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Now 84, Ringo Starr seems to have been slowing down for decades. Yet, when he does push the boat out, he invariably sets sail for unchartered waters.
Look Up finds him produced by hipster T.Bone Burnett, who wrote or co-wrote nine of these 11 songs. It’s a languid affair and Starr’s semi-spoken, shoulder-shrugging vocals sit well with these jaunty but wry earworms.
Ringo Starr – Look Up (Official Music Video) – YouTube
An erstwhile Beatle has nothing to prove of course, but Burnett seems to understand him like no producer since Richard Perry helmed Starr’s mid-‘70s solo peak.
So whether it’s a man who often seems to have too much time on his hands pontificating upon that very topic on the post-breakup tune Time On My Hands or raising a cheery middle finger to Beatles obsessives when he archly notes “I don’t live in the past” on I Live For Your Love, he’s in his comfort zone, while quietly making almost as much mischief as the Beatles’ resident jester once did. And his autobiographical lyric on the Allison Krauss duet Thankful shows he’s not without self-awareness.
Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazinesince 2014. 39 years in music industry, online for 26. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.
Primus guitarist Larry ‘Ler’ LaLonde’s Los Angeles home has been completely destroyed by the devastating fires that have swept through multiple neighbourhoods this week.
At least 11 people have been killed by the fires, which have burned through a combined total area of 37,000 acres.
An estimated 12,000 structures have been destroyed by the fires in areas including Sunset and the Palisades. The flames have been fuelled by strong winds and many are a long way off being contained as of Saturday evening (January 11).
Primus mainman Les Claypool posted an image of the ruins of LaLonde’s home on Instagram, along with the caption: “All that is left of our good friend Ler Lalonde’s home. When Mother Nature gets up on her hind legs, it can be brutal. My heart hurts for him and his family.”
LaLonde’s wife, Shane, shares more detail in her own Instagram post.
She writes: “Our home is gone, and so are the homes of every one of our friends and neighbours. I am still in shock, not quite sure what just happened.
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“I’m not sure what happens now. But I am realising hour by hour all that was lost.”
Wilk told fans via Instagram that he and his family had t evacuate their home, saying: Thanks to everyone reaching out. We are good, but had to evacuate last night. Hosed down the house and grabbed the humans and animals and split. Everybody please be careful and stay safe.”
Today, Swedish melodic hard rockers, Art Nation, are thrilled to share their new single and video, “Set Me Free”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.
Vocalist Alexander Strandell comments on the new single: “We are thrilled to share this exciting new perspective of Art Nation with you. In the music video for ‘Set Me Free’, you’ll witness us stepping into the animated world of Art Nation for the very first time. In this inaugural episode, you’ll follow me, Chris, and Rich as we discover the first portal to this otherworldly dimension.”
Stream “Set Me Free” here, and watch the video below:
Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Art Nation is the rising force in modern melodic Metal. Founded by Alexander Strandell and Christoffer Borg, the band is gaining acclaim for their astonishing hit-writing potential, their truly captivating sound and dynamic live performances.
With his powerful and emotive vocals, Alexander Strandell has captivated audiences on Sweden’s National TV and radio. A nominee for “Rock Voice of the Year”, his commanding stage presence and vocal mastery set him apart as one of the most dynamic performers in rock today.
A producer and guitarist celebrated for his precision and creativity, Christoffer Borg has worked with iconic names like Amaranthe, Anthrax, and Evergrey. His exceptional skills bring a polished and melodic edge to Art Nation’s signature sound.
Known for his incredible technical prowess and musicality, Richard Svärd has played with a lot of musicians and also toured with thrash legends Death Riders. His deep grooves and intricate bass lines lay the foundation for Art Nation’s unstoppable momentum.
Their debut album Revolution in 2015 received great reviews, earning them nominations at the esteemed “Gaffa Awards” in Sweden. In 2016, they penned the official anthem for the “Gothia Cup” soccer tournament, performed live on national TV, and in sold-out stadiums.
After touring excessively in and around their home country, sharing stages with iconic bands like Nightwish, Twisted Sister and Hammerfall, as well as playing all the relevant festivals such as Sweden Rock, Art Nation now seem destined for the break out all over Europe!
Alone by focusing on the Nordic countries, combined with the band’s growing presence on platforms like Spotify, the band is reaching over 1.2 million streams in the past 28 days, bringing the band’s total to over 15 million streams across all tracks.
Art Nation are now gearing up for an exciting new album release in 2025 and, on top of that, for the first time the band is seriously expanding their conquest outside the Nordic borders by teaming up with Decibel Touring for more concert performances throughout the entire European continent and the UK.
Experience the undeniable power of melodic metal with Art Nation – a band destined for nothing less than the top of modern metal.
Art Nation are:
Alexander Strandell – Vocals Christoffer Borg – Guitar Richard Svärd – Bass
Tarja has released the official video for “Until My Last Breath”, from her recently released Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest, available via earMUSIC. Watch below:
On June 19, 2016, Tarja delivered a captivating performance at Hellfest, one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious metal festivals held in Clisson, France. Her powerful blend of operatic vocals and heavy metal instrumentation enthralled the audience, making her performance one of the festival’s highlights. The setlist featured a carefully curated mix of her solo work and iconic Nightwish songs.
Opening with “No Bitter End” from her 2016 album, The Shadow Self, Tarja set the tone for an evening of intensity and emotion. Her dynamic stage presence and dramatic musical arrangements created an unforgettable experience, solidifying her status as one of metal’s greatest female singers.
Experience the raw energy and powerful emotion of Tarja Turunen’s unforgettable performance at Hellfest 2016. Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest is available as a Ltd. 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Edition, CD Digipak in LP-replica design and on Digital. Order here.
Tracklisting:
“No Bitter End” “Never Enough” “Ciaran’s Well” “Calling From The Wild” “Supremacy” “Victim Of Ritual” “Tutankhamen / Ever” “Tutankhamen” / “Ever Dream” / “The Riddler” / “Slaying The Dreamer” (Nightwish Medley) “Die Alive” “Until My Last Breath”
“Never Enough” video:
“Victim Of Ritual” video:
“Tutankhamen” / “Ever Dream” / “The Riddler” / “Slaying The Dreamer” (Nightwish Medley) video:
Crucial Velocity have released Controller, the follow up to their self-titled 2023 album release. Heavier, leaner and darker than the debut album, Controller is ready for the masses.
“On the new album, Controller, we took the elements that we loved from the debut and basically magnified them. The songs are more concise and heavy yet always melodic. There is a flow and a consistency throughout. We do not shy away from our influences. We embrace the classic hard rock and metal from the 80’s and 90’s while keeping it fresh and creating a unique Crucial Velocity sound. Fans of Queensryche, Alice In Chains, Ghost, Black Sabbath and even prog metal will align with this album,” says Crucial Velocity’s Nate Bauer.
The theme of “control” runs through much of the album. Political unrest with cult like figures. Online mind control. Religious control. Brainwashing men to kill thousands in the holocaust…
Crucial Velocity started as a collaboration between songwriter/guitarist/bassist Nate Bauer and veteran mixing/mastering engineer Gary Long, owner of Nomad Recording Studio, in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. This morphed into the need for talented musicians to carry out Nate’s vision of melding the dark atmosphere and complexity of Opeth, Black Sabbath and Voivod into shorter, more accessible songs with the hooks and vocal harmonies of Queen, Alice In Chains and Ghost. Once Matt Thompson, Androo O’Hearn, and Michael Harris came aboard, (plus a guest appearance by Buddy Sledge), the band released the self-titled debut album.
Pamela Anderson, who is currently promoting her new film, The Last Showgirl, stopped by SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live. In the clip below, Pamela and Andy Cohen discuss where things stand between her and ex-husband, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. Pamela and Tommy divorced in 1998 following three years of marriage and share two sons, Brandon Thomas Lee, 28, and Dylan Jagger Lee, 27.
“We used to talk a lot more, not recently, unfortunately,” says Pamela. “I wish we did have a better rapport right now. My youngest son is engaged, and we’re gonna have grandkids together. It’ll be okay, eventually. It’s just kind of a moment right now.”
The Last Showgirl, in theatres today, is a poignant film of resilience, rhinestones and feathers, staring Pamela Anderson as Shelly, a glamorous showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run. Directed by Gia Coppola, The Last Showgirl co-stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Shelly’s best friend, who brings her own unique interpretation and brilliance to the story, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka and Billie Lourd.
Ron Thal, guitar maestro famously known as Bumblefoot, pointed out some of the biggest challenges that musicians are facing today, revealing that things can be tough on all levels. It’s far from a secret that today’s music industry, or pretty much any creative industry, isn’t making it easier on the artists. Nonetheless, the love for music and artistic expression prevails, and we still have an abundance of new music with artists constantly pushing the boundaries.
As for Bumblefoot, he’s set to release a new album titled Bumblefoot …Returns! featuring an impressive list of guests, including Brian May, Guthrie Govan, and Steve Vai. We recently caught up with the renowned guitarist and asked him about the state of things and how the industry affects him and all the other hard-working artists.
Ultimate-Guitar.com: What is your take on the current state of the music industry, and also, how do professional musicians survive these days if they’re not huge?
Bumblefoot: “The state of the music industry these days is an ever-evolving thing. And as technology evolves even quicker, so does the music industry. It has to – we have to keep up. And with that comes good and bad. I could look back on 25 years, just when Derek Sivers wrote me an email and said, ‘Hey, I’m starting this thing where you can sell your own music online, sell your CDs. I’m calling it CD Baby. Would you be interested?’ And starting with that.
“I mean, of course, there’s issues with companies like Spotify that make billions off of content and the artists. It’s pretty fair to say that most artists feel like there’s not a fair division of assets. But it is what it is. And if you’re going to be creative with your music, you have to be creative with the current state of the music business, and say, ‘How can I make this work for me?'”
Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, is back with a brand-new instrumental album, Bumblefoot …Returns!, set for release on January 24. Thirty years after his debut solo instrumental album, Bumblefoot revisits his roots with a 14-track masterpiece that spans genres from metal to orchestral to blues.
The album’s opening track, “Simon In Space,” serves as its first single, delivering an electrifying ride through chaos and intensity. The single is available for streaming here. In addition to the single, an animated music video created by Bumblefoot and animator Radek Grabinski is also available, as well as a retro-inspired video game, which is coming soon. Watch the video below.
Reflecting on the single, Bumblefoot shared: “From an early age, my passions were guitar and astrophysics, cosmology – the song ‘Simon in Space’ merges the two. Simon is my cat haha, that’s him featured in the artwork.”
Soon fans will be able to immerse themselves in a retro-inspired video game based on the single. More details will be announced soon.
Bumblefoot …Returns! features collaborations with iconic musicians, including Brian May, Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, Derek Sherinian, Jerry Gaskill, and others, showcasing Bumblefoot’s innovative guitar techniques, such as his signature fretless guitar and “thimble technique.”
On the album, Bumblefoot shared: “It’s been 30 years since releasing the debut Adventures Of Bumblefoot on Shrapnel Records, and I haven’t done a fully instrumental album since. Working on Whom Gods Destroy’s album inspired growling heavy fretless parts like ‘Simon In Space’. Watching a blues documentary inspired ‘Moonshine Hootenanny.’ Losing loved ones led to writing ‘Funeral March.’ Songs become a soundtrack to our lives.”
The album is available for pre-order now on vinyl, CD, and cassette, with exclusive merch bundles at Bumblefoot.com. Highlights of the physical editions include:
– Vinyl: Double-disc gatefold with UV art pressing on Side 4. – CD: Includes an 8-panel foldout square poster. – Cassette: Features 10 panels of artwork.
“Simon In Space” “Planetary Lockdown” “Moonshine Hootenanny” “Chopin Waltz Op64 No2” “Monstruoso” (ft. Steve Vai) “Monstruoso II – Departure” “Cintaku” “Once in Forever” (ft. Brian May) “Andalusia” “Anveshana” (ft. Guthrie Govan) “Funeral March” (ft. Ben Karas) “Griggstown Crossing” “The Thread” “Liftoff”
“Simon In Space” video:
About Bumblefoot:
Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal is a celebrated guitarist, producer, composer, and educator with a career spanning over 30 years. Known for his groundbreaking techniques, Bumblefoot has performed with Guns N’ Roses, Asia, Sons of Apollo, Whom Gods Destroy, and more.
