SLASH ANNOUNCES S.E.R.P.E.N.T. BLUES FESTIVAL ALL-STAR LINEUP FT. WARREN HAYNES, KEB’ ‘MO, CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM, SAMANTHA FISH, ZZ WARD, ROBERT RANDOLPH, ERIC GALES AND MORE

Following the announcement of his highly anticipated sixth solo album Orgy of the Damned (read details here), due out May 17th on Gibson Records, the iconic, GRAMMY®-winning guitarist and songwriter Slash, has confirmed a North American tour in celebration of the Blues this summer. Slashs newly announced S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival, an anagram that stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’Tolerance will start on July 5th in Bonner, Montana, and travel to Los Angeles, Denver, Cincinnati, Toronto, New York City, Boston, Atlanta, and many more cities. Slash has curated an all-star Blues lineup to join him on the inaugural S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival this summer, including Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe. On all dates, Slash willperform alongside his Blues band featuring bassist Johnny Griparic, keyboardist Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis, drummer Michael Jerome, and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Slash formed the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the Blues, and to perform with other Blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. Slash also has a strong desire to give back to charities that he has supported over the years, as well as to help lift marginalized communities that share his restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. A portion of the proceeds from each VIP package and S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival ticket sold will directly benefit the following charities that Slash has selected The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute, and War Child. S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival has partnered with PLUS1.ORG to support these charitable endeavors.

“The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour is a celebration of blues and rock ‘n’ roll music, and a celebration of unity and togetherness in these uncertain and divisive times,” says Slash. “S.E.R.P.E.N.T is a vehicle to help support and uplift people and communities suffering from the injustices of racism and equal rights violations, as well as to support children adversely affected by war and poverty across the world. So, we are contributing a portion of every ticket and VIP package sold from the tour to those ends. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. will also provide an environment where folks can get together for a day of great music and hang out and have a good time.”

General on sale for tickets begins Friday, March 15 at 10am local time. For pre-sales, visit serpentfestival.com. A limited number of S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival VIP packages are available nowwhich include access to watch Slash’s soundcheck before the show, hand-signed vinyl of Orgy of the Damned, and more, go to serpentfestival.com.

“S.E.R.P.E.N.T.” festival tour dates:

July 5 – Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater *
July 6 – Airway Heights, WA @ Northern Quest Amphitheater *
July 8 – Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park *
July 10 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
July 12 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Casino *
July 13 – Los Angeles, California @ Greek Theatre *
July 14 – Tucson, AZ @ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater *
July 17 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom **
July 19 – La Vista, NE @ The Astro Amphitheater #
July 21 – Terre Haute, Indiana @ The Mill #
July 22 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend #
July 24 – Interlochen, MI @ Interlochen Center for the Arts #
July 25 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center $
July 27 – Windsor, ON, Canada @ The Colosseum at Caesars $
July 28 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Budweiser Stage $
July 30 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater $
Aug. 1 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion $
Aug. 4 – New York, NY @ Pier 17 $
Aug. 5 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest +
Aug. 7 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre +
Aug. 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park ^
Aug. 10 – Clearwater, FL @ The Sound at Coachman Park ^
Aug. 11 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre +
Aug. 13 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater +
Aug. 14 – Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater +
Aug. 16 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary ^^
Aug. 17 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre ^^

Warren Haynes, Samantha Fish and Eric Gales
** Keb’ Mo’Samantha Fish and Jackie Venson
Keb’ Mo’ZZ Ward and Jackie Venson
Keb’ Mo’ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
Larkin PoeZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
^^ Christone “Kingfish” IngramZZ Ward and Robert Randolph

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BUCK DHARMA ON WHETHER HE THINKS THE BAND GHOST SOUNDS LIKE BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, “I WOULDN’T SAY THEY’RE REALLY COPYING US”

Greg Prato for Ultimate Guitar spoke with Blue Öyster Cult‘s Buck Dharma, the interview appears in its entirety below.

