Review and photos by: Ali Williams There are certain artists that, regardless of their genre, you just can’t but help dig the noise they make. There are also certain venues that feel less like a room with a stage and more like a living, breathing organism once the lights go down and when the two […]

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HOLLYWOOD, CA — In a rare and revealing look behind the curtain of the rock and roll lifestyle, KORN drummer Ray Luzier has confessed that his commitment to sobriety cost him positions in “hugely famous” bands. Speaking to a packed audience of aspiring musicians at Musicians Institute (MI) for “Pearl Day,” Luzier—a graduate of the prestigious institution—detailed the brutal reality of the industry, where “partying” is often viewed as a job requirement, and how his refusal to use drugs became a barrier to entry before finding his permanent home.

TL;DR: The Key Takeaways

• Sobriety Over Gigs: Ray Luzier revealed he was fired from two massive, unnamed bands because he “didn’t party,” emphasizing that “longevity” was his ultimate goal.
• The Van Halen Connection: During his eight-year tenure with David Lee Roth, Luzier admitted to “pretending” to drink from a Jack Daniel’s bottle to fit in with the “bipolar maniac stuff.”
• KORN Longevity: Originally told by Fieldy in 2007 that KORN might only last “a year or two,” Luzier has seen the band’s popularity explode across three generations.
• Old School Recording: Luzier confirmed the band’s new record is being recorded to two-inch tape to avoid the “soul-sucking” perfection of modern AI and grid-locked production.

From Farm Boy to Global Icon: The Stay Humble Philosophy

Ray Luzier’s journey is the quintessential American dream for metalheads. Raised on a 118-acre farm in West Newton, Pennsylvania, an hour outside of Pittsburgh, Luzier moved to Los Angeles in 1988 with nothing but a relentless work ethic. Despite being one of the most respected drummers in the world, Luzier resists the “rock star” label, preferring to view himself as a humble musician who happens to reap the benefits of the industry.

“I’m just a guy that hangs out with rock stars,” Luzier told the MI students. “Stay humble. You never know what’s gonna happen.” He recalled joining KORN in 2007, a time when bassist Fieldy suggested the band’s shelf life was nearly over. Instead, Luzier has witnessed a massive resurgence, noting that KORN recently sold out South American stadiums in just 63 minutes. “You used to see fathers and sons… now you see grandpas and dads. It’s the coolest thing ever.”

We Also Recommend- Fieldy Finally Breaks Silence: Reveals the Real Reason Behind Korn Exit and Addresses “Retirement” Status

The “Drug Problem”: Losing Gigs for Staying Clean

The most shocking moment of the discussion came when Luzier addressed the dark side of the 1990s and 2000s rock scenes. While many musicians lose their careers to addiction, Luzier actually lost jobs because he wasn’t an addict.

“I’ve lost gigs because I didn’t do drugs. That’s a true story,” Luzier revealed. “I had two really big bands, and because I didn’t party, I got let go, and it was straight up.”

This pressure followed him into his eight-year stint with Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth. Luzier described a scene where bottles of Jack Daniel’s and drugs were constantly in rotation. Fearing he would lose another high-profile job, Luzier admitted to faking his participation. “A big old bottle of Jack Daniel’s… it hits my lips, but I don’t swallow it. I was like, ‘I’m one of you. Look at me.’” Eventually, Roth confronted him, but to Luzier’s surprise, the “Diamond Dave” persona masked a smart leader who actually wanted a sober drummer to “drive the ship.”

Grab Your 2026 Korn Tickets at this location.

Longevity and the Fight Against “AI Crap”

Luzier’s staunch anti-drug stance was fueled by seeing the decline of legends like the late Scott Weiland. Luzier, who filled in for Stone Temple Pilots for three shows, recalled the heartbreaking experience of seeing Weiland “so gone” during his 30th attempt at rehab. “I wanted longevity,” Ray emphasized. “I wanted to do this till I can’t pick a stick up anymore.”

That desire for authenticity extends to Luzier’s views on modern technology. He issued a blistering critique of current production trends and the encroachment of Artificial Intelligence in music. “This whole A.I. crap is driving me nuttzo,” Luzier said. “Country songs are charting… Play your damn instrument! Dave Grohl said it best: ‘Get in a garage and suck until you don’t suck anymore.’”

