 is available here.

Tracklisting:

"Blue On Black" [taken from And Justice For None]
"The Tragic Truth" [taken from American Capitalist]
"Broken World" [previously unreleased]**
"I Refuse" [taken from And Justice For None]
"The Pride" [taken from American Capitalist]
"Hard To See" [taken from War Is The Answer]
"When The Seasons Change" [taken from And Justice For None]
"Cradle To The Grave" [taken from The Wrong Side Of Heaven, Vol. 2]
"Sham Pain" [taken from And Justice For None]
"M.I.N.E. (End This Way)" [taken from The Wrong Side Of Heaven, Vol. 1]
"Hell To Pay" [taken from Got Your Six]
"Never Enough" [taken from The Way Of The Fist]
"Walk Away" [taken from War Is The Answer]
"Wrong Side Of Heaven" (New Acoustic Version – original version taken from Wrong Side Of Heaven, Vol. 1)**
"Trouble" (Felmax Remix) – original version taken from And Justice For None
"Wash It All Away" (Joe Hahn Remix – original version taken from Got Your Six)**
"Bad Company" (The Five Finger Dim Mak Steve Aoki Remix)  – original version taken from War Is The Answer)**

** Previously Unavailable

“Bad Company" (The Five Finger Dim Mak Steve Aoki Remix) lyric video:

"Broken World" lyric video:

"Wrong Side Of Heaven" (Acoustic):

(Photo - F3 Studios - Stephen Jensen)

Def Leppard recently unlocked The Def Leppard Vault at LeppardVault.com. Enter this special combination to unlock: 07-18-78.

An update states: "Everything about him was ROCK STAR... On this day, January 29 1978, Steve Clark joined Def Leppard. Explore the Steve Clark Collection for photos, artifacts, and stories about his life. Head to LeppardVault.com to explore photos and artifacts from Steve's trunk, as well as stories about his life - as told from Joe, Rick, Sav, Viv, Phil and Lorelei Shellist (Steve’s fiancée)."

The popular vinyl collectible company Funko — best known for its big-headed Pop! figures — has unveiled MOTÖRHEAD's "Ace Of Spades" and AC/DC's "Highway To Hell" as part of its Albums series.

"Ace Of Spades" features Lemmy from MOTÖRHEAD's classic 1980 album. A description reads: "Release your inner rocker and celebrate the timeless album from rock legends, MOTÖRHEAD! Labelled as its most commercially successful album; this is going to be a massive hit amongst fans, so don't miss out on your chance to grab this latest Pop! Albums drop and give it centre stage in your growing collections!"

AC/DC's legendary 1979 record "Highway To Hell" is immortalized with Angus Young in his devilish outfit. This is the second AC/DC album to be made available as part of the Album series, following the release of "Back In Black". A description reads: "Up next for Pop! Albums, it is of course rock icons AC/DC with their fifth international studio album 'Highway To Hell'. Featuring an unmistakable Pop! Vinyl figure of legendary lead guitarist Angus Young in his signature school uniform attire, this is one drop you rockers do not want to miss out on!"

Other artists who have gotten the Pop! Rocks treatment in the past include KISS, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, SLAYER, DEF LEPPARD, Rob Zombie, SLIPKNOT, GHOST and BLACK SABBATH.

A Funko vinyl Pop! figure, or popularly known as a "Pop!", is packaged carefully inside a box with a transparent front. The figurine is made out of vinyl and may come as a bobblehead.

Funko reported that these figurines increased its sales by 38 percent in the second quarter of 2019. International sales spiked 65 percent to $68.5 million, while U.S. revenue grew 26 percent to $122.7 million.

Last June, Funko announced that it was cutting a quarter of its global workforce, laying off about 250 people as it coped with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko is a leading pop culture consumer products company. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters.
























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SYSTEM OF A DOWN's music video for the song "Genocidal Humanoidz" can be seen below. The clip was premiered earlier today (Saturday, January 30) during a very special livestream fundraising event supporting humanitarian efforts in SYSTEM OF A DOWN's ancestral homeland of Armenia.

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 so far.

