Month: August 2021

METALLICA’s Lars Ulrich has paid tribute to THE ROLLING STONES drummer Charlie Watts, who died on Tuesday (August 24) at the age of 80. Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Ulrich said: “It hits hard on many levels. Obviously, as a STONES fan, it’s sort of the end of at least an era within that band, because he was the only drummer that ever recorded with them. He was such a significant part of their sound, and an underrated part of their sound. In a band where the spotlight would go to especially Mick [Jagger] and Keith [Richards], a lot of people truly didn’t understand how valuable he was. And from that side, as a STONES fan, it’s a great loss.”

Ulrich went on to call Watts the “driving force” behind THE ROLLING STONES. “He could kick these songs and make them swing, make them swagger, still make them have that attitude, that pocket,” he said. “Seeing him do that way deep into his seventies has been such a life-affirming thing. [METALLICA are] a good 20, 25 years behind, but it’s given me a lot of faith in the possibilities of what it can continue to be — music, concerts, connecting to fans, connecting to each other as a band. There’s nobody above them on that pyramid, and there’s nobody above Charlie on that pyramid. Of course, there are a couple of incredible jazz drummers who played into their eighties, but there’s been nobody above Charlie in the rock and roll pyramid in terms of being out there and doing it.”

Watts’s publicist said that he “passed away peacefully in a London hospital surrounded by his family.”

Charlie’s death came just weeks after THE ROLLING STONES announced that Watts would be missing several U.S. tour dates while he was recovering from an unspecified medical procedure.

Although Watts wasn’t a founding member of THE STONES, he had been with the band since January 1963.

He battled throat cancer in 2004 but got the all clear after undergoing two operations.

Ron Holzner, formerly of doom metal legends TROUBLE and currently in THE SKULL, spoke to the Chicago Reader about the recent passing of his longtime bandmate Eric Wagner. Eric, who was TROUBLE’s original singer, died last weekend after a battle with COVID pneumonia. He was 62 years old.

According to the bassist, Wagner was generally opposed to institutionalized medicine but he wouldn’t make an exception for the COVID vaccine.

“We argued about it, and he stood his ground on the matter,” Holzner said. “I always joked, ‘The World According To Eric Wagner — you should write a book.’ He lived his life his way.”

Holzner also confirmed that Wagner recently completed work on a solo album. “It will be released in 2022,” he said. “I played on three songs, as well as members of his bands BLACKFINGER and LID and TROUBLE alumni Sean McAllister, Dave Snyder, and Chuck Robinson — as well as former PENTAGRAM guitarist Victor Griffin.”

Less than a week before Wagner’s death, his bandmates in THE SKULL went public with the fact that he was infected by the novel coronavirus.

Unvaccinated people, like Wagner was, are far more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated.

According to a study released this past Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unvaccinated people are also nearly five times more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than people who got the shots.

Infectious disease experts have said that large-scale outbreaks among unvaccinated people are being fueled by the highly contagious delta variant.

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like “Trouble”, “Manic Frustration” and “Plastic Green Head”.

Wagner left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

Eric was one of the guest singers on Dave Grohl’s (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS) heavy metal side project PROBOT, whose 2004 album featured heavy metal vocalists from the ’80s and ’90s.

Last year, TROUBLE partnered with Hammerheart Records to re-release the legendary doom legends’ entire musical catalog, in addition to their upcoming album. This partnership that will see the distribution of the band’s entire library of music that spans over three decades.

The second episode of “The Metallica Podcast: Volume 1 – The Black Album” has just been released in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the band’s self-titled fifth LP, better known as The Black Album. The podcast’s weekly episodes will explore the stories behind and the legacy of the best-selling album in the history of Nielsen Soundscan.

Official description of episode two: “‘The Metallica Podcast’ is back with Episode 2, this week focusing on Bob Rock’s style of producing. Tune in to hear both producer & band comment on the growing pains that led to trust, that led to ‘The Black Album.’ How will the band deal with bringing in an outsider? Why did they invite one in? Guests include: Bob Rock, Jason Newsted, Alice Cooper, Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST, and Big Mick Hughes”The Metallica Podcast: Volume 1” celebrates the September 10 release of METALLICA’s remastered Black Album in unprecedented detail. Beyond its collection of firsthand anecdotes chronicling the making of The Black Album, the podcast features everything and everyone that created the most successful album of the past 30 years — and explores its ongoing cultural impact.

“The Metallica Podcast: Volume 1” features not only the voices of each member of METALLICA, but nearly 40 others, including former bassist Jason Newsted, producer Bob Rock, studio and touring personnel, music critics, fellow musicians, friends, and many more.

