Ioannis Vasilopoulos, a popular artist whose images graced the covers of many famous classic rock albums, has died at the age of 66.
In a message shared via his Facebook page, Vasilopoulos’s family thanked fans for their support. “The outpouring of love for Ioannis and his work is a great comfort. Ioannis wanted to do so many new things, and as a family, we have been tasked with continuing his work.”
“His energy will live on through his incredible art,” the statement continued. “His bright smile and child-like excitement live on in his works. Ioannis will undoubtedly be remembered as one of rock’s all-time great artists.”
Who Was Ioannis Vasilopoulos?
Vasilopoulos was born in Athens, Greece, before moving to the United States as a child. He developed a passion for comic books and animation, along with an interest in music. He designed his first album cover while in college and would go on to create more than 350 across his impressive career, while also adding concert poster artwork and major marketing campaigns to his repertoire.
The bands who have worked with Vasilopoulos reads like a who’s-who of classic rock.
He designed the covers for Styx’s Return to Paradise (1997) and Brave New World (1999), Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Twenty (1997) and Edge of Forever (1999), Extreme‘s Extreme II: Pornograffitti (1990), King Crimson‘s The ConstruKction of Light (2000), Blue Oyster Cult’s Pocket (2001) and A Long Day’s Night (2002), and five different albums with Deep Purple. Vasilopoulos also worked with Bon Jovi, Boston, Skid Row, Uriah Heep, Sepultura, Quiet Riot and Starship among his long list of collaborators.
Still, arguably his most distinctive image was created for the Allman Brothers Band. The group’s 1994 LP Where It All Begins featured a bright, beckoning mushroom on its cover, looking like something out of a fantasy novel. The image became so popular that it emblazoned many of the band’s merchandise, including t-shirts, stickers and posters.
UK prog rockers IQ have just released their twelfth studio album Dominion, to the delight of their legions of fans, many of whom are proclaiming the new album one of the band’s very best and Prog has teamed up with the band to offer fans this world exclusive limited edition bundle, featuring really cool IQ stuff you can’t get anywhere else.
Alongside a special variant version of the latest version of Prog boasting a limited edition IQ front cover, the bundle also comes with a lyric sheet for Never Land, signed by vocalist and lyricist Peter Nicholls, plus an exclusive Dominion t-shirt unavailable in shops or on merch stands. Numbers are limited and the only place you can get the bundle is from the Prog online store.
“You know, we’ve been good friends for nearly 50 years,” Nicholls tells Prog in our feature on Dominion in the new issue. “I’ve been in the band longer than I haven’t been in the band. Right now there’s a lot to be thankful for. I really want to make sure that these are really strong years. Put it this way, IQ is in no danger of fizzling out.”
Hawkwind grace the cover of the new issue of Prog, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of their fantasy epic Warrior On The Edge Of Time and as well as Big Big Train, the new issue also features new interviews with Van Der Graaf Generator founder Judge Smith, Solstice, IQ, The Flower Kings, Mostly Autumn, Dim Gray, Gary Kemp, Everon, Antimatter and loads more. You can read all about the new issue here.
If you like breakdowns, riffs or just sheer manic intensity, we’ve got a hell of a collection for you this week. The sun might be out and Spring in full, erm, spring, but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Left To Suffer, Sodom, Shadow Of Intent and more putting out absolute ragers – and that’s without even considering veterans and breakout stars like Turnstile, Ghost, Katatonia and more.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First, the results of last week’s vote! It was the battle of the mega-fanbases up top, but we’d got a serious collection of rising stars and heavyweights alike for you to sink your fangs into, and horrorcore heroes Ward XVI nabbed a podium finish with Blood Is The New Black. Above them were breakout metal stars Sleep Token, but when it comes to engaged fanbases few can compete with the might of Babymetal and sure enough they took the crown.
We’ve got a hefty slab to offer you this week, but there are some shades of more mainstream in the likes of Ghost, Turnstile and even Portuguese Eurovision hopeful Henka. As ever, we need you to tell us which songs excite you most, so don’t forget to cast your vote in the poll below – and have a magnificent weekend!
Turnstile – Never Enough
If you’re still wondering what hardcore has to do with metal, we’d like to invite you to join us in the 21st Century (or indeed, any year after about 1982). Granted, hardcore’s big breakouts Turnstile are pushing the envelope with the title track of their new album Never Enough, due June 6. Picking up more of the dream-pop/shoegaze vibe that they explored on 2021’s Glow On, serene but with an insistent thump that shows the band can still clatter.
