Eric Clapton has opened up about his decision to drop a politically charged song called “This Has Gotta Stop” as a way of addressing his stance against COVID-19 policies. The track, which was produced by his longtime producing partner Simon Climie, came several months after he released the anti-lockdown song “Stand And Deliver” with Van Morrison.

The 76-year-old legendary musician — who previously said he refuses to play live shows that require attendees to prove they’ve been vaccinated — spoke about the backlash he has faced as a result of his public opposition to lockdown restrictions and vaccinations during a new interview with Dave Spuria of The Real Music Observer.

The iconic guitarist, who previously said he feared he would “never play again” following health issues after both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, stated about his current health situation (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I’m feeling pretty good. I think it’s been about nine months since I got sick from the thing,” apparently referring the getting vaccinated, “and for a couple of months I wasn’t sure if it was gonna go away, if it’s gonna get worse. I couldn’t play — I really couldn’t play — and I wasn’t sure… I had a lot of work to do, whether I was gonna get fit for that or whether it was gonna have to be canceled. Two years of work [had] already [been] canceled. And I came to the States. And that was like a trial; that was in September of last year. And I was really pushing to see if I had recovered enough to be able to stand alongside the guys I play with and hold up my hand. And I had a great time. I still have some stuff going on, which is affected by the cold or the weather or stress to, sometimes. But on the whole, I think I’m pretty much the way I was — thank God — before I walked into that.”

Regarding how “Stand And Deliver” and “This Has Gotta Stop” came about, Clapton said: “My career had almost gone anyway. At the point where I spoke up, it had been almost 18 months since I had kind of been forcibly retired. And I joined forces with Van. I got the tip that Van was standing up to the measures. And I thought, ‘Why isn’t anybody else doing this?’ And we go back; I’ve known him since we were kids. And I contacted him. I said, ‘What do you think? What’s going on?’ And he said, ‘I’m just objecting, really. But it seems like we’re not even allowed to do that. And nobody else is doing it.’ And I said, ‘You’re kidding. Nobody else?’ And he said, ‘Nobody else.’ And I said, ‘I’m with you. Is there anything I can do to help? Have you got any songs?’ And of course, it was a silly, stupid question ’cause he writes two songs a day or something like that. And he sent me ‘Stand And Deliver’, which he had already… I didn’t know he had already recorded it. So I thought, ‘Oh, man. I’m getting an unreleased Van Morrison song.’ I was over the moon anyway. And it was during the process of talking about that to another musician, and then getting me excited, and then sharing that news, and I found that nobody wanted to hear that. And I was kind of mystified because I seemed to be the only person that thought that was an exciting or even appropriate idea with what was going on. And that challenged me even more. ‘Cause I’m a bit like him maybe — I’m cut from the cloth where if you tell me I can’t do something, I really wanna know why I can’t do it. And it seemed like I’d had a wall built around me. But I thought, ‘I’m gonna do this.’ But I did make concessions — I did take out lines or change lines a little bit just to pacify those that I really didn’t wanna hurt, people I didn’t wanna hurt or scare. And needless to say, my family and friends, they got scared, and I think they were scared on my behalf.”

Eric continued: “[I thought], ‘What’s going on here?’ I didn’t get the memo. Whatever the memo was, it hadn’t reached me. Then I started to realize there was really a memo, and a guy, [clinical psychology professor] Mattias Desmet, talked about it. And it’s great — the theory of mass formation hypnosis,” he said, referring to the idea that promoting messages encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, among other scientifically validated pandemic communications, is an attempt to hypnotize groups of people to follow these messages against their will. “And I could see it then — once I kind of started to look for it, I saw it everywhere. And then I remembered seeing little things on YouTube which were like subliminal advertising; it had been going on for a long time — that thing about ‘you will own nothing and you will be happy.’ And I thought, ‘What’s that mean?’ And bit by bit, I put a rough kind of jiggle puzzle together. And that made me even more resolute. And so I went from that to looking at the news stuff that was coming out in England. In the U.K., we have BBC, and it used to be an impartial commentary on world affairs and state affairs. And suddenly it was completely one-way traffic about following orders and obedience. And I felt really motivated, musically. It instigated something which really was laying dormant. I was just playing live gigs up until the lockdown without really being socially involved in any way. … I have a tool, I have a calling, and I can make use of that. So I set about it and started writing.”

Clapton made his proclamation against vaccine mandates in July 2021, shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that vaccine passes would be required to enter nightclubs and venues in the U.K.

“Following the PM’s announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021 I feel honor-bound to make an announcement of my own, I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present,” he said in a statement. “Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.”

Last November, Clapton admitted that he had lost friends and music associates due to his anti-vaccine stance. He said at the time: “My family and friends think I am a crackpot anyway.

“Over the last year, there’s been a lot of disappearing — a lot of dust around, with people moving away quite quickly,” he continued. “It has, for me, refined the kind of friendship I have. And it’s dwindled down to the people that I obviously really need and love. Inside my family, that became quite pivotal … I’ve got teenage girls, and an older girl who’s in her 30s — and they’ve all had to kind of give me leeway because I haven’t been able to convince any of them.”

