Classic Rock 98.9 WMMO Orlando is searching for a new host to replace Denise Ryan, who has left after a decade. Potential applicants can head here for more information. 

Earlier this month, on November 12, GUNS N’ ROSES and ex-VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan came to the KLOS Helpful Honda Rock Room (a “secret location” in Los Angeles) for an interview with television and radio veteran Matt Pinfield, followed by a set of solo songs. A video of his performance can be seen here.

Linkin Park, Pearl Jam, Blink-182, Jelly Roll, Bring Me The Horizon, Sleep Token, Falling In Reverse, HARDY, Bad Omens, and Superheaven are among the recently announced rock nominees at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

See the complete list here.

LINKIN PARK debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 this week.

From Zero, the band’s first album without the late Chester Bennington, lost the No. 1 position on the Top 200 (which includes streaming equivalent albums) and Top Album Sales to Korean boy band ATEEZ but topped the Rock Charts with an otherwise impressive first week.

From Zero did 72,000 in traditional physical and digital album sales, 24,000 in streaming album equivalents, and 1000 in track equivalent albums for a first-week number of 97,000, according to Luminate. 

From Zero was made available in eleven vinyl editions (multiple color variants, two picture discs, and four alternate cover versions), which accounted for 27,000 in sales, four CD variants (including a deluxe boxed set with merch, a CD, and a Zine/CD package), two cassette editions and two digital download editions.

(Linkin Park photo from the band’s Facebook page.) 

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 believed possible.”

Loudwire Weekend is available via Townsquare’s Loudwire app. 

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: 

1. Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” 

2. Linkin Park “Heavy is the Crown” 

3. Breaking Benjamin “Awaken” 

4. Linkin Park “Over Each Other” 

5. Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll “All My Life” 

6. HARDY “PSYCHO” 

7. Linkin Park “Two Faced” NEW 

8. Ice Nine Kills ft. Shavo “A Work of Art” 

9. NOTHING MORE ft. David Draiman “ANGEL SONG” 

10. Sleep Theory “Stuck in My Head” 

11. Falling In Reverse ft. Saraya “Bad Guy” 

12. Badflower “Detroit” 

13. NXCRE & The Villains “Usurper” 

14. Mike Shinoda & Emily Armstrong “Heavy is the Crown” NEW 

15. STARSET “Dystopia” NEW 

16. FEVER 333 “Hellfire” NEW 

17. The Funeral Portrait ft. Spencer Charnas “Suffocate City” 

18. Megan Thee Stallion ft. Spiritbox “TYG” 

19. Falling In Reverse “Prequel” 

20. Catch Your Breath “Shame On Me” 

21. Spiritbox “Circle With Me” 

22. Hollywood Undead “Hollywood Forever” 

23. HARDY “Jim Bob” 

24. HARDY “Six Feet Under (Caleigh’s Song)” 

25. Sleep Theory “Paralyzed” 

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.

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 measures streaming, sales, and airplay. 

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. 

Audacy Alternative KROQ/Los Angeles has set the lineup for its 33rd Annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas for Saturday, December 14th at the Kia Forum. This year will feature The Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, 311, Sublime, Jimmy Eat World, Franz Ferdinand, Royel Otis, AWOLNATION, The Linda Lindas, and BBY. 

Fan-filmed video of LINKIN PARK‘s November 3 concert at La Défense Arena in Paris, France can be seen at this location. 

Due to budget cuts, Kevin “Meatball” Kerr is out as Brand Manager and morning co-host at Classic Rock 107.7 WRKR in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Meatball also hosted the weekend edition of Townsquare and Compass Media Networks’ Loudwire Nights. 

“I’ve loved working in rock radio for the past 10 years, and it’s still a passion of mine, not just to bring great music to the masses, but to deliver an experience that makes my audience feel like they’re in the room with me,” he told RadioInsight. “It’s something I hope to continue in my career and continue to offer to audiences and radio stations across the country.”

He can be reached at kevin.kerrradio@gmail.com.

95.5 KLOS is looking for an afternoon drive personality. 

The long-running Southern California rock station looks to fill the position formerly held by afternoon DJs Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts, who were let go in September. 

An official job posting can be found on the station’s website. 

Photo: Matt Pinfield with former KLOS DJs Kevin & Sluggo. 

Mike Z will celebrate 20 years of rocking California’s Inland Empire on KCAL 96.7 next month. 

Powerman 5000, Breaking In A Sequence, The Mendenhall Experiment, and Breaking Serenity are scheduled to perform at the Mike Z 20th Anniversary Bash on Saturday, November 9th, at Stage Red in Fontana, California. 

Stage Red is a new club owned by Sammy Hagar, who is originally from Fontana. 

Aaron Miller joins Audacy/Sacramento as SVP/Market Manager replacing Stacey Kauffman, who recently departed the company. Miller will oversee the 8 stations in the cluster, which include Alternative KKDO (ALT 94.7), Active Rock KRXQ (98 Rock), and Classic Rock KSEG (96.9 The Eagle).

“Aaron’s extensive experience in sales and leadership, along with his deep understanding of the broadcast media landscape, make him a sound choice to take over our Sacramento market,” said Doug Abernethy, Regional President, Audacy. “We are confident in Aaron’s ability to thrive in this new role, and that under his guidance, our portfolio of brands will continue to deliver exceptional results for our listeners and advertisers.”

Most recently, Miller was at Audacy/Phoenix as Director Of Sales since 2019. Miller has previously been at Audacy Alternative WRXL/Richmond, iHeartMedia Active Rock WJRR/Orlando, and Cox/Tampa overseeing Alternative 97X and 102.5 FM The Bone.

Breaking Benjamin, Ice Nine Kills, and Dream Theater have new songs with impressive Billboard debuts.

INK’s song for the film Terrifier 3, “A Work of Art” (featuring Shavo from System Of A Down), debuts at No. 3 on this week’s Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, which measures streaming, airplay, and sales. 

Breaking Benjamin’s latest single, “Awaken,” is right behind at No. 3. 

DOROTHY‘s “MUD” is also new on Hot Hard Rock Songs at No. 24. 

“Night Terror,” the first Dream Theater song with founding drummer Mike Portnoy in 15 years, rounds out the chart at No. 25. 

Over on Billboard‘s Top Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, which includes current tracks and classic cuts, Breaking Benjamin is No. 1, INK No. 2, and Dream Theater No. 4. 

This week’s Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs: 

1. Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” 

2. Linkin Park “Heavy is the Crown” 

3. Ice Nine Kills ft. Shavo “A Work of Art” NEW 

4. Breaking Benjamin “Awaken” NEW 

5. Falling In Reverse ft. Jelly Roll “All My Life” 

6. HARDY “Psycho” 

7. Falling In Reverse ft. Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible “Ronald” 

8. NXCRE & The Villains “Usurper” 

9. Falling In Reverse ft. Saraya “Bad Guy” 

10. Sleep Theory “Stuck in My Head” 

11. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues That Cried Blood” 

12. HARDY “Six Feet Under (Caleigh’s Song)” 

13. Falling In Reverse “Prequel” 

14. Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” 

15. NOTHING MORE ft. David Draiman “ANGEL SONG” 

16. Badflower “Detroit” 

17. Spiritbox “Circle with Me” 

18. Catch Your Breath “Shame On Me” 

19. HARDY “Jim Bob” 

20. Wage War “Magnetic” 

21. Seether “Judas Mind” 

22. The Funeral Portrait ft. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills “Suffocate City” 

23. BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy “RATATATA” 

24. DOROTHY “MUD” NEW 

25. Dream Theater “Night Terror” NEW 

HARDY just crossed another iconic venue off his impressive rock n’ roll conquest map. The Quit!! Tour played to capacity crowds at Red Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sunday, October 20th, and Monday, October 21, 2024. 

Pictured are Nicole Rich (Big Loud Rock Director of Promotion & Publicity), HARDY, and Brad White (iHeart Denver KBCO and KBPI PD) backstage at Red Rocks on Sunday night. 

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is an open-air amphitheater near Morrison, Colorado. It was first opened in 1906 and is owned and operated by the city of Denver. 

IRON MAIDEN posted a heartfelt tribute yesterday to PAUL DI’ANNO, who sang on the band’s first two classic albums, Iron Maiden (1980) and Killers (1981). Di’Anno passed away at his home in Salisbury, England, on Monday, October 21, 2024, at age 66. Read the band’s statement here.

GREG RAMBIN is now Brand Manager of WRXR-FM Rock 105  in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In a statement about his promotion, Audacy announced that Rambin will oversee content strategy, talent, operations, and branding.

Rambin adds these duties to his role as Rock 105’s midday host, which he has held since 2018, as well as his oversight of sister station 98.1 The Lake (WLND-FM). 

Andre Gardner was let go as afternoon host at Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK Philadelphia after 22 years in the role. 

His illustrious career in radio stretches back to 1977. It includes an eight-year stint at 92.3 K-Rock WXRK New York, with time as APD/MD, Program Director, Production Director, and Howard Stern’s dump button operator.

He hosted the syndicated Breakfast With The Beatles from 2002 to 2022.

Beasley Media Group allowed Andre to let listeners know during a final afternoon station break on October 18. He also shared the following statement on social media: 

“I wanted to let you know that today, 10/18/24, is my last day on 102.9 MGK.

The radio business has faced huge challenges over the last decade, with a continuing decrease in ad revenues and the shift to digital. This change has forced radio companies like Beasley, Heart and Audacy to make some tough strategic decisions.

Yesterday I was informed that, due to budgetary issues, my position has been eliminated.

I want to thank Market Manager Paul Blake and our PD Eric Johnson for gifting me a true rarity in this business – the chance to say goodbye on the air this afternoon. I will be forever grateful.

It has been a dream come true for me to be your afternoon host on MGK lo these many years. The experiences and memories I’ve had, and the men and women l’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with, has been an incredible honor, a great privilege, and a hell of a lot of fun. Many thanks to my friend Buzz Knight for bringing me to Philly and MGK in 2002, after almost a decade in NYC. It was so nice to come home!

I can’t say much now about what’s next on MGK afternoons, but I assure you that you will be in good hands.
What’s next for me? Who knows?! And THAT is actually very exciting!

From the bottom of my heart, thank YOU for hanging with me and being on the other end of the speakers or ear buds. I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Skratch N Sniff will have a “311 Halloween All Mixed Up” special airing October 25-26 with re-runs available through Halloween night.  Nick Hexum from 311 will join host Malcolm Ryker and hostess Allison Hagendorf to get things all mixed up for two hours featuring new 311 music from the band’s new album, Full Bloom out on October 25th. The 311 Halloween Special will include classic 311 songs, remixes, and other Halloween tracks. 

The weekend Skratch N Sniff radio show airs on over 55 Alternative and Rock stations. For more info on Skratch N Sniff’s “311 Halloween All Mixed Up” for your station, visit snsmix.com. Contact Doug Ingold at Compass Media at dingold@compassmedianetworks.com. 

Dark Horse Records has signed a deal with STEVE PERRY.

Perry’s first release with Dark Horse Records, founded by the late GEORGE HARRISON, will be The Season 3, a holiday album, due on November 8. 

“I am so pleased to announce that I have just signed with George Harrison’s label, Dark Horse Records,” the former Journey frontman said in a statement. “I’ve so much music in me that has yet to be heard. To be able to work with a team of people who support and respect my creative expressions, is a dream come true.” 

On The Season 3, Perry said: “I’ve always loved the magic in holiday songs. When I was a child, I would hear them on the radio in my grandmother’s kitchen while she was cooking. Today, when I hear those songs, they take me back to so many wonderful memories. The magic of music is a very emotional gift. The idea of me recording a holiday record started many years ago and now has grown into my latest collection, The Season 3.” 

BREAKING BENJAMIN is now a BMG artist. 

The multiplatinum rock band signed a worldwide deal with the massive indie label, which will release the band’s first new music since 2018. Their most recent release was the 2020 compilation album Aurora (Hollywood Records). 

