in memory of SHOK PARIS drummer Bill Sabo (1960-2007)

William Sabo (July 26, 1960 - March 16, 2007)

Metal Archives shows that Bill Sabo was a founding member and the original drummer for the Cleveland, Ohio, heavy metal band Shok Paris, and he was with them from 1982 until 1986. His most notable work was playing drums on the band's debut 1984 album Go for the Throat, a cult favorite for fans of the Cleveland sound and of what some German fans call U.S. metal, a blue-collar, gritty type of heavy metal that is hard, tough while melodic.

Shok Paris

Go for the Throat

Auburn Records

1984

1. Marsielles de Sade 02:28

2. Battle Cry 03:02

3. Burn It Down 03:16

4. On a Wing and a Prayer 04:32

5. Chosen Ones 05:13

6. Caged Tiger 03:37

7. Never Say Why 03:30

8. Go for the Throat 03:09

9. Can't Fight the Evil 04:34

10. Run but Don't Hide 04:57

total time 38:18

SHOK PARIS - Battle Cry

in memory of JUDAS PRIEST drummer Les Binks (1951-2025)

James Leslie Binks (July 6, 1951 - Mar 15, 2025)

Les Binks is most famous for playing with Judas Priest from 1977 to 1979. He drummed on the heavy metal classics Stained Class and Killing Machine. Earlier in the 1970s, he played with the bands Fancy and Wizard's Convention. In the early 1980s, he joined Lionheart and recorded the album Rough Justice with Tytan. Later in his career, he played with many different groups like Broken Bones, Raw Glory, and Metalworks. He stayed active in the metal scene by forming his own band, Les Binks' Priesthood, in 2018. He also worked with K.K. Downing in the band KK's Priest between 2019 and 2021. Binks played with many other projects over the years, including Axis Point, The River Gods, and Purple Haze. He drummed right up until his passing on March 15, 2025.

Les played on two legendary Judas Priest studio albums in 1978. The first was Stained Class, famous for the opening song "Exciter," which features Binks' fast drumming. Other songs are "White Heat, Red Hot," "Savage," and the title track "Stained Class." Binks also played on the cover song "Better by You, Better than Me." He helped write the music for the great song "Beyond the Realms of Death." This album ends with the heavy tracks "Saints in Hell," "Invader," and "Heroes End." This is my favorite Judas Priest album of all time!

The second album he recorded that year was Killing Machine, which was released as Hell Bent for Leather in the United States. This album features known songs like "Delivering the Goods," "Rock Forever," and the classic "Hell Bent for Leather." Listen to Les work on "Take On the World" and the melodic song "Evening Star." It's different! The album also includes the tracks "Burnin' Up," "Running Wild," and "Evil Fantasies." Binks showed his range by drumming on the soft ballad "Before the Dawn" as well as the heavy title track "Killing Machine." Both of these albums were highly influential for the younger generations of heavy metal music in Britain itself, and in USA, Canada, Germany and Brazil, and other countries, for both traditional heavy metal bands and thrash bands.

Les also played on the live album Unleashed in the East (1979).

Judas Priest - Exciter (live Japan HD)

Happy birthday to ICED EARTH's Jon Schaffer!

Jon Ryan Schaffer, born Mar 15, 1968

Metal Archives shows that Jon Schaffer started the band in 1984 as The Rose, then as Purgatory and then as Iced Earth by 1988. Jon is the main songwriter and rhythm guitarist, known a sound of fast, galloping riffs, a type of thrash heavy metal with lots of melodies. The albums have focused on a blend of history and fiction. According to Metal Archives, fans consider classics albums like Iced Earth (1990), Night of the Stormrider (1991), The Dark Saga (1996), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998) and Alive in Athens Live album (1999).

Jon Schaffer participated in the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021. He turned himself in. He plead guilty. He was charged with obstructing an official proceeding of Congress and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a dangerous weapon (bear spray that he had with him, but did not use it on anyone). He cooperated with the FBI. In October 2024 a judge sentenced him to three years of probation. Schaffer released a public statement through his lawyers shortly after his sentencing: "I profoundly regret my actions on January 6th, 2021", saying "I’m not excusing my impulsive behavior. I was wrong, and I take ownership of my actions. I own the fact that I made a huge mistake, and I wish I never would have gone there. In fact, the consequences have been devastating of my life, family, friends, business, colleagues and business partners."

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a full pardon to Schaffer on his first day back in office. Metal Archives vindictively labels Jon Schaffer a "terrorist," but the fact of the matter is clear: The federal government never labeled him that, and he was not participating in any terrorist activities nor did he carry out any violent crimes at all. He was classified as a felon for several months between his sentencing in 2024 and his pardon in 2025. Since the 2025 pardon he has no active criminal record for the January 6 events.

Jon converted to Christianity in jail. If you are interested in learning more about Jon's case and his conversion to Christianity, I recommend this interview: "In this interview, Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth, Sons Of Liberty, Schaffer/Barlow Project, and Demons and Wizards) tells his story. This interview covers Jon's origin story all the way through his presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. Jon tells us what really happened on January 6th in Washington DC, about his time in solitary confinement, and what happened to him during this time."

