“What the **** are you saying, bro?!” System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian on the Serj Tankian lyrics that confused him the most

Serj Tankian and Shavo from System Of A Down share a word on stage in 2002
(Image credit: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect via Getty Images)

System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian have named the song by his own band that has confused him the most – thanks to frontman Serj Tankian‘s famously zany lyrics. In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Odadjian is asked by System fan Ariel Colton whether there were any lyrics from Tankian that made him go, quite simply, ‘WTF?’.

Bounce,” he replies straight away. “I wrote that song musically and Serj wrote the vocals, and it was called ‘PJs’. Instead of ‘Jump! Pogo pogo pogo pogo…!’, it was like, ‘Da! Pisha pisha pisha pisha…!’ I was like, ‘What the fuck are you saying, bro?!’ Actually, every album has shit where I say, ‘What the fuck is he talking about?!’ Ha ha ha! But that’s part of the beauty of Serj. He does that but there’s always something there for everyone to read into.”

Speaking on his Patreon page a few years ago, Serj Tankian described of his approach to lyrics: “I usually start with the music first, and then I’ll look for inspirations. ‘What is this music saying to me? What is it talking about? Is it talking about a bird? Is it talking about the Earth? Is it talking about a love? Is it talking about politics?…Once you’ve figured that out, then you have your theme. Your theme’s important because it gives you focus.’

System Of A Down recently made headlines for some truly awe-inspiring footage emerging from their South American tour. Discussing why System Of A Down are touring again after seven years, Odadjian notes: “We’re older now, and we respect each other, and we’ve talked. We’ve noticed how social media, and the media in general, has swayed us. We’ve just turned everything off and… we’re grateful for each other. We love each other. Anything that has happened between us is minuscule. We’re just playing, doing what we feel like doing.”

Read more from Shavo Odadjian’s interview with System Of A Down fans in the new issue of Metal Hammer, out now.

Sign up below to get the latest from Metal Hammer, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N’ Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site. 

Complete List Of Styx Songs From A to Z

Complete List Of Styx Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Styx took root in Chicago’s South Side in the early 1960s when twin brothers Chuck and John Panozzo teamed up with neighbor Dennis DeYoung to form a local band called The Tradewinds. As they evolved through lineup changes and musical refinement, they adopted the name Styx in 1972—a reference to the mythological river of the underworld. By that time, the band had already developed a unique style blending classical influences, layered harmonies, hard rock energy, and theatrical presentation. Their early days were marked by tireless gigging in local clubs and regional circuits, eventually landing them a record deal with Wooden Nickel Records.

The band’s breakthrough arrived with their fourth album, Man of Miracles (1974), but it was the ballad “Lady” from their 1973 self-titled second album that became their first hit. Though it initially received little national attention, the song was re-released in 1975 and climbed into the Billboard Top 10, propelling Styx to wider recognition. Their next leap came when they signed to A&M Records, beginning a prolific period that would define them as one of the major rock acts of the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Between 1972 and 2021, Styx released 17 studio albums. Their creative peak came between 1975 and 1983, during which they issued a string of platinum-selling records including Equinox (1975), Crystal Ball (1976), The Grand Illusion (1977), Pieces of Eight (1978), Cornerstone (1979), Paradise Theatre (1981), and Kilroy Was Here (1983). These albums featured a string of major hits including “Come Sail Away,” “Renegade,” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” “Babe,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” and “Mr. Roboto.” Their combination of arena rock anthems and theatrical concept pieces gave them wide appeal, bridging the gap between progressive rock and mainstream radio.

The Grand Illusion marked a major commercial turning point, selling over three million copies and introducing Styx to a global audience. “Come Sail Away” became a defining anthem for the band, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up album, Pieces of Eight, reinforced their momentum with rockers like “Renegade” and “Blue Collar Man.” With Cornerstone, Styx scored their first No. 1 single with “Babe,” a Dennis DeYoung-penned ballad that showcased the band’s softer side while igniting internal disagreements over the band’s musical direction.

Creative tensions grew during the production of Kilroy Was Here, a concept album that leaned heavily into synths and theatrical narrative. While the album produced another hit in “Mr. Roboto,” it also led to mounting conflict between DeYoung and guitarist Tommy Shaw. Shaw left the band in 1984, and Styx entered a period of turbulence. Although they continued to release albums like Edge of the Century (1990), which featured the hit “Show Me the Way,” the classic lineup would not perform together again for many years.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Styx underwent significant personnel changes. The death of drummer John Panozzo in 1996 and bassist Chuck Panozzo’s health issues altered the band’s internal chemistry. Still, Tommy Shaw returned, and the band experienced a revival with a revised lineup that included Lawrence Gowan on keyboards and vocals. Albums such as Brave New World (1999), Cyclorama (2003), and The Mission (2017) kept Styx active and touring, showcasing a commitment to their legacy and their fans.

In 2021, Styx released Crash of the Crown, their 17th studio album. It demonstrated that the band still had creative fire decades after their initial rise, mixing prog influences with modern production. The current lineup, including longtime drummer Todd Sucherman, bassist Ricky Phillips, and the return of Chuck Panozzo for occasional performances, has continued to tour internationally, drawing fans from multiple generations. Their live shows remain a central part of their identity, featuring elaborate stage production and a catalog of songs that have stood the test of time.

Styx has never been formally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but their contributions to rock history are undisputed. They have sold over 20 million records in the United States alone, earned multiple platinum and gold certifications, and maintained a relentless touring schedule. Their blend of grandiose concept albums, stadium-sized hooks, and earnest musicianship won them a passionate fan base and kept them relevant across decades of changing musical trends.

Outside of their music, members of Styx have contributed to various philanthropic efforts. Chuck Panozzo became an advocate for HIV and AIDS awareness following his public disclosure of his diagnosis in 2001. The band has participated in benefit concerts and charitable events over the years, maintaining a connection to their fans not only through music but through community engagement and advocacy.