In a statement, the band said: “Working on these new songs has been a fresh experience for all of us. We’ve stayed true to the core of who BREAKING BENJAMIN is, but we’ve also pushed ourselves creatively, exploring new sounds and ideas that we haven’t tapped into before. It’s been about striking that balance between honoring our roots while introducing a fresh take on what our music can be.”

Sean Heydorn, SVP, head of rock and Rise Records, said: “BREAKING BENJAMIN has consistently pushed the boundaries of rock music with their raw energy, powerful songwriting, and a connection with fans that’s both intense and enduring. We’re incredibly proud to support them as they embark on their next chapter with us at BMG.”

BREAKING BENJAMIN has three platinum albums, two gold albums, one four-times-platinum single, one three-times-platinum single, one two-times-platinum single, three platinum singles, and six gold singles. 

THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT has reason to celebrate rather than suffocate. 

“Suffocate City,” the band’s single featuring ICE NINE KILLS frontman SPENCER CHARNAS, breaks into Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart this week, debuting at No. 25. 

Launched in 2020, the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart considers airplay, streaming, and sales. 

MÖTLEY CRÜE‘s “Cancelled” debuts on the chart at No. 5. 

This week’s Top 25: 

1. Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” 

2. Linkin Park “Heavy is the Crown” 

3. Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll “All My Life” 

4. HARDY “Psycho” 

5. Motley Crue “Cancelled” 

6. Falling In Reverse ft. Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible “Ronald” 

7. NXCRE & The Villains “Usurper” 

8. Falling In Reverse ft. Saraya “Bad Guy” 

9. Sleep Theory “Stuck In My Head” 

10. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues That Cried Blood” 

11. HARDY “Six Feet Under (Caleigh’s Song)” 

12. Falling In Reverse “Prequel” 

13. Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” 

14. Catch Your Breath “Shame On Me” 

15. HARDY “Jim Bob” 

16. Seether “Judas Mind” 

17. Spiritbox “Circle With Me” 

18. Badflower “Detroit” 

19. NOTHING MORE ft. David Draiman “Angel Song” 

20. Wage War “Magnetic” 

21. BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy “RATATATA” 

22. AJ DiSpirito ft. Zephyrianna “Bite Me” 

23. Kublai Khan TX “Darwinism” 

24. The Smashing Pumpkins “Sighommi” RE-ENTRY 

25. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills 

JAKE E. LEE, best known as one of OZZY OSBOURNE ‘s most formidable former axemen, is expected to recover after being shot multiple times in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the early morning hours of October 15. 

SiriusXM‘s EDDIE TRUNK reported on social media that Lee “was hit three times — in the chest, arm and foot. Bullets missed all major organs except [the] lung. But he is doing well and expected to make a full recovery.”

Trunk added that he had gotten the information from Lee’s manager. 

Osbourne told TMZ via statement: “It’s been 37 years since I’ve seen Jake E. Lee, but that still doesn’t take away from the shock of hearing what happened to him today. It’s just another senseless act of gun violence. I send my thoughts to him and his beautiful daughter, Jade. I just hope he’ll be OK.”

A statement from Lee’s representatives released earlier today reads: 

The third edition of Sick New World will be headlined by Metallica and Linkin Park on April 12th at Las Vegas Festival Grounds on April 12, 2025. The lineup brings together over 50 of hard rock, goth and alternative artists, including Queens of the Stone Age, Evanescence, Gojira, AFI, Tomahawk, 311, Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway, The Flaming Lips, The Sisters of Mercy, Meshuggah, Cradle Of Filth, and more, plus a reunion of Acid Bath, performing for the first time in nearly three decades. 

Fans can sign up now for the festival SMS list at SickNewWorldFest.com to receive an access code for the presale that will begin Friday, October 18 at 10am (PT). Any remaining tickets following the presale will go on sale to the public on Friday, October 18th at 2pm (PT). 

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, led by SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian, played their first live show on Monday (October 7) at the SiriusXM Garage in Los Angeles, California.

The band’s self-titled debut album is due via Sumerian Records on Friday, October 11.

The following day, Shavo’s new performs at Mayhem Fest, a one-day revival of the Rockstar Mayhem Tour, which last went on the road in 2015. Seven Hours After Violet will be joined by Sumerian Records labelmates Bad Omens, Poppy, and Kittie, as well as Parkway Drive, Architects, Jinjer, August Burns Red, and more. 

CONQUER DIVIDE is No. 40 on the Active Rock chart this week with “Paralyzed,” featuring Attack Attack!. The song appears on the band’s second studio album, Slow Burn, released on Mascot Label Group last year. 

Sick Puppies are also in the Top 40 with “GOING PLACES” at No. 36. 

This week’s Active Rock Top 10, according to Mediabase: 

1. Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” (Warner) 
2. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues…” (Columbia) 
3. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas (Better Noise) 
4. Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” (Atlantic) 
5. Dorothy “MUD” (Roc Nation) 
6. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG) 
7. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Atlantic) 
8. Badflower “Detroit” (Big Machine Rock) 
9. Jelly Roll “Liar” (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) 
10. NOTHING MORE “Angel Song” ft. David Draiman (Better Noise) 

Adam Gontier is back with Three Days Grace. The original singer surprised fans at the band’s Nashville performance and is returning to the band’s lineup with Matt Walst remaining a lead vocalist too. The shocking announcement was teased in a video across social media of Gontier and Walst linking up at the studio to work on new music.  

On the reunion, Gontier shares, “I feel like it’s been seamless, better than we were expecting. It’s like we got back in a room together and picked up where we left off. We have been friends for so long it’s kind of natural to get back in the room together.”

Walst adds, “It’s been so much fun and inspiring making this record. Combining over 20 years of Three Days Grace and doing something that no band has ever done. I’m excited for the fans to hear it!”

Three Days Grace has 18 #1 songs at Active Rock over the past 20 years, which include “Home,” “Just Like You,” “Pain,” “Animal I Have Become,” “Never Too Late,” “Break,” “Good Life,” “World So Cold,” “Misery Loves My Company,” “The High Road,” “Chalk Outline,” “I am Machine,” “Painkiller,” “The Mountain”, “Infra-Red,” “Right Left Wrong,” “So Called Life,” and “Lifetime.”

KOMP 92.3 is among the Las Vegas, Nevada stations to fire back at Billie Joe Armstrong by pulling Green Day‘s music. In a Facebook post, KOMP morning host Brandon “Gooch” Hahn called Armstrong, 52, “old and bitter.” He went on to insult the Bay Area, California group’s “four or five” most recent albums. 

The handful of bans came in response to Armstrong’s comments regarding the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas during a recent San Francisco performance. 

“I f—— hate Las Vegas,” he reportedly said. “It’s the worst s—hole in America.”

Beasley Media’s Alternative KXTE (X1075 Xtreme Radio) also pulled Green Day from their airwaves. 

Image: KOMP Facebook. 

The Goat expands into Hornell, New York. 

97.1 WZHD Canaseraga/Hornell flipped from a simulcast of Classic Hits “My Cool Radio” 98.7 WPHD Corning/Elmira to Classic Rock. The Goat  is now simulcasting 1380 WOEN/96.3 W242CT Olean and 98.3 WQRS Salamanca/98.7 W254BQ Limstone.

Compass Media Networks’ Dave & Mahoney are on The Goat in the mornings. Jimmy The Mick hosts middays, PD Casey Smith anchors afternoons, and Ultimate Classic Rock with Matt Wardlaw plays at night. 

This week’s Active Rock Top 40, according to Mediabase: 

1. Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” (Warner) 

2. Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” (Atlantic) 

3. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues…” (Columbia) 

4. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Atlantic) 

5. Seether “Judas Mind” (Fantasy/Concord) 

6. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas (Better Noise) 

7. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG) 

8. Dorothy “MUD” (Roc Nation) 

9. Badflower “Detroit” (Big Machine Rock) 

10. Jelly Roll “Liar” (BMG/Republic/Stoney Creek) 

11. HARDY “PSYCHO” (Big Loud Rock) 

12. NOTHING MORE “Angel Song” ft. David Draiman (Better Noise) 

13. Black Veil Brides “Bleeders” (Spinefarm) 

14. Jerry Cantrell “Villified” (Jerry Cantrell) 

15. Pop Evil “What Remains” (MNRK Heavy) 

16. Scott Stapp “Black Butterly” (Napalm/Shelter) 

17. Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph) 

18. Myles Kennedy “Say What You Will” (Napalm) 

19. Smashing Pumpkins “Sighommi” (Martha’s/Thirty Tigers) 

20. Offspring “Make It All Right” (Concord) 

21. Finger Eleven “Adrenaline” (Better Noise) 

22. Jack White “That’s How I’m Feeling” (Third Man) 

23. Pearl Jam “Waiting for Stevie” (Republic) 

24. Dirty Honey “Don’t Put Out The…” (DIRT) 

25. Dead Poet Society “Hurt” (Spinefarm) 

26. Poppy “New Way Out” (Sumerian) 

27. Highly Suspect “Plastic Boxes” (Roadrunner/3EE/Atlantic) 

28. STARSET “TokSik” (Fearless/Concord) 

29. Sleep Theory “Stuck In My Head” (Epitaph) 

30. The Warning “Helly You Call A Dream” (Lava/Republic) 

31. Flat Black “A BIt of Lightning” (Fealress/Concord) 

32. Rain City Drive “Medicate Me” (Thriller) 

33. Skillet “Unpopular” (Hear It Loud) 

34. Green Day “Bobby Sox” (Reprise/Warner) 

35. Fame On Fire “Chains (The Tower)” (Hopeless) 

36. Shallow Side “Filters” ft. Elias (Thermal Ent.) 

37. Tremonti “Just Too Much” (Napalm) 

38. Stone Horses “Free (Remix)” (Broken World) 

39. Falling In Reverse “Bad Guy” ft. Saraya (Epitaph) 

40. Lakeview “Money Where Your…” (Grave Road) 

HALESTORM and I PREVAIL‘s collaborative “can u see me in the dark?” is No. 1 at Active Rock this week. 

Interestingly, in light of the recent layoffs, the song was released by Atlantic Records. (A Day To Remember‘s “Feedback,” No. 5 this week, arrived via Fueled By Ramen / Elektra / Atlantic.) 

Here’s how the rest of the Top 10 looks: 

1. Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” (Atlantic) 
2. Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” (Warner) 
3. Seether “Judas Mind” (Fantasy/Concord) 
4. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues…” (Columbia) 
5. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Atlantic) 
6. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas (Better Noise) 
7. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG) 
8. Dorothy “Mud” (Roc Nation) 
9. Badflower “Detroit” (Big Machine Rock) 
10. Black Veil Brides “Bleeders” (Spinefarm) 

LINKIN PARK — Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, Joe Hahn, Emily Armstrong, and Colin Brittain — released another new single, “Heavy is the Crown.” 

The song is the 2024 League Of Legends World Championship anthem.  

They announced three additional stadium shows for 2024 in Paris, Dallas, and São Paulo. 

The band’s first album without the late Chester Bennington, From Zero, arrives November 15. 

From Zero World Tour 2024:

Sep. 24 – The O2 – London, UK
Sep. 28 – INSPIRE Arena – Seoul, South Korea
Nov. 3 – La Defense Arena – Paris, France
Nov. 8 – Globe Life Field – Dallas, TX
Nov. 11 – Coliseo Medplus – Bogota, Colombia
Nov. 15 – Allianz Park – São Paulo, Brazil

1. Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” 
2. Linkin Park “Numb” 
3. Linkin Park “In the End” 
4. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 
5. Linkin Park “Faint” 
6. Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll “All My Life” 
7. HARDY “Psycho” 
8. Falling In Reverse, Tech N9ne, Alex Terrible “Ronald” 
9. Falling In Reverse “Prequel” 
10. HARDY “Six Feet Under (Caleigh’s Song)” 
11. Halestorm & I Preval “can u see me in the dark?” 
12. NXCRE & The Villains “Usurper” 
13. Falling In Reverse ft. Saraya “Bad Guy” 
14. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues That Cried Blood” 
15. Sleep Theory “Stuck in My Head” 
16. AJ Dispirito ft. Zephyria “Bite Me” 
17. HARDY “Jim Bob” 
18. Seether “Judas Mind” 
19. Skillet “All That Matters” NEW 
20. Fiver Finger Death Punch ft. DMX “This is the Way” 
21. Wage War “Magnetic” 
22. Catch Your Breath “Shame On Me” 
23. BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy “RATATATA” 
24. Falling In Reverse “Trigger Warning” 
25. Spiritbox “Circle With Me” RE-ENTRY 

Chris Brown was among the massive layoffs at Atlantic Music Group, owned by Warner Music Group. Brown served as executive vice president at Elektra Entertainment and co-head of Roadrunner Records. 

