The 2025 NAMM Show is scheduled to take place January 21–25 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
On Saturday, January 25 at 2 PM, HighWire Daze Magazine will be having a special acoustic show at Hall C booth 6745.
Put together by Faithsedge frontman Giancarlo Floridia, who is now one of the primary songwriters over at Frontiers Music srl, co-writing songs for artist like Sweet & Lynch, Lynch Mob, Robin Mcauley, Cleanbreak, Michael Sweet’s Soledriver and more, will also be performing with the HighWire Daze House Band featuring drummer Nolan Richards and bassist Jay Montoya.
The special guest performers for the event are none other than Tod Howarth from Frehleys Comet and Four By Fate, ex-Puddle Of Mudd guitar player Matt Fuller, and Robby Lochner from Jack Russell’s Great White, as well as the Neil Turbin band, featuring original Anthrax singer, Neil Turbin. There will also be an autograph signing session following the performance.
Nearly 35 years on, -(16)- remain as one of the most enduring, hardest sounding rock and metal entities from North America. The San Diego band redefines heavy on their new album, Guides For The Misguided, out February 7.
Watch -(16)-’s new video for “Proudly Damned” below, and listen on all digital streaming services here. Pre-order Guides For The Misguided on LP/CD/Digital via Relapse.com here.
-(16)- frontman Bobby Ferry comments on Guides For The Misguided:
“The album came together after we wrapped the final mix of our last one Into Dust. It’s all about harnessing creative momentum when it strikes and we’ve been in a kind of creative autopilot for about a decade. When inspiration is there, the rest seems to fall into place effortlessly. Thankfully, we’re still driven to write and perform even after all these years. There’s no grander meaning behind it than simply following that primal urge to create—put your head down and just make something.
“Age has of course given us a fresh perspective. In the 8 years since Lifespan Of A Moth our lineup has shifted. We lost a singer, gained Alex Shuster on lead guitar/producer, and founding member Bobby Ferry slid into the lead vocalist rhythm guitarist spot. Lyrically, we’ve moved beyond the personal and inward grievances of our earlier work and embraced broader themes of conflict, like the hypocrisy of religion and its negative effects on the psyche. On the new album, there’s a song called ‘Blood Atonement Blues’ that delves into the story of Ervil LeBaron, often referred to as the “Mormon Manson,” while ‘Proudly Damned’ explores addiction and how it turns into a Pagan Ritual with a witch-like character posing as the opiate — both in substance abuse and the spiritual realm— in parallel. In many ways, this album might be the closest we’ve come to creating a concept record. Including the two covers on the album is meant to lessen this heavy hand and lighten the focus.
“Musically, we are still grasping for the perfect riffs married to the most ideal arrangements. We’re not afraid to lean into the stuff we love: noise, classic rock, hardcore, doom metal, and thrash. We are well aware we are not reinventing the wheel but lovingly fashioning something from us and basically for us, first and foremost.”
Bobby Ferry returns at the helm as the band’s visceral vocalist and guitarist, and in true -(16)- fashion, belts out stories of pain and unhinged anguish – standout tracks like “Proudly Damned” see the band playing at the crowd while Ferry shares tales of personal strife and depression – “To defile and offend/These are the demons found within/The sullen face of communion’s alarm/It’s an incentive to do more harm” – Ferry is absolutely seething while the band plows through a virulent mix of rock, metal and sludge. Dion Thurman’s pounding drum set, Bobby Ferry and Alex Shuster’s heavier-than-anything-else guitars and the lowest low end from bassist Barney Firks herald tones so low they’re nearly apocalyptic.
Guides For The Misguided closes with the soberingly titled “Kick out the Chair” – while the track sounds like a culmination of a 35 year career, the band show no signs of stopping; although the road ahead looks bleak, -(16)-‘s unrelenting trajectory continues upward.
Guides For The Misguided tracklisting:
“After All” “Hat On A Bed” “Blood Atonement Blues” “Fortress Of Hate” “Proudly Damned” “Fire And Brimstone Inc” “Desperation Angel” “Resurrection Day” “Give Thanks And Praises” (Bad Brains cover) “Kick Out The Chair” “The Tower” (Bonus Track) (Superchunk cover)
“Proudly Damned” video:
-(16)- is:
Bobby Ferry: Guitar, Vocals Alex Shuster: Lead Guitar Barney Firks: Bass Dion Thurman: Drums
Brothers TJ and John Osborne were born in Maryland but relocated to Nashville in 2012. Now with four full-length albums to their name, Brothers Osborne have received a dozen Grammy nominations, one of which became a win in 2022 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Below, younger sibling TJ previews their return to the UK, having appeared at last year’s Country 2 Country Festival.