Complete List Of Styx Songs From A to Z

  1. 22 YearsThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  2. A DayStyx II – 1973
  3. A.D. 1928Paradise Theatre – 1981
  4. A.D. 1958Paradise Theatre – 1981
  5. After You Leave MeStyx – 1972
  6. Aku-AkuPieces of Eight – 1978
  7. All in a Day’s WorkEdge of the Century – 1990
  8. All Systems StableThe Mission – 2017
  9. A Man Like MeMan of Miracles – 1974
  10. A MonsterCrash of the Crown – 2021
  11. Another FarewellCrash of the Crown – 2021
  12. A Salty Dog (Procol Harum cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  13. A Song for SuzanneMan of Miracles – 1974
  14. As Bad as ThisThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  15. BabeCornerstone – 1979
  16. Back to ChicagoEdge of the Century – 1990
  17. Best New FaceBrave New World – 1999
  18. Best ThingStyx – 1972
  19. The Best of TimesParadise Theatre – 1981
  20. Blue Collar Man @ 2120Big Bang Theory – 2005
  21. Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)Pieces of Eight – 1978
  22. Boat on the RiverCornerstone – 1979
  23. Born for AdventureEquinox – 1975
  24. Borrowed TimeCornerstone – 1979
  25. Bourgeois PigCyclorama – 2003
  26. Brave New WorldBrave New World – 1999
  27. Brave New World (Reprise)Brave New World – 1999
  28. Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  29. Captain AmericaCyclorama – 2003
  30. Carrie AnnEdge of the Century – 1990
  31. Castle WallsThe Grand Illusion – 1977
  32. Christopher, Mr. ChristopherMan of Miracles – 1974
  33. Clair de Lune/BallerinaCrystal Ball – 1976
  34. Cold WarKilroy Was Here – 1983
  35. Come Sail AwayThe Grand Illusion – 1977
  36. Coming Out the Other SideCrash of the Crown – 2021
  37. Common GroundCrash of the Crown – 2021
  38. Crash of the CrownCrash of the Crown – 2021
  39. Crystal BallCrystal Ball – 1976
  40. Do Things My WayCyclorama – 2003
  41. Don’t Let It EndKilroy Was Here – 1983
  42. Don’t Let It End (Reprise)Kilroy Was Here – 1983
  43. Double LifeKilroy Was Here – 1983
  44. Earl of RoselandStyx II – 1973
  45. EddieCornerstone – 1979
  46. Edge of the CenturyEdge of the Century – 1990
  47. Everything Is CoolBrave New World – 1999
  48. Evil EyesMan of Miracles – 1974
  49. Fallen AngelBrave New World – 1999
  50. Father O.S.A.Styx II – 1973
  51. Fields of the BraveCyclorama – 2003
  52. The Fight of Our LivesCrash of the Crown – 2021
  53. Find the Cost of Freedom (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  54. First TimeCornerstone – 1979
  55. Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)The Grand Illusion – 1977
  56. Fooling Yourself (Palm of Your Hands)Cyclorama – 2003
  57. Genki Desu KaCyclorama – 2003
  58. Golden LarkMan of Miracles – 1974
  59. Gone Gone GoneThe Mission – 2017
  60. Goodbye RoselandBrave New World – 1999
  61. The Grand FinaleThe Grand Illusion – 1977
  62. The Grand IllusionThe Grand Illusion – 1977
  63. Great ExpectationsBrave New World – 1999
  64. The Greater GoodThe Mission – 2017
  65. Great White HopePieces of Eight – 1978
  66. The Grove of EglantineThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  67. Half-Penny, Two-PennyParadise Theatre – 1981
  68. Hallelujah ChorusThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  69. Haven’t We Been Here BeforeKilroy Was Here – 1983
  70. Havin’ a BallMan of Miracles – 1974
  71. Heavy Metal PoisoningKilroy Was Here – 1983
  72. Heavy WaterBrave New World – 1999
  73. High Crimes & Misdemeanors (Hip Hop-Cracy)Brave New World – 1999
  74. High TimeKilroy Was Here – 1983
  75. Hold Back the DarknessCrash of the Crown – 2021
  76. HomewreckerEdge of the Century – 1990
  77. Hundred Million Miles from HomeThe Mission – 2017
  78. I Am the Walrus (the Beatles cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  79. I Can See for Miles (the Who cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  80. I Don’t Need No Doctor (Ray Charles cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  81. I’m Gonna Make You Feel ItStyx II – 1973
  82. I’m O.K.Pieces of Eight – 1978
  83. It Don’t Make Sense (You Can’t Make Peace) (Willie Dixon cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  84. I Will Be Your WitnessBrave New World – 1999
  85. JenniferCrystal Ball – 1976
  86. Jonas PsalterThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  87. Just Fell InBrave New World – 1999
  88. Just Get Through This NightKilroy Was Here – 1983
  89. KhediveThe Mission – 2017
  90. Killing the Thing That You LoveCyclorama – 2003
  91. Kiss Your Ass GoodbyeCyclorama – 2003
  92. KrakatoaThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  93. LadyStyx II – 1973
  94. LiesMan of Miracles – 1974
  95. Light UpEquinox – 1975
  96. LightsCornerstone – 1979
  97. Little Fugue in GStyx II – 1973
  98. LocomotiveThe Mission – 2017
  99. Locomotive Breath (Jethro Tull cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  100. Lonely ChildEquinox – 1975
  101. Lonely PeopleParadise Theatre – 1981
  102. Long Live the KingCrash of the Crown – 2021
  103. Lords of the RingPieces of Eight – 1978
  104. LoreleiEquinox – 1975
  105. Lost at SeaCrash of the Crown – 2021
  106. Love at First SightEdge of the Century – 1990
  107. Love in the MidnightCornerstone – 1979
  108. Love Is the RitualEdge of the Century – 1990
  109. MademoiselleCrystal Ball – 1976
  110. Man in the WildernessThe Grand Illusion – 1977
  111. Man of MiraclesMan of Miracles – 1974
  112. Manic Depression (the Jimi Hendrix Experience cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  113. The MessagePieces of Eight – 1978
  114. Midnight RideEquinox – 1975
  115. Miss AmericaThe Grand Illusion – 1977
  116. Mission to MarsThe Mission – 2017
  117. More Love for the MoneyCyclorama – 2003
  118. Mr. RobotoKilroy Was Here – 1983
  119. Mother DearEquinox – 1975
  120. Movement for the Common ManStyx – 1972
  121. Never Say NeverCornerstone – 1979
  122. Not Dead YetEdge of the Century – 1990
  123. Nothing Ever Goes as PlannedParadise Theatre – 1981
  124. Number OneBrave New World – 1999
  125. One Way Out (the Allman Brothers Band cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  126. One with EverythingCyclorama – 2003
  127. The OutpostThe Mission – 2017
  128. Our Wonderful LivesCrash of the Crown – 2021
  129. OvertureThe Mission – 2017
  130. Pieces of EightPieces of Eight – 1978
  131. Prelude 12Equinox – 1975
  132. Put Me OnCrystal Ball – 1976
  133. Queen of SpadesPieces of Eight – 1978
  134. Quick Is the Beat of My HeartStyx – 1972
  135. Radio SilenceThe Mission – 2017
  136. Red StormThe Mission – 2017
  137. RenegadePieces of Eight – 1978
  138. ReveriesCrash of the Crown – 2021
  139. Right AwayStyx – 1972
  140. Rock & Roll FeelingMan of Miracles – 1974
  141. Rockin’ the ParadiseParadise Theatre – 1981
  142. Save Us from OurselvesCrash of the Crown – 2021
  143. The Serpent Is RisingThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  144. She CaresParadise Theatre – 1981
  145. ShoozCrystal Ball – 1976
  146. Show Me the WayEdge of the Century – 1990
  147. Sing for the DayPieces of Eight – 1978
  148. SnowblindParadise Theatre – 1981
  149. Sound the AlarmCrash of the Crown – 2021
  150. Southern WomanMan of Miracles – 1974
  151. State Street SadieParadise Theatre – 1981
  152. StreamCrash of the Crown – 2021
  153. Suite Madame BlueEquinox – 1975
  154. Summer in the City (the Lovin’ Spoonful cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  155. SuperstarsThe Grand Illusion – 1977
  156. Talkin’ About the Good Times (the Pretty Things cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  157. Ten Thousand WaysThe Mission – 2017
  158. These Are the TimesCyclorama – 2003
  159. This Old ManCrystal Ball – 1976
  160. Time May BendThe Mission – 2017
  161. To ThoseCrash of the Crown – 2021
  162. TogetherCyclorama – 2003
  163. Too Much Time on My HandsParadise Theatre – 1981
  164. Trouble at the Big ShowThe Mission – 2017
  165. Waiting for Our TimeCyclorama – 2003
  166. What Has Come Between UsStyx – 1972
  167. What Have They Done to YouBrave New World – 1999
  168. While There’s Still TimeBrave New World – 1999
  169. Why MeCornerstone – 1979
  170. Winner Take AllThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  171. Wishing Well (Free cover) – Big Bang Theory – 2005
  172. Witch WolfThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973
  173. World ToniteEdge of the Century – 1990
  174. Yes I CanCyclorama – 2003
  175. You Better AskStyx II – 1973
  176. You Need LoveStyx II – 1973
  177. Young ManThe Serpent Is Rising – 1973

Albums

Styx (1972): 6 songs

Styx II (1973): 8 songs

The Serpent Is Rising (1973): 10 songs

Man of Miracles (1974): 10 songs

Equinox (1975): 8 songs

Crystal Ball (1976): 7 songs

The Grand Illusion (1977): 8 songs

Pieces of Eight (1978): 10 songs

Cornerstone (1979): 9 songs

Paradise Theatre (1981): 11 songs

Kilroy Was Here (1983): 9 songs

Edge of the Century (1990): 10 songs

Brave New World (1999): 14 songs

Cyclorama (2003): 14 songs

Big Bang Theory (2005): 14 songs

The Mission (2017): 14 songs

Crash of the Crown (2021): 15 songs

Check out our fantastic and entertaining Styx articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com

10 Most Rocking Styx Songs

Complete List Of Styx Band Members

Top 10 Styx Album Covers

Top 10 Dennis DeYoung Styx Songs

Top 10 Tommy Shaw Styx Songs

Top 10 Styx Songs

Complete List Of Styx Studio Albums And Songs

Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com

Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory

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10 Best Songs For Lovers Only

10 Best Songs For Lovers Only

Feature Photo: dam McCullough / Shutterstock.com

There are love songs—and then there are songs for lovers. The kind that don’t just play in the background, but wrap around you like candlelight. These are the tracks that turn the volume down on the world and bring the heart into full focus. At ClassicRockHistory.com, we’ve covered thousands of songs, but every so often, a certain kind of track rises above the rest—not just romantic, but timeless, classy, and deeply intimate.

“10 Best Songs for Lovers Only” is a collection of those rare recordings where everything comes together: the voice, the mood, the arrangement, the story. Some of these will be instantly familiar—others might surprise you. But every song here has one thing in common: they speak directly to that part of the soul that still believes in candlelit evenings, whispered promises, and holding someone close without saying a word.

Whether you’re looking to create the perfect atmosphere or simply revisit the songs that once set your heart racing, this list is for you.

# 10 – The Look Of Love – Diana Krall

We didn’t know whether to open this list with this song or save it for the closer. It’s just that perfect. In the end, we decided to lead with it because it so beautifully sets the mood for everything this list is about—romance, elegance, and a sense of intimate connection. This legendary tune, written by Burt Bacharach with lyrics by Hal David, has been interpreted by countless artists over the decades, but Diana Krall’s rendition offers something entirely unique.

Krall recorded her version for her 2001 album The Look of Love, produced by Tommy LiPuma and arranged by Claus Ogerman. With its lush orchestration, slow-burning tempo, and Krall’s breathy, jazz-tinged vocals, her interpretation of the song adds a new dimension of sensuality and restraint. It’s not over-sung. It’s not embellished. It’s delivered with a quiet kind of confidence that draws you in and holds you there.