Cees Wessels formed Roadrunner in The Netherlands in 1980. 

The label grew to international prominence (with offices in New York, among other cities) in the hard rock and metal underground with seminal releases from King Diamond, Obituary, Sepultura, and Machine Head.

Type O Negative gave the label its first gold album; Slipknot was the first to go platinum. The label was also the longtime home to Nickelback (except in Canada). 

In 2007, Wessels sold 73.5% of Roadrunner Records to Warner Music Group, which acquired the remaining stock in 2010. In 2012, WMG closed Roadrunner’s offices in the UK, Canada, and Denmark, with Wessels stepping down as CEO. Roadrunner fell under Elektra in 2018 and then 300 Elektra Entertainment in 2022. 

Read more about the changes at Atlantic Music Group. 

BEARTOOTH can now add “platinum” to their list of accomplishments. 

This week, the RIAA certified “In Between” platinum for sales and equivalent streams of over 1 million units.

The 2014 single, released by Red Bull Music, went gold four years ago.

It appears on the band’s debut album, Disgusting. 

“It’s no secret it’s been an insane ride for the gang since this release, and it’s not over by a long shot!” longtime manager Thomas Gutches wrote in an email to those closest to Beartooth, including yours truly. “It’s so wild to think that some of you saw the band in someone’s basement or a bar just before this song was even composed.”  

Pop-punk bands gave the House of Mouse a pair of new No. 1s. 

A Whole New World sees rock bands covering classic Disney songs, including “A Whole New World” (from Aladdin), “Part of Your World” (The Little Mermaid), and “Remember Me” (Coco).

The 12-song set debuted atop Billboard‘s Kid Albums and Compilation Albums charts (dated Sept. 21).

The album boasts Yellowcard, Mayday Parade, Magnolia Park, and New Found Glory, among others. “We grew up watching Disney movies with our families, and now we get to enjoy them with our kids, so it’s pretty amazing to have been invited to be on this album,” Simple Plan said via a statement earlier this year. 

A Whole New Sound is also No. 20 on Top Album Sales, No. 48 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, No. 32 on Independent Albums, and No. 195 on the Billboard 200. A vinyl version is due next month. 

Complete A Whole New World album tracklist: 

1.     “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid by New Found Glory

2.     “Remember Me” from Coco by Mayday Parade

3.     “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King by Simple Plan

4.     “I2I” from A Goofy Movie by Magnolia Park

5.     “A Whole New World” from Aladdin by Yellowcard

6.     “Go the Distance” from Hercules by We The Kings

7.     “Surface Pressure” from Encanto by Plain White T’s

8.     “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story by Meet Me @ The Altar

9.     “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan by Boys Like Girls

10.    “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas by Tokio Hotel

11.    “Let It Go” from Frozen by LØLØ 

12.    “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin by Bowling For Soup

Michelle Kerr passed away on September 14. The veteran hard rock and metal publicist died peacefully and surrounded by loved ones after a five-year-long fight against cancer. 

I first met Michelle when she ran the publicity department for Roadrunner Records’ UK office, where she worked with Nickelback, Korn, Rob Zombie, Slipknot, and Type O Negative, among others. 

After 17 years with the company, she cofounded Cosa Nostra PR with fellow Roadrunner alum Kirsten Sprinks. The boutique firm quickly expanded into the United States with the additions of Charley Johns and Becky Black. Cosa Nostra PR clients in the US office include Ice Nine Kills, Slaughter To Prevail, and Twiztid. 

Kerrang! published a personal remembrance from photographer Paul Harries, which you can read here. Music Week collected social media posts from Robb Flynn, Jamey Jasta, Matt Heafy, Black Stone Cherry, 5B Artist Management, and more, who loved and knew her well. Metal Injection did, as well.

A GoFundMe has been launched to help with Kerr‘s memorial costs.

Rest easy now, Michelle.

LAURA LEE joins 105.7 WAPL / Appleton-Oshkosh-Green Bay as morning show co-host. Mornings with Laura Lee & Cutter debuts on the Wisconsin Classic Rock station on September 23. 

I recently caught up with Zero 9:36 (aka Matthew Cullen) about how he started making DIY songs as an 11-year-old, his creative process, working with different producers, and his new single, “Chasing Shadows,” from the recently released None of Us Are Getting Out EP (ONErpm). 

Zero 9:36 Photo: Jimmy Fontaine 

RYAN J. DOWNEY: Tell me about the creation of “Chasing Shadows.”

ZERO 9:36: My producer, No Love for the Middle Child, and I start on acoustic whenever we write anything. Then, we’ll tune everything strangely to see if that gives us any different inspiration. He’s like a musical genius so that he can do that naturally, but for me, it’s easier to find an interesting riff when it’s tuned differently. So, he played that one, and immediately I was like, ‘Hey, put that in.’ We were working with producer Erik Ron at his place. Erik said, ‘Yeah, we have to move fast on this one. I love where this is going.’

I had the melody and the idea for the song immediately as soon as the acoustic riff came. Erik wrote the heavy parts. We started putting drums on it. Those vocals are three and a half years old at this point. I was going to recut them, but any time I recut my vocals, I lose the feeling from that [original take].  Even though I feel I’m a better singer now – people actually asked me if these are new vocals, which is nice to hear. But Erik is an incredible vocal producer. We did these in one day.

Nobody at my then-label was excited about the song at the time, but I’ve always been extremely excited about it, and my management was, as well. Now we are working with ONErpm; the song was one of their favorites, too. I just had to hold onto it for three years until some other people believed in it.

Where is the song coming from lyrically? I bet it’s interesting to revisit three years later.

The song is about that definition of insanity: doing the same thing repeatedly but expecting different results.

Much of the conversation about you involves your “post-genre” style eclecticism. It’s demonstrative of where we’ve arrived culturally with music. Many people are less segregated by genre and subgenre. Why do you think it’s become more prevalent to mash it all up now?

I grew up during the big switch from CDs to Limewire and then iTunes. Sometimes you’d try to download a certain song on Limewire and end up with something entirely different.

Some marketing folks started mislabeling files on purpose.

I’d heard that! I heard artists were doing it on purpose, too. Genius marketing. I think being kind of in that shift of my brother giving me CDs, my dad giving me CDs, Limewire, iTunes, and YouTube, I think that’s why genre-mixing is so prevalent now. Linkin Park was the first to do it at a big level in the early 2000s. That’s around the same time I started making music. I was about 11 years old. My parent’s generation was only getting information from however many sources. I grew up during a time with much more access.

I understand that your late father turned you onto rock and metal, but rap was the first stuff you made as a kid. One of the brilliant things about hip-hop is that you can make it by yourself. That wasn’t always true about rock n’ roll, where you needed a handful of people playing different instruments.

We had Xbox headsets and a computer. I watched YouTube tutorials on how to mix a song in Adobe’s Cool Edit Pro. Everything was permanent in Cool Edit Pro. If you clicked the compressor or reverb button, you could not change it after the fact. I made probably 100 songs by the time I was 12.

Doing so much as a young DIY producer must have given you a different perspective by the time you worked with more experienced people like Erik Ron, Drew Fulk, and Travis Barker.

The bigger advantage I’ve had was being comfortable writing songs and knowing what I would sound like because I’ve heard it 100 times. When you go into these studios with these producers and stuff like that, the main thing that I like to do is kind of do whatever they say because otherwise, I can just make music on my own. If I’m not going to take their advice, I may as well stay home. I love collaborating, and everything that has ever been collaborative, for the most part, is a better product in the end, whether that be physical products or clothing or music, so you’re not pigeonholed by your ideas. I loved working with all of the people I’ve worked with, and I’ve worked with them all multiple times. Having my own recording experience, I know what I’m doing well enough to take their advice. Erik, Drew, Mark Jackson, and Ian Scott, who did “Adrenaline,” and my producer, No Love, are my main guys. I keep going back to specific people for a reason.

Tell me about this new EP.

There are seven songs plus an acoustic version of ‘I Felt It All’ I did with Landon [Tewers] from The Plot In You. He produced the first single, and No Love produced the second one. Cody Quistad from Wage War produced the third. No Love and I produced ‘Nine Three Six.’ It sucks not to release more songs at a time.

How do you hope “Chasing Shadows” hits people?

 Anytime I make a song like this, I hope it’s something they can relate to themselves and know that they’re not alone. I get that a lot, especially with ‘Adrenaline’ or other songs where people are like, ‘Oh, this song made me realize that I’m not the only one [going through] this. The world isn’t against me, I have to get out of my own way. That’s the only goal of the song. You know, everything else is great, but if someone legitimately helps themselves through this song, I can’t really ask for anything more than that. #

The Concord Label Group, which includes Fearless Records and Loma Vista in its portfolio, has merged Fantasy Records with its flagship brand, Concord Records, complete with a new logo. 

The Fantasy roster boasts rock acts Seether, Taking Back Sunday, and L.S. Dunes, among others. Concord was already home to The Offspring, 30 Seconds To Mars, and I Don’t Know How But They Found Me. 

The news appeared on the label’s website and in a press release on September 10, 2024. 

Concord Records is led by co-presidents Margi Cheske and Mark Williams, who worked together at Virgin Records. They are based in Los Angeles and report to Tom Becci, Chief Executive of Concord Label Group. 

Jolene Skisw was the subject of a KISW “Where Are They Now?” post in 2021. 

Well, guess where she is now? Back at KISW! 

Skisw returned to the evening shift at KISW 99.9 “The Rock” in Seattle.

She can be heard Monday through Friday from 6pm to 10pm PST. 

Jolene was previously at the station for 11 years. 

Tomorrow (9/10) is World Suicide Prevention Day and Papa Roach has collaborated with Carrie Underwood to help raise awareness. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and Carrie Underwood share the following message on video HERE for the vital resource of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

A month ago, Papa Roach teamed with Carrie Underwood for a new version of “Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark).” Watch the video HERE. 

@988Lifeline provides 24/7, judgment free support for mental health, substance use, and more for you or your loved ones. Don’t hesitate to text, call, or chat 988.

Emily Armstrong is the new co-vocalist of Linkin Park.

The band announced the addition of Armstrong and new drummer Colin Brittain on Thursday, September 5, 2024. 

The news coincided with a new single and music video, a global livestream, and the unveiling of a forthcoming album and a half-dozen arena shows set for Los Angeles, New York, London, Hamburg, Seoul, and Bogota.

Armstrong is best known as the singer for Dead Sara, whose most recent album, Ain’t It Tragic, was released by Warner Records in 2021.  Brittain’s extensive credits as a songwriter and producer in the rock world include work with 5 Seconds Of Summer, ONE OK ROCK, Papa Roach, All Time Low, Hands Like Houses, From Ashes To New, A Day To Remember, and Story Of The Year, among others. 

The pair join Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, and Joseph Hahn as the new Linkin Park. (Founding drummer Rob Bourdon reportedly declined to participate.)

“The Emptiness Machine” is the first single and video from the reconstituted band’s forthcoming new album, FROM ZERO, due November 15 via longtime home Warner Records. 

A Warner press release explains that Shinoda, Delson, Farrell, and Hahn began quietly meeting in recent years, leading to time in the studio with various collaborators. 

“The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company, and the things we created,” Shinoda said in a press release. “We feel really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we’ve made together. We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”

“Before LINKIN PARK, our first band name was Xero,” he added.  “This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future—embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what LINKIN PARK has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead.”

Billboard has an in-depth story and Q&A about the band’s secret comeback here. 

The weekly syndicated rock mix show Skratch ‘N Sniff has grown by two. 

