Photo Credit: Jansku - Love Is Punk Studio

📸: Caike Scheffer

John 5 is getting set to open his personal Kiss museum in May, which will showcase over 2,500 Kiss memorabilia items, such as Gene Simmons' last known boots from the Destroyer era and his iconic '74 tour outfit. The display – which John has dubbed The Knights In Satan’s Service Museum – will offer tours that will be headed by the Mötley Crüe guitarist himself, with the collection reflecting his lifelong passion for accumulating and documenting Kiss history, including tickets, records, magazines, and exclusive memorabilia. "It's taken an absolute lifetime to do this," John says of his project. "I started collecting when I was a kid, but when I decided to do a museum, it's taken a couple of years, just putting it together. It's a lot of work and it's been overwhelming, but I'm really happy." Amidst preparations for the museum opening, he is also gearing up for the release of a new John 5 and the Creatures album, Deviant, in October, along with upcoming tour commitments with both the Creatures and Mötley Crüe, who launch their Las Vegas residency in September. 

Promo picture by Adam Björk

Kiss drummer Peter Criss has announced the upcoming release of his new solo album this fall, marking his first record since 2007's One for All. “I want to let the Kiss Army and all my rock fans know that my new ‘rock’ album will be coming out this fall,” Criss shared with Rolling Stone. “I’ve got some really great players on it: Michael McLaughlin, John 5 on lead and rhythm guitar, Billy Sheehan, Piggy D [Matt Montgomery] on bass, and Paul Shaffer on B3 and piano. I am on vocals, drums and percussion.” Criss co-produced the album with Barry Pointer, with the drummer adding about the project, “I had an absolute blast doing this album, and everyone was so much fun to work with — they were just amazing.” Criss was the original drummer of Kiss, and co-wrote and sang their 1976 worldwide hit “Beth.” He left the group in 1982 and released several solo records before reuniting with Kiss in 1996,  before ultimately departing again in 2004.

📸: Olle Melkerhed Production

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Cassidy Paris is thrilled to share her new single and accompanying music video, “Butterfly”

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📸: Jasmin Burfeindt & Mark Fox

Photo by DC (FB/IG @theshowwithdc)

Photo by DC (@theshowwithdc FB/IG)

📸: Mikkel Laumann

Info courtesy of Frontiers Records SRL

Information from Freeman Promotions and Frontiers Music SRL

From Scream For Existence PR

Info from Dustin Hardman Promotions and Rock of Angels Records

On Tuesday (April 15), Judas Priest and Alice Cooper announced that they are teaming up for a highly anticipated co-headlining tour of North America. The hard rocking run will hit 22 cities from late summer through fall, beginning on September 16 in Biloxi, Mississippi, and concluding on October 26 in Houston. North Carolina heavy metal legends Corrosion of Conformity will join the tour as a support act for all dates except the September 18 show in Alpharetta, Georgia. Artist presale for the tour starts on Wednesday (April 16), with general on-sale beginning on Friday (April 18). The tour news followed the passing of former Judas Priest drummer Les Binks, who was a pivotal member during his short stint with the band and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. While Judas Priest recently released their 19th album, Invincible Shield, Alice Cooper is set to head off on a solo Too Close for Comfort Tour this summer in support of his 2023 album, Road. 

FORMOSA will start their hot Germany tour in a few days! Together with the Massive Wagons from the UK, the boys from Essen jump on the German stages. The band is the support a total of six times, but also two other tour dates are announced for the summer. Among other things, the self-founded FORMOSA beer festival in the hometown of Essen. With home-brewed FORMOSA beer from guitarist/brewer Nik Beer!

📸: Patric Ullaeus

There's been speculation behind closed doors for some time, and at long last it's official: American hard rock legends Hardline, helmed by outstanding vocalist Johnny Gioeli (also frontman of the Axel Rudi Pell Band), have signed with Steamhammer/SPV.The five-piece act is currently working on new material for its upcoming studio album, scheduled to be released in spring 2026, to be followed by two headlining tours of Europe, including a number of shows at major summer festivals."The time is right, not just for a new album, but also for a complete restart, not least with the support of an ambitious record company that's always been 100 percent behind its bands," explains Gioeli. "I've known SPV for over 25 years and appreciate how committed they are to their work. They always give their all for their artists. I'm looking forward to working with them and can't wait to start recording our new album in spring 2025."Gioeli promises his fans an album that couldn't be more typical of Hardline, commenting: "We've always had our own, unmistakable sound, that characteristic Hardline style, and that’s definitely not about to change. There will be no half-hearted experiments with me and my bandmates Alessandro Del Vecchio (keyboards), Luca Princiotta (guitars), Anna Portalupi (bass), and Marco Di Salvia (drums), everyone will get what they've come to expect from this band and have been familiar with since our '92 debut classic Double Eclipse. We'll get back to our children!"Steamhammer label manager Olly Hahn is also delighted with this successful coup and looks forward to a promising collaboration: "Obviously, there's no need to explicitly go into Johnny Gioeli's great qualities as a singer with Axel Rudi Pell, and he's just as fantastic with his own band. Hardline stands for consistent excellence in the melodic rock genre, and I'm happy that this band is now part of the Steamhammer family!"HARDLINE LIVE 2025:5/3 — SK, Bratislava — Randal Club5/4 — AT, Vienna — Szene5/27 — IT, Bologna — Alchemica Music Club5/28 — IT, Milano — legend Club6/6 — SE, Sölvesborg — Sweden Rock Festival6/8 — ES, Villena Alicante — Leyendas Del Rock9/20 — CH, Tennwil — Rocknacht Festival

