STAIND RELEASES NEW SONG AND ANIMATED VIDEO

“BETTER DAYS” FEATURING DOROTHY

FROM LATEST ALBUM, CONFESSIONS OF THE FALLEN

TAILGATE TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SEETHER,
SAINT ASONIA AND TIM MONTANA BEGINS APRIL 22

STAIND CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH BREAKING BENJAMIN
BEGINS SEPTEMBER 10

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Multi-platinum rock band, Staind has released a new song, “Better Days” featuring Dorothy, from their latest album, Confessions of the Fallen. Buy/stream single HERE

“Better Days,” an emotionally charged power ballad that is classic Staind, marks the first time the band has a featured artist on a song. Singer and namesake of LA rock band, Dorothy brings her powerhouse vocals alongside Aaron Lewis, taking the sentiment of the song to the next level.

“This was a departure for me,” says Aaron Lewis. “It’s really the first time Staind explored a feature with a female guest vocalist. Once we started tracking I could tell the synergy was there. We didn’t have to pick harmonies, we didn’t have to analyze parts, they just happened. I’m stoked to have Dorothy on this single with me. Her talent and voice are incredible.”

“I had a great time tracking “Better Days,” adds Dorothy. “It’s a beautiful song and I hope fans connect with it. I’m so grateful to Aaron for the opportunity.”

Watch animated video for “Better Days “ HERE

“Better Days” is the third rock song released from Confessions of the Fallen. The first two singles “Lowest and Me” and “Here and Now” reached #1 on Active Rock chart.

See Staind live on the Tailgate Tour with special guests Seether, Saint Asonia and Tim Montana, beginning April 22 in Brandon, MS.

Staind’s co-headline tour with Breaking Benjamin and special guests Daughtry and Lakeview, kicks off September 10 in Burgettstown, PA.

STAIND 2024 TOUR DATES:

*TAILGATE TOUR w/ Seether, Saint Asonia & Tim Montana

April 18 St Augustine, FL @ St Augustine Amphitheatre
April 19 Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
April 20 Orlando, FL @ Central Florida Fair Grounds
April 22 Brandon, MS @ Brandon Amphitheatre *
April 23 Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater *
April 25 Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center / WDHA’s Rock the Rock Fest
April 26 Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena / 98 Rock Spring Thing
April 27 Worcester, MA @ DCU Center / The Big Gig III
April 30 Portland, ME @ Cross Insurance Arena *
May 1 Reading, PA @ Santander Arena *
May 3 Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum / HOG FEST
May 4 St Paul, MN @ XCEL Energy Center / 93X Twin City Takeover
May 5 Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena *
May 7 Waukee, IA @ Vibrant Music Hall *
May 9 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Van Andel Arena *
May 11 N. Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Coliseum *
May 12 Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena *
May 14 Orange Beach, AL @ The Wharf Ampitheater *
May 15 Pelham, AL @ Oak Mountain Ampitheatre *
May 18 Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival

STAIND & BREAKING BENJAMIN CO-HEADLINE TOUR w/ special guests Daughtry and Lakeview

Sep 10 Burgettstown, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake
Sep 11 Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sep 13 Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
Sep 14 Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union Ampitheatre
Sep 18 Gilford, NH @ BankNH Pavilion
Sep 19 Wantagh, NY @Northwest Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sep 21 Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union
Sep 22 Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
Sep 26 West Palm Beach, FL @ ITHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Sep 28 Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Oct 1 St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Oct 3 Denver, CO @ The JunkYard
Oct 5 West Valley City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Oct 6 Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Amphitheatre
Oct 8 Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
Oct 9 Portland, OR @ Moda Center
Oct 13 Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
Oct 15 Las Vegas, NV @ Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood
Oct 18 Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Ampitheatre
Oct 19 Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheatre
Oct 22 Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
Oct 24 The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Oct 25 Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

For tour updates and info visit: STAINDOFFICIAL.COM

PEARL JAM RELEASE NEW SINGLE “WRECKAGE”

NEW ALBUM DARK MATTER ARRIVES THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH

DARK MATTER NORTH AMERICAN TOUR LAUNCHES MAY 4, 2024 Tickets Available HERE

“The New Pearl Jam Album Is Their Best In Decades” – UPROXX

“Dark Matter is many things. It’s thrilling. It’s moving. It’s surprising. It’s a band still operating at the peaks of their powers.” – Kerrang!

Pearl Jam proudly present their latest single, “Wreckage”. The single comes in advance of their anxiously awaited twelfth studio album, Dark Matter, available this Friday, April 19th via Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records.

Stone Gossard on “Wreckage”:
“That one probably has the biggest build for me personally, in terms of hearing it at first and thinking, it’s kind of an Ed song. I wasn’t quite aware of its potency until later. Andrew [Watt] encouraged me to play this little harmonic, acoustic part almost like a Cure melody. I’ve been playing along with the song to relearn it and I’m really looking forward to playing it live. It’s a really powerful lyric and I think we did a really great job of taking something and really pushing it to its limit.”

Andrew Watt adds:
“[“Wreckage”] started with the riff and everyone kind of formulating sections together. That song just came to Ed right away. Within the first couple takes before the music was even right, his vocals were right. His melodies and words are so strong in that song. Once the initial spark was there and there were a few sections, it was just really about following him.”

GWAR
Announces “Age of Entitlement” Tour

June Dates feature Support from
Weedeater, X-Cops, Squid Pisser

September Dates feature Support from
Brujeria, BRAT, Cancer Christ

Shock Rock gods GWAR will embark on “The Age of Entitlement Tour” for two more legs of 2024 headline dates in support of their most recent album “New Dark Ages.”

This summer, the band has enlisted drug metal addicts WEEDEATER along with the habitually offensive cop rock of X-COPS as support. The savage hardcore weirdness of openers SQUID PISSER will alienate what is left of the audience. The summer leg of the “The Age of Entitlement” kicks off on June 7th in Hartford, Connecticut, and wraps on June 17th in Tampa, Florida.

In September, GWAR will go out again to kick more human ass, this time with absolutely brutal Latin American death grinders Brujeria, NOLA grindcore face-melters BRAT, and the reptilian Christianity of hardcore punk/metal evangelists Cancer Christ. That leg gets going on September 12th in Buffalo, New York, and will, mercifully, come to a close on September 20th in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Check out the full list of dates below.

GWAR vocalist Blothar the Berserker commented:

“This is an incredible time in the history of the world, so much death and destruction in the face of so much senseless entitlement and arrogant darkness. We cannot wait to shock some sense into humanity with the most outrageous performance of heavy metal theater ever to descend from the gods.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10:00 AM local time. Pre-sale tickets are available now through Thursday at 10:00 PM local time.