"Genocidal Humanoidz" and "Protect The Land" were both produced by guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian, who also wrote the music and lyrics.

The music video for "Protect The Land" incorporated recent footage of the protests and on-the-ground fighting in Artsakh, but in a very personal and aesthetic way. As he did for all previous SYSTEM OF A DOWN releases, bassist Shavo Odadjian executive-produced the music video and curated the cover and brand art for the project.

On the recording of "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz", Odadjian said: "It was such a pleasure for us to be together in the studio again, very comforting and natural, like no time had passed at all."

"Protect The Land" a was originally written by Malakian for the next album by his other group, SCARS ON BROADWAY, while "Genocidal Humanoidz" was penned three or four years ago when Odadjian, Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan convened for a jam session that produced several songs, only to abandon them when singer Serj Tankian wouldn't commit to an album.

Photo credit: Clemente Ruiz

In a new interview with Australia's "Scars And Guitars" podcast, EPICA guitarist/vocalist Mark Jansen related a few humorous stories about his brushes with one of his favorite bands from his youth, MEGADETH.

"Dave Mustaine, being the leader [of MEGADETH], [is] maybe sometimes also quite a difficult guy to deal with; he seems a bit grumpy sometimes," Mark said (hear audio below).

"[EPICA] played at a couple of festivals with MEGADETH, and I have a couple of funny anecdotes. One of them is that MEGADETH was done playing, and they came back to their dressing rooms. And one by one [they] were climbing the stairs, and I was going downstairs, so I said 'hi' to all the guys, and everybody said 'hi' back to me. And the last in line was Dave Mustaine, so I said also 'hi.' Nothing [laughs] — no reaction whatsoever.

"Also one time with MAYAN [Mark's side project], we were playing in Mexico, and we were on the airport, and MEGADETH was going to play the same festival," he continued. "And we saw also the MEGADETH guys — they were all hanging around with everybody. And I thought, 'Where's Dave Mustaine? Maybe he has a different flight.' But then, after 10 minutes, I saw him. He was sitting with his hoodie, with a very grumpy face — like, 'Don't even dare to get closer to me. I don't wanna talk to anybody.' [Laughs]"

Mark went on to say that he doesn't "judge" Mustaine for not wanting to interact with other people. "If he doesn't want to talk to anybody, he should not do it," he reasoned. "But, to me, it gives me the impression that he's not the most easy guy to deal with."

Jansen's third and final anecdote — which he said was "the most funny one" — involved an incident that took place when EPICA and MEGADETH both played the Graspop Metal Meeting festival in Belgium. "That was a great festival with a great catering," he said. "But everybody needs this kind of food ticket to get your meal. But [Mustaine] was there, and he didn't have his meal ticket. So [the girl handling the food asked him,] 'Sir, do you have your meal ticket?' [And he said,] 'No, no. I don't have it.' [And she said,] 'But you need to have one to get your meal.' Then he was looking around over his shoulder [so] anybody could hear him, and then he said to the girl, 'I'm Dave Mustaine, the face of MEGADETH.' [Laughs] And then she replied, 'But you still need your food ticket, sir.' [Laughs]"

Offering a possible explanation for Mustaine's reaction, Mark said: "It's an ego thing, I think. When you get your food refused because you need to have a ticket, just like anybody else, and your ego is a little bit big, so to say, then you get in this defensive mood, like, 'Give me my food.' Everybody needs a ticket. Just go to get your ticket and come back. [There is no] big deal about that."

Jansen clarified that he wasn't speaking negatively about Mustaine in an attempt to denigrate MEGADETH.

"I'm a big MEGADETH fan, I must say," he explained. "My first metal album I bought was 'Rust In Peace' from MEGADETH. I'm a huge fan myself. But this guy… [Laughs]"

EPICA will release its new album, "Omega", on February 26 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2016's "The Holographic Principle" was once again produced by Joost Van Den Broek (POWERWOLF, AYREON) in part at Sandlane Recording Facilities in Rijen, Netherlands.