Luzier expressed frustration with the “grid-locked” sound of modern rock radio, stating that many bands sound identical because the “soul” has been sucked out by computers. In a move that will thrill purists, he confirmed that the upcoming KORN album is being recorded to two-inch analog tape, ensuring the raw, human imperfection that defined the band’s early sound remains intact.

Check This Out – All 14 Korn Albums Ranked Worst to Best (The Definitive Nu-Metal Guide)

FAQ: Ray Luzier and KORN News

• When did Ray Luzier join KORN? Ray Luzier joined KORN as a touring member in 2007 before becoming a permanent member in 2009.
• Who did Ray Luzier play for before KORN? Most notably, he spent eight years as the drummer for David Lee Roth and has worked with bands like Army of Anyone and Stone Temple Pilots.
• Is there a new KORN album coming? Yes. Luzier confirmed the band is currently recording their new album using traditional two-inch tape.

Band Bio: KORN

Formed in Bakersfield, California, in 1993, KORN is the definitive pioneer of the Nu-Metal genre. Led by frontman Jonathan Davis, the band’s innovative use of seven-string guitars and hip-hop influenced rhythms changed the face of heavy music. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide and two Grammy Awards, KORN remains a titan of the metal scene in 2026, continuing to bridge generational gaps with their visceral, emotionally charged sound.

STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of what’s happening in metal news today on the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast, or crank the hard rock and metal on our 24/7 Live digital stream.

The post FAKING THE FUN: KORN’s Ray Luzier Admits He “Pretended” to Party Just to Survive 8 Years With David Lee Roth appeared first on Loaded Radio.

REVIEW BY DAVID TAYLOR AND PHOTOS BY PETER AMISANO | Go Venue Magazine

Steelhouse in downtown Omaha was the place to be on Saturday, May 2, as Alter Bridge made their return to the metro area. The Alter Bridge devotees braved the craziness of the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting this weekend to see their favorite band play live.

Tim Montana from Montana was the opener. You never heard about singer-songwriter types in the hard rock world, but Tim Montana has been grinding for a long time in the country space that recently he has evolved his sound to that liking. He kind of reminded me of a trailer trash (respectfully) version of Dave Grohl, with his long hair and beard and rhythm guitar playing. He was name dropping like crazy though, telling us that Jerry Cantrell, Slash, and Billy Gibbons will be on his upcoming album. But what he performed were well written rock songs, so you have to give him that. The coolest thing he mentioned was his inclusion of some Native people from Montana on his upcoming album, how he had this relationship with them since he was a kid. Also, shout out to his guitar player for learning the New Line Cinema theme. It was a solid opening set to start the night.

Filter was up next. This was my second time seeing them live, having saw them open up for Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper in Lincoln in 2024. Richard Patrick’s project has been going for over thirty years and he brings it onstage. I felt the crowd was a little muted, but when they play the hits, it was like if they woken up. I feel like we don’t talk about Richard Patrick’s screams. He is an underrated screamer on Filter’s songs and sounded amazing during their performance. They are just one of those bands that don’t need a visually pleasing production. It’s about the music themselves. I’m glad Filter is still going strong and hope that Richard Patrick finds enjoyment of going out there to play live music. They have a new album coming out I’m assuming by the end of this year titled, The Antidote, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for news about that.

Alter Bridge was ready to melt Omaha’s faces. The last time I saw them was in August of 2023, which was right before Creed (the instrumentalists of Creed are in Alter Bridge) got back together. I’m glad they didn’t leave Myles Kennedy in the dust playing these big gigs in America with Creed because they really shine well with Myles at the front. And this was Alter Bridge’s first time playing Omaha proper, having only played Council Bluffs a couple times. The band sounded incredible inside the Steelhouse, with Myles even complementing how much he was impressed with it, so that bodes well for future tour dates. The new songs, including the lead single and set kickoff, “Silent Divide”, sounded great. I was so happy to hear the title track of their album, Fortress, be played live, the epic final track off that album. I will always be impressed by the musicianship on that stage, especially Myles Kennedy’s guitar playing who doesn’t get enough recognition for. And Mark Tremonti continues to be a beast of a guitar player, who also has great underrated rhythm guitar playing. I can now look forward to every Alter Bridge album cycle now that they have added the Omaha metro area to the lists of areas that have returned to.

