The UK artist and producer James Ellis Ford recorded an entire solo album in the hospital last year, when he was in between rounds of chemotherapy. Ford, known to most of us as just plain James Ford, used to be half of Simian Mobile Disco, and he has produced hugely consequential records for people like Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., Jessie Ware, Geese, and Gorillaz. Last year, Ford revealed his battle with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive form of cancer with a survival rate of about 30%. He kept making music. Later this summer, he’ll release Lost In Another World, a new solo album that he recorded during his treatment.
2nd July 2026 Support: Extreme Words & Photos: Tom Atkin
The O2 Arena looked absolutely fabulous with early evening sun and we’re in for a real treat this evening.
Opening for Def Leppard is no easy feat, tonight stepping up to the challenge are Extreme and instantly they take it in their stride. Opening up with ‘Decadence Dance’ gives the fans the unmistakable riffs that Extreme have been gracing our ears with for forty years, proving that their confidence as they entered the stage in front of the 15,000+ fans was not misplaced.
Gary Cherone is absolutely at his peak, for a man that is touching on 65 years old everything about the performance is incredible. The first thing to note is his voice, it doesn’t sound tired or flat, just on point, with that ever so familiar tone that he has always had. Then there is his movement on stage, the guy packs so much energy and moves in ways that would put a lot of twenty year olds to shame.
Backing up these vocals is the incredible Nuno Bettencourt, his abilities on guitar were pretty much unmatched in their hay day and even now put a lot of other guitarists to shame. With Pat Badger and Kevin Figueiredo completing the line up, both bringing their all to the O2 this performance was headline worthy.
‘#REBEL’, ‘Hole Hearted’ and ‘Rest in Peace’ continuing the flawless performance, then there is a nice little tribute before ‘Play With Me’; starting the song with the intro to Queen’s We Will Rock You, a nice homage to a band that Extreme list as one of their influences. That wasn’t the only respect paid though, a fitting one to close the set on, a medley of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘I Don’t Know’, ‘Bark At The Moon’ and ‘Crazy Train’ which was perfectly executed and very well received by the London audience.
This opener for the evening was nothing short of perfect. High energy hard rock is a great way to get everyone hyped up for Def Leppard.
Def Leppard’s return to the O2 after eight years feels very much like a celebration of their career, the last time they were here they played their album Hysteria in full. Tongihts show on the other hand is a lot more varied.
Highlighting the arena with an impressive lighting set up, a massive triangle of lights rise above Joe Elliott and his band of merry men. As soon as they broke into ‘Rejoice’ the bass drum of Rick Allen could be felt throughout, the vibration could barely be dampened. Being that loud you would think it would be over bearing on the mix, however it wasn’t, it fitted in perfectly and didn’t over power any of the other elements.
Following up with ‘Animal’ straight into ‘Let’s Get Rocked’ get the whole arena locked in, with them chanting along in a way that you hear in live recordings. The inclusion of ‘Armageddon It’ later in the set reinforced just how stacked their catalogue remains, while newer material such as ‘Just Like ’73’ sat comfortably alongside the classics.
From the first songs, it was clear the band were operating at full arena scale, both musically and visually, The earlier mention of the exceptionally loud bass is very quickly forgotten about, with the sound mix filling every section of the stadium. The band leaned into their melodic strengths throughout the set, with ‘Bringin’ On The Heartbreak’, ‘Love Bites’ and ‘Promises’ each being delivered with such confidence that only gets polished after such an extensive career of touring together. Even when they throw in a cover of ‘Personal Jesus, a somewhat unexpected cover, they nailed adding their own sound to it.
Having such a large back catalogue of albums, all with their own unique sounds means that there is a chance that the set list can feel messy when chopping and changing between era’s, however this set list has been very well thought out, nothing feels as though it is out of place. Having one of their most recent releases, ‘Just Like ‘73’ played just before 1987’s ‘Rocket’ proves this point. Whilst their sound has varied throughout the years the core Def Leppard sound means that they can get away with this kind of combination. Going from songs that get a crowd singing along to more intricate songs, shows that they have learnt a thing or two over the years about how to keep a show the centre of everyone’s attention.
The final stretch of the night was where the show peaked, those tunes songs that everyone wanted to hear most. Finishing the main set with ‘Photograph’ would have been an ok end to the evening, However ok is not what Def Leppard are about. The encore starts with the ballad of ‘When Love and Hate Collide’ bringing the tone and energy down a small amount before the big finish. ‘Hysteria’ brings that energy back up, including the earlier version of the intro. Much to everyone’s delight.
Then the big one, it’s cliche, but when you thinks Def Leppard you think this song, ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’. What a finish that was and whilst it was the obvious last song to play that does not make it any less special. An unforgettable show and a very welcome return to the O2. Noteworthy in many ways and an incredible night that showed that the bands that were around at the birth of heavy rock, metal, and all the genres that spawned from that time, have still got the ability to show up and impress every single person in the arena.
(Andy Synn shares his thoughts on one of his most anticipated albums of the year) What’s the difference between Metal and Hardcore? Some people, of course, see the two as entirely separate things… and refuse to have anything to do with the other one… but the truth is that Metal, Hardcore, Punk, Grind, etc, have always existed […]
Last summer Alexandra Levy released when i paint my masterpiece, ending a four-year break between albums under her Ada Lea alias. She’s not waiting nearly that long to put out new music this time. In August, almost exactly a year after the last LP, Ada Lea will release a new seven-song EP called the end is a wave.
