Eddie Van Halen’s iconic 1982 Kramer guitar, modeled after his famous "Frankenstein" design, is heading to auction for the first time this October through Sotheby’s, with an expected sale price of $2-3 million. Played during Van Halen’s 1982-83 tours and featured in a memorable Kramer TV commercial, the guitar was later gifted to Eddie's guitar tech, Robin “Rudy” Leiren, with the guitar sporting a personal inscription to Leiren. The instrument was subsequently owned by Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars, who used it on the band’s chart-topping 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood, though the current owner is unknown and has requested anonymity. Ahead of the auction, the guitar will be on display in Monterey, California, with Sotheby’s claiming it will be “the first time the guitar has appeared on public view in 40 years.” The upcoming sale reflects a rising market for Van Halen’s memorabilia, highlighted by the late guitar legend’s original "Frankenstrat" fetching $3.9 million in 2023. (Rolling Stone)

During a new interview for the Grammys, Alice Cooper expressed his interest in voicing a character on The Simpsons. When asked if he would like to be on a future episode of the iconic animated series, the 77-year-old rock legend said, “Oh yeah, absolutely. When The Simpsons came out, they were totally unique. It was really, really funny. I really admired what they were doing.” Cooper has previously made memorable cameo appearances on Family Guy and Wayne’s World, and he recalls that his legendary 1978 appearance on The Muppet Show is still a career highlight. “My favourite thing in the world was being on The Muppet Show,” he said. “I loved the show — it was a very funny show, very clever. That ended up being the reference point to an entire generation, me doing The Muppet Show. It’s amazing, to this day people go, ‘I discovered you on The Muppet Show, and after that I went and got all your albums.’” (NME)

‘80s metal luminaries The Rods are back with Wild Dogs Unchained, a new album that combines reimagined classics from their past with masterfully crafted new songs.Hooks, grooves, crafty, formidable, and rebellious are songwriting attributes that The Rods gladly embrace. On Wild Dogs Unchained, the veteran power trio continues their famed aural assault with songs like “Eyes of a Dreamer” and “Tears for the Innocent,” revealing heretofore unrealized musical melodicism, while re-tooled classics, “Hurricane” and “Wild Dogs Unchained,” percolate with renewed vigor. On Wild Dogs Unchained, the playing is harder, the grooving is heavier, and the singing more soulful than ever before. David “Rock” Feinstein (guitar/vocals), Freddy Villano (bass), and Carl Canedy (drums) have crafted a definitive Rods album aimed at pleasing die-hard fans and new audiences alike. Once again mixed and mastered by Chris Collier, Wild Dogs Unchained flexes considerable musical muscle and builds upon the ironclad sonic template that these three musicians have forged over recent years. Not content to rest on their laurels or their legacy, The Rods are getting tighter, more nuanced, and perhaps even more bludgeoning with age. As Derric Miller at hardrockhaven.net said, “The Rods just pummel you. There’s an insane energy coming from this band.”

Metalopolis Records

Rockshots Records

Ozzy Osbourne died at the age of 76 on July 22nd from a heart attack, according to a death certificate obtained by the New York Times. The certificate, filed by his daughter Amiée, cited the cause of death as "(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes)." In the wake of Osbourne's passing, his family released a statement, saying, "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time." Just weeks prior to his death, Osbourne had performed at what was billed as Black Sabbath's final performance during a festival titled "Back to the Beginning" in his and the band's hometown of Birmingham, England. (Variety)

Vince Neil, the lead vocalist of Mötley Crüe, has returned to the stage for the first time since undergoing an undisclosed medical procedure that forced the band to postpone their Las Vegas residency earlier this year. Neil and his solo band recently performed a gig in Boston, marking his first live appearance in nearly a year. During the show, Neil addressed the audience, acknowledging his recent absence and the uncertainty surrounding his ability to return to the stage. "I had a medical thing that happened to me, and they said I wouldn't be back on stage again. I said, 'Fu-k that, man.' And I'm back and I'm with you guys tonight. And I'm really proud to be here, man." The setlist included various Mötley Crüe classics, and while Neil struggled with some of the higher vocal ranges, fan footage showed him to be physically active. Motley Crue's Vegas residency are now set for September and October. (COS)

Photo: Melinda Clabes

Atom Splitter PR

Photo Credit: Ross Halfin

Canadian melodic rock band Fatal Vision return with a powerful new standalone single, a reimagined version of “If You Ever Get Lonely”, originally recorded by John Waite. Now available on all major streaming platforms, the track showcases Fatal Vision’s ability to breathe new life into a beloved classic while making it distinctly their own.

Capital T Productions

Paul Mario Day, the original vocalist of Iron Maiden and a notable figure in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, has died at 69. Recruited in 1975 by bassist Steve Harris, Day’s brief tenure with Iron Maiden lasted only ten months before he was replaced, due to concerns over his stage presence. “When I sang in Iron Maiden, it was a new pub band and nobody wanted to see or hear them,” Day later recalled. “We were all nobodys all trying to make the best music we could and fighting for an audience.” Though Day isn’t featured on any studio recordings with the group, the singer did claim that he co-wrote “Strange World,” which appeared on Maiden’s 1980 self-titled debut album. After Iron Maiden, Day fronted bands including More and Wildfire, before joining the reformed English glam rock band Sweet in 1985, alongside guitarist Andy Scott and drummer Mick Tucker. “We needed a singer and when Paul arrived for the audition we looked no further,” Scott wrote in a tribute to Day, adding that his “vocal performance has stood the test of time” while expressing his “deepest condolences to his wife Cecily and family and friends. A sad day for all Sweet fans.” (Billboard)

Brace yourselves, A.D.A.M. Music Project's upcoming single "Powered Up" is a sonic juggernaut that tears through the ordinary and rockets you straight into the stratosphere of creativity and adrenaline! This explosive anthem doesn't just nod to the legendary 'MegaMan' video game franchise, it reinvents its spirited legacy in an astonishing fusion of hard rock fury and dazzling electronic brilliance.

📸: Ian Ritter

📸: Juho Virinkoski / Rytmi Visuals

Rock Of Angels Records

Photo: DC