TURNSTILE – NEVER ENOUGH [OFFICIAL VIDEO] – YouTube
UK-based Portuguese artist Henka came within spitting distance of representing Portugal at this year’s Eurovision, earning the most votes in the fan vote but falling at the last hurdle when the jury went in another way. While she might not be competing, the resultant I Wanna Destroy U is a brilliant and vibrant slab of alt. metal with pulsing synths and a gut-rumbling bass that is delightful to behold.
HENKA || I WANNA DESTROY U || OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO – YouTube
Skeletá– and the Skeletour – is almost upon us! With their tour kicking off in Manchester on April 15, Ghost have teased us with another taste of their upcoming album. In many ways, Lachryma feels like a mid-point between the old school heavy metal of Ciricie and the more arena-baiting efforts of recent years, its pounding riffs giving way to 70s AOR choruses that we’re sure will go down very well in arenas.
There is a schism in the ranks. After 24 years together, Katatonia’s core creative team of Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström have parted ways. Just a few weeks on from from Nyström’s departure, the Swedes have announced new album Nightmares as Extensions of The Waking State, their first album without the guitarist. Given the pair’s apparent split over stylistic differences – Nyström apparently wanting to return more to the band’s death/doom roots – it’s hardly surprising that Lilac continues the melancholic prog stylings of the band’s more recent releases, gorgeous and brittle in equal parts.
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KATATONIA – Lilac (Official Video)| Napalm Records – YouTube
Underside have long been the loudest champions for their home scene in Nepal. With the band returning to the UK in June for Download Festival, they’ve unveiled new music in the form of Love Hate Love. The band’s epic groove metal stylings are still up front, but there’s an added nu metal-ish element that adds a bit of Dope to the mix.
Underside – LOVE HATE LOVE (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) – YouTube
Just looking at the title of AlphaWhores’ latest single should tell you everything you need to know about their message. The Panama band’s second album You Can Come Out Now is out June 13 and Beautiful Music…. shows off their lurching, doom-adjacent alt metal in all its slinky glory.
A decade since he first launched the group, black metal legend Gaahl is back with the latest missive from his group Gaahls Wyrd. Taken from upcoming album Braiding The Stories, due June 6, Time And Timeless Timeline captures some of the frosty intensity of black metal whilst adding progressive flavours into the mix that have been front-and-centre in Wyrd’s output, his vocals taking on an ominious, prophet-of-doom quality.
Gaahls Wyrd – “Time and Timeless Timeline” (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Looking for some chest-beating, full-throated power metal? Warkings have you more than covered on latest single Armageddon. It’s a typically bombastic showing from the European band, all massive hooks and ‘whoah-ohs’ that are cater-made to get massive audiences roaring along. The title-track of their new album of the same name, it’s a brilliant first taste of what’s to come.
WARKINGS – Armageddon (Official Video) | Napalm Records – YouTube
Shadow Of Intent – Feeding The Meatgrinder (ft. Corpsegrinder)
If you’re going to put out some pummelling, punishing deathcore, why not recruit a death metal legend to join the party? That’s exactly what Shadow Of Intent have done with Feeding The Meatgrinder, a thumping, snarling slab of extremity that features Cannibal Corpse icon Corpsegrinder. The first taste of new album Imperium Delirium, due June 27, the band have set the bar exceptionally high.
SHADOW OF INTENT – Feeding the Meatgrinder Feat. Corpsegrinder (Official Music Video) – YouTube
You’ll struggle to find anything that sounds quite like Belgium’s Beasts. Helmed by Antoine Romeo, the band’s debut album The Shearing is set for release next week and The Fire Inside presents a queasy, mind-warping mix of noise, hip-hop, alt. metal and more in an angular package. Think Cop Shoot Cop, Dillinger Escape Plan and Lord Spikeheart in a sonic blender.
BEASTS – The Fire Inside (Official Audio) – YouTube
They might be masters of Teutonic thrash, but there’s an undeniable element of Slayer to the latest offering from Sodom. That’s by no means a bad thing, of course, pure fury and intensity, Trigger Discipline is the first single to come from The Arsonist, due June 27, and catches the Germans on typically incendiary form (pun very much intended).
