Richie Kotzen has a new song out, “Ivory Queen”, now available and backed by an official lyric video.
Kotzen broke down the meaning behind the track in a video message, saying: “‘Ivory Queen’ is not a woman. It’s just a metaphor for the sort of embodiment of approval that many folks seek, external validation, and the constant chase of that. So that’s really what the song’s about. The lyrics are written out on the YouTube channel. We put up the YouTube video today. And that’s it. New song, if you’re interested. It’s out.”
It’s the second surprise drop from Kotzen this year — back in May, he quietly put out another new track, “Catch a Star,” with zero advance notice.
Staying sharp as a songwriter has always mattered to Kotzen just as much as his reputation as a guitar virtuoso and live powerhouse. Over the course of his career he’s put out more than 20 solo albums spanning a wide range of styles, and his stints with Poison and Mr. Big put him in front of a much bigger audience. In 2012 he helped launch The Winery Dogs, a project that’s built a catalog of hard rock records laced with blues influence.
Kotzen‘s résumé stretches back to 1988, when he signed with Shrapnel Records as a teenage guitar prodigy and began building parallel careers as a solo artist and a band member. These days he also splits time as one half of Smith/Kotzenalongside Iron Maiden‘s Adrian Smith — between the solo output and the collaborations, there’s rarely a quiet stretch in Kotzen‘s output.
In a new interview with Radio YSKL FM (transcribed by Blabbermouth), Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell revealed that his cancer has returned following the failure of a donor stem cell transplant. “There’s only been one time that I felt [cancer] was going to kill me. In the winter of 2023 I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening. And I realized at that point that I had to do a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive.
“I did that in January of ’25 — I did a donor transplant. Unfortunately, it didn’t stick. So the cancer has returned. And I’m continuing treatments to manage it.
“I’ll probably have to do another transplant within a few years with another donor, to try and see if maybe that would cure me. But in the meantime I’m certainly not slowing down. I’m doing as much with my life as possible; not just with Def Leppard and with Last In Line. I’m also rally driving — I always wanted to do that. I love cars and I love driving. As a child I thought, ‘If I don’t play guitar for a living, I’m gonna be a race car driver.’ I’m very, very, very fortunate and blessed that I get to do both.”
Asked about advice for others faced with a cancer diagnosis, Campbell said: “I’ve met people in my life who think, ‘Oh, I can’t do anything. I need to stay in bed. I can’t eat this. I can’t do that. I can’t go there.’ I’ve never felt that way. I’ve always felt like I’m gonna continue to live my life as much as possible — in fact, even more so. But I also consider myself very fortunate because I caught my cancer early; it’s always been more about managing my cancer.
“So, yeah, life is for the living. And I encourage everyone — if you’re unfortunate enough to get a cancer diagnosis — to overcome the fear. Fear is inevitable when you’re first told those words. But once you get over that, you’ve got to realize just how to manage it and how to deal with it as best as possible. And just don’t give in.”
Campbell was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013. He has continued performing with Def Leppard throughout his treatment, and also fronts the band Last In Line, which features fellow Dio alumni Vinny Appice and Phil Soussan.
Campbell’s career spans membership in Dio (1982–1984), Whitesnake (1987–1989) and Def Leppard, which he joined in 1994 as the replacement for the late Steve Clark. He has been a member of Def Leppard for more than three decades.
After Canadian singer Benoît David’s tenure with Yes ended unhappily, he returned to his previous band, Mystery, to record his second of three albums with them, One Among The Living. The band’s fourth record overall, it proved to be their strongest. In 2010 Prog spoke to David and band leader Michel St.Pere about the release.
Aptly named, Mystery are not a band with a particularly high profile. In fact, the Canadians got their biggest break two years ago, when vocalist Benoît David was chosen to replace Jon Anderson in Yes. Suddenly, Mystery were catapulted into something approaching the limelight. However, the story of the band goes back nearly a quarter of a century, to 1986.