Ultimate Guitar: With many veteran rock bands calling it a career as of late, how much longer do you see BÖC going for?

Buck Dharma: I think we’re throttling back from the years of heavy touring. Eric [Bloom] and I are getting on in years, and we just want to do it at a more comfortable pace. We’re still booking shows in ’24. I haven’t thought about ’25 yet. But it could go on as long as we can do it. I can still play and sing, I still enjoy it. I don’t much like the grind of tour traveling. But other than that, it’s great to have a job that I can still do, and have been doing it for 50 years.

Ultimate Guitar: Touring plans? Future projects?

Buck Dharma: We are still adding shows for ’24, but we probably will not do more than 25-30 shows this year. As far as the band goes, we’ll see what happens next year. At this point, it’s very much what comes out of the ether a little bit, rather than having a demanding schedule. I’ve got a song that is going to come out this year streaming, The End of Every Song. I’m working on a video now. It’s a one-off, the first Buck Dharma song since my solo album in 1981. So, it’s a long time coming.

Ultimate Guitar: I’ve read about comparisons between BÖC and the band Ghost. Are you familiar with them, and what are your thoughts about their music?

Buck Dharma: To the degree that there is a similarity, I think they’re welcomed to it. I think Ghost is certainly paving their own way as far as how they’ve gone down their road. I wouldn’t say they’re really copying us. To the degree that there are some similarities, that’s fine.

As previously reported, Blue Öyster Cult released a new single today (March 12th) called Don’t Come Running To Me. To listen to the song, and to read more details about the band’s forthcoming release, Ghost Stories, please go here.

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BLUE ÖYSTER CULT SHARE NEW SINGLE, “DON’T COME RUNNING TO ME,” “GHOST STORIES” OUT APRIL 12TH

Today (March 12th), legendary rockers Blue Öyster Cult share the second single from their upcoming release, Ghost Stories, out April 12th on Frontiers Music Srl. The track, entitled Don’t Come Running To Me, is accompanied by a new music video.

After the resounding success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, Ghost Stories sees the band eagerly gearing up for an exciting new chapter in their storied career. This highly anticipated album marks a fitting finale to the recording legacy of one of rock’s most iconic fixtures from the past 50 years.

In partnership with Frontiers Music Srl, Ghost Stories will captivate fans with a collection of reimagined and completed songs that span from 1978-2016. These musical treasures, long considered the “lost gems” by  Blue Öyster Cult enthusiasts, were originally recorded between 1978 and 1983, except for one track from 2016, If I Fell. Also included is the only known recorded performance of their concert classic Kick Out the Jams (MC5 cover). Some of the material is from workshopping albums, some from performance rehearsals, and all were recorded once in the hopes that someday they’d see the light of day.

Check out the music video for, Don’t Come Running To Me, below, and pre-order Ghost Stories, here.

Ghost Stories track list:

1) Late Night Street Fight

2) Cherry

3) So Supernatural

4) We Gotta Get Out of This Place

5) Soul Jive

6) Gun

7) Shot in the Dark

8) The Only Thing

9) Kick Out the Jams

10) Money Machine

11) Don’t Come Running To Me

12) If I Fell

13) Roadhouse Blues (Bonus Track Japan)

Work in the studio for the album was completed by Richie Castellano along with remaining original members Eric Bloom and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and both Albert Bouchard and Rick Downey appear on drums with additional overdubs recorded by Joe Bouchard. All these original lineuep members appearing on Ghost Stories, create a musical journey that traverses decades and promises easter eggs for days.

George Geranios, the band’s original audio engineer and an integral part of the band’s golden years produced the tracks along with BÖC and all were originally recorded on reel-to-reel analog tape. He transferred them to digital audio which is when modern AI and magical musical talents meet and the collection of vintage multi-track recordings was de-mixed, re-mixed, and produced by Steve Schenck and Richie Castellano to become Ghost Stories. The two explain the album’s amazing process here.

