Rise Against, the long-running Chicago alternative punk outfit, is set to headline a short run of spring shows across Canada and the United States in 2026. Joining them on the road will be Destroy Boys, who will serve as support for the trek.
The tour begins on March 3, 2026, with a stop at The Strand in Providence, Rhode Island. From there, Rise Against will bring their high-energy performances and socially aware songwriting to a mix of major cities throughout North America, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Madison, and Spokane, with more dates planned along the way.
Tickets are scheduled to go on sale Friday, December 12, at 10 a.m. local time, and fans will be able to purchase them through here.
Few bands have ever been as accurately named as the Chicago punk quartet. It goes on to reflect on how, even as trends come and go, Rise Against have remained a north star of artful resistance. Over the past 25 years, they have continued to evolve their sound without losing the rebellious core that first defined them, building a catalog that mirrors the changing social landscape. The original text adds that their music blends “melodic hardcore detonations” with stark commentary about “the looming dystopia,” creating the tension that has become central to their identity.
Triumph, one of Canada’s most revered and influential rock bands, proudly announces their first tour in 30 years with the Triumph 50th Anniversary Tour, produced by Live Nation – an expansive 2026 North American run celebrating five decades of musical excellence, pioneering stagecraft, and a legacy that continues to inspire fans worldwide.
“Our fans have always been the heart of Triumph. Their energy, their belief, and the way they embraced the positivity in our music have carried us for fifty years. We’ve always said these songs were meant to bring people together – and that’s exactly why we’re coming back now. We knew there was still a chapter left to write. This tour is our chance to do it, together with the people who made the Triumph journey possible.”
Tickets for the Triumph 50th Anniversary Tour with special guest April Wine, will be available beginning with a presale running from Wednesday, December 10, through Thursday, December 11, giving fans early access to seats. American Express® Card Members in Canada can purchase tickets before the general public, beginning Wednesday, December 10, at 10 am local time through Thursday, December 11, at 11:59 pm local time. The general on-sale follows on Friday, December 12 at 10 am local time at this location.
Triumph has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold will support SoundsUnite – the music community for learning, wellness, and creativity – anywhere, anytime, any device.
Formed in Mississauga in 1975, Triumph – Rik Emmett (guitar, vocals), Mike Levine (bass, keyboards), and Gil Moore (drums, vocals)– rose from playing high school auditoriums and rock n’ roll bars to selling out iconic arenas, from Toronto’s famed Maple Leaf Gardens to Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Their virtuosic musicianship, soaring vocals, and dazzling, high-production live shows helped define an era of arena rock. Blending hard rock power with progressive ambition, Triumph has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and earned multiple gold and platinum certifications, building a global following through headline tours and landmark festival performances, including the 1983 US Festival before 500,000 fans.
With hits like “Lay It on the Line,” “Magic Power,” and “Fight the Good Fight” – combined with pioneering stage productions featuring pyrotechnics, laser lighting, and theatrical flair – Triumph became an arena rock legends, securing a permanent place in Canadian and international rock history.
The band’s return to the road follows a defining year honouring Triumph’s impact across generations. In June 2025, the band was celebrated with Magic Power: All-Star Tribute to Triumph (Round Hill Records, June 6, 2025), a 15-track tribute album featuring rock luminaries such as Phil X, Sebastian Bach, Slash, Nancy Wilson, Joey Belladonna, Dee Snider, LawrenceGowan, Deen Castronovo, Alex Lifeson, Jeff Keith, Mickey Thomas, and produced by the world-renowned Mike Clink (Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, Whitesnake).
Further solidifying their celebrated status, Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in October, a prestigious honour recognizing their enduring influence, masterful songwriting, and contributions to Canada’s cultural legacy. This induction adds to their long list of accolades, which includes membership in the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame (2007), the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (2008), and Canada’s Walk of Fame (2019).