Left To Suffer – Set The World On Fire (ft. UnityTX)
UnityTX came swinging back last week with Heinous and now here they are popping up again with deathcore mob Left To Suffer. You might’ve thought that LTS vocalist Taylor Barber would have his hands full with Seven Hours After Violet tours this year, but Set The World On Fire dispels any notion that the band are taking things easy, all crushing breakdowns, snarls and furious hip hop flows.
Left To Suffer – “Set The World On Fire” (feat. UnityTX) Visualizer – YouTube
Newcomers hailing from Japan, Knosis are helmed by mastermind Ryo Kinoshita and come out swinging with Shinmon. It’s a howling, cage-rattling show of fury that suggests debut album Genknosis, due August 1, will be going straight in at the deep-end of high intensity metalcore.
Staff writer for Metal Hammer, Rich has never met a feature he didn’t fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online, be it legendary events like Rock In Rio or Clash Of The Titans or seeking out exciting new bands like Nine Treasures, Jinjer and Sleep Token.
Nestled among the foothills of the Laguna Mountains 40 miles inland from the San Diego beaches, Ramona, California is the last place one might expect to witness a rock ‘n’ roll clinic from one of the genre’s greatest unsung heroes.
Then again, for the past 45 years, Michael Monroe has been anything but predictable.
The finnish rock icon and former Hanoi Rocks frontman is in the midst of his “Jet Propelled From Overseas to the USA” tour, his first trek across North America in nine years. The brief jaunt launched at the beginning of April and will conclude this weekend with back-to-back Sunset Strip sellouts at the Whisky a Go Go and the Rainbow Bar and Grill’s anniversary party.
Monroe eased into his West Coast home stretch at Ramona Mainstage, a 1940s movie palace that was restored and converted into a live music venue at the turn of the century. You can see photos from the show and a set list below.
It was far from a sellout — there were probably between 100 and 150 fans at the Wednesday night show, to give a charitable estimate. But that didn’t stop Monroe from delivering a breathlessly entertaining, 90-minute marathon performance that served as an ear-splitting reminder of the transcendent power of rock ‘n’ roll at its finest.
The intimate setting made it all the more special when Monroe roared out of the gate with his 1989 classic “Dead, Jail or Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The audience had clearly waited a long time for this moment, and Monroe didn’t let them down. He howled lustily and leapt across the stage like a live wire, resplendent in his embroidered red-and-black vest and skintight jeans. When the stage could no longer contain him, Monroe prowled the tables lining the side of the room, making it back in time to rip a harmonica or saxophone solo or reapply his makeup in a compact mirror. (“It helps me sing better,” he quipped.)
Monroe’s 21-song set mixed solo cuts (with an emphasis on his latest album, 2022’s I Live Too Fast to Die Young!), Demolition 23 gems and Hanoi Rocks classics such as “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Don’t You Ever Leave Me” and “Motorvatin’.” His longtime guitarist Steve Conte (formerly of the New York Dolls) traded fiery riffs and solos with Rich Jones, while Slash bassist Todd Kerns provided stellar backing vocals. Drummer Karl “Rockfist” Rosqvist (who also plays with Danzig) laid a rock-solid foundation, pounding his kit with punk fury and hard rock precision.
In an alternate timeline, Hanoi Rocks could have become one of the biggest bands of the ’80s and Monroe could be a household name. But if he’s bitter about the hand he was dealt, he certainly didn’t show it at Ramona Mainstage. Whether there are two people or 200,000 people in the crowd, Monroe’s gonna keep kicking ass like he’s always done. More than 40 years into his career, he’s still not fakin’ it.
Michael Monroe, 4/9/25, Ramona Mainstage, Ramona Set List 1. “Dead, Jail or Rock ‘n’ Roll” 2. “I Live Too Fast to Die Young” 3. “Murder the Summer of Love” 4. “Last Train to Tokyo” 5. “Young Drunks & Old Alcoholics” 6. “Man With No Eyes” 7. “Old King’s Road” 8. “Trick of the Wrist” 9. “’78” 10. “Ballad of the Lower East Side” 11. “Don’t You Ever Leave Me” (Hanoi Rocks) 12. “One Man Band” 13. “Horns and Halos” 14. “Boiler (Me Boiler ‘n’ Me)” (Hanoi Rocks) 15. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (Hanoi Rocks) 16. “Motorvatin'” (Hanoi Rocks) 17. “Hammersmith Palais” (Demolition 23) 18. “Malibu Beach Nightmare” (Hanoi Rocks) 19. “Up Around the Bend” (Creedence Clearwater Revival) 20. “Taxi Driver” (Hanoi Rocks) 21. “I Feel Alright / Radar Love” (The Stooges / Golden Earring)
Michael Monroe Live in San Diego, 4/9/25
It’s the Finnish rock icon’s first U.S. tour in nearly a decade.
