Month: December 2024

Shinedown bassist Eric Bass has announced his debut solo LP, the concept album titled Eric Bass Presents: I Had a Name set to drop February 28th with an accompanying graphic novel. The album was written, recorded, and produced entirely by Bass; the video for the lead single “Mind Control” is out now.

Bass shared: “We’re following this character Devaren as he’s talking about his disdain for the population and how he can’t stand them, but at the end of the song he has this reflective moment where he actually regrets everything he’s been doing. The interesting thing about the characters in this story is that they represent a different part of my neurodivergence and mental health journey … In ‘Mind Control,’ Devaren represents the depression that has crept into my life over the years that I didn’t see coming. I just had to personify that in a character so in ‘Mind Control’ it has taken over, but ultimately in our story it will be defeated.”

Bass said of the album’s concept that the inspiration came to him while he was in a hotel room in Milan: “I’ve spoken about my struggles with depression and neurodivergent issues before. When I finished writing this record, I looked back at these characters I’ve created and realized I’d written the most autobiographical record of my life, which wasn’t conscious as I was writing it. I’m always about honesty in art. When I listen to something, I want to hear that the person dug into the dirt and bled for it to happen. The truth always prevails.”

Eric Bass Presents: I Had a Name can be pre-saved – HERE.
Stream the video for “Mind Control” – HERE.

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Judas Priest have announced that they will be launching their Shield Of Pain Tour 2025 across Europe next summer. The band is launching the trek in support of the their latest studio album “Invisible Shield” and follows their just completed North American Tour that featured support from Sabaton.

The tour is set to kick off on June 14th in Hamar, Norway at the Tjuvholmen Arena and will wrap up on July 20th in Oberhausen, Germany at the Rudolf-Weber-Arena.

Frontman Rob Halford recently shared the meaning behind the title, Shield of Pain: “I don’t want to put myself on a pedestal, but I normally come up with the titles. In the world of heavy metal, the band, the fans, the metal community, it’s all about the Invincible Shield. It’s defending the faith. We’re still defending the faith, all these years later.”

For details and other information head to https://judaspriest.com/tour/ 

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Tears for Fears are returning to Las Vegas next year with four additional dates for their limited engagement, after selling out all three of their shows at BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The new shows will be Friday, January 31st, Saturday, February 1st, Wednesday, February 5th, and Friday, February 7th.

The band shared: “Las Vegas, we can’t stay away! We’ll be playing four additional shows in 2025 at
@fblasvegas. Tickets on sale Friday, Nov 8 at 10AM PT. See you there! https://tearsforfears.com”

The band will perform classics from their discography and cuts from their album, The Tipping Point as well as their latest album Songs For A Nervous Planet, featuring live recordings of their classics like “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Sowing the Seeds of Love,” “Shout” and “Head Over Heels,” taken from their 2022 The Tipping Point Tour. In addition, the album includes four new studio tracks: “Emily Said,” “Say Goodbye To Mum And Dad,” “Astronaut” and “The Girl That I Call Home.”

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Legendary rock band Tesla has dropped their new EP All About Love, featuring a special edition single on a limited collector’s 12-inch vinyl and including electric, acoustic, and live versions of their new song, “All About Love.”

The electric version of All About Love was produced by Brian Wheat in his upstate New York recording studio, as well as two, stripped-down acoustic versions with dynamics. In addition, a rendition of “All About Love” that segues into James Gang’s classic song “Walk Away” is featured, recorded live at a Las Vegas concert earlier this year.

“All About Love” is now available for purchase: HERE.

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Heart has announced the opening acts for its Royal Flush Tour 2025, including Squeeze, Cheap Trick and Lucinda Williams as special guests for select shows. Squeeze and Cheap Trick had previously opened for Heart on European dates of the Royal Flush tour before shows were canceled due to singer Ann Wilson’s medical issues.

Ann Wilson said in a press release announcing the special guests: “Each of these acts can totally bring it all on their own. It’s an honor for us to be hitting the road with them next year. I’m especially thrilled to be doing a few gigs with my dear friend Lucinda. We’ve wanted to tour together for years.”

Guitarist Nancy Wilson added: “This tour promises to be super fun. We are super stoked to get back out there and bring the big 100% live rawk!”

Heart also added more concerts to their tour itinerary for next year, bringing the total number of dates for 2025 to two dozen. The tour commences in February with a pair of shows at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where the band will perform solo shows, and continued on to include stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Vancouver, Milwaukee, Knoxville and Buffalo, with the final date is a stop at New York’s Radio City Music Hall with Williams opening on April 16.

You can find more information on the tour at Heart’s website.

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The 2025 Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas has been canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

A post on social media read: “It is with great disappointment that we announce that Sick New World will no longer take place in Las Vegas on April 12, 2025. Despite our best efforts, we’ve encountered unforeseen circumstances that we were unable to overcome for next year’s show. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated SNW fans who had made plans to join us for another cultural celebration of hard rock, both, alternative and heavy music. Please stay tuned for further and future information regarding Sick New World. Tickets purchased directly from Front Gate Tickets will be automatically refunded to the original method of payment in as little as 30 days.”

Linkin Park, Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age, Evanescence, and many more were set to perform at the 2025 Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas, taking place on Saturday, April 12th at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. AFI, Gojira, Sisters of Mercy, Acid Bath, Refused, and Mudvayne, were also on the bill of performers.

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