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9 сен 2025
Watch: WATCHTOWER Rejoined By Singer ALAN TECCHIO During Houston Concert
 Amy's Concert Cam has uploaded video of WATCHTOWER's September 6 concert at BFE Rock Club in Houston, Texas. Check it out below.
Joining the legendary Texas progressive metal band on stage for several songs during the show was Alan Tecchio, who sang WATCHTOWER's second and most recent studio album, 1989's "Control And Resistance".
The day after the Houston show, Tecchio took to his social media to write: "Tx to my Texas brethren in WATCHTOWER and Ray Seggern and Budro Partida who are creating the WATCHTOWER documentary. The gig last night in Houston brought back so many great memories and was a total blast despite a few false starts on one of the songs. lol
"There are many Prog-metal bands out there but no one holds a candle to TOWER in my opinion. Whether it’s me or Jason McMaster at the mic, the instrumentalists- Ron Jarzombek, Doug Keyser and Rick Colaluca are wicked talented and yet super humble and down to Earth at the same time. Hell- Doug even played through this weekend's shows with a broken thumb!!! Mad love for them all!"
During a June 2025 appearance on the "Lead Singers Discussion" SLAM summit panel for Support Life And Music, hosted by Jack Mangan (Metal Hall Of Fame),WATCHTOWER singer Jason McMaster spoke about the group's current status. McMaster is joined in WATCHTOWER's 2025 lineup by bassist Doug Keyser, guitarist Ron Jarzombek and drummer Ric Colaluca. Jason said: "I've been working on new WATCHTOWER material, which is… They haven't put out a record since '89. 'Control And Resistance' was [released in] '89."
Regarding WATCHTOWER's touring activity, Jason said: "WATCHTOWER has five shows in September coming up, and we haven't played five shows in one month in 20 years or longer, because it's kind of legacy band kind of status anyway. We did Hell's Heroes [festival] and we did Keep It True [festival] and all that stuff. And then it's very spotted.
"WATCHTOWER I have a serious relationship with, because I kind of cut my teeth as a singer in WATCHTOWER," he explained. "We started in May of '82. That first record came out in '85. High Roller just put out this month our 40th-year-anniversary reissue of 'Energetic Disassembly'. So that's out now. And that sort of is weird because we just did all these gigs and about to do a bunch more."
In April 2024, McMaster spoke to 69 Faces Of Rock about how the WATCHTOWER reunion came about. Jason said: "It's been over a year ago now, but a wonderful man by the name of Christian Larson, who is an organizer for a fantastic American, Texan — down in Houston, Texas, South Texas — organizer, co-creator for a festival that mirrors something as great as Keep It True in Germany called Hell's Heroes. And I believe that they're looking at about a decade of annual shows, the Hell's Heroes festival. So it's been around a little while. It was my first time playing there, and I can't think of a better way to be on their stages than with WATCHTOWER. Because they had SOLITUDE AETURNUS, they had HELSTAR — there was a major Texas contingency for obvious reasons — but they also had CANDLEMASS and CAULDRON and MIDNIGHT, and it just goes and goes and goes. Last year, they had Tom Warrior headline two out of maybe all three nights because Tom has TRIPTYKON and TRIUMPH OF DEATH, et cetera. I think he did a HELLHAMMER set, he did a CELTIC FROST set. So it's perfect because it brings all of Tom's projects as well as resurgences of doom and thrash. And it was a perfect sort of baton to be passed to WATCHTOWER. But Christian Larson, bless his soul, contacted me. We have a lot of mutual friends. He sent me an e-mail, basically just something like, 'What would it take to get you guys to reform, to play 'Energetic Disassembly' album in its entirety?' And I have a bit of an opinion, and I hope I don't come off negatively when I say that I don't really like promoters suggesting or telling the bands, whether it's me or not, telling the bands what songs they are going to play. I prefer it to be the bands' choice for the bands' reasons as to why they play or do not play material. But I kind of let that go quickly because it was important to me, first to be invited. Second, I'll move on. The issues were immediately, it's like, in my head, I'm saying out loud, 'I haven't talked to those guys in a decade or more.' The last time I performed with WATCHTOWER would've been 20 years ago, in 2004. In 2010, a show that I booked, Alan Tecchio, under my nose, was invited to replace me to play Keep It True [festival] in 2010, which is a gig that I booked. But that's okay. Whatever. No harm done. And it's a small family. Whoever's been in WATCHTOWER, it's, like — I don't know. It's not like the turnover of members in WATCHTOWER has been 10 or 15 people; it's a small club. And I love Alan to death. So I was fine with it. But the point is that's what got the ball rolling. And then, almost immediately, maybe a week after it was announced that we were to play Hell's Heroes in Houston, which just happened a week ago, the phone started ringing, and Oliver from Keep It True was calling, and there were other smaller festivals and some stateside stuff. Anyway, so we played some warm-up shows. They went great, a lot of fun putting these songs back together with the guys."
WATCHTOWER played its first reunion concert with McMaster on September 8, 2023 at Fitzgerald's Bar & Live Music Venue in San Antonio, Texas. This marked the progressive metal legends' first appearance with McMaster since the band's performances at Germany's Bang Your Head!!! festival in 2000 and Holland's Headway Festival in 2004.
Jason confirmed his return to WATCHTOWER in May 2023 during an appearance on the "Decibel Geek" podcast. He said at the time: "It's weird playing songs very sporadically. Because I've done reunion things with WATCHTOWER before, but the last one was 20 years ago. The last sort of reunion thing we did, we went to Amsterdam, and played a festival over there. And we did a couple of warmup shows around Texas before we got on the plane, kind of thing. And that was in 2004. So, singing songs that you wrote 40 years ago? It's crazy to think about that… And have them be legit. Play them, like, 'Holy shit.' And have all of the guys look around each other in rehearsal as old men and go, 'This shit is fucking hard to play.' But that's why people like it."
McMaster co-founded WATCHTOWER in 1982 and appeared on the band's 1985 debut album "Energetic Disassembly" before leaving three years later to focus on sleaze rockers DANGEROUS TOYS. Jason was replaced in WATCHTOWER by Tecchio (formerly of HADES),who sang on group's second and most recent studio album, 1989's "Control And Resistance". A reunion with McMaster followed in 1999 and lasted for several years, only for Jason to leave again. Tecchio returned for new material intended for WATCHTOWER's since-scrapped third album "Mathematics" that resulted in the 2016 EP "Concepts Of Math: Book One".
Jason previously stated about WATCHTOWER's early musical direction: "By the end of 1983, we had a set of unbelievable, technical, fast, crazy, time-changing, sophisticated sounds coming out of the mill we had created, making a planet that we didn't feel had been fully instigated. All of the lyrics were socially aware and some strange fascinations with nuclear power and some sort of holocaustic world (that had been dreamt up by guitarist Billy White and bassist Doug Keyser). They equally weirded each other out with their lyrics. I had no problem with the stuff they were pumping out. It was so tasteful, but yet had urgency and was frantic about the topics, mostly apocalyptic and socially chaotic on news issues. These were crazy words to sing over crazy changes."
He added: "I had no map. This wasn't rock and roll. I wrote all of the melodies (I use that word loosely) for the songs, and that was my contribution to the sound and timber, even though later on a few critics would learn to hate the style of 'pissed off Geddy Lee' vocals. It seemed to be most of the death metalhead mags would say that they 'love the band, hate the singer'."
In April 2010, WATCHTOWER played its first live show with Tecchio on vocals in some 20 years as co-headliners of Germany's Keep It True festival in Lauda-Königshofen.
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9 сен 2025
See Pro-Shot Video Of DEF LEPPARD's Performance At BBC's 'Radio 2 In The Park'
 DEF LEPPARD was the Sunday night (September 7) headliner when tens of thousands of music fans descended on Hylands Park in Chelmsford, United Kingdom for this year's Radio 2 In The Park festival. Video and audio of the band's performance is available below.
Asked in an interview with The Telegraph if he ever thought his band, which emerged, alongside IRON MAIDEN and SAXON, out of the 1980s New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement would become a Radio 2 act, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott said: "Well, seeing as Radio 2 is now a grown-up Radio 1, I would hope so. If they're going to play OASIS and BLUR, and BON JOVI and QUEEN and [David] Bowie, why not? We've had hit singles — 17 of them. We're not GOLDEN EARRING with the one, or ARGENT with the two. We've had a few. So I would hope we would be on Radio 2."
Late last year, DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell underwent a bone marrow transplant as part of his treatment plan for Hodgkin's lymphoma, with which he was diagnosed in 2013.
In June, Campbell revealed that he is "completely in remission" from the cancer of the lymphatic system.
This past January, DEF LEPPARD released a cover of Ben E. King's 1961 classic "Stand By Me". All proceeds from the song are going to FireAid, which raises money for those impacted by the fires that swept through Los Angeles early this year.
DEF LEPPARD's version of the song is featured in the Netflix film "Bank Of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger", which was released on January 10. The band can be seen performing the track before the credits.
Campbell — who before joining DEF LEPPARD in 1992 was well known for his work with DIO and WHITESNAKE — went public with his Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis in June 2013.
Vivian underwent three separate spells of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, only for his Hodgkin's lymphoma to return.
Six years ago, Campbell underwent spine surgery.
Vivian and his DEF LEPPARD bandmates were finally inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2019 — 14 years after the British rockers first became eligible.
DEF LEPPARD's latest album, "Diamond Star Halos", arrived in May 2022 via UMe. | 0 | |
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9 сен 2025
CINDERELLA's TOM KEIFER: 'I Definitely Learned A Few Licks From RANDY RHOADS'
 In a new interview with 96.9 The Eagle KKGL, CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer was asked what Ozzy Osbourne's impact was on him as a musician. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I loved him. I grew up in the '70s, so Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH were a huge part of my upbringing. [I] loved his solo stuff. He was amazing. I call him the king of heavy music [laughs], all things heavy — a brilliant lyricist, a very unique voice, obviously the persona and all. He was amazing.
"I was fortunate to spend a little time around him at the Moscow Music Peace Festival, and he was just a really super humble person, and [he had a great] sense of humor; [he was] just hilarious," Tom added. "I don't think anyone who has ever spent any time with Ozzy didn't like him or have a really good laugh. He was just a cool guy."
Asked how some of Ozzy's guitarist collaborators — a list that includes Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde — influenced his style, Keifer said: "Of all of them, I think Randy Rhoads did. It's weird, because I don't really play like him, but to me, he had a very similar style to Michael Schenker, who I loved growing up because he combined kind of classical and blues very well together — very well. I definitely learned a few licks from Randy. I'm not a speed guy, but I definitely lifted some riffs from him. Again, I'm not stylistically the same, but I like what he was doing, so I definitely learned some things from him."
In late July, Keifer told Shaggy of the 94.9 and 104.5 The Pick radio station in Idaho Falls, Idaho about Ozzy's passing: "Man, I loved SABBATH growing up. And to me, he was the king of heavy music. I don't use the word 'metal' because — I don't know — he did so much more than that. But he really was the innovator to me, starting with BLACK SABBATH and then with the solo stuff of just the heavy, heavy, hard, dark rock. His lyrics were just amazing. Obviously, his persona was just — everybody loved Ozzy.
"I spent a lot of time with [Ozzy] on [CINDERELLA's] trip to Moscow [Russia] for the Moscow Music Peace Festival [in 1989]. That's probably the most that I had been around him, and he was just such a great guy and just so funny. He just had everybody laughing all the time. So it's a great loss — really great loss."
Asked if he had a "crazy Ozzy Osbourne story" to share, Tom said: "Yeah, I'm trying to think. I think one of the funniest moments was, we did a press conference when we first got there, and he was asked, 'What's the difference between America and Russia?' And remember this is back in the '80s, so Domino's Pizza [had] the whole [marketing campaign where they promised a pizza delivery in] '30 minutes or your pizza's free'. He just said something kind of like, In America, if we don't get our pizza in 30 minutes, we're angry and we want it for free.' And he said, 'They're still waiting for their pizza here.' And just the whole room just cracked up. [Laughs] I think anyone that was at that press conference will remember that moment, because he just had a way about him. He was just funny."