Fans at the Detroit stop of Kiss‘ 1995 Worldwide Convention tour got an unexpected (un-X-pected?) treat when a 10-year-old fan took over on lead vocals for a joyous take on the band’s particularly horny 1988 single “Let’s Put the X in Sex.”
As a clearly delighted Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer back her up, the young girl eagerly tackles the song’s risque lyrics, pumping her bicep every time she hits the “Love’s like a muscle and you make me wanna flex” part of the chorus. The crowd roars with approval at her confident delivery, rewarding her with a standing ovation at the end. (Her name is not mentioned in the video, although SImmons states her age at the conclusion of the song.)
The 1995 conventions helped Kiss reconnect with their history, after they spent much of the ’80s and early ’90s successfully establishing themselves separately from their facepaint-wearing ’70s days. The events featured memorabilia displays, question and answer sessions, and an acoustic performance from the band.
“The experience of doing them really opened up our eyes to the living, breathing thing that we had created above and beyond the records and songs,” Simmons explained in his book Kiss and Make-Up. “Children were named after our songs. We would meet them. ‘Hi, I’m Christine. I can’t wait to turn sixteen so I can become Christine Sixteen.’ And they’d giggle. ‘Meet my daughter Beth.'”
The convention tour’s Los Angeles-area show also kick-started the reunion of the original Kiss lineup, as the band invited Peter Criss to join them for a couple of songs during their performance. This led to Criss and founding lead guitarist Ace Frehley joining them for several songs at the taping of their MTV Unplugged show, which in turn lit the fuse for the band’s 1996 original lineup, full makeup and costume reunion tour.
30 years after the 1995 conventions, Kiss are revisiting the idea with the Kiss Army Storms Vegas event, which takes place Nov. 14 through 16 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The band will perform a special “unmasked” show – their first time on stage since concluding their farewell tour in 2023. The event will feature other guest stars and band-themed activities.
Just for context, if this young girl reunites with Kiss to perform the song again in Vegas, she’ll be doing so as a 40-year-old woman.
Kiss Solo Albums Ranked Worst to Best
Counting down solo albums released by various members of Kiss.
(Image credit: Henri-Kristian Kirsip; Ake Heiman; Mel Longhurst/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
What do you know about Tallinn? If your answer is a guilty “Ahhh, not much, actually…”, don’t panic. I was exactly the same until about ten days ago. It’s not the kind of place you’ll see at the top of many ‘Hot European Destinations!’ lists (not least because it’s really not very hot most of the time). As a music journalist, I can confirm it’s also not a place you hear spoken of very often when people are chatting up the most exciting bands and artists on the scene right now.
Having spent a few days there last week, however, I can absolutely confirm that not only does Tallinn rock, but it’s packing one of Europe’s most vital, vibrant and engaging annual music industry events. Taking place in Estonia’s capital every year since 2009, Tallinn Music Week takes over the city each April with a smorgasbord of gigs, showcases, panels, debates, art installations and a whole lot more. There is a lot going on, basically.
Having enjoyed my first (but defo not last) stay there, I feel it is my duty to tell you why you should sack off whatever you’ve got planned for the summer and head to Tallinn. And then come back again for Tallinn Music Week next year. Here are a few things I learned while out there.
Tallinn Music Week is like a manual for how to platform the local music industry in a productive and engaging way
As soon as you touch down in the city airport (just a fifteen minute drive from the centre of town, by the way), Tallinn Music Week’s presence is keenly felt, with a welcome desk for the event situated in arrivals and posters and leaflets all over the joint. I arrived on the Wednesday evening when things were warming up, but from Thursday morning it was wall-to-wall TMW everywhere you looked.
