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	TESTAMENT's ALEX SKOLNICK: 'It Would Be Great'... 28
	JOE LYNN TURNER Will Be Part Of International Jury At Russia... 27
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LLOTH - Release Date Confirmed For New Album; Cover Artwork And Tracklist Revealed

Theogonia Records recently announce the signing of one of Greece's most legendary and revered forces in black metal, LLOTH.

Hailing from the rich, myth-laden soil of Hellenic metal, LLOTH's legacy is deeply etched into the black/death metal pantheon. Their upcoming second full-length album, Archees Legeones (Ancient Legions), will be released under the burning banner of Theogonia Records, summoning a new epoch of ferocity, grandeur, and reverence to the ancient spirit of black metal.

Theogonia Records could not be more honored to have LLOTH join its unholy ranks. "LLOTH represents everything Theogonia Records stands for," says Chrys Kyrkos, the label's founder. "Legacy, strength, and an unshakable commitment to the darkness. Archees Legeones will be a defining chapter in not only LLOTH’s career but in Hellenic black metal itself."

Now, the label has shared the cover artwork and tracklist for the new album, Archees Legeones, whicgh has been confirmed for a May 9th release.

Tracklist:

"Angel Wings"
"Archees Legeones" (Αρχαίες Λεγεώνες)
"Acherodas"
"Dark Mountain"
"Alpha And Omega"
"Paianas"
"Arise"
"Mother"
"Black Throne"
"Doomed Black Years"

Founded in 1995 by the late and iconic Tristessa - a trailblazer in the Greek metal scene and founder of Astarte (the first ever all-female black metal band) - LLOTH rose as a beacon of unholy darkness and unyielding artistry. After transitioning into Astarte, LLOTH lay dormant for years, only to rise once more in 2013. Following Tristessa’s tragic passing, the remaining members, led by her husband Nicolas Maii

BUMBLEFOOT Explains Why JOE WALSH Turned Down His Invitation To Guest On 'BUMBLEFOOT ...Returns!' Album

During an appearance on the latest episode of the Brutally Delicious podcast, former GUNS N' ROSES and current ART OF ANARCHY guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal was asked how he got QUEEN's Brian May to guest on his upcoming instrumental album, "Bumblefoot ...Returns!", set for release on January 24, 2025. Thal said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've crossed paths in the past, and I asked. With anybody, you ask, and if they say yes, they say yes; if they say no, they say no. And if they say no, they don't need [to give] an explanation or anything. That's okay."

Addressing the fact that Steve Vai and Guthrie Govan also make appearances on "Bumblefoot ...Returns!", Thal said: "I was fortunate where I didn't want a lot of guests. I didn't want this to be like this variety show with a billion guests and everything. Just certain songs seemed like they needed a certain spirit to complete them. And it was very obvious, to me, when I did the song. It was, like, 'There's only one person that could make this song just put the icing on the cake' — I should say 'put the cherry on top'. I asked Brian, and he's such a wonderful soul, such an amazing person. And he did it, and it's wonderful. And Steve Vai and Guthrie, old friends. [Derek] Sherinian was easy — we're in how many bands together; we're constantly working together. It was, like, 'Hey, you wanna play in it?' 'Sure.'"

Bumblefoot continued: "There was only one person that I asked that they listened to the song and said, 'It sounds like the song is finished and I don't think there's anything I can add to this.' That is the song 'Griggstown Crossing'. There is one person that I thought would have really been just right for that song: Joe Walsh. What he said was that he felt like the song was done and he had nothing to add to it. I disagree. So what I did is what I imagined him doing. I used a talk box and did a solo with a talk box, and instead of a slide, I did it all on fretless. So I did a fretless talk box solo, what I envisioned his approach would be. So that was definitely inspired by him, Peter Frampton, all the talk box greats."

Last month, Thal told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the inspiration for "Bumblefoot ...Returns!": "The very first album that I ever put out on Shrapnel Records [in 1995], it was this instrumental guitar album called 'The Adventures Of Bumblefoot'. And it was just a bunch of weird guitar music. And since then I always did vocal stuff and stuff with bands and everything. And then, during the pandemic, I got the itch. I was, like, 'Let me do a bunch more instrumental things and put out an album.' And yeah, it's coming out."

Regarding how he got May and Vai to guest on the album, Ron said: "[Brian and I] have corresponded here and there for the past 15 years or so. And same with Steve — for, like, 10 years. So, I asked them. And Guthrie Govan I've known since we were teenagers, since 1989. I was in a guitar magazine, and he wrote to me. He was, like, 'Hi, I'm a guitarist. I live in the U.K. Check out my demo.' And I'm, like, 'Cool, cool.' And we became penpals. We'd write each other handwritten letters and send cassettes back and forth of just all our little demos, and we've been friends ever since."

Asked if the guest appearances were recorded remotely or if he was in the room with May when the QUEEN guitarist laid down his track, Thal said: "These days people do things remotely; it's most common that everyone works remotely when they're doing guest stuff. And you record it at your own studio, you send it to the people and they put it into the multi-tracks, and good to go.

"As you're working on songs, you could just imagine certain people that would fit with the song," Ron added. "Like the song with Brian May, it wasn't the original plan [to have him on it]. I was just making a song, but by the time the song was really coming together and all the parts were there and I was hearing it, it was, like, 'My God. This song wouldn't be complete without him. It needs his playing just to make it what it's meant to be.' So I asked him. And he did it. And over the years we've done a couple of things together. We've done festivals where we played with each other on stage, doing things. There's a festival he's involved with called Starmus. It is a mix of astrophysics and music. So they have all these incredible geniuses giving lectures and then they have a bunch of musicians that that play and put on concerts and everything, all combined. And we've done two of those together, and next year there's gonna be more."

Thal went on to praise May as a human being, saying: "Everyone that's guests on the album are all wonderful souls or I wouldn't want them on the album. That's first and foremost. But he absolutely is just such a sweet, wonderful guy. And he's as smart as they get."

