Category: Uncategorized

Multi-platinum hard rock icons Extreme are gearing up to perform for audiences across the globe pegged to the June 9 release of their much-anticipated album SIX via earMUSIC. Their headlining “Thicker Than Blood” world tour kicks off in the US on August 2, followed by stops in Australia and Japan in September and has already sold-out dates in cities including Detroit, Hampton Beach, Tokyo and Yokohama. Today, the iconic Boston quartet—Gary Cherone (vocals), Nuno Bettencourt, Pat Badger (bass), and Kevin Figueiredo (drums)—have announced an additional jaunt beginning November 27 in Newcastle, UK and wrapping December 16 in Milan, IT. 

Special guests Living Colour (who will also be supporting Extreme on their U.S. and Australian shows) will appear on the UK leg and The Last Internationale will appear across Europe. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, May 26 at 9:00 A.M. BST at extreme-band.com.

Extreme have remained one of rock’s most unpredictable, undeniable, and unbreakable groups, having sold 10 million records, topped the Billboard Hot 100 at #1, packed major venues on multiple continents, memorably performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London, and they regularly average over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Extreme’s new album, SIX has seen unprecedented success following the release of three evocative hit singles and videos: “Rise,” “Banshee” and “#Rebel.”

Tour dates:

June
2 – Sao Paul, BR – Best of Blues and Rock Festival

August
2 – Portland, ME – State Theatre #
3 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom #
5 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner #
6 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount #
8 – Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center #
10 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom #
11 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theater #
12 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theater #
14 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall #
15 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater #
17 – Gary, IN – Hard Rock Live #
18 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre #
19 – Cedar Rapids, IA – The Paramount #
21 – Denver, CO – The Ogden #
22 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center #
24 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues #
26 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency #
28 – Portland, OR – TBD #
29 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox #

September
6 – Perth, AU – Regal Theatre #
8 – Adelaide, AU – Hindley Street Music Hall #
10 – Melbourne, AU – Forum #
12 – Sydney, AU – Enmore Theatre #
13 – Brisbane, AU – Fortitude Music Hall #
17 – Sendai, JP – Sendai Gigs
19 – Yokohama, JP – KT Zepp Yokohama
21 – Tokyo, JP – Hitomi Memorial Hall
25 – Nagoya, JP – Shimin Kaikan Hall
26 – Osaka, JP – Zepp Namba

November
27 – Newcastle, UK – O2 City Hall #
28 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy #
30 – Manchester, UK – O2 Academy #

December
1 – Wolverhampton, UK – Civic Hall #
3 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy #
4 – London, UK – O2 Forum #
8 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7 Konzertfabrik *
10 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys *
11 – Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall *
12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg Max *
14 – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix *
16 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz *

# with Living Colour
* with The Last Internationale

On SIX, Extreme swing between unapologetic fits of fret-burning hard rock and intimately introspective balladry. For the recording of the Bettencourt-produced 12-track album, the members buckled down at his home studio in Los Angeles to channel the electrifying eclecticism that defined their seminal output with a 21st century twist.

This dynamic affirms the iconic Boston quartet as one of rock’s most unpredictable, undeniable, and unbreakable groups whose songs course through the very fabric of popular culture. They’re the rare band whose music has appeared in an actual cult series a la Bill & Ted as well as the Netflix juggernaut Stranger Things. They’ve sold 10 million records, topped the Billboard Hot 100 at #1, packed major venues on multiple continents, memorably performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London, and regularly average over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. However, their dynamic approach hits harder than ever on their 2023 full-length offering, SIX.

Pre-order SIX here.

SIX tracklisting:

“Rise”
“#Rebel”
“Banshee”
“Other Side of the Rainbow”
“Small Town Beautiful”
“The Mask”
“Thicker Than Blood”
“Save Me”
“Hurricane”
“X Out”
“Beautiful Girls”
“Here’s To The Losers”

“Banshee” video:

“#Rebel” video:

“Rise” video:

Calling all Metallica fans! Get ready to take your love for the legendary heavy metal band to a whole new level with the latest Metallica Spotify game mode on Stattogories. An exhilarating addition to this popular game that will put your Metallica knowledge to the ultimate test. 

