Dee Snider recently shared his perspective on what makes a ‘great frontman’ in a post on X. When asked if Robert Plant was the ‘greatest frontman of all time,’ Snider replied:
“Nope. Amazing singer. But great frontman? He barely spoke to the crowd. ‘Does anybody remember laughter?’ James Brown is the greatest of all time!”
A user suggested David Lee Roth as another great frontman but criticized his singing abilities, stating, ‘when you have Eddie Van Halen on stage with you, you could be a mute and make it work.’ Snider responded:
“Like I said: singing and fronting are separate things! DLR was a great FM.”
Snider’s Thought Process
Snider’s views on frontmen have stirred debate on social media. In a previous interview with Ultimate Guitar, he clarified his stance:
“When I said they weren’t great frontmen, everybody thought, ‘Here’s Dee shooting his mouth off again.’ But I’ve actually put a lot of thought into it. This wasn’t an arbitrary statement. I researched and studied the subject thoroughly.”
He elaborated on the distinction between singing and fronting:
“A frontman doesn’t need to sing well but must engage and entertain the audience. A frontman who wows the crowd with their incredible voice entertains in a different way, but it’s not the same as a full-scale performance.”
Snider acknowledged Plant’s vocal talent but emphasized that showmanship is his forte:
“Plant is an incredible singer, but showmanship—that’s what I do well.”
In a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar’s Justin Beckner, Nita Strauss shared her vision for her upcoming albums.
When asked about potential collaborators for future projects, the guitarist expressed her desire to explore diverse musical directions:
“On the next record, I want to push further in both directions. I’d love to do something more mainstream, perhaps with someone like Demi [Lovato] or Pink, which would be a dream come true. At the same time, I want to delve into heavier music, as that’s what I personally enjoy listening to.”
Strauss’s Upcoming Projects
Although Strauss released her latest solo album, ‘The Call of the Void,’ last year, she is already contemplating her next project. She explained her eagerness to maintain her momentum:
“I don’t want to lose the momentum from this album. It was five years between ‘Controlled Chaos’ and ‘The Call of the Void,’ and I don’t want to wait another five years. It’s been challenging to come up with concrete ideas since I’ve been constantly on the road. I started touring a month before the album came out and haven’t had more than two weeks at home since then. It’s been nearly a year, so finding time to be creative has been tough, but I’m determined to make it happen.”
Nita’s Previous Collaboration with Demi Lovato
Nita’s interest in collaborating with Demi Lovato aligns with their past work together. In March, she spoke with Backstage Pass Rock-News about her experience touring with Lovato:
“It wasn’t as different as you might think. Demi is a total rock star and wanted to go in a heavier direction with her new music. She released a great rock album in 2022 called ‘Holy Fvck’ and put together an amazing all-female band to tour with. It was similar to other rock tours I’ve done because it was a rock show.”
Touring Plans
Nita concluded her North American tour on March 29 in Leander, Texas. She is set to join Alice Cooper for his summer 2024 tour, continuing her journey on the road throughout the summer and fall.
In a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar, Van Halen’s bassist Michael Anthony discussed Alex Van Halen decision to sell his gear and instruments.
During the interview, Anthony was asked about his current contact with the drummer and any insights into why Alex no longer wants to perform music. He expressed his surprise upon hearing the news:
“I was quite shocked when I heard about the auction he’s planning for early June. Someone sent me the link, and it looks like he’s selling everything, right down to his last drumstick. Honestly, I have no idea why he’s doing it.”
Anthony speculated on the possible reasons behind Alex’s decision:
“I know he’s still deeply mourning Eddie’s passing. Eddie was pretty much the only person Alex ever played music with.”
He elaborated on why Alex might be parting with his gear:
“I never knew Alex to be the type to jam with others or join different bands unless Eddie was involved. Maybe he feels that with his brother gone, he has no desire to play music anymore. But that’s just my guess. When I found out about the auction and looked into it, it was pretty sad. It seems like it’s truly the end of any potential tribute events.”
What Is Alex Van Halen Selling?
The collection includes over 350 lots featuring various memorabilia such as drum kits, snare drums, kick drums, road cases, drumheads, cymbals, gongs, sticks and mallets, personal items, record awards, autographed pieces, and more. Each item comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Alex.