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" will arrive 30 years after Thal's debut solo instrumental album. On the new LP, Bumblefoot revisits his roots with a 14-track masterpiece that spans genres from metal to orchestral to blues.

The album's opening track, "Simon In Space", serves as its first single, delivering an electrifying ride through chaos and intensity. In addition to the single, an animated music video created by Bumblefoot and animator Radek Grabinski is also available, as well as a retro-inspired video game, which is coming soon.

Bumblefoot commented: "From an early age, my passions were guitar and astrophysics, cosmology — the song 'Simon In Space' merges the two. Simon is my cat, haha; that's him featured in the artwork."

Soon fans will be able to immerse themselves in a retro-inspired video game based on the single. More details will be announced soon.

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" features collaborations with iconic musicians, including May, Vai, Govan, Sherinian, Jerry Gaskill and others, showcasing Bumblefoot's innovative guitar techniques, such as his signature fretless guitar and "thimble technique."

On the album, Bumblefoot shared: "It's been 30 years since releasing the debut 'Adventures Of Bumblefoot' on Shrapnel Records, and I haven't done a fully instrumental album since. Writing during the pandemic, these songs became a soundtrack to my life — from heavy fretless growls to bluesy tributes to legends like Lonnie Johnson. It's a reflection of the moments that shaped me."

He added: "Working on WHOM GODS DESTROY's album inspired growling heavy fretless parts like 'Simon In Space'. Watching a blues documentary inspired 'Moonshine Hootenanny'. Losing loved ones led to writing 'Funeral March'. Songs become a soundtrack to our lives."

The album is available for pre-order now on vinyl, CD, and cassette, with exclusive merch bundles at bumblefoot.com.

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" track listing:

01. Simon In Space
02. Planetary Lockdown
03. Moonshine Hootenanny
04. Chopin Waltz Op64 No2
05. Monstruoso (featuring Steve Vai)
06. Monstruoso II – Departure
07. Cintaku
08. Once in Forever (featuring Brian May)
09. Andalusia
10. Anveshana (featuring Guthrie Govan)
11. Funeral March (featuring Ben Karas)
12. Griggstown Crossing
13. The Thread
14. Liftoff

Thal joined GUNS N' ROSES in 2006 and appeared on 2008's "Chinese Democracy", an effort which contained music that had been written before he came into the group. The disc took 13 years to make and was only a modest seller, moving just around half a million copies.

Thal never officially announced his departure from the GN'R, but a source confirmed to Detroit music writer Gary Graff back in 2015 that the guitarist had been out since the end of the band's second Las Vegas residency in 2014.

Thal later revealed that he was focusing on his solo career and other projects after spending eight years playing in GUNS.

Thal spent a few years recording and touring with SONS OF APOLLO, which also featured drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist Derek Sherinian and bassist Billy Sheehan. SONS OF APOLLO released its second studio album, "MMXX" (pronounced: 20/20),in January 2020 via InsideOut Music/Sony.

ART OF ANARCHY's third studio album, "Let There Be Anarchy", was released in February 2024 via Pavement Music.

Joining founding ART OF ANARCHY members Jon Votta (guitar),Vince Votta (drums) and Thal in the band's current lineup are vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY, SONS OF APOLLO) and bassist Tony Dickinson (SOTO, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

BON JOVI - UMe Announces February Release Of Slippery When Wet On Vinyl & Digital Deluxe

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band, Bon Jovi, will unveil their Diamond-certified best-selling third full-length album, Slippery When Wet, on vinyl and Digital Deluxe on February 28. The original record will be available in various configurations through the artist store, including an exclusive liquid-filled vinyl disc limited to 1,300 copies worldwide, and a picture disc limited to 1,500 copies. It also arrives on cassette limited to 500 copies. Additionally Slippery When Wet will be available as a Deluxe Edition with seven bonus tracks, on 2CD and digitally at all streamers.

Pre-order on the group’s official online store here.

The Deluxe Edition includes a long sought-after acoustic version of “Wanted Dead Or Alive” as well as four live recordings from the band’s historic 1987 Slippery When Wet Tour, two of which, including an epic “Let It Rock,” have not been heard before. The Deluxe also boasts exciting, previously unreleased mixes of “Livin’ On A Prayer" (Thank You Goodnight Remix), which was heard briefly in the band’s hit documentary series, and “Raise Your Hands" (Extended Obie O’Brien Mix).

Slippery When Wet hit like a tidal wave upon its initial release on August 18, 1986. The record debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and held the top spot for eight weeks. Not to mention, it emerged as “the top-selling album of 1987,” according to Billboard. It stands out as the band’s highest-selling record, going 12x-platinum. It houses instantly recognizable smashes such as “You Give Love A Bad Name,” “Livin’ On A Prayer,” and “Wanted Dead Or Alive.” Tracks from Slippery When Wet has tallied 9.4 Bilion streams to date. Speaking to the LP’s influence, Guitar World included it among the “Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties,” and Rolling Stone named it one of the “50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time.”

The release of Slippery When Wet kicks off a busy 2025 for Bon Jovi. Last year the band released its classic compilation album, Greatest Hits, on 2LP vinyl and achieved a coveted RIAA Diamond for their single “Livin’ On A Prayer,” recognizing sales of 10 Million certified units. This marks the band’s second career milestone following its Diamond status for their Slippery When Wet album. Throughout their illustrious career, Bon Jovi has sold over a combined total of 72 Million RIAA certified units to date including the album Crossroads (7x Platinum) and the singles “Wanted Dead Or Alive” (6x Platinum), “You Give Love A Bad Name” (5x Platinum) and “It’s My Life” (3x Platinum).

Earlier this year, the Grammy Award-winning band commemorated the 40th anniversary of its self-titled debut with the digital release of Bon Jovi Deluxe Edition on all streaming platforms via Island/UMe with a special 40th anniversary trailer. It will also be available February 28 on 2CD, while the original album is offered as an exclusive limited-edition ruby color vinyl LP and limited-edition cassette.