An opening reception at Von Krahl set the tone for the days ahead: speeches from Tallinn Music Week founder Helen Sildna and city mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski outlined the importance of the event and why it was so vital to Tallinn’s local music scene and standing on the international stage, and from there it was possible to attend panels on everything from safeguarding independent artists to diversity initiatives to the effect of AI on music media. Whatever your priorities are when it comes to the current music landscape, chances are there was a debate, panel or presentation that will have engaged them.
And then there was all the music. Stage after stage in venue after venue: rock, metal, edm, hip hop, punk, emo, indie, pop…but more on that below.
(Image credit: Karolin Linamäe)
There is a dizzying mix of music on display
Yeah, I really wasn’t kidding. Wanna jump into the nearest mosh pit? I don’t – I’m nearly 40, let me stand at the back and enthusiastically nod my head – but you can! Rather have a sit and float away on some gentle progressive jazz or fluttery traditional folk music? It’s here. Or maybe you’re saving it for a late-night warehouse rave in the trendy Telleskivi district? Knock yourself out! At times I felt like I was bouncing between so many different gigs and venues in mere minutes that it was like being at an Estonian Glasto. Except I was clean and I could jump on a tram. Lovely stuff.
Tallinn Old Town is one of the nicest places to have a pint EVER
…or a gin/whisky/juice/water/your bev of choice. Seriously, though, it’s beautiful, filled with incredibly well preserved remnants of the city’s medieval history peering over cobbled streets, quirky pubs, bars and cafes, good restaurants and, most importantly of all, the city’s trademark taverns. Ever wanted to be called ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’ while being served a honey beer? Have I got the place for you! Or places, actually: Olde Hansa, III Draakon and the Headless Chicken are all lovely (if I had to choose one I’d plump for the Headless Chicken because the bar is Middle Earth themed and I’m a big ol’ Tolkien nerd).
Tallinn Old Town (with Olde Hansa, centre) (Image credit: Focus/Toomas Tuul/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Look, this isn’t going to appeal to all of you, but I’m a metalhead and for me, no city can truly reach greatness without its fair share of dark, murky rooms blasting Mudvayne. That’s exactly what greeted me as I walked into Barbar, Tallinn’s premiere heavy metal drinking establishment, though the likes of Tapper and The Krypt are also worth a visit. If you want something a bit gentler, the Depeche Mode bar is probably the best artist-dedicated venue I’ve ever been to – and I’m a fair-weather Depeche Mode guy at best. Seriously, you gotta go.
(Image credit: Merlin Alderslade)
Tomorrow Was The War absolutely ripped
Anyway, back to the music. Estonia’s own Tomorrow Was The War weren’t just the best band I saw during my stay (though shout outs also go to the spunky garage rock of Echolove and the thrumming electro-indie of Bel Tempo). They’re one of the best new metal bands I’ve heard in years. Chugging, riff-laden metalcore with crushing breakdowns hooks to spare? That is absolutely a bit of me, and these lads are simply stellar at it. Go watch the hell out of the Divine Triumph video below. And then go book those flights and tickets for Tallinn Music Week 2026. You’ll thank me later!
TOMORROW WAS THE WAR – Divine Triumph (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Tallinn Music Week 2026 takes place April 9-12 next year. For more info head to the event’s official website
Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N’ Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.
Pink Floyd have released their performance of One Of These Days from their 1972 Pompeii concert film, which arrives in cinemas in a fully restored format on April 24.
Retitled Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, it’s been digitally remastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage. With enhanced audio by Steven Wilson, it’s described as the definitive version of the production.
“The film documents what Pink Floyd did before they became giants of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic,” producers say. “Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, this unique and immersive film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert without an audience.
“It features the vital Echoes, A Saucerful of Secrets and One Of These Days. The breathtaking visuals of the amphitheatre, captured both day and night, amplify the magic of the performance. Additionally, the film includes rare behind-the-scenes footage of the band beginning work on The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios.”
Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII – One of These Days (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Wilson comments: “Ever since my dad brainwashed me as a kid by playing The Dark Side of the Moon on repeat, Pink Floyd has been my favourite band. I first saw Pompeii from a grainy print at a local cinema. It made an incredible impression on me with its untethered and exploratory rock music made by four musicians that seemed to epitomise the notion of intellectual cool.
“It was an honour to remix the soundtrack to accompany Lana Topham’s incredible restoration of the film, which looks like it could have been filmed yesterday.”