Featuring never-before-heard demo recordings, candid conversations, and much more, “The Metallica Podcast: Volume 1” is the closest the listener can come to being there alongside James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted as they wrote, recorded and toured the worldwide No. 1 album that made them the biggest band on the planet.

“This album was the right combination of songs, right combination of producer with the right combination of desire, tenacity, [and] lineup of ideas,” drummer Lars Ulrich said in a teaser clip.

“The insanity that we do just to keep our own sanity, people identify with it and the fact that they’re not alone and we know that we’re not alone is what makes it all happen for me,” frontman James Hetfield said.

“I’ll just sit there and keep on playing for fucking 24 hours if I need to,” guitarist Kirk Hammett said.

The Black Album is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed records of all time. Its 1991 release not only gave METALLICA its first No. 1 album in no fewer than 10 countries, including a four-week run at No. 1 in the U.S., its unrelenting series of singles — “Enter Sandman”, “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters”, “Wherever I May Roam” and “Sad But True” — fueled the band’s rise to stadium headlining, radio and MTV dominating household name status. The album’s reception from the press was similarly charged, building over the years from the top 10 of the 1991 Village Voice Pazz & Jop national critics poll to becoming a constant presence in the likes of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. The album’s impact and relevance continue to grow — as proven by one indisputable fact: The Black Album remains unchallenged as the best-selling album in the history of Nielsen SoundScan, outselling every release in every genre over the past 30 years.

To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the Grammy-winning, 16-times-platinum-certified Black Album is receiving its definitive re-release on September 10 via the band’s own Blackened Recordings. Remastered for ultimate sound quality, The Black Album remaster will be available in multiple configurations including 180-gram double vinyl LP, standard CD and 3 CD expanded edition, digital, and limited-edition deluxe box set (containing the album remastered on 180-gram 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs (containing rough mixes, demos, interviews, live shows), 6 DVDs (containing outtakes, behind the scenes, official videos, live shows), a 120-page hardcover book, four tour laminates, three lithos, three guitar picks, a METALLICA lanyard, a folder with lyric sheets, and a download card).

METALLICA’s self-titled LP in 2014 became the first album to sell 16 million copies since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991.

“Metallica” was already certified 16 times platinum on December 13, 2012 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for shipments in excess of 16 million copies in the U.S.

The album in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN’s 1997 record, “Come On Over”, as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era.

“Metallica” was the first of four collaborations with Rock, with whom the band clashed throughout the recording of the disc.

METALLICA performed The Black Album in its entirety at a number of European festivals in 2012.

KnuckleBonz has announced its plans to create a series of MISFITS limited-edition collectible statues. The series will kick off with Earth A.D. 3D Vinyl by KnuckleBonz. Misfits Earth A.D. 3D Vinyl collectible statue is crafted by hand using a fine-arts process where each is hand-painted, numbered, and comes with a certificate of authenticity on the base. The statue stands at 10 inches tall and only 1983 will be cast in this limited edition, making these highly collectible.

MISFITS’ Jerry Only says: “Knucklebonz 3D Vinyl nailed our classic ‘Earth A.D.’ cover in such incredible, gory detail it might even surpass the original art! Limited run of 1983 to immortalize the year the MISFITS set the bar faster, harder, and higher, changing the face of hardcore and metal forever. Death came ripping, and it hasn’t been the same ever since. Now you can hold that moment in time in your hands with this ferociously accurate rendering of the MISFITS ‘Earth A.D.’ illustration by the late Mad Marc Rude.”

The Misfits Earth A.D. 3D Vinyl collectible is $199 USD now available at KnuckleBonz.com for pre-order to reserve one of these limited-edition collectibles; only 1983 are created. The anticipated ship date is spring 2022; however, KnuckleBonz will announce a more precise shipping timeframe later this year.

“Here at our KnuckleBonz studio, I think we have the greatest jobs in the world,” says Tony Simerman, CEO/creative director of KnuckleBonz, Inc. “Now, added to our daily duties is imagining what to create with the MISFITS amazing catalog and ‘The Fiend’. We have such sights to show you!”

All work created by the company is officially licensed and approved by the artists and their management. KnuckleBonz, the creator of the 3D Vinyl and Rock Iconz music collectible series, has been developing iconic, high-quality statues of the legend of rock music since 2003.

