The Week In Rock – December 7th – December 14th
12/7 Ex-GN’R Drummer Is A Grand Marshal
Matt Sorum is a celebrity grand marshal of the 32nd 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.
12/12 Linkin Park Score Billboard Awards
Linkin Park receives the Top Rock Duo/Group and Top Hard Rock Artist honors at the Billboard Music Awards.
The band is riding the highly successful comeback album “From Zero,” their eighth full-length effort but first to feature vocalist Emily Armstrong.
12/13 Classic Rock Performers Are In Pollstar’s Annual Touring Top 10
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band land at #5 on the tally grossing $251-million) this year with the Rolling Stones checking in at #6 earning $235-million – all from the “Hackney Diamonds” U.S. trek giving the Stones the top grossing North American tour. Metallica holds the #9 slot grossing $179.4 million from 1.5 million tickets sold at 24 reported concerts.
Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” is #1 on survey with international revenues in excess of $2-billion.
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.
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