Photo Credit: Lana Gonch

Info from Freeman Promotions / 📸: Enzo Mazzeo

Photo by Leah Chris

📸: Nathersson

Photo by Amy Harris

Mötley Crüe has been forced to cancel a scheduled appearance at Boardwalk Rock Festival in Ocean City, Maryland, on May 17, as singer Vince Neil continues to deal with his ongoing health concerns.  Last month, the hard rock legends had to postpone their Las Vegas residency from its originally scheduled run from March 28 to April 19, 2025 to September 2025. The Crüe was scheduled to co-headline the Boardwalk festival with Def Leppard, and they will now be replaced by Alice in Chains, while Nickelback and Shinedown remain as Sunday co-headliners. A statement by the band reveals that “Vince Neil is recuperating after a required medical procedure advised by the doctors. Vince's health comes first, and we fully support him in prioritizing his recovery.” The group apologized to their fans for the cancellation, while thanking Alice In Chains for taking their place, saying they are "immensely grateful to them for stepping up and bringing their awesome show to Boardwalk Rock."

Ahead of Black Sabbath’s final concert on July 5, Ozzy Osbourne’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne said she is open to the possibility of a future hologram show from the metal legends akin to ABBA Voyage. In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Sharon was asked if she would ever consider a Sabbath hologram show. “Sure I would, yeah,” she said. “Technology keeps moving on and on. You can do incredible things now, so what you could do in five years will be even better. You never know what the opportunities are.” As for the actual Black Sabbath, Sharon is thrilled that all four original band members will perform, especially drummer Bill Ward. “I always say they’ve got that invisible connection between the four of them, and he’s gonna be there, which is amazing,” she said. “I’m not going to bulls**t you and say we’re the best of friends. We’re not. We are such different people. But I respect Bill so much, and I’m so happy that he has agreed to come, for the band and for the fans.” 

PHOTO CREDIT: Marcel Karlsson

Photo Credit: Javi Ender Revan

Swedish supergroup Ginevra - comprised of vocalist Kristian Fyhr (Seventh Crystal), guitarist Magnus Karlsson (The Ferrymen, Primal Fear), bassist Jimmy Jay (H.E.A.T.), and drummer Magnus Ulfstedt (ex-Eclipse, Nordic Union) – are thrilled to release their new studio album, “Beyond Tomorrow”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.

Bruce Dickinson and Z2 Comics have announced the upcoming publication of  The Mandrake Project: Year One, a graphic novel compiling the first four issues of the Iron Maiden singer's comic-book series. The deluxe edition of the set will be printed in ink mixed with soil from the grave of beloved English poet William Blake. In addition to featuring exclusive content and interviews, the deluxe edition is housed in a slipcase with a rotating embossed Mandrake dial, foil collectors cards, and a metal medallion. Dickinson is a member of the William Blake Cottage Trust, which oversees the poet’s only surviving house. “William Blake has given me so much over the years and I want to repay the debt by helping to restore the Cottage,” says Dickinson. The Mandrake Project: Year One will be released on August 5th, and is available for pre-order in three different editions from the Z2 Comics online shop.

Photo Credit: Sermed Shaikh

An upcoming tribute album titled, Magic Power: An All-Star Tribute to Triumph, will celebrate the music of the Canadian hard rock legends Triumph. The 15-track collection will be released on June 6th via Round Hill Records, and it includes Sebastian Bach's newly-released rendition of "Rock & Roll Machine.” The project showcases a series of Triumph covers featuring a star-studded lineup including Slash, Nancy Wilson, Joey Belladonna, Dee Snider, and more. Conceived by veteran producer Mike Clink, the album pairs a group of talented musicians with an impressive array of rock vocalists, covering classic Triumph hits like “24 Hours a Day,” “Magic Power,” “Lay It on the Line,” and “Fight the Good Fight.” “The first time I heard this song (‘Lay It on the Line’), I was blown away,” stated Snider. “There’s only one Rik Emmett and Triumph. I’m honored to be a part of this!” 

In a recent episode of Riff X's 'Metal XS', Zakk Wylde, the longtime collaborator and guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, discussed what might be in store for Black Sabbath’s upcoming farewell show. Wylde hinted at Osbourne performing from a specialized "throne" due to his Parkinson's disease, and expressed hope for potential future tours if Osbourne enjoys the farewell concert. “With Oz and his throne that just flies over the stadium or whatever, [where he] shoots out buckets of water,” Wylde imagined. He added, “Ozzy was just sitting at the chair and he was singing ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home,’ and it sounded great. So hopefully we’ll just do this, and then Oz will go, ‘Let’s just fire up the machine again and we’ll do another tour.’” The reunited Black Sabbath is set to perform a final gig on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, with Wylde concluding, “Everybody’s gonna be playing Sabbath songs, it’s gonna be pretty mind-blowing.”