Allison Hagendorf will join on-air host Malcolm Ryder on the two-hour show, which is syndicated on over 55 stations across the Alternative and Active Rock formats.

SoCal alt-radio vet Chris Cantore will also join as producer. 

Ryker’s experience as Creative Director at Alt 98.7 in Los Angeles and Senior Creative Director for Rock and Alternative at iHeartMedia has made Skratch ‘N Sniff a go-to show for Rock and Alternative listeners. 

Last year, Allison launched The Allison Hagendorf Show, a weekly video podcast series. She is the former Global Head of Rock at Spotify and host/executive producer of the Spotify Original Series Rock This with Allison Hagendorf. Across her nearly 25-year career, Hagendorf has interviewed the likes of Keanu Reeves, Motley Crue, Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus, Blink-182, and mgk, among many others. 

Cantore is an award-winning morning radio host who has been heard on San Diego’s 91X (where Skratch ‘N Sniff debuted in 2003), FM949, and 100.7 KFMB over the years. 

“Skratch ‘N Sniff was built around playing great music and not worrying about if it fits into a certain format,” Ryker said in a press release. “Fans aren’t confined to musical genres; we blend everything from classic rock to modern metal, from ’80s electro to hip-hop. Skratch ‘N Sniff brings back the unpredictability to radio that’s been missing since it started becoming pre-programmed by corporate America.” 

Check out the show’s website for more information. 

Metallica finished the 2024 North American run of the M72 world tour over the weekend with two shows in Seattle, Washington. 

With the help of the fans in attendance at Lumen Field, Metallica committed $100,000 to four organizations: Food Lifeline, Elizabeth Gregory Home, Jubilee Women’s Center, and Support+Feed.

From the group’s press release: 

“Food Lifeline is on a mission to end hunger in Western Washington, providing nutritious food to 1.37 million people facing hunger. Distributing through a network of 350 food banks, shelters, and meal programs, the organization provides the equivalent of more than 282K meals every day. Food Lifeline simultaneously works to end future hunger by addressing its root causes, including poverty, racial inequity, and social injustice, through advocacy efforts to shape local, state, and federal policy. The food bank also partners with organizations addressing other causes of poverty and bundles food assistance with additional community-based programs and services. Foodlifeline has been an AWMH partner since our Day of Service in 2019, and it is receiving $40,000.

Elizabeth Gregory Home envisions a community where all women have safety, shelter, resources, and the opportunity to thrive. The shelter provides a welcoming and respectful refuge where women who are experiencing homelessness, trauma, or economic insecurity have access to a caring community and critical resources. Building services around respect, inclusion, and empathy, EGH engages community leaders in learning and reflecting together on new, effective models and approaches to addressing homelessness. Elizabeth Gregory Home is receiving $20,000.

Jubilee Women’s Center supports women experiencing poverty to build stable and fulfilling futures, one extraordinary woman at a time. Led by the guiding principle that women of all races and cultures are to be treated with respect and dignity, Jubilee provides programs and services that empower women to make positive life changes. The center supports each woman as they heal from past trauma and explore possibilities for the future, connecting them with the resources and opportunities to achieve their goals. With our support, Jubilee Women’s Center will continue to expand its reach, allowing more women to access safe housing and the resources needed to overcome homelessness. Together, we can break cycles of poverty and violence, empowering women to thrive and contribute to a more equitable society. Jubilee Women’s Center is receiving $20,000.

This summer, we’ve also donated to Support+Feed with proceeds from each US tour stop. The donations help feed people and inspire us to eat more plant-based foods. Support+Feed is a non-profit organization that combats the climate crisis and fights for food justice by working for a global shift to an equitable plant-based food system. They’ll help us provide plant-based meal deliveries and host volunteer opportunities during Metallica’s Weekend Takeovers. Support+Feed is receiving $20,000.”

Pantera and Mammoth WVH (Friday) and Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills (Sunday) opened the shows. 

I caught both Seattle shows, making for five I’ve seen on the M72 Tour thus far. 

Jave Patterson is back on the air. 

He tells us he’s joined Audacy in Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina as a PT/Weekend/Fill-in talent for Active WTPT and Classic Rock WROG. 

“No official press release or statement, but I’m super happy to be back rockin’ the airwaves and stream waves,” he told #HAPPENS. 

Patterson spent close to 25 years with Lotus Radio Corp. in Reno, Nevada, most recently as Operations Manager. 

A Day To Remember kicks off this fall’s Couple More Shows tour on October 17 in Las Vegas. 

The short trek will see the Florida band supported by August Burns Red and Stand Atlantic. 

ADTR (sans the two support acts) will also perform at this year’s When We Were Young Festival. 

The tour dates are as follows: 

10/17 – Las Vegas, NV – Fountainebleau Las Vegas

10/19 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young Festival 

10/20 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young Festival 

10/23 – Wichita, KS – Wave ICT

10/25 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center

10/26 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The MARK

10/27 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center

10/29 – Huntington, WV – Marshall Health Network Arena

10/30 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center

11/1 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena

11/3 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens

11/4 – Syracuse, NY – Upstate Medical Arena at  The Oncenter War Memorial

11/6 – Norfolk, VA – Chartway Arena

11/7 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena

11/9 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place

11/10 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

1. Daughtry “Pieces” (Big Machine Rock) 
2. Wage War “MAGNETIC” (Fearless/Concord) 
3. Offspring “Make It All Right” (Concord) 
4. Halestorm/I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” (Atlantic) 
5. Seether “Judas Mind” (Fantasy/Concord) 
6. Falling In Reverse/Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph) 
7. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues…” (Columbia) 
8. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Altantic) 
9. Sleep Theory “Fallout” (Epitaph) 
10. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG) 

Back in Black is now 27x (!) platinum in the United States. 

The RIAA issued the latest platinum certification for AC/DC‘s classic 1980 album on August 21, 2024. 

The same day, the RIAA awarded an 8x platinum certification to Disturbed‘s “The Sound of Silence.” Disturbed’s cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s 1964 ballad was released in 2015. 

Boston’s ROCK 92.9, along with Dave and Chuck the Freak, will be heard on 92.9 WBOS-FM HD2 106.1 FM, WRCA 1330 AM, and on the ROCK 92.9 App and stream.

This follows a switch for 92.9 over to Bloomberg Radio.

As ROCK 92.9 program director Adam 12 explained on the station’s website: “After Dave & Chuck the Freak, you’ll still get the most commercial-free rock in Boston. Just without Adam 12 and Hardy. Hardy can still be heard on 98.5 the Sports Hub. As for Adam 12? Well, I’ll tell you. I’m the one writing this, after all.

“Listen after Dave & Chuck the Freak on Tuesday, September 3, as I say goodbye to ROCK 92.9, much like I did at WFNX in 2012 and WBCN in 2009. Third time’s a charm!” 

Based on the book of the same name, Nöthin’ But A Good Time: The Uncensored Story Of ’80s Hair Metal is a forthcoming Paramount+ docuseries set to premiere September 17 in the U.S. and Canada. 

Directed by Jeff Tremaine (Jackass, The Dirt), the three-part series features interviews with Bret Michaels (POISON), Stephen Pearcy (RATT), Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME), Dave “Snake” Sabo (SKID ROW), and Riki Rachtman (MTV’s Headbangers Ball), among many others.

“I’m honored to be part of this docuseries, named after the hit POISON song ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time,'” Michaels said in a statement. “I’m excited for viewers to take a fresh look at the fans and bands, highs and lows, and to celebrate the music and good times of the ’80s and beyond. I hope the audience enjoys it as much as I did, and I can’t wait for them to have insight into some of those notoriously crazy moments!”

Watch the trailer here. 

Wage War is No. 1 at Active Rock this week with “MAGNETIC.” 

The Fearless/Concord band tops the Mediabase chart dated August 12 – 18. 

This week’s Active Rock Top 40: 

1. Wage War “MAGNETIC” (Fearless/Concord) 
2. The Offspring “Make It All Right” (Concord) 
3. Daughtry “Pieces” (Big Machine Rock) 
4. Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph) 
5. Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” (Atlantic) 
6. Sleep Theory “Fallout” (Epitaph) 
7. Seether “Judas Mind” (Fantasy/Concord) 
8. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues…” (Columbia) 
9. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Atlantic) 
10. Staind “Better Days” (Alchemy) 
11. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG) 
12. Black Veil Brides “Bleeders” (Spinefarm) 
13. Fame On Fire “Nightmare (The Devil)” (Hopeless) 
14. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas (Better Noise) 
15. DOROTHY “MUD” (Roc Nation) 
16. HARDY “PSYCHO” (Big Loud Rock) 
17. Myles Kennedy “Say What You Will” (Napalm) 
18. Pearl Jam “Wreckage” (Republic) 
19. Motley Crue “Dogs of War” (Big Machine Rock) 
20. Kittie “We Are Shadows” (Sumerian) 
21. Badflower “Detroit” (Big Machine Rock) 
22. Set It Off “Fake Friends” (Why Worry/Stern) 
23. Scott Stapp “Black Butterfly” (Napalm/Shelter) 
24. Jerry Cantrell “Vilified” (Jerry Cantrell) 
25. Five Finger Death Punch “This is the Way” ft. DMX (Better Noise) 
26. Smashing Pumpkins “Sighommi” (Martha’s/Thirty Tigers) 
27. Dirty Honey “Don’t Put Out The…” (DIRT) 
28. Highly Suspect “Plastic Boxes” (Roadrunner/3EE/Atlantic) 
29. Shallow Side “Filters” ft. Elias S (Thermal Ent.) 
30. Jack White “That’s How I’m Feeling” (Third Man) 
31. Royale Lynn “Death Wish” ft. Danny Worsnop (Epitaph) 
32. ONI “Control” (Iron Shore) 
33. Pop Evil “What Remains” (MNRK Heavy) 
34. Rain City Drive “Medicate Me” (Thriller) 
35. Poppy “New Way Out” (Sumerian) 
36. Dead Poet Society “Hurt” (Spinefarm) 
37. Finger Eleven “Adrenaline” (Better Noise) 
38. Plush “Run” (Pavement) 
39. The Warning “Hell You Call A Dream” (Lava/Republic) 
40. Flat Black “A Bit of Lightning” (Fearless/Concord) 

Jack Russell, the former lead singer of Great White, died on August 7, 2024. 

Great White’s hits include the onetime MTV staple  “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Rock Me,” and “The Angel Song.” 

Russell, 63, reportedly died due to complications from Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy.

Russell’s death was announced on Thursday, August 15, via the late singer’s social media. 

“With tremendous sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jack Patrick Russell — father, husband, cousin, uncle, and friend. “Jack passed peacefully in the presence of his wife, Heather Ann Russell, son Matthew Hucko, cousin Naomi Breshears Barbor, and dear friends Billy and Cheryl Pawelcik.

Details of a public memorial will be announced at a later date.

Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakeable contribution to rock and roll, where his legacy will forever thrive.

His family asks for privacy at this time.”

Russell had announced his retirement from touring in a statement posted on July 17.

“To my fans and friends, it is with the heaviest of hearts that I must announce my retirement from the road,” the statement read. “After a recent diagnosis of Lewy body dementia (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) in May 2024, I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you deserve. Words cannot express my gratitude for the many years of memories, love, and support.

Thank you for letting me live my dreams. You have made my life a wonder.”

Russell was born December 5, 1960, in Montebello, California.

He met guitarist Mark Kendall in 1977. Russell was arrested after a botched home invasion, during which he (non-fatally) shot a live-in maid. He served 18 months of an eight-year prison sentence.

Great White released their first EP in 1983. Once Bitten (1987) went platinum. Twice Shy (1989) went double-platinum. 

After the group disbanded in 2001, Russell led a new incarnation, Jack Russell’s Great White. 

He was performing with his version of the band when a pyrotechnics display sparked a nightclub fire that killed 100 people at a 2003 concert in Rhode Island, including guitarist Ty Longley. The band’s 1996 – 2000 lineup reformed in 2007. Health complications caused Russell to split from the group in 2011, followed by a new version of Jack Russell’s Great White. 

The two versions of the band sued each other before settling without going to court in July 2013.  

