The Month In Rock: April 2025
4/1 Can Neil Young Return?
Canadian-born Neil Young, a Trump critic, is worried he could get barred from reentering the United States after he returns from his upcoming European tour this summer.
“I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminum blanket.”
4/2 Godsmack Members Announce Their Departures
Former Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin and guitarist Tony Rombola reveal that they quit the band last year because they “didn’t want to tour anymore.” The band corroborates the news in a Instagram statement saying the pair retired and left on good terms.
4/3 John Lydon Disses Old Band
Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) vows to “never” return to the band, calling his former bandmates as “woke” as they prepare to embark on their first North American tour in decades.
“They’ve killed the content, or done their best to, and turned the whole thing into a rubbish childishness and that’s unacceptable.” stated Lydon. “Sorry, I’m not going to give a helping hand to this any longer. As far as I am concerned, I’m the Pistols, and they’re not.”
4/4 “Master Of Puppets” Surpass A Billion Streams
“We’re psyched to share that ‘Master Of Puppets’ has just made its way into Spotify’s Billions Club,” Metallica comments..
The title track from Metallica’s third album, released in ’86. joins the band’s “Nothing Else Matters” and “Enter Sandman” in the Billions Club.
4/4 Smith/Kotzen Roll Out “Black Light/White Noise”
The album by guitarists Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs) features the lead single “White Noise.”
“The song is about the rise of social media, how people get addicted to it,” explained Smith.
For “Black Light” Smith wanted a song “inspired by some of my old Hard Rock or Blues (and then) go into a more progressive feel.”
4/4 L.A. Guns Present “Leopard Skin”
“The work ethic is yielding what it’s supposed to,” founder/guitarist Tracii Guns noted. “Fans stay excited, we stay excited, and we keep making records. “
4/4 The Waterboys Chronicle The “Life, Death And Dennis Hopper”
“The arc of his life was the story of our times,” shared The Waterboys frontman Mike Scott. “He was at the big bang of youth culture in Rebel Without A Cause with James Dean; and the beginnings of Pop Art with the young Andy Warhol.
The tribute to the trailblazing actor includes performances by Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Fiona Apple.
4/6 The Beatles Original Drummer Retires
Pete Best (pictured far left with George, John and Paul) announces he is stepping away from public appearances and performances “due to personal circumstances.” He was The Beatles drummer before Ringo Starr. In fact, he was sacked by the band in favor of Ringo,
“And at that time, I didn’t think they’d go as big as they are now,” Best once claimed.
4/6 Cancer Claims Blondie Drummer
Clem Burke, the longtime drummer for Blondie dies at age 70.
“Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie,” wrote the band in a statement. “Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage.”
“on of success was winding up in the cutout bin.”
4/7 Metallica Heads Blood Drive
Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation (AWMH) and the American Red Cross urge fans to give blood at select Metallica tour stops across the U.S. to help ensure vital blood supplies are available. Donors of all blood types are needed.
To make an appointment to give blood, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Metallica.
4/7 Paul Stanley Is A Rock Star… Again
Workday, Inc., the AI management platform launches its latest “Rock Star” ad campaign featuring Paul Stanley (KISS), Billy Idol and Gwen Stefani (No Doubt).
Dressed in business attire they navigate the corporate world refusing to believe that Workday’s AI agents are making people “Rock stars.”
4/7 Wife Of Weezer Bassist Shot And Arrested
Author Jillian Lauren – wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shiner – is shot in the shoulder by police and later booked for attempted murder after pointing a gun at police who were chasing a fleeing hit and run suspect. Shiner was in a neighbor’s backyard with a gun when she encountered the police.
4/8 Mark Hoppis (Blink-182) Published Memoir
Blink-182’s bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus releases his memoir, “Fahrenheit-182,“ via the Dey Street Books.
Co-authored by Dan Ozzi, the book is described as a “memoir that paints a vivid picture of what it was like to come of age in the 1980s as a latchkey kid hooked on Punk Rock, skateboards, and MTV.”
Hoppus also writes about the formation of Blink-182. In addition, it’s a “very human story of a constant battle with anxiety and Mark’s public battle and triumph over cancer.”
4/9 Soulfly Part Ways With Bassist
“After many strong years together, Soulfly is parting ways with bassist Mike Leon,” writes the band in a post.” We’re going in different directions now and we thank Mike for all the time spent with us Rocking hard on stage.”
Leon joined Soulfly in ’15 as the replacement for Tony Campos.
4/11 Epica is “Aspiral”
The title of the band’s ninth studio album, referencing renewal and inspiration, is derived from a sculpture created in ’65 by Polish artist Stanisław Szukalski.