Jon Schaffer - Finally Free

ICED EARTH - Dystopia (OFFICIAL VIDEO) (from Dystopia 2011)

ICED EARTH - Anthem (OFFICIAL VIDEO)from (Dystopia 2011)

Happy Birthday to SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' Mike Muir!

Michael Allen Muir, born Mar 14, 1963

Mike is synonymous with the name of the crossover band Suicidal Tendencies (1981-1995, 1996-present). The band had success with "Institutionalized", a funny music video that was played on MTV, and has spawned countless memes amongst metal fans about a certain soft drink. Their albums, like, How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988), Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like ****... Déjà Vu (1989) and Lights...Camera...Revolution! (1990) have become a type of cult classics for fans of crossover metal music, and helped the band achieve commercial success in the 1980s and 1990s. They continue recording albums and touring today!

Suicidal Tendencies - "Institutionalized" Frontier Records - Official Music Video

Suicidal Tendencies - Trip At The Brain

Suicidal Tendencies - Trip At The Brain

remembering MOTORHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell (1961-2026)

Philip Anthony Campbell (May 7, 1961 - Mar 13, 2026)

Phil Campbell (Wales, U.K.) first notable band was during his time in the British heavy metal band Persian Risk from 1979 to 1984, according to Metal Archives, which also shows that Phil joined Motörhead in 1983. It looks like after he joined Motörhead, both bands went on tour and Phil played with both Persian Risk as the opening band, and then with Motörhead, too. After that, he was only with Motörhead for 31 years until the end in 2015 after the death of Lemmy Kilmister. After Motörhead, he continued on with Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons.

What I want to do at this time is to show a different side of Motörhead with Phil Campbell. Fans know about the fast and furious side of Motörhead, a band that can play punk, heavy metal and thrash, depending on the album, era and specific songs. However, there is another side to their music: the blues. If one collects all the blues songs from their discography, one could easily put two albums together of Motörhead The Blues Band. They always had the blues in their music, starting in the 1970s, and this continued with Phil, too. This is only a handful of examples. This list would be much longer if I listed all the songs that show that the blues was always an element of the Motörhead sound. When Lemmy said that they were not a heavy metal band, that they were a rock and roll band, here was Motörhead trying, throughout the decades, album after album, trying to educate us all on the history of rock and roll music that turned into heavy metal music.

Motörhead - "Just 'Cos You Got the Power" (Eat the Rich single, 1987)

Motörhead - "You Better Run" (March ör Die, 1992)

Motörhead - "Lost in the Ozone" (Bastards, 1993)

Motörhead - "Bad Woman" (Bastards, 1993)

Motörhead - "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" (Bastards, 1993)

Motörhead - "Don't Waste Your Time" (Sacrifice, 1995)

Motörhead - "Whorehouse Blues" (Inferno, 2004)

Motörhead - "Christine" (Kiss of Death, 2006)

Motörhead - "Rock 'n' Roll Music" (The Wörld Is Yours, 2011)

Motörhead - "Lost Woman Blues" (Aftershock, 2013)

Motörhead - "Keep Your Powder Dry" (Aftershock, 2013)

Motörhead - "Dust and Glass" (Aftershock, 2013)

Motörhead - "Till the End" (Bad Magic, 2015)

Overruled - Solitude (Official Track) [thrash from Holland]

I have been listening to the new Overruled recording. I like it. Overruled is a speed thrash metal band from the Netherlands. Their style is fast and sharp. Metal Archives shows that they released an EP in 2013 and a full-length album called Hybris in 2018, and nothing else until now. I do not recall hearing this band before so this is my first time. Sounds good! This new EP is titled Ritual of Rebirth. The tracks on the recording are "Man of Lies," "Darkest Realm," "Solitude," "Ritual of Rebirth," and "Inner Self" (a cover of the second song from Sepultura 1989's classic Beneath the Remains). Overruled is a speed thrash metal record made for headbanging. Their songs are full of awesome metal energy. It is a great piece of fast-paced metal. This EP will be released on No Dust Records on the 27th of March, 2026.

Overruled - Solitude (Official Track)

https://www.facebook.com/Overruledband/

THUNDEROR (Canada) - Get 'Em Counted (Official Video)

After the rocking heavy metal band Thunderor's debut album Fire It Up back in 2022, they began showing where things were going for the future with this song. YouTube shows that this song was released a year ago already in anticipation of the second album, which we now know is titled Bleed for It, scheduled for an April 17th, 2026 release on Boonsdale Records.The track list for the new Thunderor album includes: "Pump Up the Volume" (03:42), "Bleed for It" (04:04), "Take Me to the Show" (04:09), "Get ‘Em Counted" (03:19), "Cape Breton Home" (03:33), "Streets of Fire" (04:16), "One Chance" (03:40), "DreamQuest" (01:29), and "In the Fire o' the Heat" (04:19). The total running time for the album is 32:31.