Canadian Tour Dates
04/22 — Sault Ste. Marie, ON — GFL Memorial Gardens 04/24 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena 04/25 — Hamilton, ON — TD Coliseum 04/28 — Halifax, NS — Scotiabank Centre 04/29 — Moncton, NB — Avenir Centre 05/01 — Laval, QC — Place Bell (Montreal) 05/02 — Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre 05/05 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre 05/07 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place 05/08 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
US Tour Dates
05/13 – Rosemont, IL | Rosemont Theatre (Chicago) 05/14 – Milwaukee, WI | Miller High Life Theatre 05/16 – Kansas City, MO | Starlight Theatre 05/17 – St. Louis, MO | Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 05/20 – Irving, TX | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory (Dallas) 05/21 – San Antonio, TX | Frost Bank Center 05/22 – Houston, TX | Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land 05/24 – Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre 05/26 – Atlanta, GA | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park 05/28 – Camden, NJ | Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (Philadelphia) 05/30 – Sterling Heights, MI | Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill (Detroit) 06/03 – Darien Center, NY | Darien Lake Amphitheater 06/05 – Wantagh, NY | Northwell at Jones Beach Theater (New York) 06/06 – Boston, MA | Leader Bank Pavilion
Toto, Christopher Cross, and The Romantics have announced plans to tour North America next summer. Produced by Live Nation, the run will commence on July 15 in Bethel, New York, at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, with 32 appearances planned before the final event on August 30 in Toronto, Ontario, at the RBC Amphitheatre. The general on-sale begins on Friday, December 12, at 10 a.m. local time at this location.
This past year has been one of the strongest in Toto‘s 48 years of existence, with more than half a million fans coming out to see them perform, alongside over a billion streams counted this year alone. The weekly average is more than 20 million plays at the DSPs, which has triggered additional certifications throughout this past year. Total streams at Spotify exceed four billion and seven billion across all platforms.
Toto‘s largest hit, “Africa,” has achieved the milestone of two billion plays at Spotify alone, while “Hold The Line” exceeds one billion streams. On the sales side, “Africa” has been certified diamond by the RIAA (10 million sold), with cumulative sales now approaching 11 million. Additionally, “Hold The Line” has been certified triple platinum for sales of three million copies, while “Rosanna” hit the milestone of double platinum for sales of two million copies. Cumulative Toto album sales are over 50 million copies.
For all members past and present, one of the most exciting details to celebrate is the continual aging down of the band’s audience. Consistently, more than half of the billion annual streams are plays from those 34 years or younger. The live audience present night to night has truly become a celebration of three generations coming together.
Individually and collectively, the band’s family tree can be heard on countless Grammy Award-winning albums across all genres. Toto are one of the few 1970s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles while continuing to remain relevant. Led by Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams, the band features a collection of lifelong friends, many of whom are deemed amongst the best players on planet Earth.
Special guest Christopher Cross and the members of Toto have been friends and collaborators for more than four decades. On September 1, 2024, Christopher performed as direct support for TOTO at the Hollywood Bowl. Subsequently, the two artists have toured the world together performing across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. this past summer. In December, they’ll travel to Chile, Argentina, and Mexico with one another.
Christopher Cross burst on to the music scene with his 1980 self-titled debut album winning five Grammy Awards, including — for the first time in Grammy history — the “Big Four” most prestigious awards: “Record Of The Year” (for the single “Sailing”), “Album Of The Year”, “Song Of The Year” (“Sailing”), and “Best New Artist”. In a career spanning more than four decades, Cross has sold more than 12 million albums. His music has garnered five Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Emmy nomination, and five Top 10 singles.
The Romantics formally became a band on Valentine’s Day, 1977. Bred on the streets of Detroit’s east side, they were inspired by American roots rock, the British Invasion, and their hometown music scene. Nearly 50 years later, they are still celebrated for having created some of the most influential and beloved rock songs of all time.
They are known for their MTV video hits, including “What I Like About You”, “Talking In Your Sleep”, and “One In A Million”, along with fan favorites “Rock You Up” and “When I Look In Your Eyes”. Their hits are a staple on classic, new wave, and contemporary terrestrial rock radio, as well as numerous television commercials (Budweiser, Toyota), movie soundtracks (“Shrek”, “Grown Ups 1” and “2”, “Five Nights at Freddy’s”), and hit series (“Stranger Things”). The Romantics have also been enjoying airplay courtesy of Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show on SiriusXM, 80’s On 81st Wave, and Classic Vinyl. The Romantics — Wally Palmar on lead vocals, Coz Canler on lead guitar, Bruce Witkin on bass, Joey Malone on guitar, and Mike Rizzi on drums — are currently touring across the world in 2025 and 2026.
