Rock & Metal News

Founding BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has shared a new original poem called "Feeding Frenzy". Check it out below. Ward has released a number of poems in recent months, some inspired by the coronavirus pandemic and others celebrating the fall–winter holiday season, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bill was on board for the SABBATH reunion when it was first announced more than nine years ago, but backed out soon after. The drummer later claimed that he sat out the recording and touring sessions because of unfair contractual terms, although the members of SABBATH have hinted in other interviews that he wasn't physically up to the task. All four original members of SABBATH were present when the band announced its reunion in late 2011. But Ward split from the group in 2012, citing an "unsignable" contract, and singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler carried on with their Rick Rubin–produced "13" LP and extensive international touring without him. Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio during SABBATH's last tour that Ward was not in shape to participate. "Bill Ward has got the most physically demanding job of the lot of us, 'cause he's the timekeeper," he said. "I don't think personally he had the chops to pull it off, you know. The saddest thing is that he needed to own up to that, and we could have worked around it, whether we had a drummer on the side with him or something." It was rumored that SABBATH wanted to bring a second drummer on the road to share duties with Ward, something that Iommi confirmed in 2017 during a question-and-answer session about SABBATH's "Ten Year War" box set. In 2015, Ward released his first solo album in 18 years. Titled "Accountable Beasts", the record can be purchased on iTunes. In November 2017, Ward's band DAY OF ERRORS released its first two songs, "Day Of Errors" and "Blaspheming At Creation", via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3 and Google Play. Two more tracks, "Dark" and "Ghost Train", followed in 2019. This past March, Ward revealed that he was working on an autobiography.

An Alex Van Halen-owned drum kit, which he used during VAN HALEN's 1980 "Invasion" tour, sold for $230,400 at an auction held this past weekend by Julien's Auctions. Alex's custom-designed Ludwig drum kit, stage-played on over 100 shows, made history once again as the first and only drum kit of the rock icon ever to come to the auction. "This kit from the 1980 VAN HALEN 'Invasion' world tour spent five years on display at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland," said Alex Van Halen. "It's the only one like it in the world and I'm happy that 100% of the selling price will be going to charity via the Frangioni Foundation and Mr. Holland's Opus." The white Ludwig kit, which was used on more than 100 shows during the tour in support of VAN HALEN's "Women And Children First" album, was previously displayed at Cleveland, Ohio's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum starting around a decade ago. Alex used the drum kit not only as a percussion instrument, but also as a visual art form. Working with various drum manufacturers, Alex custom-designed enormous and elaborate drum kits that reflected the group's musical sensibility and provided Alex the platform to shine. The kit features two custom articulated bass drums, each more than five feet long, in addition to an impressive array of floor toms, tom-toms, a gong and myriad cymbals. Alex and his brother Eddie Van Halen formed a band called MAMMOTH in Pasadena, California in 1972, then renamed it VAN HALEN when singer David Lee Roth joined the group and, later, bassist Michael Anthony. VAN HALEN was one of the biggest rock bands in the country in the 1980s, with hits like "Runnin' With The Devil", "Dance The Night Away", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama" and "Jump". The group, which later featured Sammy Hagar on vocals, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007. The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena after emigrating to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1962.

