Anthrax - 12 Apr 2021 Anthrax co-leader, and multi-instrumentalist, Charlie Benante has been a key member of the Big Four icons since their inception in 1981. Taking the past year of the pandemic to assemble a cast of musical friends to record ‘Silver Linings’, the collaborative covers set features an eclectic mix of tracks from the likes of U2, Massive Attack, Fleetwood Mac and more. We sat down with Charlie to chat the new album, his love of U2, and Anthrax’s plans for 2021.
Smith / Kotzen- 24 Mar 2021. Recorded on the Turks & Caicos Islands, Smith / Kotzen sees Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith team with The Winery Dogs’ Richie Kotzen for a set of modern, hooky blues rock. A collaboration between the two highly respected musicians, the pair share lead vocals and trade off on guitar and bass duties. We sat down with Richie for a chat about the album, delve into his guitar collection, and find out what’s happening with The Winery Dogs.
Tomahawk - 23 Mar 2021 Back after a nine year absence, Tomahawk's new album 'Tonic Immobility' is a supremely crafted set of focused, yet breathable alt rock songs, and the most accessible album of their two-decade career. "It sounds like four guys in a room, you know?", says bassist Trevor Dunn, as we sit down to chat. Talking the band's return, as well as the re-emergence of Mr. Bungle, and his numerous other projects, we caught up in business casual with Trevor.
Dennis Stratton- 16 Mar 2021. Although only a member of Iron Maiden for eleven months, Dennis Stratton’s impact on the nascent outfit cannot be underestimated. Introducing the harmony guitars that the band are now famous for, the guitarist’s mark is all over their historic self-tiled 1980 debut. Now a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee, we sat down with Dennis for a chat about the surprising announcement, the early days, and what he’s up to with Lionheart.
Toto - 3 Mar 2021 Joseph Williams has just returned with the almost entirely self-produced ‘Denizen Tenant’; an album that contains “the best example of just who I am as an artist”, says the Toto singer. Roping in a number of Toto members past and present, including David Paich and Steve Lukather, the album will be a real treat for fans of the hard rock giants. We sat down with Joseph for a chat about the album, his entry to and exit from the band in the 1980s, and more.
Toto - 19 Feb 2021. EXCLUSIVE: The past twelve months have brought testing times for Steve Lukather. As well as well-publicised legal troubles within Toto, he’s also lost dear friend Eddie Van Halen. Despite this however, he's in upbeat form, as attested on his radiant new solo release; “I’ve had a wild ride, man. I can’t be mad at nothing”, he declares. Chatting the solo album, Toto’s final days and future and more, we sat down for an extended chat with the one they call Luke.
Damon Johnson - 15 Feb 2021 Former Black Star Rider Damon Johnson is preparing to unleash not just a new album, but a brand new band. Introducing “power trio”Damon Johnson & the Get Ready, the guitarist is in upbeat form as we sit down to chat. “The fun part for me as a writer, is to come up with ideas and stories that people can relate to in their own life”, he tells us, of this latest step in a career. We caught up with Damon to chat ‘Battle Lessons’, Thin Lizzy’s future, and much more.
Pantera- 8 Feb 2021. EXCLUSIVE: After a spectacular run that witnessed Pantera become one of the biggest metal bands on the planet, the foursome parted ways – unexpectedly – for the final time in 2001. Of course getting there, there is a huge story to tell; from the earliest days of ‘Metal Magic’, to a Billboard No.1 album, and beyond. We caught up with bassist Rex Brown for an extended chat about the ‘Reinventing the Steel 20th Anniversary Edition’, and Pantera’s rise, fall, and legacy.
Michael Schenker - 28 Jan 2021 Bursting to fame with UFO in the 1970s, and coming in and out of the Scorpions along the way, Michael Schenker is gearing up to celebrate 50 years as a recording artist. “It’s a miracle, it really is”, he affirms as we sit down for a chat. Looking back over the successes of the last few years, Michael talks new album ‘Immortal’, the passing of Pete Way and Ted McKenna, and his brief reunion with UFO at the turn of the millennium.
Faith No More - 25 Jan 2021. EXCLUSIVE:‘King For a Day… Fool For a Lifetime’ is among Faith No More's most confrontational works. Recorded during a period of inner turmoil which followed the departure of guitarist Jim Martin, keyboard player Roddy Bottum was also largely absent due to a number of personal issues. From its' fraught creation, to the shows that saw it performed in full, almost two decades later, we get in-depth on ‘King For a Day’, in Part 2 of our audience with Trey Spruance.
Tesla- 22 Jan 2021 A founding member of Tesla, Brian Wheat has gone on to sell more than 14 million albums in the United States alone, in a career spanning more than three decades. It hasn’t however, all been plain sailing, as revealed in his new autobiography ‘Son of a Milkman: My Crazy Life With Tesla’. We sat down with Brian for a chat about the book, and the highs and lows of life with of Sacramento’s finest.
Mr. Bungle - 19 Jan 2021. EXCLUSIVE: Reconvening in late 2019 after almost two decades apart, Mr. Bungle's core of Trey Spruance, Trevor Dunn and Mike Patton are now joined by Slayer’s Dave Lombardo and Anthrax riff machine Scott Ian, in the newest incarnation of the band. Celebrating their rebirth, we sat down with Trey for an extended chat. In Part 1, it’s about all things Bungle.
