Heavy Music News
Rancid’s Tim Armstrong Unveils 10th Anniversary Fender Hellcat Acoustic Guitar
Rancid’s Tim Armstrong has announced a new anniversary edition of his Fender Hellcat electric-acoustic guitar. Originally released 10 years ago, the Hellcat is based on a ’60s concert acoustic that Armstrong has used to write many of Rancid’s songs. The 10th anniversary model is worthy of a veteran musician like Armstrong, as well as a beginner looking for carry the instrument with them for years to come. The original Hellcat came from a collaboration between Armstrong and Fender to create his own signature model, featuring striking double-skull inlays and gold pickguard. The anniversary model retains those visual elements and touts a solid spruce top, gilded hardware, and a stage-ready Fishman Presys III pickup/preamp system with a built-in tuner. The guitar’s “C”-shape neck is made of ma...
Ronnie James Dio’s Holy Diver Album Inspires Upcoming Graphic Novel
The Dio album Holy Diver is one of metal’s most iconic LPs, not just for its music but for its striking album cover. Now, thanks to a new graphic novel from Z2 comics, fans will finally find out why a priest was seemingly hurled into the ocean by the demonic figure Murray. Z2 Comics has tapped horror writer Steve Niles to tell the story leading up to the dramatic illustration on the cover of Holy Diver. Niles (Criminal Macabre, 30 Days of Night, October Faction) is being paired up with artist Scott Hampton (Gotham County Line) for the 120-page graphic novel. Ronnie James Dio’s widow, Wendy Dio, is fully on board with the project, stating, “Steve Niles tells the story behind the album cover Holy Diver, a story about how you can’t judge a picture by the way it appears, which is what Ronnie w...
Eddie Vedder Guests on Lily Cornell’s Mental Health Web Series: Watch
Eddie Vedder was the latest guest on Mind Wide Open, the the weekly mental-health series hosted by Chris Cornell’s daughter Lily Cornell Silver. In the newly premiered episode, the Pearl Jam singer opened up about grief, empathy, and activism, while also reflecting on his fallen peers. “I am thrilled that Ed offered to do Mind Wide Open,” Lily said in a statement announcing the episode. “His and his family’s support around my series means so much to me. He has always been like an uncle to me and is one of the pillars of support in my life. I know how impactful his voice is to people around the world and I deeply appreciate everything he stands for, so I am really excited for others to watch and hear his insights.” One of the more emotional aspects of the interview came when Vedder ope...
Flying V Guitar Documentary Features Members of Metallica, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Slayer, and More
The Flying V guitar is one of the most iconic instruments in heavy metal history. It’s silhouette alone is enough to warm the blood of headbangers. The guitar will be the subject of a new documentary, Flying V, out on DVD on September 11th. The 67-minute film was directed by Peter Hansen and features interviews with most of the major metal acts that popularized the Flying V over the years, including members of Metallica, Judas Priest, Slayer, Megadeth, and many more. As the cast of the documentary indicates, the guitar, introduced by Gibson in 1958, became a staple of ’80s thrash metal. Slayer’s Kerry King was never without one; it remains the choice axe of Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine; and Metallica’s James Hetfield is appropriately front-and-center on the movie poster, having wielded th...
#MetallicaMondays Concert Series Ends with Metallica’s 2017 Mexico City Show: Watch
It’s been quite a treat for Metallica fans, but all good things must come to an end. The metal legends are ending their #MetallicaMondays streaming concert series with a Mexico City show from 2017. Metallica launched the free weekly series at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to provide “live” entertainment to their fans as the concert industry shut down. After five months of digging into the archives for full concerts ranging from 1983 through 2019, the Mexico City show will close out the series. The band announced the news on Monday morning (August 24th) via Twitter, stating, “#MetallicaMondays reaches the end of the line. Tune in tonight for Live in Mexico City, the 23rd & final installment of the series, shot in front of a fired-up crowd in 2017. Tune in at 5 PM PDT o...
Heavy Culture: Musicians on Protests, Power, and the Pandemic
Clockwise from Upper Left: Skin, Rasheed Thomas, William DuVall, Cammie Gilbert, Elias Soriano, Militia Vox, AJ Channer, Prika Amaral 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 year 2020 will go down as one of the most difficult and memorable in the history of the world. As a global pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the physical and economic health of countries across the world, protests for justice and equality have led to notable progress in the battle again...
