Heavy Music News
The Baby on Nirvana’s Nevermind Album Cover Sues Band for Child Sexual Exploitation
Spencer Elden, who was famously photographed as a baby for Nirvana’s iconic Nevermind album cover, is suing the band for child sexual exploitation. The lawsuit comes just a month shy of the landmark album’s 30th anniversary. One of the most famous album covers of all time, Nevermind depicts a then four-month-old Elden swimming naked underwater as he reaches for a dollar bill. As the story goes, Elden was the son of a friend of album photographer Kurt Weddle. Nirvana’s label, Geffen, initially objected to Elden’s penis being visible, but Kurt Cobain insisted it not be censored. The Nirvana frontman at one point said his only compromise would be a strategically placed sticker that read, “If you’re offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile.” According to TMZ, Elden has now filed a laws...
Wolfgang Van Halen: “I’m Not F**kin’ Playing ‘Panama’ for You Guys”
Wolfgang Van Halen has some choice words for those requesting that his band Mammoth WVH cover Van Halen songs. The son of the late Eddie Van Halen insists that he’s “not f**king playing ‘Panama’ for you guys.” Mammoth WVH are back opening for Guns N’ Roses after missing a few shows due to a member of the group’s touring personnel (not a band member) testing positive for COVID-19. Wolfgang and company have also been playing headlining dates on GN’R’s off days. Inevitably, Mammoth WVH’s first tour has been greeted with some fans who apparently don’t realize that the band plays entirely original music, written and recorded by Wolfgang and culled from the outfit’s self-titled debut album. They’re not a Van Halen tribute act. Advertisement Related Video One user commented on Wolfgang’s Facebook...
Aerosmith to Unveil Previously Unreleased Recordings Under New Deal with Universal Music
Aerosmith have inked a new deal with Universal Music Group, bringing the legendary band’s entire recorded output and personal archives under the umbrella of one label. UMG announced the news today (August 23rd), offering details on the massive licensing deal. Universal is now the home of the band’s complete catalog. The label will also spearhead all future audio-visual projects and merchandising. Perhaps most importantly for fans, the deal gives UMG access to the band’s “Vindaloo Vaults” — the personal archives of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford. They will each help curate their own collections, and the archival material will be used in future releases to offer up previously unreleased music, rare photos, video footage, artwork, journals, setlists, and ...
Corey Taylor on Current COVID Bout: “Had I Not Been Vaccinated I Shudder to Think How Bad It Would Have Been”
Corey Taylor has offered an update on his current battle with COVID-19. The Slipknot singer says it’s “the worst I’ve ever been sick in my life,” adding that he has gotten “over the brink” thanks to being vaccinated. The metal vocalist revealed that he tested positive for COVID on Friday (August 20th), offering apologies for missing the Astronomicon pop-culture convention that took place this past weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In a new video message posted Monday (August 23rd) on his social channels, Taylor offered the latest on his condition, saying the following: “I am out of the woods. I’m still positive, but the fever’s gone, aches are gone. I’m sweating everything out. I’m still congested, but … it shouldn’t be too much longer before I test negative, so that’s great. I wanted to say...
Jerry Cantrell Announces 2022 North American Solo Tour
Jerry Cantrell has announced a 2022 North American solo tour. The Alice in Chains singer-guitarist will be heading out in support of his upcoming solo album, Brighten, arriving October 29th. The outing will be Cantrell’s first full-fledged solo tour since 2004. Most recently, he performed a pair of intimate club shows with an all-star pickup band in Los Angeles in late 2019, prior to the pandemic. The extensive 2022 tour kicks off March 24th at First Avenue in Minneapolis and runs through a May 8th date at the House of Blues in San Diego. Highlight stops include an April 5th appearance at Irving Plaza in New York City and a homecoming show of sorts on May 2nd at the iconic Moore Theater in Seattle. Advertisement Related Video Cantrell was joined by a large cast of friends and collaborators...
Exodus Announce New Album, Unveil Single “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)”: Stream
Exodus have announced their 11th studio album, Persona Non Grata, arriving November 19th. They also shared the video for the lead single “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves).” True to its title, the single packs a wallop. Blazing fast riffs, snarled vocals, and gang-shout choruses make for a potent thrash metal attack. This is classic stuff from the pioneering Bay Area band. “After what seems like an eon, we now have the debut of our first single, ‘The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves),’” remarked guitarist Gary Holt via a press statement. “I’m so jacked up for this and the release of Persona Non Grata! Let’s get the bloodletting started!” Advertisement Related Video Persona Non Grata translates to “an unwelcome person,” and the album “touches on themes of moder...