A collection of five Charvel Art Series guitars that had been stage-played and signed by the late guitar icon Eddie Van Halen sold for $210,225 at an auction held this past weekend by Julien's Auctions. Two black-and-yellow Bumblebee-inspired models sold for $38,400 and $41,600, a red-and white-Frankenstein Mark II-styled six-string sold for $40,625, a reverse-colorway Charvel sold for $38,400, and a black-and-silver striped EVH-signed Art Series guitar sold for $51,200. On the last of the late legendary rock guitarist's Charvel legendary EVH guitars he played on stage, the Stealth black body with a silver hand-striped design by Van Halen, possibly in tribute to his EVH Wolfgang guitar, is applied with four white "Van Halen / 2012" guitar picks attached to a strip of adhesive tape, and is signed and inscribed "Kansas City / MO / 5.22.12 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen / 2012," with an additional note "Last one!!" indicating that this was his last Charvel stage-played EVH guitar. The lot came with a photograph of Eddie Van Halen playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at Kansas City Sprint Center, on May 22, 2012. Other Eddie Van Halen Charvel EVH Art Series electric guitars included: a red guitar with a unique black and white hand-striped design by Van Halen that pays homage to his legendary "Frankenstein" Mark II guitar — and is uniquely numbered "5150" — the name of EVH's recording studio (and also the date that he played this guitar), signed and inscribed by EVH in silver sharpie: "Baltimore, MD / 5.15.08 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen '08" that comes with a DVD featuring footage from the show of Van Halen playing this guitar live on stage at First Mariner Arena, Baltimore, Maryland on May 15, 2008, and a Van Halen 2007-08 tote bag; a black guitar with a unique, yellow hand-striped design by Van Halen in tribute to his "Bumblebee" guitar, signed and inscribed in silver sharpie: "8.7.04 / Las Vegas NV / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen / 04" that comes with a black custom EVH tour flight case (not the standard hard case that typically accompanies these guitars,) a photograph of EVH playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada on August 7, 2004, a certificate of authenticity signed by Van Halen, two "VH" guitar picks, a ticket from the show, a corresponding backstage pass, and a Mandalay Bay hotel room key card; a yellow guitar with a unique, black hand-striped design by Van Halen in tribute to his "Bumblebee" guitar, signed and inscribed in black sharpie: "Des Moines IA. / 2.6.08 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen 2008" that comes with a black custom EVH hard case, a photograph of Eddie playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa on February 6, 2008, and a certificate of authenticity signed by Van Halen and a black body with a unique, yellow hand-striped design by Van Halen in tribute to his "Bumblebee" guitar with the words: "Las Vegas" partly visible under the bridge, signed and inscribed in silver sharpie: "Las Vegas NV. / 12.30.07 / Eddie Van Halen / Van Halen 2007," which comes with a black custom EVH hard case, a photograph of EVH playing the guitar live on stage with VAN HALEN at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas on December 30, 2007 (the last date of the first leg of VAN HALEN's 2007/08 tour), and a certificate of authenticity signed by Van Halen. Last December, Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang criticized an auction of three of his late father's guitars. The instruments were sold for a total of $422,050 through Julien's Auctions as part of a larger music memorabilia event called "Icons & Idols". The 30-year-old said the sellers were "taking advantage of my father's passing", and he had "nothing to do with" the sale. "I don't EVER plan on selling any of my father's iconic guitars," he said. In the early 1970s, Eddie and his older brother, drummer Alex Van Halen, founded their namesake group and soon after with bassist Michael Anthony and singer David Lee Roth, conquered the world and entered into the pantheon of rock as of one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. VAN HALEN dominated the music charts, MTV and sold out arenas around the world, thrilling audiences with their high-flying, energetic live shows throughout the '80s and into the '90s with classic hits "Runnin' With The Devil", "Unchained", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama", "Jump" and more. Eddie passed away in October at the age of 65. His death was announced by his son Wolfgang. VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