Lita Ford spoke to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the progress of the recording sessions for her long-awaited new solo album. The follow-up to 2012's "Living Like A Runaway" is once again being helmed by guitarist/producer Gary Hoey, who contributes some guitar playing to the disc, alongside the rest of Ford's backing band, which continues to consist of guitarist Patrick Kennison, drummer Bobby Rock and bassist Marty O'Brien.

"[Gary] and I have been working back and forth on this new record for quite a few years now," Lita said. "It's been a process. But what I do is when I have an idea, I call Gary, I call his wife Nicole, and I'm, like, 'Nicole, does Gary have a break in his schedule? When can I come over?' And she's, like, 'You can come in April. We can get you in for 10 days.' And so [I go], 'Okay. Book me in.' So I get on the plane, and I fly to Gary's house, which is on the East Coast. And Gary and I lock ourselves in his awesome studio, which has this great vibe, and we come out of there with the best stuff. And he's such a great guitar player, and he has so many great ideas, and I take my ideas to Gary. You need somebody to bounce your ideas off of. It doesn't matter what you do; you've gotta have somebody to bounce your ideas off of. Gary's the guy."

Asked if her new album is now completely done, Lita said: "Gary and I, we've been working together for quite a long time on this record. And we've encountered all kinds of experiences through this record, like death and drug addiction and hardcore illnesses — just different people involved in the project. It's just been, like, 'Woah.' And then traveling back and forth, and touring, and just trying to put together the right album with the right lyrics. And Gary and I, at the end of it all, we sat back and listened to the record and just said, 'You know, this is some of the best guitar playing I think I've heard in decades.' And I'm not blowing smoke up my own ass, but Gary and I just nailed it with the guitar playing on this record.

"I'm a huge fan of people like Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter from Alice Cooper's 'Welcome To My Nightmare'. I mean, there's some really great duo guitar players — [JUDAS PRIEST's] Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing… Those guitar players don't exist anymore — they just don't exist. If you wanna hear them, you have to go back in time a little bit and dig them up into your favorite library, favorite music catalog. But I think Gary and I really nailed it on this next record. It's, like, oh my God. I'm crying — I'm just, like, crying listening to this stuff. It's so badass."

As for whether she is planning to wait until the pandemic is over before releasing her new album, Ford said: "Like I said, it's been an ordeal — we've had a lot of major hurdles to jump — and the pandemic has been one of those major hurdles. Just trying to get the drum tracks recorded, because originally we were doing digital drums. And Bobby Rock, he was, like, 'Dude, we've been playing together for so long. You've gotta get that Bobby Rock vibe in there.' I'm, like, 'Yeah, we do. We need that thunderhouse, powerhouse, balls-to-the-wall drums — real drums; not the digital stuff.' And people don't do that anymore either. Just trying to find a studio to record the drums in; with the pandemic, everybody was shut down. So we finally got into a studio. Our booking agent and his son, who let us into a studio in Minneapolis. And we flew up there in September and we recorded the drums. And there's 'Black Lives Matter' [protests] everywhere that are just roaming the streets, and the studio is boarded down with plywood over the windows, and they've got shotguns and Rottweilers. And Bobby goes in there and records his drum tracks. And it's just, like, 'Yup. I like this. This is badass.' [Laughs]"

According to Lita, all the recordings for her new LP have been completed, and "my awesome engineer George Marshall has turned everything over to Max Norman, and Max Norman is mixing the record now… We're really happy to have him involved," she said. "We've just got a really great team of people working on this record. It's taken longer than we anticipated, because of the pandemic and just all kinds of bullshit involved. But we've got a great team of people. Everything feels right, everything is the right way to go with this record. And I'm just really excited for everyone to hear it."

In 2019, Lita told The Metal Voice that her new album will include a song called "Monsters", which was inspired by infamous cult leaders like Charles Manson and David Koresh. "It's just really dark and nasty stuff — brainwashing people and all the stuff [Koresh] did, and got all those people to drink Kool-Aid," she said. "But then again, it could be someone like your attorney, or it could be someone like your mom who is the monster in your life. It could be your manager. You never know who the monster in your life is gonna turn out to be."

Ford's last release was 2016's "Time Capsule", a collection of songs that were recorded by Lita in the past, but never before made available.

