Heavy Music News
Motörhead’s Lemmy and Judas Priest’s Rob Halford Turned Into Retro Action Figures
Two legends of heavy music have been immortalized with new retro-looking action figures. Late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister and Judas Priest singer Rob Halford are now available as 3.75-inch “ReAction” collectibles from the toy company Super7. Super7 specializes in creating new action figures in the popular style of the ’70s and early ’80s, or as the company puts it, “creating figures we wished we’d had when we were growing up.” The Lemmy figure depicts the rock & roll icon with a removable bass in hand, complete with muttonchops and a Motörhead T-shirt. The Halford figure portrays the Judas Priest vocalist in a studded-leather outfit with whip and microphone accessories. Equally cool as the figures is the packaging in which they come. The artwork features throwback illustrations ...
Steve Perry: Eddie Van Halen Approached Me After David Lee Roth Left Van Halen
Steve Perry (via Columbia Records), Eddie Van Halen (via Warner Bros. Records) Imagine the groundbreaking guitar playing of Eddie Van Halen paired with the golden voice of Steve Perry? Well, it could’ve been. According to the former Journey singer, Eddie Van Halen suggested that he and Perry jam following David Lee Roth’s departure from Van Halen in 1985. In paying tribute to the late guitarist in a new interview with Rolling Stone, Perry strongly hinted that he could have been in line for the coveted Van Halen singing gig if he had followed up on Eddie’s invitation. However, there was one big thing holding him back. “I don’t think anyone knows this, but when David Lee Roth left Van Halen [in 1985] I was living in the Bay Area and not sure what I was or wasn’t going to do anymore,” recalle...
R.I.P. Gordon Haskell, Former King Crimson Singer-Bassist Dies at 74
Onetime King Crimson singer-bassist Gordon Haskell has died at the age of 74. The sad news was announced via the musician’s Facebook page, but no cause of death was given. “It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Gordon, a great musician and a wonderful person who will be sadly missed by so many,” read the statement on Haskell’s passing. Haskell had a brief tenure in King Crimson during the pioneering UK prog-rock band’s early years. He was a classmate and teenage bandmate of founder Robert Fripp in the group League of Gentlemen, and was recruited to sing lead vocals on the song “Cadence and Cascade” on King Crimson’s second album, 1970’s In the Wake of Poseidon. Greg Lake sang lead on all of the LP’s other tracks. After Lake left the band to form Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, Has...
GWAR Announce “Scumdogs XXX Live” Streaming Concert
GWAR have announced an upcoming streaming concert dubbed, “Scumdogs XXX Live!”, which will see the intergalactic barbarians performing their 1990 debut album, Scumdogs of the Universe, in its entirety Taking place on Halloween Eve, October 30th, at 8 p.m ET, the concert comes in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Scumdogs of the Universe. Though some as-yet-unnamed special guests will make an appearance during the livestream, there will be no in-person audience. Snger Blōthar the Berserker doesn’t seem to mind, however. “We always wanted to do a concert without an audience in the room,” Blōthar said in a press release. “The audience is always the worst part. Well, that and the fact that we’re constantly being attacked by a bunch of assholes while we try to get through a set. Man, I hop...
Tommy Lee Fires Back at Ted Nugent: “Is That Guy Even Still Alive … I Thought He Shot Himself”
Forget Trump vs. Biden — the nastiest right wing vs. left wing feud is brewing between veteran rockers Ted Nugent and Tommy Lee. Following some disparaging remarks by Nugent about the Mötley Crüe drummer, Lee has fired back at the guitarist with a vengeance. As we reported Wednesday, Nugent seemingly went out of his way to call Lee “a convicted felon, domestic violence heroin addict” during a recent appearance on the political podcast Blunt Force Truth. It was just a matter of time before Lee retaliated, and he did just that on Wednesday night. The drummer tweeted, “Ted Nugent? ….Is that guy even still alive? ….. I thought he shot himself like 20 yrs ago.” A little harsh, indeed, but Lee is playing off the fact that Nugent has long been a proud gun-toting member of the NRA. When the M...
Code Orange Announce “Back Inside the Glass” Halloween Livestream Show
Code Orange mastered the art of the livestream during the pandemic, having already delivered two unique virtual concerts this year. The band has now announced a new Halloween event, “Back Inside the Glass”, which is billed as an “environmental experience.” The event streams at 4:00 p.m. ET on October 31st. Tickets start at $15 and also grant access to a previously unreleased track, “The Cutter”, an outtake from Code Orange’s 2020 album, UNDERNEATH. What’s more, Code Orange won’t be alone, as the stacked bill also features Jesus Piece, Year of the Knife, and Machine Girl. “We are very excited to present the next chapter of the Code Orange live streaming experiment,” vocalist Jami Morgan said in a press release. “We are hoping to deliver something on a whole new level with ‘Back Inside ...
