Guns N’ Roses

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Recap and photos from Metal Mike Koreski in Portland, Oregon (2/8/22)

The stage was set for the latest tour of Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, and what transpired over the next two hours for opening night was fantastic.

Over the last 12-14 years, Slash has put together his own brand with a band and several recorded albums, which still gets worked on while he’s been on tour with G-N-R the past 4-5 years.

The opener was the first single from the previous album (Living the Dream) called “Driving Rain”. The setlist was a great sampling of his work with the Conspirators including 3 from the brand new album “4”, which were basically recorded live as a band, no multi-tracking or layered guitars or vocals. These songs really show the talent the group has because there are zero studio tricks on these songs and the band plays them as if they’ve been in the setlist since day one.

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators 2-8-22 Portland OR

There were some surprises as well. Lead vocalist Myles Kennedy took a song off two different times during the evening, leaving the lead vocal duties to bassist Todd Kerns. One of the songs was a fun cover of Lenny Kravitz “Always On the Run” which Slash played guitar on when recorded in the early 00’s. Kerns is the secret weapon of the band with some amazing background vocals, which wouldn’t be easy harmonizing with Kennedy yet Kerns does a fabulous job with spot on harmonies, as well as first rate stage energy. To me, Kerns is “The Secret Weapon”.

A couple of interesting highlights of the night were an exceptional version of Elton Johns “Rocket Man”, which their version is from a movie, but didn’t make the soundtrack due to Covid complications. Kennedy really shined on this track, delivering a very understated but meaningful performance.

A great blues groove turned rocker tune called “Back To Cali” also highlighted the night for me, with Kerns background vocals standing out the most (this song was the first one Slash and Kennedy worked on together pre-Conspirator era).

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The musicianship from the whole band was superb, with Slash leading the way with everything from understated songs to all out shred fests!!! Slash’s tone was perfect the whole night, a true professional at work!

Another wonderful thing happened during this show. For the first time in a long time there were NO SHENANIGANS at the concert! No mosh pits, no crowd surfing, no fighting in the crowd, no overly drunk “fans”. It felt like the crowd was all unified with the same purpose: to rock and roll with an A+ band.

If you get a chance see this band live. At the end of the night you will be impressed and then some! -Metal Mike

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Count me as an 80’s metal fan that wasn’t overly excited about a Guns N’ Roses reunion tour when it was announced on April 1st of this year (it could have been a joke anyway, right?). Sure, we heard Axl and Slash were talking and supposedly had buried the hatchet, but I had images of a fat Axl and a reluctant Slash getting along just long enough for a major money haul.
 
The latter may still be true and if it wasn’t for my 17 year old son really wanting to see his new favorite band, I am not sure I would have gone. But after seeing the mostly original GnR lineup (Axl, Slash, Duff) perform in Seattle on Friday, August 12, 2016, I can say I came away impressed with the peformance and I am glad I went.

Guns N' Roses Seattle Washington 8-12-16

As expected, there was wait at the t-shirt line, but it went fairly fast compared to other shows we have attended this year. While waiting, we could hear ‘The Pink Slips’, an up and coming synth-pop/punk band, fronted by 18 year old GRAVE (aka, Grace McKagan; daughter of Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan) playing their opening set. As we made it to our seats, they were followed by one of my personal favorite non-80’s metal bands, Seattle’s own, Alice In Chains, who played a fantastic set, but started so early (7:20pm), most fans had not arrived yet, and as a result, their performance lacked some of the energy you would expect from an AIC show.

 

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The stage was turned for the headliners and anticipation started to set in for real on a warm evening in the Emerald City (about 83 degrees at showtime) when the giant video display began showing various GnR logos as twilight set in.

 

The reunited Guns N’ Roses looked and sounded great… Axl was fit, Slash is one helluva guitar player and Duff pandered to the Seattle crowd by wearing a Seahawks shirt. They opened with ‘It’s So Easy’ and ‘Mr. Brownstone’, before performing ‘Chinese Democracy’ and then whipping the crowd into a frenzy with ‘Welcome to the Jungle’.

