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Some drew initial buzz, others scored some radio hits, but all of these 2000s-era supergroups ended up with relatively short tenures. Continue reading…

Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan has spoken about the band’s upcoming studio album, Splat!, due July 3 via earMUSIC, in a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit’s WRIF radio station — including why the record represents the band’s heaviest work in many years. Splat! was once again produced by Bob Ezrin (Kiss, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper).

Asked why Splat! turned out to be such a heavy record, Gillan said (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Well, I think Simon [McBride, Deep Purple guitarist of the past four years] settled in, so it’s more relaxed as things come naturally. We find a good groove, and we tend to develop that, even if it’s just a simple structure. If it feels good, we put it to one side and think, ‘Well, this may be an idea that we can work on, develop that structure, without losing the feel.’ And so his energy is really… He’s an immaculate player — immaculate. And I think also you’ll find the drums and bass are higher in the mix on this record than they have been previously — on any record, I think, Deep Purple record. So it’s got a lot of energy.”

On the guitar-keyboards interplay showcased in the album’s first two singles, “Arrogant Boy” and “Diablo,” Gillan said: “Yeah. Well, we can’t escape what we are. And so this happens every night — they’re trading off in their playing. These guys play their instruments the same way as you and I use words in a conversation. We don’t think ahead; you sort of respond and get on with it. And so they talk to each other instrumentally all night long. It’s a joy to watch. But the other thing is they know when to back off and to be part of the rhythm section, too. My favorite part of the evening, actually, is when I’m not singing. I step back between the drums and the keyboards, and I’ve got the best seat in the house. The sound balance there is perfect. So, I just get off on that and forget to come back sometimes.”

“Diablo” features a guest appearance from Grammy-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter Keith Urban on second guitar. McBride joined Deep Purple in July 2022, when guitarist Steve Morse officially left the band to care for his wife Janine, who was battling cancer. Morse had taken a hiatus four months prior with the hope of rejoining once her health improved.

Deep Purple has 86 tour dates scheduled across 28 countries, beginning with European summer shows in Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Italy before the Splat! World Tour moves to North America.

Splat! is the latest entry in a late-career run that includes =1 (2024), Whoosh! (2020), inFinite (2017), and Now What?! (2013), all produced by Ezrin. The current Deep Purple lineup is Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums), Don Airey (keyboards) and McBride (guitar). The band has sold more than 120 million albums since forming in 1968, was named Planet Rock’s “Fifth Most Influential Band Ever,” and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. The celebrated MK II lineup — Gillan, Glover, Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore — created defining albums of the early ’70s, including Made in Japan, widely regarded as one of the greatest live albums of all time.

The post IAN GILLAN Says “Splat!” Is DEEP PURPLE’s Heaviest Album In Many Years: “These Guys Play Their Instruments The Same Way You & I Use Words In A Conversation” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The second new single to emerge since last November’s release of their third studio album.

The post Stellar Circuits Premiere New Single “Wounded Healer” appeared first on Theprp.com.

Jake Luhrs: August Burns Red was originally published on HM Magazine by Nao Glover.

Cullen and Mason are joined by Jake Luhrs from August Burns Red to talk about the band’s new album. They also talk about Jake’s history with the band, August Burns Red’s legacy in metalcore, his most influential albums, and much more. Check out August Burns Red, become a supporter of this podcast, and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, […]

Jake Luhrs: August Burns Red was originally published on HM Magazine by Nao Glover.

Over the weekend, Bright Eyes were slated to conclude their 21st anniversary tour for I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium. Due to severe weather, the show was truncated, with Conor Oberst and co. only making it through the first half of the set. Now, the frontman has shared a statement.

The post “Devastated” Conor Oberst Addresses Bright Eyes’ Forest Hills Show Evacuation appeared first on Stereogum.