TOTO, Christopher Cross & The Romantics Tour Dates:
07/15 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts 07/16 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center 07/18 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center 07/19 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater 07/21 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion 07/23 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater 07/25 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview 07/26 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann 07/28 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion 07/29 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek 07/31 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre 08/01 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre 08/02 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 08/04 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf 08/05 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater 08/07 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 08/08 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater 08/10 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater 08/11 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre 08/12 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre 08/14 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Amphitheater 08/15 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre 08/16 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre 08/18 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre 08/19 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater 08/21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 08/22 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena 08/24 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater 08/26 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater 08/28 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater 08/29 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre 08/30 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
During a December 5 visit to SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk“, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine opened up about the group’s newly revealed farewell tour. The run is set to begin officially in 2026 under the name “This Was Our Life”. It will support Megadeth’s upcoming final self-titled album Megadeth, due out in January, closing a career that has stretched across more than 40 years for the 64-year-old singer-guitarist.
When Eddie Trunk asked whether the band might wrap the final show with an expanded lineup featuring all living former members, Dave Mustaine explained why that scenario likely won’t happen (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Well, I can’t really do that, because of the behavior of one of the band members in the past. I just can’t — I can’t. Because, first off, it would be unfair to the other band members if I didn’t play with them as well.”
“But the thing about what we did with [former Megadeth guitarist] Marty [Friedman] in Japan [in early 2024], that was a no-brainer. That was brilliant. And I love Marty. We had our separation, and he went his way, and we went our way. But it was a very, very intense relationship I had with Marty, because that was the first relationship I had with a guitar player,” Mustaine continued.
“My relationship with [former Megadeth guitarist] Chris [Poland] was really great, but it wasn’t as good as it was with Marty. My relationship with [former Megadeth guitarist] Jeff [Young] was good, but it wasn’t as good as it was with Marty. And I probably wouldn’t have a problem playing with any of the members of those two lineups, except the fact that [former Megadeth drummer] Gar’s [Samuelson] is deceased, and [I’m] just not gonna do anything that is gonna, in any way, seem unfair to the other bandmembers,” he added.
The host then asked if fans should expect a clearly announced last-ever concert or a quieter end to touring. Mustaine said he still isn’t sure how the final moment will be handled: “I don’t know. I was joking around with our management and said, ‘You guys should probably book some fake dates at the end of the tour that I don’t know about so I won’t go out there on the last date and just blubber like a fucking 175-pound wuss.”
When the conversation shifted to why Megadeth is intended to be the band’s final album and why the farewell decision is happening now, Mustaine pointed to ongoing physical issues: “It had been a long time coming — just physical stuff that was going on with my hands… My hands were letting me down. And there were other things that were difficult because of all the stuff going on in my neck and my trunk. The entire area there has arthritis, and it has discs that are bulging. I’ve got a broken lumbar bone. Of course, you know I have my back fused, up by my shoulders, by my neck. And just a lot of stuff.”
He added that he’s long believed the right time to step back is when he can’t meet his own standard night after night: “I always said when it got to the point where I was unable to give a hundred percent every night, that’s when I was gonna start considering winding down. And it wasn’t that I was unable to give a hundred percent, because we finished the record, and I think we did a good job on it, but there was a period when we were working, and I said to my manager, I said, ‘I don’t know how much longer I can do this. My hands are really hurting.’”
“And I didn’t mean to set the ball rolling. Honestly, I was just making conversation, and it turned into me talking to the band guys and sleeping on it, and talking to my family and praying on it. And the answer was clear to me that by the time we’re done with the record, I’m gonna know how the record’s gonna do,” he further added.
“If the record does really well, then I’ll be able to have one last really good tour. And the part about the farewell thing, it’s kind of like the same thing, isn’t it? We’ve got some dates that we wanna play to say goodbye to our friends.”
From his perspective, a proper farewell also means a serious global schedule rather than a small handful of appearances: “The thing is, we’re an American band, but we play everywhere. So it’s not like we just are weekend warriors, as country acts here in the States. We’ve got a lot of touring to do in order to do our farewell properly.”
