Hard Rock
Gene Simmons Tests Positive for COVID-19, Forcing KISS to Postpone More Tour Dates
Just days after his KISS bandmate Paul Stanley tested positive for COVID-19, Gene Simmons has contracted the virus, as well. The band announced today (August 31st) that the singer-bassist is experiencing mild symptoms and that at least four additional shows on their current farewell tour will be postponed. Simmons’ positive test comes just as Stanley reported that he was feeling much better, tweeting last night, “My COVID symptoms were MILD compared to many others and let me tell you… It kicked my ass. It’s over now.” When announcing Stanley’s positive test result last week, KISS had revealed that all band members and crew were vaccinated, but now both Stanley and Simmons have experienced breakthrough cases. The new statement reads as follows: “KISS will postpone their next four tour dates...
R.I.P. Ron Bushy, Iron Butterfly (“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”) Drummer Dies at 79
Ron Bushy, the longtime drummer for pioneering hard-rock act Iron Butterfly, has died at age 79. According to the band, he passed away early Sunday morning (August 29th) surrounded by family at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. TMZ reports that he had been battling cancer. Best known for his epic drum solo on the band’s signature song, the 17-minute “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” Bushy joined the San Diego band in 1966. He had still been considered a member of the group up until his passing, but he had retired from regular performing in recent years due to his health. However, he did make the occasional guest appearance at select concerts. Bushy was the only member of Iron Butterfly to appear on all six of the band’s studio albums, which were all released between the years of 1968 through 1975. The acid-...
Turnstile Gloriously Defy Genre Conventions on Glow On: Review
The Lowdown: After earning well-deserved buzz with their 2018 sophomore album, Time & Space, Baltimore’s Turnstile continue their sonic evolution on their new genre-defying effort, Glow On. It would be easy to just call Turnstile a hardcore band, but that only scratches the surface of the music that this adventurous quintet creates. The Good: Fans of Turnstile’s hardcore roots are treated to their fair share of heavy tracks on Glow On, but those songs are balanced with melodic alt-rock tunes that shine just as brightly. A handful of the songs on Glow On also appeared on the Turnstile Love Connection EP that preceded the full-length by two months, one of which is the infectious leadoff track “Mystery.” A candidate for best rock song of the year, “Mystery” roars with a Nirvana-like guita...
Turnstile Unleash New Album Glow On: Stream
Turnstile have uncorked their hotly anticipated third album, Glow On. Stream it below via Apple Music and Spotify. Glow On is the follow-up to 2018’s Time & Space, and comes in the wake of the surprise June EP Turnstile Love Connection. The album features a collaboration with Blood Orange, “Alien Love Call,” as well as the singles “Blackout” and “Mystery.” It was co-produced by vocalist Brendan Yates with Mike Elizondo, and finds the Baltimore hardcore band continuing to expand their sound. There’s plenty of heavy thunder to keep the mosh pit roiling, but the band have also borrowed from emo, shoegaze, and alternative palettes to create something stunningly original. In his review for Consequence, our own Spencer Kaufman wrote, “Turnst...
Paul Stanley Tests Positive for COVID-19, At Least One KISS Show Postponed
KISS have announced that singer-guitarist Paul Stanley has tested positive for COVID-19. The band has postponed its concert tonight (August 26th) in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and it is likely more dates will be affected, as well. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act revealed the news just moments before the concert at the The Pavilion at Star Lake was set to begin. The statement made it clear that Stanley and his bandmates have been vaccinated: “Tonight’s KISS show at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA is unfortunately postponed due to Paul Stanley testing positive for COVID. More information about show dates will be made available ASAP. Everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew, are fully vaccinated. The band and their crew have operated in a bubble independently to saf...
Wolfgang Van Halen: “I’m Not F**kin’ Playing ‘Panama’ for You Guys”
Wolfgang Van Halen has some choice words for those requesting that his band Mammoth WVH cover Van Halen songs. The son of the late Eddie Van Halen insists that he’s “not f**king playing ‘Panama’ for you guys.” Mammoth WVH are back opening for Guns N’ Roses after missing a few shows due to a member of the group’s touring personnel (not a band member) testing positive for COVID-19. Wolfgang and company have also been playing headlining dates on GN’R’s off days. Inevitably, Mammoth WVH’s first tour has been greeted with some fans who apparently don’t realize that the band plays entirely original music, written and recorded by Wolfgang and culled from the outfit’s self-titled debut album. They’re not a Van Halen tribute act. Advertisement Related Video One user commented on Wolfgang’s Facebook...