Check out the music video below, and get ready for some fun heavy metal!

The story of Thunderor so far: Formed in 2020 by multi-JUNO-nominated musicians JJ Tartaglia and Jonny Nesta (also known for their work in Skull Fist), THUNDEROR delivers hook-driven anthems to the caliber set by their arena-rock predecessors, infused with elements of heavy metal, hair metal, and rock opera. Their debut album, FIRE IT UP (2022), charted at #1 on Earshot’s National Loud Chart in Canada, quickly establishing the band as a rising force in the global metal scene. Extensive tours across Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America followed, with Thunderor sharing stages alongside major acts such as Airbourne, U.D.O., Enforcer, and Night Demon.

In May 2024, the single “Get ‘Em Counted” amassed over 230K views on YouTube, further fueling anticipation for the band’s next chapter. In the summer of 2025, Thunderor unveiled Thunderor the Musical at the Toronto Fringe Festival—a bold rock opera production featuring a full cast and unreleased material that now forms the backbone of their forthcoming sophomore album. Set for release in April 2026, the new album will feature the high-energy singles such as “Pump Up The Volume” and "One Chance" that embody the band’s uplifting spirit and theatrical flair. With improved vocals, bigger anthem choruses, and a concept-driven narrative, the record promises to be both a soundtrack to the musical and a standalone heavy metal experience. If you’ve ever felt a longing for escape, a thirst for adventure, wrapped in romance and danger, allow THUNDEROR to be your soundtrack!

THUNDEROR - Get 'Em Counted (Official Video)

https://www.facebook.com/ThunderorOfficial/

Western Washington University metal music club

This is the metal music club at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, USA, on Instagram the @wwudraugrs!

EVERGREY - OXYGEN! (Official Video) | Napalm Records

Video produced and hand-painted by Bellamy Reibeiro ‪@bellamyribeiro‬ Music produced by Tom S. Englund & Vikram Shankar (e.g. Within Temptation & Silent Skies) Music mixed by Adam ”Nolly” Getgood (e.g. Periphery, Sleep Token, Architects)

EVERGREY quotes:

“We’re thrilled to unleash our new single, ‘Oxygen’! This is EVERGREY at our most explosive – almost certainly our heaviest track yet, packed with crushing riffs, vibrant key changes, and soaring melodies that’ll awaken your soul. Lyrically, it embodies the raw, suffocating weight of an inner darkness, yet symbolizes the relentless never-ending war to break free and grasp that fleeting breath of hope. We’ve bled for this one and can’t wait for you to live in its intensity. Because this is us, like you’ve never heard before!”

EVERGREY - OXYGEN! (Official Video) | Napalm Records

EVERGREY - Architects Of The New Weave (Animation Video) | Napalm Records

Evergrey comments on their new song:

"New Album via Napalm Records – Architects of the New Weave Releases June 5, 2026! Architects of the New Weave – It’s a blistering first single from our 15th studio album, Architects of a New Weave (or the second ferocious strike if you're counting our standalone powerhouse Oxygen! as its own beast)! I am not afraid to claim this is a no-brainer, sing along friendly straight up great metal song! It came ignited from Rikard Zander's killer keyboard riff, which we hammered into a short, but massive headbanger! When crafting that chorus keyboard line, Rainbow in the Dark was blasting in my head—pure epic inspiration, giving it that timeless, fist-pumping edge.

The dual guitar solos, trading fire in classic old-school style, melodic and memorable, we can't wait to let this rip live! I'm torn on music videos sometimes—I adore them as an art form, but too often the visuals steal focus from the music itself. So we went bold: a stunning, immersive introduction to Mattias Norén's absolute magnum opus of album artwork. Every tiny, intricate detail comes alive on screen, with the track thundering as the perfect dark soundtrack. It's hypnotic, lets the art breathe, and pulls you deeper into our world - We could've chosen any track from the album as the lead, but this one's the perfect explosive opener to our new era of beautiful darkness. I've never been more fired up. Crank it loud, join the weave, and let's build something unstoppable together!"

EVERGREY - Architects Of The New Weave (Animation Video) | Napalm Records

BERZAN'S NEVERMORE AUDITIONS - SEA OF POSSIBILITIES

Nevermore continues the videos of the new singer: Berzan Önen.

"Sea of Possibilities is the third of five NEVERMORE audition videos from our new vocalist Berzan Önen. This was recorded and submitted in January of 2025 a couple of weeks after the first two. All vocals are done by Berzan (including backing melodies). Subscribe to our channel to ensure you get notified when we release the next one!"

