music blog
Ex-JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist K.K. DOWNING Discusses His Role In Creation Of Heavy Metal Genre
In a new interview with Kylie Olsson‘s YouTube show “Life In Six Strings”, former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing discussed his role with one of the oldest and most famous bands synonymous with the creation of heavy metal, along with BLACK SABBATH. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Bear in mind, I’m this young kid, just a young teenager, wanting to hear more of this music that I heard little bits of, but I was very hungry and frustrated that I didn’t have enough of it, that I was compelled to create it. Because it didn’t exist. Because I wanted more of it. I figured, ‘Okay, I’ll sit down and write the music that I would wanna listen to and hope there’s lots more people out there like me that will [relate] to this ...
Watch IRON MAIDEN’s BRUCE DICKINSON Sing A Cappella Version Of ‘Road To Hell’ In Houston
Video footage of IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson belting out an a cappella version of the song “Road To Hell” during his February 23 spoken-word show at Stafford Centre in Houston, Texas can be seen below. “Road To Hell” originally appeared on Bruce‘s fourth solo album, “Accident Of Birth”, which was released in 1997, through Castle Communications sublabel Raw Power in the U.K. and CMC International in the U.S. In addition to being Dickinson‘s second collaboration with guitarist/producer Roy Z, the LP marked a reunion between Dickinson and then-ex-IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith; both Dickinson and Smith would later return to their former band in early 1999. Dickinson‘s two-month North American spoken-word tour kicked off on Janua...
SYMPHONY X’s MICHAEL ROMEO Is ‘Digging Deep’ For Inspiration For Follow-Up To ‘Underworld’ Album
In a new interview with the “Breaking Absolutes With Peter Orullian” podcast, SYMPHONY X guitarist Michael Romeo has confirmed that the band has commenced work on the material for the follow-up to 2015’s “Underworld” album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It just feels slower than normal. It feels a little weird because we haven’t played [together in so long]. The last time we were on tour was the end of 2019. So it’s like you’re trying to think about that stuff, and just doing band stuff, and we haven’t for so long. So that whole process is going slow. I mean, it’s going. But I think as more normal things start happening, things will feel more normal. It will be easier for me. “I come down here [to my h...
SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s JOHN DOLMAYAN Says COVID-19 ‘Is And Has Always Been About Money’
SYSTEM OF A DOWN drummer John Dolmayan says that the COVID-19 pandemic “has always been about money.” Earlier today (Sunday, February 27), the 48-year-old musician, who was previously critical of vaccine mandates, saying they were akin to “self-imposed tyranny and mental slavery,” took to his Instagram to share a Pokémon COVID-19 meme, and he included the following message: “And just like that covid will slowly go away. This is and has always been about money , covid was about money , Ukraine is about money. Resources equal wealth , stability , and power. Theres a game of chess being played by those in the real positions of power and we’d like to think we’re the pawns but the truth is we’re not even on the board.” When one of John‘...
Robert Fripp and Toyah Are Right on Time with The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy”: Watch
It’s more Sunday fun from King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and his singer wife Toyah Willcox, who deliver a very timely rendition of The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy.” Toyah busts out a revealing white bodysuit for the couple’s take on The Black Keys’ chart-topping rock hit, as they play up the whole time aspect of the song’s lyrics. Unlike Black Keys’ singer Dan Auerbach’s complaint that he has a love who keeps him waiting, Robert and Toyah are always right on time with their “Sunday Lunch” performances — hence a giant clock prop, a hand-drawn clock poster, and a large yellow watch. Robert even gets in on the vocal action, singing the last line of the performance — or at least attempting to sing (now we know why he leaves the vocals to others in King Crimson). And for extra fun, the pair th...
John Mulaney’s Fifth Go-Around as SNL Host Proves to Be a Good Variant
This weekend’s John Mulaney-hosted episode of Saturday Night Live felt more affected than usual by outside circumstances—and not, thankfully, in the sense that it featured topical yuks in a political cold-open sketch. On the contrary, the show opened on a surprisingly somber note with a performance from the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York, singing the Ukraine national anthem. While sometimes SNL’s dips into sincerity can feel maudlin, this time it was a blessed relief that the show didn’t feel the need to drag out any “doddering Biden” or “crazy Putin” gags. If anyone was counting on Mulaney to lighten the mood, well, he did, but on his own terms, performing a stand-up monologue where he discussed his recent off-camera struggles with addiction. Mulaney’s showcase monologue displaced the...