Corey Taylor on Current COVID Bout: “Had I Not Been Vaccinated I Shudder to Think How Bad It Would Have Been”
Corey Taylor has offered an update on his current battle with COVID-19. The Slipknot singer says it’s “the worst I’ve ever been sick in my life,” adding that he has gotten “over the brink” thanks to being vaccinated. The metal vocalist revealed that he tested positive for COVID on Friday (August 20th), offering apologies for missing the Astronomicon pop-culture convention that took place this past weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In a new video message posted Monday (August 23rd) on his social channels, Taylor offered the latest on his condition, saying the following: “I am out of the woods. I’m still positive, but the fever’s gone, aches are gone. I’m sweating everything out. I’m still congested, but … it shouldn’t be too much longer before I test negative, so that’s great. I wanted to say...
Ministry Unleash Cover of The Stooges’ “Search and Destroy”: Stream
Ministry have unveiled a cover of The Stooges‘ “Search and Destroy” as the latest single from their upcoming album, Moral Hygiene. Frontman Al Jourgensen and company put an industrial stamp on the proto-punk classic. The track features a guest spot by Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison, and the decision to cover the tune was inspired by a performance at a benefit show in 2019. “We rehearsed it and the song was perfect but the show was running late and by the time we got onstage, I was in half time and singing the lyrics twice as slow,” explained Jourgensen in a press release. “Fortunately Billy and Dave Navarro are professionals and they realized what was going on and sort of covered for me but I felt horrible. Billy thought it actually sounded really good in half-time so he came to me wi...
Corey Taylor Contracts COVID-19: “I Woke Up Today and Tested Positive, and I’m Very, Very Sick”
On the heels of his latest solo tour, Corey Taylor has tested positive for COVID-19. The Slipknot singer is vaccinated, but revealed that he still felt “very, very sick.” Taylor made the announcement in order to let everyone know he would no longer be attending the Astronomicon pop-culture convention this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In a video message posted on the Astronomicon Facebook page, a raspy and congested Taylor spoke from his bed, stating the following: “I wish I had better news. I woke up today and tested positive, and I’m very, very sick. So I’m not gonna be able to make it this weekend. And I am absolutely devastated. I am so sorry. I hope everyone has a good time, and I promise you I will absolutely try to get back there as soon as I can. I should be okay — it [feels like...
David Lee Roth Responds to Gene Simmons’ Insults with 18 Middle Fingers
David Lee Roth has responded to recent insults by KISS‘ Gene Simmons by posting the same image 18 times on Instagram. Simmons recently lamented DLR’s current performance abilities in a new interview with Rolling Stone. While confirming that Roth was no longer providing support on KISS’ farewell tour, the KISS singer-bassist initially praised the Van Halen frontman, but then made disparaging remarks about the singer. “It bears noting that during Dave’s heyday, nobody did what he did,” began Simmons. “He was the ultimate frontman. Not Plant, not Rod Stewart, nobody. He took being a frontman way beyond anything.” He continued, “And then, I don’t know what happened to him… something. And you get modern-day Dave. I prefer to remember Elvis Presley in his prime. Sneering lips, back in Memphis, y...
Heavy Culture: Nova Twins on Racial Identity, Representation of Women of Color in Heavy Music, and More
Heavy Culture is a monthly column from journalist Liz Ramanand, focusing on artists of different cultural backgrounds in heavy music, as they offer their perspectives on race, society, and more as it intersects with and affects their craft. The latest installment of this column features Amy Love and Georgia South of the Nova Twins. UK duo Nova Twins released their debut album, Who Are the Girls?, in 2020. They kicked off 2021 by curating a compilation called Voices for the Unheard, which showcases alternative and rock artists of color. Proceeds from this compilation went to The Black Curriculum, which is an initiative to address the lack of Black British history in UK classrooms. Bandmates Amy Love and Georgia South describe their music as “urban punk,” but it melds several genres together...
Corey Taylor and His Band Wear KISS Makeup, Perform Slipknot and Nine Inch Nails Songs: Watch
Fans in Springfield, Missouri, were treated to an extra special set by Corey Taylor and his solo band on Monday night (August 16th). The Slipknot frontman and company wore KISS makeup for the occasion, and beefed up their setlist with songs by Nine Inch Nails and Cheap Trick, not to mention a rare performance of Slipknot’s “Wait and Bleed.” Taylor is in the midst of the second leg of his solo tour in support of his 2020 album, CMFT. His wife Alicia Dove’s dance troupe The Cherry Bombs have been supporting the run, but were not able to open the Springfield show. In turn, Corey and his bandmates rocked the KISS makeup — with the singer taking on the Starchild (Paul Stanley) persona — and extended their normal set. As they had been doing on this leg of the tour, the band played the Slipknot c...