Lewy body dementia is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

Russell’s autobiography, The True Tale of Mista Bone, was published last month. It was written with K.L. Doty and features a foreword from rocker Lita Ford. The book is available here. 

Photo: Frontiers Music SRL 

The latest singles from Myles Kennedy and DOROTHY cracked the Active Rock Top 20 this week. 

This week’s Active Rock chart sees Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll remain in the No. 1 spot with “All My Life.” 

Bring Me The Horizon moves into the Top 10. The Smashing Pumpkins, The Warning, and Finger Eleven are new in the Top 40. 

In case you missed it, there are recent Q&As in the INTERVIEWS section with Myles Kennedy and Badflower. 

This week’s Active Rock chart, according to Mediabase: 

1. Falling In Reverse / Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph) 
2. Wage War “MAGNETIC” (Fearless/Concord) 
3. Daughtry “Pieces” (Big Machine Rock) 
4. Sleep Theory “Fallout” (Epitaph) 
5. The Offspring “Make It All Right” (Concord) 
6. Halestorm & I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” (Atlantic) 
7. Seether “Judas Mind” (Fantasy/Concord) 
8. Staind “Better Days” (Alchemy) 
9. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues That Cried Blood” (Columbia) 
10. Motley Crue “Dogs of War” (Big Machine Rock) 
11. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Atlantic) 
12. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG) 
13. Fame On Fire “Nightmare (The Devil)” (Hopeless) 
14. Black Veil Brides “Bleeders” (Spinefarm) 
15. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas (Better Noise) 
16. P.O.D. “AFRAID TO DIE” (Mascot/MLG) 
17. Pearl Jam “Wreckage” (Republic) 
18. Set It Off “Fake Ass Friends” (Why Worry/Stern) 
19. Myles Kennedy “Say What You Will” (Napalm) 
20. DOROTHY “MUD” (Roc Nation) 
21. HARDY “PSYCHO” (Big Loud Rock) 
22. Kittie “We Are Shadows” (Sumerian) 
23. Five Finger Death Punch “This is the Way” ft. DMX (Better Noise) 
24. Billy Morrison & Ozzy Osbourne “Crack Cocaine” ft. Steve Stevens (TLG/Zoid/Epic-Virgin) 
25. Scott Stapp “Black Butterfly” (Napalm) 
26. Jerry Cantrell “Vilified” (Jerry Cantrell) 
27. Dirty Honey “Don’t Put Out the Fire” (DIRT) 
28. Badflower “Detroit” (Big Machine Rock) 
29. Royale Lynn “Death Wish” ft. Danny Worsnop (Epitaph) 
30. Shallow Side “Filters” ft. Elias Sori… (Thermal Ent.) 
31. Plush “Run” (Pavement) 
32. Highly Suspect “Plastic Boxes” (Roadrunner/3EE/Atlantic) 
33. ONI “Control” (Iron Shore) 
34. The Smashing Pumpkins “Sighommi” (Martha’s/Thirty Tigers) 
35. Rain City Drive “Medicate Me” (Thriller) 
36. Poppy “New Way Out” (Sumerian) 
37. Dead Poet Society “Hurt” (Spinefarm) 
38. The Warning “Hell You Cal A Dream” (Lava/Republic) 
39. Jesse James Dupree “Stranded” (Mighty Loud) 
40. Finger Eleven “Adrenaline” (Better Noise) 

Photo: Myles Kennedy and I at the Musicians Institute a few years ago. 

PANTERA will play an intimate show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

The long-running club was featured in the classic film Purple Rain, starring one of Minneapolis’ most famous residents, the late Prince. 

The special performance will take place on Thursday, August 15, the night before the band opens for METALLICA at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The reconstituted band features classic line-up members Philip H. Anselmo and Rex Brown alongside Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde. 

First Avenue announced the show on X (formerly Twitter). 

Rex asked me to write a story in the Vulgar Display of Power graphic novel anthology released by Z2 Comics, which I was proud to do. 

Listen to the Rex Brown episode of my Metallica pocast, Speak N’ Destroy, right here. 

AVENGED SEVENFOLD will play a special Orange County club show for their diehard fan club in October, celebrating two of their classic albums. 

Billed as the opening band for long-running hardcore act Death By Stereo, A7X will perform songs from their “new albums” Waking the Fallen (2003) and City of Evil (2005) at the Observatory in Santa Ana, California, on October 25, 2024. Tickets are $25 and are only available to members of the band’s Web3, forward-thinking, NFT-driven Deatbats Club. 

City of Evil was the band’s first album for Warner and produced the MTV TRL hit “Bat Country.” 

Get information on the show here. 

SUBLIME, now featuring 29-year-old Jakob Nowell in place of his late father, Bradley, performed four songs on The Howard Stern Show. 

Rolling Stone premiered a clip of “Santeria” exclusively today. 

“Santeria” appears on the band’s self-titled third studio album, released in 1996 and certified 5x platinum by the RIAA in 1999. 

The entire performance will hit YouTube tomorrow. 

Blue Öyster Cult’s 1976 hit “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” was just certified 6x platinum by the RIAA this week. The enduring staple of the Classic Rock format appeared on the band’s Agents of Fortune album.

Two other BÖC songs earned new certifications this week, as well: “Burnin’ for You” (from 1981’s Fire of Unknown Origin ) and “Godzilla” (from 1977’s Spectres) are now double-platinum and platinum, respectively. 

In related news, I managed to compose this entire post without making a hacky “more cowbell” joke. 

A few years ago, I had Buck Dharma on my Metallica podcast, Speak N’ Destroy. 

Longtime Kansas City, Missouri afternoon show The Church of Lazlo (with Lazlo, Slimfast, and Snowcone) moved to KQRC (98.9 The Rock) effective today, Thursday, August 8, 2024. 

The shift from the show’s longtime home, KRBZ (ALT 96.5), comes as Audacy flips ALT 96.5 to sports. The Fan takes over 96.5 at 6 am CT on August 15. 

Jinjer, The Glorious Sons, DED, Rivals, and comedian Big Jay Oakerson are among the latest lineup announcements for ShipRocked 2025. 

The cruise is set for January 19 – 25, sailing from Miami, Florida, to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. 

The lineup includes Parkway Drive, Hollywood Undead, Nothing More and The Struts, as well as 10 Years, Atreyu, Austin Meade, Buckcherry, Calva Louise, DED, Des Rocs, Devour The Day, Diamante, Flat Black, The Ghost Inside, GHØSTKID, The Glorious Sons, Goodbye June, Jigsaw Youth, Jinjer, Kid Kapichi, Nevertel, Oxymorrons, Plush, P.O.D., Rivals, Silly Goose, Spiritworld and more. 

For more information on ShipRocked, visit: ShipRocked.com

Badflower‘s new single, “Detroit,” jumps from No. 86 to No. 38 this week. (Check out my recent Q&A with frontman Josh Katz right here.) 

In other Active Rock chart news, Jerry Cantrell‘s “Villified” is up from No. 39 to No. 32.

Highly Suspect advanced several spots from No. 42 to No. 35 with “Plastic Boxes.”

And Black Veil Brides Sweeney Todd-inspired “Bleeders” is up two spots, from No. 19 to No. 17. 

This week’s Active Rock Top 10, according to Mediabase: 

1. Falling In Reverse / Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph)
2. Sleep Theory “Fallout” (Epitaph)
3. Wage War “MAGNETIC” (Fearless/Concord)
4. Daughtry “Pieces” (Big Machine Rock)
5. The Offspring “Make It Right” (Concord)
6. Motley Crue “Dogs of War” (Big Machine Rock)
7. Staind “Better Days” (Alchemy)
8. Halestorm / I Prevail “can u see me in the dark?” (Atlantic)
9. From Ashes To New “Barely Breathing” (Better Noise)
10. Bad Omens “V.A.N” ft. Poppy (Sumerian) 

Powered by Shazam music recognition technology, Apple now offers radio monitoring for 40,000 radio stations from more than 200 countries and regions. Radio Spins data is integrated throughout Apple Music for Artists.

A Trends page offers detailed data, such as the stations that are spinning your music the most, or which catalog songs get the most plays across all monitored stations.

Big Rich, TD & Fletch have joined iHeartMedia Classic Rock 101.5 KGB-FM/San Diego with a new morning show, weekdays from 6-10 am PT, on starting Monday, August 5.

The trio debuted in the morning drive on KGB-AM (San Diego Sports760) in 2022 and launched a companion music-based show in the afternoon drive on 101.5 KGB-FM this year.

Jerry Cantrell is back in the Active Rock Top 40 with “Villified.” The first single from his forthcoming solo album, I Want Blood (due out October 18) is No. 39 on this week’s Mediabase Active Rock chart. DOROTHY is new in the Top 40 as well, with “MUD” at No. 35.

The Active Rock chart remains dominated by Falling In Reverse and Jelly Roll’s “All My Life.” The song also remains at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, which takes into account streaming, sales, and radio. Falling In Reverse was No. 1 on the first-ever Hot Hard Rock Songs chart with the now double-platinum “Popular Monster,” released in 2019. 

This week’s Active Rock Top 10: 

1. Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph) 
2. Sleep Theory “Fallout” (Epitaph) 
3. From Ashes To New “Barely Breathing” (Better Noise) 
4. Daughtry “Pieces” (Big Machine Rock) 
5. Motley Crue “Dogs of War” (Big Machine Rock) 
6. Wage War “MAGNETIC” (Fearless/Concord) 
7. The Offspring “Make It All Right” (Concord) 
8. Staind “Better Days” (Alchemy) 
9. Bad Omens “V.A.N” ft. Poppy (Sumerian) 
10. Halestorm & I Prevail “Can U See Me in the Dark?” (Atlantic) 

Jerry Cantrell photo credit: Darren Craig 

HARDY has more chart positions to make his team happy. 

Quit!! did 24,000 in total activity this week, landing at No. 23 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

Thirteen thousand of those units were album sales, including 3000 on vinyl. 13M audio and 540k video streams came to roughly 11,000 in streaming equivalent albums.

Quit!! is No. 9 on the Album Sales chart, No. 5 on the Current Rock Albums, and No. 1 on the Current Hard Music Albums. 

My good friends Louis Posen, Ian Harrison, Erin Choi, and the rest of the team at Hopeless Records are celebrating the label’s 30th anniversary this year.

The Southern California-based label played a huge role in the careers of Avenged Sevenfold, All Time Low, The Wonder Years, Waterparks, Fame On Fire, and more. 

The traveling “Hopeless Museum” exhibit, boasting over one thousand label artifacts, will stop at the Rock Hall in Cleveland on August 24 and 25th.

An additional Hopeless Records exhibit will open in the Rock Hall’s main exhibit hall on August 24. The same day will feature performances by Awsten Knight from Waterparks, Illuminati Hotties, Dan Campbell from The Wonder Years, and Scene Queen, with a Q&A panel hosted by Alternative Press magazine founder Mike Shea. 

Falling In Reverse & Jelly Roll remain atop the Active Rock chart this week with the country-tinged hard rock/metal tune “All My Life.” 