GRINDER BLUES — the hard rock blues trio featuring Doug “Dug” Pinnick (KING’S X) on bass and vocals, guitarist and vocalist Jabo Bihlman, and Scot “Little” Bihlman on drums, percussion, and vocals — has released the music video for the song “Gotta Get Me Some Of That”. The track is the first single from the band’s second album, “El Dos”, set for international release on September 24 via Metalville Records.

GRINDER BLUES offers a high-energy, bone-crushing sound and from-the-gut songwriting, putting a fresh, contemporary spin on the blues tradition.

“The idea for the music was to stay away from the clichés and rock out,” Pinnick explains. “If we felt like we were heading into any songs that seemed like standard blues lyrically or musically, we made it a point to veer in the opposite direction.”

GRINDER BLUES’ new album is like a shot of adrenaline to the heart of the genre. Its 10 original, high-voltage songs sizzle with daredevil virtuosity and rock with unrestrained energy.

“We’re trying to push the boundaries of a genre that can be stale if you’re not careful,” Jabo explains. “But we’ve got the right blend of chops, energy, and love for the blues to really breathe some fire into it.”

“El Dos” track listing:

01. Another Way Round
02. Everybody
03. Gotta Get Me Some Of That
04. Who Wants A Spankin
05. When The Storm Comes
06. Somebody
07. Keep Away
08. Hold Me Close
09. Hand Of God
10. King Without A Throne

In a 2014 interview with Blues.gr, Pinnick stated about GRINDER BLUES’ debut LP: “We wanted to make a blues-based record that was traditional, but twisted, with typical blues lyrics but also with a twist, and make sure it sounded like we were having fun.”

California metallers ATREYU have dropped the remix for their current single “Warrior”, featuring BLINK-182 drummer Travis Barker and Zero 9:36. Check it out below.

The song, which was described as “inspiring” by Loudwire and “explosive” by Alternative Press, appears on their John Feldmann-produced album “Baptize”, out now via Spinefarm. The track has been wholly embraced by fans and beyond, as it’s rapidly approaching the Top 10 at rock radio and has already accumulated a whopping 15 million streams.

“‘Warrior’ has been a beast of a track since its release,” the band says. “It’s been such an amazing thing watching it grow and connect with the people. The time has come for a fresh take. Enter Zero 9:36. Same great ‘Warrior’ taste. New and improved ‘Warrior’ flavor.”

Regarding how the Barker collaboration came about, ATREYU frontman Brandon Saller told Detroit’s WRIF radio station: “That came really organically. John Feldmann, who produced the album — we’ve been making records with him for over a decade, and this is the third record we’ve done with him. He works really closely with Travis on a lot of [things] — he’s done many of the BLINK records, and does a lot of projects with Travis. So [Travis] is kind of in and out of the house pretty often, like a couple of times a week. Just, like, ‘What up, Trav?’ He’ll walk by and he’s talking to John, and then he leaves.

“When ‘Warrior’ came up, I had the concept of wanting to do a really big bridge that I wanted to feel like you were mid-bleachers at a high school football game — that energy of the drums and that kind of power,” Saller continued. “And I’m not a technically trained marching [band player]. I was never in a marching band; I never was a rudiment guy. I never did that. I just wanted to be like Animal from The Muppets and beat up drums. So I was, like, ‘I don’t wanna try and fake this, ’cause it’s not gonna sound how it’s supposed to. I wanna get someone that’s real.’ And, obviously, Travis is so good at that; he kills that whole realm. So he was stoked to do it. He came in and just laid down a bunch of layers on layers on layers, and it sounds like I wanted it to — like you’re in the middle of a football game… A song like ‘Warrior’, with the subject matter too, sonically, it needed to match the power of the lyric.”

“Baptize” marks ATREYU’s first album since the departure of vocalist Alex Varkatzas in September 2020. The LP showcases ATREYU’s current lineup consisting of Saller focusing completely on singing after previously sharing lead vocals with Varkatzas for most of the band’s two-decade-plus existence. Sitting behind the kit is Saller’s HELL OR HIGHWATER bandmate Kyle Rosa, who had filled in for Saller on drums in 2019 after Varkatzas bowed out of the band’s European tour while dealing with serious back and hernia issues.

ATREYU previously stated about “Warrior”: “‘Warrior’ is song about persistence and never giving up. We hope this song can be the puzzle piece that helps people realize that we ALL have the capacity for greatness. Sometimes, greatness can exist in the shadows and lives buried under negativity, trauma, or anxiety. ‘Warrior’ is about searching through all of that endless darkness to finally find the sunrise.”