LCD Soundsystem Become Guardian Angels for SNL: Watch
LCD Soundsystem swung by Studio 8H last night as the musical guest for Saturday Night Live. Watch the band’s performances below. Opposite host John Mulaney — who joined the illustrious Five Timers’ Club with his fifth hosting gig — the rockers took things all the way back to the mid-2000s with their musical numbers, performing “Thrills” and “Yr City’s a Sucker” from their 2005 debut album LCD Soundsystem. “I’m on fire/ Because you want me/ Because you want me/ But my desire/ Is going to crush me/ ‘Cause you are wired/ But I’m all chills/ ‘Cause you adore me/ You adore me,” vocalist James Murphy wailed on the former over his bandmates’ buzzing, cacophonous instrumentation. Advertisement Related Video That’s not all, though. Murphy and co. also took part in “Subway Churro,” arguably the most...
Leikeli47 To Complete Trilogy With Third Album ‘Shape Up,’ Shares New Single “BITM”
Leikeli47 has announced Shape Up, the third and final installment in her “Beauty Series” trilogy. Due from Hardcover/RCA, the album follows 2017’s Wash & Set and 2018’s Acrylic. In a 2019 interview with The Fader, the Los Angeles-based rapper spoke about how beauty salons are sacred spaces for Black women and how the environment inspired her album series. “I wanted to create a body of work that spoke to not looking like what you actually are going through,” Leikeli47 said. “When we’re in our nail salons, you never know just how much you relate to the person that’s sitting next to you.” “Sometimes we walk into our hair salons with a lot on our minds — or maybe it’s a great day, you just never know. But you walk out of there feeling like a million bucks and not looking like anything that...
Watch LCD Soundsystem Perform “Thrills” and “Yr City’s a Sucker” on SNL
LCD Soundsystem were the musical guests on this week’s episode of Saturday Night Live, performing “Thrills” and “Yr City’s a Sucker” from their 2005 self-titled LP. The band also joined a musical number about the NYC subway cosplaying the Guardian Angels, with James Murphy as Curtis Sliwa, most recently the GOP candidate in the 2021 NYC mayoral race. The Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York opened the show with “Prayer for Ukraine,” and former SNL writer John Mulaney hosted, joking about his December 2020 intervention and subsequent stint in rehab. Check it out below. The episode was the fifth hosted by Mulaney, who joined Steve Martin, Candace Bergen, Paul Rudd, Elliott Gould, Tina Fey, and Conan O’Brien in a sketch about a club for five-time hosts. Last week LCD Soundsystem announced two r...
Watch Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York Open SNL With “Prayer for Ukraine”
Rather than commencing with a typical comedic sketch, this week’s episode of Saturday Night Live opened with a performance by the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York. The choir sang “Prayer for Ukraine” following an introduction by SNL cast members Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong. The chorus performed behind a table dotted with votive candles that spelled “Kyiv,” Ukraine’s capital. The musical cold open was performed as a tribute to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Watch the performance below. Last night’s episode of SNL was hosted by John Mulaney. LCD Soundsystem returned as musical guests following their 2017 slot on the show. Content This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
‘Saturday Night Live’ Opens With Tribute Song to Ukraine: Watch
Saturday Night Live normally kicks off each show with some humor, but the comedy sketch series opened with a tribute performance to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York performed a “Prayer for Ukraine” during the opening of SNL on Saturday on Feb. 26. Cast members Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong introduced the choir. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The choir sang the melancholy tune in front of a live audience and a table of candles that spelled the name of Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv. Russian troops launched an attack on Ukraine this week. The ongoing invasion involves explosions and airstrikes on the city. Watch the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York on SNL below, and see the full episode on Hulu here. The streaming service is...
Tina Fey, Steve Martin & Paul Rudd Induct John Mulaney Into ‘SNL’ Five-Timers Club: Watch
Fellow five-time hosts Paul Rudd, Tina Fey, Steve Martin, Elliot Gould and Candice Bergen, as well as Conan O’Brien, inducted John Mulaney into Saturday Night Live‘s Five-Timers Club during the Feb. 26 episode. “Not to be a total b—-, but my Five-Timers show in December was supposed to be a lot better. That is before the whole cast decided to call in sick,” Rudd said, referring to his year-end episode that was interrupted by the surge in omicron cases and ended up only having a few castmembers in attendance. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “They all had COVID,” Bergen told Rudd, to which Martin joked, “So what? I have COVID right now. I got it from the Queen.” When Mulaney enters, Martin greets him with “Ah, Megan Mullally, as I live and breathe.” Bergen congratulates him on his...