BERZAN'S NEVERMORE AUDITIONS - SEA OF POSSIBILITIES

TESTAMENT - Envy Life 2026 Remastered (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)

"Official remastered track 'Envy Life' from Iconic Bay Area thrash band ‪@Testament‬. The remastered reissue of the band's coveted 1989 album, Practice What You Preach, is out on May 8, 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The Practice What You Preach (2026 Remaster) reissue was remastered by Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound. It will be available digitally and 180G vinyl on Yellow and Orange Swirl with Black Splatter (limited to 1250 worldwide) and is packaged with brand new artwork from Bill Benson (who also designed the original cover art), a 20pg booklet showcasing old photos and documents provided by Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson of the band and newly provided liner notes."

TESTAMENT - Envy Life 2026 Remastered (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)

ARMSTRONG METALFEST - British Columbia, Canada - July 17 and 18, 2026

ARMSTRONG METALFEST - British Columbia, Canada - July 17 and 18, 2026

ARMSTRONG METALFEST is proud to announce their most devastating lineup to date for 2026 with co-headliners RIVERS OF NIHIL and DYING FETUS, along with CYBORG OCTOPUS, INTO ETERNITY, FERVENCE, VINTERSEA, LYCANTHRO, IRON KINGDOM, ODINFIST, ART OF ATTRITION and many more!

The loudest and most extreme music festival returns for its 16th year of delivering British Columbia, Canada’s ultimate mountain mosh pit on July 17 and 18, 2026, at the Hassen Arena in the Okanagan town of Armstrong. Fans can look forward to two full days of moshing, headbanging, thrash wrestling, and camping.

Early bird tickets have already sold out, with advance pre-sale tickets now available until midnight (PST) on July 9th.

Festival passes are available at: https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets/

All prices apply to full weekend passes and are subject to applicable taxes. Each weekend pass grants general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.

Armstrong MetalFest 2026 Lineup:

Friday, July 17th

Rivers of Nihil (Reading, PA)

Cyborg Octopus (San Francisco, CA)

Fervence (Austin, TX)

Nott (Seattle, WA)

Iron Kingdom (Vancouver, BC)

Lycanthro (Ottawa, ON)

W.M.D. (Vancouver, BC)

Syryn (Calgary, AB)

Nameless King (Vancouver, BC

Frosthymn (Calgary, AB)

Die Another Day (Calgary, AB)

Pharm (Kelowna, BC)

Storm the Empire (Kelowna, BC)

Shotgun Divine (Nelson, BC)

Skeksis (Vernon, BC)

Saturday, July 18th

Dying Fetus (Baltimore, MD)

Into Eternity (Regina, SK)

Vintersea (Portland, OR)

Odinfist (Okanagan, BC)

Wych (Calgary, AB)

Art of Attrition (Red Deer, AB)

Fallen Sun (Prince George, BC)

The Judge The Juror (Edmonton, AB)

Brain Stem (Edmonton, AB)

Gregorious (Kamloops, BC)

Empalement (Victoria, BC)

Broken Crow (Kamloops, BC)

Daniel Martin & The Infamous (Edmonton, AB)

The Collapse (Kelowna, BC)

In addition to the performing bands, Armstrong Metal Fest will have the following on-site activities: Yeti Games, Metal Madness Market, and Thrash Wrestling.

Please Note: Camping – RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, a vehicle pass is not required.

About:

Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.

Every year, metalheads from across Canada and the U.S. converge on the scenic Okanagan Valley for three days of camping and two days packed with heavy metal mayhem. Under the blazing summer sun, fans revel in live performances, wrestling spectacles, scavenger hunts, and reconnecting with their extended metal family.

Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners such as Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, Beyond Creation, Born of Osiris, Havok, The Browning, Virvum, and rising stars from across North America and Europe. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.

West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.

Monstrosity - Screams from Beneath the Surface (classic-style death album released today)

Monstrosity

Screams from Beneath the Surface

Metal Blade Records

13 March 2026

If you’re into that classic, old-school Florida death metal sound, in my opinion, Monstrosity is a people’s champ! To me, ever since their awesome 1992 debut album, Monstrosity has been everything that genre fans expect from death metal—the kind of death metal that needs no additional adjectives.

The vocals carry a strength of brutality with no weaknesses; it's a strong, muscular growl that makes fans of old-school death metal drive faster, run faster, mosh harder, or injure themselves at the gym thinking they can bench press 300 pounds.

This is album number seven, and they deliver nothing but straight-up quality. It’s riff after riff of headbanging energy, supported by a rhythm section that works flawlessly. The drumming in Monstrosity has always been a thing that keeps me interested; every album is a clinic in death metal drumming. Wow.

Lastly, even though this is not melodic death metal at all—it’s classic-style, foundational American death metal—there are great guitar solos all over the album. They aren't show-off or self-indulgent; rather, they are fitting solos that complement the songs perfectly. A job well done! I am pleased.

Screams from Beneath the Surface by Monstrosity

Monstrosity - Screams from Beneath the Surface (FULL ALBUM)

Happy birthday to DISTURBED singer David Draiman, born March 13, 1973!