Following on from the success of the Metal game mode, this thrilling game centres solely on Metallica’s iconic discography. The premise is the same… simply guess which song has had more plays on Spotify with aim of getting the most right in a row. Get ready to rock out and put your Metallica expertise to the ultimate test!

The game combines the addictive nature of trivia games with the excitement of music streaming. Players are presented with two Metallica songs and must determine which one has more plays on Spotify. The game features a wide range of Metallica’s greatest hits, spanning their illustrious career, from albums such as “Enter Sandman” and “Master Of Puppets” to “Nothing Else Matters” and “One”. 

Songs from their latest album 72 Seasons also feature in the game including “If Darkness Had A Son”, “Lux Æterna” and “Screaming Suicide”. The question for players is have these new songs accumulated as many plays on Spotify as the songs from some of their previous albums? That’s for you to decide. 

Whether you are a die-hard Metallica fan, casual listener, or music enthusiasts alike. The game presents an excellent opportunity to put your Metallica knowledge to the test and discover lesser-known gems from the band’s extensive repertoire. Whether you’ve been following Metallica for years or recently discovered their music, this Stattogories game offers an engaging and educational experience.

Gareth Evans, creator of Stattogories: “I wanted to create a game mode about Metallica to celebrate the most successful heavy metal band in the world and give their fans something to play during the Metallica M72 world tour. Metallica have an unparalleled legacy in the heavy metal genre, influencing countless bands and captivating generations of fans and for this reason I decided that they deserve their own game mode on Stattogories”. 

“Creating this game mode allowed me to share my passion for Metallica and engage with fellow fans, while also providing an opportunity to celebrate the band’s extensive discography and test our knowledge. Metallica’s music has the ability to evoke emotions, inspire, and unite people, and through this game mode, I hope to celebrate their musical legacy and pay tribute to their iconic status in the realm of rock and metal.”

Test your knowlege and play here!

America’s preeminent progressive rock band Kansas embarks this summer on a series of 50 landmark performances at some of the foremost theaters and performing arts centers across America and into Canada.  The “Another Fork In The Road” Tour celebrates 50 years of the band’s illustrious music history with concerts featuring two full hours of memorable hits, fan favorites and deep cuts rarely performed live.

In a recent tribute to the band’s five decades of success, Billboard Magazine describes the basis for their longstanding appeal: “Blending blues-based hard rock and intricate progressive constructions, Kansas staked out its own musical territory, at once original and accessible.” Billboard.com – Kansas Hits 50. Concert dates and Kansas VIP Packages are on sale now and selling fast. Ticket information can be found at Kansasband.com, and here.

“Our entire career has been a winding journey,” comments Kansas guitarist and original member Richard Williams. “Whether it’s been the ‘original’ lineup signing with Don Kirshner, years on the bus, touring with Queen, worldwide success peaking with Leftoverture & Point of Know Return, the valleys of the 90’s and ‘dinosaur bands’ losing steam, various lineup changes, to our most recent ‘rebirth’ and success of our latest new music over the last eight years; there have been several forks in the road of that journey. This 50th Anniversary Tour and release will represent that journey and the forks along that road.”

To further celebrate the band’s 50th Anniversary, InsideOutMusic has released Another Fork in the Road – 50 Years of Kansas. The 3-CD career-spanning collection features carefully selected tracks from across Kansas’s sizable discography. It also includes a new version of the song ‘Can I Tell You.’ Originally released on their 1974 debut album, the song is updated by the current lineup. Another Fork in the Road – 50 Years of Kansas is available now. Order here.

“I’m incredibly excited about the 50th Anniversary Tour,” adds lead vocalist Ronnie Platt. “I tell people I’m not allowed to create a setlist, because it would be five hours long. There are so many songs I want to perform live. I think fans will be excited not only to hear our hits and fan favorites spanning 50 years of Kansas, but also some songs that haven’t been performed live in decades.”