 

It was a great energetic opening and then the setlist got a little erratic with ‘Double Talkin’ Jive’, ‘Estranged’, ‘Live and Let Die’, and ‘Rocket Queen’. All great songs, but so slow after those first four. Okay I’m being a little picky 🙂 ‘You Could Be Mine’ got the crowd going again, followed by a cover of the Misfits ‘Attitude’. Then came ‘This I Love’, ‘Civil War (with “Voodoo Child” outro)’, Coma, and a long but killer guitar solo from Slash playing the ‘Love Theme from the Godfather’ before launching into ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’.

 

The Guns N’ Roses catalog is loaded with some of my favorites of all time, but I was also reminded how many ballads they released. They performed ‘November Rain’ that included a piano intro and exit of Eric Clapton’s ‘Layla’ back to back with ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’.

 

They finished the main set with ‘Nightrain’, before returning for encores that included ‘Don’t Cry’ and ‘Paradise City’, complete with great fireworks show that could only be done at an outdoors arena.

 

The Guns N’ Roses North American ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour ends August 22nd in San Diego, California after two nights at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. METAL SHOP’s Ralph Cartel attended the 8/18 show, where he noted “the last time I saw the original Guns N’ Roses was back in 1988 when they opened up for the Rolling Stones at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. I vaguely remember Axl Rose talking shit… saying that if some members of the band didn’t stop dancing with Mr. Brownstone, that the band would break up.”
 
Axl, Slash and Duff last played together with the original band on the ‘Use Your Illusion tour’ that ended in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 17, 1993. There was no public affection between the three of them at the Seattle show, in fact, there was not much banter at all. Axl is still aloof, but his voice is in fine shape and seeing these great musicians together one more time made for a great memory.

 

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Launching a new month and Spring Break for me starts now, but the 80’s metal rolls on 24/7 on METAL SHOP.
 
Here’s a 2-minute readup on this mostly Fool-free Friday, April 1st.
 
There is nothing to contradict the earlier reports of Axl Rose guest singing for AC/DC on the remaining 10 scheduled tour dates, so we are accepting it as fact. This article lays out the evidence quite nicely.
 
For Axl’s other band, all signs point to a sneak-peek GUNS N’ ROSES warm-up show tonight at a Los Angeles club. The exact location is also unconfirmed, though several sources point to the Troubadour. This will be the first time Axl appears on stage with both Slash and Duff McKagan since 1993.
 
History tells us David Lee Roth quit VAN HALEN on April 1, 1985, but history is wrong. Roth left the band in 1985 and the idea of him springing this news on April Fools’ Day makes for a great story, but the truth is Eddie delivered the bad news in the pages of Rolling Stone in August, “The band as you know it is over,” he said. “Dave left to be a movie star. He even had the balls to ask if I’d write the score for him.” Eddie then made clear that he’d moved on. “I’m looking for a new lead singer … it’s weird that it’s over. Twelve years of my life putting up with his bulls–.”
 
AC/DC Guitarist Angus Young celebrated his 61st birthday yesterday (3/31). Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach turns 48 on Sunday (4/3).
 
Of course it’s “All Fools’ Day,” an Elizabethan smart-mouthed play on “All Saints’ Day” and if you’re a fool for classic metal, you may have bought this headline today, ‘Metallica to stage Master Of Puppets… on ice!’ courtesy of teamrock.com… hopefully only for a second. This April Fool’s prank was definitely better the headline posted on Loudwire ‘James Hetfield Quits Metallica to Join the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’
 
That’s a wrap. Updates during my Spring Vacation will have to come between beers, but rest assured, I’m on top of it 🙂 Upon my return, the IRON MAIDEN tour will be in my neighborhood… can’t wait! In the meantime, I’m enjoying this great footage from Wednesday night’s New York City stop – Click Here
 
Rock on kids!
 
