Pulse – Rock Music News

Five Finger Death Punch's Ivan Moody is the latest band member to admit to having had an alcohol-related near death experience. While now sober for more than four years, Moody said his sobriety was the result of him being dead in his home with his daughter present for several minutes due to alcohol withdrawal.

Moody recently told Metal Hammer, "I'd been on a bender for about two years, and I'd gone four days without drinking in an entire year! Which is ridiculous. So, for four days I locked myself inside the house, and the fourth day my daughter came over and I went to hand her a glass of water, and that's all I remember."

He continued, "If you quit drinking without the right medications and whatever else, you will die. That's what happened. I was dead for about three-and-a-half minutes, and I became part of something while I was there. I say ‘there,' because I was not in this shell. And for the first time in my existence, I felt peace."

Moody said his daughter's crying voice woke him up, and he had a defibrillator on his chest. He expained, "Her voice pulled me back and that was the wake-up call for me."

Guitarist Zoltan Bathory has previously stated that Five Finger Death Punch's upcoming album, Afterlife, was inspired by actual near-death experiences some of the band members have had. The project is due out on August 19th.

Ozzy Osbourne has posted a teaser on social media featuring a snippet of his new collaboration with Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi, called "Degradation Rules." The track, which drops today (July 22nd), is the second pulled from Ozzy's upcoming Patient Number 9 album set for release on September 9th.

In addition to Iommi, Patient Number 9 -- which marks Ozzy's 13th solo set -- features guest spots by such legendary players as Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Jeff Beck, Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan, Zakk Wylde, Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme, and former Ozzy bassist and current Metallica member Robert Trujillo.

Tony Iommi told us not long ago that determination has always been the key to his success and longevity: "I've always been the same. I always have to try to get over that barrier, whatever it may be, and do it, you know. And that's continued in what I do with the music. Because I'm determined to do it, I'm determined to carry on. And it's been with everything like that."

Ozzy Osbourne has revealed that he once was "paranoid as f*ck" about Eric Clapton and believed that Clapton had a grudge against him. During a radio interview, he said, "Many, many years ago, me and Sharon were in New York and we had to go to an award show. Everybody was there. And I was still doing drugs and alcohol and I was all freaked out by it. So, we go to this award show and afterwards there's me, Grace Jones, that chick I did the award show with. Me, Grace Jones, and I wanted a picture of Eric Clapton, me and Grace Jones together."

Ozzy explained that Clapton just came out of rehab so he was "freaked out" when they took the picture. He explained, "And I'd convinced myself that he was gonna stop this photograph from being released."

Years later, he ran into Clapton at an AA meeting. He explained, "I went to an AA meeting in the San Fernando Valley many years later, it was like 10 years later. I turn around in this AA meeting and there at the back was Eric Clapton sitting there. And I'm, like, ‘F*cking hell.' … I'm thinking, ‘He still remembers.' Not thinking of what he's done in the last 10 years. I'm thinking, ‘All he's done, he's still thinking how much he hates me.'"

Ozzy continued, "A couple weeks later, I go to the AA meeting again. There he is again. So, I'm just about to cross the road and get in my car and drive off. He goes, ‘Ozzy.' I go, ‘Here we go.' And he goes, ‘Good to see you in the room.' We had a chat and I thought, ‘Wow, what a nice guy.'"

Osbourne's new album, Patient Number 9 will be released in September.

Late-Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is but one of rock's many drum legends showcased in the new documentary, Let There Be Drums! Deadline.com reported filmmaker Justin Kretutzmann, the son of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and Pete Townshend's official documentarian for nearly two decades, has inked a deal with Greenwich Entertainment for the North American rights to the film, which will hit theaters on October 28th.

Drummers featured in the doc demonstrating their love and technique are Ringo Starr, Stewart Copeland of the Police; Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead; Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction; Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses -- and an appearance by Mandy Moon -- the only child of the late, great Keith Moon.

Justin Kreutzmann issued a statement in which he gave the backstory to the film:

The idea of doing the movie Let There Be Drums! really came to me as a gift. Literally. It started Christmas Day, 1977 when I was given a Super-8 film camera.