GWAR 2024 ‘Age of Entitlement’ Tour

w/ Weedeater, X-Cops, Squid Pisser
6/7 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater
6/8 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
6/9 – Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
6/11 – Columbia, SC @ The Senate
6/12 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
6/13 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo*
6/14 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City Music Hall
6/15 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall
6/16 – Destin, FL @ Club LA
6/17 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor

w/ Brujeria, BRAT, Cancer Christ
9/12 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
9/13 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
9/14 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
9/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
9/17 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
9/18 – Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
9/20 – Fayetteville, AR @ JJ’s Live

*Festival

• A.J. CROCE
• The Kauffman Center, Kansas City, MO
• April 13, 2024

“And I carry it with me like my daddy did.”

“I Got a Name” – Jim Croce

I remember when Michael Douglas won his Oscar for “Wall Street” he thanked his dad for allowing him to “step out of a shadow.”  In the history of singer/songwriters, very few people left a shadow as large as that of Jim Croce.  In a tragically shortened career that lasted less than two years, Croce wrote and performed some of the most popular songs of the 20^th Century.  His son, A.J., following in his father’s footsteps, has become an influential singer/songwriter of this century.  This past Saturday night, the two centuries converged on the Kauffman Center as, to paraphrase the name of the tour, Croce played Croce.

The show opened with a film clip of Jim Croce talking about his young son, Adrian James, asking his wife, Ingrid, to “bring him out.”  With that introduction, A.J. took the stage and, for the next two and a half hours, kept the audience grooving with a combination of songs by himself, his father and some of his musical heroes.

Musically, the show was flawless.  Mr. Croce is an accomplished musician and, along with his backup band made up of some amazing session players, he rocked the house.  But even better then the music were the stories Mr. Croce shared with the audience.  Stores about his father.  Stories about his own musical journey.  A highlight was when he opened the show up to the audience, encouraging them to shout out titles of songs they wanted to hear, Mr. Croce and the band obliging them.  The songs were presented with a variety of videos, featuring everything from family films of his father to an animated cartoon of “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown,” which I can remember watching as a kid on “The Sonny and Cher Show.”

While I could not grab a set list, both Croce’s catalogues were well represented.  A great story about Rod Stewart evolved into a kick-ass version of “Stay with Me.”  Another musical highlight was “Name of the Game,” a song Jim Croce was working on before he passed that A.J. finished.

All in all, it was an amazing night filled with amazing music.  One I highly recommend.  On a scale of zero to five, “Croce Plays Croce” receives ★★★★★

“Croce plays Croce’ continues though the end of the year.  For tickets, please click HERE.   

UNDEROATH ANNOUNCES THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

EXPANSIVE NORTH AMERICAN, EU & UK HEADLINING TOUR

VIP Packages include exclusive meet and greet, vinyl, comic book, and more

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their influential studio album, They’re Only Chasing Safety, Underoath announces The 20th Anniversary Tour, hitting the EU, UK and US this summer and fall. The band will perform the album in its entirety, followed by a unique fan-voted set every night.

Underoath says, “Twenty. Years. This is going to be like nothing we’ve ever done. They’re Only Chasing Safety in full every night plus *another* set of songs voted on by each city. Every song from every album over the past 20 years will be on the table. Let’s get nuts.”

The band is offering VIP package tickets from Wed, April 17th at 10 am local time through Friday, April 19th at 9:30 am local time at https://underoath777.com/pages/tour.The package includes one GA ticket; a conversation with Underoath in which they will answer fan questions, tell stories, and discuss the impact of They’re Only Chasing Safety on their career; an informal hang with the band and individual photo with the full band; a VIP-exclusive 20th Anniversary edition of They’re Only Chasing Safety on vinyl; a 24-page, full color, standard-sized They’re Only Chasing Safety comic book by Sumerian Comics; and merchandise shopping prior to doors opening to the public. Both the vinyl and the comic book will be shipped to VIPs prior to the tour.

Numerous presales will also be held on Wednesday, April 17, and Thursday, April 18th, with the General on-sale kicking off on Friday, April 19th, at 10:00 AM local time. Fans can go to that same link to sign up for presale access. All tour dates will go live with “Sign Up” buttons that will lead to a presale signup through Seated. Automated email and text reminders will be sent to signups 30 minutes ahead of the presale starting with the password and direct link to tickets.

20th Anniversary Tour Dates

6/1 – Fort Worth, TX – So What?! Music Festival
6/7 – Nuremberg, GER – Rock Im Park
6/8 – Nurburg,GER – Rock am Ring
6/10 – Hamburg, GER – Markthalle Hamburg
6/11 – Berlin, GER – Metropol
6/12 – Warsaw, POL – Proxima
6/13 – Hradec Kralove, Czechia
6/13 – 15 – Interlaken, SWITZERLAND – Greenfield Festival
6/16 – Paris, FR – La Machine du Moulin Rouge
6/17 – Amsterdam, NETH – Melkweg
6/19 – Copenhagen, DEN – Copenhell Festival
6/20 – Dessel, BEL – Graspop Metal Meeting 2024
6/22 – Lyon, FR – Slam Dunk France
6/24 – Briston, UK – O2 Academy Bristol
6/25 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute2
6/26 – London, UK – O2 Forum
6/27 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz Manchester
7/13 – Charleston, WV – West Virginia is For Lovers
9/18 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
9/20 – New York, NY – The Palladium
9/22 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome
9/24 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
9/26 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
9/27 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
9/28 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
9/29 – Columbus, OH – Kemba Live
10/1 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
10/2 – Indianapolis, IN – The Egyptian Room
10/4 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Ballroom
10/5 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
10/6 – Birmingham, AL – Furnace Fest
10/8 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theater
10/9 – Minneapolis, MN – Myth
10/11 – Denver, CO – The Summit
10/13 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
10/15 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SODO
10/16 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
10/19 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young
10/20 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young
10/22 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
10/25 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
10/27 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
10/28 – Phoenix, AZ – The Marquee
10/30 – Dallas, TX – Southside Music Hall
11/18 – Austin, TX – Stubbs
11/19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
11/20 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
11/23 – Cincinnati, OH – Megcorp
11/24 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
11/26 – Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
11/27 – Green Bay, WI – Epic Center
11/29 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe
11/30 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Ballroom
12/1 – Toronto, ONT – History
12/3 – Buffalo, NY – Riverworks
12/4 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
12/6 – Stroudsburg, PA – The Sherman Theater
12/8 – Richmond, VA – The National
12/9 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
12/10 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
12/13 – Tampa, FL – Jannus Landing

About Underoath

With each successive release, UNDEROATH reinvents the balance between chaos and harmony. Their compositions, conjured from creative tension, become iconoclastic anthems. Even when the band almost combusts, the crackling energy coalesces into something deeply resonant for millions.