Cinema details and tickets are on sale now at www.pinkfloyd.film. The new version of the live album – available on vinyl for the first time – arrives on May 2 and it’s available for pre-order now.
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Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan rejected L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns‘ claim that Skid Row is leaving “millions of dollars” on the table by refusing to reunite with former lead singer Sebastian Bach.
“[It’s] really funny because everyone thinks that they’re an accountant,” Bolan said on a recent episode of The Candid Mic with Fran Strine, which you can watch below. “They think they’re an accountant, promoters. Everyone thinks that they know how much is coming in.”
The subject of a Skid Row reunion with Bach is never far from the lips of interviewers or other rockers. The band tried to bury the hatchet several years ago but quickly abandoned the plans. Since then, both parties have repeatedly claimed a reunion will never happen.
Regarding a possible reunion with Bach, Bolan said: “We approached that at one point, and obviously it imploded very quickly. There’s not millions of dollars out there. I mean, as Skid Row, we’re making really good money. It wasn’t much more [with Bach].”
What Did Tracii Guns Say About a Skid Row Reunion?
Guns offered his thoughts on a Skid Row reunion with Bach during a recent episode of the Chuck Schute Podcast. “I love the band — I love them together, I love them separate,” he said. “But the guys in the band, their point of view is that Sebastian, to them, is a shithead. And then Sebastian’s point of view is like, ‘Well, they wanted a David Lee Roth type of guy.’ And my point of view is, don’t ever leave that kind of fucking money on the table. What the fuck is wrong with all of you?”
He continued: “Seriously. No joke. I’m not making a joke or a funny ha ha ha. They don’t ever have to even see Sebastian to go and perform live and to make millions of dollars. Not just a million bucks — millions of dollars.”
When asked if he thought those figures were legitimate, Guns explained: “Skid Row was a high-impact band. They make pretty decent money now. Even not having a singer, they make pretty decent money. I think the excitement for a good 200 shows over three years, no problem, man. Arenas, for sure.”
Guns then pointed to other seemingly improbable rock reunions that eventually happened. “If the Who could do it — come on, man. If the Eagles could do it, if Guns N’ Roses could do it … You’re not cooler than them.” He also joked about his “ulterior motive” for wanting Bach to rejoin Skid Row: “If Skid Row got back together, then L.A. Guns could go open for Skid Row.”
Rachel Bolan’s Primary Concern: ‘Quality of Life, Motherf—ers’
Skid Row parted ways with their most recent full-time singer, Erik Gronwall, in early 2024. They played a handful of shows with Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale last spring and are currently sifting through auditions for a new permanent singer.
As Bolan explained, Skid Row’s reasoning for not reuniting with Bach is both personal and professional.
“It’s funny hearing [Guns], because other people shout out numbers too,” he said. “They’re like, ‘They can make this and that and the other thing.’ It’s like, one: No, we can’t. That’s totally false. And two: Quality of life, motherfuckers. You wanna be happy. You wanna be happy doing what you’re doing.”
Bolan also had some parting advice for Guns: “Why doesn’t Tracii just stay in his own yard?”
Skid Row Singers: Where Are They Now?
The band has kept a revolving door over the years.
The estate of Nick Drake will release a new box set this summer titled The Making of Five Leaves Left.
Due on July 25, the collection includes 30 previously unheard outtakes from the sessions that resulted in the singer-songwriter’s debut album, 1969’s Five Leaves Left.
According to a press release, “the choice of tracks was made in order to tell the story as faithfully as possible, and not simply to release all the takes on all of the tapes.” It includes Drake’s first ever session at Sound Techniques studio in London, a tape recording from when he was still a student at the University of Cambridge, plus recording charts and more.
The set, mastered by John Wood and Simon Heywood, will be available in both 4CD and 4LP versions. Both include the original Joe Boyd-produced album.
A complete track listing is available below, as well as a song from the box set, an early version of “‘Cello Song” titled “Strange Face” (1st Sound Techniques Session, March / 1968).
A Bit About Nick Drake’s First Album
Drake, a famously shy and asocial figure in the world of music, landed his first record deal at age 20 when he was still a student. Sessions for Five Leaves Left were sometimes tense and unorganized, and the album was not well-promoted when it was released in July of 1969.