Her take on “The Look of Love” may not have been the first or the most famous, but in many ways, it feels like the definitive version for modern lovers. It’s the sound of candlelight flickering in a quiet room, of two people connected by more than just words. Krall doesn’t just cover the song—she inhabits it. What an artist.

Read More: Top 10 Diana Krall Songs

# 9 – Tonight’s The Night – Rod Stewart

We continue with another blonde-haired singer—and one of rock’s most notorious romantics. With “Tonight’s the Night,” Rod Stewart delivered a track that oozes seduction without ever feeling forced. Released in 1976 on his A Night on the Town album, the song became one of the most provocative hits of its era, and one of the most memorable.

Built on a slow, sensual groove and Stewart’s raspy, whisper-in-your-ear delivery, “Tonight’s the Night” was a bold declaration of romantic intent. The lyrics are direct, even daring, as he gently coaxes a lover into surrender. French whispers by then-girlfriend Britt Ekland add to the song’s sultry mystique, making it one of the few mainstream rock hits that managed to sound both radio-friendly and downright intimate.

The song spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the biggest hit of Stewart’s career in the United States.

Read More: Top 10 Rod Stewart Songs

# 8 – You And Me – Alice Cooper

Since we’re a rock site, we’ve got to make sure we get the Coop on this list—because this one just feels right. “You and Me” might surprise casual fans who know Alice Cooper primarily for shock rock theatrics, but longtime listeners know there’s always been a softer, more sentimental side under the makeup and stage blood.

Released in 1977 as the lead single from the Lace and Whiskey album, “You and Me” is a tender ballad that strips away the bravado. With gentle acoustic guitar, subtle strings, and Cooper’s unexpectedly vulnerable vocal delivery, the song paints a picture of domestic intimacy and quiet devotion: “You and me ain’t no movie stars / What we are is what we are…”

The track became a major hit, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reminding the world that Alice Cooper wasn’t just a master of macabre spectacle—he could write a love song that hit just as hard as any of his anthems. It’s a slow dance for grown-ups. A reminder that even the godfather of theatrical rock had a heart. And on a list made for lovers, “You and Me” earns its place without a hint of irony.

Read More: Top 10 Alice Cooper Love Songs

# 7 – Come Away With Me – Norah Jones

As effective as the lyrics are, the real strength behind this song lies in the mood—the tone, the groove, and especially that voice. When Norah Jones sings “Come Away With Me,” you’re pretty much going to want to do anything she says.

Released in 2002 as the title track from her Grammy-winning debut album Come Away With Me, the song is a masterclass in subtle persuasion. It’s not a power ballad or a dramatic declaration of love. Instead, it’s an invitation—a whisper in the dark. Blending elements of jazz, folk, and soft rock, the track floats on a gentle rhythm and acoustic textures that leave plenty of space for Jones’s smoky, intimate vocals to draw you in.

Read More: Top 10 Norah Jones Songs

# 6 – Leather And Lace – Stevie Nicks & Don Henley

You get two for the price of one with this song—thanks to the breathtaking vocal performances of both Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. When two voices as iconic as these come together, it’s not just a duet—it’s a conversation between souls.

Written by Stevie Nicks and originally intended for Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, “Leather and Lace” ended up being recorded by Nicks herself as a duet with Eagles frontman Don Henley. It was released in 1981 on her solo debut album Bella Donna and quickly climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song’s magic lies in its contrast—softness and strength, vulnerability and resolve

Read More: Complete List Of Stevie Nicks Songs From A to Z

# 5 – Michele – The Beatles

Well, since this is a list about songs for lovers, we tried really hard to get a little bit of French in there—and what better way to do it than through The Beatles? A lot of people might have leaned toward “Something” by George Harrison—which we would’ve had no problem with—but there’s something a little extra special about this one.

“Michelle,” written primarily by Paul McCartney with help from John Lennon, appeared on the Beatles’ 1965 album Rubber Soul. It’s a gentle, wistful ballad wrapped in acoustic guitar and subtle harmonies, with that instantly recognizable touch of French—“Michelle, ma belle / These are words that go together well…” That elegant phrase, sung in McCartney’s softest register, became a symbol of romantic charm for generations of fans. It’s charming, classy, and just exotic enough to make it feel like you’re being serenaded in a Paris café. That alone earns it its place here.

Read More: Complete List Of The Beatles Songs From A to Z

# 4 – All I Know – Art Garfunkel

With the voice of an angel, this song is guaranteed to set the mood. Released in 1973 as the lead single from Angel Clare, Art Garfunkel’s debut solo album, “All I Know” was written by Jimmy Webb and became one of Garfunkel’s most enduring solo hits. From the moment his voice enters, gentle and aching, there’s a purity and vulnerability that immediately fills the room. It’s not flashy. It speaks to the fragility of love and the strength it takes to hold onto it. Whether you’re deep in the throes of romance or just settling in beside someone you care about, this song creates the perfect atmosphere. Soft, heartfelt, and deeply moving—this one lingers long after it ends.

Read More: Top 10 Art Garfunkel Songs

# 3 – Ooh Baby Baby – Linda Ronstadt

One can’t create a list of songs for lovers without including the stunning Linda Ronstadt—and her version of “Ooh Baby Baby” earns its place with ease. Ronstadt took this Smokey Robinson classic and made it entirely her own.

Originally recorded by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1965, “Ooh Baby Baby” was already a slow-burn soul masterpiece. But when Ronstadt covered it in 1978 for her album Living in the USA, she brought a new layer of vulnerability and strength to the song. Her voice floats gently over the arrangement, blending elegance and ache in a way that cuts right to the heart.

Produced by Peter Asher, the track doesn’t try to outshine the original—it simply honors it with sincerity. Ronstadt’s delivery is restrained, never showy, allowing the emotion to simmer just beneath the surface. It’s a song of regret and longing, yes, but also of tenderness. And when she sings that title phrase—“Ooh baby baby”—you can feel the heartbreak and hope intertwined in every syllable.

Ronstadt’s take remains one of the most moving interpretations of a Motown classic and a perfect addition to any list meant for lovers only.

Read More: Complete List Of Linda Ronstadt Songs From A to Z

# 2 – Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

This song has always been one of the most romantic ever written—but when it was featured in the 1990 film Ghost, during that unforgettable scene between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze at the pottery wheel, it took on a whole new life. Suddenly, a love song from 1965 was introduced to a new generation, and it hasn’t left the cultural conversation since.

Originally composed by Alex North with lyrics by Hy Zaret for the 1955 film Unchained, the song had been covered by numerous artists before The Righteous Brothers recorded their now-iconic version. Produced by Phil Spector’s associate Bill Medley (who also sings lead), the track was released in 1965 and has become their signature song—defined by Bobby Hatfield’s soaring, emotional vocal and the sparse, dramatic arrangement that gives the melody room to breathe.

There’s a timeless ache in “Unchained Melody”—a longing that feels both celestial and deeply personal. When Hatfield holds the note on “I need your love…” it’s almost otherworldly. And yet, it’s that down-to-earth vulnerability that makes it resonate so deeply. Hands down, it’s one of the most loved—and most enduring—songs of all time.

Read More: Top 10 Righteous Brothers Songs

# 1 – What You Won’t Do For Love – Bobby Caldwell

This one just has it all—class, style, soul, and an absolutely incredible vocal performance. Simply put, it’s perfect. Released in 1978 on Bobby Caldwell’s self-titled debut album, “What You Won’t Do for Love” became an instant classic. Blending smooth jazz, R&B, and soft rock, the song was a crossover success, climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts and eventually becoming one of the most recognizable love songs of its era.

What makes it so powerful is how effortless it feels. The groove is silky, the horn arrangement subtle, and that voice—rich, aching, and sincere—feels like it was born to sing this song. Caldwell delivers lines like “I guess you wonder where I’ve been / I searched to find a love within” with a kind of understated honesty that just pulls you in.

Read More: Top 10 Bobby Caldwell Songs

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Complete List Of Blackfoot Band Members

Complete List Of Blackfoot Band Members

Feature Photo: ReservoirHill aka Hugh Pickens, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Born from the swamps and cities of Florida, Blackfoot emerged as one of Southern rock’s most distinctive and powerful voices, carving out a unique niche that combined traditional Southern rock with hard rock and heavy metal influences. Blackfoot is an American Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 1970, though they primarily play with a Southern rock style, they are also known as a hard rock act. The band’s classic lineup consisted of guitarist and vocalist Rickey Medlocke, guitarist Charlie Hargrett, bassist Greg T. Walker and drummer Jakson Spires, a formation that would define their sound and legacy for generations. They had a number of successful albums during the 1970s and early 1980s, including Strikes (1979), Tomcattin’ (1980) and Marauder (1981), establishing them as major players in the Southern rock movement alongside contemporaries like Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers Band.