Originally, Mystery featured founder Michel St-Pere on guitar, Raymond Savoie on vocals, Benoît Dupuis on keyboards and Stephane Perreault on drums. It took until 1992 for the band to release a self-titled five-track debut mini album, by which time Gary Savoie was on vocals and Richard Addison on bass. However, when Perreault was struck down with a debilitating illness the band were forced to take a break, returning in 1993 by which time the drummer had lost the use of his legs; thanks to innovative technology, however, he was able to carry on playing from his wheelchair.
By 1996, the band were down to the foursome of St-Pere, Savoie, bassist Patrick Bourque and Perreault, releasing debut full album Theatre Of The Mind through St-Pere’s own Unicorn label.
David arrived in 1999, but it took until 2007 before he made his recording debut on the album Beneath The Veil Of Winter’s Face, with St-Pere and Bourque now joined by drummer Steve Gagne. And after a further three-year absence, Mystery have just unfurled their most internationally acclaimed album yet, in One Among The Living. David, St-Pere and Gagne remained from the previous record, with a host of guests helping out, including Daryl Stuermer (Genesis), Oliver Wakeman (Yes) and John Jowitt (of Ark and IQ).
For the frontman, it’s a relief that the Montreal band are now back in action, although he understands the reasons behind this delay.
(Image credit: Unicorn Digital)
“This is Michel’s project – he’s the driving force. While the rest of us are involved, and are far from just his hired hands, we have to wait for him to make the decision to do a new album. He’s a busy guy, and obviously it costs a lot to do a Mystery record. As the head of the Unicorn label, Michel’s the man who has to raise the finances; he does it through releasing a lot of other projects.
“But I’m delighted to be back working with him. And I think this time we’ve found our sound. The problem on the last two records was that we were still looking for a direction. Our style has always been defined by the fact that we sound a little like Pink Floyd, Genesis and Marillion – you can hear all of those influences in what we did – but it never had enough individuality. This time I believe we’ve taken a real leap.”
David feels that, after a lot of stop-start moments in their career, Mystery are now poised to make a real impact, and this won’t be hindered at all by his commitment to Yes.
“Of course, I have my priorities, and Yes will come first. They would accept nothing less from me. But, the fact is there are enough gaps in the band’s schedule to allow me to do a lot with Mystery. It’s not as if they’re having to sit around waiting for me to tell them I can do a date here and a show there. We will have a lot of time to tour on this album, if that’s what Michel decides.”
Just how far and deep David’s passion for Mystery goes can be seen from the fact that the new album features his first songwriting contributions to the project.
“I’ve got credits on one or two songs, and I enjoyed that experience. I’ve never been excluded from the writing process before; it’s not as if Michel keeps everything to himself. But I’ve been happy in the past just to put myself into performing the songs, because Michel is a good writer and has always understood how to construct lyrics that work for me. So, I’ve believed in what I’m singing.”
The album features a number of stellar guests, including David’s current Yes bandmate, Oliver Wakeman. Was it the singer who persuaded the Wakeman offspring to come on board? Er, no…
“It was Michel who approached him. I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. What this proves is the high regard in which Michel is held in prog rock circles. He also has a strong relationship with Daryl, which is why he came on board.
“Having those people involved gave an extra shine to the album. These are great musicians who could provide that certain something we might not have got from regular members of the band. No disrespect, but when you’ve the opportunity to bring in these people, then it can only make the music stronger. That’s what they’ve done. Also, when you’ve got talents a little removed from the core of a project, they can see and hear things you’ll miss. This was certainly true of these guys. It’s just a shame we can’t take them out on tour with us.”
(Image credit: Hugues Bergevin)
In fact, Mystery do now have a touring line-up, with David, St-Pere and Gagne joined by the returning Dupuis, plus Dean Baldwin (guitar/keyboards) and Francois Fournier (bass). And the hope is that the new line-up will get the chance to play sooner rather than later.
“There are no tour dates booked just yet. But the fact we’ve now put together this live line-up tells you that we are definitely gonna do this.”