Each time they have a chance to do something safe, Underoath challenges themselves instead, with integrity and attitude. Their pair of gold albums and three Grammy nominations stand in stark defiance of the idea of commercial compromise. The Underoath catalog weaponizes noise, aggression, and ambiance as skillfully as melody. The combination of heaviness and headiness found on Define the Great Line makes it the only record of its kind to debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

The passion and power are as undeniable on tours with Alice In Chains or Bring Me The Horizon as they are in the sweatiest of intimate shows or their genre-redefining runs on Vans Warped Tour.

The heart of their sound, which delivers naked vulnerability with thrilling force and cinematic lushness, can be heard in generations of bands who’ve pursued their trail. But Underoath refuses to sit still. Walking an artistic tightrope between immersive access and isolationist otherness, Underoath owns the space between huge choruses and forward-thinking heaviness, both on record and onstage.

Underoath are:
Spencer Chamberlain – Vocals
Tim McTague – Guitar
Grant Brandell – Bass
Chris Dudley – Keyboards
Aaron Gillespie – Drums/Vocals

THE 20 YEARS OF TEARS TOUR, FEATURING HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, THURSDAY, SAOSIN, AND ANBERLIN, TREKS ACROSS THE U.S. THIS SUMMER

EXTENSIVE TOUR CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF THE MYSPACE GENERATION ALSO FEATURES I SEE STARS, CARTEL, ARMOR FOR SLEEP AND MORE

The 20 Years Of Tears tour, a once-in-a-lifetime 56-date, U.S. trek featuring varying line-ups surrounding core co-headliners Hawthorne Heights, Thursday, Saosin and Anberlin, kicks off this June before wrapping up in mid-September.

JT Woodruff, Hawthorne Heights vocalist and the architect behind the tour, as well as the co-founder of the ongoing Is For Lovers Festival, explains the inspiration for this not-to-be-missed touring event, which sees his band playing their debut album, The Silence in Black and White, in its entirety: “20 Years of Tears is a celebration of the genre that raised an entire generation, with basement-born bands to stadium headliners. Emo comes in all shapes and sizes and has touched the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life. With some of the biggest names of the MySpace Generation, this lineup is designed to give you the energy you had while feeling so misunderstood, as a ‘misguided’ youth. This is not just a summer concert, it is a must-see event that can reignite the fire inside all of us as we sing and scream together like it’s 2004.”

The tour incorporates the recently announced Is For Lovers Festival dates, with The 20 Years of Tears artists playing multiple Is For Lovers’ dates as well.

Tickets for all dates are on-sale this Friday, April 19, at 10 am local time with various pre-sales offered beginning tomorrow. For further information, VIP packages and ticketing links, visit Hawthorneheights.com.

The 20 Years of Tears tour dates:

June 22 Stateline, NV Lake Tahoe Is For Lovers *
June 23 Salt Lake City, UT Granary Live
June 24 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
June 27 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Summerfest
June 28 Chicago, IL The Salt Shed
June 29 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection Outdoors
June 30 Cleveland Heights, OH Cain Park
July 1 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
July 3 Charleston, SC The Refinery
July 6 Clearwater, FL The BayCare Sound
July 7 Pompano Beach, FL Pompano Beach Amphitheater
July 9 Atlanta, GA The Eastern
July 10 Greenville, SC The Foundry
July 11 Asheville, NC Salvage Station
July 13 Charleston, WV West Virginia Is For Lovers *
July 14 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
July 16 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore
July 17 Wallingford, CT The Dome at Oakdale
July 20 Manteo, NC OBX Is For Lovers *
July 21 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
July 23 Knoxville, TN The Back Alley at Creekside
July 24 Nashville, TN Skydeck
July 25 Fort Wayne, IN The Clyde Theatre
July 27 Sauget, IL Pop’s Is For Lovers *
July 28 Rogers, AR The Walmart Amphitheater
August 3 Hot Springs, AR Magic Springs Theme Park
August 8 St. Augustine, FL The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
August 9 Orlando, FL House of Blues
August 10 Pensacola, FL The Handlebar Outdoors
August 12 New Orleans, LA The Fillmore
August 13 Katy, TX Home Run Dugout
August 14 Austin, TX Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
August 16 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
August 17 Eau Claire, WI Reverb Music Festival
August 18 Superior, WI Earth Rider Fest Grounds
August 19 Fargo, ND Outdoors at Fargo Brewing
August 21 Green Bay, WI Epic Event Center
August 22 Cedar Rapids, IA McGrath Amphitheatre
August 24 Council Bluffs, IA Iowa Is For Lovers *
August 26 Dallas, TX Toyota Music Factory
August 27 San Antonio, TX Sunken Garden Theater
August 28 Lubbock, TX Lonestar Events Center
August 31 Los Angeles, CA California Is For Lovers *
September 1 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
September 2 Albuquerque, NM Revel
September 5 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
September 7 Cincinnati, OH Ohio Is For Lovers *
September 8 Pickering, OH Pickering Casino Resort
September 10 Bangor, ME Cross Insurance Center
September 11 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
September 12 New York, NY Palladium Times Square
September 13 Harrisburg, PA XL Live Southside Stage
September 14 Wayland, NY FOrX Summer Stage
September 15 Worcester, MA The Palladium

*-Is For Lovers Festival

The 20 Years of Tears line-ups by date:

June 23 to July 10
Hawthorne Heights/I See Stars/Anberlin
Armor For Sleep
Emery/This Wild Life

July 11
Hawthorne Heights/Anberlin
Armor For Sleep
Stick To Your Guns/This Wild Life

July 14, 17-28
Hawthorne Heights/Thursday/Anberlin
Armor For Sleep
Stick To Your Guns/This Wild Life

July 16
Hawthorne Heights/Anberlin
Armor For Sleep
Stick To Your Guns/This Wild Life

August 9-22
Hawthorne Heights/Thursday/Anberlin
Armor For Sleep
Emery/This Wild Life

August 26-28
Hawthorne Heights/Thursday/Anberlin
Cartel
Emery/This Wild Life

September 1-5
Hawthorne Heights/Saosin/Anberlin
Cartel
Stick To Your Guns/This Wild Life

September 10-15
Hawthorne Heights/Anberlin/Cartel
Stick To Your Guns
Emery/This Wild Life

The Singularity is an epic rock concept album, graphic novel, and concert experience from the mind of Grammy-nominated, and Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning composer Bear McCreary. The Singularity arrives on CD, vinyl, and digital formats via Shadows & Sparks Records and Mutant on Friday, May 10.

Two-time GRAMMY Award-nominated, Emmy, and BAFTA Award-winning composer Bear McCreary began his career working with legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein, before bursting onto the scene scoring the influential and revered series Battlestar Galactica in 2004. Since then, McCreary has been a four-time Emmy Award nominee and Emmy winner for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme for Da Vinci’s Demons.