The first home movies I filmed were of my Dad on stage at Winterland in San Francisco. They were shot from my perspective, sitting right behind him on the drum riser so he could keep an eye on me during the Grateful Dead's performances.

Drums, and the drummers that play them, have been a major component of my entire life.

Drummer Mickey Hart says that it took him years of performing onstage before he learned to be unselfconscious behind the drum kit: "No, in the early -- in the old days, as soon as the microphones went up, it was like five, six, seven, eight, nine years of being conscious of -- it took quite a few years before the microphone became 'invisible.' Then after that, it was just the anticipation of playing good and the desire, and the angst and all of the stuff that comes with performance, that normally goes with it."

It was Ringo Starr's step-father, Harry Graves, who bought him a drum kit. Ringo told us that it was the only instrument he ever wanted to play: "I only ever wanted to play the drums. My grandparents used to play the banjo and mandolin, and they gave me one of each, and I had no interest. We had a piano at home, which I walked on. There was nothing else from when I was thirteen -- I just wanted to play the drums. This burning desire to be a musician and to be a drummer. Just the drums."

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith told us that he became an instant John Bonham acolyte the first time he heard him: "Bonham is the greatest rock drummer. He just is, hands down. Like as when people say Buddy Rich is the greatest drummer, technically, y'know, the greatest drummer ever? John Bonham, hands down, greatest rock drummer ever. Sound, he played those songs, everything he did was just, y'know, just felt good and it's just incredible. So for me, Led Zeppelin is my favorite band."

U2 will be spotlighted at this year's Kennedy Center Honors.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Thursday (7-21) that the 22-time Grammy winners, along with actor George Clooney, singers Gladys Knight and Amy Grant and composer Tania León will be honored in December.

It's a rare occasion that a band is among the honorees… Though U2 is in the company with Earth, Wind & Fire, they were the most recent group, that was in 2019. The Eagles were honored in 2016 and Led Zeppelin in 2012.

Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said she was told that U2 frontman Bono was eating and was so surprised that he dropped his fork when he was told the band had been selected for this lifetime achievement award.

This is the 45th year of the honors, which will include a gala performance Dec. 4 in Washington featuring top entertainers. The show will be broadcast on CBS at a later date.

TL;DR:

• U2 will be spotlighted at this year's Kennedy Center Honors.
• Along with actor George Clooney, singers Gladys Knight and Amy Grant and composer Tania León.
• Will take place on Dec. 4 in Washington and will be broadcast on CBS at a later date.

The 17-year-old daughter of late Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, Toni Cornell, honored her dad with a special social media post on what would have been his 58th birthday yesterday (Wednesday, July 20th). She shared a video of the two singing together when she was little, writing in part, "Losing you was one of the hardest things we had to go through. They say it gets easier with time, but as the days and years go by, and since we last saw you, we are missing you even more … Today, on your birthday, I think so so many join me in saying we miss you the MOST!!! . . . Happy Birthday to the greatest dad and most incredible human whose life continues to leave an incredible mark on everyone he touches."

The song Toni and Chris are singing is Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U."

Chris killed himself in 2017 in a hotel room in Detroit after performing a Soundgarden show at the Fox Theatre earlier that night.

This week, multi-platinum band, Panic! At The Disco released their new single "Middle of a Breakup" along with a music video. It was written and produced by Brendon Urie alongside Jake Sinclair & Mike Viola.

Panic!'s new album, Viva Las Vengeance will be released August 19. The band will celebrate the release date in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza while appearing on NBC's Today show.

A few weeks later, they'll hit the road to play iconic venues like NYC's Madison Square Garden and LA's Kia Forum. Special guests include MARINA and Jake Wesley Rogers with Beach Bunny joining on select dates. Tour starts September 8 in Austin, Texas.

TL;DR:

• Panic! At The Disco released their new single "Middle of a Breakup" along with a music video.
• It was written and produced by Brendon Urie alongside Jake Sinclair & Mike Viola.
• Panic!'s new album, Viva Las Vengeance will be released August 19.
• Tour starts September 8 in Austin, Texas.