You kind of remind us of that famous song by Donny and Marie Osmond, A Little Bit Country – A Little Bit Rock ‘N’ Roll.
[Laughs but sounding mildly aghast] That’s maybe not the coolest way of getting our message across, but yeah… exactly. We are the product of what we grew up listening to. Some country music is terrible but I still love it, and we like to come at things with a high energy. We get the electric guitars going and we hit it hard.
Is one sibling more rock’n’roll than the other?
You’d expect John, as a guitar player, to be far more into it, but that’s not really true. No matter how hard we try we just can’t polish ourselves up and make it too slick.
What makes the two styles so compatible?
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We could talk for an hour about that. I guess the origins of all music go back to the same things, and I don’t think that too many people worry a great deal about labelling genres. For the longest time, what was and wasn’t considered country music was very specific, but that’s no longer true. It’s why when you come to see us there will be folks from all walks of life.
With a London show at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, this the band’s biggest tour so far. Why do you think you connect with UK audiences?
One strange thing that we often hear is: “I don’t like country music but I do like you guys.” I think the reason it works is that there’s something there for everyone.
Our goal was to keep on playing bigger and bigger venues. We made that investment financially and in terms of time spent, and by the time we arrive this will be a sold-out tour. I love that the crowds in Britain know all of our material. They’re really willing to take a deep dive, whereas in the US we pretty much have to stick to the hits.
Within the traditional country scene, it must have been very difficult to come out as gay. Four years down the line, how has life changed?
It’s completely different. I’m still the same person but I can be open and free. I wasn’t that inclined to talk about it, but there were a lot of people out there like me from that community, and I also wanted to show the general public that they have no clue about who is gay or who is straight. We have a song called I Don’t Remember Me (Before You) which was written with Shane McAnally, who coincidentally is also gay. Now, that song takes on a whole new meaning for me. I’m much more comfortable in my own skin.
Did it impact upon the group’s fan base?
It most certainly did. We lost some fans and we gained some new ones. I certainly don’t waste a whole lot of time thinking about that. I feel like I’m connected to the audience in a way I never was before.
Around the time the band last spoke with Classic Rock, in mid-2023, John was dealing with some mental health issues.
He’s in a far better place now. He’s a father with twins. John would be the first to tell you that he now takes medication to deal with an imbalance. Both of us have realigned what being successful actually means. Once you ‘make it’, where do you go next? There’s no such thing as a finish line in music. But we are far happier now.
Who’s the support act on the tour?
It’s a guy named Tyler Braden [a singer and guitarist from Alabama]. He is awesome, and it will be an amazing pairing for us.
Last year you released a digital-only four-song EP, Break Mine, apparently to satisfy fan demand.
We write all the time, though I do like to take a break whenever I can to avoid losing my mind – or my love of what I’m doing.
Are the wheels in motion for releasing a new full-length album?
We’re in the creative wheelhouse right now. Some songs are recorded and finished. What we need now is a conversation about how to release them. It would be nice to have a song or two out before we come over. We may even play them live, but let’s see about that.
Someone puts a gun to your head and demands a decision – country or rock’n’roll?
I can’t plead The Fifth?
No. It must be one or the other.
In that case, for me it’s got to be country. I like them both, but if I want to get in a good mood then playing some old Merle Haggard or Hank Williams always works. Those are my roots.
Brothers Osborne’s tour of the UK and Ireland begins in Dublin on January 17. Tickets are on sale now.
The one-shot video finds Hawkins toying with gender roles, appearing as a chain-smoking, world-weary, emotionally troubled diva with a penchant for plastic surgery.
“What I was trying to get was somebody so filled with regret, remorse and self-loathing that they’ll slowly kill themselves, and also do a load of work to their face,” says Hawkins. “The character is desperate to change their appearance, desperate to just get it over.”
“I think we wanted to do something unique and we wanted to make a bit more of a statement,” adds video director Simon Emmett. “I think that what we’ve done is quite brave and honest in a way. I think it’s away from what you’d expect, and I think it says a lot more about current culture and social media.”
“It’s so ridiculously weird,” opines guitarist Dan Hawkins, “and so at odds with the music – not necessarily the lyrics – that the weirdness level is off the charts, completely off the charts, which is great.”
I Hate Myself comes from The Darkness’s upcoming eighth studio album Dreams On Toast, which will be released on March 28 and is the follow-up to 2021’s Motorheart.
