Former Skid Row singer Johnny Solinger dies

(CNN)Former Skid Row singer Johnny Solinger has died, according to a post on the Official Skid Row Instagram page. He was 55.

"We are saddened to hear the news of our brother Johnny Solinger," the band said in the post Saturday. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans. Godspeed Singo. Say hello to Scrappy for us."

Solinger announced on his Facebook page in May that he was hospitalized after being diagnosed with liver failure.

"It is with a heavy heart I must let everyone know what's going on with me and my health," he said in the May post. "I have been hospitalized for over the last month. I have been diagnosed with liver failure. And the prognosis is not so good."

A verified GoFundMe campaign was created shortly after by his friend Brian Lawrence to help pay for his medical bills and palliative care.

Lawrence has been posting updates on Solinger's health regularly since the fund started in May. The campaign raised $16,525 of its $100,000 goal.

On Sunday, Lawrence posted an update from Solinger's wife Paula saying: "Johnny has passed. I was holding his hand. He went in peace. Thank you all. I will take a break from everything but please know I am forever grateful for your love."

Skid Row started in 1986, according to the band's website. Solinger replaced original lead singer Sebastian Bach in 1999.

CNN has reached out to Solinger's wife and the organizer of the GoFundMe campaign for a statement.

-edition.cnn.com

Metallica streams past performances in weekly concert series

Metallica is keeping fans' spirits up amid the novel coronavirus pandemic by streaming its past performances for free.

The American heavy metal band kicked off its #MetallicaMondays series on March 23 (US time) by uploading a video of its concert in Slane Castle, Ireland last June 8. 

The video was streamed live at 8 p.m. in the US, but fans who missed it can still watch the show as much as they want on Facebook and YouTube.

Those who will tune in on YouTube will see Metallica's donate button for COVID-19 efforts. 

"Need to take a break from Netflix before you binge-watch the entire library? Introducing our brand new concert series: #MetallicaMondays," Metallica said in its social media pages.

Metallica, composed of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, and Lars Ulrich, previously postponed and cancelled some of its upcoming shows due to the coronavirus.

Check out the first entry in #MetallicaMondays below:

source: news.abs-cbn.com

American band Power Trip hits Manila with a mega-watt performance

MANILA -- One of the most acclaimed American bands of the last decade hit Manila last Sunday.

Texas crossover thrash metal band Power Trip put on a mega-watt performance in a production by promoter Sleeping Boy Collective last February 9 at the 123 Block.

The crowd of 300 people – including several Danish tourists -- who packed the venue came away tired, sweaty, and bewildered. In fact, some had to sit down in the middle of their raucous set to rest or go for a water break. It was that intense.

And the Dallas, Texas-based band is known just for that – their crossover hardcore punk and thrash metal to go with their livewire shows. They released two critically-acclaimed albums in the past decade – 2013’s "Manifest Decimation" and 2017’s "Nightmare Logic." In between those two albums, the band also put out a couple of extended play albums. 

Along with American acts such as Deafheaven and Vampire Weekend, Power Trip is one of the more lauded and popular bands of the last decade. Such is their draw that top rock acts have oft invited the Texas thrashers on their tours opening them up to new audiences. 

Power Trip – vocalist Riley Gale, guitarists Blake Ibanez and Nick Stewart, drummer Chris Ulsh, and bassist Chris Wetzel – are in the midst of a six-nation Asian tour and Manila was their second stop. 

“It’s cool to know that we have fans in this part of the world,” said Wetzel before their show where local hardcore acts Veils, Armas Ready, and Choke Cocoi opened for them. “We see a lot of people here and we’re just excited to play our music to an audience that is buzzing.”

When the American quintet hit the stage, Gale wore an Agnostic Front shirt. Ibanez sported a white Corrosion of Conformity top, while Whetzel proudly wore a Van Halen tour shirt. Behind them was their logo that is rooted in extreme metal but is at once readable; a subtle reference to its crossover influences. Corrosion of Conformity is a heavy metal band, while Agnostic front is a hardcore act from New York. Van Halen is a hard rock act from California.

Riley makes no bones about how the American East Coast hardcore scene of the 1980s where bands such as Bad Brains, Agnostic Front, and Cro-Mags to name but a few influenced him. “I was weaned on that stuff,” he cheerfully admitted. 

The powerful performance saw the band roll out their songs – from the crowd favorite “Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)” to “Soul Sacrifice” to their new song, “Hornet’s Nest” -- with the jacked up crowd chiming in between relentless moshing. 

“It’s always good when you have people tripping out on your songs and moshing to it,” summed up Whetzel. “And Manila was just awesome. We’re happy we played here and we certainly hope we can come back again.”

After their Asian tour – that followed a grueling American tour that kicked off last November of 2019 -- Power Trip will begin work on their third full-length album.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine diagnosed with throat cancer; band cancels 2019 shows

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dave Mustaine, lead singer and guitarist for the heavy metal band Megadeth, has been diagnosed with throat cancer, forcing the band to cancel most of its 2019 shows, he said on Monday.

Megadeth had been scheduled to perform this year in Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Buenos Aires and other cities in North and South America.

“I’m working closely with my doctors, and we’ve mapped out a treatment plan which they feel has a 90% success rate,” Mustaine said in a statement on Facebook. “Treatment has already begun.”

Megadeth, which was formed in 1983 and helped pioneer a style called thrash metal, reached the height of its popularity in the late 1980s and 1990s with albums such as “Countdown to Extinction” and “Youthanasia.” Mustaine is known for his shredding, a fast style of rock lead guitar playing.

