Heavy Music News
R.I.P. Mike Howe, Metal Church Singer Dies at 55
Mike Howe, lead singer of the veteran band Metal Church, has died at the age of 55. No cause of death has been reported, but the band announced his passing via Facebook on Monday evening (July 26th). “It is with our deepest regrets that we must announce the passing of our brother, our friend and true legend of heavy metal music. Mike Howe passed away this morning at his home in Eureka, California,” reads the band’s statement. “We are devastated and at a loss for words. Please respect our privacy and the Howe family’s privacy during this most difficult time.” The band formed in 1980 in the Bay Area as Shrapnel, impacting the thrash metal scene that was about to explode a couple years later. They moved to Aberdeen, Washington, early in their career and changed their name to Metal Church in 1...
Glenn Danzig Announces Theatrical Release Date for His Movie Death Rider in the House of Vampires
Glenn Danzig has announced the theatrical release date for his upcoming vampire Spaghetti Western, Death Rider in the House of Vampires. In a post on his Facebook, Danzig said that the film will hit select theaters across the United on August 27th. There will also be advance screenings in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. More details are coming soon, according to the post. Danzig’s second original feature-length film had been announced a while ago, but a release date had no been revealed until now. We previously saw the morbidly hilarious NSFW trailer, which starred Danzig in his central role as the character Bad Bathory. Advertisement Related Video The veteran rocker wrote, directed, scored, and stars in the upcoming film alongside the likes of Devon Sawa, Julian Sands, Danny Trejo, Eli Roth, a...
AC/DC-Loving Boy Ends Run on The Voice Kids Spain with Performance of Europe’s “Final Countdown”: Watch
The memorable run of Jesús del Río on The Voice Kids Spain has come to an end. The young boy went viral with his rousing rendition of the AC/DC classic “Highway to Hell” during the blind auditions and then earned a trip to the finals by singing “Back in Black.” For the 8-year-old’s last performance, he sang the Europe anthem “The Final Countdown,” but it wasn’t enough to win the competition. Jesús is clearly a fan of hard rock, having looked quite uncomfortable singing Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” during the battle round. Until his performance in the finals, it appeared that AC/DC was the only band that suited his wailing vocals. However, he performed an admirable rendition of “The Final Countdown” for his last song of the competition. Ultimately, Jesús’ coach, Spanish singer Melendi...
Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Gary Rossington Undergoes Emergency Heart Surgery
Gary Rossington, the last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, recently underwent emergency heart surgery. The legendary Southern rock act announced the news after the guitarist missed the band’s recent concerts. Rossington was with Lynyrd Skynyrd when they resumed their long-running farewell tour in June, following 15 months off the road due to the pandemic. However, he hadn’t been onstage with the band for their latest gigs. The guitarist has had a history of heart issues in recent years, suffering a heart attack in 2015 and undergoing quintuple bypass surgery. That was followed by having his heart valve repaired in 2019. He once told Tampa Bay Times, “I’ve had heart attacks on stage a lot.” Advertisement Related Video The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act explained Rossington’s a...
Robert Fripp and Toyah Take on The Who’s “My Generation” as King Crimson’s US Tour Kicks Off: Watch
Robert Fripp has already embarked on a summer U.S. tour with his legendary UK prog-rock band King Crimson, but that hasn’t put a stop to the guitarist’s viral “Sunday Lunch” performances with his wife, Toyah Willcox. The pair apparently filmed some advance episodes in their kitchen, beginning with today’s cover of The Who’s “My Generation.” Per usual, Toyah goes with a skimpy outfit, this time a white shirt that somehow doesn’t pop all the way open despite being held together by a little red clasp. Vocally, she delivers a raspy take on The Who’s classic 1965 track, adding some additional punk flavor to what could be argued is one of the earliest punk songs ever recorded. Fripp is back to his proper vest-and-tie look, while still sporting the mohawk that he featured in previous performances...
8-Year-Old Boy’s Performance of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” Earns Him Spot in Finals of The Voice Kids Spain: Watch
After wowing the judges and viewers with his performance of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” during his blind audition on Spain’s edition of The Voice Kids, little Jesús del Río sang another hit by the legendary rock band for the semifinals. This time, he blazed through AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” earning a trip to the finals. Jesús, who was only 7 years old when the season began but has since celebrated his eighth birthday, went viral with his initial “Highway to Hell” audition. The judges/coaches went crazy for his performance and mobbed him onstage. He had to perform Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” alongside a couple of other contestants for the battle round, but looked completely uncomfortable singing the pop hit. However, he still made it to the next stage. It just might be that AC/DC is the...
Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer Had Feces and Urine Thrown at Him While in Jail for Role in US Capitol Riot: Report
The lawyer for Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer has revealed that the veteran metal musician was threatened with his life and had feces and urine hurled at him while in jail for his role in the US Capitol riot. In April, Schaffer became the first person involved in the January 6th insurrection to plead guilty to charges related to the riot. The two charges to which he pleaded guilty are obstruction of an official proceeding and entering a building with a dangerous weapon. He admitted to carrying bear spray into the Capitol, as he and others forced their way into the building. As part of a plea agreement, Schaffer is said to be offering information about his militia group the Oath Keepers in exchange for a lesser sentence. Prosectors have recommended 3.5 to 4.5 years in prison, and he may ...
Buckcherry’s Josh Todd Wants to Front Minor Threat Reunion, Laments Lack of 21st Century Rock Stars
Buckcherry frontman Josh Todd says he would front a Minor Threat reunion if founding singer Ian MacKaye wasn’t up for it. Todd also lamented the lack of 21st century rock stars, calling the genre “faceless” since the early 2000s. Yes, you read that correctly. The singer of “Crazy Bitch” is down to front arguably the most influential straight-edge hardcore band of all-time. In fact, Todd suggested as much to original Minor Threat member Brian Baker (now Bad Religion’s guitarist) upon meeting him once. “[I told him] ‘Hey, man, if you ever want to do a Minor Threat tour and Ian doesn’t want to do it, I’ll shave my head and we’ll f–king do it!’” Todd recalled to Classic Rock magazine. “[Baker] just laughed.” Advertisement Related Video While the chances seem slim, it sounds like Todd coul...
Dee Snider Announces Streaming Concert Filmed in Front of Live Audience
Dee Snider has announced a streaming concert that was filmed in front of a live audience. The stream goes live on July 29th, a day before the release of the Twisted Sister singer’s new solo album, Leave a Scar. Livestreams became the norm for many artists during the pandemic. It was a way to bring the concert experience into the homes of fans worldwide, but most featured only the performers and no crowds. For Snider’s upcoming stream, the metal legend filmed a June show in Patchogue, New York, in front of a full crowd, and he’ll beam the full performance across the interwebs for 30 days starting on July 29th for virtual ticketholders. Advertisement Related Video “I can’t wait to see all you crazy motherf—kers when we’re on the road again, but for now, grab a cold one, crank the volume, it’...
Municipal Waste Announce Fall 2021 US Tour with Crowbar
Municipal Waste have announced a fall 2021 US tour with Crowbar. The short run of dates kicks off in November with additional support from Skeletal Remains and Dead Heat. The 10-show route kicks off November 13th in Indianapolis, and runs through a November 23rd stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along the way are shows in such venues as Brooklyn’s Warsaw and Detroit’s St. Andrews Hall. “We had a really good time throwing this tour together,” Municipal Waste vocalist Tony Foresta said in a press release. “Each band is a heavy hitter in their own right and we are beyond excited to bring this thing on the road.” Advertisement Related Video Added Ryan Waste: “There’s a little something for everyone on this run. Plus, Dead Heat is one of my all-time favorite movies. ‘Lady, I’m f–king dead.’” The ...
Guns N’ Roses Have an Official Line of Bongs and Smoking Accessories
Axl Rose has hit some pretty amazing high notes during his career, but now Guns N’ Roses are offering up a new kind of high. The legendary band has its own line of bongs and smoking accessories. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have partnered with Famous Brandz for a collection that includes two bongs, a couple of grinders, and two hand pipes. The two glass bongs feature artwork from the band’s iconic debut album, Appetite for Destruction. The “Band 12-Inch Water Pipe” has a hexagonal shape at the bottom showing each of the skeletal images of the band members, while the “Appetite for Destruction 10-Inch Dab Rig” shows the group shot of the skeletons at the base, with the words “Guns N’ Roses Was Here” in the middle. Advertisement Related Video A description of the GN’R line from Famous B...
Slash and Epiphone Launch New Collection of Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Slash and Epiphone have launched a new collection of electric and acoustic guitars, continuing the Guns N’ Roses guitarist’s ongoing partnership with Gibson Brands. Epiphone’s Slash Collection follows last year’s Gibson collection, but offers the guitars at a more accessible price point. Epiphone prides itself as being known as “the leading accessible guitar brand For Every Stage,” and the new axes are ideal for beginners or seasoned vets. The new line introduces two electric guitars and five variants: the Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard (finished in Appetite Burst, November Burst, Anaconda Burst, and Vermillion Burst) and the Slash “Victoria” Les Paul Standard Goldtop in Gold. The acoustic Epiphone Slash J-45 (in Vermillion Burst and November Burst) rounds out the Epiphone collection. Al...