Sebastian Bach Rocks Iowa With Ozzy Osbourne And Twisted Sister Covers During Fourth Of July Set
Former Sebastian Bach delivered a high energy Independence Day performance at the Abate of Iowa Freedom Rally on July 4 in Algona, Iowa, treating fans to a set packed with classic favorites, solo material, and a pair of legendary cover songs honoring Ozzy Osbourne and Twisted Sister.
During the show, Bach tore through fan favorites including “Slave To The Grind,” “18 & Life,” “Monkey Business,” and “Youth Gone Wild” before surprising the crowd with powerful renditions of Ozzy Osbourne’s “I Don’t Know” and Twisted Sister’s anthem “I Wanna Rock.”
The full setlist included:
Slave To The Grind
Here I Am
18 & Life
Piece Of Me
American Metalhead
Monkey Business
I Don’t Know (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
I Wanna Rock (Twisted Sister cover)
Youth Gone Wild
Get The Fuck Out
The performance showcased the same mix of classic material and newer songs that Bach has made a priority since releasing his acclaimed 2024 solo album, Child Within The Man.
In a recent interview with the Iron City Rocks podcast, Bach explained why he refuses to become a nostalgia act. Rather than relying exclusively on the songs that made him famous, he continues to perform tracks like “What Do I Got To Lose?,” “Freedom,” “Future Of Youth,” and “(Hold On) To The Dream” at nearly every show.
“I understand that way of thinking, but that would be so boring to me,” Bach said of artists who only play their biggest hits. “I’m always gonna be putting out new stuff, because that’s what I enjoy doing.”
He also reflected on how the pandemic gave him the rare opportunity to focus completely on creating Child Within The Man, while noting that today’s audiences seem more eager than ever to experience live music after spending so much of their lives behind screens.
Earlier this year, Bach also revealed another unexpected goal for his future. Speaking with This Day In Metal, he said he’d love to record a traditional Christmas album inspired by the church music he sang growing up in Peterborough, Ontario. Rather than creating a heavy metal holiday record, Bach envisions a piano and organ driven collection of classic Christmas songs.
Bach’s current touring lineup features a family connection, with his son Paris Bach behind the drum kit, alongside guitarist Bruiser Brody DeRozie and bassist Fede Delfino.
Released in 2024, Child Within The Man marked Bach’s first full length studio album in more than a decade and earned widespread praise for both his vocal performance and songwriting. The album features guest appearances from John 5, Steve Stevens, Orianthi, and Myles Kennedy, while production duties were handled by renowned producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette.
Looking ahead, Bach will also step into another iconic role this fall when he fronts Twisted Sister for a handful of select live dates. Those appearances will not interfere with his ongoing solo tour, which continues in support of Child Within The Man.
For fans, the Iowa performance served as another reminder that Sebastian Bach isn’t content to simply relive the past. Whether he’s belting out Skid Row classics, paying tribute to metal legends like Ozzy Osbourne and Twisted Sister, or showcasing his latest material, Bach continues to prove he’s still one of hard rock’s most electrifying frontmen.
Black Sabbath and Rufus Publications have officially unveiled the first authorized book dedicated to the legendary band. Scheduled for release in October 2026, The Masters Of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter was produced by renowned photographer Ross Halfin in close collaboration with Black Sabbath, documenting the group’s story from its origins in the late 1960s through its farewell performance, “Back To The Beginning”, staged in July 2025.
Spanning more than 500 pages, the book follows the evolution of Black Sabbath with an extensive collection of rare photographs and memorabilia, including many items that have never been published before. It also explores the band’s classic lineup—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward—while featuring new essays by Geoff Barton and Dave Ling, both of whom conducted fresh interviews with all four members specifically for the project.
Work on The Masters Of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter began two years ago. Although the original plan was to announce the book shortly after the band’s final concert in 2025, the schedule changed following Ozzy Osbourne‘s passing.
Ross Halfin explained: “Ozzy and Sharon wanted the book out soon after the final show in Birmingham but Ozzy’s sudden passing away caused the music world to stop. Ozzy was fully involved with the book, and he signed the bookplates months before the final show, as did all the band members. So now we all thought the time was right, one year after ‘Back To The Beginning’, to announce the project. A book we all feel celebrates both Black Sabbath and Ozzy and illustrates just how important they are. I hope fans enjoy it.”
The book will be released in three different editions.
The Super Deluxe Signed Metal Edition is limited to 200 numbered copies. Measuring 303mm by 426mm and printed on silk art paper across more than 500 pages, it features a hand-tooled brushed metal cover, a recycled leather spine with purple-and-white foil embossing, and a recycled leather clamshell case. Buyers will also receive two exclusive limited-edition giclée prints. Every copy includes a unique book plate signed by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, GeezerButler, and Bill Ward. The price is £950, plus worldwide shipping.
The Super Deluxe Signed Edition is limited to 300 numbered copies. It shares the same oversized dimensions and silk art paper, with a black recycled leather cover featuring purple-and-white foil debossing and an inlaid 1970 band photograph. The edition comes housed in a recycled leather clamshell box with a white foiled “Henry” the flying devil on the front, along with a limited-edition giclée print. Each copy also contains a unique book plate signed by OzzyOsbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. It is priced at £650, plus worldwide shipping.
The Standard Edition measures 246mm by 346mm and comes with a printed and foiled cover housed in a cloth slipcase featuring a white foiled “Henry” on the front. It will retail for £99, plus worldwide shipping.
The Masters Of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter can be pre-ordered here.
Back in 2012, My Chemical Romance released their single “Ambulance” — part of a series of tracks that were collected on the 2013 box set Conventional Weapons. They went 14 years without ever playing that song live, but they finally busted it out for a July 4 show at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park.
