The Month In Rock: December 2024

12/2 Slipknot Drummer Is #1

Modern Drummer magazine’s readers vote former Sepultura and current Slipknot drummer Eloy Casagrande as the #1 Metal drummer in the publication’s Readers’ Poll.

12/3 Falling In Reverse Cancel U.K. Tour

Falling In Reverse are forced to cancel dates of their U.K. Tour after frontman Ronnie Radke (pictured) is denied entry into the country because the singer served over 12 months in prison. The band hopes to sort out the visa issue and rescheduled the dates.

12/3 Marty Friedman’s “Dreaming Japanese” Autobiography Drops

“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 in a complete tell-all autobiography.” He has resided in Japan since ’03.

12/4 Rockett Drums Stolen

Several drum kits previously used by Rikki Rockett on tour with Poison are stolen from Donn’s Drum Vault, in Burien, WA. “They are all extremely unique and easily identified,” writes Drum Vault owner Donn Bennett on Facebook.

12/5 Smell Like A Stone

The Rolling Stones launch of their first-ever fine fragrance, RS No.9. The fragrance was created by perfumer Catherine Selig.

RS No.9, limited to 999 numbered 100m bottles priced at $99.99, sells out immediately.

12/6 Queensryche Guitarist Delivers Solo Set: “Volume 1.“

“I’m always writing songs,” noted Michael 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 me.”

“Volume I” also features vocalist Mark Winterman, bassist “Hodgy” and drummer Sonny Sudra.

12/7 Jelly Roll Is #1… Again

“Liar” tops Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

All four of Jelly Roll’s Mainstream Rock Airplay entries have reached #1. The first three were “Dead Man Walking” (2022), “Need A Favor” (2023) and, earlier this year, “All My Life” with Falling In Reverse.

“Liar” is from Jelly Roll’s 10^th studio album “Beautifully Broken,” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 last October and has earned over 600,000 equivalent album units to date.

12/7 Ex-GN’R Drummer Is A Grand Marshal

Matt Sorum is a celebrity grand marshal of the 32^nd annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade. This event lights up downtown Palm Springs.

Sorum, a Palm Springs resident, was in GN’R from 1990–1997 where he recorded three albums (“Use Your Illusion I & II” and “The Spaghetti Incident?”) and was a founding member of Velvet Revolver (who released the “Contraband” and “Libertad” albums).

12/7 Iron Maiden Drummer Retires

Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain announces his retirement from touring. The 72-year-old musician, a member of Maiden for more than four decades, concludes his run with a 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,” states McBrain.

12/8 Iron Maiden Names New Drummer

Following the retirement of long-time member Nicko McBrain (see above), Iron Maiden announces that Simon Dawson is their touring drummer. Sawson is a former session musician and member of British Lion with Maiden bassist Steve Harris. 

12/8 Bonnor Raitt Honored

The Kennedy Center Honors celebrate singer Bonnie Raitt, the surviving members of the Grateful Dead and New York’s iconic Apollo Theater.

As per tradition, the honorees observed the proceedings from the presidential box in the Kennedy Center Opera House, accompanied by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

12/9 Within Temptation Keyboardist Departs

Keyboardist Martijn Spierenburg announces his departure from the Symphonic Metal band.

Spierenburg joined Within Temptation in 2001 and recorded six albums with the band.

12/10 Rockett’s Stolen Drums Recovered

All of Poison drummer Rikki Rockett’s stolen drums are found and returned to Donn’s Drum Vault, located near Seattle. It has the largest inventory of rare and vintage drums in the world.

“My sincere appreciation to everyone who helped spread the word.” writes Donn Bennett, owner of the Drum Vault. “My deepest appreciation to our friends at the Tukwilla Guitar Center for their cool and quick action and for keeping the thieves occupied until the police arrived.”

Rockett’s drums were reported stolen last week.

12/10 “A Complete Unknown” Premieres

The Bob Dylan biopic, directed by James Mangold, premieres at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

The film, starring Timothée Chalamet, was based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wood and follows Dylan’s life and career from January 1961, when he moved to New York City to his 1965 concert at the Newport Folk Festival.

The film’s title is derived from the chorus of Dylan’s 1965 single “Like A Rolling Stone.”

The picture received three nominations at the 82^nd Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor for Chalamet and Best Supporting Actor for Ed Norton, as Pete Seger.

