Hard Rock
Van Halen’s Top 10 Songs In Honor of Eddie Van Halen
This feature originally ran in January 2014 and is being recirculated in honor of Eddie Van Halen’s passing. Van Halen overwhelmed America. With their big hair, long legs, and jaw-dropping solos that went on for days and days, the Pasadena rockers were loud, lewd, and loved. They sang about beautiful girls, devilish bad boys, and dreamy schoolteachers. Their videos were just as majestic as their sound, turning everyone into howling hound dogs with nights to lose. They conquered the world, too. With 1984, the hard rockers went toe to toe with global sensation Michael Jackson, whose Thriller also happened to feature guitarist Eddie Van Halen. The blockbuster album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Charts, and stayed there for five weeks, eventually selling 12 million copies states...
Musicians and Celebrities React to Death of Eddie Van Halen
Tragically, news broke earlier today that the legendary Eddie Van Halen has died at age 65 following a long battle with throat cancer. Needless to say, the rock world and beyond has been devastated by the iconic musician’s passing. The Van Halen guitarist’s playing influenced countless musicians over the past 40-plus years. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer revolutionized the way the instrument was played with his lightning quick fingers, as evidenced on the instrumental classic “Eruption”. Along with David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, and his brother Alex, Eddie Van Halen dominated rock music with Van Halen. Beginning with their 1978 self-titled debut, they came out swinging, quickly becoming multi-platinum superstars. They continued to achieve massive success with Sammy Hagar as their sing...
David Lee Roth on Eddie Van Halen’s Passing: “What a Long Great Trip It’s Been”
David Lee Roth has honored his longtime bandmate Eddie Van Halen, who passed away on Tuesday (October 6th). The singer offered a short but poignant tribute, joining fellow Van Halen members past and present in saluting the guitar god. Eddie Van Halen died after a battle with throat cancer, and the tributes have poured in from the music and entertainment world. On Tuesday evening, David Lee Roth shared a photo of himself with Eddie, with the words, “What a long great trip it’s been.” Roth’s words follow similar tributes from former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. Hagar, who replaced Roth when he left Van Halen in the ’80s, simply wrote, “Heartbroken and speechless. My love to the family.” Anthony, the band’s longtime bassist before being replaced by Wolfgang Van Halen in ...
AC/DC Officially Announce New Album Power Up, Unleash “Shot in the Dark”: Stream
After a number of social media teases, AC/DC have unveiled their first new song in six years. The track, “Shot in the Dark”, is the first single from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act’s upcoming album, Power Up. Moreover, the band has officially revealed the tracklist, artwork, and release date for the new LP. Power Up, the band’s 17th studio album, will arrive on November 13th. The LP contains 12 songs, and was produced by Brendan O’Brien. Pre-orders, including a limited-edition deluxe version, are available via AC/DC’s online store. The standard vinyl and CD editions can be pre-ordered via Amazon, as well. “Shot in the Dark” marks the official return of classic members Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, and Cliff Williams, who rejoin Angus Young in the legendary band. The lineup is rounded out...
Guns N’ Roses Unveil “Not in This Lifetime” Pinball Machines
The post-pandemic arcade might not be the same crowded sweatbox we remember, but there will soon be at least one bright new toy for the ardent pinball fanatic. Make space in your rec room, ’cause Guns N’ Roses have announced “Not in This Lifetime” Pinball, a collaboration with Jersey Jack Pinball. The machine, available in three editions, is named after the band’s long-running reunion tour, and it’s a sight to behold. Guns N’ Roses’ iconography makes for excellent pinball graphics, with skeleton versions of the band adorning the colorful machine. GN’R guitarist Slash is an avid pinball collector and longtime player, so the collaboration with Jersey Jack, a leader in U.S. pinball manufacturing, makes sense. In fact, it’s a wonder it took so long, with other notable heavy bands like Metallic...
Mr. Bungle Announce Virtual Halloween Concert
Mr. Bungle, photo by Eric Larsen Mr. Bungle are celebrating the release of their first album in 21 years with a virtual Halloween concert. The show, dubbed “The Night They Came Home”, will premiere on October 31st. As previously reported, Mr. Bungle will release The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo on October 30th. The newly recorded LP updates a 1986 demo and features a lineup of original members Mike Patton, Trey Spruance, and Trevor Dunn alongside thrash legends Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer, Misfits). With live concerts still on pause for the most part due to the pandemic, Mr. Bungle will bring their record-release party to the whole world, with a global stream beginning noon PT / 3 p.m. ET on Halloween day. Virtual tickets are $15 each and allow streaming up to...
