In a new interview with Australia's "Everblack" podcast, former JUDAS PRIEST and current KK'S PRIEST vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens was asked if he has any plans to write an autobiography. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've never been offered it. I'm not writing a book unless I get paid money, 'cause they loosely made a movie about me; I didn't get paid nothing for that. So, they would have to pay me some money. But I don't know how to do it 'cause I don't wanna… I'll probably hurt some feelings doing that book. But I won't spill all the beans. I might be in trouble if I spill all the beans."

He continued: "I would be nice about it. But it is a great story, isn't it? I mean, it's an amazing story. And it's continued to be. I love when people go, 'What have you done since JUDAS PRIEST?' More? I don't know. I've toured the world more. I've played in front of the same amount of crowds, sold more records. This is all after JUDAS PRIEST. So I think it's pretty crazy when someone says, 'What have you done?' Or they diss me by saying, 'Oh, the guy that used to be somebody.' I'm, like, 'What do you mean used…?' I'm doing more now than I ever did in my life. So it's kind of, like, 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

"I've done a lot," Owens added. "I said I've been fired from more bands than people have been in, so it's kind of funny. But, yeah, I've met so many great people. And I always say JUDAS PRIEST was my college, and they opened up the door for me to make a living out of it. And I've worked hard at trying to make sure I'm in top form and ready to go."

Asked what 2025 will look like for him after he tours Australia with his solo band, Tim said: "Well, I think I leave on February 4th to get there. I think I come back like March 11th here. And then I go to Central America. I can't remember where I'm going. Then I'm probably gonna do South America. And a little bit of everything going on. So, I may be working on some [new] KK'S PRIEST [music]. I have to work on a new solo full-length. 'Cause I did RIPPER 'Return To Death Row' [EP] — two years ago it came out, I think. And so the goal is to work on a full-length now… [HATEBREED's] Jamey Jasta is supposed to be getting me some material that he has going on, 'cause he did the first record, the first one. It's a little heavier. So I'm just waiting for him to get back to me."

The 2001 Warner Bros. movie "Rock Star", starring Mark Wahlberg as a salesman-turned-rock star, was loosely based on Owens, who fronted a JUDAS PRIEST cover band before being tapped to become the new lead singer of the actual group.

Asked in a 2014 interview with Russia's Classic Rock magazine how much of "Rock Star" was styled after him, Tim said: "When they first [got the idea to do] the 'Rock Star' movie [under its original name 'Metal God'], it was really gonna be about me. And then JUDAS PRIEST pulled away from it, because they didn't like some things. So [the producers] really made their own movie, I think. The similarities were that I auditioned for JUDAS PRIEST and I sang one line of a song and hit a note and made the band. But then a lot of the things, they kind of went out… I mean, I wasn't that kind of fan when I made the band, because I was that kind of crazy kid in high school in the '80s. But this was 1996, so I wasn't living at my parents' with posters on the walls. I mean, it was still pretty cool. I mean, to have a movie loosely based on you is pretty cool."

Regarding whether it was ironic that the "Rock Star" movie became almost prophetic in the sense that Mark Wahlberg's character in the film ends up playing small clubs with his own material after the band's original lead singer rejoins the group, Owens said: "For me, the movie was almost [like real life]. Rob [Halford] came back [to JUDAS PRIEST], which was good for me, to be honest. My career, I went on to do a lot of stuff. It was better for the band, it was better for Rob. So it was kind of funny. I think I became a little bit bigger than the coffee shop singer that Mark Wahlberg was in the movie in the end, just playing there. I still get to play in front of thousands of people in Russia. But it is similar how he went on to do his own thing."

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 after being discovered when PRIEST drummer Scott Travis was given a videotape of Tim performing with the PRIEST cover band BRITISH STEEL. JUDAS PRIEST at the time was seeking a replacement for Halford, who has since rejoined the band. Asked in an interview with The Vinyl Guide podcast what kind of advice or preparation he had for stepping into those shoes, Owens said: "Well, listen, I was confident. They were confident with my voice. I knew some fans wouldn't like me, but I also knew that I could sing really good, and I could sing really good live. One advantage I felt I had as a singer was I could sing what I recorded in the studio; whatever I recorded, I'm gonna be able to sing that live. And I felt when fans came to the show, they would be happy that they have someone who's coming in the JUDAS PRIEST that could still keep the voice going. So if someone didn't like me, there's nothing I could do. K.K. [Downing, then-PRIEST guitarist] used to always say, ''The proof is in the pudding. Come to the show and see.' And I think a lot of people used to come to the shows and they just couldn't wait to hate me. They hated me showing up and wanted me to fail. And so many of 'em, I'd win 'em over when I started singing, because they could tell that I loved it; I loved what I was singing, and I wanted to do the songs justice. So I always felt confident."

Addressing the fact that the two albums PRIEST recorded with Owens — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — sold poorly, and he was ultimately pushed out to clear the way for the return of Halford, Tim said: "It was a really bad time of heavy metal. So it wasn't like I joined them in the heyday. I mean, when Rob left JUDAS PRIEST, they were playing in front of a couple thousand people on the 'Painkiller' tour, a lot of shows So, it really wasn't a great time of heavy metal. So I understood that, and I understood people would want Rob back. But all I cared about was getting on stage and sound[ing good]. I just wanted the band to be happy and me to be happy with me doing it. That's all I worried about."

He added: "I know a lot of the the musicians at the time, especially the hair metal bands, because hair metal was gone at that time, they hated me in L.A., 'cause they were, like, 'Who's this guy? He comes from Akron, Ohio. What's he done? How's he here?' And I still am the same Ohio guy, [with the] same friends. I have the same attitude. And all of us are the same. I tell musicians this all the time: we're all the same. I mean, nothing different."

Asked if he had any sort of communication or relation with Halford at that time, Owens said: "No, just in the press. They always tried to get us to say mean things and bad things. And every now and then, one of us would say something. Now, this was pre-Internet. So, I couldn't imagine doing that nowadays, how screwed up it would be. But, no, because there was a respect. I don't think Rob liked me much, probably at the time, because someone's going to his band, his songs and singing this, but we always had this respect. And when we met each other, we always had great talks. And I think it made a lot of people mad that we liked each other. I think it made a lot of people mad, and I think it still does. But whenever I've seen him, I love talking to him, and he knows what's going on with me, and he's, like, 'Oh, I see that you're playing in Russia,' whatever."

Tim continued: "Back in those days, [journalists] would have the old tape recorder hidden. Now they could just turn their phone on, and no one would know it. But you would do an interview, and then they go, 'All right, the interview's over.' And then they'd turn the tape recorder off, but they'd have another one going in their pocket trying to get you to say stuff. And you know this, doing interviews, you get people to feel comfortable so you talk like you're friends. And then you just start saying stuff. And I put my foot in my mouth a few times. Oh, now I do all the time, because now — I always do."

In 2019, Owens told Ultimate Guitar that he believes his era of JUDAS PRIEST is largely overlooked. "Yeah, I think it definitely deserves more [attention]," he said. "I mean, they don't do anything. [Laughs] It's kind of amazing that they just totally erased it that they won't play... I mean, 'Burn In Hell' [off 'Jugulator'], the crowd would like to hear 'Burn In Hell'.

"They don't have to give me a tribute or anything, but it would be nice to play a song from... You know, that was a pretty big thing, I did two studio records, two live records, and a DVD, starting from '96 to 2004. So it's kind of crazy that it's just been erased and they won't even play a song from it live, because it is JUDAS PRIEST."

"Demolition" and "Jugulator" are included on "50 Heavy Metal Years Of Music", JUDAS PRIEST's limited-edition box set which contains every official live and studio album to date plus 13 unreleased discs. Released in October 2021, it is the most extensive release of previously unreleased music the band has made from its vast archives.

In a new interview with Australia's The Rockpit, Max Cavalera spoke about his decision to revive his NAILBOMB project for a November 9, 2024 performance at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona as part of the SOULFLY-headlined "Max Cavalera Dynasty Show". In October, it was announced that NAILBOMB will also perform at this year's Alcatraz festival in Kortrijk, Belgium and at the Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Park in Derbyshire, United Kingdom.

NAILBOMB's lone studio album, 1994's "Point Blank". "Point Blank" saw the then-SEPULTURA frontman team up with FUDGE TUNNEL's Alex Newport for a dense, industrialized offering that included a variety of samples and punk rock influences.

Regarding the decision to bring NAILBOMB back, Max said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "NAILBOMB kind of came out of nowhere. We realized that this is 30 years since 'Point Blank' came out, and it came out the same year as [SEPULTURA's] 'Chaos A.D.' So we thought we'd kind of celebrate also that, because that NAILBOMB record is very special for me. It taught me a lot. It taught me about [how to] be more free in the studio, be less fearful, experiment with different sounds and sonic ideas and not be afraid of technology and industrial elements, [and] actually combine all that. So I carry that NAILBOMB record real close to my heart in many ways. It's a very, very cool record that it has aged very well too. If you put the record on right now, it sounds amazing today as it did [back then]. And the topics are so relevant right now — 'World Of Shit' and 'Religious Cancer' and '24 Hour Bullshit'. It's now, man. It's what the world is at right now. It's crazy that it's more relevant now than when we made the record. So we're gonna work a little bit touring some festivals in Europe with NAILBOMB."

Cavalera went on to say that "Point Blank" is "definitely one of my favorite albums that I was part of. And, yeah, it's cool that in my career, I get to do these things. To me, it's really cool. 'Cause I get to make new music with SOULFLY and KILLER BE KILLED and GO AHEAD AND DIE, which I will do more music with them. But I also get to celebrate some of my old stuff as well. I don't forget about those either, 'cause those are very special. So it's cool. I get to really enjoy all the creative forces in my life and put them into action. Instead of just looking at them as something that just happened in the past and doesn't happen anymore, I get to actually do things with them that makes it exciting to be a musician."

NAILBOMB's lineup for the "Max Cavalera Dynasty Show" included three guitarists, Max, Max's son Igor Amadeus Cavalera and Travis Stone. The three previously took part in the CAVALERA "Third World Trilogy" tour in Europe. Travis is also the guitarist of PIG DESTROYER. Johny Chow, formerly of STONE SOUR, FIREBALL MINISTRY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, handled the bass duties for NAILBOMB. Alex Cha, of PIG DESTROYER, was on sampler and Adam Jarvis, of MISERY INDEX and PIG DESTROYER, bashed the drums.