ANGUS MCSIX Releases New Single "6666"; Official Music Video Streaming

True to the motto #onebetter, Angus McSix won’t settle for 666 — no, it has to be “6666”. The new song includes everything that made the album Angus McSix And The Sword Of Power the most successful power metal debut of 2023, skyrocketing to number 10 on the Official German Album Charts, as well as a few surprises...

At their start, Prince Angus McSix (Thomas Winkler / ex-Gloryhammer) is overwhelmed by the dark Seebulon (Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann / Orden Ogan) and a horde of orcs. He is frozen and taken to an unknown location somewhere in space and time. Telepathically, he manages to call his brother Adam for help before his voice fades into eternity. Adam hears him and sets off immediately. Although he doesn’t know where Angus is, he knows he can locate him with the power of the six Sixtus Stellar Superlords.

And so, Thomas Winkler, who is now stepping back to spend more time with his family, passes the sword to exceptional vocalist Sam Nyman (Manimal).

“It was a tough decision to go down this path, and even harder to find a suitable singer”, explains Winkler. “But Seeb and I created such an amazing project with Angus McSix that we didn’t want to let it die. I’m glad we found Sam and am absolutely thrilled with his vocal performance."

“You can’t replace a Thomas Winkler, which is why we didn’t search for the next 'Angus.' Sam brings his own style, so he needed his own character: Prince Adam McSix,” explains Seeb.

With its new lineup, Angus McSix have created an absolute hit track that is now already released as the first single from the upcoming, yet untitled album. Watch the official video For “6666”:

Guitar amazon Thalestris (Thalia Bellazecca, ex-Frozen Crown, Primal Fear) continues with the new lineup, wi

KAMELOT Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of The Black Halo With Brand New Reissue Formats

Following the release of their latest full-length, the introspective, uplifting, vital The Awakening (#2 US Current Hard Music Albums, #27 Current Album Sales), and several international tours like their recent Awaken The World tour - which has become the band’s most successful and massive headline run in their 30+ year history - Kamelot returns with their next enchanting surprise.

Ringing in the new year right, Kamelot proudly celebrates the 20th anniversary of one of the most renowned albums of their career, The Black Halo. Out on March 14 via Napalm Records - exactly 20 years after its initial release - the essential new reissue, The Black Halo (20th Anniversary Edition), will be available in several must-have collectible formats.

Formats include a limited edition wooden boxset containing splattered vinyl packaged alongside a special chalice, ring, pendant encased in a velvet bag, 20 page booklet, and most thrilling - a signed card adorned with the autographs of the album's original songwriters. Limited to just 500 copies worldwide, diehard fans should be sure to add this unique and extremely exclusive product to their finely-curated collections! Additional variants will include a deluxe edition featuring marbled vinyl, a slipmat, a 20 page booklet and record butler, as well as retail black vinyl and digipak CD editions. Both the limited edition wooden boxset and deluxe editions will only be available via Napalm Records webstores. Don’t miss your chance to own this once-in-a-lifetime masterclass opus on limited edition vinyl and a rare autographed item!

Widely considered by fans and critics alike as a shining example of Kamelot’s finest early-era work, The Black Halo features standout guest characterizations by Dimmu Borgir mastermind Shagrath, keymaster Jens Johansson of Stratovarius and many others, and was produced by Sascha Paeth, Miro and Kamelot.

The Black Halo (20th Anniversary Edition) will be available in the following formats:

- Wooden Box (Chailce, Digipak, Splatter Vinyl, Pendant in Velvet Bag, Signed Autographed Card, Ring, 12'' Booklet 20p) - Napalm mail order only, limited to 5

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PRIMUS Guitarist LER LaLONDE's Home Destroyed In LA Wildfires

Primus guitarist Ler LaLonde's home has been destroyed in the ongoing LA wildfires. 24 people have lost their lives in the fires, while 16 people remain missing.

The tragic news about LaLonde's home was shared by Primus frontman, Les Claypool, who posted the following message:

"All that is left of our good friend Ler Lalonde’s home. When Mother Nature gets up on her hind legs, it can be brutal. My heart hurts for him and his family.

In another post, LaLonde’s wife, Shane, shared the following:

"Our home is gone, and so are the homes of every one of our friends and neighbors. I am still in shock, not quite sure what just happened. The first photo is the video confirmation we received that our home was lost. Ours is the second property with the tree still with oranges in the front yard but nothing else. The other videos are our evacuation videos and some other videos shared to us. I’m not sure what happens now. But I am realizing hour by hour all that was lost. Especially hurtful my Grandmothers paintings, our letters and notes we shared, my incredible book collection omg both my Norman Rockwell signed Norman Rockwell books!!!! I just realized as I was typing this!!!!

"I went to buy an outfit today since I don’t have anything but the cloths I left in and realized I don’t have socks or shoes or a jacket. The memories, the family heirlooms, things I can’t say, and even hard drives we forgot in the chaos. We lost everything. It doesn’t sink in easily that you have nothing…. It’s still sinking in minute by minute. I know we are safe and yes I am grateful, but I can’t even begin to be close to grace yet as I can’t even comprehend this yet. Not just the things, but our town, our community. We all no longer have a home, a neighborhood, a school, a community. I am gutted to the core. 💔

"Thank God and our friends who gave us a wonderful home to evacuate to. You are our guardian Angels during this time. To all my friends I love you so much, I am so sorry this has happened." 💔

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Has LAMB OF GOD's MARK MORTON Been Financially Successful Enough To Retire? He Responds

During an appearance on "The Bob Lefsetz Podcast", LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton was asked if he has been financially successful enough with the band at this point in time so that if he wanted to call it a day today that he has enough money to get to the end. He laughed and responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think so. I think I would probably have to adjust some things about my lifestyle. But I could probably figure that out if I had to."