COLLECTIVE SOUL
KICKING OFF 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH
THE FIRST SINGLE, “MOTHER’S LOVE,”
FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING NEW DOUBLE ALBUM
‘HERE TO ETERNITY’
DUE OUT MAY 17;

“SUMMER CAMP WITH TRUCKS TOUR”
WITH HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH AND EDWIN MCCAIN
SET TO LAUNCH MAY 30

Since launching a major label career in 1994, COLLECTIVE SOUL has charted a path that most rock bands dream of, but only few achieve. They cut through a noisy 1990s rock scene with a knack for stick-to-you-like-glue melodies, roof-shaking guitars, and a touch of Southern grit. Behind enduring singles like “Shine,” “December,” and “The World I Know,” the band hit the ground running for what would not be a short-lived sprint, but a steady marathon of uncompromising – and always catchy – albums. Since launching, they’ve become one of the most reliable rock bands in America, a tried-and-true force in a world often defined by turmoil and turbulence.

COLLECTIVE SOUL is celebrating their 30th anniversary with today’s release of the first song and video, “Mother’s Love,” from their highly anticipated forthcoming double album, HERE TO ETERNITY. Pre-orders of the album will be available tonight at 12:00am Eastern Time on all digital outlets, while the lyric video–created by LyricVids Media–can be now seen on their official YouTube here.

On “Mother’s Love,” Ed Roland sings: “​​Guess we’re all misunderstood/To what we can and what we should/Still I find above/All my strength from Mother’s Love.” Featuring longtime Paul McCartney guitarist Brian Ray on slide guitar, the track blasts off the turntable with a foot-stompin’, gnarled riff before gliding into a chorus layered by high-flying harmonies. Alongside Ray, who lives in Palm Springs, guests on the album include longtime Sheryl Crow bandleader Peter Stroud and Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship fame.

COLLECTIVE SOUL recorded and self-produced HERE TO ETERNITY with co-producer Shawn Grove at Elvis Presley’s estate in Palm Springs, CA. They’re the only other music artist to ever record at the historical landmark.

“I happened to be walkin’ down the street and I had met Brian Ray a couple of times,” Ed Roland said. “I saw him and was like, ‘Brian, hey man. Why don’t you come over and break bread? We’re up at Elvis’ house.’” The invite for a bite of grub turned into a session, of course. With a laugh, Ed Roland added, “I’m gettin’ pretty sneaky in my old age.”

Stepping inside the King’s one-time California getaway, his influence seeped into the album-making process. Ed Roland and album co-producer Shawn Grove slept in the home for the duration of the sessions, which overlapped with the death of Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie in early 2023.

“The sticky DNA, with Elvis being there,” bassist Will Turpin said. “You can just tell it was his designs. All pink tiles. It’s straight out of 1977. It was super cool just to be there and in the zone.”

HERE TO ETERNITY, COLLECTIVE SOUL’s 12th studio release, is due out May 17 on their label, Fuzze-Flex Records distributed physically by AMPED Distribution and digitally by Virgin Music Group. It includes 20 brand new songs which will be available everywhere on digital stores and streaming partners (including a Dolby ATMOS version), as a single disc CD, and as a limited-edition double-disc colored vinyl.

Later this summer, the band will hit the road with Hootie & the Blowfish along with Edwin McCain for the “Summer Camp with Trucks Tour” produced by Live Nation. The trek–which will visit 44 cities across the U.S. and Canada–kicks off May 30 in Dallas and runs through September 28 in West Palm Beach, visiting arenas, amphitheaters and select stadiums such as Boston’s iconic Fenway Park (with special guests Barenaked Ladies) along the way. Tickets are on sale now at LiveNation.com and Citientertainment.com.

With 20 new songs, how does the band decide which to play live? You’ll have to catch a show to find out. “It’s tricky,” Dean Roland explains. “We know we wanna play the songs people came there to see, but it’s still fun. We’re gettin’ up there, doin’ our thing.” And fans can bet on COLLECTIVE SOUL taking songs from HERE TO ETERNITY on the road for years to come. As the album title suggests, three decades is just the start.

Check out the complete track listing for the double album and the band’s upcoming tour dates below, and stay tuned for more exciting 30th anniversary news soon.

HERE TO ETERNITY:
1. Mother’s Love
2. Bluer Than So Blue
3. Let It Flow
4. Not the Same
5. Bob Dylan (Where Are You Today)
6. Hey Man
7. Kick It
8. Matter of Fact
9. Sister and Mary
10. Be the One
11. Keep It on Track
12. Who Loves
13. La Dee Da
14. Bring on the Day
15. Words Away
16. No Man’s Land
17. Letter from E
18. I Know You, You Know Me
19. Therapy
20. Over and Out

Headlining shows:

Sat 4/20 San Antonio, TX St. Mary’s University – Fiesta Oyster Bake

Hootie & The Blowfish Summer Camp with Trucks Tour with Edwin McCain:

May 30 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
May 31 Rogers, AR Walmart AMP
June 1 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
** June 4 Columbus, OH The Bluestone
June 6 Detroit, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
June 7 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
June 8 Indianapolis, IN Ruoff Music Center
June 13 Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
June 14 Bangor, ME Maine Savings Amphitheatre
June 15 Saratoga Springs, NY Broadview Stage at SPAC
* June 21 Boston, MA Fenway Park
** June 25 Erie, PA Warner Theatre
June 27 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
June 28 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
June 29 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake
July 10 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
July 11 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheater
July 13 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center
July 16 Anaheim, CA. Honda Center
July 17 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 19 Portland, OR RV Inn Styles Amphitheatre
July 20 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheatre
** July 24 Omaha, NE Steelhouse Omaha
July 26 Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 27 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
** July 28 Evansville, IN Victory Theatre
Aug. 1 Hartford, CT The XFINITY Theatre
Aug. 2 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug. 3 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
** Aug. 6 Grand Rapids, MI GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Aug. 8 Somerset, WI Somerset Amphitheater
Aug. 9 Chicago, IL Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Aug. 10 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Aug. 15 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
Aug. 16 Philadelphia, PA Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Aug. 17 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Aug. 29 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena
** Aug. 31 North Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues – Myrtle Beach
Sept. 5 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sept. 6 Syracuse, NY Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sept. 7 Toronto, ONT. Budweiser Stage
Sept. 12 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
Sept. 13 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sept. 14 Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Sept. 19 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
Sept. 20 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sept. 21 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Sept. 26 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept. 27 Jacksonville, FL VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Sept. 28 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

* Also featuring special guests Barenaked Ladies
** Headlining shows

X-COPS
Return to Disturb the Peace with New EP ‘XCAB’
due out June 24th via Pit Records
Pre-Order HERE

📸: Dave Jackson

Share New Single “Light ‘Em Up”
+ Video — Watch HERE

May Tour Dates with CKY

X-COPS are back! After 25 years on the lam, the original Bad Boys of Law Enforcement have returned, bringing their unique brand of heavy metal with them. The world has never been more in need of the message they bring: “Respect authority, or else!”, and they have the riffs and the firepower to back it up!

