Hard Rock
In Photos: Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Fever 333, and Code Orange Bring “Knotfest Roadshow” to New Jersey
Slipknot invaded the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, on Sunday (October 10th), headlining the “Knotfest Roadshow” with support from Killswitch Engage, Fever 333, and Code Orange. On an overcast day, Code Orange opened the festivities with a fiery eight-song set, including five tunes from their genre-defying 2020 album, Underneath. The sociopolitical-minded Fever 333, who have established themselves as one of rock’s most dynamic live acts over the past few years, were up next. Singer Jason Aalon Butler threw himself all over the stage, as he jumped off monitors, attempted a skateboard trick, and broke said skateboard during the course of their explosive seven-song set. Advertisement Related Video Killswitch Engage had the dubious task of playing right before the mighty Slipknot...
Aftershock Festival 2021 Rocked by Metallica, Misfits, Machine Gun Kelly, Mudvayne, Rancid, and More: Photos + Video
After being forced to pull the plug on last year’s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aftershock festival returned to Discovery Park in Sacramento over the weekend, and put on an even bigger (and louder) event than in years past. With a newly expanded four-day lineup and two nights of Metallica, the California rock extravaganza was nothing short of yet another success for Danny Wimmer Presents. The newly added Thursday bill featured Bay Area thrash legends Death Angel, Exodus (with drummer Tom Hunting playing his first show back after recently undergoing successful cancer surgery) and Testament. Also on the opening-day lineup were Anthrax, hardcore upstarts Knocked Loose, and headliners Cypress Hill (who replaced Faith No More, who themselves had replaced Limp Bizkit). Day 2 (Friday) ...
Aftershock Festival 2021 Rocked by Metallica, Misfits, Machine Gun Kelly, Mudvayne, Rancid, and More: Photos + Video
After being forced to pull the plug on last year’s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aftershock festival returned to Discovery Park in Sacramento over the weekend, and put on an even bigger (and louder) event than in years past. With a newly expanded four-day lineup and two nights of Metallica, the California rock extravaganza was nothing short of yet another success for Danny Wimmer Presents. The newly added Thursday bill featured Bay Area thrash legends Death Angel, Exodus (with drummer Tom Hunting playing his first show back after recently undergoing successful cancer surgery) and Testament. Also on the opening-day lineup were Anthrax, hardcore upstarts Knocked Loose, and headliners Cypress Hill (who replaced Faith No More, who themselves had replaced Limp Bizkit). Day 2 (Friday) ...
P.O.D. on 20 years of Satellite, “Alive”‘s Success, and HR from Bad Brains’ Pet Parakeets
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS P.O.D.’s Sonny Sandoval grabs some talk time with Kyle Meredith to talk about the 20th anniversary of their 2001 album Satellite. Advertisement Related Video The lead singer dives into the breakthrough success of the LP, why the song “Alive” connected with fans so much, the young people he was thinking of with “Youth of a Nation,” and the song’s parallels to the school shootings that continue to happen today. Sandoval also remembers what it was like to navigate success during the era of 9/11 and also shares a fun story about recording a punk track with HR from Bad Brains, who brought along two parakeets. Listen to this new epi...
KISS’ Gene Simmons Has Spinal Tap Moment During Concert Platform Malfunction: Watch
KISS singer-bassist Gene Simmons nearly fell when a descending platform malfunctioned during the band’s concert on Saturday (October 9th) in Tampa, Florida. The scary moment occurred as KISS descended to the stage for the opening number “Detroit Rock City.” As Simmons, Paul Stanley, and guitarist Tommy Thayer dropped down on separate risers, the crowd gasped when Simmons’ platform suddenly became uneven and started wobbling. Simmons held his balance until the platform appeared to right itself, though it continued to shake unsteadily. The platform never made its way all the way down, leaving Simmons suspended for a while longer than his bandmates, until he finally hopped onto the stage and continued playing the song. Advertisement Related Video The incident was like something out of th...
Guitarist Frank Sidoris (Slash, Mammoth WVH) and Wife Involved in Serious Car Accident
Frank Sidoris, a guitarist in both Slash’s band and Mammoth WVH, was involved in a serious car accident with his wife on Saturday (October 9th). The couple were near Baker, California, and headed to Los Angeles when a truck towing a van of illegal weight swerved in front of them. They were forced to maneuver onto the median, clipping the front of the truck and going airborne. Thankfully, the two are alive, though Sidoris’ wife, Alexandria, fractured her L1 vertebrae and her right ring finger. Frank Sidoris called the event “truly traumatic” in an Instagram post: “A small pickup truck was towing a van of illegal weight on a single axle trailer without brake lights or turn signals in the middle lane of the 15 South just before Baker, CA. The driver hit his brakes on a downhill causing the we...