As Blue Öyster Cult embraces its “classic rock” phenomenon status, the anticipation for this album is reaching a crescendo. Fans are eager to experience the culmination of the band’s artistic vision and witness the completion of songs that have become part of their folklore. The band will also add some of the songs in their up-and-coming 2024 shows.

With a legacy spanning over five decades, Blue Öyster Cult continues to be a formidable force in the classic rock scene. The exciting partnership with Frontiers Music Srl and the visionary leadership of Serafino Perugino add an extra layer of anticipation to the release of Ghost Stories. As the band bids farewell to their recording career, they do so with a flourish, offering fans a musical odyssey that is sure to leave a lasting imprint on rock history. Truly, a remarkable journey.

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FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH ANNOUNCE HEADLINING U.S. TOUR, WITH MARILYN MANSON AND SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, STARTING AUGUST 2ND IN HERSHEY, PA

Multi-platinum hard rock powerhouse Five Finger Death Punch today announced a headlining U.S. tour this summer/fall with Marilyn Manson and Slaughter To Prevail. The tour will start on August 2nd, in Hershey, PA and run through September 19th when it will conclude in Houston, TX. Pre-sales begin on March 11th at 10 A.M. EST. General ticket on sale launches on March 15th at 10 A.M. local time on 5FDP’s website here. See all upcoming dates below.

Five Finger Death Punch with Marilyn Manson and Slaughter To Prevail dates:

8/2 Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

8/5 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

8/7 Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Centre

8/8 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

8/10 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amp

8/13 Rogers, AR – Walmart Amp

8/14 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

8/16 Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

8/19 Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena

8/21 Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center

8/22 Denver, CO – Ball Arena +

8/24 Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre *

8/27 Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

8/29 Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest

8/31 Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

9/3 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

9/4 Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

9/6 Anaheim, CA – Honda Center

9/8 Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena

9/10 Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resorts Amphitheatre

9/11 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

9/13 Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater

9/15 Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

9/16 Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum

9/18 Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

9/19 Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

*No Marilyn Manson +No Slaughter To Prevail

Prior to the U.S. run, Five Finger Death Punch will embark overseas to Europe in Spring for more stadium dates with Metallica on their M72 World Tour in addition to headlining shows with special guest Ice Nine Kills and select appearances at major festivals. See dates here.

Better Noise Music will release Five Finger Death Punch’s acclaimed ninth studio album Afterlife as a digital deluxe edition on April 5th. The deluxe version includes the original 12 tracks recorded with the band’s longtime producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne) in addition to four bonus tracks: acoustic versions of the album’s songs The End, Judgement Day, and Thanks For Asking plus a brand new song, This Is The Way featuring the legendary late rapper DMX. The official music video for This Is The Way (feat. DMX) will be released coinciding with the deluxe edition of of Afterlife on April 5th and is directed by none other than highly influential filmmaker Hype Williams, a longtime friend and close collaborator of the late DMX who’s also known for his seminal work with luminaries like Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, and Jay-Z amongst others. Pre-save Afterlife: Deluxe now here

5FDP online: Official Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.

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SLASH’S “ORGY OF THE DAMNED” BLUES ALBUM FEATURING BRIAN JOHNSON, BILLY GIBBONS, PAUL RODGERS AND MORE TO BE RELEASED ON MAY 17TH, VIDEO FOR “KILLING FLOOR,” FEATURING JOHNSON & TYLER, OUT NOW

Slash, the iconic, Grammy-winning guitarist and songwriter, has announced his highly anticipated sixth solo album titled Orgy Of The Damned, will be released on May 17th through Gibson Records.

A collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with a stripped-down, instinctive approach, Orgy Of The Damned creates a singular expression that pays homage to the blues.

The first single Killing Floor — which features Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on harmonica — is an electrifying, raucous and gleefully unbridled take on Howlin’ Wolf‘s 1964 Chicago blues standard.

