Author: Logan Rocker

December 6, 2024, 11 hours ago

news hard rock rush fantoons

Fantoons launch their special Rush Christmas bundle with the following message:

“Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, dear friends! We’re dropping the ultimate gift this Christmas, putting Santa and his workshop to shame. In your face, old man (Sorry, we’re still not over receiving a Stretch Armstrong that didn’t stretch backin ‘76.)

“Introducing our Rush Special Christmas Bundle! This epic bundle includes many of our Rush greatest hits: Signals Enamel Mug, Flakes Under Pressure Decorative Cereal Box, Postcards Pack, Moving Pictures Christmas Cards, Where’s Geddy, Alex, And Neil?, and the Major Lee Bassball Enamel Pin!

“This bundle is limited to the holiday season, so grab yours now and give some progressively rockin’ joy this Christmas!”

Shop here.

December 6, 2024, 13 hours ago

news heavy metal black death my dying bride

My Dying Bride are thrilled to announce their return to the stage in 2025. After a small “hiatus”, live shows are set to recommence, featuring a very special guest on vocals – Mikko Kotamäki from Swallow The Sun.

A message states: “We warmly welcome Mikko, who has graciously joined the MDB live setup, enabling us to bring both new and classic songs back to the stage. With this year’s monumental album A Mortal Binding now well into establishing itself as a doom metal success, the band are at last ready to promote it live along with seasoned classics of course.”

The band is excited to announce one show already with more to come: July 3 at Rockmaraton Festival in Dunaújváros, Hungary. Stay tuned for further announcements.

The band’s latest album, A Mortal Binding, can be streamed/ordered here.

Axe Heaven are offering a 20% discount on their Rush Ornaments Set of 3 (Bass, Guitar, and Starman Crimson Red Mini Drum) through Monday, December 9. Use code RUSH3 at checkout (or click any link to activate 20% discount). Order here.

Rush Ornament set of 3 includes, Geddy Lee Bass, Alex Lifeson Gibson Guitar, and Neil’s Starman Crimson Red Mini 3.5″ Bass Drum Ornaments – handcrafted with all the details just like the real instruments! Hang this ornament from your Christmas tree, rearview mirror, amp, or even a real drum kit!

– 1 x FJ-90061 – 6″ Fender® Geddy Lee Black Jazz Bass Ornament
– 1 x GG-859AH – 6″ Gibson Alex Lifeson Signature ES-355 Alpine White Mini Guitar Ornament
– 1 x NP-035 – Rush Starman Crimson Red Mini 3.5″ Bass Drum Ornament

Axe Heaven has created handcrafted Rush miniature guitars, basses, and drums to commemorate the bands iconic instruments. All guitars are officially licensed by Rush.

Axe Heaven has created officially licensed Rush one-of-a-kind miniature replica models to commemorate their iconic instruments. Each Axe Heaven ornament replica is individually handcrafted from solid wood, with metal parts.

Each Axe Heaven replica guitar / bass is 6″ in height and the drum approximately 3.5″ in width and comes complete with a Axe Heaven gift box stamped with gold foil. Axe Heaven Miniature Replicas look great, but are not playable.

Metallica have issued the following update in regards to their Helping Hands Concert & Auction, taking place in Los Angeles on December 13:

“Helping Hands 2024 is just one short week away. We’re psyched to announce that our friends Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Kenny Aronoff will take the stage in support of All Within My Hands this year! Also lending their incredible talent to the event is SistaStrings, the sisters turned classically-trained duo named 2023’s “best instrumentalist” by the Americana Music Association!

“If you’re coming to the show, you won’t want to miss a minute, so don’t be late. The show starts at 6 PM, PT SHARP. See you next Friday at YouTube Theater.”

Metallica adds: “AWMH’s latest sweepstakes with our friends at Fandiem will give one winner a trip to Los Angeles and priority tickets to a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Also included is green room access, a behind-the-scenes tour of the set, a meet-and-greet with Jimmy, and a chance to sit at his desk on stage. You won’t need to worry about travel or lodging; the prize includes round-trip travel and a two-night hotel stay for two. The lucky winner will also receive a five-piece luggage package by BÉIS, the ultimate travel gear and accessories for the modern traveler!