ATREYU will embark on the headline “Baptize” tour this fall. The U.S. trek kicks off on November 9 in Dallas and runs through December 16 in Santa Ana in ATREYU’s native Orange County, California. The trek will feature special guests CROWN THE EMPIRE, TETRARCH, SAUL and DEFYING DECAY.

DRAGONFORCE has launched a new video for “Troopers Of The Stars”, a song from 2019’s “Extreme Power Metal” album. Inspired by the movie “Starship Troopers”, “Troopers Of The Stars” was filmed before the pandemic with a large-scale production, directed by Roboshobo (a.k.a. Robert Schober), in Los Angeles, California.

DRAGONFORCE comments: “The long-awaited ‘Troopers Of The Stars’ video is finally here. Be sure to watch it again and again to see if you can spot all the easter eggs in there!”

Fans can purchase exclusive, limited “Troopers Of The Stars” merchandise now at this location.

DRAGONFORCE has also announced a European with POWERWOLF and WARKINGS, set to take place in the fall of 2022.

“We are extremely excited to be going on tour with POWERWOLF and WARKINGS!” adds DRAGONFORCE. “They are awesome bands, this is going to be one EPIC power metal tour!”

To get your DRAGONFORCE fix before then, join guitarist Herman Li for songwriting, live reactions, guitar playthroughs, video gaming, guitar reviews, special guest events and more on Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. U.K. on Twitch.

DRAGONFORCE 2022 tour dates with POWERWOLF, WARKINGS:

Nov. 11 – Berlin, Germany – Velodrom
Nov. 12 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
Nov. 13 – Prague, Czech Republic – Tipsport Arena
Nov. 14 – Katowice, Poland – MCK
Nov. 16 – Budapest, Hungary – Barba Negra
Nov. 17 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
Nov. 18 – Stuttgart, Germany – Schleyerhalle
Nov. 19 – Zurich, Switzerland – Samsung Hall
Nov. 21 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz
Nov. 22 – Madrid, Spain – Riviera
Nov. 24 – Milano, Italy – Alcatraz
Nov. 25 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle
Nov. 26 – Oberhausen, Germany – Konig Pilsener Arena
Nov. 27 – Paris, France – Zenith
Nov. 29 – London, UK – Roundhouse *
Dec. 01 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Afas Live
Dec. 02 – Hamburg, Germany – Sporthalle
Dec. 03 – Saarbrucken, Germany – Saarlandhalle
Dec. 04 – Antwerp, Belgium – Lotto Arena

* without DRAGONFORCE

Known as the fastest band in the world, Grammy-nominated extreme power metal band DRAGONFORCE is based in London, England. Their platinum-selling record “Through The Fire And Flames” brought them international acclaim and was featured as the most-challenging song on “Guitar Hero III”. Their energetic and humorous live performances have won them fans on every continent.

The group is known for their long, complex and fast guitar solos performed by Herman Li and Sam Totman, who founded the band after meeting through a classified ad in 1999. Since then, the band has released eight studio albums, including “Valley Of The Damned” (2003), “Sonic Firestorm” (2004), “Inhuman Rampage” (2006), “Ultra Beatdown” (2008), “The Power Within” (2012), “Maximum Overload” (2014) and “Reaching into Infinity” (2017). 2019 brought the next chapter in DRAGONFORCE history: “Extreme Power Metal”.

Drawing from a wide range of influences, the band’s sound combines the sing-a-long choruses of classic ’80s rock with triumphant, uplifting melodies and fantasy-themed power-metal-inspired lyrics. As a nod to their passion for all things video-game related, the band frequently incorporates retro game sounds and melodies into their recordings and live shows.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, the company which creates “beautiful lullaby versions of your favorite artists,” has just released “Lullaby Versions Of Dio” via Roma Music Group.

“Lullaby Versions Of Dio” track listing:

01. Holy Diver
02. Rainbow In The Dark
03. The Last In Line
04. We Rock
05. Don’t Talk To Strangers
06. Stand Up And Shout
07. Heaven And Hell
08. Neon Knights
09. The Mob Rules
10. Man On The Silver Mountain
11. The Temple Of The King
12. Stargazer
13. Stars

The song “Holy Diver” can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star was born for the parent that wants to pass along their biggest passion to their child, music. Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star transforms popular music into instrumental lullabies perfect for babies, yoga or just relaxation. Now, parents can enjoy the music from LADY GAGA to METALLICA in soothing lullaby style. With over 135 titles to choose from, Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star is the largest line of pop, rock, metal and jamband music lullabies in the world.