David Michael Draiman (March 13, 1973, New York City, U.S.) is best known as the lead vocalist for the American groove rock heavy metal band Disturbed. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Chicago, he joined the band in 1996 and helped them become one of the most successful rock acts of the 21st century. Draiman is famous for his baritone voice, which goes from aggressive, percussive sounds to melodic and emotional singing. Disturbed's music is heavy, driving grooves with lyrics on personal and social themes. In rock metal world Disturbed is known for hits like "Down with the Sickness." Disturbed got tons of recognition for the cover of "The Sound of Silence."

Disturbed's lineup has remained stable with guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren since the beginning, with bassist John Moyer joining in the early 2000s. The band has achieved much success with a rhythmic, percussive sound: five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200, starting with Believe in 2002.

On the political side, Draiman, who is Jewish and has family members living in Israel, has consistently defended Israel’s right to exist and its role as a necessary refuge for the Jewish people from persecution and violence. He has explained the history of persecution against Jewish people and modern-day Jew-hatred. He has used the stage to call for humanity and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.  He has said that "it doesn’t matter whether you are Israeli or Palestinian," that everyone is welcome at a Disturbed show. In 2025, after Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong made pro-Palestine comments at Coachella, Draiman publicly offered to have an "open and respectful dialogue" to share perspectives without judgment. In various mid-concert speeches, he has stated that while he believes Hamas must be removed, he wishes for a future where "Palestinians and Israelis" can finally live in "prosperous coexistence."

Disturbed - Down With The Sickness (Official Music Video) [HD UPGRADE]

Disturbed - Stupify (Official Music Video) [4K Upgrade]

Disturbed - Indestructible [Official Music Video]

Happy anniversary to Damn Yankees — Damn Yankees (1990)!

Damn Yankees

Damn Yankees

Warner Bros.

March 13, 1990

Damn Yankees is the self-titled debut album by the American hard rock heavy metal supergroup Damn Yankees formed in 1989. Wikipedia shows that the album was certified double platinum in the US. The album sounds like a greatest hits collection, it's filled with ranging from rockers, anthems and ballads and everything in between. The band made music videos for "High Enough", "Come Again", and "Coming of Age". The album, you could say, is American good-time, party rock and roll songs, accompanied by a great abundance of musical skill, experience, knowledge and talent for focused songwriting.

This type of American hard rock heavy metal is what American rock bands have always been the best at when they want to: rocking music that sounds like fun! Damn Yankees makes it look so easy.

The band consisted of bassist and vocalist Jack Blades from Night Ranger, guitarist and vocalist Tommy Shaw from Styx, and guitarist and vocalist Ted Nugent. They were joined by drummer Michael Cartellone, who later joined Lynyrd Skynyrd. Damned Yankees were active in the early 1990s, with a few short reunions in the following years. The band released two studio albums during their main run. Their self-titled debut, Damn Yankees, was released on March 13, 1990. Their second album, Don't Tread, followed on August 11, 1992. The group was known for mixing the melodic rock style of Styx and Night Ranger with the aggressive guitar playing of Ted Nugent. The debut album features ten tracks: "Coming of Age," "Bad Reputation," "Runaway," "High Enough," "Damn Yankees," "Come Again," "Mystified," "Rock City," "Tell Me How You Want It," and "Piledriver."

Damn Yankees - Coming Of Age (Official Video)

Damn Yankees - Come Again (Official Video)

Damn Yankees - High Enough (Official Music Video)

Damn Yankees - Damn Yankees

in memory of metal music author Garry Sharpe-Young (1964–2010)

Garry Sharpe-Young (1964 - Mar 12, 2010)

Garry Sharpe-Young (1964–2010) was an English music journalist and author. He was an expert on heavy metal and hard rock. He founded Rockdetector, which became a massive database for metal bands. He spent decades documenting metal history. At age 14, he created album art, including the cover for Grim Reaper’s See You in Hell. Later, he wrote for magazines like Metal Forces and Aardschok. He launched Rockdetector in 2001. The site eventually listed over 60,000 bands. He wrote detailed biographies based on thousands of interviews. He wanted to document every metal band, including obscure ones.

He wrote more than 20 books. These are now essential guides for fans. Metal: The Definitive Guide (2007) is a 500-page encyclopedia with a foreword by Rob Halford. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (2006) is a detailed biography of Black Sabbath. His A-Z Series covered subgenres like Death Metal, Thrash Metal, and Black Metal. New Wave of American Heavy Metal (2005) chronicled the rise of bands like Lamb of God.

He moved to New Zealand in the early 2000s. He worked as an events manager for the New Plymouth District Council. He helped bring acts like Motörhead and Fleetwood Mac to the area. He died unexpectedly on March 12, 2010, from an aneurysm. He was 45 years old. His death was a major loss to the metal community. He was respected for his accuracy and integrity.

