Mattel Creations has revealed a Jimmy Buffett action figure based on his cameo appearance in 2015 movie Jurassic World.
Unveiled at this year’s Comic Con in San Diego, the set features the late singer holding two margaritas while being surrounded by escaped flying dinosaurs. It re-enacts the moment he’s seen trying to save the drinks while he’s part of a crowd running away from escaped dimorphodons.
“Jurassic World fans and Parrotheads alike fondly remember Jimmy Buffett’s cameo,” Mattel said in a statement. “Inspired by this movie moment, our Jimmy Buffet action figure wears his island apparel, including sunglasses and flip-flops.
“He stands atop a margarita-style platform, surrounded by ‘flying’ dimorphodons that circle him as the tiki hut-style base turns. In honor of Buffett’s philanthropic legacy, Mattel will donate $5,000 and 5,000 toys to [Buffett’s charity] Singing for Change.”
The platform lights up and plays music when the base is turned, with authentic sounds including whirring blender and swooping dimorphodons. The “lost” salt shaker is also included, along with two drinks and a custom artwork case.
Watch Jimmy Buffett’s ‘Margarita Man’ Cameo in ‘Jurrassic World’
How Jimmy Buffett Wound Up in ‘Jurrasic World’
Buffett’s connection with the movie came via his Margaritaville brand, as the creative team aimed to make the Jurassic World resort feel like a real-life place, and wanted recognizable store fronts on camera. “We were excited to go and hand pick who was going to be on the main street and on the boardwalk, and we were lucky enough to get Margaritaville as the marquee restaurant,” producer Frank Marshall said.
Buffett attended the movie premiere, performing “Margaritaville” with star Chris Pratt at the aftershow event.
The figure retails for $30 and it’s available to pre-order now, with shipping on or before Aug. 2, with a limit of three units per customer.
Watch Jimmy Buffett and Chris Pratt Sing ‘Margaritaville’
Top 100 ’70s Rock Albums
From AC/DC to ZZ Top, from ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ to ‘London Calling,’ they’re all here.
Dave Navarro recalled the moment he lost it during a Jane’s Addiction show and threw every guitar he owned into the crowd.
It was an angry reaction against frontman Perry Farrell during the first Lollapalooza festival in 1991. It led Navarro to suffer instant regret – but it turned out to have an unexpected positive effect on his career.
“Back then, drugs and alcohol were a big factor in our band’s life,” he told Guitar World in a recent interview. “Sometimes we’d be at the same level and have a great time, and sometimes people would go in different directions.
“On that particular night I went in a different direction. Three songs in we got into a physical altercation and I decided, ‘I’m done playing this fucking show.’ I took all my Ibanez guitars and threw them into the audience. I looked at Perry and I was like, ‘What are you going to do now?’ Like, ‘Ha ha ha, I got you! I don’t have any guitars to play now!’”
He continued: “Five minutes later, I was like, ‘Oh shit, what am I going to do now?’ I was so focused on getting back at him that I didn’t realize I’d just cut my own feet off.”
Fortunately help was at hand. “The guitarist of the Rollins Band, Chris Haskett, was playing with Corey Smith. At the next gig he said, ‘Why don’t you borrow one of my guitars and see if you like it?’ So for the second Lollapalooza show I was playing a PRS, and I said, ‘I fucking love this.’”
Why Jane’s Addiction Are Having More Fun Than Ever
Since that time Navarro has remained with PRS. “They overnighted two or three guitars,” he said. “I used them for the rest of Lollapalooza and the rest of my career.”
He reported that the reunited Jane’s Addiction – who just released “Imminent Redemption,” their first song to feature the original lineup since 1991 – are having more fun on stage than ever before, extending and experimenting with songs as they go.
“It makes playing those songs fun again,” he said. “You’re on the edge of a cliff and you don’t know if you’re gonna fall off. So far, we haven’t. And even if we did, that would be kind of a memorable moment!”
Watch Jane’s Addiction’s “Imminent Redemption” Lyric Video
Top 100 ’90s Rock Albums
Any discussion of the Top 100 ’90s Rock Albums will have to include some grunge, and this one is no different.
James Hetfield has revealed what he learned from Metallica’s nonprofit work via their All Within My Hands foundation. And the frontman said that while it was the “corniest” lesson, it was still true.
Named after a track on 2003 album St. Anger, the group started the organization in 2017, aiming “to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band for years, as well as encourage participation from fans and friends.”
