Heavy Music News
Gene Simmons Tests Positive for COVID-19, Forcing KISS to Postpone More Tour Dates
Just days after his KISS bandmate Paul Stanley tested positive for COVID-19, Gene Simmons has contracted the virus, as well. The band announced today (August 31st) that the singer-bassist is experiencing mild symptoms and that at least four additional shows on their current farewell tour will be postponed. Simmons’ positive test comes just as Stanley reported that he was feeling much better, tweeting last night, “My COVID symptoms were MILD compared to many others and let me tell you… It kicked my ass. It’s over now.” When announcing Stanley’s positive test result last week, KISS had revealed that all band members and crew were vaccinated, but now both Stanley and Simmons have experienced breakthrough cases. The new statement reads as follows: “KISS will postpone their next four tour dates...
Dave Grohl’s Former Band Scream Launch Kickstarter for New Album
Dave Grohl’s former band Scream have announced a Kickstarter campaign for a new album, titled DC Special. It marks their sixth album to date, but first since 1993. The Washington, DC hardcore vets are returning to the city’s famed Inner Ear Studio to record the album. The studio was the epicenter of the DC hardcore sound, with bands such as Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Fugazi recording albums there over the years. Sadly, the studio is set to close at the end of September. But Scream will rip out one last LP with founder Don Zientara behind the boards. The band is asking for help from fans to fund the project, and they’re offering some incentives depending on the size of your donation: a Les Paul from the recording, a fishing trip with drummer Kent Stax, an in-studio hang with the band, an...
Rammstein’s Till Lindemann Questioned by Russian Police Prior to Festival Cancellation
Rammstein singer Till Lindemann was questioned by Russian police prior to the cancellation of a music festival in the city of Tver. Lindemann was booked to play the festival, which reportedly would have violated COVID-19 protocols. Exaggerated reports circulated this weekend claiming that Lindemann had been arrested by police. Rather, police only visited the Rammstein singer’s hotel on Saturday night. According to German newspaper Bild (via DW), the purpose of the meeting was to make sure Lindemann complied with COVID regulations while performing in Tver. Ultimately, the event was canceled outright. However, Lindemann’s manager, Anar Reiband, does face charges after allegedly violating Russia’s migration laws. When initially entering the country, Reiband apparently claimed the purpose...
Beyond the Boys’ Club: Willow Smith on Embracing Rock, Her Mother’s Influence, and Opening for Billie Eilish
Beyond the Boys’ Club is a monthly column from journalist and radio host Anne Erickson, focusing on women in the heavy music genres, as they offer their perspectives on the music industry and discuss their personal experiences. Erickson is also a music artist herself, recently releasing the song “Eternal Way” with Upon Wings. This month’s piece features an interview with Willow Smith. Many music acts take an entire career to churn out four studio albums, but Willow Smith has already achieved that feat at the age of 20. If you count her collaborative LP (The Anxiety) with Tyler Cole, then it’s five albums, plus a handful of EPs. Willow recently released a rock-inspired new album Lately I Feel Everything, featuring a raw, alternative vibe with heavy guitars, punky rhythms and powerful vocals...
Korn’s Jonathan Davis “Struggling with COVID After-Effects,” Sits on Throne While Performing
Korn singer Jonathan Davis is still “struggling with COVID after-effects,” according to guitarist Brian “Head” Welch. Davis recently performed with the aid of a throne to sit in during a concert this past Friday (August 27th) in Tinley Park, Illinois. It marked Korn’s return to the road after Davis revealed his positive COVID test on August 16th, resulting in the postponement of six shows and the cancellation of two concerts on the band’s current US tour. The metal vocalist is clearly still feeling the effects of the virus, which can cause longterm, lingering physical and mental issues long after an individual tests negative. Fan footage from Friday’s Illinois show and Saturday’s Noblesville, Indiana, concert sees Davis sitting on a shiny throne, which is just as decadent as his H.R. ...
R.I.P. Ron Bushy, Iron Butterfly (“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”) Drummer Dies at 79
Ron Bushy, the longtime drummer for pioneering hard-rock act Iron Butterfly, has died at age 79. According to the band, he passed away early Sunday morning (August 29th) surrounded by family at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. TMZ reports that he had been battling cancer. Best known for his epic drum solo on the band’s signature song, the 17-minute “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” Bushy joined the San Diego band in 1966. He had still been considered a member of the group up until his passing, but he had retired from regular performing in recent years due to his health. However, he did make the occasional guest appearance at select concerts. Bushy was the only member of Iron Butterfly to appear on all six of the band’s studio albums, which were all released between the years of 1968 through 1975. The acid-...