The Darkness will celebrate the release of the album with a UK tour. The run of 18 dates starts with a pair of shows at Ipswich’s Regent’s Theatre on March 6 and 7 and climaxes at London’s Wembley Arena on March 29. Support comes from Northern Irish rock trio Ash.
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The Darkness – I Hate Myself (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Slovenian industrial music veterans and art provocateurs Laibach have released a cover of Foreigner‘s classic AOR ballad I Want To Know What Love Is.
True to form, it finds frontman Milan Fras intoning the lyrics in his deep bass voice over an initially sparse but ultimately uplifting synth-driven backing, and climaxes with a live recording of a Laibach audience singing the song’s gospel-style chorus.
The release is the third in a series of unlikely cover versions the band have unveiled over the festive period, following similarly improbable versions of Billie Holiday’s great protest song Strange Fruit and Bing Crosby’s evergreen White Christmas. The band have been performing I Want To Know What Love Is as an encore on their ongoing Opus Dei Revisited tour.
“Listeners curious as to what led this track to be plucked from middle-of-the-road radio, and placed alongside reworked versions from Laibach’s 1987 international breakthrough album Opus Dei, might look for clues in the recent trilogy of releases,” advise the band.
“Strange Fruit, another highlight from the current shows, was refracted to examine how tyranny, hatred and murder pervades in human history as well as today. White Christmas examined the vacuum that the joyous holiday can intensify within those ‘without’ and the magnification of loss that it creates.
“Is there a further clue in the name of the band who originally sang I Want To Know What Love is? Perhaps a demand for understanding, empathy and acceptance is not what would be expected from a band known for its challenging and complex treatise. But then again, in the current world there is little that could be more challenging and complex than achieving peace and love.”
Well. That’s perfectly clear, then.
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Opus Dei Revisited was released in December alongside a limited edition John Peel Sessions LP. Laibach’s Opus Dei Revisited tour resumes next month, and includes UK shows in London, Manchester, Southampton and Bristol. Full dates below.
Feb 07: Ljubljana Kino Šiška, Slovenia Feb 08: Ljubljana Kino Šiška, Slovenia Feb 16: Krakow Kwadrat, Polland Feb 18: Ostrava Barrak, Czech Republic Feb 19: Vienna Arena, Austria Feb 20: Jena F-Haus, Germany Feb 21: Sittard Poppodium Volt, Netherlands Feb 22: London Islington Assembly Hall, UK Feb 23: Manchester Ritz, UK Feb 24: Southampton The 1865, UK Feb 25: Bristol Trinity Centre, UK Feb 27: Lausanne Les Docks, Switzerland Feb 28: Bologna Link, Italy Mar 01: Nova Gorica SNG Nova Gorica, Slovenia Mar 04: Skopje Macedonian Philharmonic, Macedonia Mar 05: Athens Gazarte, Greece Mar 06: Sofia Pirotska 5, Bulgaria Mar 07: Bucharest Quantic Club, Romania Mar 08: Beograd Dom Omladine, Serbia Mar 21: Maribor Narodni Dom, Slovenia
For the first time ever, Biohazard and Life Of Agony will share the stage on a monumental international co-headlining tour. New dates have been announced for Belfast and Dublin, Ireland, as well as a new show confirmed in Köln, Germany.
Additionally, support on the tour will come from modern rock band, LYLVC.
Two of the heaviest bands to ever call Brooklyn, NY home, the metal titans will now launch the tour on February 22 in Dublin, Ireland. The tour wraps March 29 in Amsterdam.
February 22 – Belfast, Ireland – Limelight (New Date) 23 – Dublin, Ireland – The Academy (New Date) 25 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City 26 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 28 – Newcastle, UK – NX Newcastle
March 1 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy 2 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute 4 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town 5 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz 7 – Den Haag, Netherlands – Paard 8 – Brussels, Belgium – La Madeline 9 – Köln, Germany – Carlswerk Victoria (New Date) 11 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal 13 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Les Docks 14 – Wurzburg, Germany – Posthalle 15 – Karlsruhe, Germany – Substage 17 – Krakow, Poland – Studio Krakow 18 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja 19 – Brno, Czech Republic – Sono Centrum 21 – Seraring, Belgium – OM 22 – Munich, Germany – Backstage Halle 23 – Berlin, Germany – Huxley’s Neue Welt 25 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Poolen 27 – Hamburg, Germany – Markthalle 28 – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje 29 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
True to the motto #onebetter, Angus McSix won’t settle for 666 — no, it has to be “6666”. The new song includes everything that made the album Angus McSix And The Sword Of Power the most successful power metal debut of 2023, skyrocketing to number 10 on the Official German Album Charts, as well as a few surprises…
At their start, Prince Angus McSix (Thomas Winkler / ex-Gloryhammer) is overwhelmed by the dark Seebulon (Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann / Orden Ogan) and a horde of orcs. He is frozen and taken to an unknown location somewhere in space and time. Telepathically, he manages to call his brother Adam for help before his voice fades into eternity. Adam hears him and sets off immediately. Although he doesn’t know where Angus is, he knows he can locate him with the power of the six Sixtus Stellar Superlords.
