Andy Sneap says that filling in on guitar for an ailing Glenn Tipton on JUDAS PRIEST's current tour has been "a great experience." Taking his first professional steps into the world of metal during his teen years, the U.K.-based Sneap has spent decades as one of the most respected musicians and music producers in heavy ...
Posted in: News
British heavy metal legends SAXON have released the official music video for the song "Predator". The track, which is taken from the band's latest album, "Thunderbolt", features a guest appearance by AMON AMARTH frontman Johan Hegg. SAXON singer Biff Byford commented: "Great fun doing the new video for 'Predator'. Big thanks to Johan for doing ...
Posted in: News
SAXON's first live album, "The Eagle Has Landed", will be reissued on October 19. The album features bonus tracks recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon in 1981-1982. SAXON, over the decades has gone from being a pioneer of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal to one of the most successful U.K. rock acts of all ...
Posted in: News
Iconic Bay Area rockers Y&T have pulled out of SAXON's upcoming European tour due to frontman Dave Meniketti's back injury. The guitarist/vocalist is adhering to his doctor's advice and giving himself the necessary time to heal and recover. Says Dave: "It is with great disappointment that I announce Y&T's decision to withdraw from SAXON's upcoming ...
Posted in: News
TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick spoke to "The Rock Writer's Ramble" about SLAYER's decision to call it quits after completing one last world tour. Asked if he gets the impression that bassist/vocalist Tom Araya "is more than willing to get off the SLAYER train at this point," Skolnick responded (hear audio below): "I think so. I ...
Posted in: News
During a recent appearance on the "Appetite For Distortion" podcast, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner spoke about the overwhelmingly positive response to the band's latest album, "Firepower". "It's always a thrill when the music that you create connects with the fans, and you see there's a lot of positivity with the record — it seems ...
Posted in: News
During a recent interview with Metal Wani, TESTAMENT and METAL ALLEGIANCE guitarist Alex Skolnick was asked if he was "confident or concerned" about the future of music when it comes to the artists' ability to survive. He responded (hear audio below): "It's very unpredictable. The whole industry was built… first it was built on records ...
Posted in: News
SAXON frontman Biff Byford has told Spain's TNT Radio Rock that he is pleased with the response to the band's latest album, "Thunderbolt". "The record is still selling good — really good," he said (see video below). "We have a new version coming out in September with some live tracks on there. So, ...
Posted in: News
TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy spoke to "Talking Metal" about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to 2016's "Brotherhood Of The Snake" album. "There's no lyrics, but I'm sure Eric's [Peterson, guitar] got riffs going, and so does Alex [Skolnick, guitar]," he said (hear audio below). "After the SLAYER tour, we're not taking ...
Posted in: News
German symphonic metal/power metal band BEYOND THE BLACK will release its new album, "Heart Of The Hurricane", on August 31 via Napalm Records (GSA via Airforce1). The official music video for the song "Million Lightyears", taken from "Heart Of The Hurricane", can be seen below. BEYOND THE BLACK's debut album, "Songs Of Love And Death" ...
Posted in: News
British heavy metal legends SAXON will release a special tour edition of their latest album, "Thunderbolt", on September 7. The disc is available for pre-order here. The special tour edition features live recordings of "Thunderbolt" and "Nosferatu (The Vampire's Waltz)" recorded in Frankfurt and Los Angeles on the 2018 "Thunderbolt" world tour. The ...
Posted in: News
The day before METALLICA was honored with the prestigious Polar Music Prize on June 14 in Stockholm, Sweden, the band's drummer, Lars Ulrich, was interviewed by music journalist Jan Gradvall. During the hour-long chat, which can be seen below, Ulrich spoke about METALLICA's beginnings back in the early 1980s, their musical influences and long and ...
Posted in: News
Dawn Osborne of TotalRock Radio recently conducted an interview with German metal queen Doro Pesch. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On her upcoming double album, "Forever Warriors, Forever United": Doro: "It has 25 songs on it. I think it came out really good. And the ...
Posted in: News
Dee Snider has defended Jay Jay French after the TWISTED SISTER guitarist was slammed by fans and fellow musicians for criticizing other bands for continuing to perform well past their prime. As this past April's Spooky Empire convention in Orlando, Florida, Jay Jay said that the members of SAXON are "80 fucking years ...
Posted in: News
SAXON vocalist Biff Byford spoke to Finland's Kaaos TV about the progress of the songwriting sessions for his upcoming solo album. He said (see video below): "I'm writing with a few friends… We're just writing songs at the moment. I'm writing a song with Fredrik [Åkesson] from OPETH, the guitarist, and a few ...
