Summer Concert Plans Getting Set

Are your summer concert plans shaping up yet? Mine are. In addition to seeing Metallica next month, I am also now going to an Ohio stop on Shinedown's current run in early May. Also cool is that Beartooth is the support for Shinedown.

I wasn't really planning on attending this tour, but Eric is obsessed with the band and he loves Beartooth too. He wouldn't even know of Beartooth without me, but I digress.

Anyway, we got pretty good seats for Shinedown and the band just released a new video yesterday for their song "Dance, Kid, Dance." The clip is below.

I want to go to the Doobie Brothers in early September but I am holding on buying those tickets. I figure I can get a deal on those since it is several months away still. There's also a few other shows I am keeping my eye on like Live/Collective Soul/Our Lady Peace, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Alison Krauss and Union Station (!) and so many more. I just wish shows weren't so incredibly expensive - it just isn't possible to go to them all anymore. Fees for the Shinedown show added almost another hundred bucks to the tickets and we won't even talk about Metallica.

Let me know who you are planning to see live in the comments.

Nickelback Rocks Metallica Classic

You knew Metallica was going to be featured on this week’s best covers list, right? How about Nickelback doing Metallica in a very proper, very heavy way?!?

Years ago, Nickelback played the Rock Am Ring festival and covered “Sad But True.” The song works on so many levels, especially since Nickelback were directly catering to their festival audience that day. Rock Am Ring books lots of true metal acts, so Nickelback needed to deliver. If you don’t nod your head along with this cover, you’re dead inside.

Original:

Black Sabbath Announce ‘Back To The Beginning’

This is not a drill! Black Sabbath - with all original members including Ozzy Osbourne - will reunite for a special show called "Back to the Beginning."

This is a massive metal bill to celebrate Ozzy's final show. This is the first time in 20 years the original Sabbath will share the stage together for a live show.

The event will feature sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon. This all goes down in Birmingham, UK (of course!) on July 5.

There are musicians forming super groups during the day too. According to the event website, these folks have already confirmed to participate and play: Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E. Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde.

Notice that Jake E. Lee is on the list, so he must be rehabbed enough to play guitar fast and live again!

Tickets on sale Valentine's Day via Live Nation UK.

Full Sonic Temple Festival Lineup Released

It's here: the full and massive Sonic Temple festival lineup. The fest will take place May 8 - 11 in Columbus, Ohio. This announcement also means single day passes are now available.

I already have a pass for Friday because I bought it special when Metallica was announced. The single day VIP tickets are around $200. You can get your passes through the link in the Facebook below. I am a little bummed that I won't be seeing Bad Omens on my day, but Metallica and Alice Cooper in one night is pretty amazing in my book. The rest is just icing on the metal cake!

Or view via Twitter!

LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: @SonicTempleFest brings an iconic rock & metal lineup to @CrewStadium in Columbus, Ohio on May 8-11. Experience 2 Unique Sets from @Metallica plus @LINKINPARK, @Korn, @badomenscult, @IncubusBand, @AliceInChains, @RobZombie, @threedaysgrace (reunited with… pic.twitter.com/exHf9AGrI5

— SonicTempleFestival (@SonicTempleFest) October 23, 2024

Metallica To Headline Two Nights Of Sonic Temple Festival

It's all happening! Metallica will headline the Friday and Sunday nights of Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus, Ohio this coming May. It's a no repeat weekend! Their support will be Rob Zombie on Friday night and Alice in Chains on Sunday.

Earlier today, Sonic Temple organizers announced that Killswitch Engage would also appear. Bands will be announced regularly for the next few months. Organizers promise the biggest fest ever.

Tickets go on sale next week. The festival is set for May 8,9,10 and 11 at historic Crew Stadium.

Happy Anniversary 'Black' Album!

Once again, an anniversary to make all of us feel old as dirt! Metallica's glorious self-titled masterpiece (a.k.a. Black album) was released 33 years ago today. "The Unforgiven" and "Sad But True" as so important to me. Just great songs that are on my all-time faves playlist.

Time flies, man. Back in 1991 I was in fifth grade I think and I remember how big this album got over the next year. Yes, I was obsessed with MTV that young.

Metallica Hits A Major Chart Milestone

Maybe with the exception of Taylor Swift and Adele - can any other modern artist duplicate the amazing album success of Metallica's self-titled album?

Being on Billboard for 750 weeks is an amazing feat. To be sure I own the "Black" album in various formats and it seems like most other folks to do as well. Regarding the other historical feats mentioned in the post below - I have The Dark Side Of The Moon on many formats as well and I just purchased Bob Marley's Legend on vinyl last month.

.@Metallica's 'Metallica' has now spent 750 total weeks on the #Billboard200 (No. 178 this week).

It's the fourth album in history to reach the milestone, after @pinkfloyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' (990 total weeks), @bobmarley's 'Legend' (843) and @JourneyOfficial's…

— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) July 15, 2024