The Killers will release their new single, "Boy," on August 5th. The band have been playing it live since earlier this month.

In a recent interview with NME, Brandon Flowers explained that the song was didn't make it onto the band's 2021 Pressure Machine album. He said, "We've been teasing it a little bit. It was the song that took me back home and was sort of the impetus for writing Pressure Machine. What's interesting is that it just didn't make it onto the record – but its absence is not a reflection of the quality of the song. It was an aesthetic decision to keep it off the record. There's an optimism to it. It's in the dust, it's in the gutter, and it's looking at the stars. It's writing in more of a new wave vehicle."

Flowers recently said that a new album will likely be released early next year.

Former-Kyuss bassist Scott Reeder recalled making the shortlist to replace Jason Newsted, as briefly featured in the Metallica's 2003 documentary Some Kind Of Monster.

While talking to Metal Hammer, Reeder looked back at getting the nod by the band to come audition: "I was working outside at the ranch when Lars (Ulrich) called. My wife brought the phone out and thought it was a prank call from Maynard (James Keenan) from Tool! Nope -- it was actually Lars!"

He went on to remember, "They flew me up a week or two after the call. We sat around a table and talked for a while, and finally James (Hetfield) said, 'Well, let's f***in' play!' They had me call 'em out – we did 'Fuel,' 'Creeping Death,' 'Master Of Puppets,' 'Enter Sandman,' 'The Unforgiven,' 'Fade To Black'. . . They had their Christmas party for the whole Metallica organization while I was up there, so that was fun! They took over a bowling alley and raged!"

Reeder recalled actually getting the chance to collaborate with the band: "The next day, it was back to work on St. Anger overdubs. There was a certain song for which James asked us all for lyrical input. . . Everyone wandered off and scribbled down whatever lines or phrases came to mind. After a while we got together and presented it all to James. He gathered his thoughts, and cut his vocals right next to me on the couch in the control room! That was pretty crazy."

Although Rob Trujillo eventually got the bassist gig with the band -- he says Metallica couldn't have been cooler about letting him down easy: "The three guys called me together to let me off the hook a few weeks later. They hadn't made their final decision yet -- I suspect that they were clear that Rob was their frontrunner. Around a half-hour after that call, I got a call from James, just making sure I was alright. I told him I was stoked to have even been considered! I said, 'This was like the Metal Olympics or something, and I got the silver medal -- it's all good!'"

Not too long ago, Scott Reeder shed light on his Metallica audition for PlayThisRiff.com: "I had, like, two weeks to learn a few songs. I think I learned 20 songs in two weeks. I love Metallica. We've toured together, I've known those guys forever, but never been thrown into jamming with those guys and played the hits. Y'know, 'Master Of Puppets' -- it was, it was crazy. It was like a dream. It's still weird thinking' about it. It was awesome, though."

Pearl Jam was forced to cancel their show in Vienna last night (July 20th) after the band's frontman Eddie Vedder suffered throat damange from a previous show in Paris. The band said in a statement, "Due to the extreme circumstances at the last outdoor site outside of Paris (heat, dust, and smoke from the fires) our singer Ed Vedder's throat was left damaged."

Joe Perry revealed that Aerosmith is currently working on a new 50th anniversary box set featuring rare audio and visuals from "Boston's bad boys." Blabbermouth ran quotes from Perry's recent chat with Philly's WMMR, where he described the package as a "box set that kind of hits on every decade and some videos to go along with it. In the first, say, 30 years of our career, finding video is really hard. . . Finding video from the last 20 years, it's not a problem. It's finding the stuff that you like."

Perry added: "As it turns out, we actually shot a bunch of songs because the record companies would use them to promote. When they would have these get-togethers every year, all the record companies would show what they have coming out and the latest this and the latest that, so they would shoot promotional videos. So they weren't quite what we know as the MTV-style videos. So we're digging down and finding some of that stuff. 'Cause back then, it was a big camera and they had cartridges that lasted three minutes, so to get a whole song on one, you had to have at least two cameras going.