Singles from the album include “Arcana,” “Cross The Divide” and “T.I.M.E.” (an acronym for “Transformation, Integration, Metamorphosis and Evolution”).
4/11 Van’s Halen’s “Jump” Garners Over A Billion Streams
The song surpasses one-billions streams on Spotify. Released in December ’83 “Jump” was the lead single from Van Halen’s sixth studio album, “1984.”
The song went to #1 on the. Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for five weeks.
4/12 Disturbed Will Not Break
Disturbed‘s “I Will Not Break” is #1 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart giving the band its 13th chart topper.
“I Will Not Break,” currently a standalone single, follows the band’s eighth studio album, “Divisive,” which debuted at #1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in December ’22 and has moved 184,000 equivalent album units to date.
4/12 Neil Young And Joan Baez Perform At “Fighting Oligarchy”
Young and Baez share the stage at political rally hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in L.A.’s Grand Park.
The event centers on anti-corporate messaging and grassroots political reform.
4/12 Green Day Play Coachella For The First Time
The band makes their Coachella debut performing “American Idiot,” “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams:” and “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” with an audience member on guitar. The night before, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong joined the Go-Go’s for their Coachella set.
4/12 So Who Is The Coachella Headliner?
Charli xcx is photographed wearing a sash that reads, “Miss Should Be The Headliner” before her Coachella performance.
Fans speculate that the Pop Punk/Alternative Pop singer is shading Green Day.
Later, Green Day’s drummer, Trey Cool, is photographed wearing a makeshift sash that reads “actual headliner.”
4/13 The Who Sack Zak Starkey
“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” offered The Who’s representative ’in a statement.”
Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, was The Who’s touring drummer for 29 years. He says he was surprised and saddened by the decision.
4/13 “Coheed And Cambria Day” In Nyack, New York
Coheed And Cambria return to Nyack, New York, the community that supported the band and gave them their earliest notoriety, to accept the key to Nyack and perform a short acoustic set.
The band formed in Nyack in ’95.
4/14 Former Judas Priest Drummer Passes Away
Les Binks played on Priest’s “Stained Class,” “Hell Bent For Leather” (released as “Killing Machine” in the U.K.) and “Unleashed In The East” albums.
He was 73.
4/16 Aerosmith Delivers For The NBA
Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” is played during the NBA play-offs to highlight how fans and celebrities. around the world are seeing playoff history unfold.
“We have a long history with the NBA, cheering for our hometown Celtics throughout the years,” says Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.
4/17 Def Leppard Drummer Is Still Recovering
Rick Allen, on “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” reveals that he’s dealing with an attack outside a Florida hotel that happened more than two years ago. “I’ve been going through some challenging times,” he says. “Hopefully I can put it all behind me and I can just kind of get back to as normal as I could possibly be given the circumstances.”
4/19 The Who’s Pete Townshend Says Zak Is Back
Just days after news broke that Zak Starkey had been dismissed from the band he’d toured with for nearly three decades (see above), The Who’s legendary guitarist reports that “there have been some communication issues … and these have been aired happily” adding that Starkey is “not being asked to step down.”
4/19 Fear Factory Return To The Studio
Fear Factory enter the studio to begin recording its first new album in four years. ”At the moment, (it’s all) smooth sailing,” offers Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares. “And it’s been great. Everybody’s on point. “
4/19 Dave Grohl Plays Coachella With Special Backing
Dave Grohl makes a surprise appearance performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. They play “The Sky Is A Neighborhood” and “Everlong.”
Later in the evening, actress/singer Cynthia Erivo (Wicked”) leads the philharmonic for a cover Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
4/21 Jam Band Tops Rock Hall Vote
With over 2,5 million ballots cast, Phish garners more than 328,000 votes to lead Bad Company, Billy Idol and Soundgarden in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan vote.
This is the first time Phish, eligible since 2014, have been nominated for the Rock Hall. The fan vote is one element used to determine who is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
4/22 Santana Hospitalized
Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana is hospitalized with what the San Antonio Fire Department reportedly describe as “a non life-threatening condition” during a soundcheck prior to his band’s scheduled show in San Antonio, TX.
The concert is postponed.
Following success in the ’70s, Santana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in ’98. The following year, “Supernatural” (1999) with the hit “Smooth” recorded with Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty), went to #1 on the Billboard 200.
4/22 Jelly Roll To Be Pardoned?
The Tennessee Board of Parole recommends a pardon for Grammy-nominated Country/Rock star Jelly Roll, a decision that will be up to the state’s Republican Governor Bill Lee.
