Over the years there have been several rumors surrounding late guitar legends Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen who both emerged from the Los Angeles music scene in the late 1970s, and Andrew Klein, the co-author of the Randy Rhoads Coffee Table Book, has shared his views on some of the stories.
Eddie with Van Halen were gaining attention on the Sunset Strip and Randy was making a name for himself with Quiet Riot in the 1970s with Van Halen landing a record deal and releasing their debut album in 1978, and Randy landing his gig with Blizzard of Ozz, the band former by Ozzy Osbourne following his departure from Black Sabbath that released their debut "Blizzard of Ozz" in 1980. (continue)
New Model Army announce their upcoming live album, Live SO36, to be released on March 28 on earMUSIC. Raw, unfiltered, and brimming with energy, Live SO36 captures New Model Army at their most visceral. This is the full electrifying performance, recorded on July 16, 2022 at Berlin's legendary SO36 venue, with 19 Songs, mixing both fan-favouites such as "The Hunt," "Vengeance," and "Poison Street" with rarer songs from all eras of their long history - and can be seen as a companion piece to their 2023 live release Sinfonia, which had been recorded the day before.
"When the idea of doing a New Model Army concert with a full orchestra at Berlin's magnificent Tempodrom venue was first floated, we had a thought: That if we were going to do something so extravagant, we should also do the exact opposite on the same weekend. So, we booked the following two evenings at Berlin's legendary Punk Rock sweatbox, the SO36 in Kreuzberg, and returned to being the simplest, stripped-down version of New Model Army we could be - without orchestra, keyboards, or double drums. (continue)
Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter/Producer Ricky Byrd, a 2015 inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, is set to release his fourth and most personal album yet, the aptly named NYC Made (Wicked Cool Records) on March 28, 2025.
A tribute to the Bronx-born, Queens-raised rock and devoted Yankee fan's nights listening to the Top 40 radio of his youth, the first single, "Transistor Radio Childhood," will be available on January 24, the same day pre-release orders begin for the album, available on vinyl, CD and all streaming sites March 28. The single pays homage to the melting pot AM radio of the '60s and '70s, with nods to his beloved Yankees and WABC DJ Cousin Brucie, The Beach Boys (the "ba-ba-ba-ba of "Barbara Ann"), The Kinks ("You Really Got Me"), Paul Revere and a lyrical bow to Otis Redding (" I've sat on the dock of the bay, Otis whistlin' in my ear ")Additionally, the track is The Coolest Song in the World in The Underground Garage the week of release. (continue)
Bonfire are thrilled to release their highly anticipated new studio album, 'Higher Ground', out now via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate, BONFIRE have released a visualizer for the new single, the title track of the record, available to view below.
Guitarist Hans Ziller describes the new single, by saying: "'Higher Ground' is the title track from the new album. It features crunchy guitar riffs with a pulsing rhythm in classic BONFIRE powerhouse style. All fans of real melodic anthems will love this track!" (continue)
Lucero lead singer Ben Nichols and keyboardist Rick Steff release Lucero Unplugged, a special double album revisiting songs from the Memphis band's 25-year catalog. The pair also share a live video of "Texas & Tennessee" recorded during the Unplugged sessions. A fan-favorite that was originally released as the title track to Lucero's 2013 EP, the song gets reimagined in Matt Ross-Spang's Memphis studio with a honky tonk piano solo and sparse acoustic guitar.
Lucero Unplugged evolved out of the uniqueness and intimacy of the live acoustic shows Nichols and Steff would sometimes perform together. Recorded in a single day with longtime collaborator and producer Matt Ross-Spang, the songs range from some of Lucero's most popular crowd favorites to more obscure rarities and were all recorded live with grand piano and acoustic guitar. The pair have already shared new, stripped-down versions of "That Much Further West," which was originally released as the title track of Lucero's 2003 album, and "In Lonesome Times" from the band's celebrated debut The Attic Tapes. (continue)
Alt rockers VIOLET NIGHT have released their new single "Does It Even Matter?". Produced by Father Bobby Townsend (JESSIA, Margo, Laur Elle) and Randor Lin (Our Lady Peace, Bishop Briggs), the new single ushers in the start of a new era for VIOLET NIGHT and more music to come in 2025.
On the new single, vocalist/guitarist Connor Pohl shares: "'Does It Even Matter?' is about my tendency to romanticize the past, even the tough moments (like weeks of sleeplessness) that somehow look beautiful in retrospect, through rose-coloured glasses." (continue)
Fans do not have to wait until Valentine's Day to get the new orchestral version Billy Morrison and Ozzy Osbourne's "Gods Of Rock N Roll" featuring Steve Stevens, as it is offered as an instant download for pre-orders of the Deluxe Edition of "The Morrison Project".
