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DON DOKKEN: ‘This Could Really Be A Disastrous Year For America’
Just a few days before DOKKEN played two “socially distanced” concerts last weekend in Virginia and Arkansas, Don Dokken spoke to Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio about how he is dealing with the coronavirus crisis and what the touring circuit might look like post-pandemic. He said (hear audio below): “This was gonna be one of our biggest years of touring. We were gonna be on tour from February through October — like, 30 or 40 shows — and COVID came, and it’s all over. It affected us financially, obviously, and it affected us being locked in the house. But we are doing two shows this week — we’re playing Virginia and Arkansas. We’re doing two outdoor shows, and so we’ll see how it goes. They’re gonna do social distancing, and they’re ch...
Let There Be Nothing – JUDICATOR
RATING: 8.5/10 There was a time, not so long ago, when the U.S. trad and power metal scenes seemed terminally unable to compete with their European counterparts. Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves shortly before the shaming revelation that JUDICATOR are poised to release their fifth studio album. Doubtless there are plenty of diehards in America and elsewhere who knew all about this band long ago. It’s probably just me. I’m hanging my head in shame as I write this. The good news, of course, is that “Let There Be Nothing” is an absolutely staggering feat of epic power metal extravagance. If the band’s previous records are even half as good as this, my shame will be complete, but my music collection will be enhanced. You take the rough with the smoo...
Nobunny Admits He Took “Advantage of Young Women,” Retires from Music
Garage rocker Nobunny, a regular staple at Burger Records events, has issued a statement in which he admits to sexual misconduct involving underage women and states he is retiring from music. Justin Champlin, the artist who performs under the moniker Nobunny, released his statement earlier Thursday. In it, he says that he has not been publicly “called out” but wants to take responsibility for his previous actions. However, a post on @lured_by_burger_records — the Instagram account that detailed dozens of allegations against Burger Records’ bands, ultimately resulting in the label shutting down for good — claims that Nobunny engaged in online sexual activity with a 14-year-old despite knowing how old she was. Champlain’s statement begins by acknowledging and taking ownership of his pas...
Heavy Culture: Rock Musicians on What It Means to Be Black in America in 2020
Clockwise from Upper Left: Vincent Price, WIlliam DuVall, Cammie Gilbert, AJ Channer, Skin, Rasheed Thomas Heavy Culture is a monthly column from journalist Liz Ramanand, focusing on artists of different cultural backgrounds in heavy music as they offer their perspectives on race, society, and more as it intersects with and affects their music. The latest installment of this column features multiple rock and metal musicians recounting their early experiences of racism. The death of George Floyd while in police custody earlier this year has had a profound impact on the nation and the world. In recent months, people from all walks of life have joined together to protest injustice that Black Americans have been facing for ages. In last month’s installment of “Heavy Culture”, several musicians...
Disney Postpones Next Star Wars Trilogy, Avatar Sequels
As theaters have again pushed their planned opening dates in light of the surging pandemic, Disney has announced a massive shakeup of its upcoming release schedule. The biggest news is that the next Star Wars trilogy and the long-awaited Avatar sequels have all been shoved back, as Variety reports. Disney still plans to stick with a Christmas-timed release pattern for Star Wars . The first in the unspecified trio of new movies set in a galaxy far, far away will now debut on December 22nd, 2023, instead of 2022 as originally planned. Each follow-up has also been pushed a year, with the second coming December 19th, 2025 and the third hitting December 17th 2027. It’s still unclear if these films are connected to the movies rumored to be in the works from Rian Joh...
Opening Scene, New Trailer for The New Mutants Revealed During Comic-Con@Home: Watch
The New Mutants is still targeting an August 28th release, though as a summer blockbuster season looks increasingly unlikely, fans shouldn’t be surprised if there’s yet another delay. Disney/20th Century must have figured fans have waited long enough for a good glimpse at the X-Men horror film, however, as they revealed a whole bunch of new footage during the New Mutants Comic-Con@Home panel — including the opening scene and a power-packed trailer. Moderated by Ira Madison III, the panel virtually brought together writer/director Josh Boone and stars Blu Hunt (Danielle Moonstar/Mirage), Maisie Williams (Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane), Anya Taylor-Joy (Illyana Rasputin/Magik), Charlie Heaton (Sam Guthrie/Cannonball), Henry Zaga (Robert da Costa/Sunspot), and Alice Braga (Dr. Cecil...
