In a story Ghost Cult broke several months ago, Mayhem Fest co-founders Kevin Lyman and John Reece had been in talks about bringing the fest back and confirmed by Lyman on social media. However, now due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak, those plans are on hold until 2021. No further details had been shared yet about a new version of Mayhem Fest, but the rumor of the Megadeth/Lamb of God Tour being the headliners was debunked by Lyman and the bands. Reece even polled his fans to see if they wanted it back AFTER our news story broke. The final Mayhemfest wrapped in 2015 with Slayer and King Diamond co-headlining. Lyman’s Warped Tour celebrated 25 years last summer with a final few all-day festival dates, but not a cross country tour. Reece and Lyman were also responsible for The Uproar Festival Tour and A Taste of Chaos Tour as well. Perhaps Mayhem Festival will return as an all-dayer or an all-weekend destination fest like Lollapalooza did. The traveling summer-time metal festival was the metal answer to Warped Tour, also co-founded by Kevin Lyman and John Reece and saw Slipknot, Slayer, System of a Down, King Diamond, Five Finger Death Punch, Amon Amarth, Mastodon were among the many headliners over the years. Continue reading →
Typically we try to stay away from rumor mill material with Ghost Cult, as we like to leave that up to our peers who trade your trust for clickbait daily. On rare occasions, we will share a story that is developing that would be of great interest to fans if it comes to fruition and will let you know up front if we only have some of the facts. Such is the case with John Reece, co-founder of the now-defunct Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. Reece posted last night on social media to the Mayhem Festival account, posing the question: should the fest should make a comeback? Reece who also used to run the Taste of Chaos tour with his then partner Kevin Lyman (also of Warped Tour) have been tight-lipped since the farewell messages at the end of the 2015 run of dates that ended the run of eight years straight starting in 2008. As of now, there is no pending announcement or further information we have to indicate the fest is coming back, but we’d love to see it! Once it went dark some of the bands that would typically play the fest went over to play Warped, which is also no longer a touring fest. Even as a destination fest (the current trend), we feel Mayhem would make a huge comeback. Both Reece and Lyman are incredible entrepreneurs with Reece involved with fests like Back To The Beach and the new Real Street Fest, and Lyman still running Warped and FEND, so there is no doubt they can make this happen and bring it back. Mayhemfest, as it was known, was a strictly Rock and Metal fest that was an answer to Ozzfest in America, after that event went on hiatus. The fest boasted lineups that included Slipknot, Korn, Disturbed, Slayer, King Diamond, Marilyn Manson, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch, Avenged Sevenfold, Killswitch Engage, Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Hatebreed, All That Remains, Testament, Godsmack, Megadeth, Anthrax, Motörhead, Mastodon, Amon Amarth, Machine Head, Trivium and more!
Slayer (bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, guitarist Kerry King, and returning drummer Paul Bostaph, along with touring guitarist Gary Holt) have completed recording their yet to be titled eleventh studio album with producer Terry Date, due out later this year via their own yet to be named label (through Nuclear Blast).
Following Slayer’s studio sessions in March 2014 that yielded the track “Implode,” offered by the band as a free download, Slayer recorded on and off between September and mid-January at L.A.’s Henson Studios, and is currently mixing the album. Eleven songs have been recorded, but what will end up on the final track listing is yet to be determined. Early reports indicate that Slayer fans have a lot to look forward to – the new music is a sonic assault of brutal, ominous, lightening-fast and heavy-as-hell music with lyrics that unmask what Slayer knows best – the terror, the corruption and the societal turmoil that dominates our world.
Fans got a second preview of the new album this past Saturday when another one of the new songs, “When The Stillness Comes,” was released as a limited-edition (only 5000 copies worldwide), seven-inch vinyl picture disc exclusive for Record Store Day.
The new album marks the first time Slayer has worked with producer Terry Date (Slipknot, Soundgarden, Deftones), Bostaph’s return to the Slayer recording line-up since 2001’s God Hates Us All, and Holt’s first appearance on a Slayer album. It’s also the first Slayer album without the presence of founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman, athough a Hanneman-penned song is on the final track listing.
Slayer will tour extensively to support the new album, headlining this summer’sRockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, as well as playing other major outdoor festivals and several “An Evening With…” Slayer only concerts.
Apr 24: Iron City – Birmingham, AL (“An Evening with…” headline dates) Apr 25: Metropolitian Park (Monster Energy Welcome to Rockville) – Jacksonville, FL Apr 26: Civic Theatre – New Orleans, LA (“An Evening with…” headline dates) May 01: Farm Bureau Live (Lunatic Luau) – Virginia Beach, VA May 03: Carolina Rebellion – Charlotte, NC May 22: Rocklahoma – Pryor, OK May 23: Socorro Casino – El Paso, TX (“An Evening with…” headline dates) Jun 13: Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN Jun 16: Paramount – Huntington (Long Island), NY (“An Evening with…” headline dates) Jun 17: Paramount – Huntington (Long Island), NY (“An Evening with…” headline dates) Jun 19: State Theatre – Portland, ME Jun 20: Amnesia Rockfest – Montebello, QC
(Mayhem headline dates): Jun 26: Sleep Train Amphitheater – San Diego, CA Jun 27: San Manuel Amphitheater – San Bernardino, CA Jun 28: Shoreline Amphitheater – Mountain View, CA Jun 30: White River Amphitheater – Auburn, WA (Seattle) Jul 01: Idaho Center Amphitheater – Boise, ID Jul 03: Ak-Chin Amphitheater – Phoenix, AZ Jul 04: Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM Jul 05: Red Rocks – Denver, CO Jul 07: Harrah’s Council Bluffs – Council Bluffs, IA Jul 08: Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI Jul 10: Klipsch Amphitheater – Noblesville, IN (Indianapolis) Jul 11: DTE Energy Amphitheater – Clarkston, MI (Detroit) Jul 12: First Midwest Bank Amphitheater – Tinley Park, IL (Chicago) Jul 15: Molson Canadian Amphitheatre – Toronto, ON Jul 17: Susquehanna Bank Arts Center – Camden, NJ (Philadelphia) Jul 18: First Niagara Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA (Pittsburgh) Jul 19: Xfinity Theatre – Hartford, CT Jul 21: PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ Jul 22: Meadowbrook (Bank of NH Pavilion) – Gilford, NH Jul 24: Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA Jul 25: Xfinity Center – Boston, MA Jul 26: Nikon at Jones Beach – Wantagh, NY Jul 29: Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood – Atlanta, GA Jul 31: Whitewater Amphitheater – San Antonio, TX Aug 01: Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, TX Aug 02: Gexa Energy Amphitheater – Dallas, TX
