The first video of Vinnie Paul Abbott's grave marker next to that of his brother, PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, can be seen below (courtesy of Tom Bachonski). Vinnie Paul's grave marker was officially installed on May 24. That same day, two pictures of the gravesite were released via PANTERA's social media, along with the ...
Posted in: News
Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman recently spoke with Sam Ash Music. The full conversation can be streamed below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On whether he practices: Marty: "I've never considered anything that I've done practicing. I was never one of those wood-shedding in a bedroom with a metronome type. [I've] always ...
Posted in: News
Ace Frehley recently spoke to the Tulsa World about the general perception that he was the "coolest" member of KISS. "If you look at polls on the Internet, I was voted the most liked member of the band, so I don't know," he said. "If you believe polls on the Internet, I guess ...
Posted in: News
Paul Stanley says that fans shouldn't lose any sleep over the feud between his fellow KISS co-founders Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley. "I think that whatever ill will or anger there is usually dissipates over time," Stanley told Fox News Digital earlier this month (see video below). "Hopefully it will. The difference between us and ...
Posted in: News
Ace Frehley says that while he has still not been approached to be a part of KISS's recently launched "End Of The Road" world tour, he is not ruling out being involved in some capacity. "I think it's a sad commentary that KISS performed in New York [in late March] and didn't sell out Madison ...
Posted in: News
Founding KISS guitarist and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Ace Frehley has released the music video for "Mission To Mars". The clip is entirely animated by artist Christopher Fequiere, a first for Frehley. Chock full of KISS fandom easter eggs, this video is the second music video that we've seen from Ace's critically ...
Posted in: News
K.K. Downing says that he feels "aggrieved" at the way he has been treated by JUDAS PRIEST since his exit from the band nearly a decade ago. The guitarist, who announced his retirement from PRIEST in April 2011 after nearly 42 years in the job, was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior. ...
Posted in: News
German "metal queen" Doro Pesch (DORO, WARLOCK) recently spoke with Sally Steele of Vegas Rocks! Magazine. The full conversation can be seen below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On the early years of her career: Doro: "We were just doing what we loved. Back then, I felt I was one of the ...
Posted in: News
Earlier today (Friday, May 24), Vinnie Paul Abbott's grave marker was officially installed next to that of his brother, PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. Two pictures of the gravesite were released via PANTERA's social media, along with the message: "We ask that you please be respectful when visiting the brothers' graves." A message engraved on ...
Posted in: News
A couple of photos of Vinnie Paul Abbott's soon-to-be-installed grave marker can be found below. The PANTERA Facebook page released a full picture of the marker after a couple of "unauthorized" photos were posted online without the permission of Vinnie Paul's estate. "There is a lot of bad info floating around about Vinnie Paul's grave ...
Posted in: News
Former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent's performance at the "Speedballjamm", which was scheduled to take place next month at the S.I.R. Soundstage in Nashville, Tennessee, is no longer being advertised on his web site. The "Appearances" section of VinnieVincent.com contains no mention of the June 7 event, but includes the following message: "Come see ...
Posted in: News
KISS frontman Paul Stanley was recently interviewed by "Roo & Ditts" of Australia's Triple M Adelaide radio station. You can now listen to the chat below. Asked if he is sad to see KISS retiring after doing one final world tour, Stanley said: "When people use terms like 'bittersweet,' I have to say it's only ...
Posted in: News
Gene Simmons made a surprise appearance in the press briefing room at the Pentagon earlier today (Thursday, May 16). The KISS bassist/vocalist thanked American troops for their service and became emotional discussing his mother's experience surviving a concentration camp. Later in the day, Simmons and his wife, Shannon Tweed Simmons, were seen entering the White ...
Posted in: News
According to Billboard, the first North American leg of KISS's "End Of The Road" tour grossed $58.7 million and sold 518,395 tickets. The trek kicked off on January 31 in Vancouver and played an additional 42 shows throughout the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up on April 13 in Birmingham, Alabama All but ...
Posted in: News
AVANTASIA vocalist Tobias Sammet recently spoke with writer Clay Marshall in conjunction with an OC Weekly story about the group's upcoming performance in Anaheim, California. Some select "outtakes" follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On AVANTASIA's new album "Moonglow": Tobias: "It's not trendy. It's not flavor of the week, but it's put together with a lot ...
Posted in: News
WHITESNAKE and WINGER guitarist Reb Beach says that he has "no problems" with certain rock and pop artists relying on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. In recent years, more and more bands have been given a pass for using backing tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also ...
