This Week in Rock

Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Spierenburg has announced his departure from the Symphonic Metal band. Spierenburg released a statement via social media: “After 24 incredible years, I have made the bittersweet decision to part ways with Within Temptation.” “Together with my fellow band members, I’ve been able to achieve everything — and even more — than I could…

Following the retirement of long-time member Nicko McBrain, Iron Maiden has announced that Simon Dawson is their touring drummer. Sawson is a former session musician and member of British Lion with Maiden bassist Steve Harris.  “A native of Suffolk, England, Simon first teamed up with Steve Harris back in 2012,” Iron Maiden noted in a statement. “He debuted on three…

Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain has announced his retirement from touring. The 72-year-old musician, a member of Maiden for more than four decades, concludes his run with a (12/7) concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil. “It is with both sorrow and joy, I announce my decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle,” stated…

All That Remains have set “Antifragile,” their tenth studio album, for release on January 31st. It’s the follow-up to 2018’s “Victim Of The New Disease” and will include the four singles that band has already released: “Divine,” “Let You Go,” “No Tomorrow” and “Forever Cold.”  “It’s been six years for All That Remain to complete a new album. “It has been a long time coming…

Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal will release the 14-track instrumental album, “Bumblefoot …Returns!,” on January 24th, nearly thirty years after his debut solo instrumental album, “The Adventures Of Bumblefoot.” The lead single is “Simon In Space.” “From an early age, my passions were guitar and astrophysics, cosmology — the song ‘Simon In Space’ merges the two. Simon is my cat, haha;…

Queensyche guitarist Michael Wilton has released his solo album, “Volume 1,“ via Rat Pak Records. “I’m always writing songs,” noted Wilton. “And some of the songs, just depending on my mood and whatever, they don’t fit Queensryche. And I just decided to kind of work on ’em and get ’em together. And I found some guys that fit with…

Breaking Benjamin has shared the official lyric video for its latest single, “Awaken.” “Working on this song has been something new and exciting for all of us, I believe,” offered guitarist Jasen Rauch. “We’ve been able to explore more of who we are traditionally while at the same time push boundaries and try things we haven’t done…

Pearl Jam will be touring select U.S. cities next April and May. The trek will start in Hollywood, FL on April 24th and 26th and conclude with performances in Pittsburgh on May 16th and 18th. Ticket Information Pearl Jam Tour Dates; April 24 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock LiveApril 26 – Hollywood, FL – Hard…

Marty Friedman’s autobiography “Dreaming Japanese.” has been released. He has lived in Japan since ’03. “It’s got so much deep details about the Metal life that I’ve lived before I went over to Japan,” said the 61-year-old former Megadeth guitarist (’90 – ’00). “There’s serious life stuff that you would only be comfortable talking about…

The Rolling Stones launch of their first-ever fine fragrance, RS No. 9 Eau De Parfum, limited to 999 numbered 100m bottles priced at $99.99, was an immediate success quickly selling out online and at Stones stores in London and Tokyo. The fragrance was created by perfumer Catherine Selig who said, “I wanted to capture the Rolling…