The sonic love child of Max and Newport, this 1994 one-off album from their NAILBOMB union showcased dense, industrialized heaviness, seething with all-out punk aggression. In 13 tracks, the revered duo — crediting SEPULTURA alumni Andreas Kisser and Igor Cavalera, as well as FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares as players on the final product — managed to make an angry masterpiece that meets in the middle of what both SEPULTURA and FUDGE TUNNEL were doing at the time. But as for the visual representation of "Point Blank", the war-time photo of a Viet Cong woman with a gun to her head proves just as striking as the devastatingly heavy music within its sleeve.

Max told TeamRock in 2016 about "Point Blank": "It's just such a pissed off album. Me and Alex were pissed at everything and decided to make a real fuck-the-world 'hate project.' It is one of the most 'fuck-you' albums of all time; it aims at everything, and destroys everything. So, that'd be cool — to be remembered as a person who came here to fuck shit up, NAILBOMB's perfect!"

Max previously talked about NAILBOMB last November in an interview with Sense Music Media. He said at the time: "I love that record so much. I think 'Point Blank' is by far one of my favorite records of all time. It was just a blast to make it. Of course we really didn't care for anything. We just wanted to make a brutal, pissed off record full of industrial sounds and samplers and riffage. And it's crazy that NAILBOMB is 30 years old next year, and we're actually gonna come and do some festivals in Europe in the summer. It's great. I love it. I think it's one of those records that would be a shame not to play live because it's so good. I don't feel the necessity to re-record the NAILBOMB record, but I feel that live it needs to be played. People need to hear NAILBOMB."

Touching upon the musical and lyrical relevance of the NAILBOMB effort, Max said: "In a weird way, 'Point Blank' was almost prophetic. The stuff we were singing about is what's happening right now in the world, unfortunately. You've got stuff like '24 Hour Bullshit' with media. You have 'Sick Life' with the drug problem. You have 'Guerrillas' with the war in the Ukraine. Even the chorus of 'Guerrillas', it's eerie: 'Away from home, learn to hate, die for the land, fucking waste.' I think that's how those Russian kids must feel like right now going to Ukraine. Yeah, it's a prophetic album that is actually more relevant now than when it first came out. It's crazy."

IFM RAW has uploaded video of SIX FEET UNDER's entire January 10 concert at The Abbey in Orlando, Florida during the band's U.S. tour with NILE, PSYCROPTIC and EMBRYONIC AUTOPSY. Check it out in the YouTube playlist below.

On Saturday (January 11),SIX FEET UNDER frontman Chris Barnes took to his Instagram to write: "About 4 shows in on this US Tour and mannn this has been so amazing !!! All the fans our crew the other bands and crew nothing but love.

"I'm so blessed to be back out on the road and so thankful to you all and everyone that helped make it happen…our agents TKO, Metal Blade Records and everyone in between!! making some new friends and seeing people I haven't seen in years :)

"On a side note last nights show in Orlando was one of the top five greatest shows/performances in my life I'm still in awe as to how killer last night was.. don't miss this tour!!!!!!!!!!"

SIX FEET UNDER's fourteenth studio album, "Killing For Revenge", was released in May 2024 through Metal Blade Records.

"I chose the title 'Killing For Revenge' after we completed writing and noticed that all the lyrics and storylines had a common theme of revenge. Revenge by human or revenge by nature," Barnes previously said. "The album title describes the flow of the stories within the lyrics perfectly."

"Killing For Revenge" marks the second album that Barnes and guitarist Jack Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) have created together since reuniting for 2020's "Nightmares Of The Decomposed". Owen also produced "Killing For Revenge".

"We worked well together in CANNIBAL CORPSE," recalled Barnes. "I loved him to death as a friend and a musician, so I'm really comfortable giving him the reins because I just have such great respect for him as an artist."

SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, CANNIBAL CORPSE. It became the frontman's sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, "Haunted". Only Barnes remains from SIX FEET UNDER's original incarnation, with Chris and Jack joined in the band's current lineup by guitarist Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzzella.

While Barnes is the sole remaining member, SIX FEET UNDER is about more than he and Owen. The singer is thrilled with the current lineup, and what each member brings to the table. "Jeff and Marco have been with me for about 10 years," Barnes said. "I'm really fortunate that I have probably the best musicians in metal. If you look at it, we have the same amount of original members as CANNIBAL CORPSE. Jeff is a killer bass player. Marco's probably the best drummer out there. Jack's the greatest songwriter I've ever been involved with over the 30-plus years I've been doing music professionally. And Ray is just a phenomenal guitarist who can play everything from jazz to death metal. The lineup now is untouchable."

"Killing For Revenge", which features a guest appearance by guitarist Jason Suecof on "Neanderthal", was mixed and mastered by Chaz Najjar at Badlands Recording in Denver, Colorado. The record was released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl.

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King and his new solo band will hit the road for the 28-date North American headline tour in early 2025. With MUNICIPAL WASTE as special guest and ALIEN WEAPONRY supporting, the tour is set to launch in San Francisco on January 15, 2025, and wrap at House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 22.

King and MUNICIPAL WASTE guitarist Ryan Waste caught up over Zoom to discuss the tour and much more for Heavy Consequence's "Two For The Road" video series. Speaking about the upcoming trek, Kerry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We jump at the chance to tour anywhere. So, we were lucky enough to do the MASTODON/LAMB OF GOD summer [2024] run in the sheds. That was really cool because those dudes, we had a big part in both those bands' early history, so for them to reciprocate and give me a shot, I thought that was super cool and super humbling. So that was rad. But now we get to come back and headline the States."

Referencing the fact that he has been living in Manhattan for the past three years and that three of his bandmates in his solo group — guitarist Phil Demmel, drummer Paul Bostaph and vocalist Mark Osegueda — live in the San Francisco Bay Area, King added: "We haven't played in New York City yet. And that's my new hometown, so that's weird. We haven't played the Bay Area yet. So we're gonna be hitting some places for the first time in this band, which is gonna be awesome for the hometowners like Phil, Paul and Mark from the Bay area and me from New York City. And then all the places I've called home — L.A., we're playing L.A. We finish up in [Las] Vegas. So I will be seeing a lot of friends on this run, and everybody's fired up."

As for which songs King might add to his band's set on the upcoming headlining tour, Kerry said: "[I'm] still working on the setlist and set length because I don't want people to get burned out with two heavy hitters playing in front of us. I don't wanna stay up there too long because when you play thrash, I feel there is a limit to how long you should play."

King also talked about how touring has changed in the four decades since SLAYER hit the road for the first time. He said: "I've been doing this so long. When we started out, in the very beginning we had a U-Haul and maybe my van. And then when we went out on our first U.S. run, we had a U-Haul and Tom's [Araya, SLAYER bassist/vocalist] Camaro. Then we graduated to a U-Haul and a passenger van. And we were all taking turns driving the stupid thing back then. And then, with [SLAYER's] 'Reign In Blood' [album], we finally got a bus, and we had never even considered it before. We were, like, 'Oh, yeah. I guess we made it 'cause we got a bus and we can get hotel rooms and we can get our own hotel room. We don't gotta room together.' So, that was a graduation back then. And now, one of the things I didn't wanna come back too early for is because I wanted all the nonsense from COVID to go away. I wanted all the promoters and venues to get through all the stuff that I didn't wanna have to feel out again. I just wanted all that to go by before we came back."

King added: "One bad thing that people may not know and why ticket prices are so high these days is because when the pandemic came around, all that shit exploded. Everything went up [in terms of cost] — buses went up and everything just plateaued. And then when we started touring again, the buses and everything stayed expensive. So, you can curse promoters and venues all you want, but it costs money to come around, unfortunately. And it's not as cheap as it was five years ago, by far. So it's cush, it's comfortable, we'll have a good time, but it's all a means to what the poor fans have to pay at the end of the day."

King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", was released in May 2024. All material for the LP was written by the 60-year-old SLAYER guitarist. Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles last year was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.

Joining Kerry in his new band are Osegueda, Demmel, Kyle Sanders (bass; HELLYEAH) and Bostaph.

In early May 2024, the KERRY KING band performed its first live show at Reggies in Chicago. In the days following, the band went from playing an intimate venue to performing at the huge U.S. festivals Welcome To Rockville (Florida) and Sonic Temple (Ohio).

KERRY KING launched a European tour on June 3, 2024 — King's 60th birthday – in Tilburg, The Netherlands. The trek combined headline shows in the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain but also festival appearances such as Rock Am Ring, Hellfest, Tuska, Download, Sweden Rock Festival and many more.

The SLAYER guitarist's solo band played its first concert as the support act for LAMB OF GOD and MASTODON on July 19 at the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas. The six-week "Ashes Of Leviathan" tour wrapped on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

In a recent interview with the Milwaukee radio station 102.9 The HOG, DISTURBED drummer Mike Wengren spoke about what it was like for him and his bandmates to open for IRON MAIDEN on November 20, 2024 in Mexico City. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was a bucket list [experience]. It was amazing. We've got to play with so many of the legends [over the course of our career], and that was one of the few left, honestly. So, to be able to cap that off and then roll into [the DISTURBED headlining tour celebrating] 25 years [of the band's debut album, 'The Sickness' in 2025] is pretty awesome."

Regarding how DISTURBED ended up landing the support slot for IRON MAIDEN in Mexico, Mike said: "We're in the middle of doing all kinds of stuff. We've been playing a handful of shows. We've actually been in the studio working on new music. No updates with that yet. It's still in the process. We had small windows, so we try to take advantage of it when we can. But we get an e-mail from management and they're, like, 'Hey, guess what? IRON MAIDEN just called and wanted to know if you wanna play Mexico City.' We're, like, 'Uh, yeah. I guess we'll put everything else on hold. Let's go.' I mean, that was a no-brainer."