Alter Bridge

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Filter

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Tim Montana

[See image gallery at www.govenuemagazine.com] All photos by Peter Amisano

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The post Alter Bridge brought the house down at the Steelhouse Omaha appeared first on Go Venue Magazine.

If you haven’t checked out Italian prog rock band Karmamoi yet, their 7th album, Eternal Mistake, is your opportunity. Taking inspiration from bands like latter-day Porcupine Tree, which blend edgy riffs with emotion and lush arrangements, this quartet has plenty of musical muscle alongside intriguing lyrical ideas. Indeed, Eternal Mistake is a concept album set not very far into the future, where a romance between a human and a humanoid is possible. Taking the template of Frankenstein and adding a dash of romance, we explore a few of the profound themes surrounding AI and its implications for emotions, soul, and love. 

Given the subject material, it’s refreshing to see the disclaimer “AI-Free Statement: Music, Lyrics, Arrangements, Mixing, and Artwork of ‘Eternal Mistake’ are AI-free” boldly declared at the outset. Hopefully, many bands will adopt this approach too, and keep our music human-made. (Though what then comes to mind are the many 70s Queen albums which proudly declared being made devoid of synths…only to later swing dramatically in the opposite direction. Machines…back to humans!)

Whether you’re looking for a creative, futuristic concept storyline or not, Eternal Mistake has plenty to offer from a musical perspective as well. Impressively, the album launches with one banger track after another. Aside from the melodic hooks, what stands out most are the thickly layered arrangements, which juxtapose emotional vocal delivery with chordal progressions that suck you in. 

Singer Valerio Sgargi thankfully has a great set of pipes, which are able to even lend an occasional operatic flair when the storyline requires it, a la Devin Townsend or Damian Wilson. With vocals often being the weak link for modern prog bands, it’s gratifying to savor the power and assuredness of a strong singer. Sgargi, who also plays keys and guitar, collaborates with drummer/keyboardist Daniele Giovannoni on all of the material, and apparently, they are a strong team together because the resulting songs deliver time and time again. The band is rounded out by Alex Massari on guitars and Alessandro Cefalì on bass, both of whom bring a confident attitude and performance. It’s a dynamite collection of musicians, occasionally augmented by guest cameos.

The downside of a concept piece like this is that it can take itself a little too seriously, and at times, that can become overbearing or just corny. For the most part, this element only crops up during the bookends: the short opening narrated intro and the closing track. Don’t let them dissuade you, as there’s plenty of gold in between. “Lara Is Your Name” is a dramatic first proper song, bestowing our humanoid with her identity and providing a killer groove in which to do so. Giovannoni’s command of the drum kit is quickly apparent and is well engineered by Fabio Ferri. Throughout the album, Ferri utilizes some very cool techniques in his mix, which don’t distract but rather elevate the listening experience. 

The next track, “Don’t Knock On The Door,” begins with a moody atmosphere but turns out to be a favorite on the album, so strong are its melodies and textures, not to mention Sgargi’s vocal impact. Sgargi and Giovannoni understand how to build a track over time, and the payoff is huge. “I’m Not On Your Side” picks up the pace with rough edges and a welcome slam on Trump’s egoistic bravado. But then we’re back to a mellow acoustic intro for “Nothing But”, proving that Karmamoi can succeed in all extremes of their dynamic range, as the song builds with a hypnotic performance over 10 minutes in length. 

The existential dilemma of the story starts to dive deeper on the subsequent tracks with titles like “The Mirror”, “No Soul”, “The Question”, and the title track. Humanoid Lara wrestles with the inevitable questions of what home, love, and soul really mean for an artificial entity, especially in the context of a relationship. It’s an ideal backdrop for Sgargi to let it rip vocally, especially on “No Soul”, which even gets bluesy tones added to the mix, including Massari’s killer guitar soloing. One of the album’s best. 