After Shaggy noted that Ozzy still sounded great at his final performance, which took place a little over two weeks before his death, Tom concurred. "I've seen clips from it. It's really great," he said. "And, yeah, I really love that track that he released recently; 'Gods Of Rock N Roll' [Ozzy's collaborative song with Billy Morrison] is amazing. His voice is as good as ever. And, actually, fun fact — Fred Coury, the drummer of CINDERELLA, scored the strings on that track and was involved in that track… Yeah, it's a beautiful track, man. I really love it. His voice just still sounded so amazing."
Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.
A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and his wife bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer's friends and family members attended the service. | +1 | |
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9 сен 2025
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9 сен 2025
BRUCE DICKINSON Surprises Busker In New Orleans Singing JUDAS PRIEST's 'You've Got Another Thing Comin''
 A busker in New Orleans got a surprise last week when IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson walked by and spontaneously started singing along to the JUDAS PRIEST classic "You've Got Another Thing Comin'". The busker was playing acoustic guitar and singing when Bruce strolled by with his wife, Leana Dolci, and added his instantly recognizable operatic vocals. Dolci later shared a short video of the impromptu performance, which took place during Bruce's summer 2025 North American solo tour. Check it out below.
In a November 2022 interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio, JUDAS PRIEST's Ian Hill once again touched upon the prospect of his band one day touring with fellow metal legends IRON MAIDEN. The bassist said: "It's a great concept. I mean, the trouble with IRON MAIDEN and ourselves is we're always busy, always doing something, and trying to get in a gap there when we're both nothing so we can do something together is more difficult than you think. But, yes, it would be a great tour or a great bill — JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN, and maybe one or even two others; it would be a great bill. And, you know, you live in hope that it'll happen one of these days. You never know. The stars might line up again. [Laughs]"
A year earlier, former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens revealed during an appearance on the "Who's Your Band?" podcast that PRIEST turned down a tour with MAIDEN while he was in the band. Owens, who fronted PRIEST between 1996 and 2003, referred to the decision in the interview as a "bad move".
Six years ago, PRIEST singer Rob Halford said that he would love to see his band join forces with MAIDEN for a tour. "I think both bands would look to do that," he told Consequence Of Sound. "It's all about the timing of doing such a thing. We're good friends."
He added: "When we talk about rivalry, healthy rivalry, it's like the Arizona Cardinals and the Raiders or the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. It's that kind of rivalry, a good rivalry. It's a fun rivalry. But I think both bands have admired each other throughout the metal years, and it would be a spectacular event — PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN together."
In 2019, shortly after Halford made his comments, IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris said that he was open to a hypothetical MAIDEN/PRIEST pairing. He told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk": "It's funny because I saw [Halford's comments in the media] myself. And also, apparently someone today said that Ian Hill said something about it as well. So, I don't know. I suppose the management has gotta get their heads together and [make] something like that [happen]. But, yeah, why not? I suppose the fans can push for it to happen. But we'll see."
Harris also talked about his recollections of MAIDEN's 1981 North American tour as the support act for PRIEST, which, at the time, was promoting its "Point Of Entry" record.
"[I have] lots of good memories," he said. "And I really love that album, 'Point Of Entry'. Some people don't think it's their favorite PRIEST album. But I suppose 'cause we were on tour [with PRIEST when they were supporting] it, I really liked it."
In 2018, Downing told SiriusXM's Eddie Trunk that the contentious rivalry between PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN developed when the two bands toured together in the early 1980s. "We'd just finished the 'British Steel' record in England, and we were going out on tour [in early 1980 with IRON MAIDEN]," he recalled. "And then the next thing I know, I read in a music paper that [IRON MAIDEN said] something like, 'Yeah, we're gonna blow the bollocks off PRIEST,' or something like that. And I went, 'What the hell is this shit?' We were still in the recording studio, tidying up the last mixes or something. And I said, 'Well, who are these guys?' Why should we have [them] on tour if they're gonna create this type of vibe before we've even met them, let alone done a show together?' I said, 'Let's get rid of them and get somebody that really appreciates the gig,' of which there would have been an awful lot of bands. But anyway, everybody talked me into going with it, and I said, 'Well, fine,' obviously being democratic. And the next thing I know, we were at the rehearsals at some theater in London somewhere, and this bunch of guys walked in and just sat down in front of me. And I said to my guitar tech, 'Who are those dudes there?' [Laughs] And he went, 'Oh, that's the support band.' And I said, 'Well, who the hell invited them into our rehearsal?' I was thinking about what I read in the papers. And I said, 'Well, just go and tell them that they weren't invited and they need to leave.' I didn't see an invite; nobody told me they were coming in — when you're trying to work out songs and this and that and the other. So that's what happened."
Downing continued: "Anyway, we went on tour [together], and can I just say they didn't blow the bollocks off JUDAS PRIEST — we were pretty well established at the time, and those guys were coming up through the ranks. So that happened. But it wasn't a good atmosphere on the tour, and it's not something I like to have happen — it shouldn't be that way. And next thing I know, somebody [said], 'Oh, IRON MAIDEN is opening up for you on their first U.S. tour [in 1981].' And I went, 'Oh, no! Not again. Can we just not have those guys on [the tour]?' But they came on the tour [anyway], and they created upsets, is what they did, for different reasons and it led to a confrontation and it got a bit ugly. I don't know how it all happened, but I did meet [former IRON MAIDEN singer] Paul Di'Anno so many years later, in about 1995, and he said, 'Hey, K.K., we're sorry about that quote in the paper.' And that's all you need.
"But, anyway, like I said, it's all water under the bridge," K.K. added. "Those guys were young, coming up through the ranks, a bit delinquent, but at least they had balls, they got on with it, they knew what they wanted to do."
In his autobiography, Di'Anno claimed that he was the main reason old feelings of rivalry existed between MAIDEN and PRIEST during the early 1980s — something that Downing later denied. "Paul apologized personally to me — what a great gesture," K.K. told Rock Hard magazine in a 2003 interview. "But he wasn't the main reason for the rivalry. At the time of 'British Steel', PRIEST was the bigger band and MAIDEN was the supporting act. They were saying that they [would] blow us off the stage without any problem — well, I thought their behavior wasn't very nice. I'd have loved to send them home to take another band with us, [one] who would have appreciated the chance. But we were told not to do it as it would have looked like we were frightened by them. So we kept on going... but they were very arrogant. And I remember the main rehearsal before the tour when there were a few guys hanging around in the room who didn't say a word and watched everything we did — every step we made and every move of the stage lights. I wasn't very pleased and asked the guitar tech to tell the guys to leave the place. Don't get me wrong: I'm not too good not to play in front of the supporting band — but they could have asked, at least, if it was okay to attend the rehearsal. We went on tour and they didn't blow us off the stage, of course. I watched quite a lot of the MAIDEN shows, but the reaction of the audience wasn't very explosive — because the fans were waiting for us. Okay, MAIDEN became one of the biggest bands of the metal scene — and I'm proud of them. We made a big mistake by focusing more on the U.S. than on Europe after releasing 'British Steel'. [I mean], we lost a lot of attention at home. In the U.S., we were quite big — and MAIDEN asked us for a support slot on our U.S. tour. We said yes — and the same old story happened again. It had a lot to do with rivalry and jealousy."
When asked what he would say to Harris if they bumped into each other, K.K. told Rock Hard: "I'd buy him a beer — because it's an old story. Like I already said, I'm proud of what MAIDEN achieved and of what they did for the British metal. It might sound stupid — but it's true."
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8 сен 2025
JUDAS PRIEST's ROB HALFORD On OZZY OSBOURNE's Death: 'He Got To The Point Where I Think He Knew The Clock Was Ticking'
 In a new interview with Jonathan Clarke, host of "Out Of The Box" on Q104.3, New York's classic rock station, Rob Halford spoke about JUDAS PRIEST's absence from the "Back To The Beginning" event in Birmingham, United Kingdom, which marked Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH's final performance. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We'd been approached by SCORPIONS a long, long time before any of the incredible SABBATH/Ozzy event was taking place [to play with them in Hannover, Germany on the same day]. So we'd made a commitment — we'd made a commitment to do the show for SCORPIONS. We'd known those guys forever. And so we were locked in. We were locked in to do the show. And that was it. So when we got the call [about 'Back To The Beginning'], 'cause we heard there were rumblings it was coming together. It was coming together. And in my heart I thought, 'Sharon's [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] gonna reach out. She's gonna reach out. I just know it. I don't how we're gonna deal with saying we're really, really, really sorry.' And that's how it evolved into being that dilemma. So while Ozzy was doing his thing in Birmingham, we were doing our thing on stage in Hannover, Germany."
Referencing the fact that PRIEST released a cover version of SABBATH's "War Pigs" just three days prior to "Back To The Beginning", Halford said: "I think we made something of our love for the band when we did the homage of 'War Pigs', when PRIEST did a version of 'War Pigs' that was so wonderfully accepted by everybody, so graciously accepted. We didn't know what was gonna happen. We went in the studio with the feeling that this is a SABBATH song, a great classic SABBATH song. We're not gonna mess it up. We're gonna give it the homage and the respect that it deserves. And so we did make that contribution, and I'm glad that we were able to do something to that event and be a part of that beautiful day."
Reflecting on when he found out about Ozzy's death, Rob said: "Oh, yeah. We'd just flown over from one of the last dates in Europe. We'd gone into the U.K. for a day off, and the next day we had a U.K. show. And I got a call from our manager, Jayne Andrews. She said, 'Are you sitting down?' I go, 'Yeah.' She goes, 'Ozzy's gone.' I go, 'What do you mean Ozzy's gone?' 'He's passed away.' I said, 'What?' 'Yeah, I just heard the news.' I knew it wasn't a joke, but your brain is going… because you think I'm still buzzed, I'm still high, like we all were, from the show. I was watching clips of it all the time. People were sending me, 'I'm here. Check this clip out,' blah, blah, blah. And so I was still there, I was still in that celebration, the party, the beautiful experience that it provided for so many people at the Aston Villa football ground and online to millions of people around the world. We were all still going, 'Yeah. Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy.' And then I get this news, and I can't talk. I can't talk. And I sat there stunned, like we all were. And then my phone starts pinging, and I go, 'It's real. It's real.' And you're just trying to make sense of it, man. You can't. My head's spinning. And then the tears start. And I was lost, like we all were lost when we had the news that day."
After Clarke noted that Osbourne at least got a chance to perform one last time, with all his friends and family surrounding him, Halford said: "We're all sitting still thinking about that side of the way he left us. And I'll just give you my personal point of view. He was such a strong man in battling Parkinson's, like Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] is doing right now still. But he just got to the point where I think he knew, with the other things that were going on with his body, the clock was ticking. And I know it took Sharon a year to put this halting thing together — bless her — and when all of these bands were piling in, my heart's going, 'God, I wish I could be there. I wish I could be there.' But then, of course, we have the show. We are watching him, and we're crying when he is singing 'Mama, I'm Coming Home'. And then he has all these great other Ozzy tracks. And then the big moment with SABBATH, with the real — I'm not gonna say the 'real' band; that's a cruel expression. But the band we love in that respect. Bill's [Ward] on the drums, Geezer's [Butler] on the bass, Tony's [Iommi] on the guitar, Ozzy's on vocals, and there it was — there was SABBATH. So all this joy and celebration and love and everything. You could see it in his face. He was lit up. I've never seen him so happy. So then, how do you think he felt when he went home to Windsor the next day and got in his chair and just sat there? It's done. It's done, it's done. I think somehow your body says it's time to let go. You take a deep breath and, and you just let go."
Rob added: "Parkinson's is a really, really fucking cruel, horrible disease. And it chips away at your life — it chips away at your life slowly and slowly and slowly. And maybe he thought, 'I'm not making that exit that way. I'm going my way.' And if he did that, God bless him even more."
