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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REVISED VERSION OF “JERSEY METAL: A HISTORY OF THE GARDEN STATE’S HEAVY METAL SCENE VOLUME ONE (1969-1986), WITH MORE INTERVIEWS, PHOTOS AND LAYOUT, AVAILABLE NOW

Hot off their well-received book- Jersey Metal: A History of the Garden State’s Heavy Metal Scene Volume One (1969-1986)Frank White and Alan Tecchio are unleashing a revised volume. Released on March 1st, the updated version features new band interviews, and more photos, ads, and event flyers. 

The revised layout gives the readers an enhanced story flow. The book’s initial Dec. 2022 release sold solidly throughout that month and all of 2023. There are only a few of the original version books available. As a result of the significant changes made for the revised version of Jersey Metal, the first version is now essentially a limited edition.

Jersey Metal is Frank and Alan’s engaging tribute to and celebration of New Jersey’s live and offstage metal scene’s bands, fans and culture. The book includes dozens of interviews with the musicians who once graced classic, many now-defunct stages, interviews with fans who attended shows on a religious basis, and with industry professionals whose insight and stories help to provide a full understanding of the era. 

Jersey Metal includes an abundance of White’s outstanding, front-of-the stage and off-stage photography. White started photographing shows at age 12 in 1975. He daringly lied to his parents about his whereabouts and with his mom’s 35MM camera, caught a bus in a snowstorm to shoot Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden. 

Over the ensuing years, Frank’s work has appeared in countless, prominent magazines including Rolling Stone, Creem, Hit Parader, Circus, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Revolver, Decibel, Premiere Guitar, Metal Edge and RIP. He is a contributing photographer to the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame annual induction ceremony event.

Tecchio is a renowned vocal veteran of the Jersey metal scene. He has sung for stalwarts Hades, Non-Fiction, All Time Low and Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins, as well as Texas progressive metal wizards Watchtower

Alan began writing weekly columns in a local magazine in the early 1990’s while also honing his chops as a graphic designer. His eventual skill set turned out to be a perfect match to Frank’s photos, stories and overall concept for Jersey Metal, and the duo formed WT Publishing. 

The book takes readers on a guided tour of Jersey clubs, theaters and larger venues that played host to then-nascent bands like Metallica, Slayer, The Plasmatics, Twisted Sister and many more. These New Jersey iconic venues, many of which no longer exist, range from The China Club in northern New Jersey to The Union Jack in the State’s central environs to The Galaxy at the southern end of the Garden state. 

Jersey Metal presents events chronologically, so readers see the rise to fame of Jersey natives like Jon Bon Jovi, Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple), Overkill, Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne), Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake) and Hades.

There is a plethora of old-school band flyers and contributions from additional photographers. Through interviews with bands and fans, and Frank and Alan’s personal observations, the authors organize and structure the flow of the book in an enjoyablydigestible way.

“It is a metal blessing in disguise that our revised book has made this time period of our lives even bigger and better than before,” White said. 

Tecchio adds, “I think that this new, revised volume is more inclusive than the first one because we had room to add additional content having dropped the text size and removed some ads. Overall, I feel the book has more to offer and flows way better now.”

White and Tecchio are currently working hard on Volume Two of Jersey Metal, which should be completed in late summer/early fall of 2025. The second volume will cover the years 1987-2004. The eventual third and final volume will feature the NJ metal scene from 2005-2021. 

Jersey Metal can be found at jerseymetalbook.com and in select record stores in the Tri-State Area. 

Frank and Alan will be signing copies of Jersey Metal April 26th-28th at The Chiller Theatre Toy, Model and Film Expo in Parsippany.

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BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, “V,” SHARE FIRST SINGLE, “STAY FREE”

Black Country Communion, the supergroup featuring legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep PurpleBlack Sabbath), guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (The Circle, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream TheaterAlice CooperBilly Idol) will release its highly anticipated fifth studio album, V, on June 14tj. To celebrate, fans are treated to the immediate release of the album’s heavy funk lead single, Stay Free, on all major streaming platforms.

Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin ShirleyV marks a monumental chapter in the band’s storied career, embodying a renewed spirit and an evolution of their unmistakable sound. Shirley captures the essence of the band’s journey, stating, “For a band that started out as a collection of the best practitioners of their instruments, they very quickly found a unique sound. This time around, it has more purpose, the riffs are tougher, and there are hooks! Yes, hooks. It’s the most cohesive record, full of soul and grit, and I think this is the one that’s going to be the benchmark for Black Country Communion.” Glenn agrees, “In my opinion, we had the best time recording this record at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, tons of fun and a magical recording. Meet you inside the music.”

Stay Free, the lead single, is a powerhouse track that blends hard rock’s raw energy with a heavy dose of blues, channeling the spirit of legends like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. It sets the tone for what fans can expect from V — a testament to the band’s dynamic synergy and creative evolution.

Since their debut in 2010, Black Country Communion has delivered a series of critically acclaimed albums, each showcasing the group’s ability to fuse British blues-rock with American soul in a way that captivates audiences worldwide. Their return with V and the single Stay Free reaffirms their status as rock royalty and showcases their growth as musicians and storytellers.

The news follows the announcement of the band’s upcoming performance at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, March 17. This rare appearance will be the first live performance in America from the band in over 11 years. Presented by Joe Bonamassa‘s Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, all profits from the concert will be donated to support music education and musicians in need. The band is also set to appear on the Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea cruise, sailing from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico from March 18th-22nd.

V track Listing:

1.  Enlighten
2.  Stay Free
3.  Red Sun
4.  Restless
5.  Letting Go
6.  Skyway
7.  You’re Not Alone
8.  Love And Faith
9.  Too Far Gone
10. The Open Road

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