Def Leppard- 2 July 2021. As the famously one-armed drummer for Def Leppard,Rick Allen has provided the beat behind the multi-platinum ‘Pyromania’ and ‘Hysteria’ albums. An accomplished artist, he’s recently put down the sticks and taken up the paint brush, creating a series of critically acclaimed works that he’s preparing to exhibit with a special brace of shows. We sat down with Rick for an in-depth chat about his fine art, his playing style, and some rarely mentioned Def Leppard gems.
Helloween- 28 June 2021 For a certain generation, Michael Kiske, the man who fronted the ‘Keeper’-era is the voice of Helloween. For another, it’s founder Kai Hansen. For those who discovered them in the ‘90s, it’s long time singer Andi Deris. Putting the best of all three worlds together, the pumpkins united in 2017, and haven’t looked back since. We sat down with Michael for a chat about reuniting with Helloween, and working with Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith.
Eagle Eye Cherry- 17 June 2021. Exploding onto the scene in 1997 with monster worldwide hit ‘Save Tonight’, Eagle-Eye Cherry became an overnight success, something that he was keen to avoid, initially; “I’d seen my sister Neneh having this massive hit with ‘Buffalo Stance’, and I was like; “that’s not for me!”, he confesses as we get acquainted. Talking the track that launched his career, the album that followed it, and new single ‘I Like It’, we caught up with Eagle-Eye.
Dom Brown- 09 June 2021 Most famously the six stringer for Duran Duran for the past decade and a half, guitarist, singer, producer and all-rounder Dominic Brown is about to release his first solo set in eight years. “I was so inspired, and I so enjoyed writing lyrics and singing again”, he tells us as we sit down for an in depth chat. With a track by track breakdown, we go deep on the writing, recording, and story behind ‘In My Bones’.
Paul Gilbert - 4 June 2021. A chat with Paul Gilbert is almost indecently entertaining. In fact, it’s less of an interview, and more a loose conversation peppered with tales, observations, and awesome guitar licks from a man who clearly knows his way around a fret board. We sat down with Paul to chat new album ‘Werewolves of Portland’, his guitar preferences through the years, and the future for Mr. Big.
Fear Factory - 27 May 2021 It's been a trying few years for Fear Factory. Not only has a lengthy court case prevented any activity from the band since 2016, but it ultimately led to the departure of front man Burton C. Bell. In the unique position of promoting a record which features the departed Bell, we caught up with founder Dino Cazares to discuss 'Aggression Continuum', the events of the last few years, and how he ranks the Fear Factory discography.
D:ream- 5 May 2021. Consisting of DJ Al McKenzie, and frontman, singer, and song writer Peter Cunnah, D:ream achieved a brace of UK top 5 albums in the mid-nineties, as well as a domineering number one single in 'Things Can Only Get Better'. Reconvening for their first work in a decade, we sat down with Peter to discuss the band's return, song writing, the 90s' club scene, politics, and how dancing might just be the answer to deciding future elections.
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.