Halford previously talked about Ozzy's passing last month in an interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station. He said at the time: "Oh, man. I got a call the day [Ozzy's death] happened. I just put the phone down in my hotel room in — I think I was in Leeds, in England, and I just curled up in a ball and bawled my eyes out for hours. I just couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it now. I'm still grieving, like so many people. And then we had a show the next day. So, God, how do you process all of this tragedy, all of this love, because I've never seen such an outpouring of love. And we did the show and we came to the song that we'll be playing when we come to see you guys — it's called 'Giants In The Sky', from the 'Invincible Shield' album — and that song talks about people that we love in music that have moved on to this beautiful place. We reference Lemmy [MOTÖRHEAD] and Ronnie [James Dio] and Paul Di'Anno [IRON MAIDEN] and Jill [Janus from] HUNTRESS and Chris [Cornell from SOUNDGARDEN] and all of these greats, Janis Joplin, Freddie Mercury. And then for that show we added Ozzy at the end. And I said to everybody, this just so much to try and comprehend and so tough, but Ozzy would say, 'Let's party. Let's rock and roll. Let's live it up. Let's enjoy.' That was in his heart, his soul, and his spirit. Whenever we did shows together, he would always say that to me after, 'Did you have a good time?' 'Yeah. Yeah.' 'Did you have a good time? Did you really have a good time?' The stuff he pushed out from himself to his fans to everybody, the generosity, the caring, all of the incredible things that he did in music, he was the embodiment of kindness in that respect.
"So it's great that we are talking about him now and we should keep talking about him forever, like I always talk about Ronnie, I talk about Lemmy," Rob added. "These are all friends of mine. And we have to celebrate — we have to celebrate. That's the way of helping you through the grief. You think about the memories, you think about the joy, you think about the good times, and that's what we will always do with Ozzy."
Asked if he remembers the last time he had a conversation with Ozzy or the last time he was in contact with him, Rob said: "No. We used to text occasionally. 'Cause he's another guy I was in awe of. I'm still in awe of Alice [Cooper]. [Laughs] 'Oh my God. He's Alice Cooper.' And I used to feel the same whenever I was in Ozzy's presence, because he had this larger-than-life personality. It'd been a while since we've been in touch. But, again, I just have the wonderful memories of the two opportunities I was able to sing for him with SABBATH. And then this recent opportunity to cover 'War Pigs' [with PRIEST], which we still play at the start of our show, which is one of the greatest metal songs ever written. So that connection will never be severed in that respect."
JUDAS PRIEST paid tribute to Ozzy during the band's July 23 concert at Scarborough Open Air Theatre in Scarborough, United Kingdom. Introducing the aformentioned song "Giants In The Sky", Rob acknowledged the BLACK SABBATH frontman's death a day earlier, saying: "Okay. Look, it's been tough, the last 24 hours, right? It's been tough. But he would want us to be doing this. He would want us to be together, he would want us to be having a good time, which is what we're doing right now. We love you, Ozzy."
After a brief pause amid chants of "Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!", Halford continued: "This next song is all about him and all of the other greats that we've lost. Their music lives forever. They used to be down here on the earth plane. Now they're in the sky plane, as we call it. This is 'Giants In The Sky'."
During the song — a tribute to musicians now gone — the screen displayed images of the likes of Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy, Freddie Mercury, Taylor Hawkins and Christine McVie, finishing on two gigantic images of Ozzy.
A few hours after Ozzy's passing was announced on July 22, JUDAS PRIEST released the following statement via social media: "Our hearts are broken like millions around the world. Words can't express the love and loss we are all feeling.
"Sharon, may God surround you and your beautiful family with love, peace and light.
"Ozzy, you will never leave us — your music is eternal. God blesses you now more than ever after you blessed us all through your magnificent life.
"Rob, Glenn, Ian, Richie & Scott".
This past May, Halford said that he was "absolutely gutted" to have to miss the last BLACK SABBATH concert. Rob told Metal Hammer: "I had no idea [the SABBATH show] was happening. It all got announced and was a big deal — [the Hannover concert featuring] SCORPIONS and PRIEST — and suddenly I get this phone call [from Ozzy Osbourne's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne]: 'Robbie, I know you've got this gig with SCORPIONS, but could you consider coming over to do a thing with Ozzy and the guys. He'd love to see you.'"
Halford explained that trying to make both performances happen would be "dangerous", adding: "Even with a private plane, there's a word called 'technical', where something could go wrong, or the weather that time of year could cause problems… I was absolutely gutted."
Acknowledging that K.K. Downing was going to perform at the Villa Park concert, Halford said that the founding PRIEST guitarist would represent "the spirit of the band".
In August 2023, Halford picked BLACK SABBATH's classic 1970 self-titled debut album as one of the albums he'd be willing to listen to in perpetuity if he found himself stranded and alone on an island. He said: "I would have to go with BLACK SABBATH, the original 'Black Sabbath' album that I think is the motivator for all great things in heavy metal."
Back in 2020, Halford broke down his top 10 favorite albums in an interview with Rolling Stone and explained how they helped make him who he is. Among the records included on the list was BLACK SABBATH's debut. At the time, Halford said about his choice: "They were local guys from the same neighborhood, the same neck of the woods as PRIEST. We literally grew up together, inventing this great music that we love and cherish so much called heavy-metal music.
"I chose the 'Black Sabbath' album just because, like so many bands, your first one or two records really establish who you are as a band," he explained. "It's a bit like PRIEST with 'Rocka Rolla' and 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'; 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' becomes the one we love so much because it becomes defining. With 'Black Sabbath', here was the first example of what heavy-metal music should sound like, just the texture, the tone, the structure of all of the material, Ozzy's very unique voice. It's just become a very important record in the discography of BLACK SABBATH."
Halford joined SABBATH for two gigs to support Ozzy Osbourne on his last shows for the "No More Tours" tour in November 1992 in Costa Mesa, California after SABBATH's singer at the time, Ronnie James Dio, refused to take the stage. Rob also performed with SABBATH members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward on August 26, 2004 at the Camden, New Jersey stop of Ozzfest after Ozzy came down with an "attack of bronchitis" and was unable to take part in the concert.
Asked which SABBATH tune he'd most enjoying performing with the band, Halford told The Georgia Straight: "Ooo, that's a good question. Um, I'd probably say the actual song 'Black Sabbath', which is, to me, the most evil song that's ever been written. [Laughs]. It's very fucking scary. There's something very malevolent about that song. It's just the whole — it's the way it starts, and then it's almost deathly quiet, and then that opening line: 'What is this I see before me?' You know, I just get goosebumps thinking about it now. And when I sang that song live, it makes you feel really… Wow… I can't describe it. It's just very overwhelming, the emotion is very overwhelming. And when you see Ozzy singing it you can see him change, you know, his whole demeanor, he just changes as a person to sing that song. It's really spooky."
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8 сен 2025
Ex-ICED EARTH Singer MATT BARLOW On His Work As Police Officer: 'We're Just Regular People That Put On A Uniform And Go Out And Do A Job'
 In a new interview with George Dionne of The Rock Is George podcast, former ICED EARTH and current ASHES OF ARES frontman Matt Barlow, who works as a police officer in Georgetown, Delaware, was asked if he gets recognized by metalheads on the job. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Some people know me. I've got a nice group of friends that are in law enforcement and the legal field, some lawyer friends and things like that. We just had a [ASHES OF ARES] record-listening party [in July] at The Brimming Horn Meadery here in Delaware, in Milton, and our friends there, that was very cool of them to host us. And a lot of my friends, colleagues and things like that came out, and I was actually surprised to see some of them. And I was really happy that they came out to support. So it was cool."
After Dionne noted that "doing something like that kind of humanizes police officers," Barlow said: "Yeah, I know it does seems strange for us, because we are just humans. We're just regular people that put on a uniform and go out and do a job that a lot of people don't like to do, or wouldn't even consider doing, but at the end of the day, man, we're just people, man. It is a uniform, and I understand the connotation that folks get with it whenever you're just angry at 'the man'. It doesn't matter what uniform it is. But it is what it is, man. I do think that you're right. I think it's a good example of getting out there. But also the other good example for us, at least in our agency, is just getting out there and doing community policing and just talking to people on a regular and just being part of the community and experiencing that. And I know it's different in different jurisdictions and every police force has its own unique characteristics and community has its own unique characteristics. And sometimes it's harder to do, but I know that that's where most agencies are going — in a more community-oriented capacity — but it's also hard to get out there and do that community interaction whenever you're slammed with 900 complaints and got all this stuff going on. And it's all the bad stuff. So, it is tough, but it is nice to get out there and communicate with folks and just let 'em know, 'Hey, I get it. I get your frustrations with certain things and all that,' but at the end of the day, we're just trying to do the best we can, short staffed and everything else. And I'm sure every agency's probably dealing with that as well. It's looking a little better now, but short staffing is tough. And the crime doesn't stop."
Two months ago, Barlow was asked by Tom Wilson of Australia's Sense Music Media what his reaction was when he first saw the infamous photo of ICED EARTH leader Jon Schaffer among the protesters who breached the U.S. Capitol in January 2021. The 55-year-old singer, who is married to Schaffer's sister, responded: "I wasn't happy. That's the thing. It is what it is, man. I'm not gonna dwell on that. Jon, he has done his time. He's apologized to people for what happened. And I don't think that there were too many people, and including, I think, probably Jon afterwards, he wasn't happy with the whole thing. [It was] just a very unfortunate thing, a very unfortunate day in our history. So, hopefully we're gonna move on from that at some point and people will have the forgiveness in their hearts and move on as well."
Barlow went on to say that he keeps his political opinions to himself, and he wishes more musicians would do the same.
"I don't try to influence people," he explained. "It's not my place. It's not my desire to put any of my political views out there for the world to see because it's my business. And I wish everybody would do that, really. Entertainers, certainly, as well. And I get people probably feel like I'm in an area of influence and I can influence people and all that. I'm not here to influence people. I'm here to entertain people. So I don't speak of that. I don't go down that road. I don't wanna be that guy. I don't wanna be put in that category of somebody who spouts out their political beliefs and does that. You can look at my social media. I don't put anything on there about politics, because it's not important enough for me to alienate people that are fans. And it does — it happens, man, because you can't get away from it. And I do my best. Music and all that other good stuff, I do my very best to separate people's political beliefs from the art, the art from the artist and so on and so forth. That's kind of my gig. And I hope that people do that with people that they enjoy whatever art form that they put out. But I know that it's gotta be tough sometimes, especially for ones that are vehemently opinionated. But my thing is I just don't put my politics out there, man. And I don't shove religion down people's throats. I don't do any of that. To me, I think all of that's very, very personal. Because how I can I put my opinion out there for people to possibly follow when I have no idea what their life is like? Politics and religion are really personal things. I make decisions on politics based on my life experience. And I'm not gonna judge other people for their personal experiences and what they do, who they vote for, who they worship, whatever. That's their business. I'm here to entertain. So I really do my very best to not influence people in that way. If I can influence people with my music to make their lives better, fantastic. And if my music doesn't make people's lives better, then please move on to somebody else. That's my thing."
This past April, it was announced that ASHES OF ARES, the band featuring Barlow and fellow ex-ICED EARTH member Freddie Vidales, will celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of ICED EARTH's third album, 1996's "The Dark Saga", on a European tour in September/October 2025. Vidales played with ICED EARTH from 2008 to 2012 and is featured on the band's 2011 album "Dystopia". from 1993 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2011.
ASHES OF ARES released its fourth studio album, titled "New Messiahs", in Europe on July 18 and in North America on August 8 via ROAR!
ICED EARTH played its final show with Barlow at the 2011 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.
Barlow announced his departure from ICED EARTH in March 2011. In a heartfelt statement, he cited his commitment to his family and the need for ICED EARTH to tour more as the reasons for his retirement; however, he committed to performing with ICED EARTH on all 2011 European festival dates, including Wacken Open Air.
Back in late 2020, Barlow reunited with Schaffer to celebrate the holiday season with an EP called "Winter Nights". Released under the SCHAFFER/BARLOW PROJECT banner, the effort contained the duo's unique spin on five Christmas classics and two ICED EARTH songs.
Photon on right courtesy of Georgetown Police Department
We would like to thank Tom with Mission BBQ and your Team Members for dropping off some goodies to show appreciation for our officers! We are grateful for your support.
Mission BBQ Rehoboth
Mission BBQ
Posted by Georgetown Police Department on Monday, May 20, 2024
We would like to thank Hunter Emory State Farm and your Team Members for dropping off some goodies to show appreciation for our officers! We are grateful for your support.
Posted by Georgetown Police Department on Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Thank you to all of those who attended this event at Georgetown Starbucks. We were honored to have our law enforcement...
