LYNYRD SKYNYRD lead singer Johnny Van Zant and his brother Donnie Van Zant of 38 SPECIAL have written and recorded a new campaign theme song for Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Earlier today (Friday, April 1), Johnny told Fox News ‘ “Fox & Friends” that DeSantis stands for everything that he and his brother, who were born in Jacksonville, believe in.

“We got to thank Governor DeSantis for standing and believing for what he believes… He’s been a great governor for us,” Johnny said. “He stands up for what he believes. So don’t come down here trying to change things we’re doing all right in the Sunshine State. Stay out of our business. Leave our governor alone. Down in sweet, sweet Florida our governor is red, white and blue… He’s shooting us straight, telling us the truth.”

The “Sweet Florida” lyrics by Johnny and Donnie also hit out at U.S. President Joe Biden and the nation’s top infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, saying, “You can take it to the bank, he don’t care what Brandon think at the White House,” using code for an expletive-laden chant. With regard to Fauci, the song says that DeSantis “is taken on the swamp and he’s calling out Dr. Fauci.”

“We really wrote it…in a couple of hours, and we recorded it on an iPhone and sent it to the governor,” Johnny explained. “We’ve never done that before…and we took a chance.”

DeSantis, a Republican who is running for re-election and is widely considered to be a potential 2024 presidential candidate, suggested a song about his state modeled on the LYNYRD SKYNYRD hit “Sweet Home Alabama”.

“We really appreciate you guys doing it,” DeSantis told the Van Zant brothers on “Fox & Friends”. “I think it’s really, really special. They did a great job, and it is a catchy song.”

“Sweet Florida” is available on Spotify and Apple Music and the music video can be seen on SweetFloridaSong.com.

Last month, DeSantis said his state is “leading the free world,” with backers of his often controversial policies viewing Florida as the new “citadel of freedom.”

DeSantis has repeatedly attacked Biden and his administration’s coronavirus response, going so far as to single out Fauci by selling “Don’t Fauci My Florida” campaign merchandise.

Thanks to Johnny & Donnie Van Zant. I have a feeling this might be the song of the summer…https://t.co/FzrPTkCfs9 pic.twitter.com/k6rk48tzq8
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) April 1, 2022

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Everybody needs to have their spirits raised from time to time. THE HELLACOPTERS were always particularly good at such things, delivering seven soil-scorching albums between 1996’s seminal “Supershitty to the Max!” and 2008’s “Head Off” swansong, and nearly always sounding like the greatest, coolest and most celebratory rock ‘n’ roll band in the world. Founder and frontman Nicke Andersson has busied himself with all manner of projects since, not least the very nearly as good IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC, but the long-awaited return of his most successful band feels both necessary and extremely welcome. “Eyes Of Oblivion” is exactly what was needed, too: a balls-out hard rock record, ten songs deep, no messing about. Fourteen years have passed since they last released any new music, and the Swedes have clearly approached this comeback with the care and attention to detail that it deserves.

Not that any of this is rocket science, of course. THE HELLACOPTERS always excelled when they gave mischievous nods towards the past, while frequently serving up songs of equal quality to the ones they were saluting. That remains true on “Eyes Of Oblivion”, the only difference being that this feels crafted and coherent in a way that none of the previous albums were. The opening brace of “Reap A Hurricane” and “Can It Wait” are the high-energy money shots that diehard fans will have been waiting for, but instead of rattling along at the same pace, Andersson’s crew switch to lavish, bluesy, soul rock grandeur for swaggering ballad “So Sorry I Could Die”, sounding utterly at home with the conceit. The title track follows, and it’s an instant classic: an effervescent guitar hook welded to a gleaming chassis of muscular power-pop, it’s almost BOSTON-like in its audacious catchiness. “A Plow And A Doctor” and “Positively Not Knowing” keep the fires burning, the latter at a tooth-dislodging punk rock tempo, but it’s the goofed-out glam rock of “Tin Foil Soldier” that leaps out as this record’s most unapologetic moment of fun. Like the bastard child of T. REX and CHEAP TRICK, it’s almost lethally upbeat and would surely have been a monster hit had it been released 40 years ago. Frankly, it still deserves to be now.

Sealing the deal with the laidback, shuffling “Beguiled”, the strident radio rock of “The Pressure’s On” and the final, spiky barroom brawl of “Try Me Tonight”, THE HELLACOPTERS make it all sound like the most natural thing in the world — a timeless, joyous blast of unpretentious, overdriven snot ‘n’ soul. It’s like they never went away.

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According to The Orange County Register, late FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins was honored with a drum circle on Thursday, March 31 at Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach, California.

The tribute, hosted by Laguna Beach radio station KX FM, paid tribute to the 50-year-old musician who died on March 25 while he was on tour with the FOO FIGHTERS in Colombia.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Hawkins relocated to Laguna Beach with his family in his early childhood and bought an ocean-front home in the artsy beach town.