Joe Perry says that even during the early days of the band, he was privately filming Aerosmith on the road: "I actually started carrying a camera with me, and when we played the Silverdome in Detroit (in 1976) -- I think we were the second band to play there and the first band to fill it; it was, like, 80,000 seats. It was wild. . . Anyway, I remember sending somebody up with my camera -- way up into the bleachers or whatever -- and by the time they got it focused and kind of brought the lens close enough, you couldn't even tell who was playing. Most cameras didn't have sound either, but this one did. And it was kind of rough version of whatever we were playing."

He went on to explain that archival bits from Aerosmith's past seem to continually find their way back to the band: "I mean, stuff keeps popping up. Fans will say 'I've got a piece of this' or 'I took some video of that', but it's bits and pieces. Most of it are still pictures. We're constantly finding the stuff."

Aerosmith has shown the ability to connect with many generations of music fans. Joe Perry has always felt that videos played a large part of the group's mass appeal. "We've been fortunate enough to have some really good video directors around us, I think. They call it the MTV generation. Because of the MTV mentality of the visuals, and being able to embrace that instead of reject it, has been a real strength for us. I think to be able to come out with some of these videos, and have just been lucky to have them work and have some good songs, we've been able to bring in another generation."

There's been no title nor release date set for the new Aerosmith collection.

Journey's new album, Freedom has debuted at #1 on the Current Rock Chart. Band members celebrated by posting the big news online and they also kicked off a Vegas residency featuring a special symphony orchestra at Resorts World Casino.

It was announced earlier this week, that the album charted at #2 on both - the Current Digital Album and Digital Albums chart. It's also 3^rd in Current Album sales.

Players on the album include founder, guitarist, writer and producer Neal Schon - along with longtime keyboard player and primary lyricist Jonathan Cain, as well as vocalist Arnel Pineda. And bassist Randy Jackson, who had played on Journey's 1986 album Raised on Radio.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members can boast of 25 gold and platinum records, with total sales of over 100 million albums worldwide. They've earned three Diamond Awards and have surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

Freedom, is Journey's first album of new material to be released in eleven years.

TL;DR:

• Journey's new album, Freedom has debuted at #1 on the Current Rock Chart.
  Freedom, is the band's first album of new material in eleven years.
• They have surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

Killswitch Engage are heading to Vegas to headline the House of Blues to celebrate Metal Blade Records 40th Anniversary on Wednesday, October 5th. The show will also feature performances from Fit for an Autopsy and Visigoth. This marks the third and final concert commemorating Metal Blade Records milestone anniversary, and tickets will be on sale on Friday (July 22nd) at 10 a.m. local time.

Killswitch Engage's Jesse Leach said, "I can't imagine where music or my journey as a musician would be with out Metal Blade Records. I can speak for the band when I say we are stoked and absolutely honored to be apart of the 40th anniversary celebration! Killer line up and a legendary milestone for Metal music around the world! Massive respect and love to Brian Slagel for all he has done for music and for Killswitch!"

A different Metal Blade Records 40th Anniversary show will take place at The Space in Las Vegas on September 17th featuring Sacred Reich.

Trivium will head out on a North American tour this fall called the Dead Men and Dragons Tour in support of their latest album, In the Court of the Dragon, which was released last year. They will be joined by special guests Between the Buried and Me, Whitechapel, and Khemmis when the tour opens on October 2nd in Boise, ID.

The Dead Men and Dragons Tour runs through November 10th in Los Angeles, and tickets go on sale beginning Friday (July 22nd) at 10 a.m. local time.

Slipknot has released a new single entitled "The Dying Song (Time To Song)." They also announced tfheir upcoming seventh studio album entitled The End, So Far. Clown said in a statement, "New music, new art and new beginnings. Get ready for the end." The End, So Far is due out on September 30th.

