Axl Rose Has Written “Magnificent” New Guns N Roses Music According To Duff McKagan


Guns N Roses bassist Duff McKagan appeared on Eddie Trunk’s n SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation” show to promote his new single from his upcoming solo album. Discussing potential new GNR music, Duff stated: “I heard some new material and there’s been some jams going around, and that’s the next step for us, for the GN’R thing.” Further quotes can be found below. As we previously reported GNR has at least recorded one new track, a T. Rex cover for release in 2019, likely for Record Store Day, but as yet unannounced. Continue reading


Megacruise Tickets Onsale To The Public Now, More Details Announced


Megadeth’s Megacruise plans to be the ultimate heavy metal music experience at sea! The public on sale is live right now, with tickets now available at the links below. Departing out of Los Angeles aboard the Norwegian Jewel, the five-day/five-night full ship charter cruise will set sail October 13-18, 2019, visiting two ports of call (Ensenada, Mexico and San Diego, California) and host two heavy metal-filled days of music and events. The cruise will also feature an optional pre-cruise party in Los Angeles (details to be announced). Cabins start at $1,349 per person (double occupancy). Government fees, taxes, and gratuities are additional and mandatory for all passengers, regardless of age.Continue reading


Slash Says New Guns N Roses Music Is Possible


In a new interview with Eddie Trunk’s (Friday, August 3) edition of “Trunk Nation LA Invasion: Live From The Rainbow Bar & Grill” on SiriusXM, Slash said the current members of Guns N Roses have discussed making new music. This is the first time since 3/5ths of the classic lineup (Slash, Axl Rose, Duff McKagan) reunited two years ago for the wildly successful Not In This Lifetime Tour.Continue reading


Rob Zombie To Release New Album In 2019


Rob Zombie has announced that his next album is coming out early in 2019 from his long-time label Universal. The band has completed recording the follow-up to his last album, 2016’s The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser. Zombie and his band will hit the road this summer on a co-headline tour with Marilyn Manson. Rob gave an interview with Eddie Trunk on his SiriusXM Trunk Nation show where he discussed the new album.Continue reading


King Diamond Is Set To Enter The Studio To Begin His New Album


Photo Credit: Hillarie Jason

Several years in the making, King Diamond is finally set to enter the studio to begin working on a new album for an expected 2019 release via Metal Blade Records, which will be the first for the metal legend and his band in over ten years since Give Me Your Soul…Please in 2007. The band is also finishing up their forthcoming new live DVD – Blu-ray filmed during the bands 2015-2016 tour which saw them perform the classic Abigail album in full. The live concert film will include two full Abigail performances. King Diamond recently signed with 5B Artist Management (Megadeth, Slipknot). Continue reading


INTERVIEW: Don Jamieson Talks Comedy, Metallica, Lemmy, Kiefer Sutherland And More


Ghost Cult caught up with comedian Don Jameson at The Watering Hole in New York City to hang out and talk about his comedy album, Communication Breakdown, which came out in April on Metal Blade Records. Don is known for his hilarious comedy, as the co-host of That Metal Show, and much more. We knocked back a few with Don and talked about a lot of topics close to his heart. Videography by Omar Cordy/OJC Photography.Continue reading


Select-A-Head Announce New Discounted Pricing And New Designs From Rob Zombie, Alter Bridge, Mastodon And Kxm


Makers of incredible one of a kind drum wall art Select-A-Head, LLC, have announced new reduced pricing for their popular 22” pieces of art for some of the most popular bands. The new pricing comes just in time as the Seattle-based company has also established new partnerships with Rob Zombie, Alter Bridge, Mastodon and supergroup KXM. Continue reading


The Third Annual Ride for Ronnie: Live At Harley-Davidson of Glendale, California


 

Eddie Money, by Meg Loyal Photography

 

The Third Annual “Ride For Ronnie” Motorcycle Rally and Concert took place earlier last month and raised $40,000 for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Attended by motorcycle enthusiasts and rockers by equal measure; bikers, bands, and fans young and old represented to raise money in memory for late heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio  of  Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell, and Rainbow fame, who passed away from Gastric Cancer in 2010. Continue reading


The Music And Entertainment World Mourns Lemmy Kilmister


Motörhead, ©Hillarie Jason

Motörhead, ©Hillarie Jason

As news spreads via social media of the sudden passing of music legend Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister of Motörhead, personalities across the spectrum of entertainment have taken the time to reflect and share memories. VH1/Sirius XM Radio host Eddie Trunk first broke the news in a series of Tweets:

ed trunk tweet lemmy RIP

Ozzy Osbourne was the first close friend of Lemmy’s to tweet his feelings and condolences, followed by others:

ozzy tweets lemmy RIP

 

metallica rip lemmy

triple H RIP Lemmy

corey taylor slipknot RIP lemmy

mick foley

judas priest rip Lemmy

juliette lewis lemmy RIP

anthrax RIP lemmy

 

flea RIP lemmy

skolnick testament RIP Lemmy

kim freeman OED RIP Lemmy

As confirmed by the band, Lemmy who has just turned 70 years old on Christmas eve, was diagnosed on December 26th with “an extremely aggressive form of cancer,” though no specifics beyond that have been released as yet.

 


Food Truck and Rock Carnival: Day 2 – Live in Clark NJ


Food Truck and Rock Carnival 2015 full lineup poster

We arrived at Day Two of the Food Truck and Rock Carnival a bit tired, but amped up for a full day of bands. With more time to explore the fest this day, we checked out the awesome fair food in the main concert area such as corn dogs and deep-fried Oreo’s as well as some of more interesting choices on the Food Truck side too.