Five years ago, Lita released an autobiography, "Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir", via Dey Street Books (formerly It Books), an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

THE PRETTY RECKLESS frontwoman Taylor Momsen spoke to Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA about the importance of seeing her vision through to full execution while making music with her bandmates.

"I'm fine with compromising, but I'm not fine with compromising when it comes to art," she said (see video below). "Anything that has to do with artistic expression — so from the songs to the production to the videos to the visuals — anything artistic, that has to be my way or just I'm not interested. Otherwise, what's the point? I'm expressing myself. If you want to be a part of that, then that's awesome. If you have a different vision for or you want to guide me in some other path, then I'm not the right person for you to be working with, because I'm on my own journey, I'm on my own path. So I don't compromise when it comes to art, and that's something that I've always had to fight for and stay true to my guns and my way of thinking. And luckily, I've had a really great team around me who really support that and really allow me to see my vision through, I guess. And then the way it's released. And then you look for partners who understand your vision, at least to the best of their ability, and are on the same team and the same side and wanna just kind of accentuate that and accompany it and help it along. And that's who you look for in partners — with labels and things like that — someone who really understands you as an artist to the best of their ability and just wants to help [get behind] that, instead of someone who wants to take you and turn you into something else. That's just never worked for me.

"I feel like I look at life sometimes very basically," she continued. "It's very simple — it's, like, okay, here's what I like to do. And you're telling me to do this. Well, I don't wanna do that, 'cause I don't like to do that. So, I'm gonna go back and do this, and if you wanna be a part of this, come to my side. And my bank account doesn't necessarily thank me for it. But in the long haul, it's something that makes me happy, and I can look back on my life and I can forward on my life and go, 'I'm doing the right thing.' Because I can go to sleep at night knowing I made the right decision for myself. And that's what success is — making something that you're proud of, and the rest of the world be damned."

THE PRETTY RECKLESS's new album, "Death By Rock And Roll", will be made available on February 12 via Fearless Records in the U.S. and Century Media Records in the rest of the world.

The band's latest single "And So It Went". features a guest appearance by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello.

"Death By Rock And Roll" is THE PRETTY RECKLESS's first album to be made without longtime producer Kato Khandwala, who died in April 2018 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

In addition to Morello, "Death By Rock And Roll" features Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron from SOUNDGARDEN. The song with Cameron and Thayil, called "Only Love Can Save Me Now", was recorded at Seattle's legendary London Bridge Studios, where seminal LPs like PEARL JAM's "Ten" and SOUNDGARDEN's "Louder Than Love" were laid down.

Gene Simmons has pushed back against baseless allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, saying "60 courts in various states dismissed ALL allegations of a rigged election."

The KISS bassist/vocalist, who has been using his Twitter account in recent weeks primarily to share the latest political headlines and news about the ongoing pandemic, addressed the debunked claims that widespread election fraud denied President Donald Trump a victory in the November election while answering questions from his followers on social media.

After Gene shared an article about Goya's board of directors silencing its CEO over his unfounded claims of voter fraud, one of Simmons's followers asked him: "Isn't it possible the election was rigged?", to which the rocker replied: "60 courts in various states and 60 Judges (including Pres Trump appointed Judges) UNANIMOUSLY, and without exception, dismissed ALL allegations of a rigged election..and that Includes Trump appointed US Attorney General Bill Barr!!!"

A few minutes later, another Twitter user wrote: "Cases were dismissed on standing not evidence", to which Simmons replied: "That's correct. And what that means, (I have asked 2 law professors) is that a court 1st takes a look at the merits & if they seem far-fetched or bluntly speaking, idiotic, they dismiss it outright. Do your research. You will appear much more informed than this tweet."

Another of Gene's Twitter followers countered with: "No sir, no evidence was heard. Ultimately, SCOTUS decides these were state questions. The states, ran by ultra liberals, buried it." Simmons responded: "You are misinformed, again...Many of the judges were appointed by former President Trump. Again, I urge you to do research. You will appear much more informed than this tweet."