Since then, millions of dollars have been raised for a wide range of causes including food banks, disaster relief and education programs, while fans are encouraged to take part in voluntary work in their own communities.
In a recent episode of The Metallica Report (below), Hetfield explained that the foundation logo included a key entering a lock to give access to the “knowledge of, ‘it is better to give than to receive.’”
He continued: “As corny as that sounds, there’s not really a better feeling in this world than helping someone else, and doing it without telling about it. … It goes against everything that humans are – ‘I need this; you give me that; I need to take this.’ Especially growing up in a band that was struggling, fighting for the only towel in the motel, or whatever it is; or, ‘There’s a can of food there – I better get mine or else.’”
Saying his experience had taught him how to move from “that sparseness mentality” to “completely the opposite,” he added: “[D]espite everything I’ve learned, the corniest saying, ‘it’s better to give than receive,’ is so true.”
James Hetfield’s Favorite Part of Metallica’s Charity Work
Hetfield said that, for him, the best of the foundation’s work was “the ability to sponsor people into restarting their life or giving them sense of hope, giving them a trade that they can take anywhere in the world and feel that they are worthy.”
He reflected: “And it could be a little selfish of me, because I like doing that stuff…It’s not something I need to sustain me and my family, So it’s more of a hobby – but it’s a career for most people.
“You don’t take the time every day to realize that, ‘Wow, someone… built this couch we’re sitting on.’ … Someone else has taken the time to learn how to do it, and it makes our lives better. So why are they not respected as much as a doctor or a lawyer? … It’s kind of the same thing.”
Metallica Lineup Changes: A Complete Guide
They became the most successful heavy metal band in history, but not without the occasional personnel shift.
The name is legendary, and indelibly linked to the worlds of hard rock and metal, but Marshall has also carved itself a niche with a rugged range of Marshall speakers and raucous Marshall headphones. Reason enough to get excited when a new pair of cans drop.
This latest iteration of the Marshall Major line retain the brand’s classic on-ear design, complete with iconic brand logo, but significantly upgrade battery performance and wearability.
Marshall Major V: Design
Ostensibly, the Major V look much like what Marshall has offered before. All the familiar Marshall design traits are there: The right-hand ear cup has the that distinct manual brass control knob, for power, phone calls and volume control, while the left side has the M-button. Marshall has tweaked usability, customising this M-button so it can control Spotify, EQ adjustment and voice assistant control.
There’s only moderate clamping force, with the squared-off ear cups easily adjusted using the sliding rails. The headphones are also Bluetooth LE Audio enabled, offering a number of user benefits, including improved audio sync when watching videos on your smartphone or tablet, and a wider streaming range.
The headband itself is thinly padded so if you have lustrous locks this won’t be an issue, but those adopting a sleeker look (ahem) will feel the band resting on their pate.
A snug fit helps with acoustic isolation but unlike many wireless headphone rivals, there’s no Active Noise Cancellation offered here – a key reason why the battery life on the Marshall Major V is so generous.
While most of us will use the Marshall Major V wirelessly, they do come with a (curly) wired option. You can lace them up to your smartphone (if you still have a smartphone with a 3.5mm jack), or use them with an aeroplane’s entertainment system.
Marshall Major V: Features
(Image credit: Future)
The Major V headphones last longer than the Marshall Major IV, adding 20 hours more playtime to take the total to a massive 100 hours of battery life from a full charge. This effectively removes the need to fret over recharge schedules. I easily got through several days of casual use, before returning them to the wall.
It’s also worth noting that there’s also a quick charge feature that’ll grant you 15 hours of play time from just 15 minutes on a wall socket.
Helpfully, the headphones also fold down, making them very easy to store in a pocket or bag. They’re light at just 186g, but feel rugged enough, which probably explains why they don’t ship with a travel pouch.
Charging is via USB C and the Marshall Major V also support wireless charging. Just pop your headphones on a wireless charging pad to re-juice.
The Marshall Major V also utilise the Marshall app, where you can access EQ presets or your smartphone’s default voice assistant. The EQ comes preloaded with Original Marshall Sound, and a host of modes, including bass boost, mid boost, treble reduction, mid reduction and a custom option.
For what it’s worth, I think the app could use some attention. It’s not particularly responsive, tends to drop its connection and rather gets in the way. The headphones don’t utilise any spoken voice interaction. Instead we get chunky guitar riffs as acknowledgment.
