Author: wamdiness

Guitarist Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth) recently spoke with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation. During their conversation, Marty reflects on writing his autobiography, Dreaming Japanese, and talks about his upcoming tour. 

SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation, hosted by Eddie Trunk, airs daily at 3pm ET on SiriusXM’s Faction Talk.

Marty Friedman on writing his book, Dreaming Japanese: 

“I’m very private, not intentionally guarded, but like it’s really hard to get a read on me because I don’t really divulge a lot of private stuff, and it’s just not in my personality to do that. But the time to do that, if any time, would be in your own autobiography. So I just completely let everything out so people are gonna like, be surprised and offended or not offended, or they’re gonna not know what to do because I think a lot of people have a hard time getting a read on the personal part of me because it’s really nobody’s business. But when you write an autobiography, that’s where you have to put it all in there. And so I’m like, ‘Okay, there’s nothing that I’m gonna keep back.’ You know? I’m not gonna try to make myself look good. I’m not gonna try to make myself look bad.”

“I’m just gonna say all these, anything that would be of any interest to anyone who might pick up this book, let it all in there. You know, there’s nothing to be ashamed about. Of course there’s a lot of things in there that I’m definitely not proud of, but these are things that happened and these are things that are true. And if I found it interesting, whether it makes me look good or bad, I put it in there. And you know, a lot of this stuff, especially with band interactions, you know, of course everybody knew that I was gonna write every detail about my experience in the 10 years I was in Megadeth, but I also treated my other bands before that, even my childhood bands with the exact same candidness and all of the real detailed things about what it’s like to be a band that’s not as big as a Megadeth or something like that. So I find that really interesting and I think that people who wanna know what it was like to be me during those, you know, some people say the golden era of Megadeth, and I tend to agree even though they’ve done wonderful, wonderful things in my absence, it’s really what exactly my perspective of how I live day to day during that time in Megadeth. And I never really ever talked about it, especially after I left the band.”

Marty Friedman on his upcoming American tour:

“You know, it got to the point where you’ve read the book, so, you know, but,  things were going really, really well in Japan, but it was kind of at the expense of not being able to play in other places and not being able to really escape Japan for more than a couple weeks at a time. And the longer you do that, the harder it is to get back. So I knew that I was gonna have to start cultivating the rest of the world more. And it’s just thanks to the fans who’ve supported me, you know, through all that time, because I’ve been away from America for quite some time. But thank God for these wonderful people who supported me and come to the shows outside of Japan and now that’s what keeps us coming back.”

Friedman’s 2025 US tour, in support of his Drama album, will kick off on January 25 in Las Vegas and wrap up on February 22 in Los Angeles.

Marty comments on the tour: “My three band members from Japan, Chargeeeeee, Wakazaemon, and Naoki have created the ultimate setting to perform music from all stages of my career. If you’ve seen us live before, you know what to expect. If not, you are in for a unique treat. You will remember my band’s performances on this Drama tour for a long time. Our last two USA tours have left an unforgettable impact on them. We are all beyond excited to cross the pond and play for my home country again!”

Marty Friedman Live Drama 2025 dates:

January
25 – Las Vegas, NV – Count’s Vamp’d
27 – Denver, CO – HQ Live
29 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
30 – St. Charles, IL – Arcada Theater
31 – Westland, MI – Token Lounge

February
1 – Columbus, OH – The King of Clubs
2 – Cleveland, OH – The Winchester
4 – New York, NY – The Loft at City Winery
5 – Boston, MA – City Winery
6 – Derry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall
7 – Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head on Stage
8 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House
10 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery
11 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
13 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
14 – Nashville, TN – The Basement
16 – Houston, TX – Bronze Peacock at House of Blues
17 – Austin, TX – Antone’s
18 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
20 – Albuquerque, NM – Launch Pad
21 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Whisky

Tickets, Exclusive Meet and Greet VIP Packages, Stage Played Guitars, and more are available at MartyFriedman.com.

Innovative guitar visionary, Marty Friedman, has shared a new single, “A Prayer”, from his latest solo album, Drama. The new track is being released as a digital single that includes a “Guitar Karaoke” version of the track as a B-Side. “A Prayer” is accompanied by a visualizer, available below.