Posted by Georgetown Police Department on Thursday, October 26, 2023
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8 сен 2025
DONALD TARDY: 'Should There Be One More' OBITUARY 'Record? Possibly'
 In a new interview with Bloodstock TV's Oran O'Beirne, OBITUARY drummer Donald Tardy was asked if the veteran Florida death metallers are still planning on releasing a new studio album in 2026 or 2027. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "In the rock and roll industry, you make plans and nothing ever sticks, and getting pushed back, it happens always. So I don't wanna tell people that there's gonna be a new album, 'cause is there? We don't know. We're having a damn good time. My brother [OBITUARY frontman John Tardy] and I are having a blast.
"Should there be one more record? Possibly. Possibly for the fans," he continued. "Going on a 40-year career, we're wondering, where do we go with this career of ours? And how much longer? Do we wanna do it? Can we do it? And should we?
"And so to answer the question, we love writing music and we love the idea of a new album, but we will definitely take our time and write the best songs we possibly can, just like we did with 'Dying Of Everything'," Donald added. "So '26 and '27 will be a writing process, and then the recording of it. So, we're looking it as, if we're still on this side of the ground and we could do it, there'll be another one, simply because the fans deserve it. And we're still having a good time doing what we do."
OBITUARY recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of its second album, "Cause Of Death", on a North American tour. Support on the trek came from NAILS, TERROR, SPIRITWORLD and PEST CONTROL.
OBITUARY's latest studio album, "Dying Of Everything", came out in January 2023 via Relapse Records.
In 2022, Decibel Books released "Turned Inside Out: The Official Story Of Obituary", the fully authorized biography of OBITUARY. The book was written by David E. Gehlke, author of "Damn The Machine: The Story Of Noise Records" and "No Celebration: The Official Story Of Paradise Lost".
In a 2023 interview with Invisible Oranges, Donald stated about the six-year gap between 2017’s self-titled album and "Dying Of Everything": "COVID had everything to do with it. We've been sitting on this album for two years; we started writing it five years ago. When we did the SLAYER tour in Europe, we were hell bound to get home and write an album. The plans were to obviously ride the coattails and get back to Europe on a headlining tour and talk about a new album. But then COVID took everything out. So we realized that we had a fucking awesome start to an album, so what are you gonna do when you realize you're gonna be home for more than just months? We were home, so we just really focused on the songs that we had; wrote some more songs and really focused on, how can you make them killer? And then the recording process… we really took our time because we knew that we were not going to put an album out when we’re sitting on our couches because of COVID. So a lot of bands released records when they were sitting at home."
He added: "I'm not 20 years old anymore, and there's not that many more albums coming out of OBITUARY. This was the 11th one; this was the one we knew was super important. And so we've been sitting on it for two years. It's been finished and in our back pockets waiting for the world to open up, especially Europe. Because Europe hadn't seen us since 2016."
Regarding OBITUARY's longevity, Donald said: "My brother says it in a lot of interviews, and I don't often repeat him, but we're doing something that we're having a good time doing. And if we don't have a good time doing it, we'll find something else to do. I think that's a great way to put it.
"My brother and I moved to Tampa, Florida from Miami, Florida in 1980. Within minutes, I met Trevor [Peres, OBITUARY guitarist] and I was only a 10-year-old kid. And by the time we were 12 years old, we already had the bug and we knew what we wanted; we wanted to be a band. And we've been best friends for 40-something years. And the longevity of the career with this band is simply that we're all brothers, we kind of get along, beyond just bandmates. We're lifetime friends, and, genuinely, we have a good time together. We're fortunate that we found each other in life, and we're good friends. And that's the success plan that kept OBITUARY together now for going on 35 years."
That same year, Donald told Kerrang! magazine that the extended hiatus he and his OBITUARY bandmates went on in 1997 was a positive experience. "Hindsight is 20/20," he said. "At the time we didn't know if that break was going to be one year, two years, six years or whatever it was. But, looking back, it was fantastic for us to step away and recharge, to get away from the music industry and that scene at the age that we were. And we were gone for long enough that we were hungry again when we got back onstage. It's weird to look back at how long ago that was. Our 'second career' has lasted longer than a lot of bands' entire existences."
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8 сен 2025
AUTOGRAPH Release Two New Albums Of Mostly Unreleased Demos
 FnA Records announces two new Autograph albums with the following press release:
It all started with five guys from LA who got together on weekends to jam and write songs. They were no strangers to one another having played in different bands together. At this time, Steve Plunkett (vocals/guitar) was playing with Silver Condor on Columbia Records, Keni Richards (drums) was with The Coup on A&M Records, Steve Lynch (lead guitar) and Steve Isham (keyboards) were working with Holly Penfield on Dreamland Records, and Randy Rand (bass) was playing with Lita Ford.
In 1983 the yet to be named band recorded some demos (some of which you will find on this release) which found their ways into the hands of close friends and confidants. One of those friends being legendary record producer Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin/Rolling Stones) who offered to record the demos free of charge, in hopes that it would lead to further endeavors.
David Lee Roth, who was a pal to Keni Richards, heard the demo and invited the band (still unnamed) to open for Van Halen in Jacksonville, Florida on January 19, 1984. So the band loaded up the Winnebago and headed to Florida; on their way out East, the band would collectively settle on the name Autograph.
The pop metal/glam metal band would release their debut album, Sign In Please, in October of 1984 to a slow start. Only 80,000 units were sold in the first three weeks. The sophomore album, That’s The Stuff, was released in the fall of 1985; It would fail to capture the magic of the first album. Autograph’s third release (and maybe their most technically proficient album), Loud And Clear, was released in 1987.
During their career, Autograph toured with Van Halen, Motley Crue, Heart, Aerosmith, Ronnie James Dio, Bryan Adams, and Whitesnake.
FnA Records is super stoked to be releasing two albums of mostly unreleased demos; Cloud 10 and Send Her My Way. The great thing about these demos is the sound is damn good!
The 16-page CD booklet (for both albums) features all kinds of information and three amazing photographs by the iconic Mark “Weissguy” Weiss. One day, Mark, known as “The Guy Who Rocked The 80’s” took his photos to Circus magazine where his impressive portfolio led to him being the magazines Staff photographer. Mark and his illustrious photos made him very in demand. He was one of the “Crew” – He travelled on busses and planes with these larger-than-life Rock Stars capturing photos in which he had unparalleled access.
Today, Mark continues to photograph artists and has even released a magazine (RockedMag.com) dedicated to his photos along with artist interviews from the 80’s. For those fans that are familiar with the Loud And Clear album cover – that was Marks work.
Mark “Weissguy” Weiss states about this FnA Records project, “From the first time I shot them (Autograph) in 1985 to the last time I photographed Autograph on The Monsters Of Rock Cruise in 2023, the line-up may have changed, but the sound of Autograph never did. The songs live on – and its incredibly satisfying that after 40 years, my photographs are now part of this project.”
FnA Records tips their hat to Mark “Weissguy” Weiss for working with the label in order to make this project top notch!
Today, Autographs videos are viewable on VH1 Classics and of course, YouTube.
FnA Records release of Cloud 10 and Send Her To Me show the dynamic side of Autograph. According to guitarist Steve Lynch, “There’s no way to describe the bond that is built when you’re a struggling musician forming a new band and traveling from gig to gig making music together – it transcends time, defies logic, and leaves you exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.” (Source: ‘Confessions of a Rock Guitarist’ by guitarist Steve Lynch)
Cloud 10 and Send Her To Me come with multiple choices of options to buy the CD(s). There is the single CD, a two-pack, an autographed fan pack signed by guitarist Steve Lynch, digital download, and finally a Big Bag Of Goodies stocked with both CD’s and tons of Autograph collectibles. (see the site for details). There is a Best of the Demos vinyl with 2 unreleased tracks limited to 50 units worldwide. Additionally, there are all kinds of T-shirts, Jerseys, Hats, Hoodies, Jackets, and some other cool collectibles.
Learn more and place your order at FnA Records.
Cloud 10 tracklisting:
“Cloud 10”
“Nineteen And Non-Stop”
“Angela”
“I’ve Got You”
“Angel In Black”
“When I’m Gone”
“Sweet Temptation”
“One Way Dead End Street”
“Deep End”
“Every Little Word”
“Friday”
“My Girlfriends Boyfriend Isn’t Me”
Send Her To Me tracklisting:
“All Night Long”
“Heart Attack”
“Send Her To Me”
“Turn Up The Tape Machine (Radio)”
“In The Night”
“My Attitude”
“Sanctuary”
“Dead End Street”
“All I’m Gonna Take”
“Trading Secrets”
“You Make Me Bleed”
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8 сен 2025
AMORPHIS Presented With Gold Award For 'Halo' Album
 Invited to Helsinki's Sonic Pump Studios under a pretext, Finnish metal icons AMORPHIS have been decorated with gold records for sales of their 2022 studio album "Halo" by their label partners Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The band's management, distribution and media partners gathered secretly earlier this week to witness the handover of the awards at the iconic Finnish recording studio, where the sextet crafted a number of much-loved albums over the years and even parts of "Halo". Still being busy with interviews to support their forthcoming offering "Borderland", due out on September 26, 2025, as well as tour preparations, AMORPHIS were pleasantly surprised when the shiny vinyls were presented to them.
AMORPHIS guitarist Esa Holopainen states: "Achieving a gold record is far from being guaranteed in these days. We're truly grateful to all listeners and fans who supported us along the way.
"'Halo' wasn't an easy album to make as the coronavirus was challenging the world. Some parts of its production had to be done remotely, while at other times we were actually allowed to travel to our beloved neighboring country Sweden. 'Halo' also isn't the easiest album of the AMORPHIS catalog, but it certainly has its special moments which will live on through people's sound systems and our live shows."
Originally released on February 11, 2022, "Halo" managed to hit the top of the official album chart in AMORPHIS's home country for the sixth time in the band's eventful career. Many other notable global entries (Germany No. 3, Switzerland No. 4, Austria No. 7) completed this enormously successful launch under complicated circumstances.
Followed by a Finnish headline run and a European arena tour alongside ARCH ENEMY, ELUVEITIE and GATECREEPER, the group's new album, "Borderland", will become available in late September.
The follow-up to "Halo", "Borderland" was recorded in late 2024 and early 2025 at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen. The cover artwork was designed by Dutch artist Marald Van Haasteren (METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH, KVELERTAK, ALCEST).
Since forming in Helsinki in 1990, the Finnish sextet has fearlessly explored musical frontiers — from raw death metal roots to melodic, progressive and folk-tinged heavy rock, and far beyond. At every turn, AMORPHIS has expanded musical and lyrical boundaries without compromising their artistic identity.
AMORPHIS's fifteenth studio album marks both a continuation and a reinvention of the band's legacy. With acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, ARCH ENEMY, AMARANTHE) at the helm for the first time and a revitalized creative spark within the group, "Borderland" sees AMORPHIS fully embracing their melodic sensibilities while venturing into fresh, uncharted sonic landscapes.
AMORPHIS is:
Tomi Joutsen - vocals
Esa Holopainen - guitars
Tomi Koivusaari - guitars
Olli-Pekka "Oppu" Laine - bass
Santeri Kallio - keys
Jan Rechberger - drums & percussion
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8 сен 2025
Watch: Ex-GUNS N' ROSES Drummer STEVEN ADLER Plays Through 'You Could Be Mine' For SOULTONE CYMBALS
 Soultone Cymbals has uploaded a new video of former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler playing through the band's classic song "You Could Be Mine". Check it out below. An accompanying description reads: "A true rock legend at work — Steven Adler drives the beat of this unforgettable track.
"Steven plays a completely customized set of cymbals, designed specifically for him."
The former GUNS N' ROSES drummer's current solo band lineup includes lead guitarist Michael Thomas, rhythm guitarist Alistair James, bassist Cristian Sturba and lead singer Ariel "Ari" Kamin.
"You don't get better than Michael Thomas and Alistair James; they are two of the best guitarists in rock," noted Adler.
Thomas previously delighted music fans as the lead guitarist for ENGINES OF AGGRESSION, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and FASTER PUSSYCAT. In addition to providing Adler with smooth rhythms, James has engineered recordings for HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES — the supergroup featuring Johnny Depp, Joe Perry of AEROSMITH, and Alice Cooper.
Kamin was a well-known rocker in Argentina with such bands as CRIATURAS SALVAJES and GN'R tribute act SON OF A GUN when he was selected to come to the U.S. and join Adler in electrifying audiences with the music of GUNS N' ROSES. Audiences have been blown away.