Marshall Major V: Sound
(Image credit: Future)
Audio performance is excellent for the price. The Marshall Major V sound as good as they look with guitar-orientated rock. The headphones utilise dynamic 40mm drivers and can rock hard at volume.
Stereo imaging is wide and spacious and listening to AC/DC‘s Hells Bells via Spotify placed Brian Johnson front and centre, riffs duelled left and right before Angus Young moved centre in the mix. The drivers exhibit excellent spatial balance, albeit with an edge that’s always exciting to listen to.
Tuning favours the mid-range and there’s a welcome fullness to lead vocals and speech. Cleopatra by Nova Twins is a swaggering wave of distortion, but the headphones keep the vocals nice clean. The bass is prominent, and has weight, but it’s not over-wrought. The Marshall Major V headphones sound tight and mighty.
I wouldn’t class these headphones as audiophile as they lack the clinical precision and sweetness you’ll find higher up the price scale. However, those big drivers have energy to spare and sounded awesome with pretty much everything I threw at them.
Marshall Major V: The alternatives
For much the same money, you could opt for a pair of Sennheiser Accentum over-ear headphones. They lack the Marshall’s rock’n’roll aesthetic, favouring a rather more refined design – and the drivers are slightly smalle, at 37mm, but they do have the benefit of Active Noise Cancellation. This makes them perhaps more suitable for those with a regular commute. Battery life is half as impressive, at 50 hours.
Another solid alternative are the Sony Ult Wear headphones. They also have 40mm drivers, but unashamedly favour a deep clubbing bass. Active Noise Cancellation is also available on this model but battery life is relatively poor in comparison at 30 hours.
Finnish prog rock trio Von Hertzen Brothers have announced that they will release a brand new studio album, In Murmuration, through their DoingBeingMusic label on October 25.
The new album, the band’s ninth studio album, is the follow-up to 2022’s acclaimed Red Alert In The Blue Forestand sees the band (including drummer Sami Kuoppamäki) joined by multi-instrumentalistMarkus Pajakkala, who performed with the brothers on their acoustic tour in 2023, notably playing a saxophone solo on 2022’s Peace Patrol, as well as a gospel ensemble and the Budapest Art Orchestra.
“The shapes and the overall tone of the musical content on this album could be a bit surprising to some of our newer followers, but not to those who have been listening to us from the beginning. Musically speaking, we have proudly carried the cloaks of ‘prog-wizards’ for the last two albums, but what has not been so widely discussed lately is our ability to write good pop choruses and great catchy rock anthems with good vibes. We felt like it was now time to bring forth that side of us once again.
“The lyrical themes still deal with the everyday struggles of being humans in this fucked up world, it’s a source that keeps on giving, but we wanted to step out of the forest and into the sunlight to mingle, discuss and celebrate. We live in an age of constant change where everyone is trying to find a secure footing in life, sometimes full of joy and sometimes filled with utter disappointment. Amid all that, the trick is to stay alert and lean to one another. Like starlings in murmuration.
“After the pandemic, and now as the world has once again opened, we have somehow felt lighter in our everyday lives. We acknowledge the contradiction of course, since the world with its horrors hasn’t changed much… It would have been easy to drown in those doomsday moods, but writing these songs we felt the need to tackle these problems from a more forgiving and positive standpoint.”
The band will play four launch shows in Finland and the UK at the end of 2024 before returning to the UK, Europe and the US, including Cruise to the Edge in spring 2025.
Von Hertzen Brothers UK shows: Nov 28: Troon Winter Storm Festival Nov 29: Buckley The Tivoli Nov 30: Trecco Bay Planet Rockstock Dec 02: London The Garage
In Murmuration will be released on limited-edition crystal-clear vinyl gatefold LP, CD and digital. Merch bundles will be available from the band’s website. Pre-orders will be available from August 1.
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(Image credit: DoingBeingMusic)
Von Hertzen Brothers: In Murmuration 1. The Relapse 2. A Good Life 3. Starlings 4. Ascension Day 5. Beneath the Silver Stars 6. Tightrope Walker 7. The Change 8. Separation 9. Snowstorm 10. Wait for Me
Hammerfall singer Joacim Cans has distanced the band from the ‘power metal’ tag in a new interview.