Rumors about the identities of these uniformed thugs are rampant, with some even going as far as to say that they are made up of members of such legendary bands as GWAR, Rigor Mortis, and Darkest Hour, but the truth is they are actually former police officers who have banded together to beat the world into submission, force feed the public their own brand of Justice, and spread the word that All Cops Are Beautiful!

Commenting on the new release, Sheriff Tub Tucker had this to say,

“Listen up you degenerate punks! X-COPS are back on the streets with a new e.p. coming to disturb your peace! 5 armor-piercing tracks, locked and loaded and aimed directly between your eyes. This slab of police brutality features the single ‘Light ‘Em Up’, a little tale of how the fire that burned down the Branch Davidians in Waco, TX really started! Spoiler: it was us!”

Watch the Video for “Light ‘Em Up” HERE

XCAB Track List:
1. We’re the Pigs
2. Kinderhardened
3. Conflict Management
4. Next to You (Police Cover)
5. Light ‘Em Up

X-Cops With CKY:
5/3: Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
5/5: Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
5/6: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Hell)
5/7: Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
5/8: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
5/9: Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!

Headline show
5/10: Richmond, VA @ Another Round

X-COPS are:
X-Sheriff Tubb Tucker – Vocals
X-Sargent Al DePansia – Guitar and Vocals
X-Lieutenant Louie Scrapinetti – Guitar and Vocals
X-Officer Ed Banger – Bass
X-Inmate #8048675309 -Drums
X-Bike Cop Biff Buff – Vocals
X Agent Zypygski, the “Zipper Pig” – Vocals

Thursday, September 20, 1973 found me in 8^th grade at Chardon Middle School in Chardon, Ohio.  Walking home my group of friends would often sing the songs we heard on the radio at the top of our voices.  A favorite was “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.”  The next day the word was all over school.  The night before the man who wrote and sung the song, Jim Croce, had been killed in a plane crash.  18-months after he had burst onto the scene, he was gone.  But in that time he gave the world some of the most memorable songs of all time.  Jim Croce is gone, but thankfully another talented songwriter is keeping his work alive.  His son, A.J.

With ten albums of his own to his credit, A.J. Croce (Adrian James for the curious) didn’t need to sing his father’s songs to establish his long career.  Feeling the time is right, he has recently embarked on a tour called, simply, “Croce Sings Croce.”  In preparation for his upcoming appearance at the Kauffman Center in Kansas City on Saturday, April 13^th, Mr. Croce took the time so speak with me about the tour, his career and the continued legacy of his fater.

MIKE SMITH:  I’m going to get weird here for a second and I apologize.  I’m aa63 years old.  I had two musical heroes growing up…people whose music not only inspired me but their passion for others.  One was Harry Chapin.  The other was your dad.  I interviewed Harry’s son, Jason, a couple of years ago and it is a true honor and privilege to speak with you.   

A.J. CROCE:  Wow.  Thank you.

MS:  You were reluctant to perform your father’s music early in your career.  Why are you highlighting it now?

AJC:  There were a lot of reasons.  One was that I had had success in my own right.  I had done well as a songwriter and sideman and musician.  I felt a sense of accomplishment.  The other part was that I didn’t feel there was any integrity in just jumping in and performing my father’s music.  I was a piano player, so I was playing the guitar parts on piano long before I picked up a guitar twenty years ago.  It was a challenge.  I played jazz and old blues and rock and roll New Orleans music so I was trying to find and conquer the most challenging music out there.  That’s what I was looking for.  That being said, I love my father’s music.  There was never a time when I didn’t respect what he had done.  I loved his song writing nd guitar playing.  I have always been working behind the scenes to try and preserve and promote his legacy of music.  I felt that the integrity of my music needed to be intact.  I felt it was a little cheap and a little cheesy just to make a few bucks off of playing my dad’s music when I was young.  As I got older and picked up the guitar, I found there were times and places in my show where I could throw in a song of his as a surprise.  As soon as no one expected me to perform my father’s music it became a lot easier and more fun to throw something in.  Having worked with Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and James Brown…all those iconic R&B artists…I wanted to make a name for myself.  It was really important that there be integrity in it.

MS:  When you first started out, was the last name “Croce” a blessing or a hinderance?

AJC:  Both.  It was both.  The blessing was, in some ways, smaller then the hinderance at times.  It’s hard to have your own identity when you have a name that’s recognizable.  You don’t really have the privilege of being heard for yourself.  You are heard as the relative of someone who is well-known, maybe for something completely different from what you do.  Having the identity of someone else is a challenge.  Most people get to succeed and fail on their own merits.  I was only able to succeed from the outside perspective on the merits of my father and I was only able to fail on my own merit.  I was not concerned with fame and celebrity.  I was determined to be the best piano player and songwriter and entertainer that I could possibly be.  That was my goal.  I probably shot myself in the foot more than a few times because I was more interested in the music than I was in the fame that music brought.  I probably turned down many opportunities early in my career that would have been really helpful.  I think early on, in the first twenty, twenty-five years of my touring and recording career…of course I wanted people to hear my music.  I think I was a little uncompromising.  I was a little afraid of what fame might do.  I saw what it did to my father.  I saw the remnants of it because of his success.  There’s a certain part of life you no longer get to experience once you’re no longer anonymous.

MS:  Talking about fame, a lot of people can tell you that Jim Croce died in a plane crash but they don’t know why he was on that plane.  He was keeping a promise that he really didn’t have to.  He didn’t have to go and do that show, but he did.  And that is one of the things I’ve always admired about him.

AJC:  Yes.  I mean, every artist has that happen.  When you sign a deal to do a concert and miss it, you do your best to make it up.  I got snowed out of a concert in Connecticut in February and will go back and play at the end of April.  That’s the nature of this business.  There are circumstances sometimes that keep you from being where you want to be.  Or play where you want to play.

MS:  Certainly.  My comparison is that between the time he missed the concert and when he went down to do it he became JIM CROCE.

(QUICK NOTE:  Before he became a household name, Jim Croce had to cancel a concert he had scheduled at Northwestern State University in Louisiana due to illness.  He promised the promoters that he would make up the show as soon as possible.  A year later, now a big star, he had an open date on his current tour, called the school and said he’d be there.  Even with two successful albums and a fistful of hit songs, Croce did the show for his originally agreed on fee, $750.  Remember when I talked about having passion for others?  Jim Croce is a true example. )

AJC:  Absolutely.  Absolutely.  His career was so brief.  His career was eighteen months.  I mean he had played semi-professionally for a period of time but his professional career was eighteen months.  All of the songs you know were written, finished and recorded and toured in that eighteen-month period of time.  It’s kind of an astounding thing that so much was accomplished in such a short amount of time. 

