With a queue that looks like it possibly stretches into a different time zone, anyone who thought LA legends W.A.S.P. would struggle to attract decent-sized crowds these days is very much mistaken. With a tour postponed due to the Covid pandemic three years ago, Blackie Lawless and co land on English shores once again, the natives turning out in full force to celebrate. And where better in the West Midlands to play than KK’s Steel Mill, the venue owned by former Judas Priest axeman KK Downing?
Rolling Stone has announced its list of The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time, and this list….a curious one. Selected by the staff of RS, formerly the world’s most important music magazine, in the 1960s and 70s, has a good list, no doubt. Only a few bands from this list made this century, and weirder still, a good portion of the list is really hard rock and not remotely metal. All the usual suspects Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Dio, Ozzy, Judas Priest, Danzig, Megadeth, that you would have expected are here. Many of your faves are not represented. There are at least a few Death Metal and Black Metal bands. Cool. Lamb of God, is not. Still, people love lists so get ready to be big-time mad!
Today is the last day to order the Super7 Toys – Cliff Burton of Metallica Ultimates Edition figure! Pre-orders are live now at the link below, running until March 10th 2023 at 5 PM PST, and will start shipping in Winter of 2024. Each figure is custom made-to-order, limited-edition, 7” scale and immortalizes the thrash metal icon, right down to his bass and infamous double fist skull rings! In addition to Ultimates based on King Diamond and Lemmy, the ReAction figures, Super7 has released a Slayer Live Undead playset as well as figures based on other music, movies, toy lines, and other pop culture icons. Other reaction figures in the line include Ozzy Osbourne, Cliff Burton of Metallica, Johnny Cash, Misfits, Alice Cooper, several versions of Papa Emeritus, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Agnostic Front, Anthrax, Motörhead, Venom, Circle Jerks, Gorilla Biscuits, King Diamond, Megadeth, Rancid, Judas Priest, Napalm Death, Paul Baloff of Exodus and many more! Order right now since these usually sell out.Continue reading
Ghost Cult welcomes in guest contributor, podcaster and Pink Floyd expert Nik Cameron of The Glacially Musical Pouredcast to wax on about Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, which turned 50 years old today (March 1st, 2023).
The Dark Side of the Moon, 50 Years Later
As we sit here, author and reader, what could be arguably called the greatest prog rock album of all time, The Dark Side of the Moon, by Pink Floyd, has aged fifty years. At the time of this writing when I attempt some words about this massive achievement, I am 47 years old.Continue reading
Megadeth has shared a new single, their cover of Judas’s Priest’s “Delivering The Goods” – is out now on all DSPs! Recorded during the making of The Sick… The Dying… and The Dead. Read our review here. The band dedicated the track to Judas Priest for being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. The band recently announced tour dates and metal festivals for Europe, this summer. See the list below.
Super7 Toys will release a new Cliff Burton of Metallica Ultimates Edition figure! Pre-orders are live now at the link below, running until March 10th 2023, and will start shipping in Winter of 2024. Each figure is custom made-to-order, limited-edition, 7” scale and immortalizes the thrash metal icon, right down to his bass and infamous double fist skull rings! In addition to Ultimates based on King Diamond and Lemmy, the ReAction figures, Super7 has released a Slayer Live Undead playset as well as figures based on other music, movies, toy lines, and other pop culture icons. Other reaction figures in the line include Ozzy Osbourne, Cliff Burton of Metallica, Johnny Cash, Misfits, Alice Cooper, several versions of Papa Emeritus, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Agnostic Front, Anthrax, Motörhead, Venom, Circle Jerks, Gorilla Biscuits, King Diamond, Megadeth, Rancid, Judas Priest, Napalm Death, Paul Baloff of Exodus and many more! Order right now since these usually sell out.Continue reading
Super7 Toys has released new Sex Pistols ReAction Figures for Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious You can buy them at the link below! In addition to the ReAction figures, Super7 has released a Slayer Live Undead playset as well as figures based on other music, movies, toy lines, and other pop culture icons. Other reaction figures in the line include Ozzy Osbourne, Cliff Burton of Metallica, Johnny Cash, Misfits, Alice Cooper, several versions of Papa Emeritus and Nameless Ghouls, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Agnostic Front, Anthrax, Lemmy of Motörhead, Beastie Boys, Venom, Circle Jerks, Gorilla Biscuits, King Diamond, Megadeth, Rancid, Judas Priest, Napalm Death, Paul Baloff of Exodus and many more! Order right now since these usually sell out.Continue reading
Ozzy Osbourne has released a statement canceling his upcoming World Tour dates with his friends in Judas Priest for the final time, and effectively ends his career as a regular traveling touring artist. In a statement that Ozzy opened his statement, made via his longtime PR team, SRO Publicity, he claimed this announcement “is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans.” Following his slip and fall at home four years ago, and after years of many back and neck surgeries, stem cell replacement treatments, cybernetics (!), and massive amounts of physical therapy, Ozzy is too weak to hold up to the regular rigors of touring. He did comment he is working with his team on ideas about performing that does not include travel from city to city, but that means most of the world will never see one of the best live performers in metal ever, in person again. Refunds for tickets for the 2023 tour are available from the point of purpose.
The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place tonight in Los Angeles, and Heavy Metal icons Judas Priest are now a member! The are now members with Carly Simon, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Judas Priest, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, and more. The highlights of the evening will air on HBO Max on November 19th. Watch fan-filmed footage of the ceremony and the band’s performance and red carpet appearance below.
MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA 10/16/22
I guess the saying, “three times a charm,” holds true every so often. Judas Priest had to cancel their Boston area shows twice in a row on the last two attempts. Once because guitarist Richie Faulkner came within inches of his life a few dates before and the second time the show was canceled the day of due to Rob Halford being ill. Thankfully everyone is doing well now but after the second time I just assumed the show would never happen. Well clearly I was proven wrong. Moved to the newly opened venue by Fenway Park, The MGM Music Hall in Boston, the show went off without a hitch as part of their tour celebrating their more than 50 years as a band.