"Ari Kamin is the total package. He's everything a rock 'n' roll front man is supposed to be," Adler said. "Not only does he have an incredible voice, he really connects with the audience. He's one of the best you'll ever experience."
In 2021, Adler told the M3 Rock Festival YouTube channel about how he ended up recruiting Kamin to front his ADLER solo band: "Actually, I went to Argentina [in November 2016] — my wife's from there; her family lives there — and the GN'R guys invited me to do a couple of songs. And so I had a little party at a club called the Roxy in [Buenos Aires], and he was the singer [that played with us that night]. You can go on my web site and see — the Roxy in Argentina. He was so great. I was, like, 'You're coming with me.' And the guitar player from the band that opened up for GN'R was so amazing. I told him, 'Come down. I wanna jam with you.' And he came down. I tell you, if [GUNS N' ROSES guitarist] Slash would have seen him playing, he would have been in the back, in the dressing room, practicing. That's how good he was."
Kamin replaced Constantine Maroulis of "American Idol" and "Rock Of Ages" fame, who was the vocalist for ADLER'S APPETITE for a dozen or so dates in May 2018, including an Australian tour.
Although he wasn't included in the lineup that launched the "Not In This Lifetime" trek in 2016, Adler rejoined GUNS N' ROSES at several shows on the tour, including three stops on the U.S. leg and one gig in Buenos Aires, Argentina, playing drums on "Out Ta Get Me" and "My Michelle".
In February 2017, Adler revealed that he was originally supposed to appear at more than just a handful of shows on the GUNS N' ROSES reunion trek. He claimed that he expected to play all the "Appetite For Destruction" material during the entire tour, only to be told he was out after he hurt his back during rehearsals.
Speculation was rampant that Adler would participate in at least a portion of the reunion tour ever since GUNS made it official in January 2016.
GUNS N' ROSES' current drummer is Isaac Carpenter, who made his live debut with the band on May 1 at Incheon, South Korea's Songdo Moonlight Festival Park. Carpenter replaced Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in GUNS N' ROSES' storied run, in March. | 0 | |
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8 сен 2025
LOU GRAMM On Current Lineup Of FOREIGNER: 'They Do The Name Proud'
 During a new appearance on the "Jim Kerr Rock & Roll Morning Show" on New York City's Q104.3 radio station, original FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm spoke about the band's ongoing tour where he is guesting at select shows on some of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame group's biggest hits. Gramm is sharing the stage with Luis Maldonado, who is replacing current frontman Kelly Hansen on lead vocals. Gramm said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Honestly, to step on stage as part of FOREIGNER again after a lot of years of being away from it, it still has that magic. And the current lineup is fantastic. They're great players and a great bunch of guys. We get along famously, and they're a lot of fun and they have a great deal of respect for the songs and the way they should be played. And I have no bones about being on stage with them at all. They do the name proud."
This past July, Gramm was asked by Ryan Vacey, music photographer and host of the Beyond The Vibe podcast, why now is the right time for him to return to FOREIGNER as a guest singer, Gramm said: "Well, I know that since we were inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame, there's been a lot reinterest in the band — the early band and the band as it currently is. And I know [FOREIGNER's founding guitarist] Mick [Jones] is not in good health. I think if he was in good health, he would be out there with this band, and maybe I would be joining him. But he's not well enough to play, and I feel like I wanna help fly the flag for the band — the original band, and the current band right now, in these waning moments and moments when we're getting so much attention for what we've accomplished over the years. I wanna be out there as one of the original members to wave the flag."
FOREIGNER recently announced the September 12 release of extensive super deluxe editions of its 1981 smash multi-platinum album "4".
Recorded at the famed Electric Lady Studios in New York City alongside respected music producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange (DEF LEPPARD, AC/DC),"Foreigner 4 Deluxe" will be available in black vinyl and various other formats on September 12 via Rhino. The release will encompass newly remastered Stereo or Atmos versions, and a five-disc CD/Blu-ray package that includes a booklet containing over 60 exclusive photos, five previously unreleased songs, 14 early and alternate versions of various songs, 15 instrumentals, and 15 live performances from across the globe, spanning the band's 1981 and 1982 "4" world tour. The digital deluxe release will also contain alternate versions, instrumentals, and live performances from the era.
Originally released July 2, 1981, "4" spent more weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts than any artist in the history of Atlantic Records, including AC/DC, THE ROLLING STONES and LED ZEPPELIN, and went on to sell more than ten million albums worldwide. "4" is certified six times platinum in the U.S. (RIAA),four times platinum in Canada (Music Canada),platinum in Australia (ARIA) and Germany (BVMI),and gold in seven additional countries. It spawned three Billboard Hot 100 singles: "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Urgent" and "Juke Box Hero". "Foreigner 4", as it's often referred to, is the fourth studio album by the legendary British-American rock band released during a time of transition as they famously went from six members to four.
Jones noted: "Recording our fourth album took the better part of two years. It was something that just had to be right and I truly believe that Mutt Lange, Lou [Gramm], Rick [Willis], Dennis [Elliott] and I accomplished something very special. This package, and particularly the stunning Atmos mixes, present a spectacular culmination of one of the most exciting periods of my life."
To coincide with the deluxe package release, FOREIGNER — Luis Maldonado (lead vocals/guitar),Jeff Pilson (bass),Michael Bluestein (keyboards),Bruce Watson (guitars),Chris Frazier (drums) — will celebrate half a century of music with a new round of headlining tour dates which will include Gramm guesting on some of the songs he helped create almost 45 years ago. The upcoming "Foreigner 4 Deluxe Tour" signals yet another important transition for the band as these new dates will be the first major U.S. shows featuring Maldonado on lead vocals. On the season finale of "The Voice", it was announced that this year's summer tour would be the last for Hansen.
Of the transition, Maldonado had this to say: "Earlier this year, we toured Mexico and South America with the incredible Lou Gramm. We all had such a fantastic time performing and being together, and it's with that same excitement I look forward to working with Lou again. He was an integral part of the writing and recording of the 'Foreigner 4' album and his presence will add a historic dimension to our forthcoming tour."
Released in 1977, FOREIGNER's debut album produced the hits "Feels Like The First Time", "Cold As Ice" and "Long, Long Way From Home". The albums "Double Vision" and "Head Games" followed with more hits including "Hot Blooded", "Blue Morning, Blue Day" and "Dirty White Boy". Then came "Urgent", "Juke Box Hero" and "Waiting For A Girl Like You". Those songs helped give FOREIGNER's next album, "4", its impressive 10-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. At the zenith of 1980s sound, FOREIGNER's fifth album, "Agent Provocateur", gave the world the incredible No. 1 global hit "I Want To Know What Love Is". This musical milestone followed the record-breaking song "Waiting For A Girl Like You". | +1 | |
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8 сен 2025
Watch: OZZY OSBOURNE Honored By STEVEN TYLER, JOE PERRY, NUNO BETTENCOURT And YUNGBLUD At 2025 MTV VMAs
 A powerhouse tribute of rock and roll royalty with AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Yungblud and EXTREME's Nuno Bettencourt all came together Sunday night (September 7) for a once-in-a-lifetime performance honoring the legendary Ozzy Osbourne with a medley of his greatest hits at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
Ozzy's son Jack introduced the tribute, along with his four daughters, via a pretaped video, saying, "I wish we could be there with you all tonight as you celebrate my dad's amazing musical journey. I know for sure it would make him incredibly happy to see these great musicians carry on his legacy and help inspire the next generation of rockers." He also gave a "special shout-out" to the artists who took part in the tribute. To conclude the video, Ozzy's granddaughters signed off by shouting in unison, "In the words of our Papa, let's go crazy!"
Yungblud kicked off the tribute with Osbourne's "Crazy Train" before slowing things down with a cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Changes". Tyler then took the stage to sing Osbourne's hit ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home", accompanied by Perry on guitar. Yungblud returned to the mic to duet with Tyler on the tune, which ended with pyrotechnics and Yungblud shouting into the microphone, "Ozzy forever!"
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, hosted by LL Cool J, aired live coast to coast from New York's UBS Arena on the CBS Television Network, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Ozzy's long-standing and storied MTV history spans "Headbangers Ball" in the 1980s, "Battle For Ozzfest" and groundbreaking reality TV series "The Osbournes", to name a few. He was honored with the prestigious MTV EMAs Global Icon Award in 2014. Later this year, Paramount+ will debut the feature-length documentary "Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now".
With more than 120 million albums sold worldwide, the global rock icon, multiplatinum singer-songwriter and pop culture phenom was a five-time Grammy winner, two-time Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, both with BLACK SABBATH in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024, with stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and Birmingham Walk Of Stars, among a multitude of other top accolades.
Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.
A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and his wife and manager Sharon bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer's friends and family members attended the service, including his SABBATH bandmates, Robert Trujillo (METALLICA),Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT).
Ozzy's final concert on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom saw him and his fellow original SABBATH bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward perform four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. The festival served as a tribute to the legendary heavy metal act, including additional performances from such other groups as METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, SLAYER, TOOL, PANTERA and ALICE IN CHAINS. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.
Osbourne leaves behind his wife, Sharon, and their children, Aimée, Kelly and Jack, as well his two older children, Jessica and Louis, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, and grandchildren. | +1 | |
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8 сен 2025
Watch: KINGS OF THRASH Joined By CHRIS POLAND At Whisky A Go Go During 'Thrashin' SoCal 2025' Tour
 KINGS OF THRASH, the band featuring former MEGADETH members David Ellefson (bass) and Jeff Young (guitar),kicked off the four-date "Thrashin' SoCal 2025" tour on Thursday, September 4 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.
According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the show was as follows:
01. Looking Down The Cross (MEGADETH song)
02. Hook In Mouth (MEGADETH song)
03. Train Of Consequences (MEGADETH song)
04. Victory (MEGADETH song)
05. Skull Beneath The Skin (MEGADETH song)
06. 502 (MEGADETH song)
07. Drum Solo
08. In My Darkest Hour (MEGADETH song)
09. Bad Omen (MEGADETH song)
10. Cold Sweat (THIN LIZZY cover)
11. Good Mourning/Black Friday (MEGADETH song)
12. Dawn Patrol (MEGADETH song)
13. Tornado Of Souls (MEGADETH song)
14. Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! (MEGADETH song) (with Chris Poland)
15. Lockdown (with Chris Poland)
16. Paranoid (BLACK SABBATH cover) (with Chris Poland)
17. Wake Up Dead (MEGADETH song) (with Chris Poland)
18. Peace Sells (MEGADETH song) (with Chris Poland)
In a recent interview with The Rock N' Roll & Coffee Show, Ellefson spoke about "Lockdown", the new single from KINGS OF THRASH, also featuring Young, plus Chaz Leon (vocals, guitar) and DEAD GROOVE/BULLETBOYS drummer Fred Aching, along with an occasional guest appearance by fellow ex-MEGADETH-er Chris Poland. he said: "We wanted to get some material out, some original material here in 2025, 'cause we've got some tour dates coming up here in September and October. So actually Chaz brought the song over. And I gave him some instructions. I said, 'Dude, 1984, full-blown thrash metal.' I said, 'Just head for NUCLEAR ASSAULT 'Game Over', METALLICA 'Ride The Lightning'. Just go right to the heart of the matter.' 'Cause he's got a real thrash heart. And plus he's our singer. 'Cause we've written quite a bit of material together, and we wanted something that really just kind of came out of the gate swinging. And I find it's always better to write around the singer and let him kind of lead the charge. So I thought he brought a cool tune, man. And we collaborated on it and got it into shape. I think the time when he was writing it — this started back even in January, February when we were initially working on it — I don't think we saw probably how poignant the lyric is, in light of all of the unrest going on now. So, yeah, as a good thrash song should be, maybe a bit political, a bit anarchist, and always good fun."
