In Conversation with SPLIT PERSONA’s Zander Joel
I chatted with ZANDER JOEL of the young Las Vegas rock band SPLIT PERSONA. We talked about his parents, Guitar Hero, Van Halen, and Foo Fighters, writing songs in high school, moving from Truckee, California, to Reno, Nevada, and then Las Vegas, their harrowing first tour, and their brand new single, ‘Hypo.’ RYAN J. DOWNEY: WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPOSURE TO MUSIC? ZANDER JOEL: I grew up in a diverse music-listening household. My mom was a big fan of Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, and The Rolling Stones. My dad was into heavier stuff like Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Ozzy Osbourne.
KAT MYKALS Takes Over Loudwire Weekend
Loudwire Weekend has a new host. “I am beyond excited to share that I am the new host of Loudwire Weekends and will be NATIONALLY SYNDICATED on more than 30 rock stations all across the country every Saturday and Sunday night from 7p to midnight," KAT MYKALS revealed on Instagram. "I’m not leaving Evansville, and everything else will stay the same. I’ll still be on during the week from 3p – 7p (CT), and I’ll still be out and about in the community supporting our nonprofit and emceeing events.” “This is a tremendous opportunity that 20-something Kat would have never
FEVER 333 & STARSET Hit Hot Hard Rock Songs Chart
FEVER 333 and STARSET have new entries on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs chart this week. The chart, which measures streaming, sales, and airplay, began in 2020. Linkin Park has spent ten weeks at No. 1 with "The Emptiness Machine." The release of From Zero sees "Two Faced" debut at No. 7, and the Mike Shinoda / Emily Armstrong-only version of "Heavy is the Crown" at No. 14. STARSET's "Dystopia" is new this week at No. 17, while FEVER 333's "Hellfire" debuts at No. 18. Here's the entire chart: Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” Linkin Park “Heavy is the Crown”
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE Tour Sells Out, Second LA Show Added
All 365,000 tickets for My Chemical Romance’s “Long Live" The Black Parade 2025 North American Stadium Tour sold out in a few hours last Friday. (Like the Oasis on-sale, plenty of fans are now mad at Ticketmaster.) Since then, they’ve added a second night in Los Angeles, at Dodger Stadium, on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
Week of November 17, 2024
Birthday wishes to Colin Richardson (producer), Kevin Welk (Welk Music Group), Keith Buckley (Many Eyes), Maria Gonzalez (publicist) (Nov 19); Tucker Rule (Thursday), Alex Lopez (P.O.D.), Joann Gullo (Extreme Management Group), Bob Lugowe (Brutal Panda Records) (Nov 20); Jon Wiederhorn (journalist) (Nov 21); Jimmy Throgmorton (Opera Ghost) (Nov 23); and Frank Godla (Metal Injection) (Nov 24).
In Conversation with VELVET CHAINS’ Nils Goldschmidt
A conversation with Nils Goldschmidt, bassist of Las Vegas rock band VELVET CHAINS. RYAN J. DOWNEY: Tell me about your first exposure to music. NILS GOLDSCHMIDT: I grew up in Chile and moved here [in my late teens]. My first exposure to music was probably when my mom put me in violin lessons at five years old. I didn’t quite enjoy playing violin – the girls aren’t interested in a violin player. Guns N’ Roses was the first band to really hit me. Did you find later in life that the violin lessons were helpful? NILS : Yes. I always
The Blitz Seeks Morning Host
Columbus, Ohio Active Rock station WRKZ (99.7 The Blitz) looks to expand The Morning Blitz team. The new co-host will work alongside current hots Kelly Quinn and Thick Rick. Send your MP3 sample and resume to OM John Crenshaw at jcrenshaw@nabco-inc.com. (No phone calls.)
SKILLET First-Week Album Sales & Streams
SKILLET’s first album since leaving Atlantic, Revolution, debuted with 12,000 in total activity this week. Released on the band’s Hear It Loud label, 10,000 units were traditional sales and downloads, including 2000 on vinyl. Hear It Loud was initially launched as an Atlantic imprint, cofounded by Skillet’s John and Korey Cooper and longtime manager Zachary Kelm in 2013. A few months ago, the band announced they’d left Atlantic after two decades. The multi-platinum band's "Unpopular" is currently No. 24 on the Active Rock chart. "Not Afraid" debuted this week at No. 25 on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, which
The Funeral Portrait Top Two Radio Charts
THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT is No. 1 on two different radio charts this week. "Suffocate City," featuring ICE NINE KILLS singer SPENCER CHARNAS, is No. 1 at Active Rock (according to Mediabase) for the first time and No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for a second consecutive week. The song appears on the group's Better Noise Music debut, Greetings from Suffocate City.