What set Blackfoot apart from their Southern rock peers was their unique combination of Native American heritage and heavier musical approach. During the early spring of the same year, the band, after learning of another band on the West Coast named Hammer, decided to change their name to Blackfoot to represent the American Indian heritage of its members: Jakson Spires (from Oklahoma) had a Cheyenne/French father and a Cherokee mother; Rickey Medlocke’s father was Lakota Sioux and Blackfoot Indian, and his mother’s side is Creek/Cherokee, Scottish and Irish; Greg “Two Wolf” Walker is part Eastern (Muskogee) Creek, a tribe recognized by the state of Florida, but not federally. This Native American identity became central to their music and image, influencing their songwriting, stage presence, and cultural significance within the broader rock community. The song “Train, Train”, written by Rickey’s grandfather, “Shorty” Medlocke, became their first success and best known song, while “Highway Song” proved to be another success for them later that year.

Throughout their career, Blackfoot has undergone numerous lineup changes and periods of dormancy, yet their influence on Southern rock and hard rock remains undeniable. By 1996, Blackfoot was: Medlocke, drummer Stet Howland, John Housley (from Ragady Ann) for lead and rhythm guitar and Bryce Barnes (from Edwin Dare) for bass guitar. That same year, Medlocke rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd, this time as a guitarist, but he continued to tour with Blackfoot honoring all dates booked through 1997, then disbanded the group to concentrate on Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band has experienced multiple resurrections, with various combinations of original and new members attempting to carry on the Blackfoot legacy. In 2004 a second resurrection of Blackfoot occurred with original members Jakson Spires, Greg T. Walker and Charlie Hargrett, though this incarnation was tragically cut short by Spires’ death in 2005. Today, while the classic lineup can never be fully reunited, the Blackfoot name continues under different configurations, ensuring that their contribution to American rock music remains alive for new generations to discover.

Rickey Medlocke

Rick Medlocke was born February 17, 1950, and stands as the most significant figure in Blackfoot’s history, serving as the band’s primary creative force, frontman, and the only member to participate in virtually every incarnation of the group. Rickey Medlocke was born Rickey Lynn Green on February 17, 1950, in Jacksonville, Florida, and was raised by his maternal grandparents, with his grandfather, Paul “Shorty” Medlocke, being a bluegrass musician who taught his grandson to play a miniature banjo. Medlocke started performing onstage at age three, and his musical abilities increased over the years, eventually becoming one of the most respected musicians in Southern rock. His early exposure to music through his grandfather’s bluegrass background would later influence Blackfoot’s incorporation of traditional American musical elements into their hard rock sound.

Medlocke’s career has been defined by his dual allegiance to two of Southern rock’s most important bands. During his first stint with Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1971 to 1972, he played drums and sang lead on a few songs that would initially be released on 1978’s “First and… Last,” including tracks he wrote such as “White Dove” and “The Seasons.” Medlocke recorded briefly with the 1970s-era Lynyrd Skynyrd band as a session musician, occasionally playing drums or singing lead on a few songs for them in 1971: “One More Time”, “Preacher’s Daughter”, “Lend a Helpin’ Hand”, “Wino”, “White Dove”, “Comin’ Home”, “The Seasons”, “Ain’t Too Proud to Pray”, and “You Run Around.” However, his desire for the energy of a guitarist at the front of the stage resulted in his 1972 decision to reform Blackfoot, where he would spend the majority of his career developing the band’s signature sound.

As Blackfoot’s leader, Medlocke guided the band through their most successful period during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The band began touring and producing hit songs that included “Train, Train”, which was written by his grandfather, and “Highway Song”, lyrics and title were written by Rickey and Blackfoot drummer Jackson Spires. He served as the band’s primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist, crafting a sound that combined Southern rock traditions with heavier, more aggressive elements that distinguished Blackfoot from their contemporaries. His leadership was instrumental in the band’s commercial breakthrough with albums like “Strikes” (1979), which became their first gold record and featured their biggest hit, “Train, Train,” written by his grandfather Shorty Medlocke.

After Blackfoot’s initial run ended in the mid-1980s, Medlocke continued using the band name for solo projects and different lineups throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. Medlocke would rejoin Blackfoot in 1972 and later returned to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996 as a guitarist with whom he continues to tour and record today. In 1996, he rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd as a guitarist and has remained with the band ever since, while occasionally producing new incarnations of Blackfoot. Medlocke was inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame in 2008, recognizing his contributions to preserving and promoting Native American culture through music. In 2012, he assembled a completely new Blackfoot lineup, serving as producer rather than performer, demonstrating his continued commitment to maintaining the band’s legacy even while prioritizing his role in Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Greg T. Walker

Greg T. Walker, known by his Native American name “Two Wolf,” represents one of the most consistent and dedicated members of Blackfoot’s classic lineup, serving as the band’s bassist and backing vocalist through multiple incarnations spanning over four decades. Soon, he was also taking piano lessons, then began to play guitar, and later played saxophone in his school band. Walker attended kindergarten with Ricky Medlocke and Jakson Spires, and this friendship would develop into a musical collaboration that would later become Blackfoot. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Walker’s early musical education was diverse, and his connection to Medlocke and Spires dates back to their childhood, creating a foundational friendship that would prove essential to Blackfoot’s development and longevity.

Walker’s role in Blackfoot began in 1969 when he joined Medlocke and Charlie Hargrett in forming Fresh Garbage, which would evolve into Blackfoot. Greg “Two Wolf” Walker is part Eastern (Muskogee) Creek, a tribe recognized by the state of Florida, and his Native American heritage became an integral part of the band’s identity and cultural significance. When he was thirteen, he saw The Beatles at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, and this inspired him to pursue a musical career, providing the inspiration that would drive his lifelong commitment to music. His bass playing style became a cornerstone of Blackfoot’s sound, providing the rhythmic foundation that allowed the band’s dual guitar attack to flourish while maintaining the groove that made their music both heavy and danceable.

Throughout Blackfoot’s classic period, Walker played on all of their most important albums, including “Strikes” (1979), “Tomcattin’” (1980), and “Marauder” (1981). By the age of ten, he had formed his first band, the Rockin’ Aces, with Medlocke, Spires, and some other friends from their Junior High school, demonstrating his early commitment to making music with his childhood friends. His bass work on songs like “Train, Train” and “Highway Song” helped define the band’s signature sound, combining Southern rock sensibilities with a harder edge that set them apart from their contemporaries. Walker’s contributions extended beyond just bass playing, as he also provided backing vocals and contributed to the band’s songwriting process, helping to craft the musical arrangements that made Blackfoot’s songs so memorable.

After the classic lineup dissolved in the mid-1980s, Walker remained connected to the Southern rock community and eventually played a crucial role in Blackfoot’s 2004 reunion. He was instrumental in bringing together the surviving original members for what would become their final collaboration with Jakson Spires before the drummer’s death in 2005. Walker remembers that they “…just reached a point… [and] couldn’t go any further at that time” regarding the original breakup, but his persistent hope for a reunion eventually came to fruition. After Blackfoot’s various incarnations ended, Walker continued his musical career with other projects, including the bands Fired Guns and later Two Wolf, named after his Native American identity. As a session musician, Walker recorded an album in 1973 with Cross Country, played on Lew Jetton’s 2000 album State Line Blues, and in 2014 recorded an EP with Lloyd and gigged with them in Paris, demonstrating his continued dedication to music even after Blackfoot’s heyday had passed.

Charlie Hargrett

Charlie Hargrett was born in Yonkers, New York on February 11th, 1949, and became the only non-Native American member of Blackfoot’s classic lineup, bringing a different cultural perspective and musical background that helped shape the band’s distinctive sound. His interest in playing stringed instruments started at a very young age, learning ukulele at age 6 and then receiving his first guitar at age 8, demonstrating an early aptitude for music that would eventually lead him to become one of Southern rock’s most respected guitarists. Charlie Hargrett was the only white man of the original, classic line-up, yet his integration into the band was seamless, with his guitar work becoming an essential component of Blackfoot’s dual-guitar attack alongside Rickey Medlocke.

Hargrett’s journey to Blackfoot began in Jacksonville, where he met Medlocke and Walker in 1969 while they were forming Fresh Garbage. During the spring of 1969, Rickey Medlocke and Greg T. Walker met New York City natives Ron Sciabarasi and Charlie Hargrett in Jacksonville and organized the band “Fresh Garbage,” featuring Medlocke on drums and vocals, Walker on bass, Hargrett on guitar and Sciabarasi on keyboards. His guitar playing style complemented Medlocke’s perfectly, creating the powerful twin-guitar sound that would become Blackfoot’s signature. The collaboration proved immediately successful, with Hargrett’s lead guitar work providing the melodic counterpoint to Medlocke’s rhythm playing and vocals.