“Donation options start as low as $10, plus a free entry method. All donations support AWMH’s mission to create sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.

“Sweepstakes ends Friday, December 20, at 11:59 PM, PT. Open to legal residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico only. Must be 18 or older to win.”

Donate to enter here.

In a groundbreaking career which has seen Paul McCartney win countless awards and receive some of the world’s most prestigious honours – today marks a career first as The Royal Mint launches an official Paul McCartney coin.

The coin features Paul’s iconic Magic Piano as well as several references to his record-breaking career – including piano notes personally chosen by Paul, a Höfner Violin Bass guitar and the Wings logo.

The design was officially approved by Paul and marks the first time he has appeared on an official UK coin. The £5 coin collection is available in a range of finishes, as well as coloured editions which brings the Magic Piano to life for fans.  

Says McCartney, “This feels like a huge honour. It’s not anything I would have ever expected to happen when I was a kid.”

Paul is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time. As a member of both The Beatles and Wings, he became a rock ‘n’ roll superstar, but his continued work as a solo artist has cemented him as one of the greatest artists in history. Paul has just completed the South American leg of his acclaimed Got Back tour – which saw him play to over 500,000 people in eight countries. The tour has just started its European leg and will finish the year with home shows in Manchester and London later this month.

Inspired by Paul’s use of pennies as guitar picks in the early days, The Royal Mint has also created a special edition plectrum shaped version of the coin to gift to Paul. The one-off plectrum has been produced using sustainable gold, recovered from e-waste at The Royal Mint’s factory in South Wales.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said, “Our coins recognize the greatest icons and events in British history, so it’s fitting that Paul McCartney’s remarkable music career is now celebrated on an official UK coin. What makes this coin extra special is that Paul has been involved throughout the design process. The coin celebrates elements from throughout his solo career, and we hope fans will enjoy the layered references to songs, instruments and bands.”

In early 2025 The Royal Mint will offer fans the chance to own a unique piece of history, auctioning a signed, gold edition of Paul’s coin. The bespoke gold coin weighs five kilos and took over 250 hours to make, including three days of hand polishing. It was signed by Paul during his 2024 Got Back tour in Paris and will be auctioned alongside four silver five kilo editions.    

The Paul McCartney collectable coin is available as limited-edition precious metal proof finishes, Brilliant Uncirculated and colour versions. To view the full collection, visit The Royal Mint’s website, prices start from £15.50.

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to reveal the full bill and the names of the last seven bands that will perform at the Frontiers Rock Festival, set to take place on April 25, 26, and 27, 2025, at the Live Club in Trezzo sull’Adda (Milan).

Furthermore, Frontiers Music Srl is thrilled to announce that the Orchard will sponsor the festival, their long-time digital distributor and physical partner for distribution globally. The company’s personnel and a dedicated area for all information will also be available at the festival.

The Frontiers Rock Festival will feature 21 bands in three days – an unmissable experience for all melodic rock/hard rock fans offering fans the very best that the scene has to offer these days.

The last seven bands confirmed to rock FRF 2025 are:

Asia:

In 1982 John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer, and Steve Howe became the founding fathers of supergroup Asia, responsible for a string of multi-million-selling albums and chart-topping hits across the globe. Asia’s self-titled1982 debut album was the biggest-selling album in the world powered by the classic rock anthem “Heat Of The Moment”, along with other timeless hits. Another multi-million seller, Alpha followed in 1983, and in 1986 Astra completed the trio of MTV-era hits.