The new video for Killing Floor, which can be seen below, offers a first look at Slash and his blues band Johnny Griparic (bass),Teddy Andreadis(keyboards), Michael Jerome (drums),and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar),recording the song in the studio.

Slash says, “Killing Floor is one of my favorite Howlin’ Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I’ve always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp.”

Johnson states, “When Slash asked me to sing on Killing Floor, I said ‘yes’ immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven‘s harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on.”

Orgy Of The Damned encompasses a broad range of styles within the blues genre, veering from an upbeat, rowdy take on Robert Johnson‘s “Crossroads”to a plaintive, twanging rendition of T. Bone Walker‘s Stormy Monday. Some of the songs, like Steppenwolf‘s The PusherCharlie Segar‘s Key To The Highway and Albert King‘s Born Under A Bad Sign, had been performed by Slash’s Blue Ball while others, like Stevie Wonder‘s Living For The City, were longtime favorites for SlashHoochie Coochie Man, written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters in 1954, showcases the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy of Orgy Of The Damned, with ZZ Top‘s Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on the classic songs. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a collection of dynamic, energized songs that are immediate, raw, and distinctly familiar.

By celebrating both well-known and largely undiscovered songs, Slash offers a nostalgic nod to the past while reinvigorating the songs with his inimitable guitar playing and the spirit of collaboration. For Orgy Of The Damned, the acclaimed guitarist reteamed with storied producer Mike Clink and enlisted the album’s diverse guest vocalists which include Gary Clark Jr.Billy F. GibbonsChris StapletonDorothyIggy PopPaul RodgersDemi LovatoBrian JohnsonTash NealChris Robinson and Beth Hart, in a similar way to his 2010 self-titled solo LP Slash. To round out his band in the studio and on the road, Slash reunited with two of his bandmates from his BLUES BALLoutfit in the ’90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Although he grew up in England, Slash‘s American grandmother turned him on to the blues early on and he was immediately taken with B.B. King. At the same time, his parents raised him on a healthy diet of ’60s British rock ‘n’ roll, from The Who to The Kinks. Once he moved to Laurel Canyon, Slash found himself surrounded by rock and folk singers like Joni MitchellCrosby Stills & Nash and Neil Young — all of whom eventually inspired his playing and songwriting. It wasn’t until he began playing guitar himself that Slashrealized all of his favorite musicians had been influenced by the same B.B. King blues records he’d listened to as a young kid.

As Slash was considering vocalists, he approached his old friend and collaborator Iggy Pop, who had long wanted to record a blues song. Pop suggested Lightnin’ Hopkins‘s 1962 track Awful Dream, a sparse, drawling number originally laid down on acoustic guitar. The duo decided to recreate that stripped back vibe and recorded their own languid, emotionally-resonate version sitting on two stools in Slash‘s studio.

Iggy‘s interpretation of that song is actually sublime,” says Slash. “And it’s something that nobody’s really heard from him. At the end of the track, you can hear him just singing the harmonica parts.”

Elsewhere on Orgy Of The DamnedDemi Lovato lends her powerhouse voice to Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, a fervent, soulful version of the 1972 single by The Temptations that Slash admired as a kid. Although the song veers more towards R&B, the guitarist wanted to give it his own impassioned spin. The album concludes with a soaring original instrumental number, Metal Chestnut, penned specifically for Orgy Of The Damned by Slash.

Orgy Of The Damned showcases a lesser-heard aspect of Slash‘s musical prowess. While he has always embraced a broad range of styles and genres, the album offers a rare opportunity to explore a unique side of his playing and bring to the forefront a rollicking journey through his strong, blues inspirations, that have long been in the background of his illustrious career.