Regarding LAMB OF GOD's work schedule in terms of writing, recording and touring, Mark said: "With LAMB OF GOD, it's a collective, and everyone has a voice. And as tour opportunities get presented to us, we talk about how long we've been on a cycle or how many times we've played in that continent or that territory and do we wanna go back again and do we wanna take a break? How are we feeling creatively? Do we feel like we have material piling up? Is it time for us to start thinking about compiling new material and getting a record together? So those are all things we just consider.

"Tours are usually, these days, discussed and starting to get planned a year out," he explained. "So I always know, almost at any given time, with LAMB what my next 18 months is gonna look like. And that's a conversation we have internally. We have great management, we have a great booking agent, great team around, all that stuff. So those are conversations that are always happening. I had discussions today about what we may or may not be doing in 2026. So we kind of are always ahead of ourselves and are forward thinking that way. And the decisions are made collectively.

"When we first got signed, I wanted to be on the road all the time, just because my mindset was different and that was 20 years ago and I was a much younger man and my responsibilities and my whole lifestyle was completely different," Mark added. "And these days it's different. I have children. I have a young daughter, I have a teenage daughter, I have a wife, I have a home. I have all these relationships and all these things that are high priority to me. The band is as well. I think home-work balance is something that everyone probably struggles with, most people, and that's no different for us."

Asked what the key is to maintaining his relationship while being in a band that's on the road so much, Mark said: "Well, to be available and to stay engaged. And for me, the key to all of it is to have an identity and maintain an identity and maintain a life that exists outside of the band, both in real terms and practical terms and also mentally.

"I love my role in LAMB OF GOD," he continued. "I love LAMB OF GOD. I love everything that we get to do and I exist wholly and completely outside of it as well. And for me, with my kids and my wife and my home life, LAMB OF GOD doesn't necessarily come up all the time."

Last month, Morton celebrated six years of sobriety.

In his recently released memoir "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir", Morton credited GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash for making "sobriety look cool" and helping him along his recovery journey.

"Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir" was released in June 2024 via Hachette Books. Co-written with Ben Opipari, the book explores both Mark's life in music and his tumultuous path through addiction and into recovery.

Morton addressed his sobriety in the lyrics to the song "All I Had To Lose", which appeared on his "Ether" solo EP, released in 2020.

"Desolation" was described by the publisher as "the story of Morton's lifelong quest for clarity and self-acceptance, and shows how the pressures of career success and personal battles eventually came into conflict with Morton's dedication to the creative process."

Morton co-founded LAMB OF GOD, which was initially called BURN THE PRIEST, in 1994.

In 2019, Morton released his debut solo album, "Anesthetic".

LAMB OF GOD's latest LP, "Omens", came out in 2022.

Morton and the rest of LAMB OF GOD completed the "Ashes Of Leviathan" tour with MASTODON last summer.

PAMELA ANDERSON Wishes She And Ex-Husband TOMMY LEE Had 'A Better Rapport'

During a January 9 appearance on SiriusXM Radio Andy's "Andy Cohen Live", Pamela Anderson admitted that she is not currently not on the best of terms with her ex-husband, MÖTLEY CRUE drummer Tommy Lee, with whom she shares sons Brandon Thomas Lee, 28, and Dylan Jagger Lee, 27.

"We used to talk a lot more," Pamela said. "Not recently, unfortunately, but I wish we did have a better rapport right now."

The 57-year-old actress, who was married to Tommy for three years before they finalized their divorce in 1998, went to express her hope that her friendship with Tommy will improve for the sake of Dylan, who got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Paula Bruss in July 2024.

"We're gonna have grandkids together," Pamela said, before adding, "It'll be okay, eventually. It's just kind of a moment right now."

Back in January 2023, Anderson said during an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" that she and Lee "text here and there" as parents.

Anderson has been married multiple times, including to Kid Rock from 2006 to 2007.

Lee has been married to comedian Brittany Furlan since February 2019.

Anderson and Lee got married on a beach in Mexico in 1995 after dating for just four days.

The sex tape Lee made with Anderson during their 1998 honeymoon ended up finding its way online after being stolen from their home by an electrician. Pamela later sued the distribution company, but ended up settling, and the tape continued to be available online as a result. The tape reportedly made $77 million in less than 12 months.

Former ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA Singer LUKAS ROSSI Releases 'DOA' Single

Former ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA singer Lukas Rossi, now proud to call Tampa Bay home, has once again redefined creativity with the release of his latest single and music video, "DOA". A bold and emotionally charged project, the song features Lukas's wife, Ronni Rossi, showcasing the couple's shared artistry and undeniable chemistry.

Known for his hands-on approach, Lukas has crafted every element of "DOA" himself. From writing, recording, and performing the music, to directing, shooting, producing, and editing the video, Lukas brings unparalleled passion and precision to his work. Complementing his creative genius, Ronni Rossi lends her own unique vocal magic to the track, making "DOA" a true collaborative masterpiece.

The music video for "DOA" delivers a cinematic and abstract experience, blending Warhol-esque visuals with a pop-electronic edge. Praised for its originality, the video has been described as "one of the most creative and abstract submissions" by Tampa Bay Music News. Exploring themes of heartbreak, resilience, and reinvention, "DOA" comes to life through Lukas's powerful vocals, innovative visuals, and raw authenticity.

"DOA" will be available worldwide on streaming platforms starting Friday, January 17, 2025. Be among the first to experience the full impact of this powerful anthem wherever you stream your music.

Known globally as the winner of CBS's "Rock Star: Supernova", Rossi is a multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Co-writer of THREE DAYS GRACE's "Neurotic", Lukas was handpicked by legends Tommy Lee (MÖTLEY CRÜE),Gilby Clarke (GUNS N' ROSES) and Jason Newsted (METALLICA) to front their supergroup, instantly captivating fans with his raw talent and dynamic performances.

Lukas continues to break boundaries with his innovative approach to music and visuals. Now based in Tampa Bay, he remains a dedicated indie artist, crafting every aspect of his work with authenticity and creativity.