Veteran Arizona thrashers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM will embark on a U.S. tour this summer. The "Brace For Impact Summer Tour 2021" will kick off on August 17 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and conclude on August 28 in Mesa, Arizona. Tour dates: Aug. 17 - Albuquerque, NM - Lauchpad Aug. 18 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street Collective Aug. 19 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live Aug. 20 - Dallas, TX - Trees Aug. 21 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse Bar & Grill Aug. 22 - Denver, CO - Herman's Hideaway Aug. 23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Liquid Joe's Aug. 25 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge Aug. 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Whisky-A-Go-Go Aug. 27 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick Aug. 28 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theater FLOTSAM AND JETSAM released its 14th album, "Blood In The Water", on June 4 via AFM Records. It's been 35 years since FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, formed in Phoenix, Arizona, released its landmark debut, "Doomsday For The Deceiver", the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang! Bassist Jason Newsted would jump ship to METALLICA while the band released "No Place for Disgrace" in 1988. "Cuatro" (1992), "Drift" (1995), "High" (1997) and "My God" (2001) all still rank extremely high in heavy metal circles. But it was the first part of this unofficial trilogy in 2016's self-titled "Flotsam And Jetsam", followed by the the crushing 2019 successor "The End Of Chaos" that a certain rejuvenation and reset was clearly felt. Fast forward to a planet that was forced to its knees: While spending most of the past year in a holding pattern like the rest of the world, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM made the best of a struggling situation and just let those creative juices and angst flow. What emerged was 12 brand new blistering tracks under the moniker "Blood In The Water". "We really had a hell of a time figuring out which songs to actually include in this album, because we don't feel we had any fillers," says guitarist Steve Conley about the new songs, which clock in at nearly 55 minutes of thrashing glory. Vocalist Eric "A.K." Knutson adds: "We've seen our fan base increasing, and we've seen the response to the last two albums getting louder and louder. We have some of the most committed and crazy fans in the world. We charted higher on our last album than at any point in our career. Maybe our career path will run similar to MOTÖRHEAD's, who, although was always considered iconic, didn't really break through in a big way until later in their career. We feel our time is now... We're like that dog that's been kicked...we're ready to break the door down and take what's ours." And the FLOTSAM lineup has never been stronger. A.K. keeps bringing the magic every album and tour, and oddly seems to be getting better and better as time goes on. He's backed by the incredibly talented, exceptionally brilliant guitar duo of co-founder Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, the powerful, precise and lightning-fast engine of drummer Ken Mary (whose Hall Of Fame resume includes over five million albums sold with artists such as ALICE COOPER, HOUSE OF LORDS and ACCEPT), and the "fresh blood" and extraordinary technical skills and prowess of bassist Bill Bodily. "Blood In The Water" was once again mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (U.D.O., VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, POWERWOLF) and sees FLOTSAM AND JETSAM exploding with creativity, moving forward but nodding to their past. "Following up 'The End of Chaos' was no easy task," Gilbert said. "We weren't really sure what we had left in the tank, as we put so much work, sweat, and blood into that album. As it turns out, we had plenty left to say. With everything that's happened in the world, the friends we lost this last year, and not being able to perform or tour… you hear all of that in our music. It's angry, it's aggressive, and our emotions pour out all over this album." FLOTSAM AND JETSAM is: Eric "A.K." Knutson - Vocals Steve Conley - Guitar Michael Gilbert - Guitar Bill Bodily - Bass Ken K Mary - Drums

WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale, who turned 69 last September, has confirmed that he plans to retire from touring after the band's next batch of concerts around the world. Coverdale discussed his plans to stop performing with WHITESNAKE while accepting the inaugural "Rocks Honours" award as part of The Rocks 2021 awards ceremony on Friday (June 11). Speaking to Planet Rock's Wyatt about his five-decade-plus career, which included a stint with legendary British hard rockers DEEP PURPLE, Coverdale said: "I've been very passionate about what I do. I try not to let my audience down. We've got a really loyal hardcore fanbase around the world. "Last year, we were supposed to do what was gonna be my farewell tour, and it was sold out; it was amazing. Of course, everything was canceled due to COVID. So, God willing, I'll be able to do it hopefully next year. I'm gonna show my appreciation and gratitude for the support that I've had, 'cause you can't do it without an audience supporting you — it's that simple. And they know — the hardcore [fans] who follow me know — I do my best, the best I can do at that time. And that's been my work philosophy for as long as I can remember." After Wyatt brought up other bands who previously announced "farewell" tours, only to change their minds, David replied: "Mine's gonna be the farewell tour 'cause I'm knocking on 70. Are you kidding?! It's hard enough now to get into my jeans." Although Coverdale will no longer perform with WHITESNAKE, he is still planning on writing and recording fresh material once he has retired from the road. "I'll be still involved in music," he said. "We've got a relatively long-term deal with Warners. We have a poopload of projects to do under the WHITESNAKE banner. It's just the touring. It's not the performing so much that is exhausting, it's the touring, and I can't tour any more comfortably than I do. So I spoke to my agent and said, 'I wanna do this [farewell tour] more than anything. It's after 50 years of incredible support for me.' Not to be able to say thank you to the U.K., not to be able to say thank you to Germany, to Japan, Brazil, it would be heartbreaking. "I'm getting up there for this kind of stuff, and so it's gonna have to be an easier tour schedule for me to be able to handle and recharge the batteries so I'm not hobbling around or doing wheelies in a chair," he explained. "I play guitar every day. The moment I start playing, I come up with ideas for songs. It's impossible for me not to [play music]. It's like my hobby. It's something that I'm supposed to do; otherwise, I think I wouldn't receive all these amazing ideas for melodies and naughty lyrics, including 'Slide It In', darling." Early last year, WHITESNAKE was forced to cancel its U.S. tour with SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE and NIGHT RANGER so that Coverdale could undergo surgery for bilateral inguinal hernia. Eventually, all of the shows were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Coverdale had both his knees replaced with titanium in 2017 after suffering from degenerative arthritis. He later explained that he was in so much pain with arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to perform live. WHITESNAKE had been touring in support of its latest album, "Flesh & Blood", which was released in May 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

A Kurt Cobain self-portrait caricature drawing has sold for over a quarter-million dollars at an auction. The drawing done in black felt pen on TNT Music Centre in Singapore stationery by the charismatic frontman of the group NIRVANA depicts himself playing the guitar and is signed "Kurdt Kobain Rock Star" and handwritten on the right, "I don't know how to play and I don't give a hoot!" Cobain gifted the drawing to Jacque Chong, a freelance photographer who worked with Cobain during NIRVANA's "Nevermind" album promotional tour in Singapore in 1992. The original estimate of the drawing, which was sold over the weekend by Julien's Auctions, was between $10,000 and $20,000. However, it ended up fetching $281,250 following 21 bids. Julien's Auctions has broken world records with the sale of Kurt Cobain's memorabilia, including Cobain's cardigan worn on "MTV Unplugged" in New York, which sold for a record $334,000, his "In Utero" tour Fender Mustang guitar which sold for $340,000, his cardigan worn on his last photoshoot which sold for $75,000, a NIRVANA paper plate set list written in Cobain's handwriting which sold for a record $22,400 and the Guinness Book of World Record sale of Cobain's "MTV Unplugged" 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar, which sold for $6 million making it the world's most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. Cobain died in 1994 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound not long after he took a massive dose of heroin — which could have proven fatal on its own. Kurt began using heroin to ease chronic stomach pain he had suffered from his entire life. NIRVANA was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 10, 2014 — just five days after the 20th anniversary of Cobain's death.