After Eddie Trunk noted that some veteran acts continue too long even when they can’t fully deliver, Mustaine agreed that Megadeth shouldn’t do that if the performance standard slips: “I don’t think there’s any reason [for us] to [keep playing when we are not able to deliver a hundred percent],” he said. “I mean, unless you’re financially in a bad way and you need to keep playing, which, by the grace of God, I’ve been successful. I’ve been able to pay all my bills. All the band guys, they get their paychecks on time. We do everything right by the book.”
“So, some people, as I said, may have to keep playing, because there’s nothing else for them to do. Now, when I think about what I gonna do after I hang the guitar up, that’s in relation to touring, and I believe that I’m going to keep doing music in some way, shape, or form,” Mustaine concluded.
But not in the fashion that I was doing with Megadeth because if I can’t do it and I need to stop playing with my first love, I’m not gonna go out and try and do it again with someone else.”
Rock N’ Roll Colouring has announced the first official coloring book from Sleep Token. Featuring iconic artwork and instantly recognizable images, all printed on high-quality paper in a square format, these amazing designs are officially licensed and fully endorsed by Sleep Token. They have the potential for hours of satisfying coloring. The book invites you to delve into the enigmatic imagery of Sleep Token’s latest groundbreaking album, Even In Arcadia, a No. 1 album in both the U.K. and the U.S.
The book contains painstakingly created renderings of each image with detailed outlines ready for you to unleash your artistic skills using pens, pencils, or paint. Utilizing artwork from the latest album alongside iconic renderings of Vessel, as well as specially created unique mandalas, the book provides fans with the perfect opportunity to add their own personal stamp on Sleep Token‘s complex and creative world.
The staggering phenomenon of Sleep Token has been growing steadily over the course of four incredibly daring, genre-defying albums, culminating in this year’s career high, Even In Arcadia, released via major label RCA.
A headline appearance at the Download festival this summer drew one of the biggest crowds to the event in recent years, while the band was recently nominated for two Grammy Awards. Steeped in symbolism and mystery, the band refuses to give interviews and blends post-rock, metal, pop, soul, and electronica to create a unique sound that has propelled modern rock music forward at a lightning pace. Sleep Token fans, known collectively as “Followers”, revel in the band’s secrecy and hidden meaning, often wearing masks and costumes similar to the band themselves.
Devised and created by two lifelong rock and heavy metal devotees and coloring book fans, Rock N’ Roll Colouring was formed by fans for fans. Every effort has gone into making sure this book does justice to the vision of Sleep Token and their vivid iconography, bearing witness to one of the charismatic and innovative bands of the moment.
Coloring has proven significant mental health benefits, including mindfulness, relaxation, and increased focus, and can be enjoyed by any age group. These books provide hours of creative and restful activity that combines the love of music with the love of the arts.
The Sleep Token book follows on from the previous Rock N’ Roll Colouring releases from heavy music icons such as Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Cannibal Corpse, Thin Lizzy, and Megadeth.
The book is published on December 5, available for worldwide shipping, and can be ordered viaEyesore Merch. A limited number of the books will be available with an exclusive print featuring a color render of a specially created mandala image taken from the book.
Avenged Sevenfold has unveiled the official Black Ops interrogation room VR 360° video for their new song “Magic,” tied to Black Ops 7 Season 1—described as the franchise’s largest seasonal content release to date.
The massive update rolls out a wide slate of additions, including fresh and revamped maps, new modes, weapons, scorestreaks, limited-time events, perks, gameplay changes, skins, and bundles. One of the standout features is the new Astra Malorum Zombies map. To unlock Avenged Sevenfold’s track, players will need to complete the map’s main Easter egg and make it to Mars.
Commenting on the “Magic” video — created by Ryan McKinnon in Unreal Engine — Avenged Sevenfold said: “Use the official YouTube VR app and 8K headset for the best viewing experience. You can also explore the full scene interactively on your phone or desktop by dragging your finger or mouse to look around.”
“Magic” arrives on all platforms December 6.
Back in 2018, Avenged Sevenfold released an EP featuring four songs they wrote and recorded for the Call Of Duty: Black Ops universe. Frontman M. Shadows explained to Kerrang! that the band wanted to give those tracks a dedicated home rather than having them scattered across streaming platforms: “We just felt these songs needed a place to live, instead of being scattered all over streaming services. We will also be releasing ‘Jade Helm’, which is the multiplayer score we did for ‘Black Ops 3’. Until now, that has only been available on YouTube and in the game.”