This week’s Active Rock Top 40 chart: 

1. Falling In Reverse / Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph)
2. From Ashes To New “Barely Breathing” (Better Noise)
3. Pearl Jam “Wreckage” (Republic)
4. Sleep Theory “Fallout” (Epitaph)
5. Daughtry “Pieces” (Big Machine Rock)
6. Motley Crue “Dogs of War” (Big Machine Rock)
7. Wage War “MAGNETIC” (Fearless/Concord)
8. The Offspring “Make It All Right” (Concord)
9. Bad Omes “V.A.N” ft. Poppy (Sumerian)
10. Billy Morrison & Ozzy Osbourne “Crack Cocaine” ft. Steve Stevens (TLG/Zoid/Epic-Virgin)
11. Staind “Better Days” (Alchemy)
12. Halestorm / I Prevail “Can U See Me in the Dark?” (Atlantic)
13. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues That Cried Blood” (Columbia)
14. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG)
15. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Atlantic)
16. Five Finger Death Punch “This is the Way” ft. DMX (Better Noise)
17. Fame On Fire “Nightmare (The Devil)” (Hopeless)
18. P.O.D. “AFRAID TO DIE” (Mascot/MLG)
19. Black Veil Brides “Bleeders” (Spinefarm)
20. Palaye Royale “Dead to Me” (Sumerian) 
21. Seether “Judas Mind” (Fantasy/Concord)
22. Set It Off “Fake Ass Friends” (Why Worry/Stern)
23. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas (Better Noise)
24. Myles Kennedy “Say What You Will” (Napalm)
25. Moon Fever “Forever Sleep” (Astro)
26. Kittie “We Are Shadows” (Sumerian)
27. Royale Lynn “Death Wish” ft. Danny W (Epitaph)
28. Plush “Run” (Pavement)
29. Shallow Side “Filters” ft. Elias S (Thermal Ent.)
30. ONI “Control” (Iron Shore)
31. Dirty Honey “Don’t Put Out the Fire” (DIRT)
32. HARDY “PSYCHO” (Big Loud Rock)
33. Rain City Drive “Medicate Me” (Thriller)
34. Stratejacket “Bad Start” (Edgeout/UMe)
35. Jesse James Dupree “Stranded” (Mighty Loud)
36. Poppy “New Way Out” (Sumerian)
37. Black Crowes “Bedside Manners” (Silver Arrow)
38. Limp Bizkit “Turn It Up, Bitch” (Suretone)
39. Scott Stapp “Black Butterfly” (Napalm/Shelter)
40. 311 “You’re Gonna Get It” (311/CO5) 

David Wolter and Miles Beard are now co-heads of A&R at Republic Records, moving up from EVP of A&R titles. 

The East Coast-based Wolter and West Coast-based Beard will report to label president and chief creative officer Wendy Goldstein.

They will lead A&R alongside EVP Danielle Price Sanders, who oversees the R&B/hip-hop A&R team.

“When it comes to A&R, Miles and David are two of the industry’s most savvy and visionary executives,” Goldstein said in a statement. “They could not be more different in terms of preferences, approach and even location of the two coasts, however they’re the perfect match to run this department. They share a rare passion for music and they’re intensely committed to championing their artists. Their partnership is genuinely next-level and will be integral to our success going forward. Our focus is creating a dominant A&R team with them along with our hip-hop/R&B initiatives.”

Beard has worked with the Jonas Brothers and Republic’s K-pop partners on Stray Kids and TXT. Wolter has worked with Greta Van Fleet, Miranda Lambert, and Zoe Kravitz. 

Wolter signed The Gorillaz while working at Virgin Records from 1997 through 2007. He then went to RCA Records for ten years before returning to Virgin under the Capitol Music Group umbrella in 2017. He joined Republic Records in 2022. Beard signed Charlie Puth at APG before moving over to Republic in 2022. 

This week’s Active Rock Top 40: 

1. Falling In Reverse / Jelly Roll “All My Life” (Epitaph) 
2. Pearl Jam “Wreckage” (Republic) 
3. From Ashes To New “Barely Breathing” (Better Noise) 
4. Billy Morrison & Ozzy Osbourne “Crack Cocaine” ft. Steve Stevens (TLG/Zoid/Epic-Virgin) 
5. Sleep Theory “Fallout” (Epitaph) 
6. Motley Crue “Dogs of War” (Big Machine Rock) 
7. Daughtry “Pieces” (Big Machine Rock) 
8. Wage War “MAGNETIC” (Fearless/Concord) 
9. The Offspring “Make It Right” (Concord) 
10. Bad Omens “V.A.N” ft. Poppy (Sumerian) 
11. Staind “Better Days” (Alchemy) 
12. Five Finger Death Punch “This is the Way” ft. DMX (Better Noise) 
13. Halestorm / I Prevail “Can U See Me in the Dark” (Atlantic) 
14. Bring Me The Horizon “Top 10 Statues…” (Columbia) 
15. Tim Montana “Savage” (Music Knox/BMG) 
16. A Day To Remember “Feedback” (FBR/Elektra/Atlantic) 
17. Fame On Fire “Nightmare (The Devil)” (Hopeless) 
18. Sum 41 “Landmines” (Rise/BMG) 
19. P.O.D. “AFRAID TO DIE” (Mascot/MLG) 
20. Black Veil Brides “Bleeders” (Spinefarm) 
21. Palaye Royale “Dead to Me” (Sumerian) 
22. Set It Off “Fake Ass Friends” (Why Worry/Stern) 
23. Metallica “Screaming Suicide” (Blackened/Q Prime) 
24. Myles Kennedy “Say What You Will” (Napalm) 
25. Moon Fever “Forever Sleep” (Astro) 
26. Kittie “We Are Shadows” (Sumerian) 
27. The Funeral Portrait “Suffocate City” ft. Spencer Charnas (Better Noise) 
28. Seether “Judas Mind” (Fantasy/Concord) 
29. Royale Lynn “Death Wish” ft. Danny Worsnop (Epitaph) 
30. Plush “Run” (Pavement) 
31. Shallow Side “Filter” ft. Elias Soriano (Thermal Ent.) 
32. ONI “Control” (Iron Shore) 
33. Linkin Park “Friendly Fire’ (Warner) 
34. Lines Of Loyalty “Hurts to be Human” (C3&B Ent.)
35. Rain City Drive “Medicate Me” (Thriller) 
36. Stratejacket “Bad Start” (Edgeout/UMe) 
37. Highly Suspect “Summertime Voodoo” (Roadrunner/Atlantic) 
38. Jesse James Dupree “Stranded” (Mighty Loud) 
39. Black Crowes “Bedside Manners” (Silver Arrow) 
40. Limp Bizkit “Turn It Up, Bitch” (Suretone) 

I am happy to announce my return to Silver Scream Con, the horror and music convention curated by Spencer Charnas and Ice Nine Kills.

I will once again lead the panel Q&As. 

Get complete information at SilverScreamCon.com. 

Joe Kelly, hailed as “the go-to” rock voiceover talent since the 1980s, passed away at the age of 82. 

At one time, Kelly was the voice of ABC-TV, Radio City Music Hall, United Airlines, and stations like KLOS/Los Angeles, WNEW-FM/New York, WLUP/Chicago, and others.

Kelly was also the tour voice for the Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Seger, Rush, ZZ Top, and many more. 

Kelly’s son Harley posted a message to Facebook: “I have truly become a better man because of everything that I have learned from Dad over the years, and his soon-to-be grandson will know how amazing his grandfather was! Rest in peace, Dad! If God ever needs to make any announcements, he knows who to turn to! Love you, Dad!”

This news comes to us via RAMP. 

#HAPPENS pal Leslie Tucker is now APD at KQRA Q102 / KKLH 104.7 The Cave, where she’s been an on-air host since 2017.

“Jumping into the deep end of the APD pool with no floaties yelling ‘YOLO!'” she told us.  “I’m super excited about my new role. I’m ready to learn more about the industry and ready to do more!” 

Leslie continues as on-air host in addition to her duties as APD. 

Springfield, Missouri’s “only pure Classic Rock” station, The Cave, and the Active Rock formatted QRA Q102.1 are both owned by the Madison, Wisconsin-based Mid-West Family Broadcasting. 

Learn more about Leslie’s background in our Famous Firsts section! 

1. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH “This Is The Way” ft. DMX (Better Noise) 
2. GODSMACK “Truth” (BMG) 
3. NOTHING MORE “IF IT DOESN’T HURT” (Better Noise) 
4. BILLY MORRISON & OZZY OSBOURNE “Crack Cocaine” ft. STEVE STEVENS (TLG/ZOID/Virgin) 
5. METALLICA “Screaming Suicide” (Blackened/Q Prime) 
6. HARDY “ROCKSTAR” (Big Loud) 
7. FROM ASHES TO NEW “Barely Breathing” (Better Noise) 
8. PEARL JAM “Wreckage” (Republic) 
9. THE WARNING “S!CK” (Lava/Republic) 
10. MOTLEY CRUE “Dogs of War” (Big Machine) 

Andrew “Cutter” Puyleart, host and producer of the nationally syndicated Cutting Edge Countdown & Cutter’s Podcast, is looking for a new co-host for his morning show on WAPL. Apply for that position HERE. 

In addition, WZOR is looking to hire a digital media coordinator/midday host on Razor. The information on the position is HERE. 

WAPL (105.7 FM) is a classic rock formatted radio station licensed to Appleton, Wisconsin, that serves the Green Bay and Appleton-Oshkosh areas.

Razor 94.7 | 104.7, The Cutting Edge of Rock, is an employee-owned radio station serving northeastern Wisconsin. 

The long-running rap-rock/deathcore band ATTILA invited me to host a new interview series. I sat down with the core trio from the Atlanta band for an in-depth conversation about their past, present, and future.

The band just released a brand new single, “New Devil,” featuring Dickie Allen of Nekrogoblikon. Metal Injection describes the track as “very nü-deathcore.” 

“Our interview with Ryan J. Downey is an opportunity for our fans (or non-fans) to see a completely real and organic side of Attila,” the band says. “There are no gimmicks and no bullshit. Just real stories of our personal lives and how Attila came to be. If you appreciate shit that is 100% raw and real, then you will enjoy this interview.”

Watch Raising Hell: A Conversation with ATTILA Episode 1 below. 

Hoobastank is the latest hard rock band to join Spotify’s prestigious BILLIONS CLUB, a playlist compiling every song to cross 1 billion in worldwide streams on the platform, with “The Reason.” 

The rock radio anthem appears on the band’s double-platinum sophomore album of the same name, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. 

“The Reason” (certified 4x platinum in 2021) joins a handful of hard rock and metal songs to cross the 1 billion mark on Spotify. 

2024 additions include: 

• Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (two weeks ago) 
• Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (two weeks) 
• Måneskin “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” (April 9) 
• Black Sabbath “Paranoid” (Feb 29) 
• Green Day “Basketcase” (Feb 26) 
• Evanescence “Bring Me to Life” (Jan 24) 
• Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (Jan 18) 
• Guns N’ Roses “Paradise City” (Jan 15) 
• Blink-182 “All the Small Things” (Jan 15) 
• AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (Jan 2) 

Check out the entire 643-song Spotify BILLIONS CLUB playlist here. 

Longtime host Lou Brutus and Programming and Content Director Randy Hawke acquired HardDrive Radio (including HardDrive and HardDrive XL) from its longstanding partners, United Stations Media Networks/Gemini XIII. The news comes via a press release from the duo’s newly formed company, BruteHawk Industries. 

BruteHawke Industries also announced a strategic sales and distribution partnership with USMN/Gemini XIII. 

“The new partnership is perfect. It allows all of us to focus on what we do best,” said Brutus. “We will continue to crush the world with loud music and the finest rock star interviews known to mankind, as well as lay waste to what little hearing I have left.”

Added Hawke: “This marks a new chapter of collaboration aimed at strengthening the HardDrive brands. We are dedicated to maintaining the high standards our affiliates expect while exploring new ways to enhance our offerings and services.”

BruteHawke Industries secured the extensive archives of audio, video, and photos from the HardDrive Radio vaults as part of the acquisition. This treasure trove encompasses thousands of hours of content, promising enriched and enhanced future offerings.

FROM ASHES TO NEW enters the Top 10 on this week’s Mediabase Active Rock chart with “Barely Breathing.” 

Jon Wysocki, founding member of STAIND, passed away at age 53. 

The former drummer for STAIND’s death was confirmed in a May 18 social media post from his most recent band, Lydia’s Castle: 

“On 5/18/2024 at 8:02 pm, Jon Wysocki passed away surrounded by family and friends that loved him dearly.” 

Townsquare Media recently made a deal to sell three upstate New York classic rock stations to Family Life Ministries Radio. 

The stations include the classic rock simulcast of WTBD, Delhi, NY (97.5); WDHI, Delhi, NY (100.3); and WIYN, Deposit, NY (94.7).

Townsquare applied to the FCC for STA (Special Temporary Authority) requests for those three signals in January.

“Due to economic conditions in the market, the licensee was forced to take the station off the air temporarily,” Townsquare Media wrote. 

Family Life Ministries Radio acquired the stations for a reported $150,000. 