Tour dates:

June
2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
3 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric Baltimore
9 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
10 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
16 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre
17 – Detroit, MI – Fisher Theatre
29 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall

July
1 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Center
7 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
8 – Indianapolis, IN – Clowes Memorial Hall
14 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre
15 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
21 – Wausau, WI – The Grand Theater
22 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater
27 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
29 – St. Louis, MO – The Fabulous Fox Theatre

August
4 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place
5 – Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theater
18 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
19 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
25 – Denver, CO – The Paramount Theatre
26 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater

September
6 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
8 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theater
9 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
12 – Boise, ID – Morrison Center for the Performing Arts
14 – San Francisco, CA – Golden Gate Theatre
16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Orpheum Theatre
17 – San Diego, CA – Balboa Theatre
20 – TBA
22 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium
24 – El Paso, TX – The Plaza Theatre

October
12 – Worcester, MA – The Hanover Theatre
13 – Brookville, NY – Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
20 – San Antonio, TX – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
21 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
26 – Huntsville, AL – Von Braun Center – Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
27 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre

November
3 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
4 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center

December
1 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre
2 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

January
12 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
13 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
19 – Fort Myers, FL – Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
20 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
27 – Melbourne, FL – Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts
28 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center for the Performing Arts

* Two additional dates to be announced

(Photo – Emily Butler Photography)

Type O Negative has unveiled a darkly captivating treat for World Goth Day. Immerse yourself in the ethereal realm of “Halloween In Heaven” as A.I. breathes new life into the track. Written by the band for their friend Dimebag Darrell, the video features Dimebag alongside John Bonham, John Entwistle, Bon Scott, Randy Rhoads, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, George Harrison, Jim Morrison, Elvis and the Green Man himself, Peter Steele. Fans of the band will also spot a cameo from collaborator and friend of the band, Tara VanFlower (Lycia).

Type O Negative’s Johnny Kenny comments, “An artificial intelligence video for an artificially intelligent band!”

Corinne Larre (Twisted Hooves Studio) who used A.I. created the animated music video shared the following:

“When Nuclear Blast asked me to make this video using artificial intelligence, I was eager to explore the thousand possibilities offered by this new technology. I ended up using a combination of two platforms: one that generated images and the other transforming said images into video.

“The lyrics left the field open to a lot of experimentation, leading to this universe both eerie and kitsch, which I hope pays homage to the band. The real challenge was the integration of legendary artists into this imagery. It’s hard to explain to the A.I. the small details that make them unique as humans. In the end, hundreds, even thousands of iterations must have been made for this video!

“As an artist, I think it is necessary to remain humble when using artificial intelligence as the topic has quite rightly caused some ethical debate in the creative world. In my opinion, these creations should not be seen as artistic works in their own right, but as the first steps of a technology that will revolutionize audiovisual creation in the coming years.”

Last fall, the Dead Again 3LP reissue was released in select colors. Earlier this month, the band releases a 2LP in black vinyl, light green transparent vinyl, light green/black/white splatter vinyl, and mint green marble vinyl as well as a black cassette. As an added bonus, the 10 live tracks that were only available on the 3LP and CD reissues, including “Halloween In /hean” are now available on all streaming services.

Dead Again was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Mike Marciano in 2006 at System Two Studios in Brooklyn, NY. The album was produced by Peter Steele and Josh Silver who also aided the mixing of the record.

For most musicians and fans lucky enough to meet David Bowie, their memory of the occasion would likely be one that they will cherish until their final days. To his regret, however, Noel Gallagher barely remembers meeting the music legend at all, despite doing so in the 90’s.

In a new interview with The Big Issue, the former Oasis guitarist recalls the experience, admitting that the encounter wasn’t as special as it could have been, which was entirely his own fault.

“I went to see David Bowie and Morrissey at Wembley Arena in the 90s”, Gallagher begins. “I was high and pissed. Then, before Bowie came on, somebody came up to me and said, would you like to come and meet David? [So] I was taken to see David Bowie in his dressing room.”

He continues, “I have no recollection of it whatsoever… I remember walking in and he was putting on make-up in a mirror and that’s it. He’s up there with John Lennon for me and I have no idea what we said when I met him.”

Wishing how he could re-do the important moment so that he could actually strike up a memorable conversation with Bowie, the musician adds: “If I could go back I would appreciate it so much more. I’d tell him what he meant to me growing up and how much he means to me now, and I’d tell him, ‘I’m gonna rip you off to fuck when you’re dead, you know.”