Check out the tracklisting for The End, So Far below:

1. Adderall
2. The Dying Song (Time To Sing)
3. The Chapeltown Rag
4. Yen
5. Hivemind
6. Warranty
7. Medicine For The Dead
8. Acidic
9. Heirloom
10. H377
11. De Sade
12. Finale

Def Leppard has released the sixth in a series of behind-the-scenes episodes from The Stadium Tour, which kicked off on June 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The new online episode takes you onstage in Detroit, Michigan and Hershey, Pennsylvania and includes some great guitar stories. Plus, you'll see Joe Elliott and special guest Billy Joel singing "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

In the short clip, bassist Rick Savage reflected on the Motor City gig, and said: "From the get-go, right from the start, it was, like, bang! It's one of those nights where it reminds you what a great job I've got."

The Stadium Tour includes Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

TL;DR:

• Def Leppard has released the sixth in a series of behind-the-scenes episodes from The Stadium Tour, which kicked off on June 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.
• The new online episode takes you onstage at Detroit and Hershey
• It includes "Pour Some Sugar On Me" a performance by Joe Elliott and Billy Joel.

Queen just surpassed the seven-million milestone with the 1981 Greatest Hits album. That makes history as the best-selling album of all time in the U.K. The record includes classics such as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You."

In an online video with bandmate, Brian May… Roger Taylor said: "The British public and their infinitely-great taste have made this the biggest-selling album in history. Thank you very much; we're humbled and honored. We salute you!"

The record-breaking achievement was a combination of physical sales, downloads, and streams.

TL;DR:

• Queen just surpassed the seven-million milestone with the 1981 Greatest Hits album.
• It's now the best-selling album of all time in the U.K.
• The record-breaking achievement was a combination of physical sales, downloads, and streams.

Limp Bizkit are delaying their planned summer tour of the U.K. and Europe due to medical advice given to lead singer Fred Durst. On Sunday (July 17th), the band posted a message on social media writing in part, "For personal health concerns and based on medical advice given by my personal physician to take an immediate break from touring, Limp Bizkit will sadly have to postpone their 2022 Uk and European tour . . ." The post also linked to the band's website for a personal video message from Durst who explained he needed additional testing and apologized for the inconvenience.

In the video, Durst said, "In preparation for the 2022 summer tour of the U.K. and Europe, I have decided to do some tests to make sure I'm in good physical condition and that everything's okay. And to my surprise my doctor has decided to send me a letter telling me he would not like me to tour at this time and he would like me to stay close by to do some more tests. That being said, this was very unexpected news and I'm so sorry and I look forward to making it up to you as soon as possible and I can only thank you so much for your support."

While Durst did not go into details about his health concerns, he added, "I'm only wishing for the best and I know everything's going to be okay."

Durst says he does have plans to make up the postponed tour dates but no details were offered.

His "worst experience as a support act." That's what The Darkness lead singer Justin Hawkins has to say about opening for Disturbed in his own YouTube series. His sentiment largely stems from an incident during which an audience member at a London concert threw a piece of chewing gum directly into Hawkins' mouth while he was singing. When he got angry at the crowd, Hawkins said he got nothing but backlash from Disturbed's David Draiman.

Hawkins explained, "I was singing makes choking sound. It was just a brilliant shot; I had to respect it, really. And then afterwards, David Draiman wasn't very pleased with me. I don't know; I think I may have issued an admonishment to the throng, which didn't go down very well with him. But what are you gonna do? Who gives a f**k? I'm just kidding at the time."

He continued, "When things like that happen… If a band is supporting my band and then our crowd is not very nice to them, I would always go and apologize. That didn't happen with Disturbed. I think it actually had the opposite effect and they were angry with us. But… not my problem."

Heavy Consequence reports that in 2004, Draiman told Metal Edge via Blabbermouth, "To be perfectly honest with you, I think that The Darkness is a joke, and that's, unfortunately, exactly what the world wants. The world wants rock bands to be idiots. The world wants rock bands to be these bumbling buffoons, these morons who made fun of themselves and their music and their art and don't take themselves seriously in any way."