In fact, David is confident that Mystery will be a lot more prolific in the future.
“I feel more part of the band than ever. The recording process for One Among The Living brought us all together. It felt so much more like a family than anything we’ve done before. Perhaps that’s why we’ve finally found our sound.
“I also believe that with Michel and I involved in other projects, we will always come back to this band refreshed and focused. Some people will take the opposite view. However, that’s not the case. Mystery are moving forward.”
Despite the group’s previously-unhurried discography, David is adamant there will be a new album from Mystery sooner rather than later.
“I guarantee that there won’t be another three year gap before the next one. We are so geared up now, and have a lot of ideas. That’s what made the new album work as well. Hardly anything was left over from previous sessions. It was almost all new, and new ideas always get everyone kicking and sparking. So, next time we record together, we’ll use the same approach.”
It’s been a long time coming, and there have been false starts along the way, but at last it appears Mystery are ready to step to the plate and show that they are spearheading a new movement in Canadian prog. One that might draw from the greats of the past, but is firmly heading into uncharted territory.
“Let me put it this way. I am confident that you’ll be hearing a lot more from Mystery – and it will be like nothing else you’ve ever heard. We’re right in the zone.”
Micah Martin releases new single & reveals upcoming debut album track listing
LA-based Rocktronic pioneer and leading bass music vocalist Micah Martin has released his brand new single ‘Thrown Away’, the latest song to be taken from his highly anticipated debut album All I Need out November 20th via Create Music Group.
Produced by Kevin Thrasher (Machine Gun Kelly, Blink 182, Avril Lavigne), mixed and mastered by Joel Wanasek (Machine Head, Blessthefall, Miss May I), ‘Thrown Away’ is a huge emotive pop punk song about love’s salvation from self-destruction.
Regarding the single Micah says, “‘Thrown Away’ is one of the most personal pop punk songs on the album. It’s about changing parts of who you are for someone you love and then finding yourself terrified that, despite everything you’ve done, it still might never be enough. There’s this push and pull between feeling like someone saved you from yourself and being afraid that you’re going to lose the person who helped make you who you are.
I wanted the song to capture that messy, desperate feeling of loving someone so much that you’re willing to fight for it even when you’re not sure they’re fighting for you anymore. Sonically, it leans into that nostalgic pop punk side of me while still fitting into the bigger rocktronic world of the album. I decided to work with Kevin Thrasher on this because I knew he could really bring that sound to life and turn this idea into an absolute pop punk anthem! I couldn’t be happier with the results, and I hope you enjoy listening as much as we had fun making it.”
‘Thrown Away’ follows the release of previous singles including ‘Burn Them All (feat. OddKidOut)’, a track which pairs heavy guitars, screams and jump-up drum & bass, as well as ‘Tomorrow’s Over’, a blistering rocktronic track which blends crushing metal riffs, a pounding rhythm and brutal breakdowns made in collaboration with rocktronic peer HIGHSOCIETY.
The forthcoming All I Need sits at an intersection leading a thrilling collision between electronic bass music and rock, metal and punk. Few artists move credibly between those two scenes, and Micah has turned that rare dual fluency into his signature – the foundation of a Rocktronic sound he’s helped forge.
Regarding the album Micah Martin says, “It’s chaotic, it’s intentional, and it’s the most honest body of work I have ever made. It’s a collision between my past as a relentless touring rock artist and the heavier, more refined rocktronic sound I’ve evolved into. From live band records to polished, high-impact electronic bangers, every track pulls from a different piece of that journey.
It’s really about what it means to fight your way through the darkest seasons of life without losing hope. Every song comes from a different chapter of my journey through life. Whether it’s battling anxiety, heartbreak, trauma, self-doubt, or feeling completely lost, they all point toward the same idea: healing isn’t about pretending the pain never happened, it’s about learning to carry it and becoming someone stronger and more compassionate because of it. This album doesn’t shy away from the hard moments, but it also refuses to let them have the final word.