Anthrax’s Scott Ian: I’m Probably “Not Going Back to Work” Until 2022
Anthrax’s Scott Ian, photo by Antonio Marino Jr. Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian is as workmanlike as they come. He’s been touring relentlessly with Anthrax for 30-plus years, always has multiple projects going, and has generally been one of heavy metal’s great ambassadors. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, the metal legend feels he truly won’t be “back to work” until 2022. Ian compared his current situation to when he was 17 and figuring out if he can make a full-time career out of playing metal. An Anthrax album was originally planned for release in late 2020, but it’s been pushed back as the band continues to work on new material in a socially distant manner. Drummer Charlie Benante previously stated that there’s “about six, seven songs — and it’s really good,” but that “the first thin...
R.I.P. Walter Lure, Guitarist for Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers Dies at 71
Walter Lure, guitarist-vocalist for ’70s punk pioneers The Heartbreakers (also known as Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers), has died at the age of 71. The veteran musician passed away Saturday (August 22nd) after being diagnosed with liver and lung cancer last year. The Heartbreakers (not to be confused with Tom Petty’s backing band of the same name) formed in New York City in 1975 after Johnny Thunders and drummer Jerry Nolan quit The New York Dolls. The pair were joined by bassist Richard Hell after he parted ways with Television, and eventually Walter Lure to round out its initial lineup. The band would become an early fixture of the New York City punk scene, playing iconic venues like CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City. By 1976, Hell quit the band and was replaced by Billy Rath, ce...
Coheed and Cambria Unleash “Jessie’s Girl 2” Featuring Rick Springfield: Stream
Coheed and Cambria have recorded and released a sequel to Rick Springfield’s ubiquitous 1981 hit “Jessie’s Girl”. What’s more, the song and accompanying music video feature Springfield himself. “Jessie’s Girl 2” is not a cover of the ’80s pop hit, but a brand-new song that continues Springfield’s story about losing out on the love of his life to one of his friends. It’s a left-field collaboration from the progressive rock heroes and the veteran pop idol, but Coheed frontman Claudio Sanchez said he was inspired to tell the rest of Springfield’s story. Sanchez stated, “Has anyone ever written a sequel to another artist’s song? I don’t think so. As a fan of movies, it just seemed like a really interesting idea.” While the song picks up where Springfield’s hit left off, it doesn’t have a...
Behemoth Announce Immersive In Absentia Dei Livestream Concert
Behemoth have announced a new immersive livestream event, “In Absentia Dei”. The black metal auteurs will broadcast the concert live from an undisclosed Polish church on September 5th, with special guests Imperial Triumphant performing from New York City. The show will stream in 4K high-definition with eight different camera angles to choose from — as well as a “Director’s Cut” option, ostensibly edited from the various camera angles. As per the press release, “parts of the performance may offend,” so the event is recommended for viewers 18 and up. “We bring a new offering for our faithful Legions!” Behemoth frontman Nergal declared in the press release. “You’ve seen Behemoth in many places across the globe, but never before in the Holy Church. This is a truly innovative event of whic...
Ozzy Osbourne on Trump’s Pandemic Response: “This Guy’s Acting Like a Fool”
Ozzy Osbourne’s signature solo song is “Crazy Train”, and that’s pretty much the ride he thinks Donald Trump has the United States on right now. “This guy’s acting like a fool,” the metal legend exclaimed in a new interview when speaking of the president’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The singer, who rarely talks politics, offered some strong opinions while speaking with Rolling Stone, even questioning why Trump ran for president in the first place. “If I was running for president, I would try and find out a little bit about politics,” remarked Ozzy. “Because the f**king guy you’ve got in there now doesn’t know that much about it, I don’t think.” He added, “It’s not like anyone could be a f**king heart surgeon and just go in with a scalpel. You have to know what you’re f**king doing....
Carcass Announce Despicable EP, Share New Song “The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue”: Stream
Death metal pioneers Carcass are returning with a new EP, Despicable, this fall. In advance of its October 30th release, the band has unveiled the single, “The Living Dead at the Manchester Manchester”. The UK band has been perfecting its brand of complex death metal for over three decades, and the song is pinnacle Carcass — featuring grueling musicianship, lyrical images of horror, and a hint of melody. Despicable will be Carcass’ first collection of new music in seven years and includes the previously released single, “Under the Scalpel Blade”. “Well the COVID situation has put the release of the new Carcass album on the back burner for the time being,” singer-bassist Jeff Walker said in a press release. “Given that we said there’d be new music in August we thought it would be cool to ha...
