Heavy Music Concerts

Metallica Perform “The Black Album” in Full from Back to Front at Louder Than Life

Metallica treated fans at Louder Than Life to a full performance of “The Black Album” on Sunday night (September 26th). In honor of its 30th anniversary, the metal titans played the mega-selling LP from back to front at the festival Louisville, Kentucky. The gig was Metallica’s second of the fest, having been booked to play two distinct sets on Friday and Sunday night. On Friday, Metallica played no songs from “The Black Album,” perhaps hinting that a full album performance was coming on Sunday. The Sunday set started with three songs from other albums — “Hardwired,” “The Four Horseman,” and “Welcome Home (Sanitarium).” Then, a 30th anniversary “Black Album” interlude was played with video images of the band members (including former bassist Jason Newsted) before Metallica launched into th...

Ministry Postpone US Tour to Spring 2022, Tap Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity as Support

Industrial legends Ministry have pushed their US tour from this fall to spring 2022 “out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of the band, fans and venue staff.” The new itinerary comes with new support acts, as the Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity take the place of Helmet and Front Line Assembly. The outing will now kick off March 6th in Baltimore, Maryland, and run through an April 18th date in Seattle. The route will hit most regions across the US. Advertisement According to the press release, “some of the original show dates have regrettably been canceled as some venues are not available for this updated time period; as well, some new show dates have been added.” The band also plans to announce even more shows in the near future. Billed as the “Industrial Strength To...

Mastodon and Opeth Announce Co-Headlining Fall 2021 US Tour

Mastodon and Opeth have announced a co-headlining fall 2021 US tour with support from Zeal & Ardor. The coast-to-coast trek kicks off November 16th in Asheville, North Carolina, and heads up the East Coast before routing through the South. After hitting the West Coast, the tour wraps up on December 5th in Denver. Mastodon will be out in support of their forthcoming album, Hushed and Grim, recorded over a 12-month period with producer David Bottrill. Openers Zeal & Ardor should also have new music in their setlist, with the avant-metal act set to drop a new self-titled album on February 11th, 2022. Advertisement Related Video Meanwhile, progressive metal vets Opeth played one of the last theater shows we saw prior to the pandemic. The band looks to head back out in support of its mo...

In Photos: 2021 Inkcarceration Festival Fueled by Slipknot, Mudvayne, Rob Zombie, Mastodon, Halestorm, and More

The 2021 Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival took place this past weekend at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. The three-day event was headlined by Slipknot, a reunited Mudvayne, and Rob Zombie. The Ohio State Reformatory is best known as the Shawshank Redemption prison, providing a macabre setting to the massive rock festival. Mega-promoter Danny Wimmer Presents signed on as a co-producer of Inkcarceration this year, and the sold-out extravaganza featured an overall attendance of 75,000 over the three days. Slipknot headlined the Friday night (September 10th) bill, with singer Corey Taylor sporting his new mask. The masked metal band’s set was preceded by performances by Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, The Hu, Steel Panther, and more. Advertisement Related Video Mudvayne’...

After 50-Plus Years, UFO to Play Final Shows Ever in 2022

UK hard-rock and metal pioneers UFO have announced their final run of shows ever. The band will close out a touring career of more than 50 years with a farewell outing split into two legs in 2022. Having formed in 1968, UFO are one of the bands that bridged the gap between hard rock and heavy metal, influencing countless acts along the way. The band still features original members Phil Mogg (vocals) and Andy Parker (drums), along with keyboardist Neil Carter (who played with UFO in the ’80s and rejoined the group in 2019), guitarist Vinnie Moore, and bassist Rob De Luca. The 2022 tour will take place over two European legs, the first starting June 20th in Hannover, Germany, and running through a July 16th show in Enderndorf, Germany. The second leg will launch October 15th in Sint-Niklaas,...