Orgy Of The Damned track listing:

1.  The Pusher (feat. Chris Robinson)
2.  Crossroads (feat. Gary Clark Jr.)
3.  Hoochie Coochie Man (feat. Billy Gibbons)
4.  Oh Well (feat. Chris Stapleton)
5.  Key To The Highway (feat. Dorothy)
6.  Awful Dream (feat. Iggy Pop)
7.  Born Under A Bad Sign (feat. Paul Rodgers)
8.  Papa Was A Rolling Stone (feat. Demi Lovato)
9.  Killing Floor (feat. Brian Johnson)
10. Living For The City (feat. Tash Neal)
11. Stormy Day (feat. Beth Hart)
12. Metal Chestnut

Although Slash‘s upcoming LP will be his second under the “Slash” banner, he has released a handful of albums with his long-running band Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, in which he is joined by Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy.

Last month, Slash resumed touring with Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators.

Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators‘ latest album, 4, was released in February 2022 through Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.

4 was Slash‘s fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring KennedyBrent Fitz (drums),Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris(guitar, vocals).

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JUDAS PRIEST BASSIST IAN HILL DISCUSSES “INVINCIBLE SHIELD,” GLENN TIPTON, HIS FAVORITE PRIEST ALBUM, THE MOST OVERLOOKED ONE AND THE BAND’S FUTURE

Greg Prato for AllMUSIC spoke with Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill, highlights from interview appear, below.

AllMUSIC: How does Invincible Shield differ from previous Judas Priest albums?

Ian Hill: As we usually do, we take a step forward and try and make things better every time. We’re still learning – after all these years. So, we try and improve on what we did previously. It’s been an ongoing thing now since about 1974. Whatever bell or whistle there is, we’ll give it a go. If it works, great. If not? It’s discarded. It’s a step forward from Firepower.”

AllMUSIC: How is [guitarist] Glenn [Tipton] currently doing, and how much of a role did he have in the writing and recording of the album?

Ian Hill: He’s doing about as well as anybody can – given the situation. He’s got a horrible disease there. It’s preventing him from coming on tour. He just hasn’t got the strength to do it. Although, he can do [guest appearances] – just last fall we did that thing in California, Power Trip, and he did the encores. But his brain is still working – he still comes up with these ideas and suggestions. So, he’s still got a huge part to play – although he’s unfortunately not on the road anymore.

AllMUSIC: Which Priest songs did you have a hand in writing back in the day?

Ian Hill: I had a hand in writing Winter, and I think the last one I wrote was Invader. And Dreamer Deceiver, I think. But nothing since about ’78.

AllMUSIC: Which Judas Priest album is your favorite and why?

Ian Hill It’s probably Defenders of the Faith. It was the end of that road, really. You can trace the roots of that album all the way back to Rocka Rolla. After that, we did the pretty much experimental Turbo – with guitar synthesizers. And then we ran off on a harder edge altogether – with Ram It Down and Painkiller. I think that’s probably still my favorite from all those years ago – as a whole.

AllMUSIC: Which Priest album is the most underrated?

Ian Hill: Probably Point of Entry. We were slighted with that – people were saying, ‘Oh, it’s really commercial.’ But at least it got us through to a more mainstream audience. If you get a song on…it used to be “AM radio,” which is now “mainstream media” I suppose, you get yourself a track on that, and your audience expanded by a gazillion. Whereas just keeping it on the rock channels and the metal channels – again, the audience is there, but you’re not trying to get yourself across to any new fans. So, that’s one. And the other ones are the Ripper albums [1997’s Jugulator and 2001’s Demolition]. Especially Demolition is overlooked.

AllMUSIC: Are you still in touch with KK Downing and would you ever consider working with him again?

Ian Hill: I think he’s gone a bit too far for that now. I gave him a couple of chances to basically say “Hello,” and he blanked me. So, he ain’t going to get another chance. It’s a pity the way it’s turned out. But things are what they are.

AllMUSIC: Invincible Shield is Priest’s 19th studio album overall. What are the chances of a 20th?

Ian Hill: Oh, we’ll see. There’s no reason why not at the moment. We’re going to play this one first, and then take a breather, and then see where we go from there. It would be a nice number to finish on.

Read more at ALLMUSIC.

Judas Priest‘s Invincible Shield will be released on March 8th.

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