Marty comments on the new single: “‘A Prayer’ was one of the first songs I wrote for Drama, It is an unapologetic tearjerker, and it set the melancholy tone for the entire album. I always wanted to do a full album of wistful songs like this, but only recently have I developed the ability to put together elaborate arrangements like this that sound deceivingly simple and uplifting.”

Marty Friedman’s presence in the world of music, the world of guitar, and Japanese pop culture is mystifying, bizarre, and nothing short of inspiring. From his groundbreaking beginnings with Cacophony, alongside the legendary Jason Becker, to his pivotal role in propelling Megadeth to its peak of popularity with his breath-taking range and unorthodox melodic sense, Marty has solidified his status as a unique guitar icon.

Drama only slightly revisits the atmospheric elements of his acclaimed 1992 release Scenes, elevating them to a modern and exotic collection of epic, extravagant, and unapologetically emotional mini-symphonies.

Tracks like “Illumination” and “Mirage” transport listeners to captivating realms, evoking sudden tears and chills. The entire album spotlights Marty’s mesmerizing melodies, game-changing arrangements, and heart-tugging motifs, even more than any of his previous work.

Recorded in Italy, where Marty had access to a treasure trove of vintage guitars along with his modern signature models, Drama is a pure delight for anyone who appreciates music that stirs emotions.

Order the album here.

Tracklisting:

“Illumination”
“Song For An Eternal Child”
“Triumph” (Official Version)
“Thrill City”
“Deep End”
“Dead Of Winter” (English Vocal)
“Mirage”
“A Prayer”
“Acapella” (Guitar Solo)
“Tearful Confession”
“Icicles”
“2 Rebeldes” (Spanish Vocal)

Any Given Sin and Mascot Records have released a new song titled “Rest For The Wicked”. Guitarist Mike Connor shares, “’Rest For The Wicked’ is a glimpse of where the bar is set for the next album. Chris Dawson is the producer on this one as well. He has taken it to a slightly more modern sound as far as how it’s being approached. We also experimented with some different guitar tunings. We wanted to still be very Any Given Sin-ish without putting out ‘War Within’ Part 2.” 

Drummer Mike Showalter offers, “I personally had a lot of fun with the percussion on this one. I approached it with more of a swing beat in the verses because that’s what I felt, and it gives the song some originality. I also connected with the lyrics. They really hit home with some of my past life experiences.” Check out the lyric video:

Inner struggle incites outward expression. Any Given Sin transfigure conflict into caustic and catchy hard rock punctuated by metallic intensity and alternative intimacy. The Maryland quartet—Victor Ritchie [vocals], Mike Conner [guitar], Rich Stevenson [bass], and Mike Showalter [drums]—encase these unrestrained emotions inside arena-size anthems with bold hooks and bludgeoning riffs. Buzzing at radio and building a devout fan base through years of touring, the band perfected their pummeling and powerful style on their 2023 full-length debut LP, War Within, amassing over 55 Million Total Streams.

Following the release of their version of the Cutting Crew classic, “(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight”, a whole new group of fans joined the fold generating Four million streams in just a few months. Late in 2024, Any Given Sin entered the studio to begin tracking the band’s second album for Mascot Records.  The lead song, “Rest For The Wicked” is the first new music being shared from the band’s second studio album coming this Summer. The first two confirmed appearances are May 10th at Rock Lansing, supporting Ayron Jones and Badflower, and July 21st at Rock The Mountains.  Over the last several years, Any Given Sin has toured with Adelita’s Way, Black Stone Cherry, Crobot, Drowning Pool, Saint Asonia and Saliva. While appearing at festivals which include Rocklahoma, Louder Than Life, Blue Ridge Rock Festival, River Fest, Rock Lansing, Northwoods Rock Rally, and many others.

Over the years, the band’s grind yielded major traction as they tirelessly wrote, recorded, and honed a signature sound. Early releases like “Another Life”, “Dynamite” and “Insidious” found broad support at Active Rock radio in the U.S., and catapulted the band to #1 on SiriusXM’s fan-powered Big ‘Uns Countdown.