Elsewhere, Gallagher reflects on his time working with Blur frontman, and former Britpop rival, Damon Albarn on Gorillaz‘s 2017 track We Got The Power, acknowledging that he doesn’t think that his younger self would have been too thrilled about the collaboration.

“What would my younger self think of me working with Damon Albarn,” he muses. “It would depend entirely on what side of the bed I got out of on that day. If you caught me on a good day I’d be like, yeah, I could see that happening… On a bad day, I’d fucking knife myself in the bollocks.”

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will release their forthcoming album Council Skies on June 2.

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

Finland’s Chaoszine recently caught up with former Nightwish vocalist and current solo artist Tarja Turunen to discuss her journey as a metal vocalist. Check out the interview below.

Tarja Turunen comes to Pratteln, Switzerland to headline a first class Z7 Summer Night this July 8th. Joining the symphonic metal queen is her former Nightwish bandmate, Marko Hietala, and a very special guest to be announced soon. The opener Illumishade completes the line-up. 

More details will be revealed soon. Tickets are available here.

Tarja was a member of Nightwish from 1996 until 2005, recording five studio albums with the band. Following her public and controversial firing from Nightwish in 2005, Tarja embarked on a successful solo career. She has released nine solo albums since 2006.

Marko Hietala, best known as Tarot’s frontman before joining Nightwish in 2001 following the departure of bassist Sami Vänskä, recorded six albums with the band. In January 2021 he announced his departure from Nightwish, but has remained active as a solo artist, as well as recording with Therion and performing with Northern Kings.

On Sunday, May 21st, the Foo Fighters confirmed that Josh Freese is their new drummer. The reveal was made during the band’s pre-tour livestream, dubbed “Foo Fighters: Preparing Music For Concerts”. Freese replaces longtime Taylor Hawkins, who passed away in March 2022 at the age of 50.

A veteran session drummer, Freese has performed with Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses, Weezer, A Perfect Circle and Sting to name a few. He performed with Foo Fighters during the 2022 tribute shows to Taylor Hawkins

Following a year of staggering losses, personal introspection and bittersweet remembrances, Foo Fighters return with But Here We Are, out June 2 on Roswell Records/RCA Records. The band have released a lyric video for the new single, “Under You”, which can be viewed below. Stream the song here.

A brutally honest and emotionally raw response to everything Foo Fighters endured over the last year, But Here We Are is a testament to the healing powers of music, friendship and family. Courageous, damaged and unflinchingly authentic, But Here We Are opens with newly released lead single “Rescued”, the first of 10 songs that run the emotional gamut from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, and myriad points in between.

Produced by Greg Kurstin and Foo Fighters, But Here We Are is in nearly equal measure the 11th Foo Fighters album and the first chapter of the band’s new life. Sonically channeling the naiveté of Foo Fighters’ 1995 debut, informed by decades of maturity and depth, But Here We Are is the sound of brothers finding refuge in the music that brought them together in the first place 28 years ago, a process that was as therapeutic as it was about a continuation of life.

But Here We Are is available for pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

“Rescued”
“Under You”
“Hearing Voices”
“But Here We Are”
“The Glass”
“Nothing At All”
“Show Me How”
“Beyond Me”
“The Teacher”
“Rest”

“Under You” lyric video:

“Rescued” lyric video:

Find the band’s live itinerary here.

KISS were supposed to kick off the final UK / European leg of their End Of The Road Tour on June 3, 2023 at Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park Stadium in Plymouth, England. That date has since disappeared from the official KISS website, and the tour now begins on June 5, 2023 at Arena in Birmingham, England.

According to Katie Timms of Plymouth Live, KISS and the show’s promoter, Robomagic, announced it was cancelling the opening night of the End Of The Road Tour, set to begin in Plymouth. They said the show would no longer be able to proceed in the city, due to ‘logistical reasons’.

It also stated there were travel and equipment complications. Everyone who has purchased a ticket will be able to get a refund, or can exchange their ticket for one of the upcoming shows in Birmingham, Newcastle, London, Manchester or Glasgow.

A spokesperson for Home Park Stadium said it was disappointed but understand the logistical constraints and wish the band all the best for the rest of the tour. In a statement, Home Park said: “We are really sorry to hear that KISS can no longer perform at Home Park Stadium this summer. Ticket holders are advised to contact the agent where they purchased their tickets from.”