The extreme music landscape has just been thrown into a beautiful state of absolute chaos, sending massive shockwaves through the global nu-metal and hard rock communities. With his primary powerhouse outfit Mudvayne officially stepping off the global touring grid for the remainder of the year to rest after four consecutive years of non-stop action, iconic frontman Chad Gray refused to let the fire burn out. Turning an initial five-date experiment into a full-scale, coast-to-coast sonic assault, Gray has officially announced his massive Fall 2026 “30 Years of Madness” North American solo headlining tour—uniting the catalogs of Mudvayne and Hellyeah under one roof alongside special guests Butcher Babies and Devil’s Cut.

Listen to Today’s Metal Breakdown Daily:

Want the direct, real-time insider tracking on solo artist breakaways, premium ticket presale codes, and live bootleg setlists transforming the heavy music underground? Turn up the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast on your preferred streaming network to hear our full audio breakdown of Chad Gray’s solo expansion, or stream 24/7 high-decibel commercial-free metal directly through our native digital deck below.

Bridging the Divide: Mudvayne and Hellyeah Reunited on One Stage

For the past three decades, Chad Gray has operated as one of the most polarizing, viscerally charged frontmen in heavy music history. From the boundary-shattering, progressive nu-metal madness of Mudvayne’s landmark 2000 debut L.D. 50 to the southern-fried groove metal violence of Hellyeah, Gray has continuously spilled his guts on stage.

Because Hellyeah has remained completely inactive since early 2020 following the tragic, sudden passing of legendary groove architect Vinnie Paul and subsequent pandemic tour cancellations, fans believed they would never hear those definitive tracks live again. The “30 Years of Madness” production solves that problem, dropping a full-band retrospective that honors both historic catalogs.

Reflecting on the successful spring pilot run that birthed this nationwide expansion, Gray delivered an incredibly emotional message directly to his global metal family: “The initial five ’30 Years Of Madness’ shows were absolutely incredible!” Gray shared in an official press dispatch. “The band, the fans, the venues and all involved completely blew me away.

“Since the beginning, I’ve wanted to bring this to all my fans everywhere. From here in America and everywhere abroad. And now I have the opportunity, so I’m gonna take it. This fall, I’m hopefully going to come to a town near you and we are gonna walk in a room, let go of life and its problems and have some fun! Heavy metal saved my life and each and every one of you have done the same for me. We save each other because we lean on each other when things are as bad in life as they can be.”

Check Out – The 13 Best Nu Metal Bands: The Genre-Defining Powerhouses That Shaped a Generation

Assembling the New Architects of Madness

To capture the hyper-technical polyrhythms of Mudvayne and the freight-train groove velocity of Hellyeah, Gray didn’t just hire generic studio session hands. He meticulously assembled an elite solo lineup capable of delivering maximum sonic brawn.

By retaining the structural wizardry of Marcus Rafferty alongside the crushing percussive precision of Devin Attard and Nick Villarreal, Gray ensures that timeless tracking masterpieces like “Dig,” “Not Falling,” “Moth,” and “Alcohaulin’ Ass” hit the audience with authentic, white-knuckle intensity.

Step-by-Step Presale & General Ticketing Timeline

Because Gray is hitting intimate premium venues like the House of Blues and independent theaters, ticket capacities are highly restricted. The official Citi cardmember presale window launches today, Tuesday, June 9th at 12:00 PM local time.

Additional localized promoter, Spotify, and venue presale events will run concurrently throughout the week before the floodgates open for the wide general public on-sale this Friday, June 12th at 10:00 AM local venue time.

“30 Years of Madness” Fall 2026 Complete Itinerary

• 07/17 – Cadott, WI @ Rockfest * * 08/28 – Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theater
• 08/29 – Kansas City, MO @ VooDoo at Harrah’s
• 08/30 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
• 09/01 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
• 09/02 – Lincoln, NE @ The Bourbon Theatre
• 09/03 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
• 09/05 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave/Eagles Club
• 09/06 – Chicago, IL @ Outset
• 09/08 – Cadillac, MI @ The Venue
• 09/09 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
• 09/11 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
• 09/12 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
• 09/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
• 09/15 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
• 09/17 – McKees Rocks, PA @ Rosina Theatre Presented by Citizens
• 09/18 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival
• 10/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
• 10/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
• 10/05 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
• 10/06 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory OC
• 10/10 – San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theatre
• 10/11 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
• 10/12 – Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Factory
• 10/14 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
• 10/16 – Clearwater, FL @ OCC Road House & Museum
• 10/18 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground at The Fillmore
• 10/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
• 10/20 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl* Denotes Official Festival Appearances