DROPKICK MURPHYS and RANCID will hit the road together for the first time since 2017 for the co-headlining "Boston To Berkeley II" tour with special guests THE BRONX on most dates. The U.S. trek — which was originally scheduled for May of 2020 — runs from August 10 to October 16 and will also feature festival appearances by DROPKICK MURPHYS and RANCID at Riot Fest in Chicago on September 18 and Aftershock in Sacramento on October 8. Tickets for the "Boston To Berkeley II" tour go on sale Friday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. local time in most markets. The final band of the night will vary by date, with either DROPKICK MURPHYS or RANCID as the closing act. RANCID's Tim Armstrong said: "Looking forward to hitting the road with the DROPKICK MURPHYS again for the second edition of our 'Boston To Berkeley' tour. Our good buddies THE BRONX will be joining us on tour as well. See ya in the pit!" DROPKICK MURPHYS' Ken Casey said: "Can't wait to get back out there and kick the touring door open again. This is a great lineup and we are gonna take the country by storm." RANCID and DROPKICK MURPHYS have a long and important history together. Back in 1997, RANCID's Lars Frederiksen came across a copy of DROPKICK MURPHYS' original EP at a friend's house. He turned it over to his bandmate and Hellcat Records president Tim Armstrong, who quickly snatched up the band for his new label. Emerging from the blue-collar swamps of Berkeley, California, RANCID has now been a living, breathing punk rock band for over a quarter century. Back in 1991, after the demise of their much-beloved first band, OPERATION IVY, founding members Tim Armstrong (vocals, guitar) and Matt Freeman (bass, vocals) decided to do the impossible — start an even better band. Thus, RANCID. Signing with Epitaph Records, the band released their first album, "Rancid", in 1993. Shortly thereafter, Lars Frederiksen (vocals, guitar) joined the band, because…well, are you going to tell him he can't? The result, in 1994, was "Let's Go". In 1995, RANCID released the classic platinum-selling "...And Out Come The Wolves". They followed with the even more ambitious "Life Won't Wait" in 1998, and in 2000, RANCID released another album titled "Rancid", just to see if anyone was paying attention. After "Indestructible" in 2003, Branden Steineckert (drums) joined to solidify RANCID's current lineup. They subsequently released the albums "Let The Dominos Fall" (2009) and "Honor Is All We Know" (2014). And out now is another immediate classic "Trouble Maker" (2017). DROPKICK MURPHYS proudly remain Boston's rock 'n' roll underdogs turned champions. Since 1996, the boys have created the kind of music that's meant to be chanted at last call, in packed arenas, and during the fourth quarter, third period, or ninth inning of a comeback rally. Their celebrated discography includes four consecutive Billboard top 10 album debuts (2021's "Turn Up That Dial", "11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory", "Signed And Sealed In Blood", "Going Out In Style"), along with 2005's gold-selling "The Warrior's Code" featuring the near-double platinum classic "I'm Shipping Up To Boston". Whether you caught a legendary gig at The Rathskeller (The Rat) under Kenmore Square, found the band by taking the T to Newbury Comics to cop "Do Or Die" in '98, discovered them in Martin Scorsese's Academy Award-winning "The Departed", or saw 'em throw down at Coachella (or one of hundreds of other festivals), you've become a part of their extended family. DROPKICK MURPHYS' music has generated half a billion streams, they've quietly moved eight million-plus units worldwide and the band has sold out gigs on multiple continents. In 2020, the band was one of the first to embrace streaming performances, starting with their "Streaming Up From Boston St. Patrick's Day" virtual performance. It was followed by last year's landmark "Streaming Outta Fenway" livestream, which drew more than 5.9 million viewers and held the No. 3 spot on Pollstar's "Top 2020 Livestreams" chart. DROPKICK MURPHYS' "St. Patrick's Day Stream 2021...Still Locked Down", was No. 1 on Pollstar's Livestream chart for the week ending March 22, 2021, logging over one million views. DROPKICK MURPHYS is: Al Barr (lead vocals), Tim Brennan (guitars, accordion, mellotron, whistles, vocals), Ken Casey (lead vocals, bass guitar), Jeff DaRosa (banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica, acoustic guitars, vocals), Matt Kelly (drums, percussion, vocals), James Lynch (guitar, vocals), Kevin Rheault (touring bassist) and Lee Forshner (touring bagpipe player). "Boston To Berkeley II" tour dates: Aug. 10 - Waite Park, MN @ The Ledge Amphitheater Aug. 11 - Kansas City, MO @ Grinders Aug. 13 - Lincoln, NE @ Lincoln on the Streets Aug. 14 - Wichita, KS @ Wave Aug. 15 - Sauget, IL @ Pop's Outside Aug. 17 - Washington, PA @ Wild Things Park Aug. 18 - Cincinnati, OH @ Smale Park Aug. 20 - Gilford, NH @ Bank of N.H. Pavilion Aug. 21 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium Outdoors Aug. 