 Wengren also talked about DISTURBED's interactions with the members of MAIDEN, saying: "We got to talk to Bruce [Dickinson, MAIDEN singer], actually, at the hotel. We were there for a few days earlier and they showed up. Me and Dan [Donegan, DISTURBED guitarist] were actually sitting at the hotel bar just having a drink and he walks in, and we're, like, 'Whoa, there he is. Oh my god.' And then he comes up and he's, like, 'Hey, how are you guys doing?' We were trying not to fanboy."

Last October, DISTURBED announced the 34-date "The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour", which will kick off in Nampa, Idaho on February 25, 2025 and is produced by Live Nation. The tour celebrates 25 years of DISTURBED's seminal debut album which launched the band into public consciousness and is one of the most important and influential heavy metal albums of all time. Each night will feature two sets of music, opening with DISTURBED playing the five times platinum "The Sickness" in full, followed by a full set of greatest hits. The first half of the tour will feature support from special guests THREE DAYS GRACE, featuring the return of original singer Adam Gontier, and opener SEVENDUST, and the second half will feature special guests DAUGHTRY with opener NOTHING MORE.

Since "The Sickness" was released in 2000, the album was certified five times platinum by the RIAA, spent a total of 106 weeks on the US Billboard 200 chart, and Revolver named it one of "Top 25 Debut Hard Rock Albums." Billboard said of the title track upon release: "'Down With The Sickness' is, of course, the quintessential DISTURBED song, harnessing all the band's seethe and its now-famous tribal beat and guitar chug into three and a half minutes of alt-metal mayhem. It's menacing, it's rhythmic, it's rebellious."

Emerging out of Chicago at the turn of the century with an insidious, infectious, and inimitable vision without comparison, DISTURBED have quietly dominated hard rock on their own terms. They make the kind of music that pushes you to hold on tighter, fight harder, and persevere forever. It's why they've claimed a place at the forefront of 21st century rock with record-breaking success, sales of over 17 million-plus units, nearly 8 billion streams, and sold out shows around the globe. The band have six RIAA album certifications, and singles from all eight albums have reached the top ten of the Mainstream Rock chart.

The two-time Grammy Award-nominated quartet have notched five consecutive #1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 for "Believe", "Ten Thousand Fists", "Indestructible" and "Asylum", occupying rarified air alongside METALLICA — the only other hard rock group to accomplish this feat. Since their influential five-times-platinum debut "The Sickness" in 2000, they have built a bulletproof catalog highlighted by a procession of smashes, including the platinum "Stupify", "Inside The Fire" and "Land of Confusion", two-times-platinum "Stricken", six-times-platinum "Down With The Sickness" and seven-times-platinum "The Sound Of Silence", to name a few. The latter notably received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of "Best Rock Performance" as the band earned "Best Rock Artist" at the 2017 iHeartRadioMusic Awards. Still, DISTURBED never stop, and their most recent 2022 album "Divisive" featured their 17th No. 1 at Rock Radio "Hey You", "Unstoppable" and more.

Borna & Mandy’s Christmas Show 2025

SteelTank Brewing Co. Mike Wengren of Disturbed joins Borna & Mandy for their annual Christmas Extravaganza Show!

Posted by 102.9 The HOG on Thursday, December 19, 2024

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King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, have served up a performance of the Foo Fighters hit, "Everlong" for Sunday Lunch.





Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) recently announced the Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster® Deluxe, the new American-made signature model from Chris Shiflett - lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters, solo artist, and host of the podcast, Shred With Shifty.




Night after night, Shiflett carves his way through a full brigade of guitar tones on the biggest, loudest stages in the world, and this tour-tested guitar is named "The Cleaver" for a reason - it positively slashes through the mix with a voice that snarls dirty as well as it sings clean. Previously available only as a Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Artist offering, the new Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster® Deluxe is a stripped-down rock machine built for high-octane live performance.





With more than 25 years in the music industry, Chris Shiflett is a true punk rock veteran and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. As a pivotal member of the Foo Fighters, Shiflett has played a crucial role in shaping modern rock, contributing to highly praised albums like One by One, Wasting Light, and Concrete and Gold, while earning multiple Grammy Awards along the way. His musical journey also includes stints with prominent California punk bands like No Use For a Name and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, alongside his Country Rock solo work. Known for his love of Fender Telecaster® guitars, particularly his cherished 1972 Tele® Deluxe, Shiflett is a versatile artist, whether making records and touring the world with Foo Fighters or exploring a range of musical directions with his solo band.


“We put a lot of love and research into creating the American made version of my signature model, The Cleaver,” said Shiflett on his new Signature guitar. “It’s been road-tested, dropped on its head, kicked around, x-rayed, strummed, chicken-picked, and arpeggio swept! I’m excited to announce we’ve made a great guitar that's adaptable to all situations. Can’t wait to get this into the hands of players everywhere!"


Available in Dakota Red or Charcoal Frost Metallic finishes, the Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster® Deluxe’s resonant alder body lays the perfect foundation for bone-rattling, stadium-ready tones. Dressed up in a nitrocellulose lacquer finish, this alder body also has a "belly cut” for superior comfort during the longest sets. Built for speed, the 25.5” scale maple neck features a 12” radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets for fiery leads and silky bends. Pearloid block inlays add a touch of unexpected class, whilst two Custom Chris Shiflett "Cleaver" Noiseless™ CS-90 pickups pair powerful output with the throaty midrange punch and singing highs of a vintage single coil, all without hum. The "F"-s

In a new interview with DJ Ramo (a.k.a. Omar Rodriguez) of The Metal Mixtape, GOD FORBID frontman Byron Davis was asked if there have been any conversations between him and his bandmates about new music. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've had an initial conversation like that. And I'm trying to bring back those conversations.

"We all live separate lives," he explained. "Two members have full functioning families, so if we're gonna do something, it has to make sense. Unfortunately, we're not at a stage where we have a stockpile of money to make these things happen, so we have to be fiscally responsible every time we decide to do this, to see if it financially makes sense to do it. It's not like a band that dissolved and everybody still lives in the same area. We're scattered across the U.S. now. So all that comes into play.

"As long as people really want to come see us, I'm more than happy to get out there, but it has to make sense. Because I'm not gonna jeopardize the future of my personal [life] that I had to rebuild. And I don't expect anyone or know that anyone else in the band to do the same for themselves. We have to be smart about it, and it needs to make sense.

"I think that until we get new music, anything more is just playing… It's not really playing ourselves out. It's just… Dude, I want new music," Byron added. "The dudes in the band want new music. I'd rather spend the time writing music than playing shows at this point, to be honest. I wanna get out there and have something new. Yeah, we have a couple of B-sides that no one's ever heard, but I wanna have new current music. So, we'll see what happens. Everyone has schedules. And then GOD FORBID is not one of those bands that just throws anything together. When we write, we take our time and we write. Luckily for us, everyone in our band is about integrity, so they're not just gonna throw out some slop. So, it's gonna have to go through the gauntlet a couple of times before parts get cemented as the parts. And then from there, then we'll put it together, run some demos. I already started speaking to my man that produced a lot of the material that we did, on the vocal tip. So when we do some material, it's gonna be a record worthy of being called a GOD FORBID record; it's not just gonna be thrown together. So if it takes a little bit longer, it's worth it. Nah, man, we can't be coming in with that bullshit. We've gotta stamp it with the GOD FORBID. It can't be less than; it's gotta be greater than. We've got a we got a back catalog that stands the test of time, and the new shit needs to stand the test of time as well. So that's how we go into the writing process."

GOD FORBID, a New Jersey-based band which helped pioneer the metalcore and New Wave Of American Heavy Metal sound in the late '90s and early '00s along with acts like LAMB OF GOD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and SHADOWS FALL, broke up in 2013. The band reunited in 2022 for the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Virginia.

GOD FORBID performed more reunion shows in December 2024 celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's breakout album, "Gone Forever".

GOD FORBID's performance at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in September 2022 at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia marked the band's first live appearance in over nine years.

GOD FORBID's lineup for its recent concerts has included Doc Coyle (guitar),Byron Davis (vocals),Corey Pierce (drums) and John "Beeker" Outcalt (bass),along with Nick Hipa (guitar; ex-AS I LAY DYING),who joined the group in July 2022.

GOD FORBID officially called it quits in August 2013 following Doc's departure.

GOD FORBID's latest album, "Equilibrium", was released in March 2012 via Victory Records. The bulk of the CD was recorded by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM),with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) stepping in during the the vocal-tracking stage. The effort was mixed by acclaimed Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH.

"Equilibrium" sold 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 156 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 7 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Photo courtesy of Headbangers Boat

The great tragedy of self-consciousness, that terrible and wonderful spark that makes us uniquely human, is the knowledge of our own mortality. That knowledge that one day, everything we have done, everything we are, and everything we love will succumb to the inevitable fading into nonexistence is a curse and our blessing.


"Fade To Blue," the title track from Bastion Rose's debut EP, captures the essence of resilience and transformation. Produced by three-time Grammy award-winning producer David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, Godsmack) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Dream Theater), this song is a journey through raw emotion, blending powerful rock riffs, soulful vocals, and intricate melodies.


The video visually reflects the song’s themes of loss, renewal, and self-discovery, mirroring the poignant and personal experiences that shaped the track.




"Fade To Blue" is more than a song—it's an anthem for anyone who has faced life's hardships and emerged stronger. Let the sound and imagery pull you in and leave you inspired.


Watch the official video for "Fade To Blue" below:





Bastion Rose's story is nothing short of extraordinary, a testament to the resilience and creative fire that fuels their music. In just two years, frontman Austin Frink has transformed from a musician battling the uncertainty of ever regaining his singing voice after a life-altering surgery into the driving force behind Bastion Rose. The band's name itself embodies the transient nature of existence and the significance of cherishing every moment. Their debut EP, Fade To Blue, is a testament to their unwavering spirit and artistic passion.

On August 10, 2024, Canadian melodic metal legends, Unleash The Archers, stormed the stage at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival, delivering a breathtaking performance that left the crowd roaring for more. Known for their unique fusion of power metal, melodic death metal, and progressive influences, this band continues to push boundaries and redefine the genre.