Family Life owns FM stations in upstate New York. It is owned and operated by the Bath, New York-based Family Life Ministries.

ONI, the Active Rock band fronted by Jake Oni, premiered a brand new single, “Control.” 

“Control” was written by Oni and producer Josh Gilbert, the former bassist for As I Lay Dying and current bassist in Spiritbox. 

After an exclusive debut via Sirius XM’s Octane, “Control” is now available via YouTube and streaming DSPs. 

ONI’s most recent album, The Silver Line, arrived last year.

The band’s touring history includes treks with Megadeth, Gojira, and Devin Townsend. 

Anthony “Roach” Proffitt, a 16-year Southwest Florida Rock market fixture, has left Fort Myers’ Rock 103.3. 

In a Facebook post shared last week, Roach wrote: “I’m sorry to say that Rock 103.3 is no longer part of rock radio in Southwest Florida.” 

Sun Broadcasting launched Rock 103.3 on W377AP Bayshore/93.7 WHEL-HD2 Sanibel/Fort Myers in March 2022, overseen by Roach, former 93X WXNX Program Director. (Sun flipped WXNX to Country in September 2020.) 

Roughly two years later, Sun has now flipped 103.3 to Sports. 

“We left on amicable terms,” Roach told #HAPPENS Shawn Alexander.

Roach can be reached at his company, Frontrow Productions, or antproffitt (at) yahoo (dot) com. 

Read Roach’s entire post below. 

German-based label OUT OF LINE Music appointed long-time music executive Nick Walters-Ocean as Executive Vice President of A&R / General Manager of North America. Ocean will build the label’s new U.S. home base in Miami, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The independently owned label houses artists such as Ten56., Cane Hill, Emarosa, True North, Being As An Ocean, Novelists, Combichrist, Villain of the Story, and more.

Nick played an integral role throughout his 14-year tenure at Sumerian Records, working with artists like Bad Omens, Asking Alexandria, and Des Rocs. 

“OUT OF LINE Music is the perfect name and fit for my continued journey within this ever-changing industry,” Ocean shared via statement. “I appreciate André & Yvonne inviting me to their family and trusting in my ability to help grow the artists and brand in North America. The team supports my vision in creative direction and taste in diverse music genres, and I look forward to contributing my toolset to the culture they’ve built throughout the years.”

Owner/Founder André Kobliha added: “Nick came into the picture at exactly the right time, and it quickly became clear that our tastes, opinions, and visions align. Out Of Line is a place for anyone who doesn’t fit into a particular box, a place for unique artists from diverse backgrounds, and with Nick, we have found an extremely experienced and dedicated partner for our venture to grow the Out Of Line brand. It’s great to have such an industry veteran join the Out Of Line family, and with this step, we reinforce our dedication and commitment to the US as our most important market.”

Metallica‘s “Screaming Suicide” tops the chart dated May 18, following previous 72 Seasons No. 1s “Too Far Gone?” (one week in November 2023), “72 Seasons” (two weeks last July) and “Lux Æterna” (11 weeks beginning in December 2022), according to Billboard. 

Metallica now has 14 No. 1 singles on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock chart. Only Shinedown (19) and Three Days Grace (17) have more chart-toppers in the chart’s 43-year history. Metallica is tied for number three with Five Finger Death Punch and Foo Fighters. 

Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:

Pete Ganbarg launches Pure Tone Records, a joint venture with Atlantic Records. 

The GRAMMY Award-winning A&R executive will continue to A&R a handful of acts on the Atlantic Music Group roster, including Shinedown, Halestorm, and twenty one pilots, among others. Platinum-selling Canadian singer Forest Blakk, previously signed to Atlantic by Ganbarg, is Pure Tone’s first official signing. An A&R veteran with 35 years of experience, Ganbarg started at Atlantic in 2008 as EVP of A&R and became President of A&R in 2018. 

Ganbarg personally signed and/or worked with the above-mentioned artists and Jason Mraz, Christina Perri, Melanie Martinez, Skillet, Matchbox Twenty, Theory Of A Deadman, among others. 

Atlantic Music Group Chairman & CEO Julie Greenwald and Atlantic Records Chairman & CEO Craig Kallman said in a joint statement: 

“For the past 16 years, Pete has brilliantly led our A&R mission — discovering, signing, and championing a genre-crossing array of hit artists, while also boosting our theatrical presence with a string of award-winning cast albums. At the same time, he’s mentored and built a fantastic A&R team who are expert at nurturing baby acts and superstars alike. The formation of Pure Tone is an important event for Pete and Atlantic, as he brings his decades of experience, his impeccable taste, and great ears to steering his own ship, and we’re thrilled to be his partners on this exciting next phase of his musical journey.

Steve Albini passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at his home in Chicago, Illinois. 

Steve recorded (he hated the term “produced”) essential albums from Nirvana, Pixies, and PJ Harvey. His extensive discography also includes work with Failure, The Breeders, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Superchunk, Helmet, Jawbreaker, Dazzling Killmen, Jesus Lizard, Neurosis, and many others. 

He fronted Big Black from 1981 to 1987 and the short-lived band Rapeman. In 1992, he formed Shellac with Todd Trainer and Bob Weston. A new Shellac record, To All Trains, was already scheduled for release next week via Touch & Go Records.  

I spent some time with Steve at his Electrical Audio recording complex in Chicago in 2006, where he recorded Zao’s The Fear is What Keeps Us Here. We documented the sessions with a DVD included in deluxe editions of the album (see it here on YouTube). As he worked away in his signature boilersuit-style uniform, I found Albini as clever, diligent, and driven as his reputation promised. But he was also gentle and a great storyteller who didn’t hold back on rich details and insights. 

Steve was 61. He is survived by his wife, documentary filmmaker Heather Whinna.

The brand-new Falling In Reverse single “Ronald” features rapper Tech N9ne and Slaughter To Prevail frontman Alex Terrible.

The track is set to appear on Falling In Reverse’s first album since 2017’s Coming Home. 

Popular Monster, arriving on Epitaph Records on July 26, will contain the double-platinum title track, as well as the gold-certified singles “ZOMBIFIED,” “Voices in My Head,” and “Watch the World Burn.” The track listing also includes “Last Resort – Reimagined,” “Ronald,” and five more songs.  

Popular Monster tracklist: 

1. Prequel 

2. Popular Monster 

3. All My Life 

4. Ronald (feat. Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible)

5. Voices In My Head 

6. Bad Guy (feat. Saraya) 

7. Watch The World Burn 

8. Trigger Warning 

9. ZOMBIFIED

10. NO FEAR

11. Last Resort – Reimagined

Active Rock station KEGL (97.1 The Eagle) has returned to Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.

KEGL Dallas (97.1) was relaunched over a year ago as “97.1 The Freak” in October 2022, with a hot-talk format that included personalities who previously worked mainly at sports talk stations. The return of The Eagle means the return of Active Rock staples like METALLICA and GUNS N’ ROSES. 

“I’m excited that The Eagle is back and ready to rock Dallas/Ft. Worth again,” said Patrick Davis, Senior Vice President of Programming for Dallas/Ft. Worth. “This is a legendary brand for the market, and listeners have been asking to have it back on air and we listened!”

“We are thrilled to announce the return of a legendary station to the DFW airwaves, 97.1 The Eagle,” said Amy Leimbach, iHeartMedia Region President. “Active rock enthusiasts can rejoice as their beloved station is back, ready to once again be the destination for all things rock!”

Following a year and a half of programming a hot talk format on KEGL Dallas (97.1), iHeartMedia returns the station to its rock roots. 

The on-air lineup of “97.1 The Eagle” will be announced later.

Cumulus Media launched a new series yesterday (April 29), taking fans behind the scenes of the making of Mötley Crüe’s latest single. “Dogs of War” is the group’s first song since adding guitarist John 5 (ex-Rob Zombie, ex-Marilyn Manson) to their lineup and their first with Big Machine Records.

The latest Your Music Plus audio series (launched in February 2023 as Your Music First) includes insights and stories from the band and will air on Cumulus Media’s Rock stations across the U.S. over the next eight weeks. 

In a social media post, SLIPKNOT confirmed what fans long suspected: their new drummer is Eloy Casagrande. 

Speculation began when Casagrande suddenly dropped out of Sepultura on the eve of the band’s final world tour. Casagrande made his live debut with Slipknot at a warmup show at Pappy and Harriets in Pioneertown, California, before their set at this year’s Sick New World in Las Vegas over the weekend. 

The band just announced the return of the Knotfest Festival to their native Iowa and a North American leg of the 25th anniversary tour to support their double-platinum self-titled debut. The Here Comes the Pain Tour includes Knocked Loose, Orbit Culture, and Vended as support. 

According to Mediabase, BEARTOOTH‘s “I Was Alive” is No. 1 on this week’s Active Rock chart. 

In November 2023, the band achieved their first #1 on active rock radio with “Might Love Myself” after only 15 weeks. “I Was Alive” is now their second No. 1 and once again managed to top the format after only 15 weeks. Both songs appear on the band’s latest album, The Surface. 

BEARTOOTH’s 2014 single “In Between” was certified gold by the RIAA in 2020. 

I’m proud to have been part of the journey with BEARTOOTH mastermind Caleb Shomo and his longtime manager, Thomas Gutches, from the first EP when they drafted me to help tell the band’s story. I’ve since written each BEARTOOTH bio for every album cycle and conducted several interviews with Caleb and the band for different outlets over the years, including Knotfest and Alternative Press. 

I love these guys and their team, and I send my heartfelt congrats to them and everyone at Red Bull Music. 

MÖTLEY CRÜE will release a new single, “Dogs of War,” on Friday, April 26, as part of their newly announced deal with Big Machine Records.

Produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Black Veil Brides), the song features the current line-up of cofounding members Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, and Tommy Lee with new guitarist John 5 (ex-Rob Zombie, ex-Marilyn Manson, ex-David Lee Roth).

“It’s a great match for us,” Neil told Classic Rock. “We’re good friends with [Big Machine founder/CEO] Scott Borchetta, who put together the Nashville Outlaws album back in 2014. His company just knows radio, how to get it out there, how to get the right people listening.”

“We self-released Too Fast For Love on our own Leathür Records label,” he added, speaking of the Crüe’s 1981 debut. “It cost $3,000 to make and was done in three days. It was a glorified demo tape, but we were the record label until we got signed by Elektra. We haven’t been on a record label for 20 years. But Scott shares our philosophy, and he’s a brilliant guy.”

Mötley recorded three new songs with longtime producer Rock more than a year ago, including “Dogs Of War” and a cover of BEASTIE BOYS’ “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!.”

OZZY OSBOURNE is among the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, this time in recognition of his solo career. 

It’s the second such honor for Osbourne, who was inducted alongside the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH line-up in 2006.

(Ozzy, rather famously, once asked to have Sabbath removed from consideration in 1999, calling it “meaningless.”) 

In an email to Billboard, the 75-year-old heavy metal icon said that becoming one of Rock Hall’s multiple nominees “feels big. I’m more than honored.” 

“I definitely wouldn’t say I was confident” about solo success, he added, noting that the 2021 induction of late guitarist RANDY RHOADS in the musical excellence category “made me feel we could be on to something. With every new music venture, there’s always a certain amount of surprise when the fans embrace it because no one wants to make a record and have it flop. I feel like I was invited to a party in 1980, and it hasn’t stopped. Not bad for a guy who was fired from his last band.”

Other inductees in the Performer category are FOREIGNER, PETER FRAMPTON, MARY J. BLIGE, CHER, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, KOOL & THE GANG, and A TRIBE CALLED QUEST.

JIMMY BUFFETT, MC5, DIONNE WARWICK, and NORMAN WHITFIELD will be presented with the Musical Excellence Award. 

The induction ceremony will be held on October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. It will air live on Disney+. An edited version will run on ABC later and be available on Hulu the day after.

GREEN DAY scored their ninth No. 1 single on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with “Dilemma.”

It marks the Bay Area, California trio’s second consecutive number-one hit after “The American Dream is Killing Me.” 

Both songs appear on the band’s fourteenth album, Saviors, which arrived on January 19. 