A.J. Croce (Photo credit: Jim Shea)

MS:  You’ve endured a lot of tragedy in your life. (NOTE:  Jim Croce died when A.J. was two.  When he was four, his mother’s boyfriend beat him so badly he lost sight in both eyes.  He regained the sight in his left eye at age 10).  Have you ever drawn on that, even subconsciously, for your own music? 

AJC:  Oh, of course.  If I don’t draw on life experience, I’m not doing my job.  If I’m not using it in my music then I’m not paying attention or growing.  It can’t be a superficial exploration when it comes to writing.  There needs to be depth and you need to draw from those things and hopefully gain wisdom and a sense of humor.  If you can’t gain a sense of humor from the tragedies of life then you’re missing out on half of what a tragedy can give you. 

MS:   Do you have a favorite song of your fathers?

AJC:  No.  I love a lot of his songs.   Just like all music I have no favorite artist…no favorite song.  Music is dso much about mood and emotion.  One morning you wake up and you want to hear Edith Piaf.  The next morning you wake up and you want to hear Zepplin.  Or you want to hear Ray Charles or Fats Waller or Little Richard.  Music is about emotion and mood and that’s such a beautiful thing. 

MS:  That’s a great answer.

AJC: (laughing) Thanks! 

A.J. Croce is currently on tour.  For more information, please visit his WEBSITE.

DREAM THEATER ANNOUNCE 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
2024-2025 KICKING OFF IN EUROPE THIS OCTOBER

Iconic Lineup of James LaBrie, John Myung, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy
and Jordan Rudess To Hit The Road Together For The First Time
In Fourteen Years

Information on all tickets and VIP Packages can be found at https://dreamtheater.net/tour/

A tour announcement that has been fourteen years in the making, GRAMMY®-winning, progressive music titans Dream Theater are announcing their 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025. The tour – presented as An Evening With Dream Theater – is the first outing since drummer Mike Portnoy’s return to the lineup joining vocalist James LaBrie, bassist John Myung, guitarist John Petrucci, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. The European leg consists of stops in 23 cities and kicks off on October 20th and runs through November 24th. Dream Theater will be performing classics and fan favorites from their catalog in what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music. More information on all tickets and VIP packages can be found at https://dreamtheater.net/tour/.

“This tour is going to be incredibly special for all of us! Each show will surely be filled with anticipation and a variety of emotions. We can’t wait to step on stage together once again and begin this historic celebration of 40 years with everyone this Fall. This is just the beginning, and we will have plenty of more exciting Dream Theater news to share in the coming months,” explains Dream Theater.

An Evening With Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025

October 20 – London, England – The O2
October 22 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Eats Music Hall
October 23 – Koln, Germany – Palladium
October 25 – Milan, Italy – Forum
October 26 – Rome, Italy – Palazzo dello Sport
October 28 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
October 29 – Zagreb, Croatia – Arena Zagreb
November 1 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Arena
November 2 – Prague – Czech Republic – Fortuna Arena
November 3 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena
November 6 – Helsinki, Finland – Metro Areena
November 8 – Stockholm. Sweden – Waterfront
November 9 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum
November 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Poolen
November 12 – Luxembourg – Rockhal
November 13 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
November 14 – Lyon, France – Halle Tony Garnier
November 16 – Lisbon, Portugal – MEO Arena
November 17 – Madrid, Spain – La Cubierta de Leganés
November 20 – Stuttgart, Germany – Beethovensaal
November 21 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhundderthalle
November 23 – Paris, France – Adidas Arena
November 24 – Amsterdam – AFAS Live

Dream Theater L to R: John Myung, Jordan Rudess, James LaBrie, Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci (Photo Courtesy of Dream Theater)

Progressive metal pioneers Dream Theater share a unique bond with one of the most passionate fan bases around the globe as evidenced by their three GRAMMY® Award nominations, 2022 GRAMMY® Award win in the Best Metal Performance category for “The Alien” and 15 million records sold worldwide. The 1992 opus Images & Words received a gold certification and landed on Rolling Stone’s coveted “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All-Time.” Guitar World placed the follow-up Awake at #1 on “Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994.” 1996’s A Change of Seasons notably soundtracked NBC’s coverage of Downhill Skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Fans voted the 1999 Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory the “Number One All-Time Progressive Rock Album” in a 2012 Rolling Stone poll. Not to mention, it ranked as the “15th Greatest Concept Album” by Classic Rock. 2009 saw Black Clouds & Silver Linings crash the Billboard Top 200 at #6 as A Dramatic Turn of Events [2011] and Dream Theater [2013] maintained a three-peat in the chart’s Top 10. In 2016, the band returned with their second concept album and sci-fi novel of the same name, The Astonishing. Beyond three platinum and two gold videos, the group was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2019, the band continued to expand its audience when they released Distance Over Time to critical and commercial acclaim. On their 15th full-length and second studio release for InsideOutMusic / Sony Music, A View From The Top Of The World the band continue to challenge themselves and push their musical envelope – something they have done for over 30-years performing together. The band launched the inaugural DREAMSONIC Tour in 2023 – a traveling progressive music spectacle that will return for more runs in the future. In 2024, founding drummer Mike Portnoy reunited with the iconic lineup of guitarist John Petrucci, vocalist James LaBrie, bassist John Myung and keyboardist Jordan Rudess to overwhelming fanfare. Dream Theater has been in the studio currently working on their upcoming 16th studio album and first for this lineup in over 15 years.

NO REMORSE: THE ILLUSTRATED TRUE STORIES
OF LEMMY KILMISTER AND MOTÖRHEAD

For Motörhead’s 50th anniversary, Z2 gathers over 50 Rockstar contributors including
Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Triple H, Chrissie Hynde and Lars Ulrich to participate
in the oral history of the man and the legend, Lemmy Kilmister

PREORDER AVAILABLE FOR THE BOOK AND EXCLUSIVE VINYL 2 LP SET NOW ON Z2

In celebration of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the legendary Motörhead, Z2 has gathered a staggering line-up of icons to narrate their personal encounters with the man that came to define the sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll lifestyle, Lemmy Kilmister. NO REMORSE: THE ILLUSTRATED TRUE STORIES OF LEMMY KILMISTER AND MOTÖRHEAD kicks off this 176-page tribute with a deeply personal foreword by his dear friend Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and a truly touching afterword by his longtime friend and collaborator Ozzy Osbourne.

The book pairs 25 rockstar contributors with 25 acclaimed illustrators to tell the stories of their true and unbelievable personal encounters with the heralded founding father of Motörhead. Recounting their history with Lemmy over the span of his life and career are the greatest living musicians – Ozzy Osbourne, Lars Ulrich, Slash, Chrissie Hynde, Dee Snider, Dave Navarro plus world-class writers Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, pro-wrestling giants Triple H, Corey Graves, TV & Film luminaries including Matt Pinfield, Penelope Spheeris, Riki Rachtman, as well as his bandmates Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee, and Slim Jim Phantom.