Notable items in the collection include the iconic ‘5150’ tour kit, the 2015 final tour kit, vintage RIAA record awards, rare rosewood snare drums, gongs, an early band kick drum, and a piano from the Van Halen family home.
The auction began on June 1 and will conclude on June 9.
In a recent interview with Q104.3, Kerry King discussed how Slayer’s upcoming reunion gigs came to be, five years after their farewell tour. He explained the rationale behind the reunion:
“I’ll put it in a way everyone can understand. We’ve been turning down offers since the start of 2020, pandemic and all. As the five-year anniversary of our last tour approached, I thought, ‘You know what? This three-show package could be fun.’ It’s a sort of anniversary celebration of our final tour.”
King then addressed the future of the band, sharing news that may disappoint Slayer fans:
“We’re never going to tour again — that’s off the table. We’re not going to record new music either. But doing these commemorative shows seems like a fun idea. It’s not a long-term commitment. Fans don’t need to worry about a tour because we promised we wouldn’t do that. There’s no hidden agenda here. People should just see it as anniversary celebration shows. That’s all it is.”
‘Don’t Get Used To It’
Last month, King talked about Slayer’s comeback in an interview with Andrew Daly at ClassicRockHistory. When asked about his thoughts on the reunion gigs, King replied:
“It’s not really much different at all. Same heads, same cabs, same pedals, same guitars. There will be a lot of fire when Slayer plays, and I think these shows will be fun. It’ll be great to play with Gary Holt for a few gigs; I haven’t seen him in almost five years, so that will be cool. And it’ll be cool to get together with Tom Araya and spit some hate at people, but don’t get used to this being a yearly event.”
King also reassured his solo band that the Slayer reunion shows were a one-time event, emphasizing that his solo project wouldn’t undergo constant lineup changes and that they would remain part of the band for as long as they wished.
Slayer is set to perform at the Aftershock, Riot Fest, and Louder Than Life festivals this September and October.
Nikki Sixx, bassist for Mötley Crüe, recently provided updates on potential collaborations and his former band Sixx: A.M. during a Q&A on social media platform X.
When asked by a fan about the likelihood of a tour with Guns N’ Roses, referencing past comments about such a tour being exciting, Sixx replied:
“No plans at this point. Hopefully in 2025.”
In response to another fan inquiring about the activities of his former Sixx: A.M. bandmates, Sixx briefly stated:
“They are making music.”
A Tour with Guns N’ Roses Was Once Considered
Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses have a history of touring together, with the latter opening for Crüe during the promotion of their 1987 debut album, *Appetite for Destruction*. However, tensions arose between the bands, particularly due to a feud involving Vince Neil and Izzy Stradlin, which extended to Axl Rose.
Decades later, with Slash and Duff McKagan rejoining Guns N’ Roses in 2016 and Mötley Crüe coming out of retirement for a tour with Def Leppard in 2022, discussions of a joint tour resurfaced. Unfortunately, it didn’t come to fruition. Sixx had previously explained on Twitter:
“We tried. It just didn’t work out for now. Would be a great tour. You never know.”
Fans remain hopeful that the tour might still happen in the future.
Frank Bello has recently signed on with Satyricon for their upcoming European tour, while Dan Lilker steps in to fill his shoes in Anthrax. In a recent conversation with Finland’s Chaoszine, Lilker discussed whether Bello’s summer plans would lead to more gigs with Anthrax:
“I think it’s just a temporary situation since Anthrax had no summer plans anyway. They weren’t scheduled for the Euro festivals or anything. So, during the summer, everyone in Anthrax would pursue their own projects. I believe Frank had planned this all along.”
He further commented:
“It’s amusing because I know Satyricon from the Norwegian scene. Scott mentioned that Frank might do something like this. I was a bit surprised, but Satyricon has evolved from their grim, dark roots to more of a dark rock and roll vibe. I think that’s cool, and Frank will be great. He’s a fantastic bass player.”
Bello’s Summer with Satyricon
Satyricon announced via Instagram that Bello would be joining them for several summer festivals. They shared a photo of Bello and detailed their schedule:
“There is smoke in the chimney at the Satyricon HQ every day. Next week we will fire up the engine again, starting at Sweden Rock and Mystic Festival. From there we go to Hellfest, Tons of Rock, ARTmania Festival, Grieghallen/Beyond the Gates (two nights in a row), Brutal Assault, Helsinki Metal Festival, Alcatraz Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, and finally Næstved Metal Fest.”
