Heavy Music News
Alice Cooper Thinks “Rock ‘n’ Roll Should Be Anti-Political”
Alice Cooper opened up in a new interview about his rather strong distaste for mixing music and politics. “I don’t ever talk politics…I hate politics. I don’t think rock ‘n’ roll and politics belong in the same bed together, but a lot of people think it does — because we have a voice, and we should use our voice. But again, rock ‘n’ roll should be anti-political, I think,” the rock veteran told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “When my parents started talking about politics, I would turn on The [Rolling] Stones as loud as I could. I don’t want to hear politics, and I still feel that way.” The “School’s Out” singer went on to refer to his live shows as “a vacation from CNN,” insisting, “I’m not preaching anything up there, and I’m not knocking anybody…That’s what was funny about it. If you’re in...
Nandi Bushell Honors Neil Peart with Masterful Drum Cover of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer”: Watch
Nandi Bushell continues to amaze us. After conquering Tool’s complex “Forty Six & 2” in December, the 11-year-old prodigy is back with a commanding drum cover of the Rush classic “Tom Sawyer.” Not too many seasoned drummers would dare attempt to match the virtuoso drumming of the late Neil Peart, but the young Nandi once again proves why she is a musical force of nature. With a smile on her face, Nandi doesn’t miss a beat as she plays along to the iconic prog-rock song. “This one is for you Professor Peart,” wrote Nandi in the YouTube description. “I wanted to try a Rush song that would really challenge me. I watched an interview where the Professor said Tom Sawyer ‘remains so difficult to play.’ So I thought I would give it a try. It’s actually really fun to play. I really hope I have...
Nikki Sixx Calls Pearl Jam “One of the Most Boring Bands” Following Eddie Vedder’s Mötley Crüe Diss
Nikki Sixx has fired back at Eddie Vedder after the Pearl Jam singer recently described Mötley Crüe as “vacuous.” The Crüe bassist responded by labeling Pearl Jam “one of the most boring bands in history.” It was roughly 30 years ago when grunge knocked hair metal off the rock pedestal, but now Vedder’s comments have renewed the rivalry. In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, the singer recalled a pre-Pearl Jam job in which he loaded gear at a San Diego venue. “I’d end up being at shows that I wouldn’t have chosen to go to — bands that monopolized late-’80s MTV,” remembered Vedder. “The metal bands that — I’m trying to be nice — I despised. ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ and Mötley Crüe: F**k you. I hated it. I hated how it made the fellas look. I hated how it made the women look. It fel...
Nova Twins Announce New Album Supernova, Unveil Single “K.M.B.”: Stream
Nova Twins, the genre-defying duo out of the UK, have announced their sophomore album, Supernova. In advance of the LP’s June 17th release, the group has unveiled a video for the new single “K.M.B. (Kill My Boyfriend).” Supernova serves as the follow-up to the band’s 2018 debut, Who Are the Girls? Nova Twins have earned critical acclaim since the first album’s release, earning nominations for Best Band in the World and Best Band in the UK at the upcoming NME Awards. Comprised of singer-guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South, Nova Twins offer up a unique sound that combines elements of punk, metal, hip-hop, R&B, and pop. “K.M.B.” showcases the duo’s multi-genre approach, and is accompanied by a dynamic music video. Advertisement Related Video “’K.M.B.’ will stitch-up the hear...
Halestorm Announce New Album Back From the Dead, Unleash “The Steeple”: Stream
Halestorm have announced their fifth studio album, Back From the Dead, which will arrive on May 6th. In advance of the release, the band has unveiled the new single “The Steeple.” The album news comes roughly a half year after frontwoman Lzzy Hale and company unleashed the fiery title track back in August. “The Steeple” picks right up where “Back From the Dead” left off, as Halestorm serve up another hard-rocking track. In addition to Lzzy’s mighty vocals, “The Steeple” features some nifty guitar work from Joe Hottinger and some muscular playing from drummer Arejay Hale and bassist Josh Smith. In the anthemic chorus, Lzzy belts out, “This is my kingdom/ This is my cathedral/ This is my castle/ These are my people/ This is my armor/ This is my anchor/ It’s been a long road/ Outta hell up to...
Korn Release New Album Requiem: Stream
Korn have released their new album Requiem. It’s the 14th studio effort from the pioneering nu-metal band, and the follow-up to 2019’s The Nothing. Recorded during the pandemic, Requiem contains some added emotional weight to the songs, as heard in heavy, melodic singles such as “Start the Healing” and “Forgotten.” The members of Korn have been personally affected by the sinister virus. In the case of singer Jonathan Davis, it was a harrowing battle with COVID that left him struggling to perform once he returned to the stage. Guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer and drummer Ray Luzier also tested positive for COVID-19 during the band’s 2021 tour. Advertisement Related Video Taking the past two years into account, Korn hosted a Requiem release show from a church last night (February 3rd) in Los ...
Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival 2022 Lineup: Korn, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence, and More
The lineup for the 2022 Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival has been revealed, with the three-day fest set to take place over the weekend of July 15th in Mansfield, Ohio. Korn, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, and Evanescence will headline this year’s iteration of Inkcarceration. The fest’s namesake is both a nod to the 30 tattoo shops/artists in attendance and its famous locale: the Ohio State Reformatory — the setting of The Shawshank Redemption. Single-day tickets and three-day passes are now available here. The stacked bill is bolstered by Lamb of God, Code Orange, Black Label Society, Lacuna Coil, Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, Seether, Spiritbox, and more. Advertisement Related Video “We are thrilled to be playing on the historic and hallowed grounds of the Ohio State Reforma...
Marilyn Manson Confirms He’s Contributing to Kanye West’s Upcoming Album Donda 2
Marilyn Manson has confirmed that he is once again collaborating with Kanye West, this time on the rapper’s upcoming album, Donda 2, which is expected to be released later this month. The embattled shock rocker previously appeared on Ye’s 2021 album, Donda, guesting on the track “Jail pt 2.” Reports recently surfaced that Manson was back in the studio with West when producer Digital Nas told Rolling Stone, “Every day I go to the studio, Marilyn is in there working on Donda 2. [Kanye] doesn’t want Marilyn to play rap beats. He wants Marilyn to play what he makes, and then Ye will take parts of that and sample parts of that and use parts of that, like he did [when making the album] Yeezus.” Industrial musician and producer Tim Skold, who’s been a member of Manson’s eponymous band and KM...
Converge and Chelsea Wolfe Announce First-Ever US “Bloodmoon” Shows
Converge and Chelsea Wolfe have announced their first US live dates supporting the collaborative Bloodmoon: I album. The pair of shows are set for Boston and New York City on April 9th and 10th, respectively. Caspian and an as-yet-unannounced act will support the Boston date at Roadrunner, while Caspian and Liturgy will open the NYC show at Brooklyn Steel. Tickets go on sale Friday (February 4th) at noon ET and can be purchase via Ticketmaster. The shows will mark the first time “Converge Bloodmoon” — as the supergroup is being billed — will take the stage together on US soil to perform the new material. In addition to the members of Converge and Wolfe, the cast is rounded out by Stephen Brodsky (of Cave In) and Ben Chisholm (Wolfe’s longtime collaborator). Advertisement Related Video The ...
R.I.P. Jon Zazula, Megaforce Records Founder Who Helped Launch Metallica’s Career Dies at 69
Jon Zazula, the legendary founder of Megaforce Records, has died at age 69. Sadly, his passing comes just one year after the death of his wife, Marsha, who co-founded the iconic metal label with her husband. According to Variety, a rep for Megaforce confirmed that Jon Zazula passed away on Tuesday (February 1st) in Florida, where he was surrounded by his brother, daughters, and granddaughters, as well as a number of friends and associates. Known as “Jonny Z,” Zazula was a major force in the metal world, helping to launch the careers of Metallica, Anthrax, and many other bands. He and Marsha essentially founded Megaforce in order to sign Metallica to their first record deal, releasing the band’s groundbreaking 1983 debut album, Kill ‘Em All. The thrash titans stuck with Megaforce for their ...
Failure Pull Music from Spotify, Citing Business Model and Joe Rogan Controversy
Failure are the latest band to pull their music from Spotify, citing the platform’s business model and the spread of COVID vaccine misinformation. The cult alternative rockers join a growing number of other artists who’ve followed Neil Young’s lead and removed their music from the streaming service. Young and others have objected to Spotify hosting Joe Rogan’s podcast, which has been criticized for proliferating misinformation and falsities about COVID vaccines. Failure released a lengthy statement on Facebook decrying Spotify’s response to the Rogan controversy and the company’s business model in general: “Failure have wrestled with the question of Spotify and whether to have our newest music, which we control, on the platform. Until now, our ambivalence about Spotify has been based on th...
Kirk Hammett: Cliff Burton “Freaked Out” When Rush’s Geddy Lee Came to See Metallica Play a Show
Metallica have often cited the music of Rush as an inspiration for epic songs such as “Master of Puppets” and “Orion.” Late Metallica legend Cliff Burton especially idolized the progressive rock band, particularly fellow bassist Geddy Lee. During a recent Q&A session alongside photographer Ross Halfin and Metallica fanclub magazine editor Steffan Chirazi, guitarist Kirk Hammett reflected on the time when Lee came to see Metallica play. “Geddy Lee showed up at one of our shows on the Ride the Lightning tour,” Hammett told the audience at the San Francisco Elk Lodge as part of the Q&A for Metallica’s 40th anniversary celebration last month. “We played Toronto, and all of a sudden we got a message backstage that Geddy Lee was in the audience. And Cliff Burton just freaked out.” Advert...