By sharing their trials, tribulations, and triumphs, Any Given Sin ultimately offer a communal catharsis for fans to partake in. “When you listen to us, we hope you feel like you’re not alone,” singer Victor Ritchie shares. “No matter what you’re dealing with, the music is a reminder that someone hears you.”  “A lot of it may sound dark and depressing, but there’s a positive message.”

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has just issued the following update:

“Thank you for all the recent messages and support. As you all may know, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma several years ago. I recently had a bone marrow transplant as part of my treatment plan, and it’s safe to say that thus far it’s been a very successful transplant! I just have to keep my head down and my spirits up for the next 100 days of primary recovery.”
– A very happy Viv!

On January 18th, Def Leppard performed their first show of 2025 without guitarist Vivian Campbell at Feria Estatal De León in León, Mexico. Phil Collen’s guitar tech, John Zocco, performed in his place. According to a mid-show explanation from frontman Joe Elliott, Campbell was absent because “he’s just recovering from some treatment for his cancer.”

Zocco previously filled in for Campbell on October 14, 2024 for the Daimler Truck Customer Appreciation Event.

Fan-filmed video from the Mexico show can be viewed below. The setlist was as follows:

“Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)”
“Rocket”
“Let’s Get Rocked”
“Foolin'”
“Armageddon It”
“Animal”
“Love Bites”
“Just Like ’73”
“Let It Go”
“Die Hard The Hunter”
“Two Steps Behind”
“This Guitar”
“Bringin’ On The Heartbreak”
“Switch 625”
“Rock Of Ages”
“Photograph”

Encore;
“Hysteria”
“Pour Some Sugar On Me”

Encore 2:
“Wasted”

Def Leppard’s next show is May 15th in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their complete tour schedule can be found here.

Nearly 35 years on, -(16)- remains 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, set for release on February 7th via Relapse Records.

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, 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.

Today the band shares “After All”, the second single from Guides For The Misguided.

-(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.”

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)- Tour Dates:

January
31 – Scumm – Pescara, Italy

February
1 – Pippo Stage – Bolzano, Italy
2 – Freakout – Bologna, Italy
3 – Altroquando – Zero Branco, Italy
4 – Vintage Industrial – Zagreb, Croatia
5 – Explosiv – Graz, Austria
6 – Kabinet Muz – Bmo, Czech Republic
7 – Liverpool Club – Wroclaw, Poland
8 – Rockhouse – Salzburg, Austria
9 – 7er Club – Mannheim, Germany
10 – V11 – Rotterdam, Netherlands
11 – Gasttatte Ziller – Goppingen, Germany
13 – Kuudes Linja – Helsinki, Finland
14 – Raindogs House – Savona, Italy
15 – Blah Blah – Torino, Italy

(Photo – Chad Kelco)

Misanthropic death metal merchants, Incantation, and instrumental video game theme cover band, Powerglove, are the latest acts confirmed for the 2025 edition of 70000 Tons Of Metal, taking place January 30 – February 3, 2025. 

This year’s cruise will take fans back to an absolute favorite port that hasn’t been visited in a decade – Ocho Rios, Jamaica!

60 Bands, 4 Days, 1 Cruise Ship, and only 3000 Tickets. This is 70000 Tons Of Metal, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise!

70000 Tons Of Metal 2025 roster: Arcturus, Benighted, Beyond Creation, Candlemass, Crownshift, Decapitated, Delain, Emperor, Ex Deo, Finntroll, Flotsam And Jetsam, HammerFall, Ihsahn, Incantation, In Extremo, Kalmah, Kissin’ Dynamite, Majestica, Metsatöll, Mork, Powerglove, Samael, Septicflesh, Sepultura, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Subway To Sally, Swallow The Sun featuring Finnish Ballet, Symphony X, Tankard, The Kovenant, The Zenith Passage, Trollfest, Trouble, Twilight Force, Unleash The Archers.

