Progressive rock
Genesis Announce Career-Spanning Box Set BBC Broadcasts
Genesis will chronicle three decades’ worth of BBC performances in an upcoming box set. The 53-track collection is due out on March 3rd. Curated by founding member Tony Banks and the group’s longtime engineer and producer Nick Davis, BBC Broadcasts features all three of Genesis’ vocalists — Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Ray Wilson — in recordings from 1970 to 1998. Among the recordings are Genesis’ early appearances on BBC’s Night Ride and John Peel’s radio show, their 1978 and 1982 performances at the Knebworth Festival, and gigs at London’s Lyceum and Wembley Stadium. All this music is joined by a 40-page booklet that includes notes from author Michael Hann. The box set is available on 5xCD and 3xLP formats — marking the first time these tracks have been released o...
Devin Townsend: Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger “Is a Phenomenally Intelligent Human Being”
Prog rocker Devin Townsend has high praise for Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger in a new interview, calling his fellow Canadian “a phenomenally intelligent human being.” Kroeger previously made a surprising guest spot on Townsend’s Empath album in 2019. When asked by Ultimate Guitar about the collaboration, Townsend was quick to speak highly of Kroeger, who has faced an exaggerated amount of criticism over the years for his work in Nickelback (Townsend had previously called Kroeger a “functioning genius” back in 2019). That said, Townsend admitted in the new interview that the two lead a different lifestyle. “Chad’s brilliant,” Townsend said. “Chad is a phenomenally intelligent human being. But he’s a rockstar, too, on levels that you and I will never participate in. And so there’s go...
Win Tickets to The Return of Emerson, Lake & Palmer in New York City + Signed Box Set
It’s been six years since the passing of both Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, but the prog-rock greats live on in spirit. Now, surviving ELP member Carl Palmer is reuniting with his late bandmates on stage, thanks to the all new live show “Welcome Back My Friends: The Return of Emerson Lake & Palmer Tour” (get tickets here). “The Return of Emerson Lake & Palmer” show finds Palmer playing live in front of huge video walls displaying rare footage of Emerson and Lake. The video was captured during two 1992 performances at London’s iconic The Royal Albert Hall, shows which were turned into a live album and now a unique concert experience. Palmer calls the “Welcome Back My Friends” show “a real multi-media experience,” one in which Emerson and Lake are honored in the live footage, addition...
RUSH’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Perform with Dave Grohl, Chad Smith, and Danny Carey at Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show: Watch
The second of two tribute concerts in honor of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins took place Tuesday night (September 27th) in Los Angeles. Among the gargantuan 53-song setlist were three RUSH songs performed by original members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson and a cast of all-star drummers. Lee and Lifeson were first joined by Dave Grohl for “2112 Part I: Overture,” the first movement of the 1976 prog-rock epic. The trio nailed the difficult stop-and-start rhythms, with Grohl pounding away at the floor tom and eying Geddy for cues. Grohl then handed over the sticks to Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who has become somewhat of a journeyman, playing on Ozzy Osbourne’s recent albums in addition to his full-time work with a very active RHCP. Here, he settled into the pocket for “W...
Devin Townsend Shares Video for Mellow New Song “Call of the Void”: Stream
Devin Townsend has shared “Call of the Void,” the second single from this forthcoming new album, Lightwork, arriving October 28th. Considering Townsend’s prog metal background and the new song’s eerie title, “Call of the Void” is a surprisingly mellow six-minute journey. The lush guitars and calming instrumentation follow the laid back tone of lead single “Moonpeople,” as the singer-guitarist dials back the more adventurous prog elements found on his previous albums. “The concept of the song is based around the ‘call of the void’ as an analogy for intrusive thoughts,” Devin explained in a press release. “I first heard the term describing ‘the temptation to hurl yourself over the cliff when you’re driving a car’… or to ‘put your hand in the fire when you know you’ll get burned’ etc… thought...
The Mars Volta Return with Self-Titled Comeback Album: Stream
The Mars Volta are back with their new self-titled album, which marks the band’s first full-length in 10 years. Listen to the project below via Bandcamp. Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López departed The Mars Volta after releasing 2012’s Noctourniquet before returning this year with the singles “Blacklight Shine” and “Graveyard Love.” Both tracks appear on The Mars Volta, a record that departs from the duo’s original prog rock sound in favor of more electronic melodies; perhaps that’s why the album is self-titled. (Confused about the switch up? Read our guide to The Mars Volta in 10 Songs). Check out the artwork and tracklist for The Mars Volta below, and once you’re doing listening to the record, see if you agree with our review. Advertisement Relat...