As Blackfoot’s lead guitarist throughout their most successful period, Hargrett played on all of the band’s classic albums from their formation through 1984. His guitar work was featured on hits like “Train, Train,” “Highway Song,” and “Fly Away,” helping to establish Blackfoot as one of Southern rock’s most formidable live acts and recording artists. Hargrett’s playing style incorporated elements of hard rock and blues that complemented the band’s Southern rock foundation, contributing to their heavier sound that distinguished them from contemporaries like The Allman Brothers Band or Molly Hatchet. His solos and riffs became integral parts of Blackfoot’s most memorable songs, with his technical proficiency and melodic sensibility earning him recognition among guitar enthusiasts.

However, Hargrett’s time with Blackfoot came to an end in 1984 during a period of creative and commercial pressure. After being told by Nalli that he looks “too old” and is messing up the band’s image, Charlie Hargrett steps down as guitarist, marking the end of the classic Blackfoot lineup. “Vertical Smiles” was released later in 1984, the band’s 8th album, and the first one without Hargrett. After leaving Blackfoot, he stepped away from the music industry for several years, working in guitar repair and music retail before eventually returning to performing with various Southern rock projects. In 2004, Hargrett reunited with the original Blackfoot members Walker and Spires, with Medlocke declining the invitation due to his commitments with Lynyrd Skynyrd. This reunion lasted until 2011, when Hargrett again left the band, marking the end of his final chapter with Blackfoot. Since leaving Blackfoot, Charlie has been enjoying semi-retirement at his Florida home, continuing to play as a special guest guitarist at shows including The Rock Legends Cruise and Southern Woodstock Festival.

Jakson Spires

Jakson Spires was born on April 12, 1951, and died on March 16, 2005, serving as Blackfoot’s drummer and one of the band’s most important creative contributors throughout their classic period. Jakson Spires (from Oklahoma) had a Cheyenne/French father and a Cherokee mother, making him one of the Native American members whose heritage was central to the band’s identity and cultural significance. Known by his nickname “Thunderfoot,” Spires brought both powerful drumming and songwriting abilities to Blackfoot, co-writing some of their most important songs including “Highway Song” with Rickey Medlocke. His drumming style was both powerful and precise, providing the driving rhythmic foundation that allowed Blackfoot’s dual guitar attack to flourish while maintaining the groove that made their music both heavy and accessible.

Spires’ connection to Blackfoot began through his childhood friendship with Greg Walker and Rickey Medlocke in Jacksonville, Florida. Gibbs, Zambito and Spires had previously played together in Tangerine, while Spires and Walker had been in a high school group called the Rocking Aces, establishing musical relationships that would prove crucial when Blackfoot was formed. Both drummer Jakson “Thunderfoot” Spires and Greg T. Walker were Native Americans, so the name seemed appropriate, though as Greg noted, “Jakson was Cheyenne, Cherokee, and French. He always said he got his creativity from the first two, and blamed his faults on the French.” His multicultural heritage and sense of humor about it became part of his personality that endeared him to bandmates and fans alike.

Throughout Blackfoot’s most successful period, Spires played on all of their classic albums and contributed significantly to their songwriting. His drumming can be heard on hits like “Train, Train,” “Highway Song,” and “Fly Away,” where his powerful yet controlled style helped define the band’s sound. The song “Highway Song” proved to be another success for them later that year, and Spires’ co-writing credit on this track demonstrates his importance as a creative contributor beyond just his drumming abilities. His ability to blend Southern rock sensibilities with harder, more aggressive drumming helped distinguish Blackfoot from their contemporaries and contributed to their reputation as one of the genre’s most powerful live acts.

After the original Blackfoot lineup dissolved in the mid-1980s, Spires remained active in the Southern rock community, playing with various projects including the Southern Rock Allstars. His passion for continuing to make music eventually led to the 2004 Blackfoot reunion with Walker and Hargrett, though Medlocke declined to participate due to his commitments with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Tragically, this reunion was cut short when Spires died suddenly on March 16, 2005, at age 53, of an aneurysm, but the band decided to persevere. The surviving members were devastated by his loss, with Walker stating, “It still hurts to this day, and will probably hurt for the rest of my life. We spent a lifetime together. He was truly a brother.” In compliance with the will of Spires, Austrian drummer Christoph Ullmann was hired as the new drummer, ensuring that the band could continue in a way that honored his memory and wishes.

Ken Hensley

Ken Hensley joined Blackfoot during their transitional period in the early 1980s, bringing his considerable experience as a keyboardist and songwriter from his previous work with British rock band Uriah Heep. The UK keyboard wiz had a knack for writing hits but also maintained a level of respect among hard rockers, and he was invited to join the band during a period when Blackfoot was seeking to modernize their sound and appeal to a broader commercial audience. His addition to the band represented a significant shift in Blackfoot’s musical approach, as they moved away from their traditional Southern rock sound toward a more commercially oriented direction that reflected the changing musical landscape of the mid-1980s.

Hensley’s tenure with Blackfoot coincided with the recording of their 1983 album “Siogo,” which marked a dramatic departure from their earlier material. The resulting album, SIOGO, presented a brand new sound, with gone were the 70s Southern Rock throwbacks, and instead, listeners were met with stuff that sounded as if it might be more comfortable on a Bon Jovi record. His keyboard work and songwriting contributions helped create a more polished, radio-friendly sound that the band hoped would restore their commercial viability during a period when Southern rock had fallen out of fashion. Despite the controversial nature of this musical shift among longtime fans, Hensley’s professional approach and considerable skills brought a new dimension to Blackfoot’s music.

However, Hensley’s time with Blackfoot was relatively brief and ended abruptly. Ken Hensley left Blackfoot suddenly in mid-tour, about 6 months after Charlie’s departure, and was replaced on one day’s notice by longtime friend, “Axe” frontman/guitarist Bobby Barth. His sudden departure came during a period of significant upheaval within the band, as they struggled to find their musical identity and maintain commercial success in a changing musical landscape. The circumstances of his leaving contributed to the instability that would eventually lead to the dissolution of the classic Blackfoot lineup by the end of 1985.

Despite the brief nature of his involvement with Blackfoot, Hensley’s contributions represented an important chapter in the band’s evolution. His experience working with successful rock acts and his understanding of the music industry provided valuable insights during a challenging period for the band. After leaving Blackfoot, Hensley continued his successful career in music, while Blackfoot would struggle to find stability and direction for several more years. His time with the band, though short, demonstrated the challenges faced by Southern rock bands trying to adapt to the changing musical landscape of the 1980s while maintaining their artistic integrity.

Bobby Barth

Bobby Barth emerged as an important figure in Blackfoot’s later incarnations, first joining the band in 1984 as an emergency replacement and later returning to front the band during their 2004 reunion. By the end of December 1985, Greg T. and Jakson were also out of the band, and Ken Hensley left Blackfoot suddenly in mid-tour, about 6 months after Charlie’s departure, and was replaced on one day’s notice by longtime friend, “Axe” frontman/guitarist Bobby Barth. His initial joining came during one of the most turbulent periods in Blackfoot’s history, when the band was experiencing significant lineup changes and struggling to maintain their commercial viability. As the frontman and guitarist for the band Axe, Barth brought considerable experience and talent to Blackfoot during a time when they desperately needed stability and strong musical leadership.

Barth’s first stint with Blackfoot was relatively brief, lasting through the final dissolution of the classic-era band in 1985. However, his professional approach and musical abilities left a positive impression on the remaining members, particularly the rhythm section of Walker and Spires. After Blackfoot ended, Barth returned to his own musical projects and continued to work in the rock music industry, maintaining connections with the Southern rock community that would prove important for his future involvement with the band.

The 2004 Blackfoot reunion brought Barth back to the band in a much more prominent role as the primary vocalist and frontman. In 2004 a second resurrection of Blackfoot occurred with original members Jakson Spires, Greg T. Walker and Charlie Hargrett, with Medlocke not available, however, and the frontman role was given to Bobby Barth. This arrangement allowed the surviving original members to continue performing Blackfoot’s music while bringing in a capable vocalist who understood the band’s musical approach and could deliver their songs with appropriate power and feeling. Barth’s experience as a frontman proved invaluable in helping the reformed band establish themselves as a viable touring act.

Tragically, the reunited Blackfoot with Barth as frontman was dealt a severe blow when Jakson Spires died suddenly in March 2005. The band decided to persevere for the time being, and Barth continued to lead the group through various lineup changes over the following years. In 2007, the band was touring and consisted of bassist Greg Walker, guitarist Charlie Hargrett, guitarist and lead vocalist Bobby Barth, and drummer Michael Sollars. However, health issues eventually forced Barth to step back from touring, and by 2010, former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Mike Estes and current vocalist/guitarist for Skinny Molly was then employed for lead vocals/guitar after Barth was forced to undergo emergency back surgery. Despite these challenges, Barth’s contributions to Blackfoot’s later period helped maintain the band’s legacy and introduced their music to new audiences who might not have otherwise experienced the power of their live performances.