Like A Storm, by Keith Chachkes

Like A Storm, by Keith Chachkes

Doing a reverse of yesterday, we took in the bands first, followed by some Carnie fun, and then more bands. Up-and-coming New Zealand rockers Like A Storm were the first band we saw and they were insanely good. With several rock hits at satellite radio, they had their own fans in the house. They seemed to make a lot of new converts too with a fiery show. Crobot was next on the other main stage. If you have never seen them, they are a fierce piece of psych rock explosiveness! They whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their over the top antics.

Crobot, by Keith Chachkes

Crobot, by Keith Chachkes

 

Anthrax, by Keith Chachkes

Anthrax, by Keith Chachkes

After I headed back stage to conduct some band interviews we headed back out the now full festival grounds. It was really impressive to see this for a first time fest. Especially after the performance of the next band I caught: Anthrax. The band has been touring like crazy leading up to their new album For All Kings (Megaforce) due this winter. The band had a short set so they dispensed with the pleasantries and commenced the ass-kicking. In addition to their typical hits, they played the rarely-ever-heard live ‘Lone Justice’ as a tribute to Eddie Trunk. The band was on fire too, especially drummer Charlie Benante and singer Joey Belladonna.

 

Nighttime fell on the fest and lights from the stages and the carnival lit up the sky and you just felt everyone’s collective energy was high. Following the model of some European fests the two areas in front of the main stages were cut into a big “Y” shape with an enormous VIP area. This also helped security with crowd control, but at the same time made it a chore to see both stages easily. This was the only weakness of the weekend for me. At the same time the two stages also created an awesome VIP Cabana area between them, that for came with tons of amenities including private wait staff services, a private viewing area of the stage, a private VIP meet and greet sesh, free beers and up close access to the bands and the main stages other fans did not have. The fan in me was a little bit jelly and some of the patrons I talked to were over the moon about the experience.

Clutch, by Keith Chachkes

Clutch, by Keith Chachkes

The perfect band to bring in the spirit of rock revivalism to the darkened skies was Clutch who happened to be up next. They played a lot of songs from their new album ‘Psychic Warfare’ (Weathermaker Music) and no one complained. Neil Fallon gesticulated wildly all over the stage, tending to his flock. The band was tight as hell and just jammed it out for an hour straight. Late in the set brought the hits fans wanted to hear like ‘Spacegrass’ and ‘The Mob Goes Wild’.

Schism, by Keith Chachkes

Schism, by Keith Chachkes

Tucked away in the far corner of the fest, the carnival area was the last stage, and by all accounts had been decently attended all day with locals and some bands paying tribute to rock and metal heroes. Two of the most prominent tribute bands in the nation closed the stage each night: RATM2, the Rage Against the Machine Tribute, and Schism, the première Tool tribute band. I managed to catch some of Schism’s set, and having been a Tool-o-phile from back n the day and seeing the band as many times as I have, they are the real deal. If you have never seen the enigmatic gods of art rock, Schism is a fair stand in both sonically and visually. Next year this stage ought to be closer to the main stages.

Chester Bennington with Stone Temple Pilots, by Keith Chachkes

Chester Bennington with Stone Temple Pilots, by Keith Chachkes

 

Godsmack and Stone Temple Pilots closed the main stages respectively on this night with a lots of bravado from each. STP featuring Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) for one of the last times, played all the songs that made them of the première alt rock bands of the 90s. Chester is spot on vocally, and a star in every way imaginable. Fans have commented that his copying Scott Weiland is unflattering to the band and off-putting, and I have to say it isn’t necessary at all. Chester can hang with anyone vocally and to me was a great fit with STP, end of story. 

Crowd at The Rock Carnival, by Keith Chachkes

Crowd at The Rock Carnival, by Keith Chachkes

Godsmack opened up with a montage film that recapped their last few years touring and intercut shots of iconic Boston sports people such as Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, members of the Boston Bruins, and David Ortiz. Curious choices in New Jersey, the land of many Jets and Yankees fans, but oh well. The band came out fired up and played all their big radio-friendly tracks. They were a worthy closer on this night. Drummer Shannon Larkin always stands out a lot to me. He is one of the most talented drummers you will ever see live and worth watching. Sully Erna flipped back and forth between playing guitar and running around with a wireless microphone and seemed to really relish performing for such an enthusiastic crowd.

Godsmack, by Keith Chachkes

Godsmack, by Keith Chachkes

 

 

Godsmack, by Keith Chachkes

Godsmack, by Keith Chachkes

 

Godsmack, by Keith Chachkes

Godsmack, by Keith Chachkes

I made it a point each day to hang a lot at the Birch Hill Stage towards the end of each day. It seemed that a lot of industry types were gathering there, and it was awesome to see my brethren from the world of music journalism and publicity. Plus the beer garden was right there. The final band’s trifecta of LA Guns, Lita Ford, and Slaughter was a great way to cap off the weekend. LA Guns was solid, Lita was excellent, but Slaughter was downright special. After all these years it’s amazing how little Slaughter has changed. They were a thing to behold, especially Mark Slaughter’s stratospheric singing voice. Of course, they closed the weekend with ‘Fly To The Angels’ and ‘Up All Night’ performed to a crowd feeling a mix of jubilation and satisfaction that comes from having a great time. I held my BFF tight and raised up those horns one last time for the night. Food Truck and Rock Carnival, do us a solid and come back next year twice as baddass!

Slaughter, by Keith Chachkes

Slaughter, by Keith Chachkes

 

DAY 1 OF THE FOOD TRUCK AND ROCK CARNIVAL

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY KEITH CHACHKES