These aren’t novelty recordings. They are cute, they are soft but these are serious recordings. Roma Music Group, which releases Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, is run by two music industry veterans who put the fidelity of these recording at the top of the priority list. Let’s face it, much like the brand name clothes you buy for your infant, this music is really for you. Whether you are raising a metal baby, rocker or hippie baby, Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star has your music transformed from arena anthems into nursery classics.

SIXX:A.M., the long-running project featuring MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx alongside former GUNS N’ ROSES guitarist DJ Ashba and vocalist James Michael — will release the “Hits” album on October 22 via Better Noise Music. The project is a retrospective celebration of the band’s biggest hits and fan-favorite songs. And, most notably, it includes six previously unheard songs, marking the band’s first official album with new material since 2016.

“Hits” will arrive three days after the highly anticipated release of Sixx’s new memoir “The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx” (Hachette Books). One of the new songs included on the album is also titled “The First 21”, with its lyrics being inspired by the captivating content of the book.

Now in his 21st year of sobriety, Sixx is incredibly passionate about his craft and wonderfully open about his life in rock and roll. He is globally recognized for his work with people in recovery and has been passionately vocal about the disastrous social effects of the opioid crisis in the USA and worldwide. In the memoir, Sixx, already a three-time New York Times best-selling author, tells the inspirational story of his first 21 years, how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx. The book fills in the earlier parts of Sixx’s fascinating true-life story, which fans have partly come to know through MÖTLEY CRÜE’s widely celebrated collaborative autobiography “The Dirt” which was most recently adapted into a hit biopic by Netflix in 2019. “The First 21” also continues Sixx’s tradition of setting the soundtrack to his own life, combining his work as a writer and a musician to offer multi-layered pieces of art.

In 2007, SIXX:A.M. released “The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack”, which acts as a companion piece to Sixx’s best-selling memoir “The Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star”, released the same year, introducing the concept of a book soundtrack into popular culture. Both the book and the album were successes upon release, with the book instantly becoming a New York Times best seller in its first week, selling out in bookstores around the U.S. The album spawned the No. 1 single “Life Is Beautiful”, while simultaneously receiving critical acclaim and eventually achieving gold certification in the U.S. Expanding this artistic signature move by Sixx, “The First 21” will now get its own soundtrack with the forthcoming “Hits” album.

To celebrate today’s announcement, SIXX:A.M. released another new track from the album, “Skin (Rock Mix)”, accompanied by a striking lyric video. The track originally appeared on the band’s second studio album “This Is Gonna Hurt”, and quickly became a fan favorite. The new mix, which makes for a heavier, more anthemic sonic experience, is now available to stream and download across platforms.

“Hits” track listing

01. Life Is Beautiful (3:35)
02. This Is Gonna Hurt (3:56)
03. Lies Of The Beautiful People (3:58)
04. Pray For Me (4:13)
05. Rise (3:53)
06. Stars (3:50)
07. Maybe It’s Time (4:21)
08. Skin (3:25)
09. Belly Of The Beast (3:47)
10. Are You With Me Now (4:02)
11. Girl With Golden Eyes (4:20)
12. Accidents Can Happen (4:07)
13. Gotta Get It Right (3:12)
14. We Will Not Go Quietly (4:20)

New bonus tracks:

15. The First 21 (3:20)
16. Talk To Me – Radio Mix (3:39)
17. Penetrate (4:38)
18. Waiting All My Life (3:17)
19. Skin – Rock Mix (3:50)
20. Life Is Beautiful – Piano Vocal (3:06)

SIXX:A.M.’s latest release was a reworked version of its song “Maybe It’s Time”, which came out in August 2020 as part of the Artists For Recovery project.

The original version of “Maybe It’s Time” appeared on SIXX:A.M.’s latest album, “Vol. 2, Prayers For The Blessed”, which was released in November 2016 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc was written and recorded at the same time as “Vol. 1, Prayers For The Damned”, released earlier that same year, and it acted as a companion piece to the first chapter.

In January 2020, SIXX:A.M. released the official music video for “Talk To Me”. The track, originally released in September 2019, invited each of us to take the first step toward mutual understanding and healing using the power of conversation.

Sixx recently teamed up with Rob Zombie, John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON) and Tommy Clufetos (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK SABBATH, ROB ZOMBIE) in a new project called L.A. RATS. The quartet came together expressly to record a cover of “I’ve Been Everywhere” for the soundtrack to the movie “The Ice Road”. “I’ve Been Everywhere” is a song written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959, and made popular by Lucky Starr in 1962.

MÖTLEY CRÜE’s “The Stadium Tour” with DEF LEPPARD, POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS was originally scheduled to take place last summer but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic.