Author: Logan Rocker

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith has lost his Malibu home to the Los Angeles wildfires, according to a series of Instagram posts from his wife, Nathalie Dufresne-Smith, which you can see below.

Earlier this week, Dufresne-Smith went live on Instagram to show her family evacuating their property. “The fire is right here, the fire marshals are telling us to get out,” she said as clouds of smoke loomed on the horizon.

On Saturday, she shared a follow-up post that said, “We lost our house,” and added, “We are safe. We have each other. We will start again. Thank you for your support during these trying times.”

Other Musicians Who Have Lost Their Homes in the Los Angeles Wildfires

Smith is just one of several musicians and music industry professionals who have lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires. Among those was famed producer Bob Clearmountain, who’s worked on albums by Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and many others, whose Mix This! home studio went up in flames.

“We grabbed everything we could think of. I had some some things that Bruce Springsteen had given us; he had done a little one of his little stick-figure doodles for my wife’s 50th birthday, which I thought, ‘Well, that’s something pretty special,'” Clearmountain told the Los Angeles Times. “I can’t really look back. I can’t spend too much time being bummed out about it. I’ve got to say, ‘OK, what can I do?’ I’m going to change the style of what I do. I’m gonna do what I do, but do it differently, and hopefully it’ll be good, maybe better than what I was doing. That’s all I can think right now.”

Primus guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde also lost his home in the fire, which his wife, Shane, confirmed on Instagram. “We lost everything. It doesn’t sink in easily that you have nothing,” she wrote. “It’s still sinking in minute by minute. I know we are safe and yes I am grateful, but I can’t even begin to be close to grace yet as I can’t even comprehend this yet. Not just the things, but our town, our community. We all no longer have a home, a neighborhood, a school, a community. I am gutted to the core.”

When Did the Los Angeles Wildfires Start?

The Southern California wildfires began on Jan. 7 in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood, quickly spreading throughout the city due to the excessive Santa Ana winds and dry conditions. The fires have killed 16 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and forced more than 180,000 Angelenos to evacuate their homes as of Jan. 12.

Several of the city’s most iconic landmarks came under threat, including the Hollywood Bowl. “Due to the Sunset Fire, we have received evacuation orders and all Hollywood Bowl staff have safely evacuated the premises,” the venue announced on X. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the firefighters who are working tirelessly to protect our community.” Several legendary Sunset Strip clubs, including the Whisky a Go Go and the Troubadour, also canceled their shows out of an abundance of caution.

READ MORE: California Fires: Rockers Share Photos and Safety Updates

Los Angeles residents have sprung to action in an effort to contain the fires. Among them was Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg, who tried to move cars that had been abandoned on the street to clear a path for firefighters in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

“What’s happening is people take their keys with them as if they’re in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars,” Guttenberg told KTLA on Tuesday, the first day of the fires. “If you leave your car behind, leave the key in there so a guy like me can move your car so that these fire trucks can get up there.”

“When all this is over and we go back to normal life, let’s try to keep this empathy, let’s try to keep this kindness and this thoughtfulness,” Guttenberg added. “This is a time that we’ve got to band together. We’re not one street or one town or one city, we’re one community.”

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.

Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan are among the tens of thousands of people who have been displaced.

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.

“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

(Photo – Johannes Malm)

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:

“No Bitter End” video:

“Ciaran’s Well” video:

“Supremacy” 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.

Get the new album here.

Tracklisting:

“Hollow”
“Brainstorm”
“Vicious Breed”
“Chosen One”
“Welcome Death”
“Controller”
“Revelation”
“Blessed”
“Lifeless”
“Reflection”

“Hollow”:

“Brainstorm”:

Crucial Velocity:

Matt Thompson (King Diamond) – Drums
Androo O’Hearn (Shaolin Death Squad) – Vocals, Keys
Michael Harris (Chastain Harris, Darkology, solo artist) – Lead Guitar
Nate Bauer – Guitar, Bass, Keys, Songwriter

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.

Watch a trailer for the film below:

Greg Prato, reporting for Ultimate-Guitar.com:

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?'”

Find out what else Bumblefoot had to say at Ultimate-Guitar.com.

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.

Pre-order Bumblefoot …Returns! here.

Tracklisting:

“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.