Do Five Finger Death Punch Take an Anti-Mask Stance with “Living the Dream” Video?
Five Finger Death Punch have released a music video for the single “Living the Dream” that is rife with political symbolism. One aspect of the video appears to take an anti-mask stance, although there’s some ambiguity in the band’s intentions. In the video, civilians who wear masks are given a button that says “Compliant” emblazoned with a hammer and sickle (a longtime communist symbol). A sinister female leader who gives out the masks doesn’t have to wear one, as her button reads “Exempt”. There are also zombies hoarding toilet paper and Pulp Fiction-like gimps who are walked on a chain by the “Exempt” leader. The American flag is seen in the video with the stars replaced by the hammer and sickle, as well. When a masked ice cream truck worker is spotted with an actual American flag, Mrs. ...
Refused Announce The Malignant Fire EP, Unleash “Born on the Outs”: Stream
Swedish hardcore veterans Refused have announced a new EP, The Malignant Fire. In advance of its November 20th release, the band has unleashed the single “Born on the Outs”. The Malignant Fire will arrive roughly a year after Refused’s most recent full-length album, War Music. The new five-song collection features four new tracks and one War Music cut (“Malfire”). “Born on the Outs” has a post-punk vibe, with singer Dennis Lyxzén delivering clean vocals to start before escalating to his raspy howl. It’s as infectious as it aggressive, even delving into a melodic Sisters of Mercy-like bridge around the 2:10 mark. Lyrically, “Born on the Outs” continues the progressivism and radicalism of the band’s 30-year career, as Lyxzén rails against hate crimes, fascism, and oppression throug...
Alice Cooper Enters 2020 Presidential Race with New “Elected” Video: Watch
Every four years since Alice Cooper released the iconic single “Elected” in 1972, the rocker has “satirically” run for president. Just in the nick of time, Cooper has thrown his hat into the 2020 race, releasing an updated video for “Elected” and a ton of “Alice Cooper for President” merch. Running on the “Wild Party” ticket, Cooper’s campaign platform says it all: “I can do nothing as well as they can do nothing.” With his official website adding, “I have absolutely no idea what to do.” The new “Elected” video takes a humorous and lighthearted approach to the campaign process, which is much appreciated considering the real-life campaign has been anything but. Cooper sings the song through a loudspeaker from a podium, and the words remain as relevant as ever. Fans can show their support wi...
Bring Me the Horizon Announce New EP Featuring BABYMETAL, Amy Lee, and More
Babymetal (photo by Kevin RC Wilson), Bring Me the Horizon Horizon (photo by Raymond Ahner), Amy Lee (photo by Joe Russo) Bring Me the Horizon have announced a new EP, Post Human: Survival Horror, that features some prominent guest spots. The nine-song effort, due October 30th, boasts appearances by BABYMETAL, Evanescence vocalist Amy Lee, UK singer YUNGBLUD, and British rock duo Nova Twins. The UK band has already unveiled three songs from the EP over the past year. The track “Ludens” came out in November 2019 as part of the soundtrack to the video game Death Stranding, while “Parasite Eve” and “Obey” (featuring YUNGBLUD) arrived over the past few months. Japanese pop-metal act BABYMETAL appear on the song “Kingslayer”, while Amy Lee provides guest vocals on the poetically titled “One Day...
Korn Announce World of Tanks Blitz In-Game Event, Share Video for “Finally Free”: Watch
Korn will appear in free-to-play online game World of Tanks Blitz for the rollout of the new “Burning Games” mode. The band also shared the music video for “Finally Free”, a song from 2019’s The Nothing, which features tanks and imagery from the game. The five-stage “Convergence” event takes place from October 16th through 24th. All players will be able to complete in-game challenges to uncover pieces of band artwork and special Korn-related items. Korn are no stranger to video-game crossovers. The band played a virtual concert last year within the role-playing games AdventureQuest 3D and AdventureQuest Worlds. Meanwhile, World of Tanks developer Wargaming has teamed with bands such as Iron Maiden, Sabaton, and The Offspring for in-game promotions and augmented-reality events. “Korn is the...
Bad Religion Share New Song “What Are We Standing For”: Stream
Venerable L.A. punks Bad Religion have returned with a new single, “What Are We Standing For”. It’s a sincere political anthem just in time for the impending November election. The song’s titular question is on the minds of many this election season, with the future course of US politics seemingly at stake. Per the press release, the song is in solidarity with athletes who decline to stand during the national anthem and for those who have “taken a knee to protest police brutality and racism.” “In this time of tribal nationalism, dissent, as a form of political speech, is vital to democracy,” co-songwriter and guitarist Brett Gurewitz remarked. The track is an outtake from Bad Religion’s 2019 album, The Age of Unreason, and would have fit nicely on that record. It’s a rollicking uptempo roc...