One of the standout moments from the set was their explosive rendition of "Ghosts In The Mist". This song perfectly encapsulates the band’s ability to weave haunting melodies with thunderous rhythms and Brittney Slayes' unparalleled vocal range. Whether you're a seasoned fan or just discovering their music, this track is sure to resonate with you.


Watch pro-shot video of the band's performance of "Ghosts In The Mist" below:







Unleash The Archers released their sixth studio album, Phantoma, last May via Napalm Records.


Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, and with lead guitarist Andrew Kingsley at the helm as both principal songwriter and producer, Phantoma is an exciting advancement in Unleash The Archers’ songwriting and storytelling mastery, and a giant leap forward in th

Rock Duck Radio producer Mark Christopher Garrett has shared a Wake Of Magellan, Special Edition Tribute to Paul O'Neill via YouTube. Check it out below.


"This Savatage Wake of Magellan Special Edition features a behind-the-scenes Making Of featurette with the band, producers and sound engineers to take you deep into the process. This Savatage Special Edition also features the full album with animated cover art. And to wrap it all up, we have some great Savatage Wake Of Magellan live performances. This is a tribute to the great musical visionary storyteller, Paul O'Neill." 


Making of Featurette:
- On the streets with Johnny Lee Middleton and Chris Caffery
- Paul O'Neill
- In the studio with Jon Oliva and David Whitman




Savatage - Wake of Magellan 
"The Ocean"
"Welcome" 
"Turns To Me"
"Morning Sun"
"Another Way"
"Blackjack Guillotine"
"Paragons Of Innocence"
"Complaint In The System"
"Underture"
"The Wake Of Magellan"
"Anymore"
"The Storm"
"The Hourglass"


Bonus Audio Tracks:
"Somewhere In Time / Alone You Breathe"
"Sleep"
"Stay"


Live Bonus Video Tracks:
"The Ocean"
"Welcome"
"Turns To Me"
"Morning Sun"
"The Wake Of Magellan"





The legendary Savatage (Johnny Lee Middleton - bass, Chris Caffery - guitars, Al Pitrelli - guitars, Jeff Plate - drums, and Zak Stevens - vocals) have announced tour dates across Europe for summer 2025, with a mix of festival appearances and headline shows.


Says Zak Stevens: "As you can imagine, there are so many special things about these shows that are racing through my mind. We get to play a series of headline shows for the first time in over twenty years that will put us right back in front of all of the unbelievable fans who have given us so many unforgettable memories over the last three decades. Here’s our chance to directly give back to everyone who’s been there supporting us all these years! All the great festival shows are going to be off-the-charts amazing. It’s even hard to imagine the scale of excitement that’s going to take place with those shows."


Savatage mastermind Jon Oliva expressed his disappointment at not being able to join the band for the shows, but shared his excitement, stating: "I am very excited for the guys to be doing some

In a new interview with "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of Pod Scum, Mick Sweda spoke about THE ROCKETT MAFIA, his new band featuring POISON's Rikki Rockett on drums, Brandon Gibbs (DEVIL CITY ANGELS) on vocals and guitar, and Bryan Kimes on bass and backing vocals. Asked if THE ROCKETT MAFIA's initial live performances will see the quartet performing cover songs or originals, Mick, who previously played with the BULLETBOYS, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we're starting out with covers. We're kind of leaning toward a '70s sort of vibe, things that that [Rikki] and I grew up with. But we're making sure there are songs that we love and are passionate about. And we've got some shows booked — I think we're playing the Whisky [A Go Go] in February of this year here in L.A., and we've got some fly-outs coming after that."

He continued: "But, yeah, it's real fun. We're having a great time with it. The singer Brandon is coming in today, so we're actually gonna really kind of hone in on how this is gonna be. But it's energetic, and we're putting our little imprint on the songs, which is something that I would insist on in any circumstance. So I think it's gonna be a lot of fun. And that's kind of what we wanna do — we just wanna keep it high energy and entertaining and fun and live."

Rockett and Gibbs played their first show as THE ROCKETT MAFIA in May 2024 at the end of The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride motorcycle charity event in Santa Monica, California. They were joined at the gig by guitarist Brent Woods (SEBASTIAN BACH, CHEVY METAL) and bassist Wiley Hodgden.

Rockett and Gibbs previously played together in a band called DEVIL CITY ANGELS, also featuring guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS) and bassist Eric Brittingham (CINDERELLA). The band released its self-titled debut album in September 2015. Following the recording of "Devil City Angels", Brittingham decided not to continue with the project and his spot was taken by Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE). Around a year later, Rockett, Gibbs and Brittingham joined forces with guitarist Joel Kosche (ex-COLLECTIVE SOUL) to form the LORDS OF DEVIL CITY. Within a few months, Rockett, Gibbs and Brittingham relaunched DEVIL CITY ANGELS, only for Eric to exit the project in the summer of 2017 and be replaced by Topher Nelson. In July 2020, DEVIL CITY ANGELS released a new single, "Testify".

When Rockett and Gibbs first jammed together four months ago in preparation for their appearance at the The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, Rikki wrote on social media: "Last night Brandon and I jammed for the first time in very long time in order to grease the wheels for the show. We rolled through some cover tunes, but when we chomped on a some DEVIL CITY ANGELS tunes we both felt some serious passion come back.

"If you don't know, we put the DEVIL CITY ANGELS together several years back and made what I think is a very good record. Tracii Guns along with Eric Brittingham, Brandon and I, as DEVIL CITY ANGELS, made our way across the country playing shows in a single tour bus and trailer, old school. The steamroller was going well until I got cancer. Then Tracii got asked back into L.A. GUNS, etc, etc. Bottom line, the band sidelined and only ever did a couple more corporate gigs. With the exception of 'The Stadium Tour' and a few sit-ins with CHEVY METAL, I have pretty much stayed away from live performances with other artists. I pretty much have always put my heart and soul into everything I do and I had a passion for the DEVIL CITY ANGELS project.

"This is] not the DEVIL CITY ANGELS and it's not CHEVY METAL, this is THE ROCKETT MAFIA, a jam combo that I may put together from time to time to enjoy my love of Rock 'N' Roll with some of my besties in the rock world."

In early 2019, Gibbs and Rockett were embroiled in a public war of words after Gibbs indicated he was no longer involved with DEVIL CITY ANGELS due to the fact that the band was "inactive." Rikki responded that DEVIL CITY ANGELS "went inactive" because he was diagnosed with cancer and suggested possibly moving on without Brandon. This prompted Gibbs to fire back that he had "never seen someone complain about money, perception and 1st class tickets" as much as Rockett allegedly did, "to the point where it gets in the way of doing anything." The two have since resolved their differences.

Back in 2015, Rockett told Sleaze Roxx about Gibbs: "The thing about Brandon is that he's a young guy but he sounds like he's from the '70s. That's what is so appealing for guys like us. That's the reason that I really wanted Brandon involved with us. Brandon doesn't have any baggage, which is good and he has a lot of experience. He's got a great pedigree."

In 2015, Rockett and Gibbs joined forces with Rikki's POISON bandmates Bobby Dall (bass) and C.C. DeVille (guitar) to play several shows as THE SPECIAL GUESTS in what was widely perceived as a not-so-subtle message to POISON singer Bret Michaels that they weren't willing to remain completely inactive while he pursued a solo career.

Rikki's memoir, "Ghost Notes", will be released on July 15, 2025 via Rare Bird Books. The book was written with writer duo Leif Eriksson and Martin Svensson.

Finnish melodic metal band Unén have shared their new single and accompanying visualizer video, “Sky”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.


Lead singer Stina Girs comments on the track: “A dream of a secret door leading to a world where no one judges, there is no concept of time, you can be everything you want and fantasies are real. You dare to let go of reality. This is all what Sky is about.”







Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Unén are a modern melodic metal band, whose music also incorporates elements ranging from progressive to pop, blending intensity with sensitivity in its sound.


Unén was originally founded in late 2021, laying the foundation for the band's musical style. In 2022, Unén focused on composing and refining production independently, resulting in the release of two self-published tracks. However, after a rollercoaster year, there was a need to change the lineup to accelerate production.


The word "Unén" was derived from the band's original idea that lyrics would be based on the world of dreams. However, due to lineup changes, this concept took a different direction, but the name remained.


In the beginning of 2023, there was a shift in Unén's lineup due to the change of lead singer, which notably accelerated all activities. The band members coming together was a series of fortunate coincidences and determined searches, including encounters with old acquaintances. The right people had found each other.


Unén released their first single "Made of Stone (cover)" in May 2023 with the new lead singer, Stina Girs. She became known during the IDOLS competition in 2011 and subsequently released two albums as a solo artist. The original song by Evanescence inspired

Dutch singer / songwriter Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) has checked in with the following update:


"Hi friends! How’s your new year been so far? I’ve taken a little breather, but now I’m back at it, full speed ahead, preparing for my upcoming shows and projects.


The band and I have been working hard in the studio on music for the new EP, and I can’t wait to share it with you. We’ll be playing the new songs during our Dutch shows in March and April. By the way, tickets are selling fast - De Pul, Uden is already sold out!




Tickets are available

On January 11th, Canadian bashers Kittie celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Spit. They shared the following message and a video from vocalist / guitarist / co-founder, Morgan Lander.


"Today marks the 25th anniversary of the official release of ‘Spit’. What a huge milestone. We had no idea of the impact the album would have on us and others, and as soon as it was released our young lives were forever changed. There’s a few exciting things we have coming up this year in relation to that so stay tuned!"


Kittie initially released Spit via NG Records on November 13, 1999. However, shortly after, NG Records was purchased by Artemis Records and production was halted. The label reissued Spit with different artwork and photographs on January 11, 2000. It is Kittie's most successful album, being certified Gold by the RIAA.









 

 
 

 


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Kittie made a triumphant return in June 2024 with their first album in over 10 years, Fire. Fan-filmed video of their entire show at the Factory in Dallas, TX can be viewed below.


Setlist


"Fire"
"I've Failed You"
"Cut Throat"
"No Name"
"Spit"
"What I Always Wanted"
"Sorrow I Know"
"Look So Pretty"
"Ugly"
"We Are Shadows"
"Into the Darkness"
"Eyes Wide Open"
"Severed"
"Funeral for Yesterday"
"In Winter"
"Vultures"
"Charlotte"
"Mouthful of Poison"
"Brackish"
"We Are the Lamb"
"One Foot in the Grave"
"Do You Think I'm a Whore?"