Metallica On Ice Teamrock.com
 

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Welcome to WTF Thursday. Rumors persist that Axl Rose will perform with AC/DC as a guest vocalist for their 10 remaining shows, but this sounds like a done deal with Malcolm Young’s son claiming ‘It’s True.’ Another source says Brian Johnson was “supposed to retire after the last tour.” Official word should be coming any day or minute now.
 
40 years ago this summer, KISS’ Gene Simmons discovered VAN HALEN and recorded several demos with them, including Eddie and Alex playing KISS’ “Christine Sixteen.” Those recordings have never seen the light of day. Simmons says “It’s a lot of cool stuff, but the band just doesn’t want it to come out — you know, the back and forth with [David Lee] Roth complicated matters.” While there is no official release, you can hear the demos online at this location – http://www.vhnd.com/2016/03/22/gene-simmons-talks-lost-seventies-van-halen-demos/
 
METALLICA’s “Master Of Puppets” is among the albums that have been selected for induction into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, which annually selects 25 recordings that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old. The selections for the 2015 registry bring the total number of recordings on the registry to 450, only a minuscule portion of the Library’s vast recorded-sound collection of more than 3 million items.
 
On considering the possible end of IRON MAIDEN when Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed with cancer, bassist Steve Harris said “At this stage of our career, I really don’t think we would have looked to another singer. We didn’t even consider it. There’s no point. We can’t really replace Bruce anyway, so we wouldn’t try at this stage in our career. I don’t think so. But, thank God we didn’t need to and he’s fine.” Harris went on to say “If Maiden ended tomorrow, it’s been amazing and I can live with that.”
 
This sounds like an Onion article, but this headline was seen on a metal website yesterday – “MÖTLEY CRÜE Reunites As ‘Motley Crew’ To Avoid Retirement Contract”
 
Today in 1979, MOTÖRHEAD paved the way for thrash with their second album ‘Overkill’
 
Happy Birthday to Exodus singer Steve Souza. He turns 52 today.
 
The 80’s metal runs loud and proud on METAL SHOP 24/7. Thanks for listening!
 
AC/DC Axl Rose Brian Johnson Replacement
 

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No more Mr. Nice Guy dogs. It’s coming down fast and it’s coming down hard. Thanks for listening to METAL SHOP.
 
The major metal news outlets have not confirmed, but this site posted yesterday that a ‘source close to AC/DC confirms singer Brian Johnson was fired.’ Comedian Jim Breuer feels ‘really bad’ about invading AC/DC’s privacy last week when he said Brian Johnson was “kicked to the curb” by the band, but the report from United Media Publishing claims “everything Mr. Breuer originally said is basically the truth, in a roundabout way.”
 
The informant, speaking out only under the condition of anonymity, says it’s his loyalty to Brian Johnson as to why he’s risking his job by speaking out. He says Brian is a “fab guy and has been treated like shit. He does have hearing issues but not as serious as they’re saying. This was just an excuse to fire the guy, basically.” The insider also denied claims that KROKUS singer Marc Storace was contacted by the band’s record label to possibly replace Johnson.
 
The source said lead guitarist (and sole remaining original member) Angus Young has narrowed the search down to two or three guys, all relative unknowns outside of their respective countries, putting to rest rumors of a possible mashup of classic rock royalty. “They’re not well known names. The band never considered any big name vocalists to replace Brian. I think they wanted to find a fresh new talent. The plan is to decide on the singer within the next couple of weeks, maybe sooner, reschedule the tour and get back out on the road as if nothing’s happened.”
 
METALLICA released audio of ‘The Four Horseman’ from the remastered edition of ‘Kill ‘Em All,’ coming out April 15th. The quality is excellent, but probably too clean. Maybe new fans will appreciate this, but I still get most excited hearing the energy and raw sound of the original that got me hooked in the first place. Have a listen – Click Here.
 
After a major runway accident in Chile, IRON MAIDEN’s Ed Force One has been repaired and will rejoin the tour today in Brasilia. While Maiden had continued touring South America without it, it’s good news if you hoped to get a glimpse of the plane when they come to your town.
 