FAQ: Chad Gray’s “30 Years of Madness” Tour

Is Mudvayne breaking up or on hiatus in 2026?

No. Chad Gray confirmed that Mudvayne is simply taking a well-deserved, pre-planned break from touring and recording throughout 2026 after four straight years of high-intensity reunion tours since reclaiming the stage in 2021.

Will Chad Gray perform Hellyeah songs on this tour?

Yes. The entire concept of the “30 Years of Madness” solo campaign is to present a full-band production featuring the absolute biggest hits from both Mudvayne and Hellyeah back-to-back on the same stage.

Who is opening for Chad Gray on the 2026 fall tour?

Direct support across the entire headlining itinerary will be provided by heavy rock favorites Butcher Babies and rising underground outfit Devil’s Cut.

Also Recommended – The 13 Most Brutal Metal Breakdowns Ever Recorded (Ranked)

The Nu-Metal Legacy of Chad Gray

Formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1996, Mudvayne rose to prominence by weaponizing an incredibly complex, progressive strain of math-metal hidden beneath striking, theatrical face paint and conceptual alter-egos. Anchored by Chad Gray’s distinct shift between raw, animalistic roaring and soaring clean melodies, records like L.D. 50 and The End of All Things to Come achieved gold and platinum status, securing an MTV Video Music Award and positioning them as critical legends of the nu-metal explosion.

In 2006, Gray expanded his musical footprint by co-founding the groove-metal supergroup Hellyeah alongside Pantera icon Vinnie Paul and Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, racking up multiple Top 10 Billboard Hard Rock debuts over a highly successful six-album run. By taking ownership of both catalogs for this solo run, Gray is establishing a masterclass blueprint in legacy preservation, proving that real artistry carries on through raw attitude and complete commitment to the fans.

Now that the parameters of Chad Gray’s massive solo touring expansion have officially been laid down, the floor belongs to the Loaded Radio family. Are you hitting the ticket booths early to witness “Death Blooms” and “Alcohaulin’ Ass” on the exact same night, or does a solo backing band alter the formula too much for you? Let us know your regional routing choices and setlist requests in the comments section below!

TL;DR

• The Madness Multiplies: Metal icon Chad Gray (Mudvayne, Hellyeah) has expanded his solo live campaign into a massive, nationwide Fall 2026 U.S. headlining tour titled “30 Years of Madness.”
• Dual-Catalog Annihilation: Gray will perform a full-production, career-spanning setlist delivering the absolute biggest hits from both the Mudvayne and Hellyeah discographies on the same night.
• An Elite Solo Unit: Gray’s backing band features Mudvayne touring guitarist Marcus Rafferty, Joe Bonasorte, bassist Nick Villarreal (ONI), and powerhouse drummer Devin Attard (The Word Alive).
• Ticketing Details: Official Citi cardmember presales launch today, Tuesday, June 9th at 12:00 PM local time, with general public tickets unlocking this Friday, June 12th at 10:00 AM local time.

Never miss a breaking autumn tour routing, an official tracking leak, or an exclusive icon interview feature. Download the free Loaded Radio App for [iOS App Store] and [Google Play Store] today to lock into our live 24/7 high-decibel digital stream and catch the Daily Podcast on demand. ***

The post Chad Gray Defies Mudvayne Hiatus with Fall 2026 Solo Tour Announcement to Reanimate Hellyeah and Unleash 30 Years of Madness Across America appeared first on Loaded Radio.

The post ABELA FLICK MY HAIR Review appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.