Ministry Unleash Cover of The Stooges’ “Search and Destroy”: Stream
Ministry have unveiled a cover of The Stooges‘ “Search and Destroy” as the latest single from their upcoming album, Moral Hygiene. Frontman Al Jourgensen and company put an industrial stamp on the proto-punk classic. The track features a guest spot by Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison, and the decision to cover the tune was inspired by a performance at a benefit show in 2019. “We rehearsed it and the song was perfect but the show was running late and by the time we got onstage, I was in half time and singing the lyrics twice as slow,” explained Jourgensen in a press release. “Fortunately Billy and Dave Navarro are professionals and they realized what was going on and sort of covered for me but I felt horrible. Billy thought it actually sounded really good in half-time so he came to me wi...
Corey Taylor Contracts COVID-19: “I Woke Up Today and Tested Positive, and I’m Very, Very Sick”
On the heels of his latest solo tour, Corey Taylor has tested positive for COVID-19. The Slipknot singer is vaccinated, but revealed that he still felt “very, very sick.” Taylor made the announcement in order to let everyone know he would no longer be attending the Astronomicon pop-culture convention this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In a video message posted on the Astronomicon Facebook page, a raspy and congested Taylor spoke from his bed, stating the following: “I wish I had better news. I woke up today and tested positive, and I’m very, very sick. So I’m not gonna be able to make it this weekend. And I am absolutely devastated. I am so sorry. I hope everyone has a good time, and I promise you I will absolutely try to get back there as soon as I can. I should be okay — it [feels like...
David Lee Roth Responds to Gene Simmons’ Insults with 18 Middle Fingers
David Lee Roth has responded to recent insults by KISS‘ Gene Simmons by posting the same image 18 times on Instagram. Simmons recently lamented DLR’s current performance abilities in a new interview with Rolling Stone. While confirming that Roth was no longer providing support on KISS’ farewell tour, the KISS singer-bassist initially praised the Van Halen frontman, but then made disparaging remarks about the singer. “It bears noting that during Dave’s heyday, nobody did what he did,” began Simmons. “He was the ultimate frontman. Not Plant, not Rod Stewart, nobody. He took being a frontman way beyond anything.” He continued, “And then, I don’t know what happened to him… something. And you get modern-day Dave. I prefer to remember Elvis Presley in his prime. Sneering lips, back in Memphis, y...
Deafheaven Release New Album Infinite Granite: Stream
Deafheaven have released their new album, Infinite Granite, which is now available to stream. With their fifth studio album, Deafheaven have shifted away from the atmospheric black metal that influenced past material, embracing the shoegaze side of their sound. Most notably, vocalist George Clarke has adopted a clean-singing style. Despite some initial shock from longtime fans, the band dispelled skepticism with a string of strong singles. There’s no denying Clarke’s new singing style still fits well within Deafheaven’s heavy soundscapes, even if it took some time for listeners to adjust. Advertisement Related Video To achieve the new sound, the band enlisted producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen, best known as Beck’s longtime bassist and for his work with electronic-based pop artists such as M83...
Motörhead Tribute Album to Feature High on Fire, Eyehategod, Philip Anselmo, and More
A Motörhead tribute album, Löve Me Förever: A Tribute To Motörhead, is set to be the first release on Psycho Waxx, a new in-house label from the founders of the Psycho Las Vegas Festival. Better yet, the covers are being recorded by the bands booked for the 2021 iteration of Psycho Las Vegas taking place this weekend. High on Fire, Eyehategod, Exhorder, Stöner, and Mothership are among the 16 acts tapped to record Motörhead songs at National Southestern Recording in downtown Vegas. In addition, an all-star cast has been assembled to tackle the iconic “Ace of Spades”: Philip H. Anselmo (Down, Pantera), Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer), Chuck Garric (Alice Cooper), Sacha Dunable (Intronaut), Nick Oliveri (Stöner, Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss), Dwid Hallion (Integrity), and Zach Wheeler and Tom P...
Iron Maiden Unleash New Song “Stratego”: Stream
Iron Maiden have shared the new song “Stratego,” the second single from the forthcoming album Senjutsu, out September 3rd. “Stratego” is another epic slice of heavy metal from the masters of the craft. Bruce Dickinson’s voice soars above churning riffs and well-placed synths, with the band employing some different tones than the Southern-rock inflected lead single, “The Writing on the Wall”. It’s one of two songs on Senjutsu written by guitarist Janick Gers and founding bassist Steve Harris. It was recorded back in 2019 at Guillaume Tell studios in Paris and was produced by Kevin ‘Caveman’ Shirley & co-produced by Steve Harris, likely during the sessions mentioned by Shirley in late 2019. Advertisement Related Video Iron Maiden broke the silence with “The Writing on the Wall,” their fi...