Maiden’s third album and first with singer Bruce Dickinson, “The Number of the Beast,” was released today in 1982. The album cover was originally created for the song “Purgatory”, but was deemed too high a calibre of artwork for a single release and it was saved for The Number of the Beast album instead. The original 1982 artwork includes a blue sky in the background; this was a mistake by the printers of the album cover, and was later rectified and became black when the album was remastered for compact disc in 1998.
 
ANTHRAX released their big breakthrough album “Among the Living” today in 1987. It features the singles, “I Am the Law” and “Indians” and was dedicated to the memory of METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton.
 
SCORPIONS were forced to cut short their concert in Hamburg last night because of a “viral infection” affecting the voice of the band’s lead singer, Klaus Meine. The band reportedly performed for about thirty minutes before calling off the rest of the gig. It is not clear if Meine will be well enough to take part in the next performance scheduled for Wednesday in Leipzig.
 
An official announcement is expected today, but there is speculation that former GUNS N’ ROSES drummer Steven Adler will join the big reunion. Stay tuned.
 
Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast Blue Black Sky
 

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We lost some hair along the way, gained a couple of pounds, got no retirement plans because we didn’t plan on living this long, but we can still rock hard and if you look at it sideways we can still kick your ass like it ain’t no thing, so let’s toast the weekend about to start.
 
Happy Birthday to BLACK SABBATH Guitarist Tony Iommi. He turns 68 today. Did you know Iommi briefly played in Jethro Tull? Yes, for one performance, before returning to his bandmates (Ozzy, Geezer and Ward), who were known as ‘Earth’ back then before changing their name to Black Sabbath. Sabbath’s “The End” tour stops in Detroit, Michigan tonight.
 
I just don’t think TWISTED SISTER’s Dee Snider can help himself. Right or wrong, he doesn’t beat around the bush, this time saying he doesn’t ‘get’ how ‘murderer’ Vince Neil ‘didn’t do any serious jail time’ when his drunk-driving car crash killed HANOI ROCKS drummer Razzle in 1984. Snider continued: “And people are cool with that. They’re like, ‘Yeah, all right! Rock ‘n’ roll!!’ And the guy didn’t do any serious jail time. I’m, like, ‘Really? Really? He’s a murderer.’ I don’t get that at all.”
 
Vivian Campbell was asked if he and Ronnie James DIO ever got to mend fences prior to the singer’s 2010 death. He responded: “No. I never got to talk to Ronnie again afterwards, unfortunately. Actually, we only talked to each other through the press, which is never, ever, ever a good idea. We were both guilty of saying really stupid and hurtful things. I’d like to think that we would have made up. I think if Ronnie and I had bumped into each other on the street, I think after a couple of minutes, we might have agreed to go to the pub for a pint and we could have probably worked things out.”
 
From one split-up to another, Sammy Hagar explained yesterday that he reached out to Eddie Van Halen on Twitter last month on Eddie’s birthday because of the recent deaths of David Bowie and Glenn Frey, saying “It just makes you stop and think that, you know, with my relationship with Eddie Van Halen and stuff that’s always been in the toilet, it makes you say, ‘I don’t want to be buried with any regrets or bad vibes like that.’ It makes you want to be just friends with everybody and say, ‘Hey, look, forget it.’ Even if you don’t want to be in a band together, just let’s be friends. No more enemies for me. You don’t want to go to your grave with enemies. So that’s what it’s done for me. It woke me up and said, ‘no more enemies.’ And before I die, I won’t have any, if I have my way.”
 
Speaking of Sammy Hagar, it was yesterday in 1977 when he was booed off the stage while opening for KISS. Hagar responded to the crowd with “F— you,” and then proceeded to drop his pants and pull out his wang before smashing his ’61 Stratocaster guitar to pieces and walking offstage. Check out the whole story – Click Here
 
On this date in 1980, AC/DC singer Bon Scott died after a night of heavy drinking. Left to sleep it off in a friend’s car, he was found dead in the car the next morning. The official coroner’s report labeled his demise as “death by misadventure” and “acute alcohol poisoning. He was 33 years old. R.I.P.
 
