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In a recent conversation with the UCR Podcast, Joe Satriani opened up about his efforts to collaborate with the legendary Eddie Van Halen, revealing that despite his repeated attempts, he never succeeded in getting Eddie to join the G3 lineup. Satriani explained that he reached out to Eddie through various channels, but never received a response. He recalled trying to contact Eddie’s office on several occasions, hoping to make it easy for him to join by handling all the technical details, but he never heard back.

Despite these efforts, Satriani eventually accepted that Eddie might not have been interested in the idea of performing regularly as part of G3. The structure of the G3 shows involved performing every night with two other guitarists, which may not have appealed to Eddie, given the commitment and responsibility involved. Satriani reflected on how some artists might be open to special events or charity shows, but the demanding schedule of G3 might not have been something Eddie was comfortable with.

In a 2022 interview, Satriani also shared his thoughts on Eddie’s unique playing style, explaining how Eddie would often play things that didn’t necessarily make musical sense but felt incredibly fun to listen to. He noted that while Eddie’s playing might seem unconventional when analyzed note-for-note, the overall result in the context of the band was always enjoyable.

Satriani did get the chance to honor Eddie’s legacy in 2024, when he performed Van Halen’s guitar parts during The Best of All Worlds tour with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. This allowed him to celebrate Eddie’s impact on music, even if he never had the chance to share the stage with him on a regular basis.

Black Sabbath’s final concert on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK, promises to be one of the most historic moments in metal history. The legendary band’s original lineup—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—will reunite for one last show under the banner of “Back to the Beginning,” marking the end of an era for the heavy metal pioneers. This emotional event will not only celebrate their incredible legacy but also raise funds for several causes, with all proceeds benefiting Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

The concert will be a star-studded affair with performances from some of the biggest names in metal, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Gojira, Halestorm, Lamb of God, and Mastodon. These bands will join Black Sabbath to help honor their immense impact on the world of rock and metal. In addition to these incredible bands, an all-star tribute performance will pay homage to Black Sabbath’s legacy, featuring Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, Fred Durst, Jonathan Davis, Wolfgang Van Halen, and more. Morello will also serve as the musical director for the night, ensuring an unforgettable celebration of Sabbath’s influence.

Ozzy Osbourne, who hails from Birmingham, shared his excitement for the event, stating, “It’s my time to go ‘Back to the Beginning’… time for me to give back to the place where I was born. Birmingham is the true home of metal.” Metallica echoed this sentiment, calling the show an honor and humbling experience. The concert will be a monumental celebration of nearly six decades of Black Sabbath’s music, and for fans, it will be a chance to witness a once-in-a-lifetime performance by the pioneers who defined heavy metal.

Tickets for the historic show will go on sale February 14 at 10 a.m. GMT through Ticketmaster UK and Live Nation UK.

Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister has once again voiced his belief that rock is dead, citing the lack of young rock stars in the mainstream spotlight.

In a recent interview with Rimshots With Sean for Barstools & Bandtalk, French explained, “When I was 17 years old back in 1969, all my heroes—Beatles, Stones, Who, Zep, Floyd, Hendrix, Dylan, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane—you name ’em, none of them were older than 27.”

He then posed a challenge: “Name me a 27-year-old rock star right now. And nobody can name one.”

French clarified that he isn’t saying rock bands don’t exist but believes rock is no longer a dominant force in shaping culture: “The collective psyche that dictates current music trends and sociological impact of music, it’s not showing up in the rock world in terms of mass acceptance.”

This isn’t the first time French has made such claims. In 2016, he told Kaaos TV (via Blabbermouth), “People say, ‘What about Muse?’ They’re not 25 years old. Avenged Sevenfold? They’re not 25. Slipknot? They’re not 25. The next generation doesn’t seem to be there.”

The “rock is dead” debate has been ongoing since Gene Simmons first made the claim, though many artists, including Alice Cooper, disagree. Cooper argues that rock’s staying power is undeniable, with classic hard rock from the ‘70s still thriving decades later.

Jerry Cantrell recently spoke with Metal Hammer and addressed fan questions, including what it was like finding a new singer for Alice In Chains after Layne Staley’s passing.

When asked whether the band auditioned vocalists before reuniting, Cantrell said, “I don’t think we really ‘tried’ anybody. We were just trying to figure out if we wanted to jam. We were jamming as friends, and we invited a few friends down to come play these songs.”

He recalled early performances, saying, “The idea was to maybe just do a handful of shows and celebrate the music. I think we did that with Phil Anselmo and Pat Lachman from Damageplan at a gig.”

But when it came to selecting William DuVall, Cantrell explained, “I knew William, and he was part of my touring band for Degradation Trip. We were already good friends and had performed a lot of the Alice stuff.”

