Heavy Music News
John Dolmayan: System of a Down “Should Have Moved On” Without Serj Tankian in 2006
It’s now been 17 years since System of a Down released a new studio album, and drummer John Dolmayan thinks they may have been better off moving on without singer Serj Tankian at the time the band went on hiatus in 2006. While System of a Down continue to be an active band, playing sporadic shows and releasing a pair of surprise singles in 2020, the multi-platinum act’s internal conflicts have been well documented. A few years back, Tankian and guitarist-vocalist Daron Malakian each opened up about the creative differences that led to a dearth of new music from the acclaimed metal band. In the summer of 2018, Malakian told Kerrang! magazine, “If everyone got together and was ready to play ball, I have an album ready. If it was up to me, System would have never gone on hiatus. … To be hones...
Billy Idol to Receive First Hollywood Walk of Fame Star of 2023
Billy Idol will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week, making him the first honoree of 2023. The ceremony was originally set to take place this Thursday (January 5th), but heavy rain in the forecast has led to it being rescheduled for Friday (January 6th). “There will be lots of rebels yelling for their favorite rock star Billy Idol when he receives his well-deserved Walk of Fame star,” stated Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Since the beginning of his career Billy Idol has held the hearts of many of his fans who finally will be able to visit his star and witness his induction into the Walk of Fame.” The music icon has certainly had a legendary career, first as lead singer of the UK punk band Generation X in the late ’70s and then as a multi-platinum ...
Iggy Pop Was Once Approached About Fronting AC/DC
Iggy Pop has revealed that he was once approached about becoming the frontman of AC/DC. “They had a manager many years ago, when I hadn’t re-formed The Stooges, I hadn’t moved to England,” Iggy told the New York Times. “And this guy said, ‘Are you interested in joining AC/DC?’ They were looking for a singer.” Though it’s not clear exactly when he was asked to join the band, the timeline likely puts the encounter around the time AC/DC formed in 1973 or perhaps when original frontman Dave Evans departed and when Bon Scott took over as lead singer — sometime around 1974. Related Video “I listened to their record. I thought, I can’t fit that bill,” Iggy admitted. “I wasn’t, like, ‘Ugh, I don’t like them.’ It was quite well made. They do careful work, but I’m not what they needed.” Advertisemen...
Sebastian Marino, Former Guitarist for Overkill and Anvil, Dead at 57
Sebastian Marino, who played guitar in the bands Overkill and Anvil, died at the age of 57 in the early morning of January 1st after being rushed to a hospital while working a sound job at a New Year’s Eve event in Florida. Marino was a member of Canadian metal heroes Anvil from 1989 through 1995, appearing on their 1991 album Worth the Weight. Upon learning of Marino’s passing, Anvil singer-guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow wrote, “Condolences to my friend Sebastian Marino’s family and friends. Seby was a dear friend and I will miss him profoundly!! Worth the Weight was an extremely special Anvil album and it will keep Seby alive through our history forever! RIP SEBASTIAN MARINO.” The guitarist joined New Jersey thrash legends Overkill in late 1995, and remained with the band until 1999. He p...
David Lee Roth: Working with Eddie Van Halen Was “Better Than Any Love Affair”
David Lee Roth and the Van Halen camp haven’t always seen eye to eye, but the singer recently offered some touching remarks while reflecting on his longtime bandmate, the late Eddie Van Halen. Roth opened up about his working relationship with the guitar legend on his The Roth Show podcast earlier this week. DLR famously left Van Halen in 1985 to pursue a successful solo career, and multiple failed attempts to patch things up would eventually give way to Roth rejoining the band in 2007. Roth and Eddie Van Halen appeared to be on good terms when Eddie passed away in 2020. “My dear departed Ed,” Roth said on his podcast (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “Boy, I miss him. I had a ball with Ed. Walt Disney once said, ‘You know what? My love affair with Mickey Mouse was better than any love aff...
Ranking Every Ozzy Osbourne Solo Album from Worst to Best
Welcome to Dissected, where we disassemble a band’s catalog, a director’s filmography, or some other critical pop-culture collection in the abstract. It’s exact science by way of a few beers. This time, we follow Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career from the masterful Blizzard of Ozz to what, for now, remains his last solo disc, 2022’s Patient Number 9. The man born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, on December 3, 1948, didn’t become the Prince of Darkness overnight. First rising to fame as the vocalist for Black Sabbath — the first heavy metal band — Ozzy Osbourne became as notorious for his drinking and drug habits as he was for his singing. Ozzy hit a turning point in his life when touring with Black Sabbath in 1979. His habit was bad, and maybe worse, every night a young, hotshot ba...
