This Week in Rock

Iron Maiden were presented with a gold disc at the first of their two sold-out shows at London’s O2 Arena (on 7/7) in recognition of their studio album “Senjutsu” selling over 100,000 physical copies in the U.K. “Senjutsu” (loosely translated from Japanese as “tactics and strategy”), released in September of 2021, was Iron Maiden’s seventeenth studio album. Two singles,…

If you are spending sleepless nights trying to figure why “Hair Metal” died an unceremonious death in the early ’90s there is an answer…. maybe a couple. It’s generally accepted that Grunge (Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, among others) killed Hair Metal. That obviously had something to do with it but according to Ratt‘s Stephen…

“In Times New Roman…” sits at #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock and Top Alternative charts for the current week. Queens Of The Stone Age‘s first album in six years is their eighth full-length effort. The set contains the tracks “Emotion Sickness,” “Paper Machete” and “Carnavoyeur.” “In Times New Roman…” Track…

Nickelback has been inducted into the BC (British Columbia) Entertainment Hall Of Fame (even though the band formed in Alberta). They were honored (on 6/28) with a StarWalk ceremony on Granville Street in Vancouver – where over 300 individuals are represented.   Nickelback were recognized for their “significant contribution(s) to the province’s entertainment industry and cultural landscape.”…

Survivor‘s “Eye Of The Tiger” has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. Written by the band’s Jim Peterik (rhythm guitar/keyboards) and Frankie Sullivan (lead guitar) the song, released in ’82, was commissioned by Sylvester Stallone to be the theme for “Rocky III.” Subsequently, the title track from Survivor’s third album spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on…

With half the year over, it’s noteworthy that only three songs have had multi-week runs at #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart – Metallica (pictured above) -“Lux Æterna,” Linkin Park – “Lost” and Foo Fighters – “Rescued.” “Lux Æterna,” from the ’72 Seasons” album, was released late last year and topped the chart on…

Pantera‘s major label debut album, “Cowboys From Hell” released in ‘90, was recently certified (May 26th) double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 2-million copies in the United States. “Cowboys From Hell,” originally certified platinum in July ’97, has been called one of the most influential Metal albums of the…

A Jeff Beck tribute concert, organized by Eric Clapton and Sandra Beck, the guitarist’s widow, took place Monday night (5/22) at London’s Royal Albert Hall.  The event featured Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, ZZ Tops’ Billy Gibbons and actor/guitarist Johnny Depp.  A second all-star concert was held Tuesday night. Beck, who passed away earlier this year, was…

Foo Fighters’ “Rescued” is #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart (dated 5/20). Released on April 19th, “Rescued” is the first single off the Foos eleventh studio album, “But Here We Are,” which will drop June 2nd.    The track references the passing last year of drummer Taylor Hawkins. According to the band, it’s “the first…

Florida native Tom Petty was recognized by the University Of Florida with an honorary Doctor Of Music degree. Bruce Petty, Tom’s brother, accepted the posthumous doctorate on his behalf at the university’s spring commencement ceremony (May 4th). The university also partnered with Petty’s estate for what they called the Tom Petty Endowment for Guitars & Innovation, benefitting its School…