That EP also included a new Avenged Sevenfold song that had been teased in a leaked trailer for Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4. M. Shadows described the track as dark and atmospheric, aimed at capturing a different vibe than a straightforward “zombie killer” anthem. He added that these game-related releases gave the band space to experiment, placing the song more in a “dark alternative” lane.
Over the years, Avenged Sevenfold have contributed music to multiple entries in the series and even made a virtual appearance in the second Black Ops, where they performed “Carry On” in an epilogue sequence after the end credits.
From Ashes To New — Danny Case (vocals), Matt Brandyberry (vocals), Lance Dowdle (guitar), Maty Madiro (drums), Jimmy Bennett (guitar) — is wrapping up 2025 with the release of a visceral new song, “Drag Me”, via Better Noise Music. Watch the visualizer for the track below.
“We wanted to create a song about feeling trapped in a war with yourself, when your inner demons pull harder than your better intentions can push,” says Brandyberry. “Every good thought gets buried beneath the bad, and you start to realize the real fight isn’t against the world, it’s against the reflection staring back at you. ‘Drag Me’ came from that place…the feeling of being pulled straight into hell by the parts of yourself you could never escape.”
The sonically intense and lyrically harrowing “Drag Me” is the follow-up to “New Disease”, which was released July 25 via Better Noise Music and marked From Ashes To New‘s first new offering since “Live Before I’m Dead (Hours)”, one of the six bonus tracks that appeared on the June 2024 release of the Blackout (Deluxe) album.
From Ashes To New has already made its mark as a hugely successful band with a No. 1-charting album — 2023’s Blackout (Better Noise Music) — which landed the No. 1 spot on several iTunes and Spotify Rock and Metal charts across the globe. Artistically, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania outfit has made an impact with a distinctive amalgam of alt metal combined with songs that bracingly capture their generation’s anxieties.
Blackout was an important statement for From Ashes To New, acting as a prequel to the band’s 2016 debut album Day One. Garnering over 310 million lifetime global total streams, including nearly 20 million video streams, the album mirrored the angst and unrest the world felt during the 2020 pandemic, at which time it was written, while delivering a fresh spin on their myriad influences that broke From Ashes To New onto the scene.
Blackout garnered various critical accolades, including Mxdwn, which proclaimed that it’s “melodic, emotive and undeniably powerful,” while Knotfest raved: “There’s an exciting immediacy to their sound that recalls the music renaissance of the late ’90s and early 2000s… It’s that sweet spot of mass appeal where there’s a little something for everyone, be it From Ashes To New‘s heavier metallic side, or their arena-sized choruses.”
Today, metal titans Kreator have unleashed “Satanic Anarchy,” the brand new single from their highly anticipated sixteenth full-length, Krushers Of The World, which will be out on January 16 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The song bears all the hallmarks of Kreator‘s best material of the last few decades — fast-paced thrash riffs, a catchy, anthemic chorus, and a masterful guitar solo — all wrapped into three-and-a-half minutes.
After paying homage to Dario Argento’s cult horror classic Suspiria with their last single “Tränenpalast” and its corresponding video,Kreatorfurther prove their affinity for the horror genre by referencing another classic movie in the music video for “Satanic Anarchy.” Released 10 years after Suspiria, Clive Barker‘s Hellraiser(1987) is known for being just as influential and groundbreaking for modern horror by combining intense psychological thrills with graphic gore.
Mille Petrozza comments, “Hordes! I hope you’ll like our brand new video for the song ‘Satanic Anarchy’ off our new album Krushers Of The World. The lyrics speak about a divine revolt of the mind: Breaking the spell of obedience, standing together against tyranny, and igniting change where fear once ruled. The narrative part of the video takes us back to the cinematic masterpiece Hellraiser by the great Clive Barker, This isn’t a remake or a sequel — it’s an echo. A tribute to the raw imagination of ’80s horror, where pleasure, pain, and chaos shared the same key. Enjoy!”
For over a decade, NMB has stood as one of progressive rock’s most enduring and unified collectives. With their latest studio album, L.I.F.T., set for release on February 27th, 2026,
Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Eric Gillette, Bill Hubauer, and Randy George return with a work that embodies vision, passion, and inspiration. Written and recorded during a period of major transition, L.I.F.T. captures the band’s creative chemistry at its most instinctive and inspired.