22 - Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Amphitheater Aug. 23 - Columbus, OH @ Express Live Aug. 25 - Richmond, VA @ Virginia Credit Union Live Aug. 27 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Aug. 28 - New York, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium Aug. 31 - Philadelphia, PA @ Mann Music Center Sep. 01 - Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford H.C. Amphitheater Sep. 18 - Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest * Sep. 24 - Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater + Sep. 25 - Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Civic Center + Sep. 27 - Corpus Christi, TX @ Concrete Street Sep. 28 - Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust Theatre Sep. 29 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Zoo Oct. 01 - Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom Outdoors Oct. 02 - Sandy, UT @ U of U Health Plaza Oct. 04 - Nampa, IN @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater Oct. 05 - Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater Oct. 07 - Palo Alto, CA @ Frost Amphitheater Oct. 08 - Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock * Oct. 09 - Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory OC Festival Grounds Oct. 10 - San Diego, CA @ Petco Park San Diego Oct. 12 - Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre Oct. 13 - Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Oct. 15 - Las Vegas, NV @ Virgin Hotels Theater Oct. 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Shrine * Festival date + without THE BRONX (opener to be announced)

Legendary guitarist Steve Hackett will release his new studio rock album, "Surrender Of Silence", on September 10 via InsideOut Music. Steve has been working hard through lockdown and, for the first time, has completed two studio LPs for release within the same year. Hot on the heels of his classical-acoustic travelogue "Under A Mediterranean Sky", which came out in January and hit No. 2 in the U.K. Classical Albums chart, "Surrender Of Silence" is a further exploration of Hackett's love of world music, discovering different sounds, moods and textures to deliver a rock album of extraordinary variety, power and beauty. As with "Under A Mediterranean Sky", "Surrender Of Silence" was recorded during lockdown and, again, Hackett has called upon some of his musical friends from across the world to contribute. Hackett's regular touring band of Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax, clarinet), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals) and Craig Blundell (drums) are supplemented by Phil Ehart and Nick D'Virgilio (drums), the vocal talents of Amanda Lehmann, Durga and Lorelei McBroom, Christine Townsend (violin, viola), Malik Mansurov (tar) and Sodirkhon Ubaidulloev (dutar). "Lockdown cobwebs are blown away in one fell swoop here!" says Steve. "With the monster rhythm section of Jonas, Craig, Nick and Phil, along with Rob's soaring sax and bass clarinet, Nad, Amanda and myself on vocals, Roger's darkly powerful organ and my guitar, we plunge full-pelt into that wild release of energy." Our journey takes us from the classical orchestrations of Russia ("Natalia") to the plains of Africa ("Wingbeats") to mysterious Eastern shores ("Shanghai To Samarkand"), all via the ocean's depths ("Relaxation Music For Sharks (Featuring Feeding Frenzy)"). "The Devil's Cathedral" pools the talents of Hackett's entire touring band and features King's atmospheric gothic organ and a powerhouse rhythm display from Blundell and Reingold. Hackett's vocals have never been bettered and his duet with Amanda Lehmann adds emotion to "Scorched Earth", a lament for the environmental horrors facing our planet. Throughout, Hackett's guitars add a rich tapestry of color with soaring solos and intricate weaving melodies. "It's a 'no-holds-barred' album," adds Hackett, "riding that wave, unleashing those demons, dreams and nightmares, all crashing together over the shore. "I enjoyed the power of this album allowing my guitar to scream in joy and rage… and once again flying across those oceans to distant lands. It's terrific to connect creatively with musicians from far flung places, particularly when we've all been unable to meet. We all have a voice in our cacophony of sound and we cry out together in the 'Surrender Of Silence'!" "Surrender Of Silence" track listing: 01. The Obliterati (02:17) 02. Natalia (06:17) 03. Relaxation Music For Sharks (Featuring Feeding Frenzy) (04:36) 04. Wingbeats (05:20) 05. The Devil's Cathedral (06:31) 06. Held In The Shadows (06:20) 07. Shanghai To Samarkand (08:27) 08. Fox's Tango (04:21) 09. Day Of The Dead (06:25) 10. Scorched Earth (06:03) 11. Esperanza (01:04) Hackett shares writing credits with both Jo Hackett and Roger King on several tracks. All tracks were recorded by Roger King and produced by Steve Hackett with Roger King at Siren. Hackett joined GENESIS at the beginning of 1971 and gained an international reputation as the guitarist in the band's classic