The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame’s 35th Annual Annual Induction Ceremony Will Be Streamed This Fall


The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced today that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it will replace its annual live induction ceremony with an exclusive special honoring this year’s inductees. The program will be available on HBO and to stream on HBO Max November 7 and will replace the live 35th annual Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that was originally scheduled for May 2 of this year. It was announced in March that the ceremony would be postponed due to the pandemic. The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame 2020 inductee class includes Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., T. Rex and Ahmet Ertegun Award Honorees Jon Landau and Irving Azoff.

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Failure Offers Update on Kelli Scott’s Health, Re-Releases “Enjoy The Silence” Cover


Failure’s Ken Andrews has addressed the fans curious about drummer Kelli Scott’s progress in his fight against stage 1 colon cancer. Scott disclosed his diagnosis this spring in 2020 via social media. Andrews reports that Kelli is “recovering well” from a series of surgeries in hopes of curing him of the life-threatening illness. In advance of the bands 4 LP boxed set coming soon, Failure 1992 -1996, the band has re-released their out of print cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence”, which you can enjoy below. Read his statement below and some social updates from Kelli as well. Get well soon Kelli!Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Human Impact – Human Impact


Comprising members of Unsane, Swans and Cop Shoot Cop, New York quartet Human Impact embrace all of those bands’ qualities and add a rebellious Noise element which belies the middle age quickly enveloping the protagonists. Debut album Human Impact (Ipecac Recordings) sees that collective maturity provides a focused, prowling edge.Continue reading


CLASSIC ALBUMS REVISITED: Depeche Mode – ‘Violator’ 30 Years Later


Just the other day, I used the Instagram filter “What Goth Band Are You?” and victoriously was labeled Depeche Mode. Though I strive to be dark, brooding, emotive, sexy, and mysterious, I feel it’s best left to the professionals to truly embody and exhibit such traits, and there is no finer example than electronic rock/synth-wave masters, Depeche Mode. Thirty years ago today (March 19, 1990), Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Alan Wilder gifted the world their seventh studio album, Violator (Mute Records) and today, we look back in celebration and appreciation of a record that pushed boundaries, created timeless classics, and explored sex, desire, hedonism, and other ‘taboo’ topics (with a pinch of religion). Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Psalm Zero – Sparta


The more disparate aspects influence a band, the more it’s able to grow. Psalm Zero‘s music prior to the new album Sparta (Last Things Records) was all aggravated Indie, the tunes given an edge by guitarist Andrew Hock. With his departure and the subsequent recruitment of Kayo Dot pairing Keith Abrams and Ron Vodun, remaining founder member Charlie Looker has added a warmer, heavier feel to the Grungey lightness and this, together with a tantalising contribution from Lingua Ignota‘s Kristin Hayter, makes the album an enticing prospect.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Poppy – VOWWS: Live At Brooklyn Steel


While sugary-sweet pop vocals coupled with head-crushing heavy metal doesn’t seem like a recipe for success, Poppy has been changing the game. We were there when she took the stage at Brooklyn Steel last month and saw firsthand what everyone has been buzzing about.Continue reading


Dumb and Dumbest Episode #309: Chris Van of Dividing The Element Talks Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


On the new edition of the Podcast, we analyze the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction announcement, and examine who got snubbed and why! Dumb and Dumbest #309 is streaming now and it’s an interview with Chris Van of Dividing The Element Talks Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Dumb and Dumbest is hosted by Matt Bacon (Dropout Media, Ripple Music, Prophecy Productions) and Publicist Curtis Dewar (Dewar PR), in addition to the podcast, Matt and Curtis host The Music Marketing Challenge, a low-cost, super high-value private training to bands and artists. The new challenge is about Mastering The Art of Pitching your Band to Labels and Journalists! Get hands-on practical experience to market your band like a pro today! DM Matt or Curtis at the links below for detailsContinue reading


Nine Inch Nails, The Doobie Brothers, Depeche Mode, The Notorious B.I.G., T-Rex and Whitney Houston Voted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has officially announced its 2020 inductees: The Doobie Brothers, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., T. Rex and Whitney Houston will all join the class of 2020. They will be inducted on May 2 at a ceremony at Cleveland’s Public Hall. Surprisingly metal favorites Judas Priest, and fan-favorite Soundgarden which includes late frontman Chris Cornell, The Dave Matthews Band and Pat Benetar did not get enough votes to be elected. Other deserving artists on the ballot and not earning election include Thin Lizzy, Motörhead, Kraftwerk, MC5, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, and Todd Rundgren. Continue reading


Judas Priest Makes a Case for Entry Into The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in New Video


Heavy Metal legends Judas Priest has just shared a new video touting their nomination fo the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Packed with their greatest songs and a ton of facts about the bands’ fifty-year card-career makes the case for the band rightly deserving the honor. Not only is “The Priest” one of the longest-running original heavy metal bands ever, elected to multiple Halls of Fame by press and fans, but also as relevant as ever with their 2018 album Firepower (Epic Records). They will celebrate their anniversary as a band next year with the 50 Years of Heavy Metal tour, headline dates, opening for Ozzy Osbourne, and headlining festivals such as Wacken Open Air. The band is nominated for the hall along with other rock and metal icons Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Motörhead (both on the ballot for the first time), Nine Inch Nails, Thin Lizzy, Todd Rundgren, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, as well as stiff competition from Pop, Rock and Rap icons such as possible entrants Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, the Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, T-Rex, and the iconic singer (and likely lock to get in) Whitney Houston. Judas Priest is doing solidly in the early fan voting (fifth behind DMB, Pat Benatar, The Doobies, and Soundgarden), but the fan vote barely counts in the end and is a symbolic gesture.Continue reading


Judas Priest, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Motörhead, Depeche Mode and Thin Lizzy Lead the Nominees for the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame


The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame evokes a mixed reaction from hard rock and metal fans, but every year like Charlie Brown and the football, we try to score a win. The nominees for this year’s induction includes Judas Priest, Soundgarden and Motörhead (both on the ballot for the first time), Nine Inch Nails, Todd Rundgren, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews Band, the Doobie Brothers, the Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, T-Rex, Thin Lizzy, and Whitney Houston. The fan-vote is often debated publicly about who should be in or not, but has very little weight in the final voting and is a symbolic gesture. Continue reading