“He was very secretive,” Drake’s sister, Gabrielle, told The Guardian in 2004. “I knew he was making an album but I didn’t know what stage of completion it was at until he walked into my room and said, ‘There you are.’ He threw it on to the bed and walked out!”
Reviews of Five Leaves Left in 1969 were mostly positive, though not overwhelmingly enthusiastic, and most of its accolades and praise have been given in the years since Drake’s death by suicide in 1974.
‘The Making of Five Leaves Left,’ Track Listing LP1 – 1st Sound Techniques Session aka The Beverley Martyn demo & Alt Takes from February 1968 to April 1969 Side A 1. “Mayfair” — 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968 2. “Time Has Told Me” — 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968 3. “Man In A Shed” – 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968 4. “Fruit Tree” — 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968 5. “Saturday Sun” — 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968 6. “Strange Face” — 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968
Side B 1. “Strange Face” – Rough Mix with Guide Vocal – September 1968 2. “Day Is Done” – Take 5 – April 1968 3. “Day Is Done” – Take 2 – November 1968 4. “Day Is Done” – Take 7 – April 1969 5. “Man In A Shed” – Take 1 – May 1968 6. “My Love Left With The Rain” – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
LP2 – Paul de Rivaz Reel – October 1968 / Out-Takes November 1968 Side A 1. “Blossom” – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968 2. “Instrumental” – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968 3. “Made To Love Magic” – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968 4. “Mickey’s Tune “– Cambridge, Lent Term 1968 5. “The Thoughts of Mary Jane” – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968 6. “Day Is Done” – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968 7. “Time Has Told Me” – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
Side B 1. “Three Hours” – Take 2 – November 1968 2. “Time Has Told Me” – Take 4 – November 1968 3. “Strange Face” – Take 1 – November 1968 4. “Saturday Sun” – Take 1 – November 1968 5. “Fruit Tree” – Take 4 – November 1968
LP3 – Out-Takes from December 1968 to April 1969 Side A 1. “Time of No Reply” – Take 3 into Take 4 – December 1968 2. “‘Cello Song” – Take 4 – January 1969 3. “Mayfair” – Take 5 – January 1969 4. “River Man” – Take 1 – January 1969
Side B 1. “Way To Blue” – Cambridge – Winter 1968 2. “The Thoughts of Mary Jane” – Take 2 – April 1969 3. “Saturday Sun” – Take 1 into Take 2 – April 1969 4. “River Man” – Take 2 – April 1969
LP4 – The Original Album – Released 3rd July 1969 Side A 1. “Time Has Told Me” 2. “River Man” 3. “Three Hours” 4. “Way To Blue” 5. “Day Is Done”
Side B 1. “‘Cello Song” 2. “The Thoughts of Mary Jane” 3. “Man In A Shed” 4. “Fruit Tree” 5. “Saturday Sun”
1968’s Best Rock Albums
It was a pivotal 12 months for rock ‘n’ roll, a period that rivaled 1967 as one of popular music’s very best.
You Know You Were a ’70s or ’80s Kid If These Foods Made You Feel Fancy
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Growing up, you probably felt a little “fancy” when you wore a specific designer label. Polo pony or alligator, anyone? You likely got the same sense of fancy from certain foods you ate, whether they were special treats at home, or something you saw in another family’s house, or just spotted on TV and dreamed of eating.
Marketing “Fancy”: “Pardon Me, Do You Have Any Grey Poupon?”
Grey Poupon Commercial
Grey Poupon Commercial
Food companies did a great job at positioning food that was not fancy, to say the least, but the labels made them look fancy. Maybe the commercial showed “high-class” folks enjoying the food, or in the case of Grey Poupon mustard, enjoying in the back of your limousine, which is kind of weird.
Perhaps the food took you to a different place where people were naturally more elegant, which was almost always somewhere in Europe. As a kid you thought that even fancy kids drank International Coffees after school while enjoying a nice baguette with Nutella. This all just made sense.
General Mills International Coffee
General Mills TV Advertisement
But let’s not forget: the one thing that made you feel most fancy had nothing to do with adventuring in Europe or enjoying forbidden foods in the back of your limo. It was more about being an adult. Whether that meant enjoying a nice grape juice in a wine glass or washing it all down with an after-dinner mint (they were always gross), prancing around like Mom, Dad, and your very well-traveled Uncle Pete at one of their parties was as fancy as one could get.
LOOK: If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
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