And so, Thomas Winkler, who is now stepping back to spend more time with his family, passes the sword to exceptional vocalist Sam Nyman (Manimal).
“It was a tough decision to go down this path, and even harder to find a suitable singer”, explains Winkler. “But Seeb and I created such an amazing project with Angus McSix that we didn’t want to let it die. I’m glad we found Sam and am absolutely thrilled with his vocal performance.”
“You can’t replace a Thomas Winkler, which is why we didn’t search for the next ‘Angus.’ Sam brings his own style, so he needed his own character: Prince Adam McSix,” explains Seeb.
With its new lineup, Angus McSix have created an absolute hit track that is now already released as the first single from the upcoming, yet untitled album. Watch the official video For “6666”:
Guitar amazon Thalestris (Thalia Bellazecca, ex-Frozen Crown, Primal Fear) continues with the new lineup, with “Ork Zero” (Gerit Lamm, ex-Xandria) now on drums. What happened to Skaw!? It’s possible that we’ll find out in the next music video…
“6666” was once again written, produced, mixed, and mastered by top-charting producer Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann at his Greenman Studios. Levermann also took on the role of director for the new music video.
The new album is planned for early 2026, but first, you can catch the band on two major tours. In January/February, Angus McSix are main support on the Orden Ogan “Tour Of Fear” with opening act All For Metal. A big European tour with Wind Rose and Orden Ogan will follow in October.
Celebrating 15 years of bringing extreme metal music fans from across Canada and beyond to British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Western Canada’s largest mountain mosh pit Armstrong MetalFest launches its early bird tickets/weekend passes, which include on-site camping for their 2025 lineup being held on July 11-12 in Armstrong at the Hassen Arena.
Secure your spot at this legendary event at a special discounted rate. Don’t miss the opportunity to snag your tickets early and be part of the metal mayhem that awaits! A limited amount of early bird tickets will be on sale until the AMF 2025 lineup is announced in the coming months.
All tickets provide General Admission and grant access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9 AM on Friday, July 11, until 10 AM on Sunday, July 13. Free camping is included.
Tickets will be mailed starting after March 1st if you have chosen the “Ticket Mailed” option.
Please Note: RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you choose to park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, then a vehicle pass is not required.
This 15th annual gathering of metalheads will again witness two days of unforgettable moshing, headbanging, and camping. From iconic headliners to promising newcomers, the 2025 lineup is set to showcase the best of diverse metal genres, ensuring an electrifying experience for all. In addition to the performing bands, Armstrong Metal Fest brings back the following on-site activities.
Yeti Games: Participate in this year’s Yeti Games with six extreme skill-testing events! 20 participants compete for a chance to win two free passes to next year’s metal fest. The last person standing wins…
There might be openings at the last minute, so show up for the opening ceremony. AMF may have a jersey with your number on it!
Metal Market Madness: The metal market will be a bustling hub of activity, featuring a diverse array of vendors offering everything from band merchandise to unique collectibles. Seize the opportunity to grab exclusive items and immerse yourself in the metal culture.
Thrash Wrestling: Experience an electrifying event featuring the high-octane clash of titans! Join AMF on Saturday for an unforgettable afternoon of fierce competition, heart-stopping moments, and pure wrestling mayhem!
About: Since 2009 (minus pause years 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong Metalfest have not only fostered the talent of hundreds of local bands, but have imported well-known, international acts to the quiet, little Canadian town of Armstrong, British Columbia.
Each year hundreds of metal music fans from Canada and the USA descend into the picturesque Okanagan Valley and under the blistering sun, they spend three days camping, taking in a tonne of heavy metal fun over two days, spectating wrestling events, participating in scavenger hunts, and catching up with their extended metal family.
The festival has seen such renowned headliners as Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Rivers of Nihil, Warbinger, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation as well as emerging artists from across North America. At the end of the revelry, the festival disappears without a trace, leaving the landscape as pristine as it has always been.