Metal Archives biography: Sharpe-Young started out in the music industry at age 14, creating artwork for album covers, including Grim Reaper‘s See You In Hell and Queensryche‘s Rage For Order. He soon decided that writing about music was his true calling and began working for the fanzine Metal Mania, owned by famed San Francisco DJ Ron Quintana. He went on to write for Aardschok America, then spent seven years working for Metal Forces. He also worked with various records labels as an A&R man, signing new talent. During his lengthy career, he wrote over twenty books, including the 2007 reference manual Metal: The Definitive Guide which featured a foreword by Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, the 2007 thrash encyclopedia Thrash Metal and the unauthorized biographies Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Battle For Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne: The Story of the Ozzy Osbourne Band.

In remembrance of Y&T rhythm guitarist Joey Alves (1954-2017)

Joey Alves (August 3, 1954 – March 12, 2017) was the rhythm guitarist for legendary American hard rock heavy metal band Y&T. He was with the band from 1974 until 1989. He was with the band during their most famous years in the 1980s, performing on classic records like Earthshaker, Black Tiger, Mean Streak, and In Rock We Trust. His final studio appearances with the group were on Down for the Count and Contagious. Additionally, his powerful live playing can be heard on the 1985 live album, Open Fire. Y&T is the most fun hard rock heavy metal rock and roll: the melodies, the riffs, the singing, the catchy songs, and of course, a mighty rhythm section! I am a fan of Y&T and enjoy a ton of their songs across the decades. Y&T has sold over four million albums worldwide. Across five decades, they achieved five Top 100 albums and earned extensive MTV rotation with signature hits like "Summertime Girls," "Mean Streak," and "Don't Stop Runnin'." A powerful band capable of reproducing the sound of their records, they also reached audiences with major songs such as "Rescue Me," "Forever," and "Contagious."

Check out the band live with Joey below. The footage is old, but the reason I'm sharing it is because this is a band that sounds great live. The music sounds great and Y&T singing is something else live. The singing sounds strong in the live setting, and it is not "studio-only" singing. Studio or live, Y&T brings the quality either way. In general, the critics that have written about Y&T, the ones have really listened to the classic albums, they usually consider the following three albums are the classic trilogy during this period with Joey: Earthshaker (1981), Black Tiger (1982) and Mean Streak (1983).

From the band's official website: Joey Alves was born in Oakland, CA and grew up in a small town just south of Oakland called San Lorenzo. He started playing guitar after high school and he was only in one local band before joining up with Dave, Leonard, and Phil in Yesterday & Today. There, Joey set his sights on mastering a new and more aggressive approach to the traditional style of rhythm guitar. He felt fortunate to have always been given the freedom to experiment from his band mates. Still today, as a result of Joey’s efforts, his playing receives countless praise from musicians he has influenced. Joey passed away on March 12, 2017, after battling ulcerative colitis and other health complications.

Biography from the band's official website: Before Mötley Crüe, before RATT, even before there was a Metallica, Y&T was slogging away in sweaty rock clubs around America. When the band formed in the early 1970s, little did they know they would set the standard for hard rock bands that trailed. Many of the biggest acts of the ’80s became popular opening for headliners Y&T—and cut their teeth on the band, as evidenced by the Y&T mentions in tell-all books by acts such as Metallica and Mötley Crüe. Born in Oakland, California, Y&T is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s own innovators of the hard rock sound. Whether performing to a festival crowd of fifty-thousand or in an intimate nightclub, Y&T’s high-energy set and passionate performances still captivate legions of fans around the globe, proving Y&T’s music timeless.

Originally formed as Yesterday and Today, the initial powerhouse quartet—featuring Dave Meniketti (lead guitar/lead vocals), Phil Kennemore (bass), Leonard Haze (drums), and Joey Alves (rhythm guitar)—tore through the ’70s and ’80s with their own brand of hard rock. After two ’70s albums on London Records, they shortened their name to Y&T and released eight albums on A&M in the ’80s. Two more albums with Geffen Records marked an era of change with Jimmy DeGrasso (Alice Cooper, Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeth) on drums and Stef Burns (Alice Cooper, Berlin, Huey Lewis) on guitar. With a discography of 18 albums, three greatest hits collections, plus a boxed set, Y&T has sold over four million albums since their 1974 inception. The band’s most recent single I’m Coming Home has climbed to roughly 1.5 million views on YouTube. Y&T received extensive airplay with hits such as Forever, Rescue Me, Mean Streak, Don’t Stop Runnin’, and Summertime Girls—which played in heavy rotation on MTV. Y&T songs have been featured in a multitude of movies and television shows, including Real Genius, Out of Bounds, Baywatch, and Hunter. After five top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s, two Bammie Awards, and many international television appearances, Y&T’s hits are still played on VH1 Classic and classic rock radio stations worldwide.

With the passing of Kennemore, Haze, and Alves, it’s Meniketti who carries on the legacy that is Y&T. Y&T continues to tour the world, featuring the dynamic original frontman Dave Meniketti (lead guitar/lead vocals), John Nymann (guitar/vocals), Aaron Leigh (bass/vocals), and Mike Vanderhule (drums/vocals), playing songs that span the band’s five-decade career and including all the hits and fan favorites. Prepare to have your face melted.