Billy took to social media to share the news that the pre-order now includes instant access to "Gods Of Rock N Roll" as well as the demo version of his chart topping collaboration with Ozzy, "Crack Cocaine". (continue)
The Doors' Robby Krieger has announced that they will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic band by playing a series of special shows at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, Ca.
The band shared via social media, "To celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Doors, Robby Krieger will perform five unforgettable shows at the iconic Whisky a Go Go, each showcasing a full performance of a different Doors album." (continue)
Shinedown announce the release of not one but two singles "Three Six Five" and "Dance, Kid, Dance" via Atlantic Records. Releasing not only two singles to kick off 2025, the band are also celebrating their US tour "Dance, Kid, Dance".
Speaking on the two new songs and the "Dance, Kid, Dance" tour frontman Brent Smith said: "We needed to approach everything different this time... The last two albums were both conceptual so it was important for us to really ask ourselves creatively where do we want to go. The answer to that was we want to go everywhere so there was no specific direction. We just started writing, and let the new songs guide us. I also think we stopped saying "why" and started saying "why not?." When we were thinking about touring, we had certain artists in mind. Instead of being of the mindset that they wouldn't want to come out to tour with us, we just asked them -- and they said yes. Honestly, it's quite humbling, we are extremely excited for this new chapter, and tour. SO LET'S GO!!!!" (continue)
Bury Tomorrow have shared their new single "Let Go", which serves as the third preview of the recently announced LP, Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience, and looks set to continue stoking the furnace of a fanbase already burning brightly.
On "Let Go," the band table perhaps the biggest addition to their sonic approach to date, whilst still maintaining their signature savagery. Drum and bass beats collide with breakdowns, as aggressive vocals interweave in and around the tempo in a spoken word delivery, reinforced by stadium-sized choruses. (continue)
H.E.A.T light up 2025 with the announcement of their brand-new studio album Welcome to the Future, set for release on April 25 on earMUSIC. The first single "Disaster," is guaranteed to snap listeners out of their winter sleep.
The track comes with an explosive music video that merges '80s arcade aesthetics with metal madness, directed by the renowned Patric Ullaeus (known for his work with Europe, Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, and many more rock superstars). (continue)
Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dion DiMucci has released his new single, "New York Minute," now available on all streaming platforms. To celebrate his new book Dion: The Rock 'n' Roll Philosopher, the song arrives as a nostalgic ode to Dion's lifelong love affair with New York City and his wife, Susan, to whom he has been married for over 60 years.
"New York Minute" encapsulates Dion's signature sound and is yet another testament to Dion's ability to craft songs that resonate across generations, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest songwriters in rock and roll history. (continue)
Renowned guitarist and composer Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal is back with a brand-new instrumental album, 'Bumblefoot ...Returns!'. Thirty years after his debut solo instrumental album, BUMBLEFOOT revisits his roots with a 14-track masterpiece that spans genres from metal to orchestral to blues.
Alongside the album's release, BUMBLEFOOT is pleased to present the "Simon In Space" retro space-shooter video game. The game serves as an accompaniment to the album's first single of the same. It follows his cat, Simon, on his adventures through space. "Simon In Space" is now available on PC and Android. (Apple coming soon). (continue)
World's First Cinema released their first single of 2025, "Paranoid," via Fearless Records. The Los Angeles-based duo - John Sinclair and Fil Thorpe - continue to push cinematic boundaries with their new track through storytelling as listeners embark on a lyrical and hypnotic journey that builds momentum throughout. It all comes together at the climactic bridge that will turn heads and have you looking over your shoulder.
This new single comes just after the release of two other tracks to close out 2024 - the striking song "The Underneath" and the anthemic baroque pop song "Freak Show." (continue)
More World's First Cinema News
Melodic punk group Bridge The Gap has announced their forthcoming sophomore album Gainsayer. Set to be released on April 11th via Double Helix Records, in concert with their global distribution partners SBAM Records and Pee Records, Gainsayer features recent single "In The Throes" as well as their brand-new track "Brothers".
"The focus on Gainsayer was songwriting and melody, as opposed to displays of virtuosity that don't serve the song," shares vocalist/guitarist Chad Jensen. "There are plenty of riffs and killer drums, but we wanted to deliver a well-written, melodic tour de force that grabs the listener from the first track and never lets up. Bill and The Blasting Room boys were crucial in helping us cover our goals." About "Brothers", he adds: "This is song about loss and madness." (continue)
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