Later Members and Current Lineup

Following the dissolution of the classic Blackfoot lineup in the mid-1980s and the subsequent death of Jakson Spires in 2005, the band has continued under various configurations with different combinations of original and new members. Walker, Hargrett, Estes and Pietro subsequently regrouped under the band name Fired Guns, while in 2015, Walker, Hargrett, Barth and Ullman began performing together again under the band name Warrior’s Pride. These alternative band names reflect the complex nature of maintaining the Blackfoot legacy while honoring the contributions of all members who have been part of the band’s history. The various incarnations demonstrate both the enduring appeal of the music and the challenges of continuing a band’s legacy after the departure or death of key founding members.

In 2012, Rickey Medlocke made the decision to reform Blackfoot with a completely new lineup, taking on the role of producer rather than performer. The year 2012 introduced a completely new line-up personally chosen and to be produced by founding member and front man Rickey Medlocke, featuring lead guitarist and singer Tim Rossi, guitarist and vocalist Rick Krasowski, bassist Brian Carpenter and drummer Matt Anastasi. On August 5, 2016, Blackfoot released their first album in 20 years, Southern Native, marking the return of the band name to active recording and touring. This new incarnation was designed to capture the spirit and energy of the classic Blackfoot sound while introducing the music to a new generation of rock fans.

The current Blackfoot lineup operates independently of the surviving original members, though Medlocke occasionally appears with the band for special performances. Although there are no founding members of the band in its current lineup, Medlocke joins the band onstage for certain concerts, providing a connection to the band’s history and legacy. Since the new lineup’s first appearance in 2012, there have been constant shuffles in personnel, and since 2023, Medlocke has been making it a point to appear at more of the band’s concerts, alongside former 90s member Mark Woerpel. The new lineup made their live debut at Gottrocks in Greenville, South Carolina on June 11, 2021 with an 82 minute set including two songs (In The Night, Payin’ For It) that were never previously performed in concert.

While the current Blackfoot may lack the historical significance and emotional connection of the classic lineup, it serves an important function in keeping the band’s music alive and accessible to contemporary audiences. Medlocke continues to perform with Lynyrd Skynyrd and is producing the new line-up of Blackfoot, ensuring that both aspects of his musical legacy remain active. The challenge for any current incarnation of Blackfoot lies in honoring the band’s rich history while establishing their own musical identity and connecting with audiences who may not have experienced the original band’s power and cultural significance. Despite these challenges, the continuation of the Blackfoot name ensures that their contributions to Southern rock and American music culture remain visible and available for new generations to discover and appreciate.

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“Prime Minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?” Wolf Alice, Massive Attack, Primal Scream join actors, artists, directors, doctors and TV personalities urging Keir Starmer to take action to ease suffering in Gaza

Wolf Alice, Massive Attack, Primal Scream
(Image credit: Joseph Okpako/WireImage | MAYA HAUTEFEUILLE/AFP via Getty Images |  Jim Dyson/Getty Images)

Wolf Alice, Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Brian Eno, Dua Lipa and Annie Lennox are among the musicians who have signed an open letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging him to “take immediate action to end the UK’s complicity in the horrors in Gaza.”

The letter is co-signed by over 300 public figures, among them actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed and Maxine Peake, film directors Danny Boyle and Asif Kapadia, Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, former England football captain-turned-sports pundit Gary Lineker, TV presenters Dermot O’Leary and Laura Whitmore, and physicist Brian Cox. The letter, organised by refugee charity Choose Love, has also been signed by doctors, academics, advocacy groups and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos

The text of the letter begins:

“Dear Prime Minister Keir Starmer,We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK’s complicity in the horrors in Gaza.

Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won’t feed Palestinian children – we need action.”

The letter calls for action in three specific areas, asking for:

An immediate suspension of all UK arms sales to Israel, immediate humanitarian access for experienced aid agencies, and the UK government to commit to assist in brokering a ceasefire.

The text states:

“Each arms shipment makes our country directly complicit in their deaths.

“Over 15,000 children have already been killed – including at least 4,000 under the age of four. Bedrooms where children once slept, kitchens where families shared meals, schools where they learned – all reduced to rubble while Britain stands by.

“You can’t call it ‘intolerable’ and keep sending arms.

“Every moment this continues, is another moment children die on our watch. This complicity is not inevitable – it is a choice. What do you choose, Prime Minister?

“History is written in moments of moral clarity. This is one. The world is watching and history will not forget.”

The letter concludes by asking, “Prime Minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?”

The latest news, features and interviews direct to your inbox, from the global home of alternative music.

Yesterday, May 29, 380 writers signed a separate open letter calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, describing Israel’s military campaign in the region as “genocidal”.

The 1948 Genocide Convention, written in the wake of the mass murder of six million European Jews in the Nazi Holocaust, defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.

Israel has been accused of carrying out genocidal acts during the ongoing war in Gaza by numerous organisations, including the UN Human Rights Council.

Israel’s military campaign, sparked by the October 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli soil that saw around 1,200 people killed and 251 people taken hostage, has resulted in the death of over 50,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. 58 hostages from the October 7, 2023 attack remain held in captivity by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.Israel has denied any genocidal intent, which requires certain thresholds to be met in order to be legally recognised; a case brought forward by South Africa to The International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians is ongoing.

The conflict in the region has been on-going for decades, with official UN figures for the 15 years before the 2023 escalation recording 7,277 Palestinian deaths and 162,121 Palestinian injuries in occupied Palestinian territory and Israel since 2008, and 368 Israeli deaths and 6,670 Israeli injuries during the same time span.

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne’s private jet, played Angus Young’s Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

“I’m working on a power metal record.” Svalbard’s Serena Cherry on videogames, picking up the guitar and dream projects

Serena Cherry 2025

(Image credit: Serena Cherry)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Across 14 years and four albums, Svalbard have become a beloved force in the British metal underground. But after this interview the band announced plans to go out on a high in 2026, splitting up with a final tour and song still to come.

Serena Cherry is a woman of many passions. Besides being the singer for emotionally devastating post-hardcore stars Svalbard and videogame-inspired black metal project Noctule, she loves to indulge in her other favourite things: gaming and rollercoasters.

We caught up with Serena between epic sessions of Elden Ring, and trips around the world to check out new rides, to see how she would fare answering your questions. Get ready to discover how she learned guitar, whether she’d play for polar bears, and what Pokémon her bands would be. Hey, you asked…

A divider for Metal Hammer

Svalbard albums usually have themes, how do you decide what the next one is going to be? Adriank91488, Instagram

“Whatever I write about in my diary. It’s that simple! I write in it every day, and there’s usually some theme or something that will come out of that, threading throughout. I write lyrics in a very selfish manner – whatever resonates most with me. It’s usually not until I’ve finished writing that I realise certain themes will present themselves. I don’t have to look for a theme as a lyricist, they appear over time.”

What got you into playing guitar?
Hosepirooz, Instagram

“I started playing drums and I wasn’t any good. Guitar was easier! I had a drum teacher who wasn’t teaching me double-kick, not teaching me the Slipknot songs I wanted to learn, so I was frustrated. I’ve never actually had a guitar lesson; I’d sneak into my sister’s room and pick up her acoustic guitar to try and learn how to shred with a 2p coin. I think because I never had a guitar lesson, it became my vessel for self-expression because I wasn’t trying to think about scales or musical theory. I was doing whatever was in my head.”

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Will you ever play a gig in Svalbard? Aaron_Go_Bruh, Instagram

“We’d love to! I think it’d be fantastic, but I think we’d only be playing to an audience of polar bears. But if the opportunity ever arose, we’d love to… I’m not holding my breath, though.”

If Svalbard and Noctule were Pokémon, which would they be and why?
Jamielikesvinyl, Instagram

“Svalbard would be a Mimikyu. That Pokémon really encapsulates [latest Svalbard album] The Weight Of The Mask, now I think about it – this idea that no one sees what they really look like, because they’re hiding in the shadow of a toy of someone else. It feels really obvious to pick a ghost type for Noctule, and with Noctule being tied to other videogames I’d never really thought about them in a Pokémon sense. I’m gonna go really specific and say an Alolan Ninetales, because it’s got that icy beauty to it. The artwork on the Pokémon card looks like an Immortal cover! It’s beautiful, and Noctule is where I try to create the most beauty with leads and melodies.”

What’s your favourite 80s horror film? Namelesswraith, Instagram

Halloween III: Season Of The Witch. The one that doesn’t have Michael Myers in. It’s very Orwellian, very dystopian to have this town with these workers who are robots. I like this idea of these masks being sold to you and it being inconspicuous, rather than a masked slasher going around with a knife. That is very cut and dry, so Season Of The Witch played with my imagination more than any of the Michael Myers ones.”

What’s your favourite/least favourite videogame boss?
Thespiritofjazz, Instagram

“My least favourite is Rom, the Vacuous Spider in Bloodborne. It’s such a war of attrition! Rom really betrays Bloodborne – the rest of the fights are so epic and incredible, Rom just feels slow and relentless. You can’t get into a rhythm with it in the same way you can with others.