lineup alongside Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. Hackett's intricate guitar work was a key element of GENESIS's albums from "Nursery Cryme" (1971) to "Wind And Wuthering" (1977), including the classic "Selling England By The Pound". After leaving GENESIS at the end of 1977, Hackett's solo career, which now spans more than 30 albums, has demonstrated his extraordinary versatility with both electric and acoustic guitar. Hackett is renowned as both an immensely talented and innovative rock musician and a virtuoso classical guitarist and composer and this was recognized in 2010 when he was inducted into the Rock And Rock Hall Of Fame. He has also worked alongside Steve Howe of YES in the supergroup GTR. Hackett's compositions take influences from many genres, including jazz, classical and blues. For his later studio works "The Night Siren" (2017) and "At The Edge Of Light" (2019), Hackett has explored the influences of world music. Recent tours have seen Hackett celebrate his time with GENESIS, including a spectacular 2018 tour in which he realized a long-held ambition to perform the works of GENESIS live with his band and an orchestra. The lockdown enforced by the 2020 global pandemic has proven to be a particularly creative period for Hackett. He began by releasing "Selling England By The Pound & Spectral Mornings: Live At Hammersmith", a live recording of 2019's hugely successful tour celebrating that GENESIS classic together with the 40th anniversary of one of his most-loved solo albums. Lockdown also gave Hackett the opportunity to write and record two new studio albums, the aforementioned "Under A Mediterranean Sky" and "Surrender Of Silence". Photo credit: Tina Korhonen

KISS has announced the rescheduled dates for the next U.S. leg of the "End Of The Road" tour. The trek kicks off on August 18, 2021 at Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts and concludes on October 9, 2021 at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa date is one of several new shows added to the tour, alongside those in Toledo, Ohio; Irvine, California; Mountain View, California; Wheatland, California; Sparks, Nevada; Hidalgo, Texas; and West Palm Beach, Florida. Tickets for the newly added dates go on sale to the general public beginning this Friday, June 18 at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets for all previously rescheduled dates are on sale now. KISS will be offering VIP experiences and special KISS Army fan presales beginning Tuesday, June 15 at 10 a.m. local. KISS said in a statement: "Time marched on but we couldn't. Now the boots are on and we're hauling an extra year's worth of pyro, lights and spectacle. WE ARE BACK! We're pumped and can't wait to celebrate with our biggest, wildest and hottest show ever!" KISS summer/fall 2021 tour dates: Aug. 18 - Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center Aug. 19 - Bangor, ME @ Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion Aug. 21 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Mark G Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino^ Aug. 22 - Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre Aug. 25 - Toledo, OH @ Huntington Center* Aug. 26 - Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake Aug. 28 - Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Aug. 29 - Atlanta, GA @ Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood Sep. 01 - Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre Sep. 02 - Dayton, OH @ Wright State University Nutter Center Sep. 04 - Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Sep. 05 - Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater - Summerfest Grounds Sep. 09 - Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre* Sep. 10 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre* Sep. 12 - Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre* Sep. 17 - Ridgefield, WA @ Sunlight Supply Amphitheater Sep. 18 - George, WA @ Gorge Amphitheatre Sep. 21 - Boise, ID @ ExtraMile Arena Sep. 22 - West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre Sep. 23 - Sparks, NV @ Nugget Event Center* Sep. 25 - Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre Sep. 26 - Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion Sep. 28 - Hidalgo, TX @ Payne Arena* Sep. 29 - Del Valle, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater Oct. 01 - Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena Oct. 02 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center Oct. 05 - Biloxi, MI @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum Oct. 06 - Lafayette, LA @ Lafayette Cajundome Oct. 08 - West Palm Beach, FL @ iThink Financial Amphitheatre* Oct. 09 - Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre* * New show Paul Stanley recently told Rolling Stone magazine that KISS has every intention of resuming its "End Of The Road" tour once the pandemic has subsided. "Totally," he said. "We were 120 shows into it and having a ball [when the pandemic began]. I mean, most of the time when you lose somebody