Kittie released their new album, Fire, on June 21 via Sumerian Records. Pick it up Fire here.





Fire tracklisting:


"Fire"
"I Still Wear This Crown"
"Falter"
"Vultures"
"We Are Shadows"
"Wound"
"One Foot I

In a recent interview with UpAndComingTV's "The UACast", former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked to name the  main lessons that he has learned as part of his personal development throughout everything that he has done. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I think the first thing is try to just be joyful in what you're doing. It's a gift, and we've all got different gifts. Even in a band, there's different gifts. Bass player, don't try to be the drummer. Just stay in your lane. That's one thing. And I think the other thing is if you're a good number one, hire a number two and a three who are better than you. And don't be afraid to get people around you who are better than you, because they will only raise you up. As they say, when the water rises, all boats rise. So, for me, I like to work with the best people I possibly can. And I don't go for the name factor as much as just the best possible people. And some people, just 'cause they haven't had a lucky break to the big time doesn't mean they're not perfectly qualified. And we all get trained and we learn as we go through the process. And so, look, there's nothing replaces experience."

Ellefson continued: "And just try to be grateful — just try to be thankful. Maybe it's 'cause I'm getting a little older now — I don't know — but I've had that mentality the whole time. It's, like, man, we get to play music. I remember one time I had kind of a spirit advisor, sponsor friend of mine, and I was, like, 'Oh, man, I've gotta go to Japan.' He goes, 'Wait, wait, wait. You get to go to Japan.' As he went to his office and worked, I went, 'God, you know what? You're right. I should probably shut up about that.' And it's like, don't make this out like this is some laborious task. 'Oh, I can't believe I have to go to South America again.' It's, like, you get to go play your songs for people all around the world. And it doesn't negate that travel's hard and there's just human things that beat on you a little bit, just the time changes and stuff. But you know what? It's all just a gift, man. And we're not here very long. I've been coming up on 60 years now, and it seems like I was 30 just a couple of weeks ago. I mean, in my heart I still am; I'm still the same guy. But the truth of it is… I was at a museum the other day and it was giving statistics of people. And one of the last statistics is 100 percent of all people die. 100 percent! It's not, like, 'Well, if you do this, you can survive.' No, 100 percent, all die."

Naming another thing he has learned over the years, Ellefson added: "This is a lesson for me, 'cause I don't do it all the time. Travel light — just carry a light load. And I overpack always and I carry too many creature comforts with me. So it's a good lesson for me to just remember that you don't need to have that shit over there. Just travel light, man. And that's really kind of more of just a mindset. Just kind of be ready to go. If the phone rings, go. Keep the bass tuned. Keep your body in good shape. When it comes, go, man."

Ellefson went on to say that it's important for him to pursue projects that he genuinely enjoys rather than involve himself in things just for the sake of making money.

"I had a friend. I asked him, 'Man, should I or shouldn't I,' whatever the thing was," he recalled. "And he asked me, he goes, 'Well, is there money involved? I said, 'Yeah.' He goes, 'Well, first of all, I always take the money out of it. If there's no money involved, would I still go do it?' I said, 'Of course I would.' He goes, 'Then there's your answer.' He goes, 'Don't make it about the money. Just make it about going.' 'Cause every time I've — and I've only done it a couple of times when I've played… You do a gig or something and somebody dangles, 'Oh, there's a lot of money.' And every time I've done it just for the money, there was never enough money. It was always unenjoyable and there was always something behind it that I didn't like about it. So I'd rather just kind of go and do it. Even when I went back to MEGADETH, I was like, 'You know what? Be willing to do this for free. Would you do this for free?' And I was, like, 'You know what? I would.' Now, they paid me, but still — it wasn't about that. It wasn't about a paycheck. It was just about, 'I kind of wanna go back out and play 'Rust In Peace' again. That'd be a lot of fun. That'd be a good time.' And that's how I just tried to always approach that gig."

Last month, Ellefson unveiled a year-end holiday treat in the form of a fresh and dynamic rendition of the 1980s classic "Ah! Leah!" by legendary singer-songwriter Donnie Iris. The track features an impressive lineup, including vocalists Chip Z'nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF) and Stephen Shareaux (KIK TRACEE),along with Drew Fortier (THE LUCID) on guitar and Paolo Caridi on drums.

This updated version of the radio rock favorite is now available on all digital platforms.

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH by Dave Mustaine in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the frontman shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith's wife, Nathalie Dufresne Smith. has revealed via social median that they have lost their home to the wildfires that have decimated parts of Los Angeles. She has posted  a video via Instagram of the family's evacuation from their home, followed by a second post with the message "We are safe. We have each other. We will start again." 


California is currently battling devastating wildfires, with the Pacific Palisades fire being among the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history. Fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, the fires have destroyed over 12,000 structures, caused at least two fatalities, and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.




 

 
 

 


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AEROSMITH bassist Tom Hamilton has once again said that he doesn't know what the future holds for him and his bandmates after they announced that they were officially retiring from touring due to Steven Tyler's vocal injury.

The legendary Massachusetts rockers made the announcement on August 2, 2024 — nearly one year after the now-76-year-old singer fractured his larynx during a September 2023 show.

In a new interview with WBUR, Hamilton was asked if he thinks AEROSMITH will ever make it back to the concert stage. He responded: "Steven's healing process is going really, really well, but it goes at its own pace. Maybe AEROSMITH will do something in the future, but it's a big 'if', and the last thing I want to be doing is to try and push Steven in that direction. If we do anything in the future, it would come from him."

Last August, Hamilton was asked by AARP how much hope AEROSMITH has of future activities on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "doubtful we'll do anything" and 10 being "Yes, we'll be doing something". The AEROSMITH bassist said: "On the hope scale, I'm somewhere between 7 and 9. We won't be doing any tours from now on, but I'll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along. This isn't the first time black clouds have been on our horizon — and somehow the sun managed to come out. Time and hope are all we have at the moment."

But when asked about the possibility of AEROSMITH doing more Las Vegas residencies, Hamilton said that although he loved the band's time in Sin City, "I have doubts that there are any more in the future." He also seemingly poured cold water on the idea that AEROSMITH could record a new album, saying "so far there hasn't been any talk" about going back into the studio, 12 years after AEROSMITH released its last LP, "Music From Another Dimension!"

Despite the fact that AEROSMITH will never tour again, Hamilton said that he holds out hope he and his bandmates can keep AEROSMITH alive.

"Steven has a way of powering through challenges like this one," Tom said. "He's done it before. You never know. We won't be touring, but there are a lot of other ways to be and do AEROSMITH."

Earlier in August, Hamilton told Charlie Kendall's Metalshop about AEROSMITH's decision to retire from touring: "First let me start by clearing up some information on Steven's injury. We were playing the third show of our 'Peace Out' tour [in] September [2023]. During the third song of the set Steven had a fall that resulted in a fracture to his larynx. Somehow he finished the show. Don't ask me how. It's a testament to his strength and desire to give the people what they came for. It wasn't a case of him blowing his throat out by doing something wrong. He has been healing well and working his ass off to get ready to go back out on the road but it just wasn't possible. We don't know what the future holds but it won't include touring."

Asked how much of the decision to retire from touring was made by the management as opposed to the bandmembers themselves, Tom said: "The decision was made by the team which includes the band and our dedicated management."

Hamilton went on to say that AEROSMITH's "magnificent crew and everyone who works for the band were informed" of the band's decision "within a day or two."

Tom also shot down the possibility of AEROSMITH carrying on with another singer, as there had been talk about doing a decade and a half ago when AEROSMITH fell out with Tyler after a canceled tour and Steven's stated intention to work for two years on a solo project. Tyler subsequently entered rehab for an addiction to painkillers.

"There's been no talk at all about going on the road with another singer," Hamilton stated. "I can't imagine it."

In AEROSMITH's original retirement announcement, the band wrote: "As you know, Steven's voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We've seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible.

"We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision - as a band of brothers - to retire from the touring stage," the statement continued. "We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time."

The band also thanked its fans for their constant support.

"Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades," the statement read. "Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock 'n' roll history."

"It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives," the statement continued.

The "Peace Out" tour came to a halt after what turned out to be a final gig in Elmont, New York on September 9, 2023. That show came just three dates into the trek, which was supposed to last through February 2024. Tyler said in a statement at the time that the injury caused bleeding but that he hoped he and his AEROSMITH bandmates would be back on the road after postponing a few shows.

The rescheduled "Peace Out" tour was due to begin September 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with special guests THE BLACK CROWES.

Tyler released a solo LP in 2016.

As previously reported, Hamilton's new band CLOSE ENEMIES has signed with TLG|ROCK for management and label services. CLOSE ENEMIES debut single, "Sound Of A Train", will be released on January 17 and will be distributed through Virgin Music Group.

Joining the 72-year-old Hamilton in the new group his bass tech Trace Foster, who plays guitar in CLOSE ENEMIES alongside Peter Stroud, who has been playing with Sheryl Crow for 25 years. CLOSE ENEMIES' drummer is Tony Brock, who had a band called THE BABYS and then played with Rod Stewart for 12 years. Fronting CLOSE ENEMIES is Chasen Hampton, a performer from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a strong background in the country music scene. CLOSE ENEMIES is also working with "a great lyricist" named Gary Stier.

CRADLE OF FILTH guitarist Marek "Ashok" Šmerda married the band's female vocalist and keyboardist Zoë M. Federoff on Thursday, January 9 in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Photos of the ceremony, as shared by various guests at the event, can be found below.

The 32-year-old Federoff, who joined CRADLE OF FILTH in 2022, thanked her "about-to-be husband" late last month in a year-end message on her Instagram. She wrote in part: "The greatest dream I have ever had is us. The greatest deeds I will do with my life won't take place on a stage. They'll take place building a home and family with you, cariño. What a world of strange beauty, insane humor, and great courage that you bring into being with me!"