On 70000 Tons Of Metal you get unrestricted festival access to all 120 live shows on board, 70000 Tons Of Karaoke until sunrise, Jamming In International Waters – the Official 70000 Tons Of Metal All Star Jam which writes heavy metal history every year, clinics and work-shops with the musicians, our infamous belly flop contest, shore excursions with your favorite artists, and much more.

Organizers: “Everyone on board is a VIP, we don’t have assigned seating (this is a heavy metal cruise after all), and most importantly the bars on our ship never close – you heard us, bars that never close! On this life changing adventure you will spend five days and four nights at sea mingling side-by-side with your favorite artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It’s like having an All-Access backstage pass!”

Visit 70000Tons.com or the official 70000 Tons Of Metal Facebook page for further details.

Jerry Cantrell’s recently released solo album, I Want Blood, is being reimagined as a spoken-word series, with new versions of the album tracks debuting every Thursday, and featuring video animations by Boy Tillekens.

Watch “Held Your Tongue” (Spoken Word) below:

On how the spoken-word pieces came to be, Cantrell told the Lipps Service podcast: “I wanted to do something special, try to do something cool, and I’ve never done a spoken word recitation of the lyrics, and I thought it might be kind of cool to have it on the B-side of ‘Vilified.’ I recorded it, and it sounded cool. I thought maybe it needs some music or something, and I was sitting there with Maxwell Urasky, my demo partner. He’s a really talented musician, and he said ‘Let me mess around with it for a night.’ He came back the next day with that piece of music, and it sounded killer. I brought it in to Joe Barresi and he said, ‘Man, you should do this with all of them.’

“So I sent it out to my friends, and they hadn’t heard the songs, which I thought was really cool. I got this creative stew going of sending the lyrics out to people, having them come up with the music, and sending it back. We ended up with nine pieces of really interesting takes on the lyrics, but the music is done by creative partners of mine, and it has nothing to do with the real music, so it is truly a standalone piece.”

Additional collaborators on the project include Barresi, Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, The Black Queen), Roy Mayorga (Ministry), Gil Sharone (Stolen Babies, Team Sleep), Rani Sharone (Stolen Babies), George Adrian (The Maybirds), composer Vincent Jones, and producer Michael Rozon.

Watch more videos from the series below:

I Want Blood, co-produced by Cantrell and Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Melvins), was recorded at Barresi’s JHOC Studio in Pasadena, Calif. The album also features contributions from bass heavyweights Duff McKagan (Guns N’Roses) and Robert Trujillo (Metallica), drummers Gil Sharone (Team Sleep, Stolen Babies) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More), and backing vocals from Lola Colette and Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, ex-Dillinger Escape Plan).

Album orders, which include CD, digital and multiple 2LP variants are available here.

I Want Blood tracklisting:

“Vilified”
“Off The Rails”
“Afterglow”
“I Want Blood”
“Echoes Of Laughter”
“Throw Me A Line”
“Let It Lie”
“Held Your Tongue”
“It Comes”

“Vilified” visualizer:

“Off The Rails” visualizer:

“Afterglow” video:

“I Want Blood” visualizer:

“Echoes Of Laughter” visualizer:

“Throw Me A Line” visualizer:

“Let It Lie” visualizer:

“Held Your Tongue” visualizer:

“It Comes” visualizer:

Cantrell is set for a North American tour in support of I Want Blood. The trek kicks off on January 31 in Niagara Falls and makes its way across the country, concluding in Cantrell’s home state of Washington. For ticket information, visit jerrycantrell.com/tour. Filter supports on all dates.

North American tour dates:

January
31 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort

February
1 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
2 – Portland, ME – Aura
4 – Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues Boston
5 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
7 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore – Silver Spring
8 – Bensalem, PA – Parx Xcite Center
11 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
12 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
14 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
15 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
16 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
18 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone
19 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
22 – St. Louis, MO – The Hawthorn
23 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre
25 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater
26 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston
27 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theatre

March
1 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
2 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Las Vegas
4 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
5 – Ventura, CA – The Majestic Ventura Theater
7 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory – Spokane
8 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
9 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre

Jerry Cantrell is an iconic American troubadour, celebrated for his distinctive guitar playing, soulful vocals and profound songwriting. Known for his work in both Alice In Chains and as a solo artist, the Grammy-nominated musician has sold in excess of 30 million albums, has been named one of the greatest guitar players of all time by both Guitar World and Rolling Stone, and has been instrumental in shaping the sound of modern rock music. Over his career, he has released six studio albums with Alice In Chains, three solo full-lengths, has had his music featured in films from Cameron Crowe, Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller and made cameos in “Deadwood” and “Jerry Maguire.”