Y&T - Don't Stop Running (Live 1985)

Y&T - Black Tiger - Reading Festival 1982

Y & T Mean Streak and Midnight in Tokyo Live ‘80s

In Memory of IRON DRUMMER Clive Burr (1957-2013)

Clive Ronald Burr (March 8, 1957 - March 12, 2013)

Clive Burr was the drummer for Iron Maiden during their early years, playing on their first three albums: Iron Maiden, Killers, and The Number of the Beast. He joined in 1979 and brought a unique style that mixed fast energy with heavy metal precision. His drumming on famous songs like "Run to the Hills" provided the fast, galloping rhythm that became a trademark of the band’s legendary sound. His is considered an important reason why Iron Maiden achieved their sound. He matched the band’s fast bass lines and added his own creative fills, and these are traits that fans and musicians have noticed after listening carefully to his drumming on those albums. In my opinion, there is a certail style, a personal touch, a specific way of playing that I hear in Clive's drumming that is unique to him for those songs. I am not a musician, so I cannot give music theory explanations, but if you listen to the way he plays, you'll notice the energy, the action of his hands and feet, and what he does, the small touches, and details like that is unique to Maiden with Clive on drums.

All the following information comes from Wikipedia: Previously a member of Samson, Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979. Auditioning and joining upon the recommendation of then-Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton, Burr played on their first three records: Iron Maiden, Killers and their breakthrough release The Number of the Beast, the last of which was the Maiden debut of Bruce Dickinson. Burr was fired from the band in 1982 during The Beast on the Road tour. He was replaced by the band's now retired drummer, Nicko McBrain. Burr co-wrote one song on The Number of the Beast, "Gangland", and another song, "Total Eclipse", that was cut from the album and showed up as the B-side of the "Run to the Hills" single, and later on the Number of the Beast remastered CD re-release, and again on the 2022 40th Anniversary record, where it replaced Gangland. Burr also appeared on "The Number of the Beast", "Run to the Hills" and "Women in Uniform" (a cover of the Australian band Skyhooks).

In an interview with Classic Rock in February 2011, Burr candidly discussed his split from Maiden. Describing much of what has been written about the split as "hogwash", Burr indicated that he was ousted from the band after taking a break to mourn the recent death of his father, rebutting claims that his departure was due to overindulgence. Bruce Dickinson's 2017 autobiography suggests Burr was ousted due to personality conflicts with Steve Harris which led to the two arguing and acting out during performances.

After "leaving" Iron Maiden, Burr briefly played in the French group Trust, thus switching places with McBrain, and briefly with the American band Alcatrazz. Burr was featured in the short-lived NWOBHM supergroup Gogmagog which also included ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno and future Maiden guitarist Janick Gers, ex Whitesnake bassist Neil Murray and ex Def Leppard guitarist Pete Willis. He also had a band known as Clive Burr's Escape (later known as Stratus), featuring former Praying Mantis members and future Uriah Heep vocalist Bernie Shaw, which disbanded after releasing one album. Burr then joined Dee Snider in his post-Twisted Sister outfit Desperado, which was never fully realized due to a falling out with the band's record company. Burr performed with British bands Elixir and Praying Mantis in the 1990s and appears on the Praying Mantis 1996 live album "Captured Alive in Tokyo City", but did not become a full member of either.

Burr's signature white drum kit was donated to the Hard Rock Cafe in London in 2005.

Illness: Burr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the late 1990s, the treatment of which left him deeply in debt. Iron Maiden staged a series of charity concerts and were involved in the founding of the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund. Burr used a wheelchair due to his condition. He was also the patron of Clive Aid, a charity formed in 2004. Clive Aid has continued to raise awareness and funds for various cancer and MS programs around the world through the staging of rock events. Burr attended many of these events. His partner Mimi was also diagnosed with MS.

Death: Burr died in his sleep on 12 March 2013 in London due to complications related to MS. In a statement released on the band's website Iron Maiden bass player Steve Harris stated "This is terribly sad news. Clive was a very old friend of all of us. He was a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out. This is a sad day for everyone in the band and those around him and our thoughts and condolences are with his partner Mimi and family at this time." Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson stated "Even during the darkest days of his M.S., Clive never lost his sense of humour or irreverence." A funeral service was held for Burr on 25 March 2013 at the City of London Crematorium.

Legacy: Burr's style was influential on many heavy metal drummers. Dave Lombardo, known for his work with bands such as Slayer, Grip Inc., Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies and Testament stated that "his style was inspiring and the albums he recorded with Iron Maiden are touchstones of my music education". Charlie Benante of Anthrax said: "the drumming on 'Killers' inspired me to kick it up a notch and I did." According to Dave McClain, former drummer for Machine Head, who considers Burr a huge influence, he "brought punk rock drumming into heavy metal".

Other drummers like Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Paul Bostaph (Slayer, Exodus, Testament), Stefan Schwarzmann (Helloween, Krokus), Chris Reifert (Death, Autopsy), Steve Asheim (Deicide), Jan Axel Blomberg (Mayhem), Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall) and Richard Christy (Iced Earth, Death, Charred Walls of the Damned) also cited Burr as an influence. Jeff Waters, guitarist and leader of Annihilator, regards his drumming as an inspiration on the drum parts he writes for his band.

Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson considered him to be "...the best drummer the band ever had. That's not taking anything away from [present drummer] Nicko. Technically, Nicko's probably a far more competent drummer than Clive. It's just that Clive had this incredible feel, and you can't learn that, and I regret that he wasn't given more time to try and sort himself out." Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith also praised his drumming ability. "Clive was a great drummer, an Ian Paice-type drummer, steady and solid with a nice feel to everything."

In a tribute article posted by Rolling Stone the day after Burr's passing, writer Greg Prato pointed out that "It was Burr's drumming that proved a major ingredient on such early Maiden classics as 1980's self-titled debut, 1981's Killers and 1982's The Number of the Beast, and such headbanging anthems as 'Running Free,' 'Wrathchild' and 'Run to the Hills'."

Genghis Khan - Iron Maiden (Maiden Japan - 1981)

Killers - Iron Maiden (Maiden Japan 1981)

Happy birthday to GAMMA RAY/HELLOWEEN drummer Uli Kusch, born March 11, 1967

In my opinion, drummer Uli Kusch is most known for his years with Gamma Ray (1990-1992) and Helloween (1994-2001), but he has done so much more work that I don't know, and it only takes a look at Metal Archives to see what I mean.

For metal music fans, the first notable name for Uli is drumming for cult thrash band Holy Moses from 1986 to 1990. During this time, he performed on the album Finished with the Dogs and the Road Crew EP. For the 1989 album The New Machine of Liechtenstein, he played drums, sang backing vocals, and helped write the songs. He finished his time with the band by recording the World Chaos album. Of the three albums, Finished with the Dogs is probably the most well liked, I would say. Uli played drums for Gamma Ray from 1990 to 1992. He played on the Heaven Can Wait EP and the Sigh No More album. He also appeared in the Heading for the East video. From 1994 to 2001, he was the drummer for Helloween. This was a very productive time. He played on Master of the Rings and The Time of the Oath, both albums saw the band getting back on track, especially the latter with the band embracing power metal again. He was also on Better Than Raw and The Dark Ride, two awesome albums.

In 2001, he helped start the band Masterplan. He stayed with them until 2006. During those years, he played drums on their first self-titled album and the successful follow-up, Aeronautics, this last one being a personal favorite of mine and gets a high recommendation from me. He also played on two of their EPs, Enlighten Me and Back for My Life. Uli also had a long history with the technical band Mekong Delta. Early in his career, he used the name "Patrick Duval" to play drums on the song "The Gnom" from the album The Music of Erich Zann. Many years later, he returned to the group to play drums on the 2007 album Lurking Fear.

So, yes, lots of metal music drumming! Metal Archives shows that he now lives in Norway and drums for Angels of Attack, a band that I do not know.

Holy Moses - Finished With the Dogs

Helloween - Push live (4)

Gamma Ray - Heaven Can Wait (Live) - From the 'Heading For The East' tour 1990

Masterplan - Falling Sparrow

Masterplan - Wounds

Happy anniversary to TED NUGENT's Live at Hammersmith '79!!

Ted Nugent

Live at Hammersmith '79

March 11, 1997

According to Wikipedia: "Live at Hammersmith '79 is a live album by American rock musician Ted Nugent, consisting of a performance originally broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour, recorded during the second set of a sold-out night at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1979 and not released until 1997."

The energy on this live recording is totally insane! The music was recorded during a sold-out concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on May 9, 1979. The album is wild, with longer, loud versions of his biggest hits up until that time: "Stormtroopin'," "Just What the Doctor Ordered," "Free-for-All," "Dog Eat Dog," "Cat Scratch Fever," "Need You Bad," "Paralyzed," "It Don't Matter," an eight-minute version of "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang." It ends with two epic performances that last over ten minutes each, "Stranglehold" and "Motor City Madhouse," and then finishes with "Gonzo."

This recording was for the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio program. These types of recordings were for radio broadcasts, and they were typically recorded with very little room for the post-production magic used on major label "live" albums of the era. Ted Nugent and the band sound great: Cliff Davies on drums, Dave Kiswiney on bass, and Charlie Huhn on guitar and vocals. In my opinion, if you prefer the live aspect of in-concert recordings, then you may enjoy this raw, potty-mouth, raucous album for fans of no-holds-barred late 1970s American hard rock heavy metal music. Finally, for your information, there is cursing on this album, and it's a real Ted Nugent show from this great era. There is tons of potty-mouth humor banter between the songs. Super sensitive, politically-correct audiences may not enjoy this humor. Besides that little for-your-information warning, the album is guaranteed to please fans of late 70s hard-driving, uptempo, all-out rock and roll. I think Ted and the boys sound great on this recording.

Ted Nugent - Just What The Doctor Ordered (Live)