In response to questions from fans about how they can send Marek and Zoë wedding gifts, the guitarist wrote in early December: "There's not really 'things' that we need. However, we do anticipate a lot of expenses coming up for my immigration and move to the USA and this has left us unsure if we can afford a honeymoon this coming year. If you are so inclined to give us a gift, we request you send it to our Honeyfund here! We much obliged for anything you can offer, even if it's just well wishes for our new life together."

When Federoff announced her engagement to the 49-year-old Šmerda a year ago, she wrote: "First of all, thank you all so much for your warm wishes and congratulations. Secondly, I truly wish I didn't feel the need to completely clear this up but there's a lot of strange rumors and stories floating around so, take note: I never knew Ashok before I joined COF. He had nothing to do with me coming on board. I have already written some material for the next COF album so clearly our engagement has nothing to do with my continued stay in this band.

"We have no plans to leave COF as we truly enjoy working together, not to mention working with several of our closest friends. Dani has been the greatest and most supportive leader possible when it comes to our engagement.

"We remain happily committed to his team in COF.

"Now please- stop speculating and spreading rumors and let's celebrate all the good things happening this year!"

Federoff is an American vocalist and songwriter from Tucson, Arizona, where she currently resides with her daughter. She began her formal training in classical vocals at the University Of Findlay in Ohio and additionally studied under NIGHTWISH vocalist Floor Jansen. She released her first two albums in 2013 and 2017 with gothic/power metal band INSATIA. Feeling restricted by the scope of the project, in 2017 she cofounded international symphonic metal band CATALYST CRIME with XANDRIA drummer Gerit Lamm, with a lineup including Jonah Weingarten of PYRAMAZE, Canadian guitarist Kaelen Sarakinis, American guitarist Chena Roxx, as well as the unexpected addition of her own father, Matt Federoff, on bass. Zoe credits her love of metal and live performance to her father and sees working with him professionally as one of the greatest achievements of her career.

In addition to her own bands, Zoë has guested as a vocalist for ATROCITY and THE VIVALDI METAL PROJECT. She has also written and edited lyrics for numerous bands, including SERENITY and CONFIDENTIAL. In her spare time, she enjoys being a hiker, book collector and political campaign professional. She is also an active advocate for public education, having been a classroom teacher and student mentor.

Born in Brno, Czech Republic, Šmerda has been the guitarist for CRADLE OF FILTH since early 2014 when he received the invitation to embark on a European tour with the band. Since then, he's become a full-time member, having toured all around the world with the group while simultaneously having put his hand and heart to the plough on the CRADLE OF FILTH releases "Hammer Of The Witches", "Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay" and "Existence Is Futile". All these albums were critically acclaimed by critics and fans and quickly became milestones.

For the last 20-plus years, Ashok gained a lot of experience both in studio sessions and live performances with various bands (ROOT, EQUIRHODONT, INNER FEAR, TITANIC, among others) and other musical projects which have allowed him to develop his playing style, tone, and songwriting.

Posted by Jorge Dietter on Friday, January 10, 2025

Huge congratulations to the bride and groom Zoe Marie Federoff and Marek Ashok Smerda! What an amazing week and a...

Posted by Jonah Weingarten on Friday, January 10, 2025

A truly heartfelt congratulations to these amazing newly weds Zoë Marie Federoff and Marek Šmerda
😍
I wish you a long,...

Posted by Veronique Meeuwsen on Friday, January 10, 2025

Tux fitting! Always a sweet part of the anticipation of the event.

Posted by Matt Federoff on Tuesday, January 7, 2025

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RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's classic track "Killing In The Name" has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

In celebration of the milestone, the band's guitarist Tom Morello took to his account on X to share the following message: "'KILLING IN THE NAME' just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well."

Last November, in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Morello blasted some so-called RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE fans for misconstruing the progressive politics he and his bandmates have stood for since the band's formation more than three decades ago.

"Never ceases to amaze me how many folks who've heard RATM are in Paul Ryan mode, having literally ZERO understanding of anything that band was about and even less understanding where any of us might stand on contemporary issues," he wrote on X. "Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant who were big fans of 'Killing In The Name'. The nice lady said, 'I love that song. It helped me rage against my parents and later against the jab!' I said, 'Ma'am that song is about racist cops who often behave like the Ku Klux Klan in service of historical white supremacy and are boot licking lackeys and thugs of the racist capitalist ruling class.' She sat there chewing and blinking, chewing and blinking."

When one X user questioned Morello about his response to the lady at the restaurant, the guitarist responded: "My brother. She can do anything she damn well pleases. She can cough covid into her MAGA grandpa's mouth for all I care. But if she presumes to tell a fella who was actually in the room when the song was written what the song is 'really' about then I reserve the right to raise my hand and say, 'no, ma'am.'"

Morello has repeatedly said that "Killing In The Name" is an anti-establishment protest song against systemic racism and brutality in the U.S. police forces, with the first verse opening with the line "some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses". Despite this, American interrogators used "Killing In The Name" to torture detainees at Guantánamo Bay detention camp, playing the song at full volume during sensory deprivation sessions.

In 2009, an online campaign to get "Killing In The Name" to top the U.K. Christmas charts ahead of recurring champions from the talent show "The X Factor" was successful, backed by Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney and THE PRODIGY. The campaign earned RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE a Guinness world record for the fastest-selling digital track in the U.K.: 502,672 downloads in one week.

Back in 2022, Morello went on his official Twitter account and shared: "People who are offended by my politics on Twitter or Instagram, please know it's because you weren't intelligent enough to know what the music that you were listening to all these years was about. For the music, you're welcome, but if you're a white supremacist or a proto-fascist, that music isn't written for you. It's written against you."
“KILLING IN THE NAME” just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well.

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) January 11, 2025


Never ceases to amaze me how many folks who’ve heard RATM are in Paul Ryan mode, having literally ZERO understanding of anything that band was about and even less understanding where any of us might stand on contemporary issues. Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant…

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 3, 2024


My brother. She can do anything she damn well pleases. She can cough covid into her MAGA grandpa’s mouth for all I care. But if she presumes to tell a fella who was actually in the room when the song was written what the song is “really” about then I reserve the right to raise my… https://t.co/T76F0sCHS1

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 4, 2024

Swedish power metallers, Sabaton, have checked in with the following update; 


"Massive shout out to all the awesome people who have streamed 'Bismarck'! We’ve officially hit 100 million streams on Spotify, and we couldn’t be more thankful! We really enjoy playing this song and we’re happy that you guys love it too. Feel the power, and let’s keep the energy going!"


"Bismarck" is a stand-alone single, released on May 17th, 2019. Check out the official video below.







Sabaton recently announced The Legendary Tour 2025 with the following message:


"EUROPE ARE YOU READY?


"We are conquering 20 European cities in 2025 with a groundbreaking tour that will be bigger and better than anything we’ve ever embarked on. Get ready for The Legendary Tour 2025!


"We’ve put together a show unlike anything you’ve experienced. Throw traditional thinking out of the window and prepare yourself for more Sabaton than ever!


"This isn’t just another tour; it’s a huge celebration of our music, storytelling and the incredible bond we share with you, our fans.


"But wait… there’s a twist. We’re doing something we’ve never done before! Without revealing too much too soon, let’s just say that we’re planning to make history with the Legendary Orchestra! Along with that and other surprises, you’ll be in for an unprecedented experience, so trust us when we say you’re going to want to be there!


"Put your history books down, mark your calendars and set a reminder! Tickets for The Legendary Tour 2025 go on sale Friday, November 15 at 10 AM, local time (9 AM, UK local time). Below you will find our tour schedule. For more information and ticket purchase links visit our

With Helldorado, the third installment of Spiritworld’s death-western trifecta, chief hombre Stu Folsom and his rhinestone-encrusted, Stetson-wearin' wrecking crew take you deeper into a world where the hot desert sun beats down on a singular vision of the American West as a gateway to hell. 


“It’s a different album than the past two,” says Folsom of the thematic and sonic journey that began with the Las Vegas band’s 2020 Pagan Rhythms LP and continued with 2022’s Deathwestern.


From the honky-tonk swing of opener "Abilene Grime" to the Slayer-worthy riffing of "No Vacancy in Heaven" and the unforgettable "Oblivion" (which features members of Black Braid and Rise Against), Spiritworld's story rides on with this latest offering, blasting Mojave-born bloodlust and stomping tomahawk riffs while charging straight into a sonic vision of macabre Americana.




Helldorado is due out March 21 via Century Media. Preorder here.

During an appearance on the "Lipps Service With Scott Lipps" podcast, SLAYER's Kerry King was asked to name his "perfect" albums from some of his favorite artists. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "If I were to go with [JUDAS] PRIEST, it wouldn't be 'British Steel'; it would be 'Stained Class'. If I were to go with [BLACK] SABBATH, it would be 'Sabotage'. If I were to go with AC/DC, it would be 'Powerage'. [IRON] MAIDEN gets tough, 'cause it's a very different vibe between 'Killers' and 'The Number Of The Beast'. I'd probably have to go 'Number Of The Beast', because top to bottom, I think it's stronger than 'Killers', just because of the ballady-type tune on 'Killers'; I can't remember what it's called. That's a hard pick because 'Killers' is a great record. And I gotta give props to [METALLICA's] 'Master Of Puppets'. It's a great record."

Kerry and his solo band paid tribute to former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno by playing a cover of the MAIDEN classic "Killers" during their recent shows in Australia, including their performances at the Good Things festival. Speaking to the "Everblack" podcast about his decision to include "Killers" in his band's setlist, Kerry said: " [Australia] is the first place we played 'Killers'… And it's cool because even though my [debut solo] record's ['From Hell I Rise'] been out six, seven months, there's still a bunch of people that don't know it. A lot of people don't even know I have a record. So, when I made up this setlist, I'm, like, 'There's gonna be a ton of people that never heard 'Crucifixation' [a song from 'From Hell I Rise'], so why don't we give 'em something they know instead?' So that's how we decided to do 'Killers'. And when we do the headline [tour] in U.S. in January, we're gonna continue to play 'Killers' too."

Earlier this year, King was asked by Riff X's "Metal XS" if he had heard MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's latest solo album, "The Mandrake Project". He responded: "[I] haven't heard Bruce's new album, but I have a friend who told me it's better than MAIDEN. [It] wouldn't surprise me. Nothing against MAIDEN, but their songs have gotten so long, man, I just can't be bothered with it. And my attention span isn't that much."