On Thursday (March 20), Guns N’ Roses announced Isaac Carpenter as their new drummer, one day after revealing the departure of their longtime band member Frank Ferrer. Carpenter has been drumming for AWOLNATION since 2014, and has previously worked with Duff McKagan’s Loaded, Adam Lambert, A Perfect Circle, and more, while also taking part in various film and television projects. Carpenter joins GN’R as they prepare for an international tour starting on May 1st in Incheon, South Korea, followed by dates in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, before culminating at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany on July 31st. While it was initially reported that GN’R and Ferrer had an “amicable” split, on Friday (March 21), the band’s former drummer released an official statement on Instagram stating his “disappointment that this chapter came to an end.” I will have immense gratitude and love always for Axl and the band,” Ferrer wrote. “It has been an incredible 19 years. Guns N’ Roses has given me life-changing memories and experiences.” 

Photo Credit: Michael Vetter - Menschbilder Photo-Art / Story Courtest of Metalapolis Records

Photo by DC (@theshowwithdc)

Over the past decade, California rockers Babylon A.D. have been experiencing a resurgence, and that momentum has led to an exciting milestone—their first-ever performance in Greece. The band is set to take the stage at Piraeus Academy in Athens on September 20, 2025, with support from Wild Machine. The concert is being presented by Rockpages & Hairspray Productions, and further details can be found at Rock Pages.

Italian hard rock power trio Sandness is back with their fifth studio album, “Vertigo”,  set to be released on May 16th, 2025 via Rockshots Records. 

From Michael Brandvold Marketing / Braveworlds Records

Info from Freeman Promotions / Frontiers Records

Emmy-nominated director Marty Callner, known for his provocative music videos in the Eighties, died on March 17 at the age of 78. His family revealed that Callner died of natural causes at his home in Malibu. His impactful career included directing iconic music videos for artists like Aerosmith (“Love in an Elevator,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady,” and their Alicia Silverstone trilogy), Whitesnake (“Here I Go Again”), Cher (“If I Could Turn Back Time”), Poison (“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”), Stevie Nicks (“Stand Back”), Pat Benatar (“We Belong”), Twisted Sister (“We’re Not Gonna Take It”), and many more. “The more over the top you were, the better it was for MTV, and Marty had that sense of bombast and blowing everything up,” said Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider. Callner's boundary-pushing approach extended to his work with comedians like Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, as well as directing concert films for music legends like Britney Spears, Paul Simon, Garth Brooks, and Fleetwood Mac. Callner received 12 Emmy Award nominations and two Grammy nominations throughout his illustrious career. 

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of their iconic album Dressed to Kill, KISS is launching an audio walking tour in New York City on March 22nd in collaboration with Pophouse. Fans can access the tour on their mobile devices via the band’s website, starting at the Chelsea location where Bob Gruen’s famous album cover photo of the band wearing suits was taken. The tour will take participants to key NYC venues tied to the album, featuring insightful interviews with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Gruen. For those unable to attend in person, the audio can be streamed online. This venture marks one of the initial major campaigns by Pophouse since acquiring the rights to KISS’ catalog, name, and likeness, with the Swedish entertainment company also planning forthcoming KISS Avatar shows set to debut in 2027.

On Wednesday (March 19), Guns N' Roses announced the departure of drummer Frank Ferrer, the band's longest-serving drummer. GN’R described the split as “amicable,” while sharing a statement that reads, “The band thanks Frank for his friendship, creativity, and sturdy presence over the past 19 years, and they wish him success in the next chapter of his musical journey.” Ferrer first joined GN’R for a live show in June 2006, going on to “anchor the rhythm section during subsequent tours, including recent outings featuring the reunited trio of Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan.” In addition to his live work with the band, Ferrer also drummed on several tracks on GN’R’s long-awaited 2008 album, Chinese Democracy, and can be heard on the live tracks from their 2022 EP, Hard Skool. Ferrer’s final Guns N’ Roses show was in November of 2023. As the band gears up for their upcoming tour beginning in May, Ferrer's replacement has yet to be announced. (

On Friday (March 14), Iron Maiden announced on Instagram that Universal Pictures Content Group has begun production on a documentary chronicling the legendary heavy metal band’s 50-year career. The film is set for international release in the fall, with U.S. distribution details yet to be confirmed. The rock doc will take fans on an “emotive journey through Iron Maiden’s 50 Year history” while featuring “exclusive interviews with pivotal band members, including the final interview with original vocalist, Paul Di’Anno,” who passed away in 2024. The documentary will be directed by Malcolm Venville, and will feature testimonials from famous fans like Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich, and Gene Simmons, along with rare archival footage of the band, as well as all-new animated sequences with their iconic mascot Eddie. Iron Maiden launches their 50th anniversary Run For Your Lives World Tour in Budapest on May 27, with 32 additional dates scheduled in Europe and the UK through August 2. (Billboard)

Photo: Robert Franco / Info: Freeman Promotions

info provided by Beastie Butterfly promotions