My favourite, off the top of my head, is Rellana, Twin Moon Knight in the Elden Ring DLC [downloadable content] Shadow Of The Erdtree. I really enjoyed that fight – there’s nothing particularly special about it, but I found the rhythm of the fight almost musical. I got into a real flow-state playing it and she’s just the right level of frustrating, where I died several times but I could still see the progress I was making.”

Hammer: What makes a really good boss battle?

“The design of the creature, the area you’re in… A good example: hippos are my favourite animal, so I got excited when there was a hippo in the Elden Ring DLC, but then I got there and he’s so big, in such a small arena, that you get pushed up against walls the whole time and it’s not fun.

You have to think about how the arena plays into the rhythm and cadence of the boss itself – so if you are somewhere where you’re prone to falling off cliffs, you might want a boss with really far reach. I really love Red Wolf of Radagon in Elden Ring because of the atmosphere there, with this violin soundtrack playing as you fight in a library where books are crashing to the ground. That sense of destruction, I think, is key to a boss fight! I hate it when I can beat a boss first time.”

SVALBARD – Faking It (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) – YouTube SVALBARD - Faking It (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) - YouTube

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What’s your dream collab (with bands and/or games)?
Anotherboringcatinst, Instagram

“I’d love to compose music for games, but I’m not good enough. In terms of an artist… I’d love to jam with Michael Romeo from Symphony X, because he’s my favourite guitarist. I want to see that ingenious ability on guitar in real life and just bounce off that, have him play around me in circles. It’s interesting though, because would Michael Romeo even work on a Svalbard or Noctule song? Not really, because everything I listen to is very different from the music I create. But, I’m writing a power metal record at the moment…”

What’s the best venue you’ve played and why? Velobetty, Instagram

“Everything that makes a venue special to me is what wouldn’t make it special to anyone else! I’ll talk to people and they’re like, ‘Oh, it was this decrepit old church!’ Or, ‘It was a punk squat!’ I’m just like… ‘It was a clean building in the Netherlands.’

Actually, that’d be my choice – Doornroosje in Nijmegen. It’s just a great-sounding room, excellent facilities and chocolate milk in the fridge, friendly staff… I just like it to feel as comfortable as possible! The whole punk, grimy thing is not for me.”

What are your biggest non-metal influences? Alexjthacker, Instagram

“Videogame soundtracks! I’m really heavily inspired by the World Of Warcraft composers, and the soundtracks are among my most listened-to music, along with Skyrim and Elden Ring. I saw the latter performed live last year by a philharmonic orchestra, which was fantastic.

RPG soundtracks have an effectiveness with melodies that hit you in the heart. I still remember the first one that grabbed me – it was Final Fantasy VII, but I also loved Chemical Plant Zone in Sonic 2 on the Mega Drive. I want somebody to do a metal cover.”

What’s your favourite videogame? Ethanchinnerypoetry, Instagram

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, of course! Although Elden Ring is a very close second, I think I’ve almost put as many hours in now on my fifth playthrough.”

What advice would you give to young artists reading this?
2evqw, Instagram

“Be careful about who you work with. Take your time when you are speaking to people in the industry and receiving offers to make sure everything is what it seems, and you’re not getting false promises that’ll end up biting you on the bum.

Make the music you want to make, not what you think is going to be trendy. Play as many DIY shows as you can, but also see shows by other bands. It is a community and a social thing, so the more you’re out there and supporting bands, the more opportunities will open for you.”

Will you make more Skyrim-inspired black metal [with Noctule]?
Normywyrld, Instagram

“I was literally in the studio working on the second Noctule album last night, with Sammy Urwin from Employed To Serve producing! It’s not about Skyrim, though. This Noctule album will be a little different. I wanted to honour games that have been a part of my life.”

If you had to compare your music to a rollercoaster, which would you pick?
Rachburf, Instagram

“I’d compare Svalbard’s music to Nemesis Reborn at Alton Towers. It still has a roar in the same way Svalbard does, it’s aggressive and fast, it’s got very dark themes and isn’t afraid to be a little bit scary with its story. Plus, Nemesis is a lady creature – a big, roaring, angry lady, just like me.”

Svalbard play Download Festival on June 13. The band have announced a Final UK tour for November 2025.

Staff writer for Metal Hammer, Rich has never met a feature he didn’t fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online, be it legendary events like Rock In Rio or Clash Of The Titans or seeking out exciting new bands like Nine Treasures, Jinjer and Sleep Token. 

“He was very grumpy, ignoring people.” Why teenage guitar prodigy John Frusciante walked away from an audition to join Frank Zappa’s band before hooking up with Red Hot Chili Peppers

Frusciante and Zappa
(Image credit: AJ Barratt/Avalon/Getty Images | Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

In 1987, one year before he joined Red Hot Chili Peppers, the then-17-year-old John Frusicante scored an audition to join Frank Zappa‘s band. The teenager was a huge Zappa fan, who could play every guitar solo on every Zappa album by the time he was 16, but when within touching distance of scoring a gig with the legendary bandleader, he opted to walk away.

In a 2004 interview with UK music magazine MOJO, Frusciante explained why.

“I don’t know if this is a nice thing to print but he was very grumpy,” the guitarist told music writer Sylvie Simmons. “I watched the way that he was dealing with people, ignoring people. At that point I was doing cocaine – it was a part of my life I really liked – and I knew about his attitude to that. So I was sitting there thinking, do you want to be a rock star and write your own songs and draw all the girls and things like that, or do you want to be not allowed to take drugs, and it’s kind of a square band so there’s not going to be a lot of girls at the shows? And I thought, Nah, and I walked out.”

Frusciante came from a musical family. His father, also named John, trained at New York’s prestigious Juilliard School, while his grandfather and great-grandfather played fiddle and mandolin for diners in Italian restaurants in the city. From the age of four, Frusciante told Simmons, he heard voices in his head telling him that he would become a musician, and upon discovering punk rock in Los Angeles as a 10-year-old, that dream seemed attainable to the youngster.

“Before that I was into Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith,” the guitarist recalled. “I had deeply moving experiences with that music, but still it was something that everybody else was into. But punk felt specifically aimed at me. It was very real all of a sudden and music was not just this thing done by these gods.

“I’d read about [Germs vocalist] Darby Crash jumping off Santa Monica pier on 10 hits of acid, and the pier was a place I saw all the time, so I felt he could be somebody I could know. And the music was simple enough for me to be able to imagine playing.”

By his late teens, the punk-adjacent Red Hot Chili Peppers were Frusciante’s favourite hometown band. It was former Dead Kennedys’ drummer DH Peligro, briefly a member of the Chili Peppers, who introduced Anthony Kiedis and Flea to Frusciante.

At this point, following the June 1988 death of Hillel Slovak, the band were jamming with Parliament-Funkadelic guitarist DeWayne ‘Blackbyrd’ McKnight, but upon seeing Frusciante audition for his friend Bob Forrest’s band, Thelonious Monster, Flea decided that the young guitarist would be the perfect fit for his own band.

“They asked me if I wanted the job and I said, Yes, more than anything in the world,” Frusciante recalled to Simmons. “That night they fired Blackbyrd and hired me.”

And the rest, as they say, is history. Frusciante made his recording debut with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik and helped propel the band to global superstardom. He has subsequently played upon five further studio albums by the band.

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A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne’s private jet, played Angus Young’s Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

Babymetal get skull-smashingly heavy with Slaughter To Prevail on new single Song 3, postpone album release yet again

Members of babymetal and Slaughter To Prevail against a black background in 2025
(Image credit: Babymetal)

Babymetal have teamed up with Russian-American deathcore unit Slaughter To Prevail for gnarly new single Song 3.

The song, which will appear on both the new Babymetal album Metal Forth and the new Slaughter To Prevail album Grizzly later this year, was released today (May 28) along with an accompanying music video. Have a watch/listen below.

Babymetal call Song 3 “one of the Japanese metal band’s most forceful tracks to date, pairing Slaughter to Prevail’s raw, punishing vocals with Babymetal’s soaring, melodic choruses”.

They add, “The result is tense and theatrical, but tightly controlled – a balancing act the band has long specialised in.”

Babymetal, who recently delayed Metal Forth’s release from June 13 to June 27, have postponed the album once again. It’s now due on August 8, and the band have previously put out two singles from the collaboration-heavy collection: Ratatata, featuring German synth-metal duo Electric Callboy, and From Me To U, featuring nu-gen genre-splicer Poppy.

Other songs will feature Bloodywood, Polyphia, Spiritbox, and Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine.

Babymetal are currently touring Europe, supported by Poppy as well as Bambie Thug, and will play at Le Zénith in Paris, France, tonight. They’ll conclude the leg of shows at the O2 Arena in London on May 30, before jetting off to North America for a 24-show run that starts in Houston, Texas on June 13. Support will come from Black Veil Brides, Jinjer and Bloodywood. See all details below.