West Metal Entertainment is a non-profit society that not only puts on the Armstrong Metal Festival every year in Armstrong, B.C. but also gives bands opportunities to play at different venues throughout the region including all-ages shows, to encourage musical passion in kids as well as adults.
Watch the official video recap of AMF 2019 below. Video created by Mayne Brand Productions.
HITS Daily Double is reporting that ABC rocked New Year’s Day in a big way with the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony, which drew 4.6m viewers – the most eyes in the ceremony’s history.
The number represents a 49% jump from last year’s viewership, which checked in at 3.09m. In fact, the three-hour broadcast was the most watched New Year’s Day prime-time entertainment program since January 1, 2019.
The broadcast topped all broadcast programming in the 18-49 demo with a .50 rating, up 39% from 2024, the ceremony’s best showing since March 21, 2004. That’s the biggest New Year’s Day broadcast entertainment since January 1, 2020.
The ceremony, which hit Hulu on January 2 , was produced by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions, with executive producers including Gallen, John Sykes and Joel Peresman.
The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honored inductees: Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest. Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton were honored for Musical Influence, while Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield were feted for Musical Excellence. Suzanne De Passe was the recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
W.A.S.P. have updated the itinerary for their “Album ONE Alive” tour, marking the 40th anniversary of the release of the band’s first album. To celebrate this classic metal album, W.A.S.P. are, for the first time in 40 years, playing the entire album from top to bottom, start to finish. In addition, W.A.S.P. will be appearing at a number of European festivals, performing their greatest hits.
The updated itinerary can be found below. For tickets, head here.
Formed in 1982, W.A.S.P. is set to bring this universally acclaimed “classic” album to life. Lead vocalist Blackie Lawless says, “It was an angry record made by an angry band. It was a record that not only reflected the attitude of the band members who made it, but also a record that reflected its time.” This record became a central piece of the 80s metal scene and remains one of the best metal debut albums of all time.
Along with bassist Mike Duda and lead guitarist Doug Blair, whose tenures in the band are 29 and 26 years respectively, W.A.S.P. is joined by long-time drummer extraordinaire Aquiles Priester.
Lawless and company will deliver the ultimate incredible spectacle, bringing W.A.S.P.’s most colorful history to life by performing this revered album in its entirety… ONE more time… ONE last time… Album ONE Alive!
Headline Shows Performing Album ONE Alive:
April 29 – Montevideo Music Box – Montevideo, Uruguay 30 – Teatro Flores – Lomas De Zamora, Argentina
May 2 – Cúpula Multiespacio – Santiago, Chile
June 7 – Astra – Berlin, Germany 10 – Le Forum – Vaureal, France 11 – Effenaar – Eindhoven, Netherlands 12 – Rockhal – Esch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg 13 – Schlachthof Wiesbaden – Wiesbaden, Germany
July 11 – Hangar – Belgrade, Serbia 16 – Live Club – Trezzo Sull’adda Mi, Italy 29 – Salle de l’Abeille – Riddes, Switzerland 30 – Komplex – Zurich, Switzerland
March 1 – Titans Of Metal 2025 – Ciudad De México, Mexico
May 4 – Bangers Open Air Brasil 2025 – São Paulo, Brazil
June 6 – Mystic Festival – Gdańsk, Poland 8 – Rock Hard Festival – Gelsenkirchen, Germany 14 – Into The Grave – Leeuwarden, Netherlands
July 10 – Area 53 Festival – Leoben, Austria 12 – Midalidare Open Air – Mogilovo, Bulgaria 13 – Rockwave Festival 2025 – Malakasa, Greece 18 – Sun And Thunder Festival – Málaga, Spain 26 – Steelhouse Festival – Abertillery, UK 30 – August 2 – Wacken Open Air – Wacken, Germany
August 1 – Skogsröjet Festival – Rejmyre, Sweden 6 – Leyendas del Rock Festival – Villena, Spain 8 – Alcatraz Festival – Kortrijk, Belgium
About W.A.S.P.:
Few bands in the history of rock n’ roll have ever incited the love, the hate, the raw emotional effect this band has had on the world. From the very beginning, in the small venues of Los Angeles California, and later to the numerous countries worldwide that banned these Winged Assassins from performing live, the band’s unique style of shock and rock caused religious organizations, local city councils, parliaments, and the Washington D.C. senate to hold hearings in an effort to bar this group from selling records and trashing stages everywhere they played.
The band’s founding member, frontman Blackie Lawless, has led the group as its lead vocalist and primary songwriter since its beginning. His unique brand of visual, social and political comment took the group to worldwide heights and sold millions of records alongside a legacy of sold out shows across the globe for 4 decades.