In 2006, the founder members reformed and released several new albums before John Wetton’s untimely passing in 2017. After some tours in the USA with different musicians, in the Summer of 2023, Geoff Downes spear-headed a memorial concert to celebrate the life of John Wetton. At the concert, he invited rock n roll veteran John Mitchell – who had played with both Wetton and Downes in Icon and in Wetton’s own band – to join him on stage, taking on lead guitar duties. The duo was joined by newcomer Harry Whitley, whom Downes had discovered and whose vocal talents so closely resembled that of Wetton’s. It was nothing short of spine-tingling. So it was that Geoff who made the decision to take a fresh, new-look Asia back out on the road, recruiting Mitchell and Whitley as new members and bringing in the drumming excellence of Virgil Donati.

This line-up is here to stay and will present their elegant and riveting music on the stage in Trezzo.

Robin McAuley:

Robin McAuley is widely recognized as one of the great singers of a golden period in Hard Rock music. His voice can be heard on albums from Grand Prix and Far Corporation, and of course on the US charts-topping M.S.G. records Perfect Timing, Save Yourself, and MSG.

Recently, he took part in the supergroup Black Swan, and he also released two brilliant solo albums, Standing On The Edge in 2021 and Alive in 2023, showcasing his typical melodic and infectious vocal style, with powerful guitar riffs and some more updated elements incorporated in his music.

The legendary Rock vocalist will bring on the stage of the Frontiers Rock Festival all the glory and success of his past, along with the consistency and class of his present.

Honeymoon Suite:

Originally formed in 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, by lead vocalist/guitarist Johnnie Dee, soon joined by lead guitarist, Derry Grehan, the five-piece act released a total of seven studio albums since their debut release in 1983, with over 1 million units sold worldwide.

The band won numerous awards, including a Canadian Juno for “Group of Year” in 1986, triple platinum sales in Canada with the first 3 albums, and platinum sales for the greatest hits CD The Singles, released in 1989. Their latest studio album, Alive, has been produced by the notable fellow Canadian Mike Krompass, and the result brings back the trademark sound of the band, with powerful vocals and memorable guitar riffs.

Honeymoon Suite has toured extensively in the US, Canada, and Europe with acts such as ZZ Top, Heart, Billy Idol, Journey, Bryan Adams, Saga, Loverboy, Jethro Tull, and .38 Special. They are really excited to play in Italy for the very first time in their long career, presenting the best of their career with some new tunes thrown into, for a great set!

Crazy Lixx:

Thrill Of The Bite, the new studio album from the Swedish hard rockers Crazy Lixx, is set for release on February 14th. It’s a band that made a name for their amazing Hair Metal revival style, strongly rooted in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, drawing inspiration from the flamboyant Heavy Metal and the movies of that era!

Their latest original studio effort, Street Lethal, released in 2021, left all fans of the band eager to hear new material, and – even though the compilation album Two Shots At Glory (2024) gave the listeners some new recordings (covers, re-arrangements of old songs and a couple of new tracks), this next studio album is what they have all been dying to crank up in their stereo!

Expect powerful anthems, memorable riffs, catchy melodies, electrifying guitar solos, and the usual larger-than-life sing-along energy on stage!

Shakra:

With 13 studio albums (!), 2 live albums, one ballads compilation, and a few successes that hit the German and Swiss album charts – during their 30 years-career – Shakra is considered one of the most consistent acts in the current Swiss hard rock scene, thanks to their music style based on powerful guitar riffs, catchy hooks, and a solid rhythm section.

But it’s the stage that is their home, as they played countless European shows (including a twelve-country tour with Hammerfall and Stratovarius) as well as many metal and hard rock festivals (including the prestigious Bang Your Head and Spirit Of Rock). They also opened for rock giants like Iron Maiden, Uriah Heep, and Guns n’ Roses.

An experienced, powerful, and super solid live band that will definitely put the Frontiers Rock Festival stage on fire!!!

Art Nation:

Led by main man and vocalist Alexander Strandell, Art Nation is back on track after a difficult four-year hiatus complicated by line-up issues. However, the latest album, ‘Inception,’ is clear proof of how the band has re-established that great musical spirit and chemistry that launched them years ago!