The tension continues building through an incredible duet with Susanna Brigatti on “We Are Going Home”, another highlight. Wow. Simply gorgeous. This could easily be the finale of the album, as it is such a fulfilling song and feels like a crescendo, but the band continues with the 10-minute “Hero”, finding Giovannoni going to town on the drum kit. 

The band’s attraction to Steven Wilson’s imprint is evident in their music – including the drumming – but they go a step further by inviting Adam Holzman and Randy McStine to cameo for keyboard and guitar solos, respectively. While a cool tip of the hat to these wizards, it also must be said that it feels unnecessary. To their credit, the band’s personnel has enough chops that they don’t really need any outside influence, and so it’s a little bit of a distraction. But it must have been satisfying for them to get that inclusion from these musicians, so no foul there.  

Unfortunately, the album starts to deliver diminishing returns towards the end. Rather than choosing to close on the emotionally bonding note of “We Are Going Home”, the band instead ends the album with a track called “No Fucking Way”. Okay, then. Perhaps they felt the storyline had to continue this far, but to these ears it would have been a stronger album if the ending came a little sooner, with one or two fewer tracks. As it is, the album runs 104 minutes, which just feels a bit long. 

Still, the ending doesn’t take away from the strength of the album as a whole. Eternal Mistake is unquestionably a success, despite what its title implies. This is an album that deserves to be discovered by the prog masses, a gem of ’26. 

Release Date: April 17th, 2026
Record Label: Independent
Genre: Progressive Rock

Musicians:

• Daniele Giovannoni / Drums, keyboards, backing vocals
• Valerio Sgargi / Vocals, keyboards, guitars
• Alex Massari / Guitars
• Alessandro Cefalì / Bass

Eternal Mistake Tracklist:

1. The Regrets
2. Lara Is Your Name
3. Don’t Knock On The Door
4. I’m Not On Your Side
5. Nothing But
6. The Mirror
7. No Soul
8. Eternal Mistake
9. The Question – We Are Going Home
10. HERO
11. Passing Away
12. No Fucking Way

Order the album here.

The post KARMAMOI – Eternal Mistake (Album Review) appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin has addressed his retirement from the band in a May 1 livestream on his official YouTube channel, describing his exit as a warm and mutual parting after the tour behind Lighting Up The Sky. He said (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “With the Godsmack thing, I tell you, people, it ended beautifully, and there were no hard feelings. And Godsmack 2.0 is coming, with Wade Murff on the drums and Sam Koltun on guitar. And it’s gonna be badass, ’cause I know [Godsmack frontman] Sully Erna, and he’s badass, and he’ll make a badass record. And Godsmack will persevere, 2.0. And no hard feelings on this side, because it’s all love.”

Larkin also put his 40-year career in perspective and spoke to the depth of his friendship with Erna: “The touring — I’ve been touring for 40 years. It was the greatest years of my life. Until it wasn’t. And so I stopped. And it was okay. And Sully understood, ’cause he knew me from the Wrathchild days, since 1986, [198]7, we met. That’s for real. There were no cell phones or the Internet, people. We wrote our numbers down after having met one another, and stayed in touch for 17 years before I joined Godsmack. So, we were friends way before that, and so now we’re friends way beyond that. And that’s important, I think, especially in moving on.”

In April 2025, Erna released a statement confirming that Larkin and guitarist Tony Rombola had left Godsmack “on good terms, but for no other reason than to fulfill their desire to live a simpler and quieter life away from touring.” Erna and bassist Robbie Merrill subsequently recruited Evanescence drummer Will Hunt and Dorothy guitarist Sam Koltun for a European tour in the spring of 2025.

Godsmack released a live album and Blu-ray, Live At Mohegan Sun, on May 1 via Primary Wave. Captured during the band’s sold-out Oct. 26, 2024, performance at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, the release marks the final show of the classic Godsmack lineup of Erna, Rombola, Merrill, and Larkin.

During an April 23 appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” Erna officially introduced Wade Murff as the band’s new permanent drummer. He said, “Sam‘s on board now full-time, and he’s gonna be the new player from this point forward. And the drummer that we chose, his name is Wade Murff. He’s worked with Daughtry and some other acts. A fairly under-the-radar kind of guy. A strong player. A great dude.” Erna added, “I really feel that the fans will be able to come and enjoy the music as they have always known it, because it won’t sound foreign to them, like there’s a new singer singing Godsmack stuff.”