Mustaine, 57, and his bandmates were in the studio working on a follow-up to their 2016 album “Dystopia,” the singer said, adding he could not “wait for everyone to hear” it.

Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis

source: news.abs-cbn.com

AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young dies aged 64

PARIS - AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young has died aged 64 after suffering for several years with dementia, the band announced Saturday.

Young founded the Australian rock group with his brother Angus, who said he will leave "an enormous legacy".

"Today it is with deep heartfelt sadness that AC/DC has to announce the passing of Malcolm Young," a statement on the band's website said.

"With enormous dedication and commitment he was the driving force behind the band.

"As a guitarist, songwriter and visionary he was a perfectionist and a unique man."

Best known for their hit song Highway to Hell, AC/DC formed in 1973 and went on to produce 17 studio albums, selling more than 200 million records.

Friends and musicians paid tribute to him on Twitter.

Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osborne tweeted: "So sad to learn of the passing of yet another friend, Malcolm Young. He will be sadly missed. God Bless."

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot called him "an incredible guitar player & the glue for that band onstage & off."

Eddie Van Halen wrote: "It is a sad day in rock and roll. Malcolm Young was my friend and the heart and soul of AC/DC.

"He will be missed and my deepest condolences to his family, bandmates and friends."

Meanwhile Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams said Young's "guitar playing was a huge inspiration," adding "thanks for that."

'ENORMOUS LEGACY'

Malcolm Young had been suffering from dementia for the several years, and was replaced in the band by his nephew Stevie Young.

His family said he died peacefully, with them at his bedside.

His brother Angus paid tribute, saying: "As his brother it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life, the bond we had was unique and very special.

"He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live on forever.

"Malcolm, job well done."

Elder brother George, who the band described as a mentor, died last month.

The three brothers were born in Scotland and emigrated to Australia as children with their family, although their eldest brother remained in the UK.

A statement from his family, published on the band's Facebook page, said: "It is with deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of Malcolm Young, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother.

"Renowned for his musical prowess Malcolm was a songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer and visionary who inspired many.

"From the outset, he knew what he wanted to achieve and, along with his younger brother, took to the world stage giving their all at every show. Nothing less would do for their fans."

Malcolm is survived by his wife O'Linda, children Cara and Ross, son-in-law Josh, three grandchildren, sister Margaret and brother Angus.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Concert review: Slayer treats Pinoys to one hell of a show

They came. They slayed. And close to 24 hours later, my head is still ringing from the brutal sonic assault by American thrash metal band Slayer who shook the KIA Theater in Cubao to its foundations on Wednesday night.

Slayer has always been one to challenge the norm from the imagery of their albums to the lyrics of their songs. And at the Manila concert, the fans got the full Slayer full-bore.

The imagery from the cover of their 12th and most recent studio album "Repentless," with other harrowing art of religious disturbance as designed by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco, was given a more frightening and ghostly sheen by the red lights that stabbed like search lights. The manner in which those lights -- that changed hues with every song -- darted and probed, it was like Slayer were searching for prey. And the Manila crowd that packed the KIA Theater fell victim to another brutal sonic assault by these masters of metal mayhem.

From the moment “Delusions of Saviour,” the opening instrumental track of "Repentless," came on and then segued into “Repentless,” Slayer induced voluminous amounts of pain with not much let up.

Lead singer and bassist Tom Araya kept the banter to a minimum. Instead, Slayer’s music did all the talking -- an hour and 30 minutes of a brutal assault on one’s senses from the relentless pounding and booming double bass pedals of drummer Paul Bostaph to the screeching twin axe attack of Kerry King and Gary Holt to the thumping doom of Araya’s bass.

That moshpits and body surfing were not allowed, and that the band walked off after a seemingly short one and a half hour set, did not dampen the feeling that the Philippines witnessed an awesome show. The band raced through their best songs from a 34-year catalogue of sonic brutality that has offended and inspired people from all over. And that greatly whet the audience’s appetite for destruction.

From “Mandatory Suicide,” where fans were exposed to that massive riff that makes you want to headbang, to “Disciple” where the audience got into the song by letting out that blood curling scream of a chorus, “God hates us all.” From the disturbing “Dead Skin Mask” that was written about serial killer Ed Gein to the utterly terrifying “Hell Awaits” that had Bostaph laying down a beat that felt like a thousand skulls cracking their heads on the amps.

Slayer isn’t for the squeamish or faint of heart and with their 19-song set winding down, the four-piece outfit from California, cranked up the diabolic with four other favorites – “Black Magic,” “South of Heaven,” “Raining Blood,” and their final song of the dark night, “Angel of Death.”

Then suddenly, without warning, Araya said, “Thank you very much. Good night.” And just like that, the band walked off the stage. The crowd wasn’t sure if they were coming back for an encore. Only when the roadies began dismantling the equipment and handing out the setlists to fans in the front row, did the several thousand folks make a beeline for the exits. And they came out buzzing in equal parts disbelief and wonder, and with their adrenaline pumping.

Such is the intensity of a Slayer show and that the band performed at the KIA Theater – that is fast gaining a reputation as a mecca for mind-blowing shows – it allows for a more intimate band-to-fan engagement. Hence, the amazing experience for a country that so rarely is treated to extreme music.

Slayer came. Slayer slayed. And Slayer conquered.

Now, when will they be back?

source: news.abs-cbn.com