Elaborating on the need for KINGS OF THRASH to release fresh music, Ellefson said: "It started out as sort of a, 'Let's go honor thrash metal.' We pulled in a little bit of THIN LIZZY and some RIOT and some stuff that we grew up on as well. And then I think the next logical step to kind of legitimize yourself is to write your own tunes. And even though, look, some of the MEGADETH stuff is stuff that I wrote, and so they already are my songs, and Jeff and Chris were part of 'em, of course. So that setlist is our music. But to move forward, it's always good to sort of freshen it up a little bit and show everybody what you got. We had another song called 'Bridges Burned' that we rolled out in 2023 when we did our first tour, and we literally wrote it on the road. Jeff and I had pretty much demoed it up in the studio the year before, so kind of musically it was pretty much together. But we collaborated on it as a group at soundcheck, tightened it up. Me and Chaz and Jeff sat down and wrote the lyrics in a hotel room while we were on the tour. And then we said, 'We'll take it to the stage.' And our crew were, like, 'Dude, you guys can't play that on stage.' I said, 'Oh, really? Watch this.' Like, why not? And who knows if we'll ever even officially record that, but it sits out on the Internet now. It's on YouTube… It's, like, why not, man? It's thrash metal, dude. This is the kick-ass, have-fun, get-in-the-pit-and-fricking punch-your-neighbor music."
Regarding the possibility of a full-length album of original KINGS OF THRASH material, David said: "It's possible. I'm certainly not gonna say no to it. I tell you what, it was great to just do one song. Making a record is a lot of work, especially when you live in different cities and you're trying to collaborate. One of the things about KINGS is we are not four of the same guy. We are four very different individuals, and so to sort of be agreeable on something, I'm not gonna lie, it's a bit of a challenge. And quite honestly, it's the diversity that makes KINGS so cool. And I guess I come from that even with MEGADETH. And Chris Poland, Jeff Young, they were sort of the diverse guitar players to Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader]. So I grew up in an environment that kind of expected that. So to have KINGS mirror that, I think is cool. I'm already used to that dynamic. And having everybody not just agree on everything, but everybody bring a bit of a different perspective, it's cool. I mean, that's ultimately what a group is about. I mean, look, every group needs a leader. To some degree I lead a lot of it. I put Jeff over there to sort of put setlists together and do that. With this song 'Lockdown', I tasked Chaz with that and said, 'Hey, go do that.' Fred, he's our liaison with the record label. He does all of our artwork and everything. He shot the video, he produced it and directed it and everything. So, we've got four really creative guys that do very different things. So it's, like, we've got four guys that really contribute something. And that's great — to have four different dudes."
KINGS OF THRASH recently completed a couple of tours during which it performed MEGADETH's classic albums "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good" an "So Far...So Good... So What!" A live CD/DVD package called "Best Of The West…Live At The Whisky A Go Go" was recorded and filmed live at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 15, 2022 and was released in March 2023 via Cleopatra Records. The DVD, which was directed by Michael Sarna for Inmotion Entertainment, includes an appearance by Poland.
"Let me put it this way: What's happening now is a win for all of us — Dave [Mustaine] included," Young told Metal Edge in August 2023. "He gets to make money off the publishing from the MEGADETH songs we play. Dave knows that, so he's very aware of us."
Young continued: "He hates what KINGS OF THRASH is doing. But it doesn't matter because, eventually, we'll delete a lot of the MEGADETH from our set, and we'll keep writing new stuff. But Dave is feeling the heat because we're getting attention, and the KINGS OF THRASH album will be better than anything MEGADETH has done recently. And we're playing all the MEGADETH songs better than he has in years. It's not just me saying that — read the reviews."
In January 2023, Young told Ultimate Guitar that he and Ellefson had not received any feedback from Mustaine about their new band or their recent live shows. "We couldn't care less… and it's a win-win for him," Jeff said. "Because all the publishing, for example, on the 'Best Of The West', he's getting all that money. We're making him money and he doesn't have to do anything. So, we're performing the songs because they're part of our history and the fans want to hear them and we will benefit from that, and so will he, so it's a win-win. How much cooler can anything be than that? So, if he has something to say about it… I wouldn't imagine it would be very objective… not that anything he's ever said has been objective."
Jeff's recent comments were similar to those he made in 2022 when he told Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of the Rock Interview Series that he and Ellefson were "really not concerned" about Mustaine's reaction to KINGS OF THRASH. "I don't pay attention," he said. "I haven't really paid attention or followed MEGADETH since, I think, I heard the 'Rust In Peace' album a couple of times, and then what you might hear on the radio or in the press.
"For us, this isn't about any spite or retaliation; it's a celebration of the music that we were all a part of, that we helped create," he explained. "And it's fun for us to do this.
"People said, 'You should do this.' And we said, 'Hey, yeah, you're right. We should do this.' It's a win-win — it's a win for us, and it's a win for [Mustaine], because any performance royalties, anything… If we did include live tracks, he would make money off that. It's promoting albums that hopefully fans will go back and buy, which is putting money right in his pocket. Especially 'Killing Is My Business', I think a lot of people are gonna go back and wanna rediscover that album after this tour.
"For us, it's all about positivity," Young added. "We're all in this moment — we're living in the moment, and we're not looking beyond. We're not reading any of the comments on Blabbermouth or any of the stuff. Because we know what our intent is, and intent is everything. And our intent's positive. We like playing together. We know we're crafting original music. We're not relying on this; we don't need to ride the coattails of this. This is just something that the fans wanted, and you wanna give fans what they want."
Ellefson told Yes! You CAN Play Guitar! that the intention behind KINGS OF THRASH is not to stick it to his former bandmates. "This is a celebration, not a retaliation," he explained. "This is a good moment. This is a happy moment, to celebrate these songs and these tracks and these records. So we go at it with just fun… It's, like, 'Wow. Wouldn't it be fun if we went out and played these records?' And we're doing it. So it's meant to be this celebration and bringing people together. And honestly, that was kind of always my role in MEGADETH. Dave [Mustaine] always called me 'The Ambassador', and I was always that guy, and I am that guy. So it's, like, let me just continue that role in our community and have one of good will."
Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH more than four years ago after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.
David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.
In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the MEGADETH leader 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.
Young's entire career with MEGADETH was spent recording and touring in support of the band's 1988 platinum-selling album "So Far, So Good...So What!"
Jeff made headlines in December 2009 for accusing Mustaine of, among other things, "dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying on some level about nearly every talented musician that has passed through his dysfunctional little ensemble." He also disputed Mustaine's claim in an interview that Young's drug problem led to MEGADETH's 1988 Australian tour being called off and the group being "banned" from performing in the country.
There's more KINGS OF THRASH on the way, too, as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of MEGADETH's "Youthanasia" and other thrash classics. Their "Thrashin' The East" tour begins in Newark, Delaware on October 17.
🔥Thrashin' SoCal September 2025 🔥 Come out and thrash with us to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of 'Killing Is My...
Posted by Kings of Thrash on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | +2 | |
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8 сен 2025
SEVENDUST To Begin Pre-Production For New Album Later This Month
 SEVENDUST is putting the finishing touches on the material for the band's new studio album, tentatively due in early 2026 via Napalm Records. The writing sessions for the follow-up to 2023's "Truth Killer" once again took place in Kansas at the farmhouse of SEVENDUST singer Lajon Witherspoon and his wife Ashley.
SEVENDUST is scheduled to team up with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette at the end of the month to begin pre-production for the new LP, which will once again be tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida. Baskette had previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.
On Saturday (September 6),SEVENDUST guitarist Clint Lowery shared a photo of him with Witherspoon, SEVENDUST drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly, and he included the following message: "Nov 1994 I joined CRAWLSPACE. Made a big leap of faith leaving an established band I was in to join up with a band that had the intensity and aggression I hadn't heard at that time and I wanted in. Morgan played 'Black' demo in a car in the parking lot of masquerade in Atlanta and played 'Bitch' after. I was hooked.
"Here we are many years later writing for our 14th (15th if you count 'Time Travelers') and I can honestly say we are in a great headspace and great brotherhood. This is the pic before I left to head home. They're finishing up now and we will start pre pro with @elvisliberace end of the month.
"Like Morgan has joked for 30 years…. 'We gotta lottttttta work to do' and that is true. But I'm not worried. God will guide us, give us inspiration when it's needed, patience when it's required and trust in the team around us. Vinnie [Hornsby, bass] is very missed in this pic.
"Much love and respect I have for all these gentlemen. Let's do it again boys. Glory to God the one who makes it ALL possible. @morgan7d @jmc7d @ljspoon @thevinniehornsby PS- thank you LJ and @ashleymwitherspoon for letting us use their amazing farm house. Such great host".
To celebrate the 21st anniversary of its beloved acoustic album "Southside Double-Wide: Acoustic Live", SEVENDUST will hit the road for an exclusive, intimate tour this fall. Fans can expect stripped-down versions of the band's hardest-hitting tracks, deep cuts and emotional favorites, including "Black", "Beautiful" and "Angel's Son".
The "Southside Double-Wide: Acoustic Live" tour will kick off on November 14 in Columbia, Missouri and make stops in Memphis, Tennessee (November 15),Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (November 24),Kansas City, Missouri (December 5),among others, before it wraps on December 12 in San Antonio, Texas. Special guest Cory Marks will be opening the tour.
With 2024/2025 continuing to be landmark years thanks in part to the release of SEVENDUST's 14th studio album, "Truth Killer", via Napalm Records and successful tours, the band is continuing to expand its audience 30 years into its career. SEVENDUST's "Everything" was the highest-charting single of the band's career, peaking at No. 6, as well as the highest-charting rock single from any artist in Napalm Records history. The video for "Everything" has received more than 2.4 million views.
SEVENDUST served as one of the support acts for DISTURBED on the latter act's "The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour".
Last fall, SEVENDUST celebrated the 21st anniversary of its iconic album "Seasons" on a U.S. tour. "Seasons", the fourth album from the band's catalog, spawned a Top 10 Rock single with "Enemy", and the album closer "Face To Face" is a show staple and fan favorite of SEVENDUST to this day.
"Seasons" was, for a time, the band's last album with Lowery as he left in 2004. Lowery returned to SEVENDUST in March 2008 and has remained with the group ever since.
Photo credit: Chuck Brueckmann
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A post shared by Clint Lowery (@clintloweryofficial) | +1 | |
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8 сен 2025
GUNS N' ROSES Keyboardist DIZZY REED: 'I'm So Lucky To Be Able To Play Rock And Roll Music For A Living'
 In a new interview with Seb Di Gatto of The Metal Gods Meltdown, Dizzy Reed, who is the longest-serving member of GUNS N' ROSES after singer Axl Rose, was asked to name one thing that fans think they know but they always get wrong. Dizzy responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, well, I don't drive a Bentley. I drive a nice truck, though. Here's a fun fact: I have never owned and do not own a piano. I've never had a piano in my house. I've had electric pianos, I've had keyboards of all sorts, but when I get to rehearsal, that's the first time I'm playing an acoustic piano probably in a while. I mean, it seems weird, and I don't actually know why, but that's just how it's been."
Regarding what he thinks his career would have been if he hadn't been a successful musician, Reed said: "Oh, shit. I think probably I would be a crack dealer or maybe a bartender. No, that's not true. I would sell something more lucrative, not crack. I had a journalism scholarship when I was in high school, and so that is probably where I would've gone. I would've gone in that direction, and I'd probably be out of a job by now because all the newspapers shut down. That or archeology. I think I'd probably love to go out there and just dig for stuff and discover cool things."
Asked what the "the most outrageous thing" is that he ever got involved with as a member of GUNS N' ROSES, Dizzy said: "Well, yeah, there's too many to mention, and all those ones I probably shouldn't mention. But it's been great, and it's been so much fun. And there's been ups and downs — of course, there is with everything — but really, when I get up every day, I look in the mirror and I go, 'You know what? I'm so lucky to be able to play rock and roll music for a living,' and I just thank my lucky stars."
Dizzy released his second solo album, "Rock 'N' Roll Chose Me", on physical vinyl on August 22, 2025 via the Pittsburgh-based label 50q Records, with the digital full-length album release following on September 5, 2025.
Written and produced by Dizzy, "Rock 'N' Roll Chose Me" is a gritty, emotionally charged journey. It was co-produced by Jason Achilles Mezilis, with lyrics co-written by Nadja, Del James and Reed himself. The album was mixed by Evan Rodaniche and mastered by Gentry Studer.
Reed's debut solo album, "Rock 'N Roll Ain't Easy", was released in February 2018 by Golden Robot Records. The disc featured guest appearances by musicians from W.A.S.P., QUIET RIOT, PSYCHEDELIC FURS, THIN LIZZY, NO DOUBT, THE REPLACEMENTS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, and more.
Reed joined GUNS N' ROSES as a touring member in 1990, during the "Use Your Illusion" era, and has played with most of the original members as well as in all the later editions of the group and the current "reunion" lineup.
