Hard Rock
System of a Down’s 10 Best Songs
System of a Down are one of the most eclectic metal bands to achieve massive success. From 1998 through 2005, the Armenian-American group out of California put out a series of acclaimed albums, but then went silent as a recording act for 15 years. Despite the lack of new music (save for a couple of surprise new songs in 2020), System of a Down’s discography rivals that of any heavy group of the past quarter century. Singer Serj Tankian’s unmistakeable voice ranges from frenetic to operatic, while guitarist-singer Daron Malakian’s riffs are catchy and chaotic at the same time. Meanwhile, the rhythm section of bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan is as mighty and technically skilled as just about any in heavy metal. Combine those musical sensibilities with lyrics that are both so...
Puddle of Mudd Singer Wes Scantlin Slurs Words, Covers Face, Walks Offstage in Latest Onstage Meltdown: Watch
It’s been more than a decade since Puddle of Mudd were putting out hit after hit on mainstream rock radio, but somehow we can always count on singer Wes Scantlin for a good headline every six months or so. In his latest onstage meltdown, the frontman seemed to barely get the words out to the band’s hits, complained that the lighting is blinding him, and abruptly ended the show after just four songs. Scantlin has been a fixture on TMZ for the past several years due in large part to a number of run-ins with the law. Highlights include such classics as forcing a bomb squad to come out when he seemingly rigged up his car with detonators, and the time he took a ride on the luggage conveyor belt at the Denver Airport. During Puddle of Mudd’s show at the EPIC Event Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin,...
Rage Against the Machine: Kyle Rittenhouse “Killed People Who Were Fighting for Racial Justice”
Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges on Friday (November 19th) after he fired an AR-15-style assault rifle that killed two protesters and seriously injured another at a 2020 rally in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Among those expressing outrage at the verdict are Rage Against the Machine, who issued a powerful statement via their social media channels. The protest rally came after a black man named Jacob Blake was paralyzed after being shot by Kenosha police. A then 17-year-old Rittenhouse, seemingly there to protect a used-car lot, fired shots that killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and severely damaged Gaige Grosskreutz’s right arm. Among the five felony charges that Rittenhouse faced was one of intentional murder that could have resulted in life in prison had he been found guilty....
R.I.P. Hank Von Helvete, Former Turbonegro Singer Dies at 49
Hank Von Helvete, the best-known singer of long-running Norwegian death-punk act Turbonegro, has died at age 49. His passing was confirmed by his family via the Norwegian newspaper Tvedestrandsposten and through Turbonegro’s social media pages, but no cause of death was revealed. Von Helvete (real name Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby) joined Turbonegro as the band’s third lead singer in 1993, taking over for Harald Fossberg. He fronted Turbonegro until his departure in 2009, save for a hiatus that lasted from 1999 to 2002. That break was due in part to Von Helvete’s drug addiction at the time, as he was undergoing treatment for heroin dependency. During his time with Turbonegro, Von Helvete recorded several albums with the group, beginning with 1994’s Never Is Forever and ending with 2007’s Ret...
New Video of Kids Covering Slipknot Has Higher Production Value Than Most Metal Videos: Watch
When you see the YouTube title “9 yr old sings Slipknot & Unleashes Chaos,” you expect a fun iPhone video of some youngster rocking out to his favorite metal band. But in the case of the O’Keefe Music Foundation’s latest upload, you get a slick music video that rivals or even exceeds the production value of most metal videos. The nonprofit O’Keefe Music Foundation has been producing videos for young rockers over the past several years, often showcasing teens and pre-teens with impressive musical skills. A video of youngsters performing Tool’s “Forty Six & 2” has racked up 25 million views for the channel, while other covers of songs by Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Pantera, and more have also garnered millions of views. In the O’Keefe Music Foundation’s latest clip, a young girl name...
Aerosmith Unearth 1971 Seven-Song Rehearsal Tape, Share Unreleased Version of “Movin’ Out”: Stream
Aerosmith have dug up a rare 1971 recording, which the legendary band is releasing on Record Store Day Black Friday on November 26th. The previously unreleased seven-song rehearsal tape, will be issued on vinyl and cassette under the title Aerosmith – 1971: The Road Starts Hear, with the collection’s “Movin’ Out” available to stream below right now. The recording offers an extraordinary glimpse into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band’s early years, having been recorded just a year after they formed, and two years before the release of their 1973 self-titled debut album. According to a press release, “The landmark early recording was made with Joe Perry’s Wollensak reel-to-reel tape machine in 1971 by Mark Lehman, who owned the infamous van and became Aerosm...