Motörhead’s Röad Crew Craft Beer Comes to America for Ace of Spades 40th Anniversary
Motörhead and beer are two things that go together. For the 40th anniversary of the band’s classic album Ace of Spades, the Motörhead-branded Röad Crew beer is being brewed and widely distributed in America for the first time. The original Röad Crew beer was first brewed by Camerons Brewery in the United Kingdom back in 2015. For the new release, Madison, Wisconsin brewery Ale Asylum was tapped for the first-ever American edition of the beer, putting their own spin on the beverage. The resulting brew is a newly crafted American pale ale “packed with hoppy citrus aromas.” Ale Asylum’s Otto Dilba told The Post Crescent, it took “two seconds” for him to accept the offer to work with Motörhead. Apparently, the band’s camp was intrigued by another beer the brewery released earlier this year cal...
Chris Cornell’s Cover of Guns N’ Roses’ “Patience” Hits No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Chart
More than three years after his tragic death, Chris Cornell’s soaring voice continues to resonate with music fans. His posthumously released cover of the Guns N’ Roses classic “Patience” has just reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Cornell’s take on the GN’R ballad was released by his family on July 20th, in commemoration of what would have been the late rocker’s 56th birthday. The Soundgarden frontman recorded the song prior to his death in 2017 but it was never released. “His birthday seemed the perfect time to share this and celebrate Chris, his voice, music, stories and art,” his family stated at the time of the song’s release. “It is true a man is not dead while his name is still spoken… and, through his art, an artist’s soul still burns just as bright as ever up...
Concert Review: Corey Taylor’s Streaming Show Gives Fans a Much-Needed Jolt of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Setting the Stage: With the concert industry still at a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Corey Taylor announced that he would be streaming a full-production arena show from The Forum in Los Angeles. The “Forum or Against ‘Em” concert was scheduled to stream on Friday, October 2nd, the same day that his debut solo album, CMFT, arrived. Not only would he perform the entire album, but he also promised favorites from his bands Slipknot and Stone Sour, as well as select cover songs. Taylor’s management team, 5B Entertainment, teamed up with U.S. festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents (Sonic Temple, Louder Than Life, Aftershock) for the show, meaning big expectations were in place. With virtual tickets in their possession, fans typed in their special codes and braced themselves for a fu...
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Unleashes Debut Solo Album CMFT: Stream
Corey Taylor, the prolific singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour, has just released his debut solo album, CMFT. The LP is available to stream below via Apple Music or Spotify. CMFT, short for Corey “Motherf**kin’” Taylor, finds the vocalist exploring several genres. The musical spectrum ranges from “CMFT Can’t Be Stopped” (featuring Tech 9ine and Kid Bookie), which delves into hip-hop, to “HWY 666”, which offers an outlaw country vibe. Meanwhile the straight-ahead rocker “Black Eyes Blue” is already a Top 5 hit at mainstream rock radio. The solo effort comes roughly 14 months after Slipknot’s most recent album, the critically acclaimed We Are Not Your Kind. Taylor was originally supposed to be on the road for most of 2020 supporting the Slipknot album, but when the pandemic halted those ...
Chino Moreno Reveals His Favorite Deftones Album
While 2000’s White Pony tops most publications’ rankings of Deftones albums (including ours), singer Chino Moreno puts another LP at No. 1 on his personal list. In a new interview, the Deftones frontman insists that the group’s sophomore effort, 1997’s Around the Fur, is his favorite release in the alt-metal act’s discography. Moreno was chatting about the band’s new LP, Ohms, with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, when the discussion turned to the singer’s favorite Deftones album. “[Around the Fur holds] a really special place for me,” said the singer. “I will say that is my favorite Deftones record.” He continued, “I honestly still think that record will always be my favorite record. One of the main reasons why… For one, we were pretty young … but we were on fire. And [our debut album] Adrenaline...
AC/DC Confirm Band Lineup and Unveil Apparent Album Title
AC/DC are definitely back. The legendary band has confirmed long-running rumors about its reunited classic lineup, while also revealing the apparent title to its upcoming album. On Wednesday (September 30th), AC/DC shared a new graphic, which seemingly unveils the title of their new album as PWR/UP. Moreover, the artwork, which could very well be the album cover, clearly shows and lists a band lineup of Angus Young (lead guitar), Brian Johnson (lead vocals), Cliff Williams (bass guitar), Phil Rudd (drums), and Stevie Young (rhythm guitar). The image, posted across the band’s social media pages, is captioned, “ARE YOU READY? #PWRUP.” The new post follows one from earlier in the week that showed a neon light in the shape of the lightning bolt from the band’s logo flickering on, as if to say ...
