INTERVIEW: Bumblefoot of Whom Gods Destroy on Supergroups, Extreme Styles of Metal, and More


Ghost Cult Keefy caught up with Bumblefoot of Progressive Metal supergroup Whom Gods Destroy! Their new album Insanium is releasing via InsideOut Music! We talked to Ron about how the group from from the ashes of Sons Of Apollo – his work at the same time on the new Art Of Anarchy album, the heavy direction of this band and influences such as Pantera! Ron also talked about songcraft, guitar technique, revisiting other projects he has been in such as Asia, and some thoughts on revisiting Guns N Roses’ – “Chinese Democracy!”

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Cleopatra Records Share “All I Want For Christmas…’ Single (Tim “Ripper’ Owens and others) and Release 2 Metal Christmas Albums


Cleopatra Records have put together a double Christmas treat this year, announcing two albums of seasonal covers; AVery Metal Christmas and A Very Metal Christmas II. Both records comprise of yuletide classics reinterpreted by well known rock and metal musicians. Head into the article below to check out the cover of Mariah Carey‘s *All I Want For Christmas Is You”, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, and Dave Ellefson.

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Tarja and Torsten Stenzel’s Project Outlanders Shares a New Music Video for “Closer To The Sky”


Outlanders, launched by Finnish soprano legend Tarja Turunen and EDM pioneer Torsten Stenzel, have released the official music video to “Closer to the Sky.” The track features guitarist Trevor Rabin, best known as guitarist of prog rock icons Yes (“Owner of a Lonely Heart”), as well as a top Hollywood blockbuster movies score composer. Their next planned single is “The Cruellest Goodbye,” due out January 28th. It will be released as a limited edition 7″ vinyl exclusively at Tarja’s online store and digitally at earMUSIC. A full album will be due later in 2022 and features guest stars such as Al Di Meola, Joe Satriani, Jennifer Batten, Steve Rothery, Mike Oldfield, Walter Giardino, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Vernon Reid, and Marty Friedman. Watch the mind blowing video for “Closer To The Sky’ right now!

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Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal Thinks “Chinese Democracy” by Guns N Roses will Get More Respect Over Time


In a new interview, Sons of Apollo and former Guns N Roses guitarist and songwriter Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal believes that the much-maligned Chinese Democracy album will gain more acceptance over time from fans and critics alike. Thal was in GNR from 2006 to 2014 was the featured guitarist on Chinese Democracy. The album took over ten years to complete as a reported cost of one million dollars. As reported by Radio Station Q104.3, in a recent interview with Music Is Win’s Tyler Larson, Thal pointed out that the conversation around Chinese Democracy had been tainted for years before the album actually arrived. But that doesn’t change the fact that the music is good. He noted that some of the stigma of the album has to do with the GNR acrimony over their issues, and not the music on the album, or GNR leader W. Axl Rose.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Ellefson – No Cover


Cover songs can be tricky. A balancing act that often results in calamity. Lean too far one way and be accused of musical blasphemy; keep things too safe and be reliably informed you shouldn’t have bothered in the first place. So with that in mind, surely an album consisting entirely of cover versions is just asking for trouble, isn’t it?Continue reading


PODCAST: Episode 123: Derek Sherinian on “The Phoenix”, Prog, and More!


Ghost Cult caught up with progressive music legend and keyboardist/producer Derek Sherinian, (Sons of Apollo, Black Country Communion, ex-Dream Theater) to chat all about this new solo album, out this week, September 18th, via InsideOut Music. Derek discussed the new album, working with special guests such as Tony Franklin, Jimmy Johnson, Billy Sheehan, Joe Bonamassa, Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, Kiko Loureiro, Derek’s approach to composition, how he lays down guest tracks for bands around the world every day from his home studio, his with mentor and friend Simon Philips, covering Buddy Miles, a hint at future Sons of Apollo plans, discussing his keyboard heroes from history, and a cool story about Patrick Moraz. Pre-order the album here: https://dereksherinian.lnk.to/ThePhoenix and check out our chat. Continue reading


Watch Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian of Sons of Apollo Discuss New Single “Good Divinity”


 

Sons Of Apollo, the prog-Metal supergroup which includes former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force)-just shared their first single and video from their new album MMXX (pronounced: 20/20). Watch Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian discuss the clip in a new video below. MMXX produced by The Del Fuvio Brothers (Portnoy and Sherinian), MMXX will be released on the 17th January 2020 via InsideOutMusic/Sony as a standard CD package, Limited Edition 2 CD package (which includes instrumental mixes and a cappella excerpts), 2 LP + CD package, and on all digital formats. The album is the followup o the acclaimed debut Psychotic Symphony, one of the rare albums Ghost Cult gave a 10 / 10 grade to. Continue reading


Watch the New Video from Sons Of Apollo – “Goodbye Divinity”


Sons Of Apollo, the prog-Metal supergroup which includes former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force)-will release their second studio album in 2020, appropriately titled, MMXX (pronounced: 20/20). Produced by The Del Fuvio Brothers (Portnoy and Sherinian), MMXX will be released on the 17th January 2020 via InsideOutMusic/Sony as a standard CD package, Limited Edition 2 CD package (which includes instrumental mixes and a cappella excerpts), 2 LP + CD package, and on all digital formats. The album is the followup o the acclaimed debut Psychotic Symphony, one of the rare albums Ghost Cult gave a 10 / 10 grade to. Check out the video for the first single, the Vicente Cordero-directed clip for, ‘Goodbye Divinity’ right now! Continue reading


Sons Of Apollo Finishes New Album


In a tweet from keyboardist Derek Sherinian, Sons of Apollo have finished recording their next album. The supergroup features former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force) and just released their live album Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony on August 30 via InsideOut Music. The band has just booked new US tour dates for early 2020. We’re looking forward to new SOA music! Continue reading


Sons of Apollo Shares New Dream Theater Cover, Live DVD Due Out Next Month


Sons of Apollo, the prog-metal supergroup featuring former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force) — have announced release of Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony on August 30 viaS The band shared a cover of Dream Theater’s ‘Just Let Me Breathe’! Continue reading