Kerry was seemingly referencing MAIDEN's latest two double-albums, 2015's "The Book Of Souls" and 2021's "Senjutsu", the former of which contains the song "Empire Of The Clouds" clocking in at 18 minutes, and three songs on "Senjutsu" running for over 10 minutes.

In a recent interview with Australia's Wall Of Sound, Kerry was asked which BLACK SABBATH album he would take with him if the planet was being blown up and we were all boarding a big spaceship and he was only allowed to take one SABBATH LP with him. He responded:  "I would take… It's easy and it's hard 'cause I'm a super [Ronnie James] Dio fan. But I would take [SABBATH's sixth studio album, 1975's] 'Sabotage'. Something about the vibe on that record. It's cool. I mean, they're all cool, but something about that one. Maybe 'Symptom Of The Universe'. I don't know. It's nonstop badassery."

Back in 2017, King picked "Sabotage" as one of his 10 favorite metal albums, telling Rolling Stone magazine: "'Sabotage' is just a very heavy record. There's so much good stuff on there. As I picked these records, I picked the ones I'm compelled to play if I'm working out or driving, and 'Sabotage' was my choice for BLACK SABBATH. It has 'Megalomania', 'Symptom Of The Universe', which has definitely got attitude, 'Hole In The Sky'. And it has the instrumental 'Supertzar'. I love that one. It grips me for some reason."

Also in 2017, King was asked by Phoenix New Times when the first time was that he heard JUDAS PRIEST or saw them perform. He responded: "First time I saw [them] would've been… 'Point Of Entry' tour, um ... I follow it chronologically by album. Not the dates of the album… but I think that was '80, maybe '81? When 'British Steel' came around, I was a little too young to go to it by myself. And that's why I found them on the radio. We didn't have the Internet, obviously, so the stuff I would've heard on the radio would've been 'Breaking The Law' or 'Living After Midnight', which are basically rock and roll songs. But you get 'British Steel', and you find 'Rapid Fire', then you do your backwards homework which you had to do for a lot of bands, and you find 'Hell Bent For Leather' (1978),'Sad Wings of Destiny' (1976),and all the original classic stuff, and you realize that there’s way more to this band than 'Living After Midnight'."

He continued: "Rob [Halford] is what I call a vocal ninja. The stuff he does in the '70s, '80s, even '90s, and even today, he can't hit the notes from his heyday, but he goes out and puts on a hell of a show. But the thing he does, the shrill crazy Rob Halford scream is I think what got me. It wasn't about wearing leather and chains, but, of course, PRIEST are idols of me, and I think you spend the early part of your career emulating your idols, and we were definitely guilty of that."

King recently told Rolling Stone that "Stained Class" is "the most complete JUDAS PRIEST album." He said: "I love the intro to 'Stained Class'. And Rob Halford is my favorite singer of all time, closely followed by Ronnie James Dio, closely followed by Bruce Dickinson. There's riffs on all of the early records, as well as a lot of the later ones, but it was on 'Stained Class' where they really found what the 'PRIEST sound' was gonna be. It kept evolving a little bit, but to me, it was more defined than 'Sin After Sin' and 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'. It seemed like it came together more. We'd covered ['Sin After Sin''s] 'Dissident Aggressor' because it was super heavy but very obscure. And after we did, a lot of people still thought it was our own song. But on this one, they had the two-guitar thing and it was a little more cleaned up, maybe how 'Reign In Blood' became SLAYER's sound of the future. We've sounded the same basically ever since."

King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", was released in May via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Joining Kerry in his new band are Mark Osegueda (vocals; DEATH ANGEL),Phil Demmel (guitar; MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE),Kyle Sanders (bass; HELLYEAH) and drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS).

Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

In a new interview with That Fuzzing Rock Show, vocalist Eric "AK" Knutson of veteran Arizona metallers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM was asked if he thinks NICKELBACK "gets a bad rap." He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yes and no. From what I understand — I really don't know any of the original story of why people hate them so much, but they started off pretty heavy, did the smart thing and went a little more commercial because that's where the damn money is. And from what I understand, [NICKELBACK frontman and main songwriter] Chad Kroeger's kind of a monster to deal with for almost anybody. And I think it was the hate for him that started the whole 'NICKELBACK's horrible' thing. But really, if you listen to their songs, they're brilliantly written. They fill arenas for years and years and years now. So it's really a musician thing. Musicians that have dealt with him, that have opened up for him or whatever, just hate his guts. I don't know why, but that's what I've heard. And that's where the whole 'if you're a musician, you have to hate NICKELBACK' thing came from, I think."

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's latest album, "I Am The Weapon", is the band's fifth release since the return of guitarist Michael Gilbert, who is the only other member of the current FLOTSAM lineup, besides Knutson, to have played on the group's debut LP, 1986's "Doomsday For The Deceiver".

Knutson told the Arizona Republic in a 2021 interview that Gilbert's 2010 return to FLOTSAM AND JETSAM after a 13-year absence was a pivotal moment in the band's rebirth.

"Michael was always a big part of the writing team back in the day," Knutson said. "And when he left, I just kind of used the band as an excuse to go on vacation in Europe a couple times a year. I really wasn't that worried about what the songs sounded like. I was just like, 'Okay, let's put a record out so we can get out on tour again.' We weren't serious about it." When Gilbert returned, Eric said, "We decided to make another serious stab at it and we've just been going uphill ever since."

"I Am The Weapon" arrived on September 13, 2024 via AFM/Believe.

It's been 38 years since FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, formed in Phoenix, Arizona, released "Doomsday For The Deceiver", the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang! Bassist Jason Newsted would jump ship to METALLICA while the band released "No Place For Disgrace" in 1988. "Cuatro" (1992),"Drift" (1995),"High" (1997) and "My God" (2001) all still rank extremely high in heavy metal circles. But it was the first part of this unofficial trilogy in 2016's self-titled "Flotsam And Jetsam", followed by the crushing 2019 successor "The End Of Chaos" that a certain rejuvenation and reset was clearly felt.

Image credit: The Metal Scream

Guitarist C.J. Pierce of Texas heavy rockers DROWNING POOL has once again weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They are also continuing to support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Pierce discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in a recent interview with the Indie Power TV. Asked what PANTERA was like when DROWNING POOL and PANTERA shared the stage on May 6, 2023 at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City, Florida, C.J. said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Dude, it's so great, man. Zakk is killing it, man. Charlie's killing it. People, I guess, in the beginning were giving them flak about it, but, dude, it's epic. We were all friends. I [spent time] hanging with Dime and Vinnie and Zakk and Charlie. So, they're not gonna be mad about this. I knew Dime and Vinnie personally. So I'm just telling everybody right here, knowing them personally, I'm not pissed off about the fact that these guys that we're friends with keeping the legend going."

He continued: "[Zakk and Charlie are] never gonna play like that — nobody's gonna play like the genius, like the Abbott brothers — but the fact of the matter is I'm out there in the crowd after we played with fans my age and with their kids who have never seen PANTERA. So to see them see this metal show and the look on their face is amazing. So they're doing a great thing."

Pierce added: "To play with PANTERA always, it's, like, lucky us to do it. I hope we get to do more shows with them. Again, [they are] one of the biggest influences one of the best, man. And we do a tribute — last night we played the Whisky [in Hollywood], man. We threw [in a cover of PANTERA's] 'Cowboys From Hell'. We keep throwing that in the set, and a hats off to PANTERA as well because they're killing it, man. They're awesome. Go see 'em if you haven't seen the show… They're keeping it going, man. They're carrying the torch, keeping the music alive. I'm looking forward to hopefully rocking out with our brothers in PANTERA again soon. I know they're doing an awesome tour with METALLICA. So lucky them, man. That's epic, dude."

Pierce previously talked about PANTERA's comeback in a July 2023 interview with the "Brutally Delicious" podcast. He stated about sharing the stage with PANTERA at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally: "PANTERA was great, man. I know people have said a lot of stuff about it. Rex and Phil, it's a reunion of those two guys coming together. Hats off to PANTERA and what it was about. Of course Dime and Vinnie were a big part of that [and were] personal friends. Actually, we toured together back in the early days with DROWNING POOL. And I've known Zakk forever and I've known Charlie forever. What better person to pick. And I was actually hanging out with Zakk."

Regarding Wylde's approach to performing parts originally written and recorded by Dimebag, Pierce said: "It's Zakk Wylde. Dime did Dime, and nobody's ever gonna play Dime like that… And we were talking about it, 'cause every now and then I'll get called up and go on stage and do some PANTERA covers. So I stay up on my chops. But him and I, Zakk and I were talking about certain things that Dime did. And we were, like, 'What the hell is he doing right here? Was he completely drunk or is he just a genius? Why would you do that?' And Zakk's, like, 'There's one or two things I'm not sure what he's doing. I'm just gonna play a solo.' I said, 'It's a guitar solo, man. Do your thing. You're doing it great.'"

C.J. also had strong words for all the detractors who have been posting negative comments online before even seeing the PANTERA show themselves.

"I don't know why you would [talk] shit [about it]," Pierce said. "'Cause the show was great, and you're keeping that music alive. And you're keeping what Dime and Vinnie brought to the stage. And they nailed it, to me. Phil sounded great; he never sounded better. And the show was amazing. They let us use a lot of their toys, so our show was amazing. [Charlie] is one of the best [drummers out there]. And they took time and they nailed it, man.

"Go see the show. Just go see it. You have to see it and you'll know when you're there. It's so great, dude. I hope they keep going with it."

While he was alive, Vinnie Paul had repeatedly dismissed talks of a PANTERA reunion, telling Germany's EMP Rock Invasion in 2014: "People are selfish, man. They want what they want; they don't care what you want. And it's unfortunate that people go, 'Oh, wow, man, they can get Zakk Wylde to jump up there on stage and it's PANTERA again.' No, it's not, you know. It's not that simple. If Eddie Van Halen was to get shot in the head four times next week, would everybody be going, 'Hey, man, Zakk, go play for VAN HALEN. Just call it VAN HALEN.' You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's really selfish for people to think that, and it's stupid. It's not right at all."