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Meanwhile, Slaughter To Prevail are gearing up to release Grizzly on July 18. They shared the lead single Russian Grizzly In America last month, days after it was announced that vocalist Alex Terrible had adopted two bear cubs.

The band will play several US festival shows this summer. They’ll appear at Inkcarceration in Mansfield, Ohio on July 19, then at Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky on September 2 and at Aftershock in Sacramento, California on October 4.

BABYMETAL x Slaughter To Prevail – Song 3 (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) – YouTube BABYMETAL x Slaughter To Prevail - Song 3 (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) - YouTube

Watch On

Jun 13: Houston 713 Music Hall, TX ^=
Jun 14: Irving, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, TX ^=
Jun 17: Tampa Yuengling Center, FL ^=
Jun 18: Atlanta Coca-Cola Roxy, GA ^=
Jun 20: Charlotte Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre, NC ^=
Jun 21: Baltimore Pier Six Pavilion, MD ^=
Jun 24: New York The Theater at Madison Square Garden, NY ^=
Jun 25: Boston MGM Music Hall at Fenway, MA ^=
Jun 27: Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena, UT ^=
Jun 28: Philadelphia TD Pavilion at The Mann Center, PA ^=
Jun 30: Laval Place Bell, Canada ^=

Jul 02: Toronto Coca-Cola Coliseum, Canada ^=
Jul 03: Sterling Heights Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, MI ^=
Jul 05: Milwaukee Summerfest, WI *
Jul 06: St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park, MO +=
Jul 08: Chicago Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, IL +=
Jul 09: Minneapolis The Armory, MN +=
Jul 11: Denver The JunkYard, CO +=
Jul 14: Vancouver Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Center, Canada +=
Jul 15: Kent accesso ShoWare Center, WA +=
Jul 17: San Francisco The Masonic, CA +=
Jul 20: Las Vegas Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino, NV +=
Jul 21: Salt Lake City Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre, UT +=
Jul 23: Phoenix Arizona Financial Theatre, AZ +=

^ Black Veil Brides supporting
+ Jinjer supporting
= Bloodywood supporting

Founded in 1983, Metal Hammer is the global home of all things heavy. We have breaking news, exclusive interviews with the biggest bands and names in metal, rock, hardcore, grunge and beyond, expert reviews of the lastest releases and unrivalled insider access to metal’s most exciting new scenes and movements. No matter what you’re into – be it heavy metal, punk, hardcore, grunge, alternative, goth, industrial, djent or the stuff so bizarre it defies classification – you’ll find it all here, backed by the best writers in our game.

Download festival comments after artists speak out over “unsafe” toilets for trans people: “We stand with all members of our community and want everyone to feel safe”

Cropped version of the 2025 Download festival poster
(Image credit: Live Nation)

Download festival have commented following controversy over their guidance for trans people using on-site toilet facilities.

On Tuesday (May 27), UK singer/songwriter Noahfinnce took to X (formerly Twitter) to speak out against an email sent by the team behind the Donington weekender, which urged trans people not to use the toilets of the gender they’ve transitioned to.

The email, screenshotted in Noahfinnce’s post, read in part: “We will be following the interim guidance issued by the Equalities And Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on 25 April 2025 here.

“The guidance states that ‘trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities and trans men (biological women) should not be permitted to use the men’s facilities’ and that ‘trans people should not be put in a position where there are no facilities for them to use.’”

Noahfinnce, who is transgender, asked in response in their post: “What the fuck are you doing. How have you got the gall to invite trans people like me to play your festival and then ban them from using the toilet?”

The post led other artists to call out the June festival online, including Pinkshift, who called the guidance “crazy and so unsafe”, and Witch Fever.

Amidst the backlash, Download have issued a comment to NME. While not walking back the festival’s apparent stance on trans women using the facilities of “biological men” and trans men using the facilities of “biological women”, the statement emphasises that there will be unisex toilets across the site for all to use.

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The comment reads in full: “Download Festival has always been and remains for everyone. At the heart of Download is acceptance – we stand with all members of our community and want everyone to feel safe, supported and welcome at the festival. We want to reassure all of our customers that the majority of the toilets across the site are gender-neutral.

“The majority of toilets across the site will be gender-neutral and will cater to everyone. Download values every single member of its wonderful community and wants everyone to feel safe, supported and welcome at the festival.”

In addition, Noahfinnce has put out a follow-up X post, claiming to be in “direct communication” with Download. According to them, the festival say there will be no “policing” of toilets on-site and that the “customer service person” responsible for the original email should not have used the wording they did.

On April 16, judges in the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, not gender. According to the EHRC website, this means that “a ‘woman’ is a biological woman or girl (a person born female)” and “a ‘man’ is a biological man or boy (a person born male)”, and that people should use toilets that align with their birth sex and not their gender.

Though the UK government welcomed the ruling “and the clarity it brings for women”, it has been decried as transphobic.

There has also been confusion as to how the ruling will be enforced, with a report in The Guardian on May 26 saying that an agreement on how companies should implement it “may not be fully signed off for months”.

This marks the second year in a row that the lead-up to Download, which will take place at Donington race track from June 13 to 15, has been mired in controversy.

Last year, several bands pulled out of the festival at the last minute to protest the sponsorship of Barclaycard, which had ties to defence companies supplying Israel. Barclaycard suspended its involvement with Download and other festivals on June 14, 2024.

Download 2025 will go ahead as planned with headliners Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn. No bands have pulled out of the upcoming lineup at time of publication.

Louder’s resident Gojira obsessive was still at uni when he joined the team in 2017. Since then, Matt’s become a regular in Metal Hammer and Prog, at his happiest when interviewing the most forward-thinking artists heavy music can muster. He’s got bylines in The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, NME and many others, too. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him skydiving, scuba diving or coasteering.

Rock Legend Rick Derringer, Voice Behind “Hang On Sloopy” and Writer of “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo,” Dies at 77

Rick Derringer dead at 77

Feature Photo: Jim Summaria, http://www.jimsummariaphoto.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Rick Derringer, whose influence touched everything from 1960s garage rock to wrestling anthems and arena tours, has died at the age of 77. His death was confirmed by his caretaker Tony Wilson and Guitar Player magazine. He passed away Monday evening in Ormond Beach, Florida. No cause of death has been publicly disclosed, though Derringer had reportedly been in poor health in recent months.

Born Richard Dean Zehringer in Ohio in 1947, Derringer was barely 18 when he scored a No. 1 hit with “Hang On Sloopy” as lead singer of the McCoys. The track, produced by the Strangeloves and released in 1965, became a cultural fixture—particularly in Derringer’s home state of Ohio, where it remains a staple at football games and local events. The McCoys opened for the Rolling Stones on their first U.S. tour, but the band would never match the commercial success of that debut single.

Derringer’s career pivoted quickly in the late ’60s when he began working with Johnny Winter, and later joined Edgar Winter’s band. It was during this time that he produced the Edgar Winter Group’s instrumental powerhouse “Frankenstein,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. He replaced Ronnie Montrose in the band shortly thereafter, holding the position of guitarist and producer through their most visible years.

That same year, Derringer launched his solo career with the now-classic “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo,” a track that became a radio mainstay and was later featured in the Netflix series Stranger Things. His solo band, simply named Derringer, became a fixture on the touring circuit, known for their wild stage antics, including mid-show guitar tosses across the stage.

Derringer’s reach extended far beyond his own recordings. As a session guitarist, he appeared on albums by Steely Dan (Katy Lied, Gaucho), Todd Rundgren, Barbra Streisand, and Kiss. His guitar solos featured prominently on Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Air Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” both composed by Jim Steinman.

In the mid-1980s, Derringer’s guitar skills found a new audience through professional wrestling. He co-wrote and produced the WWF’s The Wrestling Album in 1985, including the now-iconic “Real American” theme song for Hulk Hogan. That anthem, originally recorded for tag team The U.S. Express, went on to be used not only by Hogan but by figures as diverse as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump during political events.

Derringer’s career later included collaborations with Cyndi Lauper—he played on her True Colors album and joined her on tour—as well as Christian music projects alongside his wife, Jenda. He also performed with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band and shared stages with Peter Frampton and Carmine Appice, continuing to tour well into his later years.

Beyond the records and fame, Derringer remained a staple of the classic rock community. He wasn’t just a player—he was a builder of moments. His early hit with “Hang On Sloopy” captured a cultural shift, his work with the Winter brothers defined a sound, and his solo music bridged generations. He remained a consistent presence across decades, genres, and even industries, leaving behind a body of work that stretches from teenage rock dreams to enduring American anthems.

Rick Derringer is survived by his wife Jenda and leaves behind a legacy that spans nearly every corner of American music history—from rock’s golden era to the squared circle of pop culture.

About The Author

Brian Kachejian

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Brian Kachejian was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of ClassicRockHistory.com. He has spent thirty years in the music business often working with many of the people who have appeared on this site. Brian Kachejian also holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Stony Brook University along with New York State Public School Education Certifications in Music and Social Studies. Brian Kachejian is also an active member of the New York Press.