Based in Los Angeles, Murff began playing the drums at age 4. He cites Led Zeppelin‘s John Bonham and Van Halen‘s Alex Van Halen as his early rock inspirations, and Slayer‘s Dave Lombardo and Pantera‘s Vinnie Paul Abbott as the players who drove him toward heavy music. His touring credits include Daughtry, Prong, Sebastian Bach, Orgy, and Doyle (of The Misfits).

Promoted by Live Nation, Godsmack‘s “The Rise Of Rock” 2026 North American tour — featuring Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy as special guests — kicks off May 10 in Bristow, Virginia, and wraps Sept. 26 at Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater in Nampa, Idaho, with stops in Austin, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, and California.

Larkin joined Godsmack in 2002 after years with Wrathchild (later Wrathchild America and Souls At Zero) and Ugly Kid Joe. Rombola had served as the band’s lead guitarist since the mid-1990s. Godsmack‘s most recent studio album, Lighting Up The Sky, came out in February 2023 via BMG, co-produced by Erna and Andrew “Mudrock” Murdock (Avenged Sevenfold, Alice Cooper).

The post SHANNON LARKIN Says SULLY ERNA Understood His Decision To Retire From GODSMACK: “It Ended Beautifully, And There Were No Hard Feelings” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Armored Saint bassist and longtime Fates Warning member Joey Vera says he remains hopeful that the progressive metal band will play live again, despite no concrete plans on the horizon. In a new interview with George Dionne on The Rock Is George podcast, Vera said (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Man, I wish I had an answer for you… I don’t have any news on that, and I’m bummed about that because I do get asked about it a lot. And I’m still in touch with Jim [Matheos, Fates Warning guitarist] and with Ray [Alder, Fates Warning singer]. We text each other. And we’re sort of, like, ‘Hey, we miss you guys. Let’s go out and do this again.’ And they’re, like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.’ Well, everybody’s busy, which is kind of true. Everybody’s doing other things at the moment.”

Vera continued: “But I haven’t given up. I would love to do more shows. And I know that offers is coming in from promoters, ’cause sometimes they come to me. And I’m, like, ‘Hey, man, I got no pull here. You gotta go to the booking agents, and you gotta go to Matheos and Ray.’ But the interest is still there, and I hope that one of these days I can have something better to tell you.”

Four years ago, Vera told VWMusic about how he came to join Fates Warning: “I’d been friends with Jim Matheos and the guys since 1984. In fact, they asked me to fill in for Joe DiBase back in 1989, when he had a family emergency during their No Exit tour — I flew out and played four shows on the East Coast. One day, I got a call from Jim in 1996, and he asked me if I wanted to play on their new album. I said, ‘Hell yes.’ I didn’t know then that I’d still be working with them after all these years, but it’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done.”

In February 2024, Alder told The Metal Gods Meltdown that Matheos has no interest in writing new Fates Warning music: “Jim doesn’t wanna write any more music for the band. I think he just kind of feels it wouldn’t be honest — he wouldn’t be honest with himself or to the fans. He’s just really not into it at the moment. Maybe he becomes inspired or bored. I don’t know. We’ll see.”

In May 2023, Alder elaborated to Rock Hard magazine: “With Fates Warning, after we did the last album and Jim saying he doesn’t wanna write any more Fates Warning music, I have to do something. I’m a singer. Music is my life.” Alder also noted that future touring remains complicated by scheduling: drummer Bobby Jarzombek is now the full-time drummer for country star George Strait, who does one-off shows rather than extended tours. Fates Warning last performed live in April 2019, closing out a North American tour.

Fates Warning formed in Hartford, Connecticut, in the early 1980s around vocalist John Arch, releasing three albums that shaped progressive metal — Night On Bröcken (1984), The Spectre Within (1985), and Awaken The Guardian (1986) — before Arch departed and was replaced by Alder. Vera has held the bass chair since 1996. The band’s most recent studio album, Long Day Good Night, was released in 2020.e.