Alexander Strandell, guitarist Christoffer Borg, and bassist Richard Svärd, deliver a powerful musical statement, in their classic style, made of huge and anthemic hooks mixed with European metal influences.

After dozens and dozens of shows on some of the biggest stages in Sweden, having played at the legendary Sweden Rock Festival, and having walked the red carpet of the Grammys, Art Nation is back and better than ever!

Seventh Crystal:

Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Seventh Crystal showcases a diverse range of musical expressions, drawing inspiration from a variety of genres, from soft melodic rock to hard-hitting heavy metal going through progressive and classic rock.

Their new studio album, Entity, follows the path of their previous Delirium of 2021 and Wonderland of 2023, putting – this time – a stronger accent on the heavy guitar parts and on the constructions of the songs.

Seventh Crystal are ready to bring their exciting and authentic melodic rock formula to the Frontiers Rock Festival stage!

The full bill for each day of the festival, and the full list of exclusive VIP acoustic shows are as follows:

April 25 – Day 1

Asia
Pride Of Lions
Honeymoon Suite
Bonfire
Shakra
Art Nation
Fans Of The Dark

April 26 – Day 2

Winger
Treat
FM
Crazy Lixx
Chez Kane
Girish & The Chronicles
Cassidy Paris

VIP (acoustic):

FM
Chez Kane
Girish & The Chronicles

April 27 – Day 3

Harem Scarem
Mike Tramp’s White Lion
Robin McAuley
Storace
Ronnie Romero
The Big Deal
Seventh Crystal

VIP (acoustic):

Harem Scarem
Ronnie Romero
The Big Deal

For complete details and ticket information, head to frontiersrockfestival.com.

The Great Frog shop – which was was opened by Carol Lehtonen and Paterson Riley in 1972 on legendary Carnaby Street in London – have teamed up with The Pretty Reckless singer, Taylor Momsen.

A message from The Great Frog states: “Designed by Reino in close collaboration with Taylor Momsen from The Pretty Reckless, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their empowering second studio album Going To Hell. Introducing five original new pieces featuring the iconic Going To Hell Cross, including two rings, a pendant, a rosary and a pair of earrings. The ultimate, unapologetic, solid 925 Sterling Silver statement collection. Very limited quantities.”

Shop here.

The Pretty Reckless will support AC/DC when they return to the road in North America for the first time in nine years on the 2025 Power Up North American Tour.

Much to the delight of millions of fans across North America, the legendary Grammy Award-winning Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame-inducted band will perform in 13 stadiums coast-to-coast next spring. This run kicks off on April 10 in Minneapolis, MN at US Bank Stadium, canvases the continent, and concludes on May 28 in Cleveland, OH at Huntington Bank Field. Along the way, they will play some of the most iconic and historic stadiums in the world, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on April 18 and Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on May 24.

Tickets for all shows, featuring support from The Pretty Reckless, are on sale now, here.

The tour shares its name with their 2020 album, Power Up, which bowed at #1 in 21 countries. In 2024, AC/DC completed a European leg of the Power Up Tour, packing the biggest stadiums on the continent in the process. Power Up notably notched their third #1 debut on the Billboard 200 and exploded as one of the best-selling albums of 2020 worldwide. Plus, it garnered Grammy Award nominations in the categories of “Best Rock Album” and “Best Rock Performance” and “Best Music Video” for “Shot In The Dark.” Power Up is available here.

AC/DC played their very first show on the 31st December 1973 at Chequers Nightclub in Sydney, Australia. They are one of the most influential rock bands in history, with over 200 million albums sold worldwide. The band’s Back In Black LP is the “bestselling album by any band ever” and the “third bestselling album by any artist” with global sales of 50 million and counting. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003. The band continue selling out stadiums on multiple continents, sell millions of albums annually and generate streams in the billions.

To continue their reign as the world’s greatest rock and roll band, AC/DC – Angus Young on lead guitar, vocalist Brian Johnson, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug and bass player Chris Chaney – are back to play to their legion of dedicated fans, which grows with every passing year.