In December 2016, Simmons — a former contestant on Trump's "The Celebrity Apprentice" show — told TMZ that celebrities should keep their political opinions to themselves — especially when it comes to the results of that year's presidential election.

"Why does anybody give a squat what a guy in a band thinks about or anything like that?" he said. "The last thing I wanna do is to ask President Obama what he thinks about LED ZEPPELIN."

Prior to the 2016 election, Simmons told People magazine that he liked how Trump was shaking up the presidential race.

"The important thing about Trump, and I'm not saying whether I'm voting for him, or Hilary [Clinton], or anybody else, is that he has changed the game," Simmons said. "He doesn't want your money. This guy funds his own campaign, and he is going to say things that tens of millions of people actually say quietly because politically it's 'incorrect.'"

In a March 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Simmons described Donald Trump as "the truest political animal I've ever seen onstage." The rocker explained: "He has no speechwriters, no editing, no nothing. He's actually on tape going 'motherfucker.' You cannot turn away."

Simmons stressed at that time that he wasn't saying he was supporting Trump. "He has said some very vile, unkind things," he said. "But don't kid yourself. He speaks off the cuff, and what you see is what you get. And he'll double down. If you ask him about building a wall [between the U.S. and Mexico] he'll say, 'Fuck you, I'm going to make it ten feet higher, just because you asked me.' He's not there to be your friend."

"He's good for the political system," Simmons added. "The middle, the centrists, they can say, 'What do you think of this?' because everybody is sick and tired of being politically correct. Secretly, tens of millions, perhaps a hundred million people may actually have some positive feelings about a wall."




Goya board silences CEO Robert Unanue after he tells Fox News the election was rigged - CNN https://t.co/hdhemQtdis

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 27, 2021








60 courts in various states and 60 Judges (including Pres Trump appointed Judges) UNANIMOUSLY, and without exception, dismissed ALL allegations of a rigged election..and that Includes Trump appointed US Attorney General Bill Barr!!! https://t.co/lMv8p2bNJx

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 27, 2021








That’s correct. And what that means, (I have asked 2 law professors) is that a court 1st takes a look at the merits & if they seem far-fetched or bluntly speaking, idiotic, they dismiss it outright. Do your research. You will appear much more informed than this tweet. https://t.co/dremImshZ6

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 27, 2021








That is correct. And, a statement of fact. Widely reported in all sorts of media. https://t.co/3nu2isajPl

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 27, 2021








NC, you are misinformed, again...Many of the judges were appointed by former President Trump. Again, I urge you to do research. You will appear much more informed than this tweet. https://t.co/VrmDulDLHE

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 27, 2021








And doesn’t it strike you as odd that President Trump appointed Judges completely dismissed all attempts question the election. In all states. Without a single exception.? https://t.co/AetvErfKeX

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 25, 2021








Not entirely correct. Over 60 Court decisions in various states, made by mostly Pres Trump appointees, all agreed without a single exception, that the election was legit. And often, with the comment that it was the most secure election...ever. You are misinformed. https://t.co/CP1ccusKNx

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 24, 2021








Agreed. Both far left and far right are extremists and I support neither. https://t.co/cH9FkPW490

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 25, 2021








I ignore all of it. I vote on individual issues and individual candidates. Political parties don’t interest me and I find all of them lacking. https://t.co/E5wDk7Wvg5

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) January 24, 2021

GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall has once again said that he holds no ill will toward the band's original lead singer, Jack Russell.

Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed.

Asked in a new chat with That Metal Interview if Russell was fired from GREAT WHITE, Kendall said (hear audio below): "No. He wasn't fired. In the almost 30 years that we worked together, I think we might have gotten in, like, two arguments. Seriously! I mean, we were blood brothers. What happened was his demons overcame him. We were out on tour. He was falling down, breaking bones. He was very sick with his addiction.

"I work with addicts daily," Mark continued. "I literally have worked one-on-one with over a hundred people in the last nine years. And there are people I've met that can get a DUI and they've got nine years sobriety today; it's, like, a DUI is plenty. And then, on the other part of the scale, there's a guy that loses his family, his job, his house, his cars — everything — and he still doesn't stop [drinking or using drugs].