Metallica Launching Massive, Career-Spanning ‘Black Box’ Portal
Metallica are giving fans a deep, deep dive on their history with a new career-spanning portal, The Metallica Black Box, that the band said will feature “memorabilia, photographs, sketches, clothing and footage straight from our personal collections, hoarded over the last 40 years.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news In a statement on the Black Box site, the band added, “We’ve been incredibly fortunate to travel to all corners of the planet, meet so many amazing people, and do things we once only dreamed of. And when you’ve been around for 40 years, you manage to collect a few things! Along the way, the four of us have hung on to many keepsakes, photographs, articles of clothing, sketches, and so much more, stashing these items away in attics, garages, and storage spaces. But no mo...
Brass Against Singer Apologizes for Peeing on Fan’s Face as NASCAR Permanently Bans Band From Its Venues
The old adage “there’s no such thing as bad press” apparently doesn’t apply when you intentionally urinate on a fan’s face in the middle of a festival performance. At least that seems to be the case for Brass Against and their singer Sophia Urista, who on Tuesday night issued yet another apology for her actions this past weekend at Welcome to Rockville Festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. “I have always pushed the limits in music and stage. That night, I pushed the limits too far,” Urista wrote in a statement posted to her personal Twitter account. “I love my family, the band, and the fans more than anything and I know that some were hurt or offended by what I did. I apologize to them and want them to know that I didn’t mean to hurt them.” Advertisement Related Video “I am not a shock artis...
Brass Against Onstage Urination Incident Leads to Police Report as More Details Emerge
Brass Against are dealing with the fallout from an onstage incident in which singer Sophia Urista urinated on a fan’s face at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. Among the new developments is a police report that was filed concerning the episode. As previously reported, during Brass Against’s Thursday set at the rock fest, Urista singled out a male fan in the crowd with a camera mounted to his head. She called him up onto the stage while the band was covering Rage Against the Machine’s “Wake Up.” She then told him to lie down on the stage, at which point she pulled down her pants and urinated on his face. The man, seemingly thrilled by the act, then proceeded to stand up and spit the liquid into the audience. Needless to say, the incident made national headlines. A...
Welcome to Rockville 2022 Headliners: Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, KISS, and Korn
This year’s Welcome to Rockville festival is taking place right now, but organizers have just revealed the headliners for the 2022 edition. The Daytona Beach, Florida, event will return to its usual spring slot next year, with Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, KISS, and Korn topping the bill. Last night (November 12th), during the second day of this year’s four-day fest, promoter Danny Wimmer Presents broke the news of the 2022 headliners via the Welcome to Rockville social media channels. GN’R, Foo Fighters, and KISS are all Rock & Roll Hall of Fame acts, with the Foos having just been inducted, while Korn are a pioneering band that helped spearhead an entire new genre known as nu-metal. Since this year’s Welcome to Rockville was moved to November due to the pandemic, it means fans won’t h...
NHC (Members of Foo Fighters, Jane’s Addiction) Share New Songs “Devil That You Know” and “Lazy Eyes”: Stream
NHC, the new supergroup featuring Foo Fighters‘ Taylor Hawkins and Jane’s Addiction members Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney, have released two new songs: “Devil That You Know” and “Lazy Eyes.” Back in September, we first reported on the new trio, who shared two song shared their first two songs — “Feed the Cruel” and “Better Move On” — at that time. Now, they’re unveiling have another pair of tunes. Fans of Hawkins’ drumming and Navarro’s guitar playing will immediately recognize the musical familiarities between NHC and the full-time projects of each member. “Devil That You Know” touts psych rock flourishes and lush melodies while “Lazy Eyes” is a more active, power-pop jammer. The former is Jane’s-y, the latter more Foo-like. Advertisement Related Video The songs, which both feature Hawkin...
Greta Van Fleet, The Swell Season, Dropkick Murphys, and More Tours on Sale This Week
After moving our clocks back an hour this past weekend, some people might be looking forward to holiday preparations. Don’t forget about yourself, however, as there are plenty of intriguing options for tickets going on sale this week, whether it’s indie folk, punk, hip-hop, or hard rock that tickles your fancy. Breakout Michigan rockers Greta Van Fleet are embarking on a headlining world tour, while Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard are reuniting for the 15th anniversary of their breakout film, Once, for a trek that will also feature their music as the indie folk duo The Swell Season. Meanwhile, Chicago rapper Saba is gearing up for his upcoming third album with the “Back Home Tour.” Rounding out this week’s sales are a trio of punk acts at different points in their...