Tour dates:

April
10 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
14 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium
18 – Pasadena, CA – Rose Bowl
22 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
26 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium
30 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field

May
4 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
8 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium
12 – Landover, MD – Northwest Stadium
16 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
20 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium
24 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
28 – Cleveland, OH – Huntington Bank Field

Forbes Senior Contributor, Hugh McIntyre, is reporting that Mötley Crüe is back on the charts in America this week, but the band didn’t release a new album. One of their biggest commercial successes from the past, Dr. Feelgood, is a win once more in their home country, following a special edition release. As the title returns, it reaches a very special new peak on multiple tallies, appearing higher than ever on more than one list.

Dr. Feelgood appears on four Billboard charts this week. The set debuts on half of them and returns to the other two – and it manages to hit a lofty position the title has never seen before on both of those rankings.

Between the two tallies Mötley Crüe brings their decades-old full-length back to, the set performs the best on the “Top Hard Rock Albums” chart. That’s not unexpected, as they faced the least amount of competition on that tally. Dr. Feelgood re-enters that race at #12 this frame, nearly finding its way to the Top 10 for the first time.

The same project is also back on the “Top Album Sales” chart, where Dr. Feelgood did have to race against many other titles, as the list is not genre-specific. Mötley Crüe comes in at #29 on the ranking this time around, which also marks a new peak for the set.

Find out where else the set appears on the Billboard charts at Forbes.com.

Thirty-five years after its release, Dr. Feelgood stands as the last great rock record of the 1980’s, and one of the greatest rock records of all time. Recorded in Vancouver with Producer Bob Rock and released in 1989, this iconic album took Mötley Crüe to #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and earned a 6X Platinum certification in the US. The album cemented the newly sober band’s status as global superstars, hitting the Top 10 in Australia (Platinum), Canada (3X Platinum), Finland, Norway, New Zealand (Platinum), Sweden, Switzerland (Gold) and the UK (Gold).

Dr. Feelgood 35th Anniversary Editions are available now. Shop here.

With five massive hit singles that kept radio and MTV request lines busy, the Dr. Feelgood World Tour saw Mötley Crüe on the road and in the air on their own private jet for over 2 years. First single “Dr. Feelgood”, with its instantly memorable opening, catchy chorus, and gritty music video set the tone by reaching the Top 10 on the US Hot 100 singles chart. Originally a Top 30 hit upon release, “Kickstart My Heart” went on to become Mötley Crüe’s most popular landmark track. From the buzz saw intro to the cheating-death lyrics and music video shot in a rare return to a club show at the world famous Whisky-a-go-go in Hollywood, it has now logged well over 1.5 billion streams and can be heard nearly every day in movies, commercials, video games and sporting events around the world. The Hot 100 hits kept coming as “Without You” hit #8, “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” reached #19, and final single “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)” was accompanied by a music video capturing the fan excitement of a live Crüe show.

The Dr. Feelgood World Tour kicked off at the now legendary Moscow Music Peace Festival in Russia and by the time the tour wrapped in late 1990, the band had played over 100 shows to over 2 million faithful fans. Mötley Crüe continues to fill stadiums around the world with many classics from Dr. Feelgood in their setlist to this day.

The centerpiece of this 35th Anniversary campaign will be a Limited Edition Box Set available on LP & CD with the remastered version of the original album, as well as rare demos and live tracks. The box set also features a 24-page replica tour book with never before seen and never before published live and behind the scenes photos, a replica Dr. Feelgood Tour itinerary, poster, patch, backstage pass, live show handbill, press kit, medical envelope and guitar pick.

In addition to the box set, there will be a deluxe streaming version and six different configurations for fans of vinyl: an Independent Retail exclusive color vinyl, a Walmart-exclusive color vinyl with 3D Lenticular cover art, a Target-exclusive Zoetrope vinyl, an Amazon Exclusive Picture Disc Vinyl, an Urban Outfitters Exclusive Color Vinyl, as well as Standard Black Vinyl. Last but not least, the anniversary edition will also be available as Walmart-exclusive CD with 3D lenticular art, as well as a Standard CD. All variants feature reimagined cover art showing 35 years of decay.