"We tried everything, and Jack was just unable to perform. He was so sick, his body was just breaking down. He had a walker. We had to push him in airports in a wheelchair. He had to sit down at the shows. And it became so bad and he was so dopesick that he just could not continue. And I've been at his hospital bed, I've been at his bedside in rehab centers day after day after day, being as supportive as possible.

"We just [told him], 'Go get well. We'll get a singer to fill in. And just get yourself healthy.' And he kind of just was unable to return. He didn't wanna come back on those terms. So he just went out and found musicians that would play with him and [made] his own [version of] GREAT WHITE, which kind of turned into this lawsuit thing, which we hated.

"People that assemble together, they're called a band because it's a group of people," Mark continued. "So one guy can't just leave and just call himself the band. That was our point. So we kind of won the lawsuit, but we wanted him to have a way to make a living, because the people he worked with were accepting him the way he was. So we were fine with that. So we let him call himself JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE or whatever.

"It's unfortunate that the whole situation had to happen because he was not treating himself well. But I never have ever taken it personal, someone's addictions. They're not doing it to hurt me. Jack didn't do what he did to hurt me. He just had a difficult time, [because] the addiction is so damn powerful. Really, to get away from that, you just have to surrender — just drop to your knees and beg God. It's very difficult.

"So, that's what happened with that," Kendall added. "I think fans are a little confused. [They ask me,] 'Why don't you patch things up?' We've never even gotten in a fight before. There's nothing to patch up. He's unhealthy, and it's just that. And we're at the age now where you really don't wanna have all this drama.

"I don't know if you've ever been around somebody that's really high and you're not. It's like you're in two different worlds. 'Cause we're all sober and focused and everything. It's kind of like having a liability around. I mean, if you worked at a job, and there's people counting on you, and you've got one guy that just doesn't have it together, it just makes everything kind of crumble.

"So, that's how it was. We just said, 'Go get well, come back healthy and let's kick some ass.' And he was just not able to do that.

"We have all the love for him, and I always wish him the best of everything. I never have any ill will toward him or his addiction — nothing."

Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell now performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.

More than two years ago, GREAT WHITE announced the addition of new singer Mitch Malloy to the group's ranks. He replaced Terry Ilous, who was fired from the band in July 2018.

Earlier this month, Russell told "Rocking With Jam Man" that his split with GREAT WHITE "was very emotional. It still hurts a lot," he said. "Maybe it's like a divorce, 'cause you get to be brothers when you're playing in a band together, especially for many, many years. And then when that ends, it can be very traumatic on your spirit. That's what it was like when I split up with my old guys. That was really, really difficult. But what are you gonna do? You've gotta kind of go with the flow and just move on."

Asked if he thinks a band that replaces its longtime singer is essentially "just a cover band," Russell said: "Well [laughs], that's dangerous waters right there, my friend. Let me see how to answer that. You know, I hate to say it, but I do agree with you. I think the singer is the one part of the band that is unique. I mean, pretty much any guitar player that's good can play any other good guitar player's [parts] well enough to make it sound — it's indistinguishable. You go, 'Is that the original guitar player?' 'No, it's somebody else.' 'Oh, I couldn't tell.' But, obviously, each singer is gonna have his own sound that's uniquely of himself. My voice sounds different than anybody else's voice, so anything that I've done with GREAT WHITE sounds like GREAT WHITE. You take that element away, and it's a different band. So, the answer to you question — for the most part, putting it that way, yeah, I agree with you."

Former QUIET RIOT singer James Durbin says that the band has every right to continue without drummer Frankie Banali.

Banali, who joined QUIET RIOT in 1982 and played on its breakthrough album, 1983's "Metal Health", died last August after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

QUIET RIOT announced in September that it will carry on touring following Frankie's death. The band, which now features drummer Johnny Kelly (DANZIG, TYPE O NEGATIVE), played a couple of shows in October and has a string of dates booked in 2021.

Durbin, who recorded two studio albums with QUIET RIOT — 2017's "Road Rage" and 2019's "Hollywood Cowboys" — during his three-year stint with the group, spoke about his former bandmates' decision to keep playing during a new interview with Metal Express Radio.