Today in 1982, Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in San Antonio, Texas for urinating on the Alamo. He was wearing a dress at the time of his arrest (his wife Sharon had hid all his clothes so he couldn’t go outside). Ozzy apparently thought he was relieving himself on a pile of rubble and was subsequently banned from ever playing in San Antonio, Texas again, (the ban was lifted in 1992).
 
On this date in 1992, GUNS N’ ROSES played the first of three nights at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan as part of the ‘Use Your Illusion’ Tour and today in 1995, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee married Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson, who was wearing a white bikini, on a beach in Cancun, Mexico. They married only four days after meeting and had videotaped their sexual activities while on vacation, which was later stolen and released on the Internet. The couple divorced in 1998.
 
Tomorrow (Feb. 20, 2003), marks 13 years since the Station Nightclub Fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island. GREAT WHITE was performing that night, where 99 people died in the fire sparked by pyrotechnics.
 
Former WHITESNAKE and DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich is celebrating a birthday today. He turns 52.
 
Happy Birthday to Jessica McNear listening to METAL SHOP in Tennessee and Siva Prasad listening in India.
 
Don’t forget METAL SHOP is on 24/7…. that means weekends too, so listen on the website, find us on TuneIn, or download the app to listen on your phone. Great thing to have. If you like more Hair in your metal, you can also check out our sister station HAIR BAND RADIO.
 
Black Sabbath Tony Iommi 1978
 

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Well, it’s Tuesday, but there are no bad days when 80’s metal is playing.
 
One great thing about the Internet is not having to sit through entire awards shows on television to watch the one thing you are interested in seeing. I only cared about the tribute to late MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister performed by the Hollywood Vampires (featuring actor Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, AEROSMITH’s Joe Perry and GUNS N’ ROSES Duff McKagan). I loved Alice singing “Ace of Spades.” Check it out while you can at this location – Click Here
 
For some reason, certain metal fans get very upset seeing Justin Bieber wear a METALLICA shirt. He did it again at the Grammys and I am just wondering, why does it even matter? James Hetfield joked about it in his top 10 things of 2015 and it’s possible the band sent JB a care package of shirts, because he’s been rocking different Metallica shirts each time he’s photographed in one. If this bothers you, here’s another take to consider… Today’s artists wearing old metal shirts, regardless of what they perform, promotes the genre to an audience that may never be exposed to it.
 
Happy Birthday to former Slayer Drummer Dave Lombardo. He turns 51 today. Did you know Lombardo created the now iconic Slayer logo? At the age of 16, he met Kerry King, who introduced the drummer to another guitarist named Jeff Hanneman and singer/bass player, Tom Araya to form the original lineup.
 
Original Def Leppard Guitarist Pete Willis (56) is also celebrating a birthday today. Pete was fired during the recording of “Pyromania,” and replaced by guitarist Phil Collen. He co-wrote many tracks on the band’s first three albums… hopefully the royalties he gets from those records takes away some of the sting of missing out on Def Lepp’s meteoric rise to fame following his departure.
 
Just announced today, JUDAS PRIEST is set to unleash a new live CD and DVD titled ‘Battle Cry’ next month from the most recent “Redeemer Of Souls” tour.
 
Lots of Priest will spin on METAL SHOP today and everyday, along with MAIDEN, METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, SCORPIONS, W.A.S.P., SLAYER and more. Thanks for listening.
 
Justin Bieber Wearing Metallica Shirts
 

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Here we go Thursday and the 80’s metal and hard rock is flowing like a frothy cold one 24/7 on METAL SHOP. Hear it with your favorite media player (iTunes, Windows Media, etc.) with this link – http://listen.radionomy.com/metalshop.m3u
 
Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley is releasing a covers album in April that includes a reunion with former Kiss bandmate Paul Stanley, who contributes vocals to a cover of Free‘s 1970 classic “Fire and Water.” This will mark the first time Stanley and Frehley have collaborated since Kiss’ 1998 original lineup “reunion” album Psycho Circus. Ace tells Rolling Stone that “Paul did a fabulous vocal on it … He jumped at the chance to do this because it’s something that’s outside of Kiss and his character in Kiss, and it gave him a chance to, you know, sing. With Paul, you usually think of him singing in a slightly higher register and on ‘Fire and Water,’ he’s singing deep from his diaphragm, and it’s a real cool vocal.”
 