As the world gears up for the highly anticipated Limited Edition Box Set, the Crüeseum – Mötley Crüe’s ultimate haven for die-hard fans – administers a head-to-toe examination of the chart-topping, legacy-making, 6x platinum release, Dr. Feelgood. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the celebration. For more details, head to the Crüeseum.

35th Anniversary Limited Edition LP Box Set includes (also available as Limited Edition CD Box Set):

– Original Album Remastered on Green/Black Vinyl
– The Demos EP on Green/Black Vinyl
– Live EP on Green/Black Vinyl
– 24 Page Book with Never Before Seen and Never Before Published live and behind the scenes photos
– 18”x24” Reimagined Album Art Poster
– Replica Backstage Pass
– Patch
– Replica Live Show Handbill
– 16 Page Dr. Feelgood Tour Itinerary
– Press Kit
* Folder
* Original Press Release from 1989
* Original 8” x 10” Press Photo
– Medical Envelope
– Guitar Pick

Album tracklisting:

“T.N.T. (Terror ‘N Tinseltown)”
“Dr. Feelgood”
“Slice Of Your Pie”
“Rattlesnake Shake”
“Kickstart My Heart”
“Without You”
“Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)”
“Sticky Sweet”
“She Goes Down”
“Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)”
“Time For Change”

Demos tracklisting:

“Dr. Feelgood” (Demo)
“Get It For Free” (Demo)
“Kickstart My Heart” (Demo)
“Time For Change” (Demo)
“Without You” (Demo)

Live tracklisting:

“Dr. Feelgood (Live)
“Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” (Live)
“Without You” (Live)
“Kickstart My Heart” (Live)
“Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S)” (Live)

Lineup:

Vince Neil – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica, Shakers
Tommy Lee – Drums, Backing Vocals
Nikki Sixx – Bass, Backing Vocals, Organ, Piano
Mick Mars – Guitars, Backing Vocals

Producer: Bob Rock

(Top photo – William Hames, 1989 – Dr. Feelgood Era)

Alice Cooper and his daughter Calico have joined forces with Slash on “Freewheelin’,” a cycling anthem off the Grammy-nominated children’s album Solid Rock Revival.

You can watch the new animated music video below.

While plenty of rockers over the decades have sung about the joys of hitting the open road on their motorcycles, the Coopers take a different tack on “Freewheelin’.” “Now you’re freewheelin’ / ridin’ by yourself / pedalin’ faster without any help / I’m free feelin’ on my two wheels / fell a couple times / it ain’t no big deal,” the father-daughter duo sings about the milestone of removing the training wheels, making way for a characteristically fiery guitar solo from Slash.

READ MORE: Why Alice Cooper Isn’t Trying to Shock Audiences Anymore

“Freewheelin'” appears on Solid Rock Revival, a star-studded compilation album credited to Rock for Children that came out in August. Cooper spearheaded the project, and kids recorded the songs at his Solid Rock Teen Centers in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. The album also features contributions from Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC.

Alice Cooper Could Win His First Grammy — for a Children’s Album

Solid Rock Revival earned a Grammy nomination for Best Children’s Music Album. If it wins, it will mark Cooper’s first Grammy. The irony of a shock-rock titan once seen as the veritable antichrist potentially winning this type of award is not lost on Cooper.

“Would it not be the craziest thing for Alice Cooper to get a Grammy for children’s music?” he asked The Arizona Republic. “But I get it. It was unique. It was something that came out of nowhere. And I think that that’s what people look for. They go, ‘Well, I never thought that that would ever happen, but good.’ It would be like if Marilyn Manson won for the same thing. I’m gonna tell him, ‘Make a kid’s album next. And try not to kill all of them.'”

Alice Cooper Albums Ranked

You can’t kill Alice Cooper.

Gallery Credit: Ultimate Classic Rock Staff

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