"I wish them all the best," James said (see video below). "They're great guys. Frankie's last wish was for the band to continue, and I hope they do. If the band can continue without [original QUIET RIOT singer] Kevin [DuBrow] and [former QUIET RIOT members] Rudy [Sarzo] and Carlos [Cavazo], who's to say it can't continue without Frankie? It's a band, and it's the music, and the music lives on.

"There's cover bands that have cruises — there's cover bands that have their own cruise. FOREIGNER is a cover band, and they have tons of hits — they've got, like, 17 Number Ones and, on occasion, a single original member [when they play live] and still sell out the Hollywood Bowl.

"But, yeah, I wish them all the best. It's classic music, and if it's good — which it is — it'll continue."

According to James, very few QUIET RIOT fans "knew who any of us were" at the shows that he played with the band. "There's people when Frankie wasn't playing with us, when we had Johnny Kelly with us, who is playing with them now, from DANZIG and TYPE O NEGATIVE, my last tours with them were with Johnny Kelly and with Mike Dupke from W.A.S.P. and Dee Snider, and there were so many — not with Mike, 'cause he looks completely different — but with Johnny, there were people, like, 'What's up, Frankie? Great show tonight,'" he said. "And it's Johnny Kelly — he's, like, two feet taller and 25 years younger.

"I never tried to look like Kevin, so I never got anybody saying, 'Great show tonight, Kevin,'" he continued. "People know that Kevin passed and respect that. But just making it a point to bring that energy and that affection for what you're doing in that moment. I didn't wanna just stand up there and go through the motions; I really wanted to treat each show like it was its own moment and reach out to the fans. And if it required twirling the mic stand and catching it in your teeth or any of that stuff, if it takes another extra trip to the dentist or something, it's worth it for the show. You've gotta bring that to the music, 'cause that's what it was born and bred in."

In September 2019, QUIET RIOT parted ways with Durbin and replaced him with Jizzy Pearl. Pearl previously fronted QUIET RIOT from 2013 until October 2016, when he was briefly replaced by Seann Nichols, who played only five shows with the group before the March 2017 arrival of "American Idol" finalist Durbin.

Banali resurrected QUIET RIOT in 2010, three years after the death of DuBrow.

QUIET RIOT went through two vocalists — Mark Huff and Scott Vokoun — before Pearl's first three-year run with the band.

QUIET RIOT initially featured the late guitar legend Randy Rhoads and went through some early lineup shifts before securing the musicians that recorded "Metal Health".

Durbin will release the debut album from his solo band, DURBIN, "The Beast Awakens", on February 12 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Wymer Publishing will release "Denim And Leather: Saxon's First Ten Years" on June 11.

"Denim And Leather" is 250 pages of biker metal hail after hail, with two four-page photo sections, loads of fresh interview content, all the facts and dates and even some of the hot disputes.

Now that there is no more MOTÖRHEAD, it's up to IRON MAIDEN and SAXON to uphold the fine tradition of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, something both bands have been doing for over 40 years now. Indeed, 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of SAXON's landmark "Wheels Of Steel" album, a record celebrated in this book with much reverence and many pints of ale clinked between headbangers clad in both denim and leather.

Of course, there is more than that but not everything! Indeed, "Denim And Leather: Saxon's First Ten Years" focuses on the band's golden era, SAXON's prodigious first decade of output. "Saxon", "Wheels Of Steel", "Strong Arm Of The Law", "Denim And Leather", "Power & The Glory", "Crusader", "Innocence Is No Excuse", "Rock The Nations" and "Destiny" each are dedicated standalone chapters, inside of which Martin Popoff deconstructs every song across both sides of the original vinyl, while not forgetting bonus tracks and B-sides, as well as the live material along the way, including the beloved "The Eagle Has Landed" album.

It's a glory-bound SAXON-fest that is long overdue, and it is the hope of the author that at the end of this sometimes-critical examination that the reader returns to these records with new reflections on the NWOBHM and some of the detrimental things that came after for many bands, the heroes of our story included.