With over two decades in the music industry, Lukas has cemented his status as a multi-platinum artist, songwriter, and producer. His journey from Toronto's local music scene to global acclaim is marked by relentless creativity, critical praise, and a devoted fanbase. His dynamic stage presence and genre-defying artistry continue to resonate worldwide.

Lukas's voice became iconic through his performance of the original Beyblade theme song "Let's Beyblade", earning him a unique following within the worlds of Comic-Con and anime. Lukas creates something for every listener with a catalog of over 200 songs ranging from rock anthems to intimate acoustic pieces.

Rossi has worked alongside some of the industry's most influential names, including members of EVANESCENCE, PAPA ROACH, DISTURBED, P.O.D., TRAIN, GUNS N' ROSES, MÖTLEY CRÜE, METALLICA and QUEENSRŸCHE. Producers such as Andy Johns, Howard Benson, Ross Hogarth and Bob Rock have also contributed to his projects, cementing his reputation as a versatile and innovative artist.

Rock Star Supernova

BREAKING BENJAMIN Releases Music Video For Latest Single, 'Awaken'

BREAKING BENJAMIN has released the official music video for its latest single, "Awaken". You can now check it out below.

BREAKING BENJAMIN's first new music since 2018 is being made available via the band's new global recordings agreement with BMG. The partnership with BMG also marks the group's first new label home since releasing their debut album over 20 years ago.

BREAKING BENJAMIN guitarist Jasen Rauch said about "Awaken": "Working on this song has been something new and exciting for all of us, I believe. We've been able to explore more of who we are traditionally while at the same time push boundaries and try things we haven't done in the past. Musically we've tried hard to stay true to what BREAKING BENJAMIN is, but offer a new take as well."

During a recent appearance on "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, BREAKING BENJAMIN founder/frontman Benjamin Burnley was asked about the musical and thematic inspiration for the band's upcoming long-awaited follow-up to 2018's "Ember" album. He responded: "Yeah, it's been the longest we've ever gone without putting out an album, but the strange thing is, I don't know if it's 'cause of the pandemic or not, but it doesn't seem like it's been that long, to me anyway, but it has been a long time. I think that a lot of that is just that we have, with every album that comes out, there's just another whole album's worth of stuff. We have a lot of songs in our catalog, so it's kind of like it gets to the point of, like, we're not gonna add any more to this just to add more to it. We need to keep true to what this catalog… When I am gone off the earth, and that's all that's left of me behind, is my offspring and music is what I've left behind, I want it to be really solid."

He continued: "I really wish I could tell you what inspires me because if I knew that, I would like really try to break it down and invoke it whenever I wanted to, control it, but I don't know. It's just compulsion, to be inspired. It's just, like, 'Oh, I have this idea,' I have no idea where it came from, but I have this idea. I pull out my phone and then I record it and then I go back and I listen to it and I keep stacking and stacking and stacking on to it until it's something. And that's just kind of how I work. Before I would just grab my phone. I used to have all these little Mead notepads — you know those little ones, little mini ones, little Mead notepads. I have like a hundred of those — probably more — I used to have them in every single pocket of my jacket and my pants and a little silver mini cassette tape recorder thing. So this is before the smartphone. I don't do that anymore; I use my phone. So it's always been that process, to me, to just have something handy, something I could… I haven't written in a really long time, I mean with a pen, like wrote something down. I can't even remember the last time I wrote something down with a pen. So I use my phone and just tap it in there when it hits me, when it comes to me. It could be at the most weirdest time, most awkward time. I'll be talking to somebody and then I'll just stop and be, like, 'Sorry, I don't mean to be rude.' And I'll go in the bathroom and I'll record a little hum into the phone, and they hear me humming. They're, like, 'What the hell is up with this guy?' If I don't get it, I'm scared it'll be gone."

Regarding how spending so much time on road informs the songwriting process for new BREAKING BENJAMIN music, Benjamin said: "Well, with these guys in particular, with this lineup, the way that we write music is really natural together. Nothing is forced. There's never been — which is really weird, now that I'm thinking about it — there's never been a time when anybody has ever had to fight for an idea or push an idea or whatever. We kind of seem to think that they the same things suck, which is really important. You can like the same things, but it's more important to know what the same things that are bad are. And so I think touring — we get together, we have like a chemistry together not just as musicians but as friends and brothers. And when we're together playing, it definitely makes us more excited and motivated to record and make new music together than being apart and not playing together. So that aspect. But as far as where the creative stuff comes from, I've been doing this — thank God, and I'm very thankful for it — but I've been doing this for 22 years now, and I still, to this day, I can't tell anyone like where the songs like come from. Honestly, it's like a compulsion. Like when you're addicted to nicotine and you're like compelled to take a puff of a cigarette — it's like that. It's not like a plan. It's, like, 'I need to do this right now' thing."

He continued: "I'm very logically minded, kind of annoyingly so, actually. People find it annoying how logically minded I am. When I break things down, they're, like, 'Just go with it. You don't need to analyze everything' or whatever. But logically wise, I really wish I knew what influenced songwriting, what influenced it to happen, because then I would break that down logically and try to evoke it whenever I wanted to. I just can't, because I don't know where that compulsion comes from. So, to answer your question in the long way around, of course, I think just physically being together and playing music together sparks us to be… 'Cause when we're at home, we don't eat, sleep and breathe music. I'm a dad, most of us are dads, and so we're doing that — we're doing that stuff, the same thing that everybody else does. You kind of forget that you're a musician. You kind of forget that you're in a band. Sometimes I'll go into like a bar to get chicken wings, not to drink, mind you, but to get chicken wings, and somebody will start talking to me and I'm, like, 'Why are you talking [to me]?' And I'm, like, 'Oh, yeah, that thing,' because I'm living normal life, taking my kid to school. So being out on tour and being together as a band, it just reminds us all that we're in a band. [Laughs]"