To coincide with this announcement, the band has launched the first single from the album, and you can watch the video for “Fully Alive”(directed by Industrialism Films). Watch it below.
Conceptually, L.I.F.T. stands toe to toe with NMB’s greatest works, like their much-acclaimed concept album Similitude Of A Dream, combining emotional depth with the band’s trademark progressive rock grandeur.
“In short, L.I.F.T. is a prog concept album that follows the journey of someone seeking to belong to something greater than themselves,” Morse explains. “It starts with feeling connected to the world and life, then there is a break in belonging, after which comes the turmoil and desperate cry, leading to a return to that place of profound connection.”
The album title came late, though its meaning remains intentionally vague. “We thought it could stand for different things,” says Randy. “It’s kind of whatever the listener wants it to be.”
True to the band’s collaborative spirit, L.I.F.T. began with the usual whiteboard full of ideas, with columns under each member’s name filled with riffs and snippets. However, few of them made it onto the final album. “We hardly used any of the ideas on the board,” says George. “Most of it was written right there in the room, more so than in the past.” While Bill Hubauer contributed a few early sketches, and Morse improvised piano pieces that evolved into key themes, much of the music took shape spontaneously.
The sessions were engineered by longtime collaborator Jerry Guidroz, with all drum tracks recorded on-site before each member continued working individually from home studios. For the first time, NMB worked entirely outside their familiar recording environment, at Eric Gillette’s studio in Tulsa, adding a layer of uncertainty to the process. “It was strange not being in the usual studio,” George admits. “But hearing the final mixes, it all came together beautifully.”
Mixing once again fell to longtime collaborator Rich Mouser, who has been refining NMB’s complex sound for years. As George explains, the band sends him the tracks and lets him work independently: “We just let him do his thing.” Despite the enormous amount of detail in the arrangements, Mouser once again delivered a mix where “everything lives.” The drums, in particular, stand out. Mouser will experiment by removing or combining elements “to see what it sounds like if this isn’t there.” The result is another brilliant showcase of the band’s trademark sound.
L.I.F.T. is everything the NMB fan could hope for and will surely live on in the great canon of the band’s outstanding career as one of their best.
With artwork created by longtime collaborator Thomas Ewerhard, the L.I.F.T. will be available as a Limited 2CD Digipak (incl. instrumental versions), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 2LP & as Digital Download. Pre-order it now here.
The head of Birmingham Airport has officially dismissed the growing movement to rename the facility after Ozzy Osbourne, despite strong public backing and support from the late singer’s daughter, Kelly Osbourne. CEO Nick Barton emphasized that keeping the airport’s current name is “incredibly valuable for development.”
A petition urging the airport to rebrand in honour of Ozzy has amassed nearly 77,000 signatures. The petition’s creator, Dan Hudson, said: “It continues to go from strength to strength.”
Barton acknowledged Ozzy’s cultural influence but stressed that the airport’s existing name is critical to expanding its route network. He explained: “Birmingham, amazingly, has an extraordinary list of fantastically influential people, going from historic people like Charles Darwin, as well as Robert Plant and Sir Lenny Henry but the answer is no.” Speaking to BBC Radio WM, he added: “The airport name is so important for our future development of what we’ve got, which is a fantastic airport, but yet to grow significantly, which we will do on the back of its name.”
However, Barton said plans to honor Ozzy in a different way are moving ahead. “It’ll be like a mural recognition of Ozzy and other greats in the area,” he said. A recent airport statement described the effort as “an exciting homage” to the musician.
The statement continued: “We know he was an inspiration to so many in our region proving talent, hard work and commitment can take you to all corners of the world and we are committed to honouring his legacy within our terminal space.”
Hudson said he intends to keep pushing for the renaming, insisting “this isn’t going away.”
During a BBC WM appearance, Kelly Osbourne said renaming the airport after her father would be an “incredible tribute to him and the legacy that he has left behind.” She added that it would be especially appropriate because “this city made him, and he made this city.”
Supporters of the proposal point to other airports around the world named after influential figures, including John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, JFK and LaGuardia in New York, and Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans.
Hudson previously said the campaign was going “pretty well” and that he received a “really good response” when raising the idea at a recent Birmingham City Council meeting. He also noted that he has the support of most of the Osbourne family.