Watch the “Dilemma” music video here. 

The BAD OMENS single “Just Pretend” was just certified platinum by the RIAA for digital sales and streams in excess of 1 million.  

The smash rock hit, which originally went gold in July 2023, has continued to be a success on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, among other places. 

“Just Pretend” was written and produced by the band’s own Noah Sebastian and Joakim Karlsson. Sebastian revealed in an interview with NME that it began as a parody of “butt rock” radio hits: 

“At the time, I was frustrated with people in my ear talking about, ‘Oh, you need to focus on the radio,” the band’s frontman explained. “Never having an ulterior motive when writing has always been a strict rule of ours. We just want to make music that we like and we’re proud of. So with ‘Just Pretend,’ it started as this ironic butt-rock song. Even the way I was singing in the demo, I was doing this exaggerated bravado. As silly as the vocal sounded I was like, ‘This is actually a really great chorus.’ I was kind of just freestyling. I had written some chords and I just started singing in the booth over it. And this melody came out, the lyrics came out really quickly.” 

Once the song hit No. 1 on the rock radio charts, Bad Omens concluded, “It’s the most ironic full-circle moment this band will probably ever have.”

“Just Pretend” appears on the band’s 2022 album, The Death of Peace of Mind (Sumerian Records). The album’s title track was certified gold in January of this year. 

• “Waking Lions” (MNRK Music Group) released 2017 / certified gold 2024
• “100 in a 55” (Republic Records) released 2008 / certified gold 2022 
• “Trenches” (eOne Music) released 2013 / certified gold 2021 
• “Footsteps” (eOne Music) released 2015 / certified gold 2021
• “Torn to Pieces” (eOne) released 2014 / certified gold 2020 

Five Finger Death Punch is the biggest gainer on the Active Rock chart this week, jumping 19 spots to No. 16 with “This is the Way,” the Las Vegas hard rock band’s collaboration with the late DMX. “This is the Way” is also No. 1 this week on Billboard‘s Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. 

Linkin Park’s “Friendly Fire” is No. 1 with 2206 spins, according to the Mediabase chart for April 9 – 15. 

Foo Fighters’ “The Glass” falls from No. 1 to No. 3, with Green Day’s “Dilemma” moving up a single spot to No. 2. 

This week’s complete Active Rock Top 10:

1. Linkin Park “Friendly Fire” (Warner)
2. Green Day “Dilemma” (Reprise/Warner)
3. Foo Fighters “The Glass” (Roswell/RCA)
4. Beartooth “I Was Alive” (Red Bull/The Orchard)
5. Pearl Jam “Dark Matter” (Republic)
6. Metallica “Screaming Suicide” (Blackened/ Q Prime)
7. Asking Alexandria “Dark Void” (Better Noise)
8. Des Rocs “I Am The Lightning” (Sumerian)
9. NOTHING MORE “IF IT DOESN’T HURT” (Better Noise)
10. Godsmack “Truth” (BMG) 

BILLY MORRISON‘s collaboration with OZZY OSBOURNE cracked Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart this week. 

“Crack Cocaine,” which also feature’s Morrison’s longtime BILLY IDOL bandmate, STEVE STEVENS, debuts at No. 28. 

Other new entries on the chart include P.O.D.‘s “Afraid to Die” (featuring JINJER‘s TATIANA SHMAYLUK) at No. 38 and SET IT OFF‘s “Fake Ass Friends” at No. 40. 

Earlier today, the Ozzman and ex-THE CULT bassist Morrison announced a forthcoming series together called The Madhouse Chronicles. The show will see the pair talking about conspiracy theories, UFOs, drugs, and rock n’ roll. Head over to osbournemediahouse.com for more information. 

SiriusXM‘s Liquid Metal added the following tracks this week: 

• Better Lovers “The Flowering” (SharpTone) 
• Knocked Loose “Don’t Reach For Me” (Pure Noise Records)
• Entheos “An End To Everything” (Metal Blade)
• Seeyouspacecowboy/Courtney LaPlante “To The Dance Floor For Shelter” (Pure Noise Records)

Courtney LaPlante, of course, is the front woman for Spiritbox. 

Check out Liquid Metal host Jose Mangin in our Famous Firsts section. 

It’s also his birthday later this week! 

“Record Label Layoffs Hit Radio Promotions Staffs: Why It’s Happening.”

Billboard addressed that question today in a new piece by Steve Knapper (with additional reporting by Gail Mitchell). 

#HAPPENS favorites THE GHOST INSIDE and LINES ØF LOYALTY both crack Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay Top 40 this week. 

THE GHOST INSIDE, who participated in a moving Q&A at this year’s #HAPPENS event in Las Vegas (where the band is based), debut at No. 36 with “Wash It Away” (Epitaph). Meanwhile, LINES ØF LOYALTY (who hails from Kenosha, Wisconsin) debut at No. 40 with “Hurts To Be Human” (C3&B). 

Pearl Jam is No. 1 for a second week in a row with “Dark Matter” (Monkeywrench/Republic). 

• Beartooth “I Was Alive” (Red Bull) No. 6
• Metallica “Screaming Suicide” (Blackened/Q Priime) No. 8 
• Des Rocs “I Am The Lightning” (Sumerian/Virgin) No. 11 
• The Warning “S!CK” No. 19 
• Blind Channel “Deadzone” (BloodBros/Century Media) No. 26 
• Dayseeker “Dreamstate” (Spinefarm) No. 29 
• Velvet Chains “Stuck Against the Wall” (WWDD) No. 39 

See the entire Billboard Mainstream Rock chart here. 

AVENGED SEVENFOLD, DISTURBED, and SLIPKNOT are among this year’s Rocklahoma headliners. 

Rocklahoma returns August 30 – September 1 to Rockin Red Dirt Ranch in Pryor, Oklahoma, just outside Tulsa. 

The Labor Day Weekend event will feature AVENGED SEVENFOLD and EVANESCENCE (Friday), DISTURBED and A DAY TO REMEMBER (Saturday), and SLIPKNOT and LAMB OF GOD (Sunday).

The lineup also includes HALESTORM, SKILLET, MASTODON, ANTHRAX, CLUTCH, NOTHING MORE, KERRY KING, BADFLOWER, POP EVIL, BAD WOLVES, SET IT OFF, DES ROCS, and many more hard rock and metal artists. 

Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) acquired Rocklahoma and will work with creators Pryor Creek Music Festivals and other key stakeholders. 

Rocklahoma is hosted by Eddie Trunk.

Complete information is available at Rocklahoma.com. 

Papa Roach‘s 2021 collaboration with TikTok star Jeris Johnson just went gold. 

“Last Resort (Reloaded)” appears on Johnson’s 2021 album, my sword, released by 300 Entertainment. 

The RIAA certified the track gold for over 500,000 digital units. 

The reimainged song joins a number of other Papa Roach albums and singles on the band’s proverbial wall. 

• Infest (Dreamworks) 2000 — certified triple-platinum in 2001 
• Lovehatetragedy (Dreamworls) 2002 — certified gold in 2002 
• Getting Away with Murder (Geffen) 2004 – certified platinum in 2005 
• “Scars” (Geffen) 2004 – certified gold in 2005 
• “Help” (Better Noise Music) 2017 – certified gold in 2021 

Congrats to Papa Roach, Ian Dietrich and Lewis Kovac at 10th Street, Jeris Johnson, Chris Cary, 300 Entertainment, and everyone else involved!

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and Taylor Swift accounted for 29% of all cassette sales, according to Luminate (via Billboard). 436,000 cassettes were sold in the U.S. in 2023 (vs. 439,700 this year before). Cassettes made up just 0.41% of the 105.32 million albums sold (cassettes, vinyl, CDs, digital downloads). 

TOP 10-SELLING CASSETTE ALBUMS OF 2023 IN THE U.S. 

1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (18,000)

2. Taylor Swift 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (17,500)

3. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 (16,000)

4. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 (13,000)

5. Taylor Swift Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (11,500)

6. Nirvana Bleach (8,000)

7. Metallica 72 Seasons (7,500)

8. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Mix, Vol. 1 (6,000)

9. Barbie: The Album (5,500)

10. Phoebe Bridgers Punisher (5,500)

A handful of rock-label signings have come to light this month, including: 

• GRAMMY-nominated American black metallers DEAFHEAVEN with the Warner Music-owned Roadrunner Records 
• Melodic hardcore merchants HIGHER POWER with the Believe Digital-owned Nuclear Blast 
• DREAM THEATER keyboardist JORDAN RUDESS with the Sony/Century Media-distributed InsideOut Music 
• THRICE frontman DUSTIN KENRUSE with BMG for his forthcoming solo work 
• Alt-metal band A KILLER’S CONFESSION with MNRK Heavy 
• ALL FOR METAL with the newly launched Reigning Phoenix Music 

PAPA ROACH is No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart this week for the tenth time. “Leave a Light On” climbs from No. 4 to the top spot on the survey dated February 24. It’s the fourth No. 1 single from the band’s 2022 album, Ego Trip. 

This makes PAPA ROACH one of 11 bands with ten or more No. 1 singles in the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart’s 43-year history. (SHINEDOWN tops ’em all, with 19.) Ego Trip is one of only eight albums (from seven different bands) to produce four or more chart-toppers from the same album.

Two of those records belong to SHINEDOWN. The rest of the list includes LINKIN PARK, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GODSMACK, DISTURBED, and THE BLACK CROWES. 

Daughtry achieved a significant milestone as “Artificial” ascended to the top spot on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, dated February 17. 

It’s been 17 years since the Chris Daughtry-led band first broke into the chart with “It’s Not Over,” which peaked at No. 5 in March 2007. 

Chris Daughtry began his career in earnest as a contestant on American Idol, where he placed fourth during the competition show’s fifth season in 2006. 

Though “Artificial” is Daughtry’s first Mainstream Rock No. 1, the band has previously topped other Billboard airplay charts multiple times. This includes four No. 1 hits on Adult Pop Airplay between 2007 and 2009, as well as one each on Pop Airplay and Adult Contemporary.

Daughtry returned to the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with 2020’s “World on Fire.” 

Meanwhile, “Artificial” continues its ascent on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, moving from 14 to 13 with a 13% increase in audience impressions. The song also ranks at No. 12 on the most recent Hot Hard Rock Songs list, bolstered by both radio airplay and streaming activity.

“Artificial” arrived as a standalone single as the follow-up to 2021’s Dearly Beloved, which has accumulated 88,000 equivalent album units to date, according to Luminate. 

Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Offspring will perform at the Harley-Davidson Homecoming, set for July 25 – 28, 2024, at Veterans Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

The confirmed lineup also includes Jelly Roll, HARDY, Warren Zeiders, Cypress Hill, and Destroy Boys, among others. 

Complete information is available at hdhomecoming.com. 

Audacy announces The Black Keys and Jelly Roll will headline this year’s Riptide Music Festival on December 2nd and 3rd on Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. The lineup includes Bleachers, Lovejoy, Cannons, Silversun Pickups, MisterWives, Beach Weather, little image, The Beaches, Jack Kays and more to be announced for the end-of-year beach party. 

“Riptide Music Festival is the premier beachfront event and we can’t wait to bring two days of amazing music, food and fun to the sunny sands of Fort Lauderdale,” said Claudia Menegus, Regional President, Audacy. “What’s especially exciting about this year’s lineup is that we’ve included some of the hottest crossover stars in music today, giving our devoted attendees the acts they love and welcoming new festival goers with the chance to experience a wide variety of performers. Don’t miss out on two days of live music on two stages and this epic celebration of sound and sensation!”

The LowTide pre-sale for two-day tickets begins tomorrow (9/26) at 9a.(ET). The pre-sale is exclusive to Audacy/Miami stations – Alternative WSFS (104.3 The Shark), Country WKIS (KISS Country 99.9), WPOW (Power 96), Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 The Beach), AC WLYF (101.5 LITE FM) and Sports WQAM (560 Sports) newsletter subscribers.

General on-sale of Wave 1 two-day tickets begins Monday, October 2nd at 8a (ET). Find all the ticket info and more at RiptideMusicFestival.com.