Layne Staley passed away on April 5, 2002, after years of struggling with addiction. By that point, Alice In Chains had been on hiatus, and Cantrell had pursued solo work, releasing Degradation Trip just months after Staley’s death.

In 2006, the band reformed and invited DuVall to perform at their reunion concerts. He had previously played with Cantrell’s solo band and toured as a supporting act, making him a natural fit.

Cantrell reflected on this decision in a previous SoundLounge interview, saying, “There is no replacing Layne, so we weren’t asking Will to come in and try to be Layne; we wanted him to be himself.”

DuVall recently hinted that Alice In Chains has new projects planned for 2025, though details remain under wraps. In the meantime, he has expressed interest in making more records, either solo or with other bands

Rudy Sarzo has shut down rumors about Randy Rhoads issuing an ultimatum to Sharon Osbourne over unpaid wages.

The discussion began when music journalist Dave Wight reposted an interview with Sarzo on X, referencing an alleged incident before the Diary of a Madman tour. Wight wrote, “Randy Rhoads did not really have a temper, though there is allegedly a story before the start of the Diary of a Madman tour where he is yelling at Jake Duncan to tell Sharon to pay him or he was not doing the tour… as part of our Q&A with Andrew Klein.”

Sarzo quickly refuted the claim, responding, “Allegedly Randy yelling at Jake Duncan to tell Sharon to pay him or he was not doing the tour. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!!”

In the original interview, Sarzo was asked if Rhoads ever got so angry that he would punch people or smash guitars. “That pissed? No, never,” he said.

“I mean, everybody gets annoyed. I’ve seen him annoyed by something, but not angry,” he explained. “That’s a whole different emotion. You can see his passion for playing music just by looking at photos—you don’t even need a video. He was passionate at soundcheck. He simply couldn’t play any other way than putting everything into it.”

Sarzo, who was recommended by Rhoads to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band, played bass from March 1981 to September 1982. His performances are featured on the live albums Speak of the Devil and Tribute.

Green Day recently shared their admiration for Billie Eilish after teaming up for a special performance at FireAid LA on January 30.

During a chat with Billboard at the Grammys, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong recalled how he first became a fan of Eilish.

“When she first started coming out, I saw some footage of her on Instagram,” he said. “I saw some merch, and there was a headband that said ‘Billie’ with an ‘ie,’ and I thought, ‘I have to have that!’”

Eilish ended up sending him a collection of Billie-themed merch, which Armstrong was thrilled about. “She sent me a bunch of stuff, and I was like, ‘Yes!’” he added.

The admiration between the two was on full display at FireAid LA, where Eilish joined Green Day onstage to perform Last Night on Earth. Green Day then wrapped up their set with Still Breathing and When I Come Around.

This isn’t the first time the two Billies have connected. Back in 2019, they sat down for a one-on-one conversation in a special Rolling Stone issue. During that interview, Armstrong praised Eilish’s music, saying, “I always gravitate toward music that sounds like freedom. That’s what I get from your music. It’s an earnest expression, and you’re incorporating new sounds. Some of it even feels like jazz to me, if that’s cool to say?”

In other news, Green Day is set to headline the UK’s Download Festival for the first time this summer, marking another milestone in their legendary career.

Liam Gallagher isn’t a fan of being called a “celebrity”—because to him, there’s a big difference between that and being a rock star.

After NME posted a lighthearted story about Gallagher building a pool in his garden—despite previously admitting he can’t swim—one fan questioned why such details even matter. “Why do we need to care about celebrities’ gardens?” they wrote on X.

Gallagher didn’t hold back with his response: “I’m not a f*cking CELEBRITY.”

When another fan followed up, asking, “What’s the difference between a celebrity and a rock ‘n’ roll star?” he doubled down: “Celebrities are sad little desperate fcks. If they don’t get enough attention, they cry like little btches.”

Despite his clear stance, Gallagher isn’t too impressed with modern rock stars either. In a 2022 interview with The Project, he lamented how things have changed. “Pop stars are alright. They’re allowed to be a bit soft now because that’s what they do. But rock ‘n’ roll stars? No one’s getting into trouble anymore. They’re all playing it safe like good little sheep. It’s terrible, isn’t it?”

When asked why that is, he blamed the rise of mobile phones and social media. “If phones were around in the ’60s, ’70s, or ’80s, Keith Moon probably still would’ve done what he did—because he didn’t give a f*ck. But now? Everyone’s too busy showing off on camera.”

One thing’s for sure—Gallagher will soon be back in the spotlight where he belongs. Oasis is set to reunite for the first time since 2009, with shows kicking off on July 4. While details on the lineup and new music remain unclear, the rumored setlist includes classics like Acquiesce, Some Might Say, Supersonic, Live Forever, and Champagne Supernova.