Ricky Warwick- 21 Dec 2020 Best known these days as frontman of Black Star Riders, Ricky Warwick is preparing to release his latest solo album ‘Fighting Heart’. Touching on BSR’s plans, what’s in store for Thin Lizzy, and exclusively revealing plans for a career-spanning, all-inclusive box set from The Almighty, we find out what 2021’s got in store for the Newtownards native.
The Dead Daisies- 11 Dec 2020. Back with a new line-up featuring none other than Voice of RockGlenn Hughes, the Dead Daises have been positively rejuvenated. With the fruits of their labours in ‘Holy Ground’ set for a 2021 release, we sat down with Glenn and guitarist Doug Aldrich for an in-depth chat about the album, as well as Glenn’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Geezer Butler - 10 Nov 2020 EXCLUSIVE: With an unmistakable rumble that underpinned Black Sabbath's doomy dirge, Geezer Butler was also the lyricist that penned 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid', 'Children of the Grave' and more. Away from the Brummie legends, Geezer has made three albums with nephew Pedro Howse. We caught up with the hand of doom for a chat about all things GZR, working with Ozzy Osbourne's solo band, and the final years of Black Sabbath.
Snowy White- 4 Nov 2020. Beginning his career in the late '60s, Snowy White has been a member of Pink Floyd's extended touring line-up, Thin Lizzy, and a collaborator with Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green. We sat down with the guitarist for a chat about new album 'Something On Me', touring 'The Wall' with Floyd and Roger Waters, and his tenure with Ireland's greatest rock band.
David Coverdale (Part 2)- 2 Nov 2020 In our 2nd part of our EXCLUSIVEAn Audience with David Coverdale special, the head 'Snake talks Deep Purple's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, the passing of Eddie Van Halen, the bucket list guitarists he'd love to work with, and his farewell "appreciation and gratitude" Whitesnake tour.
David Coverdale (Part 1) - 30 Oct 2020. He may have a new brand new "mixtape" on the horizon, but in being granted a rare audience with David Coverdale, there is clearly much to discuss. In part one of our EXCLUSIVE chat, we talk about his journey with great guitar players, the new 'Love Songs' collection, his expansive plans to remix and reissue Whitesnake's later works, and his pride and joy in Coverdale Page.
Ken Hensley- 26 Oct 2020 As an integral part of the original incarnation of Uriah Heep, Ken Hensley's role in the band can not be overstated. As well as being co-responsible for their sound, the muiti-instrumentalist wrote most of the band's biggest tracks. Celebrating the release of Uriah Heep's career spanning '50 Years in Rock', we sat down with Ken for a chat about Heep's rise and fall, and working with Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P.
Nik Kershaw -24 Oct 2020. Singer, multi-instrumentalist and icon of the 1980s, Nik Kershaw has left an indelible mark on music culture with classics such as 'Wouldn't it be Good', and 'The Riddle'. Having just released perhaps his most personal album to date - the introspective 'Oxymoron' - we sat down with Nik for a chat about the set, guitar technique, and the gems that lie beneath the dust in his garage.
Burton C. Bell- 12 Oct 2020 It's been a turbulent few years for Burton C. Bell. With prolonged legalities preventing any activity from Fear Factory, the singer finally exited the group in October 2020 to concentrate fully on Ascension of the Watchers; a project he describes as ‘’soul without the machine’’. We caught up with Burt to talk his exit from FF, working with Geezer Butler, and the new album.
Slade -30 Sept 2020. With their unique blend of perfect pop-rock'n'roll, outrageous flamboyance and pure fun, Slade are a firm favourite in the hearts of fans all over the world. Coming on the back of the timely release of latest collection, we caught up with Jim Lea - multi-instrumentalist and co-writer of all of the band's biggest hits - for a chat about their glittering career.
Armored Saint- 19 Sept 2020 With another album of biting, contemporary metal, Armored Saint are clearly punching well within their weight when it comes to releasing quality music. "We’ve realised “okay, we can do anything”, saysJohn Bush, confidently. Talking ‘Punching the Sky', reconnecting with Charlie Benante, and hopes for a solo tour celebrating the best of his Anthrax era, we get in-depth with the Saint front man.
Jon Anderson -07 Sept 2020. Jon Anderson may have taken 30 years to complete his new album, but with an ensemble cast of former band mates including some Yes men, and Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson to name just a few, it’s been worth the wait. We caught up with Jon for a chat about ‘1000 Hands’, the success and failures of the ‘80s, and playing with Rush's Geddy Lee at the Rock Hall induction.
Iron Maiden - 14 Aug 2020 As the guitarist and songwriter behind countless Iron Maiden classics , Adrian Smith’s status is assured. What’s less well-known is his love of fishing, however he’s about to cast aside all doubts with the release of his first book; ‘Monsters of River & Rock’, which details a lifetime in angling all over the world. We sat down with Adrian for an EXCLUSIVE chat about the book, his Irish roots, song writing, and much more.