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Out May 8, 2026 Via Equal Vision Records/ Civilians Words by: Arlena Laessaari In a punk scene where lineups change constantly, sticking together for 24 years is a massive achievement. Canadian punk veterans The Flatliners, from Richmond Hill, Ontario, are living proof of that stability. The four lifelong friends Chris Cresswell, Scott Brigham, Jon Darbey, […]

Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted has publicly revealed that he was diagnosed with throat cancer in May 2025 and has since been given a clean bill of health. Speaking on an upcoming episode of Dean Delray‘s “Let There Be Talk” podcast, the 63-year-old Newsted said (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “In one week, it’s gonna be a year. On May 8th of 2025, I underwent a procedure for throat cancer. And so they took a bunch of stuff out of there, and then they went in with lasers and took a bunch of stuff out. So the cavern inside my head is different from it was, but we got it early. And I got my ‘free and clear’ about three weeks ago. So I beat it.”

“I didn’t feel any different [before being diagnosed]. I had a little bit of an earache and a jawache. And my singing was being affected a bit,” Newsted recounted. “In February of last year, I was [hosting] my brother and his wife [at my home] here in Florida,” he continued. “They were visiting. And I felt [a lump on my neck], and then [my wife Nicole‘s] sitting next to me, and she goes, ‘What is that?’ And I go, ‘Um, hmm.’ So I went in next week, got everything checked out. The doctor calls and says — Instead of just telling you what’s up, he says, ‘You need to come in.’ That’s not good. And so I went in, and he dropped it. And I’m, like, ‘Who are you talking to? What, what, what? [I’m] Superman. Fuck you. There’s no way, man. Shit bounces off me. What are you talking about? That’s not how it is.’ I expected [something like that to happen] maybe 20 years from now or something.”

“But then I started thinking about it. And our accelerated lifestyle [when I was still in Metallica]. And what we were talking about before, with the big tours, you’re doing a couple of hundred 20 shows a year for a few years in a row, these types of things. Those touring years are dog years. Those are four or five into one, really, if you put the math down and the taxing on your cells and three flights a day and ‘expand, contract’ however many times. That kind of shit, it’ll get you. So I was trying to reason — of course you’re always trying to fucking reason, like, ‘What’s that [about]?’ And I go, ‘Wait a minute. What about my boy, my boy, my boy, my boy, my boy, my boy?’ — all across, all our comrades. No need to name-drop. All those [other musicians] that are [at the same level or higher], homie hit it way harder than I ever would’ve hit it. He’s still fucking smoking. What? Me? Wait a second, man. What the fuck?’ And then they told me what it was, and they’re very easy to define. And that’s my advantage in this,” he elaborated.

Newsted said the illness prompted the first real period of rest in his life — and a full sobriety he would never have chosen voluntarily: “I promised myself I was going to rest, and that was the first time I’ve done that in my life. There’s no way, with my arrogant, spoiled ass, that I would’ve stopped smoking weed, that I would’ve stopped drinking, that I would’ve stopped doing all the things. But the great spirit got my attention and said, ‘That’s not good right now, man.’ And so now I’m more clear-headed than I’ve been in my entire adult life. And so there are blessings within everything. The lemonade I’m making this summer, bro — sweet.”

Newsted simultaneously announced the first-ever North American headlining tour with Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band — an 18-date run from July 1 through July 25, 2026. The tour opens at Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts, and closes with a two-night stand at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 24-25. Ten of the dates are in support of Blackberry Smoke.

Stops include Albany, New York; Alexandria, Virginia; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Columbus, Ohio, among others across the South, Midwest, and East Coast. The 2026 lineup features Jesse Farnsworth on guitar and vocals, Jimbo Hart on bass and vocals, Humberto Perez on guitar, and Robert John-Tucker on drums and vocals.

When the tour was announced in April, Newsted said, “I’ve realized that this is where I can place my energy effectively now. The Chophouse Band plays everything from bluegrass to fucking slabs of metal. We’re covering a lot of ground. There could be a country flavor to a song, but it’ll still have sharp teeth. We are looking forward to an exciting summer!”

Named after Newsted‘s four recording studios across the U.S., The Chophouse Band has existed since 1992, when Newsted founded The Chophouse Records Studio in San Francisco. The band has performed periodically at benefit shows supporting veterans’ relief, animal rehabilitation, and youth music education. Newsted has described the sound as rooted in bluegrass, folk, soul, rock, and metal.