Posted in: News
In a brand new interview with 77 WABC Radio's "Bernie & Sid In The Morning", KISS frontman Paul Stanley was asked about the inspiration for the band's anthem "Rock And Roll All Nite", which originally appeared on the 1975 album "Dressed To Kill". Addressing the fact that most people assume that "partying" includes a certain ...
Posted in: News
Carsten Smolinsky of Germany's Bleeding4metal.de recently conducted an e-mail interview with former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing. The original English-language version of the chat appears here in its entirety. Bleeding4metal.de: Hello, Mr. Downing, thank you very much for taking the time for an interview! I really enjoyed reading "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights ...
Posted in: News
TESTAMENT has entered the studio with Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS) to begin pre-production on the follow-up to 2016's "Brotherhood Of The Snake" album. Guitarist Eric Peterson confirmed the band was putting the finishing touches on its new music, writing on Instagram: "It's official! We're in the studio doing pre-production for new record. I think ...
Posted in: News
An apparent technical mishap during KISS's concert in Mexico forced Paul Stanley to abandon one of his trademark stunts. At every show on the band's ongoing "End Of The Road" tour, the guitarist/vocalist has been flying fly along a zip-line above the crowd during "Love Gun". On Friday (May 3), as KISS performed at the ...
Posted in: News
Paul Stanley says that he still believes KISS can carry on without any original members. Earlier this month, the legendary rockers completed the first leg of their second farewell tour, dubbed "End Of The Road", which could last three years. Joining founding members Stanley and Gene Simmons in the band's current lineup are Tommy Thayer ...
Posted in: News
Paul Stanley addresses his relationships with his fellow KISS co-founders Peter Criss and Ace Frehley in his new book, "Backstage Pass". While the KISS frontman writes that it is "nice" to have Frehley "back in a larger capacity in my life" due to the "shared magic" of their history, he says that he has no ...
Posted in: News
SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian's cover version of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's classic "Godzilla" can be heard below. The song will appear on the upcoming soundtrack album for "Godzilla: King Of The Monsters". According to Rolling Stone, the members of DETHKLOK, from the show "Metalocalypse", including Brendon Small and TESTAMENT drummer Gene ...
Posted in: News
According to The Blast, the woman who accused Gene Simmons of groping her during the opening of his family restaurant chain wants the case dismissed. The woman — who sued the KISS bassist/vocalist under the name Jane Doe — filed a request for dismissal Wednesday in Los Angeles. The case was originally filed ...
Posted in: News
TESTAMENT is "almost ready" to enter the studio to begin recording the follow-up to 2016's "Brotherhood Of The Snake" album. Guitarist Eric Peterson posted an update on the new disc's songwriting sessions Tuesday night, sharing a photo of him with fellow TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick, along with the following caption: "Great last couple of days ...
Posted in: News
RON KEEL BAND's video for the title track of its new album, "Fight Like A Band", can be seen below. The disc hit stores March 1 via EMP Label Group's EMP Outlaw imprint. The collection features 11 brand-new songs and fresh recordings of KEEL classics. "This album is really about the struggle to survive and ...
Posted in: News
In a brand new interview with AXS TV's "The Big Interview", Paul Stanley spoke about his continued partnership with fellow KISS co-founder Gene Simmons — this despite their seeming like extremely different types of people. Asked how they've managed to keep working with each other for so long, Stanley responded (see video below): "A great ...
Posted in: News
Vinnie Vincent says that he got a "cold reception" when he joined his former bandmate Gene Simmons a year ago at the KISS bassist/vocalist's "Vault" event in Nashville, Tennessee. The ex-KISS guitarist, who famously filed multiple lawsuits against his former bandmates, alleging unpaid songwriting royalties, spoke about the experience of seeing Simmons again during a ...
Posted in: News
Fan-filmed video footage of KISS's April 11 concert at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida can be seen below. The first North American leg of KISS's farewell tour, "End Of The Road", launched January 31 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at Rogers Arena and is hitting an additional 43 cities. KISS frontman Paul Stanley recently said ...
Posted in: News
Former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent has announced that he will perform at the "Speedballjamm" on Friday, June 7 at the S.I.R. Soundstage in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 60 VIP tickets are available for the event, which will see Vincent backed by his handpicked musicians, Mike Weeks and Chuck White. Each $300.00 VIP ticket will include the ...
Posted in: News