He added, "And it's funny, I wouldn't even go ahead and say anything about them per se, unless they had already laid down the gauntlet. I heard of late that they have decided to start slinging shit in our direction, that we are an example of one of the bands that they're completely against. That to them, we symbolize this whole wave of nu-metal that is near its death. Are you f**king kidding me? The irony is that they opened up for us in London at Brixton Academy, and here they are talking shit about us. I like the song "I Believe in a Thing Called Love". I have nothing against the song. I can't argue that it's a catchy goddamn song, but it's not metal. It's pop-rock. How dare they call themselves metal? That's not metal. It'll never be metal."

In a new interview with AXS TV's "At Home And Social With…", Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix spoke about the band's 2000 classic "Last Resort." He said, "It is a song that you can just turn up in the car and rock out to, but the beauty of it is there is depth to the song."

He continued, "I sing the song in the first person, but the song was about my roommate I'd lived with as a teenager and he came to a point where he wanted to take his life. He did not succeed — thank God — but the song is about that downward spiral of emotion and contemplating suicide. That's a hard place to be — it really is; it really is, honestly. But the real story, the beauty in this thing is that he didn't take his life. He wasn't successful in that mission. And he has a beautiful family now, a lovely family."

He added, "The silver lining in this song is it's been a lifeline to a lot of people out there — a lot of people struggling and finding themselves in this dark place — and somehow this song has spoken to a lot of people's hearts. And I've met thousands of people around the world who have told me that this song in particular has saved their life. And for a moment, I'm, like, 'That's awesome.' And then when I really take a moment and really reflect on just that simple statement that this song saved my life — like, 'Phew.'

Billie Eilish wants her fans to vote in the midterm elections.

The star told Rolling Stone that she is partnering with the non-profit voter registration organization HeadCount.

She said in a statement to the outlet, "I'm working with HeadCount to encourage everyone to show up at the polls and use their voice during these midterm elections. With what is going on in our country, we need to get out to the polls and vote for what we believe in. Not showing up is not an option."

Fans who check their voter registration status through HeadCount can also win a chance to travel to New Zealand and Australia to see Eilish perform.

Axl Rose took to Twitter to thank Guns N' Roses fans as the band wrapped their European tour. Blabbermouth reported, in addition to thanking the tour's special guest Carrie Underwood, Rose saluted late-Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and dedicated the leg to him. He also used the opportunity to publicly slam Russian President Vladimir Putin calling him, "a callous, lying, murderous, little man."

Axl Rose's tweet, which was posted in several parts, reads in full:

I'd like to thank everyone that came out to r shows in Europe!! U were AMAZING!! We hope u had fun n' hope to see u again sooner than later!! I also want to thank everyone in London for being so understanding of r challenges and apologize again to r fans in Scotland for having to postpone r performance there. Rescheduling or being forced to cancel rn't things that r done lightly especially with r fans, the size of the endeavor and everyone from the fans, the cities, the venue's, the promoters, the crews n' everyone involved taken very seriously into consideration.

I'd like to thank Carrie Underwood and her team for coming all the way to the UK for r shows at Tottingham (sic)!! YEAH!!! She's AMAZING!! AND in this case a REAL lifesaver!! At least someone could sing!!

It's just a simple gesture n' it's awkward dealing with the gravity of something like this but in an effort to pay r respects we'd like to dedicate this tour to our friend Taylor Hawkins. Taylor was a really great guy and it was always great to see him! He was a great n' always welcome part of touring these last few years! This is such a horrible thing and r hearts go out to his family, friends, band mates and everyone who love him.

I'd also like to thank everyone for showing such love and support during the tour for the people of Ukraine and their noble and horrifying fight for freedom against an increasingly totalitarian regime ran by a callous, lying, murderous, little man with outdated ambitions and no regard for human life.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in South America!! See you SOON!!!

Guns N' Roses kicks off their South American tour on September 1st in Manaus, Brazil at Arena da Amazonia.

Paramore will return to the road on a 12-date tour of North America beginning on October 2nd in Bakersfield, CA. This is the band's first outing since 2018. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday (July 22nd) at 10 a.m. local time on paramore.net.

The tour will make stops in such cities as Omaha, Chicago, Toronto, and Atlanta before wrapping up in St. Augustine, FL on November 16th.