Despite the barbs that were traded between Frehley and Kiss a couple of years ago around the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Frehley insists the two have always been friends: “The press seems to amplify negativity. I guess it makes good copy.” Last summer, Frehley mentioned the possibility of approaching another founding Kiss star, Gene Simmons, to appear on the album, but that doesn’t seem to have happened. Frehley will also be reclaiming a bit of his Kiss legacy with Origins, covering a pair of songs (“Cold Gin,” “Parasite”) that he wrote but didn’t sing due to nervousness about his vocal ability during the band’s early days. Somewhat surprisingly, he also covers the group’s Creatures of the Night song “Rock and Roll Hell.” Despite his face being on the cover, Frehley reportedly did not play on that 1982 Kiss album, and is not officially credited as a songwriter on that track. Other guest stars include Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready, and Lita Ford.
 
Ex-MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman made headlines yesterday when he called METALLICA’s ‘Black’ LP the ‘Single Most Important Album In Metal.’ That statement right there might border on metal blasphemy, but he went on to say the ‘Black’ album was a defining release which helped introduce this brand of music to a whole new audience, saying “the sound of metal could have been long gone, but that album helped metal find its place in the mainstream.” He added: “Metal is not the easiest music to play, and its even more difficult to make sound good. Metallica was able to combine all that was good about metal without compromising who they were. There are some of the best metal songs on that album like ‘Enter Sandman’, and it really opened the door for so many bands.”
 
On this date in 1992, MÖTLEY CRÜE fired their singer Vince Neil when he turned up for rehearsals claiming that he had lost his passion for the band and was now more involved with racing cars.
 
GUNS N’ ROSES has added a second Mexico City show for April 20th and the BLACK SABBATH tour rolls into Southern California tonight with a stop at The Forum in Inglewood. They will be in Vegas on Saturday. Check out the great multi-camera footage from Capital Chaos TV of Sabbath performing the song “Into The Void” on Feb. 9th in San Jose, California.
 

 
Have a good one all and never stop rockin’!
 
KISS Ace Frehley Origins 2016
 

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Welcome to a Wednesday Metal Rats.
 
Just one day after Alice Cooper weighed in on the GUNS N’ ROSES reunion wondering why founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin wasn’t a part of it, there is a rumor he will participate in a limited role. Cooper said yesterday, “I don’t know about drums, but certainly Izzy is viable. You’d think if Slash and Axl are working together — and Duff is one of those guys that gets along with everybody — then at least Izzy would be one of the guys who would be a shoo-in. And maybe he is, I don’t know.”
 
Blabbermouth is reporting that Izzy Stradlin will participate “for sure” in what has been described as a “limited” capacity. Stradlin seems like he will at least perform with the group at its two early April shows in Las Vegas. There was “still discussion” about original drummer Steven Adler participating in the reunion at some level, while the name of his replacement, Matt Sorum, did not come up in the conversation.
 
Happy Posthumous Birthday to METALLICA Bassist Cliff Burton. He would have been 54 today. In his teenage years, Burton had an interest in rock, classical and eventually heavy metal. He began playing the bass at age 13, after the death of his brother. His parents quoted him as saying, “I’m going to be the best bassist for my brother.” He practiced up to six hours per day (even after he joined Metallica). Cliff died in 1986. R.I.P.
 
On this date in 1978, VAN HALEN released their debut album. Eventually, it would become regarded by fans and critics as one of rock and roll’s greatest debut albums. However, its initial critical reception was mostly negative, with one music critic writing, “This music belongs on an aircraft carrier” and a Rolling Stone critic who predicted, “In three years, Van Halen is going to be fat and self-indulgent and disgusting … follow[ing] Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin right into the toilet. In the meantime, they are likely to be a big deal.”
 