Following their England dates, Oasis will take the reunion to Scotland, Ireland, and North America.

Being a famous pop-punk drummer doesn’t mean craving the spotlight—just ask Travis Barker.

In a recent chat with YMH Studios, the Blink-182 drummer was asked how he feels about fame. His response? “I don’t really think about it much,” he admitted.

While being well-known has its perks, Barker and his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, often find themselves longing for a simpler life. “Being able to organize 5Ks and raise money for incarcerated firefighters and the LAFD—that’s a cool way to use my platform,” he explained. “But beyond that, I don’t really think about it. I’m a dad first. I spend time with my kids, go to the studio every day, run, exercise… My wife and I have had moments where we’re like, ‘We just want to be normal.’ And honestly, we pretty much live a normal life.”

Barker also shared a story about Paul McCartney dealing with the same struggle. “I once heard this story where Paul told someone, ‘You don’t need a bunch of security or handlers. If you want to go to the grocery store, just start going every day at the same time. Let people get used to seeing you, and before long, no one will bother you. It’ll just feel normal.’”

Despite his massive success, Barker doesn’t see himself as a celebrity. In an interview with Man About Town, he recalled being asked about his fashion brand: “They said, ‘How does it feel to have a celebrity-owned fashion brand?’ And I was like—I’m not a celebrity! I’m a drummer, a husband, a father, a creative, a producer… but I don’t consider myself famous. I’m just me. That’s it.”

As for Blink-182, the band currently has two scheduled shows: February 13 in Los Angeles and October 18 at the When We Were Young festival.

Gene Simmons is gearing up for his solo tour, promising fans a setlist filled with surprises—including songs KISS never performed live.

In a video message on X, the legendary bassist shared his excitement about hitting the road. “Hey everybody, it’s Gene Simmons. I couldn’t wait to tell you this—we’ve got everything lined up,” he announced. “The Gene Simmons Band is touring North America, hitting 30, maybe even 40 cities. We’re adding more as we go.”

The trek kicks off April 3 in Anaheim, California, followed by an April 4 stop in Temecula. “Never been there, but we’re gonna be there,” Simmons said. “And we’re coming to your neck of the woods. We’re skipping New York and LA for now—we’re bringing the show straight to you.”

As for what fans can expect? Simmons hinted at a mix of classics and deep cuts. “We’re playing your favorite KISS tunes, of course. But that’s not all. Are we doing songs KISS never played live? Check. Are we performing tracks that KISS never even recorded? You bet. Plus, we’re throwing in some covers I’ve always wanted to do—you’ll have to wait and see what they are.”

In true rock ’n’ roll fashion, Simmons also extended an invite to fans to join in on the action. “We want you to be part of the fun,” he said. “Can you sing? You don’t have to be Pavarotti. Can you play a little guitar or drums? You don’t have to be an expert. Who knows? Maybe we’ll pull you up on stage.”

For those looking to catch the show, Simmons urged them to act fast. “Get your tickets—there won’t be many available,” he said. “Genesimmons.com or wherever you usually grab your tickets. We’ve been rehearsing, and we sound great. See you out there!”

Simmons’ solo band features guitarist Brent Woods, guitarist Jason Walker, and drummer Brian Tichy. The tour is set to run through May 2025, with more dates possibly on the way.

Mick Box isn’t optimistic about the future of rock music.

In a recent interview with Classic Rock, the Uriah Heep guitarist shared his concerns about where the industry is headed. “The way the business is right now, it’s shaping everything, and not in a good way,” he said when asked about rock’s future. “Everything is being done through Pro Tools—bands don’t seem to get together in the studio anymore to record as a unit.”

Box reflected on how much things have changed. “Sure, we can still tour in sixty-four countries, so rock is far from dead. But the business itself? It’s taken a turn, and not for the better. A lot of the uniqueness is gone—too many bands look and sound the same.”

He also pointed out how the approach to playing guitar has shifted over the years. “Nowadays, guitarists spend two years in college learning how to play, but you can’t tell them apart. Back in the ’70s, guys like Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, and myself all had our own distinct sounds,” he explained. “It was the combination of individual musicians that gave bands their unique identity. I just don’t hear that as much anymore.”

Box has long been vocal about the importance of bands making music together rather than working in isolation. Speaking to Goldmine, he said, “Lyrically, it’s a call for musicians to go back to being real bands—to get in the studio, travel, and play live together instead of this current trend of sending files back and forth. That’s not what being in a band is about.”

Despite his concerns, Box remains passionate about what he does. “Uriah Heep loves being a band. We live for it. After 53 years, what else would I do? As long as we’re healthy, we’ll keep going. Happy days, my friend.”

Last September, Uriah Heep announced their final world tour, The Magician’s Farewell. Set to begin in Birmingham on February 19, the tour is expected to span two to three years across the globe.