JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner has praised Dolly Parton for taking herself out of the running for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s 2022 class of inductees.

On Monday (March 14), the 76-year-old country music legend asked the Hall to withdraw her name from the 2022 ballot, saying “I don’t feel that I have earned the right. I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”

Parton was one of 17 artists nominated for the Rock Hall class of 2022, along with JUDAS PRIEST, Eminem, Lionel Richie, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and Beck, among others.

Ballots are cast by an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists — including previous inductees — historians, music industry members and critics. Factors considered by voters consider include “an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique,” according to a statement issued by the Hall.

Faulkner, who joined PRIEST in 2011 and would not be inducted into the Rock Hall along with the other members of the current lineup, was asked about Parton’s decision to bow out of the highly esteemed honor in a new interview with “Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen”. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I think it was a classy move, really. I think she recognizes her brand, and it didn’t necessarily fit into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. And I think it raises questions to what the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s brand is as well.

“To call it the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and not have bands like JUDAS PRIEST in it from day one, I think, is a weird thing,” Richie continued. “I’ve said this before. It’s shocking, really. I don’t know how you can call it the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame without having bands like that in it as default; they sort of spawned the genre. But, you know, I’m not eligible, so I can sort of say what I want about it I just think bands like that — [IRON] MAIDEN, PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD — there’s a few bands that are not in, and a few artists that are, maybe it shouldn’t be called the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I don’t know.

“I’ve said this before, but I think the greatest accolade any band can have… You’ve toured the world for 50 years, you’ve put out music for 50 years, you’ve got a loyal fanbase for 50 years,” Faulkner added. “No one’s more grateful that these guys in this band, and I know that. They’re still putting out music, they’re still making music, they’re still touring the world. And I’m repeating myself here, and I apologize, but I think that’s more of an accolade than a trophy on a shelf; I really do. I think that’s worth much more than getting in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. That’s just my opinion. And I know the [rest of the] band don’t share that opinion; that’s just my opinion. It’s a loyal fanbase for 50 years. What more can you ask for?”

To be eligible for this year’s ballot, each nominee’s first single or album had to have been released in 1996 or earlier.

Inductees will be announced in May. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2022 induction ceremony will take place this fall. The date, venue, and on-sale information will be announced later.

According to the Hall Of Fame, the JUDAS PRIEST members that would get inducted would include current members Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums), along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar), Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.

JUDAS PRIEST was previously on the ballot for Rock Hall induction in 2020, but failed to receive enough votes to make that year’s class.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was also on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

Back in October 2020, Halford said that the heavy metal genre “hasn’t been respected enough” by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Asked in an interview with Word In Your Ear if he was “bothered” by the fact that PRIEST hasn’t been inducted into the Rock Hall yet, Halford said: “Well, let’s put it this way. You have all of these institutions here in America — you’ve got the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for music; you’ve got the Basketball Hall Of Fame; you’ve got the Baseball Hall Of Fame; Football — you’ve got all of these places where, I think essentially, it’s just a really nice, cool recognition of what you’ve done, the work that you’ve done and the things that you’ve achieved, the place that you’ve been put at, and so on and so forth.

“So, am I bothered if we ever get in? Not really. But I think we do deserve to be in there. Because I look at the list of people that are in there, and I feel that we have a place. And it would not only be for JUDAS PRIEST — it would be for British music, particularly British heavy metal music, and that’s a beautiful achievement. [BLACK] SABBATH are in there, which is great. But I’ve always said that as far as what the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame represents, the genre of heavy metal music hasn’t really been looked after enough and respected enough.

“So, I’d like to feel that eventually we will get in.”

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N’ ROSES in that group’s first year of eligibility.

The Rock Hall didn’t induct BLACK SABBATH until 2006, and METALLICA followed three years later.

Rock Hall rules state that artists become eligible a quarter century after their first records were released, but the Hall also claims that other “criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock ‘n’ roll,” which is, of course, open to interpretation.

Eligible for induction since 1999, KISS didn’t get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn’t get inducted until 2016.

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Lithuanian black metalers Sisyphean offer up a poisonous dose of mercury from their upcoming full-length.
The post Exclusive Track Premiere: Sisyphean – “Hearts of Mercury” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

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DEF LEPPARD’s new single will reportedly receive its world premiere this coming Thursday, March 17 on BBC Radio 2’s “Zoe Ball Breakfast Show”. The track is expected to appear on the band’s next studio album, which is titled “Diamond Star Halos”, according to a tweet from the DEF LEPPARD fan forum Def Leppard Rock Brigade. A new web site, www.diamondstarhalos.com, has already been launched, where the five members of DEF LEPPARD appear as psychics. By clicking on each individual icon, fans can hear every one of the musicians predict the future.

Last June, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott confirmed to Cleveland.com that he and his bandmates have been trading ideas virtually during the pandemic and are “ahead of the game” with respect to the new LP’s progress. A month earlier, Joe told Download festival host Kylie Olsson that “there’s a lot of work to be done” before the completion of the new DEF LEPPARD album. “But we have not let the year go to waste,” he said.