Newsted left Metallica in 2001 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo in 2009. He shelved his heavy metal solo project Newsted in 2014 after two years, saying it had cost him “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

The post JASON NEWSTED Reveals He Battled Throat Cancer And Is Now Cancer-Free: “I Beat It — I Got My ‘Free And Clear’ About Three Weeks Ago” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

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The Ballad Of Judas Priest, the official documentary chronicling the 50-plus-year history of the metal legends, received its North American premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto on April 26. Following the screening, co-director Sam Dunn spoke to Now Toronto about one of the film’s most fraught negotiations: securing the participation of former Judas Priest guitarist Kenneth “K.K.” Downing. Dunn said, “The big one for Tom [Morello] was getting K.K. Downing involved. It was tricky at first attempt, because, obviously, he’s not in the band [anymore]. There’s still some animosity there, and, genuinely, it took some work to get K.K. on board. Frankly, I don’t know if Morello, if he hadn’t been there, it might have been a much, much bigger challenge. Tom Morello‘s a massive fan of the band, a big fan of K.K.‘s playing, so he really connected with K.K. and got him over the line. So, that’s a whole other story that wasn’t in the film.”

Dunn explained the limits on what Downing could address on camera: “There are still outstanding legal issues with K.K. and the band. This is the honest answer. And, so there’s a lot of caution exercised on both sides around what got said. We had to move through it without digging into all the details because it’s still fresh, still raw.”

On the decision not to include former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens — who fronted the band between 1996 and 2003 while Rob Halford pursued a solo career — Dunn said: “No. Controversial response, Judas Priest fans. Again, so much story. We wanted to obviously reference Tim, but it’s tricky. Not to get in the weeds, but in a story of this scale, when you’re into the second, third, or third quarter of the story, it’s like what to [include] and what not to [include] become big questions.”

In February 2026, Halford told Germany’s Metal Hammer that including Downing in the documentary was essential: “I think that the love and respect that we still have for each other is still there. And the fact that he’s as important to Judas Priest now as he was then in telling the story, it had to be that way — because he was there at the very beginning, before I even personally joined the band. The fact that we still play a lot of songs that K.K. wrote with me and with Glenn [Tipton] — it’s really important and vital. And I think it sends a message out to the fans that even though there is a separation, that respect for each other is important.”

Pressed on the possibility of a reunion, Halford said: “When you go to work with music, you really have to wanna get on that stage. You can’t hold anything back. You have to be there for the right reasons. If you’re not up there for the right reasons, then you don’t really have the right to be on that stage — you can’t just be going through the motions. And if you’re not feeling that, then you do what K.K. did.”

The Ballad Of Judas Priest received its world premiere at the 76th Berlinale International Film Festival in February. The film is a Banger Films production co-directed by Dunn and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, Prophets Of Rage), produced by Scot McFadyen and Dunn, and presented and distributed by Sony Music Vision.

Downing left Judas Priest in 2011 amid claims of internal conflict and was replaced by Richie Faulkner. In his 2018 autobiography Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest, Downing described sending two resignation letters — one measured, one furious — and later acknowledged the angrier letter as likely the reason he was never invited to return. He told Classic Rock magazine that the frustration behind it stemmed from guitarist Glenn Tipton‘s close relationship with manager Jayne Andrews, which he had resented since 1985.

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 15 years ago and announced in early 2018 that he would sit out touring in support of Firepower. He has been replaced on the road by producer and guitarist Andy Sneap — also known for his work with NWOBHM revivalists Hell and cult thrashers Sabbat. Judas Priest‘s current touring lineup is Halford, bassist Ian Hill, Faulkner, Sneap, and drummer Scott Travis. The band received the Musical Excellence Award at the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony; the inductees included Downing, Hill, Halford, Tipton, Travis, and late drummers Les Binks and Dave Holland.

The post “The Ballad Of JUDAS PRIEST” Co-Director SAM DUNN On Getting K.K. DOWNING Involved: “It Was Tricky — There Are Still Outstanding Legal Issues” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.