Jelly Roll, a Nashville native, was involved in drug-related crimes and incarceration. He tells the board how he has overcome that part of his life as he’s risen to fame as a successful music artist.
He visits jails, rehab centers and youth centers around the country before performing concerts, an effort that was recognized during the hearing.
He states that his criminal record makes it difficult for him to travel abroad to perform.
4/24 Black Flag Announces New Line-Up
Joining founding guitarist Greg Ginn (pictured) are Max Zanelly (vocals), David Rodriguez (bass) and Bryce Weston (drums).
Black Flag, formed in 1976, has been called the first American Hardcore band.
4/25 Ghost Issue Sixth Album
“Skeletá” contains “Satanized” which is described as “an avalanche of infectious hooks and harmonies buoyed by a hypnotic shuffle, as the narrator succumbs to dark forces within and without, helplessly acknowledging their own blasphemy and heresy as it inexorably consumes them.”
The band reveals the new figurehead is Papa V Perpetua. His vocal debut on the “Satanized” is said to concern “demonic possessions” and succumbs to “dark forces”.
4/25 Machine Head Are “Unatoned”
Machine Head’s eleventh album is the first to feature drummer Matt Alston and lead guitarist Reece Scruggs.
A band press release says the album “drips with melancholy melodies, and yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-alongs of love lost and sadness, to bellowing power and undeniable confidence.”
4/25 Wednesday 13 Have A “Mid-Death Crisis”
Wednesday 13 dubs the album as a fun, campy, “leave-your-brain-at-the-door” rager.
“Growing up in the 80s, I remember the satanic panic of Heavy Metal music and parents’ concern over what their kids were listening to. Most of the music that I listened to never had any of those themes, but they were just accused of it. (So) I wanted the lyrics to be upfront and leave no question as to what they were about… the Devil.”
4/25 Former KISS Drummer Honored
The Legacy Award is presented to humanitarian and artist Peter Criss — the original Catman and co-founder of KISS — at Raven Drum Foundation’s event in New York City to support first responders and veterans.
4/26 Linkin Park Goes “Up From The Bottom” To The Top
Linkin Park notches its eighth #1 on the Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, with “Up From the Bottom.” The track draws 4.7 million radio audience impressions (up 28%) during the previous week.
4/26 Voivod Receive An Honorary Doctorate
“I would like to sincerely thank the entire UQAC (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi) team for this generous and honorable gesture,” says the Canadian band’s founding drummer Michel ‘Away’ Langevin. “This moment will be forever etched in our memory, as a symbolic culmination of our journey.”
4/26 The American Music Honors
The annual event, organized by the Bruce Springsteen’s Archives & Center, takes place at Monmouth University in New Jersey, honoring John Fogerty Tom Morello (RATM) and Motown great Smokey Robinson.
4/26 Neil Young Has A Shopping Tip For Fascists
Young debuts the track, “Let’s Roll Again,” at the Greek Theater in L.A. The lyrics include, “If you’re a fascist, get a Tesla/It’s electric, it doesn’t matter.”
Young, born in Toronto, holds dual American/Canadian citizenship.
4/27 Rock Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Inductees
Bad Company (pictured), Soundgarden and White Stripes will be inducted into the Hall in November. Joe Cocker, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper and Outlast will also be inducted.
4/29 Mike Peters (The Alarm) Passes At Age 66
The Alarm’s singer and co-founder dies following a 30-year battle with blood cancer.
The Alarm are remembered for the ’80s college radio hits “Sixty-Eight Guns,” “Strength,” “Spirit Of ’76,” “Rain In The Summertime,” “Sold Me Down The River” and “Devolution Workin’ Man Blues.”
4/30 “Toxicity” Disappears
The System Of A Down’s ’01 album mysteriously vanishes from Spotify.
Fans hit social media with concerns as to why the album is no longer available. The removal is driven by unresolved licensing and distribution agreements.
However, the band’s top three songs are still displayed on Spotify — “Chop Suey,” “Toxicity,” “Aerials,” but the “Toxicity” album artwork is absent as well as any connection of those songs with the parent album.
4/30 KoЯn Frontman Jonathan Davis Is On “Ghost Adventures”
KoЯn frontman Jonathan Davis is guest investigator on an episode of the supernatural series “Ghost Adventures” on Discovery Channel.
Davis is a guest investigator as the “Ghost Adventures” team experience a chain of chilling synchronicities and shocking paranormal activity at the historic Glen Tavern Inn.
“Ghost Adventures,” now in its 30th season, is a paranormal/reality television series that premiered in 2008.
The program follows ghost hunters as they investigate locations that are reported to be haunted.
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