Posted in: News
British heavy metal legends SAXON have released the official music video for the song "The Secret Of Flight". According to Classic Rock magazine, the track, which appears on the band's latest album, "Thunderbolt", retells the story of flight via the medium of heavy metal thunder, taking in all points from Icarus's disastrous approach ...
Posted in: News
Jave of Kilpop conducted an interview with SAXON drummer Nigel Glockler at last month's Las Rageous festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can now watch the chat below. Asked how the music business has changed in the four decades since SAXON was formed, Nigel said: "In some ways, it's better; in other ways, ...
Posted in: News
SAXON frontman Biff Byford has revealed in a new interview with Rock Hard magazine that he is planning to go to Sweden "in a few weeks" to write and record some demos for his upcoming solo album "with some friends up there." He added that he has "a few" songtitles for the disc, which he ...
Posted in: News
BMG will reissue three classic albums from British heavy metal legends SAXON on May 25: "Denim And Leather", "Power & The Glory" and "Crusader". SAXON, over the decades, has gone from being pioneers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal to becoming one of the most successful U.K. rock acts of all time. The ...
Posted in: News
Sharon Osbourne was forced to miss her husband's concert in Mexico over the weekend after she forgot her passport. Sharon and Ozzy flew to Mexico City on a private jet on Friday, but she did not realize her passport was at home until they touched down over the border. Taking to Instagram, Sharon uploaded a ...
Posted in: News
Sofa King Cool recently conducted an interview with frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metal legends ANVIL. You can watch the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On when ANVIL would possibly retire: Lips: "When they take me away on a gurney. You don't retire. You don't retire from this business. ...
Posted in: News
SAXON frontman Biff Byford has dismissed Jay Jay French as "a silly little man" after the TWISTED SISTER guitarist criticized other bands for continuing to perform well past their prime. As last month's Spooky Empire convention in Orlando, Florida, Jay Jay said that the members of SAXON are "80 fucking years old" and ...
Posted in: News
British rockers PRAYING MANTIS will release their 11th studio album, "Gravity", on May 11 via Frontiers Music Srl. The official music video for the disc's opening track, "Keep It Alive", can be seen below. "Gravity" track listing: 01. Keep It Alive 02. Mantis Anthem 03. Time Can Heal 04. 39 Years 05. Gravity 06. Ghosts ...
Posted in: News
TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French took part in a question-and-answer session at this month's Spooky Empire convention in Orlando, Florida. You can now watch the discussion below. Speaking about bands which have continued performing well past their prime, French said: "[JUDAS] PRIEST is 65 years, 70 years old, SAXON's 80 fucking years old. THE ...
Posted in: News
Prior to SAXON's April 13 performance alongside JUDAS PRIEST in Salt Lake City, Utah, guitarist Doug Scarratt was interviewed by Yargmetal. The full conversation can be viewed below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On getting the call to join the band in 1995: Doug: "[Nigel Glockler, drummer] called me out of the ...
Posted in: News
British rockers PRAYING MANTIS will release their 11th studio album, "Gravity", on May 11 via Frontiers Music Srl. The disc's opening track, "Keep It Alive", can now be streamed below. "Gravity" track listing: 01. Keep It Alive 02. Mantis Anthem 03. Time Can Heal 04. 39 Years 05. Gravity 06. Ghosts Of The Past 07. ...
Posted in: News
SAXON frontman Biff Byford was recently interviewed by Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below. Asked what has been the key to SAXON's success, Biff said: "I think just keep releasing great albums, really — trying to make the music that you write as ...
Posted in: News
SAXON frontman Biff Byford has confirmed in a new interview with "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" that he is continuing to work on material for his upcoming solo album. Asked how the record will be different from the music he has released with the legendary British heavy metal band, Biff said (hear audio below): "I ...
Posted in: News
Tony Heare of Midlands Metalheads Radio's "The Breakfast Show" conducted an interview with frontman Biff Byford of British metal legends SAXON during a recent stop on their European tour with DIAMOND HEAD and ROCK GODDESS. You can listen to the entire chat via the SoundCloud widget below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On ...
Posted in: News
Kaaos TV conducted an interview with vocalist Ronnie Atkins of Danish hard rockers PRETTY MAIDS prior to the band's March 8 performance in Helsinki. The full conversation can be viewed below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): On how the veteran group chooses its live set list: Ronnie: "It's difficult. When ...
Posted in: News