12/13 Metallica’s “Helping Hands Concert”

Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation holds the fourth “Helping Hands Concert & Auction” at YouTube Theater in L.A. Sammy Hagar and Joe Satriani perform. All funds go directly to All Within My Hands’ efforts supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger and disaster relief.

12/14 Breaking Benjamin Score Eighth #1

Breaking Benjamin rule Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with “Awaken.”

It’s the band’s eighth #1 overall on Mainstream Rock but first chart-topper since 2020, when “Far Away,” featuring Scooter Ward (Cold), led for three weeks.

12/14 Blink-182 Guitarist Discusses New Jersey Drones

UFO enthusiast/expert (and Blink-182 guitarist) Tom DeLonge weighs in on the rash of mystery drones recently seen in the New Jersey sky.

“There is a good chance that these things could potentially be ‘mimicking’ other aircraft,” the guitarist offered. 

12/14 Zakk Wylde Loses His Voice

Zakk Sabbath. the Black Sabbath tribute band fronted by guitarist/vocalist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, Panterra) postpones concerts in Little Rock and New Orleans because “Zakk has lost his voice and, under medical advice, cannot perform.”

12/14 Kid Rock Takes On Concert Ticket Pricing

In a social media post Kid Rock says he’s met with Donald Trump’s Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi to tackle concert ticketing issues.

“I look forward to working with her and the whole administration to help fix the fiasco of buying concert tickets,” writes Rock.

Scalping, junk fees and “dynamic pricing” have impeded many fans’ ability to attend concerts.

12/14 Soundgarden Members Play Benefit Show

Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd perform under the anagram alias Nudedragons, for a special performance in Seattle at the 13th annual SMooCH (Seattle Musicians for Children’s Hospital) concert benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital’s uncompensated care fund. 

12/14 Creed’s Mark Tremonti and Sevendust’s Lajon Witherspoon Perform “This Christmas”

The Orlando performance is in support of Tremonti’s recent releases “Tremonti Sings Sinatra” and “Christmas Classics New & Old” with a portion of every ticket sold for Tremonti’s annual holiday Frank Sinatra tribute tour donated to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and Tremonti’s Take A Chance For Charity.

During dinner following a Kansas City Chiefs game Tremonti asked Witherspoon (front and center in band photo) if he would join him for a song on his tour, Witherspoon initially declined but his wife kicked him under the table and said ‘Yes, he will.'” From that point on, Witherspoon was all in.

Sevendust is opening two end of the year Creed shows in Vegas.

12/16 “Nevermind” Keeps Selling

Nirvana’s Grunge classic “Nevermind” is the ninth album to ever spend 700 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart.

Produced by Butch Vig, Nirvana’s second full-length effort was the band’s first major label release and also the first to feature drummer Dave Grohl (pictured above). 

12/18 Lemmy Returns To One Of His Favorite Clubs

Motörhead frontman Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister takes up full-time residence at Stringfellows gentlemen’s club in London.

A miniature replica of his custom urn containing a portion of his ashes, is installed at the club, Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell is in attendance to say a few words and place Lemmy’s ashes there.

12/19 Tommy Lee Is All Washed Up

During an ‘Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe” podcast, Brittany Furlan, wife of the Mötley Crüe drummer, said Lee only showers once a week, “Lee was born in Athens, Greece, and it’s something of a cultural thing. You don’t need to shower every day. They would just do the white washcloth if they felt like they were getting a little funky. “

12/20 Casey Chaos Dies

 Casey Chaos (Karim Chmielinski), the frontman for the Hardcore Punk band Amen, dies from a massive heart attack in his Laurel Canyon home at the age of 59. He had been dealing with heart issues, poor circulation, and high blood pressure for the last few years. 

12/25 “A Complete Unknown” Is In U.S. Theaters

“A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold, follows Bob Dylan from his arrival on the Greenwich Village Folk scene in 1961 to his electrified performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. 

The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Dylan.

The world premiere was held at the Dolby Theater in L.A. on December 10^th (see above).

12/27 Guitarist Mark Morton Celebrates Sobriety

The Lamb Of God guitarist celebrates six years of sobriety.

“I woke up this morning with 6 years clean & sober,” Morton writes on social media. “This comes after decades of drinking nearly every day & with the final 10 years of that compounded by an aggressively progressive opiate addiction that almost killed me.”

12/29 Sixx Is In Therapy

Sixx had a traumatic childhood, which included his father abandoning the family.

“I’ve been doing EMDR therapy,” says Sixx. “That’s a golden ticket if you’re up for change. I live for change. At least evolution.”