Robin Trower and Derek Sherinian on Mastering Their Instruments and Famous Collaborations
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Two legendary artists, prog keyboardist Derek Sherinian and guitarist Robin Trower, join the Kyle Meredith With… podcast for a special two-part episodes. Advertisement Related Video First, Sherinian — recently voted the Greatest Keyboard Player of the 21st Century by MusicRadar — discusses his new album Vortex; working with Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde, and Nuno Bettencourt; and future plans to team back up with frequent collaborator David Coverdale. Then, Trower joins Kyle to talk about No More Worlds to Conquer, an album that at times finds him railing against world leadership and lying p...
The Mars Volta Announce New Self-Titled Album, Share “Vigil”: Stream
After sharing a pair of comeback singles, The Mars Volta are finally ready to release their first proper album in 10 years. Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López have announced a new self-titled album, due out on September 16th via Cloud Hill. In anticipation, a new song called “Vigil” is out now. The Mars Volta released their most recent album Noctourniquet in 2012 before Bixler-Zavala and Rodríguez-López went their separate ways. Earlier this year, the duo returned with the Caribbean-tinged “Blacklight Shine” and the plusing electronic number “Graveyard Love.” Both songs will appear on The Mars Volta, a 14-track LP which will be available on CD, vinyl, and cassette. Pre-orders are available now. On latest single “Vigil,” the El Paso band once again switches up their sou...
R.I.P. Massimo Morante, Goblin Co-Founder Dead at 69
Massimo Morante, the Italian guitarist and co-founder of the band Goblin, has died. He was 69 years old. The musician’s passing was confirmed by his bandmates, who shared a post on their official Facebook page reading, “Goblin announce with a heavy heart and in total disbelief the passing of founder and guitar master Massimo Morante.” On her own Facebook page, Morante’s daughter Valerie added, “It is with indescribable pain, a pain that trumps words, that breaks the breath and hammer the heart, that I announce the death of my father, Massimo Morante.” Advertisement Related Video Morante and his co-founder, keyboardist Claudio Simonetti, launched the Italian prog rock band as Cherry Five in 1973, eventually recruiting bassist Fabio Pignatelli, vocalist Tony Tartarini, and drummer Carlo Bord...
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Attend Primus’ Rush Tribute Show in Toronto: “They Did Us Proud”
Primus had a couple of potentially intimidating fans on Friday (May 14th) at Toronto’s Massey Hall, where Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were in attendance. After all, Primus are paying tribute to Rush during this tour, but it appears they didn’t disappoint the prog-rock legends. Primus have been playing Rush’s A Farewell to Kings in its entirety, along with select Primus cuts, on the ongoing tribute run. When the route passed through Rush’s native Canada, it only made sense for Lee and Lifeson to drop by and check it out (Lee had previously given Primus’ Les Claypool some in-person tips prior to the tour). “On Friday night we had the joyful experience of reuniting with our grand pals from Primus… Les, Ler, Herb and their gang…” wrote Lee on Instagram. “We sat side stage as they i...
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Releases Debut Solo EP Portals: Stream
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has released the Portals EP — his debut solo release. He also unveiled the video for the song “High Plains Drifter.” The instrumental four-song offering marks the first time a core member of Metallica has pursued a solo project while remaining in the band. Hammett recently told Rolling Stone that he was “shocked” he got the band’s blessing to release the EP, alluding to the conflict that partially led to the exit of former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted. Hammett even worked with personnel close to the Metallica camp, including Edwin Outwater — the conductor of the S&M2 concerts — and veteran producer Bob Rock. That said, the music on Portals is a far cry from the thrash metal of Hammett’s full-time gig. Advertisement Related Video As we remar...
Kirk Hammett on Discovering Prog Rock and Having the First Metallica Solo Release
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Metallica’s Kirk Hammett gives Kyle Meredith a call to talk about his debut solo EP, Portals, and how it was birthed from his horror movie exhibition and when Metallica did S&M 2. Related Video The guitarist tells us about just discovering prog rock bands like Genesis, Yes, and Jethro Tull, as well as not being much of a fan of The Beatles. He also talks about what it means to have his EP be the first Metallica solo release, and the possibility of eventually playing these songs live. Advertisement Hammett also discusses if he would do a guest-packed solo album in the vein of Tom Morello’s recent releases, future pl...