In other Van Halen news, former singer Sammy Hagar was asked what he would do if the group called him to come back. He responded, “no comment,” but also said, “We’ll see what happens when it happens — if it happens.” Oh boy.
 
Today in 1978, JUDAS PRIEST released “Stained Class.” It gained notoriety for its dark lyrics and themes, as well as a 1990 civil action trial where the band were accused of backmasking that led to the suicide attempts of two teenagers.
 
Also on this date in 1987, DOKKEN released the single “Dream Warriors,” written by guitarist George Lynch and bassist Jeff Pilson for the movie “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.”
 
Finaly, the heavy metal community was virtually celebrating in the streets on Feb. 10, 1999, when it learned that British legends IRON MAIDEN would be welcoming fan-favored vocalist Bruce Dickinson back into the fold after a six-year absence, and guitarist Adrian Smith after a decade.
 
That was a good day indeed and it’s always a great day for 80’s metal and hard rock. Rock on brothers and sisters and thanks for listening to METAL SHOP!
 

 

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T.G.I.F. and Happy Birthday to Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, who turns 52 today. Until this year, Duff was noted as former GnR bassist, but he’s back with Axl and Slash for a three-fifths reunion. Hopefully, Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler are part of this before the first show April 8th in Las Vegas. Axl’s 54th birthday is tomorrow (Feb. 6th).
 
Former Tesla guitarist Tommy Skeoch is also celebrating a birthday today (He is 53). Skeoch joined Tesla in 1984 when they were known as City Kidd and left in 2006 due to substance abuse.
 
On this date in 1974, KISS kicked off their first North American tour in Edmonton, Alberta Canada; In 1998 Judas Priest singer Rob Halford announced on MTV that he was gay; and on this date in 1971, Black Sabbath started recording what would be their third album, ‘Master Of Reality.’ Forced to postpone four Canadian gigs after Ozzy came down with a serious case of sinusitis, the Sabbath tour will resume tomorrow night (Feb. 6th) in Tacoma, WA.
 
I was in Tacoma with my teenage son this past Tuesday for AC/DC. I hope to have as much energy when I hit my 60’s as Angus and the boys… what a great show. Click Here for a recap with photos. AC/DC is in Las Vegas tonight (Feb. 5th) and Denver on Monday. How convenient it would be to make the short trip to San Francisco and play the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday… would much rather see that.
 
Enjoy the game and have a great weekend. Thanks for listening to METAL SHOP.
 
AC/DC Rock or Bust Tour Tacoma WA 2-2-16 Brian Johnson
 

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The reunited expanded classic lineup of German power metallers HELLOWEEN will release a new live album, "Live At Budokan", on December 13, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The colossal [...]

Rufus Publications will release "Diamond Head The Illustrated History" in the spring of 2025. At the vanguard of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene of the late 1970s, [...]

2024 marks METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich's 40th year with Tama drums. In celebration, Tama has released the Lars Ulrich 40th-anniversary signature drum kit. Limited to 72 kits worldwide, this anniversary [...]

Leatherwolf . The post Leatherwolf unleash Halloween themed video for track “Lights Out Agan” first appeared on Sleaze Roxx. [...]

Qobuz, the music lovers' high-quality music streaming and download platform will begin hosting episodes of Pantheon Media's audio podcast series "The Metallica Report" for exclusive streaming in Hi-Resolution. Every Wednesday, [...]

The raven-haired rock star from Los Angeles, Dorothy, returned this summer, with the scorching new single "Mud". She rode in on a black horse, equipped with leather and signature red [...]

In the latest episode of Gibson TV's "The Collection", host Mark Agnesi is in Los Angeles, California to explore Kirk Hammett's impressive guitar collection. For over 40 years, Hammett has [...]

Black Sabbath icon wanted early years instrument back but says corporation denied knowledge of buy-back deal. Continue reading… [...]

Metallica fans are having a discussion and sharing their biggest hot takes about the band on Reddit, from 'St. Anger' to 'Death Magnetic' and more. Continue reading… [...]