With a gorgeous variety of visual approaches the artists of NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead; including Dave Chisholm, Bob Fingerman, Jay Jay Jackson, and Jim Mahfood capture the many facets of these incredible TRUE TALES of Lemmy Kilmister. The cover art is illustrated and designed by comic book legend Tim Bradstreet (Punisher, Hellblazer) and features the gleam of a holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs!

“Anyone who ever crossed paths with Lemmy Kilmister left with a very unique experience and stories to share for a lifetime,” says Josh Bernstein, Z2 President and the book’s co-editor/designer. “The outpouring of those stories from his friends and family, paired with some of underground art’s greatest illustrators, brings Lemmy and Motörhead roaring back to life on every page.”

Like all Z2 collaborations, this book comes in a variety of highly-collectible editions, including the 1:5 “All-Access” Edition which features a framed AAA Artist Pass from Lemmy’s 70th birthday party at the Whisky A Go-Go; and the 1:25 “Backstage” Edition that comes with a framed original 2012-2013 Motorhead tour laminate. All of these artifacts are from the personal collection of Lemmy Kilmister. The “No Remorse” editions of the book will come with an exclusive white vinyl variant of the legendary Motörhead double LP, No Remorse, a poster triptych set by renowned designer Hydro74, and a three-card collectors set presented in a custom frame featuring the art of the iconic thrash-metal painter Ed Repka (Megadeth, Super7).

All collector editions will include the oversized deluxe volume of the NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead book contained in a metallic foil embossed slipcase, with die cuts that reveal the holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs on the cover of the book. All editions available for PREORDER now!

From his early years, Lemmy gravitated to the live-fast attitude of rock & roll, starting out as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, joining the seminal space-rock outfit Hawkwind and famously getting fired from the band for “doing the wrong drugs.” Forming Motörhead in 1975 after his dismissal, he set out to kick things up and create an aural assault, the likes of which had not been heard. Lemmy Kilmister became the unequaled standard for the Rock & Roll lifestyle.

Of their first meeting, Dave Grohl recounts, “until then I’d never met what I’d call a real rock ‘n’ roll hero before. Fuck Elvis and Keith Richards, Lemmy’s the king of rock ‘n’ roll. A living, breathing, drinking, snorting, fucking legend. No one else comes close.” It’s the life of a Rock & Roll legend, and NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead captures it all.

STORY CONTRIBUTORS: Sir Neil Warnock, Wayne Kramer, Michael Moorcock, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Campbell, Chrissie Hynde, Kim McAuliffe, Slim Jim Phantom, Lars Ulrich, Neil Gaiman, Dee Snider, Slash, Steffan Chirazi, Lita Ford, Riki Rachtman, Penelope Spheeris, Dave Navarro, Mikkey Dee, Mikael Maglieri Jr., Todd Singerman, Lar Frederiksen, Dave Grohl, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, Matt Pinfield, Josh Bernstein, Steve Luna, Corey Graves

ARTIST CONTRIBUTORS: Piotr Kowalski, Pat Moriarity, John Bergin, Joe Simko, John Bivens, Chris Visions, Fred Harper, Bob Fingerman, Steve Chanks, Dave Chisholm, JayJay Jackson, Felipe Sobreiro, Gideon Kendall, Ron Joseph, Steve Kurth, Shane Patrick White, Jim Mahfood, Luke McGarry, Ryan Dunlavey, Koren Shadmi, Jeff McClelland, Jeff McComskey, Wes Hargis, Brent Engstrom, Erik Rodriguez, Sean Pryor, Josh Bernstein, Frank Powers, Tony Parker, Tim Bradstreet, Ed Repka, Hydro 74

NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead will be available in hardcover via Z2 (Simon & Schuster) for a list price of $35.00 (ISBN: 9798886561340) and at retailers everywhere this summer.

Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Harry Waters, son of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and vocalist Eva Avila during their 2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour at the Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA discussing all things Pink Floyd.

In a monumental celebration of musical history, Brit Floyd will embark on the “2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour,” commemorating the 30th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s iconic album, “The Division Bell.” Known for their unwavering dedication to recreating the magic of Pink Floyd’s music, Brit Floyd is the perfect ensemble to honor “The Division Bell.” Audiences can expect a breathtaking audiovisual experience that pays homage to the original band’s unique blend of music and visual effects.

Slash:
‘Orgy of the Damned’
Sixth Solo Album Set for Global Release May 17 on Gibson Records
– Pre Order Here

First Single and Video
‘Killing Floor” – Watch Now

Legendary Guitarist and Songwriter’s Debut Blues Album Features
Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Chris Stapleton, Beth Hart, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), Demi Lovato, Dorothy, and Tash Neal on Vocals

Above: SLASH new album Orgy of the Damned, cover artwork by Toni Greis.

SLASH, the iconic, GRAMMY®-winning guitarist and songwriter, has announced his highly anticipated sixth solo album titled Orgy of the Damned, will be released on May 17 via Gibson Records and is available to pre-order now HERE. A collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with a stripped-down, instinctive approach, SLASH’s new album, Orgy of the Damned, creates a singular expression that pays homage to the blues.

The first single “Killing Floor,”-which features Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on harmonica-is an electrifying, raucous and gleefully unbridled take on Howlin’ Wolf’s 1964 Chicago blues standard; stream “Killing Floor,” out today HERE.

Watch/share the new video for “Killing Floor,” which offers a first look at SLASH and his blues band Johnny Griparic (bass), Teddy Andreadis (keyboards), Michael Jerome (drums), and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar), recording the song in the studio HERE.

Click here to play the video for “Killing Floor.”

“‘Killing Floor’ is one of my favorite Howlin’ Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I’ve always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp.”
-SLASH

“When Slash asked me to sing on ‘Killing Floor,’ I said yes immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven’s harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on.”
-Brian Johnson (AC/DC)

By celebrating both well-known and largely undiscovered songs, SLASH offers a nostalgic nod to the past while reinvigorating the songs with his inimitable guitar playing and the spirit of collaboration. For Orgy of the Damned, the acclaimed guitarist re-teamed with storied producer Mike Clink and enlisted the album’s diverse guest vocalists, which include Gary Clark Jr, Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson, and Beth Hart, in a similar way to his 2010 self-titled solo LP Slash. To round out his band in the studio and on the road, SLASH reunited with two of his bandmates from his Blues Ball outfit in the 90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Although he grew up in England, SLASH’s American grandmother turned him on to the blues early on, and he was immediately taken with B.B. King. At the same time, his parents raised him on a healthy diet of 60s British rock ‘n’ roll, from The Who to The Kinks. Once he moved to Laurel Canyon, SLASH found himself surrounded by rock and folk singers like Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Neil Young—all of whom eventually inspired his playing and songwriting. It wasn’t until he began playing guitar himself that SLASH realized all of his favorite musicians had been influenced by the same B.B. King blues records he’d listened to as a young kid.