More than anything, All I Need is about connection. It’s about the people who remind us who we are when we’ve forgotten, the moments that pull us back from the edge, and the realization that we were never meant to go through life alone. Even though the music jumps between metalcore, hyperpop, drum & bass, dubstep, hardstyle, and house, the heart of every song is the same. I wanted to make an album that feels as chaotic as life can be, while still leaving people with hope. If someone walks away feeling a little less alone, a little more understood, or with a little more strength to keep going, then this album accomplished exactly what I set out to do.”
The album opens with another exquisite concoction cooked up between Micah Martin, Kevin Thrasher and Joel Wanasek in the form of ‘Slip Away’, blending pop punk hooks, metal riffs, screams and huge bass driven drops it sets the propulsive pace for the record.
‘Close To The End’ continues this momentum with a massive pop punk anthem coming armed with a huge singalong chorus focused on overcoming inner turmoil. “‘Close To The End’ is about the conversations we have with ourselves that nobody else hears,” says Micah. “It’s about feeling lost even when life looks like it’s finally coming together and learning that surviving isn’t the same as living. If this song makes one person feel less alone, then it did what it was meant to do.”
Micah dives into the deep end on the title track with big room dubstep matched by breaks of gentle and honest vocal delivery which, “came from one of those moments where you’re carrying so much inside that you don’t even know how to put it into words anymore.”
Micah continues, “I wrote it as an honest reflection of what it feels like to battle your own mind while still hoping that connection, compassion, and love can pull you back out. It’s probably one of the most vulnerable songs on the album because it doesn’t pretend to have the answers… it just tells the truth about what it feels like to need someone when you’re at your lowest. That is why I chose to name the whole album after this track.”
His blend of rock and electronica is taken further on ‘Mental Frequency’, a blistering drum & bass track combining soaring melodies, crushing guitars and relentless energy, while the page is flipped again on ‘I Need A Vacation’, a dark and heavy dubstep track, “about pushing through burnout, refusing to let setbacks define you, and choosing resilience even when you’re exhausted.”
Micah teams up with rising Houston rapper Hyro The Hero on the powerful nu metal track ‘Finally Home’, while he makes a jubilant trans-Atlantic connection with UK EDM producer Flux Pavilion on the bright and bouncy ‘Never Meant’, which rides high in the euphoric joy of the importance of relationships.
The album closes in signature Micah Martin genre-blending style with an emotive country-laced ballad ‘Holy Gound’. “It was inspired by one of the darkest nights of my life,” says Micah. “I reached a breaking point and came face-to-face with the realization that I still wanted to live.”
All I Need is a cover-to-cover representation of Micah Martin, reflecting the punk, rock and metal worlds he came up in while bridging to his new world of electronic bass music, creating a unique soundscape in which he reigns supreme.
BLKIIBLK is proud to announce the signing of legendary California punk-metal pioneers SNOT to a worldwide recording deal. One of the most influential cult bands to emerge from the late-’90s heavy music explosion, SNOT is currently writing and recording its long-awaited new studio album – the band’s first collection of new material in nearly three […]
Be prepared to raise your glass and lose your voice as Lagerstein bring their full-scale pirate metal party back to stages across Australia. This is their long-awaited Australian return, and tickets are expected to move fast. After years off the local waters, Lagerstein are back with Too Long Between Drinks, an Australian return tour set […]
BLKIIBLK is proud to announce the signing of legendary California punk-metal pioneers SNOT to a worldwide recording deal. One of the most influential cult bands to emerge from the late-’90s heavy music explosion, SNOT is currently writing and recording its long-awaited new studio album – the band’s first collection of new material in nearly three […]
Be prepared to raise your glass and lose your voice as Lagerstein bring their full-scale pirate metal party back to stages across Australia. This is their long-awaited Australian return, and tickets are expected to move fast. After years off the local waters, Lagerstein are back with Too Long Between Drinks, an Australian return tour set […]