Cans, 54, says in an exclusive conversation with Metal Hammer that ‘power metal’ is simply “the American way of naming traditional heavy metal, especially if it’s not made in the 80s”.
“We are as traditional as can be,” he continues.
“I think heavy metal is enough, because within the boundaries of heavy metal, you can do so many things.”
In the same interview, Cans reflects on his higher education in Hollywood. The singer, born and raised in Sweden, moved to the US for a year to study music when he was 23.
When asked why he only stayed in the States for a year, Cans answers, “Because I hated it!”
He elaborates: “I felt that I was useless, not in school but outside of it.
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“You went to [legendary Los Angeles bar] The Rainbow and met so many ‘talented’ musicians with so much going on: ‘We’re going on this tour and have this connection with this label. What do you have going on?’ ‘Nothing!’ I didn’t have the cool style with the big hair.
“Later I realised that, most people I met, they had the image down – now they only needed to learn how to play their instrument!”
Hammerfall were formed in 1993 as a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal throwback side-project for death metal musicians Oscar Dronjak (ex-Ceremonial Oath) and Jesper Strömblad (ex-Ceremonial Oath/In Flames). The band became a more full-time venture after Strömblad left to focus on In Flames and Cans joined in 1996.
Hammerfall will release their 13th studio album, Avenge The Fallen, on August 9 via Nuclear Blast.
The album features Armored Saint and former Anthrax singer John Bush on backing vocals.
The show featured extensive pyro, with Viotti dressed as a beheaded Marie Antoinette, and took place on the side of La Conciergerie. Antoinette was sentenced to death at the castle/prison in 1793.
The performance was branded as “satanic” by some Christian observers. One prominent influencer cited the show as an example of the West “worshipping the devil”.
Gojira singer/guitarist Joe Duplantier has denied satanic intent in a new Rolling Stone interview, highlighting the performance’s revolutionary imagery.
“It’s none of that,” Duplantier says when asked if the show was “satanic”.
“It’s French history. It’s French charm, you know, beheaded people, red wine, and blood all over the place – it’s romantic, it’s normal. There’s nothing satanic.”
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Duplantier continues: “France is a country that made a separation between the state and religion during the revolution. And it’s something very important, very dear to the foundation of republican France.
“We call it laïcité. It’s when the state is not religious anymore, so therefore it’s free in terms of expression and symbolism.
“It’s all about history and facts. We don’t look too close closely at symbolism in terms of religion.”
Duplantier also reveals that he and his bandmates were in the dark about much of the planning for the opening ceremony, including which song Gojira were going to perform.
“[The choice of Ah! Ça Ira] wasn’t us at all,” he says.
“That was the team of young people and composers and designers that decided the whole theme. We were in the dark when it came to the whole ceremony; we were just concentrating on that picture and that moment of Marie Antoinette.
“We didn’t know how it was going to look or how it would fit in with a whole performance. I didn’t know Lady Gaga or Celine Dion were going to be there.”
Sep 12: Tampa Midflorida Credit Union Ampitheatre, FL Sep 14: West Palm Beach Ithink Financial Amphitheatre, FL Sep 16: Alpharetta Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, GA Sep 18: Charlotte PNC Music Pavilion, NC Sep 20: Camden Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, NJ Sep 21: Mansfield Xfinity Center, MA Sep 23: Newark Prudential Center, NJ Sep 25: Toronto Budweiser Stage, Canada Sep 27: Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre, MI Sep 28: Tinley Park Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, IL Sep 29: Louisville Louder Than Life, KY Oct 02: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheater, NM Oct 03: Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, AZ Oct 05: Los Angeles BMO Stadium, CA Oct 08: Portland Moda Center, OR Oct 10: Tacoma Dome, WA Oct 12: Nampa Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater, ID Oct 13: Salt Lake City Delta Center, UT Oct 16: Greenwood Village Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, CO Oct 18: Kansas City T-Mobile Center, MO Oct 20: The Woodlands Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, TX Oct 21: San Antonio Frost Bank Center, TX Oct 23: Tulsa Bok Center, OK Oct 25: Omaha CHI Health Center, NE Oct 27: Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center, MN
Louder’s resident Gojira obsessive was still at uni when he joined the team in 2017. Since then, Matt’s become a regular in Prog and Metal Hammer, at his happiest when interviewing the most forward-thinking artists heavy music can muster. He’s got bylines in The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Guitar and many others, too. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him skydiving, scuba diving or coasteering.