In 2012, Dizzy was inducted into the the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of GUNS N' ROSES.
The Pulse Of Radio asked Reed how he's managed to stay in the band for so long. "I get asked that a lot and it's really just, I just never really thought about doing anything else, you know, on sort of a permanent basis," he said. "You know, I kind of feel like I'm in GUNS N' ROSES and that's where I was meant to be."
Besides being a member of GUNS N' ROSES, Dizzy has played on albums from artists including MOTÖRHEAD, Mick Taylor, Doug Aldrich, Duff McKagan, BACKYARD BABIES and Gilby Clarke.
Photo credit: John Altdorfer | +1 | |
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8 сен 2025
MAX CAVALERA Talks Inspiration For SOULFLY's Upcoming 'Chama' Album: 'It's That Ready-To-Battle Kind Of Feeling'
 In a new interview with Scott Itter of Dr. Music, SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera spoke about the band's upcoming thirteenth album, "Chama", which will be released on October 24 via Nuclear Blast Records. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's been a journey, but I think more than ever I felt really inspired by this record, maybe being our thirteenth record. And we went deep into the whole going back to the origin essence of what SOULFLY is, in reality, 'cause SOULFLY was created as an entity that was going to embrace tribal grooves and spirituality, and I think this record has both of those things in a big way. But also modern, because I think the production between [SOULFLY drummer and Max's son] Zyon [Cavalera] and Arthur [Rizk] gave the record a modern touch as well."
Max also talked about the inspiration for the "Chama" title, which came from the Brazilian professional mixed martial artist Alex Pereira, who has used the song "Itsári" from Cavalera's former band SEPULTURA for all his UFC walkouts. In the Xavante language, "itsári" means "roots" and the instrumental track is an ode to Brazilian traditions. Max said: "Yeah, that moment was a huge moment to me to experience. I had never experienced something like that in my life, and I got to experience that with my son Zyon, watching together. He is a big UFC fan, and we both watched that live and I had the goosebumps. And [Alex] is walking out with 'Itsári' and he does the bow and arrow and lets go the 'Chama' scream. And that moment really, it cut me deep. I was, like, 'I'm inspired by this guy. I'm inspired by this moment. I wanna make a record to celebrate this inspiration.' So this is what 'Chama' is."
Max continued: "'Chama' is a celebration of feeling inspired again. Because it's a hard thing, man, to feel inspired, especially after you make so many records like me. It becomes harder and harder to be inspired, and it becomes easier to always just kind of just do whatever, just put out whatever record. And I'm not satisfied with that. And even though, the way I look at things, like, I don't have nothing to prove to anybody anymore, I have a lot of gas left in the tank, so you know what? I am gonna prove you something. That's kind of the feeling… It's that ready-to-battle kind of feeling, especially 'Storm The Gates' and 'No Pain = No Power'. 'No Pain = No Power' is actually influenced by all of that, all of those athletes going into war in the UFC ring, or even a football player, when he has to play through pain to actually get the power of the touchdown. You see that on TV, and it's cool. I think that I was tapping into that emotion of, without the pain, there is no power. They coexist. One feeds off the other. Without the pain, you will never reach the power and you'll never get the glory. That's kind of the idea of the song. And it was cool, because I think it connects to a real SOULFLY back to singing about shit that I know, rather than some of the other lyrics were more ethereal and kind of nonsensical. So now this record has more of personal lyrics about shit that I really connect to. I believe on those lyrics, I believe in what I'm saying."
Cavalera added: "There's a thing about, about metal. I think when you're screaming what you believe, your scream becomes more powerful than when you are just saying something that makes no sense or nobody knows what the hell you're screaming for. If you're screaming something that you really mean it — like I think it's an old rock and roll quote: mean what you say, say what you mean. You know, that kind of shit. So I was tapping into all that, but [it's a] really battle-born kind of record. It's ready for battle all the way through. And even in the quiet moments, it's still cool because it makes you check out."
Last month, SOULFLY released a Costin Chioreanu-created lyric video for "Storm The Gates", the first single from "Chama". The track was described in a press release as "a battle cry against control and greed."
"Chama" track listing:
01. Indigenous Inquisition
02. Storm The Gates
03. Nihilist
04. No Pain = No Power
05. Ghenna
06. Black Hole Scum
07. Favela / Dystopia
08. Always Was, Always Will Be...
09. Soulfly XIII
10. Chama
"Chama" was recorded at the Platinum Underground Studio in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino. John has worked with Max and company multiple times before and is not only a talented engineer but a family friend. The album was produced by Zyon Cavalera and Arthur Rizk. The latter was also responsible for the mixing and mastering. Rizk has not only worked with the Cavalera family numerous times before, but has also helped to shape the world of heavy metal in the modern day. SOULFLY enlisted Carletta Parrish to create the album artwork. For the album, Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD & DIE, NAILBOMB, HEALING MAGIC) played bass and Mike De Leon played guitar. The album also features Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) on one of the tracks.
Zyon stated: "With each SOULFLY record I've played on, I can feel my evolution happening in real time. This record was no different as I got to handle a good amount of the production for the first time. Trying to take the band to places we have never been before was a blast and I look forward to more production work in the future!"
SOULFLY's lineup on "Chama" is:
Max Cavalera - Vocals, Guitar
Igor Amadeus Cavalera - Bass
Zyon Cavalera - Drums
Mike De Leon – Guitar
SOULFLY played "Favela / Dystopia" live for the first time on July 8 at Maimunarnika in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In a recent interview with MetalUnderground.com, Max stated about the musical direction of the new SOULFLY material: "The record, it's cool. It feels to me [like it] has the adventurous spirit of the first record [1998's 'Soulfly']. Sonically, it's pretty different from the first record — it's more intricate and maybe even heavier, heavier grooves. But in terms of spirit and attitude, it's similar to the first record, which I think is cool that I got to figure out a way to put my mind back at that time and what made me create that record and use it again on a new record. It's pretty fun. It's kind of hard to do, but I think it was an exciting thing to tackle. It was kind of, like, 'Let's try to do this. Let's see if you can use your first album as somehow some kind of inspiration for your thirteenth record. [Laughs] And that was great, man. I love that. I love that kind of vibe that the record has."
Cavalera continued: "That's the cool thing about this record. It's kind of, in a way, a return to what me and fans of SOULFLY fell in love with SOULFLY for. And then throughout the years, many of the other records had a lot of different vibes in it. Some of them went more thrashy with stuff like 'Dark Ages' [2005], 'Omen' [2010], 'Conquer' [2008]. So, to me, making a record that sonically is inspired by the first thing that you did as a band, it was a challenge — there's a challenge in that — 'cause it's easier said than done. Because I don't wanna just copy that first record either. There's no point in doing that. I'm just using it as inspiration. It's really just full on for metal inspiration. The songs [themselves], they're gonna have their own personality and their own vibe. But, yeah, it's coming out quite interesting. I'm excited to hear what the fans are gonna think about this one."
This past May, SOULFLY recruited Chase Bryant (WARBRINGER) to play bass on the band's European tour, which kicked off on June 7 at the South Of Heaven festival in Maastricht, Netherlands.
A month earlier, SOULFLY parted ways with the band's longtime bassist Mike Leon.
Leon, formerly of HAVOK, joined SOULFLY in September 2015 as the replacement for STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos, who left SOULFLY in May of that year.
In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's 2021 and 2022 run of shows.
Guitarist Mike DeLeon has been touring with SOULFLY for more than two years. Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.
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8 сен 2025
See TED NUGENT Perform In Paw Paw, Michigan
 Silver Stallion Videos has uploaded video of Ted Nugent's entire August 30 concert at Warner Vineyards in Paw Paw, Michigan. Check it out below.
Featured songs:
01. Unleash The Fury 0:00
02. The Star-Spangled Banner 2:00
03. Free-For-All 4:52
04. Gonzo 8:47
05. Where Have You Been All My Life 14:11
06. Wang Dang Sweet Poontang 18:50
07. Stormtroopin' 25:13
08. Paralyzed 32:23
09. Just What The Doctor Ordered 37:54
10. My Girl 45:21
11. Hey Baby 46:18
12. Good Friends And A Bottle Of Wine 52:38
13. Fred Bear 1:01:04
14. Cat Scratch Fever 1:09:59
15. Stranglehold 1:14:52
16. The Great White Buffalo 1:25:46
During an appearance on a March 2025 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", legendary rocker Ted Nugent spoke about his announcement that he would celebrate the 50th anniversary of his iconic rock anthem "Stranglehold" with several exclusive "SpeakEzy Rockout" gigs this spring and summer. The dates are taking place less than two years after Ted completed his "Adios Mofo '23" farewell tour, which saw him backed by his most recent solo band consisting of drummer Jason Hartless and bassist Johnny "Big" Schoen.
Regarding his decision to return to playing live, Ted said: "I never used the word 'retire'… A lot of people [say], 'How come you're gonna play again? You said you were gonna retire.' I've never used the 'R' word. I made it quite clear that I still crave to play. In fact, this morning I was playing through a Gibson Byrdland through a Fender amp and my feet never touched the ground. I'm still absolutely stimulated by the pursuit of musical guitar adventure. So with Jason Hartless and Johnny Big and my buddy here John Kutz in Texas, we're gonna do a bunch of 'Rockouts' in Texas in April and May, and then in Michigan and maybe beyond in August. But, yeah, I still play, but I need to be home to my damn dogs every day. When I leave home, my dogs look so sad. And when I come home, they just about blow up running and barking and turning in circles. So, I have my priorities."
He added: "This year I will break 7,000 'Rockouts'. I will go over the 7,000 mark. So I'm an old man — I'm 76 — but I still crave grabbing that guitar and playing these grinds and grooves and flamethrowing fun music, man."
After host Eddie Trunk noted that there is "no reason" for Ted to stop playing as long as he is still living up to his legacy, Nugent concurred. "You see Sammy Hagar out there, and he's rocking as good as he ever has," Ted said. "It's about attitude. If you still really, really love the music and you're dedicated to putting on a show that earns the money of those ticket buyers, then of course it's the American dream. I got old buddies that still weld. My favorite people are welders. My buddies that are good welders, they still weld, and one of 'em is 86 years old. So no matter what your American dream is, if you're still able to get such gratification… And God bless the welders, but they'll never feel the sensations that music events create. I mean, the energy at my gigs, I do these rockouts. I just played the national anthem at [Donald Trump's] Mar-a-Lago [resort] for a bunch of hellraisers for Donald Trump, and it was like a gunstock version of Woodstock. These people love the music. They love the guitar playing. They pay attention. And I'm inspired by that… The soundtrack for our American dream, our life's adventure, that's still alive and well. I'm a lucky, lucky, high-energy, healthy guy. And I play my guitar like a horny teenager every time I pick it up."
Two years ago, the now-76-year-old Ted spoke to "THAT Rocks!" about his decision to embark on what was billed as his last-ever tour. Regarding why he didn't want to spend time on the road anymore, Ted said in part: "Hotels are jail. I hate jail… I will always play music. The music still has fire. I still crave it. I've got new songs. I'm gonna go in the studio with these killer musicians that are always at my side. But traveling, I tell you… A hotel room is jail… The travel and the hotels… And I don't even have to go to TSA [Transportation Security Administration]; I mean, I gave the finger to them in 2009. If somebody doesn't send a jet, I don't go anywhere. My friends are better than your friends, 'cause my friends have jets. So, I'm not TSA and I'm not gonna let somebody fondle my Glock [gun] and ask me questions about gun laws. And hotels are so painful for me."
Ted went on to clarify that he was not retiring from playing live. "The fire, the music, it will always go on," he said. "I play my guitar every day… And I get to collaborate with the best musicians in the world. So it's always a challenge, it's always intriguing, it's always stimulating. I'm an old man, but the stimuli factor… I hope that somebody else in this world is as stimulated by the music as I am, because it's still very much alive and well."
Asked if he will miss the audience and the live interaction on stage, Ted said: "Yes. Of course I will. But again, I won't miss it because I'll still do it… I'm not going out for months or even weeks. I'll do the occasional special events. I do a lot of corporate stuff… Yeah, I'm an energized son of a bitch, but I am 7[6], and I'm not swinging from ropes and I'm not wearing a loincloth and I'm not jumping off the amplifiers with my new knees. So I will miss it, but, again, I've got 12 grandkids and I don't wanna go away someday and not make an imprint on them, teach them about the important things in life. In a world that's really gone really stupid, I think my grandparenting responsibilities are more important now than ever."