The post continued:
“In November, we come to Latin America. We look forward to seeing all Satyricon Ultras across the world again. If we’re not playing anywhere near you, maybe you will travel to see us; if not, we will meet later someday. This is going to be THE summer!”
The shows kick off on June 8 at the Mystic Festival in Poland.
Lilker’s Return to Anthrax After Four Decades
Earlier this year, Frank Bello stepped back from Anthrax for personal reasons. Dan Lilker, Anthrax’s original bassist, joined the band for their South American tour, starting on April 13 at MXMF The Metal Fest in Mexico City. Reflecting on his return after 40 years, Lilker said:
“I think it went pretty well. I had about five weeks’ notice to learn the setlist, and a few songs were already familiar to me. The crowd reactions were great, and the tour organization was very professional. It’s nice not to worry about logistics like baggage claim.”
He added:
“Overall, it was a positive experience. It was fun playing those songs again, and I think the fans enjoyed it too.”
Anthrax is also slated to perform at the Louder Than Life and Aftershock festivals this fall, followed by a UK and European tour in November.
Sebastian Bach has taken a swipe at his former bandmates in SKID ROW, branding them as “f**** a****” and accusing them of having cycled through nine vocalists since his exit.
During his solo performance last night (Tuesday, June 4) at Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, Michigan, the 56-year-old singer lashed out when a fan shouted “SKID ROW.” Bach retorted, “Yeah, that’s the band that kicked me out. Yeah, killer. Great.”
Later in the set, Bach singled out a fan wearing a SKID ROW shirt from an era that did not include him. Pointing to the shirt, he sarcastically remarked, “I’m fascinated by this shirt right here. Which singer is that? Seven? Eight? Nine? How do you even wear that? It’s ridiculous. Is that the guys from DRAGONFORCE or TNT? F** embarrassing.”
Footage of Bach’s comments was shared by The Video Vault.
Detroit photographer Brandon Nagy, covering the event for 106.7 WLLZ, posted a few photos and noted, “Last time I covered his show, he had a tantrum and kicked all the photographers out. So I stayed on the upper level this time. But he still interrupted his show to pick on people wearing SKID ROW shirts.”
In an interview with Joe Rock of 102.3 WBAB, Bach discussed the possibility of a SKID ROW reunion. He mentioned, “I do think it could happen, but it’s not up to me. They’re on their eighth or ninth replacement for me. There’s been a miscommunication I need to clear up, but right now, I’m focused on my career. I’ve got a new song on the radio, ‘What Do I Got To Lose?’ and it’s doing well. I’m not thinking about 1989 or 1991. I’m excited about new music and how people are reacting to it.”
Conversely, SKID ROW guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo ruled out a reunion with Bach in a recent podcast. “It’s not gonna happen. We’re happy with the way things are. It’s about being content with our situation. Rachel [Bolan] has taken the blame over the years, but it’s been a collective decision not to go back. We’ve been offered a lot of money, but our happiness is more important.”
The band’s current frontman, Erik Grönwall, recently left due to health issues related to leukemia. Bach hinted that there’s been some miscommunication preventing a reunion. “I found out something at the last KISS show that needs to be clarified. I need to communicate with them, but right now, I’m too busy with my new album and tour.”
Despite Bach’s apparent interest in a reunion, Sabo emphasized that the decision is about maintaining peace and happiness within the band. “We’ve been ripped apart by ex-members. We just want to play music and be happy. It’s not about the money. We want to keep our lives in balance.”
Bach, who was fired from SKID ROW in 1996, also expressed his ongoing frustrations during a Q&A session on The 80s Cruise, suggesting that a therapist might help resolve the issues. “There’s no reason we’re not together. I play with everyone else. Maybe a therapist could help us get back together.”
Bach’s desire for a reunion is tempered by the realities of past conflicts and a busy current schedule, but his enthusiasm for the idea remains evident.
VIXEN and singer Lorraine Lewis have gone their separate ways, marking a shift in the band’s trajectory.