He continued: "They call it a reunion for a reason. It's called bringing the original members back to what it was. So there's a lot of these things that they call reunions that aren't really reunions. They've got one dude from the band floating around in them, you know. That's not a true reunion. With PANTERA, it'll never be possible."

He repeated those same sentiments a few months later, telling PlanetMosh in a separate interview: "Without Dimebag Darrell, there is no [PANTERA] reunion. And that's all there is to it. We were a very influential band, and we touched millions and millions of people with that band, but it's over. People really have to come to grips with that, and that's all there is to it. If all of us were still here, then the possibility would truly be there, but since it's not, you know… It's selfish of the fans to want something that they can't have. And they don't ever understand that, and I get it. There's things I want in this world too. You know, people in fucking hell want ice water, but they're not gonna get it."

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie and Philip to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag.

Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Haney told the producers of "Behind The Music Remastered: Pantera" that she forgave the singer after they found themselves unexpectedly face to face at a concert in California.

Grammy-nominated Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based five-piece AUGUST BURNS RED will release a special version of its seminal debut album "Thrill Seeker". The LP was re-recorded from the ground up by producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland. And fans have always wondered what the album might sound like with vocalist Jake Luhrs, who joined the band after the album's release. The ABR faithful gets it wish with this version.

The new edition of "Thrill Seeker" features several additional sonic treats, including guest appearances by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Adam Dutkiewicz, the original producer of "Thrill Seeker", on "Speech Impediment", and by original "Thrill Seeker" vocalist Josh McManness on "Barbarian". It will also feature the rare bonus track "Pride & Humility", which was also re-recorded.

The anniversary version will come in three vinyl variants, along with exclusive new merch, which is available here.

The 20th-anniversary edition of "Thrill Seeker" will be independently released via the band's own ABR Records on January 24.

Today, ABR has shared the lyric video for "Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins". Watch it below.

"When I joined the band in early 2006, I often spoke about how I'd love to do vocals on a studio recording of 'Thrill Seeker'," says Luhrs. "I did the majority of the touring on the album and always felt a deep connection to it. As the 20-year anniversary of the album approached, we decided to finally give 'Thrill Seeker' a facelift. It was such a rewarding experience to dust these songs off and give them new life. This album changed the course of my life and I can't wait for fans to hear this."

"Thrill Seeker" 20th-anniversary edition track listing:

01. Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins
02. Speech Impediment (feat. Adam Dutkiewicz)
03. Endorphins
04. Too Late For Roses
05. Barbarian (feat. Josh McManness)
06. The Reflective Property
07. A Wish Full Of Dreams
08. Consumer
09. A Shot Below The Belt
10. Eve Of The End
11. The Seventh Trumpet
12. Pride & Humility (bonus track)

In a recent interview with "The Chuck Shute Podcast", former LYNCH MOB singer Oni Logan was asked about the possibility of working with George Lynch again, either under the LYNCH MOB name or as a separate project, Referencing the fact that LYNCH MOB is at the tail end of "The Final Ride", a farewell tour celebrating the band's 35-year legacy, Oni said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "'The Final Ride', I don't know much about it. All I know is that George seems to be happy. And we have texted in the past about maybe doing another album together — not under the LYNCH MOB moniker, but under just LYNCH & LOGAN, because that is the essence and the core of the LYNCH MOB sound. So at some point I think we'll get to it before we turn to dust. It would be a celebration of what we had done in the past and something new that we could leave the fans with, if it should be a last venture together. I would look forward to it. We'll see if it happens."

When host Chuck Shute suggested that Logan's new project with Lynch "would be more of a joint effort" between the two musicians rather than Oni just being signed on as a hired gun., the singer clarified: "Well, I never was signed on in the first place as a hired gun. [George and I] were always 50-50 in partnership as far as the money and also on a creative level. So that has always remained right from the beginning. That's why you'll see me not go out on tour [with LYNCH MOB] because that is the deal that we started with and that's the deal that we normally do when I'm with him. I understand that he has a need to go out and make it favorable for him, so that's why we're probably not working together right now. Well, that is the reason why we're not working together because he'd rather favor paying some fellas a fee instead of sharing the loot."

Asked why a possible new collaboration with Lynch wouldn't be made available under the LYNCH MOB moniker and would instead be called LYNCH & LOGAN, Oni explained: "Because I think that's the true essence and the core of LYNCH MOB, and ultimately the brand LYNCH MOB is owned by George Lynch, which doesn't favor me at all. After doing so many miles and years promoting his brand and name, it leads me to… I mean, I worked all those years and spent all those miles building his brand, so it doesn't do me any favors. But it is what it is — it's his name and I accept it and that's the way that it goes. But it doesn't favor me when I say… I wanted to go out and do dates, talking to an agent, under Oni Logan. [The agent would say] 'Oh, Oni, it would be great if you could just use the LYNCH MOB name, because you have history and the promoters know this brand name and they know that this brand name will bring in a clientele.'"

During the same chat, Oni talked about another project that he is working on which will see him collaborating with "well-known" musicians outside the hard rock and heavy metal genre.

"I'd like to put something together. I'm at the moment seeking different musicians, interesting musicians that will do something that's a little bit outside of the box," he said. "They're great musicians. So something out of the box, meaning experimenting with rhythms, having the guitarist being able to really stretch, having a bass player that can really play fluidly. So it's gonna be not your usual thing that you probably hear me doing or expect me to do. It'll be something that is going to be adventurous. I think at this point in time in my life, I have to allow myself to have that. If I don't, there's not gonna be any growth. I become bored rather quickly if I stay in the main route of what everybody expects me to do. And I hope that people will come along for the ride and accept that we all have to grow.

"I found giant leaps in the past two years self-wise individually here [in my heart], and I know that it's here [in my head] too, as well, that my longing and my thirst for creative adventure has never been so high in its pinnacle, what I wanna do than now in my life right now."

Elaborating on how his new project will be different from what he has done before, Oni said: "This new departure, this new idea of recording will be with some really good musicians that are a little bit out of the box. And when I say this, I say this as a positive, working around rhythms, polyrhythms and so forth, and being able to stretch vocally into areas that I haven't done before.

"We're all growing, and as music lovers, our ears become more expansive and we tend to draw in from different areas of different cultures, different music that's just so widely out there. I'm a big fan of listening to all types of music. I'm no longer 20, I'm no longer 30, I'm no longer 40."

Asked when this new project will be coming out, Oni said: "I don't have a release date. I'm just talking to a few musicians right now. And they're all rather well known and they know my history in rock. Sometimes they go, 'Oh, he's a metaller,' but it's not true because I can sing the blues, I can cut up the rug with soul music — I'm pretty versatile as far as my voice works. So there's been an acceptance from their side, which is nice to know that they're willing to work with me. So I won't name the musicians right now because I'd like for it to become into fruition before I announce anything."

Logan first hooked up with LYNCH MOB in 1990, but exited the group after the release of its first album, only to rejoin the outfit in the late 2000s. His most recent departure from LYNCH MOB took place in January 2018. At the time, he said in a statement that he was "looking forward to writing with other artists and bands."

Logan is featured on five of LYNCH MOB's eight albums, including the band's debut, 1990's "Wicked Sensation", as well as 2009's "Smoke And Mirrors", 2014's "Sun Red Sun", 2015's "Rebel" and 2017's "The Brotherhood".

Joining Lynch on LYNCH MOB's "The Final Ride" farewell tour are singer Gabriel Colón, drummer Jimmy D'Anda and bassist Jaron Gulino.

LYNCH MOB was formed in 1989 after Lynch parted ways with his former band DOKKEN. Their debut release, "Wicked Sensation", was met with critical and fan acclaim and went on to be certified gold in sales by the RIAA. The band would continue on through the years with a cast of talented players joining Lynch throughout their musical journey over the course of six more studio albums.

Released in October 2023, "Babylon" was LYNCH MOB's eighth studio album overall and the first since "The Brotherhood".

"We have had a busy 2024," begins an update from Stryper. "Thanks to the best fans in the world, it was an amazing year. Here are some highlights for the year and a little about what we have planned for 2025."


February 2024:


"We started off the year with an amazing Stryper Fan Weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts where we spent quality time with some amazing friends and fans, and we also learned who in our group is a good bowler, and who is not. Stay tuned for details on the next Stryper fan weekend."







March/April 2024:


"We played two of our favorite places… Puerto Rico, and shortly afterward, M3 Festival."





April 2024:


"Along with for King & Country and Lecrae, we released “To Hell With The Devil (RISE)” as part of the Unsung Hero movie. The movie won a Dove Award for Inspirational Film of the Year, and the song is nominated for a We Love Award."





May 2024:


"We released our very first acoustic album, To Hell With The Amps, and a couple of weeks later embarked on our very first acoustic tour."








July 2024:


"We returned this year to perform at the amazing Alive Music Festival and got to catch up with our friends in For King and Country among others. We love that festival!"


September 2024:


"We kicked-off our 40th Anniversary Tour where we performed 2 sets of classic and current material. We hit 37 cities on this tour, quite a few of them were sold-out shows, and we had an absolute blast!

"That same month, we released our 16th studio project, When We Were Kings. The album hit 5 Billboard Charts, including #2 Christian Albums and #16 Top Current Album Sales."

December 2024:

"Michael performed a handful of solo shows including his 8th Annual Christmas Show in Plymouth, Mass (Mark your calendar: the 9th Annual will be December 13th, 2024).

"Michael and Lisa Sweet started a new Foundation in 2024 called Faith In Music Foundation. You will be hearing more about that in 2025."

What's up for 2025?

"2025 is also going to be a busy year for us as we do some international touring. You'll start to see dates announced soon at Stryper.com​

"We will continue work on the Stryper Documentary, which we made incredible progress on in 2024 interviewing dozens and dozens of celebrities, fans, and people inside the Stryper circle.

"We will be very active on our Patreon page, also known as The Stryper Fan Club Plus, with listening parties, chat sessions, Bible Studies, and even the release of some new exclusive music.

"Thank you for an amazing year, for supporting the band, and for all that you do to make the world a better place. We love you!

"God Bless You All, MS, RS, OF, PR"