He added: “I would try to reach out to fellow musicians and sometimes I just don’t hear from them. My phone doesn’t ring very often. I don’t get that many texts and emails anymore.”

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Eddie Van Halen’s ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli discussed her new book, “Enough Already: Learning To Love The Way I Am Today”, during an appearance Thursday (January 20) on “The Kelly Clarkson Show”. Bertinelli reflected on the special relationship she had with her late ex-husband and opened up about feeling unlovable during her struggles with body image in the past, and how she is ready to change the narrative.

Asked if she still feel Eddie’s presence in her everyday life, Valerie said: “I do — in so many different ways. There was a couple of things in the book that I write about — really kind of ‘woo-hoo’ kind of things that if you believe in that, great; it happened to me. But there was something recently that just happened to me, after I finished the book.

“I had kind of made this pact with Ed that I would see a certain bird — or was it two, or was it three? I wasn’t sure whether it was two or three birds — and then I would know he was there,” she continued. “In the bathroom early in the morning, I have this big picture window. And I saw, ‘Oh, there’s three birds. Ed, are you here?’ I said, ‘Oh, wait. Was it two birds I said? Oh. God. Was it two or three? So I don’t know if it’s you, Ed. If you’re here… You know what? Screw it. If you’re here, just send a whole flock of birds.’ And literally — I didn’t even get the sentence out of my mouth and a whole flock of birds went by. It must have been 20, 30 birds — these little, tiny birds. And you know they do those waves. That’s what happened. They went by. And I never saw the birds again. I went, ‘Okay.’ I got goosebumps. It was just, like, ‘Oh, Ed. Okay. Cool. You’re here.’ … It made me happy.”

Bertinelli split with Van Halen in 2002 after 21 years of marriage. They officially divorced in 2007. Eddie then went on to marry Janie Liszewski in 2009, while Valerie also remarried, tying the knot with Tom Vitale in 2011. Valerie told People magazine that both marriages were struggling before Eddie’s death. She eventually filed for separation from Vitale in November 2021.

In “Enough Already: Learning To Love The Way I Am Today”, Valerie writes about saying goodbye to Eddie when the legendary guitarist died at 65 in October 2020 from cancer. She and their son, Wolfgang, 30, were by his side in his final moments.

“I love you are the last words Ed says to Wolfie and me and they are the last words we say to him before he stops breathing,” Bertinelli writes.

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View the results of Harassor drummer Sandor G. Finta’s unlikely union with famed ’80s/’90s metal video director Eric Zimmerman for Finta’s Andorkappen project.
The post Video Premiere: Andorkappen – “Failed Prophecies” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

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Alice Cooper has paid tribute to iconic rock singer Meat Loaf, who died on Thursday (January 20) at the age of 74.

Earlier today, Cooper took to his social media to write: “Meat Loaf was one of the greatest voices in Rock N Roll, and he was certainly one of my closest friends in the business. He was really so much fun, truly fun to be around. He just felt like a best friend to everyone no matter how long it had been since you last saw him.

“We worked together many times over the years and he was always a force,” he continued. “He was a real theatrical character like I was so our shows went really well together. I remember when you would see his show, he would treat the audience almost like a Pentecostal Preacher and he was so powerful on stage.

“Working with Meat Loaf was one of the main reasons I wanted to do the movie Roadie in the first place – I wanted to watch him show off his acting chops. He plays the ultimate roadie on this quest to be the best in the world. But that’s what he did in life too – he always wanted to be the best at what he was doing… And I think he succeeded.

“There was nobody, and I mean nobody like Meat Loaf,” Alice added. “His shoes can never be filled.”

According to TMZ, Meat Loaf was “seriously ill” with COVID-19 just days before his death. The singer was due to attend a business dinner earlier this week for a show he was working on based on his classic hit “I’d Do Anything For Love” but canceled after becoming sick.

Meat Loaf had reportedly been outspoken about vaccine mandates. In May, he posted a clip of Eric Clapton and Van Morrison’s anti-lockdown song “Stand & Deliver”, writing, “Listen and Learn.”

The news of his passing was confirmed on the musician’s Facebook page by his family.

“Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends,” the post said.

Meat Loaf is survived by his daughters, his son-in-law Scott Ian (ANTHRAX) and grandson Revel Young Ian.

Meat Loaf’s amazing career spanned six decades and saw him sell over 100 million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies, including “Fight Club”, “Focus”, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Wayne’s World”.

His “Bat Out Of Hell” remains one of the 10 top-selling albums of all time.

“We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man,” the family’s post added.

No cause of death has yet been revealed.

The Dallas-born singer’s real name was Marvin Lee Aday.

His 1993 hit “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” earned him a Grammy Award.

“Bat Out Of Hell” was also adapted as a stage musical, written by longtime collaborator Jim Steinman.

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The first in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS’ upcoming album, titled “4”, can be seen below.

Due on February 11 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG, “4” is Slash’s fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals).