James Pribram, who went to Laguna Beach High School with Hawkins, told The Orange County Register about the drummer: “He was just the most genuine, positive, respectful person you could imagine. He was very down to Earth. There was nothing about him that said rock star.”

Hawkins was found dead at the Four Seasons Casa Medina hotel in Bogota.

An official cause of death for Hawkins hasn’t yet been released. But on March 26, Colombia’s attorney general’s office released a preliminary toxicology report, saying that medical examiners found evidence of 10 types of substances in Hawkins’s body, including opioids, benzodiazepines, marijuana and antidepressants.

Hawkins joined FOO FIGHTERS in 1997. Prior to that, he played with the Orange County band SYLVIA and was also in the backing band for Sass Jordan. He also toured with Alanis Morissette as her drummer.

Hawkins was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last year as a member of the FOO FIGHTERS.

Hawkins’s most recent work with FOO FIGHTERS included last year’s “Medicine At Midnight” album, a collection of BEE GEES covers and FOO FIGHTERS’ horror film “Studio 666”.

Taylor Hawkins Memorial March 31st Laguna Beach Loves And Misses Him Forever ??

Posted by Kevin Jones on Thursday, March 31, 2022

Taylor Hawkins Memorial Drum Off Right Now at Aliso Beach , Laguna Beach. DJ Ed from KX Fm is here ?????????⭐️

Posted by Kevin Jones on Thursday, March 31, 2022

Here is a clip from our good friend @andiktaylor who attended the Drum Circle on the beach in the Laguna Beach area in honor of TAYLOR HAWKINS, organized by locals. 03/31/22

Taylor grew up in Laguna Beach,CA

#TaylorHawkins #DrumCircle #LagunaBeach #FooFighters

Posted by Foozie’s Foo Fighters News on Friday, April 1, 2022

Tonight’s drum circle in Laguna Beach for Taylor Hawkins.

Posted by Chris Phillips on Thursday, March 31, 2022

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The ever-prolific Dark Sky Burial project of Napalm Death’s Shane Embury returns with a new single just in time for Bandcamp Friday.
The post Hear Shane Embury Return With Dark Sky Burial’s “Constellation of Archetypes” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

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Steve Vai and Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group have released the official music video for “Teeth Of The Hydra”. The performance clip was directed by BJ McDonnell, and produced by John Heller and Jason Salzman. The director of photography was Eric Leach, with art direction by Michael Mesker. Greg Wurth was the sound engineer and assistant editor.

Vai shares: “The idea for this guitar and track came to me roughly seven years ago. I envisioned composing and performing a piece of music on a multi-neck instrument where all of the sound emanated from that one creation with the exception of some keyboards and drums. I sent my ideas to Ibanez, and their builders delivered this astonishing wooden creature. I was stunned. It was awesome. When I first laid eyes on it, I named it the Hydra, and instantly knew the name of the song would be ‘Teeth Of The Hydra’.

“A Hydra is a dragon-like creature from Greek mythology possessing various heads. For every head chopped off, two would grow in its place. I then set out to write a piece of music that utilized all the features of the Hydra, but could also stand on its own as an enjoyable composition with a sultry melody and heavy dynamics.” He continues: “When I finally sat with the Hydra and started to contemplate writing this piece and how I was to navigate the instrument in a seamless way, for a moment it seemed impossible. I just started slowly, and it all began to unfold very naturally.

“Things that can seem impossible don’t seem so impossible once you just start doing them. Every new discovery and accomplishment were treated as a joyous victory, even if it only involved figuring out one bar of music. The overall inner vision was the guide through the process, but with every accomplishment, the process became more and more addictive. I became immersed in the splendors of the Hydra. It was a meditative experience, and on the day that it all finally clicked, performing the song felt like stillness in motion — that’s when the performance becomes virtually effortless, and the freedom of present-moment expression has you feeling as if your feet are about a foot off the ground. The exhilaration can be overwhelming at times. I’m very happy with the way the video came out, and having BJ McDonnell as director, along with his amazing crew, was vital. Enjoy!”

Vai’s new studio album, “Inviolate”, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Current Hard Rock Albums chart. Cumulative streams exceed five million, with “Teeth Of The Hydra” accounting for more than one million.

The “Inviolate” world tour will commence with a European leg of appearances beginning in Glasgow on June 4. The itinerary will stretch in to mid-July, staging performances in the U.K., Ireland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. Vai’s North American performances supporting the new album will start on September 28 at The Magnolia in El Cajon, California. The final show is planned for his hometown of Los Angeles, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on December 3.

Vai will be joined by his long-tenured ensemble members Dave Weiner (guitar, keyboards), Philip Bynoe (bass) and Jeremy Colson (drums). Vai shares: “It’s amazing to realize that after three years of not performing our show on a stage, that it’s now on the horizon, and will start to unfold in Europe this summer. I can feel the road now and the enthusiastic audiences that we will be connecting with.”

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