In a separate interview with Josh Klinger of Chicago's Rock 95.5 radio station, Burnley was asked when fans can expect to hear BREAKING BENJAMIN's next studio album. He responded: "Well, we're working on it… It's the same thing as before. Back in the day, we were on a climb, we wanted things, and now we're all just so blessed to be here, period. And so there isn't necessarily, I wouldn't say like a climb, but there's definitely like a maintenance to stay where we are. But that being said, when there's a climb, you're really rushing yourself, you're hungry, you wanna get it. And we are still hungry and we do wanna get stuff too. But I think it's a little more relaxed now where we really only work on stuff when we're genuinely inspired to. And I feel like that's like — when I listen to the songs that are rushed from back in those days, when I listen to stuff now, I have more peace of mind listening to the newer stuff, because I know that nothing, not any part of it exists because it was rushed. It's all intentional. It's all done in a great setting and in a great mindset. And so that's kind of what takes a while, 'cause you can't like just take a pill and and be inspired. So that's what we're doing. And the record, we have the bones for the whole thing. And it's just a matter of when we're feeling it, 'cause that's going to be the best result anyway, is when you're feeling that, and so that when those moments come by, we work on it. And then when they go away, we don't."

BREAKING BENJAMIN have consistently dominated the rock charts since their debut album in 2002, "Saturate". With 10 No. 1 hits, platinum albums, 8.5 billion streams globally, and a social following of over 6.5 million, they've solidified their global influence and a strong devoted fan base. Their last release, "Aurora", earned them their tenth No. 1 rock radio hit with "Far Away" (featuring Scooter Ward).

Their previous album, "Ember", debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, marking their fourth Top 5 debut. Their track record includes No. 1 hits like "Red Cold River" and "Torn In Two". Both "Aurora" and "Ember" achieved Top 10 status in multiple countries, and No. 1 spots across various charts, including Billboard's Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums and Top Digital Albums.

In a statement, the band said: "Working on these new songs has been a fresh experience for all of us. We've stayed true to the core of who BREAKING BENJAMIN is, but we've also pushed ourselves creatively, exploring new sounds and ideas that we haven't tapped into before. It's been about striking that balance between honoring our roots while introducing a fresh take on what our music can be."

Sean Heydorn, SVP, head of rock and Rise Records, said: "BREAKING BENJAMIN has consistently pushed the boundaries of rock music with their raw energy, powerful songwriting, and a connection with fans that's both intense and enduring. We're incredibly proud to support them as they embark on their next chapter with us at BMG."

Over the course of the group's career, BREAKING BENJAMIN have earned three platinum albums, two gold albums, one four-times-platinum single, one three-times-platinum single, one two-times-platinum single, three platinum singles, and six gold singles, making them one of rock music's most highly anticipated torch bearers of new music.

Photo credit: Dominique D'Costa (courtesy of BMG)

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Breaking Benjamin

HIRAX To Release 'Faster Than Death' Album In February

U.S. thrash metal veterans HIRAX will release their sixth album, "Faster Than Death", on February 28 via Armageddon Label. Its release will coincide with HIRAX's 40th anniversary.

HIRAX has shared the stage with iconic peers such as METALLICA, EXODUS, MEGADETH and SLAYER during the explosive rise of thrash metal in the 1980s. Originating from southern California, founding bandmember and lead vocalist Katon W. De Pena displays electrifying live performances and an uncompromising attitude which continues today. Now, four decades later, HIRAX is cementing its status as legends within the genre, inspiring countless bands and fans alike, influencing such notable acts as DEATH, DEICIDE, NAPALM DEATH, SPAZZ, MUNICIPAL WASTE, DANKO JONES, Japan's ABIGAIL, Germany's RYKERS, ANAL CUNT and DECEASED, among others.

Throughout their career, HIRAX released a series of influential albums and EPs that pushed the boundaries of thrash metal, combining technical proficiency with raw aggression. HIRAX have toured the world, performing in venues and festivals throughout almost every country in South America, all over Europe, as well as Japan, United States, etc. HIRAX continue to be revered as trailblazers who helped define and popularize thrash metal.

With HIRAX's upcoming album "Faster Than Death", Katon has gathered a new live lineup around him with Jose Gonzalez, Allan Chan and Emilio Marquez. "Faster Than Death" is the impressive result that makes the hearts of all thrash metal fans beat faster and puts a real strain on the neck muscles.

In the meantime, see and hear the brand-new video "Relentless" below. The cover artwork, courtesy of Thomas Pinheiro, is also available.

"Faster Than Death" track listing:

01. Drill Into The Brain [1:04]
02. Armageddon [2:56]
03. Drowned Bodies [2:43]
04. Faster Than Death [1:34]
05. Psychiatric Ward [1:33]
06. Relentless [2:24]
07. Revenant [3:46]
08. Warlord's Command [2:36]
09. Worlds End [3:12]

Photo credit: Anne DePena

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Watch: DISTURBED Drummer MIKE WENGREN's SEVEN Performs Covers Of MEGADETH, RATT, WHITE LION, TESLA Classics

DISTURBED drummer Mike Wengren's brand new "cover band", SEVEN, played its first two concerts ever Friday night (January 10) and last night (Saturday, January 11) at RallyPoint in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Fan-filmed video of Saturday's show can be seen below (courtesy of WisRockin').

Joining Wengren in the group are Brent Taritas (formerly of RHYTHM METHOD on guitar, NAUGHTY CHAIR),Jeremy Jayson (BELLEVUE SUITE, KING KONG) on guitar, Simon Farmery (RUBICON CROSS) on bass, André Beaudot (formerly of NAUGHTY CHAIR) on vocals, Bobby Rouse (formerly of RHYTHM METHOD) on vocals and Rich Hoffman (ALMIGHTY VINYL) on vocals.

SEVEN's setlist included covers of MEGADETH's "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due", RATT's "Body Talk", TESLA's "Modern Day Cowboy", WHITE LION's "Tell Me", LOUDNESS's "Crazy Nights", EXTREME's "He-Man Woman Hater" and KING'S X's "It's Love", among others.

Last month, Wengren told the 102.9 The HOG radio station about SEVEN: "I actually put together a cover band of some local musicians and myself on drums, and we're actually playing January 10th and 11th at RallyPoint. The show is already sold out, actually, both of them.

"Living here for a long time now, I got to to meet [a bunch of talented people]," he continued. "A lot of my buddies are really amazing musicians in so many other bands, and throughout the years I always said to myself, 'I wanna play with this guy. I wanna play with this guy and this guy.' So one day we just kind of called each other and [said], 'Hey, let's just get together and jam.'"

Asked what kind of songs SEVEN covers, Mike said: "It's gonna be like old-school [MTV] 'Headbangers Ball'. Name a video that used to be on that thing and that's gonna be [in the setlist]. There's a huge gamut — some of the '80s hair metal, some of the heavy metal stuff. Yeah. It'll be fun."

Regarding the SEVEN lineup and band name, Wengren said: "It was super easy to pick the lineup. We just were, like, 'Hey, do you wanna jam?' 'Yeah.' 'Do you wanna jam?' 'Yeah.' It was super easy. It took all of 10 minutes. And then coming up with a band name took us, like, over six months. We were, like, 'Let's just call it SEVEN [because there's seven of us].'"

Asked if he thinks SEVEN will play more shows after this weekend, Mike said: "We're definitely open to it. We're putting a lot of work into it. We all take it very seriously. Hopefully it goes well and we have some fun. I mean, the thing is everybody's pretty busy doing their own thing. Everyone's got other projects and whatnot, especially myself with DISTURBED. So, when the time permits, yeah, why not?"

SEVEN is:

* Mike Wengren (DISTURBED) - Drums
* Brent Taritas (formerly of RHYTHM METHOD, NAUGHTY CHAIR) - Gutar
* Jeremy Jayson (BELLEVUE SUITE, KING KONG) - Guitar
* Simon Farmery (RUBICON CROSS) - Bass
* André Beaudot (formerly of NAUGHTY CHAIR) - Vocals
* Bobby Rouse (formerly of RHYTHM METHOD) - Vocals
* Rich Hoffman (ALMIGHTY VINYL) - Vocals

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

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

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

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

3 DOORS DOWN's BRAD ARNOLD On Getting Sober Nine Years Ago: These 'Have Been The Best Years Of My Life'

3 DOORS DOWN singer Brad Arnold, who will celebrate the ninth anniversary of his getting sober on January 19, discussed his decision to quit drinking in a new interview with Allen Jackson Ministries. The 46-year-old musician said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I started drinking down in Mississippi when I was a teenager with all my friends, like teenagers do. And we got signed when I was 20 years old and I stepped on a tour bus when I was 20 years old and started touring the world… It was just a lot to hand to a 20-year-old. And we'd done okay. And there was no catastrophe in my life that pushed me to drinking so much. It was just kind of the lifestyle. And whether it just be nerves going on stage or just not being able to sleep in a bus, the lifestyle just led me further and further down the road before I realized that I was drinking pretty heavily. And things in my life did start to suffer from it substantially. And there became a point in my life that, almost 95 percent of the problems, I could point to that bottle and that was the source. And my mom had prayed for me to quit, my brothers and sisters had prayed for me to quit, 'cause they'd seen the road I was going down. And I have two brother-in-laws that are pastors, so there was a lot of prayers being said for me, and I'm thankful for every one of 'em."

He continued: "I was in Japan one day, and we were playing the show for the troops, and I could feel myself slipping away, that it wasn't me anymore. And I could also feel that this wasn't gonna last a lot longer. And I tried to call a friend, and I tried to call a friend and look for somebody, I guess just to okay it or whatever, to validate my feelings, and I couldn't get anyone on the phone. And I FaceTimed [legendary country musician] Mr. Charlie [Daniels], and he and his wife were sitting there on the couch, and it was late at night [in Japan] and it was about mid-morning maybe here, or however the time worked out — it was a big time difference — and I was sitting there just sobbing and just telling him how unhappy I was in my life. And he was a great counsel to me before this time. He always had great advice to tell me. He said, 'Son,' he said, 'If you love your wife and you love God, like you say you do, you need to come home and you need to go rehab.' He said, 'There's a good place in north Nashville there, Cumberland Heights, and you need to come on back home and it's about getting in there.' And I was, like, 'Well, I'll do that.' And I would like to say that I got off the phone and called my wife and said, 'Baby, I'm gonna go to rehab.' I called her. I was, like, 'Well, I'm going to rehab. I guess that makes you happy.' But nonetheless, I came home and I went. And I was ready for it. I was willing for it, and I was open to it. And I went in there like I was going to learn something. And we were working the steps and all those things. And I honestly forgot what step it was. But there was a man that came in there to kind of hear your kind of talk and hear you pour your heart out. And he asked me, he said, 'Brad, do you love God?' I said, 'Yes, sir. I love God.' He said, 'Why are you serving yourself?' He said, 'You're not serving God with this.' He said, 'You're serving yourself.' It hit me hard. And he said, 'Do you love your wife?' I said, 'Yes, sir. Of course. I love my wife.' He said, 'Well, then why are you trying to kill her husband?' And it hit me between the eyes."

Arnold went on to say that the last nine years without alcohol "have been the best years of my life."

In a 2023 interview with Charleston.com, Arnold said that alcohol became habit forming and a crutch. "I used to think it was a way to calm myself prior to a show or to chase loneliness," he explained. "There's not one aspect of my life that isn't better due to my sobriety. Honestly I still get a bit nervous just before I go on stage, but I don't need alcohol to lean on."

Back in 2018, Brad told New Hampshire Union Leader about his decision to stop drinking: "The biggest thing about it was I could trace almost every problem in my life to alcohol, even while I was drinking. I got to a point that I knew that I was drinking too much, and I needed to stop. And our guitar player — he's in recovery, and he'd been through his own addictions, and Greg [Upchurch], our drummer, had been through alcohol [problems] as well. I'm sitting [there] miserable all the time and feeling like crap all day, every day, until I started drinking earlier and earlier.

"I've seen these guys, how much happier they were, and seeing all my problems. And I just wanted that happiness. We went on a tour over in Japan to play for the troops. I was about halfway through that week, and I couldn't even remember this week. It wasn't like I was just blacked-out drunk or did anything stupid. I just couldn't even remember what I was doing. I just became so frustrated, and I knew I had a moment. I was like, 'I have to stop this.'"

Asked if he noticed a difference in his creativity between being sober and drinking, Brad said: "Absolutely. [Before] I'd go to band practice or something and I'd be like, 'Well, you know I just need a drink to like loosen up, relax.' But it was a killer vicious cycle, because it's like my mind is lying to me. I thought I needed that to relax and be creative. But I can have one or two drinks, and the creativity was gone. It was like, 'Well, I ain't doing it today.' That's how it went so many times, and that same mindset translated to everything else in my life. It developed to the point that I thought I had this hole in my life that alcohol was covering up or filling in, when in reality, alcohol was digging that hole."

Arnold revealed that there was alcoholism in his family, saying: "At that time I was 36 or 37, and my daddy was 74 — and my daddy has two brothers that both died from alcohol. My dad didn't drink, and my daddy has long outlived his brothers. And so I just thought to myself, 'My daddy is twice my age, and I won't live to be my dad's age. If I continue to drink like this, then my life is more than halfway over.' And I don't want my life to be halfway over right now."

Formed in 1995, 3 DOORS DOWN's many accolades include selling 16 million albums globally, receiving three Grammy nominations, and winning two American Music Awards, and five BMI Pop Awards for songwriting — including "Songwriter of the Year". Their debut, "The Better Life", became certified six times RIAA platinum in 2000 and was fueled by the success of juggernaut hit "Kryptonite". This was followed by 2002's sophomore album, "Away From The Sun", which went triple platinum and saw similar success with "When I'm Gone" and "Here Without You". 2005's platinum "Seventeen Days" and 2008's "3 Doors Down" each earned No. 1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, while "Time Of My Life" landed at No. 3 in 2011. In 2003, the group founded the charity The Better Life Foundation. In 2016, 3 DOORS DOWN released its sixth full-length album, "Us And The Night".

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ZEBRA Reteams With Legendary Producer JACK DOUGLAS For First New Album In More Than Two Decades

ZEBRA, the legendary power trio consisting of lead guitarist/vocalist Randy Jackson, bassist/keyboardist Felix Hanemann and drummer Guy Gelso, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year with the release of its long-awaited new studio album. This will be the band's first release of new material since "Zebra IV" in 2003.

"The record will feature a variety of songs," the 69-year-old Jackson told Newsday in December. "We got some stuff from 1977 we never recorded, songs I penned with other people and a bunch of tunes that I wrote recently. It's evolving as we're doing it."

ZEBRA's new album, which is being recorded at Jackson and Gelso's home studios, will feature 12 tracks helmed by producer Jack Douglas. A tentative June release is expected.

"We are looking forward to collaborating with Jack again," Jackson told Newsday. "This is the first time we worked on ZEBRA stuff since 1984 [Douglas produced the band's 1983 self-titled debut and 1984 sophomore effort, 'No Tellin' Lies']. We’re going to see what he's learned and what we've learned over the last 40 years."

In 2023, ZEBRA celebrated the 40th anniversary of its debut album by playing the entire album in order and continued doing some more of these special shows in new cities during its 2024 tour.

ZEBRA has also been working on a new documentary that will feature new interviews and performance clips from the recent tour "plus a lot more" about the band's history. The documentary, tentatively titled "Tell Me What You Want: 50 Years Of Zebra", will feature never-before-seen footage from the band's birth in Louisiana, to spreading new roots and reaching legendary status in Long Island, New York.

ZEBRA galloped out of New Orleans in early 1975. The trio, consisting of Jackson, Hanemann and Gelso, concocted their moniker from a 1926 Vogue magazine cover and soon won over the South and East Coast.

ZEBRA's self-titled debut album, released on March 21, 1983, went gold, and at that time was the fastest-selling debut album in Atlantic Records history, thanks to the radio and MTV airplay of "Tell Me What You Want" and "Who's Behind The Door?"

ZEBRA's live performances showcase all the band's classic tunes, and recently included the debut album in order for the first time.

In 2010 ZEBRA was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame and is acknowledged as Louisiana's No. 1 rock and roll band by the Louisiana Music Commission. On October 18, 2012 ZEBRA was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame.

HAMMERFALL – Threshold, No Sacrifice, No Victory To Receive Colored Vinyl Reissues

TIM 'RIPPER' OWENS Is Open To Writing Autobiography: 'I'll Probably Hurt Some Feelings Doing That Book'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tim 'Ripper' Owens

MAX CAVALERA Explains Why Now Is Right Time For Him To Bring NAILBOMB Back For More Live Shows

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5

CHRIS BARNES Says SIX FEET UNDER's Concert In Orlando Was 'One Of The Top Five Greatest Shows/Performances' In His Life

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KERRY KING Is 'Fired Up' For His Solo Band's First Headlining Tour: 'We Jump At The Chance To Tour Anywhere'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

DISTURBED's MIKE WENGREN Says Opening For IRON MAIDEN In Mexico Was 'A Bucket List' Experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Borna & Mandy’s Christmas Show 2025

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

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

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ROBERT FRIPP & TOYAH Perform FOO FIGHTERS Hit "Everlong" For Sunday Lunch (Video)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robert Fripp & Toyah

GOD FORBID's BYRON DAVIS: 'I'd Rather Spend The Time Writing Music Than Playing Shows At This Point'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo courtesy of Headbangers Boat

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BASTION ROSE Presents "Fade To Blue" Music Video

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch UNLEASH THE ARCHERS Perform "Ghosts In The Mist" Live At Bloodstock 2024; Pro-Shot Video

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

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

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

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

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

Unleash the Archers

SAVATAGE - The Wake Of Magellan Special Edition Tribute To PAUL O'NEILL Streaming Via YouTube

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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