Bumblefoot is an adjunct professor, international cultural ambassador, philanthropist, and hot sauce entrepreneur, whose work has been featured in TV, film, and video games, including VH1’s That Metal Show.
For more information, exclusive merch, and album pre-orders, visit Bumblefoot.com.
Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine have announced pop-up shops for each stop on the UK leg of their Poisoned Ascendancy tour.
When the metalcore favourites trek across Blighty from January 26 to February 1, they’ll host bespoke stores in each city they visit. Exclusive merch will be on sale, and tattoos can also be booked!
European and North American legs have been confirmed and the full list of dates can be seen below. Further shows are expected to be added to the run at a later date.
Support in Europe will come from Orbit Culture, while the North American shows will be opened by August Burns Red plus Bleed From Within or Sylosis.
Trivium x Bullet For My Valentine 2025 tour dates:
Jan 26: Cardiff Utilita Arena, UK Jan 27: Cardiff Utilita Arena, UK Jan 28: Glasgow OVO Hydro, UK Jan 30: Manchester Co-op Live, UK Jan 31: Birmingham Utilita Arena, UK Feb 01: London The O2, UK
Feb 02: Düsseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Hall, Germany Feb 04: Stuttgart Scheleyer-Hall, Germany Feb 05: Zurich The Hall, Switzerland Feb 07: Paris Le Zenith, France Feb 09: Antwerp Lotto Arena, Belgium Feb 10: Hannover Swiss Life Hall, Germany Feb 11: Amsterdam AFAS Live, Netherlands Feb 13: Hamburg Sporthalle, Germany Feb 14: Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle, Germany Feb 15: Frankfurt Jahrhunderthalle, Germany Feb 17: Milan Alcatraz, Italy Feb 18: Munich Zenith, Germany Feb 19: Vienna Stadthalle, Austria Feb 21: Gliwice Arena, Poland Feb 22: Prague Forum Karlin, Czechia Feb 23: Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg Feb 26: Lisbon Campo Pequeno, Portugal Feb 27: Madrid Vistalegre, Spain
Mar 30: Vancouver PNE Forum, Canada Apr 01: Seattle Paramount Theatre, WA Apr 03: San Francisco The Masonic, CA Apr 04: Wheatland Hard Rock Live, CA Apr 05: Reno Grand Sierra Resort Grand Theatre, NV Apr 08: Denver Fillmore Auditorium, CO Apr 10: Las Vegas The Pearl Concert Theater, NV Apr 11: Inglewood YouTube Theater, CA Apr 12: Phoenix Arizona Financial Theatre, AZ Apr 15: Dallas Gilley’s South Side Ballroom, TX Apr 16: San Antonio Boeing Center At Tech Port, TX Apr 17: Houston Bayou Music Center, TX Apr 19: Chesterfield The Factory, MO Apr 20: Omaha Steelhouse Omaha, NE Apr 22: Green Bay Epic Event Center, WI Apr 23: Grand Rapids GLC Live at 20 Monroe, MI Apr 26: Chicago Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, IL Apr 27: Detroit The Fillmore Detroit, MI Apr 29: Pittsburgh Stage AE Outdoors, PA Apr 30: Philadelphia The Fillmore Philadelphia, PA May 02: Boston MGM Music Hall at Fenway, MA May 03: Laval Place Bell, Canada May 04: Toronto Great Canadian Resort, Canada May 06: Washington DC The Anthem May 07: New York The Rooftop at Pier 17, NY May 09: Bethlehem Wind Creek Event Center, PA May 11: Nashville The Pinnacle, TN May 13: Corbin The Corbin Arena, KY May 14: Atlanta Coca-Cola Roxy, GA May 17: Charlotte Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre, NC May 18: Raleigh Red Hat Amphitheater, NC
Louder’s resident Gojira obsessive was still at uni when he joined the team in 2017. Since then, Matt’s become a regular in Prog and Metal Hammer, at his happiest when interviewing the most forward-thinking artists heavy music can muster. He’s got bylines in The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Guitar and many others, too. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him skydiving, scuba diving or coasteering.