or the situation changes, you find yourself saying, 'Gee, if I had only known,' whereas here, you have a situation where we've come to the conclusion that we can't continue [as a touring band]. It's not feasible. If we were wearing jeans and T-shirts, we could do this into our eighties or nineties, but we're carrying around 40 and 50 pounds of gear for a couple of hours. There's an age factor, which makes it more real for people who may have doubted the idea of the 'end of the road.'But that in mind, it gives us a night with people where we really get to share what we built together. … So the 'End Of The Road', I don't see it as bittersweet. I see it as sweet. And will there be tears? Sure. But oh, my God, look what we've been given. And from what the fans say, look what we gave them. It's unlike other bands." KISS's farewell trek was launched in January 2019 and was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but is now expected to last well into 2022. Last December, bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons told the 95.5 KLOS radio station that KISS has "a hundred and fifty" shows left in its "End Of The Road" tour, including a stop at "the coldest place on earth." KISS last performed this past New Year's Eve in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The concert broke Guinness world records for highest flame projection in a music concert and for most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert. KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Simmons, alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991). Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Peter Criss (drums) and Ace Frehley (guitar), KISS staged its first "farewell" tour in 2000, the last to feature the group's original lineup. In its 48-year career, KISS has accumulated 23 gold and platinum albums — more than any other U.S. band.

SLIPKNOT's M. Shawn Crahan, also known as Clown, has just released two more solo songs. Like the three previously released tracks, "Brainwash Love - Suction" and "Brainwash Love - Dreaming" bring together ambient elecronic soundscapes that are a far cry from most of SLIPKNOT's musical output. Crahan is not only the co-founder, percussionist, production designer and artistic visionary of SLIPKNOT, one of the world's biggest metal bands, he is a multi-faceted musician (DIRTY LITTLE RABBITS, TO MY SURPRISE, THE BLACK DOTS OF DEATH), a painter and photographer whose work has been exhibited in galleries globally and published in the 2012 book "The Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey", a director and videographer, having directed a string of music videos for music artists, including SLIPKNOT, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE and HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, the 2016 movie adaptation of graphic novel "Officer Downe" and SLIPKNOT's own "Day Of The Gusano" and "Pollution" movies. He also has an extensive body of studio work, having produced albums for MUDVAYNE, DOWNTHESUN, GIZMACHI and 40 BELOW SUMMER and helmed remixes for the likes of BRING ME THE HORIZON, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, SUICIDE SILENCE, MARILYN MANSON, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE and ESCAPE THE FATE, among others. He is also an actor, having starred as the carny "Tamer" in the 2012 movie "The Devil's Carnival", and an entrepreneur, guiding the development and blending of SLIPKNOT's No. 9 whiskey in collaboration with Iowa distillery Cedar Ridge. The multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist has sold more than 30 million records with SLIPKNOT, whose last three albums debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and the U.K. albums chart. SLIPKNOT has spent the last few months working on the follow-up to 2019's "We Are Not Your Kind" album. Last month, SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor told the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3 that he and his bandmates had "a bunch of really cool stuff" for the new disc. "We Are Not Your Kind" came out in August 2019. The disc sold 118,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Furthermore, the album made an impact worldwide with No. 1 debuts in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Japan, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal and Finland, as well as Top 5 debuts in Germany, France, Norway, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and New Zealand. The 2021 incarnation of SLIPKNOT's "Knotfest Roadshow" will take place this fall. Support will come from three Grammy-nominated heavy music luminaries, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEVER 333 and CODE ORANGE. The 28-date run, produced by Live Nation, kicks off following the band's previously announced Knotfest Iowa hometown show in Des Moines on September 25. The "Knotfest Roadshow"'s first official date happens at Tinley Park, Illinois on September 28, with the tour then snaking its way across the U.S., wrapping up in Arizona in early November.