Corey Taylor Debuts Creepy New Mask at Slipknot’s First Show in 18 Months

Slipknot played a concert for the first time in 18 months on Saturday night (September 4th), performing a headlining set at the Rocklahoma festival. For the band’s long-awaited return to the stage, singer Corey Taylor sported a creepy new mask. Taylor is coming off a recent bout with COVID-19, having contracted the virus at the end of his summer solo tour. After a rough battle in which he said “it’s the worst I’ve ever been sick in my life,” he thankfully reported that he tested negative about 10 days ago, giving him the all-clear to tour with Slipknot. The singer believed he likely caught COVID from a “selfish” concertgoer. For Slipknot’s show at Rocklahoma, Taylor rocked a skeletal mask with beady eyes and Chelsea-smile stitching around the mouth. The change comes in the middle of the ba...

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...

Limp Bizkit Cancel All 2021 Festival Performances, Promise New Songs in “Rapid Succession”

Limp Bizkit have canceled all of their remaining 2021 festival appearances after previously scrapping their summer headlining tour. The band has also revealed that more new music is on the way. When BIzkit nixed their summer outing after just a few dates, frontman Fred Durst didn’t get into specifics, but implied to Billboard that the tour cancellation was based on safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. As cases surge, live music is once again grappling with solutions to curb the virus, as venues and festivals institute vaccine requirements and/or proof of a negative COVID test. Limp Bizkit aren’t taking any chances, foregoing all upcoming performances, including scheduled appearances at the festivals Aftershock, Blue Ridge, Rebel Rock, and Rocklahoma. The band posted the followin...

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...

Jerry Cantrell Announces 2022 North American Solo Tour

Jerry Cantrell has announced a 2022 North American solo tour. The Alice in Chains singer-guitarist will be heading out in support of his upcoming solo album, Brighten, arriving October 29th. The outing will be Cantrell’s first full-fledged solo tour since 2004. Most recently, he performed a pair of intimate club shows with an all-star pickup band in Los Angeles in late 2019, prior to the pandemic. The extensive 2022 tour kicks off March 24th at First Avenue in Minneapolis and runs through a May 8th date at the House of Blues in San Diego. Highlight stops include an April 5th appearance at Irving Plaza in New York City and a homecoming show of sorts on May 2nd at the iconic Moore Theater in Seattle. Advertisement Related Video Cantrell was joined by a large cast of friends and collaborators...

Motörhead Tribute Album to Feature High on Fire, Eyehategod, Philip Anselmo, and More

A Motörhead tribute album, Löve Me Förever: A Tribute To Motörhead, is set to be the first release on Psycho Waxx, a new in-house label from the founders of the Psycho Las Vegas Festival. Better yet, the covers are being recorded by the bands booked for the 2021 iteration of Psycho Las Vegas taking place this weekend. High on Fire, Eyehategod, Exhorder, Stöner, and Mothership are among the 16 acts tapped to record Motörhead songs at National Southestern Recording in downtown Vegas. In addition, an all-star cast has been assembled to tackle the iconic “Ace of Spades”: Philip H. Anselmo (Down, Pantera), Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer), Chuck Garric (Alice Cooper), Sacha Dunable (Intronaut), Nick Oliveri (Stöner, Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss), Dwid Hallion (Integrity), and Zach Wheeler and Tom P...

Stone Temple Pilots and Bush Announce Fall 2021 Co-Headlining Tour

Two bands from the heyday of ’90s alternative rock, Stone Temple Pilots and Bush, are joining forces for a co-headlining 2021 US tour. The run will set off September 30th in Mesa, Arizona, and wrap up October 17th in Oklahoma City. Black Map and Devora will provide support. A press release promises an “an unforgettable night of music,” with each band taking turns closing out the night in various cities. Advertisement Related Video Tickets for the shows go on sale to the general public starting Friday, August 20th, at 10 a.m. local venue time via Ticketmaster, with pre-sales beginning Thursday. A limited amount of $20 tickets are available for certain dates. In addition to the dates with Bush, Stone Temple Pilots will hit the road on their own headlining run from October 18th through Novemb...