Nandi Bushell and Tom Morello’s Son Roman Team Up for Climate-Action Song “The Children Will Rise Up”: Stream
Young music sensation Nandi Bushell is using her platform to get the word out on the impacts of climate change. The 11-year-old multi-instrumentalist has teamed up with Tom Morello’s 10-year-old guitar-playing son Roman for the new song “The Children Will Rise Up,” with Jack Black, activist Greta Thunberg, and Roman’s dad making cameos in the music video. Nandi recently returned to her UK home after a whirlwind trip to the United States that saw her play drums alongside Foo Fighters during their concert in Los Angeles. On that same trip, she jammed with Tom and Roman Morello, revealing that they had collaborated on a new song. Now, that new song is here, with Nandi and Roman both displaying their incredible musical skills. The pair of youngsters co-wrote “The Children Will Rise Up” with th...
Tom Morello Defends Friendship with Ted Nugent: I Have the “Right to Be Friends with Anybody”
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello has once again defended his unlikely friendship with right-wing rocker Ted Nugent. The pair make an odd couple, for sure, considering Morello’s left-leaning politics and associations with anarchy and socialism. In a new interview, the guitarist stressed the importance of keeping an open dialogue with those you disagree with. “I reserve the right to be friends with anybody,” Morello told NME. “I reserve the right to confront opinions I disagree with, with open heartedness and love, or by throwing a brick. That’s up to me.” Advertisement Related Video He continued: “In the case of Ted, I know he’s become this right-wing caricature but there have been several times where I have reached him on issues that you might be surprised about. But he ...
Alice Cooper on His New Audio Memoir, the Legacy of “School’s Out,” and Who Should Play Him in a Movie
When Audible announced its ongoing “Words + Music” audio program — in which some of rock’s biggest names combine storytelling with music — it made perfect sense that legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper participate in the series. As evidenced by his newly-released entry, Who I Really Am: The Diary of a Hollywood Vampire, Alice tells great story after great story. Throughout the audio memoir, he is comparable to a “rock ‘n’ roll Forrest Gump” — recounting experiences in which he crossed paths with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Syd Barrett, Frank Zappa, John Lennon, and Keith Moon, among others. Additionally, you’ll hear new acoustic versions of “School’s Out,” “Is It My Body” (a tune from which a line was plucked from for the title of his Audible release), “Poison,” and other classics. Advertis...
Paul Stanley Sets New Timeframe for Final Show of KISS’ Farewell Tour
Paul Stanley has revealed new plans for KISS‘ ongoing “End of the Road” farewell tour, which the band now plans to wrap up in early 2023. The final outing was supposed to conclude with a July 17th, 2021, concert in New York City, but because the band essentially lost a year and a half to the pandemic, that timeframe has significantly shifted. “I believe strongly by the beginning of 2023 we will be finished,” Stanley told Ultimate Classic Rock, adding that KISS will likely stick with New York being the last city they play. “It seems only natural to be in New York. That is where the band started, and that was really the background for the band getting together and writing these songs and played loft parties and played clubs starting with an audience of probably 10 people. It seems we should ...
Andrew W.K. Postpones Tour Until 2022, Deletes All Social Media Accounts
Andrew W.K. has postponed his US tour until 2022, something not unusual for the current state of the world. But he also went one step further by mysteriously deleting all of his social media accounts. The “Party Hard” rocker was set to embark on a string of shows in September, but only ended up playing his festival gigs at Rocklahoma and Riot Fest. His headlining shows have been pushed to 2022. As MetalSucks points out, in a since-deleted FB post, it was announced, “Andrew W.K.’s 2021 tour dates are being rescheduled for 2022. All tickets for 2021 will be honored, and refunds will be available at the point of purchase through September 27th.” Advertisement Related Video While new dates weren’t formally announced, tickets for the 2022 shows are already available on Ticketmaster, with dates ...
Wolfgang Van Halen Marks One Year Since Eddie Van Halen’s Death: “I Miss You So Much It Hurts”
Wolfgang Van Halen has marked today’s one-year anniversary of his father Eddie Van Halen’s passing with a heart-wrenching tribute on social media. In the year since the legendary Van Halen guitarist passed away, Wolfgang’s achievements have been incredible. He scored a No. 1 rock hit with his first single (“Distance”) under his solo moniker Mammoth WVH. His debut album landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart and No. 12 on the overall Billboard 200 tally. And he just completed a tour opening for the mighty Guns N’ Roses, even joining them onstage for “Paradise City” at the last two shows. Sadly, Eddie never had the chance to experience his son’s massive solo success. As Wolfgang points out in his message to his late father, there’s “so many things I wish I could share with you....