Turnstile Unleash New Album Glow On: Stream
Turnstile have uncorked their hotly anticipated third album, Glow On. Stream it below via Apple Music and Spotify. Glow On is the follow-up to 2018’s Time & Space, and comes in the wake of the surprise June EP Turnstile Love Connection. The album features a collaboration with Blood Orange, “Alien Love Call,” as well as the singles “Blackout” and “Mystery.” It was co-produced by vocalist Brendan Yates with Mike Elizondo, and finds the Baltimore hardcore band continuing to expand their sound. There’s plenty of heavy thunder to keep the mosh pit roiling, but the band have also borrowed from emo, shoegaze, and alternative palettes to create something stunningly original. In his review for Consequence, our own Spencer Kaufman wrote, “Turnst...
Jason Newsted: “I Was F**king Livid” After Hearing Metallica’s …And Justice for All for the First Time
Jason Newsted has admitted that he was “livid” after he first heard Metallica‘s 1988 album, …And Justice for All, which famously had much of the bass removed during mixing. “I was f**king livid!” Newsted told The Metal Hammer Podcast in a new interview. “Are you kidding me? I was ready [to go] for throats, man!” He continued, taking a more serious tone: “No, I was out of my head, because I really thought I did well. And I thought I played how I was supposed to play.” Advertisement Related Video The phantom bass on Justice has become the most controversial mixing decision in the history of metal. The official mixing credits belong to Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, but Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield were heavily involved in the process. Some suggest Newsted’s parts wer...
Paul Stanley Tests Positive for COVID-19, At Least One KISS Show Postponed
KISS have announced that singer-guitarist Paul Stanley has tested positive for COVID-19. The band has postponed its concert tonight (August 26th) in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and it is likely more dates will be affected, as well. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act revealed the news just moments before the concert at the The Pavilion at Star Lake was set to begin. The statement made it clear that Stanley and his bandmates have been vaccinated: “Tonight’s KISS show at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA is unfortunately postponed due to Paul Stanley testing positive for COVID. More information about show dates will be made available ASAP. Everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew, are fully vaccinated. The band and their crew have operated in a bubble independently to saf...
Limp Bizkit Cancel All 2021 Festival Performances, Promise New Songs in “Rapid Succession”
Limp Bizkit have canceled all of their remaining 2021 festival appearances after previously scrapping their summer headlining tour. The band has also revealed that more new music is on the way. When BIzkit nixed their summer outing after just a few dates, frontman Fred Durst didn’t get into specifics, but implied to Billboard that the tour cancellation was based on safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. As cases surge, live music is once again grappling with solutions to curb the virus, as venues and festivals institute vaccine requirements and/or proof of a negative COVID test. Limp Bizkit aren’t taking any chances, foregoing all upcoming performances, including scheduled appearances at the festivals Aftershock, Blue Ridge, Rebel Rock, and Rocklahoma. The band posted the followin...
Dark Mark vs. Skeleton Joe (Mark Lanegan & Joe Cardamone) Announce Debut Album, Share “No Justice”: Stream
Mark Lanegan and The Icarus Line‘s Joe Cardamone have announced the eponymous debut album for their recording project Dark Mark vs. Skeleton Joe. They’ve also shared the song “No Justice” ahead of the LP’s October 15th release date. The song presents a pulsing electronic sound paired with Lanegan’s imitably deep vocal delivery. Minimal dancefloor beats and synthesizers percolate beneath the grunge veteran’s mix of spoken word and singing. Dark Mark lives up to his moniker during the chorus: “Ain’t no justice here, ain’t no justice there / Nobody sees, nobody cares.” According to the album’s press announcement, the project was born out of Lanegan and Cardamone’s mutual respect for one another as artists. They also needed a creative outlet where they could go outside their typical genres and...
In Photos: Psycho Las Vegas 2021 Brings Doom, Sludge, and Metal Merriment to Sin City
After canceling last year’s event due to the pandemic, and a plethora of last-minute lineup changes due to travel restrictions, Psycho Las Vegas seemingly pulled an ace from their sleeve. The festival returned this past weekend for a reworked and revamped 2021 edition that still rivaled any of their previous years. The festivities kicked off on Thursday (August 19th) with the annual Psycho Swim party, despite the cancellation of The Skull (sadly, singer Eric Wagner just passed away from COVID pneumonia). Old Man Gloom, Bongzilla, and Blackwater Holylight had all those who arrived to the festival early in the pool, beers in hand. The festival got off to its official start on Friday, with Twin Temple on the main stage at 1 p.m. COVID protocols were in place throughout the resort, and everyon...