Nugent's self-titled debut album in 1975 was certified double platinum in the United States, while "Free-for-All", "Cat Scratch Fever", "Weekend Warriors" and "State Of Shock" all reached the Top 30 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Nugent has reportedly sold over 40 million albums and was named Detroit's greatest guitar player of all time by readers of MLive.
The conservative rocker, who been eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist since 2000, has enjoyed a remarkably successful and eventful musical career over the past five decades, but his music is increasingly overshadowed by his political outbursts.
Nugent's latest album, "Detroit Muscle", was released in April 2022 via Pavement Music. The follow-up to 2018's "The Music Made Me Do It" was recorded with Ted's previous touring band, which included bassist Greg Smith and Hartless. | 0 | |
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8 сен 2025
Ex-W.A.S.P. Guitarist CHRIS HOLMES: 'EDDIE VAN HALEN Smokes RANDY RHOADS'
 Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes recently spoke to Canada's The Metal Voice about the Eddie Van Halen/Randy Rhoads rivalry, which is one of the most hotly debated topics in the guitar world. As two of the most well-known players of their time, the VAN HALEN shredder and the late Ozzy Osbourne and QUIET RIOT axeman were frequently pitted against each other in the 1980s, owing to the similarities in their playing styles. Holmes said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I grew up right next to Pasadena and La Cañada [Flintridge in California]. That's on one side, but Glendale's on the other side, and that's where QUIET RIOT comes from.
"There's a lot of people [who] say that I hate Randy Rhoads. No, I don't hate the guy. I like the guy, actually," Holmes clarified. "I think he is a good guitar player. I've read on the Internet, a lot of people say I hate him. I don't hate him. Okay?! He comes from my era, from my age of playing guitar and stuff. I've never said I hate the guy. I grew up with VAN HALEN, so I look at him, who's better? To me, [Eddie] Van Halen smokes him. So if I go with the VAN HALEN side of [things]. VAN HALEN didn't wear a little bow tie and polka dots. QUIET RIOT did. I didn't like that. I'd rather go to a VAN HALEN party, drink Schlitz malt liquor and get your teeth knocked out in the mud than go to a QUIET RIOT party and smoke Sherman cigarettes and drink Perrier. That ain't my bag. So it's different sides of [things]. But anyway, yeah, I don't hate Randy Rhoads. He's played some good stuff. It's sad that he died."
Holmes previously touched upon the Van Halen/Rhoads rivalry in a 2000 interview with The Inside. He stated at the time: "Well, every band had their rivals and back [in the 1970s]. QUIET RIOT was VAN HALEN's. They were about the same age. The San Fernando people were QUIET RIOT fans and San Gabriel people were VAN HALEN fans. I just never liked QUIET RIOT. I used to make fun of them because they wore polka dots and bow ties, and VAN HALEN was like a drunk party band all the time. I didn't like Randy Rhoads either. I don't want to say anything bad about the guy, but there's always rivals."
Rhoads's pre-Ozzy band QUIET RIOT had been gigging on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California at the same time as VAN HALEN. Although both Rhoads and Van Halen later became some of the most influential guitarists of the 20th century, playing with a similar flare and incorporating finger-tapping into their fleet-fingered solos, Eddie found commercial success before Rhoads, due in part to the fact that VAN HALEN landed a record deal years before QUIET RIOT did.
In a 2022 interview with Rolling Stone, Ozzy discussed the supposed cross-town rivalry Rhoads, the first guitarist Osbourne worked with after BLACK SABBATH, had with Van Halen.
"I heard recently that Eddie said he taught Randy all his licks … he never," Osbourne told Rolling Stone. "To be honest, Randy didn't have a nice thing to say about Eddie. Maybe they had a falling out or whatever, but they were rivals."
The rivalry between Rhoads and Van Halen was explored in the documentary "Randy Rhoads: Reflections Of A Guitar Icon", which was released in May 2022. The film contains archive audio of Van Halen discussing Rhoads, saying, "He was one guitarist who was honest, anyway. Because he said everything he did he learned from me.
"He was good," Van Halen continued. "But I don't really think he did anything that I haven't done. And there ain't nothing wrong with it. I've copied some other people, you know?"
Randy's friend Kim McNair also spoke about the Rhoads-Van Halen rivalry in "Randy Rhoads: Reflections Of A Guitar Icon", reflecting: "This was the years of guitar heroes. To a large degree, bands were judged on their guitar player. I think all the guitar players in town kept up on each other."
Meanwhile, QUIET RIOT fan club president Lori Hollen said that at some of the band's early shows, "we would see David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen there, which was always interesting to me. Because I know Randy never went to see them play. But they would always come to see QUIET RIOT and Randy play."
Elsewhere in the film, Rhoads's guitar tech Brian Reason recalled how he used to stick a picture of Eddie Van Halen to Randy's wah pedal. "He wasn't very excited about [it], but it was in the perfect place," Reason explained, "because every time he stomped on his wah wah pedal, he stomped on it as if he wanted to crush it."
In a 1982 interview with Guitar World magazine, Rhoads said: "I have my own personality on the guitar but as of yet I don't think I have my own style. For instance, I do a solo guitar thing in concert, and I do a lot of the same licks as Eddie Van Halen. Eddie is a great player, but it kills me that I do that. For me it's just flash that impresses the kids. I'm trying to make a name for myself as fast as I can. I wish I could take time and come up with something that nobody else has done. But that's gonna take a few years yet."
Rhoads and two others were killed on March 19, 1982 when the small plane they were flying in at Flying Baron Estates in Leesburg, Florida struck Osbourne's tour bus, then crashed into a mansion. Rhoads was 25 years old.
Eddie passed away in October 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. The 65-year-old axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.
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8 сен 2025
NITA STRAUSS Celebrates 10 Years Of Sobriety: I 'Couldn't Ask For My Life To Have Turned Out Any Better'
 Nita Strauss is celebrating the tenth anniversary of her getting sober.
The 38-year-old guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band credited her husband and manager Josh Villalta with helping her live her life without alcohol.
Earlier today (Friday, September 5),Strauss took to her Instagram to write: "Made it.
"I remember my first few weeks of sobriety with this vague idea of 'I'll see if I can do 10 years.' At the time, that number was PREPOSTEROUS. Might as well be a million billion years!! I thought I'd just bide my time, wait until things calmed down in my life and then everything could go back to normal. I had no concept of all the gifts sobriety would bring into my life and how much better the new normal would be!
"Sobriety still does not come 'easily' to me. I'm by myself a lot on tour and I have easy access to anything I want on the tour bus and dressing rooms… In fact I actually called the front desk in my hotel this week and asked them to please come and remove the massive quantities of alcohol from the room's minibar, because I knew I'd be here today, and even after all this time I still don't want to give in to that little voice that says 'you're alone in the room, you hit your goal of 10 years, no one will know if you have a lil celebration.' It's something that you work at quietly every day, on some days that it never crosses your mind and some days harder than others.
"Grateful for the support of @thejoshv through this whole journey and for my dear friends in recovery who have given me the best advice and reading lists.
"Sobriety can be a solitary road but it's important to know that you don't have to walk it alone when you don't want to!!
"Celebrating here with an iced coffee walk before rehearsal. Couldn't ask for my life to have turned out any better".
In a separate post on his Instagram, Villalta praised his wife for reaching the huge milestone of a decade of sobriety.
"TEN YEARS!! What a landmark," he wrote.
"This was the first big fork in the road for us, and the way we were living just wasn't working. Then Nita said something that changed everything 'I'll never drink again.' She'd tried before, but this time she promised it would be different. She made that choice and her life transformed almost immediately. It was like a rocket booster was strapped to her back….she just soared.
"To let go of something that once felt 'fun,' something that had been such a big part of her life… to choose US over that and then to stay true to that decision for 3,645 days straight is nothing short of incredible. At any moment she could have slipped, but instead….she stayed strong. It wasn't an easy decision to make and keep, but I'm so grateful she did. I always knew that wasn't the person she was and not living her full potential.
"I'm constantly in awe of her headstrong determination and her ability to stick with what she sets her mind to. And that hasn't gone unseen, it's felt by people around the world who look to her for hope and inspiration. She's not just transformed her own life, she's helped others make the same choice to step into sobriety. She is a beacon of light to so many.
"Thank you for choosing happiness.
Thank you for choosing a path that has made our lives more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.
I'm thankful for you. I'm inspired by you.
And most of all, I'm so incredibly proud of you.
"Please go show her some love today, she deserves it and so much more."
During a December 2021 appearance on "Guitar Autopsy", the video podcast hosted by Rusty Cooley, Strauss spoke about how she managed to lose 50 pounds and get sober while on tour back in 2015.
"My whole approach to sobriety and health and fitness is to educate but not ever force," she said. "I wouldn't ever want it to be, like, 'You have to stop drinking. You have to do cardio every day,' or whatever. All I can share is really what worked for me, and that was alcohol was extremely, extremely detrimental in my personal life.
"I got sober in 2015 and I basically just decided to make the most of it and said, 'If I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do it right,'" she continued. "And I switched from going to the bar after the show to going to the Barbell in the morning, for lack of a better term. [Laughs] I hooked up with great bodybuilding coaches that [helped] me [with] my diet and my workout while I'm on the road. I use the right supplements, I eat the right food. I have dieticians at RP Strength, I have a workout coach, I take all the right supplements, I drink my green drinks, I take all my vitamins and I stay on track. And the more I did it, people in our community — the rock and metal community — were starting to ask how I did it. And I was writing these long captions on my phone: 'First things first, you drink a lot of water…' da da da. And so I thought why not inspire people to do more. So I created 'Body Shred'. And 'Body Shred' is the first fitness challenge that I know of that is aimed at the music community."
In 2020, Strauss also credited Villalta with helping her live her life without alcohol. At the time, she wrote: "I thought I needed a drink for just about everything. To be confident on stage. To be social after shows. To celebrate. To mourn. To take the edge off frustration or the sting out of a bad day. To relax and laugh at lunch with girlfriends, or watch football with the guys on Sundays. I was terrified that my life was going to change, that without alcohol I wouldn't be ME anymore, that I would lose my circle of friends, and my onstage charisma, and become someone else. ALL those things happened... but not in the way I thought they would.
"Change came first in my relationship, in the form of less fighting and drama, and more productivity, peace and love. Thank you @thejoshv for being the catalyst to the best thing I ever did for myself. I love you.
"The ME that I was before would have stayed up until 6 am at the bar or in the bus front lounge. The ME that I became would rather get up at 6 and get to the gym before starting the day.
"My busy circle of friends was almost immediately reduced to a core 3. I've learned that when it comes to friendships, quality is ALWAYS better than quantity. If your friends have no interest in spending time with you after you make a change for the better, they weren't your real friends.
"My first show without alcohol was in front of 15,000 people. I felt like a scarecrow someone had propped up on stage to scare birds. Nothing felt natural. I was going through the motions, with this absurd idea running through my head 'everyone is looking at me. Everyone knows.'
"I went out by the bus to talk to fans afterward, and do you know what they said? 'Wow you were so great! Where do you get all that energy? You add so much to Alice's band!'
"ALL of that insecurity, ALL the fears, ALL the doubt was in my head. Those are your demons that make you think you need them.
"I'm content to sit at the bar, order a soda water with lime and watch the game now. I wouldn't trade back to my old life for anything."
Back in 2018, Nita spoke openly about how she got finally sober in September 2015, saying that Josh has always been "a tough-love type" in the way she approached her sobriety. "He's, like, 'Look, you're on this path, and I support you, but I'm not changing the way I do things at all," she explained in an interview with "Chasing Glory With Lilian Garcia". "And I'm kind of glad, in retrospect, that he did that, because it threw me into the fire and showed me, like, 'Hey, you can be [around people who are drinking] and not drink.' He has continued to drink throughout [this entire period], but he didn't want me to drink, because when I would drink, I would start fights and I would get emotional and I would overreact to stupid things, like you do when you drink — it's part of drinking; it heightens all your emotions and everything." Nita also revealed that she has never participated in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to help her stay sober.
Strauss has been playing with Alice Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.
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Watchtower