††† (Crosses) Release Cover of George Michael’s “One More Try”: Stream
††† (Crosses) — the duo featuring Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno and producer/multi-instrumentalist Shaun Lopez — have released a cover of ’80s pop singer George Michael’s “One More Try,” coupled with an animated visualizer. The George Michael tune is part of the duo’s annual tradition of releasing a cover around the holidays. It began in 2020, when they unveiled a surprise cover of “The Beginning of the End” by Cause & Effect on Christmas Eve. They followed that up in 2021 with a cover of “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus. “One More Try” originally appeared on George Michael’s 1987 debut solo album, Faith. Crosses give the song a slightly darker feel — with synths, reverb and Moreno’s impassioned vocals — while maintaining its pop sensibility. The duo performed all of the instrument...
Joe Strummer’s Widow Lucinda Tait on The Clash’s Near Reunion and the Punk Icon’s “Love of Humanity”
Twenty years ago today (December 22nd), the music world lost one of its greatest artists, legendary Clash singer-guitarist Joe Strummer. The punk icon’s passing in 2002 at the age of 50 was unexpected, as he suffered a heart attack caused by an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Several weeks prior to his death, it was announced that The Clash would be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2003. And just a week after the Rock Hall announcement, fans at a London benefit for firefighters were pleasantly surprised when Clash bandmate Mick Jones jumped onstage to join Strummer for three songs to end the show — “Bankrobber,” “White Riot” and “London’s Burning.” It marked the first time the two performed together since Jones’ last Clash show in 1983. Advertisem...
Brian Johnson Has “Been Told Not to” Discuss AC/DC’s Future Plans
Brian Johnson has apparently been told to not to speak about AC/DC’s future plans, including whether or not the band will tour again. The singer was very guarded in a new interview with Eddie Trunk on Sirius XM’s Trunk Nation, refusing to answer some questions about the band’s touring and recording plans. Johnson hasn’t performed with AC/DC since departing their 2016 “Rock or Bust Tour” due to hearing loss, and the band hasn’t played live since September 20th of that year (when Axl Rose had filled in on vocals). When asked by Trunk if AC/DC would perform live again, Johnson replied [as transcribed by Blabbermouth]: “I’m not answering that. Why should I? First of all, there’s five members in this band, and to ask one member isn’t fair.” Advertisement Related Video Johnson returned to AC/DC ...
Cannibal Corpse’s Corpsegrinder Meets Mall Santa and Wins Stuffed Animals for Charity
Cannibal Corpse frontman George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher is spreading the cheer this holiday, posing with Santa at the mall before hitting his local Walmart to dominate the claw machine game for charity. Fisher took to Instagram to share the heartwarming content. In stark contrast to the gore-filled imagery and harrowing presence he projects as Corpsegrinder, the death metal vocalist showed off a softer side, beaming a big smile while Santa sat on his lap. “Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!!!” Fisher posted on Instagram. “…yours truly with the best Mall Santa ever!!!” Advertisement Related Video With Christmas around the corner, Fisher then played the role of Santa himself, scoring a plethora of stuffed animals from the Walmart claw game to donate to charity. Along with photos of him with a...
Life of Agony and Sick of It All Announce 2023 North American Tour
Two New York City heavy music staples are teaming up for a 2023 North American tour. Alt-metal veterans Life of Agony and hardcore heroes Sick of It All will hit the road together beginning in early March. The “30 Sick Years of Agony” outing kicks off March 9th in Albany, New York, and currently runs through an April 1st gig in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, with more dates set to be announced. Tickets for most of the shows are currently on sale via Ticketmaster. Life of Agony most recently released 2019’s The Sound of Scars, but will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of their debut album, River Runs Red, on this tour — playing the 1993 album in its entirety. Sick of It All’s latest album is 2018’s Wake the Sleeping Dragon! Advertisement Related Video In addition to the North American ...
Fix Stuff: Fred Durst and Limp Bizkit Offer to Help Elon Musk Run Twitter
If you’re worried about the future of Twitter under the guidance of soon-to-be-former CEO Elon Musk, worry no more! Fred Durst and his merry band of Limp Bizkit mates are here to save the day. The nu-metal frontman has offered his services to the multibillionaire mogul in the form of a … tweet. It’s been a rough go of it in the two months since Musk closed the deal on the purchasing Twitter for $44 billion. Under his guidance, the company has laid off half its staff, instituted an $8-per-month blue verification check mark, and banned some journalists from the platform, among other lowlights. Most recently, he promised to step down as CEO as soon as he finds “someone foolish enough to take the job.” But never fear, y’all! Durst and company are ready to do their part to turn it all around. “...