Addressing the fact that it had been more than six years since DEF LEPPARD last released album, 2015’s self-titled effort, Joe told Download: “The industry being what it is, we’re all aware of the fact that there’s an element of the media that can’t let go of the fact that records aren’t that important anymore. And I know that’s a sad thing to say, but it’s a fact of life. Touring is massively important — way more than it was when you went out promoting records when they were important. Especially for legacy bands or whatever you wanna call ’em. Listen, I went to see THE ROLLING STONES in 1989 in case one of them died. That’s 1989. They haven’t had a death since the 1960s.

“I’m aware of the fact that when you’ve got a history — whether it be THE EAGLES or FLEETWOOD MAC or any of the bands from the ’80s, like us and [IRON] MAIDEN and whoever else, we’ve got this legacy audience as well that wanna see us continue the journey, if you like,” he continued. “And that’s become way more important.

“When we finished that [2015] album, we never really thought about making another record until we just felt the timing was right,” Elliott explained. “And we always just fall into place. We’re constantly writing songs, so when it comes to piecing songs together, it’s not like they’re all absolutely brand spanking new, just written, hot-off-the-press stuff. Some of them are ideas that have been percolating for a year or two with a piece missing. And you wait and you wait and you wait, and then you have this epiphany, or one of the other guys goes, ‘Why didn’t you ask? I’ve got a bit that would fit in there perfect.’ So there’s been a lot of that going on. But that’s a constant; that’s nothing to do with coronavirus. We’ve been doing it since the ‘Def Leppard’ album came out, and we will continue to do it, whether we release an album or not. We’ve got songs in our heads.”

DEF LEPPARD’s “The Stadium Tour” with MÖTLEY CRÜE, POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS was originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020 but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The exclusive playback of the NEW DEF LEPPARD S SINGLE is coming on BBC Radio 2 this Thursday (17th) ?? The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, starting at 6.30 a.m. The new album is allegedly called ‘Diamond Star Halo’ according to a US DJ. Exciting times!?? @DefLepPod @RockTheseTweets pic.twitter.com/TUGb1TEGDW
— DR. Church (@churchofleppard) March 14, 2022

According to another tweet it said Alan hunter is reporting that Def Leppard is set to release a new album called diamond star halo. Not sure how accurate that is.
— Tommy (@Espos6xs6x) March 14, 2022

its accurate
— Def Leppard Rock Brigade (@DefLeppardRB) March 14, 2022

Yes, but it’s the bands to release. More Info Thursday.
— Def Leppard Rock Brigade (@DefLeppardRB) March 15, 2022

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Two years ago, Swiss hard rock legends KROKUS postponed their last-ever concerts in USA and Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the globe. The 13-date trek was originally scheduled to kick off at Canton Hall in Dallas, Texas on September 18, 2020 and conclude at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 10, 2020. Asked in a new interview with Rock Show Critique if the North American dates will ever happen, KROKUS singer Marc Storace said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Well, if it had to happen, I’d be there. No worries. But I actually have to say… Two years ago, we would have gone on and finished the [farewell] tour, ‘Adios Amigos’. We would have played U.S. dates, Canada dates, Mexico, the U.K. and God knows what, because while you’re doing those, some more dates come in. But these two years of COVID have really killed the whole spirit. And everybody’s doing their own thing… Let’s see. Maybe if we get the call again and everybody has time to think it over. I don’t know. But right now, I don’t see it happening, as you ask me right now.”

Pressed about why KROKUS has toured America so infrequently over the course of the last 20 years, Marc said: “Well, it starts with the work permits. And they cost money. Then the tax. Then the booking fees, the percentages, the renting out of equipment, buses, hotels and everything. So if you’ve gotta do a club tour, you can’t even pay for all that. We haven’t been there for a long while, so we don’t expect to come over and do a headliner tour in stadiums; we’re far from that again. Because in the meantime, there’s a lot of water under the bridge. And that’s how it is. The status sinks because there’s no longer promoters who believe that you’re gonna bring in the money back for that. I guess that’s the way it is. It’s like a vicious circle. You have to come over one day and get the ball rolling again and then come back the next year and the next year to reach the status that you are used to. And you have to also release a new album to accompany that. And the new album isn’t enough. Albums don’t sell anymore. There’s Spotify — all these parasites around — streaming, which don’t give you your money’s worth.”

When KROKUS first announced its decision to embark on a farewell tour in September 2019, the band explained in a statement: “KROKUS shows have always been special and should stay that way. That’s why we decided to stop when it’s still really good. That’s how the fans should remember us.”

Formed in 1975, KROKUS has sold over 15 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. KROKUS was also the first Swiss band to sell out the legendary Hallenstadion in Zurich and has received a diamond disc for selling one million albums in Switzerland alone.

In the course of its legendary career, KROKUS has rocked over 2,000 shows on five continents, countless cities, unique locations, crazy gigs, and loyal fans.

English rock journalist Malcolm Dome quite rightly said: “If you look at the long-term output of this band, KROKUS is clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years.”

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