Melodic hard rockers, Alliance, are pleased to announce the release of their new studio album, Before Our Eyes, out March 28 via Frontiers Music Srl. The first single and accompanying video, “Tell Somebody”, are also available now. Find the clip below.

Alliance comment on the new album: “We are excited to have a new label and to be working with the team at Frontiers. With 5 albums released over the last 30 years we are feeling even more creative and energized by the possibilities that lie ahead. We are looking forward to reaching a wider audience and are already hard at work on album 7.”

About the new track, they add: “The first single from the new album is ‘Tell Somebody’. The songs narrative  applies to everyone of us having things going on in our lives that other’s might not see but the hidden meaning alludes to the divisive climate in the world. An open heart, truth and clarity, are the goals.”

Renowned melodic hard rock band Alliance, with a nearly thirty-year collaboration, and six highly regarded studio albums, return with their new release, Before Our Eyes, their first on the Frontiers label, and the first in several years following Bond Of Union (1996), Alliance (1997), Missing Piece (1999), Destination Known (2007), Road To Heaven (2008) and Fire And Grace (2018).

For the new album, the core of the band remains the same with guitarist Gary Pihl (Boston), drummer Mr. David Lauser (Sammy Hagar) and bassist Robert Berry (3, GTR). After Sammy Hagar stopped his solo career to join Van Halen, his drummer David Lauser, along with guitarist Gary Pihl still longed for the allusive missing pieces for a new project outside of their main gigs.

Early in 1993, Robert Berry received a call from Lauser. They reached out to keyboardist Alan (Fitz) Fitzgerald (ex-Night Ranger), and gathered together at Hagar’s studio in Mill Valley to work through songs from their demos. According to a witness, “there was an immediate connection. Everybody in the room could feel it. The vibe was powerful and inspiring”. They immediately recognized the common thread that would feed their creativity.

A signature style was beginning to emerge, and the band was bonding even though they were spread geographically throughout the country, with Pihl in Boston, Fitz based in Texas, Lauser in Southern California and Berry in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Over the years and up to today, Alliance continues to solidify and bolster their long-distance collaborations. Though the scheduling remains challenging their passion and commitment remains energized. Their musical benchmark, perhaps a product of their high-profile roles outside of Alliance, has always been pushed to the highest standard. And it’s clear that they always strive to surpass their previous release. Thus, they have earned a loyal, patient and growing fan base over the years that are sure to enjoy and embrace the new album Before Our Eyes.

Pre-order the new album here.

Before Our Eyes tracklisting:

“Tell Somebody”
“Nothing Will Make You Change”
“Too Many People”
“Face Of Justice”
“Good Life”
“Joan Of Arc”
“Can’t Stop Messin'”
“Right”
“100 Sad Goodbyes”
“Tonight”
“A Bone To Chew On”

“Tell Somebody” video:

Lineup:

Robert Berry
David Lauser
Gary Pihl

(Photo – Dave Lepori)

January 23, 2025, an hour ago

news heavy metal dirk verbeuren megadeth

EVANS Drumheads met up with Megadeth’s Dirk Verbeuren at Jones Beach Amphitheatre in New York to check in and get a rundown of his touring setup. Check out the video below:

Drumeo recently shared the video below, along with the following message:

“Join Dirk Verbeuren as he breaks down the legendary drum parts from ‘Hangar 18’ by Megadeth. This is a classic track from the band’s Rust In Peace album which was originally recorded with Nick Menza on drums.

A huge shoutout to Dirk for keeping Nick Menza’s legacy alive and showing us what makes ‘Hangar 18’ one of the greatest songs in metal history.”