Orgy of the Damned encompasses a broad range of styles within the blues genre, veering from an upbeat, rowdy take on Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” to a plaintive, twanging rendition of T. Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday.” Some of the songs, like Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher,” Charlie Segar’s “Key to the Highway,” and Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign,” had been performed by Slash’s Blues Ball, while others, like Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City,” were long-time favorites for Slash. “Hoochie Coochie Man,” written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters in 1954, showcases the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy of Orgy of the Damned, with Z.Z. Top’s Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on the classic songs. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a collection of dynamic, energized songs that are immediate, raw, and distinctly familiar.

As SLASH was considering vocalists, he approached his old friend and collaborator, Iggy Pop, who had long wanted to record a blues song. Pop suggested Lightnin’ Hopkins’ 1962 track, “Awful Dream,” a sparse, drawling number originally laid down on acoustic guitar. The duo decided to recreate that stripped back vibe and recorded their own languid, emotionally resonant version sitting on two stools in SLASH’s studio. “Iggy’s interpretation of that song is actually sublime,” says SLASH. “And it’s something that nobody’s really heard from him. At the end of the track, you can hear him just singing the harmonica parts.”

Elsewhere on Orgy of the Damned, Demi Lovato lends her powerhouse voice to “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” a fervent, soulful version of the 1972 single by The Temptations that SLASH admired as a kid. Although the song veers more towards R&B, the guitarist wanted to give it his own impassioned spin. The album concludes with a soaring original instrumental number, “Metal Chestnut,” penned specifically for Orgy of the Damned by Slash.

Orgy of the Damned showcases a lesser-heard aspect of SLASH’s musical prowess. While he has always embraced a broad range of styles and genres, the album offers a rare opportunity to explore a unique side of his playing and bring to the forefront a rollicking journey through his strong blues inspirations, that have long been in the background of his illustrious career.

Orgy of the Damned will also be available on vinyl and via CD. For more information go to, www.slashonline.com.

Above: SLASH’s Orgy of the Damned two-piece vinyl set, pre-order now
HERE.

The complete tracklisting for SLASH’s Orgy of the Damned is as follows below:

1. “The Pusher” feat. Chris Robinson (vocal and harmonica)
Written by Wayne Hoyt Axton

2. “Crossroads” feat. Gary Clark Jr. (vocal, rhythm guitar, and solo)
Written by Robert Leroy Johnson

3. “Hoochie Coochie Man” feat. Billy F. Gibbons (vocal, rhythm guitar, and solo)
Written by Willie Dixon

4. “Oh Well” feat. Chris Stapleton (vocal)
Written by Peter Alan Green

5. “Key to the Highway” feat. Dorothy (vocal)
Written by Charles Segar, William Broonzy

6. “Awful Dream” feat. Iggy Pop (vocal)
Written by Sam (Lightnin’) Hopkins, Clarence Lewis, C. Morgan Robinson

7. “Born Under a Bad Sign” feat. Paul Rodgers (vocal)
Written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones

8. “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” feat. Demi Lovato (vocal)
Written by Barrett Strong and Jesse Norman Whitfield

9. “Killing Floor” feat. Brian Johnson (vocal)
Written by Chester Burnett (Howlin’ Wolf)
*Special guest Steven Tyler on harmonica.

10. “Living for the City” feat. Tash Neal (vocal)
Written by Stevie Wonder
*Special guest background vocals: Jenna Bell and Jessie Payo.

11. “Stormy Monday” feat. Beth Hart (vocal)
Written by T-Bone Walker

12. “Metal Chestnut”
Written by Slash

JUDAS PRIEST RELEASE NEW ALBUM TODAY
‘INVINCIBLE SHIELD’

The wait is finally over. Today, Judas Priest release their hugely anticipated new studio album Invincible Shield, out via Epic Records. Get it HERE.

The album is a raging slab of electrifying metal, brought to you by one of the most iconic bands in the world. Tracks released so far have amassed a whopping 15 million streams and created a phenomenal global buzz of excitement from their loyal fanbase. Not only that, but the critics are raving about Invincible Shield, with universal acclaim pouring for the body of work. The 11 tracks highlight exactly how the band, 50-plus years in, is at the height of their powers in 2024.

The Associated Press has stated that Invincible Shield finds Judas Priest “rocking faster and harder than ever before” while Blabbermouth said it “could be the most consistent and flawless album this band have made in decades.” Metal Injection has declared it “the best record of 2024 thus far,” while Stereogum proclaimed that it “feels like a victory lap for the band.” As Ultimate Classic Rock put it, “this is Judas Priest operating at near hall-of-fame levels.”

In honor of the legendary band’s 19th studio album, Judas Priest will embark on a world tour this year, the European leg kicks off in Glasgow next Monday, March 11th before taking on North America in April and May. See below for full North American tour routing and head to http://judaspriestinvincibleshield.com/ for tickets.

Over the past 50 years Judas Priest have sold over 50 million albums worldwide and headlined the world’s biggest stages. With their evolving music and live performances also came a powerful unique identity, a look which has both defined the group and influenced future generations of metal bands the world over. With each year the Judas Priest legend continues to grow; 2022 saw them inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and complete a sold-out rescheduled world tour in support of their 50th Anniversary. As we continue to roll into 2024, Judas Priest continue to retain their crown as one of the biggest and best British bands in the world.

INVINCIBLE SHIELD TRACKLIST

1. Panic Attack
2. The Serpent and the King
3. Invincible Shield
4. Devil in Disguise
5. Gates of Hell
6. Crown of Horns
7. As God is my Witness
8. Trial by Fire
9. Escape From Reality
10. Sons of Thunder
11. Giants in the Sky

JUDAS PRIEST: INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR DATES:

Thu Apr 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Fri Apr 19 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Sun Apr 21 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
Wed Apr 24 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
Thu Apr 25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Sat Apr 27 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Center*
Sun Apr 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River
Wed May 01 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre
Thu May 02 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Sat May 4 – Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center*
Sun May 05 – Maryland Heights, MO – St Louis Music Park
Tue May 07 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Propst Arena*
Thu May 09 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville^
Sat May 11 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sun May 12 – Mobile, AL – Mobile Civic Center Arena*
Tue May 14 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Thu, May 16 – Columbus OH – Historic Crew Stadium ^
Fri May 17 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center*
Sun May 19 – Washington, DC –The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Tue May 21 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
Wed May 22 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
*Not a Live Nation Date
^Festival Performance