In November 1973, the New York Dolls came to the UK to play headline shows in Warwick, Leeds, York and London, and to appear on the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test show.
The Dolls’ first visit to the UK one year earlier had ended in tragedy, when drummer Billy Murcia, aged just 21, died in a bath-tub at a west London party, after falling asleep under the influence of Mandrax and champagne. Their return to the UK would change another young life, and play a major part in kickstarting a punk rock revolution in the UK.
In London, the New York quintet were booked to play on consecutive nights at Biba, a huge department store on Kensington High Street. Tickets for the gigs – including a meal in the glamorous West London shop – were priced at £2.50, and teenager David Lett, later better known to the world as Dave Vanian, frontman of The Damned, snapped up two for the first night, November 26, one for himself, and one for his girlfriend.
“Biba was a strange place – a shop with five floors of 1930s glamour that felt like a timewarp,” Vanian recalls in a new interview with The Guardian. “The gig was full of all sorts of glittering people – a very dressed-up gig. Lots of cross-dressers wandering around.”
“I had a girlfriend who came to see the Dolls with me,” the singer remembered in a 2018 interview with MOJO‘s Pat Gilbert. “She was wearing a see-through top with no bra, pretty risqué for the time. She looked stunning.”
In The Guardian, Vanian describes the gig as “a pivotal point in history”.
“They weren’t great virtuoso players, but they were as good as any band around,” he tells writer Michael Hann. “That night they played most of that first album and it sounded really good: if it had sounded like a shambles I don’t think I would have liked it as much. They had one foot firmly in those early rock’n’roll songs: you might only know a few notes, but if you play with passion, it works.”
“At that time I wasn’t thinking of being a singer,” Vanian adds, “but they made me think I could do it. There was a moment where I thought: I’m not going to be in the audience, I’m going to be on that stage.”
On the day following their first Biba gig, the Dolls performed on the Old Grey Whistle Test. You can watch that performance below:
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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.
Myles Kennedy contains multitudes. Between his myriad projects – including Alter Bridge, Slash Feat. The Conspirators and a solo career – he also has time to be one of rock’s nicest men and nurse a passion for British TV.
So, when the polymath recently flew into London as part of his Art Of Letting Go solo tour, Metal Hammer’s Liz Scarlett sat him down and indulged his passion for what’s been beamed over Blighty’s airwaves. From Doctor Who to Escape To The Country, prepare for a lovely stroll through programmes from the eastern side of the pond, guided by an American rock star.
Doctor Who (1963–)
“My first memory of UK television was Doctor Who as a child. They would show it on our Public Broadcasting System and the most compelling thing about it was the intro. The soundtrack was awesome! It was this futuristic thing with the keyboards and the synthesisers, which was kinda groundbreaking really, when it first came about. Mad props to whoever composed that soundtrack.” [The original theme song was written by Ron Grainer and performed by Delia Derbyshire. Geniuses both. –sci-fi geekery ed.]
Black Mirror (2011–)
“It just has very groundbreaking themes. It’s all over the map, obviously, but they’re always something special. One of my favourite episodes is Fifteen Million Merits, when they’re riding the stationary bikes. It’s been a while since I watched that particular episode but it left a lasting impression.”
A Place In The Sun (2000–)
“Very comforting. Both Selena, my wife, and I – when we come over here – there’s something about A Place In The Sun that makes it easy to power down. Just watch and relax.”
Escape To The Country (2002–)
“Escape To The Country, it’s the same exact thing. It’s genius! We come to London and Manchester and the major cities all the time, but going out and seeing how beautiful it is out there [in the UK countryside], it’s so idyllic.”
“[Presenter] Kevin McCloud is incredible. I love his commentary, so much insight. I’m kind of an architecture nerd and I think what’s fascinating is when you see these people who have these dreams – some of these episodes, they’re shooting for the moon and they may not have the things they need, but they still have that perseverance to see it through. To me, it’s inspiring. It highlights the human spirit and what you can really do when you want to achieve something.
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Myles’ new solo album The Art Of Letting Go is out now. Watch our full video interview with him below.
Myles Kennedy picks the 5 best British TV shows ever | Metal Hammer – YouTube