In October, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS released the official music video for the LP’s first single, “The River Is Rising”, shot on location in downtown Los Angeles with Gibson TV director Todd Harapiak.

For “4”, Slash and the band traveled across the country together to Nashville, Tennessee and recorded the new album at the historic RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile), revealing a stunning new sound and style all captured live in the studio. Cobb shared the band’s desire to lay down the tracks live, in the studio including guitar solos and vocals — a first for the group.

The band’s previous albums over the last decade — “Apocalyptic Love”, “World On Fire” and “Living The Dream” — have continued on an upward trajectory, all achieving Top 5 Billboard charting debuts in the U.S. and reaching the Top 10 on 12 major charts across the globe. To date, the three SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS albums have now garnered 10 consecutive Top 5 Radio singles, spawned sold-out world tours, and have earned Slash and the band the best critical acclaim of their career with their latest album “Living The Dream” (2018) singled out by the Los Angeles Times, Classic Rock, Guitar World, Loudwire, LA Weekly, and more, as their best songs to date.

The new album “4” has the added history-making distinction of being the first-ever album to be released on the new Gibson Records label, which is headquartered in the iconic American instrument brand Gibson’s hometown of Music City, Nashville. In light of the 30-year partnership between Gibson and the Grammy Award-winning Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Slash, it makes sense the new SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS’ album “4” will be released via Gibson Records.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS will kick off a North American headlining tour on February 8, in Portland, Oregon and hit 28 major cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Houston, and more, before wrapping up March 26 in Orlando, Florida.

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Acclaimed KING’S X guitarist, songwriter, and co-vocalist Ty Tabor will release a new solo album, “Shades”, on March 4 via Rat Pak Records. The musician’s 11th solo album features 10 brand new songs with three bonus tracks and follows the successful release of 2018’s “Alien Beans”. “Shades” is available for preorder in various configurations, including CD, vinyl and digital download.

“When it comes to what I write for solo material, I don’t really think about bands or anything like that. These new songs explore different sides of life and death,” Ty explains. “I was dealing with the recent loss of my dad when some of this was written. There are lighter moments mixed in to keep it from being too focused on loss or sadness. I also resurrected a couple of old ideas that weren’t ready until now. I just write music that makes me happy, and I’ve ended up with an album I really love!”

From the opening chords of “Come Home”, it is clear that Tabor’s trademark guitar tone lays the bedrock for his latest solo release. Ty tackles a wide array of emotions and topics with layered harmonies, hooky pop sensibilities, and the total riffage that remains a crucial ingredient to the KING’S X sound. Songs like “What You’re Thinking”, “One Drop Of Water” and “Doesn’t Linger” show Ty’s penchant for crafting tunes with tremendous melodies, while songs like “Shallow” and “Your Fantasy” trend heavy and exemplify why Ty is one of the most influential guitarists of the last three decades.

“Shades” track listing:

01. Come Home
02. Shallow
03. Your Fantasy
04. What You’re Thinking
05. Sister Genocide
06. Best Day In A While
07. Insane
08. One Drop Of Water
09. Doesn’t Linger
10. Leaves Falling Down
11. Ashes (bonus track; CD and digital download only]
12. Political Nonsense (bonus track; CD and digital download only)
13. Ashes (Acoustic) (bonus track; CD and digital download only)

Photo credit: Reames Photography

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“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts,” wrote William Shakespeare. When he penned the now-classic line, he might as well have been prophesying a world forever redefined by the theatrical genius of David Bowie. The visionary’s catalog of conceptual personas encompasses the likes of Aladdin Sane, Major Tom, the Thin White Duke and, perhaps, most recognizable of all, Ziggy Stardust.

Yet, the life lived by the mortal behind the mask provides an infinitely more enigmatic and compelling subject as Morrison Hotel Gallery brings the Starman’s 75th birth year to centerstage with “Sound & Vision”, a web-exclusive Bowie retrospective as seen through the singular lens of Mick Rock. The exhibition goes live January 22, 2022 at www.morrisonhotelgallery.com and select works from it will be on view at Morrison Hotel Gallery’s New York City location.

This online exhibition explores the enduring, collaborative masterworks of two prolific artists spanning more than thirty years. From Rock’s renowned imagery of a bombastic Bowie to rarely seen moments of unmasked intimacy, “Sound & Vision” offers a captivating and comprehensive look into the proliferation of a beloved icon and the fundamental role photography plays in capturing the staying power of thin air.

Rock is often considered “The Man Who Shot The 1970s,” and the iconic lensmen had privileged access to Bowie. Rock met Bowie in 1972 and became his official photographer for a time, shooting some of the most defining images of Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust finery. Rock also produced and directed the music videos for Bowie’s “Space Oddity”, “Jean Genie” and “John, I’m Only Dancing”. Rock passed away on November 18, 2021, and this retrospective will unveil rare pictures and feature renowned works from the legendary British photographer’s archive.

Bowie died on January 10, 2016, two days after his 69th birthday. The British singer, songwriter, actor and fashion icon reportedly passed away from liver cancer, after suffering from a handful heart attacks in the last few years of his life.

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