Mau y Ricky Say Their Latin Remix of John Legend’s ‘Bigger Love’ Was a ‘Pinch Me Moment’
John Legend‘s “Bigger Love” is getting bigger with a Latin remix featuring Mau y Ricky that will drop Friday (July 24). Ahead of its highly-anticipated release, Billboard spoke to Legend, Mau and Ricky about the joining of forces for this feel-good pop track that celebrates love and resilience. It also becomes the brothers’ first English-language collaboration. “I don’t know if we’re the best for the job but we for sure will be the quickest and the most efficient and the most hungry and excited for it,” Mau tells Billboard. “We’re just so grateful because to be honest, John is one of the artist that we admire the most so this is crazy and we still can’t believe it.” The making of the remix took no more than a mont...
Animated Audra McDonald Sings Hilarious Tune Written by Fiona Apple for ‘Central Park’
Fiona Apple has contributed her iconic lyricism to the upcoming season finale of Apple TV+’s musical cartoon, Central Park. The song, “New York Doesn’t Like Your Face,” will be sung by the episode’s guest star Audra McDonald in an attempt trying to convince Bitsy, played by Stanley Tucci, that she needs a face-lift. “Bitsy, it’s the only way to cultivate the clout,” McDonald sings in a snippet shared today. “Haven’t you ever wondered, dear, why all your staff carry cans of mace? / New York doesn’t like your face!” Watch below, and catch the whole episode on July 24. [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. ...
DJ Khaled Dishes About Preparing ‘Knockout’ Hits for Drake, Teases Megan Thee Stallion Collab
DJ Khaled FaceTimed Apple Music’s Zane Lowe for an interview while jet skiing and wearing his signature “We The Best” face mask because why not? But the 44-year-old megaproducer wouldn’t describe their conversation as an interview, per se. “This is definitely the first interview I ever did, or I would call this a celebration, on a FaceTime, on a jet ski…. Yes, yes we are definitely celebrating!” He’s currently preparing for the release of his 12th album Khaled Khaled, an eponymous autobiographical body of work as his real name is Khaled Mohamed Khaled. In typical DJ Khaled fashion, he didn’t just pack one major key, but two majors keys when he dropped a couplet of Drake-assisted singles “POPSTAR” and...
Nobunny Quits Music After Admitting to ‘Taking Advantage of Young Women & Teenage Girls’
Nobunny, the rock musician best known for his onstage attire of a decaying rabbit mask, released a statement on Thursday (July 23) amid sexual misconduct allegations against Burger Records’ bands and staff. “I don’t believe I have been publicly ‘called out’ but it is def long past time for me to say something. I f—ed up bad. I used my power and influence to take advantage of young women and teenage girls,” the singer, born Justin Champlin, wrote via Facebook. “I have hurt people. I let my ‘fame’ go to my head. Young money acting dummy. My time is up.” “I am truly sorry to anyone who was hurt by me. Nobunny was supposed to be about love and silliness and it got dark,” he continued, before noting, “Everything ...
Thundercat Wrote a New ThunderCats Song
It wouldn’t be right if Thundercat didn’t write a song for the new ThunderCats series, right? With all that’s wrong in the world, you can take solace that at least they got something right with this one. At a virtual Comic-Con panel that took place today (July 23), not only was the bassist known as Stephen Bruner enlisted to write a track for ThunderCats Roar, but he’ll also be appearing in the series as Grune The Destroyer, a villain that appeared in the original series from the 1980s. In typical Thundercat fashion, his tweet on the matter summed it up nicely. Thundercat’s “Dragonball Durag” made our list of the 50 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far). Listen to Thundercat’s theme song for the upcoming Cartoon Network show below: [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Eve...
Nobunny, Culture Abuse Dissolve Following Sexual Misconduct Accusations
Following the mass sexual misconduct accusations that surfaced last week, Burger Records ceased operations. Over the weekend, an Instagram account, Lured_By_Burger_Records, outlined dozens of accusations levied at the California label. The fallout from that continues to grow, and not just from Burger artists. On Thursday, Justin Champlin, who records under the name Nobunny, announced the end of the project. In a lengthy Facebook post, Champlin wrote, “I fucked up bad. I used my power and influence to take advantage of young women and teenage girls. I have hurt people. I let my ‘fame’ go to my head. Young money acting dummy. My time is up.” You can read his full statement here. Also on Thursday, Culture Abuse singer David Kelling posted a lengthy Instagram statement...