Lewis took to her social media earlier today to share the news, expressing gratitude to the VIXEN Tribe and fans while hinting at forthcoming Rock & Roll endeavors. She reminisced about her time with the band since stepping into the spotlight in 2019, emphasizing the cherished memories and experiences she’s had. Lewis assured her followers that this isn’t the end of her musical journey and promised to continue rocking out with them in the future.
The departure of Lewis follows her recruitment in January 2019 as the replacement for Janet Gardner, who had been recuperating from surgery. Lewis had already showcased her talents with VIXEN in March 2018, filling in during Gardner’s absence.
Before Lewis’s tenure, VIXEN’s core members—drummer Roxy Petrucci, bassist Share Ross, and guitarist Britt Lightning—pledged to honor the band’s legacy while staying true to their musical roots. The classic lineup of VIXEN includes Gardner, Petrucci, and Ross, alongside founding guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, who sadly passed away in October 2013.
Gardner, a pivotal figure in VIXEN’s history, lent her vocals to the band’s most successful studio albums, including “Vixen” (1988), “Rev It Up” (1990), and “Tangerine” (1998), as well as their latest live album, “Live Fire” (2018).
In Ross’s absence, Julia Lage, formerly of the Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian rock group BARRA DE SAIA and spouse of Richie Kotzen, stepped in as her replacement. Lage made her debut with VIXEN in February 2022 at the pre-Monsters Of Rock cruise concert in Miami, Florida.
Despite the lineup changes, VIXEN remained active, dropping a new single titled “Red” last year. The track, penned and produced by CINDERELLA drummer Fred Coury, received visual treatment in the form of an official music video directed by Drew Johnston and Vicente Cordero, with editing by Ryan Conion.
The band has teamed up with Corey Feldman to promote their upcoming ‘Loserville Tour,’ which will feature performances by actor-singer Feldman, rapper Bones, N8NOFACE, and Riff Raff.
In a promotional video, frontman Fred Durst explained the inspiration behind the tour:
“To be honest, this was just a fantasy, a dream. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I write down my dreams and my fantasies. I must have called my good friend and producer Eric, saying, ‘Hey, I want all these artists to come together, let’s bond, and see what we’re getting ourselves into.’”
The video kicks off with chaos as Riff Raff runs around worrying about snacks and waiting for his scooter, Borland demands specific bananas, and Feldman insists on having his stone-faced bodyguard.
Throughout the 17-minute video, Durst and Wes Borland attempt to interview their tourmates, leading to increasingly out-of-control situations.
The video has been labeled ‘ridiculous,’ ‘cringe,’ and ‘hilarious’ by various news sources, and Durst himself acknowledges the absurdity. He believes that anyone attending the tour will be in for a wild experience:
“If anyone comes to this tour, they are in the wrong place at the right time. This is absolutely a gathering of losers.”
In a new video from his ‘Spirit Campfire’ series on YouTube, Nugent outlined the essentials that define a ‘real man.’
“Ted Nugent Spirit Campfire is about rugged individualism, effervescent masculinity, being a good provider and protector of family. That includes always having a fire extinguisher in all your vehicles, a tool belt, a pocketknife, a handkerchief, reading glasses, a lighter, and a pen.”
Nugent emphasized the importance of being prepared and identified one item that he believes is essential:
“I mean be prepared. Every time somebody goes, ‘Anybody got a pen?’ I got a pen. ‘Anybody got a lighter?’ I got a lighter. Somebody cuts themselves and they’re going to die from hemorrhaging bleeding, I got my large neckerchief and I’ve saved lives when I carry handkerchief. By the way, all you guys out there if you don’t have a clean handkerchief, you’re not a real man. That’s a brash thing to say but my dad always checked before I left the house, ‘Do you have a clean handkerchief?’”
Nugent’s ‘Spirit Campfire’ is co-hosted by ESPN’s John Brenkus and features insights into musical influences, humorous stories, memorable moments, and a variety of guests. The show debuted in June 2020.
Describing the show, Nugent highlighted its commitment to ‘honest communication’ and the adventure it offers:
“My American Dream has been enhanced and throttled by uninhibited, non-filtered honest communication on all levels forever, and the ‘Ted Nugent Spirit Campfire’ exemplifies this openness and positive spiritual and intellectual adventure. It’s the physics of spirituality with attitude. We’re having a damn rock ‘n’ roll riot here.”
